Rule and misrule of the English in America
5% yf*i |i %l»SOV^ MZUfe <3ftW<SUF |-r- "%JJAINI1-3V^ ^•UBRARY^ A*«lBBABVec ITO-JO^ '^BOJITO^ f^Sft rf2^S?«fe gl«*¥^8 gV^TT •x,v_y v§ •^.V-X *• %H1HWO^ %HIWWtf i «rs5i .^lOS-ANC f/Or ^AWiaiB^ ^Aavaan^ ^^BONV-SOI^ %aaAiNf .^•UNIVER% ^WS-AHGBto. ^WIBRARY^ % t)o<rl l/Dr-l iiirrt f %1W «UNIVEI% KL S>\ _ J*\ XS ^, ^— ^ »^ A ^*-^ ,N %MITCHO^ %OJITV: L-OF-CALIFOfi^ ^\\EUNIVER5/^. rf ^i ^ — "^/HBAlM-aV^ HBBA THE ENGLISH IN AMERICA. VOL. I. RULE AND MISRULE ENGLISH IN AMERICA BY THE ATJTHOK OP SAM SLICK, THE CLOCKMAKER," "THE ATTACHE, "THE OLD JUDGE," ETC. " Nee qua commissas flee tat habenas, Nee scit, qua sit iter, nee, si sciat, imperet illis." OVID. IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. I. LOND'ON: COLBUBN AND CO., PUBLISHERS, GEEAT MARLBOROUGH STEEET. 1851. x/ DEDICATION. MY DEAR LORD FALKLAND, I DERIVE much more pleasure in having the opportunity of dedicating this Work to you, than, I am afraid, you will feel at seeing your name attached to a book containing many things in which I know you do not concur; and some that your friendship for me will cause you to wish were expunged. I do not, by any means, desire to have it sup- posed, that it has obtained your sanction, as a Colonial Governor, for you have never seen the manuscript, nor have I had the advantage of your valuable advice and experience during its progress. My reason for inscribing it to you, though two- fold, is altogether personal. First — It will recall to your mind an old friend, who has spent many VI DEDICATION. happy hours in your society, and partaken largely of your kindness and hospitality, in time by-gone, when we discoursed de omnibus rebus et quibus- dam aliis. Those days can never be recalled, or renewed ; but memory would indeed be a source of unmitigated pain, if it only reflected the dark shades, and not the sunny spots of life. This book will show you, that my political views are unchanged. I should be ashamed of myself, if a dedication were necessary to prove that my affec- tion is also unaltered. Secondly — I know of no one so conversant with the subject as yourself. I never had a very exalted opinion of what is called " Responsible Government," knowing that the term was an indefinite one, and that an interpreta- tion had been put upon it by many people, that made it almost amount to sovereignty. To you was entrusted the delicate and difficult task of introducing it into Nova Scotia. Of the independence, judgment, moderation, and manli- ness, with which this delegated duty was executed. I say nothing, because in all ages, and in all countries, there have been others, beside your Lordship, who could justly lay claim to these qualities. But one thing is most certain, that the late Lord Metcalf and yourself were the only two DEDICATION. Vll men, either in the Cabinet or the Colonies, who understood the practical operation of the system ; for while you conceded to the provincial Assembly, the entire control of its local affairs, you maintained your own position as the Queen's representative, asserted your rights as an independent branch of the Legislature, and at the same time upheld the Royal Prerogative. Those Governors wherever situated, who have put a wider and more extended interpretation on the term than yourself, have become mere cyphers ; while those, who may wish to follow your example, will find, that unwise concessions have rendered the task both hopeless and thankless. " Sibi quivis Speret idem, sudet multum, frustraque laboret." I am, my dear Lord Falkland, Very sincerely and affectionately, Yours, always, THE AUTHOR. Nova Scotia, March 31, 1851. CONTENTS OF THE FIRST VOLUME. BOOK I. CHAPTER I. Introduction — Objects and utility of the work — No con- nected political history of the Colonies to be found — Popular error as to the origin of the American Republic — One established at Plymouth in 1620, and another in Massachusetts in 1629, which subsisted for more than fifty years — Democracy the result both of design and necessity — Notice of the early settlers 1 CHAPTER II. The Reformation — Different conduct of the Protestants and Church of England — Religious differences lead to the settlement of North America— Division of the country into South and North Virginia — The latter explored by CONTENTS. Captain Smith, and called New England — Delusive description of it — Distinction between the Noncon- formists of Leyden who settled New Plymouth, and those who founded Massachusetts — Account of Brown, his principles, and recantations — The Brownists petition for toleration and are refused — Obtain a Charter in South Virginia — Settle at New Plymouth by mistake — Enter into a compact for self-government— First American Democracy — State of it at the end of six years . . 12 CHAPTER III. Inducements to settle Massachusetts — Puritans prevail upon the King to give them a Charter, under the idea that they were churchmen — Some account of it — Endicott settles Salem — Disturbs Morton, cuts down Maypole, and calls the place Mount Dragon — Founds a Church on Congregational principles — Arrests and transports Epis- copalians— Intrigue for removing the Charter to America and discussion thereon — Reasoning of the emigrants on the subject of allegiance — Removing of Charter — Large immigrations — Cost of outfit — Address to the clergy of England — Character of the Puritans 27 CHAPTER IV. Reasoaing of the first settlers as to their independence — The colony becomes a republic from necessity — Oaths of supremacy and allegiance dispensed with — They decline to set up the King's arms — Mutilate the flag — Drinking healths abolished — Blackstone's remarks about the Lord's Brethren — Order that none but Church mem- bers be admitted to be freemen — Another, forbidding a CONTENTS. XI stranger to settle in the colony without a licence — Peti- tioning the King called slandering the brethren — Punish- ment of Morton, Sir Christopher Gardner, and Ratcliffe — Morton publishes a satire at Amsterdam — Returns to Massachusetts — Is fined and banished again — Intimate connection between their Church and State — The King orders several vessels in the Thames to be put under embargo — A House of Representatives meets in Boston, and is admitted as a branch of the Legislature — The Governor is not re-elected, and is made to account for his expenditure of the public moneys — His manly conduct on the occasion — A code of laws ordered to be compiled — Also a uniform system of Church Discipline ... 52 CHAPTER V. A commission issues to the Archbishop of Canterbury, and eleven other persons, for governing the colonies, &c. — Abbot and Laud, their conduct contrasted — Severe trials of the Church— Its character and conduct — Colonists assume the right of making treaties — Free-Trade with the Narragansetts — Offer of hereditary rank made by Lord Saye and Sele — Reasons for declining it — Petition of the people debarred of civil rights for nonconformity — They are summoned to appear before the Governor and Assistants, and denounced by the Ministers — Heavily fined and bound over to keep the peace — Their private papers searched, and a memorial found addressed to the Earl of Warwick — Its contents — The people extend their jurisdiction to Weathersfield, situated beyond the limits of Massachusetts — Justification of encroachment — Gorton's settlement broken up, and his followers severely punished — The Grand Council of Plymouth surrenders Xll CONTENTS. its Charter on the ground of the colonists claiming inde- pendence— A Quo Warranto ordered to be issued for the revocation of the Charter — Sir Ferdinando Georges nominated Governor- General — The Ministers convened to advise — They recommend resistance — Dissenters from the Churches of Massachusetts settle at Connecticut, Rhode Island, and other places — War with the Pequods — The army under a covenant of works — Extermination of the Indian tribe — Troubles in England— The colony is left unmolested 74 CHAPTER VI. The colony exercises sovereignty in external affairs — Confederates with Connecticut, Newhaven, and Ply- mouth— Terms of Confederation — Effects of it in America — Commissioners of the united colonies receive a diplomatic agent from Acadie, and the Governor- General of Canada sends an envoy to the Swedish Governor on the Delaware, and negociates with the Dutch on the Hudson — Massachusetts coins money — State of the colony — Parliament exempts New England from taxes — The people resolve not to ask favours of Parliament — Decline to send delegates to the Assembly of Ministers at Westminster — Sir Harry Vane advocates -their cause — Parliament exempts them from certain duties — Prerogative claims sole control of colonies — Sketch of its origin — Idea of navigation laws, suggested by James I. — General Court calls in the aid of the elders, and deliberates on the subject of parliamentary control, and refuses to submit — They remonstrate with the House of Commons, and obtain a favourable answer , , .99 CONTENTS. Xlll CHAPTER VII. Massachusetts, with the rebels in England — Proclamation against the King's party — Hugh Peters sent to England to urge on the rebellion — Cromwell appoints him his chaplain, and presents him with a commission of a Colonel in the army — His favourite text on execution — The Provincials decline to use the names of the keepers of the liberties of England in official papers, or to renew their Charter — They also refuse to take part in the war between England and Holland — Conduct of the Vir- ginians after the King's death, contrasted with theirs — Trade with Virginia forbidden — Admiral Ascue sent to reduce the loyalists to obedience — Puritans of Massa- chusetts natter the Parliament, and approve Cromwell's share in the death of the King — He offers them Jamaica, or confiscated estates in Ireland — Reasons for declining — Arrival of the regicides, Goffe and Whalley — Their reception and history — Pretended search for them — Conduct of Virginia at the death of Cromwell, contrasted with that of Massachusetts — Extraordinary letter of the General Court to Charles II. — The King proclaimed — People forbidden to drink his health . . . . 116 CHAPTER VIII. The King appoints a council for the colonies — Their advice — Connecticut and Rhode Island send agents, who obtain for them charters containing full powers of self- government — Navigation laws — They fall heavily on Virginia, and alarm all the Provincials — The General Court publishes a declaration of rights — Their reasoning XIV CONTENTS. as to the origin of their title to the country — They send agents to England — Instruction given to them, and letters of introduction to noblemen of Low Church or Dissenting principles — They meet with a favourable reception, and return with a letter from the King re- quiring certain changes in their laws and modes of pro- cedure— An affected show of compliance — Dissatisfaction of Churchmen, of Baptists, and especially of Quakers — Severe treatment of latter — A commission of inquiry issues to Colonel Nichols and others — Their instructions — General Court orders the Charter to be put into a place of concealment — Prepares to receive the Commis- sioners . ... 145 CHAPTER IX. The Commissioners arrive at Boston — Deliver a royal letter to the Government, and proceed to the Hudson to attack the Dutch settlements— The General Court in their absence petition for their withdrawal, and solicit the aid of the Puritan noblemen — Answers of the King and Lord Clarendon — General effect of Commissions of Inquiry — The franchise extended — The clergy and demagogues prepare the people for resistance — False rumours put into circulation — General Court refuses to summon the people to assemble — Commissioners inquire whether they admit the King's authority — They decline to answer, and refuse to attend before them, or to sub- mit to an appeal — They summon the Commissioners — Close of the inquiry — Accidents to Commissioners reputed to be judgments of Heaven — The King orders the Governor and other members of the General Court to appear before him — They decline, affecting to doubt the genuineness of the order — Distinction taken between CONTENTS. XV obedience to beneficial and injurious orders — The New England colonies renew their confederation — Effect of it — Complaints of English merchants against the infraction of the laws of trade — The oath of allegiance ordered to be taken, and the King's arms set up — Agents sent to England, but ordered to yield nothing — A custom-house officer appointed — Opposition to him — He is obliged to return to England — General Court re-enacts trade laws — Its members take modified official oaths — Collector sent out again, but they threaten to execute him — Is obliged to quit the colony — General gloom in Massa- chusetts— People terrified by comets — The credentials of agents found deficient — They offer a bribe of two thousand guineas to the King — Agents return, and are followed by Randolph with the Quo Warranto — General Court refuses to surrender the Charter — Their argu- ments— They again petition and pretend there has been no service of the writ — Judgment given against them — Remarks on their conduct — Natural effects of dissent. 167 BOOK II. CHAPTER I. Indignation and grief of the colonists at the loss of their Charter — Death of Charles II. — Accession of James II. — Apprehensions of having Colonel Kirke as Governor — Some account of him — Mr. Dudley appointed President, who, with the assistance of six councillors, undertakes XVI CONTENTS. the Government — Protest of the Magistrates against the suppression of the Legislature — Unpopularity of the President — Description of the territory within his juris- diction— Some account of Maine and New Hampshire, and the intrigues of Massachusetts to extend its au- thority over them — Desire of Charles II. to confer the former on the Duke of Monmouth, and to establish a Royal Government in the latter — Both comprehended within the Commission of President Dudley —Character of his administration 212 CHAPTER II. Arrival of Sir Edmund Andross — Fears entertained of the King — His conduct towards New York — His opinions of popular assemblies — Commission to Andross — Two com- panies of soldiers sent to Boston — Law relative to mar- riages — Manner of imposing taxes — Punishment of those who refuse to pay rates — Episcopal Clergymen prevented by the mob from reading the burial service — • Preachers attack the Governor for his toleration, and justify compulsory conformity — Arbitrary conduct of Andross relative to titles of land — Rhode Island, Con- necticut, New York, and New Jersey united to Massa- chusetts— News of the arrival of the Prince of Orange in England — False rumour spread of a general massacre — Insurrection — Capture and imprisonment of the Governor and his Councillors — Conduct of the Magis- trates who resumed the old Government — Sir Edmund escapes, is retaken and sent to England, where he is released — Example of Massachusetts followed by the other colonies — Bad effects of so many political changes in England — Remarks on the appointment of Andross to be Governor of Virginia 229 CONTENTS. XV11 CHAPTER III. Representatives meet at Boston, and induce the Governor and Magistrates to continue in office — King and Queen proclaimed — A general gaol delivery — Orders received from England for the local authorities to retain the Government until further instructions — Anxiety in America as to the convention of Parliament — Doubts of the Tories and scruples of the Prelates — Conduct of the Whigs — Macaulay's definition of the " essence of politics" — The report of the Commons, and the declara- tion of rights read with great interest by Provincials — Political influence of the commercial party in England — Its conduct towards the plantations — Prerogative described — Its effects in America — Blackstone's defini- tion and Bacon's views of it — Local assemblies imitate the declaration of rights — Cause of the loss of the old colonies ... .... 257 CHAPTER IV. Effect of toleration on the Ministers — Cotton Mather's attempt to raise a revival of bigotry, by spreading alarm about witches — His books and sermons — Preface by Richard Baxter — Exorcises a child at Boston — Salem delusion — Special Court, its proceedings — Executions — Case of the Rev. Mr. Burrows — Sudden change of public opinion — Mather falls into contempt — Decline of Con- gregationalism— Arrival of Sir William Phipps with the new Charter . .2/7 XV111 CONTENTS. CHAPTER V. The two most interesting periods of American history ex- tend, 1st. From the settlement of Massachusetts to the English Revolution of 1 688 ; 2nd. To the independence of the colonies in 1783 — Review of the first period—; Number and names of colonies then settled — Their popu- lation and commerce — Account of the different forms of Government then established there — Great increase of democratic opinions — Change in tone of feeling in Virginia — Some account of the Church there — Loyalty of Churchmen — State of Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New York — Effect of the conduct of New England upon them , . . . .292 CHAPTER VI. POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS UNDER THE CHARTER. Office, duties, and modes of appointment of the Charter Governors — Court of Assistants— Origin and growth of the House of Delegates — Jealousy of the people as to power of Governor and Magistrates — Code of laws described — Specimens of the sentences of the courts — Perfect equality secured by their laws and institutions — Account of townships and town meetings — Counties, towns, and General Court present a miniature of a great Republic — Union of the colonies, the foundation of the federal union of the States — General system of popular education prepares the people for self-government 305 CONTENTS. XIX CHAPTER VII. DEMOCRATIC FORM OF CHURCH GOVERNMENT ITS EFFECTS ON POLITICAL OPINIONS. Different course pursued by the Church and Dissenters at the Reformation — Difference between Presbyterians, Independents, and Puritans — Three kinds of Puritans — Their doctrines and form of ecclesiastical government — Singular valedictory address of the Puritans to the members of the Church of England — Extraordinary union of Church and State among the former — Cause of present political unity of action between Dissenters and Romanists 334 THE ENGLISH IN AMERICA. BOOK I. CHAPTER I. Introduction — Objects and utility of the work — No con- nected political history of the Colonies to be found — Popular error as to the origin of the American Republic — One established at Plymouth in 1620, and another in Massachusetts in 1629, which subsisted for more than fifty years — Democracy the result both of design and necessity — Notice of the early settlers. THE early settlements made by the English in America were effected either by individual specula- tors or associated companies. They were in gene- ral situated at a distance from each other, having at first little or no connection, either political, social or commercial, among themselves, and de- VOL. I. B 2 THE ENGLISH riving but trifling assistance, and less protection, from the mother country. They grew up into powerful colonies, in neglect and obscurity, with a rapidity and vigour that astonished Europe. They were without precedent in the previous annals of England, and the political agitation of the public mind in the present state, unhappily afforded no opportunity for establishing their relation on a proper foundation, or arranging a consistent and uniform plan for their government. The accounts we have of them, therefore, are detached, and their interest is destroyed for want of continuity. Every plantation has had its annalist, but the narratives are too local, too minute, and too similar in their details to be either interesting or instructive. No attempt has been made to separate the political from the provincial, and the general from the in- dividual and petty personal history. This, doubt- less, is the reason why so little is known of the old colonies previous to the independence, and so little benefit has accrued from past experience, either to Great Britain or her dependencies. A connected sketch of English " rule and mis- rule in America," it is hoped, may, to a certain extent, supply the deficiency, while it will correct some popular errors on the subject, and furnish valuable material for reflection, not only to those statesmen to whom our destinies are entrusted, but to those restless politicians who imagine a IN AMERICA. 3 republican form of government suitable to the inhabitants of every country in the world. Warned by past failures, the former may learn, ere it be too late, to abstain from making experi- ments which have long since been tried and condemned ; to supply deficiencies which have here- tofore cost the nation so dearly, to correct abuses arising from inconsiderate concessions, and to cherish and foster those establishments which in every stage of colonization have been the nurseries of loyalty to the monarch, and attachment to the nation. It will at least convince them that to substitute democratic for monarchical institutions is not the safest or best mode of retaining colonies, or enlisting the sympathy of their in- habitants. The latter class (revolutionists) are numerous everywhere. Astonished and dazzled at the ex- traordinary success that has attended the great American experiment, they merely regard the re- sult, without stopping to investigate the cause, and hastily conclude that that which has worked so well in the United States, and produced so much general prosperity and individual good, is equally applicable to, or attainable by, every other people. This is a great and fatal error. A government must not only be suited to the population, but to the country for which it is designed ; and the moral and social condition of the one, and the B 2 4 THE ENGLISH size, the climate, and political and relative position of the other, are of the utmost importance to be thoroughly understood, and maturely considered. Thus a constitutional monarchy has proved inadequate in Spain to conciliate the affections or restrain the turbulence of the people. Re- sponsible government in Canada has failed in its object, because it is incompatible with imperial control and colonial dependence, is unsuited to the poverty, ignorance, and inactivity of the French Habitants, and the predilections and prejudices of the English emigrants, and because it wants cor- relative and congenial institutions, and is deficient in federal strength and central gravitation. Roy- alty could not be acclimated in the United States, though the experiment were to be tried by a vote of a large majority. It is contrary to the genius of the people, their habits, institutions, and feelings. For these and other reasons, self- government has signally failed in all the republics of the southern hemisphere, though the constitu- tion and example of the United States has been followed as closely as possible. Democracy has at present a feverish and delirious existence in France. It was not the deliberate choice of the nation, but the result of an insurrection. It offered a temporary shelter amid the storms of civil commotion, and was adopted as a harbour of refuge. How long will its neutral character be 4 n\ t ffr|. A«x<W*y.C<tiiM; IN AMERICA. 5 respected by the irreconcileable parties that distract that unhappy nation ? My desire is, among other objects of this work, to show where and by whom republicanism was introduced into this continent, what its founda- tions are, how they were laid, and what provision has been made for its support and continu- ance. Having given a narrative of its origin, growth, and maturity, which can alone be com- piled from provincial annals, I shall endeavour to explain briefly the complicated mechanism and simple action of the American federal constitution, and the balances and checks that have been so skilfully contrived by the great statesmen who con- structed it ; and also to point out the wonderful combination of accidental causes that contributed to its success, and the ability, unity, energy, and practical skill of the people, who work the machine and keep it in order and repair. The question has often been asked why may not this form of government be copied and adopted in England or France ? The answer is to be found in every part of this history. We must then judge whether all these circum- stances, or the greater part of them, were indis- pensably necessary to success, and, if so, whether there is anything analogous in Europe. I shall furnish the facts, let others build their own theories. I enter into no speculations, and, above all, offer no opinions as to the durability of this great republic of the western world, or how it will work when the population shall be proportionally as large as that of Europe. I simply portray it as it is. Most men believe that the American Republic took its rise in a successful resistance of the provin- cials to an attempt on the part of Great Britain, in a Parliament in which they were not represented, to tax them without their consent, and that resistance led to a revolution, in which they asserted their in- dependence, and finally obtained it in the year 1783. This is a very natural mistake for those persons to fall into who are not acquainted with their early history, but a republic de facto was first formed at Plymouth, in New England, in 1620, and another far more extensive and flourishing one was erected in Massachusetts, in the years 1628 and 1629, both which subsisted in full force for a period of more than fifty years, without submitting to the IN AMERICA. 7 power, or acknowledging the authority of, the Parent State. These independent communities founded the institutions, and disseminated the democratic opinions that were subsequently adopted hy the continental provinces. The former are, with some small modifications, such as are in existence there at the present day, and the latter are identical with the views of their descendants. The reason that so little is known of the occurrences of this period I have already assigned, but they are essential elements in forming any just estimate of subse- quent events, or an accurate opinion of transatlantic affairs. With these commonwealths our narrative must necessarily commence. I shall omit every- thing that does not either develop the character or principles of the people, or elucidate the views they entertained of their own supremacy, and their right to the soil, and government of the country of their adoption. I shall pass over also the earlier settlement at Plymouth with only a brief reference, as well on account of the greater growth and importance of Massachusetts, and the influence it always exerted on the neighbouring plantations, as to preserve the narrative entire. At the end of half a century these two republics were rendered nominally subordinate to the empire, but remained practically independent, retaining their own self-government, resisting the encroachments 8 THE ENGLISH of the prerogative, zealously avoiding all acknow- ledgment of the right of parental control, either in external matters of trade, or internal affairs of legis- lation or police, until they felt strong enough, in con- junction with the contiguous colonies, to sever all connection whatever with Great Britain. It is a curious and instructive history, and \vell worthy of the attentive consideration of those who feel inclined to imitate, and imagine they are able to follow the example. They will be struck with the important fact that they commenced with small and isolated communities, having one common object in view, and possessing the means, the unity of political and religious opinions, and the mutual confidence and sympathy necessary to effect their purpose. There was nothing to pull down or remove, no privileged orders to reduce, no serfs to raise to a level with themselves, no pre-existing form of government to eradicate, no contending factions or intriguing leaders to subdue, and no populace to conciliate or control. The scene was a forest, and the actors intelligent and resolute men, drawn from the middle and not the lower orders of society, emigrants from a country having liberal institutions and a code of laws well calculated to secure and promote the liberty of the subject. They were beyond the reach and the observation of the Parent State, and were left unaided and unmolested to put their theories into practice. The IN AMERICA. 9 structure of the government thus adopted was simple, and suited to the exigencies and equality of their situation. The civil divisions of the country, which became necessary from time to time, in consequence of their extended growth, and the internal manage- ment of their local affairs, corresponded with that of the first settlements, and were adopted not merely because they were democratic, but because they were best suited to their conditions, and in unison with their preconcerted object. One little village and neighbourhood gave rise to another little village and neighbourhood, and one distant settlement to another, until the country became populous, and the people too extended and nume- rous to meet together in council. Delegated power then became indispensable, and a legislature arose in imitation of, and analogous to, that of England. Then came the necessity of establishing institutions, suitable not merely for a community but for a number of communities, not for the present generation but for posterity. For this task they were admirably well qualified. They were perfectly acquainted with those of the Parent State, under which they had been early trained, and had tested the modified forms they had temporarily adopted themselves on landing in the country. With this double experience, they were relieved from the difficulty of invention and much B 3 10 THE ENGLISH of the danger of innovation. They came to the consideration of these subjects with minds free from all excitement. They had obtained no vic- tory, and were not flushed with triumph. They had no opposition, and were not obstinate. The civil power was in their own hands, they could delegate as little or as much as they thought expe- dient to an executive. Authority was not demanded, it was conceded. Every individual had a strong personal interest. It depended solely upon himself and his own conduct whether he should administer the law or should silently submit to its operation. Every measure to be adopted was an act of the whole body and not a party. Is it then to be wondered at, that with this experience they reasoned well, and decided wisely ? When we consider that all this occurred more than two hundred and thirty years ago, before civilization had made such mighty strides as it has in modern times, and that the people who then deliberated on the difficult problems of government and jurisprudence, though men of strong intellect and good parts, nevertheless laboured under the great disadvantage of having their tempers soured, and their understanding clouded by fanaticism and bigotry, we are struck with astonishment at the knowledge and consummate skill they displayed in laying the foundations of their political fabric ; and if their system of jurisprudence was imperfect, it IN AMERICA. 11 is still infinitely better than could have been ex- pected from persons of their peculiar religious belief. It is in the annals of these two first Republics of New England that we must trace the origin and history of almost every institution now existing in the United States, the rise and progress of American opinions of federal union with the neighbouring sovereignties, of a separate jurisdic- tion, and of a central congress. At the period of the Revolution, much doubtless was added by the great statesmen of the day, beyond what existed in the olden time, but those additions were less conspicuous for their novelty and originality (for there was little new in them) than the wonder- ful skill exhibited in their adaptation to the then existing state of things, so as to preserve harmony and unity of action. To ascribe to Washington, Franklin, Jefferson or Adams and their contemporaries the whole merit of the invention and creation of that wonder- ful republic, would be to rob the early planters of Massachusetts of their well-earned laurels. There are enough for both, let us appropriate them to their respective owners ; and in so doing let us not forget to mention those circumstances, and they were many and most important, which were purely accidental, the mere offspring of chance, a work of the hand of Providence. 12 THE ENGLISH CHAPTER II. The Reformation — Different conduct of the Protestants and Church of England — Religious differences lead to the settlement of North America — Division of the country into South and North Virginia — The latter explored by Captain Smith, and called New England — Delusive description of it — Distinction between the Noncon- formists of Leyden who settled New Plymouth, and those who founded Massachusetts — Account of Brown, his principles, and recantations — The Brownists petition for toleration and are refused — Obtain a Charter in South Virginia — Settle at New Plymouth by mistake — Enter into a compact for self-government— First American Democracy — State of it at the end of six years. AT the Reformation, the sudden disruption of Papal authority naturally occasioned those who had hitherto been accustomed to travel in one common road to wander, when released, in various directions. What part of Romanism was true, and what false, what was to be retained or rejected, added or substituted, opened a wide field for IN AMERICA. 13 speculation and controversy. It is not to be wondered at, if men who had long ceased to think on such matters for themselves, found prejudice easier than reason, and thought their only safety consisted in getting as far away from the creeds, forms, and practices of Popery as possible, and mistook in their flight obstinacy for conscience, and submission to authority for a compromise of principle. In consequence of the celebrated Germanic pro- test, all those both on the continent and in Britain, who dissented from Popery (although distinguished from each other by some peculiar name, derived from their teachers or their creeds), assumed the general appellation of Protestants. While they made war on the ceremonies of Rome, they retained her bigotry, and though they denied the power of dispensation to the Pope, they found no difficulty in absolving themselves from the obligation of their oaths of allegiance to their Sovereign. They clamoured, and suffered or fought for the exercise of private judgment and liberty of conscience. This they all united in, demanding to its fullest extent ; and the singular interpretation they gave these terms is a remarkable instance of unanimity among a people who differed on almost every other subject. Each sect claimed exemption from persecution for itself, because it sincerely believed what it professed; but the right to persecute 14 THE ENGLISH others it by no means renounced, because it knew its opponents to be wrong. The Church of England, on the contrary, which had enjoyed its apostolic succession, its orders of priesthood, and its spiritual independence in all its primitive purity for six hundred years before the aggression of the Roman Pontiff, very properly retained its own original name, to which no other body of Christians had any title what- ever.* She threw off the domination she had been too feeble to resist, and the superstitions and human inventions that had been forced upon her, compiled her Liturgy, and settled her doctrine and ceremonies as nearly as possible in accordance with those she had held in those centuries that pre- ceded the usurpation of Popery. In some or in all of these, furious zealots affected to think they discerned too great a resemblance still subsisting between the two Churches, and stigmatized the Prayer-book as antichristian, the surplice as a rag of Babylon, and the Holy Communion as the mass in English. These Protestants of various shades of opinion were known in Britain under the general name of Puritans, and as schism in * A.D. 1689. The Upper House of Convocation sent down a bill to the Lower House, where the English Church was denominated a "Protestant Church." The Lower House expunged the word " Protestant," declaring they were not in unison with Protestants. IN AMERICA. 15 spiritual things naturally leads to temporal dis- obedience, they were very soon regarded (with what truth their subsequent history discloses but too painfully) as disaffected subjects, and treated alternately with suspicion or severity. To this state of things may be attributed in a great degree the settlement of New England. Individual enterprise had hitherto been found unequal to the task. Mines of gold and silver constituted the main inducement, in the first instance, to explore the country. When the search for the precious metals was relaxed or abandoned, attention was directed to the fur- trade and the fisheries, from which great wealth was derived. But the settlement of the country was a slow and expensive operation, not likely to yield an immediate return, and liable to be frustrated by a variety of circumstances. One hundred and twenty years had elapsed since the discoveries of Cabot, and every attempt at colonization had failed. Combination, therefore, was resorted to, that success might be insured by a union of means and an increase of the number of adventurers. James the First who was anxious to enlarge the limits of his dominions, divided all that portion of the continent that stretches from the 34th to the 45th degree of latitude into two immense provinces, of nearly equal size, and de- nominated them Southern and Northern Virginia. 16 THE ENGLISH The first he granted to an association called the London Company, and the second to a number of persons of influence and property known as the Plymouth Company. The supreme government of the colonies that were to be settled in this spacious domain was ordered to be vested in a council resident in England, and the subordinate jurisdiction was committed to local boards. The northern portion which was surveyed in 1614, by Captain Smith, was named by him New England, and it is to a part of this country only that I shall have occasion to refer, at any length. To allure settlers, the climate and soil were extolled as con- sisting of a sort of terrestrial paradise, not merely capable of producing all the necessaries and con- veniences of life, but as already richly furnished by the beautiful hand of nature ! The air was said to be pure and salubrious, the country pleasant and delightful, full of goodly forests, fair valleys and fertile plains, abounding in vines, chesnuts, wal- nuts, and many other kinds of fruit.* The rivers stored with fish and environed with extensive meadows full of timber trees. In the rear of this wonderful coast, and at about the distance of one hundred miles, it was said " there was a vast lake containing four islands, having great store of stags, fallow deer, elks, roebucks, beavers and other * See Belknap's "Life of Ferdinando Georges." IN AMERICA. 17 game, and offering the most delightful situation in the world for a residence." Whatever this inter- minable forest might contain, it was certain that the sea that washed its shores was filled with fish, and numerous and valuable cargoes were constantly arriving to silence the doubts and awaken the enter- prise of the mercantile community The distracted and unsettled state of men's minds on the subject of religion led many enthusiasts to think of the country as an asylum, who gladly entered into an enterprise that offered at once the prospect of gain and an exemption from ecclesiastical control. 