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Character of the first Settlers.

of the first statesmen in America,* has thus characterised the fathers of New England. "Religious, to some degree of enthusiasm, it may be admitted they were, but this can be no peculiar derogation from their character, because it was at that time almost the universal character, not only of England, but of Christendom; had this, however, been otherwise, their enthusiasm, consider. ing the principles on which it was founded, and the ends to which it was directed, far from being a reproach, was greatly to their honour. For I believe it will be found universally true, that no great enterprise for the honour, or happiness of mankind, was ever achieved, without a large mixture of that noble infirmity. Whatever imperfections may be justly ascribed to them, which, however, are as few as any mortals have discovered, their judgment in forming their policy, was founded on wise and benevolent principles; it was founded on revelation and reason too; it was consistent with the best, greatest, and wisest, legislators of antiquity."

Inextinguishable zeal for liberty, was a prominent feature of their character. Not the mad democracy of modern growth, but a rational and safe enjoyment of civil and religious privileges, was the great object of their pursuit. For several years the government was administered by the governor, deputy governor, and judges of the court or assistants. In 1630, it was voted by the

* JOHN ADAMs, late President of the United States,

freemen of the Commonwealth, that they would choose the assistants themselves, that the assistants should choose the governors from their own body, who, with the assistants, should have the power of making laws, and of appointing officers to execute them. This surely was not democracy.* But a regard for religion was their master passion, which swallowed up the rest; this is evi-dent, not only from their constant professions, but from their customs, their institutions, their laws, and various other circumstances by which the character of a community is known.

A learned writer observes, "that laws are the best index of the spirit of a government; that had commerce been the object of those, who settled New England, their laws would have been commercial; but their object was religion; the first laws of New England were wholly adapted to promote religion.""

A law of Massachusetts, 1646, declares, that "if any one shall contemptuously treat the gospel preached, or the faithful preacher, in any congregation, or like Korah cast reproach upon the doctrine or minister, he shall for the first offence be reproved by the magistrate at some lecture, and bound to his good behaviour. For a second of fence, he should pay £5 to the public treasury, or stand two hours openly on a block or stool four feet high, on a lecture day, with this sentence in capitals fixed on his breast; “An open and ob

* HAZARD,

116 Their Affection for the Church of England.

stinate contemner of God's holy ordinances." The same year it was enacted that whoever neglected to attend public worship on the sabbath, and those fast and thanksgiving days, appointed by authority, "without just and necessary cause," should be fined 5s. for every such neglect. * Nor may we with justice pass over their generous and cordial attachment to "the mother country." An English writer, who early visited New England, declares, no people are more loyal, none more fond of the distinguished name of Englishmen." If there can be any doubt of this fact, an address, made by the founders of Massachusetts colony, to the church of England, when they left their native "We country, must give perfect satisfaction. esteem it our honour," say they, "to call the church of England our dear mother, and cannot part from our native country, where she especially resideth, without much sadness of heart, and many tears, ever acknowledging that such hope and part as we have in the common salvation, we have received in her bosom, and from her breasts; we leave it not, therefore, loathing the milk, which has nourished us, but blessing God for our parentage and education; as members of the same body, we shall always rejoice in her good, and grieve for her sorrow, desiring her welfare and the enlargement of her bounds. Commend to the prayers of your congregations, the necessities of your neighbours, the church springing out of your own bow

• HAZARD.

New Hampshire and Maine granted. 117

els. We conceive much hope, that your prayers will be a prosperous gale in our sails. We also entreat of you, that are ministers of God; we crave it of our private brethren at no time to forget us in your private solicitations at the throne of grace." Did ever children leave a parent's house in a more affectionate manner?

In the years 1621 and 1622, captain John Mason, and Sir Ferdinango Gorges, obtained grants of the Plymouth council (of which they were the most active members) of all the country between Naumkeag, (now Salem) and Sagadahock river; and back to the lakes of Canada. The track between Naumkeag and Merrimack, which was granted to Mason, hecalled Mariana. The rest, granted jointly to both, they named Laconia.

The next year (1623) they planted a colony, and established a fishery on Piscataqua river. About the same time a variety of other little settlements were formed, on the coast between the Merrimack and Sagadahock rivers. But none of them flourished, being "rather temporary establishments for traffic, than seed plots of future plantations." So slow was the progress of the settlements in this part of New England, that fifteen years after their commencement, (in July, 1638) when Josselyn sailed along this coast, he saw, he observes, no other than a mere wilderness, here and there by the sea side, scattered plantations with a few houses."

66

118

Views of the Settlers.

In 1629, the southeastern part of the present state of New Hampshire was purchased of the Indians, and a deed obtained of them by John Wheelwright and others from Massachusetts. The same year capt. Mason procured a new patent from the council of Plymouth, for a still larger tract, including this Indian purchase. This tract was now named NEW HAMPSHIRE.

For several years after this, the adventurers paid very little attention to agriculture. They imported their bread corn from England and Virginia. Their views were chiefly turned to the discovery of the lakes, and of mines, to the cultivation of grapes, to the peltry trade, and the fisheries. The peltry trade was of some value, and the fisheries. supported the inhabitants, but neither lakes nor mines were found, and the vines which they planted perished. Discouraged by ill success, the adventurers in England sold their shares to Mason and Gorges, who, in consequence, became the sole proprietors. They, in 1634, renewed their exertions to increase the colony, and appointed Francis Williams, a wise and popular man, its governor.

An attempt was made by Mason and Gorges, about this time, to divide New England into twelve lordships, under the direction of a general governor. This scheme was countenanced at court, but was never adopted, and produced no material injury to the rights of the settlers.