Here a plan of operations was formed. On the twenty-sixth of May, about the dawn of day, capt. Mason surprised Mystic. one of the principal forts of the enemy, in the present town of Stonington. On their near approach to the fort, a dog barked, and an Indian who now discovered them, cried out, "O wanux! O wanux!" Englishmen, Englishmen.

The troops instantly pressed forward and fired. The destruction of the enemy soon became terrible, but they rallied at length, and made a manly resistance. After a severe and protracted conflict, capt. Mason and his troops being nearly exhausted, and victory still doubtful, he cried out to his men, we must burn them!

At the same instant, seizing a firebrand, he applied it to a wigwam. The flames spread rapidly, on every side; and as the sun rose upon the scene, it showed the work of destruction to be complete. Seventy wigwams were in ruins, and between five and six hundred Indians lay bleeding on the ground, or smouldering in the ashes.

But though the victory was complete, the troops were now in great distress. Besides two killed, sixteen of their number were wounded. Their surgeon, medicines, and provisions, were on board some vessels, on their way to Pequot harbour, now New-London. While consulting what should be done in this emergency, how great was their joy to descry their vessels standing directly towards the harbour, under a prosperous wind!

Soon after, a detachment of nearly two hundred men, from Massachusetts and Plymouth, arrived to assist Connecticut, in prosecuting the war.

Sassacus, the great Sachem of the Pequots, and his warriours, were so appalled at the destruction of Mystic, that they fled towards Hudson's river. The troops pursued them as far as a great swamp in Fairfield, where another action took place, in which the Indians were entirely vanquished.

This was followed by a treaty with the remaining Pequots. about two hundred in number, agreeably to which they were d vided among the Narragansetts and Moheagans.

Thus terminated a conflict which for a time was eminently distressing to the colonies. This event of peace was celebrated throughout New-England, by a day of thanksgiving and praise.

Section XVII. The expedition against the Pequots made the English acquainted with Quinnapiak or New-Haven; and the next year, 1638, led to the settlement of that town. This, and

the adjoining towns, soon after settled, went by the name of the COLONY OF NEW-HAVEN.

Among the founders of this colony was Mr. John Davenport, a celebrated minister of London. Theophilus Eaton, who had been governour of the East India Company, and Edward Hopkins, a merchant of London. The unmolested enjoyment of civil and religious liberty was the object of their emigration, as it was of most of the emigrants to this country.

Having purchased the land of Monauguin, sachem of the country, whom they paid to his full satisfaction, on the 18th of April, they kept their first Sabbath in the place, under a large oak tree, where Mr. Davenport preached to them,

Section XVIII. The following year, January 14, 1639, the three towns on Connecticut river, Windsor, Hartford, and Wethersfield, finding themselves without the limits of the Massachusetts patent, met, and formed themselves into a distinct commonwealth, and adopted a constitu

tion.

This constitution, which has been much admired, and which for more than a century and a half underwent little alteration, ordained that there should annually be two general assemblies, one in April, the other in September. In April the officers of government were to be elected by the freemen, and to consist of governour, deputy governour, and five or six assistants. The towns were to send deputies to the general assemblies. Under this constitution, the first governour was John Haynes, and Roger Ludlow, the first deputy governour.

Section XIX. The example of the colony of Connecticut, in forming a constitution, was followed, the next June, by the colony of New-Haven. Both constitutions were essentially alike. Theophilus Eaton was the first governour of the colony.

Section XX. This same year, 1639, Sir Ferdinando Gorges obtained of the crown a charter of all the land from Piscataqua to Sagadahock, calling the territory the PROVINCE OF MAINE. He formed a system of government for the province, but it did not flourish. In 1651, or 1652, it was

taken under the jurisdiction of Massachusetts, by request of the people of Maine.

The Plymouth colonists had obtained a patent for land lying on the Kennebeck river in 1628, and had erected a house there for trade. Scattered settlements were made in the territory some years afterward; but the history of their progress is ob

scure.

Section XXI. The next event of importance in our history is the union of the colonies of Massachusetts, Plymouth, Connecticut, and NewHaven, by the name of THE UNITED COLONIES OF NEW-ENGLAND. The articles of this confederation, which had been agitated for three years, were signed May 19th, 1643.

To this union the colonies were strongly urged by a sense of common danger from the Indians, (a general combination of whom was expected,) and by the claims and encroachments of the Dutch, at Manhattan, New-York.

By these articles of union, each colony retained its distinct and separate government.-No two colonies might be united into one, nor any colony be received into the confederacy, without the consent of the whole. Each colony was to elect two Commissioners, who should meet annually, and at other times if necessary, and should determine “all affairs of war and peace, of leagues, aids, charges, and numbers of men for war," &c. Upon notice that any colony was invaded, the rest were imme diately to despatch assistance.

This union subsisted more than forty years, until the charters of the colonies were either taken away, or suspended by James II. and his commissioners.

In 1648, Rhode-Island petitioned to be admitted to this confederacy, but was denied, unless she would be incorporated with Plymouth, and lose her separate existence. This she refused, and was consequently excluded.

The effects of this union on the New-England colonies were in a high degree salutary. On the completion of it, several Indian Sachems, among whom were the chiefs of the Narraganset and Mokeagan tribes, came in, and submitted to the English goThe colonies also became formidable, by means of it, to the Dutch. This union was also made subservient to the Mvil and religious improvement of the Indians.

vernment.

Prior to this period, Mr. Mayhew and the devoted Elliot had made considerable progress towards civilizing the Indians, and converting them to Christianity. They had learned the Indian language, and had preached to the Indians in their own tongue.

Upon a report in England of what these men had done, a society was formed for propagating the Gospel among the Indians, which sent over books, money, &c. to be distributed by the Commissioners of the United Colonies.

The Indians at first made a great opposition to Christianity; and such was their aversion to it, that had they not been overawed by the United Colonies, it is probable they would have put to death those among them who embraced it.-Such, however, were the ardour, energy, and ability of Messrs. Mayhew and Elliot, aided by the countenance and support of government, and blessed by Providence, that in 1660, there were ten towns of converted Indians in Massachusetts. In 1695, there were not less than three thousand adult Indian converts, in the islands of Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket.

Section XXII. 1662. The colony of Connecticut, having petitioned king Charles II. through governour Winthrop, for a charter of incorporation, his majesty granted their request, and issued his letters patent, April 2d, constituting them a body corporate and politick, by the name of The Governour and Company of the English Colony of Connecticut in New-England in America.

The territory granted to lord Say and Seal, and lord Brook, in 1631, and confirmed by this charter to Connecticut, was bounded east by Narraganset river; south by Long-Island sound; north by Massachusetts; and extended west to the Pacifick Ocean.

The charter of Connecticut ordained that there should be a governour, deputy governour, and twelve assistants to be chosen annually. The charter instituted two general assemblies for each year, to consist of the above officers and deputies from the towns: the former to compose the upper, and the deputies the lower house. The government under the charter was essentially the same with that which the people had themselves adopted, in 1639, and continued to be the constitution of the colony and State of Connecticut until the year 1818.

This charter included the colony of New-Haven; but not being agreeable to that colony, it did not unite with Connecticut until two years after. The granting of a charter to Connecticut

was followed the next year, 1663, by a similar grant to RhodeIsland and Providence Plantations, as already noticed.

Section XXIII. The settlement of the Dutch at Manhattan, in 1615, and their submission to the government of Virginia, which sent an expedition against them the same year, has already been mentioned. But the succeeding governour threw off the English yoke, and from that time they had remained independent of the English. --Belonging to a different nation, and having different interests, they availed themselves of every occasion to perplex and annoy the NewEngland colonies. They even laid claim to a considerable part of Connecticut.

At length, king Charles II. sensible of the evil consequences of having a Dutch colony in the heart of his American dominions, determined to dispossess them. Accordingly in the year 1664, he made a grant of the whole country, including in it the several colonies of New-York, New-Jersey, and Delaware, to his brother, the duke of York and Albany.

An expedition was soon fitted out against the Dutch, under command of Col. Richard Nichols, who shortly after appeared at Manhattan, and demanded a surrender. To this demand, the Dutch governour, Stuyvesant, yielded Aug. 27, being unprepared for defence. Thus the whole country passed into the hands of the English. In honour of the duke, the two principal Dutch settlements were now named New-York and Albany.

Section XXIV. A short time previous to the surrender of the Dutch, the duke of York conveyed to lord Berkley, and Sir George Carteret, the territory of New-Jersey. This name was