minds of the natives, who saw and acknowledged that the God of Christians was great, and good, and a hearer of prayer.*

In the autumn of 1621, the plantation received an accession of settlers, of about thirty-five, of their friends from Holland. In the year 1625, their venerable and beloved pastor, the Rev. Mr. Robinson, died at Leyden, in the fiftieth year of his age. He was thus prevented from ever seeing his much loved American church. After his death, the most of his congregation came over to Plymouth.

The planters who first came to Plymouth were accompanied by Mr. William Brewster, a Ruling Elder in the church, who supplied, in a good degree, the absence of their pastor. He was a man of abilities and learning, having been liberally educated at the University of Cambridge, and of great piety. Being an able and useful preacher, he served the congregation in that capacity the greater part of the time till his death, about twenty-three years after the first settlement. The congregation, however, enjoyed the labours of other ministers during this period.

This little colony continued for many years in harmony, and were, perhaps, as eminent as any people which have appeared in modern time, for continuing steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

In 1621, the Virginia company passed an ordinance establishing the constitution of the colony. This provided that thenceforth there should be two supreme councils in Virginia, the one to be called the council of state, to be appointed and displaced by the treasurer and company, and to assist the governor with advice on executive subjects; the other to be denominated the general assembly, and to consist of the governor, the council, and two burgesses, to be chosen for the present by the inhabitants of every town. The assembly was empowered to consult and determine on matters respecting the public weal. It was declared that no acts passed by the assembly should be in force until confirmed by the general court in Eng* See Morton, and others.

land, and the ratification returned under its seal, and that on the other hand no order of the general court should bind the colony until assented to by the assembly. In 1622, the controversy which had for some time existed between the crown and the company, concerning the importation of tobacco, was at length adjusted by amicable agreement The king had demanded high duties on that article, while he admitted its importation from the dominions of Spain, and had also restrained the company from transporting it directly from Virginia to their warehouses in Holland, to which expedient his exactions had driven them. It was now agreed that they should enjoy the sole right of importing that commodity into the kingdom, for which they should pay a duty of nine-pence per pound, in lieu of all charges, and that the whole productions of the colony should be brought to England. The industry of the colony had now greatly increased. At peace with the Indians, their settlements had extended not only along the banks of James and York rivers, but to the Rappahannoc, and even to the Potowmac It now became extremely inconvenient to bring all causes to Jamestown before the governor and council. Thus originated the present county courts of Virginia. In this year the cup of prosperity, of which the colony now began to taste, was dashed from their lips, by an event which shook to its foundation, and nearly destroyed the colony. In the year 1618, Powhatan, the most powerful of the Indian kings in Virginia, who after the marriage of his daughter to Mr Rolfe, had remained faithful to the English, departed this life, and was succeeded by Opechancanough, a bold and cunning chief, remarkable for his jealousy and hatred of the new settlers; but for a considerable time the general peace remained undisturbed. The Indians were furnished with fi e arms, and taught the use of them; they were admitted at all times freely into the habitations of the English, as harmless visitants; were fed at their tables, and lodged in their chambers. The 22d of March

was designated as the day on which all the English were to be at the same instant attacked. Thus, in one hour, and almost at the same instant, fell 347 men, women, and children. The massacre would have been still greater,

had not information been given the preceding night, to a Mr. Pace, by an Indian, who disclosed to him the plot.— He immediately carried the intelligence to Jamestown, and the alarm was given to some of the nearest settlements, which were thereby saved.

As soon as intelligence reached England of these calamities of the sufferers, relief was ordered. Arms from the tower were delivered to the treasurer and company, and several vessels were immediately despatched with articles for their relief. While the Virginians were mourning their losses, the Plymouth company began to experience the distress of famine. By the time their planting was finished, 1623, their provisions were so far exhausted, that they had neither bread nor corn, for three or four months. A drought continued from May until some time in July. Under these afflictions, they appointed a day of fasting and prayer, to humble themselves before God.But a plentiful harvest soon followed, which was noticed by a day of thanksgiving.

Mr. White, a non-conformist minister at Dorchester, who had prevented some few of his countrymen who had settled around the bay at Massachusetts, from returning to England, by his assurances of procuring them relief and assistance, formed by great exertions an association of several gentlemen, who had imbibed puritanical opinions, for the purpose of conducting thither a colony, and rendering it an asylum from the persecution of his own persuasion. In prosecution of their views, a treaty was concluded with the council of Plymouth, for the purchase of part of New England; and that corporation, in March 1627, conveyed to Sir Henry Roswell and others, all that part of New England lying three miles to the south of Charles River, and three miles north of Merrimack river, and extending from the Atlantic to the south sea. small number of planters and servants were soon afterwards despatched under Endicot, a deep enthusiast, who, in September, 1628, laid the foundation of Salem, the first permanent town in Massachusetts. In the year 1629, soon after the organization of the company, under the sanction of the royal charter, they resolved a second embarkation for their new colony, to support the expenses

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In

land, and the ratification returned under its seal, and that on the other hand no order of the general court should bind the colony until assented to by the assembly. 1622, the controversy which had for some time existed between the crown and the company, concerning the importation of tobacco, was at length adjusted by amicable agreement The king had demanded high duties on that article, while he admitted its importation from the dominions of Spain, and had also restrained the company from transporting it directly from Virginia to their warehouses in Holland, to which expedient his exactions had driven them. It was now agreed that they should enjoy the sole right of importing that commodity into the kingdom, for which they should pay a duty of nine-pence per pound, in lieu of all charges, and that the whole productions of the colony should be brought to England. The industry of the colony had now greatly increased. At peace with the Indians, their settlements had extended not only along the banks of James and York rivers, but to the Rappahannoc, and even to the Potowmac It now became extremely inconvenient to bring all causes to Jamestown before the governor and council. Thus originated the present county courts of Virginia. In this year the cup of prosperity, of which the colony now began to taste, was dashed from their lips, by an event which shook to its foundation, and nearly destroyed the colony. In the year 1618, Powhatan, the most powerful of the Indian kings in Virginia, who after the marriage of his daughter to Mr Rolfe, had remained faithful to the English, departed this life, and was succeeded by Opechancanough, a bold and cunning chiet, remarkable for his jealousy and hatred of the new settlers; but for a considerable time the general peace remained undisturbed. The Indians were furnished with fi e arms, and taught the use of them; they were admitted at all times freely into the habitations of the English, as harmless visitants; were fed at their tables, and lodged in their chambers. The 22d of March

was designated as the day on which all the English were to be at the same instant attacked. Thus, in one hour, and almost at the same instant, fell 347 men, women, and children. The massacre would have been still greater,

had not information been given the preceding night, to a Mr. Pace, by an Indian, who disclosed to him the plot.He immediately carried the intelligence to Jamestown, and the alarm was given to some of the nearest settlements, which were thereby saved.

As soon as intelligence reached England of these calamities of the sufferers, relief was ordered. Arms from the tower were delivered to the treasurer and company, and several vessels were immediately despatched with articles for their relief. While the Virginians were mourning their losses, the Plymouth company began to experience the distress of famine. By the time their planting was finished, 1623, their provisions were so far exhausted, that they had neither bread nor corn, for three or four months. A drought continued from May until some time in July. Under these afflictions, they appointed a day of fasting and prayer, to humble themselves before God.But a plentiful harvest soon followed, which was noticed by a day of thanksgiving.

Mr. White, a non-conformist minister at Dorchester, who had prevented some few of his countrymen who had settled around the bay at Massachusetts, from returning to England, by his assurances of procuring them relief and assistance, formed by great exertions an association of several gentlemen, who had imbibed puritanical opinions, for the purpose of conducting thither a colony, and rendering it an asylum from the persecution of his own persuasion. In prosecution of their views, a treaty was concluded with the council of Plymouth, for the purchase of part of New England; and that corporation, in March 1627, conveyed to Sir Henry Roswell and others, all that part of New England lying three miles to the south of Charles River, and three miles north of Merrimack river, and extending from the Atlantic to the south sea. small number of planters and servants were soon afterwards despatched under Endicot, a deep enthusiast, who, in September, 1628, laid the foundation of Salem, the first permanent town in Massachusetts. In the year 1629, soon after the organization of the company, under the sanction of the royal charter, they resolved a second embarkation for their new colony, to support the expenses

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