duty. Of all the monuments,' says an elegant writer, 'raised to the memory of distinguished men, the most appropriate, and the least exceptionable, are those whose foundations are laid in their own works, and which are constructed of materials, supplied and wrought by their own labors.'* It is incumbent, therefore, on the historian, to transmit faithfully and impartially to posterity the genuine materials, that the noble fabric may with facility be constructed and rendered conspicuous. If the glorified spirits of our forefathers can be supposed sensible to what passes in this world, where they acted their part, they must enjoy the most sublime recompense, in the knowledge that, by the wisdom and goodness of God, the little band of pilgrims have been multiplied to millions, and that their posterity are permitted to assemble in superb edifices to sing their maker's praise, and recount the toils and virtuous principles of the pious founders of our empire. The vessels designed for the transportation of the emigrants across the Atlantic, were the Speedwell, of 60 tons, of which Mr. Reynolds was master, and the Mayflower of 180 tons, of which Mr. Jones was master. A governor, and two assistants were chosen for each vessel, whose duties were to preserve regular order among the passengers, and direct the disposal of the provisions, and other necessary concerns. The emigrants being prepared for their departure, the Speedwell received them on board at Delfthaven, in Holland, July 22d, 1620, and proceeded to Southampton, in England, where they found the Mayflower prepared to accompany them. At the quay at Delfthaven, a multitude of people assembled to witness the embarkation of the first company destined to people the new world, and to unite their sympathies and prayers for their safety and prosperity. At the moment of their going on board, Mr. Robinson fell on his knees, and with eyes overflowing with tears, in a most fervent and solemn prayer, committed them to their Divine protector. "The winds and waves are roaring; The pilgrims met for prayer; They knelt in open air.” Whose imagination can paint a scene so vibrating to the chords of sympathy? Parents and children on bended knees, imploring the protection of heaven, when about to be separated forever from their dearest friends and possessions, and go they know not whither! * Hon. Josiah Quincy, in the life of his father. The two ships sailed from Southampton in company on the 5th of August, 1620, but they had not proceeded far, when the Speedwell was found to be too leaky to perform the voyage, and both vessels put into the harbor of Dartmouth, where the leaks were stopped. After which, they again proceeded on their voyage, but the same vessel again proved unseaworthy, and they both repaired to Plymouth harbor, where the Speedwell was discharged from the service, and all those who were unwilling to proceed on the voyage were dismissed with the Captain of the Speedwell, who, from bribery, probably, proved himself unfaithful to his trust, and the whole company was crowded into the Mayflower. This ship, after many disheartening vicissitudes, sailed from Plymouth, the last English port, September 6th, 1620, but, on her voyage, had to encounter contrary winds and boisterous storms, by which she suffered great damage, and was exposed to imminent danger. With much difficulty, she was repaired at sea, and enabled to perform the voyage. The adventurers made the land of Cape Cod, the 9th of November. After some deliberation between the master and passengers, it was resolved to tack about, and direct their course to the South, according to their original destination to Hudson's river. But soon finding themselves among dangerous shoals and breakers, and the season being far advanced, they abandoned this design, and on the 11th of November, Old Style, anchored safely in the harbor of Cape Cod, being in number 101 English settlers, including 28 females, who * Cape Cod received its name from Captain Gosnold, who caught abundance of Codfish there when he discovered it in 1602. * Explanation of Old and New Style. The correction of the Calendar by Pope Gregory, in 1582, was not adopted by the British Parliament till 1751, when it was directed that eleven days in September, 1752, should be retrenched, and the third day of that month reckoned the fourteenth. This mode of reckoning was called New Style, or the Gregorian account, and the year was made to commence on the first of January, instead of the 25th of March, as formerly. The Old Style, or Julian account, is so called from Julius Cæsar, who regulated the Calendar about 40 years before Christ. Before the year 1752, there was sometimes a confusion in dates, being difficult to determine, whether January, February, and a part of March closed the year, or began the new one. Hence the mode of double dates, as March 20th, 1676-7. This would be 1676, Old Style, because it would lack five days to complete the year, but in the New Style it would be "77, because, according to that style, the year commenced the first day of January, and March would be the third month of the new year. The double dating has not been practised since the year 1752. In the Massachusetts Colony, our ancestors numbered the days of accompanied their husbands, and 42 children and servants. The number of males qualified to act in state affairs being forty-one. On their arrival, their spirits aspired to heaven, and falling on their knees, they blessed God, who had brought them over the furious ocean, and delivered them from many perils and miseries. The original destination of the settlers was Hudson's river, that they might be within the Virginia patent; but according to the positive assertion of Secretary Morton, the captain was bribed by the Dutch Governor to conduct them to New England, and thereby place them beyond the protection of any English charter. This Providential event, however, proved auspicious to their enterprise and future prosperity, as the native inhabitants of the place had been destroyed by pestilence a few years before, whereas the natives at and near the Hudson, were so numerous, that a landing there would have proved extremely hazardous, if not absolutely impracticable. On the day of their arrival at Cape Cod, they landed 15 or 16 men, headed by Captain Miles Standish, well provided with arms, to procure wood, and to reconnoitre the place. They immediately commenced repairing their shallop, that they might explore the harbors and shores. Well apprised of the value and necessity of a form of civil government to restrain the vicious and strengthen their momentous undertaking, these honest-hearted people, before leaving the cabin of the Mayflower, but not before solemnly invoking the Throne of the almighty, unanimously subscribed to the following judicious compact providing for equal and social rights, and promising subordination and obedience to the laws. This first essay in the civilized world to found a republican constitution of government, ought in justice to immortalize the names affixed to the instrument which has proved the charter of our liberties. the week, beginning as the 1st, 2d, 3d, &c. to the 7th, which is Saturday, and the months, according to the Roman Calendar, beginning with March as the 1st, 2d, 3d, &c. to February, because they wished to avoid all memory of, or reference to, heathenish and idol names. * November, 17th, 1620, William Butten, a youth, and servant to Samuel Fuller, died at sea, being the only passenger who died on the voyage. December 15th, died, Edward Thompson, servant of Mr. White, the first death after their arrival at Cape Cod. December 17th, died, Jasper, a son of Mr. Carver. 66 18th, drowned, Dorothy Bradford wife of Mr. Wm. B. 66 19th, died, James Chilton. January 1st, 1621, died, Richard Britterige, the first who died in Plymouth harbor. 'In the name of God, Amen. We whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread sovereign lord, King James, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland, king, defender of the faith, &c. having undertaken for the glory of God and advancement of the christian faith and honor of our King and country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia, do, by these presents, solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God and of one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body politic, for our better ordering and preservation, and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof, do enact, constitute, and frame such just and equal laws and ordinances, acts, constitutions, and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the colony, unto which we promise all due subjection and obedience. In witness whereof, we have hereunto subscribed our names, at Cape Cod, the 11th day of November, in the year of the reign of our sovereign Lord, King James of England, France and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth, Anno Domini, 1620.' This compact was subscribed in the following order by Mr. John Carver,† 8 2 * Thomas Rogers, 5 6 * John Ridgdale,† Edward Fuller,† Mr. Isaac Allerton,† Mr. Samuel Fuller, *Mr. Christopher Martin,† Mr. Richard Warren, John Howland, (of Carver's family,) Mr. Stephen Hopkins,† 5 Moses Fletcher, * Edward Tilly,t * John Tilly,t Francis Cook, 4 George Soule, (of Edward Winslow's family) 3 * Richard Clarke, 2 Richard Gardiner, 1 1 †Those with this mark brought their wives. * Those who died before the end of the next March are distin guished by an asterisk. *Thomas English, "This brief, and comprehensive, and simple instrument established a most important principle, a principle which is the foundation of all the democratic institutions of America, and is the basis of the republic; and however it may be expanded and complicated in our various constitutions, however unequally power may be distinguished in the different branches of our various governments, has imparted to each its strongest and most striking characteristic. Many philosophers have since appeared, who have, in labored treatises, endeavored to prove the doctrine, that the rights of man are unalienable, and nations have bled to defend and enforce them, yet in this dark age, the age of despotism and superstition, when no tongue dared to assert, and no pen to write this bold and novel doctrine, which was then as much at defiance with common opinion as with actual power, of which the monarch was then held to be the sole fountain, and the theory was universal, that all popular rights were granted by the crown, in this remote wilderness, amongst a small and unknown band of wandering outcasts, the principle that the will of the majority of the people shall govern, was first conceived, and was first practically exemplified. The pilgrims, from their notions of primitive christianity, the force of circumstances, and that pure moral feeling which is the offspring of true religion, discovered a truth in the science of government which had been concealed for ages. On the bleak shore of a barren wilderness, in the midst of desolation, with the blast of winter howling around them, and surrounded with dangers in their most awful and appalling forms, the pilgrims of Leyden laid the foundation of American liberty.'-Baylies, vol. i. p. 29. John Carver was elected to officiate as Governor for one year. Seventeen days elapsed before the shallop could be repaired fit for service; during the interval, the new comers employed themselves in exploring the shores in the long-boat, and traversing the woods on Cape Cod. On Monday, November 13th, the women were set ashore to wash, and their shallop brought on shore for repairs. The men formed a company to travel into the interior to view the land, and endeavor to discover the inhabitants: they were commanded by Capt. Miles Standish, well armed, and master Jones, of the Mayflower, being desirous of joining in the excursion, was made their pioneer. They spent |