ing with those of the puritans, excited a spirit of persecution, and a law was passed banishing all Quakers from the colony, and imposing the penalty of death upon any who should return after banishment. Four persons who had been banished, returned, and were condemned and executed. They died in triumph, rejoicing in the opportunity they had ol evincing the sincerity of their faith. These cruel measures excited the pity of the people, and led some to defend the cause of the Quakers, and finally to embrace their sentiments. The puritans at length discovered their error and repealed their cruel laws; in that age of bigotry the wisest of men had not discovered, that all men have a right to worship God in whatever manner they please.

The government of England now began to look with jealousy upon the growing spirit of republicanism in the colonies. In 1663 laws were passed which confined all the trade of commerce between Europe and the colonies to English vessels. Against these restrictions the colonists made frequent complaints, but without effect. In 1064 the king sent over four commissioners to examine into the state of the colonies. They ex ercised their authority in Plymouth and Rhode Island, but their decisions were little regarded; in Massachusetts their authority was promptly rejected; in New-Hampshire they attempted to excite the people against the jurisdiction of Massachusetts, but their counsel was not regarded; they also made the same attempts in Maine; in Connecticut the commis sioners were received with respect and compliance, and for these marks of her loyalty she afterwards received the approbation of the British government. The laws restricting navigation, and the authority assumed by these commissioners from the king, may be considered as the commencement of those aggressions upon the rights of the colonists which led to the revolution.

The whites now began to perceive the designs of the Indians. Their hostility was daily manifested; and in June, 1075, they attacked the town of Swanzey, killed many of its inhabitants, and plundered and set fire to their houses. The troops of the colony soon appeared; but the enemy had fled, setting fire to every building they passed, butchering the whites and fixing their heads upon poles by the side of the road- The troops pursued but could not overtake them. The whole country was now roused to arms. Philip, sachem of the Wampanoags, perceiving the augmented forces of the enemy, left his post at Mount Hope and stationed his troops at Poc^sset, now called Tiverton; here the English attacked him, but were defeated with the loss of sixteen men. The Nirragansetts being now leagued with Philip, the English marched directly into their country, and forced them into a treaty of perpetual peace; this treaty, however, was violated as soon as the whites retired. The colo nists now laboured under every possible disadvantage; their settlements were surrounded with thick forests; Indians were living promiscuously among them, professing to be friendly but proving to be enemies; they were exposed at every turn to be shot by their foes. The commissioners perceiving that the Indians had conspired to exterminate the whites, declared war to be just and necessary, and ordered that two thousand men should be raised to oppose the enemy. The Narragansetts being the nearest and most dangerous tribe, the colonists, under the command ot Mr. Winslow, governor of Plymouth, marched into their country zad pursued them through a deep snow to their stronghold in the midst of a thick swamp. Their fortress was built on an island, and surrounded by a thick brush-fence a rod wide: it had but one narrow entrance, and that well defended. The whites determined to force this passage; the Indians fought bravely; but after a bloody contest the whites entered, ses fire to the fort, consuming about six hundred wigwams, with their old men women and children. About two hundred and thirty of the colon'sts

were killed or wounded, while the loss of the Indians was at least onr thousand slain. During the winter the Indians destroyed many towns and massacred great numbers of the defenceless whites. In the spring the people of Connecticut successfully invaded the country of the Narragansets, took theii chief sachem, and delivered him up to the Mohegans, who, being friendly to the whites, put him to death. Philip.had now collected a band of his scattered forces, and returned to his old station at Mount Hope. About the 1st of August, Capt. Church attacked him, took his wife and children prisoners, and killed about one hundred and thirty of his men. On this occasion Philip wept bitterly for the loss of his family, and exhibited the noblest feelings of human nature. One of his own men proposed to him to submit to the whites; Philip instantly shot him dead on the spot. A brother of this Indian, enraged at Philip, deserted his ranks and joined the colonists; this man, in a battle shortly after, shot Philip in revenge for his brother's death, and thus fell this great Indian warrior. This event put an end to the war, and the In dians now fled or sued for peace.

Soon after the close of this war the heirs of Gorges urged against Massachusetts their claim to the territory of the province of Maine; to satisfy these claims Massachusetts paid the sum of £1250 In 1680 New-Hampshire was separated from Massachusetts, and became a distinct colony. The government of England, dissatisfied with the state of affairs in the colonies, sent over Edward Randolph to secure the enforcement of the obnoxious laws relating to commerce He brought a message from the king, desiring the colonial governments to send agents to England, authorized to act with full power in behalf of the colonies. The people of Massachusetts suspected that the design of this movement was to get away their charter and bring the government of the colony under the immediate control of the king. The agents, therefore, who were appointed, were instructed, on no consideration to deliver up the charter.

In 1C84 the government of England declared the charter of Massachusetts to be no longer valid, and in 1686 Sir Edmund Andross was appointed governor of the colony. This was highly displeasing to the people of Massachusetts; they felt that a tyrant was now placed over them. The governor immediately imposed restraints upon the press, and broke in upon the religious and domestic regulations of the people; the titles of land given under the old charter were declared void, and exorbitant prices were demanded for securing new ones. These proceedings of the government provoked the people to madness, and they were ready to seize on the first favourable opportunity for redress. In 1689 news came from England that William, prince of Orange, had landed at Torbay, and was contending for the crown. The people of Massachusetts, inspired with hope of deliverance, at once flew to arms, arrested and imprisoned their oppressors and restored their former magistrates. The next arrival from England brought word that the Prince of Orange had gained possession of the throne, under the title of William III. This intelligence was received with great joy throughout New-England.

In 1692 William granted to Massachusetts a new charter, which extended her jurisdiction over the provinces of Plymouth, Maine, and Nova Scotia. By this charter the king reserved to himself the right of appointing the governor of the colony. On the 14th of May, Sir William Phipps, the first royal governor, arrived at Boston with the new charter, which in many respects was not so acceptable to the people as the old one. By an express provision tbe new charier granted entire liberty of conscience to all excepting Roman Catholics.

About this time the colonies were greatly harassed by the French of Canada, combined with the northern and eastern Indians. A fleet was

fitted out under the command of Sir William Phipps, to proceed against Quebec, and land forces were raised to march directly to Montreal. These movements were unsuccessful, and, instead of relieving the colonists, increased their burden of debt. In the midst of these calamities NewEngland was thrown into panic and distress by the strange delusions of wiichcraft. A few years before, in England, persons called witches were tried, condemned, and put to death in great numbers. Many respectable men had declared their belief that some persons were actually possessed with evil spirits; and the people of New-England, therefore, were prepared to receive with the utmost credulity the absurdities of this imaginary witchcraft. The infatuation had extended to all classes in society. Twenty persons had been put to death, and more than a hundred were to prison awaiting trial, when the magistrates, rinding that their own families were exposed to the same accusations, began to suspect that it was all * delusion. Those in prison were released, and the witches soon fled.

The English settlements were still harassed by the French and Indians. Peace followed for a few years, but war breaking out anew between Engand and France, hostilities at once commenced between their colonies. In February, 1704, the town of Deerfield, Mass., was attacked in the night by the Indians and French; the town was set on fire, and the inhabitants killed or carried prisoners to Canada. In 1711 a large fleet, under the command of Admiral Walker, left England for the purpose of subduing Canada. Having entered the river St. Lawrence, and disregarding the advice of the American pilots, he was driven upon the rocks and many of his ships dashed to pieces. This calamity defeated the object of the expedition; the Indians continued their depredations upon the colonies till 1713, when peace was concluded between England and France. In 1716 Samuel Shute was appointed governor of the colony; during his administration much contention prevailed between him and the house of representatives, respecting the governor's salary. The house contended for the right of rewarding him according to his services, while the king had ordered the governor to establish a permanent salary. This contest continued for many years, and was finally settled by a vote of the house of representatives, to grant a definite sum for the pay of the governor.

In 1744 war was again declared between England and France. During the time of peace the French had strongly fortified the port of Louisbnrgh on Cape Breton; this port gave French privateers every advantage for ruining the important fisheries on that coast, and for breaking up the trade of the colonies. A plan was concieved by one of the colonists foi taking this port, and communicated to the governor of Massachusetts. Having imposed an oath of secrecy upon the members of the general court, the governor made known the plan to them; at first the enterprise was considered as altogether hazardous and impracticable, but when made known to the people, all hands and hearts were ready for the undertaking. An army of more than four thousand men, under the command of William Pepperell, was soon landed on the island, while a fleet under Commodore Warren blockaded the harbour; a detachment marched round to the north-east part of the harbour in the night, and set fire to the buildings containing naval stores, tar, pitch, wine, brandy &c.; the flames and smoke pouring into the grand battery so terrified the French, that they spiked their guns and fled to the city. The next morning the New-Eng land troops took possession of the battery; they spent fourteen nights op to their knees in mud and water, drawing their cannon through a msrsh, from the landing to the camp, and they then turned them with great effect upon the city. The fleet in the harbour captured a French 64 gun ship, laden with stores, and five hundred and sixty men for the relief of the garrison. This threw the besieged into great distress, and with other adverse events, led the French on the 16th of June to surrender the city

This expedition displayed the spirit of New-England, and excited tho Jealousy of Great Britain. The next summer a large French fleet ol forty ships appeared on the coast, which spread great alarm through tho colonies; but the French, after many serious disasters, which destroyed nearly half their fleet, returned to France. In 1746 peace was concluded, and Cape Breton was restored to the French.

In no state of the Union has agriculture been more improved than in Massachusetts; she is also extensively engaged in the fisheries. In its shipping Massachusetts is the second state in the Union, being inferior only to New-York. The face of the country is diversified; the southeastern part is mostly level; through Berkshire county pass two moun tain ranges, the Taghkannic on the western border of the state, and be tween the Housatonic and Connecticut rivers the Green mountain range, here called Hoosic mountains. Mount Holyoke, near Northampton, it more than twelve hundred feet above the level of the sea, and Wachuseit mountain in Princeton is an isolated summit, from two to three thousand feet high; Saddle mountain, in the Taghkannic range, in the north-west corner of the state, is four thousand feet high, and Mount Washington, in the same range, in the south-western part of the state, is about three thousand feet high.

The government of Massachusetts consists of a governor, lieutenant governor, senate, and house of representatives; they are elected annu ally by the people; the governor must have iesided seven years in the state, and be worth a freehold of 1000 pounds, and declare his belief in the Christian religion; the lieutenant-governor must possess the same qualification. A council of nine persons besides the lieutenant-governor are elected annually by the joint ballot of the legislature, and not more than two can be chosen in one congressional district; they rank next to the lieutenant-governor. The senate contains forty members, who must possess a freehold of 300 pounds, and a personal estate of 600 pounds, and must have resided in the state for five years immediately preceding the election- The house of representatives contains three hundred and fifty-six members, who must possess a freehold of 100 pounds in the town for which he is chosen, or rateable estate to the value of 250 pounds. The judges and various other officers, as attorney general, &c., are appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the council; the judges hold their office during good behaviour; the secretary, treasurer, and receiver-general are appointed annually, by the joint ballot of both houses of the legislature. Every male citizen over twenty-one years ol age (excepting paupers and persons under guardianship), who has resided in the state one year, and in the town or district in which he may claim to vote six months next preceding an election, and shall have paid a tax in the commonwealth within two years, or shall have been ex empted from taxation, enjoys the right of suffrage.

NEW-HAMPSHIRE.

The first permanent settlement in New-Hampshire was made by tne English in 1623. John Mason and Ferdinand Gorges obtained from the New-England company a grant of this territory, and sent over a few pioneers, who made new settlements on the west side of the Piscataqua river—one near (he mouth, called Little Harbour, the other further up the river, at Cochcco, now called Dover. Portsmouth was settled in 1631, - and in 1638 a settlement was made at Exeter, by the Rev. John Wheelwright, who had before purchased the land of the Indians. Soon after the settlement of Exeter the inhabitants of that town organised a gov

ornment for themselves. For several years the government of e»ch town was distinct and independent; but finding that they were very much exposed to the ravages of the Indians, they placed themselves, in 1641, under the protection of Massachusetts. During the wars with Philip these feeble settlements suffered extremely from the barbarous assaults of the enemy.

In 1679 New-Hampshire was separated from Massachusetts, and mad* a distinct province. Its government consisted of a president and council, appointed by the king, and a house of representatives, chosen by the people. The assembly held its first session at Portsmouth, in 16?0, when a law was passed, declaring that "no act, imposition, law, or ordinance, should be imposed upon the inhabitants, but such as should be made by the assembly, and approved by the president and council." About this time a contest commenced which continued with more or less severity for many years. Robert Mason arrived at Portsmouth and laid claim to a large part of the territory; his claims were rejected, and returning to 'England, he induced the king to commission Edward Cranfield as the commander-in-chief of New-Hampshire; on his arrival he also met with opposition; he rendered himself contemptible and was obliged to leave the country. Mr. Waldron, a principal man in the colony, was very active in opposing the claims of Mason and Cranfield. In 1689 the people sent a petition to the king, praying that they might again be annexed to Massachusetts; the petition was refused, and the petitioners were obliged to submit to a separate government. Samuel Allen, who had purchased Mason's claim, was made governor of the colony; he at once renewed the old contests respecting lands; suits were laid against some of the principal landholders, but the court usually gave a decision in their fa

vour.

Major Waldron and others, of Dover, had by repeated acts of injustice roused the indignation of the Indians, who concerted a shrewd scheme for destroying the town. In consequence of the dangers to which they were exposed, the inhabitants had fortified several houses to which they repaired every night to sleep; the Indians sent several women, who were considered friendly to the whites, to seek lodging with them; they were instructed to throw open the doors of these houses in the night, and give a signal to the Indians, who were to be concealed in the immediate vicinity. The plan was successful. At midnight the signal was given, and the savages rushed into the houses; their vengeance was first directed towards Waldron, who, after bravely defending himselt, was overpowered and treated with the greatest barbarity. He was thrown upon a table, and each of the savages in turn gashing his breast with their knives, exclaimed, "Thus I cross out my account." At length they pat an end to his sufferings by rolling him from the table upon the point of his own sword. Many houses were plundered and burned; other towns were attacked, hundreds were killed, and many carried captive to Canada and sold to the French. These cruel depredations continued till 1697 when peace was again restored. In 1703 the colonies were again involved in a long and bloody war. In 1719 Londonderry was settled by emigrants from Ireland. In 1722 war broke out again with the French and Indians; During this war Capt. John Lovewell distinguished himself in fighting the Indians; in one of his expeditions he surprised a company of ten Indians who were asleep round a fire; the Indians jumping up, one after another, were shot on the spot, except one. who, attempting to escape, was seized by Lovewell's dog, and shared the same fate with the others. In another expedition Lovewell and most of his men were killed by the Indians, under the command of the famous I'augus. In 1746 the owners of Mason's title urged again their old claim: but meeting with no success they yielded, and settled this unhappy con