a valuable cargo, and manned with seamen and passengers from many of the best families in the colony. This loss discouraged, for a time, their commercial pursuits, and engaged their attention more particularly in the employments of agriculture.

34. This same year, 1639, Sir Ferdinando Gorges obtained of the crown a distinct charter, in confirmation of his own grant (Sec. 18) of all the lands from Piscataqua to Sagadahoc, styled the PROVINCE OF MAINE; soon after which, he formed a system of government for the province, and incorporated a city near the mountain Agamenticus, in York, by the name of Georgeana; but neither the province nor city flourished. In 1652, the province was taken under the jurisdiction of Massachusetts, by the request of the people of Maine, and continued in this connection till 1820, when it became a separate and independent state.

It would exceed our limits to examine the different grants of territory, which were made, at different times, of the state of Maine. In 1652, at the time the province was taken under the jurisdiction of Massachusetts, it was made a county by the name of Yorkshire, It had the privilege of sending deputies to the general court at Boston, Massachusetts laid claim to the province, as lying within her charter of 1628, and, after various controversies, the territory was incorporated with her in 1691. In 1786, 1787, 1802, and 1816, efforts were made by a portion of the people of Maine to become separate from Massachusetts proper; but to this a majority of the inhabitants were averse. In 1818, however, this measure was effected; and, on the 3d of March, 1820, the district, by an act of congress, became an independent state.

35. The next event of importance in our history, is the union of the colonies of Massachusetts, Plymouth, Connecticut and New Haven, 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 immediately 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 Narragansett and Mohegan tribes, came forward and submitted to the English government. The colonies also became formidable, by means of it, to the Dutch. This union was also made subservient to the civil and religious improvement of the Indians.

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 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 ardor, 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.

36. 1662. The colony of Connecticut, having petitioned King Charles II. through Governor Winthrop, for a charter of incorporation, his majesty, in accordance with their wishes, issued his letters patent, April 2d, constituting them a body corporate and politic, by the

name of The Governor and Company of the English Colony of Connecticut, in New England, in America.

The territory) granted to Lord Say and Seal, and Lord Brooke, in 1631, (Sec. 28,) and confirmed by this charter to Connecticut, was bounded east by Narragansett river; south by Long Island sound; north by Massachusetts; and extended west to the Pacific ocean.

The charter of Connecticut ordained that there should be a governor, deputy-governor, 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, (Sec. 32,) and continued to be the constitution of the colony and state of Connecticut, until the year 1818, when a convention was assembled which framed a new constitution.

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 Rhode Island and Providence plantations, as already noticed. (Sec. 29.)

37. In 1664, Charles II. granted to his brother, the Duke of York and Albany, the territory included in the several colonies of New York, New Jersey, and Delaware. In the course of the same year, the latter despatched an expedition, under command of Col. Richard Nichols, to the Dutch colony at Manhattan, which had, for many years, denied the right of the English to control it. This expedition arrived at Manhattan in August, and demanded a surrender of the territory to his English majesty. The Dutch governor, being unprepared for defence, complied with the demand, and the whole country passed into the hands of the English. In honor of the duke, the two principal Dutch settlements were now named New York and Albany.

The first settlement of the Dutch at Manhattan, in 1613, and their surrender to the English the same year, have already been noticed. (Sec. 9.) Soon after, however, they revolted; and, the claims of the English being neglected, they continued to man age for themselves, until the above year, 1664.

Nichols having entered the harbor, Stuyvesant, the Dutch gov

ernor, sent a letter to him, to desire the reason of his approach. To this the latter replied, the next day, by a summons to surrender. Stuyvesant, determining on a defence, refused to surrender; but, at length, finding himself without the means of resistance, and that many of the people were desirous of passing under the jurisdiction of the English, he surrendered the government into the hands of Col. Nichols, who promised to secure to the governor and inhabitants, their liberties and estates, with all the privileges of English subjects. The administration of Nichols continued for three years, and was marked by great integrity and moderation. Upon his return to England, in 1667, he was succeeded by Col. Lovelace, who administered the government with equal moderation.

38. 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 given it in compliment to Carteret, who had been governor of the Isle of Jersey, in the English channel. Soon after the grant, but before it was known, three persons from Long Island purchased of the natives. (a tract, which was called Elizabethtown grant, and a settlement was begun at Elizabethtown. Other towns were soon settled by emigrants from the colonies and from Europe. In consequence of these opposite claims to the territory, much discord prevailed between the proprietors and the inhabitants.

The first settlement within the limits of New Jersey was made by the Danes, about the year 1624, at a place called Bergen. Some Dutch families, also, about the same time, planted themselves on the Jersey side, near New York. In 1626, a colony of Swedes and Finns purchased land on both sides of the river Delaware, and formed a settlement on its western bank. In 1640, the English began a plantation at Elsingburgh, on its eastern bank. But this was soon after broken up by the Swedes, with the assistance of the Dutch from Manhattan. From this time, until 1655, the Swedes held possession of the country on both sides of the Delaware, when the Dutch governor, Stuyvesant, subdued them. The Dutch now held possession until 1664, when the territory passed into the hands of the English.

39. The next year, 1665, Philip Carteret, who had been appointed governor by the proprietors, arrived at Elizabethtown, which he made the seat of government.

He administered the government according to a consti tution which the proprietors had formed.)

This constitution ordained a free assembly, consisting of a governor, council, and representatives; the latter to be chosen by each town. The legislative power resided in the assembly; the executive in the governor and council. (See Sec. 46.)

40. DELAWARE was also included in the grant to the Duke of York. At this time, it was in possession of the Dutch; but an expedition being sent against it under Sir Robert Carr, it surrendered, October 1, 1664; soon after which it was placed under the authority of the English governor of New York.

Delaware was first settled in 1627, by a number of Swedes and Finns, who, at the instance of Gustavus Adolphus, king of Sw den, emigrated to America. They landed at Cape Henlopen which, on account of its beauty, they called Paradise Point; the Delaware they ramed Swedeland Stream.

The Dutch at New Netherlands laid claim, however, to the territory; and mutual contests subsisted for a long time between them and the Swedes. After several times changing masters, the territory finally surrendered to the Dutch, who held possession of it at the time of the English expedition against it under Carr, in 1664. It was now considered a part of New York. In 1682, however, the Duke of York sold the town of New Castle, and the country twelve miles around it, to William Penn, and, some time after, the territory between New Castle and Capo Henlopen. These tracts, then known by the name of "Territories," constitute the present state of Delaware. Until 1703, they were governed as a part of Pennsylvania; but, at that time, they had liberty from the proprietor to form a separate and distinct assembly; the governor of Pennsylvania, however, still exercising jurisdiction over them. (Sec. 49.)

41. After the reduction of New York by Col. Nichols, (Sec. 37.) he, with Sir Robert Carr, George Cartwright, and Samuel Maverick, proceeded to New England, under a commission from King Charles, "to hear and determine complaints and appeals, in all causes, as well military as criminal and civil," within New England, and to proceed in all things for settling the peace and security of the country,

The conduct of these commissioners was exceeding