land, for publishing books in this shape only, is a great check to the circulation of knowledge, in

Boston, though situated in the State of Massachusets, may be termed the capital of New England. The States comprised under this denomination are Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Mas sachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut; almost all settled by men, who found they could not re, main in England without being subject to persecu tion. They were chiefly Puritans; and though entertaining certain religious opinions, which some persons may consider absurd, were nevertheless men of independent minds, and inflexible constancy.

Mr. Irving remarks, that "the sage cabinet of England had adopted a certain national creed, a kind of public walk of faith, or rather religious turnpike, in which every loyal subject was directed to travel to Zion-taking care to pay the tollgatherers by the way. Albeit a certain shrewd race of men, being very much given to indulge their own opinions on all manner of subjects (a pro, pensity exceedingly offensive to your free governments of Europe), did most presumptuously dare to think for themselves in matters of religion, exercising what they considered a natural and unextin guishable right-the liberty of conscience." *

These men, finding themselves deprived of this natural right, and persecuted at home for en

*Knickerbocker's New York.

deavouring to exercise it, determined to leave their country, and endure all the difficulties and dafigers incurred by crossing the Atlantic and settling in a strange land, in order that they might worship the Almighty in the way they thought most agreeable to Him. The government and laws under the Puritans partook largely of their religious prefudices. They at first made the law of God," or the old Jewish code, absolute in their new country; and even afterwards, when they had time to form a more useful and sensible code, many of the laws were very curious and remarkable

to monum

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The following is a transcript of the Primitive Judicial Code, (which existed in the State of Con2942 194901 w bus necticut, during the time of the first Settlers, and their immediate Descendants,) commonly called "The Blue-Laws of Connecticut.

"1. The Governor and Magistrates, convened in Tol, Pits to qubenow, General Assembly, are the supreme power, under GOD, of this independent dominion.

2. From the determination of the Assembly no TOR 1986 to 9humb 19 appeal shall be made.

3. The Governor is amenable to the voice of the Atur dóm bag badeir people.

4. The Governor shall have only a single vote in SH. The 20 mije dala ka determining any question, except a casting vote when the Assembly may be equally divided.

bs 332 sd ragi apart4. 5. The Assembly of the people shall not be dismissed by the Governor, but shall dismiss itself.

6. Conspiracy against the 20507200 against the dominion shall be

punished with Death adj ta qithis bus

7. Whoever says, there is a there is a power holding jurisdiction over and above this dominion," shall be punished with Death, and loss of property.

8. Whoever attempts to change or overturn this dominion, shall suffer Death. Death.Foscontroversi

9. The Judges shall determine controversies

without a jury i stufeeds abon diok bin adt ta 10, No one shall be shall be a freeman, or give a vote, unless he be converted, or a member in free communion of one of the churches allowed in this dominion.

11. No one shall hold any office who is not sound in the faith, and faithful to this dominion;

and whoever gives a vote to such a person

bas enthom did on 16.

pay

shall p a fine of one pound. For the second offence, he shall be disfranchised.

12. No Quaker, or dissenter from the established worship of this dominion, shall be allowed to give a vote for the election of magistrates, or any any officer. 13. No food or lodging shall be afforded to a on yldrow std do noth hind dr me Quaker, Adamite, or other heretic.

14.. If any

any person turns quaker, he shall be banished, and not suffered to return, on pain of Death.

15. No Priest shall abide in this dominion. He

shall be banished, and suffer Death on his return. bobrody lengo

Priests may

be, seized by any one, without a war

rant.

16. No one shall cross a river but with an au

thorized ferryman.

17. No one shall run of a Sabbath-day, or walk in his garden, or elsewhere, except reverently to and from church.

18. No one shall travel, cook victuals, make beds, sweep houses, cut hair, or shave, on the Sabbathday.

19. No woman shall kiss her child on Sabbath or fasting day.

20. A person accused of trespass in the night, shall be judged guilty, unless he clear himself by his oath.

21. When it appears that an accomplice has confederates, and he refuses to discover them, he may be Racked.

22. No one shall buy or sell lands without the permission of the select men.

23. A drunkard shall have a master appointed by the select men, who is to debar him the privi lege of buying or selling.

24. Whoever publishes a lie to the prejudice of his neighbour, shall sit in the stocks, or be whipped fifteen stripes.

25. No Minister shall keep a school.

26. Man stealers shall suffer Death. dami to' 27. Whoever wears clothes trimmed with silver or bone lace above two shillings a yard, shall be presented by the grand jurors; and the select men

shall tax the offender at the rate of three hundred pound estate.

28. A debtor in prison, swearing he has no estate, shall be let out and sold to make satis faction.

29. Whoever sets fire to the woods, and it burns a house, shall suffer Death--and persons suspected of the crime shall be imprisoned without the benefit of bail.

30. Whoever brings cards or dice into this dominion shall pay a fine of five pounds.

31. No one shall read common prayer, keep christmas, or saints day, make minced pies, dance, play cards, or play on any instrument of music, except the drum, the trumpet, and the jews harp.....

32. When parents refuse their children suitable marriages, the magistrates shall determine the point. 33. The select men, on finding children igno rant, may take them take them away from their parents, and put them into better hands, at the expense of the parents.

34. A man that strikes his wife shall pay a fine of ten pounds;a woman that strikes her husband shall be punished as the court directs. ››

..35. A wife shall be deemed good evidence against her husband.

36. No man shall court a maid without first obtaining the consent of her parents-five pounds penalty for the first offence-ten for the second,