Church in Westfield organized, (Note,) Salaries of Ministers and Governor, NOTES, &c. CHAPTER I. THE taking of Constantinople by the Turks in 1453, an event which spread sadness and sorrow all over Christendom, seems to have been the leading instrumentality in the civil and religious regeneration of the world. The capital of the Greek empire was the residence of the scholars and learned men of that age; and its fall, was the means of their dispersion all over Europe. Unable to stem the torrent of barbarism and ignorance that rushed in with the triumphant arms of Mahomet II., they fled in every direction; and wherever they wandered, they devoted themselves to the business of instruction. And thus they became the great promoters of the revival of learning which immediately succeeded the fall of the city of Constantine. In 1455, the art of Printing was invented-worth more than the gift of tongues to the church and the 14 DISCOVERIES OF COLUMBUS AND CABOT. world. In 1492, this Western World was discovered by Columbus; and in 1517, the immortal Luther blew the trumpet of the Reformation. These four great events, occurring within a single lifetime, have rendered the age of their occurrence second only in importance to that which is termed in scripture "the fulness of time," and in which the Saviour died for the redemption of a world. Thus it appears, that before the great principles of civil and religious truth were unfolded, God prepared scholars to defend them, and the press to circulate them, and an asylum for their persecuted and banished believers. The discoveries of Columbus in America, lay all of them to the South. In 1497, Cabot, the son of a Venetian pilot, and born in Bristol, sailed on a voyage of discovery, under the patronage of Henry VII. of England. He discovered New Foundland and Saint Johns, and explored the coast as far as Carolina. Because of this discovery by Cabot, the English claimed the whole country South to Florida, on the principle of the law of nations, that whatever waste land is discovered is the property of the prince at whose expense the discovery is made. The younger Cabot was, beyond question, the most extraordinary man of his age; and, although he gave to England a continent, the place of his sepulchre is unknown! Many years pass away before any advantage is taken of the dicovery of Cabot. In the year 1584, |