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 nouce that any colony was invaded, the rest were immediately to dispatch 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 Narraganset and Mohegan tribes, came in, 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 a 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 les han three thousand

adult Indian converts in the islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket.

Sec. 36. 1662. The colony of Connecticut, having petitioned King Charles II. through Governor Winthrop, for a charter of incorporation, his majesty granted their request, and 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 and confirmed by this charter to Connecticut, was bounded east by Narraganset 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, and continued to be the constitution of the colony and state of Connecticut, until the year 1818.

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. 37. In 1664, Charles II. granted to his brother, the Duke of York and Albany, the territory included in the several colonies of NewYork, New-Jersey, and Delaware. The same year the latter dispatched 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

Surrender of the Dutch at Manhattan. P. 85.

of this year, 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 al ready been noticed, (Sec. 9.) Soon after, however, they revolted, and the claims of the English being neglected, they continued to manage for themselves, until the above year, 1664.

On entering the harbor, Stuyvesant, the Dutch governor, sent a letter to Nichols, to desire the reason of his approach. To this letter, Nichols 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.

Sec. 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 com pliment 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