UNION OF THE NEW ENGLAND COLONIES.

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20. By these articles, 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.

21. 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 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.

The

22. Prior to this period, Mr. Mayhew and the devoted John Eliot 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. 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 Eliot, 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.

23. With the history of Massachusetts the early history of New Hampshire and of the Province of Maine is intimately connected. As early as 1041, the settlements which existed in the former were incorporated with Massachusetts; and in 1652, the

innabitants in the latter were, at their own request, taken under ner protection. As early as 1626, a few feeble settlements were commenced along the coast of Maine; but, before they had gathered much strength, the "Plymouth Council" granted to several companies portions of the same territory, from the Piscataqua to the Penobscot. These conflicting patents gave rise, in after years, to long and angry litigation.

24. In 1639 Sir Ferdinand Gorges, who had obtained a royal charter of the province, first established a government over it, and the following year a General Court was held in Saco. His death occurring in 1649, the officers whom he had appointed deserted it, upon which the inhabitants found it necessary to provide for themselves, and accordingly sought the jurisdiction of Massachusetts.

25. In 1664 a royal fleet, destined for the reduction of the Dutch colonies on the Hudson, arrived in Boston, on board of which were four commissioners, Colonel Nichols, commander of the fleet, Sir Robert Carr, George Cartwright, and Richard Maverick, - authorized and directed to look after the colonies of his majesty, and to proceed to settle the peace and security of the country. King Charles entertained no good will towards them, and the measure was considered a hostile one.

26. The conduct of the commissioners was exceedingly arbitrary and offensive. Under pretext of executing their commission, they received complaints against the colonies from the Indians; required persons, against the consent of the people, to be admitted to the privileges of freemen, to church membership, and full communion; heard and decided in causes which had already been determined by the established courts; and gave protection to criminals. After involving the colonies in great embarrassment and expense (although little attention was paid to their acts), they were recalled, and the colonies enjoyed a season of peace and prosperity, till the breaking out of King Philip's War.

27. The year 1675 was distinguished for a memorable war in New England with the Indians, called KING PHILIP'S WAR; by which the peace of the colonies was greatly disturbed, and their existence, for a time, seriously endangered. For several years

* Massachusetts was the principal theatre of this war; but other portions of New England experienced a measure of its horrors, especially New Hamp shire. For several years previous to its occurrence, the colonies had enjoyed unusual peace and tranquillity. Mr. Bancroft estimates the white popula tion in New England, at this time, at fifty-five thousand; of which he assigns seven thousand to Plymouth, fourteen thousand to Connecticut,

KING PHILIP'S WAR COMMENCES.

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previous to the opening of the war, the Indians had regarded the English with growing jealousy. They saw them increasing in numbers, and rapidly extending their settlements. The pros pect before them was humbling to the haughty descendants of the original lords of the soil.

28. The principal exciter of the Indians was Philip, sachem of the Wampanoags, son and successor of Masassoit, who, fifty years before, had made a treaty with the colony of Plymouth. (Page 41.) The residence of Philip was at Mount Hope, in Bristol, Rhode Island. The immediate cause of the war was the execution of three Indians by the English, whom Philip had excited to murder one Sausaman, an Indian missionary. Sausaman, being friendly to the English, had informed them that Philip, with several tribes, was plotting for their destruction. The execution of these men roused the anger of Philip, who armed his men and commenced hostilities. Their first attack was made on the 4th July, upon the people of Swanzey, in Plymouth colony, as they were returning from public worship, on a day of humiliation and prayer, appointed under an apprehension of an approaching war. Eight or nine persons were killed.

29. The country being immediately alarmed, the troops of the colony repaired to the defence of Swanzey, where, being joined by troops from Boston, they attacked Philip's forces, killing several. Philip left Mount Hope the same night; marking his route, however, with the burning of houses and the scalping of the defenceless inhabitants. It being known that the Narragansets favored the cause of Philip, he having sent his twenty-two thousand to Massachusetts proper, four thousand to each of the colonies Maine, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. "Haverhill, on the Merrimack," he says, "was a frontier town; from Connecticut, emigrants had ascended the river as far as the rich meadows of Deerfield and Northfield; but to the west, Berkshire was a wilderness; Westfield was the remotest plantation. Between the towns on Connecticut river and the cluster of towns near Massachusetts Bay, Lancaster and Brookfield were the solitary settlements of Christians in the desert. The colonies, except Rhode Island, were united; the government of Massachusetts extended to the Kennebec, and included more than half the population of New England; the confederacy of the colonies had been renewed, in anticipation of dangers." The number of Indians in all New England, west of the St. Croix, the same writer estimates at forty-five or fifty thousand. Of these, twelve thousand are supposed to have dwelt in Massachusetts and Plymouth, and only four thousand in New Hampshire. Connecticut and Rhode Island were quite populous. The number in Maine, also, was considerable. Great efforts had been made, especially in Massachusetts, by the English, to instruct and evangelize the Indians, by Eliot and the Mayhews. And at one time, it is said, that a larger proportion of the Massachusetts Indians could read and write than recently of the inhabitants of Russia.

women and children to them for protection, the Massachusetts forces, under Captain Hutchinson, proceeded into their country, either to renew a treaty or give them battle. Fortunately, a treaty was concluded, and the troops returned.

30. On the 27th of July, news arrived that Philip was in a swamp at Pocasset, now Tiverton. The Massachusetts and Plymouth forces immediately marched to that place, and the next day charged the enemy in their recesses. As the troops entered the swamp, the Indians continued to retire. The English in vain pursued, till night, when the commander ordered a retreat. Many of the English were killed, and the enemy took courage. It being impossible to encounter the Indians with advantage in the swamps, it was determined to starve them out; but Philip apprehending their design, contrived to escape, with his forces, to the Nipmucks, in Worcester county, whom he induced to assist him. This tribe had already commenced hostilities against the English; but, in the hope of reclaiming them, Captains Wheeler and Hutchinson were sent to treat with them. But the Indians, having intimation of their coming, lurked in ambush for them, and fired upon them, killing some and mortally wounding others, of whom Captain Hutchinson was one.

31. The remainder fled to Quaboag, Brookfield, closely pursued by the Indians, who burnt every house excepting the one

TRAGICAL SCENE AT MUDDY BROOK.

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musket-balls upon it; with long poles they next thrust against it brands and combustibles; they shot arrows of fire; they loaded a cart with flax and tow, and, with long poles fastened together, they pushed it against the house. Destruction seemed inevitable. But when the house was kindling, and the savages stood ready to destroy the first that should open the door to escape, a torrent of rain descended, and suddenly extinguished the kindling flames." At length, Major Willard came to their relief, raised the siege, and destroyed a considerable number of the assailants.

32. During the month of September, Hadley, Deerfield, and Northfield, on Connecticut river, were attacked, and several inhabitants killed, and many buildings consumed. Captain Lathrop, with several teams, and eighty young men, having been sent to Deerfield to transport a quantity of grain to Hadley, were suddenly attacked by nearly eight hundred Indians, while stopping at Muddy Brook to gather grapes. Resistance was in vain; seventy of these young men fell, and were buried in one grave. Captain Mosely, then at Deerfield, hearing the report of the guns, hastened to the spot, and attacked the Indians, killed ninety-six, and wounded forty, losing but two of his number.

33. Early in October, the Springfield Indians concerted a plan with the hostile tribes, to burn that town. Having, under cover of night, received two or three hundred of Philip's men into their fort, they set fire to the town. The plot, however, was discovered so seasonably, that troops from Westfield arrived in time to save the town, excepting thirty-two houses, which had been previously consumed. Soon after hostilities were commenced by Philip, the Tarrenteens began their depredations in New Hampshire and the Province of Maine. They robbed the boats and plundered the houses of the English. In September, they fell on Saco, Scarborough and Kittery, killing between twenty and thirty of the inhabitants, and consigning their houses, barns and mills, to the flames.

34. Elated with these successes, they next advanced towards the Piscataqua, committing similar outrages at Oyster River, Salmon Falls, Dover and Exeter. Before winter, sixty of the English, in that quarter, were killed, and nearly as many buildings consumed.

35. Notwithstanding the Narragansets had pledged themselves, by their treaty, not to engage in the war, it was discovered that they were taking part with the enemy. Upon this, Governor Winslow, of Plymouth, with about one thousand eight