Among his numerous works, there is one that stands with monumental pre-eminence; it is the "Magnalia Christi Americana; or, The Ecclesiastical History of New England," from its first planting in the year 1620 to the year of our Lord 1698. It may justly be regarded as the most important book produced in America during the seventeenth century. Its scope will appear from the topics treated of in its seven books. The first book gives an account of the settlement of New England; the second contains "the lives of the governors and the names of the magistrates that have been shields unto the churches of New England;" the third recounts "the lives of sixty famous divines, by whose ministry the churches of New England have been planted and continued;" the fourth is devoted to the history of Harvard College, and of "some eminent persons therein educated;" the fifth describes "the faith and order of the churches; " the sixth speaks of "many illustrious discov eries and demonstrations of the divine providence in remarkable mercies and judgments"— the book in which, it is said, his soul most delighted; and the seventh narrates "the afflictive disturbances which the churches of New England have suffered from their various adversaries," namely, impostors, Quakers, Separatists, Indians, and the Devil.

The work is a treasure-house of information. No historian was ever better equipped for his work. Besides access to a multitude of original documents that have since perished, he was acquainted with many of the leading men of New England, and had himself been identified with various important political and ecclesiastical interests. Yet the manner in which he discharged the functions of historian is not altogether satisfactory. Perhaps he was too near the events to be strictly impartial. His personal feelings - his friendships or his animosities

were allowed, perhaps unconsciously, to color his statements; and in regard to his facts, he is open to the very serious charge of being careless and inaccurate. While his work is indispensable for a thorough understanding of New England history, it is always safe to have his statement of important facts corroborated by collateral testimony.

Notwithstanding his laborious application to reading and study, Cotton Mather was interested in a surprising number of philanthropic undertakings. He wrote a book entitled "Bonifacius, an Essay upon the Good that is to be Devised and Designed, with Proposals of Unexceptionable Methods to do Good in the World," a work that places philanthropy upon a business basis, and anticipates many of the benevolent associations of the present day. Of this book Benjamin Franklin says that it "perhaps gave me a turn of thinking, that had an influence on some of the principal future events of my life." 1 Cotton Mather sought to check the vice of drunkenness, and was perhaps our first temperance reformer. Though he purchased a slave (for slavery then existed in New England), he interested himself in the education of negroes, and at his own expense established a school for their instruction. He wrote a work on the Christianizing of the negroes, and noted in his Diary: "My design is, not only to lodge a copy in every family in New England, that has a negro in it, but also to send numbers of them into the Indies." He took an interest in foreign missions, and proposed to send Bibles and Psalters among the nations.

The darkest feature in the life of Cotton Mather a feature which avenging critics have by no means lost sight of is his connection with the witchcraft tragedy. In common with people of every class in his day, he believed in the reality of witchcraft. In 1685, the year he was ordained, he published a work entitled "Memorable Providences relating to Witchcraft," which had the misfortune of being quoted as an authority in connection with the Salem horrors. Looking upon himself as specially set for the defence of Zion, he gave himself with Old Testament zeal to the extermination of what he believed a work of the Devil.

Over against this dreadful delusion should be placed his heroic conduct in advocating vaccination at a time when it was considered a dangerous and impious innovation. When the

1 Autobiography, chap. i.

smallpox made its appearance in Boston, the physicians, with one honorable exception, were opposed to the newly advocated system of vaccination on the general principle, strange to say, that "it was presumptuous in man to inflict disease on man, that being the prerogative of the Most High." The matter was discussed with great bitterness of feeling; and the mass of the people, as well as the civil authorities, were against the new treatment. But Cotton Mather had been convinced of the efficacy of vaccination; and accordingly, though he knew it would cost him his popularity, and perhaps expose him to personal violence, he resolutely faced the popular clamor, and boldly vindicated the truth. It was only after the lapse of considerable time that he had the satisfaction of seeing the popular prejudice give way.

It was a great disappointment to Cotton Mather that he was never chosen president of Harvard College, a position to which he ardently, though as he thought unselfishly, aspired. On two occasions, when he confidently expected election, he was humiliated by seeing less learned men chosen for the place. He attributed his defeat to the influence of his enemies, and never for a moment suspected the real cause, which was a distrust, perhaps too well founded, of his prudence and judgment.

He died Feb. 13, 1728. Though not a man of great original genius, his mind was massive and strong. He had the quality which some have held to be the essential thing in genius, the power of indomitable and systematic industry. His spiritual life, while influenced by Puritanic ideals, was profound; and unbelief has sometimes mocked at experiences which it lacked the capacity to understand. He was followed to the grave by an immense procession, including all the high officers of the Province; and the general feeling was that a great man had fallen, the weight of whose life, in spite of imperfections, had been on the side of righteousness.

DAVID BRAINERD (1718-1747). Missionary to the Indians. A man of strong mental powers, fervent zeal, and extensive knowledge. "Mirabilia Dei inter Indicos" and "Divine Grace Displayed" are made up of his missionary journals.

MATHER BYLES (1706-1788). Congregational preacher, poet, and wit, of Boston. He published a volume of poems in 1736.

SAMUEL SEWALL (1652-1730). A graduate of Harvard, and chief-justice of Massachusetts in 1718. Among his works are "Answer to Queries respecting America," and especially his "Diary," which presents an interesting and graphic account of Puritan life in the seventeenth century.

MICHAEL WIGGLESWORTH (1631-1705). Congregational clergyman at Malden, Mass. His "Day of Doom," an epic of the Last Judgment, was for more than a century the most popular poem in New England. "God's Controversy with New England," written in a time of great drought, is also in verse.

MIDDLE COLONIES.

WILLIAM LIVINGSTON (1723-1790). A statesman, governor of New Jersey 1776-1790. Author of "Philosophic Solitude" in verse, “Military Operations in North America," and a "Digest of the Laws of New York." (See text.)

SAMUEL DAVIES (1724-1761). Presbyterian clergyman, and fourth president of Princeton College. He wrote a number of hymns still in use, and published five volumes of sermons popular in their day.

THOMAS GODFREY (1736-1763). First dramatic author in America. Served as a lieutenant in the colonial militia. Author of "Juvenile Poems on Various Subjects with the Prince of Parthia, a Tragedy." (See text.)

VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA.

WILLIAM BYRD (1674-1744). Founder of the cities of Richmond and Petersburg. Author of the " History of the Dividing Line" between Virginia and North Carolina -"one of the most delightful of the literary legacies of the colonial age."

JAMES BLAIR (1656-1743). Founder of William and Mary College. Author of "The Present State of Virginia and the College," and "Our Saviour's Divine Sermon on the Mount."

WILLIAM STITH (1689–1755). President of William and Mary College, and author of the "History of the First Discovery and Settlement of Virginia” ——“in accuracy of detail not exceeded by any American historical work."

JOHN LAWSON (16--1712). Surveyor general of North Carolina, burned at the stake by the Indians. The story of his adventures and observations was published under the title "History of North Carolina."