burgh, at the junction of the Monongah la and Alleghany rivers, are the most commercial places in the state. The other principal towns are Lancaster, Reading, Harrisburg, Easton York, Carlisle, Alleghany, and Erie.

The governor is chosen by the people for three years, but cannot hold the office more than six years in nine. He must be thirty years of age. and have resided in the state for seven years. The senate consists of thirty-three members, elected by the people for three years, one third being chosen annually. A member must be twenty-five years of age, and have resided four years in the state, and the last year in the district for which he is chosen. All judicial offices are appointed by the governor, with the advice and consent of the senate. The judges of the supreme court hold their offices for fifteen years. The presiding judges of the court of common pleas hold their offices for ten years. The associate judges of the court of common pleas nold their offices for five years. The secretary of state is appointed by the governor, and holds office during his pleasure. The treasurer is elected annually, by the joint ballot of both houses of the legislature. Every white person of the age of twenty-one years, who has resided in the state for one year next preceding an election, and ten days in the district where he offers his vote, and has paid a state or county tax, enjoys the right of suffrage. The legislature meets annually at Harrisburg on the first Tuesday of January.

By a splendid course of internal improvements, Pennsylvania has greatly extended and facilitated her trade, but has contracted the largest debt of any state in the Union, which she is abundantly able to discharge. but can only do it by a moderate taxation.

MASSACHUSETTS.

THE Plymouth company, soon after its incorporation, in 1606, sent out a ship to make discoveries within the limits of its grant; this ship was taken by the Spaniards. In 1607 they sent out another vessel, with one hundred persons, for the purpose of establishing a colony at the mouth of the Kennebec river, in Maine. Discouraged by the dreary appearance of the country, fifty-five returned in the ship that brought them over; the remainder suffered so much during the winter from hunger and cold, that they all returned the next year to England in a vessel that came to bring them provisions. The company, disappointed and disheartened, for several years made no further attempts to effect a settlement. In 1614, Capt. John Smith, in the service of the Plymouth company, explored the coast from Penobscot river to Cape Cod. He drew a map of his discoveries, and on his return presented it to Prince Charles, who was so much pleased with Smith's glowing description of the country, that he gave it the name of New-England. In 1615 Smith attempted to plant a colony on this part of the coast, but was unsuccessful, and all subsequent at tempts to form a settlement failed, until the arduous business was undertaken by men who were influenced by higher motives than the love of gain or of perilous adventure.

The first settlers of New-England were called Puritans, in derision of their peculiar opinions in matters of religion. To escape from persecution they left the land of their fathers, and after a long and stormy voyage arrived at Cape Cod, Nov. 9th, 1620. After exploring the country for several weeks, they fixed upon a spot which they called Plymouth, and there commenced on the 22d of December, 1620, the first permanent set tlement in New-England. Feeling the need of some form of civil gov

ernment among themselves, forty-one of their number, before they landed, soleninly adopted a constitution, and elected John Carver first gover nor of the colony. Miles Standish was soon after appointed commanderin-chief of the military. At first the colony was not molested by the Indians; Massasoit, the great sachem or chief of the country, was induced, after much hesitation, to enter the village, and after eating and drinking with the governor, made a treaty of friendship with the English, which was faithfully observed for more than fifty years.

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The long voyage of the colonists, the severity of the winter, and their numerous privations, brought disease and death among them, which carried off nearly half of their number before the return of spring. But the spirit of persecution in England induced many others to leave their homes and join the infant colony. In the year 1628, John Endicott, with about three hundred others, were sent over to prepare the way for another colony; they began a settlement which they called Salem; this colony received the name of Massachusetts, so called from an Indian tribe of this name, in that vicinity. The next year their colony was incorporated under the title of the "Governor and Company of Massachusetts Bay in New-England." This circumstance greatly increased · the spirit of emigration. In 1630, about fifteen hundred people arrived at the colonies; among them came Gov. Winthrop, with other officers, and many gentlemen of wealth and distinction, who brought over the charter of the colony; they founded the town of Boston. Among the towns earliest settled in this vicinity, were Charlestown, Dorchester, Watertown, Roxbury, Medford and Cambridge. Boston soon became the chief town in the colony, and the first general court of Massachusetts was held there, on the 19th of October, 1630. The settlers now endured great hardships from hunger and cold, and great numbers died the first winter; they had few or no accommodations, and their place of worship was under a large tree. For several years following the colony rapidly increased, and the settlements were greatly multiplied. The Massachusetts colonists, in wealth and education, were superior to the settlers of Plymouth; in other respects they were similar. The colonists of Massachusetts, according to their charter, were to assemble four times a year for the election of officers and the enactment of laws; but in 1634, it being inconvenient for them all to assemble, it was agreed by general consent, that the power of making laws should be transferred to a representative body, composed of delegates sent from each of the plantations. In the same year Roger Williams, the minister of Salem, having advanced opinions which gave offence, was banished from the colony; and in 1636 he founded the town of Providence, in Rhode Island.

In 1635 a large number of emigrants arrived in Massachusetts, among whom was Henry Vane. By his engaging deportment he won the hearts of the people, and the year following was made governor of the colony; but his popularity was of short continuance. About this time A an Hutchinson, a woman of considerable talent, but of more enthusia m, inculcated opinions which involved the whole colony in contentions; she soon gained great influence, and was supported by Mr. Cotton of Bos on, Governor Vane, and others of the first respectability; but at the ext election Winthrop instead of Vane was chosen governor; Vane eing disappointed returned to England, and afterwards became distinguished in the civil wars of that country.

The settlements in Massachusetts were now so highly esteemed in England, that many distinguished persons, desiring to enjoy a greater degree of civil and religious liberty, determined to leave their native shores; among them was Oliver Cromwell, who, when about to sail was expressly detained by order of Charles I. The Indians, now feeling that the whites or themselves must soon be exterminated, began to show

their hostility; at this time the Pequots and the Narragansetts, two pow. erful and warlike tribes, were living within the limits of Connecticut and Rhode Island; between these two tribes there existed the greatest enmity; the Pequots proposed that all animosities should now be laid aside and their forces united against the whites; but the Narragansetts, instead of agreeing to this proposal, made a treaty of friendship with the English, and heartily joined with them in a war against the Pequot tribe. In 1637, the colonies of Massachusetts, Plymouth, and Connecticut, sensible of their danger, combined their forces for the utter extermination of these savage enemies. Captain Mason, with about ninety whites and three hundred friendly Indians, was sent out against them. He attacked one of their largest villages, and after a severe contest, took their fort, set fire to their wigwams, surrounded the town, and shot many of the Indians in their attempts to escape. Of the Indians about five hundred were killed, but only two of the English. Soon after, a decisive battle was fought in a swamp near New-Haven, where the whole tribe had assembled. The swamp was surrounded by the whites, who, after a hot battle, gained a complete victory. Many of the Pequots were killed, many were taken prisoners, and the remainder of the tribe fled westward and joined the Mohawks. This battle terminated the war; the English were not again molested by the Indians for nearly forty years.

It was now ten years since the first settlement of Salem. About twenty-one thousand persons had already arrived in Massachusetts. But a change had taken place in England; the arm of persecution was bro. ken; the puritans had gained the ascendancy, and many, leaving the colonies, returned to England. Notwithstanding this check to the spirit of emigration, the colonies continued to increase with amazing rapidity in wealth and importance. In 1638 Harvard University was founded at Cambridge, and the next year the first printing press in America was there established. The first things printed were the Freeman's Oath, an almanac, and a new version of the Psalms. The means of mental and moral improvement were already considered of the first importance.

In 1643, the colonies of Plymouth, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New-Haven, joined in a confederacy for mutual advice and protection they were leagued under the title of "The United Colonies of NewEngland." Commissioners met twice a year alternately at Hartford, New Haven, Plymouth and Boston, to provide for the interest of the confederated colonies; they were thus united for more than forty years. Rhode Island desired to join the confederacy, but Plymouth would not give her consent. In 1641 the people of New-Hampshire placed themselves under the jurisdiction of Massachusetts, and in 1652 the province of Maine also came under her protection. This province was first granted to Sir Ferdinand Gorges, in 1634; he established a government over it, which in 1649 had lost its authority, and as Massachusetts claimed the province, as being comprised under her charter, the inhabitants submitted to her jurisdiction.

We have seen that persecution was the grand fault of that age. The purita. s themselves had been driven from home on account of their religious peculiarities; yet we soon find them cruelly persecuting others who d ffered from them in matters of religion. About the year 1650, three ptists came into Massachusetts from Rhode Island, and having assemb ed one sabbath morning to worship, they were taken by the public officers and carried to the congregational church, and there kept till the close of the service: soon after this they were tried and sentenced to pay a heavy fine or be publicly whipped. Mr. Holmes, one of the three, refusing to pay the fine, was punished according to the sentence; the friends of one paid his fine, and the other was released. In 1656 a number of Quakers arrived in Massachusetts; their sentiments not agree

ing with those of the puritans, excited a spirit of persecution, and a law was passed banishing all Quakers from the colony, and imposing the penalty of death upon any who should return after banishment. Four persons who had been banished, returned, and were condemned and executed. They died in triumph, rejoicing in the opportunity they had of evincing the sincerity of their faith. These cruel measures excited the pity of the people, and led some to defend the cause of the Quakers, and finally to embrace their sentiments. The puritans at length discovered their error and repealed their cruel laws; in that age of bigotry the wisest of men had not discovered, that all men have a right to worship God in whatever manner they please.

The government of England now began to look with jealousy upon the growing spirit of republicanism in the colonies. In 1663 laws were passed which confined all the trade of commerce between Europe and the colonies to English vessels. Against these restrictions the colonists made frequent complaints, but without effect. In 1664 the king sent over four commissioners to examine into the state of the colonies. They exercised their authority in Plymouth and Rhode Island, but their decisions. were little regarded; in Massachusetts their authority was promptly rejected; in New-Hampshire they attempted to excite the people against the jurisdiction of Massachusetts, but their counsel was not regarded; they also made the same attempts in Maine; in Connecticut the commissioners were received with respect and compliance, and for these marks of her loyalty she afterwards received the approbation of the British government. The laws restricting navigation, and the authority assumed by these commissioners from the king, may be considered as the commencement of those aggressions upon the rights of the colonists which led to the revolution.

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The whites now began to perceive the designs of the Indians. Their hostility was daily manifested; and in June, 1675, they attacked the town of Swanzey, killed many of its inhabitants, and plundered and set fire to their houses. The troops of the colony soon appeared; but the enemy had fled, setting fire to every building they passed, butchering the whites, and fixing their heads upon poles by the side of the road. The troops pursued but could not overtake them. The whole country was now roused to arms. Philip, sachem of the Wampanoags, perceiving the augmented forces of the enemy, left his post at Mount Hope and stationed his troops at Pocasset, now called Tiverton; here the English attacked him, but were defeated with the loss of sixteen men. The Narragansetts being now leagued with Philip, the English marched directly into their country, and forced them into a treaty of perpetual peace'; this treaty, however, was violated as soon as the whites retired. The colonists now laboured under every possible disadvantage; their settlements were surrounded with thick forests; Indians were living promiscuously among them, professing to be friendly but proving to be enemies; they were exposed at every turn to be shot by their foes. The commissioners perceiving that the Indians had conspired to exterminate the whites, declared war to be just and necessary, and ordered that two thousand men should be raised to oppose the enemy. The Narragansetts being the nearest and most dangerous tribe, the colonists, under the command of Mr. Winslow, governor of Plymouth, marched into their country and pursued them through a deep snow to their stronghold in the midst of a thick swamp. Their fortress was built on an island, and surrounded by a thick brush-fence a rod wide: it had but one narrow entrance, and that well defended. The whites determined to force this passage; the Inlians fought bravely; but after a bloody contest the whites entered, se! fire to the fort, consuming about six hundred wigwams, with their old men women and children. About two hundred and thirty of the colonists

were killed or wounded, while the loss of the Indians was at least one thousand slain. During the winter the Indians destroyed many towns and massacred great numbers of the defenceless whites. In the spring the people of Connecticut successfully invaded the country of the Narragansets, took their chief sachem, and delivered him up to the Mohegans, who, being friendly to the whites, put him to death. Philip had now collected a band of his scattered forces, and returned to his old station at Mount Hope. About the 1st of August, Capt. Church attacked him, took his wife and children prisoners, and killed about one hundred and thirty of his men. On this occasion Philip wept bitterly for the loss of his family, and exhibited the noblest feelings of human nature. One of his own men proposed to him to submit to the whites; Philip instantly shot him dead on the spot. A brother of this Indian, enraged at Philip, deserted his ranks and joined the colonists; this man, in a battle shortly after, shot Philip in revenge for his brother's death, and thus fell this great Indian warrior. This event put an end to the war, and the Indians now fled or sued for peace.

Soon after the close of this war the heirs of Gorges urged against Massachusetts their claim to the territory of the province of Maine; to satisfy these claims Massachusetts paid the sum of £1250 In 1680 New-Hampshire was separated from Massachusetts, and became a distinct colony. The government of England, dissatisfied with the state of affairs in the colonies, sent over Edward Randolph to secure the enforcement of the obnoxious laws relating to commerce He brought a message from the king, desiring the colonial governments to send agents to England, authorized to act with full power in behalf of the colonies. The people of Massachusetts suspected that the design of this movement was to get away their charter and bring the government of the colony under the immediate control of the king. The agents, therefore, who were appointed, were instructed, on no consideration to deliver up the charter.

In 1684 the government of England declared the charter of Massachusetts to be no longer valid, and in 1686 Sir Edmund Andross was appointed governor of the colony. This was highly displeasing to the people of Massachusetts; they felt that a tyrant was now placed over them. The governor immediately imposed restraints upon the press, and broke in upon the religious and domestic regulations of the people; the titles of land given under the old charter were declared void, and exorbitant prices were demanded for securing new ones. These proceedings of the government provoked the people to madness, and they were ready to seize on the first favourable opportunity for redress. In 1689 news came from England that William, prince of Orange, had landed at Torbay, and was contending for the crown. The people of Massachusetts, inspired with hope of deliverance, at once flew to arms, arrested and imprisoned their oppressors and restored their former magistrates. The next arrival from England brought word that the Prince of Orange had gained possession of the throne, under the title of William III. This intelligence was received with great joy throughout New-England.

In 1692 William granted to Massachusetts a new charter, which extended her jurisdiction over the provinces of Plymouth, Maine, and Nova Scotia. By this charter the king reserved to himself the right of appointing the governor of the colony. On the 14th of May, Sir William Phipps, the first royal governor, arrived at Boston with the new charter, which in many respects was not so acceptable to the people as the old one. By an express provision the new charter granted entire liberty of conscience to all excepting Roman Catholies.

About this time the colonies were greatly harassed by the French of Canada, combined with the northern and eastern Indians. A fleet was