to which they were very affectionately addressed by their pious pastor (Dr. ROBINSON) who in fervent prayer commended them to the holy keeping of HIM, who rules the destines of all men. At 11 A. M. with a fair wind they set sail, and bid adieu forever to their native country. Nothing material occurred to obstruct their passage until the 20th, when they experienced a tremendous gale, which threatened them with instant destruction!-for three days succes sively they were tossed about at the mercy of the waves -the ships were however enabled to keep company until the storm had somewhat abated, when those on board one of them conceiving their vessel no longer seaworthy, abandoned her and were received on board the other. On the 10th November, they to their enexpressible joy, discovered land, which proved to be that of Cape Cod, where they with much difficulty the day following succeeded in landing-as soon as on shore they fell upon their knees and returned thanks to the Almighty for enableing them to reach in safety their place of destination. -But, although they had thus far succeeded in their views, although they had been enabled to flee from persecution, to cross a wide and boisterious ocean, what was their situation now!-sojourners in a foreign land !→ traversing the broken and unwrought shores of a wild and unexplored country!--they found here no friends to welcome them, or house to shelter them from the inclemency of an approaching winter!-on one side they beheld nought but a hideous and desolate wilderness, the habitation of wild and verocious animals, and probably the abode of a race of beings not less wild and unmerciful!-on the other, the briney ocean foaming and with tremendous roar dashing against the huge and projecting rocks, which as far as the eye could perceive, marked the sea-beaten shores ! After succeeding with much difficulty in discovering a harbor in which their ships could ride with safety, they made choice of ten of the most resolute of their number to explore the adjacent country, and discover if possible a more convenient place for their future abode ; who, on the morning of the 16th, provided with a musket each, set out for this purpose-they had not penetrated the woods above three miles when they discovered five of the natives (which were the first seen by them since their arrival) they were cloathed with the skins of animals, and armed with bows and arrows-the English, with signs of friendship made toward them, but were no sooner discovered by the savages, than they, with a terrible yell, fled with the greatest precipitancy :-night approaching, the English erected a small temporary encampment and after placing their sentinels retired to rest. Early the ensuing morning they continued their journey, following for a considerable distance the tracts of the five Indians above mentioned, in hopes thereby to discover their habitations and obtain therefrom a fresh supply of provision, of which they were much in want; but in this they did not fully succeed.-At about noon they arrived at an extensive plat of clear ground, near which they discovered a pond of fresh water, and several small hillocks of raised earth, which they conjectured to be the graves of the Indians-proceeding a little further west they discovered a large quantity of stubble, which they imagined to be that of some kind of Indian grain peculiar to the country; they also discovered a spot where they suspected an Indian but had recently stood, as they found nearby some planks curiously wrought and a small earthern pot-proceeding still farther they discovered a number more of the little hillocks of broken ground as above described, and which they now began to suspect to be the place of deposit of something more than the dead!-curiosity leading them to examine more closely one of these what they had before supposed to be Indian sepulchers, they to their great surprize, found it to contain a large quantity of the Indian grain (corn) above mentioned it was still in the ear, and excited to no small degree the curiosity of the English, as they had never before seen any thing of the kind-by a few of the company the discovery was deemed of importance, but by others (who had attempted to eat of the corn in its raw state) it was pronounced indifferent food, of little value!-they however concluded it best to return and make known the discovery to their brethren. Having succeeded with some difficulty in reaching the place from which they started, they were met by those whom they had left behind with the most unspeakable joy and satisfaction: to whom they exhibited a specimen of the grain which they had found, and recommended the spot from which it was procured, as the most convenient and suitable at which to abide through the ap proaching winter. The company accordingly on the 25th proceeded for and in safety reached the place above mentioned, with which being so much pleased, they termed New Plymouth, in remembrance of the port at which they last embarked in Europe;-here they concluded to abide until such time as further discoveries could be made they erected a few temporary huts, sufficient to shelter them from the weather, and soon after by mutual consent entered into a solemn combination, as a body politick; and on the 10th December assembled to form for themselves such a government and laws as they should deem the most just and equitable; previous to which, the following instrument was drawn up, which being first read and assented to by the company, receiv ed their signatures :-to wit: "IN the name of GoD, amen-We whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread sovereign king JAMES, by the grace of God, king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, and defender of the faith, &c. hav ing undertaken for the glory of GoD, advancement of the christian faith, and the honor of our king and country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the north parts of America, do by these presents solemnly and mutually, in the presence of GoD, and one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body politic, for our own convenience and the preservation and support of the ends aforesaid :-and by virtue hereof, do enact, constitute and frame such just and equal laws, ordinan ces, acts, constitutions and officers, from time to time, ás shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the colony-unto which we promise all due submission and obedience.-In witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names, at New-Plymouth, on the 10th day of December, A: D. 1620," John Carver; Edward Winslow, John Alden, John Turner, Francis Eaton, James Chilton, John Craxton, John Allerton, Edward Liester. The company next proceeded by ballot to the choice C of a Governor, and on counting the votes it appeared that JOHN CARVER had the greatest number and was declared chosen for one year. On the 19th December, Mrs. SUSANNAH WHITE, the wife of WILLIAM WHITE, was delivered of a son, which was the first born of the English in New-England. On the 21st it was agreed by the company to dispatch a second exploring party, by water, to make if possible further discoveries-the persons selected for this purpose were Governor CARVER, Messrs. BRADFORD, WINSLOW, STANDISH, HOWLAND, WARREN, HOPKINS, ALLERTON, TILLEY, CLARKE, TINKER, TURNER and BROWN ;-they embarked at 10 A. M. with a view of circumnavigating the deep bay of Cape Cod.-On the morning of the 23d they discovered a large party of the natives on shore, who were employed in cutting up a fish resembling a grampus; by order of Governor CARVER, the English made immediately for the shore, but were no sooner discovered by the Indians, than they, with a yell peculiar to savages, deserted their fish and fled with precipitancy !→→ The English landed and took possession of the fish, which, having enkindled a fire, they cooked and found to be excellent food ;-they [concluded to continue encamped here through the night, and while employed (a few rods from their boat in which their arms were deposited) in erecting a temporary dwelling for the purpose, they were suddenly attacked by a large party of the natives, who discharged a shower of arrows among them! -the English, nearly panic struck at so sudden and unexpected an onset, were on the eve of retreating to their boat, when they were reminded by their Governor (a brave and experienced man) of the importance of facing the enemy, and maintaining their ground, as a precipitate flight might prove, their total destruction-in the mean time two or three of the company were dispatched |