wigwams to meet a dauntless foe. The Pequods fought bravely, and would, probably, have made their escape, had not Mason set fire to their dwellings, and thus forced them from their lurking-places into open light, to be a mark for the English muskets. The victory was complete, but the conquerors were in a dangerous situation. Several of their number were killed, and one-fourth wounded. The remainder, exhausted with fatigue, destitute of provisions, and ill-provided with ammunition, were exposed to the rage of a fresh body of savages, but a few miles distant, who would be exasperated on hearing of the destruction of their brethren. Fortunately, at the time of this perplexity, their vessels were seen steering into the harbor; and being received on board, the troops reached their homes in less than a month from the day that the court resolved on war.

The troops from Massachusetts and Connecticut arrived in time to hunt out a number of the fugitives, burn their remaining villages, and lay waste their corn-fields. Sassacus fled towards the Hudson, with a party of his chief sachems; but he was surprised by the Mohawks, and with his warriors put to death. Mononotto alone escaped. A scanty remnant of the Pequods were enslaved by the English, or mingled with the Mohegans and Narragansetts; and thus was a nation destroyed.

I

N 1637, Eaton and Davenport, with some strict Puritans, settled New Haven. These colonists at first acknowledged the authority of Massachusetts; but as they were out of the limits of that colony's patent, they convened an assembly early in 1639, and established a constitution of independent powers. In the same year, the colony at Hartford framed a constitution similar to that of New Haven. These colonies remained distinct and at variance until 1661.

All these settlements had been made without any concert with the proprietors in England, who had obtained the land by assignment from the original company. But in 1644, the colonies purchased their rights. The legality of this transaction has been doubted, though it was never contested.

The people of Connecticut had been at enmity with the Dutch colonists from their earliest settlement. The war declared by Great Britain against the United Provinces, opened the way for hostilities between the colonists of the two nations. But no serious contest took place, and the Dutch maintained their ground until the arrival of the news of peace between the two nations.

Soon after the Restoration, through the address of Mr. Winthrop, the son of the governor of Massachuseets, Connecticut obtained a charter

granting the most ample privileges, and establishing a popular government. It was obtained on the 20th of April 1662, and continued to be the fundamental law of Connecticut for 158 years; the colony of New Haven was included in it, but the inhabitants refused the charter, until the Duke of York obtained the grant of the lands from the Connecticut River to the Delaware Bay, when they agreed to the charter to escape his government.

The younger Winthrop was elected governor of Connecticut soon after it received the charter, and he devoted himself to the welfare of the colony. Intolerance never prevailed in Connecticut, and consequently her people were free from constant trouble. In 1680, the population amounted to more than 10,000 persons. These were divided These were divided among 26 towns, which could boast of 21 churches. slaves; paupers were few, neither beggars nor vagabonds were permitted. A small trade was carried on chiefly with Boston and New York. The property of the whole corporation was reckoned at about £110,000.

There were only about thirty

James II., soon after ascending the English throne, determined to cancel all the American charters; and he was not disposed to spare so liberal a one as that of Connecticut. Three successive writs of quo warranto were issued; and the colonists, after craving delay, submitted to the royal commands. James sent Sir Edmund Andros to accept the charter and submission of the people of Connecticut. He assumed the administration and demanded the charter. But it was carefully contrived that he should not get it. While the governor and assembly were debating the affair in the evening, the lights were extinguished, and when they were re-lighted the charter had vanished. It is said to have been taken by Captain Wadsworth, and concealed in the hollow of a tree. Thus was the liberty of Connecticut preserved. Andros retained the government for nearly two years, and was deposed upon the accession of William and Mary.

NEW ENGLAND DURING THE COMMONWEALTH.

HE design of forming a union of the New England colonies had been entertained in 1637, immediately after the Pequod war; but in consequence of the demand by Connecticut that each colony should have the right of a negative on the proceedings of the confederacy, had been delayed. The benefits of a union, however, had become so apparent that, in 1643, the measure was finally consummated. Massachusetts, Plymouth, Connecticut and New Haven, entered into a league of perpetual confederation, under the title of the United Colonies of New England. It was agreed, that each colony should remain a separate and distinct municipal association, and retain exclusive jurisdiction within its own territory; that in every war, offensive or defensive, each of the confederate colonies should furnish its quota of men, money and provisions, at a rate in proportion to the population of the respective communities; that a council, composed of two commissioners from each colony should be annually convoked and em

powered to deliberate and decide on all points of common concern to the confederacy; every colony renounced the right of protecting fugitive debtors or criminals from the legal process of the particular community which they had wronged and deserted. Rhode Island was not included in this confederacy, as she refused to become incorporated with New Plymouth.

The main object of the confederacy was security against the Indians, who were becoming weaker by contentions among themselves. The Narragansetts, under their chief Miantonomoh, fell suddenly upon the Mohegans, the allies of the English; but they were defeated, and their chief was taken prisoner. His captor, Uncas, conducted him to Hartford, where "the elders," condemned him to die. Uncas then conducted his prisoner beyond the jurisdiction of Connecticut and put him to death.

When the great struggle between Charles I. and the Long Parliament commenced, the people of New England, notwithstanding their Puritan opinions maintained a neutral position. Massachusetts declared herself a "perfect republic," and her agent in England denied the right of Parliament to legislate for the colonies, unless they were represented in that body. A few years after, a practice, considered indicative of sovereignty, was adopted, on account of the increasing trade of the colonists with the West Indies, and the uncertain state of things in England. This was the coinage of silver money in Boston. The coin was stamped with the

name of New England on one side, and of Massachusetts on the other; the latter side also bore the impression of a tree, as a symbol of vigor and increase. The practice gave no offence to the English government, and was continued during the protectorate of Cromwell and twenty years of the reign of Charles II.

In 1646, the dissenters from Congregationalism, the established religion of Massachusetts, petitioned the general court for leave to impeach Governor Winthrop, before the whole body of his fellow-citizens, on a charge of having punished some of their number for interfering at elections. He was tried and acquitted. The petitioners were reprimanded for their alleged attempt to subvert the fundamental laws of the colony, and they appealed to England; but failed to gain redress. Winthrop continued to hold the office of governor during the remainder of his life.

FTER royalty was abolished in England, the Long Parliament sent a mandate to the government of Massachusetts, requiring the surrender of its charter and the acceptance of a new one from the existing authority in England. The demand was evaded. The general court, instead of surrendering the charter, transmitted a petition to Parliament setting forth, that, as such a thing was not done in the king's time, it was not able to discern the need of such an in

junction. The intercession of Cromwell was solicited, and, as on other occasions, his favor was shown to the colonists. They retained their charter.

Cromwell's ascendency was highly beneficial to the New England colonies. Immediately after his elevation, Rhode Island resumed the form of government which the Parliament had suspended; Connecticut and New Haven were afforded the means of defence against the Dutch colonists of New York; all the New England provinces were exempted from the operation of the parliamentary ordinance against trade with foreign nations.

The rulers of New England were now for a considerable period exempt from any troubles except those springing from the succession of new sects, and their persevering attempts to suppress them.

It was no doubt a severe trial to the ministers, who appear really to have been, as they describe themselves, "faithful, watchful, and painful, serving their flocks daily with prayers and tears, with their most studied sermons and writings," to see ignorant half-crazed enthusiasts enjoy the whole popular favor and render the churches almost empty. The next whom they had to encounter were the anabaptists, a German sect who,,