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 ENGLAND IN AMERICA s 
 
 AN ESSAY, 
 
 FOK WHICH 
 
 THE DOUGLAS GOLD MEDAL 
 
 WAS PRESENTED TO 
 
 WILLIAM CARLETOJSr LEE, 
 
 AT KING'S COLLEGE ENCJENIA, 
 
 I 
 
 IN THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF NEW BRUNSWICK, 
 
 JULY 5, 1860. 
 
 FREDERICTON, N. B. 
 
 PRINTED AT THE ROYAL GAZETTE OFFICE. 
 
 1860. 
 
■:\miaim*t > 
 
 i„,V.lcbtn..doptionofaccredue 
 ^knowledgmen'- 
 
ESSAY. 
 
 i 
 
 "England IN America" presents a spectacle of interesting 
 contemplation to the statesman, the philosopher, and the phi- 
 lanthro|)ist. Without entering too minutely into historical 
 detail, it may fall within the limits of an academic essay to 
 show tiie motitcs which induced the English to plant colonies 
 in the New World ; the auspices under which their settlements 
 were made ; the methods ndoptr-d for governing them ; the 
 principles which actuated the inhnhiiants of the chief colonies; 
 and the main causes of their final separation from the mother 
 country. 
 
 The discovery of Columhus had filled all Europe with admi- 
 ration ; and an enduring impressinn seems to have been made 
 upon the English mind. Filled with a desire of emulating the 
 glory of Spaiti, und of sharing the advantages of this new field 
 for enterprise, our English ancestors entered upon their career, 
 and pursued it with unmitigated /.eal. overcoming every obstacle 
 which tlieir unskilfulness in navigation presented. 
 
 By the discoveries of Caliot the English considered them- 
 selves [iDssessed of a valid claim to the whole coast from 
 Lahrador to Florida ; but the country presented none of the 
 allurements which had incited and rewarded the Spanish 
 adventurers. Well-wooded, indeed, intersected by noble rivers, 
 and enclosing safe and capacious harbours and bays, it seemed 
 a promising region for permanent settlements and agricultural 
 induMiry ; but offered only a faint prospect of wealth to be 
 obtained from gold or silver mines, or from the treasures of 
 the native inhabitants. 
 
 During sixty one years from the discovery of America by 
 Cabot in 1497, the English monarchs gave but little attention 
 to this country. But the activity and success with which the 
 fisheries on the Banks of JVewfoutuiland vveie prosecuted; the 
 Toyages of Martin F'robisher, who in 1576 and the two follow- 
 ing years explored the coasts of Labrador and Greenland; and, 
 
fQ.min turned Uieir alien- 
 
 before 1597 three '•«"^;° ;;„,,.,„., „,.,. neeessarie.. On. 
 were few in number anJ .» I""' ^ „„rv..lion or 
 
 turned, ««- .be other two .>-^ ^.e ..un.lre.l and ^.x year, 
 he hostility of the "«••-- /„^"„y „,e English under Cab. , 
 r„T the discovery of Aincnea , „„j(, 
 
 t a si-S'e «"«"'"""""„;X':h 1 rei^n hy B«r.ho.„n.ew 
 ,„„ever, in the last y""/ "^ ^ ^ ^ „„„.,ee,s«ry eircni. by the 
 Bsnold, "^'••'"'''r " .f . "i-lrida. steered due west, and 
 West Indie, and 'b^ ^"" ,' ' ,U course, facilitated and 
 
 -*»" r:i::n 's t: :— - ""•'"•• -- ■""""' '" 
 ::r:S:w -^ t'eV:::':"-"^.-"^ >- now ..000. 
 
 But he ex.eu, of '»"-■*"■« "^.U,,,, ,. an act of " i".!":""' 
 
 „„,„ fullyl'""- V""' ;; n! th an ...ensive d ..no 
 
 and profuse liberahty "' »• ' •„,„ .,f „ which s.rctch.. 
 
 .nv one body »f ">-"• 'l-vd'"' "'" ' ,,^„„.„ .,f „„r.h la..tudo 
 Ithe thir.y four-M" '": I'!", J .^edt„e South Colon, 
 Lotwo ,orti .earl, j;^"';;^- Colony, The f..."-- -' 
 
 .han a single charier of .n<o.|...r „,^ „„.„r ol 
 
 ta.,«i of li '-" "";;'^;: ::„ off.,,. f f ?'- 
 
 i„„i,sow»"fli'er-.'he»»' "«^„l,,„j.„„.„hesnhord,....e 
 ":, vcs,cd i.. a ."""«•••' '-"^;. X, •,„ A,„..ri.a. ho-h to 1^ 
 ,„,isdic,ion ,u a..o.lu' ""•'" , f '..cably -obi' i-.s-me.." • 
 '" poiu....l by .be K...g a..d , a . ^,,,,„^„, ,„«, ,, e 
 
 ■ Tie Cr..«".b"» ""'""^ " „", .l.eir descen.l..n.». «e.e 
 
 V;:n.st. .o «b".-, '•':«:::;: •/aell.s in. he s — 
 
 t 
 
 c< 
 
 oat«»« 
 
 lUly 
 
 r !'!*»! I" vt'« 
 
 I the .-.gl't'^ "<* '^*^'"'^ 
 
 
n>orc 
 \v,r of 
 
 » to be 
 ictions. 
 IV e< «l>e 
 were 
 
 manner 
 
 as if tlioy hud rimmined or lieen born in England. Thus 
 they were allowed to hold their hinds hy the i'reest and least 
 burdensome tenure, and whatever wus neccHsary for the 
 suatenHiici! of the colonies for seven years was to he exported 
 frotii England free of duty. Dut in this charier tlie item most 
 favourable to the colonists was the unlimited perinissionof trade 
 with fort'i<.Miors ; and it is somewhat remarkable that James, 
 piidin*^ himself as he did upon his profound skill in the scienr*' 
 of government, should have allowed them this privilei^e, tin* 
 exercise of which was then likely to be regardeil us involving' 
 serious injury to the interests of the mother country. And it 
 was upon this very suliject that the first dispute arose with 
 the parent realm ; for tobacco having become the stiipic 
 couiuiiiditv of Virjfiuia. warehouses for it were established a( 
 3]iddleburgh and Flushin<; ; and the exterisive trade curried 
 on with the Dutch c>xcited the Jealousy of James, who contended 
 that all ihi; produce of the colonies slioidd first be landed in 
 England, while the colonists in defence pleade«l the terms of 
 their cuarter. This was but one of many inconsistencies wiih 
 regaid to Anurica which clianicterized the line of the Stuarts, 
 and which wcjre utduippily bat too freipiently to l>e seen iliKiiigh- 
 out iImj government «)f the old American cidonies by ilu- 
 English moiuirchs. 
 
 Under this charter each company prepared to establish it* 
 respective* colonies, tiic Ijondoti tliat of Virginia, and the 
 Plymouth that of New England; ''the original colonies, in 
 imitation uf which, and under whose shelter, all the rest were 
 successively planted and reare<l." 
 
 The primary IMynujiith company, afKjr one or two fruitlev 
 attempts to establish settb'inents, was superseded by u new our, 
 under the luime of the " (i overnor and Company of l^lassa- 
 C-iusetts I5ay," which purchased from the original i-ompany 
 all the land extending from three mites north ot the River 
 Merry muck to three miles south of Charles River, and in 
 breadti) from the Atlantic to the Southern Ocean. 
 
 In 1G<I9 a new charter was granted to the London company, 
 by which were transferred to it the |)ovv(:rs hitherto possessed 
 
I 
 
 «""• '," „r ,i,c ""^"''"•"' ""■' ' n ,i„..,» r.".»'. "'"' "" 
 
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 ,„.v,i.in.il 1" " « : ,.,,.,1 iiii" " '">■" ' it,.ii.Moii «•>>» 
 
 '■-• "'""■■"■, 1 ,>...o.l.c. 'f. '"' ""'^,"' Ll IM.r»n""S«. »' 
 
 ,h.> »•■"«'-'" '•" ' / AM.o,.sl. •'-'■"""•" .;.h. colunis,. 
 
 *on« 
 
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 t\v rem 
 
 arUetl 
 
 I 
 
< 
 
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 Mr 
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 idltsness into 80(.'ioty, and with iilU;neHfi, ignorance and pride, 
 luxiiry and dixtrcss. It cnt^rvati;!* the powers of the mind imd 
 hunninhH tho artivity of man." The itiflnence of shivery, 
 modifying the English character, fxphiins the irianners and 
 i^oci.il condition of the Sonthirn HtateH. In the ^nnih the 
 weiilthittr coionitits, poHseHHin^ and directing the hthour of 
 numerous slnveH, hved apart on their phintaiions, afl'ecting 
 something of the Htatc of a hindcd aristocracy ; which, thou<;h 
 never posstfssing any ijrent influence, in conse(|uence of there 
 being no dependent tenants upon it, still lessened in a consider- 
 able degrer the tendency to denmcratic principles. 
 
 In the New Kn<-'l'i»d states the case was entirely the reverse. 
 The first New England .olony consistet] of emigrants fur 
 Jifferent from the Virginian adventurers. They were Puritan-* 
 of the struitesi sect, Inde|)en(lenls in their form of church 
 governtnent, and in consequence of their long rontinued 
 opposition to both church and stute at home, were fast verging 
 lo republicanism. 
 
 Persecuted in England because they would not conform ti> 
 the establishetl church, they at first fled to Holland, where 
 they remained ten years. Hut receiving no increase to tlirir 
 church, fearing that their children would intermarry with the 
 Dutch* and forget their English parentage, and the customs of 
 their forefathers, and that all their high attainments in spiritual 
 knowledge would be consigned to oblivion, they formed the 
 project of removing to America. They received a grant of 
 land from the Londoi Company, but were unable to o.. jin 
 from James any assurance of toleration in the free exen.se 
 of their religion. 
 
 Having arrived ut a s|>ot beyond the jurisdiction of the 
 Company, and not being incorporated by charter, they deemed 
 it necessary before leaving ther vessel to sign an agreement } 
 promising to submit to whatever "just and equal laws and 
 ordinances might be thought convenient for the general good.'^ 
 On November 11th, 1G20, they landed, and to their chosen 
 abode gave the name of New Plymouth. Deeply imbued with 
 the idea of natural equality, in consequence of their pecitliar 
 
8 
 
 ecclesiastical poliiy, they established their civil government 
 tipon the same principles. 
 
 "Every freeman who was a member of the cluirch was 
 ndmitted to the supreme legislative body. The laws of Eng- 
 land were adopted as the basis (tf their jurisprudence; though 
 with some diversity as to the punishments inflicted, borrowed 
 from the Mosaic institutions ;" the executive |)ower was 
 vested in a governor and assistants to be elected annually by 
 the members of the Legislative Assembly. A charter from 
 the Crown was necessary to complete their political organi/.a- 
 tion, but this they never obtained. Nevertheless they acted as 
 if they had received full powers ; and their remoteness and 
 obscurity prevented the authorities at home from questioning 
 their rigiit. The basis of their legislation was the agreement 
 signe<l on board the Mayflower ; and for some time all the 
 settlers came together in general asae.nbly to enact the 
 necessary laws. Thus In its origin the colony of New Ply- 
 mouth was a pure democracy, although the legislative power 
 ..as soon after delegated to representatives from the several 
 'I'owns. The emigrants erected themselves into a republic. 
 It was a self-created, independent, and popu'ar government ; 
 foimdcd, if not in defiance, at least without the sanction of royal 
 authority. 
 
 To the same causes which produced the colonization of Ply- 
 mouth, Massachusetts is indebted for its origin. It was founded 
 by Puritans under a charter dated March 4th, 1628. The 
 Company was incorporated under the name of ♦' The Governor 
 and Company of Massachusetts B.iy in New England," to 
 have perpetual succession, and to choose yearly a governor, 
 deputy governor, and eighteen assistants, and to make laws 
 not repugnant to those of England. 
 
 Thus to the Puritans of New England are to be traced the 
 first germs of American aversion to monarchical government. 
 Their sole object in emigrating was to be out of reach of what 
 they accounted spiritual tyranny ; and the spirit of political as 
 well as spiritual independence became deeply rooted in them. 
 
 ** The settlers of New England," as it has been observed, 
 
lent 
 
 was 
 Eng- 
 
 from 
 ani'Aft- 
 ted «s 
 ss ttod 
 Lioning 
 eetnent 
 all tlic 
 ict the 
 !W Ply- 
 e power 
 
 several 
 epublic. 
 rntnent ; 
 
 of royal 
 
 of Ply- 
 founded 
 58. The 
 Governor 
 and," to 
 Tovernor, 
 mke laws 
 
 traced the 
 vernment. 
 h of what 
 political as 
 in them, 
 observed, 
 
 '* were at the snme time ardent sectarians and daring innova- 
 tors. Political principles, and all human laws and institutions, 
 were moulded and altered at their pleasure ; the barriers of 
 the society in which they were born were broken down before 
 them ; the old principles which had governed the world forages 
 were no more ; a path without a term, and a field without an 
 horizon, were opened to the exploring and ardent curiosity of 
 
 man. 
 
 »» 
 
 Although, wh^n in England, strong advocates for the fre« 
 exercise of religious opinions, the New England colonists soon 
 proved themselves more arbitrary than those, to avoid whose 
 authority they had left their native land; and two episcopalians 
 were sent back to London merely for reading their prayer-book, 
 contrary to the established form of worship, which was without 
 a liturgy. "They were banished from Salem, because they 
 were English churchmen. Thus was episcopacy first pro- 
 f(;ssod to be extended t<j New England, and thus was it exiled." 
 
 Numbers of Puritans continually flocked to America, but, 
 dissatisfied with the prospect of being governed by laws made 
 without their consent, they insisted upon the charter being 
 tronsfe«rod to New England. This removal of their charter 
 changed a commercial corporation into an independent pro- 
 vincial government, and was the origin of what are called 
 Charter Governments in America ; in which all officers from 
 the highest to the lowest were elected, and all laws went into 
 operation without transmission to the mother country. For 
 other charters afterwards granted were in reality grants of 
 intlependence ; as, for instance, those which vested in the free- 
 men of Connocticut and Rhode Island the right of admitting 
 new associateii ; of choosing annually from among themselves 
 a governor, magistrates, and representatives, with full power 
 of legislative and judicial authority. No negative on laws wai 
 reserved to the Crown ; the oath of allegiance was not required ; 
 and the usual clause, that the laws should not be repugnant to 
 those of England, was modified by a reference to the "consti- 
 tution of the place and the nature of the people." The charter 
 to the colony of Providence gave to the inhabitants authority 
 
10 
 ■ KnU find most snittiWe." These 
 
 :Z .ht— '»t,t!:rr4, .H« ..-ry or .he co,ony 
 p,e,c„ts o„« «>o.u,e ana y^-;„, ,„ „a,»it ,he au.hon., 
 
 :,f ,ue Cro»n : a„ "•; - ^ '^.Ji: e^.aing U. Cireams.ance, 
 i„,, and a re.narkaWo ,;«cn, y ^^.^.^^^^^ _^^.,^„ t„g 
 
 fo.oure.! its success. The ^f H ,,,,„„,„ges «h.c\. these 
 
 :„d, and .heir <'---^lf "':„ '.r^l.-.ch .hoy did no. he. a e 
 „„loni«» readily l-"'"'"''; ;"' „f .h„ir dc.ern>ina..on no. .» 
 ,„ make .he .no... A," prool '^' ,„,„, „,„„..l.g .h« 
 
 „dn,i.thcan.b«ri.y«f«''«^/"";;^,(„„ „,„ „.„,.„d .ha. .he 
 
 King's na.ne in """""'"'^'"""f,;"! ) f„rbiddin,,.hod..nk,ns 
 people and no.. he Kn..va^''e«eO^^^_^^^ ^^ ,„„ „„,„ f 
 
 If his Majes,y's hcal.h a. <" '■ • ,„ '„,„ ,„,„1 govorn.nen.. 
 
 „„„.iance. snbs,i.a.>ng one of fi. ^^^ inflnenee .n 
 
 To proven, opi.eopahnns Iro.n ^ ^^^|_^^ ,,,„, j^e 
 
 ,he colny, .hey in ^^]T'^^::^ „f good and hones. 
 „„.„ of .he Commons •»»>";'••,,„.„,„, f.eemen, or en..ned 
 ,„en, none shall '-""f" '"„," „, „„« .o serve as jurymen, 
 ,0 any share in .he governmtn , o. ^^ ,„en,hers.' 
 
 ..Mh as ..ave heen a -»;;■,':„,, ^„er of jad^ing 
 But the elergy «e'e .nyes>cd »"'' ^^^ admission .o the 
 
 " a.o „uaii6ca,io., of .hose ^^^f^^ ,, ...ey oh.ained 
 communion of .he -*"■='• ^ ,„,„» danger of oompla.n.s 
 i^monso influence. '•"■"; '.ta.isf.ed , «inoe a h.w was 
 being made by .hose « 'o » "^ ^^ ^.,„„„ „^,.ival.n. o 
 
 ,,asscd which rendered "'""'""fftnce for which heavy pun.sh- 
 I. .tandoring .he brethren- a ffene ^^^^^^ ^^^,.^,_ „„„ 
 
 men.s were infl.eted. Fhe set.le ,^ ^^^ ,„,, j 
 
 become more widely «''"'--^j'': Luy, a. required by 
 „f coming together •» « 7;;V,h f„H power, to del.bera.e 
 charter, elec.ed '"P'^""'"";; ;«. fell under the cogn..a..ce 
 and decide upon every "f^^"^^^ „f ,hoir own rights, .hey 
 
 :i:^er.ir:or.ho:rd;:;.-.-«-- 
 
11 
 
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 sit ale 
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 at the 
 
 iiiUing 
 nth of 
 ninent. 
 •nee in 
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 honest 
 entitled 
 jryincn, 
 niViers." 
 
 judging? 
 n to the 
 oV)tnined 
 ,tTiplttint9 
 law was 
 va\ent t« 
 y punish'" 
 sh hiiviog 
 4, inBtcftd 
 quired by 
 deliberate 
 ognizBiicc 
 ghts, tbey 
 >cd, and no 
 
 public officer appointed, but in the general assembly. They 
 (bus early exercised that right — the impogition nf their own 
 taxes — which the Rritish PHrliainent dnimed and attempted 
 to enforce by the passage of the Stamp Act in 1775. 
 
 Religious disputes having arisen in Massachusetts, many 
 persons withdrew to other parts of the country ; thus forming 
 new coUmies. In this numner Connecticut, Rhode Island, 
 and New Haven were founded. lu all these the government 
 of Massachusetts, with respect buth to civil and ccclesia8ticHl 
 polity, served as a model, and in this way the democratic 
 principles of that province were disseminated throughout the 
 country: '* secturianisui and democracy going hand in hand 
 and waiting their day." 
 
 Connecticut and Rhode Island were afterwards incorporated 
 by royal charters, which, as before stated, were really grantu 
 of iudepetidenee. A short time indeed previous to the breaking 
 out of the civil war in t^ugland, a quo warranto was issued 
 aifaiust Massachusetts, and measures taken for new-modelling 
 the political frame of the colony : but the dilTiruilit'.s between 
 Charles and his Parliament prevented his plans from being 
 carried into execution, lu the mean time the colony was 
 sulTered to enjoy its independence undisturbed ; and to lay the 
 foundation of those institutions, which, in time to come, were 
 to support and maintain the great American Republic. She 
 made treaties of peace, or declared war with the surrounding 
 trib<;s ; and relying upon the partiality with which her pro- 
 ceedmgN were viewed by Cromwell and his party, ventured 
 upon a measure which increased her power and security, and 
 contributcil in a great degree to foster her democratic feelings ; 
 while at the same time it proved a serious obstacle in the way 
 of adjusting all disputes with the mother country. In 1643 
 the four colonies of Massachusetts, Connecticut, Plymouth, 
 an<l New Haven, entered into a league of perpetual confede- 
 racy, offensive and defensive. They were to be distinguished 
 by the name of "the United Ctdonies of New England," each 
 colony to remain separate and distinct, and to have complete 
 jurisdiction within its own territory; and in every war each of 
 
.- •. «not<4 of provUioM and 
 
 „ Ao Assembly composed of two ^^ j^,j^^. 
 
 men. ah ^ , j annimUy» wu" i , 
 
 „„!„„ of .he prese", ""'"^^ ^ ;„., ,,g„. of coinage, wh.ch 
 ,,. 1652 .he colonists •";"'",„ ,,ec..lmr .« royalty , 
 k«, olwoys been '=-»"'7„*, tj r/! „er instance, the colontes 
 but in both these «. ««» ;;;';/„ eon.i.lerea tbc.usclv.s a- 
 „,■ New England appeal to n 
 i„aepende«t of any superior power ^_^ , „, 
 
 H,.herto the An.er.can ,.rov.nc ,^,„„,.„„ ,,„..,t 
 
 par«.i.e neglect, an-l had e e -e ^ __^ _ _^^ 
 ,n.irfly. Bo. h«».ns now «"»'"••' „„empted ." "bla.n 
 
 :'::Lercial wo..a. -he .nothe «n try ,^ _^_^^ 
 
 . „,onopoly of the,r traac . »n^l ' .^ ^,,^ ,,,„,ia-a tba 
 
 ,i„n Ac. was pa.sea .n 'b6». » ,,.„,., .,f „.„cl. .he nm..er 
 „.,„e but Knglishor •'«"•"•"■".. rEnghbu.en.shonia transport 
 ,„., ,h.ec fourths of.bc "- " j;,,^,^,,,,, „ „„ of «r,i.h.s c.n.- 
 
 A„„.ricnn produce »""'"' "'V,!',rnd..c.ions of the col ». 
 
 ; ,.ing some of .be most '« ;« >^« , „. „,,e .o h« -ad only 
 
 L,,.,r the heaa of .«.»- '"l^'^^^„ „.,.. cont.nuaUy aaded 
 
 in ,he English markets. «• w « < _^_____^ „.,„ct.on.. 
 
 „ ,hose enumerated, nn. ""''"'" were unposed. and tne 
 
 B, « new law adduioual res, a.uts we J ^ ,„,,,,.„. 
 
 ":,„.r,u.io„ into tbc -"'-■-^ '''. . ^.Id a, c. re- 
 
 ,xl..,„ those laden .u En|:hsh ''" ,,„^„ „, „„,„,Hh/.ed 
 
 ; Ja. was prob,b..e ,. None ut • ^^_„ „f „.,, Han. 
 
 ^„„j..Hswerepermi..e, toexeu he ^^^ ,„„„„...,.,,„. 
 
 „ fuetor in any E-.h^h - ' ^ ."' „,„.,ed in .he market, 
 renuired by the eob.n.s.s we- "j «_^ ,^^ ,^.„^, ,,„„„ „, tbo 
 of the parent country In '^"''" adva...»g« "f G""" 
 
 „„de of the cob-nies to 'he x 'J , „„d i. is .» 
 
 BrUam was reduced to "-"^ «„,„;, ,„ .he Amer.oan 
 ,„ese restraints .b«. the firs. .uc. e ^^^^ ,„,„i„„.Uy 
 
 Revolution is to be traced. Th. . 
 
 I 
 
13 
 
 nd 
 [(in 
 
 be- 
 the 
 
 eral 
 
 hich 
 iJty ; 
 
 ^s ap 
 
 com- 
 
 ion in 
 obtain 
 
 ftvipa- 
 (>dtbat 
 
 in!*porl 
 
 oloni^s, 
 
 old only 
 added 
 fictions, 
 and tn« 
 ,nodiii«8. 
 » HCl re- 
 HirHb/«d 
 iiierchant 
 
 ninoditie* 
 K inrtrU«t» 
 vvn of I ho 
 of Gr»!At 
 
 d it is ^o 
 An»t'rirao 
 
 continually 
 
 cvnded by the Americnns, and to nnforce them wtis thn con- 
 Btarit rndenvour of ihe Briti«h Parliament. Severe rules were 
 pRHsed for ihii^ puriiose, nnri henvy peiifillies; imposed upon all 
 who should discdiey liiem, Init with little or no effeci. "The 
 laws of Navigation were n<i where so opiMily disobeyed and 
 contemned as in New England. The |)eopl<; of i\Ias.sachiisetts 
 Bay. havin<^ a (rovernor and m»i;;istrales of their own choice. 
 it was difficult to enforce any reifulation whitrh came from the 
 English Parliament adverse to their ititerests." 
 
 Virginia petitioned n/a^ainst the act ; but receiving; only s»rit;ter 
 injunctions to comply with it, r(>sorted to evasion. But in 
 Massachusetts a declaration of rights was published. '' in which 
 are distinctly shadowed out the three v'i'<'at doctrines on wliich 
 their soverei»fnty rested : — 1st. A positive denial of tin; rijrhl 
 uf appesil. 2n(!. A declaration that airts of ParliauMMii re::u- 
 laiin<r their trade were iinconstitutional. 'ird. An asscriion of 
 their peculiar privile<;e of manaifiri:; tjicir own internal aO'iiirs. 
 These three principles, accompanied as they were by a dir(;ct 
 avowal of tht; lejiality of mairttainin^ tliem by force of arms, 
 comprise absolute independence. Tlu^v are wholly iireconcil- 
 able with any thit:^ like im|ierial cmtrol, and leave to the Kiti;; 
 nothing; but an <;mpty title. It is theseftM-e absurd to it.scribi: 
 thti ori:;in of these pretensions to the llevohition of ll^'-i. Tiiey 
 thus early asserted and contended for unmixed and uncont rot- 
 able Republicanism.'* 
 
 Diitit^s however were now levied upon c(!rtain «>iiuin(!raled 
 commodities; and the m)tnu*^<Mnent of >he revenue entrusted to 
 local otlicers appointed by the Comuiissioners of Customs in 
 England, and a Custom House OtHcer 'ip[)oinle(l for iMii>> i- 
 chusetis. But encoimterin*; obstruction and insult from the 
 people, he returned unsuccessful; and when a^ain sent out, 
 was uf^ain forced to return. He, however, laid serious coin- 
 plaiuis ajjainst the colony ; tind as the Kin^ was already 
 greatly irritated at their non-compliance with certain instruction!) 
 rec«Mve<i from him, (one of which was that they should admit 
 episcopalians to the enjoyment of the same political rights as 
 were exercised by themselves,) a (fuo uarrantu was issued, 
 whi<;h put an end to their charter in 1G84. 
 
*■* 
 
 14 
 
 Snrh was the downfall of the Republic of Massachusetts, or, 
 ns she styled herself, *' Respublica Perfects," but "with it." 
 says Minot, " fell not the habits nor the principles which the 
 seitlcinent of the country had cngendert'd. These were, for 
 " time, slightly hiddon in its full ; but soon sprung up again, 
 more deeply rooted, and renovated with permanent strength; 
 nor have they ceased to flourish till, in their turn, they have 
 over-run, and probably forever buried, every germ of royal 
 authority in that republican sjil." 
 
 Massachusetts was now ruled by governors np|)ointed by 
 tlir King; and, until the Revolution of l()88. was engaged in 
 (Dntinual disputes with the sovereign and bis represenintive. 
 Availing themselves of the Revoluiion, she, by the seizure and 
 im|irisoument of her governor Andross, made n direct atui 
 forcible resistance to th.; authority of the Crown, an<l then 
 restoiejl the old order of things, which ctrntinued until the 
 «i'riv:il in 1092 of Sir William Phipps. with a new chiirter. 
 
 We Imvo n<tw seen what led to the esiabli.shment of the 
 primipal colonies in America, viz: — Virginia, Plymouth, 
 MnssMclniselts, and their offsetts. Moreover the English 
 C;ttholi« ;<. treated with severity at houie. fl< «l to Maryinnd. the 
 Qiiiikers to Pennsv Ivania. Upon sill these occasions, with the 
 cxee;»ru»ti of the pliinting of Virginia, it was not the wisdom 
 and policy of the English g(»vernmeiit, but the di>ront<>nt of 
 portions of the people, which peopled and eultivated America. 
 Ni» r<>;:ularly comliined and consistent method was ever adopted 
 for I'overning tlu'se colonies, but ilifferent modes were use«l in 
 diflV'cnt |da<es. 
 
 Virirmia New York, and New Hamifliire were Royal 
 provinces. The g(»vernmenr con>iisicd of a Governor and 
 Coiincii, uppoinicd by the King and a llou>e of Kcpresenta- 
 tiv« s. To the g«»vernor was reserved a negative on laws, 
 wfa cli. liiougli assented toby biui, were still liable to be annul- 
 led liv the Crown. - 
 
 The removiti by the Puritans (tf the pat<int to the Company 
 of Massachusetts I5ay, ami the application of it to the purposes 
 of civil ;!overnment were, as befoie stated, the origin of the 
 Charter governments. 
 
15 
 
 Another form in use was the Proprietary. Largo tracts werff 
 sometimes j;^rantod to one or more individuals, who sold the 
 lands, governed the inhabitants hy whatever laws they pleased, 
 and in fact exercised complete civil and political power ander 
 the inspection and control of the Crown. This was the method 
 adopted in Maryland, Ptrnnsylvania, New Jersey, and thu 
 Carolinas. 
 
 Uelkness, in speaking of the Royal governments, says, •* had 
 such a simple form of government been more generally adopted, 
 and perseveringly adhered to, and aduiinisterrd only hy the 
 most delicate hands, it rni'^ht have served hetter than any 
 other, to perpetuate the depcndance of the colonies u[»on the 
 British Crown." 
 
 The result of the Charter governments was pure democrucy. 
 rJut here we njust take into con«;iderat}on the social conditioo 
 of the inhabitants at the period of their emigration. They 
 eame to an imcultivated country with onn eomnjon object in 
 view — to avoid persecution. They brou^'ht with llioni ihrir 
 wives, their families, and their property. Their reiigiiui-* 
 forms of worship were already established ; and, at the monuMit 
 of their landing on the eoM and barren shore, which was to be 
 llieir future home, they pos);f'ssed political institutions and civ iJ 
 liberty. They were, either from their original condifii \ tr 
 from the necessity of their common interest, nearly oti nu 
 (!(|iuility with respect to property, being obliged to divide and 
 parcel out the land, which was at first held in cotnmon. To 
 bring his share into cultivation all the exertions of the owner 
 were necessary, and *' it may fairly be said," that this act of 
 parcelling out the land " (ixed the future form and frame of 
 the government." IJy the laws, estates were rendered divi- 
 sible among sons and daughters, the exclusive claim of any 
 one heir being disregarded. In this manner the tendency of 
 property to accumulate in the hands of individuals was de*^- 
 troyed. As there were no lands yielding rents, and no tenants, 
 there could be no aristocracy : since " land is the basis of an 
 aristocracy, which clingf) to the soil that supports it ; for it is 
 not by privileges alone, nor by birth, but by landed property 
 
I 
 
 16 
 
 linndf'd down from ^enerntinn togennrntion, ihnt an aristocracy 
 H t'onsliliited." AnotluT circdinstnnce which grently ron- 
 trihiit('(i to prevent the establishment of nn aristocracy, was 
 that in Fin<;lati(l the 8tron<rliohi of the Piirit<ins was the middle 
 (■lasses ; and it was from these classes that the majority of the 
 cjni^Mants came. New Ent^land, therefore, from the first 
 *• seemed destined to behold the {growth, not of the aristocratic 
 liberty of the mother country, but of that freedotn of the 
 lower ami iniddle orders, of which the history of the world 
 had, as yet, furnished no complete example; an«l while the 
 hierarchy of rank despotically classed the inhabitants of Enjr- 
 IjukI, the colony continued to present the novel spectacle of a 
 conununity homogeneous in all its parts. A democracy, mure 
 perfect than any antiquity hud dreamed of, started in full size 
 mid panoply from the midst of an ancient feudal society." 
 
 As early as the year 1650, Townships were completely and 
 jk'finifiveiy established. In these littla communities all con- 
 reitis of local police were regulated, and all matters of comrrmn 
 interest discussed. " The independence of the townships was 
 »!ie niirlcus round which the local interests, passions, rights 
 and duties collected and clung. It gave scope to the activity of 
 ;i re;il polilicallife, most thoroughly democratic and republican.*' 
 
 I iiiversal Education also engaged the attention of the people 
 at a very early date. Public schools were established in every 
 towttsliip, and t!ie inhabitants obliged by law to support them. 
 
 The magistrates were authorized to enforce upon the parent 
 the attendance of his child, under :>enalty of a fine for non- 
 eimipliijncc ; and in case of continued refusal, the child was 
 taken from its home and placed under the care of public 
 authoritien. They thus, by securing the succession of a people 
 imbued with the same principles, *' erected their republic 
 upon the only sure basis on which it can ever exist — (Jeneral 
 Education." 
 
 In Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Providence, (afterwords 
 included in it,) the Government naturally became a democracy, 
 since they constituted a society of their own accord, having 
 been founded without the assistance, and almost without tho 
 
t% 
 
 wnrda 
 cracy, 
 ittving 
 ut tho 
 
 knowledge of the mother country ; and all being offricts frnin 
 MtiHsachusetts whose form of government they adopted as a 
 model. 
 
 Although the American coioniHta were at all times proud of 
 their origin, and cherished an afTectionate remembrance for 
 the mother country, still it could not but be expected that an 
 interest and feeling far different from thoHe of mere Englii^h- 
 men would arine in this their new home. T * remains of 
 friends and relatives were soon to render the so., of New Eng< 
 land sacred in the eyes of the settlers ; and by the succeeding 
 generations it was revered as the land of their nativity. " At 
 a son leaving the house of his father for his own, finds by the 
 order of nature, and the very law of his being, nearer and 
 dearer objects around which his afTections circle, while hit 
 attachment to the parental roof becomes moderated, by degrees, 
 to a composed regard, and afTectionuie remembrance; so these 
 people leaving their native land, not without some violence to 
 the feelings of nature and affection, yet, in time, found in their 
 new homes a new circle of engagements, interests and affec- 
 tions, a feeling which more and more encroached upon the old, 
 till an undivided sentiment that this was their country occupied 
 the heart ; and |)atriotism, shutting out from its embraces the 
 parent realm, became local to America." 
 
 We have seen that by the end of the first century New Eng- 
 land had laid, deep and strong, the foundations of her society ; 
 and her public Schools and Colleges were diffusing widely the 
 elements of knowledge. An author who wrote near the close 
 of this century, says, " New England is almost deserving that 
 noble name, so mightily hath it increased, and from a small 
 settlement at first, is now become a very populous and flourish- 
 ing government." With tho exception of Georgia and Florida, 
 the continciUal colonies were now firmly established, consisting 
 of Massachusetts, (including Plymouth and Maine,) Rhode 
 Island, (embracing Providence,) Connecticut, New Hampshire, 
 New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, 
 and thetwoCarolinas, and contained about 250,000 inhabitants. 
 
 Id 1692 Sir William Phippa arrived with a new charter to 
 
 3 
 
m 
 
 Massachusetts, and a comnii$ision appointing him Governor of 
 the colony ; and from this time till the breaking out of the 
 rebellion, the colonists were engaged in continual dispute* 
 with the mother country. Tlie laws affecting their trade were 
 most commonly the subject of these disputes ; and the utter 
 disregard of them gave riMe to the establishment, first, of the 
 Boards of Trade, and then of the Courts of Admiralty. Acting 
 upon the advice of one of their number named Cook, the colo' 
 nists refused to establish aiiy |)ermanent salary for the governor, 
 determined* to make him sensiiile of his total dependence upon 
 them, and hoping by this nxMins to influence his decision upon 
 all matters of importance to themselves. 
 
 But as the limits of this Essay will not permit an account of 
 even the chief events in the colonies, ! will mention but two, 
 which, on account of their connection with the future prospects 
 of the country, ought not lo bo omitted ; and then pass on to 
 the year 1763, when the immediate causes of the Revolution 
 originated. 
 
 The first of these events was the attempt made by the Society 
 for propngating the Gospel to establish Bishops in America. 
 This attempt, though at first unsuccessful, was not abandoned, 
 but perseveringly pursued and finally carried out. The benefits 
 which have resulted from it are becoming daily more and more 
 manifest. The Church of England, notwithstanding the oppo- 
 sition it has encountered, has, by the blessing of Providence, 
 taken deep root in America ; and, with numerous? other Chris- 
 tian communities, forms one of the firmest links which should 
 serve to hold that country and England in the bonds of friend- 
 ship. What stronger argument could there be for a continuance 
 of amicable relations between the two countries, than is to hv 
 found in the following lines of Tupper? 
 
 '* Columbin, rliild of Britain — noblest child ! 
 
 " I praist the growin(f luHtre of thy worth, 
 
 " And fain would see thy great heart reconciled, 
 
 " To lore the Mother of so blest a birth ; 
 
 •* For we are one, Columbia ! still the same 
 
 " In lineage, language, laws, and ancient rame;— ' 
 
 •♦ The natural nobility of eartli J ' 
 
If 
 
 •' Yes. we are one ; the glorioun Any» of yore, 
 
 " When ilear Old Englaml enrnetl her Htnried iinme, 
 
 " Are thine, »n well «<■ nurti, for evernore ; 
 
 " And thou hHxt rifthtu in Miltnn, ev'n an we ; 
 
 " Thou too canst clsiiin— ' Swei't Shakopeare'n wood notes wild,'— 
 
 " An«l chiefePt, hrothnr, we are hofh iniide free, 
 
 " (*f one religion, pure and undffiled.'' 
 
 The nthnr event was the dehatc upon the prnpoRed con* 
 federHtinn nf nil the prnvincKs, with n constitution reRetiihling, 
 «iR neatly an possible, that of the Unitetl States. It was pro- 
 posed to petition Parliament fur an Act fortnin^ one genera' 
 poverntnent in America. Rut thinking that hy it the power 
 of the colonists was too folly detnonstrated, and the control of 
 the Crown rendered too feeble, the British Cabinet rejected 
 the plan. ''The matiirin'f and adoptinju; of tliis important 
 ficheme in North America were reserved for her separate and 
 independent authority at a later period. Repeated renewals 
 of their military rnnvenlions accustomed men's minds to the 
 idea of cetitralization ; and when the final struggle with the 
 parent country commenced, the machinery to he made use of 
 for comliinntinn was so familiar to the provincials, that they 
 had but to follow the example of their forefathers.*' 
 
 Hithrrto one common object, the expulsion of the French 
 from the New W«»rld, had served to unite the tnothcr country 
 and the colonies. After a war which lasted nine years, this 
 object was attained ; and on February 10th 1763, a Treaty of 
 l*eace was si<;ned at Paris, by which the whole of Canada, 
 Nova Scotia, (inclu({in<; New Rrunswirk) Cape Breton, and aH 
 the Islands in the Gulf and River Saint Lawrence, were ceded 
 to Fngland. 
 
 The glorious termination of this arduous struggle was hailed 
 at the time as an auspicious event, which would consolidate 
 forever the union of the two countries. Bat the war had been 
 an exfiensive one, and the national del)t greatly increased by 
 it. To lighten this debt therefore, it was determined to tax 
 America, and compel her for the future to defray the expenses 
 of her own government, which had hitherto been provided for 
 by England. The Molasses or Sugar Act was accordingly 
 
20 
 
 passeii, by which a duty «r three [tence per gallon wun iinpused 
 upon till iinpurted into thi; rolonieR. 
 
 Ahhoiigh n duty of h\x \n'.tu'M hud forinnrly hnun (Miuct^d, it 
 htid never been collerttMl ; and consctiuently this new one, in- 
 8t<!iid of a boon, as represented by Englinh statesmen, wn» a 
 v«*ry heavy burden, and created immense diMsntisfiu'tiun, which 
 was soon after increased by the Stamp Act, by which all 
 printed or written public le^al papers were made subjt'ct to a 
 duty. The opposition to this act was eo violent that it was 
 goon after repealed ; but not until it had widened the breach 
 between the two countrie!« to such an extent, that the restora- 
 tion of good understanding between them seetr.ed almost 
 hopi'l(>8s. But still the House of Commons continued to riaim 
 the right to bind America in every way, while the cnlnnists as 
 firmly contended that it was unjust that they should be tnxed 
 by a Parliament in which th<>y were not represented. 
 
 With a view to eonciliate them, other bills were passed, 
 designed to increaHO certain branches of th«Mr trade, or to 
 exte.'id their privileg(!s ; — but all to no jiurpo.st? ; — the .Sugar 
 and Stamp Actii had completely destroye<i all iluigond feelings 
 existinif at the peace of 176'), and entirely alienated the uifec- 
 tious of a majority of the inhabitants 
 
 At last the attempt on the part of Mr. Grenville (the origi* 
 nator of the Stamp Act.) to raise a trans-ailantic revenue, to 
 compel the colonists to defray the expenses of a standing army, 
 and to establish permanent salaries for the governors, exas- 
 perated them beyond all bounds. The duty on T<'a was 
 peculiarly obnoxious; and, afier numerous di^clarations of 
 rights by the peophs and many dissolutions of assendtlics by 
 the governors, it was determined that no Tea should be re- 
 ceived by any of the colonies ; and many vessels laden with it 
 were sent back to Bugland without landing their cargo, while 
 that landed by 01 hers was immediately destroyed. 
 
 Such a spirit of coerciim was however evinced by the British 
 Parliament, that they continued to bring in bills regulating and 
 restraining the trade of the provinces. But now *Mhe high 
 born heir had grown to man's estate," and determined no 
 
 ■*i'%t 
 
21 
 
 i 
 
 longer to submit to tho arbitrary exantionfl and oppressionB of 
 iinnther power, whose only object appeared to the coluni»ta to 
 be the advancement of its own commercial interests. 
 
 The late war with France had filled tl.o provinces with 
 skilful officers and good soldiers, who, if not equal to the 
 British in discipline, still cniild recall many instances in which 
 they had rescued them from defeat, or extricated them from 
 ambush. They also possessed the advantage of being able to 
 bring their whole force into the field, while England could put 
 but a particle of her (wipulation in motion. They were to iiglit 
 upon their native soil, in defence of their rights and their 
 liberties. 
 
 On the 19th April 177.5, was fought tho battir of Lexingtott, 
 which was the signal for war ; and on the 30ih November 17s;i. 
 u treaty of peace was entered into between England and 
 America, by which the inde|)endencc of the United States wu^ 
 fully acknowledged. 
 
 Though victory attended not the arn)s of England in this 
 great struggle, the nu>rtiticalion of defeat is more than cotinict- 
 bulanced by the consolation, that, from hvv soil has sprung \Uv 
 greatest nation on the western continent ; a nation gified with 
 her enterprise and her couraye, professing the same leJiiiion, 
 speaking the same tongue. For althougli the English lan- 
 guuiio in America has underifone some slight modifications 
 by the invention of new word^, or the apiilication of new mean- 
 ings to old ones, still it is thesapreiiic language of the eoutitrv. 
 The Swedish and the Dutch have almost entirely disappcato*!, 
 and the French is spoken in !\ew Orleans alone ; and not- 
 withslan(lin<jf the continual enii<rrnlio:) of forei:;ners to tlu> 
 United States, it still is and seems likely to continue to be //ir 
 common iangnage ; since the iuloption of tli<? general sneech 
 of tin* country is the first and ticcessary act of those who desire 
 to take that |)art in public affairs, to which tlK.'ir numbers, 
 their abilities, and their ('ducation entitle th(>m. 
 
 *' Among the many ;;lories thai En<;land has to boast of, it 
 is not, and will not be one of the leasf, that she, more success- 
 ful in this respect than the other nations of Europe, has trans- 
 
1 •'n }. 
 
 22 
 
 tnitteil and permanently established beyond the broad ocean> 
 liberal institutions, cvan<^elical reli;;ion, and a lanj;iiafl;e which^ 
 whatever harshness of sound or rhimsincss of inflection may 
 di.«ti;;ure it, however inferior it may he in harmony or musical 
 <:a|ribility to the more hquid dialects of the sunny south, has 
 been the vehicle of many of the greatest productions of human 
 reiison and huuuin genius ; the lan^uai^e of Milton and Shaks- 
 peare, of Maoaulny and Tennyson — one and the same with 
 tlu' lunguajfe <if Irvin<;, Bryant, and Longfellow." 
 
 It ou<;ht to be a source of no small sutisfuction to Englishmen 
 to Know, ''that the States of North America which have 
 established their indepen()<;nce, and glory in the liile of Land 
 of hibi rty, owe the measure i»f prosperity which ihtiy actimlly 
 enjoy to the principles uf Brifi.sh Lair, which they have con- 
 tiniicfl to maintain." 
 
 A few remarks u|K)n the reuiaining Rritish Provinr«>s in 
 Nfnili Aint;rica must suffire. Tlwy comprise a highly valuable 
 and mnst extrusive temioiv, including indee<l. an area grenter 
 (ii.in lliui «>f the United Stntes. Hudson's Hay, Labrador, 
 Cntiaila, New IJrunswuk, Nova Srotia Cape IJretou, New- 
 foundland, Prince Edward's Island. I*rince Hupert's liand, and 
 now Hritisii Coliunbia, comprise a vast domain bound«!d by 
 three mighty oceans. The lomuiercial importance of Canada, 
 Nova Srotia and N<*w Rrunswick, is very great. Their con- 
 stitutions' are eminently English; the political department 
 consisting of a Grtvernor, Exer-utive Council, Legislative 
 Counril ami House of Asseiiddy ; answering to the Sovereign, 
 Privy ('otincil or Cabinet, House of Lords and Commons. 
 
 The (iovernor afipwiritrd by tin; Crown, is the imme<liate 
 reprc'sentativc of the monarch, and exercises supreme ad- 
 ministrative power. The Executive (Council are the adviifere 
 of His Exctdlency, and their tenure of office depeiuls upon 
 the wishes of the people as expressed by their representatives. 
 
 TIk' members of the Legislative Council are appointed, 
 generally for life, by the Crowti ; and form the upper branch 
 of the legislature, the assent of which is necessary to all Acts 
 of the Assembly. The lower branch of the legislature it 
 
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 23 
 
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 ,'e cou- 
 
 nf»'S in 
 fjilimble 
 greater 
 ilirutlor, 
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 n«l«Ml by 
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 ap|M»>ntiMi, 
 per branch 
 to all Act» 
 jislature ii 
 
 0J 
 
 composed of representatives of thr. |iCople elected for short 
 periods, to whom, in conjunction with the upper House, ]» 
 committed fall legislative power ; subject, however to ratifica- 
 tion by the Governor and confirmation by the Crown. 
 
 The perfection of civil and religious liberty is enjoyed by 
 every inhabitant, and the benefits of the Englii<hlawnre nitain- 
 able by all. Notwithstamling the diversity of sentiments and 
 feelings which inevitably prevails in so free n constitution, the 
 predominant principles of the colonists are eminently loyal ; 
 many of them glorying in their descent from the Loyalists wlur 
 served in the inter-colonial wars, men who •' left their foes, 
 their all. for a home in n British land." 
 
 That their attachment to the British Crown may be not only 
 not lessened, but that every year tnay serve to render it more 
 firm and hif^ting, slioiiht be the ardt.'nt desire of all. 
 
 And surely the provision every where made for the cdiica- 
 tion of the rising and future generations, on the most liberal 
 ind enlightened schemes of the Schools and Colleges of the 
 British Isles; the unwearied labours of societies and individuals- 
 to propagate the religion which has rendered tlsose favoured 
 Isles the distinguished abode of faith and hope and charity, wit h 
 all their heav(.*nly fruits ; and the mild and conciliating char- 
 acteristics of the government of England in and over these her 
 provinces in America, may be allowed to justify the assiirctf 
 persuasion that here, at least, that Government, so condaiive 
 to the best interests of all classes of the people, will be per- 
 petuated to ages of continually advancing improvement.