A perfon of mature age, who cannot both read and write, is rarely to be found. By means of this general eftablishment of fchools, the extenfive circulation of newspapers, and the confequent spread of learning, ev. ery township, throughout the country is furnished with men capable of conducting the affairs of their town with judgment and difcretion. These men are the channels of political information to the lower clas of people, if fuch a clafs, may be faid to exit in New England, where every man thinks himself at least as good as his neighbour, and believes that all mankind “ ought to poffefs equal rights.

Hyftory. The first company that came to New Eng. land planted themselves at Plymouth: They were a part of the Rev. Mr. Robinson's congregation, which for twelve years before had lived in Holland, for the fake of enjoying liberty of conkience. They can e

over in the year 1620.

Before they landed, having on their krees devoutly given thanks to God for their fafe arrival, they formed themfelves into a body politic, by a folemn contra?, to which they all fubfcribed, thereby making it the basis of their government. They chofe Mr. John Carver, a gentleman of piety and approved abilities, to be ther governor for the firft year. This was on the 11th ef November, 1629.

Their next object was to fix on a cravenient place for fettlement. In doing this they were obliged to encounter numerous difficulties, and is fuffer increable hard fhips. Many of them were fick in confequence of the fatigues of a long voyage; their previfions were bað; the feafon was uncommonly cold; the Indians, though afterwards friendly, were now hoftile; and they were unacquainted with the coat. Thefe dculties they furmounted, and on the 31st of December 1l ey were all fafely landed at a place, which, in grateful commeme. ration of Plymouth in England, the town which ti ev lait left in their native land, they called Plymouth. This is the first English town that was fettled in New England. The whole company that landed confifted of but 101 fouls. Their fituation was diftreffing, and their prof pects truly difmal and difcouraging. Their nearest neighbours, except the natives, were a French fettle

ment

ment at Port Royal, and one of the English at Virginia.. The nearit of these was five hundred miles from them,, and utterly incapable of affording them relief in a time of famine or danger. Wherever they turned their eyes, diftrefs was before them. Perfecuted for their religion in their native land-grieved for the profanation of the holy Sabbath, and other licentioufnefs in Holland --fatigued by their long and boisterous voyage-difappointed, through the treachery of their commander, of their expected country--forced on a dangerous and unknown fhore, in the advance of a cold winter-furrounded with hoftile barbarians, without any hope of human fuccour denied the aid or favour of the court of England-without a patent-without a public promife of a peaceable enjoyment of their religious liberties -worn out with toil and fufferings-without conve nient shelter, from the rigours of the weather-Such were the profpects, and fuch the fituation of these pi ous, folitary Chriftians; and, to add to their diftreffes, a general and very mortal fickness prevailed among them, which swept off forty-fix of their number before the opening of the next fpring. To fupport them under thefe trials, they had need of all the aids and comforts which Chritianity affords; and thefe were fufficient. The free and unmolested enjoyment of their religion. reconciled them to their humble and lonely fituation.

They bore their hardthips with unexampled patience, and perfevered in their pilgrimage of almost unparal leled trials, with fuch refignation and calmnefs, as gave proof of great piety and unconquerable virtue.

The prudent, friendly and upright conduct of the Plymouth colony towards their neighbours, the Indians, fecured their friendship and alliance. On the 13th of September, 1621, no less than nine Sachems declared allegiance to king James; and Mafaffoit and many of his Sub-Sachems, who lived around the bays of Patuxent and Maffachusetts, fubfcribed a writing, acknowledging the king of England their mafter. These transactions are fo many proofs of the peaceful and benevolent difpofition of the Plymouth fettlers; for had they been otherwife difpofed, they never could have introduced and maintained a friendly intercourfe with the natives.

The

The first duel in New England was fought with fword and dagger, between two fervants. Neither of them was killed, but both were wounded. For this difgraceful offence they were formally tried before the whe company, and fentenced to have their heads and feet tied together, and fo to be twenty four hours, with aut meat or drink."

It was in the fpring of 163 that the great comis rag was entered into by the Indians in all part, from the Narragansets round to the eaftward, to exürpate the English. The colony at Plymouth was the principal object of this confpiracy. They weil knew that is ther could effect the deftruction of Plymouth, the infant fettlement at Maffachusetts would fall an eafy facrifice. - They laid their plan with much art. Under colour of ". having fome diverfion at Plymouth, they intended to have fallen upon the inhabitants, and thus to have effected their defign. But their plot was disclosed to the people at Charledown, by John Sagamore, an Indian, who had always been a great friend to the Lachin. This treacherous defign of the Indians alarmed the English, and induced them to erect forts and maintain guards, to prevent any fuch fatal furprise in future. Thefe preparations, and the firing of the great guns, fo terrified the Indians, that they difperfed, relu qrthed * their design, and declared themfeives the friends of the English.

It was in 1643, the four colonies of Plymouth. Maf fachusetts, Connecticut and New Haven agreed upon articles of confederation, whereby a congress was formed, confifting of two commiffioners from each colony, who were chofen annually, and when met were onfidered as the reprefentatives of "The United Comories of New England." The powers delegated to the commiffioners were much the fame as thofe vefted in Congress by the articles of confederation, agreed upon by the United States in 1778.

The reader will obtain the best knowledge of the History of New England, by confulting Hutchin fon's Hiftory of Maffichufetts-Hazard's Hiftorical Collections, 4to. 2 vols.-Minot's History of the Infurrection in 1786 and 1787, and Continuation of Hutchinfon Belkaap's Hiftory of New Hampfhite-H. Adam's

K. 2.

Hift. of New England Gov. Winthrop's JournalChalmer's Political Annals-and Gookin's Hiftorical Collections of the Indians in New England, published, by the Hiftorical Society.

OUNDED north, by Lower Can

Boundaries, B ada; east, by Connecticut River,

which divides it from New Hampshire'; fouch, by Maf fachusetts; weft, by New York.

Divifions] Vermont is naturally divided by the Green Mountain, which runs from north to fouth, and divides the State nearly in the middle. Its civil divifions are as follow:

The northern line, feparating Vermont from Canada, is 90

miles long; the southern line 40 miles..

The townships are generally 6 miles fquare..

Rivers. The principal rivers in this State are Miffifcoui, La Moille, Onion, and Otter Creek rivers, which run from east to weft, into Lake Champlain; West, Sexton's, Black, Waterquechee, White, Ompompanoofuck, Weld's, Wait's, Paffümlick, and feveral fmaller. rivers, which run from west to eat, into Connecticut river. Over the river La Moille is a natural ftone bridge,, 7 or 8 rods in length.. Otter Creek is navigable for boats 50 miles. Its banks are excellent land, being annually overflowed and enriched,

Lakes and Springs.] Memphremagog is the largeft: Jake in this state. It is the refervoir of three confider. able streams, Black, Barton, and Clyde rivers..

In fome low lands, over against the great Ox Bow, a remarkable spring was difcovered about 20 years fince,. which dries up once in two or three years, and burlts. out in another place. It has a strong fmell of fulphur,. and throws up continually a peculiar kind of white fand.. A thick yellow fcum rifes upon the water when settled.. Ponds and other collections of water in this state are. remarkably clear and tranfparent, and afford abundance of trout and perch..

Mountains. The principal mountain in this flate is the one we have already mentioned, which divides the ftate nearly in the centre, between. Connecticut river and Lake Champlain.. The afcent from the ealt to the top of this mountain is much easier than from the welt, till you get to Ohion river, where the mountain ter minates. The height of land is generally from 20 to 30 miles from the river, and about the fame diftance from the New York line. The natural growth upon this mountain, is hemlock, pine, fpruce,, and other evergreens; hence it has always a green appearance, and on this account has obtained; the defcriptive name of Ver Mons, Green Mountain..

Climate.] See New England:

Face of the Gountry, Soil, Productions, &c.] This fates. generally fpeaking, is hilly, but not rocky.. West of the mountain, from the county of Rutland, northward to the Canada line, is a flat country, well

adapted