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We cannot forbear quoting, in conclusion, for the benefit of those, who imagine that an authoritative revelation is needless and useless, and that man's own intuitions are enough, the testimony of some of the philosophers that lived before Christ, to the darkness of the mind unenlightened by revelation, and the necessity of just such communications from God, as we think that we have in the gospel. One of the biographers of Pythagoras writes; "It is manifest that those things are to be done which are pleasing to God; but what they are, it is not easy to know, except a man were taught them by God himself, or by some person who had received them from God, or obtained the knowledge of them by some divine means." There is a striking passage in one of Plato's Dialogues, in which he represents Socrates as meeting one of his disciples on his way to the temple to pray, and trying to convince him that he knows not what to pray for or how. He then goes on to say; "It seems best to me, that we expect quietly, nay, it is absolutely necessary, that we wait with patience, till such time as we can learn certainly how we ought to behave towards God and man. Till that time arrives, it may be safer to forbear offering sacrifices, which you know not whether they are acceptable to God or not." A yet more remarkable passage is to be found in the reply of one of Socrates's disciples to his arguments for the soul's immortality. "I agree with you, Socrates, that to discover the certain truth of these things in this life is impossible, or at least very difficult. . . . . We ought, therefore, by all means to do one of these two things; either by hearkening to instruction and by our own diligent study, to find out the truth; or, if that be impossible, then to fix upon that which to human reason appears best and most probable, and to make that our raft while we sail this stormy sea, unless one could have a still more sure and safe guide, such as a divine revelation would be, on which we might make the voyage of life, as in a ship that fears no danger." Truly Christian spirits these, that so longed to see "the days of the Son of man," of the Redeemer's flock, though not in his fold! How humbly, how gladly would they have sat at his feet, nay, called him even by the obnoxious name of " Master!" How would they have hastened into the flames their own devout, but dubious speculations, could they have listened to his words of eternal life! Who can doubt that now, with prophets and apostles, they worship and adore in the full blaze of that divine light, the lack of which

they so deeply mourned, the need of which they so submissively owned?

A. P. P.

ART. VI.- Chronicles of the Pilgrim Fathers of the Colony of Plymouth, from 1602 to 1625, now first collected from Original Records and Contemporary Printed Documents, and illustrated with Notes. By ALEXANDER YOUNG. Boston: Charles C. Little and James Brown. 1841.

THE above work is from the press of Messrs. Little and Brown, and is executed in a manner creditable to the publishers, and worthy the subject of which it treats. We do not however intend to speak of the quality of the paper, the beauty of the typography, or the excellence of the binding, but to call the attention of our readers to the work itself, and to express our gratification that so valuable a contribution has been inade to the history of the Pilgrim Fathers.

Within a few years a new impulse has been given to the study of American history. Our colonial records have been examined anew, and every fact relating to the early settlement of the country been most eagerly sought for. It is certainly a source of congratulation that such a love for the historical exists, and that it has already been the means of preserving from oblivion so many facts, tending to give us a true view of the early settlement of the country, and to establish beyond all doubt, the purity and honesty of those who accomplished so arduous an undertaking. Our community are deeply indebted to a few individuals who have labored so unceasingly in this cause, and through whose efforts historical societies and libraries have been established, and valuable ancient records and documents been preserved.

The work of Mr. Young differs from most of the histories which have of late been published. It is not a compilation, nor does it give the inferences or views of its learned editor. It is a collection of valuable ancient documents, written by the Pilgrims themselves, and of course expressing their true feel

ings, and giving us a correct view of the motives which induced them to engage in so perilous an undertaking. Several of these documents have never before been published, and those which had been published had become exceedingly rare, and were not within the reach of most of our readers. A perusal of these papers has satisfied us that they will present the character of the Pilgrims in a still brighter light, and that they will correct many erroneous statements which were made by the early American historians, and have been copied and adopted by the later ones. We are sure that no one can read this work and then say with a good conscience, that the Pilgrims were actuated solely by political motives in leaving their homes; nor will he ever again sneer at their supposed folly in instituting a community of goods, or repeat for the ten thousandth time, the unfounded libel on the Captain of the May Flower.

The first paper in this volume is Gov. Bradford's History of Plymouth Colony, which, to use the language of the editor, ❝contains a detailed history of the rise of the Pilgrims in the north of England, their persecutions there, their difficult and perilous escape into Holland, their residence in that hospitable land for twelve years, the causes which led to their emigration, and the means which they adopted to transport themselves to America." Large portions of this history have been published in the historical works of Prince, Hutchinson, and Howard, and it has always heretofore been attributed to Secretary Morton, and as such it, has been regarded with less respect than it would have been, had it been known that it was written by one who was an eye-witness to what he describes. It does not appear that any American writer had before doubted the authorship of this work, but all, even the learned editor of the Memorial, had taken it for granted that it was written by the colony Secretary. There appears to us now to be no question on this point. Mr. Young has given us evidence which settles the matter entirely, and leads us to the satisfactory conclusion, that it is the genuine history of Gov. Bradford, and as such is entitled to the highest respect. It bears in itself evidence of its genuineness, and may be considered the basis of all the historical works relating to the Plymouth colony, and the chief source from which all the others are derived. It was well known that Gov. Bradford had written a history of the Colony, but it was supposed to have been lost with other valuable pa pers, while the British had possession of the Old South Church

in this city, where it was deposited during the war of the Revolution. But fortunately this copy was made by Secretary Morton into the records of the Plymouth Church, by which means it has been preserved, and at the end of two centuries comes again to light, giving new evidence not only of the learning and fidelity of its immortal author, but of the purity and integrity of the whole Pilgrim race.

In this History the troubles and trials of the Pilgrims are well described. At the present day it seems almost incredible, that a government should insist on retaining within its own jurisdiction a class of men, who were so heartily despised and so cruelly persecuted as the Puritans. They were not permitted to remain at home or to remove in peace. On every side their enemies met them, and when they found they could no longer endure the trials and sorrows which they suffered in their native country, they asked but the poor privilege of seeking a new home beyond its limits. But even this the tyrant who then sat on the throne of England denied them. We can give no better account of the difficulties with which they had to contend, than by using the words of Gov. Bradford, who was an eyewitness and a fellow-sufferer. He says,

"For although they could not stay, yet were they not suffered to go; but the ports and havens were shut against them, so as they were fain to seek secret means of conveyance, and to fee the mariners and give extraordinary rates for their passages. And yet were they oftentimes betrayed, many of them, and both they and their goods intercepted and surprised, and thereby put to great trouble and charge; of which I will give an instance or two, and omit the rest.

"There was a great company of them purposed to get passage at Boston in Lincolnshire; and for that end had hired a ship wholly to themselves, and made agreement with the master to be ready at a certain day, and take them and their goods in at a convenient place, where they accordingly would all attend in readiness. So after long waiting and large expenses, though he kept not the day with them, yet he came at length and took them in, in the night. And when he had them and their goods aboard, he betrayed them, having beforehand complotted with the searchers and other officers so to do; who took them and put them into open boats, and there rifled and ransacked them, searching them to their shirts for money, yea, even the women further than became modesty; and then carried them back into the town, and made them a spectacle and wonderment to the

multitude, which came flocking on all sides to behold them. Being thus by the catchpole officers rifled and stripped of their money, books, and much other goods, they were presented to the magistrates, and messengers sent to inform the Lords of the Council of them; and so they were committed to ward. Indeed the magistrates used them courteously, and showed them what favor they could; but could not deliver them until order came from the council table. But the issue was, that after a month's imprisonment, the greatest part were dismissed, and sent to the places from whence they came; but seven of the principal men were still kept in prison and bound over to the assizes.

"The next spring after, there was another attempt made by some of these and others, to get over at another place, and it so fell out that they lighted of a Dutchman at Hull, having a ship of his own, belonging to Zealand. They made agreement with him, and acquainted him with their condition, hoping to find more faithfulness in him than in the former of their own nation. He bade them not fear; for he would do well enough. He was by appointment to take them in between Grimsby and Hull, where was a large company, a good way distant from any town. Now against the prefixed time, the women and children with the goods were sent to the place in a small bark, which they had hired for that end, and the men were to meet them by land. But it so fell out that they were there a day before the ship came, and the sea being rough, and the women very sick, prevailed with the seamen to put into a creek hard by, where they lay on ground at low water. The next morning the ship came, but they were fast, and could not stir until about noon. In the mean time, the shipmaster, perceiving how the matter was, sent his boat to be getting the men aboard, whom he saw walking about the shore. But after the first boat full was got aboard, and she was ready to go for more, the master espied a great company, both horse and foot, with bills and guns and other weapons; for the country was raised to take them. The Dutchman seeing that, swore his country's oath, ("sacrament,") and having the wind fair, weighed his anchor, hoisted sails, and

away.

"But the poor men, which were got on board, were in great distress for their wives and children, which they saw thus to be taken, and were left destitute of their helps, and themselves also not having a cloth to shift them with, more than they had on their backs, and some scarce a penny about them, all they had being on board the bark. It drew tears from their eyes, and anything they had they would have given to have been on shore again. But all in vain; there was no remedy; they must

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