The first fettlers confifted of about 10,000 families, of which, in the year 1773, remained but 6194; making in all, 25,781 perfons. Mr. Pallas, in his Travels, (vol. 3,) has given an accurate map of all those colonies.

In a miffionary view, thofe fettlements might be of importance for the introduction of Chriftianity into Tartary, and other uncultivated parts of Afia.

In the year 1765, the United Brethren established a colony at Sarepta, on the fmall river Sarpa, 25 werfts from Zarizyn, on the fouth-western fhores of the Wolga,

SOME ACCOUNT OF THE FIRST SETTLERS IN THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS,

NORTH AMERICA,

Extracted from the Records of the firfi Chriftian Church in that Part of the World.

MR. EDITOR,

The following account, extracted from a Sermon preached in Plymouth, North America, by the Rev. Dr. Robbins, on the anniverfary of the firft fettlement in those newfound regions, in the year of our Lord 1620, may, I prefume, be acceptable and ufeful to your readers. In a day, in which the attention of the Christian world is excited to the diffufion of the religion of Jefus Chrift among the heathen, it will not be uninterefting to reflect on the methods of Providence in changing the prodigious extent of country, now called the United States of America, from being a fcene of Pagan ignorance and barbarity, to a civilized and Chriftian nation, in a lefs fpace of time than 200 years. Their population is now eftimated at 4,000,000 fouls. Dr R.'s Sermon, from whence this account is taken, was preached Dec. 22, 1793.

Hanley,

I am, yours, &c.

R. L.

Purpose here, agreeably to the words of the text, to give a brief narration of fome of the wonderful works. of God, towards our ancestors, which it is peculiarly proper we thould call to mind on this anniverfary. In doing this, I fhall bring to your view fome circumftances which, I

prefume,

prefume, have never yet been made public. I fhall take them from the first book of the very ancient records of this church, now in my hands. I would begin with obferving to you, that the caufe of our fathers leaving England, their native land, and tranfplanting themfelves finally into thefe, then dark corners of the carth, was the cruel perfecution they met with in their own land; originating in a fpirit of intolerance, which then prevailed, efpecially in the epit copal hierarchy. A fpirit, now abhorred as much by the enlightened and pious members of that communion, as perhaps by any other whatever. Our fathers made no difturbance in the ftate, but were peaceable members of fociety. Yet, because they could not, in confcience, fubmit to unfcriptural impofitions, nor bow their necks to the yoke of human inventions, they were loaded with heavy fines and forfeitures: nay, hunted about like partridges on the mountains, and perfecuted as pefts of fociety. Under thefe burdens they groaned for a confiderable time, but fill continued, as they had done, to meet as often as they could for the worthip of God, (though privately, for fear of their ennemies) under the paftoral care of that famous and learned divine, Mr. John Robinson, the firft paftor of this ancient church; until at length they refolved to feek an afylum in Holland. The undertaking was hazardous, for their enemies watched them continually, and did every thing in their power to prevent their efcape. What a dreadful fituation! they can neither be fuffered to live at home in peace, nor to go abroad for it. The ports and harbours are watched: ftrict orders given, by authority, not to fuffer them to escape. They are obliged to use the moft private methods poffible, and give the most extravagant fees to the failors; and yet were often betrayed by them. The following inftance is in the exact words of the record: "There was a large companie of them purposed "to gett paffage att Bofton in Lincolnthire for Holland, "and hiered a fhip wholly to themfelves, and made agree"ment with the mafter, to be ready att a certaine day, and "take them and their goods in att a convenient place appointed, where they all accordingly attended in reddinels. "After longe waiting, and large expences, the mafter, "tho' he kept not his word as to the day, yett came at last, "and tooke them in, in the night;-and when he had got "them and theire goods aboard, he betrayed then; "having, before hand, complotted with the fearchers and other officers foe to doe, whoe took them and putt them

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"into open boates, and there rifled and ranfacked them, "searching them to their fhirts for money; offering the "moft brutal violence to the women, fuch as is not fit to "be named; and then carryed them back into the towne, marching them aboute the streets, and making them a "fpectacle and wonderment to the multitude, who came "flockinge on all fides to behold them."

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The next year they made another attempt to get away, and finding a Dutch fhipmafter at Hull, they made an agreement with him, and made him acquainted with their condition and defign, hoping to find more friendship in him than in those of their own nation. He was to take them in from a large common, between Grimsby and Hull, at a good diftance from any town. That they might be in lefs danger of being difcovered, they divide their company, and fend on the women and children, with the goods, to the place firft, in a small barque; and the men were to go by land, and meet them at the day appointed. But it fo fell out that they were all at the place a day or two before the fhip came. When the arrived, they found the barque, with the women, &c. aground near the fhore, it being low water. The Dutchman perceiving this, fent his boat on fhore to take the men in firft, that no time might be loft; but when the firft boatful had got on board, behold they faw a large company of horfe and footmen coming with full fpeed upon them to apprehend them. For their enemies had got notice of their intention, and the whole country was raifed against them. The men on shore efcaped by flight, but the women and their children fell into their hands. The men in the fhip, with unspeakable diftrefs, beheld their wives and children taken by their enemies; and, notwithstanding all their remonftrances, were obliged to fubmit to be carried away to Holland ;deftitute of clothes and money, and not knowing that they fhould ever see their families again.

We have then an account of a difmal ftorm, in which they were all likely to perish; and how, at laft, through the myfterious Providence of God, they all got over to Holland, and met together-hufbands and wives, and children and friends, minifter and people. Here, for eleven years, they continued in a state of peace and comfort, under the miniftry of their beloved paftor, Mr. Robinfon. But various circumstances determined them at laft to refolve upon removing to America. The ftrongeft inducement to which was the defired hope of Spreading the gospel of Chrift, and laying a foundation for the advancement of religion,

VOL. VI.

X x

religion, and the kingdom of Chrift, in this remote part of the world.

After due deliberation and prayer, it was refolved that part of them fhould go over firft, with their pious elder, Mr. Brewfter; while the major part ftayed behind, and their pastor with them. The scene of their parting with each other, who were fo knit together with cordial love, which had been ftrengthened by mutual forrows and diftreffes, was moft affecting. On this occafion they kept a day of humiliation and prayer. Mr. Robinfon preached to them from Ezra viii. ver. 21. "Then I proclaimed a fast "there, at the river Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves "there before God, to feek of him a right way for us, and "for our little ones, and for all our fubftance."-" And "now the trying time being come, that they must depart, "(fay the records) they were accompanied by most of their "brethren out of the city, into a town called Half Haven, "where the fhip lay ready to receive them. The next "day, the wind being fair, they went aboard, their friends "accompanying them. But truly doleful was the fight of "that fad partinge; to fee what fighes and fobbes, and prayers, did found among them; what tears did gufh from "every eye, which foe pierfed each other's harte, that "fundrye of the Dutch ftrangers that ftood on the kees, as fpectators, coulde not refraine from tears. But the tyde "callinge them to departe, theire reverend paftor, falling "downe on his knees, and they all with him, with watery "cheeks, commended them, with moft fervent prayers, to "the Lord, and his bleffinge. And then, with mutual "embraces and many teares, they took their leaves of one "another, which proved to be their laft leave with many "of them.-Now on they come, all alone, a fmall and "feeble band, through contrary ftorms and boisterous feas,

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late in the year, a terrible winter approaching, their "wives and poor piteous children with them, going to a "frange land. But the Lord is with them, and is their guide."

They arrived at Cape Cod, November 10, 1620, and gave thanks to God for their preservation.

One died on the paffage, but another was born, fo that the fame number arrived in America which failed from Holland, viz. 101 fouls.

*

The records give a further and interefting account of their fettlement, which was obliged to be omitted here, because of the length, but may be inferted in a future number.

ORIGINAL EXTRACT FROM MR. PARK's
JOURNAL.

A

T Sego, the capital of Bambara, on the river Joliba or Niger, he fays, that he found the inhabitants of the village to which he had been ordered to retire, either averse or afraid to give him lodging or entertainment; and that having turned his horfe loofe, he fought fhelter from a ftorm of thunder and rain under a tree. At length as night approached, that kindness and humanity inherent in the female fex, to which he had been indebted on former occafions, came to his relief on the prefent. A poor negro woman, returning from the labours of the field, obferved, that he was wet, weary and dejected, and taking up his faddle and bridle, told him to follow her. She led him to her cottage, lighted up a lamp, procured him an excellent fupper of fish, and plenty of corn for his horfe; after which, she spread a mat upon the floor, and faid, that he might remain there for the night. For this well timed bounty, our traveller prefented her with two of the four brafs buttons, which remained on his waistcoat. Mr. Park adds other particulars concerning his benefactress, which heighten the picture; he relates, that the good woman having performed the rites of hofpitality towards himself, called on the female part of her family, and made them fpin cotton for a great part of the night. They lightened their labour by fongs: one of which must have been compofed extempore; for our traveller was himself the fubject of it; and the air was in his opinion, the sweetest and most plaintive he had ever heard. The words, as may be expected were fimple and may be literally tranflated as follows: The winds roared and the rains fell. The poor white man faint and weary, came and fat under our tree. He has no mother to bring him milk-No wife to grind his corn. Chorus, Let us pity the white man; no mother has he, &c. &c. Simple as thefe words are, they are natural and affecting, and contain a curious allufion to the state of manners in favage life, in which the women perform all the domeftic duties.