ship whichever she was that brought the cunabula of Little Harbor) and Tomson came with him to Plimouth. You must work hard to get near the date, but in Prince it may be approached. So, in my judgment, you should look to the nameless bark of West for your passage over the billows, and take the pleasantest day in the year for your landing."

It is well known, that the two Hiltons, who made a stand at Dover neck, above Portsmouth, arrived early in 1623. Edward is supposed to have come directly from England. William was an early settler at Plymouth. A writer in the Old Colony Memorial says that William Hilton had an allotment of one acre with those who arrived in the Fortune in November, 1621. It appears, however, that Marie Hilton had a share with those who arrived in the May-Flower; and from the following letter, which is found in Hazard's Historical Collections, it would seem that William must have been at Plymouth some time before the arrival of the Fortune. A Letter from New-Plimoth.*

[Smitte's New-England Trials, Sind. 1622.]

Louing Cousin, at our arriuall at New-Plimoth in NewEngland, we found all our Friends and Planters in good Health, though they were left sicke, and weake, with very small meanes-the Indians round about us peaceable and friendly-the Country very pleasant and temperate, yeelding naturally of itself great store of Fruites; as Vines of diuers sorts in great abundance: there is likewise Walnuts, Chesnuts, Small Nuts, and plums, with much Variety of Flowers, Rootes, and Herbes, no lesse pleasant than wholesome and profitable: no place hath more Gooseberries and Strawberries, nor better;-Timber of all Sorts you haue in England, doth cover the Land, that affoords beasts of divers sorts; and great Flocks of Turkies, Quailes, Pigeons, and Partridges: many great Lakes abounding with Fish, Fowle, Beavers, and Otters. The Sea affoords vs as great Plenty of all excellent Sorts of Sea-fish, as the Riuers and Iles doth varietie of Wilde Fowle of most vsefull sorts. Mines we find to our thinking, but neither the goodness nor Qualitie we know. Better Grain cannot be than the Indian

*There is no date to this letter, but the vessel by which it was sent, left New-England the beginning of April, 1621.

Corne, if we will plant it vpon as good ground as a man need desire.-Wee are all Freeholders: the Rent-Day doth not trouble vs; and all those good Blessings we haue, of which and what we list in their Seasons, for taking. Our Companie are for most Part very religious honest People: the Word of God sincerely taught vs every Sabbath; so that I know not any thing a contented mind can here want. I desire your friendly care to send my Wife and Children to me where I wish all the Friends I have in England, and so I rest, Your loving Kinsman,

WILLIAM HILTON.

Literary Notices.

American Biography.-Proposals have been issued at Philadelphia for the publication of a Historical Dictionary of Eminent Americans, by ROBERT WALSH, jun. It will be comprised in two octavo volumes of about 500 pages each. We have as yet no good works in American Biography; but hope the talents and industry of Mr. Walsh will remedy the deficiency. The works of Elliot and Allen are indeed useful; but in many respects incomplete. The Biographical Dictionary of Mr. Rogers of Penn. is the best we have yet seen, and we are glad to perceive that a new edition of the work is in preparation for the press.

"The Loves of the Angels," a poem, by THOMAS MOORE, is published in this country. A high-sounding title may have induced many persons to read the book; but few will arise without the impression, that there is something too earthly in the" loves" of these "angels," to be of celestial origin; and that they are not of those superior human beings, -"whose beauty wants

But the adornment of bright wings,

To look like heaven's inhabitants."

"Werner-a tragedy," by Lord Byron, has been re-published at Philadelphia.

A new edition of Henry's Chemistry, with notes by Professor Silliman, is preparing at Hartford, Conn.

Mr. Nathan Whiting of New-Haven, Conn. has in the press, A GAZETTEER OF THE UNITED STATES, abridged from Morse's late Universal Gazetteer: containing a General Description of the United States, and particular descriptions

of the several states and territories in the Union of the Counties and principal Cities, Towns, Villages, Lakes, Rivers, Harbors, Indian Tribes, Mission Stations, &c. &c. in /the United States. To be illustrated by a Map; on which will be marked the great roads through the states, and tables of distances,-latitudes and longitudes of places,-and other useful statistical tables. By Rev. JEDIDIAH MORSE, D. D. and SONS. The work will be issued in a small duodecimo volume of about 300 pages, and will contain an ele gant map 11 by 18 inches, printed on durable bank-post pa

per.

History of New-Netherland.-The Rev. Dr. Bassett, of Bushwick, (L. I.) has completed a translation of a Topographical and Natural History of New-Netherland, from the original Dutch of Dr. Adrian Van Der Donk, and first published in Amsterdam, in 1655. This work, which comprehends a particular account of the nature, quality, situation and productions of that country, together with a view of the manners and customs of the Aborigines, the Natural History of the Beaver, and a great variety of curious and interesting matter, is now ready for the press, and will be published by subscription. The translator has also added an appendix, consisting of such parts of De Laet's and Lambaechter's History, as he has judged necessary. The work is warmly recommended by the New-York Historical Socieand also by Gov. Clinton, to whose inspection the MS. has been submitted.

ty;

TEMPLAR'S CHART.-A work with this title has been recently published by R. W. Jeremy L. Cross, G. L. New-Haven, Conn. It is said to be a work of merit, promising great benefit to the masonic fraternity. Mr. Cross, it will be recollected, was the author of the Masonic Chart, now so generally used and approved among masons.

Stephen Dodge, New-Haven, proposes to publish a com plete edition of the writings of the late President Edwards.

Original History.-Proposals have been issued for printing by subscription a work, to be entitled "Notes on the settlement and Indian Wars of the western parts of Pennsyl vania and Virginia;" by Dr. Joseph Doddridge. The work will be at least a curious one, and much more than curious to all the descendants and successors of the early settlers of that part of our country.

COLLECTIONS,

Historical and Miscellaneous.

MAY, 1823.

Review.

History of Massachusetts, from 1764 to 1775. By Alden Bradford, Secretary of the Commonwealth. 8vo. Boston,

1822.

No period in the history of Massachusetts is so full of interest as the fifteen years immediately preceding the war of the revolution. As the difficulties between the colonies and England gained strength and importance, the province of Massachusetts stood forward, and was the principal object of ministerial hatred and persecution. The other colonies indeed were strenuous in support of their rights, but their commerce being small in comparison with that of Massachusetts, the commercial regulations and restrictions of the British government were not very severely felt by them. The pressure of the times called forth the energies of the Province, and statesmen and orators, men of profound learning, public spirit, patriotism and courage, rose up in defence of their chartered rights.

The conduct of Great-Britain towards this Province was marked with suspicion, jealousy and injustice, from its first settlement to the era of the revolution. The course of policy pursued by the mother country was in its very nature narrow and short sighted. But fortunately, the first settlers, who came to these shores, when the principles of civil liberty and the right of resistance to arbitrary power were in full discussion at home, brought with them correct notions and feelings of liberty. Accordingly, from the beginning, they made a bold stand against oppression in every form,* and left

*This is evident from the whole of their history. They would not permit appeals to the King in any case. Winthrop's Journal, 144, 157, 207. They refused to give up their patent when required by the Lords commissioners. Ibid. 158, 161. In 1639, one of their enemies wrote to

a legacy to their posterity, of which we at this day enjoy the full benefit. As early as the year 1634, the charter of Massachusetts granted by Charles I.,was discussed before the privy council,and it was intended to declare it void, and that the privy council should prepare laws for the better government of the colonies, to be enforced by the King's proclamation. Three years after, a plan was set on foot for revoking the charter of Massachusetts,* which undoubtedly would have been carried into execution, had not the troubles then existing in England and the contention between the King and parliament absorbed all matters of less immediate importance. During the commonwealth, Cromwell was often, though unsuccessfully,urged to abridge the liberties of Massachusetts; in other words, to violate or annul the charter.

The colonists therefore enjoyed their rights and liberties unmolested, till in an evil hour for them the house of Stuart was restored to the throne.

Immediately after the restoration, was resumed the series. of measures that ended in the independence of the colonies. In the year 1660, Parliament passed the celebrated navigation act---the corner stone upon which all subsequent commercial restrictions were built. By that act, it was provided, under very severe penalties, that no goods or commodities should be imported into, or exported from, any part of his majesty's dominions, excepting in vessels there built and belonging to his majesty's subjects, and unless the master and three fourths of the mariners were English.t

Next followed what were technically called acts of trade. One of them, passed in 1663, prohibited the colonists from importing any European commodities into the colonies, excepting by the way of England, and in vessels built, purchasEngland that it was not discipline that was now so much aimed at, as sovereignty; and that it was accounted piracy and treason in our General Court to speak of appeals to the King. Ibid. 176. In 1640, when Parliament stood at the height of their power, it was proposed by some friend of the colony to send over some persons to solicit for us in Parliament: but we declined, lest putting ourselves under the protection of Parliament, we must then be subject to all such laws as they should make, &c. in which course, though they should intend our good, yet it might prove very prejudicial to us. Ibid. 218.

* See observations on the Boston Port Bill, 1774, by Josiah Quincy, jr. and I. Hutchinson's History, p. 87, &c. 3d ed.

†The navigation act, it seems, was proposed by George Downing,a native of New-England, who stands second on the Cambridge catalogue. He was a man of talents, but crafty and intriguing, and not very friendly to his native land. See Pres. Adams' letters to Judge Tudor and others, published in the volume with Nov-Anglos and Massachusettensis.