Governor Winthrop was a gentleman of unimpeachable integrity, polished and conciliating in his manners, and preeminent for his assiduous devotion to the best interests of the company, which had confided to him the administration of their distant government. Descended from an ancient and highly respectable family of Groton, in the county of Suffolk, he was early respected for his virtues, and honoured by public attentions for his proficiency in the science of jurisprudence. Having gained the esteem, respect and confidence of his associates, he was unanimously chosen the Jason of the American expedition. Being placed in a new, difficult and most responsible situation, it required such an honesty of purpose, magnanimity of spirit and moral firmness,—such a just conception of his various duties, and prudential exercise of his extensive powers, as are rarely concentred in any individual. But he "bore his faculties so meek, and was so clear in his great office," that all delighted to do him honour.

Thomas Dudley, who accompanied Winthrop as Deputy Governor, was of a sterner temperament, more exclusive, determined and unyielding in his religious and political opinions, and less conciliatory in his manners. As an officer in the army of Elizabeth, he had been schooled in the rigid discipline of the camp, and imbibed ideas of authority and subordination, which it was difficult to surrender, in his novel and perplexing sphere of action; but he was a man of superior natural endowments, well educated, ready in the despatch of business, and merits the high reputation he acquired, as an intelligent, active, energetic and faithful magistrate.

If, in the early history of New-England, there should be perceived some few instances of illiberality in the administration of the government,-some acts of injustice and oppression; let it be remembered, that the age was tempestuous,-that all christendom was roused to arms in the cause of religion,—that nation was contending against nation, while in the midst of each, civil wars were raging with unexampled violence, between exasperated sectarians; that the times were unpropitious to the complete comprehension and practical observance of those enlarged principles of freedom, which philosophical theorists had boldly announced, and they aspired to inculcate and establish. If we cannot approve their whole course of conduct, we should not forget whatever may look like excuse, and be urged in their defence. This justice requires; and however inconclusive, we must, at least, give them credit for indubitable purity of motive, and a sincere belief in the rectitude of their conduct, in extenuation of the errors which were committed. If the means for accomplishing the momentous objects, for which they had abandoned their country, were not always the most appropriate, or were even in hostility with their professions, we should rather be astonished, that there are so few causes for regret and animadversion, than be forward in censure, or prone to arraign them before the bar of posterity; for in the end, their sublime experiment was complete, and we now rejoice in the plenitude of their

success.

It is in the meetings of the Assistants, the primitive assemblies of the freemen, and of their representatives in the General Court, that we are to search

for the developement of those fundamental principles of government, that legislative, judicial and political polity, which are now our boast. There is to be found the nucleus of our constitution, and the origin of all those civil, religious, literary, moral and military institutions, for which New-England is distinguished; and we must there seek for the cradle of the American Hercules. To them are to be traced the causes of our rapid advancement in the arts of civilization; to them are we indebted, for the fruition of those countless blessings, which have been fostered and enlarged, under that broad ægis of Liberty and Independence, which they gallantly extended over this western hemisphere.

How great, then, are the obligations for which we are indebted to our chivalric ancestors! They have left us an inheritance, which has continued to enhance in value, by a ratio of accumulation that is incalculable. Six generations have already possessed it, and each in succession has been astonished at the vastness of the domain; of its infinite and exhaustless resources, and the rapidity of their developement. They, like us, have looked back with gratitude and admiration, and forward with elated anticipations of still more wonderful results.

During the long period of the colonial government, the citizens of Roxbury were conspicuous for their patriotism and liberality; they were ever ready to afford their aid in all measures which were deemed important to the general weal. In prosecuting the various local Indian wars, and those in which the parent country was so long involved with France, for the complete control of all America, they took an ac

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tive and important part, and furnished several officers, who were distinguished for their services. At the commencement of the revolution, the position of the town was peculiarly interesting from its immediate connexion with Boston, while in a state of siege. Here was encamped the right wing of the investing army, and the ruined ramparts which crown yonder heights are daring monuments of "times which tried men's souls,"—of those memorable days, when the illustrious Washington first mustered his forces on the plains of Cambridge. There are still left among us a few venerable soldiers, who shared the dangers and the glories of his brilliant campaigns. Some, who are now present, witnessed and full well remember the spirit stirring scenes of Lexington, Concord and Bunker Hill,-the embattled squadrons which had rushed from every part of the country, to enrol themselves under the standard of their great chieftain, those martial movements and passages of arms,—that "pomp and circumstance of war," which produced such thrilling excitements of hope and fear, -of doubt and confidence, that every eye and every ear and every thought was turned toward the beleagured metropolis of the north, from whence, on every breeze, were expected tidings of weal or wo.

How many of you must recollect, and with such vividness of impression, as to appear an event of yesterday, that momentous night, when the father of his country passed this eminence with his long array of patriot troops. Hushed was the trumpet's clangour, and silent the far resounding drum; stern, noiseless and darkly moved on the lengthened column of armed men, firmly resolved on victory or death. With

what eagerness did thousands rush, at the earliest dawn, to the surrounding hill-tops, to behold the banners of the republic floating triumphantly over the heights of Dorchester. And where is now the youth, whose heart does not glow with pride and exultation, while the aged warrior relates the heroic deeds of that eventful period? Who does not hear with amazement of the anxieties, perils and sufferings, which were then endured by fathers and sons, matrons and daughters,-of their immense sacrifices in their country's cause? The memory of them can never pass away; they ushered in the morning of our national existence, and will be more highly prized by each succeeding generation.

Roxbury can number among her sons, or inhabitants, many distinguished men. It has been the favorite residence of Governors Thomas and Joseph Dudley, Shirley and Barnard, when under the colonial government,—and since the establishment of Independence, of the PROSCRIBED Hancock and Adams, -the civil Nestor and Ulysses of the revolution, and of Bowdoin, Sumner and Eustis, forming a constellation of statesmen, whose effulgence illumined the national route to prosperity and grandeur, and will be ever conspicuous in our historical zodiac:-and here were born Generals Warren and Heath ;-Warren! that immortal patriot, that eloquent advocate of the rights of man, that dauntless soldier, that first great martyr of American Liberty. At the mention of his venerated name, we involuntarily turn towards that consecrated battle-ground where he offered up his life in his country's cause, and the whole story of our national advent comes fresh and glowing upon