of Dr. Increase Mather, who had recently returned from a special embassy to the English Court respecting the Charter, and was then the President of Harwood College, the man whom Elliott calls the "Father of the New England Clergy." A writer of that period also intimates that they lodged information against the wife of the newly-arrived Governor, Sir William Phipps, and implicated one of the Judges of the Court. Their last accusation (which was preferred against Mrs. Hale, the wife of the minister of the first Church in Beverly) was in the opinion of the public, the most false and wicked of all, and effectually broke the spell by which they had held the minds of the whole colony in bondage. Her genuine and distinguished virtues had won for her a reputation, and secured in the hearts of the people a confidence which superstition itself could not sully nor shake. Mr. Hale had unhappily been active in all the previous proceedings, but knowing the innocency and piety of his wife, he stood forth between her and the storm he had himself helped to raise. In denouncing Mrs. Hale, the whole community was convinced that the accusers had perjured themselves, and from that moment their power was destroyed. The awful delusion ceased, and a close was put to one of the most tremendous tragedies in the history of real life. There are few if any other instances on

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record of a revolution of opinion and feelings so sudden, so rapid, and so complete.

During the prevalence of this fanaticism, twenty persons lost their lives by the hand of the executioner, fifty-five escaped death by confessing themselves guilty, one hundred were in prison, and more than two hundred others under accusation. Immediately upon the termination of the excitement, all who were in gaol were pardoned. Nothing more was heard of the afflicted, or theconfessors. They were never called to account for their malicious impositions and perjury. It was apprehended that a judicial investigation might renew the delusion, and all were anxious to consign the whole subject as speedily and as effectually as possible to oblivion. The state of things which Cotton Mather laboured to bring about, in order that he might increase his own influence over an infatuated people, by being regarded by them as mighty to cast out and vanquish evil spirits, and as able to hold Satan himself in chains by his prayers and his piety, brought him at length into such disgrace, that his power was broken down, and he became the object of public ridicule and open insult.

The excitement that had been produced for the purpose of restoring and strengthening the influence of the clerical and spiritual leaders, resulted

in effects, which reduced it to a still lower point. Congregationalism then received a shock from which it never afterwards fully recovered. The intelligence of the ministers, if not their integrity, was questioned, and doubt, distrust, and infidelity soon struck root amid the ruins of superstition. While their fearful proceedings were in progress, Sir William Phipps arrived with a new Charter, the nature of which we shall describe hereafter, and thus were terminated all hopes of the restoration of the old order of things. It forms an important era in colonial history. Hitherto, the people had governed themselves without the control of England. They still continued to do so, as we shall see, in spite of her interference. They grew up in neglect; when restraint was attempted, they resisted; and the moment they were able, they severed the connection. The Whigs reversed this policy for the remaining colonies; they began with restraint, and ended with neglect and fatal indulgence which are likely to produce a similar result.*

*Whoever is desirous of further information on this subject, will find ample details in Hutchinson, and the Col. lection of the Massachusetts Historical Society, but the best account is by the Rev. Mr. Upham, from whom I have drawn largely.

CHAPTER V.

REVIEW.

The two most interesting periods of American history extend, 1st. From the settlement of Massachusetts to the English Revolution of 1688; 2nd. To the independence of the colonies in 1783-Review of the first periodNumber and names of colonies then settled-Their population and commerce-Account of the different forms of Government then established there-Great increase of democratic opinions Change in tone of feeling in Virginia-Some account of the Church there-Loyalty of Churchmen-State of Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New York-Effect of the conduct of New England upon them.

THE two most interesting periods of the colonial history of America extend from the first settlement of Massachusetts to the great English Revolution of 1688, and from thence to the peace of 1783 that insured the independence of the revolted provinces constituting the United States.

We have now arrived at the termination of the first, and must pause to review and contemplate it. It is by far the most curious and instructive, inasmuch as during that time the colonies were planted, their constitutions, after various alterations, assumed a definite form, and they were sensibly affected by every change which the innovations of those days introduced into the parent country. If we except Georgia, afterwards planted, and Florida, subsequently conquered, the continental colonies were now firmly established, and consisted of Massachusetts, including Plymouth and Maine, Rhode Island (embracing Providence), Connecticut, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and the two Carolinas, and contained about two hundred and fifty thousand inhabitants, of which at least seventy-five thousand were settled in New England. Their commerce was carried on by twenty-five thousand tons of shipping, which was navigated by two thousand six hundred seamen.

No regular plan of colonization had ever been adopted. Settlements formed by accident or caprice were left to languish or flourish, as the character of the people, or the nature of the soil or climate, happened to operate. They were not trained up, they grew up; and being beyond the reach of parental control, governed themselves in their own way. Many constitutions were drafted