four months of their settlement. At the end of March, the Mortal Bill stood thus-" December, 6-January, 8-February, 17-March, 13--Total, 44. Of these, 21 were subscribers to the civil compact; and 23 were women, children,

and servants.

9. At times, the number of the diseased was such, that not more than six or seven were able to attend the duties of the station, and these were almost wholly employed in attending the sick. The crew of the vessel was in a similar situation, of which they did not recover till April, and then half of them had fallen victims to the dire calamity. Great as this affliction was, it was attended with some marks of a kind superintending Providence. For the first three months, no Indians appeared to alarm or disturb them. It was found afterwards, that this district had been entirely laid waste by a pestilence (perhaps the yellow fever) which had prevailed two or three years before. This fact was evinced by the extent of the fields, the number of the graves, and the remnants of the skeletons lying on the ground.

10. The events we have now mentioned, respecting the depopulation of this country, by wars and pestilence, considered in reference to the settlement of our fathers in the desolated places, are certainly very remarkable. The dangers to which they were exposed from these untutored tribes were greatly lessened; and the lands which they occupied being depopulated and deserted, the rights of no man were infringed. The Pilgrims of Plymouth obtained their right of possession to the territory on which they settled, by titles as fair and unequivocal as those by which any human property can be held. Although it has been adopted as a principle of natural law, that Europeans had a right to take and occupy a portion of the American continent, since it was not all needed by the natives, who were comparatively few in number; yet, it was policy and seeming justice, to make the Indians a satisfactory compensation, on taking from them what they had considered their own."

11. On the 16th of March the inhabitants of Plymouth were alarmed at seeing a sturdy Indian walk into their settlement, and passing by the houses, go directly where the people were collected. He saluted them in broken English,

How many persons died the first winter?

and bid them welcome. He was affable, and told them his dwelling was five days' travel thence; that he was a sagamore, or prince. He understood the geography of the country; gave an account of the different tribes, their sagamores, and number of men. He had been acquainted with the English, who had taken fish at Monhigan, and knew the names of their captains. He was naked, excepting a leather belt about his waist, with a fringe a span wide. He had a bow and two arrows, was tall and straight, his hair long behind, and short before. They kindly entertained him, and gave him a horseman's coat. He tarried all night, and informed them that the place where they were was Patuxet, and that about four years before, all the inhabitants had died; that not a man, woman, or child, survived.

12. Upon going away, he promised to return in a few days, which he accordingly did, and brought five others with him. Thus a communication was opened between the settlers and the native tribes; alliances were entered into, and great harmony prevailed. Squanto, a native who had been kidnapped by the English traders some time before, and who had made his way back again, came and took up his abode with them, and proved a faithful friend till death, which happened the following year. Squanto, in consequence of being thus carried to Europe, had escaped the universal mortality of his tribe at Patuxet. He was profitably employed for the colony, during his life, in making his new friends acquainted with the surrounding country, and in other useful services.

13. It will be remembered that Mr. Robinson remained at Leyden with the majority of the society, but with the expectation of being able, with more of his flock, to join those who had emigrated, at some future but not very distant time. This, however, on the part of Mr. Robinson, was not realized; for, in the year 1625, he was taken to his rest, greatly lamented by all who had been blessed under his ministry; but soon after his death, the remaining part of the congregation accomplished their wishes, in uniting with their brethren at Plymouth. In the year 1629, the number had increased to 300; having then received a great part of their brethren in Holland; among whom, were the widow and

What had become of the native inhabitants of New-England?--What Indian came and resided with them?

children of their deceased pastor. Their increasing name began to be felt in the mother country, so that not only did it bring over new settlers, but their patent was enlarged and perfected, so as to give them the power and authority of a body politic.

14. The 22d of December is celebrated as an anniversary festival, to commemorate the landing of the Plymouth colony. A discourse is delivered, adapted to the occasion; after public worship, more forcibly to impress their minds with the circumstances of their meritorious forefathers, clams, fish, ground-nuts, and victims from the forest, constitute a part of their grateful repast. For a number of years the same anniversary was celebrated in Boston by the descendants of the Plymouth pilgrims and others. Here, too, the festal board displayed the style of other times; treasures, which had been hidden in the sand, and game from the woods, mingled with other provisions of the table. It is a festival, rational and happy in its tendency. It reminds the guests of the virtues and sufferings of their fathers; by a comparison of circumstances, it excites transports of gratitude, elevates the affections, and amends the heart.

THE INDIAN PRINCESS.

1. PERHAPS they, who are not particularly acquainted with the history of Virginia, may be ignorant that Pocahontas, an Indian princess, was the protectress of the English, and often screened them from the cruelty of her father. She was but ́twelve years old, when captain Smith, the bravest, the most intelligent, and the most humane, of the first colonists, fell into the hands of the savages. He already understood their language, had traded with them several times, and often appeased the quarrels between the Europeans and them. Often had he been obliged also to fight them and punish their perfidy.

2. At length, however, under the pretext of commerce, he was drawn into an ambush, and the only two companions who accompanied him fell before his eyes; but though alone,

At what age was Pocahontas when captain Smith fell into thẹ hands of the Indians?

by his dexterity, he extricated himself from the troop which surrounded him; until, unfortunately, imagining he could save himself by crossing a morass, he stuck fast; so that the savages, against whom he had no means of defending himself, at last took and bound him, and brought him to Powhatan.

3. The king was so proud of having captain Smith in his power, that he sent him in triumph to all the tributary princes, and ordered that he should be splendidly treated, till he returned to suffer that death which was prepared for him. The fatal moment at length arrived. Captain Smith was laid upon the hearth of the savage king, and his head placed' upon a large stone to receive the stroke of death, when Pocahontas, the youngest and darling daughter of Powhatan, threw herself upon his body, clasped him in her arms, and declared, that if the cruel sentence was executed, the first blow should fall on her.

4. All savages (absolute sovereigns and tyrants not excepted) are invariably more affected by the tears of infancy, than the voice of humanity. Powhatan could not resist the tears and prayers of his daughter. Captain Smith consèquently obtained his life on condition of paying for his ransom a certain quantity of muskets, powder, and iron utensils; but how were they to be obtained? They would neither permit him to return to James Town, nor let the English know where he was, lest they should demand him sword in hand. Captain Smith, who was as sensible as courageous, said that if Powhatan would permit one of his subjects to carry to James Town a leaf which he took from his pocket-book, he should find under a tree, at the day and hour appointed, alt the articles demanded for his ransom,

5. Powhatan consented; but without having much faith in his promises, believing it to be only an artifice of the captain to prolong his life. But he had written on the leaf a few lines, sufficient to give an account of his situation. The messenger returned. The king sent to the place fixed upon, and was greatly astonished to find every thing which had been demanded. Powhatan could not conceive this mode of transmitting thoughts; and captain Smith was henceforth.

How happened captain Smith to be taken by the Indians?-How did Pocahontas save his lifo?

22†

looked upon as a great magician, to whom they could not show too much respect. He left the savages in this opinion, and hastened to return home.

6. Two or three years after, some fresh differences arising amidst them and the English, Powhatan, who no longer thought them sorcerers, but still feared their power, laid a horrible plan to get rid of them altogether. His project was to attack them in profound peace, and cut the throats of the whole colony. The night of this intended conspiracy, Pocahontas took advantage of the obscurity; and, in a terrible storm, which kept the savages in their tents, escaped from her father's house, advised the English to be on their guard, but conjured them to spare her family, to appear ignorant of the intelligence she had given, and terminate all their differences by a new treaty.

7. It would be tedious to relate all the services which this angel of peace rendered to both nations. It shall only be added, that the English, it is not known from what motives, but certainly against all faith and equity, thought proper to. carry her off. Long and bitterly did she deplore her fate, and the only consolation she had was captain Smith, in whom she found a second father, She was treated with great respect, and married to a planter by the name of Rolfe, who soon after took her to England. This was in the reign of James the First; and it is said that the monarch, pedantic and ridiculous in every point, was so infatuated with the prerogative of royalty, that he expressed his displeasure, that one of his subjects should dare to marry the daughter even of a savage king.

8. It will not perhaps be difficult to decide on this occasion, whether it was the savage king who derived honor from finding himself placed upon a level with the European prince, or the English monarch, who by his pride and prejudices, reduced himself to a level with the chief of the savages. Be that as it will, captain Smith, who had returned to London before the arrival of Pocahontas, was extremely happy to see her again; but dared not treat her with the same familiarity as at James Town. As soon as she saw him, she threw herself into his arms, calling him her father; but finding that

How came Pocahontas to fall into the power of the English?-To whom was she married?