opinions on religious liberty-and it cannot be pretended that they were less correct than the opinions of any other man living at that time-his greatest admirers will acknowledge him no more than human. Nor is it necessary, as already intimated, to suppose, that all the censure is just which was cast upon the persons, who, in this country, at the time under consideration, exercised a persecuting spirit; for, then, as has been observed, religious liberty was but imperfectly understood-and had they lived in this enlightened age of the world, not unlikely they would abhor such a spirit as much as ourselves.

8. Shortly subsequent to the banishment of Roger Williams, it was found, that Massachusetts was much convulsed by religious discords, which caused a synod to be holden at Newton, now Cambridge, which adjudged sundry religious opinions to be heretical, and passed sentence of banishment upon such as held the most obnoxious of them. These disturbances induced John Clark, an eminent physician, William Coddington, and several others of their friends, in the year 1638, to resolve on a removal out of the jurisdiction of that state; and by the advice of Roger Williams they were induced to settle at Aquidneck, now called Rhode Island. On the 7th of March, 1838, the men of this party, to the number of eighteen, united themselves into a body politic, and chose William Coddington their judge or chief magistrate. At the commencement of this settlement on Rhode Island, Dr. Clark became the minister of a society of Baptists then formed; and he continued to act in this character till his death, which happened in 1676, in the 66th year of his age. The particulars of his imprisonment at Boston, of his being sentenced to pay a fine of twenty pounds or be publicly whipped, for preaching at Lynn where he had occasion to go on business, and of the important part which he took both at home and in England in the concerns of his infant colony, are minutely detailed in the biographical notices of his life.

9. The hardships and privations endured by the first

settlers of the other New England colonies, have drawn forth the warmest sympathies of the Christian and philanthropist. When we see persons, solely for religious considerations, willing to forsake the scenes and companions of their youth, to cross the wide ocean amidst perils and sufferings, and then to settle for life in a region surrounded by savages and wild beasts of the most ferocious kind, in a region almost destitute of the elegancies and delights of civilized life; we cannot but admire their fortitude, we cannot but admire the unconquerable tendency in human nature to yield itself to the impulses of religious faith, regardless of consequences. But in the settlement of Rhode Island the circumstances were materially different. Here, the first settlers did not engage in a voluntary enterprise. They were actually compelled by their Christian brethren to abandon their own houses, to traverse a wilderness through deep snows, and then to dwell with savages without comfortable habitations and food.

QUESTIONS.

1. From what does the state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations derive its name?-2. Where and by whom were the three first settlements made?-3. What induced them to settle here?-4. Under whose direction and patronage did Roger Williams receive his education ?-5. What led sir Edward Coke to educate him?--6. By whom, and for what reason, did Providence receive its name?-7. Who accompanied Roger Williams when he went to Providence, after being banished from Massachusetts?

SETTLEMENT OF PENNSYLVANIA.

1. WILLIAM PENN, the founder of Pennsylvania, was the only son of admiral Penn of the English navy, and was born in the year 1644. The mother of William Penn was as eminent for all those amiable virtues which peculiarly adorn the female character, as his father was for whatever contributed to make a brave and high minded officer. To her judicious instruction and truly

Christian example, according to his own statement, he was chiefly indebted, under the blessing of God, for that inflexible justice and that ardent piety, for which he was, through life, so much characterized. When only a child he discovered these noble qualities, in a remarkable degree. He entered the university at Oxford before he was fifteen years of age, where he soon became as much distinguished for superior scholarship as for pleasing manners and a naturally amiable disposition.

2. At an early period in his college life, hearing that a strange sort of a preacher, then by way of ridicule called a Quaker, was about to hold a meeting at Oxford, he with other students determined to go and hear him. It might have been supposed, that the broad-brimmed hat and the drab-coloured coat of the most humble kind, with young men accustomed to see religious teachers clad in the expensive robes of the established church, would have been a subject of ridicule; but the simplicity of his manner, together with the pungent . truths delivered by the Quaker preacher, produced on the mind of Penn and of a few others an impression of the deepest seriousness. Of this number was Robert, afterwards lord Spencer, and the celebrated John Lock. Between the latter and William Penn, this circumstance laid the foundation of a friendship, that was as lasting as life; and was several times exercised in a manner which sufficiently proved the sincerity and the ardour of their love.

3. These three young men, by frequently conversing with each other, on the subject of the Quaker's discourse, had their feelings wrought to such a height, that they began to think it a matter of conscience to hold meetings by themselves, instead of attending church. They were, however, soon called to an account, by the college authority, for this neglect of duty; and not giving the necessary satisfaction, they were severely fined. But this, instead of destroying the influence of their Quaker notions on religion, only gave them new life and vigour. As the government of the college had attempted to compel them into conformity

to the established church, they were led, where they conceived they had the power, to exercise compulsory measures to induce others to adopt their own notions. One day, on meeting some of their fellow students, they remonstrated with them for their extravagance of dress; but, being ridiculed for their supposed enthusiasm, they fell upon them outright, and by main force rent their clothes from their shoulders. For this imprudent act, which Penn ever afterwards condemned as proceeding from a zeal without knowledge, he was arraigned before the professors and trustees of college, and formally expelled.

4. The expulsion of Penn from college, was the commencement of those interesting events which signalized his life. Apprehending what would be the effect of his expulsion upon his parents, he delayed as long as possible giving them the painful intelligence; and he declined writing altogether, preferring to be the bearer of it himself. At length, he accordingly sat out for Penn's Dale, the admiral's residence, where his sudden appearance struck them with surprise. "Hallo William!" cried his father with joy, giving him his hand; "why, what, my son! returned to port already! I hope you have met with no foul weather!" His mother, roused by the sudden sound of William's name, turned round with her face flushed with joy, and running to embrace him, exclaimed-" Heigh, my dear William! what brought you home so soon?" His father and mother both observing a sudden paleness on his cheeks, anxiously inquired what was the matter?

5. Young Penn, with his characteristic firmness, replied "I am expelled from the University!" Pale as a blighted lily, poor Mrs. Penn stood like a speechless statue; while the admiral, clasping his hands and rolling his eyes as if he had suddenly beheld half of his fleet blown up by the Dutch, exclaimed-" Expelled from the University!" "Yes, sir," replied William, "they have expelled me."" Expelled you, do you still say, child," continued the agitated admiral-" a child of mine expelled from an English University! why! what.

(uttering a passionate exclamation) could have been the cause?"" Why, sir," answered William, "it was because I tore their dresses from off the shoulders of some of the students."-Here the admiral, with cheeks swollen of anger, and a voice shrill as a boatswain's whistle, exclaimed-" You tore the dresses from off the shoulders of some of the students! why"-uttering an oath "what had you to do with their dresses?". "Why," answered William, "their dresses were so phantastical and unbecoming the dignity of Englishmen and the sobriety of christians, that I felt a duty to my country and conscience to bear my testimony against them. And moreover, I was assisted in it by Robert Spencer and John Lock, and other discreet youths of the college."

6. To this introduction, succeeded a long dialogue between the admiral and his son on his expulsion from college, and the causes which led to it. The latter expatiated much on liberty of conscience and his new lights in religion, while the former feelingly, and sometimes with anger, remonstrated against his conduct; but all without producing any agreement of opinion or external reconciliation. At length the admiral told him he might have till the next morning to consider of it, whether to return to the university and make such concessions as would secure his re-admission, or be banished from his father's house. Upon this, he retired to a room with his mother, whom he had little difficulty in reconciling to himself; and, in case he should be driven from the house of his father, she advised him to go immediately into Buckinghamshire, and live with her mother, until his father's anger should be appeased.

7. On the next day, as soon as breakfast was over, which was passed in silence, the admiral took his son into the study and inquired what was his determination. With all the meekness yet firmness of an honest Quaker, William replied, that he had "turned his thoughts to the light within; and that while he felt, with exceeding affection, how much he owed his earthly father, he ●wed still more to his heavenly, and therefore could