350% A speech of the Oneida Indians, p. 360. An answer of the Stockbridge Indians, p. 361. The reply of the Massachu setts congress, p. 362. The acts of the general congress, p. 363. General Washington's arrival at the American camp, and the affairs of the army, p. 365. The acts of the general congress to the time of their adjourning, p. 369. Georgia accedes to the union, p. 373. The proceedings of the South-Carolinians, p. 376 of the North-Carolinians, p. 378-of the Virginians, p. 380of the Maryland convention, p. 383. The affairs of Pennsylva--nia, Philadelphia, New-York, and other places, p. 384.

LETTER XV. P. 387-431.

The THIRTEEN UNITED COLONIES, p. 387. The proceed ings of the South-Carolinians, p. 388. The nature of the opposition to popular measures in their colony, p. 389. They send troops into the settlements of the royalists, p. 392. The measures taken by the North-Carolinians, p. 393-by the Virginians, p. 394-in regard to Lord Dunmore, p. 395-his lordship disappointed at Norfolk, ibid.-in his expectation of being joined by a considerable force under Connelly, p. 397. The orders of the Pennsylvania assembly to their delegates in congress, p. 398. The sentiments of the Jersey assembly, ibid. The Asia man of war fires upon New-York, p. 399.. Governor Tryon's influence alarms congress, p. 400. Letters between Generals Washington and Gage, p. 404. Colonel Arnold's expedition into Canada, p. 406. Dr. Churche's correspondence with a British officer discovered, p. 410. Falmouth destroyed, p. 412. The old south meeting-house in Boston turned into a horse riding school, p. 413. The Massachusetts assembly resolve to fit out armed vessels, p. 416. The steps taken to introduce independency, p. 419. Acts of congress, p. 422. General Montgomery is. sent to Canada, p. 424-appears before Quebec, p. 430

P.

THE

To your properly understanding the nature and origin of

the uneasiness that has so strongly agitated the colonies of late years, and still exists, though now somewhat abated; and which has been occasioned by parliamentary taxation and the modern measures of government; you must be acquainted with the sentiments and history of the first settlers, no less than of their descendants and successors.

Several of the most zealous and eminent protestants, in the reign of Edward the VIth, opposed the popish ceremonies and habits, though otherwise united to their brethren in religious tenets. The opposition became more general and determined, after hundreds of them fled to, and resided in foreign parts, in order to escape the Marian persecutions. There the sentiments of numbers, through their intercourse with protestants of other nations, were much changed and improved; and they were more than ever desirous of proceeding further in the reformation, than was directed by the service-book of king Edward.

Upon the accession of Elizabeth, the refugees returned to England, [1558.] loaded with experience and learning, but in the utmost distress and poverty. Those of the clergy, who could comply with the queen's establishment, were quickly preferred. The rest, after being admitted to preach a while, were suspended, and reduced to former indigence. Several

were

were offered bishopricks, but declined the tender, on account of the garments, ceremonies, &c. while the necessity of the times and the flattering hope of obtaining hereafter an amendment in the constitution of the church, induced others to accept préferments, though with trembling..

The queen affected much pomp in religion; was fond of the old popish ceremonies, in which she had been educated; and thought her brother, king Edward, had gone too far in demolishing ornaments..

The clergy and laity, who sought after greater ecclesiastic purity, in vain struggled hard for the abolishment of popish ceremonies and habits; or, at least, leaving the use of them, in divine service, indifferent. They obtained nothing but the honorable nick-name of PURITANS. The queen proved an inflexible bigot, and would be obeyed, or punish. The parliament, in their first session, had very injudiciously passed the two acts of supremacy and uniformity, without guarding them properly; and by a clause in the latter, delivered up to the crown, all ecclesiastic jurisdiction.. Men of solid learning and piety, of sober lives, popular preachers, professed enemies to popery and superstition, and of the same faith in point of doctrine, with the conformists, were suspended, deprived, im prisoned and ruined, for not complying with the use of those garments and ceremonies, which their opponents acknowledg ed to be indifferent in themselves; while the sufferers adjudg ed such compliance sinful, from their having been abused to idolatry, and serving as marks and badges of that religion they had renounced.

All the puritans of these times were desirous of remaining in the church, might they be indulged as to the habits and a few ceremonies, though they were far from being satisfied with the hierarchy, and had other objections beside those for which they had been deprived. Instead of indulgence, their grievances were multiplied, and the penal laws were rigorously executed. However, the body of the conforming clergy being extremely illiterate and ignorant, the deprived ministers were employed as curates or lecturers; and received for their services, a small consideration from the incumbent, together with the voluntary contribution of the parish. By their warm and affectionate preaching, and eminent faithfulness, they gained the hearts of the common people, who were the more attached to them, the more cruelty was exercised upon them; and who had the utmost aversion to the popish garments, as their hatred to popery increased. The preachers appealed to the scriptures. Their hearers searched them carefully; obtained more and clearer

discoveries of the popish superstitions; grew in their abhorrence of them; venerated the divine institutions; and longed to have the worship of the church rendered more pure and primitive. The popularity of the deprived ministers drew numbers from neighboring parishes. Puritanism spread and gained ground by being persecuted. Its growth was the greatest grief to the queen and archbishop Whitgift. But neither the supreme head of the church, nor the primate of all England, had policy or christianity enough to apply the proper remedy, in granting liberty of conscience. Instead of that, new acts were passed, and greater severities practised. Such inhuman proceedings against protestants of good moral characters, did not pass unnoticed. They were the subjects of conversation. The right of acting thus toward fellow creatures, and its non-agreement with the mild and benevolent principles of christianity, were freely canvassed. The supreme head and chief dignitaries of the English church being such intolerable persecutors, it became a question, "Is she any longer a true church of Christ, and are her ministers true ministers."

At length one Robert Brown, descended from an ancient and honorable family, and nearly related to lord treasurer Cecil, a fiery zealot, travelled through the country [1586] a second time, holding forth, wherever he went, against bishops, ecclesiastic courts, ordaining of ministers, &c. and gathered a separate. congregation. The parties held, that the church of ENGLAND was not a true church; that her ministers were not rightly or dained; that her discipline was popish and anti-christian; and that all her ordinances and sacraments were invalid. Therefore they would not join with her members in any part of public worship. They not only renounced communion with the church of ENGLAND, but with all other reformed churches, except they were of their own model.

These separatists were called Brownists, which was long afterward the common name for all that separated totally from the church of England, even when they disowned the rigid principles of Brown and his congregation. We must carefully distinguish the Brownists from the Puritans. Most of the latter were for keeping within the pale of the church, apprehending it to be a true church in its doctrines and sacraments, though defective in discipline and corrupt in ceremonies. They thought it unlawful to separate; submitted to suspensions and depriva tions; when driven out of one diocese, took sanctuary in another, being afraid of incurring the guilt of schism; and were the chief writers against the Brownists.

[1593] A fresh effort was made to crush the non-conformists,

A most