Page images
PDF
EPUB

iv

PREFACE.

empires, enlightened nations, and given glory to the age and country in which they lived. Its history, in consequence, has been more entirely preserved, and better authenticated, from its first settlement, than that of any other portion of the globe, of equal magnitude and importance. No history is more replete with useful instruction and entertainment. It furnishes many important lessons to warriors, statesmen, and divines. It may be read and studied with much profit by our youth.

The materials for the history of this favoured portion of the world, though abundant, have hitherto been scattered in many volumes, too expensive and too disjointed, to be rendered useful to the rising generation. To reduce them to a form, order, and size adapted to the use of the higher classes in schools, and to families,

[blocks in formation]

has been our aim in compiling this small work. We have endeavoured faithfully to bring into view the most operative causes, near and more remote, which led to the settlement of New England, with the impelling motives of the immediate agents in this bold enterprise, and to trace the steps by which she has risen to her present distinguished rank in the political, literary, and commercial world. To render the work interesting to youth, we have laboured to clothe our ideas in plain, familiar language, and to blend entertainment with instruction.

The sources whence we have derived our information have been very numerous, and the most authentic that our country affords. Hazard, Chalmers, Winthrop, Morton, Oldmixon, Mather, Prince, Hutchinson, Minot, Belknap, Trumbull, Sullivan, Williams, H. Adams, together

vi

PREFACE.

with Winslow's "Relation of Remarkable Things, &c." " Journal of a Plantation," from Purchas' Pilgrims, Johnson's "Wonder-working Providences," Wood's “Pros-. pect of New England," Calef's "More wonders of the invisible world,” the valuable Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society, and many occasional sermons, miscellaneous publications, records and manuscripts, have been faithfully consulted, and their essence condensed into this little volume. In the use of these voluminous materials, we have not been hurried. A considerable part of the work was compiled, several years since, for the Supplement of Dobson's edition of the Encyclopedia; and, by his permission, and the advice of some judicious friends, has been revised, enlarged, divided into chapters, and published in its present form, for more general benefit.

[blocks in formation]

Conscious, that in compiling and publishing this little volume, we have been prompted by an upright regard to the best interests of our country, we commit it to the candor and patronage of the public. We hope the youth of New England will read with pleasure and improvement, what we have written for their particular use, with labour and delight; that while reading, they will admire, then love, then imitate the shining virtues of their pious forefathers, be emulous to preserve pure their wise institutions, and like them, receive the applause and blessings of succeeding generations.

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]
[ocr errors]

DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS, TO WIT.

BE it re

E it remembered, that on the thirteenth day of August, A. D. 1804, in the twenty ninth year of the Independence of the United States of America, JEDIDIAH MORSE and ELIJAH PARISH, of said District, have deposited in this Office, the Title of a book, the right whereof they claim as Authors in the words following, to wit : "A COMPENDIOUS HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND, DESIGNED FOR SCHOOLS AND PRIVATE FAMILIES. By JEDIDIAH MORSE, D.D. and Rev. ELIJAH PARISH, A. M. Ornamented with a neat map."

In conformity to the Act of the Congress of the United States, intitled, "An Act for the encouragement of Learning, by securing the Copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the Authors and Proprietors of such Copies, during the times therein mentioned :' and also to an Act intitled," An Act supplementary to an Act, intitled, An Act for the encouragement of Learning, by securing the Copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the Authors and Proprietors of such Copies, during the times therein mentioned; and extending the benefits thereof to the Arts of Designing, Engraving, and Etching, Historical, and other Prints.

A true Copy of Record,

Attest, N.GOODALE, Clerk. }

N. GOODALE, Clerk of the District of Massachusetts.

:

TO THE BINDER.

The Map is to face the Title.

ERRATA.

216, 8th line from bottom, for

Page 164, 2nd line from top, for nations, read natives.

ago,

read age. 385, 3rd line from top, for Uriah, read Urian.

« PreviousContinue »