This treaty was faithfully observed by Massasoit and his successors, for more than forty years. At the time of the treaty, he is described as "a very lusty man, in his best years; an able man, grave of countenance and spare of speech; in his attire, little or nothing different from the rest of his followers, only in a great chain of white bone beads about his neck; and at it, behind his neck, hangs a little bag of tobacco. His face was painted with a sad red, like murrey, and oiled both head and face, that he looked greasy. All his followers likewise were, in their faces, in part or in whole, painted, some black, some red, some yellow, and some white: some with crosses and other antic works. Some had skins on them, and some naked; all tall and strong men in appearance. The king had in his bosom, hanging in a string, a great long knife."

In the year 1623, Massasoit was taken sick, and sent information of it to the Governor, who sent two of his friends to make him a visit. Their visit, and the presents which they brought, were gratifying to Massasoit, and the medicines they administered were successful in restoring his health. Gratitude for their kindness prompted him to disclose a conspiracy of the Indians, which had for its object the total destruction of the Eng lish. This timely notice averted the calamity.

9. Exploits of Capt. Standish.

Capt. Miles Standish, the hero of New-England, caine over with the first Plymouth settlers, in 1620. He was allied to the noble house of Standish of Lancashire, (Eng.,) and was heir apparent to a great estate, unjustly detained from him, which compelled him to depend on himself for support.

"He was small in stature, but of an active spirit, a sanguine temper, and a strong constitution." These qualites led him to the profession of arms. He entered into the service of Queen Elizabeth, in the aid of the

Dutch, and after the truce, he settled with Mr. Robin son's people, in Leyden. When they emigrated to America, he commanded the detachment for making discove ries after their arrival. He was chosen by the settlers as their military commander, and has since been considered as the Washington of the Plymouth colony.

One of the most celebrated exploits was the breaking up of a plot, in 1623, which the Indians had formed to murder the English settlers at Wessagusset, now Weymouth. The Governor of Plymouth having learned from Massasoit the plot of the natives, sent Capt. Standish to their relief, and, if a plot should be discovered, to fall on the conspirators. Standish made choice of eight men, refusing to take any more. When he arrived at Wessagusset, he found the settlers scattered, and insensible of the destruction which awaited them. Stand. ish was careful not to excite the jealousy of the natives till he could assemble the people of the plantation. An Indian brought him some furs, whom he treated "smoothly," yet the Indian reported that he saw by the Captain's eyes that he was angry in his heart." This induced Pecksuot, a chief of courage, to tell Hobbamock, Standish's guide and interpreter, that he "understood the Captain had come to kill him and the rest of the Indians there; but tell him," said he, "we know it, but fear him not; neither will we shun him; let him begin when he dare, he shall not take us unawares." Others whetted their knives before him, using insulting gestures and speeches. Pecksuot, being a man of great stature, said to Standish, "Though you are a great captain, yet you are but a little man; and though I be no sachem, yet I am a man of great strength and courage." The next day, seeing he could get no more of them together, Pecksuot, and Wittowamat, and his brother, a youth of eighteen, and one Indian more, being together, and having about so many of his own men in the room, he gave the word, the door was fast; he seized Pecksuot, snatched his knife from him, and killed him with it; the rest killed Wittowamat and the other Indian. The youth they took and hanged. Dreadful was the

scene; incredible the number of wounds they bore; without any noise, catching at the weapons, and striving till death.

10. First Settlements in Connecticut.

In 1635, October 15th, about sixty men, women, and children, from Dorchester, Mass., with their horses, and cattle, and swine, took up their march across the wilderness to Connecticut River. Their dangerous journey, over mountains and rivers, and through swamps, they were two weeks in performing. "The forests through which they passed, for the first time resounded with the praises of God. They prayed and sang psalms and hymns; the Indians following them in silent admiration." It was so late in the season when they reached the place (now called Windsor) of their destination, that they were unable to find feed for their cattle, most of which died the ensuing winter.

Disappointed in receiving their provisions, famine threatened them; and those who remained through the winter, were obliged to subsist on acorns, malt, and grains.

The congregation at Newton, (now Cambridge,) consisting of about one hundred men, women, and children, with the Rev. Mr. Hooker, their pastor, at their head, also emigrated more than one hundred miles, through a howling wilderness, to Hartford. They had no guide but their compass: on their way they subsisted on milk, for they drove before them one hundred and sixty head of cattle. They were obliged to carry Mrs. Hooker upon a litter.

They began a plantation, and called it Newtown, which name was afterwards exchanged for Hartford.

In the fall of 1637, a small party from Massachusetts journeyed to Connecticut to explore the lands and harbours on the sea-coast. They chose Quinnipiac for

Morse and Parish's Hist.

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the place of their settlement, and erected a poor hut, ir which a few men subsisted through the winter. Ana on the 30th of March following, a large party sailed from Boston for Quinnipiac, where they arrived in about two weeks. This began the settlement of NewHaven.

11. Blue Laws of Connecticut.

The following is a transcript of the principal part of the celebrated judicial code, known by the name of Blue Laws, under which, it is said, the first colonists of Connecticut remained for a considerable time. They are as follows:

"The Governor and magistrates, convened in general assembly, are the supreme power, under God, of this independent dominion.

From the determination of the assembly no appeal shall be made.

The Governor is amenable to the voice of the people. The Governor shall have only a single vote in determining any question, except a casting vote when the assembly may be equally divided.

The assembly of the people shall not be dismissed by the Governor, but shall dismiss itself.

Conspiracy against this dominion shall be punished

with death.

Whoever attempts to change or overturn this dominion, shall suffer death.

The Judges shall determine controversies without a Jury.

No one shall be a freeman, or give a vote, unless he be converted, or a member in free communion in one of the churches in this dominion.

No food or lodging shall be afforded to a Quaker, Adamite, or other heretic.

No one shall cross a river without an authorized ferry

man.

No one shall run of a Sabbath day, or walk in his garden, or elsewhere, except reverently to and from the church.

No one shall travel, cook victuals, make beds, sweep houses, cut hair, or shave, on the Sabbath day.

No woman shall kiss her child on the Sabbath or fasting day.

A person accused of trespass in the night, shall be 'udged guilty, unless he clear himself by his oath.

No one shall buy or sell lands without permission of the select men.

Whoever publishes a lie to the prejudice of his neighbour, shall sit in the stocks, or be whipped fifteen stripes. Whoever wears clothes trimmed with silver, or bonc lace, above two shillings a yard, shall be presented by the grand jurors, and the select men shall tax the offender at the rate of 300l. estate.

Whoever brings cards or dice into this dominion shall pay a fine of 51.

No one shall read Common Prayer, keep Christmas or Saint's day, make minced pies, dance, play cards, or play on any instrument of music, except the drum, the trumpet, and jews-harp.

When parents refuse their children suitable marriages, the magistrates shall determine the point.

The select men, on finding children ignorant, may take them away from their parents and put them into better hands, at the expense of the parents.

A man that strikes his wife shall pay a fine of 107.; a woman that strikes her husband shall be punished as the court directs.

Married persons must live together, or be imprisoned. Every male shall have his hair cut round according to a cap."

This curious code appears never to have been written, but was declared and interpreted by the select men, the udges, and the pastors of the different congregations.* In 1647 the colony of Connecticut passed a law for the regulation or suppression of the use of tobacco.

* Analectic Magazine, vol. 4, p. 57.