neglect or decline to exercise their right of presentation, | light" controversies as to the province of the civil magthe minister was to be chosen, not by the congregation, but only by the elders and Protestant heritors. In the following October Ebenezer ERSKINE (q.v.), minister of Stirling, who happened to be moderator of the synod of Perth and Stirling, preached a synod sermon, in the course of which he took occasion to refer to the Act in question as in his opinion unscriptural and unconstitutional. Some of his expressions were objected to by members of synod because "tending to disquiet the peace of the church and impugning several Acts of Assembly and proceedings of church judicatories," and after long and keen debate it was resolved that he should be censured for them. This judgment, on appeal, was affirmed by the Assembly in May, 1733, whereupon Erskine protested to the effect that he held himself still at liberty to teach the same truths and to testify against the same or similar evils on every proper | occasion. This protest, in which he was joined by William Wilson, Alexander Moncrief, and James Fisher, ministers at Perth, Abernethy, and Kinclaven respectively, was regarded by the Assembly as contumacious, and the commission of Assembly was ordered to procure its retractation or to proceed to higher censures. In November, accordingly, the protesting ministers were severed from their charges, their churches declared vacant, and all ministers of the church prohibited from employing them in any ministerial function. They reied by protesting that they still adhered to the principles of the church, though now obliged to "make a secession from the prevailing party in ecclesiastical courts," maintaining their continued right to discharge all the daties of the ministerial and pastoral office "according to the word of God, the Confession of Faith, and the constitution of the church," and appealing to the "first free, faithful, and reforming General Assembly of the Church of Scotland." In December, 1733, they formally constituted themselves into a presbytery, but for some time their meetings were devoted almost entirely to prayer and religious conference. In 1734 they published their first "testimony," with a statement of the grounds of their secession, which made prominent reference to the doctrinal laxity of previous General Assemblies. In 1736 | they proceeded to exercise "judicial powers" as a church court, published a "judicial testimony,” and began to organize churches in various parts of the country. Hav. ing been joined by four other ministers, including the well-known Ralph Erskine, they appointed Mr. Wilson professor of divinity. For these acts proceedings were again instituted against them in the Assembly, with the result that, having disowned the authority of that body in an "act of declinature," they were, in 1740,, all deposed and ordered to be ejected from their churches. A violent controversy arose in 1745 respecting the religious clause of the oath taken by burgesses in Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Perth, and resulted, in April, 1747, in a "breach," when two bodies were formed, each claiming to be the " Associate Synod;" those who condemned the swearing of the burgess oath as sinful came to be popularly known as "Antiburghers," while the other party, who contended that abstinence from it should not be made a term of communion, were designated Burghers." The Associate (Antiburgher) Synod held its first meeting in Edinburgh in the house of Adam GIB (9.7.) on April 10, 1747. It grew with considerable rapidity, and in 1788 had ninety-four settled charges in Great Britain and nineteen in Ireland, besides a presbytery in America. For purposes of organization it was formed in that year into four provincial synods, and took the name of "The General Associate Synod." The "new istrate in matters of religion led to the publication of a The Presbytery of Relief was constituted in 1761 by three ministers of the Church of Scotland, one of whom was Thomas GILLESPIF, (9.7.) The number of congregations under its charge increased with considerable rapidity, and a relief Synod was formed in 1773, which in 1847 had under its jurisdiction 136 congregations; of these 118 united with the United Secession Church in that year. The Relief Church issued no distinctive "testimonies," and a certain breadth of view was shown in the formal declaration of their terms of communion, first made in 1773, which allowed occasional communion with those of the Episcopal and Independent persuasion who are "visible saints." A relief theological hall was instituted in 1824. At UNITED PROVINCES. See HOLLAND. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, THE. this date (1890) the United States comprises within its limits forty-four states, one district (under the National Government jurisdiction alone), and six territories (one tract of country reserved for the domicile of several tribes of Indians with a peculiar government of its own). The various events and circumstances which have gone to make up the history of this vast country, the domain of the most powerful and prosperous people in the world, are so numerous and replete with interest that we can only give a rapid review of the principal facts, necessarily omitting many minor occurrences which, while of great local interest, have yet no national importance. As the foundations of this government were laid by the English, we shall take as our starting point the date at which the English acquired a claim to the territory now covered by the United States. The voyages of the Cabots (John and Sebastian) which occurred in 1497-98, furnished the pretext which England offered as a basis for her claim, although it was not until 1605 that she took any active and successful steps to reduce her claim to actual possession. From the time of the Cabots several expeditions had been sent out to explore and colonize the country, but all had hitherto failed. Frobisher had been baffled in his attempt to explore Labrador; Humphrey Gilbert, after having made two attempts on the continent and failed, was lost at sea in a storm on his homeward In 1584 Sir Walter Raleigh, under patronage voyage. of Queen Elizabeth, undertook the work of exploration and colonization. He sent out two vessels to explore the country and they coasted along the central southern portion of the continent about which, on their return, their commanders gave a most pleasant report. Raleigh at once named the country in honor of the virgin queen Virginia, and shortly afterward sent out a colony. This colony was placed under command of Sir Richard Grenville, and was landed on Roanoke Island, N. C. It was a short-lived enterprise; their first actions embroiled them with the Indians, of whom they murdered a number. In June of the next year Drake touched at the island and took the colonists back to England. Soon after Grenville returned with fifteen additional colonists and left them on the site of the original colony. The next year (1587), John White landed with a fleet at the island only to find that the Indians had destroyed the entire colony. He landed a party of 108 persons, built a fort and founded the city of Raleigh. Here Virginia Dare, the first white child native of the United States, was born. Soon after this two vessels were sent out by Raleigh to relieve the colony on the Island, but they were met by the Spaniards and driven back. In 1590 John White landed again with a fleet, only to find all traces of the colonists gone. Their fate has never been ascertained. the territory between the latitude of Philadelphia ar! Montreal, thus laying the foundation for future com plications between the French and English. A: In 1606 the first determined attempt on the part ! the English to colonize the country was made. this date James I. granted patents to colonize Virgi to two companies, one for Southern Virginia and 12other for Northern Virginia; between the territories of the two countries there was an intermediate strip open to both. The company having charge of the col zation of Southern Virginia, the "London Company," sent out three ships with 105 emigrants under Newpr. Gosnold, and Capt. John Smith, the date of the starting of the expedition being December 19, 1606. The es pedition entered Chesapeake Bay on April 26, 1607, ar: on May 14th of the same year commenced the foun dation of Jamestown, now in James City county, Va. the first permanent English colony in the United State. and the nucleus from which the mighty empire of our common country as now existing grew. The tribulati of these first settlers are all well known to the Amer can reader. More than half the number of the colorists perished in less than six months-including Gosz Smith was captured by the Indians but was release. and on his return told the now generally disbelieve story of Pocahontas saving his life. But the brave In the meantime, other nations of Europe had not men composing the colony were undaunted an! been idle in regard to exploration and colonization of continued the struggle for existence. In 1607 the * W-5 America. The Spaniards had settled in some of the of England Company," which had been granted West India Islands, founding San Domingo in 1496. patent for colonizing Northern Virginia, sent two 5?... The Portuguese in 1500 explored the coast between to Maine, where they left forty-five emigrants at parallels 60 and 50 N. latitude. The French had George on the Kennebeck river; but on the death t established fisheries off New Foundland by 1504; the Popham, their leader, they gave up the project Florentine De Verrazzano, in company with Aubert, colonization and returned to England in 1608. It w explored and named the St. Lawrence river in 1508. about this time that the persecution of the Puritans z In 1512 a Spanish expedition from Porto Rico, under England (that afterward exercised so important an Ponce de Leon, discovered and explored the east coast fluence on the New England Colonies) began, a: of Florida, which they named and took possession of for numbers of them emigrated to Holland and thence: the king of Spain. The next year Balboa discovered America. In 1609 a new charter was granted to the Le the Pacific Ocean. In 1519 Alvarez was sent by the don Company limiting their territory to a line 200 mes Spanish to explore Florida, and after passing the mouth north of Old Point Comfort. Smith, who had been na of the Mississippi river his party was nearly exterminated president of the Jamestown colony by his government. by Indians, himself being killed. From this time on- had given great dissatisfaction, and was deposed a. ward the Spaniards were exceedingly active in the ex- sent to England in September. He was succee le plorations in the southern country. In 1539-43 De Lord Delaware. In June, 1610, Lord Delaware arriv Soto engaged in his famous expedition of discovery, in Jamestown, bringing with him emigrants and sup during which he discovered the Mississippi river, ad- The colony by this addition now numbered 200, Shitvanced as far north as Arkansas, and returned to die of after, being taken ill, Delaware returned to England, ari fever on the site of Natchez, Miss. In 1540 French fur was succeeded by Sir Thomas Dale, who arrived in Mas, traders founded a settlement on Manhattan Island, and 1611, and, finding the greatest confusion existing, it in 1542 an expedition explored the Sound and Hudson once proclaimed martial law. Sir Thomas laid out river. The next year, however, they abandoned the site of a town and county which he named Henr country. In 1562 parties of Huguenots, driven from honor of prince Henry. Richmond, Va., occupies a France, sought refuge in South Carolina, where they built.portion of the territory so named. In August of the Port Royal. They became reduced by famine and were same year Sir Thomas Gates arrived and superses forced to abandon the colony. In 1564 another at- Dale as governor. He brought with him recruits tempt was made, and the erection of a fort at the the colony and fresh supplies. By these additions t mouth of the St. John's river in Florida was the sig- colony now numbered 700 people. In 1612 a 1:2. nal for an attack by the Spaniards, who drove out the charter was granted the London Company and a loter French, and in 1565 founded St. Augustine, the oldest was founded in aid of the enterprise. In 1614 Gates reexisting town in the United States. This fort was for turned to England leaving Dale as deputy in his absenc some years a bone of contention between the French and at this time white servants were bought in Engl and Spanish, but the Spaniards eventually retained pos- shipped to Virginia and resold, this being the first Sa session of the country. About this time (1597) the traffic in the English colonies. In 1614 Captain S. Dutch appeared on the scene and began their coloniza- again crossed the ocean and began his explorations, t tion operations. In 1602 the English resumed their time his operations covering the New Englan i States, operations, and the Earl of Southampton sent out an and in 1616 a party of English colonists under expedition under Bartholomew Gosnold, which dis- leadership of Richard Vines settled temporarily at W covered Massachusetts Bay, and founded a colony at ter Harbor, Me. In 1617 Dale was supersede! Cuttyhunk, but the colonists all returned to England Argall in the Jamestown colony; his administrat after a three months' sojourn in the inhospitable region. gave great dissatisfaction on account of his tyranny. In 1603 the French monarch granted to De Monts all Ile enforced martial law, but after two years he w T removed and was succeeded by George Yeardley, who made that year (1619) memorable by convening the first colonial assembly—the first representative body based on suffrage in America. During this year over a thousand emigrants were sent to Jamestown, and the importation of convicts who were sold into slavery continued. Another feature of the immigration at this date was that of young women for wives for the settlers. These were sold for 120 @ 160 pounds of tobacco each. (Tobacco was then worth about seventy-five cents per pound.) In 1620 the trade of the colony was made free, and in August of that year the slave trade was introduced, a Dutch ship landing a cargo of negro slaves and selling them. The colony now began to increase rapidly, over 3,500 immigrants arriving in the next three years. In 1621 cotton was first planted in Virginia, and in July of that year constitution was granted to the colony conferring selfgovernment and the right of trial by jury, Sir Francis Wy Wyatt being at this time appointed governor. In 1622 the war with the Indians broke out, and in revenge for the killing of one of their warriors the Indians massacred 347 of the colonists and reduced the number of plantations from 80 to 8. This war seriously checked the growth of the colony and lasted for twenty-four years. We will now leave the Jamestown colony for a time and take a brief glance at events in different parts of the country. In 1609 the Dutch East India Company had sent out Hendrik Hudson, and on August 28th he discovered Delaware Bay; on September 3d he entered lower New York Bay and ascended the Hudson river, naming the country New Netherlands. The next year the site of New York city was occupied by the Dutch, who built a few rude huts for the shelter of their sailors. In 1614 the Dutch States General granted a four years' monopoly to traders with America, and they erected a fort on Manhattan Island, naming the settlement New Amsterdam. In 1615 they established a settlement at Albany, and in 1618 at Bergen, N. J. In 1621 the Dutch West India Company, with rights from Magellan's Straits to the extreme north, was incorporated and took possession of New Amsterdam in 1622. Nor were the French idle at the period covered by these dates. In 1612 De Biencourt and Pere Biart were exploring the Kennebec and forming friendships with the Indians, and in 1613 De Saucy founded a French colony on Mount Desert Island, Me., but Governor Argall captured and pillaged the settlement and destroyed the abandoned settlements at Port Royal, S. C. This action seems temporarily to have checked the activity of the French within the present boundaries of the United States. But while the most important interests of the British colonists of this date were centered at Jamestown, that rationality was not idle in other parts of the country. In 1620 the" Pilgrim fathers" (who, as before mentioned, had settled as a refuge from persecution in Holland), set sail from Holland in July, and, touching at England, where they were recruited, left for America in September. The expedition was under charge of Brewster, and comprised 102 persons. They sighted land on November 7th, and on the 9th adopted a constitution, and moored in Cape Cod harbor. They coasted for a landing place, and, finally, on December 21st (N.S.) they landed on Plymouth Rock. John Carver was elected governor. The Mayflower returned to England in the following April. In the year of the landing, James I. granted to Gorges and others a patent to colonize New England between 40 and 48 N., from the Atlantic to the Pacific, although the measure was violently opposed in the House of Commons. The style of the last corporation was the Plymouth Company. This company thus was granted a portion of the lands settled by the French, and this was another source of complication and dispute. They at once sub-granted numerous tracts of their domain, among others confirming the Pilgrims in their possessions. The "Pilgrims" at once entered into friendly relations with the Indians; but unfortunately at this juncture Governor Carver died. He was succeeded by Governor Bradford, who was successful in inducing the Indians to acknowledge the king of England as their sovereign. This brings us down to the year 1622, the date at which the war with the Indians in Virginia broke out. From this time forward till the outbreak of hostilities between France and England, the colonizing interests of the territory occupied by the United States centered in the Dutch and English. We will now resume the thread of the narrative of the Virginian colony. In 1623 the colonists numbered 2,500, and feeling themselves strong enough to assume the offensive, they at once attacked the Indians. This desultory warfare went on for twenty-four years, as stated above, the colony in the meantime suffering a severe setback. In 1624 the charter of the London Company, under which the region was colonized, was declared void under quo warranto procedure and the colony became a royal province, Sir Francis Wyatt continuing as governor. Governor Wyatt relinquished the government in 1626, and Sir George Yeardley succeeded him, dying in November, 1627. James Í. had died in 1625. In 1631, under a grant from Charles I., William Clayborne founded trading stations on Kent Island and along the Susquehanna river, these being the first settlements in Maryland. In the next year this territory was granted to Sir George Calvert, although Virginia laid claim to the territory. In spite, however, of her protest, the grant was confirmed, and in 1633 Leonard Calvert began the work of colonization by landing 200 emigrants near the mouth of the Potomac, where they built the town of St. Mary's. In 1635 complications arose between Clayborne's and Lord Baltimore's governments, which ended in the flight of Clayborne and his arrest in Virginia, whence he was sent to England by Governor Harvey. Lord Baltimore's title was confirmed and thus he became the founder of the commonwealth of Maryland. Meantime the Virginia colony was in a state of insurrection against Harvey and he was deposed and sent to England, Capt. John West being made gov ernor by the council. Harvey was reinstated by King Charles and in 1636 returned to the colony; in 1639 he was finally removed, Sir Francis Wyatt again being appointed. Under his administration the colony was prosperous; he continued in office till 1642, when he was superseded by Sir William Berkeley. During this administration the restrictions imposed on the trade of the colony caused general dissatisfaction, and it was at this time, too, that the colonial assembly erected a church establishment and began a persecution of nonconformists, the result being that a number of the colonists left the dominions of Virginia and settled in Maryland, where religious toleration was assuredfounding the city of Annapolis (then called Providence). The war with the Indians now broke out afresh and the assembly by vote decided that no treaty of peace should be made with them. In the following year, 1644, the Indians massacred 300 of the colonists; shortly after this Governor Berkeley sailed for England and Richard Kemp was left as governor. He continued the war with the Indians, although Maryland had made peace with them, and it was not till October, 1646, that peace was finally made between the Virginia colonists and the Indians. In these wars the colony had suffered immense damage and many lives had been lost. By 1648, and colonization. He sent fifteen additional colonistas The next year (1587), 198 at the island only to ma stroyed the entire enfony persons, built a fort no Here Virginia Dare, tha the United States, war vessels were sent out by on the Island, but they w driven back. In 1590 Joha a fleet, only to find all tr Their fate has never been In the meantime, other been idle in regard to expe America. The Spaniard West India Islands, founde The Portuguese in 1500 parallels 60 and 50 N. established fisheries off New Florentine De Verrazzano explored and named the In 1512 a Spanish expeditio Ponce de Leon, discovered a of Florida, which they named The nest the king of Spain. the Pacific Ocean. Tn 1510 Spanish to explore Florida, an Holland. In t eve, le colonies were tags ships, Navigation 1," as th the meantime C to compel the colon. province No soon oil and coulnsca the governo No dent great, S traders founded a settlement form & in 1542 an expedition explose to the yea ( ment under Gov. Wi..... he way of Virginia. The v 10 bond te revoltei wind povernor of the et re A proctory holding ore more of Churles II. 1. been but as lovy of the colony to hs1 se the covetousnes of Co Colony wis granted to the fr This was the snal fri withe colony was on the ver, e of led to send commissi nors to l of the erant to Cuper; ! ul, and the colony was mar per made govern r for life. lly leading up to the great reTo to war was stil in progress Ito antem elves and push t and murers.co: itted. T th head of the ad nistration. Ay of trade with the In Lans, ta large force of I lans w down the Tunes rivera Pis' t'e Sunteers from Charles Cty cr l the invasion, but had not anel B on, av urgj'arr tion. No sooner, however, had Bacon done this, than Governor Berkeley declared him a rebel, and, raising a force among his allies and followers, marched against Bacon. This was a fire-brand thrown amid the longsuffering people. The lower counties of James City, York, Warwick, and others, at once took up arms, and compelled Berkeley to retire to Jamestown. They demanded the immediate dismissal of the old assembly, which was complied with, and for a time Berkeley made a truce with Bacon, and after receiving his oath of allegiance allowed him to proceed to punish the Indians. No sooner, however, had Bacon departed on his mission, than the governor declared him a rebel, and again raised a force for his subjection. Bacon at once advanced to attack Berkeley, and the latter was compelled to flee. Bacon | then burnt Jamestown, this being the strongest fortified town in the colony, and affording a place of refuge for the royalists. He declared Berkeley deposed, and called a convention of the people to elect their governor and inaugurate their own form of government. In the midst of these negotiations, however, Bacon died, and Robert Beverley, a royalist, soon overcame the insurgent forces in detail. The most atrocious cruelties were now inflicted on all who had espoused Bacon's cause. Hansford and Drummond, with twenty-one others, were hanged, while several died in prison from cruel treatment. The effect of the rebellion was disastrous to Virginia. The old régime was restored with more severity than before. But at last Berkeley was recalled to England and Lord Culpeper was made governor, but did not assume charge of the government till 1680. in the State of Maryland belonged to the former colony. Prior to Baltimore's patent the settlement on Kent Isle had been represented in the Virginia House of Burgesses, and it was therefore a matter of resistance on the part of Virginia when the grant to Calvert was made, dismembering her territory. In 1632 the patent was issued to Lord Baltimore (or rather to his heirs, for he had died before the seal of state had been attached to the document), and in 1633 the first cargo of immigrants set sail for the province. They arrived in February of the year 1634 off the coast of Virginia, whose governor had been instructed to give them every aid in his power. This he did, and Clayborne was instructed to submit to the new government. But no sooner had Lord Baltimore's government attempted to exercise jurisdiction over his settlement than he revolted, and finally went to England to have the matter adjudicated. It was settled in favor of Baltimore. From this time till the restoration of the monarchy in the person of Charles II. the history of Maryland presents nothing of interest to the general reader, save the account of its internal feuds and disputed rights of government, first one party and then the other being in the ascendant, and on more than one occasion Virginia claiming and attempting to exercise by force its right of dominion over the colony. At last the people took the matter into their own hands and declared themselves independent of any power in the provinces, and with no reference to the will of the proprietary, founded their own system of government, based on popular sovereignty. The population of the colony in 1660 amounted to between 8,000 and 12,000. From this date the progress of Maryland was rapid and satisfactory. Its great staple was tobacco. The power lay outside the people entirely, and they quietly submitted to the deputy appointed by the proprietary. The paramount idea of the proprietary seemed to be to foster religious toleration and encourage industry and the oppressed from other districts. This state of affairs continued until religious belief was made a factor in politics and Protestant was arrayed against Romanist. By 1681 this opposition was so strong that the Protestants were enabled to overturn the government which a Catholic proprietor had founded as a refuge for the oppressed of every religion. The English ministry issued an order according to which no Catholic could hold office; and in 1689 the antagonism became so great between the two faiths that the Protestants overturned the government, and under the leadership of John Coode, the "Association in arms for the Defence of the Protestant religion" usurped the government. Under Culpeper's administration the colony did not fare much better-if, indeed, his rule were not worse than was his predecessor's. One of his first acts was the imposition of a perpetual tax on tobacco exports. He also doubled his own salary, and after tampering with the value of the currency returned to England, where he re-enterprise. The province became the asylum of all mained three years. On his return he proceeded to declare the executive independent of the assembly entirely. Soon after, the charter of the proprietaries was declared void, and the king recalled the grant to Culpeper and Arlington, and the colony again became a ro al province. But these were dark days for Virginia. Despotism was rank and harsh. No printing press except for the use of the government was allowed in the colony, and the Navigation Acts were enforced. Lord Howard of Effingham had been made governor in place of Lord Culpeper, and to him was attributed these actions of the government. About 1685 1,000 persons taken in Monmouth's rebellion were shipped to the lony for sale as servants; but they were not sold for the fill term of ten years, being pardoned four years later, aus giving to the colony some vauable citizens. In 1688 the despotism of Virginia met with a check in a revolt by the assembly against the governor, Lord Howd. It was dissolved by the governor, and the people once took up arms, and compelled Howard to abate is pretenses to authority. Thus again was justified e encomium of Bancroft, who says "Virginia has al ways been the home of free men." This brings us down to the revolution of 1688. We wil now consider the progress of the other colonies to th's date. We have incidentally mentioned Maryland in our history of Virginia, and as it is properly an offshoot of the Vignia colony we next give a brief account of the set. Hlement of Maryland. We have referred to Clayborne's settlement on the Isle of Kent, and also to Calvert's settement at St. Mary's. Virginia extended 200 miles north of Old Point Comfort, according to the terms of her second charter; hence the territory now included The Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock on December 21, 1620. The long voyage and the hardships which they had endured had caused great mortality among the immigrants. As before remarked, they had formed their constitution before they landed. Democratic liberty and independent Christian worship were the two planks of the government platform. They were necessarily slow in building, owing to the inclemency of the weather. Not long had they been domiciled when Samoset, an envoy of the head chief, appeared and bade them welcome, and although danger was apprehended from the savages, yet for a long time the peace was unbroken. Carver was chosen governor, and Miles Standish was military commandant. Elder Brewster was chosen religious instructor. Carver did not last long under the hardships of the climate, and on his death was succeeded by William Bradford. Over half the company had by this time died. Still, on the return of the Mayflower in April, not one of the newcomers went back to England or Holland. Just before the close of the year a reenforcement arrived. At first the |