Litchfield enquirer., 1834-08-21

as tie place for their settlement the mouth
Of the Hudson, the best position on the
whole coast, were, blythe treachefy Of their
captain, conducted to the most barren and
inhosoitable part Of Massachusetts,. After
long aud boisterons voyage Of sixty-tbree
days, during which one sperson had died, !
they espied land, and in two days more
were safely moored il the harbor Of Cape
Cod. Dutch cnpiJity and English intOl-s
erance combined I'd effect the first settle
ment of New ngt3nd.
Yet before theyEIaRded, the manner in
which, their governnent should be cohsti-
tuied, was considered and, as some were
observed not we'll affected 10 unity and
concord, they foFhed themselves into 4
body polite by SSlemn voluntary cons
pact.
In the name Of God, amen; we whose
lsnaines arc UNDERWRITERS, tie Iayal subjects
Of odr dread sovereign King, James, having
undertaken for the glory of God, and the
advancement Of The Christian faith, aud
konor of our king and country, a,voyage to
Iplantthe first colony in the northern parts
Iof Virginia, do by these presents, solemnly
and mutually, in the presence Of God, and
Of one another, covenant and combine our
'seives together, into civil body polite
and furtherance ofthe ends aforesaid |; and
by virtue thereof, 10 enact, constitute. and
frame such just and equal laws. ordinan-
ces, acts. constitutions, and offices, from
time to time, as shall be thought most COM.
venient for the general good Of the colony.
Unto which we promise all dae submission
and obedience
This instrument was signed by the whole
body Of men, forty-one ID number, who,
| with their families, constituted tile one hun-
dred and one, the whole colony, the pro-
per democracy that arrived in New Eng
land. John Carver was Immediately and
unanimously chosen governor for the year.
Men who enigrate, even in well inllab-
tied districts. pray that their journey may
not be in the winter. Wasted by the rough
and wearisome voyage, i'll supplied with
provisions, the English fugitives found
themselves, at the opening Of winter. on a
barren and bleak ctass, in severe climate,
with the ocean on one side and the wilder
ness on the other. There were none to
Eshow them kindness Oh bid them Welcome.
The nearest settlement was at Port Roy
Hal !; it was Eve hundred miiesao the Eng
Ilisfp plantation Ill Yirginia. Az thay A..
tempted to diseiibal he Rater syas found
so shallow, thar IN 5sesea ta wade,
tandsnf the freezing weasfsfs sregy act of
getting ON land sowed the seeds Of con-
sumption and intianlnatory colds. The
bitterness Of mortal disease was their well
come to the inhospitable shore.
The season was already fast bringing
winter, and the spot for the settlement re-
manned 10 be chosen. The shallop was
unshipped, andit was a real disaster to
find that it needed repairs. The carpenter
made slow work, 50 that sixteen or seven
teen weary days elapsed before 1t was rea-
4 dy for service. But Standish and Brad
ford, and Others, impatient Of the delay,
determined to explore the country by land.
In regard to the DANGER the expedition
| was rather permitted than approved. =
4 Much hardship was endured; but what dis
coveries could be madeTin Truro and near
the banks Of Paomei creek! The FIRST ex-
Ipedition in the shailopwas likewise uIIsuc-
cessfpl j; some ofihs people that died that
winter, took the original Of their death in
the enterprise; for 1t showed and did
blow aIlthe day and night. and froze with
al. The men, who were set on shore,
were tired with marching up and down
tho steep hills and deep yallies. which lay
half a foot thick with snow "A heap 81
maizo was discovered: and further search
led TO a burial place DC the Indians but
they found mo more corn, nor-any thing
else but graves
| AT length the shallop was again set out,
with Carver, Bradford, Winslow, Sfandish
and others, with eight or ten seamen. ~
The cold was severe: the spray Of the sea
froze as it fell upon them, and made their
clothes like coats Of iron. That day they
reached Billingsgste point at The bottom Of
the bay Of Cape God, on the western shore
Of Welldeet harbor. The next morning
tho company divided those on shore find
burial place, graves, and four or Eve de-
serted wigwams; but neither people nor
any place inviting settlement. Before
hight the whole party met BY the sea side.
and encamped on land together near Mann
skeket, or Great Meadow Greek.
The next day they rose At Eve their
morning prayers we're finished, whom, as
tile day dawned, war whoop and q flight
of arrows announced an attack Of Indians.
They were Of the tribe Of The Nausiles,
who knew tho English as kidnappers, but
the encounter was without farther result.
Again the boats crew give thanks to Cod
and steer their bark along tho coast. for
- - - 3..k -