New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-09-29
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

elaborate work Is amply redeemed IN the new H.
stalimeut now prese, ted to the public. Resuming
the narrative OF New England affairs from the con-
federacy of the four colonies established in l643
il traces the course of events through the epoch OF
the British Commonwealth to the period of the
Restoration, and closes with the arrival OF the
Roysi Commissioners in Boston 10 the year 1904.
large space is devoted to the discussion OF G ,
temporsneous English history, thus presenting
everts 10 their most comprehensive relations ana
reducing the politics Of the colonies, and the prin
oinles and movements on which they we're founded,
to a sistihcsnt unity.
In uarrating the formation and growth OF the
rrimitiye institutions of New. England, Mr.. Palf1ey
advances DO claim to the impartlalty which pro-
oeeds from lack Of syn patty with the character OF
their founders or from indifference to the purposes
which formed the lfe-blrod of their enterprise.
On the contrary, he does not disguise his sdmira-
ton Of the Puritan 'pfit he reveres the austerity
OF principle and sternness Of will which marked
tia leading colOnists; be ascribes to them more
systematic plan of erecting the seats of empire 10
the wilderness than has usually been admitted by
historians; al even the faults which have sull'ed
the fame of the Pilgrim Fathers" as viewed IN
the Esht of bis ingenious excavations, lose much
of their def nmty, and are brought into more mar
mouious relations with the eKgencies OF inc tunes
We do rot think, however that the productions
of the writer have been permitted to l1teriere WIN
the I'D. hty OF his narrative. 1t has evidently oeen
~, ,t,uctfd with no little care and painStaklng'
This Is, indeed, so apparent as Ia some cases.
give it the cir of formality and 'tlfiness' IL ia"
not the melodious flow which indicates a desire 70
plesse the ear BY dulcet sentences, but Is never
destitute Of the sob,iety AID measured expression
which proceed from the delicate balancing OF evil
depc- and the conscientious effort 70 exhibit the
truth in exact and just proportions.
With no solicitude for dramatic or picturesque
effect. which would scarcely be in keeping with tne
ssvsye ard somewhat somber character of the
theme. Mr.. Pslfrey has aimed at an accurate rep
resentation Of the spirit of the enterprise Whicn
resulted in the settlement of New-E gland, aS
we'll az of the development of events which oc-
CURED in the progress of its communication. Ills
statfme, Is POSSESS the authority which ID founded
ON clear appreciation of principles and vide
Knowledge of facts. No one Will venture 70 &C
cuse him OF negligence in research or suPerhclahty
in description. HIS narrative shows certain
soldity and grave self possession, which are the
fruit of conscious mastery both OF the essential
principle. and external details of the subject II
his Uspes are not remarkable for bcillancy of Illus
traitor or grace of expressi N, they are seldom
matched in sObriety of judgment aud cautlodsness
Of assertion, and often display curious se'ectness
of phraseOlOgy which has more dainty charm Tor
tie amateur than the imposing pOmP of rhetoric
The opening chapter in this volume presents
vigorous panoramic sketch of the con-
dition and customs of the colonists at
the period of forming the confederation,
twenty-ttree years after the establishment OF the
Ply colony, aud thirteen years after the re-
movsl If the royal charter to the soil of Massachu
setts According to the estimate of Mr.. Palfrey
the poyula lion of the four colonies now amounted
49, to about "a, 900 souls-15, 900 in Massachusetts,,
5000 each in Connecticut and Plymouth and 2 500
- in New. Haven. The governments of the several
colonies were framed on the same general model.
In all of them the freemen were the fountain of
power and no definite reference was made to any
superior authority in England. In Massachusetts,,
indeed the liberty Of debate was widely extended
Every man, whether inhabitant or foreigner, free
or not free, was permitted to enter any court,
council, or town meeting, and make such motion,
or present such complaint, petition, bill, or infor
nation az he saw fit. Universal suffrage, however,
HAs franchise not in accordance, as was believed,
with the conditions of public safety. In the colo
nes of Massachusetts and New Haven the right to
vote was restricted to church members. In the
p Plymouth and Connecticut colonies no such con-
ditiop was enforced, but the franchise was con-
fered BY the votes of such as were already free
men IN the respective towns But 10 these colo
nies, as well as in the Others, Mr.. Pslfrey rather
nsively remarks, " a religions character was con-
eidered as the proper basis OF confidence; nor
were they without an equally intelligent sense OF
the necessity of excluding from their councils the
enemies of their religious freedom"
Rulers we're elected annually. Each colony had
CHIEF magistrate, called governor, whose power
differed little from that of the other msgs-
trates, except in his being the organ OF their Will
30 aud the moo orator in public assemblies. Au but
Plymouth had deputy-goysrnor, who was a
member Of the council, which, under the name OF
sssstarts in Massachusetts and Plymouth, aud of
49, magistrates in the two western colonies, was as
ISOLATED with the governor in the highest functions
the administration. While the superior magis-
trates we're elected by the votes of the freemen of
o the whole colony, the deputies representatives
ID to the general court, were chosen for each town
!. by majority OF its voters, who were not re-
.stricted in their choice TO their own towns, ..
TIE system of trial by jury was in force, OK
cept in New. Haven, which could find nothing OF
,,rvn,ep in the Old Testament There we're no