468 THE NEW ENGLAND FOREFATHERS 



rain that falls. This descends as low as the level of low- 

 water, and fills the sand to that depth. Beneath is the 

 bed of salt water on which this lighter water floats. As 

 the tide rises the fresh water is forced np among the sand, 

 and thus its level in the wells rises and falls with the tide, 

 though not exactly in the same proportion. Such rise 

 and fall of the wells is observed on this coast, even in the 

 wells upon the mainland. It is clear that if such be the 

 explanation, the water must be limited in quantity by the 

 extent of the sand bank or sandy beach, and by the 

 height to which the tide rises ; and also that, if we draw 

 the water from a somewhat greater depth, it should be 

 found to be brackish. 



A concluding observation suggests itself in connection 

 with this town of Plymouth. Anniversaries are held 

 here, at which orations are delivered, often by celebrated 

 and eloquent men, in which eulogies, such as the ancients 

 used to lavish on their demigods, are heaped on the heads 

 of the first settlers. Honest men these were sufferers, 

 some of them, from the persecutions of the age, but 

 neither more enlightened nor more tolerant than those 

 from whom they fled nor clearer-headed, nor wiser, 

 nor more energetic than tens of thousands of their coun 

 trymen, whom greater love for their country, more hope 

 fulness, even in the midst of persecution, a more earnest 

 desire, by staying at home, to labour for its improve 

 ment, or perhaps the inability to escape, retained at 

 home. It is absurd to suppose that they brought with 

 them more light upon any subject than they left in the 

 country from which they came. 



Nor ought they, on the other hand, to be especially 

 stigmatised because they retained the persecuting views, 

 in regard to religious opinion, which prevailed in Great 

 Britain when they forsook it. Men did not then think 

 of toleration as we Protestants now do. A uniformity 

 of faith was generally believed to be essential, so that those 



