160 



years or more before the Revolution : so that this prov- 

 ince was well prepared not only to be the cradle of Inde- 

 pendence, but to act as the guide and tutor of the young 

 Federal Republic, called into existence by the force of its 

 example, and nurtured by its care. 



It is true that the witchcraft folly, one of the darkest 

 events in our history, occurred after the provincial gov- 

 ernment was established ; but this happened so soon after 

 the old charter had been superseded, the actors in it 

 having come to prominence under the old order of things, 

 and being so wedded to the traditions of the past, that the 

 whole delusion may with propriety be considered as the 

 last terrible death-gasp of ancient superstition. One year 

 later, and the repetition of such a tragedy had become 

 impossible, and before that generation had passed away 

 we find the people in church and legislature seeking to 

 retrieve the injury done to the innocent victims of that 

 mental epidemic. 



A contrast was also drawn between the intolerance of 

 the colonial government and the immunity from religious 

 tyranny which the province charter guaranteed ; but which 

 was not fully secure^ until after a severe struggle. The 

 efforts of the Quakers to bring about toleration were then 

 described, beginning with the resistance of the towns of 

 Dartmouth and Tiverton to taxation for the support of 

 another sect, and ending with the acts passed during Bel- 

 cher's term, and suggested by him, for which the Friends 

 were grateful. The address concluded with a rapid 

 sketch of the events which ended in the Revolution. 



