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into ail J metaphysical disquisition how far circumstances create 

 certain attributes of character, or how far they draw out and 

 develope whatever otherwise would remain dormant there. If 

 we could look into the private history of the N. E. settlers, or 

 could have their characters faithfully photographed or daguer- 

 reotyped to us, we should find, whatever their station or social 

 position, they possessed, almost without exception, strong char- 

 acteristics and a marked individuality : — for they lived in stir- 

 ring times and moved amid stirring scenes. Examine the por- 

 traits of those, which have been transmitted to us, — analyze 

 those pictured features, — look at the bold and sharp relief of 

 the outlines of their figures — at the lineaments of their faces — 

 observe the decision and determination of character expressed 

 therein, — and you have mirrored before you not only, as a 

 general thing, the men of that day, but an insight, as it were, 

 into the very times which shaped those characters, and moulded 

 those lineaments, and brought them into perfect harmony Avith 

 the scenes and trials through which they had successively pas- 

 sed, both in this country and in England. A calm, resigned, 

 placid and serene expression of countenance would not be 

 thought consistent, or in keeping with the characters of any 

 men, who. had sacrificed so much, who had endured every 

 thing, to establish themselves in a wilderness remote from the 

 land of their birth, from the severities of the British hierarchy, 

 and from " Star Chamber," and " Courts of High Commis- 

 sion'" authority and persecution. There is said to be a marked 

 difference of expression in the human countenance of the pre- 

 sent day, compared with that of former times. The present 

 exhibits an anxious hurried expression, in strong contrast with 

 the calm dignified composure which marked the portraits of the 

 men of former days. This is supposed to be occasioned by the 

 difference in the times. This is emphatically a fast age — 

 every one is expected, as a matter of course, to be in a hurry. 

 The introduction of railroads, steamboats and magnetic tele- 

 graphs are supposed to have contributed largely to this state of 

 things, and the human countenances of the present generation 

 has partaken of these times, in the same way as the counte- 

 nances of our puritan ancestors no doubt partook of theirs. 



Of the causes which moved our fathers to colonize New En- 

 glannd, and the circumstances attending that great and impor- 

 tant undertaking, it would seem almost needless at this late 

 period to speak. The subject has already become familiar as 

 household words, and nothing I can now say but has been al- 

 ready and better said. Both the reapers and the gleaners have 



