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searched the field so thoroughly, that happy is the man who 

 can now find a single straw to repay him for his labor — and 

 yet the topic appears to demand, in this connection, a passing 

 notice, if nothing more. It is well known, that at the begin- 

 ning of the 17th century, one hundred and ten years after the 

 'discovery by Columbus, no other than the Spanish nation had 

 established colonies in the New World ; and that part of the 

 American Continent, now known as NeAY-England, had at that 

 period only been occasionally visited by a few resolute and 

 daring spirits, such as Cabot, Cortereal, Aubert, Verazzani, 

 Cortez, and last, though not least, Sir Humphrey Gilbert, 

 whom the love of adventure had drawn hither during the 16th 

 century. It is true, supposed traces of the transitory visits of 

 the Scandinavians, or hardy Northmen, previous to this period 

 and even prior to the discovery by Columbus, have occasionally 

 been met with, who glided like spectres along her shores, with- 

 out effecting any permanent settlements, or leaving any dura- 

 ble mementoes behind them. It however requires more credu- 

 lity, in the opinion of a recent writer, than a historian should 

 possess, to recount the vague stories of the discoveries and pos- 

 sioris of that people upon the shores of New England, all is so 

 shrouded in theory and speculation. Down to this period the 

 wave of civilization had not even reached her outermost bor- 

 ders, and the wild uncultivated Indian, almost entirely ignorant 

 even of the existence of the nation of pale-faces, which was 

 shortly to supersede him in the possession of this goodly heri- 

 tage, roved at, will over its wide expanse, his eye never resting 

 on the village spire, or his ear saluted by the busy hum of in- 

 dustry. It was no earth-born passion that could induce men 

 to forego the luxuries and refinements of civilized life, and 

 plant themselves in an inhospitable wilderness, to struggle with 

 hardships and difficulties which tasked so heavily all the powers 

 of human endurance. Early in the 17th century a few resolute 

 and God-fearing Puritans determined to sacrifice every thing, 

 even life itself, rather than submit to worship God in any form 

 which did not approve itself to their consciences. The germ of 

 this sect had its rise about the middle of the 16th century, 

 dating from the religious reformation commenced during the 

 brief reign of Edward 6th. Emerging as the people of Great 

 Britain did at that period "from" what Macaulay calls "the 

 gorgeous and imperial superstition of Rome," there were some 

 who did not think the reformation then commenced so thorough 

 and effective as the interests of pure religion required. Under 

 Queen Elizabeth their reluctance to submit to the newly estab- 



