16 
A VOYAGE TO SPITZBERGEN 
might become kingdoms, and the rulers meantime of 
colonial dependencies, met with small success in their 
projects; but the merchants, with a better knowledge of 
men and of business, and a wiser selection of means 
and agencies, secured the attainment of permanent 
results. The mayors, aldermen, sheriffs, and other 
leading merchants of London, as members of the great 
trading corporation, that, from an incidental branch of 
its operations, received the name of Russia or Muscovy 
Company, opened the way, which later mayors, aider- 
men, and sheriffs followed up by contributing their 
money, the influence of their names, and the benefit of 
their counsel and direction, to the advancement of the 
Colony of Massachusetts Bay. 7 
It is customary, with writers of our national history, 
to go far back among English annals to trace the rise of 
religious dissent, and investigate the forms of doctrinal 
difference which are supposed to have culminated in 
Puritanism, and to have induced that kind of emigra¬ 
tion, and that condition of affairs at home, which have 
dominantly affected the fortunes and character of the 
New-England States. But those elements of influence 
which belong to the rise and growth of commerce, 
especially the commerce of the fisheries ; the conse¬ 
quent habit of distant enterprises of trade and coloniza¬ 
tion, causing familiarity with the seas, and affording 
7 Among the members of the Massachusetts Company were Thomas Andrews and 
Thomas Adams, each of whom at some time held the office of mayor, and one or both 
of them that of sheriff: two at least (Vassall and Bateman) are in the list of aider- 
men. The Governor (Cradock) was a merchant of London, as were Abraham Palmer, 
Nathaniel Wright, Theophilus Eaton, Thomas Goffe, Owen Rowe, and doubtless 
others who are less known. 
