Plymouth company in England. This settlement then became a part of the colony. The claim of Plymouth colony, founded upon their having first made an establishment at Windsor, had been previously purchased.

In the mean time, another colony had been planted within the limits of the Connecticut patent. In June, 1637, two large ships arrived at Boston, from England, having on board Mr. Davenport, Mr. Eaton and many others, whom pious motives had impelled to emigrate to New England. Being highly respectable, and some of them possessing great wealth, the general court of Massachusetts, desirous of detaining them in the colony, offered them any place they might select for a plantation.

Wishing, however to institute a civil and religious community, conforming in all things to their peculiar principles, they removed the next year, to Quinnipiac, which they called New Haven. Soon after their arrival, at the close of a day of fasting and prayer, they subscribed what they termed a plantation covenant, solemnly binding themselves, "until otherwise ordered, to be governed in all things, of a civil as well as religious concern, by the rules which the scriptures held forth to them." They purchased of the natives, large tracts of land; and laid out their town in squares, designing it for a great and elegant city.

In 1639, all the free planters, assembled in a large barn, proceeded to lay the foundation of their civil and religious polity. They resolved that none but church members should be allowed

the privilege of voting, or be elected to office; that all the freemen should annually assemble and elect the officers of the colony; and that the word of God should be the only rule for ordering the affairs of the commonwealth. Such was the original constitution of New Haven, but as the population increased, and new towns were settled, different regulations were adopted, and the institutions and laws became gradually assimilated to those of Connecticut.

With the Dutch at New York, both colonies had constant and vexatious disputes. The former claimed all the territory as far east as Connecticut river; the latter complained that the Dutch often plundered their property; that they sold guns and ammunition to the Indians, and even encouraged them to make war upon the English. The fear of attack from that quarter, was one of the reasons which, in 1643, induced the colonies of New England to form a confederation for their mutual defence.

In 1650, a treaty of amity and partition was concluded at Hartford, between the English and Dutch, the latter relinquishing their claim to the territory of Connecticut, except the lands which they actually occupied. Soon after England and Holland were involved in war with each other, but their colonies in America agreed to remain at peace. Notwithstanding this agreement the Dutch governor was detected in concerting with the Indians a plot for the total extirpation of the English.

Connecticut and New Haven were alarmed: a meeting of the commissioners of the united

colonies was called, and evidence of the plot laid before them. A majority was in favour of war: but the colony of Massachusetts, being remote from the danger, was averse to it. As she was much stronger than either of the others, it was, at the suggestion of her deputies, resolved, that agents should first be sent to demand of the Dutch governor an explanation of his conduct.

The agents obtained no satisfactory explanation. On their return, another meeting of the commissioners was held at Boston, additional testimony was laid before them, and several ministers of Massachusetts were invited to assist at their deliberations, a practice not unusual at that period.

The opinion of these ministers being requested they observed, "that the proofs of the execrable plot, tending to the destruction of the dear saints of God, were of such weight as to induce them to believe the reality of it; yet they were not so fully conclusive as to bear up their hearts with the fullness of persuasion which was meet in commending the case to God in prayer, and to the people in exhortations; and that it would be safest for the colonies to forbear the use of the sword."

But all the commissioners, except one, were of opinion that recent aggressions justified, and self preservation dictated, an appeal to the sword. They were about to declare war, when the general court of Massachusetts, in direct violation of one of the articles of the confederation resolved, "that no determination of the commis

sioners, though all should agree, should bind the colony to engage in hostilities."

At this declaration, Connecticut and New Haven felt alarmed and indignant. They considered the other colonies too weak, without the assistance of Massachusetts, to contend with the Dutch and their Indian allies. They argued, entreated and remonstrated, but she continued inflexible. They then represented their danger to Cromwell, and implored his assistance. He with his usual promptitude, sent a fleet for their protection, and for the conquest of their enemies ; but peace in Europe, intelligence of which reached New England soon after the arrival of the fleet, saved the Dutch from subjugation, and relieved the colonies from the dread of massacre.

After Charles the Second was restored to the throne, Connecticut applied to him for a royal charter. A trifling circumstance induced him, forgetting all his arbitrary maxims, to comply with her wishes to their utmost extent. Her agent, Mr. Winthrop, having an extraordinary ring, which had been given to his grandfather by Charles the First, presented it to his son. He immediately granted a charter more liberal in its provisions than any that had yet been granted, and confirming, in every particular, the constitution which the people had themselves adopted.

This charter comprehended New Haven; but, for several years, the people of that colony utterly refused to consent to the union. In this In this opposition to the commands of the king, and the remonstrances of Connecticut, they persevered

until 1665, when the apprehension of the appointment of a general governor, and of their being united with some other colony, having a charter less favourable to liberty, impelled them though reluctantly to yield.

In the war with Philip, which began in 1675, Connecticut suffered less than her sister colonies. Her aid, however, in full proportion to her strength, was always freely afforded; and no troops surpassed her volunteers in bravery and enterprise. A large number, and many of them officers, were killed at the assault upon the fort at Narraganset.

In 1686, King James the Second, desirous of annulling not only the charters which had been granted to his English cities, but those also which had been granted to his American colonies, summoned the governor of Connecticut to appear, and show cause why her charter should not be declared void. And Sir Edmund Andross, who had been appointed governor of New England, advised the colony, as the course best calculated to ensure the good will of his majesty, to resign it voluntarily into his hands, he having been instructed to receive it. But the people estimated too highly the privileges it conferred to surrender it until necessity compelled them.

Sir Edmund, therefore, repaired with a body of troops to Hartford, when the assembly were in session, and demanded of them the charter. They hesitated and debated until evening. It was then produced and laid upon the table, a large number of people being present. Suddenly the candles were extinguished. With counter