friends, he had ever gained." he also asserts that "In Salem every person loved him." Stubborn facts repel these assertions, and other writers contradict them. The same remark will apply, when he says that Williams "could be persuaded, and that kind treatment could win him." Governor Hutchinson says, that "endeavours were used to reclaim him, but to no purpose." Mather says, that "before the court proceeded to banish this incendiary, they advised with the pastors of the neighbouring churches," who requested that they would forbear prosecuting him till they and their churches had in a church way endeavoured his conviction and repentance." Their proposal was allowed. "The church of Boston, and several other churches, took the best pains they could, and though they brought the church of Salem to join with them, the effect on Williams was, that he renounced them all as no churches." And though the church of Salem gave him up, and joined with those, who admonished him; yet this writer says, that "every person loved him, and that he had address enough never to be forsaken by the friends he had ever gained." With equal propriety he says, Williams "breathed the purest devotion." As he has not produced any sample of his devotion, the task is ours. Writers, who had at least as good opportunities as this historian, say, that after he separated from his people," he never more came to the church assembly; he withdrew all private religious communion from any, who held communion with them"; "he would not pray with his own wife and family, nor ask a blessing at meals with them, because they went to the church assemblies." Finally, after his banishment as a pest of society, "he turned Anabaptist, (says Morton) then told his deluded followers, he was out of the way himself, and had misled them, for he did not find that there was any upon earth that could administer baptism, and therefore their last baptism was a nullity as well as their first, and therefore they must lay down all, and wait for the coming of new apostles; so they dissolved themselves." 1* CONTENTS. Page Review of the military operations in North-America, from the year 1753 to the surrender of Oswego, in 1756, Introduction.-American colonies too long neglected, though of general importance-More considered on the reduction of Louisbourg-Character of Governor Shirley-His attention to colony affairs-Is rewarded with a regiment, and sent com- missary to Paris.-(1753.) The French encroach on Virginia.— Message to the commandant-It is answered.-(1754.) Virgin- ians apply for aid to the colonies-but they generally excuse themselves-Forces raised under Col. Washington-who had successful skirmishes with the enemy-but was afterwards sub- dued by numbers.-Consequences of his defeat.-Grand con- gress at Albany.-Indians delay attendance, and the reasons.— Commissioners and how ranked.-Indians pleased with the pre- sents, but blame our conduct.-Plan of union-Approved by all, except De Lancey.-His character and history. His ap- pointment to the government, and system of politics-His speech to the council and assembly.-Assembly's evasive an- swer. Observations on this address.-Numerous and fulsome addresses to the Lieut. Governor.-His jealousy—and universal Shirley erects forts on Kennebec.-(1775.) He designs an expedition against Crown-Point.-De Lancey endeavours to - builds a fort at the carrying-place.-Dieskau designs to reduce - - dians. Sir William Johnson's conduct considered.-Account Description of Wiscasset, and of the river Sheepscot, by the Rev. Alden Bradford, Minister at Wiscasset, S. H. S. List of publick offices, ecclesiastical preferments, &c. in Mary- : Union of the British American colonies, as proposed in the year Report of a committee of the assembly of Connecticut, respect- The reasons offered, by the Assembly of Connecticut, concern- Petitions, &c. from members of the church of England, in Bos- An Account of the trade and shipping of Newfoundland in Number of British subjects in the colonies of North- . A Bill for better regulating of charter and proprietary Heads of Inquiry, relative to the state and condition of Con- Some account of the severe drought in 1749, . Grand Jury's Bill against Mary Osgood, COLLECTIONS, &c. THE HISTORY OF CAMBRIDGE. BY ABIEL HOLMES, A.M. A MEMBER OF THE SOCIETY. -forsan et hæc olim meminisse juvabit. VIRGIL. A Topographical Description of Cambridge.* CAMBRIDGE is a shire town, in the county of Middlesex. It lies in 42°. 23′. north latitude, and 71°. west longitude from London. It is bounded on the northeast by Charlestown; on the north-west by Lexington; on the west by Watertown; on the south-west by Newton; on the south by Brookline, and on the south-east and east by Cambridge bay to Charlestown line. It is about three miles distant from Boston, on a right line; eight miles, as measured on the road leading through Brookline and Roxbury; about four miles and a half through Charlestown; and three miles, one quarter, and sixty rods from the old state-house, by the way of West-Boston bridge. The soil is various. In the south-west part of the town, within a mile of Charles river, the land is hilly, and abounds in springs. The soil is loamy, and natural to grass. In the north-west part of the town, the land is hilly, For this Description, I am principally indebted to my worthy friend, and respectable parishioner, CALEB GANNETT, Esquire. |