'If I am interrupted again I will make the sun shine 1693. through you in a moment." Governor Fletcher made no farther attempts to read his commission, and soon judged it expedient to return to New York.

*

9. In the year 1700, several clergymen assembled at Branford, and each, producing a few books laid them on the table, with these words: "I give these books for the founding of a college in this colony." Such was the beginning of Yale College, now one of the most honored institutions of learning in the land. It was first established at Saybrook, and was afterwards removed to New Haven. It derived its name from Elihu Yale, one of its most liberal patrons.

10. The remaining portion of the colonial history of Connecticut is not marked by events of sufficient interest to require any farther notice than they may gain in the more general history of the colonies. The laws, customs, manners, and religious notions of the people, were similar to those which prevailed in the neighboring colony of Massachusetts, and, generally, throughout New England.

1700. out

account of

the estab "Yale Col

lishment of

lege.

a. 1702.

b. 1717.

2. What is remaining Connecti

said of the history of

cut? 3. Of the

laws, cus ners, c.?

toms, man

CHAPTER V.

RHODE ISLAND.t

Of what does Chapter V. of Part II. treat? c. Jan. 1636. 4. What did

Roger Wil ter his ban

liams do af

ishment from Massa

1. After Roger Williams had been banished from Massachusetts, he repaired to the country of the Narragansetts, who inhabited nearly all the territory which now forms the state of Rhode Island. By the sachems of that tribe he was kindly received, and during fourteen weeks, he found a shelter in their wigwams, from the severity of winter. On the opening of spring he . proceeded to Seekonk,‡ on the north of Narragansett

chusetts? he received us? What did spring?

5. How was

ragansetts?

he in the

* Branford is a town in Connecticut, bordering on the Sound, seven miles E. from New Haven.

RHC DE ISLAND, the smallest state in the Union, contains an area. separate from the waters of Narragansett Bay, of about 1,225 square miles. In the northwestern part of the state the surface of the country is hilly, and the soil poor. In the south and west the country is generally level, and in the vicinity of Narragansett Bay, au, on the islands which it contains, the soil is very fertile.

The town of Seekonk, the western part of the early Rehoboth, lies east of, and au joining the northern part of Narragansett Bay. The village is on Ten Mile River, three or four miles east from Providence. (See Map next page.)

1686. Bay, and having been joined by a few faithful friends from Massachusetts, he obtained a grant of land from an Indian chief, and made preparations for a settlement.

1. Whither tous he ad

more, and

why?

a. June

2 Give an

2. 'Soon after, finding that he was within the limits vised to re of the Plymouth colony, and being advised by Mr. Winslow, the governor, to remove to the other side of the water, where he might live unmolested, he reso.ved to comply with the friendly advice. Embarking▪ account of with five companions in a frail Indian canoe, he passed tment of down the Narragansett Rivert to Moshassuck, which Providence. he selected as the place of settlement, purchased the land of the chiefs of the Narragansetts, and, with unshaken confidence in the mercies of Heaven, named 3. What was the place Providence. The settlement was called ment called? Providence Plantation.

the set

the settle

4. What ef fect had reli

tion!

3. As Roger Williams brought with him the same gious tolera principles of religious toleration, for avowing and main taining which he had suffered banishment, Providence became the asylum for the persecuted of the neighbor ing colonies; but the peace of the settlement was never seriously disturbed by various and discordant opin ions which gained ad... ssion. It was found that the tment as numerous and conflicting sects of the day could dwell beheld? together in harmony, and the world beheld, with sur

8. What

prise, the novel experiment of a government in which the magistrates were allowed to rule "only in civil matters," and in which "God alone was respected as 6. Give an the ruler of conscience."

account of the government of the

colony.

4. The political principles of Roger Williams were as liberal as his religious opinions. For the purpose

*Narragansett Bay is in the eastern part of the state of Rhode Island, and is twenty-eight miles long from N. to S., and from eight to twelve road. The N.E. arm of the bay is called Mount Hope Boy; the northern, Providence Bay; and the N. Western, Greenwich Bay. It contains a number of beautiful and fertile islands, the principal of which Tiverton are Rhode Island, Conanicut, and Prudence. (See Map.) †The northern part of Narragansett Bay was often called Narragansett River.

of preserving peace, all the settlers were required to 1636. subscribe to an agreement that they would submit to such rules, “not affecting the conscience," as should be made for the public good, by a majority of the inhabntants; and under this simple form of pure democracy, with all the powers of government in the hands of the people, the free institutions of Rhode Island had their origin. The modest and liberal founder of the state reserved no political power to himself, and the territory which he had purchased of the natives he freely granted to all the inhabitants in common, reserving to himself only two small fields, which, on his first arrival, he had planted with his own hands.

5. Soon after the removal of Mr. Williams to Providence, he gave to the people of Massachusetts, who had recently expelled him from their colony, the first intimation of the plot which the Pequods were forming for their destruction. When the Pequods attempted to form an alliance with the Narragansetts, the magistrates of Massachusetts solicited the mediation of Mr. Williams, whose influence was great with the chiefs of the latter tribe. Forgetting the injuries which he had received from those who now needed his favor, on a stormy day, alone, and in a poor canoe, he set out upon the Narragansett, and through many dangers repaired to the cabin of Canonicus.

1. What is liberalin of

2.

3.

said of the

Mr. Williams?

Of what did he in people of

form the

Massachusetts ?

What did

Massachusetts solicit of him?

What did ams do?

Mr. Wil

5. Give an Mr. Wi bassy to the Narragan

account of

liams's em

6. There the Pequod ambassadors and Narragansett chiefs had already assembled in council, and three days and nights Roger Williams remained with them, in constant danger from the Pequods, whose hands, he says, seemed to be still reeking with the blood of his countrymen, and whose knives he expected nightly at his throat. But, as Mr. Williams himself writes, "God wonderfully preserved him, and helped him to break in pieces the negotiation and designs of the enemy, und to finish, by many travels and charges, the English eague with the Narragansetts and Mohegans against the struation ibe Pequods."

7. The settlers at Providence remained unmolested during the Pequod war, as the powerful tribe of the Narragansetts completely sheltered them from the emy. "Such, however, was the aid which Mr. Wil

6. What roas

of Provi dence wu

ring the Pe

quod war?

7.

What is Williams

said of Mr.

aid in this war?

637. liams afforded, in bringing that war to a favorable termination, that some of the leading men in Massachusetts felt that he deserved to be honored with some Why was mark of favor for his services. "The subject of recallcalled from ing him from banishment was debated, but his principles were still viewed with distrust, and the fear of their influence overcame the sentiment of gratitude.

he not re

danishment?

1638.

2. Give an

the settle

3. Of the

ernment.

b. Nov.

8. In 1638 a settlement was made at Portsmouth,* a. April. in the northern part of the Island of Aquetneck, or account of Rhode Island,† by William Coddington and eighteen. ment of others, who had been driven from Massachusetts by Portsmouth. persecution for their religious opinions. In imitation form of gov- of the form of government which once prevailed among the Jews, Mr. Coddington was chosen judge, and three elders were elected to assist him, but in the following 1639. year the chief magistrate received the title of governor. 4. Of the set- Portsmouth received considerable accessions during the first year, and in the spring of 1639, a number of the inhabitants removed to the southwestern part of the island, where they laid the foundation of Newport.‡ The settlements on the island rapidly extended, and given to the the whole received the name of the Rhode Island Plantation.

tlement of Newport.

5. What name was

new settle

ments?

1643.

the Planta

ded from the

1643?

9. Under the pretence that the Providence and s. Why were Rhode Island Plantations had no charter, and that tions exclu- their territory was claimed by Plymouth and Massaunion of chusetts, they were excluded from the confederacy which was formed between the other New England colonies in 1643. "Roger Williams therefore pro1644. ceeded to England, and, in the following year, obe. March 24. tained from parliament, which was then waging a sail of the civil war with the king, a free charter of incorporation, by which the two plantations were united under the same government.

7. What is

charter from

Partia

ment?

*The town of Portsmouth is in the northern part of the island of Rhode Island, and embraces about half of the island. The island of Prudence, on the west, is attached to this town. (See Map, p. 112.)

tRhode Island, so called from a fancied resemblance to the island of Rhodes in the Mediterranean, is in the southeastern part of Narragansett Bay. It is fifteen miles ong, and has an average width of two and a half miles. The town of Portsmouth oc cupies the northern part of the island, Middletown the central portion, and Newport the southern. (See Map, p. 112.)

Newport is on the S.W. side of Rhode Island, five miles from the sea, and twenty hve miles S. from Providence. The town is on a beautiful declivity, and has au er cellent harbor. (See Map, p. 112.)

a. May 29. 1. Of the organiza

10. 'In 1647 the General Assembly of the several 1647. towns met at Portsmouth, and organized the government, by the choice of a president and other officers. A code of laws was also adopted, which declared the government to be a democracy, and which closed with the declaration, that "all men might walk as their consciences persuaded them, without molestation, every one in the name of his God."

ton of the government early as

and of the

of Rhode Island?

b. 1660.

2. Of the charter from the

principles? c. July 18, 1663.

11. After the restoration of monarchy, and the accession of Charles II. to the throne of England, Rhode Island applied for and obtained a charter from the king, and it king, in which the principles of the former parliamentary charter, and those on which the colony was founded, were embodied. The greatest toleration in matters of religion was enjoined by the charter, and the legislature again reasserted the principle. It has been 3. What is said that Roman Catholics were excluded from the remarked of right of voting, but no such regulation has ever been found in the laws of the colony; and the assertion that Quakers were persecuted and outlawed, is wholly

erroneous.

Catholics

and Qua

4. What is said of

Rhode Is and after the usurpa

land during

tion of An dros?

d. Jan. 1687. e. See p. 90

12. When Andros assumed the government of the New England colonies, Rhode Island quietly submitted to his authority; but when he was imprisoned at Boston, and sent to England, the people assembled at Newport, and, resuming their former charter privleges, re-elected the officers whom Andros had displaced. Once more the free government of the colony f. May 1! was organized, and its seal was restored, with its symbol an anchor, and its motto Hope,-fit emblems of the steadfast zeal with which Rhode Island nas ever cherished all her early religious freedom, and her cl rignts.

1680