it had been elevated, and the other part was drawn by twenty yoke of oxen to the Town Square; when the far famed liberty pole was speedily erected over it, on which an appropriate poetic effusion of some ardent son of liberty was placed, urging the citizens to renewed efforts in the cause of his country.

These circumstances, in connection with the increasing curiosity of visitors, each of whom sought a small fragment, if no more, have sensibly diminished the size of the rock, rendering it necessary to prevent such depredations in future, lest the 'first stepping stone to those who should come after,' might at last fail of a 'local habitation and a name.' These considerations, it is hoped, may in some degree relieve the disappointment occasionally expressed by strangers, on first viewing this rock. It should further be recollected that a mammoth rock of granite would have been inconvenient for the purpose of landing particularly to the women and children who shared in the glorious event. It is gratifying to announce, that a public town meeting was recently held, at which it was voted to convey sufficient land to certain individuals, for the purpose of removing the store of Mr. Hedge, northward and eastward, leaving room to erect a suitable monument near the rock, and to enclose the same with an iron railing, reserving sufficient land for an unincumbered walk round it. It has long been a subject of regret, that this memorial of the Landing has remained in its present situation, and there can be no doubt, that New England will cheerfully bestow the moderate sum required for an appropriate monument. On the fourth

of July, 1834, that part of the rock which had been taken to the town square, was removed and placed in front of Pilgrim Hall, enclosed within an iron railing prepared for its reception, on which is inscribed the names of the forty-one individuals who subscribed the compact on board the Mayflower, at Cape Cod harbor, Nov. 11, 1620.

The honor of first stepping upon the rock is claimed by the descendants of Mary Chilton, in her behalf, and also by those of John Alden, in his favor-resting upon tradition in both families. It is evident that neither of them had the honor of first landing upon it. This occurred on the 11th of Nov. 1620, old style, corresponding to Dec. 21st, new style, when the shallop of the Mayflower having left, on the 6th of December, the harbor of Cape Cod, coasted along the shore and was finally driven by storm into Plymouth, and found shelter at Clark's Island. The shallop at this time had on board ten of the pilgrims, who had signed the compact, whose names were as follows: Capt. Standish, Master Carver, William Bradford, Edward Winslow, John Tilley, Edward Tilley, John Howland, Richard Warren, Stephen Hopkins, and Edward Dotey - from which it appears that John Alden was not among the number who first stepped on the rock. Besides the ten pilgrims above named, there were eight seamen, making in all, eighteen persons. The Mayflower arrived and anchored about one and a half miles from the town, between Clark's Island and Beach Point. When the passengers went on shore, in the ship's boat, it is not improbable that some rivalship occurred between Mary

Chilton and John Alden as to which should first land on the rock and the young gallant doubtless yielded his claim to the lady - as might have been expected of the modest youth, who afterwards became the favored choice of Priscilla Mullens.* The conclusion,

* Tradition states, that Captain Standish, after the death of his wife, proposed a matrimonial alliance with Miss Mullens, the daughter of William Mullens, and that John Alden was engaged as the messenger to announce his wishes. But the lady, it seems, not so much enamored with the military renown of Standish as by the engaging address of the youthful advocate, dexterously hinted her opinion to that effect, by which course an end was put to all hope on the part of the distinguished military leader of the pilgrims.

Without intending to discredit this ancient tradition, which has so long held its claim undisputed, in the families descended from Alden and Chilton, there seems to be sufficient grounds, for entering a protest, against the unbounded license assumed by fiction, originating from various quarters, both in a verbal and written form, in relation to this amusing incident of early times. The following facts are therefore stated as aids to truth in the matter. Rose, the wife of Standish, died Jan. 29th,—and Villiam Mullens, the father of Priscilla, Feb. 21, 1620. Edward Winslow m d the widow of Wm. White, May 12, 1621, it being the first marriage whV occurred after the landing. John Alden and Miss Mullens were probably married in the Spring of 1622, or the preceding fall.

Bearing in mind these facts, it seems hardly credible that Standish, so soon after the decease of his beautiful and excellent wife, for such, tradition assures us, she was,-that within a month, "nay, not so much," he should propose a renewal of the matrimonial bonds, so suddenly severed, in the saddest hour of even Pilgrim experience. It is gratifying in this case, that tradition and the facts of history may pleasantly harmonize, under the guidance of rational probabilities, leaving us to infer, that no leave was asked of Mr. Mullens, in person or by proxy, to visit his daughter, but that the embassy of Alden, was to the maiden herself, sometime after; that as no cattle were imported into the Colony till the year 1623, of course, no animal of that species was here found, to be "covered" with "a handsome piece of broadcloth;" that as the Town of Barnstable was not settled till the year 1639, some eighteen years subsequent, when all the parties were happily settled in the same neighborhood in old Duxbury; therefore, the bridal party and the novel cavalcade, which figure so largely in the story, on proceeding to, and returning from the nuptial ceremonies of the transported lovers, are matters

therefore, of the late Samuel Davis, Esq., may be safely adopted, when he says, ' We are disposed, however, to generalize the anecdote. The first generation doubtless knew who came on shore in the first boats; the second generation related it with less identity; the fourth with still less: like the stone thrown on the calm lake, the circles well defined at first, become fainter as they recede. For the purpose of the arts, however, a female figure, typical of faith, hope and charity, is well adapted.'

The late Dr. Dwight, President of Yale College, who visited Plymouth in the year 1800, expresses himself respecting the rock in the following manner: No New Englander who is willing to indulge his native feelings, can stand upon the rock, where our ancestors set the first foot after their arrival on the American shore, witt experiencing emotions very different from those hich are excited by any common object of the same nature. No New Englander could be willing to have that rock buried and forgotten. Let him reason as much, as coldly, and ingeniously as he pleases, he will still regard that spot with emotions wholly different from those excited by other places of equal or greater importance.'

assignable, to some after period, when time and circumstances rendered them entirely suitable and appropriate. We are justified in assuming, that a "flirtation" actually occurred at the commencement of "good Old Colony times," and that Cupid and Mars were in open conflict-that Miss Mullins was irresistibly attractive in person, manners and character, since a military hero was fairly conquered, never before known to surrender, being severely but not mortally wounded; as a certain skilful lady, who came over in the ship Ann, in the year 1623, was able to effect a perfect cure.

*This rock has become an object of veneration in the United States. I have seen bits of it carefully preserved in several towns of the Union. Does not this sufficiently show that all human power and greatness is in the soul of man? Here is a stone which the feet of a few outcasts pressed for an instant; and the stone becomes famous; it is treasured by a great nation; its very dust is shared as a relic. And what has become of the gateways of a thousand palaces? Who cares for them?

6 Beneath us is the rock, on which New England received the feet of the Pilgrims. We seem even to behold them, as they struggle with the elements, and with toilsome efforts gain the shore. We listen to the chiefs in council; we see the unexampled exhibition of female fortitude and resignation; we hear the whisperings of youthful impatience, and we see, what a painter of our own has also represented by his pencil, chilled and shivering childhood, houseless but for a mother's arms, couchless, but for a mother's breast, till our own blood almost freezes. The mild dignity of CARVER and of BRADFORD; the decisive and soldierlike air of STANDISH; the devout BREWSTER; the enterprising ALLERTON; the general firmness and thoughtfulness of the whole band; their conscious joy for dangers escaped; their deep solicitude about dangers to come; their trust in heaven; their high religious faith, full of confidence and anticipation:-all these seem to belong to this place and to be present upon this occasion, to fill us with reverence and admiration.'

*De Tocqueville's work on America.

† Webster's Centennial Address, Dec. 22, 1820.