virtue hereof to enact, constitute and frame such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions, and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the colony; unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. In witness whereof we have hereunder subscribed our names, at Cape Cod, the 11th of November, in the year of the reign of our sovereign lord, King James, of England, France and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland, the fifty-fourth, anno Domini, 1620.

The above list of the signers of the celebrated compact, is taken from Prince's New England Chronology vol. 1, p. 85, Edit. 1736, which is preceded by the

*RICHARD BRITTERIGE

GEORGE SOULE

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following remarks. To this instrument Mr. Morton sets the subscribers in the following order: but their names corrected, with titles and families, I take from the list at the end of Governor Bradford's folio manuscript. Only this I observe, that out of modesty, he omits the title of Mr. to his own name, which he ascribes to several others.'

The figures opposite each name designate the number in each family. Those having an asterisk (*) prefixed, died before the end of March. Those which are marked with an obelisk (†) brought their wives with them. One of those attached to the name of Samuel Fuller was his servant, named William Butten, a youth who died Nov. 6th, on the passage. George Soule was of Winslow's family. Edward Dotey and Edward Leister were of Stephen Hopkins' family. Christopher Martin, Richard Warren, Stephen Hopkins, John Billington, Edward Dotey, Edward Leister, and perhaps some others, joined them at London.

The number against the name of William White, does not include that of his son Peregrine, born in Cape Cod harbor.

John Howland was of Governor Carver's family, John Allerton and Thomas English were seamen. Dr. Young, in his Chronicles of the Pilgrims, page 122, remarks that 'the list includes the servant who died; the latter ought not to be counted. The number living at the signing of the compact, was therefore only 100.'

'So there were just 101 who sailed from Plymouth in England, and just as many arrived in Cape Cod

harbor. And this is the solitary number, who for an undefiled conscience and the love of pure Christianity, first left their native and pleasant land, and encountered all the toils and hazards of the tumultuous ocean, in search of some uncultivated region in North Virginia, where they might quietly enjoy their religious liberties, and transmit them to posterity in hopes that none would follow to disturb or vex them.' The same day Mr. John Carver was appointed their Gov

ernor.

'These were the founders of the Colony of New Plymouth. The settlement of this colony occasioned the settlement of Massachusetts Bay, which was the source of all the other Colonies of New England. Virginia was in a dying state, and seemed to revive and flourish from the example of New England.

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'I am not preserving from oblivion the names of heroes whose chief merit is the overthrow of cities, provinces and empires, but the names of the founders of a flourishing town and colony, if not of the whole British empire in North America.'-Hutchinson, 11, 462. This is perhaps the only instance, in human history, of that positive original social compact, which speculative philosophers have imagined as the only legitimate source of government. Here was a unanimous and personal assent by all the individuals of the community, to the association by which they became a nation. It was the result of circumstances and discussions, which had occurred during their

* John Quincy Adams's Oration, Dec. 22, 1802.

passage from Europe, and is a full demonstration that the nature of civil government, abstracted from the political institutions of their native country, had been an object of their serious meditation. The settlers of all the European colonies had contented themselves with the powers conferred upon them by their respective charters, without looking beyond the seal of the royal parchment for the measure of their rights, and the rule of their duties.'

Various excursions were afterwards made, in pursuit of some place for settlement, but without success, and conflicting opinions arose as to the measures it was most expedient to adopt, while the approach of winter, and the impatience of Capt. Jones, rendered their situation full of perplexity, and beset with perils.

Under these circumstances, on the 6th of December, another expedition was resolved upon, the day previous having been stormy. Ten men who were willing to embark, were appointed, namely, Capt. Standish, Master Carver, William Bradford, Edward Winslow, John Tilley, Edward Tilley, John Howland, and three of London, Richard Warren, Stephen Hopkins and Edward Dotte, and two seamen, John Alderton and Thomas English. Of the ship's company there went Master Clark and Master Coppin, the master gunner, and three sailors. It was late in the day, before the preparations for the expedition were completed, and the weather was extremely severe. After clearing from the ship, it required some time to get underway, on account of a sandy point, during which two of their men were sick, and Edward Tilley had nearly swooned.

The gunner was also sick, and so remained all that day and night.

After clearing the sandy point, they coasted six or seven leagues by the shore, landed and spent the night; on the 7th visited several places and probably passed the night at Great Meadow Creek, in Eastham; and on the 8th, about 5 o'clock in the morning, were suddenly attacked by the Indians. The attack was repulsed with great intrepidity on the part of the pilgrims, and the Indians retreated with precipitation.

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After returning thanks to God for their wonderful deliverance, they took to their shallop, and called the place The First Encounter.' The wind being favorable, they sailed along the coast of Barnstable Bay, about forty-five miles, but saw no river or creek convenient for landing. After sailing an hour or two snow and rain commenced falling; the sea became rough; the hinges of the rudder were broken, and it could no longer be used; but two men supplied its place with oars. The ocean heaved with increasing agitation, and they were in great anxiety and danger. The night was fast gathering around them. At this trying moment, Master Coppin bid them be of good cheer, for he saw the land; but as they drew near it, the gale increased, and heavy sail being set in order to reach the harbor before dark, the mast was split in three pieces, and the shallop was threatened with destruction. 'Yet by God's mercy,' says Gov. Bradford, we had the flood with us, and struck into the harbor. The pilot, who had bid the company be of good cheer, was deceived, and when arriving at the

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