the rest into a swamp, where many of them miserably perished. Weymouth was soon after abandoned, and the settlers returned to England.

19. In the year 1624, other immigrants arrived at Plymouth. They brought with them cattle, swine, poultry, clothing, and provisions. The progress of Plymouth colony was slow. Four years after the landing of the Pilgrims there were thirty-two houses in the settlement and one hundred and eighty inhabitants; at the end of te years there were only three hundred.

20. The connection of the colony with the London merchants from whom they had received money, embarrassed them greatly. The merchants complained that they received no return for the money advanced, and interfered in various ways with the affairs of the colony, causing the immigrants great inconvenience. At last the colonists were able to buy out the rights of the London adventurers, and by this means were relieved of debt and an unpleasant connection.

21. In November, 1620, a short time before the landing of the colonists at Plymouth, a new charter was granted by James I. of England, in lieu of the one before granted to what was known as the Plymouth Company. This was to a new company in England, at the head of which stood the Duke of Lenox. This new company was styled the "Grand Council of Plymouth." This charter granted to the new company all the territory between the "fortieth and forty-eighth degrees of north latitude, and extending throughout the main land from sea to sea."

In this new grant or charter the name of "North Virginia," previously applied to this district of country, was dropped, and that of "New England" substituted for it.

19. What is said of the progress of Plymouth? How many inhabitants were there in the colony ten years after the landing of the Pilgrims?

20. What was the colony's embarrassment? How relieved?

21. When was the charter for North Virginia changed? What was the new

22. In 1628 a number of persons in England, wishing to emigrate to North America, purchased from the "Grand Council of Plymouth" "that part of New England which lies between three miles to the south of the Merrimack River, and three miles to the south of Charles River, and extending from the Atlantic to the South Sea." Under this purchase John Endicot, a man of note, with about one hundred colonists, made a settlement at Salem.

23. In 1629 the proprietors of this purchase of public domain, who were residents of England, obtained from Charles I., King of England, who had succeeded his father James I., a charter, granting them powers of government over colonists who might settle within its limits. The title of the corporation created by the royal grant was "The Governor and Company of Massachusetts Bay in New England." About three hundred persons soon after embarked for the new colony of Massachusetts.

In 1630, for the purpose of stimulating emigration to the new colcny, the proprietors agreed "to form a council of those who should emigrate, and who might hold their sessions thereafter in the new settlement" or colony. Under this arrangement John Winthrop was chosen the first governor of the colony of Massachusetts, so planted—and during the year 1630 about fifteen hundred new settlers came over from the mother country and made their home in Massachusetts. New settlements were made at Charlestown, Dorchester, Watertown, Lynn, Roxbury, and Boston.

24. In October, 1631, a general meeting of all the freemen in the colony was held in Boston, when John Winthrop was re-elected governor, and Thomas Dudley was

company called? What was that part of the country included in the new charter called?

22. When was the settlement at Salem made? Under what purchase of land was it made?

23. When was the charter for the colony of Massachusetts Bay granted? By whom was it granted? What year was the first settlement made under it?

24. Who was the first governor? About how many colonists came over the year Winthrop was made governor ? What was the first government of the col ony of Massachusetts ?

chosen deputy governor. The colony of Massachusetts was thus established.

At first the government, under the rights and privileges granted by the charter, was a pure democracy. All the freemen assembled and gave their votes for their magistrates and other officers, as well as upon all matters of government. This was afterwards changed. In different localities the freemen held meetings, and chose deputies or delegates to meet in a common council, which was called "The General Court," and which was empowered to pass all proper laws. This "General Court" was to meet four times a year. The pure democratic form of government in this way gave place to what is called the representative system: that is, where the people make laws and govern themselves by chosen deputies, or select delegates to act for them.

25. For several years after the settlement at Plymouth, that colony had no direct political connection with the other settlements in Massachusetts. It was under a government exclusively its own, and in the regulation of all local affairs recognized no authority but its own. Its government was purely democratic.

CHAPTER VI.

PROGRESS OF VIRGINIA.

1621-1660.

WE turn now again to Virginia.

1. On the 24th of July, 1621, the Colonial Assembly, of which mention has already been made, received the express sanction of the London Company by an ordinance. This ordinance may be considered as the written Consti

25. What was the government of the settlement at Plymouth for many years! CHAPTER VI -1. What took place July 24, 1621? What is said of this ordi

rance?

tution of the colony. Its provisions were liberal, giving to the people the election of two burgesses from each borough, who formed what was called the House of Burgesses, and who, with the Council appointed by the company, constituted the General Assembly. They had power to make laws, subject to the approval of the governor (who was appointed by the company), and the approval of the company in London, and "no orders of the court in London were to be binding on the colony unless ratified by the Assembly."

.

2. Beside the right of trial by jury, all other civil rights of Englishmen were secured, to be determined according to their own regulations, with the restriction just stated. In the charter of Virginia, as now amended, was recognized for the first time by the mother country the principle of the great and inestimable right of local self-government, by the people of the British colonies respectively on this continent.

3. Sir Francis Wyatt succeeded Yeardley as governor in 1621. At this period the colony was in a very flourishing condition. There were about eighty settlements, and the population amounted to not less than three thousand. The inhabitants enjoyed civil rights; the land was fertile; trade was free, and peace continued with the Indians. In the midst of their prosperity and seeming security, a terrible calamity suddenly befell them. They had no suspicion that the Indians had become unfriendly, but such was the fact. O-pe-chan-can-ough, the brother of Powhatan, had succeeded him as king, in 1618. He had no love for the strangers, but concealed his hatred until he could mature his plans, by which he hoped to be able to destroy them all. At noon ɔn a certain day, the Indians were to fall upon every settlement, and murder the whites.

2. What civil rights were secured?

3. Who succeeded Yeardley? What was the population at this time! What terrible misfortune befell the colony at this time?

4. The plot was so well kept secret that even on the morning of the day of the massacre, the Indians mingled freely with the whites, and sat at their tables at their morning meals. Nothing in the manner of the savages gave the slightest intimation of their evil designs. The plot might have been entirely successful and the massacre complete, had it not been for the warning of a converted ndian named Chanco, who, on the morning of the attack,

brought the news of the plot to Jamestown. Only the night before had he learned it. Messengers were immediately dispatched in every direction to warn the inhabitants, but it was too late to warn all. At twelve o'clock, on the first of April, the attack was made, and over three 4. Who revealed the plot? How many persons were ki plantations destroyed?

How man