Loft

The principal denominations of christians in this State are five, viz. Congregationalists, Prefbyterians, Epifcopalians, Epifcopalians, Baptifts and Quakers. The distinguishing characteristics of thefe are fo well known that a particular defcription is needless ;* the comparative numbers of each may be feen by an inspection of the preceding table; in which the Prefbyterians are marked by the letter P. the Epifcopalians by E. the Baptifts by B. the Quakers by Q. Thofe without any mark are Congre gationalifts; which is the most numerous denomination in this as well as in the neigh bouring States of Massachusetts and Connec ticut.

In the town of Portsmouth there is a fociety ⚫ of Sandemanians and another of Univerfalists; which are not noted in the table.

The people in general throughout the State are profeffors of the chriftian religion in fome form or other. There is, however, a fort of wife men, who pretend to reject it; but they have not yet been able to fubftitute a better in ∙its place....

It has been a common practice, in all the grants of townships, which have been made either by the Crown or the Mafonian proprietors, to referve one fhare, equal to that of any other grantee, for the first fettled minister, as

his

* For an account of thefe diftinctions fee a "view of relig ions" by H. ADAMS, lately reprinted in Bofton.

his own right; befide a parfonage lot. This has proved a great encouragement to the fettlement of ministers in the new towns; and it has been generally observed that those towns are the most thriving, in which early care has been taken to fettle a prudent minifter, and affift him in clearing and cultivating his land.

In some of the new towns, where the people are not able to support minifters, it has been ufual for the clergymen of the elder towns to make itinerant excurfions, of feveral weeks, to preach and baptize; whilft their places at home have been filled, by the neighbouring minifters in rotation. Such itinerations are always acceptable, to the fcattered people in the wilderness, and ferve to keep up a fenfe of religion in their families. By the conftitution of the State every denomination of christians is equally under the protection of the law, and it is exprefsly provided, that no fubordination of any one fect or denomination to another, shall ever be established by law.'

It is alfo claimed and allowed as a right of the people, to elect and fupport their own teachers; and that no perfon of any one par'ticular religious fect or denomination fhall ' ever be compelled to pay toward the support ' of the teachers of any other fect or denomi'nation.' There is therefore as entire religious liberty in New-Hampshire, as any people can rationally defire. CHAP.

CHAP. XVIII.

Conclufion. Hints of Advice on feveral important Subjects.

HAV

of my

CITIZENS OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE, AVING spent above twenty years life with you, and paffed through various scenes of peace and war within that time; being perfonally acquainted with many of you, both in your public and private characters; and having an earneft defire to promote your true interest, I truft you will not think me altogether unqualified to give you a few hints by way of advice. You are certainly a rifing State; your numbers are rapidly increasing; and your importance in the political scale will be augmented, in proportion to your improv ing the natural advantages which your fituation affords you, and to your cultivating the intellectual and moral powers of yourselves and your children.

The first article on which I would open my mind to you is that of education. Nature has been as bountiful to you as to any other people, in giving your children genius and capacity; it is then your duty and your intereft to culti

vate