own fields and orchards yielded them a supply. An expedition was once undertaken against a nation of Indians, when there was but one pint of strong water (as it was then called) in the whole army, and that was reserved for the fick; yet no complaint was made for want of refreshment. Could we but return to the primitive manners of our ancestors in this refpect, we fhould be free from many of the dif orders, both of body and mind which are now experienced. The difufe of ardent fpirits would alfo tend to abolith the infamous traffic in flaves, by whofe labour this baneful material is procured.

Divine Providence feems to be preparing the way for the destruction of that detestable commerce. The infurrections of the blacks in the Weft-Indies have already fpread defolation over the most fertile plantations, and greatly raised the price of thofe commodities which we have been used to import from thence. If we' could check the confumption of diftilled fpirits, and enter with vigour into the manufacture of maple fugars, of which our forefts would afford an ample fupply, the demand for Weft-India productions might be diminished; the plantations in the islands would not need fresh recruits from Africa; the planters would

* The Pequods, in 1637.

would treat with humanity their remaining blacks, and render them fufficiently prolific to fupply them with a fucceffion of labourers; the market for flaves would become lefs inviting; and the navigation, which is now employed in the most pernicious fpecies of commerce which ever difgraced humanity, would. be turned into fome other channel.

Were I to form a picture of happy fociety, it would be a town confifting of a due mixture of hills, valleys and ftreams of water: The land well fenced and cultivated; the roads and bridges in good repair; a decent inn for the refreshment of travellers, and for public entertainments: The inhabitants mostly husbandmen; their wives and daughters domestic manufacturers; a fuitable proportion of handicraft workmen and two or three traders; a phyfician and lawyer, each of whom should have a farm for his fupport. A clergyman of any denomination, which fhould be agreeable to the majority, a man of good understanding, of a candid disposition and exemplary morals ; not a metaphysical, nor a polemic, but a serious and practical preacher. A fchool mafter who fhould understand his bufinefs and teach his pupils to govern themselves. A focial library, annually increasing, and under good regulation.

A club

A club of sensible men, feeking mutual improvement. A decent mufical fociety. No intriguing politician, horse jockey, gambler or fot; but all fuch characters treated with contempt. Such a fituation may be confidered as the most favourable to focial happiness of any which this world can afford,

APPENDIX.

APPENDIX.

No. I.

An original Letter of Doctor COTTON MATHER to GEORGE VAUGHAN, Efq. agent for New-Hampshire in England; relating to Whelewright's Indian deed. Vol. I. p. 10. 3d. I mo. 1708.

SIR,

You demand my thoughts upon the date

of the inftrument in which the Indian Sachems of Pafcataqua convey to Mr. Whelewright and his friends the country, whereof your people are the prefent poffeffors. How "a date in the year 1629 could confift with the 'true time of Mr. Whelewright's coming into 'this country?'

I cannot but admire at the providence of heaven, which has all along strangely interpofed, with most admirable difpenfations, and particularly with ftrange mortalities, to stop the proceedings of the controverfy about Mason's claim upon you, juft in the most critical moment of it.* There feems to have been as remarkable a display and inftance of that Providence, in the finding of this inftrument just before the fitting of your laft court, about this affair ;

* Referring to the death of Robert Mason in 1688, and of Samuel Allen in 1

1795.

fair

;

and after it had been, for very many years, difcourfed of among the good men who knew of fuch an inftrument; but with regret concluded it loft and gone beyond all recovery.

I fuppofe you are making your application to thofe, who will be far from the opinion that dominion is founded in grace. Titles to lands are not more or lefs valid according to the profeffion of chriftianity in the owners. There is no proteftant but what will acknowledge that pagans have titles that are incontestable, and that they have not, by their paganifm, forfeited their titles to the first chriftians that fhall therefore pretend to them.

Let the date of Whelewright's inftrument be what it will, there feems to be an inftrument of fome fuch importance on Mafon's part, neceffary to render Mafon's claim effectual.

When the Kings of England have given patents for American lands unto their fubjects, their virtue and juftice has been fuch, that they have not therein defigned ever to give away the properties of the natives here; but always intended that their fubjects here fhould honeftly agree with the natives, for what lands, they fhould get under the protection of these patents, before they should call them their own. Briefly, you expect a decifion of your cafe, where Indian titles will have a due confideration, I confefs