The Landing of the Fathers. The first settlers of the Plymouth colony were members of a Reformed Church in the north of England, who, on account of the restraints on their mode of worship under King James I., emigrated to Holland, and, after a residence there of about twelve years, embarked for New England. They arrived at Cape Cod, after a long voyage in November, 1620, and after coasting along the southern shore of Massachusetts Bay, and exploring the country in several places, landed at Plymouth Dec. 20, and there established their permanent residence. The whole number of emigrants was 101, viz. 41 men, 18 women, and the rest children and servants, of whom 40 died within three months from the day of their landing. The Publishers are induced to print this little volume, originally comprising two numbers of the Library of Useful Knowledge-[London, Oct. 1830.] 1st. Because it is the most brief, concise, and distinct narrative of the principal events of the American Revolution extant, known to them. 2d. Because it possesses an uninterrupted continuity of interest from the first to the last, without embellishment and with no other alteration than a plain recital of Historical facts. 3d. Because it communicates facts in which persons of all ages have an interest, in a style simple enough to satisfy the young, and substantial enough to gratify the mature and cultivated. 4th. Because the facts are collected and published under the sanction of a society composed of men most eminent for their learning and station among every class of the citizens of Great Britain, of whom Mr. Brougham, the present Lord Chancellor, is Chairman, and therefore to them no undue partiality for the cause of this country during the struggle for Independence can be imputed. 5th. Because, although the occasion was one of the most justifiable for war that ever has or can arise, and the contest was continued by high and honorable minds under the severest trials of disappointment, self-denial and suffering (the surest tests of principle,) still the detail of devastation, murder and personal revenge is sufficiently conspicuous through the whole, to give to the contest the peculiar malignity of a civil war, and to make the young and the reflecting mind shudder even at what may be termed a glorious war. A few notes have been added to this edition. The narrative of the enterprize of Sergeant Champe, from page 144 to the end of the 32d section, is copied from Lee's Memoirs, and was intended to be inserted as a note. With this exception, the text is unaltered from the London edition. |