lic of Colombia, a realm two thirds as large as Europe, ratifying her first solemn treaty of amity and commerce with the United States; while still onward to the south, in the valleys of the Chilian Andes, and on the banks of the La Plata, in states not less vast than those already named, constitutions of republican government are in prosperous operation, founded on our principles, and modelled on our forms. When our commissioners visited those countries in 1817, they found the books most universally read among the people, were the constitutions of the United States, and of the several states, translated into the language of the country; while the public journals were filled with extracts from the celebrated "Defence" of these constitutions, written by that venerable descendant of the Pilgrims, who still lives to witness the prosperous operation of the governments, which he did so much to establish.*

I do not fear that we shall be accused of extravagance in the enthusiasm we feel at a train of events of such astonishing magnitude, novelty, and consequence, connected by associations

* See Note S.

so intimate, with the day we now hail; with the events we now celebrate; with the pilgrim fathers of New England. Victims of persecution! how wide an empire acknowledges the sway of your principles! Apostles of liberty! what millions attest the authenticity of your mission! Meek champions of truth, no stain of private interest or of innocent blood is on the spotless garments of your renown! The great continents of America have become, at length, the theatre of your achievements; the Atlantic and the Pacific, the highways of communication, on which your principles, your institutions, your example are borne. From the oldest abodes of civilization, the venerable plains of Greece, to the scarcely explored range of the Cordilleras, the impulse you gave at length is felt. While other regions revere you as the leaders of this great march of humanity, we are met on this joyful day, to offer to your memories our tribute of filial affection. The sons and daughters of the Pilgrims, we have assembled on the spot where you, our suffering fathers, set foot on this happy shore. Happy indeed, it has been for us. O that you could have enjoyed those blessings, which you prepared for your children. Could our com

fortable homes have shielded you from the wintry air; could our abundant harvests have supplied you in time of famine; could the broad shield of our beloved country have sheltered you from the visitations of arbitrary power! We come in our prosperity to remember your trials; and here on the spot where New England began to be, we come to learn of our pilgrim fathers a deep and lasting lesson of virtue, enterprise, patience, zeal, and faith!

8

NOTES.

Note A. Page 13.

THE object of this Discourse is of course more immediately confined to New England, as the part of the country most directly affected by the settlement of Plymouth. Some of the topics, however, apply equally to all parts of America; others to all the English Colonies on this Continent. It was not thought necessary to interrupt the train of remark, in each single case, to modify it in reference to this qualification. New England alone is generally mentioned, and the more or less extensive application of each separate topic of observation is left to be made by the intelligent.

Note B. Page 14.

It is stated by Peter Martyr, the first writer on the discovery of America, that two of the vessels of Columbus were without decks. "Ex regio fisco destinata sunt tria Navigia; unum onerarium caveatum, alia duo levia mercatoria sine caveis, quæ ab Hispanis caravelæ vocantur.” (De rebus Oceancis, p. 2.) Peter Martyr,* who had lived and served long, as soldier and ambassador, in Spain, cannot be supposed to have been ignorant of the sense, in which the word Caravel was used by the Spaniards. At the same time, it must be allowed to be a circumstance almost incredible, that an expedition, like that of Columbus, should be fitted out, with two out of three vessels unprovided with decks. In Bossi's Vita di Cristofero Colombo, published at Milan in 1818, is an able annotation on the subject of the Caravels. It is there asserted, on the credit of an Italian Marine Dictionary, (published at Milan in 1813, in three vols. 4to. and bearing a high character,) that the word “Caravella is known in the Mediterranean, as indicating the larger Turkish ships of war, with a high poop; but that in Portugal it denotes a vessel of from 120 to 140 tons.” Du Cange in his Glossary expresses the opinion, that it is a word of Italian origin, an opinion, which de Bossi condemns, regarding it rather as Turkish or Arabic, and probably introduced into the

* He must be carefully distinguished from Peter Martyr, the Reformer, who taught for some time in England, and who flourished near a half century after the historian. The name of Peter Martyr is in either case the Christian name only, and to avoid the confusion, it might be expedient to use their family names. That of the reformer was Vermigli, that of the historian d'Anghiera. An account of the former is given in Tiraboschi, VII. 327; of the latter, in the same author, VIII. 366.