The History of New Hampshire, from its discovery, in 1614, to the passage of the Toleration Act, in 1819

Front matter

■yA RitchU maj. week mww i>T£Æm. , THE HISTORY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE FROM ITS DISCOVERY, IN 1614, TO THE PAS- SAGE OF THE TOLERATION ACT, IN 1819. BY GEORGE BAR STOW. CONCORD, N. H. PUBLISHED BY I. S. BOYD. June 4, 1S42. Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1842, BY GEORGE BARSTOW, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts s/f STEREOTYPED BY GEORGE A. CURTIS, N. ENGLAND TYPE AND STEREOTYPE FOUNDERY. CAMBRIDGE PRESS : LYMAN THURSTON & WM. TORRY.

Preface

. It is not without distrusting my own abilities, that I have resolved to perpetuate what is worthy of remembrance in the history of my native state. I am aware of the difficulties and dangers of such an undertaking. To discard prejudice — to sit in calm judgment upon those who cannot speak for themselves, but who require justice from history — to examine with a faithful scrutiny the institutions of one's own country — to present candid, temperate, and just views of men and things, and yet to mingle pleasure with instruction — this is a task which few have the assurance to begin, and fewer still can say that they have successfully executed. Yet I have thought that I could do something for those who would know their state's history with trifling expense of time, and more for those who are better pleased to travel in the smooth path of connected narrative, than to toil up the rugged ascent of time-worn documents, and broken, disjointed an nals.

From the mass of materials before me, I have aimed to build a compact edifice, with fair pro portions. My first and highest object has been to present the truth. Yet I have desired to make the history of New Hampshire not simply a record of facts. I have endeavored to trace actions to

PREFACE.

. motives, and results to causes. I have sometimes delineated the character of those whose actions I have portrayed. I have dared to censure where I thought censure to be due, and have applauded whenever superior virtues have presented a spectacle for admiration. Above all, I have sought to place in bold relies those examples of moral great ness which are fitted for the instruction and emu lation of posterity. Such are the duties which I have assumed, and which I have endeavored to execute faithfully and impartially ; but it is not without many misgivings that I now commit this volume to the judgment of the public. The valuable assistance rendered me by others demands a suitable acknowledgment. Of these I take great pleasure in mentioning my talented friend James M. Rix, of Lancaster, to whose research I am indebted for many important facts.

I am under like obligations to Alexander Ladd, of Portsmouth, for all that relates to the commerce of that town. Among those who have furnished me with rare files of papers and documents, are the Directors of the Portsmouth Athenæum, and Virgin & Moses, the present publishers of the New Hampshire Gazette. It is due to Josiah Stevens, Jr., secretary, and to Zenas Clem ent, treasurer, of the state, to say that their politeness and attention have greatly facilitated the examinations which I have been obliged to make of the state records and papers deposited at Concord in the public archives. Boston, June 1, 1842. CONTENTS

Chapter I

Introduction.— The red race— The first settlers of New Hampshire, their character— The Scottish emigrants— Columbus— Early voyages— The Cabots— Discoveries of the English, French, and Portuguese— Conquests of the Spaniards—North American Indians— Discovery of New Hampshire— Smith— His character— Mason and Gorges— Sir Walter Raleigh— Landing at Portsmouth- Melancholy decay of the Indians— Search for gold— Description of the country- Attempt to introduce the feudal system into New Hampshire— Death of Mason —His character— Failure of the colony of Mason and Gorges— Reflections, 5

Chapter II

Dover—The Antinomians — Exeter— Form of government a democracy— Antinomian controversy in Massachusetts — Hampton— Government formed at Portsmouth — At Dover — Constitution — Causes which led to the settlement of Exeter — The Puritans — Contest between them and the Antinomians, Henry Vane, Sirs. Anne Hutchinson, Wheelwright — They are banished from Massachusetts — They come to Exeter — Their doctrines — Calvin — Calvinism — Union with Massachusetts — Wheelwright — His interview with Oliver Cromwell— The confederation — Passaconaway disarmed — The White Mountains explored — Neal searches their summits for gold — Description of them — Superstitious reverence of the Indians for their invisible inhabitants, 38

Chapter III

Witchcraft at Portsmouth — In England and France — In Germany and Scotland — Trial of a witch — The Salem witchcraft — Conjectures as to the phenomena of witchcraft — Persecution of the Quakers — Execution of Leddra, Robinson and Stevenson — Reflections, 62

Chapter IV

War with the Indians — Passaconaway — His character — His dying speech — The Penacooks refuse an alliance with king Philip — Indian depredations— Fall of Philip— Waldron seizes the refugees by stratagem — The Mohawks instigated to attack the eastern Indians — Union with Massachusetts dissolved — New Hampshire made a royal province — President Cutts, CONTENTS .

Chapter V

Organization of the new government— Laws— Crimes— Courts— Militia— Discontent of the people— Death of Cutts— Cranfield— His character— Arbitrary measures— Gove's rebellion— He is sent to the tower of London— Persecution of Moody— Character of Moody— Riot at Exeter— Andros made governor-general— Revolution in England— Revolution in the colonies — Andros deposed — Union with Massachusetts— War with the Indians— Death of Waldron— Indian cruelty — Sufferings of the captives, . . - 93

Chapter VI

Conquest of Canada attempted— It fails— Governor Allen— Union with Massachusetts dissolved— Sir William Phipps— The small-pox first imported into New Hampshire — Peace with the Indians— The war resumed — Madokewando — Usher— Durham destroyed— Peace — The return of the captives— The Earl of Bellomont— His character— His death— Death of Allen— War between France and England— Dudley — His conference with the Indians — Indian depredations — Expedition against Port Royal — It fails — Congress of delegates— Second expedition against Port Royal — It is successful— Death of Hilton — Expedition to Quebec — The fleet wrecked in the St. Lawrence — One thousand men perish — Peace — The captives return — Vaughan — John Wentworth — Industry revives — ■ Monopoly resisted — Gov. Shute holds a conference with the Indians on an island in the Kennebec — The Scottish emigrants — Their character, . . .109

Chapter VII

The Aurora Borealis seen for the first time in New England in 1721 — Inoculation first used as au antidote to the small-pox — War with the Indians — The Jesuit missionaries — Father Rasle — his labors — his death and character — War with the Indians — The family of Hanson — Captain Lovewell — Last battle with the Indians at Lovewell's Pond — Defeat and death of Lovewell — Description of the battle-ground and the scenery in the valley of the Saco — Departure of the Penacooks — Boundary dispute — Settlement of Concord — Triennial act — Burnet — Belcher — Death of Wentworth — his character — Dunbar — Contest between the friends of the union with Massachusetts and the advocates of a separate government—Boundary dispute — continues — decided in favor of New Hampshire — Benning Wentworth appointed governor — Sickness in New Hampshire — Intelligence — Morals — Schools — George Whitefield — comes to New Hampshire — his eloquence — his character, 132

Chapter VIII

Expedition to Cape Breton— William Pepperell — Siege and fall of Louisburg — Vaughan — War with the Indians— Settlement with the Masonian proprietors — Defence of Number-Four by Capt. Stevens— Contest concerning the Vermont lands — Stark — France resolves to connect Canada with Louisiana — Union of the colonies for defence — Congress of delegates meet at Albany — Campaign of 1755 —Defeat of Braddock— Washington— The Rangers— Expedition to Crown Point — Massacre at Fort William Henry— Montcalm— Pitt— .Attack upon the fortress of Ticonderoga— The English repulsed— Quebec— Expedition against the St. Francis Indians— Destruction of their village — Disasters of the Rangers — Conquest of Canada completed— The Rangers— Unsuccessful attempt of the Indians to exterminate the English— N. H. Gazette— Progress of settlement— Contest between New York and New Hampshire for the lands of Vermont— The Revolution dawning, 15! CONTENTS. 3

Chapter IX

Administration of Pitt— Taxation— Stamp act— Duties— Debates in Parliament — Excitement occasioned by the stamp act— Stamp distributor at Portsmouth compelled to resign— Riots in other colonies— Threatened destruction of tea at Portsmouth — Removal of Gov. Wentworth, and appointment of John Wentworth — Assault upon fort William and Mary, led by Langdon and Sullivan- Ammunition and cannon removed by the provincials — Battle of Concord and Lexington — A convention called at E.xeter — Governor Wentworth recommends reconciliation — Royal government dissolved in New Hampshire — Boston besieged by the provincials— Battle of Bunker's Hill— Death of Warren and Mc- Clary — Whigs and tories — Formation of a state government in New Hampshire — Adoption of a constitution— Meshech Ware, president— New Hampshire fits out a ship of war — Land forces — Expedition to Canada — Sullivan meets the army retreating — New Hampshire resolves on a declaration of independence — Public sentiment — Burgoyne advances into Vermont— Battles of Bennington and Stillwater— General Sullivan's expedition to Rhode Island— Surrender of Cornwallis — Great Britain acknowledges the independence of the United Colonies — Washington retires to Mount Vernon, 211

Chapter X

Depreciation of continental money — Efforts of Congress to prevent the depreciation — Proscription of persons and confiscation of estates — Constitution proposed — rejected by the people — -Another proposed — Revolt of sixteen towns — Monetary distress — Insurrection — the insurgents made prisoners — Union of the states — Convention of delegates at Philadelphia — The Federal Constitution — submitted to the people — Convention assembles at Exeter to ratify the Federal Constitution — Conflicting opinions — Joshua Atherton's speech against the adoption of the Constitution — It is finally ratified — Washington chosen President of the United States — John Langdon elected President of New Hampshire — Washington visits New Hampshire — Progress of settlements — Increase of population — Support of common schools — Education — Establishment of post offices — State debts — Revision of the State Constitution — Josiah Bartlett — Formation of parties — Republicans — Federalists — Depreciation of paper money — The privateer ship M'Clary — Case of the prize ship Susanna — Remonstrances against the acts of the general government — Jay's treaty — Progress of settlements — Lake Winnipiseogee — A medical school established — Troubles with France — Laws for the observance of the Sabbath — Death of Washington — Administration of John Adams — Organization of parties — Manufactures — Coos county — Scenery around the mountains, 265

Chapter XI

Samuel Livermore — Matthew Thornton— Amendment of the federal constitution — Ascendency of the republican party — Laws — District schools — Iron mines — Franconia mountain scenery— The notch — Mount Lafayette— The basin— The flume— The Old Man of the Mountain, or Profile rock— Ascent of Mt. Lafayette — Execution of Burnham at Haverhill— Removal of the seat of government to Concord — Commerce of Portsmouth — The effect of the embargo, the war of 1812, and other causes — Right of search — Orders in council— French decrees— The embargo— it is unpopular— The federal party again in the ascendency— George Sullivan— Aggressions of Great Britain— War becomes a probable event— Mes- CONTENTS. sage of Governor Langdon — Debates in the senate and house — Speech of Gil man—Speech of Parrott— Lotteries— Banks— Election of William Plummer — his war message— Preparations for war — Madison calls an extra session of con gress—Increase of the army and navy— The militia called out— Campaign of 1812— Daniel Webster— Progress of the war— Campaign of 1S13— Change in the judiciary — Great fire at Portsmouth — Campaign of 181 4 — Battle of Chip pewa—Battle of Bridgwater— Miller— M'Niel— Weeks — Machinations of the federal party — Battle of New Orleans — Peace — Debates in the legislature — Speech of Mr. Handerson— Speech of Mr. Parrott — Gov.

Plummer's message — Change in the judiciary — Richardson — Bell — Woodbury — Pierce — Release of the poor prisoners — Project of a canal — Western emigration, . . . 327

Chapter XII

Controversy with Dartmouth College — Message of Governor Plummer — The state assumes jurisdiction — The trustees refuse to submit to the law — they are summoned to meet at Hanover — A quorum do not obey the summons — they declare the law unconstitutional — Second message of Governor Plummer — Wheelock re-appointed president — Charges against the professors — their address to the public — Death of President Wheelock — Trial of the Dartmouth college case — Arguments of counsel— Opinion of Chief Justice Richardson— overruled by the supreme court of the U. S. — President Monroe — The toleration act — Toleration in Connecticut — Bill of rights — Act of 1791 — Vexatious lawsuits brought against dissenters — Toleration in Maryland and Vermont, Pennsylvania aud Maine — Speech of Dr. Whipple — Bill of rights — Speech of Dr. Whipple — Speech of Henry Hubbard — Dr. Whipple in reply to Mr. Parker — Speech of Ichabod Bartlett — The toleration act is assailed — it passes — is again assailed violently — finally becomes popular — The Methodists — The Baptists — The Universalists — ■ Scenery of New Hampshire — Ascent up Moosehillock mountain — Owl's Head — Scenes in the valley of the Connecticut — View from Moosehillock — from Catamount hill — from Haverhill corner — from mount Pulaski — Appearance of an American sorest in autumn — Route to the White Hills from Haverhill through Bethlehem and Franconia — from Lancaster — The Notch — Valley of the Saco — Scenery about Indian Stream and the country near the Mngalloway — Dixville Notch, CHAP I. HISTORY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.

Chapter 1

Introduction. — The red race — The first settlers of New Hampshire, their character — The Scottish emigrants — Columbus — Early voyages — The Cabots — Discoveries of the English, French, and Portuguese — Conquests of the Spaniards — North American Indians — Discovery of New Hampshire — Smith — His character — Mason and Gorges — Sir Walter Raleigh — Landing at Portsmouth — Melancholy decay of the Indians — Search for gold — Description of the country — Attempt to introduce the feudal system into New Hampshire — Death of Mason — His character — Failure of the colony of Mason and Gorges — Reflections. The origin of American history is not found in the region of fabulous legend. Its beginning and progress are distinctly known. The people of the United States are acquainted with their earliest ancestors, and with all the succeeding generations.

They cannot, like the Romans, consecrate their origin, or rank the founders of the Republic with the gods. Nor have they built, like the nations of modern Europe, over the ruins of fallen greatness. They inhabit a new world — a world conquered from barbarians but yesterday, and subdued by civili zation to-day — a world which has begun to witness the birth and growth, but not the decay and death, of nations. No ancient empire has risen or moul dered away within these limits. Except the red race, of doubtful origin and melancholy fate, America has no " surviving memorials of the past." Here are no magnificent and picturesque ruins — no stupendous monuments of forgotten skill — no curious relics of lost arts, the history and birth of which are in dispute. Here were neither high dukes nor mighty earls — neither a nobility, a banditti, nor a priesthood.

Yet American history would be a treasure, if it could offer to the world nothing but the name of Washington. Massachu setts would be honored, if it were only for the genius of Franklin. New Hampshire will not be forgotten while she preserves the memory of Stark. The first settlers of New Hampshire were a few merchant adventurers. They were not distinguished for literature or religion. They did not come, like the pilgrims, Breaking " the depths of the desert's gloom With their hymns of lofty cheer." Yet they were, like them, a bold and hardy few. Forsaking their English homes in quest of better fortune, they opened a path over the ocean, and chose the wildest solitudes of nature for the scene of their experiment. Their energy and perse verance, their fortitude and courage, made them the terror of the Indians, and fitted them for the struggles of freedom against oppression.

They were obliged to fight and conquer a savage foe. They gained their subsistence by a constant war fare against the obstacles of nature. They went out to the field of toil with arms in their hands. While with their axes they bowed the woods, their firelocks leaned against the nearest trees. Their swords hung at their sides. In the character of these men avarice and romance were blended. CHAP. 1 1492. Oct. 11 After them came a band of the persecuted. They were driven from a neighboring colony* "for conscience sake." These shared the perils of the others. Their character took its impress from the troubled scenes in which their lives were passed. Their days, also, were devoted to the fields of toil and battle. Their descendants were nurtured from childhood in the midst of hardships. They were taught in the school of adversity.

Resolution, firmness of purpose, and patient en durance impress themselves on their character and mark their history. The ne.xt and most brilliant period of New Hampshire colonization is that which is connected with the history of Scotland. The border ro mances, the songs of the bard, the Covenanter's honest faith, and all the proud recollections and glorious memories of the land of Burns, were to be transported to the wild woods of New Hampshire. They came with the settlers of Londonderry. In one thing the companies of the emigrants were all agreed. They founded government on the natural equality of men. They trusted to find all the duties growing out of civil society enforced and performed by the popular will. They believed that all the rights of man may be secured and en joyed by a government purely elective and free.

It is the province of history to hand down to pos terity the evidence of their efforts and their success. I shall begin the narrative with the discovery of America. On the fourteenth, of October, at dawn of day, Columbus led his followers to the shores of the * Massachusetts. new world. The brilliant court of Spain received the news with transports of joy, and chanted " Te Deum* " for the discovery of a continent. But the great navigator sunk to the grave in neglect, while the world was yet unconscious of the nature and the merit of his services. A jealous rivals had sent him home from the theatre of his achieve ments, loaded with fetters. He could solace him self only by the consciousness of integrity, and by reflecting upon the great things he had performed. An illiberal envy attended his whole career.

Many were struck with a sense of the great actions of Columbus. Many more were touched with sentiments of veneration and pity ;\ but no one appeared as the avenger of his wrongs. The empress Isabella, his patroness, preceded him to the tomb, and when she was gone, there was none left to redress his injuries. He was doomed to em ploy the little remainder of his days in fruitless solicitation to Ferdinand, for the punishment of his oppressors and the restoration of his privileges. Vain effort ! The heartless monarch amused with unmeaning promises the man who had added a world to his dominions. Meanwhile, the health of Columbus declined. The ingratitude of his sovereign, whose reign he had rendered illustrious, wounded his generous spirit, and at length, exhausted by hardships, and heart-broken by being deceived in his expectations, he ended his days, in the fifty-ninth year of his age.

He was buried at Valadolid, leaving an admir- * Irving. f Bovadilla. % Among these was Alonzo del Vallejo, the Captain of the vessel, on board which Columbus was confined. CHAP 1 1495. March 5 1497 May, June 24. ing world to reap the fruits of the most memorable experiment that human genius ever planned or performed. The voyage of Columbus, while it filled Europe with astonishment, excited England to emulate the glory of Spain. In less than two years after his return, Henry VIII. invested John Cabot, a Venetian merchant, and his son Sebastian, with the command of an armament, destined to explore unknown regions. The chief object of Cabot was to reach India by the shortest course. He embarked at Bristol, and sailing due west, discovered an island, which the sailors called Newfoundland, and, in a few days after, a smaller one, which he named St. Johns.

He landed on both and brought off several of the natives. Continuing his course westward, he reached the continent at Labrador, and sailed along the coast as far south as Virginia. Thus England was the second nation that ventured to visit the New World, and the first that discovered the continent of America. The Cabots, like Columbus, derived little benefit from their genius and maritime skill. They gave a continent to England, and were reverenced as the most remarkable men of their day. History preserves the fact, among the few incidents of their career, that the mean jealousy which pursued Columbus, when thwarted by his death, did not fail to seek out the luminous track of the Cabots and pursue them. The scheme of finding a shorter passage to the Indies was twice resumed under the reign of Hen ry VIII.

But neither voyage was successful, and both were disastrous. The fisheries on the banks 1508, 1524. Jan. 17, of Newfoundland were an object of attention in the reign of Edward VI.; and the prospect of opening a communication with China and the Spice Islands, without doubling the Cape of Good Hope, con tinued to allure the English. France and Portugal, also, resolved to compete with England and Spain. Gaspar Cortereal, under the patronage of the king of Portugal, ranged the coast of America for six hundred miles,* and Francis I., of France, excited, perhaps, by the stories of some savages f from the north-eastern coast, sent John Verazzani, a Florentine, to explore the west. It is worthy of remark, that the repub lics of Italy furnished all the great captains, who, under the patronage of foreign kings, made the early voyages to America.

In the benefits or evils of those voyages Italy was destined to have no share. The reign of Henry VIII. was unfavorable to discovery ; and a period of more than sixty years elapsed, during which the sovereigns of England gave but little attention to the country which was to add so much opulence to their crown. Yet the spirit of adventure did not slumber. Voyages con tinued to be undertaken by companies and private adventurers. Merchants fitted out ships, and gave them to the conduct of the ablest captains. Though the voyages were seldom profitable to the projectors, yet, the sphere of English navigation was enlarged and the shores of North America became known. Hitherto no settlements had been attempted. The French were forward in these enter- * Bancroft's History United States, I. 14. t Bancroft, I. 15.

CHAP. I. 1578, prises.* They were early awake to the glory of discovery, eager for gain — emulous to excel. Eighty-six years from the date of Columbus' first voyage, they had a hundred and fifty vessels at New foundland, and in 1 609 one French mariner had made more than forty voyages to the American coast. f While the English and French extended their discoveries over the north, the active spirits of Spain rushed to the more favored regions of Mex ico and Peru. Cortez, Pizarro and Almagro were leading their followers to the climes of the New World. Mad with the passion for gold, they swept like a whirlwind through half-civilized hordes of natives, and gathered their booty amidst the ruins of cities. Their love of riches was equalled only by their contempt for industry. They hurried the Indians in crowds to the mountains, and forced them, with merciless rigor, to the fatal toil of the mines.

Inflexible pride, determined valor, and deliberate atrocity marked their whole career of conquest and oppression. It was a union of avarice, fanaticism and chivalry. These three ele ments combined, gave rise to those amazing efforts of mind and body, before which the effeminate idolaters of South America fell and disappeared. Desolation marked the footsteps of the Spaniards. The native emperors, incas, and people were in volved in common destruction. Never were courage, fortitude and valor devoted to more sordid, unjust and barbarous ends. Never was genius more powerfully employed to scourge mankind. * See Bancroft's account of the voyages of Cartier, Roberval, and Chau vin, I. 18—25. f Bancroft, I. 24. H IST0RY OF CHAP. I The paganism of the natives had allured to the invasion a few of the old bigots of Spain ; and it is sadly instructive to mark these champions of the cross, trampling, in the name of religion, upon the most sacred rights, and giving glory to God, amidst the destruction of life and the desolation of empire.

The expeditions of Cortez and Pizarro terminated in the conquest of Mexico and Peru. The simple natives had been nearly exterminated. But a golden harvest had fallen into the lap of Spain. Ignorant of political science, the Spanish monarchy greeted this accession of treasure as the fruition of hope and the strength of empire. His tory celebrated the achievements of the adventurers, and the poetic genius of Spain invested them with a romantic interest. They knew not how weak is a throne resting upon golden pillars. They had not seen how strong may be a government enthroned in the hearts of the people. From the golden seed that was sown in Europe time ripened a bitter harvest. When it expand ed to fruit, liberty, prosperity and industry died in Spain. The Cortes ceased to assemble ; public virtue expired ; and long before a century had run its round, it was apparent that the glory of ancient Castile was but a name.

Far different was the effect of English and French colonization on the northern shores of America. The action of the United States and the Old World upon each other forms the noblest feature in their history and ours. We have trans planted arts, manners and languages. They are transplanting liberty and the art. of government. The history of colonization has always been a CHAP I. dark history. Whatever may have been the pro fessed motives of the founders of colonies, their progress has been destructive to the native inhabitants. It is not improbable that the early voyagers to the North American coast possessed much of the rapacious spirit which deluged Peru with blood. Portugal had long since decided that human flesh was an article of traffic ; and in conformity with this, the natives were sometimes kidnapped.

Here and there an instance is recorded in history. But there were causes operating to restrain the rapac ity of the northern voyagers within very narrow limits. First, there was a dearth of gold in all the northern regions. Secondly, the natives of the North were strong and warlike ; those of Mexico and Peru were comparatively languid and effem inate. Like all the inhabitants of the torrid zone, they yielded their independence with but a feeble struggle. Cortez confessed that he relied on noth ing so much as the weakness of his enemies. But the natives of the north were men of robust con stitutions. They were hostile and jealous. When they were first induced to traffic in their furs, they demanded, in exchange, knives and weapons of steel.* They remembered injuries, and cancelled them in blood.

The northern Indian never forgot to tell the story of his wrongs to his children, and they told it again to theirs, to the latest generation. But among the northern tribes there were marked distinctions. While the Mohawks, the Pequots, and the Tarateens of the far east were fierce, and courted war, the Delawares, and the Penacooks of the Merrimack, refused to shed the blood of Bancroft, I. 17. 1614, Englishmen. The Indians of New Hampshire were generally inclined to peace. Even when cheated of their lands, and insulted, they, in many cases, forbore to resent it, and often retired quietly before the advancing waves of emigration. Conspicuous among the northern voyagers to America, was Captain John Smith — a name that will be forever associated with the noblest achieve ments in navigation. He was the sounder of colonies — the father of states.

It was he who first explored the coast of New Hampshire and the beautiful harbor of the Piscataqua. With two ships he ranged the shore from Penobscot to Cape Cod, and, returning to England, presented a map of the country to the young prince Charles. Though it is certain that European vessels had visited the coast before, though, for thirty years at least, European traders and fishermen had coasted along the whole line of New Hampshire, for the sake of its furs and its fish, yet nothing remains, even in tradition, to show that they ever entered the mouth of the Piscataqua, or landed upon the banks, or the shores of the sea. While history retains a record of the generous affection of Pocahontas, the name of Smith can not be lost ; and if we search the annals of the world, there are few whose adventures would lend greater charms to history or to fiction.