able progress in the abstruse sciences. The country has risen from a state of colonial dependency; it has established an independent, government, and is now in the undisturbed enjoyment of peace and political security. The elements of knowledge are universally diffused, and the reading portion of the community large. Let us hope that the present may b

be an auspicious era of literature. If, almost on the day of their landing, our ancestors founded schools and endowed colleges, what obligations do not rest upon us, living under circumstances so much more favourable both for providing and for using the means of education? Literature becomes free. institutions. It is the graceful ornament of civil liberty, and a happy restraint on the asperities, which political controversy sometimes occasions. Just taste is not only an embellishment of society, but it rises. almost to the rank of the virtues, and diffuses positive good throughout the whole extent of its f its influence. There is a connexion between right feeling and right principles, and truth in taste is allied with truth in morality. With nothing in our past history to discourage us, and with something in our present condition and prospects to animate us, let us hope, that as it is our fortune to live in an age when we may behold a wonderful advancement of the country in all its other great interests, we may see also e also equal progress and success attend the cause of letters. Finally, let us not forget the religious aracter of our origin. Our fathers were brought hither by

their high veneration for the Christian Religion. They journeyed by its light, and laboured in its hope. They sought to incorporate its principles with the elements of their society, and to diffuse its influence through all their institutions, civil, political, or literary. Let us cherish these sentiments, and extend this influence still more widely; in the full conviction, that that is the happiest society, which partakes in the highest degree of the mild and peaceable spirit of Christianity.

་་

The hours of this day are rapidly flying, and this occasion will soon be passed. Neither we nor our children can expect to behold its return. They are in the distant regions of futurity, they exist only in the all-creating power of God, who shall stand here, a hundred years hence, to trace, through us, their descent from the Pilgrims, and to survey, as we have now surveyed, the progress of their country, during the lapse of a century. We would anticipate their concurrence with us in our sentiments of deep regard for our common ancestors. We would anticipate and partake the pleasure with which they will then recount the steps of New-England's advancement. On the morning of that day, although it will not disturb us in our repose, the voice of acclamation and gratitude, commencing on the Rock of Plymouth, shall be transmitted through millions of the sons of the Pilgrims, till it lose itself in the murmurs of the Pacific seas. "We would leave for the consideration of those who shall then occupy our places, some proof that we hold the blessings transmitted from our fathers in

just estimation; some proof of our attachment to the cause of good government, and of civil and religious liberty; some proof of a sincere and ardent desire to promote every thing which may enlarge the understandings and improve the hearts of men. And when, from the long distance of an hundred years, they shall look back upon us, they shall know, at least, that we possessed affections, which running backward, and warming with gratitude for what our ancestors have done for our happiness, run forward also to our posterity, and meet them with cordial salutation, ere yet they have arrived on the shore of Being.

Advance, then, ye future generations! We would hail you, as you rise in your long succession, to fill the places which we now fill, and to taste the blessings of existence, where we are passing, and soon shall have passed, our own human duration. We bid you welcome to this pleasant land of the Fathers. We bid you welcome to the healthful skies, and the verdant fields of New-England. We greet your accession to the great inheritance which we have enjoyed. We welcome you to the blessings of good government, and religious liberty. We welcome you to the treasures of science, and the delights of learning. We welcome you to the transcendant sweets of domestic life, to the happiness of kindred, and parents, and children. We welcome you to the immeasurable blessings of rational existence, the immortal hope of Christianity, and the light of everlasting Truth!

Appendix.

The following is a list of the DISCOURSES delivered on this Anniversary. Those marked with an asterisk have not been printed.

1769. First publicly noticed by the Old Colony Club.

1770. EDWARD WINSLOW, jun. Esq. of Plymouth, an Oration.* 1771. (Lord's Day) the next day (23d) a public dinner.

1772. Rev. CHANDLER ROBBINS, of Plymouth, on Ps. lxxviii. 6. 7.* 1773. Rev. CHARLES TURNER, Duxbury, Zeck. iv. 10.

1774. Rev. GAD HITCHCOCK, Pembroke, Gen. i. 31.

1775. Rev. SAMUEL BALDWIN, Hanover, Heb. xi. 8.

1776. Rev. SYLVANUS CONANT, Middleborough, Exod. i. 12.

1777. Rev. SAMUEL WEST, Dartmouth, Isai. Ixvi. 5-9.

1778. Rev. TIMOTHY HILLIARD, Barnstable*

1779. Rev. WILLIAM SHAW, Marshfield.*

1780. Rev. JONATHAN MOORE, Rochester, Isai. xli. 10. 11.*

From this time the public observance of the day was suspended, till 1794. Rev. CHANDLER ROBBINS, D.D. Plymouth, Psal. Ixxvii. 11. 1795.-1796.-1797. Private celebration.

1798. Doct. ZACHEUS BARTLETT, Plymouth, an Oration.*

1799. The day was so near that appointed for the ordination of the Rev. Mr. KENDALL, that it was not celebrated by a public discourse.

1800. JOHN DAVIS, Esq. Boston, an Oration.*

1801. Rev. JOHN ALLYN, Duxbury, Heb. xii. 2.

1802. JOHN QUINCY ADAMS, Esq. Boston, an Oration.

1803. Rev. JOHN T. KIRKLAND, D.D. Boston, Prov. xvii. 6.*

1804. (Lord's Day) Rev. JAMES KENDALL, of Plymouth, preached from

1905.

Heb. xi. 13.*

ALDEN BRADFORD, Esq. Wiscasset, Exod. xii. 14.

1806. Rev. ABIEL HOLMES, D.D. Cambridge, Romans, ix. 5.

1807. Rev. JAMES FREEMAN, Boston.*

1809. Rev. THADDEUS M. HARRIS, Dorchester, Ps. xliv. 1. 2. 3. 1809. Rev. ABIEL ABBOTT, Beverly, Deut. xxxii. 11. 12.

1811. (Lord's Day) Rev. JOHN ELLIOT, D.D. Boston.* 1812.-1813.-1814. Private celebration.

1915. Rev. JAMES FLINT, Bridgewater, Ps. xvi. 6.

1816. (Lord's Day) Rev. EZRA GOODWIN, Sandwich, Isai. Ix. 22.*

1817. Rev. HORACE HOLLEY, Boston.*

1818. WENDELL DAVIS, Esq. an Oration.*

1819. FRANCIS C. GRAY, Esq. Boston, an Oration.*

1820. Hon. DANIEL WEBSTER, Boston, an Oration.