court favour, he found himself involved in dificulties with the settlers of Agamenticus, and that instead of receiving large profits from the possessions of these lands, they were a bill of cost continually, beside other discouragement from the depredations of the savages. He was glad therefore to sell his whole interest in the province of Maine, which he did for 1250 pound sterling. It included the counties of York, Cumberland and Oxford.

Mr. Gorges published a book concerning New England. His grandfather compiled it, but it was much enlarged by him: it is entitled, "America painted to the life; a true history of the original undertakings, of the advancement of plantations into those parts, with a perfect relation of our English discoveries, shewing their beginning, progress and continuance from the year 1628 to 1658, declaring the forms of their government, policies, religion, manners, customs, military discipline, wars with Indians, commodities of the countries, a description of their towns, havens, the increase of their trading, with the names of their governours and magistrates, written by sir Ferdinando Gorges, knight, governour of the fort and island of Plymouth, in Devonshire; and published by his grandchild, F. Gorges, esq. who hath much enlarged it and added several curious descriptions of his own." small 4to, Lond. 1658. This is a curious and scarce book. Hutchinson and Belknap have made great use of it.

GORHAM NATHANIEL, esq. was born in Charlestown, May 27, 1738. He had the advantage of a good school education, and possessing uncommon talents, he always appeared to advantage in company with literary men. He settled in business at the place of his nativity, but seemed to be formed more for publick life than to succeed in mercantile pursuits. He was chosen representative for Charles town in 1771, and every year till the commencement of the revolutionary war. He was a very assiduous attendant on the house of representatives, was a leader in all their debates, and preserved independence enough openly to dissent from measures, which he disapproved. On this account he did not escape the obloquy of some ignorant, narrow-minded persons, whose zeal was only the ebullition of their passions, and who confounded all who had any moderation, with those who were unfriendly to the cause of liberty. spent some years in retirement; but returned to Charlestown in 1779, and was again sent to the general court.

He

The same year he was elected a delegate of the convention, which formed the present constitution of this commonwealth. In 1788, he was chosen a senator for Middlesex county. He also served his country with diligence and respectability as a magistrate, and was several years judge of the court of common pleas. In 1784, he was appointed one of the house of representatives, and being delegated by this state to be a member of congress, was elected president of that honourable body.

He was one of the convention which formed the present constitution of the United States, and he obtained a high reputation among the southern members for his knowledge and integrity. He stood high with all parties for his wisdom and prudence as well as skill in managing debates. He was on this account one of the most influential members of the state convention which adopted it. He died, June 11, 1796. Dr. Thatcher preached a funeral sermon; the town also appointed an orator to deliver an eulogy upon their deceased friend, and most useful fellow citizen. In compliance with their request, Dr. Welch paid this tribute to his remains; and the town testified their acknowledgments, by a vote of thanks, and by publishing the discourses.

GORTON SAMUEL, the head of a sect who made much noise in New England, came to Boston in 1636. He had been a citizen of London, but was too unsteady to remain in one place, or was stimu

rf

lated to change his situation for the sake of spread-
ing his wild fantastick notions of religion. He did
not give any particular offence while he remained in
Boston, or was artful in explaining his senti-
ments; for those who inquired could not determine
whether they were heretical or not. But he soon
went to Plymouth where he acted the same part, as
Wheelwright and Mrs. Hutchinson did in Massa-
chusetts. Not being permitted to stay in the old
colony, he went to Rhode Island in 1638: but even
in this land of freedom, he rendered himself obnox-
ious, and, by order of the governour, Mr. Codding-
ton, was imprisoned and whipped.
In 1640, he
went to Providence, where he was treated by Ro-
ger Williams with the greatest humanity, though
he disliked his principles, and blamed his con.
duct. He set down in this section of the coun-
try, and mixing with others, who were fond of
novelty, they fixed at Patuxet, where they not only
indulged their spiritual Quixotism, but were very
troublesome as neighbours. A charge was brought
against them that they seized the estates of people,
who held them in quiet possession. The governour
of Massachusetts ordered Gorton to answer to the
complaint, and he refused to obey the summons be-
cause he was out of their jurisdiction. He treated
the message in the most contemptuous manner;
upon which he was apprehended and brought to
Boston. It is said he had a fair trial, and that he
was then banished the colony. But he thought
othewise about the trial. And Mr. Hutchinson
says the sentence was cruel. Gorton was or-
dered to be confined to Charlestown; there to be
kept at work, and wear such bolts and irons as
might prevent his escape.

After being confined one winter, he, with others, was banished the jurisdiction. They obtained an order from the king, August 19, 1644, that they should peaceably enjoy their lands, which were incorporated by the name of Providence plantations in Narra

1

ganset bay. They named the chief town Warwick, in honour to the earl of Warwick, who was a great friend to them. Gorton was again in Boston, 1648, and threatened with punishment; but he soon after returned to his plantation, where he lived to a great age. He wrote a letter, June 30, 1669, to Mr. Morton, author of New England's memorial, accusing him of the grossest slanders in the account which he gives of him and his followers, which is printed by Mr. Hutchinson. It is evident that he was not so bad a man as his enemies represented; that his principles of religion were different from those notions generally ascribed to this sect; and that so far from being illiterate he was able to write well. From this letter it appears, that he was a preacher, and that he understood the scriptures in their original language. We ought never to judge any man's opinions from the consequences we draw from them. This was the case wherever the Gortonists were described. But they were able to give their reasons, which we should hear before we condemn them.

GOSNOLD BARTHOLOMEW, an Englishman, discovered a promontory on the American coast, in lat. 42, to which he gave the name of Cape Cod, from the multitude of fishes he caught. He landed on several islands, and named them Elizabeth isles. He built a small fort; but the same year returned to England. This was in the year 1602. It was the first voyage to this part of America, since called New England. Josselyn speaks of the first colony of Plymouth in 1602. He must mean this attempt to settle the islands in the bay, upon which Gosnold landed, but could not persuade his men to stay.

GREEN SAMUEL, the first printer in New England, was an inhabitant of Cambridge, and kept his press in that town above forty years, and then moved to Boston. We are indebted to the rev. Mr. Joseph Glover for this great blessing to the country,

a printing press. It is not likely our fathers would have been so soon favoured with it, had he not exerted himself to serve them. In the year 1638, he took his voyage to these plantations, but died on his passage. He brought out with him one Daye, a printer, and every thing necessary in the typographical art. The first thing which was printed was the freeman's oath; the next was Pierce's almanack; and then the New England psalms. Great pains have been taken to procure one of the first edition of these psalms, but without success.* It is not probable that one remains. We know but little about Daye; but we know that Mr. Green had this press in 1639, and every book that was published had his name in the title page. When he was employed to print the Indian bible by the society for propagating the gospel, they sent over Marmeduke Johnson as his assistant, whose character was very much against him, being an idle, dissipated youth, though he afterwards set up for himself, and did very well in his business.† Mr. Green was a printer in Boston the latter end of the century, and lived only a few years after his removal. He was a man of piety, the strictest probity, of good abilities in his profession, and considerable of a literary character.

GREEN BARTHOLOMEW, the son of Samuel Green, who succeeded him in his line of business,