to spend the winter, where the most alert scouting parties would hardly find them. He returned to Boston with a part of his army, having put the remainder into winter quarters in two forts which he built, viz. one at Sheepscot and the other at Pejep. scot falls. These were the only fruits of his campaign.

The revolution which placed William and Mary upon the throne proved most fortunate for New En gland. The friends of this court were the friends of the colony; and were also disposed to reverse the proceedings under the late king, especially where an attack had been made upon the freedom of the subject. As soon as it was rumoured, that the prince of Orange had prevailed in England, the inhabitants of Boston assembled; sounding the trumpet from the north, every part of the town was in commotion. To prevent any extravagance among the insurgents, the old magistrates put themselves at their head, and endeavoured to keep things calm and regular till advices could be received from the old country. Sir Edmund retired with his friends, and several members of the council, to the fort in Boston. A summons was sent to him upon the 18th of April, 1689, signed by the former governor Bradstreet, Mr. Stoughton, and others, to whom he surrendered. The violence of the people, who had come in from the country, could scarcely be restrained. They insisted upon his being chained as a traitor. It became necessary, in order to gratify this vindictive spirit, and in fact for his own personal safety, to keep him under confinement in the fort. When the news came, that William and Mary were proclaimed king and queen, it was received with joy by the inhabitants of New England. Soon after, sir Edmund demanded his liberty; but the representatives resolved that he, with several others, could not be admitted to bail, and they were kept in prison until by orders from the king they were sent to England. The king gave assurances that he should

be removed, and promised Mr. agent Mather that he should be made to answer for his mal-conduct. Com. plaints against him were laid before the privy council; and at the same time he preferred a charge against the colony for rebellion, imprisoning the king's gov. ernor, &c. The next day they were all discharged; and upon a report made to his majesty in council, the matter was dismissed by both parties.

Andross was afterwards made governor of Virginia, and arrived there in Feb. 1692. He brought over the college charter. Whether he had become more mild by age, more wise by experience, or found it to be more for his interest, there was a change in his measures, and his administration is spoken well of by the historians of the province. He gave encouragement to agriculture, manufactures, and the arts. Fulling mills were erected by act of assembly in his time, the cultivation of cotton he particularly favoured. He loved method and dispatch in all kind of business. During his administration the state house was destroyed by fire, together with many of the original patents, records, and deeds of land, &c. He was very assiduous in sorting such as were saved, and caused them to be registered in a better manner than they had been before. He offered to rebuild the state house several times; and it was thought, that much of the expense which attended the rebuilding of it would have been saved if he had continued in the government. But he was removed in 1698, and was succeeded by Francis Nicholson, esq. From that time there was an end of improvement in manufactures, towns and trade. Sir Edmund Andross died in London, Feb. 24, 1713-14.* Smith's Hist. N. York. Neil. Cook's letter. Beverly's Hist. of Virginia.

Beverly relates an anecdote of sir Edmund which deserves to be repeated, as shewing a trait in his character, though we do not vouch for its truth.-Being upon a journey, he stopped at a poor man's house in Stafford county and asked for a drink of water. An ancient woman came out to him, with a brisk lively lad of about 12 years of age. The lad was of a ruddy and fair complexion, and excited the governor's curiosity so much, that he

ASHURST HENRY sir, Massachusetts agent at the court of Great Britain, was the son of Henry Ashurst, esq. who was a member of parliament, and friend to New England. It is said that he had a great hand in settling the corporation for propagating the gospel among the Indians in New England, and the parts adjacent." The father and son were both favourable to the dissenters; yet the latter was made a baronet by Charles the 2d, his lady being the daughter of lord Paget, and himself a favourite, which may seem strange, as he was a man more remarkable for his uprightness, his attachment to religion, and friendly propensities, than brilliant parts. He had, however, great influence at court, and yet very often relieved dissenting ministers when they were fined, or sent to prison. Mr. Hutchinson says, that the family of Ashurst had always been favourable to these plantations; and, therefore, sir Henry was chosen agent. The first addresses that were sent from Massachusetts, after the restoration, went through his hands, as the medium of communication with the king. When Dr. Increase Mather appeared at the British court to obtain redress of grievances, and favour for Massachusetts colony, he engaged sir H. Ashurst to make application, in the character of their agent. He continued in this relation to the colony for several years, and his services were acknowledged with gratitude. At length, a different influence prevailed among the members of our general court; and as they

proceeded to ask some questions respecting him. To his great surprise he was assured that he was the son of this woman, at 76 years of age. His excellency smiling at this improbable story, enquired what sort of a man had been his father. The good woman made no reply, but ran and led her husband to the door, who was above an hundred years old. He confirmed what the woman had said. Notwithstanding his great age, he was strong in his limbs and voice, but had lost his sight. The woman had no complaint and retained a vigour uncommon at her years. Sir Edmund was pleased at this extraordinary account; made himself known to her, and offered to take care of the lad; but the old folks would not part with him. However, he made them'a present of twenty pounds.

- could not make him subservient to their party zeal, he was dismissed from the agency, without receiving even the pecuniary reward to which he was justly entitled. This excited his honest resentment, and showed how much republicks want gratitude. He died in 1710.

His brother, sir William Ashurst, possessed superior talents. The party in opposition to Dudley chose him agent, but he refused the office, "being well acquainted with the slights put upon his brother." He recommended Jeremiah Dummer, who

was afterwards chosen.

AUCHMUTY ROBERT, an eminent barrister during the administration of Belcher and Shirley. He was one of the directors of the Land Bank, and was sent to England, 1741, being joined with Kilby in the agency. His particular business was to settle the Rhode Island dispute concerning the line. While he was in England, he laid the plan of an expedition to Cape Breton. He wrote a letter to the ministry, dated, Cecil street, 1744.

The latter years of his life he was judge advocate of the court of admiralty.

He left two sons, and one daughter, whom Mr. Pratt married, who was afterwards chief justice of New York. The sons were eminent in their profession. Samuel the eldest was graduated at Harvard College, 1742, was minister of the Episcopal church in the city of New York. He received a degree of doctor in divinity from the university of Oxford.

AUCHMUTY ROBERT Succeeded his father in his line of business; had not a college education, but was a most agreeable speaker at the bar; his tongue was mellifluous, and his manner very interesting to the jury. In legal knowledge he was doubtless inferior to several of his contemporaries, but in all important causes, where addresses were to be made to the jury, he was applied to, and was generally successful. He was appointed judge of the admi

ralty, 1768. But, upon one occasion, he appeared after this, as a pleader at the bar. He was council with Mr. Adams, for capt. Thomas Preston, and perhaps no plea was ever more admired, though the tide of prejudice was much against his cause. It has been since handed round in mss. but at this day, in the reading, it falls far short of the delivery.

Judge Auchmuty was a zealous royalist, and left America, 1776, and died in England.

AVERY JOHN, of New Sarum, came to New England in 1635. The people of Marblehead de sired him to be their minister, but he declined; because the church was not gathered, and wen to Newbury, with a view of fixing his habitation in that town. In the course of the year he had pressing solicitations from the inhabitants of Marblehead, to sit down with them, and Mr. Cotton, with other eminent men, advising him, he consented to go there. He embarked on board a pinnace, ugust 11, 1635. The company consisted of twenty three, among them Mr. Antony Thacher and family, and Mr. William Eliot, who also came from New Sarum in the same ship. On the 14th day of the month, they met with a violent gale which overset the pinnace. Mr. Avery was washed by a wave upon the island called Thacher's Woe, from this melancholy circumstance, several of Mr. Thacher's family being shipwrecked upon it. Mr. Thacher also named the rock upon which they stood, Avery's fall, because he fell from it, and perished in the waters. It bears the name to the present day.

BACKUS ISAAC, pastor of the first Baptist church in Middleborough, is eminent among the divines, and historians of New England.

He had not the advantage of a university education, but his reading was extensive, his memory tenacious, his mind strong. He was a zealous preacher, an eager disputant, upright in his conduct, though his speech and manners were rough.