history, it is always safe to have his statement of important facts corroborated by collateral testimony. 59. Philanthropic Labors. Notwithstanding his laborious application to reading and study, Cotton Mather was interested in a surprising number of philanthropic undertakings. He wrote a book entitled "Bonifacius, an Essay upon the Good that is to be Devised and Designed, with Proposals of Unexceptionable Methods to do Good in the World," a work that places philanthropy upon a business basis, and anticipates many of the benevolent associations of the present day. Of this book Benjamin Franklin says that it "perhaps gave me a turn of thinking, that had an influence on some of the principal future events of my life."1 Cotton Mather sought to check the vice of drunkenness, and was perhaps our first temperance reformer. Though he purchased a slave (for slavery then existed in New England), he interested himself in the education of negroes, and at his own expense established a school for their instruction. He wrote a work on the Christianizing of the negroes, and noted in his Diary: "My design is, not only to lodge a copy in every family in New England that has a negro in it, but also to send numbers of them into the Indies." He took an interest in foreign missions, and proposed to send Bibles and Psalters among the nations. 60. Work on Witchcraft. The darkest feature in the life of Cotton Mather a feature which avenging critics have by no means lost sight of is his connection with the witchcraft tragedy. In common with people of every class in his day, he believed in the reality of witchcraft. In 1685, the year he was ordained, he published a work entitled "Memorable Providences relating to Witchcraft," which had the misfortune of being quoted as an authority in connection with the Salem horrors. Looking upon himself as specially set for the defence of Zion, he gave himself with Old Testament zeal to the extermination of what he believed a work of the Devil. 61. Attitude toward Vaccination. Over against this dreadful delusion should be placed his heroic conduct in advocating vacci 1 Autobiography, Chap. I. nation at a time when it was considered a dangerous and impious innovation. When the smallpox made its appearance in Boston, the physicians, with one honorable exception, were opposed to the newly advocated system of vaccination on the general principle, strange to say, that "it was presumptuous in man to inflict disease on man, that being the prerogative of the Most High." The matter was discussed with great bitterness of feeling; and the mass of people, as well as the civil authorities, were against the new treatment. But Cotton Mather had been convinced of the efficacy of vaccination; and accordingly, though he knew it would cost him his popularity, and perhaps expose him to personal violence, he resolutely faced the popular clamor, and boldly vindicated the truth. It was only after the lapse of considerable time that he had the satisfaction of seeing the popular prejudice give way. 62. Disappointed Ambition. It was a great disappointment to Cotton Mather that he was never chosen president of Harvard College, a position to which he ardently, though as he thought unselfishly, aspired. On two occasions, when he confidently expected election, he was humiliated by seeing less learned men chosen for the place. He attributed his defeat to the influence of his enemies, and never for a moment suspected the real cause, which was a distrust, perhaps too well founded, of his prudence and judgment. 63. Estimate of his Character. He died Feb. 13, 1728. Though not a man of great original genius, his mind was massive and strong. He had the quality which some have held to be the essential thing in genius, the power of indomitable and systematic industry. His spiritual life, while influenced by Puritanic ideals, was profound; and unbelief has sometimes mocked at experiences which it lacked the capacity to understand. He was followed to the grave by an immense procession, including all the high officers of the Province; and the general feeling was that a great man had fallen, the weight of whose life, in spite of imperfections, had been on the side of righteousness. FOR FURTHER READING AND STUDY For general bibliography see page 609. Illustrative annotated selections from Capt. John Smith and Cotton Mather will be found on pages 387-402 of this volume. Extracts from the minor writers are given in Stedman and Hutchinson's "Library of American Literature" (15 volumes). Less extended but interesting extracts will be found in Cairns's "Early American Writers," Trent and Wells's "Colonial Prose and Poetry," and Trent's " Southern Writers." Charles Dudley Warner's "Life of John Smith " (Holt); Captain John Smith, Harper 21: 721 (B. J. Lossing), Atlantic 76: 350 (John Fiske), The Pocahontas Myth Exploded, North Am. Review 104: 11 (Herbert Adams). For a defence of the Pocahontas story, see Fiske's "Old Virginia and Her Neighbors.” Barrett Wendell's "Cotton Mather" (Dodd); Cotton Mather, North Am. Review 51:1 (S. F. Haven), and 108: 337 (W. F. Poole). For the historic background of this period consult the major works on American History given in the bibliography. For a brief survey any of the standard school histories may be used. Fiske's "Old Virginia and Her Neighbors" and"" Beginnings of New England," and Lodge's "Short History of the English Colonies in America" will be found of special interest. For contemporary sources, consult Albert B. Hart's "American History Told by Contemporaries " (Macmillan) or MacDonald's "Documentary Source Book of American History " (Macmillan). In Hawthorne's "Grandfather's Chair" will be found many delightful narratives of New England life during this period, among which may be mentioned "The Pine-Tree Shilling," "The Indian Bible,” “The Sunken Treasure," "Cotton Mather," ""The Provincial Muster," and "The Old-Fashioned School." Many incidents, scenes, and characters from the First Colonial Period have appealed to our own and to British poets. The following poems are noteworthy: Whittier's "The Norsemen," Longfellow's "The Skeleton in Armor," Margaret J. Preston's "The Mystery of Cro-a-tán," James Barron Hope's "John Smith's Approach to Jamestown," Thackeray's "Pocahontas," Geo. P. Morris's "Pocahontas,", Longfellow's "The Phantom Ship," Whittier's "The Garrison of Cape Ann," Felicia Hemans's 'Landing of the Pilgrims," Wordsworth's "The Pilgrim Fathers," Clinton Scollard's "The First Thanksgiving," Lucy Larcom's "Mistress Hale of Beverley," Whittier's "John Underhill,” Stedman's "Salem," Whittier's "St. John," James K. Paulding's "Ode to Jamestown," and Longfellow's "The Courtship of Miles Standish." Many other poems dealing with this period will be found in Stevenson's "Poems of American History " (Houghton). The following historical novels illustrate this period: Mary Johnston's "To Have and to Hold " (1621), Mrs. J. G. Austin's "Standish of Standish " (about 1620), J. G. Holland's "The Bay Path" (1638), Nathaniel Hawthorne's "Scarlet Letter" (1650), Mary E. Wilkins's "The Heart's Highway" (1682), and Amelia E. Barr's "The Black Shilling" (1691), introducing witchcraft trials at Salem and Boston. DAVID BRAINERD (1718-1747). Missionary to the Indians. A man of strong MATHER BYLES (1706-1788). Congregational preacher, poet, and wit, of THOMAS HUTCHINSON (1711-1780). A native and the last royal governor of SAMUEL SEWALL (1652-1730). A graduate of Harvard, and chief-justice of verse. MIDDLE COLONIES WILLIAM LIVINGSTON (1723-1790). A statesman, governor of New Jersey 1776-1790. Author of "Philosophic Solitude" in verse, "Military Operations in North America," and a "Digest of the Laws of New York." (See text.) |