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The sketch here prefented of the life of Sir Ferdinando Gorges is of neceffity imperfect, owing to an almost entire lack of particulars by contemporary writers. It is remarkable that fo few memorials of a man fo prominent as was Sir Ferdinando are to be found outside of his own writings, which, of course, present to us but a faint view of him. Yet he has left enough behind to show that he was a man of broad and beneficent views, intent upon benefiting his fellow-men, not only in his own day and generation, but alfo by leaving behind him works which should redound to the welfare of pofterity. We may fee also that he was a man poffeffing the courage of his convictions; brave, sober, and wife in counfel; a ftanch friend and generous enemy, fince in his writings no word of criticism or ill feeling relat ing to those who oppofed him can be found. His mind was too much occupied with useful duties to permit him to waste time upon the plots, rivalries, and enmities which surrounded him, and filled up the measures of some men's lives to the exclufion of better things. For more than forty years of his life he had ever before him the glowing vision of a new world, teeming with poffibilities of good to mankind without number and without limit, and awaiting only the advent of willing fpirits to become the theatre of achievements beyond all that man had yet attained. Such a profpect must have broadened his outlook upon the world, and ennobled his fpirit. The words with which he clofed his Narration tell us this, and will serve as a fitting termination to this fragmentary sketch of his life: "But I end and leave all to Him, who is the only author of all goodness, and knows best his own

time

198 Memoir of Sir Ferdinando Gorges.

time to bring his will to be made manifeft, and appoints his inftruments for the accomplishment thereof; to whofe pleasure it becomes every one of us to fubmit ourselves, as to that mighty God and great and gracious Lord, to whom all glory doth belong."

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OF THE

DISCOVERY

AND PLANTATION

O F

NEVV ENGLAND:

AND

OF SVNDRY ACCIDENTS THEREIN OCCVRRING, FROM the yeere of our Lord M. DC. VII. to this present M. D.C. XXII.

Together with the state thereof as now it ftandeth the generall forme of gouernment intended; and the diuifion of the whole Territorie into Counties, Baronries, &c.

LONDON, Printed by John Haviland, and are to be fold by WILLIAM BLADEN,

M. DC. XXII.

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