Perhaps we might safely say, that a new spirit and a new excitement began to exist here about the middle of the last century.  To whatever causes it may be imputed, there seems then to have commenced a more rapid improvement.  The Colonies had attracted more of the attention of the mother country, and some renown in arms had been acquired.  Lord Chatham was the first English minister who attached high importance to these possessions of the crown, and who foresaw any thing of their future growth and extension.  His opinion was, that the great rival of England was chiefly to be feared as a maritime and commercial power, and to drive her out of North America and deprive her of her West Indian possessions was a leading object in his policy.  He dwelt often on the fisheries, as nurseries for British seamen, and the colonial trade, as furnishing them employment.  The war, conducted by him with so much vigor, terminated in a peace, by which Canada was ceded to England.  The effect of this was immediately visible in the New England Colonies; for, the fear of Indian hostilities on the frontiers being now happily removed, settlements went on with an activity before that time altogether unprecedented, and public affairs wore a new and encouraging aspect.  Shortly after this fortunate termination of the French war, the interesting topics connected with the taxation of America by the British Parliament began to be discussed, and the attention and all the faculties of the people drawn towards them.  There is perhaps no portion of our history more full of interest than the period from 1760 to the actual commencement of the war.  The progress of opinion in this period, though less known, is not less important than the progress of arms afterwards.  Nothing deserves more consideration than those events and discussions which affected the public sentiment and settled the Revolution in men’s minds, before hostilities openly broke out.

Internal improvement followed the establishment and prosperous commencement of the present government.  More has been done for roads, canals, and other public works, within the last thirty years, than in all our former history.  In the first of these particulars, few countries excel the New England States.  The astonishing increase of their navigation and trade is known to every one, and now belongs to the history of our national wealth.

We may flatter ourselves, too, that literature and taste have not been stationary, and that some advancement has been made in the elegant, as well as in the useful arts.

The nature and constitution of society and government in this country are interesting topics, to which I would devote what remains of the time allowed to this occasion.  Of our system of government the first thing to be said is, that it is really and practically a free system.  It originates entirely with the people, and rests on no other foundation than their assent.  To judge of its actual operation, it is