After some hours sailing it began to snow and rain, and about the middle of the afternoon the wind increased, and the sea became very rough, and they broke their rudder, and it was as much as two men could do to steer the boat with a couple of oars; but the pilot bid them be of good cheer, for he saw the harbour; but the storm increasing, and night drawing on, they bore what sail they could to get in while they could see, but herewith they brake their mast in three pieces, and their sail fell overboard in a very grown sea, so as they had like to have been cast away; yet by God’s mercy they recovered themselves, and having the flood with them, struck into the harbour. But when it came to, the pilot was deceived, and said, Lord be merciful to us, my eyes never saw this place before: and he and the master’s mate would have run the boat ashore in a cove full of breakers before the wind,¹⁵ but a lusty seaman, who steered, bid them that rowed, if they were men, about with her, else they were all cast away, the which they did with all speed; so he bid them be of good cheer, and row hard, for there was a fair sound before them, and he doubted not but they should find one place or other where they might ride in safety. And although it was very dark, and rained sore, yet in the end they got under the lee of a small island and remained there all night in safety.¹⁶ But they knew not this to be an island until the next morning, but were much divided in their minds, some would keep the boat, doubting they might be amongst the Indians, others were so wet and cold they could not endure, but got on shore, and with much difficulty got fire, and so the whole were refreshed, and rested in safety that night. The next day rendering thanks to God for his great deliverance of them, and his continued merciful good providence towards them; and finding this to be an island, it being the last day of the week, they resolved to keep the sabbath there.

On the second day of the week following,¹⁷

After making the researchest examinations, which have been related, the Pilgrims fixed on Plymouth, called by the natives Patuxet, for their permanent home; and on a day corresponding with the twenty- second day of December, according to the present way of reckoning time, effected a landing, which has ever since been commemorated by their posterity. There were incidents connected with the disembarkation, preserved by tradition, which we cannot detail here, but must refer the curious to the books of the antiquarians. But the “Rock” on which they first planted their feet for permanent settlement (whether it were Miss Chilton or John Alden who made the first successful leap) is well ascertained, and will probably never be forgotten. Indeed the sight of it commands an annual pilgrimage as a memento of the faith, patience, inflexible virtue, and persevering labour of “The Forefathers,” who, as President Dwight says, “were inferior to no body of men whose names are recorded in history during the last 1700 years.” De Tocqueville says, “This Rock has become an object of veneration in the United States. I have seen bits of it carefully preserved in several towns of the Union. Does not this sufficiently show that all human power and greatness is in the soul of man? Here is a stone which the feet of the outcasts pressed for an instant, and this stone becomes famous; it is treasured by a great nation; its very dust is shared as a relic. And what has become of the gateways of a thousand palaces? who cares for them?”

When the purposes of commerce and navigation called for a location upon the “Rock,” the inhabitants of the place removed a considerable part of it, which is now resting in the front of “Pilgrim Hall,” with an iron enclosure, bearing the names of the “Pilgrim Fathers of our race.” The Hall is built of rough granite, 70 feet by 44, and contains many deposits of the heirlooms of the Pilgrims, and other memorials of the olden time, and affords convenient rooms for the annual celebrations. A picture of the landing and full- length portraits of the boat’s company, and of their friend Samoset, adorns one side of the Hall, the gift of the artist, Col. Seargeant.

It is in contemplation to erect a monument to the memory of the Fathers, the expense of which is not to exceed $100,000, at the place of the original landing, and where the most considerable part of the “Rock” still rests; and generous subscriptions are already made for that purpose. The celebration of the landing on “Forefathers’ Day,” is not only attended at Plymouth, but at Boston, New York, Cincinnati, New Orleans, Charleston, Buffalo, Detroit, and perhaps some other places.

We have said the “Rock” is well ascertained. At the commencement of the present century, an aged Deacon of the Plymouth Church was living, who remembered “Elder Founce,” the son of a Pilgrim, and