The motives which led to, and influenced the publication of the following sketches of the early settlements of the Plymouth Colony, by the followers of Pastor Robinson, from Holland, through the influence and lead of Miles Standish, and the late attempt by Massachusetts settlers to rob Connecticut's noble son of the honor of commanding the patriot army at Bunker Hill, needs only a simple settlement of the facts connected with the history of these events weighed in the scales of even and exact justice, cannot but satisfy every candid mind that Miles Standish was the originator and prime mover of the settlement of New England, by the original English Colony from Holland, and that to his influence and foresight is America indebted for its early settlement and perhaps in a great measure to its free institutions, and to General Putnam it may said, to his bold and patriotic stand in favor and support of our free institutions, that no man ever displayed more energy of character, or perseverance and courage, in that support, than did this son of our country, and let the acts and lives of these true sons of liberty be weighed as they deserve to be in the even scales of justice, and the country will award to them the full measure of patriotism as ardent lovers of their country.