 Chapter 7 of The Life of Washington, Volume 1 by John Marshall. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Chapter 7, New Charter of Massachusetts. Affairs of New York. War with France. Schenectady. Destroyed. Expedition against Port Royal. Against Quebec. Accadie. Recovered by France. Permacwood taken. Attempt on St. John's. Peace. Affairs of New York of Virginia. Disputes between England and France. Respecting boundary in America. Recommencement of hostilities. Quotas of the respective colonies. Treaty of neutrality between France and the five nations. Expedition against Port Royal. Incursion into Massachusetts. Plan for the invasion of Canada. Port Royal taken. Expedition against Quebec. Treaty of Utrecht. Affairs of New York of Carolina. Expedition against St. Augustine. Attempt to establish the Episcopal Church. Invasion of the colony. Bills of credit issued. Legislature continues itself. Massacre in North Carolina by the Indians. Tuscaroras. Defeated. Scheme of a bank. 1689. The Revolution which placed the Prince and Princess of Orange on the throne. Revived in Massachusetts. The hope of recovering the ancient charter. Elections were held by authority of the temporary government. And the representatives requested the council to exercise. Until orders should be received from England. The powers and authorities. Vested in that body by the charter. The council exceeded to this proposition. And the ancient system was reestablished. It was soon perceived by the agents of Massachusetts. That the old charter would not be restored. And that the king was determined. To retain the appointment of the governor. In his own hands. The colony however was authorized to exercise the powers of government. According to the ancient system until a new arrangement should be made. The vessel by which these directions were transmitted. Carried also orders that Sir Edmund and Rose. And those imprisoned with him should be sent to England. The general court deputed additional agents. With instructions to solicit the confirmation of their beloved charter. But these solicitations were ineffectual. 1691 new charter. The king was inflexible. And at length the new charter was framed. Introducing some changes which affected radically. The independence that had been long practically possessed by the colony. The governor was to be appointed by the crown. Was unable to call adjourn pro rogue. And dissolve the assembly at pleasure. He had the appointment solely of all military officers. And with the consent of his council of all officers belonging to the courts of justice. 1692. So we am fits. The first governor arrived in May. And immediately issued writs for our general assembly. Which met in June and accepted the charter. Though a considerable party had been formed to oppose it. This instrument annexed Plymouth and Nova Scotia to Massachusetts. For contrary to the wishes of both colonies. Omitted New Hampshire which became permanently a separate government. Affairs of New York. In New York. Leesler who had obtained the entire control of the lower country. Associated with himself in the government. A few trustee partisans. Denominated a committee of safety. Over whom he presided. Some of the principal inhabitants of the city. Disatisfied at seeing a man of low birth without education. In possession of supreme power. Retired to Albany where a convention of the people. Was assembled to determine to hold the fort. And country for the king and queen. But not to submit to the authority of Leesler. On receiving intelligence of these transactions. Jacob Melbourne was detached with a small force to reduce the place. But finding that the people adhered to the convention. And that his ranks against James and Popery made no impression on them. He returned to New York. The next spring he appeared again before the fort. And being favored by an eruption of the Indians. Obtained possession of it. The principal members of the convention. Obscended upon which their effects were seized and confiscated. This harsh measure produced resentments which were transmitted from father to son. Leesler retained the supreme power without further opposition. Until the arrival of Sir Henry Slaughter. Who had been appointed governor of the province. Though informed of the commission which slaughtered bore. This infatuated man refused to yield the government to him. And showed a disposition without the ability to resist. This ill judged obstinacy through the governor. Who soon obtained possession of the fort. Into the arms of the opposite party. Leesler and Millbourne were arrested, tried for high treason. Condemned and executed. Their estates were confiscated. But were afterwards restored to their families. While these things were passing in the interior. The colonies of New England and New York were engaged in a bloody and desolating war. With the French of Canada and with the Indians. The English people had long viewed with apprehension. The advances of France towards universal dominion. And with infinite discuss the influence of Louis XIV. In their cabinet. On the elevation of the Prince of Orange to the throne. They entered with alacrity. Into all his views for opposing barriers. To the power and restraints on the ambition of that haughty monarch. War with France. The war which was proclaimed between the two nations. Extended itself to their possessions in America. Decaille. Who sailed from Canada to France in 1688. Had formed a plan for the conquest of New York. Which was adopted by his government. Cafiniere commanded the ships would sail from Rochefort. On this expedition subject however. To the Count de Frontignac. Who was general of the land forces. Destined to march from Canada. By the route of the river Sorel and of Lake Champlain. The fleet and troops arrived. Jebukta went to the Count. Proceeded to Quebec leaving orders with Cafiniere. To sail to New York. On reaching Quebec the Count found all Canada. In the utmost distress. In the preceding summer 1200 warriors. Of the five nations that suddenly landed on the island of Montreal. And put to death about 1000 of the inhabitants. Whom they found in perfect security. The place was again attacked in October. And the lower part of the island entirely destroyed. In consequence of these calamitous events. Fort Frontignac unlike Ontario. Was evacuated in two vessels. Which have been constructed there were burnt. Count Frontignac. Who in his 68th year. Possessed the activity of youth. After remaining a few days on shore. Re-embarked in a canoe. From Montreal. In the hope of conciliating the five nations. He held a great council with them. At Anandago. Where the Indians. Showed some disposition towards a peace. Without concluding one. To influence their deliberations. And raise the depressed spirits of the Canadians. He sent out several parties against the English colonies. That against New York. Consisting of about 200 French. And some Indians after marching 22 days. With their provisions on their backs. Through a wilderness covered deep with snow. Arrived on 8th of February 1690. About 11 at night at Schenectady. A village a few miles northwest of Albany. Schenectady destroyed. Binding the gates open and unguarded. They immediately entered the town. The inhabitants of which were asleep. And dividing themselves into small parties. Invested every house at the same time. No alarm was given until the doors were broken open. And then was commenced. The perpetration of those barbarities. Which adds so much to the ordinary horrors of war. The whole village was instantly in flames. Pregnant women were ripped open. And their infants cast into the flames. Or dashed against the posts of the doors. 60 persons were massacred. 27 carried into captivity. And those who escaped. Led naked through a deep snow and storm to Albany. In the flight 25 lost their limbs from the intensity of the cold. The town was pillaged until about noon the next day. When the enemy marched off with their plunder. Being pursued by a party of young men from Albany. About 25 of them were killed and captured. In the spring and summer of 1689. Several settlements and forts in New Hampshire and Maine. Were successfully attacked by the Indians. Whoever they were. Victories perpetrated their usual cruelties. Expedition against Port Royal. Knowing that these depredations originated in Canada. And I cut the a the general court of Massachusetts. Planned an expedition against both Port Royal and Quebec. Early in the spring eight small vessels carrying seven or 800 men. Sailed under the command of Sir William Phipps. And almost without opposition to possession of Port Royal. And of the whole coast between that place and New England. The fleet returned to Maine. Having taken nearly plunder enough to discharge the expense of the equipment. For two detachments made about the same time. By count. Frontiniac attacked the Simon Falls. And Fort Casca where they killed and took about 180 persons. Penn seeking freedom for imprisoned friends. The reference made in the panel inscription at the top of this picture. Is to William Penn's imprisonment in the Tower of London. For publishing the Sandy Foundation shaken. In which he attacked the doctrines of the Trinity. While in prison he wrote his most famous and popular book. No Cross No Crown. And in a sensey with her open face and vindication of his Quaker faith. In 1681 Penn obtained from the British Crown. In lieu of a debt of 16,000 pounds. Do him as heir to his father Admiral Penn. A grant of territory now comprising the state of Pennsylvania. There he found a Philadelphia as a Quaker colony in the following year. A vessel had been dispatched to England in April. With letters urging the importance of conquering Canada. And soliciting the aid of the king to that enterprise. He was however too much occupied in Europe to attend to America. And it was determined to prosecute the expedition without his assistance. Against Quebec. New York and Connecticut engaged to furnish a body of men to march. By the way of Lake Champlain against Montreal. While the troops of Massachusetts should proceed by sea to Quebec. The fleet consisting of between 20 and 30 vessels. The largest of which carried 44 guns. Sail from Nantucket the 9th of August. Having on board 2000 men. This expedition also was commanded by several fifths. A brave man but not qualified for so difficult an enterprise. He did not arrive before Quebec until October. When it was too late for a regular siege. Instead of availing himself of the first impression. So we must charge with having wasted two or three days in sight of the place. After which he summoned it to surrender. Having performed the ceremony he landed between 12 and 1300 men. And marched into a night under a scattering fire from an enemy concealed in the woods. At night a deserter gave such an account of the French forces entirely discouraged him. Connecticut and New York were disappointed in receiving the assistance expected from the five nations. Who furnished neither the warriors they had promised nor can use to transport their troops over the lakes. The commissary to have neglected to lay up the necessary supplies of provisions. These disappointments obliged the party destined against Montreal to retreat without making an attempt on that place. Which enabled the French general to oppose the whole force of Canada to Phipps. The evening after the troops were landed the ships were drawn up before the place. To receive more damage from the batteries than they could do to the town. After wasting a few days and unavailing parade the army re-embarked with precipitation and returned to Boston. The general court so far from suspecting that the expedition might possibly miscarry. Seemed to have counted not only on success but on acquiring sufficient treasure from the enemy to pay their soldiers. The army finding the government totally unprepared to satisfy its claims was on the point of mutiny. In this state of difficulty bills of credit were issued and were received in lieu of money. A tax was imposed at the same time payable in the paper notes of the colony at 5% above par. Notwithstanding the exertions to keep up its credit the paper depreciated to 14 shillings in the pound. Which depreciation was almost entirely sustained by the army. As the time for collecting the tax approach the paper rose above par but this appreciation was gained by the holders. Colonel Phipps soon after his return from Canada embarked for England to renew the solicitations of the colony for aid in another attempt on Quebec. Though unsuccessful in this application the government of the province was bestowed on him and in this character he returned to Boston. A desultory war continued to be carried on which without furnishing any events that would now be interesting produced heavy expense and much individual misery. 1693 Canada being considered as the source of all these evils its conquest continued to be the favorite object to Massachusetts. At length King William yielded to the solicitations of that colony and determined to employ a force for the reduction of Quebec. Unfortunately the first part of the plan was to be executed in the West Indies where the capture of Martinique was contemplated. While on that service the contagious fever attacked both the land and sea forces and before they reached Boston 1300 sailors and 1800 soldiers were buried. The survivors not being in a condition to prosecute the enterprise it was abandoned. On the conquest of Acre d'Aba Sir William Phipps the government of Massachusetts have been extended over that province. But as the prejudices and affections of the inhabitants were entirely on the side of France it was soon perceived that a military force alone could preserve the acquisition. And Massachusetts was unable at her own expense to support a sufficient body of troops for the defense of the country. 1696 Port Royal was recovered by Ville Bonne after which all Acre d'Aille shook off the government of Massachusetts and resumed its allegiance to France. About the same time a fort at Permacouid was attacked and carried by Iber Ville. Peace in December the Treaty of Peace which had been concluded at Rizwick was proclaimed at Boston and hostilities with the French in Canada immediately ceased. The depredations of the Indians continued only a short time after this event and in the course of the following year general tranquility was restored. 1697 the frontiers of New Hampshire had been not less exposed during the war than those of Massachusetts. Perpetual and distressing incursions had been made into the country which were marked by the burning of undefended habitations and the massacre of men women and children. Affairs of New York the frontiers of New York were covered by the five nations hostilities were carried on between them and the French but they were not attended by any material circumstance. During the war the English government meditated a union of the colonies for the purpose of forming an army to defend New York and the governors were instructed to propose to the several provinces to raise the quota of troops assigned to each by the crown. Though this plan never took effect the fact is of some interest. The influence of the French not yet extending far enough south to involve the colonies beyond New York in the calamities of Indian warfare few occurrences took place among them which deserve attention. In Virginia the College of William and Mary to which charter had been granted in 1692 was liberally endowed and was established at Williamsburg by an active assembly which passed in the year 1693. In 1698 the State House of Jamestown with many valuable papers was consumed by fire and in the following year the legislature passed an act for removing the seat of government to Williamsburg then called the middle plantation and for building a capital at that place. By the Treaty of Wiswick it was agreed that France and England should immediately restore to each other all conquests made during the war and it was further stipulated that commissioners should be appointed to examine and determine the rights and pretensions of each monarch to the places situated in Hudson's Bay. The consequences of not ascertaining boundaries were soon perceived. The English claimed as far west as the St. Croix while France asserted her right to the whole country east of Kennebec. The war renewed. These claims remained unsettled and were mingled with other differences of more importance which soon occasioned the recommencement of hostilities. 1702 the whole weight of the war in America fell on New England previous to its commencement the Earl of Belamont who was at that time governor of New York as well as of Massachusetts and of New Hampshire had required that the quotas of men assigned by the crown to the different colonies for the defense of New York should be furnished. This requisition however was not complied with and before hostilities began a treaty of neutrality was negotiated between the five nations and the governor of Canada which was assented to by Lord Cornberry then governor of New York. This treaty preserved the peace of that province but left Massachusetts and New Hampshire to struggle with the combined force of the French and their Indian allies. A struggle which seems to have been viewed by New York with the utmost composure. Hostilities between Great Britain and France were immediately followed by incursions of French and Indians into the exposed parts of New England a predatory and desolating war attended with no striking circumstance but with considerable expense and great individual distress was carried on for some years. During its continuance propositions were made for a cessation of hostilities and the negotiations on this subject were protracted to a considerable length. But Dudley who had succeeded the Earl of Belamont as governor of Massachusetts and New Hampshire declined engaging for the neutrality of those provinces in the hope that Nova Scotia and Canada might be subdued in the course of the war. 1707 the battle of Almanza in Spain having induced the British cabinet to direct an armament intended for New England to European objects. Dudley determined to make an attempt on ACATDA though no aid should arrive from England. With this view he applied early in the spring to the assemblies of both his provinces and to the colonies of Connecticut and Rhode Island requesting them to raise 1000 men for the expedition. Connecticut declined furnishing her quota but the other three colonies raised the whole number who were disposed into two regiments one commanded by Colonel Wainwright and the other by Colonel Hilton. On the 13th of May they embarked at Nantucket on board a fleet of transports furnished with whale boats under convoy of a man of war and a galley. The chief command was given to Colonel March who had behaved gallantly in several encounters with the Indians but had never been engaged in such service as this. They arrived before Port Royal in a few days and landed without opposition after making some ineffectual attempts to bombard the fort of disagreement among the officers and the misapprehension of the state of the fort in garrison induced the troops to re-embark in a disorderly manner. Dudley, who was unwilling to relinquish the enterprise, directed the army to remain in its position till farther orders. March was beloved by the soldiers and was known to be brave but his capacity was doubted. He was therefore thought unsafe either to recall him, to place an officer over him or to continue him in the chief command. The expedient devised in this perplexity was to send a commission to the army composed of three members of the council invested with all the powers which the governor himself if present would possess. These commissioners arrived at Casco about the middle of July where they found the army in subordinate and then disposed to the service. The troops however were again embarked and arrived at Passa Macquoddy on the 7th of August. The spirits of the general were broken and his health was impaired. While dispositions for landing the army were making, he declared his inability to act and the command devolved on Colonel Wainwright. The landing was effected on the 10th of August but the troops could not be inspired with that union and firmness which are essential to success. After devoting 10 days to inefficient unmeaning operations they re-embarked and returned sickly, fatigued and dispirited. 1708 during this unfortunate expedition the frontiers were kept in perpetual alarm by small parties of Indians and in the succeeding year a formidable armament was destined by Vaudru the governor of Canada against New England. This enterprise was not fully prosecuted in consequence of the failure of several Indian tribes to furnish the number of warriors expected from them. Incursion into Massachusetts, a considerable force however penetrated into Massachusetts and burnt a part of the town of Haverhill where about 100 persons were killed and many others carried off as prisoners. These invaders were pursued and overtaken by a body of troops collected in the neighborhood who killed a few of them and recovered several of their own countrymen. The New England colonies still attributing all these calamities to the French were earnest in their solicitations to the Crown for aids which might enable them to conquer Canada. Their application was supported by the representations of Francis Nicholson who had been Lieutenant Governor first of New York and afterward of Virginia of Samuel Vietj, a traitor to Nova Scotia of Colonel Schuyler, a gentleman of great influence in New York who undertook a voyage to England for the purpose of communicating his sentiments more fully to administration and carried with him resolutions of the assembly expressing the high opinion that body entertained of his merit. Influenced by these representations the British cabinet determined to undertake an expedition against the French settlements on the continent of North America and on Newfoundland to consist of a squadron having on board five regiments of regular troops 1709 which were to be at Boston by the middle of May 1709 where they were to be joined by 1200 men to be raised in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. 1500 men also were to be raised in the government south of Rhode Island who should proceed by the way of Lake Champlain against Montreal. All the colonies except Pennsylvania executed with punctuality the part assigned to them. Nicholson who was appointed to command the troops destined against Montreal marched to Wood Creek where he was ordered to continue until the arrival of the forces from Europe that the two armies might cooperate with each other. The New England troops who had been assembled at Boston remained at that place till September expecting the arrival of the fleet and army from England. About that time Nicholson returned from Wood Creek and it was obviously too late to proceed against Quebec. A meeting of the commanding officers and governors of provinces was requested in order to deliberate on further operations. A few days before this meeting was to take place the ship arrived from England with the intelligence that the armament intended for America had been ordered to Portugal and with directions to hold a council of war in order to determine on the propriety of employing the troops raised in America against Port Royal. In which event the ships of war then at Boston were to aid the expedition. The commanders of the ships except captain afterwards Admiral Matthews refused to engage in this service and it being unsafe to proceed without convoy the men were disbanded. A Congress composed of governors and of delegates from several of the assemblies met at Rhode Island and recommended the appointment of agents to assist Colonel Nicholson in representing the state of the country to the Queen and soliciting troops for an expedition against Canada the next spring. The government seems at first to have thought favorably of this proposal but finally determined to proceed only against Port Royal 1710. Five frigates and a bomb catch which were assigned for this service arrived with Nicholson in July although the troops were then to be raised a whole armament consisting of one regiment of Marines and four regiments of infantry sailed from Boston the 18th of September and on the 24th arrived before Port Royal. The place was immediately invested and after the exchange of a few shot and shells was surrendered the edge was appointed governor and its name in complement to the Queen was changed to Annapolis. After the reduction of Port Royal Nicholson returned to England to renew the often repeated solicitations for an expedition against Canada. The ministry was now changed and the colonists despaired of obtaining from those and power any aids against the French. Contrary to the general expectation his application succeeded. 1711 and he arrived at Boston in June with orders to the governors as far south as Pennsylvania to get their quotas of men and provisions and readiness to act with the fleet and army expected from Europe. Within 16 days while the several governors were yet deliberating on the subject of these orders the fleet arrived the service according perfectly with the wishes of the people as well as of the governors. Every practical exertion was made and difficulties were overcome which on other occasions might have been deemed insurmountable to supply the money which the English Treasury could not then advance. The general court of Massachusetts issued bills of credit to the amount of 40,000 pounds and the example is followed by Connecticut, New York and New Jersey provisions were obtained by impressmen. The army consisted of seven veteran regiments who had served under the Duke of Marlborough. One regiment of Marines and two regiments of Provincials amounting in the whole to 6,500 men a force equal to that which afterwards reduced Quebec when in a much better state of defense. This armament sailed from Boston on the 30th of July. Their sanguine hopes were all blasted in one fatal night. On the 23rd of August in the river St. Lawrence the weather being thick and dark. Eight transports were wrecked on Egg Island near the North Shore and 1,000 persons perished. The next day the fleet put back and was eight days beating down the river against an easterly wind which would have carried it to Quebec. Including a fruitless consultation respecting an attempt on Placentia, the expedition was abandoned and the squadron sailed for England. Loud complaints were made and heavy charges reciprocated on this occasion. The ignorance of the pilots, the obstinacy of the admiral, the detention of the fleet at Boston, its late arrival there, the want of seasonable orders and the secret intentions of the ministry were all subjects of bitter altercation but no regular inquiry was ever made into the causes of the miscarriage. The plan of this campaign embraced also an attack on Montreal, 4,000 men raised in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey and commanded by Colonel Nicholson marched against that place by the way of Albany and Lake Champlain. The failure of the expedition against Quebec enabling the Governor of Canada to turn his whole force towards the lakes. Nicholson was under the necessity of making a precipitate retreat. Peace, no other event of importance took place during this war which was terminated by the Treaty of Utrecht, by the 12th article of this treaty, France ceded to England, all Nova Scotia or Alcadie with its ancient boundaries as also the city of Port Royal, now called Annapolis Royal and all other things in those parts which depend on the said lands. This territory which had been comprehended in the grant made to the Plymouth Company was with the consent of that company afterwards granted by James as King of Scotland under the name of Nova Scotia to Sir William Alexander. Affairs of New York. In New York the Leeslarian and anti-Leeslarian parties continued to persecute each other. To this calamity was added in the year 1702, the still heavier affliction of up malignant fever imported in a vessel from the West Indies which in almost every instance proved mortal. A similar disease raged about the same time in several other seaport towns and was probably the same which has since produced such fatal effects under the name of the yellow fever. In the same year Lord Cornbury, a needy and profligate nobleman, was appointed governor of the province. He embraced the anti-Leeslarian party, that being then the strongest, meeting the assembly he urged the necessity of providing money for the public exigencies and as he had arranged himself with the ruling party, the vote of supply was liberal. It was soon perceived that the confidence in the governor was misplaced. Considerable sums levied for objects of great interest were applied to his private use. The system adopted in New York for collecting and keeping public money was calculated to favor this speculation. The colony, having no treasure, its revenue came into the hands of the receiver general for the crown once it was drawn by a warrant from the governor. Contest soon arose between his lordship and the legislature on the subject of money, the house requiring a statement of disbursements and the appointment of a treasure to be controlled by them. At length in 1706 an act was passed raising £3,000 for fortifications and directing the money to be placed in the hands of a person named by the legislature. The assent of the governor to this act was not given till the succeeding year and was then accompanied with a message stating that he had it in command from the queen to permit the general assembly to name their own treasure when they raised extraordinary supplies for particular uses in which are no part of the standing and constant revenue. The continual demands of the governor for money is misapplication of it, his extortion in the form of fees, and his haughty tyrannical conduct increased the irritation subsisting between him and the legislature at length the queen yielded to the complaints of both New York and New Jersey and consented to recall him. During these altercations some spirited resolutions were entered into the assembly, one of which claims particular notice it is in these words, resolved that the imposing and loving of any monies upon Her Majesty's subjects in this colony under any pretense or color whatsoever without their consent in general assembly is a grievance and violation of the people's property. This strong assertion of a principle which afterwards dismembered the British Empire then passed away without notice, it was probably understood to be directed only against the assumption of that power by the governor. In Carolina the vexatious contests with the proprietors still continued the public attention was for a time diverted from these by hostilities with their neighbors of Florida. 1702, before the declaration of war made against France and Spain had been officially communicated, it was reported in the colonies that this event had taken place and Mr. Moore the governor of the southern settlements proposed to the assembly an expedition against St. Augustine. Temperate men were opposed to this enterprise but the assurances of the governor that Florida would be an easy conquest and that immense treasure would be the reward of their valor were too seductive to be resisted. A great majority of the assembly declared in favor of the expedition and voted the sum of 2000 pounds sterling for its prosecution. 600 militia were embodied for the service and an equal number of Indians engaged as auxiliaries. Expedition against St. Augustine in the plan of operations which had been concerted, Colonel Daniel was to move by the inland passage with the party of militia and Indians and attack the town by land, while the governor with the main body should proceed by sea and block up the harbor. Colonel Daniel executed his part of the plan with promptitude and vigor, he advanced against the town which he entered and plundered before the governor reached the harbor. The Spaniards however had been apprised of the preparations making at Charleston and had laid up provisions for four months in the castle into which they retired as Daniel entered the town. On the arrival of the governor the place was completely invested but it being impossible to carry the castle without battering artillery. Colonel Daniel was dispatched to Jamaica for cannon bombs and mortars. During his absence two small Spanish vessels of war were seen off the mouth of the harbor upon which the governor raised the siege abandoned his transports and made a precipitate retreat to Carolina. Colonel Daniel returned soon afterwards and having no suspicion that the siege was raised stood in for the harbor. He fortunately discovered a situation on time to escape but with much difficulty. This rash and ill conducted expedition entailed on the colony a debt of 6,000 pounds sterling. The ignominy attached to it was soon wiped off by one that was attended with better success. The lap election Indians who were attached to the Spaniards had become extremely troublesome to the inhabitants of the frontiers. The governor at the head of the body of militia and friendly Indians marched into the heart of the settlements, laid their towns in ashes, made several prisoners and compelled them to sue for peace and submit to the British government. Governor Johnson, soon after this transaction, Sir Nathaniel Governor Johnson who had been appointed to succeed, Mr. Moore arrived in Charleston. He endeavored but ineffectually to turn the attention of the colonists to the culture of silk. This article as well as Cotton was neglected and rice became the great staple of the country. Attempt to establish the Episcopal Church during his administration, the contest between the proprietors and the people increased. An attempt to establish the Episcopal Church was added to other pre-existing causes of discord, colony having been settled by immigrants from different nations of different religious persuasions. The indiscreet endeavor to produce uniformity could not fail to increase their irritation. The influence of the governor in the legislature obtained the passage of such acts as were necessary for his purpose. The many petitions against them were laid before Parliament, and the House of Lords presented so decisive an address to Her Majesty on the subject that I have, quote, warned to against the charter it was directed. This measure, however, was not put in execution and the attention of the colonists was diverted for a time from these intestine broils by the appearance of danger from abroad. 1704, Spain claimed the whole country as part of Florida and was preparing an expedition to enforce this claim. Governor Johnson, who had acquired some military skill in European service, having received intelligence of these preparations, made great exertions to fortify the entrance into the harbor of Charleston and to put the province in a state of defense. There was reason to rejoice that these precautions were used for although no armament arrived from Europe, yet an expedition planned in Havana was carried into execution. Colony invaded a French frigate and four armed Spanish sloops commanded by Monsieur Le Fabour sailed for Charleston with orders to touch at St. Augustine for men. His forces said to have amounted to about 800, a government cruiser described this squadron off the bar of St. Augustine and brought the intelligence to Charleston. Scarcely had the captain delivered his information when signals from Sullivan's Island announced its appearance off the coast. The alarm was immediately given and the militia of the town were under arms. In the evening, the fleet reached Charleston bar but deferred attempting to pass it until the morning. After consuming a day and sounding the south farther, Spanish flotilla crossed it and anchored above Sullivan's Island. The governor then directed some pieces of heavy artillery to be placed in the vessels in the harbor and gave the command of them to William Rhett. A summons to surrender being rejected, a party of the enemy landed on James Island and burned a few houses. Another party consisting of 160 men landed about the same time on the opposite side of the river. Both these were attacked and defeated. Encouraged by the success, Johnson determined to attack the invaders by sea in execution of this determination. Rhett with six small vessels proceeded down the river to the place where the host of flotilla wrote an anchor at which at his approach precipitately recrossed the bar. For some days it was believed that the enterprise was abandoned. But while the inhabitants were rejoicing at their deliverance, advice was received that a ship of force had been seen in Siouis Bay and had landed a number of men. On examining his prisoners, the governor was informed that the enemy had expected a ship of war with a reinforcement of 200 men under the command of Monsieur Arbuset. Taking his measures with the promptness of an experienced officer, he ordered Captain Fenwick to pass the river and march against the detachment. Which had landed while Rhett with two small armed vessels sailed round by sea with orders to meet the ship in Siouis Bay. Fenwick came up with the party on shore, charged them briskly and drove them to their ship, which on the appearance of Rhett, surrendered without firing his shot. The prize, with about 90 prisoners, was brought up to Charleston. Thus was terminated with the loss of near 300 men killed and prisoners, among the latter of whom were the general and some naval officers. The invasion of Carolina by Monsieur Le Febourg. It seemed to have been undertaken in the confidence that the colony was too weak for resistance and was conducted without skill or courage. Bills of credit to defray. The expenses incurred in repelling this invasion bills of credit to the amount of 8,000 pounds were issued. The effect of this emission was such a depreciation of the currency under the form of a rise in the price of commodities and of exchange that 150 pounds of paper were given for 100 pounds sterling. 1707, Lord Granville, the Palatine, a bigoted churchman, under whose influence violent measures had been taken for the establishment of religious conformity in Carolina, died in the year 1707. He was succeeded by Lord Craven, who though of the same religious tenets supported them with moderation. His disposition to indulge and thereby modify the dissenters was considered by the zealots of the established church as endangering religion. And the legislature, which was elected on the influence of the late Palatine and of his governor, dreading a change in the administration, 1708, legislature continues itself. Adopted the extraordinary measure of continuing itself for two years and for the time and term of 18 months after the change of government, were there by the death of the president governor or the succession of another in his time. Thus adding one other humiliating proof to those which perpetually occur that principles are deplorably weak when opposed by the passions. 1712, massacre in North Carolina by the Indians. In the year 1712, the Indians in North Carolina alarmed as their countrymen had been in the other colonies by the increasing population. The regular encroachments of the whites formed with their accustomed secrecy, the plan of exterminating in one night these formidable neighbors. No indication of their design was given until they broke into the houses of the planters. The slaughter on Roanoke was immense. In that settlement alone, 137 persons were murdered. A few escaped by concealing themselves in the woods through the next day gave the alarm. The remaining whites were collected together in a place of safety and guarded by the militia until assistance could be received from South Carolina. This was prompt and effectual. The assembly at Charleston voted 4,000 pounds for the service. Colonel Barnwell was detached with 600 militia and 360 Indians to the relief of the afflicted North Carolinians. With the utmost scolarity, he passed through the difficult and dangerous wilderness, which then separated the northern from the southern settlements. Indians defeated and attacking the savages with unexpected fury killed 300 of them and made 100 prisoners. The survivors were treated to the Tuscarora town and took refuge within a wooden breastwork in which they were surrounded by the whites. After sustaining considerable loss, they sued for peace and obtained it, but soon afterwards abandoned their country and united themselves with the Iroquois or five nations. The expense of this expedition greatly transcended the scanty means of South Carolina to supply the exigencies of government and to promote the convenience of commerce. The legislature determined to issue 48,000 pounds in bills of credit to be denominated bank bills. This money was to be lent out at interest on security and to be redeemed gradually by the annual payment of 112 part of the sum loaned. The bills were made a legal tender and the creditor who should refuse them lost his debt. After the emission of these bills, exchange rose the first year to 150 and in the second to 200 per cent above par, the effect of this depreciation of the tender laws which accompanied it on creditors and amorals was obvious and certain. End of chapter 7. Chapter 8 of the life of Washington, volume 1 by John Marshall. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Proceedings of the legislature of Massachusetts, intrigues of the French among the Indians, war with the savages, peace, controversy with the governor, decided in England, contest concerning the governor's salary. The assembly adjourned to Salem, contest concerning the salary terminated, great depreciation of the paper currency, scheme of a land bank, company dissolved by active parliament. Governor Shirley arrives, review of transactions in New York. 1714 the heavy expenses of Massachusetts during the late war have produced such large emissions of paper money that a considerable depreciation took place and species disappeared. The consequent rise of exchange instead of being attributed to its true cause was ascribed to the decay of trade. The colony, having now leisure forced domestic concerns, turned its attention to this interesting subject. Affairs of Massachusetts, three parties were formed, the first a small one, actuated by the principle that honesty is the best policy, was in favor of calling in the paper money and relying on the industry of the people to replace it with a circulating medium of greater stability. The second proposed a private bank which was to issue bills of credit to be received by all the members of the company, but it knows certain value compared with gold and silver. It was not intended to deposit species in the bank for the redemption of its notes as they might be offered but to pledge real estates as security that the company would perform its engagements. The third party was in favor of a loan of bills from the government to any of the inhabitants who would mortgage real estate to secure their repayment in a specified term of years, the interest to be paid annually and applied to the support of government. The first party perceiving its numerical weakness during the third in the whole province was divided between a public and private bank. At length the party for the public bank prevailed in the general court and 50,000 pounds were issued and placed in the hands of trustees to be lent for five years at an interest of five per cent per annum, one fifth part of the principle to be paid annually. 1716, the scheme failing to improve the commerce of the colony, Governor Shute who had succeeded Dudley, reminded the assembly of the bad state of trade which he has grabbed to the scarcity of money and recommended the consideration of some effectual measures to supply this want. The result of this recommendation was a second loan of 100,000 pounds for ten years to be placed in the hands of commissioners in each county in proportion to its taxes. The whole currency soon depreciated to such a degree that the entire sum and circulation did not represent more real value than was represented by that which was circulating before the emission. The governor had now sufficient leisure and the general court furnished him with sufficient motives to reflect on the policy he had recommended and attempt to raise his salary as money depreciated did not succeed and only the usual nominal sum was voted for his support. 1719 in Massachusetts piece abroad was the signal for dissension at home. Independent in her opinions and habits, she had been accustomed to consider herself rather as a sister kingdom acknowledging one common sovereign with England than as a colony. The election of all the branches of the legislature, a principle common to New England contributed especially while the mother country was occupied with her own internal divisions to nourish these opinions and habits. Although the new charter of Massachusetts modified the independence of that colony by vesting the appointment of the governor in that crown, yet the course of thinking which had prevailed from the settlement of the country had gained too much strength to be immediately changed. In Massachusetts sought by private influence over her chief magistrate to compensate herself for the loss of his appointment. With this view it had become usual for the general court to testify its satisfaction with his conduct by presence and this measure was also adopted in other colonies. Apprehending that this practice might dispose the governors to conciliate the legislatures at the expense of their duty to the crown, the queen had given peremptory orders to receive no more gifts and to obtain acts fixing their salaries permanently at a sum named by herself. The mandate respecting presence was of course obeyed and some of the colonies complied with the requisition respecting the salary but in Massachusetts and New York it was steadily resisted. A controlling power over its salaries was a source of influence which was pertinaciously maintained and its efficacy was tried in all the conflicts between Massachusetts and her governor almost every important measure brought before the legislature was productive of contests between these departments. They disagreed not only on the policy of particular acts but on the limits of their power. The governor claimed the right of negativing the speaker chosen by the representatives which was denied by them in each party persisting in its pretensions the assembly was dissolved and new elections took place. The same members being generally re-chosen the House of Representatives assembled with increased irritation and passed some angry resolutions respecting its dissolution. The governor in turn charged the House with encroachments on the power of the executive among other instances of which he mentioned certain resolutions passed on the commencement of hostilities by the Indians which were deemed equivalent to a declaration of war and had therefore been rejected. 1721 disagreements were multiplied between them paper money and trade were inexhaustible sources of discontent new elections produced no change of temper after war was formally declared against the Indians the House endeavored to exercise executive powers in its prosecution and the council not concurring with them the representatives attempted in one instance to act alone. The measures recommended by the governor to successive assemblies were disregarded irritating results were adopted and reiterated and a course of angry cremation and recrimination took place between them in the progress of which the governor's salary was reduced in its nominal as well as real amount. And the sum granted instead of being voted as had been usual at the commencement of the session was reserved to its close. 1722 in the midst of these contests governor shoot who had privately solicited and obtained leave to return to England suddenly embarked on board the seahorse man of war leaving the controversy concerning the extent of the executive power to devolve on the lieutenant governor. The House of Representatives persisted in asserting its control over objects which have been deemed within the province of the executive but its resolutions were generally negative by the council. This produced some altercation between the two branches of the legislature but they had length United in the passage of a resolution desiring their agent in England to take the best measures for protecting the interests of the colony which were believed to be in danger from the representations of governor shoot. Intrigues of the French with the Indians during these contests in the interior the frontiers had suffered severely from the depredations of the Indians. The French had acquired great influence over all the eastern tribes Jesuit missionaries generally resided among them who obtained a great ascendancy in their councils after the session of Nova Scotia to Great Britain. Father Raleigh a missionary residing among the savages of that province exerted successfully all his address to excite their jealousies and resentments against the English. By his acts and those of other missionaries all the eastern Indians as well as those of Canada were combined against New England. They made incursions into Massachusetts in consequence of which some troops were detached to the village in which Raleigh resided for the purpose of seizing his person. He received intimation of their approach in time to make his escape but they secured his papers among which were some showing that in exciting the savages to war against the English Congress he had acted under the authority of the governor of Canada who had secretly promised to supply them with arms and ammunition. 1726 envoys were deputed with a remonstrance against conduct so incompatible with the state of peace then subsisting between France and England. The governor received this embassy politely and at first denied any interference in the quarrel alleging that the Indians were independent nations who made war and peace without being controlled by him. On being shown his letters to Raleigh he changed his language and gave assurances of his future good offices in effecting a peace. On the faith of these assurances conferences were held with some Indian chiefs then in Canada several captives were ransomed peace. And soon after the return of the commissioners to New England the war was terminated by a treaty of peace signed at Boston. Decision against the house on the controversy with the governor. Meanwhile the complaints of governor shoot against the house of representatives were heard in England. Every question was decided against the house and most of them the existing charter was deemed sufficiently explicit but on two points it was thought advisable to have explanatory articles. These were the right of the governor to negative the appointment of the speaker and the right of the house on the subject of the adjournment. New charter. An explanatory charter therefore affirming the power claimed by the governor to negative a speaker and denying to the house of representatives the right of adjourning itself for a longer time than two days. This charter was submitted to the general court to be accepted or refused but it was accompanied with the intimation that in the event of its being refused the whole controversy between the governor house of representatives would be laid before parliament. The conduct of the representatives had been so generally condemned in England as to excite fears that an act to vacate the charter would be the consequence of a parliamentary inquiry. The temper of the house too had undergone a change. The violence and irritation which marked its proceedings in the contest with governor shoot had subsided and a majority determined to accept the new charter. 1727 the trade of the province still languished and complaints of the scarcity of money were as loud as when only specie was in circulation to remedy these evils a bill for emitting a farther sum in paper past both houses but was rejected by the lieutenant governor as being inconsistent with his instructions. The house of representatives there upon postponed the consideration of salaries till the next session. The assembly was then adjourned at its own request and after a recess of a fortnight was again convened as an expedient to elude the instructions to the governor which to any act for issuing bills of credit except for charges of government a bill passed with the title of an act for raising and settling a public revenue for and towards deferring the necessary charges of government by an emission of 60,000 pounds and bills of credit. This bill providing for the payment of the salaries to which several members of the council were entitled past that house also and the lieutenant governor gave a reluctant dissent to it. His passage into a law furnishes strong evidence of the influence which the control over salaries gave to the house of representatives. 1728 contest respecting salary. Mr. Burnett who had been appointed governor of Massachusetts and New Hampshire was received with great pomp in Boston. At the first meeting of the assembly he stated the king's instructions to insist on an established salary and his intention firmly to adhere to them. The assembly was not less firm in its determination to resist this demand and that no additional unnecessary obliquely might be encountered. Resolve not to mingle any difference concerning the amount of the salary with the great question of its depending on the will of the legislature. Assumed therefore as the compliments usual on the arrival of a governor had passed the house voted 1700 pounds towards his support and to defray the charges of his journey. This vote was understood to give him as a present salary a sum equal to 1000 pounds sterling per annum. The governor declared his inability to assent to this bill it being inconsistent with his instructions. After a week's deliberation the assembly granted 300 pounds for the expenses of his journey which he accepted and in a distinct vote the father sum of 1400 pounds was granted toward his support. The latter vote was accompanied with a joint message from both houses wherein they asserted their undoubted right as Englishmen and their privilege by the charter to raise and apply money for the support of government. And their willingness to give the governor an ample and honorable support but they apprehended it would be most for his majesty's service to do so without establishing a fixed salary. The governor returned an answer on the same day in which he said that if they really intended to give him an ample and honorable support they could have no just objection to making their purpose effectual by fixing his salary for he would never accept a grant of the kind then offered. The council was disposed to avoid the contest and to grant a salary to the present governor for a certain time but the House of Representatives remaining firm to its purpose sent a message to the governor requesting that the court might rise. He answered that compliance with this request were put out of the power of the legislature to pay immediate regard to the king's instructions and he would not grant a recess until the business of the session should be finished. The representatives then declare that in faithfulness to the people they could not come into an act for establishing a salary on the governor or commander in chief for the time being and therefore renew the request that the court might rise. Both the governor and the House of Representatives seemed thus far to have made their declarations with some reserve. A salary during his own administration might perhaps have satisfied him though he demanded that one should be settled generally on the commander in chief for the time being and the House had not yet declared against settling a salary on him for a limited time. Each desired that the other should make some concession both declined both were irritated by long altercation and at length instead of mutually advancing fixed at the opposite extremes after several ineffectual efforts on each side. The representative sent a message to the governor stating at large the motives which induced the resolution they informed the governor returned a prompt answer in which he also detailed the reasons in support of the demand he had made. These two papers manifesting the principles and objects of both parties deserve attention even at this period. The House not long after receiving this message far from making any advances towards the compliance with his request came the two resolutions strongly expressive of its determination not to receive from the ground which had been taken. These resolutions gave the first indication on the part of the representatives of a fixed purpose to make no advance towards a compromise. They induced the governor to remind the court of the danger to which the proceedings of that body might expose the charter. This caution did not deter the House from preparing and transmitting to the several towns of the province a statement of the controversy which concludes with saying we dare neither come into a fixed salary on the governor forever nor for a limited time for the following reasons. First because it is an untrodden path which neither we nor our predecessors have gone in and we cannot certainly foresee the many dangers that may be in it nor can we depart from that way which has been found safe and comfortable. Secondly because it is the undoubted right of all Englishmen by Magna Carter to raise and dispose of money for the public service of their own free accord without compulsion. Thirdly because it must necessarily lessen the dignity and freedom of the House of Representatives in making acts and raising and applying taxes, etc. and consequently cannot be thought of proper method to preserve that balance in the three branches of the legislature which seems necessary to form, maintain and uphold the Constitution. Fourthly because the charter fully empowers the General Assembly to make such laws and orders as they shall judge for the good and welfare of the inhabitants. And if they or any part of them judge this not to be for their good, they neither ought nor could come into it for as to act beyond or without the powers granted in the charter might just incur the King's displeasure so not to act up and agreeable to those powers might just be deemed a betraying of the rights and privileges therein granted. And if they should give up this right they would open a door to many other inconveniences. Many messages passed in quick succession between the Governor and the House in the course of which the arguments stated in the papers which have been mentioned were enlarged and diversified. The link the House repeated is request for an adjournment but the Governor replied that unless his Majesty's pleasure had to wait with them their desires would have very little with him. The council now interposed with the resolution declaring that it is expedient for the court to ascertain a sum as a salary for His Excellency's support as also the term of time for its continuance. This resolution was transmitted to the House of Representatives and immediately rejected. After much controversy a small seeming advance towards an accommodation was made. Instead of voting a salary as had been usual for half a year a grant was made to the Governor of 3,000 pounds equal to 1,000 pounds sterling to enable him to manage the affairs of the province. This was generally understood to be a salary for a year. The Governor having withheld his assent from this vote the House and treated him to accept the grant. In added we cannot doubt that that succeeding assemblies according to the ability of the province will be very ready to grant as ample of support and if they should not your Excellency will then have an opportunity of showing your resentment. The Governor however persisted to withhold his assent from the vote. The colony generally and especially Boston was opposed to a compliance with the instructions of the Crown at a general meeting of the inhabitants the town passed a vote purporting to be unanimous against fixing a salary on the Governor. Adjournment of the Assembly to Salem. In consequence of this vote and of an opinion that the members of the House were influenced by the inhabitants of the town. The Governor determined to change the place at which the court should hold its session and on the 24th of October adjourned it to the 30th then to meet at Salem in the country of Essex. Change of place did not change the temper of the House. This was not as in the contest with Governor Shute. An angry altercation into which the representatives were precipitated by a restless and encroaching temper but a solemn and deliberate stand made in defense of a right believed to be unquestionable and of a principle deemed essential to the welfare of the colony. The ground taken was considered well and maintained with firmness. Votes and messages of the same tenor with those which have been often repeated continue to pass between the representatives and the governor until the subject was entirely exhausted. Each party being determined to adhere to its principles. The House met and adjourned daily without entering on business. In the meantime, the Governor received no salary to the members of Boston who have not been accustomed to the expense of attending the legislature at a distant place. A compensation above their ordinary wages was made by the town. The House firmly persuaded of the propriety of its conduct prepared a memorial to the King praying a change in the royal instructions to the Governor. Agents were appointed to represent the general court in England and a vote was passed for deferring the expenses attendant on the business. The council refused to concur in this vote because the agents had been appointed by the House of Representatives Singlet. And the measure must have been abandoned for want of money had not the inhabitants of Boston raised the sum required by subscription. In 1729, letters were soon received from these agents in closing a report from the Board of Trade before whom they had been heard by council entirely disapproving the conduct of the House. The letters also indicated that should the House persist in its refusal to comply with the King's instructions, the affair might be carried before Parliament. But should even this happen, the agents thought it more advisable that the salary should be fixed by the Supreme Legislature than by that of the province. It was better they said that the liberties of the people should be taken from them than given up by themselves. The governor at length refused to sign a warrant on that treasury for the wages of the members. One branch of the legislature he said might as well go without their pay as the other the act and the reason for it were alike unsatisfactory to the House. The death of Governor Burnett after a recess from the 20th of December to the 2nd of April, the general court met again at Salem. Repeated meetings at that place having produced no accommodation, the governor adjourned the legislature to Cambridge. A few days after the commencement of the session, he was seized with a fever of which he died. Mr. Burnett is said to have possessed many valuable qualities and had he not been engaged by a sense of duty in this long contest, he would in all probability been a favorite of the province. 1730 arrival of Governor Belcher. Mr. Belcher who succeeded Burnett arrived at Boston early in August where he was cordially received at the first meeting of the general court. He pressed the establishment of a permanent salary and lay before them his instructions in which he was declared that in the event of the continued refusal of the assembly. His Majesty will find himself under the necessity of laying the undue default behavior of the province before the legislature of Great Britain. Not only in this single instance but in many others of the same nature and tendency, whereby it manifestly appears that this assembly, for some years last passed, have attempted by a moron to both practices to weaken if not cast off the obedience they owe to the crown and the dependence which all colonies ought to have on the mother country. At the close of these instructions, His Majesty added his expectation that they do forthwith comply with this proposal as the last signification of our royal pleasure to them on this subject. And if this set assembly shall not think fit to comply therewith, it is our will and pleasure and you are required immediately to come over to this kingdom of Great Britain in order to give us an exact account of all that shall have passed on this subject that we may lay the same before our parliament. The House proceeded, as in the case of Governor Burnett, to make a grant to Mr. Belcher of £1,000 currency for deferring the expense of his voyage and as a gratuity for his services while the agent of the colony in England. And some time after voted a sum equal to £1,000 sterling to enable him to manage the public affairs, etc., but fixed no time for which the allowance was made. The council concurred in this vote adding an amendment and that the same sum be annually allowed for the Governor's support. The House not agreeing to this amendment, the council carried it so as to read that the same sum should be annually paid during His Excellency's continuance in the government and residents here. This also was disagreed to and the resolution fell. The smallpox being in the town of Cambridge, the assembly was adjourned to Roxbury. Two or three sessions passed with little more on the part of the Governor than a repetition of his demand for a fixed salary and an intimation that he should be obliged to return to England and state the conduct of the House of Representatives to the King. Some unsuccessful attempts were made by his friends to pass the bill, fixing the salary during his administration with a protest against the principal and against that bill being drawn into precedent. Failing in this expedient and finding the House inflexible, he disparate of succeeding with that body and turned his attention to the relaxation of his instructions. 1731 he advised an address from the House to His Majesty praying that he might be permitted to receive the sum which the legislature had offered to grant him. This was allowed by the Crown with the understanding that he was still to insist on a compliance with his instructions. Leave to accept particular grants was obtained for two or three years successively and at length the general permission was conceded to accept such sums as might be given by the assembly. Contest concerning the salary terminated thus was terminated the stubborn contest concerning a permanent salary for the Governor. Certain circumstances have been given more in detail than consists with the general plan of this work because it is considered as exhibiting in genuine colors the character of the people engaged in it. It is regarded as an early and an honorable display of the same persevering temper in defense principle of the same unconquerable spirit of liberty which at a later day and on a more important question toward the British colonies from a country to which they had been strongly attached. 1733 the immense quantity of depreciated paper which was in circulation throughout New England had no tendency to diminish the complaints of the scarcity of money. Massachusetts and New Hampshire were restrained from farther emissions by the instructions of their governors who received their appointments from the Crown. Connecticut engaged deeply in agricultural pursuits suffered less from this depreciated medium than her neighbors and was less disposed to increase its evils. Rhode Island equally commercial with Massachusetts and equally fond of paper chose her own governor and might therefore indulge without restraint her passion for a system alike unfavorable to morals and to industry. That colony now issued 100,000 pounds on loan to its inhabitants for 20 years. The merchants of Boston apprehensive that this capital would transfer the stock of Massachusetts to Rhode Island associated against receiving the new emission and many of them formed a company which issued 110,000 pounds redeemable with Species in 10 years, the 10th part annually at the then current value of paper. The association against receiving the new emission of Rhode Island was not long observed in the bills of New Hampshire and Connecticut were also current. Silver immediately rose to 27 shillings the ounce and the notes issued by the merchants soon disappeared leaving in circulation only the government paper. 1739. Great uneasiness prevailed through Massachusetts on this subject. The last installment of the bills would become due in 1741 and no power existed to redeem them by new emissions. 1742. Serious consequences were apprehended from calling in the circulating medium without substituting another in its place and the alarm was increased by the circumstance of the taxes have been so lightly apportioned on the first years as to require the imposition of heavy burdens for the redemption of what remained in circulation. The discontents excited by these causes were manifested in the elections and were directed against the governor who was openly hostile to the paper system. Land Bank, the projector of the bank again came forward and placing himself at the head of 700 or 800 persons, some of whom possessed property proposed to form a company which should issue 150,000 pounds in bills. By this scheme, every borrower of some larger than 100 pounds was to mortgage real estate to secure its repayment. The borrowers of smaller sums might secure their repayment either by mortgage or by bond with two securities. Each subscriber or partner was to pay annually 3 per cent interest on the sum he should take and 5 per cent of the principal either in the bills themselves or in the produce and manufacturers of the country at such rates as the directors should from time to time establish. Although the favourers of this project were so successful at the elections as to obtain a great majority in the general court, many a fortune and the principal merchants refused to receive these bills. Many small traders however and other persons interested in the circulation of a depreciated currency gave them credit. The directors themselves that was said became traders and issued bills without limitation and without giving security for their redemption. The governor anticipating the pernicious effects of the institution exerted all his influence against it. He displayed such executive officers as were members of it and negative the speaker and 13 members elected to the council who were also of the company. 1740 company dissolved general confusion being apprehended application was made to parliament for an act to suppress the company. This being readily obtained the company was dissolved and the holders of the bills were allowed their action against its members individually. About this time Governor Belcher was recalled and Mr. Shirley was appointed to succeed him. He found the land bank interest predominant in the house and the treasury empty. 1741 in the state of things he deemed it necessary to depart from the letter of his instructions in order to preserve their spirit. A bill was passed declaring that all contracts should be understood to be payable in silver at six shillings and eight pence. The ounce were in goat at its comparative value. Bills of a new form were issued purporting to be four ounces of silver which were to be received in payment of all debts. With this proviso that if they should appreciate between the time of contract and a payment a proportional addition should be made to the debt. Affairs of New York while these transactions were passing in New England. Symptoms of that jealousy which and unsettled boundary must produce between neighbors began to show themselves in Canada and New York. The geographical situation of these colonies had at an early period directed the attention of both towards the commerce of the lakes. Mr. Burnett the governor both of New York and New Jersey impressed with the importance of acquiring the command of Lake Ontario had in the year 1722 erected a trading house at Oswego in the country of the Seneca's. This measure excited the jealousy of the French who launched two vessels on the lake and transported materials to Niagara for building a large storehouse and for repairing the fort at that place. These proceedings were strongly opposed by the Seneca's and by the government of New York. Mr. Burnett remonstrated against them as encroachments on a British province and also addressed administration on the subject. Complaints were made to the cabinet of Versailles but the governor of Canada proceeded to complete the fort to countervail the effects of a measure which he could not prevent. Governor Burnett erected a fort at Oswego soon after the building of which while Mr. Van Dam was governor of New York the French took possession of Crown Point which they fortified and thus acquired the command of Lake Champlain. Obviously as this measure was calculated to favor both the offensive and defensive operations of France and America the English minister after an unavailing remonstrance submitted to it. End of Chapter 8. Chapter 9 of the Life of Washington, Volume 1 by John Marshall. This Libra box recording is in the public domain. Chapter 9 war with the seven Indians. Disatisfaction of Carolina with their proprietors. Rupture with Spain. Combination to subvert their proprietary government. Revolution completed. Expedition from the Havana against Charleston. Peace with Spain. The proprietors surrendered their interest to the crown. The province divided. Georgia settled. Impolite sea of the first regulations. Intrigues of the Spaniards with the slaves of South Carolina. Insurrection of the slaves. 1715 in Carolina the contest between the inhabitants and the proprietors added to the favor with which the Queen heard the complaints of the dissenters. Had turned the attention of the people towards the crown and produced a strong desire to substitute the regal for the proprietary government. This desire was increased by an event which demonstrated the incompetency of their government. War with the Indians. The Yamasees a powerful tribe of Indians on the northeast of the Savannah instigated by the Spaniards at Saint Augustine secretly prepared a general combination of all the southern Indians against the province. Having massacred the traders settled among them they advanced in great force against the southern frontier spreading desolation and slaughter on their route. The inhabitants were driven into Charleston and Governor Craven proclaimed martial law. He also obtained an active assembly empowering him to impress men to seize arms ammunition and stores to arm such negro says could be trusted. And generally to prosecute the war with the utmost vigor agents were sent to Virginia and to England to solicit assistance and bills were issued for the payment and subsistence of the army. At the same time the Indians entered the northern part of the province and were within 50 miles of the capital thus surrounded by enemies. The governor took the course which was suggested equally by courage and by prudence leaving the less active part of the population to find security in the forts at Charleston. He marched with the militia towards the southern frontier which was invaded by the strongest body of Indians and at a place called salt catchers attacked and totally defeated them. The victors pursued them into their own country expelled them from it and drove them over the Savannah River. The fugitives found protection in Florida where they made a new settlement from which they continued long afterwards to make distressing incursions into Carolina. The agent who had been sent by the legislature to England to implore the protection of the proprietors have received ulterior instructions should he not succeed with them to apply directly to the king. Being dissatisfied with his reception by the proprietors, he petitioned the House of Commons who addressed the king praying his interposition and immediate assistance to the colony. The king referred the matter to the Lord's commissioners of trade and plantations whose report was unfavorable to the application because the province of Carolina was a proprietary government. They were of opinion that if the colony was to be protected at the expense of the nation, his government ought to be vested in the crown. On receiving this opinion proprietors in a general meeting about their inability to protect the province and declared that unless his Majesty would graciously please to interpose, they could foresee nothing but the utter destruction of his faithful subjects in those parts. A government unable to afford protection to the people was ill adapted to the situation of Carolina. The dissatisfaction growing out of this cause was still further augmented by the unpopular and in some instances unwise acts of the proprietors. To relieve the distress produced by war considerable sums of paper money had been issued and the proprietors on the complaint of the merchants of London engaged in the trade of the province had given instructions to reduce the quantity in circulation. 1715 to 1717. The assembly had appropriated the country of the Amazes to the use of such of his Majesty's European subjects as would settle it. Extracts from the law on the subject being published in England and in Ireland, 500 men from the latter kingdom emigrated to Carolina. The proprietors repealed this law and to the utter ruin of the emigrants as well as to the destruction of this barrier against the savages ordered the lands to be surveyed and erected into baronies for themselves. While the population was confined to the neighborhood of Charleston, all the members of the assembly have been elected at that place. As the settlements extended, this practice became inconvenient and an act was passed declaring that every parish should choose a certain number of representatives and that the elections should be held in each at the parish church. As if to destroy themselves in the province, the proprietors repealed this popular law also. Heavy expenses being still incurred for defense against the inroads of the southern Indians, the people complained loudly of the insufficiency of that government which unable itself to protect them prevented the interposition of the crown in their favor. In this temper, Governor Johnson, son of the former governor of that name, found the province. He met the assembly with a conciliatory speech and received an answer expressing great satisfaction at his appointment. His original popularity was increased by the courage he displayed in two expeditions against a formidable band of parrots. We had long invested the coast, which he entirely extirpated. 1717, these expeditions occasion still farther emissions of paper money. The governor being instructed to diminish its quantity had influence enough with the assembly to obtain an act for redeeming the bills of credit in three years by attacks on lands and Negroes. This tax falling heavily on the planters, they sought to elude it by obtaining an act for a farther emission of bills. The proprietors being informed of this design and also of an intention to make the produce of the country a tender in payment of all debts at a fixed value enjoined the governor not to give his assent to any bill until it should be laid before them. About the same time the king by an order in council signified his desire to the proprietors that they would repeal and act, passed in Carolina for imposing a duty of 10 per cent on all goods of British manufacture imported into the province. The repeal of this act and of one declaring the right of the assembly to name a receiver of the public money and of the election law were transmitted to the governor in a letter directing him to dissolve the assembly and hold a new election at Charleston according to ancient usage. 1718 the assembly being employed in devising means of raising revenue, their dissolution was deferred, but the repeal of the law imposing duties and that royal displeasure at the clause laying a duty on British manufacturers were immediately communicated with a recommendation to pass another act omitting that clause. Meanwhile, the governor's instructions were divulged. They excited great irritation and produced a warm debate on the right of the proprietors to repeal a law enacted with the consent of their deputy in the province. About this time Chief Justice Trot who had become extremely unpopular in the colony was charged with many iniquitous proceedings and the governor, the major part of the council and the assembly united in a memorial representing his malpractices to the proprietors. 1719 Mr. Young was deputed their agent to enforce these complaints. Soon after his arrival in London he presented a memorial to the proprietors detailing the proceedings of Carolina and stating the objections of the assembly to the right of their lordships to repeal laws which have been approved by their deputies. This memorial was very unfavorably received and the members of the council who had subscribed it were displaced, the proprietors asserted their right to repeal all laws passed in the province, approved the conduct of the Chief Justice, centered that of the governor in disobeying their instructions respecting the dissolution of the assembly and repeated their orders on this subject. However the governor might disapprove the instructions given him, he did not hesitate to obey them. The new council was summoned, the assembly was dissolved and rits were issued for electing another at Charleston. The public mind had been gradually prepared for a revolution and these irritating measures completed the disgust with which the people viewed the government of the proprietors an opportunity to make the change so generally desired was soon afforded. War with Spain, a rupture having taken place between Great Britain and Spain, advice was received from England of a plan formed in Havana for the invasion of Carolina. The governor convened the council and such members of the assembly as were in town and laid his intelligence before them. He at the same time stated the ruinous condition of the fortifications and proposed that some for repairing them should be raised by voluntary subscription of which he set the example by a liberal donation. The assembly declared a subscription to be unnecessary as the duties would afford an ample fund for the object. The repeal of the law imposing them was said to be utterly void and would be disregarded. Combination to subvert the government. The members of the new assembly, though they had not been regularly convened at Charleston, had held several private meetings in the country to concert measures of future resistance. They had drawn up an association for uniting the whole province in opposition to the proprietary government, which was proposed to the militia at their public meetings and subscribed almost unanimously. This Confederacy was formed with such secrecy and dispatch that before the governor was informed of it, almost every inhabitant of the province was engaged in it. The members of the assembly thus supported by the people resolved to subvert the power of the proprietors. The governor who resided in the country had no intimation of these secret meetings and transactions until he received a letter from a committee of the representatives of the people offering him the government of the province under the king. It having been determined to submit no longer to that of the proprietors. Mr. Johnson was off to suppress the spirit of revolt and hasten to town in order to lay the letter before his council. They advised him to take no notice of it until the legislature should be regularly convened. A meeting the assembly declared that the laws pretended to be repealed continued to be enforced and that no power other than that general assembly could repeal them. That the rits under which they were elected were void in as much as they had been issued by advice of an unconstitutional council. That the representatives cannot therefore act as an assembly, but as a convention delegated by the people to prevent the utter ruin of the government. And lastly that the lords proprietors had unhinged the frame of the government and forfeited their right there to and that an address be prepared to desire the honorable Robert Johnson the present governor to take on himself the government of the province in the name of the king. The address was signed by Arthur Middleton as president of the convention and by 22 members. After several unabailing efforts on the part of the assembly to induce Mr. Johnson to accept the government under the king and on his part to reinstate the government of the proprietors. He issued a proclamation dissolving the assembly and retired into the country. The proclamation was torn from the hands of the officer and the assembly elected Colonel James Moore chief magistrate of the colony. Revolution completed after proclaiming him in the name of the king and electing a council. The legislature published a declaration stating the revolution that had taken place with the causes which produced it and then proceeded deliberately to manage the affairs of the province. While Carolina was effecting this revolution the agent of the colony obtained a hearing before the lords of the Regency and Council in England. The king being then in Hanover who were of opinion that the proprietors had forfeited their charter. They ordered the attorney general to take out a skier, a fosteus against it and appointed Francis Nicholson provisional governor of the province under the king. He was received with universal joy and the people of Carolina passed with great satisfaction from the proprietor government to the immediate dominion of the crown. The proprietors surrendered to the crown. This revolution was completed by an agreement between the crown and seven of the proprietors whereby for the sum of 17,500 pounds sterling they surrendered their right and interests both in the government and soil. This agreement was confirmed by an act of parliament soon after which John Lord Catteritt the remaining proprietor also surrendered all his interest in the government but retained his rights of property. 1721 Carolina received with joy the same form of government which had been bestowed on her sister colonies. The people pleased with their situation and secure of protection turned their attention to domestic and agricultural pursuits and the face of the country soon evidenced the happy effects which result from contented industry directed by those who are to receive its fruits. 1732 the province divided for the convenience of the inhabitants the province was divided and was then forward distinguished by the names of North and South Carolina. About this period the settlement of a new colony was planned in England the tract of country lying between the river Savannah and Alata Maha being unoccupied by Europeans. A company was formed for the humane purpose of transplanting into this wilderness the suffering poor of the mother country. This territory now denominated Georgia was granted to the company and a corporation consisting of 21 persons was created under the name of trustees for settling and establishing the colony of Georgia. Large sums of money were subscribed for transporting and furnishing with necessaries such poor people as should be willing to pass the Atlantic and to seek the means of subsistence in a new world. 116 persons embarked at Graves Inn under the conduct of Mr. James Oglethorpe one of the trustees who after landing at Charleston proceeded to the tract of country lauded for the new colony and laid the foundation of the town of Savannah on the river which bears that name. Georgia settled a small fort was erected on its bank in which some guns were mounted and a treaty was held with the Creek Indians from whom the session of a considerable tract was obtained. The trustees continued to make great efforts for the accomplishment of their object and settled several companies of immigrants in Georgia. Unfortunately, the wisdom of their regulations did not equal the humanity of their motives. Totally unacquainted with the country they were to govern they devised a system for it rather calculated to impede them to promote its population. 1733 considering each male inhabitant both as a soldier and a planter to be provided with arms and ammunition for defense as well as with utensils for cultivation. They adopted the pernicious resolution of introducing such tenures for holding lands as were most favorable to a military establishment. In policy of the first regulation each tract granted was considered as a military feat for which the possessor was to appear in arms and take the field when required for the public defense. The grants were entail Malay and on the termination of the estate the lands were to revert to the trust to be re-granted to such persons as would most benefit the colony. Any lands which should not be enclosed, cleared and cultivated within 18 years reverted to the trust. The importation of big rows in Avram was prohibited and those only were allowed to trade with the Indians to whom a license should be given. However specious the arguments and support of these regulations might appear to the trustees human ingenuity could scarcely have devised a system better calculated to defeat their hopes. The tenure of lands drove the settlers into Carolina where that property might be acquired in fees simple. The prohibition of slavery rendered the task of opening the country too heavy to be successfully undertaken in that burning climate. And the restriction on their trade to the West Indies deprived them of the only market for lumber and article in which they abounded. 1734 Mr. Ogil Thorpe's first employment was the construction of fortifications for defense. He erected one fort on the savannah at Augusta and another on an island of the Alata Maha called Fraterica for defense against the Indians and the inhabitants of Florida. The Spaniards remonstrated against them and a commissioner from the Havana insisted on the evacuation of the country to the 33rd degree of North latitude which he claimed in the name of the King of Spain. But this remonstrance and claim were equally disregarded. The restrictions imposed by the trustees on the inhabitants of Georgia were too oppressive to be endured in silence. They remonstrated particularly against the tenure by which their lands were held and against the prohibition of the introduction of slaves. These complaints the result of experience were addressed to persons ignorant of the condition of the petitioners and were neglected. The colony languished while South Carolina not unlike Georgia both in soil and climate advanced with considerable rapidity. Although immigration was encouraged by paying the passage, money of the immigrants by furnishing them with clothes, arms, ammunition and implements of husbandry by maintaining their families for the first year and in some instances by furnishing them with stock. Yet the unwise policy which has been mentioned more than counterbalance these advantages and for 10 years during which time the exports from Carolina more than double the settlers in Georgia could with difficulty obtain a scanty subsistence. 1737 the differences between Great Britain and Spain not admitting of adjustment both nations prepared for war. The Spaniards strengthened East Florida and the British government ordered a regiment consisting of 600 effective men into Georgia. The command of the troops both of Georgia and Carolina was given to Major General Oglethorpe who fixed his headquarters at Frederica. Before hostilities had commenced the Spaniards at St. Augustine engaged in criminal intrigues among the blacks of Carolina. Agents have been secretly employed in seducing the slaves of that province to escape to St. Augustine where liberty was promised them and where they were formed into a regiment of officers by themselves. Either to these practices have been attended only with the loss of property but about this time the evil assumed a much more alarming form. Insurrection of the slaves a large number of slaves assembled at Stona where they forced a warehouse containing arms and ammunition murdered the whites in possession of it and after choosing a captain directed their march south westward with drums beating and colors flying. On their march they massacred the whites seized all the arms they could find and forced such blacks as did not voluntarily join them to follow their party intoxicated with art and spirits. And with their short lived success they considered their work as already achieved and altered in an open field where the time which might have been employed in promoting their design was devoted to dancing and exaltation. Fortunately the people of the neighborhood had assembled on the same day to attend divine service and as was then directed by law all the men came armed. They marched immediately against the blacks whom they completely surprised. Many were killed in the residue dispersed or taken. Thus the insurrection was suppressed on the day of its commencement and such of its leaders as survived the battle were immediately executed. During the long repose which the Pacific temper of the Duke of Orleans region to France during the minority of Louis XV and the equally Pacific temper of Sir Robert Walpole Minister of England gave to their respective countries the British colonies in America had increased rapidly in population and in wealth. Lands with Jeep and subsistence easily acquired from New York to Virginia inclusive no enemy existed to restrain new settlements and no fears of inability to maintain a family check the natural propensity to early marriages. The people were employed in cultivating the earth and in spreading themselves over the vast regions which were open to them and during this period their history furnishes none of those remarkable events which interest posterity. End of chapter 9