4 ° 
 
 | thkoiitn 
 
 1 , Ouspnwgau 
 
 oua>' v 4^ R 
 
 tie Tliuins 
 
 
 Ufichagamith ^ 
 
 fhfiaO Bead to 
 
 Inrh,,,. 
 
 VtsfansIL 
 
 it a ash i W ,f /Y"'S< 
 
 yvrVt/tersJ 
 
 V Thii’tfc'f 
 
 I (lx triton 
 
 ntru/rtf 
 
 ^QhcatinP j a p,- 
 7 yatrrnkiJ J 
 
 '"rr/ffat/t 
 
 htihi-ehouAjE 
 
 CtmfirtP^ 
 
 Wjktcl^ M Vi 
 
 ^*ci»t9UfCo 
 ■at W™ l*/ 
 
 / itANhbi 
 
 IS Crf^ n V e I 
 
 vtfaArrs 
 illon \ 
 
 
 LStytuH* 
 
 V/ ftrfinnpu^ 
 
 manioucts' 
 
 Anamt 
 
 frj&rascanj 
 
 A L ake 
 
 uce auxSaNe 
 
 V ^ 
 
 iht C< 4//^ 
 fttvry 
 
 ytceotaMme 
 
 JPontcnar train 
 fjTSJyruitr JTToqum 
 f r 
 
 vCl 
 
 iMt&iii 
 
 S S 0^ C,t 
 
 mUUUBI 
 
 SesaAinayaZ. 
 
 Kipi-sirniLSv-; 
 
 nYufiirnc.*.- 
 
 5*nfi*u 
 
 AdironS 
 
 Aleom 
 
 wuan 
 
 Iroquois 
 
 luJtuciW' 
 
 l.ouln 
 
 'Ouiutcj 
 
 * OtU&TUdf 
 
 *Za/ces 
 
 (JNTAXJO l 
 
 CohilS *T { 
 
 B d*t 7 faqjorfo' 
 
 M V?*i Uj 
 
 Tudnotfuan 
 
 ^uyntdiB 
 
 tpIcS 
 
 bufrpr/far/ujrW 
 
 i R WZ&& 111 
 
 Xa to unfit 
 - IWuu 
 
 Kt/t of \ 
 
 Ktoi/urtr 
 
 M w aaw 
 
 Ou tag’ amis 
 
 
 
 
 Mascou tins 
 
 Jtarlfo J 
 
 North America j 
 
 nittotifrrrtur 
 
 From the IFeach of 
 
 1 
 
 VwtnyriF** 
 
 futodiitne 
 AS T ftcmt/i 
 
 AvRochrr a, 
 f/irfotfff Y/ieRocJc 
 
 M 1{ D Anvtlle 
 
 £j/uun<” 
 
 
 JifiUtUlp 
 
 ffe<FHlJAJ>EU nil# 
 
 Improved with the. Back Settlements of 
 Mrginia and Course of Oltio 
 ILLUSTRATED 
 
 Izijsr 
 
 y-Xanvarw 
 
 
 fl onrtr 
 Shananrc 
 
 Hex and/ > 
 
 CdrtMt/A 
 
 Ar'i 
 
 m//> Geoyiaftlucal md TIioteniaf Ran ark 
 
 Explanation 
 
 Canada, & l/u I) i emA fnwu/i/tir/itj, 
 djY durtitUfiivdied Ay Nelli 
 The i fpanhffi Se/tZnmti w Given ; 
 and the E/i^lisA Cdhv^i Cdlvutv 
 
 Wallers , ('e&hrntenb 
 
 CXf\. - 
 
 Tfknfes 
 
 W/tmiy 
 
 yltmifttk 
 
 •Inlet 
 
 \Gr a jvvil l e S\ 
 
 1 
 
 Cheetoue 0 
 
 L Anutye 
 
 | C H A 
 
 vuirfeSinmtl 
 
 wmokl 
 
 £\p<'A<rrnf 7 ' 
 
 B 
 
 JjJo'/ft/tlSSC- 
 
 *11. rfftms 
 
 7 Rilr/f 7 iW 
 
 cmioivcU 
 
 *0 110 440 4 I 
 
 fitiMT 
 
 
 Jukot 
 
 Sanau 
 
 Luviul 
 
 kiuxaue 
 
 ifatims 
 
 uu/atu 
 
 \tfnrc 
 
 lS *5 j @JaKiqrtJ 
 
 If (Cm A 
 
 , (mg Ra) 
 
 RUAcdjOA^ 
 
 Catlhdians cr jh/^ tn 
 
 Carfnvt 
 
 Edit tW 
 
 tb'dForf \ 
 
 \FAryylt 
 
 'KatheritiMl 
 
 fnpotaJ 
 
 ydj Yapahya 
 
 Cfittrm, 
 
 Bile 
 
 CEicondti 
 
 WEST- 
 
 7 ° Weil Longitude iVom Vmo 
 
 French 
 
 The French w tdSj /vatu/ So/t tarts /v ton^utr New Vork,>^^ 
 mucarrysl, ** tA/metr dtru/n cm Bofton in /Spy 
 The Ohio (ottn/tr tens Antrim carAv fv rltt EiigJif^ ^ tAorvufAAy 
 JuecYmUbeyeml the Mifiilsippi Ay ( <V Wood t pemi fa t£6+as <tl*e 
 
 ly Ctyt.Btrtt m tdjc m 7 (yS tuv J/yv salt Ay J) ’ tba of >> w Jerfey 
 I ducweril Ae JCntm of tAabJir Wr, alul satiny ft p too M/at. tnrA/iesses- 
 start, and ca/Aed it C ai olana .next Tear Mt Frei'ieli pnr/ fi un d and srff/ed im 
 tt frvm thence to Illinois R. m jo'Zat. Mer at// Louafiaua ./ the Trade 
 
 I y-'Wtieh teas ymrtfrd tv Jt Crvsat in tfiz ./ 
 
 Since the Peace o/'Ptrccht thrv haiv da i/p enrnradted, in i 7 *S they 
 hyan tv dispute our title tvM ova Scotia. f}»S thy? re/wes.vd ? x X* non- 
 rille near the /alls < 7 t ’Niawgra , /wr/eriny Weston the SvcXdtOTts. /y^i 
 
 [ they hilt Frederick at Crown Point 'rio.l/ihrs South of S t Laurence 
 River, in r 7 So thy seized two parts in Mire y’NWa Scoda. Av erectieia 
 ,?? 77 ir ^ Slieg^iiktD Bay Vei-te, <///</ a/ the Mouth JoKns K ^ > 7 5 ? 
 
 and 4 .two more on Lake Erri in ryfi, and yy; . 
 
 I In tjS 4 dter ly /in re tind our two Forts on the Qhhoa/idrn Me 
 
 Great* Ifeadowt: drove cm r People out op' their lack Settlements, and as it 
 uvrr heep Virginia At teryd, all this they have, done in fane of Peace, ahmt 
 rpt> they halt a Ri't on the Alabama R in Me tou/itry of the Creek In - 
 
 t duuis.tv cttt'l and straiten South Carolina M/ts they have hemmdvtcur 
 Colonies irrth Ports and catt a/four Jracle <L 1 4 /liance rrrth the Indians 
 
 Toy 2 French Colonies there air onl\> trvo Inlets, die flirt/* S f Lau 
 reuce and Mil sill; ipi 1 chose Aim Ms are alpre rooo Jjf.ifu/s asunder, and 
 | AoM theii mtiwices of difficult a*\xss. the fist Aeuy /idf of Pods the / 
 
 Pi J / A r / n () 7 T -r cr 
 
 Incroachment S 
 
 Canada in r7tf had not more Man 45000 Inha Attnnts of 
 which 15000 were /tyhtiiy Aftn .Quebec had 15000 Inhaln hints i\ 
 500 Soldiers; or more than at ArM Trois Rivieres and Montreal, 
 their oMer bvo . letdem cuts L ou 1 harm has not one tireffh Me 
 nunilet' of Men as in Canada ndiereas our Colonies 0011/imi Aetnre/i 
 000.000 Ha Million </’EngUlh out of whom qo or 100000 Men 
 for defence may Ae tvisedjntt a fen • united are an over match fir 
 Minded minders . 
 
 The French are in tinders into C anada .part of Cabots dis- 
 covery and have no Piyht hit Ay Treaties, as appears fom their 
 claimituf underVerrozams flifane/y in 1504, thouyh tne/tfy seven 
 Years offer Cabots 
 
 YKvm •JP wm 
 
 - - ^g m eri)TW^ r 
 
 ki r/tif/C 
 
 ocamamua 
 
 [ 
 
 1 1* > ? 
 
 ■ \ 1S1L < 
 
 
 fi 
 
 '-.X s • 
 
 p 4 
 
 Sf Pi'lf/v -Bti/ih 
 
 eLg, 
 
 'r: J° 
 
 U ,„Y *" u 
 
 V, 
 
 1 ;^ 
 
 mu W j \ t 
 
 SaH-RiiS: YA 
 
 K c A 
 
 
 ditties town 
 
 jgjtf.Gs **&.Xvna> Styulatodt/tf 
 
 lt(7U/ui^ cfStfSt Carolina ly C/uuter iHfe . 
 
 The IhigJiQi claim a/lls cult America to settle in ,lj>y J) is - 
 d>veey c/X abot m j^gy fyjn fal £7° to Cape of Florida tit *5. 
 oad/il the Newfoundlands til! S 1 Walter Ralciglis Tayayei/i /fSj; 
 thenceforth Virginia 
 
 The Englifk Settlements fy (hunts cadend fom Sea to Sea 
 or fixvn the E to the West Court oflhe Abutment inhere New Albi- 
 on 11 -as ieded ly itsKuxy to S r Fr Drake in yy; 
 
 K . James l./SoC made tiranto to thv Companies to one from 
 Lal.yf to 4 f to the other /rcm$8* to 4/ C arolma .Virgmia^/tjwr, 
 and Maryland fill to one:to &*■ ^^y*NewEngJand.New York, 
 
 New Jerfey and IVufylvania . afAtmvrdr distinct Chan/s Iwy modi 
 of tAem ,Nova Scoda andS^F Britain Virginia or atfSarik Ame 
 iica fvoame dm deet 7 into feeetr parts under dfferent names 
 
 Virginia joryoer/p calltd^rtded tti James R / Co 7. JY^lvunds 
 ly Grand Zap. y/ °the Scu/fa^o 0 • fy agreement and was nai 
 tn 17214 . t?cve/7tnif an j pfcwrty in l/te firrwn . 
 
 New England , indujdv 1 ™* (nae/rr/Y irgmia Patent . lias 
 if ranted t£o£ and settled h ^av t/ie /minds extend from Tat. 
 
 40 • to 48* Month . Wertfrom Sea to Sea . if'nof fossess - 
 
 ed ly aty Chnstum Stofcyi h GnrtrtofJsaneil.^ IXov./fot . 
 
 Nova Scotia usurped 'hyTraieA /Coy .foreed out fy Argal /C/j. 
 pranted/dbi to S r \S TIU Aleic^cr Ady d'Mtk/t was S^Laivrcnce R ony. 
 d-G/TFStCmixly a v/Grant dSS d UUf t 7 ilvyed to EennebekR 
 to <v Atfaid'Sovz Scobai^ Accadia {so cadd dyyEetudiJ asfrant- 
 ed *£&$ fy Lewn XIH mu a or / tine* oonifueed fy / r Engli(li,Ay^v// 
 up toy French , who ut 17 , y jy y. Utrecht Treaty ceded ituitirefy to Q . Ann 
 
 “ 56 W<‘iHoa & itucle li< n " Cif 5 
 
 English Title to tK ir Settlements on the Continent. 
 
 c, rccptuig C ape Bjain /r^v/rV AC Ahrveenment my. Crown . R . StLamen<* / |w / the S.Sea Jlesf.iune more limited and reiy narrow toivardy. Sea 
 
 Mary] and /^^/^ATrgi ma pvntrdtoLanl Baltimore 2oJun. Coast exc/ueiAfl Long Island ; Auty/roivs fnvadei- toi\*ards the Country of the Six 
 
 rdya fy K CliarleJ ruuned it after his (J u fen .settled m r£s 3 Ar ' Nations . whiJi \ supposed to le comprised ut it Property AC Government in the Crown, 
 
 tends It. to lot 41s a he Mites Adore 58° East ly the Ocean jC extends Penfyhaja named from, its P vpnefor ’W nu Pen Efq r <7 ranted AyJL .Cha II .1680 
 
 W.toy&Mdofi f \^ c tR .Property HCoxemm hit v.Pvpnetor. Bjnmxd&s from the A'cfrtny of the jd to the 43 c of%itotode, Etn Loiuyitude y Dry. Tf. ^/’Deiawar 
 
 ' * • y v * J lUj| JiC fL J k • M- * yt'r w +-yr n — j w ^ 1/ ^ ^ ^ ^ w 
 
 Carolina Y 4 rst» Mwr one County till 17 ^ French Huycneto S j s ] es R • exepAny iffdes round Newcaille in /C 82 the Duke ofXwkiinurfrd to himadp 
 utruJino in Charles F. at Pori Royal . cutt off 15 C. 7 ly 9 ^ NewN etlien Js fom riMdesX 
 
 mtnidino in ’$6A, u j- Charles F. at Port Royal 
 the Spaniards tfM , destroy'd ly Me French 1587. fom thence un 
 setded accept- trt 22 Hjj Ay a feic Englifh. tilt yrantod to 8 Pv - 
 pnetors i8t>$ Alat.^Cyo .toy /R StMatheiv in Ji * tCJf to the 
 South Sea . Me'orter urur mated 1728 Aly of the oha/nr Aouyht- 
 ih fyy ( Crcu 7i : ii f L ^ e /uuulsy Ccn e/nni C Property myPeopAe 
 
 NewJeHk;^ Aetuven Maryland .Peniyhania. and New York . 
 ytartofyl/ttosh w >j et l ieJ l mds tahen from them m 166*7 , Xyra/d- 
 ed toy Duke of)^ f /dm to Lord Berkley and S r Geo Cartaret 
 recover! fy the ^ r 672. Aut restored 167$, and reyranted to and 
 A)> t/u Duke rifo fa Janlt proprietors, who drilled itly aLdiefm 
 Soidhto Worthy Berkeley had Mu W Jerfey, and S r Geo C arteret 
 the Baft J eT ^Tw united Property m the Proprietors, Government 
 and Junilu/wn j m ^ ^ fa frown rjoi . 
 
 New York m mi fad h Hudfon 1608 sdio pair las name to ihe 
 R Aciufhtdif Cttfy oftheTndians and sold it to the Dutch, Cha J. 
 elawdn^it the ^ fa„ m a tide . and Me Dutch ionpany offad 
 fir 00 htothrtjraet. bald Foils mul call it wiM NewJerfeyNew 
 Netherlands .d[ cony uerd wi/iH Jerfey and fronted tv Me D. 
 ifYoTk/indudffY^lSh'xxe . its hounds at first we, Earth the 
 
 ^Neivcaftle , S. to Cape Hinlopen in w • , 
 is called i the D^vare or Lower Counties Pivperty At (roivniment in the Proymetors 
 
 Georgn ft r 7 was part of ^ Carolina it was setded seperated .AC fronted to 
 a Corporation ijthriyht ferny iTetirs Property and Goi^inme/itnrhioh tost was then 
 tv murttv jhfrnm . 
 
 Five NatiPS cal/d Iroquois fy the French are Me Mohawks , Oncout or Onidos 
 Onondawgaws Wowgaws and Senekas , the Tufkarorah male a Siath Meir Country 
 eaten dr firm s Ip 1 *k tudi 16 mXW.of ASdcixiy ,to the Niawgra Straits ofLahe Erri 
 pa o Ctldes 
 
 They arelMundedfd Ay Me Utrecht Treaty to Ae Snfyecti cf ’Great Britain , 
 which claims fisttAe all the Cou/rby Vest to the Mifsifsipi , and South to the Che- 
 rakee R.n 7 ^i if Country if the AleFsafs agues .arid Northern Iroquoi s , lymy Atyoh? 
 Me Tales and Ontario and S^LaurenceR . as fir East as 31 uiitreal ui nyhi 
 
 of their ( bn<fitp: and alt the Country North to the same Pwer: and East Aeyoiid 
 Jroquoise ZcJtjpd. P nw. as their^ -hitient 7 ?i ntoi lies . besides the Zands of Meir 
 Fne/nls . w/eiifw Firnch agreed not to inoleil ; they can raise lyoofifhtmyJIeu 
 and air A/tie/fthe Englifh;p/fo call them Drethien ,aiid under the Protection 
 ^'NewYork i; — 1 
 
 
 nefs thofViixco of AValcLs' near Cl 
 
.anJ Mu S Sea HWt.ruw more dimited andrery narrow tinvard v.Sea 
 re of long Island ; tutyrmes Invader towards the Country rp'MeSa 
 u eupposed. to le comprised. m it.Preperfr it Government itcdie Crvwrt". 
 nia named from Ur PvpneforW^Pcn Y&f fronted fyTL!&to. 1 b.t68o 
 ’truy of Me 40* to the 43 c ofPatrtude. it in ZorwMide y Dep . 7G</'De]awar 
 iJUim /W4'2t/lNCTvcaJUe in r(r8a Me Duke of York iinmtrd to Arm a s/p 
 wAsfiom /a . Ifdes N. a/’Newcaflle . S to Cape Hinlopen in 38*43 w Mpart 
 •elavare or Lower Counties Property tC Government in. Me Proprietors 
 hit ’J 31 mis part of&t Carolina if was settled seperatect X'aranted &> 
 xi’idtriy/if /ornr Tears Property arul GovernmentnrAicA tost was Men 
 \tCrrmi. 
 
 have, did Iroquois fy Me French. are die Jlohawks . Oncout or Onidos 
 Kawgaws and Senekas Me Tulkarorali male a. JurM Muir Country 
 kenktadi tG mJt.Wof Albany/a t/ie \iawgra Straits ofZalce Ijrri 
 
 aoeundedyd ly Me Utrecht Treaty to le Srdyeots <7 'Great Britain , 
 oIIMr Country West to MeMiTsiCsipi.and SouMtv Me Che- 
 Me'oiwtry if Me UeCsds&gues.andPoriAsrn Iroquws.^y/rpm? 
 mn "'‘‘I Ontario and S^aurenceR asfrPa.r/asMontroalmnoh 
 ests and ad Me Country PorM fo Me same Piver. and East levond 
 o anJJtn-er. as Meir. trident Pemtones . Isoldes Me lands ofMeir 
 n tirt FirnoA agTeed not to inoleil they ran raise ryoofjpAtma Jim 
 s fine Eug-lifliWi? ca// Mem BieMrni, and under Me Ptote<ii'on 
 
SUMMARY, 
 
 Hiftorical and Political, 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Firft Planting, Progreflive Improvements, 
 and Prefent State of the British Set- 
 tlements in North-Ame Rica. 
 
 CONTAINING 
 
 I. Some general Account of ancient 
 and modern Colonies, the grant- 
 ing and fettling of the Britifh 
 Continent and Weft-India I /land 
 Colonies, with fome tranfient 
 
 i Remarks concerning the adjoin- 
 ing French and Spanifti Settle- 
 ments, and other Remarks of 
 various Natures. 
 
 II. The Hudfon’s-Bay Company’s 
 Lodges, Fur and Skin Trade. 
 
 III. Newfoundland Harbours and 
 Cod-Filhery. 
 
 IV. The Province of L’Acadie or 
 Nova Scotia ; with the Vicifli- 
 tudes of the Property and Ju- 
 rifdi&ion thereof, and its prefent 
 State. 
 
 V. The feveral Grants of Saga* 
 dahock. Province of Main, Mat 
 fachufetts-Bay, and New- Ply- 
 mouth, united by a new Char- 
 ter in the prefent Province of 
 Maflachufetts - Bay, commonly 
 called New-England. 
 
 By WILLIAM DOUGLASS, M.D, 
 VOL. I. 
 
 Ne quid falfi dicere audeat, ne quid veri non audeat. Cicero. 
 
 LONDON, 
 
 Printed for R. and J. Dodsley, in Palt-malL 
 
 MDCCLX. 
 
I 
 
(i) 
 
 THE 
 
 AUTHOR 
 
 TO THE 
 
 READER. 
 
 T HIS Historical Summary con- 
 cerning the Britifh continent planta- 
 tions in North-America, we publifhed in 
 loofe fheets by way of pamphlet, feuille 
 volante, or los-blad j which in their nature 
 are temporary, and foon loft ; but as it is 
 generally well received, that it may be 
 more permanent, we publifh it in two large 
 odtavo volumes. 
 
 Vol. I. Part I. contains general affairs, 
 viz. fome account of ancient and modern 
 colonies, the fir ft grants and fettling of our 
 continent colonies and Weft-India iflands, 
 Vol. I. A and 
 
and the adjoining French and Spanifti fet- 
 tlements, with remarks of various natures. 
 
 Vol. I. Part ii. contains, i. The Hud- 
 fon’s-bay company’s fettlements, fa&ories 
 or lodges, and their fur and {kin trade. 
 
 2. Newfoundland cod-fifhery. 3. The pro- 
 vince of Nova-Scotia j the viciflitudes un- 
 der the Britifti and French jurifdi&ions. 
 4. The feveral grants united by a new char- 
 ter in the province of Maffachufetts-bay. 
 
 Vol II. concerning the fundry other 
 Britifh provinces, colonies, or plantations, 
 in the continent of North-America, viz. 
 New-Hampfhire, Rhode-Illand, Connefti- 
 cut, Eaft and Weft Jerfeys, Penfylvania 
 higher and lower, Maryland, and Virginia. 
 Throughout are interfperfed feveral mifcel- 
 laneous affairs, fuch as the natural hiftory, 
 the diftempers at times epidemical, and 
 the endemial difeafes in thefe various cli- 
 mates, with their paper currencies ; as 
 alfo fome addenda and corrigenda, parti- 
 cularly, if, by hiftorical freedoms ufed, 
 any juft offence (humanum eft errare) is 
 given to perfon or perfons, it ftiall be can- 
 didly re&ified. 
 
 The 
 
( iii ) 
 
 The writer, with candour, acknowledges 
 that in the affair of commodore Knowles’s 
 imprefs in the harbour of Bofton, Nov. 
 loiit 1747, there was fomew’hat of paffionate* 
 tradt warmth and indifcretion, merely in affec- 
 :pro tion to Bofton, and country of New-bng- 
 S1 ^ an d, his altera patria'; but not with ran- 
 EHoo; cour or malice, having no perfonal ac- 
 ch quaintance nor dealings with Mr. Knowles ; 
 ly. therefore from common fame, he (as hifto- 
 otti nans do) only narrates his peculiar temper, 
 itiot; his feverity in difcipline, and not fo much 
 w regard as fome other fea commanders have 
 inc$ for the mercantile intereft, by impreffino p 
 rlvs their men, when he thought the publick 
 rg® fervice required it : his general courage as 
 nife a officer is not queftioned } the lnfinua- 
 liftor t i° n concerning his perfonal courage, has 
 1, jr been conftrued amifs j the refuftng paf- 
 ius d donate challenges from private mafters of 
 sfi merchant fhips, whofe men he had im- 
 part prefted, which perhaps might deprive the 
 i nation of his fervice, is no flut 
 
 arc) . ^ ^ ie writer declares that he had no other 
 
 je ce intention, than by letting the affair in a 
 
 ftrong light, to contribute towards extend- 
 
( iv ) 
 
 j n o- to the continent colonies, particularly 
 to New* England, a late a£t of parliament 
 again ft impreffing of failors in the fugar 
 Weft-India iflands. Therefore as this af- 
 fair was temporary, of no ufe, and may 
 give offence, it is fupprefled in the prefent 
 publication of this firft volume of the Sum- 
 mary. Admiral Knowles, ffnce he failed 
 from Bofton, has been happy in fuccefsful 
 expeditions, particularly in reducing the 
 fort of Port- Louis of Hifpaniola, and in 
 beating a fuperior Spanifh fquadron off the 
 Havannah ; he has been in a courfe of pre- 
 ferments ; and profperous as to his private 
 fortune. 
 
 William Douglass, 
 
arlj 
 
 m 
 
 if 
 
 sat 
 
 m 
 
 efeo: 
 
 m 
 
 failct 
 
 dsM 
 
 ;tl 
 
 idi 
 
 ft 
 
 pre- 
 
 ■mil 
 
 ASS, 
 
 [ v ] 
 
 ... ... - ■ ■ — ■ — 
 
 THE 
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 Of Vol. I. Part, h 
 
 B oundaries between the Britijh and French colonies of 
 North -America i 
 
 Ancient and modern navigation , and colonies in general i 7 
 The firft adventures from Europe to the E. and IV. Indies 25 
 Hutch Eajl- India trade 30 
 
 Scots Darien company 44 
 
 Digrejfion concerning whaling 56 
 
 Spanijh difcoverics and fettlements 63 
 
 Englijh South -fea company and bubble 74 
 
 French Mijfjflppi bubble 78 
 
 French difcoveries and fettlements 90 
 
 Portuguefe difcoveries and fettlements 1 03 
 
 Dutch difcoveries and fettlements 106 
 
 Britijh general difcoveries and fettlements on the conti- 
 nent and fugar-iflands 109 
 
 Digrejfion , concerning fugar 1 1 5 
 
 Barbadoes 130 
 
 Leeward iflands 136 
 
 Jamaica 141 
 
 Bahama iflands 145 
 
 Bermudas 146 
 
 The eaflern tribes of North- America Indians , their polity , 
 trade, religion, food and language 151 
 
 Religion of ancient nations in general 163 
 
 Our wars with the Indians 189 
 
 General remarks concerning the conflitution of the Britijh 
 colonies 201 
 
 Pfcoveries 
 
VI 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 Difcoveries before grants 205 
 
 ‘Tbeir religious fedlaries 224 
 
 Societies for propagating the gofpel 231 
 
 Utopian amufements concerning the regulating our colonies 233 
 
 Concerning the magnetick needle , and its •variations in 
 
 North- America, (Ac. 
 
 part n. 
 
 JLjUdfon' s-bay company and trade 
 
 Cabots , Porbifloer, Gilbert, Davis, Hudfon 
 Greenland 'whaling 
 Middleton a id Dobbs 
 
 Button, James , Baffin, Fox, Danes , Guillam 
 
 Hudfon' s-bay charter 
 
 Frenffi depredations there 
 
 Hudfon' s-bay weather 
 
 N. IV. paffiage 
 
 Middleton's voyage 
 
 Newfoundland, its filhery 
 
 Fijheries of five fpccies, whales, herring, cod, ftnaller 
 kinds , and for prefent ufe 
 
 No va Scotia 
 
 Port -Royal reduced by G. Nicholfon 1710 
 A Canada expedition under Sir William Phipps 1 690 
 Paper currencies animadverted 
 A Canada expedition mif carries tjn 
 A 'an ad a defigned expedition abortive 1 746 
 New-England Indian war 1722 , (Ac. 
 
 New England Indian war, 1 744 , (Ac. 
 
 French attempts upon Annapolis 1 744 , (Ac. 
 
 Duke d’Anvi lie's expedition to North- America 
 IJland of Sable 
 Cape-Breton ifland 
 
 Reduction of Louijbourg 2 3 6 , 
 
 North- America fea campaigns 1 744-4^-46 47 
 
 Affairs of Louijbourg 
 
 Paper currencies animadverted 
 
 Province of Maffachufetts-bay 
 
 263 
 
 2 73 
 
 ibid. 
 
 274 
 
 2 75 
 
 276 
 
 2 77 
 
 278 
 
 281 
 
 283 
 
 284 
 287 
 
 294 
 
 305 
 
 308 
 
 309 
 
 310 
 3" 
 3*4 
 
 3*7 
 
 320 
 
 3*8 
 222 
 
 334 
 
 335 
 345 
 338 
 353 
 
 359 
 
 361 
 
 General 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 • • 
 vn 
 
 General account 
 
 3 6 ’ 1 
 
 Hiftorians faulted 
 
 3 6 5 
 
 Irijh prejbyterian church in Bojlon 
 
 368 
 
 A general account of the fettling of New-England 
 
 369 
 
 Maffachufetts new charter 
 
 372 
 
 Explanatory charter 1726 
 
 380 
 
 Sagadahock or duke of York's property 
 
 
 Province of Main 
 
 386 
 
 Late Plymouth colony 
 
 394 
 
 Boundaries with Rhode-ijland detennined 
 
 39 8 
 
 JJland near Cape-Cod 
 
 405 
 
 Maffachufetts-Bay old colony 
 
 406 
 
 Authors faulted 
 
 407 
 
 Old charter 
 
 408 
 
 Contrcverjies with New-Hampfhire 
 
 410 
 
 Charter vacated and revolution 
 
 412 
 
 Boundary lines 
 
 4 t 5 
 
 Wheelwright' s grant 
 
 419 
 
 Million purchafe 
 
 ibid . 
 
 Boundary with New-Hampfhire 
 
 421 
 
 General Hijlory under old charter 
 
 426 
 
 Governors 
 
 428 
 
 Law and cujloms 
 
 431 
 
 Mint-houfe 
 
 433 
 
 County divijions 
 
 437 
 
 Religious feSiaries 
 
 43 8 
 
 Independents 
 
 439 
 
 Church of England 
 
 442 
 
 Brownijts 
 
 443 
 
 Anabaptifts 
 
 445 
 
 Muggletonians 
 
 447 
 
 Quakers 
 
 ibid . 
 
 Witchcraft 
 
 449 
 
 Maffachufetts mountains and hills 
 
 45 2 
 
 ■ Rivers and runs of water 
 
 • Promontories 
 
 455 
 
 463 
 
 The new Maffachufetts charter 
 
 464 
 
 America poft office and great road 
 
 465 
 
 Civil 
 
O' 
 
 viii CONTENTS. 
 
 Civil Adminiftration ; general ajfembly or legiflature 4 yi 
 Governors 475 
 
 Secretaries 483 
 
 Admiralty ibid. 
 
 Surveyors of the woods 484 
 
 Cujiom officers , and auditor 48 4 
 
 Council board 
 
 Houfe of reprefentatives 488 
 
 Some political plantation obfervations 490 
 
 Paper currencies animadverted 493 
 
 The three negatives in a joint capacity 4^7 
 
 Houfe of reprefentatives, continued 499 
 
 Cape Breton reimburfement 509 
 
 The confutation of New-England townfhips 512 
 
 Provincial civil officers of Maffachufetts-Bay 515 
 
 Executive ' courts r , 7 
 
 Taxes and valuations ^ 24 
 
 Annual fupplies 527 
 
 Reimburfement s for Cape Breton 528 
 
 Majfachufetts inhabitants , produce , manufactures 529 
 
 Efkablifhments military fea and land 532 
 
 Fi/hery, timber and grain 537 
 
 Rum , hats , iron 
 
 College in Maffachufetts-Bay ^43 
 
 French and Indian wars fince the revolution , with a cir- 
 cumjlantiated account of our late French and Indian 
 war in the adminijlraticn of governor Shirley 548 
 
 The French claims to fotne part of Nova-Scc tia revived 566 
 Proceedings at the court of Great Britain, towards en- 
 couraging the fettling and fifhery of Nova-Scotia ibid. 
 
 Place the Map to Face the Title of Vol. I. 
 
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 - A 
 
 SUMMARY, 
 
 Historical and Political, 
 
 o F 
 
 The firft planting, progreffive improvements, and 
 prefent ftate of the Britijh fettlements in North- 
 America ; with fome tranfient accounts of the 
 bordering French and Spanijh fettlements. 
 
 A S diftance of place does equally or rather more 
 admit of latitude, for imperfe<5t, erroneous, and 
 romantic accounts of affairs than diftance of 
 time ; the author, after thirty years refidence in thefe 
 colonies, and correfpondence with fome inquifitive 
 gentlemen of the feveral governments, does generoufly 
 offer to the public the following colleftion, done with 
 fome expenfe of time borrowed from the bufinefs of his 
 profeffion, and hours of relaxation ; without any mer- 
 cenary, fordid, fcribbling view of profit, or oftentation 
 of more knowledge in thefe things than fome of his 
 neighbours, but to contribute towards a folid certain 
 foundation for the hiftories of thefe countries in times to 
 come. The people in Europe (the public boards not 
 excepted) have a very indiftinft notion of thefe fettle- 
 ments, and the American fettlers are too indolent, to 
 acquaint themfelves with the ftate of their neighbouring 
 colonies. ° ° 
 
 ^ 0L ’ ^ £ Defcriptions 
 
2 Britilh and French Settlements PartI. 
 
 Defcriptions and bare relations, although accurate and 
 inftrudtive, to many readers are infipid and tedious ; 
 therefore a little feal'oning is fometimes ufed ; where a 
 mica falis occurs, it may not be difagreable ; it is not 
 defigned with any malicious invidious view. For the 
 fame reafon, a fmall digreflion, but not impertinent to 
 the fubjeft, is now and then made ufe of j as alfo fome 
 Ihort illuftrations. 
 
 • SECT. I. 
 
 Concerning the boundaries between the Britifh and 
 French fettlements in North-America. 
 
 A S a treaty of peace feems to be upon the anvil in 
 Europe between Great-Britain and France-, the 
 fubjedt-matter of this lection, is to propole a fcheme 
 (the more propofals or projections, the more choice) to- 
 wards determining and fettling the territorial limits, and 
 thofeof an exclufive Indian trade, between Great-Britain 
 and France in North-America. The fcheme mult be 
 Ihort, elfe it will not be attended to, and therefore .requires 
 fome previous elucidations, and fome Ihort anticipating 
 accounts of things. 
 
 Our principal intereft is to rival the French and Dutch 
 in their trade and navigation, without diltindtion or par- 
 tiality to either. In this prefent war, the French court 
 feems to neglebt their colonies, trade, and navigation, the 
 principal care of their late good and great minifter Car- 
 dinal de Fleury -, and run into their former romantic 
 humour of land-conquefts. This is the opportunity to 
 take the advantage of their inattention, more efpecially 
 with regard to North-America, our prefent fubjedl. 
 
 The French are the common nufance and difturbers 
 of Europe, and will, in a Ihort time, become the fame in 
 America, if not mutilated at home, and in America 
 fenced off from us by ditches and walls, that is, by great 
 
 rivers 
 
Sect. 1. in North-AmericA.' ~d 
 
 ^ rivers and impra&icable mountains. They are a nu-* 
 rnerous, powerful, rich, and polite nation, they have the 
 j s ‘ advantage of us in three grand articles. 
 
 i . Their government is abfolutely monarchical ; tax 
 " at pleafure ; not accountable for monies expended in 
 fecret fervices (in Great-Britain, the article for fecret fer- 
 vices in the civil lift, is fmall, and when the parliament 
 allows any fum extraordinary for that ufe, it occafions a 
 — grumbling both within and without doors.) In this they 
 have the advantage of us, well knowing, that not only 
 private perfons, but minifters of ftate, generals, admirals, 
 even fovereigns may be bought or bribed ; the late E. of 
 Or— d, the grand matter of corruption, when he gave 
 A ' himfelf the loofe, at times declared, “ Thatthere was no 
 “ private perfon or community, but what might be ccrr- 
 m “ rupted, provided their price could be complied with.” 
 ^ therefore becomes the reprefentatives of Great-Britain, 
 ™ narrowly to inlped into the conduft of their minifters, 
 see,: and other great officers in truft, efpecially in making 
 
 iits,! treaties with France. The infamous treaty of Utrecht, 
 •fc 1 7 1 3, was procured by the French court bribing our cor- 
 
 nui rupted adminiftration •, that part of it relating to the Bri- 
 
 rH F tilh northern American colonies will in time.be their ruin, 
 
 ciji if not reftified and explained. 2. By cuftom time out of 
 mind, they are above, and do upon all occafions dilpenle 
 ][L with, the principles of honefty and honour ; fuperiority 
 
 i*F and power is their only rule, as Louis XIV modeftly ex- 
 
 prefied it, in the device upon his canon, ratio ultima reguine 
 ioM they occafionally make dupes of the other princes in Eu*- 
 terCf rope ; their promifes and faith are by them ufed only as a 
 jnt fort of fcaffolding, which, when the ftrudlure is finilhed, 
 
 0, or project effefled, they drop-, in all public treaties 
 
 ped- they are gens de mauvaife foy. This may feem an unman- 
 
 ft nerl y national refleftion ; but, at this time, it could not 
 Bok be avoided, confidering their perfidioufly exciting a re- 
 fills be] lion in Great-Britain, contrary to their folemn acknow- 
 
 imff ledgment and guarantee of the Hanover fucceffion, by in- 
 1 ]f citing the Highlanders to rapine and killing of their 
 
 lit Ha country- 
 
^ Britifh and French Settlements Fart I. 
 
 countrymen j their re-fortifying of Onnkn-k in time of 
 peace ; their violating of their guarantee of the pragma- 
 tic fanEIion, concerning the Auftrian fucceffi on, 1 by inva- 
 fion of Germany. 3. The greateft and moft effentid 
 real article is, the largenefs of their dominions in the belt 
 country of Europe, and thereby are become an over- 
 match for their neighbours, and more capable of Iwarm- 
 ing into their colonies than we are. In order to preierve 
 a balance in Europe, they ought to be curtailed or dif- 
 membred there, which will effectually, at the fame time, 
 prevent their too great growth in America. 
 
 Louifbourg being now in our pofieffion, there can be 
 no great difficulty in reducing of Canada : at prefent it 
 is not populous (perhaps not exceeding 12,000 men ca- 
 pable of marching) neither is it compaft (from the mouth 
 of St. Laurence river to its rife from lake Ontano, at 
 fort Frontenac, are about 800 miles •,) and the French 
 (without a pun) are like cocks which fight beft upon 
 their own dunghill : witneis, their late behaviour in 
 Germany, in Italy, their late poltronnerie in Cape-Breton, 
 and at fea. Flanders is their own dunghill, and perhaps 
 for politic reafons, the allies allow them to over-run it, 
 it will be to them a chargeable pofieffion, and a diminu- 
 tion of their army in garrifoning of fo many towns : 
 thus by giving them fcope, they may run themfelves out 
 of breath, that is, out of men and money, and become an 
 
 eafy prey. < * 
 
 Cape-Breton iflands and Canada being reduced, would 
 be to us an immenfe advantage, viz. the monopoly of all 
 the American fiffi, fur, and fkins trade, provided thele 
 acquifitions could be annexed to Great-Britain, as a lad- 
 ing pofieffion : but unlefs in the prefent treaty we could 
 abfolutely give the law to France, and perfuade the other 
 powers of Europe to allow us this monopoly, we fhould 
 to no purpofe, incur (if not reimburfed from home) an 
 inextricable expenfe or debt, and by extending or ftretch- 
 ing our colonies, render them more (lender and weak; 
 we are not capable of fettling inland countries in a fhort 
 
 time. 
 
Sect. I. in North-America. 5 
 
 time, our European dominions cannot allow or fpare 
 people fufficient for that purpofe. The Phoenicians, 
 Greeks, Venetians, Genoefe, & c . formerly had many 
 factories and colonies in fundry places, but for want of 
 people fufficient to maintain thefe pofleffions, they foon 
 vanished. It is true, the Dutch, an amphibious man- 
 animal, though a fmall people, maintain their ground in 
 their colonies : but we may obferve, they never run their 
 fettlements far from their natural and trading element, 
 the water. 
 
 Formerly priority of difcovery was reckoned a proper 
 claim. The Cabots coafted North-America (they were 
 in Canada river) in the end of the fifteenth century. 
 Secretary Walfingham, being informed of an opening 
 wefterly, north of North- Virginia (Nova Scotia and New 
 England were foon after called North-Virginia) anno 
 1583, lent out vefiels upon the difcovery •, they failed up 
 the river of St. Laurence, took pofifeffion of Canada, 
 and fettled fome trade there. In Queen Anne’s mani- 
 fefto, difperfed in Canada, annoiyn, when the expe- 
 dition for the redudtion of it, was on foot, it is laid, 
 “ That Canada belonged to the Engliffi by priority of 
 “ difcovery, and what the French pofiefi&l there was by 
 “ grants from the Engliffi, and confequerttly held it only 
 “ as a fief, therefore where the pofiefibrs turn enemy, it 
 “ reverts.” Quebec was taken by fome private Engliffi 
 adventurers, anno 1629. It was given up by treaty to 
 the French, 1632. 
 
 Afterwards in place of prior difcovery, pre-emption 
 of the Indian natives, and occupancy, was deemed a 
 more juft and equitable title. In cafe of a war, if any 
 conqueft happened, upon a peace, an v.ti foffidetis (as is 
 the praftice with the Turks and other Afiatics) was the 
 right : but at prefent in Europe, amonglt the civilized 
 and polite nations, at the conclufion of a war, the bafis 
 of the treaty, is former treaties (reckoned folemn bar- 
 gains, indentures, or jus gentium ) equivalents in money, 
 abfolute ceffion, or exchange of territories, for damages 
 
 B 3 received, 
 
6 Britifh and French Settlements PartI. 
 
 received, or fuppofed to be received, articles of former 
 treaties, explained and rectified, as in our prefent cafe 
 the treaty of Utrecht, 1713, feems to require. 
 
 By treaty of peace and neutrality for America, anno 
 1656, Nov. 6, 16, between Great- Britain and France; 
 in ond another’s diftrifts they are not to trade, fifh, or 
 harbour (except in cafes of diftrefs to repair, wood, and 
 water) but iniquitoufly by the treaty of Utrecht, our 
 corrupt adminjftration granted to the French the liberty 
 of catching and curing of filh in the rnofb advantageous 
 places, “ On that part of Newfoundland from Cape- 
 “ Bonavifta to the northermoft part of the ifland, and 
 “ from thence running down by the weftern fide to 
 “ Point-Riche there cod-fifli are fo plenty, and fall 
 in fo near the fhore, that the French fifhermen, without 
 the charge or trouble of hook and line, catch them by a 
 kind of grapling, as our privateers difcovered when they 
 made prizes of feveral French filh -traders in the fummer, 
 1 744, in the northern harbours of Newfoundland : by 
 this unaccountable conceflion, the French had already 
 the better of us in the filhery trade, and, in a few years 
 more, would have fupplied all the markets in Europe, 
 and by underfelling, entirely excluded us from the Cod- 
 filhery, which is more beneficial and eafier wrought than 
 the Spanilh mines of Mexico and Peru. 
 
 It would be a vaft advantage to our trade and navi- 
 gation, if, by the enfuing congrefs for a general peace, 
 we could obtain the monopoly of the North- America 
 Cod-filhery ; there are precedents of monopolies allowed 
 amongft fovereign princes : the Dutch have engrafTed 
 die fpice-trade (pepper excepted) of the Eaft-Indies. 
 But it the F rench are ftill to be allowed fome fhare in 
 this filhery, let them cure their fifh upon the ifiands of 
 the gulph of St. Laurence, and upon the S. E. fhore of 
 1 erra de Labaradore near the ftraights of Belle Ifle. 
 
 l>y the faid treaty of Utrecht, our corrupted court 
 gave up to the French the ifland of Cape-Breton, and 
 tiie other ifiands in the gulph of St. Laurence, with this 
 
 pernicious 
 
Sect. I. in North-America. 7 
 
 pernicious claufe, liberty to fortify. Accordingly in Cape- 
 Breton, or L’lfle Royale, was erefted the fortrels of 
 Louifbourg, the North-American Dunkirk, to annoy 
 our American navigation and trade •, but, by good luck,^ 
 it is lately fallen into our pofieffion : as the people of 
 New-England, from their abundant loyalty to the crown, 
 and zeal for the Britifli intereft, were the firft projectors 
 and principal promoters of this mod valuable acqui- 
 sition ; if it is confirmed to us by a fubfequent peace, it 
 may prove a kind of monopoly of the Cod-fifhery. New- 
 England deferves not only a plenary reimburiement, 
 but alfo fome peculiar favour or bounty from the parlia- 
 ment of Great-Britain ; having, upon this occafion, in- 
 volved themfelves deeply in debt, and loft many of their 
 beft labouring men, not by the enemy, but by an ill- 
 conditioned putrid or hofpital fever and flux. 7 he high 
 encomiums of our militia ought not to give any umbrage 
 of jealoufy to the Britifh government or mother- country, 
 that, in cafe of any general difcontent here, concurring 
 with a Dutch or French (maritime powers) war, they may 
 caft themfelves into the arms of the French or Dutch j and 
 occafion fome difficulty, for a Britifh fquadron and arma- 
 ment, to reduce them to reafon. The people here are fo 
 loyal to the crown, and fo affectionate to their mother- 
 country, that this cannot be fuppofed. It is true, the 
 King and council of Qreat-Britain lately ftem to be of 
 opinion, that the colony of Mafiachufetts-Bay, with re- 
 gard to the neighbouring colonies, is too large, and have 
 accordingly curtailed it, by annexing a large part of it to 
 the inconfiderable government of New-Hampfhire, and 
 fome part of it to the fmall colony of Rhode-Ifland ; as 
 we have never fettled our line with New- York govern- 
 ment, we are told they defign to put in for a ffiare. 
 
 Cape-Breton and the other iflands of the bay of St. 
 La-urence, before the peace of Utrecht, were in our pof- 
 feflion, as belonging to M. Subercafie’s commiflion, in 
 which he is called governor of L’Acadie and Cape- 
 Breton iflands. He was the French governor when we 
 
 B 4 reduced 
 
Jf Britilh and French Settlements Part I. 
 
 reduced that country 1710; but by the peace thefe 
 iflands were given to the French in exchange for the 
 fortrefs (no fettlement) of Placentia : while the peace 
 was negotiating, Mr. More, of the board of trade and 
 plantations, was fo barefacedly corrupt, when the ini- 
 portance of Cape-Breton was reprefented, he anfwered, 
 Muft the French then have nothing ? 
 
 By the treaty of Utrecht, the Canada or French line 
 with Hudfon’s-Bay company or Great-Britain, was af- 
 certained, viz. from a certain promontory upon the at- 
 lantic ocean in N. lat. 58 deg. 30 min. to run S. W. 
 to lake Miftafin (which communicates, by Indian water- 
 carriage, by P. Rupert’s river with Hudfon’s-Bay, and 
 by Seguany river, with St. Laurence river at the port 
 of Tadoufac, thirty leagues below Quebec) and from 
 thence continued ftill S. W. to N. lat. 49 deg. and 
 from thence due weft indefinitely ; this weft line takes 
 in the northern parts of the upper-lake, large as the 
 Cafpian fea in Alia, one of the North-America five great 
 lakes, or inland leas. By this ooncefilon we gave the 
 French a fea-line Ikirt of Terra de Labaradore (by au- 
 thors who write in Latin, called ’Terra Laboratoris , or 
 Nova Britannia ) the better to accommodate their filhery: 
 whereas, if the Britilh intereft had been in view, the 
 weft line or parallel of 49 D. N. lat. ought to have 
 been continued eaft to a little above the mouth of St. 
 Laurence or Canada river. 
 
 By the faid treaty, the French were not to fifli within 
 thirty leagues of Nova-Scotia to the eaftward, beginning 
 i\r 1 6 ldand Sable ; its fouth fide lies in 43 D. 55 M. 
 
 aV » J- L nd f !' oni thence in a S - W - line indefinitely: 
 • There is no Cod-filhery to the fouthward of N. 
 iat. 4 1 D. Salmon, fmelts, and fome other north cli- 
 mate fifh are under the fame reftridtion : to the weft- 
 ward of this line was a mare claufum . 
 
 In the peace of Utrecht it was omitted to fettle a line 
 tween our colonies and thole of France, called com- 
 monly Canada, and Miffiffigpi, or New-France, and 
 
 Louifiana, 
 
Sect. I. in ' North-America. $ 
 
 Louifiana, from north to fouth •, and the line call and 
 weft between Carolina or Georgia, and the Spanilh 
 Cape Florida claims. In the propofed negociation for a 
 peace, it would be much for the eafe and quiet of all 
 parties to have the fame fettled. 
 
 The natural and moft effectual boundaries of coun- 
 tries or territories feem to be large rivers, as the up- 
 per Rhine divides the French acquifitions from fun- 
 dry German fovereignties ; and mountains impractica- 
 ble, as the Pyrenean mountains, in general, divide France 
 from Spain, the Dafforne hills divide Sweden from 
 Norway, the Carpach, or Carpathian mountains, divide 
 Poland from Hungary and Tranfylvania. The great 
 river of St. Laurence, the lakes Ontario and Erie, and 
 the Apalachian mountains mayanfwer the intended Britilh 
 and French boundary, without any advantage or ac- 
 quifition, difadvantage or lofs on either fide ; but merely 
 for peace and good neighbourhood. 
 
 The French fur-trade, and their fettlements, are al- 
 moft entirely northward of St. Laurence river : let us 
 take a curfory view of the fouthern or Britifh fide of 
 this great river, and of the lakes Ontario and Erie, and 
 of the Apalachian mountains, or blue hills : all the ad- 
 vantage the French can have, by Indians in their intereft, 
 or fmall fettlements fouth of St. Laurence, is only 
 upon occafion to diftrefs their neighbours, the Britilh 
 in Nova-Scotia, New-England, and New-York. 
 
 From Cape Rofiers, at the fouthern fide of the mouth 
 of the river St. Laurence, in N. Lat. 50 D. 30 M. 
 to La Riviere puante, or the Indian tribe, called the 
 miflion of Befancourt, over-againft Les Trois Rivieres, 
 are about 400 miles ; the barrennefs of the foil ; im- 
 praCticablenefs of the mountains, which lie but a fmall 
 way fouth of the great river the rapidity of the fiiort 
 rivers or runs of water from thefe mountains ; renders 
 the country unholpitable, efpecially there .being no pro- 
 per water-carriage for Indian canoes. Here are no Indian 
 tribe-fettlements, and, as if in a defert, r.o human 
 
 kind 
 
jo Britilh and French Settlements PartI. 
 
 kind to be met with, only a very few Indian travel- 
 lers. In Mafiachufett’s new charter, anno 1661, the 
 claim is kept up in its extent, by exprefs words, “ To 
 ** the gulf of St. Laurence, and Canada rivers.” By 
 our laft treaty with the French, which was that of 
 Utrecht, 1713, L’Acadie, or Nova Scotia, was con- 
 firmed to us ; the French commifiion to their laft go- 
 vernor Subercafie, was from Cape Rofiers to Quenebec 
 river ; this river lies nearly in the fame meridian with 
 Quebec, and the head of it not above fifty or fixty miles 
 diftant from Quebec, the metropolis of Canada, or New 
 France. (The mouth of Sagadahoc or Quenebec river, 
 lies nearly in 44 D. N. Lat.) Quebec, according to 
 M. De rifle’s accurate obfervations, lies in 46 D. 55 
 M. N. Lat. From the entrance of Sagadohoc to Nor- 
 ridgwag (the head quarters, on Quenebec river, of a 
 confiderable tribe of the Abnequie Indian nation, our 
 fubjeCts, or dependants) are not exceeding too miles; 
 thence up Quenebec river, almoft due North, fo far as 
 Jndian canoes with paddles and fetting poles can proceed, 
 about feventy miles ; thefe 1 70 miles, allowing for th? 
 meanders, or crooked turnings of the river, may be 
 computed at two degrees of latitude ; remains about fixty 
 miles only, to Quebec, hilly bad travelling. The Nor- 
 ridgwag Indians road to Canada is up to the head of 
 Quenebec river, and thence, by leveral lakes and carry- 
 ing-places, to the river La Chaudierie very rapid, which 
 falls into St. Laurence river about four or five leagues 
 above Quebec : their beft but longeft travelling road is 
 from Quenebec river to Connecticut river, up Con- 
 necticut river, and thence to the river St. Francois, 
 which falls into St. Laurence river, about four or five 
 leagues above Les Trois Rivieres. 
 
 i o render it evident, that we do not intend to projeCt 
 any large extenfion of territories inland, we fhall pro- 
 ceed to enumerate fome more extents in fundry places 
 ot .the projected line, from Saratogoa, a confiderable 
 Lritifli lettlement in the crook elbow and long falls of 
 
 Hudfon’5 
 
' Sect. I. in North-Americ a. i,i. 
 
 V av; Hudfon’s river, the carrying-place, to Wood-creek, are 
 | s Vi twelve or fifteen miles, according to the wet or dry iea- 
 ! ions; thence about thirty miles to the Verdronken Lan- 
 \ den, or drowned over-flowed flooded lands ; thence 
 
 ' . lai fifty miles to Crown-Point, a pafs near the entrance of 
 
 lake Champlain (Crown-Point is not well expreffed in 
 J“| Engliih, the proper name is Scalp-Point, from fome 
 V :; Indian battle which happened there, and many Scalps 
 r Mi carried off; it is better expreffed in French, Point 
 Chevelure, and in Dutch, Kruyn Punt ;) from Crown- 
 la ’ or * Point i oo miles to fort Chamblais, at the falls of Cham* 
 
 e 7 ; blais river, near its outlet from the lake ; thence five or 
 
 fix leagues to Montreal, the fecond good town of Ca- 
 47 nada ; in all 2 10 miles from the New-York fettlement of 
 c 10 Saratogoa. 
 
 IV M This Crown-Point, not much exceeding 100 miles 
 ia00| V from Montreal, is to this day, with the adjoining coun- 
 
 ooniir try, called the Dutch fide of the lake Champlain or 
 
 1 loft: Corlaer (a Dutchman of confequence who was drowned 
 
 iprocti. t he r e in a ftorm). We are forry that the levies of 
 ngfe: the feveral Northern colonies, did not proceed in the 
 
 VWjl intended expedition againft the fort of Crown-point; 
 ibomfa fuccefs or not, it would have made fome noife in Europe, 
 
 m and naturally have led the congrefs to fettle the line or 
 
 eliffi boundaries. 
 
 Did or We have a fort and conftant garrifon of regular troops 
 
 )id,wh at Ofwego N. Lat. 43 d. 20 m. near the mouth 
 
 ielef of Onondagas river, on the South fide of the lake 
 
 igroad Ontario or Cataraquie ; in the proper feafons, here is 
 
 up (a kept a fair for the Indian trade ; Indians of above twenty 
 
 Frau? different nations have been obferved here at a time, the 
 
 U ; orr greateft part of the trade between Canada, and the In- 
 
 dians of the great lakes, and fome branches of the 
 to prop Miffiflippi, pafs near this fort, the neareft and fafeft way 
 
 yipr. of carrying goods upon this lake, being along the fouth 
 
 rv pbo fide of it. The diftance from Albany to Ofwego fort is 
 
 gdenb about 200 miles Weft, and many good farms or fettle- 
 
 j falls. pients in the way. 
 
 The 
 
r* Britifh and French Settlements PartI. 
 
 The Apalachian mountains or great blue hills (land 
 much elevated in the air, viewed at a confiderable dis- 
 tance, appears of a fky colour) are only 200 to 300 
 miles diftant from the fea line of Virginia, Carolinas, and 
 Georgia ; the Britifh people, and fome naturalized Ger- 
 mans, have made fome good fettlements at the foot of 
 the eaft fide of thefe mountains, the wafh of the hills 
 rendering the foil very rich. This chain of mountains, 
 is not paffable but in very few places with pack-horfes ; 
 it runs from the Sennekas country near the lake Erie, 
 almoft due fouth to the bay of Apalachia, in the gulph of 
 Mexico. Sundry deeds from the Indians to the pro- 
 prietors of the Carolinas do exprefly mention this great 
 ridge of mountains as a W. and N. W. line or boundary. 
 
 The Chikesaw and upper Cherakee nations reach 
 from the weft fide of thefe mountains to the great river 
 Miffifiipi ; at prelent, and for many years paft, their trade 
 is, and has been, with the Virginia and Carolina Indian 
 traders, who keep confiderable ftores among thefe na- 
 tions. We have many trading houfes and ftores all 
 along the eaft fide of thefe hills, and all the Indians who 
 live there are our faft friends and traders, exclufive of 
 any other European nation. The Sennekas, Chouwans, 
 the old Tufcaroras, Cuttumbas, the lower and middle 
 Cherakee nations. All our long rivers reach thofe 
 mountains, viz. Potomack, and James rivers in Mary- 
 land, and Virginia, Maratoke, alias Raonoak river, 
 Pemlico river, Neufe river, and a branch of Cape Fear 
 river in North -Carolina, Peddie river, the middle branch 
 of Wineaa in South-Carolina, and the Savanna river of 
 Georgia. 
 
 The propofed line cannot be of any great detriment 
 to the French colony of Canada; they have little or no 
 fur-trade fouth of the river of St. Laurence, and not 
 exceeding 280 friend Indian fighting men, viz. The 
 miflion of Befancourt, over-againft Les Trois Rivieres 
 forty men; on La Riviere Puante, the miflion of St. 
 rran$ois on the river of the fame name, about four or 
 
 five 
 
Sect. I. in North-America. 13 
 
 five leagues higher, 160 men-, thefe two tribes are of 
 the Abruquie nation, and therefore naturally belong to 
 the New-England Indians above Montreal there are 
 about eighty men called Kahnuagus, or praying Indians ; 
 idle fellows, who run about the ftreets of Montreal, beg- 
 ging with their chaplets or beads j they are runaways 
 from our Mohawk Indians. 
 
 As to our boundary with the Spaniard fouth of Geor- 
 gia, which a few years fince occafioned confiderable dis- 
 putes, and the ftationing of a regiment (Col. Oglethorp’s) 
 of regular troops ; we may obferve, that foon after the 
 reftoration, the crown granted the colony of Carolina to 
 certain proprietors, extending lb far South as 29 D. N. 
 Lat. (this included St. Auguftine, in the latitude of the 
 bottom of the bay of Apalachia ; and by the treaties of 
 1667 and 1670, feems confirmed to us.) St. Auguftine 
 is a barred place, no harbour for veflels, excepting fmall 
 craft, and feems of no other advantage to the Spaniard, 
 but in time of war to annoy our navigation in thefe parts, 
 and to difturb our adjoining colonies by exciting the 
 Creek Indians in their neighbourhood to rapine, as was 
 the cale, anno 1715. They improve no territory. 
 The Florida Neck, or Tongue, fouthward is a barren 
 foil, not worth contending for. This Florida Shore ap- 
 pears to be of no great benefit to Spain, but would be 
 of confiderable advantage to Great-Britain, for the tran- 
 quillity of our colonies in that neighbourhood. 
 
 A fcheme towards fettling the boundaries between the Britifh 
 and French colonies of North-America, and for the 
 better regulation of their trade. 
 
 IT is further agreed and concluded, that the bounda- 
 ries between the Britifh Hudfon’s-Bay company, and 
 the French colony of Canada, fhall remain as fettled by 
 the peace of Utrecht, 1 7 1 3. That in conformity to the 
 treaty of peace and neutrality for the Englifh and French 
 colonies in America, anno 1686, French veflels fhall 
 
14 Britiih and French Settlements Part I. 
 
 not enter any of the harbours of Newfoundland (except- 
 ing in cafes of diftrefs) /hall not trade or curl filh there, 
 neither ihall they fifh within — leagues of the fame. 
 That the exclufive fiihing-line on the coafts of Nova 
 Scotia and New-England, ihall begin at the foutherly 
 entrance of the gut of Canfo, and run a diredt courfe to 
 the iiland of Sable, comprehending all the banks of the 
 faid ifland ; and from thence to run fouth-weft indefinitely. 
 That the inland line ihall begin at Cape Rofiers, the 
 mouth of the river St. Laurence ; up the faid river, and 
 Catarequia river to the lake Cataraquie or Ontario ; along 
 the faid lake and its communication with lake Erie ; 
 along lake Erie fo far as the Sennekas country extends; 
 and from this termination, the neareft courfe, or di fiance, 
 to the Apalachian mountains ; and along the ridge of 
 the faid mountains to the bay of Apalachie in the gulph of 
 Mexica ; St. Auguftine and the promontory of Florida 
 included. That the iflands in the gulph and river of 
 St. Laurence ihall belong to the French, but the navi- 
 gation of the faid gulph, river, and lakes, ihall be free to 
 both parties. That the French ihall not fet up lodges, 
 trading-houfes, or factories, nor travel with goods, in the 
 Britiih American territories ; neither ihall the Britiih fub- 
 jedts, in French American territories ; penalty, conflict- 
 tion of goods : but the Indians ihall have a free pafiage, 
 with their fkins and furs, and return of goods for the 
 fame, indifferently, to a market, in both territories. 
 I hat the trade with the Chikefaw and Cherokee Indian 
 nations (although weft of the Apalachian mountains) as 
 being of many years continuance, ihall continue with the 
 Britiih fubjedts exclufively. 
 
 N. B. 1 his Sedtion would have more naturally con- 
 cluded, than begun the Efiay ; but as it may be fup- 
 pofed that a negociation for peace between Great-Britain 
 a nd France is now on foot in Europe, it was judged 
 feafonable, and advifable not to poftpone it. 
 
 We ihall now reduce the Hiftory of Britifh North- 
 Ameriea under the following heads : 
 
 4 
 
 Sect. 
 
Sect. I. A fcheme for boundaries between the Britifh 
 and French colonies in North-America, and for re- 
 gulating their exclufive trade. 
 
 II. Some general and fhort account of the Spanifh, 
 Englifh, French, and Dutch difeoveries, fettlements, and 
 claims in America. 
 
 III. Concerning the Indian nations and tribes, inter- 
 mixed with, under the protedion of, or in alliance with, 
 Great-Britain : as alfo fome imperfed hints of thofe 
 called the French Indians. 
 
 IV. Some remarks in relation to the general Britifh 
 conflitution of their colonies, in order to render the ac- 
 counts of the feveral provinces more fuccind. 
 
 V. Hudson’s-Bay company ; their trading lodges, 
 forts, and fadories ; their boundaries with Canada, as 
 fettled by the treaty of Utrecht, anno 1713. 
 
 VI. Newfoundland fifhery; it is not colonized. 
 
 VII. Nova Scotia, appointed to be colonized in go- 
 vernor Philips’s inftrudions, but hitherto negleded ; and 
 may be faid (the garrifon of Annapolis excepted) to be 
 as much a French colony as before its redudion ; toge- 
 ther with fome fhort account of the iflands in the gulph 
 of St. Laurence, formerly included in the government 
 L’Accadie, or Nova Scotia, but given to France by the 
 treaty of Utrecht, and lately reduced to fubjedion of the 
 crowm, I wifh I could fay annexed to the dominions of 
 Great-Britain. 
 
 VIII. Massachusetts-Bay. In the extent of their 
 new charter, anno 1691, comprehending Old Maflachu- 
 fetts-Bay colony, Plymouth fettlement, Province of 
 Main; and the jurifdidion, but not the abfolute pro- 
 perty of duke of York’s grant from Quenebec river to 
 river St. Croix in the Bay of Fundy, commonly called 
 Sagadahoc. 
 
 IX. New Hampshire, including the northern fettle- 
 ments of Mcifiachufetts-Bay, lately adjudged to the 
 crown, and annexed to that province. 
 
 X. Rhode- 
 
16 Britifli and French Settlements Part I. 
 
 X. Rhode-Island, including a part of Plymouth 
 late colony, lately adjudged to Rhode-Ifland colony. 
 
 XI. Connecticut, according to the boundaries re- 
 ipe&ively fettled, by commiflloners with Maflachuletts- 
 Bay, New-York, and Rhode-Illand ; and confirmed by 
 the king in council. 
 
 XII. New-York, according to their divifional line 
 fettled with the proprietors of Eaft-Jerfey, anno 1719, 
 by commiffioners appointed by the legiilatures of both 
 provinces, and confirmed by the king in council : and 
 according to a divifional line, fettled anno 1725, by com- 
 mifiioners from the refpe&ive legiilatures of New-York 
 and Connecticut colonies, and confirmed by the king and 
 council : the boundary between Maflachufetts-Bay and 
 New-York colony we mult defer, as not afcertained ; 
 notwithftanding the New-York commiffioners agreed, 
 that the bails of their fettlements, with Connecticut, 
 fhould be twenty miles eaft from, and parallel with, 
 Hudfon’s river ; the colony of New-York (as I am in- 
 formed) infill that Houfatonick, alias Weftenhoek, alias 
 Stratford river, lhall be the boundary with Maflachu- 
 fetts-Bay *, the neutrality in Queen Anne’s war, between 
 New-York and their Indians, and Canada and their In- 
 dians, was bounded eallerly by Houfatonick river : fome 
 of the New-York politicians fay, that their claim extends 
 to Connecticut river : their line with Pennfylvania is li- 
 mited by Delaware river, and the parallel of 43 D. N. 
 Lat. : their northern boundary with Canada wants to be 
 fixed in fome fubfequent treaty. 
 
 XIII. The East and West Jerseys, two diftinft 
 grants : the proprietors furrendered the government to 
 the crown, anno 1 702 : being fmall, the crown has united 
 them under one jurildidtion or government. 
 
 XIV. Pennsylvania. Two diltinCt governments or 
 legiilatures, but under one governor ■, becaufe the pro- 
 perty of one family. 
 
 XV. Maryland. Lord Baltimore’s property. We 
 
 cannot adjult his line with Penn’s family, as it is not as 
 yet fettled. XVI. Vir- 
 
ony, 
 arie : 
 jcKufe 
 inncdi 
 
 fionali; 
 mo iy: 
 soft) 
 ocil:i 
 ;.byoj 
 WTc 
 e kings 
 
 Sect. II. in North-America! \y 
 
 XVI. ^ irginia ; according to their line lately run 
 and confirmed with North- Carolina. 
 
 XVII. North-Carolina ; according to their late 
 line with Virginia to the North, and South-Carolina to 
 the fouthward. 
 
 XVIII. South-Carolina. The other government ; 
 the grant of Carolina, being very large, was divided into 
 two governments. 
 
 XIX. Georgia. An Utopian property and govern- 
 ment; granted by charter to certain truftees. A fa- 
 vourite and chargeable colony, but hitherto unprofitable. 
 
 iceran 
 
 m! SECT. II. 
 
 alleb -An introductory Jkort account of the ancient and mo- 
 slam: dern navigation , difcovertes , and fettling of colonies , 
 
 bU in North- America, difinguijhed under the follcnv- 
 Mafc tng heads or articles . 
 
 i, tot 
 dttol 
 
 J Article I. 
 
 faniii A general view of navigation and colonies in remote times. 
 
 ?amsro ; 
 
 roditf 
 ram* 
 has w 
 
 Dint® 
 e thef 
 
 rty. " 
 tisn* 1 
 VI. ft 
 
 I N trade and navigation, as in all other affairs of an- 
 tiquity, we are not to go too far back ; in the very 
 remote ages, the ancients did much indulge a poetical 
 
 florid, rhetorical, enigmatical, and mythological vein- it 
 
 is not poflible at this diftance of time and place, to dif- 
 tingmfh between their true and fabulous relations : their 
 hiftories and all other matters were wrote in verfe ad- 
 mitting of many poetical fancies [a]. 
 
 J m i^r fay ’ moft ancient records are poetical, fabulous, 
 
 of ’ n °a t0 bC depend / d u P on for a rcal - true account 
 
 Mnf g a T muft 1 exce P t our Scriptural book of religion, the oracles of 
 Moles and die prophets, of Christ and his apoliles, called, from its 
 
 V0L ‘ 1 C Doubtlefs, 
 
*g Britifh and French Settlements PartI. 
 
 Doubtlefs, from time to time, by famine, peftilence, 
 and fome implacable fword, whole countries have been 
 depopulated, and confequently their records deftroyed-, 
 we find that we cannot, with any certainty, go back ex- 
 ceedin" 2 500 years. From what we may collect, we find 
 that China, the Eaft-Indics, and Arabians are prior to us 
 in trade and navigation •, at prefent we have much the 
 
 advantage of them. . 
 
 In the revolution of ages, the feveral countries, upon 
 the earth have been depopulated by peftilence, famine, or 
 wars ; and afterwards fettled from other countries •, thus 
 the origin of the feveral countries muft be very various 
 and uncertain. The plains and overflowed lands, called 
 interval lands in New- England, upon the banks of the 
 Tigris and Euphrates in Chaldea, and of the Nile in Egypt, 
 being very fertile and pleafant, enticed people to lettle them 
 in a compact, political, improving manner •, therefore our 
 firft certain records of things feem to originate there \b}. 
 
 Among the aborigines, the Arabians or Saracens 
 have been time out of mind, and are at prefent the prin- 
 cipal aboriginal navigators of the Eaft-India leas. The 
 Arabian Moors or Mahometans, long before we navigated 
 thefe parts, fent colonies to almoft all their fea coafts and 
 
 excellency. The Bible or Book. Here we find (hips upon the Mediter- 
 ranean, and merchants upon the Red-fea, as early as the days of Jacob 
 and the primitive Ifraelites. Gen. xlix. 13. Zebulon Jhall dwell at the 
 haven of the fea , and he Jhall he for a haven of flips, and his border Jhall be 
 unto Zidon . Judges v. 17. Gilead abode beyond Jordan : and v:hy did Dan 
 remain in flips? dfler continued on the fea-Jhore , and abode in his breaches; 
 the original fignifies in creeks. Our tranilation of the bible requires to be 
 revifed. The Midianites and Ifhmaelites, who bordered upon the Red- 
 lea, were feafaring men and merchants. Gen. xxxvii. 28. 7 hen there 
 faffed by Midianites merchant-?nen] 
 
 [b] The lunar eclipfes, noted at Babylon by the ancient Chaldeans, 
 are original ftandards for the motions of the fun and moon, with their 
 feveral inequalities for all future ages. The Chaldean was formerly the 
 univerfal or commercial eaftem language, as at prefent the Arabian rt 
 their learned language, and the Latin the weftern fchool language. 
 The Thebans in me Upper Egypt, for the fake of navigation, began to 
 obferve the itars, and from their heliacal rifmgs and fettings, before 
 Christ 1034 years, they rettiikd the year from 360 to 365 days. 
 
 iflands, 
 
Sect. II in North-America. 19 
 
 iflands, and drove the natives up into the mountains. 
 1 he Arabians and Egyptians, for many ages, navigated 
 the Red-fea and Indian -lea. We have had Indian fpices 
 in Europe above 2000 years. Suez, the ancient Arfinoe 
 in N. L. 30 D. was the barcadier or feaport of Grand 
 Cairo for the Red-fea, diftant forty or fifty miles. The 
 Arabian gulph was the moft frequented navigation upon 
 account of the Eaft-India trade, before the Portugueze 
 doubled the Cape of Good-Hope. The Arabians, by 
 their fituation upon the Red-fea, drove a great trade be- 
 tween the Indies and the Egyptians; this was at that time 
 the greateft trade of the known world. It is from the 
 Saracen navigation and colonies, that all Afia and Africa 
 (excepting the Tartars, China, Siam, and feme infignifi- 
 cant Pagans) are of the Mahometan religion : doubtlefs, 
 for the lame reafon, all America, in procefs of time, will 
 become Chriftians. The Arabian navigation was and is 
 very confiderable, notwithftanding there is not one na- 
 vigable river in all Arabia. The Saracens and Moors 
 had ieveral colonies in Europe, they were not totally 
 drove out of Spain, until anno 1492. 
 
 After the Egyptians and Arabians, the Phoenicians 
 became the principal navigators; firft theSidonians, then 
 the I yrians, and afterward their famous colony the Car- 
 thaginians. The Phoenicians were originally mariners, 
 who fled from the Red-fea to the Mediterranean, before 
 Christ 1047 years; being ufed to long voyages for 
 traffic in the Indies, they began the like long voyages in 
 the Mediterranean fea to Greece, iSc. The calamities of 
 their wars with the Edomites made them leave their na- 
 tive habitations, and fettle upon the Mediterranean. 
 They were the firft who directed their courfe by the 
 ftars in the night-time (the magnetical, or fea-compafs, 
 is a modern difeovery) their firft navigation was in long 
 fhips with fails and one order of oars. They fent many 
 colonies abroad, viz. Byzantium or Conftantinople in 
 Greece, Byrfa or the famous Carthage in Barbary, Gadez 
 or Cadiz in Spain, Caffiterides (tin iflands) Sicily iflands 
 
 C 2 and 
 
i6 Britifh and French Settlements Fart I 
 
 and Cornwal in Great- Britain, &c. ^ artha g’ 
 famous trading ancient Phoenician C0 ' 0 ^;, 
 years before Christ, were mailers and fettled colonies all 
 alone- the N. W. coaft of Barbary, in the Inful* for lunaU, 
 or Canaries, and in the Hefperides or Cape de \ erde 
 i (lands, in N. Lat. 15 D. They had colon.es in the Sa- 
 ltans Inful* ( Majorca , Minorca, fcf ?«.«; m Sardinia and 
 Sicily. Carthage was, for many years, the emporium or 
 mart of trade in the weft, as Corinth in Greece was the 
 emporium of the eaft : they were both deftroyed about 
 the fame time by the Romans, 146 years before Christ. 
 
 The Affyrians, an inland people, had no notion ot na- 
 vigation : by conquering Egypt and Phoenicia, they put 
 a damp to trade and navigation : after fome time, a new 
 Tyre was built, and the Tyrians fiourifhed more than 
 before, until Alexander the Great, a royal knight-errant, 
 deftroyed the city, and fold the inhabitants for Haves. 
 
 In the hiftory of navigation and colony fettlers, next 
 were the Greeks •, at firft more for war- expeditions and 
 invalions than for traffic. The firft account that we 
 have of a long (hip was that of Argos [c], who 'about 
 fifty-three years after Solomon, or 939 years before 
 Christ, according to the computation of the mod in - 
 genious (I wifh our language, as the Dutch, would ad- 
 mit of a degree of companion above the fuperlative) and 
 penetrating Sir Ifaac Newton, in his Chronology of ancient 
 kingdoms amended. The Argonauts were the flower ot 
 Greece, fitted out to perfuade the nations upon the coafts 
 of the Euxine and Mediterranean feas, to revolt from 
 Egypt •, they were a parcel of jolly young gentlemen, 
 viz. Caftorand Pollux, /Efculapius, Orpheus, Hercules, 
 Deucalion the fon of Minos, Bacchus’s Ions, £s?c. 
 
 The feveral Graecian republics had their turns of for- 
 tune of being more or lefs potent at fea ; the Cypriots 
 were the molt noted for commerce. They fettled colo- 
 
 M Chiron was the firft who formed, or delineated, the confteljation’, 
 being for the ufe of the Argonauts. 
 
 rues 
 
21 
 
 Sect. IT. in North-America.' 
 
 nies in the fouthern parts of Italy and in Sicily, calling it 
 Magna Gracia ; this name was afterwards confined to 
 Calabria Superior , in the kingdom of Naples ; they built 
 Marleilles in Provence in France \ they had fettlements 
 near Barcelona in Spain. 
 
 Before Christ 885 years, the Corinthians began to 
 improve navigation by large fhips and triremes [d]. 
 
 Thucydides fays, that in the 29th olympiad was the 
 oldeft fea-fight mentioned in hiftory ; it was about 657 
 years before Christ, between the Corinthians and Cor- 
 cyreans of Corfu. The Athenians (whole continent 
 dominions were not larger than Yorkshire) affifted the 
 Corcyreans, the Lacedemonians aided the Carthagini- 
 ans (the Lacedemonians were more powerful by land, 
 but the Athenians were more powerful by fea) this 
 gave occafion to the famous Peloponnefian war, the 
 i'ubjedt of Thucydides’ hiftory : on one fide and the 
 other, almoft all Greece were engaged. The Athenians 
 and Lacedemonians difputed the empire of the fea for 
 fome time. 
 
 During the inteftine feuds of the Grecian common- 
 wealths, Philip, king of Macedon, invaded and conquer- 
 ed the countries in his neighbourhood, and at fea en- 
 riched himfelf by piracies, and put an end to the Gre- 
 cian liberties. His Ion Alexander the great, proceeded 
 
 [d] The moft ancient water-conveyance, (does not deferve the name of 
 embarkation or navigation) was in rafts or flbats, afterwards morosyU, or 
 canoes, cut out of an hollowed piece of timber, as amongft the Wcil-India 
 iflands, and fouth continent of America : as alfo bark, of trees (generally 
 birch) with wooden ribs, as amongft the inland Indians of North- America : 
 Carfar fays, that upon his expedition to G'reat-Britain, he found no other 
 veflels there, but fmalbboars made whh wicker and hides ; fuch may, to 
 this day, be feen in Wales and in the Weft Highlands of Scotland hire 
 Phoenicians introduced to the Mediterranean-fea long fhips with fails and 
 one tire of oars. When war was uled at fea, and the manner of fighting 
 was to ftrike their enemies (hips with their rojlra, or prtnv (the Newcaftle 
 colliers call it, giving them the ftern) for a greater ftroke, momentum, or 
 fhock, the bulk of their veflels were gradually increafed to the enormous 
 fize of quinqni rentes, or five tire of oars. — Ships of war, were by the Ro- 
 mans called clajjicer, merchant-men were called oneraria 
 
 c 3 
 
 to 
 
22 Britifli and French Settlements Part L 
 
 to the Levant, and conquered (committed murders and 
 robbery) fo far as the river Indus [<?] : upon his return, 
 intoxicated with wine, and his youthful vanity from 
 conquefts, he died at Babylon •, and his depredations 
 (they deferve no better name) were cantoned amongft 
 his generals in their feveral Rations or commands, who, 
 after fome bickerings, agreed to an uti pojjidetis. 
 
 Next in courfe at fea appeared the Romans, who at 
 firft (like the prefent Turks) did only mind conqueft, 
 not trade •, but in procefs of time, finding that the 
 Corinthians and Carthaginians, had the dominion of 
 the feas, fo as to land and make depredations where 
 they pleafed •, to keep them within bounds, the Ro- 
 mans were obliged to mind the lea out of necefiity [/], 
 and they were both deftroyed about the fame time by 
 the Romans •, a great wound to trade. 
 
 Julius Casfar invaded Great-Britain from France m 
 very fmall veffels or craft they were all built and fitted 
 in two months : the Britons, at that time, had no navi- 
 gation they were reduced to the Roman province, not 
 a colony, and continued fo above 400 years. As the 
 people of Britain, at that time, were a fort of fylvejires, 
 wild people, like our American Indians, Scots high- 
 landers, Miquelets of Spain, or Montenagrins all par- 
 ticular accounts of Great-Britain may be reputed as fabu- 
 lous before Ctefar’s time. Upon the fwarming or emi- 
 gration of the northern Barbarians, the Roman troops in 
 Great-Britain were recalled to the defence of their own 
 country : a party of the fame northern nations, called 
 Saxons, embraced the opportunity, invaded Great- 
 Britain in that part of it now called England and one [*] 
 
 [*] The Graecian empire extended fo far eaft as the river Indus, that is, 
 they conquered, or rather made the feveral countries pay tribute, or, in 
 the modern phrafe, raifed contributions to the river Indus : the Romans did 
 not bring the country under contribution further call than the river 
 ^Euphrates. 
 
 [/] At the fea-battle of Adlium, before Christ thirty-one years, Mark 
 Anthony had 500, and Augulius 250 fhips of war ; this was the greatell 
 fea force that ever the Romans were mailers of. Ot 
 
'AM': 
 bj 
 ■ ran 
 cy 6a 
 db 
 amoac 
 Is,*’ 
 
 1,4 
 
 cosqii 
 
 Ax: 
 
 at 
 
 Msn 
 
 tfcl 
 
 Htj|( 
 
 MSI 
 
 Fw 
 anti: 
 iito'i 
 vinct,' 
 i. 4: 
 
 coste 
 
 s ; fc 
 
 dais 
 
 ngorc 
 inw 
 'tte* 
 jas, oi 
 
 edfo 
 
 ■d 
 
 IndtJ.* 
 
 rite 3 
 
 eRocs> 
 
 UlltlM 
 
 iiff 
 
 Sect. II. in North-Americ a.' %i 
 
 of their confiderable tribes, the Angles, gave name to 
 the country. 
 
 Pirates in the Mediterranean fea have been formidable. 
 Bellum Piraticum is fometimes recorded by the 
 Roman hiftorians. Pompey was delegated for one of 
 thefe pirate-wars, and, in the fpace of four months (to 
 his great honour and glory, as it is faid) reduced all the 
 pirates. 
 
 The Romans with their conquefts and colonies intro- 
 duced their own language [jj-J all over Italy, into France, 
 Spain and Portugal, where it continues to this day, but 
 much intermixed with the languages of the aboriginals, 
 and of fome foreigners, who invaded them from time 
 to time. In other nations, which fubmitted to the 
 Romans rather for patronage or protection than by con- 
 queft (the Romans were, at that time, the general arbi- 
 trators of all the known civilized nations [£]) the Roman 
 language or Latin did not prevail. 
 
 The Goths, Vandals, and other barbarous nations, 
 who fwarmed from the northern parts of Europe, and 
 like locufts, or caterpillars, over-ran the fouthern parts of 
 Europe, may be faid, generally, to have fuperfeded the 
 Romans ; they had no notion of navigation and a fea- 
 trade, and did not in the leaft apply themfelves that 
 way. Of thefe only the Normans and Danes (a fort 
 of pirates) became potent at fea ; their firft expedition 
 into Great-Britain was about anno 800 [/]. They fet- 
 tled a colony in the north parts of France, and called it 
 Normandy ; in a courfe of years they made depreda- 
 tions and fome fettlements along the coafts of Saxony, 
 Flanders, Britain, and France ; as a monument of this, 
 there is to be found on the fea -coafts of thofe countries, 
 to this day, blond complexions, red and yellowifh hairs. 
 
 [f] The Romans had letters from the Greeks, and the Greeks had the 
 ufc of letters from the Phoenicians. 
 
 [Z>] The French have been aiming at this for above a century pall. 
 
 [/J N. B. By anno — we always mean anno Cbrijfi, or the year of 
 the Chriltian ajra. 
 
 This 
 
24 Britilh and French Settlements Part I. 
 
 This Norman colony in France called Normandy, (I 
 fhall hot fay, conquered England) in procefs of time 
 gave a king to England, called William the Conqueror, 
 whofe eftablilhment continues to this day. 
 
 While the Mahometan Saracens prevailed, they were 
 for a confiderable time, mailers of the feas (efpecially of 
 the Mediterranean from the Red-fea to Hercules’s pil- 
 lars) in the fouthern parts of Europe while the Normans 
 ravaged the northern parts. The Moors and Saracens 
 reduced the greateftpart of Spain anno 714, and were 
 not totally fubjugated by the aboriginal Spaniards until 
 anno 1492 [£] : the Spanilh blood is much tainted with 
 the Morefco. 
 
 The next, and lad, fet to be mentioned in this article, 
 are the feveral Republicks in Italy ( Venetians , 
 Genoefe, Florentines , Pifans) and Catalonia in Spain •, they 
 carried on the trade and navigation of the fouthern parts : 
 and the PIanse towns in Germany ; they had the trade 
 and navigation of the northern parts of Europe. Their 
 intercourfe was generally at Sluys and Bruges in Flanders ; 
 and exchanged or bartered navaTftores, woollens, linens, 
 &c. for Perlian and Eaft-India goods, and fpices, idc. 
 which in part were purchafed at Grand Cairo, but mod- 
 iy brought over land in caravans to feveral barcadiers, or 
 fea-ports, in the bottom of the Mediterranean fea. 
 
 The Genoefe had many colonies in LelTer Afia, and 
 upon the Euxine fea, and drove a great trade there : in 
 the beginning of the thirteenth century, they were in 
 polleflion of Nice and Ventimiglia in Italy, of Tyre in 
 Ceuta in Barbary, of Corfica and Sardinia : 
 their families of Doria and Spignola had the principal 
 adminiftration. 
 
 I he Venetians Formerly were in poflellion of Candia 
 and of all the iflands in the Archipelago and Ionian fea: 
 in fliort, their becoming fo rich and powerful gave 
 
 J^J comm andJng land and lea-officers amongft the Saracens wen 
 called Emirs. Mr. Burchette, in bis naval hiltory, fays, that, perhaps, 
 thence we may have,our defignatiou of admit al. 
 
 jealouf) 
 
Sect. II. in North-America. 25 
 
 jealoufy and umbrage to the other fovereignties in 
 Europe, and oecafioned the famous league of Carabray, 
 anno 1508. 
 
 The firft difcoveries made in America were generally 
 by Italian navigators, or of Italian extract (Columbus 
 in the Spanilh fervice, Cabots in the Englifh, Americus 
 Vefpucius in the Portuguese, Veruzani in the French 
 fervice, &c.) employed by feveral European princes. 
 
 The Hanfe towns were an aflbciation of feveral 
 trading towns in Germany; at one time they were in 
 number about feventy ; they are, at prefent, reduced 
 to four ; (there is conftantly an Englilh relident or mini- 
 fter with the Hanfe towns) Lubeck on the river Traave 
 the principal, Dantzick on the Weiflel or Viftula, 
 Hamburg on the Elbe, and Bremen on the Wefer : 
 all thefe are free towns with a territorial diftrifti 
 
 The Venetians, more particularly, becoming vaftly 
 rich by their trade in E all-India goods and fpices, fet 
 l'undry princes of Europe upon projecting a navigable 
 (confequently lefs chargeable way, fo as to underfell the 
 Venetians, and out them of that trade) and ufefully 
 practicable pafiage from Europe, to the rich produce 
 and manufactures of the eaft. This leads to the fubjeCt 
 of the following article. 
 
 Article II. 
 
 Concerning the feveral efiays or adventures, towards dif- 
 covering navigable pajfages from Europe to the Eaft- 
 Indies, China, and the Spice-iflands. 
 
 I T is faid, that one great inducement to Columbus’s 
 adventure weftward, was to try for a wellern naviga- 
 tion to the Spice-iflands ; and luckily, by iflands and 
 a great continent intercepting him, America was dif- 
 covered. 
 
 As the feveral great continents of Europe and Africa 
 eaftward, and America weftward, lay in the way ; the 
 cafe was, how to double the extreme north or fouth 
 * 1 points. 
 
2 6 Britifh and French Settlements PartI. 
 
 pointy or lartds-ends, of thefe continents ; or to find fome 
 practicable ftraits or thorough-fares in thefe continents. 
 
 Before we proceed, we fhall infert by way of amufe- 
 ment, as not impertinent to the l'ubjeft, the following 
 digreffion. 
 
 Some Dutch fifliers miffing of whales, are faid to have 
 failed in quell of them feveral degrees north of Cape 
 Purchas of Eaft-Greenland, which lies in N. lat. 82. D. 
 there was no ice, only an open fea, but very hollow. 
 Whalers fay, that the farther north, on Spitzbergen, or 
 Eaft-Greenland, they found the greater plenty of grafs, 
 and other green herbs therefore towards the pole it 
 muft be hotter: this feems to be probable from the na- 
 ture of things: in June, at the north pole, the fun is 
 23 D. 30 M. high, and for fome months always above 
 the horizon ; whereas, for inftance, at London, the me- 
 tropolis of Great-Britain, in N. lat. 51 D. 30 M. the fun, 
 in December, is only about 1 5 D. high, and only for one 
 third of its revolution or day above the horizon. 
 
 M. Frazier, a French navigator, fays, in the account 
 of his South-fea voyages-, that on the 13 th of March, 
 1714, N. S. in returning to France* fouth of Cape-Horn, 
 in lat. 58 D. 30 M. and 68 D. 30 M. W. longitude from 
 Paris, he difcovered feveral illands of ice, whereof one 
 was four or five leagues long ; ice is not frequently met 
 with hereabouts, and as ice is formed by an adherence to 
 fome land or fhore, there muft be land towards the 
 fouth-pole i but not within 63 D. S. lat. for tlae extent 
 of about 200 leagues from 55 D. to 80 D. weft long, 
 from Paris ; becaufe this fpace has been run by feveral 
 ftaips, which the S. W. and S. S. W. winds have obliged 
 to (land far to the fouthward, .to weather Cape-Horn, 
 the lands-end of South-America, in 55 D. 55 M. S. lat. 
 This is the reafon, why that chimera or fancy of a 
 terra aujlralis is at prefent, left out of our charts or maps. 
 If lands are difcovered fouth of 64 D. S. lat. they muft 
 be inhofpitable and uninhabitable, confidering that the 
 weather is more flormy, and winters more rigid, in the 
 
Pill 
 
 >ntioc? 
 
 tfiuij 
 
 folk 
 
 idtols 
 10ft 
 at. Si! 
 tykt 
 
 % 
 T«f| i 
 
 tkfi; 
 wn to 
 ,M 
 
 raps 
 Mi, to 
 Ait 
 »h to 
 
 HI. 
 
 tkara 
 of ft 
 
 jradei 
 fhtrerff 
 |id|: 
 dk® 
 .0*1® : 
 rtht® 
 
 *etlt 
 
 lbyfc 
 
 afooS 
 
 fan?' 
 
 tsorflf 
 
 .they* 
 
 ig tid' 
 
 tod,® 1 
 
 ® i 
 
 Sect. II. in North-America. 2 7 
 
 high fouth latitudes, than in the fame northern lati- 
 tudes ; the fame climates fouth of the equator, are much 
 colder than to the northward of the equator. 
 
 The fouthern latitudes are much colder, than in the 
 fame degrees of northern latitudes. 1. The fun is an- 
 nually eight days longer on the northern fide of the 
 equinoctial, than on its fouthern fide. 2. The fun in 
 our north country winters is in its perigee, that is, nearer 
 the earth, than in the fouthern winters, being then in his 
 apogee. 3. The higheft cod-fifhery, according to Capt. 
 Frazier, in the fouthern latitudes, is in 3 1 D. S. lat. Our 
 cod-fifhery in North-America (there are fome draggling 
 cod-fifh caught more to the fouthward) extends to Nan- 
 tucket, New-England,in 41 D. N. lat. therefore 41D. N. 
 lat. is nearly of the fame temper or coolnefs as 3 1 D. S. lat. 
 
 To obtain navigable paflfages, into the Indian and 
 South-feas, the extreme north and fouth promontories, 
 or lands-ends of the feveral continents above-mention- 
 ed, were to be doubled. They are reduceable to four, 
 viz. 1. The S. E. paffage by doubling the Cape of Good- 
 Hope, the fouth point of Africa. 2. The S. W. paffage 
 by doubling Cape-Horn, the fouth point of America, 
 Magellan’s-ftraits is a thorough-fare. 3. The N. E. 
 paffage, north of the north cape of Europe, but hither- 
 to not difcovered. 4. The N. W. paffage, or rather 
 thorough-fare between the north fhore of America, and 
 the fouth fhore of Weft-Greenland, commonly called Da- 
 vis’s ftraits (to double the north parts of this Wefl- 
 Greer.land, has hitherto not been imagined) this has at 
 times been endeavoured, in the laft century and half : M. 
 Dobbs is at prefent, in purfuit of it. Laftly, we fhall 
 mention fome tentatives for difcovering thorough-fares in 
 feveral openings in the body of the continent of America. 
 
 The ancients had no knowledge of countries fouth 
 of the equator. John I, of Portugal, conquered Ceuta 
 from the Moors, 1409 ; Henry, third fon of King John, 
 much in the humour of navigation difcoveries, by his 
 4 encourage- 
 
it Britifh and French Settlements PartI. 
 
 encouragement, the Portugueze began, anno 14x8, to 
 range the weft coaft of Africa: 1438 Alphonfus V 
 took Tangier, and ranged fo far as Cape Negroe in 16 
 D. fouth latitude [/], and to this day have feveral colo- 
 nies with territorial jurildidion from thence to 7 D. S. lat. 
 in Congo, Angola, and Loango. Anno 1442, the Por- 
 tugueze obtained of the pope a grant of all lands lying 
 S. and E. of Cape Bajador on the W. fide of Africa, 26 
 D. 30 M. N. lat. In the reign of Emanuel 1 497, Vafquez 
 de Gamma doubles the cape ; they had difcovered this 
 cape anno 1487, and called it the Cape of Good- Hope, 
 in expectation of doubling it ; thence they coafted along 
 the eaftern fhore of Africa ; from Cape-Negroe on the 
 weft fide of Africa, 1 6 D. S. lat. round (the Cape of Good- 
 Hope, a Dutch place of refrefhment excepted) to Rio de 
 Spirito Santo in S. lat. 1 8 D. on the eaft Ihore of Africa, 
 is a very wild and favage country, no European Settlers; 
 but from 18 D. S. lat. to 5 D. N. lat. the Portugueze 
 have polfefiions, the chief being Mozambique in 1 5. D. 
 S. lat. and Melinda in 2 D. 30 M. S. lat. 
 
 From the eaftern coaft of Africa, the Portugueze failed 
 over to the Malabar coaft on the Indian peninfula. The 
 next Portugal expedition for the Eaft-Indies was drove 
 upon the coaft of Brazil, and after taking pofiefiion of 
 it, proceeded to the Malabar coaft. Anno 1510, Albu- 
 kerk reduces Goa, takes Amboyna, Banda, and lome other 
 
 r/J The Portugueze in their adventures fouthward, on the eaft fide of the 
 Atlantic Ocean difcovered, and are ftill in poiTeflion of, feveral cl afters of 
 illands ; 1 The weftem iflands, formerly called Azores or Terceres, ly- 
 ing from 36 to 40D. N. lat. about 300 leagues weft of Portugal, and 
 300 leagues eaft of Newfoundland ; they are nine in Number. Merca- 
 K after h ‘ m ’ ™ an y charts, place the firft meridian at St. 
 
 s 0I ’ C °! l hcfe ijlands, about 15 D. more weft than Ptolemy’s 
 l™' r 2 ' ,f /I , ad . eras > . firl J difcovered anno 1410, firft fettled anno 1425 ; 
 
 “ Qle f .from its being well wooded: it produces the Madera 
 • de ‘ n * °[ the Amelica « colonies. 3. Cape-Verde 
 
 j Af rir \ . r In nUmber ’ , abou , t 160 Iea 2 ues weft of Cape de Verde in 
 bu not tXT Te ,T ient y cd Hefperides, were difcovered anno 1 440, 
 
 felt from their iflandJ/May. e Ne ' V ' b,, S Iand fifher y brin S fome of thek 
 
 of 
 
Pai Sect. II. in North-America. 29 
 
 HiS, of the Molucca iflands, and returns home richly loader! 
 M with l'pices j they failed along the coaft of China. Thus 
 igroeii during the reign of their good King Emanuel, who died 
 iveralc anno 1521, they carried all before them at fea, and fu- 
 yD.S perfeded the Venetians in a trade which they had enjoyed 
 2, tit! ever fince anno 1260. Having purchafed of CharlesV, 
 lands ; emperor, his claim, as king of Spain, of a pretended pri- 
 f Afna orityof difcovery in the Spice-iflands, they folely enjoyed 
 without moleftation for near a century of years the fa- 
 :overei mous and profitable trade and navigation to the Eaft- 
 iooil Indies *, as Spain did that to the Weft-Indies. 
 
 Daltdi Henry, king of Portugal,” dying without children in 
 gioeu 1580, king Philip, by a powerful army under the duke 
 penfk d’Alva, reduces Portugal ; he claimed it in right of his 
 j)to| mother Elizabeth the emprefs; Spain became mafter of 
 eo fjjj all the Portugeze dominions and rich trade •, being in 
 jjjtu the height of glory, after a few years, anno 1588, the 
 p OT , king of Spain fits out the Invincible Armada (as he called 
 ,tiai: lC ) England. 
 
 The Dutch [ m\ at this time, as revolted from the do- 
 minions of Spain, were prohibited by the king of Spain, 
 
 [«] Captain Drake, afterwards SirFrands Drake, by way of the ftraits 
 5 was C of Magellan and South-feas, or Pacifick-ocean, 1579, in the name of the 
 
 jog;; crown of England, took poffeflion (according to the formalities of thole 
 
 0 1 times) of the Moluccas or Spice-iflands, and cariied a quantity of fpices to 
 
 5 England. The Dutch did not come to the Eaft- Indies until 1595 ; did 
 
 ItOlKG not fee the Spice- iilands until 1599. Some London merchants, anno 
 
 1600 (fome time before the eftabliihment of the Dutch Eaft-India com- 
 pany) obtained letters-patent of incorporation, and formed themfelves 
 into a company ; their common flock was 72,000/. flerling. During 
 the indolent reign of James I, the Englifh were not well fupported in the 
 p^r. Ear-Indies, and the Dutch over-reached them, notwithstanding a fo- 
 g lemn convention between the Fnglilh and Dutch, July 7, <619, whereby 
 the trade of pepper, at Java, was to be equal ; and the trade of the Mo- 
 lucca, Banda, or Spice-iflands, was to be two thirds to the Dutch, one 
 third to, the Englifh ; the Dutch in Amboyna (a principal Spice-iiland, in 
 ^ 3 D. 40 M. S Lat. the befl Dutch government next to that of Batavia) 
 
 r n : upon feme frivolous pretext, inhumanly and cruelly maffacred the Englifh 
 
 J e Vr. people, anno 1 622 : foon after they feized all the Englilh fettlements and 
 
 to fe&ories in the Spice-iflands, and have monopolized the fpice trade ever 
 
 ■ r ^ : fincc. This violent abufe, or tranfa&ion, can never be forgot, and perhaps 
 
 to 
 
30 Britifli and French Settlements Part! 
 
 to trade to Portugal, the only emporium of Eaft-India 
 fpices and other goods : this occafioned their endeavours 
 to fail directly to the Eaft-Indies, and Spice-iflands : they 
 fir ft attempted a N. E. pafiage by Waygatz-ftraits, 
 but in vain-, afterwards, anno 1 595, without ceremony 
 they doubled the Cape of Good-Hope, leized feveral of 
 the Spanifli or Portugueze colonies, got a great footing 
 in the Eaft-Indies, and have eftablifhed a great trade, and 
 fettled many confiderable colonies. 
 
 Upon the expiration of the twelve years truce between 
 Spain and Holland, anno 1621, the Dutch made feveral 
 fuccefsful expeditions to Brazil (at the fame time made 
 fome fettlements in Guiana) and got fome footing there. 
 P. Maurice was appointed governor, and refided there 
 from anno 1637 to anno 1644 > for want of fupplies he 
 left it and returned home : the Dutch having a better 
 game to play in the Eaft-Indies, from whence they al- 
 moft outed the Portugueze, they gave way in the Brazils, 
 and after fome years the Portugueze recovered it entirely, 
 by anno 1660. 
 
 The following digreffion, may perhaps be an agree- 
 able amufement to fome readers. 
 
 To make fome ertimate of the Dutch Eaft-India, 
 whaling, and fugar trade (which, with their herring- 
 
 is never to be forgiven : the refentment and reparation has long lain dor- 
 mant, from James I indolence, the national confufions during the civil 
 war, the voluptuous reign of Charles If, the foie application of James II, 
 to introduce defpotifm and popery, and laterly from indulgence and affedlion 
 we bear to our natural and maritime allies, fo the Dutch are called; at 
 this time, from fome corruption of the leading men, fome evil fpirit, or 
 fome abftrufe myllery of ftate, they have, in the prefent war of Great-Britain 
 with trance, baulked us very much. Cromwel, a very great politician and 
 general, who, though not legally, yet by divine permiilion, or as in fome 
 defignations, dicina procidentia, or by the providence of God, had for 
 fome years the diredlion of Britiih affairs, in his declaration of war 
 againft the Dutch, anno 1652, demands fatisfattion for the Amboyna 
 affair, and the arrears of a certain fum of 30,000 /. llerling per annum, 
 for liberty of herring-fifhing on the coaft of Schetland, as per contraft 
 with the Englifh court in Charles I reign ; Cromwel’s war with the 
 
 • *- utc |* beill g loon over, their fubmiflivenefs and ufefulnefs to him, made 
 him drop it. 
 
h 
 
 U\ 
 
 side® 
 
 amis:; 
 
 Jtefc 
 
 aim 
 
 it ini 
 
 uceben 
 
 mdtg 
 
 times 
 
 xxbgQ 
 
 ittti 
 
 r ingai 
 
 lcetkj 
 
 itheh 
 
 ikes 
 
 xanj 
 
 Mi 
 
 drta 
 
 lODgfe 
 
 Itlttlgul 
 
 iOflOtJa 
 
 ceaais 
 
 intob 
 
 :edp 
 
 f Gioi'i 
 tpote 
 ora : 1 
 GoD,k 
 ration cf 
 
 tp* 
 
 M & 
 
 jh 1 
 
 i 
 
 Sect. II. in North- Amer ica. 31 
 
 fifhery and carrying, are the branches of their traffic) 
 we ffiall inftance the year 1738 (perhaps a medium year 
 of bufinefs) that year arrived in the Texel, for Amfterdam, 
 and the fmall towns in the Zuyder Zee, from the Eaft- 
 Indies fifteen ffiips •, from Eaft-Greenland, or Spitzbergen, 
 ninty-two whalers ; from Weft -Greenland, or Davis’s 
 rtreights, fifty-five whalers ; with i'ugar, coffee, cocoa, 
 from Surinam thirty-fix; Curalo eleven; other places in 
 the Weft-Indies fourteen. 
 
 The Dutch at firft carried on their trade in the Eaft- 
 Indies, by factories in feveral parts ; afterwards they fet- 
 tled colonies with a territorial jurifdi&ion ; they did not 
 fully monopolize the trade, until 1635. The lubfcription 
 for a company trade was 6,440,200 guilders, or florins. 
 
 The whole trade is fuppofed divided into fixteen parts, 
 and the company into fix chambers, each chamber hav- 
 ing parts nearly in proportion to their fubfcription ; of 
 thofe fixteen parts eight belong to the chamber of Amfter- 
 dam, four to Zealand, one to Rotterdam, one to Delft, 
 one to Horn, and one to Enchuyfen : each chamber has 
 a peculiar board of directors, called in Dutch Bewind- 
 hebbers ; the chamber of Amfterdam confifts of twenty 
 directors, that of Zealand confifts of twelve directors, the 
 other four chambers each confift of feven directors : 
 The grand affairs of the united chambers are managed by 
 a grand council, which fits at Amfterdam for fix years, 
 alternately ; this general council confifts of a deputation 
 from each of the fix chambers, Amfterdam fends eight 
 deputies, Zealand four deputies, the other four chambers 
 fend one deputy each; and a feventeenth (this council 
 confifts of feventeen) is chofen alternately by the fix 
 chambers, and is prefident, or chairman. 
 
 This company is vaftly rich, an original ffiare of 
 3000 guilders (3000 is reckoned a high fliare) has been 
 fold frequently at 20,000 guilders ; notwithftanding 
 their great annual charges in building and repairing forti- 
 fications, fliips, ftore lioufes, falaries, foldiers pay, iSc. 
 amounting fometimes to upwards of a million and a half 
 
 guilders 
 
32 Britifh and French Settlements PartI, 
 
 guilders per annum. They are the mod powerful private 
 fociety in the world ; fome think them more powerful 
 than the government of their own feven united provinces 
 at home in Europe ; they have at times lent the govern- 
 ment, or Sates general, great fums of money for con- 
 tinuing their privileges ; anno 1 688, they lent the States 
 general 8,000,000 guilders for continuing their privileges 
 to anno 1 740. It has been thought, that if the Dutch 
 (I mean their people of quality and fortune) fhould, at 
 any time, forefee a certain danger of being reduced by a 
 more potent neighbour, they would tranfport their fa- 
 milies and effects to the Eaft-Indies, where they are ma- 
 ilers of the fea : thus, in ancient times, the Tyrians, when 
 in apparent danger of being reduced by Alexander the 
 great, fent their wives, children and effects to Carthage. 
 This company exports very little bullion from Holland 
 (the Englifh Eaft-India company export too much filver) 
 their Ipices vended in that country, purchafe all the 0- 
 ther goods they may have occafion for. The Englifh 
 Eaft-India company, in fome articles of trade, have the 
 advantage of the Dutch ; for, in fadt, the Hollanders buy 
 near half the goods fold at the Englifh Eaft-India fales. 
 
 The feat of government for all the Dutch Eaft-India 
 colonies and factories is at Batavia •, here refides their 
 governor-general with much greater ftate, than the pre- 
 fident of the States-general of the united provinces. The 
 governor-general is chofen by the company, with the 
 approbation of the States-general -, he is eledted only 
 tor three years, but frequently continued for life •, he 
 has a council of fix, viz. The major-general, a military 
 officer ; diredlor-general, who has the infpedtion of the 
 trade, and gives orders or inftrudtions to all under-di- 
 redtors, fadtors, fupercargoes, and mailers or Ikippers, 
 with four more named by the company. In very good 
 policy, they have an independent court of judicature for 
 civil and criminal matters, to whom the governor- general 
 is fubjedt, and by whom he may be condemned even to 
 death. Under the governor-general are fix confiderable 
 
 govern- 
 
il pm. 
 
 F* 
 
 Jroij* 
 
 ; govt 
 
 feu 
 
 ieSs 
 
 Ml 
 
 kefij 
 
 k'i 
 
 uccdr 
 
 At: 
 
 yins 
 
 as,* 
 
 tands: 
 
 Cffi 5 
 
 iBs 
 
 ocife 
 
 alftr 
 
 ute; 
 
 lids 2 
 »th 
 cal 
 wil: 
 tiedi 
 ■tei 
 
 unfe 
 
 r# 
 
 ievcs 
 
 Sect. II. in North-America. 33 
 
 governments or colonies ; each has a governor, director 
 ot trade, &c. belides feveral lefler governments, com- 
 manderies, and factories. This being only a digrefiion, 
 I muft forbear to enumerate more particulars. As the 
 above obfervations are not public, that is in print, I 
 hope they may be acceptable. 
 
 II. A fliort hiftory of the S. W. paflages from Eu- 
 rope to the Mare del Zur, South-fea, or Pacifick-ocean j 
 and to the E aft- Indies, or China, and the fpice-Iflands. 
 As the Portugueze formerly claimed an exclufive navi- 
 gation by the S. E. pa/Tage, in like manner the Spani- 
 aids pretended to the exclufive navigation of the S. W. 
 pafiage, to rhe Eaft Indies. For the better underftand- 
 mg ot the affair, we may previoufly obferve [ o ] : 
 
 The reafon why feveral princes of Europe endeavour- 
 ed other paflages befides that of the S. E. by the Cape of 
 Good-Hope to the fplce-iflands, and the Indian feas, 
 was as follows. Ever fince anno 1410, the Portugueze 
 proceeded, with infinite labour and much expenfe alono- 
 the weft coaft of Africk, to gain a paflage to the Eaft- 
 lndies; anno 144a, they obtained of Pope Martin a 
 grant of the foie navigation of feas, and property of 
 lands lying S. and E. of Cape Bajador N. lat. 27 D. 
 
 T* London 15 D. in Africa; this includes the 
 
 Cape of Good-Hope, and the S. E. pafiage. 
 
 n ! anno I 493 > having grantedlo the Spaniard 
 
 all lands beginning 100 leagues weft from the Azores, 
 or weftern iflands (belonging to Portugal) and fouth 
 indefinitely ; occafioned a difpute between the Spaniards 
 and Portugueze The Portugueze reckoned the Spa- 
 mlh difeovery of America anno 1492, and this bull, as an 
 encroachment upon their right to the ocean, as being the 
 
 [«] In Aecourfe of this narrative concerning the colonies from Eu- 
 dTfnm^ m Ame " ca > to render matters more obvious and diOinfl, we 
 neft kT f remife J1Ufodua ° r y ^counts of affairs, and fometirnes fub- 
 neft by way of notes or annotations traijfient defcriptions of incidental 
 things, which, although m every refpeft not confident with our intended 
 brevity, nor finely within the limits of our defign, may bo of uTfor a 
 general information, and not difagrceable amufement 7 
 
 ' 0L - *' B firft 
 
54 Britiffi and French Settlements PartI. 
 
 firft navigators of this ocean ; complained to Pope 
 Alexande? VI, anno 1493 ; he compofed this difference 
 by the limits of a meridian, called, the line of dimarkati- 
 on degrees weft of St. Antonio, the weftermoft of 
 the Capifde Verde illands : St. Antonio lies 25 D. weft 
 from London [/>]. 
 
 As the Pope at that time, and for many years fol- 
 lowing, was univeffally in Europe regarded, as the foie 
 and abfolute arbitrator, or rather difpofer of all domini- 
 ons upon earth •, the other princes of Europe did impli- 
 citly acquiefce in this fantaftical, or rather fanatical 
 divifion of the globe of the earth (its parts to be difeover- 
 ed) between the Spaniards and Portugueze ; and for near 
 a century, all the traffick of the Eall and V\' eft-indies 
 was engrofled refpedtively by the Portugueze and Spani- 
 ards; but in procefs of time, the Britifh, French, and 
 Dutch have got into their^hands the greateft part of this 
 traffic ; gold, filver, and precious Hones excepted. 
 
 There are three different fouth-weft paffages. 
 
 1. Theftraits of Magellan (it is properly a thorough- 
 fare, but near the land’s-end of America ;) the eaft en- 
 trance lies in 52 D. 30 M. S. lat. its weft entrance in 53 D. 
 S. lat. in all its turnings about 1 1 6 leagues long ; Cape 
 Quaad not above four miles wide ; at Batchelors river, 
 fifty leagues from its eaft entrance, the flood begins to 
 come from the weftward, and makes a ripling with the 
 eaftern flood. After the beginning of May to the end of 
 September, thefe ftraits are fo full of ice, with fixed 
 ftormy wefterly winds, there is no pafling ; at other 
 
 [/] Cape St. Auguftine, the weftermoft point of the Brazils (and of all 
 America) lies in 53 D.W. from London : the line of dimarkation cuts off 
 a llice of the eaftern coaft of America, now called Brazils ; thus the Brazils 
 belong to the Portugueze, not only by priority of difeovery and occupancy 
 (this is at prefent the good title by the law of nations) but by the Pope’s 
 antiquated, obfolete, divifional decree : and as the oppofite line of di- 
 markation mult be 1 80 D. E. and W. from this line, it is thought that 
 iome part of the Moluccas or Spice-iflands, if the pope’s decree were of 
 any force or obligation at this time, would fall within the Spanilh divifion. 
 
 times, 
 
■ ii; Sect. II. in North-America. 35 
 
 times, it is very difficult and tedious, therefore it is now 
 lc ~ difufed. Trees grow here to a confiderable bignefs ; 
 T * there are no pine-trees in thefe louthern latitudes, the like 
 r:: northern latitudes abound with them [j]. 
 
 Ferdinand Magellanez, a native of Portugal, not fuf- 
 ficiently rewarded for his many good fervices in the Por- 
 tugueze dilcoveries, offered his fervice to the emperor 
 stfcfl Charles V, king of Spain, to find a paffage to the Spice - 
 Ife iflands by failing weftward, without any violation of the 
 lilt pope’s bull, or of the agreement with Portugal : with five 
 iSai ffiips and 300 men he jailed from Seville in Spain, Aug. 
 
 & 10, anno 1519 he wooded and watered on the coaft of 
 
 ltd: Brazil in 22 D. S. lat. he firft, but in vain, attempted a 
 
 tfli paffage by the river of Plate ; he difcovered and paffed 
 
 nis the ftraits of his own name, November, anno 1520 ; 
 
 entli,. he proceeded to the Lad rones and Philippine-iflands, 
 aiti: where he was killed in a fkirmiffi with the Indians ; his 
 
 ted. fhips proceed and arrived at the Moluccas or Spice-illands 
 in November, 152 1 j>], and fettled a colony •, they load- 
 e d with fpices, and by way of the Cape of Good-Hope, 
 tint in three years returned to Spain. After Magellan’s paf- 
 icet ^ a 8 e » was difcontinued (being reprefented lb very dif- 
 n: ficnlt) for many years. Camerga, a Spaniard, is faid to 
 
 have pafied it anno 1539. 
 
 ■to Capt. Francis Drake is reckoned the fecond who cir- 
 i-- cumnavigated our globe, or earth, by paffing the ftraits of 
 Magellan * with five ffiips and 1 64 men he failed from 
 ms P1 >’ mouth ’ Dec. 1 3, anno 1577; he paffed the ftraits 
 of Magellan in September, 1578, after a very difficult 
 navigation of fixteen days; he got much treafure along 
 
 l - [?] Here are large trees with a pepperiih aromatic-tafted bark, formerly 
 
 , of good medical ule, the botanical name is, cortex Winteranus laurifollis 
 L; Magellanica cortice acri; Winter’3 bark from the name of the firft im- 
 *: porter; it is not at prefent to be found in the apothecaries (hops in F.u- 
 
 1 y°P^> and the name is transferred to the cortex elutberi, from the Bahama- 
 v . iflands, called cinajnomum five canclla alba tubis tninoribtis C. B. P. 
 
 , M The Spaniards were loon drove from the Spice-iflands by the Por- 
 0 tugueze; and the emperor king of Spain having prefling occafions for 
 >*; money, for a certain fum renounced all his pretenlions to the Spice-iflands. 
 
 r r D ^ the 
 
^6 Britiih and French Settlements PartI. 
 
 the coaft of Chili and Peru ; failed fo far north as 43 D. 
 N. lat. the inclemency of the weather obliged him to re- 
 turn fouthward •, he took poffeffion, in form, of the N.W. 
 parts of California for the crown of England, and called 
 it New- Albion. He arrived at Ternate, one of the Mo- 
 lucca or Spice-iflands, Nov. 14, anno 1579, and loaded 
 a quantity of cloves •, arrived in England, Nov. 3, 1580. 
 He was knighted aboard of his own fhip by queen Eliza- 
 beth [/]. His journal differed one day from the account 
 of time in England [/]. 
 
 [s] Good queen Elizabeth excelled in many things, particularly by 
 encouraging of trade and navigation : Hie fettled a trade with the Giand 
 Seignior, with the Czar of Mutcovy, with India, and began our America 
 colony fcttlements. To encourage navigation-difeoveries, fhe knighted 
 the diicovercrs ; fhe was allied the reftorer of naval glory, and the miftrefs 
 of the ocean. Her expeditions againft the Spaniards (the.Dutch being 
 tinder her protection) gave occafion to many of our difeoveries and fettle- 
 ments of colonies and factories. She formed an Englifh Ealt-lndia com- 
 pany by letters-patent of incorporation, Dec. 30? anno 1600 ; there were 
 1 80 perfons named in the patent, their common flock was only 7 2,000 /. 
 fterling ; whereas the Dutch Eaft-India company incorporated by the 
 States- general anno 1602, their common flock was 6,440,200 guilders 
 or florins, being about 600,000 / flerling, and confequentiy foon out-did 
 us in the Eall-India trade and fcttlements. 
 
 [/] In fa&, the Spaniards of Manila differ from the Portugueze of 
 Macao, an ifland near Canton on the coaft of China, about one day ; the 
 Spaniards came by the weftern navigation from New-Spain or Mexico ; 
 the Portugueze came by an eaftern navigation from Europe ; this occafions 
 a clafhing in their Sundays, and other holidays ; and is a demon ftration, 
 that the fame identical feventh part of time for religious worfhip, feftivals, 
 and fails, cannot, in the nature things, be obferyed , and confequentiy is 
 not jure divino, but admits of a latitude or variation naturally, or by civil 
 inftitution : thus naturally our New-En gland fabbath differs four hours 
 forty-five minutes from our mother-country’s Sunday, and is obferved ac- 
 cording to the courfe of nature ; fince the feventh part oi time for reft 
 and divine worfhip, cannot poffibly be identically the fame, but mufl differ 
 as longitudes do. Some other differences in obfervation of times, are not 
 effential to religion ; fome reckon the day before the night, fome the 
 night before the day, as do the Mahometans and others ; the old and 
 new-ilyle makes a confiderable difference in our holidays ; they who fol- 
 low the old-flyle in their' holidays, are to a demonftration, in the wrong; 
 yet notwithftanding, feme of the church of England, and other churches 
 who follow the old-flyle, clamour much againft the Nonconformifts, who 
 do not obferve their Chriftmas, Eafter, and other erroneoufly eftablifhed 
 
 Capt. 
 
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 H 
 
 rot 
 
 <!i' 
 
 tdtt 
 
 tkt 
 
 idiot 
 
 v; 
 
 at 
 
 £2£ 
 
 insse 
 
 ink'; 
 
 C&. J J 
 
 w 
 
 dii 
 
 k 
 
 ess: 
 
 to 
 
 ;cer 
 
 UK' 
 
 fa 
 
 uri 
 
 is© 
 
 !2ffS 
 
 niff 
 
 A 
 
 liffi 
 
 erf 
 
 G3&‘ 
 
 fcl» 
 
 tld 
 
 fcffi 
 
 ifl 
 
 liertf 
 
 oirf 
 
 i 
 
 Sect. II. in North-America. 37 
 
 Capt. Thomas Cavendifh (he was afterward knighted) 
 was the third adventurer and circumnavigator by this 
 ftrait ; having paflfed, he diftrefied the Spaniards very 
 much along the South- fea fliorc ■, he touched at Califor- 
 nia i took an Aquapulco fhip; touched at the Philippine- 
 iflands and Java •, he doubled the Cape of Good- Hope ; 
 touched at St. Helena in 15 D. S. lat. with much booty 
 and glory, he arrived at Plymouth, Sept. 9, anno 1591. 
 
 The Spaniards having found two land-pafies or con- 
 veyances, viz. The ifthmus of Darien, and from the ri- 
 ver of Plate crofs the Andes to the South-Seas, they dis- 
 continued this navigation. Oliver Nort, anno 1598, 
 and George Spilbergen, anno 1614, Dutchmen, pafled. 
 Sir John Narborough, fitted out by king Charles II, and 
 the Duke of York, fail’d from England May i£, anno 
 1669 •, was only fix months from Baldivia in Chili to 
 England •, he repafled the ftraits of Magellan, and made 
 the Lizard June io, 1671 •, was only one year and nine 
 months in his voyage. M. de Beauchefne a French- 
 man (perhaps the laft in this navigation) pafled anno 
 1 699 i he returned fouth of Cape-Horn without making 
 land. 
 
 2. The pafiage by ftraits Le Maire and Cape-Horn. 
 This ftrait lies between Terra del Fuego and Staten- 
 iflands, in 55 D. S. lat. being five leagues long, eight 
 leagues wide, good foundings j from thence they double 
 Cape-Horn, the fouth land’s end of America, in 57 D. 
 50 M. S. lat. 
 
 Cornelius Schouten of Horn, and Jacob Le Maire of 
 Amfterdam, anno 1615, were the firft who adventured 
 fouth of Magellan-ftraits. The ifland which makes the 
 ftraits had its name from the States of Holland, the 
 ftraits were called by the name of one of the dilicover- 
 ers, the cape was called after the name of the birth- 
 place of the other difeoverer. They performed their 
 
 holidays : in fhort, it would appear to a man of an indifferent perfuafion, 
 or void of prejudice, that, in the nature of things, divinity has left it with 
 the civil power to regulate thefe matters. 
 
 D 3 
 
 , circum- 
 
gg Britilh and French Settlemen rs Part I. 
 circumnavigation in two years and eighteen days. This 
 paflage has been much pradtifed. 
 
 Commodore Anfon’s (now lord Anfon) voyage 
 through thefe ftraits round our globe or earth, is the 
 lateft we have any particular account of ; he failed from 
 England Sept. 18, 1741, to annoy and diftrefs the Spa- 
 niards in the South-feas •, his fquadron confifted of fhips 
 one 60 guns, two 50 guns, one 40 guns, one 20 guns, 
 a lloop or fnow of 8 guns, 2 victuallers i he had twelve 
 months provifion aboard, 500 marines and invalids, but 
 returned to England a fingle fhip : of the 5 10 m ^ n a- 
 board the Centurion the commodore, when he failed 
 from England, not exceeding x 3° returned to England. 
 He was unfortunate as to wrong leafons all the voyage, he 
 fet out too late, was thirty-eight days in his paflage to 
 Maderas, did not leave St. Catherine’s [a] on the coaft of 
 Brazil, in 27 D. S. lat. until Jan. 1 8, palled in fight of the 
 Magellan-ftraits in March, through ftraits Le Maire, 
 he was off of Cape-Horn in the height of their winter, 
 with hollow feas, and boifterous adverfe winds (we 
 before hinted that the fouth high latitudes, are in their 
 winters more tempeftuous, than the like north high 
 latitudes in the northern winters ; thus Cape of the Good 
 Hope, although in 34 D. S. lat. was at firft called Cape 
 Tormentofa, the N. W. winds in May, June, July, and 
 Auguft, being as it were fixed and very tempeftuous) here 
 he departed from all his fleet ; the Severn and Pearl of 
 50 and 40 gun, tired out (as it is fuppofed) with 
 tedious contrary winds, difmal ftorms, and an over- 
 grown fea, left him and put back : fome of his fleet 
 joined him again at the ifland of Juan Fernandez in the 
 South-fea, which is generally ufed as a place of refrelh- 
 ment by enemies and interlopers. He had a tedious 
 paflage of 148 days from St. Catherine’s to this ifland. 
 
 fa] Tn this navigation, in time of a general peace, the proper baiting 
 places, places of refrefhment, or to wood and water, are the Cape de 
 Verde ifiands, the coaft of Brazil, and the ifland Ferdinando, in the South- 
 feas, 34 D. 10 M. S. lat 100 leagues weft from the coaft of Chili. 
 
 He 
 
* Sect. II. in North-America. 39 
 
 1 He did not arrive off of Aquapulco until the end of 
 
 39 
 
 January, O. S. the Manila [w] fhip being got in January 
 9. From the weft coaft of Mexico he was 109 days 
 1,8' to the Ladrones (it is generally performed by heavy 
 failers in fixty or fevcnty days) from thence he proceeded 
 its to Macao, a Portugueze fettlement upon an ifland near 
 
 it Canton, the chief place of trade in China ; here he conti- 
 
 togs nued from November x 742 to April following. June 20, 
 
 it?, anno 1743, commodore Anfon by good chance (the 
 
 ft Manila fhip might have got into her port, but being 
 
 3c? informed at Aquapulco of Anfon’s bad condition, he bore 
 
 bti up to him to take him) took the Manila fhip bound from 
 
 E® Aquapulco to Manila, about fix leagues S. E. of Cape 
 
 I®. Spiritu Sandto off the ifland Mindora near Luconia or 
 
 and left it December 1 5, bound for England. Anno 
 
 , M The Aquapulco or Manila fhips, are annually fometitnes three. 
 
 H , near, or in, N. lat. 13 D. as freeit from iilands; have a run of 
 
 ^ 2100 leagues from Aquapulco in 16 D. 30M.N. lat. and 106 D. 30 
 
 : M. W. from London, to Guy am one of the Ladrones in 13 M. 30 D. 
 
 N. lat. 220 D. W. long, from London, or 140 D. E. from London 
 ( their governor is fubordinate to the Spanilh Captain-general of the Phi- 
 tW lippines) the Ladrones, particularly Guyam, are of the lame ufe of refrefh- 
 
 ju ment for the Manila or Aquapulco (hips, as the Cape of Good-Hope is to 
 
 7 . thc 5 «tch Eaft-India fhips, and the ifland of St. Helena to the Englilh 
 
 r: Eaft-India company fhips — From Guyam they fail 400 leagues to Manilas 
 
 U02 (the diftance is the fame to the Moluccas or Spice-iflands) where they ar- 
 
 Jfe r ^ ve fo me ^ me tn June: they fet out from Manilas for Aquapulco in 
 
 /• I Augull, and are fometimes under a nccellity to ftretch fo high as 50 D. N. 
 
 lat. to come at the variable, or rather the wefterly, winds. They never 
 23 difcover any land, but have frequent foundings, in the high latitudes, 
 
 if Ills They arrive at Aquapulco in December or January ; the firft land they 
 
 ; p , . have made has fometimes been St. Sebaftian off California in N. lat. 42 D. 
 
 u ; and 1 33 D. W. long. fron> London, being the moll wellerly knownpart of 
 
 of£ America; generally they make Cape St. Lucar the fouth point ot Cali- 
 
 | forma in N. lat. 22 D. 30 M. fometimes the firft land they make is Cape 
 
 tllisii Corientes, on the well coal! of Mexico in N. lat. 19 L. 
 
 From the city of Mexico, by their barcadier of Aquapulco, they fhip 
 much filver to Manilas (commodore Anfon accounted for 1 ,300,000 pieces 
 To ei S Jlt . in M an il a prize of 1743, June 20) which purchafe in Japan 
 T anc * ^ina ( the y have a continued trade with thefe places) all forts of rich 
 
 Manila ifland, July 1 1 ; he anchored again in Macao road. 
 
 two, fometimes only one; they fail from Aquapulco the latter end 
 
 ~ 1U ^Mw-nuiey ™ 
 goods for Mexico, 
 
 1744 ) 
 
40 Britifh and French Settlements Part I. 
 
 1 744, April 3, he left the Cape of Good-Hope, and June 
 12, made the Lizard point. The prize money of the 
 Manila Ihip, and of fome fmall captures on the coaft of 
 Peru, accounted for, was in value 355,324/. fterling. 
 
 3. The navigation eaft of Staten-ifland, clear of all 
 land, giving Cape- Horn the land’s end of South- Ame- 
 rica, a good birth. This is the prefent pra&ice of the 
 French South-fea-men, and is the moft advifeable. 
 
 Capt. Sharp, a Buccanier [YJ, anno 1681, came from 
 the South- feas to the North-feas without making land; 
 it was in their fummer-feafon ; Nov. 1 7, he was in 58 D. 
 30 M. S. lat. to the fouthward of Cape- Horn, where he 
 met with feveral iflands of ice and hard frofts ; he crofied 
 the equator or line Jan. 7. 
 
 Capt. Woods Rogers ("afterwards governor of Provi- 
 dence and the other Bahama-illands) with two good pri- 
 vateers, fet out from Briftol in Auguft, anno 1 708 (his 
 pilot was Dampier, formerly a logwood cutter, who had 
 been three times in the South-feas, and twice round the 
 globe) he wooded and watered at Cape de Verde iflands, 
 at Brazils, end of November, and at the ifland Ferdi- 
 
 M 1 he Buccaniers originally were a vagrant, vicious, (eafaring, pirati- 
 cal people, chiefly Englilh and French : they were ufed to kill wild bulls 
 and cows with long fufees, called Buccanier-pieces, for their hides and 
 Ciliow ; at firft they committed depredations only upon the Spaniards and 
 opamfli fettlements (Morgan took Porto-Bello and Panama, anno 1671) 
 an, a «hough a notorious pirate, was knighted by that prince of pleafure 
 and whim king Charles II, but afterwards was in difgrace. They carried 
 on th is Bel, um Piratkum againft the Spaniards, in the Weft-Indies, front 
 anno 1666 to anno 1688, madmen like, for fmall booty, and that foon 
 ac the y/ u f ere ‘ i the gtoateft fatigues, hunger, and rifque of life. 
 , . ■ /■' ! . °, rl /( c themfelves upon a fmall ifland called Tortugas, north of 
 ’f a ,7 a . Jp 1 (lands, where tortoife or turtle frequent, are by the Spani- 
 \j e C - ° rtu g as » that ifland near the Margarkas upon the coaft of 
 Ne vFn 2 T’ !? W p'I C r by a S P an ><h treaty at Madrid anno 1716, 
 uroT 7 h P £ N n w nngS faIt /o r ‘heir filhery, is called Salt-Tortugas) asalfo 
 a* . j parts of Hifpaniola ; the court of France fent them over 
 
 feukmemI%hl’rt C0 ^ mZed thn ? 5 this is the original of the French rich 
 contraa for n! '' e $ ? Ue ’ "hen the French had the Spanifh Afliento 
 “S'" Negroes, Spam confented to their having a lodge and place of 
 
 i curs thev-renn’ b y theirufual way of encroaching upon their neigh- 
 curs, they ure now become (upenor to the Spanifli of Hifpaniola. 
 
 nando, 
 
Sect. II. in North-America. 41 
 
 nando, in the South-fea ; having fea-room fufficient, he 
 pafled into the South-feas without feeing of land; Jan. 
 10, he was fouth of Cape-Horn in lat. 61 D. 53 M; 
 ten weeks from the Brazils, he was upon the coaft of 
 Chili and Peru, where he continued making depredations 
 till the month of December, then he lay in wait near the 
 fouth end of California. He took the fmall Manila fhip 
 Dec. 22. He left California Jan. 12, arrived at Guam 
 March 1 1, left Guam March 22, arrived in Batavia 
 June 20, left Java-head O6tob. 24, arrived in the har- 
 bour of Cape Good- Hope Dec. 28 ; failed from thence 
 April 8, with the Dutch Eaft-India fleet (they are gene- 
 rally leventeen to twenty fail homeward bound) palled in 
 fight of St. Helena April 30, off of Schetland-iflands 
 in the north of Scotland July 1 6, and arrived in the Texel 
 July 23 ; having encroached upon the exclufive trade 
 and navigation of Englifh Eaft-India company, they did 
 not think it convenient to come to England, until they 
 had fettled the affair with the company. 
 
 III. Thorough-fares [ y] in the body of the American 
 continent from the eaftern Ocean to the weftern Ocean, 
 commonly called from the North-fea to the South-fea 
 and Eaft-Indies. 
 
 1. The ftraits of Magellan, already difeufled. 
 
 2. Rio de La Plata John Diaz de Solis, a Spaniard, 
 failing fouthward, fell in with this river of Plate anno 
 1515 ; the name was occafioned by the firft filver from 
 Peru coming down this river (the native Indians call this 
 country Paraguay) they went up the river fo far as was 
 Convenient, and thence travelled by land to the country 
 that afforded fo much filver and gold, and made returns 
 of it. Garcias, a Portugueze, was up this river anno 
 1 524 ; he was cut off by the Indians. Sebaftian Cabot, 
 in the king of Spain’s fervice anno 1525, failed 200 
 leagues up the river of Plate. Anno 1535, Don Pedro 
 
 LvJ This was defigned as the laft head of paflages from the North to 
 the South-fea, but as it feems to fall in more naturally in this place, we 
 proceed with it accordingly. 
 
 de 
 
42 Britilh and French Settlements Part]. 
 de Mendoza, with twelve Ihips, went up this river ; he 
 left fome forces there, they conquered the country to the 
 mines of Potofi, and town of La Plata, 500 leagues 
 from their fird fettlements ; the Spaniards did not begin 
 to work the mines of Potofi, until anno 1545. Buenos 
 Ayres is fifty leagues up from the mouth of the river of 
 Plate ; one branch of this river is called Paraguay; here is 
 the famous country Tucuman of the Jefuits ; the Jefuits 
 having, in fome degree, civilized the native Indians, they 
 divided it into diftri&s or millions, under the direction of 
 the Jefuits to this day. St. Jago, in 29 D. S. Lat. is 
 the capital of the Jeiuits country. At prefent there is a 
 good land communication from the river of Plate to Peru 
 and Chili, fo that the Afiiento Negroes are conveyed from 
 Buenos Ayres to Peru and Chili : the road pafies through 
 La Plata (the great river comes near to it) in 21 D. 
 S. lat. the capital of the audience of Los Chercas in 
 Peru : the filver mines of Potofi and Porco are in its 
 neighbourhood. 
 
 3 - The river of Amazons [2]. Its mouth lies near 
 the line or equinoctial, it is of a very long courfe, about 
 1800 leagues (it is the larged river upon earth) from its 
 many windings and bad navigation, it is relinquilhed as 
 a thorough-fare. Gonzalo Pizarro (brother to the fa- 
 mous 1 izarro) governor of Quito in Peru, anno 1540, 
 with a final 1 army eroded the Andes, and fell down this 
 river in qued of gold ; here he built a brigantine which 
 failed down the river, which went home to Spain by the 
 cad or north-lea ; Pizarro himfelf returned by land to 
 Quito, he found no gold. Father d’Acuna from Quito 
 went down this river, and by the Ead fea to Spain, and 
 publifhed an account of the country. The Spaniards 
 endeavoured a fettlement upon the river, anno 1554J but 
 
 [~J Bacchus, when he conquered 7 hrace, had a corps of Libyan wo- 
 men >nh»s army, called Amazons; Minerva was their leader. Upon a 
 Lnfhnna eX ^ e l !'* s a nurn ber of Indian women, with their 
 
 c , 1 s ’ u f on 11 nv f. r ’ °PP°fed the Spaniards ; this was the occafton 
 oi the river being fo called. 
 
 foon 
 
Pa 
 
 iftt; 
 
 jytr 
 
 notlt 
 
 tiiu 
 
 Tib 
 
 «,i 
 
 ittt® 
 
 Hi 
 
 inti 
 
 R5; 
 
 3ib 
 
 ini 
 
 3m' 
 
 I®; 
 
 ISO! 
 
 V 
 
 l&s 
 
 jiiik 
 
 Jtt 
 
 non 
 
 ion: 
 
 its 
 
 ilk: 
 
 [lit 
 
 n({ 
 
 lain,: 
 
 >piT- 
 
 jto ! 
 
 ,T: 
 
 «8« 
 
 Sect. II. ?« North-America. 43 
 
 foon relinquifhed it. By the peace of Utrecht, France 
 (the French have fome imall fettlements in Guiana, north 
 of this river) renounces both Tides of the river of Ama- 
 zons, and the navigation thereof. 
 
 4. The river Oronoque. Its mouth lies in about 9 D. 
 N. L. by this river no thorough-fare ever was effected ; 
 it is the fouth-eafterly boundary of the Spanifli fettle- 
 ents on the eaft or north fea of America: St. Thomas 
 is the only fettlement the Spaniards have fouth-eaft of 
 this river •, fome New-England privateers, in the begin- 
 ning of the prefent Spanifh war, made fome attempts 
 upon this place. Sir Walter Raleigh [<*] took pofieffion 
 of the country of Guiana [b\ anno 1595, for the crown 
 of England. 
 
 [a] Sir Water Raleigh, for himfelf and aflociates or afligns, anno 1584, 
 obtained a patent from the crown of England, for difcovering and plant- 
 ing lands in America, not aflually in pofleflion of any chrilban prince. 
 His firH fettlement was at Roanoke in North-Carolina, and encouraged ad- 
 venturers to plant lome of thofe lands now called Virginia : but his whim 
 after metals, minerals, and precious Hones, was the reafon of his neglefl of 
 fettlements. He was fitted out by queen Elizabeth, anno 1 592, to annoy 
 the Spaniards (Drake and Hawkins were fitted out, anno 1595, upon the 
 fame account ; they both died in the WeH-Indies) he neglected his adven- 
 tures to Virginia, and made three unfuccefsful voyages up the river Oro* 
 noque, in quell of metals and precious Hones : he was told (as it is faid) 
 and was fo credulous as to believe, that, in that country gold was fo plenty 
 as to be heaped up like firewood. In the beginning of king James the 
 firH’s reign, he was convidled and condemned to die for a confpiracy ; was 
 reprieved from time to time; and after being kept prifoner in the tower 
 twelve years, he propofes to find gold mines in Guiana, and, notwith- 
 Handing his being under fentence of death, was fitted out, but returned re 
 infeSia. Gundamar, the Spanilh ambaflador at the court of England, in 
 the name of the court of Spain, clamoured and flrongly complained of 
 the infra&ion of peace and amity ; to make an atonement, Sir Walter 
 was the facrilice, and his former fentence of death was allowed to take 
 place ; he was executed anno 1618. 
 
 [ b ] The country of Guiana lies between the rivers Oronoque and 
 Amazons : the Spaniards to the northward, and Portugueze to the fouth- 
 ward, but have no footing here. Its fouthern parts have fome fmall 
 French fettlements, Cayenne, &c. the Englilh fettled the middle part, 
 called Surinam ; the Dutch took it from the Englilh in the beginning of 
 king Charles the fecond’s reign, in it was quitclaimed to the Dutch 
 \>y die peace of Breda, anno 1667, in exchange for the Dutch quit-claim- 
 
 The 
 
44 Britifh and French Settlements PartI, 
 
 5. The gulph of Mexico and ifthmus of Darien. 
 Vafco Numes de Balboa, with 290 men, anno 15 (3, was 
 the firft who crofted this ifthmus, and dilcovered the 
 South-fea in 8 D. 30 M. N. Lat. between Porto-Bello 
 and Carthagena ; at this place the ifthmus is about one 
 degree wide. This Vafco received no benefit by this 
 difcovery, being loon fuperfeded by Padracias, who was, 
 by the court of Spain, appointed vice- roy of Panama, 
 originally and at that time capital of the South-fea 
 Spanifh colonies : there is a great ridge of mountains, or 
 rather of many diftindt hills running along this ifthmus, 
 into the gulph of Darien ; there come from the moun- 
 tains many rivers, which formerly afforded much gold 
 dull or grains ; this was the principal inducement to that 
 romantic, ill- contrived, badly executed, and therefore 
 fhort-lived Scots fettlement here, called the Darien or 
 Caledonia [c] company, anno 1699. 
 
 ing to the Englilh their colony of New-Netherland, now called New- 
 rt? 1 ’ n le . Dutcfl k ttIed its north ern parts of Efquibc Barbice, £*. Sir 
 altei Raleigh, anno 1595, had taken pofTeffion of the whole country for 
 the crown of England . 7 
 
 [r] Anno 1695, by an a ft of the Scots parliament, feveral foreigners, 
 as well as natives, of Scotland, with a joint flock with perpetual fucceflion, 
 were incorporated by the name of The company of Scotland, trading to 
 Africa and the Indies. One half at l<;aft of the flock, to belong to 
 ocotilh-men refiding m Scotland ; not any one fubfeription lefs than ioo /. 
 and not exceeding 3000 /. fterling : to plant colonies, to build forts, &c. 
 in any part of Alia, Africa, and America, with confent of the natives and 
 inhabitants thereof, and not poflefled by any European fovereign ; with 
 an excluf.ve trade, but may grant-permiflions to other traders, to all Afia, 
 • 7-m ? nd . Al " e 7 ca > for thirty-one years. The company to have the 
 junfdia,on in their own colonies, where they may impofc duties, cufloms, 
 
 " ‘ ' eir tI " 1 ,' c ln Scotland to be exempted from all duties for twenty- 
 Zr?- P concerned in the company are declared free Denizens of 
 < ? r ,orm s fake king William did grant to the company letters 
 
 S nTfn bIe *?• thlS ^ , Bv the “ft of fome gentlemen deeply 
 c . ’ ‘ e in the fame feflions pafTed an ad, of bad confe- 
 
 n r ,,; f rr Cri ^ t lC mana F crs ^ or boroughs, companies incorporate or 
 collegute, to mveft any part of their flock in this company. 
 
 were *° c“ * at P a " en 1 6 99 5 the faid a i\ and letters patent 
 
 aif ir lahruirf 1 ' a< ^ t>f parliament anno 1701 ; and when the 
 
 1 nmcB ’ bv an ad °i queen Anne in a Scots parliament, anno 
 
 Anno 
 
Pilt 
 J f He 
 
 tyjl 
 
 ^vered 
 
 W{ 
 
 about; 
 k tyj 
 
 ijWkoi 
 
 wtii 
 
 lisife 
 
 the tm 
 mucii; 
 nit 
 Uk 
 
 iDtlt 
 
 lice,?: 
 ile etc 
 
 nJfc 
 
 ml foe 
 Elite 
 
 tohei 
 
 fsk 
 
 m 
 
 CMK 
 !Tf 
 S,IDI. 
 tok 
 ies, cm 
 sfbr® 
 Dai: 
 
 ljSffl 
 
 msi 
 
 Me 
 
 vf 
 
 ttBJj 1 
 
 liiff 
 
 |BSv r 
 
 Sect. II. in North-America. 45 
 
 Anno 1680, fome of the buccaniers went op thegulph 
 or river of Darien, and from thence, by a Ihort land- 
 pafiage to St. Maria, in the bay of Panama : fome buc- 
 caniers returned the fame way to the north fea. Ar 
 fome diftance to the weftward, fix leagues is Nombre de 
 Dios, (nomen Dei ) eighteen leagues from Panama; here 
 the galieons formerly loaded, but becaufe of the fickly 
 air here and in the gulph of Darien, they were both re- 
 linquilhed by the Spaniards ; this is the narrowed place 
 of the neck : negroes from Jamaica, interlopers, have car- 
 ried letters of advice from Nombre de Dios to Panama, 
 and brought back anfwers in thirty-fix hours. Six 
 leagues welt from Nombre de Dios is Porto- Bello [^] ; it 
 
 1703, all perfons and (hips, natives and foreigners, trading to their colo- 
 nies by the penniihon of the company, and returning to Scotland, are in- 
 veiled with all privileges and immunities of the company. 
 
 The projed of fettling a colony at Darien, well deferves the name of a 
 Scots Folly : a country under fubjcdlion to Spain at that time in peace 
 with us, and upon any emergency by a fleet from Spain, capable of 
 fwallowing them up ; befides its being inhofpitable from its unhealthful- 
 nefs. If inftead of this they had procured of Spain an Afliento Negro 
 contract, with an annual dry-goods fhip; if they followed a fadory trade to 
 China, to the bay of Bengal, to Hegly river, to Arabia, &c. perhaps it 
 might have turned to fome account; they loon were in a ruinous con- 
 dition, and a little before the union with England, 100 /. flock fold 
 for 10 /. 
 
 As good fometimes comes out of evil and folly, it happened fo in this 
 inftance : many of the Scots members of the union parliament and their 
 friends were concerned and involved in this company ; the happy union 
 was much promoted by inferting a claufe in the articles of union, that all 
 concerned lhould be repaid their principal with 5 per cent . from the time 
 of paying in their money to May 1, 1701 ; the whole amounted to 
 23,288/." fterling, to be paid out of the 398,085 /. flerling, equivalent 
 money granted by England to Scotland, for that part of the Englifh pub- 
 lic debts which would be paid, by raifing the cuftoms and excife of Scot- 
 land to an equality with thofe of England ; the malecontcnts ol Scotland 
 called this, the felling of the country. 
 
 [d] Porto-Bello was taken by a fmall fquadron under the command of 
 admiral Vernon, November anno 1739, much to his credit and die ho- 
 nour of the Bririjfh nation. Porto-Bello taken from die Spaniards, 
 and Louifbourg on Cape-Breton irom the French, are the tnoft ce- 
 lebrated exploits this war, of the Britifh people from home and in 
 America : perhaps the moll remarkable inllances in hiftory of the Spanifh 
 and French pufdlanimity and cowardice, and of the Britifh temerity and 
 
 1, 
 
 £ 
 
4 6 Britifh and French Settlements PartI, 
 
 is the north Tea barcadier of Panama, about twenty 
 leagues diflant, and the fair for the Spanifli galleons and 
 the Britifh South-fea annual fhip. A few leagues weft 
 of Porto-Bello is the river Chagre (here Vernon, anno 
 1 740, i'eized the Spanifh factory, and carried off goods 
 to the value of 70,000/. flerling) from the head of their 
 river is the fhorteft land-carriage to Panama, not exceed- 
 ing feven leagues. 
 
 5. The early adventurers to America-, where theyfound 
 any large opening or inlet, they had fome fmall hopes of 
 a thorough-fare to the South-leas, but proceeding only a 
 fmall way, they were baulked: thus it happened in Chefe- 
 peak-Bay of Virginia, in Hudfon’s river of New-York, 
 in St. Laurence’s river of Canada the longeft and largeft 
 of thefe inlets : John Cartier, a Frenchman, anno 1535, 
 failed up the gulph and river of St. Laurence fo far as 
 Montreal in Canada. Sir Humphry Gilbert from Eng- 
 land, hearing of a ftrait north of Virginia (New-Eng- 
 land and Nova Scotia were at that time comprehended 
 in the denomination of Virginia) imagined, it might be 
 a thorough-fare to the Eaft-Indies ; he failed up the 
 gulph and river of St. Laurence anno 1583, and took 
 pofleffion for the crown of England. 
 
 6. The next and laft thorough-fare northward, is 
 Davis’s-ftraits -, but as this is a very wide opening, or 
 rather fea, dividing North- America from a northern 
 diftindt continent called Weft-Greenland or New-Den- 
 mark, we muft refer it to the paragraphs of a north- 
 weft paflage, and the fedtion of Hudfon’s-Bay lodges 
 and trade. 
 
 bra\ ery. The Cuba and Carthagena very chargeable, but ineffedlual late 
 expeditions, are notorious inftances of a miniilry (from corruption or to 
 humour the populace) wantonly playing away men and money ; particu- 
 larly, their unnatural and. barbarous demand of fome thoufands of able 
 men from our infant colonies (who rather required large additions of peo- 
 p e, or planting and defending their fettlements) as a facrifice ; of the coo 
 men from Maflachufetts-Bay, not exceeding fifty returned. 
 
 IV. Effays 
 
Pi! Sect. II. in North-America. 47 
 
 IV. Effays towards a north-eaft paflage to China and 
 ' the Indian Teas, come next in courfe of time •, thefe ad- 
 ’ t5 ' ventures were prior to the outlets for the north-weft dif- 
 !' ‘ covery. The Cabots, in quell of a north-eaft paflage, firft 
 p weathered the north cape of Europe in 72 D. N. lat. by 
 ^ much folicitation, our fovereigns of thefe times were 
 prompted to make lbme advances this way in favour of 
 trade. In king Edward the fixth’s reign, was in- 
 i'" 1 - corporated a company of merchants for difcovering of 
 t lands unknown ; in confequerce of this fome Englilh 
 V fhips, by the White-fea, came to Archangel •, and the 
 grand duke of Mufcovy or Ruflia, grants to an Englilh 
 Ruffia-Company fundry privileges. Anno regni 1, 2, 
 dk Philip and Mary, by patent, a fociety was incorporated, 
 K by the name of The governor, confuls, afiiftants, fellov;- 
 {hip, and commonalty of merchant- adventurers to lands, 
 mis territories, &c. unknown or unfrequented ; this com- 
 W pany were in poffefiion of the Ruftia trade twenty-five or 
 irtke thirty years before the Dutch attempted it. 
 
 Towards the end of the fixteenth century, the Englilh 
 lif and Dutch began to try for a north-eaft paflage, and 
 ab for many years loft fhips and their labour in impracti- 
 cable adventures : it had an incidental good profitable 
 mt effeCt, it brought them into the Ruflia trade and whale- 
 ai| fifhery. The north-call and the north-weft difcoverers 
 nod introduced the whaling bufinefs. The Dutch have 
 dll wintered in 75 D. N. lat. in Nova-Zembla •, the Englilh 
 ijj have wintered in 78 D. N. lat. in Greenland; it was re- 
 vk marked that Nova Zembla, although fouthward of 
 Greenland, is colder than Greenland. The Englilh Ruflia- 
 Company were the firft who went a whaling at Eaft- 
 H*. Greenland ; at that time they employed Bifcayers ; af- 
 
 o* 1 terwards the Dutch came into it, followed it more clofe- 
 
 • r ly, and are better acquainted. A few years fince, the 
 
 Englilh South-Sea-Company fitted out a great number 
 its of good large fhips, whalers *, they funk much money 
 from mifmanagement, and foon abandoned the affair. 
 
 'ft A north- 
 
48 Britifh and French Settlements PartJ. 
 
 A north-eafl paflage has been e flayed three different 
 ways, viz. Eaft.of Eaft-Greenland or Spitzbemen, 
 between Eaft-Greenland and Nova-Zembla, and^y 
 Wygatz-ftraits, between Nova-Zembla and Ruflia Op. 
 on the continent. 
 
 The fouthcrmoft point of Eaft-Grcefiland lies in 76 
 D. N. lat. almoft due north from the north cape of Eu- 
 rope. This Greenland may reach the north polar re- 
 gions, but hitherto Point Purchas (fo called by the 
 name of the diicoverer) in 82 D. N. lat. is the furtheft 
 north that has been difcovered. The fouthernmoft 
 part of Eaft-Greenland lies about 1 §0 leagues from 
 Nova-Zembla. 
 
 Anno 1671, a whaler failed the coaft of Eaft-Green- 
 land to 81 D. N. lat. there they found the ice firm, it 
 did not float; therefore it muft adhere to fome land 
 backwards, coniequently there can be no north-eaft 
 paflage that way. As the northerly and eafterly winds 
 m thefe parts caufe very intenfe frofts, there muft be to 
 windward vaft continents covered with l'now or lar^e 
 fields of impenetrable ice. T hus the very hard frofts 
 from the north and north-weft winds in BaffinVBay, 
 Davis s-ftraits, and Hudfon’s-Bay, indicate vaft con- 
 tinents of fnow and ice to the north-weft. 
 
 Anno 1676, Capt. Wood was fitted out by the court 
 o .ngland in his Majefty’s fhip Speedwell with the 
 Proiperous-pink, to difeover a north eaft paflage to the 
 Indian feas; the Speedwell was caft away upon the 
 rocks of Nova-Zembla in 74 D. 30 M. N. lat. (the 
 men weie laved, and came home in the Profperous- 
 pm ) tiey found ice along to the northward with 
 ouncungs, therefore land is not far off, and Nova- 
 Zembla (a conjecture) may range north-weftward, un- 
 « m f 35 ts w u Kh Caft-Greenland, confequently no north- 
 fin rP r ^ etween them, unlefs by fome ftraits ; the 
 
 north CtS j j le or W. therefore no paflage 
 
 ^ ar ’ e ^ es the water is rather falter than com- 
 roon lea or ocean water. 
 
 In 
 
^ Sect. II. in North- A meric a. 49 
 
 In endeavouring a N. E. pafiage Nova-Zembla was 
 !t *k dilcovered, and Wygatz-ftraits between Nova-Zcm- 
 | t: bla, and the continent of Tartary or Ruffia : thofe ftraits 
 
 Mu in N. lat. 70 D. are always frozen and full of ice, except- 
 ing when for a very fhort time by a N. E. hurricane or 
 hi Itorm it is cleared •, but this time being fliort and wea- 
 N. ther tempeftuous, it may be deemed impra&icable. 
 
 [ e ] Sundry writers give us various fmall accounts or 
 edk hints, fome favouring, fome difcouraging a N. E. paflage ; 
 iefe none of them are fufficiently vouched. Some have writ- 
 itfet ten, that, upon the coafts of Japan and China, drift whales 
 pi have been found with Dutch harping irons ; thefe muft 
 
 af-C* W There Was a conteft of many years Handing, between Sir Ifaac 
 Newton with his followers, members of the Royal Society in London, 
 and £ be Caffinis with their followers, members of L’Academie Royale 
 fans des Sciences in Paris, concerning the figure of the earth. Sir Ifaac 
 IjQfi a ffi rm ed. It was an oblate fpberoid, that is, the earth rifes higher towards 
 the equator, and falls in towards the pole ; Caflini pretended from 
 atf ual menfuration, that it was an oblong fpheroid. The king of France 
 Ulii: (the French court are much to be extolled for their generofity in en- 
 
 y ^ couraging and promoting of ufeful difcoveries, but their agents or peo- 
 l F^ C employed, are not always to be depended upon in the exadnefs 
 ; “ , an ^l trut h of their reports) at a great charge employed his aftronomers, 
 l and other mathematicians, to meafure the degrees of latitude from the 
 Vjj. north to the fouth of France, by ftationsand triangles: their reports at 
 that time, are now, by their own confeffion, found to be falfe by two of 
 their own millions confiding of a parcel of Academicians; one was 
 fent to Peru in America, to meafure a degree of latitude near the 
 fid equator ; theyarelately returned to France : the other detachment was 
 'mi ^ cnt t0 T orneo in Finland in Sweden, to take the dimenfions of a de- 
 ... g ree of latitude under the polar circle; they returned anno i 737 (Tornea 
 “T Is at the bottom of the Bothnick gulph in N. lat. 65 D. 50 M. and 
 k I H. 23 M. eaft from Paris) from an obferved eclipfe of the moon and 
 fOjps f° me occulcations of fixed ftars, variation W. 5 D. 5 M. the refradions 
 .j did not differ much from thofe in France, the river was not fhut up 
 ' with ice until Nov. 2 ; they found the length of a degree of latitude 
 id) that cuts the polar circle to be 57,43 7 toifes or French fathoms, that 
 d, 1 000 toifes longer than it fhould be according to Caffini : they pre- 
 1101)1 tende< * ^nch gafeon, or romantick exadnefs, exceeding not only 
 credibility, but credulity itfelf, viz. to find an afeertained bafis for the 
 Mi menfuration of their triangles, in meafuring by two companies, upon 
 the ice, each with four wooden rods thirty feet long, in 7406 fathoms 
 Ujfl ^ ve ^ eet > ^ey differed only four inches. 
 
 Vol. I, E 
 
 have 
 
rs Britilh and French Settlements PartI, 
 
 have come by a N. E. paffage. Some relate Ruffian 
 barks that have failed from tne Mare glaciale eaft ot 
 Wvaatz-ftraits, by Cape Soutatnos, in N. lat. 60 D. to 
 trad? with the people who live on the Oriental ocean m 
 N lat eoD. therefore Alia and America are two feparate 
 continents. The Dutch fas it is faid) anno 1646, tried 
 this paffage backwards, from Japan to the north ocean, 
 but to no purpofe •, they were not obftrufted by the 
 ice but puzzled by broken lands, head land, lilands, 
 bays, coves, inlets, and creeks. Some Dutch whalers 
 milliner of whales proceeded farther north than Cape 
 Purchas of Eaft- Greenland inN. Ian 82 D. andfoundan 
 open fea clear of ice, but very hollow. N. B. Why did 
 they not proceed in queft of a paffage ? If a clear fea could 
 be found, that is, without continents or lilands to fatten 
 and fix the ice, a paffage might be poffible : but a paf- 
 fao-e through ftraits cannot be practicably fafe ; their ice 
 is generally fixed •, if accidentally in the height of fome 
 fummers they be open, it can be only for a fliort time, 
 and the uncertainty, when a froft may fet it, renders 
 the navigation too hazardous to run the rilk of the 
 veffel being frozen up, and the people perilhing : Spits- 
 bergen, or Eaft-Greenland, feems to be a duller ot 
 broken iflands. 
 
 V. Adventures of a north-weft paffage to the welt or 
 Indian feas for the Spice-iflands and China. Sebaftun 
 Cabot, a native of England, was fitted out by Henry VII, 
 of England, anno 1497, to dilcover a north-weft pal- 
 i’age to the Spice-ifiands and Eaft-Indies •, he made land 
 in Weft- Greenland in N. lat. 67 D. and called it Pnma 
 Villa, and from thence coafted to Florida, taking poi- 
 fcfiion, according to the forms of thofe times as he failed 
 along, for the crown of England •, bpt endeavoured no 
 paffage. . , 
 
 Sir Martin Frobilher, at firft fitted out by private ad- 
 venturers, made three voyages, anno 1 576, 1 577 » T 57 °’ 
 to a ftrait in N. lat. 63 D. called by his own name, 
 but ice and the inclemency of the weather fucceffiyely 
 
 obliged 
 
Sect. II. in North-America. 
 
 obliged him to return, without any north-weft paflao-e 
 
 Hifrmrprtr T4 p XTT .7 er r** r 1 . ^ 
 
 2 difcovery. He took formal poffeffion of the north con- 
 tinent ot Greenland, for the crown of England ; but the 
 Norwegians (at prefent the fubjedts of Denmark) pre- 
 tended to have had fettlements there prior by 200 years 
 trom Iceland (its north parts are in N. lat. 66 D. 20 D* 
 weft from London ;) but our firft north-weft adven- 
 turers Frobifher, Davis, Hudfon, Baffin, Smith, &c. 
 j 4lc noc leaft veftige of the Norwegians ever 
 
 being there : there was no bread-corn, no herbage, the 
 ite aborigines had not altered their way of living °beino- 
 
 ik cloathed with ikins, and lodging in caves. Tins north 
 
 , I continent the Danes call New-Denmark, and have a fmall 
 E mife table lettlement there in Davis’s-ftraits in N lat 
 
 k 64 D. and a guard ffiip in the whaling feafon : the’ foil 
 
 fe and Indian trade are not worth contending for; the belt 
 
 . j of beaver and other fur is from hence, but : in fmall quan- 
 
 ; v ; tines ; it is inhofpitable. Hans Egeda, in his natural 
 
 b hiftoryof Greenland, 4-, 1741, f ays that Greenland was 
 M ^ ^“covered by the Norwegians and Icelanders, anno, 
 i: 9«2, out the inclemency of the climate occalioned their 
 
 up abandoning it ; his relation of many colonies, ab- 
 
 k he y s ’ and churches is too romantic to obtain credit. 
 
 Anno 1721,3 company of merchants or trading men, by 
 |t< a ro >’ al D amffi licence let up at Bereen of Npw.rVnm^l- 
 0 
 
 £ very troiiDieiome in J uly and Auguft. 
 
 E 2 
 
 There 
 
52 Britifh and French Settlements PartI. 
 
 There is no good whaling amongft the loofe ice ; the 
 whales when ftruck, dive, and it is uncertain where they 
 may come up to blow, but near great iflands of ice, and 
 fields of ice or faft ice, they mult come up by the fame 
 fide ; as the American or weft fliore belongs to Great- 
 Britain by the treaty of Utrecht, anno 1713, the winds, 
 being generally from the north and north-weft, it is the 
 ieelhore and fields of ice •, therefore if a monopoly of 
 whaling could be allowed, by the law of nations, in 
 Davis’s-ftraits, it muft belong to Great-Britain * thus we 
 claim, but for political reafons do not profecute our claim, 
 to an exclufive herring fifliery at Schetland, or north 
 parts at Scotland •, this controverfy is well canvafied^w 
 and con by Selden in his Mare claufum and by Grotius, in 
 his Mare liberum. At prelent the king of Denmark 
 aflumes the fovereignty of the feas in Davis’s-ftraits. 
 
 John Davis, upon the north-weft pafiage dilcovery, 
 anno 1583, made Cape Defolation about 62 D. N. Lat. 
 and failed to no effect, fo high as 66 D. 40 M. He made 
 another voyage anno 1586, found among the natives fome 
 copper. Anno 1587, he made a third voyage, and failed 
 fo high as 72 D. 10 M. This opening is ftill called Fre- 
 tum Davis , or Davis’s-ftraits. 
 
 The king of Denmark, upon pretence of renewing 
 his claims, fitted out tome veffels for this difcovery 
 anno 1605, 1606, 1607, their adventures were of 
 no conlequence. Anno 1619, John Munc failed into 
 the northern parts of Davis’s-ftraits, and called it More 
 Chrijlianum (the name of the king of Denmark at that 
 time) he wintered in 63 D. 20 M. N. Lat. and called 
 it Munc’s winter harbour •, and the country he called 
 Lew- Denmark ; few of his men furvived fo as to re- 
 turn home and live. 
 
 In the beginning of the laft century, Henry Hudfon, 
 by two adventures, having fatisfied himielf that there was 
 no north-eaft pafiage to China, was fent from England 
 to try a north-weft pafiage ; as the weft northward na- 
 vigation had no fucceis, he failed by the weft fouth- 
 
 . ward 
 
h 
 
 linn 
 
 tty 
 
 'tbi 
 
 ; toGt 
 
 lbr : 
 
 l,ii 
 
 IBp 
 
 cast 
 
 i;lL 
 
 !0!2L 
 
 Us 
 
 Gee. 
 
 fife 
 
 i-k 
 
 tfi; 
 
 as 
 
 II 
 
 one. 
 
 C,Ki 
 
 lak 
 
 si 
 
 w* 
 
 eft 
 
 lid: 
 
 ml: 
 
 ail 
 
 Jk: 
 
 OS' 
 
 ■jft 
 
 ittltf 
 
 i£* 
 
 ili«s 
 
 rfi 
 
 Sect. II. in North-Amer ica.' 53 
 
 ward opening, through the ftraits, called by his name, 
 into a bay called Hudfon’s-Bay, where he perifhed by 
 the infidioufnefs of his villainous crew. 
 
 Sir Thomas Button (in thefe times many feafaring 
 commanders were knighted, to encourage difeoveries) 
 anno 1611, encouraged by Prince Henry, purfued the 
 north-weft difeoveries, palled through Hudfon’s-ftraits 
 and Bay, navigated and looked into the feveral creeks 
 and inlets of its weftern Ihore ( water generally eighty fa- 
 thom deep) he gave it the name of New- Wales •, he, in 
 much mifery, wintered in 57 D. 10 M. N. lat. he called 
 the place Port Nellon. This weft coaft was afterwards 
 called Button’s- Bay. 
 
 Sir Thomas Smith’s found, difcovered anno 1616, is 
 in N. Lat. 78 D. 
 
 After Davis, M. Baffin profecuted the north- north- 
 weftward paflage, in the north parts of Davis’s-ftraits ; 
 there he found a great bay called Baffin’s-Bay ; he did 
 not prolecute to the bottom, or farther extent of this 
 bay, but defpaired of finding a northweft paflage. In 
 N. Lat. 78, the compafs varied 57 D, W. the greateft 
 known variation. 
 
 No more voyages were made from England upon that 
 defign until anno 1631. Capt. Thomas James, of Briftol, 
 made fome additional difeoveries to thofe of Hudlon, 
 Button, and Baffin (here we anticipate a little the Hud- 
 fon’s Bay account) he wintered at Charleton-Ifland, near 
 the bottom of PIudfon’s-Bay : in this ifland, he fays, in 
 fummer-feafon, the days are exceflive hot, and in the 
 nights froft : in the months of June and July, the mu- 
 Iketoes are intolerable •, leveral kinds of flies and butter- 
 flies; no filh, nor filh-bones, or Ihells upon the fliore, 
 excepting cockle- Ihells ; here were feveral kinds of 
 fowl, deers, foxes, bears, and fome fmall quadrupedes ; 
 full of fpruce, firs, and juniper. He printed his journal 
 .(a good performance) London 1633, 4' 0 . He gave it as 
 his opinion, that there can be no north-weft paflage. 
 
 E 3 Several 
 
£4 Britifli and French Settlements PartI. 
 
 Several others in the beginning of the feventeenth 
 century, made attempts for a north-weft paflage. Weft- 
 Greenland and fields of ice obftrutfted them ; but an in- 
 cidental very confiderable benefit accrued, viz. the Da- 
 vis’s-ftraits whale-fifhery. None have profecuted the 
 navigation along the weft fide of Weft-Greenland into 
 very high latitudes, to difcover whether Weft-Green- 
 land and Eaft-Greenland do converge fo as to join, or if 
 there be a paflage along by the north pole. 
 
 The many dilappointments and difcouragements, as 
 alfo the inteftine broils and confufions in England, did 
 put a ftand to all difcoveries and other improvements. 
 Upon the reftoration of King Charles IT, the difcovery 
 proje&s were again fet on foot by fome noblemen and 
 merchants : Prince Rupert was concerned : Capt. Guil- 
 lam, in the Nonfuch-ketch, was fitted out anno 1667 ; 
 he failed up Baffin’s-Bay fo high as 75 D. N. Lat. and 
 returned to Prince Rupert’s river in N. Lat. 51 D. and 
 laid the foundation of an advantageous fur-trade in the 
 Hudlbn’s-Bay company, eftablifhed by royal patent anno 
 1670, to Prince Rupert and afiociates. 
 
 Capt. Middleton, in his north-weft difcovery voyage, 
 anno 1 742, fays, it is impoffiblein any part of the weftern 
 coaft, lower than 67 D. N. Lat, called Cape Hope, weft 
 from London 87 D. He puetends to have infpe&ed 
 this coaft narrowly ; and if, there be any paflage farther 
 north, it muft be impracticable, becaufe (if at all clear) 
 it cannot be clear above one week in the year. His 
 main attempt was in Wager river N. Lat. 65. D. 25M. 
 the entrance fix to eight miles wide, tide five or fix knots, 
 foundings not lefs than fixteen fathoms (many favages 
 came aboard, but had no trade, they fpoke of mines |J]) 
 the farther he went up Wager river, the tides did rife lefs 
 
 .T*] Many of our adventurers to North and South-America (witnefs 
 Sir Walter Raleigh in the river Oronoke) feem to have been more in" 
 tent upon metals and minerals, than upon palfages to the Eaft- Indies, 
 Indian trade, pr fettling of colonies. 
 
 (whereas 
 
h 
 
 vat 
 
 i\ 
 
 kt 
 
 • in! 
 cad 
 ki: 
 41 * 
 W 
 
 PE 
 
 TO 
 
 left 
 
 bfe: 
 
 Cap. 
 
 HUB l' 
 
 llz 
 
 tuft: 
 
 p«. 
 
 etyw 
 
 'tier. 
 
 Hf 
 
 it 
 
 it 
 
 n 
 
 e 
 
 31 fc 
 
 an} 
 
 fi 
 
 JSSI' 
 
 kco* 
 
 (tf 
 
 Sect. II. *» North-America. 55 
 
 {whereas Sir John Narborough, in his paffage through 
 the ftraits of Magellan, the nearer he approached the 
 weftern flood, the tide did rife more) the water from 
 fait became brackifh, and gradually more frefh ; there- 
 for it mull: proceed from fome trefli water river, and 
 is no fait water thorough-fare. 
 
 If there were difcovered a N. E. or N. W. paffage to 
 China, the difficulties in navigation would render it of 
 little or no ufe, other, than to amuie the curious in th^ 
 hydrography of thofe parts. 
 
 There is a river, which the French Coureur des Bois 
 call St. Lawrence, coming from the weftward ; it falls 
 into the northern parts of the upper lake, nearly loop. 
 W. from London, and the fame latitude with the bottom 
 of Hudfon’s-Bay, and communicated with it by Water 
 canoe carriage j the north parts of California lie in about 
 130D. weft from London (according to Dr. Halley’s 
 accurate laying of it) and in Lat. 4 2 D. thus the differ- 
 ence of longitude is only 30 D. which, at the medium 
 Lat. of 45 D. (fourteen leagues to a degree) makes only 
 420 leagues ; and if California is divided from the con- 
 tinent by a finus or ftrait, this will render the dillance to 
 that ftrait ftill fhorter, by going up this river fo far as 
 Water canoe carriage will allow, and then perhaps only 
 fome Ihort land carrying place to fome rivulet or river 
 running weftward towards the Teas of California or 
 weftern ocean, if fome ridge or chain of impracticable 
 mountains do not intervene. But cut bcno all this puz- 
 zle ? only to afcertain the geography of that country i 
 it can be of no ufe in navigation. 
 
 Mr. Dobbs, who blamed Capt. Middleton very much 
 for his bad management and unfaithfulnefa, did, anno 
 1745, procure an aft of parliament,' viz. Whereas a 
 north- weft paffage through Hudfon’s-ftraits to the weftern 
 American ocean will be a great benefit to the trade 
 of Great-Britain ; there is enafted a public reward of 
 20,000/. fterling. to any lhip or veffel belonging to fub- 
 
 E 4 jetfrs 
 
$6 Britilh and French Settlements PartI. 
 jetSts of Great-Britain, that fliall find out any fuch 
 thorOugh-fare or pafiage. Upon this encouragement the 
 Dobbs galley and California failed from England in 
 May 1 746 j hitherto we have an account of them, 
 
 A digreffion concerning whaling. 
 
 THE New-England whalers diftinguifhed ten or twelve 
 different fpecies of the whale-kind •, the moll beneficial 
 is the black whale, whale-bone whale, or true whale, as 
 they call it ; in Davis’s-ftraits, in N. lat. 70 D. and up- 
 wards they are very large-, fome may yield 1 50 puncheons, 
 being 400 or 500 barrels of oil, and bone of eighteen feet 
 and upwards ; they are a heavy loggy fiflh, and do not 
 fight, as the New-England whalers exprefs it •, they are 
 eallly ftruck and faftened, but not above one third of them 
 are recovered -, by finking and bewildering themfelves 
 under the ice, two thirds of them are loft irrecoverably ; 
 the whale-bone whales killed upon the coaft of New- 
 England, Terra de Labradore, and entrance of Davis’s- 
 ftraits, are fmaller; do yield not exceeding 120 to 130 
 barrels of oil, and of nine feet bone 140 lb. wt. they are 
 wilder more agile and do fight. 
 
 Sperma ceti whales are to be found almoft every where; 
 they have no bone, fo called ; fome may yield fixty or fe- 
 venty barrels of oil, called vicious oil, the fitted for lamps 
 or a burning light. It is from this whale that we have 
 the parmacitty or fperma ceti (very improperly fo called) 
 the ancients were at a lofs whether it was an animal or 
 mineral fubftance Schroder a celebrated Pharmacopoeia 
 writer about the middle of the laft century, calls it Aliud 
 genus bituminis , quod Sperma ceti officiate vocant -, he de- 
 scribes it Pinguedo furfurofa produfta exhalatione terra 
 fulphurea. We now find that any part of its oil, but 
 more abundantly the head-matter as the whalers term 
 it, if it ftand at reft, and in the fun, will fhoot into adi- 
 pous flakes, refembling in fome manner the cryftaliza- 
 
 tion 
 
h 
 
 fotn: 
 
 k 
 
 l 
 
 OR* 
 
 k 
 
 •flt 
 
 luck 
 
 tat 
 
 it 
 
 M 
 
 Ht 
 
 mi 
 
 tfi 
 
 fK 
 
 .05 
 
 it 
 
 JJK 
 
 m 
 
 fell 
 
 it 
 
 fot 
 
 ::: 
 
 0 
 
 ki) 
 
 «? 
 
 as* 
 
 I# 
 
 Sect. II. /» North-Americ a. 57 
 
 tion of falts : inftead of fperma ceti , it ought to be called 
 adept ceti , in the materia medica. This fame whale 
 gives the ambergris, a kind of perfume, as is mu(k : 
 anciently it was by the natural hiftorians defcribed as a 
 kind of bitumen-, hence the name ambra grifea . Dale, a 
 noted author, in his pharmacologia, not long fince pub- 
 lilhes it as fuch ; it is now fully difcovered to be fome 
 production from this fpecies of whale -, for fome time it 
 was imagined fome peculiar concreted juice lodged in a 
 peculiar cyftis -, in the fame manner as is the caftoreum of 
 the beaver or Fiber Canadenfis, and the zibethum of the 
 civit-cat or hyena, in cyftis’s both fides in the Ani rima. 
 Thus not long fince, fome of our Nantucket whalers 
 imagined, that in fome (very few and rare) of thefe male 
 or bull whales, they had found the gland or cyftis in 
 the loins near the fpermatic organs : late and more ac- 
 curate obfervations feem to declare it to be fome part of 
 the ordure, dung, or alvine excrement of the whale; 
 fquid-fifh, one of the Newfoundland baits for cod, are 
 fometimcs in Newfoundland caft afhore in quantities, and 
 as they corrupt and fry in the fun they become a jelly 
 or fubftance of an ambergris fmell ; therefore as fquid 
 bills are fometimes found in the lumps of ambergris, 
 it may be inferred, that ambergris is fome of the excre- 
 ment from fquid-food, with fome Angular circumftances 
 or difpofitions that procure this quality, feldom concur- 
 ring; thus the Nantucket whalers, for fome years laft, 
 have found no ambergris in their whalers. The fperma 
 ceti whale has no bone or baleine in his mouth, but fine 
 white teeth ; they are moft plentiful upon the coaft of 
 Virginia and Carolina. 
 
 The fin-back, befide twofmall fide-fins, has a large fin 
 upon his back ; may yield fifty to fixty barrels of oil ; his 
 bone is brittle, of little or no ufe ; he fwims fwifter, and 
 is very wild when ftruck. The Bermudians fome years 
 catch twenty of thefe whales, not in (loops, but in whale- 
 boats from the fhore as formerly at Cape-Cod ; their 
 1 governor 
 
58 Britifh and French Settlements PartI. 
 
 governor of Bermudas has a perquifite of 10/. out of 
 each old whale. 
 
 The humpback has a bunch in the fame part of his 
 back, inftead of a fin : the bone is not good ; makes 
 fifty to fixty barrels of oil. 
 
 The lcrag-whale has feveral of thefe bumps. 
 
 Black-filh, i. e. grampus of fix to ten barrels of oil, 
 bottle-nole of three or four barrels, may (like lheep) be 
 drove afhore by boats. 
 
 Liver-oil is reckoned the bell, efpecially for leather- 
 
 drefiers. 
 
 Whales are gregarious and great travellers or paf- 
 fengers-, in the autumn they go fouth •, in the fpring they 
 return northward. They copulate like neat cattle, but 
 the female in a lupine pofture. The true or whale- 
 bone whale’s fwallow is not much bigger than that of 
 an ox; he feeds upon fmall fifh and fea-infefts that keep 
 in Iholes; has only one fmall fin each ficfe of his head of 
 no great ufe to him in fwimming, but with a large ho- 
 rizontal tail he fculls himfelf in the water. The North 
 Cape (in N. Lat. 72 D. in Europe) whales, are of the 
 fame fmall kind as the New-England, and entrance 
 of Davis’s-ftraits : here we may again obferve, that the 
 high European latitudes are not fo cold as the. fame 
 American latitudes [£], becaule 72 D. is the proper N. 
 
 [<£] The cold is much more intenfe in the north parts of America, 
 than in the fame latitudes in the northern parts of Europe. Capt. 
 Middleton gives a difmal account of his wintering, anno 1742, at 
 Churchill river in Hudfon’s-Bay N. L. 59 D. whereas the French 
 mathematical miffionaries at Torneo in Lapland, N. Lat. 66 D. 
 anno ' 7 3 7 » to ftation their triangles for the menfuration of a degree 
 of latitude there under the polar circle, in winter did traverfe the 
 mountain;. At Enarba, near Enera lake in N. Lat. 69 D. the coun- 
 tr >' j? populous as to have annual fairs for trade. At Wardhus, 
 70 D. 4; M. in Norway, the king of Denmark keeps a garrifon. 
 fhe Dutch wintered in Nova-Zembla N. Lat. 7 c. The Enelifliin 
 Greenland N. Lat. 76 D. 3 ° 
 
 High north and high fouth, the moft conftant winds are wellerly, 
 being eody or reflux winds, of the eafterly trade winds between the 
 tropics. In the European high latitudes, as alfo in the northern Ame- 
 
 lat. 
 
Sect. II. in North-America. 59 
 
 lat. in Davis’s-ftraits for the large whales, and the Dutch 
 fifh for them long-fide of fields or large iflands of ice ; 
 they ufe long warps, not drudges as in Isew-England. 
 
 Nantucket men, are the only New-England whalers 
 at prefent •, this year 1 746, not above three or four whales 
 were caught in Cape Cod; the whales, as alfo the herrings, 
 (our herrings are not of a good quality) feem to be 
 drove off from thence. Laft year Nantucket brought 
 about 10,000 barrels to market; this year they do not 
 follow it fo much, becaufe of the low price of oil in 
 Europe ; notwithftanding, this year they fit out fix or 
 feven vefiels for Davis’s-ftraits, and fail in the end of 
 March ; they fometimes make Cape Frewell in fifteen 
 days, fometimes in not lefs than fix weeks. Upon a 
 peace, they defign to fifh for whales in deep water, fo far 
 as the Weft-Indies, and Weftern-Iflands. A whale may 
 keep half an hour under water without blowing (breath- 
 ing) but is obliged to blow many times before fhe dives 
 
 again. , 
 
 Some New-England men, a few years fince, attempted 
 whaling in the entrance of Davis’s-ftraits, but to no ad- 
 vantage : they generally arrived there too late, in keep - 
 
 rican high latitudes, the winds are generally from the polar regions ; 
 the cold denier air, by reafon of its gravity, prefling towards the 
 equator, where the air is more rarified, lighter, and lefs ela " ,c * to 
 prcferve an equilibrium, which is natural to all fluids: in the Eu- 
 ropean high north latitudes, this wind (it is frequently N. W. being a 
 fort of diagonal or compofitum between the foutherly diretfion to- 
 wards the fouthern rarified air, and its wefterly reflux or eddy di- 
 rection) crofles a deep large ocean, conlequently warm and mellow ; 
 in the American high north latitudes, thefe winds glide along vaft con- 
 tinents of fnow and ice, and confequcntly more and more chided ; 
 this, en tafi'ant, may be a good furmife, againft a pra&icable N.W. 
 paflage, becaufe the warm ocean and its influence mult be at a great 
 diftance. This way of reafoning does not hold good in the high 
 fouthern latitudes, where, from this do&rine, the winds ought to be b. 
 W. whereas they are in a manner fixed at N. W. but perhaps ma / 
 intimate, that there is no continent of land or ice to the S, W. and a 
 vaft ocean to the weft, northward to windward, which, by a bodterous 
 hollow fea, carries the wind along with it ; in fa&, the {hips that failed 
 to near 70 D. S. Lat. feldom found any floating ice. 
 
 4 inrr 
 
6o Britifh and French Settlements PartI. 
 
 ing too near the Labradore fhore (they kept within fifty 
 leagues of the fhore, they fhould have kept i 50 leagues 
 to i'ea) they were embayed and impeded by the fields of 
 ice. 
 
 Whales feems to have fome degree of fagacity. When 
 much difturbed, they quit their keeping ground, and the 
 trafts of their ufual pafiages (the whale is a paffenger 
 from north to fouth, and back again according to the 
 feafons) thus, as to New- England, formerly for many fuc- 
 ceflive years, they fet in along fhore by Cape-Cod. There 
 was good whaling in boats, proper watchmen afhore by 
 fignals gave notice when a whale appeared •, after iome 
 years they left this ground, and palled farther off upon 
 the banks at fome diftance from the fhore ; the whalers 
 then ufed floops with whale-boats aboard, and this filh- 
 ery turned to good account. At prefent they feem in 
 a great meafure, to be driven off from thefe banks, and 
 take their courfe in deep water, that is, in the ocean; 
 thither upon a peace our whalers defign to follow them. 
 In Davis’s-ftraits, at the firft coming of the whaling fhips, 
 whales were plenty, but afterwards being much difturbed, 
 they became fcarce, and the fhips returned home, before 
 the inclemencies of the weather let in. The whaling fea- 
 fon in both Greenlands is in May and June; the Dutch fet 
 out for Davis’s-ftraits the beginning of March; fbmetimes 
 they are a month in beating to weather Cape Farewell ; 
 they do not arrive in the fifhing ground until May. Anno 
 * 743 * perhaps a medium year, the Dutch had in Davis’s- 
 ftraits fifty whaling fhips (at Spitzbergen, or Eaft-Green- 
 'and, they had 137 whalers) and got feventy-fix whales 
 and a half. 
 
 Obfervation and experience or practice improves every 
 affair ; formerly the whalers (even at Spitzbergen) ufed 
 to tow the whales they killed into harbours to cut them 
 -up ; at prefent they cut them up at fea and fave much 
 time: formerly they whaled in New-England and Ber- 
 mudas only with boats from the fhore (at Bermudas 
 they continue fo) afterwards by floops upon the adjacent 
 
 banks, 
 
Jit 
 
 itfej 
 
 iohi 
 
 H 
 
 i* 
 
 Hi, 
 
 lit; 
 
 fct 
 
 ttrft 
 
 -He 
 
 dij 
 
 wfc 
 
 IK, it 
 
 fe 
 
 :DlE 
 
 fe: 
 
 Fat' 
 
 ilk 
 
 dDji 
 
 ite 
 
 fee 
 
 ITfSP 
 
 ati 
 
 anil 
 
 Sect. II. in North-Americ a. 6i 
 
 banks, and do now proceed to catch them in deep water : 
 formerly it was imagined that the true whale lived up- 
 on a kind of alga or fea-grafs, or upon an oozy mud, 
 now it is certain that they feed on fhoals of fmall times 
 and fea-infe&s ; formerly our naturalifts judged the 
 fperma ceti and ambergris to be bitumina fui generis ; 
 at prefent it is obvious that the firft is only a concreted 
 oil or flakey adeps of a certain fpecies ot whale •, the 
 other is an indurated part of the ordure of the lame kind 
 of whale when it feeds upon fquids, with other circum- 
 ftances of fex, fealon, fc?<r. and therefore but rarely found. 
 
 Some years fince,* the South-fea company fitted out 
 twenty four large fine whaling fhips ; from mifmanage- 
 ment it turnedT to no account, they funk about 100, 
 oool. fterling. 
 
 The Britilh parliament, to encourage whaling, did pals 
 an aft, anno 1733, to continue during the whaling aft 5 
 George II. enacting, That there fiiould be paid the 
 receiver-general of the cuftoms upon their return as a pre- 
 mium 20 s. per ton of lhipping, under the following qua- 
 lifications ; the fhips not to be under 200 tons, having on 
 board forty fifhing-lines, of 120 fathom atleafh each,forty 
 harpoon irons, four boats with leven men to each ( in- 
 cluding the harponeer, fteerfman, and line manager for- 
 merly employed in luch voyages) with the matter and 
 furo-eon, in all thirty men. for fhips exceeding 200 
 tons, for every one exceeding fifty tons, an addition of one 
 boat, fix men, ten lines, and ten harpoon irons : mult 
 carry fix months provifion : and oil and bone to be 
 
 duty free. . . , 
 
 This prolix digrefiion, as containing fome things that 
 are not generally attended to, may be amufement to tire 
 curious ; and does by anticipation abbreviate the article 
 of fifhery, in the hiftory of New-England. 
 
 df 
 
 Article 
 
Cz 
 
 Britifli and French Settlements Part!. 
 
 Article III. 
 
 Some account of the difcoveries and firjl fettlementsin America 
 from Europe. 
 
 H np H E only European navigators and planters of 
 JL America are the Spanilh, Portugueze, Dutch, 
 and Englifh ; the Englifh are the proper fubjeft-matter 
 of this hiftory, and their difcoveries ihall be related in 
 courfe; the others are the fubject of this article of the 
 introduction. 
 
 The continent of America at a medium eftimate is 
 about 1000 leagues (by leagues we always mean the 
 twentieth part of a degree on the meridians) from Europe 
 and Africa, upon the intervening A tlantick or northern, 
 and the Ethiopick or fouthern ocean, and Spaniards call 
 the whole Mar del I\ort ; from Alia about 2500 leagues 
 upontfhe intervening South-fea, Pacific Ocean, or Mar 
 del Zur, which is reckoned to extend two fifths of theeaft 
 and weft circumference of the earth. 
 
 At firft^ the America navigations were via Canaries 
 and tne Caribbee-iflands ; a more direCl navigation to 
 its ieyeral parts is now praCtifed ; the ancients imagined 
 that within the tropics (non eft habitabilis ajlu) the earth 
 was not habitable, whereas the fine rich countries of 
 Mexico and Peru lie moftly within the tropics. 
 
 America may be divided into the continents of North- 
 Amenca, called by the Spanilh writers America Mexi- 
 cana, the continent of South-America, called by the 
 pan lards America Peruviana, the intermediate ifthmus 
 or audience of Guatimala, and Greenland north of 
 Davis’s- ftraits. 
 
 mints £^**,** 2 * accounts of the difcoveries and firft fettle 
 Sogranher? 1 , a Eur ? pe ’ P ublifl,ed in Englifh by our hiitorian: 
 fnd g im P perfedt ? atlas - fnaker f <b confufed and falfe, fo romanti 
 vouched andfd'iapft "a !£ duCed b/ f ° me friends t0 infert fome bettt 
 
 0f thC maUer; th!S ’ ‘ h0U S h W 
 
 of all Dronort inn U 'i r° Wl render ^ le introduftory feflion, ol 
 
 ox an proportion and fymmetry, too prolix. 
 
 I. Spam 'l 
 
I. i Spanijh difcoveries andfirjl Settlements. 
 
 Christopher Colon, or Columbus, a Genoefe ma- 
 riner or pilot, a curious man in his way, fedulous in mak- 
 ing coafting charts of his voyages, and naturally a pro- 
 jeftor •, he was for fome years an inhabitant of ieu eras, 
 one of the Portugueze weftern iflands, diftant from- 
 Newfoundland not exceeding 300 leagues. He went 
 to the court of Portugal, propofed difcoveries upon the 
 weft coaft of Africa: having for fome time frequented 
 that coaft and the Canary-iflands [*], as he formerly did 
 the weftern iflands ; confidering the fun’s diurnal motion, 
 the wcfterly winds, in certain leafons, blowing with con- 
 tinuance, driving pine and other fallen wood afhore, 
 with fome other fymptoms, he conceived that thcie muft 
 be land to the weftward. 
 
 Anno i486, he propofed to the ftates of Genoa, to 
 difcover fome countries weftward, or to find a weftern 
 paflage to the Spice-Hands ; they deemed it an idle fancy 
 and took no notice of it. This feemingly whimfical 
 projeftion, had the fame fate at the court of Portugal, 
 and with Henry VII of England, though a lover of all 
 projects to get money, and at the court of Trance : af- 
 ter fix years folicitation at the court of Spain, the Moors 
 
 m The Canary- i (land- fo called, from many dogs found there, the 
 infuU fortunat/e of the ancients, were dif'covered by fome Guipufcoans 
 for the king of Caftile, about ico years before Columbus’s difcovery 
 of America; after being relinquished for many centuries by the Eu- 
 ropeans : the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, and Romans, are faid to have 
 planted colonies; it is certain they vifited thefe iflands, although not the 
 leaft veftige of their having ever been there appears. Ptolemy’s canon 
 was wrote in Alexandria of Egypt in the fecond century, and reckons 
 his longitudes from Palma, one of the Canary-iflands, 26 D. N. lat. 
 long, from London, W.19 D. 44 M. Louis XIII of France, by an 
 edict commands all French geographers, hydrographers, an i mariners, 
 in their journals to begin their accounts of longitude from Ferro (L IJle 
 de Fa) the weftermoft of the Canary-iflands 20 D. weft from Paris ; 
 accordingly Sanfon, a noted French publifher of maps, plhces his fjrft 
 meridian! ac Ferro; this is two degrees farther weft than '1 eneriff, 
 where De Wit, the Dutch map-maker, fixes his firft meridian. * 
 
64 Britifh and French Settlements Part I, 
 
 and Saracens being fully expelled (they were in pofleflion 
 about 800 years) he obtained three lhips and 120 men: 
 he failed from St. Lucar upon the difcovery in Auguft, 
 1492, touched at the Canaries, and from thence in 
 thirty-fix days (in thole times a tedious voyage without 
 fight of land) and landed O&ob. 1 1, on the ifland Guan- 
 chini, one of the Bahama or Lucayo-iflands (l'o called, 
 becaufe he arrived there on St. Luke’s feftival) he called 
 it St. Salvador, now Cat-ifland, in N. lat. 25 D. 76 D. 
 weft from London ; and from thence he failed to 
 Hifpaniola and Cuba-iflands, and home, carrying with 
 hjm fome Indians, as a fpecimen and vouchers of his 
 difcoveries ; he returned by way of the Azores, and ar- 
 rived March 1 3 following. 
 
 Anno 1493, Sept. 25, he fet out again with his bro- 
 ther Bartholomew, feventeen fail and 1500 men; he 
 fell in with the Caribee-iflands, and gave them names 
 at plealure, which they generally retain to this day ; he 
 touched at Jamaica, and at Hifpaniola (his thirty-nine 
 men left there laft voyage were all killed by the Indians) 
 and at the Bahamas. 
 
 In his third voyage, anno 1498, he made the ifland 
 Trinidad near the mouth of the river Oronoke, and 
 coafted from thence 200 leagues to Porto-Bello, and cal- 
 led that part of the country Terra-Firma; from thence 
 he crofted over to his firft fettletnent in Hifpaniola. 
 
 His fourth and laft voyage was anno 1 502 : upon his 
 return to Spain, for mildemeanors he was in difgrace at 
 the court of Spain, while others were making further 
 difcoveries; he died in Spain, anno 1506, Ait. 64. His 
 fon Diego (the other Ion died a bachelor) fucceeded him 
 in the, admiralty of the Indies, married the duke 
 d’Alva’s daughter, but died without iflue. 
 
 Americus Vefpucius, a Florentine, was with Columbus 
 in his firft expeditions. Anno 1 502, he left the Spanifh 
 fervice, and was employed by Emanuel king of Portugal, 
 to make difcoveries in this new part of the world ; he 
 •rolled the equinoctial, and made land in 5 D. S. lat. on 
 
 the 
 

 ■A 
 
 til® 
 
 N 
 
 *dGi 
 
 N 
 
 I)it3 
 
 ittf. 
 
 fe 
 
 TOji 
 
 nsi 
 s, a 
 
 ill 2 
 nc 
 
 EOS 
 
 is it 
 fa 
 
 ids: 
 
 fa 
 
 1 ,1::. 
 
 rail 
 
 fa 
 
 f 
 
 gK 
 
 fai 
 :: • 
 
 i 
 
 :Spt 
 
 ’Olffi 
 
 fa, 
 
 . 111- 1 
 
 Sect. II. in North-America. 65 
 
 the coaft of Guiana, now called Surinam ; he difcovered 
 Brazil, and took pofieffion for the king of Portugal, 
 in the formalities of thofe times, and continued °his 
 range to 50 D. S. lat. The feverity of the winter flopped 
 his further progrefs ; he returned home by way of 
 Africa : next year he attempted the fame voyage, but 
 falling in with the coaft of Africa, he returned, and no- 
 thing further is recorded of him. TL he whole continent 
 was called by his name America. Here is a notable 
 inttance of the caprice of mankind, in giving this 
 newly difcovered continent the name America inftead of 
 Columbia: Americus made no fettlement ; Columbus 
 was not only the firft, but alfo the more general difco- 
 verer of this land. 
 
 In the beginning of the Spanilh fettlements there were 
 only two governors, both deputed by D. Diego fon of. 
 Columbus, admiral of the Indies, viz. the governor of 
 Cuba, and the governor of Panama. ' 
 
 Velalquez the firft governor of Cuba, entirely re- 
 duced that ifland, anno 1512, and fucceffively fent forces 
 to reduce the main land to no purpofe. Ferdinando 
 Cortez, a native of Spain, and well acquainted with the 
 American navigation, upon a private adventure, anno 
 1519, let out from Spain with eleven fliips and «o 
 men; arrived in the ifland St. Croix, and from thence 
 weftward to the continent, where, as he was informed, 
 there was much gold ; he landed on the eaft fide of 
 lucatan, and thence in the river Tabafco, now called 
 yittoria, m the bay of Campechee 17D.N. lat. and 
 deftroyed fome of Montezuma’s tributary Indians • 
 having coafted farther weft, he landed his men at La 
 \ era C ruz, and burnt his tranfpof't fhips ; not with a 
 delign as it is commonly imagined, by cutting off any 
 retreat for his men, to make them the more defperate, 
 but left any of his men ftould draw off and return to 
 Cuba, and occafion the adventure to mifcarry. Ve-i 
 lafquez, governor of Cuba, did frequently fend him# 
 fuperfeding orders, which he difregarded ; ami marchcT 
 
 V0U L F with 
 
66 Britifli and French Settlements PartI. 
 
 with 400 Spanilh foot, fifteen horfe, and feven pieces of 
 cannon, together with foine malecontent Indians who 
 joined them. Navarez, with a confiderable force, was 
 fent by Velafquez to recal Cortez ; Cortez defeated him, 
 and drove off his party. Cortez had many Ikirmilhes 
 with the Indians or Mexicans, with various fuccefs : 
 Montezuma, the chief or emperor of the Indian tribes, 
 and his two fons, were found dead after one of thefe 
 Ikirmifhes; at length, Aug. 13, anno 1521, Mexico 
 and the Mexican Indians i'ubmit to Spain. Notwith- 
 ftanding Cortez, repeated refulals or difobedience to 
 fuperior orders, and his cruelty to the Indians, be- 
 ing rich, he bought off all complaints at the court of 
 Spain ; he is made captain-general of New-Spain, and 
 continued generalilfimo until anno 1539, when he was 
 recalled, and in Spain died a prifoner at large, December 
 1545, 7 Et. 6 2; his body was tranfported to Mexico, 
 and buried there. 
 
 Vafco Nunez de Balboa, was the firft who erofied the 
 ifthmus, anno 1513; he fettled at Panama, which con- 
 tinued for fome time the capital of the South-Sea colo- 
 nies ; he was foon fuperfeded by Padrarias, one of 
 Cortez’s commanders ; he gave commiffions to Pizarro 
 and Almagra partners, private traders, for making dif- 
 coveries in Peru ; for want of fufficient force, they re- 
 turned from their firft expedition, and differing with 
 Padrarias governor of Panama, Pizarro went home to 
 the court of Spain, and obtained a commiffion diftinft 
 from that of Panama. Pizarro had a royal patent for 
 200 leagues along the fliore of Peru, and Almagra for 
 200 leagues fouth of this. 
 
 Pizarro, a healthy ftout man, of mean parentage, of 
 no learning, but very credulous, fet out with 150 
 foot, and a few horfe, to conquer Peru ; he was after- 
 wards reinforced by more native Spaniards under Alma- 
 gra; he arrived, anno 1532, atCufco, the Indian capital 
 of Peru ; inhumanly mafiacred many Indians, and Ataba- 
 
Sect. II. in North-America. 67 
 
 V liba the Indian chief, by the contrivance of Pizarro, was 
 p infidioufly executed by the Spaniards. Three articles 
 : c were alledged againft him : 1 . Killing of his brother. 
 'j'r 2 . An idolater. 3. Difaffedion to the Spanifh. Pizarro 
 and Almagra, from anno 1528 to anno 1533, fubjuga- 
 ted Peru ; and Lima, the prefent capital, was founded. 
 Don Caftro, anno 1530, with 700 men from Spain, 
 was fent governor of Peru ; Almagra oppofed him, de- 
 y feated, tried, and executed him. Alvaredo, governor of 
 y Guatimala, hearing of Pizarro’s acquiring great riches 
 7 s in Peru, fet out for Peru with an army of 700, moftly 
 horfe, anno 1535 ; Pizarro bought him olf, he returned 
 lit® to Guatimala, and left his troops with Pizarro. 
 
 Almagra was the firft who went upon an expedition 
 W- from Peru to Chili anno 1535, but foon returned, be- 
 iDe ing jealous of his partner Pizarro. Anno 1540, Pizarro 
 mil fent Baldivia from Peru to conquer Chili; Baldivia, 
 1541, built its capital St. Jagoin S. Lat. 34 D. eighteen 
 miles from the ocean; Valparixo is its barcadier; he 
 m built Baldivia in S. Lat. 40. D. calling it by his own 
 wfc name, anno 1 552 ; he continued his conquefts to the ifland 
 tis of Chiloe in S. lat. 43 D. at prefent the mod: fouthern 
 £,11 part of Chili or Spanifh fettlements. This fettlement of 
 itof. Chili laboured hard for about fifty years, having conti- 
 nab nued wars and confpiracies with the Indians ; Baldivia 
 [,0 was killed in a Ikirmifh with the Indians. There was a 
 jig; general revolt of the Chiloefe anno 1559. 
 lit Pizarro and Almagra differed much ; Pizarro, at 
 ica: length, made Almagra prifoner, and, by a formal court 
 
 pg of juftice, lie was put to death, and the Pizarro’s feized 
 y his government, property, and treafure. . Almagra’s 
 ' • partizans, anno 1541, afiafiinated Pizarro at Lima, 
 and feized his treafure. Almagra’s Ion afilimes the 
 p government. Blafco Nunez Vala, a new vice-roy, was 
 fent from Spain ; he was oppofed by the Pizarro fadion, 
 
 /' and killed in an engagement anno 1546. Thus the 
 jjg Pizarro’s became mafters of all America in the South- 
 7; fea ; and to five Peru, the court of Spain was obliged 
 
 F 2 to 
 
6S Britifli and French Settlements PartI. 
 
 to temporize, and appointed one of the Pizarro’s vice-roy 
 of Peru j but foon after this, Gafco, a cunning man, 
 with 1 600 veteran Spaniards, was fent over as prefident 
 of the royal court, with great powers: the vice-roy 
 Gonzallo Pizarro, had a difference -with him ; Pizarro 
 is defeated, tried, and executed. There were feveral 
 other infurreftions •, fo that until anno 1554, King 
 Philip of Spain could not be faid to be in peaceable 
 pofleffion of Peru. 
 
 [/] For above fourfcore years after the firft Spanilh 
 difcoveries in America, no European nation attempted 
 any fettlement there. 
 
 Cortez’s fhips fent to the Moluccas or fpice- iflands, by 
 way of the South-fea, were deftroyed by the Portugucze, 
 and the project mifcarried. 
 
 The Spaniards had fcarce any communication with 
 the Philippine and Ladrones iflands until anno 1542; 
 they made no great progrels in fettling of them till anno 
 1 ^64, when the vice-roy of Mexico fent a fleet to fettle 
 colonies, and eflablifh a trade there between Mexico, 
 and Japan, and China. The Philippines have no trade 
 with Europe : the Ladrones are a place of refrefhment 
 between Mexico and the Philippines. It is faid, that 
 anno 1732, the court of Spain had formed a project to 
 fend an Eafl-India company to the Philippine Iflands, by 
 way of the Cape of Good-Hope, it came to nothing. 
 
 The coaft of New-Spain (properly Mexico only is call- 
 ed New-Spain, as that part of the Britifli fettleinents in 
 America, between the provinces of New- York and Nova 
 Scotia, only is called New-England) or Spanilh Ame- 
 rica, may, in a few words, be defcribed thus : The gar- 
 rifon of St. Auguftine in the gulph of Florida N. Lat. 
 29 D. here is no fettlement. The fmall fettlement ot 
 
 [/] I here annex fome mifcellaneous loofe hints concern.ng the 
 country and affairs of the Spanilh Weft-Indies. . 
 
 In the confiderable fea- ports where the latitudes, longitudes, ana 
 the temporary variation of the compafs or magnetic needle are we.l 
 afcertained, I mention them, and adduce my vouchers. 
 
 Pcnfacola 
 
Sect. II. in North-America. 69 
 
 " ; Penfacola in the bay of Appalachie, of the bay of 
 Mexico, about 1 20 leagues due weft from Auguftine, and 
 only fifteen leagues eaft from l’lfie Dauphine, a French 
 “ ,r fort and fettlement, confequently in a bad neighbourhood. 
 After an interruption of a French lea-line (Louifiana or 
 Mifiifiippi country) upon the north fhore of the gulph 
 3B of Mexico of about 180 leagues, from Penlacola to St: 
 Bernard or St. Louis-Bay; the coaft of New-Spain be- 
 gins again, and extends to the river Oronoke, in about 
 111 9 D. N. Lat. after another interruption of a fea line 
 
 fettled by the Dutch, called Surinam, and the following 
 fmall French fettlement of Cayenne, and the fine, rich, 
 Po® large Portugueze fettlement of Brazil, to the river of 
 Plate : the Spaniards have not fettled much upon the 
 m ocean, but run up this river, and communicate with 
 ** Peru and Chili. From the river of Plate in S. Lat. 35. 
 on the eaft ocean to Cape-Horn, and from Cape- Horn 
 along the fhore of the weft ocean or South-fea, to 
 ai Chiloe in S. Lat. 43 D. the coaft is a defert. From the 
 fflti river of Plate to Cape-Horn, the navigation is good, 
 kb the foundings are very regular, being fixty to eighty fa*- 
 
 iii thorn, at thirty to forty leagues from the land. From the 
 
 jp ifiand of Chiloe, in S. Lat. 43 D. to Cape St. Lucar of 
 
 tit California, in N. Lat. 24 D. is the South-lea Spanifh 
 
 nos coaft of Chili, Peru, the Ilihmus, and Mexico. 
 
 oh Many of the Spanilh fettlements or provinces are fo 
 ttlas feparated by mountains and deferts, they cannot be af- 
 is filling to one another. The Spaniards have not fettled 
 
 jjjj exceeding 200 leagues north from the city of Mexico. 
 
 : 1S In the country of Mexico is lcarce any gold ; their filver 
 
 djV mines are not fo rich, but are eafier wrought than thofe 
 
 .[jig of Peru. The quickfilver, for refining, comes from 
 Old-Spain, and is a confiderable article in the King of 
 Spain’s revenue. Peru produces quickfilver fufficient 
 for itfelf •, in Chili filver is fcarcer than gold. 
 
 From Mexico to Lima, in Peru, the country is full of 
 **’ rocky mountains, fcarce or very ill inhabited : north of 
 Mexico and fouth of Peru are good countries. Upon 
 _ F 3 the 
 
jo Britifh and French Settlements PartI. 
 
 the coaft of Peru and Chili, from 7 D. N. Lat. to 38 D. 
 S. Lat. the winds are generally foutherly, and extend 
 140 to 150 leagues weft from the fhore. Chili reaches 
 from the ifland Chiloe 43 D. to 25 D. S. Lat. Peru from 
 thence to the equino&ial. Chili and Peru are narrow 
 ftrips of land upon the South-fea •, from the Andes a 
 chain of mountains running north and fouth, not ex- 
 ceeding twenty or thirty leagues from this fhore. Peru 
 may be divided into the fea-coaft, the high lands, and 
 this ridge of mountains, where all the cloudy vapours 
 feem to condenfe and fettle into rain * there it rains al- 
 moft inceffantly, but upon the fea-coaft fcarce any rain. 
 
 In the Weft-India iflands the fhores are generally 
 either fandy bays or mangrave trees. In the Weft- 
 Indies, between the tropics, they have tides or recipro- 
 cations of air or winds, as well as of feas, but not from 
 the fame caufe ; the Hr ft arifes from the viciflitudes of 
 day and night, that is from the fhore or land being 
 heated and cooled alternately ; the other is from the 
 influence of the moon. 
 
 In South- America is the longeft chain of mountains 
 upon earth, called the Andes or Cordilleras, extending 
 from 10 D. N. Lat. to above 50 D. S. L.at. near the 
 ftraits of Magellan, not many leagues from the fhore of 
 the weft or louth fea. 
 
 In all New-Spain there are but four great rivers, and 
 they all fall into the eaft-fea, viz. 1. Rio Grande, or de 
 la Madalane, venting into the bay of Mexico near Car- 
 thagena upon this river, up the country ftands St. Fe, 
 the capital of the audience of Terra- firma. 2. River 
 of Oronoke, which difcharges into the Eaft-fea, as do 
 the following : 3. River of Amazons. And 4. Riode 
 la Plata ; near its head ftands the city of La Plata, the 
 capital of the audience of Los Charcas •, a branch of it 
 called Paragua, comes from the northward, and feems 
 naturally to be the weftern boundary of Brazil. From 
 the Andes there run a few rivers* into the South-fea of 
 fhort courfe, fmall, and very rapid. 
 
 1 
 
 In 
 
fc 
 
 mis 
 
 it 
 
 Ptt: 
 
 lit 3 
 
 \tk 
 
 b 
 
 at 
 
 ilat 
 
 ij? 
 
 its 
 
 tffl 
 
 *p 
 
 41 
 
 it 
 
 «! 
 
 idfe 
 
 Is 
 
 ilk 
 
 fu 
 
 S* 
 
 i! 
 
 dei 
 
 toe 
 
 rai 
 
 JIB 
 
 aiioi 
 
 l 
 
 li 
 
 4+1 
 
 if: 
 
 fiffi 
 
 , 1111 ; 
 
 loci- 
 
 Sect. II. in North-America. 7 1 
 
 In all the Spanifh fettlements I find only two great 
 lakes mentioned (in the northern parts of North-Ame- 
 rica we have many, efpecially the five great lakes or 
 feas in Canada.) i. The city of Mexico (lands between 
 two communicating (therefore called the lake of Mexico) 
 divided by a caufeway leading to the city, built in this 
 fituation for its better fecurity •, the upper lake is frelh, 
 the other fait [m~\ •, they receive runs of water, but 
 have no vent. 2. Titiaco in Peru, S. lat. 1 7 D. of about 
 eighty leagues circumference ; it communicates with a 
 Idler lake, Paria, about fifty leagues farther fouth •, it 
 is fait, receives rivulets, but has no vent. 
 
 The vice-roys, prefidents, governors, and all other 
 principal royal officers, are natives of Old-Spain ; as are 
 all'o their arch-biffiops and biffiops. 
 
 The church-jurifdidion confifts of five arch-biffiops, 
 Mexico, St. Domingo, St. Fe, Lima, and La Plata ; 
 and about thirty biffiops. 
 
 The civil-jurifdidtion confifts of the vice-roy of Mexico 
 comprehending the [«] audiences of Mexico, Guada- 
 lagara and Guatimala ; the vice-roy of Peru compre- 
 hending the audiences of Quito, Lima, and Los Charcas ; 
 and the independant audiences of St. Domingo (for all 
 the iflands) St. Fe, Panama, and Chili. I obierve that 
 the orders from the court of Spain, anno 1728, for a fui- 
 penfion of arms to the feveral independant commanders 
 in New-Spain, are directed to the vice-roy of Mexico, 
 to the vice-roy of Peru, to the captain general of the 
 
 [ m ] From the gradual increafeof the fait impregnation of this lake, 
 that of Titiaco in Peru, the Mediterranean fea, and others in Eu- 
 rope, in a fucceflion of many ages, Dr. Halley propofed to find out 
 the age or (landing of our earth : this, with his two fets of magnetic 
 poles to account for the variations of the compafs, are the only whims 
 (though pleafantly amufing) that perhaps this man of great genius and 
 induftry, ever publilhed. 
 
 [«] Audiences are fupreme royal jurifdidlions and courts, to which 
 the provincial and other courts may appeal ; but from thefe au- 
 diences there lies no appeal but to the council of the Indies in Old- 
 bpain. 
 
 F 4 
 
 province 
 
72 Britifh and French Settlements PartI. 
 
 province and city of Carthagena, to the governor and 
 captain-general of the province of Terra-Firma, to the 
 prefident of Panama, to the governor of Buenos-Ayres 
 and to the commander of the galeons. 
 
 Their molt confiderable towns and fea -ports are 
 Mexico, the metropolis, in about 20 D. N. lat. inland 
 no water-carriage near it ; its barcadier for the Philip! 
 pines is Aquapulco upon the South-Sea 16 D. 40 M 
 N. lat. diftance ninety leagues •, farther north of Aqua! 
 pulco are no places of note, and for 140 leagues fouthof 
 Aquapulco is a mere defert. Its barcadier lor Europe is 
 JLa vera Cruz ; the mart or fair for goods from Eu- 
 rope by the flota, flotilla, azogues, and the Britilh an- 
 nual Ihip, is at Japala thirty leagues inland. Mexico 
 ftands upon more ground, but is not fo populous as 
 Bnftol in England ; is built with a rough hard (tone (no 
 freefcone) ; an open town. La Vera Cruz, by the obfer- 
 vations of Mr. Harris, who refided there, anno 1727 
 and as adjured by. Dr. Halley, is in N. lat. 10 D. 12 
 
 M. W from London, 97 D. 30 M. variation at that 
 time 2D. 15 M. eafterly. 
 
 Carthagena is the fecond good town beloneino- to 
 the Spaniards upon the eaft fide of America! from 
 the lame immerfions and emerfions of Jupiter’s firft fa- 
 tellite, obferved at Carthagena, anno 1722, by Don Har- 
 rare principal engineer, and by M. Pound and Bradley 
 at \Vanltead (twenty-eight horary minutes eaft from 
 London) Carthagena is W. from London 75 D. 20 m, 
 longitude. Carthagena was taken by Sir Francis Drake, 
 ™ no ’ , brought away in money, cannon, and 
 e * c J s ’ the va , lue of 60,000/. fterling; the ficknefs 
 amongft his men obhged him to return, fooner than he 
 
 i;'° f d, v by tne S u, P h of Flond a, and a beginning fettle- 
 ment ui Vxrgmm : Ponti, with a large fquadronf a P ri- 
 
 u nn ° l6 "’ reduced it and brought off 
 
 wirb o ° f ?' Sht r i h ° nS of livres : adm iral Vernon, 
 with a very large fea and land force of Great-Britain, 
 
 and 
 
ft 
 
 % 
 
 JIOS-J 
 
 ki 
 
 Act 
 
 Sect. II. in North-America. 73 
 
 and of Britifh North-America, came off re infefla, anno 
 1742. 
 
 Buenos Ayres is from London W. 3 H. 52 M. or 
 W. Long. 58 D. by Pere Feuille’s obfervation of the 
 occultation of a fixed ftar by the moon, anno 1708, and 
 as computed by Dr. Halley for London. From the en- 
 trance of the river of Plate on the eaft ocean, to St. Jago 
 
 It; 
 
 >rE» 
 
 ta; 
 
 fej 
 
 1.1 
 
 ; !)i 
 
 ion: 
 
 •• 
 
 10 
 
 i’ll 
 
 Dk: 
 
 nils 
 
 011 
 
 ie 
 
 tit 
 
 is 
 
 the capital of Chili on the weft ocean, nearly in the 
 fame latitude of 34 D. fouth, the width of South- 
 America is 1 8 D. in longitude, or 300 leagues only. 
 
 All the trade from Old-Spain to New Spain does not 
 employ exceeding fifty fhips (a fmall nurfery for navi- 
 gation). The Spaniards have generally a fquadron of 
 king’s (hips at Carthagena, a fmall fquadron at Callao, 
 the barcadier of Lima j a fhip or two at La Vera Cruz, 
 called the Barleventa armada, being generally one fifty 
 gun fhip and one fnow ; they fet out from La Vera 
 Cruz of Mexico, in December, with money to pay the 
 judges, clergy, and troops in the Havana, St. Domingo, 
 Porto-Rico, and Comanas •, a private fhip is hired to 
 carry the pay to St. Auguftine. The fhips at the Ha- 
 vana are only occafional : the armada does not touch 
 at Carthagena, it being the barcadier of St. Fe, the ca- 
 pital of Terra Firma, which produces much gold. 
 
 There is yearly a licence from 4000 or 5000 ton of 
 dry goods to be fhipped forNew-Spain from Cadiz, an- 
 nually, but alternately by the Flota for La Vera Cruz, 
 and by the Galeons for Carthagena, the barcadier of St. 
 Fe or Terra Firma, and for Porto-Bello the barcadier for 
 Panama and Peru. The indulto or duty to the king 
 upon fhipped and regiftered gold, filver, cochineal, &c. is 
 from feven to fourteen per cent. The azogues or kings [e] 
 
 fe] The azogues quick-filver is only for refining the Mexico filver. 
 Peru produces native cinnabar, the ore of quick-filver ; the quick-filver 
 mines of Peru were difcovered anno i 567. 
 
 VO Virgin filver is fpungy and brittle, being fo called from its having 
 
 .jjg no mixture of alloy or impregnation, but in the ftate in which the 
 quick-filver left it. Other metals with the denomination virgin (gold, 
 
 quick- 
 
74 Britifh and French Settlements PartI. 
 quickfilver lhipshave licences for fome dry goods. The 
 galeons from Porto-BelJo may, at a medium, bring home 
 twenty-five millions pieces of eight, the flota from La 
 Vera Cruz about fixteen millions, befides what is fhipoed 
 off in the regifter fhips; N. B. The council of ftate in 
 Holland, anno 1 708, made a report that Spain brought 
 from the \\ eft-indies, duiing the courle of the laft cen- 
 tury, about twenty millions dollars per annum. 
 
 The regifter ftiips are all upon the fame footing 
 We fhall only inftance from the Canaries, they are allow- 
 ed four or five regifter fhips of about 1 50 tons each, viz. 
 two to Havana, one to Caraccas, one to Campeche, one 
 to St. Jago de Cuba ; to carry no dry goods, only wines 
 and brandies ; may bring home filver, and coarfe goods, 
 viz. fugar, hides, fnuff, d?r. but no cochineal, indigo, 
 iyc. are generally twelve months upon the voyage. 
 
 A digrejjion. A Jhort hifiory of the South-Sea company 
 
 affairs. 
 
 THIS was projected by Harley Earl of Oxford, and 
 prime minifter at that time, to induce the creditors of 
 the government to be eafy, and to incorporate their 
 debts into a joint-ftock, with profpeft of great profit: 
 but as they are not properly a Britifh fettlement in 
 America, I am obliged to annex this to the introdudory 
 article of Spanilh lettlements. 
 
 9. Anna:. A parcel of the public debts and defici- 
 encies were incorporated by the name of the South-Sea 
 company, being in all 10,000,000/. fterling, with an 
 annuity of fix per cent. The company to remain for 
 ever, though the funds appropriated to them Ihould be 
 redeemed ; their limits are, on the eaft fide of America, 
 from the river Oronoke to Cape-Horn (Surinam and 
 r 5 i azil not included) and from thence on the weft coaft 
 
 ' re°finin r g. / ’ Snify SrainS ° f l0mpS ° f natural meta, » requiring little or no 
 
 of 
 
Sect. II. in North-America. 7 5 
 
 of America, to the northernmoft part of America (all 
 other traders, within thefe bounds, to forfeit vefiel and 
 cargo) to go and return by the fouth capes of America, 
 and" never to fail above 300 leagues weft of the Ame- 
 rican continent. N. B. This feems to interfere with the 
 limits of the Eaft-India company’s exclufive navigation, 
 which, by charter, is to the weft entrance of Magellan’s- 
 ftraits. 
 
 I find from the public reports, that the balance, 
 or neat profit of the South-fea trade for ten years pre- 
 ceding, anno 1734, amounted only to 32,260 /. fterling. 
 The South-fea company was only a cant name. Their 
 whole trade and bufinefs was only the afiiento for 4800 
 negroes per annum , and an annual fhip of dry goods 
 of 500 tons, whereof the king of Spain had one quar- 
 ter of the profits, and the crown of England another 
 quarter. 
 
 The Spaniards have no Guinea trade of their own, 
 and but little navigation from Old-Spain to New or 
 America Spain ; they have been obliged, from time to 
 time, to contradl with fome European maritime power 
 for a fupply of negro flaves : in King James the fecond’s 
 and king William’s reigns, they contradled with Don 
 Nicolas Porcio, a Spaniard v his agent Don Caftillo refided 
 in Jamaica, and was knighted by king William, Sir 
 James Caftillo. The Portugueze loft by their contradl ; 
 and, by the treaty of Baden, Spain was to pay to Por- 
 tugal 600,000 crowns, for money due on the afiiento 
 contradl and otherways. After the Portugueze, the 
 French had the contradl, but never furnilhed the num- 
 bers ftipulated. Their place of refrelhment was on the 
 N. W. fide of Hifpaniola, or St. Dominque, as the French 
 call it, w'hich gave them a further footing upon that 
 ifland : the time of their contradl being expired, the 
 Britifh South-Sea company had the contradl upon the 
 following terms : 
 
 The contradl was for thirty years from May 1,1713, 
 and upon the expiration thereof three years more allow- 
 ed 
 
7 6 Eritifh and French Settlements Part!. 
 ed to fettle their affairs ; the South-Sea company, or aili- 
 entifts, to furnifh annually 4800 merchantable negro 
 flaves of both iexes, paying to the king of Spain thirty- 
 three and a third pieces of eight per flave in lieu of all 
 duties upon 4000 of that number; may import, if they 
 pleafe, more than the flipulated number, the overplus 
 paying only half that duty; may carry 1200 of theft 
 flaves yearly in four fhips to the river of Plata, for the 
 ufe of that country, and of the country of Chili ; may 
 be brought into any port of Ncw-Spain where are Spa- 
 nifh royal officers ; may be fold for any price, except- 
 ing upon the windward coaft, viz. at Comana, Mara- 
 caibo, and Sandta Martha, where the price ffiall not 
 exceed 300. pieces of eight ; may tranfport the flaves 
 coaft-ways from Panama, along the ffiore of the South- 
 fea, in (hips of about 400 tons ; they are allowed not 
 exceeding fix Britiffi in one factory ; may have in each 
 factory a Judge confervator, a Spaniard of their own 
 chufing; the affiento fhips not to be detained or em- 
 bargoed upon any account ; may make their returns in 
 the company’s fhips, flota or galeons, dutyfree; may 
 fearch and feize any veflels trading with flaves upon 
 the coaft ; they are not to trade in any other merchan- 
 dize ; the crown of Great-Britain, and the crown of 
 Spain, to be concerned each one quarter in the trade, 
 and to fettle accounts once in five years. In cafe of a 
 wai the affiento fhall be fufpended, and eighteen 
 months allowed to carry off the effects. Confiderin» 
 the Ioffes which former affientifts have fuftained, and to 
 prevent any other kind of trade, the king of Spain, 
 during the continuance of this con trad, allows a fhip 
 or 500 tons yearly with dry goods, one quarter of the 
 clear profit to the king of Spain, and 5 per cent, duty 
 upon the other three quarters ; they are not to fell their 
 goods, but in the times of the fairs upon the arrival of 
 t ie flota or galeons ; the queen or crown of Great- 
 1 itam was alfo to have one quarter of the neat gain, 
 but this was afterwards given up to the company. 
 
 4 
 
 The 
 
Sect. II. in North-America. 77 
 
 The South-Sea company afliento agents were lettled 
 iJ,j ; for fome time at Barbadoes for the Caraccas and Ma- 
 ; racaibo bufinefs, and at Jamaica for the reft of that 
 line trade. Jamaica lies the molt convenient for carrying on 
 
 fail this affair. . , , , 
 
 it,}; The South-Sea company have tried three methods 
 '■> of carrying on their negro bufinefs, viz. by their own 
 otf; fhips, by contract and by chance purchafe from pri- 
 3,4- vate traders this laft was the cheapeft: anno 1721, 
 
 %. they contracted with the African company for a fupply 
 
 tj.j of 3600 negroes, two thirds males, fix fevenths to be 
 
 i,® from 1 6 to 30 7 Et. the other leventh to conuft of equal 
 
 iu| numbers of boys and girls, none under 10 7 Et. the 
 
 K contracted price was 22/. ioj. fterling per piece for 
 
 tlti Gold-coaft, Jackin, and Whidaw negroes-, 18/. ioj. 
 
 H fterling for Angola flaves. For fome years they farmed 
 
 out fome of their affiento factories. 
 
 , The South-Sea company’s effeCts in New-Spam have 
 
 been twice leized ; anno 1718, upon our deftroymg the 
 Spanilh armada near Sicily ; and anno 1727, when Gi- 
 1. braltar was befieged ; I fhall not in this place mention 
 the feizurcs in the beginning of this prefent war. Mr. 
 Keene, for feveral years, had from the company 1500/. 
 fterling 'pcf 1 mttuin , as their agent at the court of Spain. 
 The court of Spain made a demand of 60,000 1 . fterling, 
 arifing moftly from a different way of reckoning the 
 dollars payable as duty ; the South-Sea company reckon 
 at 42 d. fterling per dollar, the court of Spain reckon 
 at 52 d. fterling‘ per dollar-, the reft was the King 
 of Spain’s quarter of the neat gains of the annual 
 If jhip the Royal Carolina. On the other fide, the South- 
 Sea company alledge the frequent feizure of their 
 si: effeCts j the refufals of licences or fchedulas at times, 
 
 ■ l as damages to be taken to account being one and a half 
 
 million dollars damages fuftained ; this affair is not as yet 
 ^ determined -, it is faid that the majority of the South- 
 
 W Sea directors, at the defire of the miniftry of that time, 
 
 fe has agreed to pay the 68,000/. fterling, upon a pro- 
 
 rgr longation 
 
 'l 
 
 v 
 
yS Britifh and French Settlements PartI. 
 
 longation of the term of their trade, and a fpeedy reim- 
 burfement of the one and half million damages. 
 
 The next part in the South-Sea company hiftory, i s 
 a difmal, and for many ages not be forgotten tranf- 
 a<£hon, a bubble, an epidemical, malignant and mortal 
 diftemper of bodies politic ; it came by way of France 
 where it was called Miffiffippi, with us it was called South- 
 Sea -, laying afide allegory, it is a notorius inftance of 
 the bad conftitution of paper effetfts, I mean paper 
 common currency and transfers ; and as it has ibme 
 affinity with our plantations paper currency, I hope it 
 may be of political ufe, with the cotemporary Miffiflip- 
 pi [p] and French bank hiftory annexed by way of an- 
 
 »;Jfn Jill J naturally fhould belong to the tranfient account to be 
 given of the French colonies; but as it ferves to illuftrate oar South- 
 Sea bubble, a fatal imitation of Mr. Law’s projefl, we have pre- 
 vioufly introduced it here ; and the annexed account of the fate oflhe 
 Royal Bank of France, which (linked to the Miffiffippi bubble) pro- 
 jefted paper-currency for France, may be a proper warning or beacon 
 to our America paper-money colonies* 
 
 Never was fuch a barefaced iniquitous fcheme endeavoured to be 
 put in execution; their confidence was in the legiflative power, which 
 
 rjJ k° U !.i d r°i! ny th ' ng ’ th0Ugh incon fi<lent with natural 
 in hiftnrJ ofthls annotation, will remain a curious incident 
 in hiftory. That a private perfon. Mr. Law, projeflor of the Mif- 
 fiffippi company bubble (this name appeared too chimerical ; it after- 
 
 mnS Sjr’ f ‘ retains , the name of the French India Com- 
 LnnJJ { ’ nfatu ate, impofe upon, or bubble, in a mod public 
 manner, the politer part of mankind ; future ages will be aftontffied 
 fcarce credit, but admire. He rofe the Hock of “a chimerical company 
 
 £as m /xtv mm feVenty r f v n fc0unt ( their firrt or fubfcn>tion 
 
 was lixty millions of bvres in Hate bills, or national debts fettled at 
 
 advance feVCIUy fer d,fcount ) to nineteen hundred per cent. 
 
 By adding to this fixty million fubfcription in date bills forty mil- 
 lions J their ftock became one hundred mil- 
 
 wMrh ,Zi ^ r 6 k '", 2 S r ffigmng t0 them the farm u P° n 'obacco, 
 Was farmed at f our millions, with the farmer's profit com- 
 
 This ive im” 1 ’ 0nS m T’ ma J de feven P' r “”*■ ^ the proprietors: 
 
 next 8 the Eafl and the ‘ r ftock rofe much above P ar: 
 
 anno * nd ^ h ’ na com P an y was incorporated with it 
 
 / Jr • d rofe t0 200 for too original. By feven fuc- 
 
 ffive fubfcriptiOBs of fixty, forty, twenty-five, twenty-five, fifty, fifty, 
 
 notations 5 
 
ai Sect, II. in North-America. 79 
 
 ^ notations •, it does alfo by anticipation take off fome 
 S ! ; . paragraph, which muft have been premifed in the 
 
 WtJ: fifty millions, it became in all 300,000,000 livres principal or original 
 ai)(U (lock. Their fund or government annuity, upon which they were to 
 
 In September, 1719, the fubferiptions (as above) taken in for in- 
 creafing their Hock were at ten for one, and thofe fubferiptions were 
 ftuv negociated at cent per cent, that is, one principal fold for twenty ; the 
 fubferiptions were to be made good by partial payments : but as many 
 kfe; of the fubferibers could not make their fubfequent parts of payments, 
 without felling out their former flock ; old adlions fell to 760 for 
 Bgora 100 (notwithllanding this precedent warning, our South-Sea bubble 
 fplit upon the very fame rock) but by enlarging the times for the 
 .ijjs: fubfeription payments, and the interell of their loans to the crown be- 
 
 81* i, ing augmented, flock rofe again to xicoox 1300, their privileges be- 
 
 mi* ing continued to anno 1770. 
 
 Kin The money, which the company gained by the advanced prices 
 qI upon the feveral additions, from time to time, made to their llock, 
 
 jj.jj was lent to the king at a certain interell ; with this money the king 
 
 ki paid off, or reduced, the flatc debts, or annuities in the town-houfe ot 
 
 ujjj Paris, from four to three per cent, interefl ; which was a faving of about 
 
 . twelve millions peranmnn to the king. 
 
 Jn January N. S. 1720, the king had granted to the Miffiflippi, alias 
 ^ India company, the management and adminiflration of the royal bank. 
 
 Z', About the fame time the king fold to the company his flock, confifl- 
 
 , ing of 100 millions of livres original, for 900 millions livres in partial 
 
 payments. Thus the king fold all his flock at once by contradl for 
 money: thus the directors, and other great men, who were in the fe- 
 cret, fold out their own South-Sea flock when the affair was tending 
 '* towards a crifis. 
 
 This Milliffippi-bubble began to collapfe in the end of May, 1720, 
 and Mr. Law became a Profugus : to keep up the affair fo far and fo 
 ^ , long as it could be, the company not being able to comply with the 
 
 payment of the 900 million livres in money, the king accepts again 
 of his 100 millions livres in original aftions (an original ibare or adion 
 was 1000 livres;) and upon the king and company s annihilating 
 
 1 Ife Coinage 
 
 The farm, and its neat profits of tobacco 
 
 4 > 
 
 30 
 
 7 
 
 *>- 
 
 5 
 
 7 millions 
 
 1 2 
 
 ^ is better than forty-three per cent, on the original flock. 
 
 1 31 millions 
 
 article 
 
Britifli and French Settlements PartI 
 
 ir ART J, 
 
 article of plantation paper currencies. Perhaps it nrn 
 be lome amufement to the curious j hitherto it has not 
 
 fomefof their atfions they were reduced to 200 millions of adtions- the 
 old afbons were called in, and a new tenor of aftions trl ™ %’ ?' 
 fime, and it was refolved. that for three years next fii? f I* 
 dividend per annum, fhould be 200 livres per adtion which''-'" 8 ’ thC 
 Per cent, and a royal fociety is eroded to fnfure this’Ju, h 
 premium. As there remained a number of aftions L * * 
 m polfeilion of the company, all nerfons i f K P, r< W ^ 
 were ordered to buy in agai.at the rate of , 7 *J? maly fold 
 in bank bills to be burnt. Nonvithilanding all thefoi if Cr ?^ lons * 
 pedienu, ,1« people-, p,„i c coeld be IppeJ “ * 
 
 * k ■■ « » « “» £as 
 
 ioJ; hlS fpnnS ’ 7 ' 17 ’ the french ' India company's actions are at 
 
 notes were fixed at five ter cert better th" g * - n , nn0 171 9 - bank 
 
 bills, in the beginning 5 fumLr ini , ^ ° r fi ‘ Ver C ° in; ba " fc 
 
 millions of livres a lfvre is in value ahi 7 1 9 * ^ er e mc r eafed to 400 
 fummer the French court o lve out Ohn V '/ fter, l n S) ln the end of 
 ~ P a P cr in oney 
 
 culation, and i 20 millions more were made i„ n/f f ° r .f 1 . cir ' 
 
 more, and Toon after m iix nla , In October, 120 millions 
 
 livres, which is about forty fir ^ S ] j I ? lore ; bei ”2 m ali 1 °°o millions of 
 than all the Lnksin^ii'. 5 P T ds , fterl ! n S- which is more 
 fpring in March N ^ ^ Ut , t0 S et ^ er do circulate. 3. Next 
 
 gradually to be lowered "and 'after i "" go!d and fiIrerwas 
 
 currency, with the penalS 5 ^months forbid to have any 
 
 perlon’s poffeffion; Bank notes and Miffi^ g0 ° d r’ ’ f f ? Und inan - V 
 currency , the importation of iu 5rP pi tr ;‘ nsfers t0 be the only 
 the payment cf forelo-n h*ll r° d , and ** Iver *P ec,es is forbid; even 
 made TBank no S S / 1 2 though <P«ifed. mull be 
 
 years in the pradice of altering th C ° Urt Pl ! ance had been for many 
 king, Mr. Law proceeded tn ^,2 Z™ C °' a ’ for the P rofit of their 
 
 currency. By an Edict of May a? .tL^BanT"' r^ 0 " ^ CP** 
 duced gradually (the \ I ’ B * notes were t0 be re * 
 
 the fame timif aS in fee Z aftions - were at 
 
 FFF er f ° r — 
 
 Honed fuch an universal t^uanming^that Mrf Law ^wa^obli^d'to fave 
 
Sect. II. in Nor th-Am erica. 8i 
 
 oj'j' by any writer been fet in a flrong, full, and compared 
 Jight. 
 
 of*, Mr. John Law, born at Edinburgh in Scotland, began 
 “>• his plan of the Mifliffippi bubble in France, anno 1717, 
 of which he was afterwards conftituted principal direc- 
 :ti'. tor, and at length comptroller-general of the finances of 
 iib*. France. He was the moft noted man in Europe for a 
 *' : i gamefler and bubbler-, he was perfuaded that paper 
 ^ elfiedts, or paper currency, and transfers, admitted of the 
 greateft latitude for public cheat. In our American 
 Dpi, colonies, after haying reduced the denomination of five 
 fhillings fterling to a heavy piece of eight, and from this 
 & having reduced it to light pieces of eight fo far as the 
 tB( cheat could go ; they fell into a paper-currency, whofe in- 
 'kk trinfic value being nothing, its imaginary value admit- 
 ted of any reduction : at prefent in New-England, by 
 H this contrivance and management, a perfon who pays an 
 ** °ld debt, of book, note, or bond, in the prefent paper 
 currency ; pays only one in ten or two fhillings in the 
 rat, pound. 
 
 I,'* Impregnated by the projection of Mr. Law (excufe 
 li! T J the metaphor) a national bubble began to be hatched in 
 England j at length, the end of January, anno 1719-20, 
 eri Bank and South-Sea Company bid handfomely (that 
 is apparently) great fums for the benefit of the public, 
 upon one another, to have all the other public debts 
 ingrafted into their flocks ; the South Sea Company 
 
 himfelf from the rage of the populace, by leaving the kingdom, and 
 thereby confeffing himfelf a moft ecregions cheat. To appeafe 
 r - the people, who fufpected frauds in the India Company and Bank, the 
 -- court appointed ill. am coimniflaries to ir.fpeft their books ; they loon 
 ® 5: made a favourable report, and that they found in the India company 
 
 a fund for above 300 millions livres original Hock ; the nation were 
 ■ not fatisfied, it ftill remained in a ferment or fret; Mr. Law was 
 r " obliged to abfeond May 29, and relign his great office of comptroller- 
 «,* general of the finances ; and the feals were taken from M. d’Argenfon 
 K; his accomplice, May 31; the edift of laft March for gradually abo- 
 :: killing a gold and filver currency was revoked ; and by October fol- 
 
 1 lowing, Bank notes had no longer a currency ; nothing was taken in 
 ]Si payment but gold and filver fpecies. 
 
 Vol. I. G carried 
 
$2 Britifh and French Settlements PartI. 
 
 carried it by bribing fome of the legiflature, and fome in 
 the adminiftration, by taking up great quantities of ftore 
 for their ufe. Mr. Walpole, doubtlefs, had a feeling, 
 but fecret and cautious, concern in this affair of corrupt 
 tion ; and as the South-fea bubble came near its crifis, he 
 fkreened himfelf by being made pay- matter general of 
 the land-forces ; the Earl of Sunderland, May 27, 1720, 
 being made fir ft commiffioner of the treafury in his 
 room. Mr. Walpole did not re-enter himfelf, as firft 
 commiffioner of the treafury, until April, 1721, the ftorm 
 bein 0, over ; and we may obierve, that next month the 
 parliament allowed the South-Sea Company direftors 
 large films out of their forfeited eftates, the parliament 
 being then under the dire&ion of Mr. Walpole; and 
 towards the end of the fame year, by the dire&ion of 
 our prime minifter, admiral Norris landed Mr. Law, a 
 fugitive from France, in England; (Mr. Law, at that 
 time, was in cafh, the proper bait for corruption) he 
 introduced himfelf by buying off the appeal of the 
 relations, and producing at the bar of the King’s-bench, 
 the king’s pardon for the murder of Edward Wilfon, 
 Efq. (Beau Wilfon) anno 1694: he was difcharged: 
 but his arrival in England being canvafled in parlia- 
 ment, and his infamous bubble in France being much 
 clamoured againft by the populace (Mr. Walpole, a con- 
 fummate politician, by experience, at times found that 
 the vox populi was the fuprema lex ; witnefs the excite 
 projection upon wines and tobacco) his addrefs, his 
 money, the countenance of the court, availed nothing ; 
 he went off, and died obfcurely in Germany; may this 
 be the exit of all notorious cunning leading impoftors in 
 any human fociety or government. 
 
 The South-Sea propofals were accepted by the houle 
 of Commons Feb. 1, 1719-20, and had the royal afient 
 April 4, following. They were allowed to ingraft the 
 irredeemable long and fhort annuities, and the redeern- 
 ables of five and of four per cent, per annum intereft (the 
 bank and Eaft-lndia company annuities, or ftock, not 
 
 included) 
 
Sect. II. ?'« North-America. ^ 
 
 included) to the value of 30,954,000/. fterling by pur- 
 t hafe or by fubfcription : the annnal payments from 
 the government upon thefe ingrafted public debts, to be 
 continued as at prefent, until anno 1727, Midfummer, 
 and from thence the whole to be reduced to an annuity 
 0 ..{? ur P £r cent ; the South-Sea engage to circulate one 
 million exchequer bills gratis, and to pay feven millions 
 pounds fterling to the government for this liberty and 
 benefit ot ingrafting fo much of the public debts ; the 
 increased capital flock to be divided amon4 all the 
 proprietors. In the progrefs of the year 1719, °the South- 
 Sea company by ad of parliament, for a certain film 
 to the public, had ingrafted a great part of the lottery 
 anno 1710, by which, and by this great ingraftment, 
 added to their original ftock of 10,000.000 /. fterlino- 
 their capital became 37,802,483/. fterling (about 
 45361,930/. fterling of the principal which they were 
 allowed to take in, by purchafe or fubfcription could not 
 be obtained, and remained as before) a vaft and impoli- 
 tic capital. r 
 
 Next Day Feb. 2, after the bill palled the Commons, 
 South-lea ftock rofe to 150, in May it was fold at 275. 
 all July (the transfer books being Unit) it fold at qio 
 to 1000. In Auguftthe South-fea bubble began to lole 
 its credit ; and the diredors, to keep up the cheat, pub- 
 Iilhed, that thirty per cent, calh, Ihould be the half year’s 
 dividend at Chnftmas next, and not lefs than fifty per 
 cent, per annum for the next following twelve years 
 Auguft 17, ftock was at 830, Sept. 8, at 550, Sept. 29! 
 at 150 ; at Michaelmas, South-fea bonds were at twenty- 
 nve per cent . difeount. 7 
 
 At this time all the ftocks (bank ftock in July rofe 
 to 245, but it foon fell again to its intrinfic value i?o) 
 and many khemes were made bubbles; the capitals pro- 
 pofed by the feveral projedors and bubblers did not 
 amount to lefs than 300 millions fterling. Moft people 
 negleded their other bufinefs, and attended fome favourite 
 Bubble, and John Blunt of London, the arch-bubbler. 
 
 G 2 
 
 ^ - was 
 
34 Britifh and French Settlements PartI. 
 was erefted a baronet, a fcandal to that honourable order 
 of knighthood. 
 
 This grand national cheat, became a parliamentary 
 enquiry. In the report of the fecret committee, forty 
 members of the houle of Commons were charged with 
 having flock taken up for them in brokers names ; it 
 was found that the directors bought flock for the com- 
 pany at very high rates, while they were clandeflinely 
 felling out their own ; that the directors had lent out 
 by collufion, about eleven millions of the company’s 
 money, with none or not fufficient fecurity. In the 
 houfe of Lords, the whole of it was called a villainous 
 artifice; and it was refolved in parliament, that the 
 diredlors fo far as their eflates would reach, fhould make 
 good the lofies the company had fuflained by their frau- 
 dulent management ; the eflates of the directors, deputy 
 cafhier, and accountant amounted to 2,014,123 /. flerling 
 properly forfeited, but by management a great part 
 of it was remitted to them. The reliefs allowed by par- 
 liament are too long to be related here ; to the company 
 was forgiven the feven millions which they contracted 
 to pay to the government, upon condition of two 
 millions of their capital being annihilated, but this was 
 foon after reflored to them. Anno 1722, the better to 
 dilengage themfelves from incumbrances, they fold to 
 the bank 200,000 of their annuity, which is four millions 
 principal. 
 
 Several government debts were by the Earl of Oxford, 
 incorporated into one joint-flock of annuities, and were 
 called. The corporation of the governor and company 
 of merchants in Great-Britain trading to the South- 
 lea and other parts of America, and for encouraging the 
 fifhery. As Mr. Law borrowed his fham name of Miffi- 
 fippi Company, from our cant name of South-Sea Com- 
 pany •, fo we copied our South- Sea bubble from his 
 Miiliffippi bubble. 
 
 After a further ingraftment of all the public debts 
 fthe Eafl-India and bank government debts remained 
 4. diftind 
 
5 Sect. II. in North-Amer ica. 85 
 
 diftinft as formerly) that could be obtained, and the 
 South-fea bubble being fettled, 1 723 June 24, their whole 
 ® capital was found to be 33,802,483 /. (without including 
 tft i- the 4000,000 l. of their llock which they had afligned 
 T to the bank) the parliament converted 16,901,241 /. one 
 « moiety of it into South-Sea annuities, the other half to 
 a remain a joint-ftock in trade. 
 
 Anno 1733, this moiety of joint-ftock in trade, by 
 ‘2 fundry government payments made from the finking 
 ® fund [jj, became 14,651,103/. at Midlummer, three 
 
 M 
 
 IB 
 
 .» 
 
 mi 
 
 tie 
 
 K 
 
 m 
 
 (E 
 
 m 
 
 3 ek 
 
 Iqi 
 
 a 1 
 
 a 
 
 > 
 
 in 
 
 k) 
 
 Sff 
 
 iff 
 
 [^] The finking fund was a proje&ion of Mr. Walpole’s, a con- 
 fummate politician, elpecially in the affair of finances ; it arifes from 
 public favings (the funds continuing the fame) by reducing the intereft 
 of the public debts firft to five per cent, anno 1717, afterwards to four 
 per cent, and fome (Eaft- India company) to three per cent . This was 
 not iniquitous, but natural juilice ; common intereft had been reduced, 
 by adl of parliament, to five per cent, ever fince anno 1714. It was left 
 to the option of the creditors of the government either to be paid off, 
 or to accept of a lower intereft ; they accepted of a lower intereft : 
 none of the companies or incorporated ftocks choofe to be paid off, but 
 make intereft that the finking fund may not be applied to them : all 
 the national debt (navy debt, army debentures, and the like excepted) 
 confifts in the ftocks ; thefe are as transferable as is common cafh, and 
 therefore may be called cafh in cheft bearing intereft. 2. When paid 
 off, they lofe the advance which the part paid would fell at, e. g. the 
 Eaft India company would lofe about feventy, the Bank about forty 
 per cent, on any part off. 
 
 The annual produce of the finking fund is upwards of 1 ,200,000/. and 
 to this time, anno 1 747, may amount to upwards of thirty three millions 
 of pounds, whereof about twelve millions has been applied to redeem 
 fo much of the public debts, £nd the remaining twenty-two millions 
 has prevented our running twenty-two millions more in debt ; it is a 
 help at hand againft any extraordinary exigency, to raife part of the 
 fupply (fince the beginning of the prefent war anno 1 73.J, it has con- 
 tributed one million yearly to the fupply) upon emergencies any fum 
 may be raifed upon annuities, charged on the finking fund for a time, 
 until further fettled, 
 
 Walpole’s fcheme, 1733, of an excife upon wine and tobacco would 
 have been of public advantage, but it was prevented taking efted, by 
 the ftrong fears of the populace, Jeft it fhould introduce a general ex- 
 cife upon the neceffaries of life (as in Holland) as well as upon com- 
 forts and extravagancies : befides, it would have multiplied the officers 
 of die revenue, creatures of the court and miniftry. 
 
 *g 3 
 
 quarters 
 
86 Brkifli and French Settlements PartI 
 
 quarters of this was feparated, by the name of new joint- 
 flock of South-fea annuities ; the remaining 3,662,77*- 
 continues as a trading or capital flock, folely chargeable 
 with all the company’s debts, and not to divide above 
 four per cent, per annum , until their prelent debts are 
 cleared and paid off. The qualifications in their prefent 
 trading flock (in the former flock the qualifications were 
 higher) are a concern at leaft of 5000/. for governor 
 4000/. for fub-governor, 3000/. for deputy-governor,' 
 2000 /. for a director : at a general meeting a 500/. con- 
 cern has one vote, 2000/. has two votes, 3000/. has 
 three votes, 5000/. has lour votes; no fingle perfonto 
 have more than four votes : no part of the trading ftock 
 to be redeemed, until the new joint-flock of annuities 
 become reduced to 3,500,000 /. No new bonds to be 
 made, but at the direction of a general meeting. 
 
 The finking fund has at times paid off to the old and 
 new South-Sea annuitants about 6,500,000 /. and at this 
 time the government debt to the South-Seais 2 7,302,203/. 
 viz. flock 3,662,775 /. old annuities 13,651,100/. new 
 annuities, 9,988,328/. At prefent, fpring 1747, the 
 price of South-Sea ftock is 103; Eaft-lndia company 
 flock being 1 77- Here we may en pafjant obferve the 
 great difference of credit and intereft in the affections of 
 the people, in relation to a tory, jacobite, and popilh ad- 
 miniftration ; and to a whig (excule the cant name) revo- 
 lution, and true proteftant miniftry : in the tory admi- 
 
 - ft £ C r S, °r g° v ! rnraent ^ts, continued ; and the church-lands 
 in ay pone mop, are infallible preventives againft popery and a revo- 
 lution in the civil government. 
 
 Our bad administration in the end of queen Anne's time, after a fuc- 
 celsfui war carried on for many years by a former good admiration, 
 lRltead of procuring advantageous terms of peace, conceded to the 
 ioliowing difadvantageous articles with Spain by the treaty of Utrecht, 
 5-!, 1 . 1 } 0 U ! 3 - 1 • entailed charge of maintaining large garrifons in 
 
 Gibraltar and Minorca. 2. The precarious demolition of Dunkirk 
 by their friends the French. 3. The AiTiento of Negroes, which had 
 plover a lofing bagam to all former contractors. And 4. A (ham re- 
 nunciation to the crown France. 
 
 niftration, 
 
Sect. II. in North-America. 87 
 
 niftration, in the four laft years of queen Anne, South- 
 Sea ltock, though bearing an intereft of fix per cent, fold 
 at a difcount exceeding twenty per cent, at prefent, though 
 the intereft or annuity is reduced to four per cent, it fells 
 at a confiderable advance per cent. 
 
 I mull here infert (I cannot find a place more proper) 
 two affairs, not of property, but of indulgences, and fo- 
 lemnly ftipulated conceflions from the court of Spain, 
 to the fubjeds of Great-Britain, and more particularly in 
 favour of our fettlements in North-America, viz. log- 
 wood from the bays of Campeachy and Honduras, and 
 lalt from the Spanifli ifland of Tortuga. 
 
 The cutting and carrying of logwood, formerly from 
 the bay of Campeachy, and latterly from the bay of Hon- 
 duras, in the gulph of Mexico, to Great-Britain and fun- 
 dry European markets, has been for fome time a branch 
 of the Britifh America trade, but more efpecially of New- 
 England. This logwood bufinefs has been carried on 
 for about eighty years, ever fince anno 1667, by a fort 
 of indulgence * this indulgence was confirmed, anno 
 1 670, by the American treaty with Spain, viz. The Eng- 
 lifh to remain in the occupancy of all territories and in- 
 dulgences of which they were then in poffefiion. 
 
 Anno 1716, the Spanilh ambaffador at the court of 
 Great-Britain entered a complaint to the king in coun- 
 cil, againft the Englilh fubjeds cutters of logwood in the 
 bays of Campeachy, &c. This was referred to the board 
 of trade and plantations •, they made report, that “ by 
 “ the American treaty anno 1670, there was confirmed 
 “ to the crown of Great-Britain, a right to the Laguna dt 
 “ <Terminos (bay of Campeachy) and parts adjacent in the 
 “ province of Jucatan •, thefe places, at the time of the 
 “ treaty, and fome years before, being actually in pof- 
 “ fefiion of the Britifh fubjeds through right of fufferance 
 “ or indulgence.” This fame right or liberty is abfo- 
 lutely granted and confirmed by the treaty of Utrecht 
 
 Notwith- 
 
88 Britifh and French Settlements PartI 
 
 Notwithftanding this reprefentation, and without al- 
 lowing fufficient time for the logwood cutters to with- 
 draw (if the court of Great-Britain had judged it proper) 
 the Spaniard from the Tobafco, drove them off; it has 
 nev^r fince been ufed by the Britifli. 
 
 This bay lies on the weft fide of the promontory or pro- 
 vince of Jucatan : Campeachy is a good town, lame as 
 Newport of Rhode-Ifland, built with a white free ftone; 
 it ftands on the fea. This port or branch of the Afliento 
 was farmed out by the South-Sea directors to Blockwood 
 and Cathcart, at forty pieces of eight for every negro 
 Have they imported ; they fent four or five fhips of about 
 300 tons each per annum, with a few negroes for a 
 blind ; their profit being from dry goods, which they 
 fold, by the connivance of the royal officers bribed, at 
 twelve to fifteen per cent, their chief returns were in log- 
 wood bought from the Spaniards, and carried to London 
 and Holland; they alfo carried off fbme drugs, viz. 
 Gum. Elemi , Rad. Contrayerva , Rad. Sarfaparil , &c! 
 That year in which this logwood-bay was cut off, anno 
 1717, were imported into the port of London 5863 tons 
 of logwood. 
 
 Since our people have been diflodged from the bay of 
 Campeachey they followed the fame bufinefs in the bay 
 of Honduras on the eaft fide of Jucatan ; their die- wood 
 * s t not lo good, and the mouths of their rivers (Old and 
 New-river) are more (hallow. Becaufe of the prefent 
 war with Spain, this trade for fome years has almoft 
 been difcontinued. 
 
 Logwood is their currency or medium at 5 /. per ton 
 denomination. 
 
 From this logwood cutting maroon life, there is a 
 fmall incidental political advantage ; as the logwood- 
 cutters called bay-men, live a maroon, licentious, lawlefs 
 iile, it becomes in times of peace a receptacle for, and 
 diverts, ibmc Jailors and others from the more wicked life 
 of pirating. 
 
 A little 
 
Sect. II. in North-Americ a. 89 
 
 A little to the eaftward of the bay of Honduras are a 
 fmall tribe of Indians, the good friends and allies of the 
 bay men, and Spaniard haters : that is, they afleft the 
 Englifh more than they do the Spaniards, and they 
 reckon the governor of Jamaica, as their patron and 
 protestor : our trade with them is of no confequence, 
 being only fome tortoife-fhell, wild cocoa, and l'ar- 
 laparille. 
 
 The ifland of Ratan lies about eight leagues from the 
 Mufkitoe-fhore, and about 1 50 leagues W. by S. from 
 Jamaica-, here we have lately fixed a garrifon, and 
 ftation-fhips, but cui bono I cannot fay. 
 
 The privilege of making and carrying fait from the 
 ifland of Salt Tortugas, in the gulph of Mexico, near 
 the Comanas or windward part of the Spanifh coaft, was 
 exprefly confirmed to us by the treaty of commerce be- 
 tween his Catholic Majefty, and the King of Great- 
 Britain, at Madrid, Dec. 14, anno 1716. “ Whereas 
 
 “ notwithftanding the treaties of peace and commerce, 
 “ which were concluded at Utrecht, July 13, and 
 “ Dec. 9, 1713, there ftill remained fome milunder- 
 “ Handings concerning the trade of the two nations, and 
 “ the courfe of it. Article 3. Morever his Catholic 
 “ Majefty permits the faid fubjefls of Great-Britain to 
 “ gather fait in the ifland of Tortuga, in the gulph of 
 “ Mexico -, they having enjoyed that privilege in the 
 “ reign of king Charles II, without hindrance or inter- 
 “ ruption.” 
 
 Notwithftanding this plain ftipulation, anno 1 733, 
 in the fpring, a Britifh plantation’s falt-fleet, under con- 
 voy of a 20 gun Britifh man of war, as they came to 
 fail from Tortugas, were attacked by two large Spanifh 
 men of war from the Margaritas, and four of the fleet 
 were carried off ; hitherto no recompence has been ob- 
 tained. 
 
 In times of peace, for the life of the dry cod-fifhery, 
 are imported in Mafiachufetts-Bay, communibus amis , 
 
90 Britilh and French Settlements PartI. 
 
 1200 tons Tortugas fait ; and about as much more from 
 other ports, viz. The Ifle of May, or Cape de Verde 
 iQands, Exeuma or Bahamas, St. Martins or Rochelle, 
 Lifbon, Ivica, Cagliari in Sardinia, &V. 
 
 The reafon why New-England dry cod is frequently 
 falt-burnt, is from the ufe of Tortuga and ifle of May 
 fait, which are too hot. In Newfoundland they gene- 
 rally ufe Lifbon and French fait. 
 
 By late afts of the Britifh parliament, fait is allowed 
 to be imported diretfrly from any part of Europe, to the 
 colonies of New- York and Penlylvania ; in the fame 
 manner as fait may be imported into New-England and 
 Newfoundland, by an aft made 15 Car. II, for theen- 
 couragemertt of trade. 
 
 II. French dif cover ies and fettlements. 
 
 THE French American colonies may be diftinguilhed 
 into their north continent America fettlements, and 
 thofe of the W eft-India iflands, Cayenne, near the coaft 
 of Guiana or Surinam included. Their iflands do not 
 fait within the compafs of our delign ; and having only 
 tranficntly vifited them without any view of enquiry, 
 my fixed relolution is not to borrow or tranlcribe 
 fiom common authors [r] ; therefore the reader may 
 excufe my laying them afide. 
 
 The continent .trench iettlements, I divide into Ca- 
 nada or New-France, and Miffiflippi or Louifiana: fome 
 Piench writers, mention a French province called Ha- 
 noile, inhabited by above 1 6,000 whites, above half 
 way between the mouth of the river Miffiflippi, and 
 Quebec in Canada ; this is only an imaginary pr roman- 
 tic colony; we take no notice of it, leaving it to the pro- 
 fefled writers of novels. 
 
 vi ] f N ° perf0 ” Can . trace me a ’ 3 plagiary; my own obfdrvations, 
 .1 rom correfpondents and well-approved authors, and from pub- 
 he records, are the materials of this eflay. 
 
 i. Canada. 
 
S£CT. II. in North-America. 91 
 
 1. Canada. The original of the name is uncertain, 
 fome fay, it was named from Monfieur Cane, who early 
 failed into that river : if fo, O caprice ! why fhould fo 
 obfcure a man (his voyage is not mentioned in hiftory) 
 give name to New-France, as it is called? 
 
 Verazani, a Florentine in the king of France’s fervice 
 (F'rancis 1 . was an active prince) coafted along the eaft 
 fide of North-America, and went afhore in feveral places; 
 according to the humour of thofe times, took a nominal 
 p often ion for France, from 37 D. the mouth of 
 Chefepeak-Bay, to 50 D. N. lat. the mouth of the river 
 St. Laurence, fo called, becaufe firft difcovered upon 
 that faint’s day ; he failed up the river of St. Laurence. 
 Two fliips from England failed up that river, anno 1 527. 
 J. Cartier, a native of St. Malo, made two voyages to 
 this river anno 1534 and 1535, he proceeded fo far as 
 Montreal, and called the country New-France. Anno 
 1542, Roberval from Rochelle carried thither, a few peo- 
 ple to fettle; they did not continue their fettlements. 
 About the middle of the fixtcenth century, the French 
 and Spaniards difputed fettlements upon the coaft of 
 Florida. Secretary Walfingham of England, being in- 
 formed of an opening fouth of Newfoundland, fitted 
 out Sir Humphry Gilbert ; he failed up St. Laurence 
 river, and took pofieffion for the crown of England. 
 Anno 1604, Henry IV [j] of France made further dis- 
 coveries in L’Acadie, now Nova Scotia •, and in Canada 
 or New-France he planted a colony which fubfifts to this 
 day ; may it not fubfift long ; it is a nufance to our North- 
 
 [j] Henry IV was the firft of the French kings, who, to any pur- 
 poie, encouraged trade and manufactures. After him, for fome time 
 in the reign of Louis XIV, Colbert (of Scots extraction)* fecretary 
 of ftate in France, was a great patron and promoter of the fame, as 
 alfo of all polite learning, *vizu I he Academy of feiences tor all parts 
 of natural hiftory, geometry, aftronomy, mechanics, anatomy, chi- 
 miftry, and botany ; the French Academy, for the French language 
 and other parts of the Belles-lettres ; the academy for infcriptions and 
 medals ; the academy for architecture, painting, and fculpture. 
 
 America 
 
92 Britifh and French Settlements Part!. 
 
 America fettlements j delenda eft Carthago. Anno 1 608 
 Quebec [/] on an ifthmus on the river St. Laurence be’ 
 gan to be fettled, and is now increafed to about 7000 
 people of all colours, fexes, and ages ; it is the refidence 
 ot the governor-general, intendant, and fupreme council- 
 tide flows about eighteen feet. * 
 
 Canada is no otherways a company, only for the Ca- 
 ftor or Beaver fur-trade ; as they have no fettlements 
 but upon rivers and creeks, by giving fome delineation 
 ot theie, we defcnbe that country. The gulph of St. 
 Laurence, from Cape Raze of Newfoundland, the Cape 
 Rouer in 50 D. 30 M. N. lat. the mouth of the river 
 St. Laurence (here the river is about thirty leagues wide) 
 about eighty-eight leagues ; in this gulph are The iflands 
 of Cape-Breton [«], Anticofti, St. Johns, Madalene,and 
 lome ocher fmall iflands, given to the French by the in- 
 famous treaty of Utrecht 1 7 1 3. From Cape Rofier to 
 Tadoufac, on the north fide of the river, are eighty 
 *eagues bad navigation. Tadoufac is no town, but a <*ood 
 harbour for large Chips, navigable for fhips twentydive 
 rniles; lias a water communication by the river Seguany, 
 &c. with PIudfon’s-Bay. From Tadoufac to Quebec 
 are thirty leagues, from Quebec to Les Trois Rivieres, 
 Q t !? e a n ? rth fide of " the river, thirty leagues ; this was 
 tae hi ft rrench fettlement, it abounds with iron ore, is 
 
 nli} ' n ^ ian . Algonquin language, fignifies a (Ira if, 
 
 Quebec from De Hayes obfervations, anno 1686, lies in 46 D. 5; 
 M. N. lat. and W. from Paris 72 D. 30 M. (Paris is E. from Lon- 
 donj D. 30 M. circiter) is 70 D. W. from London ; variation ic D. 
 joM. anno 1649, « was 16 D. W. 
 
 ["] Cape L- re ton is a late acquifition, or New-England conqueft 
 i°m t ie ienc 1 ; may it be permanent, but without any extraordinary 
 garnfon charge I It ftretches from 43 D. to 47 D. c M. N. lat. 
 
 , rom '' <ova Scotia, by the gut of Canfo, five leagues long, 
 f"o ! . ea S ue ^ oad - Cape-Breton ifland lies in length from N. E. 
 
 Q ica , rce leagues, its greateft breadth eaft and weft about 
 * 1 ee lea S, u « ■ Loutibourg, formerly called Englifh harbour, is 
 
 a ; ,ood po.t and ftrong fortrefs: as this formerly belonged to Nova 
 Scora, we lhall refer any further account of it to that feflion. 
 
 the 
 
« 1, 
 An, 
 
 L*«!Si 
 
 sab®. 
 
 
 egilj. 
 
 Kin 
 
 thoti 
 
 fkp 
 
 wiki 
 
 
 Sect. II. m North-America. 93 
 
 the refidence of a fub-governor •, this government (there 
 are three governments in Canada) extends twelve mi es 
 up the great river, and twelve miles down the river : 
 the tide does not flow much higher; fromLeslrois 
 Rivieres to Montreal, the feat ot the next fub-governor, 
 
 H' Vrom 7 Cap° U Rofier, along the fouth fide of St. Lau- 
 rence to Montreal, is an almoft continued chain of hills 
 or mountains, and the runs of water (hort and rapid, it 
 is fcarce habitable. A little above Montreal, the two ri- 
 vers of Outauawas (comes from a country N. W. belong- 
 ing to a large and powerful Indian nation) and Cataraqui 
 meet • Cataraqui river comes about fifty leagues S. VS . 
 from the lake of the fame name ; from fort Frontenac, at 
 the head of this river by water-carriage to Montreal, are 
 four days travel, but from Montreal to fort F rontenac 
 are ten or more days travel, becaufe of many carrying- 
 places at feveral cataratts called falls or fauts. 
 
 The communicating five great lakes ot Canada, to. 
 Cataraqui or Ontario, Erie, Ilenois, Hurons, and Upper 
 lake may be called inland feas, lying from 39 D. to 51 
 D. N. Lat. The fmallell Ontario is about eighty leagues 
 lon°\ thirty-five leagues wide ; the lake Superieure is 200 . 
 
 leagues long, it is larger than the Cafpian-fea. ey o 
 nof freeze over ; fnow does not lie long within ten or 
 twelve miles of them; their foft mellow circum- ambient 
 vapour mollifies the air; the Indians fay, that m hot 
 weather the wind blows from the lake, and in cold wea- 
 ther into the lake, as do the land and fea-breezes in the 
 Weft-Indies within the tropics. 
 
 All the French colonies are under the direction of the 
 council of the navy of France, and or one or the four 
 fecretaries of France, called fecretary for the Marine and 
 Plantations ; at prefent, anno 1747* M - Maurepas. , The 
 French King’s charge per annum for Canada is about 
 200,000 crowns ; but the high duty upon lalt fent from , 
 France, and the duty upon furs and fkins fent from Canada 
 
9+ ^ Bricifh and French Settlements Part! 
 
 to France, overbalances this charge. The king’s bilk 
 of exchange upon the treafury are paid at fifteen 7 
 %ht ; the caftor bills upon theUpa^ are p^d a ft 
 months fight. Their currency is the time as in Ft f 
 
 W beItCr than that of fench 
 
 roncermngthe French iniligatingandfurnilhingourere’ 
 
 my Indians with war ammunition, anno 1725 there 
 failed from Quebec nineteen veflels for the ocean • bu 
 m the river of St. Laurence fix veifels fit for the ocean 
 . B. Up the river to the fouthward, is o- 0 od lhin rim 
 
 France!' 6 ' 7 ^ ^ bui1 ' tW ° 0r three «f warfo! 
 
 i he feafon of navigation in the river St. Laurence 
 are the months or Auguft and September, for the ibre’ 
 
 from' 0I ca ^ or -c°mpany fhips. Ships have failed 
 , Quebec to Rochelle in 18 days. Befides nelterie 
 
 flavc- tar t0 M ianCe * e^’ 1 matter of lumber, timber; 
 ,, n ,l r ’ tobacco. Ships from France bring wines 
 brandies and dry goods, and fail with flour p af ’ 
 
 £££££ 
 
 them b^TAC; t'Srof SS 
 
 our Dutch 7 Albany; this is the rea,bn > why 
 
 CanadrS-enH a ? a ^fe to a war with the 
 
 mouth nf n \i ln t lCir l nd ‘ ans - At Ofwego, the 
 
 Ontario Ih?m° ndagUa i S nV r r Up °° the eaft ' fide of lake 
 Indians of C IS 3 t,adin g fair from Albany all fummerj 
 fom Sou h C? Went y dlfib rent nations Jefort thither 
 
 kL * 2 D - ‘o the bottom 0 
 La Joodw -,7 10 N ‘ ht D - Therefore there certainly 
 
 and cXlufnr COm T r m 7 tion inland ’ in all that extent" 
 and confequently a vafl: Indian flein and fur-trade; furs are 
 
 more 
 
H Sect. II. *» North-Americ a. * 95 
 
 ■ h more plenty to the fouthward, but not of io good aftaple, 
 
 as to the northward. _ , 
 
 : Nt Canada is fettled only, near the rivers and creeks •, they 
 a 3l: fow no winter-grain. The produce of the country is 
 
 not much more than is requifite for their own iubiiit* 
 ence: the quality of their fummer-wheat is luch, that 
 ttilj a baker gives 381b. wt. fine bread, for a bufhel of wheat, 
 altfb apples grow well; pears, plumbs, and cherries not plen- 
 
 £.;• tv peaches will fcarce do : they kill their ftore of poul- 
 
 iji: try when the frofts fet in, and keep them frozen in tneii 
 
 crj garrets during the winter fealon, which laves grain, then 
 
 fori food. r , 
 
 oodi They have only three towns of any confideration, viz. 
 
 aj ' Quebec, the metropolis and refidence of the governor- 
 general of Canada or New-France ; it is their principal 
 a fortrefs ; the Cathedral is their only parifii church ; in the 
 lower town there is a chapel of eale ; here aie two con- 
 vents (Jefuits and Recolefts) of men, and thiee convents 
 of women, or nunneries. Montreal more pleafantly 
 fituated, the refidence of a deputy-governor, fixty 
 leagues above Quebec upon the fame river, is near as 
 populous as Quebec, but not fo well fortified. Les 
 f\ Trois Rivieres, a fmall town and trifling fortification, 
 lies midway upon the river, between thefe two ; it is the 
 feat of the third government. 
 
 The country is divided into about eighty diftricts, 
 fomewhat in the manner of our New-England townfhips 
 (the New-England townfhips, in Old-hngland would 
 :1 be called country parifhes, and their feveral precinfts, 
 
 chapels of eafe.) 
 
 5 : All their militia, or fencible men, capable of march- 
 
 * Ii ing, at this writing, anno 1747, do not exceed 12,000 
 If® men, with about 1 000 regular troops independent marine 
 companies, and about 1000 Indians that may be pcr- 
 m fuaded to march. 
 
 '® 1 Befides the three towns, or ftrong places, already men- 
 
 Kfl tioned, there are, x. Crown-Point as above, a late in- 
 i' 13 ' trufion upon the jurifdiftion of New-h. ork ; iaft year it 
 
 was 
 
96 Bririfii and French Settlements Part I. 
 
 was propofed to reclaim it by force, but the projection 
 teems to vanilh. 2. Fort Chamblais, a confiderable 
 fort or pafs from the Englifh fettlements to the upper 
 French fettlements in Canada. 3. Fort Sorrel, where 
 the river Chamblais, the dilcharge of lake Champlain 
 enters the river of Canada or St. Laurence, an infigni- 
 ficant tort. 4. Fort Frontenac, where the difcharo-e of 
 lake Ontario, and the other great inland lakes, forms 
 the Cataraqui branch of the river St. Laurence. 5. Fort 
 Denonville near Niagara Falls (governor Vaudrueil had 
 it accurately examined ; it was twenty-fix fathom per- 
 pendicular) between the lakes Ontario and Erie. 6. La 
 i rouette at Les Detroits, between the lakes Erie and 
 Hurons. N. B. Thefo tiree lafi mentioned forts, have 
 bread and peafe from Montreal, but no other pro- 
 vifions. r 
 
 Befides thefe, by way of oftcntation, we find in the 
 French maps of Canada and Miffiflippi, many forts 
 marked out : Thefe are only extempore ftockades or 
 block- houies made for a fhorttime of refidence in their 
 travelling trade with the Indians ; fome French Indian 
 traders when they fet out, obtain (a certain perquifite) 
 from the governor an efcorte of a ferjeant and a few 
 private foldiers for protection againft any Indian in- 
 fults. 
 
 I here is an annual patrole of this nature from Que- 
 bec in Canada to fort Orleanfo, near the mouth of the 
 MiffilTippi; it is about 600 leagues travel with its detours 
 of rivers and carrying-places ; the diredt di fiance or dif- 
 ference in latitude falls fhort of 400 leagues : this long 
 route is not attended with fuch difficulties and hardfhips 
 as is commonly imagined ; there is a river falls into 
 the fouth fide of lake Erie, which leads to a carrying- 
 place to the river Ohio, a branch of the river Miffif- 
 
 fippi ; the Indians hereabouts are, by the French, called 
 Miamis. 
 
 a he F rench, in their Weft-India or America lettle- 
 ments, have four governor-generals, the fmall fettle- 
 
 ment 
 
cooif 
 
 mi, 
 
 o®,, 
 
 Ct 
 
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 tt : 
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 fee 
 
 inti' 
 
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 Ik 
 
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 m 
 
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 mu 
 
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 k 
 
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 will 
 
 m 
 
 m 
 
 IB? 
 
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 jjji 
 
 M 
 
 ifc 
 
 ife 
 
 125 
 
 Sect. II. k North-America. 97 
 
 ment at Cayenne in Guiana not included, 1. The go- 
 vernor-general of Canada, in his commiflion, is ftyled 
 governor and lieutenant-general of French North- 
 America *, he has under his direction the governments 
 of Quebec, Les Trois Rivieres, and Montreal, with the 
 commandants of the feveral out-forts already mentioned. 
 2. The governor-general of Louifiana or Mifliffippi; 
 his refidence is at Orleans upon the river Mifliflippi ; 
 the other government upon the river Mobile, or Mo- 
 ville, is under his direction ; the diflance is about forty 
 leagues. 3. The governor-general of the [w] French 
 
 [au] The prefent conftitution of the Weft India French governments 
 is a governor-general, and intendant, who is their chief judge in 
 all affairs, and a check upon the general, and a fupreme council ; un- 
 der their dire&ipn are feveral fmall governments, departments, orcom- 
 manderies, but under the immediate command of a fub-governor, or 
 lieut. du Roy, or commandant ; and thefe diftritts are divided into 
 parifhes under the command of a kind of militia officer and fheriff 
 called Capitain du Quartier. 
 
 Under the governor-general of the French Caribbee-iflands are the 
 governments of Martinique (this is divided into three, *vtz. Fort 
 Royal, St. Pierre, and La Trinite) Guardeloupe (including the com- 
 mandaries of the Grand Terre, and of the Les Saints) Marigalante, 
 Grenades (including the commandaries of the Grenadillas) upon the 
 death of the governor-general, or in his abfence, the governor of the 
 Grenades commands in chief; as happened anno 1717, when Les 
 Habitants~or planters, by an infurreftion feized their governor-general 
 Le Marquis de Varennes, and the intendant, and lent them home pri- 
 soners, with a procefs againft them. In the French Caribbee-iflands, 
 in time of peace, are kept three companies of Swifs, of too men per 
 company, ten companies of French independant marines, not exceed- 
 ing fifty men each. The prefent governor- general is who lately 
 
 fuperfeded Le Marquis de Champigny; the intendant is De la Croix. 
 St. Bartholomew is a neutral ifland; the property and jurifdi&ion df it 
 has not been fettled by any treaty ; it is frequented by fome French 
 marooners. Fort-Royal in Martinique (from P. Feuiile) N. lat. 14. 
 D. 43 M. W. from Paris 63 D. 22 M. anno 17O4, variation 6 D, 
 10 M. E. increaflng about a degree in ten years ; a pendulum that 
 vibrates feconds in Martinique, is in length three feet, fix and half 
 lines, French meafure. N. B. Such pendulums increafe in length in 
 fome proportion or regularity from the equator to the poles, but 
 hitherto have not been reduced to a table ; at Paris its length, as ob- 
 ferved by the Academy Royal of Sciences, is three feet, eight and 
 half lines. * 
 
 Vot. I. H Caribbee- 
 
9$ Britifh and French Settlements PartI. 
 
 Caribbee-i (lands, or Les tiles au Vent ; his refidence is at 
 the iiland Martinique. 4. The governor-general of St. 
 Domingue [tf] (Hifpaniola is fo called by the French) 
 or Les Iiles ious le Vent j his refidence is at Leogane-, 
 the middlemoft of their fettlements in N. Lat. 18 D. 
 40 M. 
 
 In the dominions of Canada, Quebec is the metro- 
 polis and place of greateft ftrength[jy] ; when this is re- 
 
 (V] Upon the weft part of the ifland Hifpaniola the French are be- 
 come more numerous, and have much more conftderable fettlemeDts 
 than the Spaniards upon its eaft part ; they have about eight (hipping 
 or delivery ports, each with a military commanding officer, whereof 
 fome are called governors, others only lieut. du Roy, fome go by the 
 name of commandants, all under the governor-general who refides at 
 Leogane. Cape St. Nicholas of St. Domingue, and Cape Mayeze 
 of Cuba, diftance twelves leagues make the windward paffage. 
 Neareft to the Spaniard on the north fide is their fettlement of Ville 
 du Cape, N. lat. 19 D. 48 M. W. from Paris 73 D. 35 M. we call 
 it Cape Francois ; it is their principal fettlement, and fends off more 
 produce of fugars, &V. than all the other French fettlements there, and 
 has a refident governor : on the fouth fide next to the Spaniffi fettle- 
 ments is Fort Louis, N. lat. 18 D. 18 M. in the bay of L ! I(le des 
 Vaches. Here lay, anno 1741, the famous French fquadron under the 
 Marquis d’Antin, defigned either to convoy the Spaniffi Plate- fleet to 
 Europe, or to hinder the junction of Vernon and Ogle, or to invade 
 Jamaica upon admiral Vernon’s proceeding againft Carthagena: al- 
 though they efcaped an engagement with our fleet (reafons of (late are 
 above my reach) in the utmoft diftrefs for want of provifion, with the 
 death of many men and lofs of fome (hips, they returned to France, 
 having effected nothing ; and d’Antin foon after died, fome fay killed 
 in a duel by Marquis de Rocheville, a commodore under him in this 
 expedition. The intermediate fettlements are Port Paix, Leo* 
 gane, Grande Gouave, Petite Gouave, iffc. they have feveral inde- 
 pendant marine companies, but depend much upon their militia. The 
 prefent governor-general is M. de Larnage, the intendant is M. Mail- 
 lot. Some of our northern colonies at all times carry on a clandelline 
 trade with them lately ; though in time of war a neighbouring colony 
 has been dete&ed in carrying fupplies thither, and re:urns from thence 
 in molafTes and indigo, under the blind of flags of truce. 
 
 [j] The reduction of Canada might have been effedled without the 
 lead rifk of mifearriage, and the pofleffion maintained (not by putting 
 the French inhabitants to the fword, as was the Spaniffi principle in 
 their Indian conquefts) by tranfporting the French fettlers to France, 
 partly’ at their own charge where able, partly at our charge where 
 
 duced, 
 
$ \ 
 
 pi 
 
 ik\t 
 
 «.Ui 
 
 ■ist 21 
 tatfc 
 
 bcFns: 
 
 en&fc 
 
 *# 
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 ah* 
 
 xlt 
 
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 idk 
 
 mi 
 
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 di 
 
 fait 
 
 bA 
 
 iris 
 
 sis 
 
 BIS 
 
 fijsC 
 
 5JP 
 
 Sect. II. in North-Americ a. 99 
 
 duced, all their New-France falls inftantly. Our pre- 
 tenfions to Canada fhall be enumerated in the fe&ion of 
 Nova Scotia. Quebec (from De Hayes) is in Lat. 46 
 
 D. 55 M. W. from Paris 72 D. 30 M. that is, from 
 London 70 D. 30 M. Bofton (from T. Robie) is in 
 N. Lat. 42 D. 25 M. weft from London 71 D. 30 M. 
 therefore Quebec is 4 D. 30 M. north, and 1 D. 30 M. 
 
 E. ot Bofton ; that is, in geographical miles 270 north, 
 and fixty-eight miles (reckoning forty-five miles to a 
 degree of longitude in thefe parallels) eaft from Bofton. 
 
 Champlain was their firft governor ; he gave name to 
 the lake Champlain (the Dutch call it Corkers lake) the 
 
 poor ; and cantoning a great part of the country in property to the 
 foldiers who loved in the redudion. The Britifh freedom of the 
 prefs allows of furmifes, where nothing is pofitively aliened. Per- 
 haps our miniftry may judge, that no peace could be made with 
 France, unlefs France were fo reduced as to accept the law, in making 
 of peace at any rate; this might require many years expenfivewar 5 
 or without delivering up Louilbourg : The Britilh people would never 
 be reconciled to this, and might occafion a diflike to the minflers in ad- 
 min ' ftr L a 1 t '° n >, and perhaps a difaffedion to the prefent civil government 
 oreftablifhed lucceffion. This probably may be the reafon with our 
 mtnmers, that the fleet and land forces, apparently deligned to obferve 
 duke d Anvillcs fquadron with land forces on board for rerovering 
 ot Louilbourg, did not proceed to prevent Loui/bourg’s falling again 
 into the breach pofleflion ; that they might obviate a popular puzzle 
 m making of peace. Thus our fleet and land forces aboard, appa- 
 rently deligned agamft Canada, were, by way of blind, fent upon that 
 romantic defeent on Britany in France. It ha< been thought that our 
 redudion of Louifliourg, the key of the North America Cod-Fishery 
 and Fur- Trade, was not fo agreeable to our miniftry, as to the po- 
 pulace of Great- Britain ; a real war between people of the different 
 rations, but only a coiluftve war between their minillers. But pro- 
 vidence, or, as fome exprefs it, a concurrence of many extraordinary 
 chances or incidents, in our miraculous redudion of Louilbourg and 
 a tram of difafters attending the French fleet and land troops defigned 
 for its recovery, feem to encourage that fondnefs which the Britilh peo- 
 ple have for keeping of Louilbourg. This year, anno . 747, notwith- 
 
 h p n i ng r^r Am n enCan tr °° ps arC kept 0n foot > b y the diredion of 
 the court of Great. Britain, at a great charge, defigned for theredudion 
 
 of Canada the land forces dertined from home for this expedition 
 are diverted from a Canada expedition this feafon, and fent to Flan- 
 
 of “ • " d “ ke * -v 
 
 ^ 2 pafikge 
 
ioo Britifh and French Settlements PartI, 
 
 pafiage from Albany, or New- York government, to 
 Montreal, or the weft parts of Canada-, it is 150 miles 
 long, and thirty miles wide. M. Frontenac, who iuc- 
 ceeded anno 1672, gave name to the fort at the dif- 
 charge of lake Ontario, being the fource of the Catara- 
 qui branch of the river St. Laurence. Le Marquis a'e 
 Nonville fucceeded to the government anno 1685, and 
 gave name to the fort near Niagara falls, between the 
 lakes Ontario and Erie; anno 1687, with 1500 French 
 and Indians, he invaded the Senekas country : the year 
 following, anno 1688, in revenge the Five Nations, with 
 about 1200 Indians, invaded the ifland of Montreal 
 (the governor general and wife being then in the town 
 of Montreal) ravaged the country, killed about 1000 
 perfons, and carried off a few captives. To return this 
 in fome meafure, in the beginning of king William’s 
 reign, the French and their Indians, to the number of 
 about 300 men, in the night-time furprized Schene&aday 
 in New-York government, and murdered fixty-three 
 people. In the beginning of queen Anne’s war, the 
 colonies of Canada and New-York agreed for a neutra- 
 lity between their refpedtive Indians during the war-, and 
 an advantageous Dutch trade all that time was carried on 
 from Albany to Montreal by means of the Indians. 
 
 The commanders in chief formerly were called admi- 
 rals of New-France, afterwards vice-roys, at prefent go- 
 vernors and lieutenant-generals. Anno 1665, M. de 
 Traci, vice-roy of French America, brought to Canada 
 four independant companies of regular troops; and in 
 September the fame year, M. Courfal governor-general 
 of Canada, arrived with a regiment of foldiers, and fome 
 families, for l'ettlers : at prefent their regular troops con- 
 lift of about twenty-eight independant marine companies 
 very incomplete ; a parcel of racaille or goal-birds from 
 France, not to be depended upon. Anno 1714, father 
 Charlevoix writes, that Vaudrueil, governor -general of 
 Canada, at that time, acquainted M. Ponchartrain mini- 
 fter in France, viz. Canada has actually in it but 4480 
 
 fencible 
 
lot 
 
 trntj. 
 
 s '?i 
 
 <■4 
 
 ttitD 
 
 'k 
 
 mi; 
 
 bt 
 
 150*1 
 
 iy:s 
 
 ^atw 
 
 <n 
 
 line 
 
 life 
 
 on 
 
 DjI 
 
 :e 
 
 i: 
 
 ifc 
 
 «’s« 
 
 lev: 
 
 m 
 
 life 
 
 cals: 
 
 ::r 
 
 |i 
 
 tut 
 
 Wil 
 
 I 
 
 SXf 
 
 \* 
 
 W? 
 
 fli 
 
 lip 
 
 f 
 
 i# : 
 
 Is 
 
 i 1 
 
 Sect.IL in North-America. 
 fencible men ; the twenty-eight companies of the king’s 
 regular troops amount only to 628 men (like our late 
 Nova Scotia companies) and difperfed in the extent of 
 100 leagues. Their p re lent governor-general is Le 
 Marquis de Beauharnoes (fome returned prifoners fay he 
 is latel-y dead) the intendant is M. Champarni. 
 
 The French Canada Indians. On our lide, which is the 
 fouth fide of the river St. Laurence, they are tribes of 
 the New-England nation of Abnaqui Indians, viz. De 
 Lorette, a very fmall tribe a little below Quebec ; Wa- 
 nonoak on the river Belancourt or Puante, over-againft 
 Les Trois Rivieres, not exceeding forty fighting men ; 
 about ten leagues higher is the tribe of Aroufiguntecook 
 on the river St. Francois, about x 60 fighting men ; cn the 
 cad fide of lake Champlain, is the tribe of Mefiafiuck, 
 fixty fighting men-, a little above Montreal are the 
 Kahnuagas, about eighty men, being a parcel of idle Ave 
 Maria praying Indians, runaways from the New-York 
 Mohawks and river Indians. Their Indians on the north 
 fide of St. Laurence river, are Les Efkimaux, or Barbares 
 of Terra de Labradore ; they eat their fielb and fifli raw, 
 and go naked, or covered with feals and other fkins ; they 
 are in finall clans, very idle, and of no great benefit to 
 trade; are much dilperled ; Papinchos near the mouth of 
 the river St. Laurence; Algonquins, about 1500 men 
 about Quebec, in fall friendlkip with the French; 
 Outawawaas a very large nation, extending back of the 
 other N. W. to near the bottom of Hudfon’s-Bay ; S. W. 
 are Les Renards ; farther fouth we mull leave the Indians 
 for future difeoveries. The general farms out the Indian 
 trade to private companies or partnerfiiips of Indian 
 traders in certain diftridts. 
 
 2. Mifiiffippi, or Louifiana. It was firfl dilcovcred by 
 Joliet a Frenchman, anno 1673. De la Salle, comman- 
 dant of fort Frontenac, travelled the wildemels with 
 much fatigue, equal to the greateft of penances, anno 
 *679,1680, 1681, 1682, and 1683. He went by the way 
 
 H 3 of 
 
102 Briti/h and French Settlements P art I. 
 
 of lakes Erie and Ontario (in their communication he 
 built a fort called La Trouette) to Miffiffipi. Anno 
 1 6 84, he obtained of the court of France four veflels with 
 
 2 °° ?n dierS a ^ oar< ^’ an ^ failed from Rochelle to difeover 
 and fall in with the mouth of the river Miffiffipi •, it lies 
 about the middle of the north Ihore of the bav of 
 Mexico ; he expected to find it in the wefternmoft parts 
 of this north fhore, according as it was laid down in the 
 
 f"^ e ° K US k ' a ‘ C p arts 0| . tha t time, and accordingly landed 
 in the bay St. Bernard, which he called bay St/ Louis- 
 here he built fort St. Louis but foon negleded; it is 
 nearly in the fame meridian with St. Cruz 97 D. ™ M. 
 t . from London: the French mapsextendthc Louifiana 
 farther fouth to Rio Bravo in 25 D. N. lat. From bay 
 
 c travelled b y land a nd difeovered the mouth 
 
 f/Jr M^ppi 1685 ; in his return for Canada, anno 
 J686, he was killed by a mutiny of his men. 
 
 Thefource of the Miffiffipi i s near Hudfon’s-Bay, weft 
 of the great lakes; the French have travelled tip this 
 river in canoes to 45 D. N. lat. 
 
 in? ,ie eftabll, hment of the colony was by captain 
 q 1 je ’ anno 1 698 ; and although a natural and true 
 the f f ench fettlements were connived 
 at by i hilip \ , king of Spain, grandfon to Louis XIV 
 of France. Anno 1 7 1 2, M. Crozat, fecretary of finances 
 01 treafury, obtained from the king of France the foie 
 prn 1 Lge of trading to and from the Miffiffippi for fifteen 
 years ; this turning to no account, he relinquiflied it to 
 the regent of France, and by the projedion of M. Law, 
 it was converted into the memorable' bubble of theMif- 
 iiffippi-company (anyone of the way, not eafily to be 
 invefti gated fcheme of colony and profitable trade would 
 have anfwered ;) which Miffiffippi /ham company firft 
 began to be hatched anno 1717. 
 
 This Miffiffippi colony extends from bay St. Louis to 
 en aco a, in a lea-line of near 200 leagues, but all along 
 tit a,.^i is fo ffioal, it is of no uie in trade, excepting 
 ic moui 1 of the Miffiffippi, and there the country is un- 
 
 healthful 
 
Sect. II. in North-Americ a. i0 3 
 
 healthful from the inundations or floods at certain feafons 
 by the difiolving of the northward fnow •, they have a 
 fmall fur-trade, and begin to plant indigo ; the bay ot 
 Movile, or L’lfle Dauphine, admits only of veflels ot 
 fmall draught. 
 
 From bay St. Louis or Bernard to Orleans upon the 
 Mifliflippi, the refidence of the governor-general, are 
 about 140 leagues; thence to L’lfle Dauphine, where 4 
 fub-governor refides, are forty leagues ; thence to Penfa- 
 cola, a Spamfhfettlement, are fifteen leagues ; from L’lfle 
 Dauphine, in N. lat. 30 M. 30 D. W. long, from Pans 
 92 D. or 89 D. 30 M. weft from London, are 7. 
 30 M. long, eaftto Cape blorida. 
 
 [2] III. Portugueze difcoveries and Settlements. 
 
 BRAZIL is a narrow flip, its fea-line extends from 
 the river Amazons under the equinoctial, to Rio de la 
 Plata. By the treaty of Baden, anno 1714, Spain refigns 
 to Portugal, in full property and jurifdiftion, the territory 
 and colony of the Sacrament on the north branch of Rio 
 de la Plata; Portugal not to allow of any traders to 
 Brazil, but the European Portugueze. The Portugueze 
 have a fort on the north fide of the entrance of La Plata 
 
 in S. lat. 34 D. . 
 
 Brazil was a Portugueze accidental difcovery ; in fail- 
 ing for their fettlements and factories in the Eaft-Indies, 
 anno 1500, a Brazil fleet, by the eafterly trade-winds, was 
 drove upon the coaft of Brazil. They made no fettle- 
 ment of confequence until anno 1549’ king J 0 ^ n f ent 
 over fettlers and foldiers. 
 
 It is divided into fourteen captain-lhips, whereof eight 
 belong to the king, and fix to private proprietors ; all 
 
 [*] As a few additional pages may conduce towards a full and 
 diftjnft, but contracted, view of all the American colonies from the 
 feveral European nations, we difpenle a little with our limits iiril pro- 
 
 pofed. 
 
 H 4 
 
 under 
 
104 Britifh and French Settlements P art j 
 
 under one vice-roy, who refides at Bahia, or theBay of all 
 Saints, in S. lat. 1 2 D. 45 M. y 
 
 ThePortugueze, upon their firft arrival in Brazil cru 
 elly murdered the Indians in the fame manner as the Spa 
 mards had done in Mexico and Peru ; doubtlefs, the do 
 J itical reafon was, their being too numerous to be kent 
 under a continued fubjeftion but their religious evafion 
 was, dominion is founded upon grace, therefore none 
 have any right to life or land but the true Roman Ca- 
 t holies, 'Tantum potuit fuadere malorum Relligio . 
 
 Portugal, confequently Brazil, was in the Spanifh iu- 
 rifchCbon from anno 1580 to 1640. Philip II 0 f Spain 
 claimed, as he was the ion of the eldeft daughter of kine 
 Pm an u el of Portugal ; whereas the duchefs of Braganza 
 was a daughter of the fon of king Emanuel, a better ti- 
 e. I he Dutch revolted from and at war with Spain, be- 
 come mailers of the northern parts of the Brazils for fome 
 years j upon the revolution of Portugal, in favour of the 
 Jioufe of Braganza, anno 1640, the Dutch gradually loft 
 ground ; the Dutch chufing rather to out the Portu- 
 gueze front the Spice-iflands, than divert their force to 
 veep poffeflion of Brazil. By Cromwell’s war with 
 the Dutch, anno 1642 May, to anno 1644 April, they 
 could not afford fufficient protection to their conquefts 
 there (anno 1 641, the Dutch made a truce with the Por- 
 tugueze, utt pojjidetis , for ten years) and from the above 
 confiderations and their fmall country not affording 
 ipare people fufficient to fettle there, the Dutch made a 
 total furrender by a treaty anno 1661. 
 
 Their rich mines diverted them from their former 
 gar bufinefs, and the other European colonies have got 
 
 fnm/' I he n yea , rIy ,' mport of S° ld t0 Portugal, for 
 ft me years pail, has been about three millions fterlin°- 
 per annum. ° 
 
 Anno 1 / 1 1, the French took Rio de Janeiro, and 
 brought it to contribution ; it is from thence that moft 
 ot their gold is fhipped. The Brazil fleet for that port, 
 in . at. 23 D. lets out in January j for Bahia, in near 
 
 1 3 & 
 
Sect. II. /« North-America. 105 
 
 13 D. S. Lat. theyfet out in February ; for Fernambuca, 
 in 8 D. S. Lat. fet out in March ; and upon their re- 
 turn leave thefe parts in May and June. Moft of the 
 Brazil harbours are a dangerous navigation, becaufe of 
 funken rocks at a fmall depth. 
 
 I'he moft valuable imports to Portugal from the Brazils 
 are gold (generally coined there at Bahia marked B. and 
 Rio de Janeiro marked R.) found in feparate grains or 
 fmall pieces, or intermixed with fpar, but not extracted 
 or l'eparated from filver and other metals as in Mexico j 
 and of late diamonds, generally [#] fmall and of a bad 
 water. 
 
 IV. Butch difccveries and fettlements. 
 
 THE Dutch Weft-India company is of little or no 
 confideration •, the price of their actions (or ftock as it is 
 called in London) thirty to thirty-five i whereas the 
 Dutch Eaft- India company actions at prefent are about 
 35 ° [PI' Eor many years their whole bufinefs was de- 
 
 [V] We have lately in the news-papers from Europe, a romantic 
 account of a huge diamond fent home from the Brazils to the king of 
 Portugal of 1680 carats (a carat is four grains) the news-writers, to 
 heighten the romance, put it at 224 millions fterling value; whereas 
 even according to the ancient high valuation of diamonds (formerly 
 a diamond of one carat, of a good water and well polifhed, was va- 
 lued at 10/. fterling, or no Dutch florins, the value of thofe more 
 weighty was the fquare of carats multiplied into the value of one carat ; 
 diamonds moft in demand are from one grain and a half to fix grains) 
 if cut and polifhed of the beft water would not exceed twenty-eight 
 millions fterling, and if only brute or not cut, not above half that 
 value ; and if we fuppofe it of a bad water, as are moft of the Brazil 
 diamonds, perhaps not much better than fome curious well cut and 
 polifhed pebbles, this will reduce the value very much. Formerly 
 the largeft diamonds known were, 1. That of the Great Mogul (for- 
 merly all diamonds of any value came from the Mogul’s dominions) 
 of 279 carats. 2. That of the Grand Duke of Tufcany of 139 carats, 
 but inclining to a citron colour 3. Governor Pitt’s diamond fold to 
 the crown of France for two millions of livres, or 1 35,000 /. fterling, 
 it was of 1 27 carats. 
 
 [b] in Amsterdam Bank, there is no fale of a&ions or ftock, it 
 is not properly a company. It was eftablifhed, anno 1609, by a pla- 
 
 predations 
 
io6 Britifh and French Settlements PartI, 
 
 predations or piracies upon the Spaniards and Portu- 
 gueze, in which they were very fuccefsful ; firft they took 
 a Brazil fleet in Bahia, or the bay of All-Saints •, next they 
 took two fhips of the Spanifh plate-fleet near Cuba ; fome 
 time after they took a Spanifti plate-fleet worth twelve 
 millions of florins. At prefent the interlopers run away 
 with the company’s trade and profits. 
 
 After anno 1621, upon the expiration of the Dutch 
 twelve years truce with Spain, they difturbed the Brazil 
 fettlements (the Portugueze dominions.were at that time 
 under t^e Span i fli juriitlifr ion) and were troublelome in 
 Chili ; they got fome footing in Guiana, and retained a 
 confiderable footing in the north parts of Brazil for fome 
 years. 
 
 The Dutch fettlements in America are not confidera- 
 ble, viz. 
 
 1. Amongft the Caribbee iflands, the fmall ifland of 
 Statia or St. Euftace, a few leagues weft from St. Kits; 
 here is a Dutch Weft-India company-governor; not- 
 
 cart, or aft of the vroedfchap or town-council ; the (late of Amfter- 
 dam oblige themfclves to make good all monies lodged in this bank. 
 They retain the fame intrinfic value of denominations, as they were at 
 the time of the ereftion of this bank ; thus for inflance, a ducatoon at 
 that time was three guilders, and fo continues to be received and paid 
 away there ; whereas in the common currency of Holland, it is 
 reckoned (ixty-three (livers, and the par of the agio is five per cent. 
 N. B. Here is a method to prevent depreciation, and qualifies this 
 bank for that univerfal credit, which it has obtained in all foreign 
 trade; notwith (landing, we may obferve that the bed conftitutions, 
 upon earth are (hocked by very extraordinary events; for anno 1672, 
 upon that fudden rapid invafion of the feven united provinces by 
 France, the transfers in this bank were fold at ten per cent, difeount, 
 for current money, which with the addition of the agio is in effect 
 fifteen per cent. This bank is the merchant’s cafliier, and he negotiates 
 his affairs by transfers in his folio ; a bank transfer is a legal tender; 
 when the bank pays out fpecic, which feldom happens, they retain one 
 eighth percent, for keeping, felling, &c. Merchants of great deal- 
 in,>s, for ten ducatoons per annum, have the (late of their account fent 
 to their lodgings every morning ; the charge of transferring a fum ex- 
 ceeding^ 300 guilders cofts only one (liver or penny. There was a 
 bank diaolifhed at Rotterdam anno 1636 ; it is of no note. 
 
 withftanding 
 
Sect. II. North-America. 107 
 
 withftanding the Dutch interlopers carry on here a con- 
 fiderable trade with the French and Bridfh people of the 
 Caribbee iflands ; in this port the Britifh and French 
 Americans carry on a considerable intercourfe of trade ; 
 and from St. Kits much fugar and molafles are brought 
 clandeftinely to fave the four and an half per cent, and the 
 plantation-duty, and plantation-bonds. This ifland is 
 not capable of making above 100,000 lb. wt. of fugar 
 per annum. The governor of Statia fends a commandant 
 to the fmall ifland of Sabia, which raifes only fome ftock 
 or market provifions ; he has alfo a commandant in St. 
 Martin’s ifland ; this feems to be a neutral ifland at pre- 
 fent a few Dutch and fome French live there, but of no 
 confideration. 
 
 2. Amongft the lefler Antilles (Cuba, Jamaica, Hifpa- 
 niola, and Porto-Rico are called the greater Antilles) 
 upon the coafl of Curaccoes, or windward coaft of the 
 Spanifh main, their principal fettlement is the fmall ifland 
 of Curafo, lies about eight leagues from the Terra Firma, 
 in 12 D. N. Lat. The Dutch took it from the Spa- 
 niards anno 1634 ; their chief bufinefs is an interloping 
 fmuggling trade with the windward coaft of the Spanifh 
 main. Adjoining to it are the Dutch fmall iflands of 
 Aruba eaftward, and weftward are Bonaire, Aves, Roca, 
 and Orcilla, of no confideration. 
 
 3. Guiana-, their chief fettlement is Surinam. It was 
 taken by the Dutch from the Englifh in the beginning of 
 king Charles the fecond’s reign, and confirmed to them 
 by the treaty of Breda anno 1667, in exchange for New- 
 York confirmed to the Englifh. Here are three pro- 
 prietors concerned, viz. The Dutch Weft-India com- 
 pany, the town of Amfterdam, and admiral Somelfdike’s 
 heirs. It is garrifoned by a detachment of one man out 
 of each Dutch foot company of regular troops. It is a 
 fugar colony ; they keep their books in light pieces of 
 eight, royals, and ftivers ; fix ftivers make a royal ; eight 
 royals make a piece of eight. Their currency twenty 
 percent, worfe than the currency in Holland ; a I Iolland’s 
 
 guilder 
 
108 Britilh and French Settlements Part! 
 
 guilder pafles for twenty-four ftivers ; their large cur- 
 rency is transferring bills of exchange upon Amfterdam 
 at the difference of twenty per cent . a heavy piece of 
 eight pafles for three guilders. 
 
 New-England has a conflderable trade with Surinam 
 for molafles. Surinam government, by proclamation 
 Jan. 2 7, 1705, N. S. allow the importation of [c] hories 
 and neat cattle from our colonies, at an import of feven 
 guilders per head, with tonnage of feven guilders per Jail: 
 of two ton lhipping • there is alfo a duty of five per 
 cent, out (fix per cent, inward) upon two third value of 
 goods. 
 
 Weft or to the leeward of Surinam is Barbice, a new 
 fettlement, belonging to a feparate company, in a very 
 thriving way ; fhares are fold at a very great advance. 
 
 Weft of Barbice is another Dutch fettlement Elquibe 
 (the Englilh feamen, much guilty of corrupting foreign 
 words, call it lie a Cape) this furnifhes good mill timber 
 for all the Weft-India fugar fettlements, and produces 
 quantities of Baliam Capivi, the belt of all the medicinal 
 natural balfams. 
 
 Cayenne, a fmall French fettlement in Guiana, eaft, 
 that is to windward of Surinam ; it lies in N. Lat. 4 D. 
 55 M. it is a fugar colony. New-England fends two or 
 three floops to Cayenne yearly for molafles. 
 
 St. Thomas [d'\, one of the Virgin-iflands, is compre- 
 hended in the commifilon of the governor-general of 
 our leeward iflands ; at prcfent it is in pofleflion of a 
 Daniih company ; feldom any company’s ihips to be feen 
 there. The king of Denmark has a negative in all their 
 proceedings ; they may raife about 2,500,000 lb. weight 
 of fugar per annum ; they raife fome cotton ; here is a 
 
 M In New-England there is a breed of fmall mean horfes called 
 Jades or Surinamers; thefe run and feed in the wade lands at little or 
 no charge, and are fhipped off to Surinam for the ufe of their mills, 
 C3Y. in the fugar plantations. 
 
 W.We annex the following lhort paragraphs to render our enu- 
 meration of the American fettlements from Europe complete. 
 
 Brande- 
 
I I 
 
 , Sect. II. in North-America. 109 
 
 jj/' Brandebourg or Pruflian fattory. All their ordinances 
 and public writings are in Hollands or low Dutch, which 
 is the mother • tongue of the ifland. Their currency is as 
 tjjj. in Surinam. It is a fort of neutral port, but under good 
 
 ft “S lies in . . D. 30 M. N. lat. 59 D. W. from 
 London, about forty leagues fouth from Barbadoes, near 
 f l the Spanifli ifland Trinadad, which lies near the mouth 
 T of the river Oranoke. King.Charles II made a grant of 
 l 1 ' it to the duke of Courland, to be fettled only by the fub- 
 te ‘ jeds of England and Courland. The duke of Courland 
 made feveral grants in it to Englifhmen, but it continues 
 ® not fettled. 
 
 »I:i St. Crux. The Englifh, French, and Damih have at 
 ^ times claimed it ; it continues a neutral ifland, lies iouth 
 Mi from the Virgin-iflands. 
 
 pig: 
 
 V. Britifh firft American dif cover ies, and Weft-India 
 “P ijland fettlemenls. 
 
 )E 
 
 :i i 
 fe 
 
 ,BS 
 
 f 
 
 ! 5 t 
 
 ir- 
 
 is 
 
 't 
 
 Or- 
 
 be'- 
 
 HI 
 
 u 
 
 I COME to a clofe of the introductory account of Ame- 
 rican affairs in general, which has infenfibly fwelled in the 
 handling, much beyond my firft plan ; I hope it is not 
 tedious to the curious and intelligent reader. We now 
 enter upon the principally intended fubjeft, the Britifh 
 fettlements in America. An author, without oftentation 
 defigning a common good, may endeavour to conciliate 
 attention 0 and faith in his readers As no man is bom 
 with the inftinct or innate knowledge of his native or 
 mother country, and does not generally enter upon fuch 
 refearches until 25 JEt. the air of the foil and juvenile 
 converfation do not much contribute towards this . 
 therefore a perfon not a native, but not a foreigner, 
 who comes into any country at that age, and enters upon 
 and profecutes fuch inveftigations from perfonal obferva- 
 tions, and credible correlpondencies for a courfe of thirty 
 years, may write, as if bo: n in the country. I hope 
 critics, natives of any of theie our colonies, will not 
 
 reckon 
 
Ho Britifli and French Settlements Part! 
 
 reckon it a prefumption in me to allay the following ac . 
 counts; especially as at prefent, no native appears to un 
 dertake this laborious, but ufefdl, performance- I ac * 
 knowledge it to be a performance not of genius, but 0 f 
 labour and method to render it diftindl and clear. 
 i p e Ammcan colon,e s cannot be claimed by the feve- 
 
 1 Vr P r nat,ons from preoccupancy (they were not 
 derel.as, but in polTeffion of the aboriginal Indians no 
 
 dLm h a erit n-T e ’w ° r by What the kw ° f nature and nations 
 deem a julhfiable conqueft ; therefore the adventuring 
 
 dluhr e fubieT rS ’ COUk , 1 c nly giVC t0 f ° me of their I»r- 
 TurrhJ } f S at | eXdufive S rant of negotiating and 
 
 ans and nS th 1 6 natural P ro P rietors nativekidi- 
 ’ and ^hereupon a power of jurifdiftion. 
 
 niid° imer y P 1IOr,ty ° f difc overy, even without a conth 
 m ed occupancy or pofleffion, was deemed a good claim • 
 T us we originate our claims in North- America from ^ 
 Cabots eoaftmg from Prima Villa in 66 D. to 34 D N 
 Jat although for near a century following, we made no 
 
 dements them and did not fo much a^avi^ t 
 
 faks of hif 6 Henry VHI Was a vicious prince? the 7 
 him U * T S ’ and P^Plexities witli the church, gave 
 mL J e , m P loyment > Ed ward VI was a minor; queen 
 
 her iole Itten? W ° man and bigotted Roman Catholic, 
 t0 rc - efta blilh popery, at that tim^ 
 
 furious° 7 e -In Paflll0n ’ In a moft in human, execrable, 
 encourair f manner i g°od queen Elizabeth, a great 
 
 but hadfhe d tl- tr n f vi 8 ation ^ fome refpefts, 
 
 of the- Dm I * taflin . S , 0t the Spaniards, and protection 
 difcov/ri ’ TT } n her in tcntions, than the making of 
 of lands if d letdeme J nCS in America. Royal grants 
 other , ° CCl,p,ed ’ and in P rocefs of time if an- 
 
 o-r inr he Wldl occu P anc y) is made to others, the firft 
 The NaraTf V ° ThuS duke Hamilton’s grant in 
 HanmS f °' Jntty i Mr * Mafon ’ s g™t of New- 
 
 Newfc/ f nd many S rants in the N. E. parts of 
 ->cw JingJand are Decome void. ^ 
 
 The 
 
til 
 
 H 
 
 f4; 
 
 pii^l 
 
 id® 
 
 4* 
 
 (OBI; 
 
 life;! 
 
 Hljj, 
 
 tik 
 
 & 
 
 lent; 
 
 D, 
 
 k: 
 
 ¥ 
 
 m: 
 
 Jj* 
 
 *3 
 
 iki 
 
 ck 
 
 M;| 
 
 fiat 
 
 ,i:r 
 
 sb 
 
 KE 
 
 Ip 
 
 :E 
 
 f'? 
 
 nti 
 
 F 
 
 Sect. II. /» North-America, 
 
 The Cabots of Venetian extract, anno 1495, obtained 
 from king Henry VII a patent for the property of all lands 
 they Ihould difcover weftward of Europe one fifth ot 
 the clear profit is referved to the king. Henry VII was 
 a lover and hoarder up of money. They fitted out 
 from Briftol anno 1496 ; proceeded along the north fhore 
 of America till obitrufted by the ice-, then they turned 
 their courfe fouthward and at length their provifions 
 proving fcanty, they were obliged to put oft for England. 
 Thus the Cabots in the name of, and by commillions 
 from, the crown of England, began to range the continent 
 , of North- America, before Columbus from the crown of 
 Spain difcovered any part of the continent of America; 
 from 1492 to 1498, Columbus difcovered only the iflands 
 in the gulph of Mexico. The Cabots were good in- 
 duftrious navigators, they were the firft: who weathered 
 the north Cape of Europe. 
 
 The next patent for difcoveries and fettlements in 
 America was March 25, 1 584, to [ e\ Sir Walter Raleigh 
 and aflociates, for difcovering and planting lands in 
 North-America, not aftually pofiefled by any Chriftian 
 prince : that fame year two fmall vefiels were fent via 
 Canaries and the Caribbee-iflands (this, in thefe days was 
 reckoned the only route of navigation for any part of 
 America) to trade upon that cpaft upon their return, 
 in honour to the virgin queen Elizabeth, it was called 
 Virginia, reaching lb far north as the gulph of St. Lau- 
 
 [e] Sir Walter Raleigh, of a good but reduced family in Devon- 
 (hire, was handfome, robuft, and eloquent, had a liberal education, and 
 was brought up at the inns of court ; he was much in favour with 
 queen Elizabeth, and difcovered Guiana anno 1 <59^. He was in the 
 plot againft king James I, with lord Cobham, Grey, 6V. convitted and 
 condemned for high treafon ; he was thirteen years in prifon, and 
 wrote the hiftory of the world ; he projected a fcheme to liberare him- 
 felf, by propofing to the court thedifcovery of a gold mine in Guiana 
 (he was naturally a mighty hunter alter mines of minerals, metals, and 
 precious (tones) was fitted out, proceeded, and returned empty ; being 
 unfuccefsful, and by the refentment of Gundamore the Spanifh ani~ 
 baffador at the court of England, his former fentence was averred, and 
 he was beheaded. 
 
 rence. 
 
1 12 Britifh and French Settlements PartI 
 
 rence. Anno 1585, Sir Walter fent Sir Richard Gren- 
 ville, with feveral veffels and 108 people, to begin a plan- 
 tation; they landed upon the ifland Roanoke near the 
 mouth of Albemarle river in North- Carolina. Sir 
 Francis Drake, from the Spanifh Weft-Indies, by way of 
 the gulph of Florida ftream, touched in Roanoke anno 
 1586; thefe people fettlers difiatisfied, moft of them 
 returned with him to England. Anno 1587 and icSq 
 Mr. White, with the character of governor, brought 
 over fome people to Cape Hatteras, but effected no fettle- 
 men t. 
 
 No further attempt worth mentioning was made un- 
 til anno 1 606, Sir Walter Raleigh, by his attainder, hav- 
 ing forfeited his patent, feveral adventurers petitioned the 
 king 1 or grants, and a grant was made to two companies, 
 in one charter, viz. to the London adventurers from 34 
 D. to 41 D. N. lat. the other company was the Briftol, 
 Exeter, Plymouth, &V. adventurers, from 38 D. to 45 d! 
 N. lat. 1 hus perhaps the uncommon and conletjiient- 
 ly neglefted part from Cape Charles to Connecticut mi^ht 
 fall into the Dutch hands. In the firft company of ad- 
 venturers feveral noblemen and gentlemen obtained a 
 patent with power of government for a certain diftrift, 
 the jurifdiftion to be in a prelident and ftanding council ; 
 they fitted out Capt. Newport, with three fhips and 100 
 fettlers ; they failed into Chefepeak-Bay, and fifty miles 
 up James river, and began afettlement called James-town. 
 Here properly begins the firft planting of our eldeft co- 
 lony \ irginia; the further narrative of this colony be- 
 longs to the feftion of Virginia. 
 
 I he other company in the fame charter of anno 1606, 
 called the company of Plymouth, or Weft-country ad- 
 venturers, viz. Sir John Pcpham chief-juftice, Sir Fer- 
 dinand Gorge governor of Plymouth, &?*. began their 
 adventures in trade and fettlements at Sagadahoc in New- 
 England, about the fame time. 
 
 1 heir firft adventure was taken by the Spaniard : 
 anno 1608, they fitted out captains Popham and Gilbert 
 
 with 
 
^ Sect. If. in North-America. 113 
 
 ( l with people or fettlers, and ftores, and built a fort, St. 
 
 ^ George, near Sagadahock ; it came to nothing. Anno 
 1614, Capt. Smith, fome time prefident of Virginia, 
 called the traveller, a good folid judicious writer in 
 I.. general, fitted out two fliips and made a good voyage in 
 trade ; upon his return to England, he prefented a plan 
 of the country to the court, and it was called New-Eng- 
 land. As after a few years the London company dilTolved, 
 r it feems, was the fate of this company ; and anno 1 620, 
 *' Nov. 3, king James I granted to a company of adven- 
 turers called the council of Plymouth, forty in number, 
 ,£ all . lands from 40 D. to 48 D. N. lat. keeping up the 
 
 l2::: claim to New Netherlands, or Nova Belgia , at that time 
 
 * n pofiefiion of the Dutch, at prefent the Britilh colonies 
 of New-York, New-Jerfies, and Penfylvania. This [/] 
 * council of Plymouth made feveral grants which were 
 1:. found faulty from their indiltiruftnefs, and having no 
 ■£; power to delegate jurifdicHon. Here we mull break off, 
 and refer the further Narration to the led ions of the 
 E' New-England colonies, which were the council of 
 ef Plymouth grants. 
 
 0,- The firlf inducements of the Englilh adventurers to 
 ® ta ^ e out patents for countries or lands in America, and 
 
 fe t0 fuf fer fo much in fettling, were the hopes of finding 
 
 is: rich m i nes of minerals, metals, and precious ftones, and 
 
 di? a thorough-fare to the Eaft-Indies or Spice-iflands. ' Af- 
 |a tcr lome time thefe projectors finding themfelves dif- 
 ik appointed, the old patents were negleded or annihilated : 
 as * n the end ot James the firft’s reign, and beginning of 
 Charles I, new grants were procured; but by reafon 
 °| the following civil confufions and divifions, the con- 
 „c ( htions of thefe new grants were not complied with ; and 
 . : people fit down at pleafure and at random. Upon the 
 
 [/] The company or council of Plymouth, by their charter or 
 patent, had a power to convey any portion of their granted lands to 
 any of his majefty’s fubjetts : after having made many indiflincf and 
 ip. '."terfenng grants, they furrendered their charter to the crown, by an 
 v inltrumeni under their common leal, June 7, 1635. 
 
 VOL. I. I 
 
 reftoration 
 
it4 Britifli and French Settlements PartI, 
 
 reiteration of king Charles II, thefe fettlers petitioned for 
 peculiar grants (as we fhall obferve in the feveral fections 
 of colonies) particularly of Maryland, Carolina, New- 
 York, Conne&icut, Rhode-iflands. \ 
 
 The firft grants from the crown were generally ex- 
 prelfed to run back inland ioo miles ; afterwards the ftyle 
 was due weft to the South-leas, or until they met with 
 fome other Chriftian fettlement j fometimes it is exprefled 
 from fea to fea, eaft and weft : at prefent the words are 
 to run back indefinitely. Many of the firft grants were 
 by falfe or uncertain defcriptions, and did interfere with 
 one another as we may obferve in the hiftory of their 
 feveral boundaries in procefs of time redrfied and at pre- 
 fent fettled. . 
 
 The fettling of our lundry colonies have been upon fe- 
 veral occafions^ and from various beginnings. New-Eng- 
 land was firft fettled by people from England, tenacious 
 of their own non-conformift way of religious worlhip, 
 and refolved to endure any hardfhips, viz. a very diftant 
 removal, inclemencies of the climate, barrennefs of the 
 foil, &c. in order to enjoy their own way of thinking, 
 called gofpel-privileges, in peace and purity. Our Weft- 
 India illands have been fettled or increafed, fome ot them 
 by Royalifts, fome by Parliamentarians •, fome by [j-] To- 
 ries, fome by Whigs, at different times fugitives or exiles 
 from their native country. Virginia and Maryland have 
 been for many years, and continue to be a fink for 
 tranfported criminals. Pennfylvania being the property 
 of Mr. Penn, a Quaker •, he planted it with Quakers (as 
 Lord Baltimore for the fame reafon at firft planted Ma- 
 ryland with Roman Cartholics) it is lately very much 
 increafed by huibandmen fwarming from Ireland and 
 Germany. 
 
 [V] Whig and Tory, originally were reciprocal party cant nimesof 
 contempt, they began in the reign of king Charles 11, 1 ones - 
 
 paffive-obedience and non refiftance, as a prerogative of the c own , 
 whigs maintained that liberty and property was a natural privi 
 the people. 
 
 2. The 
 
s la 
 
 sirii 
 
 rife 
 
 tea 
 
 m 
 
 thejf 
 
 life: 
 
 ail! 
 
 k 
 
 it 
 
 mi: 
 
 p 
 
 a® 
 ns 
 i «! 
 fJ 
 k 
 K-j 
 Bf; 
 
 b# 
 
 iii 
 
 k 
 
 ■I 
 
 fff 
 
 Sect. II. /« North-America. 2ij 
 
 2. The Britifli ijland fettlements . 
 
 . 1 ’ | E britifli American colonies, efpecially their iflands 
 in and near the gulph of Mexico, are the Spanifh leav- 
 ings ; the Spaniards, their firlt dilcoverers, made no ac- 
 count of them ; and when the Englifh began to fettle 
 them they were not difturbed by the Spaniard, as if be- 
 low their notice. The Englifh at firft had no other de- 
 fign there, only to diftrefs the Spaniards. Thus Sir Francis 
 Urake made feveral depredations there, but no fettle- 
 ment ; anno 1585 he took St. Domingo, Carthaoena 
 and St. Auguftme, and foon quitted them. Anno ? 597 \ 
 
 ?L R r°- T ? n< 5 uered h J the En g^, but dropped, 
 e Britifli American lfland governments may be 
 enumerated under thefe heads, viz. The two fmall fetrle- 
 ments of Bermudas and Providence, or Bahama-Iflands 
 
 w^d in ^ 8 T' r al 8 ° Vernmcnrs of Barbadoes, Lee- 
 ward -Iflands, and Jamaica: thefe three governments 
 
 aie caHed the Brmffi fugar iflands. As at prefent fugar 
 is of general ule, and occafions a valt branch of public 
 , /n 0116 , t0 1 ]} C n ^tions of Great-Britain, France, and 
 Holland, a digreffion concerning fugar may be accept- 
 
 A digrejfon concerning fugar. 
 
 TH E ancient Greeks and Romans ufed honey only for 
 I weetnmg ; iugar was not known amongft them? Paulus 
 
 5 fhe laff r nOCe L COmpUer ° f medica! hi ' tor 7 ’ and one 
 
 6LTstlefirffwh WnttrS T n tha . £ fu bjea, about anno 
 bzs, is the firft who exprefly mei tions fugar • it was at 
 
 It' ■‘gnd.mceum, that is, reed or cane honey, 
 
 it came from China, by way of the Eaft-Indies and 
 Arabia to Europe. As fpirits (fpiritus ar dentes not 
 
 V n “ CCnt [ iry 380 were ufed onl y as officinal cordials 
 but now are become an e.ndemical plague every where’ 
 
 being a pernicious ingredient in molt of our beleraaes • 
 
 I 2 & r' 
 
n6 Britifii and French Settlements PartI. 
 
 fo formerly fugar was only ufed in fyrups, conferves, and 
 fuch like Arabian medicinal compofitions. It is at pre- 
 fent become of univerfal and moil noxious ufe it fouls 
 our animal juices, and produces fcrophulas, fcurvys, and 
 other putrid diforders ; by relaxing the folids, it occafions 
 watery fwellings, and catarrhous ails ; it induces hyfteric 
 and other nervous diforders ; therefore fhould be fparingly 
 ufed, Specially by our weaker fex; they are naturally of a 
 Fibra lax a. 
 
 The illand colonies (in a peculiar manner they are 
 called the Weft-Indies) had the fugar-cane from theBra- 
 zils •, the Portugueze of Brazil might have them from 
 their fettlements in the \h~] Eaft-Indies. At prefent the 
 flavour and fmell of ourfugars, and of thofe from Brazil 
 differ confiderably ; this may be attributed to what the 
 French call, Le gout de terroir ; thus it is with with wines 
 from tranfplanted vines •, Virginia tobacco, and Brazil, 
 and Varinas tobacco differ upon this account. 
 
 Arundo faccharifera C. B. P. fugar-cane, are the bo- 
 tanical Latin and F.nglifh tribe names ; it grows to five, 
 fix, or more feet high ; articulated or jointed with a 
 gramineous or reed leaf. The canes are generally plant- 
 ed in Auguft, and cut down from Chriftmas to June of 
 the following, not the fame, year ; they are from fixteen 
 to twenty-two months upon the ground. This produce 
 allows of a great latitude as to gathering in, without any 
 
 [h] China boafts much of the antiquity of its policy, and not without 
 reafon. They feem to be the elder brother of all the nations in Afia, 
 Africa, and Europe ; we can trace, even in our records, which do not 
 go back exceeding 2500 years, many notable things from thence, fuch 
 as the filk-worm, the fugar cane, the fm all -pox, &c. America having 
 no known land communication with them, and the intermediate navi- 
 gation fo long, that until the late improvements in navigation, Ame- 
 rica and the moon were much upon the fame footing with refpefl to 
 Europe, Afia, and Africa. Hence it is, that upon our difcoveries of 
 America, exceepting fpeech, which is natural to mankind, they feem to 
 have been only a gregarious fort of man-brutes ; that is, they lived in 
 tribes or herds and nations, without letters or arts further than to ac-' 
 quire the neceliaries of life. 
 
 confiderable 
 
■ Sect. II. in North-Amer ica. 117 
 
 %; ' 
 
 [, confiderable lofs: if cut reafonably and foOn, they yield. 
 
 ■a more juice, but lefs rich than if left Handing a few months 
 jjj.' longer: moreover, canes that might have been cut at the 
 end of December, the planters are under a neceftity to 
 keep fome of them growing until June, to furnifh pro- 
 vender, which is cane-tops, for their cattle. One gallon 
 ," r of cane liquor may yield about one pound three quarters 
 of fugar ; a pot of 60 wt. of fugar, may drop about 
 r three gallons molafles ; one gallon molaffes, if good, 
 yields near one gallon rum or proof fpirit ; by claying 
 fugars lofe above two fevenths, which runs into molaffes : 
 V" the difference upon the improvement of fugars generally 
 '"l is in this proportion, viz. If mufcovadoe fell at 25 s. per 
 'f cent. wt. firft clays fell at 35, fecond clays at 45, third 
 V days at 55. 
 
 The manufa&ure is reckoned equal in value to the 
 9,1 produce or cultivation ; it has many chargeable articles, 
 
 ’ the mill, the boiling-houfe, the curing-houfe, ftill-houfe, 
 ^ ltore-houfe. Sugars are diftinguifhed into mufcavadoes, 
 J 5 by the French called Sugar bis or brute , firft, fecond, and 
 c third clayings or refinings. 
 
 The cultivation of the cane ; a length of few joints 
 ■>; or knots laid fiat or horizontally in holes •, thefe holes are 
 : ' half a foot deep or better, three feet long, two feet wide ; 
 T- : thirty good field negroes may hoe an acre a day ; from 
 
 ,c each joint or oculus proceeds a reed of canes. 
 
 In Barbadoes the charge of cultivation and manufac- 
 c j ! ture of fugar (fuppofing the labour hired, as it happens 
 in fome particular circumftances) is about 1 5 1. per acre, 
 . an acre at a medium is reckoned to produce 2500/. 
 
 wt. fugar ; * therefore all exceeding 1 2 s. per cent. wt. in 
 ^ the price of fugars, is clear profit to the planter. N. B. 
 The rum defrays the ordinary expence of the planta- 
 tion. They allow one good field negro for one acre 
 canes, all labour included. The labour is very confi- 
 derable (fuppofing the ground well cleared and brought 
 to) viz. holling, planting, dunging, weeding, hilling, 
 and cutting. 
 
 1 3 
 
 After 
 
nS Britilh and French Settlements PartI. 
 
 After the firft purchafe, the charge of a fugar plan- 
 tation negro, is very fmall, not exceeding 40 s. per annum 
 for cloathing and feeding ; when full cloathed, it is 
 jacket and breeches for the men > jacket and petticoats 
 for the women of Oznabrigs at 9 d. per yard, and a 
 coarfe red milled cap ; the negroes of one plantation live 
 in contiguous huts like an African town ; are allowed 
 fome ftiort time, viz. Saturday afternoon, and Sundays, 
 with a fmall fpot of ground to raife provifions forthem- 
 felves ; or, if new negroes, are allowed one pint of Guinea 
 corn, one fait herring, or an equivalent per day in other 
 provifions of fait mackarel, dryed falt-fifh, Indian corn, 
 c. ( . If u badoes tequires a luppjy of 4000 or 5000 new 
 negroes per annum. 
 
 The planters divide their cane-lands into thirds, viz. 
 one third Handing canes, another third new-planted 
 canes, and the other third fallow. In Barbadoes they 
 piant every crop or fecond crop ; in the other iflands 
 they have ratoons, or fecond, third, fourth, idc. crops 
 rrom the fame roots, but every fucceedin°' year they 
 yield lefs. 0 
 
 i he quantity of fugar imported per annum from the 
 Biitifh fugar- iflands to Great-Britain is about 80,000 to 
 85,000 hogfheads, at fooo wt. per hogfhead. 
 
 In imitation of the trench, by an adt of parliament 
 1 7 39 ’ Britilh fugars are allowed to be carried directly, 
 without entring in Great-Britain, to any foreign port 
 louth of Cape Finifterre, under certain reftrictions too 
 long lor our enumeration. About fifty years ago the 
 French were chiefly lupplied with fugars from Great- 
 Britain ; at prefent they fupply themfelves, and can af- 
 foid to underfed us in all markets, the Mediterranean, 
 Holland, Hamburgh, &c. 
 
 An exadt minute lift of the fucceffive governors in the 
 feveral iflands, is fcarce of any hiftorical ufe, unlefs 
 where fome things remarkable have happened during 
 tneir government ; therefore without making much en- 
 quiry, I ihall only mention thole who eafily occur. 
 
 The 
 
in North-America. 
 
 1x9 
 
 TheWeft-India iflands, together with Virginia, Mary- 
 land, and the Carolinas, arc of vaft profit to Great-Britain, 
 
 . bv the labour of above three hupurcd thou land- (laves, 
 maintained at a very fmall charge. Here we obferve a 
 fort of puritanical, grofs error, in the Utopian charter- 
 conftitution of the colony of Georgia, not allowing of 
 the labour of (laves, and, by the experience of feveral 
 ’l® years, this feems to be a principal realon of the fettle- 
 ment coming to nothing. By afts ot their affemblies, 
 flaves or negroes are real elfate, but may be fued for 
 and recovered by perlbnal action. It it were not for the 
 Ms neo-roes and Mulattoes born in thefe colonies reckoning 
 
 3011 themfeives natives, it would be impoffible to keep fo 
 
 many able bodied flaves in fubje&ion by a few valetu- 
 dinary white men : there have been, from time to 
 time, iniiirrections of negroes 5 but were difcovered. 
 Bo and the ringleaders executed in the mod cruel and 
 
 tea deterring manner that could be contrived. Slaves in 
 
 ri; any felonious cafe are tried, not by a jury and grand 
 
 leflions, but by two juftices, and three freeholders ; a 
 majority condemns them and orders execution. 1 hey 
 generally value new negroes in this manner -, a negro ot 
 #1; 10 Ait. and of 40 At. are upon a par-, from 20 to 
 
 •£ 25 At. is reckoned their prime ; from 40 At. upwards, 
 
 r . their value gradually decreafes, as it does from 10 At. 
 
 g: downwards. 
 
 ... Their voyages from London to Barbadoes or Leeward 
 
 iflands are fix to feven weeks but home to London not 
 fo much ; when out of the trade-winds, the wefterly 
 1 winds and a wefterly fwell or fea generally prevail. 
 
 In thefe iflands the rains (within the tropics, the 
 Indians numb r their years by rains-, without the tro- 
 pics, they reckon by fucceflion of winters) begin at the 
 end of May, continue frequent for three months, and 
 abate gradually to December. Hurricanes are from the 
 middle of July to the middle of September: Barba- 
 does and the Leeward-iflands are not much troubled 
 
 I 4 
 
 with 
 
120 Britilh and French Settlements PartI. 
 
 with hurricanes -, but have at times violent gufts of wind 
 when the trade or eafterly winds change per north (failors 
 call it going againft the fun) to weft, with a rolling f ea 
 from the Leeward. The fea breeze begins between eioht 
 and nine hours morning, increafes till noon, retains°its 
 full ftrength till three afternoon, and gradually decreafes 
 to about five in the evening. 
 
 Even in their breezes, the air feems to refemble the 
 fuflfocating breezes along the fands of the deferts of 
 Libya, or like the fleam and exhalation from burning 
 charcoal : their air feems to be impregnated with fome 
 volatile acid fulphur, which, to a very inconvenient de- 
 gi ee, rufts iron, and cankers other metals : it keeps the 
 blood and fpirits in a continued fret. In that climate I 
 never could apply myfelf to a ferious intenfe way of 
 thinking exceeding half an hour-, fome conftitutions 
 are kept in a continued fmall degree of a phrenzy ; hence 
 proceed the many rafh, paflionate adtions amongft the 
 Creoles. In the north continent of America, for two or 
 three weeks in July (dog days are only aftrological cant 
 names amongft the vulgar ; the hot weather of the fea- 
 fon, not the influence of the ftars are in the cafe) the 
 weather is fometimes fo hot, as to ratify the air too 
 much; by relaxing its fpring and action occafions fudden 
 deaths, palfies, and the like nervous affedtions (inajfuetis) 
 in the human fpecies and other animals ; beginning of 
 July, i 734 > unufually hot; for a continuance of lome 
 days, eight or nine people die fudder.ly : at the writing 
 ot this July 8, and 15, 16, little wind fouth-wefterly, in- 
 tenl'ely melting hot, but not fulphureous and ftifling as 
 in the W eft-Indies ; fcarce any thunder hitherto. 
 
 Befides regular tides, they have uncertain windward 
 and leeward currents : with a windward current, new 
 and full moon tides flow about three feet ; they flow 
 longer than they ebb. 
 
 i heir genera] fupply for charges of government is 
 a poll-tax upon negroes, and an excife upon liquors 
 
 imported. 
 
1 2 1 
 
 Sect. II. in North-America. 
 imported. They have a very good regulation, that no 
 freeholder’s perl'on can be arretted for debt * thus his 
 labour is not loft to the public by a time of confine- 
 ment, and he cannot readily run in debt exceeding the 
 value of his freehold. It is to be wifhed, that this wife 
 regulation may be introduced into our continent colo- 
 nies. 
 
 The Spaniards and Portuguefe in their firft -American 
 navigations, very providently put on fliore upon the in- 
 tervening head-lands and iflands, fome live ftock, par- 
 ticularly neat cattle and fwine, to multiply by propaga- 
 tion, towards a future refrelhment and l'upply of provi- 
 fions in their voyages. 
 
 The general food of the Europeans there, and of their 
 flaves, comes next in courfe •, it is moftly vegetable [/]. 
 
 Here we may previoufly obferve, that the plants or 
 vegetables between the tropics are fo various from our 
 European tribes, they feem to require a dillindt fyftem 
 of botany, or ought to be reduced to fome order by 
 annexing to each tribe of European plants, fome co- 
 rollaries of the affines ; but without coming much into 
 natural hiftory, I am afraid fome readers judge me too 
 prolix. 
 
 The food of their negro flaves, and of the common 
 labourers and white fervants, may be divided into, 
 
 [/] Dr. Sloane, afterward Sir Hans Sloane, anno 1695, publifhcd a 
 book Catalogus plantarum qu a? in inj'ula Jamaica, Madera, Barbadoes, 
 Nevis et Sc. Chriftophori najcuntur\ feu prodromus hiforice naturalis 
 Jamaica?, pars pritna . He has been fufficiently burldqued on this 
 affair ; he gives no account of any part of natural hiftory excepting of 
 plants, and of thofe no defcription, only pedantic long lifts of inlipid 
 fynonyma from various authors : Dr. De Ruifeau of Barbadoes told 
 me, that he was only eleven days upon that ifland, and pretends to give 
 the natural hiftory of the ifland. Thus de la Motray publiihed feveral 
 volumes in folio of his travels, amongft others, his travels in New 
 England ; who to my certain knowledge refided there only a few days, 
 and was very conftantly at home in his lodgings in Bofton, with com- 
 pany of no intelligence. 
 
122 Britifli and French Settlements PartI 
 
 I. Their bread kind, i . Cerealia, [£] rice, [/] Guinea 
 corn, [m] Indian corn. 2. Legumina, or pulfe kind, viz. 
 [«] kidney-beans, [c] peas. 3. Roots, viz. [p] yams, [ ? ]p 0 l 
 
 [/f] Riccis referred to the feftion of Carolina. 
 
 f/J Milium Indicum album et nigrum Plinii ; Camer ; Sor^um tab 
 Guinea corn : it may be called a perennial, holding good many years 
 from the fame rootj the grain is more nouriihing and wholfonie than 
 Indian corn, and goes farther : the leaves and tops are good nro- 
 vender for cattle, ° v 
 
 M Mays grants aureisT. Frumentum Indicum Mays diftum. C. B. P, 
 Indican corn this is a principal American bread kind : a further ac- 
 count of it is referred to the fedions of New-England. 
 
 [n] PhaJ coins bidicus annum Glaber , fruftu tumidiore mi nor e variorum 
 colorum abfque kilo . Kidney-beans, which in North-America are called 
 Indian or French beans. This we refer to New-England. 
 
 Phafeolus maximus pcrennis,foribfis fpicatis fteciofis, albis 9 filiquis brevi- 
 bus latiSy femcn album bilo albido . Sloane. White bonavilL, large as a 
 common kidney- bean, much eat with boiled meat. 
 
 Do. Semine rufo, red bonavilt. 
 
 Phafeolus ere ft us nttnor y femine fpbaerico albido, bilo nigro ; Pifum quartum 
 feu pifaVirginiana. C. B. P. Calavances, this properly belongs to the 
 iedlioo of Virginia. 
 
 Do. Fruftu rubroy red calavances. 
 
 [ 0 ] Pifum bortenfe majus, flore fruftuque albo . C. B. P. Garden peas, 
 from Europe planted thrive well. 
 
 - Anagyris Indica legumijwfa y filiquis torojis. Hcrm. Par. Bat. Pigeon 
 Peas . this dirub, or Imall tree, grows to twelve or fifteen feet high, 
 and holds for fome years > the fruit refembles a vicia, called horfe peas: 
 they eat it with boiled meat. 
 
 M V°lubulis nigra, radice alba out purpurafcentCy maxima , tulero/a, 
 efculenta, farinacea, caule membranulis extant ibus alato y folio cordato nervofo. 
 Sloane. Mama Lufitanorum Clufii, H. LXXV11I. probably it came 
 from Guinea. It is the principal and bell food of the negroes; hence 
 it is that in general to cat, is called to yaam. This root grows fome- 
 t mes as big as a man’s thigh ; the readifh are more fpungy ; the white 
 are bell, and not fo cloyingly fweet as the Welt-India potatoes; many 
 of the belt white people ule it for bread; to me it was more agreeable 
 than bread of wheat-flower. 
 
 f f] Potatoes of two different kinds or tribes. 
 
 Convolvulus radice tuber o fa efculenta dulct, fpinachiae folio, fore magrn, 
 f urpumf cents y patula. Batatas Clufii, H. LXXV1JI. Welt-India, Ber- 
 mudas, Carolina potatoes; they are natives of America, but do not 
 thrive to the northward of Maiyland, bccaufe of the coldnefs of the 
 climate. Clufius's defeription and icons are good ; it is planted from 
 foint fmail incipient roots, or loine dices of the large roots, having an 
 
 tatoes, 
 
Sect. IL in North-America. 123 
 
 tatoes, [r] caffada. 4. Fruits, viz. [j] plantanes, 
 [/] bananes. 
 
 oculus or bud, in the fame manner as the folanum tuberofum, called 
 Irifh potatoes ; the leaves fpread along the ground like convolvulus; 
 the liovver is pentapetalous ; the piftillum becomes the fruit containing 
 many fmall feeds. 
 
 Do. Radice rufufeente . 
 
 Do. Radice alba. 
 
 Do. Radice csvrulefcente. 
 
 Thefe continue permanently the fame, are lufeioufly fweet ; whan too 
 ripe or long kept, they become fibrous or ftringy ; the yellow is the 
 moll common and beft flavoured. 
 
 Solatium efculentum tuberofum , C. B. P. AraclAdna T heophr of i forte, 
 papas Peruanorum Chfii, H. LXXIX. his icons are very good. Irifh 
 potatoes ; they grow kindly all over America; in the northern parts 
 the froft takes them foon ; the roots are a number of tubers of various 
 fizes con netted by filaments, ftalks, two or three feet erett ; the leaves 
 alternate, conjugated with an impar, of a dark green, the whole ha- 
 bit hairy ; the flowers monopetalous in umb Is whitifh, fruit foft, with 
 many flat feed ; the large bulbs are ufed for food ; the fmall bulbs are 
 committed to the earth again, and are called feed potatoes; an Irifh 
 idiom, roots for feed. They are planted in the fpring, and dug up 
 in September for ufe. Gafpar Bauhine fays, they were brought from 
 Virginia to England, thence to France and the other countries of Eu- 
 rope. Clufius thinks it was carried from New Spain to Old Spain, 
 and from thence to Italy and the Netherlands, and propagated at pre- 
 fent all over Europe. 
 
 Do Radice alba , whitifh potatoes. 
 
 Do. Radice rufufeente , reddifli potatoes. 
 
 Do. Radice fiarvefeente, potatoes with a bluifh caft. 
 
 Do. Flore alho. H. R. P. Fiench potatoes ; thefe are flatter, larger, 
 lefs lobated, of a finer texture ; this at prefent is much admired, does 
 not yield fo well, is not fo eafily hurt by the froft. 
 
 | r] Ricinus minor 'viticis obtufo folio , caule *vcrrucofo , fore pentape- 
 talo allido , ex a jus radice tuber of a (ficco ^venenato turgido) Americans 
 fanem confidunt, Caffada. The 'Englifh, after it is well dried, grind it 
 and bake it into cakes. The French eat it in crumbles, called farinc, 
 or farine de Mamhot; they vittual their Weft-India coafting-veiTels 
 with this 
 
 [j] Mufa fruSiu cucumcrlno longiori , Plumer. Mufa caudice njiridi , 
 fruttu longiori Jitcculento Angulofo , Sloane. Palma humilis longis latifque 
 foliis, plantanes. This tree grows from fixteen to twenty feet high ; a 
 very large, firm, long palm -leaf, ufed in thatching of huts, and good 
 bedding for the poor ; boiled or roalled it is ufed in place of bread. 
 
 [/] Mifa caudice maculato frudlu redo rotundo , breviore odorato. Hort. 
 Bcamont , Bananas. Does not differ much from the former. 
 
 II. Fifli 
 
124 Britifli and French Settlements PartI 
 
 II. Fifii and flelh are moftly a foreign importation 
 viz. lalt herrings from Scotland and Ireland ; one bar- 
 rel of herrings is reckoned equivalent to two quintals 
 dried falt-fHh, dried refufe falt-fifh (cod, haddock, haake 
 and polluck) from New-England and Newfoundland’ 
 barreled fait mackarel from New-England ; they fome- 
 times ufe the country frefh produce of [a] flyino- fifl, 
 and [w] land-crabs, and [x] foldiers. They feldom are 
 allowed any Irifli lalt-beef; it is referved for the planters 
 or landlords, their managers, overleers, and other white 
 fervants. Some negroes are allowed for their own ac- 
 count and profit to raife young pork (Weft-India youn* 
 pork is delicious) and poultry, which they carry to 
 market, but feldom eat of it. I heir moft delicious dilh 
 for a regale, is a pepper-pot or negro-pot compounded 
 ot Jalt-hfli, falt-flefii of any kind, grain and pull'e of all 
 kinds, much feafoned with [_)’] capficum or Guinea- 
 pepper ; it is lbmething like a Spanilh oleo, or New- 
 foundland fhowdder. 
 
 [»] Iln ur, do, Catefhy: the flying- fifh, called alfo by the native her- 
 rings 1'y a pair of large fins it bears itfelf up in the air for a fhort 
 time, and to a fmall dillance. 
 
 M Cancer terrejiris euniculos ful terra agens, Sloane. They arc very 
 plenty, and good food, called land -crabs. 
 
 f*j Cancellus terrejiris, Carib. The hermit crab, or foldier, from 
 their red colour. Their fore-part and claws are cruftaceous ; their 
 hinder part foft, only a membranous integument, which they fecure in 
 the empty (hells of fizable buccinums, and carry the ftiell along with 
 them, not as an original property but as a derelidl. 
 
 fjd J here are many kinds of capficums ; we /hall only mention 
 three; they are a monapetalous, membranous fruit. 
 
 Capficum Jiliqua luta et ntgefa. Park. Bell or long- pepper; it is an- 
 nual, has a longer leaf than moil capficums ; is larger than a walnut, 
 and when firlt rire, red, and membranous. Planted in New-England ; 
 it comes to maturity, but is pickled when green. 
 
 Capficum minus frufiuparvo pyramidali ereflo, Sloane. Piper Indicum 
 mini mum, fur re fits fihquis oblongis ere ft is parvis. This is much ufed in 
 Parbadoes, and is called Barbadoes piemento, or Barbary pepper. 
 
 Capficum minus frufiu rot undo ercSlo parvo acerritno> Sloane. Bird- 
 pepprr. 1 hefelaft two dried and powdered, are intenfely hot (almolt 
 caufric) and fold over America by the name of Cayenne- butter, or 
 Surinam pepper. 
 
 The 
 
StcT. II. in North-America. I2 5 
 
 The provender for their neat cattle and horfes befides 
 cane-tops, and tops of Guinea corn already menttoned, 
 
 ^Scorpions', fcolopendras or forty legs, chigoes, fand- 
 flies, vena medini, or Guinea worm, mulketoes, ants 
 bed-bugs cimices leftularii, tfc. very troublefome and 
 oreat nufances in thele climates, we fhn.ll not defcribe, 
 havino- already tired the readers who have no notion ot 
 natural hiftory : but we cannot omit that great nulance 
 to navigation called the [a] worm, pernicious especially 
 to new fliips •, atfirftonlyin theWeft-Ind.es, but have 
 from then ? ce been carried with Ihips, and do propagate 
 in Carolinia, Virgina, Maryland. They have got fo tar 
 north as New-England, and lately have done con fide ta- 
 ble damage in the port ot Newport, colony of Rhode- 
 Ifland : ifis to be hoped, that a fevere treezing winter 
 may deftroy them, as it did in Holland anno 1730, when 
 thofe worms, by eating and honey-combing ot the piles 
 of their dikes, between the higheft and loweft water- 
 marks, put the country in danger of being undammed or 
 
 dr i!nfenfibly deviate into fomething of the natural hi- 
 ftory of thefe countries ; but as it is not within the corn- 
 pals of my original defign, which was their current and 
 political hiftory in a fummary way ; I fliall only briefly 
 relate and defcribe by the proper claffical names ( which 
 hitherto has not been done by authors) that part ot their 
 natural produce which is uled in common food, in deli- 
 cacies, and as commodities in trade. 
 
 r-i Panicnm njuhan fbica multiple afcnufcula. T Gramtn pammm 
 r-j-rc P P Scots crafs : perhaps fo called, becaufe plenty in. 
 teS’of iadoes called Scotland ; and not as a plant or herbage 
 
 oi Kg ° .»* m«y of h“d relembles . d..bl. b« rf 
 
 that kind of borer called an augur. 
 
126 BritiOi c>:d French Settlements Part j 
 i. The common food is moftiv alrraJ „ 
 to d,efc wc may add docks of feveral kinds, pW°S 
 t" 1 P'gcons, wild hogs, [7] lobrters, 7/1 crav-filh r 
 
 tions [i] oranges, W lemons, fuga^ 
 
 Tf[e IvUd^geon? p*eonof pafl^’ tor 1 uatus - Aldrovand. 
 
 certain feafbns a V^ S d ° VC L : th ^=>re plenty 
 
 poor The French call f b ’ . a,,d , of « reat benefit in feedin/the 
 •wiltie duif, loom duif. ^ r<xm,e> ’ c e ^ utc h call them tingle duif, 
 [ f l dftacus marinus ; lobfler. 
 
 W Aft acu * f-w iatilis , the cray-fifl,. 
 
 td ;?L T kefe r° pe r dka,, y ** ** 
 
 we obferve in f.Ilc worms in thl ( r have „ a k “’d of ficknef, (as 
 
 from thfeir ftomach fom-' labilli 7 / n , , .’ lrns > f° called) and do difgorge 
 crabs eyes. dV. i X beZOar calIed ^ -A or 
 
 rallines, crabs eves and enh * 1 C ’ . bezoars, corals, co- 
 
 they are generally ’exhibited L Ml w mfi P ld ’ “felefs medicines; 
 ten times fhe \ i{ » **«<* 
 
 quently tried : ifin a cont n„l° 2 . d T "° hurt > 35 1 have fre- 
 
 the fame bad effeft that ehaV ?° d “ f ge ^'? antIties . they have 
 
 •virgin™. ’ th3t Ch3lk > cla y* the like have in Lfa 
 
 [/] Cancer ?narimts chelis rubris . 
 
 Cancer jnarinus chelis nigris. 
 
 i. S "g «*» "*! ™ »:» ■ hatch Mr rg. 
 
 o, b y h„ P „„„ ins ; the) - of ss:ss 
 '%£ simksj fo»d ro ” ' I,e " >lo " , ° n> 
 
 cSfaimTtefcri' “a h “ k! - bi1 ' tattle, f» 
 
 bo 5'{ C ,°,T" S - ctSSk m pl *“‘ " f “ fc of “ 
 
 cii jSferstesfa, £>•“• «• *» 
 
 pendix. The fruit lV^JarWp 4 3 ange-tree, but without an ap- 
 
 rind which is made into fucrade rou S* ler than a lemon, with a thick 
 ing citron -water, called bv th - S p° r u ' ce ^ mcats > and is ufed in mak- 
 niolily in Scotland didrici f P ^ eaU ^ they grow 
 
 couple. d,ftr,a 0f Barbado «. and are fold a nal per 
 
 W -dsrantium medulla duld Ferrar. Hefp. Common 
 
 tioned : 
 
Sect. II. »« North-America. 12 7 
 
 tioned •, cocoa we refer to the paragraph of produce for 
 trade and [/] cocoa, [«*] cabbage- tree, [«] pme-apple, 
 fo called from its refemblance of the fruit or cones ot 
 iome pine-trees. 
 
 orange : perennial large rigid leaves, with a heart-like appendix ; the 
 fruit is fragrant, of a reddilh yellow colour, and tough peel. 
 
 Xrantiln acri medulla vulgare. Ferrar. Help. AuranUa malm. 
 
 I B. Seville, or four orange. This is the medicinal orange. 
 
 ' Aurantiv.m Sincnfe. Ferrar. Hefp. China orange, is eat only for plea- 
 
 ^Aarantiumfihcjlre medulla acri. T. Aurantiafyhefris. J. B . fruBu 
 limonis pufdlo, limas dt Oviedo. The lime-tree ; this is more pungent and 
 lefs agreeable, and not fo wholefomc as the lemon ; it is much ufed in 
 the American beverage called punch. r . . 
 
 Aurantium maximum. Ferrarij, Shadock-tree. It is fometimes large 
 as a human head, with a thick rind, a flat difagreeable talle to my 
 
 PSl m ‘ Limn vulgaris. Ferrar. Hefp. Malus Vtmema aeida, C. B P. 
 Sourlimons ; like the others of this kind has perennial thick ft.ft 
 green leaves, but without an appendix : the fruit is more oval than 
 the orange, and with a nipple-like procefs at the extremity or end, of 
 a pale yellow ; it is the molt delicious Towering for that julep-fafluon 
 
 Ferrar. Hefp. Swee. limon ; 1 , b no, 
 
 *»». R >3 H- p ‘ h ‘ “">•? " h " 
 
 T. B. Cocoa-tree; palmetto leaves very large; every year it em,ts 
 a racemus of cocoa-nuts, whereof fome hold a pint of cool, plea- 
 fant lymph or drink ; this nut remains upon the tree good for many 
 
 yC H Palma altiffsma nor fpinqfa, fruAu frumfermi, minore racemofa 
 fbarfo, Sloane. Palma quinta feu Americana Jrudtu racemojo, B. r. 
 'cabbage-tree. The wood is very fpungy or pithy ; grows very tall ; 
 every year near its top, about Midiummer, is emitted a large racemus 
 of flowers, which make a good pickle. 
 
 [„] Ananas acukatus fruflu fyram, date, came aureo. P1 “® er ‘ 
 apple ; fee T. I. R. ^.426, 4 * 7 . 4=8 where it is mod elegantly 
 delineated. They plant it as artichokes are planted in hurope. It is 
 a mod delicious fruit, not lufeious, but a fmart bnfk fragrantlftcetnefs; 
 it may be called the ambroiia of the gods : but as the h.gheft fweets 
 degenerate into the mod penetrating and vellicating acids ; fo this, 1 
 eat in quantities, occafions moil violent cliche pains ; for the fame r a- 
 ion, fugar and honey are cholicy. 
 
 4 
 
 3. The 
 
128 Britifh and French Settlements PartI 
 
 3 - Produce that are commodities in trade fol cocoa 
 [p] zingiber or ginger , [ ? ] indigo, [r] cotton-wool, [,] a . 
 
 R p ij ' ScJ^t{ X d t Amy Z da, “fif“ <?** 
 
 it J ... '-acao-tree. at a diltance it refembles a frWi 
 
 Diftanr -" « “f ° r ft is P lanted from the feed or nut 
 
 LMances five feet ; after three years it begins to bear and 
 
 feet o^moi^ f fl° m tWe ' Ve , t ” twenty years : rir « to the height of twemy 
 if® 1 or . mo, «. flowers and fruit at the fame time, not from the ends of 
 
 rtewF’fl bUt fr0C1 the trunks °f the body and large branches of the 
 n>ee: the flowers are whitifh, fat Wa, without a caliv tK.r 
 
 jvhen ripe refembles a large cucumber, 
 
 twenty to forty cocoa nuts in a pulp. In fome parts ofNew S 
 Thef ^ U / eda ! l m0ney change, in Guatimala, Comanas % t 
 
 ini water "| ade ' nt ° P3 ‘ le Ca!Ied choco,ate ' and this diffolved in’boil- 
 
 »f 1 ent and f !Lie meaVerySCnera! ° f **** f °° d for n °^’ 
 
 nr rtllT /lng ' ber ’L^'n B ' R 2 !n S er - A tuberous root as an iris, reed 
 . to «r C V CS5 - the ^ OWer IS of P etala > anomalous, as if bilabi 
 
 SS&SLiyr ' rfW r-. Thej ' «° ■« an„w i, 
 
 cau e it exhaufls the root. It is planted from cuts of the roots and 
 to cure It o^dn r "°. nths ,nthe ground; it requires fix or feven weeks 
 
 feald it nr fL d y •’ m the 35 the French do 5 in Barbadoes they 
 , . ’ r cra P c 1C > to prevent its fprouting : it is a very «reat pro 
 
 duce but forces and impoverilhes the land very much ° P 
 Lf I Moms Anmcana folio latiori fulrotundo. T. Jnnil fat Mm 
 
 flww^'rrf’ M P ‘ I n di§0 'r A pinnated leaf > red P a P'honaceous 
 rowers, iced refembles cabbage feed. It is planted by throwing ten 
 
 aid c« L?in f lnt ° f aCh h0lC; afccr three " 10nths ic is fit to be cut, 
 oieffion frnni rh f r ra t,meS ° r Cro P s in the year ‘ Indi g° » the ex- 
 roots affin h r aV r S mac , erated in water, and dried in the fun ; the 
 P$ f ° r fCVeraI yean - There are ^era! degrees of its 
 nave hrrlT*' f? Pper ’/“ r Pfe» bIue > iron-coloured the word. They 
 
 CamlinS’dT lg ° l ° dfuCCefs ' £01,e int0 this cultivation in South- 
 Carolina, and have three crops fa- a, mum. 
 
 Par If C B - Brajiliamtm fort fiano. Herm. 
 
 ruhn. rr' S? 0 *' A ei S ht ot ten high, refembling the 
 
 rubus or rafpberry at a d.ftance. An acre of cotton flirubs may yearly 
 
 pro uce one ct. wt. cotton ; the poorer fort of planters follow it, re* 
 qmring no great upfet, and is a ready money commodity. 
 
 fy /on “w«ft*vejcente Yellow cotton, 
 from f° e Dw f coridi l et forum. Its leaves are like thofe of the jucca ; 
 W h 7 J T 15 th / 3 ° CS he P atica or Barbadoes, of a dark liver co- 
 lour, and naufeous fmeli. The fuccotrine-aloes of the (hops comes 
 
 gourds C CVaiU in ^ ins > Barbadoes or horfe aloes is put up in large 
 
 loes. 
 
Sect. II. in North-America." I29 
 
 loes, [/] caflia fiftula, [u] tamarinds, [w] lignum vitas, 
 [, x ] white cinnamon, [ y ] coffee, [2] fuftick, [a] brazi- 
 letto, campeachy wood or logwood, nicaraga wood, by the 
 Dutch called ftockfifh-hout j thcfe laft two commodities 
 
 [/] CaJJla fiftula Americana : Caflia. A large tree, winged leaves re- 
 fembling the walnut, yellow five petal flowers ; the piftillum become* 
 a long round woody pod, inch diameter and under, a foot long more 
 or lefs, inflde is divided into many tranfverfe cells, covered with a 
 black fweet pulp, and in each cell a flat fmooth oval feed. The Cajfia 
 fiftula Alexandria, C. B. P. which comes from the Levant, is prefera- 
 ble to that of the Weft-Indies. 
 
 [k] Tamarindus Ray H. A large tree with pinnated leaves, no 
 impar ; the flowers are rofaceous and grow in clufters ; the piftiUum 
 becomes a flatifh, woody pod, three or four inches long, in two or 
 three protuberances, containing a ftringy dark acid pulp with hard flat 
 feeds. The Tamarinds from the Levant and Eaft-Indies are of a better 
 kind. 
 
 M Guiacum, lignum fenatum, ft<ve lignum <vit# Park. Pock wood. 
 A large tree, fmooth bark, ponderous wood, in the middle, of a dark 
 colour, aromatic tafte ; fmall pinnated leaves no impar ; flowers of fix 
 petala in umbels ; the feed veil'd refembles fhepherds purfe. In the 
 Weft- Indies they call it junk- wood. It was formerly reckoned a 
 fpecific in the venereal pox ; it has loft that reputation, but is ftill ufed 
 in fcorbutic ails, and its rofin in rheum atifms. 
 
 [at] Ricinoides oleagini folio, cortex elutheri ce^ fo Called from one of the 
 Bahama iflands, almoft exhaufted ; it is a grateful aromatic bitter, gives 
 a good perfume; bay-tree leaves, berries in branches; this bark is of 
 a yellowifli white, rolled up in quills like cinamon, but much thicker; 
 it is ufed in place of the cortex Winterianus . 
 
 f >] Jaftninum Arabicum cafiane? folioi fiore albo odoratijfimo , cujus frudus, 
 toffy, in ofticinis dicuntur nobis . Comm, coffee tfee Britannis Plukn. 
 The Dutch Eaft- India company carried fome plants from Mecca. N. 
 Iat. 21 D. in Arabia-felix to Java, and from thence to Amfterdam in 
 Holland, where the berries may be feen in perfedion ; lately it is cul- 
 tivated in Surinam, Martinico, and Jamaica. 
 
 [z ! Morut firudu njiridi, ligno fulpbureo tindorio , Buxei colon's, lignum 
 Americanum ; fbftic wood. It is a large tree, leaf like the elm, grows in 
 the manner of afti tree leaves. 
 
 [a] Pfeudo font alum croceum. Sloane ; braziletto ufed in dying. It is 
 almoft exhaufted in the Bahama iflands. 
 
 Thus, I hope, I have given an exad and regular account (fuch ac- 
 counts are wanted) of the ufeful part of the produce of the Bri'ifh 
 WeftTndia iflands under the heads of food, del cacies, or friandifes, 
 and commodities in trade *. I am fenfi b!e, that it will not fuit the tafte 
 of fome of our readers, therefore, henceforward fhail notdiftatte them 
 much with the like excurfions. 
 
 Vol. I. K 
 
 Of 
 
Britifli an d French Settlements PartI. 
 or die-woods are not the produce of our Weft-India if- 
 lands, but are imported to Jamaica from the Spanilh main,' 
 
 The general fupply for charges of government in all 
 our Weft-India iflands is a poll -tax upon negroes, and 
 .excife upon liquors. 
 
 Generally for every twenty to thirty negroes, a planter 
 is obliged to keep one white man; two artificers or haadi- 
 . crafts men are allowed equal to three common la- 
 bourers •, 1 20 head of cattle require alfo one white man. 
 
 The regular troops from Great- Britain to the Weft- 
 India iflands are allowed by their afiemblies for further 
 fubfiftence per week 20 s. to a commiflion officer, and 
 3 s. and 9 d. to the other men. 
 
 In fome of thefe iflands, the nominal price of the fame 
 fugars differ; for inftance, fugar per ct. wt. if paid m 
 ready cafh, at 1 6 s. in goods is 1 8 s. in paying off old 
 debts 20 j. 
 
 The four and a half per ct. upon the produce exports 
 of Bardadoes and the Leeward-iflands, granted to the 
 crown by their ieveral afiemblies in perpetuity, feems to 
 be in lieu of quit-rents. L. Baltimore, iome few years 
 ago in Maryland, to make an experiment of this na- 
 ture, procured an act of aflembly for 3 s. 6 d. per 
 hogfhead tobacco in room of quit-rents : it was found 
 • inconvenient, and quit-rents were allowed to take place 
 again. 
 
 Being prolix in the general account of the fugar iflands, 
 will render the accounts of the particular iflands more 
 fuccinft. 
 
 B A R B A D O E S. 
 
 Barbadoes is the mod: windward of all the iflands in 
 or near die gulph of Mexico; it lies in about 13 D. 
 N. lat. 59 D. 30 M. W. from London, by the obferva- 
 tions of Capt. Candler [£]. Sir William Curteens, an 
 
 [£] Capt. Candler, in the Launcefton man of war, was fent out 
 anno 1717, by the board of admiralty, to afeertain by good obferva- 
 tions the latitudes and longitudes of the Eritifh Weft-India iflands, with 
 the refpeflive variations of the compafs at that time. 
 
 adventurer 
 
4 . 
 
 Sect. II. in North-Americ a. 
 
 adventurer in trade, anno 1 624, in failing home to Eng- 
 land from Fernambuc of the Brazils, at that time in the 
 
 poffeffion of the Dutch, touched at this ifland, and, as 
 it is faid, gave the name Batbadoes, from large quanti- 
 ties of a bearded tree [r] growing there, it was ovef- 
 1'pread with a fort of Purflain [d ] : Here he found fome 
 human bones, but not a living man : abundance of 
 l'wine. 
 
 The earl of Carlifle, a court favourite, in the begin- 
 ning of the reign of Charles I, had a grant of it from 
 the crown. This ifland continued in the poflefiion of the 
 proprietary and his heirs about thirty years. Anno 
 1661, the crown purchafed it of lord Kinnoul, heir to 
 the earl of Carlifle-, their family name was Hay, and 
 allows to the heirs 1000/. per annum out of the four and 
 a half per cent. duty. 
 
 The greateft length of the ifland is about twenty-fix 
 miles ; its greateft width about fourteen miles ; contents 
 not exceeding 1 00,000 acres. Every freeholder is obliged 
 to keep a plan of his land attefted by a fworn lurveyor : 
 ten acres, valued at 20 s. per annum per acre, qualifies a 
 voter in elections. 
 
 At firft they planted tobacco, fome indigo, fome cot- 
 ton, and cut tuftic a die-wood ; at prelent they plant 
 no tobacco, no indigo. Their firft fugar-canes they had 
 from the Brazils anno 1 645 : this ifland was generally 
 fettled by cavaliers in the time ot the civil wars in Eng- 
 land. 
 
 [<• 1 Strians arbor Americana. Arbuh fo/iii non ferratis, fruBu Pifi 
 rhagmhdtnr, funiculis e rands ad terram demijjis, prcliftra. Plukn. 
 Barbadoes fig-tree. It is a large tree, with a laurel or pear tree leaf; 
 the fruit adheres to the trunks ot the body, and great branches 
 large as the top of a man’s finger, containing fmall feeds fig- 
 falhion ° 
 
 [d] Portulaca Curafavica procumbens folio fubrotundo. Parad. Bat. 
 Not much differing from that Purflain, which is a tmublefome 
 fpreading weed in many of our gardens at Bolton in New Eng- 
 land. b 
 
 K 2 
 
 The 
 
Britilh and French Settlements PartI. 
 
 The governor’s ftyle in his commiflion, is captain- 
 general and chief-governor of the lliands of Barbadoes, 
 St. Lucia, St. Vincent’s, Dominica, and the reft of his 
 Majefty’s ifland colonies and plantations in America, 
 known by the name of the Caribbee-iftands lying and 
 being to windward of Guardeloupe : excepting Barba- 
 dos the other iflands are called Neutrals [e], becaufe the 
 government and property of them, hitherto has not 
 been fettled by any folemn authentic treaty between 
 Great-Britain and France. 
 
 In the time of the civil wars,, Barbadoes and Virginia 
 were fettled by cavaliers and ruffians (excufe my coupling 
 °f them, I mean no refle&ion.) In the fummer^o, 
 lord Willoughby proclaimed king Charles II, in Bar- 
 badoes, and adminiftreu the government in his name : but 
 in January, anno 1651-2, he furrendered Barbadoes and 
 the neighbouring iflands to Sir George Afcew admiral for 
 the parliament. About the fame time Virginia fubmitted 
 to the parliament. 
 
 Their legiflature conflfts of three negatives, viz. the 
 governor, the council (their full complement is twelve) 
 and houle of reprefentatives (in all our colonies, in a 
 particular manner called the afiembly) compofed of 
 twenty-two deputies, that is, two from each of the eleven 
 pari flies without wages, or any allowance ; the eldeft 
 counlellor in the parifh is generally appointed the return* 
 ing officer. Their afiemblies are annual. 
 
 M Anno 1722, a patent patted the great feal of Great-Britain, 
 granting the government and property of St. Vincent and St. Lucia, 
 in the Weft-India Caribbee-iflands, to the duke of Montague: he at- 
 tempted a fetilemenc at a conliderable charge, but was drove off, by 
 the french, from Martinique, becaufe of its being a neutral ifiand 
 not adjufted. This ifland is about feven leagues call of Martinique, and 
 about twenty-five leagues weft from Barbadoes. 
 
 Upon St. V incent’f, are fubfifting fome aboriginal Indians : as alfo a 
 community of negroes, which began from the negro cargo of a Guinea 
 fhip call away there, and daily incrcafes by the acceflion of runaway 
 negroes from Barbadoes. 
 
 At Dominique is a large tribe of aboriginal Indians j they affect the 
 French molt. 
 
 Their 
 
Sect. II. in North-America. i 33 
 
 Their courts of judicature. The courts of error, 
 chancery, and probate of wills, are in the governor and 
 council. The courts of common law are in five diftrifts, 
 viz. Bridgetown diftrict confifts of three parifhes, the 
 others of two parifhes each. Each court has one judge 
 and four afiiftants. 
 
 Only one collection or cuftom-houfe office at Bridge- 
 town : there are three more entry and delivery ports, 
 viz. Oftines, Holetown, and Speights. This collection 
 is under the infpeCtion of a furveyor-general of the cu- 
 ftoms refiding at Antigua. 
 
 Their currency is filver, Mexico ftandard by weight, 
 whereof 17^. half d. wt. pafles for 6 s. Upwards of 
 forty years fince they borrowed from New-England, by 
 a projection of Mr. Woodbridge, the fallacious fcheme 
 of a public paper-credit, or paper currency •, but by 
 orders from the court of England it was loon i'uppreffed, 
 and governor Crow had an inftruCtion to remove 
 
 fROM THE COUNCIL, AND ALL OTHER PLACES OF 
 TRUST, ANY WHO HAD BEEN CONCERNED IN THE 
 
 late Paper-credit. Thefe bills, foon after their 
 emiffion, fell forty per cent, below filver, and occafioned 
 a great confufion and convulfion in the affairs of the 
 ifland. 
 
 Anno 1717, peaceable times, when I was in Barbadoes, 
 all along its lee-lhore was a breaft-work and trench, 
 in which at proper places were twenty-nine forts and 
 batteries, having 308 cannon mounted. The windward 
 Ihore is lecured by high rocks, fteep cliffs, and foul 
 ground. Anno 1736, in the ifland were 17,680 whites ; 
 whereof 4326 were fencible men, difpofed into one troop 
 of guards, two regiments of horfe, and feven regiments 
 of foot. The beginning of king William’s war, Barbadoes 
 furniffied from 700 to 800 militia [/], withfome militia 
 
 [/] Sir Francis Wheeler 1693, with afquadron of Ihips, two regi- 
 ments of regular troops from England, and fome militia from Barba- 
 does and the Leeward-iilands, made defcents upon the French Hands 
 
 K 3 from 
 
134 Britifh and French Settlements Part I. 
 
 from our Leeward-iflands to join the regular troops and 
 fquadron from England againft the neighbouring French 
 iflands. 
 
 There may be about 80,000 negroes in Barbadoes, 
 may fhip off about 30,000 hogflieads of fugar, befides 
 ginger Icalded and lcraped, cotton-wool, and aloes. 
 1 heir duty of four and a hal f per cent, in fpecie upon pro- 
 duce exported, is perpetual, and given immediately to 
 the crown’s difpofal : out of this the governor has 2000/. 
 per annum, falary, befides large gratuities and perquifites.' 
 *1 he tax on negroes, mills and pot-kills, is generally 
 jo,ooo l. per annum ; exeife upon liquors imported 7000/. 
 per annum , for defraying the ordinary charges of govern- 
 ment. 
 
 Returned protefted bills of exchange, are allowed ten 
 per cent, and all charges. 
 
 They generally worfliip, or profcfs to worlhip, after 
 the mode of the church of England i no diflenting con- 
 gregation, a few quakers excepted ; New-England had 
 lome of their firft feminary of quakers from Barbadoes. 
 
 Some loofe account of their governors. Lord Wil- 
 loughby of Parham, at the reftoration, was appointed go- 
 vernor of Barbadoes under the earl of Carlifle > he was at 
 the fame time governor-general of the Leeward-iflands, 
 and a proprietor of Antigua. 
 
 Upon the reftoration James Kendal* Efq \ was appoint- 
 ed governor. rr 
 
 Upon Kendal’s returning to England, colonel Francis 
 Lullel, brother to the earl of Orford, came over gover- 
 nor, with a regiment of regular troops, and fubfifted bv 
 the country ; he died anno 1 695, and Bond was prefident 
 until July 1698. 
 
 fnd«m P they !?"“¥ in . ^r^que at Col de fac Marine, plundered 
 nnfhlnT T boarda g ain * April 1 7 , they landed at St. Pierre did 
 
 thev unjuckii ret - Urned Barbadoes : and f n>n> thence to New-England j 
 they unluckily imported a malignant fever (from i6oz to 1608 Bar- 
 
 Engknd.° m,nUed f ‘ ck,y) fr0m thcnce t0 Newfoundland, and tome to 
 
 1(198, 
 
Sect. II. *» Korth-AmeRic a. ’ *25 
 
 . /r n o Tj a inh Grey, Efq •, brother to the Earl of 
 Tinker’,, He drived governor ^ he went to Englaml for 
 his health anno .701, and John Farmer, Efq, was pre 
 fklent and commander in chief. # i * 
 
 ‘ , 70 o Sir Bevil Grenville, appointed, governor ; his 
 
 home ialary was increased from uooL to z • p 
 sZl that he might not defire gratuities § from . & 
 country ; they alfo built for him a governor s houfe in 
 
 Fll f707, S Mdfo t rd 1 Crow, a London merchant, fucceeded 
 
 ‘ Un J* 71 1, Robert Lowthcr, Elq; fucceeded, and was con- 
 tinued upon the acceffion of king George I ; by reafon 
 of fcveral complaints (the chief compiler was the 
 Rev. Mr. Gordon of Bridgetown, an eminent Mrmtinico ‘ 
 trader) he was ordered, into the cuftody of a meiien 0 er, 
 and called to account in the proper courts of \\ eft mi 
 fter-hall, which cod him a confiderab e lum of money 
 This affair of my name-fake general Douglafs, of n 
 Leeward-iflands, may be a warning to all governors, 
 that they are liable to be called to account upon fmal 
 fqggefcons when their friends die, or are otherways out 
 
 ° f After a prefidentihip of feme continuances . Heory 
 Worflev, Elq; (who for fome time had been Butifh en- 
 voy at the court of Portugal) anno 1721, was f a ^'^ ( J 
 governor, befides his faiary of 2000I out of the four 
 and a half per cent , by his ffneffe the affembly voted him 
 6000/. per annum, during his government : they foon 
 found, that this was more than they could afford. There 
 intervened two commiffions which did not take effeft, 
 "iz Lord Irwin, who died of the <mall pox before he 
 fetout from England; and lord Belhaven, upon his 
 paffacre aboard the Royal-Anne galley, was caft aw^y 
 and drowned near the Lizard-point. 
 
 After this Sir Olando Bridgman and others were ap- 
 pointed, but never in poffeflion. 
 
 K 4 
 
 L. How 
 
i 36 Britifli and French Settlements PartI. 
 
 L. How was a much efteemed governor, and died in 
 Barbadoes. 
 
 1742, Sir Thomas Robinfon, of him we have not 
 much to fay. 
 
 1 747, Arrives Mr. Grenville governor ; over and 
 above his home falary, they allow him 3000/. per 
 annum, during his adminiftration, and to his fatisfaftion 
 
 Britifli Leeward ijlands. 
 
 I F. S E were firft dilcovered in the lecond voyage of 
 Columbus, the Spaniards defpifed them, and made no 
 fcttlements there: they were feverally fettled by the 
 Enghlh at different times, and are all under the com- 
 mand and infpedion of one governor-genera] ; in eacli 
 ofthe fouriflandsof Antigua, Montferrat, Nevis, and 
 M. Chriitophers, there is commifiioned from Great- 
 Bntain a lieutenant-governor ; in the fmall iflands are 
 militia captains, or capitaine de quartier, commiffioned 
 by the governor-general. 
 
 The general s commifilon is in this ftyle ; captain- 
 general and commander in chief of the iflands of Ar»ti- 
 gua, Montferrat, Nevis, St. Chriftopher’s, and all the 
 Canbbee- iflands from Guardeloupe to St. John de Porto 
 Kico. In the abfence of the captain-general and lieu- 
 tenant general (the lieutenant-general refides at St. Kit’s) 
 formerly the commander of Nevis, as being the oldeft 
 lettlernent, was commander in chief of thele Caribbee- 
 lllancis j but by a new regulation, the fenior of the lieu- 
 enant-governor, is to command. Each of the four 
 
 ° f “ g0Ver " 0r ’ 
 
 exSirrl? the f0U [ r n , d * half -^ cenL duty on produce 
 exported, are paid falaries per annum to the governor- 
 
 terj '°Tr h °r the ^ elltena nt-|overnors 
 an inftmA s ' P® S eneral Matthew s obtained 
 
 l a S ^ C ° n [ lderin S 1200/. per annum 
 was not a fuffioent and honourable fupport, he was al- 
 lowed 
 
I Sect. II. in North-America. 137 
 
 5 lowed to accept of additional gratuity falaries, and the 
 refpettive iflands fettled upon him during his admi- 
 
 I niftradon, viz. Antigua 1000/. Nevis 300/. St. Kit’s 
 800 1 . per annum ; Montferrat did not fettle the gratuity, 
 
 II but does generally give about 300 /. yearly : the perqui- 
 * fites are of the fame nature with Barbadoes. 
 
 » Anno 1736, in all the Leeward-iflands were 10,526 
 
 whites ; whereof fencible men in Antigua 1 500, in St. 
 Kit’s 1340, in Nevis 300, in Montferrat 360, in An- 
 guilla 80, in Spanilh-town, or Virgin Gorda 120. 
 if Soon after the reftoration, Lord Willoughby of Par- 
 
 is ham was governor-general of the Leeward- iflands, and 
 i at the fame time governor of Barbadoes. 
 t- Sir William Stapleton. 
 
 d j King James II appointed SirNathanael Johnfon; upon 
 
 i ! the revolution he abdicated and withdrew to Carolina, 
 i' and was fucceeded by 
 
 ti r Chriftopher Codrington, Efq; he died 1698, and was 
 
 e | fucceeded by his fon Chriftopher Codrington, Eiq; the 
 greateft proprietor in Antigua, a great proprietor in Bar- 
 badoes, and foie proprietor of the ifland ot Barbuda. 
 This family has been a great benefaftor in pious ufes and 
 e in feminaries for learning. 
 
 0 Sir William Mathews fucceeded Col. Codrington anno 
 
 [. 1 704 •, he died foon. 
 
 ; 1706 arrived for governor-general Col. Parks. He 
 
 had been Aid de Camp to the mod renowned duke of 
 t. Marlborough, and carried to the court of England the 
 
 news of the critical and great vittory at Hoehftet, near 
 
 1 the Danube in Germany ; anno 17*10, he was murdered 
 
 !, by an infurreftion of the people or inhabitants -, he is 
 
 faid to have been a vicious man, efpecially in his amours 
 
 2 with the planters wives. 
 
 .. He was fucceeded by Col. Walter Douglafs, who was 
 
 3 fuperleded anno 1714, and in the courts of Weftminfter- 
 
 j hall, was called to account for mal-adminiftration •, and 
 
 Nov. 19, 1716, by the court of King’s-bench, was fined 
 500 /. fterling, and five years imprifonment. 
 
 1714, 
 
Britifh and French Settlemints PartI. 
 
 1714, Col. Hamilton appointed governor. 
 
 To him fucceeded general Hart. 
 
 1726, To general Hart fucceeded Thomas Pit, Lord 
 Londonderry ; he died in Antigua September, 1729. 
 
 Lord Forbes, next Col. Colby were appointed. 
 
 April 1733, Matthews, formerly lieutenant-general, 
 is appointed captain-general, and is at prefent continued 
 in the adminiftration. 
 
 During thefe forty years laft and upwards, a regiment 
 of regular troops from Great-Britain, has been ftationed 
 in the Leeward-illands, always very incomplete ; our 
 troops, as alfo the French in the plantations, generally 
 fpeaking, are only corps of officers at a very great 
 charge. 
 
 Their medium, is produce at fettled prices from time 
 to time ; their calh confifts of black-dogs (old French 
 fols pieces) nine black-dogs make a ryal, eight ryals 
 make a light or current piece of eight, ten ryals make a 
 heavy piece of eight. 
 
 Antigua began to fettle about anno 1 632 ; generally 
 fettled by the moderate or low church, afterwards called 
 Whigs. May contain about 56,000 acres, 20,000 ne- 
 groes. No river ; fcarce any good fprings of frelh wa- 
 ter ; they generally ufe cittern water. The negro poll- 
 tax is generally very high; excife upon liquors imported 
 about 2000 L per annum. 
 
 Their aftembly, or lower houie, confifts of twenty-four 
 reprefentatives from eleven diftricts, viz. Four from the 
 diftriCt of St. John’s, and two from each of the other 
 diftriCts. Six parilhes ; each minifter or reCtor is allowed 
 as falary 16,000 wt. Mulcovado fugar, with a manfion- 
 houfe and glebe-land of ten or twelve acres. Only one 
 collection with four entry and delivery ports, viz. St. 
 Johns, Parham, halmouth, and Willoughby-Bay: the 
 collector keeps his office at St. John’s; where alfo refides 
 the furve-yor-general of the cuftoms of all the ifiands, 
 
 Jamaica 
 
Sect. II. in -North-America. r39 
 
 Jamaica excepted. About 250 vefiels enter in per 
 
 annum. 
 
 Courts of juftice. For common law, there are two 
 precincts, St. John’s and Falmouth, each one judge, and 
 four afiiftants ; there is alfo a court-merchant, being a 
 fummary way of difpatching debts, owing to tranfient 
 traders. The governor and council are the judges of 
 errors, chancery, and probates. 
 
 St. John’s is a good harbour, fmooth water, with good 
 wharfs ; Englifli harbour, lately fortified by the care of 
 commodore Charles Knowles, is a fafe retreat for king’s 
 lhips and others. 
 
 Chief produce is fugar and fome cotton ; no indigo.- 
 
 Montserrat is a fmall hilly ifland, fettled moftly 
 by Irifh, two thirds Roman Catholics * about 4500 ne- 
 groes •, their whole annual charge of government does 
 not much exceed 1500/. per annum: not above five 
 vefiels per annum export their produce. One collection 
 at Plymouth, have three entry and delivery-ports, viz. 
 Plymouth, Old-harbour, and Kers-bay : three parifhes 
 four divifions ; each divifion fends two reprefentatives, 
 being eight in all the parifh minifters have 130/. per 
 annum from the country-treal'ury. Two regiments of 
 foot, one troop, and horfe-militia. 
 
 Courts of judicature. For common pleas only one 
 precinCt court held at Plymouth : the firfi: court to 
 which a cate or aCtion is brought, is called a court of 
 grace (the inferior courts of the province of Mafiachu.- 
 fetts-Bay in New-England, in fome refpeCt may be called 
 courts of grace; the next court is a court of judg- 
 ment, and may appeal to a third court * their grand 
 lefiion confifts of the lieutenant-governor, council, and 
 chief judge. 
 
 Their fiugars are very ill cured in calk-, are fold green, 
 retaining much molafies : a planner, if much prelfed by 
 a merchant for debt, in five or fix days from cutting the 
 
 canes, 
 
140 Britifh and French Settlements PartI. 
 
 canes, the fugars are aboard. They plant alio feme cotton, 
 and much indigo of the iron colour or worft fort •, have 
 four crops of indigo per annum •, viz. April, Midfum- 
 mer, Michaelmas, and Chriftmas. 
 
 Nevis is one conical hill *, good harbour, but great 
 furf at landing, as is generally in the Weft-Indies ; have 
 about 6000 negroes (the French fquadron, under M. 
 d’Iberville, in queen Anne’s war carried off fo many 
 negroes as were afterwards fold to the Sparniards for 
 400,000 pieces of eight. Only one colle&ion at Charles- 
 Town ; three entry and delivery ports, viz. Charles- 
 Town, Morton ’s-Bay, and Newcaftle ; they load about 
 twenty vefiels per annum for Europe. 
 
 Five diviftons or parilhes ; each divifion fends three 
 reprefentatives, in all fifteen aflembly men. Judicature, 
 only one precindt ; courts as in Antigua. 
 
 They cure their fugar in fquare potts, is better than 
 that of Montferrat ; lome cotton ; no indigo, no ginger; 
 ciftern-water chiefly. 
 
 St. Christopher’s about three or four leagues from 
 Nevis. Upon its eaft end are falt-ponds and many fmall 
 naked hills. The French formerly were in poffeflion of 
 its eaft end to Palmetto-point, and of its weft end to near 
 Sandy-point; but by the treaty of Utrecht anno 1713, 
 quit-claimed the whole to Great -Britain. Have only 
 one collection at Old-road, the court or fhire-town ; feve- 
 ral entering and delivery ports : Bafie-terre Ihips off 
 moft, next for Ihipping off is Sandy-point. They bring 
 their fugars to the Ihipping places in hogfheads, not in 
 bags, as in Nevis and Montferrat : they fhip off much 
 molafies ; do not raife much cotton ; no indigo, no 
 ginger : they run much fugar aboard the Dutch inter- 
 lopers at Statia, to fave the four and a half per cent, the 
 plantation duties, &V. 
 
 1 
 
 May 
 
Sect. II. *» North-America. 4 4 l 
 
 Mav have about 2 5,000 negroes ; about nine partfhes, 
 each lends two aflembly men. Good river-water from 
 the mountains. 
 
 Virgin-Islands. The eaftermoft is called St.Thomas, 
 at nrefent in the poffeflion of the Danes ; a good har- 
 bour, fcarce any furf at landing good careening at this 
 ifland ; a good town-, the governor is Luthe^n; the 
 congregation and mother tongue is low Dutch, 
 ifland is finall -, they raife cotton and fugar ; it is a neu- 
 tral and free port, feme fay, to prates not ex- cepted. 
 Salt-kev from which fome veffels bring i alt. —St. John s 
 ifland two or three gentlemen of Antigua have a patent 
 for • they raife cotton, and cut junk- wood, or lignum 
 vitae —Tortola produces the fame.— Beef-ifland cuts 
 iunk-wood. — Spanilh-Town, or Virgin Gorda, is the 
 weftermoft of the Virgins ; they plant cotton only, being 
 a mixture of Curafo white and yellow revel indifferently 
 planted together. 
 
 Other fmall Wands draggling between i V |f j"? 
 
 St. Chriltophers, -viz. Anagada n0 %f'^A am S 
 nnt fettled • Anguilla raifes cotton i St. Martin s , to 
 Dutfh on one part, and feme Fmnchod pother pa« a 
 St. Bartholomew, a neutral ifland not ffttl » * 
 
 the property of Codrington, is improved for grazing. 
 
 JAMAICA. 
 
 Tamaica is a long oval of about fifty leagues in 
 length the difeoverer Columbus, and his hws were pro- 
 prietors of the ifland : he called it St. Jago or St. Ja , 
 
 M rent rdmWPen 
 and general Venables with a conlklerable fea and land- 
 
 M Sovereign power, fluently ,”t” 
 
 (honour and honelty.) Th«, the Spaniard., ,nth.fp™S 
 
142 Britifli and French Settlements Part!. 
 
 force, to annoy the Spanilh Weft-Indies : they mifcarried 
 at St. Domingo; but reduced Jamaica, anno] 655, which 
 remains with the Englifh to this day. 
 
 Jamaica is much fubjeft to hurricanes and earth- 
 quakes. Anno 1693, Port-Royal, during an earthquake 
 was iwallowed up : it may be fuppofed, that for many 
 years preceding, the lea did gradually undermine it 
 and upon occalion of this earthquake Port-Royal fub- 
 lidecl. 1 
 
 They carry on a confiderable illicit but profitable trade 
 to the Spanilh Main, and return pieces of eio-ht • and 
 with the French of Hifpaniola or St. Doming the re- 
 turns are moftly indigo. 
 
 7 P n rt '^;° 7 al ¥■ J a , maica is 76 D. 37 M. weft from 
 -London \h] y and in about 18 D. 30 M. N. Iat. 
 
 The quit- rents were generoufiy given by the crown, 
 to the treafury or revenue of the ifland. lands granted 
 before anno 1684, were at 2 s. 6 d. per 100 acres 
 quit-rent ; the new grants are a half-penny per acre per 
 annum quit-rent. The rent-roll was loft, or pretended 
 
 fiege to Gibraltar; the French lately refortified Dunkirk, before any 
 
 War * L her V an be "° 0ther reftraint u P° n P rinces but a 
 balance of power: thus France, a nation too potent, can never be 
 
 bound over to the peace without being d.fmembered. 
 
 P il ^ a ” ie ec lipfe of the moon June 1 722, obferved by captain 
 lT rl^a* L hC ^ aun , cefton man of war at Port- Royal in Januica P and 
 ferS n fi ft h Ph f Cr V CH 3t Berl ‘ n '"Brandenburg of Germany, allowing 
 Berlin fifty- two horary minutes eall of London. The difference of 
 
 tWO l PlafeS f Tu by aftual obfervation of the fame 
 theceIeIlial bodies, called luminaries, 
 an obfcvartnn nf fame phenomenon, is more exaft, than where 
 tte odS Thn c r^ J° r < r, ne J > !r Ce ’ 3nd 3 ca ’ ailalio " from tables for 
 and Bolton or Camhl Ha lhe ,^.^ renc . e of longitude, between London 
 eclipfe of the mn 1 a ^J oinm £* ,s well determined by the fame 
 5 E llS Marcb, 5 ’ ', 7 ‘ 7; obferved at Cambridge "ear 
 a 1 , r by Thomas R obre, fellow and tutor in the college there • 
 
 Caffiaiandde U H,„. ac.d.mSf of Ito 
 4.0 Sec Ac p/ • CCS ; 0 thc d ^ erence in time was 4 H. cc M. 
 the horary difFeren 1S ^ k ^orary ealt of London ; therefore 
 
 * ; :/J 
 
 to 
 
SEtfT. II. to Nortk-America. *4'3 
 
 to be loft, in the great earthquake, and never fettled 
 fince • the quit-rents fometimes amount to 2000 /. per 
 annum. Their revenue ads are temporary, but for a 
 long period •, thefe ads made anno 1684, expired 
 anno 1722, and were not renewed and confirmed (by 
 the intereft and application of governor Hunter) t 1 
 
 3n A few years fince in Jamaica were 3000 fencible men 
 white, in nine regiments, befides eight independent com- 
 panies of regular troops •, 100 men per company is their 
 full compliment. The receiver-general, Mr. Crols, feme 
 years fince in Bofton for his health, told me, that fome 
 
 Vears he had 90,000 negroes in his lift. 
 
 y From Jamaica are exported fugar about 2 5000, 
 ho£*fheads, very large, fome of a ton weight •, lately Z ^ C Y 
 ET Xred freights from number of .hogtteads, to 
 weight, an, I their hogfheads will be Imaller mconfequejce 
 They have only water-mills and cattle-mills for their 
 can es v about nineteen pariflies. Lately they begin to 
 raife fome coffee, and have planted iome logwood trees 
 There is always ftationed here a fquadion or Britifti 
 men of war, generally under the command of an ad- 
 miral The governor has a Handing .alary 01 2500/. 
 per annum out of the country treafury in ^courfe : die 
 affembly generally allow him a gratuity of 2500 1. per 
 Lum more s thefe with efchcats and all other perquiftta, 
 do make it a government ot about 10 , 000 1 - ptr 
 
 Duke of Albemarle concerned in Sir \V llham Phips 
 filhing for a Spanilh plate wreck, had good fuccefti 
 and in cafe fitch another fitting voyage lhould ptefent 
 that he might be near at hand, obtained the government 
 of Jamaica : he foon died, and was fucceeded by colonel 
 
 “S£ the revolution, anno 1690, the earl of Jnchi- 
 quin was appointed governor •, he died upon the tfiand, 
 L was fucceeded by Sir William Beefton, heutenant- 
 governor and commander in chief, anno 1692 , hedi 
 
 anno 1700. Major- 
 
144 Britifh and French Settlements Part I. 
 
 Major-general Selwin was appointed captain-general 
 and governor 1701 ; he died Toon. 
 
 1702, the earl of Peterborough (famous in queen 
 Anne’s wars in Spain) was appointed captain-general of 
 the ifland, and admiral in the Weft-India iflands; he 
 never fet out for this government, and colonel Handafyde 
 was appointed lieutenant-governor of Jamaica. Anno 
 1 696, Ponti, with a French fquadron, made afeint againft 
 Jamaica, but without making any real attempt ; he put 
 off for Carthagena, where he had good fuccefs. 
 
 1710, Lord Archibald Hamilton was appointed go- 
 vernour, and fuperfeded the command of colonel Handa- 
 lyde ; he was continued anno 1714, upon king George 
 die firft’s acceflion. 
 
 1716, Mr. Pit (formerly governor of fort St. George 
 in the Eaft-Indies, commonly called Diamond Pit) 
 was appointed governor, and colonel Otway lieutenant 
 governor. 
 
 1717, Mr. Pit refigns in favour of Mr. Laws a planter, 
 afterwards Sir Nicholas Laws •, colonel Dubourgay lieu- 
 tenant-governor, About this time the militia of Jamaica 
 were difpofed into one regiment horfe, eight regiments 
 foot. 
 
 1721, Duke of Portland appointed governor (a retreat 
 from South-fea difafters) he died in fummer 172 6, and 
 was fucceeded by 
 
 Colonel Hunter, who went thither, by advice of his 
 phyficians, for his health ; and thereby did certainly ob- 
 tain a reprieve for fome years. 
 
 I 734 -> Upon col. Hunter’s death, Henry Cunningham, 
 anno x 734, went governor ; but foon died after his arrival. 
 
 * 73 ^> Edward Trelawney, Efq; appointed governor; 
 anno 1 744, he was appointed colonel of a regiment of 
 foot to be railed in England, for his good i’ervices. He 
 continues governor at this time 1747. 
 
 Bahama- 
 
r Sect. II. in North-America; 145 
 
 sal 
 
 B A H A M A -I S L A N D S, 
 
 &Q 
 
 to Commonly called the government of Providence, the 
 
 ^ principal ifland. One of thefeiflands, called St. Salvador 
 
 ^ or Cat-ifland, was the firft difcovery that Columbus made 
 
 ^ in America. 
 
 They were granted by the crown of England to the 
 ‘Jfi eight proprietors of Carolina, anno 1663*, but as the 
 proprietors took no care to prevent enemies and pirates 
 f from harbouring and rendezvoufing there, anno 1 710, it 
 
 ^ was refolved in the council of Great-Britain, 4C That 
 
 ^ the queen do take the Bahama-iflands into her im- 
 
 <c mediate protection, and fend a governor to fortify 
 wj €€ Providence.” 
 
 ft, The proprietors formerly granted a leafe of thefe 
 
 us: i (lands to a number of merchants called the Bahama- 
 
 company : this turned to no account, 
 inter, In the fpring anno 1720, there fet out from the 
 
 fc Havanna an expedition of 1200 men in fourteen vefTels 
 
 m againft Providence and South-Carolina ; they vifited 
 
 ess Providence without doing any damage, and were fcq.t- 
 
 tered in a ftorm. 
 
 5$ The banks belonging to this clutter of i (lands and 
 
 keys are called Bahama-banks, and made the eaftfide 
 of the gulph-ftream of Florida ; Providence the^ cnjsf 
 ft ifland where the governor and garrifon are ftationed, 
 
 fot lies in about 25 D. N. lat. It is a place of 110^ trade, 
 
 and feems to be only a preventive fetdement, that pi- 
 in, rates and privateers may not harbour mere, and that tlie 
 
 jyjl, Spaniards may not be matters of both lides the gulph- 
 
 m ftreams. Their fmall trade has been Brazilctto, che- 
 
 tol wood, cortex Elutherae from the ifland of that name, 
 
 H; fait from Exeuma, and ambergris by-drift-whales: at 
 
 prefent they afford lea-turtle, limes, and lour oranges, 
 for the Bons Vivants of North-America. 
 
 They have one company of independent regular 
 ,, troops from Great-Britain. Capt. Woods Rogers, com- 
 
 Vol. I. L modore 
 
,4 (J Britifli and French Settlements Part I. 
 
 modore of the two famous Briftol South-fea privateers, 
 in the end of queen Anne’s reign, was, anno 1717, ap- 
 pointed governor with an independent company. 1721, 
 he was fuperfeded by Capt. Finny. 1728, upon Capt. 
 Finny’s death, Capt. Woods Rogers is again appointed 
 <r G vernor. Capt. Rogers died anno 1733, and Richard 
 Fitz- Williams, Efq } is appointed governor. Fitz- 
 Williams refigned anno 1738, and John Tinker, Efq; 
 fon-in-law to Col. Bladen, late of the board of trade, 
 fucceeded ; and continues governor at this prefent writ- 
 ing, Auguft 1 747* 
 
 BERMUDAS. 
 
 TM IS name is faid to be from John Bermudas a Spani- 
 ard, who difcovered it, in his way to the Weft-Indies. 
 Henry IVlay, a paflenger aboard Barbotier, caft away here, 
 1593, and tarried five months, we do not mention, be- 
 caufe of no confequence. Sir George Sommers and Sir 
 Thomas Gates, adventurers in the Virginia company, 
 were fhipwrecked here 1609? found abundance of hogs ; 
 a certain fign that the Spaniards had been there ; thefe 
 iflands are fome times called fn public writings Som- 
 mers, or corruptly SurrlTner-i (lands. Some gentlemen 
 obtained a character from king James I. and became pro- 
 prietors of it : Mr. Moor was their firft governor ; Mr. 
 Thomas Smith appointed governor 1612, and after three 
 years, fucceeded by Capt. Daniel 1 ucker 1616. Mr. 
 Richard Norwood, afurveyor, was fent over by the com- 
 pany to make divifions; 1618 he divided it into eight 
 tribes, by the names of the eight proprietors or ad- 
 venturers, viz. Marquis of Hamilton, Sir i homas Smith 
 many years treafurer, earl of Devon Or ire, earl of Pem- 
 broke, lord Paget, earl of Warwick, earl of Southam- 
 ton, and Sir Edwin Sands. Each tribe was divided 
 into fifty lhares ; every adventurer to have his fhare by 
 calling of lots in England, fome had from one to twelve 
 fli ares ; befides a great deal of land left for common 
 
Sect. II. in North-Am erica.' 147 
 
 or public ufes ; each (hare confifted of about twenty-five 
 acres, and remains fo to this day ; the value of a lhare is 
 joo to 500 1. proclamation money ; no wheel-carriages, 
 no enclofures ; they tether their cattle ; high ways only 
 from five to feven feet wide. 
 
 At firft they went upon tobacco, as the humour then 
 was in all the Weft-India iflands — 1619, Capt. Butler, 
 with a large recruit of fettlers from England, was go- 
 vernor, and the legifiature was fettled in governor, 
 council, and aflembly ; being formerly in a governor 
 and council. 
 
 Anno 1698, Samuel Day, Efq; was governor; anno 
 1 700, Capt. Bennet was appointed governor. 
 
 Theprefent governor is Popple, Elq; Anno 1747, 
 
 upon his brother’s death he fucceeded, his brother 
 Alured Popple, Efq; formerly fecretary to the board of 
 trade and plantations; was appointed lieutenant-governor 
 (the commander in chief is defigned only lieutenant- 
 governor) anno 1737. 
 
 Bermudas is in 32 D. 30 M. N. lat. about 65 D. 
 weft from London, lies 200 to 300 leagues diftance from 
 the neareft lands, viz. New-England, Virginia, South- 
 Carolina, and Providence, or the Bahama-iflands. Tide 
 flows five feet ; is well fecured by funken rocks, but wa- 
 ter fufficient, in narrow channels and turnings requiring 
 a good pilot. Their only l'ettlement of notice is upon 
 St. George’s-ifland, about fixteen miles long from E. N. 
 E. to W. S. W. fcarce a league wide in the broadeft 
 place ; in fome places the fpray of the fea crofles the 
 ifland. The winds from the north to the north-weft, are 
 the moft prevalent; lubjeift to fmart gufts of wind, 
 thunder, and lightning. March, April, and May is 
 their whaling time, but of no confiderable account ; 
 their whale-oil and ambergris are inconfiderable ; the 
 governor has a perquifite from the royal fifli about 10/. 
 per whale. 
 
 In Bermudas there may be about 5000 whites ; their 
 fenfible men not much exceeding 1000 men, and many 
 
 L 2 of 
 
-j. 3 Britifh and French Settlements PartI. 
 
 of thefe generally at fea •, their militia confift of ioo 
 horfe, and one company of foot from each of the eight 
 tribes •, there is in garrifon one company of independent 
 regular troops from Great -Britain always incomplete (as 
 are all our plantation-troops for want of a proper check) 
 the perquifite of the governor. 
 
 Their diet is mean, and the people generally poor, 
 {imply honeft-, but gay in a ruftic manner (Bermudas 
 giggs) they have the bell: breed -of negroes, equal to 
 white men in their navigation. 
 
 Their trade is of fmall account; they build their own 
 {loops of cedar [z] of their own growth ; fit for ufe in 
 twenty years intervals or growth ; their keel-pieces, 
 wales, and beams are of oak ; their mails are of white 
 pine, from New-England. 
 
 Their chief bufinefs is building Hoops of cedar, their 
 own growth, light runners ; their exports are inconfidera- 
 ble, viz. fome pot-herbs and roots for the other parts of 
 America ; a white chalk-ftone eafily chifeled for build- 
 ing gentlemens houfes in the Weft-Jndia iflands ; Pal- 
 metto [k] leaves manufactured into plait, better than the 
 ftraw-work of Italy and of nuns in fome countries : 
 they are noted for going to fifh upon Spanifh wrecks ; 
 they excel in diving [/]. 
 
 This ifland ('or rather iHands) is generally healthful. 
 The famous Mr. Waller, a gentleman of fortune and 
 wit, a member of the long parliament, refided here 
 
 [/] Cedrus Burmudiana , vulgo H. J uni pcrus Burmudiana, H. L. Ber 
 mudas cedar \ it is harder than the cedar of Carolina and Virginia , 
 they are all diftinft fpecies, as are the red and white cedars or 
 New England : we fhall give a more clafiic, praftical, or mechanic 
 and commercial account of them when we come to treat of timber and 
 nava! (lores ufed in, and exported from, New-England. 
 
 [A] Palma pruvifera Bermud. (of the palms fome are cocciferous, 
 fome pruniferous) with a very long and wide leaf. 
 
 [/ Bermudas is noted for divers: an Indian born there of Florida 
 parents, dived eighteen fathom (common diving is eight to ten fathom) 
 and clapped lalhings to an anchor j was near three minutes under 
 water ; upon his emerfion or coming up, he bled much at mouth, nofe, 
 and ears. 
 
 fome 
 
Sect. II. in North-America. *49 
 
 fome years during the civil wars of England, and fays of 
 Bermudas, 
 
 [ra] None fickly lives, or dies before his time ; 
 
 So fweet the air, fo moderate the clime. 
 
 |W| This notion of a healthful climate, gave occafion to a late 
 
 fcheme proiefled by a whimfical man, dean B ly, fmce bilhop o 
 
 Q ne in Ireland, of founding in Bermudas an univerfity college or 
 
 feminary for the education ot the Britifh American youth I ro- 
 ieftors are generally inconfiderate, rafh, and run too faft He did no 
 confider that places for health are accommodated for valetudinarians 
 and old people ; whereas young people where the ftamina vita: are 
 good, feldom want health, as at Harvard-college in Cambridge, near 
 Horton in New-England, not exceeding one or two per cent, per annum 
 die ; that this place is of very difficult accefs or navigation ; does not 
 produce a fufficiency for the prefent parfimomous inhabitants. I Ins 
 abllrafted notion feems only adequate to the conceptions of a common 
 fchool-mafter, to keep his boys together (as a lhepherd does by fold- 
 ing of his Iheep) while they learn to read F.pgl (h, and labour at the 
 rudiments of the Latin language; when as young gentlemen Undents 
 of the belles lettres, civil hitlory, natural hiftory, or any of the three 
 learned profeffions, requite a larger field than that of a fmall lfland 
 divulfed (if we may fo exprefs it) from the world or continents of the 
 earth. He hired a (hip, put on board a good library (lome part of it 
 he bountifully bellowed upon the colleges of Maffachufetts- Bay and 
 Conneflicut in New-England) and in company with fome gentlemen 
 of oreat worth, after a tedious winter paffage, put in at Rhode-ifland, 
 a fmall colony of New-England ; built a kind of a cell, I wed there a 
 reclufe life for fome time, until this fit of Enthusiasm defervelecd, 
 a-nd, convinced of the idlenefs of the whim, did not proceed, but re- 
 
 There are^enthufiails in all affair 1 of life; this man of himfelf was 
 an enthufiaft in many affairs of life ; not confined to religion and the 
 education of youth, he invaded another of the learned profeffions, 
 Medicine, which, in a peculiar manne-, is called the learned pro- 
 feffion • he publilhed a book called Sins [the ratio nomims I cannot in- 
 veftieate) or tar-water, an univerfal medicine or panacea ; he never 
 knew it fail, if copioufl/ adminillered, of curing any fever; whereas 
 many fevers, w *. that of the plague, of the fmall-pox, with fymp- 
 toms of purples and general hemorrhages, ^ in their own nature 
 to moft conftitutions from firft feizore are mortal, by an umverlal 
 necrofis or fudden blaft of the conllitution. It cures the murrain, rot 
 and all other malignant difterr.pers amongft cattle, fheep. Or. f he 
 continued or long uie of it doe- violence to the conllitution ; in afthmas 
 and rheumatic dil'orders, a fhort ufe of it has been beneficial, but our 
 materia medica affords more efficacious and fafe medicines ; it is at 
 
 L 3 t ormeriy 
 
J5° Bridfli and French Settlements PartI. 
 
 Formerly pine-apples, and fome other delicious fruits 
 of the Caribbee-iflands, were cultivated in Bermudas ; 
 by cutting down the timber and wood, the ifland is be- 
 come fo open and expofed to the bleak winds, that tender 
 exotics do not thrive. 
 
 prefent almoft worn out of fafhion. Tar is only turpentine by fire 
 rendered of a cauftic quality 5 whereas turpentine (and confequently its 
 water or decodlion) by the experience of many ages, has been found a 
 mod beneficent, medicinal, natural balfam. 
 
 He ought to have checked this officious genius (unlefs in his own 
 profeflion way he had acquired this nolfrum by infpiration) from in- 
 ' truding into the affairs of a diftindt profeflion. Should a dodlor in 
 medicine pradtice ^public praying and preaching (though only in a 
 quack or W— d vagrant manner) with pious, private, ghoftly advice 
 and exhortations to his patients, alias penitents, the clergy would im- 
 mediately take the alarm, and ufe their Bruta Fulmina againfl this 
 other profeflion. This feems to be well expreffed in a London news- 
 paper by way of banter or ridicule : 
 
 The bifhop’s book annoys the learned tribe: 
 
 They threaten hard, “ We’ll preach, if you prefcribe.” 
 
 As his Bermudas college projedlion, and his refidence in New- 
 England, have rendered him famous in North* America, perhaps it 
 
 may not be impertinent to give fome further hiftory of Mr. B ly, 
 
 in his proper charadter as a divine : I fhall take it from his Minute 
 Philofopher, a book compofed in New-England, and confine it to his 
 wild notions of myfferies in religion. He fays, that from a certain 
 enthufiafm in human nature all religions fprout ; from the faith 
 which children have in the diredtions of their parents ; from the great 
 fhare that faith has in the policy of nations (he means the Arcana 
 Imperii) and in common commerce or trade, we are led to faith 
 in religious revelations. Since we cannot explain many obvious 
 things in nature, why fhould we be obliged to do fo in religion ? In 
 a very loofe exprcflion, he compares mylteries in religion to the en- 
 thufiaflic, and to demonffration non- entities of the philofopher’s Hone 
 in chcmiftry, and of perpetual motion in mechanics. The abftradted 
 idea of a triangle is as difficult as that of the trinity ; that of the com- 
 munication of motion, as difficult as that of the communication of 
 grace. We ought to have the fame reafon for trufting the Priest in 
 religion, that we have for trufting the lawyer or phyfician with our 
 fortune or life ; thus every man ought to have a liberty of chufing his 
 own prieft and religion. This is too genera] a toleration, and puts an 
 £nd to all focial religion. 
 
 To conclude, the right reverend the bifhop of Cl — ne, notwithftand- 
 ing his peculiarities, is a nioft generous, beneficent, and benevolent 
 gentleman, as appears by his donations in New-England. 
 
 SECT, 
 
Sect. III. 
 
 in North-Americ a. 
 
 *5* 
 
 SECT. HI. 
 
 Concerning the Indian tribes and nation. r, inter- 
 mixed with , under the protection of, and ^ al- 
 liance with , Great-Britain : aljo Jome hints of the 
 French Indians. 
 
 rr'HAT the contents of this feftion may be the 
 
 Tmoreeamy comprehended, perhaps ■« ■ £ 
 
 convenient to diftinguifli it into tome feparate articles. 
 Ta mnerafwtorfof theWeft-Indians, or aboriginal 
 Americans, a. Their religion, 
 
 idem more of North- 
 America 4 Their wars with, and incurfrons upon, 
 theBritifh North- America colonies. 
 
 Article I. 
 
 A general hiftory of the aboriginal Americans. 
 
 A S to the origin of things, particularly of 
 A we have no other account in credit with ehritans, 
 
 Sh«her allegorical or literal is i " ot , “Jabkor rdirion. 
 of Mofes in the fcriptural books of our Bib I g 
 
 Doubtlefs there have been at times ?[ 11 
 
 univerfal peftilences, famines, deluges, impli tc ib e w 
 which have alinoft extinguilhed the 
 
 ssrepxsem ‘ ■■ 
 
 tions, and empires. 
 
 [»] From a country or continent^ 
 
 we may mveftigate the various deg and their government was 
 
 they were only dillintt families, left Ifolc, and tneir a Thq 
 
 vj 4 *■ 
 
152 Britlfli and French Settlements PartI. 
 
 The boundaries of their united tribe* .ailed nations 
 or empires, are natural, viz. feas, bays, lakes, great 
 rivers, high mountains ; thus for inftance, our neigh- 
 
 patriarchial, that is, by heads of families : thefe heads, of families foon 
 became acquainted and neighbourly, and for mutual protedlion and 
 good neighbourhood, entered into alfociations, by us called tribes, 
 cantons, or clans : feveral of thefe tribes, upon fufpicion of fome am- 
 bitious defign of fome neighbouring powerful tribes, or confederacy 
 of tribes, for their better defence were obliged to enter into a federal 
 union, and at length were incorporated into one general diredlion called 
 a nation or empire. Perhaps we may fuppofe that fuch were the em- 
 pires of Mexico and Peru in America. 
 
 Sir lfaac Newton, in hts chronology of ancient kingdoms amended, 
 by his incomparable fagacity inveftigates, that in ancient times Greece 
 and all Europe were peopled by wandering Cimerians and Scythians ; 
 the emigrations or excurfions which jn feveral ages have occafioncd re- 
 volutions, and new-peopling of the fouthern parts of Europe : Goths, 
 Vandals &c. came from thence by fwarfhing, that is, leaving their 
 native country for want of room or fubfiftence. Northern countries 
 are the leaft liable to the abovementioned calamities, and may be called 
 nurferies : they had lived a rambling life, like the Tartars, in the 
 northern parts of Afia. 
 
 We fhould have previoufly obferved, that mankind is naturally a 
 grcgar.ous animal, does not love folitude, but has a drong pallion or 
 propenfity for fociety ; their natural reafon, and capacity of fpeech or 
 communication of thoughts, inclines them to it. 
 
 Dr. Heylin, from him mod of our modern hidorians of this kind 
 tramcribe, gives a very eafy novel manner of the peopling the feveral 
 nations from the poderity of Noah ; we fhall not impofe this upon our 
 readers. He fays the Americans proceeded from Noah, by way of 
 Tiirtary. 
 
 Others publifh their conjedlures, that North- America was peopled 
 from Scythia and Tartary; that South- America was peopled from 
 China and Japan, without reflecting, that according to the fituation of 
 thefe countries it is impracticable ; our modern large fhips cannot per- 
 form the navigation from China in lefs than fix or feven months : how 
 can ic be performed in Canoes ? The Americans had no large em- 
 barkations; this requires no ferious animadverfions. 
 
 . Some authors wliimfically alledge, that the Phoenicians or Carthagi- 
 nians might have been drove thither by fome continued frefli eafterly 
 winds; but the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Grecians, Romans, and 
 Arabians, who were fucceflively the great navigators, make no mention 
 Ca America ; and upon our arrival in America, we could not find the 
 lead monument or token of their ever being there. 
 
 1 here fore we can carry the hiflory of the American countries no 
 higher than Columbus’s dilcovery, anno 1492, See p. 2 5. 63. 
 
 bouring 
 
Sect. III. North-America. x 53 
 
 bouring nation of Abnaquies are bounded ' by the Atlan- 
 tic ocean, or rather at prefent by the Enghffi iettle- 
 ments upon the Atlantic fhore, by the bay of Fundi, by 
 the great river St. Laurence, by lake Champlain and 
 
 Hudlon’s river. . f1 r . 
 
 The tribes which, at lead nominally, compofe their 
 general denomination of a nation, are generally named 
 from the rivers upon which they live •, as in Lapland 
 of Sweden, the Laplanders are diftingtufhed by the 
 names of the rivers Uma, Pitha, Lula, larneo, and 
 
 As China feems to be elder brother of all the na- 
 tions of mankind as to their politia and improvements 
 1 in nature ; fo America may, with much propriety, e 
 called the youngeft brother and meaneft of mankind •, 
 no civil government, no religion, no letters-, the 
 French call them les homines des hois , or men-brutes of 
 the foreft : they do not cultivate the earth by plant- 
 ing or grazing, excepting a very inconfiderable quan- 
 tity of maye or indian corn, and of kidney-beans , in 
 New-England they are called Indian beans) which fome 
 of their fquaas or women plant.-, they do n^provie 
 for to-morrow, their hunting is their neceilary^ lubuft- 
 ence, not diverfion -, when they have good luck in hunt- 
 ing, they eat and deep until all is coniumed, and then go 
 
 “ The Wgter"riK latitudes, the Indians are fewer in 
 numbers and more draggling, nature not affording ne- 
 ceffary fubfiftence for many, and only in imall bodies 01 
 herds : their trade or commerce is trying, having no 
 produce, no manufacture, but litde game; the difficulty 
 of fubfifting requires a 1 molt their wnole time to provu. 
 
 f ° Excmting that conftitution of body, which by ufe 
 they have acquired from their birth, of enduring hard- 
 ffiips of hunger and weather -, they are tender, and noc 
 long-lived, and generally very Ample and ignorant; 
 fo me of their old men, by ufe and experience in the 
 
154 Briti(h and French Settlements PartI, 
 world, acquire a confiderable degree of fagacity. New 
 neo-roes from Guinea generally exceed them much in 
 conftitution of body and mind. In the province of Maf- 
 fachufletts Bay New-England, there was formerly a very 
 good project or defign, to educate at college fome of 
 their molt promifing youths, to ferve as miflionaries for 
 civilizing, inftrufting, and converting of the wild In- 
 dians : this good purpofe turned abortive from the ten- 
 dernefs of their conftitution and aukwardnefs in learning, 
 and at prefent is laid alide. 
 
 They are not fo polite as the wandering Tartars; no 
 dairies. Like the wild Irilh they dread labour more 
 than poverty ; like dogs they are always either eating or 
 fleeping, excepting in travelling, hunting, and their 
 dances ; their (loth and indolence inclines them to fot- 
 tilhnefs ; before chriftians arrived amongft them, they 
 had no knowledge of ftrong drink •, this chriftian vice 
 not only deftroys their bodily health, and that of their 
 progeny, but creates feuds, outrages, and horrid mur- 
 ders. They are much given to deceit and lying, fo 
 as fcarce to be believed when they fpeak truth. See 
 annotations, page x 1 6 . Their temper is the reverfe 
 of the Eaft-Indies, whereof fome cafts or feels will not 
 kill any animal ; the Weft-Indians or Americans are 
 barbarous, and upon fmall provocations kill their own 
 fpecies ; fome of them exceed in barbarity, and in re- 
 venge and fury eat the flelh of their enemies, not from 
 hunger or delicacy ; fuch formerly were the Florida In- 
 dians ; they faid that the flefh of the Englifh eat mellow 
 and tender, that of the Spaniard hard and tough, the 
 Bermudian fifhy. 
 
 The aboriginal Americans have no honefty, no honour, 
 that is, they are of no faith, but mere brutes in that 
 refpedt. They generally have great fortitude of mind ; 
 without any appearance of fear or concern, they fuffer 
 any torture and death. In revenge they are barbarous 
 and implacable ; they never forget nor forgive injuries ; 
 it one man kills another, the neareft in kindred to the 
 
 murdered 
 
Sect. III. in North-Amer ic a.' ?$3 
 
 murdered watches an opportunity to kill the murderer ; 
 and the death of one man may occafion the deaths ot 
 many; therefore when a man is guilty or murder, he 
 generally leaves the tribe, and goes into a voluntary 
 kind of baniftment. They are a fullen clofe people. 
 The Indian wars ought to be called mafiacres, or in- 
 human barbarous outrages, rather than neceflary acts ot 
 
 Th/lndians have their hunting, fowling and fifhing 
 grounds ; by a forked pointed pole, they ftnke or har- 
 poon their fifh ; but their wives and children refide mo t- 
 ly on their planting grounds-, they plant but little. 
 They do not wander like the Tartars ; there are laid 
 to be fome wandering Indians they cannot be many j 
 becaufe the fettling Indians are very jealous ot their 
 hunting and fifhing grounds or properties. 
 
 Their ancient navigation was only eroding of rivers 
 upon bark logs-, travelling along rivers, rivulets, and 
 fides of lakes in canoes or fchuyties, portable by two 
 men in their carrying-places from one river or pond 
 to another; they are of birch-bark upon ribs of aft, 
 fowed together by fome tough wooden fibies, and 
 paid (as failors exprefs it) with rofin from fome pine 
 kind -, they ufe no fails and oars, only paddles and letting- 
 poles they are capable of carrying a man, his wife, 
 children, and baggage. Narrow nvers are better 'ravel- 
 lino- than ponds or lakes, becaufe upon the lakes, it 
 ftormy or much wind, they cannot proceed, but mull 
 
 put to the Ihore. _ , r „ 
 
 Many of our intermixed Indians are of good uie a. 
 
 fervants. It is obfervable, that among* the Indian fer- 
 vants and negro flaves, the filly, thoughtlefs, and pu- 
 sillanimous anfwer be* ; fome perhaps may obferve 
 from this, that the blind paffive obedience and non-re - 
 fiftance men, make the beft fubjedte and court Haves in 
 
 E T°he e indians between the Tropics -, their complexion 
 is not of fo good a metalline copper luftre, biu paler. 
 
156 Britifh and French Settlements Part I. 
 
 ftature fmaller, not fo robuft and courageous ; but, by 
 reafon of the fertility of the country, are in larger 
 tribes, and confequently more civilized ; and from being 
 civilized, their confederacies and federal unions reduced 
 them into vaft empires [0]. Such were the empire of 
 Mexico, their moderator or principal man was Monte- 
 zuma •, and in the empire of Peru the more rich, as ha- 
 ving vaft treafures of filver and gold. 
 
 The northern tribes are fmall and diftinft ; a large 
 parcel of land lying wafte (in winter- countries) for 
 -many months in the year, not fertile, and not cleared 
 of woods, cannot fubfift many people, but thefe fmall [p] 
 tribes, though much difperfcd are allied by contiguity, 
 language, and intermarriages •, thus it is with our 
 neighbouring Abnaquies, who border upon New-Eng- 
 land •, the Iroquois or Mohawks, who border upon New- 
 York, Penfylvania, and Virginia; and the CheTokees, 
 who border upon Carolina ; thefe may be called three 
 diftinft great nations. 
 
 The Indians in the high latitudes are paler, Ihort, 
 thick, jquat ; cloathed with fkins (generally feals-lkins) 
 fowed with thongs ; no bread-kind, no lire ; live upon 
 whale and feal- blubber, and other filh, and what 
 beafts they may kill with their arrows and darts ; their 
 boats and canoes are of a fingular make, adapted 
 only for one perl'on ; in the winter they live in caves. 
 
 [ 0 ] A Spanifh bifhop of the Weft- Indies, a nun of obfervation, 
 many years lince wrote, “ That the Indians are of a tender conftitu- 
 tion : no part of Europe was more populous than Mexico, upon the 
 Spaniards firft arrival. The Spaniards, in the firft forty years, deftroyed 
 about twenty millions of Indians ; they left but a few Indians in 
 Hifpaniola, none upon Cuba, Jamaica, the Bahama-iflands, Porto- 
 Rico, and Caribbee iflands, excepting upon Dominica and St. Vin- 
 cent, where they remain to this day. 
 
 [/] In Bible-hiftory we read, that all mankind anciently lived in 
 fmall tribes ; Abraham and his allies could mutter only 318 men; 
 with thefe he defeated four great kings, who had conquered feveral 
 kings. Where lands lie not cultivated, the tribes mult be fmall and 
 inhabitants few for want of fubfiftence. 
 
 Indians 
 
Sect. III. in North-AmbrIca. . *57 
 
 Indians in general paint their bodies, efpecially their 
 faces they J& red colour) as the Hfe and Britons of 
 rro * r ttrirain formerly were accultomea. 
 
 ° In the higher latitudes the Indians reckon by winters 
 ( years) moons (months) and lleeps (nights.) Between 
 Ae tropks they reckon by rains (the leafons of rams 
 end ofTurnmer and beginning of autumn are periodical, 
 
 -rs ire our winters) moons and fleeps. In computing 
 d ftances they reckon by deeps or days travels (as the 
 Dutch do by \ours) viz. fo many deeps or days trave 
 from one place to another. r r rp- 
 
 Notwithstanding the unpolitenefs and want of fi ^ 
 
 arms amono-ft the American aboriginals, the HAiro 
 arms S effected their i'ettlements, becaule 
 
 ^Iftdferityta lumbers, if feme diMfeSed tribes, 
 
 t £ rSSif the impofttions and encroachments 
 
 ffed by S difaffeaed tribes-, when the talers 
 of New Plymouth firft landed, Madafoit was glad of 
 the ^countenance of their (mall-arms againft the Nara- 
 
 ga t tS io their make and complexion W . They hawe 
 thin lips, flattifh faces, languid countenance, fmall black 
 
 [ ? ] We cannot account for the aboriginal The 'people 
 
 in the various nations, and the v f a ° * black, of various conftant 
 of tl>e middle and fouth parts of ‘ jj fh ort frizzled 
 
 permanent (hades or degrees, wi ^ tawney-moor of 
 
 or crifp black hair ; perhaps the complexion ot t J hcation 
 Barbary (he ancient Mauritania, American com- 
 
 ofthe European white, and tl ; of the Indian 
 
 plexion feems to be native and f^Ganees in the Eaft Indies, have 
 peninfula, betwix: the rivers ^dus a^ g d the Ame- 
 
 the African black complexion the furopear not f r0 m a 
 rican lank black ^bair or “ cold weather, do equally tawn 
 
 opt £ nm ^una.en.ly , tratfplantation o, 
 recovers their native complexion. various complexions ; 
 
 „ i, 00, comprehending all 
 
 America lies from 65 U. M. lat. t 55 eyes, 
 
*5® Britifh and French Settlements PartI. 
 
 eyes, imberbes and impuberes, ftature various as in Eu- 
 rope ; in the higheft north and fouth latitudes, they are 
 taller and more robuft than between the tropics •, their 
 hair jet black, lank (between the tropics not fo lank) 
 ftiff, called by the French crin. The Spaniards found 
 it more tedious and much more difficult to reduce Chili, 
 than their other American conquefls. Their com- 
 plexion is of a fplendid reddiffi brown, or metalline luftre, 
 which is well exprefled by a copper colour : thus a 
 fplendid white, is called fi Iver- colour : not of an 
 olive-colour or tawney (a tanned leather yellowiffi 
 colour) as are the Aborigines of Barbary, and fome of 
 their progeny in the fouth parts of France, Spain, and 
 Portugal. Some Indians upon the ifthmus of Darien, are 
 of a milk-white complexion, which is not natural and 
 hereditary ; but proceeds from a tender morbid conftitu- 
 tion; their parents were copper-coloured, and their chil- 
 dren become copper-coloured. 
 
 1 heir pollute is not crofs-legged as among the Afia- 
 tics ; accumbent as formerly with the Greek and Ro- 
 
 the various climates of Europe, Afia, and Africa; the American 
 complexion is permanently every where the fame, only with fa 
 more or lefs of the metalline luftre. Salmon, a late difaffe&ed 
 fcribler, in his modern hiftory, fays, the blacks after fome ge- 
 nerations will become white; in New-England there are Guinea 
 ftaves in fucceftion of feveral generations, they continue the fame in 
 feature and complexion ; it is true, that in the Weft-1 ndia iflands fome 
 diffolute planters are faid to wa(h the blackmoor white ; by gene- 
 rating with the fucceftive (hades of their own iffue, children, grand- 
 children, the progeny at length becomes blonde , or of a pale 
 white. 
 
 Upon this fubjedl there are feveral intricacies in nature not to be 
 unravelled. Why the negroes of Guinea (hould have woolly crifp 
 black hair, and thofe of the Indian peninfula have lank black hair ? 
 Why the wool of northern (heep carried into a hot climate becomes 
 like goats hair, and returned to a northern climate, they recover 
 their wool again ? How near neighbouring nations, if they do not in- 
 termarry, differ in features and complexions: the Circaffians are very 
 beautiful, their neighbouring Tartars are extremely ugly : the Lap- 
 landers are ruddy and frefh, the adjoining Ruffians and Tartars are 
 tawney and fqualid. 
 
 mans, 
 
Sect. III. in North-AmeRIca.' j 59 
 
 mans! lying on their left fide, leaning upon their elbow ; 
 nor cowring as the women call it, the manner of the 
 African negroes, knees bent and legs parallel to their 
 thio-hs •, not fitting upon their buttocks and thighs wit i 
 theTr legs dependant as in Europe ; but fitting on their 
 buttocks ere<a, with their thighs and legs in a ftrait line 
 
 extended horizontally. . _ 
 
 Our general trade with the Indians is fire-arms, pow- 
 der, and (hot, for war and hunting ; ftrouds and blankets 
 for cloathing, fpirits, rum, and brandy for indolence 
 formerly toys, which were as confiderable though filly 
 amufement to them, as jewels are to us. 
 
 In travelling they direft their courfe by noted moun- 
 tains, by the fun when vifible, by the moffy or north fide 
 of trees As moll infers avoid oils, the Indians greale 
 themfelves as a defence againft mulketoes and other 
 
 r °Many° o^ou rEu rope an purchases of lands can fcarce be 
 faid to be for valuable confiderations ; but a long poffe - 
 fion, and in confequence prefcnption, have our title 
 
 good. Father Ralle, a late ingenious jefuit, and t rench 
 mifiionary with the New-England Abnaquie Indians, 
 about twenty-fix years fince did kindle a war or infur- 
 reftion of thole Indians in New-England, by inculcating, 
 that they held their lands of God and nature m facet- 
 ing generations •, that fathers could not alienate the earth 
 S their fens! We ufe no other artifice tc > keep ; he 
 Indians in our intereft, but, by underfelling the French, 
 and giving a higher price for Indian commodities ; this is 
 
 fai Ou n r d printed hiftories of the Indian countries, their 
 governments, religion, languages, and cuftoms, . are 
 creduloufly copied from credulous 
 filly conceits •, a very late and notable infta » 
 
 we find in the journal of Anfon’s voyage to > th e S< «*h 
 l'eas, publilhed by the mathematical matter of the Cen 
 
 turion, anno 17 45* Stri&ly 
 
t£o Britilh and French Settlements Part I. 
 
 Stri&ly fpeaking, they feem to have no government, 
 no laws, and are only cemented by friendlhip and 
 good neighbourhood ; this is only a kind of tacit fe- 
 deral union between the many tribes, who compofe 
 the general denomination of a nation ; every individual 
 man feems to be independent and fui juris, as to go- 
 vernment, and is only in friendlhip and neighbourly 
 relation with others of the fame tribe : Notwith- 
 ftanding, we fometimes find heads of tribes mentioned 
 as if in fuccefiion, nay even female fuccefiions ; in the 
 New-England Pocanoket, Mount-hope, or king Philip’s 
 war, anno 1675, there is mentioned the fquaa-fachem 
 . of Pocaflet, and a fquaa-fachem amongft the Nara- 
 ganlets. In other parts of the earth all focieties or 
 cohabitants have government, and an abfolute com- 
 pelling power is lodged fomewhere, and in fome man- 
 ner ; but the American Indians have no compulfive 
 power over one another : when a tribe or neighbourhood 
 fends delegates, to treat with other bodies of men, whites 
 or Indians, the conclufions are Carried home rnemoriter , 
 and the young men mult be perfuaded to come into 
 thele articles ; when the Indians at any time are forced 
 into a peace, the blame of the war is laid upon their 
 young men. 
 
 The aboriginal cloathing of the northern Indians was 
 fkins offeals cut in particular falhions, and fewed together 
 with thongs (they had no threads of flax, hemp, or any 
 other herbs) in other parts they wore fkins of the va- 
 rious beads of the foreft. At prefent the Indians, who 
 have commerce with the colonies from Europe, wear 
 duffils and blanketing of about two yards fquare, which 
 the Romans called a [r] toga •, their fegamores or fa- 
 ir] The Toga feems to be the mod ancient, natural, and fimple wear 
 ufed by mankind ; the Scots highlanders have wore it further back than 
 our records reach, ftriped and chequered varioufly according to 
 the humours of different ages ; but of late years it feeming to be 
 ufed as a badge of difaffefiion to die prefent happy eftablifhed govern- 
 ment in Great-Britain, the parliament in their great wil'dom have 
 abolifhed it. 
 
 clients 
 
Sect. III. r'« North-America. 161 
 
 ems wear blankets, with a border of a different colour, 
 and may be called praetextati. 
 
 Article II. 
 
 The religion , language , food , and medicine , with fome other 
 loofe particulars relating to the American Indians. 
 
 A S the Americans before the arrival of colonies from 
 Europe, feem to have been, and ftill continue, in 
 general, the mofl barbarous and the leaft polifhed peo- 
 ple upon earth •, a clear, ex aft, and full account of thefe 
 things cannot be expected ; but for the greater perfpicuity 
 we reduce them under diftinft heads. 
 
 I. Religion of the Americans. 
 
 SOME Indians of fagacity, a little civilized and in- 
 ftrufted towards the Chriltian religion, can give no dil- 
 tinft account of any Indian religion, and ftumble 
 much at the myfteries of our Chriftian religion, being 
 indifcreetly crouded upon them at once, and with too 
 much impetuofity, without previous inftruftion. If you 
 do not believe immediately, you will be damned, is the 
 exp refiion of our zealots \ whereas they ought to be 
 firft tamed by familiarity and fair dealing •, in friendly 
 converfation upon proper occafions, without any ap- 
 pearance of officioufnefs, inftruft them in natural leligion 
 and morality •, thefe are plain and eafily comprehended ; 
 afterwards with diferetion, they may be by degrees 
 initiated into the myfteries of our religion. Our mifiiona- 
 ries, void of common prudence, in a reverfe prepofterous 
 manner begin with the abftrufe articles of the Chriftian 
 religion, and thence proceed to inftruft them in the plain 
 eafy* diftates of nature. In a filly, low, cant way, fome of 
 our preachers tell the Indians, that the Chriftians God is 
 a better God than the Indians God *, whereas, they oug.it 
 VoL. I. M t0 
 
1^2 Britifh and Frfcndi Settlements Part!. 
 
 to inform them, that there is but one fupreme God, and 
 that one manner of worihiping this God is more agreeable 
 to the Godhead, as being more natural and decent. 
 
 If fome of our Indian traders, were inftrudted, and at a 
 public charge capacitated to fell cheap amongft the 
 Indians, they would gain their affedtions in this trading 
 familiar friendly manner, and lay a good foundation 
 for their converfion towards Chriftianity : an abrupt 
 Chriftian religious million amongft them feems abfurd ; 
 if the Emperor of China, or the Grand Turk, Ihould 
 fend fuch miffionaries into Great-Britain to convert the 
 people there to the dottrines of Confucius or Mahomet, 
 inftead of gaining prolelytes, it would avert them. The 
 following digreflion may be acceptable to fome of our 
 readers. 
 
 A digreffon concerning the religions of ancient nations. 
 
 I do not prefume to write concerning the controverfial 
 or devotional points of our modern religions, national, 
 or private opinions ; that is the bufinefs of a peculiar 
 profeflion or craft, called priefts. 
 
 Religion improves in nations, hand in hand with good 
 policy, and as they become more and more civilized. 
 It may be called the cement of fociety. The Romans 
 did fight pro aris etfocis , for their religion, as well as for 
 their country. Amongft the Weft-India buccaneers, 
 the moft morally vicious of mankind •, the French im- 
 movably adhered to one another, becaufe of their being 
 all Roman catholics ; the Englifh to one another, as be- 
 ing proteftants, and not from any other regard. Other- 
 ways both agreed and adted jointly as pirates. 
 
 As to religion, all mankind may be divided into three 
 fedts. 
 
 I. They who believe in a fupreme intelligence (or 
 intelligences) who by omnipotence created and framed 
 the world, and by infinite wifdom manages it: they 
 
 may 
 
Sect. III. i» North-America.' 163 
 
 may be called the godly. With this clafs, the divine 
 attribute incomprehensible ought to refolve and com- 
 pofe all altercations concerning this being : Plutarch fays, 
 there is but one and the fame fupreme being or provi- 
 dence, that governs the world, though worfhiped by 
 multiplicity of names, by various nations and ledtaries. 
 This fed admits of three fub-divifions. 
 
 1 . Tfceifts, commonly called deifts, who admit of no 
 modifications in the deity •, in ancient times, and to this 
 day, they are improperly called atheifts. Amongft us, 
 he who denies the Trinity, is in law deemed atheift and 
 blafphemer. Anaxagoras, the philofopher, pafied at 
 Athens for an atheift, becaufe he denied that the fun, the 
 other planets, and the ftars were gods. Socrates is faid 
 to have been a martyr for the unity of the Godhead, 
 refufing to pay homage to the various gods of Greece. 
 This is the national (if we may thus exprefs) religion 
 of the Mahometans, having the large extent of all 
 national religions. It is the private opinion of many 
 who are intermixed with and go by the name of Chrifti- 
 ans, and are generally defigned Arians, or Socinians, 
 (Socinus of Sienna in Italy ;) they alfo deny original-fin, 
 and providence. 
 
 2. Tritheifts or Trinitarians. The diftinguilhing te- 
 net of all true orthodox Chriftians: they worfhip divi- 
 nity under three diftindt modifications, which I fhall not 
 pretend to explain or illuftrate, becaufe a myftery. 
 
 3. Polytheifts. Such were the ancient Egyptians, 
 Greeks, and Romans : the poets had a greater variety of 
 gods than the philofophers, many of them to be looked, 
 upon as a machinery introduced to embellifh a poem, 
 aid to amufe the mind : they deified various parts of 
 nature, and were great promoters of polytheifm. All 
 the gods and goddefles of the ancients were only mo- 
 difications, words, or names, to exprefs feveral attributes 
 of a fupreme Being, the excellencies in nature, and the 
 virtues of heroes, and very eminent men ■, as if in Britain. 
 
 M 2 we 
 
j6 4 Britilh and French Settlements PartI. 
 
 we Ihould fay Newton, the god of natural philofophy 
 and mathematics ; Addjfon, the god of the belles let- 
 tres, and polite learning. 
 
 II. They who admit of no fupreme Intelligence, but 
 fay that blind matter is the extent of our knowledge ; 
 thefe are the literal and true atheifts. Anaximander was 
 the fir ft noted atheift upon record, about 600 years 
 before Christ; his noted followers were Lwcippus, 
 Democritus, Epicurus, Lucretius, fc? c. In thefe late times, 
 t>] fome, Angularly felf-conceited of their own penetra- 
 tion, have avowedly declared themfelves fuch, in defpite 
 of all the polite part of mankind. 
 
 III. The third fe<ft made its firft appearance by 
 means of Pyrrho, in the 120 olympiad; they doubted of 
 every thing. Cicero and Seneca, two great men, were in- 
 clined this^ way ; the late duke of Buckingham, an inge- 
 nious man, the epitaph which he made for himfelf begins,^ 
 
 Du bins vixi, incertus merrier , &c. Dr. B ly, bilhop of 
 
 Cl — ne, feems to affirm, in a whimfical manner, that 
 every thing we fee is an illufion, that the whole leriesof 
 life is a continued dream. 
 
 To thefe we may add, that, there is with all fober- 
 minded men only one general religion. The Prac- 
 tice of true and solid Virtue. The belief in 
 certain vague opinions, the obferving of fixed or ap- 
 pointed external rites and ceremonies, do not enlighten 
 the underftanding, or purify the heart, by re&ifying the 
 paffions. Mr. Pope, in his effay upon man, well ex- 
 prefies it : 
 
 For modes of faith, let wicked zealots fight : 
 
 He can’t be wrong, who’s life is in the right. 
 
 [j] Spinofa, a Jew, in WisTraftatusTheologico-Politicus. 
 
 Varini, born at Naples in Italy, taught acheifm in France, was con* 
 vifted thereof, and burnt at Thouloufe, anno 1619. 
 
 jordano Bruno wrote a book, De tribus lmpoftoi'ibus ; meaning Mofes, 
 .Christ, and Mahomet. 
 
 Hobbes, in his Leviathan, advanced feveral wild notions of this 
 kind, but not confident ; he died anno 1679, JE t. 91* 
 
Sect. III. in North-America. i6 5 
 
 • Sir lfaac Newton ufed to fay, when the conversion 
 ran upon differences in religion, “ He knew of no 
 « heretics or fchifmatics, but the wicked and tire 
 
 Let°us inveftigate the origin and progrefs of religion 
 from the nature of things. Mankind is naturally a r * 
 perftitious pavidum animah fome few cunning e> S 
 men take the M advantage of this general weaknefs 
 of human nature , and « nurfes frighten and awe 
 children by hobgoblings and bugbears, fo they, by voci- 
 ferations, gefticulations, and pretended familiar ity with 
 fome fuperior invifible being, promife to Qoncilige^htt 
 benevolence, in procuring good luck in their affair of 
 life (thus Powowers promife good Iuck in hunting to 
 the Indians) they avert ficknefs and other calamities; 
 fometimes from the faid familiarity, thep jfc p 
 tended dreams, vifions, and impulfes, as do our prel ent 
 new-lieht difciples of a vagrant or ftrolhng a&or of 
 enthufiafm. The Chinefe, though a polite people, their 
 commonalty are much addifted to luperilition and 
 
 m Tom this the wifemen, that is, the lawgivers and 
 minifters of ftate in Greece, and elfewhere, took the in , 
 and fet up oracles, which were abfolutely under their 
 own direftion and influence; thefe were of good ufe 
 to reconcile the filly (but varum et mu.tabile vu.lgus ) 
 people, to what the ftate in wifdom had propofed upon 
 ^extraordinary occafions : thefe oracles were deli- 
 vered by women; the Sibyls were called fattdtc*, that 
 Is prophecying and fortune-telling women - our women 
 exhorters among the Quakers and Methodifts, are not 
 
 ° f Herodotus writes (Cicero calls him the father of lnf- 
 tory) that the ancient Perfians had neither temples, 
 
 the grea-.elt ufe in cementing locety. a l tars . 
 
i 66 Britilh and French Settlements PartI. 
 
 altars, nor ftatues j in this condition we found the> 
 aboriginal Indians or Americans. When nations began 
 to be civilized, we find the firft objefts of adoration 
 (proceeding from admiration) were the fun, moon, 
 other planets, and the ftars, in Egypt •, and the periods 
 of their revolutions were ufed in the computation of 
 time. The revolution of the fun was called a year, 
 that of the moon a month j every planet had one day 
 afligned him, and thefe feven planetary days were called 
 a week : if there had been more or fewer planets, the 
 days of the week would have been more or fewer ^ 
 Moles, brought up in all the learning of the Egyptians, 
 retained the fame in his hift^-y part of our Bible, and 
 carries on the allegory (as fome free-thinkers call it) 
 of the creation accordingly. Our American Indians had 
 no knowledge of the planets, and therefore had no 
 reckonings by weeks, or returns of feven days. 
 The planetary names of the days of the week, at 
 firft view, feem confufed and at random ; but, in faft 
 they were methodically fo called. They began by the 
 Sun, as being the moft glorious planet, and afligned to 
 him the firft day of the week, dies folis, or Sunday (Sab- 
 bath-day is of a Jewilh fignification, and properly the 
 feventh day of the week ; Lord’s -day is novel and pe- 
 culiar to chriftians) from thence reckoning in the natural 
 order of the planets, allowed a planet to every hour of 
 the twenty-four, which compofe a day ; the next in courfe, 
 according to the aftronomy of thefe days, was Venus, 
 Mercury, Moon, Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, and confe- 
 quently the Sun had the eighth hour, the fifteenth and 
 twenty-fecond hour ; Venus the twenty- third ; Mercury 
 the twenty-fourth •, confequently the Moon had the firft 
 hour of the next parcel of twenty-four hours, and gave 
 name to the fecond day of the week, dies lima, or Monday ; 
 and in the fame rotation Mercury gives name to the 
 third ; Jupiter to the fourth day of the week, l£c. In 
 Britain we have fubftituted four of our north-country or 
 
 Gothic 
 
Sect. III. in North-America. i6 7 
 
 Qothic gods in the place of Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, 
 
 and Venus. * c , 
 
 So far back as ancient records inform, we tina 
 that amongft the Egyptians and Orientals, religion firft 
 began to acquire a national confiftence or fyftem. The 
 philofophers of Greece went to Egypt and Afia to ftudy 
 wifdom, learning, and religion ; thofe of Rome went 
 to Greece. They all did fo much indulge a poetical or 
 mythological vein, that it is difficult to diftinguiffi be- 
 tween their true eftabliffied religion and gods, from the 
 
 fabulous. . . 
 
 The various religions at this time amongft the nations 
 of this earth (the feveral parts of the earth that can be 
 of anv confequence, are now well explored, and the 
 Americans may be well faid to be of no religion) may be 
 reduced to thefe general heads : i . '1 he chriftian, or 
 believers in Jefus Chrift, which perhaps is that of Moles 
 with additions and emendations : this may be called the. 
 religion of Europe, fome few Turkiffi dominions in 
 ^UFope excepted. 2. The hlahometan, which is much 
 more extenfive, and prevails in a great part of Africa, 
 in a great part of Alia, and in fome part of Europe. 3. 
 That of Confucius, being the followers of the do&rines 
 of Confucius in China, and the neighbouring parts of 
 Tartary. 4. May be comprehended under the general 
 name of idolaters, who worffiip the objeas, or the 
 images and reprefentations of the objeas which they 
 adore from love or fear j the Lama of the eaftern 1 ai tars 
 I call an idol. 
 
 The negroes of Africa have a kind of religion which 
 may be called idolatry •, they worffiip fome material ob- 
 ieas, which in their nature may be extremely beneficial 
 or very hurtful to mankind > the firft through admira- 
 tion and love, the other through fear. But our ftupid 
 American Indians had no temples, no altars, no idols 
 or imases, no fet times for worffiip, if it may be called 
 
 M 4 worffiip i 
 
{ 
 
 i68 Britifli and French Settlements PartI. 
 
 worfhip ; it is only occafional, with frantic and ridiculous 
 vociferations and gefticulations, in cafes officknefs or 
 great calamities, performed by fome of their cunning men 
 called Powowers : they never harrafs European captives 
 to change their religion ; no religious wars [«], no con- 
 fu lions irom convocations. 
 
 The Powowers, are not pariih-priefts or clergy, regu- 
 larly fet apart to initiate the people into the myfteriefof 
 religion, and to perform fome rites and ceremonies called 
 religious : they are of the fame nature with rafcally 
 cheats and pretended conjurers, that in the mod civilized 
 nations of Europe (intirely diftindt from any fort of 
 religion) impofe upon ignorant and weak people, by pre- 
 tending to fome familiar converfation with fome fuperior 
 ecret Being. Their Powowers, by aid of this influence, 
 become alfo their phyficians •, this feems to be natural; 
 even with us a civilized people, our priefts, or Gofpel- 
 m milters, by the fame aid, are very apt officioufly to in- 
 trude into the office of a phyfician, and ufe the lick as 
 their patients as well as their penitents : priefts and old 
 women of both fexes (as dean Swift humouroufly ex- 
 preffied it) are the great nufances to a regular medical 
 practice. Expertus loquor. This perhaps may be the 
 natural reafon, why fome phyficians ufe the clergy with 
 contempt. 01 
 
 I do not find that Chriftianity is like to have any good 
 ooting among the Indians: 1 . We are not exemplary 
 enoug 1 in common life, and commercial dealings : the 
 ndians lay, that they cannot perceive mankind the better 
 for being chriftians : chriftians cheat them out of their 
 ands and other effedts, and fometimes deprive them of 
 
 fenfiKl^of ac * m,m ^ rat i° n in England, from experience, are 
 vocationfnA e K ,nc , 0nvenienc j es f arifl "g *•« the meetings of the con- 
 to fit ■ th 1C C er S^’ ai ^, for many yeprs have not allowed them 
 w L n ’ f i ey are e ^ ent, aJ to epifcopal church-government; and 
 cafioli feverinf they r natUra ! ly [etmcntor rather efFervefce, and oc- 
 t he Hate " ^ arox ^ ^ ms ln the church, and fometimes con vulfions in 
 
 their 
 
Sect. III. in North-Americ A.' 169 
 
 their lives. 2. Our miffionaries are. generally void of 
 difcretion •, the Indians are, in all refpefts wild, know 
 nothing of the general rudiments of religion [w] : The 
 miffionaries inftead of firft taming and civilizing the 
 Indians, and next inftru&ing them in the principles of 
 natural religion and morality, begin with the lublime 
 myfteries of our religion, fuch as. How many perfons are 
 there in the Godhead? and the like. Thus from the 
 beginning they are bewildered and loft for ever. 3 ■ Some 
 ■pi a: fraudes , which at firft may amufe, but afterwards 
 when difeovered, leave a permanent prejudice againft the 
 chriftian religion ; thus it is faid, that fome Fiencli 
 miffionaries in relating to the Indians the hiftory of our 
 Saviour’s birth and fufferings, tell them that the virgin 
 Mary was a French woman, that the Englifti crucified 
 Jesus Christ. 
 
 languages. 
 
 THEIR manner of expreffion is vehement and 
 emphatic*, their ideas being few, their language is not 
 copious *, it confifts only of a few words, and many of 
 thefe ill-contrived*, by a rumbling noife or found of many 
 fyllables, they exprefs an idea or thing, which, in the 
 
 [w] Mr. Brainerd, a miffionary from a fociety in Scotland for pro- 
 pagating chriftian knowledge by Indian converfions amongft the De la 
 Ware, and the Sefquahana Indians, in his journey printed at Phila- 
 delphia, anno 1:45, foy s > tliat 1)is ftation was from Crofweekfung 
 in New-Jerfies, about eighty miles from the forks of De la Ware river 
 to Shaumaking on Sefquahana river, about i 20 miles weft of the fa*d 
 forks; that he travelled more than 1 30 miles above the En lifh (ettle- 
 ments upon Sefquahana river, and was with about feven or eight 
 diftindt tribes there, fpeaking fo many different languages, moftly be- 
 longing to the Sennekas : he was three or four years upon this million, 
 fometimes did not fee an Englifhman for a month or fix weeks toge- 
 ther; all his exercifes were in Engiith. Mere journals are dry, but 
 otherwife it feems naif or natural At that time there was no other 
 miffionary amongft the Indians of Jerfies and Penfylvania. . Notwith- 
 ftanding all his perfonal penances, and charge to the fociety, he ef- 
 fected nothing, though a pious laborious millionary. 
 
 European 
 
170 Britifh and French Settlements PartI. 
 
 European languages, is done by a fyllable or two; as their 
 ideas increafe, they are obliged to adopt the European 
 words of adjoining colonies. In numbering they ufe the 
 fame natural way of reckoning by tens, as in Europe ; 
 ten being the number of human fingers. No chronicles, 
 fcarce any traditionary accounts of thinks extending back 
 further than two or three generations ; Icarce any Indians 
 can tell their own age. 
 
 They had no [*] characters, that is, hieroglyphics, or 
 letters; they had a few fymbols or fignatures, as if 
 in a heraldry way to diftinguilh tribes ; the principal 
 were the tortoife, the bear, the wolf. There was not 
 the leaft veflige of letters in America ; fome years fince 
 a certain credulous perfon, and voluminous author, im- 
 pofed upon himfelf and others ; he obferved in a tiding 
 river, a rock, which, as it was not of an uniform fub- 
 ftance, the ebbing and the flowing of the tide made a 
 fort of vermoulure, honey-combing, or etching on its 
 face ; here he imagined, that he had difcovered the 
 America Indian characters, and overjoyed remits fome 
 lines of his imaginary characters to the Royal Society in 
 
 [at] There are fundry ways of exprefling our thoughts and founds. 
 1 . The Egyptian hieroglyphics feem to be the rnoft ancient : they 
 were delineations, drawings, and paintings, or images of material 
 things, or allegorical expreffions of tranfaCtions in figures real or chi- 
 merical ; mutes feem to exprefs themfelves in hieroglyphical motions : 
 the defeCt of this chamber feems to be, that ideas which have no ma- 
 terial figure could not be well exprefied, and the writing too tedious 
 and imperfeCt. 
 
 2 . The Chinefe have no letters or compounding characters ; every 
 ivord has a peculiar character, and inftead of being unreafonably 
 long, as with the Americans, there is in fome manner a neceflity 
 for all their words being monofyllables ; thus their characters are 
 fo numerous, that a man of letters is a trade, not foon to be 
 learnt. 
 
 3 - » In Europe a few arbitrary characters, called letters, were firft 
 brought to us from Phcenicia via Greece, and are in different nations 
 in number from twenty to twenty-four ; by thefe varioufly mixed, all 
 European words are compofed and well diftinguifhed ; they exprefs 
 Words or founds only, not things as in hieroglyphics. 
 
 London : 
 
Sect. III. in North-America. 171 
 
 London : fee Philofophical Tranfaftiqns, Numb. 339. 
 
 « At Taunton, by the fide of a tiding river, part in, part 
 « out of, the river there is a large rock, on the perpendi- 
 “ cular fide of which, next to the ftream, are feven or 
 “ eight lines, about feven or eight feet long, and about a 
 “ foot wide each of them, ingraven with unaccountable 
 « characters, not like any known character.” This 
 may be fuppofed wrote anno 1714: at prefent, anno 
 1 747, by the continued ebbing and flowing the honey- 
 combing is fo altered as not in the leaft to refemble his 
 draught of the characters. 
 
 As the Indians were fo rude, as to have no letters or 
 other characters, there is no certain way of writing 
 their names of things ; all we can do is to exprefs their 
 founds or pronunciations as near as may be in our own 
 letters. Father Ralle of Noridgwog, and fome other 
 fcholaftic French miflionaries, have imagined that the 
 Greek alphabet fuits their pronunciation bell. The 
 Indians have a figurative way of expreffing themfelves 
 as if in hieroglyphics thus, the renewing of alliances 
 they call brightening of the chain. 
 
 There is no general fixed way of writing Indian words, 
 therefore we (hall not mind any particular orthography 
 in that refpeCt, only we (hall endeavour to be underftood : 
 for inftance, the Indian tribe upon Quenebec river in 
 New-England, we write and pronounce it Naridgwoag, 
 the French miflionaries write it Narantfoack : the tribe 
 of the Iroquois or five New- York allied Indian na- 
 tions, which we call Sennekas, the French call them 
 Sonotttcuans. 
 
 There is not the fame reafon for preferving the Indian 
 names of their countries, nations, tribes, mountains, and 
 rivers, as there is for preferving the Greek, Roman, 
 and other more modern names of luch things in Europe 
 the Indians have no civil or claflical hiftory to require it. 
 The Indians change their own perfonal names, and the 
 names of other things upon trifling occafions: our Indians 
 
ijr Britifli and French Settlements PartI. 
 
 affeft to have Englifh names ; thus Maflafoit’s two fons 
 defired of the court of Plymouth to give them Englifh 
 names; they were accordingly named Alexander and 
 Philip ; this Philip, formerly Metacomet, was chief in a 
 fubfequent Indian war, called king Philip’s war. Cap- 
 tain Smith the traveller refided nineteen years in Virginia 
 and New-England, and wrote a hiftory of thofe parts, 
 anno 1 624 ; he enumerates the names of many tribes, 
 rivers, and other things, which are now irrecoverably 
 loft. 
 
 As the Indian dealings and mutual correfpondence 
 is much confined, their feveral languages are of fmall 
 extent [.y]. 
 
 III. Food and medicine of the aboriginal Indians. 
 
 OUR Indians do not imitate the bees, ants, Cfr. in 
 laying up ftores, but like rapacious animals, live from 
 hand to mouth ; after long falling they are voracious, 
 and upon a gluttonous repart can fall many days, by 
 bracing in, or reefing their girdles or belts. 
 
 The far-north Indians of Weft-Greenland, Terra de 
 Labarador, &c. live upon the blubber of whales, feals, 
 
 fjO Mr. Elliot, formerly minifter ef Roxbury, adjoining to Boflon, 
 with immenfe labour tranilated and printed our Bible into Indian j it 
 was done with a good pious defign, but mull be reckoned among the 
 Otioforum hominum negotia ; it was done in the Natic language ; of the 
 Natics at prelent there are not twenty families fubfilling, and fcarce 
 any of thefe can read : Cut bond 
 
 The countries in Europe being well civilized, with a great mutual 
 intercourfe and ufe of letters, their general languages, but in various 
 dialetts, are very extenfive ; the ancient Latin, in its various dialedts 
 and words, adopted from neighbouring nations, extends over Italy, 
 F;ance, Spain, and Portugal ; the Celtic in Bretagne of France, Corn- 
 wall and Wales of England, Ifle of Man, great part of Ireland, and 
 the Highlands of Scotland j the Teutonic in Germany, Great- Britain, 
 Low-countries, in Belgia, Denmark, Sweden, and Nonvay ; the 
 Sclavonian in Mufcovy and Madia, in Poland, in Hungary, and the 
 other countries weft of thefe fo far as to the Turkilh dominions. 
 
 and 
 
ait 
 
 ti> 
 
 fck 
 
 oftk 
 
 fa:cc 
 
 .atasl 
 
 iriooi 
 
 aledi 
 
 lalf, 
 
 Co* 
 
 d,$ 
 
 lrit& 
 
 4 to 
 
 Sect. Ill- /'« North-America. *73 
 
 and other fifh, and their moft generous bewage is i Hfh- 
 nil • fcarce any quadrupeds or fowls, not only from the 
 feveritv and long continuance of their cold weather, 
 froft and fnow, but alfo becaufe their meadows and other 
 Unds! inftead of grafs and other herbage, bear only 
 
 mC "rhp Indians in the more moderate climates, live by 
 hunthF fowl ng, and filh they do not clear and cul- 
 tivat^ the foreft by planting and grazing-, lately fome 
 nf their lquaas or women improve in planting of maize 
 ot ii •,! Keans Their bread-kind are maize [z], or 
 and fodian bea^oi l 1 kid Qr Indian bean s, feveral 
 
 Indian cor , p called ground-nuts -, feveral forts 
 
 forts o tu ^° larl p evera i forts of vitis Id<ea, in New- 
 
 of berries, pa u. , Lie-berries. Upon a continued 
 
 En§1 rthe C re is inLfrderable, they 
 Srr'y with them, tor fubfiftence, parched Indian corn 
 
 Cal Su n A hnamiies or New-England northern and eaftern 
 T Ss becaufe of the hunting and fowling failing dur- 
 ing the winter, are obliged to remove to the fea-fide, 
 and live upon clams, bafs, fturgeon, &c. 
 
 'Their medical practice refembles that of officious old 
 empincifm, or rati e . i n-nke the erofs fenfes 
 
 left obvious principal fymp- 
 
 fs] ThX Viiliory WM n « only “ vatious 
 
 it began to be k feems to become too 
 
 times of leifure, and hum i nesle&ine the principal view or 
 
 much of a mifcellany, but wi d f *d brevity, concifenefs, or 
 
 defign. Notwithftandmg the g flu of ftyle) it fwells too 
 fummary (which fpoils the r floi ty fc fome £ f our readers. we lay 
 much; therefore a ' F e fhort defeription or natural hiftory of 
 
 « »« b * th ' ' 
 traffic. tom. 
 
1/4 Britilh and French Settlements PartI. 
 
 tom, which may be called the difeafe, or to conftitution, 
 fex, and age. The Powowers, conjurers, or wizards, are 
 their principal phyficians. 
 
 They do not ufe our way of venefe&ion, but praftife 
 cupping ; they vomit and purge by particular herbs or 
 roots ; inftead of veficatories and cauftics, they burn 
 with touchwood. Their principal remedy isfweatingin 
 huts warmed by heated ftonqs, and thereupon immedi- 
 ate immerfion in cold water : this feems to be a rational 
 practice, firft by relaxing to give a free paffage to the 
 obftrudted circulatory juices •, and after a free paffage is 
 luppofed to be obtained, by cold immerfion to brace up 
 again : in inflammatory and eruptive epidemical fevers, 
 e. g. fmall-pox, this practice depopulates diem. 
 
 Their medicines are only Ample indigenous herbs; 
 they ufe no exotic plants, no minerals, no medicinal com- 
 pofitions, or chemical preparations. The virtues or pro- 
 per ufes of their herbs were dilcovered by chance, and 
 their firhples, which have had a peculiar continued fuc- 
 cefs, have been handed down or tranfmitted from 
 generation to generation. As it is amonglt brutes of a 
 limple fteady manner of regimen and living, fo with our 
 Indians there is no multiplicity of diftempers, therefore 
 their [ a ] materia medica is not copious. 
 
 Our Indians are fo tender, and habituated to a certain 
 way of living, that they do not bear tranlplantation ; for 
 
 [a] In Europe our materia medica is too luxuriant, and the greateft 
 part of it trifling; many of our medicinal preparatioas and compofitions 
 are filly and of no real ufe to the patient ; it is with pleafure that I 
 cbferve, the various conferves, fyrups, diflilled waters, and fome other 
 Arabian medicines, wear out of fafhion in Great-Britain amongft the 
 regular phyficians, and are ufed only by quacks and praftifing apothe- 
 caries. A proper regimen diet, and not exceeding a dozen notedly 
 efficacious medicines properly applied (this, by fome of the clergy, old 
 women, and nurfes, is reprefented as doing nothing) is the true ef- 
 fectual materia medica : where the nature of the diltemper and indica- 
 tions of cure are afeertained (in this confifls the art of phyfic.) D. 
 Pitcairn’s problem, Dato morbo remedium imenire, is not very intricate, 
 where incurable is not in the cafe. 
 
 inftance. 
 
Sect. III. »’# North-America.' *75 
 
 inftance, the Spanilh Indians, captivated in the St. Au- 
 guftine war, anno 1702, and fold tor Haves in New- 
 Inahnd, foon died confumptive •, this occafioned an aft 
 df affembly to difcourage their importation. Europeans 
 feem to thrive the better for being tranfplantedj the 
 progeny of Europeans born in America do not bear re- 
 movals, the reafons I cannot affign : for inftance, from 
 Maffachufetts-Bay Province in New-England ot 500 
 men upon the Cuba and Carthagena expedition, not ex- 
 ceeding fifty furvived •, ot 3000 men upon the Cape- 
 Breton expedition, near one half died naturally m Louif- 
 bourg, or foon after their arrival m New-England of 
 about 300 perfons late prifoners and captives in Quebec 
 of Canada, about feventy died there. 
 
 They are not fo lafcivious as Europeans (Afiatics are 
 more lafcivious than Europeans, witneis the feraghos 
 and harams of the great men in Turkey and Perfia, and 
 the difperfed Jews in Europe) they never offer violence 
 to our women captives: but are not fo continent as is 
 crenerally reprefented by authors-, Mrs. Rowlandion, 
 wife to the minifter of Lancafter in New-England, cap- 
 tivated by the Indians anno 1676, writes, that her In- 
 dian matter had three fquaas or wives Mr. Bramerd, 
 a Scotland miffionary, in the journal ot his million, 
 printed anno 1746, mentions “the abufive prance of 
 « Indian hulbands and wives, putting away each other, 
 « and taking others in their ftead.” 
 
 IV. The American Indians trade and currencies. 
 
 Trade. Their chief trade is (kins and furs, the pro- 
 duce of their hunting, moftly dcer-lkins and beaver. 
 
 Beaver the farther fouth, have lefs tur and more 
 hair •, the farther north the ftaple is the longer: they 
 reckon eight forts of beaver, viz. winter, and fummer, 
 fat, and dry, fcfc. The winter fat is the beft, next to 
 coat-beaver, which is beaver wore till it is well greafed. 
 
ij 6 Britifh and French Settlements PartE 
 
 A beaver-fkin may weigh from one pound and a half 
 to two pound j an Indian pack of beaver may weigh 
 about 80 lb. wt. Beaver breed once a year, ten to fifteen 
 at a litter. In the very high latitudes there are no 
 beaver, becaufe no wood •, beaver require wood, which 
 they cut, or rather gnaw with their teeth (thus fquirrels 
 and rats gnaw timber) into lengths called junks or logs 
 for making their dams, and part of their food or fub- 
 fiftence is the bark of trees. * Three quarters of the re- 
 turns of the Hudfon’s-Bay company is in beaver, to 
 about the value of 40,000 /. fterling per annum. The 
 fame good animal affords another commodity, caftoreum, 
 called beaver-ftone ; this is not according to a vulgar er- 
 ror, the' tefticles, but fome infpiffated fecretion contained 
 in a couple of glands near the anus of both males and 
 females. 
 
 Deer-fkins much more plenty fouthward ; South-Ca- 
 rolina does export per annum , the value of 25,000 /. to 
 30,000 /. fterling in deer-fkins. 
 
 In the high latitudes, they deal with a fmall matter of 
 feathers, whale-bone, and blubber, or fifli oil. 
 
 Currencies. Their commercial ftandard of currencies 
 is to the northward (I mean in North-America) per 
 pound beaver-fkin value, to the fouthward per pound 
 deer-fkin value. 
 
 They formerly had, and in fome places ftill retain, for 
 fmall currency (in New-England, in old charter times, 
 they were a tender for any fum not exceeding forty fhil- 
 lings) wampum or wampum-peag, being fmall bits of 
 the fpiral turns of a buccinum or whelk. This done up 
 into firings, and certain plaits or belts, was a large de- 
 nomination, and large fums were reckoned by the num- 
 ber of fathoms of this wampum-plait : thus we read in 
 the hiftories of former times, for inftance, that the Na- 
 raganfet Indians, fent 200 fathom of wampum, to pay in 
 part a debt to Boflon colony ; Uncas, fachem of the 
 Moheags in Connedlicut, paid 100 fathom of wampum 
 for monies due to the Englifh. 
 
 Article 
 

 Sect. III. in North-America. *77 
 
 If 
 
 1 
 
 ’ Article III. 
 
 The Indian nations and tribes upon the eaftern fide of 
 North- America. 
 
 it 
 
 m 
 
 s 
 
 ■fij 
 
 d 
 
 i\ 
 
 i 
 
 m 
 
 Jtfc 
 
 0 
 
 ^2 
 
 :fr 
 
 jaffl i 
 
 fife 
 
 [CLE 
 
 W E may diftinguifh the Indians by their relation or 
 pofition with regard to the European colonies 
 fettled in North-America, i. The Indian nations (we 
 cannot particularize their feveral tribes or clans) without, 
 but bordering upon the Britifh grants, fuch are the 
 French Indians of Canada, and the Spanifh Indians ot 
 Florida. 2 . Indian tribes within our grants or charters, 
 but without our fettlements, fuch are the Mikamakes oi 
 Nova Scotia, the Abnaquies of New-England, the Mo- 
 hawks, or five nations of New-York ; the emigrant i ui- 
 cararoes I do not call a nation, 3* Indian fami- 
 
 lies, interfperfed with our fettlements upon Indian referv- 
 ed lands •, thefe are ufeful to the Europeans, particularly 
 to the Britifh, as domeftic fervants, labourers, bailors, 
 whalers, and other fifhers: many of the Indian re- 
 ferves are extinft, and their lands lapfed to the pio- 
 vmces. 
 
 The prefent names of the feven Indian nations, or 
 general great divifions, may continue in perpetuity, as 
 claffical names in hiftory : for the many particular tribes 
 included or which compofe the feveral nations or general 
 divifions, their names are fo various and changeable, we 
 cannot enumerate them •, and ftill lefs known aie tie 
 names and numbers of the villages or caftles in the feveral 
 tribes. 
 
 The Indian nations or general divifions, which lie upon 
 or near the eaftern fhore of North-America, are the n- 
 dians of Weft-Greenland, commonly called Davis s- 
 ftraits, Efkimaux, Algonquins, Tahfagrondie, Owtawaes, 
 Miamis, Chikefaus : Mikamakis, Abnaquies, Iroqois or 
 Mohawks, Chawans, Old Tufcararoes, Cuttumbaes, 
 Vo I. N Cnero- 
 
.178 Britifh and French Settlements Part 1 . 
 Cherokees, and Creek-Indians : fome lhort defcriptions or 
 delineation of thele will make the face of the eaft fide of 
 North -America more apparent and familiar to us, before 
 we fet down the feveral modern colonies fettled there ; 
 in imitation, fi parva magnis componere , of the Europe 
 antique & modern a tables or maps. 
 
 1. The Indians of Weft-Greenland, or of a north r 
 eaft continent from Davis-ftraits reaching from Cape 
 Farewel in N. lat. 60 D. northward indefinitely, and 
 all the Indians in the fame latitudes, are a few (haggling 
 miferable people ; live in caves or dens under ground, be- 
 caufe of the feverity of the cold [b] have no fire (no 
 fuel) eat their flelh and fifh raw •, are cloathed in feal- 
 fkins •, much l'ubjeft to the fcurvy [c] or itch (the French 
 call thofe of Terra de Labradore fouth of Davis’s-ftraits, 
 for this reafon, the fcabbed indians) have no produce or 
 lubjeft for trade. 
 
 The Efkimaux extend from Davis’s and Hudfon’s 
 ftraits north, along the weft fide of the Atlantic ocean 
 to the mouth of St. Laurence river fouth ; thence range 
 weftward crofs the lower parts of the feveral rivers 
 which fall into the bottom of Hudfon’s-Bay, and then 
 northward along the weftern fhore of Hudfon’s-Bay to 
 the polar circle [^J in 66 D. or 67 D. N. Lat. as Mr. 
 Dobbs writes. Thus the Efkimaux, excepting a fmall 
 narrow trail upon the Labradore fhore, are all quit- 
 
 [£] Extremity of cold, may equally be called hell, as extremity of 
 heat ; our fcriptural writers lived in a hot country, not in a cold cli- 
 mate. In the government of Mufcovy or Ruffia, tranflation or exile 
 to Siberia the northern parts of Ruffia in a high latitude, is ufed as a 
 degree of puniihment next to death, in felonious criminal cafes, parti- 
 cularly in miniiterial treachery. 
 
 [f] Their fifh coarfe diet, extremity of cold, and long winter con- 
 finements, render their circulating juices rancid or putrid, and confe- 
 quently are very fcorbutic. 
 
 [d] Here I cannot underfland what Mr. Dobbs and Capt. Middle- 
 ton write; they mention northern Indians in Lat. 62 D. and 63 D. 
 and fome Eflcimaux in Lat. 66 D. to 67 D. and thefe two nations in 
 a natural or continued enmity ; how lhall we reconcile this inter- 
 mixture ? 
 
 claimed 
 
Sect. III. in North-America.' *79 
 
 claimed to us by France in the treaty of Utrecht, anno 
 I7 i, ; excepting thofe who frequent the bottom of 
 Fludfon’s Bay •, the others can be of no commerce 
 benefit, they afford a very fmall matter of feathers, \vh 
 
 oil, and blubber. , r a . r , 
 
 Mr. Dobbs of Ireland, the prefent enthufiaftic fol- 
 lower of a N. W. paffage projection, very credulous, 
 wives the name of many imaginary tubes weft ot 
 Hudfon’s-Bay •, but as in high latitudes not many peo- 
 ple can fubfift 0], and his tribes are not well vouched we 
 cannot mention them. Mr. Dobbs is an enemy of the 
 Hudfon’s-Bay company •, he fays, that trade got int 
 the hands of about nine or ten of their principal men, 
 who export not exceeding pool, fterlmg per 
 Britifh produce and manufacture •, and keep up their 
 prices fo high, that the French fupply them cheaper, and 
 carry away the trade; whereas it their ciai ei 
 vacated, and the trade laid open, many traders would 
 fettle factories or trading houfes up the rivers tow 
 the French, and, by underfelhng them, much increale 
 
 in feveral tribes reach from Ac mouth 
 of St. Laurence river along its north fide, extending 
 about i /to leagues; they are the French belt Indian 
 friends ; but frequently upon little differ . enC ^ S ^ 
 French fettlers much difturbance ; may be about 50a 
 
 fiS TAH S s A TROXDiE Indians are between the lakes Erie 
 andHurons; perhaps from the barrennels of the coun- 
 try, they are of fmall numbers, difperftd, and ot no 
 great notice: they are friends of the New-York na- 
 tions. 
 
 r,l i n the high latitudes, towards winter, Tome of their animals be- 
 come grey or filver-coloured; and next fummer recover ie 
 tive colours; not from the fame hairs or 
 
 native colour, but by a new growth or coat . P5^“P s a h ^ iri ^ 
 of native heat in the aged ot mankind, occafions their becoming 
 
 ^ rey< 2 Out AfWAES, 
 
180 Britifii and French Settlements PartI. 
 
 Outawaes, a great and powerful nation, they live 
 upon the Outawae river, which joins upon the Cataraqui 
 river (the outlet of the great lakes) a little above Mon- 
 treal, and upon the great lakes, and extend N. W. to 
 near the S. W. part of Hudfon’s-Bay ; they deal con- 
 fiderably with the Nevv-York trading houfes at Ofwe- 
 go [/], upon the lake Ontario in the Onondaguee coun- 
 try. In May, anno 1723, about eighty men, befides 
 women and children, from a large tribe belonging to the 
 Outawaes came to Albany in the province of New -York, 
 and defired to be admitted as another friend-nation 
 amongft the Mohawk nations ; this tribe lies between the 
 lake of Hurons and the upper lake, and call themfelves 
 Necaragees, of fix caftles or villages, near the ftraits be- 
 tween thefe two lakes, adjoining to a tribe called by the 
 
 [/] Indians of above twenty nations, or large tribes, come her® to 
 trade in the feafon of their fairs ; thefe Indians are diftinguiftiable, by 
 the variety and different fafhions of their canoes ; the very remoie In- 
 dian* are clothed in fkins of various forts ; they all have fire-arms; 
 feme come fo far nor h as Port-Nelfon in Hudfon’s-Bay N. Lat. 57 D. 
 and fome are from the Cherokees, weft of South-Carolina in N. Lat. 
 32 D This feems to be a vaft extent of inland water-carriage, but it is 
 only for canoes the fmalleft of craft. In Europe our inland water* 
 carriage vaftiy excels this : for inftance (I do not mention the royal 
 canal in France from the wellern ocean to the Mediterranean-fea, nor 
 the many canals fimfhed, and projected in Mufcovy and Ruffia, 
 by Peter the Great, becaufc they are artificial) from Afia and the 
 black-fea, up the Danube river, to near the head thereof ; and thence 
 a fmall carrying place to the head of the river Rhine, which, by its 
 many branchings, has an extenfive communication, and falls into the 
 northern ocean in Holland ; and from the fources of the Danube a 
 fmall carrying-place to the head of the river Rhone, which fails into 
 the Mediterranean fca, in the fouth of France; up the river Rhone, 
 2nd the Saone, and the Oufche; then a fmall carrying-place to the head 
 of the Seine river, which, by way of Paris, Rouen, and Havre-de- 
 Grace, carrries into the northern ocean ; and from the Seine by a canal 
 to the river Loire by way of Orleans and Nants to the weftern ocean. 
 Our navigation and carriages in Europe are much improved beyond 
 this wild manner, incommoded by cataracts, falls, or fautes ; by trees 
 which accidentally fail acrofs their rivulets, £sff. In Europe their car- 
 riage is in fhips and large craft for the ocean, feas, and large rivers, 
 and from thence an cafy wheel-land carriage at pleafure. 
 
 4 French 
 
Sect. III. in North-Amebic a. lSl 
 
 French [|-] Mifilimackinac. There is a large nation 
 fouth-weft of the Outawaes, called by the trench, L-es 
 Renards •, they are not within our knowledge. 
 
 Miamies, fo called by the French (we call them 
 Twishtwies) or Ilinois ; they live generally upon the ri- 
 ver Miamis, and the lake and river Ilinois which receives 
 the river Miamis. The Ilinois is a great river, and by it 
 
 r#l Mr. Kellogg, anno 1710, from Maflhchufetts-Bay, captivated 
 by the Indians; in cur-iofity, and from a laudable public (pint for in- 
 formation, travelled with fix French Indian traders, from Montreal in 
 Canada up the Outawaes river, N. W. to Matawaen ; thence they 
 carry a little way to a fmall lake, N piftng, and by the French river to 
 the great lake of the Hurons (a miferable country) about fifty leagues 
 n length, never froze over, but is like an open fea (no fpruce that is 
 fir “pine in this country) they coalted to its N. W. corner, and win- 
 tered at a village or tribe of the Outasvaes, callfcd Mifilimackinac, m 
 N Lat. 46 D. upon the llr.rics between the lakes Hurons and Ilinois , 
 IL (Irakis frozen over in winter ; here he wintered ; he killed tntt 
 of col. wt. from thefe firaits they entered the lake Homs and 
 coailed in courfe of its length S. S. W. to its fouth-wefterly corner; 
 thence they carried one league (the longeft carriage 
 or voyage) to a branch of the river Ilinois: the nver Mum ^ vh ch 
 gives name to a large nation of Indians, nnd come; from near the lake 
 Ilinois. and by which thefe traders with Mr. Kellogg returned to 
 Montreal, falls into the river Ilinois The nver Ilinois ^^ a courfe 
 of about . 30 leagues, and falls into the river M.ffiffippi MrJCe.log, 
 upon the river Ilinois. faw the remains of fo me former F.emh let - 
 ments, but no prefent inhabitants, fome tufts of clover, and a few 
 European fruit-trees; this is what iome French writers calltke pro- 
 vince of Hanois (perhaps corruptly for Ilinois t inhabited by a 
 ,6ooo whites; on the river Ilinois was a French fort, called fort 
 Louis or Crevecceur. Five leagues below the mouth of river Ihnm«. 
 falls into the Miffiffipp. the great r, er Mkour.s from ri le north-i velt 
 Farther down is a French village and wind-will, fome maize, a tew 
 vines and other European produce. A little farther down the MiG- 
 fiffipp’i falls in the river Owbache, Ohio, or Belle-R.v.ere ; it heads 
 near^the weft branch of the Selquahana in Penfylvama. This is an- 
 other rouTfor the French trade.' and patrole to the mouth of the 
 Miffiffippi. Hereabouts the French traders and Mr. Kellogg ended 
 their voyage, and returned 10 Montreal in Canada by the river Miamis. 
 We may fuppofe that about 37 D. N. Lat ,s tne boundary between 
 the French two general colonies of Canada and Loumana of Mtf- 
 fiiriippi, and that their Canada trading licence extends no 
 
 ther - N 3 is 
 
i82 Britifh and French Settlements PartI. 
 
 is one of Canada routs for their patrole and trade to the 
 
 Miffiffiippi. 
 
 Chickesaus feem to lie next to the Miamis, on the 
 eaftern fide of the Miffiffippi ; they are allies of and 
 traders with the people of Carolinas. The Cherokees 
 are next in courfe upon the eaft fide of Miffiffippi river ; 
 but as they lie both fides, and upon the Apalachian moun- 
 tains, we fhall for method’s fake (method renders every 
 thing diftindt and ealy) refer it to the next range of 
 Indian nations. 
 
 We have given a general view of the more remote na- 
 tions of Indians, that is, of the nations that live north, 
 and weft, and fouth-weft of the great river St. Laurence, 
 and weft of the Apalachian mountains to the great river 
 of Mifiifiippi : we now proceed to the next range that 
 lies from the mouth of St. Laurence river north, to the 
 bay of Apalachia in the gulph of Mexico fouth ; being 
 upon the fouth and fouth-eall: fide of the river St. Lau- 
 rence, and eaft fide of the Apalachian mountains, or great 
 blue hills ; which reach from the [£] Niagara falls, in the 
 ftraits between lake Ontario and Erie N. lat. 43 D. to 
 the bay of Apalachia in N. lat. 30 D. Thele mountains 
 are generally 300 miles from the Atlantic fliore ; all the 
 runs of water from their eaft fide, fall into the Atlantic 
 ocean, and thofe from the weft-fide into the grand river 
 Miffiffippi. 
 
 II. The Mikamakes of V Accadie or Nova Scotia, fome 
 of them live along Cape-Sable fhore, fome at Green-Bay, 
 Menis, and Chicanitfto, fome in Cape-Breton ifland, and 
 St. John’s ifland : they do not much exceed 350 fight- 
 ing men 5 they continue in the French intereft, from our 
 
 V J j M- Vaudreuil, late governor-general of Canada, caufed thefe 
 famous falls to be narrowly examined j reduced to a perpendicular 
 height, they were only twenty fix fathom ; father Hennopin writes it 
 100 fathom. It is true, that from the great falls, it continues flill to 
 (icfcend fomewhat further by ledges or flairs. 
 
 batj 
 
Sect. III. m North-America. i8 3 
 
 bad management notwithftanding that the whole : pro- 
 vince was quit-claimed to us by the peace of ^Utrecht 
 17 « : from this fame negleft or wrong conduft it pro 
 ceeds, that the French are allowed to keep five mi 1 
 in this province, viz. That of Annapolis River ot 
 Cane-Sable ihore, of Monis, of Chicamfto, and bt. 
 Jotwer. The bilhop of Quebec in C-ada ,s albwed 
 to be their fuperior and conftituent, and they act by his 
 
 dir The Abnaquies, properly the New-England lndian 
 nation, reach eaft and weft from the bay ot Fundy (to 
 defcribe the Indian nations as geographers in Europe d 
 countries, by latitudes and ^ longitudes , ®“’ r 
 
 pedantic, not accurate, and ot no ufe) to 
 New- York river and lake Champlian or Corlaer north 
 and fouth from the St. Laurence or Canada great river 
 to the Atlantic ocean. 1 hey are m many r , 
 dwindle much and become lefs formidable * their in 
 tercourfe with the Britifh and French has introduced ad- 
 ditional diftempers amongft them, particular y y 
 which proceed from the immoderate uleof £ ir ts ’ b J 
 or rum • hence they become more indolent, and are 
 ftraightned for fubfiftence their hunting tails them, they 
 have but few deer and beaver » a finall matter of Indian 
 corn and kidney-beans, which their fquaM or ^en 
 plant, is at prefent a confiderable partot their fubfi e . 
 they confifted of many tribes, fome extinfl:, fome extin 
 gu idling, and the others much reduced [i]; let us enume- 
 ?a,e them in their natural order r. The Indrans of St. 
 John’s river, thefe belong to Nova Scotia, and have a 
 
 tfve^foon Thefe Mans S' nor' be capable to annoy them any 
 ^ \ Kir k hw for fettling quiet pofieflion (this country 
 
 ar? very intricate and title precar.ous) the lands there will becom 
 
 valu ab k- N French 
 
184 Britifh and French Settlements PartI. 
 
 French miffionary prieft* the mouth of St. John’s river, 
 in the bay of Fundy, is about ten leagues from Anna- 
 polis-Royal. The St. John’s river Indians, in travelling 
 to Quebec, go up this long river, and fo on to a Ihort 
 rapid river which falls into the river of St. Laurence a few 
 leagues beiow Quebec* they do not exceed 150 fighting 
 men. 2. Penobfcot Indians are within the Mafiachufetts- 
 Bay grant, have a French miffionary * they lie upon a 
 great bay of the fame name* their numbers not exceeding 
 1 50 men fit to march 5 they travel to Quebec up the 
 final 1 river of Penobfcot, which comes from the welb. 
 ward, and go on to Quenebec river a little above Taconic 
 falls, and thence follow the fame rout with the Quenebec 
 Indians. 3. Sheepfcut Indians in the Mafiachufetts 
 grant, upon a river of the fame name, which falls into 
 Sagadahoc (formerly called Sagatawooke) river, or rather 
 bay, from the eaftward ; not exceeding two or three 
 families exifting anno 1 747. 4. Quenebec Indians, in the 
 foreiaid grant, upon the river of the fame name, being the 
 middle and principal river of Sagadahoc * their principal 
 fettlement or head-quarters is at Norridgwoag, about 100 
 miles up northward from the entrance of Sagadahoc ; 
 they were much reduced in their war or rebellion, in the 
 time of the wife adminiftration of William Dummer, Efq* 
 they have a French miffionary, and travel to Quebec up 
 Quenebec river, and from the head thereof, by feveral 
 ponds and carrying-places to the fhort rapid river La 
 Chaudiere, which falls into St. Laurence river, about four 
 leagues above Quebec j at prefent they do not exceed 
 fixty fighting men. 5. Amerefcogin Indians upon 
 Pegepfcut or Brunl'wic river, which falls into the weft fide 
 of Sagadahoc, they may be faid to be extinct. 6 . Pig- 
 wacket Indians on Saco river (they are in two fettlements) 
 Pigwoket and Oftepee at OfTepee pond (Lovel, and his 
 party of voluntiers were cut off by the Indians, anno 
 1724) lie about fifty miles about Winter-Harbour, the 
 mouth of Saco river * at prefent not exceeding a dozen 
 fighting men, and formerly travelled (at prefent they are 
 
 in 
 
Sect. III. *» North-America.' *85 
 
 in the Britifh intereft) to Quebec via Connefticut river 
 up, and St. Francois river down to Canada river. 7. 
 The Pennycook Indians, upon Merrimac river in New- 
 Hamplhire jurifdidtion, but lately quite extinct. 8. The 
 Walnonoak Indians, on the river Puante, called the mil- 
 lion of Befancourt, over-againft Les Trois Rivieres, thirty 
 leagues above Quebec, at this time in the Canada ju- 
 rifdiaion, about forty fighting men. 9. The Aroufegun- 
 tecook Indians, upon the river and million of St. r ran- 
 ^ois, about forty leagues above Quebec, in the Canada 
 iurifdi&ion, not exceeding 1 60 men fit to march. 10. 
 Mafiaflfuc Indians, on the eaft or Dutch fide or lake 
 Champlain, in the French intereft, do not exceed fixry 
 fi °hting men. Thus the Abnaquie extenfive nation 
 of Indians, does not exceed 640 fighting men fit to 
 
 ^The Iroquois Indians. We call them Mohawks, the 
 name of one of the five or fix united nations ; thus 
 the ieven united provinces ol the Belgic Netherlands 
 are called Holland from the province of Holland ; and 
 the ten Spanilh, now Auftrian, provinces there, are called 
 Flanders, from the province of Flanders : they head or 
 lie north of our provinces ol New-York, Penlylvania, 
 Maryland, and fome part of Virginia ; the Senaccaas reach 
 a o-reat wav down Selquahana river-, the tribe of about 
 100 fouls called Shaumakins, lie below the forks o Sei- 
 quahana, about 120 miles weft from the forks of De a 
 Ware river. In all public accounts, they are lately 
 called the fix nations of New-York friend Indians •, the 
 Tufcararoes, emigrants from the old Tufcararoes of 
 North-Carolina, lately are reckoned as the fixth -, we lhall 
 reckon them as formerly. 1. The Mohawks ; they live 
 upon the Mohawks or Scheneftady river-, they have a 
 caftle or village weftward from Albany forty miles, an- 
 other fixty-five miles weft from Albany: the numbei 
 of their fencible men about 160. 2. Oneideas, about 
 
 eighty miles from the Mohawks fecond village, confithng 
 of near 200 fighting men. 3. Onondagues, about 
 
 twenty- 
 
186 Britifh and French Settlements PartI. 
 
 twenty-five miles farther (the famous Ofwego trading 
 place on the lake Ontario, about 200 miles weft from 
 Albany, is in their country) con fift of about 250 men. 4. 
 Cayugeas, about feventy miles farther, of about 130 
 men. 5. Senekeas, further weft about 700 marchirU 
 fighting men. The fighting men of the five or fix na^ 
 tions of Mohawks, may be reckoned at 1500 men, and 
 extend from Albany weft about 400 miles, lyino- i n 
 die New-York, Pennfylvania, Maryland, and Virginia 
 governments, in about thirty tribes or villages. Befides 
 thefe, there is fettled a little above Montreal, a tribe of 
 fcoundrel runaways from the Mohawks ; they are called 
 Kahnuages, of about eighty men. 
 
 TheCHowANs,on the eaft fide of the Apalachian moun- 
 tains, or great Blue-hills, are reduced to a ftnall number ; 
 they lie weft of Virginia and North-Carolina ; they live 
 north of Roanoke river. Lately our Indian traders have 
 found feveral practicable pafles crols thefe mountains, 
 and keep ftores in their weft fide, or intervals of ridges ; 
 they are in continued or natural enmity with the Tufca* 
 raroes. 
 
 The I u scar a roes lie between Roanoke and Pemlico 
 rivers in North-Carolina; do not exceed 200 fighting 
 men, being much reduced upon their North-Carolina 
 iniurreCtion, anno iyn, and many of their nation drove 
 oft; now fettled with the New-York five nations. 
 
 Catabaws in courfe lie fbuth of the Tufcararoes, a 
 fmall nation, of about 300 men. The Catabaws, Chero- 
 kees, and fome of the Creeks, are not ftyled fubje&s, but 
 allies and good friends of Great- Britain. 
 
 Cher.ok.ees [&] live upon the fouthern parts and both 
 fides of the Apalaehian mountains; are a populous ex ten - 
 five nation of about 6000 men. Anno 1722, in a con- 
 grefs with governor Nicholfon of South-Carolina, there 
 
 f^' The therokecs are a conftant and fure barrier between the 
 French upon the Mifliffippi and the Britifh colonies of Carolina : why 
 fhould not the Abnaques, by good management, be made a good bar- 
 rjcr between New England and Canada? 
 
 were 
 
Sect. III. *» North-America. r8 7 
 
 were prefent of the lower and middle Cherokees the chiefs 
 of thirty -feven towns or tribes ; and, with their confent 
 General Nicholfon appointed Wrofetafatow their com- 
 mander in chief. The people of South-Carolina have a 
 confiderable trade or trucking fadory at Fundee, a Che- 
 rokee tribe upon the river Miffiflippi. 
 
 Creek Indians of Florida about 2000 men. lhe 
 lower Creeks confift of eight to ten tribes, and run weft 
 to Flint river, which falls into the bay of Apalchia or gulf 
 of Mexico •, by inftigation of the Spaniards particularly 
 of St. Auguftine, are very troublefome to our Carolina 
 and Georgia fettlements, efpecially the adjoining tribe of 
 Yamafies. For inftance, anno 1719, there was fome 
 French and Spanifli projedion againft Great-Britain in 
 embryo ; the Abnaquies of New- England, by the initi- 
 ation of the French, began to be troublefome upon the 
 fame projedion ; this projection in Europe came to no 
 
 III. Indian families, or fmall tribes upon referved 
 lands, interfperfed with the Britilh fettlements m North- 
 America. Upon the lower parts of the feveral rivers, 
 which run into the Atlantic ocean in the Britilh iettlc- 
 ments, are feveral fmall diftind tribes or related families, 
 which are not reckoned as belonging to the farther inland 
 large nations: they extinguilh apace from the infection 
 of our European diftempers and vices •, it can be of no 
 ufe to follow a detail of thefe perilhing tranfitory fmall 
 tribes or families ; as a fample 1 (hall enumerate thole in 
 the province of Mafiachufetts-Bay. 
 
 By ad of the Maflachufetts-Bay afiembly, anno 1746, 
 the Indian referves being diftinguilhed into eight par- 
 cels, guardians, or managers, for thefe filly Indians were 
 appointed. 1. Upon the eaftern part of the promon- 
 tary or peninfula of Cape-Cod, in the townlhips of 1 ruro, 
 Eaftham, Chatham, Harwich, and Yarmouth ; thefe In- 
 dians <^0 by the feveral names of Pamet, Nolfet, Pachee, 
 
 Potowmaket (here is an Indian congregation with a mi- 
 
 miter) 
 
188 Britilh and French Settlements PartI. 
 nifter) Sochtoowoket, and Nobfcufiet. 2. The weftern 
 part of the faid peninfula of Cape-Cod in the townihips of 
 Barnftable, Sandwich, and Falmouth, called the Indians 
 ot Wayanaes (the name of a formerly greateft fachem 
 in that country) or Hyaneas, Coftoweet, Malhpe, Wa- 
 quoit (Oyfter harbour) Scootin, and Saconofiet or Woods- 
 hoie, the terry-place to Martha’s- Vineyard. 3. The In- 
 dians of the iiland of Nantucket about goo fouls, being 
 more than all the others together, are very ufeful in the 
 whale and cod-filhery. 4. Indians of Martha’s-Vineyard 
 lfland about 450 ; lately many of them have gone to fettle 
 in Nantucket, being a place of better employment. c : 
 The Indians of Plymouth, Pembroke, and Middle- 
 borough, called Namafket. 7. The Nipmugs (formerly 
 comprehending all the finail inland tribes from Connedti- 
 cut river to Merrimac river; Blackftone or Patucket river, 
 which falls into the Naraganfet-Bay, was formerly called 
 Nipmug river) formerly known by the names of Cuta- 
 mogs, or Nipnets, in the townihips and diftrids of Dud- 
 ley ’ Cxford, W oodftock, Killinfbay, and Douglals ; the 
 HafanamilTets in Grafton and Sutton ; the Nalhobies in 
 Littleton, Stow, .Acton, and Concord ; Nalhaways in 
 Lancafter and Groton. 7. The Indian plantation of Natic, 
 with a minifter and falary from an Englilh fociety for 
 piopagating the golpel amongft the Indians in New- 
 Lng.and ; he officiates in Englilh, and his congregation 
 are moftly Englilh; it lies about eighteen miles weft 
 from Bofton, not exceeding twenty families of Indians. 
 
 8. Puncopag Indians, in the townlhip of Stoughton, be- 
 ing three or four families. Befides thefe, there is in the 
 S. W. corner of the province of MalTachuletts-Bay, about 
 twenty-five miles eaft from Hudfon’s or York river, a 
 fmali tribe of Indians, called Houfatonics, upon a river 
 of that name, called Weftenhoek by the Dutch : they 
 intermixed with the Englilh in the townihips of 
 Sheffield and Stockbridge. 
 
 Excepting the Indians of Nantucket and Martha’s- 
 meyaid (better employed) all the others in a few years 
 
 will 
 
Sect. III. «* North-America. 189 
 
 will beextindt; moft of their men were perfuaded to en- 
 lift as foldiers in the late expeditions to Cuba and Cartha- 
 gena againft the Spaniards, and to Cape-Breton, and 
 Nova Scotia againft the French •, fcarce any of them fur- 
 vived, and the names and memory of their tribes not 
 worth preferving. 
 
 In the other Britifh colonies, where any tribes inter- 
 mixed with our fettlements recjuire notice, they fh.ill be 
 mentioned in the proper fedtions. This article I profe- 
 cute no further. 
 
 Article IV. 
 
 Indian wars with the Britifh colonies in North-America. 
 
 W HEN the country of the Indians at war with us, 
 lies upon our frontiers, but without our grants, I 
 call it a war in the common acceptation ; if within our 
 arants, but without our fettlements, I call it an eruption, 
 m our proclamations againft them it is called rebellion, 
 as in all the New-England wars with the Abnaquies ; if 
 intermixed with our fettlements, it is an infurredhon, Inch 
 were the wars of the Pequods, anno 1637, and of king 
 Philip and his confederates, anno 1675. , 
 
 In this article I only mention the Indian infurrections 
 or commotions which happened from the firft landing 
 of the Eno-lifh in the American countries, until the britilh 
 
 [71 .revolution in favour of the Prince of Orange, anno 
 1688 : after this period, though our Indian wars were 
 Generally executed by the bordering Indians, they were 
 under the influence, and by the direction of the Canada 
 French j therefore I do not reckon them as mere Indian 
 
 [/] The revolution in a ftrift fenfe, w* not the lading ; of the 
 prince of Orange, afterwards king W.Uum of bkffed memory ,.t 
 was a parliamentary exclufion of all the Popilh branches . 
 
 royal family, and fettling the fucceffion to the crown in the Proceftan 
 branches thereof. _ 
 
190 Britifli and French Settlements PartI. 
 
 wars, but as French wars in America •, they went pari 
 pajju with the Britifh and French wars in Europe, and be- 
 ing intermixed with the European and New-England 
 Britifh expeditions againft Canada, Nova Scotia, or 
 L’Accadie, and Cape-Breton, or L’lfle Royale,’ we 
 fhall give fome Ihort account of them in the proper 
 feftions. r t" 
 
 A detail of the fmall Indian Ikirmifhes, at our firffc 
 fettling, can be of no ufeful information, and at this 
 diftance of time is no amufement. A rafcally fellow, 
 Capt. Hunt, anno 1614, by Health carried off fome In- 
 dians, and in the Mediterranean of Europe, fold them to 
 the Spaniards as Moors captivated from Barbary ; this 
 occafioned a diffidence and difguft againft the Engiilh 
 traders upon that coaft for fome time. In New-England, 
 excepting the Indian wars with the Pequods 163°, and 
 with the Packenokets (called king Philip’s war) and their 
 confederates, anno 1 675 ; and the French Indian wars 
 with us during king William’s and queen Anne’s wars in 
 Europe; and an eruption anno 1722, to 1725, when the 
 F rench and Spaniards were hatching a war againft us in 
 Europe, which proved abortive ; and our prelent war 
 with the French and their aftociated Indians ; we had no 
 Indian war of any kind. It is true, there have been 
 private rencounters between the Engliffi and Indians at 
 times from fudden flights of paffion or drunkennefs; as 
 happens all the world over. 
 
 Upon good enquiry it will be found, that our properly 
 fpeaking Indian wars have not been lb frequent, fo tedi- 
 ous, and fo defolating, as is commonly reprefented in too 
 ftrong a light (hunger-ftarved, and cold-ftarved were our 
 greateft hardfliips in lettling ;) In New-England our only 
 Indian wars, properly fo called, were the Pequod war, 
 anno 1637, which lafted three months ; and king Philip’s 
 war, anno 1675, and 1676, of about fourteen months 
 continuance; and the war of 1722, to 1725. 
 
 In our northern 'parts, the Indians generally appear 
 in fmall Ikulking parties, with yellings, ftioutings, and 
 
 antic 
 
Sect. Ill- /» North-America.' 19* 
 
 antic poltures, inftead of trumpets and drums •, their 
 Indian wood-cry is jo-hau ; their war-cry may be ex- 
 preffed, woach, woach, ha, ha, hach, woach. 
 
 The Indians are not wanderers like the Tartars, but 
 are ramblers; and in time of war, according to the 
 leafons, they may be annoyed at their head -quarters, 
 and ambufcaded or way laid at their carrying or land 
 travelling places. Their retreats or ftrong places are 
 the fwamps (copfes in a morals.) Dr. Cotton Mather, 
 with good propriety calls it, being infwamped, in imi- 
 tation of the European term intrenched Like the 
 French in Europe, without regard to faith of treaties, 
 they l'uddenly break out into furious, rapid outrages 
 and deviations ; but foon retire precipitately, having 
 no ftores for fubfiftence ; the country is not cleared and 
 cultivated. Their captives if they ficken, or are other- 
 ways incapable of travelling, they kill them, and lave 
 their fcalps ; the Englilh thus captivated are fold to 
 French families in Canada, but redeemable upon reim- 
 burfing the price paid, by an order from the governor- 
 
 general of Canada. . , 
 
 Their head-warriors are men noted for ftrength and 
 courage ; fometimes in their wars they chule a tempo- 
 rary chief of all the tribes of one nation engaged 
 (at times fome particular tribe or village have declined 
 iomino- in war with the general nation.) I hus the N un- 
 ties in the Pequod war ; thus the Saco Indians in the 
 prefent war, or rebellion of the Abnaquies ; but not 
 with a Roman diftatorial power : anno 1670, Mada- 
 cawando of Penobfcot was chief of ail the eaftern or 
 Abnaquie Indians, and Sqiiando of Saco was his tecond ; 
 anno 1 637, Saffacous was chief of the Pequod cattles or 
 
 villages. ... c 
 
 Our fcouts or Indian hunters, in the time of war, 
 carry packs, which at firft fetting out may we.gh 70 wt. 
 being about thirty days provifion of bifcuit, or parched 
 Indian corn, fait pork, lugar and ginger to quality anti 
 animate their drink, which is water : tneir method o 
 
 lodging. 
 
igi Britifli and French Settlements PartI. 
 
 lodging, pitching, or camping at night, is in parcels of 
 ten or twelve men to a fire ; they lie upon brulh, wrapt 
 up in a blanket, with their feet to the fire. 
 
 Towards the better underftanding of the Pequod or 
 Poquot, and king Philip’s wars, it may be proper to 
 know the fituation and circumftances of their adjoining 
 Indians, as they were anno 1637. Along lhore firft 
 were the Cape-Cod, peninfula Indians in feveral tribes; 
 the Nantucket, and Martha’s-Vineyard ifland Indians;’ 
 thefe were always in friendlhip with tfie Englifh fettlers : 
 next were the Pocafiets (at prefent called Seconet) of 
 about 300 fighting men ; the Pockanokets, or king 
 Philip’s men, about 300 fighting men ; the Nipmugs, 
 adjoining to the Pockanokets inland, in leveral tribes, 
 extending from Connecticut river to Merrimack river ; 
 the Naraganfets from Naraganfet- Bay to Pakatuke 
 river, the boundary between Connecticut and Rhode- 
 ifiand colonies, about 1000 men; the Pequods from 
 Pakatuck river to near Hudfon’s or New-York river, 
 the Moheags at the head of New-London or Thames 
 river, about 406 men ; the Connecticut river Indians 
 in leveral tribes. 
 
 Pequod war. The occafions of this war were, 1. A 
 barbarous warlike nation ; they killed, anno 1634, cap- 
 tains Stone and Norton, traders. 2. Lords Say and 
 Brook 1636, building a fort at the mouth of ConneCti- 
 cut-river, near their head quarters, offended them. 3. 
 Their continued killing, upon ConneCticut-river, of Eng- 
 lifh traders, upon frivolous pretences, to the number of 
 'thirty ; at length the Englilh could not avoid a proper 
 refentment. 
 
 Anno 1635, July 15, the afiociated colonies of New- 
 England made a league offenfive and defenfive with the 
 fix Naraganfet fachems : by one of the articles, the Na- 
 raganfet Indians confirm all lormer grants of lands made 
 to the Englilh. The Naraganfet and Pequods were not 
 cordial friends with one another. 
 
 i$37> 
 
Sect. III. in NoRTH-AwEkicA.' 193 
 
 1637, in May 20, a body of feventy feven Englifh, 
 fixty Conne&icut-river Indians, 200 Naraganfet Indians, 
 100 Niantics (a village of the Pequods in friendlhip with 
 the Englifh) and twenty men from the garrifon of Say- 
 brooke-fort, under the direction of [m] captain Mafon, 
 afterwards deputy-governor of Connecticut (the 160 
 men from Mafiachufetts-Bay under Mr. Stoughton, and 
 the fifty men from Plymouth colony, had not then 
 joined them) took and burnt the Pequod fort near My- 
 ftic river (this river divides Stonington from Grotten in 
 Connecticut) and killed about 140 Indians: a great 
 body of Pequods came down from their neighbouring 
 principal fort, but the Englifh and their auxiliary In- 
 dians made a good retreat to their boats ; in all they 
 had only two men killed, and fixteen wounded. The 
 Englifh purfued the Pequods from fwamp to fwamp with 
 great havock : at length, in a fwamp of Fairfield, to- 
 wards New-Netherlands, they were routed ; their cap- 
 tivated children were lent to Bermudas, and fold for 
 (laves. Safiacous, their leading fachem, with about thirty 
 more Pequods, fled to the Mohawks, and were murdered 
 by them. In lefs than three months war, about 700 
 Pequods were deftroyed, and that nation reduced to about 
 200 men, who fued for peace ; which was granted them 
 upon condition of their abandoning their name and 
 country, which accordingly they did, and incorporated 
 themfelves with the Naraganfets .and Moheags [»]. 
 N. B. They had not many fire-arms. 
 
 After the Pequod war, there were at times between 
 the Indians and Englifh private mutual injuries, fome- 
 times more general mifunderftandings, and threatened 
 ruptures ; but the union offenfive and defenfive of the 
 
 [«] This captain Mafon, for his good fervice, had a colony grant 
 of a large extent of land ; thefe lands are now in difpute between the 
 colony of Conne&icut and Mr. Mafon ’s heirs. 
 
 M Perhaps forae expedient of this nature might be ufed with re- 
 gard to fome of the incorrigible clans of Highlanders in the northern 
 and weftern parts of Scotland. 
 
 Yol. I. O 
 
 united 
 
194 BritilK and French Settlements PartI. 
 
 united colonies of New-England awed them. By this 
 union the proportions were, Mafifachufetts 100, Ply- 
 mouth, Hartford, and New-Haven, each forty-five men ; 
 this union was made anno 1643, t ^ e I 9 t h day of the 
 third month. 
 
 Anno 1645 an d 1646, the Naraganfets were private- 
 ly hatching an infurreftion, but were foon~ brought 
 to an open declaration of a fettled friendfhip with the 
 Englifh. 
 
 1653, the [0] Dutch of New Netherlands were form 
 ing a confederacy with our Indians, to cut off all the 
 
 [ 0 ] The Dutch have generally been called our natural and good 
 friends, but as there can be no real friendfhip amongft ri*.als in trade, 
 it is a maxim with merchants, there is no fricndjkip in trade ; the 
 Dutch carry this higher, that there is no humanity in trade ; we ought 
 to be equally jealous of the French and Dutch. The French faith is 
 in our times as notorioufly bad, as the Punka and Graca fidcs was in 
 ancient times, therefore I fhall not enumerate any inftances of it. 
 
 I {hall give a few inftances how faulty the Dutch have been in this 
 refpeft. 1. Not long after we had relieved them from the Spanifh 
 bondage in their vaderland, or native country, they mafTacred o r 
 fa&ory at Amboyna in the Eaft- Indies, never to be forgiven nor for- 
 gotten. 2 In our New-England wars with the Pequod Indians, anno 
 1637, and with king Philip’s Indians, anno 675, they fupplied our 
 enemy Indians with ammunition, &c. from New- York ar.d Albany. 
 3. Anno 1653, when the Englifh and Dutch were at war in Europe, 
 our Dutch neighbours of New*Netherlands had formed a plot, in con- 
 junction with the Mohawks and eaflern Indians, to cut off the Britifh 
 colonies in New-England ; but a peace in Europe foon happening, 
 prevented this maifacre. 4. A few years fmee in the ifland of Java in 
 the Eait-Indies, in the fuburbs and country adjacent to Batavia, were 
 fettled abcut 90,000 Chinefe, multiplying very faftj the Dutch, 
 jealous of their numbers and growth, upon a pretended umbrage of 
 an intended infurre£tion,furprized, in cold blood, and mafTacred many 
 thoufands of them, in order to reduce their numbers: gain is their 
 God; to this they facriflce every thing, even their own ipecies, man- 
 kind. 5. In the autumn, anno 1746, when a French fquadron in- 
 vaded Fort St. George in the Eaft -Indies, the Englifh women of the 
 town and its territory fled to Pallicut, a Dutch fettlement, three hours 
 or twelve miles north from St. George’s ; but the Dutch would not 
 receive them. 6. The filent confent of the Dutch to the French at- 
 tacking and taking of the Auftrian towns in the Netherlands: it is 
 fuipe&ed in all our battles or engagements againfl the French in Flanders 
 
 New- 
 
Sect. III. in North-America. 195 
 
 New-England fettlements, but a peace between England 
 and Holland prevented it. 
 
 Anno 1654, the Naraganfet and Niantic Indians made 
 war againft the Montaoke Indians at the eaft end of 
 Long-ifland; but the united colonies of New-England, 
 by fitting out 270 foot and forty horfe, foon brought 
 the Naraganfets to an accommodation. 
 
 Paconoket, or. king Philip’s war. Mafiafoit, 
 chief of the Wampanogoes, whereof Paconoket or Mount 
 Hope Neck was a tribe, was a good friend to the firlt 
 Plymouth fettlers. He left two fons, Wamfucket and 
 Metacomet •, at their own defire the government of Ply- 
 mouth gave them the Englifh names of Alexander and 
 Philip i Alexander died anno 1662 ; Philip, by a formal 
 inftrument to the government of Plymouth anno 1671, 
 reftridted himfelf from difpofing of any of his lands with- 
 out their confent. 
 
 This Philip, lachem of the Wampanogoes or Pacano- 
 ket Indians, was naturally a man of penetration, cun- 
 ning, and courage he formed a deep plot anno 1 575, 
 to extirpate the Englifh ot New-England : with pro- 
 found fecrecy he effedled an extenfive confederacy with 
 other tribes of Indians, viz. Pocaflet, Naraganfets, Nip- 
 mugs, Connedticut-river Indians, feveral tribes of the 
 Abnaquies our eaftern Indians. The Canada French 
 were in the fcheme, and, by their emifiaries, endeavoured 
 to keep up the fpirit of infurredlion •, the Dutch from 
 Albany were liifpedted of fupplying thefe Indians with 
 ammunition. By the New-Plymouth grant, we find the 
 Pacanoket Indians extended up Patuket or Blackftone, 
 formerly Nipmug-river, to the Nipmug country but 
 this boundary could not be afeertained by the late com- 
 
 this war, that the Dutch general officers had private inftru&ions, to 
 gi<ve way, as if in collufion with the French court. 1 he Dutch is an 
 oligarchy, or a government of few, and therefore liable to corruption, 
 and would even"bring their own country to a market, and fell one an- 
 other upon occafion. The Dutch, if they could be fincerc, are our 
 molt natural allies againft the encroaching French. 
 
 O 2 miffioners 
 
196 Britifh and French Settlements Part I. 
 miflioners for fettling the line between Plymouth and 
 Rhode-ifland colonies. 
 
 Philip began his infurreftion June 24, 1 675, by killing 
 nine Englifhmen in Swanzey, adjoining to Mount- 
 hope, his head quarters. The Englifh fufpe&ing the Na- 
 raganiets, a powerful nation, might join Philip,' marched 
 an armed force into the Naraganfet country, and awed 
 them into a treaty of peace and friendfhip •, but notwith- 
 ftanding (fuch is Indian Faith) they joined Philip, as 
 will appear in the fequel. 
 
 Beginning of July, the Pocaflets begin hoftilities. In 
 a Pocaffet fwamp, king Philip and his confederate Po- 
 caflets, were environed by the Englifh, but by night 
 made their efcapeto the Nipmug country, leaving about 
 100 women and children. Middle of July, the Nip- 
 mugs begin hoftilities by depredations in Mendon. 
 Auguft25, the Connetticut-river Indians begin hofti- 
 lities by annoying the neighbouring Englifh fettle- 
 ments. 
 
 In Auguft the eaftern Indians, viz. Pennycooks of 
 Merrimack, Pigwokets of Saco, and Amarefcogins of 
 Pegepfcut-rivers break out, and by December they killed 
 about fifty Englifh, with their own lofs about ninety 
 Indians. The feverity of the winter brought thefe tribes 
 of eaftern Indians to a formal peace; but by folicitation 
 of Philip they broke out again next fummer, and were 
 joined by the Quenebec Indians, kill feveral Englifh, 
 and deftroy their flock ; but Philip being killed, they 
 foon came in and fubmitted. 
 
 The enemy Indians, imagining that upon the footing 
 of the late treaty, the Englifh would deem the Naragan- 
 fets as neutrals, in winter retired to the Naraganfet 
 country ; but for very good reafons, the Englifh, jealous 
 of the Naraganfets, fent thither rooo men, 527 whereof 
 from Maffachufetts, under the command of governor 
 Winflow of Plymouth; they were increafed to 1500 
 men by an addition of fome neighbouring friend In- 
 dians ; December 19, they attack the Indians in their 
 
Sect. III. /'» North-Americ a. *9 7 
 
 fort or fwamp, and killed about 700 Indians, befides wo- 
 men and children, with the lofs of about ^‘g ht y-^e 
 Englilh killed, and 150 wounded; the fwamp is called. 
 
 1 a ^"twithftanding this difafter, the Indians had Me- 
 mo- parties out all winter; they kept the field better 
 than the Englilh, and harraifed our people much; they 
 did damaee in the town of Plymouth, and within a few 
 miles of Bofton, and the Englilh were oblige^m keep 
 dofe in garrifon-houfes. In the fpnng, the Mohawks 
 having fome difference with the Abnaqtues, favoured the 
 EnMilh; and the Indians being much harraifed by fa 
 
 mine (they had little produce, becaufe of the war, from 
 their plandno grounds laft crop) fevers and fluxes, the 
 Malfachufetts government very wifely ilfued a proclama- 
 tion Tulv 8 1676, promifing the hopes of a pardon to 
 
 all Indian enemies or rebels, who fhould come in withm 
 fourteen days Many fubmitted, many withdrew to their 
 ^Xe peculiar abodes -, feme cravdled leftward to- 
 wLs Hudfon’s river, were pu-lued and killed Ph*p 
 was reduced to (kulk about and, in _a fwamp of Mo a. i 
 Hope, his own country, with fix or feven of his followers 
 
 W dS PhTp f s war about 3000 Indians were killed, 
 
 C 4 V Sce a d1o"i * C „ Na S w^Jng ovi 
 
 _ n n v picked, and milchievous ; of thele a rew lunerc 
 
 death’-, the others (of the iooj were tranfported and Ibid 
 
 f °Kinr Philip’s, or Briftol neck, «‘. Wd 
 
 J. We lie no record of Rhode-, (land 
 
198 Britifh and French Settlements PartI. 
 
 After Philip’s war, there were no more infurre&ions 
 or rebellions of our intermixed Indians: the following 
 wars were by eruptions and incurfions of the Indians 
 within our grants, but without our fettlements, by in- 
 ftigation of our natural enemies the French of Canada, 
 viz., from autumn anno 1688 (fome lhort truces inter- 
 vening) to Jan. 7, anno 1698-9, and from Aug. 16, 
 anno 1703, to July 17, anno 1713, and from fpring 
 1 744, when there were mutual declarations of war in 
 Europe of the Britifh and French ; this war ftill fubfifts 
 at this prefent writing September, 1747* . Here we may 
 obierve, that our eaftern Indians in this pending war have 
 not annoyed our fettlements eaftward, being called off by 
 the French to Crown-Point; from Crown-Point the 
 French and their Indians have done confiderable damao-e 
 upon the New- York and Maflachufetts weftern frontiers 5 ; 
 and to Nova Scotia, by inverting the fort of Anna- 
 polis-Royal ; and by the maflacre of our people at Menis, 
 they have confiderably incommoded us. The late dif- 
 afters of the French expeditions, under the duke d’An- 
 ville and M. La Jonquiere, againft Cape-Breton, Nova 
 Scotia, and our other fettlements in North- America, 
 have made the French defift from any further enter- 
 prizes in Nova Scotia and our eaftern Indians, being dif- 
 mifled from that fervice, have lately appeared againft our 
 forts of Pemaquid and Georges. 
 
 Our wars with the Indians in the reigns of king 
 William and of queen Anne, and the prefent war, are 
 intermixed with expeditions from Europe ; they are not 
 merely Indian ; we refer them to the fubfequent fedlions. 
 
 Governor Dummer’s war againft the Indians may be 
 reckoned purely Indian, we {hall give fome lhort account 
 • of it. The Canada French perceiving our eaftern fettle- 
 ments advance apace, let their Quenebec miffionary, fa- 
 ther Ralle a jefuite, to work; he made thefe Indians 
 jealous of the Englifh, by telling them, that thefe lands 
 were given by God unalienably to the Indians and their 
 children for ever, according to the chriftian facred ora- 
 cles. 
 
Sect. III. in North-America. 1 99 
 
 cles Anno 1717, the Indians began to murmur, and 
 after feme time gave the Englilh feeders formal .warning 
 to leave the lands within a fet time •, at the expiration ot 
 that time they committed depredations, by deltroying 
 their cattle aJd other ftock : the miffionary, with a 
 
 prieftly hear, began the affair too precipitately, before 
 the receiving of directions from France, as appears by a 
 letter from M. Vandreuil, governor-general of Canada, 
 to this father, “ He could not tell how far he might 
 « intermeddle in the affair, until he had particular in- 
 “ ft ruCtions from the council of the navy in France; 
 all the French colonies are under the direction of that 
 board : and the fmall-pox (which the Indians with good 
 reafon dread) prevailing in New-Engjand, anno 1721, 
 prevented a declared rupture until anno 1722, July 5 > 
 the government of Maffachufetts-Bay proclaimed them 
 rebels, and ordered 100/. per fcalp to volunteers fitted 
 out at their own charge, and afterwards 4J. per day be- 
 fides. Our moft conftderable aCtion againft them was 
 at Noridgwoag of Quenebec river, Auguft 12, anno 
 1724. their fighting men being juft come home from 
 Routing. Captain Harman, with 200 men m feventeen 
 whale-boats go up Quenebec river, furprize the Indians 
 at Naridgwoag, bring off twenty fix Indian fealps, and 
 that of father Halle •, Indians killed and dr J )W ^’ ’ n 
 their flight crofs the river, were computed to be eighty. 
 Captain Lovel, a volunteer with forty-four men, fets 
 out via Offipi pond, for Figocket was intercepted by 
 about feventy Indians ; he and about fourteen of his 
 men were killed, and many w'ounded. 
 
 Tit French and Indians of Nova Scotia were con- 
 cerned in this war •, they made a vain affault upon the 
 ftt of Annapolis-Royal, and did fome damage at 
 
 C delegates from the five or fix New-York Indian 
 nations, and from the Moheign or Hudfon s river In- 
 dians, and from the Scatacooks, came to Bolton,^- 
 
200 Britifh and French Settlements Part 1, 
 
 ceived prefents, gave fair promifes of a<W in our fa- 
 vour, but did nothing. 8 a 
 
 _ We fent commiflioners to the governor-general of 
 Canada, to expoflulate with him concerning his en 
 couragmg the Indian depredations, and to reclaim cap- 
 tives : his anfwer was. That thefe Indians were inde- 
 penc ent nations, and not under his direction ; this was 
 a mere evafion. 
 
 After many bickerings, by good management in the 
 ■wife admimftration of lieutenant-governor Dummer 
 the mdians begged and obtained a ceflation of arms’, 
 Dec . 15, anno 1725, and a peace the May'followino- at 
 Cafco ; faving to the Indians all their lands not hitherto 
 conveyed, with the privilege of hunting, fowling, and 
 fiming as formerly : figned by the Noridgwoag, Penob- 
 Icot, St. John s, and Cape-Sable Indians. 
 
 * 7 ? re< ; or four years fince, fome interfperfed Indians 
 in Maryland were troublefome, and occafionally killed 
 lome hnglifhmen ; they were foon quelled. 
 
 in Virginia, in the beginning, the Indian incurfions re- 
 tarded them much' j anno 1610, from 500 they were 
 reduced to eighty ; from 1712, there was uninterrupted 
 peace with the Indians till 1622 ; by a fudden general 
 lnfurrefhon, they maffacred 347 Englifh people, reckon- 
 ed at that time half of the colony. Sir John Harvey, a 
 very arbitrary governor, encroached much upon the In- 
 dians by making enormous grants of their lands •, this 
 occafioned another maffacre from the Indians anno 1639, 
 500 Englifh were cut off, efpecially about the head of 
 York river ; this was foon over, and peace Med 
 many years. Anno 1676, fome mutual murders happened 
 between the Englifh and Indians in the out-fettlements. 
 Bacon, a hotheaded young gentleman of the council, be- 
 caule, as he thought, the afiembly was too dilatory in fit- 
 ting out againfi: the Indians ; in contempt of the govern- 
 ment, and without a proper commiffion, inlifting foldiers 
 01 his ov n accord, occafioned an inteftine civil mutiny 
 
Sect. IV. in North-America. ' 2 oi 
 
 of the white people againft the government, and obliged 
 the governor Berkley to fly to the remote county of Acco- 
 mack upon the eaftern fhore of Chefepeak-Bay : to quell 
 this commotion a regiment of foldiers was fent from Eng- 
 land ; but Bacon dying, the commotion was over, be- 
 fore the regiment arrived : this corps continued there 
 three years, and were dilbanded in Virginia; Bacon’s 
 body could not be found to be expofed to infamy. This 
 anticipates, but at the fame time it helps to fhorten the 
 feition of Virginia. 
 
 In North-Carolina, anno 17* in November the 
 Cape -Fear Indians broke out, and deftroyed about twenty 
 families, and much ftock: by fuccours from Virginia and 
 South-Carolina, they were foon reduced ; and many of 
 the Tufcararoes obliged to take refuge amongft the New- 
 York Indian nations, where they continue, and are gene- 
 rally called the flxth nation. 
 
 SECT. IV. 
 
 General remarks concerning the Britifh colonies in 
 America 
 
 T HE fubje£l-m*tters of this fection according to 
 my firft plan, are prolix, being various and copious, 
 and perhaps would be the moft curious and informing 
 piece of the performance to fome readers ; but as many 
 of our readers in thefe colonies leem impatient for our 
 entering upon the affairs of their feveral fettlements, we 
 fhall contrail the prefent fection, and fhall defer ieveral 
 articles to the appendix ; iuch as, the rife, progrefs, and 
 prefent ftate of the pernicious paper-currencies ; fome ac- 
 count of the prevailing or endemial difeafes in our North- 
 America colonies, and many other loofe particulars ; the 
 
 various fe&aries in religion, which have any footing m 
 
 our 
 
202 Britifti and French Settlements Part I. 
 
 our American colonies, ihall be enumerated in the feftion 
 of Rhode-ifland, where we find all degrees of fe&aries 
 (fome perhaps not known in Europe) from [/>] no Reli- 
 
 |>1 Some facetious gentlemen, perhaps, ufe too much of a farcaftic 
 freedom with our colony governments : for inftance, that, in the final! 
 
 colony of R de I d, Anarchy is their civil conftitution; 
 
 no Religion is in the room of an ecclefiaftical conftitution, and 
 they who are of any well-regulated religion are non-conformifts ; in 
 fea-affairs they are the Porto-Rico of New-England ; for many years 
 they have been the moft noted paper-money bankers or Bubblers in 
 New -England, but at prefent are in this cafe eclipfed by a more 
 eminent .mterprifing neighbouring colony : by this contrivance in over- 
 ftretching a provincial public paper credit, they may, in fome fenfe, be 
 faid to have become bankrupts At prefent they pay 2 s. 3 d. in the. 
 pound ; fuch is the prefent difference between 3 /. (the price of one 
 ounce of Mexico filver flandard, October 1 747) denomination depre- 
 ciated, and 6 s Sd. the price of filver, the rate at which their notes 
 of credit were firft emitted. 
 
 To render this intelligible to the loweft capacities : if this lofmg 
 negotiation of public bills of credit proceeds, a Britifh half-penny will 
 exchange for a fhilling New-England bafe currency, and a corkin pin 
 for a penny in fmall change. 
 
 Oldmixon, an erroneous fcribler, in his Britifli empire in America, 
 printed in London 1708 (he died 1742) without any defign feems to 
 favour the other colonies of New-England ; he writes, the government 
 of Rhode-ifland is ftill feparate from that of New-England. 
 
 No religion (I hope the above character may admit of confiderable 
 abatements) is inconfiftent with fociety. The form of the judicial 
 oath in that colony, “ Upon the peril of the penalty of perjury," feems 
 not to anfwer the intention of an oath, which is a folemn invocation of 
 God’s judgments hereafter, over and above the penalties which may 
 be infbtted in this world ; thus by cunning and fecrecy they may 
 evade the one, but by no means can be fuppofed to efcape the other. 
 It is true, that in Great-Britain the affirmation of Quakers, and in 
 Holland the declaration of the Menifts, are equivalent to our oaths. 
 Upon the other hand, the frequency of oaths upon fmafl occaflons, 
 makes them too familiar, and by taking off the folemnity and awe of 
 an oath renders them nearly upon a par with common profane 
 fwearing ; the many oaths in the feveral branches of the revenue, 
 particularly in the cuftoms, are of bad effect ; hence the proverb, 
 a cuftom houfe oath, that is, an oath that may be difpenfed with. 
 Oaths give a profligate man of no religion (that is, who does not 
 think hiinfelf bound by an oath) a vaft advantage over an homfl 
 confcientious religious man : the fame may be faid of the facramental 
 tefts of conformity, and occafional conformity prattifed by the church 
 of England, 
 
 CION 
 
Sect. IV. in North-America. 203 
 
 gion to that of the moft wild enthufiafts. Religious 
 affairs, fo far as they may in fome manner appertain to 
 the conftitution of the colonies, make an article in this 
 feet ion. 
 
 Article I. 
 
 Concerning our firfi discoveries of , and trade to the Britifh 
 North America •, before , it vxas by royal grants , pa- 
 tents., and charters divided into the colonies at prejent 
 fubjijling. 
 
 I N pao-e 109, &c. I gave fome anticipating account 
 of thefe our firft difeoveries. I lhall further add : 
 Sebaftian Cabot, commifiioned by king Henry VII of 
 England, to endeavour difeoveries of the north-weft pal- 
 faa° to China and the Eaft-Indies, anno 1497, difeovered 
 and took poffeffion, according to the forms ufed in thole 
 times, of all the eaftern coalt of North-America, from 
 about the north polar circle to Cape Florida, (as is re- 
 lated) in the name of the crown of England ; the Cabots 
 had a royal Englilh grant of the property of all lands they 
 fhould difeover and fettle weftward of Europe •, they 
 made no fettlement, and their grant dropt. 
 
 Sir Walter Raleigh a favourite, by order of queen 
 Elizabeth, anno 1 584, fent two veffels toNorth- America, 
 to land people that were to remain there •, they landed 
 at Roanoke in North-Carolina, where they remained and 
 planted for fome fhort time. Raleigh gave to all that 
 part of America the name Virginia, in honour or 
 memory of the virginity of queen Elizabeth ; a conti- 
 nued but finall trade was carried on from England to 
 thefe countries for fome time, and, by landing at times 
 in fundry places, took farther poffeffion for the crown of 
 England. 
 
 Anno 1606, April 10, king James in one patent incor- 
 porated two companies called the fouth and north Virgi- 
 nia companies; the fouth Virginia company to reach 
 
204 Britifli and French Settlements Part I. 
 
 from 34 D. to 41 D. N. Lat. They began a fettlement, 
 anno 1607, on Chefepeak-Bay, and this part of the 
 country retains the name Virginia in a peculiar man- 
 ner to this day •, here we mult drop it, and reaflume 
 in the proper fe&ion of Virginia : the north Virginia 
 company, called alfo the weft-country company, had li- 
 berty to fettle upon the fame eaftern coaft of America 
 from 38 D. to 45 D. N. Lat. They kept a conftant fmall 
 trade on foot, and fometimes wintered alhore, as, for 
 inftance, at Sagadahoc anno 1608 ; but made no formal 
 lafting fettlement, until that of New-Plymouth anno 
 1 620 ; here we muft ftop, and reaflume in the feftions of 
 New-England colonies. Thefe fettlements were to have 
 been at 100 miles diftance from one another, that is, 
 from their chief place ; each territory or colony was to 
 extend fifty miles both ways along fttore, and 100 miles 
 back into the country, fo as to make a diftritft of 100 
 miles fquare : thus from the gulph of St. Laurence to 
 Cape-Fear we fliould have had feven colonies of equal 
 dimenfions, but not of equal quality ; at prefent in that 
 fpace we have about a dozen colonies very unequal and 
 irregular, becaufe granted at different times ; moft of 
 them run back into the wildernefs indefinitely. This 
 patent did not fubfift long-, the companies were managed 
 by prefidents and council, but in a few years, made a 
 furrender. The Dutch took the opportunity to fit down 
 in fome parts of the degrees of latitude, that were in 
 common to both companies, and kept pofleflion of pro- 
 perty and jurifdi&ion, almoft threefcore years. 
 
 Capt. Henry Hudfon, anno 1 6o8,difcovered the mouth 
 of Hudfon’s river in N. L. 40 D. 30 M. upon his own 
 account, as he imagined, and fold it, or rather imparted 
 the difcovery to the Dutch. The Dutch made fome fet- 
 tlements there, but were drove off by Sir Samuel Argol, 
 governor of a fecond Virginia-company, anno 1618, be- 
 caufe within the limits of that company’s grant; but 
 anno 1620, king James gave the Dutch fome liberty of 
 refreftnnent for their fhips bound to Brazils, which they 
 
 ' afterwards 
 
qECT iv. in North-America. 205 
 
 afterwards in the times of the civil wars and confuM 
 • p np -\and improved to the fettling of a colony there, 
 Whkh 8 thev ’called New-Netherlands, comprehending all 
 i W nrovinces of New -York and New-Jerfies, and 
 
 feme pli't Jpenfylvania. Their principal fettlements were 
 
 New- Amfterdatn, at prefent caJWthe Jfc. 
 onHudfon’s river, and fort Cafimir, fin Hud f on »g 
 Caftle upon Delaware river, weft of , 
 
 rive was called by the Dutch, Nord-Rmer, and Dela- 
 
 ware river was called Zuid-Rivier. Beginning of king 
 CtelSThe fecond’s reign by “nqueft .66^ and*= 
 
 fubfequent further amount of this 
 
 “ of New-York and New- 
 
 Je We may in general obferve, that /pices, precious 
 \\e m y o other meta ls and minerals, were the 
 
 firftYnducements and objefb of our Eaft and Weft-lnd-a 
 
 " S ft ^ ‘St S^teCnonlV incidental) As 
 ' *efeTd n"ed, our firft endeavours or adventures 
 
 ^‘mTfStallCtions during the laft century 
 fbTf * miv learn many of the fuccefsful methods to 
 Te uS-d Snco»ve„ien y ces to be avowed, ,n ferthng 
 of colonies. 
 
 Article II. 
 
 Cmerning lb, general nature and coflutim of the Britilh 
 concern & <s North . Amenca colonies. 
 
 * T T our American fettlements are properly colonies. 
 
20 6 Britifh and French Settlements Part I, 
 
 the Britifh colonies, tranfported to form a fettlcment in 
 a foreign or remote country. 
 
 I ■ 1 hill iettkrs of our colonies were formed from 
 various forts of people, i. Laudably ambitious adven- 
 turers. a. 1 he mal-contents, the unfortunate, the ne- 
 cefiitous from home. 3 . Tranfported criminals. The 
 prefent proportion of thefe ingredients in the feveral 
 plantations varies much, tor reafons which fhall be men- 
 tioned in the particular fedlions of colonies, and does 
 depend much upon the condition of the firft fetders : 
 foine were peopled by rebel Tories ; fome by rebel 
 Whigs (that principle which at one time is called loyalty, 
 at another time is called rebellion) fbme by church of 
 England men ; fbme by Congregation alifls or Indepen- 
 dents; fome by Quakers, fome by Papifls (Maryland and 
 Monferrat) the moft unfit people to incorporate with our 
 conflitution. 
 
 Colonies have an incidental good effect, they drain 
 from the mother country the dilaffedted and the vicious 
 (in the lame manner, fubfequent colonies purge the 
 more ancient colonies ; ) Rhode ifland and Providence- 
 plantations drained from Maffachufetts-Bay the Antino- 
 mians, Quakers, and other wild feftaries. Perhaps in 
 after- times (as it is at times with the lord-lieutenants 
 and other high officers in Ireland) fome mal-contents of 
 figure, capable of being troublefome to the adminiflra- 
 tion at home, may be fent in fome great offices to the 
 plantations. 
 
 In our colonies we have four forts of people, i. Ma- 
 ilers, that is planters and merchants. 2. White lervants. 
 3. Indian lervants. 4. Slaves for life, moflly Negroes. 
 White lervants are of two forts, viz. poor people from 
 Great-Britain, and Ireland moflly ; thefe are bound, or 
 fold as fome exprefs it, for a certain number of years, to 
 reimburle the tranfporting charges, with fome additional 
 profit ; the others are criminals judicially tranfported, and 
 their time of exile and fervitude fold by certain under- 
 takers, and their agents. 
 
 In 
 
Sect. IV. ?« North-America. 2 °7 
 
 In our American fettlements, generally the de ^ n ^ nS 
 are Province, where the king appoints a governor 
 
 colony, where the called 
 
 ™ We"h've feme fettlements with a governor only t 
 others with governor and council. Inch as Newfound- 
 tad Nova Scotia, HudfonVBay, and Georgia, without 
 anv houft ot negative deputed by the planters acco dtng 
 , o y the alienee of a Britiih conftitutton : thefe, may be 
 
 6 Them^vartus forts of royal grants of colonies 
 
 , To one or more perfonal proprietors, thetr he.ni and 
 
 'i-l® °r to Maryland and Penfylvania both pro- 
 affigns •, iticn areivuiy nropertv to perfonal 
 
 perry and the 
 
 proprietors , g Q f t h e Carolinas and Jerfeys. 3. 
 
 Pwoenv^and^ government in the crown, ^. Virginia 
 m ^ York and New-Hampfhire, commonly called 
 New-York, an in [ he pe ople and their repre- 
 
 fentadveT' the' government in the crown-, as is Maffa- 
 fentauves, the » and government in thegover- 
 
 S ^company, called ihe freemen of the colony, fueh 
 a ^lSll““'moft effeftual method of the 
 
 fupeuorit) , fubordination is found to be requifite. 
 
 more diftmc. h^ e , r ome 0 f the proprietary 
 
 Connefticut, Rhoae ifland, a not obliged to 
 
 governments, are o opinion, ordefS f r0 m t heir 
 
 attend to, or follow, any mltrucr ^ T do not 
 
 mother-country, or court offices to be pre- 
 
 fend their law, home ^'“°S°or tShl- 
 
 by the Britiih conftitutton, is a prerogative o:^ 
 4 
 
2°8 Britilh and French Settlements Part I 
 crcwn. Some time ago, they refufed not only a preven- 
 
 Am mm. “ mUa,us ’ but "« or Sufi 
 
 ™S e o rtR; *' 
 
 f&? &e‘ q r S: 
 
 ^SSSSSf 
 
 vlLt 1, ,V *?r y ° f 0ur Am «™ nrito 
 
 monr f l themfelves into companies and reo-i- 
 
 J. " / or tha 5 P u ;P ofc i but the miniftry at home per 
 
 k T" to , » 
 
 tended co„ quells It™* - 
 
 Germany we h?d 
 
 burghers. 
 
Sect. IV. in North-Amer ica. 209 
 
 burghers, -and in time may have more : foreigners im- 
 ported, fhould not be allowed to fettle in large feparate 
 diftridts, as is the prelent bad practice •, becaul'e for many 
 generations they may continue, as it were, a feparate 
 people in language, modes of religion, cuftoms, and man- 
 ners ; they ought to be intermixed with the Britifh fet- 
 tlers , Englifh lchools only allowed for the education of 
 their children ; their public worlhip for the firft genera- 
 tion, or twenty years, may be allowed in their original 
 language in the forenoon, and in Englilh in the after- 
 noon, according to any tolerated religion. As our mif- 
 fionaries do not attend the fervice of Indian converfions, 
 fome of them may be employed in this iervice. After the 
 firft twenty years from their firft arrival, their public 
 worlhip fhall for ever be in Englilh ; all their convey- 
 ances, bonds, and other public writings, to be in Eng- 
 lilh ; thus, in two or three generations (as de Foe hu- 
 moroufly exprefles it) they will all become ti ue-born 
 Englilhmen. We have an inftance of this in New-Eng- 
 land, where many Irifh, in language and religion (I mean 
 Roman catholics) have been imported fome years fince •„ 
 their children have loft their language and religion, and 
 are good Subjects. We have a notoriops inftance of the 
 bad effedts, in not obferving this regulation in Nova 
 Scotia •, the French inhabitants, though in allegiance to 
 the crown of Great-Britain ever fince anno 1710, by al- 
 lowing them a feparate refidence, with their language 
 and religion continued, are at prefent, as much eftranged 
 from, and enemies to, the Britifh intereft, as they were 
 thirty-feven years ago ; witnefs their behaviour in our 
 prefent French war, by their favouring and concurring 
 with our French Canada enemies, and the late expedi- 
 tions from France. The D — ch, in a neighbouring pro- 
 vince, becaufe not well dalhed or intermixed with the 
 Englilh, though in allegiance above eighty years, do 
 not feem to coniult our intereft fo much as might be 
 expedled. 
 
 Vol. I. 
 
 P 
 
 Although 
 
210 Britifh and French Settlements PartI. 
 
 Although the colonies of various nations may learn 
 the juvantia and the Udentia from one another •, there 
 may be feveral political regulations in colonies foreign 
 to us, which may have a good effeCt with themfelves, 
 but may not fit our conftitution ; for inftance, i. The 
 Spaniards fay, that their vaft extenfive fettlements in 
 America, have continued in due fubjeCtion about 250 
 years, by their principal officers ecclefiaftical, civil, and 
 military, being from Old-Spain ; in China (a polite na- 
 tion) no man can be a Mandarin in his own country or 
 diftriCt, where he was born. 2. The French, Spanifh, 
 and Portugueze colonies, are not allowed to make wines, 
 and diftil fpirits of fugar for merchandize, becaufe it 
 would hurt the vent of the wines and brandies of their 
 mother- countries : forne fuch regulations, with regard 
 to things commonly manufactured in Great-Britain, not 
 to be manufactured in the plantations, have from time to 
 time been laid before the court of Great-Britain, by 
 people difaffeCted to the plantations, e. g. by CoJ. 
 
 D r not long fince; but happily, have had little 
 
 or no elfedt. 
 
 The feveral colonies, particularly thofe of New-F.ng- 
 land, the moft fufpeCted, have it neither in their power 
 nor inclination to withdraw from their dependence upon 
 Great-Britain : of themfelves, they are comparatively 
 nothing, without the affiftance and protection of fome 
 European maritime power ; amongft thofe, the French, 
 Spanifh, and Portugueze differ fo much from them in re- 
 ligion, the moft popular affair, and in an abfoJute mon- 
 archical government, inconfiftent with our plantation le- 
 velling fpirit, that we have nothing to fear from them : 
 the Dutch being nearly the fame with us in religion, 
 and apparently (though not really) the fame as to a po- 
 pular government, they bid the faireft for carrying off 
 our plantations from their allegiance, and ought, in a 
 particular manner, to be guarded againft; if in time of 
 fome general diicontent, a war fhould happen with the 
 Dutch. 
 
 As 
 
2 1 1 
 
 Sect. IV. in North-America. 
 
 As in natural parentage, fo infant colonies ought 
 to be tenderly and filially ufed, without any fufpicion or 
 furmife of a future obftinate difobedience, defertion, or 
 revolt. Some of the American colony-legifiatures, have 
 at times been drawn into errors and inadvertencies, by 
 fome popular, wicked, leading men, which has obliged 
 the court of Great-Britain to make fome alterations in 
 their peculiar conttitutions : we lhall enumerate them 
 in the refpe&ive colony-ledtions *, at prefent we fhall only 
 inftance a few relating to this province of Maflachufetts- 
 Bay. i. Upon a quo warranto from the court of King’s- 
 bench, illued in trinity-term anno 1635, againft the go- 
 vernor and company of the colony of Mafiachufetts- 
 Bay; and in trinity-term, anno 1637, judgment was 
 given for the king to feize the faid colony, and to take 
 governor Cradock’s body into cuftody •, but, by reafon of 
 the enluing troubles, this judgment was never put in 
 execution. 2. The heirs of Mafon and George, pro- 
 prietors of the provinces of New-Hampfidre and Main* 
 complained to the king of the ufurpations of the go- 
 vernment of Mafiachufetts-Bay ; the king, by a manda- 
 tory letter, anno 1676, to Mafiachufetts-Bay colony, re- 
 quired an anfwer to thofe complaints : the agents for 
 ' Mafiachufetts-Bay, before the court of King’s-bench, dit- 
 claimed thefe lands, and, by an adt of afiembly of the 
 colony 1679, all their encroaching grants were vacated* 
 3. Upon ieveral pretended complaints their charter was 
 vacated in chancery 1684, but they obtained a new and 
 more perfedt charter anno 1691. 4. Governor Shute, 
 
 anno 1722, carried home feven articles of complaints 
 concerning their houfe of reprefentatives encroaching 
 upon the prerogative ; by their agent in England, they 
 fubmiflively gave up five of thefe articles, and the ge- 
 neral afiembly accepted of an explanatory charter, where- 
 by the other two articles were explained away : all thefe 
 lhall be related more at large in their proper place. 5. 
 Several bubbling banks and fchemes defigned to derraud 
 creditors and others, by depreciating the currency in New- 
 
 p 2 England, 
 
212 Britifh and french Settlements PartI. 
 
 England, being on foot, and not fuppreffed by the pro- 
 per legillature (perhaps becaufe many of their leading 
 members were concerned) feveral worthy gentlemen 
 applied home for redrefs, and obtained, anno 1741, an 
 aft of parliament againft unwarrantable fchemes in 
 America. 
 
 Upwards of thirty years fince, upon fome complaints 
 concerning the colonies, particularly of South-Carolina •, 
 the court of Great-Britain judged, that it might be for 
 the general Britilh interefb, to have all charter and pro- 
 prietary governments vacated by aft of parliament, and 
 accordingly a bill was brought into the houfe of com- 
 mons j but the New-England agent Dummer, by an in- 
 genious piece which he publilhed at that time, giving the 
 true ftate of the colonies, by his vigilancy, afliduity, 
 proper folicitations and perfonal addrefs, and intereft 
 with fome of the leading men, occafioned the bill to be 
 dropped. 
 
 The vacating of all charter and proprietary govern- 
 ments is not the ultimate chaftifement that may be ufed 
 with delinquent colonies ; the parliament of Great-Bri- 
 . tain may abridge them of many valuable privileges which 
 they enjoy at prefent •, as happened in an affair relating 
 to Ireland: the parliament of Great-Britain, anno 1720, 
 palfed an aft for the better fecuring the dependence of 
 the kingdom of Ireland upon the crown of Great-Bri- 
 tain : therefore the colonies ought to be circumfpeft, and 
 not offend their mother-country ; as for inftance, 1. In 
 abufing that privilege which our colonies have of raifing 
 taxes and alleffing of themfelves : South-Carolina had 
 not lupplied the neceffary charges of government, for 
 four years preceding anno 1731; New-Hamplhire for 
 five years preceding anno 1736. 2. In time of peace 
 emitting of depreciating public bills of credit for a me- 
 dium of trade and commerce, and making them legal 
 tenders ; this is equivalent to coinage (and of a bafe 
 ftandard) a prerogative of the crown. 
 
 Our 
 
Sect. IV. /» North-AmErica. 21 3 
 
 Our Britifh American colonies have many valuable 
 privileges : i . Enafting their own laws, with condition 
 
 of their not being repugnant to the laws of Great-Britain, 
 but may be otherways various from them. 2. Raifing 
 their own taxes. 3* No aft of the Britifh parliament 
 made fince the firft fettling of our colonies, extends to 
 the colonies, unlefs exprefly extended in the Britifh aft 
 of parliament. 4. No private purchafe from the Indians 
 fhall be valid (formerly much deceit and cheat has been 
 difcovered in thefe purchafes, tending to alienate the In- 
 dians from the Britifh intereft) without the confirmation 
 of the governor and council in lome colonies, and with- 
 out the approbation of the legiflature in the other colo- 
 nies. There are lands in fome of our plantations, where 
 it is not pofiible to fhew any Indian conveyance, becaufe 
 they were derelifts fuch are all our Weft-India ifland 
 fettlements, no Indians being there at our firft landing: 
 the poflefiors, who were prior to patent or king’s com- 
 miffioned governors, have no other title to their lands 
 but long poflefflon, a fort of prefcription. Thus the 
 old fettlers of Ncw-Hampfhire hold their lands, it being 
 iuppoled that Mr. Mafon had neglefted or relinquifhed 
 his grant. 
 
 In the beginning of our colony grants, there was only 
 one houfe of [q] legiflature-, the governor or prefident, 
 the council or afliftants, and the reprefentatives, voted 
 together. At prefent, in conformity to our legiflature 
 in Great-Britain, they confift of three leparate negatives ; 
 thus, by the governor, reprefenting the king, the colo- 
 nies are monarchical by a council they are ariftocra- 
 
 rri In the Saxon times, the parliament did notconlift of two diftimS 
 houfes ; the peers, being freeholders of great territories, were deemed 
 the hereditary reprefentatives of their vaffalsand tenants. In the Scots 
 parliament there ever was only one houfe, confiding of three dates, 
 the peers, the commidioners or reprefentatives of dures or coun- 
 ties, and the commidioners for boroughs ; they all voted together in- 
 differently, but in committees, and the like, the proportion of com- 
 *nittee-men from each, was limited. 
 
 p 3 ticaU 
 
214 Britifh and French Settlements Part I # 
 
 tical ; by a houfe of reprefentatives, or delegates from 
 the people, they are democratical : thefe three are di- 
 ftind: and independent of one another, and the colonies 
 enjoy the conveniencies of each of thefe forms of govern- 
 ment, without their inconveniencies, the feveral nega- 
 tives being checks upon one another. The concurrence 
 of thefe three forms of governments, feems to be the 
 higheft perfection that human civil government can at- 
 tain to in times of [r] peace with the neighbouring ftates : 
 if it did not found too profane, by making too free with 
 the myftical expreffions of our religion, I fhould call it 
 a trinity in unity . 
 
 The fecond negative in our legidatures, differs from 
 that of Great-Britain. In Great-Britain it is an [ s ] he- 
 reditary houfe of Lords ; in our American fettlements, 
 the members o'f their councils fo called are only tem- 
 porary, appointed by the court of Great-Britain durante 
 beneplacito.) or by annual ele&ions infome of our colonies. 
 In Carolina, at firft, there was defigned an hereditary le- 
 
 M In the times of war, perhaps a dictatorial power in one proper 
 perfon would be requilite, upon account of difpatch and fecrecy, but 
 accountable to the three negatives. This was the practice amongft 
 many of the ancient polite nations, particularly amongft the Romans ; 
 the only inconveniency feems to be, left this dictator, in the height of 
 his power and glory, fhould render himfelf a perpetual dictator, as 
 Julius C<efar did, and introduce a monarchical tyranny. 
 
 Both in the times of peace and war, if a continued fucceffion of 
 knowing and virtuous princes were poflible in nature, abfolute monarchy 
 would be the perfection of civil government, becaufe of the wifdom, 
 fecrecy, and difpatch that would attend it : but as no fuch race of men 
 are to be found upon earth, a limited monarchy is eligible. The po- 
 litical conftitution, like the human, is ticklifh ; and in the hands of a 
 folo fool , would fufFcr much ; there are but few who underftand politic 
 health and ficknefs. 
 
 [ s ] Hereditary nobility, and other great officers, where any confi- 
 derable truft attends, are great incitements to good aCtions in proge- 
 nitors, who are ambitious of entailing honours upon their own me* 
 mory or pofterity, but in nature feem abfurd, as if wifdom were he- 
 reditary. This does not hold good as to hereditary monarchs, becaufe 
 all elections of a monarch would put the nation in moft dangerous 
 ferments. 
 
 cond 
 
Sect. IV. *» North-America. 2I £ 
 
 cond negative (in place of a council) of Palatines and 
 Cafliques, lords of large manors ; this is dropped. 
 
 ~ There are a few irregularities or exceptions from thele 
 three negatives in fome of our colonies, which lhall be 
 taken particular notice of in the proper leCtions, and 
 doubtlels in time will be rectified. i . In Connecticut 
 and Rhode-ifland their elective governor has no nega- 
 tive. 2. In Penfylvania the council has no negative. 
 
 , In Maflachufetts-Bay the council is not independent j 
 it is obnoxious to the caprice of a governor’s negative, 
 and to the humour of the houfe of repreientatives who 
 eled them. In fome elections the council and reprelen- 
 tatives vote together. , , , . . 
 
 Notwithftanding a colony aflembly s being upon the 
 point of diffolving in courfe, according to ^eir fcve- 
 ral and various municipal laws, the governors diflol e 
 them in form, as in Great-Britain, to keep up the pre- 
 
 roeative ot the crown. . , 
 
 In proprietary colonies, where the proprietors have 
 
 retained the jurifdidion, the proprietors nominate the 
 governor, with the approbation ot the king Uj council. 
 Excepting in proprietary and charter-colonies, all patents 
 for lLs°are in the king’s name, tefte his excellency in 
 
 C ° The 1 ’ municipal laws, or laws peculiar to the teveral 
 colonies, are too various and variable, as well as bulky, 
 to be inferred in a fummary •, they are remitted home 
 from time to time, and are to be found in the P 1 ac- 
 tion-offices in London, excepting thofe of the P r 0 P ne * 
 tary and charter-governments ; by their patents they are 
 notobliged (this was an original defeCt in fuch patents, 
 and may be rectified by aCt of parliament) to tranfinic 
 them to the crown for approbation or di allowance. 
 The laws of a colony may be various from, but not re- 
 pugnant to, the laws of Great-Britain. 
 
 P in our colonies the courts of judicature are various, 
 but all of the fame nature with the courts in England j 
 
 viz. chancery (in the charter- governments jus er 
 
 p 3 aie 
 
216 Britifh and French Settlements PartI. 
 
 are in the fame court) common law, probate of wills, 
 and appurtenances ; a court of vice-admiralty by queen 
 Anne’s commiffion tertio regni , purfuant to an aft of par 
 hament it and 12 Gul. III. called, An a£i far the more 
 effeftual fupprejjlon of piracy, confiding at lead of feven of 
 the nominated from their offices ; and for want of that 
 number complete, any three of the nominated may ap- 
 point a complement. 3 r 
 
 Cafes in chancery and common law may be carried 
 home by appeal or petition to the king in council •, 
 from thence it is referred to the lords of the committee [rl 
 of council for plantation -affairs: from this committee of 
 council it is referred or lent down to the lords commif- 
 fioners for trade and plantations. T his laft board frequent- 
 ly take the advice of the attorney and folicitor-general; 
 and reports aie returned back from one board to another, 
 and iflued by the king in council. 
 
 I he officers of the cuftoms received or preventive, are 
 immediately under the direction of the commiffioners of 
 the cuftoms in Great-Britain. 
 
 The commiffion of vice-admiral to our plantation- 
 governors gives no command a-float •, their jurifdiftion 
 is only relating to wrecks, &c. caft on fhore, to low- 
 water mark, being of the fame nature with the feveral 
 vice-admirals along the coaft in Great-Britain. 
 
 Every king’s commiffion, with inftruftions to a go- 
 vernor in the plantations, is a fort of charter to that co- 
 lony or province durante beneplacito . 
 
 Our plantation-governors have no power, without or- 
 ders from the court of Great-Britain, to grant letters of re- 
 prilals. I he F rench and Dutch governors have this power. 
 
 All our plantation -governors are liable to be called to 
 account (on complaints) at the King’s-bench bar in Weft- 
 mini ft er •, for inftance, Douglafs of the Leeward-iflands, 
 anno i yi6, and Low t her of Barbadoes, 1720. 
 
 1 here are four landing committees of council. 1. For foreign 
 2 • Admiralty and navy. 3. Trade and plantations. 4. Grie- 
 ' ance ^* in f ranee tltefe leveral departments, are called diftinft councils. 
 
 Formerly, 
 
Sect. IV. in North-America. 217 
 
 Formerly, governors, if court favourites, had at times 
 plurality of governments (as fome clergymen, favourites 
 of leading men, have plurality of benefices ;) lord Wil- 
 loughby was governor of Barbadoes and the Leeward - 
 iflands ; Sir Edmond Andros, in the reign of James II, 
 was governor of all New-England, New-York, and the 
 Jerfies •, lord Bellamont was governor of New-York, 
 Maffachuletts-Bay, and New-Hampfhire •, it is not lo at 
 prefent, except in the two diftinct governments of Pen- 
 fylvania, therefore under one governor. 
 
 In the colonies their revenue-adts are generally annual ; 
 in Jamaica, they are temporary, but of a long period •, m 
 a few of the colonies there are fome perpetual taxes ; 
 thus in Barbadoes and Leeward-iflands the four and a 
 half per cent, upon produce exported ; and in Virginia 
 2 s. per hoglhead tobacco. All their provincial trea- 
 furers are appointed by their own aflemblies •, excepting 
 the four and a hal {per cent, in Barbadoes and the Lee- 
 ward-iflands, the king’s colleftors are the receivers ; and 
 alfo receive the plantation duties laid on by act of par- 
 liament 1673, as not appropriated for the ufe of the trea- 
 furies of the feveral plantations, but at the king s dil- 
 pofal : the 1 d. per cent, upon tobacco of Virginia and 
 Maryland, is appropriated for the benefit of the college 
 or feminary at Williamfburg. 
 
 In the feveral colonies their general revenue is by a tax 
 of fome pence in the pound, upon the principal of real 
 eftate, perfonal eftate, and faculty •, and a poll-tax, im- 
 ports, and exciles. . „ 
 
 The produce for export in the feveral colonies than 
 be enumerated in the proper fe&ions. Upon our firft 
 . difcoveries of America, we found no horfes, ailes, cows, 
 fheep, and fwine. In the inland parts of the continent, 
 efpecially upon the Miffifiippi, there was plenty of buf- 
 faloes •, and in the Weft-lndia iflands, feveral forts of 
 wild hogs, native; every where much deer, and the 
 American ftag or buck- moofe, which differs from the 
 German elke, by its branched brow antlers : variety of 
 
218 Britifli and French Settlements PartI. 
 
 geefe, of ducks, and of wild fowl, called gibier by the 
 French. 
 
 In the colonies of the feveral European nations, they 
 have a national exclufive commerce amongft themfelves 
 and with their mother-countries. St. Thomas, a Daniffi 
 fettlement, only admits of a free general trade. The 
 French and Dutch governors (perhaps by a private in- 
 ftruftion from their courts at home, and as a confidera- 
 ble perquifite) do at times allow or connive at a foreign 
 importation of necdTaries (provifions, lumber, horfes, 
 black cattle, i£c.) with which they cannot otherways be 
 accommodated, and are much in want of. 
 
 By aft of parliament, anno 1698, no vefiels, unlefs 
 regiftred in England, Ireland, or the plantation (by the 
 union, Scotland is included) upon oath that they were 
 built there (foreign prizes are all'o qualified) and that no 
 foreigner is direftly or indireftly concerned. 
 
 Plantation produce or goods as enumerated (common- 
 ly called enumerated goods) by feveral afts of parlia- 
 ment, are not to be carried, but to Great-Britain ; and 
 plantation-bonds are given, and a certificate to be re- 
 turned to the officers of the (hipping ports, of their be- 
 ing loaded accordingly. The enumerated goods are 
 naval (lores, viz. pitch, tar, turpentine, malts, yards, 
 and bowfprits ; fugars, molafies, cotton-wool, indigo, 
 ginger, dying- woods, rice, beaver, and other furs, cop- 
 per-ore. Rice and fugars, by late afts of parliament, 
 are indulged under certain conditions (too long to be 
 enumerated in a fummary) to be carried to certain fo- 
 reign parts : logwood is not the growth or produce of 
 our plantations, and, by the conftruftion of the com- 
 miihoners of the cuftoms, is exempted from being an 
 enumerated commodity (as we have no logwood the 
 growth of our plantations) being imported from the 
 Spanifh Weft-Indies to our colonies, and re-exported to 
 Europe. 
 
 By an afl of the parliament of England, anno 1673* 
 there are impofed plantation duties (produce carried 
 
 from 
 
Sect. IV. »# North-Amsrica. 219 
 
 from one colony to another) upon certain enumerated 
 goods for a general national ufe, not for the particular 
 colony, viz. 
 
 1 s. d. d - 
 
 Mufcavado fugars 1 6 fret. w. 
 
 White do. 
 Ginger 
 Dying woods 
 
 5 
 
 1 
 
 Tobacco 1 pr lb. 
 
 Cotton half x 
 Indigo 2 
 
 Cocoa nuts 1 
 
 That upon tobacco has been appropriated to the college 
 
 in Virginia at Williamfburg. . . , 
 
 Our North-America trade to Great-Britain, is, the 
 enumerated commodities abovementioned, pig-iron, and 
 fifli-oil ; fometimes wheat and ftaves to Ireland : to 
 Spain, Portugal, and Italy, dryed cod-fi J : to the 
 
 Weft India iflands, lumber, refute dryed filh, Hilt beef 
 and pork, butter and cheefe, flour, horles, and live 
 flock : the returns from the Weft-India iflands, are, fa- 
 gar, molafles, rum, cotton, indigo, die-woods, Spaniih 
 money, and cocoa. Sugar, rum, tobacco, and chocolate, 
 
 are much ufed in our colonies. 
 
 Anno 1729, the attorney and folicitor-general gave 
 it as their public opinion, that a negro flave coming 
 to Europe, or baptized any where, does not make him 
 
 ^In our colonies [«] computations of all kinds, weights, 
 and meafures, are the fame as in England. 
 
 r«l It is not advifeable in any cafe religious or civil, thougUor the 
 better to make alterations in any affair where the populace have ac 
 quired a general Handing prejudice (the reformation from the chprch 
 of Rome" about two centuries fince » an exception) jbibedfrom 
 
 mull be afeertained for all nations upon our earth, and prevent much 
 puzzling by reductions : by taking the fixed length of apendulumtlM 
 vibrates feconds in any noted place,#, g. in London or rans * a 
 lowing for the finall variations, eafily inveftigated for fome very difta 
 Zls, e l a pendulum vibrating feconds at Porto-Bcllo neardie 
 
220 Britilh and French Settlements PartI. 
 
 Our fettlements upon the eafterly fide of North- Ame- 
 rica, are much colder in winter, and much hotter in 
 fummer, than the fame latitudes in the wefterly or Eu- 
 ropean fide of the other vaft continent j the globe of our 
 earth may be faid to confift of two large continents, viz 
 the ancient continent of Europe, Afia, and Africa, and 
 the new continent called America. Every man, who 
 has refided lome time in Europe and fome time in 
 North- America, is perfonally fenfible of this : in Europe 
 northern filheries, for inftance, cod and falmon extend 
 fouthward to 51 D. N. lat. in North America they ex- 
 tend no farther than 41 D. N. lat. 
 
 Mariners obferve, that in their pafTages between Eu- 
 rope and America, winds are [w] almoft three quarters 
 
 Equator, is found to differ one line, or the izth part of an inch, 
 from that at Paris: let this pendulum’s length be called a Mea- 
 sure, and this divided into decimals (being the molt eafy and ge- 
 neral way of expreffmg fractions) be called Tenths, and this fub- 
 divided into Tenths, called Hundreds : thus all meafures might be 
 reduced to three denominations ; as in England money is reduced to 
 pounds, (hillings, and pence; contentive meafures are Wily reduced, 
 upon this foundation, to a like certainty: fuch a vefiel of fuch certain 
 dimenfions, containing a certain quantity of fincere rain water (which 
 is nearly the fame all over the earth) may be called a Pound, and' 
 this multiplied or divided may be called by fome fixed denominations 
 of weights. 
 
 M The trade-winds may be reckoned to extend 30 D. each fide 
 of the equator (being farther than the common formal technical way 
 of reckoning, to the tropics) which proceeds not only from the fun’s, 
 in his repeated courfe, rarification of the air weft ward, and confe- 
 quently the elaftic air naturally expanding itfelf towards thofe weft- 
 ward rarified fpaces by an eafterly current; but is complicated with 
 another caufe not much attended to, *viz. the circumambient air near 
 the equator, being a lefs confiderable fpecific gravity, than its cor- 
 refponding part ot the earth ; it is lefs fufceptible of the earth’s daily 
 rotatory motion, and, with refpeft to the folid earth, has an efte&ual 
 motion weft ward, that is, in the appearance of an eafterly current 
 of wind. The wefterly winds, in latitudes higher than 30 D. N. 
 latitude, are natural eddies of the eafterly trade winds. A northerly 
 wind, i< the natural tendency of a condenfed very elaftic air, from 
 the polar cold regions, towards the rarified air near the equator. 
 A com plication of this current of a r, from the northern polar re- 
 gions to the fouth, and of the eddy of the trade-winds from the 
 
 of 
 
221 
 
 Sect. IV. in North-America. 
 of the year wefterly •, baron Lahontan, a Canada officer, 
 writes, “ That the winds from Canada to Europe are 
 “ eafterly for about too days in the year, and wefterly 
 “ about 260 days:” this, with an attending wefterly 
 {well or heaving of the fea, is the reafon, that the paffages 
 from North-America to Europe are much fliorter than 
 
 from Europe to North- America# . . r 
 
 In North-America the dry freezing winds are from 
 north to weft in Europe the dry freezing winds are 
 from north to eaft, proceeding from that great comi- 
 nent which receives and retains the northern effefts ol 
 cold, viz. fnow and ice, lying to the weftward of Ame 
 rica, and to the eaftward of Europe -, the current of air 
 o-Hdinof along, becomes more and more impregnated with 
 
 ffie cold: the terms of frigorific particles, or of a pe- 
 culiar fait of nitre, 1 leave with the virtuofo idle notional 
 philofophers. The fituation of lands occafions conli 
 derable^ differences in the temper of the air •, the weather 
 t Canada is generally in winter colder (in propomon m 
 its latitude) than in New-England, and more ftuled, 
 as bein<’ furrounded with land of fome extent, and there- 
 fore the land influence from all corners of the winds, 
 of the fame nature-, whereas in New-England to the 
 faftward T water or fea of a very different influence 
 from the land or earth’s fpecific gravity or folidity in re- 
 cdvin°‘ or retaining cold or heat. By the foftnefs of the 
 vapour from the water, the fea-ffiore is warmer tnan the 
 
 Edward, makes the tapg 
 
 weft ; and the north-weft is the molt frequent, cioeuai y 
 
 ter months. . , , c • c u t0 t ^ e northward of 
 
 ^ - 
 
 to weft Winds gliding along , conCderine the general cur- 
 
 si fcs± 
 
 wdes. inland, 
 
222 Britifh and French Settlements Part f. 
 
 inland, the Tea warmer than the fhore, and the ocean or 
 deep water warmer than the fea. Thus the ifland of 
 Great Britain and its appertaining iflands are much 
 warmer in winters than the adjacent continent, but with 
 , inc onvemency (a digreflion) that this foft vapour or 
 c amp, difpoies the inhabitants to a catarrhous or colli- 
 quative confumption -, this diftemper, time out of mind 
 is recorded as an Englilh endemial diftemper. The 
 fituation of the various countries as to iflands and 
 head-lands, as to variety of foil, fandy lands which re- 
 tain the heat, morafs, fwamps, and wood-lands which 
 retain damps ; theie a fummary cannot enumerate, with 
 regard to the winds or current of the air and as to temper 
 of the air in our various colonies. 
 
 Georgia excepted (Nova Scotia and Cape-Breton I do 
 not call colonies) our American colonies have been no 
 charge to Creat-Bntain a fmall matter of artillery to 
 fome of them muft be acknowledged, but without am- 
 munition. The Britifh men of war or king’s ftation- 
 fhips, of late, have been of no ufe only by their coun- 
 tenance : the commanders are either indolent, or in col- 
 lufion with the purfers (not long fince they had the per- 
 quifite of purlers) take advantage of the provifions of 
 the non-effetftives, connive at their fhips being ill man- 
 ned, and upon an exigency or when called home, diftrels 
 the trade by prefling failors: there are exceptions-, I 
 fhall only inftance Sir Peter Warren, an afliduous, faith- 
 ful, good, and therefore fortunate man. Our provinces 
 have frequently grumbled upon this account, and have 
 lately made an experiment by fitting out a province- 
 frigate at a great charge in MafTachufetts-Bay ; but for 
 thefe laft two years feem to be under the fame cenfure j 
 where the fault lies, I fhall not at prefent relate. 
 
 In all our colonies are many good, induftrious, frugal, 
 pious, and moral gentlemen -, I hope the following, ge- 
 nera! character of many of the populace will give no 
 offence, i. Idlenefs, intemperance, luxury in diet, ex- 
 travagancies in apparel, and an abandoned way of living. 
 
 4 Our 
 
Sect. IV. in North-America. 22 3 
 
 Our planters, efpecially their children, when they go 
 home to Great-Britain, diftinguifh themfelves too much 
 bv their drefs, and expenfive way of living for a ihort 
 time. 2. The people of all colonies (Britifh, French, 
 &c.) do not feem to have fo much folidity in thinking 
 as in Europe ; but exceed the European menu pettple, as 
 to fome little tricks and arts in bufinefs acquired by edu- 
 cation, and a continued praftice. 3. By importing and 
 expending too much of fuperfluities from Europe, and 
 in fome colonies, by fubftituting a paper-cuirency, they 
 impoverifh themfelves, and are under a neceffity of fend- 
 ina their gold and filver, as returns, to Europe. 4. A 
 prel'ent profit prevails over a diftant intereft. 
 
 To avoid prolixity, but with impatience, I mult deter 
 the iniquity of a multiplied plantation paper- currency to 
 the appendix ; it is of no benefit only to the fraudulent 
 debtor , they are not afbamed to acknowledge that in 
 equity and natural juftice, they ought to repay the fame 
 in real value which they received •, but they fay, their 
 province laws excule and indemnify them, by paying any 
 nominal value ; and that the compaffionate good credi- 
 tor mull blame himfelf for his forbearance and long 
 credit, while money is depreciating: * a t a muln p lied 
 paper- currency naturally depreciates ltfelf, I fhall at pre- 
 fent onlv evince by the inftance of the province of Maf- 
 
 fachufetts-Bay, November 1747. wl ^ re are S®" JS 
 millions, one hundred thoufand pounds current public 
 bills of credit not cancelled or burnt, whereof a fm 
 matter is in tke hands of the receivers of the taxes; the 
 operation is, bills of exchange with 
 rifen to the extravagant incredible height of one thou- 
 fand pound New-England, for one hundred pound 
 
 fc 0f limber-trees, efpecially v;hite oaks for Ihip-build- 
 incr, the beft grow in New-England ; farther north they 
 are dwarfilh, and of an untoward grain ; farther iouth 
 they are fpungy and foft, and do not afford compafs 
 
 timber. j n 
 
224 Britifh and French Settlements PartI. 
 
 In countries far north the mould is light and fpuno-y, 
 being much diftended by the hard long frofts. * 
 
 Article III. 
 
 The ecclefiaJUcal or religious conjlilution of the Britifh colonies 
 in North- America. 
 
 I N all the royal patents and charters of our colonies, 
 the principal condition required of the. patentees, 
 feems to be the converfion of the Indians ; and the 
 crown on the other part conditions for the encourage- 
 ment of fettlers, a free profeflion or liberty of con- 
 fidence: therefore a [#] Toleration for all Chriflian 
 
 M Religion and civil government in a general fenfe are, jure di- 
 vino, but the various particular churches and Rates, feem to be only 
 de fafios becaufe none of them have efcaped revolutions : an in- 
 dulgence, or rather a legal explicit toleration for all (communions 
 they are called) communities of religion, which are not inconfident 
 with a virtuous life, and the good of fociety, in good policy ought 
 to be allowed ; the Romans, a very polite people (the'r jus civile is 
 pra&ifed every where in Europe to this day) made the gods (religions) 
 of all nations free of their city or empire ; the Dutch, by an univerfal 
 toleration (but their public places of worlhip muft be licenced) have 
 become rich; the Diffenters in England, by their riches, are a great 
 prop to the Protertant eftablifhment ; being excluded by law from 
 feveral vain, idle, ambitious offices and ports, they apply themfelves the 
 more to trade and manufa&ures, and become generally richer than the 
 churchmen. The various decent modes, confiftent with fociety or 
 humanity, of worfhiping a fupreme Being, may be tolerated ; as pro- 
 ceeding innocently from the bias of education, from th$ various conrti- 
 tutions and tempers of mankind, and fafhions of the age; but all with 
 a good intention or confcicnce. 
 
 The differences in relig’on generally amount only to this, viz. dif- 
 ferent people worfhiping the fame G O D in different modes and 
 fa&ions: prieftcrafc (I do not mean the pious, meek, charitable clergy) 
 fets them by the ears to the diferedit of all religion, and they make 
 mountains of mole-hill differences. 
 
 Amongrt all fedlaries, there is a canker-worm called bigots, which 
 put their fed in a ridiculous light ; they are in a tacit fullen enmity 
 with all mankind who are not of their frantic or fanatical perfuarton ; 
 they believ-e implicitly in fome parfon, an idol of their own making, 
 but not properly in God Almighty. 
 
 profeffions 
 
Sect. IV. in North-Amebic a? 
 
 profeflions of religion, is the true ecdefiaftical conftitu- 
 tion of our American colonies ; the(^] Roman catho- 
 lic only is excepted ; the nature of our conllitution, the 
 horrid principles of that religion, and at prefent the po- 
 pifh claims to our royal fuccefiion, can by no means' a&- 
 *mt of it *, the papifts of Maryland, Penfylvania, and 
 Montferrat, feem to be too much indulged. By an a& 
 
 [7] The Roman catholics, commonly called papifts, in all WelP 
 regulated governments,, frpm molt evident civil political reafpns; ought 
 to be excluded; the cofiltitution of their religion renders tln^-A 
 •nufance in fociety; they have an indulgence for lying, cheating, 
 jobbing, murdering ; and not only may, but are, in Chriftian duty 
 bound to extirpate all mankind who are not of their way of think- 
 ing ; they call them heretics : unlefs the Pope (the head and oracle of 
 their religion) by fome public accepted bull explain this article of 
 their religion ; popery by the laws of nature, and jus gentium, ought 
 to be deemed, incon&ftent with human fociety. 
 
 A do&rine or law, though iniquitous, if not put in execution,' 
 becomes obfolete and of no effett, and its evil tendency ceafes ; but 
 this molt execrable dottrinehas, in a moll difmai horrid manner, fre- 
 quently been put in execution ; I (hall give a few inftancfcs. 1 . The 
 popilh perfection of proteftants by the papifts in England in the reign 
 v of queen Mary, from anno 1553 to 1 557 ; bilhop Burnet fays* thdt 
 lhe was a good-natured woman, but of a very ill-natured religion. 
 -2. The bloody maftacre of the Huguenots by the papifts in Paris 
 .of France. De Serres, one of the bell French hillorians, begins his 
 account of this maftacre thus, O ma France ! Us chevcux me berif- 
 finnent, fay horreur de <voir fur le theatre de ten kijloire jpuer une Ires in- 
 humaine tragedie , Upon a Sunday, being St. Bartholomew's day* 
 
 1 572, in the reign of Charles IX, they took the opportunity of the 
 time when the marriage of Henry of Bourbon, king of Navarre a 
 proteftant, to Marguerite de Valois, filler to the king of France, was 
 to be celebrated ; moll of the princes of the blood and grandees of 
 France, who were of the proteftant or Huguenot religion, being ex* 
 pe&ed in Paris upon this occafion, they thought it a proper oppor- 
 tunity to extirpate them by the furprize of a malfacre. At this blow 
 they maft'acred ten thoufand perfons in Paris. 3. The popilh gun- 
 powder-plot difeovered the beginning of November, i6o<;, defigned to 
 blow up and deftroy the peers of England at that time in parliament 
 an em bled . thus they imagined to cancel one of the three negatives 
 of the Englilh legiflature. 4. The butcherly maftacre of the pro- 
 teftants in Ireland, anno 1641,. by the Irifh papifts. Many fufpe&ed, 
 that it was by the inftigation and dire&ion of the court of England, 
 at that time making precipitate great advances towards the Roman 
 catholic religion. 
 
 Vox. I. Q of 
 
226 Britifh and French Settlements PartI. 
 
 of the Englifh parliament, incorporated with the aft of 
 union of Scotland and England,, anno x 707, the church 
 of England is, and for ever hereafter lhall be, the efta- 
 blilhed religion in the territories belonging to England, 
 viz. in the plantations : therefore, the church of Eng- 
 land is at prefent, and muft continue in perpetuity the 
 eftablifhed national religion of the plantations, being one 
 
 of the fundamental articles of the union ; earl of I lay, 
 
 a great lawyer, upon a certain oecafiorr, in a fpcech in 
 the houfe ot lords, well obferved, u That there were 
 “ only two articles of union unalterable, viz. thofe re- 
 “ lating to religion, and the proportion of taxes.” An- 
 tecedent to anno 1707, it feems that a general toleration 
 limited as, above was the religious eftablifhment of our 
 colonies ; 1 . In their charters and grants,, there is no 
 preference given to the church of England. 2. The 
 aft of uniformity, in the beginning of queen Elizabeth’s 
 reign, was prior to the colonies in America. 3. In the 
 aft of uniformity, beginning of king Charles the fecond’s 
 reign, are mentioned only “ the realm of England, do- 
 “ minion of Wales, and town of Berwick upon Tweed.’*' 
 4. By a late aft of the Britifh parliament for the natura- 
 lizing foreigners in the plantations ; receiving the facra- 
 ment in any proteftant congregation is a qualification - y 
 therefore it did not extend to the plantations. 
 
 I know of no doftrinal [2] difference between the laity 
 of the church of England, and the laity of the three 
 
 [z] Predeftination and free- will leem to be only private opinions, 
 but not a national church do&rine with us ; they feem both to be 
 orthodox, the firft from the omnifcience and prefcience of a fupreme 
 being, the other from tfye conditution and inward feelings of mankind : 
 how* to reconcile them is a mydery, and not to be canvafTed ; here we 
 mull fay with the limply good Laplander (when quedioned concerning 
 fome of our Chridian myderies, by a Swedifh xnillionary) God 
 knows. 
 
 Free-will, That all the phyfical and moral evils which we perosive 
 among fi mankind \ proceed from the abu/e we make of this liberty: this opinion 
 feems the mod confident with the good of focicty. 
 
 Predefli nation, That' every thing comes to pafs by a fatal necejfiiy, in a 
 itritt ablolute fenfe, is pernicious to a good life and to fociety, and en- 
 " ’ ■ * ‘ .denomina- 
 
Sect. IV. 'in North-Americ a.' 22 ? 
 
 denominations of proteftant diflenters*, who are thus 
 diftinguiflicd from other diflenters, becaufe they take out 
 licences for their meetings or religious afiemblies in Eng- 
 land, I mean the Prefbyterians, Independents, and Ana- 
 baptifts ; thefe laft at prefent feem to differ from the 
 
 courages an abandoned wicked life : it annihilates all religion : if good 
 works do not forward, nor bad works hinder, falvation; the fear of 
 GOD, and the keeping of his commandments, are of no effeft. We 
 mud acknowledge that predeftination in fome political views has a 
 good effeff ; this turns me into an annotational digreflion. 
 
 There are many things, which in a curfory, not well pointed view 
 (as painters exprcfs it) feem (hocking, but in a proper political view are 
 beautiful and unavoidably confiftent with fociety ; I (hall mention a 
 few inftances. i . Predeftination for military men ; Mahomet, and 
 Cromwell, found a vaft advantage by this do&rine ; the Mahometans 
 have improved this dottrine very much amongft their militia, <viz. 
 If they conquer, they have profit and glory in this world ; if killed in 
 battle, they have paradife in the next. 2. A diflolute thoughtlefs 
 way of life, but fo regulated, as not to be enormous and prejudicial 
 to peace and good neighbourhood ; without this tacit allowance, we 
 ihould be at a lofs for a fufficient number of foldiers and failors 
 upon occafion. 3. Pinching of the very mean labourers or working 
 people, by lowering or keeping their wages much under; hereby our 
 merchants can afford in foreign markets to under-fell the merchants 
 of other countries, and confequently vent more of their produce or 
 manufadure : befides, let us fuppofe, their employers in generofity 
 and beneficence to allow more wages than are merely fufficient to pro- 
 vide them the neceflaries of life, perhaps, fome few of them, may lay 
 up this furplus, and, in a fhort time, afpire higher than this their 
 mean labour, thus their labour is loft ; but the greateft part would 
 idle away fo much time (a day or two in the week loft to the pub- 
 lic good) as this furplus could fupply with neceflaries, to the leflen- 
 ing of our manufadures, &c. 4. Encouraging of a great confump- 
 
 tion of Britifh goods by luxury and extravagant equipage in our co- 
 lonies, is thought by fome wrong-headed men to be a benefit to the 
 mother- country : this is a grand miftake, becaufe induftry and fruga- 
 lity in all fubfervients, is requifite, otherways they cannot long af- 
 ford to continue this confumption reckoned a benefit to Great- Britain. 
 5. Running in debt produces depreciating money making aflemblies 
 (having fecured the real Value of their own ufual falaries and wages) 
 towards romantic, &c. expeditions or any paper money requiring 
 affair ; and procures voluntiers for fuch expeditions by fereening 
 debtors from their creditors, thus, and by other (4 muft not fay iniquit- 
 ous) ads for the relief of debtors, hurting creditors and the credit of 
 the country very much. 
 
 2 others 
 
228 Britifh and French Settlements Part I. 
 
 others only in the manner and age proper to receive 
 baptiim. My being prolix in this point, is defigned not 
 to dictate, but to contribute tbwards conciliating their af- 
 fections to one another ; their doftrinal religion is the 
 fame >, their eftablilhment of legal toleration the fame •, 
 they differ only nominally, or in denominations ; if any 
 of thele denominations Ihould be angry with me, I give 
 them this fhort anticipating anfwer, I am independent, 
 and of no party but that of truth. 
 
 The differences in the modes of Baptifm are not ef- 
 fential •, my voucher is the bifhop of London our dio- 
 cefan, noted by his printed pious fuper- excellent paftoral 
 letters ; iii a letter to the reverend Mr. Miles, a rector of 
 the church of England in Bolton, dated Fulham, Sept. 3, 
 iy 24. “ I have been informed within thele few days, 
 
 “ by a bilhop who had a letter from Bolton, that fome 
 “ of the' miriifters there, begin the difpute about the va- 
 ** lidity and invalidity of baptiim ; adminiltred by per- 
 “ fons not epifcopally ordained. This was advanced in 
 “ England fome years ago, by the Nonjurors, enemies 
 “ of the Proteftant religion, and prefent government. 
 « The bilhops in convocation then alfembled, fet forth 
 « a paper, proving and declaring, that baptifm by water 
 “ in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft, by 
 “ what hand foever adminltred, or however irregular, 
 “ ^ not to be repeated : this doctrine, the great patrons 
 “ of our church maintained againft the Puritans in the 
 “ reigns of queen Elizabeth and king James I. Con- 
 “ fldering the views with which this doCtrine has been 
 lately advanced here by the Nonjurors, if any mif- 
 “ fionary lhall renew this controverly, and advance the 
 t( fame, I lhall efteem him an enemy to the church of 
 te England, and the proteftant fuccefiion, and lhall deal 
 «: with him accordingly.” Dodwel carried this aftair of 
 baptifm to a ridiculous height, viz. that the fouls of 
 men were naturally mortal, but epifcopal baptiim makes 
 them immQttal. , 
 
Sect. IV. in North-America, 22 9 
 
 ■ The differences in offering up their prayers to the 
 fupreme Being are not effential, whether, 1. By 
 a printed form, called, in the church of Epdand, 
 mon prayer. 2 . Mounter* though generally compoled 
 by fome directory, or cuftom, or habit, as amongft the 
 three denominations of proteftant diffenters. 3. Random 
 extempore prayers of the fober- minded ; I do not mean 
 the profane -enthufkllic prayers of new- Lights and others,, 
 which they impioufly call, praying as the Spirit fhal 
 give them utterance ; inipirauons are ceafed. +. Mental 
 prayers ; thefe are called Quietifts ; fuch are the Lnghlh 
 Quakers, the Dutch Mennifts or Mennonices, the Spa- 
 flUh, French, and Italian Molinifts ; they are of opinion, 
 that in our devotions we are to retire our minds from 
 all exteriors, and fink into a pious frame of filence , 
 that ufing of words, or attending to words, interrupts 
 devotion f and they reduce all the exerciie of religion to 
 this fimpficity of mind. In fhort, Quietifts are of opi- 
 nion, that the great God ought to be adp^F n f^ence 
 and admiration; that words and cerempni^d^n true 
 devotion to material founds and objects. O^akere 
 fay, that their filent meetings are the moft eddying^ A 
 ftrict uniformity in religion does not people a Tg Ueft 
 but depopulates, and particularly fends away the belt 
 of their people, the induftrious, peaceable, confcientious 
 %Ch>JL -rhe revocation of the edict ot 
 France very much, by lending away many of their belt 
 manufactures and artificers, to the great, benefit of 
 
 Great-Britam and Holland, ® 
 
 fionate, charitable toleration, is eltabhlhed by laws and 
 
 Pl rla our colonies people of all religions are under 
 the coercive power of the civil government; therefore, 
 at prefent, any other government in 
 
 nations of churches, might have the bad effeftot imp^ 
 rim in imperio , i. e. confufion. In faft, in our planta- 
 tions, at this time, there i s no real P r °v in ^^; 
 .government, and confequently they do not 
 
23° Britirti and French Settlements Part I. 
 
 refpett •, the bifhop’s commiffary is only a nominal office : 
 the an ual meeting of the independent or congregational 
 clergy in Bofton the end of May, at the folemnity of the 
 election of a provincial council ; and the yearly pilgri- 
 mage of fome Quakers, are only upon a laudable friend- 
 ly account. Perhaps a fuperintendant of the mifiionaries 
 from the fociety of 1701, might have a good effeft •, 
 with a power and inftru&ions to remove miffionaries > 
 from one ftation to another, as the intereft of propagat- 
 ing the gofpel might require. As an hiftorian, every 
 thing is in my province. Some who do not underftand 
 propriety of characters, think I ought not to mention 
 the clergy ; but, as a writer of hiflory, I cannot avoid it, 
 without being reckoned deficient and partial in the affairs 
 of the clergy. 
 
 4. The veftments of the clergy are not to be faulted ; 
 they are not effential to religion ; all communions l'eem 
 to affeft fomething peculiar in this refpedt ; the gown, 
 caffock, girdle, rofe, furplice, t 3 c. of the church of Eng- 
 land ; the plain black gown of the officiating clergy in 
 Geneva, Switzerland, and among the Huguenots of 
 France; the blackgown with frogs in the country mi- 
 nifters of Scotland ; the black cloak of the independents ; 
 the antiquated habit of the Quakers, particularly of their 
 exhorters. 
 
 Perhaps, at prefent, many religions are fo loaded 
 with verbal differences or controversies, and with enthu- 
 fiaftic devotional terms, that they are become an affair 
 not of piety, fincerity, and truth, but a jumble of in- 
 fignificant technical words, and cant-phrafes : as former- 
 ly, inftead of true folid philofophy and natural hiftory, 
 there was in the fchools only a pedantic metaphyfical 
 jargon, which by this time has received a notable refor- 
 mation ; fo I doubt not, that religion in time may admit 
 of the like purity and fimplicity. 
 
 In Great-Britain there are three diftinft focieties for 
 propagating chriftian proteftant knowledge or religion in 
 foreign parts, incorporated by royal charters. 
 
 i» Anno 
 
Sect. IV. in North-America. 2 3 * 
 
 i. Anno 1649, the parliament of England, granted a 
 charter to a prefident and fociety, for propagating t ic 
 pofpel in New- England ; at the reftoration it was laid 
 afide but by folicitation a new charter was granted 14 
 Car. II. Feb. 7. to a fociety or company for propagating 
 the gofpel in New-England, and parts adjacent in Ame- 
 rica , the number of members not to exceed forty-five 
 and the furvivors to fupply vacancies they appoint 
 commifiioners in New-England to manage affairs t ^ re * 
 this charity has been helpful to fome of the preachers in 
 New-England who have finaU provifion. 
 
 2 . Anno 1709, by charter there was eftabhfhed m 
 Scotland a fociety for propagating chnft.an knowledge 
 amono-ft the Highlanders ; 4 Geor. I, their charter was 
 extended to all infidel countries beyond feas •, they have 
 aconfiderable fund •, they have had a mifiionary upon the 
 New-England wellern frontiers, and another upon its 
 eaftern frontiers •, the laborious Mr. Brainard, lately dead, 
 was their mifiionary amongft the Indians upon the 
 northern frontiers of Penfyivania, and the Jerfeys. 
 
 2. A fociety for propagating the gofpel in foreig 
 parts eftabUfoed by charter June 16, anno 1701 » tteir 
 cer ain fund is very final! •, they depend upon fubfenp- 
 tions and cai'ual donations -, their fubfenbing andcorre- 
 fponding members at prefent, are upwards of ^ 50004 
 t he American colonies, near fixty miffionanes , their 
 annual expence exceeds 4000/. fterling. W e may find by 
 charter by their annual fociety- fermons, and by 
 the yearly narratives of the progrefs of this fociety, 
 thsuthe principal defign is to propagate chnftian know- 
 ledge •, that the Indians may come to the knowledge of 
 Ch?isV, to preach the gofpel to the heathen -, the 
 care of the Indians bordering upon our fettlements, and 
 fuch like expreffions : a fecondary defign is, to officiate 
 when there is no provifion, or only a fmall provifion for 
 r imimftrv Many good things were originally 
 £SdT, S'chS and doubtfefe the feme good 
 irSs Ltinue with the fociety; butm^ubhc 
 
2 3 2 Britifli and French Settlements PartI 
 diftant affairs the managers at home may be impofed 
 upon, Here I beg leaye of the miffionaries, as an hifto 
 mn to relate matters of fift , if any miffionary thinks 
 
 fhaH ° m t thC trU J th ’ he ma >' corr ^ Z and I 
 
 all be moie explicit and particular in the appendix 
 
 The remarks which I fhall make at prelbnt areff. The 
 miffionaries do not concern themfelves with the conver- 
 sions of the Indians or heathen ; the miffionaries of A1 
 bany in the province of New- York, have at times vifited 
 he Mohawks. 2 . I„ft e ad of beffig fent toTefide and 
 lerve their millions in our out- town new fettlements 
 L W i efe ’ m . f J he word3 of thei r charter) “ the provifion 
 
 “ [LZded s f very mean ’ or are wboll y deft ^ ute and 
 
 unprovided °f a i maintenance for miniiters, and the 
 public worffiip of God,” they are fent to the capitals 
 
 tiZfr and b f ft n iVlllZed towns of our provinces fas if 
 the defign and institution were only to bring over the to- 
 erated fober, civilized diffenters, to the formality of fav- 
 
 Rhod^lWf l a] Kte ^hion. In the colony of 
 Rhode-Ifland, difcreet able miffionaries are requifite.' 
 
 IheBntilh miffionaries of the three diftinft focieties 
 are much deficient, when compared with the miffionaries 
 of other nations amongft the heathen, i. For many 
 years laft part, we have frequent accounts of many nu- 
 
 [tch If F d u tT te f T the litur Sy or comm Qn-prayer 
 j ch of England, from their veftments, and other deco- 
 
 tions and ceremonies (which fome Puritans call ecclefiailical Scene 
 ky) from their fafts and feftivals. Becaufe. , . So muS of the Ro-' 
 an breviaries and ceremonies, were to be retained, as were confident 
 . , ' e reformation ; that the tranjitus or change with the vulpar 
 
 ASurffnd H«S W with * 2> Thofe °^ thc confeffion of 
 Dufch eftkbllS fK K g ^" Ge L rman y« the Huguenots of France, the 
 f r , j d Church, £*fc. have printed forms of praver and a 
 
 the Turkhh and P Gree .* c an ^ Armenian churches tolerated in 
 Sis aZ h J an u d ° m ; m0 " S ’ muft have vaniflied many centu- 
 ZirdeJv Iff " been for the outward Ihew of the veftments of 
 
 merous 
 
Sect. IV. in North-A meric a. 233 
 
 merous converfions of the heathen in the Eaft-Indies by 
 the Danifh chriftian proteftant miflionaries, which not 
 only [b~\ propagates our chriltian religion, but, in a .poli- 
 tical view, brings over the aborigines, and fecures them in.; 
 a : national intereft. 2. The French miflionaries in Ca- 
 nada are indefatigable, and thereby i’erve the intereft of 
 France, equally with that of chriftianity. 3. The po- 
 pifh miflionaries in China, from feveral European na- 
 tions, by their mathematical ingenuity, and their omnia 
 omnibus, have been very uffcful to chriftianity. 
 
 A dignffion concerning the fettling of colonies in general-, with • 
 
 an Utopian amufement , or loofe propofals, towards regulat- 
 ing the Britifj colonies in the north continent of America. 
 
 I T is a common but miftaken notion, that fending ■ 
 abroad colonies weakens the mother- country ; Spain is 
 generally brought for an inftance ■, but Spain being ill 
 
 m Miflionaries may be ufeful in a double capacity, i . Civil, that , 
 is, by bringing thofe wild nations or tribes, into the intereft worldly or 
 political of their conftituents, and of keeping them Heady in the fame. 
 2. Religious, for this they are principally defigned, to convert the hea- . 
 then to the religion of their own country ; by purity of dodtrme and 
 exemplary life to eflablifli religion and good manners amongft them , 
 they ought chiefly to inculcate, that true happinefs confitls in health 
 
 and virtue; that the eflentials of religion are to be good and wife. 
 
 Mr. Hubbard, in his hiftory of the troubles in New-England bv the 
 Indians, gives a wrong turn, in terming it, “ The Indians carrying on 
 »« the defigns of the kingdom of darknefs whereas we do not know 
 of any Indians, that ever attempted to pervert our people in affairs of 
 religion, nor to make them abjure the chriftian religion— The molt 
 noted and deferving Englilh miflionary, that hitherto, has appeared m 
 our Britilh North-America colonies, was the Rev. Mr. John Elliot ot 
 Roxbury, called the Ifidian Evangelift ; he was educated at Cambridge 
 in England, came over to New-England anno 1631, was ftxty years 
 roinifter of Roxbury, adjoining to Bolton ; his fucceflor Mr. \V aiter is 
 now living, a very extraordinary inftance of no more than two incum- 
 bents in the fpace of 1 20 years in fucceflion. Mr. Elliot died 1690, 
 
 JEt. 86. His Indian bible (it was in Natic Indian) was printed at 
 Cambridge 1664; after his . death il was re P uWl(hed wlth thc cor ' 
 redions of Mr. Cotton, tninifter of Plymouth. 
 
z_34 Britifh and French Settlements Part I. 
 
 peopled does not proceed from thence ; it is from their 
 native doth ; from driving all the Moors out of that 
 country ; from a rigorous inquifition in religious affairs ; 
 from vaft numbers of friars and nuns, who do not la- 
 bour, and who are not allowed to propagate their fpecies : 
 for this reafon, and from the popes being landlords only 
 for life, the pope’s dominions in Italy are almoft defolate 
 of people, but not from fending out colonies ; they 
 have no colonies. 
 
 The grandeur of Phoenicia, Greece, and Rome, was 
 much owing to their colonies ; they made no complaints 
 of their colonies depopulating their refpedtive mother- 
 countries. The many and large Dutch colonies in the 
 Eaft-lndies, do not depopulate Holland, but are the 
 chief foundation of their wealth. How vaftly rich mult 
 France have been in a very fhort time, if the good car- 
 dinal Fleury’s fcheme of trade and colonies had been 
 followed, in place of their idle romantic land-conquefts 
 in Europe. 
 
 The people fent from Great-Britain and their progeny 
 made vaftly more profitable returns, than they could pof- : 
 fibly have done by their labour at home : I do not mean 
 idlers and foldiers fent only for the defence of unne-, 
 celfary multiplied colonies ; this feems to be bad policy** 
 by exhaufting their mother-country both of men and, 
 money. If any neighbouring foreign fettlement be- 
 comes noxious, let us demolifh or difmantle it, when in 
 our power, and prevent, by treaty or force, any future: 
 fettlement; this will be fufficient and profitable. * 
 
 The nations of Great-Britain are not a numerous peo- 
 ple, and therefore cannot fwarm fo much (in allufion to, 
 bees) as fome other countries of Europe : we : have 
 found and do practice two confiderable expedients, to; 
 fupply this defedt. i . Importing and naturalizing of 
 foreigners ; witnefs the late incredible growth of the 
 province of Penfylvania, from the importation of Pala- 
 tines and Strafburghers from Germany. By an adt of 
 parliament, any foreigners who, after the firft of July,' 
 
 1740, 
 
Sect. IV. i» North-America. 235 
 
 1 74 o, frail refide in any of his majefty’s colonies feven 
 years or more, without being abfent above two months 
 at a time from the colonies, and frail bring a certificate 
 of his having received the facrament within three months 
 in fome proteftant congregation, and ot taking the oaths 
 to the government before a juftice, and regiftering the 
 fame, frail be deemed as natural-born fubjedts. 2. Im- 
 porting and employing of [c] (laves from Africa ; in the 
 Weft- India or fugar-illands, and in the fouthern diftrict 
 of the Britifr colonies in North- America*, they are about 
 300,000 at the charge of about 30 s. fterling per annum 
 per head. Thefe negro (laves are employed in the pro- 
 duce of all our fugars, tobacco, rice, and many other va- 
 luable commodities. _ 
 
 The difcouragements and hindrances of the growth 
 of our plantations, which require to be remedied, are all 
 impreffes, becaufe hitherto our plantations have no fpare 
 hands. 1. Inlifting of landmen as l'oldiers to ferve with- 
 out their feveral provinces or colonies : all the colonies 
 want more people, and whites ; natives of America o 
 not well bear tranfplantation *, ot the two companies 
 lent from Mafiachufetts-Bay in New-England many years 
 ago for the relief of Jamaica, not above fix men return- 
 ed *, of the 500 men fent to Cuba expeditions, not ex- 
 ceeding fifty men returned *, of the 4000 men volun- 
 teers upon the expedition to Louifrourg, one half died 
 of ficknefies *, and they who returned, came home with 
 a habit of idlenefs, and generally confumed more than 
 they earned, and conl'equently were worle than dead : 
 inliftments to be allowed only occafionally in cales ot 
 invafions or infurre&ions in the neighbouring provinces. 
 2. Impreffing of idlers, and impreffing ot (ailors from 
 the inward-bound trade, leaving aboard proper perlons 
 
 M From obfervation and experience, it feems to be an eRablifhed 
 opinion, that a negro man of forty At. is in value equal to a negro 
 boy of ten ^Et. a.xl proportionally in their other ages upwards and 
 downwards. t0 
 
23 6 Britifli and French Settlements Part I. 
 
 to take care of the intereft, though in itfelf illegal, is by 
 cuftom connived at ; but this connivance is abufed by 
 fome commanders, imprefiing men who in a fpecial 
 manner are exempted by ad of parliament, fuch as fo- 
 reign Filors, tradefmens apprentices, whole crews of 
 merchant-fhips outward -bound, and cleared out, without 
 fecuring the vefiels from dilafters, and the goods from 
 embezzelments. 
 
 1. By ad of parliament, among# thofe exempted from 
 imprefies, are, every foreigner, whether leamen or land- 
 men, who fhall ferve in any merchant-fhip or privateer, 
 belonging to the fubjeds of Great-Brirain. There are 
 likewife exempted from being imprefied into his ma- 
 jefty’s lervice, every perfon being of the age of fifty- five 
 years, or under eighteen ; every perfon who lhall ufe the 
 lea,.fhall be exempted from being imprefied for the fpace 
 of two years, to be computed from his firft going to 
 fea i and every perfon who having ufed the lea, fhall 
 bind himfelf apprentice to ferve at fea, (hall be exempted 
 from being imprefied for the fpace of three years, to be 
 computed from the time of binding. 
 
 2. The navy may be ferved without violent imprefies 
 we have many inftances of brave, adive, gallant com-, 
 manders, who have carried on affairs committed to their 
 truft with good expedition and fuccels, without diftrefiing 
 of trade; but merely by voluntary inliftments, having 
 gained the affedion of failors in general, by ufing thofe 
 men with humanity and benevolence ; a noted inftance 
 we have of this in Sir Peter Warren, a gentleman of an 
 univerfally acknowledged good charader, naturally good 
 and humane, always friendly to trade, benevolent, be- 
 loved by his officers and common failors, afiiduous and 
 conftant, therefore fuccefsful and fortunate. 
 
 3. If the foremaft men aboard men of war were more 
 humanely ufed by all their officers, perhaps there would 
 be no occafion for imprefies: their' encouragement in 
 times of war is very confiderable, viz. That all officers, 
 feamen, and foldiers, on board every Britilh man of war, 
 
 fhall 
 
Sect. IV. in North-.Amer.ica. 2 - 2 J 
 
 fhall have the foie property of all Ihips and merchandize 
 they {hall take after the 4th of January, 1739, m Europe, 
 and^ after the 24th of June, 1740, m any other part of the 
 world-, to be divided in fuch proportion as the Crown 
 {hall order by proclamation, as alfo a bounty of 5 /. for 
 every man which was living on board any veflfel fo taken 
 or deftroyed, at the beginning of the engagement ; by 
 proclamation the dividends were to the captain 3 ^ 
 under the command of an admiral or warrant com r 
 dore, one of the three eighths is to the admiral or cons- 
 modore) 18 th to the lieutenants and mailer; 1 8 th to 
 the warrant officers; 1 8th to the petty officers-, and 
 a 8ths to the private men. By aft of the general affem- 
 blv of Maffachufetts-Bay, the provincial armed veffels m 
 dividing their captures, 2 8ths is allotted to the captain, 
 and 2 8ths to the private men, becaufe the private men 
 S? a provincial privateer are fuppofed to be good livers 
 id inhabitants 5 ; thofe belonging to m^ °f war aic 
 generally abandoned vagrants, and any additional pence 
 renders them more diflblute and incapable or negligent 
 
 ° f There^re 'many other encouragements to provide the 
 navv with votontier failors -, and to prevent arbitrary aM 
 Valent imprefles, unnatural in a. free Brmlh conftituuon ; 
 
 fcr 4 in For f ti better encouraging foreign fearamto fare 
 on board Bririfh flops, it is enafted, that every fuch 
 foreion teaman, who Hull, after the firft day of JMK 
 ini have fetved during the war, on 
 
 «/or merchant-lhip, or privateer, for two years, 
 5 1 temTa natural-born ihbjeft of Great-Br itatn, 
 S' fl„n enjoy all the privileges, %. as an a«ual na- 
 
 |e of Great, BrUatn-Provided, that 
 
 ruralized {hall be of the privy council, or mail have 
 of truft civil or military, or have any grant 
 
 tWU and occafionaily * 
 
238 Britifh and French Settlements Part I. 
 [d] riots and dangerous tumults •, the imprefling of fea- 
 men has in part been redrefied by the late aft of parlia- 
 ment. There had long fubfifted a difpute between 
 the admiralty and the trade, concerning the imprefiino- 0 f 
 failors : the firft infilled that, commanders of priva- 
 teers, and mailers of merchant-men, did encourage de- 
 fertion from his Majefly’s Ihips of war by entertaining 
 and hiring deferters j the merchants complained of the 
 great hardlhips upon trade and navigation, from the 
 arbitrary unreafonable imprefs of hands by indifcreet 
 captains and commanders: to accommodate this affair 
 the parliament of Great-Britain in their wifdom pafied 
 an aft anno 1 746, that privateers or merchant-men har- 
 bouring deferters from the king’s Ihips, Ihould forfeit 
 50 Iterling per man ; and any officer of a man of war 
 imprefling any failor (deferters excepted) on fhore or on 
 board ffiall pay 50 /. llerling, for each man imprefied. 
 This a£t is only in relation to the lugar-ifland colonies ; 
 it might eafily, when in agitation, have been extended to 
 the continent colonies of North- America by proper ap- 
 plication of their feveral agents *, in a particular man- 
 ner New-England claimed this exemption (if their agents 
 
 (V) Our province in a peculiar manner (I am apt to call Mafla- 
 cnufetts-Bay our province, becaufe, at this writing, of my refidence 
 there) requires fome more fevere ads againd riot, mobs, and tumults. 
 The lead appearance of a mob (fo called from Mobile Fu/gus ) ought 
 
 • C r Y PP re ^ e< i» even where their intention in any particular affair is 
 of itfelf very good ; becaufe they become nurferies for dangerous tu- 
 mults , I fhall give an indance or two in Bodon. i. A few years 
 ago, a houfe of notorious evil fame, known by the name of mother 
 Gr~—-n s, was ranfacked by a fmall mob in the prefence of, fome 
 fay, by indigation of, fome well meaning magidrates; the confequence 
 was, the mob a few days afterwards demolifhed the public market- 
 houfe, and carried off the materials for their own private ufe. 2. 
 For fome years pad upon the 5th of November, being the anniversary 
 Gun-powder- trcafon day, feveral mobs, have carried about pageants 
 o the Pope, the Devil, and Pretender ; thefe Gun-powder-treafon 
 mobs yearly increafe. A few days after the Gun-powder-treafon 
 pageantries or mobs, an imprefs in Bodon harbour, with the recent ac- 
 cident of two men in Bodon being murdered by & prefs-gang, occa* 
 
 fioned a very great tumult in Bodon. 
 
 had 
 
Sect. IV. m North-Ameri'ca. 2 ?9 
 
 had had that addrefs, intereft, v igilancy, and affidiiity 
 which their duty required) by having lately fuffer 
 much in their perfons and purfes by a volui J^y «P e ; 
 dition in favour of their mother- country againft Louii- 
 Zum : I am apt to think that being too forward beyond 
 our natural abilities, may give the miniftry at home fome 
 reafon to imagine, that New-England is fo ^creafed 
 people, as to have many idlers to fpare as appears by 
 their order for two regiments of loldiers 2 QOO^n) 
 from hence, in addition to the gamfon ■ 
 
 At prefent, I hope the mimftry are convinced that Nw- 
 Eneland cannot fpare idlers fufficient to make one re 
 ment complete. I fpeak for the intereft of the country, 
 and impartially in general-, my intereft being in that coun- 
 try fome may wrongly think that I am partial. 
 
 ^Before the* plantation or colony trade took place, the 
 trade of England conftfted only in the exportation of 
 tln W^nd, leather [/], grain, and wool k ]: by colon** 
 
 <f> «rth. wh.tr 
 
 becaufe of cheir a * found • Mr. Davenant, a former in- 
 
 off by foreign exportation and home coniumpnon, a / 
 
 not. G»».«, d»n they ctn coofom. 
 
 *> not ercrf fp-jW Si EKE?. <• »■ «t~ 
 
 failures from gr > Eneland from a confumption of about 
 
 "*• bKr * ™ ofK »£SSi£S«« ..ecofoco gallons of 
 
 ssssrswS w> •*«»* » ( ■ ite ' , “ s •" *“■ “ 
 
 dity of the produce and m^wfadur ^ chie fl y depend. The 
 
 value of lands k AuiJ?dTlool f is h fo confiderable, that the greateft 
 
 •sa^U. ^„t^nKlfc3oK!EE- 
 
24-0 Britilh and French Settlements Part I. 
 
 our trade and navigation is vaftly improved; Cromwell 
 and the rump parliament had good notions of trade in ge- 
 neral, and particularly of the plantation trade ; they had 
 afcheme to bring the Dutch to reafon, for fome out- 
 rages tliey had done us in our fpice trade and other 
 affairs; but the fubfequent reigns of the indolent 
 Charles the fecond, and of the popilh prieft-rid James 
 the iecond, were great damps. The addition which the 
 factories and colonies have made to our trade and na- 
 vigation is immenfe, viz. the Indian trade, fur and fkin 
 trade, cod-fi(hery and fifh-oil, naval ftores, tobacco 
 rice, fugar, and other Weff-India Ifland produce. Be- 
 fides the profits they afford to the planters, merchants, 
 and navigation owners, they yield great branches of re- 
 venue to the public treafury ; the Eaft-India trade about 
 300,000/. fterlingprr annum, tobacco 200,000/. fterlino-, 
 fugars 150,000/. fterling, &c. 0 
 
 In multiplying of colonies, there are boundaries which 
 to advantage cannot be exceeded. Thus our i'ugar colo- 
 nies produce as much fugar as we can vent to profit ; 
 the fame may be faid of rice, and perhaps of tobacco ; 
 
 were extended to wool from Ireland, and afterwards to the planta- 
 tions; by ad of parliament, after Dec. 1, 1699, no wool nor woollens, 
 the produce of any of the Englifh plantations in America, to t)e 
 Jnipped ofF on any pretence whatfoever ; as alio that no fuch wool or 
 Woollens, the produce of any of the Englifh plantations in America, 
 inall be loaden upon any horfe, cart, or other carriage, to the intent 
 and purpofe to be exported, tranfported, carried, or conveyed out of 
 the faid Englifh plantations, to any other of the faid plantations, or to 
 ally other place whatfoever, upon the fame pains, penalties, and for- 
 feitures ; which are forfeiture of goods and carriage, and 500 /. fieri, 
 ■fine. 
 
 Our woohens are above one third of our univerfal export. At 3 
 iriedium'oui* wool manufactured is double the value of the wool it- 
 felf; and deducing all charges, one third of the neat profit goes to 
 the landlord. We import about 5000 bags of Spanifh or Segovia 
 wool per annum ; it is of a fine grain) without a mixture of it no 
 foperfine cloths can be made) but of a fhort flaple ; it cannot be 
 wrought without a mixture of Englifh or other wool of a longer 
 
Sect. IV. in North-Americ a.' 241 
 
 if we increafe in thefe, their prices at market from their 
 plenty muft fall, and not yield a fufficient profit. 
 
 The regulations in the colony-trade, ought to be al- 
 tered according as circumftances of time, ma y re " 
 quire ; for inftance, feeing by an arret of the council of 
 ftate 1726, the French colonies are allowed to carry their 
 produce direftly to other ports of Europe, but the vef- 
 fels to return direftly to the ports of France from whence 
 they fet out : therefore Great-Britain feems to be under 
 a neceflity to take off all enumerations (that of fugar and 
 rice is lately in part taken off) but that the vefiels which 
 carry plantation -goods to foreign ports, fhall clear out 
 from Great-Britain before they return to the plantations. 
 This would prevent their carrying foreign goods to our 
 plantations directly, and would maintain the proper de- 
 pendency of the colonies upon their mother-country. 
 
 The Utopian amufemnt. 
 
 I shall conclude the general hiftory of the Britifli 
 North- America colonies, being the firft part of our lum- 
 inary, by a icheme for the better regulating thefe colo- 
 nies. It is not to be expefted that fuch considerable 
 alterations are to be made, and therefore may be called 
 an idle fcheme; but, perhaps, it may give fome hints 
 towards rectifying leveral things, which much require 
 
 emendations. c , 
 
 By the general patent of king James I, anno 160b, 
 the lea-line of the Englilh North- America, at that time 
 called North and Souch-Virginia, was to have been di- 
 vided into colonies [g] of 100 miles fquare, being for 
 each colony 100 miles upon- the fea ; but this patent 
 was foon vacated, and the propofed divifions did not 
 take place : afterwards royal grants were made at lundry 
 times, to various grantees of fingle perfons or commu- 
 nities, of different humours and views •, fo that bounda- 
 ries (the countries not being well explored, for in ance, 
 
 Merrimack 
 
 VOL. I. 
 
 [*] Pag- 2 °4- 
 
 R 
 
242 Britifh and Frehch Settlements Fart I. 
 
 Merrimack river with relation to the boundaries of Maf- 
 fachufetts- Bay, and New-Hampfhire colonies) were un- 
 certain, and their conftitutions different. The colonies 
 at this time are arrived to a ftate of confiderable matu- 
 rity, and the conveniences and inconveniences of the 
 politia or polity of the feveral colonies are now apparent; 
 perhaps it would be for the interefl of the nations of 
 Great-Britain, and for the eafe of the miniftry or mana- 
 gers at the court of Great-Britain, to reduce them to 
 fome general uniformity ; referring to their feveral gene- 
 ral aflemblies or legiflatures, the raifing of taxes, and ap- 
 propriating the fame, with the affairs relating to their 
 different or fundry produces and trade ; thefe may be 
 called their municipal laws. 
 
 Previoufly, at the court of Great-Britain, there may 
 be conftituted a board of trade and plantations 
 for direction; to be compofed of gentlemen returned 
 home, who have formerly been governors of colonies, 
 judges of vice- admiralty, confuls at foreign ports of trade, 
 commodores who have ferved fome time in plantation- 
 ftations, furveyor-generals, and collectors of the cuftoms 
 in the colonies, planters, merchants, and factors who fol- 
 low the plantation trade. Some few of thefe may have 
 falaries, and be obliged to a clofe attendance ; the others 
 may be honorary, and with equal power of management 
 when prefent : the agents (they are properly their attor- 
 neys) of the colonies to attend when called upon. 
 
 This board being conftituted, their firft bufinefs may 
 be to compofe a draught of a body of general laws for all 
 the plantations (it may be called the magna charta 
 of the British colonies in America) by perufing 
 the prefent law-books of the feveral colonies, and from 
 their own perfbnal experience and oblervation, with the 
 afilftance of the attorney and folicitor-general, or of fome 
 other eminent lawyers. This draught of general laws 
 for the plantations to be laid before the Britifh parliament 
 for their approbation, and to be pafied into a public aft 
 •f parliament ; in procels of time, and as things may 
 4 require. 
 
Sect. IV. in North-America.' Hj 
 
 require, fubfequent parliaments may make additions and 
 amendments. All thefe general laws may be comprized 
 in \h\ one pocket-volume. 
 
 Some of thefe plantation general laws , may relate to the 
 following articles. 
 
 I. Property fliall permanently remain as at prefent, 
 and transferable according to law, with a claufe tor quic - 
 
 ^Proprietary and charter-governments to be vacated for 
 equivalents, either in money, or a further addition of 
 land-property, and all governments of the colonies to be 
 veiled in the crown [*]. 
 
 The government of all the northern American con- 
 tinent-colonies being thus in the crown *at . county 
 may, at the pleafure of the court of Great-Bntain be 
 divided into fundry governments more .uniform, equ, 
 and convenient for the attendance ot per o 
 
 W Tk. laws of n..; r of long » «£ 
 
 g„a, utility inm a fa.ll ',7^ r cto«d all the laws of .ha. grsac 
 
 sswc: alar-— . -- * —as 
 
 faires tie mcr, and Cade de Louis del affaires tie erre. The laws 
 
 land preceding the union, are in three duodecimo volume*. The laws 
 
 [i^^jfome Vriglnal^^ has beena^pStlw* 
 
 SSL foil of .ho Carolines , la.clf * 
 
 ment to the crown, retaining his eighth pan of th for refiga . 
 
 diftinft, but fome think too amp y. indulgence as a court- 
 ing his (hare in that government or fo mu g tinous for tw0 or 
 
 favourite. The people of the New- ie J many) for their 
 
 three years, that the proprietors (the proprietor \ . . 
 
 own eafe. furrendered the government to the queen m council, by 
 
 inftrument dated April 17 , t7 02 * _ in 
 
 K 2 
 
244 Britifh and French Settlements PartI. 
 in their provincial courts, than at prefent, without any 
 damage or infiadhon of [*J property : moreover, the fe- 
 veral colonies will be more adequate checks upon one 
 another in cafes of mutiny or infurre&ions. The feveral 
 colonies as at prefent are at length, and with much dif- 
 ficulty, become well-bounded and diftinguilhed (the line 
 between Maryland and Penfylvania excepted) and there- 
 fore without any trouble may be reduced into the follow- 
 ing governments : 
 
 1. Nova Scotia. 
 
 2. Sagadahock, Province of Main, and New-Hamp- 
 
 fhire. 1 
 
 3 - Maflachufletts-Bay. 
 
 4. Rhode-ifland, and Connetfh’cut. 
 
 5 ' New-York, and the New-Jerleys. 
 
 6 . Penfylvania, and the three lower counties upon 
 
 Delaware river. 
 
 7. Maryland. 
 
 8. Virginia. 
 
 9. North-Carolina. 
 
 10. South-Carolina. 
 
 1 1. Georgia. 
 
 W, Where the property belongs to one family (as the earl of Gran- 
 ville, lord Fairfax, lord Baltimore, and Pen’s) there is no difficulty, 
 becaufe no damage is done to the property of the foil, by fubjefting 
 fome part of it to the jurifdidlion of one government, and the other 
 part of it to the jurifdidion of an adjacent government: but where 
 the property of the foil belongs to a community, as in three of the co- 
 lonies of New-England; in fplitting of colonies for uniformity and 
 convenience, there feems to be lome difficulty in dividing or adjulling 
 the property of colony lands remaining, not granted to private per- 
 fons ; this difficulty vanilhes in courfe of years. The colony of Rhode- 
 ifland has made grants of all their community-lands to fundry private 
 perfons many years fince : the colony of Connefticut fold the re- 
 mainder of their colony-lands, anno 1737, being feven townlhips in 
 its north-weft corner, to private perfons by public vendue ; the intereft 
 of the purchafe-money is wifely applied towards the fupport of free- 
 Ichools. in the province of Maflachufetts-Bay (their government is 
 m the crown, but the property of their lands or foil is in the com- 
 munity ) of their old charter-colony lands, not exceeding the value of 
 
 Hudfon’s- 
 
Sect. IV. in North-Amer ica.' 245 
 
 Hudfon’s-Bay is not a colony, and confifts only of very 
 much feparated fmall factories or lodges, at the mouths 
 of fome confiderable rivers, where the Indians in their 
 canoes come to trade with furs and fkins. Newfound- 
 land is not a colony, but only a number of good harbours 
 for curing of cod-fifh ; the foil is good for nothing. 
 
 As the country and rivers are now well explored and 
 known, if the colonies were to be new-modelled, they 
 might be more diftinftly bounded as follows. 
 
 Nova Scotia, which is bounded by the river and gulph 
 of St. Laurence, by the Atlantick ocean, and Bay of 
 Fundi, lhall be further bounded by boundary, N° 1. 
 being St. John’s river, &c. 
 
 In the boundaries of the feveral colonies according to 
 this fcheme, I mean a due true courfe, but not accord- 
 ing to compafs or magnetic needle, becaufe of the con- 
 tinued irregular progrefiive variations. 
 
 1. St. John’s river, from its mouth up to N. lat. 
 
 and thence in a courfe true north to St. Laurence river, 
 called Canada river. 
 
 2. Sagadahock entrance, and up Quenebeck river to 
 N. lat. — and then north to the river of St. Laurence. 
 
 3. Up Merrimack river to its fork in N. lat.— -near 
 Endicot’s tree, and thence north to St. Laurence river. 
 
 4. Up Connecticut river to — N. lat. and thence north 
 to the river of St. Laurence. 
 
 four or five townfhips or pari (lies of fix miles fquare each, remains 
 not granted to private perlons : in their additional province ot Maine, 
 a line of two townfiiips deep (the valuable part of that country) along 
 the fea and rivers is already become private property ; fo that the re- 
 mainder, of lefs value, may be refigned to the crown for fome valua- 
 ble confideration, to be applied towards paying the province debt. 
 Befides, by treaty with the Indians anno 1 72^. all thofe lands hitherto 
 not conveyed to private perfons, were referved to the Indians. 
 
 N. B. In thefe community-colonies, when they made grants to pri- 
 vate perfons, if they had fubjeiled the granted lands to fome (mail 
 certain quit-rents, thefe quit-rents would have been a permanent branch 
 of the public revenue towards the charges of government; and would 
 have prevented large trails of granted lands from being ingroffed, lying 
 idle and wafie. 
 
 R 3 5 - U P 
 
446 British and French Settlements Part I. 
 
 S \ *{ P S df< f’ s r , iver t0 the ca rrying-place to Wood- 
 creek, by Woodcreek and the drowned lands to lake 
 
 icimplain, by lake Champlain and down the river 
 Cnamblais to St. .Laurence river. 
 
 6. Up Delaware-Bay, and the river to N. lat.— and 
 thence north to lake Ontario. 
 
 7- Up Chefepeak-Bay, and Selquahana river to N. lat. 
 —and thence north to lake Ontario. 
 
 8. Up Chowan found, and Roanoke river to lone. 
 
 ■weft from London — and thence due weft to the Apala- 
 chian mountains, or farther weft to the river Miffiflippi. 
 
 9. Up Winea-Bay, and Peddie river to W. long. 
 
 —and thence weft to the Apalachian mountains, or far- 
 ther to the river of Miffiflippi, 
 
 10. Up the Savanna river to W. long.— and 
 
 thence weft to the Apalachian mountains, or farther to 
 the great river Miffiflippi. 
 
 \ 1 • Finally, is the new Utopian colony of Georgia, 
 which may extend fouth and weft indefinitely. 
 
 Iflands in the dividing bays and rivers may be annexed 
 in the whole to one of the adjoining provinces, or partly 
 to one, and partly to the other. 
 
 II. In each colony or province, there may be a legi- 
 llature for railing of taxes, and for appropriating the 
 fame to the fundry articles of the charges of government, 
 and for enabling of municipal laws, adapted to the pecu- 
 liar circumftances of the colony, to be fent home (if for 
 any confiderable period) for approbation : if prefented, 
 and not difallowed by the king in council after — 
 time, fuch plantation laws lhall be deemed good, as if 
 ratified. 
 
 The legislatures may confift of three negatives : 
 x • The governour, with advice of the king’s or go- 
 vernour’s council [/J, appointed by the crown, with re- 
 
 f. J Fn all our colonies, Penfyl vania excepted, the council is one of the 
 three negatives in the Jegiflature ; in the King’s governments it Teems 
 unequal (I do not fay abi'urd) becaufe as the crown has the appointing 
 
 commen- 
 
Sect. IV. in North-Americ a. 247 
 
 commendation of the Board of trade and plantations ; 
 this may be called the king’s negative. 
 
 2d negative may be fome particular hereditary lords 
 of large manors ( e. g. Ranflaer, Levingfton, Beekman 
 in New-York government) appointed by royal Patents : 
 The qualifications may be a land eftate in conftituted 
 townfhips or parifhes, not lefs than three thouiand acres, 
 
 and who fhall pay at lead: 1 fterhng, value in every 
 
 thoufand pound province rate •, fomethmg of this nature 
 was defigned in the beginning of Carolina fettlement. 
 Thefe Patricii, or hereditary Optimates, will be a cre- 
 dit to the country, and may be called the upper houfe 
 of aflembly. Thofe lands to be in tail general, that is, 
 to females in defed of males (while in females that 
 vote lies dormant, until a male, the ifTue of this female, 
 fhall appear) indivifible and unalienable : this Teems to 
 be confonant to the fecond negative in the parliament of 
 
 Great-Britain. „ r , „„„ 
 
 od negative is the reprefentatives of the common 
 people from their feveral diftrids-, and maybe called 
 the lower houfe of aflembly, or the common houfe of 
 aflembly. At prefcnt they are varioufly reprefented, as 
 may appear in the following fcdions, concerning the 
 feveral colonies. Perhaps a general uniformity might be 
 expedient, that is, two or more reprefentatives from each 
 county, and two reprefentatives from each (hire town : 
 the qualification for the eledors to be 40s. per annum 
 fterling value of freehold, or 50 /. fterhng value prin- 
 cipal in any eftate real or perfonal •, the qualmcauon of 
 the eleded, reprefentacive, or deputy to ^e—pir 
 
 annum , land rent, or principal eftate of any kind l dear 
 
 of all incumbrances. As the reprefentatives of counties 
 and towns are not eleded as agents for thefe counties 
 or townfhips at the general court, but as their quota ot 
 
 of the governor, and of his council ; the crown is veiled with two ne- 
 catives g in three : therefore it is propofed, that the king s, or governor s 
 council, (hall have no other concern in the legiflature, than by advic 
 t q the governor in his negative. ^ ^ 
 
248 Britifh and French Settlements p ART j 
 the commons reprefentation in the province; when they 
 find a perfbn well qualified in knowledge and honeftt 
 
 p£ ik f ' a M 'Z\a 
 
 coumy or natUra ' in " reft ° f fcWd ■ '!>= 
 
 pcn A tewe" n fr ‘, V heT ° CC , ar, ° nS difpUKS fiap- 
 
 s v Tdiet ‘ hercby th A 
 
 fore' extraord,nar . v charge, and delay of bufin’efs • 'there 
 
 Ssr rfr- t**” " ot fit &£ 
 
 W,7 S 77 & J days ; wh,ch wil1 oblige the reore- 
 fentau ves of the people to a quicker difpatch of bufmefs 
 
 and will prevent the governors from forcin °them ?n S 
 
 “*»• * »' ^'*”L7 g 
 
 needed 
 
 ne a &ne 0ftheir g °T ernments ’ therefore 7 if fuch a 
 
 bofrd^freJE m /7 COl ° ny f ° r two ycars inning, the 
 board of trade and plantations ftiall be impowered to tax 
 
 forne^ 7 ’ % n i make an affeff ™nt in proportion to 
 
 lZr{ Z r affi fL e , nt V and the ufu al or laft chofen col- 
 lectors and conftables be obliged to colled: the fame 
 
 “ 1 t £ r 2? treafuries, ,o be appl.cd 
 as the laid board ftiall dired, but for the ufe of the 
 
 ges of the particular colony, and for no other ufe. 
 
 « raae^ni!ff r> F ° r , the S reater eafe an d encou- 
 « alfiT" °f th 7 ett,ers ’ there lhall for ever hereafter be 
 “ a liberty of conference (this is in the words of the char- 
 
 enJae/Vhat “^tts-Bay co!on >'> I William and Mary it was 
 unlefthe bfa friZui” th ! * Province lhall chafe any reprefentative, 
 chofen to reprefen? ^ “** ' efident “ fuch t0Wn which th ^ «* 
 
 efta bliliiecT in perpetuity ? ^ th ' S reaf ° n) havc fuch a re £ uIation * 
 
 “ ter 
 
Sect. IV. in North-Americ a. 249 
 
 « ter of the province of Maffachufetts-Bay) allowed in 
 “ the worfhip of God, to all Chriftians [0], Papifts ex- 
 “ cepted and without any peculiar religious qualifica- 
 tions for offices. As the church of England by the arti- 
 cles of union is the national church of all the Britiffi plan- 
 tations, their minifters muft be licenced by their diocefan ; 
 but all other communities, with their places for religious 
 worfhip, may be licenced by the quarter feffions, and 
 regiftred. Upon any complaints in cafes of life or doc- 
 trine of the minifters, the quarter feffions may appoint 
 fomc knowing, difcreet minifters of the gofpel in the 
 neighbourhood (this is a jury of their peers) to enquire 
 into the matter, and make a report of their opinion to the 
 quarter feffions. Preachers and exhorters [/>] not licenced 
 by the quarter feffions, who fhall intrude without the 
 invitation or confent of the town or parifh-minifter (as by 
 their noife and nonfenle they may alienate the minds of 
 weak people from their own fettled minifters) fhall be 
 deemed as fortune-tellers, idle and diforderly perfons, 
 vagrants and vagabonds. I hat the parfons of the 
 church of England, and the minifters of the tolerated 
 communities be enjoined to live in exemplary charity 
 
 [0] Pag 225. 
 
 [/>] Vagrant enthufiafts, fuch as are, at this prefent writing, Mr. 
 W— -f— d, and his brethren ; if they could be fo apprivoise or tamed, 
 as to fubmit to regulations, the edge of their fiery zeal might be turned 
 toward Indian converfions, which would be of good ufe in a political, 
 as well as religious, view : this is pra&ifed with good effett by our 
 French neighbours of Canada. At prefent their zeal is ill-pointed ; 
 in towns of bufinefs, poor deluded tradefmen and labourers (whofe 
 time is their only eftate) are called off to their exhortations ; to the 
 private detriment of their families, and great damage to the public : 
 thus, perhaps, every exhortation of W— -f — d was about i ooo /. damage 
 to Bofton in New-England. 
 
 That the miflionaries be cantoned along the Indian frontiers, efpe- 
 cially at the truck or trading houfes, under the direction of a fuper- 
 intendant or travelling miilionary, one for each of the northern and 
 fouthern diltri&s of our continent colonies : thefe miflionaries are alfo 
 to officiate in the poor out townfhips orparifhes not able to maintain a 
 gofpel-miniilry. 
 
 and 
 

 250 Britifh and French Settlements PartI. 
 
 and [ ? ] brotherhood. That their pulpit difcourfes may 
 principally relate to things which do not fall within the 
 cognizance of the municipal laws ; to preach up indu 
 ftry and frugality; to preach down idlenefs, a diffo- 
 lute life, and fraud ; never to intermeddle in affairs of 
 ftate; no pulpit invectives againft tolerated religious 
 fedts ; that as Dr. Swift humouroufly exprefles it 
 “ Their religious zeal, having no vent by their tongues! 
 « tUrnedint0the P ro P erchanneIof a " exemplary 
 
 IV. Judicatories. That in the feveral colonies, the 
 legiflatures or general afiemblies, may have a power to 
 eredt judicatories for crimes capital or not capital ; for 
 phas real, perfonal, or mixt ; and to eledt judo-es and 
 juitices not annually or durante beneplacito, but for life, 
 or quamdiu fe bene gejferint ; and when by reafon of 
 age in tne judges, their intelledlual faculties become lan- 
 guid, and their memories fail ; they may be allowed a 
 certain yearly penfion : thus thefe gentlemen will make 
 the law their delight, ftudy, and only bufinefs ; and 
 be under no temptation of being mercenary to provide 
 for a rainy day. It muft always be fuppofed that the 
 officers of the court of vice admiralty, the officers from 
 the board of cuftoms, and the furveyors of the woods or 
 mailing- trees, are to be appointed by the court of Great- 
 Britain : the juftices of the general feffions of the peace, 
 of the inferior court of common pleas, of the fuperior 
 court of judicature, affize, and general jail-delivery, and 
 of probates to be eledtive in the feveral provinces. That 
 appeals from the colonies fhall be to a court of dele- 
 
 (?) P r - Humphrey, fecretary to the fociety for propagating the 
 gofpel in foreign parts, in anfwer to fome complaints fen t to the fo- 
 ciety againft fome of their miftionaries by the Rev. Mr. William 
 Wijrams of Hampfhire, by his letter dated London, Warwick- court, 
 in vVarwick-lane, May 29, 1735, writes, that “ the minifters of the 
 g( churc " of England, were as little as may be, to meddle with any 
 tt h \ at ^. ers controversy, but only to preach the gofpel and adminifter 
 the facraments according to the do&rinc and difcipline of the church 
 “ of England." 1 
 
 $1 
 
 9 
 
 at 
 
 ta 
 
 ot 
 
 10 
 
 wi 
 
 i 
 
 of 
 
 t 
 
 of 
 
 t 
 
 ] u 
 
 P : 
 
 ta 
 
 fi 
 
 Ci 
 
 b 
 
 fi 
 
 £ 
 
 i 
 
 i 
 
 1 
 
 gates, 
 
Sect. IV. in North-America. *5* 
 
 crates being a committee ot the board of trade and 
 plantations > and from thence in cafes of great confe- 
 rence to the houfe of lords in Great-Britain, the der- 
 nier refort of all juftice for the dominions of Great-Bn- 
 tain, which is a court of law and equity in itfelf, as all 
 other courts of judicature ought to be [r]. 
 
 The four principal executive offices ought to be in 
 four [j] diftinft perfons or boards, i . d he governor 
 with his council. 2. The chancery. 3. The judges of 
 
 the fuperior court of common pleas. And 4. The judge 
 
 of probate of wills and granting of adminiftration. 
 
 As an cftate qualification, the judges ol probates and 
 judges of the fuperior courts, ffiall have a clear eftate 
 of any fort, above what will difcharge all incumbrances j 
 payino- —— in every thoufand pound tax : inferior 
 iudcres and iu dices of the quarter feffions, a like eftate 
 paying in every thoufand pound colony or province 
 
 Some regulations to prevent delay of juftice, that 
 caufes may fpeedily be brought to iffue and execution ; 
 fome exception may be made in cafes, where are con- 
 cerned, infants, femme couverte , non-comps , and perlons 
 beyond feas. In all the ports, a court merchant, for the 
 lummary difpatch or recovery of debts belonging to 
 ftrangers and tranfient traders. 
 
 That the real eftate of inteftates [/] be mdivifible, and 
 
 go to the next in kin. 
 
 IVl In all nations of Europe, England excepted, law and equity are 
 in the fame court ; in our colonies it would fhorten law-fuit<, and pre- 
 vent much unneceflary charge, by uniting two courts into one : a num- 
 ber of good judges may reafonably be fuppoled to have a grea.er col 
 leftive ^knowledge, and to be more impartial, than a foie judge in 
 equity, chancellor/ or mailer of the rolls ; feveral chancellors have 
 
 been convi&ed of iniquity. . . « 
 
 [,] In Virginia, from bad policy, they are al veiled in o^>ard, 
 the 1 governor and hi, council : in feveral other colonies two or more of 
 them are in the fame perfon or board. « • 
 
 f/jilntellate real eflates divided among all the children or collate ™ ,s * 
 and in the next generation fubdivided amongll their children op cola- 
 tcrals, will render a colony for ever poor; becaufe depending upon 
 
252 Britifh and French Settlements P Art j 
 
 V. To ENCOURAGE THE GROWTH OF THE m , n ' 
 
 NIBS. No perion {hall be carried out of the refpeftive 
 colonies, or required to march, without their owS wn! 
 ient, cr by a particular refolve of their Jeo-iflaf-nrp 
 leves of lands- men for fokfa, exjeptiif f„ “cjl "° f 
 foreign invafions, great incurfions of the Indians or if 
 
 S r beTn Urrfd ‘° nS 10 3ny ° f the C ° !onies 5 thefe [«] levies 
 f i n , ce , rt * ln proportions or quotas for each colony 
 to be fettled from time to time, according to their oro’ 
 pomonal growths by the boards of trade afd plantations’ 
 No imprels of fa, lots, it hinders the grow* of ThS 
 iade and navigation; the profits center in the mother 
 country- mprefles may occafion tumults and mudnies 
 n the colonies ; a noted inftance we have from that rafh 
 
 unprecedented imprefs [ w ] at Bofton New- England by 
 
 a fmall pittance of land, fcarce fufficient to produce to the neceffaries 
 
 £3, r, "!; o “' r ‘’ "*i b ««'“ « 
 
 good they mult be more mduftrious, and raife a v r » 
 
 Alienee, a fufficient rest for the lainltord, a£ acqut>£i habiTo/ln' 
 
 ! “ lfc , W “' b «™“ »"•*->• forthe pub" 
 
 . ; */“ ,be & ™ le childre ". Ikeir ut.ut of r“l 
 
 ate will not dilquahfy them from being good breeders bat inrit-p 
 and oblige them to accept of hu/bands when they offer 
 
 in this proportion* "° " P ” dd " f ° r man 7 >' ear5 * ** laft was 
 
 Maflachufetts-Bay 
 New Hampfliire 
 Rhode-ifland 
 Conne&icut 
 New-York 
 
 35 ° 
 
 40 
 
 48 
 
 120 
 
 200 
 
 Ea ft- Jer fey 
 Weft-Jerfey 
 Penfylvania 
 Maryland 
 Virginia 
 
 60 
 
 60 
 
 So 
 
 160 
 
 240 
 
 — „ « t Virginia 240 
 
 fmpp'n ’ 1 that time was of no confiderable account. Since that 
 fame Penfylvania, from the great importation of foreigners and Irifh, 
 
 New-Yorl- nCar ^ t0 Maflachufetts-Bay, and thejerfeys equal to 
 
 tl,/^L S r rnaII | m0bs happe " in 3,1 f ea-port towns upon impreffes : 
 0n , be,n S eXtra0r r d,nar y ^is was a larger mob, and may be 
 called a tumult ; this occafion in a vote of a legal town-meeting, is 
 termed an unwarrantable imprefs, and in a refolve of the houfe of re- 
 
 -beenrlir r^V' 9 .’ U r“ e ?P« ffed » “ A grievance which may have 
 „ ca “ Pe ° r 'he aforefaid tumultuous diforderly affembling to- 
 
 getner. The mob began early in the morning, by night were in- 
 
 commodore 
 
Sect. IV. in North-Americ a. 
 
 commodore Knowles, Nov. 17,1 747. 2. Importing and 
 
 naturalizing of foreigners conformably to two afts of par- 
 
 toxicated with ftrong drink, and ufed the governor, upon his admo- 
 nilhing them from the balcony of the court-houfe, with very indecent, 
 rude expreffions, but with no rebellious defign ; as drunk, they were 
 void of fenfe or defign. 
 
 With fome difficulty I perfuaded myfelf to publifti this annotation; 
 becaufe, I . The inhabitants of the town of Bolton legally convened, 
 alledging, that governor Shirley, in his publilhed letters with regard 
 to this tumult, had fet the town of Bofton in a difadvantageous 
 light, and that their charader and reputation were much affeded 
 thereby, occafioned mifunderftandings ; but have fince, by mutual 
 explanations, been amicably compofed, and therefore ought to be 
 buried in oblivion. N. B. An expreffion, in a former ffieet of this 
 hiftory, is faid to have occafioned theie mifunderftandings: as the 
 author hopes that this hiftory may live, he thinks himfelf obliged to 
 explain that expreffion. The governor’s letters were wrote and de- 
 livered, though not printed, prior to the publication of that ftieet (or 
 pamphlet as it is termed) which was done by a private perfon, not by 
 the diredion, or in the knowledge, of the town of Bofton, confc- 
 quently the town was not in the queftion ; the author himfelf was 
 under no temptation to offend one party, or to pleafure the other 
 party ; he holds no place under the governor ; he is not a town, 
 officer ; he never had, nor ever ffiall defire to have, any influence a. 
 mong the populace ; government he adores ; tumults he abhors. 
 The expreffion is, “ He was welcomed to town again (the town- 
 “ addrefs or petition to the governor, fays, “ on your return to town”) 
 «« by the regiment of militia under arms, as is ut'ual upon the recep- 
 tion of a new governor, or Reassumption of the government," 
 in allufion to his reception when he arrived from Cape Breton to re- 
 affume the chair of government ; there was no defigned infinuation of 
 weak condud; if any thing in the expreffion is exceptionable, it 
 ought to be conftrued only as an impropriety in didion ; a lapfe may 
 be incident to any author. 2. I do not affed fuch occafional articles ; 
 they debafe a hiftory of permanent defign, to the low charader of a 
 tranfitory news paper : but as this affair is too much magnified, and 
 is reprefented at home in a falfe and bad light, to the diiadvantage of 
 this town and province, I thought it incumbent upon me, as an hi- 
 (lorian in place and time, to give a lhort impartial relation of this in- 
 cident, more efpecially to obviate the imputation of being rebellious, 
 which, amongft other* bad effeds, might retard the reimburfement of 
 the great expence incurred by New-England in the redudion of Cape- 
 Breton, and occafion a jealous regard from the court of Great Britain ; 
 from thirty years refidence in New-England, I am convinced that no 
 Bririlh fubjeds have a better regard for the Hanoverian race or fuc- 
 ceffion. -Rebellion implies concerted meafure% with provision of 
 x iiament. 
 
254 Britifh and French Settlements Part I. 
 
 liament, anno 1740; feep. 234; naturalized foreigners 
 are not to fettle in feparate peculiar diftrifts, but ifttermix- 
 
 money, and warlike (lores (this is not alledged) ; no fire-arms , they 
 did not attempt to take pofleffion of town- batteries and ftores* they 
 did not take poiTedion of the town-gates (Bofton is a peninfula’ with 
 only one gate open by day and by night) or court-houfe ; its lower 
 floor, or walks, is open and free to every body without being reckoned 
 trefpaffers. i he governor s letters to the fecretary, which furprized 
 the town, do not fcem to be wrote with any premeditated defign of 
 hurting the character of the town ; but perhaps with fome degree of 
 warmth, and in “ utmoll hade,” and he calls it an “ illegible fcrawl.” 
 
 Commodore fv. s, naturally ra(h and imprudent, without ad- 
 viling with the governor and council, and cautioning his officers affiore 
 m Bofton concerning a mob which might probably enfue upon fuch an 
 extraordinary impreis, in the night-time, with armed boats, did kidnap 
 or (leal (hip-builders apprentices, and did rob (hips (cleared out) of 
 their crews. Some of thefe veflels belonged to Glafgow in Scotland 
 therefore he imagined, or was ill-informed, that the Glafgow mailers 
 and factors were the managers of the mob j and in a tranfport of 
 paffion, as it was rumoured, (aid, that all Scotchmen were rebels. If 
 this be made apparent, in quality of a warrant commodore, he is of 
 notice, and may be obnoxious to fcandalum magnatum of all the Scots 
 peers, and to the refentment of every Scots loyal fubjeft, in hiftory, or 
 other wile, even to the minutia of his chara&er. 
 
 In the morning Nov. 17 , «747» upon this arbitrary unprecedented 
 too-rigorous imprefs, fome Tailors, Grangers, belonging to two or three 
 veflels bound to Guinea and privateering, fearing the like fate, did 
 in their own defence, aflemble or aflociate, but without any fire-arms, 
 only with the rufty cutlafles belonging to their veflels, fome clubs, and 
 catfticks. This appearance, as is ufual, attrafled fome idle fellows of 
 low circumftances, and lower chara&er, boys and children, which 
 made the mob appear large : this mob fufpeaing that fome of the 
 prefs-gangs were in town, went in fearch for them; and fome wicked 
 abandoned fellows (a mob is like a brute flock of fheep, they implicitly 
 and without reafoning follow a ringleader or fpeaker ; therefore a 
 ringleader or fpeaker, if convi&ed as fuch, ought to fufFer for ail felo- 
 nies and other damages committed by the mob) propofeJ to make re- 
 prisals of the commodore’s officers, as hoftages for the releafe of the 
 town-inhabitants. 
 
 1 his mobbifh aflembly imagining that thofe officers had fheltered 
 tnemfelves (the government was in duty obliged to proted them) in the 
 governor s houfe, or in the provincial court houfe ; at noon they ap- 
 peared before the governor’s houfe, and in the evening before the'pro- 
 vinaal court- houie : by this time being much intoxicated (which after 
 a few hours flee p fubfldes) they ufed the governor, who appeared in 
 
 cdly 
 
Sect. IV. in No rth-A meric a. 255 
 
 edly with the original Britifh, fee page 209. Papifts or 
 Nonjurors, fhall regifter their names and eftates. 
 
 the balcony, with indecent language ; and fome naughty boys and 
 children, who in frolics take pleafure in the rattling of glafs (fome- 
 times they ufe the window-glafs of their parents houfes with the fame 
 freedom) with brick-bats broke fome window-glafs of the court-houfe, 
 but were reproved by the real mob. 
 
 This mob was lefs impetuous than the generality of mobs ; they 
 ufed the fea-ofHcers well, and difmilTed them before the commodore 
 had difmiifed the imprefTed town-inhabitants: they did not feize 
 captain Aufcough or Erlkine, but left him at large upon his parole. 
 
 After the tumult had fubfided, the commodore advanced with hi* 
 fleet to infult Boffon, which he imagined had infulted him. T he go- 
 vernor, in his letter from caftle-ifland to the fecretary, Nov. 1 9, writes, 
 44 I will endeavour to divert him from fuch thoughts, and to influence 
 44 him to difcharge the inhabitants, and as many as l can in the end, 
 44 but I cannot promife fuccefs from the prefent temper he is in 
 this infmuates, that the commodore was not mailer of his temper, 
 which is abfolutely requifite in a llatefman, commander of an army, 
 or commodore of a fquadron of men of war (hips. 
 
 Nov. 19, in the morning, after the tumult had fubfided, the com- 
 modore makes an offer to the governor, to come in perfon to the 
 callle for the defence of the governor’s perfon and of the fort. This 
 appears with an air of vanity and aflumingj but the governor in 
 anfwer, juftly and with propriety of chara&er, acquaints him, 44 That 
 “ he did not retire to the callle for fafety of his perfon ; and that 
 44 he had not the lead apprehenfion of the caftle’s being in danger 
 4t from any mob.” Finally, the commodore found it advifeable to 
 retire with his fquadron, and after a few days put to fea for the Well- 
 Jndia illands. 
 
 The affair of the town-militia not appearing in arms when called 
 upon, is notealily to be accounted for. Some fay, that 1 . The militia 
 apprehended that the tumult was at an end, upon the rioters leaving 
 the governor’s houfe in the forenoon. 2. That as they were called 
 upon, in quality of pojfe comitatus , that is, in aid of the civil officers ; 
 and as the civil officers did not appear to do their duty, they might 
 think it prepollerous to appear firil ; but in exigencies fuch formalities 
 mull not be infilled upon. 3. There was no legal alarm, and no writ- 
 ten figned orders to the militia ; efpecially in cafe of being aflauked 
 by the tumult, in going to their rendezvous, or at their rendezvous, in 
 their own defence to fire {harp Ihot. 4. I conjedlure, that they were 
 fo ftunned by this rigorous unprecedented imprefs, and imagining the 
 affair was in fupport of the imprefs, as being illegal, they thought in 
 confequence they could not be required to fupport it. Iam convinced 
 it was not from any rebellious motive, that is, difaffeflion to the king 
 and his fucccffion, or to the three branches of legillature then convened 
 in Bollon. 
 
 VI. Pub- 
 
256 Britifh and French Settlements PartI. 
 
 VI. Public Schools and Hospitals. For the 
 education of youth, there fhall be one public fchool or 
 more m each town-fhip or diftrid, for teaching to read 
 
 Enghfh, for writing, and arithmetic: in each {hire-town 
 a grammar-fchool for the learning the dead languages 
 of Greek and Latin •, for Hebrew roots recourfe may be 
 had to the divinity colleges: the matters of the town 
 and country fchools to be approved of by the quarter 
 ieflions : in each province, if chela iUuftris , or college 
 foi what are called arts and Iciences, to be regulated by 
 the legittatures. And near the center of the North- 
 America continent colonies (therefore not in Bermudas, 
 Dr. Berkley’s fcheme) an univerfity or academy to be 
 regulated by a board of plantations, to initiate youn<r 
 gentlemen in the learned profettions of divinity, law, 
 and medicine •, in the modern commercial and travelling 
 languages of French, Spanifli, and Dutch ; in other cu- 
 rious fciences of mathematics, belles lettres, &c. and 
 gentlemen exercifes of riding the great horle, fencing and 
 dancing : from fchool to college, from college to travel, 
 and from travel into bufinefs, are the gradations of a 
 liberal education -, but for want of effefts the link of tra- 
 vel is frequently wanting. 
 
 In every fhire-town there fhall be a work-houfe, to 
 oblige and habituate idlers to fome work : it is a better 
 charity to provide work for the idle poor, than to feed 
 them : as alfo an alms-houle for the aged, infirm, and 
 incurable poor of the county : but [*] principally and 
 efpecially, an orphan-houfe for poor children : where 
 parents are dead or unable to provide for their children, 
 thefe children become children of the common-wealth j 
 
 M This fort of charity I admire; it is charity in a political view, 
 as well as in humanity; they may become ufeful members of the 
 common-wealth : the aged, infirm, and incurable, are for ever 
 ufelefs, and a dead weight upon the community; in countries lefs 
 humane, as in fome provinces of China, where there is fcarce neceffary 
 fyf t * 1C!r mu ^ £u< k F co pl e > as incumbrances they deprive them 
 
 not 
 
Sect. IV. in North-America. 257 
 
 not to be brought up to [7] idle learning (reading and 
 writing excepted) but to trades and labour : generally 
 thefe poor children may be bound to proper mafters, as 
 apprentices or fervants, the boys to 2 1 Ait. the girls to 
 18 Mt. by the county-courts, or by three jultices, 
 Quorum ums. 
 
 VII. [z] TO ENCOURAGE TRADE AND NAVIGATION 
 in the Colonies, i. All enumerations be taken off, 
 excepting upon fuch commodities, as are the peculiar 
 produce of our plantations, and which no foreign nation 
 can purchafeof any other nation. 2. As [0] animofities 
 fometimes happen between colonies, from the mutual 
 impofing of high duties upon the mutual importation or 
 exportation of goods, which may tend to alienate their 
 very ufeful national intercourfe amongft the colonies : 
 therefore no fuch colony-duties fhall be impofed. but 
 by fpecial afls of parliament. 3. That all [^combina- 
 tions and agreements, between workmen concerning 
 wages, &c. fhall be unlawful : that the employer fhall 
 pay the full prices agreed on, in money, not in goods, or 
 
 [>] Some gentlemen of obfervation take notice, that the late hu- 
 mour of ereding in Great-Britain, a multiplicity of free-fchools and 
 charity-fchools, is a detriment to the common wealth ; bringing up fo 
 many youth to learning, renders them feeble, idle, and above common 
 hard labour ; the life of a country. 
 
 The prevailing humour in the Englifh univerfities, of making a bufi- 
 nefs (called criticifm) of ufing and perufing the Greek and Roman 
 claffics, to difeover typographical errors, and the inadvertencies of a 
 tranflator, are of no ufe to the community ; the critic does not acquire 
 more wifdom, and is of no benefit to arts and fciences ; but may prove 
 an innocent, idle amufement to gentlemen of efiates. 
 
 [z] The enumerated commodities (i. c which a^e not to be carried 
 diredly to any other ports, but to thofe of Great-Britain) are tar, 
 pitch, turpentine, hemp, yards, bovvfprits, beaver-fkins, and other furs, 
 copper ore, tobacco, rice, fuftic, and other dying woods, indigo, cotton- 
 wool, ginger, fugar, and molafles. 
 
 [a] Moll of our colonies have pafled, at times, fuch ads in defpite 
 to*fome colonies; for infiance, anno 1721, Maflachlifetts Bay, and 
 New-Hampfhire, by ads of their general aflemblies, impofed unrea- 
 sonable duties upon their mutual imports and exports. 
 
 [£] This is conformable to an ad of Britifh parliament, anno 1726, 
 with relation to workmen employed in the woollen manufadures. 
 
 Vol. I. S ‘ by 
 
258 Britifh and French Settlements PartI. 
 
 by way of truck, with certain penalties. 4. That the legi- 
 flatures in each colony, may make their own [c] munici- 
 pal or local laws. 5. That the governors of the feveral 
 colonies or provinces, fhall have their falaries out of the 
 civil lift from home, but fhall have no falaries, or gra- 
 tuities from the refpedive affemblies ; it has happened 
 at times in all our colonies, that lome defigning evil 
 men, having obtained a wicked majority in the affembly, 
 have thus biafted and corrupted their governors. 6. 
 When townfhips exceed 500 legal voters for a town- 
 meeting ; the legiflature, or the governor with his coun- 
 cil, may appoint a certain [d~\ number for life or number 
 of years, of the moft knowing, difcreet, and fubftantial 
 men of the town, to ad in every thing, in place of a 
 general town-meeting, excepting in eledions of repre- 
 ientatives or deputies for the general aflembly ; in every 
 townfhip all papifts to regifter their names and eftates. 
 7. That all veflels, thofe from Greav Britain not excepted, 
 be liable to tonnage or powder-money, it being towards 
 the protedion of their trade and navigation. 8. That 
 no man (even with his own confent) fhall be enlifted in 
 adual land or fea-fervice under 20 JE t. nor above 52 /Et. 
 This is conformable to a late ad of parliament for enlift- 
 ing marine foldiers. 
 
 VIII. Taxes. The different nature of the feveral 
 colonies will not admit of any general taxations ; there- 
 fore the various taxes muft be local, adapted to the con- 
 veniencies of each colony. Here I fhall only obferve, 
 1. That in thefe colonies (in North-Carolina there is no 
 other tax) where there is a poll-tax upon all male whites 
 from 1 6 JEt. and upwards ; it feems not equitable that a 
 
 [c] Roman colonies were foreign lands peopled ( Coloniam ducere) by 
 native Roman families, though governed by Roman laws and officers ; 
 they had alfo municipal by-laws, made by the Prtefe&us, Senatus, Po- 
 fulufque of the colony, that is, in our idiom, by the governor, council, 
 and reprefentatives 
 
 [dj In the towns of Holland the woed/ebap is generally from twenty 
 to forty men. 
 
 chimney- 
 
Sect. IV. in North-America. 259 
 
 chimney-fweeper, or the meaneft of the people, fliould ' 
 pay as much (as at prefent in Maflachufetts-Bay) as a 
 counfellor or prime merchant ; the people ought to be 
 claffed, and pay in proportion, according to tlitir rank 
 and fubftance. 2. That as wines and fpirits are not the 
 neceffaries of life (and therefore hardfhip upon the poor 
 is not in the cafe) there may be a confiderable import or 
 cuftom upon this importation ; and where fpirits are ma- 
 nufactured (for inftance rum in Bofton) an excife at the 
 ftiil-head (thus private tippling- houfes, that pay no 
 excife, will have no advantage over the licenced' houfes) 
 Upon exportation to draw back the duties of import or 
 excife. 3. That there be a licence-tax upon all taverns, 
 inns, and other public houfes of that nature. 4. A [e] 
 fumptuary excife or duty upon extravagancies ufed in diet 
 or apparel, excepting upon materials that are the pro- 
 duce or manufacture of Great-Britain. 5. As vexatious 
 fuits in law are a great nuifance in all countries, and the 
 fmaller the [g-] charges of courts, the greater is the en- 
 couragement to fuch fuits •, therefore there fhould be a 
 ftamp duty upon all writings or inftruments ufed in law- 
 affairs : whereas appeals from one court to another, are 
 generally vexatious, no appeal to be allowed, unlefs the 
 appellant \g] depofit — fum of money : if the appel- 
 lant is cart, this money to be applied towards the charges 
 of the province or county. 6. In the affair of [b] rates, 
 
 M Sumptus, amongft the Romans, was ufed to fignify luxury, and 
 their fu?nptuaria lex , was alfo called abaria/ex; but at prefent it is ge- 
 nerally ufed to fignify excels in apparel and equipage. 
 
 [/] In Maflachufetts-Bay, fince the law-charges have been enhanced 
 by afts of aflembly, Iaw?fuits in number are much dimini fhed. 
 
 fe] As il1 private life all good men learn from the example and 
 practice of one another; fo it is, or ought to be, among!! nations or 
 countries. In Holland, upon an appeal from the Laage Raad to the 
 Hooge Raad, feventy-five guilders is depofited, and if he reviews from 
 the Hooge Raad, he depoJites 200 guilders. 
 
 . IA 1 Great-Britain taxes are generally of thefe three denomina- 
 tions, land-tax (which comprehends the income of real eftate, of per- 
 fonal eftate, and of faculty) cuftoms or impoft, and excile or confump- 
 tion. j r 
 
 S 2 
 
 as 
 
260 Bririffi and French Settlements Part I. 
 
 as in Great-Brita'm, the principal gentlemen of the county 
 in the land-tax a£b are nominated as commiffioners for 
 the county, whereof but a very few are afting ; in the 
 plantations, the juftices of the quarter feffions in the 
 counties feem to be the proper commiffioners to appoint 
 afleffors in each parifh of the mod fubftantial men ; and 
 in cafes of grievance, appeals in the firft inftance may be 
 made to the quarter fefiions. 
 
 IX. That [;] for the benefit of the Britifh trade and 
 navigation, more cfpeeially with regard to the American 
 
 M Many veffels have been loft near the channel of England and 
 elfewhere, by not giving proper allowance for the difference of varia- 
 tion fincethe date of Dr. Halley’s chart anno i 700. 
 
 1 he utility of frequent well-vouched general maps of the variations 
 is apparent alfo in inland-affairs; I fhall only inftance in the affairs of 
 Ma/Iachufetts-Bay colony (the place of my refidence) in fettling the 
 lines or boundaries with the neighbouring colonies. Anno 1719, they 
 agreed with Rhode-ifland to run their line weft 7 D. N. anno 1613, 
 they run their line with Conne&icut W. 9 D. N. anno 1741, accord- 
 ing to the determination of the king in council, upon an appeal from 
 the judgment of the commifTioners appointed to fettle the lines ; their 
 line with New-Hampftiire was run W. 10 D. N. as if the variation 
 were conftant or upon the increafe, whereas it was upon the decreafe : 
 1. About anno 1700, Dr. Halley’s period, the weft variation in Maf- 
 fachufett^-Bay was about io D. and, without giving any allowance 
 for its decreafe in the fpace of*half a century, did in the laft cafe fettle 
 it according to Halley’s chart ; anno 1741, the variation was fcarce 
 8 D. and the error or gore was in favour of Maffachufms-Bay. 2. 
 The other line, between Maffachufetts-Bay purchafe, called the Pro- 
 vince of Maine, and New-Hampfhire, was adjudged to N. 2 D W. 
 true courfe, and was laid out with the fame error N. 8 D. E. varia- 
 tion, and the guffet was in favour of New-Hampfhire. 3. Lin:, or 
 the Rhode-ifland lkie with Maffachufetts-Bay, was fettled anno 1719, 
 when the variation was about 9 D. laid out by agreement, W. 7 D. 
 N. and the error or guffet was in favour of Maffachufetts-Bay ; thefe 
 guffets contain no inconfiderable tradl of land ; for inftance, this gore, 
 though from the ftation called Saffries, and Woodward, it runs only 
 about twenty-four miles, it acquires a bafe of 360 rod, being one 
 mile and forty rod, commonly called the mile of land : it is true, that 
 after fome time MafTachufetts-^Bay gave to Rhode-ifland an eqviva- 
 lent in wafte lands, as to property, but not jurifdi&ion. 4. The line 
 between Maffachufetts-Bay and Conneflicut (a government of wife, 
 circumfpect hufbandmen) was laid out juft, being 9 D. variation. Mr. 
 Brattle, an ingenious, accurate man, obferved in Bofton, the variation 
 W. 9 D, N. anno 1708. 
 
 colonies. 
 
Sect. IV. in North-America. 261 
 
 colonies, and factories in Africa, the Eaft-Indies, and 
 China j and for the better adjufting the boundaries of 
 colonies or grants in North-America, there lhall be fitted 
 out at certain periods of years by the board of admiralty 
 or navy board, a few fmall vefiels, fuch as are the man of 
 war fnows called (loops, with able obfervers or mathe- 
 maticians, and a proper apparatus •, in different routs 
 along the feas of trade, to obferve the variations for the 
 time being ; and to reduce them to a general chart of 
 variations, in imitation of the chart (the firft of that kind) 
 for anno 1700, delineated by the ingenious, affiduous, 
 learned, and of blefled memory Dr. Halley, from his 
 own knowledge and obfervations, from the good ac- 
 counts of others, and from the analogy of the whole : 
 it was foon cavilled at by our competitors the French 
 academicians and navigators ; but afterwards conceded 
 to and applauded by the French [£] academicians. In 
 thefe voyages, when on (bore by obferving the eclipfes of 
 Jupiter’s moons, and of our moon when to be had, they 
 may adjuft the [/] longitudes, and other requifites of 
 
 Doubtlefs {undry navigators have good accounts of variations in 
 their journals, and fome curious landfmen have at times amufed them- 
 felves in this affair, but fcarce any have been publifhed to the world: 
 the only continued fet of variation obfervations, in my knowledge, is 
 that of the Royal Academy of Sciences for Paris ; thefe obfervations 
 are annual, and generally made in the months of December, from anno 
 1 -00, down to this time, and are to be continued by learned men well 
 difeiplined, in pay, and therefore obliged to regular duty : our mem- 
 bers of the Royal Society for philofophical tranfa&ions in London are 
 volunteers, not in pay, not obliged to duty ; fome Af them at firii fet- 
 ting out, perfom fome Coup d'Eclat, but are foon tired. 
 
 [&] The French are our rivals in every thing ; and more particularly 
 in matters of learning, they keep up a laudable emulation. Thus Sir 
 Ilaac Newton and his followers inveftigating the earth to be an ob- 
 late fpheroid, the French academicians aiferted it to be an oblong 
 fpheroid (that is, with the degrees of the meridian ffiorter towards the 
 poles) from adlual menfurations (by triangles) of degrees of the me- 
 ridian, from the north to the fouth of France ; but lately (after a con- 
 tell of above fifty years) by their millions to Torneo under the polar 
 circle, and to Peru under the equinoctial, they have given up the 
 point. 
 
 [/ J The longitudes determined by fea-journals, by eclipfes and oc- 
 
 S 3 places. 
 
262 Britifh and French Settlements PartI. 
 
 places. The other nations of commerce, particularly 
 Prance and Holland may do the fame at a public charee • 
 thus by means of fo many checks, we may attain from 
 time to time fome certainty as to the variations ; this in- 
 lenfibly brings me to a digreflion. 
 
 A digrejjion concerning the magnetic needle, commonly called 
 the mariner's compafs. 
 
 1 FI AT the magnet or loadftone attracted iron, was 
 known to the higheft antiquity in record ; but the pola- 
 rity of an iron rod or wire, touched by a magnet and af- 
 tei wards polled, was not obferved until the thirteenth 
 century of tne chnftian tera. The mariner’s compafs is 
 
 ofrrl, aVe f . r n i firft s U,ed in ^ (the P ri ^ipal place 
 of traffic in thofe days) anno 1301. Cabot, a Venetian, 
 
 ^ n <e ?- the fij'ft mention, anno 1544, of the variation or 
 deflection of the magnetic meridian from a true meridian, 
 various in various places. Gaflendi, about a century 
 and a half fince, difeovered that this declination of the 
 needle in each particular place, in procefs of time, had 
 lome variation. It is not long fince that the dip of the 
 needle, various in various places, and the variation of 
 this dip-variation in the fame place, has been difeovered : 
 
 cultations, before the ufeof telefcopes, micrometers, and pendulums, 
 were not fo exact as at prelent ; formerly, the South-America ihore 
 wa. reckoned 6 D of longitude too much diltantfrom Europe ; by an 
 
 f/re 3t ?/c hem ° 0nedip / ed ’ DeC 2 '’ anno 1 74 °> from captain 
 7 ¥ V d hC | o er ," man of war at the ifland St - Catharine, on the 
 coaft of Brazil, St. lat. 27 D. 30 M. 49 D. 20 M. VV. from Green- 
 
 '“V S i." ex i, I ? a P s have P Jaceci d>at coaft about 6 D. too much eaft- 
 ward. The China miflionaries (they carry the credit of able mathe- 
 maticians to enforce the truth of their religious doftrines) find that 
 formerly the eallern coaft of China was reckoned 25 D. long, too 
 much diftanr from Paris. Dr. Halley, anno ,677, was fent at a go- 
 EST* char .8 e , t0 St. Helena, to obferve and take a catalogue of the 
 fixed ltars in the high fouthern latitudes, which he accordingly reduced 
 
 St H-lcR^ SUe tabIeS : at lhat time the variation was 4 ° M - E- 
 
 a needle 
 
Sect. IV. in North-Americ a. 263 
 
 a needle polled before it is touched, upon the magnetic 
 touch, its north point with us dips from a horizontal 
 pofition-, for inftance, anno 1723, Mr. George Graham 
 in London obferved it to dip 75 D. He obferves, the 
 ftronoer the touch, the greater the dip : this needle mult 
 be afterwards properly loaded to bring it again to an ho- 
 rizontal poife to lerve in the compal's. As the varia- 
 tions of the dip are at prelent of no ufe in navigation, 
 therefore having no relation to our hiftory of the Britilh 
 American colonies, we drop them. 
 
 Magnetifm is fome power in nature, hitherto inexpli- 
 cable,^ are gravity and eleClricity •, whereby a load - 
 Hone fan iron ore or mineral) draws to ltlelf loadltone 
 or iron. No interpofed body can hinder this influence 
 or attraction •, a large magnet broken to pieces, each 
 fruftum or fragment, retains the attraction and polarity * 
 Heel is more receptive and retentive of magnetilnn than 
 ' common iron. The north poles of touched needles do 
 not attract but repel one another, and attraCl louth poles : 
 likewife fouth poles do not attraCl but repel fouth poles. 
 If the different directions of the magnetic needle were 
 permanent for the lame place, it might be imagined to 
 proceed from different accumulations of magnetic mat- 
 ter in theie different parts of the earth. Halley s amu- 
 fing fancy, that the globe of the earth was one great 
 magnet, with two contained nuclei (which humoroufly 
 may be termed wheels within a wheel) whofe tour poles 
 are different from thofe of the earth, and from one an- 
 other-, and in cafe a third line, of no-variation Ihould be 
 difcovered in the South-l'eas (which he kerns to iufpeCt 
 from the accounts, anno 1670, of Sir John Narborough, 
 of the variation upon the well coaft of South-America 
 decreafing very fall) he was to introduce a third nucleus : 
 thefe nuclei he fuppoles detached from the earth and 
 from one another, and to have a circulatory or hbratory 
 motion, equal or unequal, according as the lolution of 
 the phenomena might require : but this plealant novel 
 
 S 4 
 
2G4 Britifli and French Settlements PartI 
 
 does in no manner account for the irregularities in the 
 variations, as hereafter related ; and until by future ob 
 fervations they be reduced to fome rules, it feems in vain 
 to attempt any hypothefis. 
 
 Dr. Halley, upon his return from his long voyages 
 delineated the variations as they were anno 17U in all 
 the oceans and feas, the Pacific ocean excepted, from r 8 
 D. N. lat. to 58 D. S. lat. Deiifle delineates the varfa- 
 tions 20 D. farther N. than Halley. This chart of 
 Halley s being the firft of its kind, will perpetuate his 
 memory better than brafs or marble, and will be a per- 
 manent credit to our Britifh nation. Since Dr. Halley’s 
 chart of variations for anno 1700, near half a century is 
 elapfed, which has produced great alterations in the va- 
 riations, feeing Halley’s Atlantic and Ethiopic line of 
 no-variation, in about the fpace of a century, from 1600 
 to 1708, had moved (it pafied, anno 1600, by cape 
 Agulbas, the fou them moft cape of Africa, by the Morea 
 anc j the north cape of Europe, in N. lat. 71 D. 24 M. 
 and ^22 D. 10 M. E. long, from [nz] London) by its 
 norm parts through Vienna anno 1638, through Paris 
 anno 1666, weft ward in all about 1400 leagues, and by 
 Jts fouth parts only about 500 leagues. 
 
 The anomalies or bizarreries of the variations, are un- 
 accountable, and no length of time, or feries of years is 
 likely to bring them to a mean. : ' 
 
 1 . 1 he variations for the fame place, fometimes have 
 a direct progreflive motion, but unequally; fometimes are 
 flat ionary, and fometimes retrogade : 1 fhal 1 inftance the 
 variations at Paris for about a century and three quarters 
 of a century ; anno 1580, the variation was eleven and a 
 half D. E ; anno 1 666, no variation; is at a medium about 
 S M . per annum-, anno 1715, variation was 12 D. 30 M. 
 W. for that interval, is about 14 M. per annum. From 
 that time to anno 1720, it was generally retrogade ; from 
 
 pw e always mean longitude from London, if not otherwife ex- 
 
 preikd. 
 
Sect. IV. in North-America. 265 
 
 1720, variation about 13 D. W. for five years it was 
 ftriCtly ftationary ; from anno 1725, it was at a medium 
 direCtly increafing or progreffive to anno 1732, variation 
 15D. 45 M. W. From 1732 to 1 743 (fo far the memoirs 
 of the Paris academy of fciences are publifhedj the 
 variation was 1 5 D. 5 M. W. that is a little upon the 
 decreafe with a libratory motion : therefore (as I may 
 conjecture) the general increafe of the European weft 
 variations l'eems to be retarded, or ftationary, or upon the 
 decreafe. 
 
 2. Mr. George Graham of London, an ingenious and 
 accurate mechanicien, oblerves, anno 1722 from Feb. 
 6, to May 10 (the compafs-box remaining unmoved 
 all that time) above one thoufand times; the greateft 
 variation (weftward) was 14 D. 45 M. the leaft 13 D. 
 50 M. he obferves that the variation is confiderably dif- 
 ferent in different days, and in different hours of the 
 fame day ; without any relation to heat or cold, dry 
 or moift air, clear or cloudy, winds or calms, nor the 
 height of the barometer. In the fame day, he obferved 
 the created variation from noon to four hours afternoon, 
 and°che leaft about fix or feven hours in the evening. 
 Mr. Jofeph Flarris, in his returnfrom Jamaica to London, 
 anno 1732, obferved, that the wefterly variations were 
 lefs in the morning than in the afternoon. The curves 
 of no-variation, and of each particular variation, do al- 
 ter their curvatures fo irregularly and undulatory, that 
 they are not reducible to any equation expreffive of 
 their nature. 
 
 3. The variations have no relation to meridians ; ac- 
 cording to Halley’s chart anno 1700, at the entrance of 
 Hudlon’s ftraits, variation was 29 and a halfD. weft; 
 at the mouth of Rio de la Plata, nearly under the fame 
 meridian, the variation was 20 and a half D. eaft. As to 
 parallels of latitude it is obferved, that the farther north 
 or fouth from the equinoctial, the variations are thegreatei , 
 but in no regular progreflion either as to diftance from 
 the equinoctial or difference of time. M. des Hayes 
 
 onrl 
 
266 Britifh and French Settlements PartI. 
 
 and Du Glos, anno 1682, at Martinique, found the varia- 
 tion 4 D. xo M. eaft ; anno 1704, it was 6 D. 10 m. E. 
 this is 2 D. in twenty-one years •, in the fame interval of 
 time, it lncreaf ii at Paris 5 D. 30 M. The farther from 
 the lines of no-vanation, the variations feem to increafe 
 or decreafe the fader. 
 
 4. Cupt. Hoxton from Maryland, relates a Arrange phe- 
 nomenon of his magnetic needles or compares; anno 
 1725, iept. 2, a little after noon, fair weather, fmall fea 
 
 4 1 D- 10 M. 28 D. E. long, from cape Henry 
 or V lrginia, all his compafles (an azimuth, and four or 
 nv e more) carried to feveral parts of the llnp continued for 
 about one hour, traverfingvery fwiftly, fo as he could not 
 fleer by them, but all ot a fudden, every one of them 
 flood as well as ufual. Capt. Middleton, in his Hudfon’s- 
 Bay voyage of 1 7 2 5 > fltys, that his greatefl variation 
 was 40 D. W. in N. Lat. 63 D. 50 M. 78 D. W. from 
 London, where the compafs would fcarce traverfe : he 
 fays, a great cold or frofl hinders the needle from tra- 
 verfing •, where near a great body of ice, there were great 
 complaints of the compals not traverfing: he fufpecled, 
 that the age of the moon had feme influence upon the 
 variation. 
 
 5. i he three lines of no-variation feem to be of 
 different natures ; that line in the Atlantic and Ethiopic 
 ocean gives eatlerly variations well of its line, and well- 
 erly variations eaft of its line ; that line in the Indian ocean 
 reverfly gives wefterly variations weft of its line, and 
 eafterly variations eaft of its line ; that in the pacific 
 ocean or fouth-fea, unexpectedly gives eafterly variations 
 both fides : Dr. Halley and others, before this third line 
 was difcovered, feem to have laid it down as a law in 
 nature, that where an eafterly variation terminated, a 
 wefterly variation mull begin ; and where a wefterly 
 variation terminated an eafterly variation was to begin, 
 but further oblervations evince this to be no dated law. 
 
 I here is a magnetic influence all over the furface of 
 our globe or earth : the magnetic needle in fome places 
 
 has 
 
S^ct. IV. in North-A merica. 267 
 
 has a true meridian di reft ion ; in others the magnetic 
 meridian has a defleftion more or lefs in different places, 
 eaft or weft: the points or places of no-variation, and of 
 the feveral quantities of variation, when connefted, form 
 curves, but 16 irregular as not reducible to any equation, 
 and of no permanent figure, and not eafily to be clafled : 
 we lhall only obferve that. 
 
 There are at prefent three lines of no-variation. 1. 
 Between Europe with Africa, and America in the Atlan- 
 tic and Ethiopic ocean -, the variations eaft and north of 
 this line are wefterly, and the farther diftant from this 
 line the greater, and their increafe or decreafe the fwifter-, 
 this is a general principle in variations : Halley fays, that 
 in the beginning of this century, all over Europe the va- 
 riations were wefterly, and upon the increafe ; but at 
 prefent, thefe weft variations in the eaftern parts of Eu- 
 rope feem to be ftationary (at Nuremberg in Germany the 
 W. variation was ftationary at 1 1 D. from 1700 to 1708) 
 upon the decreafe ; for inftance at Torneo in N. Lat. 65 
 D. 50 M. 23 D. E. from London, M. Bilberg, anno 
 1695, found the variation 7 D. Wj anno 1735, the 
 French academicians found ic 5 D. 5 ’M. W. therefore 
 upon the decreafe, and perhaps belonging to the fyftem 
 or clafs of the Indian ocean line of no-variation (the line 
 is not afeertained where the increafe ends, and the 
 decreafe begins) as in the northern parts of Alia they 
 belong to this clafs of Indian ocean variations •, for in- 
 ftance, at Aftracan near the Cafpian lea, N. Lat. 46 D. 
 15 M. and 45 D. E. Long, wide the eaft variations 
 decreafed at London, there the weft variations increafed 
 even to 24D; and as the weft variation increafed in 
 London, it diminifhed at Aftracan. Our North America 
 variations belong to this firft line of no-variations, and 
 are wefterly N. and E. of this line, and eafterly S. and W. 
 of it : thefe E. variations along the coaft of South- 
 America increafe very flow •, at La Vera Cruz, in N. 
 Lat. 19. D 12 M. anno 1727, it was only 2 D. 15. M. 
 E ; at Pariba in Brazil beginning of this century S. Lat. 
 
268 Britifh and French Settlements PartI 
 
 6 D. 38 M. it was 5 D. 35 M. E ; at Buenos Ayres S. 
 Lat. 34 D. 50 M. it was anno 1708, 15 D 32 M E 
 at Cape-Horn 20 D ; fouth of Cape-Horn in S. Lat. z 6 
 
 ftreth M ' ‘f Was l 7 ?' .?• bein S u P on the decreafe; and 
 torching along the Pacific ocean weftward or northward 
 theie eaft variations decreafed. 
 
 This line of no variation moves the quickeft; anno 
 ^Agulhas (about 2 D E. of the Cape 
 of Uood-Hope) the Morea, and northCape of Europe ; at 
 this Cape Agulhas the variations afterwards became weft 
 viz. anno 1622, 2D; anno 1675, 8D; anno 1691, nD; 
 a " no l 73 *> * 7 D ; at St. Helena the variations were anno 
 1 boo 8 D E ; anno 1623, 6 D. E ; anno 1677, Halley 
 found 40 M. E anno 1690, 1 D. W ; anno 1700! 
 Halley found 2 D. W ; anno 1732, 8 D. W; Halley 
 anno 1700, ascertains this line of no- variation from four 
 obfervations N. Lat. 31 D. W. Long. 64 D. N. 2 D 
 Long. 18 D. W ; S. Lat. 17 D, Long. 10 D. W ; s! 
 Lat. 37 D. Long, 4 D. W. This line of no-variation 
 leems to move quick to the weftward, in.S. lat. 35 D. 
 from anno 1700 to 1709, it moved 50 leagues weftward.* 
 A french Ihip, anno 1706 (being the firft that made this 
 traverle) from Rio de Galleguas upon the eaft coaft of 
 Americain S. lat. 51 D. 68.D.VV. long, from Paris, vari- 
 ation 23 D. E. made 1350 leagues to the Cape of Good- 
 Hope in 34 D. 15 M. S. lat 17 D. 45 M. E. long, from 
 Pans, found the variation lines tending towards the S. 
 pole, to become nearly parallel, and in fome places alter 
 only one degree for two degrees of longitude. 
 
 .The lecond line of no-variation, in the Indian ocean, 
 anno 1 600, palled through the Moluccas or Spice-illands, 
 and a little eaft of Canton in China; in a century follow- 
 ing, that is, anno 1 700, it had not advanced eaftward 
 above 100 leagues ; the W. point of Java (and in the 
 influence of this line) anno .1676, was 3 D. 10 M. weft 
 variation ; anno 1732, it was only 3 D. 20 M. but the 
 farther weft thefe variations increaled, the quicker to the 
 common axis of the variation parabolic curves, and 
 
 then 
 
Sect. IV. in North-AmerIca. 269 
 
 then began to decreafe and terminate in the firft line of 
 no-variation. The common axis of the infcribed parabo- 
 lic curves, anno 1 700, paflfed through Madagafcar, and 
 the ftraits of Babelmandel, about 50 D. E. long, from 
 London, where the increafing W. variations terminate, 
 and the fame W. variations begin to decreafe ; Halley 
 places the higheft of thefe weft variations 27 D. S. lat. 
 about 5 :50 leagues eaft of the Cape of Good-Hope. 
 
 The third line of no-variation was found by Captain 
 Rogers, in the Pacific ocean in N. lat. 14 D. W. long, 
 from London 125 D. and in N. lat. 13 D. W. long. 193 
 D was 12 D. E. (and afterwards decreafing to the fecond 
 line) the largeft of thefe eaft variations which reign all 
 over the Pacific ocean ; French navigators, fince anno 
 1710, have traverfed this ocean fouthward of the equi- 
 noftical line, as Capt. Rogers did northward or it, and 
 found the no-variation line nearly upon the above-laid 
 meridian, and the other variation lines nearly parallel 
 with the meridians. Sir John Narborough, Dr. Halley, 
 and Cant Rogers, were miftaken in their conjecture, that 
 fouth of the equinoftical in the middle parts of this ocean 
 there muft be a trad of weftern variations. 
 
 I'his third no-variation line fee ms to be a continuation 
 of the firft inflected weftward into a circular arch whofe 
 vertex at prefent feems to be in about 34 D. N. lat. and 
 80 D. W. long, from London. a , 
 
 All variations within this curve made by the firft and 
 third line, being a fpace of 140 D. upon the equinodhcal, 
 are eafterly ; all without it, on its eaft fide, being a lpace 
 of 1 1 5 D. to the fecond line are wefterly •, all withouc 
 it on its weft fide are eafterly, being a fpace of 105 D. 
 to the faid fecond line. It is obfervable, that all variation 
 lines, the nearer they approach to the po es of our earth, 
 the more they converge towards a parallelifm with the 
 meridians, as if to terminate in the poles, rhe feveral 
 variation lines feem to receive their flexures from the in- 
 fluence of their eafterly and wefterly no variation lines, fo 
 as to form parabolic curves, or circular arches. 
 
270 Bntirti and French Settlements PartI 
 
 The alterations in the variations are not from anv * 
 form circulatory or libratory power • but as t JfJ 7 
 
 ^ftbebySme f n C ° n ^% 
 
 and £S£ 3 £S c^S 
 
 by inundations and ebbs 1 tneearth 
 
 and Philofophical for 
 
 ? 7 " tz 
 
 not pretend to be particular in that affair, and fhall onlv 
 relate feme loofe hints that are come to my knowleda/ 
 rhe lineof no- variation (which for diftindtion I call die 
 ft) from the eaftward, enters the continent of North- 
 America, in Carolina about e? D. N. lat at rh;? . v 
 
 anno 174S ; and by a fiattilh flexure crolfes the continent 
 of North- America, and in the Pacific ocean convenes 
 fouthward, and forms what is now called the third Ime 
 no- variation. Capt. Rogers, anno 1708, in r 4 D.N 
 
 ^Si long - from London fcl1 in with this ^ 
 
 To the northward and eaftward of this N° 1 no- 
 vanation line upon the eaftern coaft of -North- America 
 the variations are weft ; and the farther north the greater,’ 
 but all upon the decreafe ; and the farther north, the 
 quicker is the decreafe. ’ 
 
 1 rh „ e S reate ft variation known was anno 1616; in N. 
 at. 78 D. at Sir Thomas Smith’s found in Baffin’s-Bay, 
 the variation was 57 E>. weft. 1 
 
 rhnr^’n M ' dd ’l t T 0n 1 P ubli(hes » ^at at the mouth of 
 
 ,0 M e f ( R kt - 59 D> Weftlon S- from London 
 r( t ; A 5 Ml from ? n immerfion of Jupiter’s firft Sa- 
 uhte ; anno 1725, the variation was 21 D. W. j anno 
 
 1738 , 
 
Sect. IV. in Nor.th-Amer.ica, 271 
 
 1738, it was 18 D. W. ; anno 1742, it was 17 D. W. 
 decreafing very fail. 
 
 At Quebec in Canada, anno 1649, the variation was 
 16 D. W. •, anno 1686, it was 15 D. 30 M. is half a 
 degree in thirty-feven years ; but alter this, according to 
 M" Delifle, it varied 1 D. in eleven years. 
 
 In New- England Mr. Brattle obferved at Bofton, anno 
 1 708, th£ variation 9 D. weft ; anno 1741, upon a corn- 
 million for lettling lines between Maflachufetts-Bay pro- 
 vince, and the colony of Rhode-ifland, a little to the 
 fouthward, the commiffioners found the variation 7 D. 
 30 M. weft. 
 
 In New- York city (by eclipfes of Jupiter’s firft Satel- 
 lite, governor Burnet found it 74 D. 57 M. W. of Lon- 
 don, "being in N. lat. D. 40 M.) Mr. Wells, furveyor- 
 
 geveral of the province-lands, anno 1686, found the va- 
 riation 8 D. 45 M. weft •, governor Burnet, anno 1723, 
 found it 7 D. 20 M. weft. 
 
 In New-Jerfeys, anno 1743, the lme, between the pro- 
 prietors of" Eaft and Weft-Jerfeys, was run 150 miles, 
 twenty chains, 9 D. 19 M. weft ; but becaule of the dif- 
 ference of variation, which muft be iuppofed at the fouth 
 and north terminations of this line, it was alledged that 
 it muft not be a dired line; and upon examination it 
 was found that this line was in all refpeds erroneous : at 
 the fouth point near Egg-Harbour the variation was only 
 r D 25 M. weft, and at the north point on Delaware- 
 river in 41 D. 40 M. it was 6 D. 35 M. weft : this was 
 to the prejudice of the Eaft-Jerfey proprietors. 
 
 The ftreets of Philadelphia, anno 1682, were laid out 
 with great precifenefs N. i 3 D. E. ; anno 1742, they 
 were found to be 1 5 D. eaft ; this is 3 D. in fixty years. 
 
 In the parallel of 39 D. running the line between Pen- 
 fylvania and Maryland, anno 1686, the variation was 
 found to be 9 D. wefterly ; anno 1739, mrunn.ng th 13 
 eaft and weft line, it was found 5 D. 30 M. W. differ- 
 ence is 3 D. 30 M. in fifty-three years. 
 
 la 
 
IJT: Britifh and French Settlements, PartI. 
 
 In Virginia, Cape-Henry in 37 D. N. lat. 75 D. weft 
 from London, anno 1732, the variation was 4 D 40 
 M. 
 
 In the Carolinas, navigators upon the coaft give no 
 allowance for variation, becaufe near the line of no- 
 variation ; inland, in running a divifional line between 
 the two governments or jurifdidtions of South and 
 North-Carolina, and in laying off Carteret’s- eighth part 
 of the property of Carolina, no account was made of 
 variation. 
 
 I tom tne line of no-vanation in N". lat. 33 D. louth- 
 wai d, the eaft variation takes place, increafing very flow ; 
 becaufe at La Vera Cruz, N. lat. 19 D. 12 M. YV. long! 
 
 97 D. 30 M. anno 1727, the variation was only 2 D. 
 15 M. eaft. 
 
 Here ends the firft or general part of the Summary 
 concerning the Britifh colonies in America, with fome 
 mterfperfed hints relating to the colonies of the other 
 European nations. In the following part we Ihall give 
 particular accounts of our feveral colonies, in order? as 
 they are enumerated page 15 and 16. 
 
 The End of the First Part. 
 
t 2 73 1 
 
 PART II. 
 
 SECT. V. 
 
 Concerning the Hudfon’s-Bay company , their terri- 
 tories and trade. 
 
 T H E adventurers who endeavoured a N.W. paf- 
 fage to China, the Spice-iftands, and the Eaft- 
 Indies, and in fearch for copper-mines, gave 
 occafion to the difcovery of Hudfon’s-Bay, and its fub- 
 fequent fur and fkin trade. 
 
 The [a] Cabots, anno 1496, obtained from Henry VII 
 of England, a grant of all lands they Ihould difcover and 
 fettle weftward of Europe. In queft of a N. W. pafifage, 
 they coafted the eaftern fhore of North- America, and 
 took a general pofleffion for the crown of England, but 
 made no fettlement; the hrft land they made was Weft* 
 Greenland, in N. lat. 66 D. 
 
 From [i] that time this navigation, and thefe difcove- 
 ries, were entirely negle&ed, until 1576, 1 577, and 
 1578. Sir Martin Frobifher made three voyages to a ftrait 
 which retains his name, but he made no difcoveries. 
 
 Sir Humphry Gilbert, by direction of fecretary Wal- 
 fingham, coafted the north-eafterly ftiore of America 
 particularly he took pofieftion of Newfoundland, and St. 
 .Laurence or Canada river, for the crown of England, and 
 began fome hilling-trade there, anno 1583. 
 
 (V) Short repetitions or recapitulations, 
 the matter more diftinft and fluent. 
 
 [£] See pag. 1 1 o. 
 
 are fometimes ufed to render 
 
 VOL. I, 
 
 T 
 
 Capt. 
 
274 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 Capt. John Davis from Dartmouth, made three voyages 
 this way, anno 1583, 1586, and 1587, but made no dil- 
 coveries: that branch of the opening (the opening 
 at Cape Farewell, in 60 D. N. lat. a little farther, at 
 Cape Defolation, branches into two openings) which 
 reaches north-weftward, retains the name of Davis’s- 
 ftraits, and is the whaling-ground of Weft-Greenland, 
 •where the [c] Englifh, Dutch, Bifcayers, Hamburghers, 
 Bremers, and Danes kill large whales of 500 to 600 bar- 
 rels of oil, and eighteen feet of bone : this whaling con- 
 tinues for about leven or eight weeks. 
 
 Henry Hudfon, after two N. E. fuccefslefs trials, and 
 one in vain north-weftward navigation, efiayed the 
 other opening abovementioned, and failing weftward 
 and fouthward, difcovered the ftraits and bay called by 
 his name. Anno 161 1, proceeding upon further difco- 
 veries, he was never more heard of. In his time he was 
 as much an enthufiaft for a N. W. paffage, as Mr. 
 D — bs [d] is at prefent, as appears by tire prelent paper- 
 war between D — bs and Middleton. 
 
 [r] Anno. 1 732, theSouth-fea company had fourteen fliips in Eaft- 
 Greenland, and feven fhips in Weft-Greenland, or Davis’s-ftraits, and 
 got twenty-four and a half whales : this fiihery did not anfwer the 
 charges of fitting out, and it is dropped, notwithftandiog the en- 
 couragement given by aft of parliament anno 1724, that any of his 
 majefty’s fubjefts may import whale fins, oil and blubber of whales, 
 taken and caught in Greenland-feas in Britifh (hips, navigated accord- 
 ing to law, without paying any cuflom, fubfidy, or other duties for the 
 fame. 
 
 [d] Mr. D— bs of Ireland was the projector of Middleton’s N. W. 
 difcovery voyage: becanfe it did not fucceed, he charges Middleton 
 with negleft, mifconduft, and fufpicion of corruption ; he fays, Mid- 
 dleton was bribed by the company not to make any difcovery, or to 
 conceal, or to falfify a N. W. difcovery ; Middleton told Mr. D bs, 
 by letter Jan. 21, anno 1737, the company judged it their intereft ra- 
 ther to prevent than to forward a N. W. dilcovery in that part of the 
 world j and that they offered him 5000 /. to aft and report in their 
 favour. Some of Middleton’s officers made affidavits concerning his 
 bad conduft ; upon the defign of the admiralty’s fitting out captain 
 Middleton for the N. W. difcovery, the governor and council of the 
 Hudfon’s-Bay company, wrote to the governor at Prince of Wales s 
 Fort upon Churchili-river, to refufe them refreftunent ; but afterwards, 
 
 Sir 
 
Sect. V. Of the Hudson’s-Bay Company. 275 
 
 Sir Thomas Button, fitted out by prince Henry anno 
 1612, patted Hudfon’s-ftraits, and failing weftward, dif- 
 
 upon further confideration, they revoked this order, and allowed the 
 governor to fupply captain Middleton if in diftrefs, Notwithftanding 
 this difoppointment, Mr. D — bs procured an aft of parliament for 
 20,000 /. public reward for a difcovery, and accordingly the Dobbs 
 Galley and California failed from England in May, 1 746. 
 
 Mr. D— bs runs much into the novel ; he feems to be a wild pro- 
 jector, and notoriouily credulous : he gives particular accounts of large 
 countries and iflands in the Pacific Ocean, efpecially from S. lat. 9 D. 
 to N. lat. 1 5 D. very rich and populous, abounding in nutmegs, mace, 
 ginger, pepper, cinnamon, filk, and ebony ; the natives with reddifh 
 complexions, grey eyes, high nofes, beards and hair curled. In the 
 N. W. parts of America were veftels or {hips with prows (heads or 
 lions we call them) of gold and filver : W. S. W. the Indians come to 
 a fea, where were great vefTels, and men with caps and beards ga- 
 thering of gold. About a century fince, anno 1640, Bartholomew de 
 Foutes, vice roy of Mexico and Peru, hearing that the Englilh were 
 endeavouring a N. W. paffage, failed to the river of Los Reys in. 
 53 D. N. lat. upon the weft fide of America, and detached capt. Ber- 
 nard i, who failed to 77 D N. lat. (here he found it as warm as 10 D. 
 lefs N. lat. upon the eaft fide of the American continent) upon this coaft 
 he met with capt. Shapley from New- England (this is an unaccountable 
 ftretch to prove a north-weft paftage ;) there is no record nor tradition 
 of this in New-England in my knowledge. Mr. D — bs is as particular 
 in giving accounts of diftant not frequented countries, as if he were de- 
 fcribing Great-Britain or Prance ; and propofes thatGreat-Britain (hall 
 fettle an extent of countries, more than all Europe could effeft. 
 
 Mr. D — bs, from the ftories of the French fathers, and ofthe Coureurs 
 des Bois, relates ftrange things. From lieutenant Jerome (doubtlefs a 
 native of Gafcony) he relates, that in the diftriftof Hudfon’s-Bay , are 
 to be feen 10,000 rein deer in a herd, and large mines of virgin- 
 copper. # . 
 
 The French were, at this rate, moft egregious fools to give up 10 
 eafily, by the treaty of Utrecht anno 17*3, * w0 fuck valuable articles 
 of deer-fkins and copper. Northward is a ftrait with floating ice, pro- 
 bably a paftage to the weftern-ocean or South-feas, the north wind railing 
 the tide ten feet above the ordinary tides. At the peace of Utrecht, 
 in Quebec were from 4000 to 5000 troops in garrifon. On the weft 
 main are the copper-mines, on the eaft main are the lead-mines. He 
 gives large lifts of names of imaginary tribes of Indians, their lakes and 
 rivers; whereas the feveral ifiands, head -lands, bays, rivers, &c do 
 not retain their Indian names, as in fome of opr colonies, but are called 
 by the names of the feveral adventurers or difeoverers. Mr. D bs 
 names and deferibes all thefe things minutely, and with the fame eafe 
 as if they were the belt known, moft polite, and well regulated coun- 
 
 tries upon earth. 
 
 T 2 
 
 covered 
 
276 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 covered a large continent, and called itNew-Wales; its 
 fea and bay retain the difcoverer’s name ; he could not 
 proceed farther than 65 D. N. lat. and called it N. Ultra ; 
 he wintered miferably upon that weft continent at Port 
 Nelfon in 57 D. N. lat 
 
 Capt. Thomas James, from Briftol anno 1631, made 
 further difcoveries in Hudfon’s-Bay ; he wintered near the 
 bottom of the bay at Charleton-ifland in N. lat. 52 D. 
 and publilhed a good journal of his voyage. 
 
 Anno 1616, Mr. Baffin, by the north- wefterly open- 
 ing called Davis’s-ftraits, carried the north-weft affairs 
 fo high as N. lat. 80 D. to no purpofe, and gave his 
 name to the fea or bay in that high latitude. 
 
 Capt. Fox, anno 1632, failed into Hudfon’s-Bay upon 
 the dilcovery, where he law many whales the end of July 5 
 he proceeded no farther than Port Nelfon in N. lat. 57 
 D. ; he wintered there ; tide fourteen feet. 
 
 The beginning of thelaft century, the Danes went upon 
 the north weft difcovery, and took pofieffion of the north- 
 eafterly Ihore of Davis’s-ftraits, and called it New-Dane- 
 mark, and made a miferable fettlement in N. lat. 64 D. 
 From that time they have aflumed the fovereignty of the 
 feas in Davis’s-ftraits, and keep a royal frigate ftationed 
 there during the whaling-feafon, which does not continue 
 above feven or eight weeks. 
 
 The civil wars in England prevented any further at- 
 tempts of fuch difcoveries for 1'ome time, until Prince 
 Rupert and company, anno 1667, fitted out capt. Gui- 
 lam ; he landed at Rupert-river in N. lat. 5 1 D. upon 
 the eaft continent of Hudfon’s-Bay, built Charles’s Fort, 
 traded with the Indians to good advantage, and laid a 
 foundation for the companies fur and deer-fkin trade. 
 
 A royal charter was granted May 2, anno 1669, to a 
 governor and company of adventurers of England trad- 
 ing into Hudfon’s-Bay, whereof here follows an abftraft : 
 To prince Rupert count Palatine of the Rhine, to George 
 duke of Albemarle, to William earl of Craven, and lo 
 fifteen others , and to others whom they Jhall admit into the 
 
Sect. V. Of the Hudson’s-Bay Company. 277 
 faid body corporate , power to make a common feal , and to alter 
 it ; to cbufe annually fame time in November , a governor , a 
 deputy -governor, and a committee of feven ; any three of the 
 committee , with the governor or deputy -governor, to be a court 
 of directors : freemen to be admitted ( their fablers and fervants 
 may be admitted freemen ) at a general court-, a power to dif- 
 mifs the governor, deputy- governor, or any of the committee, 
 before the year expires ; and upon their difmiffton, or death , to 
 eleEl others in their room for the remainder of the year : to have 
 the foie property of lands, trade, royal-fijhery , and mines within 
 Hudfon’s-ftraits, not actually poffejfed by any Chriftian prince: 
 to be reputed as one of our colonies in America, to be called [tf] 
 Rupert’s land: to hold the fame in free and common foccage: 
 to pay thejkins of two elks, and two black beavers, as often as 
 the king or queen Jhall come into thofe lands : power to affemble 
 the company , and to make laws for their government and other 
 affairs , not repugnant to the laws of England : an exclusive 
 trade, without leave obtained of the company, penally forfeiture 
 of goods and flipping , one half to the king, one half to the com- 
 pany. In their general meetings for every iool. original Jlo ex 
 to have one vote •, may appoint governors, factors, and other 
 officers, in any of their ports the governor and his council to 
 judge in all matters civil and criminal, and execute juft ice ac- 
 cordingly : where there is no governor and council, may fend 
 them to any place where there is a governor and council, or to 
 England, for jufiice: liberty to fend flips of war, men, and 
 ammunition for their protection, erect forts, &c. to make 
 peace or war with any people who are not Chrifian -, may 
 appeal to the king in council. 
 
 Anno 1670, Mr. Baily, with twenty men, was fent over 
 by the company to Rupert-river. Port Nelfon was the 
 next fettlement, anno 1673 •, and Mr. Bridge was fent 
 over governor of the weft main from Cape Henrietta- 
 Maria. Anno 1 683, the fadtory was removed from Ru- 
 pert-river to Moofe-river -. Rupert-river is not ufed, be- 
 caufe expofed to the depredations of the F rench ; from 
 Tadoufac thirty leagues below Quebec upon Canada- 
 
 j>] This name has never been ufed; it is called Hudfon's-Bay colony. 
 
 T 3 river. 
 
278 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 river, there is water-carriage to lake Miftafin, which com- 
 municates with Rupert-river. The trade at the mouth 
 of all the rivers which fall into Hudfon’s-Bay is fecured to 
 Great- Britain by the treaty of Utrecht ; but the heads of 
 the fouthern rivers are within the French bounds, and the 
 French have trading- houfes which very much inter- 
 cept and leften our Indian trade 1 the company do not 
 much ufe the eaft and fouth parts of the bay, becaufe of 
 the bad neighbourhood of the French. 
 
 In the fummer anno 1686, in time of peace, the French 
 from Canada became mafters of all our Hudfon’s-Bay 
 factories, port Nellon excepted. Anno 1693, the Eng- 
 lifh recovered their factories, but the French got pof- 
 feffion of them again foon after. Anno 1696, two Eng - 
 lilh men of war retook them. In Queen Anne’s wa°, 
 the French from Canada were again mafters of thefe 
 faftories ; but by the peace of Utrecht, anno 1713, the 
 French quitclaimed them to the Englifh fo far fouth as 
 49 D. N. lat. Hitherto we have not heard of any at- 
 tempt made upon them by the Canadians in this French 
 war which commenced in the 1‘pring 1744. 
 
 Mr. Dobbs reckons that this country, called Hud- 
 fon’s-Bay, may be efteemed from 51 D. to 65 D. N. lat. 
 and from 78 D. to 95 D. W. long, from London ; the 
 true definition of it is, from the treaty of Utrecht 1713 ; 
 viz. from a certain promontory on the Atlantic ocean 
 N. lat. 58 D. 30 M. runs S. W. to lake Miftafin (this 
 includes the weftern half of T erra de Labradore ) thence 
 S. W. to N. lat. 49 D. and from this termination due 
 weft indefinitely ; the northern boundary may be reckon- 
 ed Davis’s-ftraits, becaufe of the Danilh claim, and other- 
 ways north indefinitely. 
 
 The entrance of Hudfon’s-ftraits at Refolution-ifland 
 is about fifteen leagues wide ; tide flows four fathom ; 
 winds N. W. about nine months in the year ; not free of 
 ice above two months in the year ; jails and rigging freeze 
 in July ; it is 140 leagues in length to the bay : at the 
 bottom of the bay only four feet tide. Capt. Middleton, 
 
 in 
 
Sect. V. Of the Hudson’s-Bay Company. 279 
 in twenty-three voyages, never could arrive at the fa (Sto- 
 ries, above five or fix times, before the 10th of Auguft *, 
 and it is a ftanding order not to attempt coming back the 
 fame year, unlefs they can fail from the factories by Sept. 
 
 10 i it is generally pleafant weather : Middleton, in all 
 his voyages, never fuffered Shipwreck ; Auguft is the 
 proper month for the navigation of Hudfon’s-Bay and 
 ftraits ; always good foundings. 
 
 This grant is divided into the weft main or continent 
 formerly 0 in charts called New-North and South-Wales, 
 and the eaft main .called ‘Terra de Labrador e or New- 
 Britain : the French claimed the bottom of the bay as 
 belonging to New-France or Canada, but they dif- 
 claimed it by the treaty of Utrecht. 
 
 Becaufe of the unhofpitablenefs of the country, no 
 towns or plantations can ever be fettled there ; it mull 
 for ever remain a number of fcattered difmal lodges or 
 factories. Hudfon’s-Bay and Georgia are improperly 
 called colonies •, they have no houfe of reprefentatives : 
 die Hudlbn’s-Bay company in London make their laws 
 and regulations, as the truftees for Georgia in London 
 do for the fettkrs in Georgia. 
 
 Hudfon’s-Bay colony, as it is called, confifts of feveral 
 lodges at the mouths of feveral rivers for trade with the 
 Indians, viz. on the weft continent are Churchill-river, 
 NelfonVriver, Severn-river, Albany-river, and Moofe- 
 river; on the eaft continent are Rupert- river and Slude- 
 
 rlV Churchill-river(Princeof Wales* fort) is themoft north- 
 erly, being in about 59 an( ^ 94 5 ° 
 
 long, from London, the moll wefterly part of HudfonV 
 Bay ; here Capt. Middleton, anno 1 742, upon a N. W . 
 difeovery wintered miferably. At the mouth of this ri- 
 ver, the tide comes from N. b. E. two knots ; they retui n 
 about 20,000 beaver-fkins per an. the company keeps 
 here about twenty-eight men : it is navigable 150 leagues. 
 
 Nelfon’s-river (Fort York) called by the French Bour- 
 bon river j its port lies in N. lat. 57 ^ ^ nc '\ 
 
 T 4 ana 
 
 \ 
 
280 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 and largeft river in the bay •, it communicates with o-reat 
 lakes, and branches of rivers of Indian trade : tide tour- 
 teen feet ; the company have here twenty-five men. 
 
 New-Severn-river, the French called it St. Huiles, in 
 N. lat. 55 D ; it is at prefent flighted or negle&ed, a 
 barred river. 
 
 Albany-river in N. lat. 52 D. W. long. 85 D. 20 M. 
 four feet tide : from the middle of May to the middle of 
 September fine warm weather; anno 1731, 118 canoes 
 came there to trade ; the company keep here twenty-five 
 men. 
 
 Moofe-river in N. lat. 51 D. four feet tide; it is a 
 much larger and finer river than Albany-river ; the com- 
 pany have here twenty-five men. 
 
 Prince Rupert-river on the eaft fide of the bay, N. 
 lat. 51 D. is at prefent negledted. 
 
 Slude-river on the eaft fide of the bay, in N. lat. 52 
 D. here are eight or nine men kept by the company. 
 
 1 he company’s profits are very great, and engrofied 
 by a few ; their ftock has been fold at 300 for 100 ori- 
 ginal ; they may export annually about 3000 l. fterling 
 value, and their half-yearly fales are about 25,000/. 
 fterling -, eight or nine merchants have engrofied about 
 nine tenths of the ftock ; the. charge of the company is 
 about 120 fervants, two or three annual ftiips, having in 
 time of war about 120 men aboard. They import deer- 
 fkins, caftoreum or beaver-ftone, feathers, whale-bone, 
 and blubber ; but beaver-lkin is two thirds of the whole, 
 and is the ftandard of their truck or currency. 
 
 Mr. Dobbs thinks it would be a public national benefit, 
 that the Hudfon’s-Bay company’s charter were vacated, 
 and the trade laid open : thus we Ihall underfell the 
 French, and carry on a greater trade with the Indians (the 
 company keep the price of goods too high) and we fliould 
 have trading-houfes up the river ; the company have no 
 fuch trading-houfes ; the company, by their charter, are 
 obliged to endeavour a N. W. pafiage, which, on the 
 contrary, they difcourage. 
 
 As 
 
Sect. V. Of the Hudson’s-Bay Company. 281 
 As this is a country of exclufive trade and navigati on 
 we are too much confined to the accounts of their own 
 navigators. As a fpecimen, we fhall take a medium 
 voyage of Capt. Middleton’s anno 1735. He fet out 
 from London May 21, June 12, made Cape Farewell in 
 N. lat. about 59 D. W. long. 45 D. 50 M. var. 29 D. W. 
 July 1, in N. lat. 61 D. W. long. 70 D. 10 M. var. 41 
 D. W. he was fall in thick ice with fogs and rain ; 
 Auguft 3, he arrived in Moofe river, N. lat. 51 D, W. 
 long. 83 D. var. 22 D. W. he failed from thence Sept. 
 1 , makes no mention of ice in his return ; arrived in 
 England Oft. 7. As for the climate, Middleton, in the 
 journal of his N. W. difcovery-voyage anno 1741 and 
 j 742, fays, he arrived in Churchill river Auguft 10 ; firft 
 fnow was Sept. 1, geefe flying to the fouthward; Sept. 27, 
 thermometer as low as in London, time of the great froft; 
 Oft. 21, ink and water froze by the bed fide; beginning 
 of November, a bottle of fpirits full proof froze in the 
 open air: after Nov. 1 1, no going abroad without being 
 froze (N. B. forgetting himfelf, he frequently mentions 
 the company’s fervants, and Indians being abroad after 
 that time) April 2, begins to thaw in the fun; about this 
 time the ice at the fhip was ten feet thick with thirteen 
 feet fnow over the ice. April 10, large fleaks of fnow 
 (in the preceding months the falling fnow was as fine as 
 duft) a fign of the winter’s being fpent ; April 22, a 
 fhower of rain (no rain for feven months proceding) be- 
 ginning of May, geefe begin to appear ; May 1 3, got the 
 fhip into the ftream, and July 1, we failed upon the N. 
 W. difcovery ; he proceeded no farther north than 66 
 D. 44 M. becaufe the beginning of Auguft from a high 
 mountain we perceived to the S. E. at about twenty 
 leagues diftance, a ftrait covered with an impenetrable 
 folid body of ice, and therefore no communication with 
 the eaftern fea; and the tide of flood coming from 
 thence, we had no hopes of palling that way into the 
 weftern or Pacific ocean ; and Auguft 8, we bore away 
 to the fouthward. 
 
 i 
 
 In 
 
282 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 In the northern factories, the great thaws begin the end 
 of April ; the waters inland are froze up from the begin- 
 ning of October to the beginning of May. In North- 
 America we judge of the inclemencies of their feveral 
 climates, by the times of the flights of their pafiage- 
 birds : in thefe factories wild geeie and fwans fly fouth- 
 ward beginning of October, and return northward the end 
 of April, and beginning of May. Seldom a night in 
 winter without an aurora borealis. Some deer twelve to 
 thirteen hands high ; here are white bears, fwans, ducks 
 of feveral kinds, and other water-foul ; in their meadows, 
 inftead of cerealia and gramma , that is, bread corn, and 
 grafles, they have only mofs, fome fcurvy-grafs, and 
 forrel. Hares, rabits, foxes, partridges, beginning of 
 Oflober, from their native colour, become fnow-white, 
 and continue fo for fix months, till the feafon produces a 
 new coat: wind blows from the N. W. about nine 
 months in the year-, they have nine months ice and 
 fnow -, the cold fogs and mills damp the pleafure of their 
 ihort fummers. » 
 
 I formerly hinted the vail advantage that the European 
 wreftern north latitudes had of the American eaftern north 
 latitudes ; by way of amufement, I continue further to 
 obferve, that in 50 D. (for inllance) N. lat. in the N. 
 eafterly parts of America, it is as cold as in 60 D. or 
 upwards N. lat. in the N. wellerly parts of Europe ; the 
 ocean and its mellow vapour being to the windward of 
 Europe ; but a rude rigorous, chilly, frozen, and fnowy 
 continent is to the windward of the other. I vouch this 
 by a few inftances. 1. From Churchill-river fort there 
 was no going abroad without being frozen in winter ; from • 
 Torneo in Lapland, anno 1736, nearly under the polar 
 circle, to inveftigate the length of a degree of latitude 
 there, the French academiciens in the feverity of the win- 
 ter, were fixty-three days in the del'ert, procuring a com- 
 plete fet of triangles. 2. The bottom of Hudfon’s-Bay 
 is fcarce habitable in winter, though fcarce fo far north 
 as London ; a moll agreeable caelum or air. 3. In the 
 
 Orkneys 
 
Sect. V. Of the Hudson’s-Bay Company. 2S3 
 
 Orkneys (where the Hudlbn’s-Bay fhips call in to hire 
 men and boys at 5 to 20 /. fterling per annum, according 
 to the years of their indented continuance -, they are called 
 N. W. men) there is good wintering-, barley, peafe, and 
 oats, cabbages, other pot-herbs, and uiual roots, grow 
 kindly ; not much fnow and ice 3 Orkneys is a little horth 
 of Churchill river. 
 
 Capt. Middletoh [/], in his too mihute journals of his 
 many voyages from England to Hudfon s-Bay , obierved, 
 that in Hudfon’s-Bay, in the fame longitudes from Lon- 
 don, in failing north, the variations increafe fafter than 
 in any known part of the earth 3 for inftance, in one of 
 his voyages he obferved, that in about 84 D. W. long, 
 from London, the variations increafe thus : 
 
 In N. lat. 50 D. variation was 19 D. W. 
 
 55 
 
 25 
 
 6 1 
 
 30 
 
 62 
 
 40 
 
 Capt. Scrogs, anno 1722 (who had Mr. Norton late 
 governor of Churchill fort aboard, with two noi thern In- 
 dians to difeover the t+iuch enquired after copoer-mines) 
 traded with the Indians tor whale-bone, at Whale-bone 
 point in N. lat. 65 D. Here the tide flowed five fathom. 
 
 A. digrefion giving fotne further accounts of late endeavours 
 towards a north-weft pafjage to China. 
 
 A passage by the north-weftward or Davis’s-ftraits 
 feems to be given up or relinquifhed by all European 
 adventurers ; but the paflage by the foutherly branch, 
 or Hudfon’s-Bay, is ftill in profecution. The Britifh par- 
 liament lately enacted a reward of 20,000 /. fterling, to the 
 dilcoverer, if from Hudlon’s-Bay. Upon this encourage- 
 ment, the Dobbs-galley and California, as a piivate ad- 
 venture, failed from England May 1746 -, in our know- 
 
 [/] Thefe are not defigned as drift diffly comefted hidorical ac- 
 counts, but as loofe occafional obfervations, in fome manner reduced 
 under general heads ; therefore although we have already made a di- 
 greffion concerning variations, this may be admitted. 
 
 ledge, 
 
284 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 ledge, they are not as yet returned to England. Their 
 original propofal was to fail eaftward to the Eaft-Indies and 
 China (but there is no aft of parliament to indemnify 
 them, in a trefpafs upon the exclufive navigation granted 
 to the Eaft- India company in thefe feas, by charter and 
 aft of parliament) and from the eaftward to fail to the 
 northward of California, and from thence to endeavour 
 an eafterly paflage to Davis’s-ftraits or Hudfon’s-Bay. 
 
 The laft tentative for a N. W. paflage was by Capt. 
 Middleton from Hudfon’s-Bay, anno 1 74 1 and 1 742, ac- 
 cording to order and inftrudions from the lords of the 
 admiralty May 20, anno 1741 : there was nooccafion for 
 his wintering in Hudfon’s-Bay, before he fet out upon 
 the difcovery ; he fhould have failed from England, fo 
 as to arrive in Hudfon’s-Bay in the middle of July ; 
 pufh the difcovery, in the month of Auguft, and return 
 in September. 
 
 A fhort abftraft of his difcovery -journal is, we failed 
 from Churchill-river July 1, in N. lat. 65 D. 10 M. E. 
 long, from Churchill-river 9 D. we doubled a head-land, 
 and called it Cape Dobbs ; and the following opening, 
 we called Wager- river ; tide five or fix knots from the 
 eaft, and full of ice ; Efkimaux Indians came aboard, 
 but had no trade : proceeding farther north, we doubled 
 another head-land, and called it Cape-Hope ; and failing 
 farther to N. lat. 67 D. E. from Churchill fort 12 D. 20 
 M. from the mountains we faw a narrow dangerous ftrait 
 frozen over, and no probability of its being clear this 
 year, deep water, no anchorage ; being afraid of freezing 
 up, we returned to N. lat. 64 D. here were many whale- 
 bone whales; we examined all along to N. lat. 62 D. tide 
 from the eaftward : Auguft 1 5, we bore away for Eng- 
 land ; and Sept. 1 5, we arrived at Kerfton in the Orkneys. 
 
 I fhall by way of amufement mention the arguments 
 ufed on both fides of the queftion, in favour of, and in 
 prejudice againft, a N. W. paflage to China. 
 
 In favour of a N. W. paflage. 1. The whales found 
 in plenty on the weft fide of Hudfon’s Bay ; as there is 
 
 no 
 
Sect. V. Of the Hudson’s-Bay Company. 285 
 
 no mention of whales in Hudfon’s-ftraits, they do not 
 come that way ; they cannot come from Davis’s-ftraits by 
 the frozen ftraits of Middleton, becaufe of a wide and 
 large field of ice •, whales cannot pafs under a large traCt 
 of ice, they cannot live without blowing at times in the 
 open air •, therefore thele whales muft come from the 
 weftern or Pacific ocean, by fome ftraits or thorough-fare 
 in Hudfon’s-Bay : it is more probable that the great 
 whales in Davis’s-ftraits, when the fea there begins to be 
 froze up, pafs into the oceart, or deeper water, becaufe 
 warmer : thus the cod-fifti upon the coaft of New- 
 England in very cold winters retire into deep water. Mn 
 Dobbs affirms, that Middleton faw no whales near Cape 
 Hope, or the frozen ftraits ) he judges the frozen ftraits 
 to be only a chimrera •, therefore the whales in Button’s* 
 Bay muft come from the weftward. 2. Wager-river, 
 where was Middleton’s principal enquiry, in N. lat. 65 
 D 24 m. W. long. 88 D. 37 M. from feven miles wide 
 at its entrance, farther up increafed to eight leagues wide, 
 and from fourteeen to eighty fathom water, and whales 
 were feen twenty miles up the river. Dobbs conjectures 
 that thefe whales came from the weftern ocean, by fome 
 ftrait or pafiage fouth of Wager-river, from N. lat. 65 
 D. to 62 D. Here it is where the Efkimaux Indians fol- 
 low whaling, and traded with capt. Scrogs, anno 1722. 
 3. Middleton, from fome undue influence, did not well 
 lrifpeCt the coaft, where the greateft probability was of a 
 a paflage defignedly he kept too great an offing, and 
 delcryed pretended land and mountains in the clouds 
 concluding there were no thorough- fares, he did not fend 
 his boats affiore to try for inlets. Fox, anno 1632, tail- 
 ing upon this coaft, law much broken land and iflands, 
 and plenty of whales at the end of July. 4. Middleton s 
 officers faid, that the tide was three hours fooner at the 
 mouth of Wager-river than at cape Frigid •, therefore 
 the tide did not come from the frozen ftraits and Baffin’s- 
 Bay eaftward, but from fome ftraits weftward •, the fame 
 
 mal-content officers allured Mr. Dobbs, that the higher 
 
 up 
 
286 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 up Wager-river, the water became the falter, and the 
 flood was from W. S. W. Middleton fays the tide came 
 from north-eaflerly. 
 
 To evince the impraCticablenefs of a N. W. paffage 
 i . The French, very inquifnive and mindful of their in- 
 tereft, feem to give up any profpeft of this pafoe, be- 
 came, by the treaty of Utrecht, they readily renounced for 
 ever to Great-Britain the foie and exclufive benefit of a 
 N. W. paflage to China from Hudfon’s-Bay or Davis’s- 
 ftraits, when dilcovered. 2. The whales on the weft fide 
 of Hudfgn’s-Bay, by the frozen fonts, came from Davis’s- 
 ftraits, where they are plenty. 3. Middleton fays fwe 
 connotanfwer for his vouchers) that Indian travellers have 
 gone by land from Churchill-river, as high as the arCtic 
 circle, but met with no thorough- fares ; his northern In- 
 dians, which he took on board in Churchill-river, were 
 chiefly defigned to Ihew him the copper-mines. 4. The 
 farther up Wager-river, the tides rife lefs ; the water 
 from fait becomes brackifh, and the higher the more frelh. 
 
 5. Middleton writes, that from his own experience, there 
 is no thorough-fare from Churchill-river in N. lat 59 D. 
 to N. lat. 67 D. ; and farther north, if there be any 
 foils or thorough-fare, it cannot be clear of ice (if ever 
 clear) above a week or two in the year, and therefore 
 impracticable : from the river Wager to N. lat. 62 D. 
 he flood into every bay and fearched the coaft narrowly. 
 
 6 . As the winds there are generally from the N. W. 
 And exceflively cold, there muft be a long continued or 
 connected traCt of land weftward, covered with perpetual 
 fnow and ice, and therefore impracticable. Moreover, 
 if there is any fuch ftrait, it is narrow and long ; the ad- 
 venturers would run a certain rilk of being froze up and 
 Af perilhing. 
 
 SECT. 
 
i$7 
 
 Sect. VI. Of Newfoundland. 
 
 SECT. VI. 
 
 Concerning the ijlani of Newfoundland, and its Cod- 
 
 Fifhery. 
 
 T H I S is a fifliery of longer (landing, than are any of 
 our colony or plantation lettlements •, it is no colo- 
 ny, it is not confined to any patent or exclufive company, 
 
 but is an open general Britilh cod-filhery, confiding of 
 many lodges, or commodious harbours for curing of cod- 
 fifh, for the Spanifh, Fortugueze, and Italian markets. 
 
 Our [g] claims of difeovery, not occupancy, run fo high 
 as the times of the Cabots coading along the eallem (horc 
 
 IV] The Cod-filhery profitable and fufficient to fupply many and 
 lar^e markets, is peculiar to Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and New- 
 England : a monopoly of this fifhery in thefe Teas, to be called a 
 Mare claufum, would be a vaft advantage to the trade and navigation 
 of Great-Britain, if it could be obtained at the enfuing congrefs for a 
 general peace amongft the dates in Europe t it is true, the French and 
 Spaniards have a confiderable claim to fome intereft in the New-found- 
 land Cod-filhery, becaufe the Guipufcoans of Spain, and the Bayonncrs 
 of France were contemporary, it not more early in that filhery than 
 England. By the treaty of Utrecht, the Guipufcoans, and the other 
 fubjefts of Spain, were allowed their claimed privilege of fiftimgat the 
 ifland of Newfoundland : by the fame treaty the French were allowed 
 to filh, and cure their fifh on that part of Newfoundland from Cape 
 Bonavifta, N. lat. 49 D. 30 M. to the northermoft part of the ifland 
 in N. lat. $ 1 D. 30 M. and from thence running down by the weftern 
 fide to Point-Riche in N. lat. 50 D. 30 M. by the cod-fifli being more 
 plenty, and by falling in nearer the Ihore. the Cod-filhery of the north 
 part of the ifland feems to be more profitable than upon the fouthcrc 
 harbours of the ifland ; by this conccflion before the war, anno 1744, 
 the French had the better of us in the Cod-filhery trade King 
 Charles I, bubbled by the French, gave them a liberty of filhingand 
 curing filh in Newfoundland, upon the filly i**etext of fupplying an 
 Englilh convent in France with filh. . 
 
 This Cod-filhery is not only a confiderable addition to the trade and 
 wealth of Great-Britain ; but by the many men employed in catching 
 and curing of the cod -filh, is a . good nurfery for our navy and other 
 navigation (the plantation-trade, the fiiliery of Newfoundland, the 
 coal trade of NewcafUe, and the watermen upon the river of Thames, 
 are the great nurferies or feminaries of our navigation) if the French 
 could by treaty be excluded from this fiibery, it would contract their 
 navigation-leminary very much. Canada docs not increaie their na*^ 
 
iSS British Settlements in America. Part 11 , 
 
 of North- America upon a N. W. difcovery, and their 
 taking pofieffion for the crown of England, from place 
 to place ; they fettled no fifhery there, but gave it the 
 name, anno 1507, of Terra deBaccaleos with good pro- 
 priety, that is, cod-fifh land-, the French called it, Terre 
 Neuve , we retain their name, and call it Newfoundland. 
 
 Secretary Walfingham, anno 1 583 (about this time all 
 the trading nations of Europe were intenle upon a N. W. 
 pallage to China, and the Eaft-Indies) being informed of 
 a wefterly opening north of North-Virginia (the prefent 
 Nova Scotia) ienc out Sir Humphrey Gilbert, a gentle- 
 man of eftate upon the difcovery ; this gentleman failed 
 tip the gulph, and fome part of the river St. Laurence ; 
 and in form took pofieffion of Newfoundland and Canada 
 for the crown of England; he fettled a fifhery at New- 
 foundland, but being caft away upon his return to Eng- 
 land, the fifhery was foon relinquished ; but profecuted by 
 the French, Spaniards, and Portugueze. 
 
 Anno 1608, this fifhery was again undertaken by John 
 Guay of Briftol merchant feveral Englifhmen, women, 
 and children wintered there, anno 1613, 
 
 Anno 1610, king James gave to the earl of Southamp- 
 ton lord-keeper, and others, a grant from Bonavifta to 
 Cape St. Mary W. of Cape Raze ; fome families were 
 fent over ; it did not anfwer, they returned to England. 
 
 Anno 1620, or 1623, Sir George Calvert, principal 
 Secretary of ftate, afterwards lord Baltimore, obtained a 
 patent for fome part of Newfoundland, from the bay of 
 Bulls to Cape St. Mary’s -, he fettled a fort and planta- 
 tion at Fairyland ; but in the time of the troubles in the 
 civil war of England, it was discontinued, and was outed 
 by Sir David Kirk. Anno 1654, having retained fome 
 claim until that time, lord Baltimore, a zealous Roman 
 catholic, came abroad (as the firft fettlers of New- Eng- 
 land did in their religion way) to enjoy the free exercife of 
 
 vigation much; their trade employs a very fmall inconfiderable number 
 of ve/Tels ; their inland fur and fkins bufinefs is managed by a few 
 French Cuureurs des Bois , and Indians called Les Homines des Bois ; there- 
 fore Canada cannot people fall. 
 
 his 
 
 
Sect. VI. Of Newfoundland. 289 
 
 his religion in quiet : from Newfoundland he removed to 
 Virginia ; but the Virginians being as zealous for the 
 church of England way, as he was for the church of Rome 
 way, he became uneafy, and went farther up the bay of 
 Chefepeak above the Virginian fettlemeots ; and after- 
 wards obtained a moft beneficial patent of thole lands 
 now called Maryland, which the family enjoy to this day j 
 at prefent this family is Chriftian proteftant. 
 
 The French made a fettlement at Placentia in the fouth 
 part of the illand where the cod-fifii firft fet in yearly ; 
 this was relinquilhed to Great-Britain by the treaty of 
 Utrecht, anno 1713, and, by way of equivalent, the 
 French had given to them the iflands of Cape Breton, 
 and all the other illands in the gulph of St. Laurence, 
 and liberty to catch and cure fifh in the northern harbours 
 of Newfoundland: the French pretend, that they have 
 had a conftant fifhery at Newfoundland ever fince it was 
 taken pofiefiion of, for Francis I, king of France, by 
 Verazano a Florentine. In Cromwell’s time Sir David 
 Kirk’s family refided fome years in Newfoundland •, he 
 invaded Canada feveral times, and had a grant of lands 
 north of St. Laurence-river, called Canada : but king 
 Charles II, always more in the French intereft (kings 
 may be bought to betray their own countries intereft) 
 than in that of Great-Britain, quit-claimed Canada, as 
 alfo Placentia, St. Peter’s, &c. of Newfoundland in the 
 gulph of St. Laurence, to the French. 
 
 The Englifh have been for a long time in the ufe of 
 this fifhery. Anno 1 545, there was an a< 5 t of the Englifli 
 parliament, for encouragement to the Englifh merchants 
 trading to Newfoundland: the firft family fettlements 
 with continuance feem to have been anno 1610. At pre- 
 fent there are nine or ten fettlements called harbours, not 
 towns, where they cure and fhip off their dry cod-fifh : 
 at this writing anno 17^8, there are about 4000 people 
 winter there •, they fifh and cure fifh from May to Octo- 
 ber j the fifhery is generally off the mouths of their har- 
 bours v they do not fiih much upon the banks. 
 
 Vol. J. U M. Beilin 
 
290 British Settlements in America. Part IL 
 
 M. Beilin fays, that from good obfervations Cape 
 Raze, its fouthermoft, point lies in N. lat. 46 D. 50 M. 
 Its northermoft land in the ftraits of Belle Ifle, lies in N. 
 lat. 51 D. 30 M. its greateft breadth (the ifland rel'em- 
 bles an ifofceles triangle) or bafe is from Cape Raze to 
 Cape Raye about eighty leagues. From the northern 
 part of Cape Breton ifland, or St. Paul, are fifteen leagues 
 to Cape Raze, or rather Cape Sud, the entrance of the 
 gulph of St. Laurence : the north cape of Breton ifland 
 lies in N. lat. 47 D. 5 M. 
 
 The great bank of Newfoundland lies from N. lat. 41 
 D. to 49 D. and ninety leagues from E. to W. difiance 
 from Cape Raze about thirty-five leagues. 
 
 As to the regulations, difcipline, or ceconomy of New- 
 foundland, differences amongft the fifhermen of the fe- 
 veral harbours, are at firft inftance determined by the ad- 
 mirals fo called, being the firft fhip matters who arrive 
 for the feafon in the refpe&ive harbours. From this judg- 
 ment, an appeal lies to the commodore of the king’s Rati- 
 oned fhips, who determines in equity. Felonies in New- 
 foundland are not triable there, but in any county of 
 Great-Britain. Newfoundland having no legiflative af- 
 fembly or reprelentative of the debtors of the country, 
 their currency is not perverted but continues at a fterling 
 value. At prefent the commodore of the king’s fhips 
 Rationed for the protection of the fifhery of Newfound- 
 land, is governor of Newfoundland, during his conti- 
 nuance there, by the title of governor and commodore in 
 chief of Newfoundland, and of the forts and garrifons 
 there. There are alfo lieutenant-governors of the forts of 
 Placentia and St. John’s, at 10 s. fterling per day. As we 
 hinted, the mafter of the veflel who firlt arrives in the fe- 
 veral harbours, is called admiral of that harbour, and acts 
 as a magiftrate, and is called lord of the harbour. 
 
 The [ h~\ annual quantity of cod-filh fhipped off by Bri- 
 tilh fubjefts from Newfoundland is various, from 100,000 
 
 [7] The eftimates in a late pamphlet, called, 77* Importance of Cafe 
 Breton confute red, are too much at random, and erroneous. 
 
 quintals 
 
Sect. VI. Of Newfoundland.' 291 
 
 quintals to 300,000 quintals ; generally they make clou* 
 ble the quantity in proportion to what is made In New* 
 England. 
 
 Capt. Smith, a man of credit, writes, anno 1623, that 
 there filhed upon the coaft of Newfoundland yearly 
 about 250 fail of Englifh vefiels, at a medium of fixty 
 tons, and returned the value of 135,000/. fterling an- 
 nually : their method of fharing at that time, was one 
 third to the owners, one third for victualling, and one 
 third to the fhip’s company. 
 
 The commodore of the king’s fhips at Newfoundland, 
 when the fi thing feafon is over, receives from each har- 
 bour a report in diftinCt columns. I fhall inftance the 
 year 1701, being in time of peace, a medium year, and 
 the accounts the molt diftinCt. 
 
 The ftate of Newfoundland, anno 170 1 . 
 
 Number of fhips, fifhers, 75 
 
 Sacks or purchalers 46 
 
 Burthen of faid (hips 799 1 tons 
 
 Number of men belonging the faid fhips 
 
 Number of fifhing fhips boats 338 
 
 Number of inhabitants boats 558 
 
 Number of by-boats 97 
 
 Quantity of fifh made by fhips 79 ^ 2 ° 
 
 Quantity of Hfh made by inhabitants 1 36,500 quint. 
 Q. of train or liver oil made by fhips 1264 hhds. 
 Train or liver oil made by inhabitants 2534 hhds; 
 Number of ftages 544 
 
 Number of men 461 
 
 Number of women 166 
 
 Number of children 256 
 
 Number of lervants 2698 
 
 Anno 1716, exported to Spain, Portugal, and Italy 
 106,952 quintals. 
 
 The fifh fhipped off from the feveral harbours : I fhall 
 inftance a year of fmall fifhery. 
 
 U 2 Anno 
 
British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 Anno 1724, were fhipped off 
 From the harbours 
 St. Peter’s and Placentia 
 Trepaffay 
 Formoofe 
 Renufe 
 St. John’s 
 Conception-Bay 
 Trinity 
 Bona Vifta 
 Fairyland 
 Bay of Bulls 
 
 N° veffels 
 
 Quantity of filh 
 
 2 
 
 3500 quint. 
 
 3 
 
 3700 
 
 2 
 
 33 °° 
 
 1 
 
 1200 
 
 20 
 
 37,000 
 
 4 
 
 11,000 
 
 5 
 
 1 1,200 
 
 1 
 
 4000 
 
 U 
 
 29,000 
 
 4 
 
 7000 
 
 59 
 
 1 1 1,100 
 Newfoundland 
 
 \ off from 
 
 about 200,000 quintals •, laft year, being anno 1747, 
 were exported fomewhat more. 
 
 In Newfoundland they reckon, when well filhed, 200 
 quintals to the inhabitants boat or lhallop, and 500 
 quintals to a banker. 
 
 The liberty allowed by the treaty of Utrecht to the 
 French, for filhing and curing of filh in the northern 
 parts of Newfoundland, abridges us of an exclufive navi- 
 gation, fuch as the French fully enjoy. By an editt anno 
 1727 (by virtue of the 5th and 6th articles of peace and 
 neutrality in America, concluded Nov. 6, anno 1686) 
 it is peremptorily declared, that all Englilh veffels failing 
 within a league of the fhores of any French ifland, (halt 
 be feized and confifcated, without any other proof ot 
 trade. St. Malo and Granville are the principal French 
 cod-filhery in North- America •, there are iome from St. 
 Jean de Luz, Bayonne, and N antes. Before Cape Breton 
 lately fell into the pofleffion of Great-Britain, the French 
 bankers, when long out, went to water and refrefh at Cape 
 Breton. 
 
 Four to five thoufand Newfoundland frefh cod-fifh 
 are reckoned to make one hundred quintals of well cured 
 dry cod, or three quintals wet filh make one dry. The 
 
 livers 
 
Sect'. VI. Of Newfoundland. 293 
 
 livers from 100 quintals dry cod, afford about one 
 hogfhead, or fixty gallons of liver oil. After the fifh are 
 headed, boned, fplit, and faked, the fhoremen deliver 
 one half the weight ; the overplus goes for their labour. 
 
 The cod-fifh annually appear firft at St. Peter’s and 
 Placentia in May, and thence proceed northward along 
 Ihore to St. John’s, Trinity, £s?c. and in autumn are fifhed 
 by the French in the north parts of Newfoundland. Cod 
 follow the bait fifh, as they appear near the fhore fuccef- 
 fively during the fifhing feafon ; firft are the caplin, next 
 come the fquid ; the herrings take their courfe in Au- 
 tumn-, at other times a mufcle is their bait. 
 
 Their fifh-fhips are diftinguilhed into fifhing-fhips, 
 which by their own boats and men catch and cure their 
 fifh-cargoes ; and fack-lhips, which purchafe their fifh 
 from the inhabitants. 
 
 The foil is rocks and mountains [/] inhofpitable ; 
 their trees are pine, fir called fpruce [£], and birch i 
 ftrawberries and ralpberries here are good and plenty. 
 In Newfoundland there are no land-eftates ; but many 
 of their falmon ftreams or falls belong to patentees. In 
 the winter, they make feal-oil, and fave their fkins. 
 The great iflands of ice, which appear upon or near the 
 banks of Newfoundland, come from Davis’s-ftraits. 
 
 Goods imported to Newfoundland and confirmed there, 
 are only fait, bread, flour, rum, and molaffes, payable 
 either in fifh as the price fhall break, which is generally 
 at 10 s. fterling per quintal, or in bills of exchange upon 
 Great- Britain ; thele bills of exchange are from the lack 
 fhips, who purchafe their fifh or cargo from the inha- 
 bitants by bills : bills purchafe thefe goods cheaper, 
 than the fifh truck, becaufe the fifhermen impofe any fifh 
 in pay. 
 
 The feveral bickerings that have happened in New- 
 foundland between the Britifh and French, cannot be re- 
 
 [/] No flepping, no wheel- carriages; their fire-wood is carried fome 
 jniles upon men’s fhoulders. 
 
 [4J Spruce-leaves and buds decocted in place of hops, make an 
 •agreeable beex or drink, aud is efteemed good in the feurvy. 
 
 U 3 hearfed 
 
294 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 hearfed minutely in a fummary, we fhall only mention 
 a few. Anno 1 704, Auguft 1 8, about 140 French and 
 Indians, in two (loops from Placentia, land in Bonavifte 
 harbour, and burn four veflels -, anno 1705, in the 
 winter, M, Subercafle governor of Placentia, afterwards 
 governor of Nova Scotia, with 550 foldiers and inhabi- 
 tants of Placentia, and from Canada with fome Indians, 
 ranfacks all the fouthern fettlements in a few days, car- 
 rying awayi4o priioners; laid Confumption-Bay, Trinity, 
 and Bonavifte under contributions, having burnt their 
 ftages and craft ; they befieged the fort of St. John’s 
 (capt. Moody and forty foldiers in garrifon) five weeks in 
 vain ; St. John’s is the principal Britifh filhery fettlement 
 in Newfoundland ; anno 1710, the garrifon of St. John’s 
 was reinforced by two companies of marines. 
 
 Placentia was quit-claimed by France to Great -Britain ; 
 and anno 1 7 1 4, J une 1 , col, Moody being appointed 
 lieutenant-governor of Placentia, received poflefiion from 
 M. Caftabella, who fucceeded M. Subercafle as governor 
 of Placentia anno 1706, when Subercafle was removed to 
 the governor of L’Accadie or Nova Scotia-, this Cafta- 
 bella, was made governor of Cape Breton iflands, and 
 continued in that government many years. Anno 1719, 
 col. Gladhill was appointed lieutenant-governor of Pla- 
 centia in place of col. Moody. At prefent anno 1 748, the 
 lieutenant- governor of Placentia is major Hamilton ; and 
 the lieutenant-governor of St. John’s is capt. Bradftreet. 
 
 The following accounts of fifheries fall in naturally 
 with this feftion, and carry along with it fome account 
 of the New-England fifhery. 
 
 A Digrejfion concerning fifoeries. 
 
 THE principal and moft extenfive branches of filhery 
 in commerce, are 1. Whaling, which is in common to all 
 maritime nations, but followed to beft advantage by the 
 Dutch ; it is called the great fifhery, as herrings and cod 
 filhing are called thefmall fifheries. 2. Herrings; of thefe 
 the Dutch alfo make the moft gain, although the only 
 
 herring 
 
Sect. VI. 0 / Newfoundland. 295 
 
 herring fiihery known to us, of quantity and quality, 
 iufficient and proper for the markets, is confined to the 
 Britifii fea, which is a Mare claufum , and in all refpe&s 
 is the Britifh peculiar property, excepting that it is a natu- 
 ral thoroughfare or high way to all nations in their out- 
 ward bound and inward bound voyages; and Great-Bri- 
 tain, with greater propriety., may be called Herrings 
 ifland, than Newfoundland called Terra de Baccaleos. 
 The Dutch, in the reign of Charles I, agreed to pay an- 
 nually to Great Britain, 30,000 /. fterling for licence or 
 liberty of filhing for herrings upon the coall of Great- 
 Britain •, they paid only for one year, 1636, and no more; 
 Cromwell, in his Declaration of war agamlt the Dutch, 
 made a demand of the arrears of this licence money (at 
 the fame time he infilled upon fatisfaftion for the 
 Amboy na affair) but the principal differences which 
 occafioned the war being foon accommodated, thefe de- 
 mantis were dropped. 3 - Cod-Mi. The European 
 north fea cod, the cod from the banks of Holland and 
 coaft of Ireland are much fupenor in quality to the 
 American cod; but in no degree adequate to the Spa- 
 nifh, Portugueze, and Italian markets ; the cod hfhery 
 to fupply markets, is peculiar to Newfoundland, Nova 
 Scotia, and New-England. If Great- Britain, pending 
 this French war, continue with luccefs to reduce the 
 French trade and- colonies, we may give the law • and 
 have Newfoundland, the Hands in thegulph of St Lau- 
 rence Nova Scotia, and New-England, confirmed to us 
 in perpetuity; with an exclufive trade and navigation 
 
 upon the coalts thereof to the extent ieaward of - 
 
 leagues ; thus we ft all have the monopoly of the cod 
 filherv. At a low {late, we can afford at a medium 
 300,000 quintals per annum , whereof Bilboa, the dry 
 cod fiihery barcadier, takes off from 70,000 to 80,000 
 quintals per annum.. , to fupply Madrid, and fome other in- 
 land countries of Spain. j . 
 
 To render thele accounts diflin£l, I ftall reduce them 
 to five heads. .. The Whale-filhery. a. Hernng- 
 
2$6 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 fifhcry. 3. Cod-fifhery. 4. The fmaller fiflieries ex- 
 portable, but of no great account. And, 5. Some fiffi 
 not exportable or merchantable, but of great benefit in 
 prefent lpending, efpecially for the poor. 
 
 1. Whales. See a digreffion concerning whaling, 
 p. 56. We fhall further add the following remarks: 
 Whales, that is the true or bone whales go fouthward 
 (they are pafTengers according to the feafons) towards 
 ^winter, and return northward in the fpring. Formerly, 
 in New-England Cape-cod embayed them, but being 
 much diflurbed (they feem to have fome degree of rea- 
 fon) they keep a good offing. The fmaller whales, viz. 
 iperma-ceti, fin-backs, hump-backs, &c. which ne- 
 ver go far to the northward, but ftroll confiderably fouth- 
 ward, are apt to flrand upon the ffioals of North-Caro- 
 lina and Bahama banks : they become drift whales, and 
 fome afford drift fperma-ceti. In their paffages nordi 
 and fouth, having kept an offing to the banks, though 
 they were incommoded by the whale-fiffiers ; at prefent 
 in their paffages they keep deep water-, and upon a peace 
 the whalers are to fifli for them in deep water. 
 
 New-England whaling at prefent is by whaling floops 
 or fchooners with two whale-boats and thirteen men; 
 each boat has an harpooner, a fleerfman, and four rowers : 
 the whale-boats do not ufe thaughts, but noofes for their 
 oars, upon account of expedition ; becaufe only by let- 
 ting go their oars, without loofing of them, they: keep 
 expeditioufly long fide of the whale. The beft place of 
 flriking a whale is in her belly, about one third from 
 her gills ; the faft is a rope of about twenty-five fathom ; 
 then a drudge or flop-water, a plank of about two feet 
 fquare, with a flick through its center ; to the further 
 end of this flick, is faflened a tow-rope, called the drudge 
 rope, of about fifteen fathom ; they lance, after having 
 faflened her by the harpoon, till dead. 
 
 The New-England whalers reckon fo many ct. wt. 
 bone, as bone is feet long : for inflance, feven foot bone 
 gives 700 wt. bone : New-England bone fcarce ever ex- 
 ceeds 
 
Sect. VI. Of Newfoundland. 297 
 
 ceeds nine feet ; and 100 barrels of oil is fuppofed to yield 
 1000 wt. of bone : whales killed in deep water, if they 
 fink, never rife again. 
 
 Sperma-ceti, whales do not go far north •, they are 
 gregarious, or in Ihoals ; they go fouthward to the Ba- 
 hama iflands in Oftober, and return in the lpring : moft 
 of the Bermudas whales are fin-backs, twenty to thirty 
 per annum caught. 
 
 A whale ftranded back off Cape-Cod, yielded 1 34 bar- 
 rels oil, and — wt. of bone; this whale was fofat, that, 
 fome poor people tried the mufcular fleih, and made thirty 
 barrels more of oil. In New-England whaling, they go 
 upon fhares, one quartet to the vellel or owners, the reft 
 to the company, finding themfelves vidualling and whal- 
 ing geer. The whalers in deep water, or at a confider- 
 able diftance from Nantucket, fit out in the beginning 
 and middle of March. Third week of July, anno 1 738, 
 arrived our whalers from Davis’s-ftraits. The New- 
 England true whale is the fame with the European North- 
 cape whales, are not eafily killed, being agile and very 
 wild •, the Dutch do not fifh them. Sperma-ceti whales 
 do not go far north, they pal's by New-England in 
 Oftober, and return in the lpring. Grampus’s, bottle- 
 nofes, and the other fmall cetaceous kind are called black 
 fifh. 
 
 It is not eafily to be accounted for, that whales do not 
 in courfe of years become fcarcer, confidering the con- 
 tinued great flaughter of them by the whaling nations ; 
 they bring only one calf at a time after many months 
 geftation, whereas other fifh lpawn multitudes. 
 
 ° Fifh-oil is, 1. That from the true or whale-bone 
 whale, and the other large whales. 2. Yitious oil from 
 the fperma-ceti whales. 3. Black filh oil from gram- 
 pus’s bottle- nofes, porpus’s, &c. of the fmall cetaceous 
 kind. 4. Liver-oil from the livers of lundry fiQies, 
 efpecially of cod- filli. 5. That from the blubber or 
 penicula adipofa of feals and fea-cows. There are two 
 forts of feals ; one fort has its ikin dappled or in fmall 
 
 fpots ; 
 
298 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 fpots the other fort called the Ice-feal, hath a large black 
 patch, runs flow, and is killed by a fmall blow on the 
 head •, 500 have been killed in a harbour at Newfound- 
 land in a morning : the fkins and blubber is their mer- 
 cantile produce. The fea-cow or morfe is plenty upon 
 the coafts of Nova Scotia and the gulph of St. Laurence, 
 particularly at the ifland of St. John’s \ it is of the big- 
 nefs of a middling cow (it is not the fame with the 
 manatee of the gulph of Mexico) a very thick fkin with 
 hair like that of a feal. 
 
 In cold winters the whales, as do other filh, keep in 
 deep water. The New-England people whale with a 
 drudge or flop-water, not with long ropes or warps as 
 the Hollanders. Upon the coaft of New-England, 
 whales go northward from the middle of March to the 
 middle of May. About thirty years ago, communibus 
 amis, were exported from New-England about 5000 
 barrels of filh-oil ; at this writing, anno 1 748, about 
 10,000 barrels, notwithftanding the whales keeping a 
 greater offing. 
 
 2. Herrincs. In this tribe of fifhes there are many 
 fpecies or diftindt kinds, viz. The fhadd, the true her- 
 ring, the alewife, the Sardinia, the anchovie, ( 3 c. In 
 this article, I write only of the true or merchantable 
 herring ; in good quality and large quantities, they feem 
 peculiar to the coafts of the Britifh iflands, and I fhall in 
 the firft place mention thefe as a ftandard. 
 
 Upon the coafts of Great-Britain, herrings make their 
 firft appearance northward (at the Weftern Iflands of 
 Scotland they appear in the fpring) as it is commonly 
 faid, at the [/] Shetland iflands in N. lat. 61 D. beginning 
 
 [/] Shetland iflands are the ultima Thule of the ancients : in the win- 
 ter the Teas are open, but harrafled with continued itorms, io as to 
 have no communication with the other parts of the earth. The Dutch 
 Eaft-India (hips, by a (landing order, always return between the Ork- 
 ney and Shetland iflands. In Shetland their mother or indigenous 
 tongue or language is N or fe or Norwegian ; it was originally a Danilh 
 property , and, upon king James VI of Scotland marrying a daughter 
 
Sect. VI. Of Newfoundland. 2 99 
 
 of Tune •, by cuftom the Hollanders do not begin tofifh 
 until [w] June 24, and return to Holland in Au S l ' ft and 
 September : 2000 buffes (a pink-fterned catch of about 
 forty to fifty ton) have atone time fiflred in Braffa found, 
 about Midiummer herrings are in the greateft perfection. 
 
 It is faid, they come from the northern deep waters (we 
 hear of no herrings about Iceland under the Northern 
 Polar Circle •, a cod-fifhery has been attempted there* 
 but turns to no good account) in a large body or fiioal, 
 and meeting with the ifiands of Great-Britain, this ftioal 
 is fplit •, one part or wing takes along the eaftern more, 
 and make in fuccefiively into all the 1 -riths of Scotland* 
 more elpecially in Auguft to the Frith of Forth at Dun- 
 bar and Fife Side: their next great appearance is at 
 Yarmouth roads upon the coaft of England, wheie t e 
 Dutch prefume again to fi(h for them* thence to the 
 mouth of the river Thames, and thence to the Southern 
 and weftern parts of England. At Ilfracombe, N la 
 ci D. 10 m. within the mouth of the Severn river, aaout 
 two leagues to fea, they fi(h herrings from Michaelmas to 
 Chriftmas, and make from 10,000 to 12,000 barrels^ 
 annum. In the autumn the herrings fpawn, become lank 
 or lean, and are only fit for being cured by imoaking, 
 called red herrings ; it is imagined that foon after ipawn- 
 in<r, they difappear in deep water fouth of the Bntilh 
 Hands: the weftern fhoal or wing of this great body, 
 
 pafs amongft the Lewis’s or [»] Scots weftern Hands ; 
 
 tnence this part of body of herrings fubdivides when they 
 meet with Ireland * one column proceeds to the weftern 
 
 of Denmark, it was quit-claimed to Spotland The people of any 
 confidcrable bufinefs there fpeak Engldh, Norfe, and D . utch * , . 
 
 Tml Bv a refolve of the fenate of Hamburg, no herring, are deem. d 
 to be in maturity, fit to be imported to a market until Midfummer. 
 Hamburg is a p incipal mart for herrings, it Applies the nortn-eaft 
 p,m of iiLV by .he rim Elbe „„<1 b»neh... ns D.n.z.ck fop- 
 plies Poland by .he Wefol or ViHola sod ... '”>" c „ 
 
 ^ r»l Called by the ancent geographers .Lbud 0. Hebrides. 1‘ 
 are plenty of cod and long filh : may confi.t ot about 40,000 fouls or 
 
 inhabitants. n. 
 
300 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 coaft of Ireland ; the other column pafs along St. 
 George’s, or the Irifh channel, to the mouth of the Severn'. 
 
 It feems more reafonable to think, that thefe herrings 
 are conftant retainers to the iflands of Great-Britain, 
 fome times difappearing in deep water, and at other times 
 appearing in fhoal- water, according to their various feed- 
 ing and fpawning grounds, fo as annually to make the 
 circuit of thefe ifiands •, and as is the manner of all Paf- 
 fenger fifh, go northward towards fummer, and fouth- 
 ward towards winter or cold weather, and in very cold 
 weather take to deep or warmer water. And in fad or 
 obfervation we find the herrings appear amongft the 
 weftern iflands of Scotland in fpring ; they are at Shet- 
 land and the north parts of Scotland in fummer ; they 
 are along the eaft and fouth coafts of Great-Britain in 
 autumn ; and St. George’s channel in winter. 
 
 The Britifh herrings fpawn in Auguft and September : 
 when they fpawn, the fifhermen call it fouling of the wa- 
 ter ; it is laid they go by pairs to the bottom, and rub 
 their bellies in the mud and fand until their [a] milts and 
 rows are difcharged j foon after this the herring-filhery 
 is fuppofed to be over, and that the herrings take to fea 
 or deep water. 
 
 Dantzick is the principal market for the Scots and 
 Dutch white or pickled herrings •, next are Hamburg and 
 Stockholm : the Dutch re-pickle their herrings in Hol- 
 land. 
 
 The herrings of Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and 
 New- England, are either of a different fpecies, or of a 
 bad quality ; and if in curing their quality could be re- 
 medied, they are not of a fufficient quantity to fupply the 
 herring markets : they are caught in feines or malhes ; 
 they have been pickled and barrelled for the Negroes in 
 the Weft- India iflands, but turned out not merchantable, 
 and that branch of fifhery was dropped. In Newfound- 
 land they come in by autumn, being their laft bait fifh. 
 In New-England, notwithftanding their being a peri- 
 
 [<?] Ladles. 
 
 odical 
 
Sect. VI. Of Newfovndland. 301 
 
 odical fifh, their periods are uncertain •, at prefent they 
 are not fo plenty as formerly, and generally let in to 
 fpawn towards the end of winter. 
 
 Periodical lhoals or paflengers of north fea fifh upon 
 the eaftern lhore of North -America, are not found fouth 
 of 41 D. N. lat. fome ftraggling cod and falmon are 
 fometimes caught to the fouth of Nantucket or this lati- 
 tude, but do not anfwer the curing. 
 
 3. Cod-Fishery. The Scots or north fea dry cod, 
 and the New-England winter dry cod, are of the prime 
 quality; they will bear watering : fummerfilhof New- 
 England, when watered, breaks. Large winter cod dry 
 filh! is the belt for Bilboa market ; it retains its mellow- 
 nefs, and will bear land carriage to Madrid -, fmaller hlh 
 will anfwer in other markets. In Great-Britain and 
 Ireland, they are not reckoned merchantable if under 
 eighteen inches in length, from the firft fin to the fetting 
 on of the tail, and are allowed no fait debenture or 
 bounty. Auguft and September are the beft times tor 
 felling a fifh cargo in the Roman catholic countries ; 
 their°Lent ftock by that time is expended. 
 
 The New-England filhery have their fait from balt- 
 Tortuaas, Cape de Verde ifiands, Turks iflands or Baha- 
 mas, Lilbon, and Bay of Bilcay. The fifhermen victual 
 with fait pork only, bifcuit, and rum. All cod-fifh 
 caught, from the beginning of June to the beginning of 
 October, are called l'ummer filh ; the others are called 
 luring and fall fifh, or winter fifh, and are of the better 
 quality. The fait fleet from Tortuga? generally arrives 
 in New-England about the middle of April. 
 
 New-England dry cod-filh is more fait burnt than 
 thofe of Newfoundland, becauie in New-England they 
 Generally ufe l'alt from Tortugas and the Ifle of May, 
 which is too fiery ; at Newfoundland they make ufe 9* 
 fait from Lilbon and the Bay ot Bifcay^ot a milder 
 quality : in Newfoundland they work their fifh belly 
 down ; in New-England they work them belly up, to re- 
 
302 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 ceive more fait, and add to their weight. No fun-burnt* 
 falt-burnt, or that have been a confiderable time pickled 
 before dried, are to be deemed merchantable fifh. 
 
 Marblehead in New-England fhips off more dried 
 cod, than all the reft of New-England befides ; anno 
 1732, a good fifh year, and in profound peace, Marble- 
 head had about 120 fchooners of about fifty tons bur- 
 then; feven men aboard, and one man afhore to make the 
 fifh, is about 1000 men employed from that town, be- 
 fides the feamen who carry the fifh to market ; if they 
 had all been well fifhed, that is, 200 quintals to a fare, 
 would have made 120,000 quintals. At prefent, anno 
 1747, they have not exceeding feventy fchooners, and 
 make five fares yearly ; firft is to the Ifle of Sable ; the 
 cod-fifh fet in there early in the fpring, and this fare is 
 full of fpawn : formerly, they fitted out in February, but 
 by ftormy weather having loft lome vefiels, and many 
 anchors, cables, and other geer, they do not fit out until 
 March. Their fecond fare is in May to Brown’s Bank, 
 and the other banks near the Cape Sable coaft; thefe are 
 alfo called fpring-fifh. Their third and fourth fares are to 
 St. George’s Bank, called fummer fifh. Their fifth and 
 laft fare is in autumn to the Ifle of Sables; thefe are called 
 winter fifh. New-England cod is generally cured or dried 
 upon hurdles or brufh. Anno 1721, were cured at Canfo 
 off Nova Scotia 20,000 quintals of cod-fifh ; but, as it is 
 faid, the officers of that garrifon ufed the fifhermen ill, 
 and no fifhery has been kept there for many years. At 
 prefent, anno 1 747, there is cured in all places of Britifh 
 North-America about 300,000 quintals dry merchant- 
 able cod. 
 
 There are feveral other particulars relating to the cod- 
 fifhery interfperfed in the former ffieets, which we fhall 
 not repeat, left we fhould deviate from the character of a 
 fummary. We fhall obferve, that the French have been 
 too much connived at in carrying on a confiderable cod- 
 fifhery near the mouth of the river St. Laurence at 
 Gafpee, contrary to treaty, becaufe it lies in Nova Scotia. 
 
 Continued 
 
Sect. VI. 0/ Newfoundland. 3°3 
 
 Continued weflerly or dry winds are not requite m. cur- 
 ing dry cod, becaufe they muft be fweated in piles by 
 fome damp eafterly whether. Winter filh ought not to 
 be Ihipped off till May •, for although the proceeding 
 frofts make them look fair and firm, ii dipped °“ t0 ° 
 foon, the fubfequent heat of the hold, makes them fweat 
 and nutrify. The ftock fifti of Norway and Iceland, are 
 cod cured without fait, by hanging in the frofts of winter 
 upon flicks, called flocks in Dutch. 
 
 4. Smaller Fisheries ufed in commerce ; we fhall 
 
 Scale Fifh fo called, viz. Haddock, Haake, and Pol- 
 itic, which in New-England are cured in the fame man- 
 ner as dry cod v thefe, together with the dry cod that is 
 not fit for European markets, are ftupped oft the 
 Weft-India iflands, towards feeding of the Negro flaves, 
 and make a confiderable article in our trade to the fugar- 
 
 ^Mackarel, fplit, faked, and barrelled for the Negroes 
 in the fugar- iflands, are caught either by hook, feme*, or 
 marfhes ; thofe by hook are the bell •, thofe by femes arc 
 worfl, becaufe in bulk they are bruifed : mackarel will 
 not take the hook, unlefs it have a motion of two or 
 three knots; if quicker they will take the hook; butthar 
 iaw being tender gives way, and the mackarel is loft. 
 There arc two leafons of makarel, fpnng and autumn ; 
 the autumn mackarel are the bell : thole of the *pnng 
 appear about the middle of May, very lean, and vamfh 
 
 in two or three weeks. , . , , 
 
 Sturgeon very plenty ; fome are twelve feet long, and 
 weio-h 400 wt. 'Formerly a merchant of Bofton contract- 
 ed with fome fifhmongers in London. Anno 172 «, he 
 fent 1500 cags of 40 to 50 wt. (the control wa, for 
 cooo cags per annum) the filh were good, but too fait 
 or °iU cured ; this fifhery did not aniwer, and it was 
 dropped. I.ondon is fupphed with flurgeon from Dant- 
 2ick, Hamburg, and Pilau. 
 
 
304 British Settlements in America. Part II, 
 
 Salmon are plenty in all the Britifh North-America 
 rivers from Newfoundland to about N. lat. 41 D. They 
 let in to Mafiachufetts-Bay about the middle of April ; 
 they do not chuie warm weather, therefore do not con- 
 tinue there long after having fpawned ; farther north 
 they continue many months. This falmon is not of a 
 good quality, and is not fo good for a market, as the 
 falmon of Great-Britain and Ireland. 
 
 Alewives, by fome of the country people, called her- 
 rings ; they are of the [f\ herring tribe, but fomewhat 
 larger than the true herring ; they are a very mean, dry, 
 and infipid fifh •, fome of them are cured in the manner 
 of white herrings, and fent to the fugar-iilands for the 
 flaves, but becaufe of their bad quality they are not in 
 requeft : in fome places they are ufed to manure land ; 
 they are very plenty, and come up the rivers and brooks 
 into ponds in the fpring \ having fpawned they reurn to 
 fea : they never take the hook. 
 
 5. For spending fresh. Befides the abovemen- 
 tioned fifh, which are alfo eat when frefh, there are many 
 forts which are not cured and (hipped off. In New- 
 England they are generally well known, and are much 
 the fame as in Britain : we (hall refer them to the fe&ions 
 of New-England. 
 
 Many fifh go up the rivers, and into ponds, earlier or 
 later in the fpring to fpawn, viz. falmon, fhad, alewives, 
 tom-cod, fmelts, &c. and many good laws have been 
 made in New-England, to prevent their paffages from 
 being flopped by weirs, &c. as they are of great bene- 
 fit to the inhabitants near thefe rivers and ponds. 
 
 [/] The pilchard or halecula is not found in thefe parts ; it is no 
 where heard of, but upon the coalls of Devonihire and Cornwall in 
 England ; Dartmouth lies in the centre of the pilchard fifhery ; they 
 are caught from the beginning of Augufl to the beginning of No- 
 vember ; it is fmaller than a herring. 
 
 SECT. 
 
Sect. VII. 0/ Nova Scotia. 3°5 
 
 r (*«’.. • 1 1 >. rl 
 
 SECT. VII. 
 
 Concerning Nova Scotia, or L’Acadie. 
 
 T HIS country was called Nova Scotia by SirWilliam 
 Alexander, fecretary of ftate for Scotland; by means 
 of Sir Ferdinando Gorge, prefident of the New-England 
 or Plymouth company, he obtained a royal grant. Sept, 
 io, anno 1621 ; he was afterwards created lord Alex- 
 ander, vifcount of Canada, and earl of Stirling, anno 
 1633. The French call it L’Acadie, an abbreviation 
 or corruption of Arcadia in the Morea of Greece, a 
 northern hilly country of the Peloponnefus. Hitherto, 
 it cannot be called a colony ; it is only an impotent 
 Britifh garrifon in an ill-regulated French fettlement: 
 the French fettlers and the Britifh garrifon officers (with 
 much impropriety) call the inhabitants Neutrals, though 
 under the protection of, and in allegiance to, the crown of 
 Great-Britain •, there are no Britifh fettlers to compofe 
 an afiembly or legiflature for making laws and raffing 
 of taxes. 
 
 The French had early fettlements in L’Acadie or 
 Nova Scotia ; captain Argol from Virginia, anno 1613, 
 vifited Port-Royal and St. Croix, and brought away two 
 French veflels. M. Biencourt was at that time governor 
 of Port-Royal : Argol broke up fome French fettlements 
 in Sagadahock and L’Acadie, called part of New- 
 F ranee; or Terra Canadenfis. At prefent the country 
 north-qf St. Laurence river, only, retains this name : this 
 expedition of Argol’s made way for Sir William Alex- 
 ander’s patent. Sir William admitted fome affociates, 
 anno 1623 ; they fent over a fhip with fome fettlers, but 
 they all returned to England the fame year, and the 
 French proceeded in their fettlements. K. Charles I, anno 
 1625, upon his marriage with Henrietta Maria, a daugh- 
 ter of France, quit-claimed Nova Scotia to the french. 
 There have been many revolutions in the property and 
 
 dominion of Nova Scotia. 
 Vol. J. 
 
 x. Anno 
 
 X 
 
306 British Settlements in America. Part ll. 
 
 x. Anno 1627 and anno 1628, Sir David Kirk and 
 affociates, upon a private adventure, but by commifTion 
 from the king or crown of England, conquered the 
 French fettlements in Canada and Nova Scotia-, and 
 patents were obtained from the court of England, by 
 which the lands called Canada, north of the river St. 
 Laurence, were granted to Sir David Kirk, and the lands 
 called Nova Scotia, fouth of the faid river, were confirm- 
 ed to Sir William Alexander. 
 
 2. Sir William 1’old the property to M. Claude de la 
 Tour d’Aunay, a French proteftant, and anno 1632, 
 Mar. 29, by treaty king Charles quit-claimed it to France. 
 
 3. Cromwell fent col. Sedgwick ; he reduced it anno 
 1654, and it was confirmed to England by treaty in the 
 year following ; M. St. Eftienne, fon and heir of the 
 above Claude de la Tour, came to England, made out his 
 claim, and had the property furrendered to him ; this 
 La lour fold the property to Sir Thomas Temple, who 
 was governor and in pofleffion of the property until anno 
 1662 -, it was then delivered up to the French by king 
 Charles II (that race ought to be called fons of France, 
 not fons of Great-Britain) who agreed with the Temples 
 for a fum of 10,000 /. fterling to be paid them (but it 
 never was fatisfied) upon account ot their right. 
 
 Menival was appointed governor, and built a fmall 
 ftockaded fort, called Port-Royal, upon a bafon, nine 
 miles from the bay of Fundy Nova Scotia was confirm- 
 ed to the French by the Breda treaty, anno 1667, in the 
 manner of a quit-claim. La Tour, a French proteftant, 
 upon his returning to the Roman catholic way of worfhip,_ 
 had it confirmed (as to property) to him by the comt oi 
 France. La Tour, in the various viciffitudes, was pio- 
 teftant when the country was under the dominion of Eng- 
 land, and Roman catholic when it was fiibje< 5 l to the king 
 of France. La Tour built a fort at St. John’s river : 
 M. Donnee, the French governor of L’Acadie, deem'. . 
 it irregular, and inconfiftent with the royal prerogative . 
 
 While La Tour was in France, he reduced it, and inhu - 
 manly 
 
SfiCT. VII. Of Nova ScotTa. $oj 
 
 manly destroyed La Tour’s wife and family. La Tour 
 became poor* borrowed a large fijm of money of M. Belle 
 Ifle, a rich merchant and trader to North-America, and 
 afligned over to him one half of the province or feigneurie. 
 
 4. The French of L’Acadie being troublefome 
 neighbours, New-England fitted out an expedition of 700 
 men under col. Phipps, at their own charge, anno 1690, 
 (Menival governor, the fort ill fortified, and ill provided) 
 they demolifhed the fort •, the French took the oaths of 
 allegiance and fidelity to the crown of England, but foon 
 revolted in conformity to Roman catholic and French 
 faith, and continued their fettlements ; and by the treaty 
 of Rylwic, anno 1697, Great-Britain quit-claimed it to 
 France. N. B. The Ne»v-England expedition failed^ 
 , from Bofton (Nantafket is in Bofton harbour) 28th of 
 April, came before Port-Royal nth of May, in two or 
 three days Menival furrendered, and the French garrifon 
 was (hipped off. 
 
 Anno 1704, major Church, with 550 voluntiers, vifited 
 Penobfcut, Paffamaquady, and Les Mines •, they brought 
 off about 100 prifoners : in July they attempted Port- 
 Royal, but in vain. 
 
 Capt. Rowfe of Charleftown, anno 1 706, as a flag of 
 truce was fent to Annapolis to exchange or redeem pri- 
 foners i he, with fome of his owners and aflociaces in 
 Bofton, were under fufpicion of fecret contracts ['/], to 
 fupply the French enemy j indictments were laid againft 
 them for high mifdemeanours ; they were fined, but their 
 fine remitted : one trip they brought home feventeen pri- 
 foners •, next trip only feven prifoners. 
 
 Anno 1707-8, March 13, from New-England there 
 proceeded an expedition againft Port-Royal, under col. 
 
 [7] At prefent, anno 1 " J 7 and 1 748, the fame game is played, itir- 
 fune, from ‘Rhode-iiland, New -York, and Philadelphia ; ifth s llicit 
 trade fupplied the enemy only with fuperflmties and extravagancies at 
 a good price, perhaps in policy it might be connived at ; but to fel eve 
 their neceflitics infte d of diftrefling them (which the proclamation of 
 War in exprefs words requires) feeins to be a degree of treafon, or at 
 lead of high mifdcmeanor. 
 
 x 2 March, 
 
-308 British Settkmtnts in America. Part II. 
 
 March, with two regiments of militia, Wainwright and 
 Hilton, covered by the Deptford man of war from Eng- 
 land, and the province galley ; this expedition had no 
 effeft, and the officers of the Deptford were blamed as 
 negligent or refraftory. 
 
 Anno 1 709, col. Nicholfon and capt. Vetch apply at 
 the court of Great-Britain, for fea and land-forces to re- 
 duce Canada •, there being at that time a fort of court 
 war, it was not attended to, but upon their folliciting an 
 expedition of lefs confequence, viz. to reduce Port-Royal 
 and the country of Nova Scotia ; this was obtained. 
 
 5. Nova Scotia continued with the French from anno 
 1662 (Sir William Phipps’s redu&ion and pofleffion of it, 
 anno 1690 ; may be faid to be only momentary) until 
 anno 1710, it was then reduced by a force from Great- 
 Britain, and from New-England, under col. Nicholfon, 
 and confirmed to Great-Britain by the treaty of Utrecht* 
 and thus it remains to this day. 
 
 This expedition under general Nicholfon (with in- 
 ftruttions to all the governors of New-England to be af- 
 fifting) and adjutant general Vetch, was as follows, anno 
 1710, July 15, Nicholfon, with fome Britifh officers, and 
 col. Reading’s marines, arrive at Bofton from England, 
 for the intended expedition : the armament fet out from 
 Bofton, Sept. 18, confifting of the Dragon, Falmouth, 
 Leoftaff, and Feverfham men of war, the Star bomb, 
 and the Mafiachufetts province-galley, with tranfports, in 
 all thirty-fix fail -, the land-forces on board were, one 
 re iment of marines from England, two regiments of 
 Mafiachufetts- Bay, one regiment of Connecticut, and one 
 regiment of New-Hampffiire and Rhode Ifland, com- 
 mrffloned by the queen, and armed by her gift ; they 
 arrived at Port-Royal in fix days (the grenadiers of W al- 
 ton’s regiment were commanded by Mafcarene, the pre- 
 lent governor of Annapolis fort, and commander in chief 
 of Nova Scotia) after a fmall affair of cannonading and 
 bombarding, the French governor Subercafie capitulated, 
 and October 5, the fort was delivered up •, and col. Vetch, 
 
 according 
 
Sect. VII. 0/ Nova Scotia. 309 
 
 according to indruftions, becomes governor. The terms 
 of capitulation were, that all the French, being 481 per- 
 (bns within the Banlieu, or three miles of the fort, lhall 
 be under the proteftion of Great-Britain, upon their 
 taking the proper oaths of allegiance *, the other french 
 iettlers were left to difcretion, that, in cafe the French 
 make incurfions upon the frontiers of New-England, the 
 Britilh lhall make reprifals upon the French in Nova 
 Scotia, by making fome of their chief inhabitants (laves 
 to our Indians •, yet notwithftanding, the French of L’Ac- 
 adie commit hodilities, but the Port-Royal and Cape 
 Sable Indians defire terms of amity and alliance •, the gar- 
 rifon allowed to march out with fix cannon and two 
 mortars, afterwards bought by Nicholfon for 7499 livres 
 ten fols : the garrifon confiding of 258 foldiers with their 
 officers, and other inhabitants, in all 48 1 perfons, male 
 and female, were (hipped to Rochelle in France •, general 
 Nicholfon fent major Livingdon, and M. Subercafie 
 lent baron St. Cadeen to the marq. de Vaudrueil general 
 of Canada, to acquaint him with this event ; they arrived 
 at Quebec, Dec. 1 6. The men of war and tranfports 
 fail for Bodon, Oft. 14, leaving a garrifon in Port- 
 Royal, now called Annapolis Royal, of 200 marines and 
 250 New-England voluntiers ; they were relieved next 
 year by 400 of the troops dedined for Canada. The 
 New-England charge in this expedition, was upwards of 
 23,000 /. derling reimburfed by parliament. 
 
 The French governor’s commiffion was in thefe words ; 
 Daniel Anger de Subercafie, knight of St. Louis, go- 
 vernor of L’Acadie, of Cape Breton iflands and lands 
 adjacent from Cape Roder, of the great river St. Lau- 
 rence as far as the ead parts of Quenebec river. 
 
 Here it is not improper to annex thefollowingdigrefiion. 
 
 A digreffwn concerning fome late Britifh expeditions againjl 
 
 : Canada. 
 
 ANNO 1690, the New-Englanders having reduced 
 
 Port-Royal, and all the red of Nova Scotia or L’Acadie, 
 v X 3 were 
 
3 IQ British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 were encouraged to attempt Quebec in Canada the fame 
 year ; tney fet out too late in the year, want of experi- 
 ence in their principal officers, ficknefs amongft their 
 men, and the army of 1000 Engliffi with 1500 Indians 
 who at the fame time were to march from Albany, bv 
 the way of Lake Champlain to attack Montreal by wav 
 of diverfion, to divide the French forces, not proceeding, 
 occasioned a mifcarriage, with the lofsof 1000 men, and 
 a lols of many of their tranfports in their return, with a 
 great charge incurred; which charge occafioned the firfl: 
 emiffion of a pernicious [r] Paper Currency by way of 
 
 [r] The odium which I bear to this fallacious and defigned cheat of a 
 plantation government public Paper Currency, leads me to anticipate a 
 little upon the article of Paper Currencies defigned for the Appendix. 
 This pmdaric or loofe way of writing ought not to be confined to lyric 
 ^ GC j r j 5 U ^ eems t0 niore agreeable by its variety and turn?, than a 
 rigid dry connected account of things: fome perhaps of no tafte blame 
 ine for want of method ; and on the other lay a ftrid obfervance of the 
 propriety of words, they call pedantry. 
 
 I have obferved, that all our Paper-money-making aflemblies have 
 been legillatures of debtors, the representatives of people who from in- 
 cogitancy, idlenefs, and profufenefs, have been under a neceflity of 
 mortgaging their lands : lands are real permanent eftate, but the debt 
 in Paper Currency by its multiplication depreciates more and more. 
 Thus their land eftate in nominal value increafes, and their debt in no- 
 minal value decreafes; and the large quantities of Paper Credit is pro- 
 portionably in favour of the debtors, and to the difadvantage of the 
 creditors, or induftrious frugal part of the colony : this is the wicked 
 myftery of this iniquitous Paper Currency. 
 
 A public creuit Paper Currency, is a great promoter of expeditions. 
 j . Thele bills to defray the charge are foon expedited, but with a con- 
 fequent diftant but certain ruinous effect. 2. This affluence of paper 
 credit invites or encourages people to borrow and run in debt, beyond 
 what they ever can extricate. 3. Debtors, when called upon by their 
 creditors from enlifting by ads of their legillatures, are indulged or re- 
 fpited for fome confiderable time; thus towards the Cape-Breton ex- 
 pedition, anno 1745, in lefs than two months, in the province of Maf- 
 fachuffetts-Bay, out of 20,000 fencible men capable to march, 3000 
 enlifted, and were a dead lofs to the province : 2900 more, that is, two 
 
 regiments were propofed by to be added to the garrifon of Louif- 
 
 burg, but cannot be completed ; and two or three thoufand more to- 
 wards demoliihing a French out-fort, called Crown-Point, which we 
 cannot pretend to maintain, but abandon to be rebuilt by the French for 
 one tenth of the charge which it may coft us in reducing it (Quebec re- 
 public 
 
Sect. VII. 0 / Nova Scotia.' 3 11 
 
 public bills of credit to pay this charge : there failed from 
 Bofton frigates and tranfports thirty-two, haying 2000 
 landmen aboard-, the admiral called the Six Friends car- 
 ried forty-four guns -, they failed from Bofton Auguft 9, 
 did not arrive before Quebec till October 5, landed 1400 
 men under general Walley about one league and a half 
 from the town, were repulfed two or three times with great 
 lofs. Baron La Hontan, who was then at Quebec, fays, 
 
 “ The New-England men did not want courage, but 
 “ wanted military difcipline; that Sir William Phipps’s 
 “ condudl was fo bad, that he could not have done lefs 
 “ than he did, if he had been hired by the French, to 
 “ Band ftill with his hands in his pockets ; if they had 
 « come direftly againft the town, it would have furren- 
 “ dered, but they were dilatory in their confultations at a 
 “ diftance, which gave time to reinforce the place with 
 “ regular troops, militia, and favages Sir William bom- 
 “ barded the town from four veflels, and did damage to 
 “ the value of five or fix piftoles -, in the town were only 
 « twelve great guns, and very little ammunition.” 
 
 Anno 1 71 1, the fcheme and expedition for reducing 
 of Quebec and Placentia, and confequently all Canada 
 and Newfoundland, to. ingtofs the Cod-fifhery [s], was 
 
 duced by a force from Gseat-Britain will fave us both men and mon^y, 
 and effefiually bring all Canada into our hands.) Some evil genius 
 feems to prefide or prevail at prefent, by the apparent deftruaion of 
 the perfons and effe£b of this jaded province of Maffachuffetts-Bay. 
 
 When I happen upon this fubjeft, 1 cannot avoid being more fan- 
 zine (but in truth) than fome Paper-money patriots may judge feafon- 
 able : that I may not preclude what is to be faid in the Appendix, con- 
 cerning Plantation Paper Currencies, I (hall only initance the vaft in- 
 credible damages that perfonal eilates have fu dered in New England, 
 by depreciation of denominations from the multiplying of a nominal 
 Paper Currency. Anno 1 7 1 1 , by adl of aflembly the exchange of the 
 government bills upon account of the (ham Canada expedition, was 
 hxed at 1 40 New-England for too lterling. At prefent in the fpring, 
 anno 1748, it is with merchants toco New-England for too fterling, ' 
 perhaps from mal-admini(lration only. 
 
 [r] Or rather to draw off fome of our troops from annoying the 
 French in Flanders, and finally by mifearrying to contribute towards 
 making the people of Great- Britain tired of tbe wir with France. 
 
 X 4 -concerted 
 
3 i 2 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 concerted by the new miniftry, follicited by Nicholfon ; 
 [/] the regiments of Kirk, Hill, Windrefs, Clayton, and 
 Kaine, from Flanders, together with Seymour’s Difnay’s, 
 and a battalion of marines from England, under the 
 command of brigadier Hill, brother to the new favourite 
 Mrs. Mafham, in forty tranfports, with a fquadron of 
 twelve line of battle Ihips; feveral frigates, two bomb- 
 vefiels, a fine train of artillery under col. King, with forty 
 line horfes, and fix ftore fhips ; they failed from England 
 April 28, arrived at Bofton, June 25: by order from 
 home there was a congrefs at New-London of all our 
 plantation governors north of Penfylvania with Nichol- 
 fon, '•to concert meafures ; to the Britilh troops were 
 joined two regiments from Maflachuflets-Bay, Rhode 
 Ifland, and New-Hamplhire, to attack Quebec, while 
 the militia from Connecticut, New-York, and Jerfeys, 
 with the Indians of the Five Nations, fo called, under 
 general Nicholfon, marched by land from Albany, Aug. 
 26, to attack Montreal for diverfion. It [ u ] was alledged, 
 that they were retarded at Bofton for want of provifions ; 
 they did not fail till July 30 ; there were fixty-eight vef- 
 fels, carrying 6463 troops; Auguft 18, they anchored 
 in the bay or harbour of Gafpee, on the fouth fide of the 
 entrance of St. Laurence river, to wood and water. Aug. 
 23, in the night-time, contrary to the advice of the-pi- 
 lots, in a fog they fell in with the north fhore, and, upon 
 
 [/] Four of the principal men of the five Indian Tribes or Nations, 
 who lie between our fettlements and Canada, called the Four Kings, 
 were fent over to England to perfuade this expedition. 
 
 [#] Sir Hovenden Walker wrote to governor Dudley in Bofton, “I 
 €e concur with the opinion of all the lea and land officers here, that the 
 '* government pf this colony have prejudiced the prefent expedition 
 “ inftead of affifting it.” 
 
 Admiral Walker having demanded a fupply of Tailors, the governor 
 and council reprefent, That the ordinary guards for the fea-coaft and 
 inland forces, with thofe detached for the prefent expedition, are up- 
 wards of two thoufand men ; which, upon a ftritt examination into the 
 mufter- rolls, is more than one fifth of all the perfons within this go- 
 vernment capable of bearing arms ; therefore it was inconfiftent with 
 the fafety of this her majefty’s province to fpare any more men : there 
 were i ibo effective land forces, and 160 faiiors in our tranfports. 
 
 i the 
 
Sect. VII. Of Nova Scotia. 313 
 
 the iflands of eggs, loft [w] eight tranfports, and 8S4 
 men. In a council of war, it was refolved, that, by rea- 
 fon of the ignorance of the pilots, it was impracticable 
 to proceed and that advice Ihould be fent to recall general 
 Nicholfon from proceeding to Montreal. The fleet an- 
 chored in Spanifh river off Cape-Breton, Sept. 4, and, in 
 a general council of war, it was refolved not to attempt 
 any thing againft [x] Placentia, but to return to Great- 
 Britain. They failed from Spanifh river Sept. 1 6, and in 
 twenty one days were in foundings near the channel of 
 England. Oft. 1 6, at St. Helen’s, the Edgar, with the 
 admiral’s journals and other papers, was blown up, and 
 the voyage (as lome fay) in that inhuman wicked manner 
 fettled. The charge incurred by the province of Maffa- 
 chufetts-Bay was fomething more than 24,000/. fterling 
 allowed by parliament, and converted into debentures 
 transferrable, and bearing intereft ; it is probable the Maf- 
 fachuffetts demand of 1 78,000 /. fterling charges incurred 
 in reducing Louifbourg, may be fatisfied in the fame 
 manner ; thefe debentures to be transferrable only towards 
 cancelling the provincial bills of public credit, that ac- 
 cursed paper currency, in which the honeft, induftri- 
 ous, frugal people have loft almoft the whole of their 
 perfonal eftates by depreciations ; but not to be intrufted 
 in any ftiape with fallacious money-making and indebted 
 g — rs and a — lies. 
 
 [w] Whereof one was a New-England vidlualler, whofc men were 
 
 faved. 
 
 01 By an intercepted letter from Cafta Bella governor of P.acentia, 
 to M. Pontchartrain French fecretary of Hate, it appears, that the 
 French had not exceeding 700 men in that garrifon and country, con- 
 fequently mult have proved an eafy conquelt. 
 
 When they muttered at Spanilh river, the number of men aboard the 
 men of war and tranfports were 764.5. Although they had net exceed- 
 ing ten weeks provilion, at fliort allowance, in two or three days i la- 
 centia might have been reduced, gairifoned, and the flc«t dilpatched to 
 Great-Britain without fuffering tor want of prov fions : i cannot lay 
 fuch was the fatality, but fuch was the deftination of the afluir by a 
 wicked minittry. 
 
314 British Settlements in America.' Part II. 
 
 Our [y] next Canada expedition proved abortive in a 
 fhorter time from the conception ; but may be fuppofed 
 to have been occalioned by l'ome natural good [2] policy 
 caufes, and not from premeditated defigned means of 
 mifcarriage, as in the former. By orders dated — April, 
 1 746, from the duke of Newcaftle, fecretary of ftate at the 
 court of Great-Britain j all theBritilh governors in North- 
 A merica are required to raife each of them, lb many inde- 
 pendent companies of 100 men, as they canfpare and ef- 
 fect : thofe of New-York, New-Jerfeys, Penfylvania, 
 Maryland, and Virginia, to be formed into one corps, to 
 
 [_>t] Romantic expeditions have been the bane of our northern colo- 
 nies, by incurring a paper public credit, made a currency and legal 
 tender. The ill concerted, and worfe executed, expedition, anno 1 690, 
 againft Canada, introduced this vicious currency : the very, very, very 
 rafh, but very, very, very fortunate expedition againft Cape-Breton or 
 Loui/bourg, I hope may terminate public paper currency ; the damage 
 to all induftrioqs frugal people is flagrant, that is, filver, by this expe- 
 dition, from 30/. per oz. was depreciated to 60s. per oz. Thus all good 
 honeft men (real eftates, fpecialties, the falaries and wages of our le- 
 giflatures excepted) loft one half of their eftates ; and by taxes to can- 
 cel this debt, lofe, in courfe of years, perhaps one quarter more of 
 their principal eftates, that is, the induftrious and frugal, from the be- 
 ginning of the project of the Cape Breton expedition, in the fpace of 
 tvfro years have loft three quarters of their eftates : if reimburfed from 
 the parliament of Great-Britain, the taxes being only one quarter will 
 be eafed : fome fay this is the natural confequence from the indebted 
 members of the legiflature. 
 
 [s] Vulgar minds cannot dive into myfteries of ftate, no more than 
 into myfteries of religion; that is, whether this not iollowed Canada 
 expedition was only a feint, to make the French fecure and guardlefs 
 upon the coaft of Britany ; that the fliips, merchandize, and ftores at 
 Port Loui<*, Port L’Orient, might fall an eafy prey: or, whether 
 the allowing duke d’Anville's fquadron, with land-forces, to fail early 
 in the fummer* without moleftation in Europe and America ; was, that 
 Cape-Breton might fall into the French hands again, or that they might 
 reduce Annapolis with Nova Scotia to be delivered up again to Britam 
 at a peace, as an equivalent for Louifbourg with Cape-Breton iflands, 
 if not retaken by the French : this may be imagined from the delay 
 of Leftock’s and lieutenant-general St. Clair’s failing, ’till too late in 
 the year, and afterwards, by a feint, converting the expedition into a 
 defeent upon the coaft of Britany, to abate the popular clamour for 
 their not proceeding againft Canada ; all this to prevent puzzling in a 
 fubfequent congrefs for a peace. 
 
Sect. VII. 0/Nova Scotia.' 3 t £ 
 
 be commanded by brigadier Gooch, lieutenant-governor 
 of Virginia •, the king to be at the charge of arming, pay- 
 ing and cloathing of thefe troops, but the feveral colo- 
 nies to furnifli levy-money and victualling ; Virginia fent 
 two companies, Maryland three, Penfylvania four, the 
 Jerfeys five. New- York fifteen, being twenty-nine compa- 
 nies •, thefe were defigned againft Crown-Point, and from 
 thence againft Montreal ; the two Virginia companies re- 
 mained in the fort of New- York, the regular troops were 
 fent upon the expedition ; the yellow fever at this time 
 prevailed at Albany, therefore the troops for the expedi- 
 tion rendezvous at Saratago, about thirty miles higher up 
 Hudfon’s river : Mafiachufetts-Bay raifed twenty compa- 
 nies, Connedicut ten, Rhode-ifiand three, New-Hamp- 
 fhire two, being thirty-five companies. Thefe were to join 
 the Britilh land-forces under lieutenant-general St. Clair, 
 with a fquadron of men of war from England to reduce 
 Quebec, and all Canada, whileGoochwas making adrnr- 
 fion at Montreal, fixty leagues farther up the river of St. 
 Laurence -, thefe colony militia were to receive part of the 
 booty, and to be fent home when the fervice was over. 
 
 Admiral Leftock’s being appointed commander of the 
 fquadron deltined for this expedition, in place of admiral 
 Warren, a man of integrity, and the delays until too late 
 in the year, plainly evinced that the reduction of Canada.; 
 at that time was not intended. As the governors of the 
 feveral colonies had no i n fir u cl ions to dilmifs then levies ; 
 thefe levies were continued on foot •, the MalTachufetts- 
 men were difpofcd into two regiments of Waldo’s and 
 Dwight’s •, at the requeft of governor Mafcarene, five or 
 fix of Waldo’s companies, the three companies of Rhode- 
 ifiand, and the two companies of New-Hampfmre, were 
 [a] fent lor the protection o! Nova Scotia •, the other 
 
 |yj The three companies from Rhode-ifiand were fhipwrecked near 
 Martha’s vineyard ; the two companies of New Hampshire went to 
 fea, but for fome trifling reafon put back, and neve, proceeded ; the 
 want of thefe five companies was the occafion of our forces being over- 
 
 1 £00 
 
316 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 1500 men were defigned to join the fouthern levies, in 
 order to reduce [b\ Crown-Point fort, built by the 
 French as a rendezvous and place of arms for difturb- 
 ing our fettlements of New-England and New- York; 
 fee p. n. Some mifunderftanding between the feveral 
 governments, and the contagious ficknefies which pre- 
 vailed about Albany, prevented the profecution of this 
 defign : the order for difmiffing or dilbanding of the Ca- 
 nada levies, did not arrive until Odtober, anno 1 747 ; 
 they were accordingly difmified, and have produced an- 
 other crop of idlers, the bane of all countries. 
 
 Here we lhall continue the hiflory of the leveral bick- 
 erings or fkirmilhes which we have had in Nova Scotia 
 with the Canadians, the other French, and their Indians. 
 
 After the reduction of Port-Royal or Annapolis-Royal 
 by general Nicholfon, anno 1710, notwithftanding that 
 by the capitulation, the inhabitants without the Banlieu 
 were to be [r] Neutrals, they continued their hoftilities ; 
 hoftilities continuing, the French miffionary prieft, and 
 
 powered by the Canadians at Minas with a confiderable flaughter. I 
 ufe this expreflion, becaufe many of them were not fairly killed in a 
 military manner. 
 
 Here I cannot avoid mentioning the impropriety of the expreflion 
 auxiliaries, which properly fignifies foreign troops in aid ; whereas 
 the troops fent from New-England for the prote&ion of Nova Scotia, 
 belonged to the fame crown or dominion, and perhaps may more pro- 
 perly be called fuccours, or reinforcements. 
 
 [Z] Formerly New-England wa^ generally in the time of the French 
 wars annoyed from the north-eaftward : but this war our annoyance is 
 north-weftward, that is, from Crown Point. In former wars there 
 was a neutrality between the New-York or Mohawk Indians and the 
 french Indians ; fo that a confiderable trade was eafily carried on be- 
 tween Albany and Montreal, to the advantage of the people of New- 
 York, and difadvantage of Canada. The French ere&ed this fort, 
 1. To prevent this difadvantageous intercourfe of trade. 2. To ex- 
 tend their claims of dominion and foil. 3. The better to difturb our 
 fettlements in the times of war. New-York government, in former 
 french wars, did not fuffer ; in this war they have fuffered much. 
 
 (V) At prefent it feems an impropriety in the officers of the troops 
 and garrifon of Annapolis, and in the neighbouring governments of 
 New-England, to call the French inhabitants of Nova Scotia, neu- 
 
 *' five 
 
Sect. VII. 0/ Nova Scotia. 3*7 
 
 five of the principal inhabitants upon the river of An- 
 napolis, were feized and kept as hoftages, for the inha- 
 bitants future good behaviour ; even notwithftanding 
 this precaution, capt. Pigeon, with fixty men being fent 
 up the river for timber to repair the fort, they were way- 
 laid by the French and their Indians i this party were all 
 killed or made captives.— Many other hoftihttes were 
 
 committed. . - 
 
 After the peace of Utrecht, a tranquillity continued 
 till the war between New-England and their eaftern in- 
 dians. The French miflionaries perfuaded the Indians, 
 that the Englifh had encroached upon their lands. Anno 
 1721, in June, capt. Blin, a Nova Scotia trader, Mr. 
 Newton colleftor of Nova Scotia, and others, were made 
 captives by the Indians at Pafamaquady, but were foori 
 releafed, becaufe governor Doucet of Annapolis had made 
 a reprifal of twenty-two Indians. Along Cape-Sable 
 fhore the Indians began to infult our fifhing veffels : in 
 July, thefe Indians take feveral filhing vefielson the Cap & 
 Sable coaft, kill and captive many of their men ; governor 
 Philips at Canfo fits out two armed (loops they kill and 
 take captive many Indians, and put an end to the Indian 
 fea-roving, anno 1724- Anno 1723* J u ^y 1 5 ^ .the Indians, 
 at Canfo upon Durrel’s illand kill capt. Watkins, two 
 more men, one woman and one child. Anno 1724* in July, 
 a party of Indians attack Annapolis of Nova Scotia, tttey 
 burn two houfes, and kill one ferjeant, and one private 
 man of a party that fallied : in the fort they [d] (hot and 
 fealped one of the Indian prifoners as a reprifal for the In- 
 dians (hooting and fealping of fergeant M c Nealj and' 
 
 trals becaufe, t. Thefe French inhabitants, with their Indians, 
 continued our enemies and, in faft, killed and captivated many Bntifti 
 people, in breach of this neutrality, z. By the treaty of Ltretht, the 
 whole province of Nova Scotia, or L’Acadie, was abfolutely ceded to 
 Great- Britain. 3. The principal men of the French inhabitants have 
 
 taken the oaths of allegiance to the crown of Great Britain. 
 
 XA In fome Chriftian countries fuch reprifals In cold blood upon 
 people not perfonatly guilty, would have been deemed barbarous and 
 
 inhnman. , 
 
 burn 
 
3 1 8 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 burn two French houfes as a reprifal for the two Eno-Ii/h 
 houfes burnt-, feveral Englilh living without the°fort 
 were made captive, but foon ranfomed by the French. 
 
 From this time until the French war in the fprino-, 
 anno 1 744, this negledted non-effe&ive garrifon of An- 
 napolis continued in a profound peace, and fupine indo- 
 lence. In the beginning of the prefent French war, the 
 fort of Annapolis was in a miferable condition ; the »ar- 
 rifon foldiers did not exceed eighty men, capable of fa- 
 tiguing duty -, hogs and fheep from without pafled the 
 foifees or ditches, and mounted the ramparts at pleafure. 
 
 W ar was declared by Great Britain againft France (the 
 French had declared war feme weeks before) anno 1 744, 
 March 29 ; the proclamation of war did not arrive in 
 Bolton until June 2 ; the French of Cape-Breton were 
 more early in their intelligence, and the garrilon of the 
 not tenable polt of Canlb could not (in cale the general 
 inftrudtions were fuch) have timely advice to abandon 
 it ; accordingly about 900 men, regular troops and mi- 
 litia, were, by M. Duquefnel governor, fent under M, 
 Du Vivier from Louiibourg-, they feize Canfo May 13; 
 there were four incomplete companies of Philip’s regi- 
 ment in garrifon, not exceeding eighty men, with a man 
 of war tender ; the French burn the fmall fettlement, 
 conditions were, to be carried to Louiibourg, and to 
 continue there one year, and thence to be fent to Bofeon 
 or Annapolis ; but were fent to Bofton fooner. 
 
 In June, afew fmall velTels (Delabrotz, afterwards taken 
 by the Malfachufetts-Bay province fnow privateer, com- 
 mander) from Louiibourg annoy St. Peter’s, and feme 
 other fmall harbours of Newfoundland well: of Placentia* 
 and threatened Placentia fort. 
 
 OJ Beginning of June, about 300 Cape-Sable and St. 
 John’s Indians, under the diredtion of aFrench mifiionary 
 
 M Here w£ may obferve the forwardnefs and a£livity of the Freuch 
 nation, upon the breaking out of a war, who thereby have a confidera- 
 ble advantage over the unpreparednefs and dilatorinefs of their ene- 
 mies : from that national nufance Cape-Breton) an effe&tial French 
 
 prieft, 
 
Sect. VII. 0/ Nova Scotia. 3*9 
 
 prieft, M. Luttre, attempted the fort of 'Annapolis ; 
 they burnt the out-houfes, deftroyed fome cattle, killed 
 two men, fummoned the garrifon to lurrender, promif- 
 ino- good quarters, otherwife threatened to ftorm them* 
 upon the arrival of fome French forces which they ex- 
 petted from Louifbourg; but upon the arrival of the 
 province fnow privateer beginning of July from Bolton 
 with the firft company of militia (the government of 
 Malfachufetts-Bay raifed four companies to reinforce the 
 ^arrifon of Annapolis j they broke up, and retur ned to 
 Minas (or les Mines) and the women and children of 
 Annapolis removed to Bolton for fafety. 
 
 In September, Du Vivier with fixty regular troops from 
 Louifbourg, and about 700 militia and Indians (the above 
 mentioned°Indians joined him) upon the arrival of all 
 the Mafiachufetts fuccours, particularly ofcapt. Gorham’s 
 Indian rangers (Du Vivier had lain lome weeks near 
 Annapolis fort) he retired to Minas : feveral mefiages 
 which have been cenfured, palled between him and the 
 garrifon officers of Annapolis , the molt favourable ac- 
 count, is. That Du Vivier acquainted them that he ex- 
 petted (in the mean time they might have good terms of 
 capitulation) from Louifbourg fome men of war, one of 
 70 guns, one of 56 guns, and one of 30 guns, with can- 
 non, mortars, and ftores, and a reinforcement of 250 more 
 troops ; the anfwer of the garrifon, was, That when this 
 force arrived, it was time enough to make propofals : 
 After he had tarried there three weeks, difappointed and 
 
 place of arms to diftrefs the Britifh North-America colonies, at once 
 and before we had notice from home of a French war, there lffued 
 three expeditions, viz. againft Placentia, Canfo, and Annapohs-Royal ; 
 
 ' Duquefnel (otherwife a good officer) governor of Cape- Breton, erred 
 in being too forward ; he had initrudtions along with the declaration of 
 war, not to attempt any expedition (this I learnt from M. le Marquis 
 de la Maifon fort, commander of a French man of war, the Vig lunt 
 of 64 guns, taken by commodore Warren and captain Douglafs) until 
 further orders from the French court; perhaps, as Loutlbourg was ill 
 garrifoned, it was fufpefted that fuch expeditions might alarm the 
 neighbouring populous Britifh colonies, and prompt them to the re- 
 dudtion of Louiibourg, as it really happened with good fuccefs. 
 
320 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 difcontented, he retired to Minas ; next day after his de- 
 camping fome trifling vefiels with cannon, mortars, and 
 warlike ftores, arrived in the bafon of Annapolis, and 
 hearing of Du Vivier’s being withdrawn, they were afraid 
 of our frigates annoying of them ; they foon removed, 
 and as it happened, they narrowly efcaped our vefiels : 
 Du Vivier from Minas went to [/] Bay Vert, and thence 
 to Canada, and from thene home to France. 
 
 As the Cape-Sable and St. John’s Indians, perfifted in 
 their hoftilities againft the fubjedts of Great -Britain •, in 
 November 1 744, the government of the Mafiachufetts- 
 Bay declares war againft them, declaring them enemies 
 and rebels; becaufe they had joined the French enemy in 
 blocking up Annapolis ; had killed fome Britifh fub- 
 jects, and had committed other depredations : the Pafa- 
 maquady, Penobfcot, Noridwoag, Pigwocket, and other 
 Indians weftward of St. John’s, are forbid to have any 
 correfpondence with thofe Indian rebels : for all Indians 
 caftward of a line, beginning at three miles eaft of Pafa- 
 maquady, and running north to St. Laurence river, the 
 government fettles for a Ihort time premiums, viz. 1 00 1 . 
 new [g] tenor, for a male of 1 2 ALt. and upwards fcalped, 
 and 105/. new tenor if captivated; for women and 
 children 50/. fcalps, 55/. captives. Sometime after- 
 wards it was found that the Penobfcot and Noridgwog 
 Indians alfo joined with the French ; the afiembly of 
 Maflachufetts-Bay colony, Aug. 23, 1745, extend the 
 premiums for fcalps and captivated Indians to all places 
 weft of Nova Scotia, 250 /. new tenor to voluntiers, and 
 100/. new tenor to troops in pay [b]. 
 
 [/] Bay Vert is the embarkadier from Canada to annoy Annapolis, 
 and other places in Nova Scotia. Here are only four miles land- 
 carriage to Chicane&o bay, which falls into the great bay of Fundi 
 of Nova Scotia. Upon this pafs a fort would be of good fervice to 
 prevent Canada incurfions, and to obviate the perverting of the french 
 inhabitants of L’Acadie from their allegiance to the crown of Great 
 Britain. 
 
 [g] Whereof at prefent, anno 1748, $0 is equal to 20 s. fterling; 
 eld tenor is only one quarter of new tenor. 
 
 [6] If Do Vivier, with his 900 men, which reduced Canfo, had di- 
 
 Anno 
 
Sect. VII. 0/ Nov a Scotia.' fit 
 
 Anno 1745, in May, M. Martin, a lieutenant from 1 
 Canada, captain of a company of Savages or Indian 
 rangers, a true partizan, with about 900 raggamuffins, 
 Canadians, other French and Indians, comes before 
 Annapolis •, they continued but a fhort time, and return- 
 ed to Minas; and, I fuppofe,by orders from Louifbourg, 
 went to relieve Louifbourg at that time befiged : captain 
 Donahew, in the fervice of the Maflfachufetts colony, 
 met with them in Afmacoufe harbour June 15, being 
 two floops, two fcooners, and about fixty large canoes ; 
 upon the further appearance of Beckett and Fones, this 
 body of French and Indians retired and returned to Minas. 
 From that time, untilde Ramfay’s attempt in September, 
 
 1 746, the garrifon of Annapolis fuffered no infults. 
 
 From the beginning of this French war, there have 
 been cjuartered at iVlinas and Chicane6fo and the neigh- 
 bouring French villages, a difperfed number of officers 
 and foldiers from Canada ; but from Martin’s leaving 
 Annapolis in the beginning of July, 1745, to the arrival 
 of de Ramfay in September, 1746, the garrifon of Anna- 
 polis enjoyed their wonted Reft. 
 
 In the fummer 1746, a force of about 1600 men, re- 
 gular marine troops, Canadian militia, and Coureurs des ’ 
 Bois, with French Indians, under the command of M. 
 de Ramfay, arrive in Minas, to join the forces expe&ed 
 from France under [i] the duke d’Anville. They were 
 
 redly proceeded to Annapolis, and been joined by the Cape Sable and 
 St. John’s Indians, he mud infallibly, and with eafe, have reduced 
 
 A }"'J P I°nthefpring 1746, the French fitted a ftrong armament at Bred 
 to be commanded by the duke d’Anville, lieutenant-general des Armees 
 navales, to recover Louiibourg, and diftrefs the Britifli North-America ; 
 thev did not fail from Rochelle until June 22 ; they efcaped or were 
 overlooked by the Britilh admiral Martin’s fquadron of observation : 
 the court of Great- Britain had certain information of their being failed, 
 and of their deftination ; l?ut perhaps for certain reafons of date, did 
 not fend after them, though we had at that time an equal or better ar- 
 mament ready to fail. This French fleet, after a tedious paffage, and 
 having fuffered in a ftorm near the ifland of Sable, did not arrive olt 
 Chebufto jr. Nova Scotia until Sept. 10. The armament confifted ot 
 
 VOL-.I. Y ™ uch 
 
322 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 much carefied by our French lubjefts there j and our 
 Minas fubjefts, gave to the garrii'on of Annapolis de- 
 
 cleven line of battle fhips, fome frigates, two fire-lhips, tranfports, fsfr. 
 having 3150 land-forces aboard. Duke d’Anville’s inftrudions were, 
 to proceed againft Louiibourg, and, when taken, to difmantle it; 
 thence to proceed againft Annapolis in Nova Scotia, and when taken, 
 to garrifon it ; thence he was to fail for Bofton, and burn it ; after- 
 wards in ranging along he was to annoy and diflrefs the coaft of North- 
 America ; and finally to vifit our Weft-India fugar iflands. 
 
 D'Anville detached three capital fhips and a frigate, under the com- 
 mand of M. Conflans, to convoy the trade to Cape Francois in Hifpa- 
 niola, and to return and join the grand fquadron ; thefe were the four 
 French men of war which near Jamaica fell in with a Britifh fquadron 
 commanded by commodore Mitchel ; but Mitchel, in effed, refufed 
 taking of them. M. Conflans’ orders were, that for advice, he was to 
 cruize upon the Cape Sable fhore, between Cape Negroe and Cape 
 Sambro, for a limited time, and then to fail diredly for France ; they 
 received no advice, and never joined d'Anville's fquadron; thefe were 
 the fhips that fpoke with fome of our fifhing fcooners, and gave a feint 
 chace to the Hinchinbrook man of war fnow Sept. 15 ; they avoided 
 giving any alarm to our Louifbourg fquadron. 
 
 This French armanent, from their being long aboard before they 
 failed, and from a tedious paflTage, were become very fickly (duke d’ An- 
 vilie died, and was buried at Chebudo) they put in to Chebudo har- 
 bour, landed and encamped to recruit their health ; in this place, n^r 
 one half of their people died of fcorbutic putrid fevers and dyfenteries ; 
 the Nova Scotia Indians frequented them much ; and this camp iUnels 
 becoming contagious, the Nova Scotia Indians were reduced to above 
 one third : they were fupplied with frefh proviflons from our French, 
 diftrids of Minas, Cobequid, Pifaquid, and Chicanedo : the french 
 commiflfaries or purfers of the fquadron paid according to inftrudions, 
 not only for thi? frefh flock, but for all the proviflons furmlhed to the 
 Canadians and their Indians, from the commencement of this war. 
 Our fquadron at Cape-Breton, under admiral Townfhend, did not vifit 
 
 the French fleet when diftrefled. , , 
 
 The feafon of the year being too far advanced, their ftrength much 
 impaired, the detached four men of war not having joined them, 
 and from difappointmervts, and the officers in a fret with one another, 
 it was revived in a Council of war to proceed againft Annapolis- Ro>al 
 of Nova Scotia: they failed from Chebudo, Odober^; after four 
 days thev met with a ftorm off Cape Sable, and in a council of war 
 it was rcfolved to return direaiy for France. Two of the fquadron 
 were in the bay of Fundi, fhips of 60 and 36 guns ; that of 36 guns 
 ca,me into the bafon. Our lh.ps, the Chefter, Shirley, and Ordnance 
 frigate, well-manned with land-forces, wenc in chace of them ; the 
 Cheller ran aground: the French fhips, after having put afliore an ex- 
 . CEITFUL, 
 
 4 
 
Sect. VII. Of Nova Scotia. 323 
 
 ceitful, and no other intelligence. Here they conti- 
 nued feme months >, but the winter feafon approaching, 
 and no tidings of the French armament, the French 
 troops deemed it advifable to return to Canada. In their 
 return, duke d’Anville’s armament arrives in Chebu&o 
 of Nova Scotia, and an exprefs was fent to recall them j 
 about 400 of them were overtaken, and returned with 
 de Ramfay, Culort, and la Come, three captains of 
 marines, and chevaliers or knights of the order of St. 
 Louis. Towards the end of September, de Ramfay 
 comes before Annapolis, made no alTault, but encamped 
 at fome diftance ; the Chefter man of war of 50 guns, 
 the Shirley frigate of 20 guns, and the Ordnance 
 fchooner, at that time were in the bafon of Annapolis ; 
 three companies of reinforcements for the garrifon from 
 Bolton were arrived, and de Ramlay having had advice 
 of the French fleet being returned to France, made the 
 French decamp October 22, and return to Minas. 
 
 prefs, with advice to De Ramfay, that the French fleet were returned 
 to France, efcaped and continued their voyage home. 
 
 This French armament upon the coaft, for very good reafons, alarm- 
 ed Bofton ; in a few days, with great expedition, it was reirtfor-ed by 
 6400 country inland militia ; the militia of the fea coaft countries re- 
 mained at home for their own defence, to prevent depredations. Upon 
 occafton Connexion was to have fent us 6000 men, being about one 
 half of their- militia. 
 
 The French in Chebufto were eight Ihips of the line, whereof the 
 Perfait was burnt, as incapable to proceed ; upon the coaft of France, 
 the Nottingham took the Mars ; the Exeter drove the Ardent aftiore, 
 and burnt her: this was the fate of the great French armada or arma- 
 ment againft the Britilh North-American colonies. 
 
 The Britilh fquadron. commanded at firft by admiral Warren, and 
 afterwards by admiral Leftock, with land-forces under he comma: d of 
 lieutenant-general St. Clair, which feemed deftined againft Canada, 
 and to obferve the French fquadron in North-America, afte many 
 delays, on account of contrary winds and other pretences, was con- 
 verted to ;m invafion upon the coaft of Britanny- the troops landed at 
 Quiir.perley bay. Sept. 20. and bombarded Port l Orient ; Sept. *6, 
 the troops retreated, and left four pieces of cannon, and a ten inch 
 mortar, ammunition, and ftores ; fome marines and failors were left 
 behind; Oft. r, they embarked at Quimpcrley ; afterwards fome land 
 at Quiberon, and did a fmaU matter of damage. 
 
 Y 2 His 
 
^$4 Bp.itisu Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 His defign was to quarter at Minas and Chicanecto, 
 during the winter, and to join the French fleet and land- 
 forces, which were expefted to reduce Annapolis, in the 
 fummer ; governor Mafcarene of Annapolis, judged that 
 in addition to the three companies of voluntiers which 
 arrived from Bofton in autumn, 1000 men of reinforce- 
 ments from New-England, might be fufficient to dif- 
 lodge the French enemy, and to confume (by purchafe) 
 all the French inhabitants provifions produced there, in 
 time coming, to prevent the fubftftence of the enemy, 
 who might lodge, there and corrupt the inhabitants ; and 
 Britilh forces being quartered among them, might in- 
 fluence them to continue in their allegiance to the crown 
 of Great-Britain : Maflachuffetts-Bay aflfembly vote 500 
 men to be fent, Rhode-ifland 300 men, and New- 
 Hamplhire 200 men •, the Rhode-ifland men were lhip- 
 wrecked near Martha’s Vineyard; thole from New- 
 Hamplhire fet out, but put back upon fome trifling ex- 
 cufe, and never proceeded •, the 500 men from Bofton 
 only arrived ; the difappointment of the Rhode-ifland 
 and New-Hamplhire men was the reafon of our fub- 
 fequent difafter at Minas. 
 
 Our firlt parcel, under captain Morris, arrived at 
 Minas Dec. 1 2 ; when all were arrived, they did not ex- 
 ceed ‘470 men, befides officers ; water-carriage in the 
 ■yvinter-feafon being impracticable, they marched by land 
 thirty leagues, with much hardfliip, in eight days ; every 
 man fet out with fourteen days provifion upon his back ; 
 the main body was quartered at Grand Pre, in a very 
 loofe, ill-contrived, fcattered fituation, but upon alarm 
 to repair to the main guard ; col. Noble fuperfeded col. 
 Gorham in the chief command -, Gorham and tnajor 
 Phillips, with a fmall efcorte, fet out for Annapolis 
 Jan. 29 ; they were but nine miles on their way, when 
 the French began their attack. 
 
 The French, well informed of our fcattered fituation, 
 .is to cantonment, and not regularly provided with am- 
 munition and provifion, fet out from Chicane&o Jan. 8, 
 
 for 
 
Sect. VII. Of Nova Scotia. 325 
 
 for Minas, which, by heading of creeks and rivers, is about 
 thirty leagues diftance, and by excurfions to bring along 
 as many of the fettlers and Indians as poflible, did not ar- 
 rive at Minas until Jan. 31, and began about three hours 
 in the morning by many diftant attacks or onfets at the 
 fame time, in parties of feventy to fifty men. They were 
 about 600 of the enemy, Canadians, inhabitants, and 
 French Indians-, they killed many of our men in a mod 
 inhuman bafe manner; col. Noble, lieuts. Lechemore 
 (nephew to the late lord Lechemore) Jones, Pickering, 
 enfign Noble, with about feventy ferjeants, corporals, 
 and private men ; made prilbners capt. Doane, lieut. 
 Gerrilh, and enfign Newton, in all about fixty-nine men, 
 the wounded included ; many of the prifoners were fet 
 at liberty. 
 
 The French were well provided with fnow-lhoes ; 
 this necefiary winter-marching article we neglected : how- 
 ever, a confiderable number of our men got together, 
 but as they had not exceeding eight fhot per man, and 
 provifions being fcanty, they capitulated, 1. We are to 
 march off with arms fhouldered, drums beating, colours 
 flying, through a lane of the enemy with relied fire- 
 locks. 2. To be allowed fix days provifion, one pound 
 of powder, with ball. 3. Not to carry arms in the bays 
 of Minas and Chicanefto for fix months. 
 
 De Ramfay, being lame, was not in this onfet, M. 
 Culon had the command -, and after Culon was wounded, 
 M. La Come commanded : this affair being over, they 
 returned to Chicanecto, and expecting La Jonquiere’s 
 fquadron with land-forces from France in the fummer, 
 they continued at Minas and Chicanefto, until they re- 
 ceived advice by fome ftorefhips for Canada, which had 
 efcaped [k] of La Jonquiere ? s fleet being deltroyed, May 
 3, 1747 : then they returned to Canada, and have given 
 
 [i] Anno 1747, in the fpring, the French Breft and Rochfort fleets 
 joined at Rochelle, and failed From thence ; they confifted of thirtv- 
 eight fail, <viz. feven men of war from 74 to 44 guns; of thefc the 
 Invincibje of 74 guns, and a frigate of 44 guns (the only man of war 
 
 Y 3 no 
 
326 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 no further difturbance to Nova Scotia: notwithftanding, 
 for the better iecurity of the fort and garrifon of Annapo- 
 lis, Mafiachufeits-Bay, this fpring, 1748, fends a rein- 
 forcement of feven companies of militia. 
 
 Having briefly related the French bickerings with us 
 in Nova Scotia, we proceed to fome further accounts of 
 that country. 
 
 Annapolis, in 44 D. 40 M. N Lat. tide thirty-three 
 feet, lies upon a fine bafon ; but the rapid tides in the bay 
 of r undi make a difficult navigation. Into this bafon 
 comes a river of good water-carriage, without falls for 
 twenty -five miles; and near it are leveral fmall villages 
 or parcels of French fettlements, which, in time of peace, 
 plentifully and cheaply, fupply the garrifon with freffi 
 provifions and other neceflaries. From Cape Anne 
 near Bofton harbour, to Cape Sable, are eighty feven 
 
 that efcaped being taken) were to convoy the fix Eaft-India {hips ; the 
 other five men of. war, with tranfports and merchantmen, having fol- 
 diers, {lores and goods aboard, were defigned for Nova Scotia and 
 Canada. Admiral Anfon and Warren, with thirteen line of battle 
 {hips, two frigates, and a firefhip, fell in with them, May 3, in N. lat. 
 43 D. «6 M and fruftrared two French expeditions to North -America 
 and to the Eafl-Indies ; fix of the men of war were taken, all the fix 
 Eaft-India company {hips, and many of the tranfports ; we had from 
 400 ' to 5000 French prisoners, with their commodore or admiral M. de 
 la Jonquiere chef d Efcadre, an old man of 70 t. all this was effe6led 
 with a very inconfiderable lofsof men ; feven companies of Frampton’s 
 regiment were aboard (the other three companies were in the grand 
 battery of Louifbourg in Cape- Breton) and behaved well. M. de St. 
 George, a knight of Malta, commanded that part of the fleet which 
 ^vas bound to the Eait-Indies. 
 
 1 {hall but juft mention (becaufe not nearly related to our fubjeft) 
 the aftion of admiral Hawke, 061 1 4,1 747, near Cape Finifterre, with 
 a fquadron of fourteen capital {hips ; he fell in with a French fleet 
 commanded by M. de l’Entendiere chef d'Eicadre, of eight large line 
 of battle {hips, and 1 80 merchantmen ; four of the men of war were 
 deftined to bring home a fleet from Martinique; only two of 'the 
 French men of war efcaped ; the merchantmen, in the time of the 
 aftion, made the beft of their way, but fome were picked up by our 
 privateers foon after, and in the Weft-Indies. 
 
 leagues s 
 
Sect. Vil; 0 / Nova Scotia. 3 2 7 
 
 leagues ; from Cape Sable to Annapolis are thirty 
 leagues’, capt. Campbell in the Squirrel man ot war. 
 Jailed from Marblehead near Bofton harbour (fhortelt 
 courfe) in twenty-three hours. The Englilh have no 
 other footing in this province, befides the fort ot Anna- 
 polis •, and before this French war, a tinall fifhery at 
 
 Canto. i , c 
 
 Aglate la Tour, grand daughter to the before menti- 
 oned La Tour, by management and for l'mall confidera- 
 <tions, obtained procurations and quit-claims, from all the 
 heirs of La Tour, and Belle-ifle ; the married a fubaltem 
 officer in Phillips’s regiment ; the went to England, and 
 fold the feigneurie or property of all the province to the 
 crown of Great-Britain, anno 1731, for 2000 guineas-, 
 the foie property of all the province is now in the crown, 
 and at prefent yields not exceeding 17 /• fterling^r annum 
 ouit -rent. By the peace of Utrecht, the French in Nova 
 Scotia, upon their taking the Britifh government oaths, 
 were to continue in their poifeflions ; the not appro- 
 priated lands by the king of Great- Britain’s inftruclions 
 were referved for proteftant fubjefts [/] •, notwithftanding 
 this inftruftion, the French Roman catholic fubje&s, 
 as they fwarm (as they multiply in families) make free 
 with thefe crown lands. 
 
 Anno 1717, col. Phillips was appointed governor of 
 Nova Scotia in Place of Vetch, and of Newfoundland 
 in place of Moody the four independent companies 
 of Annapolis, and the four independent companies of 
 Placentia, with two more additional companies, were re- 
 
 171 Perhaps governor Phillips and lieutenant-governor Armftrong, 
 for fecret valuable confiderations, made to the French Inhabitants fomc 
 conceffions, indulgencies. or connivences When we recolle« fuch 
 mercenary connivences of governors ; and while our French mhabi- 
 tants retam a language and religion the fame with France, our natural 
 enemy, and entirely different from that of Great-Bntain ; they muft 
 naturally and unavoidably, upon any milunderllandmg between the 
 Britith and French, favour the French mtereft: t ^ cr £°, re t ^ ey 
 removed by fome fubfequent treaty, or be elbowed out, or their 
 language and religion mull gradually be changed. t 
 
 6 Y 4 gimented 
 
328 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 gimented in his favour, making a reduced or reformed 
 regiment of 445 men, officers included. After the French 
 reduction of Lanfo, our foldiers prifoners arrived at An- 
 napolis, being about fixty men, the poor remains or re- 
 prefentatives of four companies ; three of thefe compa- 
 nies were incorporated with the five companies of Anna- 
 polis, and with the fourth company of Canfo. Thus at 
 Annapolis were fix companies, at Placentia one company, 
 and the three new companies to be lent from England to 
 St. John’s in Newfoundland, made up the regiment of 
 ten companies, to be completed to 815 men, officers 
 included, the complement of a Britilh marching regi- 
 ment : the reinforcements and recruits for this regiment 
 from England, by mifmanagement and negleft were very 
 unfortunate ; and the regiment remains in an abjeft low 
 eftate, though in time of war, and continual jeopardy, 
 from our neighbouring French, and armaments from 
 France. 
 
 In order to colonize this country, governor Phillips 
 had a royal inftruftion to form a council for the manage- 
 ment of the civil affairs of the province; and according- 
 ly in April 1720, appointed twelve counfellors, viz. 
 JohnDoucet, lieutenant-governor, Laurence Armftrong, 
 Paul Mafcarene, Cyprian Southack, John Harrifon, 
 Arthur Savage, John Adams, Herbert Newton, William 
 Skeen, William Sherriff, Peter Boudrie, and Gillam 
 Phillips, efqrs. By the fifth inftruftion, if any of the 
 council be abfent from the province exceeding twelve 
 months, without leave from the commander in chief, or 
 abfent two years without the king’s leave, his place ffiall 
 be deemed void or vacant. In the abfence of the gover- 
 nors and lieutenant-governor, the eldeft counfellor is to 
 aft as prefident of the council, and to take upon him the 
 government: thus anno 1739, u P on t ^ e death of lieute- 
 nant-governor Armftrong, major Mafcarene, a foldier 
 from his youth, a gentleman of probity and exemplary 
 good life, became and continues prefident of the council, 
 and commander in chief for the time being, of the pro- 
 vince 
 
Sect. VII. Of Nova Scotia. 329 
 
 vince of Nova Scotia. As Mafcarene was only major 
 of the regiment, and Colby lieutenant-colonel of the regi- 
 ment, and lieutenant-governor of the fort of Annapolis, 
 and confequently his fuperior officer, Cofby feemed to 
 dilpute the command of the province ; but by an order 
 from home, it was determined, “ That whatever rank 
 “ any perfon may have out of the council, he muftfubmit 
 “ to the laws of feniority, which in civil government 
 “ ought never to be difpenfed with, but by his majefty’s 
 “ fpecial order under his fign manual.” The governor 
 Phillips difputes the moiety of the ialary which the com- 
 mander in chief of the province claims in the abfence of 
 the governor; but by an inftruftion or order from home, 
 the forty-fecond inftruftion to the governor of Virginia, 
 is alio direfted to take place in Nova-Scotia, viz. “ Upon 
 “ the governor’s ablence, one full moiety of the falary, 
 “ all perquifites, and emoluments whatfoever, ffiall be 
 « paid and fatisfied unto fuch lieutenant-governor, 
 “ commander in chief, or prefident of our council, who 
 “ ffiall be refident upon the place for the time being, 
 “ for the better fupport of the dignity of the govern- 
 “ ment.” 
 
 Col. Phillips, governor of Nova Scotia and Newfound- 
 land, and col. of a regiment in garrifons there, arrived 
 in Bofton 1720, Oft. 4; upon his arrival in Nova Scotia 
 880 effeftive men of the French inhabitants, took the 
 oaths to the crown of Great-Britain. At this time, anno 
 1748, we reckon French inhabitants in Nova Scotia 
 from 3000 to 4000 fencible men; Indians in Nova 
 Scotia not exceeding 250 marching men; the contagious 
 diftempers of d’Anville’s fleet reduced them very much. 
 
 Col. Phillips, with advice and content of his council, 
 is impowered to grant lands under certain limitations, 
 but in general at id. fterling per annum , per acre quit- 
 rent ; Roman catholics are excepted. Col Ph — ps had 
 fundry fums allowed by the board of ordnance for re- 
 pairing fortifications, and the like, at Annapolis and 
 Canfo ; and were converted, as is faid, to his own pro- 
 per 
 
330 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 per ufe. In time of peace, the garrifons in Nova Scotia 
 and Newfoundland, with a reduced regiment of foot and 
 detachments from the train, coft Great-Britain about 
 15,000 /. per annum . 
 
 When MafTachufetts-Bay colony obtained a new char- 
 ter (their former charter was taken away at the lame 
 time with many corporation charters in England in the 
 end of the reign of Charles II, and beginning of the like 
 or more arbitrary reign of James II) 7th of O&ober, 
 1691, Nova Scotia at that time in pofleflion of the 
 French, was annexed (as was alfo Sagadahock, or duke 
 of York’s property) to the Mafiachufetts jurifdiftion, to 
 keep up the ciaim of Great-Britain ; Nova Scotia has 
 fince been conftituted a leparate government ; and has 
 continued about forty years to this time, a nominal Bri- 
 tifh province without any Britifh fettlement, only an [m] 
 infignificant preventive, but precarious fort and gar- 
 rifon. 
 
 [, m ] The regiments in garrifon at Louifbourg may be conveyed to 
 Nova Scotia, and cantoned amongft the French fettlements; after 
 feme (hort time to be diffcanded, with fome encouragement of lands 
 and other things as fettlers. Thus we may by degrees elbow the 
 French out of their language and religion, and perhaps out of their 
 lands. As manyof them, diflatisfied with our neighbourhood, will 
 chafe to remove home to France, or retire to Canada ; the remainder 
 will in courfe continue in their allegiance to the crown of Great-Britain. 
 Nova Scotia has continuedly been in the jurifdiflion of Great-Britain 
 for about forty years, and from the bad management of thofe con- 
 cerned, in all that time, not any family natives of Great-Britain, or of 
 Britifh extract, have been induced to fettle there; there are a few fa- 
 milies in and belonging to the garrifon of Annapolis. 
 
 Notwithftanding the expediency in giving ,up and demolifhing ot 
 Louifbourg, it may prove a puzzling affair, 1 . Becaufe contrary to the 
 prevailing popular opinion. 2. As the French have made no land 
 conquefts in any of the Britifh dominions, the French have no equi- 
 valent reftitution to make for Cape-Breton, unlefs by connivance of 
 our miniftry, in negle&ing the defence of Annapolis and Nova Scotia, 
 we give it to the French, to be made ufe of as an equivalent ; if this 
 could be fuppofed, the prefent minifters will not heartily thank the bold 
 New-Englanders for their great expence of men and money in the re- 
 duction of Louifbourg, and prefervarion of Annapolis, but reckon them 
 ©fhcioufly daring: notwithftanding the reprieve which thefe expeditions 
 
 As 
 
Sect. VII. 0/ Nova Scotia.' 33 1 
 
 As this country is rude, a geographical defcription of 
 it cannot be expected : it is a large extent of territory, 
 bounded weftward by the Bay ot f undi, and a line run- 
 ning northward from St. John’s river to St. Laurence 
 or Canada great river northward it is bounded by the 
 faid St. Laurence and gut of Canfo, which divides it 
 from the ifland of Cape- Breton ; and fouth-eafterly it is* 
 bounded by Cape Sable fhore. 
 
 The mod valuable article in this province is the Cape- 
 Sable coaft, where is a continued range of cod filhing 
 banks, and many good harbours : it is true, that along 
 the Cape-Sable fhore and Cape-Breton, for fome weeks 
 in l'ummer, there are continued fogs (as upon the banks 
 of Newfoundland) from the range of banks to the ealt* 
 ward, that the fun is not to be feen, but without dorms 
 or bad weather ; the reft of the year is clear weathet , 
 very fuitable for dry cod-fifh. Along this coaft to keep 
 clear of lands-ends or promontories, of rocks, and of 
 fhoals, the courfes are, from Cape Anne near Bofton 
 to Cape-Sable E. by N. 87 leagues 
 
 to Cape-Sambro E. by N. half N. 50 
 
 to Canfo E. N. E. 45 
 
 to Louifbourg E. northerly 1 8 
 
 200 leagues. 
 
 Some of thefe harbours are called Port Latore, Port 
 Rofway, Port Metonne, Port Metway, La Have, Ma- 
 lamifh, Chebufto. In Chebufto, in the autumn 17+6, 
 lay the French armada under duke d’Anville, deftined to 
 deftroy or diftrefs all the Britilh North-America lettle- 
 ments : this bay and river of Chebudo bids fair in time 
 to become the principal port of Nova Scotia and its me- 
 tropolis i from this there is good wheel land-carriage 
 communication with the bay of Minas, that is, with La 
 
 give to debtors, and by fetching out paper-credit, depreciate nominal 
 currency in favour of our landed debts ; perhaps a majonty ot the 
 leg— ture may favourably conftrue it as done, in duty to their country, 
 and to the intereft of all the dominions of Great-Bricain. j>jyj er e 
 
3J-2 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 Riviere des Habitants or La Prarie, with the river of 
 Cobaquid, the river of Pifaquid, and the beft parts of 
 the province. It is true, Annapolis lies upon a fine 
 bafon, and is more inland for a large vent or confump- 
 tion (thus London, Briftol, Liverpool, Glafgow have be- 
 come rich) but the country round it is bad, and the tides 
 •of the bay of Fundi renders the navigation difficult. 
 
 Upon the oppofite or wefterly ffiore of the bay of 
 Fundi, are the rivers of Pafamaquady and St. Croix, be- 
 ing about feventeen leagues N. W. from the gut or en- 
 trance of the bafon of Annapolis ; the river St. Croix is 
 the boundary between Nova Scotia government, and the 
 territory of Sagadahock, or the duke of York’s pro- 
 perty ; for the prefent in jurifdidion, annexed to the 
 neighbouring New-England province of Maffachufetts- 
 Bay. Upon this fhore farther northward is the river of 
 St. John’s, ten leagues diftant from the gut of Anna- 
 polis ; this is a profitable river, of long courfej a confider- 
 able tribe of the Abriaquie Indians are fettled here, but 
 always (from the indolence of the government of Nova 
 Scotia) in the French or Canada intereft. The prodigious 
 falls, or rather tides, in this river near its mouth of thirty 
 fathom, are not a catarad from rocks, but from the tide 
 being pent up in this river between two fteep moun- 
 tains. By this river and carrying-places there is a com- 
 munication with Quebec, the metropolis of Canada. 
 When we reduced Port-Royal 1710, major Livingfton 
 and St. Cafteen went by this river to acquaint the ge- 
 neral of Canada concerning that event. Higher or 
 more northward is Cape Dore, about thirty leagues from 
 Annapolis ; here is plenty of mineral coal for firing : 
 fome years fince, this affair was undertaken by a com- 
 pany, but loon dropped with lofs ; here are fome {lender 
 veins of copper ore, fome thin laminae of virgin cop- 
 per, and a gold fulphur marcafite. 
 
 Upon the eafterly fhore, or gulph of St. Laurence, is 
 Canfo gut, a fafe and fhort paffage from the Britiffi fet- 
 tlements to Canada river, fix leagues long, one league 
 
 wide s. 
 
Sect. VII. 0 / Nova Scotia. 333 
 
 wide.-, a good navigation, from the journals of Capt. 
 Gayton, anno 1 746, upon a cruize to Bay Verte. About 
 twenty-five leagues farther is Tatamaganahou, a confider- 
 able Nova Scotia French diftrift or fettlement, and good 
 road for vefiels fourteen leagues farther is Bay \ erte, 
 fhallow water, but the embarquadier from Canada, to 
 difturb us in Nova Scotia -, from this are only four miles 
 land carriage to the river of Chicanefto. Here we may 
 obferve, that upon the Chicane&o bay fide are eleven 
 fathom tide j upon the gulph of St. Laurence or Bay 
 Verte fide, are only from four to five feet tide. Farther 
 (Ifle Bonaventure and Ifle Percee intervening, where the 
 French, by treaty of Utrecht, rightfully cure dry cod 
 fifh) at the fouth entrance of the river of St. Laurence, is 
 Gafpee, a deep bay and good harbour -, here unrighteoufiy 
 the French dry cod fifh. I obferve in the late French 
 charts publilhed by authority, there is a territory pricked 
 off, called Gafpee, as if not belonging to Nova Scotia 
 or L’Acadie, ceded to Great-Britain by the treaty of 
 Utrecht. Such a paper encroachment, if not attended to, 
 may be conftrued after many years a juft claim by pre- 
 feription fuch is at prefent the difpute between the 
 Baltimore family of Maryland, and the Pen’s family of 
 Penfylvania concerning the old Dutch charts, and our 
 new charts in relation to Cape Cornelius, the louth cape 
 of Delaware Bay, and Cape Henlopen, twenty miles fouth 
 wefterly from the mouth of Delaware Bay, in running the 
 line between the three lower counties of Penfylvania and 
 
 Maryland. ‘ : . A 
 
 Nova Scotia is divided into ten or twelve diftricts •, 
 each diftrift annually chufes one deputy to be approved by 
 the commander and council at Annapolis ; he is a fort 
 of agent for the diftri<ft, and reports the ftate of the di- 
 ftrift from time to time. They are in no legiflative or 
 executive capacity ; the French milTionafles, who are not 
 only appointed by the bifhop of Quebec in CaiYada, but 
 pnder his direction (a fcandal to the indolent govern- 
 ment and garril'ons of Nova Scotia) in their- feveral di- 
 
 ftricts 
 
334 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 itricts and villages, aft as magiftrates and juftices of the 
 peace j but all complaints may be brought before the 
 commander in chief and council at Annapolis. 
 
 The New-England bills of public credit, ever fince 
 the ceffion by the treaty of Utrecht, have been their 
 common currency ; until the late intolerable deprecia- 
 tion by immenfely multiplying this credit beyond its 
 bearings, by expeditions, and, in faft, the credit of thofe 
 bills is aim oft funk [*], or rather loft > the French inha- 
 bitants abfolutely refufed them in currency. 
 
 Ifland of Sable. 
 
 THIS ifland muft be deemed in the jurifdiflion of the 
 province of Nova Scotia, as it lies upon the latitudes of 
 that coaft, though at a confiderable diftance ; and the 
 Britifh exclufive line of fifhery, by the treaty of Utrecht 
 *7 I 3> beginning at this ifland, implies the fame to be- 
 long to Great -Britain : the name is French, and we re- 
 tain it with much impropriety we ought to have tranf- 
 lated it to Sandy ifland, in the fame manner as we have 
 turned Point de Sable (a former French diftridt in St. 
 Chriflopher’s) to the prefent Britifh name Sandy point. 
 The property is loudly (that is, in the public news- 
 papers) claimed by fome private perfons I fhall not in- 
 quire into the merit of the affair 
 
 I am informed by people who were fhipwrecked there, 
 and lived fome months upon the ifland, that, from Canfo 
 to the middle of the ifland are thirty-five leagues fouth ; 
 it is a low land, with fmall rifing knowles of land called 
 downs, in form of an elbow, the bite to the northward, 
 
 [») In a meflage, Nov. 5, 174.7, from the houfe of reprefentatives 
 of the province of Maflacufetts-Bay, relating to the pay of Canada 
 forces, to their governor, it is reprefented, “ Should fttch a farther 
 “ fum be emitted, as is necefiary for the purpofe mentioned in your 
 “ Excellency’s meflage, we apprehend it muft be followed by a great 
 “ impair, if not utter lofs of the public credit, which has already been 
 ( “ greatly wounded.” Thus the odium of this iniquitous or bafe mo- 
 ney currency is thrown upon M. S— ley, by the proper money branch 
 of the legiflature, 
 
 about 
 
Sect. VII. 0 / Nova Scotia. 335 
 
 about twenty miles in length, and narrow •, by reafon of 
 fhoals of fand, fmall tides five or fix feet, and a great 
 furf, it is inaccefiible, excepting in the bite, where boats 
 may land. Formerly lome perlbns oi humanity put cattle 
 alhore to breed, for the relief of the Ihipwrecked, and 
 by multiplying, they anfwered that benevolent charitable 
 end -, until l'ome wicked, mean, rafcally people from our 
 continent, deftroyed them to make gain (thefe robbers of 
 feafaring people, called thefe depredations the making of 
 a voyage) of their hide$ and tallow. The fouth fide is in 
 43 D. 50 M. N. lat. no trees ; their principal growth is 
 juniper bulhes [0], huckle-berry bulhes [j>], cranberries, 
 bent-grafs ; lome ponds ; abundance of foxes and 
 i'eals j great fnows in winter, but do not lie long. 
 
 At this ifland, which is deemed thirty leagues eafi> 
 ward from the Cape Sable Ihore of Nova Scotia or L’A- 
 cadie, by the treaty of Utrecht 1713, begins the Bmilh 
 exclufive line of filhery, running S. W. indefinitely, and 
 including the filhing banks belonging to the illand. 
 
 Cape-Breton ijlands. 
 
 Cape-Breton cannot properly be called a Bri- 
 tifti colony, until confirmed by fome fubfequent treaty 
 of peace, and annexed to the dominions of Great- Britain ; 
 but notwithftanding its retarding the profecution of this 
 hiftory, 1 cannot avoid taking notice of the reduction of 
 Louifbourg, being in our neighbourhood, an event recent 
 and very memorable. I fhall endeavour to relate it with 
 exa&nefs and impartiality. By afcribing every ftep of it 
 
 [0] Vita Id^a angulo/a , I. B. Vaccinia nigra . Park, black worts, or 
 
 Ol Oxycoccus Jive 'vaccinia palnjiris , I. B. Mofs- berries, or marih 
 whortle-berriec ; the French of Canada call it Canneberge i it is plenty 
 all over the northern parts of North-America $ and is a molt exqui- 
 fitely agreeable acid fauce for all roaft meats, and for paltry tarts. 
 
 |>] Gramen fpicatum, feuxlimm , maritimum, maximum, fpica longior* 
 i T. Spartium, fpicatum, pungew, oceanicum, l, B. EngUft ™ Dutch (ea 
 matweed. 
 
 to 
 
336 British Settlements hi America. Part II. 
 
 to Providence, I hope it will not be conftrued as detract- 
 ing from the merits of the country of New-England, the 
 place of my abode or home. The motto may be Audaces 
 fortuna juvat , and with good propriety may be termed 
 Dignus vindice nodus , and without imputation of cant, be 
 afcribed to fome extraordinary interpofition of Provi- 
 dence in our favour : Governor Shirley, in a fpeech ob- 
 lerves, that “ fcarce fuch an inftance is to be found in 
 “ hiftory:” A colonel in this expedition gave it this turn, 
 “ That if the French had not given up Louifbourg, we 
 “ might have endeavoured to ftorm it with the famepro- 
 “ fpedt of fuccefs, as the devils might have ftormed Hea- 
 “ ven.” The annual convention of the New-England mi- 
 nifters, in their addrefs to the KING, call it, “ The 
 “ wonderful fuccefs GOD has given your American 
 “ forces.” A clergyman from London writes, “ This 
 “ profperous event can hardly be afcribed to any thing 
 “ fhort of an interpofition from Above, truly uncorrr- 
 “ mon and extraordinary.” Thefe exprefiions of the 
 Governor’s, &c. ought not to be conftrued as derogat- 
 ing from the moil bold adventure of the New-Eng- 
 landers. 
 
 The redu&ion of Louifbourg was much above our 
 capacity ; in fhort, if any one circumftance had taken a 
 wrong turn on our fide, and if any one circumftance 
 had not taken a wrong turn on the French fide, the ex- 
 pedition muft have mifcarried, and our forces would 
 have returned with fhame, and an inextricable lol's to 
 the province. As this was a private or corporation ad- 
 venture without any orders from the court of Great- Bri- 
 tain, the charges would not have been reimburfed by 
 the parliament j and the people of New-England from 
 generation to generation would have curfed the advjfers 
 and promoters of this unaccountably rafh adventure. 
 
 In the congrefs of Utrecht, when the French demanded 
 Gape Breton ifland, it was propofed, that it fhould lie in 
 common for the ufe of the Britilh and French fifliery, 
 without any fettlemcnts or forts, but open ; the French 
 
 woujd 
 
Sect. VII. Of Nov a Scotia: 337 
 
 would have acquiefced •, but in this, as in fotne other ar- 
 ticles, our abandoned wicked miniftry of that time gave 
 the French nation more than they really expetted, viz. 
 the exclufive property and dominion of the ifland, with 
 the liberty of fortifying. It is generally thought, that 
 by next peace Louifbourg will be demolilhed, and the 
 ifland laid open and in common to both nations : It is 
 certain, that the duke d’Anville had an inftru&ion, if 
 he fucceeded in recovering Louifbourg, to demolifh it. 
 
 As this was a private adventure, upon furrender, we 
 might have demolifhed it foon, and converted the artille- 
 ry, other warlike ftores, and many other valuable things, 
 to the ufe and benefit of the New-England colonies con- 
 cerned, and fo have put an end to a great accruing 
 charge ; the charge of maintaining a garrifon there 
 with men, provifions, warlike ftores, and repairs in 
 time of peace, will be a great and unprofitable article of 
 national expence, and as both nations are much in debt, 
 neither of them will incline to be at the charge, but 
 agree to demolifh it. As Great-Britain are a {mail peo- 
 ple, but at prefent matters at fea, their game is to pro- 
 cure all the advantages of an extenfive commerce ; we 
 are not capable of peopling and maintaining land-ac- 
 quirements : Perhaps the promoters of this very popular 
 adventure do not receive the fincere thanks of the mini- 
 ftry or managers at the court of Great-Britain (this may 
 be the reafon of the remoras in our folliciting a [r] reim- 
 burfement) becaufe thereby they have incurred, to pleafe 
 the populace, an annual charge of 60,000 /. fterling per 
 
 [r] Perhaps oar agent or agents at home (who are in the nature of 
 attorniesfor the province or corporation) to ingratiate themfelves with 
 our legiflature, have represented the affair wrong, which has induced 
 them, in quality of a colony legiflature, to count their chicken before 
 they are hatched, and, in fome fenfe, to preferibe to the lovereign le- 
 giflature of Great-Britain, concerning the difpofition of this money. 
 There is a late incident not in our favour, the duke of Newcallle, con- 
 cerned in all our colony expeditions, is removed from being elde 
 fecretary, that is, of the fouthern provinces, to which Ireland and the 
 plantations are annexed. * ''**'*' 
 
 Vol. I. z anmmu ' 
 
British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 annum , or 600,000/. New-England currency, a conuder- 
 able article where ways and means were difficult. 
 
 If the a£t of parliament againft impreffing of feamen 
 in the fugar-iflands, had been extended to the northern 
 American colonies, we ffiould have been eafy under a 
 Britifh fquadron ftationed at Bofton, and their bills for 
 home fupplies, would have made good returns for our mer 
 chants our traders could not have fuffered above two or 
 three per cent, difference of infurance, which is a trifle com- 
 pared with the great charge incurred by reducing of 
 Louifbourg, and of maintaining it during the war. 
 
 Here I ihall give fome ffiort account of evenementr, 
 in the northern parts of North-America, from the com- 
 mencement of the prefent French war to the prefen t time 
 May 1748 ; I Ihall not notice fmall affairs, which do not 
 require mention in a general hiftory. 
 
 The French declared war againft Great-Britain March 
 1 5, 1 744, N. S. Great-Britain declared war againft 
 France March 29, 1744, O. S. The French in thefe 
 parts had more early intelligence of the war ; at Bofton 
 we did not proclaim this war until June 2. May 1 3, M. 
 Du Vivier, with a few armed fmall veffels, and about 900 
 regular troops and militia from Louifbourg, takes Canfo 
 without any refiftance, and carries the nominal four 
 companies, being from feventy to eighty foldiers, and 
 the few inhabitants, prifoners to Louifhourg. . 
 
 Here is a notorious inftance of the French too forward 
 rafh condudt ; contrary to exp refs inftruftions fent by the 
 court of France to the garrifon of Louifbourg, along with 
 the declaration of war (my information was from M. le 
 Marquis de la Maifon Forte, captain of theVigilant) that 
 confidering the weak and mutinous ftate of their garrt- 
 fon, it was not advifeable for them, until further orders, 
 to attempt any expedition which might alarm the P°P U * 
 lous neighbouring Britifh colonies. 2. If inftead ot 
 taking the infignificant poft (it did not deferve die name 
 of fort) of Canfo in their neighbourhood, the fooner to 
 humour the vanity of an eclat ; had they with the fame 
 
Sect. VII. Of Nova Scotia. 339 
 
 force gone diredtly to Annapolis, by furprize, it would 
 have eafily fubmitted. 
 
 About the lame time a fmall inconfiderable arma* 
 ment from I,oililbourg, commanded by M. de la Brotz, 
 made io me depredations about St. Peters of Newfound- 
 land, and threatened Placentia fort. This de la Brotz, 
 in a French privateer Hoop of eighteen guns and ninety- 
 four men, was foon after this taken by the Mallachufetts . 
 
 g 'ovince fnow, Capt. Tyng, upon the coaft of New- 
 ngland, and carried into Bolton. A fmall privateer 
 from Loliifboufg takes a (loop with whale-oil aboard 
 from Nantucket ifland bound to Bolton. 
 
 See the fefrion of Nova- Scotia, p. 319, for the at- 
 tempts againlt Annapolis in June, by fome Indians under 
 the direction of M. Lutre, a French miffionary prieit*, 
 and in September, by fome French and Indians, com- 
 manded by M. du Vivier, who burnt Canfo in May. 
 
 The end of July, Capt. Roufe, in a Bolton privateer, 
 arrived at St. John’s harbour in Newfoundland from the 
 great banks; he brought in eight French Ihips with 
 90,000 mud-filh. In Augult, Capt. Roule, in confort- 
 lhip with Capt. Cleves, in a Ihip and fome fmall craft, 
 and fifty- marines, fitted out by the Britifll man of war 
 llationed at Newfoundland, fail in quell of the French 
 Ihips that cure cod-filh in the northern harbours of New- 
 foundland; Augult 18, at Fifhot, they took five good 
 French Ihips, fome dried filh, but not well cured, and 
 feventy tons of liver-oil.; thence they proceeded to the 
 harbours of St. Julian and Carroes. Capt. Roufe hereby 
 merited, and accordingly was made a poll or rank captain 
 in the Britilh navy. 
 
 In September, dies Du Quefnel, the French governor 
 of Cape-Breton, a good old officer ; and was fucceeded in 
 command by M. du Chambon, an old poltroon. 
 
 In Oftobfcr, Capt. Spry, in the comet bomb, upon the 
 coalt of New- England, takes a French pri ateer in her 
 firlt voyage or cruize, Capt. i ,e Grocz. hxteeaguns, 100 
 men, whereof fome were irilh Roman catholic foldiers 
 
 Z 2 formerly 
 
340 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 formerly of [r] Phillips’s regiments from Canfo : this pri- 
 vateer was called Labradore, from a gut in Cape- Breton 
 where fhe was built •, fhe had taken two or ‘three of our 
 coafters from Philadelphia. About this time Capt. Wa- 
 terhoufe, in a Bolton privateer, refufed a French Eaft-In- 
 dia fhip richly laden ; and Capt. Loring, in a fmall Bo- 
 fton privateer, was taken by a new French man of war 
 from Canada bound to Louilbourg. 
 
 Nov. i g, fails from Louilbourg the French grand 
 fleet of filh fhips, of fir {hips from Canada, £?c. This 
 fleet confided of three French men of war, fix Eaft-India 
 iliips, thirty-one other fhips, nine brigantines, five fnows, 
 and two fchooners ; feven veflels remained to winter at 
 Louilbourg. 
 
 This is a lhort hiftory of the fea campaign (as the 
 French exprefs it) in the northern parts of North-Ame- 
 rica, for anno 1 744. 
 
 The French people tranfported from Louilbourg to 
 France (including the Vigilant’s men) preceding July 
 17, 1745, 4130, whereof 1822 via Bofton, and feventy- 
 fix via New-Hampfhire. The French, while in Bofton, 
 were allowed in old tenor per week, viz. an inhabitant 
 from Cape-Breton 20 s. a failor 15*. captain of the 
 Vigilant 5/. lecond captain 3/. each officer 40 s. 
 
 Anno 1 745, in March [/], La Renommee, a F rench 
 frigate of thirty-two guns, 350 feamen, and fifty marines, 
 charged with public difpatches, and defigned for obferva- 
 tion, in cruizing along the Cape Sable coaft, met with 
 feveral of our fmall armed veflels, and, with the Con- 
 necticut tranfports, which upon any other occafion lhe 
 might have deftroyed with eafe : If lhe had put into 
 Louilbourg, by the addition of good officers, of men, and 
 of ftores, the garrifon would have been encouraged, and 
 perhaps have rendered our expedition vain. But having 
 
 f/J In this Tegiment they have been much guilty of enlifting Roman 
 catholics, becaufe cheap and eaftly to be got. 
 
 [/] This was the bell advice boat the French had, fhe was taken in 
 a voyage to Hilpaniola. ^ 
 
Sect. VII. Of Nova Scotia. 34 1 
 
 difcovered an expedition againft Louifbourg in great for- 
 wardness, (lie made the beft of her way to carry immediate 
 advice thereof to France ; and a fquadron, under the 
 command of M. Perrier, was foon fitted out from Breft 
 for the relief of Louifbourg. La Renommee failed in 
 this fquadron, fhe was an exquifite failor, and at length 
 taken by the Dover, 1747. 
 
 In May, the [«] Vigilant, a French man of war of 
 fixty-four guns, and 560 men, with a good laud-fall, in- 
 ftead of going directly into the harbour of Louifbourg, 
 attacked a Britifh man of war of forty guns, the Mer- 
 maid, capt. Douglafs. This prudent officer by a running 
 fight decoyed the French {hip into the clutches of com- 
 modore Warren in the Superbe of fixty guns ; in com- 
 pany were alfo the Eltham of forty guns, the Mafia- 
 
 Commanded by M. le Marquis de la Maifon Forte, (on-in-law 
 to M. Chiconeau, firft phyfician to the French king. This gentleman 
 was too rafh in firing ; as he met with Britifh men of war, he fhould 
 have made the beft of his way to port, and only have put his men in a 
 po ft ure to prevent boarding, without firing, which ftops the (hip's way, 
 and have received the fire of our fhips filently. Notwichftanding this 
 mifconduft, the marquis was a man of good fenfe and obfervation ; 
 he made this good remark, that the French officers of Louifbourg, in 
 bad policy, hindered the Englifh from viewing at all times the llrength 
 of their forts ; becaufe if the Englifh had been well informed of its 
 ftrength, the molt fanguine, rafh, wrongheaded perfon, if not a natural 
 fool, could not have imagined fuch a redu&ion without regular troops, 
 and without artillery ; our proper cannon (the 10 guns of 1 8 lb. fhot 
 lent us from New-York excepted) were bad, old, and honey-combed ; 
 four of them fplit in firing. He further well obferved, that our allow- 
 ing the French officers prifoners freely to view Bofton and the country 
 of New- England, would effedlually difeourage and forbid any French 
 attempt to invade a country fo well peopled. 
 
 Here we may obferve, that the warlike names of the French men of 
 war, found more elegant, proper, and bold, than the flat appellations 
 of the Britifh men of war, by the names of counties, towns, and per- 
 fons : for inftance, in the French navy there are, le Terrible, l’Ardent, 
 le Fougueux, le Mars, le Neptune, le Jafon ; le Vigilant, le Gloire, la 
 Renommee, &c. In the Englifh navy our names are flat, the Kent, 
 the Devonshire, the Cumberland, the London, the Edinburg, the 
 Chefter; the Prince Frederick, the Princefs Mary, the Wager, 
 (Stc. . r 
 
 Z 3 chufetts 
 
342 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 chufletts frigate of twenty guns, and the Shirley galley, 
 of twenty guns-, the Vigilant ftruck to the Mermaid, 
 May 18, and vyas manned chiefly from New-England : 
 if the Vigiiant had arrived in Louifbourg, confidering 
 the many good officers aboard, a large number of Tailors 
 and marines, with great quantities of flores, we fhould 
 have been difappointed in the reduction of Louifbourg. 
 
 If the propolal made three days before the Vigilant 
 was feized, had taken place, viz. of laying up the men 
 of war in Chapeau rouge bay, and landing the failors 
 and marines to join our fieging army, the Vigilant 
 would have got in and fruftrated the reduction of Louif- 
 bourg. 
 
 M. Marin, after a vain attempt againft Annapolis in 
 Nova Scotia, with 900 french and Indians, in fmall 
 {loops and canoes, was bound to the relief of Louifbourg 
 by molefting the fiege ; in Afmacoufe harbour they were 
 difperfed by fome of our fmall armed veflels J une 1 5 ; 
 fee Nova Scotia feftion, p. 321. 
 
 The French fquadfon offeVen men of war, commanded 
 by M. Perrier, defigned for the relief of Louifbourg, fet 
 out from France too late. July 19, in N. lat. 43 D. 45 
 M- W. long, from London 40 D. 30 M. E. off the banks 
 of Newfoundland, took our prince of Orange maft fhip 
 lieutenant-governor Clarkof New-York aboard •, here the 
 French learnt that Louifbourg had furrendered •, without 
 this intelligence, they would have become a prey to our 
 Louifbourg fquadron 1 the French altered their meafures, 
 and in a ftorm were difperfed ; laGalette of 32 guns did 
 not rendezvous ; the Mars 66 guns, St. Michael 62 guns; 
 and the Renommee of 32 gyns, put back to France ; the 
 Parfait 46 guns, Argonaute 46 guns, and le Tournoir 
 32 guns, put into the harbour of Carrous in the northern 
 parts of Newfoundland 51 D 5 M. N. lat. lay there three 
 >veeks, and fail a convoy for the French fifh fhipS. 
 
 Some homeward-bound rich French fhips, ignorantot 
 this event, came before Louifbourg to refrefh, and were 
 taken by our Ihios ^ as all the Britifti men of war had 
 
 entered 
 
Sect. VII. Of Nova Scotia. . 343 
 
 entered into a contraft of joint lharing, I ftiall not P ; irti- 
 cularize the (hips that made the feizures. J tily 24 > they 
 took an Eaft-India fliip from Bengal, value 75,00c /. 
 fterling •, foon after they took another Eaft-India fliip. 
 Augult 22, was taken a South Sea fliip (decoyed by the 
 Bofton packet captain Fletcher) value about 500,000 '. 
 
 fterling. _ , 
 
 In July, we fent fome fmali craft to St. John s ifland 
 to bring away the French inhabitants, to be tranfported 
 to F rance : fome of our men imprudently and too ie- 
 curely went afliore ; they were ambufcaded by fome 
 French and Indians ; we loft twenty-eight men killed and 
 
 captivated. , 
 
 Qct. 5. failed five men of war, via Newfoundland with 
 the two Eaft-India fliips for England, to be condemned 
 there, conformably to an act of parliament •, the South Sea 
 fliip, for certain reafons, was condemned as unfit to pro- 
 ceed : the Vigilant, Chefter, and Louilbourg fire-lbip 
 
 were left to winter there. . , 
 
 Our provincial privateer fnow captain Smithurlt, was 
 loft in a ftorm, and all the men drowned. 
 
 Our fea campaign, anno 1746, was as follows : In the 
 autumn 1745, were ftupped off trom Gibraltar the two 
 regiments, foot, of Fuller and Warburton, withthreecom- 
 panies of Frampton’s regiment •, they arrived in the win- 
 ter upon this bad coaft (I mean the winter coaft of New- 
 England, Nova Scotia, and Cape-Breton) and therefore 
 put°into Virginia to wait the fpring feafon •, they arrived 
 at Louilbourg May 24, 1746, and relieved our New- 
 England militia of about 1500 men-, they had kept gar- 
 rifon there at the charge of Great-Britain from the lur- 
 render of the place June 17, 1745; commodore Warren 
 received acommifiion as governor, and colonel Warbui- 
 ton as lieutenant-governor of the garrifon of Louilbourg, 
 and territories thereunto belonging. Admiral Warren s 
 occafions called him home, and Mr Know es was ap- 
 pointed governor and commodore of a fmali fquadron 
 
344 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 there ; it is faid, he behaved in a moft imperious difguft- 
 ful manner. 
 
 Admiral Townfhend, with a fquadron, was ordered 
 from our Weft- India fugar i (lands, for the protection of 
 Louifbourg ; he continued there in harbour all the time 
 that Duke d’Anville’s French fquadron was upon our 
 coaft, without giving them any moleftation in their great 
 diftrefs, doubtlefs from fome fecret inftruCtions, which 
 he did not think proper to communicate to Mr. Knowles. 
 Town(hend with eight (hips failed in November from 
 Louifbourg for England. 
 
 The ftory of d’Anville’s expedition that autumn in 
 thefe feas, we have already related in the feCtion of Nova 
 Scotia, p. 322. 
 
 In the fummer, by an order from home, the leveral 
 northern colonies railed forces towards the reducing of 
 Canada; fee p. 324. This was perhaps only a ftate- 
 amufement, without a real defign to profecute the af- 
 fair: the Mafiachufetts-Bay voted 3000 men, whereof 
 2.000 were enlifted •, and by an order from home, they 
 were difmified in October 1747, after having further in- 
 volved the province in a confiderable debt for enlifting, 
 victualling, and providing of tranfports. 
 
 Anno 1747* in the fpring, a French fquadron with 
 Tranfports and land forces, fitted out in France, for the 
 annoyance of Cape-Breton, and reduction of Annapolis 
 of Nova Scotia, were intercepted, beginning of May, by 
 admirals Anfon and Warren’s fquadron; fee p. 326. 
 M. de Ramfay, with his party of Canadian French and 
 Indians, had wintered at ChicaneCto, to join the land 
 forces from France ; but upon the news of La Jonquiere’s 
 difafter, they returned to Canada, and from that time 
 to this prefent writing May 1748, Annapolis has been 
 in perfeCt fecurity and tranquillity ; there is at this time 
 a rumour of fome expedition on foot in Canada. 
 
 Beginning of winter commodore Knowles from Louif- 
 bourg with a final 1 fquadron, was joined at Bofton by the 
 
 ftation 
 
Sect. VII. 0/ Nova Scotia. 345 
 
 ftation Hiips of North- America, leaving their trade ex- 
 pofed to the depredations of French and Spanifh priva- 
 teers ; he failed to our windward fugar lllands, anc from 
 thence to Jamaica i having made up a confiderable iqua- 
 dron with land forces aboard, he was to diftreis the 
 French harbours and fettlements on Hifpamola (the 
 French call the ifland St. Domingue) as much as polh- 
 ble ; he has already reduced and demohfhed a ftrong fort 
 in Port Louis. Here, 1741, lay a large French iquadron 
 under the marquis d’Antin, defigned to prevent thejunc- 
 tion of Vernon and Ogle, or to awe our expedition again it 
 Carthagena, or to carry home the Spanifh plate fleet ; 
 neither of thefe were effected, but returned to France in 
 4 very diftreffed condition. 
 
 Anno 1748. the adjacent Britilh provinces, or co - 
 lonies, are negotiating an expedition agam^ft a French 
 fort at Crown-Point, upon the Dutch fide of Lake Cham- 
 plain, and confequently within the jurifdiction of New- 
 York-, when the affair is narrowly can vafled, pei haps it 
 will be deemed [wj a filly, but chargeable affair : as hi- 
 therto nothing is concluded upon, we mult drop it. 
 
 Twl As to the reduction of Crown-Point a French fort, and lately a 
 Place of arms for the annoyance of the BritHh fettlements of New - 
 York and the N. W. frontiers of New-England, 1 . Unjels ^1 Canada 
 were in courfe to be reduced, which we cannot prctend to effeft w th- 
 out an armament from Great- Britain ; this, when reduced, mult either 
 be demolilhed but foon rebuilt again by the French, at one tenth of 
 our chat efn’reducing it; or garrifoned ftrongly, at a great charge, 
 
 becaufe .of *£*£?*?% 
 
 pfdSn. or' government, and confequently not under our 
 
 been pradifed by the Dutch fettlement, but at prelent bnglilh govern- 
 ment of New-York ; for inftance, in the late queen Anne's war with 
 
 ^ failed..* of «gUnd , e. prtfot .. 
 
3+6 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 Cape-Breton was formerly in the Nova Scotia diftridt ; 
 the French call it L’lfle Royal ; by commiffion, m! 
 Subercafle, the laft French governor of L’Acadie, is 
 called governor of L’Acadie and Cape-Breton iflands, 
 from Cape Rofiers at the entrance of St. Laurence ri- 
 ver. to Quenebec river. By the treaty of Utrecht 1713, 
 all L’Acadie or Nova Scotia was quit-claimed by France 
 to Great-Britain ; excepting the Cape-Breton iflands,- 
 that is, all the iflands in the gulph of St. Laurence : thefe 
 Great-Britain quit-claimed to France. 
 
 The great ifland of Cape-Breton lies from 45 D. to 
 47 D. N. lat. its moft northerly point diftant fifteen 
 leagues from Newfoundland, the gulph of St. Laurence 
 intervening ; here a few cruizers might preclude the 
 French Canada trade ; it is feparated from Nova Scotia 
 by a thorough-fare, which we call the Gut of Canfo; the 
 French call it the Paflageof Fronfac. The Mermaid a 
 Britifh man of war of 40 guns, 1747, upon a cruize, 
 failed through this gut, found it fix leagues long, is 
 narrow, but good anchorage, flood from the north-, from 
 the Gut of Canfo forty leagues to Bay Verte, where are 
 about ten or twelve French huts, upon the Nova Scotia, 
 fhore, fhallow water ; here is the communication of the 
 Canadians with our perfidious French of Nova Scotia, 
 by a fhort land-carriage or neck of about four miles to 
 Chicanefto. Tatamaganahoe is a large French village, 
 fourteen leagues weft foutherly from Bay Verte, a harbour 
 for large fliips. 
 
 Louilbourg, formerly called Englilh harbour, is in N. 
 lat. 45 D. 55 M. the pafiage by lea from thence to Que- 
 bec is about 200 leagues, and has been performed in three 
 days. In Cape-Breton ifland, there is a gut lake or in- 
 
 advifeable, tacitly to confent to the continuance of Crown-Point as a 
 rendezvous and place of arms for the French and their Indians ; thus 
 the eaftern frontiers of New-England would be fafe, formerly much 
 harrafied by the enemy Indians. This war they have not fuffered 
 much 5 our weflern frontier expofed to the excurftons from Crown- 
 Point, are covered by New-York and the late addition to the govern- 
 ment of New-Hamp/hire when fettled. 
 
Sect. VII. QfNovA Scotia. 347 
 
 land Tea, called Labradore about twenty leagues long, and 
 three or four leagues wide •, here they build fmall veffels; 
 the French privateer called Labradore, captain Le Grotz, 
 taken by the Comet bomb, 1745, was built there. In 
 the north part of the illand is a good harbour ; at. 
 Anne’s, is a good foil ; here was laid out fort Dauphin, 
 to be found in the French charts, as it finilhed. 
 
 The other illands in the gulf of St. Laurence are pri- 
 vate French property ; St. John’s and the Magdalene 
 iflands were granted to the Conte de St. Pierre •, St. 
 John’s is about twenty leagues long, good land, many 
 French and Indians ; governor Knowles of Louilbourg 
 negle&ed the pofieflion of it. The illand of Anticofh is 
 the property of Sieur Joliet, a Canadian •, it lies in the 
 mouth of the river St. Laurence, is large but lrthofpita- 
 ble •, no good timber, no good harbour •, plenty or large 
 cod-filh : below Gafpee, on the coalt of Nova Scotia, at 
 L’lfle Perceeand L’lfle Bonaventure already mentioned. 
 
 the French make cod-fifh. 
 
 After a Ihort defcription of the late French colony or 
 Cape-Breton iflands, 1 fliall briefly, without interruption 
 and at one view, relate that memorable event of reducing 
 Louilbourg, the French American Dunkirk, by a few 
 New-England militia, with the countenance of lome ac- 
 cidental Britilh men of war. 
 
 When Louilbourg was given to us by the French, we 
 found 600 regular troops in garrifon, with about 1300 
 militia, whereof about one half were called in from the 
 adjacent fettlements *, the main follee or ditch eighty 
 feet wide ; the ramparts thirty feet high (die fcalado or 
 fcaling ladders, which we fent by the direction of Mr. 
 
 Bradftreet, atprefent lieutenant-governor of a fort in St. 
 
 Tohn’s harbour, Newfoundland, were too Ihort by ten 
 feet, and never were ufed) upon the town ramparts were 
 mounted upwards of fixty-five cannon of various fizes; 
 the entrance of the harbour defended by a grand battery 
 of about 30 guns of 42 pound ball, and by the illand 
 battery of 30 guns of 28 pound ball ; provifions for fix 
 
548 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 months •, ammunition fufficient, if well hulbanded from 
 the beginning ; ten mortars of thirteen inches, and fix of 
 nine inches. 
 
 Mr. Vaughan of Damarafcote, in the territory of Sa- 
 gadahock, in the dominions of New-England, a whim- 
 fical wild projector in his own private concerns, entirely 
 ignorant of military affairs, and of the nature of the de- 
 fence or ftrength of a place regularly and well fortified 
 at an immenie expenc , dreamt or imagined that this 
 place might be reduced by a force confiding of 1500 raw 
 militia, i’ome [x] fcaling ladders, and a few armed fmall 
 craft of New-England. 
 
 It is laid, that [jy] governor Shirley was taken with 
 this hint or conceit, but imagined that 3000 militia, with 
 two forty guns king’s fhips, might do better. This ex- 
 pedition was refolved upon and prolecuted, without any 
 certainty of Britifh men of war to cover the fiege, and 
 prevent fupplies ; a packet was lent to commodore 
 Warren, ftationed at our Weft-India fugar iflands, by a 
 loaded lumber (loop, defiring the affiftance of two fhips 
 of 50 or 40 guns, and if he could not fpare two, to fend 
 one, which perhaps might be fufficient : Mr. Warren’s 
 anfwer was, That for want of further inrtru&ions from 
 the admiralty, he could in courfe fend only two fhips to 
 the New-York and Bofton ftations ; but foon after this 
 he received inftru&ions to proceed to North-America 
 with the Superbe 60 guns, Launcefton 40 gus, and 
 Mermaid 40 guns, io order to fuccour Annapolis, or any 
 of his majefty’s fettlements againft attempts of the 
 enemy, and to make attempts againft the enemy. In 
 proceeding to Bofton for provifions and other fupplies, 
 fome fifhing fchooners, by letters from governor Shirley 
 informed him, that the expedition had proceeded, and 
 
 [x] The ladders fent with this expedition were ten foot too ftiort* 
 from bad intelligence ; but if fufficiently long, they were not practica- 
 ble. 
 
 (jO In our plantations fome captain-generals and colonels, even of 
 regular troops, are not to be fuppofed military men, 
 
 defired. 
 
Sect. VII. 0 / Nova Scotia.’ 349 
 
 defired that he would immediately cover them by his 
 protection, without touching in at Bolton •, the good, 
 affidupus, and public-fpirited commodore Warren direct- 
 ly proceeded and joined this adventure •, he is now an 
 admiral in the navy, and knight of the Bath, in reward 
 for his good fer vices- 
 
 The aflembly of Maffachufietts-Bay, Jan. 25,1744-5* 
 by a majority of one vote, refolved upon this expedi- 
 tion •, Feb. 2, the enliftments began for voluntiers, and 
 failed the end of March for Canfo, 3000 men complete •, 
 we had in good conduft and precaution, three weeks be- 
 fore this, lent out fome privateers to block up the har- 
 bour of Louilbourg. At Canfo they remained three 
 weeks ; at this time the Ihore of Cape-Breton was im- 
 practicable from fields of ice which came down by thaws 
 from the river of St. Laurence or Canada, and by eafter- 
 Iy winds drove upon that coaft : at Canfo was built a 
 block-houfe of eight fmall cannon, garriloned with eighty 
 men. The expedition failed from Carifo, April 29, and 
 next day arrived in Chapeau-rouge bay, a little fouth of 
 Louilbourg. Here, in landing our men, we were op- 
 pofed by a body of upwards of 100 regular troops 
 (whereof twenty-four were of the Swifs company) com- 
 manded by Maurepang, formerly a noted fea-rover •, we 
 fuffered no Ipfc, the French retired with the lofs of eight 
 men killed, and ten made prifoners : from Canfo we had 
 fent a fmall party to St. Peter’s, a fmall French fettle- 
 ment upon Cape-Breton, and burnt it. 
 
 May 2, we detached 400 men to march rounds under 
 cover of the hills, to the N. E. harbour of Louilbourg. 
 Upon the furprize of our men’s burning the ftore-houles 
 and filh-ftages there, about one mile from the grand bat- 
 tery, the troops in the grand battery (to reinforce the 
 town, the harbour being fufficiently guarded by the lflaiid 
 battery) retired to the town precipitately, without de- 
 ftroying the trunnions and carriages of their cannon, 
 only fpiking or nailing them, which were foon drilled. 
 
British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 and fervcd againft the town [2] we took pofieffion 
 Of it May 3, and found 350 fhells of thirteen, and thirty 
 of ten inches, and a large quantity of fhot. 
 
 The New-England militia before the town were in all 
 about 3600 [<*] voluntiers, whereof not exceeding 150 
 
 [z] Here we may obferve, that by the Herculean labour of our mi- 
 litia (many of them were ufed to mailing and logging) whofe great 
 atchievements were moll remarkable in quality of pioneers or la- 
 bourers, they dragged thefe heavy cannon upon fledges over morafles 
 not pradticable by horfes or oxen. By good providence, they had no 
 occaflon to (hew their conduft and courage in repulflng of falfes (May 
 8, there was a fmall infignificant fally from the town ; it was faid, that 
 the mutinous difcontented garrifon could not be trulled without the 
 works, for fear of defertion) or llorming of the works. Some capricious 
 writers have Called in queftion the New-England conduft, but not 
 their courage. 
 
 S o] The New-England armament for the redu&ion of Louifbourg, 
 . in confequence towards the acquifition of the province of Cape- 
 Breton iflands, or iflands in the gulf of St. Laurence, was as follows: 
 Province of Maflachufletts Bay. 
 
 Land-forces. 
 
 Regiments of Lieut, gen. Pepperell 
 Brig. gen. Waldo 
 Colonels Moulton 
 
 Col. Gorham, called of the whale-boats 
 Col. Dwight and iieut. col. Gridley , of the train of artillery 
 Capt. Bernard’s independent company of carpenters or artificers 
 Sea-forces. 
 
 Hale 
 
 Willard 
 
 Richmond 
 
 Ship Maflachufletts frigate, 
 
 Caefar 
 
 Shirley -Galley 
 
 capt. Tyng 
 
 Sneliing 
 
 Roufe 
 
 20 guns 
 
 20 
 
 20 
 
 Snow Prince of Orange 
 Brig. Bollon packet 
 Sloops 
 
 Ship hired from Rhode-ifland Griffin 
 
 Griffin 
 
 Smithurfl 
 
 Fletcher 
 
 Donahew 
 
 Saunders 
 
 Bofch 
 
 16 
 
 16 
 
 12 
 
 8 
 
 8 
 
 20 
 
 Colony of Conne£licut. 
 
 Land-forces. 
 
 One reg. of 500 men. Major general Wolcot. 
 
 By fea. 
 
 Thompfon 
 Colony (loop 
 
 men 
 
Sect. VII. 0/ Nova Scotia. 
 
 35 1 
 
 men were loft (the prince of Orange fnow excepted, loft 
 in a ftorm) by fortune of war, viz, killed by burlling of 
 cannon, by Ihot from the town, killed and drowned in 
 the rafh attempt againft the idand battery. Upon our 
 firft encamping, from the damp of the ground, there 
 happened a general flux, or rather Ample diarrhoea or 
 
 Land-forces none. 
 
 By fea their colony Hoop. 
 
 The colonies fouth of New. England furnifhed no quotas of land or 
 tea- force, they made fome fmall prefents of provilions. "I he Governor 
 of New-York lent ten good cannon of i 8 lb. fhot ; without thefe, and 
 the French unexpectedly abandoning their grand battery, our expedition 
 mull have been iueffe&ual. Governor Shirley fays, “ That without 
 4f thefe cannon, we could not have had the lame profpect of iuccels, 
 “ and all other preparations muft have been fruitrated.” 
 
 At the delire of general Pepperell and commodore Warren,- in June, 
 the MaffachulTetts-Bay fent a reinforcement of 400 men, and Con- 
 nedicut fent 200 men ; they did not arrive until after the liege was 
 over. When the town or fort was in our pofleffion, the New England 
 militia garrilon proving very lickly, they were recruited from time to 
 time by the colonies of New-England. 
 
 The Britifh men of war that arrived from time to time before 
 Louilbourg, intimidated the garrifon ; they were 
 
 Commodore Warren’s fquadron from the Weft-Indi'a fugar iflands, 
 the Superbe of 60 guns, Launcefton and Mermaid 40 guns each ; 
 they joined in the adventure. 
 
 The Vigilant, a French fhip of 64 guns, defigned to reinforce Loud- 
 bourg with men and ftores, was taken by Warren's fquadron, May 19, 
 and added to the fquadron ; Ihe was afterwards manned moftly from 
 New-England. 
 
 May 2a, The Princefs Mary of 60 guns, from England, wa Bolton. 
 
 The He&or of * 40 as ditto 
 
 June 10, The Chefler of 50 from England. 
 
 Province of New-Hamplhlre. 
 
 Land-forces. 
 
 One reg. of 350 men, Col. More. 
 
 By fea 
 
 Their province Hoop. 
 
 Colony of Rhode-ifland. 
 
352 British Settlements in America. Part IF. 
 
 mere loofenefs, not mortal, and foon over. After we 
 got into the town, a fordid indolence or fioth, for want 
 of [F\ difcipline, introduced putrid fevers and dy ferneries, 
 which, at length, in Auguft became'contagious, and the 
 people died like rotten fheep ; this deftroyed, or ren- 
 dered incapable of duty, one half of our militia. 
 
 During the fiege, the French made only one infigni- 
 ficant fally. May 8 •, the garrifon was mutinous, and 
 could not be trufted at large ; this rendered us fecure, 
 and the fiege was carried on in a tumultuary random 
 manner, and refembled a Cambridge commencement. 
 
 In the beginning of the fiege, fome of our men incon- 
 fiderately flrolled, and fuffered from a body of French 
 Indians. 
 
 May 1 6, a party of about ioo men in boats landed in 
 the night near the light-houfe point, to furprize our men 
 who were erefting a battery there to play upon the ifland 
 battery of the French. This party was timely difcover;d 
 and obliged to fly into the woods, and being joined by 
 fome Indians, had feveral fkirmifhes with our fcouts. 
 
 May 26, in whale-boats (fo thin and light that a fe^r 
 mufket balls are fufficient to fink them) about 400 men 
 
 Thefe effectually covered the liege by cruifing ; two fmall French 
 veilels only got in by a fog ; and when it was refolved by the lea and 
 land-officers to ltorm the town, June 18, the depended-upon attack 
 was by fea, while onr land-forces by way of diverfion made a feint 
 (but without any practicable breach) to ftorm it alhore. At that time 
 we had Britilh men of war 
 
 One of 64 guns 
 Four of 60 
 One of 50 
 Five of 40 
 
 and upon capitulation, commodore Warren's boats took the. firft 
 poffeffion of the town, and his marines mounted guard for fome 
 days. 
 
 [£] Tn military difcipline there are fundry articles befides the manual 
 txercife of the mulket and the evolutions : 1 Ihall mention upon this 
 occalion only two, 1. A due fubordination to fuperior officers or com- 
 mand, which the levelling fpirit of our Plantations does not well admit 
 of. 2. A proper care of their men, as to clean drefs, wear, eating, 
 drinking, lodging, and a proper regard to their fick. 
 
 .ralhly 
 
Sect. VII. Of Nova Scotia; 353 
 
 rafhly attempted the ifland battery, where is bad landing, 
 30 guns of 28 pound ball, and 180 men in garrifon ;) 
 we loft in this mad frolic fixty men killed and drowned, 
 and 11 6 prifoners to the French. 
 
 [ c ] As to the affair of the fiege of the town, it was in 
 this manner. In the beginning upon Greenhill, 1550 
 yards diftant from the king’s baftion, called the Citadel, 
 we erefted a battery of a very few finall cannon, one 
 thirteen inch, one eleven inch, and one nine inch mor- 
 tars they could do no execution •, May 7, a battery was 
 made at 900 yards diftance, and we fummoned the town ; 
 May 17, a battery was advanced to 2 50 yards diftance 
 
 [ c ] I (hall further mention only a few inftances of mifcondutt in the 
 managers of this expedition ; we cannot lay the blame upon the pro- 
 vince in general, viz. t. Hiring into the government’s fervice, captain 
 Snelling’s fhip that had lately imported the fmall-pox. 2. While the 
 country levies were in Bofto'n, in one day, March 5, the fraall pox ap- 
 peared in threedifferent parts of the town ; no care was taken to re- 
 move thefe levies to fome of the many convenient iflands in Bolton bay j 
 miraculoufly, by the care of fome guardian angel or genius, they 
 efcaped the fmall-pox, which would have rendered the expedition 
 abortive in embryo. 3. Some companies were fitted out with unfer- 
 viceable Briftol guinea arms (fome of thofe arms notorioufly bad, were 
 called in) inftead of allowing a finall bounty to thofe men that would 
 have carried their own good arms. 4. Slops or cloathing were not 
 fent to our troops fooner than October ; during the fiege, that is, our 
 being in the field, was conftant dry favourable weather ; next day, 
 June 18, after we had pofleffion of the town, the raining feafon fet in, 
 which, for want of our men being cloathed and well lodged, would 
 have broke up the fiege. 
 
 By way of amufement, I may take notice of fome New-England 
 poems, upon this occafion (rot in difparagement to the country ; here 
 at prefent fome true poetical genius’s begin to appear.) I (hall mention 
 only two inltances ; the firft is by Mr. N iles, in the loweft doggrel rhime, 
 in imitation of Homer’s lifts and characters of the commanding officers 
 the fiege of Troy ; the inltance is, 
 
 Waldo commiffion’d is a Colonel, 
 
 And o'er land force Brigadier general. 
 
 The other is by an anonymous author in the higheft bombaft. 
 
 And that New-England fchemes Old furpafs. 
 
 As much as folid gold does tinkling brafs ; 
 
 And that a Peppercll’s and a Warren’s name 
 May vie with Marlborough and a Blake for fame. 
 
 Voi.. I, A a 
 
 from 
 
354 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 from the weft gate •, May 20, on the other fide of a creek 
 was eredted a battery of five 42 pounders, called Tid- 
 comb’s battery, to batter the circular battery and ma- 
 gazine. 
 
 We made no regular approaches by trenches, that is, 
 by parallels and zigzags, but bombarded the town at 
 random, and did mucli damage to the roofs of the 
 houfes ; the weft gate was defaced •, the adjoining cur- 
 tain and flank of the king’s baftion were much hurt, but 
 no prafticable breach. 
 
 The Canterbury and Sunderland being arrived, it was 
 refolved to ftorm the town by fea, June 18, by three 
 60, one 50, and four 40 gun (hips, w r hile the land- 
 forces made a feint or diverfion afhore ; the French 
 were afraid to ftand it, and capitulated June 17, to 
 march out with the honours of war, not to ferve for 
 twelve months ; to be allowed all their perfonal effedls, 
 and to be tranfported to France, at the charge of Great- 
 Britain. 
 
 The place was put under the joint adminiftration of 
 Pepperell and Warren •, and all future charges were to 
 be defrayed by their bills upon the pay-malter general 
 and Ordnance. According to the enlifting proclamation, 
 our militia were to be difcharged lb foon as the expedi- 
 tion was over ; governor Shirley arrived in Louifbourg, 
 Aug. 1 7, and perfuaded them to continue ; but not- 
 withftanding, if the Vigilant, the Chelter, and Louif- 
 bourg firelhip had not continued there over winter, the 
 militia might have been dii'couraged, and the place 
 in danger of being furprized by the French, and their 
 Indians from Canada, Nova Scotia, and St. John’s 
 ifland. 
 
 When the Launcefton’s guns were landed and mount- 
 ed upon the ramparts, we had 266 good cannon mount- 
 ed in the town and batteries. Capt. Montague of the 
 Mermaid carried home the advice of Louilbourg being 
 furrendered. 
 
 As 
 
Sect. VII. Of Nova ScotiaT 3 $5 
 
 As it is probable that Louifbourg will be demolifhed 
 upon a peace, I fhall not give any defcription of the 
 town and its fortifications •, I only mention that from 
 the grand battery, ereded to range and defend the en- 
 trance of the harbour, to the light-houle at the mouth 
 of the harbour, are about 2000 yards * after we were 
 in poiTefiion of this battery, and drilled fome of the 
 great cannon, which the French had nailed and relin- 
 quifhed, the town and battery cannonaded one another 
 with a great and ufelefs expence of ammunition. This 
 folly was lefs excufable in the French, as they could not 
 pofiibly have any recruit of (lores ; the diftance from the 
 gfand battery to the circular battery of the town, is 1857 
 yards, which is too great for much good execution. 
 From Maurepas gate to the ifland battery, E. N. E. 
 1273 yards: from the ifiand battery to the light-houfe, 
 N. E. 11 33 yards. 
 
 As the French royal navy at prefent are much [d] re- 
 duced, and not capable of fending any confiderable 
 fquadron fo far aboard ; perhaps in good ceconomy and 
 with fufficient fecurity, the prefent nominal chargeable 
 corps (befides the large detachment from the train of 
 ordnance) in garrifon at Louifbourg of about 4000 
 men, may be reduced to 2000 effeitive men, and the 
 reformed men may with proper encouragement be fent 
 to fettle, and be intermixed with the French in Nova 
 Scotia •, continuing them in corps and in pay for fome 
 
 time. .. 
 
 The prefent garrifon troops of Lotfitbourg, it com- 
 plete, confiftof 
 
 [V] A little bfore the commencement of the prefent Spanifti war, 
 the French royal navy confided of 
 .(jl £hip of 90 guns * 
 
 9 of 74 
 
 4 
 
 4 
 
 of 72 
 of 64 
 
 7 Ihips of 62 guns 
 
 6 of 60 
 
 8 of 50 
 
 8 of 40 to 46 
 
 All thefe may be called line of battle (hips ; but in the progrefs of this 
 prefent French war to this writing, they are reduced to near half the 
 number, 
 
 A a 2 Fuller's 
 

 '6 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 men 
 
 Fuller’s reg- 815 fMarchincr 
 
 Warburton’s 8 1 5 < officers included j regimen ® 
 
 • 2 A. k 
 
 for officers not in-| 
 'eluded add 80 or* 
 ' more to each < 
 
 ‘ may be 
 ‘called ma- 
 
 .rines. 
 
 Frampton’s 3 comp. 245 
 SirWm.Pepperell’siooo . 
 
 Col. Shirley’s 1000 
 
 3875 
 
 The project of raffing two regiments in New-England 
 was faulty in two refpe&s. 1. A young fettlement, al- 
 ready much reduced in their young men, by late expe- 
 ditions ; to exhauH them more by Handing levies, is a 
 grievous hardfhip ; it not only retards or Hunts the 
 growth of a colony, but in fact, minorates them, and 
 puts them backwards j this is the general complaint 
 of the country •, extravagant price of labour, and want 
 of labourers. 2. The public difappointment of the 
 intereH of Great-Britain, where 2000 men are depend- 
 ed upon-, of thefe 1000 perhaps are and ever will be 
 non-effe&ives, it being impracticable for the country to 
 fpare fo many men, for Handing or continued regular 
 
 troops. . . , . , 
 
 Perhaps the fpeculative original delign, at home, 
 might appear fpecious, that is, 1. A garrifon of men 
 indigenous natives of, or habituated to, the climate. 2. 
 That by referving lome officers commiffions to the 
 difpofal of the colonies, the gentlemen of our militia 
 who had diHinguiffied themfelves in the expeditions, 
 might have fome reward for their merit this laH de- 
 fio-n was attended with the [f] inconveniency of being 
 perverted, by beflowing thele commiffions to purchafers, 
 
 to relations and to friends. 111 
 
 Some of our good farmers, artificers, and other la- 
 bourers, leaving their leveral occupations for a ffiort 
 
 |Y| When I write with freedom, impartial difinterefted readers will 
 excufc me in quality of a difinterefted hiftorian ; I have no perianal 
 difregard or malice, and write of the prelent times, as if thefe mgs 
 
 had been tranfa&ed ico years fince. 
 
 ' time, 
 
Sect. VII. Of Nova Scotia.' $$7 
 
 time, to ferve their country upon an exigency, in a mi- 
 litary way, is very laudable. ^ his was in practice amongft 
 the Romans •, fome of their great generals have upon 
 this account left the plough, and when the expedition 
 was over, ..have returned to it again •, fuch ought to be 
 rewarded with places of profit or honour, without pur- 
 chafe, fubfcriptions forprefents, alignments of their pay 
 for a time, and other [/] avaricious contrivances. 
 
 In the fumrher 1 746, the affembly of Maffachufetts- 
 Bay, fent to the court of Great-Britain [£], accounts of 
 their provincial charge in reducing of Louifbourg, to 
 the amount of about 178,000/. fterling. This affair is 
 ftill depending, and is imputed, rather to the inactivity 
 and improper application of our agents, than to dilato- 
 rinefs in the miniftry and parliament : the righteoufriefs 
 and generofity of our parliaments are notorious, and a 
 reimburfement is unqueftionable ; and if properly pulhed 
 to effeft, we might have had for fome time part, an an- 
 nual accruing intereft upon debentures of 7000 /. fterling, 
 fcr annum, which at prefent is 70,000 /. New-Englahd 
 
 r/1 Hungry or indigent animals arc voracious ; and amongft man- 
 kind this may proceed further, to a Crefcit amor mtnmi quantum itfa }t- 
 cunia crefcit , which is in itfelf indefinite. . 
 
 f A Theft accounts were in fundry articles. ' 
 
 1. Account of the hrlt mufter-rolls in the expedition to Cape-Breton, 
 as made up and paid by order of the General AiTembly of the Maffa- 
 
 chufTetts-Bay province. . c 
 
 2. Account of the feveral fums paid by the committee to the of- 
 fleers and foldiers who continued in your Majefty’s garrifon at Louif- 
 bourtr, until they were difcharged by your Majefty's order. > 
 
 a. Account of the charge of tranfport veflels employed in your 
 Maiefty’s fervice, in the expedition to CapeBreton, and for the fervice 
 of the garrifon at Louifbourg ; exdufive of thch as were laden with 
 (tores by exprefs order from the general and admiral. 
 
 4. Account of the charge of the veflels of war in the pay of the 
 Maffachufletts province, in the expedition to Cape Breton, and after 
 
 reduftion of the place. . „ , , 
 
 c Account of the coft and charge of tranfporfing warlike and other 
 {lores, for the fervice of your Majefty’s forts and garrifoQ at Louif- 
 bourg, by order of admiral Warren and general Pepperell. 
 
 With fome contingent charges. 
 
 A a 3 
 
 currency ; 
 
358 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 currency •, this would much leffen our yearly provincial 
 tax. 
 
 At Louifbourg their currency founds as if it were 
 fterling value *, Britifh coin cannot be exported, there- 
 fore Spanilh coin, which is the moft general in all the 
 commercial countries of our globe, reduced to a fterling 
 value, is called fterling by us. Immediately upon our 
 pofleffing of Louifbourg, the Gibraltar and cplonies 
 currencies cheat began to take place ; that is, the com- 
 miflaries or pay-mafters, what was charged to the pro- 
 per officers or boards at home at 5 s. fterling, they paid off 
 (to their own private advantage of 1 1 per cent, a cheat) 
 by a milled piece of eight, value 4 s. 6d. fterling. If Lou- 
 ifbourg fhould continue a garrifon, a confiderable article 
 in the Britifh annual fupply, thofe commifiaries, from 
 the example of our American colonies and Gibraltar, 
 would foon improve their profits, to pay away a light 
 piece of eight, value 31. 6 d. fterling for a Britilh crown 
 or 5 s. fterling. The impofition at Gibraltar of ir. fterling 
 for 16 d. currency and pay, it is faid, has lately been un- 
 der confideration of the Britifh parliament •, . may it in- 
 troduce the confideration of the abufes in our plantation 
 paper currencies, where the abufe is vaftly more •, in 
 Gibraltar 1 s. fterling, is paid away for a nominal 1 6 d. in 
 Maflachufletts-Bay; from a [h] very b — d adminiftration, 
 
 r h ] Lofers are indulged to complain, and naturally do complain and 
 are clamorous. Is it poffible for a man in the fpace of a year or two 
 to. be gradually robbed of one half of his perfonal eflate without com- 
 plaining ? The complaint is feafonable, being at the opening of the 
 new affembly of the province of Maffachufetts-Bay, the moll con- 
 fiderable of our colonies. 
 
 Some men do not care who finks, if they fwim ; if our eltates are 
 (fill more to be reduced by this cheating game, fome perfons will com- 
 plain more loud; and perhaps fome anecdotes or private hiftory of 
 thefe affairs, gathered from the unguarded information of fome blab- 
 bing confidents, may require to be communicated to the public : to a 
 m an aggrieved, there is fome pleafure or fatisfa£lion in venting him- 
 felf by complaining, even where there is no redrefs. _ 
 
 From time to time, anticipating the affair of currencies, referred to 
 the Appendix, may be excufed : this pernicious defolating torrent be- 
 coming more and more violent, requires a more fpeedy reliftance. 
 
 WC 
 
Sect. VII. 0/ Nova Scotia. 3?9 
 
 we have exceeded all our colonies, even North Caro- 
 lina, where their paper money was at a difcount with a 
 
 The colony of Maffachufetts-Bay was the leader of paper currencies 
 in the Britifh plantations, and have now at length carried this fraud to 
 the utmoft (even beyond North-Carolina management ;) if carried fur- 
 ther the ftaple nioft break, and the fraud of the wicked projectors (in 
 all affairs there are limits, which in the nature of things cannot be ex- 
 
 ceeded) ceafe. .. , , , 
 
 I fhall enumerate feme of the many mifchiefs attending the bad 
 fraudulent management of paper currencies. I. From an equality 
 with fterling, afterwards with proclamation value, they have reduced 
 the value ot our currency to 10 for i fterling. II. The governor and 
 legiilature keep up their falarics and wages to the fterling value, but 
 feemingly allow all other tranfaftions to run into confufion and ruinous 
 depreciations. HI. The depreciations might have in a great meafure 
 been obviated, even when there were great exigencies for prefent mo- 
 mey. Thus after the firil emiffions being 40,000/. anno 1690 and 
 1691, to pay off the public debts incurred by Phipps’s Canada expedi- 
 tion, when there was an appearance of an enfuing depreciation, if more 
 were emitted ; the government did wifely borrow the bills already 
 emitted, from the poffeffors, with good effeft, and thefe bills did not 
 depreciate. If, in the Cape-Breton, and amufing late Canada expe- 
 ditions we had done the fame, it would have had the like good effect 
 with refpeCt to the public, but would not have anfvvered the wicked 
 intentions and occafions of the promoters of thefe bills, vix. 1 . Of 
 thofe who had acquired the craft of negotiating (in troubled waters 
 good ftfhing) thefe depreciating bills to their own advantage. 2. Of 
 thofe who were to redeem their mortgaged eftates by defrauding their 
 creditors with a depreciated nominal value, inftead of the true con- 
 tracted value ; well knowing, that a multiplied paper credit, depre- 
 ciates itfelf more and more. IV. By aft of affembly, a public bill of 
 credit explicitly in its face promifmg only 2 oz. 1 jd. 8gr. filver, (hall 
 be equal to a bill promifmg 3 oz. filver ; that is, in common arith- 
 metic, 8 (hall be equal to 9. V. In the fame kind of impofitions, 
 ufed by Lewis XI V , of France, who by recoinages from time to time 
 minorated his money ; at length finding his people reduced to infen- 
 fible dupes, he faved the charge of recoining, and uttered the fame coin 
 with only fome little mark or damp, at a further depreciated value. 
 In June 1744, to fave the charge of new plates, we minorated the va- 
 lue of emiffions of November, 1741, by a few daffies upon the fame 
 
 ^Finally, fome fay, that as it is a maxim in the civil law, Quicivrn 
 ftr<varc poteft, et non fer<vat, otcidif, the proper check negative in the 
 ■jegiflature, ought to bear all the blame of thefe iniquitous depreciations 
 and abfurdities which expofe the province. 
 
 A a 4 fallacious 
 
360 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 fallacious cheating truck; it is 10 for 1 fterling; ours is 
 fomewhat worfe in good bills fterling. 
 
 From the furrender of Louifbourg and territories 
 thereto belonging, June 17, 1745, to June 1748, there 
 have been feveral tranfient commandants, but no con- 
 tinued eftablifhed governor ; if the court of Great-Bri- 
 tain were in earned to retain this place, many candidates 
 would have appeared, and fome perfon of great intereft 
 edablilhed ; whereas from a colonel (Warburton) being 
 lieutenant-governor, it is now reduced to a lieutenant- 
 colonel being governor. The commandants in fuc- 
 ceffion have been as follows from the lurrender: 
 
 1. The general Pepperrell, and commodore War- 
 ren, naturally joint admin idrators. 
 
 2. Admiral Warren [rj, governor; colonel Warburton, 
 lieutenant-governor. 
 
 3. Commodore Knowles [k] governor ; colonel War- 
 burton lieutenant-governor. 
 
 4. Hobfon, lieutenant-colonel to Fuller, governor; 
 Ellifon, lieutenant-colonel to Pepperrell, lieutenant- 
 governor. 
 
 [?] Admiral Warren went home, and has fince done great fervice, 
 acquired much glory, and a very great fortune. 
 
 W Commodore Knowles went to command a fquadron from fa* 
 ( maica, to reduce St. Ja go de Cuba, a neft of Spanifh privateers, or ra- 
 ther pirates: his conduct and fuccefs was as formerly ; no benefit to 
 the public, no profit to himfelf ; in failing out, the norths (as he writes) 
 would not allow him ; and in returning to Jamaica he vifited St. Jago, 
 but could not be reconciled to their preparations for defence. As a 
 by-blow, he furprized, in March 1747-8, the French Port Louis of 
 Hifpaniola, with the lofs of two good captains Renton and Cud, and 
 feveral other men ; and the fine man of war fcooner Achilles, built by 
 the ingenious fhip-builder Mr. Haliowel of Bofton, in carrying advice 
 from Mr. Know'les to Jamaica, was taken by two Spamih privateers. 
 Admiral Knowles deftroyed and carried off fome iron guns ; it is faid, 
 that by capitulation it was to be deemed a free and neutral port, and 
 confequently proper to fupply the French with provifion and ammu- 
 nition from all nations ; this cannot be credited in the worft of 
 conduct. 
 
 SECT. 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 361 
 
 SECT. VIII. 
 
 Concerning the province oj M ailach u fe 1 1 s - Bay . 
 
 rp H E next four following fe£tion6 concern the do- . 
 
 X minions of New-England, at prefent divided into 
 four feveral colonies or governments. To render the 
 accounts of them more clear and diftindt, we lhall begin 
 this lection with an introductory article, in general, con- 
 cerning the fundry grants and lettlements made, before 
 they were colonized by royal charters and patents. As 
 Malfachufetts-Bay province, is compofed of many dif- 
 ferent grants, united at prelent in one charter ; Ibrne ge- 
 neral account of thele feveral territories may be ufeful ; 
 afterwards we proceed to more particular accounts of 
 thele territories in lb many di£tin£t articles, beginning 
 from the northward. 
 
 Article I* 
 
 Some general account of the dominions of New-England, 
 (ind a general account of the territories incorporated by 
 royal charter into one province or colony by the name of 
 Maflachufetts-Bay in New-England. 
 
 T H I S is a laborious affair, being obliged to confult 
 MSS records ; the many printed accounts are, 1 . 
 Too credulous and fuperftitious. 2. Tootrifling; mull 
 the infipid hiftory of every brute (fome men as to intel- 
 lects do not exceed fome brutes) or man -animal be trans- 
 mitted to pofterity ? 3. The accounts of every white 
 man and Indian mutually killed, or otherways dead, 
 would Swell and lower hiftory fo much, as to render the 
 perulal of fuch hiftories (excepting with old women and 
 children) impracticable. 4. The fuccefiion of pious 
 pallors, elders, and deacons, in the feveral townlhips, 
 parifhes, or congregations, I leave to ecclefiaftic chroiio- 
 loeers ; canonization or fainting feems not confident with 
 0 our 
 
36 2 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 our proteftant principles. 5. The printed accounts, in 
 all refpefts, are beyond all excufe [/] intolerably erro- 
 neous. 
 
 [/J Mankind are not only to be further informed, but ought alfo upon 
 ©ccafion to be undeceived ; for this reafon, and not as a fnarling critic, 
 
 I have fubjoined the following annotation, concerning fomeof the mod 
 noted writers of New- England affairs. At prefent I fhall mention only 
 two or three of thofe that are generally read ; and in the fequel of this 
 hiftory, may animadvert occafionaliy upon fome others. I find in ge- 
 neral, that without ufing judgment, they borrow from old credulous 
 writers, and relate things obfelete for many years pad, as if in the pre- 
 fent date of the country. 
 
 Dr. Cotton Mather's map of New-England, New-York, the Jerfeys, 
 and Penfylvania, is compofed from fome old rough draughts of the firft 
 ciifeoverers, with obfolete names not known at this time, and has fcarce 
 any refemblance of the country; it may be called a very erroneous 
 antiquated map. 
 
 Capt. Cyprian Southack’s land map of the eadern North -America, 
 is worfe; ir is as rude as if done by an Indian, or as if done in thofe 
 ages when men firft began to delineate countries ; it gives no informa- 
 tion, but bas no other bad effedl, than turning fo much paper to wade : 
 but his large chart of the coad of Nova Scotia and New-England, be- 
 ing one continued error, and a random performance, may be of per- 
 nicious confequence in trade and navigation ; therefore it ought to be 
 publicly advertifed as fuch, and dedroyed, wherever it is found amongft 
 fea charts. 
 
 Oldmixon's (he died anno 1742) Britifh empire in America, 2 vol. 
 8 vo., Lond. 1 708. He generally writes, as if copying from fome ill- 
 founded temporary news-paper. Dr. C. Mather fays, that Oldmixon, 
 in 56 pages, has 87 falfhoods. He prefixes Mather's filly map, and 
 confeffes that he borrowed many things from Cotton Mather’s Mag- 
 nalia; leaving out, the puns, anagrams, miracles, prodigies, witches, 
 fpeeches, and epidles. Mather’s hidory he calls a miferable jargon, 
 loaded with many random learned quotations, fchool boy exercifes, 
 Roman like legends, and barbarous rhime?. Neal writes, the colony 
 of Conne&icuc furrendered their charter 1688, and have holden no 
 courts fince. N. B. Upon Sir Edmund Andrew’s arrival, 1686, as 
 governor of the dominions of New England, £sf c they drppped the ad- 
 miniftration according to their charter ; but their charter not being 
 vacated by any legal trial, upon the Revolution they were allowed to 
 profecute the adminidration, and to hold courts as formerly — 400 
 dudents in Cambridge, New-England— 'His account of the Indian re- 
 ligions, or rather worfhip, is falfe and ridiculous— The Indians live 
 commonly to 150^. — Plymouth-Bay is larger than Cape Cod, and 
 has two fine iflands, Rhode-ifland and Elizabeth^fland — New-England 
 is bounded wed by Penfylvania— Dorcheder is the next town to Bodon 
 
 The 
 
Sect. VIII. O/ Massachusetts-Bay. 3^3 
 
 The firft Engliftv difcovery of the eaftern coafls of 
 North-America was by the Cabots in the end of the 
 fifteenth century. The firft effectual royal grant of foil 
 or property was, anno 1 5^4> Sir Walter Raleigh and 
 affociates •, he gave the name Virginia to all the continent 
 
 for b'wnefs — At Bolton there is a mint. A r . B Perhaps he meant the 
 mint >652, affumed in the time of the troubles and confufions in Eng- 
 land — An indefinite number of more errors, the repetition of them 
 would be confutation iufficient. ’ 
 
 Neal's Hiftory of New-England, 2 vol. ?vo. Lond. 1720. He is 
 much upon the hiftory of the low ecclefiaftics, borrowed from the noted 
 Mather's Magnalia Chrifti Americana. He gives a tedious filly ridi- 
 culous conje&ural account of the fettling of North-America from 
 Scythia and Tartary, and the fouthern parts from Chma —Natick is 
 an Indian town, confifting of two long ftreets, each fide of the river; 
 as if lie were describing one of the large Dutch voting towns with a 
 river or canal running through it. A r B. This Indian town at prefent 
 confifts only of a few draggling wigwams -Orange Fort of AW|is 
 eighty miles up Hudfon's river — the Indian government is Itnaiy 
 monarchical. N. B. The Indians of a tribe or clan, live together like 
 friendly, but independent neighbours; their fenators or old men, have 
 no coercive or commanding power over their young men; all they can 
 ufe is only perfuafion.— Quebec has five churches and a cathedral. 
 JV, B. Only one parochial church, which alfo ferves as a cathedral; 
 and a conventual chapel in the lower town. The great frcfh water 
 lakes behind New-England, are conitantly frozen over in winter from 
 November j which occafions the long and hard winters of New-Eng- 
 land. N. B. Thefe lakes are upon a imall ftorm of wind, teropeflu- 
 ous, and never frozen over ; and becaufe of their foft vapour, not 
 much fnow lies within twelve or twenty miles diftance from thefe lakes. 
 The whale filhing is almoft neglefted in New-England i Newfound- 
 land has almoll engroffed it. N. B. In Newfoundland they make only 
 a fmall quantity of liver oil— The clergy of New-England are not re- 
 nowned for humanity and politenefs.— I'he French in New-England 
 are very numerous— The conveniency of filhing renders Cape-Cod 
 populous as molt places in New-England. N. B. At prefent Cape- 
 Cod called Province Town, may confift of two or three fettled fami- 
 lies l two or three cows ; and fix to ten lheep— To enumerate the other 
 errors and blunders of this performance, would be copying of it ; but 
 it will not bear fuch a new impreflion. 
 
 This annotation is already too prolix for an amufement ; we muit 
 defer to fome other occafion the amufements from Cotton Mather s 
 Macnali a, or Hiftory of New England, from Salmon’s modem 
 hiftory, from Atlas matitimus et comtnercialis, from Jeflelin, and trout 
 Hubbarq.il 
 
264 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 in general, fo called from the Englifli queen of that time 
 Elizabeth, a virgin queen becaufe never married. 
 
 New-England was firft difcovered to any purpofe, by 
 captain Golhold 1602 •, and the fifh, train oil, flcin, and 
 fur trade thereof, with the Indians for fome years, was 
 principally carried on by fome Briftol men. A rafcally 
 fellow. Captain Hunt, carried off fome Indians j and, in 
 the Mediterranean lea of Europe, fold them to the 
 Spaniards, as flaves. Moors of the coaft of Barbary. 
 During lome following years the Indians had an averfion 
 to, and jealoufy of, the Englifh traders ; but at length 
 anno 1619, they were brought to a thorough reconcilia- 
 tion, which made the beginning of the New Plymouth 
 fettlement more eafily carried on. 
 
 This captain Gofnold ofDarmouth, was an aflociateof 
 Raleigh’s. Anno 1602, from England inftead of the for- 
 mer wide indiredt courfe to Virginia by the Canary and 
 Caribbee idands v he failed a more diredl or northern 
 courfe, and fell in with this coaft •, was embayed in N. 
 Lat. 42 D. 10 M. where he caught many cod filh, and 
 called it Cape Cod ; thence failing fouthward he gave 
 queen Elizabeth’s name to one illand ; and to the next 
 ifland, where he found quantities of wild grape vines, he 
 gave the name of Martha’s Vineyard j thefe names are 
 retained to this day. 
 
 Captain Gofnold at his return to England gave a good 
 charadter of this new country, which induced feveral 
 gentlemen jointly to obtain a royal grant anno 160 b 
 (Sir Walter Raleigh from his attainder having forfeited 
 his grants in North-America) April 10, they were two 
 companies in one charter to plant and difpofe of lands 
 there ; fee p. 204. They were much the fame diftri&s 
 as are our prelent fouthern and northern diftridts of cu- 
 ftom houfes j the fouthern diftridt was called the Lon- 
 don company, which does not belong to this part of our 
 hiftory. The other was called the northern diftridt. 
 North Virginia, or the company of Plymouth or Weft 
 country adventurers j Lord chief juftice Popham and Sir 
 
 Eerdinando 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 365 
 
 Ferdinando Gorge were of this company •, Lord chief 
 juftice Popham was their patron and principal promoter : 
 he dying foon after, the fettlement dropped ; but fome 
 trade for fi(h, fid ns, and furs was carried on for fome 
 years. Their firft adventure was taken by the Spaniards 
 anno 1 606. Captain George Popham appointed prefi- 
 dent or director of a fettlement to be made there, came 
 over with captain Gilbert in two fhips with families and 
 ftores anno 1607 ; fome families wintered at fagadahoc 
 near the mouth of Quenebec river (here many good 
 rivers meet and difcharge themfelves into the bay called 
 Merrymeeting- Bay) anno 160S, but foon left it with the 
 charade r of a cold, barren, inhofpitable defcrt. 
 
 Captain Smith, called the traveller, fometime prefident 
 of Virginia, an ingenious man, anno 1614, with two 
 veflels came upon this coaft for trade and difcovery of 
 mines of minerals, metals, and precious ftones aurifa - 
 era fames promoted moft of our American difeoveries ; 
 he furveyed the coaft well, and gave names (ftill upon 
 record) to many of the head-lands, bays, and rivers, 
 which are now obfolete, and other names have taken 
 place : he prefented a plan of the country to the court of 
 England, and it was called New-Encland, which name 
 it retains to this day. 
 
 About this time there were feveral voluntary com- 
 panies of adventurers to America, but without grants or 
 patents: the London, Briftol, Exeter, Plymouth, &c. 
 companies, who foon diftolved of themfelves.^ 
 
 The northern company of anno 1606, infenfibly dif- 
 folved it itfelf •, and a new company of adventurers was 
 formed, called the Council of Plymouth, or Council of 
 New -England; their patent reachingfromN.lat. 44D. to 
 48 D. is dated Nov. 1 8, anno 1 620, to the duke of Lenox, 
 marquis of Buckingham, marquis of Hamilton, &c. the 
 corporation to conlift of forty ; upon deaths the vacancies 
 to be fupplied by a vote of the furvivors. Being in pro- 
 cefs of time divided among themfelves, they furrendered 
 their patent 1635, and l'ome of them, e.g. duke of 
 . ■ Hamilton, 
 
366 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 Hamilton, Sir Ferdinando Gorge, C 3 c . obtained from king 
 Charles I, peculiar grants or patents : their patent was 
 defignedly extended much north and fouth, to include 
 and keep up the Englifh claim to New-Netherlands in 
 pofieffion of the Dutch to the fouthward, and to L’Aea- 
 die, fince called Nova Scotia, then in pofleffion of the 
 French, to the northward [?»] ; fee a large account of thefe 
 affairs, p. 109 and 205. To be a body corporate, to 
 have a common feal, make laws, and difpofe of any parts 
 thereof, but could not [»] delegate the jurifdittion with- 
 out an additional royal charter. 
 
 This council of Plymouth, or New-England, made 
 many indiftineft and interfering grants ; at this time many 
 of their grants are become obfolete, fuch as duke Ha- 
 milton’s of the Naraganlet country, Mr. Mafon’s of New- 
 Hampfhire, fome grants upon Kenebec river, &c. The 
 members of this council of Plymouth differing amongft 
 theml'elves, occafioned the furrender of their charter to 
 the court, by an inftrument under their common leal 
 dated June 7, 1635 •, there has been no general Britilh 
 company in America fince that time. 
 
 Here we may oblerve in general, that Laud [0], arch- 
 bifhop of Canterbury, noted for his immoderate zeal to 
 
 [m] Thus Nova Scotia and Sagadahock, or the former duke of 
 York’s property, at that time in poflefiion of the French, were, by the 
 Maffachufetts charter, annexed in jurifdi&ion to Maffachufetts-Bay ; 
 the court of Great-Britain, notwithstanding, feem to referve their pro- 
 perty and jurifdidlion there, and accordingly have withdrawn Nova 
 Scotia from the jurifdidtion of the province of MafTachufetts-Bay, and 
 conflicted it a king’s government to no purpofe ; perhaps, if it had 
 continued annexed to a popular government, fome progrefs might have 
 been made towards a fettlement. 
 
 [»] Lately the commifTioners appointed from home to determine the 
 boundaries between the colony of Rhode-ifland, and that part of the 
 Maffachufetts province, formerly called the colony of New-Plymouth ; 
 the defedt of a fubfequent royal charter to New-Plymouth, was the 
 reafon why the commifTioners determined, and afterwards confirmed by 
 the king in council, ftridtly according to the royal charter of Rhode- 
 ifland, though thirty-eight years pofterior to the New-Plymouth grant. 
 
 [0] Archbifhop Laud may be called the Father of New-England; 
 he was a confiderable flatefman, prime minifter or principal advifer to 
 
 ;; * promote 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachussetts-Bay. 367 
 
 promote uniformity in the church, occafioned an emi- 
 gration of Non-conformifts in great numbers to New- 
 England, preceding anno 1641 : but from that time* 
 until the reftoration of the family of Stuart, being about 
 twenty years, very few came abroad ; the Independent or 
 congregational manner of religious performances having 
 die afcendant in England, as moft [p\ fuitable to the civil 
 adminiftration of thofe times. In the reigns of Charles II* 
 
 Charles I. His adminiftration was rigid againft the good and religi- 
 ous Non-conformifts. He was accufed and convitted of a defign to in- 
 troduce popery, and fubvert the conftitution ; for which he fuffered 
 death by the axe, Jan. io, 1644. 
 
 [p] Cromwell’s reducing the church of England to Separately cove-^ 
 nanted independent congregations, was a mafter- piece in politics ; in 
 true policy all civil governments ought to encourage the congregational 
 fchefmc. A national eftablilhed church, epifcopal or prefbyterian, in a 
 civil national government, is mperiuto in imperio , a wheel within a 
 wheel, as it is commonly exprefled ; which renders the movements 
 more perplexed ; and by a national church allujning the direction or 
 pointing of our natural enthufiafm, it clogs and endangers the civil con- 
 ftitution. Our New- England congregationalifts feem to deviate from 
 their primitive difeipline : in imitation, perhaps, of a new convocation 
 of the clergy of the church of England, at the opening of a new par- 
 liament ; our congregational minifters of New-England have a formal 
 fynod or meeting at the time of the general election or opening of a 
 new legiflative civil aftembly : they afl'ume the conftitution of a fynod* 
 
 g. at times they addrels the king in this ftyle : The pallors of the 
 churches in his majefty’s province of Maftachufetts-Bay in New-Eng- 
 land, aflembled at their annual convention in May :• their papers are 
 figned in form by the Moderator, in imitation of the legal national 
 (by att of union ellablifhed in perpetuity) general aiTembly of the 
 prefbyterian church of Scotland, my Alma ma:er. The Quakers have 
 fallen into the fame error, by their quarterly and annual itinerant 
 meetings, which, in time by cunning men, that is, ftatefmen, may be 
 improved to the difadvantage of the civil government. 
 
 A national church adminiftration, diftinft from the national civil ad- 
 miniftration, is very inconvenient. The moll abfurd notional opi- 
 nions in religion, if not eftablilhed by the penal laws of a national 
 church, are of no confequence, and from their abfurdity drop, if 
 allowed to take their courfes; but if forcibly ltopped, or dammed up, 
 they gather, and in time may break out into a rapid torrent, carrying 
 all before them,: the civil wars in Engl and. Car. 1 , are a notorious in- 
 ftance of this. To qualify this imperi um in impenoy the Roman Em- 
 peror was Pontifex Maximus, and the King of England is called Head 
 of the Church. 
 
368 British Settlements in America. Part II, 
 
 and of James II, many diffenters came over. Late- 
 ly the long leafes of the farmers in the north of Ireland 
 being expired, the landlords raifed their rents extravagant- 
 ly. This occafioned an emigration of many north 
 of Ireland Scotch prefbyterians with an intermixture 
 of wild Irtfh Roman catholics. At firft they chofe [q] 
 New-England •, but being brought up to hulbandry or 
 raifing of grain, called bread corn, New-England did 
 not anfwer fo well as the colonies fouthward : therefore 
 at prefent they generally rel'ort to Penfylvania, a good 
 grain colony. 
 
 This council of Plymouth parcelled out their grant 
 into feveral colonies or fettlements. 
 
 Robert Brown, a [r] hot headed young enthufiaftical 
 clergyman began anno 1 580, to preach againft the ce- 
 remonies and difciplinc of the church of England ; he 
 
 [f] They ere£led a prefbyterian meeting-boufe In Bofton, Mr. John 
 Morehcad their prefbyter, as appears by an infcription, in two co- 
 lumns, and not elegant : 
 
 The firft column, 
 
 This chb. of prejbyterian fir angers , was congregated anno dom, 1729. 
 Anno dom . 1 744, by a Jmall but generous 
 Ilia manebit. Labilis e contra fifit erana 
 Supreme!. Defideric J. M. hvjus ec cleficr. 
 
 The fecond column, 
 
 7 bis building was begun anno dom. 1 742, and finijbed 
 Number . Hujus f undame ti faxum eft . Domus 
 
 Peribit. Gloria Cbrifii lex noftra ^ 
 
 Chriftique paftor, and firft f reached in May hth, 
 
 Latin and Englifh interlarded is new, excepting in burlefque ; like, 
 wife the difpofition of thefe lines is fingular, and to be rightly under' 
 flood mull be read by joining the feveral lines of each column. This 
 church is a neat convenient building, and doubtlefs in time may be 
 endowed with more learned and elegant paftors of the prefbyterian 
 mode. 
 
 j>] Mr. Wh — Id, a young clergyman of the church of England, 
 has lately appeared in the fame manner, preaching againft the bad con- 
 duct of the clergy of England ; his difciples are called Methodifts, 
 Separatifts, or New Lights. N. B . This New Light is an unnatural 
 compofition of free-thinking and devotional cant. 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 369 
 
 was perfecuted or baited and teazed by the bifliops 
 courts he with fame difciples left England, and formed 
 a church at Middleburgh of Zealand, in the Dutch' 
 Low-countries •, after fome time this efrervefcence or 
 ebullition of youth lubfided he returned to England, 
 recanted, and had a church of England cure bellowed, 
 upon him, and died in that communion, anno 1630. 
 
 A congregation of thefe Brownifts was formed in Yar- 
 mouth 1 602 ; being haraffed by the eilablilhed church 
 of England, with their pallor they tranfported them- 
 felves to Leyden in Holland •, here they became more 
 moderate under the direction of their pallor [j] Mr. Ro- 
 binfon ; and from Brownifts changed their denomination 
 to that of Independents. Being of unfteady temper, they 
 reiblved to remove from amongft ftrangers, after ten years 
 relidence, to fome remote country in lome wildernefs, 
 where without moleftation they might- worlhip God in; 
 their own devotional way. Thus the firft fcttlements in 
 New-England were upon a religious account, not pro- 
 perly for produce, manufa<5tures, and trade, but as 
 reclufes : amongft the Roman catholics are many com- 
 munities or convents of unmarried or lingle perl'ons 
 reclufe > but thefe were recluie families. 
 
 After having obtained an inftruraent from king James 
 I, for the free exercife of their religion in any part of 
 America •, they fold their eftates and made a common 
 bank, and entered into articles of agreement with the 
 adventurers called the council of Plymouth, to fettle on 
 the banks of Hudfon’s river, now in the government of 
 New-York •, after the misfortune of being twice put back* 
 they failed 120 perfons in one Ihip from Plymouth (they 
 gave the fame name to their new fettlement) Sept 6 r 
 1620, and fell in with Cape Cod Nov. 9; being too 
 late in the feafon for proceeding to Hudfon’s river-, al- 
 though without the limits of their agreement, they were 
 obliged to fit down in the barren loil, and formed them- 
 
 [s] Mr. Robinfon’s fon Ifaac died at Bamftaplej New-England, 1 706, 
 Mt. 106. 
 
 Vol. I. B b' felves 
 
370 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 felves into a voluntary affociation or colony, fubferibed 
 by forty-one men, but had no communication with the 
 Indians of the country until the middle of March follow- 
 ing ; about this time thefe Indians, by fome epidemic 
 malignant illnefs and inteftine wars, had been much re- 
 duced. They chufc Mr. Carver governor for one year ; 
 but he died in April following, and was fucceeded by 
 Mr. Bradford. From the length of the voyage, other 
 fatigues, and extreme cold weather, about fifty of their 
 number died the firft year of putrid fevers, and other 
 fcorbutic ails ; all was in common for the firft two or 
 three years, having divided themfelves into nineteen 
 families, manages, or meffes : yearly they received a few 
 recruits of people; anno 1624, when they received their 
 arant, the whole fettlement confided of only 180 perfons 
 in thirty-two meffes. From fo fmall a beginning in the 
 fpace of about 125 years, New-England is arrived to its 
 prerent calory. They pu rebelled their lsnds ot 
 the Indtan Sachem ; he was glad of their alliance and 
 afliftance, being then at war with the Naraganlet Indian 
 
 numerous tribe. ., e 
 
 They had no grant of their lands from the council of 
 Plymouth until anno 1624; this grant was not to the 
 company of adventurers and freemen, but to William 
 Bradford, his heirs, affociates, and affigns ; he was af- 
 terwards perfuaded to affign this grant to the freemen in 
 general. This affignment (as I underftand ltj was after- 
 wards confirmed by a new grant from the council of 
 Plymouth to the company of freemen, Jan. 1629-30 • 
 they never had any royal charter or patent, con y 
 
 no jurirdiffion , the council ot Plymouth could. convey 
 property, but could not delegate jurifdifhom Here we 
 muft break oft; and .eaffume the hiftory 
 old colony, when we come to the article of Plymouth 
 
 a conftituted colony. , , j-j 
 
 It is certain, that the firft fettlers of New-England did 
 not (as in fome of our colonies) come over indigen^^ 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 371 
 
 criminals, but as devout religious [/] Puritans; they were* 
 not fervants to the adventurers as in fome colonies. 
 
 Before we enter upon the four well fettled and confti- 
 tuted colonies of New-England, we (hall but juft men- 
 tion fome grants which have, in procels of time, been in- 
 corporated with thefe four colonies, and their memory 
 loft or fwallowed up in them, and of others become ob- 
 folete. Some of them (hall be related more at large in 
 their proper places. 
 
 Mufcongus, or Lincoln grant, of thirty miles fquare. 
 
 Pemaquid grant. 
 
 Shepfcut purchafe, or Nagwafac purchafe of Robin- 
 hood an Indian Sagamore, Nov. 1, 1639, between Saga- 
 dahock bay and Shepfcut river : thefe three are in the 
 territory of Sagadahoc. 
 
 Nehumkin purchafe of the Indians, Odtober 13, 
 1649, both fides of Quenebec river; in this lies Rich- 
 mond fort. ; i 
 
 Plymouth grant, Jan. 1629, to William Bradford and 
 dfTociates, lies both fides of Quenebec river ; in this are 
 Cufhnock falls about forty miles from Noridgwog; thefe 
 three are upon Quenebec river, one half in Sagadahock, 
 one half in the province of Main. 
 
 [t] The Puritans were pious, honed, well-meaning people; but too 
 con traced, rigid, and Angular in their difcipline and pra&ice of de- 
 votion: they would not allow of the Englifh St. George's red crofs in 
 the military enfigris, colours, and (landards. In common affairs of life, 
 they affe&ed to ufe fcripture terms, and thefe not always proper ; our 
 tranflation is not good. Ancient terms in common life, ufed by the 
 polite Greeks and Romans, they called profane, and did not ufe them ; 
 for inflance, inftead of December 25, they wrote the 25th day of the 
 tenth month ; in (lead of Monday, they faid the fecond day of the 
 week ; fome of them made confcience of a pun or rebus : thus fome 
 good old women would not brew on Saturdays, becaufe the ale or 
 beer would in courfe work upon the Lord's day following. 
 
 The generality of the firll fettlers foon became more moderate and 
 focial, while others became more obftinately and intractably en hofi- 
 allic ; thefe latt removed, and gave birth to the volunti’r fettlements 
 of Providence, Rhode-ifland, Cofinefticut, and New Haven, in the 
 dominion* of Ne\v-England. 
 
 Bb 2 Pegapfcot 
 
British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 Pegapfcot purchafe, each fide of Pegapfcot river ; ex- 
 tending to the weft fide of Quenebec river : Mr. Whar- 
 ton purchafed it of the Indian Sagamores 1683, being 
 about 500,000 acres. At prefent it belongs to nine pro- 
 prietors, Thomas Hutchinfon, etc. it interferes with Na- 
 humkin purchafe and Plymouth grant. 
 
 Province of Main granted 15 Car. I, to Sir Ferdinando 
 Gorge, extending from Pifcataqua and N ewichewenock 
 rivers to Quenebec river, and 120 miles inland ; includes 
 the Pegapfcot purchafe ; was purchafed by the colony of 
 Maffachufetts-Bay, and is annexed by the new charter. 
 
 Province of New-Hamplhire ; from Pifcataqua river, 
 to within three miles of Merimack river, granted to Mr. 
 Mafon 1 624, fold by Mr. Mafon’s heirs to Mr. Allen of 
 London. At prefent that grant and conveyance . fee m to 
 be obfolete : the property of the fettled land is in the 
 fettlers-, the property of the wafte land is in the crown; 
 and the jurifdiftion of the whole in the crown : it ex- 
 tends fixty miles inland, and lately there is annexed an in- 
 definite quantity of territory belonging to the crown, 
 formerly claimed by Maffachufetts-Bay. 
 
 Colony of Plymouth, the mother colony of New- 
 England ; extending from Old Maffachufetts to the feas, 
 viz. to Maffachufetts-Bay, the ocean, and within three 
 miles of Naraganfet-Bay; it is now annexed to Maffa- 
 chufetts ; they began a voluntier fettlement, 1 620. 
 
 Mr. Wefton, one of the Plymouth adventurers, ob- 
 tained a feparate grant of fome land ; and in May, 1 622, 
 fent over about fixty men to make a fettlement at Wey- 
 mouth about fifteen miles fouth from Bolton ; they ma- 
 naged ill, became idle and diflolute, and loon broke up, 
 and their memory is loft. 
 
 Mr. Gorge, fon to Sir Ferdinando Gorge, anno 1023, 
 brought over fome fettlers : he had fome commiffion 
 from the Council of Plymouth, as governor-general ; 
 foon difcouraged, he returned home. 
 
 About the fame time Mr. David Thompfon attempt- 
 ed a fettlement at Pifcataqua > the memory of it is jolt. 
 
 Some 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 373 
 
 Some adventurers propofed to make a fettlement north 
 fide of Maffachufetts-Bay. Anno 1624, they began a 
 fmall fettlement at Cape Anne, the northern promontory 
 of this bay, and are now become the moll confiderable 
 Britifh Alnerica fettlement, which, by way of eminence, is 
 commonly called New- England; they have had a firft 
 and fecond charter, as fhall be more fully related. 
 
 Anno 1626, captain Wolafton and fome others, with 
 
 iervants, provifions, and other ftores, began a fettlement 
 at Braintree ; but not anfwering expectation, after two 
 years they intirely broke up : fome went to Virginia, 
 
 fome to New Plymouth- u 
 
 Anno 1630, earl of Warwick had a grant of a tractor 
 land along fhore from Naraganfet river, forty leagues 
 weft foutherly, and back inland to the South Seas. Earl 
 of Warwick affgned his grant to Vifcount Say and Seal, 
 and to Lord Brook, and nine more afiociates ; i.nding 
 many difficulties in fettling, they alligned their right to 
 the Connecticut and New-EIaven fetders ; thele l'ettlers 
 were emigrants from Maffachufetts-Bay ; originally they 
 had no title, but fate down at pleafure, and do at pre- 
 fent enjoy a royal charter by the name of the Colony of 
 Connecticut. Part of this grant, viz. from Naraganfet 
 bay to Connecticut river, when the council of Plymouth 
 furrendered their patent, was given anno 1636 by the 
 king to duke Hamilton ; he never was in poffeffion, and 
 the claim is become obfolete. 
 
 Anno 1642, Mr. Mayhew obtained a grant of the 
 iflands of Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, &'c. and began 
 to make fettlements there. 
 
 There were feveral other grants and purchafes tor 
 fmall confiderations, and now become obfolete ; for in- 
 ftance, the million purchafefrom Dunftable fix miles each 
 fide of Merimack river to Winapifinkit pond or lake, 
 granted by governor Andros, and council in the reign 
 of James II ; a claim of this grant was, by fome of the 
 grantees revived about twenty-five years ago ; but as 
 
 illegal and odious it was dropped. 
 
 Bb 3 Originally 
 
374 British Settlements in America. Part 11 , 
 
 Originally according to captain Smith’s map, approved 
 of by the court of England, New-England extended 
 from twenty miles eaft of Hudfon’s-River, northward to 
 the river St. Croix, or perhaps to the gulph of St. Lau- 
 rence, including Nova Scotia, a fubfequent peculiar grant; 
 when James II, fent over Sir Edmund Andros governor, 
 his commifiion or patent was for the late colonies of Maf- 
 fachufetts-Bay, Plymouth, Connefticut, and Rhode- 
 ifland, called the dominions of New-England, diftinft 
 from New- York and Sagadahock, of which he was alfo 
 appointed governor. N. B. New-Hampfhire and Pro- 
 vince of Main, at that time were of no confideration, be- 
 ing under the prote&Lon, and, as it were, tacitly annexed 
 to the good flourifhing colony of Maffachufetts-Bay. 
 
 The dominions, or rather denominations in New-Eng- 
 land, at prefent Con fill of four colonies, or feverally in- 
 dependent legiflatures, viz. Mafiachufetts-Bay province, 
 province of New-Hampfhire, colony of Rhode-ifland, 
 and colony of Conne&icut : for fake of perfpicuity, to 
 each of thele is affigned a diftinft feftion. 
 
 The new charter of Maffachufetts-Bay, snno 1691, is 
 a [«] union or confolidation of feveral feparate grants into 
 one legiflature and jurifdi&ion ; for the more effectual 
 prote&ion of the whole, againft the incurfions of our 
 neighbouring French and Indians. T. he;r new charter 
 comprehends the following territories ; Sagadahock, or 
 duke of York’s property •, province of Main ; old co- 
 
 [#] Anno 1643, there was a union of four colonies or fettleir.ents in 
 New-England for their mutual protection againft the enemy, French 
 and Indian.', to be managed by a deputation of two from each, in 
 church fellowfhip; they were quota’d, Mafiachufetts-Bay ico, Ply- 
 mouth forty-five, Connecticut forty-five, New Haven forty-five. 
 Rhode-ifland at this time and Mafon’s grant of New-Hamp(hire, and 
 Sir Ferdinando Gorge’s grant of the province of Main were of no con- 
 fideration. This was a fort of Amphiftyonic council ,fipan-a magnis. 
 The ancient Amphiftyonic council met at Thermopylae ; they were a 
 general aflembty or congrefs of deputies from feveral of the moft noted 
 communities, republics, or fovereignties of Greece, who met, fpring 
 and autumn, upon general affairs, especially for mutual protection. 
 
 lony 
 
Sect VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 375 
 
 lony of Maffachufetts-Bay, old colony of 
 the iflands of Nantucket, Elizabeth, Martha V y , 
 fc? k Before we reduce thefe into ieparate articles, 
 make the whole more apparent, we (ball infert : an at- 
 tract of this incorporating iecond or new charter (although 
 a late event or tranfaftion) as it affords a general idea ot 
 the conftitution of all our Britifh colonies. 
 
 This new charter of anno 1691, bears date 3 W. and 
 M. Oft. 7, counterfigned Pigot After reanlof the 
 former grant or charter, it proceeds thus : Whereas the 
 /aid gJUmr and cmpan) of MnffacbufetU-Bay » Nm- 
 England, by virtue of the faid letters patent, are become aery 
 populous and well fettled; andwhereas frier was 
 
 Vacated by a judgment in Chancery m trinity 
 1684; the agents of that colony have petitioned us , to be re- 
 incorporated by a new charter; and alfo to the end that out 
 colony of New- Plymouth in New-England, may be brought 
 under fuch a form of government, as may put t em m a e 
 ter condition of defence : We do by thefe prefents , corporate 
 into one real province , by the name of the province of Maf- 
 fachufetts-Bay in New-England; viz. th 'f orme f fjf 
 Maffachufetts-Bay , the colony °f 
 
 province of Main , the territory of Acadia or Nova Scotia , 
 and the [x] traft lying between Nova Scotia and ptovince 
 of Main, the north half of the ijles of flooals , the ijles of 
 
 [™] In the delineation of the province of Main, in the |™PJ'® 0 “ S 
 of a new charter, are left out (for what reafon I know not) the follow- 
 in ‘ words • And up Sagadahock river, to Quenebcc river, and through the 
 fane unto the head thereof, and into the land northveeftveard, until . ZO milet 
 hp r rried beinv accounted frojn the mouth of Sagadahock. 
 
 M Nova Scotia, and this traft called Sagadahock, were annexed to 
 this neighbouring charter to keep the Englifh claim, they being at 
 that timl in pofleff.on of the French : fmce that time, by the treaty of 
 Utrecht 1 7 1 1, they have been quit-claimed by the French to the crown 
 
 - ^sssst^srs; 
 
 folute property of the province, perhaps from a large extent ot a 
 frontier* defencdefs in itfelf, it is more of an incumbrance, than of any 
 advantage. 
 
 B b 4 Ca f * 
 
 B b 4 
 
37^ British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 [y] Capawock , and Nantucket near Cape Cod , and all ifiands 
 Within ten leagues directly oppofite to the main land within 
 the faid bounds . To our fubjetts inhabitants of the faid 
 
 lands and their fucceffors , quit-rent, a fifth part of all 
 gold, andfilver, and precious]} ones that may be found there . 
 Confirms all lands, hereditaments , &c. formerly granted by 
 any general court to per fons, bodies corporate, towns, villages, 
 colleges, or fchooh', [z] faving the claims of Samuel Allen 
 under John Mafon , and any other claim . Former grants 
 
 and conveyances not to be [a] prejudiced for want of form . 
 The governor, lieutenant governor , and fecretary to be in the 
 king j nomination ; twenty- eight connfellors, wherecf feven at 
 leaf make a board. A general court or affmbly, to be con- 
 vened lafi fVed fief day in May yearly ; confifiing of the go- 
 vernor, council, and veprefentattves of the towns or places, 
 not exceeding [b] two for one place ; qualification for an 
 elctior 40 s. freehold, or 50 1 . fierling perfonal efiate. The 
 M general afjembly to eleEl twenty -eight \jT\ counfellors, 
 
 [y] Martha’s Vineyard, and Elizabeth Ifiands. 
 
 [r j This relates to the New-Hampfhire claim from Merimack ri- 
 ver, to Necan.keag or Sa’em ; but the late determination of the bounda- 
 ries between MalTachufetts Bay and Npw-Hampfhire, by the king in 
 council, has removed that claim. 
 
 [ a] Governor Andros, in the arbitrary reign of James II, made a 
 handle of want of form to diflurb poffefTions, by compelling the po£ 
 feflbrs to take new patents for their own lands with extravagant fees ; 
 nnd to pay quit-rents to the crown. 
 
 [b] By uninterrupted cuflom (preferiptian) the town of Boflon fends 
 four reprefentatives; the qualification of 40 s. freehold for an eledor, 
 is become nominal value, inflead of the defigned Ilerling value, that 
 is 4 r. inflead of 40 s. the qualification 50/. Ilerling, perfonal efiate is 
 fetat4c/. ilerling. 
 
 (/] Perhaps the natural meaning of this was, the reprefentatives of 
 the people ; but at prefent the council of the former year jointly with 
 the reprefentatives chufe a new council. 
 
 [d Perhaps, the council of the prefent confutation of the MafTa- 
 chufetts-Bay, labours under two disadvantages or imperfe&ions. 1. 
 To be arbitrarily led, or rather drove by the governor, to prevent fu- 
 ture negatives. 2. As their eledion is annual, they may be biafTed by 
 the humour of the majority of the reprefentatives (this I have parti- 
 cularly obferved in the cafes of multiplied emiflions of paper currency) 
 Idl they fhould be dropped next annual eledion. A notorious inflance 
 of this happened anno 1741, when the reprefentatives dropped about 
 
 whereof 
 
I 
 
 I 
 
 
 si 
 
 :» 
 
 'f 
 
 ‘i 
 
 ft 
 
 k 
 
 7!« 
 
 ii‘ 
 
 kl 
 
 H 
 
 b 
 
 ft 
 
 is 
 
 a 
 
 & 
 
 ilf 
 
 0 
 # 
 
 1 
 
 Sect. VIII. 0 / Massachusetts-Bay. 377 
 
 whereof eighteen from the old colony of Majfachufetts-Bay, 
 four from Plymouth late colony , three from the province of 
 Main, one for the territory of Sagadahock , a kJ /wo at large. 
 'The governor, with confent of the council, to appoint the of- 
 ficers in the courts of jufiice. All born in the province, or in 
 
 the paffage to and from it, to be deemed natural born fubjefts 
 of England. Liberty of confcience to all Chrifiians except 
 Papifis. the general affembly to conjlitute judicatories for 
 all caufes criminal or civil, capital or not capital. Probate 
 of wills and granting of adminifirations, to be in the governor 
 and council. In perfonal atiions exceeding the value of 
 300 1. fierling, may appeal to the king in council, if the ap- 
 peal be made in fourteen days after judgment , but execution 
 not to be fiaid. The general -affembly to make laws, if not 
 repugnant to the laws of England to [e] appoint all civil 
 officers, excepting the officers of the courts of jufiice, to im- 
 pofe taxes to be [f] difpofed by the governor and council. 
 
 one half of the former year’s council, becaufe averfe to a certain per- 
 nicious cheat, or paper-money fcheme called the land-bank ; the 
 words of the aft of parliament, “ mifehievous undertakings and un- 
 « lawful;” this fcheme was disannulled by an exprefs aft of the Bri ifh 
 parliament 1741 ; and governor Belcher could not avoid negativing 
 thirteen of the new elefted counfellors. 
 
 Mr. Belcher, at prefent governor of the New Jerfeys, is generous, 
 void of covetou'fnefs, ltudious of the real good of he countries tinder 
 his direftion, and a ftrift obferver of royal inftruftions : if he had con- 
 tinued two or three years longer in the adminiftration of the province 
 of the Maffachufetts-Bay, their paper-currency would happily have 
 been obliterated or cancelled, and mull naturally and gradua iy have 
 fallen into a filver currency, the general currency of the commercial 
 world ; Mr. Belcher was not a paper money go/ernor, he was well 
 acquainted in the commercial world. 
 
 [*] In the eleftion of all fuch civil officers the council and repre- 
 fentatives vote together, but not as two feparate negatives ; theie f- 
 ficers are, the treasurer, the import: officers, the excife officers ; the ge- 
 neral commiflary of provifions, (lores, and traffic for garrifons and In- 
 dian truck-houfes ; attorney-general, and notaries for the feveral fea- 
 
 ports. '• 
 
 [/] Anno 1 732, the council and reprefentatives of the province of 
 Malfachufetts-Bay applied to the king in council, concerning the right 
 which the houfe of reprefentatives had, to pafs upon accounts, brought 
 againft the public before they were paid : it was determined by the 
 king in council, that the houfe of reprefentatives had no fuch right. 
 
378 British Settlements in America. Part IL 
 
 The converfion of the Indians to be endeavoured . The go- 
 vernor to have a negative in all alls and elections. AU alls 
 iff afmbly to be fent home by the firfl opportunity to the king 
 bf council for approbation *, if not difallowed in three years 
 after their being prefented , fhall continue in force until re- 
 pealed by the affembly [^]. The general affembly may grant 
 any lands in late Maffacbufetts-Bay and Plymouth colonies , 
 and in the province of Main •, but no grant of lands from 
 Sagadabock fiver to St. Laurence river fhall be valid , with- 
 out the royal approbation . The governor to command the 
 
 militia, to ufe the law martial in time of actual war, to ereft 
 forts and demolifh the fame at pleafure. No perfon to be 
 tvanfporied out of the province , without their own confcnt, 
 ar axnfent of the general affembly. The law martial not to be 
 executed without confent of the council. When there is no go- 
 vernor, the lieutenant-governor is to aft ; when both are 
 wanting, the majority of the council to have the power . 
 The admiralty jurifdiftion is referred to the king or lords of 
 the admiralty . No fubjeft of England to be debarred from 
 fifhing on the fea-coaft, creeks, or fait water rivers, and may 
 ere ft ledges and ft ages in any lands not in poffeffion of parti- 
 cular proprietors. All [h] trees fit for mafts of twenty -four 
 
 [£] By the former charter the provincial lands were granted to 
 twenty-fix proprietors, and fuch as fhall be admitted freemen ; but by 
 this new charter, thefe lands are granted to the inhabitants in general, 
 to be difi-ofcd of by their representatives or general affembly . 
 
 [£] By an aft of the Britifh parliament anno 1722, this caufe is ex- 
 tended, v/s. That after Sept. 21, 1 ?22, in New-England, New- York, 
 and New- Jerfey in America, no perfon fhall cut or deflroy any white 
 pine trees, not growing in any townfhip or its bounds, without his ma- 
 jetty’s licence ; on pain to forfeit for every white pine-tree, of the 
 growth of twelve inches diameter and under, at three foot from the 
 earth, 5 / tterling ; for every fuch tree from twelve to eighteen inches, 
 \oI. from eighteen to twenty-four inches, 20/. from twenty-four and 
 upwards, 50 A to be fued before the judge of admiralty : and all white 
 pine-trees, matts or logs made of fuch trees, which fhall be found cut 
 or felled, without the king’s licence, fhall be forfeited and feized for 
 the ufe of the crown. By an aft of parliament 1 7 2 9 * P e P a ^y 
 claufe of the charter is confirmed ; and the aft of 1722, is extended to 
 all the Britifh provinces in America ; and confines the exception to the 
 property of private perfons only, notwithflanding they grow within 
 the limits of any townfhip. _ 
 
 a inches 
 
S£.cT. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay, 379 
 
 inches dia?neter and upwards, twelve inches from the ground^ 
 growing upon land not heretofore granted to any private per - 
 fons, are referved to the crown , penalty for cutting any fuch 
 referved trees 100I .Jlerling per tree. 
 
 About twenty years fince, the aflembly of Maflachu- 
 fetts-Bay received and accepted an additional or explana- 
 tory charter from the court of Great-Britain ; the hiftory 
 of 'the affair is as follows : In the adminiftration of go- 
 vernor Shute, a good-natured gentleman, and though 
 no great politician, tenacious of the prerogative, a 
 few hot-headed turbulent men, who had got the aicen- 
 dant over their fellow-reprefentatives, and in fome mea- 
 fure over the council, endeavoured the fame over the go- 
 vernor, by afliiming fome articles of the prerogative : 
 in the end of anno 1722, Mr. Shute in perlon, carried^ 
 home feven articles of complaint againft the houlc of 
 reprefentatives encroaching upon the prerogative. 
 
 1. Their taking poflefiion of royal malts cut into 
 
 logs. . 1 r 1 
 
 ’ 2. Refufing the governor’s negative of the lpeaker. 
 
 3. Afiuming authority jointly with the governor and 
 council to appoint falls and thankfgivings. 
 
 4. Adjourning themfelves for more than two days at 
 
 a time. 
 
 5. Difmantling of forts, and ordering the guns and 
 {lores into the treafurer’s cuftody. 
 
 6. Sufpending of military officers, and mulcting 
 
 them of their pay. 
 
 ‘ 7. Sending a committee of their own to mutter the 
 king’s forces. 
 
 Upon a hearing before the king and council, Mr, 
 Cook, agent for the houfe of reprefentatives, and his 
 council or lawyers in the name of the houfe of reprelen- 
 tatives, gave up or renounced the 1, 3, 5 * 6, and 7 ar- 
 ticles •, acknowledged their fault, induced by prece- 
 dents of former aflemblies, but wrong and erroneous? 
 and that it was a, former aflembly, not the prefent, that 
 had been guilty: the other two articles were regulated 
 
3 So British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 by nn explanatory charter, and they directed to accept 
 
 the fame. 1 
 
 This explanatory charter is dated 12 regni Geo. I, 
 Auguft 20, and counterfigned Cocks. Whereas in their 
 charter, nothing is directed concerning a Speaker of the ho'ufe 
 of reprefentatives, and of their adjourning themfelves ; it is 
 hereby ordered , That the governor or commander in chief, 
 fball have a negative in the election of the Speaker , and the 
 houfe of reprefentatives may adjourn themfelves not exceeding 
 tivo days at a time. By the prudent conduct of governor 
 Dummer, the aftembly Were induced to accept of this 
 explanatory charter, by a public aft of the general court, 
 anno 1726. 
 
 We may obferve in general, that the ceconomy or 
 mode of jurifdiftion is much the fame in all the four co- 
 lonies of New-England, by juftices of the peace and their 
 quarterly feffions, by inferior county courts of common 
 law ; and by provincial ambulatory fuperior courts for 
 appeals, where cafes are iffued : it is alfo a court of jufti- 
 ciary, or oyer and terminer. 
 
 They are divided into conftituted diftrifts called town- 
 fhips ; they are a kind of bodies corporate, may fue and 
 be fued, deft all proper officers, fend deputies to the 
 legiflature holife of reprefentatives, and make by-laws. 
 The management of townfhip affairs is in a few (called 
 Seleft-men) annually elefted by the qualified voters of 
 the townfhips or diftrifts. In mod of the other Britifh 
 colonies, their conftituted parilhes, by cuftom, aft as 
 bodies corporate ; the management is in [ij Veftry-men, 
 fo called, who generally are for life, and the furvi'vofs 
 fupply vacancies. 
 
 In the four colonies of New-England juries are return- 
 ed to the feveral courts by eleftion in certain quotas from 
 
 r i] Perhaps fo named, becatife they commonly meet in the veftry- 
 room of the church, where the pried is fuppofed to keep his facerdotal 
 veftments, and may be called the dreffing-room. 
 
 the 
 
Sect. VIII. 0/ Massachusetts-Bay. 3 Si 
 
 the feveral townfliips, but not by the appointment of the 
 
 In the rigid, and furioufly zealous church and ftate ad- 
 miniftration of Laud, Archbifhop of Canterbury ' he 
 carried both church and ftate beyond their bearings, 
 and confequently in the nature of things they overiet) 
 many puritans and other nonconformifts flocked over to 
 New-Endand; this occafloned a ftate proclamation 
 April 30^ 1637, forbidding any fubjects 10 tranfport 
 themfelves to America, without licence from his ma- 
 jefty’s commiffioners. Anno 1640, the people in New- 
 England did not exceed 4000, and, in the twenty fol- 
 lowing years, many went [k \ home from New- England: 
 their way of worfhip was then in great vogue in Old- 
 
 England. „ , , . . 
 
 N. B. Many of the firft Englifh lettlements in Ame- 
 rica, were by campanies of Adventurers, with a joint 
 ftock •, annually in London, each company chofe a pre- 
 fident and treafurer foe managers. 
 
 We proceed to the feveral articles concerning the co- 
 lonies or territories, united irito one province by the new- 
 
 charter of Maflachufetts-Bay. 
 
 Each article goes no further than the time or this 
 charter union. From that time the hiftory of their joint 
 affairs is carried along in the article of Old Maffachu- 
 fetts-Bay colony. 
 
 m It is faid that amongft others, Oliver Cromwell was flopped from 
 coining over. This Teems to be an idle furmife ; Cromwell was an 
 aftive politic man ; it cannot be imagined that a m»n of that genius, 
 andki me prime of life, would chafe a wildernefs or defer: forhis 
 feene of aftmn : befides, a perfon of his call, and who probably migh • 
 prove turbulent at home, in good court policy ought to be allowed to 
 withdraw. 
 
 Article 
 
3S2 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 Article II. 
 
 Concerning Sagadahock, formerly called the duke of York’s 
 
 property. 
 
 K ING Charles II, March 12, 1663-4, granted to his 
 brother the duke of York, a certain territory or 
 trail of land, thus defcribed, All that part of the main 
 land of New-England , beginning at a certain place , called 
 or known by the name of St. Croix , adjoining to New- 
 Scotland in America ; and from thence extending along the 
 fea-coafl , unto a certain place called Pemaquin or Pemaquid, 
 and fo up the river thereof, to the farthejl head of the fame , 
 as it tendeth northwards, and extending from thence to the 
 river of Quenebec, and fo up by the Jhortefi courfe to the 
 river of Canada northwards.” This was called the duke 
 of York’s property, and annexed to the government of 
 New-York. The duke of York, upon the death of 
 his brother king Charles II, became king James II ; 
 and upon king James’s Abdication thefe lands reverted 
 ' to the crown. 
 
 At prefent the territory of Sagadahock, is fuppofed to 
 extend from the river St. Croix eaftward, to the river of 
 Quenebec weftward, and from each of thefe two rivers 
 due north to the river of St. Laurence ; thus St. Lau- 
 rence or Canada river is its northern boundary, and the 
 Atlantic ocean is its fouthern boundary. When Nova 
 Scotia was in polleflion of the French, Sagadahock ter- 
 ritory was included in the commiflion of the French 
 governor of L’Acadie or Nova Scotia ; thus it was in 
 the time of granting a new royal charter to MafTachu- 
 fetts-Bay -, therefore to keep up the Englilh claim to 
 this territory, as well as to Nova Scotia, the jurifdiclion 
 of both were included in that charter. 
 
 Upon the peace of Utrecht 1713, Nova Scotia and 
 Sagadahock were quit-claimed by France to Great-Bri- 
 tain; and the court of Great-Britain reaflumed thejurif- 
 
 diftion 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 
 diction of Nova Scotia, and aftet - a few years mote, the 
 crown purchafed the property of the foil or feigneurie or 
 all the French claimers : it is now a feparate king’s go- 
 vernment, with the property in the crown ; but this ter- 
 ritory of Sagadahock remains in the jurifdiflion of Mat-. 
 l'achufetts-Bay, and fends one member to the council, 
 but hitherto not any to the houie of reprefentatives or 
 Maffachufetts-Bay : 'the general affembly cannot difpofe* 
 of lands there, without the confent of the King in coun- 
 cil. The property of peculiar grants there, remain good 
 to the leveral claimers, until the crown fhall purchafe the 
 fame, as was the cafe in Nova Scotia. _ 
 
 Colonel Dunbar projected Sagadahock territory to be let 
 off as a feparate government for himfelFv this was intro- 
 duced, by obtaining a royal inftrument or lnitruthon, to 
 fet off 300,000 acres of good mall and fhip timber land, 
 for the ufe of the crown or navy ; it was forwarded by 
 a royal inftru&ion to colonel Phillips, governor of Nova 
 Scotia, April 27, 1730, to take poffefTion of the lands be- 
 tween St. Croix river and Quenebcc river. Accordingly a 
 detachment of thirty men with an officer, made from the 
 four companies of his regiment in garriion at Canlo in 
 Nova Scotia, was fent to take poffeffion of that country, 
 to keep garrifon at Frederick’s fort on Pemaquid river-, 
 where the detachment kept for fome time. Upon appli- 
 cation home of the Mufcongus company, proprietors m 
 part of Sagadahock, by their indefatigable agent Mr. 
 Waldo, this intlruftion was revoked, Auguft 10, 1732, 
 and colonel Phillip’s detachment was called off. At pre- 
 fent the province of Maffachufetts-Bay, to obviate cavils 
 or complaints, of their rdinquifhing the occupancy of this 
 territory, keep a truck-houfe and garrifon at George s, 
 and a garrifon at fort Frederick, and is likely to continue 
 under the jurifdiflion of Maffachufetts-Bay, and is at 
 prefent annexed to the county of York, or province of 
 
 Main. , 
 
 In the beginning of this French war anno 1744, tne 
 
 fencible men in this .large territory of Sagadahock were 
 
 only 
 
3 8 4 
 only at 
 
 British Settlements in America. 
 
 George’s and Broad-bay 
 
 Pemaqiud 
 
 Shepfcut 
 
 Part II. 
 270 
 50 
 
 50 
 
 but at this writing 1748, very few of thefe remain, beinp 
 much expofed to the Canada French Coureurs de Bob, 
 and their Indians. 
 
 In the beginning of the laft century England and 
 France indifferently traded to Sagadahock. Under the 
 direction and countenance of Chief juftice Popham, the 
 Englilhmade the[/jfirft New England fettlement, 1608, 
 at Sagadahock, but of fhort continuance. 
 
 Anno 1613, captain Argol from Virginia broke up 
 fome French fettlements at Sagadahock. 
 
 The claims to lands in the territory of Sagadahock, 
 are of various and perplexed natures, viz. Some by old 
 Indian grants in drunken frolicks for none or not valu- 
 able confiderations ; fome by grants from the council of 
 Plymouth •, fome by patents from the governors of 
 New-York, when under that jurifdi&ion, particularly 
 from governor Dongan a Roman catholic in the reign of 
 James II. 
 
 Some part of this territory was granted by the coun- 
 cil of Plymouth, 1629, to Mr. Beauchamp of London 
 merchant, and to Mr. Leverett of Bofton in Lincoln- 
 fhire, and their aflociates, called the Lincoln company 
 or fociety, viz. from Mufcongus, now called Broad-Bay, 
 a little eaftward of Pemaquid to Penobfcot bay ten leagues 
 along fhore, and from this termination and that of Muf- 
 congus ten leagues inland, fo as to make a parcel of land 
 of thirty miles fquare. This Plymouth grant feems to 
 have been confirmed by a royal grant of Charles II, 
 figned Howard, privy feal •, that was about the time 
 when the Conne&icut and llhode-ifland charters were 
 granted. 
 
 [ 1 ] Where a repetition is fhort, it ought to be allowed, becaufe it 
 Haves the reader the trouble of turning back by a reference. 
 
 Leverett’s 
 
 % 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 385 
 
 Leverett’s title lying dormant. Sir William Phipps 
 purchafed of Madakawando, chief Sachem (as it is laid) 
 of the Penobfcot Indians, the lands each fide of George s 
 river, fohigh as the fecond falls*, Spencer Phipps, adopted 
 heir of Sir William Phipps, made over his right to the 
 heirs and affociates, of Leverett*, anno 1719, it was 
 conveyed to feveral affociates, fo as to make thirty equal 
 lhares in the whole *, the new affociates, obliged them- 
 felves to fettle two townfliips uponGeorge’s river, of forty 
 families each but an Indian war breaking out, the con- 
 ditions were never performed: the Indians hitherto have 
 not formally quit-claimed it. Mr. Waldo, a gentleman 
 well qualified for an agent, a partner, who eii'edf ually ne- 
 gotiated the affair at home, againll the contrivances of 
 colonal Dunbar, to annex it to the crown, has acquired a 
 very confiderable part of this grant. 
 
 George’s truck houfe and fort lies near the center of 
 this errant, is about twelve miles up this river*, at the 
 mouth of the river is a bar of a very fmall draught of 
 water *, five miles higher are the firft falls of George s 
 river ; Broad-bay of Mufcongus is only a large creek or 
 bay with a fmall rivulet running into it. 
 
 In the territory of Sagadahock not much good fiup- 
 timber *, fome white pine for mails *, may be of good 
 fervice to Bofton in fupplying it with firewood. 1 he 
 
 foil is not bad. , r , „ 
 
 The grants of the Shepfcut lands, and of the Pema- 
 quid lands, feem not included in the duke of York s pro- 
 perty. .... 
 
 Moll of the grants and conveyances in this territory, 
 
 are not to be found upon record, which occafions great 
 confufion in claims. 
 
 C c 
 
 VOL. I. 
 
 Article 
 
386 
 
 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 Article III. 
 
 Concerning the province of Main. 
 
 T HIS being the firft of the territories at prefent 
 called New-England that falls in our courfe, for 
 the reader’s more ready conception of the New-England 
 affairs, we fhall, ab initio , recapitulate fome matters al- 
 ready delivered. 
 
 King James I, by letters patent bearing date Nov. 3, 
 1620, granted all that land and territory in America , lying 
 between N. lat. of 40 D. to 48 D. unto the duke of Lenox , 
 marquis of Buckingham , marquis of Hamilton , and others 
 their affociates noblemen and gentlemen , in all forty perfons, 
 and to their fucceffors ; and incorporated them by the name 
 of the council ejlablifhed at Plymouth in the county of Devon., 
 for fettling , planting , rulings and governing all that country 
 by the name of New-England •, to have and to hold , poffefs 
 and enjoy , all the continent lands and ijlands between the faid 
 latitudes to them and their fuccejjors for ever with poiver to 
 alienate, affign, convey , and fet over, under their common 
 feal, any part or portion thereof to any of bis majefiy's de- 
 nizens, or other adventurers. 
 
 In the end of James the firft’s reign, Sir Ferdinando 
 Gorge, prefident of the council of Plymouth, and captain 
 Mafon had fundry grants from Neumkeag river, which 
 divides the prefent towns of Salem and Beverly, to 
 Sagadahock or Quenebec river, which were afterwards 
 altered into the grants of the Province of Main, and of 
 New-Hampfhire as at prefent. 
 
 The council of Plymouth, Nov. 7, 1629, granted to 
 Gorge and Mafon, all that tradl of land from the heads 
 of Merrimack river and Sagadahock or Quenebec river, to 
 the lake Iroquois, now called Cataraqui or Ontario, and 
 the river which empties itfelf from the faid lake into Cana- 
 da river to be called Laconia ; but as they never occu- 
 pied it, this grant is become obfolete, and may be faid 
 to have- reverted to the crown and at prelent, fince the 
 
Sect. VlII. Of Massachusetts-Bay.' 3^7 
 
 iate fettlement made of the line between Mafifachufetts- 
 Bay and New-Hampfhire, may be faid to be in thejunf- 
 diftion of New-Hamplhire. 
 
 Sir Ferdinando Gorge, prefident of the Council of Ply- 
 mouth, or Council of New-England, obtained a grant 
 from this council, April 22, 1635, of a trad of land call- 
 ed the Province of Main* extending from Pifcataqua 
 river tb Sagadahock and Quenebec river. This grant 
 ■was confirmed by the crown, April 3, 1639. The agent 
 or agents of Mafiachufetts-Bay , purchafed, 1 5 Car. I, 
 July 20, 1677, this grant of the heirs or afiignees of 
 Gorge. 
 
 The grant of the province of Main begins at the en- 
 trance of Pifcataqua harbour , up the fame to Neitichevea- 
 nock river , and through the fame to the far theft head thereof 
 and thence nortb-wcftward , till 120 miles be finifhed •, and 
 from Pifcataqua harbour's mouth aforefaid, north -eaftward 
 along the fea-coaft to Sagadahock , and up the river thereof 
 to Quenebec river, and through the fame to the head thereof \ 
 and thence into the land north-vseftward , till 120 miles be 
 finifhed ; and from the period of 1 lo. miles aforefaid , to crofs 
 ever land , to the 120 miles before reckoned , up into the land 
 from Pifcataqua harbour through Newichewanock river : as 
 alfo the north half of the ifles of Shoals. 
 
 The lines of the territories belonging to the province of 
 Mafiachufetts-Bay, and of the province of New-Hamp- 
 Ihire, being in dilpute for many years, New-Hampfhire 
 petitioned to the king in council, that their boundaries 
 with Maffachufetts-Bny might be determined •, according- 
 ly with confent of the agents for Mafiachufetts-Bay, April 
 9 > 17379 [»*] a commifiion under the great feal of Great- 
 Britain was iflTued, appointing five of the eldeft counfel- 
 lors from each of the neighbouring provinces of New- 
 York, New-Jerfeys, Nova Scotia, and Rhode-ifiands(five 
 to be a quorum) as commifiioners, referving property and 
 an appeal to the king in council : the appeal was heard 
 
 The charge of parting the commifiion was 135/. 4 s - hd. fterling. 
 
 C c 2 before 
 
3 83 
 
 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 before a committee of privy council, March 5, 1739; 
 the commiflioners, and afterwards the king in council, 
 fettled this line N. 2 D. W. true courfe. Accordingly 
 New-H amp (hire ex parte (Maflachufetts Bay refufmg to 
 join in the furvey) by Mr. Bryant a furveyor of lands, 
 fettled the line with the province of Main, viz. From 
 the mouth of Pifcataqua river to the head of Newiche- 
 wanock, a little north of Lovel’s pond, upon a great 
 pond from whence proceeds Moufium river, about 
 north -wefterly forty miles, thence N. 8 D. E. by needle 
 (the commiflioners, and as afterwards confirmed by the 
 king in council, fettled this line N. 2 D. W. true courfe) 
 which is by allowing 1 o D. variation, thirty miles. This 
 furvey was in March, the fnow and ice melting, rendered 
 the further furvey progrefs impracticable ; thus forty 
 miles of this line remain to be run. 
 
 Both governments of Maflachufetts-Bay and of New- 
 Hampfhire were in one and the fame perfon at that time; 
 and it was fufpefted that the governor favoured Maffii- 
 chufetts-Bay -, therefore the general aflfembly of New- 
 Hampfliire brought on a complaint againft the governor, 
 previous to the appeal’s coming on. The commiflioners 
 began to fit Auguft 1 ; the general aflembly of New- 
 Hampfhire was adjourned by the governor to the 4th of 
 Auguft, which retarded them three or four days in ap- 
 pointing managers and giving in their pleas : the com- 
 , miflioners pronounced judgment Sept. 2 ; the governor 
 prorogued the aflembly from Sept. 2, to Oct. 1 
 they might not have an appeal ready to give into the 
 commiflioners in fix weeks from judgment given, the 
 time limited by the commiflion. The complaint was 
 heard before a committee of the council ; they found the 
 complaint juft, and their report was approved of by the 
 king in council. To prevent the like inconveniencies, 
 a ieparate governor was appointed for New- Hampfhire ; 
 and the governments of Maflachufetts-Bay and New- 
 Hampfhire have been in two diftinct perlons ever 
 
Sect. VIII. 0 / Massachusetts-Bay. 3S9 
 
 The mechod ufed before the new charter by the co- 
 lony of Maffachufetts-Bay purchafe of the heirs or affigns 
 of Gorge, to convey or difpofe of lands there, was in this 
 manner*, for inftance, July 26, 1684, the prefident of 
 the province of Main, by order of the general aflembly 
 of the colony of Mafiachufetts-Bay, makes a grant of the 
 townfhip of North -Yarmouth to fundry perlons. In a 
 ftridt fenfe, the colony of MaiTachufetts-Bay could not 
 exerciie any jurifdi&ion there, becaufe the heirs, &c. of 
 Gorge could not delegate jurifdiftion*, notwithftanding, 
 we find orders of jurildiction ligned in Bofton *, for in- 
 Ilance, in the war againlt the Indians, an order to fherifFs, 
 conftables, is'c. to imprels boats and land-carriages, is 
 figned Bofton, Sept. 16, 1689, Thomas Darnforth, pre- 
 fident of the province of Main. 
 
 The north and fouth lines running inland are 120 
 miles ; the front or fea line, and the rear line, may be 
 about eighty miles, that is, the contents of the province 
 of Main may be about 9600 fquare miles *, whereof at 
 prefent granted in townlhips or diftridfts, are only thefirft 
 or fea line, confifting of the townfhips of Kittery, York, 
 Wells, Arundel, Biddiford, Scarborough, Falmouth, 
 North- Yarmouth, George-Town, or Arrowfick, Brur.f- 
 wick, and the fcttlement of Topfam ; anil a fecond or in?* 
 land line, confifting of Berwick, Philips-Town, Nara- 
 ganfet. No. 1. Naraganfet, No. 7. Marblehead townlhip. 
 Powers, and other townfhips, and Cape- Anne townfhip* 
 In this territory of Main, there are fome private pur- 
 chafes from the Indians, which the proprietor-general, 
 the aflembly of the province of Maflachuletts-Bay, feem 
 not to difpute *, for inftance, anno 1683, Mr. Wharton, a 
 merchant in Bofton, purchafed of fix Sagamores, about 
 500,000 acres called the Pegepfcot purchafe j bounded 
 five miles weft from’ Pegepfcot river, by a line running ; t 
 five miles diftance parallel with the river, to a certain 
 fall in the faid river, and thence N. E. about forty-four 
 miles in a ftrait line to Quenebec river ; it includes th' 
 Cittern divifions of Nahumkee purchafe, and of Plymor 
 
 C c 3 pure! 
 
390 British Settlements in America. Part IT. 
 
 purchafe ; Plymouth purchafe extends fifteen miles each 
 fide of Quenebec river. Wharton dying infolvent, the 
 adminiftrator fold this purchafe for not much exceeding 
 ioo /. New-England currency, 1714, to eight or nine 
 proprietors, viz. Winthrop, T. Hutchinfon, Ruck, 
 Noyes, Watts, Minot, Mountford, &c. It is bounded 
 S. wefterly by North- Yarmouth, which takes in a fmall 
 part of this grant at fmall point ; George-Town, Brunf- 
 witk, and Topfam are in this grant. 
 
 At the breaking out of the French war, in the pro- 
 vince of Main were militia, or fencible men, 2485. 
 
 Men 
 
 Townfhip of Kittery 450 
 York 350 
 Wells 500 
 Arundel 95 
 Biddiford 1 20 
 Berwick 150 
 Philip T.150 
 
 
 Men 
 
 Scarborough 
 
 160 
 
 Falmouth 
 
 5 °o 
 
 N. Yarmouth 
 
 150 
 
 Brunfwick 
 
 50 
 
 Naraganfet N. 
 
 1. 20 
 
 New-Marbleheaa 40 
 
 Sir W. Pepperell’s reg. 1565 
 
 Sagadahock 
 
 Col. Waldo’s reg. 1290 
 But at prefent many of thefe have left their towns and 
 habitations, being expoied to the French andtheirlnaians. 
 
 For iome time during the old charter of Maffachufetts- 
 Bay colony, they extended their claim to three miles north 
 of the northernmoft part of Merrimack river, called En- 
 dicots Tree, near the crotch or fork where Pemagawafet 
 river, and the wares or difcharge of Winipifiakit pond 
 or lake meet, and from thence extended their due eaft 
 and weft line to the E. and W. oceans, that is, from the 
 iEthiopic ocean to the South-Sea or Pacific ocean. Thus 
 /they affumed (as being prior) almoft the whole of Ma- 
 fon’s grant or New-Hamplhire, and the S. E. corner pf 
 Gorge’s grant, or the province of Main, fo far as Black- 
 Point, near Saco river, both in property and jurifdiftion; 
 and did accordingly make grants of lands and conftitute 
 
 townfhips 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 391 
 
 townfhips which fent reprefentatives or deputies to the 
 general aflembly of Maflachufetts •, but upon complaint 
 of the heirs of Gorge and Mafon to the king in council 
 and the courts in Weftminfter-hall, Maflachufetts-Bay 
 difclaimed thefe lands, as hereafter fhall be more fully 
 related. 
 
 The whole of the province of Main at prefent confti- 
 tutes only one county, called the county of York ; and to 
 this county is [«] annexed the territory of Sagadahock. 
 
 In the province of Main and New-Hamp(hire, from 
 the firft fettling of the Englifh, for about fifty years, that 
 is, until king Philip’s war, the Englifh and Indians 
 kept a good friendly correfpondence *, but ever fince, 
 during the European French wars, the French of Canada 
 have made ufe of the feveral tribes of our neighbouring 
 Abnaquie Indians to diftrefs our fettlements ' vide Sett. 
 III. Article 4. 
 
 Prior to the Maflachufetts -Bay purchafe, the fettlers 
 in the province of Main never had any other protection \ 
 but that of the colony of Maflachufetts -Bay. When the 
 court of England, much corrupted, began in an arbitrary 
 defpotic manner to re-aflume grants, charters, &c. it 
 was ordered by the king in council, July 24, 1 ^ 79 ’ 
 the Maflachufetts-Bay government, upon the reimburfe* 
 ment of 1200/. fterling paid Gorge’s heirs for the pro- 
 vince of Main, fhall furrender it to the crown, being a 
 purchafe made without his Majefty’s permiffion. The 
 new charter of Maflachufetts Bay, 1691, put an end to 
 that and all other pretended claims. 
 
 [n] The lands eaft of Quenebec river were never a fettled French 
 property with pofleflion and jurilihdiion ; and the French tranfitory con- 
 queft of it, was only a fufpenfton of the former Britifh owners pro- 
 perty ; and upon re conqueft or a peace, returned to the former owners, 
 jure pojlliminii , or a right to one’s former inheritance ; therefore in 
 colonel Dunbar’s cafe the board of trade, and comimree of council 
 reported to the king in council, that the Mufcongus aflociates fhould 
 not be difturbed in their poffeflion, and to be under the defence or pro- 
 tection of Maflachufetts-Bay as formerly. 
 
 C c 4 Geography 
 
39J British Settlements in America. Part II, 
 Geography and chronology, are two the moll con fi- 
 lterable 5 elements of Hiftory. The moll eflential and in- 
 variable things in the geography of a country, are its 
 general pofition upon the furface of the earth as to lati- 
 tude and" longitude-, the remarkable mountains and great 
 hills > the fea-coaft and tire runs of rivers and rivulets 
 from the inland into the lea. 
 
 In the province of Main, the remarkable mountains 
 and hills are, i. The White-Hills, or rather mountains, 
 inland about feventy miles north from the mouth of Pifca- 
 taqua harbour, about feven miles W. by N. from the head 
 of the Pigwoket branch of Saco river j they are called 
 White, not from their being continually covered with 
 fnow, but becaufe they are bald a-top, producing no 
 trees or brulh, and covered with a whitilh Hone or Ihin- 
 gle, Thefe hills may be obferved at a great diftance, and 
 are a confiderable guide or direction to the Indians in 
 travelling that country. 2. The Pigwoket hills, at a 
 fmall diftance from the White Hills, are much inferior 
 to them, and fcarce require to be mentioned. 3. Aqui- 
 manticus Hills, well known amongft our failors, are in 
 the townlhip of York, about eight miles inland it is a 
 noted and ufeful land-making, for vefiels that fall in 
 northward of Bofton or Maffachufetts Bay. 
 
 Upon the fea-coaft, Cafco-Bay is a large, good, and 
 fafe harbour or road for veflels of any burden being 
 fheltered or covered by many iflands : here fome of the 
 contrail maft fhips take in their lading. Along this 
 coaft are many harbours, commodious for lmall craft in 
 lading of lumber and fire-wood for Bofton. 
 
 The capes, promontories, or head-lands, belong pro* 
 perly to fea charts * I fhall only mention Small-Point at 
 the fouth entrance of Sagadahock, Cape-Elizabeth in the 
 S.E. corner of Calco-B-ay, Black- Point, four miles N. h. 
 of Saco river, Cape-Porpus in Arundel, and Cape-Ned- 
 dick in Wells. 
 
 The confiderable rivers are, 1 . Quenebec and its mouth 
 called Sagadahock, which divides the province of Main, 
 
 front 
 
Sjict. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 393 
 
 from the Old Briftol purchafe of Pemaquid, including 
 the Shepfcut purchafe, and from the territory formerly 
 called the duke of York’s property, all which at preient 
 are called the territory of Sagadahock. From the entrance 
 of Sagadahock to Merry-meeting Bay are eighteen miles-, 
 thence to Richmond fort and truck-houfe near the mouth 
 of Quenebec river, are twelve miles thence to the hrlt 
 falls, though only a ripling called Cafhnock falls, are 
 eighteen miles i thence to Taconick falls are eighteen 
 miles : here in M. Dummer’s Indian war our people left 
 their whale-boats, and marched forty miles by land to 
 the Indian village or town called Naridgwoag; they 
 deftroyed the iettlement, brought away the fcalp of the 
 French miflionary father Rale, a Jefuit, with about 
 twenty-fix Indian fealps : feme Indians were drowned 
 in crofling the river precipitately. Thus from the 
 mouth of Sagadahock to Naridgwoag are about 106 
 Englilh miles, and the province of Main cannot extend 
 above twenty miles higher •, thefe Indians in travelling 
 to Quebec, with their canoes go much higher up the ri- 
 ver- the Naridgwoag Indians with their French mil- 
 fionaries, have in the French wars been very troublefome 
 to the Englilh fettlements ; but by Dummer s well 
 managed Indian war, and a late mortality from a putrid 
 fever °and dyfentery, received when- in curiofity they vi- 
 fited duke d ? Anville’s fickly troops and fquadron at 
 Chebu&o, upon the Cape-Sable coall of Nova Scotia, 
 they are now reduced to very inconfiderable impotent 
 numbers. 2. Amcralcogin river : up this river, not 
 many years fince was a tribe of Indians, but are nowex- 
 tinft ; near the mouth of this river is Bruniwick fort 
 this river is- particularly noted for plenty of good ftur- 
 o e on : not many years fince a merchant of Bolton con- 
 tracted with fome filhmongers of London to fupply them 
 with a certain quantity of well-cured ft«rgeon every 
 year, but whether from the bad quality of the h(n, or ra- 
 ther from the negligence of the people employed in cur- 
 jno- of it, there was nofalefor it in London, and the fore- 
 f ° ' laid 
 
 4 
 
39+ British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 faid Indian war breaking out, that filhery is given up. 
 3. Saco river, its confiderable branches are Pigwacket 
 river ; it riles about feventy miles north of Pifcataqua 
 harbour, and Ofiipee river, from Ofiipee pond about 
 fifty five miles N. wefterly from Pifcataqua harbour : 
 about fifty miles from the mouth of Saco formerly were 
 Pigwackets, a confiderable tribe of Indians with a French 
 mifiionary, but they are now almoft extinft j this river is 
 nav igable only a fmall way to the falls for fmall vefiels ; 
 here is a fort and truck-houfes ; at the mouth of Saco 
 river is Winter Harbour, fo called from Mr. Winter, who 
 had a farm there. 4. Maufon river comes from fome 
 ponds near the famous Lovel’s pond, about forty miles 
 above Pifcataqua harbour : at thefe ponds Bryant the 
 fiirveyor began to fet off the N. 8 D. E. line between the 
 province of Main and New-Hamplhire ; this river falls 
 into the ocean in jhe town-lhip of Wells. 5. Pifcataqua 
 river, which for the fpace of forty miles divides New- 
 Hampflhire from the province of Main ; from the mouth 
 of this river or harbour to the inlet of Exeter bay are 
 about ten miles ; thence to the mouth of Catechecho 
 river, which comes from the W. N. W. are five miles \ 
 from this upwards, Pifcataqua river is called Newicha- 
 wanock river, and higher it is called Salmon falls river. 
 
 The fmall rivers or runs of water and of Ihort courfe 
 are many : Recompence river Royals river running 
 through Cape-Anne grant or townlhip, and through 
 North Yarmouth tothefea; Prefumpfcot river, comes 
 from Jabago pond, by Naraganfet N°. 7. through Fal- 
 mouth, where it falls into the fea-, Falmouth river or 
 Stroud Water of Cafco-Bay •, Quenebec river dividing 
 Arundel from Wells j York river in the townlhip of York. 
 
 Article IV. 
 
 Concerning the late colony of Plymouth. 
 
 W HAT relates to this colony, prior to their more 
 filled and determined grant, anno 1629, from the 
 council of Plymouth, fee p. 370, 
 
 Some 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 395 
 
 Some Englifh Puritans belonging to Mr. Robinfon’s 
 church in [o] Leyden in Holland, with fome of their 
 friends in England, obtained of the council of Plymouth, 
 an indiftinft imperfedt grant of lands in North-Ame- 
 rica •, their defign was for Hudfon’s river, but falling in 
 with Cape Cod late in the year Nov. 1 1, they were obliged 
 to winter there, and in a lhallow bay and poor foil with- 
 in the oreat bay of Maflachufetts •, they fit down and call 
 it New-Plymouth, in remembrance of Plymouth in 
 England, from whence they took their departure. 
 
 They had no particular grant from the council of 
 Plymouth of the country where they fettled, until 1624; 
 and this was fo indiftindt, that they obtained a new grant 
 1620, but ftill fo obfcure as not to be underftood at pre- 
 fentf as appeared at a hearing 1741, before commiffioners 
 appointed by the court of Great-Britain, to fettle their 
 
 line with the colony of Rhode ifland. , , 
 
 We lhall only briefly obferve, that captain Smith the 
 traveller, with two Ihips, 1614, made a good voyage 
 upon thefe coafts, and, by his means, the country was 
 named New-England by the court of England. 
 
 Anno 1616, four or five fail of filhmg veffels from 
 London, and as many from Plymouth, make good fares 
 of filh 
 
 Anno 1618, only two fail from Plymouth in England 
 
 fifh upon the coaft of New-England. 
 
 Anno 1619, only one fhip of 200 tons \ made a good 
 
 V ° Anno 1621, ten or twelve fhips from the weft of 
 England, fifh upon the coaft of New-England, and made 
 trotTd voyages with their fifti to Spain. 
 
 ° Anno 1622, there were upon the coaft of New-r.ng- 
 fand thirty-five vefifels from the weft of England. 
 
 Anno 1623, captain Smith writes, that there were for 
 that year forty fail from England, fifhing upon the coaft 
 
 fo] In Leyden to this day, an Englifh prefbyterian congregation is 
 maintained in their works by the ftates. 
 
396 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 of New-England. That Canada and New-England in 
 fix years laft pall, had Ihipped off 20,000 beaver-fkins. 
 
 After fome time, a number of people, from New-Ply. 
 mouth, purchafed of the Indians, a parcel of land called 
 Nofllt near Cape-Cod, and gave it the name of Eaft- 
 ham •, their purchafe upon this narrow promontory 
 reached about thirty miles from north to fouth. The 
 firft two years they lived without any fupply from Eng- 
 land, cleared and planted fixty acres with Indian corn. 
 At firft they feemed to have a fort of Lex Agraria for 
 each mefs or ( menage ; or rather their poffeftions feem to 
 have been in common. 
 
 Mr. Edward Window |j>] their agent, anno 1624, im- 
 ported the firft cattle, being a bull and three heifers: 
 about this time Plymouth fettlement confifted only of 1 80 
 perfons ; the adventurers, as it is faid, had expended 
 7000 /. fterling being entirely carried on by adventures ; 
 but being difeouraged, they Ibid their intereft to the fet- 
 tlers for a trifle. The grant at firft was foie to Mr. 
 Bradford, his heirs, affociates, and afligns ; but at the 
 requeft of the general affembly, he afligned his right to 
 the freemen : upon governor Carver’s death April 1621, 
 he was annually chofen governor while he lived (except- 
 ing one year Mr. Window, and two years Mr. Prince) 
 he died May 9, 1 657, iEt. 69. 
 
 Governors. 
 
 Mr. Carver, from November 1620 to April 1621. 
 
 Mr. Bradford the grantee fucceeded, and was annually 
 chofen governor until his death. May 1657, excepting 
 for three years ; he was a man of no family, and of no 
 learning. 
 
 Mr. Prince, who had twice been chofen governor in 
 Mr. Bradford’s life-time, fucceeded, and was annually 
 chofen governor till death, Aug. 29, 1673, iEt. 71. He 
 was a man of good natural parts, but of no learning. 
 
 [/] Mr. Winflow died in Cromwell’s Hifpaniola expedition 165;, 
 
 At. 61. 
 
 Mr. 
 
Sect. VlII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 397 
 
 Mr. Prince was fucceeded in annual elections by Jofiah 
 Window, who died Dec. 18, x68o. 
 
 Next Richard Trent was unanimoufly elected, until 
 their charter was dropped or fuperfeded. . 
 
 I find that upon the Revolution, the commander irt 
 chief of Plymouth colony is called prefident, not gover- 
 nor thus major Church’s commidion from Plymouth 
 to go againft the eaftern Indians is figned Sept. 6, 1689, 
 
 Thomas Hinkley, prefident. 
 
 N. B. At fird this colony was only a voluntary alio- 
 ciation •, in the beginning the governor had only one 
 adiftant, afterwards three, and fometime after hve ; at 
 length, anno 1637, they chole ieven adidants. 
 
 As" the boundaries by their grant were ill-determined, 
 there were continual difputes between this colony and 
 that of Rhode-idand. By a commidion from Charles 
 II 1664, to colonel Richard Nichols, Sir Robert Carr, 
 George Cartwright, and Samuel Maverick, to determine 
 controverfies concerning feveral boundaries in the con- 
 tinent of North America, they paded judgment con- 
 cerning the boundaries between Rhode-idand and 1 ly- 
 moutl? colony •, as it was only by way of amulement to 
 ‘ quiet the minds of the people in thefe colonies, and never 
 confirmed by the king in council, it had no efrect. 
 
 Ever fince the colony of Plymouth has been annexed 
 to the province of Madachufetts-Bay, thofe difputes have 
 continued or been revived from time to time. The chief 
 difpute was concerning Attleborough Gore, which it 
 Madachufetts-Bay had quit-claimed to them, Rhode-u- 
 land would have given a general quit- claim in all other 
 concerns * and prevented the lofs of Briftol, and tome part 
 of Barrington, Swanzey, Tiverton, and Little Compton ; 
 but the influence of a few ill-natured, obdinate, mconii- 
 rate men, [y] prevailed in the legidature to the damage 
 of the province of Madachufetts-Bay. 
 
 M Here we n'av obferve the pernicious confequence of blindly 
 following the dilates of inconfiderate, imprudent, clamorous, or 
 violent leading men. ^ i j 
 
39$ British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 Rhode-ifland by memorials fent home, the agents of 
 MafTachufetts-Bay giving confent, obtained acommifiion 
 for the eldeft counfellors of the neighbouring govern- 
 ments to meet and adjuft their boundaries ; accordingly 
 they meet at providence infummer 1741, and found that 
 the laft determined grant for Plymouth colony, 1629, 
 fpecifies it in this manner, viz. between Conohaflet [r] ri- 
 vulet towards the north, and[j] Naraganfet river, towards 
 the fouth ; and. between the [/] ocean towards the eaft, 
 and a ftrait line extending direftly into the main land from 
 the mouth of the faid Naraganfet river, to the utmoft 
 bounds of the Packanoket country, alias Sawamfet country, 
 the famous king Philip of Mount Hope his country, to 
 the [«] Nipmug country, which determination is now 
 forgot, and from Cohafiet back into the main land wtft- 
 ward, to the utmoft bounds of the Packanoket country. 
 
 The better to underftand the boundaries of the late 
 colony of New-Plymouth (now annexed to the province 
 of Mafiachufetts-Bay) with the colony of Rhode-ifland •, 
 I muft in anticipation, give the boundaries of [ w ] Rhode- 
 ifland colony, as delineated in their charter, viz. bound- 
 ed wefterly by the middle channel of Pakatuk river, and 
 up the faid river northerly to the head thereof, and thence 
 in a ftrait line due north to Maflachufetts fouth bounds 
 extending eafterly three Englifh miles to the E. N. E. 
 of the molt eaftern and northern parts of Naraganfet 
 bay, as it lieth or extendeth itfelf from the ocean-, bound- 
 ed foutherly on the ocean, unto the mouth of the river 
 which cometh from providence and from the town of 
 Providenc, along the eafterly bank of the faid river called 
 Seaconck river, up to Patucket falls j and thence due 
 
 [rl Now called Bound Brook. 
 
 frf] The mouth of Taunton gut or river, or Seaconnet point. 
 
 [/] Or bay of Maflachufetts 
 
 [u\ Plyrr uth grant was up Blackflone, Patucket or Nipmug river 
 to the NT mug country; this Nipmug country could not be ascer- 
 tained bv the late commiflioners for fettling the line with Rhode-ifland. 
 
 [<w n n atters not as yet upon record in public hiftories, it is proper 
 So be particular. 
 
 N. 
 
's 
 
 ]a 
 
 'M 
 
 *« 
 
 tail; 
 
 tt* 
 
 up 
 
 »ia 
 
 1EF. 
 
 crcr 
 
 OKI 
 
 panic 
 
 •ik 
 
 to 
 
 W©£j- 
 
 it, ini 
 
 Ifa 
 
 W; 
 
 iu 
 
 ;!»» 
 
 tkrc 
 
 !WKi 
 
 trci 
 
 Ifti 
 
 it 
 
 Mg'* 
 
 b22fe 
 
 Aft 
 
 jj 
 
 Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay.' 399 
 
 N. to Maflachufetts fouth line, where is the mo ft wefter- 
 ly line of Plymouth colony.— The Rhode-ifland claim 
 was three miles E. N. E. of AlTent creek of Taunton ri- 
 ver, and thence due S. to the ocean eaft of Seaconnet 
 point; and from the faid E. N. E. point, a wefterly 
 courfe to Fox point, being the mouth of the river that 
 comes from Providence town, thence along the eaft fide 
 of Seaconck river toPatucket falls ; and thence due north 
 to Maflachufetts fouth line. 
 
 Upon a hearing at Providence, in fummer 1 741, of 
 the committees or agents of both colonies before the 
 commiflioners appointed by royal patent to fettle this line 
 or boundary; the council of Plymouth patent, 1 or any 
 copy of it was produced ; therefore the recital of the faid 
 letters patent, in their deed to Bradford and affociates, 
 was not fufficient evidence againft the king’s charter 10 
 Rhode-ifland. This commiffion was not to meddle with 
 property, but only with jurifdi&ion, which is afcertain- 
 ed to Rhode-ifland by royal charter, nothwithrtanding 
 their charter being pofterior to the New-Plymouth co- 
 lony grant ; becaule the council of Plymouth could only 
 delegate property, but not jurifdittion. By no evidence, 
 it was made appear that the water (a fait water finus, 
 commonly called a continuation of Taunton river ; it is 
 called Taunton great river in their private deeds) be- 
 tween the main land on the eaft, and the ifland of Rhode- 
 ifland on the weft, was never at any time called Nara- 
 ganfet river. 
 
 The determination of the commiflioners, anno 1741, 
 was, by the king in council 1746, confirmed as final. 
 And is to this eftedt, viz. from the province of Maflfa- 
 chufetts-Bay, fouth line, a meridian line (allowing S. 7. 
 D. W. variation) to Patucket falls ; and thence down 
 the eafterly fide of Seaconck river, to the S. W. corner 
 of Bullocks neck ; and thence N. E. three miles (fup- 
 pofingaN. E. line of three miles from the north-eaftern- 
 moft parts of the bay on the W. fide of Romftick neck) 
 in a ttrait line, until it meets with the termination of 
 
400 British Settlements in America. Part If; 
 
 this imaginary line ; and from this to the bay near Tow- 
 aflet neckj fo that this line touch the N. E. extremity of 
 an imaginary line running N. E. from the N. E. corner 
 of Briltol cove or harbour. On the eaft fide of Nara- 
 ganfet bay, it begins at a point 440 rods fouthward of 
 the mouth of Fall river in Tiverton ; thence runs eaft 
 three miles ; and from thence runs foutherly parallel 
 with the eafternmoft parts of Naraganfet bay or Taunton 
 great river to the fea. 
 
 By this determination the late colony of Plymouth, or 
 rather the prefent province of Mafiachufetts-Bay, loft, in 
 favour of Rhode-ifland, a triangular piece of land com- 
 monly called the Attleborough Gore [.v] ; bounded S. 7. 
 D. W. from an interfecftion with Maflachufetts S. line, to 
 Patucket falls nine and a half miles ; from Patticket falls 
 up Patucket or Blackftone river, to the interfeftion of 
 this river with Maflachufetts fouth line, in a direft or 
 llrait courfe twelves miles, W. 55 D. N. from this inter- 
 fection E. 7 D. S. about ten miles : this Gore is confti- 
 tuted a townlhip of Rhode-ifland, by the name of Cum- 
 berland, fo called from prince William duke of Cumber- 
 land. Briftol is entirely adjudged to Rhode-ifland co- 
 cony jurifdiction, and retains its former name. Part of 
 Swanzey, being forty- feven families, and a great part of 
 Barrington, are conftituted a townlhip by the name of 
 Warren, in honour of Sir Peter Warren, knight of the 
 Bath, and an admiral in the navy ; an honeft benevolent 
 gentleman, always propitious to trade. The three mile 
 ftrips of Tiverton and Little Compton, on the eaft fide 
 of the bay or Taunton great river, continue by the name 
 of diftridts of Rhode-ifland. 
 
 O] This Gore has been for many years in difpute between Mafla- 
 chufetts-Bay and Rhode-ifland, and if fome of our managers, hot- 
 headed obflinate men, had conceded it to Rhode-ifland, it being 
 plainly their due, they would have given to Maffachufetts-Bay a ge- 
 neral quit-claim, and their other claims would not have been revived. 
 Something of the fame nature lhall in courfe be taken notice of, with 
 regard to New-Hampfhire. 
 
 The 
 
Sect. VIII. Qf Massachusetts-Bay. - 401 
 
 The line between Old Mafiachufetts and Plymouth is 
 no more as a colony line ; but continues te divide the 
 county of Suffolk in the Mafiachufetts, from. Plymouth 
 and Briftol counties of the late Plymouth colony. This 
 former dividing line of the two colonies, begins at the 
 interfe&ion of Attleborough Gore, and runs three and a 
 half miles E. 7 D. S. to the ftation tree of [_y] Woodward 
 and Saffries : from this ftation to a notch in Bridgewater 
 E. 18 D. N. are twenty-three miles •, thence one mile 
 and a quarter north on Bridgewater ; thence E. nine miles 
 to Accord Pond •, thence ftill eaft to Conohafifet, at the 
 mouth of Bound Brook on the bay of Mafiachufetts, fix! 
 miles : in all about forty-one miles. 
 
 From Conohaflet in Maflachufetts-Bay, to the race 
 point of Cape Cod, is to this late colony of Plymouth, 
 an eaft, fouth, and weft boundary •, by the flexure or 
 hook of the Cape, the back (as it is called) of Cape Cod 
 to Cape Malabar or Sandy Point, is an eaft boundary ; 
 from Sandy Point, farther along the back of the Cape to 
 Elizabeth iflands, and thence along Buzzard’s bay, to 
 the boundary line near Seaconnet point, is a fouth boun- 
 dary ; wefterly it is bounded by the line fettled by com- 
 miflioners anno 1741, as before delineated-, northerly 
 it is bounded by the line dividing the old colonies of 
 Mafiachufetts -Bay and Plymouth, already defcribed. 
 
 In this colony are. no remarkable mountains or great 
 hills. 
 
 The confiderable harbours are, 1. Plymouth Bay, wa- 
 ter lhallow, a confiderable trade to the Weft-India ifland3 
 for fugar, rum, molafles, and cotton -, it is' a branch of 
 Bofton cuftom-houfe or collection, diftance forty miles ; 
 three final! rivulets, called Jones, Herrings, and Eel 
 rivers, fall into this bay. 2. Cape Cod harbour, fate, 
 and deep water ; but trom the hook or flexure, and 
 
 f y] This ftation tree is 1 20 rods diftant from the angle where the 
 fevcral colony lines >vere let off; it Is called Woodward and Saffries 
 ftation, from the names of two obfcure tailors, who were afliiiing in 
 the furvey. 
 
402 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 corsfequently different courfes, veffels with difficulty get 
 out to fea •, it is no fea-port or place pf trade. This cape, 
 by its particular [2] form and by ftretching into the lea, 
 becomes a fnare for itinerant or paflenger fiffi, viz. 
 whales, herrings, mackarel, &?c. but the whales by ex- 
 perience have learnt to keep farther to fea in travelling; 
 the other fifheries are neglected, from the fifhermen, who 
 were generally Indians, being carried away upon roman- 
 tic expeditions. The tide flows within the cape about 
 twenty feet ; upon the back of the cape it flows only five 
 or fix feet ; Billingfgate, a precinct of Eaftham, is noted 
 for oyfters. 
 
 The fmaller inlets or harbours from the difcharge of 
 rivulets are as follows : 1 . Upon the infide of the great 
 bay of Mafifachufetts (that part of it is called Barnltaple 
 bay) Scituate, a bad harbour, no confiderable run of wa- 
 ter. All the harbours in Barnftaple bay to Cape Cod are 
 fha'llow, becaufe of a fandy flow (lope of the fhore, and 
 the inland runs are fliort and fmall, not capable of mak- 
 in<r channels. In Sandwich is Mill river. In Barnftaple 
 is a fmall inlet. In Yarmouth a fmall inlet. In Harwich 
 a harbour called Point of rocks, not fafe. In Eaftham is 
 Stage harbour, and Billingfgate, the beft of thefe M 
 harbours. 2. Upon the outfide or ocean fide of Cape 
 Cod promontory •, Head of Pamet, no proper harbour •, 
 it is in Truro, and high tides, as anno 1723, pafs over 
 the meadows from fea to fea. Sandy Point, or Mony- 
 moy in Chatham, is a good harbour for imall veflels, 
 but the bar fhifts. Bafs river in Yarmouth. Hyanaes, 
 the beft of thefe harbours, in Barnftaple, is much uied. 
 Oder bay in Barnftaple, Falmouth bay. Vv oods hole 
 or cove, called Soconoflet ; here is a ferry of about one 
 
 M Captain Southack, in a mod falfe, therefore pernicious fea chart 
 
 of the coall of Nova Scotia and New-England, delmeates a thoroug 
 fare from the great bay of Mallachufctts to the ocean ,n Ealtham nea 
 Sandy Point ; no perfon. himfelf excepted, ever imagined or dream 
 of this thorough-fare : his dreap or words are. The P' a £ £ her f 
 <l came through with a whale-boat* April z6* *7*7* 
 
 41 Bellame the pirate." -i 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bav. 403 
 
 mile to Elizabeth great ifland ; and of about three 
 leagues to Martha’s Vineyard. We may obferve, that 
 along this fhore is a bar at about half a mile’s diftance, 
 with frnall inlets ; within the bar is water of fome fa- 
 thoms. 3. In Buzard’s bay are many good creeks, fait 
 water rivers, or harbours ; excepting in Rochefter, the 
 runs of water that fall into thefe creeks are of Ihort courfe : 
 Agawam, Wagwagantit or Mill river, Sipacan harbour, 
 Matapoifiet, Acculhnot, Polyganfet, and C'oaxit [rf]. 
 
 The confiderable rivers in Old Plymouth colony, are 
 t. North river, divides Scituate from Marfhfield ; deep 
 water ; but veflels in a ftorm cannot put in there, the 
 entrance being rocky. The tide flows nine or ten miles 
 up this river here fhips and other veflels are built to 
 advantage, timber being plenty ; from this river, Bofton 
 has a confiderable fupply of firewood. 2. Taunton ri- 
 ver ; from about leventeen miles up Taunton great river, 
 on the eaft fide of NaraganfetBay, according to the late 
 royal determination of boundaries with Rhode ifland, 
 begins Plymouth colony upon Taunton river; the tide 
 flows up this river from 440 rods below Falls river -, the 
 boundary between Freetown and Tiverton about twenty- 
 five miles to near the mouth of Sawamfet or Midlebo- 
 rough river, which comes from Afawampfit pond in the 
 fouth parts of Midleborough, and falls into Titiquit or 
 Taunton river : in this river and the adjacent townlhips 
 of Dighton and Swanzey are built good Ihips and other 
 veflels. 3. Patucket or Blackftone, formerly Nipmug 
 river, navigable from Rhode-ifland boundary at Bul- 
 lock’s neck, ten miles to Patucket falls ; in Rehoboth or 
 Seaconick are built fome good veflels. 
 
 [V) The Tea line of the late colony of Plymouth is about 220 miles, 
 but has only one fea pore for foreign trade, viz. Plymouth: the 
 other hnrboursare very frnall, and ufed only by fifhermen and coafters. 
 The other New-England territories do much exceed it in trade, al- 
 though their fea lines are much finaller; tin fea line of the province 
 of Main does not exceed eighty miles, of New H impfhire twenty 
 miles, of Old-Maflachufetts eighty miles, of Rhode-ifland fixty miles, 
 of Connecticut 140 miles- ~ ; 
 
 The 
 
 D d 2 
 
404 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 The capes, head-lands, or promontories are, i. The 
 Gurnet head, being the north point of Plymouth bay •, 
 it lies weft ibutherly from Cape Cod feven leagues, and 
 that part of Mailachufetts-Bay within this line or courfe 
 is called Barnftaple bay. 2. Cape Cod, a noted pro- 
 montory on the weft fide of the Atlantic ocean, in N. 
 lat. 42 D. xo M. lies from Bofton E. b. S. foutherly, 
 about eighteen leagues. This is a narrow long promon- 
 tory ftretching into the ocean, and from the pitch of the 
 cape to Buzard’s bay may extend upwards of fixty miles, 
 which, with a medium breadth of fix miles, makes about 
 230,000 acres 5 confifts of the townftiips of Falmouth, 
 Sandwich, Barnftaple, Yarmouth, Harwich, Chatham, 
 Eaftham, Truro, and Province town •, thefe make the 
 county of Barnftaple. 3. Sandy Point-, in the charter it 
 is called Cape Malabar, about ten leagues north from 
 ifiand of Nantucket. 
 
 \b] Befides the promontory of Cape Cod, the late Ply- 
 mouth colony may be in value of forty miles fquare, is 1 600 
 fquare miles, or 1,024,000 acres -, is in the whole 
 about 1 ,2 54,000 acres. In this old colony, there are no 
 vacant or colony lands -, all the lands are the property of 
 townfhips or private perfons, as granted by the general 
 aflembly from time to time. _ . 
 
 Plymouth was called one of the afibciated colonies of 
 New-England before the ftrifter confociation (the twelfth 
 
 \b ] .1 am afraid, that by being fo particular in the defcnption of our 
 territories or colonies, I may b.- found guilty of an impropriety, in 
 giving the geography inltead of the hiftory ; but we muft con 1 er, 
 that thefe countries, young and dependent, cannot aflord ma y ate 
 revolutions, therefore our hiftory muft chiefly confift of delineations, 
 and of fome accounts of their various produce and commerce. 
 
 I (hall not be very minute in the inland geography : in my atfjuie* 
 ment hours, I have compofed the adual furveys (as upon record) or 
 each townfhip and diitrid in the four colonies of New-Eng.and, into 
 plan of about three and a half feet fquare, by a fc le of hve m es to 
 one inch. This plan, of many years colleding, and perfected at a con- 
 fiderable charge, is a free gift, for a public benefit io the t rovmces 
 New-England ; each.town/hip or diflrid is to have a copy gratis 0 
 lodged in the town clerk’s office. 
 
 day 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachussetts-Bay. 405 
 
 day of the third month, 1643) of the four colonies of New- 
 England. It was an alliance like that of theSwifs cantons. 
 This colony afiifted in the Pequod Indian war 1637; 
 this war was only of a few months continuance, and 
 ended with the entire reduftion or extinftion of that 
 tribe •, fee p. 193. 
 
 Concerning the iflands near Cape-Cod. 
 
 THE noted iflands are Nantucket, Capawock, or 
 Martha’s Vineyard, and the Elizabeth iflands. 
 
 The north fide of Nantucket, or the town of Sher- 
 burn, lies in N. lat. 41 D. 10 M. about ten leagues from 
 the main land ; contains about 23,000 acres, the value 
 of fix miles fiquare; beach included it is in twenty -feven 
 proprietorlhips, but all in common, excepting forty acres 
 home lots to each proprietorfhip j each proprietorfiiip 
 may keep 560 fheep. It is a county of itfelf, a very 
 induftrious people ; they make fome dry cod fifh •, their 
 principal bufinel's is whaling. Anno 1 744, in the begin- 
 ning of the French war, they had about forty (loops and 
 fchooners in the whale fifhery’s thirteen men to a veflel, 
 do make from 7000 to 10,000 barrels of whale oil -per 
 annum ; their bone feldom exceed feven feet. A whale 
 of 100 barrels, yields 1000 wt. of bone. In this 
 ifiand are about 900 Indian fouls, of great ufe in their 
 filhery. 
 
 Martha’s Vineyard, about eight leagues weft from 
 Nantucket, and three leagues fouthfrom Woods Hole in 
 Falmouth upon the main, is about twenty miles in length ; 
 the eaft end is about eight miles wide, and tapers away to 
 Guy Head, at the W. end three miles wide ; much of the 
 ifiand is very barren, being heaths and pine land ; three 
 poor townihips, Edgar- Town, Tifbury, and Chilmark ; 
 about 200 fencible white men •, about 450 Indian fouls. 
 With the Elizabeth iflands it makes [Y] Duke’s county, 
 
 [Y] Before the Maflachufetts-Bay new charter, all thefe iflands be- 
 longed to the government of New-York ; and the receiver of the quit- 
 
 D d 3 Elizabeth 
 
406 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 Elizabeth iflands lie in a range, S. W. half way be- 
 tween Martha’s Vineyard, and the fhore of Buzard bay 5 
 they make Buzard’s bay ; the largeft ifland one mile from 
 Woods Hole, or the main is about eight miles long, but 
 very narrow; belongs to Thomas Lechmere, Efq; and 
 IVlr. Bowdoin’s eftate ; it is called Nafhawn ifland; here 
 is a good harbour, Tarpaulings cove ; on Martha’sVine-r 
 yard is another good harbour, Holms’s hole, of good ufe 
 to veflels that navigate this channel ; next is Tinker’s 
 ifland, Slocum’s ifland, and Cattehunk iflands ; thele 
 belong to Slocum, Ward, and Sanford’s heirs. 
 
 Slocum’s ifland lies one league l'outh wefterly from the 
 weft end of Martha’s Vineyard ; is in value one mile 
 fquare ; it belongs to Mr. Norton. 
 
 Article V. 
 
 Concerning the old colony of Maflachufetts-Bay. 
 
 T H E old writers of the hiftory of New-England are 
 fo trifling and erroneous, that the late [i] fcriblers 
 and hackney writers who copy the affairs of New-Eng- 
 Jand from them, appear, by their obfolete and erroneous 
 account of affairs, in a very ridiculous light, and afford 
 jne no afliftance. 
 
 rents of New- York made demands of the old arrears of their quit- 
 rents. 
 
 (V] At prefent I (hall only inltance Salmon’.- modern hiftory, and the 
 Mas maritimus et commercialism 
 
 Salmon feems to be a Tory, or rather a Jacobite ; he vindicates the 
 treaty of Utrecht, and dilcovers a very filly prejudice agamft New- 
 England's firft fettlers, -viz. That they came over to fecure a retreat 
 for their brethren, in cafe they mifcarried in fubverting church and 
 Rate at home j this is a very idle furmife, becaufe the firft fet of 
 emigrants did not exceed io.o perfons ? and of thefe not above fixty fur* 
 yived the firft winter. 
 
 From Salmon I fliall only give a few inftances, \yhich at firft fight 
 are very ridiculous, without any comment — “ In Virginia abundance 
 of cod-fifli — Virginia is feparated from Florida by the Apalachian 
 mountains — In the fort near Newport are 300 cannon — North-Caro* 
 lina is a well-peopled fiouiiflrng colony.” N. B, It is the fink or 
 
 Anno 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 4°7 
 
 Anno 1625, Mr. Conant and company in trade, made 
 l’ome fettlement at Cape Anne, the north eafterly pro- 
 montory of Maflachufetts-Bay •, they were moftly from 
 Dorchefter, and the weft of England. I his gave rife to 
 a projedt, firft concerted in Lincolnfhire, of procuring 
 from the council of Plymouth, a grant for fettling a co- 
 lony in Maffachufetts-Bay, with a refolution that the prin- 
 cipal town thereof be called Boston, from afea-port and 
 parliament town of that name in Lincolnfhire j being 
 joined by fome adventurers of London and Dorfetfhire, 
 they obtained from the council of Plymouth, March 19* 
 1627-8, a grant in the name of fix aflociates and their 
 
 naufeous drain of all our colonies ; in all the colony only two or three 
 Gofpel minifters, very fickly, and very bad navigation — “ In New-' 
 England both men and women are put to death for adultery Cam- 
 bridge univerfny conf.fts of three colleges.” N B They are only 
 three buildings (the fcholars are all of one college) making three tides 
 of a defigned quadrangle.—” The New York forces againft Montreal 
 were to go by the lake Ontario.” N B. It was by lake Champlain.— 
 « Our Indians go naked in fummer, and wear deer- (kins in winter. 
 A r B They wear blankets fummer and winter.—” Penobfcot river 
 divides New- England from Nova Scotia.” N B. The river of St. 
 Croix, more eartward, is the boundary-” Hudfon s river divides the 
 fouthern parts of New-England tom New York. N B. The di- 
 viding line is twenty miles eaft of Hudfon’s river.”- His enlarging 
 much upon trifling and fabulous things, to multiply (fleets, and his 
 many obvious inconfiftencies, (hew him to be a fcnbbler, and no ac- 
 curate hiftorian— His abftraft of the laws of New-England, are from 
 an obfolete old charter law-book. 
 
 A few inftances of abfurdities from the Auas marihmus et ‘cpmwer- 
 c tails, printed at London 1728, fold to fubienbers at 3 /. 1 W- (lerling.-r 
 ‘•New-England is four governments in one charter — Ncw-London 
 colony — Connefticue and New-Haven colonies, have Rhode-iiland 
 and Providence under the fame jurifdiftion— Turmenck from New-, 
 England— Moil of die towns in New-Hampfhire are iortified.— New 
 York apply chiefly to whale-fifliing, and whale the molt.’ N B. 
 They do not whale in any refpeft.— “ Merimack river riles in Nova 
 Scotia.— In the two colleges of Cambridge about 400 itudents. 
 N. B. They exceed 100 fcholars.— “ In New-England iixty-two market 
 towns, and twenty feven fortified places. -Jerfeys has two fca ports, 
 
 Perth and Amboy.’' . _ „ r , c . 
 
 Joflelin, Hubbard, and Mather’s Magnalia, we fhall for the prefenf 
 
 deter* 
 
 P d 4 
 
408 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 afiigns, of all the lands in New-England from three 
 miles fouth of Charles river, to three miles north of Mer- 
 rimack river, eaft and weft from fea to fea : thefe fix 
 afthoiated twenty more perfons, and March 4, 1628.9, 
 obtained a royal grant with a charter, counterfigned 
 W oolfely ; it is commonly called the old charter, whereof 
 an abftraft is as follows : 
 
 King James I, anno regni :8, Nov. 3, granted by patent 
 to a council at Plymouth in Devon , and their ajfociates and 
 ajfigns for ever, the property and jurifdittion of the lands in 
 America ( called New-England) from 40 D. N. lat. to 48 D. 
 N. lat. and eajl and weft from fea to fea-, if not pojfejfed 
 by any Chriftian ftate, nor within the limits of a fouthern 
 colony lately granted the quit-rent to be the fifth part of 
 all their gold and ftlver ore. This company by deed granted 
 and fold, ix) th of March , 3 regni Charles I, apart of their 
 patent lands to fix gentlemen , Sir Henry Rofzvell, &c. their 
 heirs, ajfigns, and officiates for ever, viz. All lands from 
 three miles northward of any and every part of Merrimack 
 river, to three miles fouthward of any and every part of 
 Charles river, and of Majfachufetts-Bay, E. and IV. from 
 fea to fea, with all ifiands on the eaftern or weftern coafts , 
 This grant was confirmed to thefe fix gentlemen and their 
 twenty af'ociates by royal chart a', March 4, 1628-9. The 
 faid twenty-fix grantees, with all fuch others as Jhall here- 
 after be admitted and made free of the company, Jhall for 
 ever be one body corporate and politic, by the name of the 
 
 COVER NOR AND COMPANY OF THE MaSSACHUSETTS- 
 
 Bay in New-England. The corporation to ccnfift of one 
 governor, one deputy -governor , and eighteen afiijiants, to be 
 annually defied out of the freemeen of the company ; the king 
 nominated for the firft year, Matthew Craddock, governor, 
 Thomas Goff, lieutenant governor, with eighteen affiants. 
 The governor may call an ajfembly at pleafure ; the governor 
 and affiants, not under feven, may once a month meet to do 
 bufmefs. Four great and general courts or affemblies of the 
 freemen annually , on the laft IV ednefdays of Hilary, Eafter , 
 Trinity, and Michaelmas terms, whereof the governor and 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 4 00' 
 
 fix of the affijlants , at leaf to be ft even, [d] with the repre- 
 sentatives of the townjhips, to admit freemen , ctmfiitute of- 
 ficers, make lavas, but not repugnant to the fiatutes of Eng- 
 land : annually upon the lafi Wednefday in Eaflcr term flaall 
 be an election of general affembly then convened, of a go- 
 vernor, deputy-governor , eighteen affiants, and all other of- 
 ficers. Liberty to tranfport from England any people, cffetls, 
 and merchandize free of cufioms both outward and inward, 
 for thefirfi feven years, and quit from all taxes and cufioms 
 in New- England : clfo for the firft feven years, and for 
 fourteen years more, excepting the five per cent, duty in Eng- 
 land, upon all merchandize imported. All born in this 
 country, or in paffages to and from the colony, be deemed na- 
 tural-born fubjetls of England -, the general court may make 
 orders and laws, confiitute officers, may impofe fines, impri- 
 fonment, or other lawful correction, according to the courfe 
 of other corporations in England [e] ; eftabhjhing of the 
 Chriftian faith amongft the natives, is in this charter de- 
 clared to be the principal end thereof-, may encounter and 
 fefifi by force of arms, by fea or land, any who floa.l in a 
 hoftile manner invade the faid plantation if any of the faid 
 colony fhall injure any fubjebi of princes in amity with us, 
 they Jhall, proclamation made in England, be required to give 
 fatisfabiion, and make reftitution which if not complied 
 with, the find perfons fhall be put out of our allegiance and 
 protection, and the faid princes fhall be allowed to profecute the 
 faid offenders with hofiility — None of our fubjebis to be de- 
 barred fifhing upon the coafl of New-EnglarJ, nor from Jet- 
 ting up fiages and workhoufes on Jbore, and cutting requijite 
 timber and wood. 
 
 The colony feal was an Indian erc£t, naked, an arrow 
 in his right-hand, and a bow in his left-hand •, thele 
 words in a fcrowl from his mouth. Come over and help 
 us -, and in a round, SigiSu n Gub. ei Socielatis de Maf- 
 fachufetts-Bay in Nova Anglia. 
 
 [J] This feems to imply, that they were to meet and vote together. 
 
 [ej Here capital crimes feem not to be included. 
 
410 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 To render this hiftory clear and diftinCt, we fliall here 
 continue the accounts of the incidents which happened, 
 relating to this charter, down to its being vacated in 
 Chancery in 1684. 
 
 Anno 1635, feveral complaints againft the colony of 
 Maflachufetts-Bay being lodged in the court of King’s- 
 bench ; a quo warranto was iflued againft the governor 
 and company of Maflachufetts-Bay: fome of the com- 
 pany appeared and difclaimed their charter; others did 
 not appear, and were outlawed. 
 
 In this controverfy with Mr. Mafon, anno 163 7, in 
 Trinity term, was obtained a judgment from theKing’s- 
 bench, againft the colony of MalTachufetts-Bay, in fa- 
 vour of the king, viz. That the king Ihould feize the faid 
 province, and take their governor Cradock’s body into 
 cuftody ; but, by reafon of the enfuing civil war confu- 
 fions, the charter was never taken up, and from that time 
 to the Reftoration, New-England enjoyed a defirable 
 tranquillity ; and at the defire of their important neigh- 
 bours, the eaftern fettlers were taken into their protection 
 and jurifdi&ion. 
 
 Upon the Reftoration 1661, Gorge and Mafon’s repre- 
 fentatives renewed their complaints againft Mafiachu- 
 fetts-Bay colony, upon account of encroachments ; it 
 was chiefly in compaflion that thefe eaftern people were 
 (as abandoned) taken under their protection and jurif- 
 diftion, but moreover Maflachufetts-Bay colony con- 
 ceived, that it might keep up their claim, to the molt 
 northerly part of Merimack river, with three miles ad- 
 vantage, and E. and W. from fea to fea, including all die 
 fettled part of Mafon’s grant or New-Hampfhire, and of 
 the province of Main to Black Point. 
 
 Anno 1675-6, March to, ordered by the king in 
 council, that Maflachufetts-Bay government, Ihould an- 
 l'wer the complaints of Mafon’s and Gorge’s heirs, con- 
 cerning their being by faid government unjuftly kept out 
 of their right. 
 
 William 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 4 11 
 
 William Stoughton and Peter Bulkley were fent over 
 as agents •, they declaimed any title to thofe lands in the 
 petition. 
 
 The lords of the committee for trade and plantations, 
 with the lords chief juftices Rainsford and North, re- 
 ported to the king in council, that the Maflachuletts- 
 Bay colony, by their reprefentatives, dii'claimed any title 
 to the faid lands in controverfy •, this report was con- 
 firmed by the king in council. 
 
 After the order of the king in council, July 20, 167, 
 the affembly of MafTachufetts-Bay palled an aft 1679, 
 vacating all fuch grants as they had made of lands be- 
 yond the three miles north of Merrimack river. We 
 muft obferve, that about this time, fome of the Mafia - 
 chufetts people, upon account of the Indian trade and 
 filhery, removed to New-Hampfhire and province of 
 Main, and lived for fome time in a feparate ftate -, but 
 from divifions amongft themfelves, and from fear of be- 
 in^ infulted by the Indians, they put themlelves under 
 the protection and jurifdidion of the government of 
 Maflachufetts-Bay. 1652, The inhabitants, of New- 
 Hampfhire, or Pifcataqua, or Mafon’s grant, put them - 
 felves under the prated ion and government of Mafiachu- 
 fetts-Bay, until the time of Cranfield’s being appointed 
 governor of New-Hampfhire. Prefident Cutts and 
 council. Sept. 18, 1680, were commiffioned by the king-, 
 before this there had been no power of government grant- 
 ed for that territory of New-Hampfnire. We may ob- 
 ferve, that the old townfhips of Portfmouth, Hampton, 
 and Dover, were grants of the Maflachufetts-Bay aflem- 
 bly : colonel Waldron, reprefentative for Dover, was 
 
 Speaker of Maflachufetts houfe of reprefentatives. 
 
 Anno 1682, May 9, The king in council further 
 inhibits the Maflachufetts-Bay government, from any ju- 
 rildidion in Mafon’s property. 
 
 The further account of the difputes between the cor- 
 poration of Maflachufetts-Bay, and the heirs of Mr. Ma- 
 
412 British Settlements in America. Part II, 
 
 fon proprietors of New-Hampfhire, we refer to the fee- 
 tion of New-Hampfhire. 
 
 Anno 1682, when a defpotic monarchy was hatching, 
 feveral towns in England began to furrender their char- 
 ters, by the perfuafion of lord chief juftice Jeffries, a 
 perl'on capable of any wickednefs to gratify the court ; 
 particularly in Cornwall, where are many poor boroughs, 
 for lmall confide’-ations always at the devotion of the 
 court : twenty-five boroughs brought in their charters. 
 
 Anno 1683, king Charles II, by a meffage to the ge- 
 neral affeinbly of Maffachufetts-Bay defired, that in con- 
 fideration of feveral [<?] complaints entered againft them, 
 they would furrender their charter to the king’s pleafure, 
 which by a vote of general aflembly was refufed. There- 
 upon in confequence of a quo warranto , and feire facias , 
 1684, in Chancery, in Trinity term, judgment was en- 
 tered againft their charter, and it was vacated ; the co- 
 lonies agents or attornies not appearing. 
 
 Robert Humphrey, Efq ; agent for Maffachufetts-Bay 
 colony, in his letter to the governor and council, dated 
 Inner Temple, May 2, 1685, and read in the general 
 aOembly July 8 following [/], writes, “ The breaches 
 aligned againft you, are as obvious as unanfwerable ; fo 
 that all the fervice your council and friends could have 
 done you here, would have only ferved to deplore, not 
 prevent, that inevitable lofs. I fent you the lord keeper’s 
 order of June 15, 1684, requiring your appearing firft 
 day of Michaelmas term, elfe judgment entered againft 
 your charter was to ftand. When this firft day came, 
 your letters of attorney neither were, nor indeed could 
 be, returned; accordingly, I applied to the Chancery for 
 further time : where judgment pafles by refault, there 
 may be a rehearing. Inftead of fending letters of attor- 
 
 [V] A difregard to the a£ts of trade, perfection of their fellow- 
 chiftians, tefc. 
 
 [f] Mr. Humphrey at that time fee ms not to have been a real 
 friend to New-England. 
 
 ney, 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachuset-ts-Bav. 4*3 
 
 nev, the colony fent only an addrefs to the king, with- 
 out colony U or any 
 
 it was not prcfented. I herewith fend you a copy of the. 
 judgment againft your charter. Colonel kirk was fixed 
 upon, by Charles II, to be your governor •, and J me I, 
 
 is faid to have renewed his patent foi youi go 
 
 Henry Cranfield, governor of the adjoining province 
 of New-Hamplhire, is faid to have been appointed by 
 Charles II, governor of New -England It is certain his 
 
 comrniflion was never pc.blitt.ed s if 
 patent, it dropped by the death of Charles II : by Charles 
 the fecond’s Hidden death, whether natural, or wickedly 
 procured, we Ihall not determine ; this affair was neg- 
 kfted, and the New-England colonies con ^ 
 about two years more, in the enjoyment ot their charter 
 
 Pr, Jofc|h Dudley, Efq> was fent over to the court of 
 England as their agent in the charter affairs •, but as be- 
 in" a native of New-England, and a cunning man, it was 
 thought by the court that he was the proper perion to 
 facilitate and to introduce a new adminiftration, <w to 
 of government. Accordingly, in April 1606, he was ap 
 pofnted prefident, with a council to govern I\ew- Eng- 
 land •, he arrived atBofton in June following : there weie 
 no confiderable afts in government in his ; time In De 
 
 rember of the fame year, arrives Sir Edmond Andros, 
 governor of New-England, with Nicholfon, ueutenant- 
 
 Sovernor, and two independent companies of foldiersj 
 
 and prelident Dudley was appointed chief-juftice. 
 
 The New-England charters being laid afide, the go 
 vernor and council (fix or feyen perions, generally ftran- 
 
 clartS and'ccnunue in the fail enjoyment thereof to this day 
 
414 British Settlements in America^ Part II. 
 gers) had the legiflative and executive power of govern- 
 ment. They afted many unjuft and oppreflive things •, 
 for inftance, in property, they alledged, that the people’s 
 conveyances were not according to the laws of Eng- 
 land, and that upon their charter ceafing, their former 
 titles ceafed ; and obliged them to take out new grants 
 or titles at high rates and extravagant fees : particularly 
 the king afiumed the abfolute government, and the pro- 
 perty of the unappropriated lands, the granting of lands, 
 raifing of taxes, making of laws, with the executive part 
 likewife. 
 
 Upon the arrival in April 1 689, in Bofton, of the news 
 of a thorough revolution in England, there was a kind 
 of popular infurreftion in Bofton againft the governor Sir 
 Edmund Andros and his officers, who furrendered, and 
 were fent home ; a convention of the principal gentle- 
 men of the colony was held in Bofton, who appointed a 
 council, Simon Bradftreet, prefident, or committee for the 
 fafety of the people, and confervation of the peace 5 and 
 fummoned a convention of the reprelentatives of the peo- 
 ple. Accordingly, at the firft meeting, fixty-fix reprefen- 
 tativesof forty-four towns and diftrifts were prefent ; and 
 May 24, there were reprefentatives from fifty-four places ; 
 they refolved that the governor, deputy- governor, affif- 
 tants, and other officers, as chofen May 12, 1686, fhould 
 aft in their refpeftive ftations •, viz. Simon Bradftreet, 
 governor •, Thomas Serjeant, major-general ; Ifaac- 
 Adington, fecretary •, John Phillips, trealurer ; Thomas 
 Danforth, prefident of the province of Main,£dV. Thomas 
 Oakes was fpeaker of the houfe of reprelentatives : they 
 refolved upon fix rates of taxes, whereof one rate was to 
 be in provifions : all this was tranfafted with fubmiffion 
 to the king and queen’s pleafure when notified. 
 
 It was propofed by a writ of error, to have a rehear- 
 ing concerning the New-England charters, in Weftmin- 
 fter hall ; but this was dropped. There was a bill 
 brought into the convention parliament, for reftoring the 
 New-England charters ; it palled the lower houfe, but 
 
 the 
 
Sect. VIII. Of MassachuseTts-Bay. 5 l 5 
 
 the convention being difiTolved fbon after, it dropped. 
 Upon granting the new charter, the king allowed the 
 agents for Mafiachufetts-Bay to nominate their firtt go- 
 vernor •, they nominated Sir William Phipps. 
 
 The further provincial proceedings we deter to tne 
 
 next article. 
 
 The boundary line of Old Maffachufetts-Bay colony. 
 
 THE fouthern line is, i. With the late Plymouth co- 
 lony forty-one miles •, being fifteen miles due W. twenty- 
 three miles W. 1 8 D. S. fee p. 401, f d , W * 7 I>- N - 
 three miles and a half. Upon this line lie the townftups 
 of Hin^ham, Weymouth, Braintree, and Stoughton. 
 2. Til The line with Rhode-ifiand colony, from the 
 interleftion of the north and fouth line from i atucket 
 Falls to Mafiachufetts-Bay fouth line, as fettled by agi ce- 
 ment of the two colonies. May 14, ? 7 ' 9 > a £ er ™ 
 confirmed by the king in council, w W. 7 D. N- about 
 twenty miles to the N. W. corner of Rhode-, fland being 
 a production of Connefticut and Rhode -lfland N. and S. 
 line, as fettled by agreement of thefe two colonies, anno 
 17 28 N B. Here the differences of variation allowed 
 per agreement with RhodoiOand of W. 7 D. N and with 
 Connefticut of W. 9 D. N. occafions a notch of one 
 mile and forty rods in the townflnp of Douglats, from the 
 Rhode-ifland N. W. corner to the Connefticut N. E. 
 corner: upon this line lie the townfhips ofWrentham, 
 Bellingham, Uxbridge, and Douglais. 3. 1 he line 
 with [i] Connefticut, run anno 1713, from faid N. E. 
 
 m Malfachufetts fouth line was fet off according to the letter of 
 • the charter from three miles fouth of the head of Stop-river in Wrent- 
 ham, being the molt foutherly branch of Charles-nver ; it falls intot e 
 
 inauifitive -entleman William Burnet. Efq; fometime governor of 
 New-York,*and afterwards governor of the provinceolM^ 
 
 Bay; a worthy ton of the worthy, pious, and honeft, though political 
 
 bifhop Burnet. 
 
 corner 
 

 416 British Settlements in America. Part II, 
 
 corner of Connecticut, W. 9 D. N. to the N. W. cor- 
 ner of Connecticut feventy-two miles i viz. from faid N. 
 E. corner of Connecticut to Connecticut river (ninety rods 
 north of the N. E. corner of Suffield) thirty-eight miles, 
 and from thence to Connecticut N. W. corner thirty-four 
 miles -, in all feventy-two miles upon Connecticut : this 
 line was [£] fettled per agreement, and afterwards con- 
 firmed by the king in council : upon this line lie the 
 townlhips of Dudley, Woodftock indented, Sturbriage, 
 Brimfield, Somers, and Enfield indented, Suffield indent- 
 ed, Weftfield, Bedford, Houfatonicks, No’s 3 and 2, and 
 Sheffield. 
 
 As an equivalent, for fome indented lands properly 
 belonging to the colony of Connecticut, but fettled, and 
 for fome time affumed under the jurifdiCtion, of Mafia- 
 chufetts-Bay -, anno 1713, the province of MaiTachufetts- 
 Bay allowed the property, but not jurifdiCtion of fome 
 of their vacant province lands, containing 105,793 acres 
 in four feparate parcels. Thefe equivalent lands were fold 
 at public vendue by the colony of Connecticut April 25, 
 1716, for 683 /. New-England carrency in fixteen lhares, 
 viz. Gurdon Saltonftall, governor of Connecticut, Mrs. 
 Saltonftall, Paul Dudley, Addington Davenport, Tho. 
 Fitch, Anthony Stoddard, William Brattle, minifter, 
 Ebenezer Pemberton, a minifter of the gofpel, William 
 and Jofeph Dummer, each One half of a lhare, Jonathan 
 Belcher, John White, William Clark, near Bofton com- 
 mon, John Wainwright, Henry Newman and John 
 Cafwal, each one third of a fliare, Nath. Gould, and 
 Peter Burs, each one half of a fliare, John Stoddard and 
 Eliflia Williams, each one half of a fliare, and to John 
 Read one fliare : about 40,000 acres of thefe lands, by 
 the late fettlement of a line with New-Hampfliire, fall 
 
 A late petition to the general court, or general aflembly for the 
 indented townlhips of Ma/Tachufetts-Bay, to be fet off to the juriP 
 di&ion of Connecticut is idle and vain, becaufe the jurifdiCtion ha* 
 been fome years fince finally iifued by the king in council. 
 
 into 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 417 
 
 into the jurifdi&ion of New-Hamplhire upon Connecti- 
 cut river above Northfield. 
 
 The weft line of Maftachufetts-Bay hitherto is not fet- 
 tled i the people of New-York pretend that their eaft 
 line is Connecticut river [/J, becaufe the Dutch colony, 
 their predeceflors, extended their pretenfions fo far, and 
 had a confiderable trade in Connecticut river. But we 
 may obl'erve, that fome years fince, anno 1725, when 
 New-York and Connecticut fettled their line, which was 
 afterwards confirmed by the king in council ; their fun- 
 damental agreement was, that this boundary line lhould 
 be at twenty miles eaft of Hudion’s river, and parallel 
 with the faid river j therefore naturally this line in the 
 fame circumftances mud extend northward, and bound 
 Mafiachufetts-Bay and New-Hampfhire provinces. 
 
 The [#»] north and eaft lines have been in continued 
 difputes in oppofite claims of Maftachufetts-Bay and 
 New-Hamplhire. Anno 1739, the king in council, 
 upon appeals from the judgment of commiftioners (per 
 agreement of both parties) appointed under the great 
 leal of Great-Britain, finally determined the fame. 
 
 As all difputable claims are now extinguifhed, we may 
 reckon them as obfolete ; but for the curious (antiqua- 
 ries perhaps may be an improper term in a young colony) 
 we lhall give fome fuccindl account of thofe claims. 
 
 It is frequently very difficult, and almoft impolfible to 
 reconcile the letter of the boundaries of two old grants ; 
 becaufe generally more was granted, than had been fur- 
 veyed, or perhaps more than had been dilcovered ; there- 
 fore the lines were ill exprefied, in loofe general terms, 
 and frequently interfering ; which cannot be adjufted but 
 by amicable voluntary conventions and agreements of 
 
 [/] Anno 1726, fome of the Malfachufetts-Bay people, in fettling 
 Houfatonick townfhips, were arrefted to Albany court in an action of 
 trefpafs againfl a grant to fome Dutchmen from my lord Cornbury, 
 governor of New-York. 
 
 [ m ] It was defigned to refer the hiftory of this line to the feflion of 
 New-Hampfhire, but it feems more naturally to fall in this place. 
 
 Vo l. I. Ee the 
 
4iS British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 the parties concerned •, to be explained and confirmed by 
 the kin'g in council, the original granter. 
 
 Immediately upon the royal grant or patent to the 
 NewvEngland company, called the council of Plymouth, 
 that council granted to Sir Ferdinando Gorge, governor 
 of the fort of Plymouth, and fometime president of the 
 faid council, and to Mr. Mafon merchant of London, 
 their fecretary, jointly, from Neumkeag or Salem river 
 to Quenebec river along the fea fhore, and fixty miles 
 inland : loon after, they had feparate grants of feparate 
 parcels of land : here, we are only to relate the difputes 
 with Mr. Malon’s heirs and afligns, and the feftion of 
 New-Hampfhire mult be referred to. 
 
 Anno 1621, March 9, the council of Plymouth grant- 
 ed to John Mafon, Elq; of London, their fecretary, his 
 heirs and afligns, a trad of land from Neumkeag to 
 Merrimack river. Anno 1 629, they granted to ditto a 
 trad \ n] of land, between Merrimack river and Pifcata- 
 qua river, fixty miles up each river, and thefe to be 
 bounded by a line acrofs from river to river. Both thefe 
 grants were joined in a new grant 1635, April 22, from 
 the council of Plymouth to the faid Mafon, viz. fixty 
 miles up Neumkeag river, &c. and from the entrance of 
 Neumkeag (a creek between Salem and Beverley) round 
 by the fea-fhore to the middle entrance of Pifcataqua 
 river, up Pifcataqua river, and Newichawennock river to 
 the head thereof, and thence north weftward till fixty 
 miles be accomplilhed ; and crofs from the termination 
 of each of thefe fixty miles, to be called New-Hamplhire. 
 Anno 1635, Aug. 19, king Charles, by patent, confirms 
 this grant called New-Hamplhire, with power of govern- 
 ment* and jurifdidion (as in the palatinate or bifhoprick 
 of Durham) with power of conferring honours. 
 
 The complaints from time to time of Mr. Mafon s 
 heirs to the king in council, and the determinations 
 
 01 This patent b pofterior to that of MaiTachufetts-Bay 162-8-9. 
 arid therefore void, as the lands between Neumkeag and MerrimacK. 
 river, . 
 
 there- 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay: 4 j § 
 
 thereupon, have been already related in p. 410 ; we {hall 
 now mention fome very large private claims from Indian 
 Grants, where both colonies of Mafiachufetts Bay and 
 New-Hampfhire were fuppofed to be concerned in pro- 
 perty, as well as in jurifdiCtion. t . 
 
 Anno 1 629, the chiefs of the Indians of Merrimack ri- 
 ver fold to John Wheelwright and others of the Mafla- 
 chufetts Bay colony, all that land beginning “ at the 
 “ end of twenty miles N. W. from Patucket falls, and 
 “ thence running a N.E. line to interfeft Merrimack and 
 “ Pifcataqua rivers, and thefe two rivers to be the bounds 
 “ of it, from that line to the fea.” This, together with 
 other lands, included all the late province of New- 
 Hampfhire. This claim! was revived by Mr. Cooke and 
 others, about thirty years fince, when fome Inlh Prefby- 
 terians petitioned both aflemblies of MafTachufetts-Bay 
 and of New-Hampfhire, for a fettlement or townfhip of 
 lands : thel'e emigrants are fettled upon part of thofe 
 lands by charter or grant from the governor and council 
 of New-Hampfhire •, their townfhip is called London- 
 derry (formerly Nutfield) and flourifhes much •, they are 
 a noted pattern and example of induftry and frugality; 
 particularly they excel in the fabric or manufacture of 
 linen cloth. May the other townfhips of New England 
 copy from them ! This townlhip lies a few miles eaft of 
 
 Patucket falls of Merrimack river. 
 
 Anno 1683, a large trad of land called the Million 
 purchafe, both Tides of Merrimack river above Souhagen 
 river, was granted by the Sachems of the Weymafet or 
 lower river Indians, and the Penycook or upper river 
 Indians, to Jonathan Tyng of Dunftable for valuable 
 confiderations. This traft of land extended upon the 
 weft fide of Merrimack river, from the mouth of Sough- 
 ao-en river, where it falls into Merrimack river, fix miles 
 and a half up the faid Soughagen or Souhegonack river; 
 thence N. 20 D. weftward, ten miles -, thence in a direft 
 line from the northward as far as the molt foutherly end 
 or part (meaning, I fuppofe, the production weftward of 
 • E c 2 illlC 
 
420 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 a line from the foutherly end of the faid pond) of the 
 great pond or lake, commonly called Wenapefioche lake; 
 extended upon the eaft fide of Merrimack river from 
 Brenton’s lands or farm (in Litchfield) fix miles in 
 breadth eaftward, and thence running in a direft line 
 northward unto, and as far as, the moft foutherly end or 
 part of Wenepafioche lake ; neither of thefe weft or eaft 
 lines to come nearer to- the river of Merrimack than fix 
 .miles ; an Indian plantation of three miles fquare is re- 
 ferved. Thefe lands were conveyed in feveral parcels, 
 and at fundry times, to certain perions by transfers, anno 
 1684, 1685, and 1686; of which transfers fome were 
 acknowledged before the magiftates of the adminiftration 
 of the old colony of Maffachufetts-Bay, and fome before 
 thofe of king J ames the fecond’s reign. After thefe con- 
 veyances and transfers were confirmed by Robert Tufton 
 Mafon proprietor of New-Hampfhire, April 15, 1686, 
 fo far as falls within the royal grant of New-Hamplhire, 
 at a quit- rent of ior. fterling per annum when demanded, 
 they were regulated into twenty equal fhares, viz. 
 
 Jofeph Dudley Samuel Shrimpton John Blackwell 
 
 Charles Lidget William Stoughton Peter Bulkeley 
 
 JohnUfher Richard Wharton WilliamBlathwayt 
 
 Edward RandolphThomas Henchman Jonathan Tyng 
 John Hubbard Thaddeus Macarty Daniel Cox. 
 
 Robert ThompfonEdward Thompfon 
 
 And three other perfons to be hereafter named and agreed 
 upon ; no benefit of furvivorlhip ; to be divided as foon 
 as may be, and each fhare may take up 5000 acres at 
 difcretion for the prefent. Thefe grants and regulations 
 were alfo confirmed July 12, 1686 (and entered Nov. 9, 
 following) by Jofeph Dudley, prefident, and by the 
 council of his majefty’s territory and dominion of New- 
 England in America ; with an addition of the townlhip 
 of Concord, Chelmsford, Groton, Lancafter, Stow, and 
 
 Dunftable, and twelve miles more of land. This claim 
 
 was 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 4 21 
 
 was in a manner revived about twenty- eight years fince, 
 but foon dropped ; it is now again revived by an adver- 
 tifement in the Bofton Gazette of June 21, *74-8 • Thcfe 
 lands at prefent are in the jurifdiftion of New-Hamp- 
 fhire, and mud be claimed in that province. 
 
 Not many years fince Mrs. Rand from New-England, 
 heirefs or reprefentative of Thomas Goffe, one of the 
 twenty-fix original patentees or proprietors of Maflfachu- 
 fetts-Bay grant, entered a claim in Chancery accordingly, 
 and gave fome difturbance to the Maflachufetts-Bay vef- 
 fels in the river Thames in London, by entering a Ne 
 exeat in Chancery; pretending they were the produce of 
 that colony, which the twenty-fix original proprietors had 
 never jointly affigned to the lettlcrs ; but upon hei death, 
 and one of the heirs of the other original proprietors ap- 
 pearing, the affair dropped ; and the leaders, by their 
 reprefentativcs in general affembly, continue in quiet poi- 
 lelfion by prefcription. \ 
 
 For many years there had been a diipute concerning 
 the north boundary of Malfachufetts- Bay colony with 
 New-Hampfhire •, New-Hampfhire claimed, from three 
 miles north of the middle channel of the mouth of Mer- 
 rimack river due weft, until it meet with other Britilh 
 governments v Maffachufetts-Bay claimed, from three 
 miles north of the Black Rock, where Merrimack river 
 emptied itfelf into the ocean, when the charter was 
 ^ranted ; thence running at three miles dittance parallel 
 with the river, to three miles north of the fork or crotch 
 where this river firft receives the name Merrimack, and 
 from thence due weft to the South-Sea, or to any of his 
 
 maiefty’s other territories. ■ TT 
 
 [, 0 1 Anno 1731, the general affembly of New-Hamp- 
 fhire appointed Mr. Rindge their agent, to lollint at 
 
 I a] I have been the more particular in this affair, that it may ferve, 
 by way of inftance, to illuftrate the length of time required to bring 
 Plantation affairs to an iffue at the court of Great-Bmain. t he 
 affair of the boundaries between lord Baltimore of Maryland, apd 
 
 Ee 3 home. 
 
422 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 home, for fettling their boundaries with the province of 
 Maffachufetts-Bay •, 1733, the petition was prefented; 
 1734, Jan. 5, the Board of Trade and Plantations, fent 
 to the attorney and follicitor-general, this queftion, 
 tt prom what part of Merrimack river, the three miles 
 « limitation ought to be taken ?” March 19, the report 
 was, “ From three miles north of the mouth of Mer- 
 « rimack river.” 1737, April 9, by the conl'ent of both 
 parties, a commiffion under the great feal was iffiied to 
 fome gentlemen of the councils in the neighbouring 
 provinces to hear and judge in the affair. The com- 
 miffioners met at Hampton in New-Hamplhire Aug.i, 
 and crave their determination Sept. 2 ; both parties ap- 
 pealed to the king in council, and the commiffioners ad- 
 journed themfelves to Aug. 1, 1 73 ^’ re ^* ve ^be king s 
 pleafure. 1 739, March 5, the appeals were heard before 
 the proper committee of privy council, and afterwards 
 their report was heard before the king in council, where 
 the affair was finally determined. Conformably to this de- 
 termination the lines were run by the province of New- 
 Hampfhire, ex parte , the Malfachufetts-Bay govern- 
 ment refufed to join in the furvey •, the line between 
 New-Hampfhire and the province of Mam by Mr. 
 Bryant • the line parallel with, and at three miles (on 
 the north fide) diftance from the river Merrimack by 
 Mr. Mitchell ; and the line from Patucket falls ftation 
 W. 10D. N. to New-York eaft line by Mr. Hazen. 
 Thefe lines or furveys were in May, 1741, lodged with 
 the records of both provinces. 
 
 We come now to delineate the northerly line of Maf- 
 fachuietts-Bay province. The commiffioners for iettling 
 Of it, 1 737, put it thus, “ If the fame lands were grant- 
 “ ed by W. and M. charter, as by that of Charles I; 
 then this line fhould run three miles north from the Black 
 Rock at the mouth of the river Merrimack, and parallel 
 
 Penns of Penfylvania, is of a much longer handing, and not as yet 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 4*3 
 
 with the river to three miles north of the crotch where 
 the rivers of Winnepafiake and Pemegawaffet meet, 
 and thence due weft : but if otherwise, then the line is 
 to begin at three miles north from the mouth of the faid 
 river, and run from thence due weft. Upon the appeals 
 the king in council ilfued the cafe in neither of thefe 
 ways v but that after the parallel was carried l'o far as the 
 flexure of the river at Patucket falls, it Ihould proceed 
 no farther •, becaufe if the parallel line were to be con- 
 tinued farther, it would be eaft, and not north, from the 
 river j the couri'e of the river from this flexure becom- 
 ing north and fouth •, and from a ftation three miles 
 north of the flexure or falls, the line to run W. io D. 
 N. by compais, to New-York eaft line. 
 
 Mr. Mitchell’s line parallel with Merrimack river be- 
 gins at three miles north of a Black .Rock, to 1 atucket 
 ftation, being W. 9 D. S. by compais twenty-feven miles. 
 This parallel line pafies through and cuts oft part of the 
 following townihips of Maflachufetts-Bay government, 
 viz. Salifbury, Amefbury, Haverhill, Methuen, Dracut, 
 and Nottingham -, the colony of Maffachuietts-Bay had 
 extended thefe townihips beyond the three miles north 
 of Merrimack, not lb much upon account of their having 
 affumed the jurifdi&ion of that country, at the time of 
 granting thefe townihips, but chiefly becauie they were 
 Indian grants to Maflachufetts people. _ 
 
 Mr. Hazen’s line from Patucket ftation three miles 
 eaft of Merrimack river, runs W. 10 D. N. by compais 
 to cut Connecticut river (one mile and three quarters 
 north ofNorthfield meeting houle-, and about ten mi es 
 fouth of fort Dummer) fifty-three miles fifty-eight rods ; 
 thence to New-York line twenty miles eaft from Hud- 
 fon’s river, thirty-fix miles fixty rod •, in all about ninety 
 miles. The line continued falls in with Iiudfon s river 
 fix miles above Albany church, and a litde below the 
 mouth of Mohawks river. Th s line pafies through, and 
 takes off from the Maflachufetts. Bay junfdifhon, iome 
 parts of the following townihips and lands, vat. Uun- 
 
424 British Settlemnts in America. Part II. 
 
 liable, Groton, Townfend, jj>] Ipfwich newtownlhip, Ca- 
 nada to Rowley, fome province vacant lands, Canada to 
 Sylvefter and others, Canada to Roxbury, Winchefter, 
 Northfield, Fall-fight townfhip, Bofton new townlhip’ 
 No. 2, and province vacant lands to New-York eaft line! 
 
 The Tea line of the old colony of Maflachufetts-Bay 
 does, not exceed eighty miles. 
 
 The fuperficial land contents of faid colony we may 
 eftimate in this manner : i. Its northerly line in a direft 
 courfe, north fide of Merrimack river, W. 9 D. S. to 
 Pantucket ftation is twenty-feven miles; thence W. 10 
 D. N. to New-York eaft line are about ninety miles ; 
 being in all about 1 17 miles. 2. Its foutherly line is 
 from Conohaffet rocks to the notch in Bridgewater, fifteen 
 miles ; thence W. 1 8 D. fouth to the ftation tree twenty- 
 three miles ; thence W. 7 D. N. to Rhode-ifland, N. W. 
 corner, which is nearly the fame with Connecticut N. E. 
 corner twenty-four miles [j], thence W. 9 D. N. toCon- 
 
 !>] A few years fmce, the general aflembly of the MafTachufetts- 
 Bay was in the humour of diftributing the property of much vacant or 
 province land ; perhaps in good policy and forefight, to fecure to the 
 MafTachufetts people, by pofleflion, the property of part of fome con- 
 troverted lands ; accordingly it came to pafs, that upon a royal com- 
 miflion from the court of Great-Britain, to determine this controverfy, 
 the jurifdi&ion, but not the property, was allotted to New-Hampfhire, 
 or rather to the crown. Some of thefe grants, called townfhips, were 
 to the inhabitants of the feveral old townfhips, e. g . to Bofton three 
 tow (hips, to Ipiwich one, dsfc. nine townfhips were voted, but only 
 feven granted, to the defcendants of the Naraganfet or Pequod Indian 
 war foldiers 1637, called Naraganfet townfhips ; nine townfhips were 
 granted to the heirs of the militia, or foldiers, who went againft Ca- 
 nada, anno 1690, and are called Canada townfhips. A parcel of thefe 
 townfhips, the furtheft up in the country, run W. 5 and a half D. S. 
 .acrofs from Merrimack river thirty-five miles to Connecticut river, 
 as a barrier againft the Indians, they are called the double line of 
 towns; whereof No. 3, 8, and 9, are very mountainous, rocky, 
 and ftony, not capable of fettlement ; No. 4 and 7 are the belt 
 lands 
 
 At prefent there remains in the territory of Old MafTachufetts-Bay 
 colony, vacant or provincial lands, not exceeding the value of fix 
 townfhips of fix miles fquare each. 
 
 [q] This line, by a production of about twenty miles, falls m with 
 Hudfon’s river, about half a mile below the mouth of Efopus river. 
 
 nedticut 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 4^5 
 
 ne&icut N. W. corner feventy miles •, being in all about 
 132 miles. 3. The meridian diftance from the above- 
 faid northerly and to the foutherly line is about forty - 
 feven miles. Thefe forty-feven miles multiplied into 
 125* which is nearly the medium between the northerly 
 and foutherly line, produces 5875 fquare miles, which 
 are 3,760,000 acres [r]. 
 
 As to the flotation of this American province of 
 Maffachufetts-Bay in New-England, upon the furface of 
 the terreftrial globe we {hall oblerve that Boston the 
 chief town or metropolis of New-England, from the ob- 
 fervations of the late ingenious Mr . 1 homas Robie, fel- 
 lowof Harvard, alias Cambridge college of New-England 
 determined it to be in 42 D. 25 M. N. lat. and [r] weft 
 from London 4 H. 46 M. which is W. long. 71 D. 
 30 M. 
 
 (V] By a late determination of the king in council, the province of 
 Maffachufetts-Bay, has loft of its claimed lands, about one half in 
 ' number of acres: thus eftimated ; the foutherly line of the claimed 
 lands difunited from Maffachufetts, is 1 1 7 miles ; the northerly line 
 is from Endicot’s tree, three miles north of the fork of Merrimack 
 river, thirty five miles to Connedicut river, and thence to New- York 
 eaftline about fixty miles, being in all about ninety -five miles, whereof 
 a medium extent eaft and weft is 106 miles; this multiplied into fifty- 
 five miles, the meridian diftance between Pantucket falls and Endicot’s 
 tree, gives 5830 fquare miles, which are 3, 73 ',200 acres. 
 
 There are fome aCtual furveys of extents which ought not to be loll 
 in oblivion ; as for instance, from Merrimack river due weft to Groton 
 meeting-houfe are twelve miles ; from Groton meetmg-houfe (as fur- 
 veyed by colonel Stoddard, major Fulham, and Mr. Dwight, by order 
 of the general afTembly) to Northfield meeting-houfe W .16 D. N. 
 by compafs, are forty-one miles and a half; from Deerfield meetmg- 
 houfe near Connecticut river, a little higher, to Albany church upon 
 the weft fide of Hudfon’s river, W. 1 2 and a half D. N. are fifty Teven 
 miles twenty rod. From fuch aftual furveys the public roads may be 
 la d our to better advantage than at prelent: for inftance, the prefent 
 road from Bolton ro Albany (this is the road to Montreal in Canada) 
 by way of Springfield, the Houi'atomck ., and Kinderhook is about 
 200 miles; a new and better road, but not as yet well improved, is 
 -via Lancafter and Nichawog to Sunderland upon Connecticut nver 
 eighty-four miles, and from Deerfield, a little higher to Albany, are 
 ' fifcy-feven miles, being in all only about 1 50 miles. 
 
 The 
 
426 British Settlements in America. Part II, 
 
 ‘The general bijlory under the old charter adminijlration 
 
 continued . 
 
 THIS charter was dated March 4, 1 62 8-9 *, by charter 
 Mr. Cradock was nominated their firft governor, but by 
 reafon of his advanced age, he declined going over*, 
 and Mr. Endicot, deputy -governor, but being of no 
 note, he was dropped : the company in London chofe 
 John Winthrop, governor, and Thomas Dudley, deputy- 
 governor. 
 
 Anno 1629, the company fent over 350 people, 115 
 neat cattle, fome horfes, fheep, and goats (molt of this 
 flock died in the paflage) fix pieces of cannon, with 
 ftores ; they landed at Neumkeag, now Salem, June 24, 
 1629* Mr. Endicot, their leader, gave it the name 
 Salem. 
 
 1630. In April, Mr. Winthrop and Mr. Dudley, with 
 fome of the adventurers and afiiftants, many fettlers and 
 fervants, provifions and ftores, in all feventeen fhips, were 
 fent over this year : of the fettlers about 100 died the firft 
 year ; and the furvivors [/] fuffered much for want of 
 
 [j] By the fame eclipfe of the moon, March 15, 1717, obferved by 
 Cafiini and De la Hire at Paris (which is 9 M. 40 feconds in time ealt 
 from London) and by Mr. Robie at Cambridge of New- England. 
 Two obfervations better afcertain the difference of time between two 
 remote places, than an obfervation in one place, and a calculation only 
 for the other. 
 
 [ t J Deputy-governor Dudley, March 28, 1631, wrote home to his 
 friends in England, “ The 180 fervants which we had fent over, we 
 could not avoid giving them all their liberty, though they coft us from 
 16 to 20/. fterling a perfon, not having bread kine for a fortnight. 
 If any comes to this fettlement to plant for worldly ends (but if for 
 fpiritual he may do well) that can live well at home, he commits an 
 error, of which he will foon repent him ,* we failed of our expectation 
 to our great damage. People of England, who are endued with 
 grace, and furnilhed with means to find their families for eighteen 
 months, and to build and plant, let them come. In the beginning of 
 our fettlements we had great ficknefs and mortality, as well as the let- 
 tiers of New-Plymouth, which feemed to proceed from want or warm 
 lodging and good diet ; they who landed in fummer died of fevers 
 from the heats ; they who landed in winter, as thofe of New-Plymouth, 
 died of the fcurvy. 
 
 provifionSt 
 
Sect. VIII- 0 / Massachusetts-Bay. 427 
 
 provifions. After a chargeable, long, and tedious voyage, 
 they landed at Salem •, they difliked Salem, and chofe to 
 fettle where the land was better •, they proceeded to the 
 mouth of [a] Charles-river farther up the bay. Here fome 
 fettled, and called it Charles-Town •, fome lettled at Sa- 
 gus-river, now Lynn -, fome at Myftic-river, now Med- 
 ford •, thefe two fettlements are between Salem and 
 Charles-Town -, fome from Charles Town eroded over, 
 and fettled upon a Peninfula, now called Boston, the me- 
 tropolis of Britifh America-, fome fettled from Charles- 
 Town weftward atNewtown and Watertown; fome from 
 Bofton fettled two miles weft fouthward, and called it 
 Rocklbury, becaufe rocky ground; fome fettled four 
 miles fouth from Bofton, and called it Dorchefter ; 
 they were moftly weft countrymen. Newbury fettled 
 
 162^ [w]. 
 
 Being fickly, and fearing the feverity of the winter, 
 many were difeouraged -, about 100 perfons returned 
 with the fhips to England ; fome Libertines went to a 
 fmall fettlement which had been made at Piicataqua 
 without this juriidiaion. From fettling out, April 30, 
 to December following, died upwards of 200 perions. 
 
 Anno 1631, freemen were firft admitted, and here the 
 old charter law book begins; preceding May, 1634, 
 admitted about 390 freemen -, preceding 1641, about 
 4000 fettlers came from England, tor the twenty fol- 
 lowing years, the independent manner in religion was 
 fafhionable at home, and more people went home from 
 New-EnHand, than came abroad to New-England. Af- 
 ter the Reftoration, the epifcopal chu'ch of England a- 
 gain became rigid, and many Diflenters came over with 
 Their minifters ; thus Mr. Allen was appointed mimfter 
 
 tyi It was fo called fome years before this fettlement 
 [no] Here I could proceed, and give the hiflory of the firft fettling 
 and progreffive improvements of moft townfoip in the province of 
 Maffachufetts-Hay ; but this would be of too private and confined a 
 nature, to be admitted into a general fummary, and could engage the 
 attention of but a few readers. 
 
428 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 of Bofton, Mr. Lee of Briftol, Mr. Bailey of Watertown 
 t 3 c. 
 
 The affiduous and well-qualified agent Dummer, in 
 his ingenious and politic piece, publifhed in London, 
 1721, in defence of the New-England charters, when all 
 charter and proprietary governments were in danger of 
 being annihilated, by a bill brought into the Houfe of 
 Commons of Great-Britain ; he writes, “ That the ex- 
 “ pence of fettling the Mafiachufetts-Bay colony for the 
 “ firft twelve years, was about 200,000 /. fterling; that 
 “ the fettlers were neither necefiitous nor criminals.” 
 
 ‘the hijlory of their fucceffive governors , is as follows : 
 
 1630. The company of Maflachufetts-Bay adventurers 
 in London, chofe for their governor, John Winthrop, a 
 lawyer, fon of Adam Winthrop, of Groton in Suffolk ; 
 he brought over with him to New-England the proceeds 
 of an eftate of 600 to 700 1. fterling per annum-, was almoft 
 annually elected governor till his death •, he was very 
 charitable, particularly in diftributing his medicinal Van 
 Helmont noftrums to the poor. His fon was very in- 
 ftru mental in procuring the .Connecticut charter, and 
 was annually chofen their governor during his life. His 
 grandfon was feme time major-general of the colony, 
 and chief-juftice or judge -, he died 1717. To his great 
 grandfon John, was dedicated the xl th vol. of the Phi- 
 lofophical tranfaCtions of the London Royal Society 5 he 
 died lately in London. 
 
 1636. In oppofition to Mr. Winthrop, Henry Vane, 
 fon of Sir Henry Vane, was chofen governor-, he came 
 over an enthufiaftic rigid Puritan ; his conduct was dis- 
 agreeable to the people, he was dropped the year follow- 
 fng 5 and Mr. Winthrop chofen as formerly. He was 
 afterwards member of the long parliament in England j 
 and executed as a traitor 1662. JEt. 50. 
 
 1645. Thomas Dudley was elected governor, Mr. 
 Winthrop, deputy-governor: Mr. Dudley was born at 
 
 Northamp* 
 

 £ 
 
 It; 
 
 Ml 
 
 it 
 
 H 
 
 jit 
 
 rat 
 taf: 
 iti 
 m 
 iak 
 sm 
 I Fan 
 ijifc 
 a,r: 
 tft 
 cokr 
 
 tkfe 
 
 ?fc 
 
 k® 
 
 fffci* 
 
 to 
 
 # 
 
 s# 
 
 te* 
 
 ity 
 
 Sect. VIII. 0 / Massachusetts-Bay. 4 2 9 
 
 Northampton ; he was a Puritan, and bred in the army ; 
 he was about ten years fteward to the earl of Lincoln ; 
 he came over deputy-governor 1630, and was at times 
 chofen major-general of the colony ; he died in Rockf- 
 bury, July 31, 1652, /Et. 77. His fon Jofeph Dudley 
 fuftained many great and arduous polls. Colony-agent, 
 prefident of the council, chief-juftice, member of par- 
 liament in England, and governor of the province of 
 Maflachufetts-Bay, as lhall be in courfe related more at 
 large. His grandfOn Paul Dudley, Efq; is the prelent 
 chief-juftice of the province of Maflachufetts-Bay, of 
 long experience in the laws and cuftoms of the province ; 
 he is noted abroad in the world, by fome ingenious 
 pieces, relating to the natural hiftory of New-England, 
 publifhed in the Philofophical Tranfaftions of the Lon- 
 don Royal Society, for the years 1720 and 1721. 
 
 1653. John Endicot was chofen governor ; he died 
 1665. 1665, Richard Bellingham, a lawyer, a very old 
 man, was defied ; he had been an afliftant or magiftrate 
 thirty years before; he was chofen governor for ieven years 
 fucceflively ; he died 1671, TEt. 80. Pie had formerly 
 been treafurer of the province ; he was very fevere againft 
 Anabaptifts and Quakers ; his' memory is perpetuated by 
 the townlhip of Bellingham, being called after his name. 
 
 1671. Was chofen John Leverett; he was annually 
 continued governor till death 1676, in the autumn. His 
 father Thomas Leverett, with his family, removed 
 1633, from Bofton in Lincolnlhire of Old-England, to 
 New-England. 
 
 1676. Simon Bradftreet was defied governor ; he was 
 annually rechofen till anno 1686 ; the charter being va- 
 cated, he was fuperfeded by prefident Dudley : upon 
 the Revolution in New-England; April 1689, fubfequent 
 to and confequent of the Revolution in England, NOv. 
 
 ! 1688 ; by the advice and direflion of the principal in- 
 habitants of the colony, with the other colony officers, as 
 defied 1686, he reaflumed the government, till the 
 
 arrival of the new charter, May, 1692. I his was ap- 
 proved 
 
 V l" 
 
436 British Settlements In America. Part II. 
 
 proved of, and confirmed by W. and M. He was born 
 in Lincolnfhire, had been a fellow of Emanuel College 
 in Cambridge of Old-England ; fucceeded governor 
 Thomas 'Dudley, as fteward to the earl of Lincoln ; he 
 married a filter of governor Jofeph Dudley;- he died 
 March 27, 1697, Ait. 95 ; he was the longeft liver of all 
 the firft planters of New-England. 
 
 Some fliort time after the fucceflion of king James II, 
 the charter being vacated, Jofeph Dudley, Efq ; who had 
 been lent over the colony’s agent, arrived in Bolton, 
 June 1686, as prefident with a council ; he affumed the 
 adminiltration ; he was -fuperieded by 
 
 The arrival of Sir Edmund Andros, governor of New- 
 England, in Dec. 1686; he continued governor, until 
 fent home, with his officers, by the Revolutioners in the 
 fpring, t 689. He had been governor of New- York under 
 the duke [x] of York and Albany for leven years pre- 
 ceding 1684, when he was fuperfeded by colonel Dongan 
 a Roman catholic: anno 1692 in Virginia he had the 
 chief command, having fucceeded Francis Nicholfon, 
 who was lieutenant-governor under lord Howard, prin- 
 cipal governor, difmiffed ; Sir Edmund continued gover- 
 nor until 1 698, when colonel Nicholfon from Mary- 
 land fuperfeded him ; governor Nicholfon returned to 
 England 1 704, and was fucceeded by the earl of Ork- 
 ney. Here we infenfibly anticipate affairs belonging to 
 the fe&ion of Virginia. 
 
 The fucceffive major-generals under the old charter 
 were, Thomas Dudley, John Endicot, Edward Gibbons, 
 Robert Sedgwick, Humphrey Atherton, Daniel Den- 
 nifon, John Leverett, Daniel Gookin, and Thomas 
 Sergeant. 
 
 The fucceffive fecretaries, were William Burgis, Simon 
 Bradftreet, Increafe Newel, and Edward Rawfon; be- 
 tween the old and new charters in the intermediate 
 
 LI The city of Ne w- York was fo called from his Englilh titles 
 and the city of Albany from his Scots title. 
 
 arbitrary 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 43 1 
 
 arbitrary oppreffive adminiftration in the reign of James 
 Jl, James Randolph was fecretary. 
 
 Colonel Ufher, at the Revolution was treafurer for the 
 dominions of New-England ; upon this Revolution he 
 went off abruptly. 
 
 [y] Some fingularly remarkable laws and cujloms iu the old 
 charter adminiftration. 
 
 THEIR enacting ftyle was. It is ordered by this court , 
 and the authority thereof. 
 
 For many years from the beginning, the governor, 
 afiiftants, or council, not under feven, and deputies or 
 reprefentatives in a legiflative capacity [z] voted toge- 
 ther ; but from long experience divers inconveniencies 
 were found to arile, and it was enadted 1652, that the 
 magiftrates (governor and council) Ihould fit and vote 
 apart, conftituting [tf] a feparate negative. 
 
 The governor, deputy- governor, and afiiftants, or 
 council called magiftrates, were the fuperior court for 
 appeals in civil cafes •, and were the court of oyei 
 and terminer in cafes of life, member, banifhment, 
 and divorce. After they were conftituted two diftinCt 
 houfes, if they happened to differ in any cafes of judi- 
 cature civil or criminal, the affair was to be determined 
 by a vote of the whole court met together. The ge- 
 
 r yl Thefe minutes and common place from records, and obferra- 
 tions of felf and friends, I hope, are exaft, and all matters material 
 may be depended upon ; but the bufinefs of my profeffion and other 
 affairs, do not allow me time Efficient to reduce them into a ftnft ftitt 
 method or order ; therefore they appear mifcellaneous, but in iome 
 loofe manner digefted for the ufe of future writers. 
 
 r«l In Scotland, before the harpy union 1707, m their parliaments, 
 the peers, commiffioners for (hires or counties, and commtffioners lor - 
 burehs ot boroughs, made only one houfe and voted together. 
 
 f«l The colonies of Conneflicat and Rhode-ifland followed their 
 example, and their legiflature to this day confilh of two negawi»: 
 the governor has no third negative, as in the provinces ftndtly belong- 
 ing to the crown ; but in the upper houfe or negative, in cafe ot an 
 equivote, he determines the affair. 
 
432 British Settlements in America. Part II, 
 
 neral court only, had power to pardon condemned cri- 
 minals. The governor when prelent was prefident in 
 all courts. No general court to be continued above one 
 year. The governor, deputy-governor, or majority of 
 the affiftants, may call a general afiembly ; but this af- 
 fembly is not to be adjourned or difiolved, but by a vote 
 of the fame. 
 
 County courts may admit freemen, being [£] church- 
 members, that is, of the independent or congregational 
 religious mode ; only freemen were capable of voting in 
 civil aflemblies : 1662, upon the king’s letter, this law 
 was repealed. 
 
 Formerly fome townfhips had it in their option, to 
 fend or not fend deputies to the general afiembly. The 
 deputies of Dover and fuch other towns as are not by 
 law bound to fend deputies, may be excufed. 
 
 The officers annually elected by the freemen in ge- 
 neral (not by their reprefentatives or deputies in the 
 general court or afiembly) were the governor, the de- 
 puty-governor, the affiftants or council, the treafurer, 
 the major-general, the admiral at fea, the commifiioners 
 for the united colonies, and the fecretary. 
 
 By an adl 1641, the freemen of any (hire or town, 
 have liberty to chufe deputies for the general court [c], 
 either in their own Ihire or town, or elfewhere as they 
 judge fitteft -, fo be it, they be freemen and inhabiting 
 this jurifdidtion. 
 
 By a law made 1654, no perfon, who is an ufual or 
 common attorney in any [d] inferior court, ffiall be ad- 
 
 [£J This was too narrow and confined, perhaps more fevere than 
 ever was pra&ifed by the church of England in its moft bigotted and 
 faulted periods ; the prefent generation in New- England are of an ex- 
 tenfive charity to all Proteftants, though differing in fome peculiar, but 
 not efTential, modes or ways of worfhip. 
 
 [c] This law was not re-ena&ed under the new charter adminiftra- 
 tion, but a fpecial a<5l ; refidence was required, by the influence of a 
 party or fa&ion averfe to a polite affembly well verfed in commercial 
 and other public general affairs of the world. 
 
 [<0 At this time the general affembly was called the fupreme or ge- 
 neral court, 
 
 mitted 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 4 33 
 
 mitted to fit as a deputy in the general court or af- 
 fembly. 
 
 Where the country or colony laws are deficient, the 
 cafe fhall be determined by the [e] word of God. 
 
 Disfranchifement, and banilhment, were the ufual 
 penalties for great crimes. 
 
 Governor and deputy-governor jointly agreeing, or any 
 of 'their affiftants, confenting, have power out of court, 
 to reprieve a condemned malefactor, till the next court 
 of alfiltants, or general court ; and that the general 
 court only hath power to pardon a condemned male- 
 faftory. 
 
 1652, Enabled, That a Mint-houfe be erected in Bof- 
 ton, to coin filver of fterling alloy into 12 d. 6d. and 3d. 
 pieces, in -value lefs than that of the prefent Englifli 
 coin by 2 d. in the (hilling ; the ftamp to be, within a 
 double ring; on the one fide Massachusets, with 
 a tree in the centre ; on the other fide New-England, 
 with the year [/] 1652, and the figure xn, vi, and in, 
 according to the value of each piece ; with a private 
 mark. Excepting Englifli coin, no other money to be 
 current in this common-wealth; $pcr cent, for '^jcharges 
 of coining to be allowed by the owners of the filver 
 brought into the mint to be coined. Exportation of 
 this coin, except twenty (hillings for neceflfary expences, 
 is prohibited on pain of confifcation of all vifible eftate. 
 Coinage is a prerogative of the Sovereignty, not of a 
 colony! Scarce any of this coin now appears ; with all 
 other filver coin, it is drove away by a multiplied fal- 
 lacious bafe paper-currency. * 
 
 Befides lome fmall duties of import upon ftrong li- 
 quors imported ; and a fmall excife of 2 s. 6 d. per hhd. 
 
 [f] Oar Bible in thefe times was their body of laws, civil as well as 
 ecclefiaftical, efpecially in criminal cafes. 
 
 f /] All the New England coin is dated 1652 ; though for many 
 following years they continued coining. 
 
 [g] In Great-Britain the coinage charge is defrayed by the govern- 
 ment; for this ufethe parliament allows 15,000/. fer annum. 
 
 Vol. I. Ff upon 
 
43+ British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 upon cyder, and malt liquors retained; and tonnage, 
 
 6 d. per ton, upon Chipping ; the ordinary revenue was 
 a poll tax or capitation upon all male whites of 16 iEt. 
 and upwards, and a rate of — d. in the pound of prin- 
 cipal eftate at fmall valuations : thus for inftance, anno 
 1651, the tax was 20 d. per poll, and a rate of 1 d. in the 
 pound eftate. 
 
 Anno 1692, when the old charter expired, a tax of 
 iot poll, and a rate of 30 s. upon every 100/. of princi- 
 pal eftate, was computed to rail'e 30,000 /. value equal to 
 proclamation money. 
 
 Anno 1639, a Court merchant is appointed. When a 
 ftranger’s affairs do not allow him to tarry the ordinary 
 terms of the courts ; the governor or deputy, with any 
 two of the affiftants, or any three of the affiftants, may 
 call a fpecial court. 
 
 Several adts for fairs and markets in feveral towns; 
 for inftance, in Bofton two yearly fairs, and a weekly 
 market upon the 5th day [&]. 
 
 Enabled, a fmall body of good maritime laws in twenty- 
 feven fedtions. 
 
 The oeconomy of their militia was after this manner. 
 All white men of 1 6 JEt. and upwards, were inlifted ; 
 no company of foot to be under fixty-four private men 
 (fmall towns are to join) no troops of horie to exceed 
 feventy men. The non commiffion officers to be ap- 
 pointed by the commiffion officers of the company. 
 The commiffion officers of a company to be chofen by a 
 majority of the men inlifted in that company, to be 
 approved by the county-court, or felfions. All the 
 companies of one county or regiment, by a majority of the 
 men belonging to that regiment are to chufe a ferjeant- 
 major of the county, the commander of that regiment. 
 The commander of all the militia of the colony was in a 
 major-general, annually chofen by the general aflem* 
 
 f&] It is not eafily to be accounted for, that the court merchant, 
 and weekly markets, were not re-enailed under the new charter aa- 
 miuillration. , . 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay.' 435 
 
 bly [»]. Any feven afliftants, whereof the governor or 
 deputy-governor to be one, may imprefs foldiers. 
 
 To prevent oppreffion, any perfon taking excdfive 
 wages for work done, or unreafonable prices for necef- 
 fary merchandize ; fhall be fined at the difcretion of the 
 court where the offence is prefented. The feledl men to 
 regulate the wages of porters. 
 
 The forms of their judicial oaths were. By the Name 
 of the Living, and lbmetimes Ever-living God — By 
 the great Name of the Ever-living Almighty God — 
 By the great and dreadful Name of the Ever-living 
 God. Thefe were ufed according to the folemnity of 
 the occafion. 
 
 Any perfon may view and have attefted copies of any 
 records ; the journals of the council excepted. 
 
 [k] Powowoers to be fined five pounds. Jefuits, or any 
 Roman catholic ecclefiaftics, to be banilhed ; if they re- 
 turn, to fuffer death : this law was afterwards extended 
 to the Quakers. 
 
 Anno 1656, none of that curfed fe£t of heretics, lately 
 rifen up in the world, which are commonly called Qua- 
 kers, are to be imported : penalty upon the mafter 1 00/. 
 per piece, and 40 s. per hour for any other perfon har- 
 bouring or entertaining them. 
 
 1658. A Quaker [/] convifled, fhall be banilhed upon 
 pain of death. 
 
 [»'] All this is fully expreffed in a few words in the Dorchefter bury- 
 ing place near Bolton, upon a grave-flone of Mr. Atherton ; he fuf- 
 tained all thefe commands, as alio the office of affillant or magillrate in 
 the ftate, and deacon in the church or congregation ; the poetry is 
 rude, being compofed in the infancy of the country : 
 
 Here lies our Captain, and Major of Suffolk was withal, 
 
 A godly Magijlrate was he, and Major-general. 
 
 Anno 1655, Cromwell divided England into eleven diftri&s, and 
 conflituted a military commander in each, by the name of Major- 
 general, but this was foon difufed. At prefent in Great-Britain. the 
 militia of each county is under the diredlion of a lord lieutenant, or of 
 a lieutenancy of the country. 
 
 [i] Thefe were Indian conjurers and fortune-tellers. 
 
 [/J The Quake's, by their fimpl city of manners, fair dealings, in- 
 
 F f 2 Penalty 
 
436 British Settlements in America.' Part II. 
 
 Penalty for playing at cards or dice 5 s. for obferv- 
 ing any fuch day as Chriftmas 5 s. profaners of the 
 fabbath day, for the firft offence to be admonifhed, but 
 for after offences to be fined. Drinking healths aboard 
 of vefiels 20 s. every health. Reviling magiftrates or 
 minifters 5 1. or whipping. 
 
 1633. Conflables are to prefent unprofitable fowlers, 
 and tobacco- takers, to the next magiftrate. 
 
 No motion of marriage to be made to any maid, 
 without the confent of her parents. Births, marriages, 
 and deaths to be recorded in each town : to be returned 
 yearly to the county court or feffions. 
 
 The general aflembly having received and perufed 
 a letter from the privy council in England, with an 
 aft of parliament 12 Carol. II. for the encouraging of 
 flipping and navigation ; they appointed naval officers 
 in all their proper lea-ports, the tran factions to be tranf- 
 mitted to London once a year by the fecretary. 
 
 Women, girls, and boys, are enjoined to fpin ; the 
 feleft men of each town, are to aflefs each family, at 
 one or more fpinners : when they have avocations of 
 other bufinefs, they are to be deemed halt or quarter 
 fpinners ; a whole fpinner fhall fpin every year, for 
 thirty weeks, three pound every week of linnen, cotton, 
 or woollen. 
 
 duftry, frugality, humanity, and charity, with good propriety, give 
 themfelves the denomination of 1 'riends : as fuch they are at pre en. 
 much in favour with the civil government of Great-Britain ; in theie 
 colonies, by an order from the crown, they are exempted from paying 
 towards the parochial minifters dues. I muft not produce this as an 
 inftance (becaufe a powerful corps are in the oppofition) that a regular 
 clergy in pay, under the confined (confinement occafions defertionj 
 difcipline of 'Creeds, Confefiions, Canons, Articles, &V. are not of that 
 ufe in fociety (from the long experience of many centuries) as thole 
 not confined, but who ad as voluntiers or irregulars not paid, out 
 merely as from the Amor Patriot et Proximi , they are directed. orn1 / 
 in religion are generally of bad influence ; with the vulgar, the) pa 1 
 for the all of religion, and are thereby diverted from the eilentials, 
 •viz. a good life, and charity, which is brotherly- love to the affluent, 
 and companion toward our neighbours the indigent. 
 
 Five 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 437 
 
 Five years quiet pofiefiion to be deemed a good title. 
 In commonages five fheep Hull be reckoned equal to 
 one cow. 
 
 1667. No licenced perfon to fell beer, but of four 
 bufhels barley malt at leaft, to the hoglhead, and not to 
 be fold above 2 d. the ale quart •, not to be mixed with 
 molafles, coarfe fugar, or other materials. No mackarel 
 to be caught, except for fpending whilft frelh, before the 
 firft of July annually. Surveyors appointed to view all 
 ® fhippingin building. 
 
 be Wampumpeag to be a tender in payment of debts not 
 exceeding 40 s. at 8 white or 4 black a penny ; this was 
 ip repealed anno 1 661 . 
 
 it After a vote paffed in any affembly or civil court, a 
 ns member may enter his difient, without entering his rea- 
 
 ii : Ions of difient, to be recorded. 
 
 hti In all aflemblies, neuters, that is filents, fiiall be ac- 
 counted votes for the negative. Any two magiftrates 
 hi. with the clerk of the county, may take probate of wills, 
 or grant adminiftration. 
 
 oasr 
 
 ®E 
 
 I®,' 
 
 11 
 
 2 -: 
 
 hf 
 
 s?' 
 
 & 
 
 i 
 
 if 
 
 'd 
 
 In old charter times the colony was at firft divided 
 into the three counties of Suffolk, Effex, and Middlefex; 
 when they affumed the jurifdiftion of New-Hampfhire 
 and province of Main, and fettled compattly upon 
 Connefticut river, the colony, 1671, was divided into 
 
 thefe fix counties : 
 
 
 r Suffolk 
 
 ( 
 
 Norfolk 
 
 V. 
 
 0 
 
 \ Effex 
 
 * 
 
 d ' 
 
 ' Pifcataqua 
 
 Q 
 
 ) Middlefex 
 
 U ( 
 
 f Yorklhire 
 
 1 
 
 h. Hampfhire 
 
 r Bofton. 
 
 « V Salilbury and Hampton. 
 
 £ jSalem and Ipfwich. 
 
 V ^Dover and Portfmouth. 
 
 .b JCharleftown and Cambridge. 
 w ( York. 
 
 v Northampton and Springfield. 
 
 Ff 3 
 
 ¥ ranfaftiont 
 
438 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 Tranfaffions relating to their Religious Affairs. 
 
 SOME account of the various feftaries or modes of 
 religious difcipline and worfhip in the feveral Britilh 
 American colonies, was defigned for the feftion of Rhode- 
 illand colony, that plantation being productive or re- 
 ceptive of very many feCtaries : but as the perfecutions 
 (fo called) of fundry fedtaries in the old colony of Maf- 
 fachufetts-Bay, is too much and too impartially noted 
 by many hiftorians ; I could not avoid in this place, to 
 give a few and matter-of-fad account of thefe things. 
 I. Concerning the congregational way of religious dif- 
 cipline and worfhip as generally praCtifed in the colonies 
 of New-England. II. Some narrative of the feverities 
 ufed in the Mafiachufetts-Bay, towards various feCtaries 
 or communions of rigid Brownifts, Antinomians, Mug- 
 gletonians, Anabaptifts, Quakers, and [m] Witches [»]. 
 
 I. [ o ] Some confcientious non-conformifts harafled by 
 the bifhops courts, (Ac. in the reign of James I, ob- 
 tained a loofe grant from the council of Plymouth called 
 the New-England company, of fome lands in North- 
 America they tranfported themfelves to New-England, 
 and at firft were perhaps [p] enthufiaftically rigid and 
 called Brownifts [y], from the name of their apoftle or 
 
 [w] Witches are Enthufiafts or Maniacs, and may, with propriety 
 of words, b^faid of the devil’s communion. 
 
 [ri] By the many controverfies in revealed religions, the feveral fe&s 
 expofe the inconfiffencies and abfurdities of one another’s opinions, ard 
 occafion the wife and thinking part of mankind to regulate themfelves 
 by natural religion only ; and to conclude that all religions only are 
 good, which teach men to be good. 
 
 [0] See p. 224. 369. 
 
 \p] Nothing but a religious heat or zeal at that time could have 
 withftood the feverities of their winters ; at prefent 'their winters are 
 lefs rigid from the country being more and more cleared of woods, 
 and expofed to the fun, which diifolves their fnows fooner than before 
 it was opened. 
 
 [q] Robert Brown firft appeared 1580. Sir Walter Raleigh writes, 
 that in 1592, there were in England near 20,000 Brownifts. 
 
 leader \ 
 
Sect. VIII. 0/ Massachusetts-Bay. 439 
 
 leader ; afterwards their indifcreet zeal beginning to fab - 
 fide, they were called [r] Independents, becaufe every 
 congregation was independent of the other churches, but 
 not Independent of the civil government, as fome invi- 
 dioufly reprefent it. A church confifted only of fo many 
 people as could conveniently meet together in one au- 
 dience, and under covenant among themfelves •, a vote 
 of the brotherhood, made and unmade their minifter, 
 elders, and deacons-, a minifter could not adminifttr 
 but to his own congregation ; they allowed of com- 
 munion with other churches in word and prayer, but 
 not in facraments and difcipline ; they adviled with 
 neighbouring churches, but were under no obligation to 
 follow their advice. 
 
 After fome time, they (till became more moderate and 
 fociable ; they converted the defignation Independent, 
 to that of congregational : although they retained the 
 notion of an independent fupreme ecclehaftic power in 
 each congregation i they allowed, that fometimes it may 
 be expedTent to have the advice of fynods and counci.s : 
 thus infenfibly and naturally, for feke of good order, 
 they fall into the Prefbyterian mode -, and, in fait, have 
 had feveral fynods appointed by the civil legiflature. i . 
 In Auo-uft 30, 1637, in Newtown was called an umver- 
 fal fynod to condemn the errors of the Rigids and Anti- 
 nomians j M. Williams, Mr. Vane, and Mrs Hut- 
 chinfon were their leaders -, this fynod continued three 
 weeks : this occafioned an emigration, and the fettling 
 of the colony of Rhode-ifland. 2. Sept. 30, I0 4 - 8 » by 
 order of the legiflature, a fynod was called at Cambridge, 
 to eftablifh uniformity ; they agree to the Weftminfler 
 confeflion of 1646, in matters of faith anddodtrine, but 
 compofe a plan of their own tor uifcipline. 3- ^ nno 
 
 M This mode of religion feems to be laudable and welt adapted to 
 prevent mperium in imperio, that is, a church government from con- 
 tr ending the Hate or civil government Cromwell, a very great 
 llatefman, as well as general, was fenfible of this; they were h.s 
 vourites upon that account. 
 
 r F f 4 1662* 
 
44° British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 1662, in the fpring, in Bofton a fynod was called by di- 
 rection of the general afiembly, concerning the rioht 
 that grand-chiidren of church-members had to baptifm, 
 concerning the confociation of churches, and fome other 
 affairs of church-memberlhip. 4. Anno 1679, another 
 fynod in Bofton was appointed by the legiflature, to con- 
 fult what was proper to be done to remove the evils 
 which continued to afflift the people of New-England ; 
 1678, many had died of the fmall-pox j the refuTt was’ 
 that all the churches Ihould renew their covenant. They 
 had a fecond feflion. May 12, 1680, and agreed upon a 
 confeflion of faith, nearly the fame with that of the In- 
 dependents in England, Oct 12, 1658, called the Savoy 
 confeftion of faith, and feemed to renounce the models 
 of Geneva and Scotland. 5. Anno 1687, the minifters 
 of Maflachufetts-Bay colony, jointly fent an addrefs of 
 thanks to king James II, for his (V] indulgence or ge- 
 neral toleration of religious opinions and congregations. 
 This was fent over and prefented to king James by Mr. 
 Increafe Mather ; he and his conftituents were not po- 
 liticians fufficient to penetrate into the wicked and per- 
 nicious contrivance of that toleration. 6. About thirty 
 years ftnce, it was propofed in the general afiembly to 
 call a fynod of the congregational churches of the pro- 
 vince of Maflachufetts-Bay ; this was refufed or drop- 
 ped, becaufe by the aft of union of Scotland and Eng- 
 land, it is provided that the church of England govern- 
 ment, in all the Englifh colonies was for ever eftablillied. 
 Here the hiftory of New-England church fynods mult 
 terminate. 
 
 All convocations, general afiemblies, fynods, £s?r. of 
 clergymen, by their indifcreet zeal or heats, rather in- 
 crealt , than heal the diftempers of the church. 
 
 In other articles, the New-England Independents be- 
 come lei's con t rafted, and of more extenfive charity. 
 
 M By this general indulgence Popery was craftily to be introduced ; 
 the colony of Plymouth unadvifedly fent an addrefs of the fame 
 nature. 
 
 Although 
 
Sect. VIII. 0 / Massachusetts-Bay. 441 
 
 Although a church properly con filled of no more per- 
 fons or Chriftians, than could conveniently meet toge- 
 ther in one place, cemented by a holy covenant, and ad- 
 mitted into church -memberlhip by perfonal public con- 
 feffion ; at prelent they have relaxed of that rigidity, 
 and, 1. In many of their churches, do not require that 
 perfonal public confeffional appearance, in order to be 
 admitted into church-memberffiip ; but only a private 
 application to their paftor or minifter to be communi- 
 cated to the church only, if required. 2. They admit 
 occafionally members of other churches to the Lord’s 
 fupper, by letters of recommendation. 3. A minifter 
 may occafionally adminifter the lacraments to a neigh- 
 bouring vacant church. 4. The brethren of the church, 
 at the ordination of a minifter, do not lay on hands ; 
 it is done by the laying on of the hands of the mi- 
 nifters [/] of fome neighbouring churches invited for 
 that purpofe : this is a confiderable feftival day in the 
 townfhip or parilh. 5. A lay elder may teach and 
 perform all offices, excepting the adminiftration of the 
 lacraments. 
 
 At prefent the Congregationalifts of New-England 
 may be efteemed among the moft moderate and charita- 
 ble of Chriftian profeffions. 
 
 The perfecution of fectaries in New-England, parti- 
 cularly of Anabaptifts and Quakers, is not minutely re- 
 lated here > as being only local and temporary from the 
 wrong-pointed zeal of the times, without any political 
 wicked defign [«]. 
 
 [/] In a New-England ordination, five diftind perfonages or parts 
 are required, 1. A preparatory Prayer, a. A fuitable fermon. 3. 
 A charge. 4. Another Prayer. The right-hand of fellowlhip ; 
 fome others join in the impofition of hands. 
 
 [s] Mankind in a natural unpoliihed ftate is animal fuperftitiofum : 
 this is the natural reafon of the great influence of the clergy. A fiery 
 hot religious zeal, or franticknels, with variety of fymptoms or tenets, 
 like other bodily diftempors, at times becomes contagious and epide- 
 mic, principally amongft the weak conflitutions of mind ; a' bodily 
 ails feize weak conflitutions of body ; for inflance, in Great-Britaiir, 
 
 If 
 
442 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 If by fettaries are meant Diffenters from the general 
 mode of the religion of the country at that time ; the 
 church of England worlhip was formerly a difienfion in 
 New-England : the firft church of England congrega- 
 tion formed there was in Bofton 1679: it ftill fubfifts 
 and flourilhes •, and befides a reftor in the election and 
 at the charge of the congregation, there is an annual 
 royal bounty for an affiftant minifter, fometimes called 
 lecturer : hitherto, excepting in Bofton, there is no church 
 of England, but miffionaries : at this time, anno 1 748 
 (including Mr. Price for Hopkinton appointed, but not 
 as yet arrived) in the new charter province of Maflachu- 
 fetts-Bay, are feven miffionary congregations, and about 
 200 independent congregations ■, befides fome congre- 
 gations of Irilh Prelbyterians, Anabaptifts, Quakers, and 
 lately fome mufhroom meetings of Separatifts, difciples 
 of Mr. Whitefield, and, as of Ihort duration, fcarce de- 
 ferving mention. 
 
 By the articles of union of the two nations of Great- 
 Britain, May 1707, the church of England is eftablifhed 
 
 the Lollards, Anabaptifts, Independent, Quakers, Witches : this zeal, 
 if Jeft to nature, after fome fhort time defervefees and fubfides ; but if 
 ufed with harfh violent adminidrations, that is, with perfecution, the 
 didemper becomes more intenfe, more lading, and more contagious 
 or fpreading. In all religious didemperatures, lenitives by long ex- 
 perience are found to be the mod efficacious medicines ; thus, of the 
 abovementioned, fome have difappeared, the Lollards and Witches ; 
 the others are become very moderate, tradtable, and fome of the bed 
 members of the commonwealth or civil fociety. 
 
 At prefent the differences amongd the various communions, com- 
 munities, or perfuadons of Protedants in the Britidi dominions, are 
 not dcdrinal, or efiential ; being only different modes or fafhions, in 
 church government, ceremonies of worlhip and vedments : the Quaker 
 himfelf, in his old-fafhioned formal drefs, feems to fome, to be as fu- 
 perditious, as a clergyman of the church of England in his gown, 
 cadock, and other pontifical accoutrements. For this reafon, the civil 
 government of Great- Britain tolerates or connives at all Protedmt de- 
 nominations of Chriiiians ; there are only the three denominations of 
 Prelbyterians, independents (in New-England they are called Congre- 
 gationalids) and Anabaptids, who take out toleration licences. Spe- 
 culative private opinions can never didurb a date. 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 443 
 
 in perpetuity in all the territories at that time to Eng- 
 land belonging ; but before this period, in all charters 
 and governors patents, a general toleration for all Chri- 
 ftian religious communities (Roman catholics excepted) 
 was the ecclefiaftical conftitution of our American colo- 
 nies, without any preference [w]. 
 
 1 . The rigid Brownifts [x] are almoft extinft •, nothing 
 violent, or out of the common courfe of human reafon, 
 can hold long ; we have already given fome tranfient 
 hints concerning them j in the infancy of thefe colonies 
 there were many degrees of rigidity [_>’], whereof feveral 
 were puritanic and fanatical, of very Ihort continuance. 
 The Rigids generally [z] feceded from the more mode- 
 rate [a], and removed with their teachers or mini Rets 
 without the limits or jurifdidtion of the colony. Anno 
 
 [w] The minifters of the congregational perfuafion, or discipline, in 
 the province of Mafiachufetts-Bay, continue to meet annually about 
 the time of the annivcrfary provincial ele&ion of counfellors (being an 
 annual jubilee, or feftival, or concourfe from all parts of the colony) 
 not by afTuming any ecclefiaftical authority, or combination, but only 
 by way of friendly or brotherly intercourle. 
 
 [*] Truefmcere Enthufiafts may be of good civil ufe, if well pointed ; 
 
 I do not mean Freethinkers and Libertines, who for worldly ends, may 
 ad the hypocrite in any fhape ; but fuch as make a conference of re- 
 ligion in general, and of their own way of thinking in particular, and 
 are zealous for making of converts in fpite of all perils aud fatig ie ; 
 fuch may be ufefui miffionaries amongft*the heathen, and promote re- 
 ligion and trade with them. This Lnthuiialm ought to be encouraged 
 and promoted. 
 
 [ j] Mr. Locke, in a letter to Mr. Bold, dated Oates, May, if'99, 
 fays, “ 1 defign to take my religion from the Scripture, and then, whe- 
 ** thcr it fuirs or iuits not any other denomination, I am not much con- 
 “ cerned ; for I think at the laft day it will not be enquired, whether 
 “ I was of the church of England or Geneva; but whether 1 fought 
 “ and embraced truth in the love of it.” 
 
 [s) Some devotees would facrifice their king (or any other form of 
 civil government) and country blindly to the cnthufiaiiic foperftitious 
 injunctions of their priefts and exhorters. Tile lavv3 of nature and na 
 tions require the curbing of thefe. 
 
 f a] The feveral feds, or communions of Proreftants, feera to agree 
 in the eftential dodlrines of the Chriftian religion, ar.d diifer only in 
 fome fanciful modes and external fafhions of worfliip* 
 
 1C34, 
 
444 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 1634, Roger Williams, minifter of Salem, was ba- 
 nifhed becaufe of his [£] Antinomian and [rj fanatical 
 do&rines ; after fome removes, with his difciples, he fet- 
 tled on the fouth fide of Patucket river and called 
 their fettlement Providence plantations, which name it 
 retains to this day ; they purchaied it of the Indians, or 
 had liberty from them to fettle there : an inltance of his 
 formality, is a letter from him, dated, Nantigganfick 
 24th of the firft month, commonly called March, the 
 fecond year of our plantation (by way of epocha, or in 
 imitation of the V. C. of the Romans) or planting at 
 Moothifick or Providence. 
 
 When the people get into the diftemperature, or hu- 
 mour of differing and dividing efpecially in religion ; 
 they proceed to fubdivifions, and feparations upon fe- 
 parations. Anno 1636, in the fummer, fome difcontent- 
 ed Rigids to the number of about one hundred, went from 
 the townfhips of Newtown, Dorchefter, Watertown, 
 and Rockfbury, under their leaders and teachers. Homes, 
 Hopkins, Ludlow, Hooker, (sV. removed weftward to 
 a pleafant country upon Connecticut river, and gradually 
 made the fettlements of Plartford, Wethersfield, Wind- 
 for, Springfield, &c. Thofe of them who found their 
 lettlements without the limits of the Mafiachuletts-Bay 
 charter, entered into a voluntary affociation or jurifdic- 
 tion, which continued until they obtained an ample royal 
 charter in the beginning of the reign of Charles II ; as 
 lhall be more fully related in the fection of Connecticut 
 
 [/'] Antinomians hold, that the law of Mofes is unprofitable under 
 the Gofpel ; that juftification is without good works ; that morality 
 and good works are no help to falvation, but rather a hindrance : fuch 
 pernicious dodtrines are inconfiftent with civil fociety, and with good- 
 nefs and honefty or a private life. 
 
 [r] The various enthufiaftical modes, at their firft appearance in the 
 world, were frantic with a violent, indifcreet, religious zeal : they ge- 
 nerally agree in two pernicious articles ; 1. They difclaim a civil ma- 
 giftracy and temporal punilhments j and, 2. Their own wild notions 
 are by themfelves called impulfes from Goo. 
 
 colony j 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay; 445 
 
 colony •, thofe are at prefent moderate, induftrious, well- 
 governed people. 
 
 Some of the Separates were concerned in the fettle- 
 ment of Rhode-ifland (it was then called Aquatneck, and 
 anno 1644, it was called the Ifle of Rhodes or Rhode- 
 ifland) 1637-8 by a voluntary incorporation of eighteen 
 perfons : this belongs to the fettion of Rhode-ifland. 
 
 2. The Anabaptifts, at their firft appearance in New- 
 England, were enthufiaftically troublefome •, they chofe 
 among themfelves the meaneft of the people for their 
 minifters •, they call themfelves Baptifts by way of ab- 
 breviation of the name Anabaptifts, after the[</] Lollards, 
 who were the firft in the Reformation, followed the Lu- 
 therans and Anabaptifts [Y] : fomeofthem vainly imagine, 
 that they ought to be called by that name in a peculiar 
 manner; their baptifm being the only fcriptural baptifm : 
 
 \<f] The Lollards (fo called from Walter Lollard, the author of this 
 fett in Germany in the thirteenth century) were our firft Reformers ; their 
 name is now loft, the firft Reformation being fubdivided into many 
 denominations. They firft appeared in England, under Wickliff, D. D. 
 of Oxford, about the middle of the fourteenth century ; they clamoured 
 againft tranfubllantiation, auricular confeflion, celibacy of the clergy, 
 hierarchy, and feveral pecuniary perquifites of the Roman catholic 
 clergy ; with fome enthufiaftical notions, viz. the church confifts only 
 of the predeftinated, converting of church -effedts to other ufes is no fa- 
 crilege, neither public nor private fucceflion is indefeafible, &c. 
 
 [*] The Anabaptifts, a particular fort of devotees, firft appeared 
 about the time of Luther’s Reformation, and prevailed chiefly in the 
 Netherlands and Weftphalia ; their eflential or diftinguifhing doctrine 
 was, not baptizing of infants, and re-baptizing by dipping fuch as had 
 been baptized in their infancy : hence is the denomination of Anabap- 
 tifts ; they pretended that infant baptifm was not to be found in the 
 Bible : at firft they were moderate and orderly : Luther requefted the 
 duke of Saxony, that they might be favourably dealt with, becaufc, 
 their notional error excepted, they feemed to be otherwife good men. 
 They foon ran into many pernicious wild dodlrines ; they condemned 
 all civil adminiftration and magiftracy ; corporal puniihments (as a 
 divine prerogative) they referved to God Almighty ; they defpifed judi- 
 cial oaths ; difregarded the feriptures, pretending to a perfonal kind of 
 peculiar illumination, a community of goods, Cfr. John Buckhold a 
 butcher, a native of Leyden, commonly called John or Jack of Leyden, 
 having embraced the Anabaptiftical feditious notions, became very 
 popular, with many followers ; the cry or parole was. Repent, and 
 1 they 
 
446 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 they would not communicate with perfons baptized in 
 infancy only ; if occafionally in a congregational meet- 
 ing, upon a child’s being prefented for baptifm, they 
 withdrew, to the great difturbance of the congregation : 
 fines were enacted •, Holmes, becaufe he would not pay 
 his fine, was whipped thirty lalhes. Anno 1644 and 
 1646, laws were made againft difturbers of the peace in 
 any church in times of divine fervice, and againft raillery 
 of magiftrates * that all who fhall condemn or oppofe the 
 baptifm of infants, or that fhall purpofely depart the 
 congregation at the adminiftration of that ordinance, or 
 that fhall deny the order of magiftracy •, every perfon 
 continuing obftinate in thefe, after the proper means of 
 convidtion have been ufed, ; fhall be fentenced to banifh- 
 ment. In the beginning they generally kept the Sab- 
 bath with the congregational churches ; their firft repa- 
 ration to form a peculiar church was at Rehoboth, 1651, 
 and were much perfecuted all over New-England : from 
 their church in Swanzey, proceeded a church in Bofton, 
 May 28, 1665, which to this day continues a very or- 
 derly peaceable chriftian fociety: the young vagrant, 
 Mr. Whitfield, by his preachings, or rather ftrongyouth- 
 ful vociferations, did draw off fome of the congregati- 
 onalifts week minds, to an Antinomian, or antimora- 
 lity feparation : this occafioned a feparation amongft the 
 Anabaptifts, and their Separatifts have a diftindt con- 
 gregation under Mr. Bounds^ the leather breeches-ma- 
 ker ■, and two more Separatifts, minifters from the Con- 
 gregationalifts, are fhortly to be ordained, viz. Mr. 
 Croffwell and Mr. Clark in Bofton. 
 
 3. The [/] Muggletonian books, anno 1654, by adtof 
 Affembly, as being full of blalphemies (they go under 
 
 be re-baptized ; in his itinerancies, at Munfler in Weftphalia, he fell 
 into open fedition, and was mafter of the city for Tome time: the 
 bifhop, by blockade, recovered it, and Buckhold fuffered an exemplary 
 painful lingring death, I 534. 
 
 [f] MuggJeton was^a journeyman taylor, he pretended to be a great 
 prophet, and to an abiolute power of damning or faving whom he 
 pleafed. 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 447 
 
 the names of John Reeves and Lowdowich Muggleton, 
 who pretended to be the two laft prophets and witnelfes 
 of Jesus Christ) to be brought to the next magif- 
 trate to be burnt by the common executioner in the mar- , 
 ket-place of Bofton upon a market-day : penalty ten 
 pound for every book difcovered not brought in. 
 
 4. The [f] Quakers firft appearance in New-England 
 was 1654, from Old-England and Barbadoes: their beha- 
 viour was ludicrous and indecent ; they copied from the 
 Anabaptifts in their mod enthufiaftic ftate •, the firft in 
 Bofton, were \h~\ Mary Fiftierand Anne Auftin from Bar- 
 badoes : they feemed to join with the Antinomians and 
 Anabaptifts; they had many converts in [ i ] Salem, and it 
 was their head-quarters. They impioufly declared, that 
 they were immediately fent from God, and biafphe- 
 moufly aflerted they were infallibly affifted by the Holy 
 Spirit ; they defpifed and fpake evil of dignities, or civil 
 magiftrates, to the great difturbance of civil juriiclidtion. 
 By reafon of their enormities, fome laws were made 
 againft the importation of Quakers, and their proceed- 
 ings ; as being obftinate rogues, vagabonds, 1656, 
 1658, and 1659 ; and as difturbers of the peace of the 
 
 f g] Their firft appearance in England was anno 1 644 : George Fox', 
 a flioe-maker, was their grand apoftle, and were called Enthufiafts ; 
 anno 1-650, they firft obtained the name of Quakers from their ofcil- 
 latory, or vibrating bodily devotional attion. 
 
 [£] Women (iome women are qualified with an agility or glibnefs of 
 tongue, efpecially in railing againft their fuperiors and neighbours) 
 have officiated as preachers, further back than hiftory reaches ; the 
 Sibyls and other oracle deliverers were women ; the oracle church or 
 fcheme (a modern word for religious fe&aries) of do&rine, the moft 
 ancient of Greece, was fet up after the model of the oracle of Jupiter 
 Ammon at Thebes in Egypt ; the oracle of Apollo at Delphi, wa9 the 
 moft celebrated in Greece, and their top preacher wa3 Pythia or 
 Pythonifla a woman. Thus we find that this woman preaching reli- 
 gion is very ancient : what is lately called by our enthufiafts leeking 
 of the Lord, refemb’es the confulting of oracles among the an ients. 
 
 f/J In Salem and its neighbourhood, enthufiafm, and other nervous 
 xlilorders, Item to be endemic ; it wars the feat of the New-England 
 witchcraft, anno 16 qt ; hypoconchrrac, hyfteric, and other maniac dii- 
 orders prevail there, and at I pfwich adjoining, to this day. 
 
 common- 
 
448 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 commonwealth, they were fubjefted to fines, imprifon- 
 ments, whipping, cropping of ears (1658 three Quakers 
 had their ears cropt) and banilhment, and by aft of af- 
 fembly upon their return from bamifhment, 1659 and 
 1660, three or four Quakers fuffered death : this in 
 courfe occafioned a national clamour, and the pains of 
 death were exchanged into thole of being whipped, only 
 through three towns at the cart’s tail ; but upon further 
 complaints home, king Charles II, in council, by order. 
 Sept. 9, 1661, required the accufed to be fent home for 
 trial, and all penal laws relating to Quakers to be fuf- 
 pended. 
 
 The people who are called by the ludicrous name of 
 Quakers are at prefent noted for a laudable parfimony 
 or frugality, moral honefty, and mutual friendlhip : they 
 have attained a confiderable intereft in the common- 
 wealth : peerage like, they are indulged with affirmation, 
 inftead of a judicial oath ; and in New-England they 
 are exempted from paying rates to the townffiip mi- 
 nifters. As Quakers, they call themfelves friends in a 
 peculiar manner : their rejecting that facred fymbol of 
 Chriftian friendlhip, “ eating and drinking together” in 
 the facrament of the Lord’s lupper, is not to be accounted 
 for. 
 
 5. As to the wichcraft feet ary [Q, we ffiall only mention 
 what happened anno 1692, when a moft horrid inhuman 
 murder, by colour of law, was perpetrated upon many 
 ignorant maniacs, and other perfons affefted in their 
 
 [il Originally 'veneficium, or witchcraft, did not fignify an explicit 
 covenant with the devil ; but the iludy of the poifonous qualities of 
 herbs, and thefe herb-women were celled <venejicd! y or witches. The 
 witchcraft of our times is a pavid fuperftition and ignorance ; there- 
 fore it prevails in Lapland, and other obfeure ignorant parts of the 
 world. Some adore what they admire, this is the only true religion ; 
 fome adore what they fear: free-thinking politicians aflert, that devil - 
 worfhip is better than none, becaufe the firm belief of fome lnvifible 
 fuperintendency, good or bad, is the only check upon vulgar minds in 
 civil affairs, which cannot allow of civil conviction. 
 
 nerves 
 
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 Sect. VIII. 0 /* Massachusetts-Bay. 449 
 
 nerves [/], called witches. Anno 1691-2, in February, 
 it began in the family of Mr. Paris,, minifter of Salem- 
 village ; from fomewhat endemial to the foil, three per- 
 fons were affe&ed with nervous diforders, convulled, and 
 afted as it demented •, they were faid to be bewitched ; 
 and by Mr. Paris’s indifcreet interrogatories, they 
 fancied themfelves bewitched by his Indian woman, 
 and fome neighbouring ugly old woman, who from 
 their difmal afpedl were called witches ; and by the end 
 of May, 1692, about 100 perfons were imprifoned upon 
 that account : about this time Sir William Phipps ar- 
 rived governor; and June 2, for their trial a fpecial 
 commiflion ot oyer and terminer was ilfued to lieute- 
 nant-governor Stoughton, major Sajtonftall, major 
 Richards, major Gidney, Mr. Wait Winthrop, captain* 
 Samuel Sewall, and Mr. Sergeant ; thus nineteen were 
 hanged, one prefled to death ; fome died in prifon; in all 
 live men, and twenty- three women had been condemned : 
 not any of the fifty who confefifed themfelves witches, 
 
 [/] It was an endemial diftemper of the brain and nerves, i . Con- 
 vulfion fo* were a pathognomic fign in this diftertiperature. : j, A 
 bunch like a pullet's egg would rife in their throat, a noted fo#eric 
 fymptom. 3. Much troubled with incubus, or night- mare, commonly 
 called being hag-rid ; for inftance, Toothacer depofed, “ That being 
 “ upon his back, he had not power to move hand or foot, till he faw 
 
 the fhape of the witch pafs from his breaft. 7 ' 4. Nervous diforders. 
 efpecially if attended with hyfteric convulfions, leatffe the patients, or 
 abided perfons, very weak ; Mr. C. Mather deferibes it thus,“ When 
 \‘ their tor me .tors had left them for good and all, they left them ex- 
 if treme weak and faint, and overwhelmed with vapours, which would 
 “ not only caufe fome of them to fwoon away, but alfo Were now and 
 “ then for a while difeompofed in the reafonablenefs of their thought. 77 
 This may be called a fubfequent heaic of the fpirit, from nervous 
 vveaknelfes ; 2. Mr. Edwards of Northampton mentions the fame con- 
 fequejitial diforder, upon the going off of the pourings out of the Spirit, 
 endemial there. The pourings out of the Spirit, which have at times 
 been epidemic in Northampton upon Conne&icut river, belong to this 
 tribe of nervous diforders, as we (hall hereafter evince. The fugilla- 
 tions, that is, the black and blue fpo;s in their fkin, were called the 
 devil's nip, pinCh, or gripe; wherea* they were only fcorbutic llains, 
 » incident to aged perfons. 
 
 : Vol;HT. G g 
 
 
 fuflfered 
 
4jo British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 fuflfered death. Mr. George Burroughs, minifter of 
 Falmouth, who had left his former minifter in Salem, was 
 one in this facrifice, perhaps in refentment •, none of the 
 executed confefied guilt-, many of them were pious per- 
 ibns. After thcfe twenty difmal deaths, many of the very 
 popular, but very weak minifters or clergy, addrefied Sir 
 ■William Phipps, a very weak governor, with thanks for 
 what was already done, and exhorting to proceed. 
 
 The accufers were fome perfons faid to have the 
 fpeftral f.ght, and fome confefiing witches •, but over- 
 acting their parts, fome of governor Phipps’s, and of the 
 Rev. Mr Mather’s relajcions and friends being accufed, 
 as alio fom? of the accufed good Chriftians, and of good 
 eftates, arrefted the accufers in high a&ions for defa- 
 mation this put a flop to accufations, and in fupe- 
 rior court, Jan. 1692-3, of fifty- fix bills, which were 
 preferred againft witches, the Grand Jury brought in 
 thirty ignoramus *, and of the remaining twenty-fix, the 
 Petty Jury convidled only three, who were afterwards 
 pardoned : accufations were difregarded, and upon Sir 
 William Phipps’s going home, at this time about 150 
 were in pxifon, and 200 more accufed •, they were all 
 difeharged, paying 30J. each, to the attorney -general. 
 
 Many of the confefiing witches figned a paper, import- 
 ing that moll of their confefiions were only afienting to, 
 oi° repeating, what they were direfted to-, being weak 
 in mind, and under terror, from the putting to death all 
 perfons accufed, who did not confels. In December, 
 1606, a general fall was appointed by the aflembly; 
 praying that God would pardon all the errors of. his 
 fervants and people, in a late tragedy raifed amongft us 
 by Satan and his inftruments. At this fall j udge SewaU, 
 and feveral of the jury, gave in papers figned, heartily 
 afldng forgivenefs of all, and declaring that they would 
 not do luch. things again for the whole world. When 
 this perfecution ceafed, no more witchcraft was heard ot- 
 
 May thofe over-zealous provincial miftakes in tne 
 Warfare againft the devils and auxiliaries, be burie 1 ■. 
 
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 Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay*. 451 
 
 livion ; efpecially confidering an aft of parliament 1 735, 
 procured by the late good lord Talbot, has effeftually 
 liberated the dominions of Great-Britain from all bug- 
 bears of this kind. By this aft “ no prolecution (hall 
 “ be commenced, or carried on againft any perfon for 
 “ witchcraft, forcery, enchantment, or conjuration, or 
 “ for charging another with any fuch offence : if any 
 “ perfon Ihall pretend to exercife or ufe any of the a- 
 “ bove, or tell fortunes, or from occult arts pretend to 
 “ difeover ftolen goods ; penalty one year imprifonment, 
 “ and once in every quarter of the faid year to Hand on 
 “ fome market-day in the pillory.” 
 
 Perhaps I am already too tedious in the paragraphs 
 concerning the various religious feftaries that have ap- 
 peared in New-England, therefore {hall wave two late re- 
 ligious appearances to the feftionof Rhode-ifland, though 
 falling within the period of the new charter of the pro- 
 vince of Maffachufetts-Bay province ; I mean the North- 
 hampton converlions, or pouring out of the Spirit, an- 
 no 1 735 : this enthufiafm mud have fpread (they were 
 in the tribe of enthufiafts convulfionaries [#»]) if fome felo 
 de fe, and other flagrant diforders had not expofed them; 
 2. The followers of Mr. Whitefield, an aftor, or per- 
 lonated enthufiaft, endued with a proper genius of low 
 aftion ; he firft appeared in New-England, anno 1 740 ; 
 his followers hitherto, 1748, are not all returned to their 
 right minds •, very lately in the town of Bofton was or- 
 dained a country fho^-maker, and reinftalled a renegado 
 from a country parifh, to encourage this reparation, or 
 enthufiaftic divifions. 
 
 I now proceed to fome geographical account of the 
 old colony of Maffachufetts-Bay j their mountains or 
 hills, rivers, and fea -ports. 
 
 Mountainous parts may be claflfed into mountains or 
 hillsj and continued high fpringy lands •, thefe, with ri- 
 
 [n>] Such were the Seventies, or French Prophets, about forty years 
 fincc ; and at prefent in France the Devotees of l’Abbe Paris. 
 
 G g 2 vers. 
 
^2 British Settlements in AnIertca. Part II. 
 
 vfcrs, bays, and promontories, are permanent; therefore 
 a proper bafis in the defcription of a country called its 
 geography •» as this with chronology, are the bafis of 
 hiftory. 
 
 The great Blue Hill, twelve miles S. S. W. from Bof- 
 eon, with a continued ridge of hills running eastward to 
 Bofton bay, upon this hill the townQiips of Milton, 
 Braintree, and Stoughton meet. The fummit of this hill 
 Is very proper for a beacon in cafe of any fudden invafion 
 by an enemy; from thence a fire and great imoak may be 
 \i\ vifible to feven eighths of the province : in a clear 
 day from it are diftindly to be feen, Pigeon-Hill, N. E. 
 ealterly about forty miles, a noted land-mark upon Lape- 
 Anne, the northerly promontory of Mafrachufetts-Bay ; 
 the STeat Watchufer, the great Menadnock [0], ^ ate- 
 ticks, and other noted mountains. The great V\ atchu- 
 fct hill in Rutland, lies W. N. W. northerly about fifty 
 miles The grand Menadnock in wafte lands of the pro- 
 vince of New-Hampfhire, lies about twenty miles farther 
 
 N From^ht at the meeting-houfe of old 
 
 Rutland diftrict near the Watchufet hills, are the follow- 
 
 ii>g cTeafwatchufet hill, N. E.halfN. 
 
 Eaft end of Wateticks, N. N. E. northerly 
 
 Great Menadnock, N. half W. 
 
 Mount Tom in Northampton, AAT .b.N. half\ . 
 Mount Tobit in Sunderland, W N. W. 
 
 Middle of Northfield hills—N. W. . . 
 
 how with 
 
 granted to Ipfwich. proper 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachussetts-Bay. 453 
 
 proper compares or needles from feveral well concerted 
 places of obfervation, and with actual particular furveys 
 compared and adjufted, an exaCt plan of the country 
 (for utility or amufement) may be obtained. I have 
 employed l'ome vacant, and fometimes borrowed, time 
 in this affair ; which I defign as a prefent to the pro- 
 vince. 
 
 Upon or near the river Merrimack, there are feveral 
 mountains or hills on its weft fide ; viz. Anahoufick, 
 Oncanouit, but are not within the jurifdiCtion of this 
 province ; and, by a late determination of the king in 
 council, they belong to the jurifdiCtion of New-Hamp- 
 fhire. 
 
 Upon or near the great river of Connecticut in this 
 colony, are the following mountains : In Sunderland E. 
 fide of Connecticut river, is Mount Tobit, a group of 
 hills •, and oppofite on the weft fide of the river, in the 
 fouth parts of Deerfield, are the two Sugar-loaves, or 
 Pikes of Deerfield— About twelve miles lower upon the 
 eaft fide of this river in Hadley, is Mount-Holyhock, a 
 ridge of mountains, running eight or nine miles N. E. 
 from the river. Here I took the bearings of all the 
 mountains and high lands, fo far as the naked eye could 
 reach, which I do not infert, as minutenefs is not confift- 
 ent with the character of a fummary. Oppofite to this 
 (leaving only a pafiage or channel for the river) on the 
 weft fide in Northampton is mount Tom, a fhort ridge 
 of mountains, running in the fame direction. The hills 
 and mountains higher up the river belong to the fec- 
 tion of the province of New-Hampfhire, as do the 
 mountains noted in Ilazen, \V. io D. N. divifional line 
 between M affachufects -Bay and New-Hampfhire pro- 
 vinces. 
 
 At fifteen to twenty miles diftance weft of Connecticut 
 river is a long ridge of hills called the WeftSeld Moun- 
 tains. There -is a confiderable range of mountains leven 
 miles eaft of Houfatonick river; another ridgi feven miles 
 
 G g 3 weft 
 
454 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 weft of Haufatonickj this laft is in the province of New- 
 York. The We ftfield and Iloufatcnick mountains ren- 
 der the old road from Bolton to Albany not fo com- 
 modious, as a late projefted road, via Deerfield. 
 
 [p] Much elevated high springy lan^s-, I jfhall 
 give two inftances in this province or colony, where very 
 diffufed runs of wa;er originate. 
 
 I In the lands where the townftiips of Worcefter, Lei- 
 cefter, and Rutland join, about fifty miles weft from Bof- 
 ton *, here fpring, i. Quinepuxet river, which falls into 
 Nafhway river j which falls into Merrimack river in Dun- 
 ftable of the province of New-Hampfhire *, which empties 
 
 [ p 1 Such are, but in a much more extended manner as tocourfesand 
 great lengths, I. In Europe, in Switzerland of the Alps, within a 
 fmall compafs are the fountains of three great, and very long, rivers; 
 1. The Danube, which running eafterly through the circles of Swabia, 
 Bavaria, ind /iuftria of Germany; through Tranfyl vania, and the 
 Turkilh dominions in Europe, empties or difembogues into the Black 
 Sea in Bulgaria of Turky. 2. The Rhine, which running northerly 
 pafles through the lake of Conftance, and many principalities of 
 Germany, in fome places dividing the German dominions from the 
 French, falls into the German or Northern ocean in Holland, by fe- 
 veral mouths called the YfFel, Lech, and Wahaal ; the old Rhine, after 
 palling Utrecht and Leyden, is loft in the Duynen or Downs (lands 
 accumulated by the ftormy ocean) and does not reach the fea. 3. The 
 rapid Rhofne, running through the lake of Geneva, for a confiderable 
 fpace weftward to Lyons ; thence fouthward to the Mediterranean fea, 
 in Provence of France. II. In the northern continent of America, 
 ten or twelve miles weft from Hudfon’s river, and about eighty or mnety 
 nTes north from the city of New-York, are the Cat-kil mountains, 
 very lofty, giving fprings which extenlively run: for, 1. A Branch 
 falls into iiudfon’s river ; thence to the ocean near New-York. 2. 
 A Branch falls into Lake Ontario ; thence in the great river of Canada, 
 or St. Laurence, which difcharges into the Atlantic ocean, between 
 Nova Scotia and Cape Breton, and Newfoundland. 3. A run falls 
 into the river Ohio or Belle Riviere, which falls into the Miftiflippi, 
 which empties by many months into the bay or gulph of Mexico. 4* 
 A ftr. am heads Delaware river, and falls into the Sefquahana river, 
 which .alls into Chefepeak bay, and this enters the Atlantic ocean in 
 Virginia ; A run of water falls into Delaware river, which falls into 
 the bay and ocean between Penfylvania and the Jerieys. 
 
 itlelf 
 
Sect. VIII. Qf Massachusetts-Bay. 455 
 
 itfelf into the fea or Atlantick ocean at Newbury of the 
 province of Maflachufetts-Bay : upon Quinepuxet and 
 Nafhway river, are the townfhips of Rutland, Holden, 
 Lancafter, Bolton, Harvard, Groton, and Dunftable. 2. 
 Half-way river, which in its progrefs is called Blaek- 
 ftone and Patuxet river; which empties into Naraganfet 
 Bay of Rhode ifland colony : upon thefe, are the town- 
 fhips of Worcefter, Grafton, Sutton, Uxbridge, Mendon, 
 Attleborough, and Rehoboth of Maflachufetts-Bay; and 
 Cumberland, Smithfield, and Providence, of Rhode-ifland, 
 q. Story or French River, which falls into Quenehang 
 river in Thomfon parifh of Killingfley ; which tails into 
 Satucket river in Norwich ; and this a little farther falls 
 into Thames river or creek, which falls into Long lfhj*i 
 found at New London. Upon thefe are the townfhips ©‘ 
 Leicefter, Oxford, Dudley of the Maflachufects Bay, and 
 Killingfley ; Pomfret, Plainfield, Canterbury, Norwich, 
 Groton, and New London of Conned tout colony. 4. 
 Seven Mile river, which falls into Quenebang river in 
 Brookfield ; which falls into Chicabee river in Kir.grton 
 (a granted but not conftitutedor incorporated townfhip) 
 called alfo the Elbows ; which falls into Connecticut rivets 
 in Springfield ; which empties at Seabrook into Long 
 Ifland found : upon thefe are the townlb.ps of Rutland, 
 Leicefter, Brookfield, Weftern, Kingfton, and Spring- 
 field of the Maflachufetts-Bay. The townfhips which he 
 U pon the great rivers of Merrimack and Connecticut 
 fhall be related, when we give fome feparate diftinCt ac- 
 count of thefe rivers. 
 
 II. Lands not appropriated, called Province lands, 
 adjoining to, and N. W. of Hatfield, weft of Connecti- 
 cut river ; from thence are branches or runs of water, 
 1. A branch to Houfick river, running weft, lias upon it 
 fort Mafiachufetts, a frontier againft the French and 
 their Indians, which falls into H«dfoo’s river at Scatcoak 
 a village of Indians twenty miles north of Albany, 2. A 
 branch to Houfatonick or Weftenhoek river, which run- 
 
 G g 4 ning 
 
45^ British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 ning fouth to Stratford in Connecticut, falls into the 
 Long Bland found : upon this river to the townfhips of 
 Bolton grant No. 3. near New-York line; the property 
 of Jacob Wendell, Efq. of his majefty’s council of the 
 province of Maflachufetrs Bay ; Stockbridge, Upper 
 Houfatonick, Sheffield of Maffachufetts-Bay, Salilbury, 
 Canaan, Sharon, Cornwall, Kent, New-Fairfield, New- 
 Milford, Newtown; Woodbury, Derby, Stratford, and 
 Miliord of Connecticut. 3. Farmington river, running 
 through Houfatonick No. 4. Houfatonick commonage, 
 part of Houfatonick No. 3. and part of Bedford in Mafia- 
 chufetts-Bay ; through Colebrook, Winchefter, Berk- 
 hamftead, New-Hartford, Farmington, Simlbury ; falls 
 into Connecticut river in Simlbury. 4. Weftfield river, 
 with many branchings palfes through Naraganfet No. 4. 
 Houfatonick commonage, part of Blandford, part of 
 Weftfield, and falls into Connecticut river in Springfield 
 by the name of Acgawaam near Springfield lower ferry. 
 
 Rivers. The two -great rivers of this colony are, 
 
 Merrimack river, which comes from the crotch or 
 fork near Endicot’s tree, where Pomagevvalfet river and 
 the difeharge of the pond or lake Winipifinket meet, and 
 acquire the name of Merrimack (fignifying in the Indian 
 language a fturgeon; this river abounds in fturgecn.) From 
 this fork it runs foutherly about fifty miles to Patuc- 
 ket falls, the elbow of the river in Dracut ; and thence 
 it runs eafierly about thirty miles (round reckoning) to 
 Newbury Bar. Upon this river (thefe greatrivers, though 
 in different provinces, are beft underftood and compre- 
 hended, when delineated without interruption) the town- 
 fhips in a defcending order lie thus, 1. Upon the call: 
 hr'd north fide are Gilman-town, Canterbury, part of 
 Romford,’’ part of Suncook, Harrys town, Litchfield, 
 Nottinm am of New-Harrtpffiire ; part of Dunftable, 
 \n, Haverhill, Amelbury, and Salilbury of 
 Maflach life tts-Bly . Upon the weft anti fouth fide are the 
 
 townfhips 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 457 
 
 townlhips of Contacook, part of Rumford, part of Sun- 
 cook, Canada to Gorham and company, Naraganfet 
 No. 5. Merrimack, and Dunftable of New-Hampfhire ; 
 Dunftable, Chelmsford, Tewkfbury, Andover, Bradford, 
 and Newbury of Maftachufetts-Bay. The bar, at the 
 mouth of this river, has only about ten feet of water, and 
 fhifts •, it is navigable only about eighteen miles, to 
 Mitchel’s (the firft falls) falls in Haverhill ; here they 
 deal chiefly in fhip building, the adjacent country abound- 
 ing in fhip timber •, the tide flows to Mitchel’s falls j 
 from Mitchel’s falls, feven miles higher Bedel’s, two miles 
 Peters, fix miles to Patucket falls, (j?c. 
 
 The falls in this river are many ; excepting Dracut 
 or Patucket falls about thirty miles from the bar, and A- 
 mufkeag falls about twenty- five miles higher ; all the 
 other falls are paflable for floats of timber, and for canoes 
 or fmali boats in frelhesor floods of the river. Many of 
 thole called falls are only riplings or veins of fcattered 
 great rock ftones There is at times, when the river is 
 low, a fording place a little above Sw-ans ferry, twenty- 
 four miles up from the bar, and a little above Hunt’s or 
 Dracut ferry is another fording place. The ferries crofs 
 this river are many, I (hall not enumerate them. The 
 elbow or flexure of the river, called the horfe Ihoe, is 
 about two miles above Patucket falls. 
 
 The rivers and rivulets ('fmali runs I (hall not men- 
 tion) which fall into this great river of Merrimack : 1. 
 On its north and eall fide, are PoWow river in Amefbury 
 from ponds in Kingfton, about eight miles above New- 
 bury lerry •, eaft river and well river in Haverhill below 
 Mitchel’s falls •, Spigot river in Methuen, a little below 
 Bedel’s falls -, Bever brook fro ti Be ver pond in London- 
 derry comes in between the two falls of Patucket fix miles 
 below the horle-fhoe ; eleven miles above the horfe - 
 fhoe is Nafumkeag brook in the fotith parts of Litch- 
 field in the province of s ew-Hampfiiire ; fix miles higher 
 is Little ..ohoes brook ■, one mire farther is Great Cohoes 
 
 brook, 
 
458 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 brook, the outlet of Mafifabifick, a large pond in Chef, 
 ter townlhips ; thence to Am ofceag falls are four miles, 
 and four miles higher is Loufy brook in Harries town -, 
 thence fix miles to Suncook river in .he town (hip of Sun- 
 cook. 2. On the fouth and weft fide of Merrimack river, 
 are, Falls river from Boxford, comes into a creek weft 
 fide of Plumb-Ifland, and thence to the mouth of New- 
 bury or Merrimack river Hantichook river about nine 
 miles above Newbury ferry, Catetchuck brook, from 
 a pond of the fame name in Andover-, Shawfkin river 
 enters in Andover, about one mile below the entrance 
 of Spigot river, on the other fide Concord river about 
 one mile below Patucket falls -, this Concord river is 
 of a confiderable courfe, and higher is called Sudbury 
 and Framingham river ; it fprings in Hopkington, upon 
 it lie Hopkington, Framingham, Sudbury, Concord, 
 Bedford, Billerica, and Tewkfbury ; Stony brook which , 
 fprings in Harvard pafies through Littleton, -Weftford, 
 and Chelmsford to Merrimack river ; Salmon brookfrom 
 a pond in Groton, difcharges into Merrimack in Dunftable 
 of New-Hampfhire a little higher falls in Nafliway 
 river,, already defcribed page 455; thence to Naticook 
 brook five miles ; thence two miles to Souhegen river : 
 upon Souhegen river lie Souhegan eaft called Naraganfet 
 No. 5, Merrimack townfhip, Souhegan weft, called 
 Naraganfet No. 3. Monfon townfhip, fome peculiar 
 grants, a townfhip granted to Ipfwich, Townlend, and 
 fome part of Lunenburg : a little below Amufceag falls 
 is Pifcataquaag brook, which waters a townfhip granted 
 to Simpfon and others, afterwards purchafed by Lane 
 and others of Bofton j it waters a Canada townfhip 
 granted to Beverley, and a Canada tow’nfiiip to Salem, 
 and another to Ipfwich. The fouthern branch of Con- 
 tacook river waters Rumford or Pennycook, No. 5, of 
 the double line of barrier towns called Hopkington 
 grant. No. 6, of ditto, called Marlborough grant, 
 fome unappropriated lands j a grant to the town of 
 r Concord, 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 459 
 
 •Concord, purchafed by Mr. Peter Prefcot and others, 
 and Canada to Rowley town : next above Contacook 
 grant is Naamcook brook ; and next above that is the 
 fork or beginning of the denomination of Merrimack 
 river. 
 
 [f] The other great river is Connecticut, an Indian 
 word fignifying a long river. Upon this river lie three 
 of the New England colonies ; Connecticut lies upon it 
 about fifty-two miles ; thence Mafiachufetts Bay, by an 
 indent of ni .e miles, which makes the townfhip of Suf- 
 field weft fide, and Enfield eaft fide of the river, to the 
 W. 9 D. N. imaginary divifional line of Mafiachufetts- 
 Bay and Connecticut : from this divifional line, the pro- 
 vince of iViafiathufetts-Bay lies about forty-feven miles 
 direCt,' northerly; and farther North is New-Hampfhire 
 indefinitely, or crown lands annexed to the jurifdiction of 
 New-Hampfhire. 
 
 From the bar at the mouth of Connecticut river to the 
 boundary imaginary line of Mafiachufetts-Bay and Con- 
 necticut are about fixty miles ; from this imaginary line, 
 as per a provincial fiirvey by Gardner and Kellock anno 
 1737, to the great falls in No. 3, [V] abou. twenty miles 
 direCt above fort Dummer, are in Meridian diftance 
 feventy-two Englifh ftatute miles and 1 20 rods ; and 
 thefe great falls are eighteen miles 140 rods eaft of the 
 Maffachuietts and Connecticut boundary line, where it 
 interfeCts the river ; and above thefe fails, for about ten 
 or twelve miles, townfhips are laid out and appropri- 
 
 [q] The reader in all fuch dry accounts which are local, and do not 
 fali under the cognizance of n;a«y ; melt excufe them as defigned for 
 a Joral benefit, and may be iu erficially palled over by tome, as being 
 of no general concern. 
 
 [>■] In many articles, by fome readers I may be ctr.fured as too pro- 
 lix or minute ; my defign, 1 hope, is laudable, to present a lob ; pub- 
 lic records are at times loll by fire isc. as happened not long lince 
 at Williamlbourg in Virginia, and laft year at Button in Maffachuietts- 
 Bay province. 
 
 ated : 
 
460 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 atcd : the garrifon in No. 4, on the eaft fide of the river, 
 as a frontier againft the French and their Indians, is well 
 noted in the New-England hiftory of the prefent war. 
 The greatcft extent of New-England, direftiy inward, is 
 from Seabrook bar at the mouth of Connefticut river, to 
 this No. 4, being about 1 50 miles. 
 
 This river of Connefticut, from its long courfe, is 
 fubjeft to fudden floods or' frefhes, and, e. g. at Hartford 
 Ibmetimes rifes twenty feet ; the tide (the influence of 
 the tide comes fo high, or rather the ftoppage of the river 
 from the tides below) rifes only a few inches. The 
 fhoaleft water from Suffield firft falls to the mouth of 
 the river, is about one mile below Hartford town, being 
 about four feet. This river, as the adjacent people 
 obferve, becomes, in procefs of time, [j] more fhallow. 
 From the mouth of this river to about 1 50 miles up, 
 to the eye it does not alter much in its width (though in 
 that fpace it receives many confiderable ftreams) being 
 generally from eighty to 1 00 rods ; for in fiance, from 
 Hadley to Northampton the ferry is about eighty rods, 
 and at medium times runs two or three knots, fcowed 
 over in about nine minutes [/]. At the mouth of the 
 river, the tide flows from four to fix feet, upon the bar 
 are about ten to twelve feet water ; the general courfe of 
 the river is N. N. E. and S. S. W. ; a S. S. E. wind 
 will carry a vefiel up all the reaches of this river, fo far 
 as it is navigable ; it is navigable for (loops near fixty 
 miles ; the banks of the river are generally deep and 
 fandy •, in different places in procefs of time, iofing on 
 one fide, and gaining ground on the other fide. Salmon 
 and (had come up this river to fpawn, but in fmaller 
 quantities and later, and continue a (horter time (about 
 
 [/] In new unimproved countries, damps and fogs lodge and form 
 fmail runs of water ; as the land is cleared and laid open, thofe damps 
 vanilh, and the fmail runs dry up, and fome of our water-mills, tt, on 
 this account, are become of no ufe ; their ftreams are become quite dry 
 or deficient. 
 
 [tj The width of Hartford ferry is ico rods. 
 
 . - . three 
 
s 
 
 ki 
 
 ilfc, 
 
 gar- 
 •life 
 infec 
 of is 
 da} 
 trot 
 KlM,b 
 KEtja 
 t las 
 i mb: 
 'tier 
 ffljta 
 i a,k 
 If/tiii, 
 
 M 
 
 I'dii 
 
 mfeb 
 
 Itocfit 
 
 1 ® 
 
 ira,6i 
 
 tffe 
 
 lisp: 
 
 ,fe: 
 
 . & 
 rtf* 
 
 #tp 
 
 ; lC* 
 
 W 
 
 fif- 
 
 Sect. VIII.. 0 / Massachusetts-Bay. 46* 
 
 three weeks in May) than in Merrimack river. I he 
 rivulets and brooks, where they fall into the great river, 
 are not pafiable in Irefhes and floods, becaufe of the back, 
 water. Some ferries, where there are no habitations, are 
 kept at the charge of the counties, confiding of a large 
 fcow or flat, to carry perions, cattle, and goods, with a 
 canoe-tender •, travellers ferry themfelves over, always 
 leaving the flat on one fide, and the canoe on the other, 
 to fetch the fcow upon occasion -, an inflance of this is in 
 Northfield ferry. 
 
 The firft falls of this river are about fixty miles from 
 from its mouth, at Devotion ifland in the fouth parts of 
 Suffield ; the next are about the middle of Suffield, half 
 a mile long •, both thefe are pafiable by boats m chan- 
 nels: next are the falls in the loutherly parts of North- 
 ampton, about fifteen miles farther up the river, not 
 pafiable by boats-, the other falls higher, we fliall not 
 
 enumerate. . 
 
 The townfhips upon this river are, 1 . Upon its eak 
 fide •, in Connecticut colony. Lime, Eaft Hadham, part 
 of Middletown, Glaffenbury, part of Hartford, and part 
 of Windfor ; in the province of Maflachufetts-Bay, En- 
 field, Springfield, Hadley, Sunderland, farms or pecu- 
 liars, and part of Northfield in the province of New- 
 Hamplhire, part of Northfield, Winchefter, No. 1, 2, 
 z and 4. 2. Upon its welt fide ; in Connecticut colo- 
 
 ny are, Seabrook, Weft-Hadham, part of Middletown, 
 Wethersfield, part of Hartford, and part of Windfor ; 
 in the province of MaiTachufetts-Bay are, Suffield, part 
 of Springfield, Northampton, Hatfield* Deerfield, part 
 of Northfield in the province of New-Hampfliire are 
 part of Northfield, 40,000 acres equivalent land belong- 
 ing to four proprietors (in its S. E. corner upon the 
 river, on a plain and long reach of the river (lands fort 
 Dummer, which, although in the diftnet of New-Hamp- 
 fhire, incapable of defending its long frontier range, is 
 maintained at the charge of the Maflachufetts-Bay) 
 No. 1 and 2. 
 
 The 
 
462 British Settlements in America. Part If, 
 The confiderable runs of water which fall into Con- 
 nefricut river, 1. Upon its eaft fide are Salmon river and 
 cove, in Eift-Hadham, Hocanum river in Eaft-Hartford, 
 Pedant brook and Scantick river in Eaft- Windfor ; Frelh 
 Water brook in Enfield; Long Meadow brook, Mill 
 river T and Chicabee river, with its townfhips enumerated, 
 p. 455, in Springfield ; Batchelor’s brook and Fort river 
 in Hadley (higher the great river is fordable from Had- 
 ley to Hatfield ; and a little above Northfield meeting- 
 houfe or church, carts in a dry time ford the great river) 
 Mohawk’s river, and Saw mill brook in Sunderland ; in 
 the intermediate farms is Miiler’s river very rapid; it is 
 compofed of many branches which water Canada to 
 Dorchefter, Canada to Iplwich, Iplwich grant, Canada 
 to Rowley, Pequioag, Canada to Sylvefter, and Canada 
 to Rocklbury ; in Northfield is Patchoaag brook, Afhu- 
 elot river ; its branches water fome of the double range 
 of frontier towns, Upper and Lower Afhuelot townfhips, 
 Canada to Rocklbury, and Winchefter. 2. Upon its 
 weft fide are Roaring brook, and Mill brook in Weft- 
 Hadham ; Middleton river, and Dividend brook in 
 Weft- Middleton precindt ; Goff’s brook and Robin’s 
 brook in Wethersfield; Hartford river in Hartford;. 
 Allen’s brook and Heyden’s brook in Windfor, with 
 Farmington river defcribed p. 456; Stony brook in Suf- 
 field ; Agawaam, alias Weftfield river in Springfield, de- 
 fcribed p. 456 ; Monhan river in Northampton ; Hat- 
 field Mill river in Hatfield, Deerfield river, which by its 
 branches waters the Bofton grants. No. 1 and 2, the 
 grant to Hunt and others ; Falls river, which after wa- 
 tering a townfhip to Gallop and others, and Falls-fight 
 townfhip, falls into the great river in Deerfield ; the next 
 confiderable run of water is Weft river, about two or three 
 miles above fort Dummer, confiderably higher (informa- 
 tion from captain Welles of Deerfield, formerly a Partizan 
 or Ranger againft the Indians in governor Dummer’s 
 war) Connecticut river forks ; one branch comes from 
 near the W hite Hills eafterly in the province of Main, the 
 
 other 
 
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 C* 
 
 tail 
 
 sats 
 
 trojjft 
 Unis 
 [pa 
 ir U: 
 Rfii:: 
 iiffi: 
 H,Ce 
 (J&3 
 
 <4,ifc 
 
 liiit 
 m nk 
 flub 
 fill'd?- 
 mot in 
 IM 
 Wri 
 M 
 ttSf- 
 Mb 
 
 Bill 
 
 »lf 
 
 0 
 
 'jlls-i 
 
 •M 
 
 i»i* 
 
 fid© 
 
 0 
 
 W 
 
 35^ 
 
 fc J 
 
 * 
 
 Sect. VIII: Of Massachusetts-Bay. 463 
 
 other comes from the northward towards Canada, an In- 
 dian travelling branch to Canada. 
 
 We lhall only mention one river more (in the ftyle of 
 a late hiftorian C— M— . D. D. the fubjed is dry, 
 though watery) Charles River it is not large and con- 
 fiderable, other wife than as being referred to, in fettling 
 the South line of the late Maflachufetts-Bay colony, as is 
 Merrimack river in fettling the north boundary line : the 
 words in the old charter are, “ As- alfo all and Angular 
 thofe lands and hereditaments whatfocver, lying within 
 the fpace of three Englifli miles on the South parts of laid 
 river called Charles river, or-. any or every part thereof.” 
 Stop river, which riles in Wrentham, was pitched upon 
 as the moft foutherly branch of Charles river, and at 
 three miles fouth of the head of this river, the fouth line 
 of Mafiachufetts-Bay was delineated Stop river falls into 
 the main body of Charles river in Medlield. The farth- 
 eft head of Charles river is in the N. E. parts of Men- 
 don, and upon it lie the townfhips of Bellingham, Med- 
 way, Wrentham, Medfield, Sherburn, Natick an Indian 
 referve, Dedham, Needham (here are two conftderable 
 falls in this river) Newtown, Weftown, Waltham, Wa- 
 tertown, Cambridge, and Brooklin. This river falls into 
 the bottom of MalTachufetts or Bofton bay, and ferves 
 ' to bring down to Bofton floats or rafts of Ihip-timber by 
 the tide from Watertown Barcadier, about nine miles : 
 there is another creek or river, a fmall way eaft of this, 
 called Myftick river, of about four miles rafting from 
 the Barcadier of Medford townfhip; from Myftick Bar- 
 cadier are fen t to Bofton bricks, tar, and turpentine. 
 
 The Promontories remarkable are, only Point Alder- 
 ton, about nine or ten miles below Bofton upon the fouth 
 fide of the bay, over-againft the light-houfe. Here is a 
 good, hafbour called Hull gut, and the fafe road of Nan- 
 falket, fecured by circumambient iflands, where the 
 king’s "ihips and merchant Ihips outward and inward 
 bound ‘anchor for a time it lies about fix or feven miles 
 
 below 
 
464. British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 below Bofton, and, by ad of affembly, is deemed belong- 
 ing to the harbour of Bofton. 
 
 Cape -Anne the north fide entrance or promontory of 
 Maffachufetts-Bay-, Thatcher’s ifland lies about two 
 leagues call of this harbour, and a fmall matter without 
 Thatcher’s are rocks called the Salvages : from the Sal- 
 vages are two leagues to lplwich bar, a dangerous bay 
 called lplwich bay, from a great fea and indraught. 
 Cape- Anne harbour is about eleven leagues N. N. E. 
 eafterly from Bofton the fouthern promontory of Maf- 
 fachufetts-Bay, called Cape-Cod, in N. lat. 42 D. 10 M. 
 lies about eighteen leagues E. by S. from Bofton : the 
 width of the entrance of this bay, is from Cape- Anne 
 harbour S. W. fourteen leagues, to the hook or harbour 
 of Cape- Cod. 
 
 The fea-ports and their principal trade of export and 
 import muft be referred to the following article, of the 
 feveral jurifdidions of New-England, united by a new 
 charter •, it is only fince the new charter took place, that 
 fea- port diftrids of preventivecuftom-houfes and branches 
 have taken place. Here we lhall only enumerate them ; 
 befides fmall creeks and inlets for timber and firewood 
 in coafting fmall velfels, and for curing of filh ; there are 
 Newberry, a branch of the colledion of Portfmouth in 
 New-Hampfhire; there are Ipfwich, Cape- Anne, Salem, 
 and Marblehead, belonging to the colledion of Salem 
 Charleftown, Bofton, and all the other cuftom-houfe 
 branches of Maffachufetts-Bay belong to the colledion 
 of Bofton. 
 
 Article VI. 
 
 Concerning the prefent territories as umted by the name of 
 the province of Maffachufetts-Bay. 
 
 A S we before hinted by a charter, Odober 7, 1691, 
 fundry territories, under feveral grants and jurif- 
 didions, for their better accommodation and conveni- 
 encies, were united by charter into one property and 
 jurifdidion, that is, into one general affembly. 
 
 The 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. '465 
 
 The bill for reftoring the New- England charters be- 
 ing dropped by the difiolution of the revolution- conven- 
 tion-parliament-, the New England agents were puzzled, 
 whether to (land a trial at law, by a writ of error for re- 
 verfing thejudgments againft the old charters, or to ac- 
 cept of a draught of a new charter : at length they ac- 
 quiefced in the king’s pleafure, and the king direfted a 
 new charter. 
 
 The nature of this union of feveral colonies into one 
 jurifdiftion, the new charter, with a fubfequent explana- 
 tory charter, and fundry other general affairs, have been 
 by way of anticipation alreadymarrated -, fee p. 374, &c. 
 
 In the general account of Britifh North-America, we 
 omitted the Poft-office, a very beneficial inftitution ; 
 and as the prtfent province of Maffachufetts-Bay is its 
 moft confiderable branch, here it may naturally take 
 place. 
 
 The Poft-office in England was fettled by aft of par- 
 liament 12 Carol. II. In the beginning of this prefent 
 century, Mr. Hamilton of New-Jerfey projected a Poft- 
 office for Britifh North-America ; this he effected, and 
 obtained a patent for the management and profits of the 
 fame. This patent he afterwards fold to the crown, and 
 a few years after the Union, the polls of England, Scot- 
 land, Ireland, and America were put under one Direftor 
 by aft of parliament 9 Annas -, configuring one Poft- 
 Mafter-General for all the Britifh dominions -, to keep a 
 General -poll- office in London, the Poft-Mafter-General 
 may keep one letter office in Edinburgh, another in Dub- 
 lin, another at New-York, and other chief offices at con- 
 venient places in America and the Leeward Iflands, and 
 appoint deputies for managing the particular rates for the 
 portage of letters in the Plantations -, requires too much 
 room for a fummary, it is referred to Stat. 9 Ann®, 
 Cap. 10. We ftiall only relate, that all letters from on 
 board any fhip, fhall be delivered to the Deputy-Poft- 
 Mafter of the place, penalty 5/. fterling for every of- 
 fence the Poft-mafter paying to the deliverer one penny 
 
 Vol. I. Hh fterling 
 
466 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 fterling per letter. N. B. This claufe is not much attended 
 to, becaufe the a£t exempts merchants letters, and thofe 
 of matters of fhips, fo as fucli letters be delivered to the 
 perfons to whom they are direfted, without receiving any 
 profit for them : and any letters fent by private friends, 
 or by any meffenger about private affairs or bufinefs. 
 
 From Pifcataqua or Portfmouth, to Philadelphia, is a 
 regular pottage ; from thence to Williamfburgh is un- 
 certain, becaufe the poll does not proceed until letters 
 are lodged fufficient to pay the charge of the poft-riders : 
 from Williamfburgh in Virginia to Charles-Town in 
 South-Carolina, the poft- carriage is ftill more uncertain. 
 
 There is a deputy Poft-Mafter General for America, 
 appointed by the Pott-Mafter- General in London ; New- 
 York is appointed for his official refidence, but by con- 
 nivance he refides any where, e. g. at Prenfet, in Virginia, 
 Elliot Benger, Efq; formerly Mr. Lodd in South-Ca- 
 
 rolina. . , 
 
 Here it properly belongs to give an account of the ge- 
 neral and frequented travelling roads from Penobfcot I 
 bay N. lat. 44 D. 30 M. (farther north is D. of York’s ! 
 property and Nova Scotia, no travelling roads) to St. j 
 Juan or St.John’s river in Florida, N. lat. 3 1 D. 1 his, by 
 an agreement with Spain anno 173^ the termination I 
 of our property or claim in Florida. T his is forty miles I 
 N. of St. Auguftin, belonging to the Spaniards •, from St. 
 Auguftin there is a land communication to Moville, and 
 from thence to Miffiffippi : thefe belong to the Spamfh | 
 and French, which properly do not belong to our hiftory. 
 
 We fir all begin at St. George’s bort and Block-houle I 
 unon St. George’s river, a few miles S. W. of Penobfcot 
 bay, from thence Mlles 
 
 O t To Mufcongus or Broad-Bay 12 
 
 I'- Frederick’s -Fort at Pemaquid 7 
 
 Damarfcotti falls and mills _ 10 
 
 The fettlement on Sheepfcot river 5 
 
 [ti Arrowfick, or Georgc-T own in Sagadahoc bay 
 j of Ouenebec river, via Wifcaffet 20 
 
 George 
 
<T> 
 
 •-t 
 
 D 
 
 T3 
 
 £ 
 
 rt rr 
 r-t ^ 
 
 to* O 
 
 Sect. VIII. 0 / 1 Massachusetts-Bay,' 
 
 George fort in Brunfwick 22 
 
 Royal’s river in North -Yarmouth 14 
 
 Prefumpfcot ferry in Falmouth 9 
 
 < Stroud-Water ferry in Falmouth 4 
 
 | Saco or Winter-Harbour ferry ir* Bio’deford 20 
 
 ! Kennebunk ferry in Arundel io 
 
 Welles meeting-houfe 6 
 
 York ferry 1 6 
 
 Kittery ferryover Pifcataqua R. toPortfmouth 8 
 
 cc 
 
 p 
 
 X 
 
 143 
 
 Hampton meet-houfe 14 
 
 Boundary line Hamplhire and Mafiachufett’s- 
 Bay provinces 6 
 
 20 
 
 _ o Merrimack 
 
 0 2. 
 
 S.?f 
 
 o ^ 
 
 n n 
 
 P 3: 
 
 P>< 
 
 D- ^ 
 r 7 ^ o 
 . 3 
 
 W o 
 
 cc* 
 
 rr 
 
 n> 
 
 R. F. dividing Salilbury from 
 Newbury 3 
 
 Ipfwich 12 
 
 Beverly ferry dividing Beverly from Salem 12 
 
 Winifimet or Chelfea ferry (of 2 M.) to Bofton 1 7 
 Dedham 1 r 
 
 Naponfet river in Walpole 9 
 
 Wrentham meeting- houle 7 
 
 Attleborough meeting houfe 9 
 
 Rehoboth, alias Seaconck meeting-houfe 7 
 
 Patucket river ferry ; boundary of Maflachu- 
 fett’s-Bay province and Rhode ifland colony 2 
 
 89 
 
 Providence town 1 
 
 Through leveral fmall and diftant fettlements 
 to a hide weft of Pakatuke bridge, Paka- 
 tuke river divides the colonies of Connedi- 
 cut and Rhode-ifland. 57 
 
 58 
 
 Hh 2 
 
Conne&icut colony. 
 
 468 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 ' <"Myftic riv. dividing Stoningtori from Groton 7 
 | Thames river ferry, dividing Groton from 
 1 New London 8 
 
 A rope ferry over Nahantick gut 5 
 
 Saybrook river ferry, dividing Lyme from 
 Saybrook 10 
 
 ■ Kiliingfworth 10 
 
 l Guilford eaft parilh 5 
 
 | Guilford weft parilh 5 
 
 \ Brentford (generally to be underftood) old 
 < meeting-houfe 12 
 
 Eaft Haven parifh ferry 8 
 
 New Haven a 
 
 Milford 12 
 
 Stratford river ferry 4 
 
 Stratfield, a parilh 3 
 
 Fairfield 4 
 
 Norwalk* 12 
 
 i Stamford 10 
 
 1 Greenwich or Horfe-Neck 7 
 
 jjjyram riv. di vidingConne&icut from N. York 2 
 
 126 
 
 to (''Rye 3 
 
 § New Rochel 5 
 
 5‘ Eaft Chefter 4 
 
 » King’s Bridge to the 111. of New-York county 6 
 
 o< TT .,f 9 
 
 9 
 
 6 
 
 o 
 
 S' V 
 
 Half-way houfe tavern 
 City of New-York 
 Ferry to Staten Ifland point 
 By land to Elizabeth Point ferry 
 
 57 
 
 n 
 
 3 
 
 r Woodbridge 
 
 Brunfwick ferry of Raritan river 
 Prince Town 
 
 12 
 
 18 
 
 12 
 
 Trent 
 
St'CT. 
 
 rv 
 
 co 
 
 VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 469 
 
 Trent Town ferry over De la Ware river divid- 
 ing the province of New Jerfeys from Pen- 
 _ fylvania 10 
 
 a » 
 
 '(JQ 
 O 
 < 
 n> 
 
 J? r Briftol, oppofite to Bridlington or Burlington 
 S, Philadelphia 
 <* Schuyhkill river ferry 
 3 | Derby 
 2 “ Chefter 
 
 Brandewine 
 Newcaftle 
 
 Boundary line of Penfylvania and Maryland 
 
 —t 
 
 3 
 
 rc 
 
 £3 
 
 f Elk-River 
 North-eaft river 
 Sefquahana river ferry 
 Gunpowder river ferry 
 Petaplco river ferry 
 Annapolis the capital of Maryland 
 Upper Marlborough 
 Pifcataway 
 Port Tobacco 
 
 _52 
 
 10 
 
 20 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 9 
 
 H 
 
 6 
 
 12 
 
 Jl 
 
 5 
 
 7 
 
 9 
 
 25 
 
 20 
 
 30 
 
 16 
 
 16 
 
 16 
 
 144 
 
 'Potomack fer. dividing Maryland from Virg 
 How’s ferry 
 Southern’s ferry 
 Arnold’s ferry 
 Clayborn’s ferry 
 _ Freneaux ordinary 
 o < Williamfburgh the capital 
 Hoglfland 
 
 s;- j I fie of Wight court-houfe 
 *2- J Nanfemond court-houfe 
 
 Hh 3 
 
 d 
 
 o 
 
 3 
 
 5 
 
 o’ 
 
 a 
 
 4 
 20 
 
 30 
 
 36 
 
 22 
 
 12 
 
 16 
 
 7 
 
 18 
 
 20 
 
 Bennet’s 
 
470 
 
 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 E. I Bennet’s creek (near this is' the boundary line 
 u 1 between the 
 
 Carolina) 
 
 provinces 
 
 of Virginia and N. 
 
 3 ° 
 
 215 
 
 "Eden Town, formerly the capital 
 
 3 ° 
 
 10 
 
 Chowan Sound ferry 
 
 Piml co 44 
 
 Ferry to Bathtown 5 
 
 Newbern ferry (the prefent capital) where 
 News river and Trent river meet 32 
 
 Whittock river 20 
 
 c l New river ferry 30 
 
 3 - I Newtown or Wilmington on the forks of Cape 
 n I Fear river, thirty miles above the bar 45 
 “ I Lockwood’s folly 15 
 
 Shallot river 8 
 
 Little River, boundary line between the two 
 governments of North and South-Carolina 8 
 
 
 c 1 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 247 
 
 O 
 
 n 
 
 2 
 
 OQ 
 
 ►n 
 
 C 
 
 < 
 
 »— • 
 
 n 
 
 a 
 
 c 
 
 GO 
 
 c < 
 
 n 
 
 »-» 
 
 c 4 
 
 B* 
 
 53 
 
 Cl- L 
 
 Eaft end of Long- Bay 
 Weft end of Long* Bay 
 Winyaw ferry 
 Santee ferry 
 Sewee ferry 
 
 Charleftown, the capital ; here is a ferry 
 Port- Royal 
 
 Frederica in Georgia, on the fouth branch of 
 Altamacha river 9 ° 
 
 St Juan or St. John’s river, yielded to Great- 
 Britain by Spain per agreement, anno 1738, 
 it is forty miles N. of Spanilh fort, St. Au- 
 guitin 20 
 
 14 
 2 5 
 
 30 
 
 12 
 
 20 
 
 30 
 
 60 
 
 301 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 471 
 
 In the new fettlements they reckon by computed, not 
 meafured, miles-, confequently there may be in feveral of 
 the diftances, an unavoidable error of a mile or two. 
 
 This is a road of great extent, well laid out and fre- 
 quented * it Ihews the. vaft extent of the Britifh planta- 
 tions along the eaftlhore of North -America; the leveral 
 Britifh provinces and colonies, extend upon this great 
 
 road as follows : Miles 
 
 Eaft divifion of Maflachufetts-Bay 143 
 
 New-Hamplhire 20 
 
 Weft divifion Maflachufetts-Bay 89 
 
 Rhocle-ifland 58 
 
 Connedlicut *26 
 
 New- York 57 
 
 New-Jerfeys 54 
 
 Penfylvania 78 
 
 Maryland *44 
 
 Virginia 215 
 
 North-Carolina 247 
 
 South-Carolina and Georgia 301 
 
 1 53 2 
 
 The many ferries, and fome of them not well attend- 
 ed, are a confiderable hindrance in travelling : but by 
 theie it appears that the country is well watered, a great 
 advantage in produce and manufactures ; and as many 
 of the rivers, founds, and bays are navigable, a confidera- 
 ble diftance inland, they are of great benefit in navi- 
 gation or trade. 
 
 As the conftitutions of all the Britifh plantations are 
 nearly the fame, being minute in this article, may lave 
 repetitions and fhorten the following le< 5 tions ; therefore 
 perfpicuity and diftinftnels require this article to be di- 
 vided into fubfections. 
 
47 2 
 
 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 § I. Concerning the Civil Adminiftration. 
 
 THIS adminiftration may be divided into the legi- 
 fiative fupreme court, called the General Court or Gene- 
 ral Aflembly of the province ; and the fubordinate execu- 
 tive, courts. 
 
 The Great and General Court or Provincial Aflembly, 
 confifts of three Negatives, viz. the Governor, the Coun- 
 cil, and Houfe of Reprelen tatives. 
 
 The Governor is by patent or commiflion from the 
 king durante beneplacito , with a book of inftruftions ; 
 which inftrudtions, though binding to the Governor (fre- 
 quently broke in upon by fome Governors) are not l'o to 
 the Houfe of Reprefentatives, as they have from time 
 to time reprefented to the Governor : for inftance, one 
 of the inftructions requires a falary of one thoufand 
 pound fterling per annum, to be fettled upon the Gover- 
 nor j this is always obftinately refufed, but they are 
 willing to grant a yearly fupport, fuitable to the dignity 
 of his Excellency, and confillent with the ability of the 
 people their conftituents, of which it may be fuppofed 
 they only are the proper judges. . 
 
 The military government by fea and land, is lole in 
 the King’s Governors •, they grant all commiflions in the 
 militia, which gives the Governors a vaft influence •, peo- 
 ple in the Plantations are readily bribed by diftinguilhing 
 
 titles. The Governors in the Plantations have that con- 
 
 fiderable power of negativing or lufpending counfellors 
 without afligning reafons ; governor Belcher at one 
 time negatived thirteen counfellors in the pernicious Land- 
 bank intereft; this management of Mr. Belcher’s was 
 in a high manner approved of by the pafling an act or 
 the Britifh parliament foon after ; this Land-bank is de- 
 figned in the words of the aft, “ mifchievous under- 
 
 takings in America, and unlawful undertakings ; but 
 fo it is, that this aft of parliament is not fully put in ex- 
 ecution at this day, Chriftmas, 1748. They nominate 
 durante betuplacito all Judges, Juftices and Sheriffs, which 
 * bung. 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 473 
 
 being, with the militia-officers of the feveral townffiips, 
 a great majority in the lower Houfe, gives the Governor 
 a very great influence there: the power of negativing the 
 members of the upper Houfe makes his influence there 
 fo confiderable, that he has, in a great meafure, two Ne- 
 gatives in the legiflature •, the king at home cannot 
 negative or fufpend any member of the upper Houfe, 
 called the Houfe of Lords. 
 
 The Governor has the opportunity of recommending 
 to the Houfe, agents or provincial attornies, his friends 
 or creatures : to manage their affairs and his own at the 
 court and boards in Great-Britain, and to procure for 
 them handfome gratuities : for inftance, the Governor, 
 in ameflage to the Affembly, March 16, 1743 4, re- 
 commends a generous allowance to Mr. Kilby ; he hav- 
 ing ferved the province upon particular orders of this 
 court, with great induftry, faithfulnefs and fuccefs. A 
 Governor by frequent and long fpeeches and meflages 
 to the Houfe of Reprefen tatives (fometirnes near one half 
 of the Journal or Votes of the Houfe of Reprefentatives 
 conflfts of thefe fpeeches and meflages) feems to act as 
 a member of that Houfe, or rather as the Speaker or 
 Orator (a French expreffion) of the Houfe •, fometirnes 
 Governors proceed farther; for inftance, anno 1 7 4+> the 
 Governor defires of the Houfe of Reprefentatives, that 
 in the recefs of the General Aflembly (which muft be 
 fhort intervals, becaufe of late years, the General Aflfem- 
 bly at a great charge to the province have had very 
 frequent and long fittings) upon any fudden emergency, 
 the Governor and his council may be impowered to draw 
 upon the Treafurer. The Governor has a Negative not 
 only in all bills of aflembly, but alio in all their ele&ions, 
 that of a Speaker not excepted. 
 
 Thus the Governor commiffions all militia, and other 
 military officers, independently of the council or af- 
 fcmbly ; he nominates all civil officers, excepting thofe 
 concerned in the finances or money-affairs, and, with 
 conient of the council, they are accordingly appointed. 
 
 He 
 
474 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 He calls, diffolves, prorogues, adjourns, removes, and 
 otherways harrafies the General Aflembly at pleafure ; 
 he frequently refufes his affent to bills, refolves, and 
 orders of the General Court; whereas our Sovereign in 
 Great-Britain, excepting upon very extraordinary occa- 
 fions, does not exert this prerogative : thus we fee a 
 delegated power afiuming more than the fovereign con- 
 ftituent authority chufes to venture upon. 
 
 His juft pecuniary perquifites are confiderable: an al- 
 lowance or grant of xooo/. fterling or nearly its value 
 per annum ; has one third of all Cuftom-houfe feizures ; 
 the naval office belongs to him, and many fees of various 
 natures. In time of war there are fees for granting 
 letters of mart or mark to private men of war, called 
 privateers, and many emoluments arifing from multi- 
 plied expeditions. 
 
 Notwithftanding this great authority, a Governor’s 
 ftation is very flippery ; upon frivolous, and fometimes 
 falfe, complaints, he is liable to be called to account, iu- 
 perfeded by fome expedant at court; and if the mal- 
 adminiftration is notorious, he is alfo mulcted. 
 
 By charter the Governor cannot imprefs men into the 
 military fervice, to march out of the province, without 
 an ad or refolve of the General Court ; the Governor, 
 by his i ith inftrudion, is not to give his afient to any 
 ad for repealing any of the {landing laws of the pro- 
 vince, without a fufpending claufe, that is, until a copy 
 thereof be tranfmitted and laid before the king. By the 
 1 2th inftrudion the Governor is reftrained to 30,000 /. 
 fterling per annum , emiffions of public paper credit ; but 
 upon account of unforeleen incidents in the time of the 
 late war with Spain and France, he was in this article 
 left at large. This .gave a handle for unlimited ruining 
 emiffions, a privilege, faid to be by his Majefty’s indul- 
 gence ; the Governor, in his fpeech, July 2, fays, “ l am 
 “ freed now from the chief reftraints I was under, 
 “ whereby depreciations enfued to the great finking of 
 “ all the perfonal eftates in the province, fpecialties ex- 
 “ cepted.” Sotne 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 475 
 
 Some account of the Governors , from the arrival of the new 
 charter , in the province of Maffachul'etts-Bay. 
 
 Sir William Phips[«], fon of a blackfmith, bom 
 anno 1650, at a defpicable plantation on the river Quene- 
 beck, after keeping of flieep fome years, was bound 
 apprentice to a fliip-carpenter for four years ; afterwards 
 went to Bofton, learned to read and write, followed the 
 carpenter’s trade, and married the widow of Mr. John 
 Hull, merchant. Upon advice of a Spanilh wreck about 
 the Bahamas, he took a voyage thither, but without fuc- 
 cefs ; anno 1683, in a king’s frigate, the Algier Rofe, 
 he was fitted out upon the tlifeovery of another Spanilh 
 wreck near Port de la Plata upon Hifpaniola, but return- 
 ed to England unfuccefsful. Soon after 1687, he prevail- 
 ed with the duke of Albemarle, at that time governor 
 of Jamaica, and fome other perfons of quality, to fit 
 him out with a royal patent or commiffion to filh upon 
 the fame Spanilh wreck which had been loft about fifty 
 years fince •, by good luck in about feven or eight fa- 
 thom water, he fifhed the value of near three hundred 
 thoufand pound fterling (the Bermudians found good 
 gleanings there after his departure) whereof he had a- 
 bout 16,000 /. fterling for his fhare, and the honour of 
 knighthood ; and obtained of king James II, by purchafe, 
 to be conltituted high Sheriff of New-England, but was 
 never in the execution of this patent, and returned to 
 England, 1688, (N. B. he had not received baptifm 
 untTl March 1690, TEt. 40) and foon after came back to 
 New- England. Upon the breakingout of the Indian war 
 1688, he follicited an expedition againft Nova Scotia, 
 May 1690, and had good fuccefs againft the French ; but 
 his fublequent expedition in autumn, againft Canada, 
 the (lime year, was difaftrous, as has been already narra- 
 ted, and, in thewords of Mr. Mather, “ Though ufedto 
 “ diving for plate, this was an affair too deep for him to. 
 “ dive into.” Amongft other bad confequences of this ill- 
 r„] This account is mainly taken from Cotton Mather, D. D. 
 
 1 contrived 
 
476 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 contrived and worfe managed Canada expedition, was the 
 introducing of a pernicious, fraudulent paper-currency, 
 or bills of public credit, to pay the charges or debt 
 incurred ; the operation of this injurious currency is fuch, 
 that all perfonal eftates (Ipeciakies excepted) are reduced 
 to one for eight, reckoning by heavy pieces of eight 
 (or feven eighths of an ounce of filver) at 6r.-, the lofs 
 of men was of very bad confequence to an infant colo- 
 ny, which was not by the enemy, but by a camp fever, 
 the fmall-pox,and difafters in returning home; notwith- 
 ftanding, as Dr. Mather expreffes it, “ the wheel of 
 “ prayer for them in New-England was kept conftantly 
 “ going round.” Soon after his return to Bolton he went 
 for London, to petition the court of England (notwith- 
 ftanding former difafters, and his own incapacity to 
 manage the affair) to encourage another expedition a- 
 gainft Canada. Upon obtaining a new charter dated 
 Oft. 7, 1691, at the defire of the New-England agents, 
 Sir William Phips was appointed governor of the pro- 
 vince of Maffachufetts-Bay and territories thereto belong- 
 ing; he arrived with the new charter May 14, 1692; 
 and June 8, the affembly under the new charter, met for 
 the firft time. He was ordered home to anlwer fome 
 complaints, and failed from Bofton, Nov. 17, 1694,2nd 
 died of a malignant fever in London, Feb. 1 8, follow- 
 ing [«;]. If he had been difmiffed from his government, 
 
 [<iv] Mr. Mather, his advocate, writes, “ Nor indeed had the hunger 
 “ of a falary, any iuch impreflion upon him, as to make him decline 
 “ doing all poflible fervice for the public — That lie was not to be 
 “ reckoned among ft thofe who were infamous for infinite avarice and 
 •• villainy.” Magnolia, Book II.— He was not alhamed of his former 
 low circumftances ; once in failing with a confiderable command in 
 fight of Quenebeck ; he faid to thofe under his command, “ Young 
 “ men, it was upon that hill that I kept fheep a few years ago ; you 
 “ don’t know what you may come to.” — Upon his death Dr. C. 
 Mather wrote an elegy, beginning thus : 
 
 And to mortality a facrijice 
 
 Falls be, nxshofe deeds mujl him immortalize. 
 
 This is not very fluent, but meant well. 
 
 he 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Batc. 477 
 
 he defigned to have gone upon another Spaniih wreck, 
 which had governor Broadille aboard. 
 
 William Stoughton Efq ; lieutenant-governor, was 
 commander in chief from governor Phip’s going home in 
 the Autumn 1694, until the arrival of governor lord 
 Bellomont in June 1699 ; after a tew months lord Bello- 
 mont returning to New- York, Mr. Stoughton was again 
 in the chair, and continued till his death in May 1702. 
 In honour to his memorya townfhip is called by his name. 
 
 In May 1702, upon the abfence of the governor and 
 death of the lieutenant-governor, conform to charter, 
 the majority of the council aflumed the government un- 
 til the arrival of governor Dudley, June 11, 1702. 
 
 Earl of Bellomont in Ireland, being appointed gover- 
 nor-general of Nevv-York, MalTachufetts-Bay and New- 
 Hampfhire ; in his pafiage to America in the end of the 
 year 1697, from this bad winter coalt, he was obliged to 
 bear away to Barbadoes ; he did not arrive in New- York 
 until May 1698. In the fummer 1699, he met our af- 
 fembly in Bofton •, his being a new governor, cunning, 
 complaifant, and of quality, ingratiated him very much 
 with the people; he was allowed 1000/. falary, and 
 500/. gratuity: In the Autumn he returned to New - 
 York, and died there in February, 1 700-1. 
 
 Jofeph Dudley, Efq; arrived governor June 11, 1702, 
 Pie was fon to governor Thomas Dudley, fee p. 429 ; 
 he was cliofen aflillant (that is of the council) 1682; upon 
 the charter being in danger, he was fent home jointly 
 with Mr. Richards as colony-agents : being a native 
 of the country, a good politician, and cunning man, 
 i. e. of fubtilty, the court of England deemed him a 
 proper perfon to introduce or facilitate a change in the 
 adminiftration of the colony ; accordingly upon the 
 charter’s being vacated, he was appointed prefident or 
 
478 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 pro tempore commander in chief' April 1686, and arrived 
 at Bofton the June following : In December of the fame 
 year arrived Sir Edmund Andros as governor, Nicholfon 
 lieutenant- governor, and two independent companies of 
 foldiers; Mr. Dudley is appointed chief juftice, but was 
 cuted in the New-England Revolution, April 1689. 
 
 Anno 1 690, lie was appointed chief juftice of New- 
 York. Upon going home he was chofen, anno 1701, 
 member of parliament for Newtown of the Ifle of Wight, 
 ■which introduced him to the government of the pro- 
 vince of Maffachufettts-Bay his native country. King 
 William died before he let out, but his commiflion was 
 renewed to queen Anne ; he continued governor until 
 Nov. 1 7 1 5, when colonel Tailer was appointed lieutenant- 
 governor under colonel Burgefs appointed governor; 
 colonel Tailer produced an exemplification of colonel 
 Burgefs’s commiflion or patent, and as lieutenant-gover- 
 nor under him afliimed the government Nov. 9. N. B. 
 queen Anne died Auguft 1, 1714, Mr. Dudley continued 
 in government according to the aft of parliament for 
 continuing officers for fix months after the demife of a 
 Sovereign, that is, until Feb. 1 : the fix months being ex- 
 pired, the council, in conformity to the charter, took upon 
 themfelves tHe adminiftration ; but Mr. Dudley having, 
 March 2 1, via New- York, received the king’s proclama- 
 tion for continuing all officers till further orders, he 
 reaffumed the government, and continued governor to 
 November, as above : he died at his houfe in Rockfbury 
 near Bofton, anno 1720, iEt. 73 •, he left furviving fons, 
 Paul, at prefent chief juftice of the province, fee p. 429, 
 and William, who ferved in the fuccefsful expedition 
 againft Port-Royal of L’Acadie, now Annapolis-Royal 
 of Nova Scotia : he was afterwards appointed a judge, 
 and for many fucceeding years elefted one of the council, 
 as being the beft acquainted with the property of lands 
 and other provincial affairs *, he died a few years fince, 
 
 a great lofs to this country. 
 
 0 William 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 479 
 
 William Tailer, Efq; who had ferved as a colonel of a 
 New-England regiment in the reduction of the aforefaid 
 Port-Royal ; for this his good lervice, he was appointed 
 lieutenant-governor under governor Dudley, and arrived 
 in Bolton from England,Oft. 3,1711: 1 7 1 5, he afium- 
 ed the command in chief, as lieutenant-governor under 
 governor Burgefs. Colonel Burgeft did not come over to 
 his government, and was fuperfeded by colonel Samuel 
 Shute; upon Mr. Shute’s arrival in Bofton, Od. 4, 1716, 
 Mr. Tailer’s command in chief devolved upon colonel 
 Shute, and as lieutenant-governor he was fuperfeded by 
 William Dummer, Efq; he alternately fuperfeded Mr. 
 Dummer as lieutenant-governor under governor Belcher 
 1730; he died at his houfe in Dorchefter near Bofton 
 1732. He was a generous, facetious, good-natured 
 gentleman. 
 
 Samuel Shute, a military man, brother to lord Bar- 
 rington, was appointed governor March 14, 1715-16, 
 by the follicitation of Jonathan Belcher, Efq; a very noted 
 merchant of New-England, and afterwards governor 
 there : colonel Shute arrived in Bofton Odob. 4, 1716, 
 Mr. Dummer (I cannot avoid heaping encomiums upon 
 him) was his lieutenant-governor; Mr. Dummer an 
 honeft man, his knowledge in politicks did not bias him ; 
 he was a natural patron of his country, and his good 
 management in the. Indian war during his adminiftration, 
 with l'mall expence, will perpetuate his memory with all 
 true lovers of New-England. Colonel Shute, being a 
 good-natured eafy governor, fome ill-natured defigning 
 men in the houl'e of Reprefentatives, attempted, by way 
 of precedent (if palled) to encroach upon the prerogative; 
 colonel Shute, infteadof fending home, was well advifed 
 to carry home complaints [*], and back them there, 
 
 [a-] Governors and other royal officers when complaints are lodged, 
 or to be lodged, at the boards in Great-Britain, pro or con; thefe 
 officers appearing at home in perfon. always turns to their belt ac- 
 counts. Attorneys or agents do not anfwer fo well ; many inilances 
 may be produced, but the cafe is notorious. 
 
 which 
 
4S0 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 which accordingly he did, Nov. 1722; being feven com- 
 plaints againft the houfe of reprefentatives encroaching 
 upon the royal prerogative, fee p. 379 •, he obtained a re- 
 drefs of all thefe complaints ; being aged not fit to go 
 abroad, for his good Cervices he obtained a penfion of 
 400 /. iterling per annum for life. 
 
 Upon governor Shute’s going home, the chief com- 
 mand in the adminiftration, devolved upon lieutenant- 
 governor Dummer, whofe adminiftration is univerfally 
 celebrated, and requires no encomium of mine: he is 
 alive and in good health at this prefent writing-, he con- 
 tinued commander in chief till the arrival of governor 
 Burnet in Bofton, July 19, 1728 upon governor Bur- 
 net’s death. Sept. 7, 1729, he was again in the chair, 
 until the arrival of governor Belcher, April 8, 173°- 
 
 William Burnet, Efq-, a fon of the celebrated Bilhop 
 Burnet of Salilbury, a noted divine, politician, antiquary, 
 and hiftorian j this Mr. Burnet was Comptroller-general 
 of the cuftoms in Great- Britain, with a falary of 1200/. 
 fterling per annum -, he exchanged with governor Hunter 
 of New- York, whofe health required his going home — 
 Upon the acceflion of our prefent king George II, 
 Colonel Montgomery, a favourite, was appointed gover- 
 nor of New-York, and Mr. Burnet, in Nov. 1727, was 
 appointed governor of the province of Maflachufetts-Bay ; 
 he arrived in Bofton, July 13, 1728; he died there 
 Sept. 7, 1729, much lamented. When in the govern- 
 ment of New-York, he was ufeful in promoting natural 
 hiftory: by a quadrant of a large radius, and well 
 divided ; by a good telefcope of eighteen feet and by a 
 fecond pendulum of large vibrations, he made feveral 
 good aftronomical obfervations, towards afeertaining 
 latitudes, longitudes, G? c. in that province. 
 
 Lieutenant-governor Dummer, upon Mr. Burnet s 
 death, was chief in the adminiftration for feveral months, 
 until the arrival of governor Belcher, Aug. 8,1730. Jona- 
 than 
 
SeCt. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay.’ 481 
 
 than Belcher, Efq; a native of New-England, of a good 
 clear paternal eftate, and confequently of a true natural 
 intereft in the country ; in his younger days had a very 
 liberal and polite education, having vifited many courts 
 in Europe, and particularly was well received at the court 
 of Hanover. During his government he religioufly ad- 
 hered to his inftruttions : If he had been continued two 
 or three years longer in the adminiftration, our pernicious 
 fraudulent paper-currency would have all been cancelled ; 
 whereas ever fince his difmiffion it has pejorated. He 
 was fuperfeded by governor Shirley’s commiflion for 
 governor, which arrived Auguft 14, 1741. There were 
 by artifice feveral complaints againft governor Belcher 
 lent home partly from New-England, and partly hatched 
 in London •, which have fince been difcovered to be falfe 
 and forged. I fhall mention a few of them : 1. That he 
 was a friend to the fraudulent Land-Bank l'cheme ; where- 
 as it has fince evidently appeared, that he was offered by 
 the Land Bank managers, a retaining fee of fomethou- 
 fands of pounds (appropriated for himlelf, or a fubfequent 
 governor) to conciliate his countenance in the affair, 
 and to promote the managers to offices of honour, pro- 
 fit and truft •, with a Land-Bank promife to promote 
 the governor’s intereft in the houfe of Reprefentatives, 
 (being a Land-Bank or debtor’s houfe) as to falary and 
 perquifites. Mr. Belcher rejetted this proffer with dif- 
 dain, and at one time negatived thirteen of their elett- 
 ed counlellors (here was a projection for debtors in a 
 legiflative capacity to defraud their creditors, by depre- 
 ciating the debt) and difqualified many Juftices of the 
 Peace, promoters of thefe unwarrantable lchemes, and 
 mifchievous unlawful undertakings, as exprelfed in the att 
 of parliament, 1741. 2. A letter figned by five forged 
 
 hands, to Sir Charles Wager firft Lord of the Admiralty- 
 Board, intimating, that Mr. Belcher countenanced the 
 timbermen, in cutting off mafting white pine trees, to 
 be converted into logs for deal-boards. 3. A fpurious 
 letter under a fuppofititious cover of Benjamin Colman, 
 
 Vol. I. Ii D. 
 
4.82 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 D. D. to Mr. Holden (a diffenter) a diredor of the Bank 
 of England, and of great influence this letter fays, that 
 the concerned, are many of the principal minifters of the 
 Frefbyterian and Congregational peifuafion in Eew-Eng- 
 land. No figners to this letter, alledging, that their lign- 
 in^ tnmht be the occafion of their utter ruin by Mr. Bel- 
 cher, but promile, upon Mr. Belcher’s being fuperfeded, 
 to publifli all their names. This letter intimates that 
 governor Belcher, by his intimacy and frequent confer- 
 ences with the Rev. Commifiary P-e and Dr. C-r, 
 Minifters of the church of England, was contriving the 
 ruin of the diffenting intereft in New-England- I hete 
 with fome other villainous complaints and iuggeltions, 
 occafioned the removal of Mr. Belcher. Upon his going 
 home, he evinced all thefe complaints to be forged, talie, 
 or frivolous ; and the court, in the interim conferred 
 upon him the government of the New Jerfeys, where he 
 is at prefent, happy in the affedions of the people. A 
 fhort account of the abandoned contrivers and managers 
 of Mr. Belcher’s affair, is referred to the Appendix. 
 
 William Shirley, Efq-, a gentleman of the law,' who 
 had refided and pradifed law in New England tor iome 
 years, fucceeded Mr. Belcher, in Auguft, 1741, ^con- 
 tinues governor at this writing, December, i 7 4». A 
 gentleman in the adminiftration (ante obttum nemo y that 
 E before his political death) is not to be ufed with free- 
 dom it is a trefpafs againft the fubordination, reqtnfite 
 in fociety : therefore I muft defer the fhort account ot 
 this gentleman’s perfonal charader and admmiftrat on 
 to the Appendix ; left, if applauded, it might be darned 
 adulation and flattery •, or, if cenfured, may lie conftrued 
 into infultj detradion, and refent-mcnt, whiqhare not c 
 fitter, t with the charader of an impartialh^omn-Ou 
 prefent lieutenant-governor, iucceffor 
 is Spencer Phips, Efq; a country-gentleman, adop 
 
 name and heir -by ad of affembly to Sir William Phips- 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 483 
 
 Thefe are the governors and lieutenant or deputy- 
 governors appointed at home, from the date of the new 
 charter 1 69 1 , to December, 1 748 ; the other royal officers, 
 referved by charter, to be appointed by the court of 
 Great-Britain are the fecretary, and judge of vice-admi- 
 ralty : It may not be improper here to annex a ffiort ac- 
 count of their fuccefiion. 
 
 Secretaries. Ifaac Addington, Efq; the firft Secre- 
 tary was appointed by the charter, during pleafure ; he 
 was a perfon of great integrity ; he died 1715, and was 
 fucceeded by captain Woodward, a military man, and of 
 good learning; Mr. Woodward refigned 1717, in fa- 
 vour of Mr. Willard, an honeft, upright, and pious gen- 
 tleman ; he continues Secretary at this prefent writing. 
 
 The charter referves to the crown the exercife of any 
 Admiral court or jurifdiCtion, by commiffions to be 
 ifiued under the great feal of Great-Britain, or under 
 the feal of the High Admiral, or of the Commiffioners 
 for executing the office of High Admiral. This court 
 of Vice- Admiralty confifts of a judge, a King’s Advo- 
 cate, a Regifter, and a marlhal. A foie Judge without 
 a Jury, in cafes of high confequence ; and this Judge 
 too frequently 'appointed at random, feems to be an er- 
 ror in the conftitution : it is true, there may be an ap- 
 peal to a court of Delegates in Great-Britain. 
 
 The fuccefiion of Judges, was, viz. 
 
 WaitWinthrop, Efq; May 22, 1699, appointed Judge 
 of Admiralty for New-York, Maflachufetts-Bay, Con- 
 necticut, Rhode-ifland, and New-Hampfhire. 
 
 Mr. Atwood, Judge of Admiralty for the colonies of 
 New-Hampfhire, Maflachufetts-Bay, Rhode-ifland, Con- 
 necticut, New-York, and the Jerfeys ; being the Nor- 
 thern diftriCt of Cuftom-houfe officers. He appointed, 
 Nov. 10, 1701, Mr. Newton his deputy. 
 
 Roger Monpeflfon, Elq; April 1, 1703, had a com- 
 ipiflton as Judge for New-Hampfhire, Mafiachufetts- 
 
 I i 2 Bay, 
 
Sj. British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 Bay, Rhode-illand, Connecticut, New-York, and the 
 
 Je Nathanael By Held, Efq-, Dec. 13, » 7 ° 7 , had the like 
 
 C01 Johif^Menzies, Efq-, of the faculty of Advocates in 
 Scotland, appointed Judge, Adg. 26, ! ‘ 7 x 5 r f( * New ‘ 
 Hamplhire, Maffachufetts-Bay and Rhode-ifland. 
 
 Uoon the death of Judge Menzies, 1728, Robert 
 Auchmuty, Efq-, was appointed, by governor Burnet, 
 
 ^NTtha'naeTByfield (formerly the Judge of Admiralty! 
 was appointed Judge by governor Burnet ^d confirm- 
 ed from home, Nov. 5, « 7 *«. as Judge tor New-Hamp- 
 Ihire, Maffachufetts-Bay, and Rhode-illand. 
 
 The abovefaid Robert Auchmuty, Efq-, fucceededhim 
 
 S ^Mr 6 Auchmuty was fuperfeded by Chambers Ruffel, 
 
 Ef All S the te £rs of this court of Vice- Admiralty have 
 a power of fubftituting or deputizing. The pfeient 
 Deputy-Judge is George Cradock, Etq, 0 y y 
 
 'Ttetfetro^ke-AdnwaUy. In ad. of the 
 
 provinces and colonies, there is a Jofticiary °^ 7 mitted 
 rniraltv for trial of piracies and other crimes committed 
 
 Ind the CO,- 
 
 leftor of the Cuftoms for the Port of Bolton. 
 
 The furvey of the royal timber, eipecially 0 
 
 ing^ trees, extends over the Northern Provinces and Co- 
 lonies : the officers are appointed from h ° m |’ 
 a Surveyor-General, with four ftibordmate Survey^ 
 
 the whole charge of this furvey is Soo /. er • f 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 4^5 
 
 with confiderable riding charges, paid by the Navy- 
 Office. 
 
 The officers belonging to the colleftions of cuftoms 
 are from home appointed by the Treafury-Board, and 
 warranted by the commiffioners of the cuftoms in Great- 
 Britain. In this province there are but two collections, 
 Bofton and Salem. 
 
 A Deputy- Auditor, is commiffioned by the Auditor- 
 General in Great-Britain, to audit the Treafurer’s pro- 
 vincial accounts •, but anno 1721, this was declared by 
 the General Aflembly of the Province, to be inconfiftent 
 with their charter ; it never is put in execution. 
 
 Some account of the fecond negative in the legijlature of the 
 province of Maffachufetts-Bay •, that is, of the King s or 
 Governor's Council, called the Honourable-Board. 
 
 THIS Council confifts of twenty-eight afiiftants or 
 counfellors, to be advifing and affifting to the Governor, 
 and to conftitute one negative in the legiflature, analo- 
 gous to the Houle of Lords in Great-Britain. 1 he firlt 
 fet were appointed in the charter, and to continue until 
 the laft Wednefday in May, 1693, and until others mall 
 be chofen in their ftead. I do here infert the names of 
 the twenty-eight counfellors appointed by charter, where - 
 ' of there are none furviving at this prefent writing, as it 
 is an honour to their families or poftenty. 
 
 Simon Broadftreet 
 John Richards 
 Nathanael Saltonftall 
 Wait Winthrop 
 John Phillips 
 James RulTel 
 Samuel Sewall 
 Samuel Appleton 
 
 Bartholomew Gidney 
 John Hathorn 
 Eliffia Hutchinfon 
 Robert Pike 
 Jonathan Curwin 
 John Joliffe 
 Adam Winthrop 
 Richard Midlecot 
 3 John 
 
4-56 British Settlements m America. Part II. 
 
 “ Yearly once in every year hereafter, the aforefaid 
 “ number of twenty-eight counfellors fhall be, by the ge- 
 “ neral court or affembly, newly chofen, i. e. of the pro- 
 “ prietors or inhabitants in the old colony of Maffachu- 
 “ letts-Bay, eighteen ; formerly New-Plymouth, four ; 
 “ formerly the province of Main, three; Duke of York’s 
 “ former property, lying between Sagadahock river and 
 “ Nova Scotia, one.” Two counfellors more to be 
 chofen at large. 
 
 The counfellors are annually chofen laft Wednefday 
 of May, by a joint vote of the laft year’s counfellors, and 
 the new houfe of reprefentatives. This negative is called 
 
 The Board. 
 
 There feems to be feme inconveniencies in the confti- 
 tution of this negative ; they may be intimidated by 
 the firft negative, the Governor, as he has a power of ne- 
 gativing 'any counfellor’s election, without alledging rea- 
 fons ; they ftand in awe of the members of the third 
 negative, as tc their election by the houfe of reprefenta- 
 tives : thus they appear not to be free agents, 
 
 The Council are aftifting to the Governor ffeven 
 makes a board) by their advice and content in appointing 
 of all civil officers, excepting thofe of the Finances. 
 
 The Governor and Council have the probate of wills, 
 of granting adminiftrations, and of divorces ; they ap- 
 point a fubordinate judge of probates in each county. 
 
 The Governor, with the advice and conlent of the 
 Council, nominates and appoints judges, commiflioners 
 of Oyer and "Terminer , iheriffs, juftices of the peace, and 
 other officers to our Council and courts of juftice be- 
 longing ; provided that no l'uch appointment be made 
 
 John Fofter 
 Peter Serjeant 
 Jofeph Lynde 
 Samuel Heyman 
 Stephen Mafon 
 Thomas Hinkley 
 
 William Bradford 
 John Walley 
 Barnabas Lothrop 
 John Alcot 
 Samuel Daniel 
 Sylvanus Davis, Efqrs. 
 
 without 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 4 8 7 
 
 without fummons iffued out feven days before fach no- 
 mination or appointment, unto iuch of the laid coun- 
 fellors, as (hall be at that time refiding within our laid 
 province. 
 
 Formerly, under the old charter the councilors or 
 afliftants were eleCted by the votes of the freemen or 
 the colony, as is the prefent pradice of the neighbouring 
 colonies of Connecticut and Rhode-ifland ; but under 
 the new charter (as beforementioned) they are annually 
 chofen by a joint vote of the majority of the old board ol 
 councilors, and of the new houfe of reprefentatives - 
 Although their election is annual, the former councilors 
 are generally continued ; laft election 1 748, they were all 
 continued. 
 
 When the new charter firft took place, the allowance 
 or wages of a councilor was 5 5 . per day, exchange with 
 London ill l- New-England tor 100/. Ceiling, at 
 prefent their wages are 30 r. per day, exchange wit 
 
 London, eleven hundred pounds New-Englandforone 
 
 hundred pounds fterling, Chnftmas 1 748; In th!S Pro- 
 portion a multiplied public paper-credit in bills has de- 
 preciated the New-England currency •, a vaft progreffive 
 lofs in all perfonal eftates, fpeCialties excepted j}. 
 
 r 1 rrmft not reckon depreciations indifferently by public nl- 
 
 * “ "S i. X for o»r. deprecla- 
 
 allowance was coo l. common cm- 
 tion allowance . the § . . ,^ r q*. common cut- 
 
 renc yfsr annm, at prefent U .s' 9,600/. old , commo 
 
 re. " wMcb « ft* 
 
 ?»aT Lo.»r«a for,' anti, If «**•. 
 notice of in the Appendix. 
 
488 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 Some account of the third Negative in the legijlature of the 
 
 province of [2] Maflachufetts-Bay ; called the Honourable 
 
 Houfe of Reprefentatives. • 
 
 THE province of Maflachufetts-Bay is reprefented in 
 their lower houfe, not by a deputation from counties, ci- 
 ties and boroughs, as in Great- Britain, and in fome of the 
 Britilh colonies •, but from certain diftrifts of land or 
 country, incorporated by the names of townlhips, very 
 unequal in extent ; thus Springfield contains upwards of 
 100,000 acres; Medford does not exceed 2000 acres; 
 but generally they are the value of fix miles fquare, be- 
 ing nearly 23,000 acres : their number of inhabitants 
 is as various, and confifts of one to five parilhes. 
 
 The charter declares “ each of the faid towns and 
 places, being hereby impowered to eledt and depute two 
 perfons and no more, to ferve for and reprefent them 
 refpettively in the faid great general court or afiembly. 
 “ To which great general court or afiembly, to be held 
 tc as aforefaid, we do hereby, for us, our heirs and fuc- 
 « cefiors, give and grant full power and authority, from 
 “ time to time, to diredl, appoint, and declare, what num- 
 “ ber each county, town, and place, fliall eledt and de- 
 “ pute, to ferve for, and reprefent them refpe&ively, in 
 “ the faid great and general court or afiembly.” 
 
 This laft claufe gives a very great latitude to our ge- 
 neral afiemblies to regulate the reprefentation of the 
 country. 1. The charter fays, each place is impowered 
 to depute two perfons and no more ; Bolton is allowed 
 to fend four ; it is true, that equitably, confidering their 
 taxes and number of inhabitants in proportion to the 
 whole colony reprefentation, they might be allowed 
 to fend twenty ; but fuch proportions are not obferved 
 in Great-Britain our mother-country, perhaps for reafons 
 
 [«] So called, from the name of the tribe of Indians living there- 
 abouts, when the Engiifh firlt began fettlements there. 
 
 Of 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 4S9 
 
 of ftate. 2. By ads of affembly all townfhips under 
 120 qualified voters are reftrided to lend one and no 
 more, whereas by charter any townfhip may fend two. 
 3. The charter does not limit the number of qualified 
 voters in any townfhip or place conflituted, to enable 
 them to fend reprefentatives ; they feem to be limited by 
 ads of affembly, but with this reafonable qualification, 
 that no townfhip, confifting of lefs than eighty legal 
 voters fhall be obliged, that is, fined for the not fending 
 of a reprefentative. 4. Lately (by inftrudion to the 
 governor, or otherways, I am not certain) this province 
 hath conttituted townfhips, with ali town or corpora- 
 tion privileges, excepting that of deputing reprefenta- 
 tives to the general affembly ; though the charter ex- 
 prefly fays, that they all may fend reprefentatives : it is 
 true, that the multiplying of townfhips, elpecially by fub- 
 dividing old large well-regulated townfhips, into many 
 fmall jangling townfhips, has been, not many years 
 ago, pradifed with particular views ; but has occafioned 
 an [a] inconvenient number of reprefentatives: the 
 fmall townfhips, under eighty voters, being qualified to 
 fend, but not obliged to fend reprefentatives •, upon the 
 emergency of a governor’s, or any defigning party in- 
 tereft, they are prompted to fend a deputy to forward 
 fome party affair. 
 
 Incorporating of townfhips with all other town pri- 
 vileges, excepting that of fending reprefentatives, feems 
 to be inconfiftent with that privilege effential to the 
 conftitution of Great-Britain, viz. that all freeholders 
 
 \a] MafiachufettsBay government, though lately curtailed, at pre- 
 fent furamon about i 50 representatives, being more than all of the 
 
 following five provinces: 
 
 New York 2 7 
 
 Eafl and Weil New Jerfeys 22 
 
 Penfylvania proper or higher 30 
 
 The three lower counties 1 8 
 
 South-Carolina 4 2 
 
490 British Settlements in America. Part II, 
 of 40 j. per annum income, and others legally qualified 
 are to be reprefented in the legiflature and taxation •, as 
 in New-England there are no county reprefentations, 
 and as they are not in the humour of being reprefented 
 by counties, though agreeable to charter ; it feems con- 
 fonant to the conftitution, and will, at the fame time, ob- 
 viate the above inconveniencies, that is, that two, three, 
 four, or more ofthefe new or fmall Townlhips, be joined 
 in fending one or two reprefentatives, after the model, 
 fettled by the articles of Union in Great-Britain, for the 
 fmail Parliament-Towns in Scotland orNorth-Britain [b]. 
 
 r /,1 Our Plantations in America, New-England excepted, have been 
 generally fettled, 1. By mal-contents with the admimftrations from 
 time to tiine. 2. By fraudulent debtors, as a refuge from their cre- 
 ditors 3. And by convifls or criminals, who chofe transportation 
 rather than death. Thefe circumftances make the juft civil admimilra- 
 tio , in the colonies a difficult performance. An indebted, abandoned, 
 and avaricious governor, in collufion with fuch mifcreants or villains, 
 is capable of doing great iniquity and damage in a province j therefore 
 the court of Great-Britain ought to be very circumfpeft, and a^omt 
 
 men of probity and wifdom for governors, the only checks ; the recom- 
 mending minifter, may be interrogated : Is this candidate, or his wife, 
 any relation, p- rticular friend, or arnica ? But we muft not infill upon 
 
 Which may arife between a governor in 
 
 high power, and a licentious people, are problems not eauly fo ved. 
 liberty 5 without obedience is confufion, and obedience without - 
 
 bertv is flavery : to fupport a coercive power over a giddy people, 
 and m fecure the people againft the abufe of this power, are difficult 
 
 F Whenthe generality of a province are difgufted with their governor, 
 let the occalion of this difguft beany how; perhaps * « ’.maybe ad- 
 vlfpabie to fuDerfede him by another of equal or more virtue ana 
 
 qualifications for government, efpecially where a governo^avar.ce 
 
 and villainy are notorious: we gave mftances in Lowther 
 D AU numerous combinations, alTociations, or partnerlhips, in &n ab- 
 
 folute 
 
 this^n the 'province of Maflkchufetts-Bay ot Ntw^E^land A«mo 
 ,740, a combination of desperate debtors, by the ^ 
 of Land-Bank, had formed a prevailing party, which, notwithftanding 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 491 
 
 By cuftom, all ele&ions, provincial, county, or town, 
 are determined not by the major vote, but by the ma- 
 jority of voters •, becaufe where there are more than two 
 candidates, a perfon may have a major vote, though not a 
 majority of the voters. 
 
 The votes or journal of the houfe of reprefentatives, 
 is regularly printed at a public charge, one copy for each 
 townfhip, and one copy for each member. 
 
 The houfe of reprefentatives infill: upon feveral pri- 
 vileges j I lhall mention a few, 1. The governor’s in- 
 
 their being timely ftigmatized -and damned by an adl of the Britifli 
 parliament, their influence in the aflembly continues to prevail to this 
 time 1749; * n a l uc ‘d interval anno 1 46, Journal, p. 246. the houfe 
 of reprefentatives, fay, 44 We have been the meansof effectually bring- 
 
 ing dfftrefs, if not ruin upon ourfelves.” And in fummer 1-4 8, at 
 the defire of the houfe of reprefentatives, a faft is appointed, “ Upon 
 44 account o the extreme drought, a punifhment for many public fins 
 44 we have been guilty of.” This feems borrowed from the account of 
 a general faft appointed by the aflembly, praying God, “ That he 
 44 would pardon all the errors of his fervants and people in a iate 
 44 tragedy (meaning the affair of Salem witchcraft) railed among ft us 
 44 by Satan and his inftruments.” 
 
 Here is an obvidus political obfervation, that, notwithftanding the 
 proceedings of a community, may be much perverted or vitiated ; 
 there are certain boundaries, which humanity and the natural affedion 
 which mankind bear to their progeny cannot exceed : I fhall give 
 fome few late inftances of it in this provincial government. — 1718, 
 June 3, the board of council and houie of reprefentatives, in a joint 
 meffage to the governor, fay, 44 The great lofs of inhabitants /or imf- 
 44 bandry, and other labour, and for the defence of an inland frontier 
 44 of about 300 miles ; the vaft load of debt already contraded ; and 
 “ the unparalleled growing charge. 1 he annual charge of Connedi- 
 44 cut government, at this time is about 4000/. to 5000/. old tenor ; 
 4 ‘ whereas Maflachufctts-Bay government, only about one third larger. 
 44 is at the annual charge (meaning the prefent year) of ^ 00,000/ old 
 44 tenor. Moreover, t onnedicut is almoft out of debt, and we are al- 
 “ moll two millions in debt; insupportable difficulties!” 
 In the fame Journal, the houfe of reprefentatives complain, that many 
 thoufands of inhabitants have been carried olf from us, by the expe- 
 dition sgainft the Spanifti Weft-Indies; by the expedition againft 
 Loui/bourg ; by forming and recruiting the two American regiments 
 at Louifbourg ; the protedion of Nova Scotia; the maintaining of 
 provincial privateer veifeb ; and the defence of our frontiers. 
 
 ftru&ions 
 
492 British Settlements in America. PartIL 
 
 ftru&ions from the fecretary of ftate, of the depart- 
 ment, are recommendatory, but not obligatory upon the 
 reprefentatives of the people. Nevv-England was no mili- 
 tary acquifition or cor.queft or the crown (fuch acquifi- 
 tions, until formerly annexed to the dominions of Great- 
 Britain, are by the prerogative abfolutely under direftion 
 of the crown) but originally and effentially belonging 
 to the dominions of England ; and therefore afts of 
 parliament only are obligatory j and no inftruftion pe- 
 cuniary, procured by the patron, the friend, or the 
 money of a governor, with an arbitrary (perhaps) an- 
 nexed penalty, of incurring the difpleafure of the Crown , 
 is ftridtly obferved. A noted and repeated inftance of 
 this we have in the inflruclion for a fettled falary upon 
 the governor ; moreover, they alfert, “ T. hat they are 
 at liberty to vary from any former grants to governors, 
 &c. o-overnor Shute, a good inoffenfive man, was re- 
 duced from an allowance of 1200 1 per annum common 
 currency, to 1000/. 2. That the council may only 
 concur or not concur in a tax or any other money-bill, 
 
 Anno 1747. the governor infilling upon a further etniffion of theft 
 depreciatin'* bills ; the reprefentatives, though a paper-money making 
 We, could not avoid remonftrating, “ If we emit mor f 
 «< prehend it mull be followed by a great impair, if not utter lofs of the 
 “ public credit, which already has been greatly wounded- 
 
 *j une 1 6 the board of council remonllrate, “ The neighbouring 
 « provinces have been at little or no expence of money or men ; 
 
 “ this province is reduced to the utmoft diftrefs, by bearing almollthe 
 
 “ whole burden of the war'." -ri,. 
 
 « With public taxes, we are burdened almolt to run . „ 
 
 province is at a prodigious daily charge beyond them ftrrajh, 
 
 “ Which has involved us in a prodigious load of debt, « . " 
 
 ‘•ner, exhaulled our fubftance." — 1746-7. March .4, the home ot 
 reprefentatives refolve, “ That not only from the immenfe debt the 
 “ province is loaded with from the Cape Breton expe no ’ e ftabli(h- 
 “ from the decreafe of the inhabitants; they will make noeltablim 
 
 " in the late expedition againfl: Cape-Breton, be . voneo fhis 
 
 “ have dill a greater debt remaining, than ever lay upon any one 
 ** majefty’s governments in the plantations, ^ 
 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-BaV.' 493 
 
 but may make no amendment ; the affair of fupplying 
 the t reafu fy always originates in the Houle ol Reprefen- 
 tatives. 3. Not long fince all accounts of public 
 charges, fome very trifling, were rendred, audited, and 
 paffed by the Houfe of Reprefentatives •, not only at a 
 great unneceffary charge (our affembly-men are all in 
 pay) of upwards of 100/. per day, at that time, for 
 pafling a controverted account of a few pounds ; but 
 contrary to charter; the words ot the chaiter are; 
 
 “ The affembly to impofe and levy proportionable and 
 “ reafonable affeffments, rates, and taxes ; upon the 
 « eftates and perfons of all and every the proprietors or 
 “ inhabitants of our faid province or territory ; to be lf- 
 “ fued and difpofed of, by warrant under the hand of the 
 “ governor of our faid province for the time being, with 
 « the advice and confent of the council.” Some years 
 fince, upon complaint home, the king in council has ex- 
 plained this affair. 
 
 In this article we fliall have frequent occafion to men- 
 tion money -affairs, viz. emiflion of public provincial 
 bills of credit, called paper-money; fupphes ot the 
 treafury, annual taxes, falaries, and other government 
 charges ; all which at various times have been exprelled 
 in various tenors ; viz. Old tenor, middle tenor, new 
 tenor firft, new tenor fecond, which, in the face ot the 
 bill, is about 1 2 per cent, work than new tenor hr it, 
 but’ from the inaccuracy of our people, and an aban- 
 doned negledt of a proper credit, pafs indifferently at 
 the fame value. But that I may be the more eaffly un- 
 derftood, I fliall, by means of a fmall table (which is 
 the mod concife and diftinft manner ot representing 
 fuch things) reduce all tenors to their value in old te- 
 nor the original, and to this time 1749. the denomi- 
 nation of common currency : and to prevent the read- 
 er’s trouble in reducing the value of our old tenor 
 from time to time (as it has been generally in a pro- 
 greflive ftate of depreciation or pejoration) to a pio- 
 
494 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 per ftandard of exchange with London, or value per 
 oz. Mexico filver. The exchange with London, is ioo 1 . 
 fterling for— I have added the acceflions of governors, 
 for the laft half century, to make it apparent how much 
 our paper currency has depreciated in their refpe&ive 
 adminiftrations. 
 
 Periods 
 
 Exc. with Lond. 
 
 1 oz. Silv. 
 
 Accef. of Gov. 
 
 A.D.1702 
 
 !33 
 
 6s. 10 d.\ 
 
 Dudley 
 
 1705 
 
 1 35 
 
 7 '• 
 
 ditto 
 
 *7*3 
 
 150 
 
 8 s. 
 
 ditto 
 
 1715 
 
 *75 
 
 9 j. 3 d. 
 
 Taylor and Shute 
 
 1717 
 
 225 
 
 12 s. 
 
 ditto 
 
 1722 
 
 270 
 
 14 s. 
 
 Dummer 
 
 1728 
 
 340 
 
 18 s. 
 
 Burnet 
 
 173° 
 
 '380 
 
 20 S. 
 
 Belcher 
 
 1 737 
 
 500 
 
 l6s. 
 
 ditto 
 
 1741 
 
 55 ° 
 
 28 s. 
 
 Shirley 
 
 1749 
 
 1 100 
 
 60 s. [<r] 
 
 ditto 
 
 Exchange continues to rife rather than fall, notwith* 
 Handing the generous reimburfement granted by the 
 Britifh parliament, towards paying off our provincial 
 debts incurred by a private coiporation adventure, in 
 the Cape-Breton expedition : perhaps the merchants and 
 others are diffident, and fufpeft that fome fubfequent 
 general affembly (with the countenance of a fuitable 
 
 [c] That we may the better eftimate the differences of MafTachufetts 
 prefent currency from the prefent value of currencies in the other 
 Eritilh plantations, colonies, and provinces; we exhibit their prefent 
 (1748) exchanges with London. 
 
 Currency 
 
 For loot, fieri. New-England 1100 
 New- York 190 
 Eail-Jerfeys iqo 
 Weft-Jerfeys 180 
 Penfyivania 1 80 
 Maryland zoo 
 Virginia 120 to 125 
 
 North Carolina 
 South Carolina 
 Barbadoes 
 Antigua 
 
 St. Chriftopher’s 
 Jamaica 
 
 1000 
 
 750 
 
 130 
 
 170 to 180 
 160 
 140 
 
 governor) 
 
Sect. VIII: Of Massachusetts-Bay. 495 
 
 governor) worfhipers of that wicked idol, the iniqui- 
 tous, bubbling paper currency, may pervert the proper 
 application of this bounty or donation. Something of 
 this kind has lately been a remora at home, and has pre - 
 vented the province from receiving it by their agents 
 
 hitherto. . •*»;. 
 
 June 15, atthe commencement of the new charter ju- 
 rifdidion, 1692, wasenaded, A continuance of the local 
 and municipal laws of the old charter jurifdidion, if not 
 repugnant to the laws of England, until Nov. 10, fol- 
 lowing. — The fundamental law or general political prin- 
 ciple of the colonies of New- England, is, that natural 
 and falutary maxim, Salus populi eft fuprema lex ; they do 
 not countenance the Aavilh dodrines of non-refiitance, 
 paflive obedience, hereditary indefeafible right, and the 
 
 like. 
 
 The prefent enading ftyle is, Be it enaded by the 
 Governor, Council, and Houfe of Reprefentatives. 
 
 Thankfgivings and fafts, ever fince governor Shute’s 
 complaints, have been appointed by the governor and 
 council, at the defire of the Houfe of Reprefentatives. 
 
 Becaufe all ads of affembly are required by the 
 charter to be lent home for allowance or difallowance, 
 therefore many things are done by the name of Order or 
 
 Refolve. . 
 
 \ years, the governors are directed by their in- 
 
 ftrudions not to confent to bills of lundry kinds, until 
 they be lent home for approbation Thus it i-> in the 
 parliament of Ireland. 
 
 The general affembly, by their accepting of an expla- 
 natory charter upwards of thirty years fince, have cur- 
 tailed the houfe of reprefentatives, from the privilege of 
 eleding their own Speaker abfolutely •, that is, a power 
 is referved to the governor, or any other commander in 
 chief, to negative or difapprove any Speaker elected and 
 ptefented •, and that the reprefentatives lo affembled, 
 Hull forthwith eled any other perlon to be Speaker, to 
 be approved or disapproved, in manner as aforefuid : 
 
496 British Settlements in America. Part II, 
 as alfo from adjourning of themfelves, not exceed- 
 incr two days at a time, without leave from the go- 
 vernor, or any other commander in chief of the pro- 
 vince. 
 
 When a joint committee of bothhoufes is appointed, 
 generally one third is from the council, and two thirds 
 from the reprefentatives. 
 
 Although the military, are the abfolute prerogative 
 of the king, and of his reprefentative the governor •, 
 the afiembly, efpecially the Houfe of Reprefentatives, 
 do, upon extraordinary occafions, in faithfulnefs to their 
 conftituents, complain, and, in fome meafure, admonilh 
 the governor. We fhall produce a few late inftances.— 
 
 1 746, The houfe, by mefiage to the governor, fay, that 
 they fufpedt the governor’s inlifting men for his Louif- 
 bourg regiment, out of the imprefled frontier forces : 
 the governor denies this, but acknowledges that he 
 had allowed the frontier foldiers to be inlifted in the 
 Canada expedition, and to imprefs men in their place. 
 
 It does not appear to us neceflary or convenient, for 
 
 this government, any ways to concern themfelves in 
 building a fort at the great carrying-place irom Hud- 
 fon’s river to Wood Creek in the government of New- 
 York.— The forces, particularly upon the eaftern fron- 
 tiers, have been very negligent in fcouting, and all othef 
 military fervices •, there have been many ineffefhves •, in- 
 habitants of feveral townfhips, to do duty in their own 
 townfhips, have been inlifted, paid, and viftualled, 
 though they only followed their own private bufinefs : 
 “ This is very abuftve to the government, as well as m- 
 « iurious to thefe expofed parts.” — 1747* The aflembly 
 reprefent “ the hufbandry, manufactures, and naviga- 
 « tion of the province ; have fuff'ered much bymultiplie 
 “ expeditions.”— “ We have, by our paft addons, proved 
 ourfelves zealous for his majefty’s fervice ; but our un- 
 “ happinefs is, that although the fame difpolition re- 
 «* mains, yet we are in a manner incapacitated to pro- 
 “ mote it for the future. . 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 407 
 
 The houfe of reprefentatives frequently complain of 
 their being involved in unneceflary and improper charges. 
 1747, April 2 r, u We apprehend that we have made 
 confierable grants for the proteftion and encouragement 
 of the fix Indian nations of New-York government, be- 
 yond what has been done by New-York itfelf, in whofe 
 borders thefe Indians are fituated. 
 
 There are many altercations amongft the three nega- 
 tives; when this happens* in the parliament of Great- 
 Britain, as it is very feldom, it is as a prodigy ; Inch dif- 
 ferences lefien the refpeft due from the people to each 
 negative in the legiQature. Each of thofe negatives, 
 moreover, at times vary [ d ] from themfelves, by contra- 
 
 p/J Our G — r — r, for certain political reafons, which we (hall not 
 
 how dive into, fees meet to vary from time to time. Soon after his 
 
 accefiion, June, 1 742, in a meflage to the houfe, he gives wholcfome 
 paternal advice, 1. That long ffiffions are very expenfive to the pro- 
 vince. 2. He entreats them to keep the province clear of debt, which, 
 inftead of decreafing, will continually increafe their incumbrances. — $. 
 174.1, Augufl 17, in his firll fpeech, “ A creditor, who has the mif- 
 « fortune of having an out Handing debt, of the value of ioco /. fieri. 
 “ contra&ed anno 1 730, can now receive no more in our courts of 
 " judicature (unlefs in a cafe of fpecialty) than the value of about 
 « 650/. fieri, the great injuflice and oppreffion of which, upon the 
 “ creditor, has a great tendency to introduce a fpirit of difhonefty into 
 
 « this community.” 4. 1741,0a. 14, “ Reilraints upon emiffions, 
 
 « which his majefly has been gracioufly pleafed, out of his paternal 
 
 affedion to his people to do, and has thereby faved this province 
 " from greater ruin v — “ Tt is the injuilice of thofe bills, which has 
 “ plunged us into thofe difficulties— in fome fubfequent aifemblies the 
 ** fecunng to every creditor the juft value of his debt, is a piece ot 
 4t juftice hitherto unknown to your laws, or courts of judicature. — — 
 
 r « The province being fo long accuflomed, to eflimate province bills 
 “ of public credit, according to their nominal value, is grown quite m- 
 “ fenfible of their real value/' — *"44- Nov * 2 9- he *f 11 oblerVt:s m 
 his fpeech with regard to multiplying paper-currency. * And can 
 « fuch a proceeding be thought beneficial to the country ? Can it pof- 
 « fibly be deemed either prudent with refpecl to your&lvcs, or juft with 
 “ regard to your pofterity ?” — 1 747‘ 8 > Feb * 3, “ The generaldiftrefs 
 “ of the province, a riling from the extraordinary emiffions oi paper- 
 " money, whereby the value thereof, for all occafions of life, is. funk 
 4( folow, and is Hill finking; and thereby the ellaccs it orphans and 
 
 V.o l . I. K k clictory 
 
49$ British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 didory fpeeches, mefiages, and reconfidering of their 
 votes. I write with the liberty and freedom which is 
 effential to the Britifh conftitution. 
 
 “ widows, and of many others who have no remedy in their power, 
 
 ** againft this growing evil, daily diminifhing ; which mull, in very 
 “ little time, bring many good families to ruin." 
 
 On the other fide of the queftion ; we may obferve, that, i . Of late 
 years, the feflions of affembly, are longer and more frequent, than 
 ever; for inftance, the annual affembly of 1746, fat about thirty 
 weeks at the daily charge (our affembly- men are all in pay) of near 
 
 icjo/, 2. Our provincial debt, 1741, when Mr. Belcher was foper- 
 
 feded, was about 1 30,000/. at preftnt 17495 it is about two millions. 
 — 3. “ The great and fudden depreciations of province-bills, is ow- 
 
 “ ing to the immoderate price of exchange and filyer." 4. Jan. 1 5, 
 
 1741 2, “ The inftru&ion, containing a retraining cl.aufe in emitting 
 « bills of credit, is remitted : as this is an alteration, which, 1 am per- 
 «< fuacled (fpeech to the affembly) will be very agreeable unto you, 
 
 “ and has been occasioned through my acceffion to the government; 
 
 I mention it to you with no small satisfaction.” 5. In a 
 
 fpeech to the affembly, “ From 1718 to 1743, ifa conftant pradice ail 
 “ debts upon book, note, bond, or mortgage, were difeharged m 
 “ province bills penny for penny, that is, in the nominal fum , 
 which he deems to be equitable, becaufe both creditor and debtor, 
 
 “ tacitly run the chance of the rifing or falling of thofe bills." ^ N.JB. 
 This was the common cant of the land bank managers and other 
 debtors ; the forbearance and indulgence of creditors is ridiculed, as 
 much, as if a perfon intruded by another with money or goods, 
 lhould turn bankrupt, and laugh at his friend for his truft ; alledging, 
 that it was in his option, to truft or not truft him. How provoking 
 is this to an honeft man, for his good nature and compaffion, to have 
 his eftate ftrft by a private, and afterwards by a more open and daring 
 combination of the debtors, reduced in a reverfe proportion of 12 j. 
 toio-r. the price of filver from anno 1718 to 1743, and from JO/, 
 to 60 s. as it is anno 1 749 ; and afterwards be laughed at as a filly 
 
 *°°And in faa, how could a perfon remedy himfelf with the ftridcjt 
 faeacity in the following cafes ? A man lets out money upon mort- 
 gage, May, 1 745, exchange with London 650/. currency for 100/. 
 fterl. in the fpaceof three years, May, 17.48, exchange is 1 10 a /, 
 rency for 10c /. fterl— a creditor all this time cannot recover his mo- 
 ney, becaufe by the laws of the province, near one year (by appe 
 and reviews) is required to bring a bond to final judgment, ? n 
 equity of redemption is three years more : moreover, the public loan , 
 and the private bank loans were conditioned at ten to fifteen y 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 499 
 
 Upon the arrival of the new charter of the province 
 of MafTachufetts-Bay •, their firft general afiembly* 
 
 forbearance, which, with the abovefaid four years additional, makes an 
 unavoidable forbearance of fourteen to nineteen years : further, fome 
 of the loan 1716 (a great damage to” the public) is not feed out at this 
 prefent writing. How is it poflible to provide againft the continued 
 great depreciations during fo many years ? 
 
 As it does not belong to any provincial aftembly, to explain a&s of 
 parliament, becaufe they may be deemed fufRcient to execute them- 
 felves, under the agency of the colony executive courts ; I do not pre- 
 tend to be a ftatefman fufficient, to account for a bill brought into our 
 court of legiflature yearly, for thefe eight years laft pad ; entitled, 
 ** A Bill for the more fpeedy finishing of the Land-Bank fcheme: 
 as it is never brought to an iflue, perhaps fome may call it, rather a 
 Bill of Grace. __ . 
 
 Governor Shirley, in his fpeech, Oftober\4, i74*> Nothing is 
 “ more eafy, than to fecure to every creditor his juft due, let the bills 
 “ depreciate never fo much, by enabling the king s judges to do juftice 
 <« to every creditor in that particular— It is the injuftice of our bills 
 “ which has plunged us into thefe difficulties.” But as this advice has 
 not been followed or repeated, the creditors have generally fuffered in 
 the reverfe proportion of lixty to thirty in a few years ; fuch is the ma- 
 lignant nature of this depafeent ulcer, that nothing but the extirpation 
 or excifion of this, can fave our body politic. Delenda eft. 
 
 I defire readers, not affedted with paper-currencies, may excufe 
 prolixity ; when this vile chimaera, or monfter, comes in my way , 
 
 cannot contain myfelf. . 
 
 This fcheme for fraudulent debtors to cheat their creditors, was 
 firft projected, anno ,7.4, by J. C. The maxim, or baf.s was, by 
 multiplied emiffions, to depreciate the nominal value of our currency . 
 thus the difference between the nominal value, at any time when 
 paid, and its real value when lent or contrafted for ; was a fradulent 
 gain to the debtor, and a very injurious loft to the honeft cred.tor ; 
 for inftance, anno 171}, exchange with London 1 50 L currency for 
 100/. fieri. — At prefent 1 749. by depreciations we are at . 100/. cur- 
 rency for 100/. fterling, that is, in fucceffive dealings, the creditor has 
 loft fix in feven of his debts or contrads, which is the debtor s crafty 
 gain. There were various effays made from time to time to arrive 
 fo this depreciation; the laft was miraculoufly the moft fuccefsful. 
 1. Emitting bills of public credit, not only for the ordinary and ne- 
 ceffary chafes of government, but for public loans to private perfons, 
 S anno.f.4, 50,00c/. anno .7.6, tco.oool. anno -7*«. 
 anno 1727, 60,000/. at long credit ; this had a confiderable effea in 
 favour of debtors, but fome inconveniences and inftrnftions put a 
 top to it. 2. Poftponing the cancelling of emiffions: thus ennf- 
 
 K k 2 
 
500 RaiTtsti Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 orlegiflature, convened in June, 1692 ; in the firft place 
 they'continued the municipal laws (not repugnant to 
 
 Aons yearly multiplied, and the cancelling of them delayed, increafed 
 this flood of a bate currency. 3. Notes of private affociations de- 
 figned to be upon a par, current with public bills of credit, would 
 have multiplied this falfe currency immenfely ; but from private 
 complaints fent home, this was crulhed in embryo, by aft of the 
 Bvitifh parliament, 1741. 4. At length, by multiplied expenfive 
 
 expeditions, they compafled their defigns to the greateft extent, or 
 to a tie plus ultra , which, it is to be hoped, the parliament of Great- 
 Britain, in their wonted goodnefs, will reclify in their prefent 
 
 lefiion. . . 
 
 I am forry that, upon any occafion, or in any refpect, I fhotild give 
 offence to any particular perfon, or to any number of men : it is rot 
 from malice or refentment : it cannot be imagined, that in courfe, 
 writing unavoidable hiftorical truths, I fhould designedly and malici- 
 oufly refleft upon the country and its municipal jurildidtion ; this is my 
 altera patria, from upwards of thirty years refidence. 
 
 However, the creatures of any miniftry at home may, from time to 
 time, find fault with the liberty of the prefs, which they reprefent as 
 licentious ; the courts of judicature, which, by good Providence, are in- 
 dependent of the miniftry, vindicate the prefs, if not too licentious, and 
 find fault with their defpotic accufers. 
 
 While I write mere fails with proper vouchers and in a good 
 light, I ufe only that liberty (not licentioufnefs) of the prefs, which 
 feems facred and effential to the Britifh conftitution ; as we have no 
 general intendants as in the French conftitution, every hiftorical writer 
 with us, may be a fort of intendant or check upon provincial admi- 
 niftration ; for inftance, as the houfe of repre entatives are the grand 
 inqueft of the province, efpecially as to mifdemeanors in the admi- 
 niltraticn : may 1 not take a hint from their journals, *. g. although, 
 as above, the colony of Ccnneflicut are to this province as two to three ; 
 Conne&icut is almoft out of debt, and we are about two millions cur- 
 rency in debt : the annual public charges of Connecticut are from 4000 
 to rooo /. currency, thofeof Maffachufetts Bay are about 400,000/. 
 which vaft proportional difference, is faid to be owing to the differences 
 in the frugality and integrity of their refpedtive admimftrationr. 2. 
 The reprefentatives in their journals feem to complain of umverfal 
 infeCUpus corruption, <viz. That officers, from the highelt to the loweft, 
 were iniquitous in their perquifites : the field officers, ca P t “ m *\ an 
 others were complained againft for extorting money from the private 
 men, as a commillion of receiving their wages, and for certitymg 
 their time of fervice ; for buying their wages, or pay, at a great 
 dil'count ; for taking money in the difeharge or exchange of unprefted 
 men s' and for falfe incomplete mufter rolls. 1 hefe things are all 
 Wifely provided againft by the gfencral afismbly, but the executive 
 
 4 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 501 
 
 the laws of England) of the old charter administration, 
 for a few months, until a fmall body of new laws could 
 be formed. 
 
 By this new charter, fee p. 374. of this Summary, the 
 houfe of. reprefentatives is condituted in this manner, 
 viz. Every year, and for ever, upon the lad Wednefday 
 of May, and at all other times as the governor lhall 
 think fit, lhall be held a general court or afiembly ; 
 the freeholders and other inhabitants of the refpedivc 
 towns and places are impowered to depute two perfons, 
 and no more, to repreient them in the general afiembly. 
 The qualification of an eledor is 40 s. at lead per am. 
 freehold, or ocher edate, to the value of 50/. derling. 
 
 The prefent practice by afts or refolves of the gene- 
 ral afiembly, and by cudom. Bodon fends four depu- 
 ties or reprefentatives Salem, Ipfwich, Newbury, Mar- 
 blehead and Charledown, generally fend two each : from 
 the other towns which fend repreientatives, each fends 
 one. We have not got into the method direded by 
 charter for two or more fmall townlhips joining, to fend 
 a reprelentation, which would prevent the inconveniency 
 of multiplying reprefentatives, and would redore to the 
 condituted, incorporated townlhips (by charter qualified, 
 and by the Britilh conllitution privileged to be repre- 
 fented) that privilege ‘of which they are abridged by be- 
 ing refufed to fend a reprefentative, as we have no ge- 
 neral county eledions. 
 
 By ad of afiembly, fird year of the charter 1692, 
 each town, confiding of thirty to forty qualified electors, 
 rpay (at their option) fend, or not fend, one reprefenta- 
 tive-, each town of forty qualified are enjoined to fend 
 one reprefentative ; each town of x 20 qualified may fend 
 
 of the adminiftration feems to connive ; for inftance, by a late aft, “ if 
 “ any perfon authorized, (hall exaft or take any reward to d.fcharge 
 « or (pare any (foldiers) from the faid fervice, he lhall forfeit ten 
 “ pounds for every twenty (hillings he lhall fo exaft or take. : n 
 
 this cafe many officers have been notorioufty guilty, but not ca.ted to 
 account. , 
 
 Kk 3 
 
 two 
 
£0 i British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 two reprefentatives •, no town, Bofton excepted (which 
 mav fend four) is at any time to fend more than two 
 reprefentatives. Writs for calling a general aflembly to 
 iffue from the Secretary’s office thirty days before their 
 meeting directed to the Seleft men, as returning officers* 
 the returns to be made into the Secretaiy s office one day 
 at lead before the time prefixed for the meeting of the 
 general aflembly— Forty reprefentatives to conlbtute a 
 houie— Penalty for non-attendance 5 5 . per day. All 
 reprefentatives, with one fon or fervant each, to have per- 
 fonal protection during their feffions, excepting in caies 
 
 of treafon or felony. e 
 
 By aft of aflembly 1693, the qualifications of a voter, 
 
 for a reprefentative, is reduced from the charter quali- 
 fication of 50 1. fterling, principal eftate to 40/. fterhng. 
 
 •_ Reprefentatives muft be freeholders and refidents in th 
 
 town for which they are chofen. .. 
 
 Anno 1 726, no town, under the number of fixty quali- 
 fied leftors, to be obliged to fend a reprefentative- 1730, 
 No town, under the number of eighty qualified electors, 
 
 to be obliged to fend a reprefentative -About one third 
 
 of the townfhips, which have precepts fent them, fend n 
 
 reP He“tfcll into by way of table, the number of 
 precepts iflued out, and the number of members returne 
 to the houfe of reprefentatives, from ten years to ten 
 years (to mention every year would be tedious, and of 
 no ufe) in each county. 
 
 , . wiiuture for reafons bell known to themfelves, do at 
 times jointly vary from theii r former nobo« of yj®“f 
 
 ^ofaoo* lo^'^ThSVburfemlnu granted by parliament were 
 defined to pfy off the public bills of credit, that is, the provincial debt 
 coatrafled by the Cape-Breton expedition. 
 
 A lift 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 
 
 503 
 
 A lift of Precepts fent , and of Returns made 1708 to 1748. 
 
 
 < 1708 
 
 < 1718 
 
 < 1728 
 
 < 1718 
 
 < 1748 
 
 
 Precepts. 
 
 Returns. 
 
 Precepts. 
 
 Returns. 
 
 Precepts. 
 
 Returns. 
 
 Precepts. 
 
 Returns. 
 
 Precepts. 
 
 Returns. 
 
 Suffolk 
 
 *9 
 
 13 
 
 H 
 
 l S 
 
 16 
 
 17 
 
 17 
 
 l 7 
 
 18 
 
 16 
 
 Kflex 
 
 17 
 
 *7 
 
 20 
 
 l 9 
 
 l 9 
 
 18 
 
 20 
 
 20 
 
 l 9 
 
 18 
 
 Middlefex 
 
 22 
 
 18 
 
 20 
 
 20 
 
 28 
 
 2cr 
 
 33 
 
 22 
 
 3 2 
 
 25 
 
 Hampfhire 
 
 - 8 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 7 
 
 1 1 
 
 7 
 
 12 
 
 7 
 
 17 
 
 9 
 
 Worceiter 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 18 
 
 8 
 
 22 
 
 5 
 
 Plymouth 
 
 7 
 
 5 
 
 8 
 
 8 
 
 10 
 
 9 
 
 13 
 
 10 
 
 13 
 
 8 
 
 Barnftap. 
 
 6 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 5 
 
 8 
 
 6 
 
 9 
 
 6 
 
 6 
 
 6 
 
 Brittol 
 
 1 1 
 
 7 
 
 10 
 
 9 
 
 12 
 
 1 1 
 
 15 
 
 10 
 
 ii 
 
 8 
 
 York 
 
 3 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 7 
 
 5 
 
 10 
 
 7 
 
 11 
 
 5 
 
 D. county 
 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 
 13 
 
 
 3 
 
 
 Nan tuck. 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 Total 
 
 97 
 
 74 
 
 9 1 
 
 ’88 
 
 “5 
 
 94 
 
 l i 5 i 
 
 '108 
 
 '>53 
 
 IOI 
 
 N. B. Anno 1731, fome townlhips were taken from 
 the counties of Suffolk, Middlefex, and Hampfhire ; and 
 formed into a new county called the county of Worcefter. 
 
 As this hiftory feems to fwell too much for the peru- 
 fal of the people in our infont colonies, who in general 
 are not bookilh, and do not apply themfelves to r ad 
 books of any confiderable bulk •, I muff forbear infert- 
 ing the long lift of the townlhips in Maffachufetts-Bay 
 province. 
 
 We Ihall here only obferve, that our townlhips or 
 diftri&s of lands, may be diftinguifhed into four forts. 
 
 1 . Incorporated townlhips, which are ferved with pre- 
 cepts, and generally fend reprefentatives ; this year they 
 are in number ninety-five. 2. Incorporated townlhips, 
 which are ferved with precepts, but generally do not 
 fend reprefentatives; this prefent year they are fifty -eight : 
 their number being fo large, is occafioned by their po- 
 verty, which proceeds from their labouring young men 
 being taken away, that is, depopulated by multiplied 
 expeditions, and their being peculated by multiplied 
 taxes Formerly our province tax was from fix thouland 
 
 K k 4 to 
 
504 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 to (in great exigencies) forty thoufand pounds per annum ^ 
 whereas this prefent year 1748, the provincial tax upon 
 polls and efbtes is three hundred feventy-feven thoufand 
 nine hundred ninety-two pounds, and cxcifes doubled: 
 thus they cannot well fpare 30 s. a day, the prefent wages 
 of a reprefentative. 3. Townfhips incorporated, but in 
 exprefs words debarred from fending reprefentatives ; 
 thefe are but few in number, becaufe lately introduced. 
 This feems anti-conftitutional (that as we have no 
 county- reprefentatives) perfons of good eftates real and 
 perfor.al fhould in no manner be reprefented, as if they 
 were aliens, lervants, or (laves. 4. Townfhips or dii- 
 trifts granted to a number of proprietors, but as the con- 
 ditions’ of the grant, particularly the fettling of a certain 
 number of families in a limited fpace of time, are not 
 fully performed, they are not as yet qualified to be con- 
 tinued, by aa of aflembly, with all town privileges-, 
 of thofe there are many, efpecially in thofe lands which 
 lately were taken from the province of Mafiachufetts-Bay, 
 and annexed to the crown in property, and to the pro- 
 vince of New-Hampfhire in jurifdi&ion. N. B. Thjs 
 late boundary line cut off from Mafiachufetts-Bay pro- 
 vince, the continued, but not reprefented townfhips of 
 R uniford and Litchfield upon Merrimack river-, of 
 Winchefter upon Conneaicut river -, with part of the 
 conftituted townfnips of Nottingham and^Dunftable, 
 upon Merrimack river -, part of Groton and Townfhend -, 
 part of Northfield upon Connefticut river : the other 
 diftrifts or grants net incorporated annexed to Tsew- 
 Harr.pfhire, were, Herrys town, Contacook, the nine 
 townfhips commonly called the double row of frontier 
 towns again ft the French and their Indian auxiliaries, 
 the row of four townfhips upon the eaft fide of Connec- 
 ticut river, the row of two townfhips weft fide of Con- 
 ne&icut river, [e] Canada to Gallop and others, Canada 
 
 [>] About twenty years fince, and for fome following years, the ge- 
 neral afi'err.bly of the province were in the humour of dividing apa 
 appropiating 1110ft of the then reckoned provincial or unoccupied 
 
Sect. VIII. Qf Massachusetts-Bay. 505 
 
 to Syl vefter and others. Lower Afliuelot, U pper Afhuelot, 
 Canada to Rowley, Canada to Ipfwich, Canada to Salem, 
 Canada to Beverley, Naraganfet No. 3, Naraganfet 
 No. 5, Lanes New- Bofton, townfhip to Ipfwich; in all 
 twenty-nine grants transferred to New-Hampfhire jurif- 
 didtion : the other granted, but not conflituted town- 
 fhips, which remain in the province of Mallachuletts- 
 Bay, are, in the province of Main, townlhip to Cape- 
 Anne or Gloucefter, townfhip to Powers and others, 
 townfhip to Marblehead, Naraganfet No. 7, Naraganfet 
 
 lands ; that in cafe of future claims by the crown, tfr. by poffeffion 
 they might retain at leaft the property. This was provident and good 
 policy, and accordingly upon fettling the line between the two pro- 
 vinces, the property of the abovefaid dillrifts, was in the commiflicn 
 referved to thefe poffeffors; but lately the heirs and afligns ot Mr. 
 Mafon, original grantee of New-Hampfhire, have intimidated the 
 Maffachufetts proprietors, and brought fundry of them to compound 
 for a valuable quit claim ; whereas, if by contribution of the prefent 
 proprietors (a mere trifle to each of them) they, by petition, had car- 
 ried the affair before the king in council, they would have been quiet- 
 ed in their property, and obviated any further claims, fuch as the 
 claims of colonel Allen’s heirs, Mr. Mafon’s general affignee ; and of 
 the claims of the million purchafe lately revived, which may likewife 
 be converted into bubbles. 
 
 Our general affembly at that time were in fuch a hurry to appro- 
 priate the vacant lands, that feveral old townfhips were encouraged to 
 petition for an additional new townfhip : and when they were fa- 
 tiated, the affembly introduced by way of bounty to the dependents 
 of the foldiers in the Indian war of king Philip (fo called) 1675, and 
 of tl«e foldiers in Sir William Phipp’s expedition againft Canada, anno 
 1 6oo. Thus nine townfhips were granted to each of thefe expeditions ; 
 thus no lands (excepting in the inland back wildernefs of the province 
 of Main) were left to recompence the dependents of the particular 
 fufferers (the province in general was an unaccountable lufferer) in the 
 unforefeen and inconceivable (becaufe rafh) expedition againrt Louif- 
 bourg ; our adminiftration perhaps did not underfiand the doAnne of 
 chances • but by good providence, though the chance was upwards of 
 a million to one againfl us, we gained the prize not by playing away 
 piert (as is the phrafe in Flanders) in bemgk.lled, butby the poltroonry 
 of the French garrifon. '1 his mull not be understood as detrafting 
 from the New England militia troops, who are noted for their courage 
 as bull-dogs (excufe the expreflion) where they fix, they never quit 
 hold, until they conquer, or are cut to pieces. 
 
6 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 No. i, and Philips’s town upon Salmon Falls river-, be- 
 tween Merrimack river and Connedticut river are Ca- 
 nada to Dorchefter, Canada to Ipfwich, Canada to Rockf- 
 bury, townlhip to Welles and others, townlhip to Salem, 
 Nichawoag, Pequioug, Naraganfet No. 6, Naraganfet 
 No. 2, Townfhend. On the weft fide of Connedticut 
 river, are the grants of Fall fight townlhip, of Canada 
 to Hunt, and others; Naraganfet No. 4 , townfliips to 
 Bofton, No. 1, 2, 3, Upper Houfatonick, four more 
 Houfatonicks, and Bedford : making in all grants not 
 incorporated, twenty-eight in the province of Maffachu- 
 fetts Bay not alienated ; and twenty-nine transferred as to 
 jurifdidtion, to the province of New-Hamplhire. 
 
 The affair of the above townlhips is variable, and of 
 no permanent ufe ; but this may ferve a fucure curious 
 hiftorian, as an accurate account for the ftate of the year 
 
 1 749 * 
 
 There are a few things, in which the houfe of repre- 
 fentatives of the province of Maffachul'etts-Bay ;n New- 
 England (which, in all refpedts, is the principal Britilh 
 colony) vary from the practice of the Houle of Com- 
 mons in Great-Britain. I fhall mention two, which 
 muft not be deemed conftitutional, as being only by 
 fundry adts of the general affembly, and conl'equemly 
 if inconvenient, may be repealed or altered by fome iub- 
 fequent adt. 
 
 t. That a reprefentative muft be a [/] refident in the 
 townlhip for which he is eledted. As the reprefentative 
 of a diftridt or townlhip fo called, is not a peculiar 
 agent for that townlhip, but is their quota of reprefen- 
 tation of the whole province in the general affembly ; 
 
 r/1 It is faid, that anno 169;, there were fome Bofton gentlemen 
 reprefentatives for fome of the out-towns, but not agreeable to the 
 then Rev. I. M— th — r ; Mr. B — f — d for Briftol is mentioned ; Mr. 
 
 jyj , of great intereft with the weak governor Phipps, and with the 
 
 devotionaliy bigotted houfe, procured this aft. 
 
 a gentle- 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 507 
 
 a gentleman of good natural interel.1 and refident in the 
 province •, a man of reading, obfervation, and daily con- 
 verfant with affairs of policy and commerce, is certainly 
 better qualified for a legillator, than a retailer of rum and 
 fmall beer called a tavern keeper, in a poor obfcurc 
 country town, remote from all bufinefs-. Thus this 
 countryman will not be diverted from the moft neceffary 
 and beneficial labour of cultivating the ground, his pro- 
 per qualification, to attend flate affairs, of which he may 
 be fuppofed grofly and invincibly ignorant : thus the 
 poor townfhips, by gentlemen at large ferving gratis or 
 generoufly as the quota of the townfhip, will be freed 
 from the growing (in one year, from anno 1747 to 1 74 §, 
 this charge was advanced from 20 s. to ^os. per day) 
 charge of fubfifting an ufelefs reprefentative : therefore, 
 if this claufe of refidence in the aft of aflembly 1693, is 
 not abfolutely repealed, may it not be qualified in this 
 manner ? viz. The rpprefentative, if not a refident in 
 the townfhip, being a refident in the province, fhall have 
 a rent roll of **** per annum in the place, or fhall be 
 the proprietor of **** hundred acres in the townfhip 
 for which he is elected. 
 
 2. That counfellors and reprefentatives do ferve their 
 country upon wages. The honour and pleafure of do- 
 ino- good, is recompence fufficient to a patriot: thus 
 the province will fc] lave a very confiderable part of 
 
 -M As favines, that 5 s frugality, in private ceconomy ,s a confidera- 
 ble lucration, ifo it is in the public charges of government; for in- 
 ftance the taking and maintaining the fort of Louifhourg in the . lfland 
 If Caoe B eton coft Great Britain ; confider.ng other unavoidable 
 nw^not conveniently able to afford fuch an extra charge upon 
 vaft c harg s n„ unavoidably be reftored, to the great dif- 
 
 “pwa'rfs'of of 'rflto 
 
508 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 taxation •, for instance, this prefent year 1 748, the pro- 
 vince would have laved about 25,000 /. The whole an- 
 nual provincial charge from the commencement of the 
 charter, fell fhort of this fum, until anno 1735; that 
 year, the rates were 31,000/. old tenor: thus in time 
 to come two of the negatives would be under no tempta- 
 tion of having their wages augmented by collufion with 
 the third negative ; the governor’s allowance being by 
 them immoderately advanced [/>]. 
 
 The allowances or pay of the three negatives for their 
 fervices, are fettled by themfelves from time to time •, 
 therefore they do not luffer by the depreciation of their 
 own public bills of credit. I Ihall here annex a table 
 (tables contract things into a more eafy, lefs diffufed, 
 and therefore more diftinct view) of the pay of the three 
 negatives in fome fucceffive periods, and of the province 
 rate : the province polls in thefe refpedtive years, fee af- 
 terwards, as taken from the valuation ads : in about 
 feven years period, a valuation or cenfus is made for 
 proportioning the aflelfments of each townlhip or diftrid 
 towards the provincial rate or charge. 
 
 A. D. 
 
 1702 
 
 1 720 
 
 1730 
 
 Govers. 7 
 
 [ Dudley 
 
 Shute 
 
 Belcher 
 
 pr. An. j 
 
 ► 600 
 
 1 200 
 
 2400 
 
 Counf. 1 
 pr. Day ! 
 
 i *'• 
 
 6 /. 
 
 10 /. 
 
 Repre. ] 
 pr. Day J 
 
 \ 
 
 4/. 
 
 6 s. 
 
 Rates. 
 
 6000 
 
 6000 
 
 8000 
 
 ' 74 ° 
 
 ditto 
 
 3600 
 ■S'- 
 10 s. 
 39000 
 
 * 74 $ 
 
 Shirley 
 
 5400 
 
 1 Ss. 
 
 *7 45 
 ditto 
 
 6000 
 1 8 s. 
 
 ! 747 
 
 ditto 
 
 7600 
 
 3°j. 
 
 1748 
 
 ditto 
 
 9600 
 
 40 /. 
 
 12 J. 
 60000 
 
 12/. 
 
 I 20000 
 
 20 J. 30 /. 
 
 168324 381672 
 
 coo, coo/, fterling, a dead lofs to Great-Britain ; whereas a {mail ad- 
 ditional charge in the better garriioning of Annapolis, Placentia, and 
 St. John’s, with a few additional (hips of war from Great-Britain, 
 under the direction of an active commander, fuch as Sir Peter Warren 
 *or Mr. Knowles, would have not only fecured our northern colonies 
 and their trade againft all French armaments, the French being at that 
 time notorioufly weak at fea, but alfo would have cut off all commu- 
 nication betw een Old France, and New France or Canada. 
 
 [h] By a 61 of afTembly, governors are exempted from rates Of 
 taxes j therefore fome governors cafily confent to and laugh at a high 
 tax. 
 
 Any 
 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 509 
 
 Any well-difpofed perfon without doors may fubmif- 
 fively offer advice or propofals, even after a bill is en- 
 abled, becaufe afts are frequently explained or altered 
 by fubfequent acts for the public good : all legifla- 
 tures and their laws ought to be facred and tenderly* 
 ufed, without cavilling or cenfuring. Thus in Great*Bri- 
 tain it has been a practice time out of mind for writers 
 not of the legiffature, freely and decently to give their 
 advice and fchemes. As the affair I mean is only 
 temporary* I jfhall fubjoin it among the annotations [/]. 
 
 [i] It is arrogant, in fome meafure feditious, and a great fin againft 
 the divine initiation of fociety, for any perfon or perfons, to exclaim 
 againft the ads of legiflature ; the following are only fome private 
 (peculations, concerning the negotiating of the late Cape*Breton ex- 
 pedition rcimburfement money, and the fudlien tranfetion from an im- 
 menfe bafe paper-cnrrency, to that good and univerfal medium of 
 filver-money. 
 
 1. The late ad for receiving and negotiating our mmburf&nent 
 money, granted by the parliament of Great Britain, impowers Sir 
 Peter Warren, Mr. Bollan, and Mr. Palmer, or two of them, the faid 
 Bollan to be one ; perhaps the giving of a negative to Mr. Bollan, 
 may difgull the other two gentlemen, fo as to prevent their ading, 
 and coniequently occafion a farther delay of the reimburfment ; did not 
 Mr. Bollan’s being formerly appointed foie agent in this affair, difguft 
 his fellow provincial agent Mr. Kilby, a gentleman of knowledge 
 and fpirit in tranlading of bufinefs ; and occafion a memorial of 
 merchants and others, Sept. 21, 17*8, to the treafury of Great-Britain, 
 to delay the remittance of the reimburfbnent money, for reafons therein 
 fpecified ? This delay is a damage to the country after the rate (l mean 
 the intereft of the money) of 1 i,coo /. ilerling. or 1 10 , goo/, old tenor 
 per annum; as if fome debtors managers, ftudied methods to delay the 
 melioration of the denominations of our currencies, by clogging the 
 affair. 
 
 2. The amount of our provincial debt (that is, of our public bills 
 or paper currency) anno 1748* was about 2,4.05,0^0/. old tenor j by 
 this ad, a part of it 71 2,000/. is to be funk by very heavy rates upon 
 a reduced poor people, in the years 174^ ^d * 749 * 2nd the remain* 
 ing » ,'693,000 /. old tenor, to be redeemed or exchanged by the reim- 
 burfement filvcr ; commillions, freight, infurance, and lome petty 
 
 charges being hrft deduded. 
 
 1 ufe the words, a poor reduced people, t. In conformity to 
 fundry expreflions ufed atTeveml times by the Houle of Reprcfenta- 
 tives, in their meffages to the Governor, “ Wkn public taxes we 
 
 In 
 
510 British Settlements in America. PARf II. 
 
 In this province there feems to be a ftanding fadlion 
 confifting of wrong heads and fraudulent debtors •, this 
 
 arc burdened aim oft to ruin . ,> — ft The province is at a prodigious 
 “ daily charge beyond their lirength, which has involved us in a pro- 
 “ digious load of debt, and in a manner exhauflcd our iubftance.” — 
 
 “ Although the fame difpofition remains, yet we are in a manner 
 44 incapable to promote it (the Britifh intereft) for the future.” 2. 
 The lofs of about 3000 robuft, labouring young men by expeditions; 
 major Little, lately commander of the M attach ufetts- Bay reinforce- 
 ments, feat to Annapolis in Nova Scotia, in his book publifhed in Lon- 
 don 174#, concerning the nature of the prefent trade of our nor- 
 thern colonies, writes, that by multiplied expeditions they had loft 
 7000 men, and many thousands perverted to idlenefs. Here I may, 
 by way of amufement, obferve, that according to the eftimates of 
 political arithmeticians, in ail well fettled countries the numbers of 
 males and females are nearly equal (fome are very particular, and 
 fuppofe eighteen male births, to leventeen female births) therefore as 
 we have lately by expeditions loft about three thoufand young men, 
 there remains with us a balance of three thoufand young women, 
 good breeders, but idle in that refpeft ; the balance may be transferred 
 to fettle Nova Scotia, under the cover of fome regiments of Xoldiers 
 that muft be difbanded, which, in the interim, may be tranfported to 
 Nova Scotia, cantoned, and continued in pay for two or three years, 
 with portions of land, at an eafy quit-rent ; thus the french fet- 
 tlers, our perfidious fubje&s, may be elbowed out. 3. Ihe incon- 
 ceivable decay of our trade and bufmefs c fiftiery and (hip-building 
 are the moft confiderable articles. Formerly from Marblehead, our 
 principal cod fifhery-port, there were about 160 filhing fchooners ; 
 at prefent, 1 74K, only about fixty fchooners : formerly there have been 
 upon the flocks in Bofton 7000 ton of top fail veffels ; at prefent, 
 not much exceeding 2000 tons. 4. Some of our townihips, and 
 -confequently their proportion of taxes, have lately, by the determi- 
 nation of the king in council, been fet off to the neighbouring go- 
 vernments of New Hampftiire and Rhode-ifland. 5. The late hid- 
 den and confiderably enhanced pay of the three negatives of the fe- 
 ci flat ure, notwithftanding exchange, filver, and neceftaries of life 
 (cloathing growing cheaper) being nearly at the fame price anno *747 
 
 3. Our combination of debtors, who formerly were for poftponing 
 of paper- money, all of a fudden, inconfiftently with their proper cha- 
 racter, quidquid id ejl timeo, are for finking all paper currency in the 
 fpace of a year or two ; we may without breach of charity, fufpedt 
 their hurry ing the province into a ftate of confufion, that they may 
 fifh in troubled waters ; perhaps as paper-currency arrived by de- 
 
 fa&ioa 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 51 i 
 
 faction endeavours to perfuade us, that one of our inva- 
 luable charter privileges, is, A liberty to make paper- 
 
 grees to a vaft Turn, and great depreciation; it would be more natural 
 to fink it gradually in the fpace of half a dozen, or half a Score of 
 years ; and by aft of parliament (npt by precarious inftruftions) no more 
 paper-money to be emitted, a governor confenting to any fuchemiflions 
 to be rendered incapable, and mulcted. Notwithftanding that I al- 
 ways was a profefled enemy to all paper, as being a bafe, fallacious, 
 and fraudulent contrivance of a currency, I cannot avoid thinking, that 
 this is the moft falutary method. 
 
 4. The honeft and honourable way of paying a bill, is, accord- 
 ing to the face of the bill ; that is, all bills with us of 6 s. in the face 
 of the bills, (hould be paid in a piece of eight ; whereas, by the aft 
 1748, a piece of eight fhall be received in payments for 1 is. 6 d. new 
 tenor; thus thefe bills in their own pernicious nature, from anno 
 1742 to 1748, have Suffered a difpount of about ioj. in the pound. 
 Mr. S — 1 — >y, in a fpeech or meffage in relation to the firft emiifion 
 of thefe new tenor bills, infinuates, that he had contrived bills which 
 could not depreciate : but notwithftanding, thefe bills have greatly 
 depreciated in paffingfhrough feveral hands ; and as it is impoflible to 
 adjuft the proportion of depreciation in each of thefe heads, it is un- 
 reasonable that the laft poffeflor fhould have the allowance of the 
 fuccdfivc depreciations : therefore the aflembly in equity have al- 
 
 lowed the poflelfor only the current value. But here the aflembly 
 feem to allow tnemfelves to be bankrupts at the rate of 10 s. in the 
 pound, from 1 742 to l 748. Perhaps, if a piece of eight had been in 
 the new projeftiQn enafted equal to 12 s. new tenor, which is 48 s. old 
 tenor, the general price amongft merchants ; it would have been no 
 injuftice to the pofleifor, it would have prevented their being hoarded 
 up, and the reimbursement money would have paid oft* about 6 per 
 cent, more of our debts, that is, cancelled So much more of our ini- 
 quitous currency. N. B. 'Perhaps, the Hating of a piece of eight 
 (Seven eighths of an ounce of Silver) at 6 s. currency, and one ounce of 
 Silver at 6 j. 8</. is out of proportion: the true proportion is 6 s. lod. 
 two Sevenths. 
 
 5. In place offending over the reimbursement in foreign Silver- 
 coin, if the provincial treafurer were empowered from home and 
 here, to draw partial bills for the fame upon the Britilh treafury, or 
 Avhere elfe it may be lodged ; this would Save commiflions, infurance, 
 freight, and Small charges, to the value of about 1 2,oco /. fterling 
 upon the 183,000/ reimbursement, Sufficient to difeharge 120, coo/. 
 Old tenor, of our debts. 1 fhall not fay that private pecuniary views, 
 but not ceconomy are in the cafe. 
 
 Upon the fuppofition of this reimbursement money being remitted 
 
 money* 
 
^ 12 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 money ^ or public bills of credit , receivable in all dealings 
 (fpecialties excepted) as a legal tender, 
 
 by bills of exchange, confuting the bell advantage of the pro- 
 vince ; perhaps by appropriating one half of the reimburfement for 
 that end, 910,000 /. O. T. of our debt or bills would in the mod 
 expeditious manner be inftantly funk ; all merchants, (hop keepers, 
 and others would gladly purchafe with our paper fuch good and 
 pun&ual bills preferable to any other private bills of exchange : the 
 other half of the reimburfement to be by the like bills of exchange 
 purchafed here by filver to introduce a filver currency,. the only pro- 
 per commercial mediu?n ; providentially in favour of this purpofe, we 
 have lately had imported a capture from the Spaniards of fifty-four 
 thefts of filver, which the owners would gladly have exchanged for 
 fuch bills. All merchants and others in Nevv-England and the ad- 
 jacent provinces who fend pieces of eight home as retdrns, or to pur- 
 chafe frelh goods, would be fond of bringing their filver to purchafe 
 fuch good bills free from all the charges of other remittances. Thus 
 befides a filver currency commencing, of 910,000/. old tenor va- 
 lue, we fhall have a remaining paper currency of 1,495,000/. to be 
 cancelled gradually by rates and other taxes, fuppofe in ten years, is 
 about 150,000/. old tenor, or 37,^00 /. new tenor per annum ; 
 thus the two years 174& and 1749, perhaps oppreflively loaded, will 
 be much eafed, and the infatuated paper-currency men made eafy by 
 finking of it gradually; with the provifo of an aft of parliament 
 prohibiting, for ever hereafter, any more public bills of credit to be 
 
 ^Thb remaining 1,495,000/. paper-currency, abftraaing from 
 the 0:0,000/. filver, part of the reimburfement, is more than a 
 fufRcient medium for trade and bufinefs, in a quick circulation, m 
 the province of Maflachufetts-Bay. Let us recoiled, that in the lat- 
 ter part of governor Belcher's adminiftration, 1741 , immediately pre- 
 ceding governor Shirley’s acceilion, this province in its lull vigour 
 and extent of trade, feemed to be fufficiently fupplied, by a fum not 
 exceeding 160,000/ a fund for taxes not alMed, for taxes afleiTed 
 but not colle&ed, and for arrears of loans ; let us fuppoic a like fum 
 of- 160,000/. from the neighbouring governments, obtainea a cre- 
 dit of circulation with us (the four colonies of New- England hither- 
 to as to currencies have been as one province) makes 320 000/. 
 at that time filver was at* 29J. per ounce, at this time, 1748, 1C J. S 
 - c r per ounce; therefore upon this foundation we muft luppolc 
 640*000/. old tenor value, the medium fufficient or require for 
 our trade and bufinefs; whereas we have allowed 1,195, 000/. old 
 tenor value, being more than double that fum, to remain for a paper 
 currency. 
 
 ' jg. Townihips 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 513 
 
 3. By charter all vacant or not claimed lands were 
 veiled in the collective body of the people or inhabi- 
 tants ; and their Reprefcntatives in General Court af- 
 fembledj with confent of the Governor and Council, 
 make grants of their provincial lands to a number of 
 private perfons, to be incorporated, upon certain con- 
 ditions, into townfhips : there are all'o fome peculiar 
 grants which, after fome years, are by aCts of affembly 
 annexed to fome neighbouring townlhip. 
 
 If, in granting thefe lands, they had been fubjeCted 
 to any eafy quit-rent to the province, thefe lands would 
 have fettled compactly, and improved fooner ; whereas, 
 at prefent, fome proprietors of large traCts of lands do 
 not fettle or fell, becaufe being at no charge of quit- 
 rent, and not in the valuation of rates or taxes for the 
 provincial charge of government ; they chule to let 
 them lie unimproved many years, for a market. That 
 this might have been practicable, appears by lands in 
 the townlhip of Hopkinton fubjeCted to an annual quit- 
 rent for the benefit of our provincial feminary, called 
 Harvard-College ; which, notwithftanding of quit-rent, 
 is well fettled and improved; the Rev. Mr. CommifTary 
 Price is their prefent mifiionary minifter, and is a con- 
 fiderable proprietor there under quit-rent. 
 
 The townfhips are generally granted in value of fix 
 miles fquare (fome old grants of townfhips are much 
 larger) to be divided into fixty-three equal lots, viz. 
 One lot for the firll fettled minifter as inheritance ; one 
 lot for the miniftry as glebe-lands ; one lot for the 
 benefit of a fchool ; the other fixty lots, to fixty perfons 
 
 A ftranger may think it unaccountable, that in the beginning of go- 
 vernor Shirley’s adminiflracion, anno 1741, the projected fpeedy can- , 
 celling of about 1 30,000 /. old tenor bills by the taxes for 1 74 1 , fhould 
 be judged too opprelfive for one year, and was therefore divided 
 ainongft three fubfequcnt years ; whereas the 103,000/ new tenor, 
 or 412,000/. old tenor, taxes of 1748 (although we have the reim- 
 burfement money to alleviate this grievous weight) towards the end 
 of his adminiftration, is not lightened. 
 
 Vol. I. , LI 
 
 / 
 
 or 
 
314 British Settlements in America.' Part II. 
 or families, who fhall, within five years from the grant, 
 ereft a dwelling- houfe of feven feet ftud, and eighteen 
 feet fquare, with feven acres cleared and improved, fit 
 for mowing or ploughing •, to ereft a houfe for public 
 worlhip in five years, and maintain an orthodox mini- 
 fter. Every townfhip of fifty, or upwards, houfholders, 
 to be conftantly provided with a fchool-mafter, to teach 
 children and youth to read and write; penalty for negleft 
 20 1 per annuin : as alfo if confiding of 100 or upwards 
 houfholders, they are to maintain a grammar-fchool ; 
 penalty 30 1. per annnm, if confifting of 150 families; 
 penalty 40/. if confifting of 200 families ; and higher 
 penalties pro rata. 
 
 In each townfhip, by a general aft of afiembly, 
 there are conftituted certain town-officers to be elefted 
 at a town-meeting annually in March. I fhall inftance 
 Bofton; for the year 1748 were chofen the following 
 officers: 
 
 Town-Clerk Hayward 
 
 Seven Seleft-Men Ten Cullers of ftaves 
 
 Town-Treafurer Ten Viewers of boards, 
 
 Twelve Overleers of the poor fhingles, fc ? c 
 
 a /V T7 1 m U P 
 
 Seven AfiefTors 
 Ten Firewards 
 Five Sealers of leather 
 Six Fence- Viewers 
 A Surveyor of hemp 
 Informers of deer 
 
 Four Hogreeves 
 Twelve Clerks of the market 
 Two Aflay-Mafters 
 Six Collectors of taxes 
 Twelve Conftables. 
 
 Any man rateable for 20 /. principal eftate to the pro- 
 vince-tax, poll not included, is qualified to vote in town- 
 meetings, excepting in the choice of reprefentatives, 
 which requires a qualification of 40 s. per annum freehold, 
 
 or 40/. fterling perfonal eftate. 
 
 Sometimes portions of adjoining townfhips are by 
 afts of afiembly incorporated into a parifh or precinct, 
 
 for the better conveniency of attending divine lervice ; 
 
 but 
 
 4 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 515 
 
 but in all other refpe&s, excepting in minifterial rates, 
 they belong to their original townfhips. 
 
 The plantations and farms in the old townfhips near 
 Bofton, are generally become fmall, occafloned by a 
 provincial a£t of afiembly, which divides the real, as 
 well as the perfonal, eftate of inteftates, amongft all the 
 children or collaterals : our people are much bigotted 
 to this province-law, and choofe to die inteftate. T his 
 humour is not without its advantages, e. g. where a 
 farm thus becomes fmall, the polTefTor cannot live by 
 it, and is obliged to fell to the proprietor of fome ad- 
 joining farm, and move farther inland, where he can 
 purchafe wafte land in quantities at an eafy rate, to the 
 enlarging of our country improvements. Thus in the 
 former townfhips, which now compofe the county of 
 Worcefter, about forty years fince, there were not exceed- 
 ing 200 families ; whereas in the laft valuation 1742, 
 there were found in that county about 3200 taxable white 
 male perfons ; but our multiplied expeditions fince that 
 time, have diminifhed them much. 
 
 The civil are officers annually chofen by a joint vote of 
 the Board or Council, and Houfe of Reprefentatives, and 
 with the confent of the governor are appointed. 
 
 The Treafurer or Receiver-General. 
 
 The General Impoft-Office. 
 
 The General CommifTary for foldiers, their provifions 
 and ftores, and for Indian trade. 
 
 The Attorney- General. 
 
 Collectors ofExcife, one for each county. 
 
 Public Notaries for the ports of 
 Bofton Newbury 
 
 Salem Plymouth 
 
 Marblehead Barnftable 
 
 Gloucefter Kittery 
 
 Cafco-Bay 
 York County 
 Duke’s County 
 Nantucket. 
 
 N. B. The Attorney- General is annually chofen ; the 
 Governor and Council pretend to have the iole privilege 
 of appointing him •, the Houic of Reprefentativ es .11 
 vv 0 L 1 2 ' therto 
 
516 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 therto have not given up this point, but the perfon ap- 
 pointed by the Governor and Council is the afting officer. 
 
 ^ Becaufe all a6ts of aflembly are required to be lent 
 home for allowance or difallowance ; therefore fome 
 tranfaftions formerly have palled by way of Order or 
 Refolve only. 
 
 A member of the Houfe of ReprefentatiVes is fined 
 20 s. old tenor, for every day’s abfence, without leave or 
 good excufe. 
 
 Every fefiion there is a committee appointed to pre- 
 pare a lift of the travel (twenty miles travel is the lame 
 with one’s days attendance) and attendance of the mem- 
 bers of the houfe for the feffions.— Their wages are paid 
 out of the general provincial fupply or bills of public 
 credit, emitted for the ordinary and extraordinarycharges 
 of the province for the year ; the bills of this article are 
 drawn in again not by a general provincial rate or tax, 
 but by a peculiar rate impofed upon the feveral towns 
 who fend reprefentatives. 
 
 The townfhips that have precepts fent to them, but 
 ■ make no returns, are liable to be fined at the difcretion 
 of the Houfe; but are generally excuied, and perhaps 
 out of fifty delinquents (fome are excufed by law, as be- 
 ing under the number of eighty families) very few are 
 fined. This article, though very fmall, is one of the 
 articles for calling in the public bills of credit from year 
 
 to year. . 
 
 Perhaps an aflembly grant, as is the prelent practice, 
 in the beginning of every year’s aclminiftration of a 
 Governor for his fervices to be done during the next fub- 
 fequent year, may be thus qualified; to be paid after 
 twelve months, if the prefent Governor’s life or admmi- 
 ftration continue fo long, otherwiie in proportion to the 
 time of fervice. We have a remarkable inftance of this 
 in the worthy Governor Burnet; fome Ihort time betore 
 his death, there was a vote of 6000/. for the laft year 
 and current year’s fervice, which, for want of concur- 
 rence, did not take place ; foon after the commence- 
 ment. 
 
Sect. VIII. 0/ Massachusetts-Bay. 5*7 
 
 ment of the then current year. Governor Burnet died, 
 and his heirs received only 3000/. old tenor, for all 
 his fervices, being for about thirteen months : thus the 
 province honeftly faved about 3000/. 
 
 ! The Executive Courts. 
 
 BY charter the General Afiembly are allowed to erc£l: 
 judicatories, to hear and determine concerning pleas,, 
 whether real, peri'onal, or mixt ; and all manner ot 
 crimes capital or not capital. 
 
 In perfonal actions, where the matter in difference 
 doth exceed the value of 300/. fterling appeals are al- 
 lowed to the king in Privy Council, providing fuch ap- 
 peal be made in fourteen days after judgment given ; 
 and that before fuch appeal be allowed, fecurity be 
 given by the appellants in the value of the matter in 
 difference, with cofts and damages, but execution not to 
 be ftaid. 
 
 See the prefent charter, pag. 375. 
 
 Our judicatories in civil actions are thus conftituted: 
 1. All aftions under 10/. old tenor, which may at pre- 
 fent be about ios. fterling are at firft inftance cognizable 
 by a [£] Jullice of Peace. 2. From thence lies appeal 
 to an inferior court, or country court of common pleas ; 
 this court feems to be of no great [/] confequence, and 
 generally ferves, without much pleadings, only to 
 tranfmit it to the fuperior or provincial court, perhaps 
 the moft upright of any in our national plantations or 
 
 U] It has hitherto been too much a praftice to multiply the number 
 of the Juftices of the Peace : This, amongtt other inconveniences (a* an 
 old country Juftice well obferved) “ depreciates the former credit of a 
 “ luftice, as the multiplying of our public bills of credit deprecates our 
 «f currency.” May not afts ofafTemblv be made from time to time, to 
 limit the number of juftices in each county, and their qualifications be 
 
 under feme regulation ? _ , . „ 
 
 [/] The fmallnefs of court-fees multiplies law-fuits, and is a Inare 
 
 for poor people to become litigious. 
 
 J_, 1 3 cplomes t 
 
5 1 8 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 colonies : all aftions not exceeding the value as above, 
 mu it: originate in the inferior courts. 3. From the in- 
 ferior co^rt of common pleas, there is appeal to a fu- 
 perior or provincial court in their circuits; this is alfoa 
 court of oyer and terminer in criminal affairs. 4. From 
 this court there is a review to the fame court of Judges, 
 but of another jury. 5. There lies a privilege of petition- 
 ing the General Affembly, as a court of error, upon pro- 
 per allegations, to order a rehearing before the fame 
 fuperior court : perhaps a court of delegates would have 
 founded better. 
 
 The courts of general quarter- feflions, and inferior 
 court of common pleas, are held at the fame place and 
 time, and according to the laft general appointment 1743, 
 are as follow, per counties : 
 
 Salem. Second Tuefday of July ; laft 
 Tuefday in December. 
 
 Newbury. Laft Tuefday in September, 
 
 Tuefday in December. 
 
 Ipfwich. Laft Tuefday in March. 
 
 Cambridge. Third Tuefday in May. 
 
 Middlefex 
 
 Charleftown. Second Tuefday in Der 
 cember and March. 
 
 Concord. Laft Tuefday in Auguft. 
 
 Springfield. Third Tuefday in May $ 
 laft Tuefday in Auguft. 
 
 Hampfhire 
 
 Northampton. Second Tuefday in Fe- 
 bruary and November. 
 
 Worcefter 
 
 Plymouth. Firft Tuefday in March, 
 Third Tuefday in May, September^ 
 and December. 
 
 Barnftaple 
 
 Barnftaple. Laft Tuefday in June, 
 Third. Tuefday in March, October, 
 and January. Briftoj 
 
 Briftol 
 
Briftol 
 
 York 
 
 Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 519 
 
 C Briftol. Second Tuefday in March, 
 | June, September, and December, 
 e York. Firft Tuefday of April, July, 
 } October, and January. 
 
 /Falmouth. Firft Iueiday in October. 
 CEdgartown. Firft Tuefday in March; 
 Duke s-County j Tuefday j n Odober. 
 
 f Sherburne. Laft Tuefday in March, 
 Nantucket | firft Tuefday in Odober. 
 
 The fuperior courts of Judicature and Affixes. 
 
 Suffolk 
 
 Effex 
 
 Middlefex 
 
 Hampfhire 
 
 Worcefter 
 
 Plymouth 
 
 CBofton. Third Tuefday in Auguft 
 l and February. 
 
 C Salem. Second Tuefday in November. 
 
 I Ipfwich. Second Tuefday in May. 
 
 C Cambridge. Firft Tuefday in Auguft. 
 
 I Charleftown. Laft Tuefday in January, 
 f Springfield. Fourth Tuefday in Sep- 
 { tember. . 
 
 f Worcefter. Third * Tuefday in Sep- 
 
 1 tember. . T 1 
 
 fiymouth < Plymouth. Second Tuefday in July. 
 
 iarnftaple and f Barnfta pi e . Third Tuefday in July. 
 
 Sriftd COU ‘ U) < Briftol. Fourth Wednefday in Odober. 
 ^ork < York. Third Wednefday in June. 
 
 By ad of affembly, occafionally, but not ftatedly, the 
 times of the fitting of thefe fever. 1 ■ courts .mnA 
 
 And, in general, as thefe courts may from ume to cm t be 
 varied by ads of the provincial general affembly , the above 
 
 is only a temporary account. Sheriffs of 
 
 The Juries never were appointed by th 
 
 the counties; every townlhip of £°“ n q uota for die 
 larlv called town-meeting, eleded t 1 • 
 
 county ; but as feme evil, defignmg men upon pam - 
 far occafions, officioufly attended thefe townihip-meet^ 
 
 4 -» 1 4 ° 
 
520 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 ings, in order to obtain a packt or partial Jury ; lately 
 the Jurors are by lot, being partly by chance, partly by 
 rotation. N. B. The privilege of Juries feems to give 
 the people a negative, even in the executive part of the 
 
 civil government. 
 
 In each county the Governor and Council appoint one 
 High-Sheriff with a power of deputizing, and any num- 
 ber of Coroners. 
 
 r The Judges of the feveral courts, appoint the Clerks 
 of their feveral courts, but generally conform to the re- 
 commendation from the Governor. N. B. Judges ffiould 
 be independent of, and in no relpeft under, the direction 
 of a king or of his Governor. 
 
 The other civil courts ; fome are appointed immediate- 
 ly by charter > a court for probate of wills, and granting 
 adminiftrations, which is veiled in the Governor and 
 Council j they appoint a fubftitute, called the Judge of 
 Probate, with a Regifter or Clerk in each county, from 
 which there lies an appeal to the Ordinary, the Gover- 
 nor and Council. 2. In time of war, a Court-Martial 
 by commiffion from the Governor, with confent of the 
 Council, to exercife the Law-Martial upon any inha- 
 bitants of the province — Some are by commiffion from 
 the court and boards in Great-Britain ; 1. A court of 
 Vice- Admiralty, lee p.483. 2. A jufticiary Court of 
 
 Admiralty for trial of pirates, &c. fee p. 484. All thefe 
 have occafionally been formerly mentioned. 
 
 Generally in all our colonies, particularly in New- 
 England, people are much addifted to quirks in the law; 
 a very ordinary country man in New England is almoft 
 qualified for a country-attorney in England. 
 
 In each county, befides the civil officers appointed by 
 Governor and Council, and the military or militia offi- 
 cers appointed by the Governor as Captain -General, there 
 is a County-Treafurer and County- Regifter, or Recorder 
 of deeds or real conveyances ; thefe are chofen by a joint 
 written vote of the qualified voters in each town-Ihip of 
 the county, and forted in the next fubfequent quarter 
 ♦ • ieffions 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 521 
 
 fefilons for the county. The County-Treafurers yearly 
 render and pafs their accounts with a committee of the 
 General- Allembly. 
 
 Taxes and Valuations. 
 
 THE provincial taxes of Maflachufetts-Bay, confift 
 of three articles, Excil'e, Impofl, and Rates. 
 
 1. Excil'e. By a& of Aflembly, after June 29, 1748, 
 for the fpace of three years (the excife [/] is farmed for 
 three years) the following duties, old tenor, lhall be paid, 
 being double of the former excife. 
 
 Every gallon of brandy, rum, and other fpirits dif- 
 tilled, 2 s. 
 
 Wine of all forts, 2 s. 
 
 Every hundred of lemons or oranges, 20/. 
 
 Limes, 8 s. 
 
 The vender or retailer to fwear to the account by him 
 rendered to the farmer •, 20 per cent, for leakage to be al- 
 lowed duty free — Penalty for retailing without licence 
 12/. tcties quoties-, retailers are deemed fuch as fell 
 fmaller quantities than a quarter-Calk or twenty gallons j 
 the taverners, innholders, and other retailers, are not to 
 plead their licence for vending in any other houfe, be- 
 iides that wherein they dwell. Formerly the Collectors 
 were chofen by the General Aflembly -, at prelent the 
 
 Farmers are the Collectors Licences are from thequar- 
 
 ter-leflions of the county, by the recommendation of 
 the 1'eleCt men of the towiWhip, where the taverner or 
 retailer lives. — The Farmer is accountable to the Trea- 
 furer once every year. 
 
 The excife for three fuccedive years from 1748, is 
 doubled ; this with the increale of our rioting and drun- 
 kennefs, introduced partly by our idle military expedi- 
 tions, has increafed the revenue of import upon liquors 
 
 [/] Bofton, with the reft of the county of Suffolk’s excife, is farmed 
 for 10,000/. old tenor, being about 1000/. flerling fer annum . 
 
 imported, 
 
£j2 2 British Settlements in America# Part II* 
 
 imported, and excife upon home confumption, but much 
 to the damage of private families, and the oeconomy of 
 
 the country in general. 
 
 The impoft and excife of 1710, 1711, I7i2> did not 
 exceed a l'um of 7000 1. old tenor. 
 
 1715 were eftimated at 7000 1. old tenor. 
 i7_6 impoft 5200/. Excife 3600/. 
 
 1747 Excife, impoft, and tonnage 17,616/. 
 
 1748 33>4-8°^ 
 
 2. Impoft the tonnage by aft of Afiembly, June 
 1748: for one year; fait, cotton-wool, provisions, the 
 growth and produce of New-England ; prize-goods 
 condemned in any part of the province, and goods from 
 Great-Britain, are exempted from impoft. 
 
 The impoft payable, is 
 
 Wines from the Weftern Ifiands per pipe 4 l. old tenor, 
 Madeira, and other forts ' 7 
 Rum per hogfhead of 100 gallons 
 Sugar 
 M Ufles 
 
 Tobacco 
 Logwood per ton 
 
 All other goods 4 d. for every 20 s • value - 
 
 Foreign goods imported from other places, than that 
 of their growth and produce, to pay double impoft. 
 Upon re-fhipping for exportation to be drawn back 
 per pipe of Weftern Iflands wine 3 /• 
 
 Madeira and other forts 3 I2J - 
 
 per hoglhead of rum , 3 l - 
 
 For liquors allowed 12 per cent, for leakage, and de- 
 cayed liquors, or where two thirds are leaked out, ffiall 
 be accounted as outs free of duty- Stores may be al- 
 lowed to the mafter and feamen, not exceeding 3 per 
 cent, of the lading. 
 
 The general Impoft-Officer or Receiver may appoint 
 Deputies in the out-ports ; the general Impoft-Officer, 
 his ialary is 200/. old tenor; and to each Deputy in 
 the out-ports, not exceeding 40 /. old tenor per annurn^ 
 
 5 l - 
 
 4 l. 
 
 2 s. 
 
 \ 6 d. 
 
 2 l. 
 
 3 *• 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 523 
 
 All forfeitures are one half to the province, and half to 
 the informer ; the informer’s part to bear the charges 
 of fuit — The fee to the Impoft- Officer, for every fingle 
 entry, is 2 s . — Mafters of veffels to report their veffels 
 and cargoes within the fpace of twenty-four hours. 
 
 All veffels not belonging to GreatBritain, Penfylva* 
 tiia, Eaft and Weft Jerfeys, New-York, Connecticut, 
 New-Hampfhire, and Rhode-ifland, or any part of a 
 veflel not belonging as above, Jfhall pay every voyage a 
 pound of good piftol powder per ton, called tonnage. 
 
 The naval officer is not to give letpaffes to any veffel 
 outward bound, ’till impoft and tonnage is certified as 
 paid. 
 
 3. Rates are taxes upon polls and eftates •, polls are 
 all white men of 16 JE t. and upwards ; eftates are leal, 
 perl'onal, and faculty, or income arifing from their trade 
 and bufinefs. 
 
 At the commencement of the new charter, the tax- 
 ation was by — number of rates ; a fingle rate was 12 d. 
 poll, and id. upon 20 s. principal eftate ; fix years in- 
 come of eftate real, perfonal, and faculty, is deemed as 
 the principal. Anno 1692, to pay off Sir William 
 Phipp’s unfuccefsful Canada expedition, a tax of • o s. 
 poll, and one quarter value (is 5 s. in the pound) of one 
 years income of eftate, real, perfonal, and faculty, was 
 computed to raife 30,000 1 . [*»]. At this time the poll is 
 generally 3 d. upon every 1 000 1 . rate, and for every 
 12 d. poll, id. rate. 
 
 [ot] About twenty years after the New-England revolution, anno 
 1710, towards the charges of the expedition againft Port-Royal, now 
 Annapolis-Royal, the quotas of the four New-England colonies 1 or 
 
 At prefent, 1749, Conneflicut much exceeds that proportion in men, 
 jnd Rhode ifland much exceeds that proportion in effeQs. 
 
 jevery 1000/. was in this proportion. 
 
 1. s. d. 
 
 638 7 9 
 
 Maflachufetts-Bay 
 
 Conneflicut 
 
 Rhode-ifland 
 
 New-Hampfhire 
 
 194 14 3 half-penny 
 
 1 1 1 5 3 half-penny 
 
 55 iz 6 
 
 Affeffors 
 
524 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 A fie (Tors are to eftimate houfes and lands at fix years 
 income, as they are or may be let, Negro, Indian, and 
 Mulatto flaves, proportionably as other perfonal eftate ; 
 an ox of four years old and upwards at 8 /. old tenor ; 
 a cow of three years old and upwards at 6 1 . ; a horfe or 
 mare of three years old and upwards at 8 /. ; afwineof 
 one year old and upwards at 32 s-i a fheepor goat of one 
 year old and upwards at 1 2 s. 
 
 As townfhips, in like manner as private perfons in 
 procefs of time, alter -their circumftances •, for the 
 more equal adjuftment of their quotas of taxes, there 
 is after a number of years (generally once in feven years) 
 a luftration or cenfus, called a valuation, made through- 
 out the province; there is, anno 1749, a valuation on 
 foot, laft valuation was 1 742 ; there were valuations 
 1734, 1 728, &c. We fhall here infert the valuations of 
 each county, and of fome of the townfhips the higheft 
 and the loweft valued, as a iample of the whole ; being 
 their proportions in every 1000 1 . rate. 
 
 Before i 278'Since 1742, 
 
 Counties of Suffolk 287 
 Elfex 198 
 Middlefex 171 
 Hampfhire 55 
 PI v mouth 77 
 Briftol QS 
 Barn fta pie 66 
 York 37 
 
 Duke's County n 
 Nantucket 1 3 
 Worceftcr 
 
 268 
 
 196 
 
 138 
 
 54 
 
 'l 
 
 96 
 
 42 
 
 s l 
 
 6 
 
 60 
 
 Before 1728, 
 
 Since 1 
 An. 1734. 
 
 742, 
 
 Bofton 185 
 
 743 
 
 1 80 
 
 Salem 27 
 
 28 
 
 30 
 
 Ipfwich 26 
 
 28 
 
 27 
 
 Newberry 22 
 
 23 
 
 2 6 
 
 Marbleh. 20 
 
 20 
 
 19 
 
 Charleft. 1 7 
 
 *9 
 
 *3 
 
 Damn. 16 
 
 H „ 
 
 >5 
 
 Hadley 5 
 
 5 8 c half 
 
 
 Stow 3 
 
 3 
 
 2 half 
 
 Bellingham 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 Townfhend 
 
 
 half 
 
 Worcefter, July io, 1731, was taken out of the counties 
 of Suffolk, Middlefex, and Hampfhire, . 
 
 The Afieflbrs may abate or multiply upon particular 
 rates, fo as make up the fum fet upon each town or 
 
 diftridt. , „ 
 
 The exempted from polls and rates, are, the Governor, 
 
 Lieutenant-Governor, and their families ; the President, 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 525 
 
 Fellows, and Students of Harvard-college ; fettled mi- 
 nifters and grammar fchool -m afters *, and perfons by 
 age, infirmities, and extreme poverty, to be deemed as 
 invalids. 
 
 Taxes may be paid, not only in public bills, emitted, 
 but in certain fpecies [«] of goods, formerly called ftock 
 in the Treafury •, but as thele goods are receivable in the 
 Treafury, at a value not exceeding half their market- 
 price, it cannot be fuppofed, that thefe goods will be 
 brought into the Treafury : thefe goods are, coined filver 
 and gold, merchantable hemp, merchantable ifle of Sable 
 cod-fifh, bar iron, bloomery iron, hollow iron ware, In- 
 dian corn, winter rye, winter wheat, barley, barrel pork, 
 barrel beef, duck, long whale bone, merchantable cor- 
 dage, train oil, bees wax, bayberry wax, tried tallow, 
 peafe, fheeps wool, and tanned fole-leather. 
 
 The ways and means are apparently very eafy, but in 
 confequence ruinous, being only a manufafture of pub- 
 lic bills of credit, without limitation of quantity, not in- 
 cumbered with any intereft, and not to be redeemed till 
 after many years •, that ftrangers may have a diftindt view 
 of our depreciating oeconomy, I fliall annex a table of 
 our prelent currency in bills, which is our only fund, as 
 they ftood Chriftmas 1748. The lateral left-hand co- 
 lumn, is the times when they were emitted j the top line 
 • is the periods at which they are redeemable. 
 
 [«] In the firfl years after the New-England revolution, at the firfl 
 emi/Iion of the fraudulent public bills of credit, as a currency j 
 their tenor was — This indented hill of ***** due from the Majjachu- 
 fetts -Colony to the pqffeftor Jhall he in value equal to money ; and Jball 
 be accordingly accepted by the Treafurer, and Receivers ful ordinate to him , 
 in all public payments, and for any ftock at any time in the Treafury* 
 Soft on in New-England, February the third, 1690 ; By order of the Ge- 
 neral Court. M that time the ways and means to fupply the an- 
 nual charges of government was by fo many /ingle rates (as in 
 Germany by Roman months, and in Scotland by months cels) whereof 
 a certain proportion was receiveable at the *1 reafury in money, and a 
 certain proportion in produce and goods enumerated, and at a fixed 
 price, which w ere called flock in the Treafury to be fold for provincial 
 bills. 
 
 To 
 
This 
 
 Emitted 
 
 To be drawn in by Rates, to be cancelled. 
 
 £. | 17+8 
 
 1747 Feb. .2COOOO 
 [a] April 200000 
 jdyzSpooo 
 Augnff 280000 
 Dece m ber! 2 00000 
 
 1746 March j 8ocoo 
 
 [f] Juneh 28000 
 
 July 1 00000 
 
 Auguft 
 
 [J] Septemb 
 
 November 
 
 1747 [ej Feb, 
 i/] April 
 
 82800 
 
 October 
 1748 Feb 
 
 80000 
 40c 00 
 80800 
 32800 
 80000 
 June 32000 
 
 1 36000 
 100000 
 
 June 400000 
 
 Total 
 
 1749 
 
 I coooo 
 
 2 COOO 
 
 1750 
 
 I OOOOO 
 
 39OOO 
 
 32OOO 
 
 I 360OO 
 
 I0OOOO 
 
 409800 
 
 4OOOO 
 
 4OOOO 
 
 5 4OOOO 
 
 40000 
 
 ( 7 ?i lj 7 £* 
 
 i35so° 
 
 135200 
 
 U 31 
 
 I4OOOO 
 
 *754 
 
 140000 
 
 1211 
 
 175 6 
 
 f OCOOO 
 
 40000 
 
 140000 135200,135^ 
 
 I 40000 
 
 1 40000 
 
 1 40000 
 
 l OOOOO 
 
 40000 
 
 *757 
 
 80000 
 
 25000 
 
 20200 
 
 1758 
 
 80000 
 
 25000 
 
 202000 
 
 1 40000] 1 25000! 1 25 200 1 
 
 *759 
 
 1760 
 
 80000 
 
 25000 
 
 20200 
 
 125200 
 
 80000 
 
 25000 
 
 20200 
 
 125 000 
 
 \a\ Part of this was cancelled by the taxes of 1747- , + f uv«ir 
 
 P Of*. „ 6 =o / 6 , reptefentatives, w* ottOd b *« •***>* m i, P„. 
 
 [;] S£ r^^‘” VC '' ” 7 ^ S& « ' 747 - If) H» » 
 
Sect. VIII.* Of Massachusetts-Bay. 527 
 
 This table is reduced to old tenor, becaufe our cur- 
 rent way of computing is by old tenor ; the denomina- 
 tions of middle tenor and new tenor, are too whimfical 
 and captious to take place. Thus the debt of the pro- 
 vince, exeunte 1748 was 2,466,712/. contracted in the 
 fpace of four years, by projecting whimfical expeditions 
 (lucrative to the projectors, but pernicious to the pro- 
 vince) from certain applications, not rejected at home by 
 the miniftry, becaufe the populace are pleafed and amufed 
 with expeditions. 
 
 There muft be a confiderable addition to the taxes 
 of every year, fubfequent to 1 748, for the annual charges 
 of government. 
 
 The cancelling of bills each year is by four different 
 funds*, thus the fum of 415,5x2/. bills of old tenor is 
 brought in. 
 
 But excite, impoft, and tonnage f. 33, 80 
 
 Fines of townlhips delinquent in reprefen- 
 tatives 360 
 
 Polls and rates 364,000 
 
 Townfhips tax for reprefentatives of laft 
 year 17,672 
 
 Total 415,512 
 
 The town of Bofton paid of that year’s tax 
 
 £■ 65,520 
 
 Our annual fupplies or appropriations are in fundry 
 articles; thus of the 400,000/. old tenor emifiion anno 
 1748. 
 
 For garrifons, armed veffels, forces upon the eaftern 
 . and weftern frontiers £. 1 60,000 
 
 Warlike ftores and commiffaries difburfments 136,000 
 Allowances and grants 72,000 
 
 Expended where no eftablifhment 1 2,000 
 
 Contingencies 2,000 
 
 Reprefentatives wages 18,000 
 
 Total /. 400,000 
 Not 
 
r2 g British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 Not long fince there were extra (immenfely chargeable) 
 articles of expeditions to Cape-Breton, Canada, fcfr. [#]. 
 
 In pratitude, we ought not to forget the cotnpaffio- 
 nate goodnefs of the parliament of Great-Biitain, the 
 parent of all our colonies. The expences of the pro- 
 vince of Maffachufetts-Bay, in taking, repairing and 
 fecuring of Louifbourg on Cape-Breton, till May 1746* 
 
 r„] To reprefent at one view the vad depreciated promifcuous pa- 
 per currency, or rather public debt of the colonies of New-England, 
 
 as it is at prefent. , r ,, 
 
 Emitted by Maflachufetts-Bay 4 * 2,400,712 
 
 Conne&ieuc about 281,000 
 
 Rhode-illand about 550,000 
 
 New-Hampfhire about ^ 450,000 
 
 Thus the prefent depreciated ( 1 o for 1 fterling in round numbers) 
 
 New-England paper currency is about 3,748,000 /. 
 
 The parliament reimbursements on account of the reduction or 
 Louiibourg, when received will cancel to Maflachufetts-Bay about 
 
 £• 1,8^6,490 
 
 Conne&icut 280 000 
 
 Rhode-illand 63,000 
 
 New Hamplhire 163,000 
 
 £, 2,342,3^0 
 
 There will remain about i ,405,000 /. New-England currency ; to this 
 iuft be added about 5 percent, deducted from the reimburfement 
 money for charges of receiving and tranfmittmg about 1 17,000/. is 
 nearly one million and a half remaining currency. 
 
 Connecticut (that colony is managed by men of wifdom and pro- 
 bity) has not much more outftanding public bills of creuit, than their 
 reimburfement grant from the parliament may redeem. 
 
 New-Hampfhire has about 450,000/. old tenor value ; their reim- 
 burfement may fmk in round numbers, about 150,000/. there wil 
 
 Sm abou^oo^oo/. About one third of the whole was lent to 
 [he Inhabitants upon mortgages to the government at a long period; 
 he remainder, excepting fome fmall fums for the charges, of go vern- 
 ment was iffued towards the late abortive Canada expedition and has 
 no other fund for drawing it in again, betides fome expeditions of be- 
 ing reimburfed the Canada expedition charges. , r ,/ 
 
 Rhode-ifland may have about 550,000/. old tenor, whereof 75,000/. 
 JlWMk b, bill, of t«ch»ng«>own on thoir 
 the Canada expedition ; 6o,oo o/. wih be lunk y **- - 
 
 reimburfement; there will remain about 41 5,000/. lent : tyM >*»«« 
 gages (of long periods, reaching lo tar as anno 176;) to the gotem 
 
 menC - «h«i 
 
* Y\ 
 
 Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 529 
 
 when his majefty’s regular troops arrived there to de- 
 fend it, amounted to 261,700/. new tenor paper New- 
 England currency, which, according to the exchange of 
 that time, amounted to 183,649/. fterling; but when 
 the accounts were fent home, our currency was fo much 
 depreciated, that the 261,700 /. new tenor, was in 
 value equal only to 104,680/. fterling; making a differ- 
 ence of 78,969/. fterling. This produced a queftion at 
 court and in parliament ; whether the faid province 
 ought to be paid a fterling fum, equal in value, to the 
 fum in bills of credit, expended upon the expedition, 
 according to the value of thefe bills at the time the ex- 
 pence was contra&ed, or only a fterling fum, equal to 
 the value of thefe bills in their prefent depreciated ftate ? 
 In goodnefs they determined according to the favourable 
 fide of the queftion, and allowed us the full fum of 
 183,649 /. fterling. 
 
 Number of inhabitants , produce , manufaSlures , trade, and 
 tnifcellanies. 
 
 INSTEAD of imaginary eftimates, I conceived it 
 might be of better credence to adduce loofe records and 
 public accounts of things. 
 
 Before I proceed, I muft make this general remark ; 
 that our forwardnefs towards expeditions may have oc- 
 cafioned the court of Great-Britain to deem us felf-fuf- 
 ficient ; from 1739 to 1749, m t ^ e Spanifh and french 
 war, Great-Britain lent us only the Succefs, a fixth rate 
 man of war for a few months ; whereas in times of the 
 profoundeft peace we had a conftant ftationed man of 
 war from Great-Britain. Our provincial armed veffels 
 at a great charge, befides their ferving as Tenders to 
 the Britilh fquadrons in the affair of Cape-Breton, their 
 only lervice leems to have been the eafy capture of a 
 French privateer Hoop captain Dela Brotz, no man kill- 
 ed on either fide ; the fault was not in the New-England 
 men (they are always forward in fervice) but in the ma- 
 nagement perhaps. . 
 
 Vo 1.. I Mm Anno 
 
 M m 
 
53Q British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 Anno i6«6, we had three regiments militia, Suffolk, 
 Middlelex, and Eflex; anno 1671, three more regiments 
 were formed, viz. Norfolk or Pifcataqua, Yorkfhire or 
 province of Main, and Hampfhire upon Connefticut 
 river ; Pifcataqua regiment is now in the province of 
 New-Hampfhire, the other two continue undivided large 
 regiments (perhaps Yorkfhire regiment has lately been 
 divided) anno 1748, Hampfhire regiment, colonel 
 Stoddard, was about 2600 •, York regiment. Sir William 
 Pepperell, 2755 •, thefe, with Bofton regiment colonel 
 Wendell of 2500 men, are large enough to be fubdivided 
 
 into battallions. _ . , . 
 
 Anno 1 706, the militia of Mafiachufetts-Bay m their 
 addrefs to the queen call themfelves twelve regiments. 
 
 Anno 1 7 1 1 , Admiral Walker upon the Canada expe- 
 dition, demanded of the government of Maffachufetts- 
 Bay, a fupply of failors the governor and council re- 
 prelented, that their ordinary garrifons, forces upon the 
 inland frontiers, and men detached for the Canada ex- 
 pedition, were upwards of 2000 men, which are more 
 than one fifth of the fencible men of the province. 
 
 In the fpring anno 1722, the fmall-pox being over, 
 by order of the Seleft-men, Mr. Salter made a perluf- 
 tration of the town of Bofton; he reported 10,67® 
 fouls ; this fmall-pox time 5980 perfons were feized 
 with this diftemper whereof 844 died, and about the 
 fame number fled from Bofton: thus we may eftirnate 
 about 12,000 people in Bofton at the arrival of the 
 fmall-pox. After twenty years anno 1742, by anew 
 valuation, there were reported 16,382 iouls in Bofton, 
 add to thefe fome men lately gone upon the Cuba ex- 
 pedition, feveral fons and apprentices designedly over- 
 looked to cafe the quota of Bofton’s provincial tax, we 
 may reckon about 18,000 inhabitants at that time; thus 
 in the fpace of twenty years, from 1722 to 1742, Bofton 
 inhabitants had increafed one third, or 6000. Taking his 
 in another view; anno 1720, a year of middling health, 
 and immediately preceding the fmall-pox, the bunalsm 
 
 4 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachussetts-Bay. 53 i 
 
 Bofton were nearly 345 ; by philolbphical and political 
 arithmeticians it is eftimated that in a healthful country 
 (fuch is Bofton) [/>] in thirty-five dies per annum is nearly 
 12,000 inhabitants; anno 1742, a year of middling 
 health in Bofton, were buried about 515 ; by thirty five, 
 makes nearly 18,000 inhabitants. In the valuation of 
 1742, of thofe in Bofton were 1200 widows, x 000 of 
 them poor; in the alms-houfe in, in the work-houfe 
 thirty-fix, Negroes 1514; dwelling- houfes 1719, ware- 
 houfes 166, horfes 418, cows 141. 
 
 1 722, Governor Shute returned to England ; in his re- 
 port to the Board of Trade and Plantations, he fays, that 
 in the province of Maflfachufetts-Bay, where 94,000 peo- 
 ple, whereof 1 5,000 were in the training lift (the alarm 
 lift males from 16 JEt. and upwards, is about one third 
 more than the training lift, becaufe many are excufed 
 from imprefies and quarterly trainings) difpofed into 
 fixteen regiments of foot, and fifteen troops of horfe. 
 About 2 5,000 ton of (hipping in the two collections of 
 Bofton and Salem at that time. 
 
 In the valuation of anno 1728, for Bofton were about 
 3000 rateable polls, males from 16 JEt. and upwards, 
 which is nearly the fame with the alarm lift : For in- 
 ftance, anno 1 735 the rateable polls in Bofton were 3637 ; 
 anno 1733 the alarm lift was about 3500, which al- 
 lowing for two years increafes is nearly the fame. N. B. 
 about this time, captain Watfon, one of the Afleflors, in 
 curiofity examined the books ; he found the church of 
 England people charged not exceeding one tenth of the 
 rates or taxes in the town of Bofton. 
 
 1735, The provincial valuation was 35,427 polls 
 (white men of 16 aetat. and upwards) 2600 Negroes, 
 27,420 horfe kind of three years old and upwards, 52,000 
 neat cattle of three to fouryears old and upwards, 130,000 
 fheep of one year old and upwards. 
 
 174.2, In devaluation were 41,000 white men’s polls. 
 
 f>] Prom the efti mates of Drs. Halley and Newman, of thirty-five 
 births, eighteen are boys, feventeen are girls. 
 
 Mm2 
 
 1 749 » 
 
532 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 1749, A valuation is on foot, but not finilhed; here 
 will be confiderable deductions. 1. Trade much de- 
 cayed, and taxes inlupportably high has obliged many 
 to leave rhe provi ce. 2. Men annexed to New-Bamp- 
 fhiie and Rhode- ifland. 3. Deaths occafioned by the 
 Cape-Breton expedition. 4. Loft in the Minas of Nova 
 Scotia French mafiacre. 5. Killed and captivated upon 
 our frontiers by the French and Indians. 
 
 1747, The houfe of reprefentatives, in a meflage to 
 the governor, fay, that 3000 is about one twelfth ot our 
 fencible men. 
 
 As by charter the general aflembly of the province is 
 impowered to create judicatories for trying all cafes civil 
 or criminal, capital or not capital •, accordingly by act ot 
 aflembly in the beginning of the French war, Auguft 
 1 744 ; the commanders in chief, may at any time call a 
 Court martial, which, for mutiny or defertion, may in> 
 flidt death. 
 
 Although in fucceflion of years, things vary much i 
 we Ihall for the information of the curious of after 
 times, infert the prefent ceconomy of our officers civil, 
 land military, and fea military. N. B. Exchange be- 
 ing ten to eleven, New-England old tenor currency for 
 one fterling. 
 
 Allowances old tenor to civil officers for 1748* 
 
 To the Governor 
 
 Secretary with extras 
 Five Judges of fuperior court 
 Treasurer with extras 
 Com miliary with extras 
 Prefident of College 
 ProfelTor of Divinity 
 Clerk to Reprefentatives 
 Door-keeper 
 Two Chaplains 
 
 9,600 
 800 
 4000 
 1400 
 1600 
 1400 
 200 
 480 
 3 20 
 80 
 
 the 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 533 
 
 The land military efiablifhment for Cape-Breton, 1 745. 
 
 /. 
 
 To the Lieutenant-General per month 60 
 
 Colonel 48 
 
 Lieutenant-Colonel 40 
 
 Major 34 
 
 Captain of forty to fifty men 1 8 
 
 Lieutenant 1 2 
 
 Second Lieutenant or Enftgn 8 
 
 Adjutant-General 1 8 
 
 Adjutant to a regiment 12 
 
 Serjeant ‘ 6 8 
 
 Corporal 5 
 
 Clerk 6 
 
 Quarter-Mafter-General 16 
 
 Surgeon-General 28 
 
 Surgeon of a regiment 2 5 
 
 Surgeon’s mate 18 
 
 Drum Major 6 
 
 Common drum 5 
 
 Chaplain 24 
 
 Armourer of a regiment 10 
 
 Commifiary of ditto 12 
 
 Three thoufand centinels, each 5 
 
 12 
 
 8 
 
 8 
 
 12 
 
 The artillery ejlablifhment for Cape-Breton.^' 
 
 To the Firffc Captain per month 36 
 
 Engineer 34 
 
 Second Captain 20 
 
 Firft Lieutenant 
 
 Three Lieutenants, each 8 
 
 Firft Bombardier 34 
 
 Three ditto, each 8 
 
 Four affiftants, each 8 
 
 Thirty Gunners, each 8 
 
 The artificers for the train were twelve houfe- carpenters, 
 and four Ihip-carpenters, commanded by captain Barnard. 
 
 r Mm3 The 
 
£34 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 The General was allowed 2000/. for extraordinary 
 contingent fer vices, to be accounted for. 
 
 The encouragement to private men for inlifting was 
 4 1. bounty, one month’s advance wages, a blanket, 20 s. 
 fibfiftence, which was afterwards advanced to 30 s. per 
 week ; their firelocks to be dedufted out of their wages. 
 
 By follicitation from hence, orders came from home 
 to raife two regiments of 1000 men, regular troops, each 
 for Louifbourg garrifon •, but by a good providence in 
 favour of the country, they never could be rendered 
 effective, and probably upon Louifbourg’s being eva- 
 , cuated, theie men may return to their labour, for the 
 benefit of this country. 
 
 To the fea military ejlab]ijhment , 1745. 
 
 /. <• 
 
 To the Captain per month 22 
 
 Lieutenant. 14 8 
 
 Mafter j 2 8 
 
 Surgeon 12 8 
 
 Chaplain 12 8 
 
 Gunner 10 
 
 Boatlwain 10 
 
 Mate jo 
 
 Boatfwain’s Mate 9 
 
 Steward 9 
 
 Cook 9 
 
 Gunner’s Mate 9 
 
 Pilot 11 4 
 
 Carpenter 1 1 
 
 Cooper 9 
 
 Armourer 9 
 
 Coxfwain 9 
 
 Quarter- Mafter 9 
 
 Midlhipmen 10 IQ 
 
 Common failors 8 
 
 AT. B. Anno 1 745, in the time of the Cape Breton ex* 
 pedition, exchange with Londpn was feven and a half for 
 
 one i 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 535 
 
 one; afterwards, as our currency depreciated, tailors 
 could not be got at thefe nominal wages, and a com- 
 mon Tailor’s wages was fet at lol. per month.— In the 
 winter months, when our armed vefiels are laid up, the 
 Captain, Gunner, Boatfwain, and three common failors 
 
 only are kept Our inland frontier fummer forces (m 
 
 time of war) are reduced to one third of their comple- 
 
 ment in winter. 
 
 Anno 1743, the year preceding the French 
 dian war, our military charges were very fmall. 
 
 Caftle William in Bofton bay 
 Richmond fort on Quenebec river 
 Brunfwick fort on Amarefcogin river 
 Pemaquid tort eaft ot Sagadadock 
 St. George’s fort near Penoblcot 
 Saco river fort 
 
 Fort Dummer on Connedicut river 
 Province ftore Hoop 
 
 and In- 
 
 Men 
 
 40 
 
 jo 
 
 6 
 
 6 
 
 *3 
 
 *3 
 
 16 
 
 10 
 
 114 
 
 The parties in Maffachufetts-Bay at prefent, are not 
 the Loyal and Jacobite, the governor and country \V hig 
 and Tory, or any religious fedary denominations, but the 
 DebS7a’nd the' Creators. The Debtor fidej* 
 the afcendant ever fince anno 1741, to the 
 
 FU Our bad" oeconomy is very n0 J n0 “ s *. for m _ 
 fta^a Z 1725. Caftle V, llbm in Bofton harbour was 
 
 victualled at 7 J per ™“' P er b "“^ * f depreciations, 
 tualling was 3 PjU ’ v 0 f our labouring young 
 labour fo dear, that produce or nsa- 
 Saure any country^ ^"“icetSiowance 
 
5 3 6 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 one pound of bread per day, half a pint of peafe per day, 
 two pounds of pork for three days, and one gallon of mo- 
 lafies for forty-two days -, marching allowances perday, one 
 pound of bread, one pound of pork, and one gill of rum. 
 A centinel or private loldier’s pay per month was, anno 
 1742, 30 s. old tenor-, anno 1744, at the breaking 
 out of the French and Indian war, it was advanced to 
 5/. anno 1747, 61 . 5 s. anno 1748, 8/. A Captain’s 
 wages were double, and the other officers in proportion. 
 
 The encouragement for privateers commiffioned by 
 the governor, was 10/. old tenor per head, for each 
 enemy killed or taken prifoner ; and captures made by 
 the provincial armed vellels were to be diftributed, to 
 the Captain two eighths, to the Lieutenant and Matter 
 one eighth, to the warrant officers one eighth, to the petty 
 officers one eighth, to the common failors three eighths ; 
 aboard the provincial privateers, the victualling allow- 
 ance was to each man per week, fevcn pounds of bread, 
 feven gallons of beer, three pounds of beef, four pounds 
 of pork, one quart of peafe, and one point of Indian 
 corn. 
 
 The Captains are to make up their mutter rolls -, and 
 the Commilfaries their accounts before the men are paid 
 off. 
 
 The alacrity of the New-England militia may be ob- 
 ferved, by the alarm from d’Anville’s Brett French 
 fquadron, end of September 1746 ; in a very ffiort time 
 6400 men from the country, well armed, appeared in 
 Bofton common, fome of them (e. g. from Brookfield 
 travelled feventy miles in two days, each with a pack (in 
 which was provifion for fourteen days) of about a bulhel 
 corn weight : Connecticut was to have fent us 6000 men, 
 being one half of their training lift ; thefe men were 
 paid by the province for their travel and attendance. 
 
 The fedtion concerning the province of Maffachufetts- 
 Bay, is fwelled fo much, that fome heads in common 
 to all N,ew-England, ffiall be deferred to the following 
 New-England fedtion, and atprefent only mention 
 
 Timber 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 537 
 
 Timber of many forts. Many kinds of pine trees : 
 whereof the principal are the white pine, a beautiful tree 
 of the beft ufe for mailing, and joiners work ; and the 
 pitch pine, the mother of turpentine, tar, pitch, oil 
 of turpentine and refin. Various kiuds of oaks •, the 
 principal for fhip-building, and other conftrudions, are 
 the white oak, - the beft, the fwamp oak, and the black 
 oak. 
 
 [?] Grain of various forts : fcarce any of them are na- 
 tives or fpontaneous. Indian corn is the principal ; rye 
 thrives tolerably ; as do likewife phafeoli or kidney beans 
 of feveral forts, called Indian or French beans ; all the 
 varieties of Englifh grain are fown, but do not grow 
 kindly. Apples are very natural to the foil and climate ; 
 flax grows well; and lately the people from the north 
 of Ireland have improved the fabrick of linen and all 
 other fpinning work. The foil leems not ftrong enough 
 for hemp ; many trials have been made. 
 
 Fifhery, fee p. 294. : whaling, I mean fifh oil and 
 whale bone, have at prefent f>] failed us much, and our 
 cod -fifhing; fifhing fchooners are not half fo many as a 
 few years fince •, anno 1748 only fifty-five fifhing 
 fchooners at Marblehead. 
 
 Cape- Anne 20 
 
 Salem 8 
 
 Ipfwich 6 
 
 Thofe fchooners of about fifty ton, fifh in deep water 
 (the deeper the water, the larger and firmer are the cod) 
 
 [q] Our continent fouthern colonies are peculiarly adapted for 
 grain, tobacco (in South-Carolir.a they are making trials for indigo, 
 cotton, and filk) and deer (kins. Our northern continent-colonies 
 produce kindly pallurage, cyder, fifhery, furs, naval (lores, and other 
 
 |r] Within thefe few years, our eod-fifhery, whaling, and fhip- 
 building have failed much; and by peculation and depopulation, we 
 were like to have been carried into min ; but it is to be hoped we 
 may have better times. At prefent Our trade is not half fo much, and 
 our taxes from thirty to forty times more, than they were a few years 
 
 a £°‘ feven 
 
53S British Settlement s in America. Part II. 
 feven hands to each fchooner, communibus amis, they 
 make 600 quintals per fchooner ; generally five fares a 
 year two tares are to the banks of the liland oi cable, 
 the other three fares are to Banquero, and to the other 
 banks along the Cape-Sable fhore. The merchantable 
 dry cod are carried to the markets of Spain, 1 ortugal, 
 and Italy •, the refufe cod are fhipped off tor the Weft- 
 India iilands to feed the Negro flaves. Concerning the 
 fmall fifh, fee p, 303. A fturgeon filhery in the fe- 
 veral branches of Sagadahock, fome years fince, was en- 
 couraged by a fociety of fifhmongers in London, but 
 from 'the mifmanagement of the undertakers, efpecially 
 as to proper vinegar, it turned to no account, and was 
 neglected ever fince Mr. Dummer’s Indian war. 
 
 Our provincial ftores in the truck-houfes tor Indian 
 trade has always been very fmall; anno 1746, when 
 the Indian trade ceafed becaufe of the war, the Com- 
 mitfary for that trade reported, that he was accountable to 
 the province for a balance of 13,324/. 6 s. \d. old tenor, 
 in his hands. In New-England, beaver, other furs, and 
 deer fkins, are become fo inconfiderabje, they are fcarce 
 to be reckoned an article in our trade ; fee p. 176. 
 
 To aive a general view of the navigation of Mafia- 
 chufetts^Bay, we may obferve, that in this province are 
 two colleaions or cuftom-houfes, Bofton and Salem. 
 At Bofton cuftom-houfe, from their quarterly accounts, 
 Chriftmas 1747 to Chriftmas 1748, foreign vefiels clear- 
 ed out 540, entered in 430 J about ten f ars a §° nearly f 
 the fame number: from the quarterly accounts of 
 Bofton diftrift naval-office, on foreign voyages, Mi- 
 chaelmas 1747 to Michaelmas i 47 8 > cleared out 4 9 r 
 
 Sloops 2 49 
 
 Schooners 93 
 
 491 
 
 Exclufive of fiffiing and coafting vefiels of the pro- 
 vinces and colonies of Mafiachufetts-Bay, New-Hamp- 
 
 Ships 
 
 5 1 
 
 Snows 
 
 44 
 
 Brigs 
 
 54 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 539 
 
 fhire, Connecticut, and Rhode-ifland. This cuftom- 
 houfe returns commmibus annis, 200 1. fterling for Green- 
 wich hpfpital. 
 
 Salem collection includes the ports of Salem, Marble- 
 head, Cape-Anne, Ipfwich, and Newbury. jV. B. By 
 a miftake p. 456. Newbury was faid to be a branch of 
 the collection of New-Hamplhire. From the cuftom- 
 houfe quarterly accounts of Salem, from Michaelmas 
 
 1747 to Michaelmas 
 
 1748, cleared 
 
 out velfels 
 
 upon 
 
 foreign voyages 131, 
 
 entered in ninety 
 
 -fix •, viz. 
 
 Cleared out. Ships 
 
 4 
 
 Entered in 
 
 , Ships 
 
 1 
 
 Snows 
 
 12 
 
 
 Snows 
 
 11 
 
 Brigs 
 
 21 
 
 
 Brigs 
 
 11 
 
 Sloops 
 
 
 
 Sloops 
 
 18 
 
 Schooners 63 
 
 
 Schooners 
 
 55 
 
 
 13 1 
 
 
 
 96 
 
 In which were fhipped off to Europe 32,000 quintals of 
 drycod-fifh, totheWeft-Indiaiflands 3070 hoglheads (at 
 fix tofeven quintals refufe cod-fifh per hogfhead) for Ne- 
 gro provifion. New-England fliips off no pickled cod- 
 filh. 
 
 Mr. Blanchandin, in anno 1721, of the cuftom-houfe 
 diftriCt of Salem, fays. That in the courfe of feveral 
 years preceding, communibus annis, he cleared out about 
 eighty velfels upon foreign voyages per annum. 
 
 Ship-building is one of the greateft articles of our 
 trade and manufacture : it employs and maintains above 
 thirty feveral denominations of tradefmen and artificers j 
 but as in all other articles, fo in this more particularly 
 for a few late years, this country has the fymptons of a 
 galloping (a vulgar exprefiion) confumption, not fo 
 defperate but by the adminiftration of a Ikilful phyfician, 
 it may recover an athletic ftate of health ; fublata caufa 
 tollitur effettus. I fiiall illuftrate the gradual decay of 
 ihip-building, by the Ihip- building in Bolton, meaning 
 top -fail vefiels. 
 
 Anno 
 
540 
 
 Anno 1738 
 1743 
 
 British Settlements in America. Part II, 
 on the flocks 41 vefiels of 6324 tons. 
 30 
 20 
 
 1746 
 
 1749 
 
 *5 
 
 2450 
 
 / T7 w' 1 *■' 
 
 As to the decay of our cod-fifliery, I fhall only men- 
 tion, that anno 1716, upon my firit arrival in New- 
 England, by the books of the two Curtom-houfe diftriCts 
 of Maflachufetts-Bay, were exported 1 20,384 quintals ; 
 
 anno 1748, exported about 53,000 quintals. 
 
 Ru n is a confiderable article in our manufactures. 
 
 It is diftilled from molaffes imported from the Weft-ln- 
 dia ifiands; it has killed more Indians than the wars 
 and their ficknefles •, it does not fpare white people, 
 efpecially when made into flip, which is rum mixed with 
 a foul fmall beer, and the coariefl of iVIufcovado fugars ; 
 it is vended to all our continent colonies to great advan- 
 
 + anr£ # 
 
 & Hats manufactured and exported to all our colonies, 
 are a confiderable article. 
 
 Iron is a confiderable article in our manufactures; it 
 confifts of thefe general branches: t. [r} Smclting-fui- 
 naces, reducing the ore into pigs ; having coal enough 
 and appearances of rock ore. In Attleborough were 
 ereCted at a great charge three furnaces, but the ore 
 proving bad and fcarce, this projection mifearried as to 
 pio-s : they were of ufe in catting of fmall cannon foi 
 Sups of letters of marque, and in calling cannon-balls and 
 bombs towards the reduction of Louifbourg. 2. Refine- 
 ries, which manufacture pigs imported from New-York, 
 Penfyl vania and Maryland furnaces, into bar-iron. 3. 
 Bloomeries, which from [/] bog or fwamp ore, without 
 any furnace, only by a forge hearth, reduce it into a 
 
 r s'] 1 20 bufhels of charcoal are fufficient to fmelt rock ore into one ton 
 of pies ; the complement of men for a furnace is eight or nine, betides 
 cutters of the wood, coalers, carters, and other common labourers. 
 f/1 Bog or fwamp-ore lies from half a foot to two leet deep; in 
 
 about twenty years from digging, k grows or gathers fit for another 
 
 digging j if it lies longer it turns rufty, and does not yield well . three 
 tons of fwamp ore yield about one ton of hollow ware. 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 541 
 
 bloom or femiliquidated lump tq be beat into bars, but 
 much inferior to thofe from the pigs or refineries. 4. 
 Swamp \u] ore furnaces •, from tfiat ore fmelted, they call 
 hollow ware, which we can afford cheaper than from 
 England or Holland. 
 
 Oil of turpentine diftilled from die New-England 
 turpentine, which yields the moil and bed oil, and from 
 Carolina turpentine ; as alfo refin or its refiduum ; we 
 defer to a digrefiion concerning naval ftores in the New- 
 Hampflhire fe&ion. 
 
 Mifcellanies. The light- houfe at the entrance of Bof- 
 ton harbour was eretted anno 1715; cod 2385/. iys. 8 d. 
 currency. Light-houfe money was 1 d. in, and id. out, 
 per ton. Anno 1 742, it was ena&ed at 2 d. old tenor in, 
 and as much out, per ton, in foreign voyages. Coalters 
 from Canfo in Nova Scotia to North-Carolina, 4 s. per 
 voyage. 
 
 In caftle William, of the harbour of Bolton, are 104 
 cannon, befides mortars •, whereof twenty cannon of 42 
 lb. ball, and two mortars of thirteen inches fliell arrived 
 anno 1744, with all ftores, excepting gun-powder, at the 
 charge of the ordnance. 
 
 1711, Ocl. 2. In Bofton, the provincial court-houfe, 
 and fenior congregational meeting houfe, with many 
 other good houfes, were burnt down ; 1 747, Dec. 9, the 
 provincial court-houfe was burnt; moft of the records in 
 the fecretary’s office were coniumed ; the county records 
 of land conveyances were faved. 
 
 There is a public grainery in Bofton, for fupplying 
 poor families with fmail parcels of grain and meal, at 
 10 per cent, advance, for charges and wafte ; this 
 grainery is Efficient for 10 to 12,000 bufhels of grain 
 at a time. 
 
 Tw] Colonel Dunbar, anno 1731, informs the Board of Trade and 
 Plantations, that in New-England were fix furnaces, meaning hollow 
 ware furnaces and nineteen forges, meaning bloomeries, not refinene , 
 at that time we had no pig furnaces, nor refineries o P 1 ^ 3 * 
 
542 British Settlements in America. Part Ii. 
 
 In New-England the people are generally Congrega- 
 tionalifts. Many of the congregational churches have 
 laid afide public relations of their converting experien- 
 ces, which formerly was required previous to the admif- 
 fion of their infant progeny to baptifm, and of them- 
 felves to the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper ; giving 
 fatisfa&ion to the minifter, of their faith and good life, 
 is deemed fufficient. In Mafifachufetts-Bay are 250 
 congregational churches ; in Connecticut about 1 20 $ in 
 New-Hampfhire about thirty ; in Rhode-illand only fix 
 or feven, being generally Anabaptifts, Quakers, and of 
 fome other feftaries. 
 
 The feveral religious focieties in the town of Bofton, 
 anno 1749, are three churches of England, one North 
 of Ireland Prefbyterians, nine Congregationalifts, one 
 French Huguenots, who by length of time have incor- 
 porated into the feveral Englifh congregations, and at 
 prefent are no feparate body, and have lately fold their 
 church-building to a congregation of Mr. Whitfield’s 
 difciples •, two Anabaptifts, viz. one original, and one 
 feparatift, one Quaker-meeting very fmall, Whitfield’s 
 feparatift, and a feparatift of feparatifts. 
 
 The ability and numbers in the feveral religious fo- 
 cieties in Bofton, may be gathered from a Sunday’s con- 
 tribution for charity to the poor of the town much di- 
 ftrefted by want of fire- wood in the hard winter, February, 
 
 1740-1, viz. 
 
 1 . s. d. 
 
 L s. d. 
 
 Dr. Cutler 72 14 2 Mr. Welfteed 58 00 
 
 Mr. Price /-g = 134 10 o Mr. Hooper 143 o o 
 
 Mr. Daven-f = To 133 3 3 Mr. Foxcroft 95 00 
 
 \ C 
 
 port 
 
 French church 14 n 3 
 
 Dr. Colman - - 
 
 164 
 
 10 0 Anabaptift 
 
 1420 
 
 Dr. Sewall - - 
 
 105 
 
 0 0 Irifli meeting 
 
 27 5 0 
 
 Mr. Webb - - - 
 
 105 
 
 0 0 Mr. Checkley 
 
 72 12 0 
 
 Mr. Gee - - - - 
 
 7 1 
 
 10 5 Mr. Byles 
 
 40 2 0 
 
 
 
 
 Harvard 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 
 
 543 
 
 Harvard-College [w] in Maflachufetts Bay. 
 
 ANNO 1636, Winthrop governor, Dudley deputy- 
 governor, and Bellingham treafurer; the general af- 
 l'embly granted 400 /. towards a collegiate fchool, but 
 afterward? called a college : this was not then applied ; 
 it received the addition of 779/. ijs. 2d. a donation 
 bequeathed 1638 by Mr. Harvard, minifter of Charles- 
 town ; the name of the college perpetuates his memory ; 
 it is fituated in a healthful foil (not above 1 per cent. 
 of the fcholars die per annum ) formerly a diftrict of New- 
 town, and conftituted a town (hip by the name of Cam- 
 bridge. 1 640, The income of the ferry between Bolton 
 and Charleftown was granted to the college •, it is now 
 lett at 600 /. New-England currency, or 60 /. fterling per 
 annum ; this ferry is about three miles from Cambridge. 
 
 Anno 1642, the general aflembly appointed. Over- 
 feers of this college, viz. the governor, deputy-governor, 
 the council called Magiftrates, and the ordained minilters 
 of the fix adjoining towns of Cambridge, Water- town, 
 Charleftown, Bofton, Rocldbury, and Dorchefter. 
 
 Their charter bears date. May 31, 1650; the cor- 
 poration to confift of a prefident, five fellows, and a 
 treafurer or burfer, to deft for vacancies, and to make 
 by-laws •, the Overfeers have a negative. 
 
 The college- building confifts of a court built on three 
 fides, the front being open to the fields; the building on 
 the firft fide was by a contribution, 1672, through the 
 whole colony of 1895/. 2 s. yd. whereof from Bof- 
 
 (V,j] In the continent of North-America, we have four colleges, 
 whereof two are by charters from home ; that of Virginia is dated 
 anno 1692, that for the New-Jerfeys is dated Oitober -2, 1746: the 
 other two are by provincial or colony charters ; Harvard or Cam- 
 bridge college of Maflachufetts Bay, and Yale college of Conneiticut. 
 They do not aflume the names of u« .‘ erfi.ies or feminaries of univer- 
 fal learning; perhaps the frit deiign of the college in Maflhchufetts- 
 . Bay, was as a feminary for a fucceflion of able and learned gofpel- 
 jninifters, 
 
 YttauttAV 
 
 ton 
 
British Settlements in America. Part II, 
 
 ton about 800/. it was called by the former name Har- 
 vard-College ; the building on the bottom fide was ere&- 
 ed anno at the charge of lieutenant-governor 
 
 Stoughton, and is called Stoughton-College, conlifting of 
 fixteen chambers, garret-chambers included •, the third 
 fide was built anno 1720, at the charge of the province, 
 and is called Maflfachufetts-Hall, confuting of thirty-two 
 chambers. Befides this court, there is a houfe for the 
 prefident at feme diftance from the court, and at a fmall 
 diftance behind the Harvard fide of the court is a neat 
 chapel, the gift of Mrs. Holden of London, widow of 
 Mr. Holden, a late director of the bank of England. 
 
 The refident inftru&ors of youth, are a Prefident or 
 Supervifor, four Tutors or Philofophy Profefifors, the 
 Hollifian Profeflor of Divinity, the Hollifian ProfelTor of 
 Natural and Experimental Philofophy, and a ProfelTor of 
 Hebrew. The income or revenue of the college is [x] 
 not fufficient to defray its charge. Some of that body 
 have an additional province allowance •, the ingenious 
 and reverend Mr. Holyoke, prefident befides the rents 
 of the building called Maffachufetts-Hall, was voted, 
 1748, out of the province treafury 1400/. old tenor i 
 the Rev. Edw. Wigglefworth, D. D. Hollifian I roteflor 
 of Divinity, befides the 80/. New-England currency, 
 the Hollis donation, lately to prevent depreciations, the 
 bonds at intereft, which are a fund for thele Hollis lala- 
 ries, are reduced to fpecialties, and thereby become more 
 in the prefent nominal currency •,• he has, anno 1748, an 
 additional allowance of 300/. old tenor. The Hollifian 
 ProfelTor of Natural and Experimental Philofophy, 1S 
 upon the fame footing and falary with the Hollifian 
 ProfelTor of Divinity; though this branch is the molt 
 uleful of all fciences ; the prefent incumbent, the in- 
 
 O] The college never had any .remarkable : misfortune^ ; the ^Rev. 
 Mr. Cotton Mather writes, that once, providentially, fho “ /J'l C 
 prayers (I do not know, that hereby he intended to recotnme^lhort 
 prayers) by difmifling the lludems in good time, difeovered the hre, 
 and prevented a conflagration of the college-buildings. 
 
 * genious 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 543' 
 
 genious and induftrious (obfervations and experimental 
 trials are induftry) Mr. Winthrop has no additional 
 provincial allowance or encouragement. The Profeffor 
 of the Hebrew language is Judah Monis, formerly a Jew, 
 and publickly chrittiunized, or baptized, in the college- 
 hall, May 27, 1722 : he has petitioned for a provincial 
 allowance, from time to time, but without effe&. The 
 four tutors commonly called Profelfors of philofophy, 
 have each from the income of the college 300 to 400 /. 
 old tenor per annum , with lbme fmall perquifites $ there 
 are about ten Hollifian poor fcholars at about 10/. old 
 tenor per annum. 
 
 Several well difpofed perfons have, from time to time, 
 forwarded the affair of the college •, befides the grants 
 from the provincial general court, and the donations of 
 Mr. Hollis and Hopkins. 
 
 This feminary at firft confifted of a Preceptor, two 
 Ufhers, and a treafurer •, Mr. Eaton was the firfl pre- 
 ceptor j he was a man of learning, too fevere in his dif- 
 cipline •, the general aflembly difmifled him, and Mr. 
 Dunller [jy] was appointed prefident anno 1 640, being an 
 Anabaptift (a fe£t at that time hated in New-England) 
 he was advifed to refign 1654. Mr. Chauncy, minifter 
 of Scituate, formerly a Church of England minifter, fuc- 
 ceeded him, and died 1671, iEt. 82. He was fucceeded 
 by Hoar, a doftor of Phyfic from the univerfity of 
 Cambridge in Old-England ; in his time the fcholars [2] 
 deferted the college, and he refigned 1675. He was 
 fucceeded by Urian Oakes, a man of good accomplish- 
 ments, and minifter of Cambridge i he died 1681. Was 
 fucceeded by Mr. Rogers of Ipfwich, phyfician; he died 
 1684. Was fucceeded by Mr. Increafe Mather he was 
 
 [>•] The New England Pfalms in prefent ufe, are a juft drift ver- 
 iion, but not an elegant loofe paraphrafe ; they were compofed by 
 Mr. Elliot of Rocldbury, Mr Mather of Dorchefter, and Mr. Weld j 
 printed anno i6to, and afterwards correfted by Mr. DunfterandMr. 
 Lyons, tutor to Mr. Mildmay. 
 
 [z] Anno 1672, there were no Scholars to commence. 
 
 Vol. I. N n 
 
 Prefident 
 
~ + 6 British Settlements in America. Part 11. 
 
 Prefident or Reftor [a] for about twenty years •, Mr. 
 Mather, upon the arrival of governor Andros, went a 
 voluntier, agent to the court of England •, he left the 
 college under the direction of two tutors, Leverect and 
 Brattle ; he came over to New-England 1692, in com- 
 pany with the new charter •, and for his good iervices at 
 home had the degree of a Dottor in divinity conferred 
 upon him •, the firft and foie inftance of a Doctor s degree 
 conferred in Harvard -college : he was \b~\ teacher of a 
 congregation in Bofton ; his acquaintance with Mr. 
 Hollis Tn London, followed by the follicitations of Ben- 
 jamin Colman, D. D. a minifter in Bofton, procured the 
 generous Hollifian donations. Dr. Mather was fucceed- 
 ed by Mr. Willard, a minifter in Bofton. This was fuc- 
 ceeded by Mr. Leverett, a judge in the fuperior court, 
 and afterwards a worthy and moft deferving prefident of 
 this college •, his falary from the province was 1 50 L per 
 annum-, he died 1724-, was fucceeded by Mr. Wad- 
 fworth, a minifter of Bofton ; his too eafy difcipline was 
 faulted •, he died 1737 •, and the prefidentfhip continued 
 vacant fome time. The prefent prefident is the learned 
 and ingenious Mr. Holyoke, a minifter from Marble- 
 
 Proteftants of any denomination may have their chil- 
 dren educated and graduated here. At admifiion, the 
 fcholars fubfcribe the college laws: the manner of this 
 college is, after four years refidence, they are admitted to 
 a Batchelor’s degree in thefe words, Admitto te ad pa- 
 mum gradum in artibus , pro more academiarum tn Anglia : 
 after three years more (refidence not required) they are 
 admitted to the degree of Mailer of Arts, m thefe words, 
 Admitto te ad fecundum gradum in artibus , pro more acade- 
 
 [a] When Mr. Dudley was Prefident of New England, forddtinftion 
 the Prefident of the college was called Re&or. 
 
 U) There have been paftors in the north Church or Congrega 
 
 of Bo(lon,‘a regular fucceffion of father, fon, and grand fon ; thegran - 
 
 fon, upon fome party differences in the old Congregat.on, has formed a 
 new diiiind unanimous Church. 
 
 rmarm 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bat. 547 
 
 miarum in Anglia. They generally become minifters ; the 
 proverbial faying amongft fome ftrangers, that all the 
 men of note in New-England have been preachers, is not 
 juft. The public aft of commencement is on the firft 
 Wednefday of July annually: they began to confer acade- 
 mical degrees anno 1 642 ; that year nine lcholars com- 
 menced batchelors ; the greateft commencement was, 
 anno 1725, of forty-five batchelors, in the adminiftration 
 of Mr. Dummer •, the college lately is upon the decline, 
 as are the fervile arts and fciences ■, anno 1746, only 
 twelve ftudents commenced batchelors. 
 
 Befides provincial grants and the legacy of Mr. Har- 
 vard already mentioned, there have been many liberal 
 contributions towards the revenue of the college, its 
 edifices, library, experimental philofophy, inftruments, 
 (Ac. which the nature of the Summary does not require to 
 be minutely related •, I fhall only mention the donations 
 of Hopkins, and Hollis, and Holden •, Samuel Sewall, 
 John Leverett. Thomas Fitch, and Daniel Oliver Efqrs; 
 a committee of the Truftees appointed in his Majefty’s 
 Court of Chancery, to purchafe houfes or lands to per- 
 petuate the charity of Edward Hopkins, Efq-, purchafed 
 province lands now called Hopkinton townfhip of 
 22,500 acres, including a few peculiar farms formerly 
 granted. At a meeting April 19, 17x6, tnefe Truftees 
 agreed, that 12,500 acres of the lands fhould be laid 
 out in lpts and leafed at 3 d. New-England currency/*?- 
 annum quit-rent per acre for ninety-nine years ; the leafes 
 to commence March 25, 1723, and upon the expiration 
 of ninety-nine years, the leafes to be renewed from time 
 to time, lo as never to exceed 9 d. per acre, and the 
 Truftees to fave the termors or tenants from paying any 
 provincial tax, for three quarters of their lands •, but by 
 continued depreciations of that pernicious paper-currency 
 of New-England, the value of thefe lands was in a pro- 
 greftive finking to the great damage of the college. 1 o 
 check this the general aftembly afeertained thofe rents to 
 a fterlino- value •, 1741, by aft of aftembly the quit rents 
 0 N n 2 were 
 
548 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 were converted into i d. fterling per acre per annum , until 
 ailno 18 3, and 3 d. fterling after, the termors paying all 
 the provincial taxes of thefe lands ; and to enable thefe 
 tenants to pay thofe province taxes, the common lands 
 (being about 8000 acres) to be divided amongft them 
 clear ot any quit- rent. 
 
 Mr. Thomas Hollis of London merchant, made a do- 
 nation of about 300/. per annum New-England currency, 
 as encouragement for a Profeflor of Divinity, for a Pro- 
 fefior of Natural and Experimental Philofophy, and ex- 
 hibitions for the education of poor fcholars, with fome 
 allowance to the college-treafurer for managing this 
 charity; anno 1721, he had the thanks of the general 
 aflembly for his donations. He made an addition of 
 many valuable books to the library ; gave an apparatus 
 forphilofophical experiments to the value of 1 1 5 /. fterling; 
 he lent Hebrew and Greek types ; he was a benefadtor to 
 the Houfatonic Indians. 
 
 Samuel Holden, Efq; late Diredtor of the [bank of 
 England, bellowed chanties in New-England to the value 
 of 4847 l. New-England currency. His widow and 
 daughters built a chapel in Harvard-College, with other 
 benefadtions to the value of 5585/. New-England cur- 
 rency. 
 
 Some account of the Wars , or rather of the Incurfions 
 and Depredations of the Canada French and their In- 
 dians, againft the governments or people of New-Eng- 
 land and Nova Scotia, from the Revolution , anno 1688 
 to anno 1749. 
 
 AS no writer of obfervation and leifure, has hitherto 
 given us a diftindt account of thele affairs, we offer this 
 Ihort hiftory, referring the reader to fome previous ac- 
 counts mentioned in this Summary ; fee p. 160. We 
 fhall begin with fome general obfervations. 
 
 The 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 545 
 
 The Indians, in their tranfatftions and conferences, 
 run much into limilitudes and allegories [c]. 
 
 (yj I he general charadlers of our Indians, are to de- 
 cline open engagements ; bufh- fighting, or fkulking, is 
 their difcipline ; they are brave when engaged •, great 
 fortitude in enduring tortures and death ; love of liberty ; 
 affedlion to their relations •, implacably revengeful [ e] ; 
 inhumanly cruel ; in all their feftivals and other dances, 
 they relate what fuccefles they have had, and what 
 damages they have received in their late wars. 
 
 Every nation or tribe is an abfolute republic or ftridt 
 democracy ; their chief families have a kind of fuccef- 
 fion as to property, but in no other refpetts •, wife con- 
 duit, courage, and perfonal ftrength, are the chief re- 
 commendations for war captains [/], &V. 
 
 When the Indians break out, they feldom make any 
 onfet in large bodies •, but, after a general rendezvous, 
 they divide into fmall fkulking parties : the whole art of 
 war amongft the Indians, is the managing of fmall par- 
 ties, and, like carnivorous beafts of the forefl (the 
 French, with good propriety, term them, Les homines des 
 hois) commit rapines and moft cruel murders, without 
 regard to age or fex [_§•]. 
 
 [i>] As formerly amongft the liraelites, fo it is at pre- 
 
 Fe] Their language is not copious, becaufe their knowledge of 
 things not extenfive ; they feem to avoid labial letters. 
 
 [<f] Sec p, 1 9 1 . 
 
 [e] The Indians are the moft implacably vindictive people upon 
 earth ; they revenge the death of a relation, or any great affront, 
 when occafion prefents, let the diftance of time or place be never fo 
 remote. 
 
 [/] The delegates of the Indian nations, after agreeing upon articles 
 with neighbouring powers, are obliged to go home and perfuade their 
 young men to concur. 
 
 [jt] Xhe Barbarians ground all their wars upon perfonal or national 
 enmity ; whereas the ruptures in Europe depend more upon intcreft 
 than upon pure revenge. To fet the Indians at variance one nation 
 againft another nation, is of no advantage to the colonies from Europe; 
 it prevents their beaver-hunting, and other branches of the Indian 
 trade . 
 
 [h] As man is a gregarious animal, the American Indians allociate 
 
 N n 3 f et tt 
 
550 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 fent with our Indians [i] ; he is a mighty prince, or Saga- 
 more, who leads ioo or 200 fighting men. The In- 
 dians reckon it a bloody battle, where they lofe ten or 
 twelve men. Formerly, their inftruments of war were 
 arrows and darts ; at prefent our neighbouring Indians 
 uie fire arms, that is, mulkets and fuzils, a hatchet, and 
 long fharp-pointed knives [£]. Lately in winter, in war- 
 times, they do not travel, left the Englifh fcouts fhould 
 trace them. All the incurfions and rapines of the In- 
 dians are concerted, encouraged, and conduced by our 
 perfidious neighbours the French of Canada [/]. 
 
 The ir.oft fuccefsful manner of managing a war againft 
 the Canada French and their Indians, is by fcouting [m] 
 
 in herds or herds, but not in a progreflive wandering manner, as the 
 Tartars at this time, and as the Ifraelites of old in the wilderneiies of 
 
 .Arabia. 
 
 [/] See p, 1 57 and 184. 
 m The far Indians ufe only arrows and clubs. 
 
 [ 7 ] The French with their Indians may plunder, but cannot keep 
 Dofi'efiion of any of our North- America continent colonies ; our colo- 
 nies join, and are well peopled. The French Canada and Cape-Breton 
 colonies have not this advantage. ... 
 
 Narrow rivers are the belt canoe travelling, becaufe in lakes, or 
 wide rivers, any confiderable degree of wind obliges them to go 
 
 f»;] Mr. Dummer, a wife patriot, by continued fcouts and rangers 
 to the Indian head quarters, their dambanks, ponds which the Indians 
 frequented for filhing, fowling, and hunting, and their travelling 
 carrying places, kept the Indians at a diltance, and by harrafiing o 
 them, brought them to a happy peace. The Houfe of Reprtfenra- 
 tives ha\ e frequently voted, that our inland Ironuers are belt lecured 
 bv fcouting parties in time of war 1744, 1 hey voted that the fcou s 
 on the frontiers have not been employed in ranging according to their 
 votes — fmall fcattering garrifons, without making excurf.ons 1 into .the 
 Indian country, avail nothing: this war we had upwards of fifty lucti 
 
 The Houfe of Reprefentatives at times find fault with the manage- 
 ment in our left war. .74-. Feb. 6 , it being rep. efented to the 
 Houfe of Reprefentatives, that many of the foidiers railed tor the 
 Canada expedition, as well as thofe raifed for the immediate fervice 
 of the province, labour under divers grievances proper for the consi- 
 deration of this houfe ; therefore a Committee is appointed : when the 
 levies for the Cape-Breton expedition were daily coming to Bokon, 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 551 
 
 and ranging parties farther than our frontiers : thus 
 they are kept at a diftance from our fettkments; they are 
 intimidated, and fubjedted to the inconveniencies of fick- 
 nefs, hunger- ftarved, and cold-ftarved by continued 
 harraffing. 
 
 This laft French and Indian war, we have pradlifed, 
 the cantoning of our frontier forces in many fmall par- 
 cels, and very little fcouting : but luckily the Indians 
 were much reduced by former wars, and by their intem- 
 perance in the ule of rum •, and of the fmall remainder 
 fome were called ofF by the Canada French to Crown- 
 Point, and- fome to Nova Scotia. The only confidera- 
 ble appearance of the French and Indians upon our fron- 
 tiers this war, was in fummer. 1746* June 19, a large 
 party appeared againft No. 4 [»], upon Connecticut ri- 
 ver; captain Stevens, with fifty men (doubtlefs private 
 property conduced to animate them) made a gallant and 
 fuccefsful defence againft a large party of the enemy. 
 Aug. 19, a party of the enemy, commanded by M. Rigaud 
 de Vaudreu'il, appeared before fort Mafiachufetts ; the 
 garrilon furrendered priloners to be relieved the firft 
 opportunity ; the enemy plundered the fort, and bui nt 
 it This fort was by the aflembly defigned and allowed 
 to be the beft fupplied with forces and ltores, becaufe it 
 flanks our frontier, being in its N. W. coiner, and the 
 
 the reprefentatives by meffage delire that the force, may be fent on 
 board the tranfports, and other forces prevented from coming in, left 
 they lhould be infetted with the fmall-pox.— 1 746, June 13, voted 
 that a committee be appointed, to enqu.re into the complaints of the 
 foldiers in the eaftern and weftern frontiers, with reiped to tne fupp!y 
 of provifions.- And a committee to prevent children undtr .6 /£. 
 
 from inliitinsr —1746, July 16, the Houfe in a meiiage reprefent, that 
 by "during of the men „n prefled for the frontiers into other military 
 fervice!th«e was a great diitrefs upon the people, as requiring further 
 impreffes , this may difeourage future houfes from lhewing their zeal 
 
 W r“s”S- „ade good 
 
 Sti. afterwards janifewd lb, rh, poaitt* of Mateh^-Sw, 
 
 Nn 4 ncviicu 
 
55 2 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 nearefl: to Crown-Point French fort-, in Maffachufetts 
 fort were only three women, five children, twenty-two 
 men, whereof only eight were in health ; a ferjeant was 
 the commanding officer ; they were ffiort of ammunition, 
 had only remaining three or four pounds of powder and 
 as much lead. The defign of a barrier againft the Ca- 
 nada French and Indians, perhaps would have better 
 been anfwered by four ftrong places well fitted, viz. one 
 on Quenebec river, a little above Richmond fort ; an- 
 other high up Nawichawanock, or Salmon falls river; 
 a third at the [0] crotch, or fork of Merrimack river ; 
 and the fourth at No. 4, on Connecticut river : thefe 
 forts to ferve as places of arms for rendezvous, and as 
 magazines for provifions and other ftores ; 200 effective 
 men to be allowed to each of them (may be reinforced 
 upon occafion) not [p\ imprefied men, excepting for oc- 
 cafiorial reinforcements, but voluntiers in good pay, with 
 generous fcalp and captive premiums ; one half of the 
 men alternately to be abroad in the wildernefs at a con- 
 fiderable advanced diftance from the barrier, ranging and 
 fcouting ; the other half to remain in garrifon. In this 
 fituation offenfive and defenfive, no fkulking parties 
 would venture to attempt our fettlements, and our out- 
 plantations or farms would uninterruptedly continue un- 
 der cultivation for the general good of the province, as 
 well as for the private interefl of the proprietors. 
 
 Befides the ordinary forts of George’s, Pemaquid, Rich- 
 mond, Saco, and fort Dummer, there were additional new 
 forts or block-houfes in the weftern parts, fort Maffachu- 
 fetts, Pelham, Shirley, Coleraine, Fall-town, Dinfdale, 
 Northfield, Deerfield, Road-town, New-Salem, Win- 
 chefter, Lower Affiuelot, Upper Alhuelot, No. 4, Pequi- 
 oag, Naffiawog, Naraganfet, No. 2, Browns, Leominfter, 
 
 M Here we fuppofe Maffachufetts-Bay and New-Hamplhire ail- 
 ing in concert. 
 
 [/] Imprefied men cannot be long detained from their families and 
 bufincfs, confequently mufi be frequently relieved by a rotation of raw 
 men, not accuftomed to this duty. 
 
 Lunenburg, 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 553 
 
 Lunenburg, Townfhend, Groton, New-Ipfwich, Salem, 
 Canada, Souhegan Wert, New-Hopkinton, Great Mea- 
 dows, Contacook, Rumford, Suncook ; in the eartern 
 parts were Philips Town, Berwick, Kittery, York, Wells, 
 Arundel, Biddeford, Scarborough, Falmouth, Sacarippee, 
 NaraganietNo.7, orGorham’s, New-Marblehead, North 
 Yarmouth, Topfom, Wifhcafiet or Unkfechufet, Rices 
 of Charlemont, George Town or Arrowfick, Wifcaflet, 
 Sheepfcot, Damarafcotti, and Eaft George’s ; being in 
 all fifty-fix, generally infufficient cantonments ; whereof 
 fifteen are in another province. 
 
 In the inland frontiers many of the out farm houles 
 have jets in their corners, with loop holes for fmall arms, 
 and may be called cafernes. 
 
 For the feveral tribes of the New-England or Abna- 
 qui Indians [j]. In the late wars with the Englifh, by 
 cold and hunger, by ficknefs, and by immoderate ufe of 
 fpirits, thele Indians decreale fart. It is true, that in the 
 late wars with the Indians, we loft more people than the 
 Indians *, becaufe we had more people to lofe, and be- 
 caufe the Indians know better where to find us, than we 
 know where to find them. 
 
 The variety of enfigns or fignatures of the Indians of 
 North- America, are theTortoife, Bear, and Wolf. 
 
 We have given fome account [r ] of the New-Eng- 
 land Indian wars or incurfions down to the Revolution, 
 and from thence we now proceed. King William’s Re- 
 volution in England was November, 1688; in New- 
 England the Revolution happened in April, 1689 : from 
 that time to anno 1749, in the fpace of lixty years, we 
 have had four Indian wars. 
 
 1 . In the adminiftration of governor Phipps and lieu- 
 tenant-governor Stoughton, from 1688 to January 7, 
 
 1698-9. 
 
 2. Under governor Dudley, 
 to July 17, 1713* 
 
 from Auguft 10, 1703 
 
 [?] Pag- i8 3- 
 
 [r] Pag. 1 89, &c. 
 
 3. Under 
 
554 British Settlements in America. Part II. Sec 
 
 3. Under lieutenant-governor Dumrner, from July froi 
 
 25, 1722 to December 15, 1725. In 
 
 4. U nder governor Shirley, from November 1 744 to lar 
 
 1 749. j twf 
 
 We fliall take no notice of the Spanilh war, which tivi 
 
 was proclaimed in London, Odober 1739, and B°ft° n me 
 
 of New- England April 1740, becaufe it did not in the Per 
 
 leaft affed our inland frontier, nor our fea coad ; the ex- am 
 
 pedition againft the Spanifh Weft-India fettlements, com- W< 
 
 monly called the Cuba expedition, ordered from home, 
 was a very great difadvantage to our young colonies of in 
 
 North- America-, the American regiment, divided into Cai 
 
 four battallions, confiding of about 3600 men, whereof 
 iearce any returned, depopulated our plantations very to 
 
 much ; of the 500 men lent from Maflachufetts-Bay, of 
 
 not exceeding fifty returned. The New-England men Fr< 
 
 compofed the third battallion, excepting the two Rhode- Cl 
 
 idand companies that were incorporated into the fird m; 
 
 battaliion in place of two North-Carolina companies in- fur 
 
 corporated in the third battallion. The feveral colonies for 
 
 were at the charge of levy money, of provifions, and e ig 
 
 of tranfports for their refpe&ive quotas -, they were paid 
 offer difmiffed Oftob. 24, 1742. and allowed to keep W 
 
 their cloathing and firelocks. The 500 men from Mai- ] or 
 
 fachufetts-Bay for the Cuba expedition cod us about M; 
 
 37,500 /. old tenor, which at that time was equal to Sir 
 
 7000 /. lterling. att 
 
 of 
 
 1. Phipps and Stoughton’s Indian war. Anno 1688, p n 
 
 a general war began to be hatched in Europe ; and the fh< 
 
 eadern Abnaquie Indians, by indigations of the Canada & 
 
 French, upon pretence of the Englifh encroaching upon 
 their lands and cheating them in trade, became unealy, jj, 
 
 and began an open rupture by depredations at North w j 
 
 Yarmouth and Sheepfcot, when governor Andros was H 
 
 in his other government of New- York; captives were 
 made on both Tides ; Andros upon his return from New- w 
 
 York returned the Indian prifoners, without receiving oj 
 
 a from 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 555 
 
 from the Indians theEnglifh which they had captivated. 
 In the fpring 1689, at Quochecho in New-Hamplhire, a 
 large party of Indians killed major Waldron, and about 
 twenty people more •, they carried away about as many cap- 
 tives. The preceding winter, governor Andros, with 1000 
 men, marched to the eaftern parts, and built fmall forts at 
 Pemaquid, Sheeplcot, and Pejepfcot. Nov. 1689, our 
 army went into, winter quarters, and left garrifons in 
 Wells, York, Berwick, and Quochecho. 
 
 Anno 1 690, MafTachuletts-Bay font 1 60 men to Albany 
 in New-York government for their protection againft the 
 Canada French and Indians. 
 
 Anno 1692, SirWilliam Phipps, with 450 men marches 
 to the eaftward, and built a good fort at Pemaquid eaft 
 of Quenebec river •, in Auguft 1 696, at Pemaquid, the 
 French landed a few men to join the Indians j captain 
 Chub, who had fucceeded captain Church in the com- 
 mand of the fort, with ninety- five double armed, bafely 
 furrendered ; the French demolifhed the fort ; in this 
 fort were fourteen cannon mounted, whereof iix were 
 
 eighteen pounders. 
 
 Anno 1693, June 12, arrived at Bofton Sir Francis 
 Wheeler’s fquaaron, fitted out to diftrcfs the French co- 
 lonies in America j he made fome vain attempts upon 
 Martinico and Guadaloupe. Purfoant to inftruefcions 
 Sir Francis propofes to the governor and council, the 
 attempting of Quebec in Canada, to fail by the beginning 
 of July with a recruit of 4000 men, and four months 
 provifions. This could not be complied with upon lo 
 fhort notice, the fquadron imported a malignant, ill con- 
 ditioned fever, which deftroyed many of our people, and 
 failing from Bofton Auguft 3, attempted Placentia of 
 Newfoundland in vain •, arrived in England Oftooer 1 3, 
 with hands fcarce Efficient to bring the Ihips home. 
 How inhumanly do fovereignties play away their men . 
 
 The Canada French not capable to fupply the Indians 
 with provifions and ammunition, occafioned a lubmiliion 
 of the Penobfcot, Quenebec, Amarefcogm, and Saco In- 
 
 UiaDS, 
 
Se< 
 
 556 British Settlements in America. Part II. t j, e 
 
 dians, by a treaty at Pemaquid, AuguR 12, 1693 * the tw< 
 
 articles were, 1. To abandon the French interclt. 2. 
 
 To deliver all captives. 3. A free trade. In fome Co 
 
 fhort time Canada received from France confiderable hej 
 
 fupplies, and the Canada French peri'uaded the Indians our 
 
 to break out again July 18,1694, by killing and captivat- Chi 
 
 ing many of our people upon the frontiers; and after- Del 
 
 wards many feuffies of no confequence. mac 
 
 Anno 1697, a fquadron from France was defigned to mar 
 
 make a defeent upon New-England, but were dilperfed 700 
 
 in a ftorm. fJei 
 
 Soon after the French peace of Ryfwicki697, our feivi 
 
 eaftern Indians fubmitted Jan. 7, 1698-9. dam 
 
 Exe 
 
 2. Dudley’s Indian war. About feven weeks after Hill 
 
 an infidious congrefs at Calco, with the Penoblcot, No- no I 
 
 ridgwoag, Amerafconti, Pigwocket, and Penacook In- muc 
 
 dians, Auguft 10, 1703, M. Bobaffier, with about 500 die 
 
 French and Indians in feveral divfions, by furprize in- tecr 
 
 vaded a frontier of about forty miles extent from Cafco fen 
 
 to Wells and York, and made a molt barbarous ha- ggj 
 
 vock (a French miffionary mafiacre) fparing neither and 
 
 age nor fex ; about 200 men, women, and children were lane 
 
 murdered. (The afiembly voted 40 /. premium for ne $ 
 
 each Indian fcalp or captive ; in the former war the pre- $c 0 
 
 mium was 12 /.) This mafiacre was foon after the con- 7 
 
 grefs with the Indian delegates in June 20, 1703 $ the m / 
 
 Indians then made great profefiions of friendfhip ; they Cllr | 
 
 received our prefents, trading places and prices of com- f orc 
 
 modities were agreed upon. All this war, the five na- R 0 , 
 
 tions called the New- York Indians Hand neuter ; and fjo 
 
 by this ftratagem the Dutch of Yew-York, by means of WJ 
 
 thefe Indians, carried on an advantageous trade with the I0 , 
 
 French of Canada. rari 
 
 Anno 1703-4, Feb. 29, the French and Indians, about ^ 
 
 250, commanded by M. Artei'l, made a moll barbarous 
 inhuman incurfion upon Deerfield ; they killed about 
 fixty perfons ; captivated about too, with Mr. Williams 
 
 i their 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. ^57 
 
 their minifter ; of the captives they killed at times about 
 twenty-one when unfit for travel. 
 
 Anno 1 704, June, Caleb Lyman, at Cowafilick on 
 Conne&icut river, with one Englilhman and five Mo- 
 hegan Indians, killed eight enemy Indians out of nine j 
 our afiembly gave them a reward of 31/. Major 
 Church, with 550 voluntiers, vifits Penobfeot, Mount 
 Defert, Pefamaquady, and Minas of Nova Scotia, but 
 made no attempt upon Port-Royal ; he brought away 
 many prifoners. M. Boocore, with two milfionaries and 
 700 French and Indians, defigned an incurfion upon 
 New-England, but from differences amongft thcm- 
 felves they difperfed ; fome of them conforted and did 
 damage at Lancafter, Groton, Amefbury, Haver-hill, 
 Exeter, Oyfter-river, Dover, &c. In the winter, colonel 
 Hilton, with 270 men, vifits Noridgwoag, but found, 
 no Indians. In the winter feafons the Indians do not fo 
 much damage as formerly •, the Englilh having got into 
 the ufe of raquettes or fnow-fhoes. A French priva- 
 teer fhallop was call away upon Plymouth fhore ; a 
 ftorefhip for Canada was taken by an Englilh Virginia 
 fleet. The French from Placentia do damage, 1704 
 and 1705, in fever'al Englilh harbours in Newfound- 
 land [jJ. Captain Crapoa, in a French privateer, car- 
 ries eight of our filhing-velfels to Port-Royal of Nova 
 Scotia. 
 
 Anno 1706, the Indians do damage at Oyfter-river, 
 in April. In July, 270 French and Indians made in- 
 curfions at Dunftable, Amelbury, Kingfton, Chelmf- 
 ford, Exeter, Groton, Reading, and Sudbury. Captain 
 Rous, with a flag of truce, was fent to Port-Royal of 
 Nova Scotia to negotiate prifoners •, his management 
 was faulted [/]. Mr. Shelden was fent to Canada twice 
 to redeem captives. Colonel Hilton, with 220 men, 
 ranges the eaftern frontiers, and killed many Indians. 
 About this time the premiums for Indian fcalps and 
 
 [j] See p. 290. M See p. 307. 
 
 captives 
 
558 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 captives were advanced by a< 5 t of afiembly, viz. per ^ 
 
 piece to imprefied men 10I. to voluntiers in pay 20/. ty 
 
 to voluntiers ferving without pay 50 /. with the benefit 
 of the captives and plunder. fi ve 
 
 Anno 1707-8, March 13, from Bofton failed colonel and 
 
 Church, with two New-England regiments, upon an h. 
 
 expedition againft Port-Royal, Subercafle governor; he Brit 
 
 returned re infetta [a]. an a 
 
 Anno 1708, in the fpring, a. body of 800 French and mou 
 
 Indians was formed, with defign to invade the inland dele; 
 
 frontiers of New-England, but differing amongft them- New 
 
 felves they feparated ; 150 of them concerted and made the 
 
 an incurlion upon Haver-hill, killed the minifter Mr. any 
 
 Rolfe and many others. Colonel Hilton, with 170 men, iffue 
 
 vifits Amarafconti and Pigwocket. calk 
 
 Anno 1 709, in April and J une, Deerfield was harrafied km 
 
 by 180 French and Indians commanded by M. Revel, chie: 
 
 fon-in-law to M. Arte'il. Colonel Nicholfon and captain 3. 
 
 Vetch, at the court of Great-Britain, propofe a conqueft Indi: 
 
 of Canada by fea and land forces [w\ : this in appearance (uad 
 
 or femblance was encouraged by the court, and in- land 
 
 ftruftions were fent to the feveral provinces to furnifh An 
 
 certain quotas, to be cloathed, armed, and paid at a raw 
 
 Britifh charge ; but by political management at court, fat 
 
 after a confiderable expence, this was dropped, and an 172 
 
 expedition againft Port-Royal of Nova Scotia was di- info 
 
 refted for the following year [*]. ^ the 
 
 Anno 1 7 1 1 , near Exeter, the Indians kill feveral peo- tfsel 
 
 pie ; colonel Hilton and others were killed, and lome thei 
 
 captivated: in Chelmsford major Tyng and fome others tint 
 
 were killed ; and weft ward, lome weic killed at IVIarl- 175 
 
 borough, Brookfield, Simibury, and Waterbury. In p er 
 
 winter, colonel Walton ranges the Clambank fliores eaft- wit 
 
 ward. The abortive fcheme for reducing Quebec and An 
 
 Placentia, confequently all Canada and Newfoundland, the 
 
 by an expedition under general Hill and admiral laa 
 
 Walker [_y]. In April, the Indians do damage eaftward. 
 
 [#] See p.308. [ay] Ibid. [.r] Ibid. [>j See p. 31 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 559 
 
 We loft twenty fifhing velfels on the Cape-Sable fhore, 
 by the negligence of our Guarda la Coftas. Captain 
 Carver takes a French privateer from Placentia of forty- 
 five men. Upon the frontier of Virginia, the French 
 and their Indians murder many inhabitants. 
 
 Upon advice of a fufpenfion of arms between Great- 
 Britain and France in Europe, the Indians applied for 
 an accQmmodation by fubmiftion •, accordingly at Portf- 
 mouth of New-PIampfnire, July 11,1713, the Indian 
 delegates had a congrefs with the commilfioners of the 
 New-England colonies ; the bafts of the fubmifiion was 
 the treaty at Penobfcot, Aug. 11, 1693, and that 
 any difference between a Briton and Indian, fhall be 
 iffued in a Britilh court of judicature. Thele Indians were 
 called of the rivers of St. John’s, Penobfcot, Quenebec, 
 Amerefcogin, Saco, and Merrimack j Mauxis was their 
 chief. 
 
 3. Governor Shute and lieutenant-governor Dummer’s 
 Indian war[z]. The Canada miflionaries, 1717, per- 
 fuaded the Indians, with threatenings, to claim fome 
 lands fettled by the Englilh •, this was compromifed at 
 Arrowfick in Auguft. Anno 1719, the Indians tvere 
 moved by the Canada French to renew the lame claims, 
 'but a lmall lcout of fixty men kept them in awe. Anno 
 1 720, the Indians were advifed by the French to be more 
 infolent, by killing cattle, and threatening the lives of 
 the inhabitants * colonel Walton, with 200 men, brought 
 them to fubmifiion, and received four Indian hoftages for 
 their future good behaviour. The Canada French con- 
 tinuing unealy becaufe of our enlarged fettlements ; anno 
 1721 °M. Croizer from Canada, M. St. Cafteen from 
 Penobfcot, Rolle, and De la Chafie French miflionaries, 
 with' about 300 Indians, make a general appearance at 
 Arrowfick, an ifiand of Sagadahock, threatening, that if 
 the Enolifh did not remove from the claimed Indian 
 lands in three weeks, they would kill the people, burn 
 
 [z] See fome anticipating accounts, p. 199 and 317. 
 
 the 
 
560 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 the lioufes, and deftroy their cattle ; accordingly at 
 Merry-meeting bay of Quenebec river, June 13, 1722, 
 the Indians made a beginning, and captivated Love, Ha- 
 milton, Hanfard, Trefcot, and Edgar. July 5, 1722, 
 in Bofton thefe Indians were proclaimed enemies and re- 
 bels. Captain Herman, with a fcout, killed leveral In- 
 dians upon Quenebec river. A body of Indians, at Ar- 
 rowfick, kill fome people, burnt fixty dwelling-houfes, 
 and deftroyed fifty head of cattle ; they in vain attempted 
 Richmond fort upon Quenebec river, and St. George’s 
 fort near Penobfcot ; they feized - an Englifh Hoop at 
 Pefamaquady v [«] in vain attempted Annapolis of Nova 
 Scotia •, they furprized fixteen of our fifhing veffels near 
 Canfo \b]. Lovel, with his fcouting party of voluntiers, 
 was of great fervice, but at laft unfortunate. The great 
 havock of Indians by a large fcouting party made at 
 Noridgwoag [c]. At Noridgwoag a fcouting party, 
 fome time before this, feized fome letters from the Go- 
 vernor-General of Canada to miffionary Ralle, exhorting 
 all the French miffionaries, notwithftanding the pro- 
 found peace between Great -Britain and France, to incite 
 the Indians to a£t vigoroufly againft the Englifh. The 
 Indians at times did fome fmall damages upon our fron- 
 tiers *, they inverted fort St. George near Penobfcot, 
 thirty days without fuccefs. 
 
 Anno 1 723, Aug. 21, arrived in Bofton fixty-three In- 
 dians of the Six New-York nations, with a fham propofal 
 of alliance againft our Eaftern Indians j their real projetft 
 was only to receive prefents ; they returned home with- 
 out ftipulating any fuccours. 
 
 Anno 1723, Nov. 17, arrived in Bofton a meffage 
 from the general of Canada, by capt. Le Ronde Denie 
 and lieut. De Ramfay de troupes marines. 1725, In 
 January, col. Thaxter and Dudley from Mafiachufetts- 
 Bay, and Mr. Atkinfon from New-Hampfhire, fet out 
 with a meffage to expoftulate with the French govern- 
 
 [a] See p. 317. [£] Ibid. [<■] See p. 199. 
 
 ment 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay." 5 St 
 
 Zicwtaf£d“s" rnins their inciting and amm °« 
 
 The Indians much harrafied by our frequent fcouts to 
 Penobfcot, Noridgwoag, White Hills, fcfr. and by our 
 rangers vifiting their carrying-places, clam-banks, fifli- 
 mg, fowling, and hunting grounds ; fubmitted to our 
 own terms, [^] Bofton, Dec. 25, 1725-, which was after- 
 wards ratified at Cafco, Aug. 5, 1726. By this Indian 
 war, thele Indians were fo much reduced, that, in the 
 late French and Indian war from 1744 to 1749, we fuf- 
 fered very little upon our frontiers. All the fupplies 
 from 1720 to 1725 inclufive, did not exceed 242,000/. 
 whereof 10,000/. old tenor per annum defrayed the ordi- 
 nary charges of government, a notorious inftance of ho- 
 nefty, frugality and good management. The forces were 
 allowed per week, ioj. pay, and 6 s. provifion. 
 
 4. Governor Shirley’s French and Indian war. The 
 war againft France was proclaimed in Bofton, June 2, 
 1744; and to guard againft the French and Indian in- 
 curfions, 500 men wfere imprefied •, whereof 300 for the 
 eaftern frontier, vizf. ' 50 from each of the militia re- 
 giments of Pepperell, Gerrilh, Berry, Plaifted, Saltonftal, 
 and Phipps ; and 200 men for the weftern frontier, 
 viz. fifty from each of the regiments of Chandler, Ward, 
 Willard and Stoddard ; twenty-fitffe men from each re- 
 giment of Wendell at Bofton, and Gouge, for reinforcing 
 the ordinary ftanding garrifons, viz. George’s fort to 
 forty men, Pemaquid to twenty-four, Richmond to 
 twenty-five, Brunfwick to twelve, Saco to twenty men ; 
 no detachments w’ere made from the militia of the old 
 colony of Plymouth. Ninety-fix barrels of gunpowder 
 lent to the feveral townlhips, to be fold to the inhabitants 
 at prime coft, including charges. 
 
 In fummer 1744, upon the breaking out of the French 
 war, the Prefident colonel Mafcarene, and council of 
 
 Vol. I. 
 
 [</J See p. 20 °- 
 O 0 
 
 Nova 
 
- 6 z British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 Nova Scotia, reprefent the weak ftate of the garrifon of 
 
 Annapolis, and ill condition of its fortifications; the af- 
 fably of the province of Maffachufetts-Bay, generoufly 
 fent them a reinforcement of 200 men in four compa- 
 nies, allowing 25/. levy-money per man (the men to 
 find their own arms) and three months provision ; their 
 pay and further victualling was from Great-Britain ; they 
 continued about eighteen months in pay, and were of 
 good fervice againft M. Lutre and Duvivier’s attempts 
 upon Annapolis [c?]. 
 
 The Cape-Sable, and St. John’s Indtansof Nova-Sco* 
 tia, having in fummer, under M. Lutre, made an attempt 
 upon Annapolis ; they were proclaimed rebels and ene- 
 mies at Bofton, November 1 744? fr° m t * iree miles eal J 
 of Paiamaquady river; and 400/. old tenor granted 
 a premium for each fcalped or captivated Indian. When 
 it was found that the Penobfcot and Nondgwoag In- 
 dians had joined them, the declaration of war was ex- 
 tended to thefe, Auguft 23, 1745* tlfcfe Indians having 
 burnt a fort at St. George’s, fome houfes, and killed 
 
 many cattle. . , . 
 
 This war, fo far as it relates to Nova Scotia, has al- 
 ready been mentioned [/]. 1 - M. Lutre, with 300 Cape- 
 Sable and St. John’s Indians, did attempt the fort ot An- 
 napolis in June 1744- 2 - Duvivier with the fame In- 
 
 dians and fome regular troops from Louifbourg, in all a- 
 bout 800 men, in September, inverted and tanmoned the 
 
 fort, and after three weeks retired to Minas 3 M. Mann 
 
 from Canada, with about 900 French and Indians in May, 
 
 1745, made a fhort appearance before the tort, and re- 
 tired to Minas, thence to proceed towards the relief of 
 Louifbourg ; they were intercepted. 4 - M.deKam jy, 
 •with about 1600 men French and Indians from Canada, 
 arrives at Minas in fummer 174^5 dcfigned to join u 
 d’Anville’s armament at Chebu&o ; towards the end or 
 September, he came before Annapolis, but made no a - 
 fault ; being advifed of the return of the French fleet 
 [e] See p. 319. [/) ^id. 
 
 for 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bav. 
 
 5 % 
 
 for France, he retired to Minas and Chichanedo, and 
 from thence next fummer to join a French fleet and land 
 forces towards reducing of Annapolis. In the winter 
 1 746-7, about 500 to 600 of De Ramfay’s men from 
 Chicanedo, furprized the New-England forces cantoned 
 at Minas, and did much havock [£]. The French return 
 to Chicanedo waiting the arrival of la Jonquiere’s fqua- 
 dron from France, but upon advice of this fleet being 
 deftroyed in Europe, De Ramfay returns to Canada, and 
 Nova Scotia fuffered no further difturbance. 
 
 Thofe 500 men, of the Canada levies, were the fecorid 
 reinforcement fent by Maflachufetts-Bay to Nova Scotia 
 they were about twelve months in payj and the remains 
 of them returned to Bofton in Autumn 1 747. 
 
 Odob. 31, 1747, all the Canada levies were difmifled, 
 and next day, November 1, about 270 of them, in fix 
 companies, lifted as a third reinforcement for Nova Sco- 
 tia ; they were allowed Britifh pay, and a full cloathing. 
 
 verity of winter, 1748-9, and in rags ; but by kind P10- 
 vidence, they generally arrived fafe, and were dilmified 
 
 February 24» 1748-9* , . , 
 
 For the three Canada expeditions that have been pro- 
 jeded, but not effeded fince the Revolution; fee p. 309, 
 fc? f . The Canada levies of 1 746, were under the airec- 
 r,™ nf Sir Peter Warren and Mr. Shirley, With an in- 
 
 but foon wore out ; they were ordered home in the fe- 
 
 f g] See p 3*4- 
 O 0 2 
 
 ful 
 
564 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 ful expedition [h], our colony people love frolicks •, they 
 continued in pay about eighteen months. 
 
 For the North- America fea campaigns of 1744, 1745, 
 
 1 746, and 1 747 [i~\ •, to thefe we may add, that in the 
 winter 1748-9, all the ftation fhips of North-America 
 were called off, to form a fquadron againft St. Jago de 
 Cuba, but in vain. The French and Spanifh privateers 
 improved this opportunity of a naked coaft, took many of 
 our veffels, impune they failed up Delaware river to with- 
 in a few miles of Philadelphia, and many leagues up 
 Chefepeak bay of Virginia, and up Cape-Fear river of 
 North-Carolina. 
 
 Towards the Crown-Point expedition, 1746, we fent 
 by water to Albany four months provifions for 1 500 
 men with tents, a thirteen inch mortar, and — — « barrels 
 of gunpowder ; the ficknefies at Albany, and the alarm 
 from d’Anville’s fquadron luckily put a check. 
 
 In the fumnier, 1748, notwithftanding a ceffation 
 of arms in Europe being notified, feme aflociated ban- 
 ditti Indians in the French influence, did damage at 
 Saratogo at fort Maffachufetts, in our eaftern country •, 
 and at St. John’s river of Nova Scotia, they killed fome 
 men belonging to the Anfon and Warren of the ordnance. 
 
 There are feveral mifcellany affairs belonging to this 
 article, to be related in a fhort loofe manner ; which 
 may ferve as common place for future hiftorians. 
 
 The fix Indian nations of New- York, by the Dutch 
 trading influence, did amongft them refolve to ftdnd 
 neuter ; the Oneidas and Cayugas, French prieft-rid, re- 
 fufed a meeting of delegates defired by governor Clin- 
 ton. In Auguft and September 1 7 46, Maflachufetts- 
 Bay fent commiffloners to confer with thefe Indians 
 at Albany ; and 1748, Maffachufetts fent their gover- 
 nor and other commiffloners there to concert war affairs 
 when the war was over. 
 
 1746, The French and their Indians from Crown- 
 Point commit many barbarous murders and depredations 
 [/’] See P-33J. 34; [0 See p. 338, & c. 
 
 at 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. $ 6 $ 
 
 at Saratogo near Albany. 1747, The militia garrifon 
 of Saratogo carry off the ordnance and ftores, and burnt 
 the fort, without orders from the governor or govern- 
 ment, as it is faid. 
 
 In the ipnng, 1744? arrive in Bofton the King’s gift 
 to Caftle-William of 20 cannon of 42 pound ball, and 
 2 mortars of thirteen inches, with all ftores, excepting 
 gunpowder. 
 
 Anno 1744, the provincial afiembly voted a range 
 of forts to be built between Connefticut- river and New- 
 York boundary line, viz. Fall- fight, Colerani, Sherley, 
 Pelham, and Maflachufetts. 
 
 In the fpring, x 745, the province frigate Maflachufetts 
 was launched ; the fund was 6 d. per ton each voyage up- 
 on vefiels in foreign voyages, aucl 6 d. per ton per annum 
 on fifhing and coalting vefiels of the province. 
 
 For the years 1745, 1746, and 1747, the premium for 
 Indian fcalps and captives 1000/. old tenor per head 
 to voluntiers, and 400/. to imprefled men j their wages 
 and fubfiftence-money to be deducted. 
 
 1747, Auguft, arrives in Bofton, twenty-one days paf- 
 fage from Quebec in Canada, a French flag of truce with 
 1 72 prifoners and captives Britilh ; feventy of the Britilh 
 died in Quebec ; their allowance there per day was one 
 pound and a half bread, half a pound beef, one gill of 
 peal'e, with fpruce beer. 
 
 174.7, We fent a flag of truce, Auguft t, from Bofton 
 with fixty-three French prifoners, delivered at L’lfle de 
 Bafque, thirty-five leagues below Quebec, and received 
 fixteen Britilh prifoners ; returned to Bofton October 3. 
 
 On our eaftern and weftern frontier, and in the inter- 
 mediate province of New-Hamplhire, befides ordinary 
 garrifons, there were, anno 1745, about 747 men for 
 fummer; 1746, about 1270 men for fummer, and 315 
 for winter-, 1747, about 1676 men (the Canada 900 
 levies included) tor the fummer, and 509 f° r w * nter > 
 J748 (including 200 men from Connefticut) 1410 men 
 
r66 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 for furnmer, and 524 for winter, fifty from Connecticut 
 
 mC i74ol* Beginning of February, the peace which had 
 been figned at Aix-la-Chapelle the 7th of October, 1748, 
 was proclaimed in London, and in Bofton May 10th 
 
 After the conclufion of the peace with France and 
 Spain ; by order of the general of Canada, a confidera- 
 bl - number of people, conliiling of (as it is faid) fome 
 regular troops, Canadians and Indians, made a Ihort ap- 
 pearance near Bay Verteof Nova Scotia-, they pretended 
 that their bufinel's was to cut fire-wood tor the expected 
 French troops to garrifon Louilbourg, but the real de- 
 fy™ feems to have been, to keep up their claim to fome 
 part of Nova Scotia, left Great-Britain in after times 
 fhould claim prefeription from an uninterrupted poi- 
 feffion •, fome Ihort time after this, the Governor-general 
 of Canada by a formal letter to the Government ot 
 Nova Scotia, put in a French claim to the northern parts 
 
 of Nova Scotia [£]. r ^ 
 
 Peace being now fully fettled, the court of Great- 
 Britain feems to be in earneft (fince the peace of Utrecht 
 ne<deCted) in fettling of Nova Scotia, as appears by the 
 following extraCt from the original piece, , 
 
 Whitehall , March 7, 1748-9. 
 
 A Propofal having been prefented unto his Majefty, 
 for the eftablifliing a civil government in the pro- 
 vince of Nova Scotia in North America; as alfo for 
 the better peopling and fettling the fa.d province, and 
 
 Til The General of Martinico’s French claim lad winter to the 
 ifland of Tobago, forty leagues fouth from Barbadoes, and comp 
 £ded in the°commiliion Sf the governor of Barbadoes, was fome- 
 
 of >hb kina will be b.ta tie 
 
 commiffaries or commiffioners ufually appointed to jome con 
 
 perns, which otherwife would have protra&cd the negotia 
 general peace. 
 
 4 
 
 extending 
 
Sect. VIII. Of Massachusetts-Bay. 567 
 
 extending and improving the fifhery thereof, by grant- 
 ing lands within the fame, and giving other encourage- 
 ments to fuch of the officers and private men lately dif- 
 miflfed his majefty’s land and fea lervice, as fliall be will- 
 ing to fettle in the faid province : and his majefty hav- 
 ing fignified his royal approbation of the purport of the 
 faid propofals, the Right Hon. the lord commiffioners 
 for Trade and Plantations do, by his Majefty’s com- 
 mand, give notice, that proper encouragement will be 
 given to fuch of the officers and private men lately dif- 
 milfed his Majefty’s land and fea fervice, and to artificers 
 neceflary in building and hulbandry, as are willing to ac- 
 cept of grants of land, and to fettle with or without 
 families in the province of Nova Scotia. 
 
 To the fettlers qualified as above, 1. Will be granted 
 paflage and fubfiftence during their paflage •, as alfo for 
 the fpace of twelve months after their arrival. 2. Arms 
 and ammunition, as far as will be judged neceflary for 
 their defence, with proper utenfils for hulbandry, fifli- 
 ery, erefting habitations, and other neceflary purpofes. 
 3. A civil government, to be eftablilhed with all the 
 privileges of his Majefty’s other colonies or governments 
 in America, and proper mealures will be taken for their 
 fecurity and protection. 
 
 The lands granted fliall be in fee-fimple, free from the 
 payment of any quit-rents, or taxes, foi the term of ten 
 years ; at the expiration whereof no perfon to pay more 
 than one (hilling fterling per annum , for every fifty acres 
 lb granted : the lands are to be granted with the follow- 
 ing qualifications and proportions. 
 
 Fifty acres to every private foldier or feaman, and ten 
 acfes over and above to every perfon (including women 
 and children) of which his family lhall confift, and fur- 
 ther grants to be made to them ; as then families fliall 
 
 inC Fioh'ty acres to every officer under the rank of an enlign 
 in the land ferv.ee, and that of a ^nam int^fta 
 fervice, and fifteen acres to every perfon belonging to the 
 
 family. 
 
568 British Settlements in America. Part II. 
 
 200 Acres to every enfign, 300 to a lieutenant, 400 
 to a captain, 600 to any officer above the rank of a cap- 
 tain in the land fervice •, in the fea fervice, 400 acres 
 to a lieutenant, 600 acres to a captain ; thirty acres to 
 every perfon belonging to fuch families. Reputed fur- 
 geons, whether they have been in his Majefty’s fervice, 
 or not, ffiall be in the capacity of enfigns. 
 
 All perfons defirous to engage, are to enter their 
 names in the month of April, 1749, at the Trade and 
 Plantation office, or with the Commiffioners of the Navy 
 refiding at Portfmouth and Plymouth. 
 
 N. B. This volume begins January 1746-7, and ends May 1749. 
 The Reader therefore will make Allowances for what Alteration* 
 have been made in the Englilh Settlements fince that time. 
 
 End of the Firft Volume. 
 
I