interested itself in the measure, stated the limits of the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the bishops proposed to be sent to America; but the design was still set aside.1 1749. A society was formed in Boston for promoting industry and Society for frugality. The government of the colony, to forward this laud- promoting industry. able design, purchased the factory in Boston. It also granted four townships of land for the use of foreign protestants, and permitted the provincial frigate to be employed in their transportation.2 dians. The cessation of arms between the belligerent powers did not Treaty with entirely put a stop to the incursions of the Indians. The Penob- the E. Inscot and Norridgwock tribes at length gave notice of a disposition to treat, and actually sent delegates to Boston, where a conference was holden with them on the 23d of June, and a proposal agreed to, of a final treaty at Casco Bay in September. Commissioners were accordingly sent to Falmouth, and received from the Penobscot, Norridgwock, and St. Francis Indians, their submission and agreement, founded on governor Dummer's highly approved treaty of 1726.3 Several influential persons in England and Virginia, who as- Ohio com sociated under the name of the Ohio company, obtained from pany. the crown a grant of 600,000 acres of land about the Ohio river.4 This grant alarmed the French, as being calculated to prevent the junction of Canada and Louisiana; and was the first link in a chain of causes, which produced the ensuing wars between France and England.5 On the establishment of peace, many persons applied to gov- Benningernor Wentworth, of New Hampshire, for grants of unimproved 1 Minot, i. 136-138. Life of Pres. Johnson, 169–171. Adams, N. Eng. 211, 212. 2 Minot, i. 135. 3 Journals of the Proceedings of the Commissioners. Hutchinson, ii. c. 4. Minot, i. 109, 116. The commissioners were Thomas Hutchinson, John Choate, Israel Williams, and James Otis. War had been declared in 1744 against the Cape Sable and St. John's Indians; and in 1745 against the Penobscots and Norridgwocks. The frontiers did not escape molestation; but they suffered less than in former wars. For details of their sufferings see Belknap, N. Hamp. ii. 235-257. 4 Brit. Emp. iii. 197. Marshall, i. 375. The authors of the Universal History [xl. 192.] say, that about the year 1716 governor Spotswood, of Virginia, proposed to purchase some of the lands belonging to the Outaowais (since called the Twightees) on the river Ohio, and to erect a company for opening a trade to the southward, westward, and northward of that river; and that this proposal gave rise to the Ohio company. This noble project, they proceed to observe, clashing with the views of the French, who had by this time formed their great schemes on the Mississippi; and the ministry of George I. having reasons for keeping well with that court; the scheme was not merely relinquished, but the French were encouraged to build the fort of Crown Point on the territory of New York. 5 Ramsay, Chron. Table; "the wars of 1756, and 1763." ton. 1749. lands in the western parts of that province. The governor, presuming that New Hampshire ought to extend as far westward as Massachusetts, that is, to the distance of 20 miles east of Hudson's river, granted a township, 6 miles square, which was called Bennington.1 Philadel phia. Severe drought. Population of R. Island. Militia of Philadelphia contained 2076 dwelling houses. There were 11 places of public worship in that city. The entries at the port of Philadelphia, this year, were 303, and the clearances 291.3 The entries at the port of Boston were 489, and the clearances 504.4 The entries at the port of New London were 37, and the clearances 62.5 A severe drought, attended in many places with swarms of devouring insects, caused great distress in New England. Many brooks and springs were dried up. The first crop of grass was shortened to a tenth part of what had been usually mown; and some of the inhabitants were obliged to send to Pennsylvania, others to England, for hay. The colony of Rhode Island contained 28,439 white inhabitants, and 3077 negroes. Newport contained 5335 white inhabitants; and Providence, 3177.7 The Canadian militia amounted to 12,000 men, beside 1000 regular troops and the marine companies.8 1 Belknap, N. Hamp. ii. 310. Williams, 213. Adams, N. Eng. 213. It is situated 24 miles east of Hudson's river, and 6 miles north of the line of Massachusetts. It was named in respect to the governor, whose Christian name was Benning. Wentworth made other grants on the west side of Connecticut river for four or five years, until the colonies were involved in another war with France. 2 Douglass, ii. 321. The churches were as follow: 3 Europ. Settlements, ii. 205. In 1750, the clearances from Philadelphia were 358. Univ. Hist. xli. 30. The exports from Great Britain to Pennsylvania, in this and the two succeeding years collectively, amounted to £647,317. 188. 9d. sterling. Franklin, Pennsylvania, 108. 4 Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc. iii. 268. The entries at Boston were, 7 Adams, Lett. xvii. Brit. Emp. ii. 145. In this enumeration are included Bristol, Tiverton, Little Compton, Warren, and Cumberland, which had been taken from the jurisdiction of Massachusetts, and annexed to Rhode Island. Those towns contained 4176 whites, 343 negroes, and 228 Indians. The largest number of Indians in any town in R. Island was in Charlestown, where there were 303. The number of freemen voters in the colony was 888. 8 Univ. Hist. xl. 190. John Sergeant, missionary to the Stockbridge Indians, died, at the age of 39 years. There were now in the town of Stockbridge 53 Indian families, and 218 Indians; 129 of whom had been baptized, and 42 were communicants.1 1749. The foundation of the Stone Chapel, an episcopal church, Stone was laid in Tremont Street, in Boston, by governor Shirley.2 chapel. 1750. ALTHOUGH, by the treaty of Aix la Chapelle, Acadie or Hostilities Nova Scotia was ceded to Great Britain; the boundaries of that at N. Scotia. province were unsettled. It was stipulated indeed in the treaty, that the controverted limits should be determined by commissioners, appointed on the part of Great Britain and France; but the French colonists did not wait for that determination. The governor of Canada instantly commenced encroachments on the Acadian peninsula, which was opportunely saved by the settlement of Halifax. The system of encroachment, however, was not relinquished. In November, 1749, La Jonquiere, then Canadian governor, had sent three detachments toward the entrance of the peninsula; and several tribes of the St. John and River Indians attacked Minas, and killed and took a party of 18 men. In return, Cornwallis, the governor of Nova Scotia, in the spring of this year, despatched a party of 400 regulars and rangers, under the command of Major Lawrence, to dislodge the French and Indians from Chignecto. On the appearance of this force, La Corne, the French commander, set fire to Beau Bassin, carried the inhabitants, with their effects, over the river, where he planted the French colours, and defended his post with 2500 men. The country from Chignecto, along the north side of the bay of Fundy to Kennebeck river, he claimed to his most Christian majesty; and it appeared to be the desire of the French to draw the inhabitants to this tract from the peninsula. The consequence was, that forts were built at Minas and Beau Bassin, by the English; and other forts, in opposition to them, at Beausejour and Gaspareaux, by the French.3 1 Hopkins, Hist. Memoirs Housatunnuk Indians, 143. 2 Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc. iii. 259. 3 Minot, i. 130-134. See a sketch of the dispute about the boundaries of Nova Scotia, ibid. 120-130. Memoirs of the principal transactions of the War from 1744 to 1748. Mante, Introd. Commissioners were appointed by the two crowns to settle the limits of their respective dominions in North America; and their negotiations took place 21 September, 1750. M. de la Galissionere and M. Silhouette were chosen on the part of France, and Mr. Shirley and Mr. Mildmay, on the part of Great Britain. The following memoir, from the French to the English Commissioners, is in Memoires de l'Amerique, i. p. viii. 6 VOL. II. 1750. The system of colonial government, which England at this period intended to adopt, was calculated to encourage the colonAct of par- ies in such mode only, as would tend to the profit of the mother liament. Mass. law against theatrical entertainments. country. One evidence of this partial policy is derived from a memorable act of parliament, passed this year, to encourage the importation of pig and bar iron from the American colonies; and to prevent the erection of any mill or other machine for slitting or rolling of iron; or any plating forge to work with a tilt hammer; or any furnace for making steel in any of those colonies. Of these prohibited machines there were four in Massachusetts; two of which were in Middleborough, one in Hanover, and one in Milton. A tragedy was performed at the British coffee house in Boston by two young Englishmen, assisted by some comrades from the town. The novelty of the exhibition attracted great numbers of people into King street, where, in a pressure for admittance, disturbances arose, which rendered the affair notorious. The legislature, at its next session, for the preservation of the system of economy and purity, which had been thus far transmitted from the forefathers, made a law, prohibiting theatrical entertainments. The reasons for the act, as expressed in the preamble, are: "To prevent and avoid the many great mischiefs which arise from public stage plays, interludes, and other theatrical entertainments, which not only occasion great and unnecessary expenses, and discourage industry and frugality, but likewise tend greatly to increase immorality, impiety, and a contempt of religion."2 MEMOIRE SUR L'ACADIE, Remis par les Commissaires du Roi, à ceux de Sa Majesté Britannique, Le 16 Novembre 1750. LES Commissaires de Sa Majesté Britannique ayant desiré que les Commissaires du Roy s'expliquassent plus précisément sur les anciennes limites de l'Acadie, les Commissaires du Roi déclarent que l'ancienne Acadie commence à l'extrêmité de la Baye-françoise, depuis le Cap Saint-Marie, ou le Cap Fourchu; qu'elle s'etend le long des côtes, & qu'elle se termina au cap Canseau. Signé LA GALISSONIERE DE SILHOUETTE.- -In the same volume of "Memoires," viii-lxxv, is A Memoir on the subject of the Limits of Nova Scotia or Acadie, sent to the Commissioners of the French king, by those of his Britannic Majesty, 11th January, 1651, with Observations of the French Commissioners subjoined in the form of Notes. This Memoir is in a French translation, and is signed W. SHIRLEY & WM. MILDMAY. "These negotiations proving unprofitable to Great Britain, and the French during their course continuing their violence, and strengthening their hold of the province [Nova Scotia], and moreover proceeding to make fresh invasions of other parts of the British territories; resolutions were taken for effectually repelling force with force." Ancient Right of English Nation to the American Fishery, 82. 1 English Statutes, vii. 261. Minot, i. 170, 171. The penalty for erecting any one of the prohibited machines was £200. Douglass [ii. 109.], referring to this time, says, "our Nailers can afford spikes and large nails cheaper than from England." 2 Pemberton, MS. Chronology. Charters and Gen. Laws Mass. App. c. 34. There were imported, this year, into Pennsylvania and its de- 1750. pendencies 4317 Germans, and 1000 British and Irish people.1 The entries at New York were 232, and the clearances 286.2 N. York. Eight vessels cleared out from Georgia; and the exports, with Georgia. which they were freighted, were valued at £2004 sterling.3 South Carolina contained 64,000 inhabitants. The number S. Carolina. of inhabitants in New England was estimated at 354,000.5 N. England. phia. The plan of an academy, to be established in Philadelphia, Academy in having been published the preceding year, and the sum of £800 Philadelper annum, for five years, subscribed by the citizens of Philadelphia for carrying it into execution; three of the schools, of which the academy was to be composed, were opened in January. These were the Latin and Greek, the Mathematical, and the English schools. In pursuance of an article in the plan, a school was opened for educating 60 boys and 30 girls.6 1751. the Six Na GOVERNOR CLINTON of New York, together with commis- July 8. sioners specially deputed by the governors of South Carolina, Treaty with Massachusetts, and Connecticut, held a treaty with the Six Na- tions. tions at Albany. The king and other chiefs of the Catawba nation accompanied William Bull, esquire, commissioner from South Carolina; and a peace was settled between the Six Nations and the Catawbas, who had maintained a long and virulent war.7 1 European Settlements, ii. 201. "The manner of their settlement," this intelligent historian observes, "ought to be regulated, and means sought to have them naturalized in reality." 2 European Settlements, ii. 191. In the vessels that cleared out there were shipped 6731 tons of provisions, chiefly flour, and a vast quantity of grain. 3 Pres. Stiles, Lit. Diary. Precis sur L'Amerique, 142. 4 Adams, Lett. xvii. 5 Douglass, ii. 180. Massachusetts Connecticut 6 Life of Franklin, 127–130; Works, i. 124. The plan of the Academy was drawn by Benjamin Franklin, who adapted it to "the state of an infant country;" but considered it as "a foundation for posterity to erect a seminary of learning, more extensive, and suitable to future circumstances." 7 Drayton, 94, 241–245. After a speech by Mr. Bull, attended with the customary presents of wampum, the Catawba king and his chiefs approached the grand council, singing a song of peace; their ensigns (coloured feathers) being borne horizontally. Every one present admired the decorum and dignity of their behaviour, as well as the solemn air of their song. A seat was prepared for them at the right hand of the governor's company. Their two singers, with the two ensigns of feathers, continued their song, half fronting to the centre of the old sachems, to whom they addressed their song, and pointed their feathers, shaking their musical calabashes, while the Catawba king was busily preparing and lighting the calumet of peace. The king first smoked, and pre |