66

BRITISH COLONIES.

the Five

sioners.

Decanesora and other deputies of the Five Nations having 1694. gone to Canada, to hold a treaty with the French; governor Fletcher, aware of what consequence that treaty might be to all Aug. 15. the English colonies, gave them immediate notice of it, and ad- Treaty with vised them to send commissioners in August to Albany, where Nations. he proposed to meet the Five Nations after the return of their messengers from Canada. Commissioners accordingly met those Indians on the 15th of August at Albany. The commissioners Commiswere governor Fletcher, of New York, Andrew Hamilton, governor of New Jersey, colonel John Pynchon, Samuel Sewall, Esq. and major Pen Townshend of Massachusetts, colonel John Allen, and captain Caleb Stanley, of Connecticut. The treaty was begun with 25 Indian sachems of the Five Nations, who were "When," says an observer, attended by many other Indians. they came to the place where the treaty was holden, they came two in a rank, Rode the sachem of the Maquas being the leader, singing all the way songs of joy and peace. When they were set down they likewise sang two or three songs of peace before they began the treaty. Nothing was said in this treaty, for the Indian first three days, but what was said by the Indians." speeches are preserved by the historian of the Five Nations. The most interesting of them is the speech of Decanesora, who was one of the Indian deputies, and who, having, for many years, the greatest reputation among those nations for speaking, was generally employed as their speaker, in their negotiations both with French and English. His speech, while it shows how the Five Nations stood affected towards the French, is a good speci"Onondio," said the oratormen of aboriginal eloquence. repeating what he had said to the governor of Canada, whom "Onondio, we will not per- Speech of the Indians addressed by this title mit any settlement at Cadarackui; you have had your fire there thrice extinguished. We will not consent to your rebuilding that Fort, but the passage through the river shall be free and clear. We make the sun clear, and drive away all clouds and darkness, that we may see the light without interruption."1

The speeches.

Governor Fletcher not being able to give the Five Nations

Mr.

1 Wadsworth's MS Journal and Account of this Treaty, penes me. Wadsworth, then of Boston, afterwards president of Harvard college, accompanied the Massachusetts and Connecticut commissioners to Albany. By his MS. I have corrected two or three errors of Colden respecting their names. "For a guard," Mr. Wadsworth writes, "we had with us cap. Wadsworth of Hartford, and with him 60 dragoons." The treaty was begun on the 15th of August, and finished on the 22d. Of Decanesora Mr. Colden observes: "He was grown old when I saw him, and heard him speak; he had a great fluency in speaking, and a graceful elocution, that would have pleased in any part of the world. His person was tall and well made; and his features, to my thinking, resembled much the bustos of Cicero." See NOTE XXXV.

Decaneso

ra.

1694. assurance of vigorous assistance, the treaty appears to have been of little effect. A few days after, however, he called together the principal sachems; and, in a private conference received some assurances of particular importance to the security of the English.'

Act respect.

The legislature of Massachusetts passed an act, requiring the ing taverns. selectmen in each town to cause to be posted up in all public houses within the town a list of the names of all persons reputed drunkards, or common tipplers; and every keeper of such house was subjected to a fine for giving them entertainment.2

W. Penn

William Penn, who, at the revolution, had been deprived of reinstated his government, was this year reinstated in it; and sent a commission to William Markham, constituting him his lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania and the territories.3

in his gov

ernment.

Annapolis

made a port

town.

Act for se curity of Charlestown.

Towns in

The town of Severn, in Ann county in Maryland, was made a port town, and the residence of a collector and naval officer; and received the name of Annapolis.

On account of the exposure of Charlestown to storms and inundations, which affected the security of its harbour, the assembly of Carolina passed an act, to prevent the further encroachment of the sea on the wharves of that town.5

The towns of Tiverton, Harwich, and Attleborough, in Massacoporated. chusetts, were incorporated.6

Fort Nelson.

Fort Nelson, in Hudson's Bay, was taken by the French, who named it Fort Bourbon, and placed in it a garrison of 68 Canadians and 6 Indians.7

1 Colden, 169–177. President Wadsworth's MS. Account of this Treaty. Trumbull, i. 395; who says, the expense of it to the colony of Connecticut was about £400. A principal question, put by the governor to the Indians, in the Conference after the treaty, was, Whether they would permit the French to build again at Cadarackui; to which they replied, That they never would permit it. Claverack was then "a small place, containing only a few scattered farm houses;" but it had a fort. Woodbury, in Connecticut, was "a small town, the houses scattered. It consisted of about 40 families." Waterbury was "a small town, though very compact. It consisted of 25 families." Wadsworth's MS. Journal. The Massachusetts commissioners, on their return, after passing through those towns, proceeded through Farmington, Hartford, Woodstock, and Mendon, to Boston.

2 Massachusetts Laws.

3 Proud, i. 403, 404. The personal friendship of Penn for James II, and an intimacy at court during his reign, rendered him suspected of disaffection to the new government. On trial he was cleared in open court; but new accusations being brought against him, he judged it prudent to retire. He continued in his retirement two or three years; during which time he wrote several valuable treatises, which appear in his printed works. Ibid. 346–350.

4 Univ. Hist. xl. 475.

5 Drayton, S. Car. 201.

6 Mass. Laws. Tiverton is now in the state of R. Island. The land, which composes this township, was called by the Indians Pocasset and Puncatesse. The Indian name of Harwich was Satucket.

Ib.

7 Univ. Hist. xl. 96, 97. Charlevoix, Nouv. France, ii. 148.

Thomas Lloyd, an early settler, and one of the principal per- 1694. sons in the government of Pennsylvania, died, at the age of about

54 years. Richard Saltonstall, son of Sir Richard, died at Deaths. Hulme, in England.2

1695.

DISSENSIONS and disorder still prevailing in Carolina, the pro- Affairs of prietors, anxious to prevent the desertion and ruin of their settle- Carolina. ment, resolved to send out one of their own number, with full powers to redress grievances and settle differences in the colony. Lord Ashley was chosen, and invested with the requisite authority; but, on his declining the office, John Archdale agreed to embark in his place. On his arrival at Carolina, about the middle of this year, the settlers received him with universal joy; and private animosities and civil discord seemed awhile to lie buried in oblivion. The assembly was called; and the governor, by the discreet use of his extensive powers, settled almost every matter of general concern, to the satisfaction of the colony. The price of lands, and the form of conveyances, were fixed by law. Three years' rent was remitted to those who held land by grant; and four years to such as held them by survey, without grant. Such lands as had escheated to the proprietors were ordered to be let out or sold for their lordships' benefit. It was agreed to take the arrears of quit rents either in money or commodities, as should be most convenient for the planters. Magistrates were appointed for hearing all causes, and determining all differences between the settlers and the Indians. Public roads were ordered to be made, and water passages to be cut, for the more easy conveyance of produce to the market. Some former laws were

1 Proud, i. 397-399. In addition to good natural parts, he made considerable attainments in knowledge, having completed at Oxford an education, which had been begun at the best schools. His disposition was amiable; and he attracted the regard of persons of rank and figure. While in the way to preferment, he joined the Quakers; and, in consequence, suffered persecution, and the loss of his property, in his native country. He was hence induced to remove to Pennsylvania; where he was one of the most intimate friends of William Penn, who at one period made him deputy governor of the province. During the infancy of the colony, his services, both in his civil and religious capacity, were extensive and important; and in every department of private and public life, he appears to have given " a bright example of piety, virtue, and integrity."

2 Hutchinson, A. D. 1680. After many years' absence, he returned to New England in 1680, and was again chosen first assistant that and the two succeeding years. Mr. Saltonstall left an estate in Yorkshire. "He was related to Mr. Hamden, who, like his ancestors, was a true friend to New England."

3 Lord Ashley was the celebrated author of the Characteristics. Univ. Hist. xl. 426. He either had little inclination to the voyage, or was detained in England by business of greater consequence. "Archdale was a man of considerable knowledge and discretion, a Quaker, and a Proprietor; great trust was reposed in him, and much was expected from his negociations." Hewatt.

1695. altered, and such new statutes were made, as the good govern

Rice intro

Carolina.

ment and peace of the colony appeared to require. Public affairs assuined an agreeable aspect, and excited just hopes of the future progress and prosperity of the settlement.

The planting of rice was introduced, about this time, into duced into Carolina. Incidents, apparently small, are often productive of important consequences. A brigantine from Madagascar, touching at Carolina in her way to Great Britain, came to anchor off Sullivan's island. Landgrave Smith, on invitation of the captain, paid him a visit on board his vessel, and received from him a present of a bag of seed rice, with information of its growth in eastern countries; of its suitableness for food; and of its incredible increase. The governor divided his bag of rice among some of his friends; who, agreeing to make an experiment, planted their parcels in different soils. The success fully equalled their expectation; and from this small beginning arose the staple commodity of Carolina, which soon became the chief support of the colony, and the great source of its opulence.1

Yamassees take some Spanish Indians;

The Yamassee Indians, who formerly lived under the Spanish government, now lived under the English, about 80 miles from Charlestown. Some of them, while hunting about 200 miles to the southward, met with some Spanish Indians who lived about Sancta Maria, not far from St. Augustine, and brought them home as prisoners; designing to sell them for slaves to Barbadoes or Jamaica. Governor Archdale, on being informed of their design, sent for their king, and ordered him to bring these Indians to Charlestown. He brought them-three men, and one woman. They could speak Spanish, and the governor employed a Jew for an interpreter. Finding upon examination, that they professed the Christian religion, in the Roman Catholic form, and believing that they ought to be freed from slavery, he ordered the Indian king to carry them back to St. Augustine, to the sent back to Spanish governor, to whom he sent a letter. The Spanish governor wrote a letter to him in return, thanking him for his humanity, and expressing a disposition to show reciprocal kindness, and to maintain a good correspondence and friendship. Governor Archdale, in consequence, issued orders to all Indians in the British interest, to forbear molesting those under the jurisdiction of Spain, and corresponding orders were issued at St. Augustine. The good effects of this humane and liberal procedure were felt by the province of Carolina.2

who are

Augustine.

1 Hewatt, i. 119. 129-131. Pennant observes, that rice is said to have been first planted in Carolina about A. D. 1688, by Sir Nathaniel Johnson, but the seed being small and bad, the culture made little progress. See Monthly Review for 1786, Art. PENNANT'S ARCTIC ZOOLOGY, and Drayton's View of S. Carolina, 115.

2 Hewatt, i. 131, 132. Archdale's Carolina.

admitted to

ment.

Governor Archdale, learning that the Indians near Cape Fear 1695. were desirous of coming under the English government, admitted them to that privilege. Having heard of their barbarity to men Indians at cast away on their coast, he told them what he had heard, and Cape Fear that he expected a civil usage from them to such shipwrecked the Engpersons in future. About six weeks after, a vessel coming from lish governNew England with 52 passengers was cast away at Cape Fear. Finding themselves surrounded by barbarians, and expecting instant death, they entrenched themselves. The Indians soon appeared, and with signs of friendship invited them out, showing then fish and corn; but, unwilling to trust them, they remained in their entrenchment until they were near starving. A few then ventured out to the Indians, who received them kindly, and fu nished them with provisions for the rest. All, now emboldened, came forth, and were well treated by the king at his own town. Three or four of them travelling over land to Charlestawn, and acquainting the governor with their misfortune, he sent a vessel to North Carolina, which brought them to Cooper river, on the north side of which lands were allotted to them, and they formed the settlement afterwards called Christ church parish.1 In the spring of this year, the governor of New York came to Affairs of an open rupture with his assembly; which he at last prorogued, after obtaining an act for supporting 100 men on the frontiers. At this session, on a petition of five church wardens and vestrymen of the city of New York, the house declared it to be their opinion, "That the Vestrymen and Church Wardens have a power to call a dissenting Protestant minister, and that he is to be paid and maintained as the Act directs."2 At a subsequent session in June, governor Fletcher laid before the assembly the king's assignment of the quotas of the several colonies, for a united force against the French.3

66

N. York.

behalf of

The general assembly of Virginia passed an act, impowering Act of Virthe governor, with the advice of the council, to apply £500 ginia in sterling out of the imposition upon liquors raised this assembly," N. York. to the assistance and preservation of New York, if found necessary.4

The legislature of Massachusetts passed an act, constituting

1 Archdale's Carolina. The shipwrecked company were about 100 miles from Charlestown," and all came safe, but one child that died."

2 Smith, N. York, 86. "The intent of this Petition was to refute an opinion which prevailed, that the late Ministry act was made for the sole benefit of Epicopal Clergymen."

3 Smith, N. York, 87. A list of the quotas is subjoined: