distinguished for their success.

Flushed with their suc

cesses, the company penetrated far into the wilderness, where they were ambushed by a superior party of Indians, and after sustaining a desperate, and bloody conflict, made good their retreat, with the loss of their captain, and eight men killed, eleven wounded; two mortally, and two others perished in the wilderness on their return. This was one of the most memorable conflicts in this war, and greatly interested the public feeling. A party was ordered out from the frontier, to bury the dead, who reached the field of action, performed the solemn rite of sepulture for these heroes, and engraved their names upon the surrounding trees, where they were visible in the year 1784.

ter.

This memorable battle cleared the frontier on this quar

And at the same time it roused up the colonies, to send a commission to Monsieur Vaudreuil, governor of Canada, to remonstrate against the part he had taken in the war, and to demand his influence to settle a peace with the Indians. The commissioners found the governor at Montreal, where they were politely received; but the governor denied the charge of his being accessary to the war. The commissioners, amongst other direct testimony to the fact, produced his own letters that were found upon the Jesuit Ralle, at Norridgewog, which were decisive; and the governor promised to use his influence to recover the captives, and induce the Indians to come forward with proposals of peace.

The influence of the governor recovered sixteen captives, and obtained assurances for ten others; but the Jesuit Chase, who acted as interpreter, obstructed the proposals for a peace. This man appeared to possess greater influence over the Indians than the governor, and controuled the negociation. The commission thus being closed, they returned under a military escort from Governor Vay

dreuil, as far as Crown Point, and from thence to Albany, where they arrived safe in seven days; May 1725.

When the report of the commissioners was laid before the assemblies of Massachusetts and New-Hampshire, they first determined, vigourously to prosecute the war; next to send out a complaint, by way of petition to his majesty, complaining of the couduct of the French governor, and praying that the other colonies of Connecticut and NewYork, might be ordered to furnish men and supplies for the Letters at the same time were sent to the governor of New-York, requesting him to seize such hostile Indians as came down to Albany to trade.

war.

The hostages which had been detained at Boston, were sent home on parole, and soon returned with proposals for peace, and a treaty was agreed upon, to be held at Boston. Pending these conferences, a small party from Canada surprised Dover, killed two men, and wounded the third in the following manner-the shot entered his breast, and the flow of blood from the wound led the Indians to suppose him to be dead; they stripped and scalped him, then turned him over, and gave him several strokes with their guns, and left him for dead; as soon as they were gone he rose up, and made for the garrison, naked, and besmeared with blood; but meeting his friends on the way, he was overcome, fainted, and fell down; they ran to him, wrapped him in a blanket, and bore him to the garrison, where he recovered, and lived fifty years afterwards. The enemy fled and escaped, and carried off one captive.

The treaty was held at Boston, agreeable to appointment, and the conditions were ratified at Falmouth, in the spring of 1726. This treaty was carried into effect, and trading houses were established, in such parts of the Indian country, as were best calculated to promote a friendly intercourse, and thus preserve the peace.

These repeated Indian wars, were severe scourges to the colonies, and filled the country with alarm and distress; but they were productive of the following good :— 1. They promoted union in the colonies ;-2. They taught them their dependence upon God their deliverer, and kept them near the throne of grace: they also trained the country to arms, and taught them how to defend themselves against a more formidable enemy hereafter, who was ready to swallow them up, and sacrifice the church in the wilderness, to the same monster from which the pilgrims had fled, when they left the land of their fathers.

The lieutenant-governor had conducted this war in the absence of the governor, to high acceptance, and satisfaction; the people rewarded him with their grateful acknowledgments, and the general court with liberal grants of money; and at the same time they issued an emission of 20007. in bills of credit, to relieve the people from the burthens of the war; a general excise was also laid for three years, to support the public credit. The hatchet was buried, the storm was hushed, and the people returned to their several pusuits, in peace and tranquillity, 1726.

CHAPTER XXVI.

MASSACHUSETTS AND NEW-HAMPSHIRE UNDER THE ADMINIS TRATION OF GOVERNORS DUMMER AND WENTWORTH, AND GOVERNORS BURNET AND BELCHER.

IT has been noticed that Governor Shute retired from his office in disgust, and went home to England, and that the government of Massachusetts and New-Hampshire devolved upon Lieut. Governor Dummer and Lieut. Governor Wentworth, through the late war, and that they acquitted themselves much to the satisfaction of the people.

As soon as the war was closed, the old leaven of discord began to prevail; Governor Shute received a pension of 400l. per annum in England, and was succeeded in the administration by Governor Burnet, son of the celebrated Bishop Burnet, upon the accession of George II. 1727. Mr. Burnet had been governor of New-York and NewJersey, where he acquitted himself with honor. Previous

to the arrival of Gov. Burnet, was felt the shock of the great earthquake, which was preceded by a loud roaring like heavy distant thunder, followed suddenly by the earthquake, which continued about two minutes, and gave universal alarm; no buildings were thrown down; but many tops of chimneys were shaken off, and many cellar walls fell in, and many hearts fainted, for fear of the destruction which awaited them. We shall notice this earthquake further, in our remarks upon Moodus, or East-Haddam in Connecti

cut.

At this time the trade of New-England was depressed with the late war, and it became necessary that the general court of Massachusetts, should relieve the burthens of the people, by a new emission of bills of credit; this was effected, and a bill passed by the general court, to issue bills of credit to the amount of 30,000l. for the express purpose of fortifying their seaports, was sent up to the lieuten

ant-governor for his concurrence; who received the bill, and then laidhis majesty's instructions before the council, for advice, whether he could in honor approve the bill; the council decided that he could not, and the lieutenant-governor returned the bill with his negative; together with his reasons. The house refused to vote his salary, and requested leave to rise; this opened a field of altercation, and a recess for a fortnight was granted. When the general court were again convened, they gave a new face to the bill, and sent it up for concurrence; the lieutenantgovernor again sought advice from the council, but they had approved the bill, and declined giving advice: the lieutenant-governor signed the bill, returned it to the house, and then they voted his salary.*

The general court next proceeded to order three ranges of townships to be laid off upon the frontier, adjoining New-Hampshire; extending from Connecticut River to This opened a controversy with New-Hamp ́shire; revived the old claims of Mason, and began a landjobbing speculation, that greatly retarded the settlement of the lands in controversy.

the sea.

In this state of public agitation, Governor Burnet arrived at Boston, July 1728, was received with great parade, and entered upon the duties of his administration. In his first speech to the general court, the same month, he disclosed the king's instructions for a permanent salary, and urged the demand; the house met the demand with their usual firmness, and voted 1700l. for the current year; the gov ernor urged his instructions, and declined his acceptance; this opened the old field of controversy, with the usual warmth, and the court sent a message to his excellency, requesting permission to rise; this was refused; again urged, and again refused. This opened a long field of controversy which was carried on by way of messages, and *This was only 2501. sterling. 31

VOL. I.