CHAPTER XIII. THE surrender of Canada by the French, September 6, 1760, led to a change in the relation of the American colonies to the mother country little anticipated. The Congregational Churches rejoiced in the return of peace, and expressed on the occasion of the final victory sentiments of the most devoted loyalty. The Annual Convention held in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, adopted the following form of congratulation: "To the King's Most Excellent Majesty, the humble address of the ministers of the Congregational Churches in and about Portsmouth, in the Province of Hampshire in New England. "We, your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects— ministers of the Congregational Churches in and about Portsmouth, the principal town of your Majesty's Province of New Hampshire, beg leave from these remote parts of your dominions, upon this first opportunity of our convening, to present before the throne this humble testimony of our loyal duty and affection to your Majesty, whose succession to the British Crown gives the highest joy and satisfaction to all your subjects. The loss sustained by the death of our late most excellent sovereign, would have remained indelibly imprinted on our minds, had not the throne been again so happily filled by a prince of your Majesty's conspicuous virtues and abilities. Loyal address of CongregaChurches on the surrender tional of Canada. "We cannot but recollect with the greatest pleasure, how securely we enjoyed our creed and religious liberties during the reign of your Majesty's royal grandfather, by whose wisdom and moderation, the authority of the laws was supported, and Protestants of all denominations countenanced and protected from the furious insults of party zeal. Especially these American colonies must ever remember his paternal care, who, at a very critical time, of most threatening danger, defended us by his arms, which accompanied with most signal smiles of divine Providence, have delivered us from the massacres of the barbarous savages, to which our frontiers were continually exposed, the fears of Romish superstition and the claims of France. "We congratulate your Majesty that your royal head is now encircled with a crown, whose lustre is so much heightened by the glorious conquest of the whole country of Canada, and adorned and aggrandized more and more by repeated successes and new acquisitions, through the remarkable continuance of the divine blessing on the British arms, ever since your Majesty's acceptance of the throne. We joyfully behold the honours to which the supreme Ruler of all nations hath advanced your Majesty, and are encouraged to hope that God will effectually humble and subdue all your Majesty's enemies; distinguish your reign with peace and prosperity, and make Britain instrumental of diffusing light and liberty through the world. Animated by the repeated accounts transmitted to us of your Majesty's piety, high sense of liberty and justice, and generous affection for your faithful subjects, especially by the declaration of these noble sentiments again and again made from the throne we assure ourselves that the privileges which our Churches, now numerous and flourishing, where ignorance and barbarity once reigned, have hitherto enjoyed under your Majesty's royal ancestors, shall be perpetuated to us, and therefore cheerfully commit ourselves and the interests of religion and virtue among us, under God, to your Majesty's royal favour and patronage while we are labouring according to the peculiar duties of our sacred character, to promote the religion of Jesus Christ and our divine Master, agreeably to the purity and simplicity of the gospel, we shall ever be careful to inculcate upon them principles of loyal subjection to your Majesty's Government, and enforce those duties by our example, and it gives us the most sincere pleasure that the strongest attachment to your Majesty's person and illustrious house appears universally in the Churches of New England. Nor shall we cease to offer up our most ardent supplications to Almighty God, that your Majesty may be more and more inspired with wisdom directed and prospered in all affairs of Government, and continue to reign through a long series of years over a free and flourishing nation, till the fading honours of an earthly, give place to the glories of an heavenly crown. "NATHANIEL GOOKIN,) Committee "SAMUEL LANGDON, of the Con"SAMUEL HAVEN,* JAMES OTIS said, at a public assembly vention." "We in America have certainly abundant reasons to rejoice. The heathen are not only driven out, but the Canadians, much more formidable enemies, are become our fellow sub- James jects. We may safely conclude, from his Majesty's Otis. wise administration hitherto, that liberty and knowledge will be co-extended, improved, and preserved to the latest prosperity. No other constitution of civil government has yet appeared in the world so admirably adapted to this great purpose as that of Great Britain." t The New England settlers in Nova Scotia were abundantly satisfied with the measures of the home government. WILLIAM MOOR, a minister in Halifax, speaking "on behalf of himself and the other Dissenting ministers residing in that province, says:— William "He is not insensible of the inestimable blessing which the inhabitants of Nova Scotia enjoy, in living under the benign protection of his Sacred Majesty, in whom Moor and every prevailing virtue shines with the greatest lustre, whereby we are entirely exempted from those chimerical suspicions of being deprived of any of Scotia. the natural rights and liberties to which we are entitled as * Collections of the Hampshire Historical Society, vol. iv., + Hutchinson. the Churches in Nova p. 140. British subjects, and by which the minds of too many are inflamed at the present day.”* The ministers of Boston unitedly commended, May 12, 1769, the Canadian Churches to the sympathy of the people of England, and expressed the opinion "that it is of the greatest importance to support the Dissenting interest in that province;" and add, "Charitable donations which are bestowed with this design will not only promote the interest of civil and religious liberty, but strengthen the British Empire in America, and advance the kingdom of the Divine Redeemer." † At the earnest and repeated solicitation of New England, the Acadians who had incited the Indians to destroy their settlements were removed. In a despatch dated December 18, 1764, Governor Wilmot states The "The Acadians declined to take the oath of allegiance when offered to them (November 9). Since that time, no reasonable proposals being able to overcome their zeal for the French and aversion to the English government, many of them soon resolved to leave this province, and having hired vessels at their own expense, six hundred persons, including women and children, departed within those three weeks for the French West Indies. The remainder of them have the same destination in view. Thus, my Lord, we are in the way of being relieved from these people, who have been the bane of the province and the terror of its settlements. This consideration, including the many mischiefs they committed, the check Thomas Foxcroft, Matthew Byles, Charles Chauncy, Andrew Eliot, Samuel Cooper, Ebenezer Pemberton, Simon Howard, Samuel Mather, Pennel Bowen, John Lathrop, and Samuel Stillman. + S. P., America and West Indies Memorials, No. 293. S. P., Nova Scotia. they gave to peopling the country, and the progress of industry, from the zeal and activity with which they served the French as spies and partisans; and lastly, the determined and resolute manner in which they refused their allegiance to the King, and the insolence with which they avowed their duty to the King of France only, together with the danger which might in a future war arise from their interest with the Indians, and knowledge of all parts of the country, induced the Council, at which Lord Colville, his Majesty's rear-admiral, assisted, to be unanimously of opinion that they should be at full liberty to depart." The whole land apparently was at rest, and the door was open as it had never been before for united effort to leaven the American continent Opportunity with the benign and elevating principles for Evangelization of the gospel of Christ. But the pro- of Canada pitious season was lost, and just at the neglected. point where the work should have been earnestly commenced, an internecine conflict arose between the two countries that for seven years wasted the resources, corrupted the morals, and caused the direst suffering to both. The issue, in the recognition of the independence of the United States, was a gain to civilization, but the injuries inflicted in the interval were not the less to be deplored. The causes that led to the direful contest were various, but not difficult to trace. The ecclesiastical struggle was the occasion of distrust and alienation. Causes of the War of Independence. JONATHAN MAYHEW, in a letter to his friend Hollis, in London, says (1761-62) :-"We are apprehensive that there is a scheme for sending a bishop into this part of the country. S. F. and Stiles. Bernard, a true churchman, is deeply in the plot. Mayhew |