1693. Carolina. Episcopal church es tablished in N. York. Government of Pennsylva and queen. Carolina was still, in regard to government, in a confused and turbulent state. The proprietaries now resolved: That, as the people have declared they would rather be governed by the powers granted by the charter, without regard to the fundamental constitutions, it will be for their quiet, and the protection of the well disposed, to grant their request.1 Governor Fletcher projected a tax for building churches, and supporting episcopal ministers in the province of New York; and the provincial assembly passed an act for settling and maintaining a ministry. This is considered as the time of the introduction of the episcopal church into that province.3 The king and queen of England assumed the government of Pennsylvania into their own hands; and colonel Fletcher was nia assumed appointed governor of this province, as well as of New York. An by the king alteration was now made in the numbers of the assembly. Instead of six members for each of the six counties, those of Philadelphia and Newcastle were reduced to four each, and the rest to three; making a diminution of sixteen. On the arrival of colonel Fletcher at Philadelphia, to assume the government of Pennsylvania, the persons in the administration appear to have surrendered the government to him, without any notice or order to them, either from the crown or the proprietary. The new Acts of the governor called an assembly in May. One of its acts was for legislature. the support of government.5 The assembly passed an act, re quiring all parents and guardians to have the children instructed in reading and writing, and taught some useful trade. 1 Chalmers, 552, 556. "Thus," says Chalmers, "at the end of three and twenty years, perished the labours of Locke: Thus was abrogated upon the requisition of the Carolineans, who had scarcely known one day of real enjoyment, a system of laws, which had been originally intended to remain forever sacred; which far from having answered their end introduced only dissatisfaction and disorders, that were cured at length by the final dissolution of the proprietary government. The Carolinean annals show all projectors the vanity of attempting to make laws for a people, whose voice, proceeding from their principles, must be forever the supreme law." See A. D. 1671. 2 Humphreys, Hist. Account, 201. Trott, Laws Brit. Plantations. 3 Stiles, Lit. Diary. However, it was near four years after the passing of this Act, before any thing was done in pursuance of it." Humphreys. 4 Franklin, Pennsylvania, 26, 33. 5 Proud, i. 381-393. By this act was granted the tax of one penny in the pound; and from the sums, raised by this tax, a probable es imate may be made of the value of all the private estates and property, at that time, in the Province and Territories. The sums were as follow: 1693. The general assembly of Virginia passed an act, ascertaining the place for erecting the college of William and Mary; also an act, laying an imposition upon skins and furs, for the better Acts of Virsupport of the college. The same assembly passed an act for ginia. encouraging the erecting of a post office in this country.2 Repeated application having been made for a force to be sent Projected from England, sufficient, in conjunction with land forces to be expedition against raised in New England and New York, for the reduction of Canada Canada; it was at length concluded, that an expedition should frustrated. be undertaken for that purpose. A fleet was to be employed in the winter in the reduction of Martinico; and, after the performance of that service, was to sail to Boston, take on board a body of land forces under Sir William Phips, and proceed to Quebec. Neither part of this extensive project was effected. The attempt on Martinico was unsuccessful.3 A malignant disease pervaded the fleet; and so great was the mortality, that before Sir Francis. Wheeler, the commander in chief, arrived at Boston, he had buried 1300 out of 2100 sailors, and 1800 of 2400 soldiers. The projected expedition against Canada was necessarily relinquished.4 No great injuries were sustained, this year, on the frontiers. Major Convers, with 400 or 500 men, marched to Taconick, on Kennebeck; but saw no Indians, excepting one party, which he surprised, not far from Wells. On his return, he built a fort at Saco river; and the Indians soon after sued for peace.5 Coming Aug. 11. into the fort at Pemaquid, appointed for the place of treaty, they Pemaquid. Treaty at 1 Laws of Virginia. Beverly [b. 1. c. 4.] having mentioned the arrival of Edward Nott, Esq. as governor in 1705, and his death in 1706, adds: "In the first year of his government, the College was burnt down to the ground." The building was first modelled by Sir Christopher Wren. After it was burnt, it was rebuilt-by the ingenious direction of governor Spotswood; and is not altogether unlike Chelsea Hospital." Jones, To the royal endowments were afterwards made " several additional benefactions." Among these was a "handsome establishment of Mr. Boyle, for the education of Indians, with the many contributions of the country, especially (says Jones) a late one of £1000 to buy Negroes for the College use and service." State of Virginia, 1724. 2 Laws of Virginia. 3 The English under Sir F. Wheeler made a descent on Martinico, with the loss of about 600 men killed, and 300 taken prisoners. Henault, ii. 221. Univ. Hist. xli. 159–161. 4 Hutchinson, ii. 71, 72. The fleet arrived at Boston 11 June. The distemper spread from it into that town, "and was more malignant than ever the small pox had been, or any other epidemical sickness, which had been in the country before." Ibid. Baron La Hontan says, Sir F. Wheeler, after returning from his unsuccessful expedition against Martinico, anchored with his fleet off Placentia; but, on discovering "a redoubt of stone lately built on the top of the mountain," he judged it more advisable to return quickly into Europe, than to make a fruitless attempt. Harris, Voy. ii. 924. See Mather, Magnal. b. 2. 71. 5 The fort was built of stone," an irregular pentagon with a tower," about two leagues up the river, on the western side, near the falls. This was in the heart of the Indian hunting ground, and was supposed to accelerate the treaty of peace. Hutchinson. 1693. entered into a solemn covenant, by which they acknowledged subjection to the crown of England; engaged to abandon the French interest; and promised to maintain perpetual peace, to forbear private revenge, to restore all captives, and to allow a free trade. As a security to their fidelity, they delivered hostages.1 French expedition against the Mohawks. Furs carried from Missi Count Frontenac, governor of Canada, unable to effect a peace with the Five Nations, meditated a blow on the Mohawks. Collecting an army of 600 or 700 French and Indians, he supplied them with every thing necessary for a winter campaign; and on the 15th of January they set out from Montreal. After a march attended with extreme hardships, they passed by Schenectady on the 6th of February; and, that night, took five men, and some women and children, at the first castle of the Mohawks. The second castle they took also with ease. At the third, they found about 40 Indians in a war dance, designing to go out on some enterprise the next day. On their entering the castle, a conflict ensued, in which the French lost about 30 men. In this descent, 300 of the Indians, in the English interest, were made captives. Colonel Schuyler, with a party from Albany, pursued the enemy; and several skirmishes ensued. When the French reached the north branch of Hudson's river, a cake of ice opportunely served them to cross it; and Schuyler, who had retaken about 50 Indian captives, desisted from the pursuit. The French, in this entreprise, lost 80 men, and had above 30 wounded.2 The French, by their trade with the Indians, liad accumulated limakinac to a great quantity of furs and other peltry at Missilimakinac ; but Montreal. the Five Nations had so effectually blocked up the passage between that place and Canada, that they had remained there useless for several years. Count Frontenac, hoping that the Five Nations would now keep more at home in defence of their castles, sent a lieutenant, with 18 Canadians and 20 praying Indians, to open the passage to Missilimakinac ; but this party was entirely routed. At length, however, 200 canoes, loaded with furs, arrived at Montreal.3 State of Canada, about this time, contained, by computation 180,000 souls. In Quebec there were six churches.4 1 Hutchinson, ii. 72, 73. Belknap, N. Hamp. ii. 265. Univ. Hist. xxxix. 320. Sullivan, 159. Brit. Emp. ii. 87. 2 Smith, N. York, 80-82. Colden, 142, 144. "Our Indians," at the time of Schuyler's return from the pursuit, "were so distressed for provisions, that they fed upon the dead bodies of the French; and the enemy, in their turn, were reduced before they got home, to eat up their shoes." Smith. 3 Colden, 150. This arrival" gave as universal a joy to Canada, as the arrival of the Galeons give in Spain." Ibid. Univ. Hist. [xl. 87, 88,] says, that D' Argentuil and 18 Canadians undertook this dangerous enterprise in 1692, and returned safely with 200 loaded canoes, having on board the principal chiefs of the northern and western nations. 4 Harris, Voy. ii. 915, 924. There were, at this time, within the limits of Eastham 505 adult Indians; at Mashpee and places adjacent, 214; and in other parts of old Plymouth colony, 680; to whom the gospel was statedly preached.1 1693. challenges militia of Governor Fletcher of New York was vested with plenary powers Governor of commanding the whole militia of Connecticut; and insisted on Fletcher the exercise of that command. The legislature of Connecticut, the com knowing that authority to be expressly given to the colony by mand of the charter, would not submit to his requisition; but the colony, desirous Connectiof maintaining a good understanding with governor Fletcher, sent cut. William Pitkin, esquire, to New York, to make terms with him respecting the militia, until his majesty's pleasure should be further known. No terms, however, could be made with the governor, short of an explicit submission of the militia to his command. On the 26th of October, he came to Hartford, Goes to while the assembly was sitting, and, in his majesty's name, de- Hartford. manded that submission. The assembly resolutely persisted in a refusal. After the requisition had been repeatedly made, with plausible explanations and serious menaces, Fletcher ordered his Attempts to commission and instructions to be read in audience of the train- publish his brands of Hartford, which had been prudentially assembled, upon sion; but his order. Captain Wadsworth, the senior officer, who was at in vain. that moment exercising the soldiers, instantly called out, "Beat the drums," which, in a moment, overwhelmed every voice. Fletcher commanded silence. No sooner was a second attempt made to read, than Wadsworth vociferated, "Drum, drum, I say." The drummers instantly beat up again with the greatest possible spirit. "Silence, silence," exclaimed the governor. At the first moment of a pause, Wadsworth called out earnestly, “Drum, drum, I say ;" and, turning to his excellency, said, "If I am interrupted again, I will make the sun shine through you in a moment." This decision produced its proper effect; and the governor and his suite soon returned to New York.2 1 Mather, Magnal. b. 6. 60, 61. Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc. i. 205, 207. To the Indians in Eastham, Mr. Samuel Treat, minister of that place, preached. "In Mashipau [Mashpee], Sanctuit, and Cotuit, villages bordering on each other, and all belonging to the same assembly, there are no less than 214, besides several straglers, that have no settled place," To these Mr. Rowland Cotton, minister of Sandwich, preached. To 180, whose place of residence is not designated, "Mr. Thomas Tupper dispensed the word;" to the remaining 500 (making collectively the 680 mentioned in the text) Mr. John Cotton, minister of Plymouth, and son of the minister of Boston, preached the gospel. Magnal. The number of Indians on Martha's Vineyard was much reduced between A. D. 1674 and the above year; but the year before [1692], the Indian church there consisted of more than 100 persons. In the following year [1694], the adult Indians on Nantucket were about 500; at which time there were on that Island five assemblies of praying Indians, and three churches; two Congregational, and one of Baptists. commis 1693. First print ing press in N. York. Oct. 19. Storm in SirW Phips of to the king. The first printing press in the province of New York was erected in the city of New York by William Bradford, who was appointed printer to the government. The first book from his press was a small folio volume of the laws of the colony, bearing the date of this year.1 A violent storm in Virginia caused such uncommon changes in that province and its vicinity, that "it seemed to reverse the course of nature." It stopped the ancient channels of some rivers, and opened new channels for others, that were even navigable.2 1694. SIR Whilliam Phips had but a short administration. In the complained exercise of admiralty jurisdiction, he fell into a dispute with the collector of the customs. Receiving provocation from the collector and the captain of a man of war, he broke out into indecent sallies of passion, and treated both of them with rudeness and violence. Both complained to the king, who was solicited immediately to displace the governor. The king refused compliance with the solicitation, without hearing what he had to say in his defence; and he was ordered to leave his government, and make answer in England. Sir William accordingly left Boston on the 17th of November. The governor's injudicious use of power gave occasion to the crown to bring forward regulations for the prevention of future injuries; and a judge of established admiralty was now established.3 Embarks for Judge of Indians fail river. By the influence of the French, the Indians were induced to on Oyster violate the treaty of Pemaquid. On the 18th of July the Sieur de Villieu, with a body of 250 Indians, fell with fury on a village at Oyster river, in New Hampshire, and killed and took between 90 and 100 persons, and burned about 20 houses. Of the 20 houses burnt, 5 were garrisoned. There were 7 other garrisoned houses, which were resolutely and successfully defended. Villieu collected the Indians for this expedition from the tribes of St. John, Penobscot, and Norridgwock.1 I Thomas, Hist. Printing, ii. 91. In the imprint he styled himself "Printer to their majesties." No press was established under the Dutch government. Ib. 2 Univ. Hist. xli. 546. Lowthorp, Abridg. Philos. Transactions, ii. 104: "So that," says the account in these Transactions, "betwixt the bounds of Virginia and Newcastle in Pennsylvania, on the sea board side, are many navigable rivers for sloops and small vessels." This account is there ascribed to "Mr. Scarsburgh." 3 Hutchinson, ii. 70-80. There was at that time no court of admiralty; and no custom houses were yet established in the plantations by act of parliament. "The people thought it enough to enter and clear at the naval office, and questioned the authority of the collector." Hutchinson. 4 Hutchinson, ii. 82. Belknap, N. Hamp. i. 268-276. Charlevoix' account [N. France, ii. 145.] is exaggerated. |