cide the question, to retire, and to forbid all people of the colony to bear witness, plead, or answer before them. The committee not only declined answering, but drew up a protest; and the people interested in the lands failed to appear. The court,

therefore, after a partial hearing of only a single day, with Owaneco sitting in state on the right hand of the president, with no evidence, claims, or opinions before them except those of interested persons and enemies of the colony, pronounced judgment, in violation of fair purchases, patents, deeds, rights of conquest, and possession. They gave to Owaneco a large tract in New-London, besides the tract of 1100 acres added to it in 1703; nine miles by two in Lyme; and all Colchester. They also filed a bill of costs of £573 12s. 8d. against the colony.

The court afterward gave a hearing of three days to Owaneco, Mason, and other complainants; after which they represented to the queen that Owaneco had been disseized of about 7000 acres of land north of Windham, and another in Plainfield; and that encroachments had been made by Lebanon, Windham, and Canterbury. They forbade all persons to enter upon them until a farther hearing and determination of the case. They also appointed Captain Mason trustee or guardian of Owaneco and his people, and pretended that the Mohegans had been greatly oppressed: though 100 warriors (two thirds of the whole) cheerfully enlisted in the service this year, as they had done the last, showing that no dissatisfaction existed among them. Even Owaneco himself often appeared well content, except when under the im

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THE CLAIM REFUSED.

[1706.

mediate influence of those who excited his jealousy from interested motives. Indeed, he had no good reason for dissatisfaction: for the government had treated him, as well as Uncas, with uniform justice and kindness, paying liberally for what land they had purchased, performing all their stipulations, and more than once interfering for the preservation of the tribe when in danger of subjugation or extirpation. Instead of not leaving the Mohegans land enough to plant, they had reserved between 4000 and 5000 acres for them between New-London and Norwich, strictly reserved and guarded in the patent granted to New-London. Nor had Connecticut exercised this liberality exclusively towards her most faithful ally, the Mohegan nation : reservations were made for the other Indians remaining in her territory; and all of them had the privilege of hunting and fishing everywhere, and of building wigwams, and cutting wood and timber in all unenclosed lands.

The court of Governor Dudley adjourned till May, 1706 but it never assembled again. The Assembly, in October, appointed a committee to inquire into the Indian affairs, and send information to Sir Henry Ashurst; and he made so full a representation of facts relating to them, and to the intrigues, false charges, and other proceedings of governors Dudley and Cornbury, that the queen, after some time, appointed a commission of review. This commission determined, but so late as 1645, in favour of Connecticut; as was done at every legal hearing. It was, however, nearly seventy years before the case was finally settled, in the reign of George III.

In the year 1706, the same measures were taken as before for defence within and without the colony. The agent in England assured the Assembly that Connecticut could not be required to furnish more than a mere quota of troops at the requisition of the governor of another colony: yet, notwithstand. ing this, and the vexations to which they had been subject, they showed as much zeal for her service as ever. The embarrassments under which this was done, at the same time, greatly enhanced the testimony which it bore to the loyalty and liberal spirit of the colony: for the people were greatly impoverished by the many untoward events of past months. The taxes of about three years had amounted to more than two shillings on a pound, or ten per cent. of all taxable property; and mon. ey was so scarce that payments were made in the products of farms, such as beef, pork, grain, &c., which were received, sold in Boston or the West Indies, and cash or bills of exchange were thus obtained, to pay the debts of the colony at home and abroad.

The peculiarly trying and dangerous period through which we have thus accompanied the colony, with such particularity as its importance and interest required, deserves to be held in remem. brance, and often contemplated by the present generation, who share the benefits of her success. We see the defenders of her institutions beset by a succession of threatening dangers, some of them of a nature as unexpected as alarming, yet displaying the equanimity, moderation, fortitude, and perseverance which were so characteristic of that people, and persisting to the last in asserting,

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FEARS OF AN INDIAN WAR. [1707. claiming, proving, and maintaining their rights. In the whole progress of the business, they exhibited that intelligent discrimination which is the legitimate result of a system of sound education in human learning and in the Word of God, and which may be looked for in vain in those countries in which these inestimable privileges are not enjoyed by the people at large. It was education, in its extensive sense, which, under the blessing of God, so often prevented the people of Connecticut from being hurried into fatal mistakes, and sinking into that lethargic indifference to their rights and interests which has proved fatal to so many other states and people. Paramount to all, they possessed that unshaken confidence in the Almighty which they had been so well taught by the example of their fathers, and which led them to notice every important turn in the aspect of affairs with devout and humble submission to God.

CHAPTER XXIX. 1707.

A new Alarm of a French and Indian Invasion.-Neighbouring Indians suspected and watched.-Governor Saltonstall elected on the Death of Governor Winthrop.-General Nicholson's Expedition against the French in 1709.-His Army is wasted by Sickness at Wood Creek, while waiting for the British Fleet. It does not arrive.-The first Paper Money issued by Connecticut.--Early Printing in Connecticut.-Spirit of the French in their Incursions.-The Colonies compelled to seek their Reduction for Self-preservation.

ABOUT the beginning of the year 1707, Mr. Treat and Major Schuyler sent letters informing

the government, that the French and Indians were again mustering their forces to invade the colonies, which caused new alarm. A council of war met on the 6th of February at Hartford; and the alarm was increased by a suspicion that the Pohtatuck and Owiantuck Indians were ready to join the enemy on their appearance.

Örders were given to fortify the western towns, which were then on the frontier of New-York, viz., Simsbury, Waterbury, Woodbury, and Danbury, and to keep daily scouts of two men in each, to give the earliest information of the approach of an enemy. The suspected Indians, or, at least, their chief men, were ordered to be removed to Stratford and Fairfield.

To give the enemy employment at home, or, rather, to drive the French from Canada, Governor Dudley wrote to Connecticut that he proposed to send 1000 men against L'Acadie, or their eastern possessions, and invited her to co-operate: but this was declined, partly because the other colonies appeared not to have been invited.

Governor Fitz John Winthrop died this year; and a special meeting of the Assembly was called in December, at which the Rev. Gurdon Saltonstall was elected in his place. Governor Winthrop was one of the most distinguished, useful, and popular men of the colony. He was born at Ipswich, Massachusetts, in 1638, and son of the first governor of Connecticut under the charter. He became a magistrate in 1689, major-general of the army against Canada in 1690, agent to England in 1694, and governor in 1698; after which he was annually re-elected to the chief-magistracy until