July 26, 2025 • 42 mins
Dive into the remarkable life of George Washington, as depicted by his equally impressive biographer, Marshall. Influenced by the greatness of Washington himself, Marshall evolved into a figure of similar stature. Over a period of nearly 25 years, Marshall dedicated his deepest thoughts to capturing Washingtons life and accomplishments. Thanks to his intimate understanding of his subject, first-hand knowledge of events, and exceptional writing skills, Marshall has given us a true masterpiece.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Chapter seven of the Life of Washington bayoum Ie by
John Marshall. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain.
Chapter seven New Charter of Massachusetts. Affairs of New York,
War with France, Schenectady destroyed, Expedition against Port Royal against Quebec,
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Acadier recovered by France. Permaquid taken attempt on Saint John's Peace,
Affairs of New York, of Virginia, Disputes between England and
France respecting boundary in America, recommencement of hostilities, quotas of
the respective colonies, Treaty of Neutrality between France and the
Five Nations, Expedition against Port Royal, incursion into Massachusetts, planned
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for the invasion of Canada, port Royal taken, expedition against Quebec,
Treaty of Utrecht, Affairs of New York. Of Carolina, Expedition
against Saint Augustine, attempt to establish the Episcopal Church, Invasion
of the colony bills, a credit issued legislature continues itself.
Massacre in North Carolina by the Indians Tuscaroras defeated scheme
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of a bank sixteen eighty nine. The Revolution which placed
the Prince and Princess of Orange on the throne revived
in Massachusetts the hope of recovering the ancient Charter. Elections
were held by authority of the temporary government and the
representative's request of the Council to exercise until orders should
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be received from England the powers and authorities vested in
that body by the Charter. The Council acceded to this proposition,
and the ancient system was re established. It was soon
perceived by the agents of Massachusetts that the old Charter
would not be restored, and that the King was determined
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to retain the appointment of the governor in his own hands.
The colony, however, was authorized to exercise the powers of
government according to the ancient system until a new arrangement
should be made. The vessel by which these directions were
transmitted carried also orders that Sir Edmund Andros and those
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imprisoned with him, should be sent to England. The General
Court deputed additional agents with instructions to solicit the confirmation
of their beloved charter, but these solicitations were ineffectual sixty
ninety one new Charter. The King was inflexible, and at
length the new Charter was framed, introducing some changes which
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affected radically the independents that had been long practically possessed
by the colony. The government was to be appointed by
the Crown, was enabled to call adjourn, pro rogue, and
dissolve the Assembly at pleasure. He had the appointment solely
of all military officers, and with the consent of his council,
of all officers belonging to the courts of Justice. Sixty
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ninety two. S William Phipps, the first Governor, arrived in
May and immediately issued writs for our General Assembly, which
met in June and accepted the Charter, though a considerable
party had been formed to oppose it. This instrument annexed
Plymouth and Nova Scotia to Massachusetts. The contrary to the
wishes of both colonies, omitted New Hampshire, which became permanently
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a separate government affairs of New York. In New York, Leesler,
who had obtained the entire control of the lower country,
associated with himself in the government. A few trustee partisans
denominated a Committee of Safety, over whom he presided. Some
of the principal inhabitants of the city, dissatisfied at seeing
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a man of low birth without education in possession of
supreme power, retired to Aubany, where a convention of the
people was assembled to determine to hold the fort and
country for the King and Queen, but not to submit
to the authority of Leiesler. On receiving intelligence of these transactions,
Jacob Melbourne was detached with a small force to reduce
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the place, but finding that the people adhered to the
convention and that his harangues against James and Potpoery made
no impression on them, he returned to New York. The
next spring, he appeared again before the fort, and, being
favored by an irruption of the Indians, obtained possession of it.
The principal members of the convention absconded, upon which their
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effects were seized and confiscated. This harsh measure produced resentments
which were transmitted from father to son. Leiesler retained the
supreme power without further opposition until the arrival of Sir
Henry Slaughter, who had been appointed governor of the province.
Though informed of the commission which Slaughter bore, this infatuated
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man refused to yield the government to him, and showed
a disposition without the ability to resist this ill judged
obstinacy through the governor, who soon obtained possession of the
fort into the arms of the opposite party. Leesler Milbourne
were arrested, tried for high treason, condemned and executed. Their
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estates were confiscated, but were afterwards restored to their families.
While these things were passing in the interior, the colonies
of New England and New York were engaged in a
bloody and desolating war with the French of Canada and
with the Indians. The English people had long viewed with
apprehension the events of France towards universal dominion, and with
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infinite disgust the influence of Luit the Fourteen in their cabinet.
On the elevation of the Prince of Orange to the throne,
they entered with alacrity into all his views for opposing
barriers to the power and restraint on the ambition of
that haughty monarch war with France. The war which was
proclaimed between the two nations extended itself to their possessions
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in America. To Caller, who sailed from Canada to France
in sixteen eighty eight, had formed a plan for the
conquest of New York, which was adopted by his government.
Caffennier commanded the ships would sail from Rochefort on this expedition, subject, however,
to the Count de Frontignac, who was general of the
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land forces, destined to march from Canada by the route
of the River sil and of Lake Champlain. The fleet
and troops arrived at Chebucta, whence the Count proceeded to Quebec,
leaving orders with Caffennier to sail to New York. On
reaching Quebec, the Count found all Canada in the utmost distress.
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In the preceding summer, twelve hundred warriors of the five
nations had suddenly landed on the island of Montreal and
put to death about one third thousand of the inhabitants,
whom they found in perfect security. The place was again
attacked in October, and the lower part of the island
entirely destroyed. In consequence of these calamitous events, Fort Frontignac,
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unlike the Ontario, was evacuated, and two vessels which have
been constructed there were burnt. Count Fontignac, who in his
sixty eighth year possessed the activity of youth. After remaining
a few days on shore, re embarked in a canoe
from Montreal in the hope of conciliating the Five Nations.
He held a great council with them at Anandago, where
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the Indians showed some disposition towards a peace, without concluding one.
To influence their deliberations and raise the depressed spirits of
the Canadians, he sent out several parties against the English colonies,
that against New York, consisting of about two hundred French
and some Indians. After marching twenty two days with their
provisions on their backs through a wilderness covered deep with snow,
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arrived on eighth of February sixteen ninety about eleven at
night at Schenectady, a village a few miles northwest of Albany.
Schenectady destroyed, binding the gates open and unguarded, They immediately
entered the town, the inhabitants of which were asleep, and,
dividing themselves into small parties, invested every house at the
same time. No alarm was given until the doors were
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broken open, and then was commenced the perpetration of those
barbarities which add so much to the ordinary horrors of war.
The whole village was instantly in flames. Pregnant women were
ripped open and their infants cast into the flames or
dashed against the posts of the doors. Sixty persons were massacred,
twenty seven carried into captivity, and those who escaped fled
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naked through a deep snow and storm to Albany. In
the flight, twenty five lost their limbs from the intensity
of the cold. The town was pillaged until about noon
the next day, when the enemy marched off, with their
plunder being pursued by a party of young men from Albany.
About twenty five of them were killed and captured. In
the spring summer of sixteen eighty nine, several settlements and
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forts in New Hampshire, Maine were successfully attacked by the Indians,
whoever they were victorious, perpetrated their usual cruelties. Expedition against
Port Royal. Knowing that these depredations originated in Canada and Accaddier,
the General Court of Massachusetts planned an expedition against both
Port Royal and Quebec. Early in the spring. Eight small
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vessels carrying seven or eight hundred men sailed under the
command of Sir William Phipps, and almost without opposition, took
possession of Port Royal and of the whole coast between
that place and New England. The fleet returned to May
having taken nearly plunder enough to discharge the expense of
the equipment, but two detachments, made about the same time
by Count Fontagnac attacked the Simon Falls and Fort Casco,
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where they killed and took about one hundred and eighty persons.
Penn seeking freedom for im prison friends. The reference made
in the panel inscription at the top of this picture
is to reim Penn's imprisonment in the Tower of London
for publishing The Sandy Foundation Shaken, in which he attacked
the doctrines of the Trinity. While in prison, he wrote
his most famous and popular book, No Cross, No Crown,
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and Innocency with her open face and vindication of his
Quaker faith. In sixteen eighty one, Penn obtained from the
British Crown, in lieu of a debt of sixteen thousand
pounds due him as heir to his father, Admiral Penn,
a grant of territory now comprising the state of Pennsylvania.
There he founded Philadelphia as a Quaker colony. In the
following year. A vessel had been dispatched to England in April,
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with letters urging the importance of conquering Canada and soliciting
the aid of the King to that enterprise. He was, however,
too much occupied in Europe to attend to America, and
it was determined to prosecute the expedition without his assistance
against Quebec. New York and Connecticut engaged to furnish a
body of men to march by the way of Lake
Champlain against Montreal, while the troops of Massachusetts should proceed
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by seating Quebec. The fleet, consisting of between twenty and
thirty vessels, the largest of which carried forty four guns,
sailed from Nantucket the ninth of August, having on board
two thousand men. This expedition also was commanded by Sir
William Phipps, a brave man but not qualified for so
difficult an enterprise. He did not arrive before Quebec until October,
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when it was too late for a regular siege. Instead
of availing himself of the first impression, so Marilla, mischarged
with having wasted two or three days in sight of
the place, after which he summoned it to surrender. Having
performed this ceremony, he landed between twelve and thirteen hundred
men and marched until a knight under a scattering fire
from an enemy concealed in the woods. At night, a
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deserted gave such an account of the French force as
entirely discouraged him. Connecticut and New York were disappointed in
receiving the assistants expected from the Five Nations, who furnished
neither of the warriors they had promised, nor canoes to
transport over the lakes. The Commissary, too, had neglected to
lay up the necessary supplies of provisions. These disappointments obliged
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the party destined against Montreal to retreat without making an
attempt on that place, which enabled the French general to
oppose the whole force of Canada to Phipps the evening.
After the troops were landed. The ships were drawn up
before the place, but received more damage from the batteries
than they could do to the town. After wasting a
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few days in unavailing parade, the army re embarked with
precipitation and returned to Boston. The general court, so far
from suspecting that the expedition might possibly miscarry, seemed to
have counted not only on success, but on acquiring sufficient
treasure from the enemy to pay their soldiers. The army,
finding the government totally unprepared to satisfy its claims, was
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on the point of mutiny. In this state of difficulty,
bills of credit were issued and were received in lieu
of money. A tax was imposed at the same time,
pable in the paper notes of the colony at five
percentum above part. Notwithstanding the exertions to keep up its credit,
the paper depreciated to fourteen shillings in the pound, which
depreciation was almost entirely sustained by the army. As a
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time for collecting the tax approached, the paper rose above part,
but disappreciation was gained by the holders. Colonel Phipps, soon
after his return from Canada, embarked for England to renew
the solicitations of the colony for aid in another attempt
on Quebec. Though unsuccessful in this application, the government of
the province was bestowed on him, and in this character
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he returned to Boston. A desultory war continued to be
carried on which without furnishing any events that would now
be interesting, produced heavy expanse and much individual misery. Sixteen
ninety three, Canada, being considered as the source of all
these evils its conquests, continued to be the favorite object
to Massachusetts. At length, King William yielded to the u
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S solicitations of that colony and determined to employ a
force for the reduction of Quebec. Unfortunately, the first part
of the plan was to be executed in the West Indies,
where the capture of Martinique was contemplated. While on that service,
the contagious fever attacked both the land and sea forces,
and before they reached Boston, thirteen hundred sailors and eighteen
hundred soldiers were buried, the survivors, not being in a
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condition to prosecute the enterprise, it was abandoned on the
conquests of Acca Da by Sir William Phipps. The government
of Massachusetts had been extended over that province, but as
the prejudices and affections of the inhabitants were entirely on
the side of France, it was soon perceived that a
military force alone could preserve the acquisition, and Massachusetts was
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enabled at her own expense to support a sufficient body
of troops for the defense of the country. Sixteen ninety six,
Port Royal was recovered by bi Yu Bunn, after which
all Acca Dei shook off the government of Massachusetts and
doomed its allegiance to France. About the same time, a
fort at Permaquid was attacked and carried by eber Villa Peace.
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In December, the Treaty of Peace, which had been concluded
at Riswick, was proclaimed at Boston, and hostilities with the
French in Canada immediately ceased. The depredations of the Indians
continued only a short time after this event, and in
the course of the following year general tranquility was restored.
Sixteen ninety seven, the frontiers of New Hampshire had been
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not less exposed during the war than those of Massachusetts.
Perpetual and distressing incursions had been made into the country,
which were marked by the burning of undefended habitations and
the massacre of men, women and children. Affairs of New York.
The frontiers of New York were covered by the Five Nations.
Hostilities were carried on between them and the French, but
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they were not attended by any material circumstance. During the war,
the English government meditated a union of the colonies for
the purpose of forming an army to defend New York,
and the governors were instructed to propose to the several
provinces to raise the quota of troops assigned to each
by the Crown. Though this plan never took effect, the
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fact is of some interest, the influence of the French
not yet extending far enough south to involve the colonies
beyond New York. In the calamities of Indian warfare, few
occurrences took place among them which deserve attention of Virginia.
In Virginia, the College of william Mary, to which a
charter had been granted in sixteen ninety two, was liberally
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endowed and was established at Williamsburg by an active Assembly,
which passed in the year sixteen ninety three. In sixteen
ninety eight, the state House at Jamestown, with many valuable papers,
was consumed by fire, and in the following year the
legislature passed an act for removing the seat of government
to Williamsburg, then called the Middle Plantation, and for building
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a capitol at that place. By the Treaty of Wiswick.
It was agreed that France and England should mutually restore
to each other all conquests made during the war, and
it was farther stipulated that commissioners should be appointed to
examine and determine the rights and pretensions of each monarch
to the places situated in Hudson's Bay. The consequences of
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not ascertaining boundaries were soon perceived. The English claimed as
far west as the Saint Croix, while France has asserted
her right to the whole country east of the Kennebec.
War renewed, these claims remained unsettled and were mingled with
other differences of more importance, which soon occasioned the recommencement
of hostilities seventeen o two. The whole weight of the
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war in America fell on New England. Previous to its commencement,
the Earl of Bellamont, who was at that time governor
of New York as well as of Massachusetts and of
New Hampshire, had required that the quotas of men assigned
by the Crown to the different colonies for the defense
of New York should be furnished. This requisition, however, was
not complied with and before hostilities began, a treaty of
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neutrality was negotiated between the Five Nations and the Governor
of Canada, which was assented to by Lord Cornberry, then
Governor of New York. This treaty preserved the peace of
that province, but left Massachusetts and New Hampshire to struggle
with the combined force of the French and their Indian allies,
a struggle which seems to have been viewed by New
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York with the utmost composure. Hostilities between Great Britain and
France were immediately followed by incursions of French and Indians
into the exposed parts of New England. A predatory and
desolating war attended with no striking circumstance, but with considerable
expense and great individual distress, was carried on for some years.
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During its continuance, propositions were made for a cessation of hostilities,
and the negotiations on this subject were protras to a
considerable length. But Dudley, who had succeeded the Earl of
Bellamont as governor of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, declined engaging
for the neutrality of those provinces, in the hope that
Nova Scotia Canada might be subdued. In the course of
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the war. Seventeen o seven, the Battle of Almanza in Spain,
having induced the British Cabinet to direct an armament intended
for New England, two European objects deadly determined to make
an attempt on Accatdia, though no aide should arrive from
England with his view. He applied early in the spring
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to the assemblies of both his provinces and to the
colonies of Connecticut and Rhode Island, requesting them to raise
one thousand men for the expedition. Connecticut declined furnishing her quota,
but the other three colonies raised the whole number, who
were disposed into two regiments, one commanded by Colonel Wainwright
and the other by Colonel Hilton. On the thirteenth of May,
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they embarked at Nantucket on board a fleet of transports
furnished with whale boats, under convoy of a man of
war and a galley. The chief command was given to
Colonel marsh who had behaved gallantly in several encounters with
the Indians, but had never been engaged in such service
as this. They arrived before Port Royal in a few days,
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and landed without opposition after making some ineffectual attempts to
bombard the fort. Of disagreement among the officers and a
misapprehension of the state of the fort and garrison induced
the troops to re embark in a disorderly manner. Dudley,
who was unwilling to relinquish the enterprise, directed the army
to remain in its position till farther orders. March was
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beloved by the soldiers and was known to be brave,
but his capacity was doubted. It was therefore thought unsafe
either to recall him, to place an officer over him,
or to continue him in the chief command. The expedient
devised in this perplexity was to send a commission to
the army, composed of three members of the Council, invested
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with all the powers which the governor himself, if present,
would possess. These commissioners arrived at Casco about the middle
of July, where they found the army insubordinate and indisposed
to the service. The troops, however, were again embarked and
arrived at Passa Mcquadie on the seventh of August. The
spirits of the general were broken and his health was impaired.
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While dispositions for landing the army were making, he declared
his inability to act, and the command devolved on Colonel Wainwright.
The landing was effected on the tenth of August, but
the troops could not be inspired with that union and
firmness which are essential to success. After devoting ten days
to inefficient, unmeaning operations, they re embarked and returned sickly, fatigued,
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and dispirited seventeen oh eight. During this unfortunate expedition, the
frontiers were kept in perpetual alarm by small parties of Indians,
and in the succeeding year, a formidable armament was destined
by vau d Rule, the governor of Canada, against New England.
This enterprise was not fully prosecuted in consequence of the
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failure of several Indian tribes to furnish the number of
warriors expected from them. Incursion into Massachusetts. A considerable force, however,
penetrated into Massachusetts and burnt a part of the town
of Haverhill, where about one hundred persons were killed and
many others carried off as prisoners. These invaders were pursued
and overtaken by a body of troops collected in the neighborhood,
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who killed a few of them and recovered several of
their own countrymen. The New England colonies, still attributing all
these calamities to the French, were earnest in their solicitations
to the Crown for aides which might enable them to
conquer Canada. Their application was supported by the representations of
Francis Nicholson, who had been Lieutenant governor first of New
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York and afterward of Virginia, of Samuel Vietch, a traitor
to Nova Scotia, and of Colonel Schuyler, a gentleman of
great influence in New York, who undertook a voyage to
England for the purpose of communicating his sentiments more fully
to administration, and carried with him resolutions of the Assembly
expressing the high opinion that body entertained of his merit.
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Influenced by these representations, the British Cabinet determined to undertake
an expedition against the French settlements on the continent of
North America and on Newfoundland, to consist of a squadron
having on board five regiments of regular troops seventeen o nine,
which were to be at Boston by the middle of
May seventeen o nine, where they were to be joined
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by twelve hundred men to be raised in Massachusetts and
Rhode Island. Fifteen hundred men also were to be raised
in the government south of Rhode Island, who should proceed
by the way of Lake Champlain against Montreal. All the
colonies except Pennsylvania executed with punctuality the part assigned to them. Nicholson,
who was appointed to command the troops destined against Montreal,
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marked to Wood Creek, where he was ordered to continue
until the arrival of the forces from Europe, that the
two armies might cooperate with each other. The New England
troops who had been assembled at Boston, remained at that
place till September, expecting the arrival of the fleet and
army from England. About that time Nicholson returned from Wood Creek,
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and it was obviously too late to proceed against Quebec.
A meeting of the commanding officers and governors of provinces
was requested in order to deliberate on further operations. A
few days before this meeting was to take place, as
ship arrived from England with the intelligence that the armament
intended for America had been ordered to Portugal, and with
directions to hold a council of War in order to
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determine on the propriety of employing the troops raised in
America against Port Royal, in which event the ships of
War then at Boston were to aid the expedition. The
commanders of their ships except captain Afterwards Admiral Matthews, refused
to engage in this service, and, yet being unsafe to
proceed without convoy, the mos were disbanded. A congress composed
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of governors and of delegates from zuffa of the assemblies
met at Rhode Island and recommended the appointment of agents
to assist Colonel Nicholson in representing the state of the
country to the Queen and soliciting troops for an expedition
against Canada. The next spring. Government seems at first to
have thought favorably of this proposal, but finally determined to
proceed only against Port Royal. Seventeen ten five frigates and
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a bomb catch, which were assigned for this service, arrived
with Nicholson in July. Although the troops were then to
be raised. The whole armament, consisting of one regiment of
marines and four regiments of infantry, sailed from Boston the
eighteenth of September, and on the twenty fourth arrived before
Port Royal. The place was immediately invested in after the
exchange of a few shot in shells was surrendered. Biech
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was appointed governor and its name, in complement to the Queen,
was changed to Annapolis. After the reduction of Port Royal,
Nicholson and returned to England to renew the often repeated
solicitations for an expedition against Canada. The ministry was now changed,
and the colonists despaired of obtaining from those in power
any aids against the French. Contrary to the general expectation,
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his applications succeeded seventeen eleven, and he arrived at Boston
in June with orders to the governors as far south
as Pennsylvania to get their quotas of men and provisions
in readiness to act with the fleet and army expected
from Europe within sixteen days. While the several governors were
yet deliberating on the subject of these orders, the fleet arrived.
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The service according perfectly with the wishes of the people
as well as of the governors. Every practical exertion was made,
and difficulties were overcome which on other occasions might have
been deemed insurmountable. To supply the money which the English
treasure could not then advance, the General Court of Massachusetts
issued bills of credit to the amount of forty thousand pounds,
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and the example was followed by Connecticut, New York, and
New Jersey. Provisions were obtained by impressment. The army consisted
of seven veteran regiments who had served under the Duke
of Marlborough, one regiment of Marines, and two regiments of provincials,
amounting in the whole to six five hundred men afoce,
equal to that which afterwards reduced Quebec when in a
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much better state of defense. This armament sailed from Boston
on the thirtieth of July. Their sanguine hopes were all
blasted in one fatal night on the twenty third of
August in the River at Saint Lawrence, the weather being
thick and dark, eight transports were wrecked on Agalan near
the north shore, and one thousand persons perished. The next day.
The fleet put back and was eight days beating down
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the river against an easterly wind which would have carried
it to Quebec. After holding a fruitless consultation respecting an
attempt on Placentium, the expedition was abandoned and the squadron
sailed for England. Loud complaints were made and heavy charges
reciprocated on this occasion. The ignorance of the hats, the
obstinacy of the admiral, the detention of the fleet at Boston,
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its late arrival there, the want of seasonable orders, and
the secret intentions of the ministry were all subjects of
bitter altercation, but no regular inquiry was ever made into
the causes of the miscarriage. The plan of this campaign
embraced also an attack on Montreal. Four thousand men raised
in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey, and commanded by
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Colonel Nicholson, marched against that place by the way of
Albany and Lake Champlain. The failure of the expedition against
Quebec enabling the Governor of Canada to turn his whole
force towards the lakes, Nicholson was under the necessity of
making a precipitate retreat peace. No other event of importance
took place during this war, which was terminated by the
Treaty of Utrecht. By the twelfth article of this treaty,
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France ceded to England all Nova Scotia or Acadie with
its ancient boundaries, as also the city of Port Royal
now called Annapolis Royal, and all other things in those
parts which depend on the said lands. This territory, which
had been comprehended in the grant made to the Plymouth Company,
was with the consent of that company afterwards granted by
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James's King of Scotland, under the name of Nova Scotia
to Si William Alexander Affairs of New York. In New York,
the Leeslarian and Anti Leislarian parties continued to persecute each other.
To this calamity was added in the year seventeen o
two the still heavier affliction of a malignant fever imported
in a vessel from the West Indies, which in almost
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every instance proved mortal. A similar disease raged about the
same time in several other seaport towns, and was probably
the same which has since produced such fatal effects. Under
the name of the yellow fever. In the same year,
Lord Cornberry, a needy and profligate nobleman, was appointed governor
of the province. He embraced the anti Leeslarian party, that
being then the strongest. A meeting the Assembly, he urged
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the necessity of providing money for the public exigencies, and
as he had arranged himself with the ruling party, the
vote of supply was liberal. It was soon perceived that
the confidence in the governor was misplaced. Considerable sums levied
for objects of great interest were applied to his private use.
The system adopted in New York for collecting and keeping
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public money was calculated to favor this speculation. The colony,
having no treasure, its revenue came into the hands of
the Receiver General for the Crown, whence it was drawn
by a warrant from the governor. Contests soon arose between
his lordship and the legislature on the subject of money,
the House requiring a statement of disbursements and the appointment
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of a treasure to be controlled by them at length.
In seventeen oh six, an act was passed raising three
thousand pounds for fortifications and directing the money to be
placed in the hands of a person named by the Legislature.
The assent of the Governor to this act was not
given till the succeeding year, and was then accompanied with
a message stating that he had in command from the
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Queen to permit the General Assembly to name their own
treasure when they raised extraordinary supplies for particular uses in
which are no part of the standing and constant revenue.
The continual demands of the Governor for money is misapplication
of it. His extortion in the form of fees, and
his haughty, tyrannical conduct increased the irritation subsisting between him
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and the legislature. At length, the Queen yielded to the
complaints of both New York and New Jersey and consented
to recall him. During these altercations, some spirited resolutions were
entered into by the Assembly, one of which claims particular notice.
It is in these words resolved that the imposing and
levying of any monies upon Her Majesty's subjects in this colony,
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under any pretense or color whatsoever, without their consent and
General Assembly his aggrievance and violation of the people's property.
This strong assertion of a principle which afterwards dismembered. The
British Empire then passed away without notice. It was probably
understood to be directed only against the assumption of that
power by the governor. In Carolina, the vexatious contests with
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the proprietory still continued. The public attention was for a
time diverted from these by hostilities with their neighbors of Florida.
Seventeen o two, before the declaration of war made against
France and Spain had been officially communicated, it was reported
in the colonies that this event had taken place, and
mister Moore, the governor of the southern settlements, proposed to
(32:20):
the Assembly an expedition against Saint Augustine. Temperate men were
opposed to this enterprise, but the assurances of the governor
that Florida would be an easy conquest and that immense
treasure would be the reward of their valor were too
seductive to be resisted. A great majority of the Assembly
declared in favor of the expedition and voted the sum
of two thousand pounds sterling for its prosecution. Six hundred
(32:44):
militia were embodied for the service, and an equal number
of Indians engaged as auxiliaries expedition against Saint Augustine. In
the plan of operations which had been concerted, Colonel Daniel
was to move by the inland passage with the party
of militia and Indians and attack the town, while the governor,
with the main body, should proceed by sea and block
(33:04):
up the harbor. Colonel Daniel executed his part of the
plan with promptitude and vigor. He advanced against the town,
which he entered and plundered before the governor reached the harbor.
The Spaniards, however, had been apprised of the preparations making
at Charleston, and had laid up provisions for four months
in the castle into which they retired as Daniel entered.
The town on the arrival of the governor of the
(33:25):
place was completely invested, but at being impossible to carry
the castle without battering artillery, Colonel Daniel was dispatched to
Jamaica for cannon bombs and mortars. During his absence, two
small spanished vessels of war were seen off the mouth
of the harbor, upon which the governor raised the siege,
abandoned his transports, and made a precipitate retreat to Carolina.
Colonel Daniel returned soon afterwards, and, having no suspicion that
(33:48):
the siege was raised, stood in for the harbor. He
fortunately discovered his situation on time to escape, though with
much difficulty. This lash and ill conducted expedition entailed on
the colony a debt of six thousand pounds sterling. The
ignominy attached to it was soon wiped off by one
that was attended with better success. The Lappalachian Indians, who
(34:10):
were attached to the Spaniards had become extremely troublesome to
the inhabitants of the frontiers. The governor, at the head
of a body of militia and friendly Indians, marched into
the heart of their settlements, laid their towns and ashes,
made several prisoners, and compelled them to sue for peace
and submit to the British government Governor Johnson. Soon after
this transaction, Sir Nathaniel, Governor Johnson, who had been appointed
(34:33):
to succeed mister Moore, arrived in Charleston. He endeavored but ineffectually,
to turn the attention of the colonists to the culture
of silk. This article, as well as cotton, was neglected,
and rice became the great staple of the country attempt
to establish the Episcopal Church. During his administration, the contests
between the proprietors and the people increased. An attempt to
(34:54):
establish the episcopal Church was added to other pre existing
causes of discord. The colony having been settled by emigrants
from different nations of different religious persuasions, the indiscreet endeavor
to produce uniformity could not fail to increase their irritation.
The influence of the governor in the legislature obtained the
passage of such acts as were necessary for his purpose,
(35:16):
that many petitions against them were laid before Parliament, and
the House of Lords presented so decisive an addressed to
Her Majesty on the subject that writ of quote warrant
against the chart it was directed. This measure, however, was
not put into execution, and the attention of the colonists
was diverted for a time from these intestine broils by
the appearance of danger from abroad. Seventeen o four, Spain
(35:40):
claimed the whole country as part of Florida, and was
preparing an expedition to enforce his claim. Governor Johnson, who
had acquired some military skill in European service, having received
intelligence of these preparations, made great exertions to fortify the
entrance into the harbor of Charleston and to put the
province in a state of defense. There was reason to
rejoice that these precautions were used, for although no armament
(36:03):
arrived from Europe yet, an expedition planned in the Havana
was carried into execution. Colony invaded. A French frigate and
four armed Spanish sloops commanded by Monsieur le Fabour, sailed
for Charleston with orders to touch at Saint Augustine for men,
his forces said to have amounted to about eight hundred.
A government cruiser described this squadron off the bar of
(36:25):
Saint Augustine and brought the intelligence to Charleston. Scarcely had
the captain delivered his information when signals from Sullivan's Island
announced its appearance off the coast. The alarm was immediately
given and the militia of the town were under arms.
In the evening, the fleet reached Charleston Bar, but deferred,
attempting to pass it until the morning. After consuming a
(36:45):
day in sounding the south bar, the Spanish flotilla crossed
it and anchored above Sullivan's Island. The governor then directed
some pieces of heavy artillery to be placed in the
vessels in the harbor, and gave the command of them
to William rhett. A summons to surrender being rejected, a
party of the enemy landed on James Island and burnt
a few houses. Another party, consisting of one hundred and
(37:06):
sixty men, landed about the same time on the opposite
side of the river. Both these were attacked and defeated.
Encouraged by this success, Johnson determined to attack the invaders
by sea. In execution of this determination, Rhet with six
small vessels, proceeded down the river to the place where
the hostel flotilla wrote an anchor, which, at his approach,
(37:26):
precipitately recrossed the bar. For some days, it was believed
that the enterprise was abandoned, But while the inhabitants were
rejoicing at their deliverance, advice was received that a ship
of force had been seen in Seawee Bay and had
landed a number of men. On examining his prisoners, the
governor was informed that the enemy had expected a ship
of war with a reinforcement of two hundred men under
(37:47):
the command of Monsieur arbousset. Taking his measures with the
promptness of an experienced officer, he ordered Captain Fenwick to
pass the river and march against the detachment which had landed.
While rat with two small armed vessels, sailed round by
sea with orders to meet the ship in sea. Wee
by ben Wick came up with the party on shore,
charged them briskly, and drove them to their ship, which,
(38:10):
on the appearance of rent, surrendered without firing a shot.
The prize, with about ninety prisoners, was brought up to Charleston.
Thus was terminated with the loss of near three hundred
men killed and prisoners, among the latter of whom were
the general and some naval officers. The invasion of Carolina
by Monsieur le ferbou It seemed to have been undertaken
(38:30):
in the confidence that the colony was too weak for resistance,
and was conducted without skill or courage. Bill's a credit
to defray the expenses incurred in repelling this invasion. Bills
a credit to the amount of eight thousand pounds were issued.
The effect of this emission was such a depreciation of
the currency under the form of a rise in the
price of commodities and of exchange, that one hundred and
(38:51):
fifty pounds in paper were given for one hundred pounds sterling.
Seventeen oh seven, Lord Granville the Palatine, a bigoted churchman
under whose influence violent measures had been taken for the
establishment of religious conformity in Carolina, died in the year
seventeen oh seven. He was succeeded by Lord Craven, who,
though of the same religious tenets, supported them with moderation.
(39:13):
His disposition to indulge in thereby mollify the dissenters was considered
by the zealous of the established church as endangering religion.
And the legislature, which was elected on the influence of
the late Palatine and of his governor, dreading a change
in the administration seventeen oh eight, legislature continues itself, adopted
the extraordinary measure of continuing itself for two years and
(39:36):
for the time in term of eighteen months after the
change of government, where there by the death of the
President governor or the succession of another in his time,
thus adding one other humiliating proof to those which perpetually
occurred that principles are deplorably weak when opposed by the passions.
Seventeen twelve massacre in North Carolina by the Indians in
(39:57):
the year seventeen twelve, the Indians of North Carolina, alarmed
as their countrymen had been in the other colonies by
the increasing population and regular encroachments of the Whites, formed,
with their accustomed secrecy, the plan of exterminating in one
night these formidable neighbours. No indication of their design was
given until they broke into the houses of the planters.
The slaughter on Roanoke was immense. In that settlement alone,
(40:19):
one hundred thirty seven persons were murdered. A few escaped
by concealing themselves in the woods, who the next day
gave the alarm. The remaining whites were collected together in
a place of safety and guarded by the militia until
assistance could be received from South Carolina. This was prompt
in effectual. The Assembly at Charleston voted four thousand pounds
for the service. Colonel Barnwell was detached with six hundred
(40:41):
militia three hundred sixty Indians to the relief of the
afflicted North Carolinians with the utmost silarity, he passed through
the difficult and dangerous wilderness which then separated the northern
from the southern settlements. Indians, defeated, and attacking the savages
with unexpected fury, killed three hundred of them and made
one hundred prisoners. The survivors retreated to the Tuscorora town
(41:03):
and took refuge within a wooden breastwork, in which they
were surrounded by the whites. After sustaining considerable loss, they
sued for peace and obtained it, but soon afterwards abandoned
their country and united themselves with the Iroquois or Five Nations.
The expense of this expedition greatly transcended the scanty means
of South Carolina. To supply the exigencies of government and
(41:24):
to promote the convenience of commerce, the legislature determined to
issue forty eight thousand pounds in bills of credit, to
be denominated bank bills. This money was to be lent
out at interest on security, and to be redeemed gradually
by the annual payment of one twelfth part of the
sum loaned. The bills were made a legal tender, and
the creditor who should refuse them, lost his debt. After
(41:46):
the omission of these bills, exchanged rose the first year
to one hundred and fifty and in the second to
two hundred percent them above part. The effect of this
depreciation of the tender laws which accompanied it, on creditors
and our morals was obvious, and so end of Chapter
seven
Chapter seven of the Life of Washington bayoum Ie by
John Marshall. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain.
Chapter seven New Charter of Massachusetts. Affairs of New York,
War with France, Schenectady destroyed, Expedition against Port Royal against Quebec,
(00:25):
Acadier recovered by France. Permaquid taken attempt on Saint John's Peace,
Affairs of New York, of Virginia, Disputes between England and
France respecting boundary in America, recommencement of hostilities, quotas of
the respective colonies, Treaty of Neutrality between France and the
Five Nations, Expedition against Port Royal, incursion into Massachusetts, planned
(00:50):
for the invasion of Canada, port Royal taken, expedition against Quebec,
Treaty of Utrecht, Affairs of New York. Of Carolina, Expedition
against Saint Augustine, attempt to establish the Episcopal Church, Invasion
of the colony bills, a credit issued legislature continues itself.
Massacre in North Carolina by the Indians Tuscaroras defeated scheme
(01:13):
of a bank sixteen eighty nine. The Revolution which placed
the Prince and Princess of Orange on the throne revived
in Massachusetts the hope of recovering the ancient Charter. Elections
were held by authority of the temporary government and the
representative's request of the Council to exercise until orders should
(01:35):
be received from England the powers and authorities vested in
that body by the Charter. The Council acceded to this proposition,
and the ancient system was re established. It was soon
perceived by the agents of Massachusetts that the old Charter
would not be restored, and that the King was determined
(01:56):
to retain the appointment of the governor in his own hands.
The colony, however, was authorized to exercise the powers of
government according to the ancient system until a new arrangement
should be made. The vessel by which these directions were
transmitted carried also orders that Sir Edmund Andros and those
(02:17):
imprisoned with him, should be sent to England. The General
Court deputed additional agents with instructions to solicit the confirmation
of their beloved charter, but these solicitations were ineffectual sixty
ninety one new Charter. The King was inflexible, and at
length the new Charter was framed, introducing some changes which
(02:40):
affected radically the independents that had been long practically possessed
by the colony. The government was to be appointed by
the Crown, was enabled to call adjourn, pro rogue, and
dissolve the Assembly at pleasure. He had the appointment solely
of all military officers, and with the consent of his council,
of all officers belonging to the courts of Justice. Sixty
(03:06):
ninety two. S William Phipps, the first Governor, arrived in
May and immediately issued writs for our General Assembly, which
met in June and accepted the Charter, though a considerable
party had been formed to oppose it. This instrument annexed
Plymouth and Nova Scotia to Massachusetts. The contrary to the
wishes of both colonies, omitted New Hampshire, which became permanently
(03:30):
a separate government affairs of New York. In New York, Leesler,
who had obtained the entire control of the lower country,
associated with himself in the government. A few trustee partisans
denominated a Committee of Safety, over whom he presided. Some
of the principal inhabitants of the city, dissatisfied at seeing
(03:54):
a man of low birth without education in possession of
supreme power, retired to Aubany, where a convention of the
people was assembled to determine to hold the fort and
country for the King and Queen, but not to submit
to the authority of Leiesler. On receiving intelligence of these transactions,
Jacob Melbourne was detached with a small force to reduce
(04:16):
the place, but finding that the people adhered to the
convention and that his harangues against James and Potpoery made
no impression on them, he returned to New York. The
next spring, he appeared again before the fort, and, being
favored by an irruption of the Indians, obtained possession of it.
The principal members of the convention absconded, upon which their
(04:39):
effects were seized and confiscated. This harsh measure produced resentments
which were transmitted from father to son. Leiesler retained the
supreme power without further opposition until the arrival of Sir
Henry Slaughter, who had been appointed governor of the province.
Though informed of the commission which Slaughter bore, this infatuated
(05:02):
man refused to yield the government to him, and showed
a disposition without the ability to resist this ill judged
obstinacy through the governor, who soon obtained possession of the
fort into the arms of the opposite party. Leesler Milbourne
were arrested, tried for high treason, condemned and executed. Their
(05:22):
estates were confiscated, but were afterwards restored to their families.
While these things were passing in the interior, the colonies
of New England and New York were engaged in a
bloody and desolating war with the French of Canada and
with the Indians. The English people had long viewed with
apprehension the events of France towards universal dominion, and with
(05:46):
infinite disgust the influence of Luit the Fourteen in their cabinet.
On the elevation of the Prince of Orange to the throne,
they entered with alacrity into all his views for opposing
barriers to the power and restraint on the ambition of
that haughty monarch war with France. The war which was
proclaimed between the two nations extended itself to their possessions
(06:10):
in America. To Caller, who sailed from Canada to France
in sixteen eighty eight, had formed a plan for the
conquest of New York, which was adopted by his government.
Caffennier commanded the ships would sail from Rochefort on this expedition, subject, however,
to the Count de Frontignac, who was general of the
(06:30):
land forces, destined to march from Canada by the route
of the River sil and of Lake Champlain. The fleet
and troops arrived at Chebucta, whence the Count proceeded to Quebec,
leaving orders with Caffennier to sail to New York. On
reaching Quebec, the Count found all Canada in the utmost distress.
(06:52):
In the preceding summer, twelve hundred warriors of the five
nations had suddenly landed on the island of Montreal and
put to death about one third thousand of the inhabitants,
whom they found in perfect security. The place was again
attacked in October, and the lower part of the island
entirely destroyed. In consequence of these calamitous events, Fort Frontignac,
(07:13):
unlike the Ontario, was evacuated, and two vessels which have
been constructed there were burnt. Count Fontignac, who in his
sixty eighth year possessed the activity of youth. After remaining
a few days on shore, re embarked in a canoe
from Montreal in the hope of conciliating the Five Nations.
He held a great council with them at Anandago, where
(07:34):
the Indians showed some disposition towards a peace, without concluding one.
To influence their deliberations and raise the depressed spirits of
the Canadians, he sent out several parties against the English colonies,
that against New York, consisting of about two hundred French
and some Indians. After marching twenty two days with their
provisions on their backs through a wilderness covered deep with snow,
(07:56):
arrived on eighth of February sixteen ninety about eleven at
night at Schenectady, a village a few miles northwest of Albany.
Schenectady destroyed, binding the gates open and unguarded, They immediately
entered the town, the inhabitants of which were asleep, and,
dividing themselves into small parties, invested every house at the
same time. No alarm was given until the doors were
(08:20):
broken open, and then was commenced the perpetration of those
barbarities which add so much to the ordinary horrors of war.
The whole village was instantly in flames. Pregnant women were
ripped open and their infants cast into the flames or
dashed against the posts of the doors. Sixty persons were massacred,
twenty seven carried into captivity, and those who escaped fled
(08:41):
naked through a deep snow and storm to Albany. In
the flight, twenty five lost their limbs from the intensity
of the cold. The town was pillaged until about noon
the next day, when the enemy marched off, with their
plunder being pursued by a party of young men from Albany.
About twenty five of them were killed and captured. In
the spring summer of sixteen eighty nine, several settlements and
(09:03):
forts in New Hampshire, Maine were successfully attacked by the Indians,
whoever they were victorious, perpetrated their usual cruelties. Expedition against
Port Royal. Knowing that these depredations originated in Canada and Accaddier,
the General Court of Massachusetts planned an expedition against both
Port Royal and Quebec. Early in the spring. Eight small
(09:24):
vessels carrying seven or eight hundred men sailed under the
command of Sir William Phipps, and almost without opposition, took
possession of Port Royal and of the whole coast between
that place and New England. The fleet returned to May
having taken nearly plunder enough to discharge the expense of
the equipment, but two detachments, made about the same time
by Count Fontagnac attacked the Simon Falls and Fort Casco,
(09:48):
where they killed and took about one hundred and eighty persons.
Penn seeking freedom for im prison friends. The reference made
in the panel inscription at the top of this picture
is to reim Penn's imprisonment in the Tower of London
for publishing The Sandy Foundation Shaken, in which he attacked
the doctrines of the Trinity. While in prison, he wrote
his most famous and popular book, No Cross, No Crown,
(10:11):
and Innocency with her open face and vindication of his
Quaker faith. In sixteen eighty one, Penn obtained from the
British Crown, in lieu of a debt of sixteen thousand
pounds due him as heir to his father, Admiral Penn,
a grant of territory now comprising the state of Pennsylvania.
There he founded Philadelphia as a Quaker colony. In the
following year. A vessel had been dispatched to England in April,
(10:35):
with letters urging the importance of conquering Canada and soliciting
the aid of the King to that enterprise. He was, however,
too much occupied in Europe to attend to America, and
it was determined to prosecute the expedition without his assistance
against Quebec. New York and Connecticut engaged to furnish a
body of men to march by the way of Lake
Champlain against Montreal, while the troops of Massachusetts should proceed
(10:59):
by seating Quebec. The fleet, consisting of between twenty and
thirty vessels, the largest of which carried forty four guns,
sailed from Nantucket the ninth of August, having on board
two thousand men. This expedition also was commanded by Sir
William Phipps, a brave man but not qualified for so
difficult an enterprise. He did not arrive before Quebec until October,
(11:22):
when it was too late for a regular siege. Instead
of availing himself of the first impression, so Marilla, mischarged
with having wasted two or three days in sight of
the place, after which he summoned it to surrender. Having
performed this ceremony, he landed between twelve and thirteen hundred
men and marched until a knight under a scattering fire
from an enemy concealed in the woods. At night, a
(11:43):
deserted gave such an account of the French force as
entirely discouraged him. Connecticut and New York were disappointed in
receiving the assistants expected from the Five Nations, who furnished
neither of the warriors they had promised, nor canoes to
transport over the lakes. The Commissary, too, had neglected to
lay up the necessary supplies of provisions. These disappointments obliged
(12:08):
the party destined against Montreal to retreat without making an
attempt on that place, which enabled the French general to
oppose the whole force of Canada to Phipps the evening.
After the troops were landed. The ships were drawn up
before the place, but received more damage from the batteries
than they could do to the town. After wasting a
(12:28):
few days in unavailing parade, the army re embarked with
precipitation and returned to Boston. The general court, so far
from suspecting that the expedition might possibly miscarry, seemed to
have counted not only on success, but on acquiring sufficient
treasure from the enemy to pay their soldiers. The army,
finding the government totally unprepared to satisfy its claims, was
(12:50):
on the point of mutiny. In this state of difficulty,
bills of credit were issued and were received in lieu
of money. A tax was imposed at the same time,
pable in the paper notes of the colony at five
percentum above part. Notwithstanding the exertions to keep up its credit,
the paper depreciated to fourteen shillings in the pound, which
depreciation was almost entirely sustained by the army. As a
(13:15):
time for collecting the tax approached, the paper rose above part,
but disappreciation was gained by the holders. Colonel Phipps, soon
after his return from Canada, embarked for England to renew
the solicitations of the colony for aid in another attempt
on Quebec. Though unsuccessful in this application, the government of
the province was bestowed on him, and in this character
(13:37):
he returned to Boston. A desultory war continued to be
carried on which without furnishing any events that would now
be interesting, produced heavy expanse and much individual misery. Sixteen
ninety three, Canada, being considered as the source of all
these evils its conquests, continued to be the favorite object
to Massachusetts. At length, King William yielded to the u
(13:59):
S solicitations of that colony and determined to employ a
force for the reduction of Quebec. Unfortunately, the first part
of the plan was to be executed in the West Indies,
where the capture of Martinique was contemplated. While on that service,
the contagious fever attacked both the land and sea forces,
and before they reached Boston, thirteen hundred sailors and eighteen
hundred soldiers were buried, the survivors, not being in a
(14:22):
condition to prosecute the enterprise, it was abandoned on the
conquests of Acca Da by Sir William Phipps. The government
of Massachusetts had been extended over that province, but as
the prejudices and affections of the inhabitants were entirely on
the side of France, it was soon perceived that a
military force alone could preserve the acquisition, and Massachusetts was
(14:45):
enabled at her own expense to support a sufficient body
of troops for the defense of the country. Sixteen ninety six,
Port Royal was recovered by bi Yu Bunn, after which
all Acca Dei shook off the government of Massachusetts and
doomed its allegiance to France. About the same time, a
fort at Permaquid was attacked and carried by eber Villa Peace.
(15:10):
In December, the Treaty of Peace, which had been concluded
at Riswick, was proclaimed at Boston, and hostilities with the
French in Canada immediately ceased. The depredations of the Indians
continued only a short time after this event, and in
the course of the following year general tranquility was restored.
Sixteen ninety seven, the frontiers of New Hampshire had been
(15:32):
not less exposed during the war than those of Massachusetts.
Perpetual and distressing incursions had been made into the country,
which were marked by the burning of undefended habitations and
the massacre of men, women and children. Affairs of New York.
The frontiers of New York were covered by the Five Nations.
Hostilities were carried on between them and the French, but
(15:54):
they were not attended by any material circumstance. During the war,
the English government meditated a union of the colonies for
the purpose of forming an army to defend New York,
and the governors were instructed to propose to the several
provinces to raise the quota of troops assigned to each
by the Crown. Though this plan never took effect, the
(16:14):
fact is of some interest, the influence of the French
not yet extending far enough south to involve the colonies
beyond New York. In the calamities of Indian warfare, few
occurrences took place among them which deserve attention of Virginia.
In Virginia, the College of william Mary, to which a
charter had been granted in sixteen ninety two, was liberally
(16:38):
endowed and was established at Williamsburg by an active Assembly,
which passed in the year sixteen ninety three. In sixteen
ninety eight, the state House at Jamestown, with many valuable papers,
was consumed by fire, and in the following year the
legislature passed an act for removing the seat of government
to Williamsburg, then called the Middle Plantation, and for building
(17:00):
a capitol at that place. By the Treaty of Wiswick.
It was agreed that France and England should mutually restore
to each other all conquests made during the war, and
it was farther stipulated that commissioners should be appointed to
examine and determine the rights and pretensions of each monarch
to the places situated in Hudson's Bay. The consequences of
(17:22):
not ascertaining boundaries were soon perceived. The English claimed as
far west as the Saint Croix, while France has asserted
her right to the whole country east of the Kennebec.
War renewed, these claims remained unsettled and were mingled with
other differences of more importance, which soon occasioned the recommencement
of hostilities seventeen o two. The whole weight of the
(17:46):
war in America fell on New England. Previous to its commencement,
the Earl of Bellamont, who was at that time governor
of New York as well as of Massachusetts and of
New Hampshire, had required that the quotas of men assigned
by the Crown to the different colonies for the defense
of New York should be furnished. This requisition, however, was
not complied with and before hostilities began, a treaty of
(18:10):
neutrality was negotiated between the Five Nations and the Governor
of Canada, which was assented to by Lord Cornberry, then
Governor of New York. This treaty preserved the peace of
that province, but left Massachusetts and New Hampshire to struggle
with the combined force of the French and their Indian allies,
a struggle which seems to have been viewed by New
(18:30):
York with the utmost composure. Hostilities between Great Britain and
France were immediately followed by incursions of French and Indians
into the exposed parts of New England. A predatory and
desolating war attended with no striking circumstance, but with considerable
expense and great individual distress, was carried on for some years.
(18:52):
During its continuance, propositions were made for a cessation of hostilities,
and the negotiations on this subject were protras to a
considerable length. But Dudley, who had succeeded the Earl of
Bellamont as governor of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, declined engaging
for the neutrality of those provinces, in the hope that
Nova Scotia Canada might be subdued. In the course of
(19:15):
the war. Seventeen o seven, the Battle of Almanza in Spain,
having induced the British Cabinet to direct an armament intended
for New England, two European objects deadly determined to make
an attempt on Accatdia, though no aide should arrive from
England with his view. He applied early in the spring
(19:35):
to the assemblies of both his provinces and to the
colonies of Connecticut and Rhode Island, requesting them to raise
one thousand men for the expedition. Connecticut declined furnishing her quota,
but the other three colonies raised the whole number, who
were disposed into two regiments, one commanded by Colonel Wainwright
and the other by Colonel Hilton. On the thirteenth of May,
(19:58):
they embarked at Nantucket on board a fleet of transports
furnished with whale boats, under convoy of a man of
war and a galley. The chief command was given to
Colonel marsh who had behaved gallantly in several encounters with
the Indians, but had never been engaged in such service
as this. They arrived before Port Royal in a few days,
(20:19):
and landed without opposition after making some ineffectual attempts to
bombard the fort. Of disagreement among the officers and a
misapprehension of the state of the fort and garrison induced
the troops to re embark in a disorderly manner. Dudley,
who was unwilling to relinquish the enterprise, directed the army
to remain in its position till farther orders. March was
(20:42):
beloved by the soldiers and was known to be brave,
but his capacity was doubted. It was therefore thought unsafe
either to recall him, to place an officer over him,
or to continue him in the chief command. The expedient
devised in this perplexity was to send a commission to
the army, composed of three members of the Council, invested
(21:02):
with all the powers which the governor himself, if present,
would possess. These commissioners arrived at Casco about the middle
of July, where they found the army insubordinate and indisposed
to the service. The troops, however, were again embarked and
arrived at Passa Mcquadie on the seventh of August. The
spirits of the general were broken and his health was impaired.
(21:24):
While dispositions for landing the army were making, he declared
his inability to act, and the command devolved on Colonel Wainwright.
The landing was effected on the tenth of August, but
the troops could not be inspired with that union and
firmness which are essential to success. After devoting ten days
to inefficient, unmeaning operations, they re embarked and returned sickly, fatigued,
(21:46):
and dispirited seventeen oh eight. During this unfortunate expedition, the
frontiers were kept in perpetual alarm by small parties of Indians,
and in the succeeding year, a formidable armament was destined
by vau d Rule, the governor of Canada, against New England.
This enterprise was not fully prosecuted in consequence of the
(22:08):
failure of several Indian tribes to furnish the number of
warriors expected from them. Incursion into Massachusetts. A considerable force, however,
penetrated into Massachusetts and burnt a part of the town
of Haverhill, where about one hundred persons were killed and
many others carried off as prisoners. These invaders were pursued
and overtaken by a body of troops collected in the neighborhood,
(22:31):
who killed a few of them and recovered several of
their own countrymen. The New England colonies, still attributing all
these calamities to the French, were earnest in their solicitations
to the Crown for aides which might enable them to
conquer Canada. Their application was supported by the representations of
Francis Nicholson, who had been Lieutenant governor first of New
(22:53):
York and afterward of Virginia, of Samuel Vietch, a traitor
to Nova Scotia, and of Colonel Schuyler, a gentleman of
great influence in New York, who undertook a voyage to
England for the purpose of communicating his sentiments more fully
to administration, and carried with him resolutions of the Assembly
expressing the high opinion that body entertained of his merit.
(23:15):
Influenced by these representations, the British Cabinet determined to undertake
an expedition against the French settlements on the continent of
North America and on Newfoundland, to consist of a squadron
having on board five regiments of regular troops seventeen o nine,
which were to be at Boston by the middle of
May seventeen o nine, where they were to be joined
(23:36):
by twelve hundred men to be raised in Massachusetts and
Rhode Island. Fifteen hundred men also were to be raised
in the government south of Rhode Island, who should proceed
by the way of Lake Champlain against Montreal. All the
colonies except Pennsylvania executed with punctuality the part assigned to them. Nicholson,
who was appointed to command the troops destined against Montreal,
(23:59):
marked to Wood Creek, where he was ordered to continue
until the arrival of the forces from Europe, that the
two armies might cooperate with each other. The New England
troops who had been assembled at Boston, remained at that
place till September, expecting the arrival of the fleet and
army from England. About that time Nicholson returned from Wood Creek,
(24:19):
and it was obviously too late to proceed against Quebec.
A meeting of the commanding officers and governors of provinces
was requested in order to deliberate on further operations. A
few days before this meeting was to take place, as
ship arrived from England with the intelligence that the armament
intended for America had been ordered to Portugal, and with
directions to hold a council of War in order to
(24:41):
determine on the propriety of employing the troops raised in
America against Port Royal, in which event the ships of
War then at Boston were to aid the expedition. The
commanders of their ships except captain Afterwards Admiral Matthews, refused
to engage in this service, and, yet being unsafe to
proceed without convoy, the mos were disbanded. A congress composed
(25:04):
of governors and of delegates from zuffa of the assemblies
met at Rhode Island and recommended the appointment of agents
to assist Colonel Nicholson in representing the state of the
country to the Queen and soliciting troops for an expedition
against Canada. The next spring. Government seems at first to
have thought favorably of this proposal, but finally determined to
proceed only against Port Royal. Seventeen ten five frigates and
(25:29):
a bomb catch, which were assigned for this service, arrived
with Nicholson in July. Although the troops were then to
be raised. The whole armament, consisting of one regiment of
marines and four regiments of infantry, sailed from Boston the
eighteenth of September, and on the twenty fourth arrived before
Port Royal. The place was immediately invested in after the
exchange of a few shot in shells was surrendered. Biech
(25:52):
was appointed governor and its name, in complement to the Queen,
was changed to Annapolis. After the reduction of Port Royal,
Nicholson and returned to England to renew the often repeated
solicitations for an expedition against Canada. The ministry was now changed,
and the colonists despaired of obtaining from those in power
any aids against the French. Contrary to the general expectation,
(26:15):
his applications succeeded seventeen eleven, and he arrived at Boston
in June with orders to the governors as far south
as Pennsylvania to get their quotas of men and provisions
in readiness to act with the fleet and army expected
from Europe within sixteen days. While the several governors were
yet deliberating on the subject of these orders, the fleet arrived.
(26:37):
The service according perfectly with the wishes of the people
as well as of the governors. Every practical exertion was made,
and difficulties were overcome which on other occasions might have
been deemed insurmountable. To supply the money which the English
treasure could not then advance, the General Court of Massachusetts
issued bills of credit to the amount of forty thousand pounds,
(26:57):
and the example was followed by Connecticut, New York, and
New Jersey. Provisions were obtained by impressment. The army consisted
of seven veteran regiments who had served under the Duke
of Marlborough, one regiment of Marines, and two regiments of provincials,
amounting in the whole to six five hundred men afoce,
equal to that which afterwards reduced Quebec when in a
(27:20):
much better state of defense. This armament sailed from Boston
on the thirtieth of July. Their sanguine hopes were all
blasted in one fatal night on the twenty third of
August in the River at Saint Lawrence, the weather being
thick and dark, eight transports were wrecked on Agalan near
the north shore, and one thousand persons perished. The next day.
The fleet put back and was eight days beating down
(27:41):
the river against an easterly wind which would have carried
it to Quebec. After holding a fruitless consultation respecting an
attempt on Placentium, the expedition was abandoned and the squadron
sailed for England. Loud complaints were made and heavy charges
reciprocated on this occasion. The ignorance of the hats, the
obstinacy of the admiral, the detention of the fleet at Boston,
(28:03):
its late arrival there, the want of seasonable orders, and
the secret intentions of the ministry were all subjects of
bitter altercation, but no regular inquiry was ever made into
the causes of the miscarriage. The plan of this campaign
embraced also an attack on Montreal. Four thousand men raised
in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey, and commanded by
(28:24):
Colonel Nicholson, marched against that place by the way of
Albany and Lake Champlain. The failure of the expedition against
Quebec enabling the Governor of Canada to turn his whole
force towards the lakes, Nicholson was under the necessity of
making a precipitate retreat peace. No other event of importance
took place during this war, which was terminated by the
Treaty of Utrecht. By the twelfth article of this treaty,
(28:46):
France ceded to England all Nova Scotia or Acadie with
its ancient boundaries, as also the city of Port Royal
now called Annapolis Royal, and all other things in those
parts which depend on the said lands. This territory, which
had been comprehended in the grant made to the Plymouth Company,
was with the consent of that company afterwards granted by
(29:07):
James's King of Scotland, under the name of Nova Scotia
to Si William Alexander Affairs of New York. In New York,
the Leeslarian and Anti Leislarian parties continued to persecute each other.
To this calamity was added in the year seventeen o
two the still heavier affliction of a malignant fever imported
in a vessel from the West Indies, which in almost
(29:28):
every instance proved mortal. A similar disease raged about the
same time in several other seaport towns, and was probably
the same which has since produced such fatal effects. Under
the name of the yellow fever. In the same year,
Lord Cornberry, a needy and profligate nobleman, was appointed governor
of the province. He embraced the anti Leeslarian party, that
being then the strongest. A meeting the Assembly, he urged
(29:50):
the necessity of providing money for the public exigencies, and
as he had arranged himself with the ruling party, the
vote of supply was liberal. It was soon perceived that
the confidence in the governor was misplaced. Considerable sums levied
for objects of great interest were applied to his private use.
The system adopted in New York for collecting and keeping
(30:10):
public money was calculated to favor this speculation. The colony,
having no treasure, its revenue came into the hands of
the Receiver General for the Crown, whence it was drawn
by a warrant from the governor. Contests soon arose between
his lordship and the legislature on the subject of money,
the House requiring a statement of disbursements and the appointment
(30:31):
of a treasure to be controlled by them at length.
In seventeen oh six, an act was passed raising three
thousand pounds for fortifications and directing the money to be
placed in the hands of a person named by the Legislature.
The assent of the Governor to this act was not
given till the succeeding year, and was then accompanied with
a message stating that he had in command from the
(30:52):
Queen to permit the General Assembly to name their own
treasure when they raised extraordinary supplies for particular uses in
which are no part of the standing and constant revenue.
The continual demands of the Governor for money is misapplication
of it. His extortion in the form of fees, and
his haughty, tyrannical conduct increased the irritation subsisting between him
(31:14):
and the legislature. At length, the Queen yielded to the
complaints of both New York and New Jersey and consented
to recall him. During these altercations, some spirited resolutions were
entered into by the Assembly, one of which claims particular notice.
It is in these words resolved that the imposing and
levying of any monies upon Her Majesty's subjects in this colony,
(31:36):
under any pretense or color whatsoever, without their consent and
General Assembly his aggrievance and violation of the people's property.
This strong assertion of a principle which afterwards dismembered. The
British Empire then passed away without notice. It was probably
understood to be directed only against the assumption of that
power by the governor. In Carolina, the vexatious contests with
(31:59):
the proprietory still continued. The public attention was for a
time diverted from these by hostilities with their neighbors of Florida.
Seventeen o two, before the declaration of war made against
France and Spain had been officially communicated, it was reported
in the colonies that this event had taken place, and
mister Moore, the governor of the southern settlements, proposed to
(32:20):
the Assembly an expedition against Saint Augustine. Temperate men were
opposed to this enterprise, but the assurances of the governor
that Florida would be an easy conquest and that immense
treasure would be the reward of their valor were too
seductive to be resisted. A great majority of the Assembly
declared in favor of the expedition and voted the sum
of two thousand pounds sterling for its prosecution. Six hundred
(32:44):
militia were embodied for the service, and an equal number
of Indians engaged as auxiliaries expedition against Saint Augustine. In
the plan of operations which had been concerted, Colonel Daniel
was to move by the inland passage with the party
of militia and Indians and attack the town, while the governor,
with the main body, should proceed by sea and block
(33:04):
up the harbor. Colonel Daniel executed his part of the
plan with promptitude and vigor. He advanced against the town,
which he entered and plundered before the governor reached the harbor.
The Spaniards, however, had been apprised of the preparations making
at Charleston, and had laid up provisions for four months
in the castle into which they retired as Daniel entered.
The town on the arrival of the governor of the
(33:25):
place was completely invested, but at being impossible to carry
the castle without battering artillery, Colonel Daniel was dispatched to
Jamaica for cannon bombs and mortars. During his absence, two
small spanished vessels of war were seen off the mouth
of the harbor, upon which the governor raised the siege,
abandoned his transports, and made a precipitate retreat to Carolina.
Colonel Daniel returned soon afterwards, and, having no suspicion that
(33:48):
the siege was raised, stood in for the harbor. He
fortunately discovered his situation on time to escape, though with
much difficulty. This lash and ill conducted expedition entailed on
the colony a debt of six thousand pounds sterling. The
ignominy attached to it was soon wiped off by one
that was attended with better success. The Lappalachian Indians, who
(34:10):
were attached to the Spaniards had become extremely troublesome to
the inhabitants of the frontiers. The governor, at the head
of a body of militia and friendly Indians, marched into
the heart of their settlements, laid their towns and ashes,
made several prisoners, and compelled them to sue for peace
and submit to the British government Governor Johnson. Soon after
this transaction, Sir Nathaniel, Governor Johnson, who had been appointed
(34:33):
to succeed mister Moore, arrived in Charleston. He endeavored but ineffectually,
to turn the attention of the colonists to the culture
of silk. This article, as well as cotton, was neglected,
and rice became the great staple of the country attempt
to establish the Episcopal Church. During his administration, the contests
between the proprietors and the people increased. An attempt to
(34:54):
establish the episcopal Church was added to other pre existing
causes of discord. The colony having been settled by emigrants
from different nations of different religious persuasions, the indiscreet endeavor
to produce uniformity could not fail to increase their irritation.
The influence of the governor in the legislature obtained the
passage of such acts as were necessary for his purpose,
(35:16):
that many petitions against them were laid before Parliament, and
the House of Lords presented so decisive an addressed to
Her Majesty on the subject that writ of quote warrant
against the chart it was directed. This measure, however, was
not put into execution, and the attention of the colonists
was diverted for a time from these intestine broils by
the appearance of danger from abroad. Seventeen o four, Spain
(35:40):
claimed the whole country as part of Florida, and was
preparing an expedition to enforce his claim. Governor Johnson, who
had acquired some military skill in European service, having received
intelligence of these preparations, made great exertions to fortify the
entrance into the harbor of Charleston and to put the
province in a state of defense. There was reason to
rejoice that these precautions were used, for although no armament
(36:03):
arrived from Europe yet, an expedition planned in the Havana
was carried into execution. Colony invaded. A French frigate and
four armed Spanish sloops commanded by Monsieur le Fabour, sailed
for Charleston with orders to touch at Saint Augustine for men,
his forces said to have amounted to about eight hundred.
A government cruiser described this squadron off the bar of
(36:25):
Saint Augustine and brought the intelligence to Charleston. Scarcely had
the captain delivered his information when signals from Sullivan's Island
announced its appearance off the coast. The alarm was immediately
given and the militia of the town were under arms.
In the evening, the fleet reached Charleston Bar, but deferred,
attempting to pass it until the morning. After consuming a
(36:45):
day in sounding the south bar, the Spanish flotilla crossed
it and anchored above Sullivan's Island. The governor then directed
some pieces of heavy artillery to be placed in the
vessels in the harbor, and gave the command of them
to William rhett. A summons to surrender being rejected, a
party of the enemy landed on James Island and burnt
a few houses. Another party, consisting of one hundred and
(37:06):
sixty men, landed about the same time on the opposite
side of the river. Both these were attacked and defeated.
Encouraged by this success, Johnson determined to attack the invaders
by sea. In execution of this determination, Rhet with six
small vessels, proceeded down the river to the place where
the hostel flotilla wrote an anchor, which, at his approach,
(37:26):
precipitately recrossed the bar. For some days, it was believed
that the enterprise was abandoned, But while the inhabitants were
rejoicing at their deliverance, advice was received that a ship
of force had been seen in Seawee Bay and had
landed a number of men. On examining his prisoners, the
governor was informed that the enemy had expected a ship
of war with a reinforcement of two hundred men under
(37:47):
the command of Monsieur arbousset. Taking his measures with the
promptness of an experienced officer, he ordered Captain Fenwick to
pass the river and march against the detachment which had landed.
While rat with two small armed vessels, sailed round by
sea with orders to meet the ship in sea. Wee
by ben Wick came up with the party on shore,
charged them briskly, and drove them to their ship, which,
(38:10):
on the appearance of rent, surrendered without firing a shot.
The prize, with about ninety prisoners, was brought up to Charleston.
Thus was terminated with the loss of near three hundred
men killed and prisoners, among the latter of whom were
the general and some naval officers. The invasion of Carolina
by Monsieur le ferbou It seemed to have been undertaken
(38:30):
in the confidence that the colony was too weak for resistance,
and was conducted without skill or courage. Bill's a credit
to defray the expenses incurred in repelling this invasion. Bills
a credit to the amount of eight thousand pounds were issued.
The effect of this emission was such a depreciation of
the currency under the form of a rise in the
price of commodities and of exchange, that one hundred and
(38:51):
fifty pounds in paper were given for one hundred pounds sterling.
Seventeen oh seven, Lord Granville the Palatine, a bigoted churchman
under whose influence violent measures had been taken for the
establishment of religious conformity in Carolina, died in the year
seventeen oh seven. He was succeeded by Lord Craven, who,
though of the same religious tenets, supported them with moderation.
(39:13):
His disposition to indulge in thereby mollify the dissenters was considered
by the zealous of the established church as endangering religion.
And the legislature, which was elected on the influence of
the late Palatine and of his governor, dreading a change
in the administration seventeen oh eight, legislature continues itself, adopted
the extraordinary measure of continuing itself for two years and
(39:36):
for the time in term of eighteen months after the
change of government, where there by the death of the
President governor or the succession of another in his time,
thus adding one other humiliating proof to those which perpetually
occurred that principles are deplorably weak when opposed by the passions.
Seventeen twelve massacre in North Carolina by the Indians in
(39:57):
the year seventeen twelve, the Indians of North Carolina, alarmed
as their countrymen had been in the other colonies by
the increasing population and regular encroachments of the Whites, formed,
with their accustomed secrecy, the plan of exterminating in one
night these formidable neighbours. No indication of their design was
given until they broke into the houses of the planters.
The slaughter on Roanoke was immense. In that settlement alone,
(40:19):
one hundred thirty seven persons were murdered. A few escaped
by concealing themselves in the woods, who the next day
gave the alarm. The remaining whites were collected together in
a place of safety and guarded by the militia until
assistance could be received from South Carolina. This was prompt
in effectual. The Assembly at Charleston voted four thousand pounds
for the service. Colonel Barnwell was detached with six hundred
(40:41):
militia three hundred sixty Indians to the relief of the
afflicted North Carolinians with the utmost silarity, he passed through
the difficult and dangerous wilderness which then separated the northern
from the southern settlements. Indians, defeated, and attacking the savages
with unexpected fury, killed three hundred of them and made
one hundred prisoners. The survivors retreated to the Tuscorora town
(41:03):
and took refuge within a wooden breastwork, in which they
were surrounded by the whites. After sustaining considerable loss, they
sued for peace and obtained it, but soon afterwards abandoned
their country and united themselves with the Iroquois or Five Nations.
The expense of this expedition greatly transcended the scanty means
of South Carolina. To supply the exigencies of government and
(41:24):
to promote the convenience of commerce, the legislature determined to
issue forty eight thousand pounds in bills of credit, to
be denominated bank bills. This money was to be lent
out at interest on security, and to be redeemed gradually
by the annual payment of one twelfth part of the
sum loaned. The bills were made a legal tender, and
the creditor who should refuse them, lost his debt. After
(41:46):
the omission of these bills, exchanged rose the first year
to one hundred and fifty and in the second to
two hundred percent them above part. The effect of this
depreciation of the tender laws which accompanied it, on creditors
and our morals was obvious, and so end of Chapter
seven
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