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from New England, The expedition was relinquished the consequence was, new assaults from the savages. But news of the peace of Utrecht arriving, a suspension of arms was proclaimed at Portsmouth, October 29, 1712. The Indians came in, and agreed upon articles of peace. Never was an event more welcome to the provinces. They had been bleeding for almost forty years; five or six thousand men had fallen in battle, or by disease in the army. Massachusetts and New Hampshire were the principal sufferers.* The inhabitants of Connecticut had increased to about seventeen thousand. The people were religious; their righteousness exalted their character. In 1696, there were one hundred and thirty churches in these colonies, thirty five of which were in Connecticut. At this period, Connecticut had forty five towns. The number of ordained ministers was forty three. There was an ordained minister to every four hundred persons, or to every eighty families. There was not one vacant church in the colony. There was also a number of candidates preaching in the new towns, where no churches were formed. About this time, Boston was laid in ashes by an accidental fire, but was soon rebuilt. in a more elegant style.

The death of queen Ann, and the accession of George I. was announced in New England, September 15, 1714. Col. Shute being appointed

* TRUMBULL.

Contest with the Governor.

325

governor of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, Mr. Dudley retired to a private station. Gov. Shute was a man of ambition, possessing too high ideas of royal authority, to accord with the republican feelings of the people of New England. Their controversies with him, and with other governors, proved, that they could never be enslaved, till their character was totally changed. He arrived in Boston, October 5th, 1716, and was received with great parade. The summer following, he, with a number of the council from both provinces, met the Indians at Arrocosic Island, to confirm their friendship, to persuade them to relinquish popery, and embrace the protestant religion. He offered them an Indian bible, and a protestant missionary; they rejected both.

Some time elapsed before the opposition, usually displayed against royal governors, shewed itself; but, in 1720, the storm rose higher than it had for a number of years. The governor negatived the speaker, chosen by the house; they refused to choose another; he dissolved them. The flame of popular resentment blazed through the province. He revived the old controversy of a fixed salary, and met with the fate of his predecessors. But the people of New Hampshire were satisfied with governor Shute's administration, and contribSuted more than their proportion toward his support. So strong was the tide of opposition at Boston, that the governor, in 1720, returned to Eng

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land, and presented a variety of complaints against the house of representatives. Among other things, he complained, that they had usurped his right of appointing days of fasting and thanksgiving. The British ministry justified the governor, and the province was obliged to accept an explanatory charter, dated August 12th, 1724. This confirmed the right of the governor to negative the speaker, and forbid the house to adjourn for more than two days, without his consent.

In 1721, the small pox was very mortal in Boston, and several adjacent towns. In Boston 5889 caught it, and 844 died. The Rev. Dr. Cotton Mather had read of inoculation among the Turks. He recommended it to the physicians. Dr. Boylston alone complied. He was first successful in his own family, and afterward gave it to many others in the same way; but the business was, in general, very unpopular, and finally forbidden by the general court.

In the winter, an unsuccessful attempt was made to seize Ralle, the French missionary at Norridgwock. This provoked the Indians to vengeance, and after various hostilities, they destroyed Brunswick. By these things, the government was induced, in 1722, to make another attempt upon Norridgwock. Captains Moulton and Harman of York, surprised the village, killed the Jesuit, and about 80 Indians; rescued three prisoners, burned the wigwams, and chapel; and

Earthquake.

brought away the plate and furniture.

327

The mili

tary spirit was roused, government offered £100 for every scalp; Capt. Lovell of Dunstable became a daring adventurer. At one time he brought in ten scalps; but soon after fell in battle, with more than a fourth part of his companions, near Winipisiokee pond.*

After governor Shute's departure, lieutenant governor Dummer managed the affairs of Massachusetts, and Mr. Wentworth those of New Hampshire. In 1724, fort Dummer was built in Hinsdale, and the first settlement made in Vermont. At his decease, governor Dummer bequeathed a valuable estate in Byfield to that parish toward supporting a grammar school. This is now Dummer Academy.

The year 1727, was remarkable for the greatest earthquake, which had ever been known in New England. It happened October 29, at 10 o'clock, P. M, and is still remembered by our aged people. The heavens were clear, the atmosphere perfectly calm, the moon shining in her glory. The shock extended several hundred miles; its greatest force was displayed at Newbury, in Essex county; the earth burst open in several places ; more than a hundred cartloads of earth were thrown out, which in a few days emitted a loathsome smell. But the most remarkable and important effect was the panic, which seized the pub.

* HUTCHINSON.

328

Death of Gov. Burnet.

lic mind at the time; many supposing that "nature's final hour had come," and the general seriousness which followed. In many towns, num-1 bers were awakened, a reformation of morals was visible, family prayer was more generally attend. ed, and great additions were made to many churches.*

Upon th accession of George II, this year, Mr. William Burnet, son to the good bishop of Sa rum, was appointed governor of Massachusetts; and New Hampshire. He had been popular as at governor of New York and New Jersey, and was received in Boston with great pomp, being met; there by the lieutenant governor of New Hamp-> shire, and a committee of the council and assem-! bly. The government of New Hampshire gave: him a fixed salary on certain conditions, but in Massachusetts there was soon a warm altercation between him and the general court on this subject. His nerves should have been "made of sterner stuff," to contend with Massachusetts. He was

disappointed; he was depressed; he died in a few months. When the news of this reached Eng. land, the resentment there was so great, that a proposal was made to reduce the colony to absolute dependence on the crown; but milder measures prevailed, and Mr. Jonathan Belcher, a native of the province, an only son of a wealthy farmer, then a merchant in London, was appointed governor of Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

*FOXCROFT.

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