CHAP. However, after all this national expense, the coloVIII.

ny remained in a languishing and distressed condition. Notwithstanding the liberal and noble designs of the trustees, they imposed on it sơ many impolitic, though well meant restrictions ; subjected the inhabitants to so many forfeitures and hardships, as reduced them to a state of discouragement and wretchedness too great for human nature long to endure. The Carolinians, in pity, invited them over the river Savannah to settle under their government. While some abandoned the colony, others who remained fell into a state of tumult and confusion. In view of their unhappy condition, and wearied with their reiterated complaints, the trustees made a sur

render of their charter to the crown. 1752. In 1752, the government became regal, similar to

that of the other royal governments in America. John Reynolds, a naval officer, was appointed their governour.

At this period, almost twenty years from its first settlement, the vestiges of cultivation were hardly perceptible in the forests of Georgia. In England all commerce with the colony was not only neglected, but even despised. The whole amount of its annual exports fell short of ten thousand sterling. Nor did it, under the royal government, for many years, emerge from its poverty and various embarrassments,

The poverty of the southern colonies, and their slow progress in cultivation and improvement, after their first settlement, was principally owing to these causes, Their unskilfulness in husbandry, their ignorance of the productions, which were natural to the country and most profitable to the planter, their indolence

and want of a spirit of enterprise. General Virginia is one the finest countries both for wheat observa. and cattle, yet for more than a century from the the south. commencement of its settlement, a great proportion ern colo. of the people lived on pone, Indian bread, rather

than bę at the trouble of sowing and fencing a field

tions on

nies.

of wheat. With respect to their cattle, rather than CHAP.

VIII. be at the pains to make proper provision for them, in winter, they would suffer them to be so pinched with hunger, as nearly to die, and so stint their growth, as to prevent their ever being so large and fat, or in other respects so profitable as otherwise they might have been. Hence their beef and mut- .. ton were not so good as in England or the northern colonies. Whereas with a small degree of care and feeding in the winter, they would have been as large as the English cattle, and the beef, perhaps, equal to any in the world. The Virginians had the best lands for hemp and fax; their sheep increased plentifully, and yielded good fleeces; the mulberry tree grew as naturally as the weed, and the silk worm would thrive exceedingly without danger; yet, they brought their clothing of all kinds, linen, woolen, silk, hats, and leather from England. They had a plenty of hides, but most of them lay and rotted. Their sheep were shorn only to cool them. They abounded in deer skins of the best quality, but he was a rare economist, who manufactured a pair of leather breeches. Nay, though they had the finest groves of timber, yet at the distance of a hundred and fifteen or twenty years from their first settlement, they imported all their wooden ware, not only their cabinets, chests, tables, chairs, and boxes, but even their cart-wheels, bowls, and brooms from England. *

In the Carolinas and Georgia, the case was very similar, for many years after their first plantation. It was not till after their respective governments be. came regal, that either of them made any considerable progress in cultivation. After this period, some of the most enterprising among the inhabitants, began to discover their richest lands and what were their most natural and profitable productions. These were now looked out with that keenness of sight, secured and cultivated, with that avidity and ardour,

• Beverley's Hist. Virg. p. 252, 253, 255, 256,

a

VIII.

CHAP. which the prospects of wealth naturally inspire. Tradesmen and artificers began to be introduced among the planters, and both the plantations and buildings began to assume a better appearance.*

As late as the year 1756, Georgia remained little better than a wilderness. The rich swamps on the rivers were not cultivated, and the planters had not found their way into the interior parts of the country, where the lands are not only more fertile than those on the sea coast, but the climate is far more healthful and pleasant. The whole amount of the exports from Georgia, at this period was only 16,776 pounds sterling.

Governour Wright, by his example and success, first gave spring, to a spirit of industry and emulation, to the inhabitants of this province. He was not only a father to it, but discovering the excellency of its low lands and river swamps, and the mode of cultivation, in a few years, made himself master of a handsome fortune. The planters, thus taught the road to wealth, eagerly seized and cultivated the rich lands, and soon after the peace of Paris, 1763, rose to a state of ease, respectability, and opulence. At this period the whole amount of its exports were no more than 27,021 pounds sterling. From this time the increase was so rapid, that in 1773 the amount of the exports of its staple commodities was 121,677 pounds sterling. The colony enjoyed an increasing state of prosperity, till the commencement of hostilities between Great Britain and her colonies.

Hist. S. Car, vol. ii. p. 15, 16.

Ibid. vol. ii. p. 267.

CHAPTER IX.

War with the eastern Indians. Brunswick destroyed, Eanso sur

prised and seventeen vessels taken by the enemy. Attempts to engage the Five Nations in war against the eastern Indians. The English take and burn Norridge wock. Peace made with the Indians. French war. Duviviere takes Canso. Expedition of the New Englanders against Louisburg. Remarkable deliverance of New England.

CHAP.
IX.

THE peace concluded with the Indians, in seventeen hundred thirteen was of short duration. Some dissatisfaction seems to have arisen, as early as the year seventeen hundred seventeen. Even before this time some injuries had been done to the English. Colonel Shute, governour of the Massachusetts, wishing to prevent hostilities, met the Indians in a general treaty at Arowsick. They complained that encroachments had been made on their lands, and expressed their dissatisfaction that so many forts had been built, at one place and another. They also complained that trading houses had not been erected for the purposes of taking off their commodities, and supplying them with necessaries. The governour promised them, that trading houses should be built, that armorers should be sent down, at the expense of the province, and that for their commodities, they should be supplied with provision, clothing, and other necessaries. There was a renewal of former treaties and an ami. cable conclusion of the conference.

It was expected that the general court would have adopted measures, to carry the several matters, stipulated by the governour, into immediate execution. But such was the general disaffection to the governour, that it induced the court, sometimes, to oppose his measures, even when they were wise and salutary. The treaty was therefore disapproved, and nothing was done for the performance of a single article which had been stipulated. The private trad

IX.

*

CHAP. ers, by their frauds and other injuries, irritated the

Indians, and the French jesuits among them roused

them to war. Some damages were done to the 1721.

English. August,

The general court therefore resolved, that three 1721, hundred men should be sent to the head quarters of

the Indians, and that proclamation should be made, commanding them, on pain of being prosecuted with the utmost severity, to deliver up the jesuits, and the other heads and fomenters of the rebellion, and to make satisfaction for the damages they had done. If they should refuse a compliance, it was ordered, that as many of their principal men, as the command. ing officer should judge expedient, should be seized and sent to Boston. If opposition should be made, , they were to repel force by force. The governour and judge Sewel, one of the council, scrupled the lawfulness and prudence of a war with the Indians, and therefore the troops were not sent, as the court had resolved.

At the next session the house manifested their

dissatisfaction that the troops were not sent out ; Nov. 3.

and resolving “ That the government has still sufficient reason for prosecuting the eastern Indians for their many breaches of covenant," a party of men was ordered up to Norridgewock, their chief town. Here was an Indian church, and father Ralle, a jesuit, whom the Indians, in a manner, idolized, was their pastor. The party effected nothing more than the bringing off some of the jesuit's books and papers. His faithful disciples took care for the security of his person and fled to the woods.

This attempt was such an insult as the Indians

could not brook. From this time they meditated June, 1722. nothing but revenge. The next June, about sixty

of them captivated nine families at Merrymeeting lay. A small party took the collector of the customs, at Annapolis royal, Mr. Newton, John Adams,