remain subject to the Crown of England, and by their dutiful Behaviour to merit the Removal of those few Hardships and Inconveniences they complain of; no other Power can, or will protect them, and next to their own, 'tis impossible their Religion and Civil Liberties should be in better Hands than in a Parliament of England.

AND I must do the People of New-England so much Justice as to acquaint the World, that their Inclinations as well as Duty lead them to this; they love the English Constitution, and would live and dye in the Defence of it, because when that is gone, they know their own must soon follow; In the Reigns of King Charles and King James II. all the Men of Reflection throughout the Country seem'd to be dispirited, and in Pain for the Protestant Religion, and English Liberty, but when the good Providence of God brought about the Happy Revolution, they began a Jubilee of Joy, which has continued almost ever since. When the Protestant Succession in the Illustrious House of Hannover was in Danger, no People in the World pray'd more heartily for its taking Place; and when it pleased Almighty God to bring His Majesty to the Throne of his Ancestors, none of his Subjects in any Part of his Dominions celebrated the Auspicious Day with louder Acclamations of Joy and Thankfulness. In a Word, the People of New-England are a Dutiful and Loyal People, and that which the Protestant-Dissenters of the City of London, declared with so much Justice to His Majesty, in their Address occasioned by the late Rebellion, is litterally true of their Brethren in this Country, That King GEORGE is not known to have a single Enemy to His Person, Family, or Government in all New-England. Daniel Neal, The Present State of New-England (Chapter XIV of his History of New-England, II, London, 1720), 600-616 passim.

21. The Condition of New Hampshire (1730/1)

BY LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR JOHN WENTWORTH

This piece, very similar in character to those in Nos. 19 above and 22 below, is unsigned, but appears to be by Wentworth, who was at this date the only representative of the home government. Bibliography: Winsor, Narrative and Critical History, V, 163-164; Channing and Hart, Guide, § 123. For previous New Hampshire history, see Contemporaries, I, ch. xix.

ANSWERS to the Queries sent from the Right Honorable the Lords

of Trade and Plantations. —January 22, 1730.

1. The situation of the province of New-Hampshire, is between the

province of the Massachusetts Bay, and the late province of Maine, bordering about fifteen miles in width upon the Atlantic Sea, or Western Ocean. The nature of the country, as to the ground, is rough, uneven, and hilly, but for the most part a good soil, being a mixture of clay land. and loam, well watered, and suitably adapted for hemp and flax, and having considerable meadows in it. As to the climate, 'tis cold. Portsmouth, the capital of the province, is in forty three degrees and twenty minutes north latitude, and sixty eight degrees west from London, settled by good observations.

2. The province has no other boundaries than what are expressed in the King's commission to the Governor, and they are from three miles to the northward of Merrimack river on the one side, to Pascataqua river on the other, and no other bounds are mentioned in the said commission, and both of them are in dispute with the government of the Massachusetts Bay.

3. As to the Constitution of the government, the supreme power here, is vested in the Governor and Council, (appointed by the King,) and a house of representatives, (chosen by the people,) who make laws, &c.

4. The trade of the province is lumber and fish. The number of shipping belonging to the province, are five, consisting of about five hundred tons; and there are about three or four hundred tons of other shipping, that trade here (annually) not belonging to the province. The seafaring men, are about forty. The trade is much the same as it hath been, for some years past.

5. The province makes use of all sorts of British manufactures amounting to about five thousand pounds sterling, annually in value, which are had principally from Boston.

6. The trade of this province to other plantations is to the Caribbee Islands, whither we send lumber and fish, and receive for it rum, sugar, molasses and cotton; and as to the trade from hence to Europe, it is to Spain, or Portugal, from whence our vessels bring home salt.

7. The method to prevent illegal trade is by a collector appointed at home.

8. The natural produce of the province is timber (of various kinds (viz.) (principally) oak, pine, hemlock, ash, beech and birch,) and fish, and they are the only commodity's of the place.

The timber is generally manufactured into beams, plank, knees, boards, clapboards, shingles and staves, and sometimes into house

frames, and the value of those commodity's annually exported from hence to Europe and the West-India Islands, is about a thousand pounds sterling. Mem. Besides what is above mentioned, the coasting sloops from Boston, carry from hence thither in fish and timber, about five thousand pounds per annum.

9. No mines are yet discovered, except a small quantity of Iron ore in two or three places.

10. The number of inhabitants, men, women and children, are about ten thousand whites, and two hundred blacks.

II. The inhabitants are increased about four thousand within this few years last past, a thousand of which (at least,) are people from Ireland, lately come into, and settled within the province; another reason of the increase of late more than formerly, is a peace with the Indians the four last years.

12. The militia are about eighteen hundred, consisting of two regiments of foot, with a troop of horse in each.

13. There is one fort or place of defence, called Fort William and Mary, situate on the great Island in New-Castle which commands the entrance of Pascataqua river, but is in poor low circumstances, much out of repair, and greatly wanting of stores of war, there not being one barrel of gun-powder, at this time in, or belonging to that garrison.

14. There are no Indians in this province now in time of peace, that we know of.

15. There are no Indians in the neighborhood of this province that we know of, except in the eastern parts of the province of the Massachusetts Bay, and what their number or strength is, we are not acquainted.

16. We have no neighboring Spaniards, or other Europeans, except the French, who, according to the best intelligence we can get, are extremely numerous and strong both at Canada and Cape-Breton.

17. The effect which the French settlements have on this province is, that the Indians are frequently instigated and influenced by them to disturb the peace and quiet of this province, we having been often put to a vast expense both of blood and treasure, to defend ourselves against their cruel outrages.

18. The revenue arising within this province is three hundred ninety and six pounds, by excise, which is appropriated towards the Governor's salary, and about three or four barrels of gun-powder, from the shipping,

which is spent at the fort. polls and estates.

There is no other revenue, but by tax on

19. The ordinary expense of the government is about fifteen hundred pounds per annum, now in time of peace; the extraordinary and contingent charges, as repairs of the fort, powder, &c., are about five hundred pounds more.

20. The establishments are six hundred pounds per annum salary on the Governor, eight shillings per diem on each Councillor, and six shillings per diem on each Representative during the session of the general assembly, and a hundred and fifty pounds per annum on the officers, and soldiers at the fort. There is no other establishment civil or military within the government, but the general assembly make allowances from time to time as they see meet, to the Treasurer, Secretary, &c. The Judges, Justices, Sheriffs, Clerks, and all other officers' fees are fixed by a law to be paid by the parties and persons whom they serve, but they have nothing out of the treasury. All the officers, civil and military, hold their places by commission from the Governor, except the Councillors, appointed by the King; the Recorder of deeds, chosen by the general assembly, the Clerks of courts, nominated by the Judges of the said courts respectively, and Selectmen, Assessors, Constables, Tythingmen and other town officers, chosen by the towns, at their respective town meetings.

New-Hampshire Historical Society, Collections (Concord, 1824), I, 227–230.

22. Affairs in Connecticut (1740-1758)

BY ROGER WOLCOTT (1759)

Wolcott's experience in the military and civil affairs of Connecticut, and his office as governor, make him an admirable source of information. - Bibliography: Tyler, American Literature, II, 44-46; Winsor, Narrative and Critical History, V, 163; Channing and Hart, Guide, § 130.- For previous Connecticut history, see Contemporaries, I, ch. xviii.

MR

R. PRESIDENT: You have several times moved me to write a History of New England, especially of Conecticott. I have told you I wanted both ability and materials. Since that two of the Councill have moved me to the same, or that at least I would write what hath fallen within my remembrance and observation.

This must needs be a lame thing, but choosing rather to appear weak than disobliging, I enclose you the following minit.

In 1740, his present Majestie ordered an expedition against the Spanish West Indies to be comanded by the Lord Cathcart. Two companys were from Conecticut under Capt. Newberry and Capt. Siliman. They landed at Cartagene and took several forts. It was supposed the Spaniards bought the town of Cartagene. Most of the American forces dyed of sickness in this expedition. A hard winter closed the year.

In 1745, the New England governments made an expedition against Cape Breton under General Pepperill with an army of 3,700 men, which as the generall then told me during the siege of Louisbourg was reduced to 3100 valids. After a siege of forty-nine days, on the 17th of June the city with the islands of Cape Breton, St. Johns &c. was surrendered to the English: the French inhabitants were sent to France.

From the granting of the charter until 1747, the Governor and Deputy Governor were chosen and declared to be chosen, as well as the Assistants, if they had more votes for the office than any other person, but now some active men that were given to change fomented an opinion that the Governor nor Deputy Governor were not chosen unless they had more votes then all that were scattered among other persons. These men were of such activity and influence that in 1749 neither the Governor nor Deputy Governor could be declared chosen because not according to this standard, but since neither of them wanted but a few votes the Assembly elected them. Thus they were not blown down tho much shaken at the root. The freemen being acquainted by this that the greater part did not vote for the present Governor and Deputy Governor were prone to mischief: there was some reason for it tho' unknown to them, and made them attentive to be informed what it was. The opinion was kept up, but when it happened there was no choice according to this standard the Assembly elected those that had most votes, so there was no alteration made and the end of these schemers not answered as yet, nor like to be untill something farther was done.

In the beginning of 1754, emmisarys were very busie in spreading a report that the Governor had extracted vast sums of the supercargo of a Spanish ship put into New London by distress, and so embarassed the affair that the Colony was lyable to pay for the ship and cargo, and that the Governor had pleaded with the Assembly to tax the Colony for it. These reports were so imprest that in most towns they were discoursed of as certain facts. Tho this was a palpable breach of peace