of the inhabitants, as some interested individuals represented it, that it was unpopular to oppose it, though it was constantly becoming more inefficient for the purpose for which it was first introduced. Parliament at length interfered, and prohibited the circulation of paper money in the province, probably on representation of the governors, who thought the system should be put down, and which the general court was not disposed or able to do. This produced a great clamor with certain classes of politicians, and with a great portion of the people, who believed it would be oppressive to be denied the privilege of paying their debts in paper, as they had long done. An objection was also made, as to the short time the bills were to be prohibited circulation after the act of parliament was passed. Though no bills were issued after this law of the parent government, they were still continued in circulation, as all means proposed to call them in and redeem them failed, till several years later, when large sums were allowed and sent into the province, as a reimbursement, by the British government, for the expenses of the expedition against Louisbourg, in which Massachusetts took an important and honorable part.

Governor Belcher was accused of contending for the prerogative of the crown, and of attempts to magnify his office, as the representative of the king; but no acts of oppression could be specified, nor did he push his authority as the royal agent, beyond due bounds. There were times when the leaders of the popular party applauded his conduct and sought his power; and yet on other occasions they opposed and censured him. When the subject of his salary or compensation was debated, they readily voted £1000 sterling; but declined making it permanent. The council proposed to add, for future years, so long as he should continue in office; but the house of representatives objected, though an intimation was given by them that they should vote the same as long as he was in the chair, since he had proved himself a zealous friend of the province. The popular favor then, as at all other periods, was uncertain and fluctuating. It was the misfortune of Governor Belcher, not to have his worth and his services duly appreciated, till his public life had closed. a candid review of his public as well as private conduct, it will be found to have been disinterested and patriotic. The heaviest charge against him was that he appointed several of his political friends and supporters to office; and in a few in stances removed others, to provide for them. A singular act, on the part of the king, took place during Mr. Belcher's adminis tration. He ordered the removal of a Mr. Lyde, son-in-law

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of the governor, from being naval officer, and to whom no serious objections could be made. The case was without a parallel; as the governor had always the privilege to nominate for office. Mr. Belcher did not choose to risk the displeasure of the king, by making objections in this case. Nor does it appear what could have prompted this measure in the king; for the governor was ever considered faithful to the crown. His right to remove from office, especially from judicial office, which he claimed and exercised on first coming into the chair, was strenuously opposed by Mr. Read, an eminent lawyer and one of the council; and by his influence the board refused to consent to such appointments.

In 1739, England declared war against Spain, and a very large fleet sailed the next year, for the West Indies. A requisition was made on the colonies for four regiments to assist in the expedition. Massachusetts furnished 500 men; who, while in that warm latitude, were attacked by a mortal disease, and not more than 50 lived to return. The expenses on this occasion to the province amounted to £35,000 old tenor, being then equal to £7000 sterling. The wages and clothing of the men were at the expense of the crown, but the province furnished transports and provisions. The number first required was 1000. And the General Court voted to enlist them. But when the time arrived for their sailing, the arms promised by England, had not been received; and, though 1000 were raised and a bounty given them, yet only 500 embarked.

In the time of Governor Belcher, the dispute was revived respecting the boundary line between Massachusetts and New Hampshire. His duty was the more delicate and his conduct the more closely criticised, as he was then chief magistrate of both jurisdictions. The line had been run many years before, according to the wishes of Massachusetts; when it was decided that, beginning at a point three miles north of the mouth of Merrimac River, as mentioned in the patent, the course should be up the river to its source, far to the north west, as the northern bounds; and thence eastward to the ocean. This was always considered an arbitrary decision, and not warranted by the patent. It was now decided, by commissioners from the neighboring colonies, as Massachusetts declined having it settled in England, that the line should begin as before settled, and run about thirty miles on the north of the river to a point where it takes almost a direct northerly direction, and then to cross the river and proceed westerly. By this determination Massachusetts lost a large tract which it had long

claimed, but in the opinion of impartial judges with little justice; and Governor Belcher failed not to receive much censure in the affair. But there was really no impropriety in his conduct, relating to the decision of this question.

It was in the following year, or 1741, that the line was also run and settled between the old colony of Plymouth, then a part of Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. The patent to that colony, like many other of the royal grants, interfered both with Plymouth and Massachusetts, as it was sometimes interpreted. In the decision at this time had, the towns of Tiverton, Compton, Bristol, and part of Swanzey and Barrington which had been previously claimed by Plymouth, were allotted to Rhode Island. It was difficult to find any reasons for this judgment, from an examination of the terms of the Plymouth patent; and it was believed that there was some influence arising from the consideration, that Rhode Island was of small extent, while the territory of Massachusetts was already very large.

Governor Belcher was recalled in 1740, in consequence of some complaints preferred aginst him by political enemies; but the charges could not be supported; and the more his conduct and measures were scanned, the more favorable was the public opinion with regard to him. He proved himself faithful to the king, without encroaching on the rights, or disregarding the interests of the province. The clergy_gave him a high character both for piety and liberality. He was a member of a congregational church, but was catholic in his treatment of Episcopalians.

Mr. Shirley came into office, as Governor of Massachusetts, in 1741. He was born and educated in England; but had resided some time in Boston, where he was engaged in the profession of the law. In that occupation he gave evidence of talents; and afterwards displayed good judgment and decision both in political and military affairs. When he was appointed Governor, the province was oppressed with a heavy debt, and the embarrassments produced by the paper money policy were felt by all classes of people. He had also the same difficulty to encounter, in supporting the prerogatives of the crown, which had often given his predecessors much trouble. In these circumstances, it required great talents, firmness and moderation to avoid censure. It was his policy, or his measures tended, to set the parties then in the province in warm opposition to each other, and thus to prevent angry disputes between himself and the General Court. If this were his purpose, he probably was sometimes justly

chargab e with temporizing; but he was uniform in his opposition to the paper money system, which was producing both public and private evil, and always conducted as a faithful servant of the king, and giving as little offence as his duty to him would allow.

A few years after Shirley was placed at the head of the province, in 1744 war commenced between England and France. The war immediately preceding this was terminated by the treaty of Utrecht in 1713; and however it might have been observed in Europe, it was often violated by the French in North America. One cause of this, perhaps, was the controversy as to the true bounds between the French and English settlements. The French laid claim to Acadie, which not only comprised Nova Scotia but included the territory westward as far as Penobscot and even Kennebec. And it was the policy of the French government to check the growing settlements of the English in New England, by instigating the Indians to attack them.

This declaration of war was not indeed placing the people of Massachusetts in an entirely novel situation; for during the previous half century those two European powers had frequently been engaged in hostility with each other; and their colonies in North America were drawn into the contest. But the British and provincial troops had not acted together. Massachusetts had promptly provided for her own defence, when attacked by the French and Indians, without waiting for assistance or direction from England. Not only did they bear the expense of settling and enlarging the colony, but they paid the cost of all measures of defence against the invaders for many years; and yet when requisitions were made on the province, it furnished men and provisions in the expeditions against Canada and Nova Scotia, at a former period They were always ready to join the parent government against the common enemy of both; though they claimed the right of free action in the case, and generally provided for the payment of the men thus employed.

At the commencement of the war, in 1744, the French discovered a determination to take possession of Nova Scotia ; one place was soon attacked and captured; and Port Royal, or Annapolis, was the principal fortress which could check them. It was then protected by troops from Massachusetts, who had bravely defended it against repeated attacks. This exposure led to a plan, suggested or early encouraged by Governor Shirley, for the destruction of Louisbourg in the Island of Cape Breton, which was then a shelter and a place of preparation and rendezvous for the French fleet.

This was an enterprise of no ordinary daring; but it was vigorously and successfully prosecuted, to the great glory of the victors, and especially to Massachusetts, whose troops bore an honorable and an essential part in the expedition. It was fitted out from Boston towards the close of March, 1745 ; and consisted of 3200 men from Massachusetts, 500 from Connecticut and 300 from New Hampshire. The naval provincial force consisted of ten vessels, the two largest of which had twenty guns each. The troops were commanded by General Pepperrell of Massachusetts, and they arrived at Cape Breton the last of April. The naval force was joined by a British fleet under command of Admiral Warren, near the place of destination. After proper and efficient preparations, the strong port of Louisbourg, defended by 2000 men, 650 of whom were regular troops, was taken on the 17th of June. The French lost 300 men; and of the English and provincial troops 100 were slain, and 30 died by sickness. The results of this victory were highly important, as a principal resting place for the French fleet in that quarter was wrested from the enemy. The plans and instructions of Governor Shirley to General Pepperell indicated correct and comprehensive views. General Pepperell conducted with great energy and bravery, and the troops behaved with the steady. courage of veterans. The parent government felt and acknowledged the great merit of the expedition, and soon after voted to reimburse the expenses which the province had incurred. But, unfortunately, it engendered a jealousy in England of the growing power of Massachusetts, which dictated measures to prevent its political advancement.

This bold enterprise was planned in the winter of 1744–5, when it was expected the French would make an attack on Annapolis, and endeavor to gain possession of all Acadie. In this expectation, Massachusetts had previously sent 200 men to retain that important place; and they bravely defended it against a large French force, by which it was attacked. The governor was obstinately opposed in this project for several months, by the house of representatives, who thought it would not only be of great expense to the province, but must prove unsuccessful, from the strong fortress which was kept at Louisbourg. It was treated as a most desperate enterprise. The house finally voted for the measure by only one majority, after long discussion; and the merchants, and those concerned

General Waldo of Massachusetts, and General Wolcott of Connecticut were next in command. Rhode Island and Connecticut had some vessels in the expedition, but were late in arriving.