lower class are extended far into the ground hitherto occupied by the middle orders. Social distinctions are still well defined, and palpable enough, though by no means so strong as formerly. Politically considered, therefore, there are but two classes among the people of England, but how little does either know of the other. Where is there a body in the world so distinguished for its ability, learning, high religious and honorable feelings, its munificence in all public undertakings, and its unbounded charity in the social relations of private life, as the aristocracy of England? On the other hand, where is there a population possessing such manly independence of conduct, and patient endurance of trial and privation, and such an obedient submission to constituted authority, and so many of those virtues that adorn and dignify the character of man, as the lower orders of Englishmen ? Yet they are so wide apart, the line of distinction and demarkation is so strong, that they neither know each other's value, nor do justice to each other's integrity. Too many of the poor regard the lords as men devoted to pleasure, possessing the means, and indulging the excesses of profligacy, and squandering the hard earnings of the laborer in riotous living. While the noble, on his part, looks at the dark cloud that envelops the lowly dwellings, and conceals the persons of the poor, with instinctive fear. The sound of many voices fills him with dread, lest it should be the distant thunder that forbodes the storm; and when he recollects that the highway robber, the murderer, the incendiary, and the burglar, lie hidden in the loathsome dens of destitute and hopeless wretchedness, he is but too apt to associate the idea of poverty with crime. There is no Atlantic to divide and keep them apart; but there is a neutral ground that lies between them, occupied by a banditti of Irish agitators, English free traders, free-thinkers, demagogues, and political adventurers, that cut off all intercourse and intercept all mutual correspondence. Their daily subsistence is derived from the credulous support of the poor; while the fertile regions of the rich afford valuable prizes to their fraudulent speculations, or their violent forays. They have impoverished both. Under the wicked pretense of cheap bread, they have lowered the wages of the laborer, and at the same time, by causing a reduction of rents, and of the value of real estate, have disabled benevolence from giving employment to the industrious poor. The ground these unprincipled people occupy, pertains to

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the Church, and the sooner she is enabled to recover possession of it, and by salutary example, and sound teaching, to root out these pernicious intruders, the better for the peace, prosperity, and happiness of the nation.

If such a state of ignorance exists among the population of a country like England, as to the character, condition, feelings, and wants of its several orders, we may cease to wonder that so little was formerly known of the colonies, by those whose interest and duty it was to inform themselves. But though the history of republicanism in America may excite but little interest among statesmen, as to the remaining provinces, with which they appear utterly incapable of dealing, it may be a salutary study to those visionary men in Europe, who have the vanity to think that they are able to copy the admirable form of government of the United States, or can find a country fitted for it, or a people who have the knowledge, perseverance, coolness, or skill to keep it in operation and repair.

CHAPTER III.

SKETCH OF POLITICAL EVENTS FROM 1740 TO 1763.

Review of the State of the Colonies from the Commencement of the CenturyTrade, Imports, and Exports-Attempts at domestic Manufactures discouraged-Provincials prohibited from exporting Wool from one Colony to another, or to foreign Countries-State of the Church of England in AmericaAttempt of the Society for Propagating the Gospel to introduce Bishops, grossly misrepresented-Alarm felt at the Spread of Church Principles, in Consequence of the Secession of several eminent Dissenting Divines-A Man fined fifty Pounds for maintaining that no other but Episcopal Ordination was valid-Universal Disregard of the Laws of Trade-Rebellion in CarolinaEstablishment of a General Post Office--Opposition to it-Proposed Scheme for confederating all the Colonies-Its Details-The Plan very similar to that of General Government-Frequent Assemblies of General Officers and Governors suggest the Idea of Congress-Dispute between Lord Loudon and the General Court about Supplies for the Troops--Attack on the Judges, and also the Custom House Officers-Question as to Legality of Writs of Assistance-Speech of Mr. Otis-Peace of 1763.

In order to preserve the account entire of the controversy about fixed salaries, many incidental matters of interest have been omitted, which if now thrown together in a retrospective review will enable us to judge of the state of the colonies during the last forty years. The trade of the provinces, notwithstanding the restrictions to which it was subject, was greatly augmented. In the latter years of William III. the annual exports of the provinces to England amounted to about £320,000. The imports were nearly the same. The traffic with Europe, the West Indies, the Canaries, and the Azores, the greater part of which was illicit, was estimated at about an equal amount. The "plantation duties" collected in the colonies were sufficient to pay the expense of the custom-house establishment, and to leave a net surplus of £1200 a year.

Schemes continued to be indulged in America for the encouragement of domestic manufactures; but these enterprises, and the acts of the Assemblies for promoting them, were regarded in Great Britain with much jealousy. Woolen cloths, at that time, were the chief English production for exportation. A law, de

signed to cramp this business in the colonies, prohibited the transport of domestic woolens from one province to another, or the export of colonial wool or cloth to any foreign market.

At the commencement of the century, the venerable Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts was incorporated. No religious association, perhaps, in the world, has produced so much good, or is at this moment diffusing so much benefit over the distant parts of the empire. Although its first efforts were comparatively feeble, from the state of its funds, its salutary influence was visible in the extension of the Church, and the dissemination of good sound principles. Throughout the colonies new congregations were forming, and additional pastors demanded. At last the Society became sensible of the error that had originally been committed, and was still allowed to continue, in its missionary work in America, in not placing the clergy under proper episcopal control. To remedy this evil, it was proposed to send over bishops. But knowing the imputations to which their conduct would be subject, and the misrepresentations of their motives, which would be maliciously invented, and vindictively circulated, they stated the object they had in view, and the limited extent of jurisdiction they required.

They assured the colonists, 1st, "That no coercive power is desired over the laity in any case, but only a power to regulate the behavior of the clergy who are in episcopal orders, and to correct and punish them according to the laws of the Church of England, in case of misbehavior or neglect of duty, with such power as the commissaries have exercised. 2. That nothing is desired for such bishops that may in the least interfere with the dignity, authority, or interest of the governor or any other officer of state. Probates of wills, license for marriage, &c., to be left in the hands where they are, and no share in the temporal government is desired for bishops. 3. The maintenance of such prelates not to be at the charge of the colonies. 4. No bishops are intended to be settled in places where the government is in the hands of Dissenters, as in New England, &c., but authority to be given only to ordain clergy for such Church of England congregations as are among them, and to inspect into the manners and behavior of such clergy, and to confirm the members thereof.”

As the Society feared, their avowal awakened a storm of sectarian opposition and abuse, that unfortunately terrified them

from proceeding with their laudable and necessary plan of giving effect to the teaching and discipline of the Church. It was observed every where that Episcopalians were loyal subjects and averse to those schemes of separation, which were now becoming so general and so popular; but the secession of several eminent dissenting ministers alarmed the Puritans still more. The Connecticut College, transferred from Saybrook to New Haven, and named Yale after one of its early benefactors, had been latterly intrusted to the rectorship of the Rev. Timothy Cutler, a minister of talent and distinguished learning. To the surprise and alarm of the good people of New England, Cutler, with the tutor of the college and two neighboring ministers, took occasion, on a commencement-day, to avow conversion to Episcopacy-a lapse in which they persisted in spite of an elaborate, and, as the audience thought, most convincing argument set forth on the spur of the moment by the governor, Saltonstall, in favor of Congregationalism. Cutler was forthwith excused from all further service as rector of the college, and provision was made for requiring of all future presidents satisfactory evidence of the soundness of their faith in opposition to Arminian and prelatical corruptions.

This prompt discipline, and the vehement outcry raised against the deserters, terrified and stopped several others inclined, it was suspected, to join in the revolt. Defection, nevertheless, continued to spread. Cutler became rector of a new Episcopal Church in Boston. The dismissed ministers were maintained as missionaries by the Society, and a new element through their means, was gradually introduced into the religious system of Connecticut.

The jealousy excited by the secessions in Connecticut, was evinced in Massachusetts by the trial of John Checkley, afterward ordained as an Episcopal missionary, and sent to preach in Rhode Island, for publishing Leslie's "Short and Easy Way with the Deists," with an appendix by himself, in which prelatic ordination was insisted upon as necessary to constitute a Christian minister. This publication was charged with tending "to bring into contempt and infamy the ministers of the Holy Gospel established by law within his Majesty's province of Massachusetts." The jury having found a special verdict stating the facts, the indictment was sustained by the Court, and Checkley was fined £50.

At this period a spirit of insubordination, occasioned in part by restraint on their trade, but more by the improvident grant of

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