forts to accomplish the object, but the court, thinking they made liberal grants for his support, were inflexible, and the governor at length asked, and obtained from England, liberty to receive such grants as the court might from time to time be disposed to allow. 1735. Massachusetts at this time contained 35,427 males over 16 years of age, and 2600 blacks.

1739. The disputed line between Massachusetts and New Hampshire was established, giving that state and Vermont a tract of land five or six miles wide, from the place where the line crosses the river, to New York line, more than they had ever claimed. On this occasion the General Court met at Salisbury.

1740. This state was at this time inundated with paper money, in the form of bills of credit, issued by the neighboring provinces, and by thirty or forty thousand pounds of their own emission. The government passed an act restraining its circulation after this year. It being thought impossible to withdraw all this from circulation, without a substitute, the scheme of a land bank was proposed and favored by a majority of the people. The project was to form a capital by bonds and the mortgage of real estate, and upon this capital to circulate bills to the amount of one hundred fifty thousand pounds lawful money. A majority of representatives for 1740, favored the plan, and it was put into operation, and fifty or sixty thousand pounds of its bills were got into circulation. The governor and men of wealth generally opposed the scheme. The bills depreciated in value, and at length the government in England disapproved it, and dissolved the company. Each stockholder was made liable for the redemption of the bills, which he was compelled to do, though not generally at the full value, as expressed upon the face.

Powerful intrigues having been carried on in England against Governor Belcher, he was displaced, and William Shirley appointed governor in his stead, who succeeded to the government in 1740, and had, as far as concerned domestic affairs, a peaceable adminis

tration. Massachusetts contained at this time 164,000 inhabitants. Boston had 1719 dwelling houses, and 10,000 inhabitants.

1745. This year was signalized by the capture of Louisburg, a French fortress, in the island of Cape Breton, before that time deemed impregnable, and styled the Dunkirk of America. It had a rampart of stone from 30 to 36 feet high, defended by 148 cannon, and six mortars, with a ditch around the walls 80 feet wide.Massachusetts sent 3250 men, beside commissioned officers, New Hampshire 504, Connecticut 516. They were commanded by William Pepperell, and sailed from Nantucket the 24th of March, and arrived and laid siege to Louisburg the 30th of April, which was surrendered to their arms the 16th of June. Great exertions were made and expense incurred by this state, but the expense was reimbursed by the British government. The money arrived in Boston in 1749, and was deposited in the state treasury. There were seventeen cart and truck loads of silver, and ten of copper, amounting in the whole to £183,649 2s. 7d., or $612,330 41. This event greatly signalized Governor Shirley's administration. Soon after the capture of Louisburg, a plan was set on foot for the reduction of Canada, and 3500 men raised in this state for that purpose; but the plan was ultimately abandoned.

1748. By the treaty of Aix la Chapelle, Louisburg and all the places taken during the war were restored.

1749. The whole number of inhabitants was 220,000. A severe drought, and swarms of devouring insects, caused great distress in New England. The crop of hay was reduced to one-tenth. No rain fell from March to July. Hay wes imported from England. 1752. The new style, or correction of the calendar, as made by Pope Gregory XIII, was adopted throughout the British dominions. The small pox prevailed in Boston; there were 5544 cases by infection, of whom 514 died—of 2109 cases by inoculation, 31 died. 1753. A society in Boston for encouraging industry celebrated their anniversary with great ceremony. Three hundred young la

dies were seated at their spinning wheels on Boston common, and a young lady working at a loom was carried in procession on men's shoulders.

1755. A great and terrible earthquake was felt through the country. Fifteen hundred chimnies were damaged or thrown down in Boston. The ends of brick houses were demolished to the eaves, the vane of the market house was thrown off, clocks stopped, &c. 1756. War was again declared by Great Britain against France, in which the colonies were deeply interested.

1757. The administration devolved on the council, at the head of which was Thomas Pownal.

1758. Louisburg was again taken by a fleet of 120 ships of the line, and an army of 1400 men, commanded by Admiral Boscawen and General Amherst.

1760. Francis Bernard Esq., was appointed governor of Massachusetts.

1764. Harvard College, with its library, being more than five thousand volumes, philosophical apparatus, &c., was wholly consumed by fire.

1765. The British government commenced their plans for raising a revenue in America. They laid a duty on sugar and molasses, and required stamped paper to be used in all legal writings, upon which a duty was to be paid to government. A congress of delegates from all the colonies was proposed by Massachusetts, and they were chosen, and met at New York the first Tuesday in October. 1766. The stamp act was repealed,- an event which caused great joy throughout the colonies.

1767. Duties were again laid upon paper, glass, painters' colors, tea, &c., and provision made for quartering troops here at the expense of the colony. The time from this to 1770, was taken up in angry debates with the governor, resolutions, addresses, and circulars, with a view of uniting the people in a firm and steady opposition to the measures adopted by the British parliament.

1770-March 5th. The citizens of Boston, resenting the measures of the government, openly insulted the soldiers, who fired upon them and killed five men and wounded others. Thomas Hutchinson was this year appointed governor of the province.

1771. Massachusetts contained at this time 292,000 inhabitants. Tea being sent to Boston by the East India Company, subject to a duty of three pence a pound, it was resolved to prevent its introduction, and a number of people masked and disguised, went on board of the ships lying in the harbor of Boston, and broke open three hundred and forty-two chests of tea, and poured their contents into the harbor.

1774.-March 31. The Boston Port Bill was passed by the British parliament, by which that place was precluded the privilege of lading or shipping goods, wares or merchandise.

May 13. General Gage, the commander in chief of the royal forces in North America, arrived in Boston,-he having been appointed governor of Massachusetts. He removed the general court to Salem.

Sept. 4. Delegates from the united colonies met at Philadelphia. 1775.-February 26. A detachment of British soldiers were sent from Boston to Salem to secure some cannon, but were prevented from executing their commission by the inhabitants.

April 19. Battle of Lexington. Eight men were killed and others wounded. The militia poured in from the country, and the whole detachment must undoubtedly have been cut off, had not another strong detachment, with cannon, been sent from Boston for their relief.-See Lexington.

June 17. Battle of Bunker Hill. During the night preceding, a detachment of men under Colonel Prescott, took possession of the hill, and threw up a breastwork. He was reinforced in the morning, and about noon they were attacked by a detachment sent by General Gage to dislodge them. The battle was obstinately contested, and the British were twice repulsed, and carried the en

trenchment the third time at the point of the bayonet. But the victory was dearly bought, and a few such would have ruined their army. On the side of the British 3000 men were engaged, of whom 226 were killed, and 828 were wounded. The Americans had 1500 on the hill, and lost 139 killed and 314 wounded. Charlestown was set on fire by the British during the action, and the whole town was burned to ashes during the night.

1776. General Washington, having been appointed by congress commander of all the armies raised and to be raised for the defence of the colonies, arrived and took command of the army encamped at Cambridge. He reduced them to order, and besieged the town of Boston with 20,000 men. Batteries were erected on Dorchester heights, which greatly annoyed the shipping in the harbor, and preparations were made for a general assault.

March 17. Boston was evacuated by the British troops, who embarked on board of their vessels and sailed for New York. Massachusetts continued to take an active and leading part in the war till its termination in 1783, but its important events were not transacted in this state, or so closely connected with it as to have an appropriate place in this sketch.

Upon the abdication or expulsion of the royal governor, the government devolved upon the people, or their representatives. The executive department devolved upon the council, and commissions and other papers were signed by all the members. Thus ended the British government in this state, one hundred and fifty-six years from the landing of the fathers at Plymouth.

1780. The present constitution of government went into operation. It was formed by a convention of delegates chosen for that purpose. (For its provisions see Government.) John Hancock was elected the first governor, and held the office by annual election till 1785.

1785. James Bowdoin was elected governor for this and the following year.