APP. L. Circular Letter from the Select Men of Boston, to the Select Men of several Towns in the Pro- House of Burgesses in Virginia, May 16, 1769 494 APP. N. Message to Governor Bernard from the As- sembly, on their Privileges, and praying the Removal of the Troops, May 31, 1769 APP. O. Resolves of the Assembly, that no Laws im- posing Taxes, and made by any Authority in which the People had not their Representatives, could be obligatory, &c., &c., July 8, 1769 APP. P. Answer of the Assembly to Lieutenant- Governor Hutchinson's Message on a Riot at APP. Q. Speech of Lieutenant-Governor Hutchinson APP. R. Instructions from the Town of Boston to their APP. S. Principal Messages of the Council and House of Representatives to Lieutenant- Governor Hutchinson, on the Removal of the General Assembly from Boston to Cambridge; with his APP. T. Protest of the Assembly against removing CHAP I. (1) CHAP. I. State of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, at THE people of Massachusetts Bay were never in 1749 They flattered themselves that Cape Breton would remain subject to Great Britain; and it was a mortification to them, that, what they called, "their own acquisition," should be restored to France; but they had nothing to fear from it, so long as peace continued. The French fishery had failed before the war, and whilst the English could catch and cure fish cheaper than the French, there was no danger of its revival. The Indians upon the frontiers were so reduced, that new settlements were made without danger, which B 1749 which not only caused the territory settled to increase in value, but afforded materials for enlarging the commerce of the province. There was but little subject for controversy in the general assembly. Governor Shirley's administration had been satisfactory to the major part of the people. There was an opposition, but it was not powerful; perhaps not more powerful than may, generally, be salutary. During the last seven years, no great change of councillors had been made at any of the elections, and they were, in general, well affected to the governor. This prosperous state of the province was very much owing to the success of his active, vigorous measures; of which he wished to give an account in person, and for that purpose had obtained leave to go to England. He had further views. Soon after the peace was proclaimed in America, the French discovered a design of enlarging their territory on the back of New York, and of taking fresh possession of the country of Acadia ; and it was a common report, that French settlements were begun east of Crown Point. By a hint from the governor to some of his friends, the council and house were brought to join in an address, praying him to represent to the king the necessity of building a strong fort near to Crown Point; and of settling and fortifying a town at Chibucto, or some other harbour in Nova Scotia. The Governor of Canada had written to the Indians upon the eastern frontiers of New England, to dissuade them from a peace with the English, and a copy of the letter had been obtained by Mr. Shirley. The contest about the bounds between the French and English in America, which was, by the treaty, to be left to commissaries, instead of being amicably settled, would probably be increased, and finally decided by the sword. It looked as if the peace could be of no long continuance. At such a time, he thought thought he could be of more service to himself, and 1749 to the publick, in England, than in America. He sailed from Boston in September, 1749. Soon after his arrival in England, he was appointed one of the commissaries for settling the American boundaries. He spent much time in France with little success. The documents produced by the commissaries on each side, shewed that, on dif ferent occasions, different bounds had been assigned to the territory of Acadia. In the commission to the last French governor before the treaty of Utrecht, Acadia was made to extend to the river Kennebeck, and the whole was ceded, by the treaty, to the English. The French commissaries, notwithstanding, refused to agree to so great an extent, and confined Acadia, which they suppose in the treaty intended Nova Scotia, to the peninsula. They could no better agree upon the limits of Canada; and each party urged that their claims were strengthened by the evidence produced on this occasion. When the Indians have taken part in a war with the French, or, by themselves have engaged in war against the English, a formal treaty of peace has always been thought expedient. The necessary preparation for Mr. Shirley's voyage prevented his attending the treaty in person; and commissioners were appointed, who met some of The commissioners from Massachusetts Bay were Thomas Hutchinson, John Choate, Israel Williams, and James Otis, Esqrs. Sir William Pepperell had been appointed at the head of the commission, but sailed for England before the treaty took place. Theodore Atkinson and John Downing, Esqrs. were the commissioners from New Hampshire. The Indians began the treaty with an act of pleasantry and good humour. Notice had been given, that they must bring in such English captives as were among them, and particularly a boy whose name was Macfarlane, and who was taken in the beginning of the war. They apologized for not bringing Macfarlane, and feigned some excuse, promising he should be sent when they re 1749 the principal Indians, in the character of delegates from the several tribes, at Falmouth in Casco Bay; and, after several days spent in conference, agreed with them upon terms of peace, between the provinces of Massachusetts Bay and New Hampshire, on the one part, and the several tribes of Indians situated between New England and Canada, on the other part. The treaty made by Mr. Dummer in 1726, was considered as the basis of this, and the same articles were renewed, those only, which concerned trade, being so explained, as to take away all those pretences for discontent, which had been at different times urged by the Indians. This treaty was scarcely finished, when an affair happened which threatened a new war. While the commissioners were at Falmouth, they were informed that a bad spirit prevailed among many of the common people of New Hampshire, and of the eastern part of Massachusetts Bay; that many threatened revenge upon the Indians, notwithstanding the peace, for the depredations made during the war; and the latter end of November, or beginning of December, an Indian was killed, and two others dangerously wounded, by some of the English in turned home. The commissioners shewed great resentment, and insisted upon the delivery of the captive previously to their entering upon the treaty. Some time was spent in altercation. At length an old Sachem rose up, and took one of the likeliest and best dressed young Indians by the hand, and presented him to Mr. Hutchinson, the chairman of the commissioners, as the captive Macfarlane. This increased the resentment, and it was thought too serious an affair to be jested with. The young man then discovered himself, and (having spoken before nothing but Indian), in the English language, thanked the commissioners for their kind care in procuring his redemption. He had so much the appearance of an Indian, not only in his dress, but in his behaviour, and also his complexion, that nobody had any suspicion to the contrary. He had made himself perfectly acquainted with their language, and proved serviceable as an interpreter at the French house so long as he lived. habitants |