happiness. He instructed the judges to administer justice as far as might be consistent with the new regulations, according to the former laws and customs. It is, however, well observed, by governor Hutchinson, that “ Nero concealed his tyrannical disposition more years, than Sir Edmund and his creatures did months." He soon laid a restraint upon the liberty of the press; and then, one far more grevious upon marriage. This was prohibited, unless bonds were previously given, with sureties, to the governor. These were to be forfeited, in case it should afterwards appear, that there was any lawful impediment to the marriage. Magistrates only were allowed to join people in the bands of wedlock. The governor not only deprived the clergy of the perquisite from marriages, but soon suspended the laws for their support, and would not suffer any person to be obliged to pay any thing to his minister. Nay, he menaced the people, that, if they re. sisted his will, their meeting-houses should be taken from them, and that any person who should give two pence to a non-conformist minister, should be punished.

The fees of all officers, under this new administration, were exorbitant. The common fee for the probate of a will was fifty shillings. The widow and fatherless, how distant soever, were obliged to appear at Boston, to transact all business relative to the settlement of estates. This was a grevious oppression of the poor people; especially, of the fatherless and widow.

Sir Edmund, without an assembly, nay without a majority of his council, taxed the people at pleasure. He and Randolph, with four or five others of his creatures, who were sufficiently wicked to join with him, in all his oppressive designs, managed the affairs of government, as they pleased. But these were but the beginnings of oppression and sorrow. They were soon greatly increased and more extensively spread.

In 1688, Sir Edmund was made governor of New York, as well as of New England, and the same kind of government was exercised in that department. As the charters were now either vacated, surrendered, or the government under them suspended, it was declared, that the titles of the colonists to their lands were of no value. Sir Edmund

declared, that Indian deeds were no better than “ the scratch of a bear's paw." Not the fairest purchases and most ample conveyances from the natives, no dangers, disbursements nor labors, in cultivating a wilderness, and turning it into orchards, gardens, and pleasant fields, no grants by charter, nor by legislatures constituted by them, no declarations of preceding kings, nor of his then present majesty, promising them the quiet enjoyment of their houses and lands, nor fifty or sixty years undisturbed possession, were pleas of any validity or consideration with Sir Edmund and his minions. The purchasers and cultivators, after fifty and sixty years improvement, were obliged to take out patents for their estates. For these, in some instances, a fee of fifty pounds was demanded. Writs of intrusion were issued against persons of principal character, who would not submit to such impositions, and their lands were patented to others. Governor Hutchinson observes, with respect to Massachusetts, that "men's titles were not all questioned at once. Had this been the case, according to the computation then made, all the personal estate in the colony would not have paid the charge of the new patents."

The governor, and a small number of his council, in the most arbitrary manner, fined and imprisoned numbers of the inhabitants of Massachusetts, and denied them the benefit of the act of habeas corpus. All town meetings were prohibited except one in the month of May, for the election of town officers, to prevent the people from consulting measures for the redress of their grievances. No person indeed was suffered to go out of the country, without leave from the governor, lest complaints should be carried to England against his administration. At the same time, he so well knew the temper and views of his royal master, that he feared little from him, even though complaints should be carried over against him. Hence he and his dependants oppressed the people, and enriched themselves without restraint.

The most humble petitions were presnted to his majesty, from corporations of various descriptions, beseeching him that the governor's council might consist of none but men of considerable property in lands; that no act might

be passed to bind the people, but by a majority of the council; and that he would quiet his good subjects in the enjoyment of all property in houses and lands. But, in the reign of James the Second, petitions so reasonable and just could not be heard. The prince, at home, and his officers abroad, like greedy harpies, preyed upon the people without control. Randolph was not ashamed to make his boast, in his letters, with respect to governor Andross and his council," that they were as arbitrary as the great Turk." All New-England groaned under their oppression. The heaviest share of it, however, fell upon the inhabitants of Massachusetts and New Plymouth. Connecticut had been less obnoxious to government, than Massachusetts, and as it was further removed from the seat of government, was less under the notice and influence of those oppressors.

Governor Treat was a father to the people, and felt for them, in their distressed circumstances. The other gentlemen, who were of the council, and had the principal management of affairs, in Connecticut, were men of principle, lovers of justice and of their fellow subjects. They took advantage of Sir Edmund's first instructions, and as far as they possibly could, consistently with the new reg. ulations, governed the colony according to the former laws and customs. The people were patient and peaceable, though in great fear and despondency. They were no strangers to what was transacted in the neighbouring colonies, and expected soon fully to share with them, in all their miseries. It was generally believed that Andross was a papist; that he had employed the Indians to ravage the frontiers, and had supplied them with ammunition; and that he was making preparations to deliver the country into the hands of the French. All the motives to great actions, to industry, economy, enterprise, wealth,

* Sir Edmund, with all his vigilance, could not prevent the carrying over of complaints against him. Mr. Increase Mather, got on board a ship and sailed to England, for this very purpose, and delivered the complaints, which he carried over, into his majesty's hands.

and population, were in a manner annihilated. A general inactivity and languishment pervaded the whole public body. Liberty, property, and every thing, which ought to be dear to men, every day grew more and more insecure. The colonies were in a state of general despondency, with respect to the restoration of their privileges, and the truth of that divine maxim, "when the wicked beareth rule the people mourn," was in a striking manner every where exemplified.

In 1690, war was declared between France and England. Count Frontinac was appointed Governor in Canada. In January he despatched several parties against the English settlements. One of them was sent against Albany, but resolved to attack Schenectady. The inhabitants of this village got information of their danger, but they judged it impossible for the enemy to march several hundred miles in the depth of winter, and disregarded the intelligence. No regular watch was kept, nor military order observed. The French and Indians arrived near the town on the 8th of February. On Saturday night, at eleven o'clock they entered the gates which they found open; universal silence reigned. In a few moments all the houses were in flames. Women were butchered, and children thrown alive into the flames; sixty persons perished in the flames; twenty-five persons made prisoners; while the rest of the inhabitants fled naked. A furious storm came on. Albany their only refuge was at a distance. A part arrived in safety, twenty-five lost their limbs by the severity of the cold. No tongue can express the cruelties which were committed. The second party directed their course to New-Hampshire, burned the village at Salmon Falls,killed twenty-six of the bravest men and took fifty prisoners. The third party destroyed Casco in Maine, and killed and captured ninety-five people.

To avenge these barbarities, and others perpetrated in New-England, a combined expedition against Canada was proposed. An army was raised in New-York and Connecticut, which proceeded as far as the head of Lake Champlain, but not finding boats to cross the lake were obliged to return. Sir William Phipps, with a fleet of about 30 vessels, sailed from Boston into the St. Lawrence, and land ̧

ing a body of troops, made an attack by land and water upon Quebec; but was unsuccessful.

This year, 1691, colonel Henry Sloughter succeeded colonel Leisler, Governor of New York. Leisler, when informed of this appointment, ought to have relinquished the authority he had exercised. Although twice required, he refused to surrender the fort. Sloughter caused Leisler and Milborne to be arrested and executed for high treason.

In July, 1691, Peter Schuyler, at the head of three hundred Mohawks, made a sudden and bold attack upon the French settlements at the north end of Lake Champlain. An army of eight hundred men was despatched from Montreal to oppose him. With them he had several singular but successful conflicts, in which he killed a greater number of the enemy than his whole party.

In 1692, colonel Fletcher succeeded governor Sloughter,and was authorised by his commission to take command of the militia of Connecticut. This power having been given by the charter to the Governor of the colony of New England, he determined not to relinquish it, and was supported by the people.

On the 26th of October, colonel Fletcher came to Hartford, while the assembly were sitting, and in his majesty's name, demanded their submission of the militia to his command, as they would answer it to his majesty; and that they would give him a speedy answer in one word, Yes or No. He subscribed himself his majesty's lieutenant, and commander in chief of the militia, and of all the forces by sea or land, and of all the forts and places of strength in the colony of Connecticut. He ordered the militia of Hartford under arms, that he might beat up for volunteers. It was judged expedient to call the trainbands Hartford together; but the assembly insisted, that the ommand of the militia was expressly vested, by charter, the governor and company; and that they could, by → means, consistently with their just rights and the comon safety, resign it into any other hands. They insinated, that his demands were an invasion of their essenal privileges, and subversive of their constitution.

Upon this, colonel Bayard, by his excellency's command,