cannot declare war against the eastern Indians, for they have done no harm; nevertheless our brethren of New England may be affured, that we will live and die in friendship with them. When we took up arms against the French and their confederates, wę did not make war with them at the perfuafions of our brethren here; for they did not fo much as know our intention till fourteen days after our army had begun

to march."

These Indians whom we call favages, appear in many inftances to have better notions of juftice than the pohite and civilized Chriftians in Europe: they confider war as unrighteous, without men receive injury, and do not account it a fufficient reafon to engage in war even in behalf of their friends, till once they know the grounds of the controverfy.

Among all the Indian tribes, none were fuch enemies to the English colonifts as thofe who were called the French praying Indians. Thefe being perverted by Jefuit miffionaries, who not only poifoned their minds with all the abfurdities of Popery, but inftilled into them the greatest antipathy against the English by lyes and falfe reprefentations. Thefe tribes were fo fully under the French influence, that they took every opportunity to harrafs and diftrefs all their neighbours that were inclined to favour the English. They had loft their former honefty which they had while they were Heathens, and were become fach confummate diffemblers, that there was no depending upon any thing they faid. And what rendered them ftill more dangerous and abominable, they were more barbarous and cruel than when they were profeffed Infidels. The French priests had inftructed them in none of thofe principles of religion and humanity which foften the heart, and footh the rugged paffions

of

of the foul: they had ftill concealed from them the Scriptures, and the pure doctrines of morality which they contain, and only taught them concerning the infallibility of the Pope, and the omnipotence of the French king. Thefe miffionaries of Rome in the firft inftance taught them that all the English were heretics, and in a state of damnation; and that it was meritorious to deftroy as many of them as they were able; and that cheating them with lyes and falfe promifes, was fo far from being a crime, that it was the greateft virtue, and would meet with an ample reward in the other world. Under the influence of fuch tutorage, it was no wonder that a barbarous and favage people turned worse than they were before.

One thing which often rendered the colonifts tinfuccessful in their attempts against the French and Indians was, the neglect or incapacity of their governors, which were then fent from Great Britain. As it frequently happened that thofe gentlemen who were appointed to thefe offices were more intent in pursuing their own intereft, than looking after the welfare of the colonies, they often neglected the proper meafures neceffary for obtaining their welfare. The colonists who were not allowed by government to interfere in that department which belonged to the crown, but who at the fame time fuffered by the misconduct of its fervants, were ready, in their hearts, to defpife men, whom they found take upon them pofts of importance they were not qualified to fulfil. Governors appointed by authority, at fo great a distance, and not connected with the inhabitants, by the common ties of mutual intereft, unless they are both men of good fenfe and great virtue, will feldom anfwer the purposes of good legislature. When a government intends the general welfare of the community, it should lay afide all partiality in the appointLI

ment

ment of men to offices of state, and always chuse the wifest and best, and fuch as are fitteft for the department affigned. A particular acquaintance with the people where the magiftrates are to refide and rule, as well as common interefts joined together with theirs, will always be found neceffary to make men acceptable in that character. It has been much owing to the Englifh government not being careful in this particular, that fuch difcord has arifen between Great Britain and her once flourishing colonies.

Before we return to the regular course of the hiftory of the prefent war, it will be neceffary to take a view of the conftitution of the feveral colonies in America, that, by examining their fundamental rights and privileges, we may be able to judge concerning the cause of the bloody conteft that is now carrying

-on.

CHAP.

CHA P. VI.

The government and conftitution of the Colonies,-of Rhode Island,-Connecticut,-Virginia,-Penfyluania, Maryland, Georgia, &c.

WE have already taken a view of the conftitution

of the colony of Maffachufets bay, their original charter of privileges, and the tenure by which they hold their right of poffeffion of their lands in thofe parts. It was not long after the firft colonists fettled in America, before they differed concerning fome points of religion, and carried their contentions fo far as to perfecute those who could not, or would not conform to their articles of faith. This barbarous and inhuman difpofition proceeded fo far as not only to make them deny the Diffenters, from their creed, the privileges of citizens, but also to banish them out of the country, with threatenings of fevere punishment provided they fhould return. This violent and intolerant practice, though it is a fevere reflection upon the character of the colonists, in the courfe of providence, turned out for good to thofe who were perfecuted, and made them feek to provide for themfelyes in other parts of the country, which they would not have thought of in an ordinary courfe of affairs. It was for the reafons juft now mentioned, that fome of the perfecuted colonists, in the year 1639, began a fettlement in

Rhode

Rhode Island. This is one of the fmalleft provinces, of which New England is compofed. It lies off Mount Hope, and confifts of a small island of that name, and is the old plantation of Providence. This Ifland, from whom the Province has its name, lies in Naraganfet bay, and is about fifteen or fixteen miles in length, and four or five in breadth. This island is one of the most beautiful and pleasant parts in New England. On account of the fruitfulness of the foil, and temperatenefs of the climate, it is called by fome the Paradife of New England; for though it does not lie above 60 miles fouth of Bofton, it is much warmer in winter, being furrounded by the fea, and not so affected by land breezes as the neighbouring parts on the continent. There was a very confiderable trade carried on before the war in this ifland with the fugar colonies, with butter and cheefe, horses, sheep, beef, pork, timber, and frames for houfes. The freencfs of the fituation in procefs of time invited fo many planters to this island, that it was foon overstocked, and fome of them purchased land, and built the towns of Providence and Warwick. What contributed much to the population of this colony was, the free unlimited toleration that was granted in it, to all forts of religious profeflions. This practice of toleration will always have a great influence, both upon the encrease of the inhabitants of colonies, and the government of all nations; for though it is affirmed by fome that toleration of fectaries is the occafion of divifions, and contentions in nations, yet the very contrary is matter of fact. For it is by laying unneceffary reftraints upon men's confciences that creates fectaries, which if they were permitted to take their own way, would feldom give any trouble. Government ought therefore to tolerate all forms of religion, except

fuch