A party of Indians broke into the house of James Johnson, early in the morning, before any of the family were awake, and took him, with his wife, three children, her sister, and two men, prisoners. The surprisal was complete and bloodless, and they carried them off undisturbed. The next day, Johnson's wife was delivered of a daughter, who, from the circumstances of its birth, was named Captive. The Indians halted one day, on the woman's account: and the next day resumed their march, carrying her on a litter, which they made for the purpose, and afterwards put her on horseback. On their march, they were distressed for provisions, and killed the horse for food. The infant was nourished by sucking pieces of its flesh. Throughout this war, the people of New Hampshire bravely defended themselves against the Indians, and effectually co-operated with the British troops in the reduction of Canada. Their soldiers were so expert in every service which required agility, and so habituated to fatigue and danger, that, by the express desire of Lord Loudon, three ranging companies were formed of them, who continued in service during the winter, as well as the summer. The command of these companies was given to Robert Rogers, John Stark, and William Stark. They were eminently useful, in scouring the woods; procuring intelligence; and skirmishing with detached parties of the enemy. These companies were kept, throughout the war, in the pay of the crown; and, after its conclusion, the officers were allowed half pay, on the British establishment.

In this war, especially the first years of it, Canada was filled with prisoners, scalps, private plunder, public stores, and provisions; much of which had been taken from New Hampshire.

When the British army had obtained a decided superiority over the French, it was determined to chastise the Indians, who had committed so many devastations. Major Robert Rogers was despatched from Crown Point, by general Amherst, with about two hundred rangers, to destroy the Indian village of St. Francis. After a fatiguing march of twentyone days, he came within sight of the place, which he disco

vered from the top of a tree. He halted his men, at the distance of three miles; and in the evening, with two of his officers, entered the village in disguise. The Indians were engaged in a grand dance, and he passed through them undiscovered. Having formed his men into parties, and posted them to advantage, he made a general assault, just before day, whilst the Indians were asleep. They were so completely surprised, that little resistance could be made. Some were killed in their houses; and of those who attempted to flee, many were shot or tomahawked, by parties placed at the avenues. The dawn of day disclosed a horrid scene, and an edge was given to the fury of the assailants, by the sight of several hundred scalps of their countrymen, elevated on poles, and waving in the air. This village had been enriched with the plunder of the frontiers, and the sale of captives. The houses were well furnished, and the church was adorned with plate. The suddenness of the attack, and the fear of a pursuit, did not allow much time for pillage; but the rangers brought off about two hundred guineas in money; a silver image, weighing ten pounds; a large quantity of wampum and clothing. Having set fire to the village, Rogers made his retreat. Of the rangers, one man only was killed, and six were wounded. In their retreat, they were pursued, and lost seven men. They kept in a body for about ten days, and then scattered. Some found their way to "Number Four," after having suffered much by hunger and fatigue. Others perished in the woods, and their bones were found near Connecticut river, by the people, who, after several years, began plantations at the upper Cohos.

The conquest of Canada gave peace to the frontiers of New Hampshire, after a turbulent scene of fifteen years, in which, with very little intermission, they had been distressed by the enemy. Many captives were returned to their homes, and friends, who, after a long separation, embraced each other in peace. The joy was heightened by the consideration, that Canada being subdued, it could no longer be a source of terror and distress.

The war being closed, a large and valuable tract of country, situated between New England, New York, and Canada, was secured to the British dominions, and it became the interest of the governors, of both the royal provinces of New Hampshire and New York, to vie with each other, in granting this territory, and receiving the emoluments arising from this lucrative branch of their respective offices. The seeds of a controversy on this subject had been already sown.

The passion for occupying new lands rose to a great height. These tracts were filled with emigrants from Massachusetts and Connecticut. Population and cultivation began to increase, with a rapidity hitherto unknown; and from this time may be dated the flourishing state of New Hampshire; for, before, it had been circumscribed and stinted in its growth, by the continual danger of a savage enemy.

In the twelve years of peace, which followed the conquest of Canada, the prosperity of New Hampshire exceeded all calculation. At the end of that period, the American revolutionary war commenced. New Hampshire engaged in it with a population of 124,069 inhabitants. She was well prepared for the arduous struggle. Her yeomanry were brave, hardy, capable of bearing fatigue, had long been accustomed to the use of arms, and were complete woodsmen. Many of them had acquired a considerable stock of military experience, in the previous wars, to the dangers and calamities of which they, as a frontier state, had been particularly exposed.

New Hampshire, before the American revolution, suffered more by Indian and French wars, than any other of the English colonies; but, after the declaration of independence, she suffered less than most of her sister states. No part of her territory was at any time the seat of revolutionary war: but she fought bravely, and bled freely, in the common cause, as shall be related in its proper place. One advantage she has enjoyed, above all the other states. While much of their early history is irrecoverably lost, the wisdom of the institutions of New Hampshire, and the gallantry of her sons, through the whole period of her political existence, down to

the year 1792, will descend to posterity with uncommon lustre; for they have been immortalized by the pen of Dr. Belknap, the founder of the Massachusetts Historical Society, and the father of American history. To his writings, the author of this work acknowledges himself indebted, for most of the facts stated in the preceding details.

MARYLAND.

Maryland was the third English colony, settled in North America; but the first, which, from its beginning, was erected into a province of the empire. The first emigration to Maryland, consisting of about two hundred persons, chiefly of the Roman Catholic religion, landed on the banks of the river Potowmac, in the beginning of the year 1634. Calvert,* their leader, purchased the rights of the aborigines,

George Calvert, afterwards Sir George, baron of Baltimore, founder of the province of Maryland, was born in England, in 1582. Being inclined to make a settlement in America, as an asylum for himself and friends, of the Roman Catholic religion, he made a visit to Virginia; but, meeting with an unwelcome reception, on account of his religion, and observing that the Virginians had not extended their plantations beyond the Potowmac, he fixed his attention upon the territory northward of this river, and, as soon as he returned to England, obtained a grant of it, from Charles the first: but, before a patent was completed, he died, in the fifty-first year of his age. After his death, the patent was again drawn, in the name of his eldest son, Cecilius, who succeeded to his honours, and it passed in 1632. The country was called Maryland, in honour of Henrietta Maria, the queen consort of Charles the first. Tradition states, that the original patent was written by Sir George himself The liberal code of religious toleration, which it established, is very honourable to him, and was respected by his son, who carried his designs into execution. Sir George was conspicuous for his good sense and moderation. All parties were pleased with him. In his views of establishing foreign plantations, he thought that the original inhabitants, instead of being exterminated, should be civilized and converted; that the governors should not be interested merchants, but gentlemen not concerned in trade; and that every one should be left to provide for himself, by his own industry, without dependence on a common interest.

Leonard Calvert, the first governor of Maryland, was the brother of Cecilius Calvert, the proprietor, who sent him to America, as the head of the colony, in 1633. After a circuitous voyage, he arrived at point Comfort, in

and, with their consent, took possession of a town, which he called St. Mary's. He continued carefully to cultivate their friendship, and lived with them on terms of perfect amity. The lands, which had been thus ceded, were planted with

Virginia, February 24th, 1634. On the 3d of March, he proceeded in the bay of Chesapeak to the northward, and entered the Potowmac, up which he sailed, and came to an anchor under an island, which he named St. Clement's. Here he fired his cannon, erected a cross, and took possession, “in the name of the Saviour of the World, and of the king of England." Thence, he went fifteen leagues higher, to the Indian town of Potowmac, on the Virginia side of the river, now called New Marlborough, where he was received in a friendly manner, by the natives. Thence, he sailed to the town of Piscataway, on the Maryland side, where he found Henry Fleet, an Englishman, who had resided several years among the Indians, and was held by them in great esteem. This man was very serviceable, as an interpreter. An interview having been procured with the Werowance, or prince, Calvert asked him, whether he was willing that a settlement should be made in his country? He replied, "I will not bid you go, neither will I bid you stay; but you may use your own discretion." Having convinced the natives that his designs were honourable and pacific, the governor sought a more suitable station for commencing his colony. He visited a creek, on the northern side of the Potowmac, about four leagues from its mouth, where was an Indian village. Here he acquainted the prince of the place with his intentions, and, by presents, conciliated his friendship so much, as to obtain permission to reside in one part of the town, until the next harvest, when, it was stipulated, the natives should entirely quit the place. Both parties entered into a contract, to live together in a friendly manner. After Calvert had given a satisfactory consideration, the Indians readily yielded a number of their houses, and retired to the others. As the season for planting corn had now arrived, both parties went to work. Thus, on the 27th of March, 1634, the governor took peaceable possession of the country of Maryland, and gave to the town the name of St. Mary's, and to the creek, on which it was situated, the name of St. George's.

The colony had brought with them meal from England; but they found Indian corn, in great plenty, at Barbadoes and in Virginia; and, by the next spring, they were able to export a thousand bushels to New England, and Newfoundland, for which they received, in return, dried fish, and other provisions. The Indians also killed many deer and turkies, which they sold to the English, for knives, beads, and other small articles of traffic. 'Cattle, swine, and poultry, were procured from Virginia. Fifty acres of land were granted, in absolute fee, to every emigrant; and Christianity was established, without allowing pre-eminence to any particular sect.

The governor built a house at St. Mary's, for himself and his successors, and superintended the affairs of the country, till the civil war in England.