USA > Massachusetts > The history of Massachusetts, from its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 10
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The conquest of this important post encouraged
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TREATY OF AIX-LA-CHAPELLE.
1748.]
the colonies to entertain the old project of an invasion of Canada ; but after vast preparations were made, and the provincial levies had ad- vanced as far as Albany, the British fleet failed to arrive, and the enterprise was abandoned. Disheartened by this failure, nothing further was attempted beyond the protection of the fron- tiers against the Indians, and the hasty assem- bling of troops at Boston, which, in 1746, was threatened by a French fleet consisting of forty ships of war, having on board three thousand veteran troops.
The danger from the latter soon passed away. Sickness had greatly weakened the effective force of the French; the Duke D'Anville, com- manding the squadron, died suddenly. The second in command committed suicide. A
storm scattering the vessels, some were wrecked, and such as outrode the fury of the tempest re- turned, one by one, to various ports in France. From this time, the war was languidly conducted on both sides, and was at length brought to a close, in 1748, by the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle.
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HISTORY OF MASSACHUSETTS. [1748.
CHAPTER XII.
Prosperous condition of Massachusetts-Duplicity of Shirley -He sails for England-The provincial laws-Their revi- sion advised by the English ministry-Cape Breton restored to the French-Chagrin of Massachusetts .- The province indemnified for the expense of the Louisburg expedition- Returns to specie currency-Difficulties between England and France-Boundary dispute-Acadia-French encroach- ment-The Ohio. Company-Advance of the French-Cap- ture of unfinished works at the forks of the Ohio-George Washington-His skirmish with Jumonville-Retreats to Great Meadows-Capitulates and retires across the moun- tains-Convention at Albany-Union of colonies discussed -Plan of Franklin accepted-Its rejection by the colonies -Scheme of the Board of Trade-Action of Massachusetts -Arrival of Braddock-Plan of campaign-Expedition to Acadia-The Acadians-Their primitive manners-Their happy pastoral life-Success of the expedition-Deportation of the Acadians.
IN spite of the harassing nature of the war, and the pecuniary difficulties under which the people of Massachusetts laboured, the condition of the province continued prosperous. This has been attributed to the vigorous character of Shirley's administration ; but it was, doubtless, more owing to the indomitable spirit of the people themselves. Shirley unquestionably en- tertained views inimicable to provincial liberty ; and only three months previous to the ratifica- tion of the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, he had
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THE PROVINCIAL LAWS.
1752.]
concerted with Clinton, the governor of New York, during a social interview at Albany, a scheme for securing the independence of the governors by either forcing the respective pro- vincial assemblies to grant permanent salaries to the civic officers, or, failing in that, to so foment matters as to attain the same result by parlia- mentary interference. To further these views, and also to lay before the English ministry his opinions in relation to the ulterior designs of the French, Shirley sailed for England during the month of September, 1749, leaving Sir William Phipps, the lieutenant-governor, to ad- minister the affairs of the province. Nearly four years elapsed before Shirley returned and reassumed the duties of his office. During this period, however, nothing of more importance occurred than the attempt made in 1752, by the English ministry, to procure a revision of the laws of the province. But as the ratification of the modified code was made dependent upon the approval of the king, the house of representa- tives, apprehensive of some secret encroachment upon their liberties, declined to unite with the council in recommending the measure, on the ground that, as the people were satisfied with the existing laws, it was unnecessary to make any alteration.
By the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, all territory captured during the progress of the war re-
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HISTORY OF MASSACHUSETTS. [1753.
turned to its original jurisdiction. Under this provision, the English became repossessed of Madras, and the French of Cape Breton. As the people of Massachusetts regarded the latter as their own especial acquisition, the order to surrender Louisburg was received with consider- able dissatisfaction. The recognition of the claim of Massachusetts to be disbursed the ex- penses incurred in the expedition against Cape Breton tended, however, in a considerable de- gree, to reconcile the province to the surrender of the conquered territory, although some show of feeling was manifested among the people in respect to the manner in which the indemnity was proffered them ; they claiming it as a right, while the English ministry would consider it only in the shape of a gift. After considerable discussion, the money, amounting to some eight hundred thousand dollars, was paid in specie to the proper authorities. Previous to its arrival, Hutchinson, the historian, at that time speaker of the house of delegates, supported by Shirley, who returned to his government in 1753, pre- vailed upon the general court to apply the indem- nity to the redemption, at a small discount, of the depreciated paper money then in circulation. This measure, though strongly opposed at first by the populace, from a misconception of its tendency, was immediately carried into effect, and the province was scarcely in possession of a
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BOUNDARY DISPUTE.
1753.]
sound hard-money currency, before all factious opposition ceased, and was succeeded by an almost universal feeling of satisfaction.
It was not long subsequent to Shirley's return to Boston before the impression became general that war with England and France would be re- sumed at an early day. The Treaty of Aix-la- Chapelle had tended, in no wise, to settle the original grounds of dispute. The boundaries between the French and English possessions were left undetermined, with the understanding that they should remain as they were previous to the war. Nothing could possibly have been a greater source of altercation than such an agreement. For twenty years previous to the war, the quarrel had constantly turned on territorial limits ; and as the question still remained open, both parties considered themselves justified in making their jurisdiction as extensive as pos- sible.
By the Treaty of Utrecht, in 1713, the whole of Acadia, according to its ancient limits, was ceded by France to Great Britain. A difficulty speedily arose as to how far the ancient limits of the territory actually extended. The French, contending that the Acadia yielded to England was confined to the peninsula now known as Nova Scotia, proceeded to take possession of the isthmus connecting it with the main land. Shel- tering themselves among the Acadians in the
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HISTORY OF MASSACHUSETTS. [1753.
town of Chignecto, they compelled the inhabit- ants to swear allegiance to the French sove- reign. After applying, unsuccessfully, for as- sistance from Massachusetts, Cornwallis, the governor of Acadia, sent a detachment of four hundred men to drive off the French, and re- cover the town.
The first expedition returned without having accomplished its purpose ; but in a second at- tempt, made soon after, the English were suc- cessful, though not without loss of life. The position of the town on the northern extremity of the Bay of Fundy, being one of importance, Fort Lawrence was immediately erected, in order to secure its possession for the future. The French, however, still maintained their posts at the mouth of the St. John's River; and from their alliance with the neighbouring Indian tribes, were enabled to keep possession of the disputed territory from Bay Vert to the Pe- nobscot.
On the frontiers of Virginia and Pennsylva- · nia similar difficulties had arisen. In 1749, the Ohio Company, an association composed of Lon- don merchants, and Virginia speculators, obtained a grant of six hundred thousand acres of land, on the east branch of the Ohio, or between the Monongahela and Kanawha rivers. Anticipat- ing their design, the Count de la Galissoniere, governor-general of Canada, during the same
169
FRENCH ENCROACHMENTS.
1754.]
year, despatched an officer with three hundred men to trace out, and occupy the valley of the Ohio. In conformity with these instructions, De Bienville and his command proceeded to take . formal possession of the territory in question, by burying plates of lead at the mouth of every re- markable stream, forbidding, at the same time, the Indians to continue their traffic with the En- glish, and ordering all traders out of the country.
From this time until the spring of 1754, ex- ploring parties were diligently thrown forward by both nations ; but the activity of the French, guided by one mind, and devoted to the achieve- ment of one object, was far greater than that of the English. Already the former had estab- lished military posts at Erie, Waterford, and Venango. Dinwiddie, the governor of Virginia, writing to England for advice, had been ordered to expel the intruders by force. The mission of George Washington to the commandant of the French posts on the Ohio proving unsuccessful, Virginia granted ten thousand pounds toward the defence of the frontiers, and a party of forty-one men hastened, early in 1754, to build a military station at the confluence of the Alle- ghany and Monongahela River The military force of Virginia was increased to six hundred men; and of this regiment, Washington was commissioned as colonel. During the month of April, the working party at the forks of the
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HISTORY OF MASSACHUSETTS. [1754
Ohio was suddenly attacked and driven off by a detachment of French under Contrecœur, who took possession of the unfinished works; and having enlarged, completed, and garrisoned it, named the fort thus acquired Fort Duquesne.
The next month, Washington, who had hasten- ed to the defence of the frontier, encountered a detachment of French under Jumonville. In the skirmish that ensued the enemy were de- feated with the loss of their leader. This suc- cess was, however, temporary. The enemy ap- proaching in force soon after, Washington was compelled to fall back with his command to a rude stockade fort he had thrown up at Great Meadows, where, in a few days, he was invested by some fifteen hundred French and Indians. After a brief, but spirited defence, the fort was surrendered on terms, the garrison being per- mitted to recross the mountains, bearing with them their baggage and equipments. Although war had not been formally declared, a rupture between France and England becoming inevi- table, the latter endeavoured to bring about that unity of action among the colonies which the legislative independence of the respective as- semblies had hitherto prevented.
With this view, a convention of commissioners from the several colonial assemblies was held at Albany, during the month of June, 1754. After renewing the ancient covenant with their allies,
171
PLAN OF UNION.
1754.]
the Iroquois, the commissioners, turning to the consideration of provincial affairs, unanimously came to the conclusion that no plan of proper co-operation would be obtained but by a union- of all the colonies. A committee, consisting of one delegate from each province represented, was accordingly appointed to draw up a scheme of union and consolidation. Of this committee Hutchinson, of Massachusetts, was appointed chairman. Another prominent member was Ben- jamin Franklin, early in life a poor printer's boy in Boston, but at this period one of the most influential men in Pennsylvania, whose as- sembly he represented in convention. The plan drawn up by Franklin was the one finally adopt- ed. Its principal features were, the creation of a grand council, to be formed of members cho- sen by the respectives provincial legislatures, which, with a governor-general, to be appointed by the crown, should be authorized to make general laws, and to raise money from all the colonies for the common defence.
But this scheme, though approved of by the convention, was rejected by the colonial assem- blies, and regarded with distrust by the Board of Trade. The former were unwilling to concede any of their privileges, either to a central power chosen by themselves, or to one appointed by the crown. The latter, astonished at a provin- cial plan for a general government, complete in
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HISTORY OF MASSACHUSETTS.
[1754.
itself, regarded it with disfavour, as restricting too much the royal prerogative. But the most powerful cause of its rejection by the Board of Trade, arose from their having framed a plan of their own; and, it is not improbable, that the call for a convention originated in the wish to impose their particular scheme upon the colonies. A few months after the close of the convention, their plan was submitted by Shirley to Franklin, whose opinion in regard to it was desired. The Board of Trade proposed the crea- tion of a grand assembly, to be composed of colonial governors, and select members of their respective councils. This grand assembly was to be clothed with power to originate measures of defence, and to draw upon the British treasury for the expenses they involved, the latter being reimbursed, subsequently, by taxes imposed on the colonies by act of parliament.
Nothing, however, could be more distasteful to the colonies than appropriations involving taxation by parliament. To Massachusetts, the plan was peculiarly repulsive ; and Bollan, the agent of the province in London, was particu- larly instructed to oppose any thing that should " have the remotest tendency to raise a revenue in America, for any public uses or services of government."
While these plans were undergoing popular discussion, Shirley was diligently engaged in.
173
ARRIVAL OF BRADDOCK.
1755.]
placing the eastern frontier of the province in a state of defence. Treaties with the Indians were renewed, and Forts Halifax and Western on the Kennebec, were built.
Notwithstanding a desultory warfare had com- menced along the frontier, negotiations were still pending between England and France. Shirley, also, as commander-in-chief of the co- lonial forces, was actively engaged in organizing the provincial levies. Massachusetts contributed largely and liberally to accomplish this desirable result. Reinforcements consisting of two regi- ments of regulars, under General Braddock, who had been appointed commander-in-chief in America, were also on their way to America. Braddock had no sooner set sail, than France despatched additional troops to Canada, under command of the veteran Dieskau.
Admiral Boscawen, with an English fleet, im- mediately sailed in pursuit. He arrived off New Foundland slightly in advance of the squadron he was ordered to intercept, but Dieskau was enabled to evade the English cruisers, and reached Canada in safety.
Braddock no sooner reached America, early in the spring of 1755, than he called a conven- tion of colonial governors at Alexandria, in Virginia, for the purpose of consulting upon the plan of the campaign. Several expeditions, simultaneously conducted, were finally resolved
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HISTORY OF MASSACHUSETTS. [1755.
upon. One, under the direction of Lawrence, lieutenant-governor of Acadia, was to capture the French military posts asserted to have been built within the boundaries of that province. Colonel William Johnson, of New York, was to conduct a mixed force of provincials and Indians against the French works at Crown Point, near the head of Lake Champlain. Shirley, second in command to Braddock, was to dislodge the French from Niagara ; while Braddock, with his two regiments of regulars, and a few com- panies composed principally of Virginians under Colonel Washington, undertook, in person, the capture of Fort Duquesne.
In the three latter expeditions Massachusetts had a considerable share; seven thousand nine hundred men, or nearly one-fifth of the effective force of the province, being engaged in them. A considerable portion of these levies was des- tined to operate against the French posts in Acadia.
Sixteen years before the landing of the Pil- grims at Plymouth, a small French colony had established itself upon the peninsula now known as Nova Scotia, but to which the early set- tlers had given the name of Acadia. With the lapse of time, the little colony gradually in- creased both in numbers and prosperity. Re- proached for their adherence to the Catholic faith by the more intolerant of their puritan
175
THE ACADIANS.
1755.]
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neighbours, they were not unfrequently drawn into disputes wholly at variance with their quiet habits, and pastoral mode of life. At length, by the Treaty of Utrecht, Acadia became a. province of Great Britain. True to the lan- guage, manners, customs, and religion of their forefathers, the old inhabitants still regarded France with undiminished affection, even while yielding submissively to the jurisdiction of England. This love of their native country more particularly displayed itself in their re- fusal to bear arms against her ; a feeling which, Armstrong, at that period lieutenant-governor, judiciously respected, and humanely required nothing more of the Acadians than to take the oath of allegiance to Great Britain. From their declining to participate in any contest between their countrymen and the English, this peace- ful people received the name of French neutrals.
Forgotten, or neglected, by subsequent go- vernors, for nearly forty years, the simple Aca- dians continued to lead a life of quiet happiness and increasing prosperity. Their unwearied in- dustry had won from the ocean, meadows of the richest verdure. Over these noble pastures roamed numerous flocks of sheep, and herds of the finest cattle. Clothed in garments derived from flax grown in their own fields, or from wool of their own shearing, and with all their domestic wants supplied by their own labour,
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HISTORY OF MASSACHUSETTS. [1755.
this people had almost realized a condition of Arcadian simplicity. Clustering in little com- munities around their humble churches, happy in their neutrality, and in the enjoyment of the products of their industry, they lived, for the most part, free from contentions, pure in morals, and at all times affectionately disposed to assist one another.
But with the colonization of Nova Scotia by England, terminated the happy existence of this primitive people. Envie for their prosperity, despised for their simplicity, and suspected for their religion, they soon began to suffer from the intolerance of the new settlers, and from the in- justice of those in authority.
France, desirous of restricting the province of Acadia to the peninsula, had erected the two Forts of Beau Sejour and Gaspareau, on the isthmus connecting Nova Scotia with the main- land. To the capture of these, in the latter part of May, 1755, and while Boscawen, off New Foundland, was watching for the appear- ance of the French fleet, three thousand men embarked from Boston, under the command of John Winslow. On their arrival at Chignecto, at the head of the Bay of Fundy, they were joined by three hundred regulars, under Colonel Monckton, on whom the command now devolved. Taken by surprise, the two forts fell into the hands of the English almost without resistance ;
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1755.]
EXPULSION OF THE ACADIANS.
another detachment from the English forces, at the same time, took possession of the fort and village of St. John's, which had been burned and abandoned by the French. The conquest of all the region east of the St. Croix River having been thus easily accomplished, the Aca- dians were called upon to take the oath of allegiance to Great Britain. To this demand they yielded readily, but could not pledge them- selves to serve against France. A few of their young men having been captured fighting at Beau Sejour, Lawrence, the lieutenant-governor, affected to fear a general revolt in the province, notwithstanding the French commander, in sur- rendering the fort, had stipulated for the free- dom of the young Acadians, on the ground that they had taken up arms only through compul- sion. This plea had been admitted by the En- glish, by agreeing to the stipulation. A large and complete force was in possession of every strong- hold in the province, and the inhabitants had given up, unresistingly, their boats and fire-arms, still Lawrence pretended to be apprehensive of their pacific intentions. " They possess the best and largest tracts of land in the province," said he. "If they refuse the oath it would be much better they were away." Their expulsion, determined upon from the first, was now at- tempted to be legalized by the mockery of a judicial decision ; a plan having been secretly
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HISTORY OF MASSACHUSETTS. [1755.
arranged to seize them by surprise, men, women, and children, and to distribute them through the several colonies.
Alarmed at the foreshadowing of some mys- terious calamity, the Acadians offered to take the oath of allegiance in any form the authori- ties might desire; but this act of meek sub- mission was now refused. Regarded by the prejudiced conquerors as " popish recusants," their deportation was resolved upon.
Unconscious of what was to follow, all the male inhabitants of Acadia above nine years of age, in obedience to a general proclamation, as- sembled on the 9th of September, at places pre- viously indicated. At Grand Pré, one of these posts, four hundred and eight unarmed men met together. Having been marched into the church, the doors of which . were immediately closed, Winslow, commanding the Massachusetts forces, notified them that their lands and tenements, and their personal property, were forfeited to the crown ; and that they themselves were to be re- moved from his majesty's province of Nova Scotia. Their wives and families shared this sudden blow. The homes they had quitted in the morning they were never to see again. This was not all. On the day of embarkation they were driven on shipboard at the point of the bayonet, not in families, nor in a single vessel, but divided according to sex, and in different
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1755.] DEPORTATION OF THE ACADIANS.
ships, destined for different colonies. By this heartless arrangement, husbands and wives, pa- rents and children, brothers, sisters, and be- trothed lovers, in spite of tears and agonizing en- treaties, were torn from one another, many of them never again destined to meet on earth.
From the 10th of September to the middle of December, the work of embarkation went slowly on; the unfortunate Acadians being, in the mean while, crowded together on the coast, suf- fering from an insufficiency of clothing, and begging for bread.
Seven thousand of these unfortunate people were thus callously deprived of their homes ; which, after their departure, were razed to the ground, to prevent them from affording a shelter. to any of the exiles that should chance to return. Distributed among the colonies, more than a thousand were carried to Massachusetts, where they remained a public burden, until, heart-bro- ken and hopeless, they finally languished away.
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HISTORY OF MASSACHUSETTS. [1755.
CHAPTER XIII.
Expedition against Crown Point-Fort Edward built-Ap- proach of Dieskau-Defeat and death of Colonel Williams- Battle of Lake George-Shirley's advance to Oswego-De- feat of Braddock-Expedition to Niagara abandoned-Shir- ley appointed commander-in-chief-His military projects- His recall-Loudoun appointed commander-in-chief-Arbi- trary laws passed by parliament-Capture of Oswego by. Montcalm-The provincial forces disbanded-Campaign of 1757-Loudoun's unsuccessful expedition to Louisburg- Fort William Henry captured by Montcalm-Extraordinary panic in the provinces-Imbecile conduct of Loudoun-His quarrel with Massachusetts-Submission of the general court-Popularity of Governor Pownall-Campaign of 1758 -Pitt's vigorous and popular measures-Abercrombie ap- pointed commander-in-chief-Embarks on Lake George- Advance against Ticonderoga-Skirmish and death of Lord Howe-Defeat of Abercrombie.
WHILE Lawrence, Monckton, and Winslow were engaged in the reduction of Acadia, John- son was collecting his troops at Albany, for the expedition against Crown Point. This enter- prise was one of especial importance to Massa- chusetts, who had furnished a considerable num- ber of the troops engaged in it, and the security of whose western frontier was thought to de- pend upon its success.
Leaving Major-General Lyman to construct Fort Edward, at the portage between the Hudson
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1755.] DEFEAT OF WILLIAMS.
and the head waters, of the Sorel, Johnson, with three thousand four hundred men, crossed to the southern shore of Lake George, and there encamped.
In the mean time, the squadron in which Dies- kau embarked from France, having escaped the English fleet off New Foundland, with the loss of two vessels, finally reached Quebec. Dieskau was immediately despatched to Crown Point ; from whence, at the head of twelve hundred Indians and Canadians, he advanced to attack Fort Edward.
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