As the republican spirit continued to show itself in every transaction of the settlers, a writ of Ivarlunte, was issued by Charles II. against the company of .Nlas sachusetts ; and in 1684, the letters-pal ent, and the enrolment thereof," were cancelled. The other colo nies were deprived of their charters in the arbitrary and oppressive reign of James II. and reduced to a total de pendence upon the crown. But the people of New England did not submit to the king w ithout great reiuct Juice ; they thwarted his measures ; they disregarded the navigation act ; and some intelligence of the pro gress of William of Orange having reached them, they assembled tumultuously at Boston, and, seizing the go vernor and his assistants, they threw them into prison. William and Mary were afterwards proclaimed with universal demonstrations of joy.
Having traced the origin and progress of the colonies in Virginia and New England, we shall here introduce the dates of the other settlements which form a part of the United States of America.
Besides the Indians, tilt.. 1•renelt in Canada and Aca dia were destined, for a while, to cheek the pretensions, and mar the prosperity of English colonies. The ri val nations attempted to settle in America about the same time ; and, in the year 1608, James I. of England granted to the companies of Virginia a part of me ter ritory which had been allotted, three years before to NI. de Monts by I leery IV. of France. This was an imme diate cause of dispute and warfare. Under various coot missions and different leaders, the French had posses sed themselves of Canada and Acadia ; and at the peri od to which we have brought the history of the English colonies, they had gained over the Indians in their neigh bourhood, and were preparing to attack the settlement of New York. The chief stations of the French in North America, were, Quebec, Montreal, and Port-Royal.
The fate of the colonies, like that of other dependants, a as wholly regulated by the measures which their su periors adopted. About this time, Louis XIV. was ma king rapid strides towards universal dominion ; and Wil liam of Orange, now elevated to the English throne, was equally zealous and active in resisting his ambitious at qempts. When hostilities commenced in Europe, the colonies in America began likewise to annoy each other in their several possessions. The French, in conjunc tion with their Indian allies, made predatory incursions into different parts of New England: and a war of this kind, attended with much expense, and no little indi idual misery, w as I'm• some time carried on.
It was frequently intended by the ministry in Great Britain, to send an armament into North America for the protection of the colonies, and the invasion of Can ada; Lot the affairs of Europe requiring all their atten tion, the settlers were obliged to arm in their own de fence. At length, Colonel Nicholson was despatched to
England, in order to represent the. state of the country to queen Anne ; and to petition for such assistance as would enable them to attack the French in their pos sessions, and to deliver themselves from an enemy who was both troublesome and dangerous. Soon after, Ni cholson returned with five frigates and a bomb-ketch : but the colonies were to furnish the troops which might be requisite for the expedition. It was resolved to attack Port-Royal in Acadia. The whole armament, consisting of one regiment of marines, and four regiments of pro incials, sailed from Boston, (A. D. 1707,) and invested he place, which surrendered without opposition. Vetch was appointed governor ; and the name of the town was hanged from Port-Royal to Annapolis, in honour of the This, however, was a trilling and an ineffectual blow. More powerful aid was necessary : and Nicholson was again despatched to Europe, in order to solicit the prompt and decided interference of England. Contrary ui all expectation and belief, his mission was successful. I he arrived at Boston in the year 1711, with instructions lo the governors of the colonies to have their propor of men in readiness, by the time that the fleet and criny should reach them from Europe. The interval was exceedingly short; but as the service was agree able to the people, as well as the governors, they exert ed themselves with unusual vigour, and all difficulties were overcome. The general court of Massachusetts issued bills of credit to the value of 40,000i. in order to supply the money which the English treasury could not advance : the whole settlers were enjoined to furnish the army with provisions ; each colony brought. in the proportion which was assigned It ; .and all things being ready, 'he expedition set out limn Boston on the .:X/th of July, and proceeded, without delay, to the river St Law rence. The number of troops which had arrival 11'0111 Eu rope was considerable. They consisted of seven veteran regiments, which had fought under the illustrious duke of Marlborough, and one regiment of marines ; and these, together with the provincials, amounted to 65oo men ; a force equal to that which afterwards, under the com mand of Wolfe, reduced Quebec, when it was 1Ortified with more skill, and defended by an abler general. One fatal night, however, blasted the hopes of the colonists. As they sailed down the river, eight of the transports were wrecked on Egg-Island ; and the weather was so unfavourable, that they were more than a week in reach ing Quebec. The expedition was soon after abandoned ; and the treaty of Utrecht being signed in Europe, a ter mination was put to the war. The Indians, in the ser vice of the French, no longer prompted to hostilities, and no longer supported by their allies, sued for peace.