The next governor was Mr Burnet. Ile was received with great pomp at Boston ; and on the meeting of the as sembly, he told them, that he had it in command to insist upon an established allowance ; and that he was, in this respect, resolved to adhere to his instructions. The court voted the sum of 1700/. to defray the expenses of his jouney, and to support him in the rank of gover nor and commander in chiel; but they would not agree to any act fixing a salary, whie h their descend...1ms should be obliged to pay. Memorials passed on both sides. The governor threatened them with au appeal to England, and the abrogation of their ( barter. But they persisted in adhering to their resolution, and de( lined to establish any allowance. The house prepared a statement of the controversy, which they transmitted to all their towns ; and at the end of the paper, they assigned the reasons of their conduct ; reasons in themselves of such force, that it was difficult to see what could be opposed to them, unless it were a determination on the part of the goeei nor to listen to no reason that could be offered. " We cannot agree to fix a salary, (they declare,) even for a limited time : First, Because it is an untrodden path, which neither we nor our predecessors have gone in ; and we cannot certainly foresee the many dangers that may be in it ; nor can we depart from that way which has been found to be safe and comfortable. Secondly, Because it is the undoubted right of all Englishmen, by Magna Charta, to raise and dispose of money for the public service of their own free accord, without compulsion. Thirdly, Because it must necessarily lessen the dignity and freedom of the house of representatives, in making acts, and raising and applying taxes ; and consequently cannot be thought a proper method to preserve that ba lance in the three branches of the legislature, which seems necessary to form, maintain. and support the con stitution. And, lastly, Because the charter fully em powers the general assembly to make such laws and orders, as they shall judge to be for the good and wel fare of the inhabitants," &tc.—Marshall's Life cif zngt on, vol. i.
Notwithstanding these reasons, the governor still re fused to accept of any grant in place of an established allowance. Ile removed the court from Boston to Salem, on pretence that the members were controlled in their resolutions by the violence of the townsmen ; he deprived the representati., es of the money which they should have received to defray the expense of their attendance, by refusing to sign a warrant upon the treasurer for that purpose ; and animated by a wish to observe his instruc tions. he declared his resolution of adhering to them in rheir utmost extent. But in the midst of these contin tions, he was seized with a fever and died. The death of "Air Burnet, however, did not put an end to the di, pute in which he was engaged. It continued to distract the settlement after his decease ; and was finally termi nated to the advantage of the people, by instructions from the crown that the governor should accept of the allowance which was annually voted by the assembly.
Of the different varieties of governments established in the colonies, whether that of the king in the person of his representative, that of officers chosen by the peo ple, or that of the proprietors, to whom lands in North America were granted by the crown, the last appears to have been the w oust calculated to give protection to the settlers. In the year 1663, Charles 11. granted the pro
vince of Carolina to the duke of Albemarle, the lords Clarendon, Craven, and others, and to their lawful de scendents, in absolute property. Under the guardianship of these noblemen, a colony was sent thither, and fur nished at length with a plan of government by the cele orated Mr Locke. But however well skilled that philo sopher might Le in analysiug the qualities of the human 111 ind, and distinguishing its operations, it was soon found that he Is as very moderately accomplished in the science of governing men. His laws were approved of and adopted ; but when reduced to practice., they were so disagreeable to the settlers, that the constitution which he recommended was abandoned in a short time, and the former system revived. After the change of the consti tution, the. settlers increased in numbers and wealth ; and though their prosperity was interrupted by the Spa niards and the Indians in their pay, they maintained their positions, and supported the character of English men, both for conduct and bravery.
In this colony, as well as in the others, differences arose between the people and their rulers. The govern ment of the proprietors fell into disrepute, as they were either unable or unwilling to afford the assistance which was required ; and sonic encouragement being held out to the planters by the sovereign, they took the adminis tration of the province into their own hands. The ques tion was tried by the lords of regency and council in England, (the king being then in Hanover,) it was de clared that the proprietors had forfeited their charter ; and Mr Francis Nicholson was appointed governor of the colonies in the name of the king. The proprietors, with the exception of lord Carteret, aft erwards sold their right and interest to the crown fo L.17,500; and his lordship himself relinquished all concern in the govern ment, though he retained his right of property. The agreement between the crown and the proprietors was confirmed by act of parliament. This transaction was followed by a rebellion of the slaves in the province, and a war with Spain ; the former was suppressed, and the latter, which continued long, was ultimately favoura ble to the English interest. Before the termination of the war, Charleston, the capital of South Carolina, was destroyed by fire. The loss of the inhabitants was im mense ; but the legislature applied to the British par liament, and with the liberality of the national character, L.20,000 was voted for their relief.
The connection between the different families of the house of Bourbon, rendered it very unlikely that the French would continue at peace, while the Spaniards were at war with the British. An attempt was made to destroy the English fishery at Canseau. Louisburg, the capital of the island of Cape Breton, was besieged by the provincials ; and the Vigilant man of war, which had supplies of all kinds on board, being taken, Du chambon, the governor, surrendered the place.