1742.

tablish

It was well received; and 50 persons subscribed 40 shillings each, and agreed to pay 10 shillings annually for 50 years, the term for which the company was to continue. The subscribers, having now increased to 100, obtained a charter. This was the first, if not the origin, of all the American subscription libraries.1 The English commanded by major Crawford, established English esthemselves in Rattan, in the bay of Honduras, to protect the hewers of Campeachy wood, and to ensure the commerce of at Rattan ; indigo and cochineal with the Spaniards of Guatemala. By the advice of admiral Vernon, 200 of the American regiment with 50 marines were sent under convoy, with an engineer, arms, and build a ammunition, and some cannon for a fortification; and a town was town. built and fortified on the island.3

1743.

themselves

THE shipping of New England, about this time, is said to Shipping of have consisted of at least 1000 sail, exclusive of fishing barks.4 N. England. Ship building, one of the principal branches of the trade of Boston, declined at this period. In the military establishment of Military esMassachusetts for this year, 114 men were employed in public of Mass. service.6

tablishment

The Catawba nation of Indians could bring scarcely 400 Catawba warriors into the field. These were composed partly of their nation. own men, and partly of refugees from various smaller tribes, which were obliged, about this time, on account of their reduced numbers, to associate with them.7

The second baptist church was built in Boston.8 Baptist chh. Lieutenant governor Bull, of South Carolina, having received Silver mine credible information that a silver mine had been discovered in S. Caroand opened, and that several persons were now working upon it in the Cherokee nation, issued a proclamation, strictly forbid

1 Life of Franklin, in his Works, i. 74, 75, and 83-85. The instrument first subscribed was rendered null and void by the charter of incorporation, which gave perpetuity to the company.

2 Alcedo, Art. ROATTAN, or RATTAN.

3 Univ. Hist. xli. 449.

4 Univ. Hist. xxxix. 346. Wynne, i. 165.

"Before" this year.

5 European Settlements, ii. 183. There were built this year, 1743, 30 vessels; in 1746, 20 vessels; in 1749, 15 vessels.

lina.

8 Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc. iii. 264.

1743. ding all persons whatever from running out any land in the Cherokee nation, or in any other nation of Indians, and from opening or working any mine, in any of the Indian nations within this province, until his majesty's pleasure should be made known.1

Academy

phia.

Benjamin Franklin suggested the establishment of a college in Philadel for the education of young men in the higher branches of knowledge; from which the Academy, afterward the University of Pennsylvania, originated.2

Palatines

A ship from England, bound for Philadelphia, with about 200 lost at sea. Palatines on board, put into Hampton road in Virginia, having lost about 160 passengers from the Palatinate.3

German

bible and newspaper.

Indigo.

A German edition of the Bible was printed by Christopher Gower, at Germantown. A newspaper, in the German language, was published weekly at Philadelphia.5

The culture of the Indigo plant was introduced into South Carolina by Miss Lucas. The cultivation of this valuable plant being considered of importance, some indigo seed was soon after imported from the West Indies, where it had already been cultivated with success, and yielded an immense profit. At first the seed was planted as an experiment; and it was so entirely successful, that several planters turned their immediate attention to the culture of indigo, and studied the art of extracting the dye.7 The American Magazine and Historical Chronicle began to Magazine. be published at Boston.8

American

Death of
J. Blair.

James Blair, first president of William and Mary College in Virginia, died at the age of 88 years.9

1 American Magazine and Historical Chronicle for 1743.

2 Memoirs of Pennsylv. Hist. Society, i. 130.

3 American Magazine and Historical Chronicle.

4 Ramsay, Chronological Tables.

5 Thomas, ii. 336; "as early as May, 1743."

6 Ramsay, Chron. Tables.

7 Hewatt, ii. 138, 139. Drayton, S. Car. 127. See 1748.

8 It was printed by Rogers and Fowle, and sold by S. Eliot and J. Blanchard, in Boston; it was sold also in Philadelphia by B. Franklin, in New York by J. Parker, in New Haven by J. Pomroy, in Newport by C. Campbell. It was published in monthly numbers, only 12 years after the commencement of the first similar publication in London, the Gentleman's Magazine. Ramsay, Chron. Table. Thomas, ii. 255.

9 The Rev. Mr. Blair was born and educated in Scotland, where he obtained an ecclesiastical benefice. Toward the close of the reign of Charles II. he went into England. The bishop of London, finding him well qualified, prevailed on him to go as a missionary to Virginia, where he found a wide field for the exercise of his talents and virtues. The bishop, having the plantations under his care, and supplying them with what clergymen he could procure from England, Scotland, Ireland, and France, afterwards appointed Mr. Blair his ecclesiastical commissary for the province of Virginia. He was one of the king's council, and rector of Burton parish, as well as president of the college. He was a learned man, and useful in his various offices and stations. He published four volumes of Discourses, entitled: "Our Saviour's Sermon on the Mount ex

1744.

War de

clared

France.

WAR was declared by Great Britain against France. M. Du March 31. Quesnel, governor of Cape Breton, sent about 900 men under Duvivier, who surprised and took Canso before the war was known at Boston. There were in garrison at Canso four incomplete companies of Phillips' regiment, not exceeding 80 men, with a man of war tender. The French burned the place. The conditions, granted to the prisoners, were, to be carried to Louisbourg, and to continue there one year, and thence to be sent to Boston or Annapolis. Upon a representation of the defenceless state of Annapolis and Nova Scotia, 200 men were despatched by Massachusetts, to reinforce the garrison on that station.2

tions of

To guard against the incursions of the French and Indians, Defensive 500 men were impressed, of which number 300 were for the preparaeastern frontier, and 200 for the western. The ordinary garrisons Massachuwere reinforced ;3 and 96 barrels of gunpowder were sent to setts. the several townships, to be sold to the inhabitants at the prime cost, including charges. In the spring of this year opportunely arrived in Boston the king's gift to Castle William of 20 cannon of 42 pound ball, and two mortars of 13 inches, with all stores, excepting gunpowder; and about the same time the legislature. of Massachusetts voted a range of forts to be built between Connecticut river and New York boundary line. The Province of Maine now contained 2485 militia, or fencible men.5

The English had obtained leave tò build a fortified trading house English at Ockfusques, among the Creeks. Mr. Vaudreuil, governor of trading Canada, in a letter to the French court, expresses his apprehen- among the

plained, and the Practice of it recommended; " which are mentioned with great approbation by Dr. Doddridge in his Family Expositor. Jones, Virginia. Miller, Retrospect, ii. 336.

1 Brit. Emp. i. 183. Smollett, Hist. Eng. b. 2. c. 8. Trumbull, U. S. i. c. 9. Hutchinson, ii. c. 4. War was proclaimed at Boston 2 June. The prisoners taken at Canso were afterward sent to Boston. After the French burned Canso, their Indians alarmed Annapolis for a month, by threatening a general assault, and providing scaling ladders; but the garrison being opportunely reinforced, they retired. Postlethwayt, i. 375. The French king's ordonnance, declaring war against England, is dated at Versailles 15th March; the king of Great Britain's Declaration of war against the French king is dated at St. James's 29th March, and was published at London on the 31st; both are inserted in the American Mag. and Hist. Chron. for 1744. 2 Trumbull, U. S. i. 310. The representation was made by "Mr. Mascarene." 3 George's Fort

Pemaquid

Richmond

.

to 40 men
24
25

Brunswick
Saco

to 12 men

4 Brit. Emp. i. 363, 364. The forts were to be built at Colerain, Shirley, Pelham, and Massachusetts. For this last situation see American Gazetteer, Art. MASSACHUSETTS Fort.

5 Brit. Emp. ii. 9, 10. Brit. Domin. i. 293.

house

Creeks.

1744. sions, that, if the measure were carried into execution, "it would oblige the French to retire from their fort of Alibamous down to the Mobille."1

Trade at

At the port of New Orleans, in Louisiana, there were several N. Orleans. vessels which came from Florida, and Havana, and the bay of Campeachy, to trade for boards, lumber, pitch, dry goods, and live stock, to the value of 150,000 pieces of eight.2

Trade of

At the port of Charlestown, South Carolina, 230 vessels were S. Carolina. loaded, this year, and 1500 seamen were employed in the trade of the province.3

Philadelphia.

French driven from

The burials in Philadelphia during seven years were upward of 3000.4

A few Englishmen, headed by the deputy governor of AnguilSt.Martin's. la, with two St. Christopher's privateers, drove the French from their part of the island of St. Martin; which, from this time, was considered as belonging half to the Dutch, and half to the English. A storm did prodigious damage at Port Royal, in Port Royal. Jamaica. It stranded, wrecked, and foundered 8 British ships, and 96 merchant ships in the harbour.5

Storm at

Orrery.

N. W. pas

sage.

President Clap projected and made an orrery or planetarium for Yale College.

Arthur Dobbs, esquire, of England, having promoted late attempts for the discovery of a Northwest pasage to India, was now joined by several of the nobility, gentry, and merchants, in making a fresh attempt. As an encouragement to such adventurers, the British parliament promised a reward of £20,000 to the persons who should make this discovery.7

1 Pownall, Administration of the Colonies. The letter of Vaudreuil is dated May 10. In another letter, 17 September, he mentions this store house, as having opened a traffic with the Chactaws; "yet this," says gov. Pownall, "the English have abandoned; and the French have now [1765] a fort on each main branch of the river Mobile, one at Tombechbé, and fort Toulouse at Alibamous."

2 Pownall, ut supra.

3 Hewatt, ii. 129.

4 Brit. Emp. ii. 481. From 1738 to 1744, both years included.

6 Amer. Mag. and Hist. Chron. for 1744, where it is described.

7 Brit. Emp. i. 28-38. Captain Christopher Middleton, fitted out by the British government for that purpose, in 1742 discovered a frozen strait in 60° 40' north lat. but returned without success; yet his discoveries rendered a N. W. passage more probable, in the opinion of many. Two ships sailed from Gravesend, on the same design, in 1746; but their utmost endeavours, for more than 16 months, were fruitless.

1745.

of Louis

AFTER the peace of Utrecht, the French, as a security to Description their navigation and fishery, built the town of Louisbourg, on the bourg island of Cape Breton; and fortified it with a rampart of stone, from 30 to 36 feet high, and a ditch 80 feet wide. There were 6 bastions and 3 batteries, containing embrasures for 148 cannon, and 6 mortars. On an island at the entrance of the harbour was planted a battery of 30 cannon, carrying 28 pounds shot; and at the bottom of the harbour, directly opposite to the entrance, was the grand or royal battery of 28 cannon, 42 pounders, and two 18 pounders. The entrance of the town, on the land side, was at the west gate, over a draw bridge, near which was a circular battery, mounting 16 guns of 24 pounds shot. These works had been 25 years in building; and, though not finished, had cost the crown of France not less than 30 millions of livres. The place was deemed so strong and impregnable, as to be called the Dunkirk of America. In peace, it was a safe retreat for the ships of France, bound homeward for the East and West Indies. In war, it gave French privateers the greatest advantage for ruining the fishery of the northern English colonies, and interrupting their entire trade. It endangered, besides, the loss of Nova Scotia, which would cause an instant increase of 6000 or 8000 enemies. The reduction of this place was, for these reasons, an object of the highest importance to New England. Under these impressions, governor Shirley, of Massachusetts, Expedition had written to the British ministry in the autumn of the last year, projected. soliciting assistance for the preservation of Nova Scotia, and the acquisition of Cape Breton. Early in January, before he received any answer or orders from England, he requested the members of the general court, that they would lay themselves under an oath of secrecy, to receive from him a proposal of very great importance. They readily took the oath; and he communicated to them the plan which he had formed of attacking Louisbourg. The proposal was at first rejected; but it was finally carried by a majority of one voice. Circular letters were immediately despatched to all the colonies, as far as Pennsylania,1 requesting their assistance, and an embargo on their ports.

1 All excused themselves from any share in the adventure, excepting Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. The assembly of Pennsylvania, though it could not be prevailed on to take part in an enterprise which appeared desperate; yet, on receiving information that Louisbourg was taken, and that supplies were wanted, voted £4000 in provisions for the refreshment and support of the brave troops which had achieved the action. Franklin, Pennsylv. 94. Univ. Hist. xli. 33.

against it