in judgment, he had the fear of God before his eyes, and gave his opinion according to the best of his understanding. Although it might appear afterwards that he had been misled into error, he saw no necessity of making a public acknowledgment of it.1

Cotton Mather, as we have previously remarked, was the leading champion in the persecution of the witches. He also never repented. The public mind understood him at last; it discovered his credulity and his self-righteousness. In order to shield himself, and to cover up his confusion, he endeavored to persuade others that he had not been specially active in the tragedy. But he found it to be a task greater than he could accomplish. With all his scholarship and his intellectual ability, he was by his whole life a bane to Massachusetts and New England, and a dupe of his own stupidity.

The witchcraft delusion was, at the best, a most unhappy affair. Some have spoken of it in terms of contempt; others have unsparingly denounced all who participated in it; while only a few have weighed the subject dispassionately. Perhaps the words of an eminent jurist may most fittingly close the present chapter:

"We may lament the errors of the times, which led to these persecutions. But surely our ancestors had no special reasons for shame in a belief which had the universal sanction of their own and all former ages; which counted in its train philosophers as well as enthusiasts; which was graced by the learning of prelates as well as by the countenance of kings; which the law supported by its mandates, and the purest judges felt no compunctions in enforcing. Let Witch Hill remain forever memorable by this sad catastrophe, not

Hutchinson, ii. 62.

to perpetuate our dishonor, but as an affecting, enduring proof of human infirmity, a proof that perfect justice belongs to one judgment-seat only that which is linked to the throne of God." 1

1 Hon. Joseph Story, Centennial Address, 1828.

CHAPTER IX.

THE SPIRIT OF THE PEOPLE.

JOSEPH DUDLEY was removed from office shortly after the accession of George I. An attempt was made to confer the government of Massachusetts upon Colonel Burgess, who, although he was a professed "friend to liberty," and of an open, generous, and humane disposition," was particularly obnoxious to the people. He did, indeed, receive his commission; but the offer of a thousand pounds sterling persuaded him to relinquish the same in favor of Samuel Shute, who, to the popular element at least, was more acceptable. The politicians of New England had many prejudices ; and it required something more than mere administrative ability to overcome them.

During the latter part of the administration of Governor Dudley there was felt a serious stringency in money affairs. The wars which England had waged on the continent of Europe had not only largely increased her own debt but also crippled the resources of her colonies. To remedy the evil, merchants and politicians were continuously devising schemes. Some advocated a return to the gold and silver currency; others argued in favor of a public bank; while still others labored for the establishment of a private bank. The governor's council favored the public bank; but the house was divided in opinion. Thus the differences of opinion gave rise to a wide-spread controversy, which was agitated, not alone by

the government, but by the whole community as well. After a prolonged wrangle, the public-bank party prevailed, and "a loan of fifty thousand pounds in bills of credit was agreed to by the General Court, which was placed in the hands of trustees, and loaned for five years at five per cent. interest, one fifth of the principal to be paid yearly." This settlement of the vexed question was displeasing to many; and if it diminished the strength of the private-bank party, it increased their zeal.1

As was anticipated, Governor Shute, upon his arrival at Boston, in October, 1716, allied himself with the party which had triumphed. By so doing he won no friends in the private-bank party; on the contrary, the opposition of the latter to his administration was from beginning to end marked by extreme violence.

At this time the province of Massachusetts was in a prosperous condition. Within its bounds there were living "ninetyfour thousand white persons, who possessed two thousand slaves, and twelve hundred civilized Indians, who professed Christianity and tilled their lands in peace." The population of all the colonies at this time was, according to the official reports, four hundred and thirty-four thousand and six hundred. The commerce of the country had rapidly increased. Massachusetts owned at least one hundred and ninety vessels, navigated by eleven hundred seamen; in the fisheries alone one hundred and fifty vessels and six hundred men were engaged. "The value of the annual imports to all the American plantations at this date is estimated at one million sterling, in British products and manufactures and foreign goods,' the conveyance of which employed at least a fourth part of the shipping cleared from the kingdom.

1 Hutchinson, ii. 187, 190. Barry, ii. 72.

The exports at the same date amounted to eight hundred thousand pounds sterling; and the balance of two hundred thousand pounds fell upon the provinces to the northward of Maryland, who were enabled to discharge the same by the trade they were permitted to carry on in America and to Europe, in commodities not enumerated in the Acts of Trade. From Boston alone, in the three years ending June 24, 1717, there were cleared for the West Indies, including the British islands, five hundred and eighteen ships, sloops, and other vessels; for the Bay of Campeachy, twenty-five vessels; for foreign plantations, fifty-eight vessels; for Newfoundland, forty-five vessels; for Europe, forty-three vessels; for Madeira, the Azores, &c., thirty-four vessels; for Great Britain, one hundred and forty-three vessels; for British plantations on the continent, three hundred and ninety vessels; and eleven vessels for ports unknown;' an aggregate of twelve hundred and forty-seven vessels, amounting to sixty-two thousand seven hundred and eighty-eight tons of shipping, and employing eight thousand six hundred and ninety-seven men." It will thus be seen that Massachusetts, more than a century and a half ago, was the same busy and enterprising community as at present.

"If the colonies are so prosperous," reasoned the king's ministers, "we should reap the benefit of that prosperity; and they, as subjects, are bound to contribute to the relief of our necessities. If England is burdened with debt, America must aid in paying that debt; and if the colonies will not voluntarily submit, they must be forced to obey. We can make our power felt; and if they refuse to yield, we must punish their stubbornness by retrenching their privileges." If England was not prone to perceive that the prosperity of her colonies was her own prosperity, she was shrewd enough