papers, of which the English possessed themselves, were the letters which have just been quoted.

Another person, of consequence in these hostilities, fell into the hands of the English. The young Baron de St. Castine was on the Kennebec when they came thither, — it was naturally supposed for no good purpose. He was brought to Boston, where he was examined by a committee of the Court. Whether he was honest, or they were credulous, or distrustful of the good judgment of pushing matters to extremity, he succeeded in satisfying them that his design in coming among the Kennebec Indians was to persuade them to peace, and he was accordingly discharged. Shute wrote

April 23.

to Vaudreuil: "I suppose Mr. Rasle, who March 14. has been the great incendiary in all this affair, has acquainted you with his narrow escape. He will do well to take warning by it, and return to his own country." And again: "Norridgewock is within the territory of his Majesty King George, and it is contrary to an Act of Parliament of Great Britain, and a law of this province, for a Jesuit or Romish priest to preach or even reside in any part of the British dominions."

There was to be further proof of the necessity of vigorous measures of protection against these 1722. unreasoning and inconstant savages and June. their crafty and indefatigable prompters. Sixty warriors came into Merrimeeting Bay on the Kennebec, and carried away prisoners to be

security for their own hostages still detained at Boston. Three fishing-sloops were attacked in as many eastern harbors, several prisoners were carried off, and one vessel was burned. Next came intelligence of the burning of the town of Brunswick by the savages, and a letter was July 25. received from the governor of New France, in which, as Shute informed the Lords of Trade, " he openly declared that he had and would assist the Indians, and that he had orders from the court of France so to do." There was no possibility of further forbearance. War was proclaimed, at a juncture most unfortunate by reason of the mutual jealousies between the governor and the House. The governor, when he convoked the Court to make the necessary preparations, said: "One thing I would particularly remark to you, which is, that if my hands and the Council's be not left at a much greater liberty than of late they have been, I fear our affairs will be carried on with little or no spirit."

Aug. 8.

A committee of the Court reported a liberal plan for enlistments, pay, and supplies, but they proceeded to lay out a detailed project for the disposition of the troops and the conduct of the campaign. The governor replied, to the effect that he, by the charter and the King's commission, was commander-in-chief, and that he was bound. to be governed by his own judgment as to military movements. The House passed a vote requesting him to discharge Major Moody, who was in

command on the eastern frontier. The governor replied that an officer was not to be displaced without reason shown. He asked for the enactment of a law to punish mutiny and desertion. The House proposed first to inquire whether the frequency of these offences was not occasioned by reasonable dissatisfaction with the commanding officers; and it raised committees to visit the forces, and make investigation on the spot. When some delegates from the Iroquois, whose good offices it was hoped to engage against the eastern Indians, came to Boston by invitation, the House voted to have the governor's speech to them prepared by a committee of the Court; and he finally yielded to their demand that he should adopt the novel method of addressing the Indians in the name of the Court, and not in his own, as official head of the province. These are but specimens of the perpetual jarring at this time between the executive and legislative powers.

Consenting to the wishes of the House, the governor had directed an advance of troops towards the Penobscot, and they were already on their march when an alarm on the Kennebec caused them to be recalled by the officer who commanded in that quarter. The occasion justified that measure. Four or five hundred savages attacked Arrowsick Island, near the mouth of the Kennebec, in what is now Georgetown, where was a fort. The assault was unsuccessful, and, after slaughtering the cattle without the fort, and

Nov. 19.

Nov. 20.

sacking and burning twenty-six houses, they withdrew to refresh themselves at Norridgewock. The House judged that a disingenuous use had been made of the alarm thus occasioned, and that the alleged necessity for countermanding the eastward movement of the troops was a subterfuge to evade the execution of their wishes; and they desired the governor to send an express messenger to the commander, Colonel Walton, with orders to him "to appear forthwith before the House to render his reasons why the orders relating to the expedition had not been executed." The governor said to the committee who brought him this vote, that it was expressed in such terms as forbade him to take notice of it. The House replied by another message, inquiring whether he intended to send for Walton, as they had desired. He told the House's committee that he should take his own time to answer this question. The House came to a vote, that this conduct of his "extremely discouraged them in projecting any further schemes for carrying on the war"; and, "with the greatest sincerity and concern for their country's good," they repeated their request for the recall of Colonel Walton. When a copy of this vote was offered to the governor, he refused to receive it, and, as the Journal of the House records, "went his way"; and when another committee, consisting of the Speaker and some other dignified persons, was sent to him, he refused to admit them to his presence.

Dec. 4.

The House, as intent as ever on their main purpose, but finding that they were not prospering in this peremptory invasion of the governor's military prerogative, approached him next with a vote "that his Excellency the governor be desired to express Colonel Walton that he forthwith repair to Boston, and when he hath attended upon his Excellency that he would please to direct him to wait on this House, that they may examine him concerning his late conduct in prosecuting the war." The governor, who was willing to be conciliated, the rather as he might suspect himself of some appearance of passion in the last transactions, sent for Walton, and informed the

House that he had done so. They followed Dec. 5. up their advantage by a vote to raise a

committee, to consist of four counsellors and seven representatives, to have, in effect, the management of the war during the recess of the Court. This proposal was so extravagant, that it was rejected by a unanimous vote of the Council.

The committee which the House had sent to

the eastern camp returned. Agreeably to the request of the House, the governor had sent to the commander an order for their respectful reception; but, in his recognition of their mission, he expressed his expectation "that they would

lay first before him their report as CaptainNov. 17. General, and afterwards, upon the desire of the House of Representatives, it shall be laid before them." The committee, however, on their