arrived that the French fleet was near the American coast, and greatly increased, on learning that no English fleet was in quest of it.

Several ships of this formidable French fleet were damaged by storms; others were lost, and one forced to return to Brest, en account of a malignant disease among her crew. Two or three only of the ships, with a few of the transports, arrived at Chebucto, now Halifax. Here the admiral died, through mortification; or, as some say, by poison. The vice-admiral came to a similar tragical death by running himself through the body. That part of the fleet that arrived sailed with a view to attack Annapolis, but a storm scattered them, and prevented the ac complishment of this object.

Section XVIII. In April, 1748, preliminaries of peace were signed between France and England, at Aix la Chapelle, soon after which, hostilities ceased. The definitive treaty was sign ed in October. Prisoners on all sides were to be released without ransom, and all conquests made during the war were to be mutually restored.

Notes.

Section XXIX. Manners of the Colo= nists. The colonies were now peopled with inhabitants, by far the greater part of whom were born and educated in America. And although the first settlers were collected from most, or all, the countries of Europe, and emigrants from various nations continued to flock to America, still we may observe, during this period, a gradual assimilation of national manners and character. The peculiarities of each class became less distinct by intercourse with the others, and every succeeding generation seemed to exhibit, less strikingly, those traits which distin. guished the preceding.

Although this is true with respect to the American colonies

generally there were some exceptions. Some villages, or terri tories, being settled exclusively by emigrants speaking a different language from that generally spoken-as the Germans, for example or entertaining some peculiar religious notions as the Quakers—still preserved their own peculiar manners.

But in attempting to ascribe some general character to the people of the colonies during this period, we might consider them, as during our second period, on the whole, exhibiting three varieties; viz. the rigid puritan English of the norththe Dutch in New-York-and the luxurious English of the south. The austerity of the north was, however, much relaxed. The elegant varieties of life, which before had been prohibited, were tolerated, and the refinements of polished society appeared among the higher classes. The strong lines of Dutch manners in New-York were slowly disappearing, under an English government, and by means of the settlement of English among them. The manners of the south were assuming an aspect of more refinement, particularly among the higher classes-but showed little other change.

Section XXX. Keligion. During this period, the spirit of religious bigotry and intolerance may be observed to have abated in a very considerable degree. The conduct of those sects, which had called forth those severe and unjustifiable restrictions upon the freedom of religious worship, had become less offensive and exceptionable; and at the close of this period, religious persecution had ceased in all the colonies, and the rights of conscience were generally recognized.

In 1692, the Mennonites were introduced into Pennsylvania, and settled at Germantown. Their increase, however, has been small.

In 1719, the Tunkers, or General Baptists, arrived at Philadelphia, and dispersed themselves into several parts of Pennsyl vania.

In 1741, the Moravians were introduced into America by Count Zinzendorf, and settled at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Regularity, industry, ingenuity, and economy, are characteristick of this people. They have considerably increased, and are a respectable body of Christians.

The German Lutherans were first introduced into the Ame

rican colories, during this period, and settled principally in Pennsylvania and New-York,

Episcopacy was considerably extended during this period. In 1693, it was introduced into New-York; into New-Jersey aud Rhode-Island in 1702; into South Carolina in 1703, by law; in Connecticut in 1704.

In 1708, the Saybrook Platform was formed by a Synod composed of congregational ministers, under authority of the le gislature of Connecticut.

About the year 1737, a revival of religion very extensively prevailed in New-England. At this time, great numbers united themselves to the church, and testified by their conduct through life the genuineness of their profession.

The celebrated Whitfield came to America about the year 1740, and produced great religious excitement by his singular powers of pulpit eloquence. He did not found any peculiar sect in this country, although he gave rise to that of the Calvinistick Methodists in England.

Section XXXI. Trade and Commerce. Although the trade of the colonies began to feel the restrictions imposed upon it by the mother country, still it steadily increased during this period.

From the very commencement of the colonies, the mother country was not without her jealousies respecting their increase in population, trade, and manufactures. Inquiries on these points were instituted, and opportunities sought to keep in check the spirit of colonial enterprise. Laws were enacted from time to time, designed and calculated not only to make the colonies depend on the mother country for her manufactures, but also to limit their trade and commerce, and keep them in safe subjection to England.

As illustrating this course of policy, we may notice several laws of parliament. In 1732, an act was passed, prohibiting "the exportation of hats out of the plantations of America, and to restrain the number of apprentices taken by hat makers." So also the act of 1750, prohibited, on penalty of two hundred pounds," the erection of any mili for slitting, or rolling of iron, or any plating forge to work with a tilt harmer; or any furnace for making steel in any of the colonies." At the same time, encouragement was given to export pig and bar iron to England for her manufactories. In like manner was prohibited the exportation from one province to another by water, and even the carriage by land, on horseback, or in a cart, of all wools and

woolen goods of the produce of America. The colonies were also compelled by law to procure many articles from England, which they could have purchased twenty per cent. cheaper in

other markets.

But notwithstanding these restrictions, trade and commerce gradually and steadily increased. To England, the colonies exported lumber of all sorts, hemp, flax, pitch, tar, oil, rosin, copper ore, pig and bar iron, whale fins, tobacco, rice, fish, in ago, flax seed, beeswax, raw silk, &c. They also built many vessels which were sold in the mother country.

But the importation of goods from England, in consequence of the course pursued by the British government, was still much greater than the amount of exports to England. In 1728, sir William Keith stated that the colonies then consumed one sixth part of all the woolen manufactures exported from Great Britain, and more than double that value in linen and calicoes; also great quantities of English manufactured silks, small wares, household furniture, trinkets, and a very considerable value in East India goods. From 1739 to 1756, this importation of goods from England amounted to one million of pounds sterling annually, on an average.

But, if the amount of imports from Great Britain was thus more than the colonies exported thither, they would fall in debt to England. How did they pay this balance of trade against theni? It was done by gold and silver obtained chiefly from the West India settlements, to which they exported lumber, fish of an inferior quality, beef, pork, butter, horses, poultry, and other live stock, an inferior kind of tobacco, corn, cider, apples, cabbages, onions, &c. They built also many small vessels, which found a ready market.

The cod and whale fisheries were becoming considerable; they were principally carried on by New-England. The codfish were sold in Spain, France, England, the West-Indies, &c.; and the money obtained for them aided the colonies in paying the balance of trade against them in England.

Section XXXII. Agriculture. Agriculture, during this period, was greatly improved and ex tended. Immense tracts of forests were cleared, and more enlightened modes of husbandry were introduced. The number of articles produced by agriculture was also increased.

The colonies now not only raised a sufficient supply of focd for their own use, but their exports became great. Wheat and other English grain were the principal products of the middle

colonies; grain, beef, pork, horses, butter, cheese, &c. were the chief products of the northern colonies; tobacco, wheat, and rice, were the principal products of the south.

In the south, also, large numbers of swine ran wild in the forests, living upon mast. These were taken, salted down, and exported to a considerable extent.

Section XXXIII. Arts and Manufac= tures. Under the head of commerce, we have noticed the obstacles interposed by Great Britain, to the progress of arts and manufactures. Notwithstanding these, however, the coarser kinds of cutlery, some coarse cloths, both linen and woollen, hats, paper, shoes, household furniture, farming utensils, &c. were manufactured to a considerable extent; not sufficient, however, to supply the inhabitants. All these manufactories were on a small scale; cloths were made, in some families, for their own consumption.

The art of printing made considerable progress, during this period. A newspaper, the first in North America, called The Boston Weekly News-Letter, was established in 1704. Before the close of this period, ten others were established-four in New-England; two in New-York; two in Pennsylvania; one in South Carolina; and one in Maryland. The number of books published was also considerable, although they were executed in a coarse style, and were generally books of devotion, or for the purposes of education.

Section XXXIV. Population. At the expiration of our second period, we estimated the population of the English colonies in America at 200,000) souls. About the close of our third period, Franklin calculated that there were then one million or upwards, and that scarce 80,000 had been brought over sea.

This estimate of the population of America very nearly accords with an estimate made in London from "authentick an thorities," May 1755, which is as follows: