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MASSACHUSETTS 259 unsuccessful attempt to carry put the purposes of their mission, the commissioners went into Maine, and were subsequently recalled. Mas- sachusetts was reproved by the king, while Bellingham, the governor, Hawthorne, and two or three others were commanded to appear in England, but refused. The prosperity of the colonies received a severe check in the war with the Indians, called King Philip's war, which commenced in 1675, and on the part of the savages was one of desperation. During this war, which lasted till the latter part of 1676, and was terminated by the death of Philip, 12 or 13 towns were destroyed, more than 600 of the colonists perished in the field, and about 600 houses were burned. Of the men 1 in 20 had fallen, and of the families 1 in 20 was houseless, while the expenses reached the enormous sum for that day of $500,000. Though the war had been conducted without assistance from England, it had hardly ceased when an emissary from that country, Edward Randolph, arrived. His pretensions were dis- allowed, and he returned to excite further hos- tility against Massachusetts. A committee of the privy council, at the suit of Mason and Gorges, subsequently denied her right of juris- diction over Maine and New Hampshire, which thus became separated ; but the title to Maine was purchased and retained by Massachusetts until 1820. Notwithstanding many conces- sions, the colony failed to effect a reconcilia- tion with the king. In 1684 the high court of chancery in England gave judgment for the crown against the governor and company of Massachusetts, and their charter was de- clared forfeited. Joseph Dudley was appoint- ed president of Massachusetts, the general court was dissolved, and the new commission su- perseded the government under the charter. On Dec. 20, 1686, Dudley was superseded by Sir Edmund Andros. The new governor and his council, in the most arbitrary and illegal manner, proceeded to make laws and levy tax- es ; and this tyrannous rule was submitted to, not without protest and opposition, for more than two years. In April, 1689, reports hav- ing been received of the flight of James and the accession of William and Mary, on a rumor of an intended massacre by the governor's guards, the men of Boston, aided by others from the country, rose in arms, imprisoned Andros and others who were obnoxious, and reinstated the old magistrates. Next day crowds from the country came pouring in ; the people took the castle and the frigate Rose, and occupied the fortifications ; town meetings were held, representatives chosen, and the general court was restored. The same spirit prevailed at Plymouth ; Clark, the agent of Andros, was imprisoned, and Hinckley, the former governor, reinstated. Massachusetts took part in 1690 in the intercolonial war be- tween the possessions of France and England. A fleet under Sir William Phips captured and plundered Port Royal. An expedition to Can- ada failed, and the colony, being unable to pay the troops, issued treasury notes, the first pa- per money seen in the colonies. A new char- ter was given in 1692, by which Plymouth was united to Massachusetts. At this period Mas- sachusetts contained a population of about 40,- 000. It was divided into the counties of Suf- folk, Essex, Middlesex, and Hampshire, and comprised 55 towns. Plymouth, with a popu- lation of about 7,000, was divided into the counties of Plymouth, Bristol, and Barnstable, and comprised 1 7 towns. Under the new char- ter, the governor, lieutenant governor, and sec- retary were appointed by the king. No act of the legislature was to be valid without the con- sent of the governor, and he had other impor- tant negative as well as positive powers. Sir William Phips was appointed first governor. At about this period occurred the witchcraft delusion. (See SALEM.) In l703-'4 the prov- ince suffered from the French and Indians, who attacked and burned Deerfield, which had been rebuilt since King Philip's war. In 1722 war was resumed with the Indians, and con- tinued until the latter part of 1725, when the troubles with them were terminated. War having been declared between England and France in 1744, the colonial possessions were at once involved. Massachusetts contributed largely to the expedition which captured Lou- isburg in 1745, and exerted her best energies in the plans for the conquest of Canada and other military operations until the conclusion of peace in 1748. In a few years war again commenced, and the province once more gave her sons and her wealth to the cause of the parent country. The passage of the stamp act aroused the wildest excitement, and its re- peal the following year was welcomed with the most extravagant demonstrations of joy. Further plans for revenue were then proposed by the home government, which also refused to withdraw its troops. The arrival of the Romney man-of-war renewed the excitement, and Massachusetts issued another circular letter to the colonies which the ministry in vain com- manded them to rescind. The Boston massa- cre in 1770, the destruction of the tea in 1773, the port bill in 1774, are notable incidents pre- ceding the revolution. The province was well represented in the general congress, and the men of Massachusetts were alive to every act of aggression. They took possession of the arsenal at Charlestown, and prepared for the approaching struggle. The assembly adjourn- ed to Concord, and organized as a provincial congress. At Lexington and Concord Mas- sachusetts made the final appeal to arms. Throughout the revolutionary war Massachu- setts sustained her former reputation for patri- otism and public spirit, and the details of her history at this period will be found in the ac- counts of those places within her borders which are of historical interest. The population of Massachusetts has been estimated at 200,000 in 1750; 220,000, exclusive of slaves, in 1755;