394 A VOYAGE TO Book IX. 



proteftant countries: but the Roman catholics, fo far 

 from being tolerated or connived ar, are not admitted 

 to iettle in this colony. 



All this country is of an extraordinary fertility, and 

 particularly abounds in timber for ihips ; fo that great 

 numbers of veiTels are every year built in thefe parts, 

 though the timber is not accounted the fitteft for this 

 ufe, as not lafting above eight or ten years, and there- 

 fore is made ufe of only for floops, bilanders, brigán - 

 tines, and other véffcls of fmall burden. Thefe large 

 and wealthy provinces, fuch as that of Bofton and the 

 others, are fubjeól to the fovereign only, as agree- 

 able to their own laws: the gentlenefs of the govern- 

 ment to them fecures their aíFeólion; and the governor 

 fent over to them from England is looked upon by 

 the others only as one of their eminent fillow-citizens ; 

 and beloved for his care of the publick welfare and 

 th.e tranquillity and fafety of the whole fociety. They 

 allow him a competent falary : as they do alio to the 

 judges, for the more fedulous adminiffration of juftice, 

 without any further impoil, tax, or demand. In order 

 to prevent the leaft encroachment on fuch a ftate of 

 freedom, they allow of no fordfications or garrifons 

 among them, that under pretence of fecurity of their 

 poffeffions their liberties may be in danger. Thus 

 thefe provinces, in reality', conftitute a kind of repub- 

 lick, partly admitting the political laws of England as 

 depending on it; but either amends or rcjefts thofc 

 which may injure its immunities: the towns being the 

 fortrelTes of the country, and the inhabitants the garri- 

 fons. Here is fccn an univerfal concord, union, and 

 friendfnip: the great do r.ot dcfpife or infult the 

 mean, nor the rich diftinguifli himfelf from the poor, 

 by luxury, pomp, and an imperious carriage. Here 

 alfo is none of that pernicious, difhcneil affectation of 

 appearing above their circumftances : and what is Hill 

 more admirable, that diough five or fix different lefts 

 are openly proíeífed, we fee none of thofe feuds which 



naturally 



