332 NATURAL AND CIVIL 



all parties carefully avoid the appearance of hos- 

 tilities. 1'hty were enjoying the benefits of 

 mutual trade and commerce, and the Indians 

 were unusualiy pacific ; every where appeiU'ing 

 nnore dis])Oscd to trade and fricndbhip, than to 

 hostility and war. To the English, this state of 

 })eace was peculiarly beneficial ; for although 

 the French generally exceeded them in the 

 management and activity of a predatory war, 

 the Enelish colonies were far superior in the 

 ;iiTaJrs of agriculture, commerce, forming ntvr 

 settlements, improving the fisheries, and other 

 arts of peace : And they could not but wish 

 for a continuance of that state, which not only 

 contributed to increasing extent, population, 

 ".vealth. and safctv ; but was every year e:iving 

 them the superiority over tb.e French colonies. 

 Souie ijcrsons began to flatter themselves that 

 the Indians had in fact changed their habits ; 

 and had no hostile events taken place in Europe, 

 it is not improbable that peace v/ould have con- 

 tinued for many years longer in the AmericaQ 

 colonies. 



In the year 1740, the affairs of commerce 

 had involved the crov. ris of Great Britain and 

 Spain in mutual hostilities. Declarations of 

 war ensued ; and in conformity to the Europe- 

 an custom and policy, the war spread over a 

 great part of Europe. Fiance soon became en- 

 gaged in it, and a declai-ation of war ensued be- 

 tween Great Britain and France, March 31, 

 1744 ; of course, their colonies and Indian al- 

 lies were again to be involved in destructive 

 and bloody contents. The scene of both was 

 opened in Nova Scotia ; and the French, with 



