54^ NATURAL AND CiViL 



With the plan of union and defence, a ver)*" 

 just representation was made to the king, of the 

 State and danger of the American colonies ; and 

 copies of both were laid before the several as- 

 semblies. But the plan of American union and 

 defence had the singular fortune of being re- 

 jected, both by the mother country, and by the 

 colonies : By Great Britain, because it assigned 

 too many, and too important powers to the pro- 

 vincial assemblies ; and by the assemblies, be^ 

 cause it assigned such extensive and important 

 J)Owers to the sovereign, and his ministers* 

 Thus at the very time when the fears and ap- 

 J^rehensions of Great Britain, and her American 

 colonies, were at an unusual height, both were 

 fearful of the consequences of new arrange* 

 ments ; and endeavored with singular caution 

 to guard against any questions, that might arise 

 respecting the prerogatives of the king, or the 

 liberties of the colonies. The plan of American 

 union was agreed to on the fourth day of July 

 1754 ; but not a single member of the congress 

 that drew it up, had an idea that they were en- 

 gaged in a plan, which it was in the destinies of 

 nature and providence to compleat, in the course 

 of twenty two years from that day.* 



While these measures were going on al 

 Albany, Mr. Shirley was employed in securing 

 the eastern ]-)arts of Massachusetts ; and built 

 the forts of Richmond and Western, to protect 

 the inhabitants, and check the Indians, in that 

 part of the country. Nor was the court of 

 Great Britain inattentive to American matters :• 



* Ballaiap 's I-Jijj, N>:7 Har^.j^sjiks, Vol. 2. p. 22J». 



