XIV INTRODUCTION. 



in this thriving settlement. Since the first plant- 

 ers abundance of French and others have gone 

 over and raised themselves to considerable for- 

 tunes. They are very neat and exact in packing 

 and shipping of their commodities ; which meth- 

 od has got them so great a character abroad, that 

 they generally come to a good market with their 

 commodities ; when oftentimes the product of 

 other plantations, are forced to be sold at lower 

 prices. They have a considerable trade, both to 

 Europe and to the West Indies, whereby they 

 become rich, and are supplied with all things ne- 

 cessary for trade and genteel living, which sever- 

 al other places fall short of. Their cohabiting in 

 a town has drawn to them ingenious people of 

 most sciences, whereby they have tutors amongst 

 them that educate their youth a-la-mode. 



Their roads, with great industry, are made ve- 

 ry good and pleasant. E"ear the town is built a 

 fair parsonage house, with necessary officers, and 

 the minister has a very considerable allowance 

 from his parish. There is likewise a French 

 church in town, of the Reformed religion, and 

 several meeting houses for dissenting congrega- 

 tions, who all enjoy at this day an entire liberty 

 of their worship ; the constitution of this govern- 

 ment allowing all parties of well-meaning chris- 

 tians to enjoy a free toleration and possess the 

 same privileges, so long as they appear to behave 

 themselves peaceably and well. It being the 

 lords proprietors intent that the inhabitants of 



