284 DEFENCE OF QUEBEC. [1690. 



Island of Anticosti, where more than half their 

 number died of cold and misery. 1 In the other 

 vessels, some were drowned, some frost-bitten, and 

 above two hundred killed by small-pox and fever. 

 At Boston, all was dismay and gloom. The 

 Puritan bowed before " this awful frown of God," 

 and searched his conscience for the sin that had 

 brought upon him so stern a chastisement. 2 Mas- 

 sachusetts, already impoverished, found herself in 

 extremity. The war, instead of paying for itself, 

 had burdened her with an additional debt of fifty 

 thousand pounds. 3 The sailors and soldiers were 

 clamorous for their pay ; and, to satisfy them, the 

 colony was forced for the first time in its history to 

 issue a paper currency. It was made receivable at 

 a premium for all public debts, and was also forti- 

 fied by a provision for its early redemption by 

 taxation ; a provision which was carried into effect 

 in spite of poverty and distress. 4 



1 Mather, Magnolia, I. 192. 



2 The Governor and Council to the Agents of Massachusetts, in Andros 

 Tracts, III. 53. 



3 Address of the Gentry, Merchants, and others, Ibid., II. 236. 



4 The following is a literal copy of a specimen of this paper money, 

 which varied in value from two shillings to ten pounds : — 



No. (2161) 10* 

 This Indented Bill of Ten Shillings, due from the Massachusetts 

 Colony to the Possessor, shall be in value equal to Money, and shall be 

 accordingly accepted by the Treasurer and Receivers subordinate to 

 him in all Publick Payments, and for any Stock at any time in the 

 Treasury Boston in New England, December the 10'. h 1690. By Order 

 of the General Court. 



Seal of 

 Massachu- 

 setts. 



Peter Townsexd ~\ 

 Adam Winthrop > Com'" 

 Tim. Thornton ) 



When this paper came into the hands of the treasurer, it was burned. 

 Nevertheless, owing to the temporary character of the provisional gov- 



