^94 A VOYAGE TO Book IX. 



proteftant countries : but the Roman catholics, fo far 

 from being tolerated or connived at, are not admitted 

 to fettle in this colony. 



All this country is of an extraordinary fertility, and 

 particularly abounds in timber for fbips 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 Qoops, bilanders, brigan- 

 tincs, and other velTels of fmall burden. Thefe large 

 and wealthy provinces, fuch as that of Bofton and the 

 others, are fubjedl to the fovercign only, as agree- 

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

 ment to them fecures their affedtion ; and the governor 

 fent over to them from England is looked upon by 

 the others only as one of their eminent fellow citizens ; 

 and beloved for his care of the publick welfare and 

 the tranquility and fafety of the whole fociety. They 

 allow him a competent falary : as they} do alfo to the 

 judges, for the more fedulous adminiftration of juftice, 

 without any further impoft, tax, or demiand. In order 

 to prevent the leaft encroachment on fuch a ftate of 

 freedom, they allow of no fortifications or garrifons 

 among them, that under pretence of fecurity of their 

 pofTefllons their liberties may be in danger. Thus 

 thefe provinces, in reality, conflitute a kind of repub- 

 iick, partly admitting the political laws of England as 

 depending on it but either amends or rejedls thofe 

 which may injure its immunities : the towns being the 

 fortrefles of the country, and the inhabitants the garri^ 

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

 friendHiip : the great do not defpife or infult the 

 mean, nor the rich diftinguiih himfelf from the poor, 

 by luxury, pomp, and an imperious carriage. Here 

 alfo is none of that pernicious, difhoneft affectation of 

 appearing above their circumftances : and what is ftill 

 more admirable, that though five or fix different fe6ls 

 gre openly profefied, we fee none of thofe feuds which 



naturally 



