of the colony.  The natural products of the soil gradually yielded a superfluity, which was exported to the West Indian and other islands;—­the commencement of that extensive traffic, which has since raised Boston to a high rank among the commercial cities of the world.  It was also sent in exchange for the commodities of the mother country, who, indulgent to her children while too feeble to dispute her authority, then generously remitted those duties which afterwards proved a “root of bitterness” between them.  The fisheries, also, were even then an object of consideration; and many found employment in that craft, which has now become a source of national wealth.  Vessels of considerable burthen were launched from the shores of the wilderness, and their light keels already parted the waters of distant seas.  Nations which then viewed our hardy navigators with contempt, have since seen their white sails flutter in the winds of every climate, and their adventurous ships braving the dangers of every rugged shore.  The proudest have acknowledged their rights in each commercial port, and the bravest have struck unwillingly to their victorious flag.

The advancement which the colony had made within fourteen years from its settlement, was indeed surprising.  The germ of future prosperity seemed bursting from its integuments.  The principles of a free government were established; the seed which was “sown in tears,” though it appeared “the least of all seeds,” was preparing to shoot forth and spread its branches into a mighty tree.  As yet, however, the future was “hid under a cloud;” and what had already been done, could only be justly appreciated by those who acted and suffered from the commencement.  But the fruits of their labor were evident, even to the most indifferent observer; and Stanhope’s thoughts were forcibly drawn from the subject of his own anxiety, and fixed on the scene before him.

The scene, glorious as it appeared in the simple garniture of nature, and softened by the adornments of art, charmed the eye and awakened the enthusiasm of a refined and imaginative mind.  But the high moral courage, the stern yet lofty impulse of duty, which had achieved so great an enterprize; which had burst the strong links of kindred and country, and exchanged honor and affluence for reproach and poverty, and the countless trials of a wilderness, appealed directly to the best feelings of the heart.  Arthur was reminded by all around him, of this noble triumph of mind and principle over the greatest physical obstacles; and he strongly felt the contrast which it presented to the habits and opinions of the Acadian settlers, with whom he had been lately associated.  The bitter enmity of La Tour and D’Aulney, the struggle for pre-eminence, which kept them continually at strife, had deadened every social affection and aroused the most fierce and selfish passions.  They had attempted to colonize a portion of the New World, from interested and ambitious motives; their followers were in general