Page:American History Told by Contemporaries, v2.djvu/85

No. 21] frames, and the value of those commodity's annually exported from hence to Europe and the West-India Islands, is about a thousand pounds sterling. Mem. Besides what is above mentioned, the coasting sloops from Boston, carry from hence thither in fish and timber, about five thousand pounds per annum.

9. No mines are yet discovered, except a small quantity of Iron ore in two or three places.

10. The number of inhabitants, men, women and children, are about ten thousand whites, and two hundred blacks.

11. The inhabitants are increased about four thousand within this few years last past, a thousand of which (at least,) are people from Ireland, lately come into, and settled within the province ; another reason of the increase of late more than formerly, is a peace with the Indians the four last years.

12. The militia are about eighteen hundred, consisting of two regiments of foot, with a troop of horse in each.

13. There is one fort or place of defence, called Fort William and Mary, situate on the great Island in New-Castle which commands the entrance of Pascataqua river, but is in poor low circumstances, much out of repair, and greatly wanting of stores of war, there not being one barrel of gun-powder, at this time in, or belonging to that garrison. 14. There are no Indians in this province now in time of peace, that we know of.

15. There are no Indians in the neighborhood of this province that we know of, except in the eastern parts of the province of the Massachusetts Bay, and what their number or strength is, we are not acquainted.

16. We have no neighboring Spaniards, or other Europeans, except the French, who, according to the best intelligence we can get, are extremely numerous and strong both at Canada and Cape-Breton.

17. The effect which the French settlements have on this province is, that the Indians are frequently instigated and influenced by them to disturb the peace and quiet of this province, we having been often put to a vast expense both of blood and treasure, to defend ourselves against their cruel outrages. 18. The revenue arising within this province is three hundred ninety and six pounds, by excise, which is appropriated towards the Governor's salary, and about three or four barrels of gun-powder, from the shipping,