University of Virginia Library

7. CHAPTER VII.

The colony had now reached a point when it became
necessary to proceed with method and caution. Certain
great principles were to be established, on which the governor
had long reflected, and he was fully prepared to set
them up, and to defend them, though he knew that ideas
prevailed among a few of his people, which might dispose
them to cavil at his notions, if not absolutely to oppose
him. Men are fond of change; half the time, for a reason
no better than that it is change; and, not unfrequently,
they permit this wayward feeling to unsettle interests that
are of the last importance to them, and which find no
small part of their virtue in their permanency.

Hitherto, with such slight exceptions as existed in deference
to the station, not to say rights of the governor,
everything of an agricultural character had been possessed
in common among the colonists. But this was a state of
things which the good sense of Mark told him could not,
and ought not to last. The theories which have come
into fashion in our own times, concerning the virtues of
association, were then little known and less credited.
Society, as it exists in a legal form, is association enough
for all useful purposes, and sometimes too much; and the
governor saw no use in forming a wheel within a wheel.
If men have occasion for each other's assistance to effect a
particular object, let them unite, in welcome, for that purpose;
but Mark was fully determined that there should be
but one government in his land, and that this government
should be of a character to encourage and not to depress
exertion. So long as a man toiled for himself and those

nearest and dearest to him, society had a security for his
doing much, that would be wanting where the proceeds
of the entire community were to be shared in common;
and, on the knowledge of this simple and obvious truth,
did our young legislator found his theory of government.
Protect all in their rights equally, but, that done, let every
man pursue his road to happiness in his own way; conceding
no more of his natural rights than were necessary
to the great ends of peace, security, and law. Such was
Mark's theory. As for the modern crotchet that men
yielded no natural right to government, but were to receive
all and return nothing, the governor, in plain language,
was not fool enough to believe it. He was perfectly aware
that when a man gives authority to society to compel him
to attend court as a witness, for instance, he yields just so
much of his natural rights to society, as might be necessary
to empower him to stay away, if he saw fit; and, so on,
through the whole of the very long catalogue of the claims
which the most indulgent communities make upon the services
of their citizens. Mark understood the great desideratum
to be, not the setting up of theories to which every
attendant fact gives the lie, but the ascertaining, as near as
human infirmity will allow, the precise point at which concession
to government ought to terminate, and that of uncontrolled
individual freedom commence. He was not visionary
enough to suppose that he was to be the first to make this
great discoverty; but he was conscious of entering on the
task with the purest intentions. Our governor had no
relish for power for power's sake, but only wielded it for
the general good. By nature, he was more disposed to
seek happiness in a very small circle, and would have been
just as well satisfied to let another govern, as to rule himself,
had there been another suited to such a station. But
there was not. His own early habits of command, the
peculiar circumstances which had first put him in possession
of the territory, as if it were a special gift of Providence
to himself, his past agency in bringing about the
actual state of things, and his property, which amounted to
more than that of all the rest of the colony put together,
contributed to give him a title and authority to rule, which
would have set the claims of any rival at defiance, had such
a person existed. But there was no rival; not a being present
desiring to see another in his place.

The first step of the governor was to appoint his brother,
Abraham Woolston, the secretary of the colony. In that
age America had very different notions of office, and of its
dignity, of the respect due to authority, and of the men who
wielded if, from what prevail at the present time. The
colonists, coming as they did from America, brought with
them the notions of the times, and treated their superiors
accordingly. In the last century a governor was “the governor,”
and not “our governor,” and a secretary “the
secretary,” and not “our secretary,” men now taking more
liberties with what they fancy their own, than was their
wont with what they believed had been set over them for
their good. Mr. Secretary Woolston soon became a personage,
accordingly, as did all the other considerable functionaries
appointed by the governor.

The very first act of Abraham Woolston, on being sworn
into office, was to make a registry of the entire population.
We shall give a synopsis of it, in order that the reader
may understand the character of the materials with which
the governor had room to work, viz:—

                       

Males,	147	Females,	158
Adults,	113	Adults,	121
Children,	34	Children,	37
Married,	101	Married,	101
Widowers,	1	Widows,	4
Seamen,			38
Mechanies,			26
Physician,			1
Student in Medicine,			1
Lawyer,			1
Clergyman,			1
Population,			305

Here, then, was a community composed already of three
hundred and five souls. The governor's policy was not to
increase this number by further immigration, unless in
special cases, and then only after due deliberation and inquiry.
Great care had been taken with the characters of
the present settlers, and careless infusions of new members
might undo a great deal of good that had already been

done. This matter was early laid before the new council,
and the opinions of the governor met with a unanimous
concurrence.

On the subject of the council, it may be well to say a
word. It was increased to nine, and a new election was
made, the incumbents holding their offices for life. This
last provision was made to prevent the worst part, and the
most corrupting influence of politics, viz., the elections,
from getting too much sway over the public mind. The
new council was composed as follows, viz:—

Messrs. Heaton,
Pennock,
Betts,
C. Woolston,
A. Woolston, the governor's brothers.
Charlton,
Saunders,
Wilmost, and
Warrington.

These names belonged to the most intelligent men of the
colony, Betts perhaps excepted; but his claims were too
obvious to be slighted. Betts had good sense moreover,
and a great deal of modesty. All the rest of the council
had more or less claims to be gentlemen, but Bob never
pretended to that character. He knew his own qualifications,
and did not render himself ridiculous by aspiring to
be more than he really was; still, his practical knowledge
made him a very useful member of the council, where his
opinions were always heard with attention and respect.
Charlton and Wilmot were merchants, and intended to
embark regularly in trade; while Warrington, who possessed
more fortune than any of the other colonists, unless it
might be the governor, called himself a farmer, though he
had a respectable amount of general science, and was well
read in most of the liberal studies.

Warrington was made judge, with a small salary, all of
which he gave to the clergyman, the Rev. Mr. White.
This was done because he had no need of the money himself,
and there was no other provision for the parson than
free contributions. John Woolston, who had read law,
was named Attorney-General, or colony's attorney, as the

office was more modestly styled; to which duties he added
those of surveyor-general. Charles received his salary, which
was two hundred and fifty dollars, being in need of it.
The question of salary, as respects the governor, was also
settled. Mark had no occasion for the money, owning all
the vessels, with most of the cargo of the Rancocus, as
well as having brought out with him no less a sum than
five thousand dollars, principally in change—halves, quarters,
shillings and six-pences. Then a question might
well arise, whether he did not own most of the stock; a
large part of it was his beyond all dispute, though some
doubts might exist as to the remainder. On this subject
the governor came to a most wise decision. He was fully
aware that nothing was more demoralizing to a people
than to suffer them to get loose notions on the subject of
property. Property of all kinds, he early determined,
should be most rigidly respected, and a decision that he
made shortly after his return from America, while acting
in his capacity of chief magistrate, and before the new
court went into regular operation, was of a character to
show how he regarded this matter. The case was as follows:—

Two of the colonists, Warner and Harris, had bad blood
between them. Warner had placed his family in an arbour
within a grove, and to “aggravate” him, Harris came
and walked before his door, strutting up and down like a
turkey-cock, and in a way to show that it was intended to
annoy Warner. The last brought his complaint before
the governor. On the part of Harris, it was contended
that no injury had been done the property of Harris, and
that, consequently, no damages could be claimed. The
question of title was conceded, ex necessitate rerum. Governor
Woolston decided, that a man's rights in his property
were not to be limited by positive injuries to its
market value. Although no grass or vegetables had been
destroyed by Harris in his walks, he had molested Warner
in such an enjoyment of his dwelling, as, in intendment of
law, every citizen was entitled to in his possessions. The
trespass was an aggravated one, and damages were given
accordingly. In delivering his judgment, the governor
took occasion to state, that in the administration of the

law, the rights of every man would be protected in the
fullest extent, not only as connected with pecuniary considerations,
but as connected with all those moral uses
and feelings which contribute to human happiness. This
decision met with applause, and was undoubtedly right
in itself. It was approved, because the well-intentioned
colonists had not learned to confound liberty with licentiousness;
but understood the former to be the protection
of the citizen in the enjoyment of all his innocent tastes,
enjoyments and personal rights, after making such concessions
to government as are necessary to its maintenance.
Thrice happy would it be for all lands, whether
they are termed despotisms or democracies, could they
thoroughly feel the justice of this definition, and carry out
its intention in practice.

The council was convened the day succeeding its election.
After a few preliminary matters were disposed of,
the great question was laid before it, of a division of property,
and the grant of real estate. Warrington and Charles
Woolston laid down the theory, that the fee of all the land
was, by gift of Providence, in the governor, and that his
patent, or sign-manual, was necessary for passing the title
into other hands. This theory had an affinity to that of
the Common Law, which made the prince the suzerain, and
rendered him the heir of all escheated estates. But Mark's
humility, not to say his justice, met this doctrine on the
threshold. He admitted the sovereignty and its right, but
placed it in the body of the colony, instead of in himself.
As the party most interested took this view of the case,
they who were disposed to regard his rights as more
sweeping, were fain to submit. The land was therefore
declared to be the property of the state. Ample grants,
however, were made both to the governor and Betts, as original
possessors, or discoverers, and it was held in law that
their claims were thus compromised. The grants to Governor
Woolston included quite a thousand acres on the
Peak, which was computed to contain near thirty thousand,
and an island of about the same extent in the group, which
was beautifully situated near its centre, and less than a
league from the crater. Betts had one hundred acres
granted to him, near the crater also. He refused any other

grant, as a right growing out of original possession. Nor
was his reasoning bad on the occasion. When he was
driven off, in the Neshamony, the Reef, Loam Island,
Guano Island, and twenty or thirty rocks, composed all the
dry land. He had never seen the Peak until Mark was in
possession of it, and had no particular claim there. When
the council came to make its general grants, he was willing
to come in for his proper share with the rest of the
people, and he wanted no more. Heaton had a special
grant of two hundred acres made to him on the Peak, and
another in the group of equal extent, as a reward for his
early and important services. Patents were made out, at
once of these several grants, under the great seal of the
colony; for the governor had provided parchment, and
wax, and a common seal, in anticipation of their being
all wanted. The rest of the grants of land were made on
a general principle, giving fifty acres on the Peak, and one
hundred in the group, to each male citizen of the age of
twenty-one years; those who had not yet attained their
majority being compelled to wait. A survey was made,
and the different lots were numbered, and registered by
those numbers. Then a lottery was made, each man's
name being put in one box, and the necessary numbers in
another. The number drawn against any particular name
was the lot of the person in question. A registration of
the drawing was taken, and printed patents were made
out, signed, sealed, and issued to the respective parties.
We say printed, a press and types having been brought
over in the Rancocus, as well as a printer. In this way,
then, every male of full age, was put in possession of one
hundred and fifty acres of land, in fee.

As the lottery did not regard the wishes of parties,
many private bargains were made, previously to the issuing
of the patents, in order that friends and connections might
be placed near to each other. Some sold their rights, exchanging
with a difference, while others sold altogether on
the Peak, or in the group, willing to confine their possessions
to one or the other of these places. In this manner
Mr. Warrington, or Judge Warrington, as he was now
called, bought three fifty-acre lots adjoining his own share
on the Peak, and sold his hundred-acre lot in the group.

The price established by these original sales, would seem
to give a value of ten dollars an acre to land on the Peak,
and of three dollars an acre to land in the group. Some
lots, however, had a higher value than others, all these
things being left to be determined by the estimate which
the colonists placed on their respective valuations. As
everything was conducted on a general and understood
principle, and the drawing was made fairly and in public,
there was no discontent; though some of the lots were
certainly a good deal preferable to others. The greatest
difference in value existed in the lots in the group, where
soil and water were often wanted; though, on the whole,
much more of both was found than had been at first expected.
There were vast deposits of mud, and others of
sand, and Heaton early suggested the expediency of mixing
the two together, by way of producing fertility. An
experiment of this nature had been tried, under his orders,
during the absence of the governor, and the result was of
the most satisfactory nature; the acre thus manured producing
abundantly.

As it was the sand that was to be conveyed to the mud,
the toil was much less than might have been imagined.
This sand usually lay near the water, and the numberless
channels admitted of its being transported in boats along
a vast reach of shore. Each lot having a water front,
every man might manure a few acres, by this process,
without any great expense; and no sooner were the rights
determined, and the decisions of the parties made as to
their final settlements, than many went to work to render
the cracked and baked mud left by the retiring ocean fertile
and profitable. Lighters were constructed for the
purpose, and the colonists formed themselves into gangs,
labouring in common, and transporting so many loads of
sand to each levee, as the banks were called, though not
raised as on the Mississippi, and distributing it bountifully
over the surface. The spade was employed to mix the two
earths together.

Most of the allotments of land, in the group, were in the
immediate neighbourhood of the Reef. As there were
quite a hundred of them, more than ten thousand acres
of the islands were thus taken up, at the start. By a

rough calculation, however, the group extended east and
west sixty-three miles, and north and south about fifty,—
the Reef being a very little west and a very little south of
its centre. Of this surface it was thought something like
three-fourths was dry land, or naked rock. This would
give rather more than a million and a half of acres of land;
but, of this great extent of territory, not more than two-thirds
could be rendered available for the purposes of husbandry,
for want of soil, or the elements of soil. There
were places where the deposit of mud seemed to be of vast
depth, while in others it did not exceed a few inches. The
same was true of the sands, though the last was rarely of
as great depth as the mud, or alluvium.

A month was consumed in making the allotments, and
in putting the different proprietors in possession of their
respective estates. Then, indeed, were the results of the
property-system made directly apparent. No sooner was
an individual put in possession of his deed, and told that
the lot it represented was absolutely his own, to do what
he pleased with it, than he went to work with energy and
filled with hopes, to turn his new domains to account. It
is true that education and intelligence, if they will only
acquit themselves of their tasks with disinterested probity,
may enlighten and instruct the ignorant how to turn their
means to account; but, all experience proves that each
individual usually takes the best care of his own interests,
and that the system is wisest which grants to him the amplest
opportunity so to do.

To work all went, the men forming themselves into
gangs, and aiding each other. The want of horses and
neat cattle was much felt, more especially as Heaton's experience
set every one at the sand, as the first step in a
profitable husbandry: wheelbarrows, however, were made
use of instead of carts, and it was found that a dozen pair
of hands could do a good deal with that utensil, in the
course of a day. All sorts of contrivances were resorted
to in order to transport the sand, but the governor established
a regular system, by which the lighter should deliver
one load at each farm, in succession. By the end of
a month it was found that a good deal had been done, the

distances being short and the other facilities constantly
increasing by the accession of new boats.

All sorts of habitations were invented. The scarcity of
wood in the group was a serious evil, and it was found indispensable
to import that material. Parts of Rancocus
Island were well wooded, there growing among other trees
a quantity of noble yellow pines. Bigelow was sent
across in the Abraham to set up a mill, and to cut lumber.
There being plenty of water-power, the mill was soon got
at work, and a lot of excellent plank, boards, &c., was
shipped in the schooner for the crater. Shingle-makers
were also employed, the cedar abounding, as well as the
pine. The transportation to the coast was the point of
difficulty on Rancocus Island as well as elsewhere; none
of the cattle being yet old enough to be used. Socrates
had three pair of yearling steers, and one of two years old
breaking, but it was too soon to set either at work. With
the last, a little very light labour was done, but it was more
to train the animals, than with any other object.

On Rancocus Island, however, Bigelow had made a very
ingenious canal, that was of vast service in floating logs to
the mill. The dam made a long narrow pond that penetrated
two or three miles up a gorge in the mountains, and
into this dam the logs were rolled down the declivities,
which were steep enough to carry anything into the water.
When cut into lumber, it was found that the stream below
the mill, would carry small rafts down to the sea.

While all these projects were in the course of operation,
the governor did not forget the high interests connected
with his foreign relations; Waally was to be looked to,
and Ooroony's son to be righted. The council was unanimously
of opinion that sound policy required such an
exhibition of force on the part of the colony, as should
make a lasting impression on their turbulent neighbours.
An expedition was accordingly fitted out, in which the
Mermaid, the Abraham, and a new pilot-boat built schooner
of fifty tons burthen, were employed. This new
schooner was nearly ready for launching when the Rancocus
returned, and was put into the water for the occasion.
She had been laid down in the cove, where Bigelow had
found room for a sufficient yard, and where timber was

nearer at hand, than on the Reef. As Rancocus Island
supplied the most accessible and the best lumber, the
council had determined to make a permanent establishment
on it, for the double purposes of occupation and
building vessels. As the resources of that island were developed,
it was found important on other accounts, also.
Excellent clay for bricks was found, as was lime-stone, in
endless quantities. For the purposes of agriculture, the
place was nearly useless, there not being one thousand
acres of good arable land in the whole island; but the
mountains were perfect mines of treasure in the way of
necessary supplies of the sorts mentioned.

A brick-yard was immediately cleared and formed, and
a lime-kiln constructed. Among the colonists, it was easy
to find men accustomed to work in all these familiar
branches. The American can usually turn his hand to a
dozen different pursuits; and, though he may not absolutely
reach perfection in either, he is commonly found
useful and reasonably expert in all. Before the governor
sailed on his expedition against Waally, a brick-kiln and a
lime-kiln were nearly built, and a vast quantity of lumber
had been carried over to the Reef. As sandal-wood had
been collecting for the twelve months of her late absence,
the Rancocus had also been filled up, and had taken in a
new cargo for Canton. It was not the intention of the
governor to command his ship this voyage; but he gave
her to Saunders, who was every way competent to the trust.
When all was ready, the Rancocus, the Mermaid, the
Abraham, and the Anne, as the new pilot-boat schooner
was called, sailed for Betto's group; it being a part of the
governor's plan to use the ship, in passing, with a view to
intimidate his enemies. In consequence of the revolution
that had put Waally up again, every one of the Kannakas
who had gone out in the Rancocus on her last voyage,
refused to go home, knowing that they would at once be
impressed into Waally's service; and they all now cheerfully
shipped anew, for a second voyage to foreign lands.
By this time, these men were very useful; and the governor
had a project for bringing up a number of the lads of the
islands, and of making use of them in the public service.

This scheme was connected with his contemplated success,
and formed no small part of the policy of the day.

The appearance of so formidable a force as was now
brought against Waally, reduced that turbulent chief to
terms without a battle. About twenty of his canoes had
got separated from the rest of the fleet in a squall, while
returning from the unsuccessful attempt on the Reef, and
they were never heard of more; or, if heard of, it was in
uncertain rumours, which gave an account of the arrival
of three or four canoes at some islands a long way to-leeward,
with a handful of half-starved warriors on board. It
is supposed that all the rest perished at sea. This disaster
had rendered Waally unpopular among the friends of those
who were lost; and that unpopularity was heightened by
the want of success in the expedition itself. Success is all
in all, with the common mind; and we daily see the vulgar
shouting at the heels of those whom they are ready to crucify
at the first turn of fortune. In this good land of ours,
popularity adds to its more worthless properties the substantial
result of power; and it is not surprising that so
many forget their God in the endeavour to court the people.
In time, however, all of these persons of mistaken
ambition come to exclaim, with Shakspeare's Wolsey—

Waally's power, already tottering through the influence
of evil fortune, crumbled entirely before the force Governor
Woolston now brought against it. Although the latter
had but forty whites with him, they came in ships, and
provided with cannon; and not a chief dreamed of standing
by the offender, in this his hour of need. Waally had
the tact to comprehend his situation, and the wisdom to
submit to his fortune. He sent a messenger to the governor
with a palm-branch, offering to restore young Ooroony
to all his father's authority, and to confine himself to his
strictly inherited dominions. Such, in fact, was the basis
of the treaty that was now made, though hostages were
taken for its fulfilment. To each condition Waally consented;

and everything was settled to the entire satisfaction
of the whites, and to the honour and credit of young
Ooroony. The result was, in substance, as we shall now
record.

In the first place, one hundred lads were selected and
handed over to the governor, as so many apprentices to the
sea. These young Kannakas were so many hostages for the
good behaviour of their parents; while the parents, always
within reach of the power of the colonists, were so many
hostages for the good behaviour of the Kannakas. Touching
the last, however, the governor had very few misgivings,
since he believed it very possible so to treat, and so
to train them, as to make them fast friends. In placing
them on board the different vessels, therefore, rigid instructions
were given to their officers to be kind to these youngsters;
and each and all were to be taught to read, and
instructed in the Christian religion. The Rev. Mr. Hornblower
took great interest in this last arrangement, as did
half the females of the colony. Justice and kind treatment,
in fact, produced their usual results in the cases of these
hundred youths; every one of whom got to be, in the end,
far more attached to the Reef, and its customs, than to
their own islands and their original habits. The sea, no
doubt, contributed its share to this process of civilization;
for it is ever found that the man who gets a thorough taste
for that element, is loth to quit it again for terra firma.

One hundred able-bodied men were added to the recruits
that the governor obtained in Betto's group. They were
taken as hired labourers, and not as hostages. Beads and
old iron were to be their pay, with fish-hooks, and such
other trifles as had a value in their eyes; and their engagement
was limited to two months. There was a disposition
among a few of the colonists to make slaves of these men,
and to work their lands by means of a physical force obtained
in Betto's group; but to this scheme the council
would not lend itself for a moment. The governor well
knew that the usefulness, virtue, and moral condition of
his people, depended on their being employed; and he had
no wish to undermine the permanent prosperity of the

colony, by resorting to an expedient that might do well
enough for a short time, but which would certainly bring
its own punishment in the end.

Still, an accession of physical force, properly directed,
would be of great use in this early age of the colony. The
labourers were accordingly engaged; but this was done by
the government, which not only took the control of the
men, but which also engaged to see them paid the promised
remuneration. Another good was also anticipated from
this arrangement. The two groups must exist as friends
or as enemies. So long as young Ooroony reigned, it was
thought there would be little difficulty in maintaining amicable
relations; and it was hoped that the intercourse created
by this arrangement, aided by the trade in sandal-wood,
might have the effect to bind the natives to the whites
by the tie of interest.

The vessels lay at Betto's group a fortnight, completing
all the arrangements made; though the Rancocus sailed
on her voyage as soon as the terms of the treaty were
agreed on, and the Anne was sent back to the Reef with
the news that the war had terminated. As for Waally, he
was obliged to place his favourite son in the hands of young
Ooroony, who held the youthful chief as a hostage for his
father's good behaviour.