XIV. of France and England, Spain
and Holland, and the German Empire, which ended a war of more than seven
years' duration. Louis was compelled to acknowledge William of Orange to
be the sovereign of England. That war cost Great Britain one hundred and
fifty millions of dollars in cash, besides a hundred millions loaned.
The latter laid the foundation of England's enormous national debt,
which, to-day, amounts to five thousand millions of dollars.

Prior to the treaty at Ryswick, a Board of Trade and Plantations was
established in England, whose duty it was to have a general oversight of
the affairs of the American colonies. It was a permanent commission, the
members of which were called "Lords of Trade and Plantations." It
consisted of seven members, with a president, and was always a ready
instrument of oppression in the hands of the sovereign, and became a
powerful promoter of those discontents in the colonies, which broke out
in open rebellion in 1775.

The peace of Ryswick was of short duration. Aspirants for power again
tormented the people with the evils of war. King James II. died in
France, September, 1701. He had been shielded by Louis after his flight
from his throne to France, and now the French monarch acknowledged
James' son, James Francis Edward (known in history as the pretender) to
be the lawful king of England. This act greatly offended the English,
because the crown had been settled upon Anne, James' second Protestant
daughter. Louis, in addition, had offended the English by placing his
grandson, Philip of Anjou, on the throne of Spain, so increasing the
influence of France among the dynasties of Europe. King William was
enraged and was preparing for war, when a fall from his horse, while
hunting, caused his death. He was succeeded by Anne, and a war ensued,
which lasted almost a dozen years and is known in history as Queen
Anne's War. We have, however, too long dwelt on the general history of
the country. It will be essential to our story that we return to the
village of Salem where superstition was reigning, while the chief
characters of our story were resting in security at Boston, not daring
to go abroad by day.

CHAPTER XVIII.

SUPERSTITION REIGNS.

The awful tragedy was through,
And friends and enemies withdrew.
Some smite their breasts and trembling say,
"Unlawful deeds were done to-day."
--Paxton.

After the escape of Mrs. Steven