To be safe. In any case, with hostilities already begun, the issue could not be pressed to a conclusion when, as the Board of Trade asserted, "a good understanding between your

Majesty's governors and the people is so absolutely necessary." Under the stress of war, all ministerial projects for a stricter
control of the colonies were accordingly laid aside until the restoration
of peace. The war itself only proved once more how defective was England's colonial administration. Three years of devastating Indian warfare again demonstrated the necessity of an adequate defense of the frontier, and a stricter control of Indian trade. A customs service which collected annually L2000 of revenue and cost L7000 to maintain, manned by officials who sold
flags of truce to traders carrying
ammunition and supplies to the enemy, was seen to be but an expensive luxury in time of peace and a military weakness in time of war. The assistance which Pitt, and Pitt alone, could induce the colonists to render, however adequate,
was purchased at the price of concessions
which deprived the governors of all but nominal influence, while placing
in the assemblies the effective powers of government. And the results achieved by the Peace of Pa