The Indian war had emptied the colonial exchequer.

On the other hand, a generation earlier the colonists might have retreated to the woods, but now they had valuable stationary property to be kept or sacrificed.

To say no more, the ancient unanimity was broken in upon.

Jealousy had risen and grown....

Nor was even public morality altogether of its pristine tone.
The prospect of material prosperity had introduced a degree of luxury; and luxury had brought ambition and mean longings.