448         ^EW  HAMPSHIRE  AS  A  ROYAL  PROVINCE        [630

Upon  the  overthrow  of  the  Andros  regime  in  the  spring
of  1689  the  whole  system  of  government  which  had  been
built  up  under  it  fell  to  pieces.  As  a  result,  New  Hamp-
shire was  left  without  a  government  imposed  by  any  ex-
ternal authority.  As  there  were  no  longer  any  provincial
courts,  each  town  was  left  to  administer  justice  as  it  saw
fit.  When,  at  last,  the  inhabitants  were  practically  forced
by  circumstances  to  seek  a  union  with  Massachusetts,  that
government  admitted  them  and  confirmed  the  list  of  justices
of  the  peace  which  had  been  submitted  by  the  inhabitants
of  the  several  towns.  Although  New  Hampshire  was  then
virtually  a  part  of  Massachusetts  and  enjoyed  the  benefit  of
the  latter's  laws,  nevertheless,  owing  to  the  unsettled  state
of  affairs,  due  to  the  trouble  with  the  Indians,  the  legal
settlement  of  the  courts  was  prevented,  although  a  tem-
porary arrangement  was  at  last  effected  for  the  convenience
of  the  inhabitants.
