menced, the custom-houses should be every where fhut up, and their ports from thenceforth be open to every ftate in Europe, (which would admit and protect their commerce) free of all duties, and for every kind of commodity, ex. cepting, only, teas, and the merchandize of Great Britain, and her dependencies. And the more to encourage foreigners to engage in trade with them, they paffed a refolution, that they would, to the utmost of their power; maintain and fupport fuch freedom of commerce for two years certain after its commencement, notwithftanding any reconciliation with Great Britain, and as much longer as the prefent obnoxious laws fhould continue. They alfo, immediately, fufpended the non - importation agreement, in favour of all fhips that fhould bring gunpowder, nitre, fulphur, good mufkets fitted with bayonets, or brafs field pieces, fuch fhips being to be loaded in return with the full value

of their cargoes. Towards the clofe of Dec. 6th. the year, the General

Congrefs published a declaration, in anfwer to the royal proclamation for fuppreffing rebellion and fedition, which was iffued at St. James's on the 23d of Auguft. In this piece they combated and denied the charges of forgetting their allegiance, of treason, and rebellion, and took particular notice of the dangerous tendency, and indifcriminate nature of a clause, prohibiting, under the fevereft penalties, the carrying on of any correfpondence from England, with any perfons in rebellion, or the aiding or abetting of fuch. But, not content with critical obfervations, they conclude with a declaration in the name of the people of the united colonies, That whatever punishment fhall be inflicted upon any perfons in the power of their enemies, for favouring, aid. ing, or abetting, the cause of American liberty, fhould be retaliated in the fame kind and in the fame degree, upon thofe in their power, who have favoured, aided, or abetted, or fhould favour, aid, or abet, the fytem of ministerial oppreffion.

A

DMINISTRATION was now fo clofely entwined in the prefent American fyftem, that

there was fcarcely a poffibility of overthrowing the one, without involving the other in its fall; whilft

that

that fyftem was, itfelf, fo firmly fupported, that nothing less than fome violent and extraordinary convulfion, feemed even capable of fhaking it. Yet, notwithtanding this pledge of fecurity, the minifters could not but feel great uneafinefs, at the accounts that were daily received from the colonies during the recefs of parliament.

For though oppofition were not very strong in number, they were as quick in difcovering faults and errors, as they were indefatigable in expofing them, and in tracing effects up through the labyrinth of their caufes. In truth, affairs had run fo counter in America, and every measure had produced an effect fo directly contrary to what was propofed or expected, that it was not eafy to fet a good face upon the matter, either to the parliament, or to the nation.

It is true that many former minifterial incumbrances had been rubbed off by the calling of a new parliament; all engagements with the old, all promifes and miflakes, being thereby at one dafh obliterated. But a new and heavy fcore had already been run up, in the fingle feffion, which had elapfed of the prefent parliament. The reftraining bills, paffed by this, were to have affixed a feal to all the acts of its predeceffors. The general diftrefs arifing from a general punishment in the colonies, would, it was hoped, render the majority the avengers of government, and the punishers of the incorrigible. The conciliatory refolution, independent of every thing elfe, in its double capacity of converting and dividing, was fuppofed well adapted to accomplish all that was wanted. To thefe, however, was added an army, fufficient, as the fanguine

thought, to look America into fubjection, without the trouble of a blow. And to crown the whole, a naval force, which would in itfelf be nearly equal to the purpofe.

Each of these must become a fubject of animadverfion, and it would not be eafy in fome, to ward against the charges of mifinformation, ignorance, mifconception, or incapacity, which would af furedly attend them. In particular, the queftions refpecting the war must be exceedingly embarraffing. Since extremities were determined upon, why was not a fufficient force fent in time, to run down or prevent all oppofition? Why has fuch a courfe of irritation and threat been carried on for feveral years, as to give the people warn ing of their danger, and time to throw themselves into their present ftrong ftate of defence? If it now appears that five times the number are fcarcely adequate to the fervice, How could the minifter have been fo totally ignorant and mifinformed, as to fuppofe that 10,000 men could fubdue America without bloodshed?

Thefe and many other questions would be much eafier put than anfwered. To remedy the mischiefs of paft tardiness, it was determined to carry on the war with a vigour that should aftonifh all Europe, and to employ fuch an army in the enfuing campaign, as never before had entered the new world. This, it was faid, befides the grand object, would be the most effectual means of filencing clamour, and of preventing troublefome, and now ufclefs, enquiries. When once the people were heartily engaged in a war, they would never wait to recollect, much less to animadvert

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on,

on, the original caufes of difpute; but would in their ufual manner, and from their natural difpofition, carry it on with eagerness, and if gratified now and then with a brilliant troke of fuccefs, care nothing about future burthens or confequences. Thus the public opinion would be fecured; they had already fhewn a decided fuperiority in parliament; and the efforts of the minority, ftruggling with the general opinion, and directed against the apparent national intereft, would only tend to render them every day more feeble; and deprive them of that popularity, which is the foul of oppofition.

The late engagements in America, had, in a certain degree, affected both the national and military pride of the people. Many of thofe, who had not approved of our late conduct with respect to the colonies, thought it now too late to look back, or to enquire into paft caules, that government must be fupported at any rate, that we must not hesitate at any expence or danger to preferve our dominions, and that whoever was right in the beginning, the American infolence deferved chaftifement at prefent.

Many caufes concurred to prevent the lofs of the American commerce from being yet generally felt. The prodigious remittances in corn during our fcarcity, which we must do the Americans the juftice to fay, they with great honefty made in difcharge of their debts, with the much larger than ufual fums which they were enabled to pay, from the advanced prices of oil, tobacco, and other commodities, all together occafioned a prodigious influx of money.

The failing of the flota from

Spain, the armament against Algiers, and the peace between the Ruffians and Turks, occafioned an unufual demand for goods and manufactures of various forts, from Spain, the North of Europe, and Turkey, which keeping up a brisk circulation in trade, bufinefs, and money, all contributed to the fame effect.

The war itself, the supplying of an army and navy with provifions and neceffaries of every fort, at fo prodigious a distance, gave employment and emolument to an infinite number of people, engaged a vast quantity of shipping in the tranfport fervice, which would have been otherwife idle, and caufed fuch a buftle of bufinefs, and circulation of cash, as checked all obfervation of other deficiencies, and stifled all attention to future confequences. A golden harveft alfo, was not only opened to the view of contractors, but they had already enjoyed fuch a share of the fruits, as was fufficient to excite the most eager rage for its continuance and renewal, It is fcarcely neceflary to mention the numberlefs dealers and gamefters, in lotteries, ftocks, and other money tranfactions, who profit by all wars. buted to keep up the fpirts of the people, and to animate them to this civil contention.

Thefe contri

too

On the other hand, the great bodies of American, African, and Welt - India merchants, with the Weft - Indian planters, had long forefeen, and already too deeply experienced, the fatal effects of the prefent unhappy conteft.

They accordingly, with a majority of the inhabitants of the great trading cities of London and Bristol, ftill wifhed and struggled

ΤΟ

to have matters reftored to their ancient ftate, and reprobated all the measures which led to the prefent crifis. No inconfiderable part of the people in other places, though grown lefs loud in their demands for peace, fill, however, remained diffatisfied with the prefent measures. In Ireland, though thofe in office, and the principal nobility and gentry declared againft America, by far the majority of the proteftant inhabitants there, who are ftrenuous and declared whigs, ftrongly leaned to the cause of the colonies.

It muft, however, be acknowledged, that an unusual apathy with refpect to public affairs, feemed to prevail with the people, in general, of this country; of which a ftronger proof needs not to be given, than that which will probably recur to every body's memory, that the accounts of many of the late military actions, as well as of political proceedings of no lefs importance, were received

with as much indifference, and canvaffed with as much coolnefs and unconcern, as if they had happened between two nations with whom we were fcarcely connected. We must except from all these obfervations, the people of NorthBritain, who, almoft to a man, fo far as they could be defcribed or diftinguished under any particular denomination, not only applauded, but proffered life and fortune in fupport of the prefent measures. The fame approbation was alfo given, and affurances made, though with fomewhat lefs earnestness and unanimity, by a great number of

June 24, 1775.

In this ftate of things, at a meeting of the citizens of London in Common-hall for the election of their annual officers, the LordMayor laid before them his Majefty's anfwer to their laft remonfrance, together with the subsequent letter from the Lord Chamberlain*, giving notice, that the King would not receive, on the throne, any more of their petitions, except in their corporate capacity. Upon this information, they paffed a number of refolutions, in one of which they declared, "That whoever advised his Majefty to declare he would not in future receive on the throne any addrefs, remonftrance, and petition, from the Lord-Mayor, Aldermen, and Livery of London, are enemies to the right of the fubject to petition the throne, becaufe fuch advice is calculated to in tercept the complaints of the people to their Sovereign, to prevent a redrefs of grievances, and alienate the minds of Englishmen from the Hanoverian fucceffion."

They then agreed upon another addrefs, remonstrance, and petition, which at least equalled any

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of