Though the fettlements in this quarter were new, being moftly eftablished fince the laft war, this fmall town was amazingly thriving, being fituated on a fine harbour, and having a very confiderable trade, fo that it was computed to contain about 600 families, though little more than one third of that number of dwelling-houfes. The destruction which fell upon Falmouth, probably accelerated in the affembly of Maffachusett's Bay, the daring measure (under the pretence of protecting their coafts) of Nov. 13th. paffing an act, for granting letters of marque and reprifal, and the eftablishment of courts of admiralty, for the trial and condemnation of British fhips. In this law they declared an intention, of only defending the coafts and navigation of America, extending the power of capture only to fuch fhips as fhould be employed in bringing fupplies to the armies employed against them.

In the courfe of the fummer, articles of confederation and perpetual union, between the feveral colonies which were already affociated, with liberty of admiffion to thofe of Quebec, St. John's, NovaScotia, the two Floridas, and Bermudas, containing rules for their general government in peace and war, both with respect to foreigners and each other, were drawn up by the General Congrefs, and by them tranfmitted to the different colonies, for the inspection and confideration of their refpective affemblies. If these articles met with their approbation, they were to empower their delegates in the enfaing general Congrefs, to ratify and confirm them; and from that

time, the union which they efta. blifhed was to continue firm, until, befides a red refs of their grievances, reparation was made for the loffes fuilained by Boflon, for the burning of Charles-Town, for the expences of the war, and until the British troops were withdrawn from America. When thofe events took place, the colonies were to return to their former connections and friendship with Great Britain; but on failure thereof, the confederation to be perpetual.

The people, however, were not yet fufficiently irritated, nor their affections and prejudices fufficiently broken, to accede to a confederacy, which, though conditionally framed and worded, yet led to a total feparation from the mother country. For though they took up arms and oppofed government, ftill, it was, in general, under the hope of obtaining thereby a redress of grievances; and that being the nearer and more agreeable object, they would not willingly look to any thing further, efpecially to one fo dreadful as a total feparation. It required a longer time in the contemplation of real or fuppofed injuries, and in fpeculations upon future, together with fresh and conftant fources of irritation, to arrive at that habit of vexation and hatred, which was neceffary to break ties of fo long a ftanding, and to familiarize fo new an idea,

A refolution was alfo paffed by the Congrefs at the appearance of autumn, that as America was bleffed with a molt plentiful harvest, and fhould have a great fuperfluity to fpare for other nations, fo, if the late reftraining laws were not repealed, within fix months from the 20th of July, on which they com[C] 2 menced,

menced, the custom-houfes fhould be every where fhut up, and their ports from thenceforth be open to every state in Europe, (which would admit and protect their commerce) free of all duties, and for every kind of commodity, excepting, 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, notwithstanding any reconciliation with Great' Britain, and as much longer as the prefent obnoxious laws fhould continue. They also, immediately, fufpended the non-importation agreement, in favour of all fhips that fhould bring gunpowder, nitre, fulphur, good mufkets fit ted 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 treafon, and rebellion, and took particular notice of the dangerous tendency, and indifcriminate nature of a clause, prohibiting, under the feverest 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 shall be inflicted upon any perfons in the power of their enemies, for favouring, aiding, or abetting, the caufe 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 should favour, aid, or abet, the fyftem of minifterial oppreffion.

A

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

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

that

that fyftem was, itself, fo firmly fupported, that nothing less than fome violent and extraordinary convulfion, feemed even capable of haking it. Yet, notwithlanding 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 ftrong 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 so counter in America, and every measure had produced an effect fo directly contrary to what was proposed or expected, that it was not easy to fet a good face upon the matter, either to the parlia

ment, 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 miftakes, 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 againft the charges of mifinform. ation, ignorance, ation, ignorance, mifconception, dr 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 warning of their danger, and time to throw themselves into their prefent 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 misinformed, 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 tardinefs, it was determined to carry on the war with a vigour that should astonish all Europe, and to employ fuch an army in the enfoing 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 ufelefs, enquiries. When once the people were heartily engaged in a war, they would never wait to recollect, much less to animadvert

[C] 3

опа

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 ftroke 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 refpect to the colonies, thought it now too late to look back, or to enquire into paft caufes, 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 efect.

The war itself, the fupplying of an army and navy with provifions and neceffaries of every fort, at fo prodigious a diftance, gave employment and emolument to an infinite number of people, engaged a vast quantity of fhipping in the transport fervice, which would have been otherwife idle, and caufed fuch a bustle of business, and circulation of cash, as checked all obfervation of other deficiencies, and ftifled all attention to future confequences. A golden harvest alfo, was not only opened to the view of contractors, but they had already enjoyed fuch a fhare of the fruits, as was fufficient to excite the most eager rage for its continuance and renewal. It is fcarcely neceffary to mention the numberlefs dealers and gamefters, in lotteries, stocks, other money transactions, who profit by all wars. Thefe contributed to keep up the fpirts of the people, and to animate them to this civil contention.

and

On the other hand, the great bodies of American, African, and Weft - India merchants, with the Weft - Indian planters, had too 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

to

to have matters reftored to their ancient state, and reprobated all the meafures 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 caufe of the colonies.

It must, however, be acknow ledged, that an unusual apathy with respect to public affairs, feemed to prevail with the people, in general, of this country; of which a stronger 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 coolness and unconcern, as if they had happened between two nations with whom we were scarcely connected. We must except from all thefe 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 also given, and aflurances made, though with fomewhat lefs earnestness and unanimity, by a great number of

towns in England. The recruiting fervice, however, which may be confidered as a kind of political barometer with refpect to the fentiments of the lowest orders in cafes of that nature, went on very heavily for the land and fea fervice, both in England and Ireland, though no encouragement was wanting, nor means left untried, for the making of extraordinary levies.

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 Majetty's answer to their laft remonftrance, 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, remonftrance, and petition, which at leaft equalled any

[C] 4

of