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His Majefty put an end to the feffion on the 26th of May.

The contest between Great Britain and her Colonies was now unavoidably to be decided by the fword, and the attention of all Europe was drawn to a difpute fo new in its nature and important in its confequences. The pre-eminence which this country had gained over all other states, could not be beheld, even by her allies, without fome degree of envy, but to thofe powers in whom a prefcriptive rivalfhip and ill-will fubfifted, it was beheld with impatience. This rupture therefore was attended to with the most interested eagerness, and the wishes of all Europe, if we except fome German principalities, may be faid to have beeen favourable to the caufe of America. The Baron de Montefquieu, whom the paft age received as an oracle, and whom fome living writers of our own nation * confider as a fanciful politician, remarks, that "fuch powers as are established by commerce, may fubfift for a long series of years in their humble condition, but their grandeur is of short duration. They rise by little and little, and in an imperceptible manner, for they do not perform any great exploit which may make a noife and fignalize their power; but when they have once raised themselves to fo exalted a pitch that it is impoffible but all muft fee them, every one endeavours to deprive fuch a nation of an advantage which they had fnatched as it were from the rest of the world." A defire of seeing a haughty nation humbled might therefore tend more to promote this difpofition, than an attention to the merits of the caufet.

Dr. Johnfon. Mr. Gibbon.

CHAP.

An English gentleman who travelled with a young nobleman of high rank, being introduced to the King of Pruffia at Sans Souci, that Prince entered into a conversation upon the state of affairs between Great

Britain

СНА Р. II.

Remarks on the prevailing Difpofition of America-Action at Lexington-Second Seffion of the Congrefs-Action at Bunker'sHill-Ticonderoga and Crownpoint fubdued - Transportvessels taken by the Americans-Meeting of ParliamentVaft Army voted-Bill of Indemnity brought in-Sentiments delivered concerning the Prerogatives of the Crown-Petition from the Province of Nova Scotia-Prohibitary Act-Treaties with German Princes-Troops drawn from IrelandAnimadverfion on the Measure in the House of CommonsAct for the Employment of foreign Seamen in the Navy and Merchants Service-State of Oppofition and the Objects of its pursuit during the Seffion-Finances for 1776.

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N this ftate of the American difpute, we would wish to be indulged in making two remarks. The parliamentary regulations which had been made for the govern

Britain and her Colonies. He obferved, that it was a difficult thing to govern men by force at fuch a distance: that if the Americans fhould be beaten, (which appeared a little problematical) still it would be next to impoffible to continue to draw from them a revenue by taxation—that if we intended conciliation with America, fome of our measures were too rough; and if we intended its subjection they were too gentle. He concluded, by faying, Enfin Meffieurs, je ne comprends pas ces chofes là; je nai point de colonie : j'espère que vous vous tirerez bien d'affaire, mais elle me paroit un peu epineuse.

The fame writer informs us, that at the court of Vienna, in general they favoured America, but shewed more moderation than in other parts of the continent. The Emperor, when fome perfon asked him which fide he favoured, replied very ingeniously, Je fuis par metier royalifte. Moore's Travels, Vol. II. p. 242 and 436. See alfo Wraxal's Travels, for the fentiments of the Swedes upon this subject.

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ment of Maffachufet's Bay, in the beginning of the year 1774, not having been carried into effect, from the violent oppofition fhewn to that plan of government; and the civil inftitutions which their charter had established, being thereby abrogated, all the functions of legal authority were immediately fufpended. No governor prefided, no council affembled, no judges interpreted the law, no inferior officers exacted an obfervance of it. In fuch a ftate of anarchy, it was to be expected that the perfons and property of individuals would be expofed to the depredations of lawless mifcreants, who are to be found in greater or less numbers in every ftate, who by their crimés difgrace humanity, disturb the peace of fociety, and draw down the feverity of the laws. But though the fufpenfion of magiftracy gave the needy and unprincipled a licence to do what was right in their own eyes, every one remained fafe and unmolested. This Colony had ever been characterized for an intollerant spirit in religion, and now ftood accused of rebellion against the parent ftate, but its manners feem to have remained uncorrupted, infomuch that in the courfe of eighteen years, it is faid, that only one criminal has been executed in the province. However we may abhor traitors, we cannot but admire fuch unexampled internal decorum !

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Although defection had now spread over the American continent, yet two defcriptions of men might have been expected to withstand the general contagion, at least utterly to renounce the idea of taking up arms against Great Britain, namely, the quakers from principles of religion; and fuch military men who were natives of the British ifles, but who had fettled in America at the conclufion of the last war in confiderable numbers; but the contrary proved to be the fact. Many of the younger quakers in Philadelphia formed themselves into volunteer companies, and the British

officers

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officers forgetting that doctrine of fubmiffion and fubordination which they had imbibed with their tactics, took an active part with the Americans, and rendered the most effential fervice to their caufe, by forming their husbandmen into foldiers.

Congress now fought to procure arms and ammunition for the infurgents, and as a royal proclamation had been iffued, prohibiting the exportation of fuch articles from Britain, the public magazines were forcibly seized upon in many places. Mills were conftructed and manufactures eftablished in Pennfylvania and Virginia, for making gunpowder, and American veffels vifited the feveral European ports from Cadiz even to Hamburgh. This activity was unremitted, whilft the antipathy which fubfifted between the King's troops at Bofton and the provincials, was daily increafing, and foreboded fpeedy hoftilities. Occafions for kirmishes were frequent, but the Americans pretend, that they cautiously avoided committing the first act of open hoftility. They confidered themselves as justified in taking up arms, for the purpose of felf defence, but difclaimed all defign of attacking the King's troops, Whilft they obferved this diftinction, they contended, that according to the English conftitution, they were not in a ftate of rebellion, or levying war against the King*. Which fide was the firft aggreffor in the affair at Lexington+, (where a detachment of regulars attempting to feize fome cannon. and ammunition, a fharp engagement enfued) every man will decide upon according to his political attachments, for both parties difclaim it. However, this action in its

* Sir William Blackstone says, that " in cases of national oppreffion the nation has very justifiably risen, as one man, to vindicate the original compact between the King and the people. Commentaries, Book IV. Chap. VI.

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confequences tended to beat up all America to arms: Congress being foon after reassembled, (notwithstanding the American fecretary had written circular letters to each Co-lony, forbidding it in the king's name, and under pain of his displeasure, to elect deputies for the next general Congrefs) now began to affume the executive powers of government, and appointed Mr. George Washington, (a native of Virginia, and poffeffed of landed property there to the amount of 5000l. per annum) commander in chief of their forces. This gentleman had been trained to arms from his youth; but few opportunities had occurred in which he could gain military renown. His first exploit in arms, about the year 1754, proved unfortunate, but not disgraceful. The Americans efteemed the man, because they believed him to be as much diftinguifhed by his perfonal virtues and talents, as by his fortune.

Twenty thoufand Provincials in arms now hemmed in the king's troops at Bofton, and although large reinforcements from England and Ireland arrived about this time, with which came the Generals Howe, Burgoyne and Clinton, yet it was found impoffible to extricate the army from this difgraceful blockade. The daring attempt of a party of Americans, headed by a Dr. Warren, to fortify an eminence which commanded the town, brought on the fierce and fatal action of Bunker's-hill, where victory was dearly bought, with the lives of many veteran officers *. General Howe, who led the attack, was almoft the only officer who remained unhurt, although in the hottest of the action, and with numbers continually falling befide him. The British troops, trained to difcipline and inured to service, twice retreated before a body of peafants, who then, for the first time, faced an enemy. The undaunted courage of the General, which was well feconded by his officers,

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