CHAP. portionate fhare of refentment; and although XXVI. the military force was fufficient to prevent feri1775. ous attempts, the fpirit of animofity and refo 1775. lute refiftance was affiduoufly kept alive, and inflamed by every fpecies of publication and addrefs. THE refolutions of congrefs afforded room for many contefts; but the difperfion of the members over the whole continent, the zeal refulting from the novelty and arduoufnefs of their fituation, as well as a ftrong political bias, the ftrenuous efforts of the correfponding committees, and the inflamed ftate of the public mind, gave the opponents of government many decided advantages over its friends. The exertions of the popular faction were violent and inceffant, extending in every direction, and appealing to every motive of reafon and of prejudice; thofe of the government party were comparatively feeble and languid, generally tending to remedy or obviate fome diforder or mifreprefentation, and often not adopted till the occafion had ceafed, or was grown unimportant. 23d Jan. THE affembly of New York rejected the proConduct of ceedings of congrefs on a folemn debate, as did New York. a few towns in other colonies; but their ex ample was not calculated to produce general effect; and even the affembly of New York, before the termination of its fitting, voted an addrefs complaining of many grievances, and The inhabitants of Baruftaple in New England, at a town meeting (January 4th, 1775) rejected by large majorities the refoJutions and proceedings of congrefs; at Ridgefield in Connecticut, a special town meeting was held, and the proceedings of congress renounced with only three diffentient voices. Loyal affociations were formed, and the king's authority explicitly avowed in feveral towns, and by a small party even in Bolton." requiring XXVI. 4775 requiring many remedies petitioned for by CHAP. congrefs. On the other hand, unremitting endeavours were ufed to familiarize to the people the idea of having recourfe to arms, and to furnish them with means of making forcible refiftance." THE king's fpeech on opening the feffion of Effect of parliament, greatly increafed the popular dif- the king's Speech. content. Violent refentments were expreffed at the imputation of a prevailing difpofition to difloyalty; it was refolutely denied by feveral provincial congreffes, who declared that a due fubmiffion to the conftitutional laws of their country was the great characteristic of the American people. grefs of Maffachuf fet's Bay. IN purfuance of their refolution at the laft 4th Feb. adjournment, the provincial congrefs of Maf- Meeting of the provinfachuffet's Bay, met at Cambridge. In an ad- cial condrefs to the people, they expreffed fears that from the difpofition of the British miniftry and parliament, reasonable and juft applications for peace, liberty, and fafety, would not meet with a favourable reception; but on the contrary, from the large reinforcements expected, the tenor of intelligence, and general appearances, their fudden deftruction was particularly intended, for refufing, with the other American colonies, tame fubmiffion to the most ignominious flavery. They recommended encouragements to perfons fkilled in manufacturing fire arms and bayonets, and covenanted to purchafe as many as could be produced within a certain time. They declared the higheft detef tation of all who prefumed to fupply the royal The town of Marblehead resolved, "That as the greater part of "the inhabitants might foon be called forth to defend the charter "and conftitution of the province, a confiderable advance of pay "fhould be made to the militia; and decreed the raìfing of a fum of money for that purpose." troops XXVI. CHAP. troops with military or building ftores; exhorted the militia and minute-men' to fpare neither time, pains, nor expence, in acquiring difcipline, and to procure fkilful inftructors for companies not already provided. 1775 Proceedings in other provinces. Penfylvania. SIMILAR meafures, though not perhaps to the fame extent, were adopted in feveral other colonies. Penfylvania was the first, which in a provincial convention approved the refolu-tions of the general congrefs; and adopted means for fupplying the province, from its internal refources, with the articles neceffary for Virginia. fubfiftence, cloathing, and defence. Virginia Connecti- was forming military companies; Connecticut boafted of a park of forty pieces of cannon, and ten thousand foldiers; and in Maryland great exertions were used, and even force recurred to for the purpofe of augmenting the patriotic levies. cut. Maryland. Attempt to feize cannon at Sa łem. GENERALGAGE made fome efforts to prevent the fuccefs of fuch proceedings in his government, but his measures were not projected with fufficient judgment, or arranged with fufficient fecrefy for the importance of the occafion, and the fubtilty of his opponents. While the public mind was highly exafperated, and the rage against the military reftrained only by the dread of their prowefs, no enterprize fhould have been undertaken which was not of great importance in itself, and in which the means of fuccefs were not fo combined as to render disappointment impoffible. But Gage was of an unfufpicious confiding difpofition; flow to believe that the Americans would urge oppofition to the last extremities; tardy in adopting meafures of coercion, and eafily dipofed to fuf • So called from their engaging to be ready at a minute's notice. pend XXVI. 1775 pend compulfive efforts. Having received intel- CHAP. ligence that fome ordnance was depofited at Salem, he difpatched a field officer with a fmall detachment on board a tranfport to feize it. 26th Feb. This force purfued with eagernefs a falfe information, were arrefted in their courfe by the proprietor of a private road, and baffled in their attempt to pafs a fmall river by the deftruction of the ferry boat, which was cut through with axes before their eyes; they were then obliged to avail themfelves of the interceflion of a clergyman, who, to prevent effufion of blood, and fave their honour, obtained permiffion for them to make a fmall progrefs; and they finally returned to Boston without accomplishing their inftructions. In this frivolous expedition, they difplayed the utmost coolness and difcipline; but their difgrace in being foiled, afforded ground for exultation to the provincials, and diminished the impreffion made by the prefence of an armed body. to Con THIS failure might have warned general Expedition Gage against the bad policy of purfuing expe- tord. ditions with an infufficient force up the country, where every hour's march firengthened the enemy, and rendered retreat more dangerous and precarious. Such efforts encouraged attack, and incurred the rifque of defeat at the most critical moment of the conteft. Yet his next attempt was of a fimilar nature. Having learned that military and naval stores, purchafed for the provincial congrefs, were depofited at Concord, he confided to lieutenantcolonel Smith, and major Pitcairne of the marines, the command of a fecret expedition, compofed of grenadiers and light infantry, to feize or deftroy them. THERE 1775. 18th Apr. СНАР. THERE is reafon to believe, that notwithstandXXVI. ing the precautions taken, intelligence of the general's intentions had tranfpired. The troops were embarked in the night in boats, and conveyed up Charles river, to a place called Phipps's farm: they landed before day, and in order to keep their march profoundly fecret, feized all paffengers; yet they had advanced only a few miles, when they perceived by the firing of guns and ringing of bells, that the country was alarmed. Colonel Smith immediately detached fix companies of light infantry to fecure two bridges on different roads, leading from Concord, and on the other fide of that town. 9th. Hoftilities at Lexing ton. Stores destroyed at Concord. Ar five o'clock in the morning they reached Lexington, fifteen miles diftant from Boston, near which they perceived a military corps exercifing on a green; thefe perfons were peremptorily fummoned to throw down their arms and difperfe; the former part of the injunction was difregarded, the latter fullenly obeyed, and while the Americans were in the act of retreating, fome pieces were difcharged at the king's troops from behind a ftone wall, and from adjoining houfes: the fire was inftantly returned, and feveral Americans were killed and wounded. THE advanced detachment was in confequence of this delay joined by the grenadiers; they proceeded to Concord, and deftroyed fome ftores; but the light infantry posted at the bridge, were obliged to maintain their pofition by firing on the militia, of whom near four hundred were affembled, and who returned the fire. d Sec Stedman, vol. i, p. 119; Almon's Remembrancer for 1775, p. 81. WHEN |