of distraction, it is highly probable that some attention would have been paid to them. "The view (he said) in which the colonies ought to behold this conciliatory proposal, was no more than an earnest admonition from Great Britain to relieve her wants: that the utmost condescendence had been used in the mode of application; no determinate sum having been fixed, as it was thought most worthy of British generosity to take what they thought could be conveniently spared, and likewise to leave the mode of raising it to themselves," &c. But the clamour and dissatisfaction were now so universal, that nothing else could be heard. The June 1. governor had called an assembly for the purpose of laying this conciliatory proposal before them; but it had been little attended to. assembly began their session by inquiries into the state or the magazine. It had been broken into by some of the townsmen; for which reason spring guns had been placed there by the governor, which discharged them

The

selves upon the offenders at their entrance; June 8. these circumstances, with others of a similar kind, raised such a violent uproar, that, as soon as the preliminary business of the session was over, the governor retired on board the Fowey man of war, informing the assembly that he durst no longer trust himself on shore. This produced a long course of disputation, which ended in a positive refusal of the governor to trust himself again in Williamsburg, even to give his assent to the bills, which could not be passed without it, although the assembly offered to bind themselves for his personal safety. In his turn he requested them to meet him on board the man of war, where he then was; but his proposal was rejected, and all farther correspondence, containing the least appearance of friendship, was discontinued.

Lord Dunmore, having thus abandoned his government, attempted to reduce by force those whom he could no longer govern. Some of the most strenuous adherents to the British cause, whom their zeal had rendered obnoxious at home, now repaired to him. He was also joined by numbers of black slaves. With these, and the assistance of the British shipping, he was for some time enabled to carry on a kind of predatory war, sufficient to hurt and exasperate, but not to subdue. After some inconsiderable attempts on land, Nov. 7. proclaiming liberty to the slaves,and setting up the royal standard, he took up his residence at Norfolk, a maritime town of some consequence, where the people were better affected to Britain than in

most other places. A considerable force, however, was collected against him; and the natural impetuosity of his temper prompting him to act against them with more courage than caution, he was entirely defeated, and obliged to retire to his shipping, which was now crowded by the number of those who had incurred the resontment of the provincials.

In the mean time, a scheme of the utmost magnitude and importance was formed by one Mr. Connelly, a Pennsylvanian, attached to the cause of Britain. The first step of this plan was to enter into a league with the Ohio Indians. This he communicated to lord Dunmore, and it received his approbation: Upon which Connelly set out, and actually succeeded in his design. On his return, he was dispatched to general Gage, from whom he received a colonel's commission, and set out in order to accomplish the remainder of his scheme. The plan in general was, that he should return to the Ohio, where, by the assistance of the British and Indians in these parts, he was to penetrate through the back settlements into Virginia, and join lord Dunmore at Alexandria. But by an accident very naturally to be expected, he was discovered, taken prisoner, and confined.

1776. Jan. 1.

After the retreat of lord Dunmore from Norfolk, that place was taken possession of by the provincials, who greatly distressed those on board lord Dunmore's fleet, by refusing to supply them with any necessaries, and by firing on them from behind the buildings and warehouses on the wharves. These proceedings drew a remonstrance from his lordship; in which he likewise insisted that the fleet should be furnished with necessaries; but his request being denied, a resolution was taken to set fire to the town. After giving the inhabitants proper warning, a party landed, under cover of a man of war, and set fire to that part which lay nearest the shore; but the flames were observed at the same time to break forth in every other quarter, and the whole town was reduced to ashes. This universal destruction, occasioned a loss of more than £300,000.

In the southern colonies of Carolina, the gevernors were expelled, and obliged to take refuge on board of men of war, as lord Dunmore. had been; Mr. Martin, governor of North Carolina, on a charge of attempting to raise the back settlers, consisting chiefly of Scotch Highlanders, against the colony. Having secured themselves against any attempts of these enemies, however, they proceeded to regulate their internal concern in the same manner as the rest of the colonies.

Towards the end of the year 1775, Britain beheld the whole of America united against her in the most determined opposition. Her vast possessions of that tract of land (since known by the name of the United States) were now reduced to the single town of Boston; in which her forces were besieged by an enemy with whom they were apparently not able to cope, and by whom they must of course expect in a very short time to be expelled. The situation of the inhabitants of Boston, indeed, was peculiarly unhappy. After hav

ing failed in their attempts to leave the town, in April, as has been already related, general Howe, who succeeded general Gage in October, 1775, being apprehensive that they might give intelligence of the situation of the British troops, strictly prohibited any person from

1776. March.

leaving the place under pain of military execution. Thus matters continued till the month of March 1776, when the town was evacuated.

General Washington opened a battery on the west side of the town, from whence it was bombarded, with a heavy fire of cannon at the same time; and three days after, it was attacked by another battery from the eastern shore. This terrible attack continued for 14 days without intermission; when general Howe, finding the place no longer tenable, determined if possible to drive the enemy from their works. Preparations were therefore made for a most vigorous attack, on a hill called Dorchester Neck, which, during one night, the Americans had fortified in such a manner as would in all probability have rendered the enterprise next to desperate. No difficulties, however, were sufficient to daunt the spirit of the general; and every thing was in readiness, whenja sudden storm prevented an exertion which must have been productive of a dreadful waste of blood. Next day, upon a more close inspection of the works they were to attack, it was thought advisable to desist from the enterprise altogether. The fortifications were very strong, and extremely well provided with artillery; and, besides other implements of destruction, upwards of 100 hogsheads of stones were provided to roll down upon the enemy as they came up; which, as the ascent was extremely steep, must have done prodigious execution.

Nothing therefore now remained but to think of a retreat; and even this was attended with the utmost difficulty and danger. The Americans, however, knowing that it was in the power of the British general to reduce the town to ashes, which could not have been repaired in many years, and being told by four of the

selectmen, who were allowed to go to the American camp, that general Howe did not intend to burn the town unless he was impeded in his embarkation, did not think proper to give the least molestation; and for the space of a fortnight the troops were employed in the evacuation of the place, from whence they carried along with them 2000 of the inhabitants, who durst not stay, on account of their attachment to the British cause. Several ships were left behind, in order to protect such vessels as should arrive from Britain; and the fortifications of Castle William were blown up, lest the Americans should, by their means, look up the men of war in the harbour, and render any future attempt on the town by sea, totally impracticable. From Boston they sailed to Halifax; but all their vigilance could not prevent a number of valuable ships from fall. ing into the hands of the Americans. During the embarkation of the rear of the royal army, March 17. general Washington marched into the town of Boston with all the parade of vic tory, and was received by the inhabitants, who now recovered their liberty, with every possible mark of gratitude and respect, as their deliverer. He likewise received the public thanks of the assembly of the province. Being apprehensive however, that general Howe, who had rather more than 7000 men embark. ed, might make some attempt on New York, he that very day sent off some regiments for the defence of the place, under the conduct of general Lee. A considerable quantity of cannon and ammunition had also been left at Bunker's Hill and Boston Neck; and in the town, an immense variety of goods, principally woollen and linen, of which the provincials stood very much in need. Some shops, it is said, were opened and stripped of their goods by the soldiers; part was carried off, and part wantonly destroyed. These irregularities were forbidden in orders, and the guilty threatened with death; but nevertheless much mischief was committed. The estates of those who fled to Halifax were confiscated; as also those who were attached to government, and had remained in the town:

As an attack was expected as soon as the British forces should arrive, every method was employed to render the fortifications, already very strong, impregnable. For this purpose, some foreign éngineers were employed, who had before arrived at Boston; and so eager were people of all ranks to accomplish this business, that every able bodied man in the place, without distinction of rank, set apart two days in the week, to complete it the sooner.

VOL. I.

9

CHAP. VIII.

The Siege of Quebec continued-General Carleton receives relief-Sullies out, and defeats the Americans-His humanity-General Thomson defeated-General Sullivan retreats and saves the remains of the American armyGeneral Gordon shot by Lieutenant Whitcombe, when anarmed-Captain Mugford's Exploits in Boston BayLieutenant Colonel Campbell and a number of Highlanders carried in prisoners to Boston, after a smart combat-General Moore defeats the Loyalists in North CarolinaCharleston, in South Carolina, besieged by a British fleet and army-They are obliged to retreat with great lossCommodore Hopkins siezes ordnance and stores in the Bahama Islands-Failed in his attempts upon the Glasgow frigate-The British convey vessels up Lake Champlain, and destroy the Naval Force of the Americans-Congress declare the States independent-Battle on Long IslandGeneral Washington's able Retreat-The Royal Commissioners hold a Conference with a Committee of CongressNew York abandoned-Battle at the White Plains-The British over run the Jersies-The desperate situation of the American affairs-General Lee taken prisoner and closely confined-Lieut. Colonel Campbell confined in a dungeon in Concord gaol-Gen. Sullivan joins Gen. Washington-Rhode Island taken, and Commodore Hopkins's squadron blocked up-Gen. Washington invested with Dictatorial Power-He gives a new turn to the affairs of America, by surprising and defeating the British in the Battles of Trenton and Princeton-Cruelties of the Hessians and British in the Jersies-Causes of the decline of the British affairs-Indians attack the back settlements of the Southern States-They are routed and sus for Peace-Affairs in Britain-American privateers distress their trade-An account of John the Painter.

IN Canada, the American arms continued unsuccessful; nor did they ever recover after the blow they re. ceived before the walls of Quebec. That unsuccessful assault made a deep impression on the Canadians and Indians, which the most animating addresses of Congress were unable to remove.

Jan. 24.

Congress, in their letter to the Canadians, observed,, "Such is the lot of human nature, that the best of causes are subject to vicissitudes; but generous souls, enlightened and warmed with the fare of liberty, become more resolute as difficulties in..