1775. April.

The most appalling danger proceeded from the Indians. of the north-west, whom it was now known Canadian emissaries were seeking to influence. The hateful office fell naturally into the hands of La Corne, Hamilton the lieutenant-governor for Detroit, and others, who were most ready to serve the bad passions of those from whom they expected favors. Guy Johnson was also carefully removing the American missionaries from the Six Nations.

Countervailing measures were required for immediate security. Dartmouth College, "a new and defenceless institution of charity on the frontier, where children of the Six Nations received Christian training, was "threatened with an army of savages;" its president, Eleazer Wheelock, sent therefore, as the first envoy from New England, the young preacher James Dean, who was a great master of the language of the Iroquois, "to itinerate among the tribes in Canada, and brighten the chain of friendship."

To the Mohawks, whose ancient territory included the passes from Canada and the war-paths from the more remote western nations, the Massachusetts congress despatched the humane and thoughtful Kirkland, who had lived among them as a missionary; and who was now instructed to prevail with them either to take part with the Americans, or "at least to stand neuter, and not assist their enemies." To each of the converted Indians who were domiciled at Stockbridge, the congress voted a blanket and a ribbon as a testimony of affection, saying: "We are all brothers." The Stockbridge Indians, after deliberating in council for two days, promised to intercede with the Six Nations in behalf of the colonists among whom they dwelt.

The congress of Massachusetts adopted a code for its future army, and authorized the committee of safety to form six companies of artillery; yet they refused to take into pay any part of the militia or minute men. They enjoined every town to have its committee of correspondence; they ordered a day of fasting and prayer for the union of the American colonies and their direction to such measures as God would approve; they encouraged the poor

of Boston to move into the country; they sent special envoys to each of the other New England states to concert measures for raising an army of defence; and they urged "the militia and minute men " in the several towns to be on the alert. They forbade every act that could be interpreted as a commencement of hostilities; but they resolved unanimously that the militia might act on the defensive. If the forces of the colony should be called out, the members of the congress agreed to repair instantly to Concord. Then, on the fifteenth of April, they adjourned, expecting a long and desperate war with the mighty power of Great Britain, yet with no treasury but the good-will of the people; not a soldier in actual service; hardly ammunition enough for a parade day; as for artillery, having scarcely more than ten iron cannon, four of brass, and two cohorns; with no executive but the committee of safety; no internal government but by committees of correspondence; no visible centre of authority; and no eminent general officer. Anarchy must prevail, unless there lives in the heart of the people an invisible, resistless, formative principle, that can organize and guide.

Gage, who himself had about three thousand effective men, learned through his spies the state of the country, and the ludicrously scanty amount of stores collected by the provincial committees at Worcester and Concord. The report increased his confidence as well as the insolence of his officers; and, as soon as the members of the congress had gone to their homes, he resolved on striking a blow, as the king desired.

On the tenth of April, the lord mayor, Wilkes, with 1775. the aldermen and livery of London, approached the Apr. 10. throne, to complain to the king that the real purpose of his ministers, whom they earnestly besought him to dismiss, was "to establish arbitrary power over all America;" the king answered: "It is with the utmost astonishment that I find any of my subjects capable of encouraging the rebellious disposition which unhappily exists in some of my colonies;" and, by a letter from the lord chamberlain, he announced his purpose never again to receive on the throne

any address from the lord mayor and aldermen but in their corporate capacity.

If more troops were sent, the king's standard erected, and a few of the leaders taken up, Hutchinson was ready to stake his life for the submission of the colonies. Some of the ministry believed that they were getting more and more divided, and that there would be no great difficulty in bringing the contest to a conclusion. The sending of re-enforcements was treated as almost a matter of indifference.

To assist in disjoining the colonies, New York, North Carolina, and Georgia were excepted from restraints imposed on the trade and fisheries of all, the rest. That North Carolina could be retained in obedience, through a part of its own people, was believed in England, on the authority of its governor. With the utmost secrecy, the king sent over Allan Maclean of Torloish, to entice to the royal standard the Highlanders of the old forty-seventh regiment, now settled in that province; at the very time when its convention, which met on the third of April, were expressing a perfect agreement with the general congress, and were heartily seconded by its assembly.

New York was the pivot of the policy of ministers. The defection of its assembly from the acts of the general congress was accepted as conclusive proof that the province would adhere to the king. But, if Rivington's gazette quoted texts of Scripture in favor of passive obedience, Holt's paper replied by other texts and examples. 1775. The New York merchants who furnished supplies to Apr. 15. the British army at Boston were denounced at the liberty pole as enemies to the country. When Sears, who moved that every man should provide himself with fourand-twenty rounds, was carried before the mayor and refused to give bail, he was liberated on his way to prison; and with flying colors, a crowd of friends, and loud huzzas for him and for Macdougall, was conducted through Broadway to a meeting in the Fields. If the assembly, by a majority of four, refused to forbid importations, the press taunted them for taking gifts; and, when they would have

1775.

Apr. 20.

permitted a ship to discharge its cargo, the committee laughed at their vote and enforced the association. As they refused to choose delegates to another congress, a poll was taken throughout the city, and against one hundred and sixty-three there appeared eight hundred and twentyfive in favor of being represented. The rural counties co-operated with the city; and, on the twentieth of April, forty-one delegates met in convention; chose Philip Livingston unanimously their president; reelected all their old members to congress, except the lukewarm Isaac Low; and unanimously added five others, among them Philip Schuyler, George Clinton, and Robert R. Livingston; not to hasten a revolution, but to "concert measures for the preservation of American rights, and for the restoration of harmony between Great Britain and the colonies."

This happened at a time when the king believed New York won over by immunities and benefactions, and the generals who were on the point of sailing were disputing for the command at that place. "Burgoyne would best manage a negotiation," said the king; but Howe would not resign his right to the post of confidence. Vergennes saw things just as they were; the British ministry, with a marvellous blindness that but for positive evidence would be incredible, thought it easy to subdue Massachusetts, and corrupt New York. On the fifteenth of April, letters were written to Gage to take possession of every colonial fort; to seize and secure all military stores of every kind, collected for the rebels; to arrest and imprison all such as should be thought to have committed treason; to repress rebellion by force; to make the public safety the first object of consideration; to substitute more coercive measures for ordinary forms of proceeding, without pausing "to require the aid of a civil magistrate." Thurlow and Wedderburn had given their opinion that the Massachusetts congress was a treasonable body; the power of pardon, which was now conferred on the general, did not extend to the president of "that seditious meeting," nor to "its most forward members," who, as unfit subjects for the king's mercy, were

to be brought "to condign punishment" either in America or in England.

While the king, through Lord Dartmouth, confidently issued these sanguinary instructions which a numerous army could hardly have enforced, four of the regiments, at first destined to Boston, received orders to proceed directly to New York, where their presence was to aid the progress

April.

of intrigue. At the same time, the "Senegal" car1775. ried out six packages, each containing a very large number of copies of "An Address of the People of Great Britain to the Inhabitants of America," written in the blandest terms by Sir John Dalrymple at Lord North's request, to co-operate with his conciliatory resolution.

"The power of taxation over you," said the pamphleteer, we desire to throw from us as unworthy of you to be subject to, and of us to possess. We wished to make the concession. From the late differences it is the fault of us both, if we do not derive future agreement by some great act of state. Let the colonies make the first advance; if not, parliament will do so by sending a commission to America. The first honor will belong to the party which shall first scorn punctilio in so noble a cause. We give up the disgraceful and odious privilege of taxing you. As to the judges dependent on the king's pleasure, if you suspect us, appoint your own judges, pay them your own salaries. If we are wrong in thinking your charters formed by accident, not by forethought, let them stand as they are. Continue to share the liberty of England. With such sentiments of kindness in our breasts, we cannot hear without the deepest concern a charge that a system has been formed to enslave you by means of parliament."

The mild and affectionate language of this pamphlet, composed for the ministers, printed at the public cost, and sent out by public authority to be widely distributed, formed a strange contrast to that written by Samuel Johnson for England, and clashed discordantly with the vengeful orders transmitted to Boston. Yet Lord North was false only as he was weak and uncertain. He really wished to concede and conciliate, but he had not force enough to come to a