our of the raw garrison would have done credit to veterans. It afforded an instance, how far the conduct and example of a few brave and experienced officers might operate, in rendering the raweft and worstformed troops refpectable. Indeed, the emulation arifing between the different orders of men which compofed the garrifon, probably converted an apparent weakness into a real ftrength.

The befiegers immediately quitted their camp, and retired about three miles from the city, where they ftrengthened their quarters in the best manner they were able, being apprehenfive of a purfuit and attack from the garrifon. The latter, however, though now fuperior in number, were unfit for a fervice of that nature, and their able, Governor, with a degree of wisdom and fobriety equal to his intrepidity and firmnefs, contented himself with the unexpected advantage and fecurity he had gained, without hazarding the fate of the province, and perhaps of America, in any rath enterprize. The city was now completely out of danger, and the great fuccours which were expected could not fail to relieve the whole province.

By the death of Montgomery, the command of the American army devolved upon Arnold, whofe wound rendered him, for the prefent, unequal to fo arduous a task. Their perfeverance was, however, aftonishing in their circumstances. They had loft, befides their General (in whom it might be faid all their hopes and confidence refided),

the best of their officers, and the braveft of their fellows, with a part of their fmall artillery. The hope of affiftance was diftant, and, at beft, the arrival of fuccours must be flow. It was well known that the Canadians, befides being naturally quick and fickle in their refolutions, were peculiarly dif pofed to be biaffed by fuccefs, fo that their affiftance now grew extremely precarious. The feverity of a Canada winter was also far beyond any thing they were acquainted with, and the fnow lay above four feet deep upon a level. In these circumftances, it required no fmall fhare of activity, as well as addrefs, to keep them in any manner together. Arnold, who had hitherto difplayed uncommon talents in his march into Canada (which may be compared to the greateft things done in that kind), difcovered on this occafion the utmoft vigour of a determined mind, and a genius full of refources. Defeated and wounded as he was, he put his troops into fuch a fituation as to keep them still formidable. He difpatched an exprefs to Woofter, who was at Montreal, to bring fuccours, and to affume the command; but as this could not be done immediately, he bore up, with the force he had, against the difficulties with which he was furrounded. From that time the fiege was for fome months converted into a blockade, and Arnold found means effectually to obftruct the arrival of any supplies of provifions or or neceffaries in the town.

СНАР.

than common degree of attention and perfonal regard, to the earl of Dunmore, their Governor.

In this ftate of things, however, the want of a legal affembly, feeming to give fome fanction to the holding of a convention, a Provincial Congress was affembled in the month of March, 1775, who immediately (under the cover of an old law of the year 1738, which they faid to be ftill effective) took measures for arraying the militia; but to fupply in fome degree thofe defects in that law, to remedy which, as they pretended, all fubfequent ones had been paffed, they recommended to each county to raife a volunteer company, for the better defence and protection of the

country,

This interference in the militia, probably alarmed the Governor, and feems to have been the caufe, that rendered the public magazine belonging to the colony in the capital city of Williamsburg, an object of his appreAp. 20, 1775 henfion. However that was, he foon afterwards employed the captain of an armed veffel, which lay at a few miles diftance in James River, with a detachment of marines, to convey the powder, by night, from the magazine on board his fhip.

Though this meafure was conducted with great privacy, it was by fome means difcovered the enfuing morning, when the apparent fecrecy, and feeming mysterioufnefs of the act, increafed the confternation and alarm among the inhabitants, who immediately affembled with foch arms as they had at hand, with an intention of demanding, or, perhaps, obtaining, reftitution of the gunpowder.

The mayor and corporation, however, prevented their proceeding to any extremities, whilft they prefented an addrefs to the Governor, ftating the injury, reclaiming the powder as a matter of right, and fhewing the dangers to which they were peculiarly liable from the infurrection of their flaves; a calamity, which had for fome time been particularly apprehended, and which the removal of their only means of defence, would at any time have accelerated.

His Lordship acknowledged, that the gunpowder had been removed by his order; faid, that as he had heard of an infurrection in a neighbouring county, and did not think it fecure in the magazine, he had it conveyed to 2 place of perfect fecurity; but gave his word, that whenever an infurrection rendered it neceffary, it fhould be immediately returned. He alfo faid, that it had been removed in the night to prevent giving an alarm; expreffed great furprize at the people's affembling in arms; and observed, that he could not think it prudent to put powder into their hands in fuch a fituation.

Whatever fatisfaction this anfwer might have afforded to the magiftrates, they prevailed on the people to retire quietly to their houfes, without any remarkable outrage, that we can learn, having been committed; indeed, it appeared, from depofitions afterwards taken by order of the affembly, that the officers of the men of war, on that ftation, and particularly the gentleman who might be fuppofed to have rendered himself obnoxious by removing the pow. der, appeared publicly in the streets, during the time of the

greatest

greatest commotion, without their receiving the smallest infult. A report being, however, fpread in the evening, that detachments from the men of war were upon their march to the city, the people again took to their arms, and continued all night upon the watch, as if in expectation of an attack from an enemy. They alfo from this time increased their night patroles, and fhewed an evident defign to protect the magazine from any further attempts.

The whole value of the powder and arms in the magazine, or any purpose to which they were capable of being converted, either in the hands of friends or enemies, feemed very inadequate to the alarm, fufpicion, and disturbance, which this measure excited. The quantity of powder removed amounted only to fifteen half barrels, containing fifty pounds each, of a very ordinary fort, and the remaining flock left behind in the magazine, to about fix of the fame kind; neither does it appear that the number of ferviceable mufkets was fufficient to answer any effential purpose, or even to juftify apprehenfion, and the caution of fripping thefe of their locks, only marked the fufpicion from which it proceeded. A confiderable quantity of old arms, and common trading guns, were not med dled with. Upon the whole, this act derived its only importance, from time, manner, and circumftance.

The Governor feems to have been exceedingly irritated at the behaviour of the people in thefe commotions, and perhaps refented 100 highly, for fuch times, their affembling in arms, not only with

out, but with an evident intention to oppofe his authority. In this warmth of temper fome threats were thrown out, which upon a cooler reflection would probably have been avoided. Among thefe, a threat of letting up the royal ftandard, of enfranchifing the negroes, arming them against their mafters, aad deftroying the city, with other expreffions of a fimilar nature and tendency, not only fpread a general alarm throughout the colony, but excited a kind of abhorrence of government, and an incurable fufpicion of its defigns.

In the mean time, feveral public meetings were held in different counties, in all of which, the meafure of feizing and removing the powder, as well as the Governor's threats, were reprobated in the ftrongest terms. Some of the gentlemen of Hanover, and other of the neighbouring counties, were not, however, fatisfied with fimple declarations. They affembled in arms to a confiderable number, under the conduct of a Mr. Henry, who was one of the provincial Delegates to the General Congress, and marched towards Williamfburg, with an avowed defign, not only to obtain reftitution of the gunpowder, but to take fuch effectual measures for fecuring the public treafury, as fhould prevent its experiencing a fimilar fate with the magazine. A negociation was, however, entered into with the magiftrates, when they had arrived within a few miles of the city, in which it was finally fettled, that the Receiver-General of the colony's fecurity, for paying the value of the gunpowder, fhould be accepted as reftitution, and [B] 2

that

that upon the inhabitants engaging for the future, effectually to guard both the treasury and magazine, the infurgents should return to their habitations.

The alarm of this affair, induced Lady Dunmore, with the Governor's family, to retire on board the Fowey man of war in James River, whilft his Lordship, with the affiftance of a detachment of marines, converted his palace into a little garrifon, fortified it in the best manner he was able, and furrounded it with artillery. A proclamation from the Governor and Council, in which Henry and his followers were charged with rebellious practices, in extorting the value of the powder from the Receiver-General, and the prefent commotions were attributed to difaffection in the people, and a defire of changing the established form of government, ferved only to afford more room for altercation, and to increase the heat and difcontent. Several county meetings were held, Henry's conduct vindi cated and applauded, and refolutions paffed, that at the rifque of every thing dear, he and his followers fhould be indemnified from all fuffering, lofs, and injury, upon that account. The charge of dif. affection was peremptorily denied, and thofe of changing the form of government, and causing the prefent troubles, retorted. They infiled, that they wanted nothing but to preferve their ancient confitation, and only oppofed innovations, and that all the diflurb. ances fprung from the Governor's Jate conduct.

As there are times when all circumflances feem to confpire towards the nourishment and increase в

of political, as well as naturals diforders, fo it appeared now in Virginia, every thing tending to one common center of diftruft," jealoufy, and difcontent. The copies of fome letters from the Governor to the Minifter of the American department, were by fome means procured, and public and fevere cenfures paffed upon them, as containing not only unfavourable, but unfair and unjuft reprefentations, as well of facts, as of the temper and difpofition of the colony. Thus one diftruft begot another, until all confidence being totally loft on both fides, every falfe report that was circulated, was believed on either, and served for its time to keep up the public fever.

In this ftate of comJune ift. motion and diforder, upon the arrival of difpatches from England, the General Affembly was fuddenly and unexpectedly convened by the Governor. The grand motive for this meafure, was to procure their approbation and acceptance of the terms, included in Lord North's conciliatory motion, and the parliamentary refolutions founded thereupon. His Lordship, accordingly, in his fpeech, ufed his utmoft addrefs to carry this favourite point; he fated the favourable difpofition of parliament, as well as of government, towards the colonies; the moderation, equity, and tenderness, which induced the prefent advances towards a happy reconciliation; he dwelt upon the juftice of their contributing to the common defence, and bearing an equitable proportion of the public burthens, obferved, that as no fpecific fum was demanded, they had an opportunity