to be tried for offences committed in the colonies. Ancient charters have no longerremained facred, that of Maffachusetts-Bay: was violated; and their form of government effentially mutilated and transformed. On pretence of punishing a violation of fome private property, committed by a few difguifed individuals, the populous, and flourishing town of Bofton was fourounded by fleets and armies; its trade deftroyed; its port blocked up; and thirty thousand citizens fubjected to all the miferies attending fo fudden a convulfion in their commercial metropolis; and to remove every obftacle to the rigorous execution of this fyftem of oppreffion, an act of parliament was paffed evidently calculated to indemnify those, who might, in the profecution of it, even embrue their hands in the blood of the inhabitants.

Though preffed by fuch an accumulation of undeserved injuries America still remembered her duty to her fovereign. A Congrefs, confifting of deputies from twelve United Colonies affembled. They in the most respectful terms laid their grievances at the foot of the throne; and implored his Majefty's interpofition in their behalf. They alfo agreed to fufpend all trade with Great Britain, Ireland and the Weft-Indies, hop-. ing, by this peaceable mode of oppofition, to obtain that juftice from the British minftry which had been fo long folicited in vain.. And

Bb

And here permit us to affure you, that it was with the utmost reluctance we could prevail upon ourselves to ceafe our commercial connections with your island.-Your parliament had done us no wrong-You had ever been friendly to the rights of mankind; and we acknowledge, with pleasure and gratitude, that

your nation has produced Patriots, who have nobly distinguished themselves in the cause of humanity and America. On the other hand, we were not ignorant that the labor and manufactures of Ireland, like those of the filk-worm, were of little moment to herself; but ferved only to give luxury to those, who neither toil nor spin.—We perceived, that if we continued our commerce with you, our agreement not to import from Britain would be fruitless; and were therefore compelled to adopt a measure, to which nothing but abfolute neceffity would have reconciled us-It gave us however, fome confolation to reflect, that should it occafion much distress, the fertile regions of America would afford you a fafe afylum from poverty, and in time from oppreffion alfo-an afylum, in which many thousands of your countrymen, have found hofpitality, peace and affluence; and become united to us by all the ties of confanguinity, mutual intereft and affection-Nor did the Congrefs ftop hereFlattered by a pleasing expectation, that the justice and humanity which had so long characterized the English Nation, would on

proper

proper application, afford us relief; they reprefented their grievances in an affectionate addrefs to their brethren in Britain, and intreated their aid and interpofition in behalf of these Colonies.

The more fully to evince their respect for their Sovereign, the unhappy people of Bofton were requested by the Congress to submit with patience to their fate; and all America united in a refolution to abstain from every fpecies of violence-During this period, that devoted town fuffered unfpeakably. Its inhabitants were infulted and their property violated-Still relying on the clemency and juftice of his Majefty and the nation, they permitted a few regiments to take poffeffion of their town; to furround it with fortifications, and to cut off all intercourfe between them and their friends in the country.

With anxious expectation did all America wait the event of their petition-- All America laments its fate---Their Prince was deaf to their complaints: And vain were all attempts to impress him with a sense of the sufferings of his American fubjects; of the cruelty of their Tafk-Mafters, and of the many plagues which impended over his dominions. Inftead of directions for a candid enquiry into our grievances, infult was added to oppreffion, and our long forbearance rewarded with the imputation of cowardice. Our trade with foreign ftates was prohibited; Bb 2

and

and an act of Parliament paffed to prevent our even fishing on our own coafts---Our peaceable Affemblies for the purpose of confulting the common fafety, were declared feditious; and our afferting the very rights which placed the Crown of Great-Britain on the heads of the three fucceffive princes of the house of Hanover, ftiled rebellion--Orders were given to reinforce the troops in -America--The wild and barbarous favages of the wilderness have been folicited by gifts to take up the hatchet against us; and inftigated to deluge our fettlements with the blood of innocent and defenceless women and children--The whole country was moreover alarmed with the expected horrors of domeftic infurrections--Refinements in parental cruelty, at which the genius of Britain must blush! Refinements which admit not of being even recited without horror, or practifed without infamy! We should be happy were thefe dark machinations the mere fuggeftions of fufpicion--We are forry to declare, that we are poffeffed of the moft authentic and indubitable evidence of their reality.

The ministry, bent on pulling down the pillars of the conftitution, endeavoured to erect the standard of defpotism in America; and if fuccefsful, Britain and Ireland may shudder at the consequences!

Three of the most experienced Generals are fent to wage war with their fellow sub

jects;

jects; and America is amazed to find the name of Howe in the catalogue of her enemies-She loved his brother.

Defpairing of driving the Colonies to refiftance by any other means than actual hoftility, a detachment of the army at Boston marched into the country in all the array of war; and unprovoked, fired upon, and killed feveral of the inhabitants-The neighbouring farmers fuddenly affembled, and repelled the attack-From this, all communication between the town and country was intercepted-The citizens petitioned the General for permiffion to leave the town, and he promised on furrendering their arms, to permit them to depart with their other effectsThey accordingly furrendered their arms, and the General violated his faith-Under various pretences, paffports were delayed and denied, and many thousands of the inhabitants are at this day confined in the town in the utmoft wretchednefs and want -The lame, the blind, and the fick, have indeed been turned out into the neighbouring fields; and fome, eluding the vigilance of the fentinels, have efcaped from the town by fwimming to the adjacent fhores.

The war having thus began on the part of General Gage's troops, the country armed and embodied. The re-inforcements from Ireland foon after arrived; a vigorous attack was then made. upon the ProvincialsIn their march the troops furrounded the

town