1775

Dec. 6th.

tion in anf. to

faid to have relaxed their operations confiderably upon that idea, until they heard the event.

Towards the clofe of the year, the General ConDeclara- grefs published a declaration in anfwer to the royal proclamation for fuppreffing rebellion and fedition, which was iffued at St. James's on the 23d of Auguft. the Roy- In this piece they combated and denied the charges al proclamati- of forgetting their allegiance, of treafon, and rebelon of the lion, and took particular notice of the dangerous 3d Aug. tendency, and indifcriminate nature of a claufe,

Different

prohibiting under the feverest penalties, the carrying on of any correfpondence from England, with any perfons in rebellion, or the aiding or abetting of fuch. But not content with critical obfervations, they conclude with a declaration in the name of the people of the United Colonies, That whatever punishment fhall be inflicted upon any perfons in the power of their enemies, for favouring, aiding, or abetting, the cause of American liberty, fhould be retaliated in the fame kind, and the fame degree, upon thofe in their power, who have favoured, aided, or abetted, or fhould favour, aid, or abet, the fyftem of minifterial oppreflion.

We fhall of ourfelves make no obfervations on opinions the forementioned petition, but will clofe this chaprefpect- ter, (as well as the American accounts for this year) ing this with fome thoughts of the legislature thereon.petition. Those who favoured the plan of pacifying by conceffion, loudly clamoured at the anfwer of Lord Dartmouth, as calculated to drive the colonies to the laft extremities of independence and foreign connection; for this reception, they faid, of fo dutiful and decent an addrefs, amounted to no less than a renunciation of their allegiance.-On the other hand, the friends of the miniftry took it into a different point of view. The petition, they allowed, had a decent appearance. But did they formally admit the rights of parliament? Were they not fill

in arms? and in that fituation could their fincerity 1775. be relied on? They faid, that they only wanted to gain time by a negociation, until they had formed their government, and established their strength in fuch a manner, as would render all future efforts for their reduction ineffectual. We had already gone far in the expences of a war; we fhould not now ftop fhort; but reap the benefits to government, which always arife from unfuccefsful rebellion. And befides thofe great objects, of punishing the obnoxious, and providing for our friends, to revit, without leaving room for a future conteft, that unconditional fubmiffion upon the Americans, which no treaty or negociation could ever obtain. While on the contrary, if amicable terms were now entered into, all our expence and preparation would be thrown away; we muft fhrink from the proposals we had made to foreign Princes for hiring their troops, which would degrade us in their eyes, as our tameness in putting up with the infolence of our own people, would in thofe of all Europe; and all the buftle we had made would pafs over, without having impreffed the colonies with a fenfe of our dignity, or with the terror of our power. Befides the nation was prepared by the language of war for the event, and it was not certain that vigorous meafures, if it fhould be found neceffary to refume them, would be fo well received as they were in the present temper of the nation, whofe favourable difpofition was to be carefully cultivated, and employed in the critical moment.

CHAP.

CHAP. XI.

Affairs at Bofton continued to the total embarkation of General Howe's army from that garrison to Halifax.-From the blockade of Quebec by Arnold, to the entire recovery of all Canada, particularizing the retaking of Montreal, Chamblee, St. John's, &c.-Continuation of affairs in Virginia, North and South Carolinas.-Some account of Sir Peter Parker's Squadron, Lord Cornwallis and General Clinton's troops, with their attack on Sullivan's Island.

THE

1776. HE delays and misfortunes which the tranJanuary sports and victuallers from England and Ireland had experienced, reduced our forces at Boston Diftreffes to great diftrefs. To their diftrefs was added the

of the

army at Bofton during

the win

ter.

mortification of seeing several veffels which were laden with the neceffaries and comforts of life, taken in the very entrance of the harbour; whilft different circumftances of tide, wind, or fituation, difabled the fhips of war from preventing the mifchief. The lofs of moft of the coal fhips was particularly felt, as fuel could not be procured, and the climate rendered that article indifpenfable. The wretched inhabitants were in a ftate ftill more deplorable. Detained against their will, cut off from all intercourse with their friends, expofed to all the confequences of that contempt and averfion with which a great part of them were regarded by the foldiery, and at the fame time in want of almoft every neceffary of life. Calamitous however as that fituation was, it ferved as a fort of refuge to those who were either zealous in favour of the King's government, or fo diffatisfied with the new ftate of things, that they could no longer live with comfort, fome of them hardly with fafety, in their own homes.

It was even feared that the military ftores would fail, and falt provifions at laft grew fcarce. The troops at Bunker's Hill underwent great hardships, being obliged to lie in tents all the winter, under

the

the driving fnows, and expofed to the almost into- 1776. erably cutting winds of the climate in that feafon, which with the ftrict and conftant duty occafioned by the strength and vicinity of the enemy, rendered that fervice exceedingly fevere both to the private men and officers. Various attempts were made, to remedy or to leffen fome of the wants which now prevailed in the army. That of firing, which was the most immediately and intolerably preffing, was in fome measure relieved by the deftruction of houses.

The attempts made to procure provisions were not attended with any great fuccefs. Some vessels which were fent to Barbadoes, obtained through the aflistance of the Governor, and before the matter was fully known, a quantity fo moderate that it would not at other times have been taken more notice of than any common occurrence in trade; but being now cut off from their ufual refources, and having as they said, a famine staring them in the face, with 80,000 Blacks, and 20,000 Whites to feed, and no fufficient ftock in hand, nor any certain fupply in profpect, the measure was deemed fo dangerous, that it occafioned a direct address from the affembly to the king, including along with. the detail of their own melancholy fituation, ftrong complaints against the conduct of the Governor.

A detachment of marines, with an armed fhip Seven and fome tranfports, were fent to Savannah in cargoes of proviGeorgia, with a view, as it would feem by the fions deevent, of obtaining cargoes of rice and other pro- fignedly vifions, whether by force or otherwife. The militia, burnt by however, took to their arms, and would not permit the prothe marines to land, nor the fhips to hold any cor- vincials refpondence with the fhore. In the courfe of the debate which arofe upon this occafion, fome officers belonging to the Colony were feized and detained on board the fhips, and their release being refufed with a high hand, and other circumstances of aggra

in Geor

gia.

CHAP. XI. 1776. vation occurring on both fides, fome batteries were fpeedily erected by the militia on the banks of the river, and an engagement with cannon and fmall arms took place, in which fome blood was fpilt, and feven loaded veffels belonging to the Colony, which the commanders of the King's armed veffels, feemingly by collufion with the Captains or owners, had got poffeffion of, and whofe cargoes would effectually have anfwered their purpofe, were defignedly burnt in the conflict.

Speech.

In this ftate of things on our fide, the provincials before Boston were well covered and fupplied in their lines. They expected with the most earnest folicitude the fetting in of the froft, which ufually takes place there about Christmas, and generally covers the harbour, and all the adjoining rivers and creeks, with a furface of folid ice. They founded great hopes upon this, as upon a most powerful auxiliary, by whofe aid they did not only extend their views to the recovery of the town, but to the feizure or deftruction of the fleet, as well as of the land forces.

In these they were difappointed. The winter was uncommonly mild, and the froft had none of the effects they expected. The expectation, however, probably influenced their operations, and occafioned their continuing more quiet than they otherwife would have done. The arrival of a copy of the King's fpeech,* with an account of the fate

of

King's * In the fpeech from the throne, at the opening of parliament, Oct. 26th, 1775, After accounting for this early meet. ing by the fituation of America, heavy complaints were made of the mifreprefentations of the leaders of fedition in the colonies, who having firit infufed into the minds of the people, a fyftem of opinions repugnant to their true conftitutional fubordination, had at length commenced hoftilities, and ufurped the whole powers of government. His Majefty then entered into the difference of the views of thofe leaders, and of those of the

Crown