tained for a million to answer any intermediate service, an end was at length put to the fefMay 23d. fion. The speech from the throne contained nothing very ftriking. The ufual fatisfaction in their conduct was expreffed. Information was given, that no alteration had taken place in the fate of foreign affairs, and that the affurances received of the difpofition of the feveral European powers, promifed a continuance of the general tranquillity. A regret was expreffed for the extraordinary supplies which it had been neceffary to demand; and thanks given to the commons for the readiness and dispatch with which they were granted; as well as an acknowledgment, that they had fhewn an equal regard to the exigencies of the fervice, and the cafe of the people, in the manner of raifing them. A proper frugality was promifed. It was obferv

ed, that they were engaged in a great national caufe, the profecution of which must be attended with many difficulties, and much expence; but when they confider that the effential rights and interefts of the whole empire are deeply concerned in the iffue of it, and can have no fafety or fecurity but in that conftitutional fubordination for which they are contending, it affords a conviction that they will not think any price too high for fuch objects. A hope was ftill entertained, that his rebellious fubjects would be awakened to a fenfe of their errors, and by a voluntary return to their duty, justify the reftoration of harmony; but if a due fubmiffion, fhould not be obtained from fuch motives and difpofitions on their part, it was trufted, that it fhould be effectuated by a full exertion of the great force with which they had entrusted his majefty.

CHAP.

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 length grew fcarce. The troops at Bunker's Hill underwent great hardships, being obliged to lie in tents all the winter, under the driving fnows, and expofed to the almoft intolerably cutting winds of the climate in that feafon, which, with the ftrict and conftant duty occafioned by the ftrength 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 provifions were not attended with any great fuccefs. Some veffels which were fent to Barbadoes, obtained, through the affiftance of the governor, and before the matter was fully known, a quantity fo moderate, that it would not at other times have been more taken notice of than any common occurrence in trade; but being now cut off from their ufual refources, and having, as they faid, a famine ftaring them in the face, with 80,000 Blacks, and 20,000 Whites to feed, and no fufficient ftock in hand, nor no certain fupply in profpect, the meafure was deemed fo dangerous, that it occafioned a direct addrefs from the affembly to the king, including, along with the detail of their own melancholy

fituation, ftrong complaints againft the conduct of the governor.

A detachment of marines, with an armed fhip and fome tranfports, were fent to Savanna in Georgia, with a view, as it would feem by the event, of obtaining cargoes of rice and other provifions, whether by force or otherwife. The militia, however, took to their arms, and would not permit the marines to land, nor the fhips to hold any correfpondence 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 ships, and their release being refufed with a high hand, and other circumftances of aggravation occurring on both fides, fome batteries were fpeedily erected by the militia on the banks of the river, and an engagement with cannon and small 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 whose cargoes would effectually have anfwered their purpose, were defignedly burnt in the conflict.

In this ftate of things on our fide, the provincials before Boston, were well covered, and well fupplied in their lines. They expected with the moft earneft folicitude the fetting in of the froft, which ufually takes place there about Chriftmas, 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 moft powerful auxiliary, by whofe

aid they not only extended 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 disappointed. The winter was uncommonly mild, and the frofts 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 the petition from the continental congrefs, is said to have excited the greatest degree of rage and indignation amongst them; as a proof of which, the former was publicly burnt in the camp; and they are faid upon this occafion to have changed their colours, from a plain red ground, which they had hitherto ufed, to a flag with thirteen stripes, as a fymbol of the number and union of the colonies.

In the mean time, the arrival by degrees of feveral of thofe fcattered veffels which had failed from thefe kingdoms with provifions and neceffaries, alleviated in a confiderable degree the diftreffes of the forces at Bofton; and though the winter was not fevere enough to answer all the purposes of their enemies, the climate prevailed fo far, as to render both parties fond of their quarters; to check the fpirit of enterprize, and to prevent the effufion of blood; fo that for two or three months, an unexampled quiet prevailed on both fides.

During this ftate of things, the American cruizers and privateers, though yet poor and contemptible, being for the greater part no better

than whale boats, grew daily more numerous, and fuccefsful against the transports and ftorefhips; and among a multitude of other prizes, had the fortune of taking one, which gave a new colour to their military operations. This was an ordnance fhip from Woolwich, which had unfortunately feparated from her convoy, and being herself of no force, was taken without defence by a small privateer. This veffel contained, befides a large mortar upon a new construction, feveral pieces of fine brafs cannon, a large quantity of small arms and ammunition, with all manner of tools, utenfils, and machines, neceffary for camps and artillery, in the greatest abundance. The lofs of this fhip was much refented in England, and occafioned fome very fevere animadverfion upon the admiralty, both within doors and without, for hazarding a cargo of fuch value and importance in a defenceless veffel.

The tranquillity at Bofton, was in the beginning of March unexpectedly broken in upon, by some fudden and unexpected movements on the fide of the rebels. It is faid, that as foon as the Congress had received intelligence of the prohibitory act, and of the hiring of foreign troops, they immediately difpatched inftructions to Gen. Washington, totally to change the mode of carrying on the war, and to bring affairs at Bofton to the fpeedieft decifion that was poffible, in order that the army might be difengaged, and at liberty to oppofe the new dangers with which they were threatened.

However this was, a battery was opened near the water fide, at a place called Phipp's Farm, on the [*K] 2

night