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to a more distant period, they thought "so totally improba ble as not to merit consideration." Such were the sanguine calculations of those who directed the public affairs of Great Britain. Seventeen thousand troops were engaged by these treaties, and nearly a million sterling voted to defray the extraordinary military expenses of the year. Twenty-five thousand English troops were also ordered on the same service, and a large fleet stationed on the coast to co-operate. These, with the troops already in America, and reinforcements from Canada, would, it was estimated, amount to 55,000 men, abundantly supplied with munitions, provisions, arms, and ammunition, a force, strong enough, in the opinion of the ministry, to crush America at a blow.

March, 14.

One more effort, to make reconciliation still possible, was made, by the opposition. The duke of Grafton moved for an address to the king, praying that his majesty would be pleased to issue a proclamation, declaring that "if the Colonies, before or after the arrival of the troops destined for America, shall present a petition to the commander-in-chief, or to the commissioners to be appointed under the late act, setting forth what they consider to be their just rights and real grievances, that in such case his majesty will consent to a suspension of arms; and that he has authority from his parliament to assure them that their petition shall be received, considered, and answered." This failed, and parliament, soon after, adjourned.

The two brothers, Admiral and General Howe, were appointed commissioners under the prohibitory act, with power to grant pardons and re-establish peace upon submission. Sir Peter Parker and Lord Cornwallis had already embarked, with part of the corps designed for American service, and Admiral Hotham and Generals Burgoyne and Phillips, soon after followed.

War on an extensive scale, and with an apparently irresistible force, now threatened the devoted colonies. The armies and fleets that kept Europe in awe, and had in a recent war humbled the joint power of France and Spain in both hemispheres, were directed against a few plantations, without revenues, soldiery, military experience, fortresses, or ships; without a common government to concentrate, with the sanctions of legitimate authority, the strength and resources which they actually possessed, embarassed by their anomalous relations towards their assailants, acknowledging

the general authority of Great Britain while they were resisting her with arms, and perplexed by contrariety of opinions and uncertainty of aim among themselves. The contest was apparently so unequal, that the British ministry may be excused for their error of judgment, in expecting an immediate subjugation of their refractory subjects. They could not anticipate the strength of the spirit of liberty which actuated the mass of the American people, and which made them bear up under such obstacles and perils against overwhelming odds, until defeats, disasters, and sufferings, taught them the way to victory.

Tidings of the king's speech, at the opening of the ses sion, and of the immediate proceedings in relation to the petition of Congress, were received in America with deep resentment. The army before Boston was particularly exasperated, and the feeling was improved by the officers, and by congress, to stimulate them to more vigorous measures against the town of Boston before the arrival of the expected reinforcements to the British army. The speech was publicly burned in the camp, and the flag which had previously been plain red, was changed to thirteen stripes, emblematic of the union of the colonies. Differences of opinion had prevailed between General Washington, and the council of officers, on the subject of making a general assault, arising out of the deficiency of powder, and the unsettled condition of the troops. On the 14th of February, his pro$ posal to risk the attack, was overruled; but the new levies having arrived shortly after, with a large force of New England militia, and a supply of ammunition, it was determined to take advantage of the enthusiasm and resentment of the soldiers, to expel the enemy from Boston.

March 24,

The first object was to get possession of Dorchester Heights, which commanded the town and the harbor. Two days before the main attempt was made, a brisk cannonading was opened upon Phipp's Farm, in another direction, to divert the attention of the British from the real object. The feint succeeded, and on the evening of the 4th of March, a party of 2000 Americans under the command of General Thomas, provided with the necessary boats, crossed over to the heights, in silence, and worked with such secrecy and expedition, that on the morning of the 5th, they had erected breastworks sufficient for their own defence, in prosecuting their labours, and had already M

mounted a battery of bombs and 24-pounders. The British admiral announced to General Howe, that the fleet could not remain in the harbor, unless the Americans were dislodged from the heights. An expedition was planned, and three thousand men detailed for the purpose. A violent storm rose, which prevented their embarkation during the day, and scattered the boats, and on the next morning it was found that the provincials had worked so diligently in extending and strengthening their works, as to make the attempt to force them hopeless. Their position commanded the whole town and harbour, and no resource was left to General Howe, but immediate evacuation. 'An informal negotiation was opened with General Washington, through the selectmen of the town, but without the signature of General Howe, proposing, that if the retreat of the British army were unmolested, they would retire without injury to the town. The proposition was not positively acceded to, but the engagement was tacitly complied with by the American forces All firing upon the town ceased. Accordingly on the 17th the British troops, amounting to more than seven March 17. thousand soldiers and a large accompanying multitude, in one hundred and fifty vessels of various sizes and descriptions, evacuated the town, which was immediately occupied by the triumphant provincials. Ten days had been employed in the embarkation, and numerous riots and disorders occurred among the citizens, as well as with the soldiery. Houses were pillaged, and violence and robbery were common, notwithstanding the efforts of the general to prevent them. Fifteen hundred families, adhe rents to Great Britain, accompanied the retreat, and added greatly to the confusion and distress of the scene. The embarkation was hastened by the erection of fortifications in several prominent positions, which threatened to hem in the British forces beyond the possibility of escape. When they at last sailed out of the harbor, they were in a straitened condition for the necessaries of life, food, fuel, and clothing for such a multitude. They were compelled to leave behind a considerable quantity of military stores. They demolished the fortifications of Castle William, and spiked the guns, and after being detained by contrary winds for some days in the roads, sailed for Halifax, where they waited for the reinforcements from England. A naval force was left on the station to wasn the expected British store ves

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sels of the evacuation of the city, and protect them. Several of them however, fell into the hands of the Americans.

As a measure of precaution, General Washington directed General Sullivan at New York, to be on his guard, apprehending that General Howe might direct his course to that city, which was in a defenceless state. General Clinton had already been detached by General Howe, to operate in the south, and Washington, uncertain of the precise plan of operations of the enemy, and apprehending New York to be the point of destination, had sent General Charles Lee to counteract the movement. As soon as Howe's forces left Boston, he sent additional forces to New York.

The entry of the provincial army into Boston, was hailed with great triumphs and rejoicing there and throughout the colonies. Congress passed a vote of public thanks to the commander-in-chief and the soldiery, and ordered a gold medal to be struck in honor of the achievement.

The loyalists who had adhered to the enemy were prosecuted, and their property confiscated and sold for the benefit of the Treasury. The town was put into a state of defence, and garrisoned, and a few weeks afterwards, the commander-in-chief, with the main body of the

April.

army, marched for New York, where they arrived on the 1st of April. General Lee, with a force of Connecticut militia, amounting to twelve hundred men, had succeeded in reaching that city, just at the moment when the fleet, with the forces of Clinton, appeared off Sandy Hook. The British plan was thus frustrated, and Clinton sailed for the south. The occupation of the city by Lee, met with violent opposition and remonstrance from the royalists there, who were strong in numbers and influence. The committee of safety sent to urge him not to enter, because the enemy had threatened that the ships of war would fire the town. "Tell them," was the answer of Lee, "that if they set one house on fire in consequence of my coming, I will chain a hundred of their friends by the neck, and make the house their funeral pile," a threat which brought down the arrogant tone of the king's party, and the patriots were left unmolested. Lee, after putting up works for defending the city, until the arrival of Washington, and administering, with characteristic energy and decision, a test oath to the citizens, set off with his forces, to follow the southern progress of Clinton. Soon after, the commander-in-chief established

his head-quarters in New York, with the greater part of the army, from Boston, strengthened by recruits of the militia of New York and New Jersey.

Before tracing the momentous civil and political events, which followed shortly after, it is proper, for a true understanding of the whole position, resources, and prospects of the colonies, at the moment when they hazarded the Declaration of Independence, to follow the fortune of the contem poraneous military expeditions, in Canada by the Americans and against the southern colonies by the British.

Arnold, with his diminished and suffering troops, amounting to about seven hundred men, had, after the death of Montgomery, successfully maintained himself, and cut off the communications of the garrison of Quebec, until reinforced by detachments under the command of Generals Wooster and Thomas from Boston. The whole force in May, amounted, nominally, to three thousand men, but the smallpox prevailed among them with great violence, and reduced their effective strength to less than one thousand. An attempt was made to fire the town, with the design of storming it in the midst of the confusion; but it miscarried, and the American forces, weakened by sickness, which constantly increased among them, and exhausted by toils in the midst of an enemy's country, were farther dispirited by intelligence of the near approach of a considerable body of English troops, to relieve the town. The progress of the war had not encouraged the Canadians or Indians to take part with the colonies, and the arrival of a very superior force threatened to place the besieging army in a very critical position. Early in May the van of the British troops arrived, consisting of two companies of regulars, and a large body of marines. The vessels that brought them had forced their way with great difficulty through the ice. Governor Carleton, with eight hundred men, belonging to the garrison, having formed a junction with the reinforcement, marched instantly to attack the American camp; but the Americans had anticipated the movement, and commenced a precipitate retreat the day before, leaving behind them their stores, part of their baggage and some of the sick. These latter were treated with great kindness and humanity; proclamation was made, promising protection and aid to such of them, as might be concealed through

May 5.

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