cause, had been ill treated; and began to refuse passes. This refusal excited violent complaints, both among the Bostonians and the provincials stationed without. The governor, however, persisted in his resolution. If he afterwards permitted some few citizens to depart, it was only upoit condition that they should leave their furniture and effects; which subjected them to no little detriment and inconvenience. Many of them, who were accustomed to live in a style of great elegance found themselves reduced, by this extraordinary rigor, to an absolute destitution of things of the first necessity. It was also said, and with too much appearance of probability, that, from a certain eruelty, which no motive can excuse, in granting passports, he studied to divide families, separating wives from husbands, fathers from children, brothers from each other; some obtained permission to depart-others were forced to remain.

The poor and sick might all retreat, without opposition; but their departure was accompanied with a circumstance, which, if it was not the effect of a barbarous intention, ought at least to have been prevented with the most sedulous care; among the sick, those were suffered to pass who were attacked with the smallpox, a very mortal disease in America, where it excites the same horror as the plague itself in Europe and in Asia. The contagion spread rapidly, and made frightful ravages among the provincials.

While these things were passing within and about Boston, the other provinces were making their preparations for war with extreme activity. The city of New York itself, in which the English had more friends than in any other on the continent, and which hitherto had manifested so much reserve, at the first news of the battle of Lexington, was seized with a violent emotion, and resolved to make common cause with the other colonies. The inhabitants adopted the resolutions of the general congress, with the determination to persist in them until the entire reestablishment of constitutional laws. They drew up an energetic address to the common council of the city of London, which had shown itself favorable to the cause of the colonies; they declared, that all the calamities in the train of civil war, could not constrain the Americans to bend to the will of Great Britain; and that such was the universal sentiment, from Nova Scotia to Georgia; they conjured the city of London to exert all its endeavors to restore peace between the two parts of the empire; but as to themselves, they protested their determination never to endure ministerial tyranny.

The inhabitants were all indefatigable in training themselves to the use of arms; the patriots, to resist England; and the partisans of the government, forming no inconsiderable number, either because they thought it prudent to go with the current, or to prevent disorders, or to be prepared, with arms in their hands, to declare themselves upon the first occasion. But as the city of New York is entirely

exposed towards the sea, and as the inhabitants could have no hope of defending it against the attack of an English fleet, they resolved to risk nothing by delay, and to seize the arms and ammunition deposited in the royal magazines. The women and children were removed from the seat of danger; which done, they prepared to defend themselves; and, in case they should have lost all hope of resisting the forces of the enemy, it was resolved, horrible as it seems, though but too common in civil wars, to fire the city.

In South Carolina, it was hoped, universally, that perseverance in the resolutions taken against British commerce, would suffice to dispose the government to embrace milder councils. But the intelli

gence of the rigorous acts of parliament was received there the very day on which was fought the battle of Lexington, the tidings of which arrived a few days after. The inhabitants were struck with surprise, and even with terror; well knowing to what dangers they exposed themselves, in undertaking to wage war with Great Britain; as her formidable squadrons could reach them at all the points of a coast two hundred miles in length, and as they found themselves almost totally destitute of arms or munitions of war; without means to equip their soldiers, without ships, without money, without officers of experience, or skilled in tactics. They were even not without serious apprehensions relative to the negro slaves, formidably numerous in this province. They were accessible to seduction, by gifts and promises; and might be instigated to massacre their masters, at the moment of their most unsuspecting security. The province itself had not been comprehended in the parliamentary proscription; and could not, therefore, without manifest treason, spontaneously take part in rebellion and open war. At length, however, the resolutions inspired by courage, prevailed; and such measures were taken as were deemed best suited to the occasion. On the night subsequent to the advice of the hostilities at Lexington, the inhabitants rushed to the arsenal, and seized all the arms and ammunition it contained, and distributed them among the soldiers in the pay of the province. A provincial congress was convoked; a league was contracted by the delegates, purporting, that the Carolinians considered themselves united, by all the ties of honor and religion, for the defence of their country against all enemies whatsoever; that they were ready to march, whenever and wherever the congress, whether general or provincial, should judge necessary; that they would sacrifice their fortunes and their lives to maintain the public liberty and safety; that they would hold for enemies all those who should refuse to subscribe the league; which was to be in force, until a reconciliation was effected between Great Britain and America, conformably to the principles of the constitution. It was afterwards determined to raise two regiments of infantry, and one of cavalry, called rangers. Such was the general ardor, that more officers presented themselves than were

wanted; the greater part from among the wealthiest and most respectable families of the country. At the same time, an emission was made of bills of credit, which, at this epoch, were received by all the citizens, with the greatest promptitude.

In New Jersey, at the news of the affair at Lexington, the people took possession of the provincial treasure; and a part of it was destined to pay the troops which were levied at the same time in the province.

At Baltimore, in Maryland, the inhabitants laid a strong hand upon all the military stores that were found in the public magazines; and, among other arms, fifteen hundred muskets thus fell into their power. A decree was published, interdicting all transportation of commodities to the islands where fisheries were carried on, as also to the British army and fleet stationed at Boston.

The inhabitants of Philadelphia took the same resolution, and appeared, in all respects, equally disposed to defend the common cause. The Quakers themselves, notwithstanding their pacific institutions, could not forbear to participate in the ardor with which their fellowcitizens flew to meet a new order of things.

When Virginia, this important colony, and particularly opposed to the pretensions of England, received the intelligence of the first hostilities, it was found in a state of extreme commotion, excited by a cause, which, though trivial in itself, in the present conjuncture became of serious importance. The provincial congress, convened in the month of March, had recommended a levy of volunteers in each county, for the better defence of the country. The governor, lord Dunmore, at the name of volunteers, became highly indignant; and conceived suspicions of some pernicious design. Apprehending the inhabitants intended to take possession of a public magazine, in the city of Williamsburgh, he caused all the powder it contained to be removed, by night, and conveyed on board an arnied vessel, at anchor in the river James. The following morning, the citizens, on being apprised of the fact, were violently exasperated; they flew to arms, assembled in great numbers, and demonstrated a full determination to obtain restitution of the powder, either by fair means or force. A serious affair was apprehended; but the municipal council interposed, and, repressing the tumult, despatched a written request to the governor, entreating him to comply with the public desire. They complained, with energy, of the injury received; and represented the dangers to which they should be exposed, in case of insurrection on the part of the blacks, whose dispositions, from various recent reports, they had too much reason to distrust. The governor answered, that the powder had been removed, because he had heard of an insurrection in a neighboring county; that he had removed it in the night time to prevent any alarm; that he was much surprised to hear the people were under arms; and that he should

not think it prudent to put powder into their hands in such a situation. He assured them, however, that in case of a revolt of the negroes, it should be returned immediately. Tranquillity was reestablished; but, in the evening, an alarm was given, that the soldiers of the ship of war were approaching the city in arms, the people again also took up theirs, and passed the whole night in expectation of an attack.

The governor, not knowing, or unwilling to yield to the temper of the times, manifested an extreme irritation at these popular movements. He suffered certain menaces to fall from his lips, which it would have been far more prudent to suppress. He intimated, that the royal standard would be erected; the blacks emancipated, and armed against their masters; a thing no less imprudent than barbarous, and contrary to every species of civilisation; finally, he threatened the destruction of the city, and to vindicate, in every mode, his own honor, and that of the crown. These threats excited a general fermentation throughout the colony, and even produced an absolute abhorrence towards the government. Thus, incidents of slight importance, assisted by the harsh and haughty humors of the agents of England and America, contributed to accelerate the course of things towards that crisis, to which they tended already, but too strongly, of themselves.

Meanwhile, in the popular meetings that assembled in all the counties of the province, the seizure of the powder, and the menaces of the governor, were condemned with asperity. But, in the county of Hanover, and the country adjacent, the inhabitants were not content with words. They took arms; and, under the command of Henry, one of the delegates to the general congress, marched against the city of Wilmington, with the design, as they declared openly, not only of obtaining restitution of the powder, but also of securing the public treasure against the attempts of the governor. An hundred and fifty of the most enterprising were already in the suburbs of the city, when a parley was opened, which concluded in an accommodation, and tranquillity was restored; but it was evident, that the public mind was too much inflamed to admit of its long continuance. The people of the country, however, returned peaceably to their habitations.

The governor fortified his palace to the utmost of his power; he placed a garrison of marines within, and surrounded it with artillery. He issued a proclamation, by which Henry and his followers were declared rebels. Finally, with an imprudence of conduct unworthy of a magistrate, who ought never, in the exercise of his functions, to suffer himself to be transported with anger, in acrimonious terms, he attributed the present commotions to the disaffection of the people, and their desire to excite a general revolt. These imputations served only to imbitter hatred, and cut off all hope of a better futurity.

In the midst of these divisions between the people of Virginia and the governor, an incident happened, which still added to their violence.

In like manner as doctor Franklin had procured the letters of Hutchinson, some other person had found means to convey from the office of state, the official correspondence of lord Dunmore; which was transmitted to the Virginian chiefs. Immediately upon its publication, a cry of indignation arose against the governor, for having written things false, and injurious to the province. Thus all re-. ciprocal confidence was destroyed; the slightest casualty became a serious event, and mutual eninity more and more imbittered the inevitable effects of this misunderstanding.

During these disputes, which, apart from the irritation they supported against the government, could have no considerable influence, of themselves, upon public affairs, the inhabitants of Connecticut attempted an important enterprise.

The road which leads from the English colonies to Canada, is traced almost entirely along the rivers and lakes, which are found between these two countries, and in the direction of south to north. Those who undertake this excursion, begin by ascending the river Hudson, up to fort Edward, whence, keeping to the right, they arrive at Skeenesborough, a fort situated near the sources of Wood creek; or, bearing to the left, they come to fort George, erected at the southern extremity of the lake of that name. Both the former

and the latter afterwards embark, the first upon Wood creek, the second upon lake George, and are landed at Ticonderoga; at which point, the two lakes unite to form lake Champlain, so called from the name of a French governor, who drowned himself there. By the lake, and thence by the river Soral, which flows out of it, they descend into the great river St. Lawrence, which passes to Quebec. Ticonderoga is then situated near the confluence of these waters, between lake George and lake Champlain. It is therefore a place of the highest importance, as standing upon the frontier, and at the very entrance of Canada; whoever occupies it can intercept all communication between this province and the colonies. Accordingly, the French had fortified it with such diligence, that the English, in the preceding war, were unable to carry it without extraordinary efforts, and great effusion of blood on both sides.

The chiefs of this expedition, colonels Easton and Allen, considered how essential it was to seize this key of Canada, before the English should have thrown into the place a sufficient garrison for its defence; for, in the profound peace which prevailed at that time, without apprehension of war either abroad or at home, the governors of Canada had made no preparations at Ticonderoga; and it was left to the charge of a feeble detachment. It was evident, that if the British government resolved to prosecute war against its colo