1775 officers and foldiers. On the other hand, the provincial CH A P. army was well covered, and fupplied with every neceffary XII. in their lines. It was projected by their leaders, not only to recover the town, but to deftroy the whole British fleet in the harbour, as foon as the frofts, which ufually fet in about Christmas, fhould render the intervening creeks paffable. In this, however, they were disappointed; for the weather, though abundantly fevere to fuch as were exposed to its fury, proved yet infufficient to freeze the creeks as ufual; though it is probable, that the expectation of this event kept the provincials more quiet than they otherwife would have been. Their privateers were nevertheless at this time extremely active and fuccefsful. Though as yet extremely poor and contemptible, being in general little better than whale boats, they were become very numerous, and made a multitude of prizes. Among thefe was an ordnance fhip from Woolwich, which being feparated from her convoy, and of no force herself, was taken by a small privateer. This was an acquifition of the utmost importance to the American army, as the veffel contained a large quantity of small arms and ammunition, with abundance of all forts of tools, &c. neceffary for camps and artillery, befides feveral fine pieces of brafs cannon, and a mortar on a new conftruction. The whole value of the veffel was computed at 50,000l. and its lofs occafioned confiderable difcontent in England. The news of the king's fpeech, at the opening of the parliament in November, 1775, with the entire rejection Bolton evaof another petition of congrefs, inflamed the provincial cuated by army at Bofton with the utmoft rage. The fpeech was the king's publicly burnt; and, on this occafion, they are faid to troops. have changed the ground of their colours, from a plain red, to a flag with thirteen ftripes, ufed as an emblem of the union of the colonies. The news of fome further coercive acts of parliament determined congrefs to ac with more vigour than formerly; and directions were fent to general Washington, to bring matters at Bolton? to as fpeedy a decifion as poffible. The tranquillity which had reigned for fome time, was therefore fuddenly dif turbed by the opening of a battery near the water-fide, at a place called Phipps's Farm on the 24 of March, 1776. March 2, A fevere cannonade and bombardment from this battery, 1776. did confiderable mischief for this and two or three fucceeding days. But, while the attention of the army was drawn to this, they fuddenly beheld a new battery make its appearance on the morning of the 5th, of which there had not been the leaft vettige the preceding evening. This 1776. CHAP. was fituated on the heights of Dorchefter-Point, and conXII. fifted of mortars and twenty-four pound cannon; by which the fituation of the troops was now rendered very critical; and, as it was evident that new works would fpeedily be conftructed on fome of the neighbouring heights, there appeared to be no fmall danger of having even their retreat cut off, fhould such a measure be found neceflary. The British general, perceiving the danger he was in, ordered five regiments, with the light infantry and gre nadiers, to be ready for embarkation, with a view to storm the new works; but his defign was frustrated, by a violent florm which came on that evening; and, next day, the attempt was judged to be defperate, by reafon of a new work, much stronger than any of the former, which had been thrown up during the interval. There was now no other meafure practicable than that of abandoning the town, and even this could not be done without great difficulty and danger. The provincials, however, did not, during ten days, which were occupied in the embarkation, offer to give the leaft moleftation, nor even to harrafs the rear of the royal troops. It was generally believed, that fome kind of agreement had been entered into betwixt the American and British generals, by which the latter confented to spare the town, on condition that the troops were fuffered, to pafs out of it without moleftation. This, indeed was pofitively denied by the miniftry; but, in proof of it, combuftibles were faid to have been laid in readiness for firing the town, and the select men were permitted to go out and hold a conference with general Washington on the fubject. On this occafion, fifteen hundred of the inhabitants, whofe attachment to the British caufe rendered it dange rours for them to ftay, were taken on board the ships, with their families and effects. The officers had alfo purchafed furniture which they could not leave behind; and the fick and wounded, with the women and children, who naturally required more care than the others, added to the general embarraffinent; fo that though one hundred and fifty veffels were employed, and ten days, as we have feen, allowed for the embarkation, many things were neceffarily left behind. Among these were the cannon at Bunker's Hill and Bofton Neck, with a confiderable quantity of other artillery and military ftores. Some mortars and pieces of cannon were thrown into the water, but afterwards weighed up by the town's people. The fleet proceeded to Halifax in Nova Scotia, to which the XII. 1776. voyage was more favourable than could have been expec- CHA P. ted at that time of the year. Several ships of war were left behind in order to protect the fhips which should arrive from England; and the fortifications of Castle William were blown up, left the Americans fhould, by their means, lock up the men of war in the harbour, and render any future attempt on the town, by fea, totally impracticable. On the 17th of March, while the rear of the royal March 17. army was embarking, general Washington marched into the town of Boston with all the parade of victory. Being apprehensive, however, that general Howe might make fome attempt on New-York, he that very day fent off fome regiments for the defence of the place. The eftates and effects of those who had emigrated along with the British general were confiscated, and the fame punishment was inflicted on fome leyalifts who had staid behind, and were brought to a trial as enemies to their country. By the remaining inhabitants, who now recovered their former eftates, general Washington was received with every poffible mark of gratitude and refpe& as their deliverer, and he received the public thanks of the affembly of the province. The greateft diligence was used in repairing and fortifying the town and harbour, in order to render it fecure against any future attempts; and fuch was the general attachment to this fervice, that the inhabitants, without exception, dedicated two days in the week to it. CHAPTER XIII. Affairs in Britain-Riot at Liverpool Another petition of Congress rejected-Negociations for engaging foreign troops-Mr. Sayer's trial-ParliamentChange of miniftry-Mr. Penn's examinationLand-tax raifed Mr. Burke's conciliatory plan Prohibitory bill paffed-Lord Mansfield's fpeech Militia and indemnity bills-Nova Scotia petitionSupply- -Duke of Grafton's conciliatory motionScotch militia bill-Lord Mayor's Motion A million granted. THE ill fuccefs which had attended the British af- CHAP. THE 1 776. fairs in Bri tain. fairs, during the whole of the year 1775, had by XIII. no means tended to compose the animofities generally prevailing on account of the American war. Even the miniftry themselves dreaded the clamours of oppofition State of afduring the enfuing feffion. The charges of mifinformation, ignorance, and incapacity, they were fure would not be fparingly applied. The queftions concerning the war must be particularly embarraffing, particularly with regard to the delay of fending a fufficient number of troops to quafh the rebellion at once. Ten thousand men, it had been afferted with the utmoft confidence, were abundantly fufficient to reduce the whole continent; yet the event had shewn, that 10,000 of the beft troops Britain could afford, were not only utterly infufficient to fubdue a fingle province, but could not keep their ground in it. By what means, therefore, were the reft to be fubdued? or, to what purpose had a continued course of threats and provoking measures been ufed with the colonists at the |