The provincial congrefs are determined to be free. As one thing generally brings on another, and the colifion of parties, for the most part, breaks in the end into outrage, the oppofition to government at last iffued in feizing the revenues and magazines that belonged to the king. In New-Jerfey they feized the treafury, and applied it against government, and for the purpose of their own defence. There was at this time a confiderable fum of money in Jersey for the purposes of government, which was now appropriated for paying the new levies which were carrying on for the defence of the colonies. At the fame time withour confulting with one another, a ftop was made almost every where to the exportation of provifions; and in fome places all kind of exportation was ftopt till the fentiments of the general congrefs was taken. concerning concerning that fubject. Lord North's conciliatory plan, or the refolution founded upon it, was totally rejected by the affembly of Philadelphia and New, Jerfey; nor was it regarded or received in any place. While things were going on in this manner, the governor and forces in Boston, as alfo the inhabitants, continued closely blocked up by land, and being fhut out from provifions and vegetables, which could easily have been afforded from the neighbouring counties, they began to feel and experience a real diftrefs. The inhabitants were in the fame fituation with the forces, and had no other refources for fubfiftence; this made the provincials watch the more carefully to keep out any fupply, thinking the foldiers would fuffer the inhabitants to depart for fear of an abfolute famine; or at least that the woman and children would be fuffered to depart, which was repeatedly required and applied for. There is fome reason to imagine that the governor confidered the inhabitants as neceffary hostages for the fecurity of the town at least, if not for the fafety of the troops. This had as much the appearance of cowardice as any thing that appeared in the conduct of the provincials; for it argued that they were afraid either to fight the colonists in the open field, or to defend the town against their force. To keep women, old men, and children confined for a fecurity for their own fafety, argued that they were either afraid to fight, or believed they were not able to conquer the force that was before the town. It had often been afferted at home, that a few regular troops would go through all America, but now a general, with a number of the best troops in the fervice, was cooped up in a town, and durft not even stay in it without old women,men, and children, ta to guard them. This had a very bad appearance, and gave confiderate people reason to conclude that the ministry were greatly mistaken in their conjectures. The general at last entered into an agreement with the towns-people, that if they would deliver up their arms, they should have liberty to go where they pleased, and carry their effects where they had a mind. This they accordingly did; but to their amazement and furprize, the governor refused to fulfil the conditions on his fide. This was matter of great complaint against General Gage; and it must be allowed, that it favoured both of cowardice and dishonesty; for though he had stripped the towns-people of all their weapons of defence by means of treachery, he durft not ftay in it without them, for fear of the force that lay encamped in the neighbourhood. Many, however, were fuffered afterwards to quit the town at different times, but they were obliged to leave all their effects behind. them; fo that those who had hitherto lived in affluence, were at once reduced to extreme indigence and misery. The general congrefs complained loudly of this conduct of the general, and ranked the fufferings of the inhabitants of Boston among the most grievous and the most bitter of their complaints. They said that paffports were granted in fuch a manner that families were broken, and the nearest connections feparated; part being compelled to leave the town, and part retained against their will. This was very dishonourable to General Gage, and one could with that it had never happened; but as it was positively affirmed by the pro. vincials, and never contradicted, the truth of hiftory requires it to be fairly ftated. The poor and the helpless were all fent out. It is poffible that the ideas which General Gage had of the Americans being rebels, made him conclude that they were a political fort fort of heretics, with whom no faith was to be kept, which made him break his promife in fuch a flagrant manner: It is certain that no man who believed that promifes are facred would have fo palpably violated a voluntary contract, when it was in his power to have performed it. The continental congrefs affembled on the 10th of May at Philadelphia, and foon adopted fuch meafures as established the people in their conduct and refolution. One of their acts was for raising an army, and establishing a large paper currency for its payment; the fecurity of the United Colonies, which title they now affumed, was given for realizing the nominal value of this currency. They also prohibited the fupplying the British fisheries with any kind of provisions; and to enforce this prohibition the more effectually, they ftopt all exportation to thefe colonies and iflands which ftill remained in their obedience to Great Britain, This was a home ftroke which the miniftry and people in the mother conntry were not thinking upon; it was a measure they never apprehended the colonists would have fallen upon in their then fituation. It greatly diftreffed the people of Newfoundland, and all thofe who were employed in the fisheries; infomuch, that, To prevent an abfolute famine, feveral fhips were obliged to return light from that station, to carry out cargoes of provifions from Ireland. When the tidings. of this refolution came to Britain, it was confidered as a mere chimera, and it was faid that the colonists would not continue in this refolution, because it would greatly injure themfelves; but these perfons after wards found a fteadiness in the refolutions of the colonifts, which they never expected would have happened. The miniftry at home feem to have been either ill informed concerning the temper of the colonists, or or willing to be deceived; for nothing fell out according to their profeffed hopes and expectations. In the progrefs of future events in this conteft, they always found themselves difappointed. The city and province of New York, from which government had the greatest hopes, on account of their former refolutions, upon receiving the news of the action at Concord and Lexington, began to depart from their moderation, and feemed to have received a liberal portion of the common temper and fpirit that operated in the other colonies. A most numerous affociation was formed, and a provincial congrefs was chofen. The fituation of this city and province was at this time very critical; for fome regiments of troops were expected from Ireland, and as New York is exposed to the sea, it was not probable that it would be able to abide an attack. However a body of men - from Connecticut arrived in the neighbourhood of that city, avowedly for its protection, and tvith an intention to fupport the difpofition of the people. as there were fufpicions of the infufficiency of this force in cafe of an attack by fea, they applied to the general congrefs, for advice how to behave upon the arrival of the troops. The congrefs, with a prudenc which would in fome affemblies have been accounted great wisdom and fagacity, advised them for the prefent to act defenfively with respect to the troops, as far as it could be done confiftently with their own fecurity and safety;-to permit them to occupy the bar. racks, fo long as they behaved quietly and peaceably, but not to fuffer them to erect any fortifications, or in any manner to cut off the communication between the city and the country. If they attempted hoftilities they fhould defend themfelves, and repel force by But force |