their ports from that time to be open to every flate in Europe which would admit and protea their commerce, free of all duties, and for every kind of commodity excepting only teas and the merchandize of Great Britain and her dependencies. And the more to encourage foreigners to engage to trade with them, they paffed a refolution that they would to the utmost of their power maintain and fupport fuch freedom of commerce for two years certain, after its commencement, notwithstanding any reconciliation with Great Britain, and as much longer as the prefent obnoxious laws fhould continue. They alfo immediately fufpended the non-importation agreement in favour of all fhips that fhould bring gunpowder, nitre, fulphur, good mufquets fitted with bayonets, or brafs field pieces, fuch fhips to be deducted in return with the full value of their cargoes.

About the clofe of the year, the general congrefs published a declaration as an answer to the royal proclamation, for fuppreffing rebellion and fedition, which was iffued at St James's on the 23d of Auguft. In this declaration they denied the charges of forgetting their allegiance, of treafon and rebellion, and took particular notice of the dangerous tendency and indifcriminate nature of a claufe prohibiting, under the fevereft penalties, the carrying on of any correfpondence from England with any perfons in rebellion, or the aiding or abetting of fuch. But not content with critical obfervations, they conclude with a declaration in name of the people of the United CoJonies, that whatever punishment fhall be inflicted upon any perfon in the power of their enemies, for favouring, aiding, or abetting the caufe of American liberty, fhould be retaliated in the fame

kind and the fame degree upon thefe in their power,

who have favoured, aided or abetted, or should favour

or abet the fyftem of minifterial oppreffion.

We fhall leave for a-while the political manoeuvres of both fides, and give a more particular account of the armies within and about Boston.

By the delays and misfortunes which the tranfports and victuallers from England and Ireland experienced our forces in Boston were reduced to great diftrefs. --What added to the afflictions which they already fuffered, was the mortification that they had of seeing feveral veffels which were laden with neceffaries and comforts of life, taken in the very entrance of the harbour; whilft different circumstances of tide, wind, or fituation, difabled the fhips of war from preventing the mischief. The lofs of most of the coal fhips was feverely felt, as fuel could not be procured, and the climate rendered that article indifpenfible. The miferable inhabitants were still in a more deplorable condition. Detained against their will, cut off from all intercourse with their friends, exposed to all the confequences of that contempt and averfion, with which a great part of them were regarded by the foldiers, and at the fame time in want of every neceffary of life. Grievous however as this fituation was, it ferved as a fort of refuge to those who were either zealous in favour of the king's government, or so diffatisfied with the new ftate of things that they could. no longer live with comfort, fome of them hardly with fafety in their homes.

T

It was now greatly dreaded that the military ftores would fail, and falt provifions at laft grew fcarce.The troops at Bunkers-hill fuffered great hardfhips, being obliged to lye in tents all the winter, under the

driving

dri ving fnows, and expofed to the almost intolerable winds of the climate in that season, with which the ftrict and conftant duty occafioned by the ftrength and nearness of the enemy, rendered that service exceedingly fevere both to the private men and the officers. Many and various attempts were made to remedy and leffen fome of the wants that now prevailed in the army. That of firing, which was most immediately and intolerably preffing, was in fome measure relieved by the destruction of houses. It muft undoubtedly have been a bitter reflection to men of any feelings to think of the cause of pulling down the dwellings and habitations of their own brethren and friends to fupply the neceffity of wants created by yielding obedience to an authority to which the conftitution never had nor could give any fanction. Severe afflictions brought on in the course of providence, in which men have themselves no active hand, may be borne with patience and fortitude, in hopes of better things; but when men rufh wilfully into miferies, by purfuing either doubtful or manifeftedly bad measures, reflection adds much to their fufferings. The commander in chief who had in the British fenate declared his opinion concerning this unjust and ruinous war, could not but feel the pangs of remorfe, in now being a chief agent in bringing miferies both upon himself and his fellowfubjects. When the ideas of honour and heroism are directly opposed to juftice and confcience, they will be found wanting in their influence to fupport a man in extreme diftrefs, provided he has the smallest degree of fenfibility.

The attempts made to procure provifions were not attended with great fuccefs. Some veffels were fent to Barbadoes to procure what could be had of fuch neceffaries

neceffaries as the island afforded, and by the affiftance of the Governor a very moderate quantity was obtained; and it was fuppofed, and not without reafon, that had the matter been fully known, they would not have fucceeded fo well as they did. These iflanders 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 white people to feed, and no fufficient stock in hand, nor any cer-; tain fupply in profpect, could not be fuppofed to fpare much for the relief of the army at Bofton. conduct of the Governor was loudly complained of," and occafioned a direct addrefs to the King from the affembly, fetting forth in à detail their own melancholy fituation, and imprudence of the conduct of the Governor.

The

As neceffity is one of thofe laws which roufes the human faculties to invention, and makes men try every poffible measure to relieve themselves, another scheme was fallen upon to fupply the troops with provifions and neceffaries. A detachment of marines, with an armed ship, and fome tranfports were fent to Savannah in Georgia, with a view, as the event feemed, to carry off cargoes of rice and other provifions, whether by force or otherwife. The militia therefore however took to their arms, and would not permit them to land, nor the fhips to hold any corre fpondence 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 haughtily refufed, and other provoking circumstances occurring on both fides, fome batteries were speedily 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, and which the commanders of the King's armed veffels, by fome collufions with the captains and owners, had got poffeffion of, and whofe cargoes would have effectually anfwered their purpofe, were defignedly burnt in the conflict.

In this ftate of matters with the King's forces, the provincials before Boston were well covered, and well fupported in their lines. They waited with the greateft anxiety for the fetting in of the froft, which in that part of the world fets in about Christmas, and generally covers the harbour and all the adjoining rivers and creeks with a furface of folid ice. They founded their great hopes upon this as a moft powerful affiftant, by whofe aid they had not only extended their views to the recovery of the town, but to the feizure and destruction of the fleet, as well as of the land for

ces.

The openness and mildness of the winter difappointed thofe fanguine hopes; for the weather was uncommonly mild, and the frofts had none of these effects which they fanguinely expected. Their expectation probably had fome influence upon their operations, and their continuing more quiet than they otherwise 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 reported to have excited the greatest degree of rage and indignation amongst them; as an evidence of their indignation, they burnt his Majefty's fpeech publicly in the camp, and on this occaffon they changed their colours from a plain red ground which they had hitherto ufed, to a flag with thirteen ftripes, as a fymbol of the union and number of the colonies. Some