affift them, they were obliged, with great reluctance, to give up this dangerous and fatal attempt.

Colonel Moultrie, who commanded in the fort, received great and deserved praise from his countrymen, for the courage and conduct by which he was fo much diftinguished in its defence. The garrifon alfo received great applaufe, and a ferjeant was publicly honoured with a prefent of a fword, from the prefident of the Congrefs, for a particular act of bravery. This defence greatly, raifed the character - of the Carolinians and the fouthern colonies, and taught our miniftry that the colonifts in all quarters were in carneft. They had falfely affirmed, that the colonists in the fouth were not fo hardy and brave as the New England ones and thofe in the north, and that the climate or fomething peculiar to thefe colonies, made them all naturally cowards. This was now fully refuted by an experiment which the miniftry could not help feeling in the most tender manner, though their penfioned fcribblers continue to harp fill upon the fame ftring, and repeat the fame notes. Men who are themfelves flaves either to their lufts, or to the will and pleasure of other men, have no ideas concerning thofe exertions, both of mind and body, with which the fpirit of liberty infpires thofe that are poffeffed with it. It is with fuch as it is with difhoneft men, who themselves pay no regard to truth, they believe that there is no fuch thing as honefly in the world.

The apologics at home for this mifcarriage were as inconfiftent as the attempt itself. The blame was laid upon the heat of the weather and the depth of the water, which was not forefeen till the moment of action, and by this kind of apology, when they were

commending

commending the wifdom of the officers and the bravery of the British troops, they were expofing them to the world as deftitute of common fenfe and difcretion. The heat of the weather might have eafly been forefeen, and the depth of the water founded in the fpace of nineteen days. But the advocates for the fchemes of the ministry were willing rather to publish the groffeft abfurdities, than to admit that their fchemes were erroneous, or that the colonists had any courage.

Before we proceed to the progrefs of the grand. army under General Howe, it must be obferved, that during thefe tranfactions in Carolina, the continental congrefs took an opportunity to found the minds of the people concerning a declaration of independency, and by every poffible means to prepare them for it.Upon the 15th of May they fent a fort of circular mainifefto to the feveral colonies, ftating the caufes which rendered it, as they faid, neceffary, that all authority of the crown fhould be totally fuppreffed, and all the powers of government taken into their own hands. As this was an adventerous proceeding, and new in the history of society, we will be obliged to take a view of the arguments offered by the colonists in defence of their practice, as well as of those offered by government for their claims of legiflation. To fet this matter in as clear a light as poffible, we fhall first take a view of the proceedings of parliament, which occafioned this manifefto, and afterwards the refolution of the congrefs. This fhall nearly be done in the words and ftile of the debates and fpeeches in both houfes. The fubject is copious, and though it is abridged as much as poffible, yet it fill will appear bulky to the view of many, but it will be impoflible to understand the merits of this controverfy without

fome

fome particular confideration of the tranfactions at home. To determine fairly with refpect to this unhappy difpute, the fprings of action must always be kept in view, and thefe we only can learn from the various proceedings and debates which were antecedent to the operations of the different fhips of war. Administration was now fo closely entangled in the American war, and a fyftem of their own devifing, that there was fcarcely a poffibility of overthrowing the one without overthrowing the other and that system was fo firmly fupported, that nothing less than fome extraordinary and violent convulfion appeared even capable of fhaking its foundation. Yet notwithstanding this fecurity, the ministry could not help feeling great uneafinefs at the accounts that were daily received from the colonies during the fitting of parlia ment. For though oppofition were not very strong in number, they were very quick fighted in difcovering their faults, and as indefatigable in expofing them, and having effect through all their winding mazes up to their causes. Matters were now come to that pass that it was fcarcely poffible to put a good face on them either to the parliament or to the nation. The miniftry were on this occafion put to their laft fhifts to make things appear with any decent kind of grace to the public.

CHAP.

CHAP. XI.

Proceedings in Parliament-A letter from New York. Petition from the Congress by Penn-Petition from Newfoundland-The Americans declare themselves independent-Preparations for War-Lord Howe arrives at Hallifax-Arrives at Staten IlandSends Papers to Washington-An attempt upon Long Iland refolved-The Progress of the War, &c.

THE calling of a new parliament had rubbed off

fome minifterial incumbrances; all engage

ments, promises, and mistakes with the old were now obliterated with one dafh. But a new and heavy reckoning had already been contracted in one feffion, which had elapfed, of that prefent parliament. The reftraining bills paffed by the new parliament were to have affixed a feal to all the acts of its predeceffors. The General diftrefs arifing from a general punishment in the colonies, would, it was hoped, render the majority the avengers of the caufe of government, and the punishers of the incorrigible. The conciliatory refolution, independent of every other thing, in its double capacity of converting and dividing, was fuppofed well adapted to accomplish all that was wanted. To thefe was alfo added, an army fufficient as the fanguine opinion to look America into fubjection, without the trouble of ftriking a blow. And to

crown

crown the whole, a naval force was to be fent, which of itfelf would be almoft equal to accomplish the whole purpose. Time has already fhewn how badly the miniftry have been acquainted with the flate of the Americans.

Thefe branches of the fcheme of the miniftry became a fubject of animadverfion, and it was not an eafy talk for their friends to fet afide the charges of mifinformation, ignorance, mifconception, and want of capacity, which would attend them. The queftions concerning the war were exceedingly embarraffing. It was asked, fince extremities were determined upon, why was not a fufficient force fent in time to prevent or overcome all oppofition? Why has a courfe been pursued for feveral years to provoke the colonies, warn them of their danger, and give them time to put themselves into the prefent ftrong ftate of defence? If it now appears, faid the oppofers of the miniftry, that five times the number are not fufficient for the fervice, how could the minifter be so totally ignorant and mifinformed as to fuppofe that 10,000 men could fubdue America without bloodfhed?-Those and many other queftions were put to the minifter, which he could not eafily answer.

To remedy the evils arifing from paft tardinefs and inaction, it was now determined to carry on the war with a vigour that would aftonifh all Europe, and to employ fuch an army in the enfuing compaign as never before had been feen in the western world. This was alleged, befides the main and grand object, would most effectually filence all clamours, and prevent troubles and ufelefs enquiries. When the people were once heartily engaged in a war, they would not take time to recollect, much lefs to animadvert,

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