consequence of this violation of all decorum, Mr. Wilkes was apprehended by virtue of a general warrant, his papers were seized, and he was committed to the Tower. In the court of common pleas, however, Mr. Wilkes was acquitted of the charge exhibited against him; and, lord chief justice Pratt declared, that general warrants were illegal.

Mr. Grenville possessed integrity and abilities, but he wanted a sound discriminating judgment. In order to raise a revenue from the American colonies, he projected a stamp-act, which, being resisted by the Americans, was afterwards repealed; but the attempt and its failure laid the foundation for that fatal contest, which at length terminated in the independence of the American colonies.

The name of the princess of Wales having been A. D. omitted in the bill for appointing a regency, in con- 1765. sequence of his majesty's illness, the king, after recovering from his indisposition, determined to change his ministers; and the marquis of Rockingham was placed at the head of a new administration. The highly respectable character of the marquis, however, could not secure the new ministers a continuance in office. Possessing a great share of moderation in principles, their opponents effectually made head against them; and the duke of Grafton became first lord of the treasury; while Mr. Pitt, who was now raised to the dignity of earl of Chatham, accepted the office of privy-seal.

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1766.

Mr. Charles Townshend, the chancellor of the exchequer, who possessed eminent talents for business, but too much versatility of disposition, unhappily revived the design of taxing America, though taxation and representation cannot constitutionally be separated; and, while the earl of Chatham was confined by extreme illness, he brought in a bill for imposing a duty on tea, and some other articles imported into the colonies. Against this design, the Americans formed a general combination for not receiving any of the commodities thus taxed, from the mother country; and, the acts were again repealed, except as far as related to the duties on tea. This concession, however, gave little satisfaction to the Americans, who considered the late acts as unconstitutional, and proposed a general union of the colonies for defending their natural rights.

Meanwhile Mr. Townshend died, and his place of

chancellor of the exchequer was filled by lord North. Some other changes also took place; and the earl of Chatham, who had long been treated with disregard, either on account of his infirmities, or his uncomplying disposition, resigned his office of privy-seal, and from this time lived unconnected with the affairs of government, though he frequently took an active part in the interesting debates which agitated this period.

The discontents which had been produced in A. D. America by the insidious, not to say unjust designs 1773. of the ministry, were about to break out into a flame, that spread into a general conflagration. Laws having been passed for quartering troops in the colonies, and for rendering the governors of the different provinces solely dependant on the crown, the Americans, in order to show their aversion to the measures of the British government, and their determination to resist, destroyed a large quantity of tea at Boston, and obliged ships laden with the same commodity to return from other places withont landing their cargoes. In consequence of these proceedings, acts were passed for shutting up the port of Boston, and for altering the constitution of Massachusett's Bay and Quebec.

This violent stretch of power excited the utmost indignation in America; and the colonies entered into a solemn league and covenant to suspend all commercial intercourse with Great Britain, till the obnoxious acts were repealed. Meanwhile, measures were adopted for holding a general congress of the American colonies; and a bold and spirited remonstrance, soliciting a redress of grievances, was addressed to the king. All remonstrances and petitions, however, being equally disregarded, and every avenue to accommodation, except by implicit submission, shut up, the Americans determined to have recourse to arms, as the only means left for defending their unalienable rights. On the 19th of April, general Gage, commander-inchief, having been informed that the Americans had A. D. collected military stores at Concord, sent a detach

1775. ment to seize them. The detachment was attacked at Lexington, and many were killed on both sides; but the loss on the side of the British far exceeded that of their opponents.

The torch of civil war being thus lighted up, the colonists flew to arms as if by concert, and assumed the title of " the

United States of America," whose affairs were to be managed by a congress. This body of representatives instantly passed resolutions for raising an army, for issuing a paper currency for its payment, and for prohibiting all importations to those places which still remained faithful in their allegiance to the crown of Great-Britain.

A few weeks after this engagement, the British army in America was strengthened by a large reinforcement, which arrived from England, under the command of generals Howe, Burgoyne, and Clinton. Martial-law was now proclaimed; but the congress was not easily intimidated; and, voting that the compact between the crown and the inhabitants of Massachusett's Bay was dissolved, they recommended that province to resume its chartered rights.

As further hostilities were now mutually expected, the Americans, that they might secure Charlestown, sent a detachment of men at night to erect some considerable works on Bunker's Hill. When these operations were discovered in the morning, a heavy fire commenced from the ships; and the Americans were with difficulty driven from their intrenchments by generals Howe and Pigot. In this action, which was very severe, the loss of the British in killed and wounded amounted nearly to half

A. D.

their number, and included many officers. After 1775. this affair, the colonists threw up works on another hill opposite; and the British troops were closely invested in the peninsula.

The general congress published a very animated declaration, in which their reasons for taking up arms were assigned, and the objects for which they contended were distinctly pointed out. They also appointed George Washington general and commander in chief of the American forces. This gentleman had acquired some experience in the last war, when he commanded different bodies of provincials; and his conduct and military skill fully justified the partiality of his countrymen. Another petition to the king was also voted by congress, in which they earnestly beseeched his majesty to adopt some method of putting a stop to the unhappy contest between Great-Britain and the colonies; but this petition, though presented by Mr. Penn, late governor, and one of the proprietors of Pennsylvania, did not obtain an answer.

In the mean time, the Americans, prepared for every event, and animated with the enthusiasm of a people con tending for liberty, no longer confined themselves to defensive operations. Ticonderoga and Crown Point had already been taken by a party of Americans; and it was determined to fit out an expedition against Canada, under generals Montgomery and Arnold; but in an attempt against Quebec, Montgomery fell, and Arnold, after being dangerously wounded, was compelled to make a precipitate retreat.

The state of the royal army at Boston had now become deplorable. By a masterly stroke, Washington compelled the British to abandon the town; and all the English troops, with such loyalists as chose to accompany A. D. them, were precipitately embarked and conveyed 1776. to Halifax. Next day, general Washington entered Boston in triumph.

Soon after, congress, in a solemn declaration, withdrew all allegiance from the king of Great Britain, and assumed for the colonies the style and character of "Free and Independent States." They also published articles of confederation and perpetual union between the provinces ; while in proportion as the prospect of bringing them to submission was lessened, the arrogance and infatuation of the British ministry, at the head of whom was lord North, seemed to increase.

An unsuccessful attempt was made upon Charlestown, in which the English suffered severely; but about the same time, general Howe obtained possession of New-York; and general Clinton and sir Peter Parker took RhodeIsland. General Howe, and his brother, admiral lord Howe, were regarded with partiality by the Americans; and some overtures of reconciliation were made by the two brothers; but the manifesto which they published, offered only pardon to the colonists, and produced no beneficial purpose.

The ill success of the Americans, however, was productive of those internal effects which operate as strongly as external force; and at this period, if terms of conces sion had been offered by Great Britain, the constitutional supremacy of the mother country might probably have been acknowledged; but the time of conciliation was neg. Tected, and the infatuation of ministers prevailed.