that body the depositions which had been taken for the purpose of shewing that, in the battle of Lexington, the king's troops were entirely the aggressors; together with the proceedings of the provincial assembly of Massachussetts on that occasion.

They had now arrived at the crisis to which things had for some time been rapidly tending; and it became necessary for the delegates of the other provinces finally to determine, either to embark with New England in actual war, or, by separating themselves from those colonies, to surrender the object for which they had so long jointly contended, and submit to that unlimited supremacy which was claimed by the British Parliament.

Even among the well-informed of the American people, the opinion that the contest between the mother country and her colonies would ultimately be decided by the sword, had not become general. The hope had been hitherto indulged by a great portion of the popular leaders, that the union of the colonies, the extent and serious aspect of the opposition, and the distress which their non-importation agreements would produce among the merchants and manufacturers of the parent state, would induce the administration to recede from the high pretensions which had been insisted on, and would restore that harmony and free intercourse which had formerly subsisted between the two countries,

and

and which they sincerely believed to be advantageous to both. This opinion had derived strength from the communications made to them by many of their zealous friends in England. The divisions and discontents of that country had been represented as much greater than the fact would justify; and the exhortations transmitted to them, to persevere in the honourable course which had been commenced with so much glory, had gene rally been accompanied with assurances, that success must yet crown their patriotic labours. Very many had engaged with zeal in the resistance made by America, and had acted on a full conviction of the correctness of the principles for which they contended, who would very reluctantly have engaged in the measures which had been adopted, had they really believed that those measures would have terminated in war. But each party counted too much on the divisions of the other, and each seems to have taken step after step in the hope that its adversary would yield the point in contest without resorting to open force. Thus, on both sides, the public feelings had been gradually conducted to a point which would in the first instance have been thought of with horror; and had been prepared for events, the contemplation of which, in the beginning of the controversy, would have alarmed the most intrepid. The sentiment now prevailing in the middle and southern colonies T 4

was,

was, that a reconciliation, on the terms proposed by America, was not even yet impracticable, and was devoutly to be wished; but that war, with all its hazards and its horrors, was to be preferred to a surrender of those rights for which they had contended, and to which they believed every British subject, wherever placed, to be unquestionably entitled.

They did not hesitate, therefore, which part of the alternative now offered them to embrace, and their delegates united cordially with those of their northern brethren in such measures as the present exigency required. It was unanimously determined, that as hostilities had actually commenced, and as large reinforcements to the British army were expected, these colonies should be immediately put in a state of defence, and that the militia of New York should be armed and trained, and kept in readiness to act at a moment's warning. It was also determined to embody a number of men, without delay, for the protection of the inhabitants of that place; but they appear not to have been authorized to oppose the landing of any troops which might have been ordered to that station by the crown. The convention of New York had already consulted Congress on the steps. to be pursued by that colony in the event of the arrival of the troops daily expected at that place from Europe; and they had been advised to permit

the

the soldiers to take possession of the barracks, and to remain there so long as they conducted themselves peaceably; but if they committed hostilities, or invaded private property, the inhabitants were then to repel force by force. Thus anxious was Congress, even after a battle had been fought, not to widen still further the breach between the two countries. In addition to the real wish for reconciliation, much felt by a majority of this body, the soundest policy directed that the people of America should engage in the arduous conflict which was approaching, with a perfect conviction. that it was forced upon them, and that it had been occasioned by no fault of theirs, and by no intemperate conduct on the part of their leaders. The divisions existing in several of the states suggested the propriety of this conduct, even to those who despaired of deriving any other benefit from it than a greater degree of union among their own countrymen. In this spirit, they mingled with their resolutions for putting the country in a state of defence, others expressive of their most earnest wish for reconciliation with the mother country; to effect which, they determined on addressing once more an humble and dutiful petition to the king, and on adopting measures for opening a negociation, in order to accommodate the unhappy disputes subsisting between Great Britain and the colonies.

As no great confidence could now be placed in the success of pacific propositions, the resolution for putting the country in a state of defence was accompanied with others rendered necessary by that undetermined state between peace and war, in which America was now placed. All exports to those colonies which had not deputed members to Congress, were stopped; and all supplies of provisions, and of other necessaries to the British fisheries, were prohibited. Though this resolution was only a further prosecution of the system of commercial resistance which had been adopted before the commencement of hostilities, and was evidently provoked by the late acts of parliament; yet it seems to have been entirely unsuspected, and certainly produced very great distress. A few days after the adoption of this measure, it was resolved, that no bill of exchange drawn by any person belonging to the army or navy should be negociated, nor any money furnished to such person by the inhabitants of the colonies. All supplies of provisions, or other necessarics to the army or navy in Massachussett's Bay, and to any vessel employed in transporting British troops to America, or from one colony to another, were prohibited.

Massachussetts having stated the difficulties resulting from being without any regular form of government," at a time when an army was to be raised to defend themselves against the butcheries

and