XV. 1775 to the general caufes which induced the people to CHAP. oppose the government. Public meetings and military affociations were univerfally encouraged, and the first were very prevalent. His lordship now received the conciliatory propofitions from England, which he laid before the council of Virginia: that body acceded to thofe offers; but the affembly unanimously refused their concurrence, and increased the military establishment. The governor removed from the public magazine at Williamsburgh, a large quantity of gunpowder; and an armed force, commanded by Mr. Henry, a popular leader, attempted to compel a restitution of the powder to its former place but they were quieted for a time by the agreement of the receiver-general to be refponfible for the repayment. Meanwhile intelligence was conveyed to the governor, that fome of the enraged planters had formed a defign on his life; and, on receiving this information, Dunmore retired with his family on board one of his majesty's fhips. Application was made by the affembly for his return, to give his affent to feveral bills, to replace the gunpowder which he had removed from the magazine, and depofit an additional quantity of military stores for the use of the colony. He answered, that he could not return, unless they diffolved all illegal meetings, refrained from illegal acts, and accepted the terms propofed by parliament. The affembly, receiving this determination, entered the following resolution on their journals: that their rights and privileges had been invaded; that the constitution of the colony was endangered; and that preparations ought to be made accordingly. The affembly having broken VOL. II. up, XV. 1775. CHAP. up, and the members retired to their country-feats, the governor ventured to come on fhore, to a farm belonging to him on the river near Williamsburgh, where he received intelligence that a party of rifle. men were on their march to seize his perfon; he therefore immediately retreated to boats that waited for him by the bank. The provincial party fired several fhot, but at too great a distance to do any material injury. Lord Dunmore, concluding that moderate measures would not answer the purposes of government, resolved to employ very different counfels. The convention of the colony having met, took into confideration the arms, difcipline, and pay of the foldiers, and adopted various refolutions, on the model that had been framed by Maffachufets Bay and the congrefs. Finding his province in what he thought a state of rebellion, his lordship determined to act with more rigours feverity: he iffued a proclamation, declaring martial law to be in force throughout the colony; and erected the royal ftandard, to which he commanded his majesty's fubjects to Scheme of repair. More zealous in his intention to promote the interefts of his country, than difcriminating and moderate in his policy, he projected a scheme of against their very questionable wisdom ;-to allure, by the offer of freedom, negro flaves, of whom there were great numbers in the fouthern colonies, to embrace the royal cause, by rifing against their masters. Even well-wishers to British government cenfured this propofition, as tending to loofen the bands of fociety, to destroy domeftic fecurity, and instigate favages to the most atrocious barbarities. By putting arms into fuch hands, the friends as well as the lord Dun more to ex cite negro flaves mafters. enemies XV. 1775 enemies of government would fuffer; the negroes CHA P. neither would nor could diftinguish between the well and ill affected, and would involve all the whites within their power in a promiscuous maffacre. The Virginians, when this proclamation was issued, were driven to the most furious refentment, and thenceforward fet no bounds to their enmity. The project had the fame fate with many of the compulsory fchemes of government, caufing violent irritation, without affording adequate benefit. He had already fecured the poffeffion of all the country fituated between Norfolk and the fea; when the provincial meeting, in order to prevent the defertion of the flaves, and to arreft the career of the British governor, refolved to fend against him a confiderable force. About the beginning of November, a detachment, consisting of one thousand loyalists, was dispatched from the western fide of Virginia to Norfolk, in the neighbourhood of which they arrived early in December. The river Elizabeth divided them from the town; they attempted to pafs it, but were repreffed by a strong body of provincials, who were pofted on the oppofite fide. More bold than prudent, Dunmore attempted to diflodge them from their intrenchments, but was repulfed: the English abandoned their pofition, and their commander, with the loyalifts, retired on board the fhips. In the back-fettlements, many of the Americans, Connelly's project. knowing little of the proceedings on the coafts, were ftrongly attached to the British government. Mr. Connelly, a native of the interior part of Pennsylvania, proposed to lord Dunmore, to invade Virginia, and other fouthern colonies, with parties of loyalists from U 2 XV. 1775 CHAP. from the inland country, that he might acquire the cooperation of the Indians, and of the flaves ftimulated against their masters. His lordfhip approved of the defign; but Mr. Connelly, having fet out to carry it into execution, was feized on his way; and his papers being read, the whole scheme was difcovered and overthrown, and Mr. Connelly fent prifoner to Philadelphia. Maryland. The Carolinas. Farther of the con grefs. Mr. Martin and lord William Campbell, refpectively governors of North and South Carolina, having adopted fimilar plans of exciting the negroes to infurrection, and calling down the back-fettlers, were obliged to leave their governments, and retire on board fhips of war. His majesty having, foon after the battle of proceedings Bunker's hill, published a proclamation for fuppreffing rebellion, and prohibiting correspondence between his British subjects and American rebels, the congrefs, in a counter-manifefto, denied the charges, and declared in the name of the people of the united colonies, that punishment inflicted by their enemies upon any perfon, for favouring, aiding, or abetting the cause of American liberty, should be retaliated in the fame kind and degree on the favourers and fupporters. of minifterial oppreffion thus.congrefs, advancing progreffively in affumption of authority, now professed to treat the government of Great Britain on a footing of equality. So far were the predictions of minifters from being fulfilled, and their objects effected throughout America, by the civil and military operations of one thoufand feven hundred and feventyfive. Refult of 17750 CHAP. XVI. Britain.-Majority favourable to the minifterial fyftem.— Minifter's dexterity in managing parliament.-The wifeft oppofers of war wave the question of right, and argue from expediency.—Not a war of minifters or parliament only, but of the people.-Apprehenfion of Mr. Sayre for high-treafon -inconfiftent and defective evidence—the accufed is dif charged.-Meeting of parliament.-The king's speech.-General view of minifterial and oppofition reasonings, motives, and proceedings.-Employment of Hanoverian troops in British garrifons.-Inquiry into the last campaign.~Military members of oppofition declare the force inadequate.-Militiabill.-Examination of Mr. Penn, respecting the difpofitions and force of the Americans.-His teftimony difregarded by the majority in parliament.—Mr. Burke's conciliatory bill, on the conftitutional principle of granting taxes only by the people or their representatives-rejected.-Lord North's prohibitory bill-passed into a law.-Different departments of Meffrs. Burke and Fox in opposition.—Petition from Nova Scotia.-Difcuffion of the employment of Irish troops for the Service of the king in America.-Mr. Fox's proposed ing quiry into the ill-fuccefs of his majesty's arms-rejected.Lord North, defirous of pleasing both parties, fatisfies neither.-Suppofed not entirely to approve the coërcive fyftem.Subfidy to German princes.—Laft effort of the duke of Grafton for conciliation.—Ministers affure parliament that another campaign will crush the revolt.-Supplies.-Ways and means-Scotch militia-bill-rejected.-Seffion clafes. XVI. IN Britain there was a great majority favourable CHAP. to the ministerial fyftem, who deemed the Americans rebels against lawful authority, traitors, 1775. Britain |