190 THE CRISIS APPROACHES. PT. III. mulated injuries, too severe to be longer borne, thus to disturb his majesty's repose; a conduct extorted "from those" who would much more willingly bleed in his service. P'D. 1. 8. Not less moving was the appeal to their fellowsubjects of England. "Can any reason," they ask,“ be A rea- given, why English subjects, who live three thousand miles from the royal palace, should enjoy less liberty, than those who are three hundred miles from it?” sonable appeal. rial to tuents. 9. In the memorial to their constituents, they pre- Memo- sented an account of the oppressive measures of partheir liament since 1763. They applaud the spirit which consti- they had shown in defense of their rights, and encourage them to persevere, and be prepared for all contingencies; hinting that those might occur, which 1774. would put their constancy severely to the test. Congress 10. The congress rose on the 6th of October. Al· Oct. 6. though their powers were merely advisory, yet their proceeddecisions received the approbation of the colonial asings ap semblies, and carried with them all the force of laws. proved. rise, Their tories. CHAPTER VI. War approaches.-Massachusetts.-British Parliament. 1. THERE were however, a few persons, who faWhigs voured the cause of Great Britain. They were called and tories, and were regarded as traitors by the great body of the people; who, in opposition to tories, were called whigs. These party names were derived from England. Military 2. The magazines of gunpowder and other military sized. stores, at Charlestown and Cambridge, were seized by stores 8. What question did they put to their fellow-subjects in England?-9. What was the subject of their memorial to their constituents? - 10. When did Congress rise? What were their powers? What weight had their decisions? CHAPTER VI.-1. What description of persons favoured th cause of Great Britain?-2. What was done by the assembl of Massachusetts? TRUTH SPOKEN IN VAIN.. 191 order of Gen. Gage. An assembly was called in Mas- P’T. IIL sachusetts; but its sittings were countermanded by the PD. I. governor. The representatives then met at Salem, CH. VI. resolved themselves into a "provincial 1.congress," ad- October, journed to Concord, and chose John Hancock their The assembly president. of Mass. vincial 3. They then resolved, that, for the defense of the a proprovince, a number of the inhabitants should be en- congress listed, to stand ready to march at a minute's warning. In November, they sent persons to New Hampshire, Minute Rhode Island, and Connecticut, to request their cooperation, in order to raise an army of 20,000 men, to act in any emergency. men. 1774.7 Νον. 20. 4. The British parliament convened. The king, in his speech, informed the members, that a most daring resistance to the laws still prevailed in Massachusetts, which was encouraged by unlawful combinations in The king the other colonies; and, finally, he expressed his firm and par determination to withstand any attempt to weaken or inflexiimpair the royal authority; and in these sentiments the two houses expressed, in their answer, a decided concurrence. liament ble. in favour 5. When the British ministry brought the American papers before parliament, Lord Chatham rose. "The way," he said, "must be immediately opened for reconciliation. It will soon be too late. They say, yoù have no right to tax them, without their consent. They say truly. Representation and taxation must Lord go together they are inseparable. This wise people Chatnam speak out. They do not hold the language of slaves. of AmeThey do not ask you to repeal your laws, as a favor; they claim it as a right. They tell you, they will not submit to them; and I tell you, the acts must be repealed, and you must go through the work; you must declare you have no right to tax-then they may trust Mea. vou." rica. sure proposed ham re 6. But his plan for conciliatory measures, was nega- by Chattived by a large majority. Petitions from the mer- jerted 3. What did they resolve? To what states send?-4. What was the tone of the king's speech? What of parliament's reply -5. Give some account of Lord Chatham's speech? 6 3 4 192 P'D. I. Colonies PARLIAMENT MISJUDGE. PT. III. chants of London, and other commercial places, in ness of the 7. Both houses of parliament concurred, by a large majority, in an address to the king, in which they deBlind- clare, "that the Americans had long wished to become independent, and only waited for ability and opporrulers. tunity, to accomplish their design. To prevent this," they said, "and to crush the monster in its birth, was the duty of every Englishman; and that this must be done, at any price, and at every hazard." Parlia 8. On the 10th of February, a bill was passed, by which the colonies of Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island, were restricted in 1775. their trade to Great Britain and its West India possesFeb. 10. sions, and were also prohibited from fishing on the ment at- banks of Newfoundland. The same restrictions were tempt to soon after extended to all the colonies, exceptir divide the New York and North Carolina. It was expected that colonies these prohibitions would prove particularly distressing to the inhabitants of New England, as an idea prevailed, that they depended on the fisheries for their subsistence, and must, if deprived of them, be starved into obedience. 3 6. Did his speech produce any effect? What petitions were offered? How treated? Who was refused a hearing? What may be said of all this?-7. What address was made by parlia ment ? -8. What acts did they pass? What was expected from these acts? The War begins by the Battle of Lexington. 1. A SECOND Provincial congress having assembled PT. II n Massachusetts, ordered military stores to be P'D. İ. collected, and encouraged the militia and minute-men CH. VII, to improve themselves in the use of arms. 2. General Gage having learned that a number of 1775. field pieces were collected at Salem, despatched a party Feb. 26. of soldiers, to take possession of them, in the name of Attempt the king The people of Salem assembled in great destroy numbers, and, by pulling up a drawbridge, prevented stores at their entering the town, and thus defeated their object. to Salem. 800 men sent to 3. A large quantity of ammunition and stores was also deposited at Concord, about twenty miles from Bos- April 18, ton. These General Gage resolved to seize, or destroy; and, with that view, he sent a detachment of Suu Concord. under the command of Colonel Smith and Major Pitcairn. men, Battle of 4. When the British troops arrived at Lexington, within five miles of Concord, the militia of the place were drawn up. The advanced body of the regulars approached within musket shot, when Major Pitcairn, riding forward, exclaimed, "Disperse, you rebels! April 18 throw down your arms and disperse." Not being Lexing obeyed, he discharged his pistol, and ordered his men to fire. They fired, and killed eight men. The militia dispersed, but the firing continued. The detachment then proceeded to Concord, and destroyed or took possession of a part of the stores. ton. Retreat 5. They then began their retreat. The colonists pressed upon them on all sides. They went to Lex- of the ington, where they met Lord Percy, with a reinforce CHAPTER VII.-1. What did the legislature of Massachusetts order to be collected?-2. Where and for what did Gen. Gage send out a party of soldiers? Did they succeed 3. To what other place did he send a detachment? For what purpose? 4. How did the battle of Lexington commence? Did the Bri tish take the stores? 5. Describe their retreat? British 194 THE SPIRIT STIRRING TIME, PT. I. ment of 900 men. They however, continued their P'D. I retreat: but from every place of concealment-a stone CH. VII. fence, a cluster of bushes, or a barn, the concealed British provincials poured upon them a destructive fire. At loss, 273. sunset, the regulars, almost overcome with fatigue, Ameri- passed Charlestown Neck, and found, on Bunker's Hill, can loss, a resting place for the night; and the next morning, under the protection of a man of war, they entered Boston. 88. Great 6. Blood had now flowed, and no language can portray the feelings which the event excited. Couriers were dispatched in every direction, who gave, as they excite rode at full speed, their news, to be taken up and ment. carried in like manner to other places; and thus, in an Special increasing circle, it spread like electric fluid thoughout couriers the land. The messenger, if he arrived on Sunday, at spread the news. once entered the church, and proclaimed to the breath at less assembly-war has begun! Every where the cry was repeated," war has begun!" and the universal response was "to arms, then-liberty or death!” 7. The legislatures of the several colonies convened, Army appointed officers, and gave orders to raise troops. collected Every where, fathers were leaving their children, and Boston. mothers sending their sons to the field; and an army of 20,000 was soon collected in the neighborhood of Boston. British 8. General Gage was now so closely besieged in besieged Boston, that although the British had the command Boston. of the sea, his provisions became scarce. 9. To gain possession of Ticonderoga and Crown 'lans for Point, individuals in Connecticut, borrowed of the letaking ficonde gislature of that colony, eighteen hundred dollars. oga and They then proceeded to Bennington to secure the coPoint. operation of the Green Mountain Boys." Crown 66 Green 10. This was an appellation given to the hardy Moun freemen who had settled in that vicinity by the auBoys thority of New Hampshire, and who had manifested tain 6. Describe the state of the public mind, and the manner of spreading the news?-7. What was done in the several states ? What was the situation of Gen. Gage?-9. What enter prize was set on foot in Connecticut? What steps taken ? - 10 Who were the Green Mountain Boys? |