and policy of the English Government in relation to America. "ENGLAND," says he, "at this period, had involved herself in a war with her Colonies, undertaken in the spirit of despotism, and conducted in that of folly. It was BUTE who still governed the King, and directed the Councils of the kingdom. Like one of those malignant spirits who are perpetually talked of, and never feen-he enveloped himself in profound darkness, whilst, by means of his fecret instruments and emissaries, he moved the whole political machine at his pleasure, His system was that of the ancient TORIES, who maintain the unlimited power of the Crown to be necessary to the public welfare. Haughty and harsh in his deportment, little folicitous as to the selection of the means which he employed in the accomplishment of his purposes, his obftinacy could be exceeded only by his indiscretion; a civil lift of one million scarcely fufficed to gratify the venality of Parliament. The English Nation, DEGRADED by its SOVEREIGN, appeared to have no will feparate from that of the Court. But, as if this was not enough, the Minifter Bute engaged the King to attempt an arbitrary taxation of the American Colonies, at once to augment his revenues, and to establish a precedent which might at a future time be imitated in Great Britain. The Americans, whom the Court had not deigned to corrupt, opposed themselves openly to these imposts,

fo

fo contrary to their charters, their customs, and to the liberties which they had enjoyed uninterrupted fince their first establishment. A wise Government would have hastened to appease these growing troubles, but the Court of London acted upon other principles. The rigor and violence of their proceedings completed the alienation of the Americans. A Congress was convened at Philadelphia, in which it was determined to shake off the Englith yoke; and from this time we fee Great Britain engaged in a ruinous war with her own Colonies. France, the perpetual rival of England, faw with pleasure these civil commotions, and fecretly encouraged the Americans to defend their rights against the despotism which George III. was defirous to establish, by holding out to them a prospect of future fuccours *." During the course of the

* "L,ANGLETERRE étoit engagée dans une guerre civile avec fes Colonies, entreprise par esprit de despotisme, conduite avec mal-adresse. C'est l'Ecossois Bure qui gouverne le Roi et le Royaume. Semblable à ces esprits mal-faisans dont on parle toujours, et qu'on ne voit jamais il s'enveloppe ainsi que ses opérations des plus profondeş ténèbres. Ses émissaires, ses créatures font les refforts avec lesquels il meut cette machine politique felon sa volonté. Son fystème politique est celui des anciens FORYS, qui foutiennent que la bonheur de l'Angleterre demande que le Roi jouiffe d'un pouvoir despotique. Impérieux et dur dans le gouvernement, peu foucieux sur le choix des moyens qu'il emploie, sa mal-adresse dans la maniement des affaires l'emporte encore fur fon obstination. Un million de

the preceding winter 1774-5, no transactions of fufficient moment to demand a particular recital had occurred in America. Military preparations continued to be made with unremitted ardor, and the cannon and stores belonging to Government were seized by the Provincials in Rhode-Island and other parts; as, on the contrary, General Gage had made various seizures of ammunition, powder, &c. depo

fited in the vicinity of Boston. The King's Speech, and the subsequent proceedings of Parliament, left no hope of accommodation; for the refolution and resentment of America rose in proportion to the arbitrary and oppreffive acts of Britain and a fingle spark only was now wanting to fet the whole continent in a flame. General Gage, having intelligence of a confiderable magazine depofited

at the town of Concord, about twenty miles diftant from Boston, where the Provincial Congress was also held, detached, on the night preceding the 19th of April, 800 grenadiers and light infantry, under the command of Colonel Smith, who proceeded on their march with great filence; but by the firing of guns and ringing of bells they at length perceived themselves discovered; and on their arrival at Lexington, at five in the morning, they found the company of militia belonging to that place drawn up on the Green; on which Major Pitcairn, who led the advanced guard, cried out, "Disperse, Rebels! throw down your arms, and disperse!" This not being immediately complied with, he ordered the foldiers to fire; eight or ten of the Provincials were killed, and the rest speedily retreated. The King's troops immediately marched on to Concord, destroyed fuch stores as they found, and spiked three or four picces of iron cannon. On their return, the passage of a bridge being difputed by a party of Provincials, a skirmish ensued, in which feveral men were killed on both fides; and the whole country being by this time alarmed, rose on all quarters, preffing close upon their rear; and a scattering and irregular fire was also directed against them from behind trees, houses, and hedges, which supplied the place of lines and redoubts. It fortunately happened, that General Gage, apprehenfive of the danger of the service, had early in the morning ordered Lord Percy, with a fecond detachment equal in number to the first, and two field pieces, to march to Lexington, where they were joined in a short time by Colonel Smith, who would otherwise have found great difficulty in forcing his way back to Boston, his ammunition being entirely expended. As foon as the troops refumed their march, they were again haraffed and affailed in the fame manner as before; and with great fatigue and great damage, they at length arrived about sunfet at Charlestown, whence they croffed the harbor in boats to Boston, under the protection of the Somerset man of war. In the different actions of the day, the loss of the King's troops was estimated at near 300 men, in killed, wounded, and prisoners, while that of the Provincials did not exceed 90. Such was the inauspicious commencement of this disastrous war, and so ill did facts correspond with the boastful language of those BOBADILS who at the head of a few regiments had threatened to carry terror through the conti