1776.

no other fafe one offering at přefent. My correfpondent there will cheerfully undertake the care of any you may want to forward to America.

LETTER IV.

Friend G.

London, May 25, 1776.

THE choice of George Washington efq; by con

grefs, to be commander in chief of the American army, is adjudged highly prudent by the firft military characters that have ferved in America, and who conjecture from his acceptance, that the reduction of the colonies by an armed force will be more difficult than is generally expected. The minifters of ftate however, are bent upon making the attempt. They have not profited by the Lexington fkirmishes, nor the Breeds-hill battle. It would be happier for the nation, would they copy the conduct of the Spanish court, toward the inhabitants of Biscay, near upon a hundred and fifty years back. In 1632, the court laid a duty upon falt, contrary to the privileges of the people. Upon this the inhabitants of Bilboa rofe, and maffacred all the officers appointed to collect it, and all the officers of the grand admiral. Three thoufand troops were fent to punish

them for rebellion: these they fought, and totally de- 1775 feated, driving most of them into the fea, which difcouraged the court from pursuing their plan of taxation, and induced them to leave thofe, whom they had confidered in a state of rebellion, to the full enjoyment of their ancient privileges. It is thought, that a treaty with the court of Petersburgh for 20,000 Ruffians, was at one time the last year, in confiderable forwardness; but that the extreme distance of the fervice, the difficulty of recall, the little probability of the return of many, and the critical state of public affairs through Europe, rendered it abortive, after the most fanguine hopes of fuccefs.

In all the European countries, where public affairs are a fubject of writing or converfation, the general voice is rather favorable to the Americans. In this particularly, the lower clafs of people are adverfe to the war. They have boldly and without reftraint condemned the conduct of their rulers in terms of the utmoft acrimony. But this has not been regarded, other than as it has obstructed the recruiting fervice, which never proceeded fo heavily before. The reluctance of individuals has been striking and peculiar: they have not only refufed the ufual proffers of encouragement, but reprobated, with indignation, the caufe in which they were folicited to engage, and exerted themfelves to hinder others engaging. Neither protestants, nor catholics in any number, have been prevailed upon either in England or Ireland, to inlift for the American fervice, though the bounties have been raifed, and the ufual ftandard lowered, to facilitate the levies. The recruiting officers have deMr. Adams's Defence of the American Conftitutions, P:

$775. clared, they never before met with fo many mortifications in this branch of military business. But among the higher orders of men, a ftrange infenfibility with refpect to public affairs feemingly prevailed. The accounts of the late military actions, as well as political proceedings of no lefs importance, were received nearly with as much indifference, as if they wholly concerned other nations with whom we were scarce connected. You muft except from these observations the people of North Britain, who, almoft to a man, fo far as they can be described under any particular dénomination, not only applauded, but proffered life and fortune in fupport of the prefent meafures. The fame approbation was also given and affurances made, though with less earnestness and unanimity, by a number of towns in England.

The lofs of the American commerce was not generally felt. The prodigious remittances of corn during the British scarcity, and the larger than ufual fums which the colonists were enabled to pay from the advanced prices of various articles, these together occafioned an extraordinary influx of money; while an unufual demand for goods and manufactures of various forts, from different parts of Europe, produced a quick circulation of trade, kept up the fpirits of the mercantile claffes, and prevented their complaining for want of the American market. Great numbers at the fame time were rendered perfectly unconcerned at what had happened in America, or were even rejoiced, because of the benefits they were receiving from the contest. The war being carried on at fuch a diftance, gave employment and emolument to an amazing number of people; and caused that bustle of business and plenty of

cash, which checked all obfervation of deficiencies in 1775. other branches of traffic. Add, that a tribe of contractors, dealers, and gamefters in stocks and money tranfactions, were themselves animated, and encouraged others to join in justifying and fupporting governmental measures. Hence, that apathy which has been noted; and which continued till toward the meeting of parlia

ment.

The ministry gave into great expences, to fupply the army at Boston with fresh provifions and other articles. It is faid, that five thousand oxen, and fourteen thoufand of the largest and fattest sheep, beside a vast number of hogs, were purchased and fent out alive. Vegetables of all kinds were bought up in incredible quantities. Ten thoufand butts of ftrong beer were supplied by two brewers. The feemingly trifling neceffaries of vegetables, cafks and vinegar, amount in two diftinct articles, detached from the general comprehenfion of other provisions, to near twenty-two thousand pound: and the hay, oats, and beans, for the fingle regiment of light cavalry there, amount to nearly as much. To whatever it was owing, the transports were not ready to fail, till the year was far fpent. By this mean they were detained on the coafts by contrary winds, or toffed about by tempefts, until the greater part of their live cargoes of hogs, and particularly of fheep, perished, so that the channel was every where ftrowed with their floating carcafes. A large part of the vegetables must also have been destroyed by exceffive fermentation.

The retaliation practifed by congrefs in cutting off the British fisheries from all colonial provifions and fupplies, threw the whole business upon the banks and coafts

1775. of Newfoundland into the greatest confufion, and brought diftrefs upon all who were employed by fea or land in that quarter. Inftead of profecuting the fervice they went upon, many of the fhips were conftrained to make the best of their way to every place where provifions could be procured. It was computed, that to the value of a full half million fterling was left in the bowels of the deep, and for ever loft to mankind, by the first operation of the fishery bill.

Sept.

The ftorm which happened laft September the 11th, 11. during the fishing feafon, and of which you will have received fome general accounts, may probably be reckoned by the Americans, as it is here by the more ferious of those who favor them, a providential retaliation of the fupreme Ruler on fuch as had deprived them, by a parliamentary act, of that fuftenance, which feemed to be given them as their peculiar property. Left you fhould not have had the particulars, let me mention, that a moft dreadful tempeft, of a particular kind, difcharged itself on the coafts of Newfoundland. The fea rofe near upon thirty feet almost inftantly. Above seven hundred boats, with all their people, perished, and eleven fhips with most of their crews. At Havre de Grace, no fewer than three hundred boats were loft. The devaftation was hardly lefs on the land; the waters broke in beyond their usual bounds, and occafioned vaft deftruction. The fhores prefented a fhocking fpectacle.

As the time approached for the meeting of parliament, addreffes were poured in from different quarters, condemning the conduct of the Americans; approving of all the acts of government; and in general recommending a perfeverance in the fame, until the colonies fhall