ber were not yet obtained to take the places of those who, having performed stipulated duty, insisted on returning home. The impatience to revisit their friends, discovered by the soldiers entitled to a discharge, was so extreme and ungovernable, as to overcome all their solicitude for keeping the enemy in a state of blockade; and many of them could not be detained in camp even for ten days, at the end of which period was expected the arrival of a body of militia who had been ordered to supply their places; nor was it without great difficulty, and some degree of violence, that any of them were prevailed on to remain for that time. This fact, however, did not sufficiently impress on the governments of the United Colonies, that it was possible to rely too much on individual patriotism; and that the American cause, if defended entirely by temporary armies, must be often exposed to the most imminent hazard.

Perceiving the very great difficulty experienced in recruiting the army, and alarmed at a circumstance which wore so serious an aspect, the General recommended, in very earnest terms, to Congress, to try the effect of a bounty; but this proposition was not acceded to till late in January following; and on the last day of December, when all the old troops not engaged on the new establishments were disbanded, only nine thousand six hundred and fifty men had been enlisted for the

army

army of 1776, many of whom were unavoidably permitted to be absent on furlough. Their num bers, however, were considerably augmented dur ing the winter; and, in the mean time, the militia cheerfully complied with the requisitions made on them.

The difficulty of recruiting the army was greatly increased by the danger apprehended from the small-pox. Inoculation had not then been generally practised in America, and the fears entertained of the disease were excessive. It raged in Boston, and intelligence was received, that General Gage had caused several persons to be inoculated, and sent into the country for the purpose of spreading the infection. This intelligence was never confirmed, but a belief of its truth was greatly strengthened, by many cases of the disease having occurred among those who had been permitted to leave the town. This, however, might well have happened, although no means had been employed to produce the effect. The report, whether true or false, increased the caution observed in all communications with persons who had been within the lines of the enemy.

Although the close blockade of Boston, and the continued attention it was found necessary to bestow on the organization and discipline of the troops, gave no inconsiderable degree of employment to the General; and although his deficiency

in military stores, and the very hazardous operation of renovating a disbanded army in the face of a veteran foe, rendered it at least a very bold measure to maintain the position which had been taken, and to make advances upon the enemy; yet he viewed with infinite mortification that semblance of inactivity, to which his situation still compelled him to submit. In the commencement of the contest, while the minds of many were yet undetermined, it was of vast importance to secure the public confidence, and it was necessary to pay some attention even to the public caprice. The real difficulties under which he laboured were not generally known. His numbers were greatly exaggerated, and his means for carrying on offensive opcrations very much magnified. The expulsion of the British army from Boston had, been long since anticipated by many, and there were not wanting those who endeavoured to spread discontent, by insinuating that he was desirous of prolonging the war, in order to continue his own importance. To these symptoms of impatience and discontent, and to the consequences they might produce, he could not be entirely insensible; but it was not in his power to silence such complaints by disclosing to the world his real situation. His views still continued to be directed towards Boston; and Congress, to whom the result of the former council on this subject had been communicated, having ma nifested

6

nifested a disposition favourable towards an attempt on that place, the general officers had been again assembled, and had again advised unanimously against the measure. It seems to have been understood, that fears for the safety of the town might embarrass the measures of the army. Congress, therefore, who still inclined to favour the enterprise, came to a resolution, "that if General Washington and his council of war should be of opinion that a successful attack might be made on the troops in Boston, he should make it in any manner he might think expedient, notwithstanding the town and property in it might be thereby destroyed."

Whilst waiting for a favourable opportunity to execute this bold plan, the American General availed himself of the occasional aids received from the militia, to advance on the enemy, by taking positions which would annoy them for the present, and would favour his ulterior operations. Plowed Hill, Cobble Hill, and Lechmere's Point, were successively occupied and fortified, by which his approaches were carried within half a mile of their works on Bunker's Hill, and their floating batteries could no longer maintain the stations they had originally chosen. Floating batteries were also constructed on the part of the Americans, and would unquestionably have aided either offensive or defensive operations.

C Hitherto

Hitherto the war, though carried on with the utmost activity of which the means possessed by America would admit, had for its professed object, only a redress of grievances. The language, that it was a war only against a corrupt administration, was carefully kept up, and allegiance to the British Crown was, as yet, every where avowed. The progress however of the public mind towards independence, though slow, was certain; and measures were necessarily taken apparently tending to that object. Among these was the act establishing temporary governments, in place of that revolutionary system which followed those they had suspended.

The first application on the subject was made by Massachussetts, after which, several of the colonies, being without any other than a revolutionary government, applied to Congress for advice on the system to be adopted for conducting their affairs. These applications could not fail to draw forth the sentiments of the different members on the very interesting question of separating entirely from the mother country, or endeavouring still to retain the connexion which had so long subsisted between them. Those who wished to lead the public opinion to the independence of the colonies, were of course desirous of establishing immediately, in each province, a regular government entirely competent to the administration of its affairs; whilst those

YOL, II.