It was a providental circumftance that they had fo early intelligence, and obtained it before general Gage had received his difpatches: they were careful to improve it. The intelligence fpread faft, and induced more of the inhabitants of Boston to remove out of

A number had been for fome time withdrawing themselves. The town was liable to be converted instantly, at the discretion of the governor, into a fecure prifon; and the people of it might be held as hoftages for the conduct of the province at large, or be kidnapped and fent to England, to ftand trial for fupposed offences. Continuance in it was hazardous to many, who had diftinguished themselves by taking an active part against the meafures of government. But the dauntlefs courage of fome fuch inclined them to remain, though there was no knowing what private orders might be sent to general Gage; who was not inattentive to the fervice in which he was employed, while he evidenced a prevailing defire after a peaceable accommodation. He fent private orders to the commanding officer at New York, to purchase up all the duck, blankets, pickaxes, pots and other articles proper for camp fervice. Application was made by the officer to the Philadelphia merchants, who penetrated the defign, and no lefs nobly than unanimously refufed a compliance. Three of the New York merchants had for fome time been buying up, felling and fending the feveral articles to Bofton; but at length a ftop was put to their proceedings by the influence of captain Sears, who, upon his return from Philadelphia, argued that they might want thofe things themfelves, and made a confiderable ftir upon the oc

cafion.

generals Howe, Clinton and Burgoyne, in the Cer28. berus. The tranfports with troops to re-enforce governor Gage, failed a week after from Corke.

May

15.

27.

Toward the clofe of the feffion, Mr. Burke acquainted the house, with his having received a paper of great importance from the general affembly of New York. He obferved, that it was a complaint, in the form of a remonftrance, of feveral acts of parliament, fome of which they affirmed, had established principles, and others had made regulations, fubverfive of the rights of Englifh fubjects. He afterward moved, that it might be brought up. The minifter immediately moved an amendment, which proved an indirect but effectual negative upon Mr. Burke's motion. The amendment was carried by a majority of 186 to 67; the queftion being then put upon the amended motion, it was rejected without a divifion. The New York memorial to the lords was brought in by the duke of Manchester, who moved for its being read. After fome altercation the queftion was called for, and upon a divifion the motion was rejected by a majority of 45 against 25. The petition to the king was received, but the prayer of the petitioners was not granted. Such is the fate of the applications made by the general affembly of New York, for a redrefs of their fuppofed grievances. It must tend to widen the breach between Britain and the colonies.

Lord Camden prefented a petition to the houfe of lords from the British inhabitants of the province of Quebec, in which they ftated their grievances, and implored their lordships favorable interpofition, that the Quebec-act might be repealed or amended, and that they might enjoy their conftitutional rights, privileges,

private way by a few armed individuals, than by a large body of troops that muft march, for miles together, under the eye of the public.

The provincial ftores had been hitherto depofited at Worcester and Concord. To the laft of thefe places, but half the diftance of the other from Boston, the general turned his attention; and, being continually peftered by the repeated folicitations of the American tories, with whom he was furrounded, and who perfuaded him there was no danger of refiftance, their whig countrymen being too cowardly, he determined, without the advice of the council, when and in what way to attempt the feizure of the many ftores fuppofed to be in the place.

18.

A number of officers dined together at Cambridge, April and toward night fcattered themfelves upon the road leading to Concord; and took their ftation fo as to be ready to intercept any expreffes going from Boston to alarm and raise the country, with intelligence of the troops being upon their march. When the corps was nearly ready to proceed upon the expedition, Dr. Warren, by a mere accident, had notice of it juft in time to fend meffengers over the neck and acrofs the ferry, on to Lexington, before the orders for preventing every perfon's quitting the town were executed. The officers intercepted several, but fome being well mounted, efcaped their vigilance; and the alarm, being once given, spread apace, by the ringing of bells, and the firing of fignal guns and vollies. By eleven at night, eight hundred grenadiers and light infantry, the flower of the army, embarked at the common, proceeded and landed at Phipps's farm, from whence they marched for Concord,

25.

faid act might be repealed or amended. Sir George examined and laid open the weak or obnoxious parts of the act, and threw new light even upon those which had already undergone the highest degree of colouring, and then concluded his fpeech with moving for a repeal of the late act for the better government of the province of Quebec. Confiderable debates enfued, in the course of which the minister avowed his intention, if it should become neceffary, of arming the Canadians against the other colonies. But he declared his firm perfuafion, that the troubles in America, would be speedily and happily fettled without bloodshed. Notwithstanding this declaration it was whispered, that he was uneafy, and from what general Gage wrote laît, dreaded the news by the April packet. For fome, who profeffed to have the best information, afferted that orders were fent to apprehend Meffrs. Cufhing, Samuel Adams, Hancock and others, and to tranfport them to Great Britain; and that the receipt of these orders had been acknowledged; but that fecond orders had been difpatched to hang them at Boston. Sir George Saville's motion was rejected by a majority of more than two to one, the numbers being 174 to 86.

The speaker, when he prefented the money bills for the royal affent, gave an affurance in his fpeech to his majesty, that if the Americans perfifted in their refolutions, and the fword must be drawn, the commons would do every thing in their power to maintain and fupport the fupremacy of this legiflature.

The king gave his royal affent to the feveral bills, both public and private, which remained to be paffed

fidence was near at hand, quitted and removed to a further distance. While walking along, Mr. Adams exclaimed, "O! what a glorious morning is this!" in the belief that it would eventually liberate the colony from all fubjection to Great Britain. His companion did not penetrate his meaning, and thought the allufion was only to the aspect of the fky. Left it should be faid and believed, that the meeting was crowded with militia, before and during the fire, let me mention that there were only a man and a boy in it. The detachment marched on to Concord. The people of the town, having received the alarm, drew up in order for defence; but obferving that the regulars were too numerous, retired over the north bridge and waited for reinforcements from the neighbouring towns. A party of light infantry fol lowed, and poffeffed themselves of the bridge, while the main body entered the town, and proceeded to execute their commiffion. They difabled two twenty-four pounders, and deftroyed their carriages and feven wheels for the fame, with their limbers, befide fixteen wheels for brafs three pounders, and two carriages with limber and wheels for two four pounders. They threw 500lb. of ball into the river, wells, and other places; and broke in pieces about fixty barrels of flour, half of which was faved. These were all the ftores that they could difcover and destroy, on the account of which a civil war has commenced between the colonies and the parent ftate. The inhabitants of Britain may fee reafon, for many ages, to curfe the memory of the man or men, who has or have been at the foundation of this fatal cataftrophe, fhould they ever be known. The militia being reinforced, Mr. John Butterick, of Concord, major of a