CHAPTER VII. A Continental Army-Mr. Washington appointed to the Command.-General Gage recalled-fucceeded by Sir William Howe.-Depredations on the Sea Coaft-Falmouth burnt.-Canadian Affairs-Death and Character of General Montgomery. FREEDOM, long hunted round the globe by The bulk of mankind have indeed, in all countries in their turn, been made the prey of ambition. It is a truth that no one will con CHAP. VII. 1775, CHAP. VII. 1775. teft, though all may regret, that in proportion to the increase of wealth, the improvement in arts, and the refinements in fociety, the great body of the people have either by force or fraud, become the flaves of the few, who by chance, violence, or accident, have deftroyed the natural equality of their affociates. Sanctioned by time and habit, an indefeasible right has been claimed, that fets fo mifchievous a creature as man above all law, and subjects the lives of millions, to the rapacious will of an individual, who, by the intoxicating nature of power, foon forgets that there are any obliga tions due to the fubject, a reptile in his opinion, made only for the drudgery neceffary to maintain the fplendor of government, and the fupport of prerogative. Every step taken by the British government, relative to the colonies, confirmed this truth, taught them their danger, and evinced to the Americans the neceffity of guarding at all points, against the affumed jurisdiction of an affembly of men, disposed to innovate continually on the rights of their fellow fubjects who had no voice in parliament, and whose petitions did not reach, or had no influence on the ear of the fovereign, The fuccefs of the laft fupplicatory address offered to the parliament of Britain by the United States, ftill hung in fufpenfe; yet the crifis appeared fo alarming, that it was thought neceffary by many, to attend immediately to the establishment of a continental army on fome ftable and respectable footing. But there were fome influential members in congrefs, who dreaded the confequence of a step so replete with the appearance of hoftility, if not with the avowed design of independence; they obferved, that fuch a measure would be an inevitable bar to the restoration of harmony. Some, who had warmly opposed the measures of administration, and ably advocated the rights of the colonies, were of this opinion. The idea of diffevering the empire, fhocked their feelings; they still ardently wished, both from the principles of humanity, and what they judged the foundeft policy, to continue if poffible, the natural connexion with Britain. Others of a more timid complexion, readily united with thefe gentlemen, and urged, notwithstanding the contempt poured on all former fupplications, that even, if their late petition fhould be rejected, they fhould yet make one effort more for conciliation and relief, by the hitherto fruitlefs mode of prayer and remonftrance. Men of more enlarged and comprehenfive views, confidered this propofal as the finese of fhallow politicians, designed only to prevent the organization of a continental army. The celebrated Machiavel, pronounced by fome the prince of politicians, has observed, "that every state is in danger of diffolution, "whose government is not frequently reduced CHAP. VI. 1775. CHAP. VI. 1775. "to its original principles." The conduct of the British adminiftration towards the colonies, the corruption of the government in every department, their deviations from firft principles, and the enormous public debt of the nation, evinced not only the neceffity of a reform in parliament, but appeared to require fuch a renovation of the British conftitution, as was not likely foon to take place. Thus circumftanced, many thought it the intereft of America, to diffolve the connexion with fuch a government, and were utterly oppofed to delay, or any further application to the British king or parliament, by petition or conceffion. After a long debate on the subject, the last defcription of perfons were obliged reluctantly to accede to a measure which they thought promised nothing but delay or difgrace. By a kind of neceffary compromife, a most humble and loyal petition directly to the king of Great Britain, was again agreed to by the delegated powers of the United States. At the fame time, it was ftipulated by all parties, that military preparations fhould be made, and an army raised without farther hefitation. A decided majority in congress, voted, that twenty thousand men fhould be immediately equipped and fupported at the expenfe of the United States of America. The honorable William Penn, late governor of Pennsylvania, was chofen agent to the court of Britain, and directed to deliver the petition to the king himself, and to endeavor by his perfonal influence, to procure a favorable reception to this laft addrefs. The command of the army, by the unanimous voice of congrefs, was vefted in George Wafhington, Efq. then a delegate from the State of Virginia. He received this mark of confidence, from his country, with becoming modefty, and declined all compenfation for his fervices, more than fhould be fufficient to defray his expenditures, for which he would regularly account. Mr. Washington was a gentleman of family and fortune, of a polite, but not a learned education; he appeared to poffefs a coolness of temper, and a degree of moderation and judg ment, that qualified him for the elevated ftation in which he was now placed; with fome confiderable knowledge of mankind, he fupported the referve of the ftatefman, with the occafional affability of the courtier. In his character was blended a certain dignity, united with the appearance of good humour; he poffeffed courage without rafhness, patriotism and zeal without acrimony, and retained with univerfal applause the firft military command, until the establishment of independence. Through the various changes of fortune in the fubfequent conflict, though the flowness of his movements. was cenfured by fome, his character fuffered little diminution to the conclufion of a war, that CHAP. VII. 1775. |