XVI. fered to be entered upon the minutes. Georgia BOOK having now acceded to the confederacy, which from this time assumed the appellation of the 1775. Thirteen United Colonies, they issued, in July, a declaration, setting forth the causes and necessity of their taking up arms. "WE are reduced,” say they, "to the alternative of unconditional submission, or resistance by force; the latter is our choice. We have counted the cost of this contest, and find nothing so dreadful as voluntary slavery. Honor, justice, and humanity, forbid us tamely to surrender that freedom which we received from our ancestors, and which our posterity hvae a right to receive from us. We cannot endure the * Well might America on the receipt of these lunatic acts, in the paroxysm of her resentment and indignation, be allowed to exclaim in the language of the Poet: Protect us, mighty Providence! What would these madmen have? Submit to servile shame, DRYDEN. How strange is it that mankind are not better able to distinguish between things so opposite as wisdom and folly ! Surely, on a review of the proceedings of the British government for a series of years past, there is good ground for acquiescing in the humiliating observation of Swift, "that common sense is not so common a thing as is generally imagined.” BOOK infamy and guilt of resigning succeeding generaXVL tions to that wretchedness which inevitably awaits them, if we basely entail hereditary bondage upon them." This declaration was read at the head of every regiment, and received with great applause and acclamation. At the same time, and as the last effort for effecting an accommodation, the congress resolved upon a second petition to the KING, which, though less eloquent than the first, was expressed in terms the most guarded, temperate, and respectful: and so flattering were the hopes conceived of its happy effects by those who sighed for the return of peace, that it received, by a sort of general assent, the appellation of the "Olive Branch.' This petition was transmitted to England through the highly respectable medium of Mr. Penn, proprietary governor of the province of Pennsylvania, and a lineal descendant of that famous and beneficent legislator in whose estimation the sword and the sceptre were equally superfluous, and in comparison with whom Solon and Lycurgus hide their diminished heads". "Attached," say the petitioners, "to your majesty's person, family, and government, with all the devotion that prin "This great man lived to see an extensive country called after his own name; he lived to see it peopled by his own wisdom, the people free and flourishing; he lived to lay the foundation of a splendid and wealthy city; he lived to see XVI. ciple and affection can inspire; connected with BOOK Great Britain by the strongest ties that can unite societies; and deploring every event that tends 1775, in any degree to weaken them; we solemnly assure your majesty, that we not only most ardently desire that the former harmony between her and these colonies may be restored, but that a concord may be established between them upon so firm a basis, as to perpetuate its blessings, uninterrupted by any future dissensions, to succeeding generations in both countries; to transmit your majesty's name to posterity, adorned with that signal and lasting glory that has attended the memory of those illustrious personages whose virtues and abilities have extricated states from dangerous convulsions, and, by securing happiness to others, have erected the most noble and durable monuments to their own fame. We beg leave further to assure your majesty, that, notwithstanding the sufferings of your loyal colonists during the course of the present controversy, our breasts retain too tender a regard for the kingdom from which we derive our origin to request such a reconciliation as might in any manner be inconsistent with her dignity it promise every thing from the situation which he himself had chosen, and the encouragement which he himself had given it; he lived to see all this-but he died in the Fleet prison.". ·Burke's European Settlements. XVI. BOOK or her welfare; and the apprehensions that now oppress our hearts with unspeakable grief being 1775. removed, your majesty will find your faithful subjects on this continent ready and willing at all times, as they have ever been, with their lives and fortunes to assert and maintain the rights and interests of your majesty and of our mother country. We therefore bescech your majesty, that your royal authority and influence may be graciously interposed to procure us relief; with all humility submitting to your majesty, whether it may not be expedient that your majesty be pleased to DIRECT Some MODE by which the united applications of your faithful colonists to the throne may be improved into a happy and permanent reconciliation." To this petition, which Mr. Penn delivered into the hands of the earl of Dartmouth on the 1st of September, he was, after a short interval, informed that "NO ANSWER WOULD BE GIVEN !" Sanguine hopes had been entertained by the English court that the inhabitants of Canada might be induced to take an active part in this war against America; and twenty thousand stand of arms were actually sent to Quebec, for the use of the Canadians. But a very general discontent pervaded the minds of the people on account of the late bill; and the militia of the province, on being applied to by the governor, XVL general Carleton, absolutely refused to pass the BOOK limits of it-declaring, that this was a quarrel which did not concern them, and in which they 1775. were determined to take no part. The disposition of the Canadians being thus ascertained, a project was formed for the invasion of that province, which, as no danger was apprehended, was protected by a very inconsiderable force. General Montgomery, with an army not exceeding 3000 men, being appointed to conduct this expedition, immediately proceeded to St. John's, situated on the banks of Lake Champlain, before which he encamped on the 17th of September 1775. After a very gallant defence, that important fortress was surrendered on the 2d of November; Chamblée being also in the mean time captured by a separate detachment. General Montgomery now pressed on to Montreal; which being deemed incapable of resistance, general Carleton quitted it with precipitation one day, and the American general entered it in triumph the next. Nearly at the time that these transactions took place, Ticonderoga and Crown Point were surprised by an irregular band, hastily collected, of green-mountain-men, and other inland settlers, under the command of a bold partisan, styled by his followers colonel Allen and on the other side colonel Arnold, an officer of distinguished courage and activity |