CHAP. gerous, if not fatal, to its own liberties. Yet the word XLIX. of the king would be irrevocable; for to whom else

1775. could the colonies look for mediation? Not to the

Aug. landed aristocracy, which would not suffer the author

ity of parliament to be questioned; not to the electors, for they had just chosen a parliament, and thus exhausted their power; not to the city of Bristol, which bounded its political liberality by its commercial interests; not to the city of London, for with the unprincipled Wilkes as its lord mayor it could offer no support beyond a noisy remonstrance; not to the public opinion of England, for it never showed forbearance when her imperial supremacy was assailed.

The king made his decision without hesitation; and he wished the world to know that his will could

not change. To render retreat impossible, on the twenty third of August, two days after the delivery of a copy of the petition of congress, he sent out a proclamation for suppressing rebellion and sedition. It set forth, that many of his subjects in the colonies had proceeded to open and avowed rebellion, by arraying themselves to withstand the execution of the law, and traitorously levying war against him. "There is reason," so ran its words, "to apprehend that such rebellion hath been much promoted and encouraged by the traitorous correspondence, counsels, and comfort of divers wicked and desperate persons within our realm;" not only all the of ficers civil and military, but all subjects of the realm, were therefore called upon to disclose all traitorous conspiracies, and to transmit to one of the secretaries of state "full information of all persons

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who should be found carrying on correspondence CHAP. with, or in any manner or degree aiding or abetting, the persons now in open arms and rebellion against 1775. the government within any of the colonies in North America, in order to bring to condign punishment the authors, perpetrators, and abettors of such traitorous designs."

The irrevocable publication having been made, Penn and Arthur Lee were "permitted" on the first of September to present the original of the American petition to Lord Dartmouth, who promised to deliver it to the king; but on their pressing for an answer, "they were informed, that as it was not received on the throne, no answer would be given." Lee expressed sorrow at the refusal, which would occasion so much bloodshed; and the deluded secretary answered: "If I thought it would be the cause of shedding one drop of blood, I should never have concurred in it."

The proclamation, aimed at Chatham, Camden, Barré, and their friends, and at the boldest of the Rockingham party, even more than against the Americans, was read, but not with the customary ceremonies, at the Royal Exchange, where it was received with a general hiss.

The progress of these discussions was closely watched by the agents of France. Its ambassador, just after Penn's arrival, wrote of the king and his ministers to Vergennes: "These people appear to me in a delirium; that there can be no conciliation we have now the certainty;" "Rochford even assures me once more, that it is determined to burn the town of Boston, and in the coming spring to

CHAP. transfer the seat of operations to New York. You XLIX. may be sure the plan of these people is, by devas1775. tations to force back America fifty years if they can

Aug.

not subdue it." Vergennes had already said: "The cabinet of the king of England may wish to make North America a desert, but there all its power will be stranded; if ever the English troops quit the borders of the sea, it will be easy to prevent their return."

Vergennes could not persuade himself that the British government should refuse conciliation, when nothing was demanded but the revocation of acts posterior to 1763; and in his incredulity he demanded of the ambassador a revision of his opinion. "I persist," answered De Guines, "in thinking negotiations impossible. The parties differ on the form and on the substance as widely as white and black. An English ministry in a case like this can yield nothing, for according to the custom of the country it must follow out its plan or resign. The only sensible course would be to change the administration. The king of England is as obstinate and as feeble as Charles the First, and every day he makes his task more difficult Sept. and more dangerous." Vergennes gave up his doubts,

Nov.

saying: "The king's proclamation against the Americans changes my views altogether; that proclamation. cuts off the possibility of retreat; America or the ministers themselves must succumb."

In a few weeks the proclamation reached the colonies at several ports. Men said: "While America is still on her knees, the king aims a dagger at her heart." Abigail Smith, the wife of John Adams, was at the time in their home near the

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Nov.

foot of Penn Hill, charged with the sole care of their CHAP little brood of children; managing their farm; keeping house with frugality, though opening her doors to the 1775. houseless and giving with good will a part of her scant portion to the poor; seeking work for her own hands, and ever busily occupied, now at the spinning wheel, now making amends for having never been sent to school by learning French, though with the aid of books alone. Since the departure of her husband for congress, the arrow of death had sped near her by day, and the pestilence that walks in darkness had entered her humble mansion; she herself was still weak after a violent illness; her house was a hospital in every part; and such was the distress of the neighborhood, she could hardly find a well person to assist in looking af ter the sick. Her youngest son had been rescued from the grave by her nursing; her own mother had been taken away, and, after the austere manner of her forefathers, buried without prayer. Woe followed woe, and one affliction trod on the heels of another. Winter was hurrying on; during the day family affairs took off her attention, but her long evenings, broken by the sound of the storm on the ocean, or the enemy's artillery at Boston, were lonesome and melancholy. Ever in the silent night ruminating on the love and tenderness of her departed parent, she needed the consolation of her husband's presence; but when, in November, she read the king's proclamation, she willingly gave up her nearest friend exclusively to his perilous duties, and sent him her cheering message: "This intelligence will make a plain path for you, though a dangerous one; I could not join to-day in the petitions of our worthy pastor for a reconcilia

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CHAP. tion between our no longer parent state, but tyrant state, and these colonies. Let us separate; they are Nov. unworthy to be our brethren. Let us renounce them; and, instead of supplications, as formerly, for their prosperity and happiness, let us beseech the Almighty to blast their counsels, and bring to nought all their devices."

Her voice was the voice of New England. Under the general powers of commander, Washington, who had hired vessels, manned them with sea captains and sailors from his camp, and sent them to take vessels laden with soldiers or stores for the British army, now urged on congress the appointment of prize courts for the condemnation of prizes; the legislature of Massachusetts, without waiting for further authority, of themselves, in an act drawn by Elbridge Gerry to encourage the fitting out of armed vessels, instituted such tribunals.

"The king's silly proclamation will put an end to petitioning," wrote James Warren, the speaker, to Samuel Adams; "movements worthy of your august body are expected: a declaration of independence, and treaties with foreign powers."

Hawley was the first to discern through the darkness the coming national government of the republic, even while it still lay far below the horizon; and he wrote from Watertown to Samuel Adams: "The eyes of all the continent are fastened on your body, to see whether you act with firmness and intrepidity, with the spirit and despatch which our situation calls for; it is time for your body to fix on periodical annual elections-nay, to form into a parliament of two houses."