LI. 1774. a term of reproach, although in its origin probably CHAP. no more than the corruption by the native Indians of the words ENGLISH or ANGLOIS. It must be owned that the public in England were not so much to be blamed for their unfavourable judgment, but rather such men as Hutchinson and Gage who having the best means of information, and being Americans by birth or kindred, might well be trusted and believed. To such an extent did these disparaging reflections proceed that a doubt was even uttered whether the Americans possessed the same natural courage as the English. In the course of the ensuing year a Minister of the Crown, the Earl of Sandwich, when speaking in the House of Lords, and Colonel Grant, an officer in the King's service, when speaking in the House of Commons, were so grossly imprudent and illjudging as to refer to their countrymen over the Atlantic as arrant cowards!* Such words could not fail to sink deep in the minds of the Americans, especially of those who had borne arms. Just after the first blow had been struck Washington referred to them with a feeling of just resentment, though, as usual with him, in a tone of dignified forbearance. "This," says he, may 66 serve to convince Lord Sandwich and others "of the same sentiment that the Americans will fight for their liberties and property, however 66 * Parl. Hist. vol. xviii. p. 226. and 446. CHAP." pusillanimous in his Lordship's eyes they may 66 appear in other respects." LI. 1774. Had the Boston Port Bill stood alone, unaccompanied by any other legislation, it seems possible that the Americans of the other colonies seeing the wrong which Boston had committed, and acknowledging the claim to some compensation for it, might, though not wholly approving, yet have acquiesced. But the proposal and still more the passing of the next measure-the Massachusetts Government Bill-made them feel their own liberty in danger. If one Charter might be cancelled so might all; if the rights of any one colony might hang suspended on the votes of an exasperated majority in England, could any other deem itself secure? Under these impressions they resolved at all hazards to make common cause with Massachusetts. The Royalists, now and henceforth called by their countrymen "the Tories," even in their strongholds, as at New York, found themselves outnumbered. The men hitherto most moderate and calm on the popular side, as Colonel Washington, could forbear no longer. They might feel themselves the more inspirited at finding their principles approved and their oppression acknowledged by a powerful party in Great Britain. Eloquent voices had been raised in their behalf. Burke upon a motion to repeal the Tea Duty (a *Writings, vol. ii. p. 406. That LI. 1774. motion certainly not well timed, and which accor- CHAP. dingly numbered only forty-nine supporters,) had made one of the most admired of his speeches; the first reported by himself. Lord Chatham towards the close of the Session had twice spoken against the American policy of Ministers; and his lofty tones had reverberated over the Atlantic. And if among the Americans there were any more eager or less scrupulous than the rest who already looked towards France as a future source of succour, they must have hailed as an event auspicious to them the death of Louis the Fifteenth. monarch had expired at Versailles on the 10th of May, a victim to his own debaucheries. His grandson and successor, Louis the Sixteenth, was a prince of timid and irresolute temper, but of excellent intentions, and blameless in his private life. He had hastened to dismiss the profligate Court and no less profligate Council by which his grandsire had been governed; and although the Ministers whom he first selected might not be any more than himself men of high ability, at least they were not like the former ones debarred by ignominy at home from influence abroad. Henceforth it was plain that France would not be a powerless, nor probably an unconcerned, spectator of whatever pretensions might be started, or whatever conflicts might be waged, by foreign states. Virginia was one of the earliest colonies to stir in support of Boston. There the vanguard of the extreme popular party was headed as before by CHAP." pusillanimous in his Lordship's eyes LI. 1774. Had the Boston Port Bill stood al panied by any other legislation, it that the Americans of the other the wrong which Boston hader for the Revoluacknowledging the claim to some of the Puritans of it, might, though not wholly ay search in vain that acquiesced. But the proposals against the Crown. passing of the next measuremary precedents, and Government Bill-madequated phrases, they liberty in danger. If one celled so might all; if colony might hang susp exasperated majority in deem itself secure? resolved at all haza with Massachusetts henceforth called b even in their str themselves outm moderate and LI. and in much wrath dissolved the Assembly. But a CHAP. large majority of the members, nothing daunted, repaired to the Raleigh Tavern; and in their fa- 1774. vourite Apollo chamber signed Articles of Association pledging themselves against the purchase of British merchandise, and desiring their Committee of Correspondence to communicate with the Committees of the other colonies on the expediency of appointing delegates to meet not merely on this occasion but every year in General Congress. Nearly the same feeling was displayed in the other colonies. The Boston Port Bill was commonly printed with a black border round it, as though it contained funeral news; and it was cried in the streets of many towns under the title of " A "barbarous, cruel, bloody, and inhuman murder.” At Philadelphia the Quakers were beginning to deem it inconsistent with their principles to strive any further against the Government; but the rest of the inhabitants agreed to suspend all business on the 1st of June. In most other places the Virginia Resolution was adopted, and the day was set aside for fasting and prayer. To relieve the people of Boston under the impending loss of their trade subscriptions of money were announced; and by means of the Corresponding Committees there was set on foot a combination under the ominous name of the "Solemn League and Covenant neither to purchase nor consume any more goods from Great Britain until their grievances should be redressed. 99 |