inental
Congress), for they suffered from insinuations that they represented a
people who were republican in their principles of government and
fanatics in religion, and they wisely avoided the appearance of
importunity or excess in their demands.

"As the delegates from South Carolina declined the responsibility of a
decision which would have implied an abandonment of every hope of peace,
there could be no efficient opposition to the policy of _again seeking
the restoration of American liberty through the mediation of the King_.
This plan had the great advantage over the suggestion of an immediate
separation from Britain, that it could be boldly promulgated, and was
_in harmony with the general wish; for the people of the continent_,
taken collectively, _had not as yet ceased to cling to their old
relations with their parent land_; and so far from scheming
independence, now that independence was become inevitable, they
postponed the irrevocable decree and still longed that the necessity for
it might pass by." (History of the United States, Vol. VII., Chap.
xxxvi, pp. 376, 377.)]

[Footnote 371: Lord Dartmouth (the Secretary of State for the Colonies)
said: "The attempts of General Gage at Concord are fatal. By that
unfortunate event the happy moment of advantage is lost."

"The condemnation of Gage was universal. Many people in England were
from that moment convinced that the Americans could not be reduced, and
that England must concede their independence. The British force, if
drawn together, could occupy but a few insulated points, while all the
rest would be free; if distributed, would be continually harassed and
destroyed in detail.

"These views were frequently brought before Lord North. That statesman
was endowed with strong affections, and was happy in his family, in his
fortune and abilities; in his public conduct, he and he alone among
Ministers was sensible to the reproaches of remorse; and he cherished
the sweet feelings of human kindness. Appalled at the prospect, he
wished to resign. But the King would neither give him release, nor
relent towards the Americans. How to subdue the rebels was the subject
of consideration." (Bancroft's History of the United States, Vol. VII.,
Chap, xxxiii, pp. 345, 346.)]

[Footnote 372: Frothingham's Rise of the American Republic, p. 453, in a
note.]

[Footnote 373: History of the United States, Vol. VIII., Chap, xlvii, p.
108.

In November, 1775, Jefferson wrote to