to rule the rich and
most extensive colony in America. He had abandoned his appointed seat of
government, and he became the ravager of the coasts and the destroyer of
the seaport towns of the ancient dominion. This state of things could
not long continue. Lord Dunmore could not subsist his fleet without
provisions; and the people would not sell their provisions to those who
were seeking to rob them of their liberties and to plunder their
property. The English Annual Register observes:

"In the meantime, the people in the fleet were distressed for provisions
and necessaries of every sort, and were cut off from every kind of
succour from the shore. This occasioned constant bickering between the
armed ships and boats, and the forces that were stationed on the coast,
particularly at Norfolk. At length, upon the arrival of the _Liverpool_
man-of-war from England, a flag was sent on shore to put the question
"whether they would supply his Majesty's ships with provisions?" which
being answered in the negative, and the ships in the harbour being
continually annoyed by the fire of the rebels from that part of the town
which lay next the water, it was determined to dislodge them by
destroying it. Previous notice being accordingly given to the
inhabitants that they might remove from danger, the first day of the New
Year (1776) was signalized by the attack, when a violent cannonade from
the _Liverpool_ frigate, two sloops of war, and the Governor's armed
ship the _Dunmore_, seconded by parties of sailors and marines, who
landed and set fire to the nearest houses, _soon produced the desired
effect, and the whole town was reduced to ashes_."[382]

Mr. Bancroft eloquently observes: "In this manner the Royal Governor
burned and laid waste the best town in the oldest and most loyal colony
of England, to which Elizabeth had given a name, and Raleigh devoted his
fortune, and Shakspeare and Bacon and Herbert foretokened greatness; a
colony where the people themselves had established the Church of
England, and where many were still proud of their ancestors, and in the
day of the British Commonwealth had been faithful to the line of
kings."[383]

When Washington learned the fate of the rich emporium of his own
"country," for so he called Virginia, his breast heaved with waves of
anger and grief. "I hope," said he, "this and the threatened devastation
of other places will unite the whole country in one indissoluble band
against a Governmen