could publish from his
ship a Gazette on the side of the King. The outrage, as we shall see,
produced retaliation." (Bancroft's History of the United States, Vol.
VIII., Chap. lv., pp. 220, 221.)]

[Footnote 380: Bancroft's History of the United States, Vol. VIII.,
Chap. lv., pp. 221, 222.

The English Annual Register of 1776 states as follows the policy of Lord
Dunmore, culminating in the successful defence of Hampton and the
repulse of his ships:

"Whether Lord Dunmore expected that any extraordinary advantages might
be derived from an insurrection of the slaves, or that he imagined there
was a much greater number of people in the colony who were satisfied
with the present system of government than really was the case (_a
mistake, and an unfortunate one, which, like an epidemical distemper,
seems to have spread through all our official departments in
America_)--upon whatever grounds he proceeded, he determined, though he
relinquished his government, not to abandon his hopes, nor entirely to
lose sight of the country which he had governed. He, accordingly, being
joined by those friends of government who had rendered themselves too
obnoxious to the people to continue with safety in the country, as well
as by a number of runaway negroes, and supported by the frigates of war
which were upon the station, endeavoured to establish such a marine
force as would enable him, by means of the noble rivers, which render
the most valuable parts of that rich country accessible by water, to be
always at hand and ready to profit by any favourable occasion that
offered.

"Upon this or some similar system he by degrees equipped and armed a
number of vessels of different kinds and sizes, _in one of which he
constantly resided, never setting his foot on shore but in a hostile
manner_. The force thus put together was, however, _calculated only for
depredation_, and never became equal to any essential service. The
former, indeed, was in part a matter of necessity; for as the people on
shore would not supply those on board with provisions or necessaries,
they must either starve or provide them by force.... These proceedings
occasioned the sending of some detachments of the new-raised forces of
the colonists to protect their coasts, and from these ensued a small,
mischievous, predatory war, incapable of affording honour or benefit,
and in which, at length, every drop of water and every necessary was
purchased at the price or risk of blood