are
running through the shower of cannon balls to get out of their range.
Two or three persons were hit; and the scene became one of extreme
horror and confusion. Several times the British attempted to land, and
once to bring cannon into the street; but they were driven back by the
spirit and conduct of the Americans. The cannonade did not abate till
ten at night; after a short pause it was renewed, but with less fury,
and was kept up till two the next morning. The flames, which had made
their way from street to street, raged for three days; till four-fifths,
or, as some computed, nine-tenths of the houses were reduced to ashes
and heaps of ruins." (History of the United States, Vol. VIII., Chap.
lvi., pp. 230, 231.)]

[Footnote 383: History of the United States, Vol. VIII., Chap. lvi., p.
231.

The English Annual Register observes: "Such was the fate of the
unfortunate town of Norfolk, the most considerable for commerce in the
colony, and so growing and flourishing before these unhappy troubles,
that in the two years from 1773 to 1775, the rents of the houses
increased from L8,000 to L10,000 a year. However just the cause, or
urgent the necessity, which induced this measure, it was undoubtedly a
grievous and odious task to a Governor to be himself the principal actor
in burning and destroying the best town in his government.

"Nor was the situation of other Governors in America much more eligible
than that of Lord Dunmore. In South Carolina, Lord William Campbell,
having as they said, entered into a negotiation with the Indians for
coming in to the support of the Government in that province, and having
also succeeded in exciting a number of those back settlers whom we have
heretofore seen distinguished in the Carolinas, under the title of
Regulators, to espouse the same cause, the discovery of these measures,
before they were ripe for execution, occasioned such a ferment among the
people, that he thought it necessary to retire from Charleston on board
a ship of war in the river, from whence he returned no more to the seat
of his government.

"Similar measures were pursued in North Carolina (with the difference
that Governor Martin was more active and vigorous in his proceedings),
but attended with as little success. The Provincial Congress,
Committees, and Governor were in a continual state of the most violent
warfare. Upon a number of charges, particularly of fomenting a civil
war, and exciting an insurrection am