this;
for they intimated to the members of the revolutionary government,
that they were to arrest and secure every person in their respective
colonies, whose going at large might, in their opinion, endanger the
safety of the colony or the liberties of America. Warned in time, Tryon,
the governor of New York, whom congress before had talked of seizing,
retired on board the Halifax packet, still communicating, however,
with the royalists on shore. In other colonies there was still less
difficulty in sweeping away the king's governors. In North Carolina,
Governor Martin, after seeing his proclamation burnt by the common
hangman, sought shelter on board a ship-of-war that was lying off Cape
Fear: in South Carolina, Lord William Campbell, after vainly seeking to
rally the royalists, was obliged to follow his example; and though in
many of the other colonies the governors were not compelled to flee for
their lives, yet their authority was eventually superseded, and they
were compelled to bow to the storm by retiring from their seats of
government. One common spirit pervaded the United Provinces of America,
though it was more rampant in some colonies than others. The grand focus
of rebellion was still at Massachusets Bay, where, towards the close of
the year, in the course of predatory hostility, the town of Falmouth was
cannonaded and totally destroyed, in revenge for some offence relative
to supplies, and on the refusal of its inhabitants to deliver up its
arms. In return for this injury congress passed an act, in November,
granting letters of marque and reprisal, and establishing courts of
admiralty for the trial and condemnation of British ships. Congress also
determined to meet the force of Britain on her own element, and issued
orders for building a fleet of thirteen ships. The garrison of Boston
was supplied with provisions from England, a proportion of which was
intercepted by the American cruizers and the troops suffered greatly,
likewise, from the inclemency of the season. The inhabitants, also,
shared in their calamities, and their sufferings were greatly increased
by several edicts, issued by General Howe. Such was the state of America
at the close of this eventful year.

PROCEEDINGS IN ENGLAND.

While America was in arms, England was in a state of agitation. It has
been seen that soon after Wilkes had presented the violent address and
remonstrance of the livery to the king, that his majesty informed him
th