To return to the state of the war in America, we find the blockade of Quebec continued by Arnold, and after wards by Sullivan, with surprising perseverance, in spite of the disastrous issue of Montgomery's attempt. Early in the spring of 1776, a naval armament from Britain forced their passage through the river St Law rence ; and General Carleton, animated by the rein forcement, pursued the Americans, who, before his ar rival, broke up their camp, weakened by disease and hardship. The Americans were driven, post after post, from all that they had gained in their northern irruption except from Lake Champlain, and exertions were made by the Generals Carleton and Burgoyne, to obtain a superiority there also, by constructing a greater number of vessels.
The garrison of Boston, which was maintained at an incredible expence by supplies from England, continued to he closely blockaded during the winter of 1775-6. In the month of March 1776, General Washington, by a masterly stroke, compelled the British to abandon it. Passing in profound silence, with 2000 men, the neck of land which separates Dorchester heights from the town, he constructed, in a single night, a redoubt, which gave him command of the heights, and menaced the British shipping with destruction. A storm of wind and rain prevented General Howe from attempting to dislodge him, but did not impede the industry of the Americans in strengthening their works, till they were too secure to be carried by a coun-de-main. Another work being thrown up by the enemy, which, from its proximity, had the entire command of Boston Neck, the British commanders had no choice but to evacuate the town. The whole troops, and such of the loyalists as chose to follow their fortunes, were accordingly em barked, and sailed for Halifax. Washington, on the succeeding day, entered Boston in triumph.
The defence of Sullivan's island, near Charleston, the capital of South Carolina, also gave spirit and repu tation to the American cause. In the month of June, the fleet under Sir Peter Parker, having on board a con siderable land force, commanded by General Clinton, anchored off Charleston-bar. Two ships, the Bristol and Experiment, each of 50 guns, having with difficulty passed the bar, proceeded to cannonade the fort of Sul livan's island, which defended the approach to the town ; but, after sustaining a dreadful fire from the American batteries, they slipt their cables at night, and retired, almost torn to the water's edge ; and the Actwon, of 28 guns, having run ashore, was obliged to be set on fire and abandoned. The attempt on Charleston was ne cessarily abandoned, and Sir Peter Parker set sail for New York. Indeed, the number of the native troops, which had assembled from all parts of the province for the defence of their capital, under the command of an experienced and spirited officer, General Lee, together with the specimen of their resistance already exhibited, gave but slender hopes of success in pushing on the enterprize. According to Mr Penn's prediction, the
refusal of the "olive branch" was followed by a general determination of the Americans for independence. It might have been indeed foreseen, that whatever senti ments pervaded the colonies before the rejection of this petition, this event could not but operate, both as a cause of new alienation, and a pretext for declaring .what had been formerly concealed. It was not to be looked for, that the leaders of a revolution should step down from the tank of champions and rulers, to that of subjects and suppliants: it was not possible, that, while the war was every clay adding thousands of individuals to those already pronounced traitors by the laws of England, ideas of peace or submission should become prevalent. Those provinces, accordingly, which had been the most backward in declaring for independence, North Caroli na, Pennsylvania, (and Maryland, the most reluctant of all,) at last concurred in the confederation. The dele gates of the thirteen United States being now unani mous, solemnly promulgated their declaration of Inde fiendence on the 4th of July 1776. Appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of their motives, they absolved in the name of their countrymen, all their allegiance to the crown of Britain, and political connection with the British state. How ever justified by general views, and by the event itself, Lord Chatham's prediction, that we could not conquer America, might be, the boldness of the Congress in de claring their independence, formed a striking contrast to the present dangers of their situation. General Washington's head quarters after the capture of Boston, were fixed at New York ; and both this place and Long Island were put into the best posture of defence that could be prepared against an enemy now double in num ber to the continental army.* The British army in this quarter consisted of nearly 30,000 men, amply provided. General Howe arrived, about the end of June, off Sandy Hook, with the troops which he had removed from Bos ton, and was joined by his brother, Lord Howe, at the head of the fleet, and with reinforcements. The Howes were popular in America; and they were chosen with a skew of pacific policy, to carry out offers of peace, to gether with the terrors of the British arms. But their commission was never shewn to the Americans, if we may trust the declaration of Washington, to contain any terms worth listening to; and their proclamation, which offered pardon to the colonists in arms, was emphatically answered by the same commander in a few words, that, having taken arms to defend their indisputable rights, they were conscious of no guilt, and wanted no pardon.