These extracts are from his intimate correspondence with Lord North, his prime minister. For the character of George III, see No. 130 above. - Bibliography: Winsor, Narrative and Critical History, VII, 166; May, Constitutional History of England, I, ch. i.

Queen's House, Feb. 24th, 1777. 50 min. pt. 5 p. m. ORD NORTH, I am sorry to find your cold is encreased, and I

safest physicians.

The accounts from America are most comfortable. The surprize and want of spirit of the Hessian officers as well as soldiers at Trenton is not much to their credit, and will undoubtedly rather elate the rebels, who till then were in a state of the greatest despondency. I wish Sir W. Howe had placed none but British troops in the outposts; but I am certain by a letter I have seen from Lord Cornwallis that the rebells will soon have sufficient reason to fall into the former dejection.

Lord George Germaine will to-morrow propose Gen. Clinton for Canada, and Burgoyne to join Howe. I thoroughly approve of this; he wants [Carleton?] to be recalled, but I have thrown cold water on that, and Ld. Suffolk and Ld. Gower will oppose it at your meeting. . . .

[May 31, 1777.] LORD NORTH, -I am much pleased at finding you have concluded the Committee on the African business, by referring the abuses mentioned in the Report of the Board of Trade to the next Sessions of Parliament. I have as yet not heard from Lord Weymouth concerning the debate on the House of Lords, and consequently am much pleased with your attention in sending unto me a copy of Lord Chatham's highly unseasonable motion, which can have no other use but to convey some fresh fuel if attended to by the rebels. Like most of the other productions of that extraordinary brain, it contains nothing but specious words and malevolence, for no one that reads it, if unacquainted with the conduct of the mother country and its colonies, [but] must suppose the Americans poor mild persons, who after unheard-of and repeated grievances had no choise but slavery or the sword; whilst the truth is, that the too great lenity of this country encreased their pride and encouraged them to rebel. But, thank God! the nation does not see the unhappy contest through his mirour; if his sentiments were adopted, I should not esteem my situation in this country as a very dignified one, for the islands would soon cast off all obedience. . . .

[Dec. 21, 1777.] LORD NORTH with great propriety terms the enclosed letter a singular one; I cannot help adding the epithets of offensive, and calculated alone to encrease animossity. But Franklin

is too deep to draw it up solely from malevolence; it occurs to me therefore that if he could obtain any answer it would be tacitly acknowledging hi and his collegues in the capacity they assume, and consequently admitting the right of the rebel colonies to make such appointment, and to be united states; and perhaps, if he does not succeed in this object, publishing something in Europe that may carry the air of our having acted with cruelty, which I am certain no officer, either military or civil, in my service would be guilty of. They certainly could not make much distinction among rebels, but if they have erred I should rather think it has been in too much civility towards them. . . .

[Jan. 13, 1778.] . . . It also appears from these letters that Franklin and Deane either have no power of treating, or that they are not enclined to furnish any lights how an accommodation can be effected; for whilst nothing short of independency will be accepted, I do not think there is a man either bold or mad enough to presume to treat for the mother country on such a basis. Perhaps the time may come when it will be wise to abandon all North America but Canada, Nova Scotia, and the Floridas, but then the generality of the nation must see it first in that light, but to treat with Independence can never be possible. . .

What I have now to propose is, that without loss of time the mode of conducting the American war be deliberated upon, that Lord Amherst be examined at the Cabinet on the subject; he is clear that after the disaster of Burgoyne not ess than an additional army to what is there at present of 40,000 men can carry on with any effect an offensive land war; that a sea war is the only wise plan; that the preventing the arrival of military stores, cloathing, and the other articles necessary from Europe, must distress them, and make them come into what Britain may decently consent to; that at this hour they will laugh at any proposition. . . .

What is still more material to be settled is the plan on which Administration is to repell the different attacks of Opposition when Parliament meets, as to the calling for papers, the proposing enquiries, &c. This must be digested by you, and I hope is already so nearly ready that you may open the whole to the Cabinet when next it meets, and have a minute taken, that, when the debate [comes on] in both Houses on the state of the nation, from want of previous concert the conduct may not be opposite.

W. Bodham Donne, editor, The Correspondence of King George the Third with Lord North (London, 1867), II, 55–119 passim.

PART VII

CONDITIONS OF THE REVOLUTION

CHAPTER XXVI-THE PATRIOTS

159. "Liberty Tree" (1775)

BY THOMAS PAINE

Paine was the son of a staymaker in England, and emigrated to America in the midst of the political excitement of 1774. His various pamphlets had a wide and powerful influence. - Bibliography: Tyler, Literary History of the Revolution, I, 452– 471. For the Liberty Tree, see Winsor, Memorial History of Boston, III, 159.

N a chariot of light from the regions of day,

IN

The Goddess of Liberty came ;

Ten thousand celestials directed the way,

And hither conducted the dame.

A fair budding branch from the gardens above,
Where millions with millions agree,

She brought in her hand, as a pledge of her love,
And the plant she named, Liberty Tree.

II.

The celestial exotic struck deep in the ground,
Like a native it flourish'd and bore.

The fame of its fruit drew the nations around,
To seek out this peaceable shore.

Unmindful of names or distinctions they came,
For freemen like brothers agree,

With one spirit endued, they one friendship pursued,
And their temple was Liberty tree.

III.

Beneath this fair tree, like the patriarchs of old,

Their bread in contentment they eat,

Unvex'd with the troubles of silver and gold,
The cares of the grand and the great.

With timber and tar they Old England supply'd,
And supported her power on the sea;

Her battles they fought, without getting a groat,
For the honour of Liberty tree.

IV.

But hear, O ye swains, ('tis a tale most profane,)
How all the tyrannical powers,

King, Commons, and Lords, are uniting amain,
To cut down this guardian of ours;

From the east to the west, blow the trumpet to arms,
Thro' the land let the sound of it flee,

Let the far and the near, all unite with a cheer,

In defence of our Liberty tree.

ATLANTICUS.

Thomas Paine, editor, The Pennsylvania Magazine, July, 1775 (Philadelphia, 1775), I, 328–329.

160. A Troublous Year in a Country Village

(1776)

BY REVEREND STEPHEN WILLIAMS

Williams was the first minister at Longmeadow, Massachusetts. His diary gives a picture of the life of a small village in the tumultuous Revolutionary times. - Bibliography of civil life during the Revolution: Winsor, Narrative and Critical History, VI, ch. i, and bibliographical notes.

J

ANUARY 1, 1776-Grant us help in this day of trouble; a very remarkable year past; the most that I ever saw - unnatural war, great sickness, and remarkable drought. 100 years ago we were in a struggle with the Indians, who rose up in rebellion and designed the ruin of the country, but God preserved us. In the year past the leaders of our nation have sent troops to subdue and bring us under in this

Much

country, to submit to their arbitrary and tyrannical measures. blood has been shed-towns destroyed. I do humbly pray that God would humble and reform us, and heal our backslidings, and yet regard us in our low estate, and relieve us in this calamity, and grant that real religion may yet revive and flourish, and that we may know God and turn to Him and accept the punishment of our sins, and answer the ends of it.

5- By post we have the king's speech to Parliament and observe that he seems resolutely set to bring the Americans under. O Lord, be pleased to restrain the wrath of man and cause it to praise thee. 12- Report that the great mortar and some cannon are brought through the woods from Ticonderoga. What the design is I do not know. The Lord mercifully regard and help; otherwise all these schemes and pains and labors and expenses will be to no purpose.

March 28- This day our military company was called together and chose their officers. I prayed with them at the meeting house.

April 9 I hear of tumults and disorderly practices, stupidity, hardness of heart, atheism, and unbelief prevail. The British ministry breathe out cruelty against the colonies still. Things look darker and darker. 21-Sabbath, and a quiet Sabbath. No alarm or tumult, praised be God. May 1. - A report of 20,000 troops at Halifax from England, not yet confirmed.

July 24. A number of people gathered together, some dressed like Indians with blankets, and manifested uneasiness with those that trade in rum, molasses, sugar, etc. I understand that a number went to Merchant Colton's and have again taken away his goods. I don't see the justice or equity of it. Many don't approve of it, but have not resolution enough to interpose and endeavour redress. I am fearful of special troubles in this place, not only on account of Samuel Colton's goods, but also because several of our people are going into service in Connecticut, and so our quota will be deficient, and possibly men may be drafted.

August 11. This day I read publickly, being required thereto by the Provincial Council, the Declaration of the Continental Congress for Independency. 21.-Joseph Bumstead (a trusty man servant of the family) and grandson Stephen set out for Roxbury to join the army.

14-Sabbath. This day a number of soldiers came from town on their march to the southward and breakfasted eastward of Dea. Ely's. Not so much interruption as we feared. The men behaved with moderation. They are under the conduct of Gen. Lee, who is gone down the other side.