Upon this, the unlovely names of liar and scoundrel were exchanged with a freedom which showed that in the quarrel with America the passions of the two parties knew no bounds. Happily for America, this spirit of Mr. Wilkes was not peculiar to himself. Thousands of enlightened and virtuous whigs breathed it with equal ardour. The gallant duke of Buckingham, on hearing how bravely the Americans had behaved at Lexington, exclaimed, "Well, thank God! there are yet some veins in the world that beat high with British blood!"

Lord Effingham, also, being required to take up arms against the Americans, returned his sword to the king, saying, "he had received it on oath, to maintain the cause of justice, not of oppression !!"

But though the right heads in England were numerous, they were not sufficiently so to direct the wrong heads. A feeble minister, and his puny lordlings, still held the reins: and though, compared with the great nation which they governed, they seemed but as monkeys on the back of a mammoth, yet they had, too long, the fatal art so to blindfold and goad the noble animal, as to make her run riot over her own children, and crush thousands of them into their bloody graves.

On this day, June 12, 1775, General Gage issued his proclamation of rebellion, with threats of heaviest vengeance against the rebels; extending however in the king's name, the golden sceptre of mercy to all true penitents, Samuel Adams, and John Hancock, excepted. These gentlemen, by their extraordinary zeal in the cause of liberty, had so mortally offended the ministry, that nothing short of their lives could make atonement. Orders were sent privately to General Gage, to seize and hang them in Boston, or to send them over in irons to be hung in England. But God gave his angels charge of them, so that not a hair of their heads was hurt.

The British, 10,000 strong, were still in Boston,

where, ever since the affair of Concord, they had been surrounded by an army of 20,000 provincials, all so eager to take the city by storm, that it was with the greatest difficulty their officers could res

train them.

How adorable the goodness of God for ordering that the ministerial attack on our liberties, should fall on the populous and high-toned New-Englanders! The heroic spirit with which they repelled it, should to eternity, endear them to their southern brethren.

CHAPTER IX.

Battle of Bunker's-hill-of Sullivan's Island-Declaration of Independence-Defeat of the Americans on Long-Island-Howe threatens violently-Times squally.

-And fame of Bunker's hill endure,

Till time itself shall be no more.

THIS hill of fame still lifts its yellow brow, half hid in sedge, on the plains of Charlestown-a lovely port north of Boston, to which it is united by an elegant bridge. To confine the British as closely as possible to Boston, the American generals, on the night of June 16, despatched 1500 men to throw up an entrenchment on Bunker's-hill. The party did not begin their work till about 12 o'clock; but exerted such a spirit, that, by day-break, they had surrounded themselves with a tolerably decent ditchwithout embrasures indeed, because they had no cannon to stare through them; nor even a bayonet to bristle over its ridges.

Soon as the rosy morn appeared, they were discovered by the British men of war, which quickly saluted them with their great guns and mortars. But, re

gardless of shells and shot, the dauntless Yankees still drank their Switchel* and plied their work.

Finding that his ships of war, with all their thunders, had not been able to dislodge them, Gage ordered to their aid 3000 men with a train of artillery, under command of Generals Howe and Pigot. By twelve o'clock they were all safely landed on the Charlestown side, near Bunker's-hill, the destined place of storm. An interesting scene is now about to open-for not only the British and American armies from the neighbouring heights, are eagerly looking on; but all the surrounding country, timely alarmed, are running together, in terror, to behold the coming fight. Among the crowding spectators are seen thousands of tender females, with panting bosoms and watery eyes, fixed upon the fields below, anxiously waiting the fate of their brothers, fathers, and husbands. After a hurried moment spent in forming, the British troops began to advance in heavy columns, with all the martial pomp of flying colours and rattling drums. At the same time, by order of Gage, the beautiful port of Charlestown, of 300 fine buildings, with a tall steepled church, was wrapped in flames, roaring like distant thunder, and tossed on eddying winds in fiery billows to the clouds-while, far and wide, the adjoining plains are covered with British soldiers in crimson regimentals and shining arms, moving on the attack with incessant discharges of muskets and great guns. Close, on the brow of the hill, appears the little fort, dimly seen through smoke, and waved over by one solitary flag, and very unlike to stand the shock of so powerful an armament. But the Americans are all wound up to the height of the enthusiasm of Liberty: and,

A mild and moralizing malmsey, made of molasses and water, which the prudent Yankees drink, to the great benefit of their health and senses, while too many of their southern neighbours are be-fooling and be-poisoning themselves with grog.

İying close behind their works, with fowling pieces loaded with ball and buckshot, wait impatiently for the approaching enemy. Their brave countrymen, Putnam and Warren, are in the fort, constantly reminding them of that glorious inheritance, Liberty, which they received from their gallant fathers, and now owe to their own dear children. "Don't throw away a single shot, my brave fellows," said old Putnam. "Don't throw away a single shot; but take good aim: nor touch a trigger, till you can see the whites of their eyes."

This steady reserve of fire, even after the British had come up within pistol-shot, led them to hope that the Americans did not mean to resist, and many' of their friends on the heights had nearly given up all for lost. But as soon as the enemy were advanced within the fatal distance marked, all at once a thousand triggers were drawn: and a sheet of fire, wide as the whole front of the breast-work, bursted upon them with most ruinous effect. The British instantly came to a halt-still keeping up their fire-but altogether at random and ineffectual, like men in a panic. While full exposed, within point-blank shot, ranks on ranks fell before the American marksmen, as the heavy-eared corn before the devouring hail storm, when with whirlwind rage it smites the trembling earth, and rushes on, smoking and roaring through the desolated fields. The enemy still maintained their ground like Britons, though all in front was nothing but one wide destructive flash; and nought around but heaps of their shrieking, dying comrades. But in a few minutes the slaughter became so general, that they could stand it no longer, but broke and fled in the utmost disorder, to the shore side; and some even took refuge in their boats! Their officers with some difficulty brought them back to a second charge, when the Americans, waiting till they had come up within a few rods of the fort, recommenced their fire, with a mortality which broke and drove