CHAPTER XXVI.

BEFORE the battle of Bunker's Hill had been

fought, the Continental Congress had again met at Philadelphia. Massachusetts was for declaring the colonies independent without further delay; but Pennsylvania, New York, and the southern colonies did not like the idea of separating from England. Despite the cruel wrongs they had suffered, they loved the old country in their hearts; and determined, if it were possible, to gain their rights without ceasing to be subjects of the King of England.

They sent the King a very dutiful petition, setting forth their grievances, and praying for redress; and most of them believed that King George would act fairly by them at last.

Only John Adams and a few of his friends knew the King too well to hope any thing of the kind.

Still, blood having been shed, the Congress set about preparing for the contest with great vigor. It was necessary to appoint a Commander-in-Chief. This was no easy matter, for each of the colonies had its own officers and fighting men; and without great good sense on the part of the members of the Congress, jealousy might soon have been awakened and divisions created.

But the Massachusetts men averted the danger by supporting a Virginian-GEORGE WASHINGTON ;

and all the other provinces agreed to the appointment. Washington accepted the office in a very pretty, modest speech, in which he said he would take no pay for his services.

All over the country the people began to rise against their governors.

WENTWORTH, the Governor of New Hampshire, tried vainly to keep the people down. Failing, and seeing that the case was hopeless, he shut himself up in the fort at Portsmouth, and afterward ran away to Boston.

most

In New York the King had friends; many of them rich, comfortable men, who said the republicans were low fellows, and that it was far more respectable to submit to the King than to rebel against him. The Great Wolf, Tryon, had just gone thither to be Governor; and you may fancy he did all he could to keep down the Americans. Happily, however, bold Isaac Sears was not dead yet; and, thanks to him and his brave men, New York held fast by the other colonies, and the Great Wolf was forced to run away to a British ship of war, which was lying in the port.

The Governor of Virginia was a foolish lord, named DUNMORE. When troubles first arose, he swore that if the people of Virginia stirred he would declare all the slaves free, and would lay Williamsburg in ashes. Fearing an outbreak, he removed some powder from the arsenal at Williamsburg, and had it carried on board an English ship of war.

The moment he heard of it, Patrick Henry took up arms, and, with his burning words, soon aroused

an army to march against the Governor. But this vain lord was more of a talker than a fighter.

When he heard of Patrick Henry's approach, he sent a sneaking message to him to say that if the powder were wanted to put down a rising among the slaves he would return it.

Patrick Henry replied that he must have the powder at once, or its value in money, without conditions. And Lord Dunmore, thoroughly frightened, paid the money down as required.

But though he had not the courage of the soldier, he had the daring of the robber. Flying to a British ship for safety, he spent the summer in trying to persuade the negroes to revolt, and in making sudden descents on the coasts, and plundering the people. A pretty royal governor!

Just in the same way, the royal Governors of the two Carolinas endeavored vainly to stem the tide, and were finally obliged to fly on board British ships. In the county of Mecklenburg, in North Carolina, the people assembled one bright May morning to talk over the news of the battle of Lexington, which

had just reached them. A few bold men proposed that they should declare themselves independent of Great Britain altogether; but many opposed this plan for a particular reason, which was this:

After the battle of Alemance, the Great Wolf, being afraid of more risings among the people, had obliged all who did not fly (as the Regulators did) to take an oath never to bear arms against the King of England. This oath weighed on the consciences of the honest men of Mecklenburg. They said to each other:

"How can we, who have sworn, make war upon the King?"

While they were in doubt, one man rose and said:

"If I take an oath to do such and such a thing as long as the leaves remain on that tree, I am bound to do it as long as the leaves are there; but when the leaves fall, my oath no longer binds me, and I am free to act as I please."

And the people, convinced by this argument, agreed to a declaration, which has been called the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence.

I do not think myself that the argument of the leaves was quite as conclusive as the men of Mecklenburg seem to have considered it. The fact was, the Great Wolf had forced the people to take the oath against their will; and, as you know, oaths extorted by violence are not binding on any one. Between you and me, oaths have never stood in the way of any popular or national movement, based on real necessity. They have often been imposed by tyrants who were afraid of being overthrown, and who calculated to fetter the free action of the people by calling in the aid of superstition; but when the time came, they have generally been broken with very little ceremony.

At the north, the war went on. At sea, the English had a vast number of ships of war, which sailed along the coast, pouncing upon American vessels, and laying contributions on the seaports and villages on the coast. In general, the English were successful in these forays; but sometimes the inhabitants made a bold stand and drove them off.

The people of Falmouth-now called Portland, in Maine-seized a ship laden with masts for the King, and threatened to keep the officers of a British frigate prisoners. In revenge, the captain of the frigate, having received reinforcements, sailed to Falmouth, and gave the people notice to quit the town, as he intended to destroy it. They tried in vain to induce him to alter his resolution. He persisted in declaring that he would destroy the place; but afterward offered to spare it, if the people would give up their arms and promise not to serve against the King. This they refused to do, and Falmouth was accordingly burnt to ashes before their eyes.

The Americans raised a small army and invaded the province of Canada, which had refused to join the other colonies. Their leaders were the brave Montgomery, Ethan Allen, and BENEDICT ARNOLD. The two former advanced by way of Lake Champlain to St. John's, which they took.

Ethan Allen, who was a very daring soldier but wanting in prudence, undertook to take Montreal with only one hundred and fifty men. He set out by night, and appeared suddenly before the town, hoping to surprise it. But GOVERNOR CARLETON was on the alert. When Allen advanced, he was attacked by a much larger force than his own, defeated, and sent to England in chains.

After this, Carleton, fearing that Quebec might be taken, embarked in a boat with a few soldiers and rowed down the river. Montgomery crossed over to Montreal, took it, and followed Carleton with all speed to Quebec. There he had arranged to meet