Wesley Corpus

Many in England cordially believed them; I myself for one. And many more (though they saw deeper; perhaps were in the secret) affected to believe them, defended them with all their might, and pleaded their cause, in public and private, as honest, upright men, who only withstood oppression, and desired nothing but what was their legal right. 14. While we were warmly debating these things in Eng land, the Americans, believing matters were mow in a proper forwardness, wholly threw off the mask, openly took up arms, seized upon His Majesty’s stores and ships, and avowed them selves to be sovereign states, independent on Britain or any other. And herein they were still vehemently encouraged by their numerous friends in England. Some of these (and they were persons of no mean account) wrote them letters, (which were carefully sent by the Congress through all the provinces,) nearly in these words: “Make no concessions; give up nothing. Stand your ground. Be resolute, and, you may depend upon it, in less than a year and an half, there will be such commotions in England, that the Government will be glad to be reconciled to you upon your own terms.” 15. One might have imagined, for some time, that this was a true prophecy. Many warm men at home laboured to embarrass the Government in all its measures. They spoke all manner of evil of the Ministry. They made the keenest reflections on the Parliament; and, when they had whetted themselves and one another, they spared not the King himself. Meanwhile, they were so wonderfully tender of the Americans, that they would not in anywise term them rebels, though they were in open arms against their lawful Sovereign. And all this time, whatsoever was undertaken against them went on heavily. The King's troops were either detained in the harbours, or stopped in their passage by contrary winds. Some of the transports, and abundance of other ships, fell into the hands of the Americans. Their privateers swarmed on every side, both in the American and European seas. They were plentifully furnished with provisions, from the resources they had within themselves, and with all sorts of arms and ammunition, by our good allies, the Dutch and French. In the mean while, the few English troops that. were in America were closely shut up in Boston, by a.