AMERICAN REVOLUTION. 31

taining it against all invaders. She calls us her chil- dren; let us, by the spiritedness of our behaviour, give her reason to pride herself in the relationship.”

Every appeal and remonstrance being disregarded, the evil star of Britain gained the ascendency, and ministers involved the country in a war that shook the Vitals of both hemispheres.

The details of this eventful period, which has already filled many volumes, it is not the object of this work to dwell upon. From the commencement of hostilities to the peace which acknowledged the inde- pendence of the United States, the energy, perse- verance, and wisdom of the republican leaders, and the strange mixture of obstinacy, weakness, vacilla- tion, and folly of the British councils, which lost the nation the fairest portion of the empire, are equally extraordinary.*

Of all the measures of ministers, the employing of the Indians during this unnatural war was the most objectionable, or at least the most unwise, and re- volting to humanity. The atrocity and cruelty of the savages exasperated the colonists beyond any former sense of injury, and thousands flocked in con- sequence to the standard of the States, who now declared themselves free and independent, and ab- jured their allegiance to Great Britain. /

It is the opinion of many, that the conciliatory plan

* It would almost seem reasonable to conclude, that the minis- try were governed by feelings similar tmhose expressed by Dr Johnson, when he said, “ Sir, they are a race of convicts, and ought to be thankful for any thing we allow them short of hanging.”_