This was coming to the point, and produced the effect that might have been expected. For, instantly all exportation of arms and ammunition to America was prohibited-large reinforcements were sent to the king's troops at Boston-and every step was taken to compel the colonies to submission. This filled up the measure of American hatred to the ministry, and called forth the most vigorous preparations for war. Every ounce of gunpowder was husbanded like so much gold-dust. Powder-mills and musket-manufactories were erected in most of the colonies; while others, not liking this slow way of doing things, laid violent hands at once upon all the king's arms and ammunition that could be found.

The tremendous cloud of civil war was now ready to burst: and April the 19th, 1775, was the fatal day marked out by mysterious heaven, for tearing away the stout infant colonies from the longloved paps of the old mother country. Early that morning, general Gage, whose force in Boston was augmented to 10,000 men, sent a detachinent of 1000 to destroy some military stores which the Americans had collected in the town of Concord, near Lexington. On coming to the place, they found the town militia assembled on the green near the road. "Throw down your arms, and disperse, you rebels," was the cry of Pitcairn the British officer; which was immediately followed by a general discharge of the soldiers; whereby eight of the Americans were killed, and several wounded. The provincials retired. But finding that the British still continued their fire, they returned it with good interest; and soon strewed the green with the dead and wounded. Such fierce discharges of musketry produced the effect that might have been expected in a land of freemen, who saw their gallant brothers suddenly engaged in the strife of death. Never before had the bosoms of the swains experienced such a tumult of heroic passions. Then hrowing aside the implements of husbandry, and

leaving their teams in the half-finished furrows, they flew to their houses; snatched up their arms; and bursting from their wild shrieking wives and children, hasted to the glorious field, where LIBERTY, heavenborn goddess, was to be bought for blood. Pouring in now from every quarter, were seen crowds of sturdy peasants, with flushed cheeks and flaming eyes, eager for battle! Even age itself forgot its wonted infirmities: and hands, long palsied with years, threw aside the cushioned crutch, and grasped the deadly firelock. Fast as they came up, their ready muskets began to pour the long red streams of fiery vengeance. The enemy fell back, apalled! The shouting farmers, swift closing on their rear, followed their steps with death, while the British, as fast as they could load, wheeling on their pursuers, returned the deadly platoons. Like some tremendous whirlwind, whose roaring sweep all at once darkens the day, riding the air in tempests; so sudden and terrible, amidst clouds of dust, and smoke, and flame, the flight of Britain's warriors thundered along the road. But their flight was not in safety. Every step of their retreat was stained with the trickling crimson. Every hedge or fence by which they passed, took large toll of hostile carcasses. They would, in all probability, have been cut off to a man, had not general Gage, luckily recollected, that, born of Britons, these Yankees might possess some of the family valour; and therefore sent 1000 men to support the detachment. This reinforcement met the poor fellows, faint with fear and fatigue, and brought them safely off to Boston.

In this their first field, the American farmers gleaned of the British about sixty-three, in slain, and two hundred and eighty wounded and prisoners. The fire of civil discord now broke out a roaring flame: and, with equal ardour, both parties hastened to clap on the "kettle of war."

National prejudices ought to be scouted from the

"face of the earth. Colonel Grant actually said in parliament, that "with five regiments he could march through all America!!!" Oh! had that profound philosopher but beheld the scrub race above, he might have learned two things-first, that he was never born to be a prophet. And secondly, that as it is not to this or that country exclusively, that we are to look for brave men, but in every country where the people are accustomed to breathe the proud air of liberty, and to rejoice in the sweet fruits of their labours as all their own.

Soon as the battle of Lexington was told to the astonished ministry in England, a grand caucus of lords was held, to consider the best ways and means to bring the rebels to their senses. "One spoke after this manner, and another after that. Presently up rose lord George Germaine, and with all Moloch in his looks, hurled the curses of Amalek against the Americans. "Vengeance! gentlemen!" he cried, "vengeance! your insulted island-your wounded honour-your murdered countrymen-all cry havoc! and bid slip the dogs of war. Gods! can we sit debating here, when rank rebellion lords it over our colonies, and the tongues of rebel curs are red in the blood of our bravest soldiers slain. No! let our swift-avenging armies fly across the ocean, and lighting like a tornado on the rebel continent, from end to end, with fire and sword sweep both town and country before them."

Here the celebrated Mr. Wilkes, in the spirit of a true Briton, roared out: "Aye, that's right! that's right! lord George! that's exactly according to our old English proverb- -the greater the coward, the crueller the devil!"

"Coward! Sir!" replied lord George, black with rage. "Coward! what do you mean by that, sir?"

"I mean, sir," returned Mr. Wilkes, "that the hero who could not stand fire on the plains of Minden, does well to advise fire and sword in the woods of America."