HISTORY OF VERMONT. 33 



stances of aggression and violence ; till they ar- 

 rived to a ckgree, in which all confidence be- 

 tween the two countries was nearly lost. Nei- 

 ther party intended to recede, but they did not 

 seem to believe that their differences would 

 produce a civil war ; but were flattering them- 

 selves that ways and means would be found to 

 bring their opponents to submission. The 

 events of April the 19th, 1775, put an end to 

 these hopes and expectations ; and spread terror 

 and consternation through the whole American 

 continent. The American colonies at that time 

 neither contemplated nor desired an indepen- 

 dence, upon what was then called the mother 

 country ; but it was easy to see that war, and 

 not reconciliation, was to be the business of that 

 year ; and that matters had already gone so far 

 that there could be no safety for the colonies,, 

 but by making a vigorous and effectual defence 

 against the attacks and arms of Great Britain. 



The year before, the British parliament had 

 passed a bill " for making more effectual pro- 

 vision for the government of the province of 

 Quebec in North America." The objects of 

 this bill were to extend the limits of that pro- 

 vince far beyond those which had been assigned 

 to it, by the king's proclamation in 1763. A, 

 legislative council was formed, which was to 

 have the whole direction of the affairs of the 

 province, taxation only excepted. The council 

 was to be appointed by the crown, the members 

 removable at pleasure, and the Canadian Roman 

 Catholics to have a place in it. The French 

 laws were to be established, and a trial without 

 a jury in civil causes ; but after the English 

 vol. II. D 



