101 



subjects, and so hardly dealt with as we have been, are still 

 ready with our lives and fortunes, to defend his person, family, 

 crown and dignity." England, however, manifested no dispo- 

 sition to relax her iron sway over her comparatively weak and 

 feeble dependencies ; but appeared determined to try the issue 

 by an appeal to arms. Troops were distributed throughout the 

 country to overawe and intimidate the inhabitants ; and be 

 ready to quell any demonstrations of resistance. The colonists 

 ©n their part had scarcely any thing to oppose to a powerful 

 nation whose strength and resources appeared unlimited, except 

 a righteous cause, and fixed determination, never ignominiously 

 to submit to her despotic control. The most sanguine, however, 

 could not have promised themselves a successful result, from 

 an open rupture and actual collision with the mother country. 

 England too, in the plenitude of her power, could not believe 

 that the colonists would actually buckle on the panoply of war 

 against her. It was unfortunate that all the colonial govern- 

 ors sympathized with the mother country, in her attempt to 

 extort a revenue out of the provinces. This was the root of all 

 the evil then entailed upon them.* Governor Hutchinson 

 stated that the colonists would not by force of arms resist the 

 authority and jDOwers of Great Britain; "that a feio troops 

 Avould be sufficient to quell them if they did make opposition." 

 Governor Carlton represented "that America might easily be 

 conquered, but they would want a considerable army for this 

 purpose ; that he would not pretend to march to New York or 

 Boston without 10,000 men." Governor Tryan said, " It would 

 take large armies and much time to bring America to their 

 feet." " The power of Great Britain," said he, "is equal to 

 anything ; but all that power must be exerted before they put 

 the monster in chains." The colonists were not however dis- 

 couraged by these representations ; they trusted their cause to 

 the God of battles, not to human strength — they believed 

 heaven itself would fight for them as the stars in their courses 

 fought against Sisera — resistance to tyranny, being in their 

 view, obedience to God. 



Salem, at the commencement of the Revolutionary war, 

 contained a population of some 5000 souls. Her commerce, 

 always the principal source of wealth, was then chiefly confined 

 to Spain, Portugal, and the West Indies. The cod fishery, to 



* Edmund Burke, in the House of Commons, March 9th, 1774, advised 

 a thorough change of American Governors, remarking, " that the folly of 

 (he present had brought on thi mischief s of lohich we now complain.'" 



