death, while the British, as fast as they could load, wheeling on their pursuets, 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 detach ment. This reinforcement met the poor fellows, faint with fear and fatigue, and brought them safe. ly off to Boston.

In this their first field, the American farm rs 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 roari g flame: and, with equal ardour, both parties hasten. ed 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 marih through all America!!!" Oh! had that profou d 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 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 meets 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 Molock in his looks, huil d the curses of Amak k 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 loids 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 cruelier 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."

UPON this, the unlovely names of liar and scou drel were exchanged with a freedom which showed that in the quarrel with America the passions of the two parties knew no bounds. Happily for America, this spirit of Mr. Wilkes was not peculiar to him self. Thousands of enlightened and virtuous whigs breathed it with equal ardour. The gallant duke of Buckingham, on hearing how bravely the Americans had behaved at Lexington, exclaimed, “Well, thank God! there are yet some veins in the world that beat high with British blood!"

Lord Effingham, also, being required to take up arms against the Americans, returned his sword the king, saying, “ he had received it on oath,oto maintain the cause of justice, not of oppression! !”

BUT though the right heads in England were numerous, they were not sufficiently so to direct the wrong heads-A feeble minister, and his puny lordings, still held the reins: and though, compared with the great nation which they governed, they seemed but as monkeys on the back of a mammoth, yet they had, too long, the fatal art so to blindfold and goad the noble animal, as to make her run riot over her own children, and crush thousands of thei into their bloody graves.

On this day, June 12, 1775, general Gage issued his proclamation of rebellion, with threats of heaviest vengeance against the rebels; extending however in the king's name, the golden sceptre of mercy to all true penitents, Samuel Adams, and John Hancock, excepted. These gentlemen, by their extraordinary zeal in the cause of liberty, had so mortally offended the ministry, that nothing short of their lives could make atonement. Orders were sent privately to Ge neral Gage, to seize and hang them in Boston, or to send them over in irons to be hung in England. But God gave his angels charge of them, so that not a hair of their heads was hurt.

THE British, 10,000 strong, were still in Boston, where, ever since the affair of Concord, they had been surrounded by an army of 20,000 provincials, all so eager to take the city by storm, that it was with the greatest difficulty their officers could restrain them.

How adorable the goodness of God for ordering that the ministerial attack on our liberties, should fall on the populous and high-toned New-Englanders ! The heroic spirit with which they repelled it, should, to eternity, endear them to their southern brethren.

CHAPTER IX.

Battle of Bunker's-hill—of Sullivan's Island—Declaration of Independence—Defeat of the Americans on Long-Island-Howe threatens violently-Times squally.

And fame of Bunker's hill endure,
Till time itself shall be no more.

THIS hill of fame still lifts his yellow brow, half hid in sedge, on the plains of Charlestown-a lovely port north of Boston, to which it is united by an elegant bridge. To confine the British as closely as possible to Boston, the American generals, on the night of June 16, dispatched 1500 men to throw up an entrenchment on Bunker's-hill. The party did not begin their work till about 12 o'clock; but exerted such a spirit, that, by day-break, they had surrounded themselves with a tolerably decent ditchwithout embrasures indeed, because they had no cannon to stare through them ; nor even a bayonet to bristle over its ridges.

Soon as the rosy morn appeared, they were disco vered by the British men of war, which quickly saluted them with their great guns and mortars. But, regardless of shells and shot, the dauntless Yankees still drank their Switchel* and plied their work.

* A mild moralizing malmsey, made of molasses and water, which the prudent Yankees drink, to the great benefit of their health and senses, while too many of their southern neighbours are be-fooling and bepoisoning themselves with grog.