[658] A letter of Chase and Carroll from Montreal, May 26, 1776, to General Thomas, is in the Mass. Archives, and is copied in the Sparks MSS (lii. vol. iii.).
[659] Their letters, written in May, are in Force's Archives, and the originals are preserved in the Archives at Washington; but Brantz Mayer says (Carroll's Journal, 1876, p. 37) that their report of June 12, 1776, could not be found. Their last letter, however, of May 27th, which Mayer prints (p. 38), gives their results. It is also in Force (vi. 589). The papers of General Thomas show their letters addressed to him of May 6, 12, and 15.
[660] Maj.-Gen. Robert Howe's report on the defences of Charlestown, some months later (Oct. 9th), is in the Amer. Archives, iii. 49.
[661] An Introduction to the History of the Revolt of the American Colonies, being a comprehensive view of its origin derived from the State Papers contained in the public offices of Great Britain (Boston, 1845).
[662] It is to be remembered that these positive statements as to the spirit of independence latent in the colonies were written after the achievement of the fact. It is but fair to say that it has been objected against the positiveness of Chalmers's statements that he presents no specific evidence of their truth from written authorities. (See Sparks's Washington, vol. ii. Appendix x., and his Preface to the American edition of Chalmers.) Viscount Bury, in his Exodus of the Western Nations (i. 395, 412), repeats the opinion of Chalmers as positively, yet also without authorities. On the other side, as illustrating how general statements may be affirmed, as if not to be qualified or challenged, we read in Governor Hutchinson's volume of his History written during his exile in England this sentence (vol. iii. p. 69), as of date 1758: "An empire, separate or distinct from Britain, no man then alive expected or desired to see",—an assertion more rhetorical than true. In the debate in the Commons on the Boston Port Bill and the infraction of the charter of Massachusetts, Sir Richard Sutton said "that even in the most quiet times the disposition to oppose the laws of this country was strongly ingrafted in the Americans, and all their actions conveyed a spirit and wish for independence. If you ask an American who is his master, he will tell you he has none, nor any governor, but Jesus Christ" (Adolphus, ii. 108).
[663] This last word recognized the jealousy and apprehension felt in Massachusetts about the sending over of bishops to the province.
[664] Examination before Committee of Parliament.
[665] See ante, chapter i.
[666] This Congress issued a very strong declaration "of the causes and necessity of taking up arms." It sought by clear statements "to quiet the minds of our friends and fellow-subjects. We do not mean to dissolve the union. Necessity has not driven us into that desperate measure. We have not raised armies with the ambitious designs of separation from Great Britain, and establishing independent states." This hesitating and vacillating course of the first two congresses would naturally encourage the British ministry in the belief, first, that the colonists were by no means of one mind as to valid reasons for a united opposition to government; and second, that the strength of the existing feelings of loyalty and attachment, backed by efficient policy, would withstand any looking towards independence.
[667] For an explanation of the reasons why R. H. Lee, the mover, was not made chairman of this committee, see Randall's Life of Jefferson, vol. i. 144-159.