Every step that was taken by her ministry to restore tranquility
to the empire, was artfully misrepresented by the zealots of
faction. Every unguarded expression, or unfortunate measure of
irritation was exaggerated by leaders, who considered their own
honour and dignity as inseparable from further advances, and
predicted treachery and insult as the consequences of
retreating. They now imagined they had met with a favourable
opportunity for proceeding to extremities. Their influence was
greatest in the general congress, and by their means a circular
manifesto was issued by that assembly intended to ascertain the
disposition of the several colonies respecting a declaration of
independence.
"They called their countrymen to witness how real had been their
grievances, and how moderate their claims. They said, it was
impossible to have proceeded with more temper or greater
deliberation, but that their complaints had been constantly
superseded, their petitions to the throne rejected. The
administration of Great Britain had not hesitated to attempt to
starve them into surrender, and having miscarried in this, they
were ready to employ the whole force of their country, with all
the foreign auxiliaries they could obtain, in prosecution of
their unjust and tyrannical purposes.
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