George Bancroft, History of the United States from the Discovery of the American Continent, Vol. 7, 4th edition.

[284] added five others, among them Philip Schuy-

Chap. XXVI.} 1775. April.

ler, George Clinton, and Robert R. Livingston; not to hasten a revolution, but to ‘concert measures for the preservation of American rights, and for the restoration of harmony between Great Britain and the colonies.’

This happened at a time when the king believed New York won over by immunities and benefactions and the generals who were on the point of sailing were disputing for the command at that place. ‘Burgoyne would best manage a negotiation,’ said the king; but Howe would not resign his right to the post of confidence. Vergennes saw things just as they were; the British ministry, with a marvellous blindness that but for positive evidence would be incredible, thought it easy to subdue Massachusetts, and corrupt New York. On the fifteenth day of April, letters were written to Gage, to take possession of every colonial fort; to seize and secure all military stores of every kind, collected for the rebels; to arrest and imprison all such as should be thought to have committed treason; to repress rebellion by force; to make the public safety the first object of consideration; to substitute more coercive measures for ordinary forms of proceeding, without pausing ‘to require the aid of a civil magistrate.’ Thurlow and Wedderburn had given their opinion that the Massachusetts congress was a treasonable body. The power of pardon, which was now conferred on the general, did not extend to the president of ‘that seditious meeting,’ nor to ‘its most forward members,’ who, as unfit subjects for the king's mercy, were to be brought ‘to condign punishment’ by prosecution either in America or in England.