342 Journal and Correspondence

sanguine in your Hopes, that the Time is not far distant, when
Peace and Harmony will be restored & confidence re-estab-
lished on a permanent Basis; at the same Time I observe with
Satisfaction what you say of the Temper and Moderation of
the Persons chosen to represent the Province of Maryland in
the Continental Congress, & I am not without some Reason
to believe that there maybe others in that Congress of the
same Disposition.

At present however the rebellious Proceedings of the People
in most of the Colonies wear the appearance of an actual,
Revolt, & it is his Majesty's firm Resolution in consequence of
the Advices, which he has received, that the most vigorous
Efforts should be made, both by Sea & Land to reduce his
rebellious Subjects to Obedience, and the proper Measures are
now pursuing, not only for augmenting the Army under Gen-
eral Gage, but also for making such Addition to our naval
strength in North America, as may enable Admiral Graves, to
make such a Disposition of his fleet as that, besides the
Squadron necessary for the New-England Station, there may
be seperate Squadrons at New York, within the Bay of Dela-
ware, in Chesapeake Bay & upon the coast of Carolina.
After what has passed there can be no Doubt, what ought to
be the plan of operations for the squadron upon the New-Eng-
land Station, & I think it necessary to acquaint you, for your
own Information, that Admiral Graves will be instructed to
exert the most vigorous Efforts for suppressing the Rebellion
now openly avowed & supported in that Country & to seize
and obtain all ships & Vessels belonging to the Inhabitants
thereof, such only excepted, as are the Property of Persons,
who are Friends of Government & have shewn an Attachment
to the constitution: There is still some Room to hope that
the Colonies to the southward may not proceed to the same
Lengths with those of New-England; it is however his Maj-
esty's Intentions that the Commanders of the separate squad-
rons I have mentioned, should be instructed to prevent all
Commerce between the Colonies within their respective
Stations & any other Places than Great Britain, Ireland, or his
Majesty's Islands in the West Indies, that they should receive
on Board & give Protection to any officers of the Crown, who
may be compelled by the Violence of the People to seek for
such an Asylum, and to proceed, as in Case of a Town in
actual Rebellion, against such of the Sea Port Towns, being
accessible to the King's Ships, as shall hereafter offer any
Violence to the Kings officers, or in which any Troops shall
be raised, or military Works erected, other than by his Maj-
esty's Authority, or any Attempts made to seize or plunder
any public Magazine of Arms or Ammunition :