For some time previous to the winter of 1775-6, the ultimate separation of the colonies from Great Britain must have occurred to the leading men of America as a possible event. But the people at large had, at that time, not only not contemplated such an event, but would have been startled by the proposal. The proceedings of the British parliament, however, at length became so unjust, and even monstrous, as to array most of the Americans against the parent-country, and to excite a wish in the bosoms of thousands that the colonies were free from her dominion. The news of the battle of Bunker's hill not only roused to indignation the king and his ministers, but convinced them that "a flock of Yankees" were not so despisable objects as they had supposed; and that if the arms of the Americans were not so brightly burnished as those of his majesty's disciplined troops, nevertheless, in the firm hands and under the practised eye of "country boors," they could make sad havoc among them. A large augmentation of the forces in America, contrary to all previous opinion, was now deemed essential. Accordingly, an act was introduced into parliament, authorizing the employment of sixteen thousand German troops, which, with the British regiments in, and about to be sent to America, would constitute a force of nearly fifty thousand men. The minority in parliament reprobated the employment of mercenary troops, in strong and unmeasured terms. But little did the friends of America in parliament feel, in view of such a step, compared with the Americans themselves. "Arm foreigners against us!" they exclaimed; "let us treat the English themselves as foreigners. Better for us to be eternally separated from them, than to be exposed to such cruelty." But the indignation of the Americans was, if possible, still more increased by another act of parliament, passed at the same session, viz: "prohibiting all _trade_ and _commerce_ with the colonies; and authorizing the _capture_ and _condemnation_, not only of all American vessels with their cargoes, but all other vessels _found trading_, in any port or place in the colonies, as if the same were the vessels and effects of _open enemies_; and the vessels and property thus taken were vested in the captors, and the crews were to be treated, not as prisoners, but as _slaves_." By another clause, British subjects were authorized to compel men taken on board of American vessels, whether crews or _other persons_, to fight against _their own countrymen_! By such measures, cruel and impolitic, did the British authorities _compel_ the Americans, not only to take up arms against the mother-country, but to desire a lasting separation from her.