[64] George Montagu, admiral of the British fleet during the early part of the war, did much to exasperate the colonists. "He stopped and searched vessels without adequate pretext, and fired at the market boats as they entered Newport harbor. He treated the farmers on the islands much as the Saracens in the Middle Ages treated the coast population of Italy." He was mild in appearance, but testy and arbitrary to an extraordinary degree. He covered the British retreat from Boston, aided Lord Dunmore to escape from Virginia, and took part in the capture of New York City. [65] William Tryon, the last Royal Governor of New York, informed of a resolution of the Continental Congress: "That it be recommended to the several provincial assemblies, in conventions and councils or committees of safety, to arrest and secure every person in their respective colonies whose going at large may, in their opinion, endanger the safety of the colony or the liberties of America," discerning the signs of the times, took refuge on board the Halifax packet in the harbour, and left the city in the middle of October, 1775.--_Duyckinck._ [66] Scoundrel.--_Ed. 1786._ [67] "From a dunce of a king who was born without brains, The utmost extent of whose sense is to see That reigning and making of buttons agree."--_Ed. 1786._ AMERICAN LIBERTY, A POEM[68] ARGUMENT Present Situation of Affairs in North-America.--Address to the Deity.--Unhappy Situation of New-England, in particular.--The first Emigrations of the Colonists from Europe.--Cruelties of the Indian Natives.--All our Hopes of future Safety depend secondarily on our present Resolution and Activity.--Impossible for British Soldiers to join heartily for the purpose of enslaving us.--Present happy Unanimity among the Colonies.--The Baseness of pensioned Writers against their native Country.--General Gage's late Proclamation.--The Odium consequent upon his Undertaking his present Office.--Character of a weak Monarch.--Popery established in Canada.--General Washington.--The Honourable Continental Congress.--Hancock.--Adams.--Invitation to Foreigners to retire hither from their respective Slavish Regions.--Bravery of the New-England Forces in the late Engagements.--The determined Resolution of the Colonies to be free.--The future Happiness of America if she surmounts the present Difficulties.