That to these shores I never will return, 'Till fruits and flowers on Greenland's coast be known, And frosts are thawed in climates once their own. Ye souls of fire, who burn for chief command, Come! take my place in this disastrous land; To wars like these I bid a long good-night-- Let North and George themselves such battles fight. [A] Georgia had not at this time acceded to the Union of the Thirteen States.--_Freneau's note._ [B] Sir Jeffery Amherst, who about this time refused to act against the Colonial cause.--_Freneau's note._ [70] From the edition of 1809. The original edition, which consisted of 114 lines, was first published in New York, by H. Gaine, in August, 1775. The poem was thus written and published in the early days of the siege. General Gage, the last royal governor of Massachusetts, arrived in Boston May, 1774, and remained until October, 1775, when he was succeeded by Major General Howe. The siege of Boston began with the arrival of Washington before the city, early in July, 1775, and continued until Howe was forced to evacuate the city, the following March. Gage's incompetency was admitted even by his own countrymen. He was narrow-minded, and prejudiced, and unable to estimate justly the forces that were against him. His only argument was force and dictatorial interference. [71] This and the following line not in edition of 1775. [72] To fight for Britons against Englishmen.--_Ed. 1775._ In such damn'd service to harass my brain.--_Ed. 1786._ [73] Four lines of the original edition omitted: "North take advice, thy lucky genius show, Dismiss a legate to the world below, Sir Belzebub, for aid like thine we sue, Send up the damned and let them help me too." [74] A life like mine is of such mighty worth, I'll wrong my king if I should sally forth. [75] This and the following line is not in edition of 1775. [76] Some trophy of my tedious victory.--_Ed. 1775._ [77] The Lordship of a manor I would scorn.--_Ed. 1775._ [78] In place of the next eight lines, the edition of 1775 has the following: "Let heaven's broad concave to the center ring, And Imps from hell their swifter vengeance wing; May heaven, if so the righteous judgment pass, Change earth to steel, the sky to solid brass." [79] Let hell-cats darting from some blackguard sphere.--_Ed. 1786._ [80] This and the four following lines not found in the edition of 1775. [81] It shows they think their freedom lies at stake.--_Ed. 1775._ [82] In the original edition these two lines read as follows: "Like Captain Cook to Southern islands stray, And take new kings and kingdoms in my way." [83] "Foreign clime."--_Ed. 1775._ "Negro clime."--_Ed. 1786._ [84] This line, and the nine following, are not found in the edition of 1775. THE MIDNIGHT CONSULTATIONS;[85] OR, A TRIP TO BOSTON First published in 1775