a conquest by land is
unnecessary, when the country can be reduced, first, by distress, and
then to obedience, by our marines totally interrupting all commerce and
fishery, and even seizing all the ships in the ports, with very little
expense and bloodshed. To this might be added the punishment of the
factious chiefs by impeachment or bill, if their persons can be secured;
but till then any judicial proceedings would provoke, not hurt, and
confer the palm of martyrdom without the pain of it, which is the
perfection of fanatical beatitude. In respect to the other colonies
south of New England, a strict execution of the Act of Navigation, and
other restrictive laws, would probably be sufficient at present; and a
small addition of frigates and sloops would so execute those laws as to
prevent all commerce with foreign states. Those colonies should also
be left to deal with the Indians, the mother country withdrawing
the establishments made since the beginning of the late war for the
management of the Indian affairs, and kept up till this day at a great
expense. Though we must depend on our smaller ships for the active
part of this plan, I think a squadron of ships of the line should be
stationed in North America, both to prevent the intervention of foreign
powers, and any attempt of the colonies to attack our smaller vessels by
sea." Lord Barrington next advised the removal of the troops from
Boston to Canada, Nova Scotia, and East Florida, till they could
be successfully employed, and then continued: "If these ideas are
well-founded, the colonies will in a few months feel their distress;
their spirits, not animated by any little successes on their part, or
violence of persecution on ours, will sink; they will be consequently
inclined to treat, probably to submit to a certain degree; and in my
humble opinion, the whole is then over, for then, with dignity, we may
make them concessions." Had this system of blockade been adopted, there
can be little doubt but America would have been preserved to England,
for the Americans had then no fleet or any formidable fortifications on
their coast. The advice, however, was rejected, and Lord Barrington was
only prevented resigning office by the express desire of the king. But
though Lord Barrington not only did not concur in the plans pursued by
ministers, but sought to set them aside, yet as secretary of war, he
obtained the chief odium of their failure. The principal blame, however,
se