We will not here enter into the Motives of that Conduct; they
are well enough known, and not to her Honour. The first Step was
shutting up the Port of Boston by an Act of Parliament; the next, to
prohibit by another the New England Fishery. An Army and a Fleet
were sent to enforce these Acts. Here was a Stop put at once to all
the mercantile Operations of one of the greatest trading Cities of
America; the Fishing Vessels all laid up, and the usual Remittances,
by way of Spain, Portugal, and the Straits, render'd impossible. Yet
the Cry was now begun against us, _These New England People do not
pay their Debts!_
The Ships of the Fleet employ'd themselves in cruising
separately all along the Coast. The marine Gentry are seldom so well
contented with their Pay, as not to like a little Plunder. They
stopp'd and seiz'd, under slight Pretences, the American Vessels they
met with, belonging to whatever Colony. This checked the Commerce of
them all. Ships loaded with Cargoes destin'd either directly or
indirectly to make Remittance in England, were not spared. If the
Difference between the two Countries had been then accommodated,
these unauthoriz'd Plunderers would have been called to account, and
many of their Exploits must have been found Piracy.
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