"It is a mysterious Providence, indeed," he continued, "that our
state, in the infancy of its independence, is left to undergo so
fearful a trial. Already there are many of the Tories who wag the head
and say 'Aha, so would we have it,' averring that this insurrection is
but the first fruits of our liberty, and that the rest will be like
unto it."
"God grant that we may not have erred in throwing off the yoke of the
King," said Edwards, gloomily. "I do confess that I have had much
exercise of mind upon that point during the trials of the past weeks."
"I beg of you, sir, not to give way to such a frame," said Sedgwick
earnestly, "for it is to gentlemen of your degree that the well
disposed look for guidance and encouragement in these times. And yet I
am constrained to admit that in Boston at no time in the late war, no,
not when our fortunes were at the lowest ebb, has there been such
gloom as now. And verily I could not choose but to share it, but for
my belief that the convention, which is shortly to sit in Philadelphia
to devise a more perfect union for the thirteen states, will pave the
way for a stronger government of the continent, and one that will
guarantee us not only against foreign invasion but domestic violence
and insurrection also.
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