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people, and place it in the crown; thus making even the judges and heriffs dependent on the king, and removeable only at his pleasure.

This act was foon followed by another, which ordained, that any perfon, indicted for murder, or other capital offence, committed in aiding the magiftrates in executing the laws, might be fent by the governor either to another colony, or to Great-Britain, for his trial.

This was foon followed by the Quebec Bill; which extended the bounds of that province, and granted many privileges to the Roman Catholics. The object of this bill was, to secure the attachment of that province to the crown of England, and prevent its joining the colonies in their refiftance of the laws of parliament.

But these measures did not intimidate the Americans. On the other hand they served to confirm their former apprehenfions of the evil detigns of government, and to unite the colonies in their oppofition. A correfpondence of opinion with respect to the unconftitutional acts of parliament, produced a uniformity of proceedings in the colonies. The people generally concurred in a propofition for holding a congrefs by deputation from the feveral colonies, in order to concert measures for the preservation of their rights. Deputies were accordingly appointed, and met at Philaphia on the 26th of October, 1774.

In this first congrefs, the proceedings were cool, deliberate and loyal; but marked with unanimity and firmness. Their first act was a declaration, or flate of their claims as to the enjoyment of all the rights of British fubjects, and particularly that of taxing themfelves exclufively, and of regulating the internal police of the colonies. They alfo drew up a petition to the king, complaining of their grievances, and praying for a repeal of the unconftitutional and oppreffive acts of parliament. They figned an affociation to fufpend the importation of British goods, and the exporta-` tion of American produce, until their grievances fhould be redreffed. They sent an addrefs to the inhabitants of Great-Britain, and another to the people of America; in the former of which they enumerated the oppreffive fteps of parliament, and called on their British brethren not to aid the miniftry in enflaving their American subjects; and in the latter, they endeavoured to confirm the people in a spirited and unanimous determination to defend their conftitutional rights.

In the mean time, every thing in Maffachusetts wore the appearance of opposition by force. A new council for the governor had been appointed by the crown. New judges were appointed and attempted to proceed in the execution of their office. But the juries refused to be fworn under them; in fome counties, the people affembled to prevent the courts from proceeding to bufinefs: and in Berkshire they fucceeded, fetting an example of refiftance that has fince been followed, in violation of the laws of the ftate.

In this fituation of affairs, the day for the annual muster of the militia approached. General Gage, apprehenfive of fome violence, had the precaution to feize the magazines of ammunition and ftores at Cambridge and Charleston, and lodged them in Bofton. This meafure, with the fortifying of that neck of land which joins Boston to the main land at Roxbury, caufed a universal alarm and ferment. Several thousand people affembled, and it was with difficulty they could be restrained from falling upon the British troops,

On this occafion, an affembly of delegates from all the towns in Suffolk county was called; and feveral fpirited refolutions were agreed to. Thefe refolutions were prefaced with a declaration of allegiance, but they breathed a spirit of freedom that does honour to the delegates. They declared that the late acts of parliament and the proceedings of General Gage, were glaring infractions of their rights and liberties, which their duty called them to defend by all lawful means.

This affembly remonftrated against the fortification of Boston Neck, and against the Quebec Bill; and refolved upon a suspension of commerce, an encouragement of arts and manufactures, the holding of a provincial congrefs, and a fubmiffion to the measures which fhould be recommended by the continental congrefs. They recommended that the collectors of taxes fhould not pay any money into the treasury, without further orders; they alfo recommended peace and good order, as they meant to act merely upon the defensive.

In answer to their remonftrance, General Gage affured them that he had no intention to prevent the free egrefs and regress of the inhabitants to and from the town of Bofton, and that he would not suffer any person under his command to injure the perfon or property of any of his majesty's fubjects.

Previous to this, a general affembly had been summoned to meet ; and notwithstanding the writs had been countermanded by the governor's proclamation, on account of the violence of the times and the refignation of feveral of the new counfellors, yet representatives were chofen by the people who met at Salem, refolved themselves into a provincial congress, and adjourned to Concord.

This congrefs addressed the governor with a rehearsal of their diftreffes, and took the neceffary steps for defending their rights. They regulated the militia, made provifion for supplying the treasury, and furnishing the people with arms; and fuch was the enthusiasm and union of the people that the recommendations of the provincial congress had the force of laws. General Gage was incenfed at the measures-he declared, in his anfwer to the addrefs, that Britain could never harbour the black design of enflaving her fubjects, and published a proclamation, in which he infinuated, that fuch proceedings amounted to 1ebellion. He also ordered barracks to be erected for the foldiers; but he found difficulty in procuring labourers, either in Boston or New-York.

In the beginning of 1775, the fishery bills were paffed in parliament, by which the colonies were prohibited to trade with Great-Britain, Ireland, or the Weft-Indies, or to take fish on the banks of Newfoundland.

In the diftreffes to which these acts of parliament reduced the town of Bofton, the unanimity of the colonies was remarkable in the large fupplies of provifion, furnished by the inhabitants of different towns from New-Hampshire to Georgia, and fhipped to the relief of the fufferers.

Preparations began to be made to oppose by force the execution of thefe acts of parliament. The militia of the country were trained to the use of arms-great encouragement was given for the manufacture of gunpowder, and measures were taken to obtain all kinds of military stores.

In February, Colonel Leflie was fent with a detachment of troops from Boston, to take poffeffion of fome cannon at Salem. But the people had

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intelligence of thr defign-took up the draw-bridge in that town, and prevented the troops from paffing, until the cannon were fecured; so that the expedition failed.

In April, Colonel Smith and Major Pitcairn were sent with a body of about nine hundred troops, to destroy the military stores which had been collected at Concord, about twenty miles from Boston. It is believed, that another object of this expedition was to feize on the perfons of Meffrs. Hancock and Adams, who, by their fpirited exertions, had rendered themselves very obnoxious to General Gage. At Lexington, the militia was collected on a green, to oppose the incurfion of the British forces. These were fired upon by the British troops, and eight men killed on the fpot,

The militia were difperfed, and the troops proceeded to Concord, where they deftroyed a few ftores. But on their return, they were inceffantly harraffed by the Americans, who, inflamed with juft refentment, fired upon them from houses and fences, and pursued them to Boston. The lofs of the British in this expedition, in killed, wounded, and prifoners, was two hundred and feventy-three men.

Here was spilt the first blood in the late war; a war which fevered America from the British empire. Lexington opened the firft fcene of this great drama, which, in its progrefs, exhibited the most illuftrious characters and events, and clofed with a revolution, equally glorious for the actors, and important in its confequences to mankind.

This battle roused all America. The militia collected from all quarters, and Boston, in a few days, was befieged by twenty thousand men. A ftop was put to all intercourse between the town and country, and the inhabitants were reduced to great want of provifions. General Gage promised to let the people depart, if they would deliver up their arms. people complied, but when the general had obtained their arms, the perfidious man refused to let the people go.

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This breach of faith, and the confequences that attend it, were juftly and greatly complained of; and although many, at different times, were permitted to leave the town, they were obliged to leave all their effects behind; fo that many who had been used to live in ease and affluence, were at once reduced to extreme indigence and mifery. A circumstance peculiarly and wantonly aggravating, and which was the ground of the bittereft complaints of Congrefs, was, that paffports were granted or retained in fuch a manner, as that families were broken, and the dearest connections separated; part being compelled to quit the town, and part cruelly retained against their inclination.

In the mean time, a small number of men, to the amount of about two hundred and forty, under the command of Colonel Allen and Colonel Easton, without any public orders, furprized and took the British garrifons at Ticonderoga and Crown Point, without the lofs of a man on either fide.

During these transactions, the Generals Howe, Burgoyne, and Clinton, arrived at Boston from England, with a number of troops. In June following, our troops attempted to fortify Bunker's-hill, which lies near Charleston, and but a mile and an half from Bofton. They had, during the night, thrown up a small breaft-work, which sheltered them from

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the fire of the British cannon. But the next morning, the British army was sent to drive them from the hill, and landing under cover of their cannon, they fet fire to Charleston, which was confumed, and marched to attack our troops in the entrenchments. A fevere engagement enfued, in which the British, according to their own accounts, had feven hundred and forty killed, and eleven hundred and fifty wounded. They were repulfed at firit, and thrown into disorder; but they finally carried the fortification, with the point of the bayonet. The Americans fuffered a fmall lofs, compared with the British; the whole lofs in killed, wounded, and prisoners being but about four hundred and fifty.

The lofs moft lamented on this bloody day was that of Dr. Warren, who was at this time a major-general, and commanded the troops on this occafion. He died like a brave man, fighting valiantly at the head of his party, in a little redoubt at the right of our lines.

General Warren, who had rendered himself confpicuous by his univerfal merit, abilities, and eloquence, had been a delegate to the first general congrefs, and was at this time prefident of the provincial congrefs of Maffachusetts. But quitting the humane and peaceable walk of his profeffion as a phyfician, and breaking through the endearing ties of family connections, he proved himself equally calculated for the field, as for public bufinefs or private study.

About this time, the Continental Congress appointed George Washington, Efq; a native of Virginia, to the chief command of the American army. This gentleman had been a diftinguished and fuccefsful officer in the preceding war, and he feemed destined by heaven to be the faviour of his country. He accepted the appointment with a diffidence which was a proof of his prudence and his greatness. He refused any pay for. eight years laborious and arduous fervice; and by his matchlefs skill, fortitude, and perfeverance, conducted America through indefcribeable difficulties, to independence and peace.

While true merit is efteemed, or virtue honoured, mankind will never ceafe to revere the memory of this Hero; and while gratitude remains in the human breast, the praises of WASHINGTON fhall dwell on every American tongue.

General Washington, with other officers appointed by congress, arrived at Cambridge, and took command of the American army in July. From this time, the affairs of America began to affume the appearance of a regular and general oppofition to the forces of Great-Britain.

In Autumn, a body of troops, under the command of General Montgomery, befieged and took the garrison at St. John's, which commands the entrance into Canada. The prifoners amounted to about feven hundred. General Montgomery pursued his fuccefs, and took Montreal; and defigned his victories to Quebec.

A body of troops, commanded by General Arnold, was ordered to march to Canada, by the river Kenebeck, and through the wilderness. After fuffering every hardship, and the moft diftreffing hunger, they arrived in Canada, and were joined by General Montgomery, before Quebec. This city, which was commanded by Governor Carleton, was immediately befieged. But there being little hope of taking the town by a fiege, it was determined to ftorm it.

* See Note (A) at the clofe of his history.

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The attack was made on the laft day of December, but proved unfuccefsful, and fatal to the brave General * ; who, with his aid, was killed in attempting to fcale the walls..

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Of the three divifions which attacked the town, one only entered, and that was obliged to furrender to fuperior force. After this defeat, Gen. Arnold, who now commanded the troops, continued fome months before Quebec, although his troops fuffered incredibly by cold and fick nefs. But the next spring, the Americans were obliged to retreat from Canada. About this time, the large and flourishing town of Norfolk in Virginia was wantonly burned by order of Lord Dunmore, the then royal governor of that province.

General Gage went to England in September, and was fucceeded in the command by General Howe.

Falmouth, a confiderable town in the province of Main, in Massachufetts, shared the fate of Norfolk; being laid in afhes by order of the British admiral.

The British king entered into treaties with fome of the German Princes for about feventeen thousand men, who were to be fent to America the next year, to affift in fubduing the colonies. The parliament alfo paffed an act, forbidding all intercourse with America; and while they repealed the Bofton-port and fifhery bills, they declared all American property on the high feas forfeited to the captors. This act induced Congrefs to change the mode of carrying on the war; and measures were taken to the enemy in Boston. For this purpose, batteries were opened on

annoy several hills, from whence fhot and bombs were thrown into the town. But the batteries which were opened on Dorchefter point had the best effect, and foon obliged General Howe to abandon the town. In March, 1776, the British troops embarked for Halifax, and General Washington entered the town in triumph.

In the enfuing fummer, a fmall fquadron of fhips, commanded by Sir Peter Parker, and a body of troops, under the Generals Clinton and Cornwallis, attempted to take Charleston, the capital of South Carolina. The Ships made a violent attack upon the fort on Sullivan's Island, but were repulfed with great lofs, and the expedition was abandoned.

In July, Congress published their declaration of independence, which feparated America from Great-Britain. This great event took place two hundred and eighty-four years after the first discovery of America by Columbus-one hundred and fixty-fix, from the first effectual fettlement in Virginia and one hundred and fifty-fix from the firft fettlement of Plymouth in Massachusetts, which were the earliest English fettlements in America.

Juft after this declaration, General Howe, with a powerful force, arrived near New-York, and landed the troops upon Staten Island. General Washington was in New-York, with about thirteen thousand men, who were encamped either in the city or the neighhouring fortifications.

The operations of the British began by the action on Long Island, in the month of Auguft. The Americans were defeated, and General Sullivan and Lord Stirling, with a large body of men, were made prisoners. The night after the engagement, a retreat was ordered, and executed with

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