prayer. Some of the members thought this might be inexpedient, as all the delegates might not be able to join in the same form of worship. Up rose Samuel Adams, in whose great soul there was not a grain of sham. He was a strict Congregationalist. "I am no bigot," he said. "I can hear a prayer from a man of piety and virtue, whatever may be his cloth, provided he is at the same time a friend to his country." On his motion the Rev. Mr. Duché, an Episcopal clergyman of Philadelphia, was invited to act as chaplain. Mr. Duché accepted the invitation.

When the congress assembled the next morning all was anxiety and apprehension, for the rumor of the attack upon Boston, which had reached Putnam and aroused Connecticut, had gotten as far as Philadelphia. The chaplain opened the session by reading the thirty-fifth Psalm, which seemed, as John Adams said, ordained by Heaven to be read that morning, and then broke forth into an extempore prayer of great fervor and eloquence. At the close of the prayer a deep silence prevailed in the hall. It was broken by Patrick Henry, who rose to open the day's proceedings. He began slowly and hesitatingly at first, "as if borne down by the weight of his subject," but as he proceeded he rose grandly to the duty of the occasion, and in a speech of masterly eloquence he recited the wrongs of the American colonies at the hands of Great Britain, and declared that all government in America was dissolved, and urged upon the congress the necessity of forming a new government for the colonies. Towards the close of his speech he struck a chord which answered in every heart. "British oppression," he exclaimed, "has effaced the boundaries of the several colonies; the distinctions between Virginians, Pennsylvanians, New Yorkers, and New Englanders are no more. I am not a Virginian, but an American." The deputies were astonished at his clequence, as well as at the magnitude of the interests with which they were intrusted.

The congress continued its sessions for seven weeks. It had no authority to bind the colonies to any course; its powers were merely advisory, and it did not transcend its authority. It drew up a Declaration of Rights, in which it defined the natural rights of man to be the enjoyment of life, liberty, and property. It claimed for the Americans, as British subjects, the right to participate in the making of their laws, and the levying of taxes upon their own people. The right of trial by jury in the immediate vicinity of the scene of the alleged offence, and the right of holding public meetings and petitioning for the redress of grievances, were solemnly asserted. A protest was entered against the maintaining of standing armies in America without the consent of the colonies, and against eleven specified acts passed since the opening of the reign of

George III., as violative of the rights of the colonies. The declaration concluded with the solemn warning, "To these grievous acts and measures Americans cannot submit."

Congress then addressed itself to a plan for obtaining redress. It was agreed to form an "American Association," whose members were to pledge themselves not to trade with Great Britain or the West Indies, or with persons engaged in the slave trade; not to use tea or any British goods; and not to trade with any colony which should refuse to join the

association. For the purpose of enforcing the objects of this association committees were to be appointed in the various parts of the country to see that its provisions were carried into effect.

Other papers were adopted by the congress, setting forth its views more clearly. A petition to the king was prepared by John Dickinson, of Pennsylvania, who also drafted an address to the people of Canada. A memorial to the people of the colonies was written by Richard Henry Lee, of Virginia, and an address to the people of Great Britain by John Jay, of New York. These papers were forwarded to England to be laid

before the British government, and on the 26th of October the congress adjourned to meet on the 10th of May, 1775.

In January, 1775, Lord North presented the papers adopted by congress to the House of Commons, and at the same time they were laid before the House of Lords by Lord Dartmouth. The venerable Earl of Chatham made this the occasion of a powerful appeal to the majority in Parliament. to reverse their arbitrary course towards the Americans before it should be too late. Referring to the papers laid before the House, he said: "When your lordships look at the papers transmitted us from America, when you consider their decency, firmness and wisdom, you cannot but respect their cause and wish to make it your own. For myself, I must avow, that in all my reading-and I have read Thucydides, and have studied and admired the master states of the world-for solidity of reason, force of sagacity, and wisdom of conclusion under a complication of difficult circumstances, no nation or body of men can stand in preference to the general congress at Philadelphia. The histories of Greece and Rome give us nothing equal to it, and all attempts to impose servitude upon such a mighty continental nation must be in vain. We shall be forced ultimately to retract; let us retract while we can, not when we must. These violent acts must be repealed; you will repeal them; I pledge myself for it, I stake my reputation on it, that you will in the end repeal them. Avoid, then, this humiliating necessity."

The king was furious when the words of the greatest statesman of his kingdom were repeated to him. Neither the wisdom nor the eloquence of Chatham could turn the king or the ministers from their mad course. They had but one plan for America now. She must submit humbly to their will; if she should resist, she must be crushed into submission. The king meant to try the question with the Americans.

T

CHAPTER XXVI.

THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

Gage fortifies Boston Neck-He summons the General Court-Recalls his Proclamation— The Provincial Congress of Massachusetts—It takes Measures for Defence-The Militia Organized-The Minute Men-Friends of America in England-Gage resolves to seize the Stores at Concord-Midnight March of the British Troops-The Alarm given-Skirmishes at Lexington and Concord-Retreat of the British-A terrible March-Uprising of New England-Boston Invested-Dunmore seizes the Virginia Powder-Is made to pay for it-Uprising of the Middle and Southern Colonies-The Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence-Capture of Ticonderoga and Crown Point-Meeting of the Second Continental Congress-Congress resolves to sustain Massachusetts-Renewed Efforts for Peace-Congress assumes the General Government of the Colonies-A Federal Union Organized-Its Character-A Continental Army formed-George Washington appointed Commander-in-chief-General Officers appointed-Condition of the Army before Boston-Inaction of Gage-Battle of Breed's Hill-A glorious Defence-The Battle equivalent to a Victory in its effects upon the Country-Arrival of Washington at Cambridge-He takes Command of the Army-He reorganizes the Army-Difficulties of the undertaking-The Invasion of Canada resolved upon-March of Montgomery and Arnold-Rapid Successes of Montgomery-He captures Montreal-March of Arnold through the Wilderness-Arrival before Quebec-Forms a Junction with Montgomery-The Siege of Quebec-The Ice Forts-Failure of the Attack-Death of Montgomery-Retreat of the Americans from Canada-Lord Dunmore's War in VirginiaDestruction of Norfolk-The Thirteen United Colonies-Burning of Falmouth-Naval Matters-Action of Great Britain-The War to be carried on-The Hessians.

HILE the Continental Congress was in session, matters were in a most serious state in Massachusetts. General Gage, alarmed by the threatening aspect of the Americans, began to fortify Boston Neck, the narrow peninsula which united the city with the main

land. A regiment was stationed at these works to prevent communication between the citizens and the people in the country. The news of this action spread rapidly. At Portsmouth, New Hampshire, a company of volunteers seized the fort and carried off one hundred and fifty barrels of powder and several cannon. At Newport forty-four cannon were seized by the people and sent to Providence for safekeeping.

In the midst of this excitement, Gage, thinking such a step might conbut ciliate the people, summoned the general court to meet at Salem ; alarmed at the growing spirit of liberty, countermanded the order. The

members of the general court met, however, at Salem, on the 5th of October, 1774, but finding no one to organize them adjourned to Concord, where they resolved themselves into a provincial congress, of which John Hancock was elected president. This congress existed as the government of the people, and was independent of the authority of the king. They protested their loyalty to King George, and their desire for peace, and endeavored to induce Gage to desist from fortifying Boston Neck. Gage

refused to comply with their demand, and warned them to desist from their unlawful course. The provincial congress paid no attention to his warning, but proceeded to call out the militia to the number of twelve thousand. They were allowed to remain at their homes, but were required to be ready for service at a minute's warning. Hence they were known as "Minute Men." Two committees of safety were appointed: one to call out the minute men when their services were needed; the other to supply them with provisions and ammunition. Two general officers, Artemas Ward and Seth Pomeroy, were appointed. The other New England colonies were invited to increase the number of minute men to twenty thousand. The sum of £20,000 was voted for the military service, and Massachusetts prepared for the worst. In every colony military preparations were set on foot, and the whole of America began to prepare for the coming storm which all thinking men now saw was close at hand.

THE MINUTE MAN.

The papers drawn up by the Continental Congress had been widely circulated in England, and had aroused a great deal of sympathy for America, and it was hoped by many that the new Parliament, which met in January, 1775, would see the necessity of doing justice to the colonies. The cause of America was eloquently pleaded by the Earl of Chatham