thus reinforced, prepared for acting with in that position till they were reinforced by more decision; but before he proceeded to a second detachment of light infantry and extremities he conceived it due to ancient grenadier companies, a battalion of land forms to issue a proclamation, holding forth forces, and a battalion of marines, making to the inhabitants the alternative of peace or in the whole near 3000 men. While the war. He, therefore, (June 12th,) offered troops who first landed were waiting for this pardon in the king's name to all who should reinforcement, the provincials, for their farforthwith lay down their arms and return to ther security, pulled up some adjoining post their respective occupations and peaceable and rail fences, and set them down in two duties, excepting only from the benefit of parallel lines at a small distance from each that pardon Samuel Adams and John Han- other, and filled the space between with hay, cock, whose offences were said to be of too which having been lately mowed, remained flagitious a nature to admit of any other con- on the adjacent ground. sideration than that of condign punishment.

The king's troops formed in two lines, He also proclaimed that not only the persons and advanced slowly, to give their artillery above named and excepted, but also all their time to demolish the American works. adherents, associates, and correspondents, While the British were advancing to the atshould be deemed guilty of treason and re- tack, they received orders to burn Charlesbellion, and treated accordingly. By this town. proclamation it was also declared, "that as Thousands, both within and without Bosthe courts of judicature were shut, martial ton, were anxious spectators of the bloody law should take place, till a due course of scene. The honor of British troops beat justice should be re-established." It was high in the breasts of many, while others, supposed that this proclamation was a pre- with a keener sensibility, felt for the liberlude to hostilities, and preparations were ac- ties of a great and growing country. The cordingly made by the Americans. A con- British moved on but slowly, which gave the siderable height, by the name of Bunker's provincials a better opportunity for taking Hill, just at the entrance of the peninsula aim. The latter, in general reserved themof Charlestown, was so situated as to make selves till their adversaries were within ten the possession of it a matter of great conse- or twelve rods, but then began a furious disquence to either of the contending parties. charge of small-arms. The stream of the Örders were therefore issued on the 16th American fire was so incessant, and did so of June, by the provincial commanders, that great execution, that the king's troops rea detachment of a thousand men should in- treated in disorder and precipitation. Their trench upon this height. By some mistake, officers rallied them. The Americans again Breed's Hill, high and large, like the other, reserved their fire till their adversaries were but situated near Boston, was marked out near, and then put them a second time to for the intrenchments, instead of Bunker's flight. General Howe and the officers reHill. The provincials proceeded to Breed's doubled their exertions, and were at last Hill, and worked with so much diligence, successful. By this time the powder of the that between midnight and the dawn of the Americans began so far to fail, that they morning they had thrown up a small redoubt were not able to keep up the same brisk fire about eight rods square. They kept such a as before. The British also brought some profound silence, that they were not heard cannon to bear, which raked the inside of by the British, on board their vessels, though the breastwork from end to end. The fire very near. These having derived their first from the ships, batteries, and field artillery, information of what was going on from the was redoubled. The redoubt was attacked sight of the work near completion, began an on three sides at once. Under these cirincessant firing upon them. The provincials cumstances a retreat from it was ordered. bore this with firmness, and though they While these operations were going on at were only young soldiers, continued to labor the breast work and redoubt, the British light till they had thrown up a small breastwork, infantry were attempting to force the left extending from the east side of the redoubt point of the former, that they might take to the bottom of the hill. As this eminence the American line in flank. Though they overlooked Boston, general Gage thought it exhibited the most undaunted courage, they necessary to drive the provincials from it. met with an opposition which called for its About noon therefore of the 7th, he detached greatest exertions. The provincials here, major-general Howe, and brigadier-general in like manner, reserved their fire till their Pigot, with the flower of the army, consist- adversaries were near, and then poured it ing of four battalions, ten companies of the upon the light infantry, with such an incesgrenadiers, and ten of light infantry, with a sant stream, and in so true a direction, as proportion of field artillery, to effect this mowed down their ranks. The engagement business. These troops landed at Moreton's was kept up on both sides with great resoluPoint, and formed after landing, but remained tion. The persevering exertions of the king's

troops could not compel the Americans to re-steps to be taken for cutting off the commu treat, till they observed that their main body nication between the town and country." had left the hill. This, when begun, ex- Congress also, on the seventeenth of May, posed them to new danger, for it could not resolved, "That exportation to all parts of be effected but by marching over Charles- British America, which had not adopted their town Neck, every part of which was raked association, should immediately cease;" and by the shot of the Glasgow man-of-war, and that "no provision of any kind, or other neof two floating batteries. cessaries, be furnished to the British fisheries The number of Americans engaged on the American coast." And " that no bill amounted only to 1500. It was apprehended of exchange, draft, or order of any officer that the conquerors would push the advanta- in the British army or navy, their agents or ges they had gained, and march immediately contractors, be received or negotiated, or any to the American head-quarters at Cambridge, money supplied them by any person in but they advanced no farther than Bunker's America-that no provisions or necessaries Hill; there they threw up works for their of any kind be furnished or supplied to or ewn security. The provincials did the same for the use of the British army or navy, in on Prospect Hill in front of them. Both the colony of Massachusets Bay-that no were guarded against an attack, and both vessel employed in transporting British were in a bad condition to receive one. The troops to America, or from one part of North loss of the peninsula depressed the spirits of America to another, or warlike stores or the Americans, and their great loss of men provisions for the said troops, be freighted or produced the same effect on the British. furnished with provisions or any necessaries." The unexpected resistance of the Americans These resolutions may be considered as the was such as wiped away the reproaches of counterpart of the British acts for restraincowardice, which had been cast on them by ing the commerce, and prohibiting the fishtheir enemies in Britain. The spirited con- eries of the colonies. They were calculated duct of the British officers merited and ob- to bring distress on the British islands in the tained great applause. The provincials were West Indies, whose chief dependence for justly entitled to a large portion of fame, for subsistence was on the importation of prohaving made the utmost exertions of their vision from the American continent. They adversaries necessary to dislodge them from also occasioned new difficulties in the suplines, which were the work only of a single port of the British army and fisheries. The night.

SECOND CONGRESS MEETS.

It has already been mentioned, that congress, previous to its dissolution, on the twenty-sixth of October 1774, recommended to the colonies to choose members for another to meet on the tenth of May 1775, unless the redress of their grievances was previously obtained.

colonists were so much indebted to Great Britain, that government bills for the most part found among them a ready market. A war in the colonies was therefore made subservient to commerce, by increasing the sources of remittance. This enabled the mother country, in a great degree, to supply her troops without shipping money out of the kingdom. From the operation of these resolutions, advantages of this nature were not only cut off, but the supply of the British army rendered both precarious and ex

On their meeting they chose Peyton Randolph for their president, and Charles Thompson for their secretary. On the next day Mr. Hancock laid before them a variety of depo-pensive. sitions, proving that the king's troops were The new congress had been convened but the aggressors in the late battle at Lexing- a few days, when their venerable president, ton, together with other papers relative to Peyton Randolph, was under a necessity of the great events which had lately taken returning home. On his departure John place in Massachusets: whereupon congress Hancock was unanimously chosen his sucresolved itself into a committee of the whole, cessor. The objects of deliberation preto take into consideration the state of Amer-sented to this new congress were, if possible, ica. They proceeded in the same line of more important than those which in the premoderation and firmness, which marked the ceding year had engaged the attention of acts of their predecessors in the past year. their predecessors. The city and county of New-York having In this awful crisis congress had but a applied to congress for advice, how they choice of difficulties. The New-England should conduct themselves with regard to states had already organized an army and the troops expected to land there, they were blockaded general Gage. To desert them advised to act on the defensive so long as would have been contrary to plighted faith might be consistent with their safety; to and to sound policy; to support them would permit the troops to remain in the barracks make the war general, and involve all the so long as they behaved peaceably, but not provinces in one general promiscuous state to suffer fortifications to be erected, or any of hostility. The resolution of the people

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in favor of the latter was fixed, and only substance of the charter, and were only to wanted public sanction for its operation. last till a governor of his majesty's appointCongress therefore, on the twenty-sixth of ment would consent to govern the colony May, resolved, "That for the express pur- according to its charter. pose of defending and securing the colonies, On the same principles of necessity, anand preserving them in safety, against all other assumption of new powers became attempts to carry the late acts of parliament unavoidable. The great intercourse that into execution, by force of arms, they be im- daily took place throughout the colonies, mediately put in a state of defence; but as pointed out the propriety of establishing a they wished for a restoration of the harmony general post-office. This was accordingly formerly subsisting between the mother- done, and Dr. Franklin, who had by royal country and the colonies, to the promotion authority been dismissed from a similar emof this most desirable reconciliation, an ployment about three years before, was aphumble and dutiful petition be presented to pointed by his country, the head of the new his majesty. To resist and to petition were department.

coeval resolutions. As freemen they could While congress was making arrangements not tamely submit, but as loyal subjects, for their proposed continental army, it was wishing for peace as far as was compatible thought expedient once more to address the with their rights, they once more, in the inhabitants of Great Britain, and to publish character of petitioners, humbly stated their to the world a declaration setting forth their grievances to the common father of the em- reasons for taking up arms; to address the pire. To dissuade the Canadians from co-speaker and gentlemen of the assembly of operating with the British, they again ad- Jamaica, and the inhabitants of Ireland; and dressed them, representing the pernicious also to prefer a second humble petition to tendency of the Quebec act, and apologizing the king. In their address to the inhabitfor their taking Ticonderoga and Crown ants of Great Britain, they again vindicated Point, as measures which were dictated by themselves from the charge of aiming at the great law of self-preservation. About independency, professed their willingness to the same time congress took measures for submit to the several acts of trade and naviwarding off the danger that threatened their gation which were passed before the year frontier inhabitants from Indians. Commis- 1763, recapitulated their reasons for rejectsioners to treat with them were appointed, ing lord North's conciliatory motion, stated and a supply of goods for their use was or- the hardships they suffered from the operadered. A talk was also prepared by con- tions of the royal army in Boston, and ingress, and transmitted to them, in which the sinuated the danger the inhabitants of Britain controversy between Great Britain and her would be in of losing their freedom, in case colonies was explained, in a familiar Indian their American brethren were subdued. style. They were told that they had not In their declaration, setting forth the concern in the family quarrel, and were causes and necessity of their taking up arms, urged by the ties of ancient friendship and they enumerated the injuries they had rea common birth-place, to remain at home, ceived, and the methods taken by the British keep their hatchet buried deep, and to join ministry to compel their submission; and neither side. then said, "We are reduced to the alternaThe novel situation of Massachusets made tive of choosing an unconditional submission it necessary for the ruling powers of that to the tyranny of irritated ministers, or reprovince to ask the advice of congress on a sistance by force. The latter is our choice. very interesting subject, "The taking up We have counted the cost of this contest, and exercising the powers of civil govern- and find nothing so dreadful as voluntary ment." For many months they had been slavery." They asserted "that foreign askept together in tolerable peace and order sistance was undoubtedly attainable." This by the force of ancient habits, under the was not founded on any private information, simple style of recommendation and advice but was an opinion derived from their knowfrom popular bodies, invested with no legis- ledge of the principles of policy, by which lative authority. But as war now raged in states usually regulate their conduct towards their borders, and a numerous army was ac- each other.

tually raised, some more efficient form of But their petition to the king, which was government became necessary. At this drawn up at the same time, produced more early day it neither comported with the solid advantages in favor of the American wishes nor the designs of the colonists to cause, than any other of their productions. erect forms of government independent of In this, among other things, it was stated, Great Britain; congress therefore recom-" that, notwithstanding their sufferings, they mended only such regulations as were im- had retained too high a regard for the kingmediately necessary, and these were con- dom from which they derived their origin, formed as nearly as possible to the spirit and to request such a reconciliation as might,

in any manner, be inconsistent with her dig-time to the former; but this was amply comnity and welfare. Attached to his majesty's pensated by his being frequently in such sitperson, family, and government, with all the uations as called forth the powers of his devotion that principle and affection can in- mind, and strengthened them by repeated spire, connected with Great Britain by the exercise. Early in life, in obedience to his strongest ties that can unite society, and de- country's call, he entered the military line, ploring every event that tended in any de- and began his career of fame in opposing gree to weaken them, they not only most that power in concert with whose troops he fervently desired the former harmony be- acquired his last and most distinguished tween her and the colonies to be restored, honors. He was with general Braddock in but that a concord might be established be- 1755, when that unfortunate officer, from an tween them, upon so firm a basis as to per- excess of bravery, chose rather to sacrifice petuate its blessings, uninterrupted by any his army than to retreat from an unseen foe. future dissensions, to succeeding generations, The remains of that unfortunate corps were in both countries. They, therefore, beseech- brought off the field of battle chiefly by the ed that his majesty would be pleased to di- address and good conduct of colonel Washrect some mode by which the united appli- ington. After the peace of Paris, 1763, he cations of his faithful colonists to the throne, retired to his estate, and with great industry in pursuance of their common councils, and success pursued the arts of peaceful life. might be improved into a happy and perma- When the proceedings of the British parlianent reconciliation." By this last clause, it ment alarmed the colonists with apprehenis said that congress meant that the mother- sions that a blow was levelled at their libercountry should propose a plan for establish- ties, he again came forward into public view, ing, by compact, something like a Magna and was appointed a delegate to the conCharta for the colonies. gress which met in September, 1774. PosThis well-meant petition was presented sessed of a large proportion of common on September 1st, 1775, by Mr. Penn and sense, directed by a sound judgment, he was Mr. Lee; and on the 4th, lord Dartmouth better fitted for the exalted station to which informed them, "that to it no answer would he was called, than many others who to a be given." This slight contributed not a greater brilliancy of parts frequently add the little to the union and perseverance of the eccentricity of original genius. Engaged in colonies. When pressed by the calamities the busy scenes of life, he knew human naof war, a doubt would sometimes arise in ture, and the most proper method of accomthe minds of scrupulous persons, that they plishing the proposed objects. His passions had been too hasty in their opposition to were subdued, and kept in subjection to reatheir protecting parent-state. GENERAL WASHINGTON APPOINTED

COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF.

son. His soul, superior to party spirit, to prejudice, and illiberal views, moved according to the impulses it received from an A MILITARY opposition to the armies of honest heart and a sound judgment. He Great Britain being resolved upon by the was habituated to view things on every side, colonies, it became an object of consequence to consider them in all relations, and to trace to fix on a proper person to conduct that opposition. On the 15th of June, George Washington was, by an unanimous vote, appointed commander-in-chief of all the forces raised, or to be raised, for the defence of the colonies. It was a fortunate circumstance attending his election, that it was accompanied with no competition, and followed by no envy.

the possible and probable consequences of proposed measures. Much addicted to close thinking, his mind was constantly employed. By frequent exercise, his understanding and judgment expanded so as to be able to discern truth, and to know what was proper to be done in the most difficult conjunctures.

Coeval with the resolutions for raising an army, was another for emitting a sum not General Washington, Dr. Ramsay informs exceeding two millions of Spanish milled us, was born on the 11th of February, 1732. dollars, in bills of credit, for the defence of His education was such as favored the pro- America, and the colonies were pledged for duction of a solid mind and a vigorous body. the redemption of them. This sum was inMountain air, abundant exercise in the open creased from time to time by further emiscountry, the wholesome toils of the chase, sions. The colonies having neither money and the delightful scenes of rural life, ex- nor revenue at their command, were forced panded his limbs to an unusual, but graceful to adopt this expedient, the only one which and well-proportioned size. His youth was was in their power for supporting an army. pent in the acquisition of useful knowledge, No one delegate opposed the measure. So and in pursuits tending to the improvement great had been the credit of the former of his fortune, or the benefit of his country. emissions of paper in the greater part of the Fitted more for active than for speculative colonies, that very few at that time foresaw Lie, he devoted the greater proportion of his or apprehended the consequences of unfund

ed paper emissions; but had all the conse-From the circumstance that the persons emquences which resulted from this measure ployed in providing necessaries for the in the course of the war been foreseen, it army, were unconnected with each other, must, notwithstanding, have been adopted. much waste and unnecessary delays were A happy ignorance of future events, com- occasioned. The troops of the different colbined with the ardor of the times, prevented onies came into service under varied estabmany reflections on this subject, and gave lishments-some were enlisted with the excredit and circulation to these bills. press condition of choosing their officers. When general Washington arrived at The rations promised by the local legislaCambridge, July third, he was received with tures varied both as to quantity, quality, and the joyful acclamations of the American price. To form one uniform mass of these army. At the head of his troops he publish- discordant materials, and to subject the lied a declaration, previously drawn up by centiousness of independent freemen to the congress, in the nature of a manifesto, set- control of military discipline, was a delicate ting forth the reasons for taking up arms. and difficult business.

In this, after enumerating various griev- The continental army put under the comances of the colonies, and vindicating them mand of general Washington, amounted to from a premeditated design of establishing about 14,500 men. These had been so judiindependent states, it was added, "In our ciously stationed round Boston, as to confine own native land, in defence of the freedom the British to the town, and to exclude them which is our birthright, and which we ever from the forage and provisions which the enjoyed till the late violation of it-for the adjacent country and islands in Boston Bay protection of our property, acquired solely afforded. The force was thrown into three by the industry of our forefathers and our- grand divisions. General Ward commanded selves, against violence actually offered the right wing at Roxbury; general Lee we have taken up arms; we shall lay them the left at Prospect Hill; and the centre down when hostilities shall cease on the was commanded by general Washington. part of the aggressors, and all danger of When some effectual pains had been their being renewed shall be removed,- taken to discipline the army, it was found and not before." that the term for which enlistments had ta

When general Washington joined the ken place, was on the point of expiring. American army, he found the British in- The troops from Connecticut and Rhode-Isltrenched on Bunker's Hill, having also three and were only engaged till the first day of floating batteries in Mystic river, and a December 1775, and no part of the army twenty-gun ship below the ferry, between longer than the first day of January 1776. Boston and Charlestown. They had also a Such mistaken apprehensions respecting the battery on Copse's Hill, and were strongly future conduct of Great Britain prevailed, fortified on the Neck. The Americans were that many thought the appearance of a deintrenched at Winter Hill, Prospect Hill, termined spirit of resistance would lead to and Roxbury, communicating with one an- a redress of all their grievances. other by small posts, over a distance of ten Towards the close of the year (on the miles. There were also parties stationed in 10th of October) general Gage sailed for several towns along the sea-coast. They England, and the command of the British had neither engineers to plan suitable works, troops devolved on general Howe. nor sufficient tools for their erection.

The Massachusets assembly and continentEmbarrassments from various quarters oc- al congress both resolved to fit out armed vescurred in the formation of a continental sels to cruise on the American coast, for the army. The appointment of general officers purpose of intercepting warlike stores and made by congress was not satisfactory. En- supplies designed for the use of the British terprising leaders had come forward with army. The object was at first limited, but their followers, on the commencement of as the prospect of accommodation vanished, hostilities, without scrupulous attention to it was extended to all British property afloat rank. When these were all blended togeth- on the high seas. The Americans were difer, it was impossible to assign to every offi- fident of their ability to do anything on the cer the station which his services merited, water, in opposition to the greatest naval or his vanity demanded. Materials for a power in the world; but from a combination good army were collected. The husband- of circumstances, their first attempts were men who flew to arms were active, zealous, successful. and of unquestionable courage; but to introduce discipline and subordination among freemen, who were habituated to think for themselves, was an arduous labor.

The want of system and of union, under proper heads, pervaded every department.

On the 29th of November, the Lee privateer, captain Manley, took the brig Nancy, an ordnance vessel from Woolwich, containing a large brass mortar, several pieces of brass cannon, a large quantity of arms and ammunition, with all manner of tools,