siderable loss, as very near a third of their and with little repose, they passed an number fell in the action. At the very anxious night, obliged to the strictest vigitime when one party of them was thus foil-lance by a daring enemy, who, notwithstanded in their stratagems near Detroit, another ing this first check, seemed to wait only for more numerous and formidable body invest- the morning to complete their destruction. ed Fort Pitt, at the distance of more than Those who have only experienced the setwo hundred miles from the former place. verities and dangers of a campaign in EuIn the mean time general Amherst, fully rope, can scarcely form an idea of what is persuaded, from the importance and situa- to be done and endured in an American war. tion of Fort Pitt, that it would become one To act in a country cultivated and inhabited, of the principal objects of savage fury, or- where roads are made, magazines are estabdered colonel Bouquet to march to its relief, lished, and hospitals provided; where there with a large quantity of provisions and stores are strong towns to afford refuge in case of under a strong escort. The Indians, who misfortune; or, at the worst, a generous had their scouts all over the country, were enemy to yield to, from whom no consolano sooner informed of the march of the Eng- tion, but the honor of victory, can be wantlish troops, than they abandoned the blockade ing; this may be considered as the exercise of the fort, in order to seize the first favor- of an active and adventurous mind, rather able opportunity of cutting off the intended than a rigid contest for mutual destruction; reinforcement. Colonel Bouquet having ad- and as a dispute between rivals for glory, vanced as far as Ligonier, on the extreme rather than a struggle between sanguinary verge of the British settlements, without enemies. But in an American campaign, receiving any intelligence of the position or every object is terrible: the face of the motions of the enemy, very prudently re- country, the climate, the enemy. There is solved to disencumber himself there of the no refreshment for the healthy, no relief for wagons and of a considerable part of the the sick or wounded. A vast inhospitable ammunition and provisions; while he pro- desert, unsafe and treacherous, extends on ceeded with the troops, and about three hun- every side. Victories are not decisive, but dred and forty horses loaded with flour and defeats are ruinous; and simple death is the such other supplies as were absolutely neces- least misfortune that can befall a soldier. sary. Being thus disburdened, the English This forms a service truly critical, in which army entered a rough and mountainous all the firmness of the body and mind is put country. Before them lay a dangerous de- to the severest trial; and all the exertions file, called Turtle Creek, several miles in of courage, perseverance, and address are length, commanded the whole way by high called forth by the unceasing perils of every and craggy hills. It was therefore deemed moment. Some remarks of this kind seemmost advisable not to attempt passing this ed necessary, to place in a proper light the defile but by night, in order, if possible, to dreadful situation and unparalleled efforts elude the vigilance of their alert enemies. of the brave detachment under colonel BouWhile the colonel and his party were quet.

making the necessary arrangements to re- At the first dawn of light, in the morning fresh themselves, after a fatiguing march of of the sixth of August, the savages, at the seventeen miles, the Indians made a sudden distance of about five hundred yards, emitattack on his advanced guard, which, being ted the most horrid shouts and yells, in order speedily and firmly supported, the enemy to intimidate by an ostentation of their num was beat off, and even pursued to a conside-bers and their ferocity. After this alarming rable distance. As soon as the savages were preparative, they rushed on with the utmost driven from one eminence, they immediately fury, and, under the favor of an incessant occupied another; till by constant reinforce- fire, made several bold efforts to penetrate ments, they were able to surround the whole into the camp. They were repulsed in every detachment, and to attack the convoy in the attempt, but by no means discouraged from ear, which forced the main body to fall back new ones. The British troops, continually for its protection. The action now became victorious, were continually in danger. general; and though the savages poured Colonel Bouquet, seeing that all dependdown on every side in considerable numbers, ed on bringing the savages to a close enand fought with unusual regularity and gagement, and that, when pressed, they spirit, the superior skill and steady courage always flew off in order to rally with the of the British troops at length prevailed. greater effect, formed a plan for giving new Above sixty of the English were killed or strength to their audacity by making dispowounded; and as the ground, on which they sitions for an apparent retreat. The savages stood, was not ill adapted to an encampment, gave entirely into the snare: imagining that the convoy and the wounded were placed in those movements were sure indications of the centre; and the troops, forming a circle, an attempt to escape, they rushed from the encompassed the whole. In this manner, woods which had hitherto covered them, VOL. IV. 8

and hurrying on headlong with the utmost|proaches, or onsets, with the same advantage intrepidity, galled the English with their as upon the convoys by land.

heavy fire. But at the very instant, when TREATY WITH THE INDIANS. they thought the victory certain, and the WHILE the war was thus raging in the camp taken, the two first companies made a remoter parts of the colony, Sir William sudden turn, and sallying out from a part of Johnson applied himself with indefatigable the hill which was not observed, fell furi- zeal to secure the attachment of such of ously upon their right flank. The barbarians the Indians as had not yet commenced hosmade for a little time a desperate stand, re-tilities. For this purpose he opened conturning the first fire with great resolution; ferences at the German Flats, in the beginbut they fled at the second volley. As they ning of September, with the Six Nations turned their backs, two other companies and some others, who appeared desirous of presented themselves in their front, and to- continuing in quiet dependence upon Engtally routed them with great slaughter. The land. They could not, however, prevent the victorious army, notwithstanding this advan- Senecas and their allies from continuing tage, had suffered so much, and had lost so their depredations and massacres. Vigorous many horses, that, before they could move, measures were therefore adopted to reduce they were obliged to destroy the greatest these refractory savages to reason; and it part of their flour and provisions, and conse- was not till they severely felt the scourge quently to give up one of the principal ob- of powerful vengeance, that the Senecas jects of their expedition. About two miles were induced to solicit peace. In the treaty farther on at a place called Bushy Run, the concluded between them and Sir William savages made another attack upon them, Johnson, all occasions of future dispute were but less vigorously than before; after which removed; their boundaries were precisely they suffered little molestation during the ascertained; their past transgressions were rest of their march, but arrived safe at Fort forgiven; and in consequence of their solPitt, in four days from the action. The loss emn engagements never more to make war sustained by the English in these engage- upon the English, nor to suffer any of their ments was fifty killed, and about sixty people to commit any acts of violence on wounded: that of the savages was not much the persons or properties of any of his Brigreater, owing to their manner of fighting; tannic majesty's subjects, they were not but their tribes being very thin, they thought only admitted once more into the covenant it an almost irreparable havoc, particularly chain of friendship, but were to be indulged as some of their bravest leaders had fallen with a free, fair, and open trade. upon the occasion. This treaty took place in April 1764; and Though the two forts of Detroit and Pitt one of the most considerable succors being were thus secured by timely reinforcements, thereby withdrawn from the other hostile the Indians in other parts of the country were tribes, it was not likely that they would not discouraged from farther attempts. Ni- hold out much longer. Colonel Bradstreet agara was a place equally worthy of their was ordered to advance with a large body regard; and they endavored to distress it by of men from Niagara to the countries of every method, which the meanness of their those savages; and colonel Bouquet set out skill in attacking fortified places would per- with another body for the same purpose from mit. They chiefly directed their attention Canada, intending to carry the war through to the convoys, hoping to starve what they their most remote habitations, if they did could not otherwise reduce. The vast dis- not submit in time. Such appearances of tance of the forts from each other, and all determined resolution produced the proper of them from the settled countries, favored effects: for when colonel Bradstreet arrived their design. Near the carrying-place of at Presque Isle in August, deputies from the Niagara, a body of five hundred of them several nations waited upon him, and ensurrounded an escort consisting of two com-gaged by solemn treaty to deliver up all the panies of English soldiers, on the fourteenth prisoners in their hands, and to renounce all of September, and killed seventy-two of the claim to the posts and forts possessed in privates, besides officers and serjeants. On their country by the English, who should be the lake Erie, with a crowd of canoes, they at liberty to erect as many more as might attacked a schooner, which was conveying be thought necessary for the security of provisions to Fort Detroit: but here they their trade, with as much land to each fort, were not so successful. Though in this sav- for raising provisions, as a cannon-shot can age navy they had employed near four hun- fly over. Some other conditions were added, dred men, and had but a single vessel to en- tending to inspire the barbarians with a gage, they were repulsed, after a hot en- sense of humanity and justice, and to give gagement, with great loss. The schooner them some idea of the English government. was to them as a fortification on the water; Colonel Bouquet was equally successful, and they knew not how to make their ap- though the savages, against whom he

marched, were by far the most perfidious sessors, so that it united all the advantages and intractable. He penetrated into the which liberal minds include in the idea of very heart of their country about the latter a well regulated commerce. It had been end of October; and when they found that interrupted during the war, but was soon he was neither to be checked by any show of likely to flourish again, had not the clamor resistance, nor amused by delusive promises, of some selfish West Indians prevailed upon they agreed to treat in good earnest, faith-government to issue orders for its suppresfully giving up all their prisoners, even the sion, as not being strictly conformable to children born of white women, admitting de- law. Sound policy would rather have contachments of his army into their towns, nived at such a resource, which not only giving some of their chiefs as hostages, and prevented the North American colonies from appointing deputies finally to settle the terms being drained of their current cash by the of peace with Sir William Johnson. These calls of the mother country upon them, but wise and resolute measures restored security afforded supplies of specie for the purposes to the interior colonists, or back settlers in of internal circulation. This was of the North America. greater importance, as their domestic trade DISSATISFACTION OF THE COLONISTS. necessarily increased from day to day, in BUT while the British government was proportion to the remarkable increase of thus taking the most effectual steps to se- mankind in that part of the world, where cure the peaceable submission of the Ameri- the cheapness of land determines the greatcan savages, a spirit of much more danger-er part of the inhabitants to the exercise of ous resistance began to appear among its the rural arts, so favorable to population. civilized subjects on the same continent. In consequence of these prohibitions, which This was first excited by some attempts were for some time enforced by the naval made to break off all kind of commercial in- officers with the utmost severity, not only all tercourse between the British colonies and the contraband, but the fair and lawful trade the French and Spanish settlements. The of the Americans was threatened with irretrade was certainly illicit; but as many parts vocable ruin. It is not, therefore, to be wonof it were highly beneficial to those who dered at, that the inhabitants of many of the carried it on, and ultimately to the mother colonies, being no longer able to make the countries in Europe, every restraint ought to usual remittances to the mother country for have been imposed with the utmost delicacy the usual supplies, began to turn their and caution. thoughts to retrenchment and industry; and The first branch of commerce which felt renouncing all finery, came to a resolution the weight of the blow was that which had not to buy any clothes, or other articles which been for a long time carried on between the they could possibly do without, that were British and Spanish plantations, to the great not of their own manufacturing. Though advantage of both, but especially the former, the English ministry, on the first intimation the chief materials of it being, on the side of those grievances, immediately softened of the British colonies, British manufactures, the rigor of their former orders, and preor such of their own produce as enabled pared those regulations of the American them to purchase those manufactures; and, commerce, mentioned in the preceding chapon the part of the Spaniards, gold and silver ter, which were passed into laws before the in bullion and in coin, cochineal, and medi- close of the session in April; yet all these cinal drugs, besides live stock and mules, expedients were not attended with the dewith which the West India islands used to sired effect. The Americans still complained, be supplied by the same channel, and which that the mode of restriction was only changed, were still more necessary than the precious and that the show of indulgence was rather metals. Though this trade did not clash an aggravation of their distresses. They with the spirit of any of the prohibitory acts, did not deny that their intercourse with the yet it was found to vary from the letter of other European colonies was now rendered them sufficiently to afford the revenue offi- in some respects legal; but they said, that cers a plea for doing that from duty, which the best part of it was loaded with duties so they had strong temptations to do from mo- far above its strength to bear, as became in tives of interest. Accordingly they seized, reality prohibitions to all intents and purindiscriminately, all British as well as foreign poses. They were equally dissatisfied with ships engaged in that traffic. being obliged to pay those duties, in specie, The same mistake attended the trade car- into the English exchequer, though it was ried on by the American colonies with the expressly stated in the act, that the money French West India islands, and which was arising from them was to be reserved for deno less lucrative than the former. It de- fraying the charges of protecting the colonics pended on a mutual exchange of articles on which it was levied. They laid but little which would have otherwise remained use- stress on the laws made at the same time for less encumbrances on the hands of the pos- the encouragement and increase of their

commercial intercourse with the mother of the prince royal of Denmark with his siscountry; because, as they alleged, the bene- ter the princess Caroline Matilda, which fits to be derived from that farther intercourse would be solemnized as soon as their rewere, at best, very remote, if not uncertain, spective ages would permit. whereas the effects of the laws for restrain- PETTY DISTURBANCES FROM SPAIN AND ing their foreign trade and cramping domestic industry by the want of specie and the destruction of paper currency, were certain and instantaneous.

THE ASSEMBLIES REFUSE COMPENSA

TION FOR THE STAMP-ACT.

FRANCE APOLOGIZED FOR. By accounts received from the West Indies in the month of June, it appeared that, in consequence of an order from Don Remires, the Spanish governor of Jucatan, the English logwood-cutters had been not only BUT the object, against which the colonists disturbed in their business, contrary to the raised the loudest clamor, was the postponed last treaty, but ordered to remove suddenly intention of charging them with stamp du- from their usual places of settlement, on preties. That measure had, as before intimated, tence of their having nothing to prove their been delayed by the minister, till the sense being subjects to his Britannic majesty; and of their several assemblies could be taken, granting they were, they had roved too freely how far they were willing to make a com- about the country, gathering the fruits of it, pensation in any other form, for the revenue as if it belonged to them. The sufferers that such a tax might produce. This was joined in a petition to the governor of Jaso uncommon an instance of condescension, maica, under whose protection they were, rethat the agents for the colonies residing in presenting the distresses to which they were London thought it their duty to wait upon reduced by such captious and arbitrary prohim, and to return him thanks in the name ceedings. Governor Lyttleton having satisof their constituents. He took that oppor-fied himself of the truth of the complaint, tunity to inform them, that it was then in the sent off dispatches to England, in consepower of the colonies, by agreeing to that quence of which the earl of Rochford, then tax, to establish a precedent for their being ambassador at the court of Madrid, was consulted for the future, before any tax was ordered to make serious remonstrances to imposed upon them by the British parliament. that court on the subject. The reply of the The candor and generosity of this proceed- Spanish ministry was, that they had not reing did not make a suitable impression on ceived any advice from the governor of Jucathe minds of the Americans, prejudiced and tan relative to this affair; but that the Cathirritated, as they were, by the late commer- olic king had certainly given him positive cial restrictions. So far from complying, orders to abide by and observe the seventhey resolved to remonstrate: and some of teenth article of the definitive treaty; and their assemblies sent over petitions, to be that his majesty would not approve of the presented to the king, lords, and commons, conduct of any of his governors, ministers, positively and directly questioning the au- or subjects, who acted in contravention to it. thority and jurisdiction of parliament over But this answer not being deemed sufficienttheir properties. Even those provinces, that ly explicit or satisfactory by some of the were most moderate in their remonstrances, English ministry, the ambassador was directdid not instruct their agents either to agree ed to renew the remonstrances; upon which to the tax in question, or to offer any com- orders were dispatched by his Catholic mapensation to be exempted from it. Two of jesty to Remires, censuring his behavior tothe agents, indeed, answered for the colonies wards the logwood-cutters; expressing a they served, bearing their proportion of the desire of giving the king of England the stamp duty by methods of their own; but greatest proofs of friendship, and of preservthey did not venture, when questioned, to ing peace with the British nation; and comsay, that they were authorized to agree for manding Remires to re-establish the logwoodany particular sum. All imaginable methods cutters in the several places from which he were taken, though to little purpose, to con- had obliged them to retire, and to let them vince the colonists of their mistake, before know that they might return to their occuthe matter came under a parliamentary con- pation, without being disquieted under any sideration. pretence whatsoever.

1765.-After a much longer relief from In another instance, which occurred about public duty than the parliament had for some the same time, the Spanish government years experienced, it met on the tenth of showed an equal readiness to remove any January, when his majesty opened the session just cause of complaint on the part of Great with a speech, informing both houses among Britain. The commodore of some Spanish other usual topics that his majesty had agreed xebeques, that were cruising against the Alwith his good brother the king of Denmark, gerines in the Mediterranean, attacked an to cement the union which had long subsist- English merchant-ship, commanded by one ed between the two crowns, by the marriage captain Sybrand, who immediately hoisted

English colors, but having no guns on board, hostilities, lost no time in communicating cried out for mercy. This, however, had his intelligence to the ministry, nor they in no effect on the Spaniards, who continued transmitting it to the earl of Hertford, the their fire, till the English ship was rendered English ambassador at the court of France. almost a wreck; many of the crew were The gazette of the eleventh of September, wounded; one of the passengers lost his informed the nation, that the court of France, arm; and the ship was carried into Cartha- in answer to the earl of Hertford's demand gena. On the discovery of the mistake, into of immediate satisfaction and reparation for which the very unpardonable precipitancy those acts of violence, had disavowed the of the Spanish commodore had hurried him, whole proceedings; had disclaimed all inthe damages done to the English ship were tention or desire of acquiring or conquering immediately repaired out of the arsenal at the Turk's islands; and had given orders to Carthagena; and in consequence of the the count d'Estaigne, governor of St. Dostrong representations made on that head by mingo, to cause the said islands to be imlord Rochford to the Catholic king, his ma- mediately abandoned on the part of the jesty defrayed the expense of curing the French, to restore everything therein to the wounded English; indemnified their cap- condition in which it was on the first of June tain for the interruption of his voyage; and last, and to make reparation of the damages gave the passenger a gratification for the un- which any of his Britannic majesty's subfortunate loss of his arm. jects should be found to have sustained, in Some proceedings of the French in the consequence of the said proceedings, accordWest Indies afforded fresh matter for in- ing to an estimation to be forthwith settled creasing the apprehensions of a war. At by the said governor, with the governor of

no great distance from the coast of Hispani- Jamaica. ola are several small islands, the most con- To these proofs of the sincere intentions siderable, or rather the least insignificant of of France to preserve the peace, and to fulfil which is called Turk's island, and gives its her engagements, another very strong and name to the rest. Though it is an uncom- unequivocal one was lately added, in the fortable barren spot, with very little fresh proposals submitted to his majesty by the water, without any vegetables except low French ambassador for the discharge of the shrubs, or any animals except lizards, and balance due for the subsistence of French land-crabs; yet the coast abounds with fish, prisoners in the British dominions during the turtle, and sea-fowls; and the soil itself pro- last war. His excellency was authorized by duces salt. As it was impossible for any his court to offer six hundred and seventy settlement to subsist upon the island, the thousand pounds in acquittal of the whole property of it remained undetermined; but demand, one hundred and thirty thousand the Bermudians and other British subjects pounds to be paid immediately, and the reused to resort thither annually in March for mainder at the rate of forty thousand pounds the benefit of gathering salt in the dry sea- a quarter. son. Their manner of living was the most THE AMERICAN STAMP-ACT PASSED. wretched that can well be conceived: they BUT the attention of parliament was soon dwelt in huts covered with leaves: a kettle called to a subject of much greater imporand a knife were their only utensils: salt tance, the propriety of laying nearly the pork, and now and then a turtle or a lizard, same stamp duties upon the British colonies was their food; and their dress consisted of in America as were payable in England. No a straw hat, a check shirt, and a pair of less than fifty-five resolutions of the commitcoarse linen trowsers. Their chief custom-tee of ways and means, relative to that ers were the people of New-England, who branch of the revenue, were agreed to by purchased the salt for their fisheries, at the the house on the seventh of February; and rate of from four-pence to six-pence a bushel, were afterwards formed into a bill, which and paid a small part in money, and the rest met with fewer checks or delays in its proin bad rum, and worse provisions. Here gress through both houses, than the most was nothing to invite invasion, or rapine. trifling measures which had been hitherto Yet, on the first of June, the crews of a proposed by government. Petitions, indeed, French seventy-four gun ship, and of two or as before intimated, had been sent over by three small vessels in company, landed on several of the provincial assemblies, directly the island; plundered and burnt all the cabins questioning the jurisdiction of the British that were erected there; and carried off the parliament: but they were not suffered to inhabitants, about two hundred in number, be read in the house of commons; nor did with nine English vessels which they found any member at that time stand forward to off the coast, to cape François, where they defend such pretensions. Grenville, at the released them next day, with orders not to head of the treasury, felt the impossibility return to Turk's island. Governor Lyttleton, of Great Britain's supporting such an estab on being informed of those unaccountable lishment as her former successes had made