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A 
 
 HISTORY 
 
 UNITED STATES OF. AMERICA, 
 
 ON^A^PI.AN 
 
 ADAPTED TO TrfE^fc'AClTY^of YOUTHS, 
 
 "AND 
 
 DESIGNED TO AID THE MEMORY, 
 
 BY 
 ■ fSTEMATIC ARRANGEMENT AST) INTERESTING ASSOCIATIONS. 
 
 BY CHARLES A. GOODRICH. 
 
 a Xcto Stereotype Hfiftfon. 
 
 R E V I S E I) AND ENLARGED t'KOM THE 
 
 SIXTY-FOURTH EDITION. 
 
 ^fontaining General Views of the Aliorigin.il Tribes— Sketches of the Di* 
 cuvette* and Settlement* made by different Nat inns— tin- Progress 
 oi the Colonies — the Revolution — the several Administra- 
 tions :— the whole interspersed with Notices of the 
 different fclras of the Progress of Manners, 
 Religion, Trade and Commerce, 
 Agriculture, Arts and Manu- 
 factures, Population 
 and Education. 
 
 BOSTON: 
 
 AMERICAN STATIONERS' COMPANY. 
 JOHN B. RUSSELL. 
 

 Entered according to Act ojHfcigress, in the year 1834, 
 
 By Charles W Goodrich, 
 
 In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts. 
 
 NOTICE. 
 
 A set of" Questions;' expressly adapted to this work, has been 
 recently prepared by the author, to which are added "Outline 
 Tables for General Review, on a new Plan." This Plan has been 
 found to be peculiarly valuable in securing the attention of pupils, 
 and in riveting the subject of dates more firmly in the memory. 
 It forms an interesting exercise for the pupils, and, when neatly 
 and accurately done, may be framed, and thus preserved as a ' 
 table of reference, and an evidence of diligence and taste. 
 
 v* iMsm*^ 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 More than ten years have elapsed since the first publication of the 
 following work, during which period, it has passed through forty-four 
 editions, comprising more than one hundred and fifty thousand copies. 
 The inconvenience attending frequent alterations in a school-book, m 
 connection with the unexpected patronage of the work, has deterred the 
 author from attempting any revision of it, although he has been aware, 
 for years, that it admitted of important improvements. 
 
 At -length, admonished that the advanced slate of our schools ana 
 academies demands a more full and complete work, the author has 
 aevoted some months to a careful and thorough revision of it. Besides 
 correcting some errors, he has endeavored to supply important de- 
 ficiencies, especially in relation to the earlier and later portions of the 
 History, by which the quantity of matter has been greatly increased. 
 He has, in particular, endeavored to do more justice to the "fore- 
 fathers " of the land, in compliance with a suggestion of the late distin- 
 guished principal* of the Female Seminary in Wethersfield, Ct., whose 
 public recommendation of the work was as flattering as unexpected. 
 
 The author has retained the plan originally adopted, from a convic 
 tion of its general excellence ; and in this he has been strengthened by 
 the patronage which has been given to the work by a generous, but 
 discerning public. For the benefit of the pupil, who may not at once 
 understand the plan of the volume, the following brief explanation is 
 added:— The principal object of dividing the History into periods 
 is to aid the memory, by presenting certain marked eras, from which 
 tne whole subject of dates may be readily and distinctly viewed. 
 
 Two sizes of type are employed. The matter in larger type is 
 designed to give a brief outline of the History of the United States, 
 and may be read in connection. The matter in smaller type is to be 
 regarded rather in the light of notes, which, without studying exact 
 regularity, are thrown in as they may subserve the purposes of illustra- 
 tion and completeness in the delineation of events, or as they may 
 contribute to support the interest and establish the recollections of the 
 reader. 
 
 * Rev Joseph Emerson. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 The study of History presents the following advantages: — 
 
 1. It sets before us striking instances of virtue, enterprise, courage, 
 generosity, patriotism ; and, by a natural principle of emulation, in- 
 cites us to copy such noble examples. History also presents us with 
 pictures of the vicious ultimately overtaken by misery and shame, and 
 thus solemnly warns us against vice. 
 
 2. Histor}', to use the words of Professor Tytler, is the school of 
 politics. That is, it opens the hidden springs of human affairs ; the 
 causes of the rise, grandeur, revolutions and fall of empires : it points 
 out the influence which the manners of a people exert upon a govern- 
 ment, and the influence which that government reciprocally exerts upon 
 the manners of a people : it illustrates the blessings of political union, 
 and the miseries of faction ; the dangers of unbridled liberty, and the 
 mischiefs of despotic power. 
 
 3. History displays the dealings of God with mankind. It calls 
 upon us often to regard with awe his darker judgments ; and again it 
 awakens the liveliest emotions of gratitude for his kind and benignant 
 dispensations. It cultivates a sense of dependence on him, strength- 
 ens our confidence in his benevolence, and impresses us with a convic- 
 tion of his justice. 
 
 4. Besides these advantages, the study of History, if properly con- 
 ducted, offers others, of inferior importance, indeed, but still they arc 
 not to be disregarded. It chastens the imagination ; improves the 
 taste ; furnishes matter for reflection 3 enlarges the range of thought j 
 strengthens and disciplines the mind. 
 
 5. To the above it ma}' be added, that the History of the United 
 States should be studied, 1. Because it is the history of our own coun- 
 try. 2. Because it is the history of the first civil government ever 
 
 stablished upon the genuine basis of freedom. 3. Because it furnishes 
 cssons upon the science of civil government, social happiness, and 
 eligious freedom, of greater value than are to be found in the history 
 of any other nation on the globe. 4. Because it presents uncommon 
 examples of the influence of religious principle. 0. Because an ac- 
 quaintance with it will enable a person better to fulfil those duti«« 
 which, in a free government, lie may be called to discharge. 
 
GENERAL DIVISION. 
 
 The History of the United States of America may be 
 divided into Twelve Periods, each distinguished by some 
 striking characteristic, or remarkable circumstance. 
 
 The First Period will extend from the Discovery of 
 America by Columbus, 1492, to the first permanent Eng- 
 lish settlement in America, at Jamestown, Virginia, 1607, 
 and is distinguished for Discoveries. 
 
 Obs. Previous to the discovery of A meriea in 1492 the miiao- 
 itants of Europe, Asia, and Africa, were of eoursk. ignorant of its 
 existence. But soon after this event, seveial expeditions were 
 fitted out. for the purpose of making discoveries in what was 
 thru called the i: New World." Accordingly., between 1402 and 
 1<607, the principal countries lying along the eastern coast of 
 North America, were discovered, and more or less explored. As 
 our history, during this period, embraces little more than accounts 
 of these expeditions, we characterize it as remarkable for discov- 
 eries. 
 
 The Second Period will extend from the Settlement of 
 Jamestown, 1607, to the accession of William and Mary 
 to the throne of England, 10S9, and is distinguished for 
 Settlements. 
 
 Ols. During this period our history is principally occupied in 
 detailing the various settlements, which were either effected or 
 attempted, within the boundaries of the United States. Jt in- 
 cludes, indeed, wars with the natives — disputes between proprie- 
 tors of lands and colonies — the formation of governments, &c. 
 <fce. ; but these are circumstances which pertain to, and form a 
 part of, the settlement of new countries. As this period embraces 
 the settlement of most of the original states in the Union, viz. 
 Massachusetts, including Maine, Connecticut, Rhode Island. New 
 Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania Marlvand, 
 Delaware, North and South Carolina, and Virginia it is there- 
 fore characterized as remarkable for settlements, 
 i * 
 
6 GENERAL DIVISION. 
 
 Th*» Third Period will extend from the accession oj 
 
 Witiiam and Mari/ to the throne of England, 1689, to 
 the dec. tiration of the war by England against France, 
 cah^d " tlie French and Indian War," 1756, and is re* 
 maskable for the three wars of Kino William, Queen 
 Anne, and George II. 
 
 Ohs. So long as the colonies remained attached to the English 
 crown, they became involved, of course, in the wars of the moth- 
 er country. Three times, during this period, was war proclaimed 
 between England and France ; and, as the French had possession 
 of Canada, and were leagued with several powerful tribes of In- 
 dians, as often did the colonies become the theatre of their hostile 
 operations. This period is therefore most remarkable for these 
 three wars. 
 
 The Fourth Period will extend from the Declara- 
 tion of war by England against France, 1756, to the 
 commencement of hostilities by Great Britain against 
 the American Colonies, in the battle of Lexington, 1775, 
 and is distinguished for the French and Indian War. 
 
 The Fifth Period will extend from the Battle of 
 Lexington, 1775, to the disbanding of the American 
 Army at West Point, New York,"" 1783, and is dis- 
 tinguished for the War of the Revolution. 
 
 The Sixth Period will extend from the Disbanding 
 of the Army, 1783, to the Inauguration of George 
 Washington, as President of the United States, under 
 the Federal Constitution, 1789, and is distinguished for 
 the Formation and Establishment of the Federal 
 Constitution. 
 
 The Seven in Period will extend from the Inaugura- 
 tion of President Washington, 1789, to the Inaugura- 
 tion of John Adams, as President of the United States, 
 1797. This period is distinguished for Washington's 
 Administration. 
 
 The Eighth Period will extend from the Inaugura 
 lion of President Adams, 1797, to the Inauguration of 
 Thomas Jefferson, as President of the United States, 
 1801. This period : s distinguished for Adams's Admin 
 istration. 
 
GENERAL DIVISION. 7 
 
 The Ninth Period will extend from the Inaugura- 
 tion of President Jefferson, 1801, to the Inauguration of 
 James Madison, as President of the United States, 1809. 
 This period is distinguished for Jefferson's Adminis- 
 tration. 
 
 The Tenth Period will extend from the Inaugura- 
 tion of President Madison, 1809, to the Inauguration 
 of James Monroe, as President of the United States, 
 1817. This period is distinguished for Madison's Ad- 
 ministration, and the late War with Great Britain. 
 
 The Eleventh Period will extend from the Inau- 
 guration of President Monroe, 1817, to the Inaugura- 
 tion of John Q,uincy Adams, as President of the United 
 States, 1825. This period is distinguished for Mon- 
 roe's Administration. 
 
 The Twelfth Period will extend from the Inaugu- 
 ration of President Adams, 1825, to the Inauguration 
 of Andrew Jackson, as President of the United States, 
 1829. This period is distinguished for Adams's Ad- 
 ministration. 
 
UNITED STATES. 
 
 PERIOD I. 
 
 DISTINGUISHED FOR DISCOVERIES. 
 
 Extending from the Discovery of San Salvador, by 
 Columbus, 1492, to the Jirst permanent English Settle- 
 ment at Jamestown, Virginia, 1607. 
 
 See. 1. The honor of first making known to the in- 
 habitants of Europe, the existence of a Western Conti- 
 nent, belongs to Spain, as a nation, and to Christopher 
 Columbus, a native of Genoa, as an individual. 
 
 After the discovery of America by Columbus'* other nations 
 laid claim to this honor ; and thus attempted to deprive the 
 Genoese navigator, as well as the Spanish nation, of the merit to 
 which they were justly entitled. 
 
 The only nations, however, who appear to have had even the 
 semblance for such a claim, were the IVclsIt and Norwegians. 
 
 By the farmer, it was maintained, that the continent was dis 
 covered by Madoc, son of Owen Gwynneth, who, returning to 
 his country, again sailed for the land he had discovered, about the 
 year 1170. taking with him ten ships, and 300 men. for the purpose 
 of founding a colony. Of the fate of this expedition, nothing 
 was ever known. As it is well established, however, that tbe first 
 voyage of Madoc was not a long one, it is justly inferred, that the 
 land, to which be was leading his colony, could not have been 
 more westerly than the islands in the Atlantic, situated about 
 half way between the Eastern and Western Continents, now 
 known by the name of the Azores. 
 
 The pretensions of the Norwegians were founded upon the dis- 
 covery of an unknown land, some time in the eleventh century, 
 by one Biron or Biorn, an Icelander. During a voyage to Ice- 
 land, which, with Greenland, had been discovered andsettled at 
 an earlier date, Biron was driven south-east by a storm, and fell 
 m with a country, to which, from its abounding with vines, lie 
 
DISCOVF.RIKS. 9 
 
 gave the name of Vhieland. In his account of this voyage, the 
 description given of the appearance of the sun, in the country 
 discovered, would seem to indicate, that it lay in latitude about 
 44 degrees. 
 
 The fruits found there bore a resemblance to those now found in 
 Newfoundland, or the country about the Gulf of St. Lawrence. 
 Upon these uncertain data, the Norwegians founded their claims 
 to a priority in the discovery of America; but, on Biron's return, 
 his discovery appears to have excited little interest among his 
 countrymen, and to have slept in forgetfulness, until after Co- 
 lumbus had established the existence of a Western World. 
 
 2. The voyage of Columbus, which led to the forego- 
 ing important discovery, and of which Ferdinand and 
 Isabella, the sovereigns of the united thrones of Castile 
 and Arragon, were patrons, was commenced on the 3d 
 of August, 1492; at which time, the Genoese navigator 
 sailed from Palos, an inconsiderable seaport in Spain, 
 with a fleet, consisting of three small vessels, manned 
 by ninety seamen. On the morning of the 12th of Oc- 
 tober following, he fell in with an isjand, called by the 
 natives Guanaiiani ; but to which he gave the name of 
 San Salvador. This island, known on English maps 
 by the name of Cat Island, belongs to the great cluster 
 of the Lucayos, or Bahama Islands. During the same 
 voyage, he discovered several other islands, among 
 which were the important ones of Cuba and Ilispaniola. 
 
 Columbus, whose discovery of the above islands led the way 
 to a knowledge of the existence of a Western Continent, was 
 born in the city of Genoa, about the year 1435 or 143*8. His fa- 
 ther was a reputable and meritorious man ; by occupation, a wool- 
 comber, long resident in the city of Genoa. Columbus was the 
 eldest of four children, having two brothers, Bartholomew and 
 Diego, and one sister. 
 
 His early education was limited ; but he diligently improved 
 the advantages, which the means of his father enabled him to enjoy. 
 After spending a short time at the University of Pavia, he re- 
 turned to his father, whom he assisted in wool-combing. 
 
 His enterprising disposition, however, prompted him to more 
 active employment ; and, at the age of fourteen years, we find 
 him entering upon a sea-faring life. 
 
 Having spent some time in the service of a distant relation, who 
 followed the seas, he repaired to Lisbon. He was at this time 
 about 34 years of age ; a tall, well-formed, vigorous man : enter- 
 
10 period i.— 1492 to 1607. 
 
 prising in his disposition, and uncommonly dignified in his man 
 ners. Taking up his residence, for a time, at Lisbon, he be- 
 came acquainted with, and married the daughter of a distin- 
 guished navigator, the former governor of Porto Santo, an island 
 in the vicinity of Madeira, about 700 miles south-west from 
 Lisbon. 
 
 The father of his wife being dead, Columbus resided with his 
 mother-in-law, who gave him the privilege of examining the pa- 
 pers, charts, journals, and memorandums, of her deceased husband. 
 Thete maue Columbus acquainted with many important facts and 
 suggestions, touching the great enterprise in which the Por- 
 tuguese were, at that time, engaged, viz. the discovery of a pas- 
 sage to the East Indies, by doubling the southern extremity of 
 Africa. 
 
 To a mind inquisitive and enterprising like that of Columbus, 
 this subject was invested with the deepest interest and importance. 
 And the more he read and reflected upon the figure of the earth, 
 the stronger was his belief, not merely that a western passage to 
 India was practicable ; but that whoever should be sufficiently 
 enterprising to navigate the Atlantic, by sailing due west, must 
 meet with a large body of land, which might be an extension 
 of the continent of India, designed to balance the lands lying 
 in the eastern hemisphere. 
 
 In this latter opinion, he was strengthened by various discov- 
 eries in the Atlantic, such as pieces of carved wood, trunks of 
 huge pine-trees, &c., which had been noticed, after long westerly 
 winds ; but especially by the well-established fact, that the 
 bodies of two men had been cast upon one of the Azore islands, 
 whose features differed from those of any known race of people. 
 
 Having matured the plan of a voyage, with the above object 
 in view, he first offered to sail under the patronage of the Portu- 
 guese ; but, being disappointed in this application, and despairing 
 of assistance from Henry VII. of England, to whom he had sent 
 his brother Bartholomew, but who, being captured, did not reach 
 England for some time, he repaired to Genoa, and offered to sail 
 under the auspices of that republic. Finding, however, his native 
 state not in a situation favorable to such an undertaking, he next 
 repaired to Spain. 
 
 By what route, or by what means, Columbus reached Spain, is 
 uncertain. The first trace we have of him, in this country, is 
 as a stranger, on foot, and in humble guise, stopping at the gate 
 of the Convent of Santa Maria de Rabida, not far from the little 
 seaport of Palos, and asking of the porter a little bread and water 
 for a child — his son Uiego, whom his deceased wife had left to 
 him. While receiving this humble refreshment, the prior of the 
 convent, happening to pass by, was struck with the appearance of 
 the stranger, and observing, from his air and accent, that he was 
 a foreigner, entered into conversation with him, and soon learned 
 the particulars of his story. 
 
DISCOVERIES. 11 
 
 The prior was a man of extensive information, and entered 
 warmly into the views and plans of Columbus. Through his in- 
 fluence, the enterprising navigator was, at length, enabled to lay 
 his plans before Ferdinand and Isabella, then on the united 
 thrones of Castile and Arragon. 
 
 For- a time, these sovereigns were deaf to his application ; but 
 at length, the queen undertook the enterprise, in behalf of the 
 crown of Castile, and, to defray tne expense of the outfit and 
 voj^age, parted with her royal jewels. 
 
 The necessary funds being thus provided, a fleet, consisting of 
 three small vessels, was, at no distant time, in a state of readiness for 
 the voyage. Two of these were light barks, called caravals, not 
 superior to river and coasting craft of more modern days. These 
 were open, without deck in the centre, but built high at the prow 
 and stern, with forecastles and cabins for the accommodation of 
 the crew. The names of these vessels were the Pinta and Nina. 
 The ship of Columbus was decked, and of larger dimensions. 
 She was called the Santa Maria. On board this fleet were 
 ninety mariners, together with various private adventurers — in 
 all, one hundred and twenty persons. 
 
 On Friday, the 3d of August, 1492, early in the morning, the 
 squadron of Columbus set sail from Palos, steering in a south- 
 westerly direction for the Canary Islands, from whence it was 
 his intention to strike due west. 
 
 Passing over many interesting incidents in their outward voyage 
 — the storms and tempests which they encountered — the de- 
 lusive appearances of land — their hopes and their fears — their 
 high-wrought excitement, and then their deep dejection — the 
 murmurs, and even mutinous spirit of the crew, and the happy 
 expedients of Columbus to raise their courage, and to keep burn- 
 ing within them the spirit of the enterprise — we arrive at the 11th 
 of October, at which time the indications of land were so strong, 
 that, at night, Columbus ordered a double watch, on the forecas- 
 tle of each vessel, and promised to the first discoverer of the long- 
 looked-for land, a doublet of velvet, in addition to the pension of 
 flirty crowns, which had been offered by Ferdinand and Isabella. 
 
 The greatest animation now prevailed throughout the ships , 
 not an eye was closed that night. As evening darkened, Columbus 
 took his station on the top of the castle or cabin, on the high poop 
 of his vessel. However he might carry a cheerful and confident 
 countenance during the oay, it was to him a time of the most painful 
 anxiety. And now, when wrapped by the shades of night from 
 observation, he maintained an intense and unremitting watch, 
 ranging his eye along the dusky horizon, in search of the most 
 vague indication of land. Suddenly, about ten o'clock, he 
 thought he beheld a light glimmering at a distance. Fearing 
 that his eager hopes might deceive him, he called to Pedro Gu- 
 tierrez, gentleman of the king's bed-chamber, and demanded 
 whether h« saw a light in that direction ; the latter replied in the 
 
12 
 
 period i. — 1492 to 1607 
 
 affirmative. Columbus, yet doubtful whether it might not bo 
 some delusion of the fancy, culled Rodcrigo Sanchez, of Segovia, 
 and made the inquiry. By the time the latter had ascended the 
 round-house, the light had disappeared. They saw it once or 
 twice afterwards, in sudden and passing gleams, as if it were a 
 torch in the bark of a fisherman, rising and sinking with the 
 waves, or in the hand of some person on shore, borne up and down 
 as he walked from house to house. So transient and uncertain 
 were these gleams, that few attached any importance to them. 
 Columbus, however, considered them as certain signs of land, 
 and, moreover, that the land was inhabited. 
 
 The)' continued their course until two in the morning, when 
 a gun from the Pinta gave the joyful signal of land. It was first 
 descried by a mariner, named Roderigo de Friana; but the reward 
 was afterwards adjudged to the admiral, for having previously 
 perceived the light. The land was now clearly seen about two 
 leagues distant ; whereupon they took in sail, and laid to, waiting 
 impatiently for the dawn. 
 
 The morning at length arrived, October 12th; and before the 
 delighted Spaniards lay a level and beautiful island, several 
 leagues in extent, of great freshness and verdure, and covered 
 with trees like a continual orchard. 
 
 
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 Columbus, in a rich dress, and with a drawn sword, soon after 
 landed with his men. with whom having kneeled and kissed the 
 
DISCOVERIES. 13 
 
 ground with tears of joy, he took formal possession of tht island, 
 in the name of Queen Isabella, his patron. On landing, the 
 Spaniards were surprised to find a race of people quite unlike 
 any that they had ever seen before. They were of a dusky cop- 
 per color — naked — beardless, with long black hair, floating on 
 their shoulders, or bound in tresses round their heads. The na- 
 tives were still more surprised at the sight of the Spaniards, 
 whom they considered as the children of the sun, their idol. The 
 ships they looked upon as animals, with eyes of lightning, and 
 voices of thunder. 
 
 Having spent some time in an examination of this island, he 
 proceeded to visit several others not far distant; and at length, 
 on the 2dth of October, came in sight of the important island of 
 Cuba, and not long after fell in with the island of Hispaniola, or 
 San Domingo. 
 
 Having spent some time in examining the country, and in an 
 amicable traffic with the natives, Columbus set sail on his return. 
 He was overtaken by a storm, which had nearly proved fatal. 
 During the storm, Columbus hastily enclosed in a cake of wax 
 a short account of his voyage and discovery, which he put into a 
 tight cask, and threw it into the sea. This he did, hoping that, 
 if he perished, it might fall into the hands of some navigator, or 
 be cast ashore, and thus the knowledge of his discovery be pre- 
 served to the world. But the storm abated, and he arrived safe in 
 Spain, March 15th, 1403. 
 
 For this discovery, it being the first, and having laid the 
 foundation for all the subsequent discoveries in America, Colum- 
 bus was doubtless entitled to the honor of giving a name to the 
 New World. But he was robbed of it by the address of Ameri- 
 cus Vespueius. This adventurer was a Florentine, who sailed to 
 the New World in 1499, with one Alonzo Ojeda, a gallant and 
 active officer, who had accompanied Columbus in his first voyage. 
 On his return, he published so flattering an account of his voyage, 
 that, his name was given to the continent, with manifest injustice to 
 Columbus. 
 
 After this, Columbus made several other voyages, but did not 
 discover the continent of America until Aug. 1, 14!'^, during his 
 third voyage, on which day, he, for the first time, obtained a view 
 of the' main continent, near the mouth of the Oronoco. Yet he was 
 ignorant at the time, that the land in question was any thing 
 more than an island. 
 
 During this voyage, Columbus was destined to experience 
 severe afflictions. After his departure from Spain, having been 
 appointed governor of the New World, his enemies, by false 
 representations, persuaded the king to appoint another in his 
 place. At the same time, the king was induced to give orders 
 th;«t Columbus should be seized and sent to Spain. This order 
 
14 period i. — 1492 to 1607. 
 
 was executed with rigid severity ; and the heroic Columbus re 
 turned to Spain in irons ! 
 
 On his arrival, he was set at liberty by the king ; but he neve* 
 recovered his authority. Soon after his return from a fourth 
 voyage, finding Isabella, his patroness, dead, and himself neglected, 
 he sunk beneath his misfortunes and infirmities, and expired on 
 the 20th of May, 1506. His last words were, " Into thy hands, 
 O Lord, I commend my spirit." 
 
 The body of Columbus was deposited in the convent of St 
 Francisco, but was afterwards removed to a monastery at Seville, 
 where, for a time, it rested with the remains of his son Diego. 
 The bodies of both, however, were afterwards removed to Hispa- 
 niola, and here again disinterred, and conveyed to Havana, in the 
 island of Cuba, where, in peace, they now repose. 
 
 We shall conclude this notice of the great pioneer to this west- 
 ern world, in the eloquent language of the author to whom we 
 have been indebted for the principal incidents in the life of this 
 illustrious man * " He (Columbus) died in ignorance of the real 
 grandeur of his discovery. Until his last breath, he entertained the 
 idea that he had merely opened a new way to the old resorts of 
 opulent commerce, and had discovered some of the wild regions of 
 the East. He supposed Hispaniola to be the ancient Ophir. which 
 had been visited by the ships of Solomon, and that Cuba and 
 Terra Firma were but remote parts of Asia. What visions of 
 glory would have broken upon his mind, could he have known 
 that he had indeed discovered anew continent, equal to the whole 
 of the old world in magnitude, and separated by two vast oceans 
 from all the earth hitherto known b} r civilized man !" 
 
 3. The discovery of Columbus naturally excited the 
 attention of the civilized nations of Europe, and they 
 became eager to share with Spain the honors and ad- 
 vantages of further discoveries in the new world. As 
 early as May, 1497, John and Sebastian Cabot, father 
 and son, sailed, under the patronage of Henry VII., 
 king of England, on a voyage of discovery ; and, in 
 June following, fell in with the island of Newfoundland, 
 which they called Prima Vista. Soon after, they dis- 
 covered the smaller island of St. John's and the lohti 
 limt iisdf. On their return, they pursued a southerly 
 course to Virginia, and, according to others, to the cape 
 c«f Florida. They returned without attempting a set 
 tlement, but took possession of the country in be'^li 
 of the crown of England. 
 
 * Irving's Columbus 
 
DISCOVERIES. 15 
 
 John Cabot appears to have been a native of Venice, but to 
 have settled in England, with his family, some time previous to 
 the above voyage. The commission granted to him by Henry, 
 which is the oldest American state paper of England, bore date 
 Vlarch 5th, 149b", although he did not sail until the year follow- 
 ng. This squadron was allowed to consist of six ships, of the 
 burden of two hundred tons ; but, for reasons not well under 
 stood, they sailed with but two caravals, and three hundred men. 
 Tbese were freighted by the merchants of London and Bristol. 
 They have the honor of making the first discovery of the conti- 
 nent, Columbus not falling in with it until 1498, during his third 
 voyage, as has already been related. The extent of this voyage 
 of the Cabots appears not to have been settled by historians. 
 Some writers suppose that they reached the latitude of 67°, while 
 others make the limits of their voyage the 45th and 38th degrees 
 of north latitude. 
 
 4. The French attempted no discoveries on the 
 American coast, until 1524. This year, John Verra- 
 zano, a native of Florence, sailed under the patronage 
 of Francis I. of France, and, in the course of his voyage, 
 explored the coast from 30° to 50° of north latitude, 
 and examined Florida with considerable accuracy. 
 
 Historians differ in their account of this vo} r age of Verrazano 
 By some, he is supposed to have first made the American coast 
 where the town of Savannah now stands. Others place his ap- 
 proach in latitude 37°, whence it is supposed that he proceeded 
 south to latitude 34°, in the neighborhood of Wilmington, North 
 Carolina, where he landed. Thence sailing southerly, as far as 
 the 30th degree, he resumed his northern course, touching, it is 
 supposed, at Sandy Hook, and afterwards at some of the islands 
 off Rhode Island, whence he proceeded northerly to the 50th 
 degree of north latitude, to Newfoundland. The following year, 
 this enterprising navigator made another voyage to the American 
 coast, during which, by some unknown disaster, he was lost, with 
 all his crew. 
 
 5. In 1534, James Cartier, under a commission from 
 the king of France, made a voyage to America, in which 
 he visited the island of Newfoundland, and discovered 
 the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The following year, during 
 a second voyage, he proceeded up the Gulf of St. Law- 
 rence, to the Isle of Orleans, and thence as far as Mon- 
 treal. At the former place he spent the winter, and in 
 the spring returned to France. 
 
16 period i.— 1492 to 1607. 
 
 On his first voyage, Cartier sailed with two small ships aid 
 one hundred and twenty-two men. On the 10th of May, he 
 made the island of Newfoundland ; but, being prevented by the 
 ice from proceeding farther, he sailed southwardly. As soon, 
 however, as the season would permit, he returned to the north, 
 and visited several harbors in Newfoundland and Labrador. Pro- 
 ceeding northerly, with the hope of passing to China, he dis 
 covered and entered the Gulf of St. Lawrence, but soon after 
 was obliged, on account of unpropitious weather, to return to 
 France. "During his second voyage, he reached, as we have 
 stated above, the island on which Montreal stands. Here he 
 found a large Indian settlement, by the inhabitants of which he 
 was well treated. This Indian settlement was called Hochelaga. 
 Cartier gave it the name of Mount Royal, from a mountain in 
 the neighborhood. From this circumstance, the island and city 
 of Montreal derive their name. During the winter, which he 
 passed at the island of Orleans, many of his men died of the 
 scurvy, with which they had been afflicted for some time. 
 
 It may here be added, that, in 1540, Cartier again visited Ameri- 
 ca, with the intention of forming a settlement. He built a fort at 
 some distance from the Isle of Orleans ; but, in the following 
 spring, not having received anticipated supplies, he set sail to return 
 to France with his colony. At Newfoundland, he met with three 
 ships and two hundred persons, on their way to the new settle- 
 ment. Cartier proceeded on his voyage to France. The other 
 ships continued their course to the fort which Cartier had left. 
 After passing a distressing winter, the whole party, abandoning 
 the settlement, in the spring returned to France. 
 
 6. In the spring of 1541, six years from the discovery 
 of the river St. Lawrence, another equally important 
 river, the Mississippi, was discovered. This honor be- 
 longs to Ferdinand de Soto, a Spaniard, who, having 
 projected the conquest of Florida from the natives, ar- 
 rived from Cuba, 1539, with a considerable force. He 
 traversed the country to a great distance, and in the 
 spring of 1541, first discovered the Mississippi, five or 
 six hundred miles from its mouth. 
 
 The object of Soto, in traversing so wide an extent of country, 
 appears to have been to search for gold. The summer and win- 
 ter of 1539 he spent in Florida, in 1540, he began his tour 
 north-east, and having crossed the Altamaha, Savannah, and 
 Ogechee rivers, he turned westerly, and. crossing the Alleghanies, 
 proceeded southwardly as far as Mobile and Pensacola. The 
 winter of this year he spent with the Chickasaws. The follow- 
 ing spring, he made the important discovery above mentioned. 
 
DISCOVERIES. 17 
 
 f he following year, he died on the hanks of the Red river, soon 
 after which, the remnant of his followers, who, at first, amounted 
 to some hundreds, constructed several small boats, and, haying 
 sailed down the Mississippi, returned to Cuba. 
 
 7. In 15S4, Sir Walter Raleigh, under a commission 
 from Q,ueen Elizabeth of England, despatched two small 
 vessels, commanded by Amidas and Barlow, to the 
 American coast. On their arrival, they entered Pamli- 
 co sound, now in North Carolina, and thence proceeded 
 to Roanoake, an island near the mouth of Albemarle 
 sound. Here they spei# several weeks in trafficking 
 with the natives, but effected no settlement. On their 
 return to England, they gave so splendid a description 
 of the beauty and fertility of the country, that Elizabeth 
 bestowed upon it the name of Virginia, as a memorial 
 that the happy discovery had been made under a virgin 
 queen. 
 
 Previously to the above voyage, under the auspices of Sir 
 Walter Raleigh, two unfortunate attempts had been made by his 
 brother-in-law, Sir Humphrey Gilbert, to effect a settlement in 
 the new world. Both, however, proved ineffectual; and during 
 the last, while Sir Humphrey was returning to England, his ves* 
 sel was shipwrecked, and all on board perished. Not discour- 
 aged by the unfortunate issue of the enterprises of Gilbert, 
 Raleigh fitted out an expedition, as we have abuve stated, in 
 1584. The report brought back by Amidas and Barlow induced 
 Sir Walter, in 1585, to attempt a settlement at the island of 
 Roanoake. This colony was, in a short time, reduced to great 
 distress, and. in 158G, returned with Sir Francis Drake to Eng- 
 land. The following year, however, another colony was sent 
 out, consisting of one hundred and fifty adventurers. These, 
 most unfortunately, were neglected, in respect to supplies; and 
 when, at length, a vessel was despatched to inquire into their 
 state, not a vestige of them remained. 
 
 8. In HJ02, Bartholomew Gosnold, in a voyage from 
 Falmouth to the northern part of Virginia, discovered 
 the promontory in Massachusetts bay, which, since his 
 time, has been known by the name of Cape Cod, from 
 the circumstance of his taking a great number of cod- 
 fish at that place. 
 
 Gosnold was the first Englishman, who, abandoning the circu- 
 itous route by the Canaries and West Indies, came in a direct 
 2* 
 
18 period i. — 1402 to 1607. 
 
 course to this part of the American continent. He was but 
 seven weeks in making the passage. After the discovery of 
 (."ape Cod, coasting south-west, he discovered two islands, one of 
 which he named ^Martha's Vineyard, and the other Elizabeth 
 island. On the western part of this latter island it was conclud- 
 ed to settle, and a fort and storehouse were accordingly erected , 
 but, before Gosnold left the place, discontents arising among those 
 who were to form the colony, it was thought expedient to aban- 
 don the settlement and to return to England. The homeward 
 voyage occupied but rive weeks. 
 
 '-. » 
 NO 11%. ' 
 
 *». As we are now about to enter upon a period which 
 will exhibit our ancestors as inhabitants of this new 
 world, it will be interesting to know what was its as- 
 pect when they first landed upon its shores. 
 
 Statk ok the Country, — On the arrival of the first settlers, 
 North America was almost one unbroken wilderness. From the 
 recesses of these forests were heard the panther, the catamount, 
 the bear, the wild-eat. the wolf, and other beasts of prey From 
 the thickets rushed the buffalo, the elk. the moose, and the carra- 
 bo ; and, scattered on the mountains and plains, were seen the 
 stag and tallow deer. Numerous flocks of the feathered tribe 
 enlivened the air. and multitudes of fish filled the rivers, or glid 
 ed along the shores. The spontaneous productions of the soil, 
 also, were found to be various and abundant. In all parts of the 
 laud grew ".Tapes, which historians have likened to the ancient 
 grapes of hshcol. In the south were found mulberries, plums, 
 melons, cucumbers, tobacco, corn. peas, beans, potatoes, squashes, 
 pumpions, tfcc. Acorns, walnuts, chestnuts, wild cherries, cur- 
 rants, strawberries, whortleberries, in the season of them, grew 
 wild in every quarter of the country. 
 
 10. Aborigines. — The country was inhabited by mi 
 
 meroits tribes or clans of Indians. Of their number t at 
 
 the period the English settled among them, no certain 
 
 estimate has been transmitted to us. They did not 
 
 robably much exceed 150,000 within the compass of 
 
 lie thirteen original states.* 
 
 In their physical charortrr, the different Indian tribes, 
 within the boundaries of the United States, were nearly 
 the same. Their persons were tail, straight, and well 
 
 * This m the estimate of Dr. Trumbull. 
 
DISCOVERIES. 19 
 
 proportioned. Their skins were red, or of a copper- 
 brown ; their eyes black, their hair long, black, and 
 coarse. In constitution, they were firm and vigorous, 
 capable of sustaining great fatigue and hardship. 
 
 As to their general character, they were quick of ap- 
 prehension, and not wanting in genius. At times, they 
 were friendly, and u^n courteous. In council, they 
 were distinguished f^Bfa:avit\ and eloquence ; in war, 
 
 for bravery and JfldBJl^When provoked to anger, 
 they were sidlejnhncf^WMhl ; and when determined 
 upon revenge, f!#\i anger ttmrftl deter them ; neither ab- 
 sence nor time could cool them. If captured by an 
 enemy, they never asked life : nor would they betray emo- 
 tions of fear, even in view of the tomahawk, or of the 
 kindling fagot. 
 
 They had no looks or written Htcrature, except rude hieroglyph- 
 ics; and education among them was confined to the arts of war, 
 hunting, fishing, and the few manufactures which existed among 
 them, most of which every male was more or less instructed in. 
 Thfir language was rude but sonorous, metaphorical, and ener- 
 getic. It was' well suited to the purposes of public speaking; 
 and, when accompanied by the impassioned gestures, and uttered 
 with the deep guttural tones of the savage, it is said to have had 
 a singularly wild and impressive effect. They had some fe.w war- 
 songs, which were little more than an unmeaning chorus; but. it 
 is believed, they had no other compositions which were preserved. 
 
 Their ar's and tmtnifartures were confined to the construction 
 of wig\vams. hows and arrows, wampum, ornaments, stone hatch- 
 ets, mortars for pqunding corn ; to the dressing of skins, weaving 
 of coarse mats from the bark of trees, or a coarse sort of hemp, 
 Are. 
 
 Their agriculture was small in extent, and the articles they 
 cultivated were few in number. Corn, beans, peas, potatoes, 
 melons, and a few others of a similar kind, were all. 
 
 Their >/./// in medicine was confined to a tew simple presorip 
 lions and operations. Both the cold and warm bath were often 
 applied, and a considerable number of plants were used with sue- 
 •jess. For some diseases they knew no remedy, in which case 
 they resorted to their pateow, or priest, who undertook the re- 
 naval of the disease by means of sorcery. 
 
 It may be remarked, however, that the diseases to which the 
 Indians were liable, were few, compared with those which pre- 
 vail in civilized society. 
 
20 
 
 period i. — 1492 to 1607. 
 
 Imp 
 
 
 '$gjSEji 
 
 
 V^ 
 
 
 
 -• 
 
 IffiuSl 
 
 s^Bk 
 
 $ 
 
 
 5 :" ; 
 
 pP^^fHp^ 
 
 
 ^•■■I'M^-^f :■':-:: 
 
 ^m^m 
 
 i, ' ?, - : 
 
 ggpr?^ :; ^^g 
 
 ^^^^^^^^^^^B 
 
 
 fa^^ 
 
 H^s^SS^ 
 
 ^^^^^^^^^S^^^^^^^R 
 
 Indian Women engaged in Agriculture. 
 
 Indian Amusements. 
 
DISCOVERIES. 
 
 21 
 
 The employments of the men were principally hunting, fishing, 
 and war. The women dressed the food, took charge of the do- 
 mestic concerns, tilled their narrow and scanty fields, and per- 
 formed almost all the drudgery connected with their household 
 iffairs. . . . . 
 
 The amusements of the men were principally leaping, shooting 
 at marks, dancing, gaming, and hunting, in all of which they 
 made the most violent exertions. Their dances were usually per 
 formed round a large fire. In their war-dances, they sung or re- 
 cited the feats which they or their ancestors had achieved; 
 represented the manner in which they were performed, and 
 wrought themselves up to an inexpressible degree of martial en- 
 thusiasm. The females occasionally joined in some of these 
 sports, but had none peculiar to themselves. 
 
 Their chess was various. In summer, they wore little besides a 
 covering about the waist ; but in winter, they clothed themselves 
 in the skins of wild beasts. They were exceedingly fond of or- 
 naments. On days of show and festivity, their sachems wore 
 mantles of deer-skin, embroidered with white beads, or copper ; or 
 they were painted with various devices. Hideousness was the 
 object aimed at in painting themselves. A chain of fish-bones 
 about the neck, or the skin of a wild-cat, was the sign of royalty. 
 
 For habitations, the Indians had weekwams, or wigwams, aa 
 
 pronounced by the English. These originally consisted of a 
 strong pole, erccud in the centre, around which, at the distance 
 
22 period i.— 1492 to 1607. 
 
 of ten or twelve feet, other poles were driven obliquely into thf 
 ground, and fastened to the centre pole at the top. Their cover- 
 ings were of mats, or barks of trees, well adjusted so as to rendei 
 them dry and comfortable. 
 
 Their domestic utensils extended not beyond a hatchet of stone 
 a few shells and sharp stones, which they used for knives ; stone 
 mortars for pounding corn, and some mats and skins upon which 
 they slept. They sat, and ate, and lodged, on the ground. With 
 shells and stones they scalped their enemies, dressed their game, 
 cut their hair, &c. They made nets of thread, twisted from the 
 bark of Indian hemp, or of the sinews of the moose and deer. 
 For fish-hooks, they used bones which were bent. 
 
 Their food was of the coarsest and simplest kind — the fiesh, 
 and even the entrails, of all kinds of wild beasts and birds ; 
 and, in their proper season, green corn, beans, peas, ike. &c. f 
 which they cultivated, and other fruits, which the country spon- 
 taneously produced. Flesh and fish they roasted on a stick, or 
 broiled on the fire. In some instances, they boiled their meat and 
 corn by putting hot stones in water. Corn they parched, es- 
 pecially in the winter ; and upon this they lived in the absence 
 of other food. 
 
 The money of the Indians, called wampum, consisted of small 
 beads wrought from shells, and strung on belts, and in chains. 
 The wampum of the New England Indians was black, blue, and 
 white. That of the Six Nations was of a purple color. Six of 
 the white beads, and three of black, or blue, became of the value 
 of a penny. A belt of wampum was given as a token of friend- 
 ship, or as a seal or confirmation of a treaty. 
 
 There was little among them that could be called society. Except 
 when roused by some strong excitement, the men were generally 
 indolent, taciturn, and unsocial. The women were too degraded 
 and oppressed to think of much besides their toils. Removing, - 
 too, as the seasons changed, or as the game grew scarce, or as 
 danger from a stronger tribe threatened, there was little opportu- 
 nity for forming those local attachments, and those social ties, 
 which spring from a long residence in a particular spot. Their lan- 
 guage also, though energetic, was too barren to serve the purposes 
 of familiar conversation. In order to be understood and felt, it 
 required the aid of strong and animated gesticulation, which could 
 take place only when great occasions excited them. It seems, 
 therefore, that they drew no considerable part of their enjoyments 
 from intercourse with one another. Female beauty had little 
 power over the men ; and all other pleasures gave way to the 
 strong impulses of public festivity, or burning captives, or seeking 
 murderous revenge, or the chase, or war, or glory. 
 
 War was the favorite employment of the savages of North 
 America. It roused them from the lethargy into which they fell 
 when they ceased from the chase, and furnished them an oppor 
 
DISCOVERIES. 23 
 
 tunily to distinguish themselves — to achieve deeds of glory, and 
 taste the sweets of revenge. Their weapons were bows and ar- 
 rows headed with flint or other hard stones, which they dis- 
 charged with great precision and force. The southern Indians 
 used targets made of bark ; the Mohawks clothed themselves 
 with skins, as a defence against the arrows of their enemies. 
 When they fought in the open field, they rushed to the attack 
 with incredible fury ; and, at the same time, uttered their appal 
 ling war-whoop. Those whom they had taken captive they often 
 tortured with every variety of cruelty, and to their dying ago- 
 nies added every species of insult. If peace was concluded on, 
 the chiefs of the hostile tribes ratified the treaty by smoking, in 
 succession, the same pipe, called the calumet, or pipe of peace. 
 
 The government of the Indians, in <reneral, was an absolute mon 
 archy . though it differed in different tribes. The will of the sachem 
 was law In matters of moment, he consulted his counsellors ; but 
 his decisions were final. War and peace, among some tribes, seem 
 to have been determined on in a council formed of old men, distin- 
 guished by their exploits. When in council, they spoke at pleas 
 ure. and always listened to the speaker with profound and re- 
 spectful silence. " When propositions for war or peace were made, 
 or treaties proposed to them by the colonial governors, they met 
 the ambassadors in council, and, at the end of each paragraph or 
 proposition, the principal sachem delivered a short stick to one 
 of his council, intimating that it was his peculiar duty to remem- 
 ber that paragraph. This was related, till every proposal was 
 finished; they then retired to deliberate among themselves. Af- 
 ter their deliberations were ended, the sachem, or some counsel- 
 lors to whom he had delegated this office, replied tp every para- 
 graph in its turn, with an exactness scarcely exceeded in the 
 written correspondence of civilized powers. Each man actually 
 remembered what was committed to him, and. with his assistance, 
 the person who replied remembered the whole." 
 ...The religious notions of the natives consisted of traditions, 
 mingled with many superstitions. Like the ancient Greeks, Ro- 
 mans, Persians, Hindoos, &.c. they believed in the existence of 
 (wo gods, the one g<wd, who was the superior, and whom they 
 styled the Great or Good Spirit; the other evil. They worship- 
 ped both ; and of both formed images of stone, to which they 
 paid religious homage. Besides these, they worshipped various 
 other deities — fire, water, thunder — any thing which they conceived 
 to be superior to themselves, and capable of doing them injury. 
 The manner of worship was to sing and dance round large fires. 
 Besides dancing, they offered prayers, and sometimes sweet- 
 scented powder. In Virginia, the Indians offered blood, deer's 
 suet, and tobacco. Of the creation and the deluge, they had dis- 
 tinct traditions. 
 
 Marriage among them was generally a temporary contract. 
 
24 period i.— 1492 to 1607. 
 
 The men chose their wives agreeably to fancy, and put them away 
 at pleasure. Marriage was celebrated, however, with some cere- 
 mony, and, in many instances, was observed with fidelity- ; not 
 unfrequently it was as lasting as life. Polygamy was common 
 among them. 
 
 Their treatvicnt of females was cruel and oppressive. They 
 were considered by the men as slaves, and treated as such 
 Those forms of decorum between the sexes, which lay the foun 
 dation for the respectful and gallant courtesy, with which women 
 are treated in civilized society, were unknown among them. Of 
 course, females were not only required to perform severe labor, but 
 often felt the full weight of the passions and caprices of the men. 
 
 The rites of burial, among the Indians, varied but little through- 
 out the continent. They generally dug holes in the ground, with 
 sharpened stakes. In the bottom of the grave were laid sticks, 
 upon which the corpse, wrapped in skins and mats, was deposited. 
 The arms, utensils, paints, and ornaments of the deceased, were 
 buried with him. and a mound of earth raised over his grave 
 Among some tribes in New England, and among the Five Nations, 
 the dead were buried in a sitting posture, with Jheir faces towards 
 the east. During the burial, they uttered the most lamentable 
 cries, and continued their mourning for several days. 
 
 The orioin of the Indians inhabiting the country, on the arrival 
 of the English colonists, is involved in much obscurity ; and sev- 
 eral different answers have been given by learned men to the in- 
 quiry, Whence did they come to America? The opinion best sup- 
 ported is, that they originated in Asia, and that at some -former 
 period, not now to be ascertained, they emigrated from that conn 
 try to America, over which, in succeeding years, their descend- 
 ants spread. This opinion is rendered the more probable by the 
 fact, that the figure, complexion, dress, manners, customs, &c. 
 ttc, of the nations of both continents, are strikingly similar. 
 That they might have emigrated from the eastern continent is 
 evident, since, in latitude 66°, the two continents are not more 
 than forty miles distant from each other, and between them are 
 two islands less than twenty miles distant from either shore. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 1 1 . We shall find it pleasant and profitable occasionally to pause 
 in our history, and consider what instruction may be drawn from 
 the portion of it that has been perused. 
 
 In the story of Columbus, we are introduced to a man of ge- 
 nius, energy, and enterprise. We see him forming a new. and, m 
 that age, a mighty project ; and, having matured his plan, we 
 see him set himself vigorously about its execution. For a time, 
 he is either treated as a visionary or baffled by opposition. But 
 neither discouraged nor dejected he steadily pursues Lis purpose, 
 
DISCOVERIES. 25 
 
 surmounts every obstacle, and at length spreads his sails upon 
 Ihe unknown waters of the Atlantic. A kind Providence au- 
 spiciously guides his way, and crowns his enterprise with the un 
 expected" discovery of a new world. 
 
 While we admire the lofty qualities of Columbus, and look 
 with wonder at the consequences which have resulted from his 
 discovery, let us emulate his decision, energy, and perseverance. 
 Many are the occasions, in the present world, on which it wil. he 
 important to summon these to our aid; and, by their means, 
 many useful objects may be accomplished, which, without them, 
 would be unattained. 
 
 But. while we thus press forward in the career of usefulness- 
 while we aim to accomplish for our fellow men all the amount of 
 good in our power, let us moderate our expectations of reward 
 here, by the consideration that Columbus died the victim of in- 
 gratitude and disappointment. 
 
 Another consideration, of still deeper interest, is suggested by 
 the story of Columbus. We, who live to mark the wonderful events 
 which have flowed from his discovery, within the short space of 
 three centuries, cannot but advert with awe to Him who attaches 
 to the actions of a single individual a train of consequences so 
 gtupendous and unexpected. How lightly soever, then, we may 
 think of our conduct, let us remember, that the invisible hand 
 of Providence may be connecting with our smallest actions the 
 most momentous results to ourselves and others. 
 
 With respect to Amoricus Vespucius, it may be observed, that, 
 although he deprived Columbus of the merited honor of giving 
 His name to the new world, and gained this distinction for him- 
 eelf, still his name will ever remain stigmatized, as having ap- 
 jropriatea that to himself which fairly belonged to another. 
 
 3 
 
UNITED STATES 
 
 PERIOD II. 
 
 DISTINGUISHED FOR SETTLEMENTS. 
 
 Extending from the. first permanent English Settlement 
 at Jamestown, Virginia, 1697, to the Accession of 
 William anel Mary to the Throne of England, 1089. 
 
 See. i. Prior to the year 1607, a period of 115 years 
 from the discovery of San Salvador by Columbus, seve- 
 ral attempts, some of which we have noticed, were made 
 to effect settlements in various parts of North America ; 
 but none had proved successful. 
 
 A sufficient reason may he assigned for the failure of the seve 
 ral attempts to effect permanent settlements in North America, 
 viz. that they were undertaken upon individual responsibility, with 
 bad calculations, and intrusted, in most instances, to men of mer- 
 cenary views. And, as to the sovereigns of Europe, they were 
 too much occupied with affairs at home, to engage in speculations 
 abroad. Besides, no prince or statesman in Europe appears to 
 have foreseen the advantages of planting colonies in this northern 
 continent. Had it contained mines of gold and silver, like South 
 America, they would have contended with one another for the 
 prize. But it seems not to have been conceived how numerous. 
 hardy colonies, could give such strength, opulence and grandeur 
 to empires, as could never be derived from the gold and rich pro- 
 ductions of the southern regions. One advantage, however, re- 
 sulted to tne nations of Europe, and which, for many years, they 
 enjoyed in common, viz. the fisbery on the banks of Newfound- 
 land. For a time, it was prosecuted to an inconsiderable extent ; 
 but, at length, it ripened into a system, and became a source of 
 national emolument. 
 
SETTLEMENTS. ~/ 
 
 2. The year 1G07 marks the era when the first per- 
 manent settlement was effected by Europeans in North 
 America. In the month of May of this year, a colon) 
 from England, consisting of one hundred and five per 
 sons, arrived in Virginia ; and, on a beautiful peninsula 
 in James river, began a settlement, which they called 
 Jamcstoion. 
 
 3. This name was given to the above settlement in 
 honor of James I. of England, who, the year previously, 
 hnd granted to two companies, called the London and 
 Plymouth companies, the lands in North America em- 
 braced between the 34th and 45th degrees of north lati- 
 nde — the southern part, called South Virginia, to the 
 London, and the northern, called North Virginia, to the 
 Plymouth company. 
 
 The London company consisted of Sir Thomas Gates. Sir 
 Georg-e Somers, Richard Hackluyt, Edward Maria Wingfield, 
 &c. These were authorized to make a settlement at any place 
 between the 34th and 41st decrees of latitude : and in them war 
 
28 period ii. — 1G07 to 16S9. 
 
 vested the right of property in the land extending fifty miles each 
 way from their place of habitation, reaching one hundred miles 
 into the country. The Plymouth company consisted of Thomas 
 HanJiam, Raleigh Gilbert, William Parker, George Popham, and 
 others, principally inhabitants of Bristol, Plymouth, and the east- 
 ern parts of England. To this company was granted the lands 
 between the 3£th and 45th degrees of latitude. They were vest- 
 ed with the right of property in lands to the same extent as in the 
 southern colony : neither company, however, were to form set 
 tlements within one hundred miles of the other. 
 
 4. Under the auspices of the London company, the 
 first settlement in Virginia was commenced. The expe- 
 dition was commanded by Capt. Christopher Newport ; 
 but the government of the colony was framed in Eng- 
 land, before it sailed. It was to consist of a council of 
 seven persons, with a president, to be elected by the 
 council from their number. Who composed it was un- 
 known at the time the expedition saihd, their names 
 being carefully concealed in a box, which was to be 
 opened after their arrival. 
 
 The origin:il intention of the cwmy was toflWHMPimiTient 
 at Roanoake ; but, being driven by a tfWrCTTf storm north of that 
 place, they discovered the entrance dF^mesapeake bay, the 
 capes of which they named Charles and Henry. Entering this, 
 they at length reached a convenient spot upon which to com- 
 mence a settlement. V"***** -"^^fc^*- 
 
 The code of laws, hitherto cautiously cTdBcealed, was now pro- 
 mulgated ; and. at the same time, the council appointed in Eng- 
 land was made known. It consisted of Bartholomew Gosnola, 
 John Smith. Edward Wingfield, Christopher Newport. John 
 Ratclifle. John Martin, and George Kendall. Mr. Wingfield was 
 chosen president. 
 
 Among the most enterprising and useful members of this col- 
 ony, and one of its magistrates, was Capt. John Smith. In his 
 youth, he had been apprenticed to a merchant; but, being of a 
 roving turn, he quitted his master; and, although at this time 
 but thirteen years of age, he travelled in France, whence he pro- 
 ceeded to the Netherlands, Egypt, and Germany, and, at length, 
 entered the service of the emperor of Austria, who was engaged 
 in a war with the Turks. 
 
 The regiment in which he served was engaged in several 
 hazardous enterprises, in which Smith exhibited a bravery ad- 
 mired by all the army ; and when Meldrick left the imperial 
 service for that of his native prince, Smith followed. 
 
SF.TTMOTKNTS. 29 
 
 At the siege of Regal, lie was destined to new adventures. 
 The Ottomans, deriding the slow advance of the Transylvania 
 army, the Lord Turbisha despatched a. messenger with a chal- 
 lenge, that, for the diversion of the ladies of the place, he would 
 jght any captain of the Christian troops. 
 
 The honor of accepting this challenge was determined by lot, 
 md fell on Smith. At the time appointed, the two champions 
 ippeared in the field on horseback, and, in the presence of the 
 irmies, and of the ladies of the insulting Ottoman, rushed im- 
 petuously to the attack. A short, but desperate conflict ensued, 
 9t the end of which Smith was seen bearing the head of the 
 lifeless Turbisha in triumph to his general. 
 
 The fall of the chief tilled his friend Crualgo with indigna 
 tion, and roused him to avenge his death. Smith accordingly 
 soon after received a challenge from him, which he did not hes- 
 itate to accept; and the two exasperated combatants, upcn their 
 chargers, fell with desperate fury upon each oilier. Victory again 
 followed the falchion of Smith, who sent the Turk headlong to 
 the ground. 
 
 It was now the turn of Smith to make the advance. He de 
 spatched a message, therefore, to the Turkish ladies, that if tiny 
 were desirous of more diversion of a similar kind, they should 
 be welcome to his head, in case their third champion could take it. 
 
 Boncy^tlgl^affedered fris' services, and haughtily accepted the 
 Christian's challenge. When the day arrived, the spectators as- 
 sembled, and the combatants entered the field. It was an hour 
 of deep anxiety to all : as the horsemen approached, a deathlike 
 silence pervaded the multitude. A blow from the sabre of the 
 Turk brought Smith to the around^ and, for a moment, it seemed 
 as if the deed of death was done. Smith, however, was only 
 stunned. He rose like a lion when he shakes the dew from his 
 mane for the fight, and, vaulting into his saddle, made his fal- 
 chion <; shed fast atonement for its first dela}-." It is hardly 
 necessary to add, that the head of Bonamalgro was added to the 
 number. 
 
 In a general battle, in which he was subsequently engaged, 
 he v\ T as wounded and taken prisoner. On his rfcoverv, he was 
 sold as a slave, and was taken to Constantinople. He was re- 
 quired to wait upon the lady of his master, who, captivated by 
 his fine appearance, sent him, in the absence of her husband, to 
 the care of her brother, who resided near the sea of Asoph. 
 
 But he, bx.ing of a cruel disposition, treated Smith with so 
 much inhumanity, that, one day, in a tit of desperation, he killed 
 his new master, and fled into Russia. From this country, he trav- 
 elled through Cermany, France, and Spain and, at length, re- 
 turned once moro to England. 
 
 At this time, the settlement of America was occupying the 
 attention of many distinguished men in England. The life of 
 
 a * 
 
30 period ir.— 1G07 to 16S0. 
 
 Smith, united to his fondness. for enterprises of danger and dim 
 culty, had prepared him to embark with zeal in a "project so 
 novel and sublime as that of exploring the wilds of a newly-dis- 
 covered continent. 
 
 He was soon attached to the expedition about to sail under 
 Newport, and was appointed one of the magistrates of the colo 
 ny sent over at that time. Before the arrival of the colony, his 
 colleagues in office, becoming jealous of his influence, arrested 
 him on the absurd charge, thai he designed to murder the coun- 
 cil, usurp the government, and make himself king of Virginia. 
 He was, therefore, rigorously confined during the remainder of 
 the voyage. 
 
 On their arrival in the country, he was liberated, but could 
 not obtain a trial, although, in the tone of conscious integrity, ho 
 repeatedly demanded it. The infant col ny was soon involved 
 in perplexity and danger. Notwithstanding Smith had been 
 calumniated, and his honor deeply wounded, his was not the 
 spirit to remain idle, when his services were needed. Nobly 
 disdaining revenge, he offered his assistance, and, by his talents, 
 experience, and indefatigable zeal, furnished important aid to 
 the infant colony. 
 
 Continuing to assert his innocence, and to demand a trial, the 
 time at length arrived, when his enemies could postpone it no 
 longer. After a fair hearing of the case, he was honorably ac- 
 quitted of the charges alleged against him, and soon aft e'fTook hia 
 seat in the council. 
 
 The affairs of the colony becoming more settled, the active 
 spirit of Smith prompted him to explore the neighboring country. 
 In an attempt to ascertain the source of Chickahoraing river, he 
 ascended, in a barge, as far as the stream was uninterrupted. 
 Designing to proceed still farther, be left, (lie barge in the keeping 
 of the crew, with strict injunctions on no account to leave her, 
 and, with two Englishmen and two Indians, left the party. But 
 no sooner was he out of view, than the crew, impatient of re 
 strain!, repaired on board the barge, and. proceeding some ilis 
 tame down the stream, landed at a place where a body of In 
 dians lay in ambush, by whom they were seized. 
 
 By means of the crew, the route of Smith was ascertained 
 and a party of Indians were immediately despatched to take him. 
 On coming up with him, they fired, killed the Englishman, and 
 wounded himself. With great presence of mind, he nowj rejd Ids 
 Indian guide to his left arm, as a shield from the enemies' ar 
 rows, while, with his musket, he despatched three of the most 
 forward of the assailants. 
 
 In this manner, he continued to retreat towards his canoe, 
 while the Indians, struck with admiration of his bravery, fol- 
 lowed with respectful caution. Unfortunately, coming to ,i 
 sunken spot filled with mire, while engrossed with eyeing his 
 
SETTLEMENTS. 
 
 31 
 
 pursuers, he sunk so deep as to be unable to extricate himself, 
 and was f.ircf-d to surrender. 
 
 Fruitful in expedients, to avert immediate death, he presented 
 an ivory compass to the chief, whose attention was arrested by 
 the vibrations of the needle. Taking advantage of the impres- 
 sion winch he had thus made, partly by signs and partly by lan- 
 guage, he excited their wonder still more, by telling them of it? 
 singular powers. 
 
 Their wonder, however, seemed soon to abate, and their at. 
 lention returned to their prisoner, lie was now bound, and tied 
 to a tree, and the savages were preparing to direct their arrows 
 at his breast. At this instant, the chief holding up the compass 
 they laid down their arms, and led him in triumph to Powhatan, 
 their king. 
 
 Powhatan and his council doomed him to death, as a man 
 whose courage and genius were peculiarly dangeroug to the 
 
 fndians. Preparations were accordingly made ; and when the 
 time arrived, Smith was led out to execution. His head was laid 
 upon a stone, and a club presented to Powhatan, who himself 
 claimed the honor of becoming the executioner. The savages 
 in silence were, circling round, and the giant arm of Powhatan 
 had already raised the club to strike the fatal blow, when, to Ids 
 astonishment, the young and beautiful Pocahontas, his daughter 
 with a fhiiek of terror, rushed fiom the throng, and threw her 
 
32 period ii.— 1607 to 16S9. 
 
 self upon the body of Smith. At the same time, she cast an 
 imploring look towards her furious, but astonished father, and, 
 in all me eloquence of mute, but impassioned sorrow, besought 
 his life. 
 
 The remainder of the scene was honorable to Powhatan. The 
 club of the chief was still uplifted ; but a father's pity had touch- 
 ed his heart, and the eye that had at first kindled with wrath, 
 was now fast losing its fierceness. He looked round as if to col- 
 lect his fortitude, or perhaps to find an excuse for his weakness, 
 in the pity of the attendants. A similar sympathy had melted 
 the savage throng, and seemed to join in the petition which the 
 weeping Pocahontas felt, but durst not utter, "My father, let the 
 prisoner live." Powhatan raised his daughter, and the captive, 
 scarcely yet assured of safety, from the earth. 
 
 Shortly after, Powhatan dismissed Capt. Smith, with assur- 
 ances of friendship ; and the next morning, accompanied with a 
 guard of twelve men, he arrived safely at Jamestown, after a 
 captivity of seven weeks. * 
 
 In 1609, circumstances having arisen to interrupt the friendly 
 dispositions of Powhatan towards the colony, he plotted their 
 entire destruction. PS is design was to attack them nnapprized, 
 and to cut them off at a blow. 
 
 In a dark and stormy night, the heroic Pocahontas hastened alone 
 to Jamestown, and disclosed the inhuman plot of her father. The 
 colony were thus put on their guard, and their ruin averted. 
 
 It may be interesting to add, concerning Pocahontas, that some 
 time alter this, she was married to an English gentleman of the 
 name of Rolfe. with whom she visited England. She embraced 
 the Christian religion, and was baptized by the name of Rebec- 
 ca. She left one son, who had several daughters, the descend- 
 ants of whom inherited her lands in Virginia, and are among the 
 most "respectable families in that state. 
 
 5. The colony, thus commenced, soon experienced a 
 variety of calamities, incidental, perhaps, to infant settle- 
 ments, but not the less painful and discouraging. Ineffi- 
 ciency and a want of harmony marked the proceedings 
 of the council. Provisions were scarce, and of a poor 
 quality. The neighboring tribes of Indians became 
 jealous and hostile ; and, more than all, sickness spread 
 among them, and carried a large proportion of their 
 number to an early grave. 
 
 By the middle of July, they were so distressed with the bad 
 ness and scarcity of provisions, with sickness, labor, and contin- 
 
 * Rtirk's Virginia. 
 
SETTLEMENTS. 33 
 
 ual guarding against tJie enemy, that scarcely ten of the whole 
 company could walk, or even stand alone. By the end of the 
 month, fifty of their number were no more. Among the dead, 
 was that enterprising gentleman, Captain Gosnold, the projector 
 of the whole scheme of (he plantation. 
 
 To increase their misfortunes, the president embezzled the 
 public stores, and attempted to run away with the company's 
 bark, and to return to England. It was therefore found neces- 
 sary, for the common safety, to displace him. Mr. Ra-tcliffe was 
 elected to the presidency. But it very soon appealed that his 
 abilities were by no means equal to the exigencies of the compa- 
 
 j nv ; and the whole weight of government fell therefore, on Capt. 
 John Smith.* 
 
 The condition of the colony was, at length, somewhat 1111 
 proved, and their courage renewed, by the arrival of Capt. New- 
 
 ! port, (who had been despatched to England,) with a supply of 
 provisions, and an additional number of men. This number was 
 not long after augmented, and a further supply of necessaries re- 
 ceived, by the arrival of Capt. Nelson, who had sailed in company 
 with Newport, but who had been separated from him during a 
 
 ' storm, and for some time was supposed to be lost. With these 
 accessions, the colonists now amounted to twe hundred men. This 
 number was still further increased, before the end of 1608, by the 
 arrival of seventy colonists, among whom were many persons of 
 A.stinciion. 
 
 0. Early in the year 1609, the London company, not 
 i having realized their anticipated profit from their new 
 
 establishment in America, obtained from the king a new 
 j charter, with more ample privileges. Under this charter, 
 | Thomas West, otherwise called Lord De la War, was 
 
 appointed governor for life. 
 
 The company, under their new act of incorporation, was styled, 
 I "The treasurer and company of adventurers and planters for the 
 I first colony in Virginia." They were now granted in absolute 
 j property, what had formerly been conveyed only in trust — a 
 ! territory extending from Point Comfort two hundred miles north 
 | and south, along the coast, and throughout the land from sea 
 to sea. 
 
 7. Lord De la War, being appointed governor of the 
 colony, but not being able to leave England, immediately 
 despatched to America nine ships and five hundred men, 
 under command of Sir Thomas Gates, his lieutenant, and 
 
 * Trumbull 
 
31 period i!. — 1(507 to 16S9 
 
 Sir George Summers, his admiral. Eight of these ships 
 arrived in safety at Jamestown, in the month of August j 
 but that on board of which was Sir Thomas and other 
 ofiicers, being wrecked on the Bermudas, did not arrive 
 tiii May of the following year. 
 
 The ship, thus wrecked, contained one hundred and fifty per 
 :he whole of whom were, for a time, in extreme danger of 
 being lost. For three days, they v.-ere obliged to labor incessant- 
 ly at The leak, however, sail increasing, it was 
 attend n her on shore ; but she stranded, at the distance 
 of three qu mile from land. By the help of the t 
 
 .ie crew an gers were all saved; and. having 
 
 built two small vessels, again set sail for Virginia, where tliev 
 arrived at the time stated above. 
 
 8. At the time Sir Thomas and the other officers ar- 
 rived, the colony had become reduced to circumstances 
 of great depression. Capt. Smith, in consequence of a 
 severe accidental wound, had some time before returned 
 to England, His departure was followed by disastrous 
 consequences. Subordination and industry ceased : the 
 Indians became hostile, and refused the usual supplies 
 of provisions. Famine ensued ; and to such extremities 
 had it the skins of the horses were de- 
 
 voured;, as were also the bodies of Indians whom thev 
 had id even the remains of deceased friends. 
 
 Of five hti \ty only remained. At this 
 
 junct shipwrecked from Bermuda arrived. An 
 
 immediate re England was resolved upon : and, 
 
 with. embarked. But, just as they were 
 
 the river, Lord De la War fortu- 
 nately appeared, with supplies of men and provisions, 
 and they were persuaded to return. By means of his 
 udicious ma:. . the condition '»f the colony soon 
 
 wore a better aspect, and for several years continued to 
 rasper. 
 
 It ■ (, however, for the colony, that ill h- 
 
 in March. 1611, to leave the adminis- 
 arrived in 
 May. Hitherto, no r a establish- 
 
 ed, 1 . raa sited in public s: .>=, and 
 
BATTLEMENTS. o> 
 
 shared in common. To remedy the indolence and indifference 
 ^rowing out of such a system, Sir Thomas assigned to each in- 
 habitant a lot. of three a!' res as his own, and a certain portion 
 cf time to cultivate it. The advantages of this measure were 
 Boon so apparent, that another assignment of fifty acres was 
 made, and not long after the plan of Working in a common lie Id 
 was abandoned. 
 
 9. In 1613, several Dutch merchants erected a fort 
 on Hudson's river, where Albany now stands, and a lew 
 trading houses on the island of New York, at that time 
 called by the Indians Manhattan. 
 
 Hudson's river derives its name from Henry Hudson, an Eng 
 iishman by birth, but who, at the time of this discovery, was in 
 the service of the Dutch East. India Company. Hudson left the 
 Texel on the 2QMi of March, 1000, with tiie design of penetrat- 
 ing to the East Indies by sailing a north- westward course. 
 Failing in this, he proceeded along the shores of Newfoundland, 
 and thence southward as far as Chesapeake and Delaware bays. 
 Thence returning northward, he discovered and sailed up the 
 river which now bears his name. 
 
 By virtue of this discovery, the Dutch laid claim to the coun- 
 try, and the following year several Dutch merchants sent ships 
 to the river to open a trade with the natives. The claim thus 
 set up by the Dutch, was denied by the court of England, not 
 on the ground that Hudson was not the first to discover and en- 
 ter the river, but that, being an English subject, the right to the 
 country belonged to them. 
 
 The Dutch, having planted themselves at Manhattan, were 
 visited the same year by Capt. Argal, of Virginia, with a naval 
 force, who demanded the surrender of the pi ice to the English 
 crown, as properly constituting a part of Virginia. The Dutch 
 governor, finding himself incapable of resistance, submitted him 
 self and I is colony to the king of England, and under him to 
 the govern or of Virginia. Notwithstanding this surrender, the 
 country sti.l continued to be called, as before. New Netherlands, 
 and the settlement, the place where New York now stands, New 
 Amsterdam. These names they retained till the final conquest 
 of the country by the Eng'ish, in 1(3(34. (See Sec. 37.) 
 
 10. In 1614, Capt. John Smith sailed from England. 
 with two ships, to North Virginia. During this voyage, 
 lie ranged the coast from Penobscot to Cape Cod, and 
 gave names to several points of land, which now, for the 
 first time, were discovered. On his return home, hav- 
 ing formed a map of the country, he presented it to 
 
HO I'ERion ii. — I GO? to 1(589. 
 
 Prince Charles, who, in the warmth of admiration, de- 
 clared that the country should he called New England. 
 Cape Ann was so called hy the prince in filial respect 
 to his mother. 
 
 Jl. The year i()19 forms a memorable epoch in 
 the history ot* Virginia," a provincial legislature being 
 at this time introduced, in which the colonists were 
 represented by delegates chosen by themselves. 
 
 This colonial assembly, the first legislature to which the peo- 
 ple of America sent representatives, was convoked by Shr George 
 Xeaxdly, the governor- general of tlie colony, and met at. James- 
 town, on the fchh of June. Before this, the colonists had been 
 ruled rather as soldiers in garrison, by martial law: but riow fliey 
 Mere invested v.kh the privileges of freemen. They were di- 
 vided into eleven corporations, each of which was represented 
 in the assembly. 
 
 The following year, th« colony received a large accession 
 to their number. Eleven ships arrived, with twelve hundred 
 and sixty persons, for settlement. Nearly one thousand colonists 
 were resident here before. In order to attach them still more to 
 the country, Sir Edwin Sandys, the treasurer of ihe company, 
 recommended to send over a. number of young women of reputa- 
 ble character, to become wives to the planters. Accordingly 
 ninety at this time came over, and sixty the following year. 
 These were sold to the planters at the price, at first, of one hun- 
 dred , and, afterwards, one hundred and fifty pounds of tobacco. 
 Tobacco, at this time, was worth three shillings per pound. 
 Debts incurred for the purchase of wives were recoverable before 
 any others. 
 
 Accessions to the colony, of a different character, were also 
 made about this time. JJy order of King James, one hundred 
 persons of profligate character, who had rendered themselves 
 obnoxious to government by their crimes, were sent to the colony 
 by way of punishment. This, perhaps designed for its benefit, 
 as the exiles were chiefly employed as laborers, was ultimately 
 prejudicial to its prosperity. 
 
 During the year 1620, slave-holding was introduced into the 
 colony. A Dutch ship from Africa, touching at Jamestown, 
 landed twenty negroes for sale. These were purchased by the 
 planters; and with these was introduced an evil into the coun- 
 try, the sad effects of which are felt to the present day. 
 
 12. The year 1620 marks the era of the first settling 
 of Nnr England. On the 22d of December of this 
 year, a colony originally from England, known by the 
 
SETTLEMENTS. JJ7 
 
 name of Puritans, landed at Plymouth, Massachu- 
 setts, and began the settlement of that place. Although 
 natives of England, they were driven thence by the arm 
 of persecution, for urging a more thorough reformation 
 in the church of England. 
 
 They fled from England, first to Amsterdam, in Hol- 
 land, in 1G07, with their pastor, the Rev. Mr. Robin- 
 son. From Amsterdam, they soon after removed to 
 Leyden, where they continued until they embarked for 
 America. 
 
 Among the motives which influenced them to remove 
 to America, the prospect of enjoying " a purer worship 
 and greater liberty of conscience," was the principal. 
 To secure these objects, they were willing to become 
 exiles from a civilized country, and encounter the dan* 
 gers and privations which might meet them in a wiU 
 derness. 
 
 The people who first settled New England were principally 
 from the counties of Nottinghamshire, Lancashire, and York- 
 shire. In these counties, there prevailed, about the year 1602, 
 an extensive revival of religion. The new converts, wishing to 
 worship God in a manner more simple than was observed in the 
 established church, but not. being allowed to do it while they 
 continued members of it, agreed upon a separation from it; and. 
 for the sake of peace, and more liberty of conscience, resolved 
 upon a removal to the States of Holland, which, at that time, 
 granted a free toleration to different denominations of Trot- 
 estants. 
 
 The leader of these emigrants, in the year 1(>07, was an able 
 and pious man. Mr. John Robinson, who, with his congregation, 
 having disposed of their property, prepared for their removal, 
 with a design to fix themselves at Amsterdam; but now they 
 found the ports and harbors carefully watched; and, the design 
 of this congregation being suspected, strict orders were given 
 that tbey should not be suffered to depart. 
 
 They were compelled to use the most secret methods, to give 
 extravagant fees to seamen, by whom, notwithstanding, they 
 were often betrayed. Twice they attempted to embark, but were 
 discovered and prevented. At another time, having got on board 
 a ship, with their effects, the ship-master sailed a tittle distance, 
 nnd then returned, and delivered them to the resentment of 
 their enemies. 
 
 The next year, they made another attempt, in which, atler the 
 4 
 
38 period ii.— 1607 to 1089. 
 
 severest trials, they succeeded. Having engaged a ship belong- 
 ing to Holland, for their conveyance, they were going on board. 
 By some treachery, their enemies had been informed of their 
 design, and, at this juncture, a great number of armed men came 
 upon them. A part of the men were on board, without any of 
 their effects ; the women and children were in a bark approach- 
 ing the ship. The Dutch captain, apprehensive of .danger to 
 himself, hoisted sail, and, with a fair wind, directed his course 
 to Holland. 
 
 The passengers used every effort to persuade him to return, 
 but in vain. They saw their wives and children fall into the 
 hands of merciless enemies, while unable to afford them any rer 
 lief. They had none of their effects, not even a change of 
 clothes, on board. 
 
 A violent storm came on, which raged seven days, without 
 intermission. Bv the violence of the storm, they were driven to 
 the coast of Norway. On a sudden, the sailors exclaimed, " The 
 ship has foundered; she sinks; she sinks!" The seamen trem- 
 bled in despair ; the pilgrims looked up to God, and cried, " Yet, 
 Lord, thou canst save ; yet, Lord, thou canst save." To the 
 astonishment of all, the vessel soon began to rise; rode out the 
 storm, and, at length, reached its destined port. After some 
 time, all their friends whc had been left, arrived safely in Hoi 
 land. 
 
 This congregation fixed their residence at Amsterdam. But, 
 in consequence of some unhappy disputes which then agitated 
 the other English churches in that city, they thought it prudent 
 to remove. Accordingly, they retired the next year, and settled 
 in the city of Leyden. Here they were kindly received, and 
 enjoyed a quiet habitation. As the flames of religious tyranny 
 and persecution continued to rage in England, many of theii 
 countrymen joined them. Under the able ministry of their be 
 loved pastor, they continued in great union and prosperity, and 
 became a numerous congregation. 
 
 After remaining a number of years in Holland, this little flock 
 found their situation, on many accounts, unpleasant. The im- 
 moralities of their neighbors were dangerous to the rising gene 
 ration; the difficulties of procuring a comfortable living induced 
 not a few of their sons to enter the Dutch armies; and, at no dis- 
 tant day, there was reason to apprehend their posterity would 
 become incorporated with the people of the country, and their 
 church become extinct. 
 
 These considerations, added to the more powerful motive, the 
 hope of laying a foundation for the extensive advancement of 
 the kingdom of Christ in the western wilderness, induced them 
 to remove to America. Previous to their final determination, as 
 their governing maxim always was "In all thy ways acknowl 
 
SETTLEMENTS. 39 
 
 edge God, and he shall direct thy paths," they set apart a day 
 for fasting and prayer, to seek direction from G< d.* 
 
 Having decided to settle in Virginia, their next object was to 
 obtain a patent, which they at length effected, from the London 
 company. At the same time, they received from King James 
 an intimation, that they should not be molested in respect to the 
 enjoyment of their religion. They now began to prepare them- 
 selves for their momentous enterprise. For this purpose, they 
 procured two vessels, the Speedwell and the Mayflower. The 
 Speedwell, of sixty tons, they purchased in Holland, with the 
 intention of keeping her for their accommodation in America. 
 The Mayflower, of one hundred and eighty tons, they hired at 
 London. 
 
 All things being in readiness for their departure from Leyden, 
 they kept a day of solemn humiliation and prayer. On the 21st 
 of July, the pilgrims went to Delfthaven, a place about twenty 
 miles from Leyden, and two miles from Rotterdam. Here they 
 were to embark. To this port they were kindly attended by 
 many of their brethren and friends from Amsterdam, as well 
 as from Leyden. Leaving Delfthaven, they sailed for South- 
 hampton, at which place they were joined by the rest of their 
 company from London, in the Mayflower. On the 5th of Au- 
 gust, 1G20, both vessels set sail for the new world ; but before 
 proceeding far, the Speedwell sprung a-leak, and at Plymouth, 
 whither they put in, she was condemned as not seaworthy. 
 Under these circumstances, a part of the emigrants were dis- 
 missed, and the rest were taken on board of the Mayflower. 
 
 With one hundred passengers, this vessel sailed from Ply mouth, 
 September 6th. For two months they were tossed and driven 
 upon the tempestuous ocean ; till, at length, on the 0th of No- 
 vember, they had the happiness to descry the bleak and dreary 
 shores of Cape Cod. The part then discovered was Sandy 
 Point, called Cape Malabar, in Chatham. But they were still 
 remote from the place which they had selected for a habitation. 
 It was their intention to settle near the mouth of the Hudson. 
 Toward that river they now bent their course. But the wintry 
 season, the stormy prospect, " the perilous shoals and breakers ' 
 in their way, induced them to relinquish their design, and seek 
 the nearest resting place, where they might hope for tolerable 
 accommodations. They therefore turned back, sailed round 
 Race Point, and, after two days, November 11th, anchored in 
 Cape Cod harbor, between Cape Cod and Plymouth. t 
 
 Before landing, having devoutly given thanks to God for their 
 safe arrival, they formed themselves into a body politic, forty- 
 one signing a solemn contract, according to the provisions of 
 which they were to be governed. Mr. John Carver was elected 
 governor for one year. 
 
 * Robbins's New England Fathen t Dr. Parish. 
 
4 TERIOD II.— 1007 TO 1(>89. 
 
 hiDforthl^ i J WClghed anch <>r, and proceeded with the 
 
 E";, t0 t , fix on 8 °^e place for immediate settlement Aftor 
 newmg the country, they concluded to settle on a Zgh ground, 
 
SETTLEMENTS. 
 
 41 
 
 seeintr the bay, where the land was cleared, and the water was 
 excellent. 
 
 "On Saturday, the 23d, as many of the company as could, 
 with convenience, went on shore, and felled and carried timber 
 to the spot designed for the erection of a building for common use. 
 On the Lord's day, the 24th, the people on shore were alarmed by 
 the cry of Indians, and expected an assault; but they continued 
 unmolested. On Monday, the 25th, they began to build the first 
 house. A platform for their ordnance demanding their earliest 
 attention, they began one on the 28th. on a hill, which com- 
 manded an extensive prospect of the plain beneath, of the ex- 
 panding bay. and of the distant ocean. 
 
 ;i In the afternoon, they divided their whole company into nine- 
 teen families; measured out the ground, and assigned to every 
 person by lot half a pole in breadth, and three poles in length, 
 for houses and gardens. Though most of the company were < n 
 board the ship on the Lord's day, Dec. 31st, yet some of them 
 kept sabbath for the first time in their new house. Here, there* 
 fore, is fixed the epoch of their settlement, which, in grateful 
 remembrance of the Christian friends whom they found at the 
 last town they left in their native country, they called Plymouth. 
 This was the foundation of the first English town built in Nfew 
 England:"* 
 
12 PERIOD II.— 100? £0 1GS9. 
 
 13. In November, 1620, the same month in which the 
 Puritans arrived on the American coast, James I. issued 
 a patent granting to the Duke of Lenox, Ferdinando 
 Gorges, and others, styling themselves " The Council of 
 Plymouth, in the county of Devon, for planting and 
 governing New England, in America," the territory be 
 tween the 40th and 48th degrees of north latitude, and 
 extending through the main land from sea to sea 
 
 This territory had, until this time, been known by the name 
 of North Virginia; but now it received the name of New Eng- 
 land, by royal authority. The patent thus issued to the council 
 of Plymouth, was the foundation of all the subsequent grants 
 under which the colonies of New England were settled. 
 
 14. In March, 1621, the colony of Plymouth, through 
 Gov. Carver, entered into a league of friendship, com- 
 merce, and mutual defence, with Masassoit, the great 
 sachem of the neighboring Indians. This treaty, which 
 was strictly observed until the breaking out of Philip's 
 war, (a period of more than fifty years,) gave general 
 peace to the colony, and laid the foundation for their in- 
 timate and amicable correspondence with the neighbor- 
 ing Indian tribes. 
 
 Tbe person chiefly instrumental in bringing this event to pass, 
 was Samoset, a sngnmore or chief of the country lying at the dis- 
 tance of about five days' journey. He was the first visitant of the 
 colony at Plymouth, and greatly surprised the inhabitants, by call 
 ing out. as he entered their village, " Welcome, Englishmen ! wel 
 come. Englishmen !" He had conversed with the English fisher- 
 men who had come to the eastern coast, and had learned some of 
 the language. He informed the colony that the place where they 
 were settled, was called by the Indians Patuxct ; that, five years 
 before, a plague bad swept off all ihe natives from the place, so 
 that there was neither man, woman, nor child remaining. Prov 
 idence had thus singularly prepared the way for the colonies to 
 take possession of the land without molesting a single owner. 
 
 Samoset, having been treated with hospitality by these stran- 
 gers, was disposed to cultivate a further acquaintance with them; 
 and, on his third visit, was accompanied by Squanto, a native of 
 the country, who had been carried away in 1C3 *. l >v one Hunt, 
 and sold into Spain, but had been taken to London, whence he 
 had returned to America. 
 
 They informed the English that Masaesoit, the greatebt sac hen* 
 
SETTLEMENTS. 43 
 
 of the neighboring Indians, was near, with a guard of sixty men. 
 Mutual distrust prevented, for some time, any advances from 
 either side. But Squanto, who was at length sent to Masassoit, 
 returned, saying that the sachem wished the English to send 
 some one to confer with him. Mr. Edward Winslow was ac- 
 cordingly sent, bearing suitable presents to the chief. These 
 proving acceptable, Masassoit left Mr. Winslow in the custody 
 of his men as a hostage, and ventured to the English, by whom 
 he was hospitably entertained, and with whom he concluded the 
 treaty already noticed. 
 
 15. In 1G21, the colony of Virginia received from 
 the London company, through Sir Francis Wyat, who, 
 at this time, arrived as governor, a more perfect consti- 
 tution and form of government. The powers of lhn 
 government were vested in a governor and two coun- 
 cils. One of these was called the council of state, to 
 advise and assist the governor. This council was to 
 be appointed and removed by the company. The 
 other was called the general assembly, consisting of the 
 council of state, and two burgesses, or representatives, 
 deputed from each town, hundred, or plantation. This 
 assembly met annually, and were intrusted with the 
 business of framing laws for the colony, the governor 
 having a negative upon their proceedings. No laws 
 ivere valid until ratified by a court of the company in 
 England. 
 
 10. In 16:2:2, the Virginia colony, which for somo 
 time had enjoyed great prosperity, and had received fre- 
 quent accessions, experienced a stroke which proved 
 nearly fatal. The successor of Powhatan, who was 
 of a proud, revengeful spirit, and extremely hostile to 
 the colony, concerted a plan to cut them off at a blow 
 On the 22d of March, it was so far put in execution, 
 that three hundred and forty-seven of the colony, men, 
 women, and children, were butchered almost in the same 
 instant. 
 
 The chief by whom this massacre was planned, and under 
 whom it was executed, was Opecancanough, the successor of 
 Powhatan, but a deadly foe to the English. The whole Indian 
 population in the surrounding country had been enlisted by this 
 
44 period ii. — 1007 to 1089. 
 
 artful chief, and yet they visited the English settlements, and 
 even purchased arms and borrowed boats to enable them to ac- 
 complish their savage purpose. 
 
 " On the very morning of the fatal day, as also the evening 
 before, they came, as at other times, into the houses of the Eng- 
 lish, with deer, turkeys, fish, and other things to sell. At mid- 
 day, the hour appointed, the blow fell ; anil, in the work of death, 
 neither sex nor age was spared. So quick was the execution, that 
 few perceived the weapon or the blow which despatched them. 
 
 " Those who had sufficient warning to make resistance, saved 
 their lives. Nathaniel Causie, an old soldier of Capt. Smith's, 
 though cruelly wounded, cleaved down one of his assailants 
 with an axe, upon which the whole party who had surrounded 
 him fled, and he escaped. At another place two men held pos- 
 session of a house, against sixty Indians. At Warrasqueake, a 
 Mr. Baldwin, whose wife was so badly wounded that she lay 
 for dead, by repeatedly discharging his musket, drove off* the 
 enemy, and saved both her and nimself. Ralph Humer, the his- 
 torian, defended himself in his house successfully, with spades, 
 axes and brickbats. One family, living near Martin's Hundred, 
 where as many as seventy-three of the English were slain, not 
 only escaped the massacre, but heard nothing of it, till two or 
 three days afterwards. Jamestown and some of the neighboring 
 places were saved by the disclosure of a Christian Indian, named 
 Chanco, who was confidentially informed of the design by his 
 brother, on the morning of the 22d."* As soon as the English 
 had time to recover themselves, they rose to avenge the death 
 of their slaughtered friends, and succeeded in driving tar into 
 the wilderness such as they could not destroy. But by means of 
 the calamities which fell upon the English, their settlements wer6 
 reduced from eighty to eight: and by the year 1('24, out of nine 
 thousand persons who had been sent from England, but eighteen 
 hundred existed in the colony. 
 
 17. While the Virginians were mourning their 
 losses, the Plymouth colony began to experience the 
 distresses of famine. By the time their planting wag 
 finished, in 1023, they were destitute of bread and corn. 
 The most gloomy anticipations were indulged, but, by a 
 remarkable and well-attested interference of Divine 
 Providence, they were delivered. 
 
 From the third week in May to the middle of July, there was 
 no rain. Their corn, for which they had made their utmost exer- 
 tions, withered under the heat of a scorching sun, and the greater 
 part of it appeared irrecoverably lost. The Indians, seeing their 
 
SETTLEMENTS. 
 
 45 
 
 prospects, observed that they would soon be subdued by famine, 
 when they should find them an easy prey. A public fast was ap- 
 pointed and observed with great solemnity. The morning and 
 most of the day was clear and hot, but towards evening, the 
 clouds collected, and, like the gracious influences of God, the 
 rain descended in moderate yet copious showers. This revived 
 their expiring crop, and produced a plentiful harvest. After which 
 they observed a day of public thanksgiving, the origin of the 
 annual thanksgiving which is now observed in New England.* 
 
 18. In 1623, a number of persons from England were 
 sent to America by Ferdinando Gorges, to form settle- 
 ments on lands which had been granted to them by the 
 council of Plymouth, between the Merrimac and Saga- 
 dahok, and extending from the ocean west to the rivers 
 of Canada. These settlers, arriving in the river Piscat 
 aqua, began two settlements, one at the mouth, called 
 Little Harbor ; the other still higher up the river, at Co- 
 checo, afterwards called Dover. These were the first 
 settlements in New Hampshire. 
 
 19. In 1624, the London company, which had settled 
 • Robbins's New England Fathers 
 
46 period ii — 1607 to 1689. 
 
 Virginia, was dissolved by an act of King James I. un 
 der pretext of the calamities which had befallen the 
 colony, and the dissensions which had agitated the com- 
 pany. Their charter was taken away, and the govern- 
 ment of the colony assumed by the crown. The king 
 himself appointed the governor, in whom, with twelve 
 counsellors, the powers of government were vested. 
 
 The London company, thus dissolved, consisted of gentlemen 
 of noble and disinterested view's, who had expended more than 
 one hundred thousand pounds of their fortunes in this first at- 
 tempt to plant an English colony in America ; and more than 
 nine thousand persons had been sent from the mother country to 
 people this new settlement. At the time of the dissolution of 
 the company, scarcely tw r o thousand persons survived. 
 
 The dissolution of the charter w r as a most arbitrary act in the 
 king ; and not less arbitrary and odious were his subsequent reg- 
 ulations. Under these the people lived and suffered till 1636. 
 At this time, inflamed to madness by the. oppressive conduct of 
 Sir John Harvey, the then governor, they seized him, and sent 
 him prisoner to England. Their conduct in this was so displeas- 
 ing to the king, Charles I., successor of James I., that he sent 
 Harvey back. But, in 1639, the king appointed Sir William 
 Berkley to succeed him, with instructions again to allow the Vir- 
 ginians to elect representatives. (For the continuation of the 
 history of Virginia, see Sec. '45.) 
 
 20. It has been stated that the lands upon which the 
 Plymouth colony settled, were granted by the crown to 
 "the Council of Plymouth," in England, in November, 
 1620. This was the same month that the Puritans had 
 arrived in the country. (Sec. 13.) Being apprized 
 of this grant, the colony, in 1626, began to take meas- 
 ures to purchase these lands. The negotiations for this 
 purpose ended the next year in a patent, which the com- 
 pany granted them for one thousand eight hundred 
 pounds sterling, with ample powers of government. 
 
 The government of the colony was at first formed and conducted 
 according to a voluntary compact, entered into before landing 
 (Sec. 12.) Till the year 1624, it consisted of a governor and one 
 assistant only. From this period, five were annually chosen, the 
 governor having a double vote. The number of assistants waa 
 afterwards increased to seven. The laws of the colony were 
 enacted, and the affairs of government conducted, by these 
 
SETTLEMENTS. 47 
 
 officers, for near twenty years. In 1630, the towns in this colo- 
 ny, for the first time, sent deputies. The colony continued dis- 
 ti \ct near seventy years, until 1G91, when, by charter of William 
 ai d Mary, it was united to the colony of Massachusetts and 
 th'< Province of Maine. 
 
 21. In 1028, the foundation was laid for another colo- 
 ny in New England, by the name of the Colony of Mas- 
 sachusetts Bay. At this time, several enterprising men 
 purchased of the council of Plymouth the territory 
 which constituted the above colony. The same year, 
 the purchasers sent out Mr. John Endicot, with about a 
 hur.dred adventurers, to commence a settlement, which 
 they effected at Salem, at that time called, by the Indians, 
 Naumkeak. 
 
 The territory included in the colony of Massachusetts Bay, ex- 
 tended three miles north of the Merrimac river, and three miles 
 south of Charles river, and east and west from the Atlantic to the 
 South sea. 
 
 The settlement of Massachusetts Bay, like the colony of 
 Plymouth, was commenced by non-conformists, for the purpose 
 of enjoying greater religious liberty in matters of worship and 
 discipline. Among the most active in this enterprise was Mr 
 Endicot, already mentioned, and Mr. White, a pious and active 
 minister of Dorchester, in England. 
 
 22. The following year, 1G29, the Massachusetts 
 company was confirmed by King Charles in their title 
 to the soil ; and, at the same time, received the powers 
 of civil government. They were incorporated by the 
 name of " the Governor and Company of Massachusetts 
 Bay, in New England." Soon after, a form of govern- 
 ment for the new colony was settled. Mr. Endicot, 
 already in the colony, was appointed governor. 
 
 On the appointment of Mr. Endicot as governor, an expedi 
 tion was fitted out for the purpose of giving an impulse to the 
 colonv. Five ships were provided, which, being laden with cat- 
 tle and other necessaries, sailed from England, with nearly three 
 hundred planters, and arrived at Salem in June. They found 
 the settlement in prosperous circumstances ; yet, not being them- 
 selves pleased with the situation of Salem, two hundred of them 
 removed, and settled at a place which they called Charlcstoicn. 
 
 23. In the month of August of the same year, it was 
 determined by the company in England, that the gov- 
 
48 teriod ii.— 1607 to I6S9 
 
 ernment and the patent of the plantation should be trans- 
 ferred from London to Massachusetts Bay. At the same 
 time, a new election of officers for the colony took 
 place. John Winthrop was chosen governor, and Thom- 
 as Dudley deputy-governor. Soon after their appoint- 
 ment, they sailed with a large company, some of whom 
 settled at Charlestown, others at Boston, and in towns 
 adjacent. 
 
 On the arrival of Gov. Winthrop, in June, who continued from 
 that time to his death the head and father of the colony, he 
 found the plantation in a distressed and suffering state. In the 
 preceding autumn, the colony contained about three hundred 
 inhabitants. Eighty of these had died, and a great part of 
 the survivors were in a weak and sickly state. Their supply of 
 corn was not sufficient for more than a fortnight, and their other 
 provisions were nearly exhausted. 
 
 In addition to these evils, they were informed that a combina- 
 tion of the various tribes of Indians was forming for the utter ex- 
 tirpation of the colony. Their strength was weakness, but their 
 confidence was in God, and they were not forsaken. Many of 
 the planters, who arrived this summer, after long voyages, were 
 in a sickly state, and disease continued to rage through the sea- 
 son. By the close of the year, the number of deaths exceeded 
 two hundred. Among these were several of the principal per- 
 sons in the colony. Mr. Higginson, the venerable minister of 
 Salem, spent about a year with that parent church, and was re- 
 moved to- the church in glory. His excellent colleague. Mr. 
 Skelton, did not long survive him. Mr. Johnson, one of the 
 assistants, and his lady, who was a great patroness of the settle- 
 ment, died soon after their arrival. Of the latter, an early his- 
 torian observes, " She left an earthly paradise, in the family of 
 an earldom, to encounter the sorrows of a wilderness, for the 
 entertainments of a pure worship in the house of Goc' ; and then 
 immediately left that wilderness for the heavenly paradise." 
 
 The succeeding winter commenced in December with great 
 seventy. Few of the houses which had been erected were com- 
 fortable, and the most of the in were miserable coverings. Un- 
 used to such severities of climate, the poor people suffered 
 severely from the cold. Man}' were frozen to death. The in- 
 conveniences of their accommodations increased the diseases 
 which continued to prevail among them. 
 
 But their constancy had not yet been brought to the last trial. 
 During the continuance of the severe season, their stock of pro- 
 visions began to fail. Those who wanted were supplied by those 
 who possessed, as long ai 1,11 y remained. A poor man came to the 
 
SETTLEMENTS. 49 
 
 governor to complain, and was informed that the last bread of his 
 Rouse was in the oven. Many subsisted upon shell-fish, ground 
 nuts, and acorns,- which, at that season, could not have beer, pro 
 cured but with the utmost difficulty. 
 
 In consideration of their perilous condition, the sixth day of 
 February was appointed for a day of public fasting and prayer, 
 to seek deliverance from God. On the fifth of February, the 
 day before the appointed fast, the ship Lion, which had been 
 sent to England for supplies, arrived laden with provisions. She 
 had a stormy passage, and rode amidst heavy drifts of ice, after 
 entering the harbor. These provisions were distributed among 
 the people, according to their necessities, and their appointed 
 fast was exchanged for a day of general thanksgiving.* 
 
 - 24. In 163:2, Charles I. completed a patent to Coccil- 
 ius Calvert, otherwise called Lord Baltimore, which had 
 been designed for his father, by which was conveyed to 
 him a tract of country on the Chesapeake bay, which, 
 in honor of Henrietta Maria, daughter of Henry the 
 Great of France, he named Maryland. 
 
 George Calvert, the father, having embraced the Roman Cath- 
 olic religion, found his situation in England so unpleasant, that, 
 for the sake of enjoying his religious opinions in peace, he made 
 a visit to America, and having explored the territory above men- 
 tioned, returned to England, tor the purpose of procuring a pat 
 ent of it. Before it was completed, he died, and the patent was 
 made out to his son, Cecil. By this patent, the latter came intc 
 possession of the country from the Potomac to the 40th degree 
 of" north latitude. This grant covered the land which had long 
 before been granted to Virginia, as what was now granted to 
 Lord Baltimore was in part subsequently given to William Penn. 
 In consequence of these arbitrary acts of the crown, long and 
 obstinate contentions arose between the descendants of Penn and 
 Lord Baltimore. 
 
 25. In 1633, Lord Baltimore appointed his brother, 
 Leonard Calvert, governor of the province, who, with about 
 two hundred planters, mostly Roman Catholics, left Eng- 
 land near the close of this year, and arriving, in 1634, at 
 the mouth of the river Potomac, purchased of the Indians 
 Yoamaco, a considerable village, where they formed a 
 settlement, to which they gave the name of St. Mary. 
 
 The "barter granted to the inhabitants of Maryland, conferred 
 on them more ample privileges than had been conferred on any 
 
 * Robbing's New England Fathers 
 5 
 
50 period ii.— 1607 to 16S0. 
 
 other colony in America. Among these privileges was that r^ 
 passing laws without any reservation, on the part of the crown, 
 to revoke them. This and other favorable circumstances con 
 tributed to the rapid settlement of Maryland. 
 
 At first, when few in number, the freemen assembled in per- 
 son, and enacted the necessary laws ) but, in 1039, it was found 
 expedient to constitute a " house of assembly." This consisted 
 of representatives chosen by the people, of others appointed by 
 the proprietor, and of the governor and secretary, who sat together 
 In 1650, the legislative body was divided into an upper and lower 
 hor.se — the members of the former being appointed by the pro 
 prietor ; those of the latter by the people. 
 
 Few of the colonies escaped intestine troubles ; nor did Maryland 
 form an exception. In 1045, a rebellion broke out, chiefly caused 
 by one William Clayborne. This man, under license from the 
 king, had, as early as 1031, formed a settlement on the island of 
 Kent ; and when the grant was made to Lord Baltimore, he re- 
 fused to submit to his authority. Being convicted of murde-i 
 and other high crimes, he fled ; but, in 1645, he returned,- and ; 
 heading a party of insurgents, for a time overthrew the govern- 
 ment. The next year, order was restored, and Calvert, the gov- 
 ernor, who had been obliged to flee, resumed his office. 
 
 In 1652, Lord Baltimore was deprived of the government, by 
 the English parliament ; but at the restoration in 1000, Philip 
 Calvert was appointed governor, and the ancient order of things 
 was restored. In 1080, on the accession of William and Mary, 
 persons in their interest usurped the government of the colony ; 
 but in 1710, the proprietor was restored to his rights. From this 
 time until the revolution, he continued to enjoy them ; but, at 
 this latter date, the pe'ople assumed the government to them- 
 selves 
 
 26. In 1633, the first house was erected in Connecti- 
 cut. This was a trading-house at Windsor, the mate- 
 rials of which a party of Plymouth adventurers trans- 
 ported in a vessel up Connecticut river. 
 
 The first discoveries made of this part of New England were 
 of its principal river, and the fine meadows lying upon its banks. 
 Whether the Dutch at New Netherlands, or the people of New 
 Plymouth, were the first discoverers of the river, is not certain. 
 Both the English and Dutch claimed this honor, and both pur- 
 chased and made a settlement of the lands upon it nearly at the 
 same time. 
 
 In 1631, Wahquimicut, a sachem upon the river Connecticut, 
 made a journey to Plymouth and Boston, earnestly soliciting the 
 governors of each of the colonies to send men, to form settle- 
 ments upon the river. He represented the country as exceed 
 
SETTLEMENTS. 51 
 
 ingly fruitful, and promised that he would supply the English, 
 (f they would make a settlement there, with corn annually, and 
 
 five them eight}- beaver-skins. He urged that two men might 
 e sent to view the country. Had this invitation been accepted, 
 it might have prevented the Dutch claim to any part of tbe lands 
 upon the river, and opened an extensive trade in hemp, fure, 
 and deer-skins, with all the Indians upon it, and far into Canada. 
 
 The governor of Massachusetts treated the sachem and his 
 company with generosity, but paid no further attention to his 
 proposal. Mr. Winslow, the governor of Plymouth, judging it 
 worthy of attention, himself made a journey to Connecticut, 
 discovered the river, and the lands adjacent. 
 
 Two years from this time, the people of Plymouth began to 
 make preparations for erecting a trading-house, and establishing 
 a small company upon the river. In the mean time, the Dutch, 
 having heard of the intended enterprise of the people of Plym 
 outh, sent a party to the river, who erected a fort, where the 
 city of Hartford is now situated. 
 
 Having at length prepared the frame of a house, William 
 Holmes, who commanded the Plymouth expedition, proceeded 
 in a vessel with his party for Connecticut. He had a commis- 
 sion from the governor of Plymouth, and a chosen company to 
 accomplish his design. After entering the river, he found that 
 the Dutch had entered before him, constructed a light fort, and 
 planted two pieces of cannon. This was erected at the place since 
 called Hartford. The Dutch forbid Holmes going up the river, 
 stood by their cannon, and ordered him to strike his colors, or they 
 would fire upon him. But being a man of spirit, he assured them 
 that he had a commission from the governor of Plymouth to go 
 up the river, and that he must obey his orders. They poured 
 out their threats ; but he proceeded, and, landing on the west side 
 of the river, erected his house below the mouth of the little river 
 in Windsor. The house was covered with the utmost despatch, 
 and fortified with palisades. The Dutch, considering them as 
 intruder?", sent, the next year, a band of seventy men to drive 
 them from the country; but finding them strongly posted, they 
 relinquished the design. 
 
 27. In the autumn of 1635, a company, consisting 
 of sixty men, women, and children, from the settlements 
 of Newtown and Watertown, in Massachusetts, com- 
 menced their journey through the wilderness to Con- 
 necticut river. On their arrival, they settled at Wind- 
 sor, Wethersfield, and Hartford. 
 
 They commenced their journey on the 15th of October. A 
 »*ide wilderness spread before them. With incredible difficulty 
 
52 period n.— 1607 to 1GS9. 
 
 they made their way through swamps and rivers, over hills and 
 mountains. So long were they on their journey, and so much 
 time \v as spent in passing the r ver, and in getting over their cattle, 
 that, after all their exertions, winter came upon them before 
 they were prepared. This was an occasion of great distress and 
 damage to the planters. By the 15th of November, Connecticut 
 river was frozen over, and the snow was so deep, and the sea- 
 son so tempestuous, that a considerable number of the cattle, 
 which had been driven from Massachusetts, could not be brought 
 across the river. The people had so little time to prepare their 
 huts and houses, and to erect sheds and shelters for their cattle, 
 that the sufferings of man and beast were extreme. 
 
 It being impracticable to transport much provision or fin pi 
 aire through a pathless wilderness, they were put on board sev- 
 eral small vessels, which were either cast away or did not ar 
 rive. Several vessels were wrecked on the coasts of New Eng- 
 land, by the violence of the storms. Two shallops, laden with 
 goods from Boston for Connecticut, were castaway, and the men, 
 with every thing on board, lost. A vessel with six of the Con. 
 necticut people on board, which sailed from the river for Boston, 
 early in November, was, about the middle of the month, cast 
 away in Manamet bay. The men got on shore, and, after wan- 
 dering ten days in a deep snow and a severe season,~without 
 meeting any human being, arrived, nearly spent with cold and 
 fatigue, at New Plymouth. 
 
 About the first of December, provisions generally failed in 
 the settlements on the river, and famine and death looked the 
 inhabitants in the la.ce. Some of them, driven by hunger, at- 
 tempted their way, in this severe season, through the wilderness 
 from Connecticut to Massachusetts. Of thirteen, in one com- 
 pany, who made this attempt, one, in passing the rivers, fell 
 through the ice, and was drowned. The other twelve were ten 
 days on their journey, and would all have perished had it not 
 been for the assistance of the Indians. Such was the general 
 distress early in December, that a considerable part of the new 
 settlers were obliged to abandon their habitations. Seventy per- 
 sons, men, women and children, determined to go down the 
 river to meet their provisions, as the only expedient to preserve 
 their lives. Not meeting with the vessels which they expected, 
 they all went on board the Rebecca, a vessel of about sixty tons. 
 This, two days before, was frozen in, twenty miles up xhe river; 
 but, by the falling of a small rain, together with the tide, the ice 
 became so broken, that she was enabled to get out. She ran, 
 however, upon the bar, and the people were forced to unlade 
 her to get her off. She was reladed, and in five days reached 
 Boston. 
 
 The people who kept their stations on the river, suffered in an 
 extreme degree. After all the help they were able to obtain, by 
 
SETTLEMENTS. 53 
 
 hunting and from the Indians, they were obliged to subsist on 
 acorns, malt, ana grains. Numbers of cattle, which could not 
 be got over the river before winter, lived through without any 
 thing but what they found in the woods and meadows. They 
 wintered as well, or better, than those which were brought over, 
 ai i for which all the provision possible was made. However a 
 r\ eat number of cattle perished. The Windsor people lost n 
 l»is single article about two hundred pounds sterling. Their 
 other losses were very considerable.* 
 
 28. During the same year, 1635, in which the above 
 towns were settled in Connecticut, John Winthrop, son 
 />f the governor of Massachusetts, arrived from England, 
 with a commission as governor of Connecticut, under 
 Lord Say and Seal, and Lord Brooke, to whom the coun- 
 cil of Plymouth had sold, in March, 1631, a patent of 
 the territory. 
 
 Tihis patent included that part of New England which extends 
 from Narraganset river one hundred and twenty miles on a 
 straight line, near the shore, towards the south-west, as the coast 
 lies, towards Virginia, and within that breadth, from the Atlantic 
 ocean and the South sea. This is the original patent of Con- 
 necticut. 
 
 Soon after Winthrop's arrival at Boston, he despatched a bark 
 of thirty tons, with twenty men, to take possession of Connecti- 
 cut river, and to build a fort at. its mouth. This was accordingly 
 erected, and called Saybrook fort. A few days after their arri- 
 val, a Dutch vessel from New Netherlands appeared, to take pos- 
 session of the river ; but, as the English had already mounted 
 two cannon, their landing was prevented. 
 
 The next June, 1636, the Rev. Messrs. Hooker and Stone, 
 with a number of settlers from Dorchester and Watertown, re 
 moved to- Connecticut. With no guide but a compass, they 
 made their way one hundred miles over mountains, through 
 Kwamps and rivers. Their journey, which was on foot, lasted a 
 fortnight, during which they lived upon the milk of their cows. 
 
 They drove one hundred and sixty cattle. This party chiefly 
 settled at Hartford. Mr. Hooker and Mr. Stone became the pas- 
 tors of the church in that place, and were both eminent as men 
 and ministers. The death of Mr. Hooker occurred in 1(547. 
 About the time of his departure, a friend, standing by, said, " Sir, 
 you are going to receive the reward of all your labors." He re- 
 plied, " Brother, I am going to receive mercy." Mr Stone died 
 in 1663. 
 
 * Robbing's New England Fathers. 
 
54 PERIOD II. J(i07 TO 1089 
 
 29. Thi^ year, 1636, Roger Williams, having been 
 banished from the colony of Massachusetts in 1634, re- 
 moved with his family to Mooshawsic, and began a 
 plantation, which he called Providence. From this we 
 date the settlement of Rhode Island. 
 
 Mr. Williams, who thus commenced the settlement of Rhode 
 Island, came from England in 1031 ; and, having resided a short 
 time at Plymouth, removed to Salem, in Massachusetts, and be 
 came the pastor of the church in that place. During his con- 
 nection with the people of Salem, he promulgated opinions 
 which were contrary to those prevalent at that day in the colo- 
 nies, and among them, " that the civil magistrate is bound tc 
 afford equal protection to every denomination of Christians." 
 On account of this doctrine, he was sentenced to depart out of 
 the territory. At first he repaired to Seeconk, where he pro- 
 cured a grant of land from the Indians. " Being informed, how- 
 ever, by the governor of Plymouth, that the land was within the 
 limits of that colony, he proceeded to Mooshawsic, where, in 1030, 
 with those friends who followed him, he began a plantation. He 
 purchased the land of the Indians, and, in grateful acknowledg- 
 ment of the kindness of heaven, he called the place Providence. 
 Acting in conformity with the wise and liberal principle, for 
 avowing and maintaining which, he had suffered banishment, 
 he allowed entire freedom of conscience to all who came within 
 his borders. And to him must be given the glory of having first 
 set a practical example of the equal toleration of all religious 
 sects, in the same political community. His labors wei-e not 
 confined to his civilized brethren. He labored to enlighten, im- 
 prove, and conciliate the savages. He learned their language, 
 travelled among them, and gained the entire confidence of their 
 chiefs. He had often the happiness, by his influence over them, 
 of saving from injury the colony which had proclaimed him an 
 outlaw, and driven him into the wilderness."* 
 
 In 1038, William Coddington and seventeen others, being per- 
 secuted for their religious tenets in Massachusetts, followed Mr. 
 Williams to Providence. By his advice, they purchased of the 
 Indians the island Aquetneck. and began a settlement on the 
 northern part of it. Others followed the next summer, and com 
 menced another settlement on the south-western side — dividing 
 the island into two townships, Portsmouth and Newport. They 
 formed themselves into a body politic, and elected Mr. Codding 
 ton chief magistrate. 
 
 In 1640, the inhabitants of Frovidence agreed upon a form ot 
 government. Rhode Island, so called from a fancied resem- 
 blance to the ancient island of Rhodes, soon began to be exter- 
 
 * History of the United States. 
 
SETTLEMENTS. && 
 
 eively settled, both on account of its natural fertility, and also or* 
 account of the religious freedom allowed to all denominations. 
 
 In 1044, R.oger Williams visited England, as agent of the set 
 tiers, and obtained of the Earl of Warwick, one of the Plymouth 
 company, a free charter of incorporation for Providence and 
 Rhode Island plantations. 
 
 In lf)C>3, a royal charter was granted to them, by Charles II. 
 This charter constituted an assembly, consisting of a governor 
 deputy-governor, and ten assistants, with the representatives 
 from the several towns, all to be chosen by the freemen. 
 
 In 1G8<5, Andros being made governor of New England, he 
 dissolved the charter of Rhode Island, and appointed a council 
 to assist him in governing the colony. Three years after, Wil- 
 liam, Prince of Orange, ascended the throne of England, and 
 Andros was seized and imprisoned; (Period iii. Sec. 1.) upon 
 which the freemen assembled at Newport, and, having resumed 
 their charter, restored all the officers whom Andros had displaced. 
 
 30. The year 1637 is remarkable, in the history of 
 Connecticut, for the war with the Pequots, a tribe of 
 Indians, whose principal settlement was on a hill, in 
 the present town of Groton. 
 
 Prior to this time, the Pequots had frequently annoyed the 
 infant colony, and in several instances had killed some of its in- 
 habitants. In March of this year, the commander of Saybrook 
 fort, with twelve men, was attacked by them, and three of his 
 party killed. In April, another portion of this tribe assaulted 
 the people of Wethersfield, as they were going to their fields to 
 labor, and killed six men and three women. Two girls were 
 taken captive by them, and twenty cows were killed. 
 
 In this perilous state of the colony, a court was summoned at 
 Hartford, May 1. After mature deliberation, it was determined 
 that war should be commenced against the Pequots. 
 
 Ninety men, nearly half the fencible men of the colony, were 
 ordered to be raised ; forty-two from Hartford, thirty from Wind- 
 sor, and eighteen from Wethersfield. 
 
 With these troops, together with seventy river and Mohegan 
 Indians, Capt. Mason, to whom the command of the expedition 
 was given, sailed down the river Connecticut to Saybrook. Here 
 a plan of operation*! was formed, agreeably to which, on the 26th 
 of May, about the dawn of day, Capt. Masoi. surprised Mystic, 
 one of the principal forts of the enemy, in the present town of 
 Stonington. On their near approach to the fort, a dot* barked, 
 and an Indian, who now discovered them, cried out, " O wanux ; 
 O wanux !" Englishmen! Englishmen! 
 
 The troops instantly presseu forward, and fired. The destruc- 
 tion of the enemy soon became terrible, but they rallied at length, 
 
56 TERIOD II.— -100? TO 16S9. 
 
 and made a manly resistance. After a severe and protracted 
 conflict, Capt. Mason and his troops being nearly exhausted, 
 and victory still doubtful, he cried out to his men, IVe must burn 
 tliem ! 
 
 At the same instant, seizing a firebrand, he applied it to a wig- 
 wam. The flames spread rapidly on every side ; and as the 
 sun rose upon the scene, it showed the work of destruction to 
 be complete. Seventy wigwams were in ruins, and between five 
 and six hundred Indians lay bleeding on the ground, or smoul- 
 dering in the ashes. 
 
 But. though the victory was complete, the troops were now in 
 great distress. Besides two killed, sixteen of their number were 
 wounded. Their surgeon, medicines, and provisions, were on 
 board some vessels, on their way to Pequot harbor, now New 
 London. While consulting what should be done in this emer- 
 gency, how great was their joy to descry their vessels standing 
 directly towards the harbor, under a prosperous wind ! 
 
 Soon after, a detachment of nearly two hundred men, from 
 Massachusetts and Plymouth, arrived to assist Connecticut in 
 prosecuting the war. 
 
 Sassacus, the great sachem of the Pequots, and his warriors, 
 were so appalled at the destruction of Mystic, that they fled 
 towards Hudson's river. The troops pursued them as far as a 
 great swamp in Fairfield, where another action took place, in 
 which the Indians were entirely vanquished. 
 
 This was followed by a treaty with the remaining Pequots, 
 about two hundred in number, agreeably to which they were di 
 vided among the Narragansetts and Mohegans. 
 
 Thus terminated a conflict, which, for a time, was eminently 
 distressing to the colonies. This event of peace was celebrated 
 throughout New England, by a day of thanksgiving and praue 
 
 31. During the expedition against the Pequots, the 
 English became acquainted with Quinnapiak, or New 
 Haven; and the next year, 1638, the settlement of that 
 (own was effected. This, and the adjoining towns, soon 
 after settled, were distinguished by the. name of the 
 colony of New Haven. 
 
 Among the founders of this colony, which was the tourth in 
 New England, was Mr. John Davenport, for some time a dis- 
 tinguished minister in London. To avoid the indignation of the 
 persecuting Archbishop Laud, in 1633, he fled to Holland. Hear- 
 ing, while in exile, of the prosperity of the New England set- 
 tlements, he meditated a removal to America. On his return 
 to England, Mr. Theophilus Eaton, an eminent merchant in 
 London, with Mr. Hopkins, afterwards governor of Connecticut, 
 
SETTLEMENTS. 57 
 
 md several others, determined to accompany him. They ar- 
 rived in Boston in June, 1G37. 
 
 This company were inclined to commence a new plantation 
 and lay the foundation of a separate colony. Though the most 
 advantageous offers were made them by the government uf Mas 
 sachusetts, to choose any place within their jurisdiction, they pre- 
 ferred a place without the limits of the existing colonies. They 
 accordingly fixed upon New Haven as the place of their future 
 residence, and on the 18th of April, they kept their first Sabbath 
 in the place, under a large oak tree, where Mr. Davenport 
 preached to them. 
 
 32. The following year, January 14, 1639, the three 
 towns on Connecticut river, Windsor, Hartford, and 
 Wethersfield, finding themselves without the limits of 
 the Massachusetts patent, met, and formed themselves 
 into a distinct commonwealth, and adopted a consti- 
 tution. 
 
 This constitution, which has been much admired, and which, 
 for more than a century and a half, underwent little alteration, 
 ordained that there should annually be two general assemblies, 
 one in April, the other in September. In April, the officers cf 
 government were to be elected by the freemen, and to consist 
 of a governor, deputy-governor, and five or six assistants. The 
 towns were to send deputies to the general assemblies. Under 
 this constitution, the first governor was John Haynes, and Roger 
 Ludlow the first deputy- governor. 
 
 33. The example of the colony of Connecticut, in 
 forming a constitution, was followed, the next June, by 
 the colony of New Haven. Both constitutions were 
 essentially alike. 
 
 In October following, the government was organized, when 
 Mr. Eaton was chosen governor. To this office he was annually 
 elected, till his death, in 1657. No one of the New England 
 colonies was so much distinguished for good order and internal 
 tranquillity as the colony of New Haven. Her principal men 
 were distinguished for their wisdom and integrity, and directed 
 the affairs of the colony with so much prudence, that she was 
 seldom disturbed by divisions within, or by aggressions from the 
 Indians from without. 
 
 Having been bred to mercantile employments, the first settlers 
 belonging to this colony were inclined to engage in commercial 
 pursuits ; but in these they sustained several severe losses; and, 
 among others, that of a new ship of one hundred and fifty toi.s, 
 which was foundered at sea, in 1047, and which was freighted with 
 
58 period ii. — 1607 to 1689 
 
 a valuable cargo, and manned with seamen and passengers from 
 many of the best families in the colony. This loss discouraged, 
 for a time, their commercial pursuits, and engaged their atten- 
 tion more particularly in the employments of agriculture. 
 
 34. This same year, 1639, Sir Ferdinando Gorges 
 obtained of the crown a distinct charter, in confirmation 
 of his own grant (Sec. 18) of all the lands from Piscat- 
 aqua to Sagadahoc, styled the Province of Maine. 
 soon after which, he formed a system of government 
 for the province, and incorporated a city near the moun 
 tain Agamenticus, in York, by the name of Georgeana ; 
 but neither the province nor city flourished. In 1652, 
 the province was taken under the jurisdiction of Massa- 
 chusetts, by the request of the people of Maine, and 
 continued in this connection till 1820, when it became 
 a separate and independent state. 
 
 It would exceed our limits to examine the different grants of 
 territory, which were made, at different times, of the state of 
 Maine. In 1652, at the time the province was taken under the 
 jurisdiction of Massachusetts, it was made a county by the name 
 of Yorkshire. It had the privilege of sending deputies to the 
 general court at Boston. Massachusetts laid claim to the prov- 
 ince, as lying within her charter of 1(328, and, after various con 
 troversies, the territory was incorporated with her in 1091. In 
 1786, 1787, 1802. and 1816, efforts were made by a portion of 
 the people of Maine to become separate from Massacbusetts 
 proper ; but to this a majority of the inhabitants were averse 
 In 1818, however, this measure was effected; and, on the 
 3d of March, 1820, the district, by an act of congress, became 
 an independent state. 
 
 35. The next event of importance in our history, is 
 the union of the colonies of Massachusetts, Plymouth', 
 Connecticut and New Haven, by the name of The 
 United Colonies of New England. The articles of 
 this confederation, which had been agitated for three 
 years, were signed May 19th, 1643. 
 
 To this union the colonies were strongly urged, by a 
 sense of common danger from the Indians, (a general 
 combination of whom was expected,) and by the claims 
 and encroachments of the Dutch, at Manhattan, New 
 York. 
 
SETTLEMENTS, «59 
 
 By these articles of union, each colony retained its distinct and 
 separate government. No two colonies might be united into one, 
 nor any colony be received into the confederacy, without the con- 
 sent of the w hole Each eolofly was to elect two commissioners, 
 who should meet annually, and at other times, if necessary, and 
 should determine •' all affairs of war and peace, of leagues, aids, 
 charges, and numbers of men for war," &c. Upon notice that 
 any colony was invaded, the rest were immediately to despatch 
 assistance. 
 
 This union subsisted more than forty years, until the charters 
 of the colonies were either taken away, or suspended, by James 
 II. and his commissioners. 
 
 In 11)48. Rhode Island petitioned to be admitted to this con- 
 federacy, but was denied, unless she would be incorporated with 
 Plymouth, and lose her separate existence. This she refused, 
 and was consequently excluded. 
 
 The effects of this union on the New England colonies were, 
 in a high degree, salutary. On the completion of it, several In 
 dian sachems, among whom were the chiefs of the Narragansctt 
 and Mohegan tribes, came forward and submitted to the English 
 government. The colonies also became formidable, by means of 
 it, to the Dutch. This union was also made subservient to the 
 civil and religious improvement of the Indians. 
 
 Prior to this period, Mr. Mayhew and the devoted Elliot had 
 made considerable progress towards civilizing the Indians, and 
 converting them to Christianity. They had learned the Indian 
 language, and had preached to the Indians in their own tongue. 
 
 Upon a report in England of what these men had done, a so- 
 ciety was formed for propagating the gospel among the Indians, 
 which sent over books, money, tike-, to be distributed by the com- 
 missioners of the United Colonies. 
 
 The Indians, at first, made great opposition to Christianity; 
 and such was their aversion to it, that, had they not been over- 
 awed by the United Colonies, it is probable they would have put 
 to death those among them who embraced it. Such, however, 
 were the ardor, energy and ability of Messrs. Mayhew and Elliot, 
 aided by the countenance and support of government, and blessed 
 hy providence, that, in 1660, there were' ten towns of converted 
 Indians in Massachusetts. In 1695, there were not less than 
 three thousand adult Indian converts in the islands of Martha's 
 Vineyard and Nantucket. 
 
 36. 1662/ The colony of Connecticut, having pe- 
 titioned King- Charles II. through Governor Winthrop, 
 for a charter of incorporation, his rnajess" in accordance 
 with their wishes, issued his letters patent, April 2d, 
 constituting them a body corporate and politic, by the 
 
60 period ii.— 1607 to 1689. 
 
 name of TJie Governor and Company of the Engliih 
 Colony of Connecticut, in New England, in America. 
 
 The territory granted to Lord Say and Seal, and Lord Brooke, 
 in 1631, (Sec. 28,) and confirmed by this charter to Connecticut, 
 was bounded east by Narragansett river ; south by Long Island 
 sound ; north by Massachusetts ; and extended west to the Pa- 
 cific ocean. 
 
 The charter of Connecticut ordained that there should be a 
 governor, deputy-governor, and twelve assistants, to be chosen 
 annually. The charter instituted two general assemblies for 
 each year, to consist of the above officers, and deputies from the 
 towns ; the former to compose the upper, and tLe deputies the 
 lower, house. The government under the charter was essentially 
 the same with that which the people had themselves adopted in 
 1639, (Sec. 32,) and continued to be the constitution of the colo- 
 ny and state of Connecticut, until the year 1818, when a con- 
 vention was assembled which framed a new constitution. 
 
 This charter included the colony of New Haven ; but not be- 
 ing agreeable to that colony, it did not unite with Connecticut 
 until two years after. The granting of a charter to Connecticut 
 was followed, the next year, 1663, by a similar grant to Rhode 
 Island and Providence plantations, as already noticed. (Sec. 20.) 
 
 37. In 1664, Charles II. granted to his brother, the 
 Duke of York and Albany, the territory included in tht 
 several colonies of New York, New Jersey, and Dela- 
 ware. In the course of the same year, the latter de 
 spatched an expedition, under command of Col. Richan 
 Nichols, to the Dutch colony at Manhattan, which had. 
 for many years, denied the right of the English to con- 
 trol it. This expedition arrived at Manhattan in Au- 
 gust, and demanded a surrender of the territory to his 
 English majesty. The Dutch governor, being unpre- 
 pared for defence, complied with the demand, and the 
 whole country passed into the hands of the English. In 
 honor of the duke, the two principal Dutch settlements 
 were now named New York and Albany. 
 
 The first settlement of the Dutch at Manhattan, in 1613, and 
 their surrender to the English the same year, have already been 
 noticed. (Sec. 9.) Soon after, however, taey revolted ; and, th< 
 claims of the English being neglected, they continued to man 
 age for themselves, until the above year, 1664. 
 
 Nichols bav'ma entered the harbor. Stuvvesant. the Dutch gov 
 
SETTLEMENTS. 61 
 
 ernor, sent a letter to him, to desire the reason of His approach. 
 To this the latter replied, the next day, by a summons to sur- 
 render. Stuyvesant, determining on a defence, refused to sur- 
 rendei ; but, at length, finding himself without the means of 
 resistance, and that many of the people were desirous of passing 
 under the jurisdiction of the English, he surrendered the govern- 
 ment into the hands of Col. Nichols, who promised to secure to 
 the governor and inhabitants, their liberties and estates, with 
 all the privileges of English subjects. The administration of 
 Nichols continued for three years, and was marked by great 
 integrity and moderation. Upon his return to England, in 1067, 
 he was succeeded by Col. Lovelace, who administered the gov- 
 ernment with equal moderation. 
 
 38. A short time previous to the surrender of the 
 Dutch, the Duke of York conveyed to Lord Berkley and 
 Sir George Carteret the territory of New Jersey. This 
 name was given it in compliment to Carteret, who had 
 been governor of the Isle of Jersey, in the English 
 channel. Soon after the grant, but before it was known, 
 three persons from Long Island purchased of the natives 
 a tract, which was called Elizabethtown grant, and a 
 settlement was begun at Elizabethtown. Other towns 
 were soon settled by emigrants from the colonies and 
 fiom Europe. In consequence of these opposite claims 
 to the territory, much discord prevailed between the pro- 
 pi tetors and the inhabitants. 
 
 The first settlement within the limits of New Jersey was made 
 by the Danes, about the year 1624, at a place called Bergen. 
 Some Dutch families, also, about the same time, planted them- 
 selves on the Jersey side, near New York. In 1(>2(>, a colony 
 of Swedes and Finns purchased land on both sides of the river 
 Delaware, and formed a settlement on its western bank. In 1640 
 the English began a plantation at Elsingburgh, on its eastern 
 bank. But this was soon after broken up by the Swedes, with 
 the assistance of the Dutch from Manhattan. From this time, 
 until 1655, the Swedes held possession of the country on both 
 sides of the Delaware, when the Dutch governor, Stuyvesant, 
 subdued them. The Dutch now held possession until l(jb4, when 
 the territory passed into the hands of the English. 
 
 39. The next year, 1665, Philip Carteret, who ha 
 ficen appointed governor by the proprietors, arrived at 
 Elizabethtown, which he made the seat of government. 
 
 6 
 
G2 period ii.— 1607 to 1689. 
 
 He administered the government according to a consti 
 tution which the proprietors had formed. 
 
 This constitution ordained a free assembly, consisting of a 
 governor, council, and representatives; the latter to be chosen 
 by each town. The legislative power resided in the assembly ; 
 the executive in the governor and council. (See Sec. 40.) 
 
 40. Delaware was also included in the grant to the 
 Duke of York. At this time, it was in possession of 
 the Dutch ; but an expedition being sent against it under 
 Sir Robert Carr, it surrendered, October 1, 1664 ; soon 
 after which it was placed under the authority of the 
 English governor of New York. 
 
 Delaware was first settled in 1027, by a number of Swedes and 
 Finns, who, at the instance of Gustavus Adolphus, king of Swe- 
 den, emigrated to America. They landed at Cape Henlopen 
 which, on account of its beauty, they called Paradise Point; the 
 Delaware they named Svvedeland Stream. 
 
 The Dutch at New Netherlands laid claim, however, to the 
 territory ; and mutual contests subsisted for a long time between 
 them and the Swedes. After several times changing masters, 
 the territory finally surrendered to the Dutch, who held posses- 
 sion of it at the time of the English expedition against it rnder 
 Carr, in 10*04. It was now considered a part of New York. In 
 1062, however, the Duke of York sold the town of New Cautle, 
 and the country twelve miles around it, to William Penn, and, 
 some time after, the territory between New Castle and Capa 
 Henl'pon. These tracts, then known by the name of " Territo 
 ries," constitute the present, state of Delaware. Until 1703, they 
 were governed as a part of Pennsylvania ; but, at that time, they 
 had liberty from the proprietor to form a separate and distinct 
 assembly ; the governor of Pennsylvania, however, still exercis 
 ing jurisdiction over them. (Sec. 4U.) 
 
 41. After the reduction of New York by Col. Nichols, 
 (Sec. 37.) he, with Sir Robert Carr, George Cartwriglit, 
 and Samuel Maverick, proceeded to New England, un- 
 der a commission from King Charles, " to hear and de- 
 termine complaints and appeals, in all causes, as well 
 military as criminal and civil," within New England, and 
 to proceed in all things for settling the peace and secu- 
 rity of the country. 
 
 The conduct of these commissioners was exceeding- 
 
SETTLEMENTS. 63 
 
 ]y arbitrary and offensive to the colonies. Under pre 
 text of executing their commission, they received com- 
 plaints against the colonies from the Indians, required 
 persons, against the consent of the people, to be ad- 
 mitted to the privileges of freemen, to church member- 
 ship, and full communion ; heard and decided in causes 
 which had already been determined by the established 
 courts ; and gave protection to criminals. After involv- 
 ing the colonies in great embarrassment and expense, 
 tney were at length recalled, and the countiy saved from 
 impending ruin. 
 
 42. The settlement which next claims our notice is 
 that of Carolina, so called in honor of Charles IX., 
 under whose patronage the coast had been discovered 
 in 1563. The territory thus named included the lands 
 between the 30th and 3Gth degrees of north latitude, 
 and extending from the Atlantic ocean to the South sea. 
 In 1663, this tract was conveyed by Charles II., king of 
 England, to Lord Clarendon and seven others, with am- 
 ple powers to settle and govern it. 
 
 Before the above grant to Clarendon, (between 1640 and 
 1650,) a settlement was begun in Albemarle county, by planters 
 from Virginia and emigrants from other places. This settlement 
 was placed under the superintendence of Gov. Berkley of Vir- 
 ginia. 
 
 The second settlement was made in 1665, near the mouth of 
 Clarendon or Cape Fear river, by emigrants from Barbadoes, who 
 invested Sir John Yeomans with the authority of governor. 
 Both the above were within the present limits of North Carolina. 
 
 The third settlement was at Port Royal, in the present limits 
 of South Carolina, under direction of Governor Sayle, 1670. In 
 1671, he founded Old Charleston, on the banks of the river Ash- 
 ley. In 1680, this location was abandoned for Oyster Point, on 
 which was commenced the present city of Charleston. 
 
 In the year 1671, Gov. Sayle dying, Sir John Yeomans, gov- 
 ernor of Clarendon, was appointed to succeed him. In conse- 
 quence of this, the inhabitants of this latter settlement, within a 
 few years, removed to that of Charleston, and the three govern 
 ments consequently were reduced to two. Being widely separated, 
 the distinctive names of North and South Carolina began to be 
 used in respect to them. 
 
 During the administration of Gov. Sayle, a constitution, pre 
 
64 period ii.— 1607 to 1689. 
 
 pared at the request of the proprietors, by the celebrated Mr 
 Locke, was attempted to be put in force. 
 
 By this constitution, a president of a palatine court, to consist 
 of the proprietors, was to be chosen for life. An hereditary no- 
 bility was to be established, consisting of landgraves and caciques. 
 A parliament, chosen once in two years, was to be held, consisting 
 of the proprietors, of the nobility, and of representatives from each 
 district. All were to meet in one apartment, and to have an 
 equal voice. No business, however, could be proposed in parlia- 
 ment, until it had been debated in a grand council, to consist of 
 the governor, nobility, and deputies of proprietors. 
 
 This constitution it was found impossible to reduce to practice 
 Great opposition was made to it; and in Albemarle an insurrec- 
 tion was occasioned by an attempt to enforce it. It was, there- 
 fore, at length, abandoned, and the former proprietary government 
 restored. Phis latter sort of government continued from 1669 to 
 171'.), when the^charter was vacated by the crown, and the gov 
 eminent taken under the royal protection. In 1729, the proprie- 
 tors surrendered their right tcrthe government, and interest in the 
 soil, to the king, upon which the province was divided into North 
 and South Carolina, and their governors and councils were ap- 
 pointed by the crown. (See Period III. Sec. 20.) 
 
 43. The year 1675 was distinguished for a memorable 
 war, in New England, with the Indians, called King 
 Philip's war; by which the peace of the colonies was 
 greatly disturbed, and their existence, for a time, serious 
 ly endangered. 
 
 For several years previous to the opening of the war, the In 
 dians had regarded the English with growing jealousy. They 
 saw them increasing in numbers, and rapidly extending their 
 settlements. At the same time, their own hunting grounds were 
 visibly narrowing, and their power and privileges sensibly de- 
 creasing. The prospect before them was humbling to the 
 haughty descendants of the original lords of the soil. 
 
 The principal exciter of the Indians, at this time, against the 
 English, was Philip, sachem of the Wampanoags, grandson and 
 successor of Masassoit, who, fifty years before, had made a treaty 
 with the colony of Plymouth. (Sec. 14.) The residence of Philip 
 was at Mount Hope, in Bristol, Rhode Island. 
 
 The immediate cause of the war was the execution of three 
 Indians by the English, whom Philip had excited to murder one 
 Sausaman, an Indian missionary. Sausaman, being friendly to 
 the English, had informed them that Philip, with several tribes, 
 was plotting their destruction. 
 
 The execution of these Indians roused the anger ot Philip, who 
 immediately armed his men, and commenced hostilities. Their 
 
SETTLEMENTS. 65 
 
 first attack was made June 24th, upon the people of Swanzey, 
 in Plymouth colony, as they were returning from public worship, 
 on a day of humiliation and prayer, which had been appointed 
 under an apprehension of an approaching war. Eight or nine 
 persons were killed. 
 
 The country being immediately alarmed, the troops of the 
 colony repaired to the defence of Swanzey. On the 28th, a com- 
 pany of horse and a company of foot, with one hundred and ten 
 volunteers from Boston, joined the Plymouth forces. The next 
 morning, an attack was made upon a party of Philip's men, who 
 were pursued, and five or six of them killed. This resolute con- 
 duct of the English made a deep impression on the enemy. 
 Philip, with his forces, left Mount Hope the same night; mark- 
 ing his route, however, with the burning of houses, and the 
 scalping of the defenceless inhabitants. 
 
 It being known that the Narragansets favored the cause of 
 Philip, he having sent his women and children to them for pro- 
 tection, the Massachusetts forces, under Capt. Hutchinson, pro- 
 ceeded forthwith into their country? .either to renew a treaty with 
 them, or to give them battle. Fortunately, a treaty was conclud- 
 ed, and the troops returned. 
 
 On the 17th of July, news arrived that Philip, with his war 
 riors, was in a swamp at Pocasset, now Tiverton. The Massa- 
 chusetts and Plymouth forces immediately marched to that place, 
 and the next day resolutely charged the enemy in their recesses. 
 As the troops entered the swamp, the Indians continued to retire 
 The English in vain pursued, till the approach of night, when 
 the commander ordered a retreat. Many of the English were 
 killed, and the enemy seemed to take courage. 
 
 It being impossible to encounter the Indians with advantage 
 in the swamps, it was determined to starve them out; but Philip, 
 apprehending their design, contrived to escape with his forces. 
 
 He now fled to the Nipmucks, a tribe in Worcester county, 
 Massachusetts, whom he induced to assist him. This tribe had 
 already commenced hostilities against the English ; but, in the 
 hope of reclaiming them, the governor and council sent Captains 
 Wheeler and Hutchinson to treat with them. But the Indians, 
 having intimation of their coming, lurked in ambush for them, 
 fired upon them as they approached, killed eight men, and mor- 
 tally wounded eight more, of whom Capt. Hutchinson was 
 one. 
 
 The remainder of the English fled to Quaboag, Brookfield. 
 The Indians, however, closely pursued them into the town, and 
 burnt every house excepting the one in which the inhabitants had 
 taken refuge. This house also, at length, they surrounded, and 
 '* for two days continued to pour a storm of musket balls upon it, 
 and although great numbers passed through the walls, but one 
 person was killed. With long poles they next thrust against il 
 
 6* 
 
m 
 
 period ii. — 1607 to 1G89. 
 
 fcrands and rags dipped in brimstone ; they shot arrows of fire , 
 ihey loaded a cart with flax and tow, and, with long poles fastened 
 together, they pushed it against the house. Destruction seemed 
 inevitable. The house was kindling, and the savages stood ready 
 to destroy the first that should open the door to escape. At this 
 awful moment, a torrent of rain descended, and suddenly extin 
 guished the kindling flames." 
 
 PHBSPBK. n 
 
 jE3| M 
 
 1 
 
 ^^^^^^H 
 
 H ^^^^^^^^H 
 
 ^^^^^^^^^^^=^^^^ 
 
 On the 4th of August, Major Willard came to their relief, 
 raised the siege, and destroyed a considerable number of the as 
 sailants. 
 
 During the month of September, Hadley, Deerfield. and North- 
 field, on Connecticut river, were attacked : several of the inhab 
 itants were killed, and many buildings consumed. On the 16th, 
 Capt. Lathrop, with several teams, and eighty young men, the 
 dower of the county of Essex, were sent to Deerfield to trans- 
 port a quantity of grain to Hadley. On their return, stopping 
 to rather grapes at Muddy brook, they were suddenly attacked 
 by near eight hundred Indians. Resistance was in vain ; and 
 seventy of these young men fell before the merciless enemy, and 
 were buried in one grave. Capt. Mosely, who was at Deerfield, 
 hearing fehe report of the guns, hastened to the spot, and, with a 
 few men, attacked the Indians, killed ninety-six, and wounded 
 forty, losing himself but 
 
SETTLEMENTS. 07 
 
 Early in October, the Springfield Indians, who had hitherto 
 been friendly to Ihe English, concerted a plan, with the hostile 
 tribes, to burn that town. Having, under cover of night, received 
 two or three hundred of Philip's" men into their fort, with their 
 assistance they set fire to the town. The plot, however, was dis- 
 covered so seasonably, that troops arrived from Westfield in time 
 to save the town, excepting thirty-two houses, which had been 
 previously consumed. 
 
 Soon after hostilities were commenced by Philip, the Tarren 
 teens began their depredations in New Hampshire and the 
 Province of Maine. They robbed the boats and plundered the 
 houses of the English. In September, they fell on Saco, Scar- 
 borough, and Kittery, killed between twenty and thirty of the 
 inhabitants, and consigned their houses, barns and mills to the 
 flames. 
 
 Elated with these successes, they next advanced towards Piscata 
 
 ?ua, committing similar outrages at Oyster river, Salmon Falls, 
 )over and Exeter. Before winter, sixty of the English, in that 
 quarter, were killed, and nearly as many buildings consumed. 
 
 The Eastern Indians, however, had real cause of complaint 
 One cause was the cruel treatment practised upon the family of 
 Squando, sachem of the Saco Indians, by a party of English 
 seamen, who, having heard that Indian children could swim by 
 instinct, overset their canoe, in which were Squando's squaw 
 and infant child, for the purpose of testing the truth of the re 
 port. This act. wanton as well as childish, the savage justly 
 resented; and the more so. as the infant sometime alter died, 
 owing, as the chief imagined, to an injury which, at that time, 
 it received. Added to this, several Indians having been enticed 
 on board a vessel, had been iniquitously sold for slaves. To re- 
 dress these and similar wrongs, the Indians commenced hos- 
 tilities. 
 
 Notwithstanding the Narragansets had pledged themselves, by 
 their treaty, not to engage in the war against the English.it was 
 discovered that they were taking part with the enemy. It was 
 deemed necessary, therefore, fur the safety of the colonies, e:\rly 
 to check that powerful tribe. 
 
 Accordingly, Gov. Winslow, of Plymouth, with about one 
 thousand eight hundred troops from Massachusetts and Con- 
 necticut, and one hundred and sixty friendly Indians, com- 
 menced their march from Petty squamscot, on the 19th of 
 December, 1675, through a deep snow, towards the enemy, who 
 were in a swamp about fifteen miles distant. 
 
 The army arrived at the swamp at one in the afternoon. Some 
 Indians at the edge of the swamp were fired upon, but fled. 
 The whole army now entered and pursued the Indians to their 
 fortress. 
 
 This stood on a rising ground, in the middle of the swamp. 
 
G3 period ri. — 16 to 1089. 
 
 It was a work of great strength and labor, being composed of pali 
 sades, and surrounded by a hedge about sixteen feet in thickness. 
 
 One entrance, only, led to the fort, through the surrounding 
 thicket. Upon this the English providentially fell, and, without 
 waiting to form, rushed impetuously towards the fort. The 
 English captains entered first. The resistance of the Indians 
 was gallant and warlike. Captains Johnson and Davenport, 
 with many of their men, fell at the entrance. At length, the 
 English fell back, and were obliged to retreat out of the fort. 
 
 At this crisis, the army being on the point of a fatal repulse, 
 some Connecticut men, on the opposite side of the fort, discov- 
 ered a place destitute of palisades : they instantly sprang into 
 the fort, fell upon the rear of the Indians, and, aided by the rest 
 of the army, after a desperate conflict, achieved a complete 
 victory. Six hundred wigwams were now set on fire, and an 
 appalling scene ensued. Deep volumes of smoke rolled up to 
 heaven, mingled with the dying shrieks of mothers and infants, 
 which, with the aged and infirm, were consumed in the flames 
 
 Even at this distant period, we cannot recall this scene without 
 horror, and can justify the severity of our ancestors only by ad- 
 mitting its necessity for self-preservation. 
 
 The Indians in the fort were estimated at four thousand : of 
 these, seven hundred warriors were killed, and three hundred 
 died of their wounds ; three hundred were taken prisoners, and 
 as many women and children ; the rest, except such as were 
 consumed, fled. 
 
 The victory of the English, complete as it was, was purchased 
 with blood. Six brave captains fell; eighty of the troops were 
 killed or mortally wounded ; and one hundred and filly were 
 wounded who recovered. 
 
 From this defeat the Indians never recovered. They were 
 not yet, however, effectually subdued. During the winter, they 
 continued their savage work of murdering and burning. The 
 towns of Lancaster, Medfield, Weymouth, Groton, Springfield, 
 Northampton, Sudbury, and Marlborough, in Massachusetts, and 
 of Warwick and Providence in Rhode Island, were assaulted, 
 and some of them partly, and others wholly, destroyed. In 
 March, Captain Pierce, with fifty English, and twenty friendly 
 Indians, were attacked, the former of whom were all slain, and 
 nearly all of the latter. In April,. Capt. Wadsworth, while 
 marching with fifty men to the relief of Sudbury, was surround 
 ed, and the whale were either killed on the spot, or reserved for 
 long and distressing tortures. 
 
 The success of the Indians, during the winter, had been 
 great ; but on the return of spring, the tide turned against them. 
 The Narraganset country was scoured, and many of the 
 natives were killed, among whom was Canonchet, their chief 
 sachem 
 
SETTLEMENTS. GO 
 
 On the 12th of August, 1G76, the finishing stroke was given to 
 the war in the United Colonies, by the death of Philip After 
 his flight from Mount Hope, he had attempted to rouse the 
 Mohawks against the English. To effect this purpose, he killed, 
 at various times, several of that tribe, and charged it upon the 
 English. But, his iniquity being discovered, he was obliged 
 hastily to flee, and returned to Mount Hope. 
 
 Tidings of his return being brought to Captain Church, a 
 man who had been of eminent service in this war, and who was 
 better able than any other person to provide against the wiles of 
 the enemy, he immediately proceeded to the place of Philip's 
 concealment, near Mount Hope, accompanied by a small body of 
 men. On his arrival, which was in the night, he placed his men 
 in ambushes round the swamp, charging them not to move till 
 daylight, that they might distinguish Philip, should he attempt 
 to escape. Such was his confidence of success, that, taking 
 Major Sandford by the hand, he said, " It is scarcely possible 
 that Philip should* escape." At that instant, a bullet whistled 
 over their heads, and a volley followed. 
 
 The firing proceeded from Philip and his men, who were 
 now in view. Perceiving his peril, the savage chief, hoping to 
 effect his escape, hastily seized his powder-horn and gun, and 
 fled ; but, directing his course towards a spot where an English- 
 man and an Indian lay concealed, the former levelled his gun ; 
 but, missing fire, the Indian drew, and shot him through the 
 heart. 
 
 Capt. Church ordered him to be beheaded and quartered. 
 The Indian who executed this order, pronounced the warrior's 
 epitaph : i: You have been one very great man. You have made 
 many a man afraid of you. But so big as you be, 1 will now 
 chop you to pieces." 
 
 Thus fell a savage hero and patriot — of whose transcendent 
 abilities our history furnishes melancholy evidence. The advaiv 
 tage of civilized education, and a wider theatre of action, might 
 have made the name of Philip of Mount Hope as memorable as 
 that of Alexander or Ca>sar. 
 
 After the death of Philip, the war continued in the Province 
 of Maine, till the spring of 1078. But westward, the Indians, 
 having lost their chiefs, wigwams, and provisions, and perceiv- 
 ing further contest vain, came in singly, by tens, and by hun- 
 dreds, and submitted to the English. 
 
 Thus closed a melancholy period in the annals of New Eng 
 land history; during which, six hundred men, the flower of her 
 strength, had fallen ; twelve or thirteen towns had been destroy- 
 ed, and six hundred dwelling-houses consumed. Every eleventh 
 family was houseless, and every eleventh soldier had sunk to his 
 grave. So costly was the inheritance which our fathers have 
 transmitted to us ! 
 
70 PERIOD II.— 1607 TO 16»<J. 
 
 44. The grant of the territory of New York, by 
 Charles II., to his brother the Duke of York, in 1664, 
 has already been noticed, (Sec. 37,) as also its capture 
 from the Dutch, the same year. In 1673, a war com- 
 mencing between England and Holland, the latter sent 
 a small fleet to New York, to which the town immediate- 
 ly surrendered. 
 
 The following year, 1674, the war terminated in a 
 treaty between England and Holland. By this treaty 
 New York was resto»«?d to the English. To prevent 
 controversy about his ih.le to the territory, the Duke 
 of York took out a new patent, and appointed Sir 
 Edmund Andros governor, who entered upon the duties 
 of his appointment in October of the same year. 
 
 The administration of Andros, however, was arbitra. 
 ry and severe. He admitted the people to no share in 
 legislation, but ruled them by laws to which they had 
 never given their assent. 
 
 Connecticut also experienced the weight of his oppression and 
 despotism. That part of her territory west of Connecticut river, 
 although long before granted to the colony of Connecticut, wag 
 included in the grant to the Duke of York. By virtue of this 
 grant, Andros now claimed jurisdiction over the territory, and 
 in July, 1675, made an attempt with an armed force to take pos 
 session of Saybrook Fort. 
 
 The governor and council of Connecticut, having notice of his 
 design, despatched Ca.pt. Bull to defend the fort. On the arrival 
 of Andros at the mouth of the river, after making a show of 
 force, he invited Capt. Bull to a conference. This was granted • 
 but no sooner had he landed, than he attempted to read his com- 
 mission and the duke's patent. This Capt. Bull firmly and 
 positively forbid; and Sir Edmund, finding the colony determin- 
 ed, at all events, not to submit to his government, relinquished 
 his design, and sailed for Long Island. 
 
 45. The year 1676, so distinguished, in the annals of 
 New England, for the termination of Philip's war, was 
 
 ot much less distinguished, in respect to Virginia, by 
 an insurrection known by the name of " Bacon's rebel- 
 lion," the evil effects of which lasted more than thirty 
 years. The principal causes of this rebellion are said 
 to have been the oppressive restrictions imposed upon 
 
RfiTTUSKKVTd. 71 
 
 their commerce— the granting of large tracts of land by 
 Gov. Berkley to his favorites, which belonged to the 
 colony — and the imposition of extravagant taxes. 
 
 The dissolution of the charter of Virginia by James I., in 1G24, 
 and the subsequent appointment of Sir William Berkley, as 
 governor, by Charles I., with the privilege to the people of elect- 
 ing their own representatives, have been noticed Sec. 24. For 
 this privilege, they were so grateful, that the Virginians continu- 
 ed faithful to the royal cause, even after Cromwell had usurped 
 the government. This loyalty brought upon them the vengeance 
 of parliament in 1652, at which time a fleet was despatched to 
 reduce them to submission. At this time, Gov. Berkley was 
 obliged to retire. 
 
 About the time of Cromwell's death, but before that event 
 took place, the Virginians proclaimed Charles II., and invit- 
 ed Berkley to resume his authority. On the accession of 
 Charles, he confirmed Berkley in his office. But from this time, 
 the conduct of the governor was odious and oppressive. Agents 
 were sent to England, to lay their grievances at the foot of the 
 throne; but agents were unsuccessful, and, at length, the dis- 
 content of the people ripened into a formidable insurrection. 
 
 The head of the insurgents was Nathaniel Bacon, an English- 
 man, who, soon after his arrival, had been appointed a member 
 of the council. He was a young man of commanding person, 
 and distinguished for ambition, energy and enterprise. 
 
 The colony, at this time, being engaged in war with the Sus- 
 quehp.inah Indians, • Bacon despatched a messenger to Gov. 
 Berkley, requesting a commission to proceed against them. 
 This commission the governor refused, and, at the same time, 
 ordered Bacon to dismiss his inen, and, on penalty of being 
 declared a rebel, to appear before himself and the council. Ex- 
 asperated by such treatment, Bacon, without disbanding his force, 
 proceeded, in a sloop, with forty of them, to Jamestown. Here a 
 sharp contention ensued, upon which Berkley illegally suspend 
 ed him from the council. Bacon departed in a rage, with his 
 sloop and men ; but, through the agency of the governor, he was 
 hrot loner after seized and brought to Jamestown. 
 
 Finding that he had dismissed Bacon from the council illegal- 
 ly, he again admitted him. and treated him with a show of kind- 
 ness. Upon this, Bacon renewed his request for a commission , 
 but, receiving a denial, he privately left Jamestown, and, collect- 
 ing six hundred volunteers, returned to demand of the assembly, 
 (hen in session, the required commission. Being overawed, the 
 assembly advised the governor to grant it. But, soon after Bacon 
 had departed, the governor, by the same advice, issued a procla- 
 mation, denouncing him as a rebel. 
 
 Hearing what the governor had done, Bacon, instead of 
 
72 period ii.— 1G07 to 1689. 
 
 marching against the Indians, returned to Jamestown, wreaking 
 his vengeance upon all who opposed him. Finding it in vain to 
 withstand him, the governor fled across the bay, and the council 
 dispersed, leaving Bacon in possession of supreme power. 
 
 At length, the governor, with a small force, under command 
 of Major Robert Beverly, crossed the bay to oppose the malecon- 
 tents. Civil war had now commenced. Jamestown was burnt 
 by Bacon's followers ; various parts of the colony were pillaged, 
 and the wives of those that adhered to the governor's party were 
 carried to the camp of (he insurgents. 
 
 In the midst of these commotions, it pleased the Supreme 
 Ruler to withdraw Bacon by a natural death. The malecontents, 
 thus left to recover their reason, now began to disperse. Two of 
 Bacon's generals surrendered, and were pardoned, and the peo 
 pie quietly returned to their homes. 
 
 Upon this, Berkley resumed the government, and peace was 
 restored. This rebellion formed an era of some note in the 
 nistory of Virginia, and its unhappy effects were felt for thirty 
 years. During its continuance, husbandry was almost enlirely 
 neglected, and such havock was made among all kinds of cattle, 
 that the people were threatened with famine. Sir William 
 Berkley, after having been-forty years governor of Virginia, re- 
 turned to England, where he soon after died. 
 
 Three years after, 1G7!), Lord Culpepper was sent over as gov- 
 ernor, with certain laws prepared in conformity to the wishes of 
 the ministry of England, and designed to be enacted by the 
 assembly in Virginia. One of those laws provided for raising a 
 revenue, for the support of government. It made the duties 
 perpetual, and placed them under the direction of his majesty 
 Out of the duties, Culpepper dishonestly took, as his-salary. two 
 thousand pounds, and one hundred and sixty pounds, in add itiun, 
 for house-rent. 
 
 On presenting these laws to the assembly, Culpepper informed 
 them that, in case they were passed, he had instructions to offer 
 pardon to all who had been concerned in Bacon's rebellion ; but, 
 if not. he had commissions to try and hang them as rebels, and 
 a regiment of soldiers on the spot to support him. Thus threat 
 ened, the assembly passed the laws. 
 
 From this period to the occurrence of the French war, no events 
 are to be found, in the history of Virginia, of sufficient impor- 
 tance to be noticed in the present pages. 
 
 46. In the year 1676, the province of New Jersey 
 was divided into Enst and West Jersey, and continued 
 thus divided until 1702, when the proprietors surrender- 
 ed the government to the crown, under Queen Anne, 
 upon which, the two provinces were united into one, aud 
 
SETTLEMENTS. /J 
 
 Lord Corubury was appointed governor over this and the 
 province of New York. This arrangement of a single 
 governor for the two provinces continued till the year 
 1738, (although each chose a separate assembly ;) but at 
 this time, the people of New Jersey having petitioned 
 for an alteration, his majesty appointed Lewis Morris to 
 (he chief magistracy of the latter province. 
 
 An accourt of the settlement of New Jersey, and the grant 
 of it by the Duke of York to Lord Berkley and Sir George 
 Carteret, ir, 1G64, will be found at Sec. 38. In 1665, Carteret 
 assumed the government, by agreement with Berkley. (Sec. 39.) 
 In 1674, Lord Berkley made a conveyance of his half to John 
 Fenwick, in trust for Edward Billing** and his assigns. Bil- 
 linge, being in debt, presented his interest in the province to his 
 creditors, William Jones and others, being appointed trustees to 
 dispose of the lands. 
 
 In the division of 1676, Carteret took East Jersey, the govern- 
 ment of which he retained ; and the trustees of Billinge, West 
 Jersey. The Duke of York, though he had conveyed away his 
 powers of government, when he sold the province to Berkley and 
 Carteret, in 1664, unjustly claimed West Jersey, as a dependency 
 of New York. These claims of the duke, Sir Edmund Andros, 
 his governor in America, attempted to assert, and actually ex- 
 tended his jurisdiction over the province. But, at length, through 
 the discontent and remonstrances of the citizens, the subject was 
 referred to commissioners, who decided against the Duke ot 
 York ; upon which, in 1680, he relinquished his claims to the 
 proprietors. 
 
 In 1662, Carteret, disgusted with the people, sold ins right tc 
 East Jersey to William Penn and others, who immediately sold 
 one half of it to the Earl of Perth and his associates. Robert 
 Barclay, the celebrated author of " the Apology for the Quakers," 
 was the next year made governor of East Jersey. 
 
 In 1666, both the Jerseys and New York were annexed to 
 j New England, in which connection they continued till the acces- 
 sion of William and Mary to the throne of England, in 1685*. 
 " A government under the proprietors of both the Jerseys had 
 become extremely disagreeable to the inhabitants, who, from 
 various causes, became so uneasy, that the proprietors surrender 
 ed the government of East and West Jersey to the crown in 
 1702. which Queen Anne very readily accepted." 
 
 " The two provinces were now united into one, and Lord 
 Ccrnbury was appointed governor over the united colony, and 
 received his commission and instructions from the queen. 
 
 " The freemen chose the house of representatives, consisting 
 
 7 
 
74 period ii. — 100? to 1689 
 
 of twenty-four members, but the governor and council, consisting 
 of twelve members, were appointed by the crown. 
 
 47. In 1677, a controversy which had subsisted for 
 some time between the colony of Massachusetts and the 
 heirs of Sir Ferdinando Gorges, relative to the province 
 of Maine, was settled in England, and the colony 
 adjudged to Gorges' heirs. Upon this, Massachusetts 
 purchased the title for one thousand two hundred pounds 
 sterling, and the territory, from that time till 1820, was 
 a part of Massachusetts. 
 
 Both the colony of Massachusetts and the heirs of Gorges 
 claimed the province of Maine ; the former by virtue of ner 
 patent of 1(528, (Sec. 21.) which was construed as including that 
 territory ; the claim of the latter was founded upon a charter 
 granted to Gorges in 1639. (.Sec. 34.) 
 
 48. Two years after this adjustment, viz. in 1G79, a 
 commission was made out, by order of Charles II., for 
 the separation of New Hampshire from the jurisdiction 
 of Massachusetts, and its erection into a royal province. 
 The form of government sent over by the king, ordained a 
 president and council to govern the province, with an 
 assembly, &c. , the assembly to be chosen by the peo- 
 ple ; the president and council to be appointed by the 
 crown. 
 
 In 1G29, the Plymouth company granted to John Mason the 
 territory called New Hampshire. About the year 1(540, the 
 settlements now being considerable, the patent holders agreed to 
 assign their right of jurisdiction to Massachusetts. The colony 
 of New Hampshire; therefore, remained under the government 
 of Massachusetts, until it was separated by the king's cominis- 
 si on, in 1679 s . 
 
 The first legislative assembly, under the above commission, 
 was convened March 16, 1(580, when the colony of New Hamp- 
 shire was declared to be independent of Massachusetts. This 
 separation, however, was disagreeable to most of the people : for 
 near forty years, they had enjoyed under Massachusetts the privi- 
 lege of choosing their own rulers, and had derived great peace 
 and harmony from an impartial government. Nor did this prov- 
 ince long enjoy tranquillity. Mason, grandson of the Mason to 
 whom New Hampshire had been originally granted, came over 
 the next year, and demanded, by virtue of his claims to the soil, 
 a seat in the council This being granted, he soon after return- 
 
SETTLEMENTS. 
 
 75 
 
 ed to England, and surrendered a part of his claims to the king, 
 and mortgaged the remainder to Edward Cranneld. who was 
 appointed lieutenant-governor, and shortly after repaired to New 
 Hampshire. 
 
 It is necessary to add, that the Rev. Mr. Wheelright and oth- 
 ers, in 1629, the same year that the grant was made to Mason by 
 the Plymouth company, bought of the Indians a large tract of 
 land in New Hampshire. The same land was. therefore, claimed 
 under botii these grants, and the foundation thus laid of serious 
 disputes in the colony. 
 
 Cranneld, finding it for his interest to favor the claim of 
 Mason to the province, soon called upon the inhabitants to take 
 their leases under him. Suits were instituted against all the 
 landholders who neglected this call, and the jurors, being selected 
 by Cranneld, and interested in the result, uniformly gave judg- 
 ment against them. 
 
 Under these oppressions, the people despatched an agent, with 
 complaints to his majesty, against the governor. After a hearing 
 by the lords of trade, the iniquitous conduct of Cranneld was 
 represented to the king, who recalled him. 
 
 It may be proper to add, that the above controversy about the 
 Claims of Mason continued long to disturb the peace of the 
 province, and was not finally terminated until the death of 
 Samuel Allen, in 1715, to whom the heirs of Mason had sold 
 their claim for seven hundred and fifty pounds: upon his demise, 
 no one appeared to renew the claims, and the question dropped. 
 
 49. In 1681, King Charles II. granted to William 
 Penn, son of Admiral Penn, in consideration of debts 
 due the latter, for services done to the crown, the territo- 
 ry of Pennsylvania, so named by the king after Penn 
 himself. 
 
 This patent encroached on the territory of Lord Baltimore in 
 Maryland, one whole degree, or sixty-nine miles and a half; and 
 on the north, nearly three hundred miles, across the whole terri- 
 tory conveyed to Connecticut, in 1631,* and confirmed by the 
 ro\al charter of 1662. Hence arose contentions between the 
 colonies of Pennsylvania and Connecticut, about boundaries, 
 that were not settled till a century after. Within a short time 
 from the date of the grant by King Charles to Penn, two other 
 conveyances were made to him bv the Duke of York. One 
 was a bill of sale of New-Castle, and a territory of twelve miles 
 around it. The other was a bill granting a tsact south of the 
 former, as far as Cape Henlopen. These two deeds embraced 
 
 * See Sec 3d t where the boundaries of the territory granted to Connecti- 
 cut are given. 
 
7G period ii. — K>07 to 1(589. 
 
 the whole state of Delaware, known at that time by the name of 
 the " Territories. 1 ' 
 
 Having thus obtained possession of a valuable territory, and 
 desirous of founding a colony upon it. Penn offered the lands for 
 sale, at the rate of one thousand acres for twenty pounds, or at 
 an annual rent of one penny per acre. Many persons, chiefly 
 Quakers, were induced to purchase ; and in the fall of the same 
 year, three ships, with settlers, sailed for Pennsylvania. At the 
 same time, Penn addressed a letter to the Indians, residing on 
 the territory, assuring them of his pacific disposition, and his 
 determination, should difficulties arise between them and the 
 emigrants, t » have them settled on principles of equity. 
 
 The next year, Penn published a form of government, by which 
 the supreme power was lodged in a general assembly, to consist 
 of a governor, council, and house of delegates; the council and 
 house to be chosen by the freemen ; the proprietor and govern- 
 or to preside, and to have a treble voice in the council, which 
 was to consist of seventy-two members. 
 
 It was also agreed, that every person of good moral character, 
 professing -his faith in Christ, should be a freeman, and capable 
 of holding any office ; and that none who believed in one God 
 should be molested in his religion, or be compelled to attend or 
 maintain religious worship. 
 
 In October, Penn, with two thousand planters, mostly Quakers, 
 arrived at New-Castle, which was a part of the "Territories." 
 Upon this tract he found already settled about three thousand 
 Dutch, Swedes and Finns. He proceeded to Chester, where, in 
 December, he convoked an assembly ; but, so few delegates 
 appearing, he ordered that, instead of seventy-two, three mem- 
 bers only should constitute the council, and nine the house of as- 
 sembly. This assembly annexed the Territories to the province. 
 
 Penn now entered into a treaty with the Indians, of whom he 
 purchased large tracts of territory ; at the same time, he com- 
 menced the city of Philadelphia, which, in one year, increased 
 to a hundred houses and cottages. 
 
 Pennsylvania had a more rapid and prosperous settlement than 
 any of the other colonies. This was doubtless owing, in part, to 
 its healthful climate and fruitful soil ; partly to the fact, that the 
 great obstacles of settlement had been overcome by the other 
 colonies; and partly to the religious tolerance, mildness, and 
 equity, which characterized its laws and their administration 
 
 In*lG83,Penn convened a second assembly, which was held in 
 Philadelphia ; and, at the request of the freemen and delegates, 
 granted them a second charter, by which eighteen persons were 
 to form the council, and thirty-six the assembly. At this time it 
 was ordained, " that, to prevent law-suits, three arbitrators, to be 
 called peace-makers, should be chosen by the county courts, to 
 hear and determine small differences between man and man 
 
SETTLEMENTS. 77 
 
 that children should be taught some useful trade — that factors 
 wronging their employers should make satisfaction, and one 
 third over — that all causes of rudeness, cruelty and irreligiou 
 should be repressed — and that no man should be molested for hi a 
 religious opinions." To these wholesome regulations Penn- 
 sylvania was indebted for her great prosperity and rapid settle- 
 ment. 
 
 In 1084, Penn returned to England, leaving the administration 
 of the government in the care of rive commissioners. Soon after, 
 James II. abdicated the throne. For this monarch Penn felt 
 a sincere regard, and continued, even after his expulsion from the 
 throne, to administer the colonial government in his name. This 
 exciting the displeasure of William, successor of James, his 
 friends caused Penn to be imprisoned several times ; and the 
 government of the colony was taken from him, and given to 
 Col. Fletcher, governor of New York. But, some time after, the 
 charges of disloyalty to William having been proved to be 
 unfounded, he was permitted to resume the exercise of his 
 rights ; whereupon, he appointed William Markman to be his 
 deputy-governor. 
 
 In it>!)9, Penn made a second visit to Pennsylvania^^Tindmg 
 discontents had crept in, in relation to the goverMpmt, he 
 humanely prepared a new charter, on still more liberal principles. 
 This was offered Oct. 28, 1701, and accepted on the same day. by 
 the people of Pennsylvania ; but the "Territories," now Dela 
 Ware, declining, they were allowed a distinct assembly, under the 
 same governor. The assembly was first convened in 1703. 
 {Sec. 40.) 
 
 Having thus settled affairs, Penn again returned to England, 
 leaving the executive authority to be exercised by a deputy-gov- 
 ernor. Discontentment, however, again appeared ; and, at times, 
 the deputy-governors became quite obnoxious to the people. Still 
 the colony prospered : they lived in great harmony with the In- 
 dians, and increased in numbers and wealth. 
 
 At length, about the commencement of the revolutionary war, 
 the people formed a new constitution, by which the proprietor wag 
 excluded from all participation in the government ; and, by way 
 of discharging all quit-rents due from the inhabitants, he was 
 allowed 370,000 dollars. 
 
 50. In the year 1G84, June 18, an event highly 
 interesting to the colony of Massachusetts occurred in 
 England. This was a decision, in the high court of 
 chancery, that she had forfeited her charter, and that 
 henceforth her government should be placed in the 
 hands of the king. 
 7* 
 
78 period it.— 1(507 to 1689. 
 
 The person chiefly instrumental in bringing about this event, 
 was Edmund Randolph, a man who had long been the enemy of 
 the colonies, and who, for several years, had rilled the ears of the 
 king with complaints against them, for violating the acts of 
 trade. 
 
 To answer to these complaints, Massachusetts repeatedly in 
 curred the expense of sending agents to England, and of maintain 
 ing them there ; but his majesty would accept of no conditions 
 short of a surrender of her charter. As she would not make this 
 surrender voluntarily, it was violently wrested from her. 
 
 Before King Charles had time to adjust the affairs of 
 the colony, he died, and was succeeded by James II 
 Soon after his accession, similar proceedings took place 
 against the other colonies. Rhode Island submitted, 
 and relinquished her charter. Plymouth sent a copy of 
 her charter to the king, with an humble petition, that he 
 w r ould restore it. Connecticut voted an address to his 
 majesty-^n which she prayed him to recall the writ that 
 had bewr filed against her, and requested the continu- 
 ance of her charter. 
 
 The petitions and remonstrances of the colonies were, 
 however, of no avail. Both the heart and hand of .the 
 king were manifestly against them. After all their 
 hardships and dangers in settling a wilderness, they had 
 no other prospect before them than the destruction of 
 their dearest rights, and no better security of life, 
 liberty, and property, than the capricious will of a 
 tyrant. 
 
 In pursuance of this cruel policy towards the colo 
 nies, two years after the charter of Massachusetts was 
 vacated, King James commissioned and sent out Sir 
 Edmund Andros as governor of all New England, 
 Plymouth excepted. 
 
 On his arrival at Boston, Dec. 20, 1686, he entered 
 upon his administration ; which, at the commencement, 
 was comparatively auspicious. In a few months, how- 
 ever, the fair prospect was changed. Among other 
 arbitrary acts, restraints were laid upon the freedom of 
 the press and marriage contracts. The liberty to wor- 
 ship after the Congregational mode was threatened, and 
 
SETTLEMENTS. 79 
 
 the fees of all officers of government were exorbitantly 
 and oppressively enhanced. 
 
 In October, Sir Edmund and suite, with a guard of about sixty 
 regular troops, went to Hartford, where the assembly of Con- 
 necticut was in session. He entered the house of the assembly, 
 demanded the charter of Connecticut, and declared the colonial 
 government to be dissolved. 
 
 Extremely reluctant to surrender the charter, the assembly 
 intentionally protracted its debates till evening, when the charter 
 was brought in, and laid on the table. — Upon a preconcerted signal, 
 the lights were at once extinguished, and a Capt. Wads worth, 
 seizing the charter, hastened away under cover of night, and 
 secreted it in the hollow of an oak. The candles, which had 
 been extinguished, were soon relighted without disorder ; but the 
 charter had disappeared. Sir Edmund, however, assumed the 
 government, and the records of the colony were closed. 
 
 The condition of the New England colonies was now 
 distressing, and, as the administration of Andros was 
 becoming still more severe and oppressive, the future 
 seemed not to promise alleviation. But Providence was 
 invisibly preparing the way for their relief. On the 5th 
 of Nov. 1688, William, Prince of Orange, who married 
 Mary, daughter of James II., landed at Torbay in Eng- 
 land, and, compelling James II. to leave the kingdom, 
 assumed the crown, being proclaimed Feb. 16th, 1689, 
 to the general joy of the nation. 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 51. Manners of the Colonists. In the colonies 
 of North America, at the close of this period, three 
 varieties of character might be distinguished. In New 
 England, the strict Puritanical notions of the people 
 wrought a correspondent austerity upon the manners of 
 society. Placing implicit faith in the Scriptures, they 
 moulded their government, and shaped private character 
 and morals, upon a severe and literal construction of 
 them. They were devout, patriotic, industrious, and 
 public-spirited ; and though of a grave, reflecting ex- 
 terior, they often showed that shrewd inquisitiveness, 
 
80 period ii —1607 to 1689. 
 
 and keen relish of a jest, which are still characteristic 
 of the New Englanders. 
 
 The laws of the colonies throw some light on the views and 
 manners of the people. As examples, in 1639, the drinking of 
 healths was prohibited hy law in Massachusetts. In 165 J, the 
 legislature of that colony prohibited all persons, whose " estate did 
 not exceed two hundred pounds, from wearing any gold or silver 
 lace, or any bone lace above two shillings per yard " The law 
 authorized the selectmen to take notice of the costliness and fashion 
 of the " apparel of the people, especially in the wearing of ribands 
 and great boots." The New Haven colony, in 163i>, resolved that 
 they would be governed by the rules of Scripture ; and that church 
 members only should act in the civil affairs of the plantation. 
 
 In 1647, the colony of Connecticut expressed their disapproba- 
 tion of the use of tobacco, by an act of assembly, in which it was 
 ordered, "that no person, under the age of twenty years, nor any 
 other that hath already accustomed himself to the use thereof, 
 shall take any tobacco, until he shall have brought a certificate, 
 from under the hand of some, -who are approved for knowledge 
 and skill in physic, that it is useful for him ; and also, that he hath 
 received a license from the court for the same. All others, who 
 had addicted themselves to the use of tobacco, were, by the same 
 court, prohibited taking it in any company, or at their labors, or 
 on their travels, unless they were ten miles at least from any 
 house, or more than once a day, though not in company, on pain 
 of a fine of sixpence for each time ; to be proved by one substan- 
 tial witness. The constable in each town to make presentment of 
 such transgressions to the particular court, and upon conviction, 
 the fine to be paid without gainsaying." 
 
 In the Colony of New York, during this period, the manners of 
 the colonists were strictly Dutch — with no other modifications 
 than the privations of a new country, and the few English among 
 them, necessarily effected. The same steadfast pursuit of 
 wealth ; the same plodding industry ; the same dress, air, and 
 phj'siognomy, which are given as characteiistic of Holland, were 
 equally characteristic of the inhabitants of New Amsterdam. 
 
 In Virginia, the manners ol the colonists were those 
 of the less rigid English, rendered still more free and 
 voluptuous by the influence of a softer climate and a 
 more prolific soil. 
 
 Stith says of the first settlers of this colony, that some emigrat- 
 ed " to escape a worse fate at home : " others, it is said, sought to 
 repair fortunes by emigration, which had been ruined by excess 
 Many persons, however, of high character, were among the emi 
 grants ; and amidst the licentiousness of the Virginia colonv 
 
SETTLEMENTS. 81 
 
 were found, at the close of this period, the seeds of that frank- 
 ness, hospitality, taste, and refinement, which distinguish the peo- 
 ple of the south at this day. 
 
 Other national peculiarities might be noticed, as those of the 
 Finns in Delaware, those of the Quakers in Pennsylvania, &c. . 
 but, at this period, they were too limited to require a distinc 
 notice in our work. 
 
 52. Religion. The colony of Virginia, from its 
 earliest existence, was exclusively devoted to the Church 
 of England. 
 
 For several years, its unsettled state prevented that attention to 
 a religious establishment, which afterwards the subject received. 
 At the expiration of thirteen years from the founding of the colony, 
 there were but eleven parishes, and five ministers : the inhabit- 
 ants of the colony did not, at this time, however, much exceed 
 two thousand persons. 
 
 In 1621, the colony received a large accession to its numbers, 
 and the governor and council were instructed " to take into spe- 
 cial regard the service of Almighty God, and the observance of 
 his divine laws ; and that the people should be trained up in true 
 religion and virtue." At the same time, the Virginia Company 
 ordered a hundred acres of land, in each of the buroughs, to be 
 laid off for a glebe, and two hundred pounds sterling to be raised, 
 as a standing and certain revenue, out of the profits of each 
 parish, to make a living: this stipend was thus settled — that the 
 minister shall receive yearly five hundred pounds of tobacco, and 
 sixteen barrels of corn ; which were collectively estimated at two 
 hundred pounds sterling. In 1(J42, the assembly passed a law 
 prohibiting all, but those who had been ordained by English 
 bishops, from preaching. 
 
 In 1650, during the time of Governor Berkley, the parishes of 
 the colony were further regulated, the religion of the church of 
 England was confirmed and established, and provision made for 
 the support of the ministers. The maintenance of a minister 
 was put at sixteen thousand pounds of tobacco, which, as valued 
 at that time, at ten shillings per hundred, was about eighty 
 pounds sterling. But, in addition to this, he had a dwelling-house 
 and glebe ; also, four hundred pounds of tobacco, or forty shil- 
 lings, for a funeral sermon, and two hundred pounds of tobacco, 
 or twenty shillings, for performing marriage by license, or five 
 shillings when the banns were proclaimed. The tobacco destined 
 for the minister was brought to him well packed in hogsheads, 
 prepared for shipping. To raise this crop, twelve negroes were 
 necessary. 
 
 The special object of the New England planters, in settling the 
 country, was the enjoyment of their religious opinions, and the 
 
82 period ii.— 1007 to 16S9. 
 
 free exercise of religious worship, without molestation. Early 
 attention was, therefore, paid to the gathering; of churcb?s, and 
 the regulation of religion. They were Calvinists in doctrine, 
 and Congregational in discipline. 
 
 Each church maintained its right to govern itself. They held 
 to the validity of Presbyterian ordination, and the expediency of 
 synods on great occasions. From the commencement, they ured 
 ecclesiastical councils, convoked by particular churches, for 
 advice, but not for the judicial determination of controversies. 
 
 In each of the churches, there was a pastor, teacher, ruling 
 /elder, and deacons. The pastor's office consisted principally in 
 exhortation : upon the teacher devolved the business of explain- 
 ing and defending the doctrines of Christianity. The business of 
 the ruling elder was to assist the pastor in the government of the 
 church. 
 
 Early provision was made for the support of the ministry. On 
 the arrival of the colonists of Massachusetts Bay, at Charlestown, 
 before landing, a court of assistants was held ; and the first question 
 proposed was. How shall the ministers be maintained ? The 
 court ordered that houses be built, and salaries be raised for them, 
 at the public charge. Their two ministers, Mr. Phillips and Mr. 
 Wilson, were granted a salary — the former thirty pounds per 
 annum, and the latter twenty pounds, until the arrival of his wife. 
 
 After the settlement of the several colonies, all persons were 
 obliged by law to contribute to the support of the church. Spe- 
 cial care was taken that all persons should attend public worship. 
 In Connecticut, the law obliged them to be present on the Lord's 
 day — on all days of public fasting and thanksgiving, appointed by 
 civil authority — on penalty of five shillings for every instance of 
 neglect. 
 
 By the year 1642, twenty-two years from the landing of the 
 pilgrims at Plymouth, there had been settled in New England, 
 seventy-seven ministers, who were driven from the parent coun 
 try ; fifty towns and villages had been planted, and thirty or forty 
 churches gathered. 
 
 In 1037, the first synod convened in America, sat at Newtown, 
 Massachusetts, and was composed of all the teaching elders in the 
 country, and messengers of the several churches. Magistrates 
 also were present, and spoke as they thought fit. The object of 
 calling this synod was to inquire into the opinions of one Ann 
 Hutchinson, a very extraordinary woman, who held public lec- 
 tures in Boston, and taught doctrines considered heretical. The 
 whole colony was agitated and divided into parties. The synod, 
 after a session of three weeks, condemned eighty-two erroneous 
 opinions, which had become disseminated in New England. 
 
 The Dutch Reformed Church was introduced into 
 New York with the first settlers, and was generally 
 embraced by the Dutch population <af that colony. 
 
SETTLEMENTS. 83 
 
 The Roman Catholics first came to America in 1632: 
 they settled in Maryland, and now constitute a respecta- 
 ble and numerous portion of the inhabitants of that 
 state. 
 
 The first Baptist church in America was formed at 
 Providence, in 1039, under the celebrated Roger Wil- 
 liams. Their sentiments spreading into Massachusetts, 
 in 1651, the general court passed a law against them, 
 inflicting banishment for persisting in the promulgation 
 of their doctrines. 
 
 In J 656, the Quakers making their appearance in 
 Massachusetts, the legislature of that colony passed 
 severe laws against them. 
 
 N ) master of a vessel was allowed to bring any one of this sect 
 into its jurisdiction, on penalty of one hundred pounds. Other 
 still severer penalities were inflicted upon them in 1057, such as 
 cutting their ears, and boring their tongues with a hot iron, &c. 
 They were at length banished on pain of death, and, for refusing 
 to go, were executed in 1650. 
 
 Without intending to justify these severities toward the Bap- 
 tists, Quakers, and other sectaries, it is still proper to state, as 
 some apology for them, that the conduct of the leaders of these 
 Beets was often calculated, and no doubt designed, to provoke 
 persecution. They sought improper occasions to inculcate their 
 peculiar tenets, departed unnecessarily from the decencies of 
 social intercourse, and rudely inveighed against established and 
 cherished opinions. In this way, the peace of the colonies was 
 disturbed, and that unanimity of religious sentiment, which had 
 hitherto existed, was broken. Our forefathers sought to avert 
 these evils by the arm of civil power; not yet having learnt that 
 persecution is a ready way to propagate the sentiments of the 
 persecuted. 
 
 In tha year 1040, a synod met at Cambridge, which, by 
 ldjournment, protrapted its session to 1048, when it dissolved. 
 This synod composed and adopted the " Cambridge Platform," 
 and recommended it, together with the Westminster Confession 
 of Faith, to the general court and to the churches. In this synod 
 were present the ministers and churches of Connecticut and 
 New Haven, who united in the form of discipline which it rec- 
 ommended. This, in connection with the ecclesiastical laws, was 
 the religious constitution of Connecticut, until the compilation of 
 the Saybrook Platform, a period of about sixty years. 
 
 53. Trade and Commerce. The colonies, during 
 this period, had little other trade than with En si and. 
 
84 period ii.— 1607 to 1689. 
 
 though the West India trade had begun, and there was 
 some commerce with Canada, and a few ports on the 
 European continent. The colonies imported from Eng- 
 land all their merchandise ; and exported thither to- 
 bacco, peltry, and at length some beef, pork, grain, and 
 fish. The importations from England, however, much 
 exceeded the exports thither. 
 
 During the first thirty years of the colony of Virginia, their 
 exports were confined to tobacco. But the price ot it feU, at 
 length, from three shillings and sixpence per pomnd, to twt nty 
 shillings per hundred, in consequence of which, a trade was 
 opened with the frontier Indians and the Five Nations. The 
 skins of the deer, elk, and buffalo, and the furs of the otter, hare, 
 fox, muskrat, and beaver, were procured for rum, hatchets, 
 blankets, &c. These skins and furs were exported to Eng 
 land. English grain and Indian corn were also exported to a 
 considerable extent. Although the Virginians owned a few ves 
 eels, the greater part of the trade was carried on by English ves 
 sels, during this period. They brought to the colony English 
 manufactures, and took tobacco, furs, skins, grain, tar, pitch, <Slc. 
 in return. The Virginians also carried on some trade with 
 Canada. 
 
 The principal article of export from New England, during this 
 period, was peltry, which was procured of the Indians, for goods 
 of small value. In 1G39, a fishing trade was begun at Cape 
 Anne, and in 1(341, three hundred thousand codfish were sent to 
 market. 
 
 The first vessel directly from the West Indies was a Dutch 
 ship of one hundred and sixty tons, which arrived at Marblehead, 
 1635. The first American vessel that made a voyage to the West 
 Indies was a pinnace of thirty tons, in 1G30. The ship Desire y 
 of Salem, made a voyage, in 1638, to New Providence and Tor- 
 tuga, and returned laden with cotton, tobacco, salt, ancL negroes. 
 This was the first introduction of African slaves into New Eng- 
 land. The first importation of indigo and sugar from the West 
 Indies, mentioned in our accounts, was made in 1039. In 1042, 
 a Dutch ship exchanged a cargo of salt for plank and pipe-staves, 
 the first exports of lumber from New England. The next year, 
 eleven ships sailed for the West Indies with lumber. 
 
 In 1G78, the annual exports of the New York colony, besides 
 beef, pork, tobacco, and peltry, were about sixty thousand bush- 
 els of wheat. About ten or fifteen vessels, on an average, of 
 one hundred tons, English and colonial, traded to this colony 
 in a year. 
 
 54. Agriculture. Early attention was paid to agri- 
 culture. The first business of the settlers was to clear 
 
8ETTLEMF.NTS. 85 
 
 the forests, and supply themselves with food from the 
 3oil. But the fertility of the earth taught them soon to 
 look to agriculture as a sourco of wealth, as well as of 
 subsistence. It therefore became the leading object of 
 industry in the colonies. 
 
 The method adopted by the first settlers to clear the land, was 
 slow and laborious, compared with the present modes. They 
 used generally to cut down the trees, and dig up the stumps, be- 
 fore tillage. 
 
 Tobacco was early cultivated in Virginia, and soon began to 
 be exported. The year after the colony landed, the people 
 gathered corn of their own planting, the seed of which they re- 
 ceived of the Indians. Vineyards were attempted, and experienced 
 vine-dressers were sent over for the purpose of attending them. 
 Flax, hemp, barley, <fcc, were cultivated to a considerable extent. 
 Rye was first raised in Massachusetts in 1033. Ploughs were 
 early introduced into the country. 
 
 Neat cattle were first introduced into New England by Mr 
 Winslow, in 1024. In 1029, one hundred and forty head of cat- 
 tle, with horses, sheep, and goats, were imported into Massachu- 
 setts Bay. In a few years, they became so numerous as to supply 
 all the wants of the inhabitants. In 1623, the cattle in Virginia 
 had increased to above one thousand head. 
 
 New York raised considerable beef and pork for exportation, 
 and in 1076, there were exported from the province sixty thousand 
 bushels of wheat. 
 
 55. Arts and Manufactures. The colonists, dur- 
 ing this period, being chiefly occupied in gaining a sub- 
 sistence, and in protecting themselves against their ene- 
 mies, had occasion for few articles beyond the necessa- 
 ries and comforts of life. Arts and manufactures, there- 
 fore, received but little encouragement, beyond the 
 construction of such articles, and even those were 
 principally imported. 
 
 In 1020, one hundred and fifty persons arrived in Virginia, 
 from England, for the purpose of manufacturing silk, iron, pot- 
 ash, t?.r, pitch, glass, salt, <fcc. ; but they did not succeed. In 
 1073, Chalmers says of New England, " There be five iron works 
 which cast no guns — no house in New England has above twen- 
 ty rooms — not twenty in Boston have ten rooms each — a dancing 
 school was set up here, but put down — a feneing school is al- 
 lowed. There be no musicians by trade. All cordage, sail-cloth 
 and mats, come from England — no cloth made there worth four shil- 
 lings per yard — no alum, no copperas, no salt, made by their sun " 
 8 
 
86 period ii.— 1607 to 1689. 
 
 The first buildings of the settlers were made cf logs, and thatched, 
 or were built of stone Brick and framed houses were soon built 
 in the larger towns, and afterwards in the villages. The frames 
 and brick were, however, in some instances, imported. The first 
 mill in New England was a wind-mill, near Watertown ; but it 
 was taken down in 1632, and placed in the vicinity of Boston. 
 Water-mills began to be erected the next year. The first attempt 
 to build water-craft, in New England, was at Plymouth, in 1026. A 
 house-carpenter sawed their largest boat into two pari?, *.nd length- 
 ened it five or six feet, built a deck, and rigged it into a conve- 
 nient vessel, which did service for seven years. The first vessel 
 built in Massachusetts was a bark, in 1C31, called The Blessing 
 of the Bay. In 1033, a ship of sixty tons was built at Medford. 
 In 1636, one of one hundred and twenty tons was built at Mar- 
 blehead. In 1C41 , a ship of three hundred tons was launched at 
 Salem, and one of one hundred and sixty tons at Boston. From 
 this time, ship-building rapidly extended in the northern colonies. 
 
 The first printing in New England was executed in 1G39, by 
 one Day. The proprietor of the press was a clergyman, by the 
 name of" Glover, who died on his passage to America. The first 
 article printed was the Freeman's Oath, the second an almanac, 
 and the third an edition of the Psalms. No other printing- 
 press was established in America during this period. John 
 Elliot, the celebrated missionary, having translated the Bible into 
 the Indian language, had it printed at Cambridge, in 1004. 
 
 The mode ot travelling considerable distances was on foot, or 
 on horseback, there being no carriages for that puipose, and the 
 roads from one village to another being only narrow foot-paths, 
 through forests. 
 
 56. Population. We may estimate the populatior 
 of the English American colonies, at the close of thi. 
 period, at about 200,000. 
 
 It is impossible to ascertain very exactly the population of th« 
 American colonies at the close of this period. The estimates 
 made by writers are vague and often contradictory. The estimate 
 of Dr. Humphries in 1701, which seems as well entitled to credit 
 as any other, is as follows : — 
 
 Souls. 
 
 Massachusetts 70,000 
 
 Connecticut 30,000 
 
 Rhode Island 10,000 
 
 New Hampshire 10.000 
 
 New En-land 120,000 
 
 Mid. and S. Colonies 142,000 
 
 Total.... 262,000 
 
 Svulx 
 
 NewYork 30.000 
 
 Jerseys 15,000 
 
 Pennsylvania 20,000 
 
 Maryland 25.000 
 
 Virginia 40,000 
 
 North Carolina 5,000 
 
 South Carolina 7,000 
 
 142,000 
 
SETTLEMENTS. 87 
 
 Making a deduction from this account, so as to bring the esti- 
 mate to the close of our period, we state the whole white popu- 
 lation of the English American colonies, in 1689, at about two 
 hundred thousand. 
 
 57. Education. In New England, schools were 
 founded, at the outset of the colonies, for the education 
 of all classes : in the southern colonies, provisions for 
 the education of the higher classes only were attempted 
 during this period. 
 
 Scarcely had the American colonists opened the forests, and 
 constructed habitations, before they directed their attention to 
 the object of education. 
 
 Previously to 1619, the king of England authorized the col- 
 lection of moneys throughout the kingdom, to erect a college in 
 Virginia, for the education of Indian children : one thousand 
 five hundred pounds were collected for this purpose, and Henrico 
 was selected as a suitable place for the seminary. The same 
 year, the Virginia company granted ten thousand acres of land 
 for the projected university. This donation, while it embraced 
 the original object, was intended also for the foundation of a 
 seminary of learning for English scholars. 
 
 In addition to a college, the colonists, in 1621, instituted a 
 school at Charles' City for the benefit of all the colony, which 
 they called the East India School. For the maintenance of the 
 master and usher, one thousand acres of land were appropriated, 
 with five servants and an overseer. From this school, pupils 
 were to be transferred to the college at Henrico, when the 
 latter should be sufficiently endowed. These establishments 
 in Virginia, however, failed of success, and, in 1692, their funds 
 were given to William and Mary's college, which we shall no- 
 tice hereafter. 
 
 Still more attentive to education were the northern colonies. 
 In 1630, a general court of Massachusetts Bay appropriated the 
 sum of four hundred pounds towards the commencement of a 
 college. In 1637, the college was located at Newtown, which, 
 not long after, was called Cambridge, in memory of Cambridge, 
 in England, where many of the colonists had received their edu- 
 cation. Mr. John Harvard, a worthy minister, dying at Charles- 
 town about this time, bequeathed nearly eight hundred pounds 
 to the college, in consideration of which legacy it was called 
 after him. In 1642 was held the first commencement, at which 
 nine were graduated. 
 
 To this institution the plantations of Connecticut and New 
 Haven, so long as they remained unable to support a similar one 
 at home, contributed funds from the public purse ; and sent to 
 it such of their youth as they wished to be educated. Private 
 
88 period ii. — 1607 to 1689. 
 
 subscriptions were also made from the United Colonies, to ai<4 
 die institution. 
 
 Great attention was also paid by all the colonies to the sub- 
 ject of common schools. As a specimen of the arrangements 
 common to the New England colonies, we may notice those of 
 Connecticut. By her first code, in 1G39, only six years from the 
 time the first house was erected within the colony, it was or 
 dered that every town, consisting of fifty families, should maic 
 tain a good school, in which reading and writing should be well 
 taught ; and that in every county town & good rammar school 
 should be instituted. Large tracts of land were' appropriated by 
 the legislature as a permanent support of these schools, and the 
 selectmen of every town were required to see that ail heads of 
 families instructed their children and servants to read the Eng- 
 lish tongue well. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 58. At the commencement of this period, our history present 
 ed us with a continent, over whose surface an interminable wil- 
 derness had for ages cast its deep and solemn shade. If we 
 approach the shore, and look through the gloom that gathers 
 over it, the scenes which strike the eye are Indians at their war 
 dance, or, perhaps, flames curling round some expiring captive, 
 or wild beasts mangling their prey. 
 
 Passing from this point of time to the close of our period, a 
 space of eighty-two years, the prospect ia greatly changed. We 
 now see smiling fields and cheerful villages, in the place of dis- 
 mal forests ; instead of beasts of prey, we see grazing herds ; 
 instead of the kindling fagot, we witness the worship of Jesus 
 Christ ; and instead of the appalling war-whoop, we listen to the 
 grateful songs of David. In the beautiful words of Scripture, 
 the wilderness has begun to blossom as the rose, and the desert is 
 becoming vocal with the praises of God. 
 
 But how is it that a change so wonderful has been brought to 
 pass ? We have indeed seen the hardy spirit of enterprise leav 
 ing the luxuries of Europe, and plunging into the forests of 
 America. But we have also seen our forefathers struggling with 
 difficulties, and often trembling on the very brink of ruin. We 
 have seen them amidst Indian war, desolating famine and pesti- 
 lence ; and we have wondered, after the storm has passed, to 
 see them rise with renovated strength, and seem to gather 
 power and advantage from circumstances calculated to over- 
 whelm them. 
 
 Admitting, then, the extraordinary energy, wisdom, enterprise, 
 and hardihood, of the first settlers of America, still we are driven 
 to the admission of a benign Providence working in their favor 
 
SETTLEMENTS. 89 
 
 and mysteriously establishing their strength and security, by ex- 
 ercising them for years with danger, trial, and misfortune. 
 
 Nor are these the only considerations which excite our admi 
 ration in regard to the first settlers of North America. Although, 
 in the eloquent words of Mr. Walsh, " It was their peculiar lot, 
 at one and the same time, to clear and cultivate a wilderness; 
 to erect habitations and procure sustenance ; to struggle with a 
 new and rigorous climate ; to bear up against all the bitter rec- 
 ollections inseparable from distant and lonely exile ; to defend 
 their liberties from the jealous tyranny and bigotry of the mother 
 country ; to be perpetually assailed by a savage foe, the most subtle 
 and the most formidable of any people on the face of the earth:" 
 still, they looked forward to the welfare of future generations ; 
 laid broad and deep foundations for religious institutions ; made 
 the most careful provisions for learning ; and enacted wholesome 
 laws, the benefit of which is distinctly felt to this day. 
 
 It may be further remarked, that history shows the influence 
 of the manners of a people upon their government, and the 
 reciprocal influence of government upon the manners of a 
 people. The history of this period furnishes striking examples 
 of this. In Virginia, the free and licentious manners of society 
 produce a government unsteady and capricious. This govern- 
 ment reacts upon their manners, and aids rather than checks 
 their licentiousness. On the contrary, in New England, the 
 severe Peritanical manners of the people produce a rigid, ener- 
 getic government, and the government returns its Puritanical 
 influence back upon the manners of the people 
 
 8» 
 
UNITED STATES 
 
 PERIOD III. 
 
 DISTINGUISHED FOR THE WARS OF KING WILLIAM, 
 QUEEN ANNE, AND GEORGE II. 
 
 Extending from the Accession of William and Mary to 
 the Throne of England, 1089, to the Declaration of 
 the War by England against France , 175G, called 
 " the French and Indian War " 
 
 See. 1. The news of William's accession to the throne 
 of England excited great joy throughout the colonies. 
 Under the sudden impulse of their feelings, the inhab- 
 itants of Boston imprisoned Sir Edmund Andros, with 
 about fifty of his associates, until they were ordered to 
 England, to answer for maladministration. Connecti- 
 cut and Rhode Island resumed their charters, and were 
 permitted by his majesty to reestablish their former gov- 
 ernments. Massachusetts soon after obtained a new 
 charter, which, in some respects, was less favorable to 
 the colony, but, in others, more so, than its former one. 
 
 Andros had formerly been governor of New York, 
 under the Duke of York, in which province his ad- 
 ministration had been distinguished for measures both 
 arbitrary and severe. . Subsequent governors, under the 
 duke, and after he came to the throne, had generally pur- 
 sued a similar course. The discontents of the people 
 had been gradually increasing, and they were ready for 
 revolution, when the above intelligence of the proceed- 
 ings at Boston arrived. A revolution soon commenced, 
 
WARS OF WILLIAM III., ANNE, AND GEORGE II. 91 
 
 md, although attended by unhappy events, issued in the 
 festoration of the rights of the people, and the formation 
 of a constitution, which laid the foundation of their pro- 
 vincial code. 
 
 From the reduction of New York, in 16G4, to 1683, the people 
 had no share in the government. In 1G81 , the council court of 
 assizes, and corporation, had solicited the Duke of York to per- 
 mit the people to choose their own rulers. Accordingly, the next 
 year, Thomas Dongan, a papist, was appointed governor, with 
 instructions to call an assembly, to consist of a council of ten, 
 and of eighteen representatives, elected by the freeholders. 
 
 On the access-ion of the Duke of York to the throne, under 
 the title of James II., he refused to confirm to the people the 
 privileges granted them while he was duke. No assembly was 
 permitted to be convened ; printing-presses were prohibited, and 
 the more important provincial offices were conferred on papists. 
 
 Such was the state of things when intelligence of the 
 jeizure of Andros arrived. This gave a spring to the general 
 dissatisfaction, which burst forth into open resistance to the ex- 
 isting administration. 
 
 One Jacob Leisler, with several others, immediately took pos- 
 session of the fort. Gov. Dongan had just embarked for Eng- 
 land, leaving the administration of the government, during his 
 absence, to Charles Nicholson, at that time his deputy. Nichol- 
 son and his officers made what opposition to Leisler they were 
 able ; but, he having been joined by six militia captains, and four 
 hundred and seventy men, Nicholson absconded. Upon this, 
 Leisler assumed the supreme command. 
 
 This assumption of Leisler was far from being pleasant to the 
 council and magistrates, at the head of whom were Col. Bayard and 
 the mayor. Finding it impossiole, however, to succeed against 
 Leisler in New York, they retired to Albany, and there employed 
 their influence to foment opposition. Both Leisler, in New York, 
 and the people at Albany, held their respective garrisons in the 
 name of William and Mary ; but neither would submit to the 
 authority of the other. 
 
 While affairs were in this posture, a letter from the Lords Car- 
 mathen and Halifax arrived, directed " To Francis Nicholson, 
 Esq., or, in his absence, to such as, for the time being, take care 
 for preserving the peace and administering the laws," &c. Ac- 
 companying this letter was another of a subsequent date, vest- 
 ing Nicholson with the chief command. 
 
 As Nicholson had absconded, Leisler construed the letter as 
 directed to himself, and from that time assumed the title and 
 authority of lieutenant-governor. The southern part of New 
 York generally submitted to him ; but Albany refusing subjec- 
 
92 period in.— 1G89 to 1756 
 
 tion, Milborn, his son-in-law, was sent to reduce them. In his 
 first attempt he failed ; but during the ensuing spring, 1690, he 
 took possession of the fort, and the inhabitants submitted. 
 
 On the 19th of March, 1691, Col. Sloughter arrived at New 
 York, in the capacity of the king's governor. Nicholson and 
 Bayard, who had been imprisoned by • Leisler, were released. 
 The latter was obliged to abandon the fort, and, with Milborn, 
 his son-in-law, was apprehended, tried for high treason, and 
 condemned. Their immediate execution was urged by the peo 
 pie ; but the governor, fearful of consequences, chose to defer it. 
 To effect their purpose, an invitation was given him by the citi- 
 zens to a sumptuous feast, and, while his reason was drowned 
 in intoxication, a warrant for their execution was presented to 
 him and signed. Before he recovered his senses, the prisoners 
 were no more. 
 
 Measures so violent greatly agitated the existing parties ; but, 
 in the end, the revolution which had taken place, restored the 
 rights of Englishmen to the colony. Gov. Sloughter convoked 
 an assembly, which formed a constitution. This, among other 
 provisions, secured trials by jury, freedom from taxation, except 
 by the consent of the assembly, and toleration to all denomina- 
 tions of Christians, excepting Roman Catholics. 
 
 It may be added, in this place, that the civil history of New 
 York, from this period to the French war, presents few events 
 of special interest to the young. The governors, who succeeded 
 Sloughter, during the above interval, were Fletcher, 1692 ; the 
 Earl of Bellamont, 1698 ; Lord Cor nbury, 1702; Hunter, 1710 ; 
 Burnet, 1720; Montgomery, 1731 ; Crosby, 1732; Clark, 1736; 
 George Clinton, 1743. In general, these governors were strong- 
 ly attached to the interests of the crown, and often apparently 
 more solicitous to subserve their own selfish purposes than to 
 advance the permanent welfare of the colony. Hence collis- 
 ions frequently arose between them and the colonial assemblies, 
 which disturbed the general peace, and retarded the prosperity 
 of the calony. 
 
 2. 1(590. While the northern colonies were troubled, 
 as noticed in the preceding section, those of the Caro- 
 linas were in a similar state of dissension and distress. 
 To allay these, in the northern colony, Seth Sothel was 
 appointed chief magistrate ; but, proving corrupt in his 
 administration, he was banished by the assembly, in 
 1690 ; immediately after which, he repaired to Charles- 
 ton, and usurped the government of the southern colony. 
 Added to this, a quarrel arose, between the proprietors 
 and the English inhabitants, in relation to a body of 
 
WARS OF WILLIAM III., ANNE, AND GEORGE II. 93 
 
 Fiench Protestants, which had planted themselves in the 
 county of Craven — the proprietors demanding for them 
 the privilege of electing representatives, which was stren- 
 Juously refused by the English Episcopalians. Such be- 
 ing the general turbulence and disorder of the times, 
 Sir John Archdale, one of the proprietors, was sent over, 
 in 1695, as governor of both the Carolinas, with full 
 powers to redress grievances, and to adjust, if possible, 
 existing difficulties. These objects, by his singular wis- 
 dom and address, he in a measure accomplished. 
 
 In respect to the deep-rooted prejudices existing against the 
 above French Protestants, Archdale found it to be the part of wis- 
 dom to leave them to be softened and removed by time. This a 
 few years effected. The amiable deportment of the refugees so won 
 upon the English, that they were cheerfully admitted to all the 
 rights of citizens and freemen. 
 
 At a subsequent date, the repose of the southern colony was 
 
 freatly disturbed by the passage of a law by the general assem- 
 ly, establishing the Episcopal religion, and excluding dissenters 
 from a seat in the assembly. This gave birth to bitter animosities, 
 and as bitter contentions. Complaints being made to Queen Anne, 
 then on the throne, the law was declared to be void. This agitat 
 ing question being thus put at rest, the colony again enjoyed the 
 blessings of domestic quiet. (See Sec. 17, 20.) 
 
 3. About this period, 1G92, commenced in Danvers 
 then a part of Salem, Massachusetts, a singular infatu 
 ation on the supposed prevalence of witchcraft. In a 
 short time, this infatuation pervaded several parts of 
 New England, producing, in its progress, the greatest 
 distress in private families, and disorder and tumult 
 throughout the country. 
 
 The first suspicion of witchcraft in New England, and in the 
 United States, began at Springfield, Massachusetts, as early as 
 1645. Several persons, about that time, were accused, tried and 
 executed in Massachusetts; one at Charlestown,one at Dorches 
 ter, one at Cambridge, and one at Boston. For almost thirty 
 years afterwards, <Ue subject rested. But, in 1687 or 1688, it was 
 revived in Boston ; four of the children of John Goodwin uniting 
 in accusing a poor Irish woman with bewitching them. Unhap- 
 pily, the accusation was regarded with attention, and the woman 
 was tried and executed. 
 
 Near the close of February, 1692, the subject was again re- 
 
94 I'Ekiod in.— 1689 to 1756. 
 
 vived, in consequence of several children in Danvers, Salem, 
 beginning to act in a peculiar and unaccountable manner. Their 
 strange conduct continuing for several days, their friends betook 
 themselves to fasting and prayer. During religious exercises, 
 it was found that the children were generally decent and still ; 
 but after service was ended, they renewed their former inexpli- 
 cable conduct. This was deemed sufficient evidence that they 
 were laboring under the influence of witchcraft. 
 
 At the expiration of some days, the children began '.c accuse 
 several persons in the neighborhood of bewitching them. Un- 
 fortunately, they were credited, and the suspected authors of the 
 spell were seized and imprisoned. 
 
 From this date, the awful mania rapidly spread into the neigh- 
 boring country, and soon appeared in various parts of Essex, 
 Middlesex, and Suffolk. Persons at Andover, Ipswich, Glouces- 
 ter, Boston, and several other places, were accused by their 
 neighbors and others. 
 
 For some time, the victims were selected only from the lower 
 classes. But, at length, the accusations fell upon persons of the 
 most respectable rank. In August, Mr. George Boroughs, some 
 time minister in Salem, was accused, brought to trial, and con- 
 demned. Accusations were also brought against Mr. English, a 
 respectable merchant in Salem, and his wife ; against Messrs 
 Dudley and John Bradstreet, sons of the then late Governoi 
 Brad street ; against the wife of Mr. Hale, and the lady of Sh 
 William Phipps. 
 
 The evil had now become awfully alarming. One man, named 
 Giles Corey, had been pressed to death for refusing to put him 
 self on a trial by jury ; and nineteen persons had been executed, 
 more than one third of whom were members of the church. 
 One hundred and fifty were in prison, and two hundred were - 
 accused. 
 
 At length, the inquiry was anxiously suggested, Where will 
 this accumulating mischief and misery end ? A conviction be- 
 gan to spread, that the proceedings had been rash and indefensi- 
 ble. A special court was held on the subject, and fifty, who were 
 brought to trial, were acquitted, excepting three, who were after- 
 wards reprieved by the governor. These events were followed 
 by a general release of those who had been imprisoned. " Thus 
 the cloud," says the late President D wight, " which had so long 
 hung over the colony, slowly and sullenly retired; and, like the 
 darkness of Egypt, was, to the great joy of the distressed in- 
 habitants, succeeded by serenity and sunshine." 
 
 We, who live to look back upon this scene, are wont to con- 
 template, with wonder, the seeming madness and infatuation, 
 not of the weak, illiterate, and unprincipled, but of men of 
 sense, education, and fervent piety. Let us consider, however, 
 that, at this period, the actual existence of witchcraft was taken 
 
WARS OF WILLIAM III., ANNE, AND GEORGE II. 95 
 
 fo* granted, and that doubts respecting it were deemed little less 
 than heresy. The learned Baxter, who lived at this time in 
 England, where the same notions on this subject prevailed, pro 
 nounced the disbeliever in witchcraft, an " obdurate Sadducee ;' 
 and Sir Matthew Hale, one of the brightest ornaments of the 
 English bench, repeatedly tried and condemned those as crim- 
 inals who were accused of witchcraft. 
 
 In conclusion, it may be remarked, that no people on earth are 
 note more enlightened on this subject than are the people of 
 America. Nothing of a similar kind has since existed, and 
 probably never will exist. Stories of wonder, founded upon an- 
 cient tradition, or upon a midnight adventure, sometimes awe 
 the village circle on a winter's night ; but the succeeding day 
 chases away every ghost, and lulls every fear. It becomes the 
 present generation to advert with gratitude to their freedom 
 From those delusions which distressed and agitated their ancestors, 
 rather than to bestow invectives upon them, since they could 
 plead, in palliation of their error, the spirit of the age in which 
 they lived. 
 
 * 4. Scarcely were the colonies relieved from the op- 
 pression of King James, before they were visited with 
 troubles of a nature still more distressing. The revolu- 
 tion, which followed the accession of William and Mary, 
 had indeed restored their liberties, but it involved them 
 tn a war both with the French and Indians, which con- 
 tinued from 1690 to the peace of Rvswick, in 1697, 
 commonly called " King William's War." 
 
 King James, on leaving England, fled to France. Louis XIV , 
 king of France, attempting to support him, kindled the flame of 
 war between his own country and England. The subjects of 
 Louis, in Canada, of course, directed their arms against the colo- 
 nies of New England and New York, and instigated the Indiana 
 to join them in their hostilities. 
 
 The governor of Canada, at this time, was Count 
 Frontenac, a brave and enterprising officer. Inflamed 
 with the resentment which had kindled in the bosom of 
 his master, he fitted out three expeditions, in the dead 
 of winter, against the American colonies — one against 
 New York, a second against New Hampshire, and a 
 -third against the Province of Maine. Each of these 
 parties, in the execution of their orders, marked their 
 progress with plunder, fire, and death. 
 
90 period in. — 1689 to 1756. 
 
 The party destined against New York, consisting of about three 
 hundred men, fell upon Schenectady, a village on the Mohawk, 
 in February. The season was cold, and the snow so deep, that 
 it was deemed impossible for an enemy to approach. The attack 
 was made in the dead of the night, while the inhabitants were in a 
 profound sleep. Not a sentinel was awake to announce the ap- 
 proaching danger. Care had been taken, by a division of the 
 enemy, to attack almost every house in the same moment. When 
 the preparations were ready, on a preconcerted signal, the ap- 
 palling war-whoop was begun; houses were broken open and 
 set on fire ; men and women were dragged from their beds, and, 
 with their sleeping infants, were inhumanly murdered. Sixty 
 persons perished in the massacre, thirty were made prisoners, 
 while the rest of the inhabitants, mostly naked, fled through a 
 deep snow, either suffering extremely, or perishing in the cold. 
 
 The second party, directing their course to New Hampshire, 
 burned Salmon Falls, killing thirty of ths bravest men, and car 
 rying fifty-four of the inhabitants into a miserable captivity. 
 
 The third party, proceeding from Quebec, destroyed the set- 
 tlement of Casco, in Maine, and killed and captured one hun- 
 dred people. 
 
 5. Roused by these proceedings of the French, the 
 colony of Massachusetts resolved to attack the enemy 
 in turn. Accordingly, an expedition, consisting of seven 
 vessels and eight hundred men, under command of Sir 
 William Phipps, sailed for the reduction of Port Royal, 
 in Nova Scotia, which was easily and speedily effected. 
 
 This was soon followed by a second expedition, under 
 the same commander, by the colonies of New York, 
 Connecticut, and Massachusetts, united, for the reduc- 
 tion of Montreal and Quebec. A combination of un 
 fortunate circumstances, however, defeated the design, 
 and the expedition, after encountering numerous disas- 
 ters, returned. 
 
 The plan was, for the troops of New York and Connecticut, 
 consisting of about two thousand, to penetrate into Canada, by 
 Lake Champlain, and to attack Montreal, at the same time that 
 the naval armament, consisting of between thirty and forty ves- 
 sels, with a similar number of men, should invest Quebec. The 
 troops destined for Montreal, not being supplied either with boats 
 or provisions, sufficient for crossing the lake, were obliged to re- 
 turn. The naval expedition did not reach Quebec until October. 
 After spending several days in consultation, the landing of the 
 troops was effected, and they began their march for the town. 
 
WARS OF WILLIAM III., ANNE, AND GEORGE II 97 
 
 At the same time, the ships were drawn up ; hut the attack, both 
 by land and water, was alike unsuccessful. The troops were 
 soon after re-embarked ; and the weather, proving tempestuous, 
 scattered the fleet, and terminated the expedition. 
 
 The success of the expedition had been so confidently antici- 
 pated, that provision had not been made for the payment of the 
 troops : there was danger, therefore, of a mutiny. In this ex 
 t-emity, Massachusetts issued bills of credit, as a substitute for 
 money ; the first emission of the kind in the American colonies. 
 
 6. The failure oi the expedition to Quebec was hum- 
 bling to New England, and productive of other unhappy 
 consequences. The Indian tribes, Mohawks, Oneidas, 
 Benecas, Onondagas, and Delawares, called the Five Na- 
 tions, settled along the banks of the Susquehannah, and 
 in the adjacent country, who were in alliance with Great 
 Britain, and had long been a safeguard to the colonies? 
 against the French, became dissatisfied. They blamed 
 the English for their inactivity, and manifested a dispo- 
 sition to make peace with the French. 
 
 To restore the confidence of the Indian allies, Major Peter 
 Schuyler, the next year, 1691. at the head of three hundred Eng 
 lish 3oldiers, and as many Mohawk Indians, made an attack on 
 the French settlements north of Lake Champlain. De Callierefcj 
 governor of Montreal, was waiting to oppose him. After seve> 
 ral irregular, but successful conflicts, Schuyler made good }»» 
 retreat, having killed thirteen officers and three hundred men. 
 
 New York found great security against the encroachments of 
 the French, in the Five Nations, who now carried on a vigorous 
 war, along the river St. Lawrence, from Montreal to Quebec. 
 
 But the eastern portion of the country, particularly New Ilamp 
 shire, suffered exceedingly; the storm falling with the greatest 
 severity upon them. Both Connecticut and Massachusetts raised 
 troops for their defence ; but such was the danger and distress 
 »f the colony of New Hampshire, that the inhabitants were upon 
 the point of abandoning the province. 
 
 The winter of 1(3% was unusually severe. Never had the 
 Country sustained such losses in commerce ; nor had provisions, 
 in any period of the war, been more scarce, or borne a higher 
 price. 
 
 7. In the midst of these distresses, the country was 
 threatened with a blow, which it seemed imp'^siLle that 
 it should sustain. The Marquis Nesinond. an officer 
 of high reputation, was despatched from ' /£i«cf», with 
 
J8 period hi. — 1689 to 1756. 
 
 ten ships of the line, a galliot, and two frigates. Count 
 Frontenac, from Canada, was expected to join him at 
 Penobscot, with one thousand five hundred men. With 
 this force, they were to make a descent on Boston ; to 
 range the coast of Newfoundland, and burn the ship- 
 ping which should fall in their way. To finish their 
 work of destruction, they were to take New York, 
 whence the troops, under Frontenac, were to return to 
 Canada, through the country, wasting and destroying 
 the regions through which they should pass. But De 
 Nesmond sailed too late for the accomplishment of his 
 purpose. On his arrival on the coast, not being able to 
 join Frontenac in season, the expedition failed, and the 
 colonies were saved. At length, December 10, 1697, a 
 treaty was concluded between France and England, at 
 Ryswick, in Germany, by which it was agreed, in gen- 
 eral terms, that a mutual restitution should be made of 
 all the countries, forts, and colonies, taken by each party 
 during the war. 
 
 King William's war, which was thus brought to a close, had 
 been marked by atrocities, on the part of the French and Indians, 
 until then unknown in the history of the colonies. Infants, 
 when they became troublesome, were despatched by being dashed 
 against a stone or tree ; or, to add to the anguish of a mother, 
 her babe was sometimes lacerated with a scourge, or nearly stran 
 gled under water, and then presented to her to quiet. If unable 
 soon to succeed in this, it was too effectually quieted by the hatch 
 et, or left behind to become the prey of prowling beasts. Some 
 of the captives were roasted alive ; others received dee]) wounds 
 in the fleshy parts of their bodies, into which sticks on fire were 
 thrust, until, tormented out of life, they expired. 
 
 The details of individual sufferings, which occurred during this 
 war, were they faithfully recorded, would excite the sympathies 
 of the most unfeeling bosom. One instance only can we relate. 
 
 In an attack, by a body of Indians, on Haverhill, New Hamp- 
 shire, in the winter of 1G07, the concluding year of the war, a 
 party of the assailants, burning with savage animosity, approached 
 the house of a Mr. Dustan. Upon the first alarm, he flew from 
 a neighboring field to his family, with the hope of hurrying them 
 to a place of safety. Seven of his children he directed to flee, 
 while he himself went to assist his wife, who was confined to the 
 bed with an infant a week old. u ut before she could leave her 
 bed. the savages arrived. 
 
WARS OF WILLIAM III., ANNE, AND GEORGE II. 99 
 
 In despair of rendering her assistance, Mr. Dustan flew to tin 
 door, mounted his horse, and determined, in his own mind, ta 
 snatch up and save the child which he loved the best. He fol- 
 lowed in pursuit of his little flock ; but, upon coining up to 
 them, he found it impossible to make a selection. The eye of the 
 parent could see no one of the number that he could abandon to 
 the knife of the savage. He determined, therefore, to meet hia 
 fate with them ; to defend and save them from their pursuers, or 
 die by their side. 
 
 A body of Indians soon came up with him, and, from short dig* 
 tances, fired upon him and his little company. For more than i 
 mile, he continued to retreat, placing himself between his chil 
 dren and the fire of the savages, and returning their shots witk. 
 great spirit and success. At length, he saw them all safely 
 lodged from their bloody pursuers, in a distant house. 
 
 It is not easy to find a nobler instance of fortitude and courage, 
 inspired by affection, than is exhibited in this instance. Let us 
 ever cultivate the influence of those ties of kindred, which are 
 capable of giving so generous and elevated a direction to our 
 actions. 
 
 As Mr. Dustan quitted his house, a party of Indians entered it. 
 Mrs. Dustan was in bed ; but they ordered her to rise, and, before 
 she could completely dress herself, obliged her and her nurse, o 
 Mrs. Teif, who had vainly endeavored to escape with the infant 
 to quit the house, which they plundered and set on fire. 
 
 In these distressing circumstances, Mrs. Dustan began hei 
 march, with other captives, into the wilderness. The air wa? 
 Keen, and their path led alternat dy through snow and deep mud ; 
 and her savage conductors delighted rather in the infliction of 
 torment than the alleviation of distress. 
 
 The company had proceeded but a short distance, when an In- 
 dian, thinking the infant an incumbrance, took it from the nurse's 
 arms, and violently terminated its life. Such of the other cap 
 tives as began to be weary, and incapable of proceeding, the In 
 dians killed with their tomahawks. Feeble as Mrs. Dustan was, 
 both she and her nurse sustained, with wonderful energy, the 
 fatigue and misery attending a journey of one hundred and fifty 
 miles. 
 
 On their arnvm at the place of their destination, they found 
 the wigwam of the savage, who claimed them as his personal 
 property, to be inhabited by twelve Indians. In the ensuing 
 April, this family set out, with their captives, for an Indian settle- 
 ment still more remote. The captives were informed that, on 
 their arrival at the settlement, they must submit to be stripped, 
 scourged, and run the gantlet, between two files of Indians. 
 This information carried distress to the minds of the captive 
 women, and led them promptly to devise some means of escape. 
 
 Early in the morning of the 3lst, Mrs. Dustan, awaking hat 
 
100 period in.— 1689 to 1750 
 
 nurse and another fellow-prisoner, they despatched ten of the 
 twelve Indians while asleep. The other two escaped. The 
 women then pursued their difficult and toilsome journey through 
 the wilderness, and at length arrived in safety at Haverhill. 
 Subsequently, they visited Boston, and received, at the hand of 
 the general court, a handsome consideration for their extraordi 
 nary sufferings and heroic conduct. 
 
 8. Scarcely had the colonies recovered from the 
 wounds and impoverishment of King William's war, 
 which ended in 1697, before they were again involved 
 ia the horrors of another war with the French, Indians, 
 and Spaniards, commonly called " Queen Anne's War" 
 which continued from 1702 to the peace of Utrecht, 
 March 31st, 1713. 
 
 By the treaty of Ryswick, (See. 7.) it was in general terms 
 agreed, that France and England should mutually restore to each 
 other all conquests made during the war. But the rights and 
 pretensions of either monarch to certain places in Hudson's Bay, 
 &c. were left to be ascertained and determined, at some future 
 day, by commissioners. 
 
 The evil consequences of leaving boundaries thus unsettled, 
 were soon perceived. Disputes arose, which, mingling with 
 other differences of still greater importance, led England to 
 declare war against France and Spain, May 4th, 1702. 
 
 9. The whole weight of the war in America unex- 
 pectedly fell on New England. The geographical po- 
 sition of New York particularly exposed that colony to 
 a combined attack from the lakes and sea; but just be- 
 fore the commencement of hostilities, a treaty of neu- 
 trality was concluded between the Five Nations and 
 the French governor in Canada. The local situa- 
 tion of the Five Nations, bordering on the frontiers of 
 New York, prevented the French from molesting that 
 colony. Massachusetts and New Hampshire were thus 
 left to bear the chief calamities of the war. 
 
 The declaration of war was immediately followed by 
 incursions of French and Indians from Canada into 
 these colonies, who seized every opportunity of annoy- 
 ing the inhabitants, by depredation and outrage. 
 
 On Tuesday, February 29th, 1704, at day-break, a party of 
 French and Indians, three hundred in number, under command 
 
WARS OF WILLIAM III., ANNE, AND GEORGE II. 101 
 
 of the infamous Hextel De Rouville, fell upon Deerfield, Mass. 
 Unhappily, not only the inhabitants, but even the watch, were 
 asleep. They soon made themselves masters of the house in 
 which the garrison was kept. Proceeding thence to the house 
 of Mr. Williams, the clergyman, they forced the doors, and en- 
 tered the room where he was sleeping. 
 
 Awaked by the noise, Mr. Williams seized his pistol ma 
 snapped it at the Indian who first approached ; but it missed fire. 
 Mr. Williams was now seized, disarmed, bound, and kept stand- 
 ing without his clothes, in the intense cold, nearly an hour. 
 
 His house was next plundered, and two of his children, to- 
 gether with a black female servant, were butchered before his 
 eyes. The savages, at length, suffered his wife and five chil- 
 dren to put on their clothes, after which he was himself allowed 
 to dress, and prepare for a long and melancholy journey. 
 
 The whole town around them was now on fire. Every house, 
 but the one next to Mr. Williams's, was consumed. Having 
 completed their work of destruction, in burning the town, and 
 killing forty-seven persons, the enemy hastily retreated, taking 
 with them one hundred of the inhabitants, aiuong whom were 
 Mr. Williams and his family. 
 
 The first night after their departure from Deerfield, the sav- 
 ages murdered Mr. Williams's servant; and, on the day succeed- 
 ing, finding Mrs. Williams unable to keep pace with the rest, 
 plunged a hatchet into her head. She had recently borne an 
 infant, and was not yet recovered. But her husband was not per- 
 mitted to assist her. He himself was lame, bound, insulted, 
 threatened, and nearly famished ; but what were personal suffer- 
 ings like these, and even greater than these, to the sight of a 
 wife, under circumstances so tender, inhumanly butchered be- 
 fore his eyes ! Before the journey was ended, seventeen others 
 shared the melancholy fate of Mrs. Williams. 
 
 On their arrival in Canada, it may be added. Mr. Williams 
 was treated with civility by the French. At the end of two 
 
 i'ears, he was redeemed, with fifty-seven others, and returneo to 
 )eerfield, where, after twelve years' labor in the gospel, he en- 
 tered into his rest. 
 
 10. In the spring of 1707, Massachusetts, Rhode 
 Island, and New Hampshire, despatched an armament 
 against Port Royal, in Nova Scotia. The expedition, 
 consisting of one thousand men, sailed from Nantucket, 
 in twenty-three transports, under convoy of the Deptfort 
 i man-of-war, and the Province galley. After a short 
 voyage, they arrived at Port Royal ; but March, the 
 commander of the expedition, though a brave man, be?, 
 9* 
 
102 period in. — 1689 to 175G. 
 
 ing unfit to lead in an enterprise so difficult, little was 
 done beyond burning a few houses and killing a few 
 cattle. 
 
 While this unfortunate expedition was in progress, the frontiers 
 were kept in constant alarm. Oyster River, Exeter, Kingston, 
 and Dover, in New Hampshire, Berwick, York, Wells, and Cas- 
 co, in Maine, were attacked, and considerably damaged by the 
 enemy. 
 
 11. The colonies were now resolved on another at- 
 tempt upon Canada. In 1708, Massachusetts petitioned 
 Queen Anne for assistance, and she promised to send 
 five regiments of regular troops. These, with twelve 
 hundred men raised in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, 
 were to sail from Boston to Quebec. 
 
 A second division of one thousand eight hundred 
 men, from colonies south of Rhode Island, were to march 
 against Montreal, by way of Champlain ; but this pro- 
 ject also failed, the land troops returning, after penetrat- 
 ing to Wood Creek, in consequence of learning that the 
 naval armament, promised from England, had been di- 
 rected to Portugal. 
 
 12. The patience of the colonies was not yet ex- 
 hausted. Another application was made to the queen, 
 and, in July, 1710, Col. Nicholson came over with five 
 frigates and a bomb ketch, for the purpose of reducing 
 Port Royal. In this expedition, he was joined by five 
 regiments of troops from New England. 
 
 The armament, consisting of the above frigates, and 
 between twenty and thirty transports, belonging to the 
 colonies, sailed from Boston, September 18th. On the 
 24th, it reached Port Royal, which surrendered October 
 5th, and, in honor of Queen Anne* was called Ann tpolis. 
 
 Animated with his success, Nicholson soon after sailed for 
 England, to solicit another expedition against Canada. Contrary 
 to the expectations of the colonies, the ministry acceded to the 
 proposal, and orders were issued to the northern colonies to get 
 ready their quotas of men. 
 
 Sixteen days after these orders arrived, a fleet of m»»n-of-war 
 and transports, under command of Sir Hovenden Walker, with 
 seven regiments of the Duke of Marlborough's troops, and a bat- 
 
WARS OF WILLIAM III., ANNE, AND GEORGE II. 103 
 
 talion of marines, under Brigadier-General Hill, sailed into Bos 
 ton. But the fleet had neither provisions nor pilots. Aided, 
 nowever, by the prompt and active exertions of the colonies, on 
 the 30th of July, the fleet, consisting of fifteen men-of-war, forty 
 transports, and six store-ships, with nearly seven thousand men, 
 Bailed from Boston for Canada. 
 
 Shortly after the departure of the fleet, General Nicholson 
 proceeded from Albany towards Canada, at the head of four 
 thousand men, from the colonies of Connecticut, New York, and 
 New Jersey. 
 
 The fleet arrived in the St. Lawrence, August 14th. In pro 
 ceeding up the river, through the unskilfulness of the pilots, 
 and by contrary winds, it was in imminent danger of entire de- 
 struction. On the 22d, about midnight, the seamen discovered 
 that ihey were driven on the north shore, among islands and 
 rocks. Eight or nine of the British transports, on board of 
 which were about one thousand seven hundred officers an.i 
 soldiers, were cast away, and nearly one thousand men were lost 
 Upon this disaster, no further attempts were made to prosecute 
 the expedition. The fleet sailed directly for England, and the 
 provincial troops returned home. Gen. Nicholson, who had ad- 
 vanced to Lake George, hearing of the fate of the expedition on 
 the St. Lawrence, returned with the land forces, and abandoned 
 the enterprise. 
 
 The failure of this expedition was unjustly imputed, by the 
 mother country, wholly to New England ; nor did the colonies 
 receive any credit for their vigorous exertions in raising men 
 and fitting out the fleet. The expedition was not, however, 
 without a beneficial effect, as it probably prevented Annapolis 
 from falling into the hands of the enemy. 
 
 13. The spring of 1712 opened with new depreda- 
 tions of the enemy upon the frontier settlements. Oys- 
 ter River, Exeter, York, Wells, &c, were again attacked 
 and plundered. Many inhabitants, in different parts of 
 the country, were murdered, although, in some portions 
 of the colonies, one half of the militia were constantly 
 on duty. 
 
 14. The northern colonies were not alone in the dis- 
 tresses of Queen Anne's war. Carolina, then the south- 
 ern frontier of the American colonies, had her full share 
 in its expenses and sufferings. 
 
 Before official intelligence had been received of the 
 declaration of war by England against France and Spain, 
 in 1702, although war had actually been declared, Gov 
 
104 period in. — I03«J to 1756. 
 
 Moore, of the southern settlements in Carolina, proposed 
 to the assembly of the colony an expedition against the 
 Spanish settlement of St. Augustine, in Florida. 
 
 Although assured of its easy conquest, and of being 
 amply rewarded by its treasures of gold and silver, num- 
 bers of the more considerate in the assembly were op- 
 posed to the expedition. A majority, however, being in 
 favor of it, two thousand pounds were voted, and one 
 thousand two hundred men were raised, of whom one 
 half were Indians ; but the expedition entirely failed. 
 
 With the forces ahove named, and some merchant Vessels, im 
 pressed as transports. Gov. Moore sailed for St. Augustine. The 
 design was for Col. Daniel, an enterprising officer, to proceed 
 by the inland passage, and to attack 1he town by land, with a 
 party of militia and Indians ; while Moore was to proceed by 
 sea, and take possession of the harbor. Daniel advanced against 
 the town, entered, and plundered it. before the governor's arrival. 
 The Spaniards, however, retired to the castle, with their princi- 
 pal riches, and with provisions for four months. 
 
 The governor, on his arrival, could effect nothing for want of 
 artillery. In this emergency, Daniel was despatched to Jamaica 
 for cannon, mortars, &c. During his absence, two large Span- 
 ish ships appearing off the harbor. Gov. Moore hastily raised the 
 siege, abandoned his shipping, and made a precipitate retreat into 
 Carolina. Col. Daniel, having no intelligence that the siege had 
 been raised, on his return, stood in for the harbor, and narrowly 
 escaped the ships of the enemy. In consequence of this rash 
 and unfortunate enterprise, the colony was loaded with a debt 
 of six thousand pounds, which gave rise to the first paper cur 
 rency in Carolina, and was the means of filling the colony with 
 dissension and tumult. 
 
 15. The failure of this expedition was soon after, in a 
 measure, compensated by a successful war with the 
 Apalachian Indians, who, in consequence of their con- 
 nection with the Spaniards, became insolent and hostile. 
 Gov. Moore, with a body of white men and Indian allies, 
 inarched into the heart of their country, and compelled 
 them to submit to the English. 
 
 All the towns of the tribes between the rivers Altamaha and 
 Savannah, were burnt, and between six hundred and eight hun 
 dred Indians were made prisoners. 
 
IVARS OF WILLIAM III., ANNE, AND GEORGE II. 105 
 
 16. Although this enterprise was successful, new dan- 
 gers soon threatened the colony. Its invasion was at- 
 tempted, 1707, by the French and Spaniards, in order to 
 annex Carolina to Florida. The expedition, headed by 
 Le Feboure, consisted of a French frigate, and four arm- 
 ed sloops, having about eight hundred men on board. 
 Owing to the prompt and vigorous measures of Johnson, 
 who had superseded Moore as governor, the enemy were 
 repulsed, and the threatened calamity averted. 
 
 No sooner was the intended invasion rumored abroad, than 
 preparations were commenced to repel the enemy. The militia 
 were mustered and trained, and the fortifications of Charleston 
 and other places repaired. These preparations were scarcely 
 completed, before the fleet of the enemy appeared. Some time 
 elapsed, however, before they crossed the bar, which enabled the 
 governor to alarm the surrounding country, and to call in great 
 numbers of the militia. 
 
 At length, with a fair wind, the enemy passed the bar, and 
 sent a summons to the governor to surrender. Four hours were 
 allowed him to return his answer. But the governor informed 
 the messenger that he did not wish one minute. On the recep- 
 tion of this answer, the enemy seemed to hesitate, and attempt- 
 ed nothing that day. 
 
 The day succeeding, a party of the enemy, landing on JameH 
 Island, burnt a village by the river's side. Another party, of one 
 hundred and sixty, landed at Wando Neck. The next day, both 
 these parties were dislodged ; the latter party being surprised, 
 and nearly all killed or taken prisoners. 
 
 This success so animated the Carolinians, that it was deter- 
 mined to attack the enemy by sea. This was attempted with a 
 force of six vessels, under command of William Rhet ; but on the 
 appearance of Rhet, the enemy weighed anchor, and precipitate- 
 ly fled. 
 
 Some days succeeding this, Monsieur Arbuset appeared on the 
 coast with a ship of force, and landed a number of men at Sewee 
 Bay. Rhet sailed out against him, and, at the same time, Capt. 
 Fenwick crossed the river, and marched to attack the enemy by 
 land. After a brisk engagement, Fenwick took the enemy on 
 land prisoners, and Rhet succeeded in capturing the ship. 
 
 17. In 1710, a large number of Palatines, inhabit- 
 ants of a Palatinate, a small territory in Germany, whose 
 governor or prince is called a Palatine, arrived and set- 
 tled on the Roanoke, in Albemarle and Bath counties, 
 
106 period in. — 1059 to 1756. 
 
 within the boundaries of North Carolina. These were 
 a great accession to the strength and numbers of the 
 colony, which, although of sixty years' standing, was ex- 
 ceedingly small. 
 
 The same year, near three thousand of the same people came 
 to New York. Some settled in that city, and built the old Lu- 
 theran church : others settled on Livingston's manor. Some 
 want into Pennsylvania, and, at subsequent periods, were follow 
 ed by many thousands of their countrymen. 
 
 Two years after the above settlers arrived in Carolina, 
 and during Q,ueen Anne's war, a plot was laid by the 
 Corees and Tuscaroras, with other Indian tribes, to 
 massacre the whole number. This plot was soon so far 
 put in execution, that one hundred and seven settlers 
 were butchered in their houses in a single night. In- 
 formation of their distress being conveyed to Charleston, 
 Col. Barnwell, with six hundred militia and three hun- 
 dred and fifty friendly Indians, explored their way through 
 the intervening wilderness, and came to their relief. On 
 his arrival, Col. B. surprised the Tuscaroras, killed three 
 hundred of them, and made one hundred prisoners. 
 
 The surviving Indians fled to a town which had been fortified 
 by the tribe ; but here they were again attacked by Barnwell, 
 who killed great numbers of them, and compelled the remainder 
 to sue for peace. It is estimated that the Tuscaroras, in this 
 war, lost one thousand of their number. The remainder of the 
 tribe, early after the war, abandoned the country, and became 
 united with the Five Nations, which since that time have been 
 called the Six Nations. 
 
 IS. The following year, March 31st, 1713, a treaty 
 of peace was concluded at Utrecht, between England 
 and France. This relieved the apprehensions of the 
 northern part of the country, and put a welcome period 
 to an expensive and distressing war After the peace 
 was known in America, the eastern Indians sent in a 
 flag and desired peace. The" governor of Massachu- 
 setts, with his council, and with that of New Hampshire, 
 met them at Portsmouth, received their submission, and 
 entered into terms of pacification. 
 
WARS OF WII.LtAM III , ANNE, AND GEORGE II. 10* 
 
 By the above treaty between England and France, Newfound 
 land and Nova Scotia were ceded to Great Britain. It was alsc 
 stipulated, that " the subjects of France, inhabiting Canada and 
 other places, shall hereafter give no hinderance or molestation to 
 the Five Nations, nor to the other nations of Indians who ar«* 
 friends to Great Britain." By the treaty, also, the French relin 
 quished all claim to the Five Nations, and to all parts of their 
 territories, and, as far as respected themselves, entitled the British 
 crown to the sovereignty of the country. 
 
 19. The termination ol Queen Anne's war gave peace 
 to the northern colonies, but the contest with the Indians 
 continued for some time to distress the Carolinians. 
 
 Scarcely had the people recovered from the above war with 
 the Corees and Tuscaroras, before they were threatened with a 
 calamity still greater and more general. The Yamosees, a 
 powerful tribe of Indians, witli all the Indian tribes from Florida 
 to Cape Fear river, formed a conspiracy for the total extirpation 
 of the Carolinians. The 15th of April, 1715, was fixed upon as 
 the day of general destruction. Owing, however, to the wisdoms 
 despatch and firmness of Governor Craven, and the blessing o! 
 Ft j/idence, the calamity was in a measure averted, and the 
 colonies saved, though at the expense, during the war, of near 
 four hundred of the inhabitants. The Yamosees were expelled 
 the province, and took refuge among the Spaniards in Florida. 
 
 2.0. In 1719, the government of Carolina, which till 
 now had been proprietary, was changed, the charter be- 
 ing declared by the king's privy council to have been 
 forfeited ; and from this time, the colony was taken un- 
 der the royal protection, under which it continued till 
 the American revolution. 
 
 The people had long been disgusted with the management of 
 the proprietors, and were resolved, at all hazards, to execute their 
 own laws, and defend the rights of the province. A subscription 
 In this effect was drawn up and generally signed. 
 
 On the meeting of the assembly, a committee was sent witli 
 this subscription to the governor, Robert Johnson, requesting him 
 to accept the government of the province, under the king, instead 
 of the proprietors. 
 
 Upon his refusal, the assembly chose Col. James Moore gov 
 ernor, under the crown ; and on the 21st of December, 171 J), the 
 convention and militia marched to Charleston fort, and proclaim 
 ed Moore governor in his majesty's name. 
 
 The Carolinians, having assumed the government, in behalf 
 of the king, referred their complaints to the royal ear. On a ful. 
 
108 period in.— 1089 to 1750 
 
 hearing of the case, the privy council adjudged that the propii8 
 tors had forfeited their charter. From this time, therefore, the 
 colony, as stated above, was taken under the royal protection, 
 under which it continued till the American revolution. 
 
 This change was followed, in 1729, by another, nearly as im- 
 portant. This was an agreement between the proprietors and 
 the crown, that the former should surrender to the crown their 
 right and interest both to the government and soil, for the sum 
 of seventeen thousand five hundred pounds sterling. This agree- 
 ment being carried into effect, the province was divided into 
 North and South Carolina, each province having a distinct gov- 
 ernor under the crown of England. 
 
 21. It has been stated that peace was concluded 
 by Massachusetts and New Hampshire, with the eastern 
 Indians, soon after the pacification at Utrecht, in 1713. 
 This peace, however, was of short duration, dissatisfac- 
 tion arising on the part of the Indians, because of the en- 
 croachments of the English on their lands, and because 
 trading-houses were not erected for the purchase of their 
 commodities. 
 
 The governor of Massachusetts promised them re- 
 dress ; but, the general court not carrying his stipula- 
 tions into execution, the Indians became irritated, and, 
 at the same time, being excited by the French Jesuits, 
 were roused to war, which, in July, 1722, became gen- 
 eral, and continued to distress the eastern settlements 
 until 1725. 
 
 The tribes engaged in the war were the Norridgewocks, Pe- 
 nobscots. St. Francois, Cape Sable, and St. John Indians. In 
 June, 1725, hostilities ceased, soon after which a treaty was sign- 
 ed by the Indians, and was afterwards ratified by commissioners 
 from Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Nova Scolia. This 
 treaty was greatly applauded ; and under it, owing to the more 
 pacific feelings of the Indians, and the more faithful observance 
 of its stipulations by the English, the colonies experienced un- 
 usual tranquillity for a long time 
 
 22. The settlement of Georgia was begun in 1733, 
 and was named after King George II., at that time on 
 the throne of England. In the settlement of Georgia, 
 two objects were principally in view — the relief of indi- 
 gent inhabitants of Great Britain and Ireland, and the 
 gn ater security of the Carolinas 
 
WARS OF WILLIAM 111., ANNE, AND GLORCF. II. 10 
 
 The charter was granted to twenty-one persons, under the 
 title of trustees, and passed the seals June Dth, 1732. The first 
 settlers, one hundred and sixteen in number, embarked from 
 England in November of the same year, under General Ogle- 
 thorpe. They landed at Charleston, whence they repaired to 
 Yajturcraw-blHJf, on Savannah river, and commenced the town of 
 that name. 
 
 The colony, for many years, did not nourish. In their regula- 
 tions for its management, the trustees enacted that all lands 
 granted by them to settlers should revert back, in case of the fail- 
 ure of male succession ; although certain privileges were to be 
 allowed to widows and daughters. At the same time, all trade 
 with the Indians was prohibited, unless by virtue of special li- 
 cense. The nse of negroes, and th-e importation of rum, were 
 absolutely forbidden. 
 
 Although the trustees were actuated by the purest motives— 
 by principles of humanity, and a regard to the health and morals 
 of the inhabitants — this system of regulations was unfitted to the 
 condition of the poor settlers, and was highly injurious to their 
 increase and prosperity. 
 
 Emigrants, however, continued to arrive. The first adven- 
 turers, being poor and unenterprising, a more active and efficient 
 race was desirable. To induce such to settle in the colony 
 eleven towns were laid out in shares of fifty acres each ; one o{ 
 which was cffered to each new settler. Upon this, large num- 
 bers of Swiss, Scotch, and Germans, became adventurers to the 
 colony. Within three years from the first settlement, one thou- 
 sand four hundred planters had arrived. 
 
 To aid the colony, parliament made several grants of money ; 
 individuals also gave considerable sums for the same purpose : 
 owing, however, to the impolitic regulations of the trustees, the 
 colony maintained only a feeble existence. 
 
 Oglethorpe and his party arrived on the banks of the Savan- 
 nah, on the first of February. For several days, the people were 
 employed in erecting a fortification, and in felling the woods, 
 while the general marked out the town The first house was 
 begun on the ninth, and the town, after the Indian name of the 
 river, was called Savannah. The fort being completed, the guns 
 mounted, and the colony put in a state of safety, the next object 
 of Oglethorpe's attention was to treat with the Indians, for a 
 share of their possessions. In his intercourse with the Indians, 
 he was greatly assisted by an Indian woman, whom he found at 
 Savannah, by the name of Mary Musgrove. She had resided 
 among the English, in another part of the country, and was well 
 acquainted with their language. She was of great use. therefore, 
 to Gen. Oglethorpe, as an interpreter, for which service he give 
 her a hundred pounds a vear. 
 10 
 
110 period in. — 1689 to 1756. 
 
 Among those who came over with Gen. Oglethorpe was a 
 man by the name of Thomas Bosomworth. who was the chapiain 
 of the colony. Soon after his arrival at Savannah, he married 
 the above-mentioned Mary Musgrove. Unhappily. Bosomworth 
 was at heart a bad man. though by profession a minister of the 
 gospel. He was distinguished for his prkle and love of riches 
 and influence. At the same time, he was artful and intriguing; 
 yet. on account of his profession, he was. for a time, much re- 
 spected by the Indians. 
 
 At one of the great councils of the Indians, this artful man 
 induced the chiefs to crown Malatche.one of the greatest, among 
 them, emperor of all the Creeks. After this, he persuaded his 
 wife to call herself the eldest sistpv of Mulatche ; and she t«»Id 
 the Indian?, that one of her grandfathers had been made king, by 
 the Great Spirit, over all The Creeks. The Indians belie red 
 what Mary told them ; for they hud become very proud of her 
 since Gen. Oglethorpe had taken so much notice of her. and 
 had been so kind to her : and they acknowledged her for their 
 queen. They called a great meeting of the chiefs, and Mary 
 made them a long talk. She told them, that the whites were 
 their enemies, and had done them much injury — that they were 
 getting away the lands of the Indians, and would soon drive 
 them from all their possessions. Said she. •• We must assert our 
 rights — we must arm ourselves against them — we must drive 
 them from our territories. Let us call forth our warriors — I will 
 head them. Stand by me. and the houses which they have 
 erected shall smoke in ruin-."' The spirit of Queen Mary was 
 contagious. Every chief present declared himself ready to de- 
 fend her to the last drop of his blood. 
 
 After due preparation, the warriors were called forth. They 
 had painted themselves afresh, and sharpened anew their toma 
 nawks for the battle. Their march was now commenced. Queen 
 Mary, attended by her infamous husband, the real author and 
 instigator of all their discontent, headed the savage throng 
 Before they readied Savannah, their approach was announced. 
 The people were justly alarmed. They were few in number, 
 and though they had a fortification and cannon, they had no 
 good reason to hope, that they should be able to ward off Ihe 
 deadly blow which was aimed against them. 
 
 By this time, the savages were in sight of Savannah. At this 
 critical moment, an Englishman, by ihe name of Noble Jones, a 
 bold and daring man. rode forth, with a few spirited men. on 
 horseback, to meet them. As he approached them, he exclaimed, 
 in a voice like thunder. " Ground your arms! ground your arms' 
 not an armed Indian shall set his foot in this town.*' 
 
 Awe-struck at his lofty tone, and perceiving him and his com- 
 panions ready to dash in among them, they paused, and soon af- 
 
WARS OF WILLIAM III., ANNE, AND GEORGE II. Ill 
 
 ter laid down their arms. Bosomwort.li and his queen were now 
 summoned to march into the city — the Indian chiefs were also 
 allowed to enter, but without their arms. On reaching the pa- 
 rade ground, the thunder of fifteen cannon, fired at the s^nie 
 moment, told them what they might expect, should they persist 
 in their hostile designs. The Indians were now marched to the 
 house of the president of the council in Savannah. Bosom worth 
 was required to leave the Indians, while the president had a 
 friendly talk with them. 
 
 In his address to them, he assured them of the kindness of the 
 English, and demanded what they meant by coining in this war- 
 like manner. In reply, they told the president that they had 
 heard that Mary was to be sent over the great waters, and they 
 had come to learn why they were to lose their queen. Finding 
 that the Indians had been deceived, and that Bosom worth was 
 the author of all the trouble, and that he had even intended to 
 get possession of the magazine, and to destroy the whites, the 
 council directed him to be seized and thrown into prison. This 
 step Mary resented with great spirit. Rushing forth among tho 
 
 i Indians, she openly cursed Gen. Oglethorpe, although he had 
 raised her from poverty and distress, and declared that the 
 whole world should know, that the ground she trod upon was 
 her own. 
 
 The warlike spirit of the Indians being thus likely to be re- 
 newed, it was thought advisable to imprison Mary also. This 
 was accordingly done. At the same time, to appease the Indians, 
 a sumptuous feast was made for the chiefs by the president, who, 
 during the better state of feeling, which seemed to prevail, took 
 
 I occasion to explain to them the wickedness of Bosomworth, and 
 how, by falsehood and cunning, he had led them to believe that 
 Mary was really their queen — a descendant of one of their great 
 
 { chiefs. "Brothers," said he, " this is not true — Queen Mary is 
 no other than Mary Musgrove, whom I found poor, and who has 
 been made the dupe of the artful Bosomworth, and you, brothers, 
 
 ! the dupes of both." 
 
 The aspect of things was now pleasant. The Indians were 
 
 j beginning to be satisfied of the villany of Bosomworth, and of the 
 real character of Mary ; but, at this moment, the door was thrown 
 
 J open, and, to the surprise of all, Mary burst into the room. She 
 had made her escape from prison, and, learning what was going 
 on, she rushed forward with the fury of a tigress. " Seize your 
 arms!" exclaimed she," seize your arms ! remember your prom- 
 
 i ise, and defend your queen." The sight of their queen seemed to 
 
 j bring back, in'a moment, all the original ardor of the enterprise. 
 
 I In an instant, every chief seized his tomahawk, and sprang from 
 the ground, to rally at the call of their queen. 
 
 At this moment, Capt. Jones, who was present, perceiving the 
 
112 period in. — 1G89 to 1756. 
 
 danger of the president and the other whites, drew his sword, 
 and demanded peace. The majesty of his countenance — the fire 
 of his eye — the glittering of his sword — told Queen Mary what 
 she might expect, should she attempt to raise any higher the fe- 
 verish spirits of her subjects. The Indians cast an eye toward* 
 her, as if to inquire what they should do. Her countenance fell 
 Perceiving his advantage, Jones stepped forward, and in the 
 presence of the Indians, seized Mary, and conducted her back to 
 prison. 
 
 A short imprisonment so far humbled both Bosomworth and 
 Mary, that each wrote a letter, confessing what they had done, 
 and promising, if released, that they would conduct with more 
 propriety in future. The people kindly forgave them both, and 
 they left the city. But they did not perform their promise. 
 Bosomworth again tried to make Mary queen, and to get posses- 
 sion of three large islands called Ossabaw, Sapelo, and St. Cath- 
 erine's. Pie pretended that they had been given to him by the In- 
 dians. Finding, however, that he could not sustain his elaim,he 
 went over to England with Mary, and there instituted a lawsuit 
 for their recovery. At length, having obtained St. Catharine's 
 island, by a judgment of the court, he returned with his wife, 
 and took up his residence on that island. Here Mary died ; 
 some time after which Bosomworth married one of his own ser- 
 vants, who did not survive him. At length, he finished his own 
 inglorious life, and was buried between his two wives, upon th» 
 island which had cost him so much trouble. 
 
 23. Gen. Oglethorpe, having been appointed command- 
 er-in-chief of the forces of South Carolina and Georgia, 
 projected an expedition against St. Augustine, in 1740. 
 Aided by Virginia and Carolina, he marched, at the 
 head of more than two thousand men, for Florida; and, 
 after taking two small Spanish forts, Diego and Moosa, 
 he sat down before St. Augustine. Capt. Price, with 
 sever a] twenty-gun ships, assisted by sea ; but after all 
 their exertions, the general was forced to raise the siege, 
 and return with considerable loss. 
 
 24. Two years after, 1742, the Spaniards invaded 
 Georgia, in turn. A Spanish armament, consisting of 
 
 hirty-two sail, with three thousand men, under com- 
 mand of Don Manuel de Monteano, sailed from St. Au- 
 gustine, and arrived in the river Altamaha. The expe- 
 dition, although fitted out at great expense, failed of 
 accomplishipg it3 object. 
 
WARS OF WILLIAM III., ANNE, AND GEORGE II. 113 
 
 Gen. Oglethorpe was, at this time, at Fort Simons. Finding 1 
 himself unable to retain possession of it, having but about seven 
 hundred men, he spiked his cannon, and, destroying his military 
 stores, retreated to his head-quarters at Frederica. 
 
 On the first prospect of an invasion, Gen. Oglethorpe had ap 
 plied to the governor of South Carolina for assistance; but the 
 Carolinians, fearing fur the safety of their own territory, and not 
 approving of Gen. Oglethorpe's management in his late expedi- 
 tion against St. Augustine, declined furnishing troops, but voted 
 supplies. 
 
 In this state of danger and perplexity, the general resorted to 
 stratagem. A French soldier belonging to his army had desert- 
 ed to the enemy. Fearing the consequences of their learning 
 his weakness, he devised a plan by which to destroy the credit 
 of any information that the deserter might give. 
 
 With this view, he wrote a letter to the French deserter in the 
 Spanish camp, addressing him as if he were a spy of the English 
 This letter he bribed a Spanish captive to deliver, in which he 
 directed the deserter to state to the Spaniards, that he was 
 in a weak and defenceless condition, and to urge them to an 
 attack. 
 
 Should he not be able, however, to persuade them to this, he 
 wished him to induce them to continue three days longer at 
 their quarters, in which time he expected two thousand men, 
 and six British men-of-war, from Can lini. The above letter, 
 as was intended, was delivered to the Spanish general, instead 
 of the deserter, who immediately put the latter in irons. 
 
 A council of war was called, and, while deliberating upon the 
 measures which sh mid be taken, three supply ships, which had 
 been voted by Carolina, appeared in sight. Imagining these to 
 be the men-of-war alluded to in th^ letter, the Spaniards, in great 
 haste, fired the fort, and embarked, leaving behind them several 
 cannon, and a quantity <f provisions. By this artful, but unjus- 
 tifiable expedient, ihe country was relieved of its invaders, and 
 Georgia, and probably a great part of South Carolina, saved 
 From ruin. 
 
 25. In 1752, the colony continuing in a languishing 
 condition, although parliament had at different times 
 given them nearly one hundred thousand pounds, and 
 many complaints having been made against the system 
 of regulations adopted by the trustees, they surrendered 
 their charter to the crown, upon which the government 
 became regal. In 1755, a general court was established. 
 2b\ March 29th, 1744. Great Britain, under 
 10* 
 
11»V period 111. — IGS9 to 1750, 
 
 George II , declared war against France and Spain. 
 The most important event of this war, in America, was 
 the capture of Louisburg from the French, by the Nev 
 England colonies, under command of Sir William Pep 
 
 perell. 
 
 After the peace of Utrecht, in 1713, the French had built 
 Louisburg, on the island of Cape Breton, as & security to their 
 navigation and fishery, and had fortified it at an expense of five 
 millions and a half of dollars. The fortifications consisted of a 
 rampart of stone, nearly thirty-six feet in height, and a ditch 
 eighty feet wide. There were six bastions, and three batteries, 
 with embrasures for one hundred and forty-eight cannon, and six 
 mortars. On an island, at the entrance of the harbor, was an- 
 other battery of thirty cannon, carrying twenty-eight pounds shot } 
 and at the bottom of the harbor, opposite the entrance, was sit- 
 uated the royal battery of twenty-eight forty-two pounders, and 
 tw© eighteen pounders. The entrance of the town, on the land 
 side, was at the west, over a draw-bridge, near which was a cir- 
 cular battery, mounting sixteen guns of twenty-four pounds shot. 
 These works had been twenty-five years in building, and though 
 not entirely completed, were of such strength, that the place waa 
 sometimes called the " Gibraltar of America." 
 
 The acquisition of this place was deemed eminently 
 important to New England, since, while in possession of 
 the French, it had furnished a safe and convenient re- 
 treat to such privateers as disturbed and captured the 
 inhabitants of the colonies employed in the fisheries. 
 
 Impressed with the necessity of measures to secure this for- 
 tress, Gov. Shirley, of Massachusetts, had solicited the assistance 
 of the British ministry, for the acquisition of Cape Breton. 
 Early in January, 1745, before receiving an answer to his letter* 
 to England, he communicated to the general court, under an 
 oath of secrecy, a plan which he had formed for an attack on 
 Louisburg. To this plan strong objections were urged, and th« 
 proposal of the governor was at first rejected ; but upon recon 
 oideration, it was carried by a majority of a single voice. Cir 
 culars were immediately addressed to the colonies as far south 
 as Pennsylvania, requesting their assistance, and that an embar- 
 go might be laid on all their ports. The New England colonies 
 only, however, were concerned in the expedition. Of the forces 
 raised. Massachusetts furnished three thousand two hundred and 
 fifty; Connecticut five hundred and sixteen; Rhode Island and 
 
WARS OP WILLIAM IlL, ANNE, AND GEORGE II. 115 
 
 New Hampshire, each* three hundred. The naval force Consist* 
 ed of twelve ships and vessels* In two months the army waa 
 enlisted, victualled, and equipped for service. 
 
 On the twenty-third of March, an express boat, which had 
 been sent to Com. Warren, in the West Indies, to invite his co- 
 operation, returned to Boston, with advices from him, that, as the 
 contemplated expedition was a colonial affair, without orders 
 from England, he must excuse himself from any concern in the 
 enterprise. This intelligence was peculiarly unwelcome ; but, 
 the governor and general concealing the tenor of the advice, the 
 army was embarked, and the next morning the fleet sailed. On 
 the fourth of April, the fleet and army arrived in safety at Canso, 
 where they were joined by the troops from New Hampshire, and 
 coon after by those from Connecticut. 
 
 Most unexpectedly to the general. Com. Warren, with his 
 fleet, arrived at Canso. having, soon after his advices by the ex- 
 press boat to Gov. Shirley, received orders to repair to North 
 America, and to concert measures with the governor for his 
 majesty's service. Hearing that the fleet had sailed for Canso, 
 he proceeded directly for that port. Great was the joy which 
 pervaded the whole fleet and camp, on the arrival of this impor- 
 tant auxiliary force. After a short consultation with Gen. Pep- 
 f>erell, Com. Warren sailed to cruise before Louisburg, and, not 
 ong after, was followed by the fleet and army, which, on the 
 thirtieth of April, arrived in Chapearouge bay. The enemy 
 were, until this moment, in profound ignorance that any attack 
 Was meditated against them. 
 
 The sight of the transports gave the alarm to the French, 
 and a detachment was sent to oppose the landing of the 
 troops. But, while the general diverted the attention of the 
 «nemy by a feint at one place, he was landing his men at 
 another. 
 
 The next morning, four hundred of the English marched 
 round behind the hills to the north-east harbor, setting fire to all 
 the houses and stores, till they came within a mile of the royal 
 Dattery. The conflagration of the stores, in which was a consid- 
 erable quantity of tar, concealed the English troops, at the same 
 time that it increased the alarm of the French so greatly, that 
 they precipitately abandoned the royal battery. Upon their 
 flight, the English took possession of it, and, by means of a well- 
 directed fire from it. seriously damaged the town. 
 
 The main body of the army now commenced the siege. For 
 fourteen nights, they were occupied in drawing cannon towards 
 the town, over a morass, in which oxen and horses could not be 
 used. Incredible was the toil ; but what could not men accom- 
 plish, who had been accustomed to draw the pines of the foresta 
 for masts ? By the 20th of May, several fascine batteries had 
 
11G 
 
 period in. — 1689 to 1756. 
 
 been erected, one of which mounted five forty -two pounders.' 
 On opening these batteries, they did great execution. 
 
 In the mean time, Com. Warren captured the Vigilant, a 
 French ship of seventy-four guns, and with her five hundred and 
 nixty men, together with great quantities of military stores. 
 This capture was of great consequence, as it not only increased 
 the English force, and added to their military supplies, but as it 
 seriously lessened the strength of the enemy. Shortly after this 
 capture^ the number of the English fleet was considerably aug- 
 mented by the arrival of several men-of-war. A combined at- 
 tack by sea and land was now determined on, and fixed for the 
 19th of June. 
 
 Previously to the arrival of this additional naval force, much 
 had been accomplished towards the reduction of the place. The 
 inland battery had been silenced ; the western gate of the town 
 was beaten down, and a breach effected in the wall ; the circu- 
 lar battery of sixteen guns was nearly ruined, and the western 
 flank of the king's bastion was nearly demolished. 
 
 Such being the injured state of the works, and perceiving 
 preparations making for a joint assault, to sustain which littlo 
 prospect remained, on the loth the enemy desired a ',*»s*!a 
 tion of hostilities, and on the 17th of June, after a siege o* <brtv- 
 nine days, the city of Louisburg, and the island of Cape b*'etun,> 
 were surrendered to his Britannic majesty 
 
WARS OF WILLIAM III., ANNE, AND GEORGE II. 117 
 
 Thus successfully terminated a daring expedition, which had 
 been undertaken without the knowledge of the mother country. 
 The acquisition of the fortress of Louisburg was as useful and 
 important to the colonies, and to the British empire, as its re- 
 duction was surprising to that empire and mortifying to the 
 court of France. 
 
 Besides the stores and prizes which fell into the hands of the 
 English, which were estimated at little less than a million ster- 
 ling, security was given to the colonies in their fisheries ; Nova 
 Scotia was preserved, and the trade and fisheries of France nearly 
 ruined. 
 
 27. The capture of Louisburg roused the court oi 
 France to revenge. Under the Duke D'Anville, a no- 
 bleman of great courage, an armament was despatched 
 to America, in 1746, consisting of forty ships of war, 
 fifty-six transports, with three thousand five hundred 
 men, and forty thousand stands of arms for the use of 
 the French and Indians in Canada. The object of this 
 expedition was to recover possession of Cape Breton, and 
 to attack the colonies. A merciful Providence, how- 
 ever, averted the blow, and, by delaying the fleet, and 
 afterwards disabling it in a storm, blasted the hopes of 
 the enemy. 
 
 Great was the consternation of the colonies, when the new* 
 arrived that the French fleet was near the American coast, 
 and greatly increased, on learning that no English fleet was in 
 quest of it. 
 
 Several ships of this formidable French fleet were damaged 
 by storms ; others were lost, and one forced to return to Brest, on 
 account of a malignant disease among her crew. Two or three 
 only of the ships, with a few of the transports, arrived at Che- 
 bucto, now Halifax. Here the admiral died, through mortifica- 
 tion ; or, as some say, by poison. The vice-admiral came to a 
 himilar tragical death, by running himself through the body. 
 That part of the fleet that arrived, sailed with a view to attack 
 Annapolis ; but a storm scattered them, and prevented the ac- 
 complishment of this object. 
 
 28. In April, 1748, preliminaries of peace were 
 signed between France and England, at Aix la Chapelle, 
 soon after which hostilities ceased. The definitive 
 treaty was signed in October. Prisoners on all side9 
 
118 period in. — 1689 to 1750. 
 
 were to be released without ransom, and all conquests 
 made during the war were to be mutually restored. 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 29. Manners of the Colonists. The colonies 
 were now peopled with inhabitants, by far the greater 
 part of whom were born and educated in America. And 
 although the first settlers were collected from most, or 
 all, the countries of Europe, and emigrants from various 
 nations continued to flock to America, still we may ob- 
 serve, during this period, a gradual assimilation of na- 
 tional manners and character. The peculiarities of 
 each class became less distinct by intercourse with the 
 others, and every succeeding generation seemed to ex- 
 hibit less strikingly those traits which distinguished 
 the preceding. 
 
 Although this is true with respect to the American colonies 
 generally, there were some exceptions. Some villages, or terri- 
 tories, being settled exclusively by emigrants speaking a difl'erent 
 language from that generally spoken — as the Germans, for ex- 
 ample — or entertaining some peculiar religious notions — as the 
 Quakers — still preserved their own peculiar manners. 
 
 But, in attempting to ascribe some general character to the 
 people of the colonies during this period, we might consider them, 
 as, during our second period, on the whole, exhibiting three va- 
 rieties ; viz. the rigid Puritan English of the north, the Dutch in 
 New York, and the luxurious English of the south. The aus- 
 terity of the north was, however, much relaxed. The elegant 
 varieties of life, which before had been prohibited, were tolerated, 
 and the refinements of polished society appeared among the higher 
 classes. The strong lines of Dutch manners in New York were 
 slowly disappearing, under an English government, and by means 
 of the settlement of English among them. The manners of the 
 south were assuming an aspect of more refinement, particularly 
 among the higher classes, but showed little other change. 
 
 30. Religion. During this period, the spirit of re- 
 ligious bigotry and intolerance may be observed to have 
 abated in a very considerable degree. The conduct of 
 those sects, which had called forth those severe and un- 
 
WARS OF WILLIAM III., ANNE, AND GEORGE II. 119 
 
 justifiable restrictions upon the freedom of religious wor- 
 ship, had become less offensive and exceptionable; and 
 at the close of this period, religious persecution had 
 ceased in all the colonies, and the rights of conscience 
 were generally recognized. 
 
 In 1092, the Mennonites were introduced into Pennsylvania, 
 and settled at Germantown. Their increase, however, has been 
 small . 
 
 in 1710, the Tunkrrs. or General Baptists, arrived at Phila 
 delphia, and dispersed themselves into several parts of Penn- 
 sylvania. 
 
 in 1741, the Moravians were introduced into America, by 
 Count Zinzendorf, and settled at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. 
 Regularity, industry, ingenuity, and economy, are characteristic 
 of this people. They have considerably increased, and are a re- 
 spectable body of Christians. 
 
 The German f/utlterans were first introduced into the Ameri 
 can colonies during this period, and settled principally in Penn 
 sylvania and New York. 
 
 Episcopacy was considerably extended during this period. In 
 11393, it was introduced into New York ; into New Jersey and 
 Rhode Island in J 702 ; into South Carolina in 1703, by law ; in 
 Connecticut in 1704. 
 
 in 1708, the Saybrook Platform was formed by a synod com 
 posed of Congregational ministers, under authority of the legis 
 lature of Connecticut. 
 
 . About the year 1737, a revival of religion very extensively pre 
 vailed in New England. At this time, great numbers united 
 themselves to the church, and testified, by their conduct through 
 life, the genuineness of their profession. 
 
 The celebrated Whitfield came to America about the year 1740 
 
 and produced great religious excitement by his singular powers 
 
 of pulpit eloquence. lie did not found any peculiar sect in this 
 
 country, although he gave rise to that of the Calviniatic Method' 
 
 \ isls in England. 
 
 31. Trade and Commerce. Although the trade of 
 I the colonies began to feel the restrictions imposed upon 
 it by the mother country, still it steadily increased dur- 
 ' ing this period. 
 
 From the very commencement of the colonies, the mother 
 country was not without her jealousies respecting their increase 
 in population, trade, and manufactures. Inquiries on these points 
 i w< j re instituted, and opportunities sought to keep in check the 
 spirit of colonial enterprise. Laws were enacted from time to 
 time, designed and calculated, not only to make the colonies de- 
 
120 period in.— 1689 to 1756. 
 
 pcnd on the mother country for her manufactures, but also t» 
 limit their trade and commerce, and keep them in safe subjec- 
 tion to England. 
 
 As illustrating this course of policy, we may notice several 
 laws of parliament. In 1732, an act was passed, prohibiting 
 ** the exportation of hats out of the plantations of America, and 
 to restrain the number of apprentices taken by hat-makers." So 
 also the act of 1750 prohibited, on penalty of two hundred 
 pounds," the erection of any mill for slitting or rolling of iron, or 
 any plating forge to work with a tilt hammer ; or any furnace for 
 making steel, in any of the colonies." At the same time, en- 
 couragement was given to export pig and bar iron to England for 
 her manufactories. In like manner was prohibited the exporta- 
 tion from one province to another by water, and even the car 
 riage by land, on horseback, or in a cart, of all wools and wool- 
 len goods of the produce of America. The colonies were also 
 compelled by law to procure many articles from England, which 
 they could have purchased twenty per cent, cheaper in other 
 markets. 
 
 But, notwithstanding these restrictions, trade and commerce 
 gradually and steadily increased. To England the colonies ex- 
 ported lumber of all sorts, hemp, flax, pitch, tar, oil, rosin, cop- 
 per ore, pig and bar iron, whale fins, tobacco, rice, fish, indigo, 
 flaxseed, beeswax, raw silk, &c. They also built many vessels, 
 which were sold in the mother country. 
 
 But the importation of goods from England, in consequence 
 of the course pursued by the British government, was still much 
 greater than the amount of the exports to England. In 1728, Sir 
 William Keith stated that the colonies then consumed one sixth 
 part of all the woollen manufactures exported from Great Britain, 
 and more than double that value in linen and calicoes ; also great 
 quantities of English manufactured silks, small wares, household 
 furniture, trinkets, and a very considerable value in East India 
 
 fTobde. From 173'J to 1750, this importation of goods from Eng- 
 and amounted to one million of pounds sterling annually, on an 
 average. 
 
 But, if the amount of imports from Great Britain was thus 
 more than the colonies exported thither, they would fall in debt 
 to England. How did they pay this balance of trade against 
 them ? It was done by gold and silver obtained chiefly from the 
 West India settlements, to which they exported lumber, fish of 
 an inferior quality, beef, pork, butter, horses, poultry, and other 
 live stock, an inferior kind of tobacco, corn, cider, apples, cab 
 bages, onions, &c. They built also many small vessels, which 
 found a ready market. 
 
 The cod and whale fisheries were becoming considerable ; th r y 
 were principally carried on by New England. The codfish were 
 •old in Spain, France, England, the West Indies, &c. ; and the 
 
WARS OF WILLIAM III., ANNE, AND GEORGE II. 121 
 
 m :>ney obtained for them aided the colonies in paying the balance 
 of trade against them in England. 
 
 32. Agriculture. Agriculture, during this period, 
 was greatly improved and extended. Immense tracts 
 of forests were cleared, and more enlightened modes of 
 husbandry were introduced. The number of articles 
 produced by agriculture was also increased. 
 
 The colonies now not only raised a sufficient supply of food for 
 their own use, but their exports became great. Wheat and other 
 English grain were the principal products of the middle colonies * 
 grain, beef, pork, horses, butter, cheese, &c, were the chief prod 
 ucts of the northern colonies ; tobacco, wheat, and rice, were 
 the principal products of the south. 
 
 In the south, also, large numbers of swine ran wild in the 
 forests, living upon mast. These were taken, salted down, and 
 exported to a considerable extent. 
 
 33. Arts and Manufactures. Under the head of 
 Commerce, we have noticed the obstacles interposed by 
 Great Britain to the progress of arts and manufactures. 
 Notwithstanding these, however, the coarser kinds of 
 cutlery, some coarse cloths, both linen and woollen, hats, 
 paper, shoes, household furniture, farming utensils, &c, 
 were manufactured to a considerable extent ; not suffi- 
 cient, however, to supply the inhabitants. All these man- 
 ufactures were on a small scale; cloths were made in 
 some families, for their own consumption. 
 
 The art of printing made considerable progress during this pe 
 nod. A newspaper, the first in North America, called The Bos- 
 ton Weekly Jfews-Letter, was established in 1704. Before the close 
 of this per'.od, ten others were established — four in New England ; 
 two in flew York ; two in Pennsylvania ; one in South Carolina ; 
 ar J one m Maryland. The number of books published was also 
 considerable, although they were executed in a coarse style, and 
 were generally books of devotion, or for the purposes of ed 
 ucation. 
 
 34. Population. At the expiration of our second 
 period, we estimated the population of the English colo- 
 nies in America at 200,000 souls. About the close of 
 our third period, Franklin calculated that there were 
 ♦.hen one million or upwards, and that scarce 80,000 had 
 been brought over sea. 
 
 11 
 
122 period in.— 1689 to 1576. 
 
 This estimate of the population of America very nearly accord* 
 with an estimate made in London, from " authentic authorities,' 
 May, 1755, which is as follows : — 
 
 New Hampshire 30,000 
 
 Massachusetts Bay 220,000 
 
 R. Island and Provi- ) „. f^. 
 
 deuce Plantations J*" **°> UUU 
 
 Connecticut 100,000 
 
 New England 385,000 
 
 Mid. and S. Colonies 661,000 
 
 Total 1,046,000 
 
 New York 100,000 
 
 The Jerseys 60,000 
 
 Pennsylvania 250,000 
 
 Maryland 85,000 
 
 Virginia 35,000 
 
 North Carolina 45,000 
 
 South Carolina 30,000 
 
 Georgia 6,000 
 
 661,000 
 
 35. Education. The southern colonies continued to 
 treat the subject of education differently from the north- 
 ern colonies, in this respect; in the north, one of the 
 first objects of legislation was to provide for the educa- 
 tion of all classes; in the south, the education of the 
 higher classes only was an object of public attention. 
 
 The first public institution for the purposes of education, which 
 succeeded in the south, was that of William and Mary College, 
 in Virginia, established in 1692, by the sovereigns whose names 
 it bears. 
 
 Yale College, in Connecticut, was commenced in 1700; eleven 
 of the principal ministers in the neighboring towns, who had been 
 appointed to adopt such measures as they should deem expedient, 
 on the subject of a college, agreeing to found one in the colony. 
 The next year, the legislature granted them a charter. The col 
 lege was begun at Saybrook, where was held the first commence- 
 ment, in 1702. In 1717, it was removed to New Haven, where 
 it became permanently established. It was named after the Hon. 
 Elihu Yale, governor of the East India Company, who was its 
 principal benefactor. 
 
 The college at Princeton, New Jersey, called " Nassau Hall,' 
 was first founded by charter from John Hamilton, Esq., presiden 
 of the council, about the year 1738, and was enlarged by Gov 
 Belcher, in 1747. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 36. The history of this period presents the North American 
 /olonies to our view, at the same time that they were visited with 
 cruel and desolating wars, still advancing in population, extend- 
 ing their commerce, forming new settlements, enlarging the 
 boundaries of their territory, and laying wider and deeper the 
 
WARS OF WILLIAM III., ANNE, AND GEORGE II. 123 
 
 foundations of a futura nation. And, while we look back, with 
 admiration, upon the hardy spirit which carried our ancestors 
 through scenes so trying, and enabled them to reap prosperity 
 from the crimsoned fields of battle and bloodshed, let us be thank- 
 ful that our lot is cast in a happier day ; and that, instead of shar- 
 ing in the perils of feeble colonies, we enjoy the protection and 
 privileges of a free and powerful nation. 
 
 In addition to the reflections subjoined to the account which 
 we have given of the " Salem witchcraft," we may add another, 
 respecting the danger of popular delusion. In that portion of our 
 history, we see a kind of madness rising up, and soon stretching 
 its influence over a whole community. And such, too, is the 
 pervading power of the spell, that the wise and ignorant, the 
 good and bad, are alike subject to its control, and, for the time, 
 alike incapable of judging or reasoning aright. Now, whenever 
 we see a community divided into parties, and agitated by some 
 general excitement; when we feel ourselves borne along on one 
 side or the other, by the popular tide, — let us inquire whether we 
 are not acting under the influence of a delusion, which a few 
 years, perhaps a few months, or days, may dispel and expose. 
 Nor, at such a time, let us regard our sincerity, or our conscious- 
 ness of integrity, or the seeming clearness and certainty of our 
 reasonings, as furnishing an absolute assurance that, after all, we 
 .do not mistake, and that our opponents are not right. 
 
 Another reflection of some importance, and one that may serve 
 to guard us against censuring, too severely, the wise and good, is 
 suggested by this account of the " Salem witchcraft." It is this, 
 that the best men are liable to err. We should not, therefore, 
 condemn, nor should we withhold our charity from, those who 
 fall into occasional error, provided their characters are, in other 
 respects, such as to lay claim to our good opinion. 
 
UNITED STATES 
 
 PERIOD IV. 
 
 DISTINGUISHED FOR THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR, 
 
 Extending from the Declaration of War by England 
 against France, 1756, to the Commencement of Hos- 
 tilities by Great Britain against the American Colo- 
 nies, in the Battle of Lexington, 1775. 
 
 Sec. 1. The war which ended in the treaty of Aix la. 
 Jhapelle, in 1748, (Period III. 28.) had been highly 
 iijurious to the American colonies ; and the return of 
 peace found them in a state of impoverishment and dis- 
 tress. Great losses had been sustained in their com- 
 merce, and many of their vessels had been seized on 
 the coast by privateers. Bills of credit, to the amount 
 of several millions, had been issued to carry on the war, 
 which they were now unable to redeem ; and the losses 
 of men in various expeditions against the enemy, had 
 seriously retarded the increase of population. 
 
 The expenses of the northern colonies, including New Eng- 
 land and New York, during the war, were estimated at not less 
 than one million pounds sterling 1 . Massachusetts alone is said to 
 have paid half this sum, and to nave expended nearly four hun- 
 dred thousand pounds La the expedition against Cape Breton. 
 The expenses of Carolina, for the war in that quarter, were not 
 less in proportion. 
 
 To supply the deficiency of money, bills of credit were issued 
 to the amount of several millions. The bills issued by Massa- 
 chusetts, during two or three years of the war, amounted to be- 
 tween two and three millions currency ; while, at the time of 
 
FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 125 
 
 their emission, five or six hundred pounds were equal to only one 
 hundred pounds sterling. Before the complete redemption of these 
 hills, says Dr. Trumhull, in those colonies where their credit wag 
 best supported, the depreciation was nearly twenty for one. 
 
 The losses sustained by the colonies, in the fall of many of 
 their bravest men, during this and the last Indian war, were se 
 verely felt. From 1722 to 1749, a period of twenty-seven years, 
 the losses of Massachusetts and New Hampshire equalled 
 the whole increase of their numbers ; whereas, in the natural 
 course of population, their numbers would have more than 
 doubled. 
 
 Such was the general state of the colonies, at the close 
 of this war. The return of peace was hailed as the 
 harbinger of better days, and the enterprising spirit of 
 the people soon exerted itself to repair the losses which 
 had been sustained. Commerce, therefore, again flour- 
 ished ; population increased ; settlements were extended ; 
 and the public credit revived. 
 
 2. Scarcely, however, had the colonies begun to reap 
 the benefits of peace, before the sound of approaching 
 war filled the land with general anxiety and distress. 
 After an interval of only about eight years, from 1748 
 to May 18th, I75G, Great Britain, under George II., 
 formally declared war against France; which declara- 
 tion was reciprocated, on the 9th of June, by a similar 
 declaration, on the part of France, under Louis XV., 
 against Great Britain. 
 
 The general cause, leading to this war, commonly 
 called the " French and Indian war," was the alleged 
 encroachments of the French upon the frontiers of the 
 colonies in America, belonging to the English crown. 
 
 These encroachments were made upon Nova Scotia in the east, 
 which had been ceded to Great Britain by the 12th article of the 
 treaty of Utrecht, but to a considerable part of which the French 
 laid claim, and. in several places, were erecting fortifications. In 
 the north and west, they were settling and fortifying Crown 
 Point, and, in the west, were not only attempting to complete a 
 line of forts from the head of the St. Lawrence to the Mississippi, 
 but were encroaching far on Virginia. 
 
 The circumstance which served to open the war, was 
 the alleged intrusion of the Ohio Company upon the 
 II* 
 
120 period iv. — 1756 to 1775. 
 
 territory of the French. This company consisted of a 
 number of influential men, from London and Virginia, 
 who had obtained a charter grant of six hundred thou- 
 sand acres of land, on and near the river Ohio, for the 
 purpose of carrying on the fur trade with the Indians, 
 and of settling the country. 
 
 The governor of Canada had early intelligence of the 
 transactions of this company. Fearing that their plan 
 would deprive the French of the advantages of the fur 
 trade, and prevent communications between Canada and 
 Louisiana, he addressed a letter to the governors of New 
 York and Pennsylvania, claiming the country east of the 
 Ohio to the Allegan ies, and forbidding the further en- 
 croachments of the English traders. 
 
 As yet, the Pennsylvanians had principally managed the trade 
 with the Indians. But, being now about to be deprived of it by 
 the Ohio Company, which was opening a road to the Potomac, 
 they excited the fears of the Indians, lest their lands should be 
 taken from them, arid gave early intelligence to the French, of the 
 designs and transactions of the company. 
 
 The French governor soon manifested his hostile determina 
 tion,by seizing several of the English traders, and carrying them 
 to a French port on the south of Lake Erie. — The Twightwees, a 
 tribe of Indians in Ohio, near Miami river, among whom the Eng- 
 lish had been trading, resented the seizure, and. by way of re- 
 taliation, took several French traders, and sent them to Pennsyl- 
 vania. 
 
 In the mean time, a communication was opened along 
 the French creek and Allegany river, between Fort 
 Presqu' He, on Lake Erie, and the Ohio ; and French 
 troops were stationed at convenient distances, secured 
 by temporary fortifications. 
 
 The Ohio Company, thus threatened with the de- 
 struction of their trade, were loud in their complaints. 
 Dinwiddie, lieutenant-governor of Virginia, to whom 
 these complaints were addressed, laid the subject before 
 the assembly, which ordered a messenger to be despatch- 
 ed to the French commandant on the Ohio, to demand 
 the reasons of his hostile conduct, and to summon the 
 French to evacuate their forts in that region. 
 
FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 127 
 
 3. The person intrusted with this service was George 
 Washington, who, at the early age of twenty-one, thus 
 stepped forth in the public cause, and began that line of 
 services which ended in the independence of his 
 country. 
 
 The service to which Washington was appointed, was 
 both difficult and dangerous ; the place of his destination 
 being above four hundred miles distant, two hundred of 
 which lay through a wilderness inhabited only by In- 
 dians. He arrived in safety, however, and delivered a 
 letter from Gov. Dinwiddie to the commandant. Having 
 received a written answer, and secretly taken the di- 
 mensions of the fort, he returned. The reply of the 
 commandant to Gov. Dinwiddie was, that he had taken 
 possession of the country, under the direction of the gov- 
 ernor-general of Canada, to whom he would transmit his 
 letter, and whose orders only he would obey 
 
 4. The British ministry, on being made acquainted 
 with the claims, conduct and determination of the 
 French, without a formal declaration of war, instructed 
 the Virginians to resist their encroachments by force of 
 arms. Accordingly, a regiment was raised in Virginia, 
 which was joined by an independent company from 
 South Carolina; and with this force, Washington, to whom 
 the expedition was intrusted, marched, early in April, 
 1 / v 54, towards the Great Meadows, lying within the dis- 
 puted territories, for the purpose of expelling the French 
 The conduct of Washington and his troops was highly 
 creditable to them; but, the French forces being consid- 
 erably superior, he was obliged to capitulate, with the 
 privilege, however, of returning with his troops to Vir- 
 ginia. 
 
 On his arrival at the Great Meadows, he learned that the 
 French had dispossessed some Virginians of a fortification, which 
 the latter were erecting for the Ohio Company, at the confluence 
 of the Allegany and Monongahela, and were engaged in com- 
 pleting it, for their own use. He also learned, that a detachment 
 from that place, then on its march towards the Great Meadows, 
 had encamped for the night in a low and retired situation. 
 
128 period iv. — 1756 to 1775. 
 
 Under the guidance of some friendly Indians, and under cov- 
 er of a dark and rainy night, this party he surprised and captured. 
 Having erected, at the Great Meadows, a small stockade fort, 
 afterwards called Fort Necessity, he proceeded, with his force, 
 increased by troops from New York, and others from South Car- 
 olina, to nearly four hundred men, towards the French fort, du 
 Quesne, where Pittsburg now stands, with the intention of dis- 
 lodging the enemy. Hearing, however, that the enemy was 
 approaching, he retired to Fort Necessity, where, not long after, 
 he was attacked by a large body of troops from Fort du Quesne, 
 under command of M. de Villier. After an engagement of sev- 
 eral hours, de Villier demanded a parley, and offered terms of 
 capitulation. These terms were rejected ; but during the night, 
 July 4th, articles were signed, by which Washington was permit- 
 ted, upon surrendering the fort, to march with his troops, unmo 
 lested, to Virginia. 
 
 Such was the beginning of open hostilities, which 
 were succeeded by a series of other hostilities charac- 
 terized by the spirit and manner of war, although the 
 formal declaration of war was not made until 1756, two 
 years after, as already mentioned. 
 
 5. The British ministry, perceiving war to be inevita- 
 ble, recommended to the British colonies in America to 
 unite in some scheme for their common defence. Ac- 
 cordingly, a convention of delegates from Massachusetts, 
 New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Pennsyl- 
 vania, Maryland, with the lieutenant-governor and coun- 
 cil of New York, was held at Albany, in 1754, and a 
 plan of union adopted, resembling, in several of its 
 features, the present constitution of the United States. 
 
 But the plan met with the approbation neither of the 
 provincial assemblies, nor the king's council. By the 
 former, it was rejected, because it gave too much power 
 to the crown ; and by the latter, because it gave too 
 much power to the people. 
 
 According to this plan, a grand council was to be formed, of 
 members chosen by the provincial assemblies, and sent from all 
 the colonies; which council, with a governor-general, appointed 
 by the crown, and having a negative voice, should be empower- 
 ed to make general laws, to raise money in all the colonies for 
 their defence, to call forth troops, regulate trade, lay duties, 
 &c. &c. 
 
FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 129 
 
 The plan, thus matured, was approved and signed, on the 
 fourth of July, the day that Washington surrendered Fort Ne 
 cessity, and twenty-two years before the declaration of [ndepen 
 dence, by all the delegates, excepting those from Connecticut, 
 who objected to the negative voice of the governor-general. 
 
 One circumstance, in the history of this plan, deserves here to 
 be recorded, as evincing the dawning spirit of the revolution. 
 Although the plan was rejected by the provincial assemblies, 
 ihey declared, without reserve, that, if it were adopted, they 
 would undertake to defend themselves from the French, without 
 assistance from Great Britain. They required but to be left to 
 employ their supplies in their own way, to effect their security 
 and predominance. 
 
 The mother country was too jealous to trust such powers with 
 the Americans ; but she proposed another plan, designed to lay 
 a foundation for the perpetual dependence and slavery of the 
 colonies. This plan was, that the governors, with one or more 
 of their council, should form a convention to concert measures 
 for the general defence, to erect fortifications, raise men, &c. 
 &c., with power to draw upon the British treasury, to defray all 
 charges ; which charges should be reimbursed by taxes upon the 
 colonies, imposed by acts of parliament. But to allow the British 
 government the right of taxation — to lay the colonies under the 
 obligations of a debt to be thus liquidated — to subject themselves 
 to the rapacity of king's collectors, we scarcely need say, was a 
 proposal which met with universal disapprobation. 
 
 6. Early in the spring of 1755, preparations were 
 made, by the colonies, for vigorous exertions against the 
 enemy. Four expeditions were planned: — owe against 
 the French in Nova Scotia ; a second against the French 
 on the Ohio; a third against Crown Point ; and a fourth 
 against Niagara. 
 
 7. The expedition against Nova Scotia, consisting of 
 three thousand men, chiefly from Massachusetts, was 
 led by Gen. Monckton and Gen. Winslow. With these 
 troops, they sailed from Boston, May 20th, and on the 
 1st of June, arrived at Chignecto, in the bay of Fundy. 
 After being joined by three hundred British troops, and 
 a small train of artillery, they proceeded against Fort 
 Beau Sejour, which, after four days' investment, sui ren- 
 dered. The name of the fort was now changed to that 
 of Cumberland. From this place Gen. Monckton pro- 
 ceeded farther into the country, took other forts in pos- 
 
130 period iv. — 1756 to 1775. 
 
 session of the French, and disarmed the inhabitants. 
 By this successful expedition, the English possessed 
 themselves of the whole country of Nova Scotia, a part 
 of which, as already noticed, [Sec. 2,) the French claim- 
 ed : its tranquillity was restored, and placed upon a per- 
 manent basis. 
 
 In this whole expedition, the English lost but twenty men 
 Large quantities of provisions and military stores fell into their 
 hands, with a number of valuable cannon. 
 
 The French force in Nova Scotia being subdued, a difficult 
 question occurred, respecting the disposal of the inhabitants. 
 Fearing that they might join the French in Canada, whom they 
 had before furnished with intelligence, quarters, and provisions, 
 it was determined to disperse them among the English colonies. 
 Under this order, one thousand nine hundred were thus dis- 
 persed. 
 
 8. The expedition against the French on the Ohio, 
 was led by Gen. Braddock, a British officer, who com- 
 menced his march from Virginia, in June, with about 
 two thousand men. Apprehensive that Fort du duesne, 
 against which he was proceeding, might be reinforced, 
 Braddock, with one thousand two hundred selected 
 troops, hastened his march, leaving Col. Dunbar to fol- 
 low more slowly, with the other troops and the heavy 
 baggage. 
 
 On the 8th of July, Braddock had advanced sixty 
 miles forward of Col. Dunbar, and within twelve or four- 
 teen miles of Fort du Quesne. Here he was advised by 
 his officers to proceed with caution, and was earnestly 
 entreated by Col. Washington, his aid, to permit him to 
 precede the army, and guard against surprise. Too 
 haughty and self-confident to receive advice, Braddock, 
 without any knowledge of the condition of the enemy, 
 continued to press towards the fort. About twelve 
 o'clock, July 9th, when within seven miles of the fort, 
 he was suddenly attacked by a body of French and In- 
 dians. Although the enemy did not exceed five hun- 
 dred, yet, after an action of three hours, Braddock, un- 
 der whom five horses had been killed, was mortally 
 
FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 131 
 
 wounded, and his troops defeated. The loss of the Eng- 
 lish army was sixty-four out of eighty-five officers, and 
 nearly half the privates. 
 
 This unfortunate defeat of Gen. Braddock is to be ascribed tD 
 his imprudence and too daring intrepidity. Had he attended to 
 those precautions which were recommended to him, he would not 
 have been thus ambuscaded; or had he wisely retreated from a 
 concealed enemy, and scoured the thicket with his cannon, the 
 melancholy catastrophe might have been avoided. But, obstinate- 
 ly riveted to the spot on which he was first attticked, he vainly 
 continued his attempt to form his men in regular order, although, 
 by this means, a surer prey to the enemy, until, being himself 
 wounded, he could no longer be accessary to the destruction of 
 human life. 
 
 A remarkable fact in the history of this affair remains to be 
 told. Gen. Braddock held the provincial troops in great contempt 
 Consequently, he kept the Virginians, and other provincials, who 
 were in the action, in the rear. Yet, although equally exposed 
 with the rest, far from being a-ffected with the fears that disorder 
 ed the regular troops, they stood firm and unbroken, and, under 
 Colonel Washington, covered the retreat of the regulars, and 
 saved them from total destruction. 
 
 The retreat of the army, after Braddock was wounded, wag 
 precipitate. No pause was made until the rear division was met 
 This division, on its junction with the other, was seized with the 
 same spirit of flight with the retreating, and both divisions pro- 
 ceeded to Fort Cumberland, a distance of nearly one hundred and 
 twenty miles from the place of action. 
 
 Had the troops, even here, recovered their spirits and returned, 
 success might still have crowned the expedition. At least, the 
 army might have rendered the most important service to the 
 cause, by preventing the devastations and inhuman murders, per- 
 petrated by the French and Indians, during the summer, on the 
 western borders of Virginia and Pennsylvania. But, instead of 
 adopting a course so salutary and important, Col. Dunbar, leav- 
 ing the sick and wounded at Cumberland, marched with his troops 
 In Philadelphia. 
 
 1). The expedition against Crown Point was led by 
 Gen. William Johnson, a member of the council of New 
 York ; and although it failed as to its main object, yet its 
 results diffused exultation through the American colo- 
 nies, and dispelled the gloom which followed Braddock's 
 defea*. 
 
 The army under Johnson arrived at the south end of Lake 
 George the latter part of August. While here, intelligence was 
 
13*2 period iv. — 1756 to 1775. 
 
 received that a body of the enemy, two thousand in number, had 
 landed at Southbay, now JVJiitmall, under command of Baron 
 Dieskau, and were marching towards Fort Edward, for the pur- 
 pose of destroying the provisions and military stores there. 
 
 At a council of war, held on the morning of September 8th, it 
 was resolved to detach a party to intercept the French and save 
 the fort. This party consisted of twelve hundred men, com- 
 manded by Col. Ephraim Williams, of Deerfield, Massachusetts. 
 Unfortunately, this detachment was surprised by Dieskau, who 
 was lying in ambush for them. After a most signal slaughter, 
 in which Col. Williams, and Hendrick, a renowned Mohawk 
 sachem, and many other officers, fell, the detachment was obliged 
 to retreat. 
 
 The firing was heard in the camp of Johnson ; and, as it seemed 
 to approach nearer and nearer, it was naturally conjectured that 
 the English troops were repulsed. The best preparations which 
 the time allowed, wej»e made to receive the advancing foe. 
 Dieskau, with his troops, soon appeared, and commenced a spirited 
 attack. They were received, however, with so much intrepidity 
 — the cannon and musketry did so much execution among their 
 ranks — that the enemy retired in great disorder, having expe- 
 rienced a signal defeat. The loss of the French was not less 
 than seven hundred killed, and three hundied wounded : this 
 loss was rendered still more severe to the French by a mortal 
 wound which Dieskau himself received, and in consequence of 
 which lie fell into the hands of the English. The loss of the 
 English did not much exceed two hundred. 
 
 Few events, of no greater magnitude, leave stronger impres- 
 sions than resulted from the battle of Lake George. Following, 
 as it did, the discomfiture ofBraddock.it served to restore the 
 honor of the British arms, and the tone of the public mind. 
 
 At the time it was meditated to send a detachment, under Col, 
 Williams, to intercept Dieskau, the number of men proposed 
 was mentioned to Hendrick, the Mohawk chief^ and his opinion 
 asked. He replied, " If they are to light, they are too few. If 
 they are to be killed, they are too many." The nunibt r was ac- 
 cordingly increased. Gen. Johnson proposed also to divide the 
 detachment into three parties. Upon this, Hendrick took three 
 slicks, and, putting them together, said to him, " Put these togeth- 
 er, and you cannot break them ;— take them one by one, and you 
 will break them easily." The hint succeeded and Hendrick's 
 sticks saved many of the party, and probably the whole army, 
 from destruction. 
 
 among the wounded of the French, as already stated, was the 
 Baron Dieskau. He had received a ball through his leg, and, 
 being unable to follow his retreating army, was found by an Eng- 
 lish soldier resting upon the stump of a tree, with scarcely an 
 attendant. Dieskau, apprehensive for his safety, was feeling for 
 
FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 
 
 133 
 
 his watch, in order to give it to the soldier, when the man, sus- 
 pecting that lie was feeling for a pistol, levelled his gun. and 
 wounded him in the hips, lie was carried to the camp, and treated 
 with great kindness. From the camp he was removed to Albany 
 and New York, whence, some time after, he sailed for England, 
 where he died. He was a superior officer, possessed of honora- 
 ble feelings, and adorned with highly polished manners. One 
 stain, however, attaches to his character. Before his engage- 
 ment with Col. Williams's corps, he gave orders to his troops 
 neither to give nor take quarter. 
 
 10. The expedition against Niagara was committed 
 to Gov. Shirley, of Massachusetts, whose force amounted 
 to two thousand live hundred men. But the season was 
 too far advanced before his preparations were completed, 
 to effect any thing of importance. After proceeding to 
 Oswego, on Lake Ontario, the army being poorly sup- 
 plied with provisions, and the rainy season approaching, 
 the expedition was abandoned, and the troops returned 
 to Albany. Thus ended the campaign of 1755. 
 
 11. In the spring of the ensuing year, 1756, Gov. 
 Shirley was succeeded in command by Gen. Abercrom- 
 bie, until the arrival of the Earl of Loudon, commander- 
 in-chief of all his majesty's forces in America. 
 
 The hostilities of the two preceding years had been 
 carried on without any formal proclamation of war ; but 
 this year, June 9th, as already stated, war was declared 
 by Great Britain against France, and, soon after, by 
 France agamst Great Britain, in turn. 
 
 The plan of operations for the campaign of 'C>G em- 
 braced the attack of Niagara and Crmtm Point, which 
 were still in possession of the French. Both these places 
 were of great importance; the former being the connect- 
 ing link in the line of fortifications between Canada and 
 Louisiana ; and the latter commanding Lake Cham- 
 plain, and guarding the only passage, at that time, into 
 Canada. But, important as were these posts, the reduc- 
 tion of neither was this year accomplished, nor even at- 
 tempted, owing, chiefly, to the great delays of those 
 who held the chief command 
 12 
 
134 period iv. — 1756 to 1775. 
 
 Troops were raised for the expedition against Crown Point, 
 amounting to seven thousand, the command of whom was as- 
 signed to Maj. Gen. Winslow,of Massachusetts. But his march 
 was delayed by obstacles ascribed to the improvidence of Aber- 
 crombie. 
 
 After the mortal wound received by Dieskau, at t!ie 
 battle of Lake George, the Marquis de Montcalm, an 
 *..Ae and enterprising officer, succeeded to the command 
 of the French forces. In the month of August, this 
 officer, with eight thousand regulars, Canadians and In- 
 dians, invested the fort at Oswego, on the south side of 
 Lake Ontario, — one of the most important posts held 
 by the English in America, — and in a few days took it. 
 On the receipt of this intelligence, Lord Loudon, who 
 had arrived at Albany, and entered upon the command, 
 despatched orders to Gen. Winslow, on his march towards 
 Crown Point, not to proceed. 
 
 The fall of the fort at Oswego was most unfortunate for the 
 English ; and their loss of men made prisoners, and munitions of 
 war, peculiarly severe. By the capture of this post, the tnemy 
 obtained the entire command of the lakes Ontario and Erie, and 
 of the whole country of the Five Nations. Sixteen hundred men 
 were made prisoners, and one hundred and twenty pieces of 
 cannon Mere taken, with fourteen mortars, two sloops of war, 
 and two hundred boats and batteaux. 
 
 After this disastrous event, all offensive operations 
 were immediately relinquished, although it. was then 
 three months to the time of the usual decampment of 
 the army. Thus, through the inactivity of a man whose 
 leading trait was indccis : oji, not one object of the cam- 
 paign was gained, nor one purpose accomplished, 
 either honorable or important. 
 
 12. Notwithstanding the failure of the campaign of 
 this season, the British parliament made great prepara- 
 tions to prosecute the war the succeeding year, 1757. 
 In July, an armament of eleven ships of the line and 
 fifty transports, with more than six thousand troops, ar- 
 rived at Halifax, destined for the reduction of Louisburg. 
 The colonies had been raising men for an expedition 
 against Ticondcroga and Crown Point. Great was their 
 
FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 135 
 
 mortification and disappointment, when they learned 
 from the orders of Lord Loudon, that these troops were 
 to be employed against Louisburg. Such inconstancy and 
 fluctuation appeared beneath the dignity of the com- 
 mander-in-chief. But they were obliged to submit ; and 
 Lord Loudon proceeded to join the armament at Halifax 
 
 So dilatory were their measures, however, that, before 
 they were ready to sail, Louisburg was reinforced by a 
 fleet of seventeen sail, and with troops to make it nine 
 thousand strong. On the reception of this intelligence, 
 it was deemed inexpedient to proceed, and the expedi- 
 tion was abandoned. 
 
 13. While weakness and indecision were marking 
 the counsels of the English, the French continued to 
 urge on their victories. Montcalm, still commander of 
 the French in the north, finding the troops withdrawn 
 from Halifax for the reduction of Louisburg, seized the 
 occasion to make a descent on Fort William Henry, 
 situated on the north shore of Lake George. The gar- 
 rison of the fort consisted of three thousand men. With 
 a force of nine thousand men, Montcalm laid siege to it. 
 After a gallant defence of six days, the garrison surren- 
 dered, thus giving to Montcalm the command of the 
 lake, and of the western frontier. 
 
 The spirited and protracted defence of the fort, against such 
 numbers, reflects the highest honor upon its brave commander, 
 Col. Munroe. Six days was the enemy kept at bay, with unabat- 
 ed resolution, in full expectation of assistance from Gen. Webb, 
 who lay at Fort Edward, only fifteen miles distant, with an army 
 of four thousand men. 
 
 The character of Gen. Webb continues sullied by his unpar- 
 donable indifference to the perilous situation of his brethren in 
 arms at Fort William Henry. It deserves to be known, that Sir 
 William Johnson, after very importunate solicitations, obtained 
 leave of Gen. Webb to march, with as many as would volunteer 
 in the service, to the relief of Munroe. 
 
 At the beat of the drums, the provincials, almost to a man, 
 gallied forth, and were soon ready and eager for the march. Af- 
 ter being under arms almost all day, what were their feelings 
 when Sir William, returning from head-quarters, informed them 
 that Gen. Webb had forbidden them to march ! 
 
130 period iy. — 1756* to 1775. 
 
 The soldiers were inexpressibly mortified and enraged, and 
 their commander did himself no common honor in the tears he 
 shed, as he turned from his troops, and retired to his tent. 
 
 The defence of Fort William Henry was so gallant, that Col 
 Munroe, with his troops, was admitted to an honorable capitula 
 tion. The capitulation, however, was most shamefully broken 
 While the troops were marching out at the gate of the fort, the 
 Indians, attached to Montcalm's party, dragged the men from 
 their ranks, and, with all the inhumanity of savage feeling, 
 plundered them of their baggage, and butchered them in cofd 
 blood. Out of a New Hampshire corps of two hundred, eighty 
 were missing. 
 
 It is said that efforts were made by the French to restrain the 
 barbarians ; but the truth of the assertion may well be doubted, 
 when it is considered that Montcalm's force was at least seven 
 thousand French, and yet these barbarians were not restrained. 
 
 14. In 1753, most fortunately for the honor of the 
 British arms, and for the salvation of the colonies, a 
 change took place in the ministry of England. The 
 celebrated Pitt, Lord Chatham, now placed at the head 
 of the administration, breathed a new soul into the Brit- 
 ish councils, and revived the energies of the colonio-s, 
 weakened and exhausted by a series of ill-contrived and 
 unfortunate expeditions. The tide of success now 
 turned in favor of the English, who continued, with some 
 few exceptions, to achieve one victory after another, un- 
 til the whole of Canada surrendered to the British arms. 
 
 Pitt, upon coming into office, addressed a circular to 
 the colonial governors, in which he assured them of the 
 determination of the ministry to send a large force to 
 America, and called upon them to raise as many troops 
 as the number of inhabitants would allow. The colonies 
 were prompt and liberal in furnishing the requisite sup- 
 plies. Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New -Hamp- 
 shire, unitedly, raised fifteen thousand men, who were 
 ready to take the field in May. 
 
 15. Three expeditions were proposed : — the first 
 against Louisburg ; the second against Ticonderoga ; the 
 third against Fort du Qiiesne.* 
 
 10 On the expedition against Louisburg, Admiral 
 
 * Fronounced Du-Kane. 
 
FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 137 
 
 Boscawen sailed from Halifax, May 28th, with a fleet of 
 twenty ships of the line, eighteen frigates, and an army 
 of fourteen thousand men, under the command of Brig. 
 Gen. Amherst, next to whom in command was Gen. 
 Wolfe. On the 26th of July, after a vigorous resistance, 
 this fortress was surrendered, and with it five thousand 
 seven hundred and thirty-seven prisoners of war, and 
 one hundred and twenty cannon, besides which the en- 
 emy ost five ships of the line and four frigates. At the 
 same time, Isle Royal, St. Johns, with Cape Breton, 
 fell into the hands of the English, who now became 
 masters of the coast from the St. Lawrence to Nova 
 Scotia. 
 
 The surrender of this fortress was a more signal loss to France 
 than any which she had sustained since the commencement of 
 the war. It greatly obstrucfed her communications with Cana- 
 da, and was powerfully instrumental in hastening the subjuga- 
 tion of that country to the British crown. 
 
 17. The expedition against Ticondcroga was conduct- 
 ed by Gen. Abercrombie, commander-in-chief in Ameri- 
 ca, Lord Loudon having returned to England. An 
 army of sixteen thousand men, nine thousand of whom 
 were provincials, followed his standard, besides a for- 
 midable train of artillery. 
 
 Having passed Lake George, the army proceeded with 
 great, difficulty towards the fortress. Unfortunately, 
 Gen. Abercrombie trusted to others, who were incompe- 
 tent to the task, to reconnoitre the ground and intrench- 
 ments of the enemy, and, without a knowledge of the 
 strength of the places, or of the proper points of attack, 
 issued his orders to attempt the lines without bringing 
 up a single piece of artillery. 
 
 The army advanced to the charge with the greatest 
 intrepidity, and for more than four hours maintained the 
 attack with incredible obstinacy. 
 
 After the loss of nearly two thousand in killed and 
 wounded, the troops were summoned away. The retreat 
 was as unhappy as the attack had been precipitate and 
 12* 
 
133 period iv — 175G t;> 1775. 
 
 ill-advised. Not a doubt can rationally exist, that, had 
 the siege been prosecuted with prudence and vigor, the re- 
 duction of the place would have been easily accomplished 
 without so great a waste of human life, as the garrison 
 amounted to but little more than three thousand men. 
 
 The passage of Abercrombie across Lake George, on his way 
 with his army to Ticonderoga, was effected by means of one 
 thousand and thirty-five boats. The splendor of the military 
 parade on the occasion was eminently imposing, and deserves to 
 be recorded. A late writer, Dr. D wight, thus describes it: — 
 
 " The morning was remarkably bright and beautiful ; and the 
 fleet moved with exact regularity to the sound of fine martial 
 music. The ensigns waved and flittered in the sun-beam.-*, and 
 the anticipation of future triumph shone in every eye. Above, 
 beneath, around, the scenery was that of enchantment. Rarely 
 lias the sun, since that luminary Was first lighted up in the 
 heavens, dawned on such a complication of beauty and magnili 
 cence." How greatly did all the parade which was displayed, 
 and ail the anticipation which was indulged, add to the mortifi- 
 cation of the defeat which followed ! 
 
 After his repulse, Gen. Abercrombie retired to his 
 former quarters on Lake George. Here, anxious in any 
 way to repair the mischief and disgrace of defeat, he 
 consented, at the solicitation of Col. Bradstreet, to de- 
 tach him, with three thousand men, against Fort Fron- 
 tenac, on the north-west side of the outlet of Lake On- 
 tario. With these troops, mostly provincial, Bradstreet 
 sailed down the Ontario, landed within a mile of the 
 fort, opened his batteries, and, in two days, forced this 
 important fortress to surrender. Nine armed vessels, 
 sixty cannon, sixteen mortars, and a vast quantity of 
 ammunition, &c. &c. fell into his hands. 
 
 18. To dispossess the French, at Fort da Qucsne, the 
 bulwark of their dominion over the western regions, was 
 a third expedition contemplated this year. This en- 
 terprise was intrusted to Gen. Forbes, who left Phi- 
 ladelphia, in July, but did not arrive at du Quesne 
 till late in November. The force collected for the at- 
 tack amounted to eight thousand effective men. An 
 attack, however, was needless, the fort having been de- 
 
FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 139 
 
 sorted by the garrison the evening before the arrival of the 
 army. On taking quiet possession of the place, Forbes, 
 in honor of Mr. Pitt, called it Pittsburg. 
 
 Notwithstanding the defeat of Ticonderoga, the cam- 
 paign closed with honor to the colonies, and to the na- 
 tion in general. The successes of the year prepared 
 (lie way for the still greater achievements of the ensu- 
 ing year. 
 
 10. Another event of this year concurred in bringing 
 to pass the fortunate issues of the next. This was a 
 treaty of peace and friendship with the Indian nations 
 inhabiting between the Apalachian mountains, the Al- 
 leganies, and the lakes. This treaty was concluded at 
 Eastbn, sixty miles from Philadelphia. 
 
 The managers of the treaty on the part of Great Britain, were 
 j the governors of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Sir William 
 ! Johnson, f ur members of the council of Pennsylvania, six mem 
 bers of assembly, and two agents from New Jersey. 
 
 The tribes represented on this occasion, and with which the 
 Ireaty was made, were the Mohawks, Oneidas. Onondagces. Ca- 
 rugas, Senecas, Tuscaroras, Nanticoques. and Conays. the Tute- 
 loes, Chugnuts. Delawares, Unamies, Minisinks, Mohicans, and 
 Wappingers. The whole number of Indians, including women 
 and children, present, amounted to five hundred. 
 
 20. The campaign of 1759 had for its object the en- 
 1 tire conquest of Canada. For this purpose, it was de- 
 termined, that three powerful armies should enter Cana- 
 
 ! da by different routes, and attack, at nearly the same 
 I time, all the strong holds of the French in that country. 
 ' These were Ticonderoga and Croion Point, Niagara 
 j and Quebec. 
 
 21. Gen. Amherst, who had succeeded Abercrombie 
 as commander-in-chief, led one division against Ticon- 
 fJn-oga, which he reached July 22th This fortress soon 
 surrendered, the principal part of the garrison having re- 
 tired to Crown Point. Having strengthened Ticonde- 
 roga, the army next proceeded against this latter place, 
 and took quiet possession of it, the enemy having fled 
 before their arrival 
 
140 period iv. — 175G to 1775. 
 
 The French retired to the Isle aux Noix, situated at the north 
 em extremity of Lake Cham plain, where they were strongly en 
 camped, with a force of three thousand five hundred men, and a 
 powerful artillery. Gen. Amherst designed to follow up his suc- 
 cesses against them in that quarter ; but the want of a suitable 
 naval armament prevented. 
 
 22. The second division of the army, commanded by 
 Gen. Pride aux, was destined against Niagara, at which 
 place they arrived July (5th, without loss or opposition. 
 The place was immediately invested : on the 24th of the 
 month, a general battle took place, which decided the 
 fate of Niagara, and placed it In the hands of the Eng- 
 lish. 
 
 Four days previous to this battle, that able and distinguished 
 officer, Gen. rrideaux, was killed by the bursting of a cohorn. 
 The command devolved on Sir William Johnson, who success- 
 fully put in execution the plans of his lamented predecessor. 
 
 23. While the English troops were achieving these 
 important victories in Upper Canada, Gen. Wolfe was 
 prosecuting the most important enterprise of the cam- 
 paign, viz. the reduction of Quebec. Embarking at 
 Louisburg with eight thousand men, under convoy of 
 Admirals Saunders and Holmes, he landed with his 
 troops, in June, on the island of Orleans, a little below 
 Quebec. 
 
 After several attempts to reduce the place, which 
 proved unsuccessful, Wolfe conceived the projpct of as- 
 cending, with his troops, a precipice of from 150 to 200 
 feet, by which he would reach the plains of Abraham, 
 lying south and west of the city, and thus gain access to 
 the enemy, in a less fortified spot. 
 
 This ascent he effected with his army, and ere Mont- 
 calm, the French general, was aware of it, the army had 
 formed on the heights of Abraham, and were prepared 
 for battle. 
 
 Here, on the morning of the 13th of September, Wolfe 
 met the French army under Montcalm, and, after a se- 
 vere and bloody contest, in which both these brave com- 
 manders fell, victory decided in favor of the English. 
 
FRnNCH AN T D INDIAN WAIt. 141 
 
 A thousand prisoners were taken, and a thousand of the 
 enemy were killed. The loss of the English, in killed 
 and wounded, did not exceed six hundred. Five days 
 after, the city capitulated : the inhabitants were to enjoy 
 their civil and religious rights, and remain neutral dur- 
 ing the war. The city was garrisoned under the com 
 mand of Gen. Murray. 
 
 Determined from the first to take the place, impregnable as it 
 was accounted, the measures of Gen. Wolfe were singularly 
 bold, and apparently repugnant to all the maxims of wax. His 
 attention was first drawn to Point Levi, on the southern bank of 
 the St. Lawrence, upon which, after taking possession of it, he 
 erected batteries. By means of these, he destroyed many houses ; 
 but from this point it was soon apparent that little impression 
 i could lie made upon the fortifications of the town. 
 
 Finding it impracticable thus to accomplish his purpose, Wolfe 
 next decided on more daring measures. For the purpose of 
 drawing Montcalm to a general battle, Wolfe, with his troops, 
 crossed the river Montmorenci, and attacked the enemy in their 
 Entrenchments. Owing, however, to the grounding oi some of 
 the boats which conveyed the troops, a part of the detachment 
 did nut land so soon as the others. The corps that first landed, 
 without waiting to form, rushed forward impetuously towards 
 ' the enemy's intrenc'iments. But their courage proved their 
 ruin. A close and well-directed fire from the enemy cut them 
 down in great numbers. 
 
 Montcalm's party had now landed, and were drawn up on the 
 beach in order. But it was near night, a thunder-storm was ap- 
 proaching, and the tide was rapidly setting in. Fearing the con 
 i sequences of delay, Wolfe ordered a retreat across the Montmo- 
 renci, and returned to Lis quarters on the Isle of Orleans. In 
 [his rencounter, his loss amounted to near six hundred of the 
 lower of his army. 
 
 ' The difficulties of effectinor the conquest of Quebec now press- 
 ed upon Wolfe with all their force. But he knew the importance 
 j»f taking this strongest hold — he knew the expectations of his 
 •ountrvmen — lie well knew that no military conduct could shine 
 hat was not gilded with success. 
 
 Disappointed thus far, and worn down with fatigue andwateh* 
 iig, General Wolfe fell violently sick. Scarcely had he recover- 
 d, before he proceeded to put in execution a plan which had been 
 latured on Ids sick bed. This was to proceed up the river, gain 
 le heights of Abraham, and draw Montcalm to a general engage- 
 lent. 
 Accordingly, the troops were transported up the river about 
 ine miles. On the 12th of Sept., one hour after midnight, Wolfe 
 
142 period iv. — 1756 to 1775. 
 
 and his troops left the ships, and in boats silently dropped down 
 the current, intending to land a league above Cape Diamond, and 
 there ascend the bank leading to the station he wished to gain. 
 Owing, however, to the rapidity of the river, they fell belo,v the 
 intended place, and landed a mile, or a mile and a half, above 
 the city. 
 
 The operation wasa critical one, as they had to navigate, in 
 silence, down a rapid stream, and to find a right place for landing, 
 which, amidst surrounding darkness, might be easily mistaken. 
 Besides this, the shore was shelving, and the bank so steep and 
 lofty, as scarcely to be ascended, even without opposition from an 
 enemy. 
 
 About an hour before day, the army began to ascend the preci- 
 pice, the distance of one hundred and fifty or two hundred feet, 
 almost perpendicular ascent, above which spread the plains of 
 Abraham. By day-light, Sept. 13th, this almost incredible enter- 
 prise had been effected — the desired station was attained, the army 
 was formed, and ready to meet the enemy. 
 
 To Montcalm, the intelligence that the English were occupy- 
 ing the heights of Abraham was most surprising. The impossi- 
 bility of ascending the precipice he considered certain, and there- 
 fore had taken no measures to fortify its line. But no sooner was 
 he informed of the position of the English army, than, perceiving 
 a battle no longer to be avoided, he prepared to fight. Between 
 nine and ten o'clock, the two armies, about equal in numbers, 
 met face to face. 
 
 The battle now commenced. Inattentive to the fire of a body 
 of Canadians and Indians, one thousand five hundred of whom 
 Montcalm had stationed in the cornfields and bushes, Wolfe di- 
 rected his troops to reserve their fire for the main body of the 
 French, now rapidly advancing. On their approach within forty 
 yards, the English opened their fire, and the destruction became 
 immense. 
 
 The French fought bravely, but their ranks became disordered, 
 and, notwithstanding the repeated efforts of their officers to form J 
 them, and to renew the attack, they were' so successfully pushed I 
 by the British bayonet, and hewn down by the Highland broad- 
 sword, that their discomfiture was complete. 
 
 During the action, Montcalm was on the French left, and Wolfe 
 on the English right, and here they both fell in the critical mo- 
 ment that decided the victory. Early in the battle, Wolfe re- 
 ceived a ball in his wrist; but, binding his handkerchief around it, 
 he continued to encourage his men. Shortly after, another ball 
 penetrated his groin ; but this wound, although much more se- 
 vere, he concealed, and continued to urge on the contest, till & 
 third bullet pierced his breast. He was now obliged, though re 
 luctantly, to be carried to the rear of the line. 
 
 Gen. Monckton succeeded to the command, but was immedi- 
 
FRENCH AND INDIAN WAft. l43 
 
 ately wounded, and conveyed away. In this critical state of the 
 action, the command devolved upon Gen. Townshend. Gen. 
 Montcalm, fighting in front of his hattalion, received a mortal 
 wound about the same time, and Gen. Jennezergus, his second 
 in command, fell near his side. 
 
 Wolfe died in the field, before the battle was ended; but he 
 lived long enough to know that the victory was his. While 
 leaning on the shoulder of a lieutenant, who kneeled to support 
 him, he was seized with the agonies of death : at this moment 
 was heard the distant sound, " They fly — they fly." The hero 
 raised his drooping head, and eagerly asked, " Who fly ?" Be- 
 ing told that it was the French — " Then," he replied, " I die 
 happy," and expired. 
 
 " This death," says Professor Silliman," has furnished a grand 
 and pathetic subject for the painter, the poet and the historian, 
 and, undoubtedly, considered as a specimen of mere military glory, 
 it is one of the most sublime that the annals of war afForu. 
 
 Montcalm was every way worthy of being the competitor of 
 Wolfe. In talents, in military skill, in personal courage, he was 
 not his inferior. Nor was his death much less sublime. He liv- 
 ed to be carried to the city, where his last moments were employed 
 in writing, with his own hand, a letter to the English general, 
 recommending the French prisoners to his care and humanity. 
 When informed that his wound was mortal, he replied, " 1 shall 
 not then live to see the surrender of Quebec." 
 
 24. The capture of Quebec, which soon followed, 
 important as it was, did not immediately terminate the 
 war. The French in Canada had still a powerful army, 
 and some naval force above the city. 
 
 25. In the ensuing spring, 1760, Monsieur Levi ap- 
 proached Quebec, from Montreal, assisted by six frigates, 
 for the purpose of recovering it from the English. Gen. 
 Murray, who commanded the English garrison, marched 
 to meet him, with only three thousand men ; and, on the 
 28th of April, after a bloody battle, fought at Sillsery, 
 three miles above the city, the English army was defeat- 
 ed, with the loss of one thousand men, the French hav- 
 ing lost more than double that number. 
 
 The English retreated to Quebec, to which the French 
 now laid siege. About the middle of May, an Engiish 
 squadron arrived with reinforcements, soon after which 
 the French fleet was taken and destroyed, and the siege 
 was raised. 
 
144 period iv. — 175G to 1775 
 
 20. The attention of the English commander-in-chief. 
 Gen. Amherst, was now directed to the reduction of 
 Montreal, the last fortress of consequence in the posses- 
 sion of the French. To effect this, he detached Col. 
 Havihuid, with a well-disciplined army, to proceed to 
 Like George, Crown Point, and Lake Champlain; 
 Gen. Murray was ordered from Cluebec, with such forces 
 as could be spared from the garrison, while Gen. Am- 
 herst himself proceeded, with ten thousand men, by Lake 
 Ontario, down the river St. Lawrence. 
 
 Generals Amherst and Murray arrived at Montreal the 
 same day, Sept. 6th, and were joined l>\ Haviland on 
 the day succeeding. While preparing to lay siege to 
 the place, the commander of Montreal, M. de Vaudreuil, 
 perceiving that, resistance would he ineffectual, demand- 
 ed a capitulation. On the 8th, Montreal, Detroit, Mich- 
 ilimackiuac, and all the other places within (lie govern- 
 ment of Canada, were surrendered to his Britannic ma- 
 
 27. Tims ended a war which, from the first hostilities, 
 had continued six years, and during which milch dis- 
 tress had been experienced, and many thousand valuable 
 lives lost. Great and universal was the joy that spread 
 through the colonies, at the successful termination of a 
 contest so long attd severe, and public thanksgivings 
 were generally appointed, to ascribe due honor to Him 
 who had preserved to the colonies their existence and 
 liberties. 
 
 2S. While the troops were employed in the conquest 
 of Canada, the colonies of Virginia and South Carolina 
 suffered invasion and outrage from the Cherokc^s, a 
 powerful tribe of savages on the west. But, in 17(51, 
 they were signally defeated by Col. Grant, and compel- 
 led to sue for peace. 
 
 Intelligence being oommuhiefetted to Gen. Amherst of the dan- 
 ger of these colonics, lie despatched Gen. Montgomery, with, one 
 thousand two hundred men, for their protection and relief. 
 
 Heing joined by Inn forces of the province of Carolina on ma 
 arrival, he immediately proceeded into the country of the Cheto- 
 
FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 145 
 
 kep-s, plundering and destroying their villages and magazines of 
 corn. In revenge, the savages besieged Fort Loudon, on the 
 confines of Virginia, which was obliged, by reason of famine, to 
 capitulate. The capitulation was, however, broken, and the 
 troops, while on their march to Virginia, were assaulted, numbers 
 of them killed, and the rest taken captive 
 
 The next year, 1701, Gen. Montgomery being obliged to re- 
 turn, Col. Grant was sent to continue the war. With an army 
 of near two thousand six hundred men, he began his march to- 
 wards the enemy's country. On the fourth day, the army fell in 
 witii a body of savages, and, after a strongly-contested battle, put 
 them to flight. Following up this victory, Col. Grant proceeded 
 to destroy their magazines, burn their cornfields, and consume 
 their settlements, until, having effectually routed them, he re- 
 turned with his troops. Soon after this, the Cherokee chief* 
 came in, and a peace was concluded. 
 
 29. The conquest of Canada having been achieved 
 in 1763, a definitive treaty, the preliminaries of which 
 had been settled the year before, was signed at Paris, 
 and soon after ratified by the kings of England and 
 France ; by which all Nova Scotia, Canada, the isle of 
 Cape Breton, and all other islands in the gulf and river 
 St. Lawrence, were ceded to the British crown. 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 30. Manners of the Colonists. The change in 
 respect to manners in the colonies, during this period, 
 consisted chiefly in a gradual wearing away of national 
 distinctions and peculiarities, and a tendency to a still 
 greater unity and assimilation of character. The rapid 
 increase of wealth, and the frequency of intercourse with 
 Europe, began to introduce among the colonies the 
 tastes, and fashions, and luxuries, of European countries. 
 But the introduction of them produced little enervation 
 of character among the people of America. Such an 
 effect was counteracted by the bloody but successful 
 war with the French and Indians, and the boundless 
 prosperity which seemed to open to the country, and call 
 forth its energies. Instead, therefore, of* a growing 
 weakness in the colon es, we perceive a more vigorous 
 13 
 
146 period iv. — 175(5 to 1775. 
 
 spirit of commercial enterprise pervading the country, 
 ;i consciousness of political importance becoming con- 
 tinned ; and a deep and ardent love of civil liberty 
 breathing over the land. 
 
 31. Religion. The only religions sect introduced 
 into America, during this period, was that of the S/t fi- 
 lters, or Shaking Quakers, who arrived from England in 
 1774, and settled at Niskayuna, near Albany. 
 
 Although the spirit of religious intolerance had disappeared 
 from the colonies, and the Puritanical severity of the north had 
 become much softened, y*'t, until the commencement of the 
 French and Indian war, the religious character of the colonies 
 had remained essentially the same. But during this war. inji- 
 (Irliti/ was extensively introduced into the army, by means of the 
 foreign English officers and soldiers who were sent into the 
 country. From the army it spread itself into society, and pro- 
 duced a considerable relaxation of morals, and a looser adhe- 
 rence to correct principle. 
 
 32. Trade and Commerce. During this period, 
 trade and commerce made great advances ; the annual 
 amount of imports from Great Britain was about two 
 and a half millions of pounds sterling, from 1756 to 
 1771; from 1771 to 1773, it was three millions and a 
 half annually, on an average. The annual amount of 
 exports of the colonies to Great Britain and elsewhere, 
 was about four million pounds sterling, at the close of 
 this period. The articles of export, and the nature of 
 the trade of the colonies, were essentially the same as 
 stated in the Notes to Period III. 
 
 In 17G9, the number of ships employed by Great Britain and 
 the colonies in the trade with the colonies, was one thousand 
 and seventy-eigh,t inUnned by twenty-eight thousand nine hun- 
 dred and ten seamen. 
 
 The whale and other fisheries in the colonies had become of 
 great importance. In 1775. there were employed in the fishery 
 generally, and in carrying the fish to market from New England, 
 one thousand four hundred and fifty vessels of all descriptions, 
 of one. hundred thousand tons burthen, and eleven thousand 
 fishermen and seamen. 
 
 o3. Agriculture. During this period, a gradual 
 progress was made in agriculture : but it does not need 
 anv sueciiic notice. 
 
FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 147 
 
 34. Arts and Manufactures. Great Britain stili 
 continued to oppose the progress of arts and manufac- 
 tures in the colonies, and, therefore, there was but a 
 moderate advance of these interests during this period. 
 
 :$5. Population. At the close of this period, the 
 white and black population of the colonies did not vary 
 greatly from three millions. 
 
 !}b\ Education. In the year 1709, the college at 
 Hanover, New Hampshire, was founded, and called 
 Dartmouth College, in honor of the Earl of Dartmouth, 
 who was one of its principal benefactors. 
 
 Ill 1770, the university in Rhode Island, called 
 "Brown University, was established at Providence. It 
 was incorporated in 17(>4, and first located at Warren. 
 At this place the first commencement was held, 17(39. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 37. The preceding short period of our history presents severa. 
 interesting subjects of* reflection. The American colonies tie- 
 came the theatre of a bloody conflict, attended by all the appal- 
 ling features of savage war. Although feebly supported by Eng- 
 land, and embarrassed by the want of political union, they sur- 
 mounted every obstacle, and compelled the French, their ene- 
 mies, to depart from their shores forever. 
 
 But no sooner was this conflict ended, than they began to feel, 
 with added weight, the hand of British oppression. Not hum- 
 bled, however, by injustice, nor crushed by severities, they 
 vigorously put forth their strength in commerce, trade, and 
 agriculture. They spread innumerable sails upon the ocean ; 
 they converted forests into meadows and wheat-fields ; estab- 
 lished seminaries of learning ; founded cities ; and built, churches 
 to God. 
 
 Nov. more — we see that those very steps which were taken by 
 the mother country to cripple Ihe American colonies, were so 
 ordered, as to add to their strengih. By leaving them to bear 
 the war of 17f>(5 almost alone, she showed them that they could 
 not expect defence f-om her ; she taught them the necessity of 
 relying upon their own energies ; gave them an opportunity to 
 learn the art of war, and to ascertain their own si length. 
 
 The long line of British acts, designed to crush the colonies, and 
 to keep them in humble subjection, passed, as they were, in wil- 
 tul ignorance of the feelings and power of America, awakened 
 
143 period iv. — 1760* to 1775. 
 
 the spirit of the revolution, and laid the foundation of a great 
 nation 
 
 What a lesson may tyranny gather from this ! And how thank 
 ful should wc be, that a just Providence is above, who regards 
 the affairs of men — who turns aside the trampling heel of op- 
 pression, and causes the blood wrung out by tyranny to cry from 
 the ground, and to call forth the spirit of liberty ! 
 
UNITED STATES 
 
 PERIOD V. 
 
 DISTINGUISHED FOR THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION 
 
 - 
 
 Extending from the Commencement of Hostilities hi/ 
 Great Britain, against the American Colonies, in the 
 Battle of Lexington, 1775, to the Disbanding of the 
 American Army, at West Point, 1783. 
 
 Sec. 1. On the 19th of April, 1775, was shed at Lex- 
 ington, Massachusetts, the first blood in the war of the 
 revolution ; a war which terminated in the separation 
 of the American colonies from Great Britain, and in 
 their change, from this humble character and condition, 
 to that of free and independent states. 
 
 2. The causes which led the colonies to take up arms 
 against the mother country, deserve a distinct recital in 
 this portion of our history, as they will clearly show the 
 justice, the wisdom, and the necessity, of those acts of 
 resistance, to which, at that trying period, resort was had. 
 
 " The independence of America," it has been ob- 
 served, " was found by those who sought it not." When 
 the fathers of this country left Great Britain, they had 
 no intention of establishing a government independent 
 of that of England. On the contrary, they came out 
 as colonists, and expected still to acknowledge allegiance 
 to the mother country. For many years, when they 
 spoke, or wrote, or thought, of England, it was under 
 tne filial and affectionate idea of" home." a And even 
 13* 
 
150 feriod v. — 1775 to 1783. 
 
 at the commencement of the controversy with Great 
 Britain," if we credit those who lived at that time, 
 " there existed no desire, nor intention, of becoming in- 
 dependent." 
 
 For these feelings of affection for the mother country, the col- 
 onies deserve the highest encomium. Causes existed which 
 might have justified a less degree of attachment, and were cal- 
 culated to produce it. These were the oppression and losses 
 which they endured ; the shackles imposed upon them ; the re- 
 straints upon their commerce ; the parsimony with which aid 
 was administered by the mother country ; the maladminis- 
 tration ; the peculation and arbitrary conduct of the royal gov- 
 ernors ; — these things were sufheier t, and more than sufficient, 
 to stifle ever}' feeling of affection, and shake the last remains 
 of their allegiance. 
 
 Yet through all this oppressive subordination ; through the 
 calamities of war ; through the attempt to wrest from them their 
 charters, and their dearest rights. — they could say, and did say, 
 " England, with all thy faults, 1 love thee still." 
 
 .Nor is it probal.de that these friendly dispositions of the colo- 
 nies would at this time have been withdrawn, had not Great 
 Britain interrupted them by a grievous change of policy towards 
 the inhabitants, touching the subject of revenue and taxation. 
 
 3. Before the peace of '63, the subject of taxation had 
 been wisely let alone. The colonies had been permit- 
 ted to tax themselves, without the interference of the par- 
 liament. But from and after this period, the ancient sys- 
 tem was set aside, and a different and oppressive policy 
 adopted. The first act, the avowed purpose of which 
 was a revenue from the colonies, passed the parliament, 
 September 20th, 17G4, the preamble to which began 
 thus — " Whereas it is just and necessary that a revenue 
 be raised in America, for defraying the expenses of de- 
 fending, protecting, and securing the same, we the com- 
 mons," 6lc. The act then proceeds to lay a duty on 
 u clayed sugar, indigo, coffee, &,c. &,c, being the produce 
 of a colony not under the dominion of his majesty." 
 
 4. This act the colonies could not approve. They 
 could not approve of it, because it recognized the ex- 
 istence of a right to tax them — a right not founded in 
 justice, and which, since their existence, nearly one hun- 
 
WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 151 
 
 dred and fifty years, had, until now, seldom been named. 
 But the colonies could submit to it, although unpleasant 
 and unjust ; nor would this act alone have led to perma- 
 nent disaffection, had it not been followed by other acts, 
 still more unjust and oppressive. 
 
 On the subject of the right of the British parliament to tax the 
 rrlonies, it was asserted, in the mother country, " to be essential 
 lo the unity, and of course to the prosperity, of the empire, that 
 the Br'.tish parliament should have a right of taxation over every 
 part of the royal dominions." In the colonies, it was contend- 
 ed, " that taxation and representation were inseparable, and that 
 they could not be safe, if their property might be taken from them 
 without their consent." This claim of the right of taxation on 
 the one side, and the denial of it on the other, was the very hinge 
 on which the revolution turned. 
 
 5. In accordance with the policy to be observed to- 
 wards America, the next year, 1765, the famous stamp 
 art passed both houses of parliament. This ordained 
 that instruments of writing, such as deeds, bonds, notes, 
 &,c, among the colonies, should b~ null and void, unless 
 executed on stamped paper, for which a duty should be 
 paid to the crown. 
 
 When this bill was brought in, the ministers, and particularly 
 Charles Townshend, exclaimed : — 
 
 "These Americans, -our own children, planted by our care, 
 nourished by our indulgence, protected by our arms, until they 
 are grown to a good degree of strength and opulence ; will they 
 now turn their backs upon us, and grudge to contribute their 
 mite to relieve us from the heavy load which overwhelms us?" 
 
 Col. Barre caught the words, and, with a vehemence becoming 
 a soldier, rose and said : — 
 
 " Planted hy ijour care! No ! your oppression planted them in 
 America: they fled from your tyranny into a then uncultivated 
 land, where they were exposed to almost all the hardships to 
 which human nature is liable, and, among others, to the savage 
 cruelty of the enemy of the country, a people the most subtle, 
 and, I take upon me to say, the most truly terrible of any peo- 
 ple that ever inhabited any part of God's earth ; and yet. ac- 
 tuated by principles of true English liberty, they met all these 
 hardships with pleasure, compared with those they suffered \r 
 their own country, from the hands of those that should have 
 been their friends. 
 
 " They nourished hy your indulgence > They grew by your neg- 
 lect: as soon as you began to care about them, that care was ex- 
 
152 period v. — 1775 to 1783. 
 
 ercised in sending persons to rule over them in one department 
 and another, who were, perhaps, the deputies of the deputies of 
 some members of this house, sent to spy out their liberty, to mis- 
 represent their actions, and to prey upon them; men whose be- 
 havior, on many occasions, has caused the blood of these sons 
 of liberty to recoil within them; men promoted to the highest 
 t>eats of justice, some of whom, to my knowledge, were glad, by 
 going to foreign countries, to escape the vengeance of the laws 
 in their own. 
 
 " They protected \>u your arms ! They have nobly taken no arms 
 in your defence, have exerted their valor, amidst their constant 
 ami laborious industry, for the defence of a country whose fron- 
 tiers while drenched in blood, its interior parts have yielded for 
 your enlargement the little savings of their frugality and the 
 fruits of their toils. And believe utr. mm mhvr. I this day told you 
 bo, that the same spirit which actuated that people at first, will 
 con'.iriue with them still."' 
 
 The night after this act passed, Doctor Franklin, who was then 
 in London, wrote to Charles Thompson, afterwards secretary of 
 the continental congress, " The sun of liberty is set ; the Jhn<ri~ 
 cans must li<jht, (he lamps of industry ami economy* To which 
 Mr. Thompson answered, ' ; Be assured we shall light torches quite 
 of another sort " — thus predicting the convulsions which were 
 about to follow. 
 
 6. Oh the arrival of the news of the stamp act in 
 America, a general indignation spread through the 
 country, and resolutions were passed against the act, hy 
 most of the colonial assemblies, 
 
 The assembly of Virginia was the first public body that met, 
 after the news of the act reached America. Towards the close 
 of the session, five resolutions were introduced into the house of 
 burgesses, by Patrick Henry; a young man highly distinguished 
 for his moral courage and bold and manly eloquence. The first 
 four of these resolutions asserted the various rights and privileges 
 claimed by the colonists, and the fifth denied, in no doubtful terms, 
 the riijht of parliament to tax America. 
 
 The debate on these resolutions was animated, and even vio- 
 lent. Nothing like them had ever transpired in America. They 
 evinced a settled purpose of resistance, and conveyed to the 
 ministry of Great Britain a lesson which, had they read with un- 
 prejudiced minds, might have saved them ihe fruitless struggle 
 of a seven years' war. There were those, in the house of bur- 
 gesses, who strongly opposed the resolutions; but the bold ami 
 powerful eloquence of Henry bore them down, and carried the 
 resolutions, though by a majority of only one. In the heat of the 
 debate, he boldly asserted, that "the king had acted the part of a 
 
WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 153 
 
 ti/rant ; and alluding to the fate of other tyrants, he exclaimed, 
 '• Caesar liad his Brutus, Charles I. his Cromwell., and George 
 III." — here pausing a moment till the cry of " Treason, treason," 
 resounding from several parts of the house, had ended — he added 
 — " may profit by their example; if this be treason, make the most 
 of it." 
 
 The next day, in the absence of Mr. Henry, the fifth resolution 
 was rescinded ; but that and the others had already gone forth 
 to the world : by the friends of freedom they were received with 
 enthusiasm, and served to raise still higher the justly indignant 
 feelings of a people whose rights were disregarded. 
 
 7. In June, Massachusetts recommended the meeting 
 of a colonial congress, to consult for the general safety. 
 The recommendation being well received by most of the 
 colonies, in October, twenty-eight members assembled 
 in New York, where they remonstrated against the stamp 
 act, and petitioned its repeal. At the same time, they 
 drew up a declaration of rights, in which taxation and 
 representation were declared to be inseparable. 
 
 This patriotic movement, on the part of the colony of Mass* 
 chusetts, was made prior to any intelligence of the proceedings 
 of Virginia, and was in accordance with the spirit of liberty 
 which early manifested itself in that province. 
 
 Three commissioners were appointed by Massachusetts to at 
 tend the proposed congress, and a circular was addressed to each 
 of the colonies, to appoint commissioners, for the same purpose. 
 To this proposal, eight colonies acceded, viz. Rhode Island, Con- 
 necticut, New York. New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Ma- 
 ryland, and South Carolina — commissioners from each of which 
 met those from Massachusetts at New York, on the first Tuesday 
 of October. 1765. This was the first general meeting of the 
 colonies. Timothy R'iggles, a commissioner from Massachusetts, 
 was chosen president. 
 
 In their declaration, they acknowledged their allegiance to his 
 majesty, ami their willingness to render due honor to the right- 
 ful authority of parliament; but they claimed that they had in- 
 terests, rights, and liberties, as the natural born subjects of his 
 majesty , and that, as Ihey could not be represented in parliament, 
 that body had no right to impose taxes on them, without their 
 consent. They declared the stamp act, and other acts of parlia- 
 ment, to have a manifest tendency to subvert the rights and lib- 
 erties of the colonists. 
 
 This congress adjourned on the 2nth of October; and their pro- 
 ceedings were approved by all the members, except Mr. Ruggles 
 of Massachusetts, and Mr. Ogden of New Jersey, both of whom 
 
154 period v. — 1775 to 1783. 
 
 left New York without signing the address and petitions. The 
 commissioners from South Carolina nnd Connecticut were limited 
 by their instructions to make report to their respective legisla- 
 tures ; and the committee of JSew York, who had been admitted 
 as members, had no authority to apply to the king or parliament. 
 The address and petition were, therefore, signed by commission- 
 ers from six of the colonies only. The proceedings of the con 
 gress were, however, afterwards sanctioned not only by the as- 
 semblies of South Carolina, Connecticut, and New York, but by 
 those of the colonies not therein represented. 
 
 8. The stamp act came into operation on the first day 
 of November. But on that day, not a single sheet of ail 
 the bales of stamps, which had been sent from England, 
 could have been found in the colonies ot New England, 
 New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and 
 the two Carolinas. They had either been committed to 
 the flames, had been reshipped to England, or were safe- 
 ly guarded by the opposition, into whose hands they had 
 fallen. A general suspension, or, rather, a total cessa- 
 tion of all business, which required stamped paper, was 
 the consequence. The printers of newspapers, only, 
 continued their occupation ; alleging for excuse, that if 
 they had done otherwise, the people would have given 
 them such an .admonition as they little coveted. None 
 would receive the gazettes coming from Canada, as they 
 were printed on stamped paper. The courts of justice 
 were shut; even marriages were no longer celebrated; 
 and, in a word, an absolute stagnation in all the relations 
 of social life was established. 
 
 Tt would scarcely be possible, by means of language, to con 
 vey an adequate idea of the strong feelings of opposition to this 
 most odious act, which pervaded the friends of liberty in Ameri- 
 ca. As might be expected, these feelings were manifested in 
 various riotous proceedings, which scarcely admit of a full jus- 
 tification. 
 
 As early as the middle of August, on the morning of one day, 
 there were discovered two effigies hanging on the branch of an 
 old elm, in the southern part of Boston, one of which was de- 
 signed to represent a stump officer — the other a jack-boot, out of 
 which rose a horned head, which appeared to look around. 
 
 The novelty of the spectacle soon attracted a multitude to the 
 spot, which continued to increase all day. Towards evening, 
 
WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 155 
 
 the effigies were taken clown, placed on a bier, and carried in 
 funeral procession through several streets — a host following, and 
 snouting,' ''Liberty and property forever ! — no stamps !" At length, 
 arriving in front of a house, owned by one Oliver, which they 
 supposed was intended for a stamp office, they demolished it to 
 its very foundations. 
 
 From this, they proceeded to his dwelling, and, finding Oliver 
 had tied, they destroyed his fences, broke open the doors of his 
 dwelling, and greatly injured his furniture. On the following 
 day, apprehensive of a second visit, from this lawless multitude, 
 Oliver gave public notice, that he had forwarded to England his 
 resignation as a stamp officer. This becoming known by the 
 populace, which had assembled to renew the last night's assault, 
 they gave three cheers to Oliver, and departed without doing 
 further damage. 
 
 The opposition of the friends of liberty in other places, was 
 manifested by proceedings of a similar kind. 
 
 \). About this time, associations were formed in all 
 the colonies, under the title of Sons of Liberty, the ob- 
 ject of which was, by every practicable means, to oppose 
 the unjust and arbitrary measures of the British govern- 
 ment. Added to this, societies were instituted, includ- 
 iilg females as well as males, the members of which re- 
 solved to forego all the luxuries of life, rather than be 
 indebted to the commerce of England. 
 
 These societies denied themselves the use of all foreign arti- 
 cles of clothing: carding, spinning and weaving became the 
 daily employment of women of fashion : sheep were forbidden to 
 be used as food, lest there should not be found a sufficient supply 
 of wool; and to be dressed in a suit of home-spun was to possess 
 the surest, means of popular distinction. And so true were these 
 societies to their mutual compact, that the British merchants and 
 manufacturers soon be<ran to feel the necessity of uniting with 
 the colonies in petitioning parliament for a repeal of the obnox- 
 ious law. Artificers and manufacturers in England were b ft 
 without employment, and thrown upon the charities of the pub- 
 lic ; for. even at that early day. this class of people were in a 
 great, measure dependent on the colonial consumption for their 
 support. The warehouses of the merchants were, lor the same 
 reason, filled wi!h unsalable goods; and the table of the minU- 
 ter was soon loaded with petitions and remonstrances from all 
 the large towns in the kingdom. 
 
 10. Fortunately for the interests both of the colonies 
 and of Great Britain/ a change took place, about this 
 
156 period v. — 1775 to 1783. 
 
 time, in the administration of England, by which several 
 of the friends of America came into power. The Mar- 
 quis of Rockingham was appointed first lord of the 
 treasury, in the room of Lord Grenville, and the Duke 
 of Grafton and Gen. Conway secretaries of state. To 
 this new ministry, it was obvious, that measures must be 
 taken either to repeal the odious statute, or to make 
 America submit by force of arms. The former being 
 deemed the wiser course, a motion was made in parlia- 
 ment to that effect. The debate on the question of re- 
 peal was long and angry. It was, however, at length 
 carried ; but only by accompanying the repealing act by 
 one called the declaratory act, the language of which 
 was, that parliament have, and of right ought to have, 
 power to bind the colonies in all cases whatsoever. 
 
 On the meeting of parliament, Jan. 7th, 17GG, his majesty, in 
 his speech, spoke of the above opposition of the colonies to the 
 stamp act in terms of severe reprehension. On the usual mo- 
 tion for an address to the king, Mr. Pitt, the invariable friend of 
 the colonies, delivered his famous speech on American liberty, 
 in which he declared it to be his opinion that the kingdom 
 had no right to tax the colonies; that he rejoiced that they had 
 resisted, and he hoped that they would resist to the last drop of 
 their blood. 
 
 On the 22d of February, General Conway introduced a motion 
 to repeal this act. The debate lasted until three o'clock in the 
 morning ; and never was there a debate which excited more 
 warmth of interest or more vehemence of opposition. The lob- 
 bies of the house were crowded with the manufacturers and 
 traders of the kingdom, whose anxious countenances plainly 
 showed that their fates hung upon the issue. A division at length 
 being called for, two hundred and seventj'-five rose in support of 
 the motion, and one hundred and sixty-seven against it. 
 
 On learning this vote, the transports of the people were un- 
 governable. Impressed with the conviction that they owed their 
 deliverance to Mr. Pitt, their gratitude knew no bounds : when 
 he appeared at the door, in the language of Burke, " they jump- 
 ed upon him, like children on along absent father. They clung 
 to him as captives about their redeemer. All En<rhni.d joined in 
 his applause." In llie house of peers, the opposition to the motion 
 was still more obstinate. Some of the dukes, and the whole 
 bench of bishops, were for forcing the Americans to subinif, with 
 fire and sword Opposition, however, was, at length, weaned 
 
WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 157 
 
 out; and the motion to repeal was carried by a majority of thirty- 
 four, a compromise having been made by introducing the above 
 declaratory act. 
 
 11. The satisfaction of the colonies, on the repeal of 
 the stamp act, was sincere and universal. Elevated with 
 the idea of having removed an odious and oppressive 
 burden, and believing, notwithstanding the declaratory 
 act of parliament, that the right of taxing the colonies 
 was at length surrendered, better feelings were indulg- 
 ed; commercial intercourse was revived, and larger im- 
 portations of goods were made than ever. 
 
 On the meeting of the house of representatives of Massachu 
 setts, a vote of gratitude to the king, and of thanks to Mr. Pitt, 
 the Duke of Grafton, and others, was passed by that body. By 
 the house of burgesses in Virginia, it was resolved to erect a 
 statue in honor of the king, and an obelisk in honor of all those, 
 whether of the house of peers or of the commons, who had dis- 
 tinguished themselves in favor of the rights of the colonies. 
 
 12. In July, 1766, the administration of the Marquis 
 of Rockingham was dissolved, and a new one formed, 
 under the direction of Mr. Pitt, at this time created Earl 
 of Chatham. Unfortunately, it was composed of men of 
 different political principles, and attached to different 
 parties. Among the members of the new cabinet, hos- 
 tile to America, was Charles Townshend, chancellor of 
 the exchequer. Influenced by Lord Grenville, this lat- 
 ter minister, in the year 1767, introduced into parlia- 
 ment a second plan for taxing America, viz. by impos- 
 ing duties on glass, paper, pasteboard, painters'* colors, 
 and tea. 
 
 13. During the discussion of this bill, Mr. Pitt was 
 ■confined by indisposition, and hence unable to raise his 
 roice against it. Without much opposition, it passed 
 both houses, and, on the 29th of June, received the royal 
 assent. At the same time were passed two other acts ; 
 — the one establishing a new board of custom-house 
 officers in America; and the other restraining the legis- 
 lature of the province of New York from passing any 
 
 IX 
 
153 period v.— 1775 to 1/83. 
 
 act tdhafevef, until they should furnish the king's troops 
 with several required articles. 
 
 14. These three acts reached Americ i at the same 
 time, and again excited universal alarm. The ft st and 
 second were particularly odious. The new duties, it 
 was perceived, were only a new mode of drawing money 
 from the colonies; and the same strong opposition to the 
 measure was exhibited, which had prevailed against th 
 stamp act. Several of the colonies, through their col> 
 nial assemblies, expressed their just abhorrence of tluse 
 enactments, and their determination never to submit to 
 them. 
 
 Soon after the establishment of the new bpard of custom-house 
 officers, at Boston, under the above act. a fit occasion presented 
 itself, for an expression of the public ind'.ffnation. Tins was the 
 arrival at. that port, in May. 17<*>8. of the sloop Liberty, belonging 
 to Mr. Hancock, and laden with wines from Madeira. 
 
 During the night, most of her cargo was unladen, and put into 
 ptores ; on the following day, ihe sioop was entered at the cus 
 tom-honse. with a few pipes only. A discovery beinnr made of 
 these tarts, by the custom-house officers. tlLe vessel was seized, 
 an.! by their order removed alongside of the Romney. a ship of 
 war, tlnn in harbor. The conduct of the custom house officers, in 
 this transaction, roused the indignant feelings of the Bostenians, 
 who unwarrantably attacked the houses of the officers, and even 
 assaulted their persons. No prosecutions, however. could be sus 
 titined. from the excited state of public feeling. Finding them 
 selves no longer safe in the town, the officers prudently sought 
 protection on board the Roinney, and subsequently retired to 
 Castle William. 
 
 lo. The public excitement was soon after increased 
 by the a-rrival in the harbor of two regiments of troops, 
 under the command of Colonel Dalrymple. These were 
 designed to assist the civil magistrates in the preserva- 
 tion of peace, and the custom-house officers in the exe- 
 ution of their functions. 
 
 On the dav after its arrival, the fleet was brought to nnchoi 
 ear Castle William. Having taken a station which coium-md 
 ed Ihe town, the troops, under cover of the cannon r.f the ships, 
 landed without molestation, and. to the number of upwards of 
 7'!i) men. inarched, with muskets charged, bavonets fixed, martini 
 music c.id the usual miiitarv parade on to the common. In the 
 
WAR OF THE REVOLUTION 159 
 
 evening, the selectmen of Boston were required to quarter the 
 two regiments in the town ; but they absolutely refused. A tem- 
 porary shelter, however, in Fanueil Hall, was permitted to one 
 regiment, that was without its camp equipage. The next day, 
 the state house, by order of the governor, was opened for the 
 reception of the soldiers; and t"~.t the quarters were settled, 
 two field pieces, with tbe main guard, were stationed just in its 
 front. Every thing was calculated to excite the indignation of 
 the inhabitants. The lower floor of the state house, which had 
 been used by gentlemen and merchants as an exchange, the 
 representatives' chamber, the court house, Fanueil Hall — places 
 with which were intimately associated ideas of justice and free- 
 dom, as well as of convenience and utility — were now filled with 
 regular soldiers. Guards were placed at the doors of the state 
 house, through which the council must pass, in going to their 
 own chamber. The common was covered with tents. Soldiers 
 were constantly marching and countermarching to relieve the 
 guards. The sentinels challenged tbe inhabitants as they passed. 
 The Lord's day was profaned, and the devotion of the sanctuary 
 disturbed by the sound of drums and other military music. There 
 was every appearance of a garrisoned town. 
 
 16. Iii Feb., 17G9, both houses of parliament we"ht a 
 step beyond all that had preceded, in an address to the 
 king, requesting him to give orders to the governor of 
 Massachusetts — the spirited conduct of which province 
 was particularly obnoxious to the ministry — to take no- 
 tice of such as might be guilty of treason, that they might 
 be sent to England and tried tliere. 
 
 A measure more odious to the people of America, or 
 more hostile to the British constitution, could not be 
 named, than for a man to be torn from his country, to 
 be tried by a jury of strangers. 
 
 The house of burgesses of Virginia met soon after the official 
 accounts of this address were received, and, in a few days, passed 
 several spirited resolutions, expressing "their exclusive rigbt to 
 tax their constituents, and denying the right of his majesty to 
 remove an offender out of the country for trial." The next day, 
 the royal governor of that colony sent for the house of burgesses, 
 and addressed them laconically as follows : — u Mr. Speaker, and 
 gentlemen of the house of burgesses, I have heaid of your re- 
 solves, and augur ill of their effects. You have made it my duty 
 to dissolve you. and you are accordingly dissolved !" The as- 
 sembly of North Carolina passed similar resolutions, and were 
 dissolved by their governor, in a similar manner. 
 
1G0 period v. — 1775 to 1783. 
 
 In May following, the assembly of Massachusetts convened, 
 but refused to transact any business while the state house w;iu 
 surrounded by an armed force. This force, however, tbe governor 
 would not remove, but adjourned the assembly to Cambridge 
 At this place, the assembly passed resolutions expressing their 
 belief, that the maintenance of a standing army in the colony, in 
 time of peace, was an infringement of the natural rights of 
 the people. They refused to make any of the appropriations of 
 money desired by the governor, in consequence of which he pro- 
 rogued them. In August, the governor (Bernard) was recalled, 
 and the government devolved upon Lieutenant-Governor 
 Hutchinson. 
 
 17. During the session of parliament in 1770, the 
 Duke of Grafton, first lord of the treasury, resigned, and 
 was succeeded in that office by the afterwards celebrat- 
 ed Lord North. Tn March, this latter gentleman intro- 
 duced a bill, abolishing all duties, imposed by the act of 
 1767, on all the articles, except tea. This partial suspen- 
 sion of the duties served to soften the feelings of the Amer- 
 icans ; but the exception in relation to tea, it was quite 
 apparent, was designed as a salvo to the national honor, 
 and an evidence, which the British ministry were unwill- 
 ing to relinquish, of the right of parliament to tax the 
 colonies. 
 
 18. While affairs were thus situated, an event occur 
 red, which produced great excitement in America, par- 
 ticularly in Massachusetts. This was an affray, on the 
 evening of the 5th of March, 1770, between several of 
 the citizens of Boston, and a number of British soldiers, 
 stationed at the custom-house. Several of the inhabit- 
 ants were killed, and others severely wounded. 
 
 The quarrel commenced on the 2d of March, at Gray's rope 
 walk, between a soldier and a man employed at the rope walk. 
 The provocation was given by the citizen, and a scuffle ensued, 
 in which the soldier was beaten. On the 5th of the month,' 
 the soldiers, while under arms, were pressed upon and insulted, 
 and dared to fire. One of them, who had received a blow, fired 
 at the aggressor ; and a single discharge from six others succeed- 
 ed. Three of the citizens were killed, and five dangerously 
 wounded. The town was instantly thrown into the greatest 
 commotion, the bells were rung, and the general cry was, " To 
 arms." In a short time, several thousands of the citizens had 
 
WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. J 61 
 
 assembled, and a dreadful scene of blood must have ensued, 
 but for the promise of Gov. Hutchinson, tbat the, affair should be 
 jeltled to their satisfaction in the morning. Capt. Preston, 
 *ho commanded the soldiers, was committed with them to prison. 
 Upon their trial, the captain and six soldiers were acquitted, 
 avo were convicted of manslaughter. For several subsequent 
 fears, the evening of the day on which this outrage was committed 
 «vas commemorated by the citizens of Boston, and the event gave 
 occasion to addresses the most warm and patriotic, which served 
 to waken up and increase the spirit of the revolution. 
 
 19. During the .summer of 177:2, another event occur- 
 red, which presented a fresh obstacle to a reconciliation 
 netween America and the mother country. This was the 
 destruction, l>y the people of Rhode Island, of a British 
 armed schooner, called Gasper, which had been sta- 
 tioned in that colony to assist the board of custom in 
 the execution of the revenue and trade laws. 
 
 The destruction of this vessel grew out of an odious requisition 
 of her commander, upon the masters of packets, navigating - the 
 hav. to lower their colors, on passing the schooner. 
 
 On the LKh of June, as the Providence packet was sailing into 
 the harbor of Newport, her captain was ordered to lower his coi- 
 n's. Upon his refusal, a shot was fired at him from the schooner, 
 R'hich immediately made sail in chase. By a dexterous manage- 
 ment, on the part of the master of the packet, he led the schooner 
 Ml a shoal, where she grounded, and remained fast. At night, it 
 was determined by a number of fishermen, and Others, headed by 
 several respectable merchants of Providence, to make them- 
 selves masters of her. and then set her on fire. "When the knowl- 
 edge of this event came to the governor, a reward of fire hundred 
 pounds was offered, by proclamation, tor the discovery of the 
 offenders, and the royal pardon to those who would confess their 
 guilt. Commissioners were appointed also to investigate the 
 offence, and bring the perpetrators to justice. But after remain- 
 ing some time in session, they reported that they could obtain 
 no evidence, and thus the affair terminated. 
 
 20. In 1773, an important measure was adopted by 
 most of the colonies, viz. the appointment of committees of 
 correspondence and inquiry, in various parts of their re- 
 spective territories, by means of which a confidential 
 and invaluable intcrchanL r e of opinions was kept up be- 
 tween the colonies, and great unity of sentiment was 
 thereby promoted. 
 
 14* 
 
162 period v. — 1775 to 1783. 
 
 This measure had its origin in Massachusetts, in which town 
 meetings were called to express their views of the oppressive 
 acts of the British parliament, and especially of an act by which & 
 salary was voted to the royal governor of Massachusetts by pat 
 liament, and the people of that colony required to pay it. Ir, 
 these meetings, the town of Boston took the lead. A committee 
 was appointed to address the several towns in the colony, and to 
 urge upon them the importance of an unanimous expression 
 of their feelings, with regard to the conduct of the British 
 ministry. 
 
 The proceedings of the assembly, and of the towns in Massa 
 chusetts, were communicated to the house of burgesses in Vir 
 ginia, in March, 1773, upon which that body passed a resolution 
 appointing a committee of correspondence and inquiry, whose 
 business it was to obtain the most early and authentic intelligence 
 of the proceedings of the British government in relation to the 
 colonies, and to maintain a correspondence with the other col 
 onies touching all affairs of mutual interest. 
 
 Upon the recommendation of Virginia, similar committees of 
 correspondence and inquiry were appointed by the different co- 
 lonial assemblies, and a confidential interchange of opinions was 
 thus kept up between the colonies. 
 
 21. During these transactions in America, a plan was 
 devised by the British ministry to introduce tea into the 
 colonies. For some time little of that article had been 
 imported into the country, from a determination of the 
 people not to submit, to the payment of the duty upon it. 
 In consequence of this, the teas^of the East India com- 
 pany had greatly accumulated in their warehouses. To 
 enable them to export their teas to America, the British 
 minister introduced a bill into parliament, allowing 
 the company to export their teas into America, with a 
 drawback of all the duties paid in England. As this 
 would make the tea cheaper in America than in Greal 
 Britain, it was presumed that the Americans would pay 
 the small duty upon it, which was only threepence. In 
 his, however, the parliament mistook. Not a single 
 enny, by way of duty, was paid upon it, nor a single 
 )ound of it consumed. 
 
 On the passage of this bill, the company made a shipment of 
 large quantities of tea to Charleston, Philadelphia, New York, 
 and Boston. Before its arrival, the resolution had been formed by 
 the inhabitants of those places, that, if possible, it should not even 
 
WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 
 
 im 
 
 be landed. The c-argo destined for Charleston was, indeed, land- 
 ed and stored, but was not permitted to be offered for sale. 
 The vessels which brought tea to Philadelphia and New York, 
 were compelled to return to England, without even having made 
 an entrv at the custom-house. 
 
 It v0as designed by the leading patriots of Boston to make a 
 similar disposition of the cargoes expected at that place ; but, on 
 their arrival, the consignees were found to be the relations or 
 fi iends of the governor, and they could not be induced to re- 
 sign their trust. Several town-meetings were held on the sub- 
 ject, and spirited resolutions passed, that no considerations would 
 induce the inhabitants to permit the landing of the tea. Orders 
 were at the same time give"n to the captains to obtain clearances 
 at the custom-house, without the usual entries ; but this the col 
 lector pertinaciously refused. 
 
 It was in this state of things that the citizens of Boston again 
 assembled to determine what measures to adopt. While the dis- 
 cussions were going on, a ca]4lain of a vessel was despatched to 
 the governor to request a passport. At length, he returned to say 
 diat the governor refused. The meeting was immediately dis- 
 so^ed. A secret plan had been formed to mingle the tea with 
 the waters of the ocean. Three different parties soon after sal 
 
 lied out, in the costume of Mohawk Indians, and precipitately 
 made their way to the wharves. At the same time, the citizen3 
 
101 period v. — 1775 to 17S3. 
 
 were seen in crowds directing their course to the same place, to 
 become spectators of a scene as novel as the enterprise was bold. 
 Without noise, without the tumult usual on similar occasions, the 
 tea was taken from the vessel by the conspirators, and expedi 
 tiously offered as an oblation " to the watery god.''' 
 
 2:2. Intelligence of these proceedings was communi- 
 cated, in a message from the throne, to both houses ot" 
 parliament, on the 7th of March, 1774. The excite- 
 ment was peculiarly strong. \n the spirit of revenge 
 against Massachusetts, and particularly against Boston, 
 which was considered as the chief seat of rebellion, a 
 bill was brought forward, balled the "Boston Port Bill," 
 by which the port of Boston was precluded from the 
 privilege of landing or discharging, or of loading and 
 shipping goods, wares, and merchandise. 
 
 A second bill, which passed at this time, -essentially 
 altered the charter of the province, making the appoint- 
 ment of the council, justices, judges, &c. dependent upon 
 the crown, or its agent.- A third soon followed, author- 
 izing and directing the governor to send any person in- 
 dicted for murder, or any other capital offence, to 
 another colony, or to Great Britain, for trial, 
 
 23. On the arrival of these acts, the town of Boston 
 passed the following vote : " That it is the opinion of this 
 town, that, if the other colonics come into a joint resolution 
 to sj;op all importation from Great Britain and the West 
 Indies, till the act. for blocking up this harbor be repealed, 
 the same will prove the salvation of North America and 
 her liberties." Copies of this vote were transmitted to 
 each of the colonies. 
 
 As an expression of their sympathy with the people 
 
 of Boston in their distress, the house of burgesses in 
 
 Virginia ordered that the day on which the Boston port 
 
 ill was to take effect, should be observed as a day of 
 
 asting and prayer. 
 
 Ohs. The words Wlilgs and Tories were, about this time, intro- 
 duced ;is the distinguishing names of parlies. I>v the former 
 was meant those who favored the cause of Boston, and were 
 zealous in supporting the colonies against the parliament; by the 
 latter was meant the favorers of Great Britain. 
 
WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 105 
 
 24. During these transactions in Massachusetts, meas* 
 
 urcs had been taken to convene a continental congress. 
 On the fourth of September, 1774, deputies from eleven 
 colonies met at Philadelphia, and elected Peyton Ran- 
 dolph, the then late speaker of the Virginia assembly; pres 
 ident, and Charles Thompson, secretary. During its ses- 
 sion, this body agreed upon a declaration of their rights; 
 recommended the non-importation of British goods into 
 the country, and the non-exportation of American prod- 
 vice to Great Britain, so long as their grievances were 
 unredressed ; voted an address to his majesty, and like- 
 wise one to the people of Great Britain, and another to 
 the French inhabitants of Canada. 
 
 The congress, which thus terminated its session, has justly been 
 celebrated, from that time to the present; and its celebrity will 
 continue, while wisdom finds admirers, and patriotism is regard- 
 ed with veneration. Both at home and abroad they were spoken 
 of in terms of the highest admiration. Abroad, the Earl of 
 Chatham, in one of his brilliant speeches, remarked of them : — 
 '• History, my lords, has been my Favorite study ; and in the cele- 
 brated writings of antiquity have I often admired the patriotism 
 of Greece and Rome ; but. my lords, I must declare and avow, 
 that, in the master stales of the world, T know not the people, or 
 senate, who, in such a complication of difficult circ/umstances, 
 can stand in preference to the delegates of America assembled 
 in general congress at Philadelphia." At home, they were 
 celebrated by a native and popular bard, in an equally elevated 
 strain : — 
 
 New meet the fathers of this western clime ; 
 
 .Nor names more noble graced the rolls of fame, 
 When S|Kirf;in firmne'ss braved the wrecks of time, 
 
 Or Latian virtue fann'd the heroic Hume. 
 
 Not deeper thought the immortal bm<:c inspired, 
 
 ( >u Solon's lips when Grecian senates hung ; 
 Not manlier eloquence the bosom fired, 
 
 When genius thundered from the Athenian tongue. 
 
 25. An assembly was ordered, by Gov. Gage of Mas- 
 sachusetts, to convene October 5th ; but before that pe- 
 riod arrived, judging their meeting inexpedient, he coun- 
 teracted the writs of convocation, by a proclamation. 
 The assembly, however, to the number of ninety, met 
 at Salem, where the governor not attending, they ad- 
 
160 period v. — 1775 to 17S3. 
 
 journed to Concord. Here they chose John Hancock 
 president, and, after adjourning to Cambridge, drew up 
 a plan for the immediate defence of the province, bj 
 enlisting men, appointing general officers, &,c. 
 
 In November, this provincial congress met again, and resolve* 
 to equip twelve thousand men, to act in any emergency ; and t< 
 enlist one fourth part of the militia as minute-men. At the sanu 
 time, a request was forwarded to Connecticut, New Hampshire 
 and Rhode Island, jointly to increase this army to twenty thou 
 sand men. 
 
 26. Early the next year, January 7th, 1775, Loid 
 Chatham, Mr. Pitt, after a long retirement, resumed jjiii. 
 seat in the house of lords, and introduced a conciliatory 
 bill, the object of which was to settle the troubles in 
 America. But the efforts of this venerable and peace- 
 making man wholly failed, the bill being rejected by a 
 majority of sixty-four to thirty-two, without even the 
 compliment of laying it on the table. 
 
 The rejection of this bill was followed the next day by the 
 introduction of a bill, which finally passed, to restrain the trade 
 of the New England provinces, and to forbid their fishing on the 
 banks of Newfoundland. Soon after, restrictions were imposed 
 upon the middle and southern colonies, with the exception of 
 New York, Delaware, and North Carolina. This bill, designed 
 to promote disunion among the colonies, happily failed of its 
 object. 
 
 Thus we have given a succinct account of the system 
 of measures adopted by the ministry of England toward 
 the American colonies after the peace of '63 — measures 
 most unfeeling and unjust ; but which no petitions, how- 
 ever respectful, and no remonstrances, however loud, 
 could change. Satisfied of this, justice permitted the 
 people, and self-respect and self-preservation loudly sum- 
 moned them, to resist by force. 
 
 27. The crisis, therefore, had now arrived, the signal 
 of war was given, and the blood shed at Lexington opened 
 the scene. 
 
 Gen. Gage, the king's governor of Massachusetts, 
 learning that a large quantity of military stores had been 
 deposited by the provincials at Concord, detached Lieut. 
 
VAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 
 
 1G7 
 
 Col. Smith and Major Pitcairn, with eight hundred 
 grenadiers, to destroy them. On their arrival at Lex- 
 ington, on the morning of the 19th of April, 1775, 
 seventy of the militia, who had hastily assembled upon 
 an alarm, were under arms on the parade. Eight of 
 these were, without provocation, killed, and several 
 wounded. 
 
 ■ ' i. '■ ■ ;' T, , ■■■'■" '."--'■■ 
 
 w 
 
 The greatest precaution was taken by Governor Gagp. to pre 
 (•(Mil the intelligence of this expedition from reaching the country. 
 Officers Were dispersed along the road to intercept expresses, 
 who might be sent from Boston. But the precaution proved in- 
 effectual. The alarm was given, and was rapidly spread by 
 means of church bells, guns, and volleys. 
 
 The slaughter of the militia at Lexington was extremely wan- 
 tbii". Major Pitcairn. the British commander, on seeing then? 
 on the parade, rode up to them, and. With a loud voice, cried nut 
 '■ Disperse; disperse, von rebels; throw down your anus an'ddis- 
 p' rs"." The sturdy yeomanry not immediately obeying his or- 
 ders, he approached nearer, discharged his pistol, and ordered his 
 soldiers to fire. 
 
 From Loxi !•,■;' oil. the detachment proceeded to Concord, and 
 destroyed uxC stores. After killing several of^tlte militia, who 
 ca.'*'*: forth tu oppose them;, they retreated to Lexington with 
 
1G8 
 
 period v. — 1775 to 17S3. 
 
 some loss, the Americans firing upon them from behind walls, 
 hedges, and buildings. 
 
 Fortunately for the British, here Lord Percy met them, with a 
 reinforcement of nine hundred men, some marines, and two 
 field-pieces. Still annoyed by the provincials, they continued 
 their retreat to Bunker's Hill, in Charlestown, and the day follow- 
 ing crossed over to Boston. The British lost, in killed and 
 wounded, during their absence, two hundred and seventy-three. 
 The loss of the Americans amounted to eighty-eight killed, 
 wounded and missing. 
 
 28. Hostilities having commenced, it was deemed 
 important to secure the fortresses of Ticonderoga and 
 Crown Point. Accordingly, a number of volunteers from 
 Connecticut and Vermont, under command of Col. 
 Ethan Allen and Col. Benedict Arnold, marched against 
 Ticonderoga, and, on the 10th of May, took it by sur- 
 prise, the garrison being asleep. The fortress of Crown 
 Point surrendered shortly after. 
 
 OH the arrival of Allen at Ticonderoga, he demanded the fort. 
 * By what authority? " asked the commander. " I demand it, 
 said Allen, " in the name of the great Jehovah, and of the con 
 tinental congress." The summons was instantly obeyed, an« 
 its valuable stores, surrendered. 
 
WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 
 
 169 
 
 29. The taking of Ticonderoga and Crown Point was 
 soon followed by the memorable Battle of Bunker's Hill, 
 as it is usually called, or of Breed's Hill, a high emi- 
 nence in Charlestown, within cannon-shot of Boston, 
 where the battle was actually fought, on the 17th of June 
 
 The evening preceding, a detachment of one thousand Amen 
 cans was ordered to make an intrenchment on Bunker's H 11 , 
 but, by some mistake, they proceeded to Breed's Hill, and, by the 
 dawn of day, had thrown up a redoubt eight rods square and 
 four feet high. 
 
 On discovering this redoubt in the morning, the British com- 
 menced a severe cannonade upon it, from several ships and float- 
 ing batteries, and from a fortification on Copp's Hill, in Boston, 
 which was continued until afternoon. The Americans, however, 
 never intermitted their work for a moment, and, during the fore- 
 noon, lost but a single man. 
 
 Between twelve and one o'clock, three thousand British, under 
 command of Major-Gen. Howe, and Brigadier- Gen. Pigot, crossed 
 Charles River, with an intention to dislodge the Americans. 
 
 As they advanced, the British commenced bring at some dis- 
 tance from the redoubt; but the Americans reserved their fire 
 until the enemy were within twelve rods. They then opened, and 
 15 
 
170 period r.— 1775 to 1783. 
 
 the carnage was terrible. The British retreated in precipitate 
 confusion. They were, however, rallied by their officers, being, 
 in some instances, pushed on by their swords, and were again led 
 to the attack. The Americans now suffered them to approach 
 within six rods, when their fire mowed them down in heaps, and 
 again they fled. Unfortunately for the Americans, their ammuni- 
 tion here failed; and, on the third charge of the British, they 
 »vere obliged to retire, after having obstinately resisted, even 
 longer than prudence admitted. The British lost in this engage 
 ment two hundred and twenty-six killed, among whom was 
 Major Pitcay-n, who first lighted the torch of war at Lexington, 
 and eight hundred and twenty-eight wounded. The Americans 
 lost one hundred and thirty-nine killed, and of wounded and miss- 
 ing there were three hundred and fourteen. Among the killed 
 was the lamented Gen. Warren. 
 
 The horrors of this scene were greatly increased by the con 
 flagration of Charlestown, effected, during the heat of the battle 
 by the orders of Gen. Gage. By this wanton act of barbarity 
 
 two thousand people were deprived of their habitations, a 
 property to the amount of one hundred and twenty thousa 
 pounds sterling, perished in the flames. Wanton, however, as 
 the burning of Charlestown was, it wonderfully enhanced the 
 dreadful magnificence of the day. To the volleys of musketry and 
 
WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 171 
 
 the roar of cannon ; to the shouts of the fighting and the groans 
 of the dying ; to the dark and awful atmosphere of smoke, en 
 veloping the whole peninsula, and illumined in every quarter by 
 the streams of fire from the various instruments of death ; the 
 conflagration of six hundred buildings added a gloomy and amaz 
 ing grandeur. In the midst of this waving lake of flame, the 
 leity steeple, converted into a blazing pyramid, towered and trem- 
 bled over the vast pyre, and finished the scene of desolation. 
 
 To the Americans, the consequences of this battle were those 
 of a decided victory. They learned that their enemies were not 
 invulnerable. At the same time, they learned the importance of 
 stricter discipline and greater preparations. As the result of the 
 battle spread, the national pulse beat still higher, and the arm of 
 opposition was braced still more firmly. 
 
 30. The second continental congress met at Philadel- 
 phia, on the 10th of May. As military opposition to 
 Great Britain was now resolved upon by the colonies, 
 and had actually commenced, it became necessary to fix 
 upon a proper person to conduct that opposition. The 
 person unanimously selected by congress was George 
 Washington, a member of their body from Virginia. 
 
 The honor of having suggested and advocated the choice of 
 this illustrious man, is justly ascribed to the elder President Ad- 
 ams, at that time a member of the continental congress. The 
 army was at this time at Cambridge, Massachusetts, under Gen. 
 Ward. As yet, congress had not adopted the army, nor had it 
 taken any measures to appoint a commander-in-chief. These 
 points could with safety be neglected no longer. This Mr. Adams 
 clearly saw, and by his eloquence induced congress to appoint a 
 day when the subject should be discussed. 
 
 The day was fixed. It came. Mr. Adams went in, took the 
 floor, urged the measure of adopting the army, and, after debate, 
 it passed. The next thing was to get a lawful commander for 
 tiiis lawful army, with supplies, &c. All looked to Mr. Adams, 
 on this occasion ; and he was ready. He took the floor, and 
 went into a minute delineation of the character of General Ward, 
 bestowing on him the epithets which, then, belonged to no one else. 
 At the end of this eulogy, he said, " But this is not the man I have 
 chosen." He then portrayed the character of a commander-in 
 chief, such as was required by the peculiar situation of the colo- 
 nies at that juncture ; and after he had presented the qualifica- 
 tions in his strongest language, and given the reasons for the 
 nomination he was about to make, he said, " Gentlemen, I know 
 these qualifications are high, but we all know they are needful, at 
 this crisis, in this chief Does any one say that they are not to bo 
 
172 period v. — 1775 to 1783. 
 
 obtained in the country ? I reply, they are : they reside in one 
 of our own body, and he is the person whom I now nominate., 
 George Washington, of Virginia." 
 
 Washington, who sat on Mr. Adams's right hand, was looking 
 him intently in the face, to watch the name he was about to an- 
 nounce ; and not expecting it would be his own, he sprung from 
 his seat the moment he heard it, and rushed into an adjoining 
 room, as quickly as though moved by a shock of electricity. 
 
 An adjournment was immediately moved and carried, in order 
 to give the members time to deliberate on so important a meas- 
 ure. The following day Washington was unanimously appoint 
 ed commander-in-chief of the American forces; and on present- 
 ing their commission to him, congress unanimously adopted the 
 resolution, " that they would maintain and assist him, and ad- 
 here to him, with their lives and fortunes, in the cause of Ameri- 
 can liberty." 
 
 Following the appointment of Gen. Washington, was the ap- 
 
 ? ointment of four major-generals, Artemas Ward, Charles Lee, 
 hilip Schuyler, and Israel Putnam ; and eight brigadier-gen- 
 erals, Seth Pomeroy, Richard Montgomery, David Wooster 
 William Heath, Joseph Spencer, John Thomas, John Sullivan, 
 and Nathaniel Greene. 
 
 31. Gen. Washington, on his arrival at Cambridge, 
 on the second of July, was received with joyful acclama- 
 tions by the American army. He found it, consisting 
 of 14,000 men, stretched from Roxbury to Cambridge, 
 and thence to Mystic River, a distance of twelve miles. 
 The British forces occupied Bunker and Breed's Hill, 
 and Boston Neck. 
 
 The attention of the commander-in-chief was immediately di- 
 rected to the strength and situation of the enemy, and to the in- 
 troduction of system and union into the army, the want of which 
 pervaded every department. This was a delicate and difficult 
 attempt; but the wisdom and firmness of Washington removed 
 every obstacle, and at length brought even independent freemen, 
 in a good degree, to the control of military discipline. 
 
 32. While Washington was employed in organizing 
 the army, and preparing for future operations, an impor- 
 tant expedition was planned against Canada, the charge 
 of which was assigned to Gens. Schuyler and Montgom- 
 ery. On the 10th of September, one thousand Ameri- 
 can troops landed at St. Johns, the first British post in 
 Canada, (one hundred and fifteen miles north of Ticon- 
 
WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 173 
 
 deroga,) but found it advisable to retire to the Isle aux 
 Noix, twelve miles south of St. Johns. Here the health 
 of Gen. Schuyler obliging him to return to Ticonderoga, 
 the command devolved on Gen. Montgomery. This en- 
 terprising officer, in a few days, returned to the invest- 
 ment of St. Johns, and, on the 3d of November, received 
 the surrender of this important post. 
 
 On the s\irrender of St. Johns, five hundred regulars and one 
 hundred Canadians became prisoners to the provincials. There 
 were also taken thirty-nine pieces of cannon, seven mortars, and 
 five hundred stands of arms. 
 
 Gen. Montgomery next proceeded against Montreal, 
 which, without resistance, capitulated. From Montreal 
 he rapidly proceeded towards Quebec. 
 
 Before his arrival, however, Col. Arnold, who had 
 been despatched by Gen. Washington with one thousand 
 American troops from Cambridge, had reached Quebec, 
 by the way of Kennebeck, a river of Maine, — had as- 
 cended the heights of Abraham, where the brave Wolfe 
 ascended before him ; but had found it necessary to re- 
 tire to a place twenty miles above Quebec, where he 
 was waiting for the arrival of Montgomery. 
 
 Seldom was there an expedition attempted during the Ameri 
 can war, in which more hardship was endured, or more untiring 
 perseverance manifested, than in this of Arnold's. In ascending 
 the Kennebeck, his troops were constantly obliged to work 
 against an impetuous current, and often to haul their batteaux 
 up rapid currents and over dangerous falls. Nor was their march 
 through the country, by an unexplored route of three hundred 
 miles, less difficult or dangerous. They had swamps and woods, 
 mountains and precipices, alternately to surpass. Added to their 
 other trials, their provisions failed, and, to support life, they were 
 obliged to eat their dogs, cartouch-boxes, clothes, and shoes. 
 While at the distance of one hundred miles from human habita- 
 tions, they divided their whole store, about four pints of flour to 
 a man. At thirty miles' distance, they had baked and eaten their 
 last pitiful morsel. Yet the courage and fortitude of these men 
 continued unshaken. They were suffering in their country's 
 cause, were toiling for wives and children, were contending for 
 the rights and blessings of freedom. After thirty-one days of in- 
 cessant toil through a hideous wilderness, they reached the hab- 
 'tations of men. 
 
 15* 
 
174 teriod v. — 1775 to 1783. 
 
 33. Montgomery, having effected a junction with 
 Arnold, commenced the siege of Quebec. On the 5th 
 of December, after continuing the siege nearly a month 
 to little purpose, the bold plan was adopted of attempting 
 the place by scaling the walls. Two attacks were made, 
 at the same time, in different quarters of the town, by 
 Montgomery and Arnold. The attempt, however, proved 
 unsuccessful, and, to the great loss and grief of Ameri- 
 ca, fatal to the brave Montgomery. He fell while at 
 tempting to force a barrier; and with him fell two distin- 
 guished officers, Capt. M'Pherson, his aid, and Capt 
 Cheeseman. 
 
 After this repulse, Arnold retired about three miles 
 from Quebec, where he continued encamped through a 
 rigorous winter. On the return of spring, 1776, finding 
 his forces inadequate to the reduction of Quebec, and 
 not being reinforced, he retired. By the 18th of June, 
 the Americans, having been compelled to relinquish one 
 post after another, had wholly evacuated Canada. 
 
 The garrison of Quebec consisted, at the time of the above at- 
 tack, of about one thousand live hundred men; the American 
 forces were near eight hundred. The loss of the Americans in- 
 killed and wounded was about one hundred, and three hundred 
 were taken prisoners. 
 
 The death of General Montgomery was deeply lamented both 
 in Europe and America. " The most powerful speakers in the 
 British parliament displayed their eloquence in praising his vir- 
 tues and lamenting his fall." Congress directed a monument to 
 be erected to his memory, expressive of their sense of his high 
 patriotism and heroic conduct. In 1818, New York, his adopted 
 state, removed his remains to her own metropolis, where the 
 in.mument had been placed ; and near that they repose. 
 
 •34. During this year, 1775, Virginia, through the in- 
 discretion of Lord Dunmore, the royal governor, was 
 involved in difficulties little short of those to which the 
 inhabitants of Massachusetts were subjected. From the 
 earliest stages of the controversy with Great Britain, the 
 Virginians had been in the foremost rank of opposition ; 
 and, in common with other provinces, had taken meas- 
 ures for defence 
 
WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 175 
 
 These measures the royal governor attempted to 
 thwart, by the removal of guns and ammunition, which 
 had been stored by the people in a magazine. The con 
 duct of the governor roused the inhabitants, and occa- 
 sioned intemperate expressions of resentment. Appre- 
 hending personal danger, Lord Dunmore retired on board 
 the Fowey man-of-war, from which he issued his procla- 
 mations, instituting martial law, and proffering freedom 
 to such slaves as would repair to the royal standard. 
 Here, also, by degrees, he equipped and armed a nym 
 ber of vessels ; and, upon being refused provisions by 
 the provincials, from on shore, he proceeded to reduce 
 the town of Norfolk to ashes. The loss w r as estimated 
 at three hundred thousand pounds sterling. Nearly six 
 thousand persons were deprived of their habitations. 
 
 In like manner, the royal governors of North and South Caro 
 lina thought it prudent to retire, and seek safety onboard men-of- 
 war. Royal government generally terminated this year through 
 out the country, the king's governors, for the most part, abdicat- 
 ing their governments, and taking refuge on board the English 
 shipping 
 
 35. Early in the spring of 1776, Gen. Washington con- 
 templated the expulsion of the British army from Boston, 
 by direct assault. In a council of war, it was deemed 
 expedient, however, rather to take possession of, and 
 fortify Dorchester Heights, which commanded the har- 
 bor and British shipping. The night of the 4th of J\J arch 
 was selected for the attempt. Accordingly, in the even- 
 ing, a covering party of eight hundred, followed by a 
 working party of twelve hundred, witli intrenching tools, 
 took possession of the heights unobserved by the enemy. 
 
 Here, betaking themselves to work with so much ac- 
 tivity, by morning they had constructed fortifications, 
 which completely sheltered them. The surprise of the 
 British cannot easily be conceived. The English ad- 
 miral, after examining the works, declared that, if the 
 Americans were not dislodged from their position, h.s 
 vessels could no longer remain in safety in the har) or 
 
170 period v. — 1775 to 1783. 
 
 It was determined, therefore, by the British, to evacuate 
 Boston, which they now did; and on the 17th, the 
 British troops, under command of Lord William Howe, 
 successor of Gen. Gage, sailed for Halifax. Gen. Wash- 
 ington, to the great joy of the inhabitants, army, and 
 nation, immediately marched into the town. 
 
 The rear guard of the British was scarcely out of the town, 
 when Washington entered it on the other side, with colors dis- 
 
 flayed, drums beating, and all the forms of victory and triumph. 
 Ie was received by the inhabitants with demonstrations of joy 
 and gratitude. Sixteen months had the people suffered the dis 
 tresses of hunger, and the outrages of an insolent soldiery. 
 
 The town presented a melancholy spectacle, at the time the 
 army of Washington entered. One thousand five hundred loy- 
 alists, with their families, had just departed on board the British 
 fleet, tearing themselves from home and friends, for the love of 
 the royal cause. Churches were stripped of pews and benches 
 for fuel, shops were opened and rifled of goods to clothe the army, 
 and houses had been pillaged by an unfeeling soldiery. 
 
 3G. While affairs were proceeding thus in the north. 
 an attempt was made, in June and July, to destroy the 
 fort on Sullivan's Island, near Charleston, S. C, by 
 Gen. Clinton and Sir Peter Parker. After an action of 
 upwards of ten hours, the British were obliged to retire, 
 having their ships greatly injured, and with the loss of 
 two hundred killed and wounded. The loss of the 
 Americans was but ten killed and twenty-two wounded. 
 
 The fort was commanded by Col. Mouitrie, whose garrison 
 consisted of but three hundred and seventy-five regular troops, 
 and a few militia. On the fort was mounted twenty-six cannon 
 of eighteen and nine pounders. The British force consisted of 
 two fifty gun ships, and four frigates, each of twenty-eight guns, 
 besides several smaller vessels, with three thousand troops on 
 board. By this repulse of the British, the Southern States obtain- 
 ed a respite from the calamities of war for two years and a half. 
 
 Amcn<r the American troops who resisted the British, in their 
 attack on Fort Moultrie, was a Sergeant Jasper, whose name has 
 been given to one of the counties in Georgia, in commemoration 
 of his gallant deeds, and who deserves an honorable notice in 
 every histo'rv of his country. In the warmest part of the contest, 
 the flag-staff was severed by a cannon-ball, and the flag fell to 
 the bottom of the ditch, on the outside of the works. This acci- 
 dent was considered by the anxious inhabitants in Charleston, 
 
WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 177 
 
 as putting an end to the contest, by striking 1 the American flag 
 to the enemy. The moment Jasper made the discovery, that the 
 flag had fallen, he jumped from one of the embrasures, and took 
 up the flag, which he tied to a post, and replaced it on the parapet, 
 where he supported it until another flag-staff was procured. 
 
 37. During these transactions in the south, the con- 
 tinental congress was in session, intently observing the 
 aspect of things, and deeply revolving the probable issue 
 of the present important contest. The idea of inde- 
 pendence had now been broached among the people, 
 and the way was, in a measure, prepared to bring the 
 subject before congress. 
 
 Accordingly, on the 8th of June, Richard Henry Lee, 
 one of the deputies from Virginia, rose and made a mo- 
 tion to declare America free and independent. 
 
 33. The resolution of Mr. Lee was eloquently sup- 
 ported by him and others, and was still further dis- 
 cussed on the 11th of June. On this last day, it was 
 postponed for further consideration to the first day of 
 July ; and at the same time it was voted that a commit- 
 tee be appointed to propose a Declaration to the effect 
 of the resolution. This committee was elected by ballot 
 on the following day, and consisted of Thomas Jefferson, 
 John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and 
 Robert R. Livingston. 
 
 It is usual, when committees are elected by ballot, that thei r 
 numbers are arranged in order according to the number of vote 8 
 which each has received. Mr. Jefferson, therefore, probably re" 
 ceived the highest, and Mr. Adams the next highest number ot 
 votes. The difference is said to have been but a single vote. 
 
 Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Adams, standing thus at the head of the 
 committee, were requested by the other members to act as a sub- 
 committee to prepare the draft; and Mr. Jefferson drew up the 
 paper. The original draft, as brought by him from his study, with 
 interlineations in the hand-writing of Dr. Franklin, and others m 
 that of Mr. Adams, was in Mr. Jefferson's possession at the time 
 of his death. The merit of this paper is Mr. Jefferson's ; some 
 changes were made in it on the suggestion of other members of 
 the committee, and others by congress, while it was under dis- 
 cussion. But none of them altered the tone, the frame, the ar- 
 rangement, or the general character of the instrument. As a 
 composition, the Declaration is Mr. Jefferson's. It is the produc- 
 
178 period v. — 1775 to 1783. 
 
 lion of his mind, and the high honor of it belongs to him clearly 
 and absolutely. 
 
 While Mr. Jefferson was the author of the Declaration itself. 
 Mr. Adams was its great supporter on the floor of congress 
 This was the unequivocal testimony of Mr. Jefferson. <; John 
 Adams," said he, on one occasion, u was our Colossus on the 
 floor : not graceful, not elegant, not always fluent in his public 
 addresses, he yet came out with a power, both of thought and of 
 expression, that moved us from our seats." And at another time 
 he said, " John Adams was the pillar of its support on *he floor 
 of congress; its ablest advocate and defender against th<e multi- 
 farious assaults which were made against it." 
 
 39. On the arrival of the day assigned, the Subject 
 was resumed, and on the 4th of July, 1776, upon the 
 report of Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin 
 Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Philip Livingston, the 
 thirteen confederate colonies dissolved their allegiance 
 to the British crown, and declared themselves Free, and 
 Independent, under the name of the Thirteen United 
 States of America. 
 
 This Declaration was ordered to be handsomely engrossed on 
 parchment; and on the 2d of August, 177(5, was signed by all the 
 members then present, and by some who were not members on 
 the 4th of July. 
 
 A signature to this instrument was an act of serious concern 
 In England, it would be regarded as tree son, and expose any man 
 to the lialter or the block. This the signers well knew; yet, 
 having counted the cost, they proceeded to the transaction, pre- 
 pared, if defeat should follow, to lead, without repining, in the 
 way to martyrdom. The only signature on the original docu- 
 ment, which exhibits indications of a trembling hand, is that of 
 Stephen Hopkins, who had been afflicted with the palsy. In this 
 work of treason, John Hancock led the way, as president of the 
 congress, and by the force with which he wrote, he seems to have 
 determined that his name should never be erased. The pen 
 with which these signatures were made, has been preserved, and 
 is now in the cabinet of the Massachusetts Historical Society. 
 The number who signed the Declaration was fifty-six; and the 
 verage length of their lives was about sixty-five years. Four 
 f the number attained to the nge of ninety years and upwards; 
 ourteen exceeded eighty years; and twenty-three, or one in two 
 and a half, reached threescore years and ten. The longevity of 
 the New England delegation was still more remarkable. Their 
 number was fourteen, the average of whose lives was seventy- 
 five years. Who will affirm that the unusual age to which the 
 
WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 179 
 
 signers, as a body, attained, was not a reward bestowed upon 
 them for their fidelity to their country, and the trust which they 
 in general reposed in the overruling providence of God ? Who 
 can doubt the kindness of that Providence to the American peo- 
 ple, in thus prolonging the lives of these men, till the principles 
 for which they hud contended, through a long series of years, 
 had been acknowledged, and a government been founded upon 
 them ? 
 
 Of this venerable body, not a single one survives. They are 
 now no more. They are no more, as in 177(5, bold and fearless 
 advocates of independence. They are dead. But how little is 
 there of the great and good which can die. To their country 
 they yet. live, and live forever. They live in all that perpetuates 
 the remembrance of men on earth; in the recorded proof's of 
 their own great actions, in the offspring of their own great inter- 
 est, in the deep-engraved lines of public gratitude, and in the 
 respect and homage of mankind. They live in their example; 
 and they live emphatically, and will live, in the influence which 
 (heir lives and efforts, their principles and opinions, now exercise, 
 and will continue to exercise, on the affairs of men, not only in 
 our own ;ountry, but throughout the civilized world. 
 
 The Declaration of Independence, when sent abroad among the 
 people, was received with transports of joy. Public rejoicings 
 were made in various parts of the Un.'-u. The ensigns of royalty 
 were destroyed — public processions w jre made — bells were rung 
 — cann ri were lired, with other Billable demonstrations of pub- 
 lic exultation. 
 
 40 Soot) after the evacuation of Boston by the British 
 troops, [Sec. 35,) Washington, believing that the posses- 
 sion of New YorL would be with them a favorite object, 
 determined to make it the head-quarters of his army, 
 and thereby prevent their occupation of it, if such a stop 
 had been contemplated. Accordingly, he soon removed 
 to that city, with the principal part of his troops. 
 
 41. On the 10th of June, Gen. William Howe, with 
 the army which had evacuated Boston, arrived from 
 Halifax, off Sandy Hook. Here he was soon after join- 
 ed by bis brother, Admiral Lord Howe, from England, 
 with a reinforcement. Their combined forces amount- 
 ed to twenty-four thousand. On the 2d of August, thev 
 landed near the Narrows, nine miles from the city. 
 
 42. Previous to the commencement of hostilities, Ad 
 rniral and Gen. Howe communicated to Washington 
 
180 rrcnioD v.— 1775 to 1783. 
 
 that they were commissioned to settle all difficulties be- 
 tween Great Britain and the colonies. But not address- 
 ing Washington by the title due to his rank, he thought 
 proper to decline receiving their communication. It 
 appeared, however, that the power of these commission 
 ers extended little farther than, in the language of their 
 instructions, " to grant pardons to such as deserve 
 mercy." 
 
 43. The American army, in and near New York, 
 amounted to seventeen thousand two hundred and 
 twenty-five men, a part of whom were encamped near 
 Brooklyn, on Long Island. On the 27th of August, this 
 body of the Americans, under command of Brigadier- 
 Gen. Sullivan, were attacked by the British, under Sir 
 Henry Clinton, Percy, and Cornwallis, and were defeat- 
 ed, with the loss of upwards of a thousand men, while 
 the loss of the British amounted to less than four hundred. 
 Gen. Sullivan, and Brigadier-Generals Lord Stirling 
 and Woodhull, fell into the hands of the British as pris- 
 oners. 
 
 In the heat of the engagement, Gen. Washington had crossed 
 over to Brooklyn from Now York, and, on seeing some of his l>est 
 troops slaughtered or taken, li" uttered, it is said, an exclama- 
 tion of anguish. But, deep as his anguish was, and much as he 
 wished to smcor his troops, prudence forbade the catling in of 
 liis forces from New York, as they would by no means have 
 sufficed to render his army equal to that of the English. 
 
 44. After the repulse at Brooklyn, perceiving the oc 
 
 cupition of his position oil Long Island to be of no prob 
 able importance, Washington withdrew his troops to 
 New York, and soon aff'T evacuated the city, upon 
 which, on the loth ijf .September, the British entered it 
 
 Seldom* if ever, wis ;i retreat conducted with more abilityand 
 prudence, or under more favorable auspices, than that of Ihe 
 American troops from Long Island. The necessary preparations 
 having been made, on the 29th of August, at eight in the even- 
 ing, the troop; began to m rve in the greatest silence. But they 
 were n it on board their vessels before eleven. A violent north 
 easl win I, and the ebb tide, which rendered the current very 
 rapid. prevented the t passag.e. The time pressed, however. For- 
 
WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. ISI 
 
 ttinalrly, the wind suddenly veered t,o the north-west. They 
 immediately made sail, and landed in New York. Providence 
 appeared to have watched over the Americans. About twe 
 o'clock in the morning, a thick fog, and at this season of the yeai 
 extraordinary, covered all Long Island, whereas the air was per> 
 Pectly cWr on the side of New York. Notwithstanding the en 
 treaties of Ins officers, Washington remained the last, upon the 
 slipre. 1 1 was not till the next morning, when the sou nsaa 
 nTready high, and the fog dispelled, that the English perceived 
 the Americans had abandoned their camp, and were sheltered 
 from pursuit. 
 
 -!">. On retiring from New York, Gen. Washington, 
 with his army, occupied for a short time the heights of 
 ii crlem, and several stations in that neighborhood. 
 
 On the IGth of September, the day after the British took posses 
 slon of New York, a considerable body of the enemy appearing 
 ii the plains between the two camps, the general ordered Oof 
 Kii'wiiou. with a corps of rangers, and Major Leitch, with three 
 companies of a Virginia regiment, to get in their rear, while he 
 : them by making apparent dispositions to attack their 
 front. The plan succeeded. A skirmish ensued, in which the 
 Americans charged the enemy with great intrepidity, and gained 
 considerable advantage ; but the principal benefit of this action 
 was its influence in reviving the depressed spirits of the whole 
 army. Major Leitch, who very gallantly led on the qetachnieut, 
 n brought off the ground, mortally wounded ; and u< t 
 long afterward. Colonel Knowlton fell, bravely fighting at the 
 head of his troops, The Americans in this conflict engaged a 
 battalion of light infantry, another of Highlanders, and three 
 soinpanies of Hessian riflemen; and lost about fifty men killed 
 and wounded. The loss of the enemy was more than double 
 that number. 
 
 4(1. Finding his position at Elarleifi and its vicinity 
 untenable, Washington broke up his camp, and retired 
 with a part of his forces to White Plains. Here, on the 
 ~-'t!i of October, he was attacked by the British and 
 Hessians, under Generals Howe, Clinton, Knyphansen, 
 and De Heister. A partial engagement ensued, and 
 several hundreds fell on both sides; but neither partj 
 could claim any decided advantage. 
 
 Shortly after, a strong British reinforcement arriving, 
 under Lord Percy, Washington, deeifiing his position 
 unsafe, left it on the night of the 30th, and retired with 
 10 
 
182 period v. — 1776 to 1783. 
 
 his forces to North Castle, about five miles from White 
 Pin ins. Leaving about 7500, under command of Gen. 
 Lee, Washington crossed the North river, and took 
 post in the neighborhood of Fort Lee. 
 
 47. The British general, failing to draw Washington 
 to a general engagement, next turned his attention to 
 the reduction of Forts Washington and Lee, which had 
 been garrisoned for the purpose of preserving the com- 
 mand of the Hudson river. On the 16th of November, 
 the former of these forts was attacked by the British. 
 The defence of the fort by the brave Col. Magaw was 
 spirited ; but at length he was obliged to capitulate, and, 
 with the fort, to surrender his whole force, consisting of 
 between 2000 and 3000 men. On the 18th,the British 
 army, crossing the Hudson, proceeded to the attack of Fort 
 Lee. The garrison in this fort, at first, determined to 
 defend it; but, ascertaining that the contest would be en- 
 tirely unequal, they evacuated it, and, under the guid- 
 ance of Gen. Greene, joined Washington, who had at 
 this time taken post at Newark, on the south side of the 
 Passaic. 
 
 43. Finding Newark too near his triumphant foe, 
 Washington retreated to Brunswick, on the Raritan, and 
 Lord Comwallis on the same day entered Newark. The 
 retreat was still continued from Brunswick to Princc'.on ; 
 from Princeton to Trenton ; and from Trenton to the 
 Pennsylvania side of the Delaware. The pursuit was 
 urged with so much rapidity, that the rear of the Amer- 
 ican army, pulling down bridges, was often within sight 
 and shot of the van of the enemy employed in building 
 them up. 
 
 This retreat through Now Jersey was made under circumstances 
 of the deepest depression. The Americans had just lost the two 
 forts Washington and Lee, and witli the former 'more than 2000 
 mon. Numbers of the militia were daily claiming to be discharged, 
 and precipitately retired to their habitations : and even the regu- 
 lar troops, as if struck with despair, also filed off. and deserted in 
 bodies,. This left the army of Washington so reduced, that it 
 scarcely amounted to three thousand men; and even these were 
 
WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 1S3 
 
 poorly foil, and were exposed in an open country, without instru 
 rnents to intrench themselves, without tents to shelter them from 
 the inclemency of the season, and in the midst of a population little 
 zealous, or rather hostile to the republic. Added to this, numbers 
 of the leading- characters, both in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, 
 who had been friendly to the American cause, were changing siies, 
 and making peace with the enemy. This example became perni- 
 cious, and the most prejudicial effects were to be apprehended 
 from it. Every day ushered in some new calamity ; the cause 
 of America seemed hastening to irretrievable ruin. The most 
 discreet no longer dissembled that the term of the war was 
 at hand, and that the hour was come, in which the colmies 
 were about to resume the yoke. But Washington, in the midst 
 of so much adversity, did not despair of the public safety. His 
 constancy was an object of admiration. Far from betraying any 
 symptoms of hesitation or fear, he showed himself to his deject- 
 ed soldiers with a serene countenance, and radiant, as it were, 
 with a certain hope of a better future. Adverse fortune had not 
 been able to vanquish, nay, not even to shake, his invincible 
 spirit. Firmly resolved to pursue their object through every for 
 tune, the congress manifested a similar constancy. It appeared 
 as if the spiritofthe.se great minds had increased with adversity. 
 
 49. Notwithstanding the general aspect of affairs, on 
 the part of America, was thus forbidding, the con- 
 tinental congress, so far from betraying symptoms of 
 despair, manifested more confidence than ever ; and, as 
 if success must eventually crown their enterprises, 
 calmly occupied themselves in drawing up Various Arti- 
 cles of Confederation and perpetual union between the 
 states. 
 
 Such articles were obviously necessary, that the line 
 of distinction between the powers of the respective states, 
 and of congress, should be exactly defined. In this 
 way, only, would collisions be avoided, and the peace 
 and harmony of the Union be preserved. 
 
 Accordingly, such articles were now digested, and, at 
 the sitting of congress, October 4th, 1776, were signed 
 by all the members, and copies immediately sent to the 
 respective assemblies of each state for approbation. 
 
 50. Fortunately, Washington, about this time, re- 
 ceived reinforcements of militia and regular troops, 
 which, together with his previous forces, gave him an 
 
181 
 
 'EtuoD v. — 1775 to 1783. 
 
 army of about 7000 effective men. But this number 
 being soon to be reduced l>y the retirement of a large 
 body of militia, whose period of enlistment would close 
 with the year, Washington formed the hold resolution 
 of recrossing the Delaware, and of attacking the British 
 at Trenton. 'This plan was carried into effect on the 
 night of the 25th of December ; and On the following 
 day, Hessian prisoners to the amount of one thousand 
 were taken by the Americans, with the loss of scarcely 
 a man on their side. This was a brilliant achievement, 
 and served to arouse the desponding hopes of America. 
 
 
 
 
 
 m 
 
 
 
 • 
 
 . '; ' , 
 
 
 
 
 
 Ijl^if 
 
 
 P»P^J 
 
 a.^.' i: '-J,\ .., 
 
 ^Ski'Jtf)" f \ 
 
 
 jjl 
 
 The American troops detached for this t>rvice arrived, in the 
 ousk of the evening, at the bank of the river. The passage of 
 he river by the troops ami tin' artillery, it. was expected, would 
 be effected before midnight. But ihis was found to be impracti- 
 cable. The cold was so intense, and the river so obstructed with 
 floating ice, that the landing of the artillery was not accomplished 
 until four in the morning. An immediate and precipitate march 
 was made towards Trenton, with the hope of reaching it before 
 day. But a thick fog setting in, and a mist, mingled with sleet, 
 so retarded their march, that they did not reach Trenton until 
 
WAR OP the REVOLUTION. 185 
 
 eight o'clock ; yet, at this late hour, the Hessians had nq snspi- 
 cion of tin- approach of the enemy. 
 
 51. .Justly elated with the success at Trenton, Wash- 
 ington soon after proceeded to Princeton, where, <>n the 
 1st of January, he attacked a party of British, of whom 
 upwards of one hundred were killed, and the remainder! 
 amounting to about three hundred, were made prisoners. 
 The loss of the Americans was less than thai of the 
 British ; but in that number were several valuable officers, 
 and among them the brave Genera] Mercer. 
 
 f>\J. Soon after the above victories, Washington retired 
 (.l.iiniary <>ih, 1777) to winter quarters, at Morristown, 
 when: his army were nearly all inoculated with the 
 
 small-pox, that disease having appeared among the troops, 
 and rendering such a measure necessary. The disease 
 
 proved mortal bill in few instances ; nor was there a (lay 
 in which the soldiers could not, if called upon, have 
 fought the enemy. 
 
 .■>•*. On the opening of the campaign of 1777, tin; 
 army of Washington, although congress had offered to 
 recruits bounties in land, and greater Wages, amounted 
 to little more than 7000 men. Towards the latter cud 
 of May, Washington quitted his winter encampment at 
 Morristown, and, about the same time, the royal army 
 
 moved from Brunswick, which they had occupied dur- 
 ing the winter. Much shifting of the armies followed, 
 hut no definite plan of operation had apparently been 
 .settled by either. 
 
 Previous to this, however. General Howe sent a detachment 
 of two thousand men, under oommand of Gen. Tryon, (Jen. 
 Agnew, and Sir William I'.rsK inc. to destroy some stores ami pro* 
 visions deposited at. Danbury, in Connecticut, Mooting willi no 
 
 resistance, they reached Danhnry on tlie 2()th of April, arid de- 
 stroyed one thousand eight hundred barrels of beef and pork, and 
 eedit hundred of flour, two thousand busliels of grain, clouting 
 tor a regiment, <>ne hundred hogsheads of nun. ami one thousand 
 seven hundred and ninety tents. Besides the destruction of 
 these articles, tin; enemy wantonly burned eighteen housed uiih 
 their furniture, murdered three unoffending inhabitants, and 
 threw them into the flames. 
 
ISO period v. — 1775 to 1783. 
 
 Generals Sullivan, Wooster, and Arnold, happening to be in 
 the neighborhood, hastily collected about six hundred militia, with 
 whom they marched in pursuit, in a heavy rain, as far as Bethel, 
 about two miles from Danbury. On the morning of the ^7tli of 
 April, the troops were divided, Gen. Wooster, with about three 
 hundred men, falling in the rear of the enemy, while Arnold 
 took post in front, at Ridge field. 
 
 Gen. Wooster proceeded to attack the enemy, in which engage- 
 ment he was mortally wounded, and from which his troops were 
 compelled to retire. At llidgefield, Arnold warmly received 
 the enemy on their retreat, and, although repulsed, returned to 
 the attack the next day on their march to the Sound. Finding 
 themselves continually annoyed hy the resolute and courageous 
 yeomanry of the country through which they passed, they 
 hastened to emhark on board their ships, in which they sailed for 
 New York. Their killed, wounded and missing, amounted to 
 about one hundred and seventy: the loss of the Americans was 
 not admitted to exceed one hundred. Gen. Wooster, now in his 
 seventieth year, lingered with his wounds until the 2d of May. 
 Congress resolved that a monument should be erected to his 
 memory. To Gen. Arnold they presented a horse, properly ca 
 parisoned. as a reward for his gallantry on the occasion. 
 
 54 At length the British Gen. Howe, leaving New 
 Jersey, embarked at Sandy Hook, with sixteen tSionsand 
 men, and sailed for the Chesapeake. On the 14th of 
 August, he landed his troops, at the head of Elk river, 
 in Maryland. 
 
 It being now obvious that his design was the occupa- 
 tion nf Philadelphia, Washington immediately put the 
 American army in motion towards that place, to pre- 
 vent, if possible, its falling into the handsof the enemy. 
 
 The two armies met at Erandywine, Delaware, on the 
 1 1 tli of September ; and after an engagement, which 
 continued nearly all day, the Americans were compelled 
 to retire. 
 
 The loss of the Americans in this action was estimated at three 
 hundred killed, and six hundred wounded. Between three and 
 four hundred, principally the wounded, were made prisoners. 
 The ioss of the British was stated at less than one hundred killed, 
 and tour hundred wounded. 
 
 In this battle several foreign officers greatly distinguished 
 themselves. Among these was the heroic Lafayette, who. un- 
 fortunately, while endeavoring to rally some fugitives, was wound- 
 ed in the le<r. 
 
WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 187 
 
 On the night following the battle, the Americans retired to 
 Chester, and 1 he next day to Philadelphia. Not considering the 
 battle of Brandywine as decisive, congress, which was sitting 
 in Philadelphia, recommended to the commander-in-chief to risk 
 another engagement ; preparations for which were accordingly 
 nude. Washington repassed the Schuylkill, and met the enemy 
 at Goshen, Sept. Kith. But a violent shower of rain occurring, 
 as the advanced guards began to skirmish, the powder in the 
 cartridge-boxes of the Americans became wet, and the command 
 er was compelled to withdraw his troops. 
 
 ■ ~>~>. An easy access to Philadelphia being now present- 
 ed to the enemy, on the 26th, Howe entered the place 
 without molestation. The principal part of the British 
 army was stationed at Germantown, six miles from Phil- 
 adelphia. Congress adjourned to Lancaster, and Wash- 
 ington encamped at eighteen miles' distance from Ger 
 mantown. 
 
 56. Immediately after the occupation of Philadelphia, 
 the attention of Gen. Howe was drawn to the reduction 
 of some forts on the Delaware, which rendered the nav- 
 igation of that river unsafe to the British. Accordino-lv. 
 a part of the royal army was detached for that purpose. 
 Washington seized the opportunity to attack the remain- 
 der at Germantown. 
 
 This attack was made Oct. 4th; but after a severe ac- 
 tion, the Americans were repulsed, with a loss of dou- 
 ble that of the British. The loss of the Americans was 
 two hundred killed, six hundred wounded, and four 
 hundred prisoners ; that of the British was about one 
 hundred killed and five hundred wounded. 
 
 After this action, the British removed to Philadelphia, 
 where they continued long inactive. Washington re- 
 treated to Skippack creek, eleven miles from German- 
 town, where he encamped. 
 
 Great was the chagrin of Washington, on account of the re- 
 pul :e at Germantown, which was much increased by the auspi- 
 cious commencement of the battle, and the flattering prospect of 
 a speedy and complete victory. The ultimate failure of the 
 Americans was attributed to the inexperience of a part of the 
 troops, and to embarrassments arising from a fog, which increas- 
 ed the darkness of the night. Congress, however, expressed 
 
183 rERioD v. — 1775 to 1783. 
 
 their approbation of Washington's plan of attack, and highly ap- 
 plauded tlie courage and firmness of the troops. 
 
 57. While such was the progress of military opera 
 tions in the Middle States, important events were taking 
 place in the north. It has already been noticed, (Sec. 28,) 
 that in May, 1775, Ticonderoga and Crown Point had 
 been taken by surprise, by Colonels Allen and Arnold ; 
 that in the ensuing fall, Gen. Montgomery had reduced 
 the fort of St. John's, [Sec. 32,) captured Montreal, and 
 made an ineffectual though desperate assault upon 
 Quebec. 
 
 On the return of spring, the American army gradual- 
 ly retired up the St. Lawrence, and after a loss of one 
 post and another, in June, 1776, entirely evacuated Can- 
 ada. (Sec. 33.) 
 
 In the spring of 1777, it was settled in England, that 
 an invasion of the States should be attempted from the 
 north, and a communication formed between Canada and 
 New York. Could such a plan have been executed, it 
 would obviously have precluded intercourse between 
 New England and the more southern states. 
 
 The execution of the plan was committed to Gen. 
 Burgoyne, who left Canada with seven thousand troops, 
 besides a powerful train of artillery, and several tribes 
 of Indians. 
 
 53. On the 1st of July, Burgoyne landed, and invest- 
 ed Ticonderoga. The American garrison here amount- 
 ed to three thousand men, under command of Gen. St. 
 Clair, an officer of high standing. 
 
 Deeming this force inadequate to maintain the post, 
 especially as Burgoyne had taken possession of Mount 
 
 efiance, which commanded Ticonderoga, and not hay- 
 US provisions to sustain the army for more than twenty 
 ays, St. Clair perceived no safety for the garrison but 
 jl a precipitate flight. Accordingly, on the night of the 
 5th, Ticonderoga was abandoned. By a circuitous 
 march, St. Clair continued to retreat, first into Vermont, 
 although closely pursued, and thence to Hudson river, 
 
WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 180 
 
 where, after having lost one hundred and twenty pieces 
 of artillery, with a quantity of military stores, he joined 
 Gen. Schuyler, commanding the main army of the north. 
 After this junction, the whole army continued to retire 
 to Saratoga and Stillwater, and at length took post on 
 Van Shaick's Island, in the mouth of the Mohawk, oa 
 the ISth of August. 
 
 59. After taking Ticonderoga, Gen. Burgoyne, with 
 the great body of his troops, proceeded up the lake, and 
 destroyed the American flotilla, and a considerable 
 quantity of baggage and stores, which had been deposit- 
 ed at Skeensborough. Having halted at this place for 
 nearly three weeks, he proceeded to Fort Edward, on 
 the Hudson, where he did not arrive until July 30th, his 
 way having been obstructed by Schuyler's army, which 
 felled a great number of trees across the road, and de- 
 molished the bridges, while on their retreat. 
 
 60. While Gen. Burgoyne lay at Fort Edward, a de- 
 tachment of his army, consisting of five hundred Eng- 
 lish and one hundred Indians, under Col. Baum, who 
 had been sent to seize a magazine of stores at Benning- 
 ton, in Vermont, was totally defeated, and Col. Baum 
 slain, by a party of Vermont troops called Green Moun- 
 tain Boys, and a detachment of New Hampshire militia, 
 under command of Gen. Stark. 
 
 Baum, en his arrival near Bennington, learning that the 
 American", were strongly intrenched at that place, halted, and 
 despatched a messenger to Gen. Burgoyne, for a reinforce 
 im-nt. 
 
 Hen. Stark, now on his march, with a body of New Hampshire 
 militia, to join Gen. Schuyler, receiving intelligence of Baum's 
 approach, altered his movement, and collected his force at Ben- 
 i.iugton. 
 
 Before the expected reinforcement could arrive, Gen. Stark, 
 having added to his New Hampshire corps a body of Vermont 
 militia, determined to attack Baum in his intrenchments. Ac- 
 cordingly, on the 10th of August, an attack was made, which re- 
 sulted in the flight of Baum's detachment, at tiie moment in 
 which the reinforcement of troops, despatched by Gen. Burgoyne, 
 arrived. With the assistance of these, the battle wa- now re- 
 newed, but ended in the discomfiture of the British forces, and 
 
J90 period . — 1/75 to 1783. 
 
 with a loss, on their part, of about seven hundred in killed and 
 wounded. The loss of the Americans was about one hundred. 
 
 61. The battle at Bennington greatly revived the 
 courage of the Americans, and as greatly disappointed 
 the hopes of Gen. Burgoyrie, as it served materially to 
 embarrass and retard his movements. 
 
 The situation of this general, at this time, was seri- 
 ously perplexing, being greatly in want of provisions, and 
 the course of wisdom and prudence being not a little diffi- 
 cult to determine. To retreat was to abandon the ob- 
 ject of his expedition ; to advance seemed replete with 
 difficulty and danger. This latter step, however, at 
 length, appeared the most judicious. 
 
 Accordingly, on the 13th and 14th of September, he 
 passed the Hudson, and advanced upon Saratoga and 
 Stillwater. On the 17th, his army came nearly in con- 
 tact with that of the Americans, now commanded by 
 Gen. Gates, who had succeeded Schuyler, August 21 : 
 some skirmishing- ensued, without bringing on a general 
 battle. 
 
 62. Two days after, the two armies met, and a most 
 obstinate, though indecisive, engagement ensued, in 
 which the Americans lost, in killed and wounded, be- 
 tween three and four hundred, and the British about six 
 hundred. 
 
 On the 7th of October, the battle was renewed, by a 
 movement of Gen. Burgoyne towards the left of the 
 Americans, by which he intended to effect his retreat to 
 the lakes. The battle was extremely severe ; and dark- 
 ness only put an end to the effusion of blood. 
 
 During the night which succeeded, an attempt was 
 made by the royal army to retreat to Fort Edward. — 
 While preparing to march, intelligence was received 
 that this Jbrt was already in possession of the Americans. 
 No avenue to escape now appeared open. Worn down 
 with constant toil and watching, and having ascertained 
 that he had but three days' provisions, a council of war 
 was called, which unanimously resolved to capitulate to 
 
WAU OF THR REVOLUTION. 191 
 
 Gen. Gates. Preliminaries were soon after settled, and 
 the army, consisting of five thousand seven hundred 
 effective men, surrendered prisoners of war on the 17th 
 of October. 
 
 Gen. Gates, immediately after the victory, despatched 
 Col. Wilkinson, to carry the happy tidings to congress 
 On being introduced into the hall of congress, he said. 
 " The whole British army has laid down arms at Sarato- 
 ga; our sous, full of vigor and courage, expect your or 
 ders ; it is for your wisdom to decide where the country 
 may still have need of their services." 
 
 03. It would be difficult to describe the transports of 
 joy, which the news of the surrender of Burgoyne ex- 
 cited among the Americans. They now began to look 
 forward to the future with sanguine hopes, and eagerly 
 expected the acknowledgment of their country's inde- 
 pendence by France and other European powers. The 
 capitulation of Gen. Burgoyne, at Saratoga, was soon 
 followed by an acknowledgment of the independence of 
 America at the court of France,* and the conclusion of 
 a formal treaty of alliance and commerce between the 
 two countries — an event highly auspicious to the inter- 
 ests of America. The treaty was signed Feb. (ith — 
 "neither of the contracting powers to make war or 
 peace, without the formal consent of the other." 
 
 For more than a var. commissioners from congress, at the 
 Jiead of whom was Dr. Frauklm. had resided at the court of 
 France, urging the above important measure. But, the- success 
 of the American struggle was yet. too doubtful for that country 
 to pinlir il herself in a war with Great Britain. The capture of 
 the British army at Saratoga seemed to increase the probability 
 that the American arms would finally triumph, and decided 
 Francs to espouse her cause. 
 
 64. Upon the conclusion of the campaign of 1777, the 
 British army retired to winter quarters in Philadelphia, 
 and the American army at Valley Forge, on the Schuyl- 
 kill, fifteen miles from Philadelphia. 
 
 * Holland acknowledged the independence of the United States in 1785, 
 Sweden in February, 17cD ^ Denmark in the same inuntli ; Spain in Much} 
 Russia in Jui y 
 
192 pektod v. — 1775 to 1783. 
 
 Scarcely were the American troops established in their en 
 eampinent, which consisted of huts, before they were in danger 
 of a famine. The adjacent country was nearly exhausted, and 
 that which it. might have spared, the inhabitants concealed in 
 the woods. At this time, also, bills of credit had fallen to one 
 fourth of their nominal value, so that one hundred dollars, in 
 paper, would command no more than twenty-five dollars, in 
 specie. In addition to these scenes of perplexity and suffering, 
 the army was nearljr destitute of comfortable clothing. Many, 
 for want of shoes, walked barefoot on the frozen ground; few, 
 if any. had blankets for the night. Great numbers sickened. 
 Near three thousand at a time were incapable of bearing arms. 
 While the defenders of the country were thus suffering and per- 
 ishing, the royal army was enjoying all the conveniences winch 
 an opulent city afforded. 
 
 65. Gfl the alliance of America with France, it was 
 resolved in Great Britain immediately to evacuate Phila* 
 delphin, and to concentrate the royal force in the city ol 
 New York. In pursuance of this resolution, the royal 
 army, on the 18th of June, passed the Delaware, into 
 New Jersey, and continued their retreat to New York. 
 
 Gen. Washington, penetrating their design, had already sent 
 forward a detachment to aid the New Jersey militia in impeding 
 the progress of the enemy. With the main body of his army, lie 
 now crossed the Delaware in pursuit. June 2Sth, the two armies 
 were engaged at Monmouth., sixty-four miles from Philadelphia., 
 an:!, after a severe contest, in which the Americans, upon the 
 whole, obtained the advantage, were separated only by night. 
 Gen. Washington and his army reposed on the field of battle, 
 intending to renew the attack in the morning. But the Brii-h 
 general, during the night, made good his retreat towards New 
 York. 
 
 The sufferings of both armies during this engagement, from 
 the heat cf the day, were unparalleled in the history cf the revo- 
 lutionary war. No less than fifty-nine British soldiers perished 
 from heat, and several of the Americans died through the same 
 cause. The tongues of many of the soldiers were so swollen, 
 that it was impossible to retain them in the mouth. The 1 s^ of 
 the Americans was eight officers and sixty-one privates killed, 
 and about one hundred and sixty wounded : that of the British, in 
 killed, wounded, and missing, was three hundred and fifty-eight 
 men. including officers. One hundred were taken prisoners, and 
 one thousand deserted during the march. 
 
 <;(). On the 1st of July, Count. D'Estaing arrived at 
 Newport, R. I., frefr France, with twelve ships of 'he 
 
WAR OP THE REVOLUTION. 193 
 
 line and six frigates, to act in concert with the Ameri- 
 cans in an attempt on Rhode Island, which had been in 
 possession of the British since December, 1776. 
 
 Hearing of this expedition, Admiral Howe followed D'Estaing, 
 and arrived in eight of Rhode Island the day after the French 
 fleet had entered the harbor of Newport. On the appearance of 
 Howe, the French admiral, instead of co-operating with the 
 Americans, sailed out to give him battle. A storm, however, 
 arising, separated the fleets. D'Estaing entered Boston to repair. 
 Howe, after the storm, returned to Rhode Island, and landed 
 Sir Henry Clinton, with four thousand troops; but, fortunately, 
 the Americans had raised the siege of Newport the day before, 
 and left the island. Sir Henry Clinton soon after sailed again 
 for New York. 
 
 67. Hitherto the conquest of the States had been at 
 tempted by proceeding from north to south ; but that 
 order, towards the close of this year, began to be invert- 
 ed, and the Southern States became the principal theatre 
 on which the British conducted their offensive opera- 
 tions. 
 
 Georgia, being one of the weakest of the Southern 
 States, was marked out as the first object of attack, in 
 that quarter of the Union. 
 
 In November, Col. Campbell was despatched from 
 New York by Gov. Clinton, with a force of two thou- 
 sand men, against Savannah, the capital of that state. 
 This expedition proved successful, and Savannah, and 
 with it the state of Georgia itself, fell into the power of 
 the English. 
 
 ( )n the arrival of Campbell and hi-* troops at Savannah, he was 
 opposed by Gen. Howe, the American officer, to whom was in- 
 trusted the defence of Georgia. His force, consisting of only 
 six hundred continentals, and a few hundred militia, was inade- 
 quate, however, to resist the enemy. After an engagement, in 
 which the Americans killed upwards of one hundred, and took 
 about four hundred and fifty prisoners, with several cannon, and 
 large quantities of military stores, the capital surrendered. 
 
 Iii the succeeding year, 1779, Count D'Estaing, who, after re- 
 pairing his fleet at Boston, had sailed f >r the West Indies, re- 
 turned, with a design to co-operate with the Americans against 
 the common enemy. In Sept. he arrived upon the coast of 
 Georgia so unexpectedly, that the Experiment, a man-of-war of 
 
194 period v. — 1775 to 1783. 
 
 fifty guns, and three frigates, fell into his hands. As soon as hi* 
 arrival was known, Gen. Lincoln marched with the army under 
 his command, and a body of militia of South Carolina and Geor 
 gia, to co-operate with him in the reduction of Savannah. Be- 
 fore Lincoln arrived, D'Estaing demanded the surrender of the 
 town. This demand, Gen. Prevost, the English commander, 
 requested a day to consider, which was incautiously granted. 
 Before the day expired, a reinforcement of eight hundred men 
 joined the standard of Prevost from Beaufort, whereupon he bid 
 defiance to D'Estaing. On the arrival of Lincoln, it was deter- 
 mined to lay siege to the place. Much time was spent in prepara- 
 tion ; but in an assault under D'Estaing and Lincoln, the Ameri- 
 cans suffered so severely, both as to their number and in their 
 works, that it was deemed expedient to abandon the project. 
 Count D'Estaing re-embarked his troops, and left the continent. 
 
 68. The campaign of 1779 was distinguished for 
 nothing splendid, or decisive, on the part either of 
 America or England. 
 
 The British seemed to have aimed at little more than 
 to distress, plunder, and consume, it having been, early 
 in the year, adopted as a principle upon which' to pro- 
 ceed, "to render the colonies of as little avail as possible 
 to their new connections." 
 
 Actuated by these motives, an expedition was fitted 
 out from New York for Virginia, which, in a predatory 
 incursion, took possession of large naval stores, maga- 
 zines of provisions, and great quantities of tobacco. Af- 
 ter enriching themselves with various kinds of booty, 
 and burning several places, they returned to New York. 
 
 Soon after this expedition to Virginia, a similar one, 
 under the command of the infamous Gov. Trvon, was 
 projected against ihe maritime parts of Connecticut. 
 During this expedition, New Haven was plundered; 
 East Haven, Fairfield, Norwalk, and Green's Farms, 
 were wantonly burnt. 
 
 In an account of the devastations made by the English in this 
 xpedition, which was transmitted to congress, it appeared that 
 t Fairfield there were burnt two houses of public worship, fifteen 
 dwelling-houses, eleven barns, and several stores; at Norwalk, 
 two houses of public worship, eighty dwelling-houses, sixty-seven 
 barns, twenty-two stores, seventeen shops, four mills, and five 
 Vessels In addition to this wanton destruction of p rperty, va- 
 
WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 
 
 195 
 
 rious were the acts of brutality, rapine, and cruelty, committed 
 on aged persons, women, and prisoners. At New Haven, an 
 aged citizen, who labored under a natural inability of speech, had 
 his tongue cut out by one of the royal army. At Fairfield, the 
 deserted houses of the inhabitants were entered; desks, trunks, 
 closets, and chests, were broken open, and robbed of every tiling 
 valuable. Women were insulted, abused, and threatened, while 
 their apparel was taken from them. Even an infant was robbed 
 of its clothes, while a bayonet was pointed at the breast of its 
 mother. 
 
 About this time, Gen. Putnam, who had been stationed with a 
 respectable force at Reading, in Connecticut, then on a visit to 
 his out-post, at Horse Neck, was attacked by Gov. Tryon, with 
 one thousand five hundred men. Putnam had only a picket of 
 one hundred and fifty men, and two field-pieces, without horses 
 or drag-ropes. He, however, placed his cannon on the high 
 ground, near the meeting-house, and continued to pour in upon 
 the advancing foe, until the enemy's horse appeared upon a 
 charge. The general now hastily ordered his men to retreat to 
 a neighboring swamp, inaccessible to horse, while he himself put 
 spurs to his ateed, and plunged down the precipice at the church. 
 
 This is so steep, as to have artificial stairs, composed of nearly 
 one hundred stone steps, for the accommodation of worshippers 
 ascending to the sanctuary. On the arrival of the dragoons at 
 
196 period v.— 1775 to 1783. 
 
 the brow of the hill, they paused, thinking it too dangerous to 
 follow the steps of the adventurous hero. Before any could go 
 round the hill, and descend, Putnam had escaped, uninjured by 
 the many balls which were fired at him in his descent; but one 
 touched him, and that only passed through his hat. He proceed- 
 ed to Stamford, where, having strengthened his picket with some 
 militia, he boldly faced about, and pursued Gov. Tryon on his re 
 turn. 
 
 09. The exertions of the Americans, during this cam- 
 paign, were still more feeble than those of the enemy 
 Scarcely an expedition was planned which merits any 
 notice, and, with the exception of the reduction of Stony 
 Point, forty miles north of New York, on the Hudson, 
 scarcely any thing was accomplished of importance. 
 The reduction of this place, July 15th, was one of the 
 boldest enterprises which occurred in the history of 
 the war. 
 
 At this time, Stony Point was in the condition of a real for- 
 tress ; it was furnished with a select garrison of more than six 
 hundred men, and had stores in abundance, and defensive prep- 
 arations which were formidable. 
 
 Fortified as it was, Gen. Washington ventured an attempt to 
 reduce it. The enterprise was committed to Gen. Wayne, who, 
 with a strong detachment of active infantry, set out towards the 
 place at noon. His march of fourteen miles, over high moun- 
 tains, through deep morasses, and difficult defiles, was accom 
 plished by eight o'clock in the evening. 
 
 At the distance of a mile from the Point, Gen. Wayne halted, 
 and formed his men into two columns, putting himself at the 
 head of the right. Both columns were directed to march in or- 
 der and silence, with unloaded muskets and fixed bayonets. At 
 midnightfthey arrived under the walls of the fort. An unexpect- 
 ed obstacle now presented itself: the deep morass, which cover- 
 ed the works, was, at this time, overflowed by the tide. The 
 English opened a tremendous fire of musketry and of cannon 
 loaded with grape-shot : but neither the inundated moraes, nor a 
 double palisade, nor the storm of fire that was poured upon them, 
 could arrest the impetuosity of the Americans : they opened 
 their way with the bayonet, prostrated whatever opposed them, 
 scaled the fort, and the two columns met in the centre of the 
 works. The English lost upwards of six hundred men in killed 
 and prisoners. The conquerors abstained from pillage, and from 
 all disorder — a conduct the more worthy, as they had still present 
 in mind the ravages and butcheries which their enemies had so 
 recently committed in Virginia and Connecticut. Humanity 
 
WAR OP THE REVOLUTION. 197 
 
 imparled new effulgence to the victory which valor had ob- 
 tained. 
 
 70. Another expedition, planned and executed tins 
 year, entitled to some notice, was one under Gen. Sul- 
 livan, against the Six Nations, which, with the exception 
 of the Oneidas, had been induced by the English to 
 take up arms against America. 
 
 At the head of between four and five thousand men, 
 Gen. Sullivan marched into the country, up the Susque- 
 hannah, and attacked the Indians, in well-constructed 
 fortifications. The resistance of the savages was war- 
 like. Being overpowered, however, they were obliged 
 to flee. Gen. Sullivan, according to his instructions, 
 proceeded to lay waste their country. Forty villages 
 were consumed, and one hundred and sixty thousand 
 bushels of corn were destroyed. 
 
 71. It has already been stated, that the campaign of 
 1779 was remarkable for the feeble exertions of the 
 Americans. Among the causes which contributed to 
 lessen their activity, the failure of the French fleet, in 
 every scheme undertaken for their benefit, was no in- 
 considerable one. America had expected much from 
 an alliance with France, and looked to the French fleet 
 under D'Estaing to hasten the downfall of British pow- 
 er in the country. But when they perceived nothing 
 equal to their expectation accomplished, they became 
 despondent, and exertion was enfeebled. 
 
 But another, and a still more powerful cause of these 
 feeble exertions, on the part of the Americans, was the 
 daily depreciation of their bills of credit. 
 
 Bills of credit, were first issued by congress in June, 1775, to 
 tbe amount of two millions of dollars. At tbe expiration of 
 eigbteen months, twenty millions had been issued. By the year 
 1780, tbe amount in circulation was two hundred millions. " For 
 their redemption, tbe confederated colonies were pledged — each 
 colony to provide means to pay its proportion by the year 1770. 
 
 At an early period, these bills began to depreciate. Tbe 
 progress of this depreciation is worthy of notice. Towards tbo 
 close of 1777, the depreciation was two or three for one ; in '76, 
 five or six for one ; in 7'.), twenty-seven or twenty-eight for one; 
 
198 period v.— 1775 to 1783. 
 
 in '80, fifty or sixty for one, in the first four or five months 
 From this date, the circulation of these bills was limited ; but 
 where they passed, they soon depreciated to one hundred and 
 fifty for one, and, finally, several hundreds for one. 
 
 Several causes contributed to sink the value of the continental 
 currency. The excess of its quantity at first begat a natural de- 
 preciation. This was increased by the enemy, who counterfeit 
 ed the bills, and spread their forgeries through the States. Pub 
 ho agents, who received a commission to the amount of their 
 purchases, felt it to be their interest to give a high price for all 
 commodities. These causes, co-operating with the decline of 
 public confidence, and the return of more selfish feelings, rapid- 
 ly increased the depreciation, until bills of credit, or what has 
 been commonly called '• continental currency," became of little 
 or no value. 
 
 The evils which resulted from this system were immense 
 Under it, it became extremely difficult to raise an army, and to 
 provide necessaries for its subsistence. At the same time, it 
 originated discontents among the officers and soldiers, since their 
 pay, in this depreciated currency, was inadequate to the support 
 of their families at home. " Four months' pay of a private 
 would not procure his family a single bushel of wheat; and the 
 pay of a colonel would not purchase oats for his horse." Un- 
 der circumstances like there?, it reflects the highest honor upon 
 Washington, that his wisdom and prudence should have been 
 able to keep an army together. 
 
 72. Towards the close of the year 1779, Sir Henry 
 Clinton, committing the English garrison of New York 
 to Gen. Kniphausen, embarked with a force of between 
 seven and eight thousand men, for the reduction of 
 Charleston, South Carolina, which important object he 
 accomplished on the 12th of May, 1780. 
 
 After a tempestuous voyage of some weeks, in which several 
 transports were lost, the army arrived at Savannah, whence they 
 sailed on their destined purpose. On the 2d of April, 1760, Gen. 
 Clinton opened his batteries against Charleston. Gen. Lincoln, 
 at this time, commanded the American forces of the south. 
 Urged by the inhabitants, on the approach of the enemy, to con- 
 tinue in Charleston, and assist in repelling the attack, he con- 
 sented to remain, and, with Gov. Rutledge, industriously for- 
 warded preparations for defence. 
 
 Notwithstanding these preparations, the batteries of the ene- 
 my soon obtained a decided superiority over those of the town, 
 and left but little reason to the besieged to hope that they should 
 be able to defend the place. A council of war, held on the 21st, 
 
WAR OP THE REVOLUTION. 199 
 
 agreed that a retreat would probably be impracticable, and ad- 
 vised that offers of capitulation should be made to Gen. Clinton, 
 which might admit of the army's withdrawing, and afford secu- 
 rity to the persons and property of the inhabitants. 
 
 On the proposal of these terms, they were rejected. Hostili 
 ties were now renewed by the garrison, and returned with unu- 
 sual ardor by the British. On the 11th of May, finding the 
 longer defence of the place impracticable, a number of citizens 
 addressed Gen. Lincoln, advising him to capitulate. Acqui- 
 escing in the measure, painful as it was, Gen. Lincoln again pre- 
 sented terms of capitulation, which being accepted, the Ameri- 
 can army, amounting to 5000, together with the inhabitants of 
 the place, and four hundred pieces of artillery, were surrendered 
 to the British. 
 
 The loss on both sides, during the siege, was nearly equal 
 Of the royal troops, seventy-six were killed, and one hundred 
 and eighty-nine wounded. Of the Americans, eighty-nine were 
 killed, a^sd one hundred and forty wounded. By the articles of 
 capitulation, the garrison was to march out of town, and to de- 
 posit their arms in front of the works; but, as a mark of humilia 
 tion, which, eighteen months afterwards, was remembered and 
 retaliated on Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown, the drums were not 
 to beat a British march, nor the colors to be uncased. 
 
 73. Shortly after the surrender of Charleston, Sir 
 Henry Clinton, leaving four thousand men for the south- 
 ern service, under Lord Cornwallis, returned to New 
 York. British garrisons were now posted in different parts 
 of the state of South Carolina, to awe the inhabitants, and 
 to secure their submission to the British government. 
 
 The spirit of freedom, however, still remained with 
 the people; nor was it easy to subdue that spirit, how 
 much soever it might be temporarily repressed by royal 
 and oppressive menace. 
 
 Notwithstanding the efforts of his majesty's servants 
 to preserve quietness, the month of July did not pass by 
 in peace. Gen. Sumpter, a man ardently attached to 
 the cause of liberty, in several engagements in South 
 Carolina, with the English and their partisans, gained 
 great advantages over them, and, in one instance, re- 
 duced a regiment — the prince of Wales's — from two hun- 
 dred and seventy-eight to nine. 
 
 While Sumpter was thus keeping up the spirits of the 
 
200 period v.— 1775 to 1783 
 
 people by a succession of gallant exploits, a respectable 
 force was advancing through the Middle States, for the 
 relief of their southern brethren. 
 
 74. The southern army, now placed under the com- 
 mand of Gates, the hero of Saratoga, Gen. Lincoln hav- 
 ing been superseded, amounted to four thousand ; but, 
 of these, scarcely one thousand were regular troops, the 
 rest consisting of militia, from North Carolina, Mary- 
 land, and Virginia. 
 
 As this army approached South Carolina, Lord Raw- 
 don, who commanded on the frontier, under Lord Corn- 
 wallis, concentrated the royal forces, two thousand in 
 number, at Camden, one hundred and twenty miles 
 north-west from Charleston. Here Cornwallis, on learn- 
 ing the movements of the Americans, joined him. 
 
 On the morning of the 16th of August, the two armies 
 met, and a severe and general action ensued, in which, 
 through the unpardonable failure of the militia, the Brit- 
 ish gained a decided advantage. 
 
 At the first onset, a large body of the Virginia militia, under a 
 charge of the British infantry with fixed bayonets, threw down 
 their arms, and fled. A considerable part of the North Carolina 
 militia followed their unworthy example. But the continental 
 troops evinced the most unyielding firmness, and pressed forward 
 with unusual ardor. Never did men acquit themselves more 
 honorably. They submitted only when forsaken by their breth 
 ren in arms, and when overpowered by numbers. 
 
 In this battle, the brave Baron de Kalb, second in command, 
 at the head of the Maryl-?.nde-rs, fell, covered with wounds, which 
 lie survived only a few days. De Kalb was a German by birth, 
 and had formerly served in the armies of the French. In con- 
 sideration of his distinguished merit, as an officer and soldier, 
 congress resolved that a monument should be erected to his 
 memory at Annapolis. 
 
 ' The batt.e of Camden was exceedingly bloody. The field of 
 battle, the road and swamps, for some distance, were covered with 
 wounded and slain. The number of Americans killed, although 
 not certain, probably amounted to between six and seven hun- 
 dred, and the wounded and prisoners to one thousand three hun 
 dred, or one thousand four hundred. The British stated their 
 loss to be only three hundred and twenty-four, in killed ana 
 wounded ; but it was probably much greater. 
 
WAR OP THE REVOLUTION. 201 
 
 75. The disaster of the army under Gen. Gates, 
 overspread, at first, the face of American affairs, with a 
 dismal gloom ; but the day of prosperity to the United 
 States began, as will appear in the sequel, from that 
 moment, to dawn. 
 
 Their prospects brightened, while those of their ene- 
 mies were obscured by disgrace, broken by defeat, and, 
 at last, covered with ruin. Elated with their victories, 
 the conquerors grew more insolent and rapacious, while 
 the real friends of independence became resolute and 
 determined. 
 
 76. While the campaign of 1780 was thus filled up 
 with important events in the southern department, it 
 passed away, in the Northern States, in successive disap- 
 pointments, and reiterated distresses. 
 
 In June, a body of five thousand of the enemy, un- 
 der Gen. Kniphausen, entered New Jersey, and, in ad- 
 dition to plundering the country, wantonly burnt several 
 villages. 
 
 On the arrival of this body at Connecticut Farms, a small 
 settlement, containing about a dozen houses and a church, they 
 burnt the whole. At this place there resided a Presbyterian 
 minister, by the name of Caldwell, who had taken a conspicuous 
 part in the cause of freedom, and who had, of course, incurred 
 the deep displeasure of Gen. Kniphausen. Supposing, however, 
 that the general's resentment would be confined to him, and that 
 his family would be safe, on the approach of the enemy, he hasti- 
 ly withdrew, leaving his wife and children to their mercy. Col. 
 Drayton had previously withdrawn the militia from the place, 
 that there might be no pretext for enormities ; but the British 
 soldiers, in the American war, did not wait for pretexts to be 
 cruel. Mrs. Caldwell was shot in the midst of her children, by 
 a villain, who walked up to the window of the room in which 
 she was sitting, and took deliberate aim with his musket. This 
 atrocious act was attempted to be excused as an accident, as a 
 random shot ; but the attempt at palliation served only to in- 
 crease the crime. 
 
 77. Besides these predatory incursions, by which the 
 inhabitants suffered alarm, distress, and destruction of 
 property, they suffered greatly, also, from the constantly 
 diminishing value of their paper currency, and from 
 unfavorable crops. 
 
202 period v.— 1775 to 1783. 
 
 The situation of Gen. Washington, often, during the war, em 
 barrassing, had been distressing through the winter, in his en- 
 campment at Morristown. The cold was more intense than it 
 had ever been known to be before in this climate, within the 
 memory of the oldest inhabitant. The winter, to this day, bears 
 the distinctive epithet of the hard winter. The army suffered 
 extremely ; and often had Washington the prospect before him 
 of being obliged to break up his encampment, and disband his 
 soldiers. 
 
 The return of spring brought little alleviation to their distress. 
 Great disorder pervaded the departments for supplying the army. 
 Aousea crept in, frauds were practised, and, notwithstanding the 
 poverty of the country, economy, on the part of the commission- 
 ers, was exiled. 
 
 In May, a committee from congress visited the army, and re 
 ported to that body an account, of the distresses and disorders 
 conspicuously prevalent. In particular, they stated, " that the 
 army was unpaid for live months ; that it seldom had more than 
 six days' provisions in advance, and was, on several occasions, 
 for sundry successive days, without meat ; that the medical de- 
 partment had neither sugar, coffee, tea, chocolate, wine, nor 
 spirituous liquors of any kind; and that every department of 
 the army was without money, and had not even the shadow of 
 credit left." 
 
 78. But, under all this tide of evils, there appeared no 
 disposition, in public bodies, to purchase their relief by 
 concession. They seemed, on the contrary, to rise in 
 the midst of their distresses, and to gain firmness and 
 strength by the pressure of calamity. 
 
 79. Fortunately for the Americans, as it seemed, M. 
 de Ternay arrived at Rhode Island, July 10th, from 
 France, with a squadron of seven sail of the line, five 
 frigates, and five smaller armed vessels, with several 
 transports, and six thousand men, all under command 
 of Lieutenant-General Count de Rochambeau. Great 
 was the joy excited by this event, and high-raised ex- 
 pectations were indulged from the assistance of so pow- 
 erful a force against the enemy. But the British fleet 
 in our waters was still superior ; and that of the French, 
 and the French army, were, for a considerable time, 
 incapacitated from co-operating with the Americans, by 
 being blocked up at Rhode Island. 
 
 The arrival of the French fleet at Newport was greeted by the 
 citizens with every demonstration of joy. The town was illu- 
 
WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 203 
 
 ruinated, fnd congratulatory addresses were exchanged. As a 
 symbol of friendship and affection for the allies, Gen. Washings 
 ton recommended to the American officers to wear black and 
 white cockades, the ground to be of the first color, and the re- 
 lief of the second. 
 
 80. The fortress of West Point, on the Hudson, sixty 
 miles north of New York, and its importance to the 
 Americans, have already been noticed. Of this fortress 
 Gen. Arnold had solicited and obtained the command. 
 Soon after assuming the command, Arnold entered into 
 negotiations with Sir Henry Clinton, to make such a dispo- 
 sition of the forces in the fortress, as that the latter might 
 easily take possession of it by surprise. Fortunately 
 for America, this base plot was seasonably discovered 
 to prevent the ruinous consequences that must have fol- 
 lowed. Arnold, however, escaped to tlie enemy loaded 
 with infamy and disgrace. Andre, the agent of the 
 British in this negotiation, was taken, and justly expi- 
 ated his crime on the gallows, as a spy. 
 
 Major Andre, at this time adjutant-general of the British army, 
 was an officer extremely young, but high-minded, brave, and ac 
 complishcd. He was transported, in a vessel called the Vulture, 
 up the North river, as near to West Point as was practicable, 
 without exciting suspicion. On the 21st of September, at night, 
 a boat was sent from the shore, to bring him. On its return, Ar- 
 nold met him at the beach, without the posts of either army. 
 Their business was not finished till too near the dawn of day 
 for Andre to return to the Vulture. He, therefore, lay concealed 
 within the American lines. During the day, the Vulture found 
 it necessary to change her position ; and Andre, not being able 
 now to get on board, was compelled to attempt his return to New 
 York by land. 
 
 Having changed his military dress for a plain coat, and receiv 
 in sy a passport from Arnold, under the assumed name of John 
 Anderson, he passed the guards and outposts, without suspicion. 
 On his arrival at Tarrytown, a village thirty miles north of New 
 York, in the vicinity of the first British posts, he was met by 
 three militia soldiers — John Paulding, David Williams, and Isaac 
 Vun Wert. He showed them his passport, and they suffered him 
 to continue his route. Immediately after this, one of these three 
 men, thinking that he perceived something singular in the per- 
 son of the traveller, called him back. Andre asked them where 
 tifoey were from. " From down below," they replied, intending 
 to say, from New Y r ork. Too frank to suspect a snare, Andre 
 immediately answered, " And so am I." 
 
204 period v. — 1775 to 1783. 
 
 Upon this, they arrested him, when he declared himself to be a 
 British officer, and offered them his watch, and all the gold he 
 had with him, to be released. These soldiers were poor and ob- 
 scure, but they were not to be bribed. Resolutely refusing his 
 offers, they conducted him to Lieutenant-Gft. Jameson, their com 
 manding officer. /— ^^a^ESM^ 
 
 Jameson injudiciously permitted Andre, still calling himself 
 Anderson, to write to Arnold, who immediately escaped on board 
 the Vulture, and took refuge in New York. 
 
 Washington, on his way to head-quarters, from Connecticut, 
 where he had been to confer with Count de Rochambeau, provi- 
 dentially happened to be at West Point just at this time. After 
 taking measures to insure the safety of the fort, he appointed a 
 board, of which Gen. Greene was president, to decide upon the 
 condition and punishment of Andre. 
 
 After a patient hearing of the case, September 20th, in which 
 every feeling of kindness, liberality, and generous sympathy, was 
 strongty evinced, the board, upon his own confession, unani- 
 mously pronounced Andre a .spy, and declared that, agreeably to 
 the laws and usages of nations, he ought to suffer death. 
 
 Major Andre had many friends in the American army ; and 
 even Washington would have spared him, had duty to his 
 country permitted. Every possible effort was made by Sir Hen- 
 ry CHn+op ir his f"vcr; but it was deemed important that the de- 
 
WAR OP THE REVOLUTION. 205 
 
 cision of the board of war should be carried into execution 
 When Major Andre was apprized of the sentence of death, lie 
 made a last appeal, in a letter to Washington, that he might be 
 Bhot, rather than die on a gibbet 
 
 " Buoyed above the terrors of death," said he, " by the con- 
 sciousness of a life devoted to honorable pursuits, and stained 
 with no action that can give me remorse, I trust that the request 
 I make to your excellency at this serious period, and which is to 
 soften my last moments, will not be rejected. Sympathy towards 
 a soldier will surely induce your excellency, and a military tribunal, 
 to adapt the mode of my death to the feelings of a man of honor. 
 Let me hope, sir, that, if aught in my character impresses you 
 with esteem towards me, as a victim of policy and not of resent 
 ment, I shall experience the operation of those feelings in your 
 breast, by being informed that I am not to die on a gibbet." 
 
 This letter of Andre roused the sympathies of Washington , 
 and had he only been concerned, the prisoner would have been 
 pardoned and released. But the interests of his country were at 
 stake, and the sternness of justice demanded that private feelings 
 should be sacrificed. Upon consulting his officers, on the pro- 
 priety of Major Andre's request, to receive the death of a sol 
 dier, — to be shot, — it was deemed necessary to deny it, and to 
 make him an example. On the 2d of October, this unfortunate 
 young man expired on the gallows, while foes and friends uni- 
 versally lamented his untimely end. 
 
 As a reward to Paulding, Williams and Van Wert, for their 
 virtuous and patriotic conduct, congress voted to each of them 
 an annuity of two hundred dollars, and a silver medal, on one 
 side of which was a shield with this inscription — " Fidelity," — 
 and on the other, the following motto — " Vinrit amor pat rice" — 
 the love of country conquers. 
 
 Arnold, the miserable wretch, whose machinations led to the 
 melancholy fate Andre experienced, escaped to New York, 
 where, as the price of his dishonor, he received the commission 
 of briviidicr-gcncral. and the sum of ten thousand pounds sterling. 
 This last boon was the grand secret of Arnold's fall from virtue ; 
 his vanity and extravagance had led him into expenses which it 
 was neither in the power nor will of congress to support. He 
 had involved himself in debt, from which he saw no hope of 
 extricating himself; and his honor, therefore, was bartered for 
 British gold. 
 
 81. Gen. Washington, having learned whither Arnold 
 had fled, deemed it possible still to take him, and to 
 bring him to the just reward of his treachery. To ac- 
 complish an object so desirable, and, at the same time, 
 in so doing, to 6ave Andre, Washington devised a plan, 
 18 
 
206 period v. — 1775 to 17S3 
 
 which, although it ultimately failed, evinced the ca 
 pacity of his mind, and his unwearied ardor for his 
 country's good. 
 
 Having matured the plan, Washington sent to Major Lee to 
 repair to head-quarters, at Tappan, on the Hudson. " I have 
 sent for you," said Gen. Washington," in the expectation that you 
 have some one in your corps, who is willing to undertake a del- 
 icate and hazardous project. Whoever comes forward will confer 
 great obligation upon me personally, and, in behalf of the United 
 States, I will reward him amply. No time is to be lost : he must 
 proceed, if possible, to-night. 1 intend to seize Arnold, and save 
 Andre." 
 
 Major Lee named a sergeant-major of his corps, by the name 
 of Clutmpe, a native of Virginia, a man full of bone and muscle, 
 with a countenance grave, thoughtful, and taciturn — of tried 
 courage, and inflexible perseverance. 
 
 Champe was sent for by Major Lee, and the plan proposed. This 
 was for him to desert — to escape to New York — to appear friendly 
 to the enemy — to watch Arnold, and, upon some fit opportunity, 
 with 1he assistance of some one whom Champe could trust, to 
 seize him, and conduct him to a place on the river, appointed, 
 where boats should be in readiness to bear them away. 
 
 Champe listened to the plan attentively, but, wilh the spirit 
 of a man of honor and integrity, replied, " that it was not 
 danger nor difficulty that deterred him from immediately accept- 
 ing the proposal, but the ignominy of desertion, and the hypocrisy 
 of enlisting \oitk the enemy! " 
 
 To these objections Lee replied, that although he would ap- 
 pear to desert, yet, as he obeyed the call of his commander-in- 
 chief, his departure could not be considered as criminal, and that, 
 if he sv.-Tered in reputation for a time, the matter would one day 
 be explained to his credit. As to the second objection, it was 
 urged, that to bring such a man as Arnold to justice — loaded 
 with guilt as he was — and to save Andre — so young, so ac- 
 complished, so bt loved — to achieve so much good in the cause 
 fc'f his country — was more than sufficient to balance a wrong, ex- 
 isting only in appearance. 
 
 The objections of Champe were at length surmounted, and lie 
 accepted the service. It was now eleven o'clock at night. With 
 his instructions in his pocket, the sergeant returned to camp, 
 and, taking his cloak, valise, and orderly-book, drew his horse 
 from the picket, and mounted, putting himself upon fortune. 
 
 Scarcely had half an hour elapsed, before Capt. Carnes, the 
 officer of the day, waited upon Lee, who was vainly attempting 
 to rpst, and informed him, that one of the patrol had fallen in 
 with a dragoon, who, being challenged, put spurs to his horse 
 and escaped. Lee. hoping to conceal the flight of Champe, or 
 at least to delay pursuit, complained of fatigue and told the 
 
WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 
 
 207 
 
 captain that the patrol had probably mistaken a countryman for a 
 dragoon. Carnes, however, was not thus to be quieted ; and he with- 
 drew to assemble his corps. On examination, it was found that 
 Champe was absent. The captain now returned, and acquainted 
 Lee with the discovery, adding, that he had detached a party to 
 pursue the deserter, and begged the major's written orders. 
 
 After making as much delay as practicable, without exciting 
 suspicion, Lee delivers his orders — in which he directed tha 
 party to take Champe if possible. " Bring him alive." said he, 
 " that he may suffer in the presence of the army; but kill hin if 
 he resists, or if he escapes after being taken." 
 
 A shower of rain fell soon after Champe's departure, which 
 enabled the pursuing dragoons to take the trail of his horse, his 
 shoes, in common with those of the horses of the army, being 
 made in a peculiar form, and each having a private mark, which 
 was to be seen in the path. 
 
 Middleton, the leader of the pursuing party, left the camp a few 
 minutes past twelve, so that Champe had the start of but littla 
 more than an hour — a period by far shorter than had been con 
 templated. During the night, the dragoons were often delayed in 
 the necessary halts to examine the road ; but, on the coming 
 of morning, the impression of the horse's shoes was so apparent, 
 that they pressed on with rapidity. Some miles above Bergen, 
 a village three miles north of New York, on the opposite side of 
 
 the Hudson, on ascending a hill, Champe was descried, not more 
 than half a mile distant. Fortunately Champe descried his 
 
208 period v. — 1775 to 1783. 
 
 pursuers at the same moment, and, conjecturing their object, put 
 spurs to his horse, with the hope of escape. 
 
 By taking a different road, Champe was, for a time, lost sight 
 of; but, on approaching the river, he was again descried. Aware 
 of his danger, he now lashed his valise, containing his clothes and 
 orderly- book, to his shoulders, and prepared himself to plunge 
 into the river, if necessary. 
 
 Swift was his flight, and swift the pursuit. Middleton and 
 his party were within a few hundred yards, when Champe threw 
 himself from his horse, and plunged into the river, calling aloud 
 upon some British galleys, at no great distance, for help. A 
 Doat was instantly despatched to the sergeant's assistance, and a 
 fire commenced upon the pursuers. Champe was taken On board, 
 and soon after carried to New York, with a letter from the captain 
 of the galley, stating the past scene, all of which he had 
 witnessed. 
 
 The pursuers, having recovered the sergeant's horse and cloak, 
 returned to camp, where they arrived about three o'clock the 
 next day. On their appearance with the well-known horse, the 
 soldiers made the air resound with acclamations that the scoun 
 drel was killed. The agony of Lee, for a moment, was past de 
 scription. lest the faithful, honorable, intrepid Champe had fall- 
 en. But the truth soon relieved his fears, and he repaired to 
 Washington to impart to him the success, thus far, of his plan. 
 
 Soon after the arrival of Champe in New York, he was sent to 
 Sir Henry Clinton, who treated him kindly, but detained him 
 more than an hour in asking him questions, to answer some of 
 which, without exciting suspicion, required all the art the ser- 
 geant was master of. He succeeded, however, and Sir Henry 
 gave him a couple of guineas, and recommended him to Arnold, 
 who was wishing to procure American recruits. Arnold received 
 him kindly, and proposed to him to join his legion ; Champe, 
 however, expressed his wish to retire from war ; but assured the 
 general, that, if he should change his mind, he would enlist. 
 
 Champe found means to communicate to Lee an account of 
 his adventures ; but, unfortunately, he could not succeed in taking 
 Arnold, as was wished, before the execution of Andre. Ten 
 days before Champe brought his project to a conclusion, Lee re- 
 ceived from him his final communication, appointing the third 
 subsequent night for a party of dragoons to meet him at Hoboken, 
 opposite New York, when he hoped to deliver Arnold to the 
 officers. 
 
 Champe had enlisted into Arnold's legion, from which time 
 he had every opportunity he could wish to attend to the habits 
 of the general. He discovered that it was his custom to return 
 home about twelve every night, and that, previously to going to 
 bed, he always visited the garden. During this visit, the conspir- 
 ators were to seize him, and, being prepared with a gag, they 
 were to apply the same instantly. 
 
WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 209 
 
 Adjoining the house in which Arnold resided, and in which it 
 was designed to seize and gag him, Champe had taken off several 
 of the palings, and replaced them, so that, with ease, and without 
 noise, he could readily open his way to the adjoining alley, in:., 
 this alley he intended to convey his prisoner, aided by his com- 
 panion, one of two associates, who had been introduced by the 
 friend to whom Champe had been originally made known by 
 letter from the commander-in-chief, and with whose aid and 
 counsel he had so far conducted the enterprise. His other as- 
 sociate was, with the boat, prepared at one of the wharves on the 
 Hudson river to receive the party. 
 
 Champe and his friend intended to place themselves each un- 
 der Arnold's shoulder, and thus to bear him through the most 
 unfrequented alleys and streets to the boat, representing Arnold, 
 in case of being questioned, as a drunken soldier, whom they 
 were conveying to the guard-house. 
 
 When arrived at the boat, the difficulties would be all sur- 
 mounted, there being no danger nor obstacle in passing to the 
 Jersey shore. These particulars, as soon as made known to Lee, 
 were communicated to the commander-in-chief, who was highly 
 gratified with the much-desired intelligence. He desired Major 
 Lee to meet Champe, and to take care that Arnold should not 
 be hurt. 
 
 The day arrived, and Lee, with a party of accoutred horses, 
 (one for Arnold, one for the sergeant, and the third for his asso- 
 ciate, who was to assist in securing Arnold.) left the camp, never 
 doubting the success of the enterprise, from the tenor of the 
 last-received communication. The party reached Hoboken about 
 midnight, where they were concealed in the adjoining wood — 
 Lee, with three dragoons, stationing himself near the shore of 
 the river. Hour after hour passed, but no boat approached. 
 
 At length the day broke, and the major retired to his party, 
 and, with his led horses, returned to the camp, where he pro- 
 ceeded to head-quarters to inform the general of the much-la- 
 mented disappointment, as mortifying as inexplicable. Wash- 
 ington, having perused Champe's plan and communication, had 
 indulged the presumption, that, at length, the object of his keen 
 and constant pursuit was sure of execution, and did not dissemble 
 the joy which such a conviction produced. He was chagrined 
 at the issue, and apprehended that his faithful sergeant must 
 have been detected in the last scene of his tedious and difficult 
 enterprise. 
 
 In a few days, Lee received an anonymous letter from Champe's 
 patron and friend, informing him that, on the day preceding the 
 night fixed for the execution of the plot, Arnold had removed 
 his quarters to another part of the town, to superintend the em- 
 barkation of troops, preparing, as was rumored, for an expedition 
 to be directed by himself; and that the American legion, con- 
 
 18* 
 
210 period v. — 1775 to 1783. 
 
 sisting chiefly of American deserters, had been transferred from 
 their barracks to one of the transports.it being apprehended that, 
 if left on shore until the expedition was ready, many of them 
 might desert. 
 
 Thus it happened that John Champe, instead of crossing the 
 Hudson that night, was safely deposited on board one of (he fleet 
 of transports, from whence he never departed, until the troops 
 under Arnold landed in Virginia. Nor was he able to escape 
 from the British army, until after the junction of Lord Com- 
 wallis at Petersburg, when he deserted; and, proceeding high 
 up into Virginia, he passed into North Carolina, near the Saura 
 towns, and, keeping in the friendly districts of that state, safely 
 joined the army soon after it had passed the Congaree,in pursuit 
 of Lord Rawdon. 
 
 His appearance excited extreme surprise among his former 
 comrades, which was not a little increased, when they saw the 
 cordial reception he met with from the late Major, now Lieut. - 
 Col. Lee. His whole story was soon known to the corps, which 
 reproduced the love i'nd respect of officers and soldiers, hereto- 
 fore invariably entertained for the sergeant, heightened by uni 
 versal admiration of his late daring and arduous attempt. 
 
 Champe was introduced to Gen. Greene, who very cheerfully 
 complied with the promise made by the commander-in-chief, so 
 far as in his power; and, having provided the sergeant with a 
 good horse and money for his journey, sent him to Gen. Wash 
 ington, who munificently anticipated every desire of the ser 
 geant, and presented him with a discharge from further service, 
 lest he might, in the vicissitudes of war, fall into the hands of 
 the enemy, when, if recognized, he was sure to die on a gibbet. 
 
 We shall only add. respecting the after life of this interesting 
 adventurer, that when Gen. Washington was called by President 
 Adams, in 1798, to the command of the army, prepared to de- 
 fend the country against French hostility, he sent to Lieut. -Col. 
 Lee, to inquire for Champe, heing determined to bring him into 
 the field at the head of a company of infantry. Lee sent to Lou- 
 don county. Virginia, where Champe settled after his discharge 
 from the army ; when he learned, that the gallant soldier had 
 removed to Kentucky, where he soon after died.* 
 
 82. The year 1781 opened with an event extremely 
 afflicting to Gen. Washington, and which, for a time, 
 seriously endangered the American army. This was 
 the revolt of the whole Pennsylvania line of troops, at 
 Morristown, to the number of one thousand three hun- 
 dred. The cause of this mutiny was want of pay, cloth- 
 
 * Lee's Memoirs 
 
WAR OP THE INVOLUTION. 211 
 
 ing, and provisions. Upon examination of the griev- 
 ances of the troops, by a committee from congress, their 
 complaints were considered to be founded in justice. 
 Upon their being redressed, the troops whose time of 
 service had expired, returned home, and the rest cheer- 
 fully repaired again to camp. 
 
 Gen. Wayne, who commanded these troops, and who wai 
 greatly respected by them, used every exertion to quiet them, 
 hut in vain. In the ardor of remonstrance with them, he cocked 
 his pistol, and turned towards them. Instantly, a hundred bayo- 
 nets were directed towards him, and the men cried out, " We love 
 you, we respect you; but you are a dead man, if you fire. Do 
 not mistake us ; we are not going to the enemy. On the con- 
 trary, were they now to come out, you should see us fight under 
 your orders with as much resolution and alacrity as ever." 
 
 Leaving the camp, the mutineers proceeded in a body to 
 Princeton. Thither Sir Henry Clinton, who had heard of the 
 revolt, sent agents to induce them to come over to the British, 
 with the promise of large rewards. 
 
 But these soldiers loved their country's cause too well to listen 
 to proposals so reproachful. They were suffering privation* 
 which could no longer be sustained ; but they spurned with dis- 
 dain the offer of the enemy. They also seized the agents of the 
 British, and nobly delivered them up to Gen. Wayne, to be treat- 
 ed as spies. 
 
 83. In the midst of these troubles, arising from dis- 
 contents of the troops, news arrived of great depredations 
 in Virginia, by Arnold, who had left New York for the 
 south, with one thousand six hundred men, and a num- 
 ber of armed vessels. Extensive outrages were commit- 
 ted by ihese troops in that part of the country. Large 
 quantities of tobacco, salt, rum, &c, were destroyed. 
 In this manner did Arnold show the change of spirit 
 which had taken place in his breast, and his fidelity to 
 his new engagements. 
 
 Upon receiving news of these depredations, at the request 
 of Gen. Washington, a Frencn squadron, from Rhode Island, 
 was sent to cut off Arnold's retreat. Ten of nis vessels were 
 destroyed, and a forty-four gun ship was captured. Shortly after 
 this, an engagement took place off the Capes of Virginia, be- 
 tween the h rench and English squadrons, which terminated so 
 €aa to the advantage of the English, that Arnold was saved from 
 
212 period v. — 1775 to 1783. 
 
 imminent danger of falling into the hands of his exasperated 
 
 countrymen. 
 
 84. After the unfortunate battle at Camden, Augu <t 
 6th, 1780, congress thought proper to remove Gen. 
 
 Grates^ and to appoint Gen. Greene in his place. In 
 December, 1780, Greene assumed the command. The 
 army, at this time, was reduced to two thousand men, 
 more than half of whom were militia, and all were mis- 
 erably fed and clothed. 
 
 With this force, Gen. Greene took the field, against a 
 superior regular force, flushed with successive victories 
 through a whole campaign. Soon after taking the com- 
 mand, he divided his force, and, with one part, sent 
 Gen. Morgan to the western extremity of South Caro- 
 lina. 
 
 At this time. Lord Cornwallis was nearly prepared to 
 invade North Carolina. Unwilling to leave such an 
 enemy as Morgan in the rear, he despatched Col. Tarle- 
 ton to engage Gen. Morgan, and " to push him to the ut- 
 most/' 
 
 85. January 17th, 1781, these two detachments met, 
 when was fought the spirited battle of the Cowpens, in 
 which the American arms signally triumphed. 
 
 In this memorable battle, the British lost upwards of one hun 
 dred killed, among whom were ten commissioned officers, and 
 two hundred wounded. More than five hundred prisoners fell 
 into the hands of the Americans, besides two pieces of artillery, 
 twelve standards, eight hundred muskets, thirty-five baggage 
 wagons, and one hundred dragoon horses : the loss of the Ameri- 
 cans was no more than twelve killed, and sixty wounded. 
 
 The victory of the. Cowpens must be reckoned as one of the 
 most brilliant achieved during the revolutionary war. The fojce 
 of Morgan hardly amounted to five hundred, while that of his 
 adversary exceeded one thousand. Morgan's brigade were prin- 
 cipally militia, while Tarleton commanded the flower of the 
 British army. 
 
 86. Upon receiving the intelligence of Tarleton's de- 
 feat, Cornwallis abandoned the invasion of North Caro- 
 lina foi the present, and marched in pursuit of Gen 
 Morgan. 
 
WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 213 
 
 Greene, suspecting his intentions, hastened with his 
 army to join Morgan. This junction was at length 
 effected, at Guilford Court-House, after a fatiguing 
 march, in which Cornwallis nearly overtook him, and 
 was prevented only by the obstruction of a river. 
 
 After his junction with Morgan, Gen. Greene, with 
 his troops and baggage, crossed the river Dan, and en- 
 tered Virginia, again narrowly escaping the British, who 
 were in close pursuit. 
 
 87. Satisfied with having driven Greene from North 
 Carolina, Cornwallis retired to Hillsborough, where, 
 erecting the royal standard, he issued his proclamation, 
 inviting the loyalists to join him. Many accepted his 
 invitation. At the same time, he despatched Tarleton, 
 with four hundred and fifty men, to secure the counte- 
 nance of a body of loyalists, collected between the Hawe 
 and Deep rivers. 
 
 88. Apprehensive of Tarleton's success, Gen. Greene, 
 on the 18th of February, recrossed the Dan into Caroli- 
 na, and despatched Generals Pickens and Lee to watch 
 the movements of the enemy. These officers were unable 
 to bring Tarleton to an engagement. Gen. Greene, hav- 
 ing now received a reinforcement, making his army four 
 thousand five hundred strong, concentrated his forces, 
 and directed his march towards Guilford Court-House, 
 whither Lord Cornwallis had retired. 
 
 Here, on the 8th of March, a general engagement 
 took place, in which victory, after alternately passing to 
 the banners of each army, finally decided in favor of the 
 British. 
 
 The British loss, in this battle, exceeded five hundred in killed 
 and wounded, among whom were several of the most distinguish- 
 ed officers. The American loss was about four hundred, in kill- 
 ed and wounded, of which more than three fourths fell upon the 
 continentals. Though the numerical force of Gen. Greene 
 nearly doubled that of Cornwallis, yet, wnen we consider the dif- 
 ference between these forces, the shameful conduct of the North 
 Carolina militia, who fled at the first fire, the desertion of the 
 second Maryland regiment, and that a body of reserve was not 
 
214 period v. — 1775 to 1783. 
 
 brought into action, it will appear, that our numbers actually en 
 gaged but little exceeded that of the enemy. 
 
 89. Notwithstanding the issue of the above battle, 
 Gen. Greene took the bold resolution of leading back his 
 forces to South Carolina, and of attacking the enemy's! 
 strong post at Camden, in that state. Accordingly, on 
 the 9th of April, he put his troops in? motion, and, on the 
 20th, encamped at Logtown, within sight of the enemy's 
 works. Lord Rawdon, at this time, held the command 
 at Camden, and had a force of only nine hundred men 
 The army of Gen. Greene — a detachment having been 
 made for another expedition under Gen. Lee — amounted 
 scarcely to twelve hundred men of all classes. 
 
 On the 25th, Lord Rawdon drew out his forces, and 
 the two armies engaged. For a season, victory seemed 
 inclined to the Americans ; but, in the issue, Gen. Greene 
 found himself obliged to retreat. 
 
 The American loss, in killed, wounded, and missing, was two 
 hundred and sixty-eight; the English loss was nearly equal. 
 The failure of the victory, in this battle, was not attributable, as 
 in some cases, to the llight of the militia, when danger had 
 scarcely begun; but Gen Greene experienced the mortification 
 of seeing a regiment of veterans give way to an inferior force, 
 when every circumstance was in their favor — the very regiment, 
 too, which, at the battle of the Cowpens, behaved with such he- 
 roic bravery. 
 
 90. Although the British arms gained the victory of 
 Camden, the result of the whole was favorable to the 
 American cause. Gen. Lee, with a detachment de- 
 spatched for that purpose, while Greene was marching 
 against Camden, took possession of an important post nt 
 Mottes, near the confluence of the Congaree and Santce 
 rivers. This auspicious event was followed by the evacu- 
 
 tion of Camden by Lord Rawdon, and of the whole 
 ine of British posts, with the exception of Ninety-Six 
 and Charleston. 
 
 91. Ninety-Six, one hundred and forty-seven miles 
 north-west from Charleston, was garrisoned by five hun- 
 dred and sixty men Against this post, after the battle 
 
WAR OP THE REVOLUTION. 215 
 
 of Camden, Gen. Greene took up his march, and, on the 
 22d of May, sat down before it. Soon after the siege of 
 it had been commenced, intelligence arrived that Lord 
 Ravvdon had been reinforced by troops from Ireland, 
 and was on his march, with two thousand men, for its 
 relief. Greene now determined upon an assault; but in 
 this he failed, with a loss of one hundred and fifty men. 
 Soon after his arrival at Ninety-Six, Lord Rawdon 
 deemed it expedient to evacuate this post. Retiring 
 himself to Charleston, his army encamped at the Eutaw 
 Springs, forty miles from Charleston. 
 
 92. Gen. Greene, having retired to the high hills of 
 Santee, to spend the hot and sickly season, in Septem- 
 ber approached the enemy at the Eutaw Springs. On 
 the morning of the 8th, he advanced upon him, and the 
 battle between the two armies became general. The 
 contest was sustained with equal bravery on both sides ; 
 victory seemed to decide in favor of neither. 
 
 The British lost, in killed, wounded, and prisoners, about one 
 thousand one hundred. The loss of the Americans was five 
 hundred and fifty-five. 
 
 93. The battle of the Eutaw Springs was the last 
 general action that took place in South Carolina, and 
 nearly finished the war in that quarter. The enemy now 
 retired to Charleston. 
 
 Tims closed the campaign of 1781, in South Carolina. Few 
 commanders have ever had greater difficulties to encounter than 
 Gen. Greene ; and few have ever, with the same means, accom- 
 plished so much. Though never so decisively victorious, yet the 
 battles which he fought, either from necessity or choice, were 
 always so well managed as to result to his advantage. 
 
 Not unmindful of his eminent services, congress presented him 
 with a British standard, and a gold medal, emblematical of th< 
 action at the Eutaw Springs, which restored a sister state to the 
 American Union. 
 
 94. After the battle of Guilford, between Greene and 
 Cornwallis, noticed above, t/ie latter, leaving South 
 Carolina in charge of Lord Rawdon, commenced his 
 march towards Petersburg, in Virginia, where he arrived 
 
216 period v.— 1775 to 1783. 
 
 on the 20th of May. Having received several reinforce- 
 ments, he found himself with an army of eight thousand, 
 and indulged the pleasing anticipations that Virginia 
 would soon be made to yield to his arms. 
 
 Early in the spring, Gen. Washington had detached the Mar- 
 quis de Lafayette, with three thousand men, to co-operate with 
 the French fleet, in Virginia, in the capture of Arnold, who was 
 committing depredations in that state. On the failure of this 
 expedition, Lafayette marched back as far as the head of Elk 
 river. Here he received orders to return to Virginia, to oppose 
 the British. On his return, hearing of the advance of Cornwallis 
 towards Petersburg, twenty miles below Richmond, he hastened 
 his march, to prevent, if possible, the junction of Cornwallis with 
 a reinforcement under Gen. Phillips. In this, however, he 
 failed. 
 
 The junction being effected at Petersburg, Cornwallis moved 
 towards James river, which he crossed, with the intention of 
 forcing the marquis to a battle. 
 
 Prudence forbade the marquis risking an engagement with an 
 enemy of more than twice his force. He therefore retreated, 
 and, notwithstanding the uncommon efforts of his lordship to 
 prevent it, he effected a junction with Gen. Wayne, who had 
 been despatched by Washington, with eight hundred Pennsyl- 
 vania militia, to his assistance. After this reinforcement, the 
 disproportion between himself and his adversary was still too 
 great to permit him to think of battle. He continued his retreat, 
 therefore, displaying, in all his manoeuvres, the highest pru- 
 dence. 
 
 95. While these things were transpiring in Virginia, 
 matters of high moment seemed to be in agitation in the 
 north, which, not long after, were fully developed.- 
 
 Early in May, 1781, a plan of the whole campaign 
 had been arranged by Gen. Washington, in consultation, 
 at Wethersfield, Connecticut, with Generals Knox and 
 Du Portail, on the part of the Americans, and Count de 
 Rochambeau, on the part of France. The grand pro- 
 ject of the season was to lay siege to New York, in con- 
 cert with a French fleet, expected on the coast in 
 August. 
 
 In the prosecution of this plan, the French troops were march- 
 ed from Rhode Island, and joined Gen. Washington, who had 
 concentrated his forces at Kingsbridge, fifteen miles above New 
 York. All things were preparing for a vigorous siege, and to- 
 
WAR OP THE REVOLUTION. 217 
 
 ward 3 this Wrongest hold of the enemy, the eyes of all were in 
 tently directed 
 
 In this posture of things, letters addressed to Gen. Washington 
 informed him that the expected French fleet, under the Count 
 de Grasse, would soon arrive in the Chesapeake, and that this, 
 instead of New York, was the place of its destination. 
 
 96. The intelligence that the co-operation of the above 
 fleet was not to be expected, with other circumstances, 
 induced Washington to change the plan of operations, 
 and to direct his attention to Cornwallis, who, from 
 pursuing Lafayette, had retired to Yorktown* ntar tho 
 mouth of York river, and had fortified that place. With 
 this object in view, on the 19th of July, he drew off his 
 forces from New York, and, having hastened the re- 
 moval of his troops from various points, on the 30th of 
 Sept., the combined armies, amounting to twelve thou- 
 sand, moved upon Yorktown and Gloucester, while the 
 Count de Grasse, with his fleet, proceeded up to the 
 mouth of York river, to prevent Cornwallis either from 
 retreating, or receiving assistance. 
 
 Yorktown is a small village on the south side of York river, 
 whose southern banks are high, and in whose waters a ship 
 of the line may ride in safety. Gloucester Point is a piece of 
 land on the opposite shore, projecting far into the river. Both 
 these posts were occupied by Cornwallis — the main body of the 
 army being at York, under the immediate command of his lord 
 ship, and a detachment of six hundred at Gloucester Point, under 
 Lieut. Col. Tarleton. 
 
 No movement, during the war, was more felicitously accom- 
 plished, than the ab<we of Washington, in withdrawing his troops 
 from New York, while the British general was kept in utter ig- 
 norance of his object. The latter, supposing it a feint, to draw 
 him to a general engagement, remained at his ease ; nor were his 
 suspicions awakened, until Washington and his troops were some 
 distance on their way towards Virginia. 
 
 97. On the 6th of October, Washington's heavy ord- 
 nance, &c, arrived, and the siege was commenced in 
 form. Seldom, if ever, during the revolutionary struggle, 
 did the American commander-in-chief, or his troops, 
 appear before the enemy with more cool determination, 
 or pursue him with more persevering ardor, than at the 
 
 19 
 
218 period .— 1775 to 1783. 
 
 siege of Yorktown. With the fall of Cornwallis, it was 
 perceived that the hopes of Great Britain, successfully 
 to maintain the contest, must nearly expire : with this in 
 prospect, there was no wavering of purpose, and no in- 
 termission of toil. 
 
 On the 19th of October, the memorable victory over 
 Cornwallis was achieved, and his whole army was sur- 
 rendered, amounting to more than seven thousand pris 
 oners of war, together with a park of artillery of one hup? 
 dred and sixty pieces, the greater part of which were brass 
 
 Articles of capitulation being mutually signed and ratified 
 Gen. Lincoln was appointed, by the commander-in-chief, to re- 
 ceive the submission of the royal army, in the same manner in 
 which, eighteen months before, Cornwallis had received that of 
 the Americans at Charleston. 
 
 The spectacle is represented as having been impressive ana 
 affecting. The road through which the captive army marched 
 was lined with spectators, French and American. On one side 
 the commander-in-chief, surrounded with his suite, and the 
 American staff, took his station; on the other side, opposite to 
 him, was the Count de Rochambeau, in the like manner attended 
 
 The captive army approached, moving slowly in column, with 
 grace and precision. Universal silence was observed amidst the 
 vast concourse, and the utmost decency prevailed ; exhibiting an 
 awful sense of the vicissitudes of human life, mingled with com 
 miseration for the unhappy. 
 
 Every eye was now turned, searching for the British com 
 mander-in-ehief, .anxious to look at the man heretofore so much 
 the object of their dread. All were disappointed. Cornwallis 
 unable to bear up against the humiliation of marching at the 
 head of his garrison, constituted Gen. O'Hara his representative, 
 on the occasion. 
 
 The post of Gloucester, falling with that of York, was deliver- 
 ed up the same day, by Lieut. Col. Tarleton. 
 
 At the termination of the siege, the besieging army amounted 
 to sixteen thousand. The British force was put down at seven 
 thousand one hundred and seven, of which only four thousand 
 and seven rank and file are stated to have been fit for duty. 
 
 98. Five days after the surrender of Cornwallis, Sir 
 Henry Clinton made his appearance off the capes of 
 Virgin. a, with a reinforcement of seven thousand men; 
 but, receiving intelligence of his lordship's fate, he re- 
 turned x> New York. 
 
VTAn OF THE REVOLUTION. 219 
 
 Cornwallis, in his despatches to Sir Henry, more than hinted, 
 that his fall had been produced by a too firm reliance on prom 
 ises, that no pains were taken to fulfil. Clinton haii promised 
 Cornwallis that this auxiliary force should leave New York on 
 the 5th of October ; but, for reasons never explained, it did not 
 sail until the 19th, the very day that decided the fate of the 
 army. 
 
 99. Nothing could exceed the joy of the Amei ican 
 people at this great and important victory over Lord 
 Cornwallis. Exultation broke forth from ciie extremity 
 of the country to the other. The remembrance of the 
 past gave place in all minds to the most brilliant hopes. 
 It was confidently anticipated, that the affair of York- 
 town would rapidly hasten the acknowledgment of 
 American independence — an event for which the peo- 
 ple had been toiling and bleeding through so many cam- 
 paigns. 
 
 In all parts of the United States, solemn festivals and rejoicings 
 celebrated the triumph of American fortune. The names of 
 Washington, Rochambeau, De Grasse, and Lafayette, resounded 
 every where. To the unanimous acclaim of the people, congress 
 joined the authority of its resolves. It addressed thanks to the 
 generals, officers, and soldiers — presented British colors — ordered 
 the erection of a marble column — and went into procession to 
 church, to render public thanksgiving to God for the recent vic- 
 tory. The 30th of December was appointed as a day of national 
 thanksgiving. 
 
 100. While the combined armies were advancing to 
 the siege of Yorktown, an excursion was made from 
 New York, by Gen. Arnold, against New London, in his 
 native, state. The object of this expedition seems to 
 have been, to draw away a part of the American forces; 
 Sir Henry Clinton knowing but too well, that, if they 
 were left at liberty to push the siege of Yorktown, the 
 blockaded army must inevitably surrender. 
 
 This expedition was signalized by the greatest atroci- 
 ties. Fort Trumbull, on the west, and Fort Griswold, 
 on the east side of the river Thames, below New Lon- 
 don, were taken, and the greater part of that town was 
 burnt. 
 
220 period v.— 1775 to 1783. 
 
 At Fort Trumbull, little or no resistance was made ; but Fort 
 Griswold was defended for a time, with great bravery and reso- 
 lution. Alter the fort was carried, a British officer, entering, in- 
 quired who commanded. Col. Ledyard answered, " I did, but 
 you do now " — at the same time presenting his sword. The 
 officer immediately plunged the sword into his bosom. A gen- 
 eral massacre now took place, as well of those who surrendered 
 as of those who resisted, which continued until nearly all the 
 garrison were either killed or wounded. Sixty dwelling houses, 
 and eighty-four stores, in New London, were reduced to ashes. 
 
 101. The fall of Cornwallis may be considered as 
 substantially closing the war. A few posts of importance 
 were still held by the British — New York, Charleston, 
 and Savannah — but all other parts of the country, which 
 they had possessed, were recovered into the power of 
 congress. A few skirmishes alone indicated the contin- 
 uance of war. 
 
 A part of the French army, soon after the capture of Cornwal 
 lis, re-embarked, and Count de Grasse sailed for the West Indies. 
 Count Rochambeau cantoned his anny for the winter, 1782, in 
 Virginia, and the main body of the Americans returned, by th« 
 way of the Chesapeake, to their former position on the Hud 
 son. 
 
 102. From the 12th of December, 1781, to the 4th 
 of March, 1782, motion after motion was made in the 
 British parliament, for putting an end to the war in 
 America. On this latter day, the commons resolved, 
 " that the house would consider as enemies to his majes- 
 ty, and to the country, all those who should advise, or 
 attempt, the further prosecution of offensive war, on the 
 continent of North America." 
 
 103. On the same day, the command of his majesty's 
 forces in America was taken from Sir Henry Clinton, 
 and given to Sir Guy Carleton, who was instructed to 
 
 romote the wishes of Great Britain, for an accommoda- 
 
 ion with the United States. 
 
 In accordance with these instructions, Sir Guy Carle- 
 ton endeavored to open a correspondence with congress, 
 and with this view sent to Gen. Washington to solicit a 
 passport for his secretary. But this was refused, since 
 
WAR OP THE REVOLUTION. 221 
 
 congress would enter into no negotiations but in concert 
 with his most Christian Majesty. 
 
 104. The French court, on receiving intelligence of 
 the surrender of Cornwallis, pressed upon congress the 
 appointment of commissioners for negotiating peace with 
 Great Britain. Accordingly, John Adams, Benjamin 
 Franklin, John Jay, and Henry Laurens, were appoint" 
 ed. These commissioners met Mr. Fitzherbert and Mr- 
 Oswald, on the part of Great Britain, at Paris, and pro- 
 visional articles of peace between the two countries were 
 signed, November 30th, 1782. The definitive treaty was 
 signed on the 30th of September, 1783. 
 
 Although the definitive treaty was not signed until 
 September, there had been no act of hostility between 
 the two armies, and a state of peace had actually existed 
 from the commencement of the year 1783. A formal 
 proclamation of the cessation of hostilities was made 
 through the army on the 19th of April; Savannah was 
 evacuated in July, New York in November, and Charles 
 ton in the following month. 
 
 105. The third of November was fixed upon, by con- 
 gress, for disbanding the army of the United States. On 
 the day previous, Washington issued his farewell orders, 
 and bid an affectionate adieu to the soldiers, who had 
 fought and bled by his side. 
 
 After mentioning the trying times through which lie had pass- 
 ed, and the unexampled patience which, under every circum- 
 stance of suffering, his army had evinced, he passed to the glori- 
 ous prospects opening before them and their country, and then 
 bade them adieu in the following words : " Being now to con- 
 clude these his last public orders, to take his ultimate leave, in a 
 short time, of the military character, and to bid a final adieu to 
 the armies he has so long had the honor to command, he can on- 
 ly again offer in their behalf, his recommendations to their grate- 
 ful country, and his prayer to the God of armies. 
 
 " May ample justice be done them here, and may the choicest 
 favor, both here and hereafter, attend those, who, under the di- 
 vine auspices, have secured innumerable blessings for others! 
 With these wishes, and this benediction, the commander-in-chief 
 is about to retire from service. The curtain of separation will 
 soon be drawn, and the military scene to him will be closed forever * 
 
 19* 
 
222 period v.— a 775 to 1783. 
 
 106. Soon after taking leave of the army, Gen. Wash- 
 ington was called to the still more painful hour of sepa- 
 ration from his officers, greatly endeared to him by a 
 long series of common sufferings and dangers. 
 
 The officers having previously assembled in New York for the 
 purpose, Gen. Washington now joined them, and, calling for a 
 glass of wine, thus addressed them : — " With a heart full of lovi 
 and gratitude, I now take my leave of you. I most devoutly 
 wish that your latter days may be as prosperous and happy as 
 your former ones have been glorious and honorable." 
 
 Having thus affectionately addressed them, he now took each 
 by the hand and bade him farewell. Followed by them to the 
 side of the Hudson, he entered a barge, and, while tears rolled 
 down his ch<X , he turned towards the companions of his glory, 
 and bade them a silent adieu. 
 
 107. December 23, Washington appeared in the hall 
 of congress, and resigned to them the commission which 
 they had given him, as commander-in-chief of the armies 
 of the United States. 
 
 After having spoken of the accomplishment of his wishes and 
 exertion*, in the independence of his country, and commended his 
 officers and soldiers to congress, he concluded as follows : — 
 
 4i I consider it an indispensable duty to close the last solemn 
 act of my official life, by commending the interests of our dear- 
 est country to the protection of Almighty God, and those who 
 hive the superintendence of them to his holy keeping. 
 
 M Having now finished the work assigned me, I retire from the 
 great theatre of action ; and, bidding an affectionate farewell to 
 this august body, under whose orders I have long acted, I here 
 offer my commission, and take my leave of all the employments 
 of public life." 
 
 103. Upon accepting his commission, congress, 
 through their president, expressed, in glowing language, 
 to Washington, their high sense of his wisdom and en- 
 ergy in conducting the war to so happy a termination, 
 and invoked the choicest blessings upon his future life. 
 
 President Mifflin concluded as follows : — " We join you in com- 
 mending the interest of our dearest country to the protection of 
 Almighty God, beseeching Him to dispose the hearts and minds 
 of its ei'izens to improve the opportunity afforded them of be- 
 coming a happy and respectable nation. And for Yor, we ad 
 diesj to Him our earnest prayers, that a life so beloved may be 
 
WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 223 
 
 fostered with all His care ; that your days may be as happy as 
 they have been illustrious ; and that He will finally give you 
 that reward which this world cannot give." 
 
 A profound silence now pervaded the assembly. The 
 grandeur of the scene, the recollection of the past, the 
 felicity of the present, and the hopes of the future, 
 crowded fast upon all, while they united in invoking 
 blessings upon the man, who, under God, had achieved 
 so much, and who now, in the character of a mere citi» 
 zeti, was hastening to a long-desired repose at his seat, 
 at Mount Vernon, in Virginia. 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 109. Manners. At the commencement of the revo- 
 lution, the colonists of America were a mass of husband- 
 men, merchants, mechanics, and fishermen, who were 
 occupied in the ordinary avocations of their respective 
 callings, and were entitled to the appellation of a sober, 
 honest, and industrious set of people. Being, however, 
 under the control of a country whose jealousies were 
 early and strongly enlisted against them, and which, 
 therefore, was eager to repress every attempt, on their 
 part, to rise, they had comparatively little scope or en- 
 couragement for exertion and enterprise. 
 
 But, when the struggle for independence began, the 
 case was altered. New fields for exertion were opened, 
 and new and still stronger impulses actuated their 
 bosoms. A great change was suddenly wrought in the 
 American people, and a vast expansion of character 
 ;ook olace. Tb«->se who were before only known in the 
 humble sphere of peaceful occupation, soon shone forth 
 in the cabinet or in the field, fully qualified to cope witfi 
 the trained generals and statesmen of Europe. 
 
 But, although the revolution caused such an expansion 
 of character in the American people, and called forth the 
 most striking patriotism among all classes, it introduced, 
 at the same time, jireater looseness of manners and 
 
224 period v.— 1775 to 1783. 
 
 morals. An army always carries deep vices in its train, 
 and communicates its corruption to society around it. 
 Besides this, the failure of public credit so far put it out 
 of the power of individuals to perform private engage- 
 ments, that the breach of them became common, and, 
 at length, was scarcely disgraceful. That high sense of 
 integrity, which had extensively existed before, was thus 
 exchanged for more loose and slippery notions of hon- 
 esty and honor. 
 
 " On the whole," says Dr. Ramsay, who wrote soon after the 
 close of this period, " the literary, political and military talents of 
 the United States have been improved by the revolution, but 
 their moral character is inferior to what it formerly was. So 
 great is the change for the worse," continues he, '"that the 
 friends of public order are loudly called upon to exert their ut 
 most abilities, in extirpating the vicious principles and habits 
 
 Inch have taken deep root during the late convulsions." 
 
 110. Religion. During the revolution, the colonies 
 being all united in one cause — a congress being assem- 
 bled from all parts of America — and more frequent inter- 
 course between different parts of the country being pro- 
 moted by the shifting of the armies — local prejudices and 
 sectarian asperities were obliterated ; religious contro- 
 versy was suspended ; and bigotry softened. That 
 spirit of intolerance, which had marked some portions 
 of the country, was nearly done away. 
 
 But, for these advantages, the revolution brought with 
 it great disadvantages to religion in general. The atheis- 
 tical philosophy, which had been spread over France, and 
 which would involve the whole subject of religion in the 
 gloomy mists of scepticism — which acknowledges no dis- 
 tinction between right and wrong, and considers a fu- 
 ture existence as a dream, that may or may not be real- 
 ized — was thick'y sown in the American army, by the 
 French ; and, uniting with the infidelity which be- 
 fore had taken root in the country, produced a serious 
 declension in the tone of religious feelings among the 
 American people. 
 
WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 225 
 
 In addition to this, religious institutions, during the war, were 
 much neglected ; churches were demolished, or converted into 
 barracks ; public worship was often suspended ; and the clergy 
 suffered severely from the reduction of their salaries, caused by 
 the depreciation of the circulating medium. 
 
 111. Trade and Commerce. During the war of the 
 revolution, the commerce of the United States was in- 
 terrupted, not only with Great Britain, but, in a great 
 measure, with the rest of the world. The greater part 
 of the shipping, belonging to the country, was destroyed 
 by the enemy, or perished by a natural process of decay 
 
 Our coasts were so lined with British cruisers as to render 
 navigation too hazardous to be pursued to any considerable ex 
 tent. Some privateers, however, were fitted out, which succeed 
 ed in capturing several valuable prizes, on board of which were 
 arms, and other munitions of war. During the last three years 
 of the war, an illicit trade to Spanish America was carried on; 
 but it was extremely limited. 
 
 112. Agriculture. Agriculture was greatly interrupt- 
 ed, during this period, by the withdrawing of laborers to 
 the camp, by the want of encouragement furnished by 
 exportation, and by the distractions which disturbed all 
 the occupations of society. 
 
 The army often suffered for the means of subsistence, and the 
 officers were sometimes forced to compel the inhabitants to fur- 
 nish the soldiers food, in sufficient quantities to prevent their 
 suffering. 
 
 113. Arts and Manufactures. The trade with 
 England, during this period, being interrupted by the 
 war, the people of the United States were compelled to 
 manufacture for themselves. Encouragement was given 
 to all necessary manufactures, and the zeal, ingenuity 
 and industry of the people, furnished the country with 
 articles of prime necessity, and, in a measure, supplied 
 the place of a foreign market. Such was the prog- 
 ress in arts and manufactures, during the period, that, 
 after the return of peace, when an uninterrupted inter- 
 course with England was again opened, some articles, 
 which before were imported altogether, were found so 
 
226 period v. — 1775 to J 783. 
 
 well and so abundantly manufactured at home, that their 
 importation was stopped. 
 
 114. Population. The increase of the people of 
 the United States, during this period, was small. Few, 
 if any, emigrants arrived in the country. Many of the 
 inhabitants were slain in battle, and thousands of that 
 class called tories, left the land, who never returned. 
 Perhaps we may fairly estimate the inhabitants of the 
 country, about the close of this period, 1784, at three 
 millions two hundred and fifty thousand. 
 
 115. Education. The interests of education suf- 
 fered, in common with other kindred interests, during 
 the war. In several colleges, the course of instruc- 
 tion was, for a season, suspended ; the hall was ex 
 changed by the students for the camp, and the gown for 
 the sword and epaulet. 
 
 Towards the conclusion of the war, two colleges were founded, 
 one in Maryland, in 1782, by the name of Washington college , 
 the other, in 1783, in Pennsylvania, which received the name of 
 Dickinson college. The writer whom we have quoted above, 
 estimates the whole number of colleges and academies in the 
 United States, at the close of this period, at thirty-six. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 116. The American revolution is doubtless the most interest- 
 ing event in the pages of modern history. Changes equally 
 great, and convulsions? equally violent, have often taken place ; 
 and the history of man tells us of many instances in which op- 
 pi ession, urged beyond endurance, has called forth the spirit of 
 successful and triumphant resistance. But, in the event before 
 us, we see feeble colonies, without an army, without a navy, 
 without an established government, without a revenue, without 
 munitions of war, without fortifications, boldly stepping forth to 
 meet the veteran armies of a proud, powerful, and vindictive 
 enemy. We see these colonies, amidst want, poverty, and mis 
 fortune, supported by the pervading spirit of liberty, and guided 
 by the good hand of Heaven, for nearly eight years sustaining 
 the weight of a cruel conflict, upon their own soil. We see 
 them at length victorious ; their enemies sullenly retire from 
 their shores, and these humble colonies stand forth enrolled on 
 the page of history, a free, sovereign, and independent nation. 
 
WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 227 
 
 Nor is this all. We see a wise government springing up from 
 the hlood that was spilt, and, down to our own time, shedding 
 the choicest political blessings upon several millions of people. 
 
 What nation can dwell with more just satisfaction upon its 
 annals than ours ? Almost all others trace their foundation to 
 some ambitious and bloody conqueror, who sought only by enslav- 
 ing others to aggrandize himself. Our independence was won 
 by the people, who fought for the natural rights of man. Other 
 nations have left their annals stained with the crimes of their peo- 
 ple and princes ; ours shines with the glowing traces of patriotism, 
 constancy, and courage, amidst every rank of life and every 
 grade of office. 
 
 Whenever we advert to this portion of our history, and review 
 it, as we well may, with patriotic interest, let us not forget the 
 gratitude we owe, as well to those who " fought, and bled, and 
 died " for us, as to that benignant Providence, who stayed the 
 proud waves of British tyranny. 
 
 Let us also gather political wisdom from the American revo- 
 lution. It has taught the w«rld, emphatically, that oppression 
 tends to weaken and destroy the power of the oppressor; that a 
 people united in the cause of liberty are invincible by those who 
 would enslave them ; and that Heaven will ever frown upon the 
 cause of injustice, and ultimately grant success to those who 
 oppose it. 
 
UNITED STATES 
 
 PERIOD VI. 
 
 DISTINGUISHED FOR THE FORMATION AND ESTAB 
 LISHMENT OF THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION. 
 
 Extending from the Disbanding of the Army, 1783, to 
 the Inauguration of George Washington, as Presi- 
 dent of the United States, under the Federal Con- 
 stitution, 1789. 
 
 Sec. 1. During the war of the revolution, the Ameri- 
 can people had been looking forward to a state of peace, 
 independence and self-government, as almost necessarily 
 ensuring every possible blessing. A short time after its 
 termination, however, it was apparent that something 
 not yet possessed was necessary, to realize the private 
 and public prosperity that had been anticipated. After 
 a short struggle so to administer the existing system of 
 government, as to make it competent to the great objects 
 for which it was instituted, it became obvious that some 
 other system must be substituted, or a general wreck of 
 all that had been gained would ensue. 
 
 At the close of the war, the debts of the Union were comput- 
 ed to amount to more than forty millions of dollars. These debts 
 were of two kinds, foreign and domestic. The foreign debt 
 amounted to near eight millions, and was due to individuals in 
 France, to the crown of France, to lenders in Holland and Spain. 
 The domestic debt was due to the officers and soldiers of the 
 revolutionary army and others. By the articles of confederation 
 ai'd union between the states, congress had power to declare war 
 
 
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION. 229 
 
 and borrow money, or issue bills of credit, to carry it on ; but it had 
 not the ability to discharge the debts incurred by the war. Con- 
 gress could recommend to the individual states to raise money 
 for that purpose ; but at this point its power terminated. 
 
 Soon after the war, the attention of that body was drawn to 
 this subject; the paj'inent of the national debt being a matter of 
 justice to creditors, as well as of vital importance to the preserva 
 tion of the union. It was proposed, therefore, to the states, that 
 they should grant to congress the power of laying a duty of five 
 per cent, on all foreign goods, which should be imported, and 
 that the revenue arising thence should be applied to the diminu 
 tion of the public debt, until it should be extinguished. 
 
 To this proposal, most of the states assented, and passed an 
 act granting the power. But Rhode Island, apprehensive that 
 6uch a grant would lessen the advantages of her trade, declined 
 passing an act for that purpose. Subsequently. New York joined 
 in the opposition, and rendered all prospect of raising a revenue, 
 in this way, hopeless. 
 
 The consequence was, that even the interest of the public 
 debt remained unpaid. Certificates of public debt lost their 
 credit, and many of the officers and soldiers of the late army, 
 who were poor, were compelled to sell these certificates at ex- 
 cessive reductions. 
 
 While the friends of the national government were making 
 unavailing efforts to fix upon a permanent revenue, which might 
 enable it to preserve the national faith, other causes, besides the 
 loss of confidence in the confederation, concurred to hasten a 
 radical change in the political system of the United States. 
 
 Among these causes, the principal was the evil resulting from 
 the restrictions of Great Britain, laid on the trade of the United 
 .States with the West Indies ; the ports of those islands being 
 shut against the vessels of the United States, and enormous du 
 ties imposed on our most valuable exports 
 
 Had congress possessed the power, a remedy might have been 
 found, in passing similar acts against Great Britain ; but this 
 power had not been delegated by the states to the congress. 
 That thirteen independent sovereignties, always jealous of one 
 another, would separately concur in any proper measures to com- 
 pel Great Britain to relax, was not to be expected. The impor- 
 tance of an enlargement of the powers of congress was thus ren- 
 dered still more obvious. 
 
 2. During the enfeebled and disorganized state of the 
 general government, which followed the war, attempts 
 were made, in some of the states, to maintain their 
 credit, and to satisfy their creditors. The attempt of 
 Massachusetts to effect this, by means of a heavy tax, 
 20 
 
230 period vi.— 1783 to 1789. 
 
 produced an open insurrection among the people. Ir 
 some parts of the state, the people convened in tumultu- 
 ous assemblies, obstructed the sitting of courts, ana 
 finally, took arms in opposition to the laws of the state. 
 The prudent measures of Gov. Bowdoin and his conn 
 cil, seconded by an armed force, under Gen. Lincoln, ir. 
 the winter of 1786, gradually subdued the spirit of oppo 
 sition, and restored the authority of the laws. 
 
 This rising of the people of Massachusetts is usually styled 
 Shays' insurrection, from one Daniel Shays, a captain in the rev 
 olutionary army, who headed the insurgents. In August, 1786 
 fifteen hundred insurgents assembled at Northampton, took pas 
 session of the court-house, and prevented the session of the 
 court. Similar outrages occurred at Worcester, Concord, Taun 
 ton, and Springfield. In New Hampshire, also, a body of men 
 arose in September, and surrounding the general assembly, sit 
 ting at Exeter, held them prisoners for several hours. 
 
 In this state of civil commotion, a body of troops, to the nura 
 ber of four thousand, was ordered out, by Massachusetts, to sup- 
 port the judicial courts, and suppress the insurrection. Thin 
 force was put under the command of Gen. Lincoln. Another 
 body of troops was collected by Gen. Shepherd, near Spring- 
 field. After some skirmishing, the insurgents were dispersed 
 several were taken prisoners and condemned, but were ultimate 
 ly pardoned. 
 
 3. The period seemed to have arrived, when it was to 
 be decided whether the general government was to be 
 supported or abandoned — whether the glorious objects I 
 of the revolutionary struggle should be realized or lost ; 
 
 In January, 1786, the legislature of Virginia adopted 
 a resolution to appoint commissioners, who were to meet 
 such others as might be appointed by the other states 
 to take into consideration the subject of trade, and t« 
 provide for a uniform system of commercial relations 
 &,c. This resolution ultimately led to a proposition for 
 
 general convention to consider the state of the Union. 
 
 But five states were represented in the convention pro- 
 posed by Virginia, which met at Annapolis. In con- I 
 sideration of the small number of states represented, 
 the convention, without coming to any specific resold- * 
 tion on the particular subjects referred to them, ad- 
 
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION. 231 
 
 journed to meet in Philadelphia, the succeeding May. 
 Previously to adjournment, it recommended to the seve- 
 ral states, to appoint delegates for that meeting, and to 
 ^ive them power to revise the federal system. 
 
 4. Agreeably to the above recommendation, the sev- 
 eral states of the Union, excepting Rhode Island, ap- 
 pointed commissioners, who convened at Philadelphia, 
 and proceeded to the important business of their ap- 
 pointment. 
 
 Of this body, consisting of fifty-five members, George 
 Washington, one of the delegates from Virginia, was 
 unanimously elected president. The convention pro- 
 ceeded with closed doors to discuss the interesting sub- 
 jects submitted to their consideration. 
 
 5. The first and most important question which pre- 
 sented itself to this convention, was, whether the then 
 present system should be amended, or anew one formed 
 By the resolve of congress, as well as the instructions 
 of some of the states, they were met " for the sole and 
 express purpose of revising the articles of confederation." 
 The defects of the old government were so radical and 
 apparent, that it was determined by a majority to form 
 an entire new one. 
 
 6. On the great principles, which should form the 
 basis of the constitution, not much difference of opinion 
 prevailed. But, in reducing those principles to practical 
 details, less harmony was to be expected. Such, indeed, 
 was the difference of opinion, that, more than once, 
 there was reason to fear, that the convention would rise 
 without effecting the object for which it was formed. 
 
 The convention having decided that the legislative branch of 
 the government should consist of a house of representatives and a 
 seriate, after a long debate it was agreed, that the right of each 
 state to vote in the house should be in proportion to the whole 
 ji umber of its white, or other free citizens, and three fifths of all 
 uther persons. 
 
 In the senate, the small states demanded an equal vote with 
 the large states. This the latter refused ; and on this point the 
 convention came well nigh dissolving. 
 
232 period vi.— 1783 to 1789. 
 
 At this interesting and solemn crisis, Dr. Franklin rose, and, 
 addressing himself to the president, among other things, said 
 " Sir, how has it happened, that while groping so long in the 
 dark — divided in our opinions, and now ready to separate, with 
 out accomplishing the great objects of our meeting — that we have 
 not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of 
 Lights to illuminate our understandings ? In the beginning of the 
 contest with Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had 
 daily prayer in this room for divine protection. Our prayers, sir 
 were heard; and they were graciously answered. All of us who 
 were engaged in the struggle, must have, observed frequent in- 
 stances of a superintending Providence in our favor. To that 
 kind Providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting, in 
 peace, on the means of establishing our future national felicity. 
 And have we now forgotten that powerful friend ? or do we im- 
 agine that we no longer need its assistance? I have lived, sir, a 
 long time ; and the longer I live, the more convincing proof I 
 see of this truth, that God governs the affairs of men. And if a 
 sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it proba- 
 ble that an empire can rise without his aid ? We have been as- 
 sured, sir, in the sacred writings, that except the ' Lord build the 
 house, they labor in vain that build it.' I firmly believe this ; 
 and I also believe that, without his concurring aid, we shall suc- 
 ceed in this political building no better than the builders of Ba- 
 bel ; we shall be divided by our little partial local interests ; our 
 projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a l 
 reproach and a by-word to future ages. And what is worse, 
 mankind may hereafter, from this important instance, despair of » 
 establishing government by human wisdom, and leave it to r 
 chance, war or conquest. 
 
 " I therefore beg leave to move, that henceforth prayers, im- 1 : 
 ploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our delib- 
 erations, be held in this assembly every morning before we pro- 
 ceed to business; and that one or more of the clergy of this c:ty 
 be requested to officiate in that service." 
 
 This suggestion, it need scarcely be said, was favorably re 
 ceived by the convention, and from that time the guidance of 
 divine wisdom was daily sought. As might be expected, great- 
 er harmony prevailed — the spirit of concession pervaded the con 
 vention — amotion was made for the appointment of a committee 
 to take into consideration both branches of the legislature. This 
 motion prevailing, a committee was accordingly chosen by ballot, 
 consisting of one from each state; and the convention adjourned 
 for three days. 
 
 On the meeting of the convention, after thu adjournment, the 
 above committee reported to the satisfaction of all, and the body" 
 proceeded to organize the legislative, and other departments oi 
 the government. 
 
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION. 233 
 
 7. At length, on the 17th of September, 1787, the 
 convention, having adopted and signed the federal con- 
 stitution, presented it to congress, which body soon after 
 sent it to the several states lbr their consideration. 
 
 An abstract of this constitution, with its several subsequent 
 amendments, follows : it is extracted from Mr. Webster's Ele- 
 ments of Useful Knowledge. 
 
 Of the Legislature. " The legislative power of the United 
 States is vested in a congress, consisting of two houses or branches, 
 a senate, and a house of representatives. The members of 
 the house of representatives are chosen once in two years, by lh« 
 persons who are qualified to vote for members of the most nu- 
 merous branches of the legislature, in each state. To be entitled 
 to a seat in this house, a person must have attained to the age of 
 twenty-five years, been a citizen of the United States for seven 
 years, and be an inhabitant of the state in which he is chosen." 
 
 Of the Semite. li The senate consists of two senators fro«i each 
 state, chosen by the legislature for six years. The senate is di- 
 vided into three classes, the seats of one of which are vacated 
 every second year. If a vacancy happens during the recess of 
 the legislature, the executive of the state makes a temporary ap 
 pointment of a senator, until the next meeting of the legislature 
 A senator must have attained to the age of thirty years, been a 
 citizen of the United States nine years, and be an inhabitant of 
 the state for which he is chosen." 
 
 OfiJie Powers of the two Houses. " The house of representatives 
 choose their own speaker and other officers, and have the exclu 
 sive power of impeaching public officers, and originating bills 
 for raising a revenue. The vice-president of the United States 
 is president of the senate ; but the other officers are chosen by 
 (he senate. The senate tries all impeachments; each house de- 
 termines the validity of the elections and qualifications of its own 
 members, forms its own rules, and keeps a journal of its proceed- 
 ings. The members are privileged from arrest, while attending 
 on the session, going to. or returning from the same, except for 
 treason, felony, or breach of the peace." 
 
 Of the Powers of Congress. '-The congress of the United States 
 have power to make and enforce all laws, which are necessary 
 for the general welfare — as to lay and collect taxes, imposts, and 
 excises; borrow money, regulate commerce, establish uniform 
 rules of naturalization, coin money, establish post-roads and post 
 offices, promote the arts and sciences, institute tribunals inferior 
 to the supreme court, define and punish piracy, declare war, and 
 make reprisals, raise and support armies, provide a navy, regulate 
 the militia, and to make all laws necessary to carry these powers 
 into effect." 
 
 20* 
 
234 period vi.— 1783 to 1789. 
 
 Of Restrictions. " No bill of attainder, or retrospective law 
 shall be passed ; the writ of habeas corpus cannot be suspended 
 except in cases of rebellion or invasion ; no direct tax can be laid 
 except according to a census of the inhabitants ; no duty can be 
 laid on exports; no money can be drawn from the treasury, unless 
 appropriated by law ; no title of nobility can be granted, nor can 
 any public officer, without the consent of congress, accept of any 
 present or title from any foreign prince or state. The states are 
 restrained from emitting bills of credit, from making any thing 
 but gold or silver a tender for debts, and from passing any law 
 impairing private contracts." 
 
 Of the Executive. " The executive power of the United States 
 is vested in a president, who holds his office for four years. To 
 qualify a man for president, he must have been a citizen at the 
 adoption of the constitution, or must be a native of the United 
 States; he must have attained to the age of thirty-five years, and 
 been fourteen years a resident within the United States. The 
 president and vice-president" are chosen by electors, designated in 
 such a manner as the legislature of each state shall direct. The 
 number of electors in each state is equal to the whole number of 
 senators and representatives." 
 
 Of the Powers of the President. " The president of the United 
 States is commander-in-chief of the army and navy, and of the 
 militia when in actual service. He grants reprieves and par- 
 duns; nominates, and, wiih the consent of the senate, appoints 
 ambassadors, judges and other officers; and, with the advice and 
 consent of the senate, forms treaties, provided avo thirds of the 
 senate agree. He fills vacancies in offices which happen during 
 the recess of the senate. He convenes the congress on extraor- 
 dinary occasions, receives foreign mil ';:ters, gives information to 
 congress of the state of public affairs, and, in general, takes care 
 that the laws be faithfully executed." 
 
 Of the Judiciary. " The judiciary of the United States consists oJ 
 one supreme court, and such inferior courts as the congress shall 
 ordain. The judges are to hold their offices during good be 
 havior, and their salaries cannot be diminished during their con- 
 tinuanoe in office. The judicial power of these courts extends 
 to all cases in law and equity, arising under the constitution, or 
 laws of the United States, and under treaties; to cases of public 
 ninisters and consuls ; to all cases of admiralty and maritime 
 urisdiction ; to controversies between the states, and in which 
 he United States are a party ; between citizens of different 
 tates ; between a state and a citizen of another state, and be- 
 t.veen citizens of the same state, claiming under grants of differ- 
 ent states; and to causes between one of the states or an Ameri- 
 can citizen, and a foreign state or citizen. " 
 
 Of Rights and Immunities. " In all criminal trials, except im- 
 peachment, the trial by jury is guarantied to the accused 
 
ESTABLISHMENT OP THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION. 235 
 
 Treason is restricted to the simple acts of levying war against 
 the United States, and adhering to their enemies, giving them 
 j aid and comfort; and no person can be convicted, but by two 
 yitnesgea to the same act, or by confession in open court. A 
 conviction of treason is not followed by a corruption of blood, to 
 disinherit the heirs of the criminal, nor by a forfeiture of estate, 
 except during the life of the offender. The citizens of each 
 state are entitled to all privileges and immunities of citizens 
 in the several states. Congress may admit new states into the 
 Union ; and the national compact guaranties to each state a re- 
 publican form of government, together with protection from for- 
 eign invasion and domestic violence." 
 
 8. By a resolution of the convention, it was recom- 
 mended that assemblies should be called, in the differ- 
 ent states, to discuss the merits of the constitution, and 
 either accept or reject it ; and that, as soon as nine states 
 should have ratified it, it should be carried into operation 
 hy congress. 
 
 To decide the interesting question, respecting the 
 adoption or rejection of the new constitution, the best 
 talents of the several states were assembled in their re- 
 spective conventions. The fate of the constitution could, 
 for a time, be scarcely conjectured, so equally were the 
 parties balanced. But, at length, the conventions of 
 eleven states* assented to, and ratified the constitu- 
 tion. 
 
 i>. From the moment it was settled that this new ar- 
 rangement in their political system was to take place, 
 the attention of all classes of people, as well anti-federal- 
 ists as federalists, (for by these names the parties for 
 and against the new constitution were called,) was di- 
 rected to Gen. Washington, as the fir3t president of the 
 United States. Accordingly, on the opening of the 
 votes for president, at New York, March 3d, 1789, by 
 delegates from eleven states, it was found that he was 
 unanimously elected to that office, and that John Adams 
 was elected vice-president. 
 
 * North Carolina and Rhode Island refused their assent at this time, but 
 afterwards acceded to it ; the former, November, 1769 ; the latter, May, 171)0 
 
236 period vi.— 1783 to 1789. 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 10. Manners. The war of the revolution, as was 
 observed in our notes on the last period, seriously aflect- 
 ed the morals and manners of the people of the United 
 States. The peace of 1783, however, tended, in a 
 measure, to restore things to their former state. Those 
 sober habits, for which the country was previously dis- 
 tinguished, began to return ; business assumed a more 
 regular and equitable character ; the tumultuous passions 
 roused by the war subsided ; and men of wisdom and 
 worth began to acquire their proper influence. 
 
 The change wrought in the manners of the people, 
 during the revolution, began, in this period, to appear. 
 National peculiarities wore away still more; local preju- 
 dices were further corrected, and a greater assimilation 
 of the yet discordant materials, of which the population 
 of the United States was composed, took place. 
 
 ] I. Religion. Methodism was introduced into the 
 United States, during this period, under the direction of 
 John Wesley, in England. This denomination increased 
 rapidly in the Middle States, and, in 1789, they amount- 
 ed to about fifty thousand. 
 
 During this period, also, the infidelity, which we have noticed, 
 seems to have lost ground. Public worship was more punctually 
 attended than during the war, and the cause of religion began 
 i gain to flourish. 
 
 12. Trade and Commerce. The commerce of the 
 United States, during the war of the revolution, as al- 
 ready stated, was nearly destroyed; but, on the return 
 of peace, it revived. An excessive importation of goods 
 immediately took place from England. In 1784, the 
 inports, from England alone, amounted to eighteen mil- 
 lions of dollars, and in 1785, to twelve millions — making, 
 in those two years, thirty millions of dollars, while the 
 exports of the United States to England were only be- 
 tween eight and nine millions. 
 
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION. 237 
 
 On the average of six years posterior to the war, the extent of 
 this period, the imports from Great Britain into the United 
 States were two millions one hundred and nineteen thousand 
 eight hundred and thirty-seven pounds sterling ; the exports 
 nine hundred and eight thousand six hundred and thirty-six 
 pounds sterling ; leaving an annual balance of five millions 
 three hundred and twenty-nine thousand two hundred and 
 eighty-four dollars, in favor of Great Britain. 
 
 The commercial intercourse of the United States with other 
 countries was less extensive than with England, yet it was not 
 inconsiderable. From France and her dependencies, the United 
 States imported, in 1787, to the amount of about two millions h\e 
 hundred thousand dollars, and exported to the same to the value 
 of five millions of dollars. 
 
 The trade of the United States with China commenced soon 
 after the close of the revolutionary war. The first American 
 vessel that went on a trading voyage to China, sailed from New 
 York, on the 22d of February, 1784, and returned on the 11th of 
 May, 1785. In 1789, there were fifteen American vessels at Can- 
 ton, being a greater number than from any other nation, except 
 Great Britain. 
 
 During this period, also, the Americans commenced the long 
 and hazardous trading voyages to the North- West Coast of 
 America. The first of the kind, undertaken from the United 
 States, was from Boston, in 1788, in a ship commanded by Capt. 
 Kendrick. The trade afforded great profits at first, and since 
 1768 has been carried on from the United States to a considera- 
 ble extent. 
 
 The whale fishery, which, during the war, was suspended, re- 
 vived on the return of peace. From 1787 to 1789, both inclusive, 
 hinety-one vessels were employed from the United States, with 
 one thousand six hundred and eleven seamen. Nearly eight 
 thousand barrels of spermaceti oil were annually taken, and about 
 thirteen thousand barrels of whale oil. 
 
 Small quantities of cotton were first exported from the United 
 States about the year 1784. It was raised in Georgia. 
 
 13. Agriculture. Agriculture revived at the close of 
 the war; and, in a few years, the exports of produce 
 raised in the United States were again considerable. 
 Attention began to be paid to the culture of cotton, in 
 the Southern States, about the year 1783, and it soon be- 
 came a staple of that part of the country. About the 
 same time, agricultural societies began to be formed in 
 the country. 
 
 14. Arts and Manufactures The excessive im- 
 
238 period vi.— 1783 to 1789. 
 
 portation of merchandize from Great Britain, during this 
 period, — much of which was sold at low prices, — checked 
 the progress of manufactures in the United States, which 
 had been extensively begun during the war of the revo- 
 lution. Iron works, however, for the construction of 
 axes, ironing of carriages, and the making of machinery, 
 &c. &,c, were still kept up in all parts of the United 
 States. Some coarse woollen and linen cloths, cabinet 
 furniture, and the more bulky and simple utensils for 
 domestic use, &,c. &c, were manufactured in New 
 England. 
 
 15. Population. The population of the United States, 
 at the close of this period, was nearly four millions. 
 
 16. Education. Several colleges were established 
 during this period — one in Maryland, at Annapolis, 
 called St. John's college; a second, in 1785, at Abing- 
 ton, in the same state, by the Methodists, called Cokes- 
 bury college; a third, in the cky of New York ; and a 
 fourth, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1787 — the former, 
 by the name of Columbia college, and the latter, by that 
 of Franklin college. The North Carolina university 
 was incorporated in 1789. 
 
 The subject of education, during this period, seems 
 to have attracted public attention throughout the United 
 States, and permanent institutions, for the instruction 
 of youth, were either planned or established, in every 
 section of the country. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 17. The history of the world furnishes no parallel to the histo- 
 ry of the United States, during this short period. At the com- 
 mencement of it, they had but just emerged from a long and 
 distressing war, which had nearly exhausted the country, and 
 imposed an accumulated debt upon the nation. They were 
 united by a confederation inadequate to the purposes of govern 
 ment; tney had just disbanded an army, which was .unpaid and 
 dissatisfied ; and, more than all, they were untried in the art of 
 self-governmfcttt 
 
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION. 239 
 
 In circumstances like these, it would not have been strange 
 had the people fallen into dissensions and anarchy, or had some 
 bold, ambitious spirit arisen, and fastened the yoke of monarchy 
 upon them. But a happier destiny awaited them. In this hour 
 of peril, the same Providence, that had guided them thus far, still 
 watched over them, and, as victory was granted them in the 
 hour of battle, so wisdom was now vouchsafed in a day of 
 peace. Those master spirits of the revolution, some of whon 
 had recently retired from the camp to the enjoyment of civil life, 
 were now called to devise the means of securing the indepen- 
 dence which they had won. Perhaps they exhibited to the 
 world a no less striking spectacle as the framers of our excellent 
 constitution, than as victors over the arms of Britain. 
 
UNITED STATES. 
 
 PERIOD VII. 
 
 DISTINGUISHED BY WASHINGTON'S ADMINISTRATION. 
 
 Extending from the Inauguration of President Wash- 
 ington 17S9, to the Inauguration of John Adams, as 
 President of the United States, 1 797. 
 
 See. 1. On the 30th of April, 1789, Gen. Washington, 
 in the presence of the first congress under the federal 
 constitution, and before an immense concourse of spec- 
 tators, was inducted into the office of president of the 
 United States, by taking the oath prescribed by the con- 
 stitution. 
 
 The ceremonies of the inauguration being concluded. Wash 
 ington entered the senate-chamber, and delivered his first speech. 
 In this, after expressing the reluctance with which he obeyed the 
 call of his countrymen, from repose and retirement, so ardently 
 coveted, after a series of militar}' toils, and the diffidence with 
 which he entered upon an office so full of responsibility, he pro- 
 ceeded thus : — 
 
 " It. will be peculiarly improper to omit, in this first official act, 
 my fervent supplications to that Almighty Being, who rules over 
 the universe, who presides in the councils of nations." 
 
 Immediately after his inaugural address, he, with the members 
 of both houses, attended divine service at St. Paul's chapel. 
 Thus, ir. the commencement of his administration, did Wnsh- 
 ino-ton, by every suitable means, acknowledge his sense of per- 
 sonal dependence upon divine wisdom, to guide with discretion 
 the affixirs of a nation committed to his care ; thus did he set anr 
 example worthy of imitation by all who arc elevated to places 
 of authority and responsibility. 
 
Washington's administration. 241 
 
 2 Business of importance, in relation to the organ 
 ization and support of the new government, now pressed 
 upon the attention of the president and of congress. A 
 re^ enue was to be provided ; the departments of govern- 
 ment were to be arranged and filled ; a judiciary was to 
 be established, and its officers appointed ; and provision 
 was to be made for the support of public credit. 
 
 In respect to a revenue for the support of government, and the 
 discharge of the debt contracted in the revolutionary war, it was 
 agreed that duties should be laid on merchandise imported into 
 the country, and on the tonnage of vessels. Laws were passed, 
 creating a department of state, of the treasury, of war ; and Mr. 
 Jefferson, Mr. Hamilton, and Gen. Knox were appointed secre- 
 taries. During this session, also, a national judiciary was con- 
 stituted and organized, and several amendments to the constitu- 
 tion were proposed, which were afterwards ratified by the states 
 
 In the debate on establishing the executive departments, an 
 important inquiry arose by whom these important officers could 
 be removed. After a long discussion, it was decided that the 
 power should reside in the president alone. 
 
 But notwithstanding the question was settled in this manner, 
 there were strong objections to placing a power in the hands of 
 an individual which might be greatly abused ; since it was ap- 
 parent that the president might, from whim, or caprice, or favor- 
 itism, remove a meritorious officer, to the great injury of the 
 public good. But to this it was well replied by Mr. Madison : — 
 " The danger consists in this ; the president can displace from 
 office a man whose merits require that he should be continued in 
 it. What will be the motives which the president can feel for 
 such an abuse of his power, and the restraints to operate to pre- 
 vent it? In the first place, lie will be impeachable by this house 
 before the senate for such an act of maladministration ; for I con- 
 tend, that the wanton removal of meritorious officers would sub- 
 ject him to impeachment and removal from his own high trust." 
 
 & Before the adjournment of congress, deeply im- 
 pressed with a sense of the divine goodness, that body 
 requested the president to recommend to the people a day 
 of public thanksgiving and prayer, in which they should 
 unitedly acknowledge, with grateful hearts, the many and 
 signal favors of Almighty God, especially in affording 
 them an opportunity peaceably to establish a constitu- 
 tion of government for their safety and happiness. 
 4. On the 2J)th of September, the first session of 
 
242 period vit.— 1789 to 1797. 
 
 congress closed. It was among their concluding acts, 
 to direct the secretary of the treasury to prepare a plan 
 for adequately providing for the support of the public 
 credit, and to report the same at their next meeting. 
 
 5. During the recess of congress, Washington made 
 a tour into New England. Passing through Connecti- 
 cut and Massachusetts, and into New Hampshire as far 
 ns Portsmouth, he returned by a different route to New 
 York. 
 
 With this excursion, the president had much reason to be 
 gratified. To observe the progress of society, the improvements 
 in agriculture, commerce, and manufactures, and the temper, 
 circumstances, and dispositions of the people — while it could 
 not fail to please an intelligent and benevolent mind, was, in 
 all respects, worthy of the chief magistrate of the nation. He 
 was every where received with expressions of the purest, affection, 
 and could not fail to rejoice in the virtue, religion, happineso 
 and prosperity of the people, at the head of whose government 
 he was placed. 
 
 0. The second session of the first congress commenced 
 January 8th, 1790. In obedience to the resolution of 
 the former congress, the secretary of the treasury, Mr. 
 Hamilton, made his report on the subject of maintaining 
 the public credit. 
 
 In this report, he strongly recommended to congress, 
 us the only mode, in his opinion, in which the public 
 credit would be supported, — 
 
 1. That provision be made for the full discharge of 
 the foreign debt, according to the precise terms of the 
 contract ; 
 
 2. That provision be made for the payment of the 
 domestic debt, in a similar manner ; 
 
 3. That the debts of the several states, created for the 
 purpose of carrying on the war, be assumed by the gen- 
 eral government. 
 
 The public debt of the United States was estimated by the 
 secretary, at this time, at more than fifty-four millions ot dollars. 
 Of this sum, the foreign debt, principally due to France and the 
 Hollanders, constituted eleven millions and a^. half of interest J 
 and the domestic liquidated debt including about thirteen 
 
\ 
 
 Washington's administration. 243 
 
 millions of arrears of interest, more than forty millions ; and the 
 unliquidated debt two millions. The secretary recommended the 
 assumption of the debts of the several states, to be paid equally 
 with those of the Union, as a measure of sound policy and sub 
 stantial justice. These were estimated at twenty -five millions ot 
 dollars. 
 
 7. The proposal for making adequate provision for the 
 foreign debt was met cordially and unanimously . but, 
 respecting the full discharge of the domestic debt, and 
 the assumption of the state debts, much division pre- 
 vailed in congress. After a spirited and protracted de- 
 bate on these subjects, the recommendation of the secre- 
 tary prevailed, and bills conformable thereto passed 
 by a small majority. 
 
 The division of sentiment among the members of congress, in 
 relation to the full, or only a partial payment of the domestic 
 debt, arose from this. A considerable proportion of the original 
 holders of public securities had found it necessary to sell them 
 at a reduced price — even as low as two or three shillings on ths 
 pound. These securities had been purchased by speculators, with 
 the expectation of ultimately receiving the full amount. UndeS 
 these circumstances, it was contended by some, that congress 
 would perform their duty, should they pay to all holders of pub- 
 lic securities only the reduced market pr:ce. Others advocated 
 a discrimination between the present holders of securities, and 
 fiiose to whom the debt was originally due, &c. &c. 
 
 In his report, Mr. Hamilton ably examined these several points, 
 and strongly maintained the justice of paying to all holdeis of 
 securities, without discrimination, the full value of what appeared 
 on the face of their certificates. This, he contended, justice 
 demanded, and for this the public faith was pledged. 
 
 By the opposers of the bill which related to the assumption 
 of the state debts, the constitutional authority of the federal gov- 
 ernment for this purpose was questioned, and the policy and jus 
 tice of the measure controverted. 
 
 To cancel the several debts which congress thus undertook to 
 discharge, the proceeds of public lands, lying in the western ter- 
 ritory, were directed to be applied, together with the surplus 
 revenue, and a loan of two millions of dollars, which the president 
 was authorized to borrow, at an interest of five per cent. 
 
 This measure laid the foundation of public credit upon such 
 
 basis, that government paper soon rose from two shillings and 
 sixpence to twenty shillings on the pound, and, indeed, for a 
 short time, was above par. Individuals, who had purchased cer- 
 tificates of public debt low, realized immense fortunes. A gen- 
 
244 PEr.fOD vii. — 1789 to 1797 
 
 eral spring was given to the affairs of the nation. A spirit of 
 enterprise, of agriculture, and commerce, universally prevailed, 
 and the foundation was thus laid for that unrivalled prosperity 
 which the United States, in subsequent years, enjoyed. 
 
 8. During this session of congress, a bill was passed, 
 fixing the seat of government for ten years at Philadel- 
 phia, and, from and alter that time, permanently at 
 Washington, on the Potomac. 
 
 9. On the 4th of March, 1791, Vermont, by consent 
 of congress, became one of the United States. 
 
 The tract of country, which is now known by the name of 
 Vermont, was settled at a much later period than any other of 
 the eastern states. The governments of New York and Massa- 
 chusetts made large grants of territory in the direction of Ver- 
 mont; but it was not until 1724, that any actual possession was 
 taken of land within the present boundaries of the state. In 
 that year, Fort Durance was built, by the officers of Massachusetts, 
 on Connecticut river. On the other side of the state, the French 
 advanced up Lake Champlain, and, in 1731, built Crown Point, 
 and began a settlement on the eastern shore of the lake. 
 
 Vermont being supposed to fall within the limits of New 
 Hampshire, that government made large grants of land to settlers, 
 even west of Connecticut river. New York, however, conceived 
 herself to have a better right to the territory, in consequence of 
 the grant of Charles II. to his brother, the Duke of York. These 
 states being thus at issue, the case was submitted to the English 
 crown, wluch decided in favor of New York, and confirmed its 
 jurisdiction as far as Connecticut river. In this decision New 
 Hampshire acquiesced ; but, New York persisting in its claims to 
 land east of the river, actions of ejectment were instituted in the 
 courts at Albany, which resulted in favor of the New York title 
 The settlers, however, determined to resist the officers of justice, 
 and, under Ethan Allen, associated together to oppose the New 
 York militia, which were called out to enforce the laws. 
 
 On the commencement of the revolution, the people of Ver- 
 mont were placed in an embarrassing situation. They had not 
 even a form of government. The jurisdiction of New York be- 
 ing disclaimed, and allegiance to the British crown refused, every 
 thing was effected by voluntary agreement. In January, 1777, a 
 convention met, and proclaimed that the district before known 
 by the name of the New Hampshire Grants, was of right a free 
 and independent jurisdiction, and should be henceforth called 
 JVeic Connecticut, alias Vermont. The convention proceeded to 
 make known their proceedings to congress, and petitioned to be 
 admitted into the confederacy. To this New York objected, and, 
 
Washington's administration. 245 
 
 for a time, prevailed. Other difficulties arose with New Hamp- 
 shire and Massachusetts, each of which laid claim to land within 
 the present boundaries of the state. At the peace of 1783, Ver- 
 mont found herself a sovereign and independent state dc facto, 
 united with no confederation, and therefore unembarrassed by 
 the debts that weighed down the other states. New York still 
 claimed jurisdiction over the state, but was unable to enforce it; 
 and the state government was administered as regularly as in 
 any of the other states. After the formation of the federal con- 
 stitution, Vermont again requested admission into the Union. 
 The opposition of New York was still strong, but, in 1789, was 
 finally withdrawn, upon the agreement of Vermont to pay her 
 the sum of thirty thousand dollars. Thus terminated a contro- 
 versy, which had been carried on with animosity, and with in- 
 jury to both parties, for twenty-six years. A convention was 
 immediately called, by which it was resolved to join the federal 
 Union. Upon application to congress, their consent was readily 
 given, and, on the 4th of March, 1791, Vermont was addjd to the 
 United States. 
 
 10. At the time that congress assumed the state debts, 
 during their second session, the secretary of the treasury 
 had recommended a tax on domestic spirits, to enable 
 them to pay the interest. The discusson of the bill, 
 having been postponed to the third session, was early in 
 that session taken up. The tax, contemplated by the 
 bill, was opposed with great vehemence, by a majority 
 of southern and western members, on the ground 
 that it was unnecessary and unequal, and would be par- 
 ticularly burdensome upon those parts of the Union 
 which could not, without very great expense, procure 
 foreign ardent spirits. Instead of this tax, these mem- 
 bers proposed an increased duty on imported articles 
 generally, a particular duty on molasses, a direct tax, or 
 a tax on salaries, &c. &,c. After giving rise to an an- 
 gry and protracted debate, the bill passed by a majority 
 of thirty-five to twenty-one. 
 
 11. The secretary next appeared with a recommen- 
 dation for a national bank. A bill, conformed to his 
 plan, being sent down from the senate, was permitted 
 1o progress, unmolested, in the house of representatives, 
 to the thira reading. On the fmal readmtf an uaex- 
 
 21* 
 
246 period vii. — 1789 to 1797. 
 
 pected opposition appeared against it, on the ground 
 that banking systems were useless; that the proposed 
 bill was defective ; but especially that congress was not 
 vested, by the constitution, with the competent power to 
 establish a national bank. 
 
 These several objections were met, by the supporters 
 of the bill, with much strength of argument. After a 
 debate of great length, supported with the ardor excited 
 by the importance of the subject, the bill was carried in 
 the affirmative, by a majority of nineteen voices. 
 
 A bill which had been agitated with so much warmth, in the 
 house of representatives, the executive was now called upon to 
 examine with reference to its sanction or rejection. The presi- 
 dent required the opinions of the cabinet in writing. The secre- 
 tary of state, Mr. Jefferson, and the attorney-general, Mr. Ran- 
 dolph, considered the bill as decidedly unconstitutional. The 
 secretary of the treasury, Mr. Hamilton, with equal decision, 
 maintained the opposite opinion. A deliberate investigation of 
 the subject satisfied the president, both of the constitutionality 
 and utility of the bill, upon which he gave it his signature. 
 
 The capital stock of the bank was ten millions of dollars, two 
 millions to be subscribed for the benefit of the United States, 
 and the residue by individuals. One fourth of the sums sub- 
 scribed by individuals was to be paid in gold and silver, and three 
 fourths in the public debt. By the act of incorporation, it was 
 to be a bank of discount as well as deposit, and its bills, which 
 were payable in gold and silver on demand, were made receivable 
 in all payments to the United States. The bank was located at 
 Philadelphia, with power in the directors to establish offices of 
 discount and deposit only wherever they should think fit, within 
 the United States. 
 
 The duration of the charier was limited to the fourth of May, 
 1611 ; and the faith of the United States was pledged, that, dur- 
 ing that period, no other bank should be established under their 
 authority. One of the fundamental articles of the incorporation 
 was, that no loan should be made to the United States, for in^re 
 than one hundred thousand dollars, or to any particular state, for 
 more than fifty thousand, or to any foreign prince, or state . un- 
 less previously authorized by a law of the United States, f he 
 books were opened for subscriptions in July, 1791, and a much 
 larger sum subscribed than was allowed by the charter ; and the 
 bank went into successful operation.* 
 
 The bill which had now passed, with those relating to the 
 
 * Pitkin. 
 
WASHINGTON'S ADMINISTRATION. 247 
 
 finances of the country, the assumption of the state debts, the fund- 
 ing of the national debt, &c, contributed greatly to the complete 
 organization of those distinct and visible parties, which, in their 
 long and ardent conflict for power, have since shaken the United 
 States to their centre. 
 
 12. While matters of high importance were occu- 
 pying the attention, and party strife and conflicting 
 interests were rilling the counsels of congress with agi- 
 tation, an Indian war opened on the north-western frontier 
 of the states. Pacific arrangements had been attempted 
 by the president with the hostile tribes, without effect. 
 On the failure of these, an offensive expedition was 
 planned against the tribes north-west of the Ohio. 
 
 The command of the troops, consisting of three hundred regu- 
 lars, and about one thousand two hundred Pennsylvania and 
 Kentucky militia, was given to Gen. Harmar, a veteran officer 
 of the revolution. His instructions required him, if possible, to 
 bring the Indians to an engagement ; but, in any event, to de- 
 stroy their settlements on the waters of the Scioto, a river falling 
 into the Ohio, and the Wabash, in the Indiana territory. In 
 this expedition, Harmar succeeded in destroying some villages, 
 and a quantity of grain, belonging to the Indians ; but in an en» 
 gagement with them, near Chilicothe, he was routed with con- 
 eiderable loss. 
 
 Upon the failure of Gen. Harmar, Major- General Arthur St. 
 Clair was appointed to succeed him. Under the authority of an 
 act of congress, the president caused a body of levies to be raised 
 for six months, for the Indian service. 
 
 13. Having arranged the north-western expedition, 
 directing St. Clair to destroy the Indian villages on the 
 Miami, and to drive the savages from the Ohio, the pres- 
 ident commenced a tour through the Southern States sim- 
 ilar to that which he made through the northern and 
 central parts of the Union, in 1789. 
 
 The same expressions of respect and affection awaited him, in 
 every stage of his tour, which had been so zealously accorded to 
 him in the north. Here, also, he enjoyed the high satisfaction of 
 witnessing the most happy effects, resulting from the administra- 
 tion of that government over which he presided. 
 
 14. In December, intelligence was received by the 
 president, that the army under Gen. St. Claiir, in a bat- 
 
248 period vii. — 1789 to 1797 
 
 tie with the Indians, near the Miami, in Ohio, had been 
 totally defeated, on the 4th of the preceding month 
 
 The army of St. Clair amounted to near one thousand five 
 hundred men. The Indian force consisted of nearly the same 
 number. Of the loss of the Indians, no estimate could be formed ; 
 but the loss of the Americans \yas unusually severe • thirty-eight 
 commissioned officers were killed in the field, and five hundred 
 and ninety-three non-commissioned officers and privates were 
 slain and missing. Between two and three hundred officers and 
 privates were wounded, many of whom afterwards died. This 
 result of the expedition was as unexpected as unfortunate ; but 
 no want either of ability, zeal, or intrepidity, was ascribed, by a 
 committee of congress, appointed to examine the causes of ita 
 failure, to the commander of the expedition. 
 
 15. Upon the news of St. Clair's defeat, a bill was in- 
 troduced into congress for raising three additional regi- 
 ments of infantry, and a squadron of cavalry, to serve 
 for three years, if not sooner discharged. This bill, 
 although finally carried, met with an opposition more 
 warm and pointed, from the opposers of the administra- 
 tion, than any which had before been agitated in the 
 house. 
 
 By those who opposed the bill, it was urged, that the war with 
 the Indians was unjust; that militia would answer as well, and 
 even better, than regular troops, and would be less expensive to 
 support; that adequate funds could not be provided ; and, more 
 than all, that this addition of one regiment to the army after 
 another, gave fearful intimation of monarchical designs on the 
 part of those who administered the government. 
 
 On the other hand, the advocates of the bill contended, that 
 the war was a war of self-defence ; that, between the years 1783 
 and 1790, not less than one thousand five hundred inhabitants of 
 Kentucky, or emigrants -to that country, and probably double 
 that number, had been massacred by the Indians ; and that re- 
 peated efforts had been made by the government to obtain a peace, 
 notwithstanding which, the butcheries of the savages still con- 
 tinued in their most appalling forms. 
 
 16. On the 8th of May, 1792, congress adjourned to 
 the first Monday in November. The asperity which, on 
 more than one occasion, had discovered itself in the 
 course of debate, was a certain index of the growing 
 exasperation of parties. With their adjournment, the 
 
Washington's administration. 249 
 
 conflicting feelings of members in a measure subsided ; 
 the opposition, however, to the administration, had be- 
 come fixed. It was carried into retirement, was in- 
 fused by members into their constituents, and a party 
 was thus formed throughout the nation, hostile to the 
 plans of government adopted by Washington, and his 
 friends in the cabinet. 
 
 17. On the 1st of June, 1792, Kentucky, by act of 
 congress, was admitted into the Union as a state. 
 
 The country now called Kentucky was well known to the 
 Indian traders, many years before its settlement. By whom it 
 was first explored is a matter of uncertainty, and has given rise 
 to controversy. In 1752, a map was published by Lewis Evans, 
 of the country on the Ohio and Kentucky rivers ; and it seems 
 that one James Macbride, with others, visited this region in 1754. 
 No further attempt was made to explore the country until 1767, 
 when John Finley, of North Carolina, travelled over the ground 
 on the Kentucky river, called by the Indians, " the dark and 
 bloody ground." On returning to Carolina, Finley communicat- 
 ed his discoveries to Col. Daniel Boone, who, in 17G9, with some 
 others, undertook to explore the country. After a long and fa- 
 tiguing march, they discovered the beautiful valley of Kentucky. 
 Col. Boone continued an inhabitant of this wilderness until 1771, 
 when he returned to his family for the purpose of removing them, 
 and forming a settlement in the new country. In 1773, naving 
 made the necessary preparations, he set out again with five fam 
 llies and forty men, from Powell's Valley, and, after various im- 
 
 Eediments, reached the Kentucky river, in March, 1775, where 
 e commenced a settlement. 
 
 In the years 1778, 1779, and 1780, a considerable number of 
 persons emigrated to Kentucky ; ) r et, in this latter year, after an 
 unusually severe winter, the inhabitants were so distressed, that 
 they came to the determination of abandoning the country for- 
 ever. They were fortunately diverted from this step by the 
 arrival of emigrants. During the revolutionary war, they suf- 
 fered severely from the Indians incited by the British govern- 
 ment. In 1778, Gen. Clarke overcame the Indians, and laid 
 waste their villages. From this time, the inhabitants began to 
 feel more secure, and the settlements were extended. In 1779, 
 the legislature of Virginia, within whose limits this region lay, 
 erected it into a county. In 1782, a supreme court, with an attor- 
 ney-general, was established within the district. In the years 
 1783, 1784, and 1785, the district was laid out into counties, and 
 a great part of the country surveyed and patented. In 1785 
 an attempt was made to form an independent state ; but, a major 
 
250 period vii. — 1789 to 1797 
 
 ity of the inhabitants being opposed to the measure, it was de 
 layed until December, 1790, when it became a separate state. 
 
 In 1792, as stated above, it was admitted into the Union. The 
 growth of Kentucky has been rapid, and she has obtained a re 
 spectable rank and influence among her sister states. 
 
 18. During the recess of congress, preparations were 
 hastened by the president, for a vigorous prosecution of 
 the war with the Indians ; but such small inducements 
 were presented to engage in the service, that a sufficient 
 number of recruits could not be raised to authorize an 
 expedition against them the present year. As the clam- 
 or against the war, by the opposers of the administration, 
 was still loud, the president deemed it advisable, while 
 preparations for hostilities were advancing, to make 
 another effort at negotiation with the unfriendly Indians. 
 The charge of this business was committed to Col. Har- 
 den and Maj. Freeman, two brave officers, and valuable 
 men, who were murdered by the savages. 
 
 19. On the opening of the next congress, in Novem- 
 ber, a motion was made to reduce the military establish- 
 ment; but it did not prevail. The debate on this subject 
 was peculiarly earnest, and the danger of standing 
 armies was powerfully urged. This motion, designed 
 as a reflection upon the executive, was followed by sev- 
 eral resolutions, introduced by Mr. Giles, tending to 
 criminate the secretary of the treasury, Mr. Hamilton, 
 of misconduct, in relation to certain loans, negotiated 
 under his direction. 
 
 In three distinct reports, sent to the house, the secre- 
 tary offered every required explanation, and ably defend- 
 ed himself against the attacks of the opposition. Mr. 
 Giles, and some others, however, were not satisfied: 
 ther resolutions were, therefore, offered, which, although 
 ejected, were designed to fix upon the secretary the 
 eputation of an ambitious man, aiming at the acquisi- 
 tion of dangerous power. 
 
 During these discussions, vehement attacks were made upon 
 the secretary, in the public prints. Hints also were suggested 
 against the president himself; and although he was not openly 
 
WASHINGTON S ADMINISTRATION. 5251 
 
 accused of being the head of the federal party, of favoring their 
 cause, or designing to subvert the liberties of his country, yet it 
 was apparent that such suspicions were entertained of him. 
 
 On the 3d of March, 1793, a constitutional period 
 was put to the existence of this congress. The members 
 separated with obvious symptoms of irritation ; and it 
 was not to be doubted that their efforts would be exert- 
 ed to communicate to their constituents the feelingl 
 which agitated their bosoms. 
 
 20. The time had now arrived, 1793, when the elec- 
 tors of the states were again called upon to choose a 
 chief magistrate of the Union. Washington had deter- 
 mined to withhold himself from being again elected to 
 the presidency, and to retire from the cares of political 
 life. Various considerations, however, prevented the 
 declaration of his wishes, and he was again unanimously 
 elected to the chair of state. Mr. Adams was re-elected 
 vice-president. 
 
 21. Through the unceasing endeavors of the president 
 to terminate the Indian war, a treaty had been negoti- 
 ated with the Indians, on the Wabash ; and, through the 
 intervention of the Six Nations, those of the Miamis had 
 consented to a conference during the ensuing spring. 
 Offensive operations were, therefore, suspended, although 
 the recruiting service was industriously urged, and as- 
 siduous attention was paid to the discipline and prepara- 
 tion of the troops. . 
 
 22. The Indian war, though of real importance, was 
 becoming an object of secondary consideration. The 
 revolution in France was now progressing, and began so 
 to affect our relation with that country, as to require an 
 exertion of all the wisdom and firmness of the govern- 
 ment. Early in April, also, information was received 
 of the declaration of war by France against England and 
 Holland. 
 
 Tbis event excited the deepest interest in the United States. 
 A large majority of the people, grateful for the aid that France 
 had given us in our revolution, and devoted to the cause of lib- 
 erty, were united in fervent wishes fur the success -jf the French 
 
252 period vii.— 1789 to 1797. 
 
 republic* At the same time, the prejudices against Great Brit- 
 ain, which had taken deep root during the revolution, now- 
 sprung forth afresh, and the voice of many was heard, urging 
 the propriety of the United States making a common cause with 
 France against Great Britain. 
 
 A pressing occurrence had called Washington to 
 Mount Vernon, when intelligence arrived of the rupture 
 between France and England. Hastening his return to 
 Philadelphia, he summoned the attention of his cabinet 
 to several questions, respecting the course of conduct 
 proper for the United States to observe in relation to the 
 belligerents. 
 
 Although sensible of the prejudices existing in the 
 country against Great Britain, and of the friendly dispo- 
 sition which prevailed towards France, it was the unan- 
 imous opinion of the cabinet, that a strict neutrality 
 should be observed by the United States towards the 
 contending powers. The council was also unanimous, 
 that a minister from the French republic should be re- 
 ceived, should one be sent. In accordance with the ad- 
 vice of his cabinet, the president issued his proclamation 
 of neutrality, on the 22d of April, 1793. 
 
 This proclamation, being without legislative sanction, soon 
 became the subject of loud invective. The opposition party, 
 through the press, pronounced it "a royal edict," an assumption 
 of power on the part of Jie president, and a proof of his monarchi- 
 cal disposition. They denounced the conduct of the executive 
 as dishonorable, and an act of neutrality, as high ingratitude 
 towards France, the firm and magnanimous ally of the United 
 
 *The revolution in France commenced about the year 1789. It seems to 
 have been hastened, or brought on, by tire new ideas of freedom, which had 
 been imbibed by the French army in the United States, and thence dissem- 
 inated among the people of Trance, for a long time oppressed and degraded 
 by a despotic government. Unfortunately, the revolution fell into the bands 
 of selfish and unprincipled men, who, in 179.'?, executed their king, Louis 
 XVI., and, soon after, his family, and murdered or imprisoned those who 
 were suspected of hostility to their views, and involved France in a scene 
 of guilt and bloodshed, which cannot be contemplated without horror. In 
 the first stages of this revolution, the friends of liberty throughout the world 
 were full of hopes for a melioration of the political condition of France : 
 but these hopes were soon blasted by the sanguinary steps adopted by the 
 revolutionists. Had they been men governed by reason and religion, instead 
 of unbridled ambition ; actuated by a philanthropic regard to the good of the 
 people, instead of a selfish thirst of power; France to this day might have 
 wnjoyed the blessings at a free government. 
 
WASHINGTON S ADMINISTRATION 25ft 
 
 States, which had assisted in achieving the liberties of the 
 country. 
 
 23. As was anticipated, the republic of France re- 
 called the minister of tne crown, and appointed a min- 
 ister of its own, Mr. Genet, to succeed him. His mis- 
 sion had for its object the enlisting of America in the 
 cause of France, against Great Britain. Flattered by 
 the manner in which he was received by the people, as 
 well as by their professions of attachment to his country, 
 Mr. Genet early anticipated the accomplishment of his 
 object. Presuming too much upon this attachment, he 
 was led into a series of acts infringing the neutrality 
 proclaimed by the president. He also attempted to 
 rouse the people against the government, because it did 
 not second all his views. At length, on the advice of 
 his cabinet, the president solicited of the French re- 
 public the recall of Mr. Genet, and the appointment of 
 some one to succeed him. Monsieur Fauchet was ap- 
 pointed, and was instructed to assure the American gov- 
 ernment, that France totally disapproved of the conduct 
 of his predecessor 
 
 Mr. Genet, on his arrival in the country, landed at Charleston, 
 S. C. He was received by the governor of that state, and by the 
 citizens, with a flow of enthusiastic feeling, equalled only by 
 that which had been evinced towards his nation at the conquest 
 of Yorktown. 
 
 Soon after landing at Charleston, he began to authorize the fit 
 ting and arming of vessels in that port, enlisting men, and giv 
 ing commissions to cruise and commit hostilities against nations 
 with which the United States were at peace. Vessels captured 
 by these cruisers were brought into port, and the consuls of 
 Fiance, under the authority of Genet, not yet recognized as a 
 minister by the American government, assumed the power of 
 holding courts of admiralty on them, of trying and condemning 
 them, and of authorizing their sale. 
 
 On the meeting of congress, December, 1793, the proclamation 
 of neutrality was approved by them, as well as the conduct of the 
 government towards Mr. Genet. 
 
 Finding on most questions, arising between the French minis- 
 ter and the government of the United States, a wide and an in- 
 creasing difference of views, and perceiving no beneficial effects 
 09. 
 
254 period vii. — 1789 to 1^97. 
 
 resulting from his continuance m that character, the cabinet 
 unanimously advised his recall. 
 
 24. 1794. On the last day of December, 1793, Mr. 
 Jefferson, the secretary of state, resigned his office, and 
 was succeeded by Edmund Randolph, the then attorney- 
 general. This latter office was filled by William Brad- 
 ford, a gentleman of considerable eminence in Pennsyl- 
 vania. 
 
 25. During the session of congress this year, a resolu- 
 tion passed to provide a naval force adequate to the pro- 
 tection of the commerce of the United States against 
 the Algerine corsairs. The force proposed was to con- 
 sist of six frigates, four of forty-four, and two of thirty-six 
 guns. 
 
 This measure was founded upon the communications of the 
 president, from which it appeared that the prospect of being able 
 to negotiate a treaty of peace with the dey of Algiers was doubt- 
 ful ; that eleven American merchant vessels, and upwards of one 
 hundred citizens, had been captured by them ; ana that further 
 preparations were making for a renewed attack upon unprotect- 
 ed vessels belonging to the United States. 
 
 26. During this session of congress, a law passed, 
 prohibiting the carrying on of the slave trade from the 
 American ports. 
 
 England had been actively engaged in the slave trade nearly 
 fifty years, when the first settlement was effected m Virginia. 
 Slavery was early introduced into the American colonies. The 
 first, slaves, about twenty in number, were brought, to Virginia, in 
 1610, by a Dutch ship. The importation of them gradually in- 
 creased, and although principally bought by the southern plant- 
 ers, slaves were soon found, in great numbers, in all the colo- 
 nies. In 1784, they amounted to six hundred thousand ; in 1790, 
 to six hundred and ninety-seven thousand six hundred and 
 ninety-six. 
 
 A disgu t towards this inhuman traffic appeared very early In 
 the colonies; but it was countenanced and patronized by the 
 English government, and thus introduced into, and fastened 
 upon the country, without the power, on the part of the colonies, 
 to arrest it. 
 
 In Massachusetts, in 1645, a law was made, " prohibiting the 
 buying and selling of slaves, except those taken in lawful war, 
 or reduced to servitude by their crimes." In 1703, the same 
 colony imposed a heavy duty on every negro imported ; and, in 
 
 
WASHINGTON S ADMINISTRATION. 255 
 
 a subsequent law on the subject, they called the practice " the un- 
 natural and unaccountable custom of enslaving mankind." In Vir- 
 ginia, as early as 1699, attempts were made to repress the impor- 
 tation of slaves, by heavy duties. These, and other acts, show 
 that the North American provinces would, if left to themselves, 
 have put an end to the importation of slaves, before the era of 
 their independence. 
 
 In 1778, Virginia abolished the traffic bylaw; Connecticut, 
 Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts, prohibited it be- 
 fore the year 1789. The continental congress passed a resolu- 
 tion against the purchase of slaves imported from Africa, and 
 exhorted the colonies to abandon the trade altogether. The third 
 congress of the United States, as stated above, prohibited the 
 trade, by law. Thus we see, in the United States, a very early 
 and settled aversion to the slave trade manifesting itself; and be- 
 fore European nations had consented to relinquish it, several of 
 the states had utterly prohibited it. 
 
 27. At this session, also, several measures were adopt 
 ed in anticipation of a war with Great Britain, growing 
 out of her commercial restrictions, which bore heavy, and 
 operated most unjustly, upon the United States. Bills 
 were passed for laying an embargo for thirty days — for 
 erecting fortifications — for organizing the militia, and 
 increasing the standing army. As an adjustment of dif- 
 ferences, however, seemed desirable, Mr. Jay was ap- 
 pointed envoy extraordinary to the court of St. James, 
 and succeeded in negotiating a treaty with Great Britain 
 the following year. 
 
 Among the offensive acts of the government of Great Britain, 
 < was an order of June, 179o, prohibiting the exportation of corn 
 j to France, and authorizing the capture of neutral vessels carrying 
 it thither. Under this order, many American vessels were cap- 
 tured, and carried into England. In November following, addi- 
 tional instructions were given by the British cabinet, to ships of 
 war and privateers, to bring into port, for trial, all ships laden 
 with goods from France, or her colonies, and such as were carry 
 mg provisions, or other supplies, to either. To the^e causes of 
 | Complaint, Great Britain had added another, viz. neglecting to 
 deliver up the western posts according to treaty. 
 
 While measures were taking, in anticipation of war, the presi 
 lent received advices from England, that the order of November 
 tiad been considerably modified ; that most of the merchant ves- 
 sels which had been carried into port for trial, would be released} 
 
25C period vii.— 1789 to 1797. 
 
 and that a disposition for peace with the United States existed in 
 the British cabinet. 
 
 These advices opened to the president the prospect of restoring 
 a good understanding between the two nations, and induced him 
 immediately to nominate an envoy to settle existing differences, 
 and to negotiate commercial arrangements. The nomination of 
 Mr. Jay was approved, in the senate, by a majority often. 
 
 To those opposed to the administration, no step could have 
 been more unexpected or disagreeable, than this decisive meas- 
 ure of the president. Prejudices against Great Britain had 
 risen to their height, and hostilities against her were loudly de- 
 manded, as both just and necessary. It was not singular, there- 
 fore, that, for this act, the president should receive the severest 
 censures of the opposition party, nor that all who favored his 
 efforts for peace should be included in the general denunciation. 
 
 2S. The suspension of hostilities against the Indians 
 in the north-west, in consequence of their consenting to 
 a conference in the spring of 1794, has already been 
 noticed. (Sec. 21.) This effort to conclude a treaty with 
 them failing, Gen. Wayne, who had succeeded Gen. St 
 Clair, engaged the Indians, August 20th, 1794, on the 
 banks of the Miami, and gained a complete victory over 
 them. 
 
 The American troops engaged in this battle did not exceed 
 nine hundred ; the Indians amounted to two thousand. In this 
 decisive engagement, Gen. Wayne lost one hundred and seven 
 in killed and wounded, including officers. After the battle, he 
 proceeded to lay waste the whole Indian country. By means of 
 this victory over the Miamis, a general war with the Six Nations, 
 and all the tribes north-west of the Ohio, was prevented. 
 
 29. This year, 1794, was distinguished by an insur- 
 rection in Pennsylvania, known by the name of the 
 " Whiskey Insurrection," growing out of laws enacted 
 by congress, in 1791, laying duties on spirits distilled 
 within the United States, and upon stills. In August, 
 the president issued his proclamation, commanding the 
 insurgents to disperse. This not having the desired 
 effect, a respectable body of militia was ordered out, un- 
 der Gov. Lee, of Maryland, on whose approach the in- 
 surgents laid down their arms, solicited the clemency of 
 
WASHINGTON'S ADMINISTRATION. 257 
 
 the government, and promised future submission to 
 the laws. 
 
 From the time that duties were laid upon spirits distilled with- 
 in the United States, &c, combinations were formed, in the fouc 
 western counties of Pennsylvania, to prevent their collection 
 Numerous meetings were held at different times and places, a 
 which resolutions were passed, and, in several instances, vio- 
 lences were committed upon the officers of the revenue. Eigh 
 teen of the insurgents were taken, and tried for treason, but not 
 convicted. 
 
 30. 1795. January 1st, Col. Hamilton resigned the 
 office of secretary of the treasury, and was succeeded 
 by Oliver Wolcott, of Connecticut. Nearly at the same 
 lime, Timothy Pickering succeeded Gen. Knox, in the 
 department of war. 
 
 31. In June, Mr. Jay having succeeded in negotiating 
 a treaty with Great Britain, the senate was convened to 
 consider its merits. After an elaborate discussion of it, 
 that body advised to its ratification by a majority of 
 twenty to ten. Notwithstanding the great opposition to 
 it that prevailed among the enemies of Great Britain, 
 the president gave it his signature. Contrary to the 
 predictions of many in the country, the treaty settled 
 existing difficulties between the two nations, prevented 
 a war, which previously seemed fast approaching, and 
 proved of great advantage to the United States. 
 
 The treaty, when published, found one party prepared for 
 condemnation, while the other was not ready for its defence 
 Time was necessary for a judicious and careful consideration of 
 its merits. 
 
 In the populous cities, meetings were immediately ealled, anu 
 resolutions and addresses forwarded to the president requesting 
 him to withhold his assent. Upon the president, however, these 
 had no other effect, than to induce him to weigh still more care- 
 fully the merits of the treaty. When, at length, he was satisfied 
 of its utility, he signed it, although he thereby incurred the cen 
 sures of a numerous portion of the citizens. 
 
 32. In the course of the following autumn, treaties 
 were concluded with the dey of Algiers, and with th« 
 Miamis in the west. By the former treaty, Americas 
 
 22* 
 
258 period vii. — 1789 to 1797. 
 
 citizens, in captivity in Algiers, were liberated ; and by 
 the latter^ the western frontiers of the United States 
 were secured from savage invasion. A treaty with Spain 
 soon after followed, by which the claims of the United 
 States, on the important points of boundary, and the 
 navigation of the Mississippi, were fully conceded. 
 
 33. On the first of June, 1796, Tennessee was ad- 
 mitted, by act of congress, into the Union as a state. 
 
 Tennessee derives its name from its principal river. This 
 name, in the language of the Indians, signifies a curved spoon, 
 the curvature, to their imaginations, resembling that of the river 
 Tennessee. 
 
 The territory of Tennessee was granted, in 1664, by Charles 
 II. to the Earl of Clarendon, and others, being included in the 
 limits of the Carolinas. About the beginning of the next century, 
 Carolina was divided into two provinces, and Tennessee fell to 
 the lot of the northern province. Near the year 1754, fifty fam- 
 ilies were settled on the Cumberland river, where Nashville now 
 stands; but they were dislodged by the savages soon after. In 
 1705, a number of emigrants settled themselves beyond the pres- 
 ent limits of North Carolina, and were the first of the colonists 
 of Tennessee. By the year 1773, the inhabitants had considera- 
 bly increivsed. When the constitution of North Carolina was 
 formed, in 177<>, that district sent deputies to the meeting. In 
 the year 1780, a small colony of about forty families, under the 
 direction of James Robertson, crossed the mountains, and settled 
 on the Cumberland river, where they founded Nashville. In 1785 
 the inhabitants of Tennessee, feeling the inconveniences of a 
 government so remote as that in the capital of North Carolina, 
 endeavored to form an independent one, to which they intended 
 to give the name of the " State of Franklin ;" but, differing among 
 themselves, the scheme f ,% r the time was abandoned. In 1789, 
 the legislature of North Carolina passed an act ceding the terri- 
 tory, on certain conditions, to the United States. Congress, in 
 the following year, accepted the cession, and by another act, 
 passed on the 26th of May, 17D0, provided for its government 
 under the title of " The territory of the United State?, south of 
 the Ohio. ' In 170G, congress passed an act enabling the people 
 to form a state constitution, which having been adopted and ap- 
 proved, Tennessee was acknowledged as a sovereign state in the 
 Union. 
 
 34. On the meeting of congress in 1796, resolutions 
 were passed to carry into effect the treaties negotiated 
 
Washington's administration. 259 
 
 the preceding year. On the subject of the treaty with 
 Great Britain, the liveliest sensibility still prevailed. 
 After a spirited and protracted debate of seven weeks, 
 on the subject of making the necessary arrangements for 
 this treaty, resolutions to that effect passed the hou^e by 
 a majority of only three. 
 
 35. As the time for a new election of the chief magis- 
 trate of the Union approached, Gen. Washington signi- 
 fied his intention to retire from public life. Wishing to 
 terminate his political course with an act suitable to his 
 own character, and permanently useful to his country- 
 men, he published a valedictory address to the people of 
 the United States, fraught with maxims of the highest 
 political importance, and with sentiments of the warm- 
 est affection for his country. 
 
 In conclusion, this great and good man bore his solemn testi- 
 mony to the importance of religion and morality, as intimately 
 connected with political prosperity. u Of all the dispositions and 
 habits which lead to political prosperity," he observed, "religion 
 and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man 
 claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these 
 great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties 
 of men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious 
 man, ought to respect and cherish them. A volume could not 
 trace all- their connections with private and public felicity. Let 
 it simply be asked, Where is the security fnr property, for reputa- 
 tion, for life, if the sense of religious obligations desert the oaths 
 which are the instruments? «f investigation in courts of justice ? 
 And let us with caution indulge the supposition, thai morality 
 can be maintained without religion. Whatever maybe conceded 
 to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar struc- 
 ture, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national 
 morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle." 
 
 30. In February, 1797, the votes for his successor 
 were opened and counted in the presence of both houses 
 of congress. The highest number appearing in favor of 
 Mr. Adams, he was declared to be elected president of 
 the United States, for the four years ensuing, commenc- 
 ing on the 4th of March. Mr. Jefferson succeeded Mr. 
 Adams in the vice-presidency. 
 
260 period vii.— 1789 to 1797 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 37. Manners. We can remark, during this period, 
 no very distinct change in the manners of the people 
 of the United States, except that the introduction of 
 French philosophy seems to have affected, in some de- 
 gree, the sober habits and strict morality of the people, 
 which, although relaxed by the war, had now begun to 
 resume their influence. 
 
 38. Religion. At the close of the preceding period, 
 we observed that religion had revived, in a degree, from 
 the injuries it suffered during the revolutionary war; and 
 we might have expected, that, under the auspices of a 
 wise and settled government, conducted by a practical 
 Christian like Washington, it would have acquired a still 
 more commanding influence. Such, however, was not 
 the fact. 
 
 As the people of the United States heartily espoused 
 the cause of the revolution in France, and sympathized 
 with that people, in their struggle for freedom, it was but 
 too natural, that the sentiments of the revolutionists, on 
 other than political subjects, should be imbibed. As the 
 French revolutionists were almost universally deists, or 
 atheists, these sentiments were extensively spread over 
 the United States. 
 
 For a time, the boldness of the enterprises, the splendor of the 
 victories, and the importance of the conqnests, achieved by the 
 French republic, promoted the extension of French infidelity in the 
 United States. " Most eyes," says Dr. D wight, ' ; were disabled 
 from seeing the nature of the purposes which the revolutionists 
 had in view, and of the characters which were exhibited on this 
 singular stage. In the agitation and amazement excited in all 
 men, few retained so steady optics as to discern, without confu- 
 sion, the necessary consequences of this stupendous shock." 
 
 Infidelity was also greatly extended, at this time, by the writ- 
 ings of Paine, Godwin, and others, which were industriously 
 circulated through the country.* The perspicuous and sim- 
 
 * Godwin's Political Justice, and Paine's Acje of Reason, powei fully 
 urged on the tide of infidelity. An enormous edition of the latter publica 
 tion was printed in France, and sent to America, to he sold for a few pence 
 only j and where it could not be bold, it was given uway. 
 
261 
 
 pie style oT Fame, his keen powers of ridicule, directed against 
 the Bibl«, kaJ above all, the gratitude which multitudes felt for 
 the aid his p*n had given to our revolution, contributed to im- 
 part to him a peculiarly powerful influence. His vicious life, 
 however, and the horrible enormities committed by the French 
 revolutionists, gave such a fearful comment upon their principles, 
 is at length, in a great measure, to bring them into discredit, and 
 to arrest their growing influence. 
 
 39. Trade and Commerce. These flourished, dur- 
 ing this period, beyond all former example. In 1797, 
 the exports of the United States, of all kinds, amounted 
 to fifty-six millions eight hundred and fifty thousand two 
 hundred and six dollars. The imports amounted to sev- 
 enty-five millions three hundred and seventy-nine thou- 
 sand four hundred and six dollars. Our vessels visited 
 every part of the world, and brought wealth and luxu- 
 ries from every country. 
 
 40. Agriculture. Aside from the importance of 
 agrl<5»i'ture, as furnishing us with the greatest portion of 
 our food, H began now to derive greater consequence, 
 as furnishing materials for our manufactures, and, still 
 more, as contributing largely to our exports. In 1796, 
 it was estimated that three fourths of the inhabitants of 
 the United States, if not a greater proportion, were em- 
 ployed in agricultural pursuits. 
 
 41. Arts and Manufactures. During this period, 
 manufactures attracted the attention of government 
 Mr. Hamilton, secretary of the treasury, made a report 
 to congress, on the subject, in which he set forth their 
 importance to the country, and urged the policy of aid 
 ing them. Since that time, the revenue laws have been 
 framed with the view to the encouragement of manu- 
 factures, and their promotion has been considered as a 
 part of the settled policy of the United States. Although 
 the flourishing state of commerce commanded the atten- 
 tion, and absorbed the capital of the country, in some 
 degree, to the exclusion of other objects, still manufac- 
 tures made considerable progress. 
 
 42. Population. The inhabitants of the United 
 
262 period vii.— 1789 to 1797. 
 
 States, at the close of this period, amounted to about 
 five millions. 
 
 43. Education. The adoption ot the federal consti- 
 tution placed the political affairs of the United States on 
 a permanent basis ; and since that period, learning has 
 flourished. 
 
 In 1791, the University of Vermont was established at Burling 
 ton ; Williams' College, Massachusetts, in 1793 ; Union College, 
 at Schenectady, New York, and Greenville College, Tennessee, 
 in 1794 ; Bowdoin College, at Brunswick, in Maine, 1796. An 
 Historical Society was formed in Massachusetts, in 1791, and in 
 corporated in 1794. It has published twenty-three volumes ot 
 documents designed to illustrate the past and present state of tho 
 country. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 44. A short time since, we were occupied in considering the 
 United States struggling for independence, under Washington, 
 as a Leader of their armies. Under his guidance, we saw them 
 triumph, and become a free nation. We have also seen them, 
 with Washington at the head of the convention, forming our ex- 
 cellent constitution. We now see them, with Washington their 
 chief magistrate, taking their place among the sovereignties of 
 the earth, and launching forth on the full tide of successful ex 
 periment. 
 
 Under Washington, as our leader, we won our independence , 
 formed our constitution ; established our government. And what 
 reward does he ask for services like these ? Does he ask a dia- 
 dem ? Does he lay his hand upon our national treasury ? Does 
 he claim to be emperor of the nation that had risen up under his 
 auspices ? No. Although " first in war, first in peace, first in the 
 hearts of his countrymen," — he sublimely retires to the peaceful 
 occupations of rural life, content with the honor of having been 
 instrumental in achieving tho independence, and securing the 
 happiness of his country. 
 
 There is no parallel in history to this ! By the side of Wash 
 ington, Alexander is degraded to a selfish destroyer of his race ; 
 Caesar becomes the dazzled votary of power; and Bonaparte, a 
 oafned aspirant to universal dominion. 
 
 Washington has been the theme of eulogy in every nation. 
 " His military successes," it has been well sard, " were more 
 solid than brilliant, and judgment, rather than enthusiasm, regu- 
 lated his conduct in battle. In the midst of the inevitable dis- 
 order of camps, and the excesses inseparable from civil war. 
 
Washington's administration. 263 
 
 humanity always found a refuge in his tent. In the morning of 
 triumph, and in the darkness of adversity, he was alike serene ; 
 at all times tranquil as wisdom and simple as virtue. After the 
 acknowledgment of American independence, when the unani- 
 mous suffrages of a free people called him to administer their 
 government, his administration, partaking of his character, was 
 mild and firm at home, noble and prudent abroad."* 
 
 * Inchiquin'a Letters. 
 
UNITED STATES 
 
 PERIOD VIII. 
 
 Extending from the Inauguration of President Adams, 
 1797, to the Inauguration of Thomas Jefferson, as 
 President of the United States, 1801. 
 
 Sec. 1. On the fourth of March, 1797, Mr. Adams, 
 in the presence of the senate, of the officers of the 
 general and state governments, and a numerous con* 
 course of spectators, took the oath of office, as president 
 of the United States. 
 
 The condition of the country, at the close of Wash- 
 ington's administration, and the commencement of Mr. 
 Adams's, was greatly improved from that of 1789, the 
 period at which the former entered upon his office. 
 
 At home, a sound c^dit had been established; an immense 
 floating debt had been funded in a manner perfectly satisfactory 
 to the creditors, and an ample revenue had been provided. 
 Those dilficulties. which a system of internal taxation, on its 
 first introduction, is doomed to encounter, were completely re- 
 moved ; and the authority of the government was firmly es- 
 tablished. 
 
 Funds for the gradual payment of the debt had been provided ; 
 a considerable part of it had actually been discharged ; and that 
 system which is now operating its entire extinction, had been 
 matured and adopted. The agricultural and commercial wealth 
 of the nation had increased beyond all former example. The 
 numerous tribes of Indians, on the west, had been taught, by 
 arms and by justice, to respect the United States, and to continue 
 in peace. 
 
f 
 
 ADAMS'S ADMINISTRATION. 265 
 
 Abroad, the differences with Spain had been accommodated 
 The free navigation of the Mississippi had been acquired, with 
 the use of New Orleans, as a place of deposit, for three years 
 and afterwards, until some equivalent place should be designated 
 
 Those causes of mutual exasperation, which had threatened 
 to involve the United States in a war with the greatest maritime 
 and commercial power in the world, had been removed ; and the 
 military posts which had been occupied within their territory, 
 from their existence as a nation, had been evacuated. Treaties 
 had been formed with Algiers and Tripoli, and no captures ap- 
 pear to have been made by Tunis ; so that the Mediterranean 
 wa3 opened to American vessels. 
 
 This bright prospect was, indeed, in part, shaded by the dis- 
 contents of France. But the causes of these discontents it had 
 been impossible to avoid, without surrendering the right of self- 
 government. Such was the situation of the United States at 
 the close of Washington's, and the commencement of Adams's 
 administration. 
 
 2. Just before Washington retired from office, learn- 
 ing that France meditated hostilities against the United 
 States, by way of depredations on her West India com- 
 merce, he had recalled Mr. Monroe, then minister to 
 that court, and despatched Gen. C. C. Pinckney, minis- 
 ter plenipotentiary, to adjust existing differences. 
 
 Immediately upon succeeding to the presidency, Mr. 
 Adams received intelligence that the French republic 
 had announced to Gen. Pinckney its determination " not 
 to receive another minister from the United States, until 
 after the redress of grievances," &c. 
 
 On the receipt of this intelligence, the president is- 
 sued his proclamation to convene congress on the 15th 
 of June. In his speech on that occasion, having stated 
 the indignity offered the United States by France, in 
 refusing to receive her minister, the president, in the 
 tone of a high-minded and independent American, urged 
 congress " to repel this indignity of the French govern- 
 ment, by a course which shall convince that government 
 and the world, that we are not a degraded people, hu- 
 miliated under a colonial spirit of fear and a sense of in- 
 feriority, fitted to be the miserable instruments of foreign 
 23 
 
266 period viii. — 1797 to 1801. 
 
 influence, and regardless of national honor, character, 
 and interest." 
 
 Notwithstanding this language, the president still 
 retained a desire for peace. Upon his recommendation, 
 three envoys extraordinary, C. C. Pinckney, Elbridge 
 Gerry, and John Marshall, were appointed to the French 
 republic, to carry into effect the pacific dispositions of 
 the United States. 
 
 3. For a considerable time, no certain intelligence 
 reached the country respecting the negotiations at Paris. 
 At length, in the winter of J 798, letters were received 
 from the American envoys, indicating an unfavorable 
 state of things ; and in the spring, despatches arrived, 
 which announced the total failure of the mission. 
 
 Before the French government would acknowledge the envoys, 
 money, by way of tribute, was demanded in explicit terms of the 
 United States This being refused, an attempt was next made to 
 excite the fears of the American ministers for their country and 
 themselves. The immense power of France was painted in 
 glowing colors, the humiliation of the house of Austria was stated, 
 and the conquest of Britain was confidently anticipated. In the 
 friendship of France alone, they were told, could America look 
 for safety. 
 
 During these transactions, occasion was repeatedly taken to 
 insult the American government; open war was continued to be 
 urged by the cruisers of France on American commerce ; and the 
 flag of the United States was a sufficient justification for the cap- 
 ture and condemnation of any vessel over which it waved. 
 
 4. Perceiving further negotiations to be in vain, con- 
 gress now proceeded to the adoption of vigorous meas- 
 ures for retaliating injuries, which had been sustained, 
 and for repelling still greater injuries, which were threat- 
 ened. Amongst these measures was the augmentation 
 of the regular army. 
 
 A regiment of artillerists and engineers was added to the per- 
 manent establishment., and the president was authorized to raise 
 welve additional regiments of infantry, and one regiment of cav- 
 nlry. He was also authorized to appoint officers for a provisional 
 army, and to receive and organize volunteer corps. 
 
 By the unanimous consent of the senate, Gen. Wash- 
 ington was appointed lieutenant-general and command 
 
ADAMS'S ADMINISTRATION. 267 
 
 er-in-chief of all the armies raised, or to be raised, in the 
 United States. 
 
 5. While preparations were thus making for war, in- 
 direct pacific overtures were communicated by the 
 French government to the president, and a willingness 
 expressed to accommodate existing differences on reason- 
 able terms. 
 
 Solicitous to restore that harmony and good under- 
 standing, which had formerly existed between the two 
 countries, the president listened to these overtures, and 
 appointed three envoys — Oliver Ellsworth, chief justice 
 of the United States; Patrick Henry,* then late govern- 
 or of Virginia ; and William Vans Murray, minister at 
 the Hague — to discuss and settle, by treaty, all contro- 
 versies between the United States and France. 
 
 On the arrival of these envoys at Paris, they found the 
 government in the hands of Bonaparte, who had not 
 been concerned in the transactions which had disturbed 
 the peace of the two countries. Negotiations were com- 
 menced, which terminated in a treaty of peace, Septem- 
 ber 30th, 1800; soon after which the provisional army 
 in America was, by order of congress, disbanded. 
 
 G. On the 14th of December, 1799, Gen. Washington 
 expired, at his seat at Mount Vernon, in Virginia, leav- 
 ing a nation to mourn his loss, and to embalm his mem- 
 ory with their tears. 
 
 Believing, at the commencement of his complaint, that its con- 
 clusion would be mortal, he economized his time in arranging, 
 with the utmost serenity, those few concerns which required his 
 attention. To his physician he expressed his conviction that he 
 was dying ; " but," said he, " / am not afraid to die." 
 
 On the arrival of the news of his death at Philadelphia, Mon- 
 day, congress immediately adjourned. On the day succeeding, 
 resolutions were adopted expressive of the grief of the member*, 
 and a committee was appointed to devise a mode by which the 
 national feelings should be expressed. 
 
 This committee, in their report, recommended that a marble 
 monument be erected by the United States, at the city of VVash- 
 
 * Before the time of embarkation, Mr. Henry died, and Gov. Davie of 
 North Carolina was appointed in his room. 
 
268 period viii.— 1797 to 1801 
 
 ington, to commemorate the great events of Washington's mill 
 tary and political life ; that a funeral oration be delivered by a 
 member of congress ; that the president be requested to write a 
 letter of condolence to Mrs. Washington; and that it be recom- 
 mended to the citizens of the United States, to wear crape on the 
 left arm for thirty days. 
 
 These resolutions passed both houses unanimously. The whole 
 nation appeared in mourning. The funeral procession at the cky 
 of Philadelphia was grand and solemn, and the eloquent oration, 
 delivered on the occasion by Gen. Henry Lee, was heard with 
 profound attention, and with deep interest. 
 
 Throughout the United States, similar marks of affliction were 
 exhibited. Funeral orations were delivered, and the best talents 
 devoted to an expression of grief, at the loss of " the man, first 
 in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his fellow citi- 
 zens." 
 
 7. In 1800, agreeably to a resolution passed in con- 
 gress in 1790, (Per. VII. Sec. 8.) the seat of government 
 was transferred from Philadelphia to the city of Wash- 
 ington, in the district of Columbia. * 
 
 The District of Columbia is a territory of ten miles square. It 
 is about three hundred miles from the sea, at the head of tide 
 water on the Potomac, which runs through it diagonally, near 
 the centre. It was ceded, in 1790, to the United States, by Mary- 
 land and Virginia, and it is under the immediate government of 
 congress. 
 
 8. On the 4th of March, 1801, Mr. Adams's term of 
 office as president would expire. Before the arrival of 
 the time for a new election, it had been pretty certainly 
 predicted, that he could not be re-elected. His admin- 
 istration, through the whole course of it, had been the 
 subject of much popular clamor, especially by the demo- 
 cratic party. But the measures, which most excited the 
 opposition of that party, and which were most success- 
 fully employed to destroy the popularity of Mr. Adams's 
 administration, and to place the government in other 
 hands, werv* several laws passed during his presidency, 
 among which were the "Alien" and "Sedition" laws. 
 
 By the " alien laic," the president was authorized to order any 
 alien, whom " he should judge dangerous to the peace and safety 
 of the United States, &c., to depart out of the territory, within 
 
ADAMS'S ADMINISTRATION. 269 
 
 Buch time " as he should judge proper, upon penalty of being 
 " imprisoned for a term not exceeding three years," &c. 
 
 The design of the " sedition laic," so called, was to punish the 
 abuse of speech, and of the press. It imposed a heavy pecuniary 
 fine, and imprisonment for a term of years, upon such as should 
 combine or conspire together to oppose any measure of govern- 
 ment ; upon such as should write, print, utter, publish, &c, " any 
 false, scandalous, and malicious writing against the government 
 of the United States, or either house ot the congress of the Uni- 
 ted States, or the president," &c. 
 
 These acts, together with others for raising a standing army, 
 and imposing a direct tax and internal duties, with other causes, 
 so increased the opposition to Mr. Adams's administration, as to 
 prevent his re-election, and greatly to weaken the strength of that 
 party to whom he owed his elevation to the presidency. 
 
 9. The strife of parties, during the term of election- 
 eering, was spirited. On canvassing the votes of the 
 electors for president, it was found that Mr. Jefferson 
 and Mr. Burr had each seventy-three votes, Mr. Adams 
 •sixty-five, and C. C. Pinckney sixty-four. As the con- 
 stitution provided that the person having the greatest 
 number of votes should be president, and Mr. Jefferson 
 and Mr. Burr having an equal number, it became the 
 duty of the house of representatives, voting by states, to 
 decide between these two gentlemen. 
 
 The ballot was taken for several days in succession, 
 February, 1S01, before a choice was made. The feder- 
 al party generally supported Mr. Burr ; the democratic 
 party Mr. Jefferson. At length, after much political heat 
 and party animosity, the choice fell upon the latter, who 
 was declared to be elected president of the United States 
 for four years, commencing March 4th, 1801. Mr. Burr 
 was elected vice-president. 
 
 As this was the first time that the election of president had 
 come before congress, since the adoption of the constitution, a 
 deep interest was taken in the subject. This interest was height- 
 ened by the excited state of parties, into which congress itself, 
 and the people of the United States, were divided. The mode 
 of proceeding to the election of president, therefore, was settled 
 in due form and solemnity. Among other rules, it was settled, 
 that, after the balloting had commenced, the house should not 
 adjourn, until a choice was made ; that the doors of the house 
 23* 
 
270 period viii.— 1797 to 1801. 
 
 shcald be closed, during the balloting, except against the officers 
 of the house ; that, in balloting, the representatives of the respec 
 tive states should be so seated, that the delegation of each state 
 should be together. The representatives of each state were to 
 ballot among themselves: duplicates of these ballots were to be 
 made, and placed in two ballot boxes. When all the states had 
 thus voted, the ballot boxes were to be carried by the sergeant 
 at-arms to two separate tables. The ballots were then to be 
 counted by tellers, eight in number, at each table. When count- 
 ed, the reports were to be announced from each table : if these 
 reports agreed, they were to be accepted, as the true votes of the 
 states ; if they differed, a new balloting was to be made. 
 
 On Wednesday, the 11th of February, the votes from the sev 
 eral electoral colleges were counted in the senate chamber, in 
 presence of both houses ; and the result was declared by the 
 president to be, no choice — Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Burr having 
 each an equal number of votes. 
 
 The question therefore devolving upon the house of representa- 
 tives, that body returned to their chamber, where seats had been 
 previously prepared for the members of the senate. A call of the 
 members of the house, arranged according to states, was then 
 made ; upon which it appeared that every member was present, 
 evcept Gen. Sumpt.er, who was unwell, and unable to attend. 
 Mr. Nicholson, of Maryland, was also unwell, but attended, and 
 had a bed prepared for him in one of the committee rooms, to 
 which place the ballot-box was carried to him, by the tellers, on 
 the part of the state. 
 
 The first ballot was eight states for Mr. Jefferson, six for Mr 
 Burr, and two divided ; which result continued to be the same 
 after balloting thirty-five times. The thirty-sixth ballot deter- 
 mined the question. 
 
 This important decision took place at twelve o'clock on the 
 17th of February, when there appeared for Mr. Jefferson ten 
 states ; for Mr. Burr four states ; and the remaining two were 
 blank ballots. The states which voted for Mr. Jefferson were, 
 Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, Mary- 
 land, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Vermont. The 
 states for Mr. Burr were, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Con- 
 necticut, and Rhode Island. The blank states were Delaware 
 and South. Carolina. 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 10. Manners. The manners of the people of the 
 United States underwent no marked change during this 
 period. 
 
ADAMS'S ADMINISTRATION. 271 
 
 11. Religion. Although infidelity does not seem to 
 have made much progress in the United States, during 
 this period, it was evident that it had taken deep root in 
 many minds. 
 
 Infidels, however, were less confident, and less ready to avow 
 their sentiments. They stood abashed before the world, at tho 
 fearful and blood-chilling horrors which their principles had 
 poured out upon France. Their doctrines were, at the same time, 
 powerfully refuted by the ablest men both in England and Ameri 
 ca. At length, they ceased to make proselytes, spoke favorably 
 of the Christian religion, generally admitted that it was absolute 
 ly necessary to good government; and error, with regard to re 
 ligion, assumed a new form. 
 
 Towards the close of this period, a revival of religion com 
 menced in New England, and seems to have been the beginning 
 of that series of revivals which have since overspread the United 
 States. Some sects, which had before regarded " revivals of re 
 ligion " with suspicion or aversion, became convinced of their 
 utility, and began to promote them. 
 
 12. Trade and Commerce. Trade and commerce 
 were still prosperous, and the remarks made in respect 
 to them, under Period VII., apply to them during this 
 period. 
 
 The exports, in 1801, were ninety-three millions twenty thou 
 sand five hundred and seventy-three dollars ; the imports, one 
 hundred and eleven millions, three hundred and sixty-three thou 
 sand five hundred and eleven dollars. 
 
 13. Agriculture. Agriculture still continued to 
 flourish. 
 
 14. Arts and Manufactures. The general remarks 
 on the preceding period, relative to this subject, apply, 
 without material alteration, to this period. 
 
 15. Population. The number of inhabitants, at the 
 close of this period, was not far from five millions five 
 hundred thousand. 
 
 J 6. Education. We have nothing particular to ob- 
 serve in relation to education. Public and private 
 schools, however, were multiplied, as the people in- 
 creased, and as new settlements were made. 
 
 In 1793, a college was founded at Lexington. Kentucky, called 
 
272 period viii.— 1797 to 1801. 
 
 the Transylvania University. Middlebury College, in Vermont, 
 was founded in 1800. At the commencement of the 18th centu- 
 ry, there was, in New England, but one college completely 
 founded, but now there were six ; in the colonies south of Con- 
 necticut, there was only one, but now there were fifteen or six 
 teen. 
 
UNITED STATES 
 
 PERIOD IX. 
 
 [STINGUISHED FOR JEFFERSON^ ADMINISTRATION 
 
 Extending from the Inauguration of President Jefferson, 
 ISO I, to the Inauguration of James Madison, as Presi 
 dent of tlie United States, 1809. 
 
 Sec. 1. On the 4th of March, 1801, Mr. Jefferson, 
 agreeably to the constitution, was regularly inducted into 
 the office of president of the United States. 
 
 2. The commencement of Mr. Jefferson's administra- 
 tion was marked by the removal of a great portion of 
 those who held responsible and lucrative offices, on the 
 ground, that they were too exclusively the friends of the 
 party opposed to that, which had elevated him to office 
 
 3. Congress met on the 8th of December. In his 
 speech at the opening of the session, the president re- 
 commended the abolition of the internal taxes ; the re- 
 peal of the act passed towards the close of Mr. Adams's 
 administration, reorganizing the United States courts, 
 and erecting sixteen new judges ; and an enlargement 
 of the rights of naturalization. The debates on these 
 several topics, in both houses of congress, were extend- 
 ed to great length, and displayed much eloquence, argu- 
 ment, and warmth. The recommendation of the presi- 
 dent, notwithstanding the opposition, prevailed, and bills 
 in accordance therewith were passed. 
 
274 period ix.— 1801 to 1809. 
 
 The internal taxes, from the time of their establishment, had 
 been extremely unpopular with the party which had elevated 
 Mr. Jefferson to the presidency. It was a favorite measure, 
 therefore, of his, to procure their abolition. 
 
 The national judicial establishment originally consisted of a 
 supreme court, with six judges, who twice a year made a tour of 
 the United States in three circuits. Under this arrangement, 
 great inconveniences were experienced by the court, the bar, 
 and the suitors. The new arrangement in the judicial system, 
 and the increase of judges at the close of Mr. Adams's term, had 
 excited, in a large portion of the citizens, the hope of a more 
 prompt and impartial administration of justice. To that portion 
 of the community, the repealing act was a painful disappoint 
 ment. 
 
 4. In 1S02, Ohio was admitted, by act of congress, 
 as an independent state, into the Union. 
 
 The state of Ohio derived its name from the river Ohio, which 
 sweeps the south-eastern border of the state. 
 
 Until 17S7,itwas inhabited only by Indians, a few Moravians, 
 and trespassers on lands belonging to the public. By virtue of 
 her charter, the territory was claimed by Virginia, and held by 
 her, although the original charter of Connecticut, extending west 
 to the Pacific ocean, included a great part of it. 
 
 In 1781, the legislature of Virginia ceded to the United States 
 all her rights to the territory north-west of the river Ohio, ex- 
 cepting some few military tracts. In 1788, the first settlement 
 was begun at Marietta, under Gen. Rufus Putnam, from New 
 England. It had been, the year before, erected into one district, 
 including the present territories of Michigan, Illinois, and In- 
 diana. 
 
 Until 1795, the settlement of Ohio was retarded by constant 
 wars with the Indians. But at that time, a general peace with 
 the different tribes being effected, by Gen. Wayne, under Wash- 
 ington, the population of the territory rapidly increased by emi- 
 grations from Europe, and still more from New England. 
 
 5. In July, 1804, occurred the death of Gen. Alexan- 
 der Hamilton, who fell in a duel fought with Aaron Burr, 
 vice-president of the United States. 
 
 Col. Burr had addressed a letter to Gen. Hamilton, in which 
 he demanded a denial or acknowledgment, on the part of the 
 latter, of certain offensive expressions, contained in a public pa- 
 per. Hamilton, declining to give either, was challenged by 
 Burr. Although averse, from principle, to this mode of settling 
 personal controversies, in an evil moment, Hamilton, actuated 
 by a false sense of honor, accepted the challenge, and, on meet 
 
jkfferson's administration. 275 
 
 ing his enemy, fell by means of his first fire. Among his personal 
 and political friends, his death caused a deep sensation. The 
 people of New York city, in which he resided, paid him extra- 
 ordinary honors. Few men have shone with greater brilliancy 
 in our country ; few have been gifted with a more powerful elo- 
 cpience, or have been more justly respected for their talents or 
 attainments. 
 
 G. Mr. Jefferson's first term of office ending this year, 
 a new election took place, at which he was re-chosen 
 president, and on the 4th of March again took the oath 
 of office. George Clinton, of New York, was elected 
 vice-president. 
 
 7. During the year which commenced the second of 
 Mr. JfFerson's presidency, a war, which had been con- 
 tinued for several years between the United States and 
 Tripo) , was concluded, and a treaty of peace negotiated 
 by Co' Lear, between the two countries, by which the 
 Tripo tan and American prisoners were exchanged, 
 and i*\e sum of sixty thousand dollars given to the 
 paclv . 
 
 Tin history of this war deserves a place in these pages. The 
 coinm Tee of the United States had been long annoyed by the 
 Tripo'ttan cruisers — many merchantmen had been taken, and 
 their Tews imprisoned and cruelly treated. 
 
 As «arlv as Id 3, a squadron under Com. Preble had been sent 
 to tb«B Mediterranean, to protect the American commerce, and to 
 brinj/ the corsairs to submission. During the same year, Capt. 
 Bainbridge, in the Philadelphia', joined Com. Preble, and, in 
 chasing a cruiser into the harbor of Tripoli, grounded his vessel; 
 and lie and his crew were taken prisoners. 
 
 Shortly after the surrender of the Philadelphia, the Tripolitans 
 got her ailoat. and warped her into the outward harbor. In this 
 situation, Lieutenant, afterwards Commodore Decatur, conceived 
 the bold plan of attempting to set her on fire. He had the day 
 -before captured a small xebec, laden with fruit and oil, which 
 was bound to Tripoli ; and having on board the Enterprise, which 
 he commanded, an old pilot, who understood the Tripolitan lan- 
 guage, he suggested his plan to Commodore Preble, who ap- 
 proved of it. lie would accept of only twenty men, although a 
 much greater number volunteered, and but one officer, Mr. Mor- 
 ris, a midshipman. With these men, concealed in the bottom oi 
 the xebec, on the approach of night, he sailed for the Philadel- 
 phia, taking with him the old pilot. On approaching the frigate, 
 
276 period ix.— 1801 to 1809. 
 
 the xebec was hailed, when the pilot answered, that he had lost 
 his cable and anchor, and begged premission to make fast to the 
 frigate until the morning. This the crew refused, but said he 
 might make fast to their stern hawser, until they sent a boat tc 
 the admiral for leave. 
 
 As the boat put off for the shore, Lieut. Decatur, with his brave 
 companions, leaped on board the frigate, and in a few minutes 
 swept the deck of every Tripolitan. Of fifty, not one reached 
 the shore. The frigate was now set on fire, and while the flames 
 rose, to spread consternation among the Tripolitans, they served 
 to lighten the heroic Decatur and his band back in safety to the 
 American squadron. Of the party, not one was killed, and but 
 one wounded. This was a seaman who saved the life of his 
 commander. In the first desperate struggle on board the Phila- 
 delphia, Decatur was disarmed, and fell. A sabre was already 
 lifted to strike the fatal blow, when this seaman, observing the 
 perilous situation of his officer, reached forward and received the 
 blow of the sabre on his arm. 
 
 In consequence of the burning of the Philadelphia, the suffer- 
 ings of Commodore Bainbridge and his crew, as well as those ot 
 other Americans in captivity at Tripoli, were greatly increased. 
 The accounts of their sufferings, transmitted to the United States, 
 excited the sympathy of all classes, and a general cry for exer- 
 tions to effect their deliverance was heard from all parts of the 
 Union. 
 
 It happened, that some time before this, the then reigning 
 bashaw of Tripoli, Jussuf, third son of the l*fe bashaw, had mur- 
 dered his father and eldest brother, and proposed to murder the 
 second, in order to possess himself of the throne. But the latter, 
 Hamet Caramelli, made his escape, and Jussuf, without farther 
 opposition, usurped the government. 
 
 Hamet took refuge in Egypt, where he was kindly treated by 
 the beys. Here he was, on the arrival of an accredited agent of 
 the United States, Gen. Eaton, who revived his almost expiring 
 hopes of regaining his rightful kingdom. 
 
 Gen. Eaton had been consul for the United States up the 
 Mediterranean, and was returning home when he' heard of the 
 situation of Hamet. Conceiving a plan of liberating the Ameri- 
 cans in captivity at Tripoli, by means of the assistance of Hamet, 
 and, at the same time, of restoring this-exile to his throne, he 
 ndvised with Hamet, who readily listened to the project, and 
 gave his co-operation. 
 
 A convention was accordingly entered into between Gen. 
 Eaton, on the part of the United States, and Hamet, by which 
 the latter stipulated much in favor of the Americans, and was 
 promised to be restored to his throne. 
 
 With a small force, consisting of seamen from the American 
 squadron, the followers of Hamet, and some Egyptian troops, 
 
jrpperson's administration. 277 
 
 Gen. Eaton and Hamet, with incredible toil and suffering, passed 
 the desert of Barca, and took possession of Dern-5, the capital of 
 a large province belonging to the kingdom of Tripoli. The 
 forces of Eaton were now so much increased, and the cause of 
 Hamet had become so popular, that the prospect was flattering ot 
 his being able to reduce the city of Tripoli, and of effecting the 
 liberation of the captives without ransom. 
 
 The success of Eaton struck the usurper .Tussuf with terror. 
 Trembling for his fate in this juncture, he proposed to Mr. Lear, 
 the consul-general of America, then in the Mediterranean, to 
 enter into negotiation. Mr. Lear, who was authorized to enter 
 into negotiation, accepted the proposal, although he knew of the 
 success of Eaton and Hamet, and a treaty ensued. Eaton and 
 Hamet were consequently arrested in the prosecution of their 
 purpose, and the unfortunate exile failed of his promised restora- 
 tion to the throne. 
 
 In 1805, Hamet visited the United States, with the expectation 
 of obtaining some remuneration for his services from America, 
 and for her failure in fulfilling her stipulations to him by Gen. 
 Eaton. A proposition to this effect was brought before congress, 
 but, after much discussion, was rejected. 
 
 8. During this year, 1805, Michigan became a dis- 
 tinct territorial government of the United States. 
 
 . The Michigan territory, when first discovered by the whites, 
 was inhabited by the Hamns. a tribe of Indians, many of whom 
 were converted to Ch/istianity by the Jesuit missionaries in 1648. 
 About the year 1670, the Hurons were defeated and dispersed 
 by the Six Nations, about which time, the French took posses- 
 , eion of the territory, and built a fort at Detroit, and another at 
 ' Michillimackinac. Little, however, was done by the French 
 to settle the country. 
 
 At the peace of 1763, the territory was ceded by the French 
 to Great Britain, and by the latter to the United States in 1783. 
 Until 1787, it remained in the same state of nature, without a 
 government or any considerable settlements; but at this time, 
 the several states which had claims upon it, ceded them to the 
 United States, and a territorial government was instituted over 
 all the territory north-west of the Ohio. 
 
 This territory remained under one government until 1500, 
 when the present state of Ohio was detached, and made a distinct 
 government. This was followed, in 1801, by a further separat ion 
 of Indiana and Illinois: and, in 1805, Michigan was also de- 
 tached, and was erected into a distinct territorial government. 
 Gen. Hull was appointed by Mr. Jefferson the first governor. 
 
 9. In the autumn of 1806, a project was detected, at 
 the head of which was Col. Burr, for revolutionizing 
 
 24 
 
278 period ix.— ISO 1 to 1809. 
 
 the territory west of the Alleganies, and of establishing 
 an independent empire there, of which New Orleans 
 was to be the capital, and himself the chief. Towards 
 the accomplishment of this scheme, which, it afterwards 
 appeared, had been some time in contemplation, the 
 skilful cunning and intrigue of Col. Burr were directed 
 Happily, however, government, being apprized of his 
 designs, arrested him, while as yet he had few adherents, 
 and before his standard was raised. He was brought to 
 trial at Richmond, on a charge of treason committed 
 within the district of Virginia ; but, no overt act being 
 proved against him in that state, he was released. 
 
 In addition to this project, Col. Burr had formed another, which, 
 in case of failure in the first, might be carried on independently 
 of it : — this waa an attack on Mexico, and the establishment of 
 an empire there. A third object was provided, merely ostensible, 
 to wit, the settlement of the pretended purchase of a tract of 
 country on the Washita, claimed by a Baron Bastrop. This was 
 to serve as a pretext for all his preparations, an allurement for 
 such followers as really wished to acquire settlements in that 
 country, and a cover under which to retreat in the event of a 
 final discomfiture of both branches of his real designs. 
 
 lie found at once that the attachment of the western country 
 to the present Union was not to be shaken ; that its dissolution 
 could not be effected with the consent of the inhabitants ; and 
 that his resources were inadequate, as yet, to effect it by force. 
 He determined, therefore, to seize New Orleans, plunder the 
 bank there, possess himself of the military and naval stores, and 
 proceed on his expedition to Mexico. 
 
 He collected, therefore, from all quarters, where himself or his 
 agents possessed influence, all the ardent, restless, desperate, 
 disaffected persons, who were for an enterprise analogous to their 
 characters. He also seduced good, well-meaning citizens, some 
 by assurances that he possessed the confidence of the govern- 
 ment, and was acting under its secret patronage ; and others by 
 oilers cf land in Bastrop's claim in the Washita. 
 
 10. 1806. To understand the subsequent political 
 history of the United States, and those measures of gov- 
 ernment, which were taken in relation to foreign powers, 
 it is necessary to glance at the state of the European 
 nations, at this period — particularly that of England and 
 France. These two countries were now at war with 
 
 
JEFFEKSON'S ADMINISTRATION. 279 
 
 ! each other, and in their controversies had involved most 
 j of the continental powers. Towards the belligerents, 
 1 America was endeavoring to maintain a neutrality, and 
 peaceably to continue a commerce with them. It was 
 hardly to be expected, however, that jealousies would not 
 arise, between the contending powers, in relation to the 
 conduct of America, and that events would not occur, 
 calculated to injure her commerce, and disturb her peace. 
 In addition to these circumstances, a controversy had 
 long existed, and continued to exist, between the United 
 States and Great Britain, in respect to the right of 
 searching neutral ships and impressing seamen. Great 
 Britain claimed it as among her prerogatives to take 
 her native born subjects, wherever found, for her navy, 
 i and of searching American vessels for that purpose. 
 As yet, no adjustment of this controversy had been ef- 
 fected. Notwithstanding the remonstrances of the 
 American government, the officers of the British navy 
 not unfrequeMtly seized native born British subjects, who 
 had voluntarily enlisted on board our vessels. They also 
 impressed into the British service some thousands of 
 American seamen. 
 
 11. May lGth, 1S06, the British government issued 
 an order in council, declaring the ports and rivers from 
 the Elbe, a river in Germany, to Brest, a town of France, 
 to be in a state of blockade. By this order, American 
 vessels, trading to these and intervening ports, were lia- 
 ble to seizure and condemnation. 
 
 12. In the ensuing November, 180G, Bonaparte issued 
 his celebrated decree at Berlin, called the "Berlin decree" 
 by which all the British islands were declared to be in 
 a state of blockade, and all intercourse with them was 
 prohibited. This decree violated the treaty between the 
 United States and France, and the law of nations. 
 
 The following are the principal articles of that decree, which 
 related to the obstruction of American commerce : — 
 
 1. The British islands are in a state of blockade. 
 
 2. All commerce and correspondence with them is prohibited. 
 
 3. No vessel coming directly from England, or her colonies, 
 
280 period ix 801 to 1809. 
 
 or having been there since the publication of this decree, shall 
 be admitted into any port. 
 
 13. This decree of Bonaparte, at Berlin, was in part 
 retaliated by the British government, in an order of 
 council, issued January 7th, 1S07, by which all coasting 
 trade with France was prohibited. 
 
 " Whereas the French government has issued certain orders?, 
 which purport to prohibit the commerce of all neutral nations 
 with his majesty's dominions," &c. — " his majesty is pleased to 
 order, that no vessels shall be permitted to trade from one port to 
 another, both which ports shall belong to, or be in possession of, 
 France or her allies, or shall be so far under their control as that 
 British vessels may not freely trade there; t," &-c, on pain of 
 capture and condemnation. 
 
 14. While measures were thus taking by France and 
 England, whose tendency was to injure American com- 
 merce, and to involve her in a controversy with both, an 
 event occurred, which filled the American people with 
 indignation, and called for immediate executive notice. 
 This was an attack upon the American frigate Chesa- 
 peake, Commodore Barron, off the capes of Virginia, 
 by the British frigate Leopard, of* fifty guns. The at- 
 tack was occasioned by the refusal of Commodore Bar- 
 ron to surrender several seamen, who had deserted from 
 the British armed ship Melampus, a short time previous, 
 and had voluntarily enlisted on board the Chesapeake. 
 After crippling the American frigate, which made no 
 resistance, the commander of the Leopard took from 
 her the seamen in question, two of whom had been 
 proved to be American citizens. 
 
 The persons who deserted from the Melampus, then lying in 
 Hampton roads, were William Ware, Daniel Martin, John Stra- 
 chan, John Little, and Ambrose Watts. Within a month from 
 their escape from the Melampus, the first three of these desert- 
 ers offered themselves for enlistment, and were received on 
 board the Chesapeake, then at Norfolk, Virginia, preparing 
 for sea. 
 
 The British consul at Norfolk, being apprized of this circum- 
 stance, wrote a letter to the American naval officer, requesting 
 these men to be returned. With this request the officer refusing 
 
JEFFERSON S ADMINISTRATION. 281 
 
 to comply, the British agent lost no time in endeavoring to pio- 
 eure an order from government for their surrender. In conse- 
 quence of this application, the secretary of the navy ordered an 
 examination into the characters and claims of the men in ques- 
 tion. The required examination resulted in proof that Ware, 
 Martin, and Strachan, were natives of America. The two former 
 had protections, or notarial certificates of their being American 
 citizens. Strachan had no protection, but asserted that he lost it 
 previously to his escape. Such being the circumstances of the 
 men, the government refused to surrender them. 
 
 On the 22d of June, the Chesapeake weighed anchor, and 
 proceeded to sea. She passed the British ships Bellona and 
 Melampus, lying in Lynnhaven bay, whose appearance was 
 friendly. There were two other ships that lay off Cape Henry, 
 one of which, the Leopard, Capt. Humphreys, weighed anchor, 
 and, in a few hours, came alongside the Chesapeake. 
 
 A British officer immediately came on board, and demanded 
 the deserters. To this, Capt. Barron replied, that he did not 
 know of any being there, and that his duty forbade him to allow 
 of any muster of his crew except by their own officers. 
 
 During this interview, Barron noticed some proceedings of a 
 hostile nature on board the adverse ship, but he could not be per- 
 suaded that any thing but menace was intended by them. Af- 
 ter the British officer departed, he gave orders to clear his gun- 
 deck, and after some time, he directed his men to their quarters, 
 secretly, and without beat of drum ; still, however, without any 
 serious apprehensions of an attack. 
 
 Before these orders could be executed, the Leopard com- 
 menced a heavy fire. This fire, unfortunately, was very destruc- 
 tive. In about thirty minutes, the hull, rigging, and spars of the 
 Chesapeake, were greatly damaged, three men were killed and 
 sixteen wounded ; among the latter was the captain himself. 
 Such was the previous disorder, that, during this time, the ut- 
 most exertions were insufficient to prepare the ship for action- 
 and the captain thought proper to strike his colors. 
 
 The British captain refused to accept the surrender of the 
 Chesapeake, but took from her crew, Ware, Martin, and Strachan, 
 the three men formerly demanded as deserters, and a fourth, 
 John Wilson, claimed as a runaway from a merchant ship. 
 
 15. Such was the agitation of the public mind, in 
 consequence of this outrage committed on the Chesa- 
 peake, that the president, on the 2d of July, issued his 
 proclamation, ordering all British armed vessels to leave 
 the waters of the United States, and forbidding them to 
 enter, until satisfaction for the attack on the Chesapeake 
 should be made by the British government. About the 
 24* 
 
282 period ix.— 1801 to 1809. 
 
 same time, instructions were forwarded to the American 
 minister in England, Mr. Monroe, to demand reparation 
 for the unauthorized attack upon the Chesapeake, and, as 
 an essential part of that reparation, security against future 
 impressments from American ships. The British min- 
 ister, Mr. Canning, however, protested against conjoin- 
 ing the general question concerning the impressment of 
 persons from neutral merchant ships, with the particular 
 affray between the Leopard and the Chesapeake. 
 
 Mr. Monroe not being authorized to treat these sub- 
 jects separately, further negotiation between these two 
 ministers was suspended, and Mr. Rose was appointed 
 by the British government, as a special minister to the 
 United States, empowered to treat concerning the par- 
 ticular injury complained of, but not to discuss the gen- 
 eral question of impressing persons from merchant 
 ships. 
 
 10. While such measures were taking in England, in 
 relation to the affair of the Chesapeake, congress, which 
 had been summoned by proclamation of the president, 
 met on the 27th of October. 
 
 In his message to congress at this time, the president entered 
 fully into the state of our relations with Great Britain — informed 
 them of a treaty which had been negotiated with the British 
 government, by Messrs. Monroe and Pinckney, but which he had 
 rejected, principally because it made no sufficient provision on th< 
 subject of impressments — stated the affair of the attack on thf 
 Chesapeake — his proclamation to British armed vessels to quit th» 
 waters of the United States — his instructions to the American 
 minister at London, in relation to reparation expected from the 
 British government, and his expectation of speedily hearing 
 from England the result of the measures which had been taken. 
 
 17. On the 11th of November were issued, at London, 
 the celebrated British Orders in Council, retaliatory 
 upon the French government for the Berlin decree of 
 November, 1806. By these orders in council, France 
 and her allies, all nations at war with Great Britain, and 
 all places from which the British flag is excluded, were 
 declared to be under the same restrictions in point of 
 
Jefferson's administration. 283 
 
 trade and navigation, as if the same were in a state of 
 I blockade. 
 
 18. Before the arrival of Mr. Rose, congress was sed- 
 ulously employed in considering the state of the nation, 
 and in making provision for putting the country in a 
 posture of defence. 
 
 Acts passed, appropriating one million of dollars to be employed 
 by the president in equipping one hundred thousand of the national 
 militia ; eight hundred and fifty-two thousand five hundred dollars 
 for building one hundred and eighty-eight gun-boats ; one million 
 of dollars for building, repairing, and completing fortifications, 
 and for raising six thousand six nundred men, infantry, riflemen, 
 artillery, and dragoons, as an addition to the standing army. On 
 the 2?d of December, an act passed, laying an evihargo on all 
 vessels within the jurisdiction of the United States. 
 
 19. On the 17th of December, Bonaparte, by way of 
 retaliating the British orders in council, issued a decree, 
 called " the Milan decree" declaring every vessel dena- 
 tionalized, which shall have submitted to a search by a 
 British ship ; and every vessel a good prize, which shall 
 sail to or from Great Britain, or any of its colonies, or 
 
 i countries, occupied by British troops. 
 
 20. Mr. Rose arrived in America on the 25th of De 
 cember. The American minister was soon after informed 
 
 I that he, Mr. Rose, was expressly forbidden by his gov- 
 I ernment to make any proposal, touching the great sub- 
 i ject of complaint, so long as the president's proclama- 
 tion of July 2d, excluding British armed vessels from 
 the waters of the United States, should be in force. 
 
 For a time, the president refused to annul this procla- 
 mation, till the atonement was not only solemnly of- 
 fered, but formally accepted ; but, in order to elude this 
 difficulty, he finally agreed to revoke his proclamation, 
 on the day of the date of the act, or treaty, by which 
 reparation should be made for the recent violence. This 
 concession, however, was built on two conditions : first, 
 the terms of reparation which the minister was charged 
 to offer, must be previously made known ; and, sec- 
 ondly, they must be such as by the president should be 
 accounted satisfactory. 
 
284 PERIOD IX.— ISUI TO 1809. 
 
 But as the British minister declined to offer, or even 
 to mention, the redress of which he was the bearer, till 
 the American proclamation was recalled, and the presi- 
 dent deeming its recall inexpedient, the controversy, for 
 the present, closed. 
 
 The controversy respecting the Chesapeake was finally adjust 
 ed in November, 1811, at which time the British minister com- 
 municated to the secretary of state, that the attack on the Ches- 
 apeake was unauthorized by his majesty's government; that the 
 officer, at that time in command on the American coast, had been 
 recalled ; that the men taken from the Chesapeake should be re- 
 stored ; and that suitable pecuniary provision should be made for 
 those who suffered in the attack, and for the families of the sea 
 men that fell. To these propositions the president acceded. 
 
 21. The difficulties with France and England, regard- 
 ing commerce, still continuing, and the existing embargo 
 having failed to coerce these powers, as was anticipated, 
 into an acknowledgment of our rights, a more complete 
 stop to our intercourse with them was deemed advisa- 
 ble by congress. Accordingly, on the 1st of March, 
 congress interdicted, by law, all trade and intercourse 
 with France and England. 
 
 22. Mr. Jefferson's second term of office expired on 
 the 3d of March. Having previously declined a re- 
 election, James Madison was chosen president, and 
 George Clinton vice-president. 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 23. Manners. The bitterness of party spirit, which 
 had now raged in the United States for some years, be- 
 gan to have a visible effect upon society. It interrupted, 
 to no small extent, the general harmony, and even re- 
 strained the intercourse of friends and neighborhoods. 
 The strife for power also introduced a disposition to in- 
 trigue ; political cunning became fashionable, and polit- 
 ical duplicity lost much of its deformity. These things 
 necessarily affected the state of manners. They with- 
 drew the finger of derision, which used to point at mean- 
 
jefferson's administration. 285 
 
 ness of all kinds, and blunted that love of honor, and 
 I manliness of conduct, which existed before. Cunning 
 j began to take the place of wisdom ; professions answered 
 
 instead of deeds ; and duplicity stalked forth with the 
 
 boldness of integrity. 
 
 24. Religion. Powerful revivals of religion per- 
 vaded the country, during this period, and tended 
 strongly to prevent open infidelity, and to check the tide 
 of pollution, which was invisibly spread over the land. 
 
 25. Trade and Commerce. Trade and commerce 
 made great advances about the year 1803. The Euro- 
 pean powers being involved in war, and the United 
 States remaining neutral, our vessels carried to Europe, 
 not only the produce of our own country, but also the 
 pre luce of other countries. This is usually called the 
 cat vying trade, and was very profitable to the country. 
 
 In 1^05,6, and 7, our average annual exports amounted to one 
 hundred and two millions five hundred and sixty-seven thousand 
 four hundred and fifty-four dollars, of which forty-four millions 
 eight hundred and sixty -three thousand five hundred and seventeen 
 dollars, were for domestic produce ; and fifty-seven millions seven 
 hundred and one thousand nine hundred and thirty-seven dollars, 
 for foreign produce. The annual average of imports during these 
 three years amounted to about one hundred and forty millions of 
 dollars; a large proportion of the articles forming this amount, 
 were re-exported to the West Indies, South America, and 
 elsewhere. , 
 
 After the year 1S07, the commercial restrictions laid by France 
 and England, began to curtail our trade ; and the embargo im- 
 posed at the close of the same year by our government, interrupt- 
 J ed it still more essentially. 
 
 26. Agriculture. Agriculture, during a part of this 
 j period, received great encouragement from our foreign 
 
 trade. Europe being involved in contentions, the people 
 had little leisure there to cultivate the soil ; they were 
 therefore supplied from other countries, and the United 
 
 I States furnished them with a great amount, and were 
 thence deriving great profits, when the commercial re- 
 
 i strictions interrupted the trade. 
 
 The first merino sheep were introduced into the country, in 
 
 I 2802, by Robert R. Livingston, and, the same year, a greater 
 
280 period ix.— 1801 to 1809. 
 
 number, one hundred, by General Humphreys, then late minis 
 ter to Spain. Great attention was paid to the breeding of them, 
 and they are now numerous in the United States. 
 
 27. Arts and Manufactures. Arts and manufac 
 tures still progressed. 
 
 28. Population. The population of the Lnited 
 States, at the close of Mr. Jefferson's administration, 
 was about seven millions. 
 
 29. Education. The enlightened views respecting the 
 importance of general information, entertained before, 
 continued to prevail. New literary and scientific pub- 
 lications were commenced ; more enlightened methods 
 of instruction were adopted ; academies were multiplied ; 
 colleges founded ; and theological seminaries liberally 
 endowed. 
 
 A theological Seminary was founded at Andover, Massachu 
 setts, in 1808. The amount which has been contributed for its 
 permanent use, and which was given by six families, is more 
 than three hundred thousand dollars. This sum includes the 
 permanent fund, library, and public buildings. In 1822, the of- 
 ficers were four professors, and the number of students, one hun- 
 dred and thirty-two. The library contains about five thousand 
 volumes. A majority of the students are supported, in whole oi 
 in part, by charity. 
 
 
UNITED STATES. 
 
 PERIOD X. 
 
 DISTINGUISHED FOR MADISON S ADMINISTRATION, 
 AND THE LATE WAR WITH GREAT BRITAIN. 
 
 Extending from the Inauguration of President 3Iadi- 
 son, 1809, to the Inauguration of James Monroe, as 
 President of the United States, 1817 
 
 Ser. 1. On the 4th of March, 1809, Mr. Madison was 
 inducted into the office of president of the United 
 States, according to the foim prescribed by the consti- 
 tution. 
 
 The condition of the United States, on the accession of Mr. 
 Madison to the presidency, was in several respects gloomy and 
 critical. The two great powers of Europe, France and England, 
 Oeing still at war, were continuing to array against each other 
 violent commercial edicts, both in contravention of the laws of 
 nations, and of their own solemn treaties; and calculated to in- 
 jure and destroy the commerce of nations desirous of preserving 
 a neutrality. America was also further suffering under the restric- 
 tions of commerce, imposed by her own government. Every effort 
 to secure the due observance of her rights, from the contending 
 powers, had hitherto failed, and the sad alternative was present- 
 ing itself to the American people, either to suffer the evils grow 
 ing out of foreign and domestic restrictions, or to take up arms, 
 and risk the consequence of a war with the belligerents. 
 
 2. Previously to the adjournment of the last congress, 
 under Mr. Jefferson, an act passed, as already noticed, 
 1st of March, repealing the then existinnr embargo, and 
 interdicting commercial intercourse with France and 
 
288 period x.— 1809 to 1817. 
 
 Great Britain. If either of these powers, however, should 
 revoke its hostile edicts, the president was authorized to 
 renew the intercourse, in regard to the nation so re- 
 voking. 
 
 In April, Mr. Erskine, the British minister at Wash- 
 ington, engaged, on the part of his government, that the 
 orders in council, so far as they affected the United 
 States, should be withdrawn on the 10th of June ; and 
 the president immediately issued the proclamation pre- 
 scribed by law. 
 
 This event produced the highest satisfaction through- 
 out the country ; but was speedily followed by a disap- 
 pointment as great. The British government denied the 
 authority of Air. Erskine to enter into any such stipula- 
 tions, and refused its ratification. On learning this re- 
 fusal, the president issued his proclamation, August 10th, 
 renewing the non-intercourse with Great Britain. 
 
 3. Early in September, Mr. Jackson arriving at Wash- 
 ington, as successor of Mr. Erskine, a correspondence 
 was opened between this minister and the secretary of 
 state, which, after continuing several weeks, was sud- 
 denly closed by the president, on account of an alleged 
 insult on the part of Mr. Jackson. 
 
 4. 1810. On the 23d of March, Bonaparte issued a 
 decree, usually called the " Rambouillet decree," de- 
 signed to retaliate the act of congress, passed March 1st, 
 1809, which forbade French vessels entering the ports 
 of the United States. By the above decree, all Ameri- 
 can vessels and cargoes, arriving in any of the ports of 
 France, or of countries occupied by French troops, were 
 ordered to be seized and condemned. 
 
 5. On the 1st of May, congress passed an act, ex- 
 cluding British and French armed vessels from the wa- 
 ters of the United States ; but, at the same time, pro- 
 viding, that, in case either of the above nations should 
 modify its edicts before the 3d of March, 1811, so that 
 they should cease to violate neutral commerce, of whieh 
 fact the president was to give notice by proclamation, 
 
Madison's administration. 289 
 
 and the other nation should not, within three months 
 after, pursue a similar step, commercial intercourse with 
 the former might be renewed, but not with the latter. 
 
 (). In consequence of this act of the American gov- 
 ernment, the French minister, the Duke of Cadore, at 
 Paris, informed the American minister, Mr. Armstrong, 
 then in France, that the Berlin and Milan decrees were 
 revoked, and that, from and after the 1st of November, 
 they would cease to have effect. But, at the same time, 
 it was subjoined, that it was " understood, that, in conse- 
 quence of this declaration, the English shall revoke their 
 orders in council," &lc. About the same time, it was 
 announced, that the Rambouillet decree had also been 
 rescinded. 
 
 Although the condition subjoined to the Duke of Ca- 
 dore's declaration rendered it doubtful whether the Ber- 
 lin and Milan decrees would in fact cease to take effect 
 after the 1st of November, the president issued his proc- 
 lamation on the 2d of that month, declaring that those 
 decrees were revoked, and that intercourse between the 
 United States and France might be renewed. 
 
 7. While the affairs of America, in relation to the 
 belligerents, were in this posture, an unhappy engage- 
 ment took place, May, 1811, between the American 
 frigate President, commanded by Captain Rodgers, and 
 a British sloop-of-war, the Little Belt, commanded by 
 Captain Bingham The attack was commenced by the 
 latter vessel, without provocation, and, in the rencontre, 
 she suffered greatly in her men and rigging. 
 
 A court of inquiry was ordered on the conduct of Capt. Rod- 
 gers, which decided that it had been satisfactorily proved to the 
 court, that Capt. Rodgers hailed the Little Belt first — that his 
 hail was not satisfactorily answered — that the Little Belt fired 
 tlie first gun — and that it was without previous provocation, or 
 justifiable cause, &c. &c. 
 
 8. Congress was assembled by proclamation on the 
 5th of November. In his message, at the opening of 
 the session, the president indicated the expectation of 
 
 25 
 
200 PERIOD X.— IStm TO 15(7. 
 
 hostilities with Great Britain at no distant period, since 
 her Orders in council, instead of being withdrawn, were, 
 when least to have been expected, put into more rigor- 
 ous execution. 
 
 9. In December, the president communicated to con- 
 gress an official account of the battle of " Tippecanoe" — 
 near a branch of the Wabash — fought November 7th, 
 between an army under Gen. Harrison, governor of *he 
 Indiana Territory, and a large body of Indians, in which 
 the latter were defeated. 
 
 The attack was commenced by the Indians, abont four o'clock 
 in the morning, while the army of Harrison were in a measure 
 unprepared. But, notwithstanding this disadvantage, after a 
 hard-fought action, the Indians were repulsed with a loss of near- 
 ly seventy killed, and upwards of a hundred wounded. The loss 
 of the Americans was severe, being, according to official return, 
 one hundred and eighty-eight in killed and wounded. 
 
 !0. During the following year, 1812, Louisiana was 
 admitted into the Union as a sovereign state. 
 
 Until the year 1811, Louisiana comprehended that vast tract of 
 country which was ceded to the United States by France, in 
 180!?. At that, time, however, the Territory of Orleans, wliicji 
 was then a distinct territorial government, assumed the name ot 
 Louisiana, and was admitted, the following year, as a state, into 
 the Union ; since which time, the remaining portion of original 
 Louisiana has received distinct denominations. 
 
 Louisiana was first discovered in 1541, by Ferdinand de Soto. 
 li l(>83. Monsieur de la Salle, an enterprising Frenchman, sail 
 ed up the Mississippi a considerable distance, and named the 
 country Louisiana;, in honor of Louis XLV. A French settle- 
 ment was begun in 1 ()!»!>, by M. d'lbberviUe, in Lower Louisiana, 
 near the mouth of the river Perdido. The progress of the colony 
 was si "»w. In 1712, although twenty-five hundred emigrants had 
 arrived, only four hundred whites and twenty negroes were alive. 
 
 About this time, the French government made a grant of the 
 country to M. de Crozat for a term of ten years ; but after five 
 years, he relinquished his patent to the Mississippi company. In 
 the same year, 1717, the city of Orleans was founded. 
 
 By the treaty of 170*3, all Louisiana east of the Mississippi was 
 ceded to England, together with Mobile, and all the possessions 
 of France in that quarter. About the same time, the possessions 
 of France west of the M'ssissippi were secretly ceded to Spain 
 <Vi'Ur l.Ue cession to Great Britain, that part of the territory \\ hich 
 
madison's administration. 291 
 
 lay west of the Mississippi received the name of West Florida 
 On the breaking out of the revolutionary war, Spain, after con 
 sideruble hesitation, took part with the United States, incited, 
 probably, by the hope of regaining her possessions east of the 
 Mississippi. In 1779, Galvoy, the governor of Louisiana, took 
 possession of Baton Rouge ; and the other settlements of the 
 English in Florida surrendered successively. By the treaty ol 
 1783, the Mississippi was made the western boundary of the Uni- 
 ted States from its source to the 31st degree of latitude, and fol- 
 lowing this line to the St. Mary's. By a treaty of the same date, 
 the Floridas were ceded to Spain without any specific boundaries. 
 This omission led to a controversy between the United States 
 and Spain, which nearly terminated in hostilities. By a treaty 
 with Spain, however, in 1795, boundary lines were amicably set- 
 tled, and New Orleans was granted to American citizens as a 
 place of deposit for their effects for three years and longer, un- 
 less some other place of equal importance should be assigned. 
 No other place being assigned within that time, New Orleans 
 continued to be used as before. 
 
 In 1800, a secret treaty was signed at Paris, by the plenipo- 
 tentiaries of France and Spain, by which Louisiana was guar- 
 antied to France, and, in 1801, the cession was actually made 
 At the same time, the Spanish intendant of Louisiana was in- 
 structed to make arrangements to deliver the country to the 
 f French commissioners. In violation of the treaty of Spain with 
 i the United States, the intendant, by his proclamation of October, 
 ' I 1802, forbade American citizens any longer to deposit merchan 
 I I dize in the port of New Orleans. Upon receiving intelligence 
 i j of this prohibition", great sensibility prevailed in congress, and a 
 proposition was made to occupy the place by force ; but, after an 
 animated discussion, the project was relinquished, and negotia- 
 tions with France were commenced, by Mr. Jefferson, for the 
 purchase of the whole country of Louisiana, which ended in an 
 agreement to that effect, signed at Paris. April 30th, 1803, by 
 ) which the United States were to pay to France fifteen millions 
 I of dollars. Early in December, 1803, the commissioners of Spain 
 I delivered possession to France ; and on the 20th of the same 
 ] month, the authorities of France duly transferred the country to 
 the United States. Congress had provided for this event, and 
 under their act, William C. C. Claiborne was appointed governor. 
 1 By an act of March, 1804, that part of the ceded country which 
 lay south of the parallel of thirty-three degrees was separated 
 ; from the rest, and called the Territory of Orleans. In 1811 this 
 district was erected into a state, and, in 1812, was admitted into 
 the Union by the name of Louisiana. 
 
 11. On the 3d of April, 1812, congress passed an act 
 j laying an embargo, for ninety days, on all vessels within 
 
292 period x.— 1809 to 1817. 
 
 the jurisdiction of the United States, agreeably to a 
 recommendation of the president. This measure, it wa3 
 understood, was preparatory to a war with Great Britain, 
 which the executive would soon urge upon congress to 
 declare. 
 
 12. On the 4th of June, 1812, a bill declaring war 
 against Great Britain passed the house of representa- 
 tives, by a majority of seventy-nine to forty-nine. After 
 a discussion of this bill in the senate till the 17th, it pass- 
 ed that body also, by a majority of nineteen to thirteen, 
 and, the succeeding day, 18th,* received the signature of 
 the president. 
 
 The principal grounds of war, set forth in a message of the 
 president to congress, June 1st, and further explained by the 
 committee on foreign relations, in their report on the subject of 
 the message, were, summarily — The impressment of American 
 seamen by the British ; the blockade of her enemy's ports, sup- 
 ported by no adequate force, in consequence of which, the Ameri- 
 can commerce had been plundered in every sea, and the great 
 staples of the country cut off from their legitimate markets ; and 
 the British orders in council. 
 
 Against the declaration of war, the representatives belonging 
 to the federal party presented a solemn protest, which was written 
 with distinguished ability, and which denied the war to be " neces- 
 sary, or required by any moral duty, or political expediency. " 
 
 ♦The f< Mowing are the orders in council, French decrees, and the conse 
 quent acts of the American government, with their respective dates, present- 
 ed in one view : — 
 
 1806, May Kith, British blockade from the Elbe to Brest. 
 " Nov. 21st, Berlin decree. 
 
 1807, Jan. t">th, British order in council, prohibiting the coasting trade. 
 " Nov. 11th, The celebrated British orders in council. 
 
 " Dec. 17th, Milan decree. 
 
 " Dec. 22d, American embargo. 
 
 1809, March 1st, Non-intercourse with Great Britain and France, establish 
 
 ed by congress. 
 M April 10th, Mr. Erskine's negotiation, which opened the trade with 
 
 England. 
 " June 19th, Non-intercourse with Great Britain. 
 
 1810, March 18th, Kainbouillet decree. 
 
 " May 1st, Act of congress conditionally opening the trade with Eng- 
 land and France. 
 
 " Nov. 2d, President's proclamation, declaring the French decrees to 
 be rescinded. 
 J812, April 4th, American embargo. 
 
 " June 18th, Declaration of war by the United States against Great 
 Britain 
 
MADISON S ADMINISTRATION 293 
 
 But not in congress only did this difference of views exist re- 
 specting the war ; but it extended throughout the country, the 
 friendy of the administration universally commending, and its 
 opposers as extensively censuring and condemning the measure. 
 By the former, the war was strenuously urged to be unavoidable 
 and just ; by the latter, with equal decision, it was pronounced to 
 be impolitic, unnecessary, and immoral. 
 
 13. The military establishments of the United States, 
 upon the declaration of war, were extremely defective. 
 Acts of congress permitted the enlistment of twenty-five 
 thousand men ; but few enlisted. The president was 
 authorized to raise fifty thousand volunteers, and to call 
 out one hundred thousand militia, for the purpose of de- 
 fending the sea-coast and the frontiers. But the want 
 of proper officers was now felt, as the ablest revolutiona- 
 ry heroes had paid the debt of nature. Such was the 
 situation of things at the commencement of hostilities. 
 
 14. On the 16th of August, Gen. Hull, governor of 
 Michigan, who had been sent, at the head of about two 
 thousand five hundred men, to Detroit, with a view of 
 putting an end to Indian hostilities in that country, sur- 
 rendered his army to the British Gen. Brock, without a 
 battle, and with it the fort of Detroit, together with all 
 other forts and garrisons of the United States, within the 
 district under his command. 
 
 In his official despatch, Gen. Hull labored to free his conduct 
 from censure, by bringing into view the inferiority of his force, 
 compared with that of the enemy — his not exceeding eight hun- 
 dred effective men — that of the enemy amounting to thirteen 
 hundred, of whom seven hundred were Indians; — and also the 
 j dangers which threatened him from numerous western tribes of 
 Indians, who were swarming in the neighboring woods, and who 
 were ready, in case of his defeat, to rush to the indiscriminate 
 slaughter of the Americans. 
 
 Whether the views which induced this surrender of Hull were 
 in reality justly founded or not, the public mind was altogether 
 unprepared for an occurrence so disastrous and mortifying. 
 
 Not long after, Gen. Hull was exchanged for thirty British 
 prisoners. Neither the government nor the people were satisfied 
 with his excuses. The affair was solemnly investigated by a 
 court-martial. He was charged with treason, cowardice, and un- 
 officer-like conduct. On the first charge, the court declined giv 
 25* 
 
294 period x.— 1809 to 1817. 
 
 ing an opinion ; on the two last, he was sentenced to death ; but 
 wus recommended to mercy, in consequence of his revolutionary 
 services, and his advanced age. The sentence was remitted by 
 the president; but his name was ordered to be struck from the 
 rolls of the army. 
 
 15. On the 19th of August, three days after the un- 
 fortunate surrender of Detroit, that series of splendid 
 naval achievements, for which this war was distinguish* 
 ed, was commenced by Capt. Isaac Hull, of the United 
 States' frigate Constitution, who captured the British 
 frigate Guerriere, commanded by Capt. Dacres. 
 
 The American frigate was superior in force only by a few guns, 
 but the difference bore no comparison to the disparity of the con- 
 flict. The loss of the Constitution was seven killed, and seven 
 wounded, while that on board the Guerriere was fifteen killed, 
 and sixty-three wounded : among the latter was Capt. D;icres. 
 The Constitution sustained so little injury, that she was ready for 
 action the succeeding day ; but the British frigate was so much 
 damaged, that she wus set on fire and burnt. 
 
 10. Oil the lttth of August, another naval victory was 
 achieved — the United States' frigate Essex, Capt. Portei, 
 falling in with and capturing the British sloop-of-war 
 Alert, after an action of only eight minutes. 
 
 This engagement took place oft* the Grand Bank of Newfound 
 land. A single broadside fr»m the American frigate so complete 
 ly riddled the sloop, that, on striking her colors, although she had 
 but three men wounded, she had seven feet of water in her hold 
 The frigate suffered not the slightest injury. 
 
 17. Upon the declaration of war, the attention of the 
 American commander-in-chief, Gen. Dearborn, was 
 turned towards the invasion of Canada, for which eight 
 or ten thousand men, and considerable military stores, 
 were collected, at diiTerent points along the Canada line. 
 Skilful officers of the navy were also despatched, for the 
 purpose of arming vessels on Lakes Erie, Ontario, and 
 Champlain, if possible to gain the ascendency there, and 
 to aid the operations of the American forces. 
 
 The American troops were distributed into three di- 
 visions — one under Gen. Harrison, called the North- 
 western army ; a second under Gen. Stephen Van 
 
madison's administration. 295 
 
 Rensselaer, at Lewistown, called the army of the Cen- 
 tre ; and a third under the commander-in-chief, Gen. 
 Dearborn, in the neighborhood of Plattsburg and Green-' 
 bush, called the army of the North. 
 
 18. Early on the morning of the 13th of October, 
 1812, a detachment of about one thousand men, from 
 the army of the centre, crossed the river Niagara, and 
 attacked the British on Queenstown heights. This de- 
 tachment, under the command of Col. Solomon Van 
 Rensselaer, succeeded in dislodging the enemy ; but, 
 not being reinforced by the militia from the American 
 side, as was expected, they were ultimately repulsed, 
 and were obliged to surrender. The British general, 
 Brock, was killed during the engagement. 
 
 The forces designated to storm the heights, were, divided into 
 two columns; one of three hundred militia, under Col. Van 
 Rensselaer ; the other of three hundred regulars, under Col. 
 Christie. These were to be followed by Col. lenwick's artillery, 
 and afterwards the residue of the troops. 
 
 Scarcely had Col. Van Rensselaer effected a landing, before he 
 was severely wounded; upon which the troops, now under com- 
 mand of Capt. Wool, advanced to storm the fort. Of this they 
 gained possession ; but, at the moment of success. Gen. Brock 
 arrived from Fort George, with a reinforcement of six hundred 
 men. These were gallantly driven back by the Americans. In 
 attempting to rally them, the heroic Brock was killed. 
 
 Gen. Van Rensselaer, who had previously crossed over, now 
 returned to hasten the embarkation of the <• tardy " militia. But 
 what was his chagrin, to hear mere than twelve hundred men, who 
 a little before were panting for the battle, refuse to embark ! lie 
 urged, entreated, commanded — but all in vain. Meanwhile, the 
 enemy being reinforced, a desperate conflict ensued, and in the 
 end the British were completely victorious. Had, however, but 
 a small part of the " idle men " passed over at the critical mo- 
 ment, when urged by their brave commander, revolutionary his 
 tory can tell of few nobler achievements than this would have 
 been. 
 
 19. On the 17th of October, another naval victory 
 was achieved over an enemy decidedly superior in force, 
 and under circumstances the most favorable to him. 
 This was the capture of the brig Frolic, of twenty-two 
 guns, by the sloop-of-war Wasp. 
 
296 period x.— 1809 to 1817. 
 
 Capt. Jones had returned from France two weeks after the 
 declaration of war. and, on the 13th of October, again put to sea. 
 On the 17th, he fell in with six merchant ships, under convoy of 
 a brig, and two ships, armed with sixteen guns each. The brig, 
 which proved to be the Frolic, Capt. Whinyates, dropped behind, 
 while the others made sail. At half past eleven, the action be- 
 gan by the enemy's cannon and musketry. In five minutes, the 
 main-top-mast was shot away, and, falling doAvn with the main- 
 top-sail yard across the larboard fore and fore-top-sail, rendered 
 her head yards unmanageable, during the rest of the action. In 
 two minutes more, her gaff and mizzen top-gallant-mast were shot 
 away. The sea being exceedingly rough, the muzzles of the 
 Wasp's guns were sometimes under water. 
 
 The English fired as their vessel rose, so that their shot was 
 either thrown away, or touched only the rigging of the Ameri- 
 cans ; the Wasp, on the contrary, fired as she sunk, and every 
 time struck the hull of her antagonist. The fire of the Frolic 
 was soon slackened, and Capt. Jones determined to board her 
 As the crew leaped on board the enemy's vessel, their surprise 
 can scarcely be imagined, as they found no person on deck, ex- 
 cept three officers and the seaman at the wheel. The deck was 
 slippery with blood, and presented a scene of havoc and ruin. 
 The officers now threw down their swords in submission, and 
 Lieut. Biddle, of the Wasp, leaped into the rigging, to haul down 
 the colors, which were still flying. Thus, in lorty-three minutes, 
 ended one of the most bloody conflicts recorded in naval history. 
 The loss on board the Frolic was thirty killed and fifty wound- 
 ed ; on board the Wasp five were killed and five slightly wound- 
 ed. The Wasp and Frolic were both captured the same day, by 
 a British seventy-four, the Poictiers, Capt. Beresford. 
 
 20. The above splendid achievement of Capt. Jones 
 was followed, on the 25th of October, by another not 
 much less splendid and decisive, by Commodore Deca- 
 tur, of the fricrate United States, of forty-four guns, who 
 captured the Macedonian off the Western Isles, a frigate 
 of the largest class, mounting forty-nine guns, and man* 
 ned with three hundred men. 
 
 In this action, which continued an hour and a half, the Mace 
 donian lost thirty-six killed, and sixty-eight wounded: on board 
 the United States, seven only were killed, and five wounded. 
 The British frigate lost her main-mast, main-top-mast, and main- 
 yard, and was injured in her hull. The United States suffered so 
 little, that a return to port was unnecessary. 
 
 An act of generosity and benevolence, on the part of ou~ brave 
 tars of this victorious frigate, deserves to be honoraDiy recorded 
 
madison's administration. 297 
 
 The carpenter, who was unfortunately killed in the conflict with 
 the Macedonian, had left three small children to the care of a 
 worthless mother. When the circumstance became known to 
 the brave seamen, they instantly made a contribution among 
 themselves, to the amount of eight hundred dollars, and placed it 
 in safe hands, to be appropriated to the education and maintenance 
 of the unhappy orphans. 
 
 21 December 29th, a second naval victory was 
 achieved by the Constitution, at this time commanded 
 by Commodore Bainbridge, over the Java, a British 
 frigate of thirty-eight guns, but carrying forty-nine, with 
 four hundred men, commanded by Capt. Lambert, who 
 was mortally wounded. 
 
 This action was fought off St. Salvador, and continued nearly 
 two hours, when the Java struck, having lost sixty killed and 
 one hundred and twenty wounded. The Constitution had nine 
 men killed and twenty-five wounded. On the 1st of January, 
 the commander, finding his prize incapable of being brought in, 
 was obliged to burn her. 
 
 22. Thus ended the year 1812. With the exception 
 of the naval victories already mentioned, and some others 
 of the same kind, equally honorable to America, nothing 
 important was achieved. Neither of the armies destined 
 for the invasion of Canada had obtained any decisive 
 advantage, or were in possession of any post in that ter- 
 ritory. Further preparations, however, were making for 
 its conquest. Naval armaments were collecting on the 
 lakes, and the soldiers, in their winter-quarters, were 
 looking forward to " battles fought and victories won." 
 
 23. The military operations of the campaign of 1813 
 were considerably diversified, extending along the whole 
 northern frontier of the United States. The location of 
 the several divisions of the American forces was as fol- 
 lows : — The army of the west, under Gen. Harrison, was 
 placed near the head of Lake Erie ; the army of the 
 centre, under Gen. Dearborn, between the Lakes Onta- 
 rio and Erie ; and the army of the north, under Gen. 
 Hampton, on the shores of Lake Champlain. The 
 British forces in Canada were under the general super- 
 intendence of Sir George Provost, under whom Colonels 
 
298 period x.— 1809 to 1817. 
 
 Proctor and Vincent had in charge the defence of the 
 Upper Provinces ; while the care of the Lower Provinces 
 was committed to Gen. SheafFe. 
 
 24. The head-quarters of Gen. Harrison, on the com- 
 mencement of winter, were at Franklinton, in Ohio. 
 The plan of this general had for its object to concentrate 
 a considerable force at the Rapids, whence he designed 
 to make an attack upon Detroit, which was still in the 
 possession of the British. In the mean while, Gen. 
 Winchester continued at Fort Defiance, with about eight 
 hundred men, chiefly from the most respectable families 
 in Kentucky. Early in January, intimations were re- 
 ceived from the inhabitants of the village of Frenchtown, 
 which is situated on the river Raisin, twenty-six miles 
 from Detroit, that a large body of British and Indians 
 were about to concentrate at that place. Exposed as 
 they must be from the presence of a ferocious enemy, 
 they sought protection from the American general. Con- 
 trary to the general plan of the commander-in-chief, 
 Winchester resolved to send a force to their relief, and 
 accordingly detached a body of men, with orders to wait 
 at Presque Isle, until joined by the main body. 
 
 On reaching the latter place, it was ascertained that 
 a party of British and Indians had already taken pos- 
 session of Frenchtown. The resolution was immediate- 
 ly taken to attack them, without waiting for the arrival 
 of Winchester. In this attack the Americans were suc- 
 cessful, and, having driven the enemy from the place, 
 they encamped on the spot, where they remained until 
 the twentieth, when they were joined by Gen. Winches- 
 ter. The American force now exceeded 750 men. 
 Here, on the morning of January 22d, the Americans 
 were suddenly attacked by a combined force of British 
 and Indians, under Gen. Proctor. Unfortunately, the 
 Americans were signally routed — many of them were 
 killed, and not far from five hundred were taken prison- 
 ers, among whom was Gen. Winchester. After the sur- 
 render, nearly all the American prisoners were inhumanly 
 
Madison's administration. 299 
 
 butchered by the savages, although Proctor had pledged 
 his honor, that their lives and private property should 
 be secure. 
 
 Scarcely had the Americans surrendered, than, contrary to ex- 
 press stipulations, the swords of the officers were taken from them, 
 and many of them were stripped almost naked, and robbed. The 
 dead also were stripped and scalped, while the tomahawk put 
 an end at once to such of the wounded as were unable to rise. 
 The prisoners who now remained, with but few exceptions, in- 
 stead of being guarded by British soldiers, were delivered to the 
 charge of the Indians, to be conducted in the rear of the army 
 to Maiden. But few of them, however, ever reached the British 
 garrison, being either inhumanly murdered by the Indians at 
 the time, or reserved to be roasted at the stake, or to be ransom- 
 ed at an exorbitant charge. 
 
 By this bloody tragedy, all Kentucky, observes an historian,* 
 was literally in mourning; for the soldiers thus massacred, tor- 
 tured, burnt., or denied the common rites of sepulture, were of the 
 in >st respectable families of the state ; many of them young 
 men of fortune and property, with numerous friends and rela- 
 tives. The remains of these brave youth lay on the ground, beat 
 by the storms of heaven, and exposed to the beasts of the forest, 
 until the enduing autumn, when their friends and relations ven- 
 tured to gather up their bleaching bones, and consigned them to 
 the tomb. 
 
 Historians do not agree as to the number of American troops. 
 Dr. Holmes states the number at 1100. The force of Proctor 
 consisted, according to this author, of 300 British troops, and 
 000 Indians. 
 
 25. On the 23d of January, the day following the 
 memorable action of Frenchtown, an engagement took 
 place between the Hornet, Capt. James Lawrence, and 
 the British sloop-of-war Peacock, Capt. William Peake, 
 off South America. This action lasted but fifteen min- 
 utes, when the Peacock struck. 
 
 On surrendering, a signal of distress was discovered on board 
 the Peacock. She had been so much damaged, that, already, 
 ehe had six feet of water in her hold, and was sinking fast. Boats 
 were immediately despatched for the wounded, and every meas- 
 ure taken, which was practicable, to keep her afloat until the 
 crew could be removed. Her guns were thrown overboard, the 
 shot-holes were plugged, and a part of the Hornet's crew, at the 
 
 ♦ Br.-ickenridge. 
 
300 period x.— 1809 to 1S17. 
 
 imminent hazard of their lives, labored incessantly to rescue the 
 vanquished. The utmost efforts of these generous men were, 
 however, vain ; the conquered vessel sunk in the midst of them, 
 carrying down nine of her own crew and three of the Americans. 
 With a generosity becoming them, the crew of the Hornet divid- 
 ed their clothing with the prisoners, who were left destitute by 
 the sinking ship. In the action, the Hornet received but a slight 
 injur}'. The killed and wounded, on board the Peacock, were 
 supposed to exceed fifty. 
 
 20. On the 4th of March, 1813, Mr. Madison entered 
 upon his second term of office, as president of the United 
 States, having been re-elected by a considerable majori- 
 ty over De Witt Clinton, of New York, who was sup- 
 ported by the federal electors. George Clinton was 
 elected vice-president : he died, however, soon after, 
 and Elbridge Gerry succeeded him. 
 
 27. It having been communicated to the American 
 government, that the emperor of Russia was desirous of 
 seeing an end put to the hostilities between Great Britain 
 and America, and had offered to mediate between 
 the two countries, Messrs. Albert Gallatin, James A. 
 Bayard, and John Quincy Adams, were, early in the 
 spring, 1813, appointed commissioners to Russia, to 
 meet such commissioners as should be sent by the Brit- 
 ish court, and were empowered to negotiate a treaty of 
 peace and commerce with Great Britain. 
 
 28. About the middle of April, Gen. Tike, by order 
 of Gen. Dearborn, embarked, with 1700 men, on board 
 a flotilla, under command of Commodore Chauncey, 
 from Sacket's Harbor, for the purpose of attacking York, 
 the capital of Upper Canada, the great depository of 
 British military stores, whence the western posts were 
 supplied. On the 27th, an attack was successfully made, 
 and York fell into the hands of the Americans, with all 
 its stores. 
 
 The command of the troops, one thousand seven hundred, de- 
 tached for this purpose, was given to Gen. Pike, at his own re- 
 quest. On the 2r>th, the fie et. under Commodore Chauncey, 
 moved down the lake, with the troops, and, on the 27th, ar- 
 rived at the place of debarkation, about two miles westward 
 
madison's administration. 301 
 
 from York, and one and a half from the enemy's works. The 
 British, consisting of about seven hundred and fifty regulars 
 and five hundred Indians, under Genera. Sheaft'e, attempted to 
 oppose the landing;, but were thrown into disorder, and tied to 
 Uieir garrison. 
 
 General Pike, having formed his men, proceeded towards the 
 enemy's fortifications. On their near approach to the barracks, 
 a?>out* sixty rods from the garrison, an explosion of a magazine 
 took place, previously prepared for the purpose, which killed 
 about one hundred of the Americans, among whom was the gal- 
 lant Pike. 
 
 Pike lived to direct his troops, for a moment thrown into dis- 
 order, ' ; to move on."' This they now did under Col. Pearce ; 
 and. proceeding towards the town, took possession of the bar- 
 racks. On approaching it, they were met by the officers of the 
 Canada militia, with otters of capitulation. At four o'clock, the 
 troops entered the town. 
 
 The loss of the British, in killed, wounded, and prisoners, 
 amounted to seven hundred and fifty ; the Americans lost, hi 
 killed and wounded, about three hundred. 
 
 29. The news of the unfortunate occurrence at French- 
 town (Sec. 24.) reached Ge~. Harrison, while on his 
 march with reinforcements to Gen. Winchester. Find- 
 ing a further advance of no importance, he took post 
 at the Rapids, where he constructed a fort, which, in 
 honor of the governor of Ohio, he named Fort Meigs, 
 Here, on the first of May, he was besieged by Gen. 
 Proctor, with a force of one thousand regulars and 
 militia, and one thousand two hundred Indians. For 
 nine days, the siege was urged with great zeal ; but, 
 finding the capture of the place impracticable, on the 
 9tb, Proctor raised the siege, and retreated to Maiden. 
 Gen. Harrison returned to Franklinton, in Ohio, leaving 
 the fort under the care of Gen. Clay. 
 
 On the third day of the siege, an officer from the British de- 
 manded the surrender of the fort; to which Harrison charaeter- 
 isticallv replied. " Not, sir, while I have the honor to command." 
 
 On the fifth, intelligence was received of the approach of a 
 reinforcement of American troops under Gen. Clay, from Ken- 
 tucky Aided by these, a sortie was made upon the British, 
 which proved so disastrous to lft>th, that, for the three following 
 days, hostilities were suspended, and prisoners exchanged. On 
 the ninth, preparations were made to renew the siege ; but, sud* 
 
 2G 
 
302 period x.— 1809 to 1817. 
 
 denly, the British general ordered it to be raised, and with hi* 
 whole force retired. 
 
 30. During the remainder of the spring, the war con- 
 tinued along the Canada line, and on some parts of the 
 sea-board ; but nothing important was achieved by either 
 power. 
 
 The Chesapeake Bay was blockaded by the British, and pred 
 atory excursions, by their troops, were made at Havre de Grace, 
 Georgetown, &c. Several villages were burnt, and much propr- 
 erty plundered and destroyed. To the north of the Chesapeake, 
 the coast was not exempt from the effects of the war. A strict 
 blockade was kept up at New York. The American frigates 
 United States and Macedonian, and the sloop Hornet, attempted 
 to sail on a cruise from that port, about the beginning of May, 
 but were prevented. In another attempt, they were chased into 
 New London harbor, where they were blockaded by a fleet un- 
 der Commodore Hardy, for many months. Fort George, in 
 Canada, was taken by the Americans. Sacket's Harbor was 
 attacked by one thousand British, who were repulsed with con- 
 siderable loss. 
 
 31. On the first of June, the American navy expe- 
 rienced no inconsiderable loss, in the capture of the 
 Chesapeake, by the British frigate Shannon, off Boston 
 harbor — a loss the more severely felt, as on board of her 
 fell several brave officers, among whom was her com- 
 mander, the distinguished and lamented Capt. Lawrence 
 
 Capt. Lawrence had been but recently promoted to the com- 
 mand of the Chesapeake. On his arrival at Boston, to take 
 charge of her, he was informed that a British frigate was lying 
 off the harbor, apparently inviting an attack. Prompted by the 
 ardor which pervaded the service, he resolved to meet the enemy, 
 without sufficiently examining his strength. With a crew chiefly 
 enlisted f >r the occasion, as that of the Chesapeake had mostly 
 been discharged, on the first of June, he sailed out of the harbor. 
 
 The Shannon, observing the Chesapeake put to sea, imme- 
 diately followed. At half past five, the two ships engaged. By 
 the first broadside, the sailing-master of the Chesapeake was 
 killed, and Lieut. Ballard mortally wounded. Lieut. Brown and 
 Capt. Lawrence were severely wounded at the same time. A 
 second and third broadside, besides adding to the destruction of 
 her officers, so disabled the Chesapeake in her rigging, that her 
 quarter fell on the Shannon's anchor. This accident may be 
 considered as deciding the contest ; an opportunity was given 
 the enemy to rake the Chesapeake, and, toward the close of the 
 
MADISON'S ADMINISTRATION. 303 
 
 action, to board her. Capt. Lawrence, though severely wounded, 
 still kept the deck. In the act of summoning the boarders, a mus- 
 ket ball entered his bod}', and brought him down. As he was 
 carried below, he issued a last heroic order — " Don't give up the 
 kip ;" but it was too late to retrieve wh\t was lost; the British 
 rwarders leaped into the vessel, and, after a short but bloody strug- 
 gle, hoisted the British flag. 
 
 In this sanguinary conflict, twenty-three of the enemy were 
 1 killed, and fifty wounded : on board the Chesapeake, about iev 
 enty were killed, and eighty-three wounded. 
 
 32. The tide of fortune seemed now, for a short time, 
 to turn in favor of Great Britain. On the 14th of August, 
 the Argus, of eighteen guns, another of our national 
 vessels, was captured by the Pelican, of twenty guns. 
 
 The Argus had been employed to carry out Mr. Crawford, a» 
 minister, to France. After landing him, she proceeded to cruise 
 in the British channel, and, for two months, greatly annoyed the 
 British shipping. At length, that government was induced to 
 send several vessels in pursuit of her. On the 14th of August, 
 the Pelican, a sloop of war, of superior force, discovered her, and 
 bore down to action. At the first broadside, Capt. Allen fell, 
 severely wounded, but remained on deck for some time, when 
 it was neeessaryto carry him below. After a hard-fought action, 
 the Argus was obliged to surrender, with a loss of six killed and 
 seventeen wounded. On board the Pelican there were but three 
 killed and five wounded. Captain Allen died soon after in Eng- 
 | land, and was interred with the honors of war. 
 
 33. After the loss of the Chesapeake and Argus, vie 
 
 | tory again returned to the side of America. On the 5th 
 I >f September following, the British brig Boxer surren- 
 dered to the Enterprise, after an engagement of little 
 more than half an hour. 
 
 The Enterprise sailed f-om Portsmouth on the 1st, and was on 
 the 5th descried by the Boxer, which immediately gave chase. 
 \fter the action had continued for fifteen minutes, the Enter 
 prise ranged ahead, and raked her enemy so powerfully, that in 
 
 i twenty minutes the firing ceased, and the cry of quarter was 
 heard. The Enterprise had one killed and thirteen wounded ; 
 
 < but that one was her lamented commander, Lieut. Burrows. He 
 fell at the commencement of the action, but continued to cheer 
 his crew, averring that the flag should never be struck. When 
 
 [the sword of the enemy was presented to him, he exclaimed, " I 
 die contented." The British loss was more considerable. Among 
 their killed was Capt. Blytha These two commanders, both in 
 
304 period x.— 1809 to 1817. 
 
 the morning of life, were interred beside each other, at Portland 
 with military honors. 
 
 34. During these occurrences on the sea-board, im- 
 portant preparations had been made for decisive meas- 
 ures to the westward, and the general attention was now 
 turned, with great anxiety, towards the movements of 
 the north-western army, and the fleet under command 
 of Commodore Perry, on Lake Erie. 
 
 This anxiety, not long after, was, in a measure, dis- 
 pelled, by a decisive victory of the American fleet over 
 that of the British, on Lake Erie, achieved, after along 
 and desperate conflict, on the 10th of September. 
 
 The American squadron consisted of nine vessels, carrying 
 fifty-four guns ; that of the British, of six vessels, and sixty-three 
 guns. The line of battle was formed at eleven, and at a quarter 
 before twelve, the enemy's flag ship, Queen Charlotte, opened a 
 tremendous fire upon the Lawrence, the flag ship of Commo- 
 dore Perry, which was sustained by the latter ten minutes before 
 she could bring her carronades to bear. At length she bore up 
 and engaged the enemy, making signals to the remainder of 
 the squadron to hasten to her.support. Unfortunately, the wind 
 was too light to admit of a compliance with the order, and she 
 was compelled to contend, for two hours, with two ships of equal 
 force. By this time, the brig had become unmanageable, and 
 her crew, excepting four or five, were either killed or wounded. 
 
 While thus surrounded with death, and destruction still pour- 
 ing in -upon him, Perry le<"t the brig, now only a wreck, in an 
 open boat, and, heroically waving his sword, passed unhurt to the 
 Niagara, of twenty guns. The wind now rose. Ordering every 
 canvass to be spread, he bore down upon the enemy — passing the 
 enemy's vessels Detroit, Queen Charlotte, and Lady Prevost, on 
 the one side, and the Chippewa and Little Belt on the oilier, 
 into each of which he poured a broadside, — he at length en- 
 gaged the Lady Prevost, which received so heavy a fire as to com- 
 pel her men to retire below. 
 
 The remainder of the American squadron, now, one after 
 another, arrived, and, following the example of their intrepid 
 leader, closed in with the enemy, and the battle became general. 
 
 Three hours finished the contest, and enabled Perry to an- 
 nounce to Gen. Harrison the capture of the whole squadron, 
 which he did in this modest, laconic, and emphatic style : — " We 
 have met the enemy, and they are ours." 
 
 The loss in the contest was great in proportion to the numbers 
 engaged. The Americans had twenty seven killed and ninety- 
 
 
Madison's administration. 305 
 
 six wounded. But the British loss was still greater, heing about 
 two hundred in killed and wounded. The prisoners amounted 
 to six hundred, exceeding the whole number of Americans en- 
 gaged in the action. 
 
 35. The Americans being now masters of Lake Erie, 
 a passage to the territory which had been surrendered 
 by Gen. Hull was open to them. With a view of making 
 a descent upon Maiden and Detroit, Gen. Harrison 
 called on a portion of the Ohio militia, which, together 
 with 4000 Kentuckians, under Gov. Shelby, and his 
 own regular troops, constituted his force, for the above 
 object. 
 
 On the 27th of September, the troops were received on board 
 the fleet, and on the same day reached Maiden. But. to theii 
 surprise, they found that fortress and the public storehouses 
 burned. 
 
 On the following day, the Americans marched in pursuit of 
 Proctor and his troops ; and on the 29th entered, and took posses 
 sion of Detroit. 
 
 Leaving Detroit on the second of October, Harrison and Shel- 
 by proceeded with 3500 men, selected for the purpose, and, on 
 the fifth, reached the place of Proctor's encampment, whicli was 
 the Moravian village, on the Thames, about eighty miles from 
 Detroit. The American troops were immediately formed in the 
 order of battle, and the armies engaged with the most determined 
 courage. In this contest, the celebrated Tecumseh was slain. 
 Upon his fall, the Indians immediately fled. This led to the de- 
 feat of the whole British force, which surrendered, except about 
 two hundred dragoons, which, with Proctor at their head, were 
 enabled to escape. 
 
 Of the British, nineteen regulars were killed, fifty wounded, 
 and six hundred made prisoners. The Indians left one hundred 
 and twenty on the field. The loss of the Americans was up- 
 wards of fifty, in killed and wounded. On this field of battle, 
 the latter had the pleasure to retake six brass field pieces, whic. 
 had been surrendered by Hull ; on two of which were inscribed 
 the words, ;: Surrendered by Burgoyne, at Saratoga." 
 
 Tecumseh, who fell in this battle, was in several respects the 
 most celebrated Indian warrior which ever raised an arm against 
 the Americans. " He had been in almost every engagement 
 with the whites, since Harmer's defeat, although at his death he 
 scarcely exceeded forty years of age. Tecumseh had received 
 the stamp of greatness from the hand of nature ; and had his lot 
 been cast in a different state of society, he would have shone 
 one of the most distinguished of men He was endowed 
 
 26* 
 
30G rcnioj) x.— 1S09 to 1817. 
 
 a powerful mind, with the soul of a hero. There was anuncom 
 mrn dignity in his countenance and manners; by the former,, 
 he could easily be discovered, even after death,. among the rest 
 of the slain, for he wore no insignia of distinction. When gird- 
 ed with a silk sash, and told by Gen. Proctor that he was made 
 a brigadier in the British service, for his conduct at Brownstown 
 and Magagua, he returned the present with respectful contempt 
 Born with no title to command, but his native greatness, every 
 tribe yielded submission to him at once, and no one ever disput- 
 ed his precedence. Subtle and fierce in war, he was possessed 
 of uncommon eloquence : his speeches might bear a comparison 
 with those of the most celebrated orators of Greece and Rome. 
 His invective was terrible, as may be seen in the reproaches 
 which he applied to Proctor, a few days before his death, in a 
 speech which was found among the papers of the British officers. 
 His form was uncommonly elegant ; his stature about six feet, 
 his limbs perfectly proportioned. He was honorably interred by 
 the victors, by whom he was held in much respect, as an invet> 
 erate, but magnanimous enemy."* 
 
 36. The fail of Detroit put an end to tho Indian war 
 in that quarter, and gave security to the frontiers. Gen. 
 Harrison now dismissed a greater part of his volunteers, 
 and, having stationed Gen. Cass at Detroit, with about 
 one thousand men, proceeded, according to ins instruc- 
 tions, with the remainder of his forces, to Buffalo, to 
 join the army of the centre. 
 
 37. The result of the operations of the north-west, 
 and the victory on Lake Erie, prepared the way to at- 
 tempt a more effectual invasion of Canada. 
 
 Gen. Dearborn ha vino- some time before this retired 
 from the service, Gen. Wilkinson was appointed to suc- 
 ceed him as commander-in-chief, and arrived at Saeket's 
 Harbor on the 20th of August. The chief object of 
 his instructions was the capture of Kingston, although 
 the reduction of Canada, by an attack upon Montreal, 
 was the ulterior object of the campaign. 
 
 The forces destined for the accomplishment of these 
 purposes were an army of five thousand, at Fort George ; 
 two thousand tinder Gen. Lewis, at Sacket's Harbor ; 
 four thousand at Plattsburg, under the command of Gen. 
 
 * Brackenridge. 
 
MAIJISUNS ADMINISTRATION. 307 
 
 Hampton, which latter, proceeding by the way of Cham- 
 plain, were to form a junction with the main body, at 
 some place on the river St. Lawrence ; and, finally, the 
 victorious troops of Gen. Harrison, which were expected 
 to arrive in season to furnish important assistance. 
 
 On the fifth of September, Gen. Armstrong, who had 
 recently been appointed secretary of war, arrived a* 
 Sacket's Harbor, to aid in the above project. The plan 
 of attacking Kingston was now abandoned, and it was 
 determined to proceed immediately to Montreal. Un 
 expected difficulties, however, occurred, which prevent- 
 ed the execution of the plan, and the American force 
 under Wilkinson retired into winter quarters, at French 
 Mills. The forces of Gen. Hampton, after penetrating 
 the country some distance to join Wilkinson, retired 
 again to Plattsburg. The forces of Gen. Harrison were 
 not ready to join the expedition, until the troops had 
 gone into winter quarters. 
 
 The forces of Gen. Wilkinson were concentrated, previous to 
 embarkation, at Grenadier Island, between Sacket's Harbor and 
 Kingston, 180 miles from Montreal, reckoned by the river, 
 Owing to tempestuous weather, the fleet was detained some dayr 
 after the troops were on board ; but finally set sail on the 30th. 
 Unexpected obstacles impeded the progress of Ihe expedition 
 especially parties of the enemy, which had been stationed at 
 every convenient position on the Canada shore. To disperse 
 I these, a body of troops, under command of Gen. Brown, was 
 I landed, and directed to march in advance of the boats. 
 
 On the 11th, the troops and flotilla having arrived at Williams- 
 burg, just as they were about to proceed, a powerful body < f the 
 enemy, 2000 in number, was discovered approaching in the 
 rear. Wilkinson, being too much indisposed to take the com- 
 mand, appointed Gen. Boyd to attack them, in which his troops 
 were assisted by the brigades of Generals Covington and 
 Swartwout. 
 
 For three hours, the action was bravely sustained by the op- 
 posing forces. Both parties, in the issue, claimed the victory ; 
 but neither could, in truth, be said to be entitled to it — the Brit- 
 ish returning to their encampment, and the Americans to their 
 boats. In this engagement, the loss of the latter was "330, of 
 whom 102 were killed. Gen. Covington was mortally wounded, 
 and died two days after. The British loss was 180. 
 
308 period x.— 1809 to 1817. 
 
 A few days previous to the battle, as Gen. Harrison had not 
 arrived, Wilkinson despatched orders to Gen. Hampton to meet 
 him, with his army, at St. Regis. On the 12th, a communication 
 was returned from Hampton, in which he declined a compliance 
 with the above orders, on the ground, that the provisions of Wil- 
 kinson were not adequate to the wants of both armies, and that 
 it would be impossible to transport provisions from Plattsburg. 
 
 On the receipt of this intelligence, a council of war was sum- 
 moned by Wilkinson, by which it was decided to abandon the 
 attack on Montreal, and to go into winter quarters at French Mills. 
 
 Shortly after, Gen. Hampton, learning that the contemplated 
 expedition against Montreal was abandoned, himself paused iu 
 his advance towards Montreal, by the way of Chateaugay, and 
 returned to Plattsburg, where he established his winter quarters. 
 Soon after, his health failing, he resigned his commission, and 
 was succeeded in command by Gen. Izard. 
 
 Thus ended a campaign, which gave rise to a dissat- 
 isfaction proportioned to the high expectations that had 
 been indulged of its success. Public opinion was much 
 divided as to the causes of its failure, and as to the par- 
 tie* to whom the blame was properly to be attached. 
 
 38. The proposal of the emperor of Russia to medi- 
 ate between the United States and Great Britain, has 
 been mentioned. (See. 27.) This proposal, however, 
 Great Britain thought expedient to decline ; but the 
 prince regent offered a direct negotiation, either at Lon- 
 don or Gottenburg. The offer was no sooner commu- 
 nicated to our government, than accepted, and Messrs 
 Henry Clay and Jonathan Russel were appointed, in 
 addition to the commissioners already in Europe, and 
 soon after sailed for Gottenburg. Lord Gambier, Henry 
 Goulbourn, and William Adams, were appointed, on the 
 part of the court of St. James, to meet them. The place 
 of their meeting was first fixed at Gottenburg, but sub- 
 sequently was changed to Ghent, in Flanders, where the 
 commissioners assembled in August. 
 
 39. Soon after the northern armies had gone into 
 winter quarters, as noticed above, the public attention 
 was directed to a war which the Creek Indians, being 
 instigated thereto by the British government, declared 
 against the United States, and which proved exceeding- 
 
madison's administration. 309 
 
 ]y sanguinary in its progress, during the year 1813, and 
 until the close of the summer of 1814, when Gen. Jackson, 
 who conducted it, on the part of the Americans, having, 
 in several rencounters, much reduced them, and finally 
 and signally defeated them, in the battle of Tohopeka, 
 or Horse-Shoe-Bend, concluded a treaty with them 
 August 9th, on conditions advantageous to the United 
 States. Having accomplished this service, Gen. Jack- 
 son returned to Tennessee, and was soon after appointed 
 to succeed Gen. Wilkinson in the command of tke forces 
 at New Orleans. 
 
 The commencement of hostilities by the Creeks was an attack 
 upon Fort Minims, on the 30th of August, 1813, by six hundred 
 Indians, who, taking the fort by surprise, massacred three hun- 
 dred men, women, and children, excepting seventeen, who alone 
 effected their escape. 
 
 On the receipt of this disastrous intelligence, two thousand 
 men from Tennessee, under Gen. Jackson, and 500 under Gen. 
 Coffee, immediately marched to the country of the Creeks. In 
 a series of engagements, first at Tallushatches, next at Talladega, 
 and subsequently at Autossee, Emucfau, and other places, the 
 Creeks were defeated, though with no inconsiderable loss, in 
 several instances, to the Americans. 
 
 But notwithstanding these repeated defeats and serious losses, 
 the Creeks remained unsubdued. Still determined not to yield, 
 they commenced fortifying the bend of Tallapoosa river, called 
 by "them Tohopeka, but by the Americans Horse-Shoe-Bend. 
 Their principal work consisted of a breast-work, from five to eight 
 feet high, across the peninsula, by means of which nearly one 
 hundred acres of land were rendered admirably secure. Through 
 this breast-work a double row of port-holes were so artfully ar- 
 ranged, that whoever assailed it must be exposed to a double and 
 cross fire from the Indians, who lay behind, to the number of one 
 thousand. 
 
 ; Against this fortified refuge of the infatuated Creeks, Gen. 
 Jackson, having gathered up his forces, proceeded on the 24th of 
 March. On the night of the 2o'th, he encamped within six miles 
 of the bend. On the 27th, he detached Gen. Coffee, with a com- 
 petent number of men, to pass the river, at a ford three miles be- 
 low the bend, for the purpose of preventing the Indians effecting 
 their escape, if inclined, by crossing the river. 
 
 With the remainder of his force, Gen. Jackson now advanced 
 to the front of the breast-work, and, at half past ten, planted his 
 artillery on a small eminence, at only a moderate distance. 
 
 Affairs being now arranged, the artillery opened a tremendous 
 
310 TERIOD X —1809 TO 1817. 
 
 fire upon the breast-work, while Gen. Coffee, witli his force be- 
 low, continued to advance towards an Indian village, which stood 
 at the extremity of the peninsula. A well-directed fire across the 
 river, which here is but about one hundred yards wide, drove the 
 Indian inhabitants from their houses up to the fortifications. 
 
 At length, finding all his arrangements complete, and the favor 
 ite moment arrived, Gen. Jackson led on his now animated troops 
 to the charge. For a short time, an obstinate contest was main- 
 tained at the breast- work — muzzle to muzzle through the port- 
 holes — when the Americans succeeded in gaining the opposite 
 side of the works. A mournful scene of slaughter ensued. In 
 a short time, the Indians were routed, and the whole plain was 
 strewed with the dead. Five hundred and fifty-seven were found, 
 and a large number were drowned in attempting to escape by the 
 river. Three hundred women and children were taken prisoners 
 The loss of the Americans was twenty-six killed, and one hun- 
 dred and seven wounded. Eighteen friendly Cherokees were 
 killed, and thirty-six wounded, and five friendly Creeks were 
 killed, and eleven wounded. 
 
 This signal defeat of the Creeks put an end to the war. Short 
 ly after, the remnant of the nation sent in their submission 
 Among these was the prophet and leader, Weatherford. In bold 
 and impressive language, he said — " I am in your power. Do 
 with me what you please. I have done the white people all the 
 harm I could. I have fought them, and fought them bravely. 
 There was a time when I had a choice ; I have none now — even 
 hope is ended. Once I could animate my warriors ; but I cannot 
 animate the dead. They can no longer hear my voice ; their 
 bones are at Tallushatches, Talladega, Emucfau, and Tohopeka. 
 While there was a chance of success, I never supplicated peace ; 
 but my people are gone, and 1 now ask it for my nation and my 
 self." 
 
 On the 9th of August, a treaty was made with them by Gen. 
 Jackson. They agreed to yield a portion of their territory as in- 
 demnity for the expenses of the war — to allow the opening of 
 roads through their lands — to admit the whites to the free navi- 
 gation of their rivers — and to take no more bribes from the 
 British. 
 
 40. On the 2d of December, the fifteenth congress 
 commenced its second session. The principal objects 
 to which its attention was directed were the enactment 
 of restriction laws, (embargo and non-importation acts) 
 — the subsequent repeal of these acts — the offer of the 
 unprecedented bounty of one hundred and twenty-four 
 dollars to all soldiers who should enlist for five years or 
 
Madison's administration. 311 
 
 during the war — and an appropriation of half a million 
 of dollars to construct one or more floating steam bat- 
 teries. 
 
 An extra session of congress had been held, extending from 
 May 24th to August 2d, the same year. The principal business 
 of this session was the providing of means to replenish the treasu 
 ry. This it was at length decided to accomplish by a system of 
 internal duties ; and accordingly laws were passed laying taxes 
 on lands, houses, distilled liquors, refined sugarg, retailers' li- 
 censes, carriages, etc. From this source the sum of five millions 
 and a half of dollars was expected to flow into the treasury ; in 
 addition to which, a loan of seven millions and a half was au- 
 thorized. 
 
 Early in the regular session of 1813 — 1814, an embargo was laid 
 upon all American vessels, with a design to deprive the enemy's 
 ships on the coast of supplies, and to secure more effectually 
 the American shipping from introducing British manufactures. 
 Against such measures the opposers of the war were loud in their 
 complaints, on the ground that they were needless, and highly 
 injurious to the prosperity of the country. Although these acts 
 passed, in the month of April following, owing to important 
 changes in the relative state of the belligerent nations of Europe, 
 they were repealed. 
 
 41. The spring of 1814 was distinguished foi the loss 
 of the American frigate Essex, Commodore David Por- 
 ter, which was captured on the 28th of March, in the 
 bay of Valparaiso, South America, by a superior British 
 force. 
 
 42. Two other naval engagements took place about 
 this time, both of which resulted in favor of the Ameri- 
 can flag. The first of these was between the United 
 States' sloop of war Peacock and the British brig Eper- 
 
 I vier, April 29th; and the second, June 28th, between 
 the sloop Wasp and the English brig Reindeer. Pre- 
 viously to the action with the Reindeer, the Wasp cap- 
 tured seven of the enemy's merchantmen. 
 
 The action between the first two mentioned vessels lasted but 
 ! forty-five minutes. During its continuance, tin* Epervier had 
 eight men killed, and fifteen wounded. The Peacock escaped 
 with but a single man killed, and with only two wounded. This 
 engagement took place in lat. 27° 47 north, and long. 30° U f . 
 
 The action between the Wasp and Reindeer was but eighteen 
 
312 period x.— 1809 to 1817. 
 
 minutes ; yet the destruction of life was much greater. The lat 
 ter vessel lost her commander, Capt. Manners, and twenty-seven 
 men killed, and forty-two wounded. Twice the British attempt- 
 ed to board the Wasp, but were as often repulsed. At length, the 
 American tars boarded the Reindeer, and tore down her colors. 
 The loss of the latter, in killed and wounded, was twenty-six. 
 Their prize was so much injured, that, on the following day, she 
 was burned, 
 
 43. Gen. Wilkinson continued encamped with his 
 army at French Mills, (Sec. 37,) whither he had retired 
 in November, 1813, until February, 1814, when, by or- 
 der of the secretary of war, he detached 2000 troops, 
 under Gen. Brown, to protect the Niagara frontier; 
 soon after which, destroying his barracks, he retired with 
 the residue of his forces to Plattsburg. 
 
 The British, apprized of this movement, detached a large force, 
 under Col. Scott, which destroyed the public stores, with the 
 arsenal of the Americans, at Malone, which had belonged to the 
 cantonment of French Mills; but, on hearing of the approacn of 
 a large American force, they hastily retreated. 
 
 44. The movements of Gen. Wilkinson indicating a 
 disposition to attempt the invasion of Canada, a detach- 
 ment of two thousand British, under Major Hancock, was 
 ordered to take post and fortify themselves at La Colie 
 Mill, near the river Sorel, to defeat the above object. 
 With a view of dislodging this party, Wilkinson, at the 
 head of 4000 men, crossed the Canada lines, on the 30th 
 of March. On the following day, he commenced a can- 
 nonade upon the works of the enemy; but finding it im- 
 practicable to make an impression on this strong build- 
 ing, he retired with his forces, having lost in the affray 
 upwards of 140 in killed and wounded. 
 
 Tha unfortunate issue of this movement, and the equally un- 
 fortunate termination of the last campaign, brought Gen. Wil- 
 kinson into such discredit with the American public, that, yield- 
 ing to the general opinion, the administration suspended him 
 from the command, in which he was succeeded by Gen. Izard. 
 At a subsequent day, Wilkinson was tried before a court mar- 
 thl at Troy, by which he was acquitted, but not without hesi- 
 tation. 
 
313 
 
 45. For three months following the above movement, 
 the .armies of both nations continued inactive. On the 
 part of the British, the war seemed to languish, the na- 
 tion at home being occupied with events which were 
 transpiring in Europe of a most extraordinary character. 
 But when, at length, the emperor of France had abdi- 
 cated his empire, and Louis XVIII. was seated upon his 
 legitimate throne, England was at liberty to direct against 
 America the immense force which she had employed in 
 her continental wars. Accordingly, at this time, the 
 British forces were augmented by 14,000 veteran troops, 
 which had fought under Wellington ; and, at the same 
 time, a strong naval force was despatched to blockade 
 the American coast, and ravage our maritime towns. 
 
 46. It has been already noticed, that Gen. Brown was 
 detached by Wilkinson, with 2000 troops, from French 
 Mills, (Sec . 43,) to proceed to the Niagara frontier. For 
 a time, he stopped at Sacket's Harbor; but, at length, 
 proceeded with his army to Buffalo. By the addition of 
 Towson's artillery, and a corps of volunteers, his force 
 was augmented to '3500 effective men. 
 
 On the 2d and 3d cf July, he crossed the river Ni- 
 agara, and took possession of the British Fort Erie, which 
 surrendered without resistance. At a few miles distant, 
 in a strong position, at Chippewa, was intrenched an 
 equal number of British troops, under command of Gen. 
 Riall. . On the 4th, Gen. Brown approached these works. 
 On the following day, the two armies met in the open 
 field. The contest was obstinate and bloody ; but, at 
 length, the Americans proved victorious, while the Brit- 
 ish retired with the loss of 514 men. The loss of the 
 Americans was 328. 
 
 47. Immediately after this defeat, Gen. Riall retired 
 to Burlington Heights. Here, Lieut. Gen. Drummond, 
 with a large force, joined him, and, assuming the com- 
 mand, led back the army towards the American camp. 
 On the 25th, the two armies met at Bridgewater, near 
 the cataract of Niagara, and a most desperate engage- 
 
314 period x. — 1809 to 1817. 
 
 ment ensued, about sunset, and lasted till midnight. At: 
 length, the Americans were left in quiet possession of 
 the field. 
 
 The battle of Bridgewater, or Niagara, was one of the most 
 bloody conflicts recorded in modern warfare. The British force 
 engaged fell something short of 5000 men, including 1500 militia 
 and Indians. The force of the Americans was by one third less. 
 The total loss of the British was 878. Generals Drummond and 
 Riall were among the wounded. The Americans lost, in killed, 
 wounded, and missing, 860. Among the killed were eleven 
 officers, and among the wounded, fifty-six. Both Generals Browiv 
 and Scott were among the latter. On receiving his wound, Gen. 
 Brown directed Gen. Ripley to assume the command. Unfor- 
 tunately, the Americans, having no means to remove the British 
 artillery which had been captured, were obliged to leave it on 
 the field. On being apprized of this, the British forthwith re- 
 turned, and took their artillery again in charge. Owing to this 
 circumstance, the British officers had the hardihood, in their de- 
 spatches to government, to claim the victory. 
 
 48. Gen. Ripley, finding his numbers too much re- 
 duced to withstand a force so greatly his superior, deem- 
 ed it prudent to return to Fort Erie. On the 4th of 
 August, this fort was invested by Gen. Drummond, with 
 5000 men ; and for 49 days the siege was pressed with 
 great zeal ; but, at length, the British general was 
 obliged to retire, without having accomplished his object. 
 
 The American force was at this time reduced to 1G00 men. 
 On the 5th. Gen. Gaines arrived at Erie from Sacket's Harbor, 
 and took the command. On the 15th, a large British force ad- 
 vanced, in three columns, under Colonels Drummond, Fischer, 
 and Scott, against the fort, but were repulsed with the signal loss 
 of 57 killed, 319 wounded, and 539 missing. Among the killed 
 were Colonels Drummond and Scott. 
 
 For some time following this rencontre, both armies were in- 
 active. But, at length, the distressed state of the besieged 
 Americans in the fort attracting the attention of government, a 
 force of five thousand, under Gen. Izard, was ordered from Platts- 
 burg to proceed to their relief. 
 
 On the 17th of September, Gen. Brown, who had recovered 
 from his wounds, and had resumed the command of the fort, 
 ordered a sortie, in which the Americans were so successful, that 
 Gen. Drummond was obliged to raise the siege, and to retire with 
 the loss of a great quantity of artillerv and ammunition, and of ] 000 
 men, which were his number of killed, wounded, and prisoners 
 
MADISON'S ADMINISTRATION. 315 
 
 Shortly after, the troops under Gen. Izard arriving, the Ameri- 
 ! cans were able to commence offensive operations. They, there 
 | fore, leaving only a moderate garrison in the fort, now advanced 
 towards Chippewa, where Drummond had taken post. Near this 
 ' place a partial battle occurred on the 20th of October, in which 
 i the Americans so far gained the advantage as to cause the ene- 
 f my to retire. 
 
 j'J 49. While these events were transpiring in the north, 
 , the public attention was irresistibly drawn to the move- 
 ments of the enemy, on the sea-board. About the mid- 
 ' die of August, between fifty and sixty British sail arrived 
 . in the Chesapeake, with troops destined for the attack 
 of Washington, the capital of the United States. On 
 1 f the 23d of August, six thousand British troops, com- 
 ' manded by Gen. Ross, forced their way to that place, 
 . i and burnt the capitol, president's house, and executive 
 offices. Having thus accomplished an object highly dis- 
 . . graceful to the British arms, and wantonly burned pub- 
 . . lie buildings, the ornament and pride of the nation, the 
 f destruction of which could not hasten the termination of 
 i the war — on the *25th they retired, and, by rapid marches, 
 li ) regained their shipping, having lost, during the expedi- 
 j , tion, nearly one thousand men. 
 
 The troops under Gen. Ross were landed at Benedict, on the 
 Patuxent, forty-seven miles from Washington. On the 21st, they 
 moved towards Nottingham, and the following day, reached 
 1 Marlborough. A British flotilla, commanded by Cockburn, con- 
 sisting of launches and barges, ascended the river at the same 
 time, keeping on the right flank of the army. The day follow- 
 \ ing.on approaching the American flotilla of Commodore Barney, 
 j which had taken refuge high up the river, twelve miles from 
 ' Washington, some sailors, left on board the flotilla for the purpose, 
 , | should it be necessary, set fire to it, and fled. 
 
 On the arrival of the British army at Bladensbiirg, six miles 
 from Washington, Gen. Winder, commander of the American 
 forces, chiefly militia collected for the occasion, ordered them to 
 «ngage the enemy. The principal part of the militia, however, 
 fled, at the opening of the contest. Commodore Barney, with a 
 tew eighteen pounders, and about four hundred men, made a 
 gallant resistance ; but, being overpowered by numbers, and him- 
 self wounded, he and a part of his brave band were compelled to 
 surrender themselves prisoners of war. 
 
 From Bladensburg, Gen Boss urged his march to Washington, 
 
 a 
 
816 period x.— 1809 to 1817. 
 
 where he arrived at about 8 o'clock in the evening. Having 
 stationed his main body at the distance of a mile and a half from 
 the capital, he entered the city, at the head of about seven him 
 dred men, soon after which, he issued his orders for the confla 
 gration of the public buildings. With the capitol were consum 
 ed its valuable libraries, and all the furniture, and articles of 
 taste and value, in that and in the other buildings. The great 
 bridge across the Potomac was burned, together with an elegant ' 
 hotel, and other private buildings. 
 
 50. The capture of Washington was followed, Sep- 
 tember 12th, by an attack on Baltimore, in which the 
 American forces, militia, and inhabitants of Baltimore, 
 made a gallant defence. Being, however, overpowered 
 by a superior force, they were compelled to retreat ; but 
 they fought so valiantly, that the attempt to gain posses- 
 sion of the city was abandoned by the enemy, who, dur- 
 ing the night of Tuesday, 13th, retired to their shipping, 
 having lost, among their killed, Gen. Ross, the command- 
 er-in-chief of the British troops. 
 
 The British army, after the capture of Washington, having 
 re-embarked on board the fleet in the Patuxent. Admiral Coch- 
 rane moved down that river, and proceeded up the Chesapeake. 
 On the morning of the 11th of September, he appeared at the 
 mouth of the Patapsco, fourteen miles from Baltimore, with a 
 fleet of ships of war and transports, amounting to fifty sail. 
 
 On the next day, 12th, land forces, to the number of six thou 
 sand, were landed at North Point, and, under the command cf 
 Gen. Ross, commenced their march towards the city. In antici- 
 pation of the landing of the troops, Gen. Strieker waB despatched 
 with three thousand two hundred men from Baltimore, to keep 
 the enemy in check. 
 
 On the 12th, a battle was fought by the two armies. Early in 
 the engagement, a considerable part of Gen. Strieker's troops 
 retreated in confusion, leaving him scarcely one thousand four 
 hundred men, to whom was opposed the whole body of the ene- 
 my. An incessant fire was continued from half past two o'clock, 
 till a little before four, when Gen. Strieker, finding the contest 
 unequal, and that the enemy outflanked him, retreated upon his 
 reserve, which was effected in good order. 
 
 The loss of the Americans, in killed and wounded, amounted 
 to one hundred and sixty-three, among whom were some of the 
 most respectable citizens of Baltimore. 
 
 The enemy made his appearance, the next morning, in front 
 of the American intrenchments, at a distance of two miles from 
 the city, showing an intention of renewing the attack. 
 
MADISON'S ADMINISTRATION. 317 
 
 if i, In the mean time, an attack was made on Fort M' Henry, from 
 m frigates, bombs, and rocket vessels, which continued through the 
 
 day, and the greater part of the night, doing, however, but little 
 
 damage. 
 
 In the course of the night of Tuesday, Admiral Cochrane held 
 f ; a communication with the commander of the land forces, and, 
 il ] the enterprise of taking the city beintr deemed impracticable, the 
 it i troops were re-embarked ; and the next day, the fleet descended 
 
 the bay, to the great joy of *He released inhabitants. 
 
 51. The joy experienced in all parts of the United 
 ■' States, on account of the brave defence of Baltimore, 
 i had scarcely subsided, when intelligence was received 
 ' 1! of the signal success of the Americans at Plattsburg, 
 1 and on Lake Champlain. The army of Sir George Pre- 
 ' vost, amounting to fourteen thousand men, was com- 
 pelled by Gen. Macomb to retire from the former, and 
 the enemy's squadron, commanded by Commodore Dow- 
 nie, was captured by Commodore Macdonough on the 
 latter. 
 
 Towards the close of the winter of 1814, Gen. Wilkinson, with 
 his army, removed from their winter-quarters at French Mills, 
 and took station at Plattsburg. Gen. Wilkinson leaving the 
 command of the army, Gen. Izard succeeded him at thi3 place 
 By September, the troops at Plattsburg were diminished, by de 
 j tachments withdrawn to other stations, to one thousand five hun 
 dred men. 
 
 In this state of the forces, it was announced that Sir George 
 Prevost, governor-general of Canada, with an army of fourteen 
 thousand men, completely equipped, and accompanied by a 
 numerous train of artillery, was about making a descent on 
 Plattsburg. 
 
 At this time, both the Americans and British had a respectuble 
 I naval force on Lake Champlain ; but that of the latter was con- 
 siderably the superior, amounting to ninety-five guns, and one 
 tli:usand and fifty men, while the American squadron carried 
 but eighty-six guns, and eight hundred and twenty-six men. 
 
 On the 11th of September, while the American fleet was ly- 
 ing off Plattsburg, the British squadron was observed bearing 
 down upon it in order of battle. 
 
 Commodore Macdonough, ordering his vessels cleared for ac- 
 tion, gallantly received the enemy. An engagement ensued, 
 which lasted two hours and twenty minutes. By this time, the 
 enemy was silenced, and one frigate, one brig, and two sloops 
 of war, fell into the hands of th a A *uerican« Several British 
 2?* 
 
318 
 
 rEiuoD x.— 1809 to 1817. 
 
 galleys were sunk, and a few others escaped. The loss of the 
 Americans was fifty-two killed, and fifty-eight wounded ; of the 
 British, eighty-four killed, and one hundred and ten wounded. 
 
 Previously to this eventful day, Sir George Prevost, with his 
 army, arrived in the vicinity of Plattsburg. In anticipation of 
 this event, Gen. Macomb made every preparation, which time 
 and means allowed, and called in to his assistance considerable 
 numbers of the militia. 
 
 In the sight of these two armies, the rival squadrons com 
 menced their contest. And, as if their engagement had been a 
 preconcerted signal, and as if to raise still higher the solemn 
 grandeur of the scene, Sir George Prevost now led up his forces 
 against the American works, and began throwing upon them 
 shells, balls, and rockets. 
 
 At the same time, the Americans opened a severe and de- 
 structive fire from their forts. Before sunset, the, temporary bat- 
 teries of Sir George Prevost were all silenced, and every at- 
 tempt of the enemy to cross from Plattsburg to the American 
 works was repelled. At nine o'clock, perceiving the attainment 
 of his object impracticable, the British general hastily withdrew 
 his forces, diminished by killed, wounded, and deserted, two 
 thousand five hundred. At the same time, he abandoned vast 
 quantities of military stores, and left the inhabitants of Platts- 
 burg to take care of the sick and wounded of his. army, and the 
 
MADISON 6 ADMINISTRATION. 319 
 
 "star-spangled banner" to wave in triumph over the waters of 
 Champlain. 
 
 52. The opposition of the New England representatives 
 
 ' in congress to the declaration of war has been noticed. 
 (Sec. 12.) In this opposition, a great majority of their 
 constituents coincided ; and, during the progress of the 
 war, that opposition became confirmed, and apprehen- 
 sions were indulged that, in consequence of the ill— 
 management of the general government, a crisis was 
 forming, which might involve the country in ruin. 
 
 Under these apprehensions, in October, 1814, the le- 
 gislature of Massachusetts recommended the meeting 
 of a convention from the New England states. This 
 measure, though strongly opposed, was adopted by that 
 
 ( body. Delegates were accordingly chosen. This ex- 
 ample was followed by Rhode Island and Connecticut. 
 Vermont refused, and New Hampshire neglected to send. 
 On the 15th of December, these delegates, together 
 with two elected by counties in New Hampshire, and 
 one similarly elected in Vermont, met at Hartford. Af- 
 
 II ter a session of near three weeks, they published a re- 
 port, in which, after dwelling upon the public grievances 
 felt by the New England states particularly, and by the 
 country at large, in no small degree, they proceeded to 
 suggest several alterations of the federal constitution, 
 with a view to their adoption by the respective states of 
 
 I the Union. 
 
 These alterations consisted of seven articles : — -first, that rep 
 resentatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned to the number 
 of free persons ; — secondly, that no new state shall be admitted 
 into the Union, without the concurrence of two thirds of both 
 houses ; — thirdly, that congress shall not have power to lay an 
 embargo for more than sixty days; — fourthly, that congress shall 
 not interdict commercial intercourse, without the concurrence of 
 two thirds of both houses ; — -fifthly, that war shall not be declared 
 without the concurrence of a similar majority ; — sixthly, that no 
 person, who shall be hereafter naturalized, shall be eligible as a 
 | member of the senate or house of representatives, or hold any 
 civil orhce under the authority of the United States ; and, sev~ 
 ttdhhj, that no person shall be elected twice to the presidency 
 
 f 
 
320 period x.— 1809 to 1817 
 
 nor the president be elected from the same state two terms in 
 succession. 
 
 The conclusion of a treaty of peace with Great Britain, not 
 long after, being announced, another convention was not called ; 
 and, on the submission of the above amendment* of the consti 
 tution to the several states, they were rejected. 
 
 53. In the month of December, a British fleet of six« 
 ' ty sail, having arrived on the coast east of the Mississippi, 
 landed fifteen thousand troops. These, on the 8th of 
 January, 1815, under command of Sir Edward Packcn- 
 ham, attacked the Americans, amounting to about six 
 thousand, chiefly militia, in their intrenchments, before 
 New Orleans. After an engagement of more than an 
 hour, the enemy, having lost their commander-in-chief, 
 and Maj. Gen. Gibbs, and having been cut to pieces in 
 an almost unexampled degree, fled in confusion, leaving 
 their dead and wounded on the field of battle. 
 
 During several preliminary engagements, Gen. Jackson, now 
 commanding at New Orleans, had been diligently employed in 
 preparations to defend the place. His front was a straight line 
 of one thousand yards, defended by upwards of three thousand 
 nfantry and artillerists. The ditch contained five feet of water, 
 and his front, from having been flooded by opening the levees, 
 and by frequent rains, was rendered slippery and muddy. Eight 
 distinct batteries were judiciously disposed, mounting in all 
 twelve guns of different calibers. On the opposite side of the 
 river was a strong battery of fifteen guns. 
 
 On the morning of the 8th of January, General Paekenham 
 brought up his forces, amounting to twelve thousand men, to the 
 attack. The British deliberately advanced in solid columns, 
 over an even plain, in front of the American intrenchments, the 
 men carrying, besides their muskets, fascines, and some of them 
 ladders. 
 
 A solemn silence now prevailed through the American lines, 
 until the enemy approached within reach of the batteries, 
 which at that moment opened an incessant and destructive can- 
 nonade. The enemy, notwithstanding, continued to advance, 
 closing up their ranks as fast as they were opened by the fire 
 of the Americans. 
 
 At length, they came within reach of the musketry and rifles. 
 The extended American line now unitedly presented one sheet 
 of fire, and poured in upon the British columns an unceasing 
 tide of death. Hundreds fell at every discharge, and by columns 
 were swept away. 
 
madison's administration. 32 
 
 Being unable to stand the shock, the British became disorder- 
 ed and fled. In an attempt to rally them, Gen. Packenham was 
 killed. Generals Gibbs and Kean succeeded in pushing forward 
 their columns a second time, but the second approach was still 
 more fatal than tbe first. The fires again rolled from the Ameri- 
 can batteries, and from thousands of muskets. The advancing 
 columns again broke and fled ; a few platoons only reached the 
 edge of the ditch, there to meet a more certain destruction. In 
 a third but unavailing attempt to lead up their troops, Generals 
 Gibbs and Kean weie severely wounded, the former mortally. 
 
 The field of battle now exhibited a scene of extended carnage. 
 Seven hundred brave soldiers were sleeping in death, and one 
 thousand four hundred were wounded. Five hundred were made 
 prisoners — making a loss to the British, on this memorable day, 
 of near three thousand men. The Americans lost in the engage- 
 ment only seven killed, and six wounded. 
 
 The enemy now sullenly retired, and, on the night of the 18th, 
 evacuated their camp, and, with great secrecy, embarked on 
 board their shipping. 
 
 54. The news of the victory at New Orleans spread 
 with haste through the United States, and soon after 
 was followed by the still more welcome tidings of a 
 treaty of peace, which was signed at Ghent, on the 24th 
 of December, 1814. On the 17th of February, this 
 treaty was ratified by the president and senate. 
 
 Upon the subjects for which the war had been professedly de 
 clared, the treaty, thus concluded, was silent. It provided only 
 for the. suspension of hostilities — the exchange of prisoners — the 
 restoration of territories and possessions obtained by the con- 
 tending powers, during the war — the adjustment of unsettled 
 boundaries — and for a combined effort to effect the entire aboli 
 tion of traffic in slaves. 
 
 But whatever diversity of opinion had prevailed about the jus- 
 tice or policy of the war — or now prevailed about the merits of 
 the treaty — all parties welcomed the return of peace. The sol- 
 dier gladly exchanged the toils of the camp for the rest of his 
 dome ; the mariner once more spread his canvass to the wind, 
 and, fearless of molestation, joyfully stretched his way on the 
 ocean ; and the yeomanry of the land, unaccustomed to the din of 
 arms, gladly returned to their wonted care of the field and the 
 flock. 
 
 55. The treaty with England was followed, on the 
 30th of June, 1815, by a treaty with the dey of Algiers, 
 concluded at Algiers, at that time, by William Shulcr 
 
322 period x.— 1809 to 1817. 
 
 and Commodore Stephen Decatur, agents for the United 
 States. 
 
 The war. which thus ended by treaty, was commenced by the 
 dey himself, as early as the year 1812. At that time, the Ameri 
 can consul. Mr. Lear, was suddenly ordered to depart from Al- 
 giers, on account of the arrival of a cargo of naval and military 
 stores, for the regency of Algiers, in fulfilment of treaty stipula- 
 tions, which, the dey alleged, were not such, in quantity or quali- 
 ty, as he expected. At the same time, depredations were com- 
 menced upon our commerce. Several American vessels were 
 captured and condemned, and their crews subjected to slavery. 
 
 Upon a representation of the case, by the president, to con- 
 gress, that body formally declared war against the dey in March. 
 Soon after, an American squadron sailed for the Mediterranean, 
 captured an Algerine brig, and a forty-four gun frigate ; and, at 
 length, appeared before Algiers. 
 
 The respectability of the American force, added to the two im 
 portant victories already achieved, had prepared the way for the 
 American commissioners to dictate a treaty, upon such a basis as 
 they pleased. Accordingly, the model of a treaty was sent to 
 the dey, who signed it. By this treaty, the United States were 
 exempted from paying tribute in future ; captured property was 
 to be restored by the dey ; prisoners to be delivered up without 
 ransom, &c. &c. 
 
 56. The treaty with Great Britain, which ended the 
 war, left the subject of commercial intercourse between 
 the two nations to future negotiation. In the summer 
 following the close of the war, plenipotentiaries, respec- 
 tively appointed by the two countries for that purpose 
 met at London, and, on the 3d of July, signed " a con- 
 vention, by which to regulate the commerce between the 
 territories of the United States and of his Britannic 
 majesty." 
 
 This convention provided for a reciprocal liberty of commerce 
 between the two countries — for an equalization of duties on im 
 portations and exportations from either country to the other — and 
 fir the admission of American vessels to the principal settle- 
 ments of the British dominions in the East Indies, viz. Madras, 
 Calcutta, Bombay, &c. Of this convention, the president spoke 
 in terms of approbation, in his message to congress ; but by a 
 large portion of the community it was received with coldness, 
 from an apprehension that it would operate unfavorably to 
 America, and would seriously abridge her commerce. The coi> 
 vention was to be binding only for four years. 
 
madison's administration. 323 
 
 57. By the second article of the treaty with Great 
 Britain, it was agreed, that all vessels, taken by either 
 power, within twelve days from the exchange of ratifica- 
 tions, between twenty-three degrees and fifty degrees ot 
 north latitude, should be considered lawful prizes. A 
 longer period was stipulated for more distant latitudes. 
 Within the time limited by this article, several actions took 
 place, and several vessels of various descriptions were 
 captured by each of the belligerents. The frigate Presi- 
 dent was taken January 15th, 1815, by a British squad- 
 ron ; the British ships Cyane, Levant, and Penguin, 
 were captured by the Americans. 
 
 58. The attention of congress during their session in 
 1815 — 16, was called to a bill, which had for its object 
 the incorporation of a national bank. In the discussion 
 which followed, much diversity of opinion was found to 
 prevail, not only as to the constitutional power of con- 
 gress to establish such an institution, but also as to the 
 principles upon which it should be modelled. After 
 weeks of animated debate, a bill, incorporating the 
 I Bank of the United States," with a capital of thirty- 
 five millions of dollars, passed, and on Wednesday, 
 April 10th, received the signature of the president. 
 
 Of the stock of the bank, seven millions were to be subscribe,'' 
 by the United States, the remaining twenty-eight by individuals 
 The affairs of the corporation were to be managed by twenty-fivft 
 directors, five of whom were to be chosen by the president, with 
 the advice and consent of the senate ; the remainder to be elect- 
 ed by the stockholders, at the banking-house in Philadelphia. 
 The charter of the bank is to continue in force until the 3d of 
 March, 1336. 
 
 59. In December, 1816, Indiana became an indepen- 
 dent state, and was received into the Union. 
 
 Detached places in Indiana were settled by the French, up 
 wards of a century ago. The exact period, at which the first 
 settlement was made, is uncertain. 
 
 In 1763, the territory was ceded by France to England. By 
 the treaty of Greenville, in 1795, the United States obtained of 
 the Indians several small grants of land within this territory ; 
 and in subsequent years, still more extensive tracts. During 
 
824 period x.— 1809 to 1817 
 
 the war with England, which broke out in 1812, Indiana was 
 the scene of many Indian depredations, and of many unusually 
 Severe battles between the hostile tribes and the troops of tho 
 United States. Until 1801, Indiana formed a part of the great 
 north-western territory; but, at that date, it was erected into a 
 territorial government, with the usual powers and privileges. In 
 December, 1815, the inhabitants amounting to sixty thousand, 
 the legislature petitioned congress for admission into the Union, 
 and the privilege of forming a state constitution. A bill for this 
 purpose passed congress, in April, 1816; a convention of dele 
 gates met in conformity to it, by which a constitution was adopt- 
 ed, and Indiana became an independent state, and a member of 
 the Union, in December following. 
 
 60. 1817. On Wednesday, February 12th, the votes 
 for Mr. Madison's successor were counted in the pres- 
 ence of both houses of congress, when it appeared that 
 James Monroe was elected president, and Daniel D 
 Tompkins vice-president of the United States, for the 
 four years from and after the 4th of the ensuing March. 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 61. Manners. The only noticeable change of man- 
 ners, which seems to have taken place during this pe- 
 riod, arose from the spirit of pecuniary speculation, 
 which pervaded the country during the war. Money 
 was borrowed with facility, and fortunes were often 
 made in a day. Extravagance and profligacy were, to 
 some extent, the consequence. The return of peace, 
 and the extensive misfortunes which fell upon every part 
 of the community, counteracted these vices, and restored 
 more sober and industrious habits. 
 
 62. Religion. During this period, extensive revivals 
 of religion prevailed, and liberal and expanded plans, 
 were devised and commenced for the promotion of Chris- 
 tianity. Several theological institutions were founded, 
 missionary and Bible societies were established, and a 
 great call for ministers of the gospel was heard. 
 
 63. Trade and Commerce. During this period, 
 trade and commerce were crippled by foreign restric- 
 
MADISON S ADMINISTRATION. 325 
 
 i tions, our own acts of non-intercourse; and, at length, 
 
 j by the war 'with England. During this war, our carry- 
 ing trade was destroyed ; nor was it restored by the 
 
 J peace of 1815. 
 
 On the return of peace, immense importations were 
 
 i made from England, the country being destitute of Eng- 
 lish merchandise. The market was soon glutted, prices 
 fell, and extensive bankruptcies were the consequence. 
 64. Agriculture. Agriculture, during this period 
 cannot be said to have made great advances. 
 
 An excessive disposition in the people for trade and specula* 
 tion, drew oft" the attention of the more intelligent and active 
 part of the community, and directed much of the capital of the 
 country to other objects. Upon the return of p.eace, however, 
 ! when mercantile distresses overspread the land, agriculture was 
 again , resorted to, as one of the surest means of obtaining a live- 
 lihood. Men of capital, too, turned their attention to fanning 
 agricu tural societies were established in all parts of the country 
 more enlightened methods of culture were introduced, and agri 
 culture became not only one of the most profitable, but one o£ 
 the most popular objects of pursuit. 
 
 C5. Arts and Manufactures. During the war 
 which occurred in this period, the intercourse with 
 England, and other places, being stopped, the country 
 was soon destitute of those articles which had been sup- 
 plied by English manufactories. Accordingly, the peo- 
 ple began to manufacture for themselves. Extensive 
 manufacturing establishments were started for almost 
 every sort of merchandise. Such was their success at 
 the outset, that an immense capital was soon invested 
 in them, and the country began to be supplied with 
 almost every species of manufacture from our own es- 
 tablishments. After the peace, the country being inun- 
 j dated with British goods, these establishments suffered 
 the severest embarrassments, and many of them were 
 Entirely broken down. A considerable portion of them, 
 i however, were maintained, and continued to flourish. 
 
 66. Population. At the expiration of Mr. Madison's 
 > erm of office, in 1817, the number of inhabitants in 
 28 
 
326 period x.— -1809 to 1817. 
 
 the United States was about nine millions five hundred 
 thousand. 
 
 67. Education. The pecuniary embarrassments 
 experienced throughout the country, during the latter 
 part of this period, sensibly affected some institutions 
 devoted to science and benevolence, especially those 
 which depend, in part, upon the yearly contributions of 
 the patrons of learning and religion, for the means of 
 support. In several of the higher seminaries, the num- 
 ber of students was, for a time, diminished. Neverthe- 
 less, parochial schools, academies, and colleges, upon 
 the whole, continued to increase, and to qualify many 
 for the common and higher professions of life. 
 
 A theological institution was established at Princeton, New 
 Jersey, in 1812, by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian 
 Church. In 1821, the theological seminary of the Associate 
 Reformed Church, in New York, was united to that of Prince- 
 ton, and its library, consisting of four thousand volumes, which 
 cost seventeen thousand dollars, was transferred to the latter 
 place. This seminary has three professors, and, in 1821, had 
 seventy-three students. 
 
 During the same year, Hamilton College was incorporated at 
 Clinton, New York : it has been liberally patronized by the 
 legislature, and by individuals. 
 
UNITED STATES. 
 PERIOD XT. 
 
 DISTINGUISHED FOR MONROE'S ADMINISTRATION. 
 
 Extending from the Inauguration of President Monroe, 
 1817, to March, 1825. 
 
 Sec. 1. On the 4th of March, 1817, Mr. Monroe took 
 the oath prescribed by the constitution, and entered upon 
 the duties of president of the United States. 
 
 The condition of the country, on the accession of Mr. Monroe 
 to the presidency, was, in several respects, more prosperous and 
 happy, than on the accession of his predecessor. Not only had 
 war ceased, and the political asperity excited by it given place 
 to better feelings, but efforts were made, in every section of the 
 Union, to revive those plans of business which the war had nearly 
 annihilated. The country had suffered too much, however, tore- 
 gain immediately its former prosperity. Commerce was far from 
 Being flourishing ; a considerable part of the legitimate trade was 
 in the hands of foreigners ; many ships were lying unemployed, 
 and the ship-building in many ports had nearly ceased. The 
 manufacturing establishments, which had not been entirely 
 broken down, were sustaining a precarious existence. Foreign 
 merchandise was inundating the country; and the specie, bor- 
 rowed in Europe for the national bank, at an excessive premium, 
 as well as that which was previously in the country, was rapidly 
 leaving it to pay the balance of trade against us. In his inau- 
 gural address, however, the president spoke in animating terms 
 of the happy state of the country, and of its prospects of regain- 
 ing, at no distant period, that measure of prosperity, which, iu 
 former years, it had enjoyed. 
 
 2. The senate having been convened at the same 
 time, a cabinet was formed under the new administra- 
 
323 period xi.— 1817 to IS25 
 
 tion. The department of state was intrusted to Mr 
 Adams. Mr. Crawford was continued in the treasury. 
 Mr. Calhoun was appointed secretary of war, and Smith 
 Thompson was placed over the department of the navy. 
 
 3. In the summer and autumn following his inaugu- 
 ration, the president made a tour through the northern 
 and eastern states of the Union. 
 
 The objects of this tour were connected with the national in- 
 terests. Congress had appropriated large sums of money for the 
 fortification of the sea-coast, and inland frontiers, for the estab- 
 lishment of naval docks, and for increasing the navy. The su- 
 perintendence of these works belonged to the president. Solici- 
 tous to discharge his duty, in reference to them, witli judgment, 
 fidelity, and economy, he was induced to visit the most impor- 
 tant points 'along the sea-coast and in the interior, from a con- 
 viction of being better able to direct, in reference to them, with 
 the knowledge derived from personal observation, than by means 
 of information communicated to him by others. 
 
 4. On the 11th of December, the state of Mississippi 
 was acknowledged by congress as sovereign and inde- 
 pendent, and was admitted to the Union. 
 
 The first European who visited the present state of Mississippi, 
 appears to have been Ferdinand de Soto, a native of Badajoz, in 
 Spain, who huided en the coast of Florida en the 25th of May, 
 J.o39. He spent three, years in the country, searching for gold, 
 but at length died, and was buried on the banks of the Missis- 
 sippi, May, 1542. x 
 
 In 1683, M. de Salle descended the Mississippi, and gave the 
 name of Lovxsmna to the coimtry. In consequence of this, the 
 French claimed to have jurisdiction over it. In 1716, they formed 
 a settlement at the Natchez, and built a fort, which they named 
 Rosalie. Other settlements were effected in subsequent years. 
 The French settlements were, however, seriously disturbed by 
 the Indians, particularly by the Natchez, once the most powerful 
 of all the southern tribes. 
 
 The French retained an acknowledged title to the country on 
 the east side of the Mississippi, until the treaty of 17G3, when 
 they ceded their possessions east of that river to the English. 
 By the treaty of 1753, Great Britain relinquished the Floridas to 
 Spain without specific boundaries ; and at the same time ceded 
 to the United States all the country north of the thirty-first de- 
 gree of latitude. The Spaniards retained possession of the 
 Natchez, and the ports north of the thirty-first degree, until 1798, 
 when they finally abandoned ~ them to the United States. 
 
 In the year 1800, the territory between the Mississippi and the 
 
MONROE ADMINISTRATION. 329 
 
 western boundary of Georgia, was erected into a distinct terri 
 torial government. By treaty at Fort Adam, in 1801, the Choc- 
 taw Indians relinquished to the United States a large body of 
 land, and other cessions have since been made. On the 1st of 
 March, 1817, congress authorized the people of the western part 
 of Mississippi territory to form a constitution and state govern- 
 ment. A convention met in July, 1817, by which a constitution 
 was formed, and in December following, Mississippi was admit- 
 ted into the Union as a separate state. 
 
 5. In the course of the same month, an expedition 
 which had been set on foot by a number of adventurers 
 from different countries, against East and West Florida, 
 was terminated by the troops of the United States. 
 These adventurers claimed to be acting under the au- 
 thority of some of the South American colonies, and 
 had formed an establishment at Amelia Island, a Spanish 
 province, then the subject of negotiation between the 
 United States and Spain. Their avowed object being 
 an invasion of the Floridas, and of course an invasion 
 of a part of the United States, the American government 
 deemed itself authorized, without designing any hostili- 
 ty to Spain, to take possession of Amelia Island, their 
 head-quarters. 
 
 A similar establishment had previously been formed at Gal- 
 vezton, a small island on the coast of the Texas, claimed by the 
 United States. From both of these places privateers were fitted 
 out, which greatly annoyed our regular commerce. Prizes were 
 gent in, and, by a pretended court of admiralty, condemned and 
 sold. Slaves, in great numbers, were shipped through these 
 islands to the United States, and through the same channel ex- 
 tensive clandestine importations of goods were made. Justly 
 apprehending the results of these establishments, if suffered to 
 proceed unmolested, the executive took early measures to sup- 
 press them. Accordingly, a naval force, with the necessary 
 troops, was despatched, under command of Captains Henly and 
 Bankhead, to whom Amelia Island was surrendered, on the 24th 
 of December, without the effusion of blood. The suppressior 
 of Galvezton followed soon after. 
 
 6. Several bills of importance passed congress, dur- 
 ing their session, in the winter of 1817-1818; a bill 
 allowing to the members of the senate and house of rep- 
 resentatives the sum of eight dollars per day, during 
 
'J30 PERIOD XI. — 1817 TO 1825. 
 
 their attendance ; a second, in compliance with the re- 
 commendation of the president, abolishing the internal 
 duties ; and a third, providing, upon the same recom- 
 mendation, for the indigent officers and soldiers of the 
 revolutionary army. 
 
 7. In April, 1818, Illinois adopted a state consti- 
 tution, and in December following was admitted as a 
 member of the Union 
 
 Illinois d( '-, ; its name from its principal river, which, in the 
 langr Indians, signifies the river of rneh. The first 
 
 settlements, like those of Indiana, were made by the French, and 
 were the consequence of the adventurous enterprises of M. de 
 la Salle, in search of the Mississippi. The first settlements were 
 the villages of Kaskaskia and Cahokia. In the beginning- of 
 the eighteenth century, the settlements of Illinois were repre 
 Rented J ii a nourishing condition. But subsequent 
 
 ly tl -sure declined. 
 
 Fs ■■.;• to the middle of the eighteenth century, 
 
 little was heard of the settlements of the French on the banks 
 of the Illinois. About 1749, the French began to fortify the 
 Wabash and Illinois, in order to resist the British. In 17Q2, all 
 the count: . tst of the Mississippi was ceded to the latter 
 
 power, and consequently Illinois passed under the British do- 
 minion. At the peace of 1763. Great Britain renounced its 
 claims y over this country, as well as over the Unitea 
 
 Stale ia, however, and some other states, claimed the 
 
 whole country north and west of the Ohio; but at the instance 
 of congress, a cession of these claims was made to the genera. 
 government. Illinois remained a part of Indiana until lb()9, 
 when a distinct territorial government was established for it. In 
 1818, the people formed a constitution, and it is now one of the 
 United Stales. 
 
 8. Early after the conclusion of this session of con- 
 gress, the president, in pursuance of his determination 
 to visit a uch parts of the United States as were most 
 exposed to the naval and military forces of an enemy, 
 prepared to survey the Chesapeake bay, and the country 
 lying on its extensive shores. 
 
 In the month of May, he left Washington, accompanied by 
 the secretary of war and the secretary of the navy, with other 
 gentlemen of distinction. On his arrival at Annapolis, the pres- 
 ident and ids suite minutely examined the waters contiguous, in 
 reference to their fitness for a nayul de.pot Embarking at this 
 
monroe's administration. 331 
 
 jlace on board a vessel, he further examined the coast, and 
 ;.hence proceeded to Norfolk. Having at length accomplished 
 .he principal object of his tour, in the examination of the Chesa- 
 peake bay, he returned to Washington, June 17th, through the 
 nterior of Virginia. The respectful and affectionate demonstra- 
 ions of attachment paid to him during his northern tour were re- 
 newed in this. 
 
 9. On the 27th of May, 1818, a treaty, concluded with 
 Sweden, at Stockholm, on the 4th of September, 1810, 
 
 'by Mr. Russel, minister plenipotentiary to that court, 
 was ratified by the president and senate, on the part of 
 
 ;the United States. The same was ratified by the king 
 of Sweden on the 24th of the following July. 
 
 This treaty provided for maintaining peace and friendship be- 
 tween the two countries — reciprocal liberty of commerce — equali 
 (cation of duties, &c. &c. The treaty was to continue in force 
 for eight years from the exchange of ratifications. 
 
 10. During the year 1818, a war was carried on be 
 'tween the Seminole Indians and the United States, 
 
 which terminated in the complete discomfiture of the 
 former. 
 
 The Indians, denominated Seminole Indians, inhabited a tract 
 of country partly within the limits of the United States, but a 
 
 j greater part of which lied within the boundaries of the Floridas. 
 
 j Not a few Creeks, dissatisfied with the treaty of 1814* (see Period 
 X Sec. 39,) had fled to the Seminoles, carrying with them feel- 
 
 I inn;* of hostility against the United States. 
 
 These feelings were much strengthened by foreign white 
 
 | emissaries, whohad taken up their residence among them f>r the 
 purpose of trade. At length, several outrages being committed 
 by the Indians upon the border inhabitants of the United States 
 the secretary of war ordered Gen. Gaines to remove, at his dis- 
 cretion, such Indians as were still on the lands ceded to the Uni- 
 ted States by the Creeks in 1814. 
 
 The execution of this order rouged the Indians, who. in great 
 numbers, invested Fort Scott, where Gen. Gaines was confined, 
 with 000 men. 
 
 Information of this state of things being communicated to the 
 department of war, Gen. Jackson was ordered, December 26th, to 
 lake the field, and directed, if he should deem the force with 
 
 ! Gen Gaines, amounting in all to 1800 men, insufficient to cope 
 with the enemy, ' ; to call on the executives of the adjacent states 
 for such an additional militia force as he might deem requisite 
 
332 period xi.— 1817 to 1825. 
 
 On the receipt of this order, Gen. Jackson prepared to comply ; 
 but, instead of calling upon the executives of the neighboring 
 states, especially upon the governor of Tennessee, who lived 
 near his residence, he addressed a circular to the patriots of West 
 Tennessee, inviting one thousand of them to join his standard. 
 
 This call being promptly obeyed, Gen. Jackson, with these 
 troops and a body of friendly Creeks, entered upon the Seminole 
 war. 
 
 Deeming it necessary, for the subjugation of the Seminoles, to 
 enter Florida, Gen. Jackson marched upon St. Marks, a feeble 
 Spanish garrison, in which some Indians had taken refuge. Of 
 this garrison Gen. Jackson quietly took possession, and occupied 
 it as an American post. At St. Marks was found Alexander 
 Arbuthnot, who was taken prisoner and put in confinement. At 
 the same time were taken two Indian chiefs, one of whom pre- 
 tended to possess the spirit of prophecy ; they were hung with- 
 out trial. St. Marks being garrisoned by American troops, the 
 army marched to Suwaney river, on which they found a large 
 Indian village, which was consumed, after which the army re- 
 turned to St. Marks, bringing with them Robert C. Ambrister, 
 who had been taken prisoner on their march to'Suwaney. Dur- 
 ing the halt of the army for a few days at St. Marks, a general 
 court martial was called, before which charges were made against 
 Ambrister and Arbuthnot. Both were adjudged guilty, and the 
 former was sentenced to be shot — the latter to be hung. Subse- 
 quently, however, the sentence in respect to Ambrister was re- 
 considered, and he was sentenced to be whipped and confined to 
 hard labor. This decision Gen. Jackson reversed, and ordered 
 both to be executed according to the first sentence of the court. 
 
 At St. Marks, Gen. Jackson, being informed that the Spanish 
 governor of Pansacola was favoring the Indians, took up his 
 march for the capital of that province, before which, after a 
 march of twenty days, he appeared. This place was taken with 
 scarcely a show of resistance — a new government was establish- 
 ed for the province, the powers of which were vested partly in 
 military officers, and partly in citizens of the province. Gen. 
 Jackson now announced to the secretary that the Seminole war 
 was closed, and returned to his residence at Nashville. Some 
 time after, the American executive, deeming the longer posses- 
 sion of the Spanish forts unnecessary to the peace of the country, 
 and inconsistent with good faith to Spain, directed them to be 
 restored, and accompanied the restoration with the reasons which 
 had led to their occupation. 
 
 The measures adopted by Gen. Jackson in the prosecution of 
 this war — particularly his appeal to the people of West Tennes- 
 see — his conduct in relation to the trial and execution of Arbuth- 
 not and Ambrister — and his occupation of St. Marks and Fensa- 
 eola — excited strong sensations in the bosoms of a considerable 
 
MONROE S ADMINISTRATION. 333 
 
 portion of the American people. During the session of congress 
 in the winter of 1818 — 1819, these subjects were extensively and 
 eloquently debated. By the military committee of the house, a 
 report was presented, censuring the conduct of Gen. Jackson; 
 but, after an elaborate examination of the case, the house, by a 
 majority of one hundred and eight to sixty-two, refused its con- 
 currence. Towards the close of the session, a report unfavorable 
 to Gen. Jackson was also brought forward in the senate, but no 
 vote of censure or resolution was attached, and no discussion of 
 its merits was had. 
 
 11. On the 28th of January, 1819, a convention be- 
 tween Great Britain and the United States, concluded 
 at London, October 20th, ISIS, and ratified by the 
 Prince Regent on the 2d of November following, was 
 ratified by the president of the United States. 
 
 By the first article of this convention, the citizens of the Uni- 
 ted States have liberty, in common with the subjects of Great 
 Britain, to take fish on the southern, western, and northern coast 
 of Newfoundland, &ir. The second article establishes the north- 
 ern boundaries of the United States from the Lake of the Woods 
 to the Stony Mountains. By the fourth article, the commercial 
 convention between the two countries, concluded at London, in 
 1815, is extended for the term often years longer, &c. etc. 
 
 12. On the 22 d of February, following, a treaty was 
 concluded at Washington, by John Quincy Adams and 
 Luis de Onis, by which East and West Florida, with all 
 the islands adjacent, &,c, were ceded by Spain to the 
 United States. 
 
 By tWte treaty, the western boundary between the United 
 States and Spain was settled. A sum not exceeding five millions 
 of dollars is to be paid by the United States out of the proceeds of 
 sales of lands in Florida, or in stock, or money, to citizens of 
 the United States, on account of Spanish spoliations and injuries 
 To liquidate the claims, a board was to he constituted by the gov- 
 ernment of the United States, of American citizens, to consist of 
 three commissioners, who should report within three years. 
 
 13. On the 2d of March, 1819, the government of 
 the Arkansas Territory was organized by an act of 
 congress. 
 
 The earliest settlement within the limits of the territory of 
 Arkansas, was made by the Chevalier de Tonte, in 1G85, at the 
 
334 teriod xi.— 1817 to 1825. 
 
 Indian village of Arkansas, situated on the river of that name 
 Emigrants from Canada afterwards arrived, but the progress of 
 settlement was slow. Upon the cession of Louisiana to the Uni- 
 ted States, the ceded territory was divided into two parts — the 
 Territory of Orleans, lying south of latitude thirty degrees, and 
 the District of Louisiana, comprehending all the tract of country 
 between the Mississippi and the Pacific Ocean. In March, 1805, 
 the latter country was denominated the Territory of Louisiana. 
 In 1812, this territory was constituted a territorial government, 
 by the name of the Territory of Missouri. In March, 1819, the 
 inhabitants of the northern parts were formed into a distinct dis- 
 trict, by the name of Missouri, and soon after the southern was 
 formed into a territorial government by the name of Arkansas. 
 In December, 1819, an election for a delegate to congress was 
 held for the first time. 
 
 14. During the following summer, 1819, the president 
 visited the southern section of the country, having in 
 view the same great national interests, which had prompt- 
 ed him in his previous tour to the north. 
 
 In this tour the president visited Charleston, Savannah, and 
 Augusta; from this latter place he proceeded to Nashville, 
 through the Cherokee nation, and thence to Louisville ana Lex- 
 ington, Kentucky, whence he returned to the seat of govern- 
 ment early in August. 
 
 15. On the 14th of December following, a resolution 
 passed congress, admitting Alabama into the Union, on 
 an equal footing with the original states. 
 
 Alabama, though recently settled, appears to have been visited 
 by Ferdinand de Soto in 1539. Some scattered settlements were 
 made within the present state of Mississippi before the American 
 revolution ; but Alabama continued the hunting ground of sav- 
 ages until a much later period. 
 
 After the peace of 1783, Georgia laid claim to this territory, and 
 exercised jurisdiction over it until the beginning of the present 
 century. In 1795, an act passed the legislature of Georgia, by 
 which twenty-five millions of acres of its western territory were 
 sold to companies for five hundred thousand dollars, and the pur- 
 chase money was paid into their treasury. The purchasers of 
 these lands soon after sold them at advanced prices. The sale of 
 the territory excited a warm opposition in Georgia, and, at a sub- 
 sequent meeting of the legislature, the transaction was impeach- 
 ed, on the ground of bribery, corruption, and unconstitutionality. 
 The records respecting the sale wore ordered to be burnt, and the 
 five hundred thousand dollars to be refunded to the purchasers. 
 
MONROE S ADMINISTRATION. 335 
 
 Those who had acquired titles of the original purchasers instituted 
 Buits in the federal courts. 
 
 In 1802, however, Georgia ceded to the United States all her 
 western territory, for one million two hundred and fifty thousand 
 dollars. On this event, the purchasers of the Yazoo land pe- 
 titioned congress for redress and compensation. After consider- 
 able opposition, an act passed for reimbursing them with funded 
 Btock, called the Mississippi stock. In 1800, the territory which 
 now forms the states of Mississippi and Alabama, was erected 
 inta-a territorial government. In 1817, Mississippi territory was 
 divided, and the western portion of it was authorized to form a 
 state constitution. The eastern portion was then formed into a 
 territorial government, and received the name of Alabama. In 
 July, 1819, a convention of delegates met at Huntsville, and 
 adopted a state constitution, which being approved by congress 
 in December following, the state was declared to be henceforth 
 one of the United States. 
 
 16. In the ensuing year, March 3d, 1820, Maine 
 became an independent state, and a member of the Fed- 
 eral Union. 
 
 The separation of the District of Maine from Massachusetts, and 
 its erection into an independent state, had been frequently at- 
 tempted without success. In October, 1785, a convention met at 
 Portland, for the purpose of considering the subject. In the suc- 
 ceeding year, the question was submitted to the people of Maine, 
 to be decided in town-meetings, when it was found that a ma- 
 jority of freemen were against the measure. The subject was 
 renewed in 1802, when a majority appeared averse to a separa- 
 tion. In 1819, an act passed the general court of Massachusetts, 
 for ascertaining the wishes of the people ; in conformity to which, 
 a vote was taken in all the towns. A large majority were found 
 in favor of a separation. A convention was called, and a consti- 
 tution adopted, which being approved, Massachusetts and Maine 
 
 j amicably separated, the latter taking her proper rank, as one of 
 
 I the United States. 
 
 17. On the 5th of March, 1821, Mr. Monroe, who 
 ha*d been re-elected to the presidency, took the usual 
 oath of office. The re-election of Monroe was nearly 
 
 j unanimous. Mr. Tompkins was again elected vice- 
 president. 
 
 18. August 10th, 1821, the president, by his procla- 
 mation, declared Missouri to be an independent state, 
 and that it was admitted into the Federal Union. 
 
336 period xi.— 1SI7 to 1825. 
 
 The first permanent settlements in Missouri appear to hava 
 been made at St. Genevieve and New Bourbon, which were 
 founded soon after the peace of 1(363. In the succeeding year, 
 St. Louis, the capital of the state, was commenced. In 1702, 
 Louisiana, and Missouri of course, were secretly ceded by France 
 to Spain ; but the latter did not attempt to take possession of the 
 country until some years after. 
 
 Missouri remained in possession of Spain, through the war of 
 the revolution, until the cession of Louisiana to France, in 1801 
 by which latter power it was ceded to the United States in 1803. 
 
 Upon the cession of Louisiana to the United States, the dis- 
 trict which now forms the State of Louisiana, was separated from 
 the territory, and made a distinct government, by the name of 
 the Territory of Orleans. In 1811, the territory of Orleans be- 
 came a state, by the name of Louisiana. The remaining part of 
 the original province of Louisiana, extending to the Pacific, was 
 erected into a territorial government, and called Missouri. In 
 1818-19, application was made to congress, by the people of this 
 territory, to form a state constitution. A bill was accordingly 
 introduced for the purpose, a provision of which forbade slavery 
 or involuntary servitude. The bill, with this provision, passed the 
 house of representatives, out was rejected in the senate, and, in 
 consequence of this disagreement, the measure, for the time, 
 failed, in the session of 1810-20, the bill &as revived ; and, af 
 ter long and animated debates, a compromise was effected, by 
 which slavery was to be tolerated in Missouri, and forbidden ir 
 all that part of Louisiana, as ceded by France, lying north of 
 3tP 30' north latitude, except so much as was included within 
 the limits of the state. In the mean time, the people of Missouri 
 had formed a state constitution. When this constitution was 
 presented to congress, in 1820-2], a provision in it, which re- 
 quired the legislature to pass laws " to prevent free negroes and 
 mulattoes from coming to, and settling in, the state." was stren- 
 uously opposed, on the ground that it violated the rights of such 
 persons of that description as were citizens of any of the United 
 States. The contest occupied a great part of the session, and it 
 was finally determined, by a smalt majority, that Missouri should 
 be admitted, upon the fundamental condition, that the contested 
 clause should not be construed to authorize the passage of 
 any laws, excluding citizens of other states from enjoying the 
 privileges to which they are entitled by the constitution of the 
 United States. It was also provided, that if the legislature of 
 Missouri should, by a solemn public act, previously to the 4th 
 Monday of November, 1821, declare the assent of the state to 
 this fundamental condition, the president should issue his procla- 
 mation, declaring the admission complete. On the 24th of June, 
 1821, the legislature of Missouri assented to the fundamental 
 
MONROE S ADMINISTRATION. 337 
 
 condition ; and, on the 10th of August following, the president 8 
 proclamation was issued, declaring the admission complete.* 
 
 19. The first session of the seventeenth congress 
 commenced on the third of December. The affairs of 
 the nation were generally prosperous, and there seemed 
 to be no obstacle in the way of wise and prudent meas- 
 ures. A spirit of jealousy, however, obtruded itself 
 upon their deliberations, by which some beneficial 
 measures were defeated, and the business of the session 
 was unnecessarily delayed and neglected. Several acts 
 of importance, however, were passed, concerning navi- 
 gation and commerce ; relieving still further the indi- 
 gent veterans of the revolution ; and fixing the ratio 
 between population and representation, at one repre- 
 sentative for every forty thousand inhabitants. 
 
 The constitution has not limited the number, but has only 
 provided that no more than one shall be sent for thirty thousand 
 inhabitants. Public opinion seems generally to have decided 
 that a numerous representation is an evil, by which not only the 
 business of the nation is neglected in the conflicts of individual 
 opinions, but the people are subjected to an unnecessary ex- 
 pense. The congress that signed the Declaration of Independ- 
 ence consisted but of fifty-six members ; and no deliberative 
 assembly excelled them in industry and public virtue. The con- 
 gross that formed the confederation consisted of forty-eight ; 
 that which formed the constitution consisted of only thirty- 
 nine, and the first congress under that constitution, of but sixty- 
 five. After the first census, the appointment being one for 
 every thirty-three thousand inhabitants, the house consisted of 
 one hundred and five representatives. The same apportionment 
 being continued under the second census, there were one hun- 
 dred and forty-one representatives. The apportionment under 
 the third census allowed one for thirty-five thousand ; and the 
 house consisted of one hundred and eighty-seven members. The 
 ratio fixed upon by the congress of 1822-3, was one for forty 
 thousand; and the number of representatives was two hundred- 
 and twelve. 
 
 20. During the above session of congress, March 
 81, 1822, a territorial government was established for 
 Florida. 
 
 * American Atlas— Philadelphia. 
 
338 period xi —1817 to 1825. 
 
 The name of Florida was formerly given to an immense re- 
 gion of country discovered by Cabot in 1497. The first visitant 
 to the actual territory of Florida was Ponce de Leon, who landed 
 on Easter daj-, 1512. Navigators from several countries visited 
 it, and various European sovereigns attempted to appropriate the 
 country to themselves. 
 
 Spain, however, held possession of it until 1763, when it vas 
 ceded to Great Britain. In May, 1781, Don Galvez captured 
 Pensacola, and soon afterwards completed the conquest of the 
 whole of West Florida, which remained in possession of Spain 
 until 1783, when Great Britain relinquished both provinces of 
 Florida to Spain. 
 
 By the treaty of France, in 1803, which ceded Louisiana to 
 the United States, it was declared to be ceded with the same 
 extent that it had in the hands of Spain, when ceded to France. 
 By virtue of this declaration, the United States claimed the 
 country west of the Perdido river, and, in 1811, took possession 
 of it, except the town and fort of Mobile, which were surren- 
 dered the following year. In 1814, a British expedition having 
 been fitted out against the United States, from Pensacola, Gen. 
 Jackson took possession of the town, but, having no authority 
 to hold it. returned to Mobile. The Seminole Indians, with whom 
 the United States were at war, residing partly within the limits 
 of Florida, and making their incursions thence without restraint 
 from the Spaniards, it became necessary to cross the territorial 
 line to chastise thein. Subsequently, Gen. Jackson took posses- 
 sion of Fort St. Marks and Pensacola, which the American troopa 
 held till November, 1818, when they were restored to Spain. In 
 1811), a transfer of the whole province was made by treaty to the 
 United States, and, after many vexatious delays, the treaty was 
 ratified by Spain in October, 1820, and finally by the United 
 States in the month of February, 1821. Possession was deliver- 
 ed to Gen. Jackson, as commissioner of the United States, in 
 July, 1821. 
 
 21. In the course of the summer of 1824, an event 
 occurred, which caused the highest sensations of joy 
 throughout the Union. This was the arrival of the Mar- 
 quis de Lafayette, the friend and ally of the Americans 
 during the former war with Great Britain, and who em- 
 inently contrihuted, by his fortune, influence, skill, and 
 bravery, to achieve the glorious objects of their revolu- 
 tionary struggle. 
 
 The visit of Lafayette to the United States occupied about a 
 year; during which he visited each of the twenty-four states, 
 und was every where hailed as a father. When the time ar« 
 
MONROE*8 ADMINISTRATION. 339 
 
 rived which he had fixed as the termination of his visit, it wag 
 thought most fitting that his departure from the country should 
 I take place from the capital. A frigate was prepared at that 
 place, and named, in compliment to him, the Brandywine, to 
 transport him to his native country. 
 
 On the 7th of September, about noon, he entered the spacious 
 hall in the president's mansion, where he was addressed by the 
 chief magistrate of the nation in terms manly, patriotic, and af- 
 fectionate. In a similar manner Lafayette replied, concluding 
 as follows : — " God bless you, sir, and all who surround us. God 
 bless the American people, each of their states, and the federal 
 government. Accept this patriotic farewell of an overflowing 
 heart; such will be its last throb when it ceases to beat." 
 
 Then, taking an affectionate leave of each individual present, 
 the general left the hospitable mansion of the president. He was 
 attended to the vessel by the whole population of the district. 
 All business was suspended, and the vast multitude which lined 
 the shores, witnessed his embarkation with a deep silence, highly 
 indicative of the feelings that the American people cherished 
 towards Lafayette. In passing Mount Vernon, he landed to pay 
 a faiewell visit to the tomb of Washington, whence re-embark- 
 ing, a prosperous voyage soon safely landed him on his own pa- 
 ternal soil. 
 
 It may here be added, that, during the visit of this illustrious 
 
 Seneral, congress passed a bill appropriating the sum of two hun- 
 red thousand dollars, and a complete township of land, as a par- 
 1 tial remuneration of services rendered by him during the revo- 
 lutionary struggle of the country. 
 
 22. The administration of Mr. Monroe closed on the 
 8d of March. During his presidency, the country eii- 
 
 i joyed a uniform state of peace and prosperity. By his 
 prudent management of the national affairs, both foreign 
 and domestic, he eminently contributed to the honor and 
 happiness of millions, and retired from office enjoying 
 the respect, and affection, and gratitude, of all who were 
 able duly to appreciate the blessings of having a wise 
 ruler. 
 
 23. The electors of a successor to Mr. Monroe hav- 
 ing failed to make a choice, the election devolved on 
 the house of representatives. On the 9th of February, 
 1825, that body proceeded to the discharge of this duty, 
 when John duincy Adams, of Massachusetts, was elect- 
 ed president of the United States, for the four years 
 
340 period xi.— 1817 to 1825, 
 
 from and after the 4th of the ensuing March John C 
 Calhoun, of South Carolina, had been chosen vice-pres- 
 ident, by the electoral colleges. 
 
 The subject of a successor to Mr. Monroe was early introduced 
 to the notice of the public, and the excitement of the several par- 
 ties in the United States was both fostered and increased by the 
 newspapers and public journals of the day. Besides Mr. Adams, 
 Mr. Crawford, secretary of the treasury, Mr. Clay, speaker of 
 the house of representatives, and Gen. Jackson, a senator, were 
 candidates for the office ; each of whom had their respective 
 friends in the country, and among the legislatures of the states, 
 nearly all of which, by a public vote, declared in favor of some 
 one of the candidates. On counting the votes of the electors, it 
 appeared that 84 were in favor of Mr. Adams, 9!) for Gen. Jack 
 son, 41 for Mr. Crawford, and 37 for Mr. Clay. Notwithstanding 
 Gen. Jackson had the greatest number of votes from the eloc 
 toral colleges, the house of representatives, voting by states, 
 elected Mr. Adams. The result of the balloting was, for Mr. 
 Adams, 13 states; for Mr. Jackson, 7 states; for Mr. Crawford' 
 4 states. By the constitution, only the three highest on the list 
 could be candidates for the office in the house of representatives. 
 Mr. Clay, therefore, was not voted for; but is supposed, by hia 
 influence, to have determined the question in favor of Mr. Adams 
 in opposition to Mr. Crawford, who had been nominated by a 
 caucus at Washington ; and to Gen. Jackson, who had received 
 the highest vote by the electors. 
 
UNITED STATES. 
 
 PERIOD XII. 
 
 DISTINGUISHED FOR ADAMs's ADMINISTRATION. 
 
 Extending from the Inauguration of President Adams, 
 1825, to the Inauguration of Andrew Jackson, as 
 President of the United States, 1829. 
 
 Sec. 1. On the 4th of March, Mr. Adams, in the pres- 
 ence of the senate, house of representatives, heads of 
 department, foreign ministers, and a numerous assem- 
 blage of citizens and strangers, took the oath prescribed 
 by the constitution, and entered upon the duties of presi- 
 dent of the United States. 
 
 2. On the day of Mr. Adams's induction into office, 
 the senate was convened by the executive, for the pur- 
 pose of confirming nominations to office under the new 
 administration. Henry Clay, of Kentucky, was appoint- 
 ed secretary of state ; Richard Rush, of Pennsylvania, 
 secretary of the treasury ; and James Barbour, of Vir- 
 ginia, secretary of war. 
 
 3. About this time, a controversy arose between the 
 national government and the executive of Georgia, in 
 relation to certain lands held by the Creek nation, but 
 which that state claimed as belonging to herself. In 
 the progress of this controversy, so much warmth was 
 manifested, both by Georgia and some of the neighbor* 
 ing states, that much anxiety was felt by persons in dif- 
 
 29 
 
342 period xii.—1825 to 1829. 
 
 ferent parts of the Union as to the consequences. The 
 prompt and vigilant measures of the national executive, 
 however, sanctioned as they ultimately were by congress, 
 settled the controversy without disturbing the peace of 
 the Union. 
 
 This controversy grew out of a compact between the general 
 government and the state of Georgia, in 1802. By that compact 
 the United States agreed, in consideration of Georgia relinquish- 
 ing her claim to the Mississippi territoiy, to extinguish, at the 
 national expense, the Indian title to the lands occupied by them 
 in Georgia, " whenever it could be peaceably done, upon reason- 
 able terms." Since making that agreement, the general govern- 
 ment had extinguished the Indian title to about fifteen millions 
 of acres, and had conveyed the same to the state of Georgia. 
 There still remained in that state exceeding nine millions of acres, 
 in possession of Indians, of which about five millions belonged 
 to the Cherokees, and the remainder to the Creek nation. 
 
 Shortly before the termination of Mr. Monroe's administration, 
 an effort had been made to effect a treaty with the Creeks for 
 their portion of the above lands. The Creeks, however, having 
 become more civilized, refused to alienate their territory, and 
 had even passed a law making it a capital offence to sell any 
 more land. No solicitations of the commissioners appointed to 
 purchase their lands, could induce them to consent, and, the 
 council breaking up, a majority of the chiefs took their depar- 
 ture. A few, however, who thought differently, remained, and 
 were induced to make a treaty, by which all the lands of the 
 Creek tribes in Georgia and Alabama were ceded to the United 
 States. This treaty was made the 12th of February, 1825, and was 
 transmitted to the senate, and sanctioned by that body on the 3d 
 of March, the last day of the session, without that examination 
 of the circumstances which it would have had, had it been trans- 
 mitted at an earlier period <>f the session. 
 
 When the news of the ratification of this treaty arrived among 
 the Creeks, it produced great excitement. M'Intosh, the leader 
 and chief of the party that assented to it, and another chief, were 
 killed, and the treaty rejected. 
 
 In the mean time, the governor of Georgia, acting upon the 
 •assumption that the treaty was valid, made provision to have the 
 lands surveyed, and distributed among the citizens by lottery. 
 To the Creeks the conduct of Governor Troup was especially ob- 
 noxious, and, a war being likely to be the consequence of meas 
 ures pursued, the president directed Gen. Gaines to repair to 
 the country of the Creeks, to give them the necessary protection, 
 and directed Gov. Troup to suspend his contemplated measures 
 until the meeting of congress. 
 
ADAMS'S ADMINISTRATION 343 
 
 16 J Efforts, however, continued to be made to settle this difficulty 
 upon amicable terms ; and at length, after a long negotiation 
 with a deputation from the Creek nation at Washington, the old 
 treaty was declared to be void, and a new one formed, by which 
 the Creeks were to retain all their lands in Alabama, and to re- 
 ceive $217,000, and a perpetual annuity of $20,000 for their 
 Georgia territory. To the M'Intosh party the United States 
 agreed to pay $100,000, provided the party amounted to 3000 ; 
 and go in proportion for a smaller number. Moreover, a tract of 
 land beyond the Mississippi was to be provided for the accom- 
 modation of such as wished to remove, and the expense of re- 
 moval and the first year's subsistence to be borne by the United 
 States. 
 
 This treaty the senate ratified by a vote of 30 to 7. On the 
 passage of the bill making appropriation to carry into effect the 
 new treaty, the vote in the house of representatives stood 1G7 to 
 10. To the passage of the bill the Georgia delegation offered a 
 protest, which was suffered to be entered on the journal of the 
 house by a vote of 82 to 61. 
 
 The unanimity with which the conduct of the executive in the 
 settlement of this intricate and unpleasant controversy, was ap- 
 proved by congress, was as unexpected as it was satisfactory to 
 the people in every part of the country, except in the state of 
 Georgia, where strong and excited feelings powerfully tended to 
 prevent a fair and impartial consideration of the question. 
 
 4. The year 1825 was characterized by a spirit of 
 speculation, which manifested itself not only throughout 
 the United States, but also in Europe, and which ended 
 in the embarrassment and ruin of thousands both here 
 and in other countries. 
 
 The principal article of speculation was cotton, which rose, in 
 a few weeks, from 6d. to 16d. sterling. This increase of price 
 was partly owing to the small quantity then in the English mar- 
 ket, but more to a spirit of commercial gambling, which had in- 
 fected the whole commercial community. Coffee, spices, and other 
 West India produce, also rose with great rapidity. Stocks, both 
 
 Eublic and private, exceeded all former prices. In a short time, 
 owever, the fictitious wealth which the expansion of the bubbles 
 had created, suddenly disappeared, and the ruin of thousands 
 followed. In England, more extensive bankruptcies occurred 
 than had been known for many years, occasioning a universal 
 | alarm and distrust. The public funds fell rapidly. Many of the 
 most eminent banking houses stopped payment, and the minis- 
 try were called upon to devise measures for present relief to the 
 
344 period xii.— 1825 to 18*29. 
 
 intense pecuniary distress. The effects of these failures extend- 
 ed to other countries, and, though not equal in degree, were feit 
 on the continent and in the United States. 
 
 5. On the 4th of July, 1826, occurred the 50th anni- 
 versary of American independence, which was celebrated 
 throughout the Union with many demonstrations of joy. 
 This day, rendered memorable by the event which it 
 celebrated, was made still more memorable, in the an- 
 nals of American history, by the death of the two ven- 
 erable ex-presidents, Adams and Jefferson. 
 
 C. On the 4th of December, 1827, the first meeting 
 of the twentieth congress commenced. The revision 
 of the tariff, with a view to afford adequate protection 
 to American manufactures, was by far the most interest- 
 ing subject which presented itself to the deliberations 
 of the legislature at this session. On the 22d of April, 
 a bill for that purpose passed the house of representatives, 
 and on the 13th of May, the senate, which, however, was 
 by no means conformable to the wishes of the advocates 
 of the protecting system. 
 
 In his annual report to the house, at the commencement of the 
 session, the secretary of the treasury, in a labored discussion, 
 maintained a system of protecting duties to be essential to the 
 prosperity and independence of the nation. The subject was 
 referred in the house to the committee on manufactures. The 
 chairman of that committee was Mr. Mallory, of Vermont, an 
 able and zealous advocate for the protecting system. A majority 
 of the committee was opposed to it, and a bill, such as the ma 
 jority directed, was presented to the house on the 31st of Jan 
 uary In regard to woollens, the duty on the manufacture, com- 
 pared to that on the raw material, placed the manufacturer in a 
 Worse situation than under the tariff of 1824, and seemed likely 
 to destrqy the establishments, and with them the production of 
 the raw material 
 
 Pending the discussion of this bill, meetings were held in va 
 ious parts of the United States, to express the views of different 
 classes of the community upon the subject. To the principle of 
 protection the south was universally opposed, and generally im- 
 porting merchants throughout the country. In the east, north, 
 and west, the farmers, ma» facturers, and mechanics, supported 
 
ADAMS'S ADMINISTRATION. 345 
 
 the principle of protection, but were opposed to many of the 
 leading features of the bill. 
 
 On the final passage of the bill, the ayes in the house were 
 105, noes 94 ; in the senate, ayes 26, noes 21. To the country 
 at large the measure gave little satisfaction ; and those for whose 
 benefit it was professedly enacted, predicting its short continu- 
 ance, slowly and cautiously adapted their business with a view 
 to avail themselves of its provisions. 
 
 7. During the year 1828, the approaching presiden- 
 tial election was the all-engrossing topic of political dis- 
 cussion. The two candidates were Mr. Adams and 
 Gen. Jackson. Their claims to the presidency were 
 urged by their respective parties by a zeal which led to 
 the most unwarrantable scrutiny of private life, and an 
 unjustifiable attack upon private character. The result 
 of the contest was a large majority in the electoral col- 
 1 leges for Gen. Jackson; 178 being for him, and only 
 83 for Mr. Adams. 
 
 The administration of Mr. Adams, from its very commence- 
 ment, met with a powerful opposition. The circumstance of his 
 not having been elected by the people, united to the small nia- 
 ' jority by which he was elected to his office in congress, was suf- 
 ficient to call forth loud complaints, on the part of his opponents, 
 and to justify, in their view, a more than usual watchfulness over 
 j his administration. Great pains were early taken to render him 
 and his measures unpopular. The charge of a corrupt bargain 
 j between the president and secretary of state continued to be per- 
 I tinaciously adhered to, and to be republished from mouth to mouth. 
 | The Panama mission was represented as a measure weak and 
 I injudicious, and the failure to obtain a participation in the British 
 | West India trade was averred to be in consequence of culpable 
 I mismanagement. Besides, it was charged upon bis administra- 
 I tion. that it was wasteful and extravagant. 
 
 Whatever might be the injustice of these accusations, and of 
 
 a host of others, they were published abroad with the manifest 
 
 design of preventing Mr. Adams's re-election. With what effect 
 
 ! they were urged, the election of 1829 revealed. On canvassing 
 
 j the votes of the electoral colleges, it was apparent that the friends 
 
 of Gen. Jackson had obtained as triumphant a victory, as those 
 
 of the existing administration had experienced a mortifying 
 
 j defeat. 
 
 It has been well observed, and with the remarks of the writer 
 
 we quote, we conclude, '-That the events attending the political 
 
 1 change of 1829, evince that, when a prize of such magnitude as 
 
 2'J* 
 
846 period xii.— 1825 to 1829. 
 
 the presidency of the United States is set up, free to be contend 
 ed for by all their citizens, the struggle will be arduous. All the 
 human passions will be called into operation ; the character of 
 the means will not be regarded, provided they conduce to the 
 end. In other nations, struggles for the supreme power have 
 ever been attended with bloodshed. In this, the same passions 
 operating, the virtue and intelligence of the people, with the 
 most alarming examples in their own hemisphere before them, 
 have hitherto stopped short of the last resort : whether, with the 
 increasing magnitude of the object, this will continue to be the 
 case, is as yet problematical, and dependent upon the good sense 
 virtue, and moderation, of the American people." 
 
 NOTES, 
 
 EMBRACING A BRIEE SKETCH OK THE PRESENT CONDITION OF THE 
 UNITED STATES OK AMERICA. 
 
 8. Manners. Two centuries have elapsed since the 
 first settlements were commenced in the United States by 
 Europeans ; yet the people have not acquired that uniform 
 character which belongs to ancient nations, upon whom 
 time and the stability of institutions have imprinted a 
 particular and individual character. Although partial 
 changes have occurred, which have been noticed in the 
 progress of this work, yet, so far down as the present 
 time, the essential variations which have taken place are 
 few. The general physiognomy is nearly as varied as 
 the origin of the population is different. 
 
 A marked distinction undoubtedly exists between the inhabit 
 ants of the commercial and maritime towns, and the villages of 
 the country. The former, in a more considerable degree, as t<» 
 luxury and vice, resemble the great towns of Europe. Those of 
 the country, who lead an agricultural life, preserve much of the 
 simplicity, with something of the roughness, of former days; 
 but they enjoy all that happiness which proceeds from the exer- 
 cise of the social virtues in their primitive purity. Their atfec» 
 tions are constant ; felicity crowns the conjugal union ; parental 
 authority is sacred ; infidelity, on the part of the wife, is almost 
 unknown; crime is rare, mendicity and theft uncommon. 
 
 The people generally are enterprising, industrious, persevering, 
 and submissive to government. They are also intelligent, brave, 
 
ADAMS'S ADMINISTRATION. 347 
 
 active, and benevolent, and possess a strength and agility of body 
 which are seldom united in so great a degree. With somewhat 
 of the appearance of apathy, and under a sober exterior, strong 
 feelings, and a capacity for the most lively sallies, are concealed. 
 As the benefits of education are extensively diffused, the inge- 
 nuity and intelligence of the people have been displayed to ad- 
 vantage, if not in the higher walks of literature, yet in the 
 useful branches of knowledge, and in the arts which multiply 
 the comforts of life. 
 
 9. Religion. The principal religious denominations, 
 at present, in the United States, are Presbyterians, and 
 Congregationalists, Baptists, Friends, Episcopalians, and 
 Methodists. The two first of these unitedly have three 
 thousand two hundred congregations ; the number of 
 Baptist congregations exceeds five thousand ; Friends 
 about four hundred ; the Episcopalians nearly one thou- 
 sand. The Methodists are the largest body of professing 
 Christians in the United States, the number of their 
 communicants exceeding half a million. 
 
 A great impulse has been given to religious action, within a few 
 years, among the several denominations of Christians, in the United 
 States. Missionary operations have been enlarged. Thfeologi 
 cal seminaries have been multiplied. Facilities for biblical learn- 
 ing have increased, and plans for the diffusion of -knowledge, and 
 the general improvement of mankind, botli at home and abroad, 
 are yearly devised and carried into operation. 
 
 10. Trade axi> Commerce. The commerce of the 
 United States consists, principally, in the exchange of 
 agricultural produce lor the manufactures of other parts 
 of the world, and the productions of the tropical climates. 
 The principal articles of domestic produce, exported, are 
 cotton, wheat flour, biscuit, tobacco, lumber, rice, pot 
 and pearl ashes, Indian corn and meal, dried and 
 pickled fish, beef, rye, pork, &,c. 
 
 Of these exports. New Lngland and New York are the great 
 carrier-?. To them belong nearly two thirds of all the shipping 
 of the United States. The states south of the Potomac own only 
 one eighth part. Our staple articles are principally the growth 
 of the Southern States, and are carried coastwise, from the South- 
 ern to the Middle Stales, whence they a<-<? sent to foreign coun 
 
348 period xii.— 1825 to 1829. 
 
 tries, almost entirely, in ships owned by northern merchants, and 
 navigated by northern seamen. 
 
 The exports from the United States are sent to various coun- 
 tries, but the British dominions always receive the largest portion 
 of our domestic produce, particularly cotton. The Spanish, 
 Portuguese, and French dominions, have usually received the 
 most, next to the British. 
 
 The goods received in return for exports, are, generally, the 
 manufactures of those countries to which the exports are carried. 
 From Great Britain are imported vast quantities of woollen and 
 cotton goods, and manufactures of iron, steel, brass, copper, glass, 
 earthen ware, silk, &c. From China we receive tea and silk ; 
 from Russia iron and hemp. Coffee comes from the colonies of 
 the European powers in America and the East Indies ; sugar 
 from the East and West Indies ; rum from the British and Danish 
 'West Indies. Wines are, principally, from France, Spain, Por- 
 tugal, Madeira, and the Canary Isles ; brandy from France, Spain, 
 Italy, &c. Notwithstanding the large amount of cotton, tobacco, 
 lumber, &c, sent to Great Britain, yet the balance with that 
 country is, and always has been, against us. 
 
 It will not be foreign to this article to add a few remarks upon 
 the public debt. This debt was contracted in support of the war 
 of independence. In 1791, it amounted to about seventy-five 
 millions of dollars. From this date to the year 1812, owing to 
 the great prosperity of the country, the debt was gradually di- 
 minished to about one half. But, on the recurrence of war, it 
 again increased, and, in 1816, amounted to one hundred and 
 twenty-three millions. It has been since diminishing, and will 
 be entirely cancelled, it is expected, in the course of the year 
 1834. 
 
 11. Agriculture. Until within a few years, agri- 
 culture, as a science, received but little attention in the 
 United States. Few, if any, valuable improvemenis 
 were attempted. Indifference and uncommon apathy 
 seem to have pervaded society. A new era, however, 
 has recently commenced, and agriculture, both as a 
 science and an art, is receiving much of that attention 
 which its acknowledged importance demands. It is be- 
 ginning to be regarded, as it should be, not only as the 
 basis of subsistence and population, but as the parent 
 of individual and national opulence. 
 
 The proportion of the inhabitants of the United States, devot- 
 ed to agricultural pursuits, is large. By the census of 1820, itap 
 
ADAMS S ADMINISTRATION. 349 
 
 pears that this proportion is more than one fifth of the whole 
 population, or two millions. This number includes only those 
 who are thus engaged by actual occupation, children and fe- 
 males generally being excluded. It embraces, therefore, about 
 two thirds of all the males over ten years of age. The slave- 
 holding states are the most agricultural, the proportion being 
 usually from one quarter to one third of the whole population, 
 while in the other states it generally falls below one fifth. 
 
 Of the several states, New York has the greatest number en- 
 gaged in agriculture ; Virginia next; and, next to those states, 
 North Carolina, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Ohio, 
 Tennessee, and Georgia, in order. But the proportion of those 
 devoted to agriculture, in the respective states, to their popula 
 tion, is different. Louisiana has the greatest proportion, or 
 about thirty-five per cent.; South Carolina has thirty-two; 
 Georgia and Mississippi, each twenty-nine ; North Carolina 
 twenty-seven ; while New York has but eighteen, and Pennsyl- 
 vania but thirteen per cent. No state in the Union has so small a 
 proportion as Massachusetts. 
 
 12. Arts and Manufactures. Manufacturing es- 
 tablishments in the United States have become exceeding- 
 ly numerous, and embrace nearly every variety of work- 
 manship required either by the necessities or the luxuri- 
 ous habits of the people. Some of these have suffered 
 from the frequent changes in the tariff laws, and from 
 the general inadequacy of the protective system ; but 
 they may now be considered to have received the sanc- 
 tion of the American community, to form a part of the 
 general policy of the nation. 
 
 13. Population. The population of the United 
 States, according to the census of 1830, was twelve mil- 
 lions eight hundred and fifty-six thousand one hundred 
 and sixty-five. Of this number, two millions ten thou- 
 sand four hundred and thirty-six were slaves. 
 
 The following observations, respecting the population of 
 the country, have been found to be true by a late respectable 
 writer :* 1. That the inhabitants of the United States double in 
 about twenty-five years. 2. That, taking the whole United 
 States together, the whites increase faster than the blacks ; but 
 that, in the states in which the blacks are very numerous, they 
 have almost uniformly increased faster than the whites in those 
 
 * Sidney E Morse. 
 
350 period xii.— 1825 to 1829. 
 
 Btates. In Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, 
 Georgia, Tennessee, and Kentucky, the blacks, for the last thir- 
 ty years, have increased much faster than the whites. In North 
 Carolina and Tennessee, they have increased more than as fast 
 again, and in South Carolina, during the last ten years, they 
 have increased three times as fast. In the Northern States, on the 
 contrary, the black population is almost stationary, and in Maine, 
 New Hampshire and Rhode Island, it is diminishing. 3. That 
 in all our great cities, the females are more numerous than the 
 males, while in the whole United States the reverse is true. The 
 average of all the cities gives nearly one hundred and nine 
 females to one hundred males, whereas, in the whole United 
 States, the average of females is but ninety-seven to one hun- 
 dred males. 
 
 14. Education. The education of youth, which is 
 so essential to the Well being of society, and intimately 
 connected with the political prosperity of a republican 
 government, has received, as has been noticed in the 
 progress of this work, considerable attention in the 
 United States, in every period since their settlement. 
 The present state of our primary and higher schools, of 
 our colleges, universities, and other establishments of 
 education, is more flourishing than at any former period : 
 their number is annually increasing, and a more liberal 
 spirit, in respect to their endowment, is prevailing. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 15. Upon concluding this history of our country, we can 
 scarcely refrain from asking, Who of our ancestors anticipated 
 results from their toils so stupendous as those which we behold ? 
 Who of them predicted, while they were laying up the pines of 
 the forest for a shelter, that they were commencing an empire, 
 which, within two centuries, would extend thousands of miles, 
 and embrace, within its bosom, ten millions of the human race ? 
 Who then thought of cities, with their busy population, a thou- 
 sand miles from the waters of the Atlantic ? or of fleets, on in~ 
 land seas, proceeding to, and returning from, distant voyages ? 
 or of navies pouring forth their thunder and their flame ? Such 
 results entered not into sober calculation, and were beyond 
 even the dreams of fancy. Yet two centuries have brought them 
 to pass. 
 
adams's administration. 351 
 
 The branch which our fathers planted, under the fostering 
 care of Heaven, rose, extended, invigorated. It acquired stability 
 by oppression, and gathered importance from the efforts which 
 were made to crush it. In the progress of our history, we have 
 seen the American people, while sustaining only the character 
 of colonists, and struggling with the discouragements and diffi- 
 culties of new settlements, maintaining at their own expense, 
 and bringing to prosperous conclusion, wars, which a selfish and 
 jealous mother country, by her pride and imprudence, had occa 
 sioned. We have seen these colonies, amidst all the oppressions 
 which they experienced, through exactions, and calumnies, loss 
 of charters, and one abridgment of liberty after another, still 
 maintaining their loyalty — still indulging the feelings, and adopt- 
 ing the language of affection, until justice, and patriotism, and 
 religion, bid them rise to assert those rights which the God of 
 nature designed for all his rational offspring. 
 
 Through a long and trying war, in which inexperience had to 
 contend with discipline, and poverty with wealth, we see them 
 pledging their fortunes, liberties, and lives, to one another, and, 
 to the astonishment of the world, accomplishing their emancipa- 
 tion. And, when emancipated, and transformed into an inde- 
 pendent nation, we see them calmly betaking themselves to the 
 organization of a government, under a constitution as wise as it 
 was singular, and whose excellency and competency the experi- 
 ence of more than thirty years has confirmed. Simultaneously 
 with these events, what extensive conquests have been made on 
 the wilderness ! Deserts have put on beauty and fruitfulness, 
 and a way been constantly extending towards the waters of the 
 Pacific, for the advance of civilization and religion. 
 
 Had we the spirit of prophecy, in respect to the future condi 
 tion of America, this would not be the place to indulge it. No 
 nation, however, ever possessed, in a higher degree, the means 
 of national prosperity. Our territory is ample — our soil fertile — 
 our climate propitious — our citizens enterprising, brave, and per- 
 severing. A sea-coast of three thousand miles, inland seas, nu- 
 merous canals, facilitate foreign and domestic trade. Being 
 free and independent of other nations, we can frame our laws, 
 and fashion our institutions, as experience and an enlightened 
 policy shall dictate. Our universities and colleges are yearly 
 qualifying numbers for the higher professions of life, while our 
 academies and schools are diffusing intelligence to an unparal- 
 leled extent, among our virtuous yeomanry. 
 
 The Bible and the institutions of Christianity are with us 
 and are presenting to us all the blessings which religion can 
 impart. Thus circumstanced, what should prevent our coun- 
 try fr3in advancing to that eminence of national happiness, 
 
352 period xii.-- -1825 to 1829. 
 
 beyond which national happiness cannot extend? — " Manu- 
 factures may here rise — busy commerce, inland and foreign, 
 distribute our surplus produce, augment our capital, give ener- 
 gy to industry, improvement to roads, patronage to arts and 
 sciences, vigor to schools, and universality to the institutions 
 of religion ; reconciling civil liberty with efficient government ; 
 extended population with concentrated action ; and unparalleled 
 wealth with sobriety and morality." 
 
 Let but the spirit, the practical wisdom, the religious integrity, 
 of the first planters of our soil, prevail among rulers and sub- 
 jects — let God be acknowledged, by giving that place to his 
 word and institutions which they claim — and all these blessings 
 are ours. We shall enjoy peace with nations abroad, and tran- 
 quillity at home. As years revolve, the tide of our national 
 prosperity will flow broader and deeper. In the beautiful lan- 
 guage of inspiration — " Our sons will be as plants grown up in 
 their youth, and our daughters as corner-stones, polished after 
 the similitude of a palace. Our garners will be full, including 
 all manner of stores ; our sheep will bring forth by thousands 
 and ten thousands ; our oxen will be strong to labor ; and there 
 will be no breaking in, or going out, or complaining in our 
 streets. — Happy is that people that is in such a case ; yea, hap- 
 py is that people whose God is the Lord." 
 
 m 13 n 
 
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 ip^ NOV 78 
 
 N. MANCHESTER, 
 INDIANA 46962