credit, not to exceed two millions of dollars, and the faith of the union was pledged for their redemption. They established a post-office under the direction of doctor Franklin. They directed twelve companies of riflemen to be enlisted,-instituted a general hospital -and appointed general officers

Of the appointment of a Commander in Chief. It was a point of immense importance, to select, for the supreme command of the American army, a person of military talents adequate to the task, and of quali ties adapted to conciliate the affections and confidence of men of different habits and education, and not free from strong local prejudices Fortunately such a character was found and selected. GEORGE WASHINGTON, a delegate from Virginia, was appointed commander in chief of the American army, on the 15th of June 1775. This gentleman had been employed as an officer in the war with France, and had displayed eminent bravery and talents. To his experience in military affairs, he united sound judgment, extensive knowledge of men, perfect probity, pure morals, a grave deportment, indefatigable industry, easy manners, strict politeness, a commanding person, cool bravery, unshaken fortitude, and a prudence that baffled and confounded his enemies.

Of the taking of St. Johns. In pursuance of the plan of guarding the frontiers by taking Canada, or crippling the British power in that province, genenals Schuyler and Montgomery were sent with a body of troops to attack the forts on the borders of Canada. But general Schuyler returning to hold a treaty with the Indians the command was left with general Montgomery. A small fort at Chamblee was first taken, where a supply of powder was obtained, and siege was laid to St. Johns. Some attempts were made by gov ernor Carleton to relieve the garrison; but in vain ; and the garrison, amounting to seven hundred men, surreadered on the third of November, 1775. This was succeeded by the surrender of Montreal. The only misfortune that attended these enterprizes, was the loss of Colonel Allen, who, engaging in a rash

attempt on Montreal, with a small party, was made prisoner, and sent in irons to England.

Of the Attack on Quebeck and Defeat of the Americans. Colonel Arnold had been sent with eleven hundred men to penetrate to Quebeck by the river Kennebec, and the wilderness. After a most difficult march, in which fatigue and famine reduced his men to about four hundred, the remainder being obliged to return, he joined general Montgomery before Quebeck, in November. Preparations were made to besiege the city, and some batteries opened, but the metal was not heavy enough to make an impression General Montgomery therefore determined upon an escalade. The army, small in number, and exposed to most inclement weather, made the attack on the last day of the year 1775, in four divisions, two of which attacks were feints to deceive the garrison. General Montgomery entered the first barrier, but in attempting the second was killed, with most of his attending officers. The division commanded by colonel Arnold, took a two gun battery, but the commander was wounded and compelled to leave the field. His men fought like heroes for three hours, but being surrounded, and seeing no hope of relief, they surrendered prisoners of war.

Of the burning of Norfolk. At the commencement of the troubles in America, violent altercations between lord Dunmore, governor of Virginia, and the assembly, had induced the governor to dissolve the legislature, and to refuse calling another. A convention was therefore assembled in March, 1775, consisting of two delegates from a county, who exercised the powers of government. On which lord Dunmore seized and conveyed on board of a ship, the powder in the magazine at Williamsburg. The people assembled in arms and demanded the powder, or its value, which the governor promised, and an apparent reconciliation took place. But the governor alarmed by popular meetings, sent his family on board of a ship of war, and issued a proclamation charging the magistrates of Virginia with treason and rebellion. In June, the

governor summoned the assembly, and attempted to persuade them to accept of lord North's conciliatory propositions; but finding them inflexible, he withdrew on board of the ship Many irritations on the part of the country people, and the governor's adherents, at Length produced hostilities, and by order of lord Dunmore, the flourishing town of Norfolk was laid in ashes, on the first of January 1776.

Of the Dissolution of the Colonial Government. Dur ing the year 1775, the old governments of the colonies were all dissolved. The royal governors and all the crown officers, adhering to the British measures, became odious to the people; and when the popular ferment became violent, they were obliged to leave the country, or suspend their functions. From that time temporary conventions were held for the purpose of administering the laws and making regulations to meet the public occasions. Many adherents to GreatBritain, however, remained in the country-some of them, men of principle, were quiet citizens: others took part with the British troops, and by secret machinations or open hostility, aided and directed their operations. In some of the colonies, the British adherents were numerous and powerful; and contributed to weaken the opposition to the British

arms.

Of the Military Operations in and near Boston. General Washingtou, soon after his appointment, repaired to the army, accompanied with general Lee, and established his quarters at Cambridge. On his journey, and at camp, he was received and welcomed with the most profound respect and his presence inspir ed a degree of confidence which was au auspicious presage of his future influence. The army investing Boston, amounted to about fifteen thousand men ; but was destitute of good arms, ammunition, clothing and experienced officers. The first and a most difficult task, was, to organize and discipline the troops. All the powder in the army amounted only to nine rounds to a soldier; and to deceive the country with hopes and the Britisk general with fears, casks of sand,

were transported to the camp, under the name of pow der. A small supply from New-Jersey, and the cargo of a brig, the first prize taken by captain Manly, afforded a temporary and almost miraculous relief.

Of the Destruction of Falmouth. The inhabitants of Falmouth, a thriving town in Maine, in compliance with the resolves of the provincial congress, to prevent the royalists from removing their effects, obstrueted the loading of a mast-ship, which drew upon them the vengeance of the British admiral. An order was given to burn the town, whieh, after a short notice to the inhabitants, to remove their effects, was barbarously executed; and most of the town was levelled with the dust, on the 18th of October 1775. Such indignities and inhuman modes of warfare added fuel to the popular flame of opposition, and rendered it inextinguishable. In November following, the government of Massachusetts authorized letters of mark and reprisal, and instituted courts of admiralty for the trial and condemnation of prizes. Immediately the sea swarmed with American privateers, which captured vast numbers of valuable British ships, and supplied the Americans with all kinds of goods and military stores.

Of the Evacuation of Boston. The want of powder and the necessity of re-inlisting the troops, whose time of service had expired, rendered the army at Cambridge inactive, during the summer and autumn of 1775. It was however the intention of general Washington to avail himself of a bridge of ice over Charles river in the following winter, to march his troops into Boston, and dislodge the enemy. But a council of war advised not to make the attempt. The mode of attack was therefore varied For the purpose of diverting the attention of the enemy, a severe cannonade upon the town, was commenced, on the 2d of March; and on the night of the 4th, a battery was crected on a hill at Dorchester point, which was near enough to annoy the British troops in Boston. The British commander prepared to attack the works, but storm prevented, until the works were deemed so

strong as to render it inexpedient. The only alternative then was, to quit the town, which was done with great alacrity; and on the 17th March 1776, general Washington marched into Boston, to the unspeakable joy of its oppressed inhabitants.

Of the Proceedings of Parliament in the spring of 1776. The news of the affair at Breed's hill, determined the ministry to employ a powerful force to reduce the colonies in 1776. For this purpose they obtained an act of parliament, to justify them in taking into pay and introducing into the British dominions, sixteen thousand German troops, which, with the British regiments, constituted a force destined for America, of about fifty thousand men. At the same session, an act passed to prohibit all trade and intercourse between Great-Britain and the colonies. This law was violently opposed by the English merchants, but without effect. One clause of the act authorized the seizure and condemnation of all American property, on the high seas, and what was, beyond example inhuman, the bill authorized British subjects to compel men, taken on board of American vessels, to fight against their own countrymen.

Of the Steps preparatory to Independence. In the winter of 1775-6, few men in America had ever thought of a final separation of the colonies from the dominion of Great-Britain. The great body of the people would have been startled at the proposition. Certain leading men probably had long foreseen and contemplated the event; but some previous steps were necessary to prepare the public mind for a measure involving in its consequences, the fate of millions. At this, time Thomas Payne, an Englishman of low birth, who possessed a popular talent at writing, and no small share of sophistry, and who before he debased himself by infidelity and licentious principles, was much respected, ushered into the world a number of papers, signed CoMMON SENSE, to prove the necessity and expedience of a declaration of independence. He was doubtless impelled to this and supported by eminent characters. The continent was electrified by his writ