fc 'W* ■•»•., \/ .-M'- V^ .0' ^a .^^ . A HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ON A PLAN ADAPTED TO THE CAPACITY OF YOUTH, AND DESIGNED TO AID THE MEMORY BY SYSTEMATIC ARRANGEMENT AND INTERESTING ASSOCIATIONS. By CHARLES A.^ GOODRICH. ENLARGED FROM THE ONE HUNDREDTH EDITION. Containia? General Views of the Aboriginal Tribes— Sketches of the Discoveries and Selllements made by different Nations— the Progress of the Colo- rties— the Revolution— the several Administrations, including those of Jaclcson and Van Buren, and the brief but eventful one of Harrison— the whole interspersed with Notices of the dif- ferent Eras of the Progress of Manners, Religion, Trade and Commerce, Agriculture, Arts and Manufactures, Population and Education. BOSTON: JENKS & PALMER. 1843. t* Entered according lo Act of Congress, in the year 1843, by CHARLES A. GOODRICH, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts. iir'? '<"X^ WORCESTER'S READING BOOKS, PUBLISHED BY JENKS iV; PALMER, AND FOR SALE BY THE BOOKSELLERS GENERALLY. WORCESTER'S FIRST BOOK, or Primer. WORCESTER'S SECOND BOOK for Reading and Spelling. WORCESTER'S INTRODUCTION TO THIRD BOOK,— with Rules and In- structions for avoiding common errors. WORCESTER'S THIRD BOOK for Reading and Spelling, with Rules and Instructions for avoiding common errors. WORCESTER'S FOURTH BOOK for Reading, with Rules and Instructions. The above form a complete series of Reading Books, which are not surpassed by any other works for this purpose now before the public. The Rules which are inserted in t\\e third and fourth books have been found by instructors very useful in correcting the young reader, while they give great assistance to the teacher. George B. Emerson, Esa., an eminent teacher of Boston, remarks in a let- ter to the Publishers, dated October, 1841,— "Ever since I first became acquainted with Mr. Worcester's books, they have seemed to me better adapted, than any other series that has come to my knowledge, to the capacities and wants both of learners and teachers of the Elementary Schools. They are not, like most others intended for this purpose, a mere compilation : to a great extent they are original. " The remarks to Teachers, the notices of errors to be avoided, and the ques- tions to aid the understanding of the learner, are all of great value : but what is of far greater, is the elevated moral tone which pervades these lessons, fitting them not only to exercise the mind and communicate the art of reading, but to do much for that better and usually neglected part of education, the formation of the moral character, and ihe education of the moral aflections." And in regard to the Introduction to the Third Book, just publishei^ Mr. Emerson adds, " I welcome this as an addition to an invaluable series." PREFACE. In the year 1834, the present work underwent a thorough revision, involving several important alterations and additions ; the latter in compliance with a suggestion of the late distin- guished principal* of the Female Seminary in Weihersfield, Ct., whose public recommendation of the work was as flatter- ing as it was unexpected. It had then reached nearly its fiftieth edition. Since that revision, it has been annually issued, to meet the demands of a growing population, to the present time. Meanwhile, time has travelled on, and the important admin- istrations of Gen. Jackson and Mr. Van Buren, and the short, but eventful administration of Gen. Harrison, have transpired. The present edition includes the principal events of those administrations, and concludes with the death of the lamented Harrison, of which a circumstantial account is given. As to time, therefore, the work is now as complete as can be desired. The principal object of dividing the History into periods, is to aid the memory, by presenting certain marked eras, from which the 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 illustration and complete- ness in the delineation of events, or as they may contribute to support the interest and establish the recollections of the reader. March, 1843. * 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. History, to use the words of Professor Tytler, is the school of politics. That is, it opens the hidden springs of human affairs 5 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 are not to be disregarded. It chastens the imagination ; improves the taste ; furnishes matter for reflection 5 enlarges the range of thought j strengthens and disciplines the mind. 6. To the above it may 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 established upon the genuine basis of freedom. 3. Because it furnishes lessons upon the science of civil government, social happiness, and religious freedom, of greater value than are to be found in the history of any other nation on the globe. 4. Because it presents uncommon examjiles of the influence of religious principle. 5. Because an ac- quaintance with it will enable a person better to fulfil those duties which, ill a free government, he may be called to discharge. GENERAL DIVISION The History of the United States of America may be divided into Fifteen Periods, each distinguished by some striking characteristic, or remarkable circumstance. The First Period will extend from the Discovery of America hy 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 America in 1492, the inhab- itants of Europe, Asia, and Africa, were of course ignorant of its existence. But soon after this event, several expeditions were fitted out, for the purpose of making discoveries in what was then called the " New World." Accordingly, between 1402 and 1607, 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 Jamestoivn, 1607, to the accession of William and Mary to the throne of England, 16S9, and is distinguished for Settlements. Obs. 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. It in- cludes, indeed, wars with the natives — disputes between proprie- tors of lands and' colonies — the formation of governments, &c. &c. ; 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, Maryland, Delaware, North and South Carolina, and Virginia, it is there- fore characterized as remarkable for settlements. 1* 6 GENERAL DIVISION. The Third Period will extend from the accession of William and Mary to the throne of England, 1689, to the declaration of the war by England against France, called *' the French and Indian War," 1756, and is re- markable for the three wars of King William, Queen Anne, and George II. Ohs. So long as the colonies remained attached to the Enghsh 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 tear hy 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 W^est 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 Seventh 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 Inangnra- tion of President Adams, 1797, to the Inauguration of Thomas Jefferson, as President of the United States, 1801 . This period is distinguished for Adams's Admin- istration. GKNERAI, DIVISION. 7 The Ninth Period will extend from the Tnnugura- tion of JPresident Jefferson, ISOl, 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 Liaugura' Hon of President Mciclison, 1809, to the Inauguration of James Monroe, as President of the United States, 1817. This period is distinsruished 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 AdMIxNISTRATION. 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, l829. This period is distinguished for Adams's Ad- ministration. The Thirteenth Period will extend from the Inau- guration of President Jackson, 1829, to the Inaugura- tion of Martin Van Buren, as President of the United States, 1837. This period is distinguished for Jack- son's Administration. The Fourteenth Period will extend from the Inau- guration of President Yan Buren, 1837, to the Inaugu- ration of William Henry Harrison, as President of the United States, 1841. This period is distinguished for Van Btjren's Administration. The Fifteenth Period embraces the brief adminis- tration of William Henry Harrison. UNITED STATES PERIOD 1. DISTINGUISHED FOR DISCOVERIES. Extending from the Discovery of San Salvador, hy Columbus, 1492, to the first permanent English Settle- ment at Jamestown, Virginia, 1607. Sec. 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 Welsh and Norwegians. By the former, it was maintained, that the continent was dis- covered by Madoc, son of Ow^en 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 the first voyage of Madoc was not a long one, it is justly inferred, that the land, to which he was leading his coion3^ 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 Koricegians 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 and settled at an earlier date, Biron was driven south-east by a storm, and fell in with a country, to which, from its abounding with vines, he DISCOVERIES. 9 gave the name of Vineland. 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 island, called by the natives Guanahani; 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 Hispaniola 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 1436. 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 tliis 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, lie 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 tiiiles south-west 'from Lisbon. The fatlier 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. These made Columbus acquainted with many important facts and suggestions, touching the great enterprise in which the Por- kiguese 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 we.st, 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 nis 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 Diego, 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 hira, 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 plar^j 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 the expense of the outfit and voyage, 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 JSina. 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 thirty 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 day, 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 he saw a light in that direction ; the latter replied in the 12 PERIOD I. — 1492 TO 1G07. affirmative. Columbus, yet doubtful whether it might not be some dehision of the fancy, called Roderigo 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. They 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 wilJi trees like a continual orchard. H iwp^ H ^m{ ^^8 ^^^^KP3I ■■li:.'.'--.^ "!Z.:^^^.^^ Columbus, in a rich dress, and with a drawn Bword, soon after landed with hia men, with whom having kneeled and kissed the DISCOVERIES. 13 ground with tears of joy, he took formal possession of the 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 w^ere 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 28th 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 didj 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, 1493. 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 Vespucius. 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 noc discover the continent of America until Aug. 1. 1498, 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 that Columbus should be seized and sent to Spain. This order 3 14 PERIOD I.— 1492 TO 1607. was executed with rigid severity ; and the heroic Columbus re turned to Spain in irons ! On liis arrival, he was set at liberty by the king; but he never 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 tliy 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, Vv'here, 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 by 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. Ab 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 cojiti- ncnt itself. On their return, they pursued a southerly course to Virginia, and, according to others, to the cape of Florida. They returned without attempting a set- tlement, but took possession of the country in behalf of the crown of England. * Irvitig'B Columbus. DISCOVERIES. 15 John Cabot appears to have been a native of Venice, but to have settled in England, with jiis 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 March 5th, 1496, although he did not sail until the year follow- ing. 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. These 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 C7°, 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 voyage of Verrazfino. 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, diu-ing 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, and one hundred and twenty-two men. On the 10th of May, he made tlie 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 The following year, he died on the banks of the Red river, soon after which, the remnant of his followers, who, at first, amounted to some hundreds, constructed several small boats, and, having sailed down the Mississippi, returned to Cuba. 7. In 15S4, Sir Walter Raleigh^ under a commission from Queen 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 spent 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 Baleigh, two unfortunate attempts had been made by his brotlier-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 above 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 1586, 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 1602, 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 3* 18 PERIOD I.— 1492 TO 1607. course to this part of the American continent. He was but seven weeks in making the passage. After tlie discovery of Cape 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 five weeks. NOTES. 9. 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 of 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-cat, 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 fallow 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 land grew grapes, which historians have likened to the alicient grapes of Eshcol. In the south were found mulberries, plums, melons, cucumbers, tobacco, corn, peas, beans, potatoes, squashes, pumpions, «fcc. 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 nu- merous tribes or clans of Indians. Of their number, at the period the English settled among them, no certain estimate has been transmitted to us. They did not probably much exceed 150,000 within the compass of the thirteen original states.* In their physical charactrr, the different Indian tribes, within the boundaries of the United States, were nearly the same. Their persons were tall, straight, and well * This is 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 even courteous. In council, they were distinguished for gravity and eloquence ; in war, for bravery and address. When provoked to anger, tliey were sullen and retired ; and when determined upon revenge, no danger would 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 hooks or written literature, except rude hieroglyph- ics ; and education among them was confined to the arts of war, hunting, fishing, and the few manufactures which existed among theai, most of which every male was more or less instructed in. Their 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 eflfect. They had some few war- songs, which were little more than an unmeaning chorus; but, it is believed, they had no other compositions which were preserved. Their arts and manvfactures were confined to the construction of wigwams, bows and arrows, wampum, ornaments, stone hatch- ets, mortars for pounding corn ; to the dressing of skins, weaving of coarse mats from the bark of trees, or a coarse sort of hemp, &c. Their agriculture was small in extent, and the articles the}' cultivated were few in number. Corn, beans, peas, potatoes, melons, and a few others of a similar kind, were all. Their skill in medicine was confined to a few simple prescrip- tions and operations. Both the cold and warm batli were often applied, and a considerable number of plants were used with suc- cess. For some diseases they knew no remedy, in which case they resorted to their jjou)oio,ot priest, who .undertook the re- moval 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. Indian Women engaged in Agriculture. Indian Amusements. DISCOVERIES. 21 The emploxjments of the men were principally hunting, fishing, and war. Tlie icomcn 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 affairs. 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- thusias.m. The females occasionally joined in some of these sports, but had none peculiar to themselves. Their dress 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 v/ore mantles of deer-skin, embroidered with white beads, or copper 5 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 haer pleasures gave waj' 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 tunity to distinguish themselves — to achieve deeds of glory, and taste the sweets of reveng-e. Their weapons'were bows and ar- rows headed with flint or other hard stones, which tliey 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 otlen tortured with every variety of cruelty, and to their dying ago- nies added every species of insult. If peace was concluded on, tlie chiefs of the hostile tribes ratified the treaty by smoking, in succession, the same pipe, called the calmnet, or pipe of peace. The government of the Indians, in general, was an absolute mon- archy, though it differed in diflerent tribes. Tlie 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- vire, 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 repeated, 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 to 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 religlo2is 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 two gods, the one good, 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 1. — 1492 TO 1G07. The men chose their wives agreeably to fancy, and put tlieni away ' at pleasure. Marriage was celebrated, hov^ever, 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 treatment vf females was cruel and oppressive. They were considered by the men as slaves, and treated as such. Those forms of decorum between the sexes-, wliich lay tlw) 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 their faces towards -the east. During the burial, they uttered the most lamentable cries, and continued their mourning for several days. The origin 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 coun- 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. &c., of the nations of both continents, are strikingly similar. That they viight have emigrated from the eastern continent i& evident, since, in latitude ()G°, the two continents are not more tlian forty miles distant from each other ; and between them are- two islands less than twenty miles distant from either shore. REFLECTIONS. 11. We shall find it pleasant and profitable occasionally to pauss- 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, in that age, a mighty project ; and, having matured his plan, W8 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, be steadily pursues his- purpose^ DISCOVERIES. 25 surmounts every obstacle, and at length spreads his sails upon the unknown waters of the Atlantic. A kind Providence au- spiciously guides his way, and crowns his enterprise with the un- expected discovery of a nev/ world. While we admire the lofty qualities of Columbus, and look with w^onder 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 will be 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 stupendous 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 Americus 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- self, still his name will ever remain stigmatized, as having ap- propriated that to himself which fairly belonged to another. 3 UNITED STATES. PERIOD II. DISTINGUISHED FOR SETTLEMENTS. Extending from the first permanent English Settlement at Jamestoton, Virginia, 1607, to the Accession of William and Mary to the Throne of England y 1689. Sec. 1. 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 be assigned for the failure of the seve- ral attempts to effect permanent settlements iu 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 the nations of Europe, and which, for many years, they enjoyed in common, viz. the fishery 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. 27 2. The year 1607 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 colony 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 Jamestoicn. 8. This name was given to the above settlement in honor of James I. of England, who, the year previously, had 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- tude — 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 George Somers, Richaid Hackluyt, Edward Maria Wingfield, &c. These were authorized to make a settlement at any place between the 34th and 41st detrrees of latitude ; and in them was 28 PERIOD II.— 1607 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 Hanham, 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 38th 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 c6mpany, however, were to form set- tlements within one hundred miles of the other. 4. Under the auspices of the London company, tlie 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 sailed, their names being carefully concealed in a box, which was to be opened after their arrival. The original 'intention of the colony was to form a settlement at Roanoake ; but, being driven by a violent storm north of that place, they discovered the entrance of Chesapeake 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. The code of laws, hitherto cautiously concealed, was now pro- mulgated ; and, at the same time, the council appointed in Eng- land was made known. It consisted of Bartholomew Gosnold, John Smith, Edward Wingfield, Christopher Newport, John Ratcliffe, 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 Avhich 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 SETTLEMENTS. 29 At the siege of Regal, he was destined to new adventures. The Ottomans, deriding the slow adva.nce 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 fight any captaili of the Christian troops. The honor of accepting this challenge Avas determined by lot, and fell on Smith. At tlie time appointed, the two champions appeared in the field on horseback, and, in the presence of the armies, and of the ladies of the insulting Ottoman, rushed im- petuously to the attack. A short, but desperate conflict ensued, at the end of which Smith was seen bearing the head of the lifeless Turbisha in triumph to his general: The fall of the chief filled 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, upon their chargers, fell with desperate fury upon each other. 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 theij ;jvere desirous of more diversion of a similar kind, they should be welcome to his head, in case their third champion could take it. Bonamalgro tendered his 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 ground ; and, for a moment, it seemed as if the deed of death was done. Smith, however, v/as 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 last atonement for its first delay." 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 was wounded and taken prisoner. On his recovery, 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, being of a cruel disposition, treated Smith with so much inhumanity, that, one day, in a fit of desperation, he killed his new master, and fled into Russia. From this country, lie trav elled through Germany, France, and Spain; and, at length, re turned once more to England. At this time, the settlement of America was occupying the attention of many distinguished men in England. The life of 3* 30 PERIOD II.— 1607 TO 1689. Smith, united to his fondness for enterprises of danger and diffi- 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, that 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, he repeatedly demanded it. The infant colony was soon involved in perplexity and danger. Notwithstanding Smith had been calumniated, and his honor deeply wounded, his w^as 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 after took his 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 Chickahoming river, he ascended, in a barge, as far as the stream was uninterrupted. Designing to proceed still farther, he left the barge in the keeping of the crew, with strict injunctions on no account to leave her, and, with'Ywo Englishmen and two Indians, left the party. But no sooner was he out of view, than the crew, impatient of re- straint, repaired on board the barge, and, proceeding some dis- tance 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 Englishmen, and wounded himself. With great presence of mind, he now tied his 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 a 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 forced 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 which he had thus made, partly by signs and partly by lan- guage, he excited their wonder still more, by telling them of its singular powers. Their wonder, however, seemed soon to abate, and their at- tention returned to their prisoner. He 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 dangerous to the Indians. Preparations were accordingly made ; and when the time arrived, Smith was led out to executi,on. His head was laid upon a stone, and a club presented to Powhatan, who himself claimed the honor of becoming the executioner. Tiie savages in silence were circling round, and the giant arm of Powhatan had already raised the club to strike the fatal blow, when, to his astonishment, the young and beautiful Pocahontas, his daughter, with a shriek of terror, rushed from the tlirong, and tlircw her- 32 PERIOD II. — 1G07 TO 1G89. self upon the body of Smith. At the same time, slie cast an imploring look towards her furious, but astonished father, and, in all the 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 touched his heart, and the eye that had at first kindled with wrath was novr fast losing its fierceness. He looked round as if tocol-| lect his fortitude, or perhaps to find an excuse for liis 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 cap- tive, 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 1()09, circumstances having arisen to interrupt the friendly dispositions of Powhatan towards the colony, he plotted their entire destruction. His design was to attack them unapprized, 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 after this, she was married to an English gentleman of th» name of Rolfe, with whom she visited England. She embraced the Christian religion, and was baptized by the name of Pcebec- 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- * Burk's Virginia. SETTLEMENTS. 33 ual guarding against the enemy, that scarcely ten of the whole company coulcf 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 the plantation. To increase, their misfortunes, the president embezzled the public stores, and attempted to run away with the company's bark, and to retm-n to England. It was thereforer found neces- sary, for the common safety, to displace him. Mr. Ratcliffe was elected to the presidency. But it very soon appeared that his abilities v.ere by no means equal to the exigencies of the compa- ny; and the v/hole weight of government fell, therefore, on Capt. John Smith." The condition of the colony was, at length, somewhat im- 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 v.'ith Newport, but Vv^ho 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 two hundred men. This number was still further increased, before the endof lG08,by the arrival of seventy colonists, among whom were many persons of distinction. 6. Eady in the year 1609, the London company, not having realized tlieir anticipated profit from their new establishment in America, obtained from the king a new 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, " The treasurer and companv of adventurers and planters for the first colony in Virginia." They were nov/ granted in absolute 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 34 PERIOD II.— 1607 TO 1689. Sir George Summers, his admiral. Eight of these ships arrived in safety at Jamestown, in the month of August; but that on board of which was Sir Thomas and other officers, being wrecked on the Bermudas, did not arrive till May of the following year. The ship, thus wrecked, contained one hundred and fifty per- sons, the whole of whom were, for a time, in extreme danger of being lost. For three days, they were obliged to labor incessant- ly at" the pump. The leak, however, still increasing, it was attempted to run her on shore ; but she stranded, at the distance of three quarters of a mile from land. By the help of the boats, however, the crew and passengers were all saved ; and, having built two small vessels, again set sail for Virginia, where they 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 they sunk, that the skins of the horses were de- voured, as were also the bodies of Indians whom they had killed, and even the remains of deceased friends. Of five hundred persons, sixty only remained. At this juncture, the shipwrecked from Bermuda arrived. An immediate return to England was resolved upon ; and, with that intent, they embarked. But, just as they were leaving the mouth of 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 judicious management, the condition of the colony soon wore a better aspect, and for several years continued to prosper. It was unfortunate, however, for the colony, that ill health obliged Lord De la War, in March, 1()11, to leave the adminis- tration. He was succeeded by Sir Thomas Dale, who arrived in May. Hitherto, no right of property in land had been establish- ed, "but the produce oflabor was deposited in public stores, and SETTLEMENTS. 35 shared in common. To remedy the indolence and indifference growing out of such a system, Sir Thomas assigned to each in- habitant a lot of three acres as his own, and a certain portion of time to cultivate it. The advantages of this measure were soon so apparent, that another assignment of fifty acres was made, and not long after the plan of wo:king in a common field was abandoned 9. In 1613, several Dutch merchants erected a fort on Hudson's river, where Albany now stands, and a few 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- lishman 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 20th of March, 1609, v/ith the 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- teF4h6 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 place to the English crown, as properly constituting a part of Virginia. The Dutch governor, finding himself incapable of resistance, submitted him- self and his colony to the king of England, and under him to the governor of Virginia. Notwithstanding this surrender, the country still continued to be called, as before, New Netherlands, and the settlement, the place where New York now stands, Nev/ Amsterdam. These names they retained till the final conquest of the country by the English, in 1GG4. (See Sec. 37.) 10. In 1614, Capt. John Smith sailed from England, with two ships, to North Virginia. During this voyage, he 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 36 PERIOD II.— 1607 TO 1689. Prince Charles, who, in the warmth of admiration, de- clared that the country should be called New Exgland. Cape Ann was so called by the prince in filial respect to his mother. 11. The year 1619 forms a memorable epoch in the history of 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 Sir George Yeardly, the governor-general of the colony, and met at James- town, on the IDth of June. Before this, the colonists had been ruled ratlier as soldiers in garrison, by martial law ; but now they were invested with the privileges of freemen. They were di- vided into eleven corporations, each of which was represented in the assembly. The following year, the 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 the 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. By order of King James, one hundred persons of profligate character, who had rendered tliemselves 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 11)20, 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 New England. On the 22d of December of this year, a colony originally from England, known by the i SETTLEMENTS. 37 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 1607, with their pastor, the Rev. Mr. Robin- son. .From Amsterdam, they soon after removed to Ley den, 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 tlie 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 wil- 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 Prot- estants. The leader of these emigrants, in the year 1607, 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 they 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 onboard a ship, with their effects, the ship-master sailed a little distance, and then returned, and delivered them to the resentment of their enemies. The next year, they made another attempt, in which, af\ertha 4 38 PERIOD II.— 1607 TO 16S9. severest trials, they succeeded. Plaving 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 re- lief. Tliey had none of their effects, not even a change of clothes, on board. A violent storm came on, which raged seven days, without intermission. By 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; ■^'et, 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 who had been left, arrived safely in Hol- 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 enjo3^ed a quiet habitation. As the flames of religious tyranny and persecution continued to rage in England, many of their 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 couhtry, 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 Americn. 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 God.* 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 fromLeyden, 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 RotterdAn. 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, 1620, 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 Plymouth, September 6th. For two months they were tossed and driven upon the tempestuous ocean ; till, at length, on the 9th 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 Pludson. 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.! 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 Fathers. j Dr. I'ari-ih. 40 PERIOD ir.— 1G07 to 1689. " Government being thus established, sixteen men, well armed, with a few others,' were sent on shore the same day, to fetch wood and make discoveries ; but they returned at night, without having fovuid any person or habitation. The company, having rested on the Lord's day, disembarked on Monday, the 13th ot November ; and soon after proceeded to make further discovery of the country. '• On Wednesday, the 15th, Miles Standish and sixteen armed men, in searching for a convenient place for settlement, saw five or six Indians, Avhom they followed several miles, until night ; but, not overtaking them, were constrained to lodge in the woods. The next day, they discovered heaps of eartli, one of which they dug open ; but finding within implements of war, they conclud- ed these were Indian graves; and, therefore, replacing what they had taken out, they left them inviolate. In different heaps of sand, they also found baskets of corn, a quantity of which they carried away in a great kettle, found at the ruins of an Indian house. This providential discovery gave them seed for a future harvest, and preserved the infant colony from famine. Before the close of the month, Mrs. Susannah White became the mother of an infant son, who was called Perigrine ; and this was the first child, of European extraction, born in New England. " On the 6th of December, the shallop was sent out with sev- eral of the principal men, Carver, Bradford, Winslow. Standish, and»otherS; and eight or ten seamen, to sail round the bay, in search of a place for settlement. The next day, this company was divided ; and, while some travelled on shore, others coasted in the shallop. Early on the morning of the 8th, those on shore were surprised by a flight of arrows from a party of In- dians ; but oh the discharge of the English muskets, the Indians instantly disappeared. '• The shallop, after imminent hazard from the loss of its rudder and mast in a storm, and from shoals which it narrowly escaped, reached a small island on the night of the 8tli ; and here the company, the next day, which was the last day of the week, re- posed themselves with pious gratitude for their safety. On this island they kept the Christian sabbath. The day following, they Bounded the harbor, and found it fit for shipping; went on shore, and explored the adjacent land, where they saw various cornfields and brooks ; and judging the situation to "be convenient for a set- tlement, they returned with the welcome intelligence to the ship. " On the loth, they weighed anchor, and proceeded with the ship for this newly-discovered port, where they arrived on the following day. On the 18th and lOth, they went on shore for discovery, but returned at night to the ship. On the morning of the 20th, after imploring divine guidance, they went on shore again, to fix on some place for immediate settlement. After viewing the country, they concluded to settle on a high ground SETTLEMENTS. 41 facing the bay, where the land was cleared, and the water was excellent. ^^^^d ^^]^-T*^^^^^ n^JtoSi^^l^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^m ^^^^S^^^^^«£ilH^^Si!|^?|S^^^EVL^^^^||^^^^8^^I^M fer-'i^^fel^i^aPMlJiii^^^Mn^^^^^^^^^^^^^mi^B "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 b};- 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 benea,th, of the e.x- panding bay, and of the distant ocean. '• 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 on 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 PlymoutJi. This was the foundation of the first English town built in New England."^ 4 * * IIolip.es'3 Annals, 42 PERIOD II.— 1607 TO 16S9. 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, ;md 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 4Sth degrees of north latitude, and extending through the main land from sea to sea. This territory kad, until this time, been known by the name of North Virginia ; but now it received the name of New Eng- land, by royal authorit3^ The patent thus issued to the council of Plymouth, was the foundation of all the subsequent grants, under which the colonies of New Englalnd were settled. 14. lu 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 neighlx)ring Indians. This treaty, wiiich 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. The person chiefly instrumental in bringing this event to pass, was Samoset. a sagamore or chief of the country lying at the dis- tance of about five days' journe}*. He was the first visitant of the colony at Plymouth, and greatly surprised the inhabitants, by call- ing out.ashe entered their village,*' Welcome, Englishmen ! wel- come, Englishmen I" He had conversed with the English fisher- men who had come to the easterncoast, and had learner/ some of the language. He informed the colony that the place where they were settled, Avas called by the Indians Potuxct ; that, five years before, a plague had swept ofFull the 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 witliout 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 1G14, by one Ilimt, and sold into Spain, but had been taken to London, whence he hnd returned to America. They informed the English that Masassoit, the greatest sachem SETTLEMENTS. 4*? of the neighboring Indians, wasyiear, 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. Tl>ese proving acceptable, Masassoit left Mr. Winslow in the custody of his men as a hostage, and ventured to the English, by whom lie was hospitably entertained, and with whom he concluded the treaty already noticed. 15. In 1621, 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 this 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 were valid until ratified by a court of the company in England. 16. In 1622, the Virginia colony, which for some 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. Oh the 2:2d of March, it was so far put in execution, that three hundred and forty-seven of the colony, men, v/omen, and children, were butchered almost in the same instant. The chief by whom this massacre v/as 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 i4 PEKioD II. — 1607 TO 1689. artful chief, and yet they visited the English settlements, and ev«n purchased arms and borro\^d boats to enable them to ac- complish their savage pm-pose. " 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, tm-keys, fish, and other things to sell. At mid- day, the hour appointed, the blow fell ; and, 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 v/ounded, cleaved do\\Ti one of his assailants with an axe, upon which the whole party wlio 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 himself. Ralph Hamer.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 liad time to recover themselves, the)'' rose t.» avenge the death of their slaughtered friends, and succeeded in driving far into the Avilderness such as they could not destroy. But by means of the calamities Vv'hich fell upon the English, their settlements were reduced from eighty to eight; and by the year 1624, 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 was finished, in 1623, 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 * Thatcher's Indian Biography, SETTLEMENTS. 45 prospects, observed that they would soon be subdued by femine. wlien tlicy should lind 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. Atler 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 Ferdinancio 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 river.'? 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 16S9. 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 views, 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 two thousand persons survived. The dissolution of the charter v.'as a most arbitrary act in the king ; and not less arbitrary and odious Avere his subsequent reg- ulations. Under these the people lived and suffered till 163(i. 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. _ I'heir conduct in this was so displeas- ing to the king, Charles 1., successor of James I., that he sent Harvey back. But. in 1G39, 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 crov.n 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 info before landing. (Sec. 12.) Till the year 1G24, it consisted of a governor and one assistant only. From this period, five vrere annually chosen, the governor having a double vote. The number of assistants was 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- tinct near seventy years, until 1691, when, by charter of William and Mary, it was united to the colony of Massachusetts and the Province of Maine. 21. In 1628, the foundation was laid for another colo- ny in New England, by the name of the Colony of 3Ias- 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 hundred adventurers, to commence a settlement, which they effected at Salem, at that time called, by the Indians, Naumkeak. The territory included in the colouy of Massachusetts Bay, ex- tended tliree 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, 1629, 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 colony. Five ships were provided, which, being laden with cat- tie 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 Charlestoum. 23. In the month of August of the same year, it was determined by the company in England, that the gov- 48 PERIOD ir, — 1(307 to 16S9. eminent 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 colc-ny took place. John Winthrop was chosen governor, and Thom- as Dudley deputy-governor. Soon after their appoint- ment, they sailed with a large comp/any, some of whom settled at Charlestown, others at Boston, and in towns adjacent. On the arrival of Gov. Winthrop, in June, Avho continued from that lime to his death the he-id 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 Avere 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 cldse of the year, the number cf 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 Avith 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 wor.ship in the house of God ; and then immediately left that wilderness for the heavenly paradise." The succeeding winter conimenced in December Avith great severity. FeAV of the houses Avhich had been erected Avere com- fortable, and the most of them Avere miserable coverings. Un- used to such severities of climate, the poor people suffered severely from the cold. Many Avere frozen to death. Tiie 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 se\'ere season, their stock of pro- visions began to fail. Those aa^Iio Avanted were supplied by those- who possessed, as long a;i any remained. A poor man came to the- SETTLEMENTS. 49 governor to complain, and was informed that the last bread of his house was in the oven. Many subsisted upon shell-fish, ground- nuts, and acorns, which, at that season, could not have been 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 1632, Charles I. completed a patent to Coecil- 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, for 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 into 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 :)bstinate 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 charter granted to the inhabitants of Maryland, conferred on them more ample privileges than had been conferred on any * Robbins's New England Fatheis 5 50 PERIOD II. — 1607 TO 1689. other colony in America. Among these privilejjes was that of passing laws without any reservation, on the pat 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 as^fimbled in per- son, and enacted the necessary laws; but, in IG'JC), 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 1651J, the legislative body was divided into an upper and lower house — 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 1645, a rebellion broke out, chiefly caused by one William Clayborne. This man, vinder license from th» king, had, as early as 1631, formed a settlement on the island o* Kent ; and when the grant was made to Lord Baltimore, he re fused to submit to his authority. Being convicted of murder and other high crimes, he fled; but, in 1645, he returned, and, heading a party of insvirgents, 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 1660, Philip Calvert was appointed governor, and the ancient order of thing? was restored. In 1689, on the accession of William and Mary, persons in their interest usurped the government of the colony ; but in 1716, the proprietor was restored to his rights. From thi? time until the revolution, he continued to enjoy them; but, ai this latter date, the people 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 Dutcli 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, if they would make a settlement there, with corn annually, and give them eighty beaver-skins. He urged that two men might be sent to view the country. Had this invitation been accepted, it might have prevented the Dutch claim to any part of the lands upon the river, and opened an extensive trade in hemp, furs, 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 Tlymouth 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, Avho 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 intruders, 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 Newtoivn 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 wide wilderness spread before them. With incredible difficulty 52 PERIOD II. — 1607 TO 1689. they made their way through swamps and rivers, over hills and mountains. So long were they on their journe3% and so much time was spent in passing the river, 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 furni- ture 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 fromBostonfor 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 JVIanamet bay. The men got on shore, and, after wan dering ten days in a deep snow and a severe sjjason, 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 face. 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 yp the 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, and grains. Numbers of cattle, \vhich 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, and for which all the provision possible was made. Hov/ever. a great number of cattle perished. The Windsor people lost in this 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 of 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. This 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 waj^ one hundred miles over mountains, through swamps 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 1647. About the time of his departure, afriend, 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 y Mr. Stone died in 1663. * Robbius's New England Fathers. 54 PERIOD II.— 1607 TO 1689. 29. This 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. WiUiams, who thus commenced the settlement of Rhode Island, came from England in 1631 ; 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 v/hich v/ere contrary to those prevalent at that day in the colo- nies, and among them, •' that the civil magistrate is bound to 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, hov/- ever, by the governor of Plymouth, that the land was within the limits of that colony, he proceeded to Mooshawsic, where, in 163t), Vv'ith 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 were 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 1(j3S, 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- iE.enced 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 Providence agreed upon a form of government. Rhode Island, so called from a fancied resem- blance to the ancient island of Rhodes, soon began to be exten * History of the United States SETTLEMENTS. 55 sively settled, both on account of its natural fertility, and also on account of the religious freedom allowed to all denominations. In 1()44, Roger Williams visited England, as agent of the set- tlers, and obtained of the Earl of Warwick, one of the Plymouth, company, a free charter of incorporation for Providence and Rhode Island plantations. In 1663, a royal ciiarter 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 1686, 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 tho Pequots, a tribe of Indians, whose principal settlement was on a hill, in the present town of Groton. Prior to this time, the Pec^uots 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. hi 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 operations was formed, agreeabl}'- to which, on the 2Gth of May, about the dawn of day, Capt. Mason surprised Mystic, one of the principal forts of the enemy, in the present town of Stonington. On their near approach to the fort, a dog barked, and an Indian, who now discovered them, cried out, '' O wanux • O wanux !" Englishmen ! Englishmen ! The troops instantly pressed forward, and fired. The destruc- tion of the enemy soon became terrible, but they rallied at length., 66 PERIOD II.— 1607 TO lt)89. 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, JFc must burn them .' 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 tlieir 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 Peqnots, and bis 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, Avhere .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 Moliegans. 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 praise. 31. During the expedition against the Pequots, the English became acquainted with Q,uinnapiak, or New Huvcn; and the next year, 1638, the settlement of that town 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 fourth 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 1G33, 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 and several others, determined to accompany him. They ar- rived in Boston in June, 1037. This company were inclined to commence a new plantation, and lay tlie foundation of a separate colony. Though the most advantageous ofl'ers were made them by the government of 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, 1G39, the three towns on Connecticut river, Windsor, Hartford, and Wethersfieid, 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 Septt;mber. In April, the officers of 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 alFairs 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 tons, which was foundered at sea, in 1647, 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. 84. This same year, 1639, Sir Ferdinando Gorges obtained of tiie 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 165*2) 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 lGr>'2. 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 mce, as lying within her charter of 1G23, and, after various con- troversies, the territory was incorporated with her in 1691. In 1786, 1787, 1802. and 181G, efforts were made by a portion of the people of ^ Maine to become separate from INIassachusetts 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 Thk United Colonies of New England. The articles of this confederation, vvhich 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. 0§ 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 whole. Each colony was to elect two commissioners > who should meet annually, and at other times, if necessary, and should determine " all affairs of v/ar 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 tlie charters of the colonies were either taken away, or suspended, by James II. and his commissioners. In 1648, Rhode Island petitioned to be admitted to this con- federacy, but v/as 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 Narragansett 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 Indiari 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, &c. to be distributed by the com^ -missioners of the United Colonies. The Indians, at first, made great opposition to Christianity 5 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 countenaU'Ce and support of government, and blessed by 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. 1663. The colony of Connecticut, having pe- titioned King Charles II. through Governor Winthrop, for a charter of incorporation, his majesty, in accordance with their wishes, issued his letters patent, April 2d, constituting them a body corporate and politic, by the 60 PERIOD II. — IG07 TO 16S9. name of The Governor and Company of the English Colony of Connecticut, in New England, in America. The t' rritory granted to Lord Say and Seal, and Lord Brooke, in JG31 [Src. JiS.) and confirmed by this charter to Connecticut, was bo< nded east by Narragansett river ; south by Long Island sound . north by Massachusetts ; and extended west to the Pa- cific o.ean. 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 fijr each year, to consist of the above officers, and deputies from the towns ; the former to compose the upper, and the deputies the lower, house. The government under the charter was essentially the same with that which the people had themselves adopted in 1G39, {Sec. 3'2,) and continued to be the constitution of the colo- ny and state of Connecticut, until the year 1618, when a con- vention was assembled which framed a new constitution. This charter included tlie 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, 1GG3, by a similar grant to Rhode Island and Providence plantations, as already noticed. {Sec. 29.) 37. In 16G4, Charles IL granted to his brother, the Duke of York and Albany, the territory included in the 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. Richard 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 Enfrlish 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 1G13. and their surrender to the English the same year, have already been noticed. {Sec. 9.) Soon at\er, however, they revolted ; and, the claims of the English being neglected, they continued to man- age for themselves, until the above year, 1G64. Nichols having entered the harbor, Stuyvesant,the Dutch gov- SETTLEMENTS. 61 ernor, sent a letter to hira, 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- render ; 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 n^turn to England, in 1(167, 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 Neu^ 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 from Europe. In consequence of these opposite claims to the territory, much discord prevailed between the pro- prietors 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 1626, 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 1664, when the territory passed into the hands of the English. 39. The next year, 1665, Philip Carteret, who had been appointed governor by the proprietors, arrived at Elizabethtown, which he made the seat of government. 62 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. 46.) 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, 1(564 ; soon after which it was placed under the authority of the English governor of New York. Delaware was first settled in 1G27, 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 DelaAvare they named Sv.edeland 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 under Carr, in 1GG4. It was now considered a part of New York. In 1682, however, the Duke of York sold the town of New Castle, and the coimtry twelve miles around it, to William Penn, and, some time after, the territory between New Castle and Cape Henlopen. These tracts, then known by the name of '' Territo- rieis," 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. 49.) 41. After the reduction of New York by Col. Nichols, {Sec. 37.) he, with Sir Robert Carr, George Cartwright, 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 Jy 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, they were at length recalled, and the country saved from impending ruin. 42. The settlement v/hich 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 36th 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 (rom 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 locwtion 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. Beincr 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.— 1G07 TO 1689. fared at the request of the proprietors, by the celebrated Mr. iOcke, 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 occa^oned by an attempt to enforce it. It was, there- fore, at length, abandoned, and the former proprietary government restored. This latter sort of government continued from 16G9to 1719, when the charter was vacated by the crown, and tlie gov- ernment taken under the royal protection. In 1729, the proprie- tors surrendered their right to the 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. 6'ec. 20.) 43. The year 1675 was distinguished for a memorable war, in New England, with the Indians, called King Philip's 2var ; by which the pe^ce 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 of Philip, who immediately armed his men, and commenced hostilities. Their t 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, tlie troops of the colony repaired to the defence of Swanzey. On tlie 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 thein 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 it 66 PERIOD n, — 1607 TO 1689. brands ana ra^s dipped in brimstone ; they sliot arrows of fire ; tliey loaded a cart with flax and tow, and, witli long poles fastened together, they pushed it against the house. Destruction seemed inevitable. The ho^ise 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." 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 18th, Capt. Lathrop, with several teams, and eighty young men, the flower of the county of Essex, were sent to Deerfield to trans- port a quantity of grain to Hadley. On their return, stopping to gather grapes at Muddy brook, they v/ere 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 the report of the gnns, hastened to the spot, and, with a few men, attacked the Indians, killed ninety-six, and wounded forty, losing himself but two men. SETTLEMENTS. 67 Early in October, the Springfield Indians, who had hitherto been friendly to the 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. St)on 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- qua, committing similar outrages at Oyster river, Salmon Falls, Dover 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 some time after 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 thertiselves, 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, for the safety of the colonies, early 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 Pettysquamscot, on the 19th of December, 1G75, 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 nov/ entered and pursued the Indians to their fortress. This stood on a rising ground, in the middle of the swamp. 68 PERIOD II.— 1607 TO 1689. 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, W'ith 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 w' ere 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 fifty 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 w^ere 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 Avhole were either killed on the spot, or reserved for iong 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. 69 On the 12th of August, 1676, 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 Vv^as 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 : '' You have been one very great man. You have made many a man afraid of you. But so big as you be, I will now chop you to pieces." Thus fell a savage hero and patriot — of whose transcendent abilities our history furnishes melancholy evidence. The advan- 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 Csesar. After the death of Philip, the war continued in the Province of Maine, till the spring of 1678. 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 n. — 1607 to 1689, 44. The grant of the territory of New York, by Charles II., to his brother the Duke of York, in 1664, i»as already been noticed, [Si'c. 37,) as also its capture iVom the Dutch, the same year.- In 1673, a war com- aencing between England and Holland, the latter sent I 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 Mew York was restored to the English. To prevent -ontroversy about his title to the territory, the Duke .f York took out a new patent, and appointed Sir 'Mmund Andros governor, who entered upon the duties. ..i"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 ':;gislation, but ruled them by Jaws to which they had .:.ever given their assent. Connecticut also experienced the weight of his oppression and i.'espotism. That part of her territory west of Coiuiecticut river, ■ Ithough long before granted to the colony of Connecticut, v/as i .:cluded in the grant to the Duke of York. By virtue of this ./ant, Andros now claimed jurisdiction over the territory, and .1 July, 1G75, made an attempt with aa armed force to take pos- cission of Saybrook Fort. The governor and council of Connecticut, having notice of hi» "'.tsign, despatched Capt. Bull to defend the fort. On the arrival ■ 1 Andros at the mouth of the river, after making a show of : rce. lie invited Capt. Bull to a conference. This was granted ; .it no sooner had he landed, than he attempted to read his com- mission and the duke's patent. This Capt. Bull finnly and •orfitively forbid; and Sir Ed}nund, findin.g the colony determin- -' 1, at all events, not to submit to his government, relinquished . is design, and sailed for Long Island. 45. The year 1676, so distinguished, in the annals of ■■'•rew- Engl and, for the termination of Philip's war, was • jt much less distinguished, in respect to Virginia, by 1 insurrection known by the name of "Bacon's rebel- on," the evil effects of which lasted more than thirty .!ars. The principal causes of this rebellion are said > have been the oppressive restrictions imposed upon SETTLEMENTS. "I iheir commerce — the granting of large tracts of land I. v Gov. Berkley to his favorites, which belonged to ti: ' colony — and the imposition of extravagant taxes. The dissolution of the charter of Virginia by James I., in 1C24. ■and the subi?equeut appointment of Sir William Berkley, v< governor, by Charles!., with the privilege to the people of elec- ing their own representatives, have been noticed St-c. 24. Ft = 1his privilege, they were so grateful, that the Virginians contini;- ed faithful to the royal cause, even after Cromwell had usurpei llie government. This loptilty brought upon them the vengeanc ■ dollars. 50. In th»'. year 1684, June 18, an event highly interesting to the colony of Massachusetts occurred in England. Tnis was a decision, in the high court of chancery, thai she had forfeited her charter, and that henceforth her government should be placed in the hands of the kmg. 7* 78 PERIOD II.— 1607 TO 16S9. » 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 filled 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 would restore it. Connecticut voted an address to his majesty, in which she prayed him to recall the writ that had been 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 ^as 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, 16SG, 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 ail 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. Wadsworth, 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 Neiv 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 v/ere devout, patriotic, industrious, and public-spirited ; and though of a grave, reflecting ex- terior, they often showed that shrewd inquisitiveness. 801 PERIOD II. — 1607 TO 16S9. and keen relish of a jest, which are still characteristic of the New Englanders. The Jaws of the colonies throw some light on the views and manners of the people. As examples, in 1030, the drinking of healths was prohibited by law in Massachusetts. In IGol, 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 1639, 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 phj'sic, 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 Colomj of JVeio 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 eflfected. The same steadfast pursuit of wealth ; the same plodding industry ; the same dress, air, and physiognomy, which are given as characteristic of Holland, were" equally characteristic of the inhabitants of New Amsterdam. In Virginia, the manners of 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 tlie licentiousness of the Virginia colony SETTLEMENTS. 81 were found, at the close of this period, the seeds of that frank- ness, hospitality, taste, and refinement, which distinguish the peo pie 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 distinct 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 1G21, 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 1642, the assembly passed a law prohibiting all, but those who had been ordained by English bishops, from preaching. In 1G50, 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.— 1607 TO 16S9. tree oxorcise of religious worship, without molestation. Early alt,ention was, therefore, paid to the gathering of churches, 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 used 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 defendmg 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, ^jntil 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. [n Connecticut, the law obliged them to be present on the Lord's ^Jay — 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 1G42, 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 1G37, the first synod convened in America, sat at Nev/town, Massachusetts, and was composed of all the teaching elders in the country, and messengers of the several churches. Magistr;ites 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 of 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 oi" that state. The first Baptist church in America was formed at Providence, in 1639, 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 1656, the Quakers making their appearance in Massachusetts, the legislature of that colony passed severe laws against them. No 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 penalties were inflicted upon them in 1G57, 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 1659. Without intending to justify these severities toward tlie 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 sects 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 wa}'-, 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 the year 164C, a synod met at Cambridge, which, by adjounxnent, protracted its session to 1G48, w^hen 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 synoa v/ere present the ministers and churches of Connecticut and ISew Haven, who united in the form of discipline which it rec- ommended. Tliis, in connection with the ecclesiastical laws, was the religious constitution of CoHuecticut, until the compilation of the Saj'bi-ook Platform, a period of about sixty years. 53. TiiADE AND Commerce. The colonies, during this period, had little other trade than with England, 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 of it fell, at length, from three shillings and sixpence per pound, to twenty shillings per hundred, in consequence of which, a trade was oponed with the frontier Indians aijd 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, Iwitchets, 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- sels, 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, &c., m 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 1641, 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 1636. The ship Desire, of Salem, made a vo}'^age,in 1638, to New Providence and Tor- tuga, and returned laden with cotton, tobacco, salt, and 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 1639. In 1642, 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 1678, the anjQual 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 SETTLEMENTS. 95 the forests, and supply themselves with food from the soil. But the fertility of the earth taught them soon to look to agriculture as a source 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 'generall}:^ 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, &-c., were cultivated to a considerable extent Rye was first raised in Massachusetts in 1633. Ploughs were early introduced into the country. Neat cattle were first introduced into New England by Mr. Winslow, in 1624. In 1629, 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 1678, 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 1620, one hundred and fifty persons arrived in Virginia, from England, for the purpose of manufacturing silk, iron, pot-, ash, tar, pitch, glass, salt, &c. ; but they did not succeed. In 1673, Chalmers says of New England, " There be five ironworks 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 fencing 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 PERIOD II.— 1607 TO 1689. The first buildings of the settlers were made of logs, and thatched, or were built of stone. Brick and framed houses were soonbuill 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 Watcrtown ; but it was taken down in 1C32, 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 1C26. A house-carpenter sawed their largest boat into two parts, and 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 1631, called The Blessing of the Bay. In 1633, a ship of sixty tons Avas built at Medford. In 1636, one of one hundred and twenty tons was built at Mar- blehead. In 1641, 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 1639, 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 1664. The mode of travelling considerable distances was on foot, or on horseback, there being no carriages for that purpose, and the roads from one village to another being only narrow foot-paths, through forests. 56. Population. We may estimate the population of the English American colonies, at th0 close of this period, at about 200,000. It is impossible to ascertain very exactly the population of the 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 : — SouU. NewYork .'50,000 Jerseys 15,000 Peiinsvlvania 20,000 Maryland 25,000 Virsrinia 40,000 North Carolina 5.000 South Carolina 7;0C0 Souls. Massachusetts 70,000 Connecticut 30,000 Rhode Island 10,000 New Hampshire 10,000 New England ] 20,000 Mid. and S. Colonics 142,000 Total 262,000 142,000 SETTLEMENTS. m 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 1G19, 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 tovs^ards 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 aid the 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, w^ may notice those of Connecticut. By her first code, in 1039, 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 main- tain a good school, in which reading and Avriting should be well taught ; and that in every county town a good grammar 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 all 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 roiuid 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 is greatly changed. We noic 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. 03^ 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- i:ation in regard to the first settlers of North America. Although, in the eloquent words of Mr. Walsh, " It v.^as 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 carefuJ provisions for learning ; and enacted wholesome laws, the benefit of which is distinctly felt to this day. It may be further remarked, that history shov/s 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 Puritanical 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* UJNITED 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, 1689, to the Declaration of the War hy England against France, 1756, called " the French and Indian War.^' Sec. 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 maleadministration. 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 and, although attended by unhappy events, issued in the restoration 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 1664, to 1683, the people had no share in tlie government. In 1681, the council court of assizes, and corporation, had sohcited 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 accession 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 seizure 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 affiiirs 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 subjee- 92| PERIOD 111.-1089 TO 175G. lion, Miiborn, 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, 1G91, 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- ple ; 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 ^n 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, 1G92; the Earl of Bellamont, 1G98 ; Lord Cornbury, 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 colony. 2. 1690. 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 French Protestants, which had planted themselves in the county of Craven — the proprietors demanding for them the privilege of electing representatives, which was stren- uously 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 deportmentof 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 greatly disturbed by the passage of a law by the general assem- bly, 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, 1692, 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, the 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 PERIOD III. — 1689 TO 1756. vived, in consequence of several cliildren in Danvers, Saleiir, beginning to act in a peculiar and unaccountable manner. Their strange conduct continuing for several days, tlieir 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 to accuse several persons in the neighborliood of bewitching them. Un- fortunately, they were credited, and the svispected 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 variouss 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 Governor Bradstreet ; against the wife of Mr. Hale, and the lady of Sir 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- iran 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 afler- wards reprieved by the governor. These events were followed hy a general release of those who had been imprisoned. '• Thus the cloud," says the late President Dwight, ^' 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 rtense, education, and fervent piety. Let us consider, however, that, at this period, the actual existence of v:itchcrafl was taken WARS OF WILLIAM III., ANNE, AND ow 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 to this effect was drawn up and generally signed. On the meeting of the assembly, a committee was sent with 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, 1719, 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 full 108 PERIOD III.— 1689 TO 1756. hearing of the case, the privy council adjudged that the proprie- 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 Scotia. 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 greater security of the Carolinas. WARS OF WILLIAM III., ANNE, AND GEORGE II. 109 The charter was granted to twenty-one persons, under the title of trustees, and passed the seals June 9th, 173-2. 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 Ynmacnno-bluff, on Savannah river, and commenced the town of that name. The colony, for many years, did not flourish. 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 use of negroes, and the 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 of which was otfered to each new settler. Upon this, large num- bers of Swiss, Scotch, and Germans, became adventurers to the colony. Within three years ftom 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 gave her a hundred pounds a year. 10 110 PERIOD III. — 1689 TO 1756. Among those who came over with Gen. Oglethorpe was a man by the name of Thomas Bosomworth, who was the chaplain 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 pride 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 sister of Malatche ; and she told the Indians, that one of her grandfathers had been made king, by the Great Spirit, over all the Creeks. The Indians believed what Mary told them ; for they had 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 ruins." 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- hawks 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 reached 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, th^it they should be able to ward off the deadly blow which was aimed against them. By this time, the savages were in sight of Savannah. At this critical moment, an Englishman, by the 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. Bosomworth 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 same 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. Bosomworth 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 coming 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 iheir queen. Finding that the Indians had been deceived, and that Bosomworth was tlie 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 the 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 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 beginning to be satisfied of the villany of Bosomworth, and of the real character of Mary ; but, at this moment, the door was thrown 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- ise, and defend your queen." The sight of their queen seemed to bring back, in a moment, all the original ardor of the enterprise. 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 III. — 16S9 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 towards her, as if to inquire what they should do. Her countenance fell. Perceiving his ad^'antage. 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 v.'ould conduct vrith 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. He pretended that they had been given to him by the In- dians. Finding, however, that he could not sustain his claim, 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 the 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 several 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 thirty-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 accomplishing its object. WARS OF WILLIAM III,, ANNE, AND GEORGE II. 113 Gen. Oglethorpe was, at this time, at Fort Simons. Finding 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 for 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 Bupplies. In this state of danger and perplexity, the general resorted ta 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 wliich 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 sp)"- 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 Carolina. 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 Avhich should 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 the letter, the Spaniards, in great haste, fired the fort, and embarked, leaving behind them several cannon, and a quantity of provisions. By this artful, but unjus- tifiable expedient, the 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. 26. March 29th, 1744, Great Britain, under 10* 114 PERIOD III. — 1689 TO 175C. 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 New 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 a 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 canrion, 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 two eighteen pounders. The entrance of the town, on the land eide, 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 was 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 letters to England, he communicated to the general court, under an oath of secrecy, a plan wliich he had formed for an attack on Louisburg. To this plan strong objections were urged, and the proposal of the governor was at first rejected ; but upon recon- sideration, 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 OF WILLIAM III., 115 New Hampshire, each, three hundred. The naval force consist- ed of twelve ships and vessels. In two months the army was 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 soon 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 per\'aded the whole fleet and camp, on the arrival of this impor- tant auxiliary force. After a short consultation with Gen. Pep- perell, Com. Warren sailed to cruise before Louisburg, and^not long 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 tlie 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 enemy 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 battery. 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 alann 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 v.^hat could not men accom- plish, who had been accustomed to draw the pines of the forests for masts.? By the 20th of May, several fascine batteries had 116 PERIOD III. — 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, Cora. Warren captured the Vigilant, a French ship of seventy-four guns, and with her five hundred and sixty 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 18th of June. Previously to the arrival of this additional naval force, much had been accomplished towards the reduction of the place. Tlie 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 little prospect' remained, on the 15th the enemy desired a cessa- tion of hostilities, and on the 17th of June, after a siege of forty- nine days, the city of Louisburg, and the island of Cape Breton, 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 witliout 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 «ourt 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 v/as given to the colonies in their fisheries ; Nova Scotia was preserved, and tJie trade and fisheries of France nearly ruined. 27. The capture of Louisburg roused the court of 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 news arrived that the French fleet Avas 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 similar tragical deatii, 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 sides 118 PERIOD III. — 1689 TO 175&. were to be released without ransom, and all conquests made during the war were ta be mutuaUy restored. NOTES. 29. Manners of the Colonists. The colonies v/ere now peopled with inhabitants, by far the greater part of whom were born and educated in America. And jlthough the first settlers were collected from most, or ail, the countries of Europe, and emigrants from various uations continued to flock to America, still we may ob- -orve, during this period, a gradual assimilation of na- tional manners and character. The peculiarities of each class became less distinct by intercourse with the tUhers, and every succeeding generation seemed to ex- ..'ibit less strikingly those traits which distinguished liie preceding. Althougli this is true with respect to the American colonies ■jenerally, there were some exceptions. Some villages, or terri- ■r.ries, being settled exclusively by emigrants speaking a different '. tnguage from that generally spoken — as the Germans, for ex- •' uple — or entertaining some peculiar religious notions — as the Vv,uakers — still preserved their own peculiar manners. But, in attempting to ascribe some general ciiaracter to the >eople of the colonies during this period, we might consider them, ■ '., during our second period, on the whole, exhibiting three va- -eties ; viz. the rigid Puritan English of the north, the Dutch in .■>ew York, and the luxurious English of the south. The aus- t'rity of the north Vt^as, however, much relaxed. Tlie elegant . irieties of life, which before had been prohibited, were tol-erated,. .. )d the refinements of polished society appeared among the higlier .! isses. The strong .lines of Dutch manners^ in New York were .•')wly disappearing, under an English government, and l>y moans •i' the settlement of English among them. The manners of the • aith were assuming an aspect pf more refineinent, ixirticularly ..iiong the higher classes, but showed little other change. 30. Religion. During this period^ the spirit of re- !gious bigotry and intolerance may be observed to have •nated in a very considerable degree. The conduct of .:iOse 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; an 1 at the close of this period, religious persecution hai ceased in all the colonies, and the rights of conscience were generally recognized. In 1C92, the Mcnnonitcs were introduced into Pennsylvania, ^nd settled at Germantown. Their increase, however, has beei ■small. In 1719, the Tunkcrs, or General Baptists, arrived at Phil;' - delphia, and dispersed themselves into several parts of Penn- sylvania. In 1741, the Moravians were introduced into America, hy Count Zinzendorf, and settled at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Regularity, industry, ingenuity, and economy, are characteristi-. of this people. They have considerably increased, and are a re- spectable body of Christians. The Gcrvuin Lutherans were first introduced into the Ameri- can colonies during this period, and settled principally in Penii- sylvania and New York. Episcopacy was considerably extended during this period. In 1693, it was introduced into New York ; into New Jersey aiKi Rhode Island in 1702; into South Carolina in 1703, by law; in Connecticut in 1704. In 1708, the Saybrook Platform was formed by a synod con: • posed of Congregational ministers, under authority of the legii - lature of Connecticut. About the year 1737, a revival of religion very extensively pr< - vailed in New England. At this time, great numbers unitti themselves to the church, and testified, by their conduct throug ; life, the genuineness of their profession. The celebrated Whitfield came to America about the year 1740. and produced great religious excitement by his singular power ; of pulpit eloquence. He did not found any peculiar sect in tlii ^ country, although he gave rise to that of the Calvinistic MetlioU- ists in England. 31, Trade anb Commerce. Although the trade of the colonies began to feel the restrictions imposed upoi 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 increa>*- > in population, trade, and manufactures. Inquiries on these poin*'^ were instituted, and opportunities sought to keep in check tlj-- spirit of colonial enterprise. Laws were enacted from time t-) time, desigi*ed and calculated, not only to make the colonies de- 120 PERIOD III. — 1689 TO I75G, pend on the mother country for her mantifactui-es, but niso to 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 3732, an act v/as 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 forslittin^g or rolling of iron, oe any plating forge to work with a tilt hammer ; or any furnace for making steel, in any of the colonics." At the same time, en- couragement was given to export pifr and har 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 freater than the amount of tlie exports to England. In 1728, Sir Vilham Keith stated that the colonies then consumed one sixth part of all the woollen manufactures exported from Great Britain, and more than double tliat 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 goods. From 1739 to 175G, this importation of goods from Eng- land amounted to one million of pounds sterling annually, on an average. But, if the amount of imports from Great Britain was thua 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, coi'n, 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 ; they were principally carried on by New England. The codfish were sold in Spain, France, England, tlie West Iiwiies, &€. ; and the WARS OF WILLIAM III., ANNE, AND GEORGE II. 121 money obtained for them aided the colonies in paying the balance of trade against them in England. 3:2. 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- riod. A newspaper, the first in North America, called The Bos- ton Weekly JVcics-Letter, was established in 1704. Before the close of this period, ten others were established — four in New England ; two in New York ; two in Pennsylvania ; one in South Carolina ; and one in 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 then one million or upwards, and that scarce 80,000 had been brought over sea. 11 122 PERIOD III. — 16S9 TO 1576. This estimate of the population of America very nearly accords with an estimate made in London, from ^- authentic authorities," May, 1755, which is as follows :-«- New Hampshire 30,000 Massachusetts Bay. 220,000 R. Islam! and Provi- } oc nno dence Plantations 5 •** ^^'^^ Connecticut 100,000 New England 385,000 Mid. and S. Colonies 661,000 Total 1,046,000 New York 100,00a The Jerseys 60,000 Pennsylvania 250,000 Maryland 85,000 Virginia 85,000 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 purposesof 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 irdnisters 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., president 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 colonies 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 future 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 oijjopular 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 hy England against France, 1756, to the Commencement of Hos- tilities hy 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 Chapelle, in 1748, {Period III. 28.) had been highly injurious 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. Massachusetts alone is said to have paid half this sum, and to have expended nearly four hun- dred thousand pounds in 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, amovmted"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 bills, says Dr. Trumbull, in those colonies where their credit was best supported, the depreciation was nearly tiventi/for cnic. 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, 1756, Great Britain, under George 11., 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 loar^^ was the alleged encroachments of the French upon the frontiers of the colonies in America, belonging io 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. Tlie circumstance which served, to open the ivar, was the alleged intrusion of the Ohio Company upon the II* 126 PERIOD IV. — 1756 TO 1775. territory of the French. This company consisted of a number of influential men, from London and Virginia, v/ho 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 Alleganies, 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, and 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. Dinwiddle, 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, 1754, 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 Ncm' 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 ottered terms of capitulation. These terms wei-e rejected ; but during the night, July 4th, articles were signed, by which Washinoton 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, akhough the formal declaration of war was not made until 1756, two years after, as already mentioned. 5. 1 he British ministry, perceiving war to be inevita- ble, recommended to the British colonies in America to unite ill 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 M^ith 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 Indepen- dence, by all the delegates, excepting those fi'om Connecticut, who objected to the negative voice of the governor-general. One cii;cumstance, 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, they 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 pwn 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 ; Avhich charges should be reimbursed by taxes upon the colonics, imposed hy 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: — one against the French in Nova Scotia ; a second against the French on the Ohio; a MhyZ against Crown Point ; and a/bz/r^A 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 t?ie 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, surren- dered. The name of the fort was now changed to that of Cumberland. From this place Gen. Monckton pro- ceeded far her into the country, took other forts in pos- 180 PERIOD IV. — 175G 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 Enghsh 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. Fearinor 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 o?i the OJiio, 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 Cluesne, 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 duesne. Here he was advised by his officers to proceed with catltion, 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 0th, 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. Brad dock is to be ascribed to 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 attacked, 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 affected 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, was 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 to Philadelphia. 9. The expedition against Croion 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 defeat. The army under Johnson arrived at the south end of Lake George the latter part of August. While here, intelligence was 132 PERIOD IV.— »1756 TO 1775. received that a body of the enemy, two thousand in number, had landed at Southbay, now Wldtehall, 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. Tlie best preparations which the time allowed, were 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 hundred wounded: this loss was rendered still more severe to the French by a mortal wound which Dieskau himself received, and in consequence of which he 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 of Braddock,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- fight, they are too few. If they are to be killed, they are too many." The number was ac« cordingly increased. Gen. Johnson proposed also to divide the detachment into three parties. Upon this, Hendrick took three sticks, 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 he was feeling for a pistol, levelled his gun, and wounded him in the hips. He 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 five 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 statedj war was declared by Great Britain against France, and, soon after, by France against Great Britain, in turn. The plan of operations for the campaign of '56 em- braced the attack of Niagara and Croivn 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 thosp 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 the battle of Lake George, the Marquis de Montcalm, an able 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 5 and their loss of men made prisoners, and munitions of W'ar, peculiarly severe. By the capture of this post, the enemy 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 were 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 indecision^ 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 Ticonderoga 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. ^o 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, sallied 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 ! 136 PERIOD IV. — 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 tlieir baggage, and butchered them in cold l)lood. 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 1758, 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 colonies, 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 Jirst against Louisburg ; the second against Ticonderoga ; the third against Fort du duesne.* 16. On the expedition against Louisburg, Admiral * Pronounced Du-Kane. FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 187 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. OiY the 26th of July, after a vigorous resistance, this fortress was surrendered, and with it five thousand seven hundred and thirty-se'ven prisoners of war, and one hundred and twenty cannon, besides which the en- emy lost 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 obstructed 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 J2* 133 PERIOD IV. — 1756 TO 1775. ill-advised. Not. a doubt can rationally exist, that, had the sie re been prosecuted with prudence and vigor, the re- ductiou 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 piissage 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 v/riter, Dr. Dwight. 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 glittered in the sun-beams, and the anticipation of future triumph shone in every eye. Above, beneath, around, the scenery was that of enchantment. Rarely has the sun, since that luminary was first lighted up in the heavens, dawned on such a complication of beauty and magnifi- cence." How greatly did all the parade which Vv^as displayed, and all 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 chi Quesne, the bulwark of their dominion over the western regions, was a third expedition contemplated this year. This en- terprise was intrusted to Gen. Forbes, wdio 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 Ax\D INDIAN WAR. 139 serted 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 the v/ay for the still greater achievements of the ensu- ing year. 19. AnothtBr 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 Easton, sixty miles from Philadelphia. The managers of the treaty on the part of Great Britain, were the governors of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Sir William .]chnson, fnir members of the council of Pennsylvania, six mem- bers of assembl}'-, and two agents from New Jersey. The tribes represented on this occasion, and with which the treaty Avas made, were the Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagoes, Ca yugas. Senecas, Tuscaroras, Nanticoques, and Conays, theTute- 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- 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 time, all the strong holds of the French in that country. These were Ticonderoga and Crown Point, Niagara and Quebec. 21. Gen. Amherst, who had succeeded Abercrombie as commander-in-chief, led one division against Ticon- deroga, which he reached July 22d. 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 lied before their arrival. 140 PERIOD IV. — 1756 TO 1775. The French retired to the Isle aux Noix, situated at the north- ern extremity of Lake Champlain, v/here they were strongly en- camped, with a force of three thousand five hundred men, and a powerful artillery. Gen. Amher.st 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. Prideaux, was destined against Niagara, at which place they arrived July 6th, 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. Prideaux, 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 duebec. After several attempts to reduce the place, which proved unsuccessful, Wolfe conceived the project 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. FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. " 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 war. 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 could be 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 mtrenchments. Owing, however, to the grounding of some of the boats which conveyed the troops, a part of the detachment did not land so soon as the others. The corps that first landed, without waiting to form, rushed forw^ard impetuously towards the enemy's intrenchments. 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- sequences of delay, Wolfe ordered a retreat across the Montmo- renci, and returned to his quarters on the Isle of Orleans. In this rencounter, his loss amounted to near six hundred of the flower of his army. The difficulties of effecting the conquest of Quebec now press- ed upon Wolfe with all their force. But he knew the importance of taking this strongest hold — he knew the expectations of his countrymen — he well knew that no military conduct could shine that was not gilded with success. Disappointed thus far, and worn down with fatigue and watch ing, General Wolfe fell violently sick. Scarcely had he recover- ed, before he proceeded to put in execution a plan which had been matured on his sick bed. This was to proceed up the river, gain the heights of Abraham, and draw Montcalm to a general engage- ment. Accordingly, the troops were transported up the river about nine 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 below the intended place, and landed a mile, or a mile and a half, above the city. The operation was a critical one, as they had to navigate, in silence, down a rapid stream, and to find a right place for landing, wliicli, 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 wliich spread the plains of Abraham. By day-light, Sept. 13th,tliis almost incredible enter- prise had been effected — the desired station was attained, the army v/as 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- forehad 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. Betweer. nine and ten o'clock, the tv/o armies, about equal in numbers, met face to face. The battle now commenced. Inattentive to the fire of a bod}' 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, notwithstandinor the repeated efi^brts of their officers to form them, and to renew the attack, they were so successfully pushed by the British bayonet, and hewn down by the Highland broad- sword, that their discomfiture was complete. Durino- 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 aball 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 a 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 immcdi FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 143 alely wounded, and conveyed away. In this critical state of tlio action, the command devolved upon Gen. Townshend. Gen. Montcalm, fighting in front of his battalion, 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 tlie agonies of death : at this moment was hoard 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 7nere military glory, it is one of the most sublime that the annals of war afford." 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, \vith 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, " I 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 Q,uebec, 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 English squadron arrived with reinforcements, soon after which the French fleet was taken and destroyed, and the siege was raised. 144 PERIOD IV. — 1756 TO 1775. 26. 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. Haviland, with a well-disciplined army, to proceed to Lake George, Crown Point, and Lake Champlain; Gen. Murray was ordered from Q,uebec, 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 by Haviland on the day succeeding. While preparing to lay siege to the place, the commander of Montreal, M. de Vaudreuil, perceiving that resistance would be ineffectual, demand- ed a capitulation. On the 8th, Montreal, Detroit, Mich- ilimackinac, and all the other places within the govern- ment of Canada, were surrendered to his Britannic ma- jesty. 27. Thus ended a war which, from the first hostilities, had continued six years, and during which much 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 and severe, and public thanksgivings were generally appointed, to ascribe due honor to Him who had preserved to the colonies their existence and liberties. 28. While the troops were employed in the conquest of Canada, the colonies of Virginia and South Carolina suffered invasion and outrage from the Cherokees, a powerful tribe of savages on the west. But, in 1761, they were signally defeated by Col. Grant, and compel- led to sue for peace. Intelligence being communicated to Gen. Amherst of the dan- ger of these colonies, he despatched Gen. Montgomery, with one thousand two hundred men, for their protection and relief. Being joined by the forces of the province of Carolina on his arrival; he immediately proceeded into the country of the Chero FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 145 kees, 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, 1761, 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 with a body of savages, and, after a strongly-contested battle, put -op- pression, and causes the blood wrung out by tyranny to cry t om tlie 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 by Great Britain, against the American Colonics, 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 f\*ee 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 the filial and affectionate idea of " home.'' " And even 13* 150 PERIOD 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 maleadminis- tration ; the peculation and arbitrary conduct of the royal gov- ernors ; — these things were sufficient, and more than sufficient, to stifle every feeling of affection, and shake the last remains of their allegiance. Yet through all this oppressive subordination ; through the calamities of w^ar ; through the attempt to wrest from them their charters, and their dearest rights, — they could say, and did say, '• England, with all thy faults, I love thee still." Nor is it probable 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 29th, 1764, 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," &LQ. The act then proceeds to lay a duty on " 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 snbject of the right of the British parham^nt to tax the colonies, it was asserted, in the mother country, " to be essential to the unity, and of course to the prosperity, of the empire, that the British parhament 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 llieir 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 tJievcry hinge on lokiclL the revolution turned. 5. In accordance with the policy to be observed to- wards America, the next year, 1765, the famous stamp act passed both houses of parliament. This ordained that instruments of writing, such as deeds, bonds, notes, &c., among the colonies, should be 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 ijojir care! No! your oppression planted them m America : they fled from your tyranny into a then uncultivated land, where they M^ere exposed to almost all the hardships to which human nature is liable, and, among others, to the savage cruelty of the eneiny 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 inliabited any part of God's earth ; and yet, ac- tuated by principles of true English liberty, they met all these iiardships with pleasure, compared with those they suffered in their own country, from the- hands of those that should have been their friends. *• They novrishcd hj your indulgence ! They grew by your neg- lect : as soon as you beg«.n to care about tliera, 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 wdthin them ; men promoted to the highest seats of justice, some of whom, to my knowledge, vrere glad, bv going to foreign countries, to escape the vengeance of the laws ir. their own. ^' They protected by your arms ! They have nobly taken up arms m your defence, have exerted their \'alor, amidst their constant and 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 vie, remember, I this day told you so, that the same spirit which actuated that people at first, will continue with them still." The night after this act passed, Doctor Franklin, who was then m London, wrote to Charles Thompson, afterwards secretary of the continental congress, '' The sim of liberty is set ; the Jimeri- cans must light the lamps of industry aud 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. On 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, by 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 right 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 wjth un- prejudiced minds, might have saved them the fruitless struggle of a seven years' war. There were those, in the house of bur- gesses, who strongly opposed the resolutions ; but the bold and 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 tyrant ; and alluding to the fate of other tyrants, he exclaimed, '' Crasar had his Bruttis, 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 Massa- chusetts, was made prior to any intelligence of the proceedings of Virginia, and was in accordance with the spirit of liberty v/hich early manifested itself in that province. Three commissioners were appointed by Massachusetts to at tend the proposed congress, and a circular was addressed to cacli 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 Avhich met those from Massachusetts at New York, on the first Tuesday of October. 1765. This was the first general meeting of the colonies., Timothy Ruggles, a commissioner from Massachusetts, v/as chosen president. In their declaration, they acknowledged their allegiance to hia majesty, and their willingness to render due honor to the right- ful authority of parliament; but they claimed that they hnd iv- tercsts, rights, and liberties, as the natural born subjects of his majesty ; and that, as they 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 25th 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 i 4 PERIOD V. — 1775 TO 1783. l.« ft N?w York without signing the address and petitions. The c jinmissionersfromSouthCarolinaand Connecticut were limited b/ tlieir instructions to make report to their respective legisla- tures ; and the committee of New York, who had been admitted as membei's, 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 all the bales of stamps, which had been sent from England, could have been found in the colonies of 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. It 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 mnnifested 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 efligies hanging on the branch of an old elm, in the southern part of Boston, one of which was de-' signed to represent a stamp 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 epo*., which continued to increase all day. Towards evening, WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 156 the effigies were taken dowrij placed on a bier, and carried in funeral procession through several streets — a host following, and shouting/'Liberty and property forever I — 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 ver}'^ foundations. From this, they proceeded to his dwelling, and, finding Oliver had fled, 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. 9. 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- ing 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 M^ool ; 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 began 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 left 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, for the same reason, filled with unsalable goods; and the table of the minis- ter Avas 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 R^ockingham 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 hind the colonies in all cases whatsoever. On the meeting of parUament, Jan. 7th, 1766, 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, m which he declared it to be his opinion that the kingdom ,'iad 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 iheir 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 tlie 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 seventy-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 4e 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 England joined in his applause." In the 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 submit, with Jire and stcord. Opposition, however, was, at length, wearied 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 i)uke 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 voice 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 tv/o other acts , — the one establishing a new board of custom-house oliicers in America; and the other restraining the legis- lature of the province of New York from passing any 14 158 PERIOD V. — 1775 TO 1783. act 7oliatcver, until they should furnish the king's troops with several required articles. 14. These three acts reached America at the same time, and again excited universal alarm. The first 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 the stamp act. Several of the colonies, through their colo- nial assemblies, expressed their just abhorrence of these enactments, and their determination never to submit to them. Soon after the establishment of the new board of custom-house officers, at Boston, under the above act, a fit occasion presented itself, for an expression of the public indignation. This was the arrival at that port, in May, 17G8, 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 stores ; on the following day, the sloop was entered at the cus- tom-house, with a few pipes only. A discovery being made c' these facts, by the custom-house officers, the vessel was seized, o.nii by their order removed alongside of the Romney, a ship of war, then in harbor. The conduct of the custom-house officers, in this transaction, roused the indignant feelings of the Bostonians, who unwarrantably attacked the houses of the officers, and even assaulted their persons. No prosecutions, however, could be sus- tained, from the excited state of public feeling. Finding them- selves no longer safe in the town, the officers prudently sought protection on board the Romney, and subsequently retired to Castle William. 15. The public excitement was soon after increased by the arrival 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- cution of their functions. On the day after its arrival, the fleet was brought to anchor near Castle William. Having taken a station which command- ed the town, the troops, under cover of the cannon of the ships, landed without molestation, and, to the number of upwards of 700 men, marched, with muskets charged, bayonets fixed, martial music, and the usual military parade, on to the common. In tho 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 after the quarters were settled, two field pieces, with the 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 fuards. The sentinels challenged the inhabitants as they passed. 'he 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. In Feb., 1769, both houses of parliament went a Btep 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 there. 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 right 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 : — " Mr. Speaker,- and gentlemen of the house of burgesses, I have heard 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. 160 PERIOD v.— 1775 TO 1783. In May following, the assembly of Massachusetts convened, but refused to transact any business wliile the state house was surrounded by an armed force. This force, however, the 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 armyintlie colony, in time of peace, was an infringement of the natural rights o* 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 Augi^st, 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. In 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. 161 assembled, and a dreadful scene of blood must have ensued, but for the promise of Gov. Hutchinson, that the affair should be settled to their satisfaction in the morning. Capt. Preston, who commanded the soldiers, was committed with them to prison. Upon their trial, the captain and six soldiers were acquitted ; two were convicted of manslaughter. For several subsequent years, the evening of the day on which this outrage was committed was 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 1772, another event occur- red, which presented a fresh obstacle to a reconciliation between America and the mother country. This was the destruction, by the people of Rhode Island, of ^ British armed schooner, called Gaspce, 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 bay, to lower their colors, on passing the schooner. On the 9th of June, as the Providence packet was sailing into the. harbor of Newport, her captain was ordered to lov/er his col- ors. Upon his refusal, a shot was fired at him from the schooner, which immediately made sail in chase. By a dexterous manage- ment, on the part of the master of the packet, he led the schooner on a shoal, where she grounded, and remained fast. At night, it was determined by anumber 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 five hundred pounds was offered, by proclamation, for 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 interchange of opinions was kept up be- tween the colonies, and great unity of sentiment was thereby promoted. 14* 162 PERIOD V. — 1775 TO 1783. Tliis 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 a salary was voted to the royal governor of Massachusetts by par- liament, and the people of that colony required to pay it. In 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 inquiiy. 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 woidd make the tea cheaper in America than in Great Britain, it was presumed that the Americans would pay the small duty upon it, which was only three pence. In this, however, the parliament mistook. Not a single penny, by way of duty, was paid upon it, nor a single pound of it consumetl. 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. 163 be landed. The cargo destined for Charleston was, indeed, laud- ed and stored, but was not permitted to be oftered for sale The vessels which brought tea to Philadelphia and New York, were compelled to return to England, without even having made an entry at the custom-house. It was designed by the leading patriots of Boston to make a similar disposition of the cargoes expected at that place 5 but, oji their arrival, the consignees were found to be the relations or friends 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 Avere at the same time given 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 captain of a vessel was despatched to the governor to request a passport. At length, he returned to say that the governor refused. The meeting was immediately dis- solved. 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 citizens 164 PERIOD V. — 1775 TO 1783. 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." 22. Intelligence of these proceedings was communi- cated, in a message from the throne, to both houses of parliament, on the 7th of March, 1774. The excite- ment was peculiarly strong. In the spirit of revenge against Massachusetts, and particularly against Boston, which was considered as the chief seat of rebellion, a bill was brought forward, called 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 colonies come into a joint resolution to stop 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 v/ith the people of Boston in their distress, the house of burgesses in Virginia ordered that the day on which the Boston port bill was to take effect, should be observed as a day of fasting and prayer. Ohs. The words IfTiigs and Tories were, about this time, intro- duced as the distinguishing names of parties. By 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. 165 '24. During these transactions in Massachusetts, meas- ures 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- uce 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 states of the v/orld, I know not the people, or senate, who, in such a complication of difficult circumstances, 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 : — Now meet the fathers of this western clime ; Nor names more noble graced the rolls of fame, When Spartan firmness braved the wrecks of time, Or Latian virtue fann'd the heroic flame. Not deeper thought the immortal sage inspired, On 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- 166 PERIOD V. — 1775 TO 1783, 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, by enlisting men, appointing general officers, &/C, In November, this provincial congress met again, and resolved to equip twelve thousand men, to act in any emergency ; and to enlist one fourth part of the militia as minute-men. At the same 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, Lord Chatham, Mr. Pitt, after a long retirement, resumed his seat in the house of lords, and introduced a conciliatory hill, 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-tv/o, 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 abject, •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 hy 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 WAR 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. ^^S^^^^^^^^^ES^S . = L . . JJ_-.Mj^ 1^^ ^^^^^^^^^B ^ ^^^^^^ ^H-..--.^^ ^^^^^^^^^^B ^ ^^^^^^H -i^^^S ^^^^^^^— -«^ ^^^^^g v^^^^^p y't^^^^^M||ii k ^. 11 ft ^ h/ ^ ^^^^ 1 M ^^^^^H ^H ^9 ^^^^^5^ m ^ The greatest precaution was taken by Governor Gage, to pre- vent the intelHgence 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- ton. Major Pitcairn, the British commander, on seeing them on the parade, rode up to them, and, with a loud voice, cried out, " Disperse, disperse, you rebels ; throw down your arms and dis perse." The sturdy yeomanry not immediately obeying his or ders, he approached nearer, discharged his pistol, and ordered his soldiers to fire. From Lexington, the detachment proceeded to Concord, and tiestroyed the stores. After killing several of the militia, who came forth to oppose them, they retreated to Lexington with 16S Period v. — 1775 to 17 S3. some loss, the Americans firing upon them from behind walls, hedges, and buildings. Fortunately for the British, here Lord Percy met them, Avith a reinforcement of nine hundred men, some marines, and two field-pieces. Still annoyed by tlie 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 v/ounded, during their absence, tv/o 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. On the arrival of Allen at Ticonderoga, he demanded the fort. '' By what authority.? " asked the commander. " 1 demand it," said Allen, *• in the name of the great Jehovah, and of the con- tinental congress." The summons was instantly obeyed, and the fort was, with its valuable stores, surrendered. WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 169 29. The tiiking of Ticonderoga and Crown Point was soon followed by thememor^hXe 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 Ameri cans was ordered to make an intrenchment on Bunker's Hill; 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, crosse4 Charles River, with an intention to dislodge the Americans. ^^^^^^^^^® ^^^^^^ ^^^H ^^^^^^ri K^^^^^^^^^^^^^fr'^'y' J^ ^E^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^K^- '^Jb^^^^^^^^^^^H BiKi w '/ "-"^Ik^^^B ^8^^^^^ g^^^^n vv^p^^^^H ^8Sp§Pf t '^mM^^^^^^^ ^fel^s^ WmmM W"^ As they advanced, the British commenced firing at some dis- tance from the redoubt ; but the Americans reserved their fire uHtil the enemy were within twelve rods. Tliey then opened, and 15 170 VERioD V. — 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. Unfi)rtunately fiar the Americans, their ammuni- tion here fiiiled ; and, on the third charge of the British, they were obhged to retire, after having obstinately resisted, even lono-erthan prudence admitted. The British lost in this engage- ment two hundred and twenty-six killed, among whom was Major Pitcairn, 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 killetl 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 depriveu ui laeir habitations, and property to the amount of one hundred and twenty thousand 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 lofty steeple, converted into a blazing pyramid, towered and trem- bled over the vast pyre, and finished the scene of desolation. To the Americans, tlie 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 this 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 be 172 PERIOD v.— 1775 TO 1783. obtained in the country ? 1 reply, tliey are : they reside in ojie 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- pointment of four major-generals, Artemas Ward, Charles Lee, Philip Schuyler, and Israel Putnam ; and eight brigadier-gen- erals, Seth Pomeroy, Richard Montgomery, David Wooster, William Pleath, 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- jected 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 array, 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 mHes 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 iXovember, received the surrender of this important post. On the surrender of St. Johns, five hundred regulars and one hundred Canadians became prisoners to the provincials. Th-ere 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 duebec. Before his arrival, however, Col. Arnold, who had been despatched by Gen. Washington with one thousand American troops from Cambridge, had reached Q.uebec, 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, w^ere 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 itations of men. 15* 174 PERIOD V.-— 1775 TO 1783. 33. Montgomery, having effected a junction with Arnold, commenced the siege of Q,uebec. On the 5th of December, after continuing the siege nearly ti 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 Q,uebec, 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 five 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 m 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 monument 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 royaJ 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 num- ber of vossels: and, upon being refused provisions by the provincials, from on shore, he proceeded to reduce the town of Norfolk to ashes. The loss was 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 tenninated this year through- out the country, the king's governors, for the most part, abdicat- 'ihg their governments, and taking refuge on board the English shipping. 35. Early in the spring of 1776, Gren. 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 March was selected for the attempt. Accordingly, in the even- ing, a covering party of eight hundred, followed by a working party of twelve hundred, with 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, his vessels could no longer remain in safety in theiiarbor. 176 PERIOD V. — 1775 TO 1/83. It' was determined, therefore, by the Britisli, to evacuate? Boston, which they now did; and on the I7th, the British troops, under command of Lord Vv'ih'iam Howe, successor of Gen. Gage, sailed for PlaHfax. Gen. Wasli- mgton, 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, vi'hen Washington entered it. on the other side, with colors dis- played, drums beating, and all the forms of victory and triumph. He was received by the inhabitants with demonstrations of joy and gratitude'. Sixteen mon^Jis had the people sriffered 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 tliousand five hundred loy- alists, with their families, had just depr.rted on board the Britislj fleet, tearing themselves from home and friends, far 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 arm3\ and houses had been pillaged by an unfeeling soldiery. 36. 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. Moultrie, 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 f,-)rce 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. Among 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 history 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 wift considered, by the anxious inhabitaHts in Charleston, WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 177 IS putting an end to the contest, by striking 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, Vv'hich 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. 38. 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 eifect 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' numbers are arranged in order according to the number of vote? which each has received. Mr. Jefferson, therefore, probably re ceived the highest, and Mr. Adams the next highest number o* 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 orio-inal drafl, as brought by him from his study, with interlineations in the hand-writing of Dr. Franklin, and others in 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 ; somo 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. tion 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, '■' 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 the floor of congress ; its ablest advocate and defender against the multi- farious assaults which were made against it." 39. On the arrival of the day assigned, the subject was resumed, and on the 'ith 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, 1776, was signed b}'^ 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 woul4 be regarded as ^rc«5ori, and expose any man to the halter 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 i-s now in the cabinet of the Massachusetts Historical Society. The number who signed the Declaration w^as fifty-six ; and the average length of their lives was about sixty-five years Four of the number attained to the age of ninety years and upwards, fourteen 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 i WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 179 signers, as a body, attained, was not a reward bestowed upon them for their fideUty 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 had 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 1776, 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 proofs cf 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 their lives and efforts, their principles and opinions, now exercise, and will continue to exercise, on the affairs of men, not only in our own country, 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 Union. The ensigns of royalty were destroyed — public processions were made — bells were rung — cannon were fired, with other suitable demonstrations of pub- lic exultation. 40. Soon after the evacuation of Boston by the British troops, {Sec. 35,) Washington, believing that the posses- sion of New York 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 step 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 his brother, Admiral Lord Howe, from England, with a reinforcement. Their combined forces amount- ed to twenty-four thousand. On the 2d of August, they landed near the Narrows, nine miles from the city. 42. Previous to the commencement of hostilities, Ad- miral and Gen. Howe communicated to Washington, 180 PERIOD 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 New York, and, on seeing some of his best troops slaughtered or taken, he uttered, it is said, an exclama- tion of anguish. But, deep as his anguish was, and much as Jie wished to succor his troops, prudence forbade the calling in of his 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- cupation of his position on Long Island to be of no prob- able importance, Washington withdrew his troops to New York, and soon after evacuated the city, upon which, on the 15th of September, the British entered it. Seldom, if ever, was a retreat conducted with more ability and prudence, or under more favorable auspices, than that of the American troops from Long Island. The necessary preparations having been made, on the 29th of August, at eight in the even- ing, the troops began to move in the greatest silence. But they were not on board their vessels before eleven. A violent north- east wind, and the ebb tide, which rendered the current very rapid, prevented the passage. The time pressed however. For- WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 181 tunately, the wind suddenly veered to the north-west. They immediately made sail, and landed in New York. Providence appeared to have watched over the Americans. About two o'clock in the morning, a thick fog, and at this season of the year extraordinary, covered all Long Island, whereas the air was per- fi?ctly clear on the side of New York. Notwithstanding the en- treaties of his officers, Washington remained the last upon the shore. It was not till the next morning, when the sun was already high, and the fog dispelled, that the English perceived the Americans had abandoned their camp, and were sheltered from pursuit. 45. On retiring from New York, Gen. Washington, with his army, occupied for a short time the heights of Harlem, and several stations in that neighborhood. On the IGth of September, the day after the British took posses- sion of New York, a considerable body of the enemy appearing in the plains between the tv/o camps, the general ordered Col. Knowlton, with a corps of rangers, and Major Leitch^, with three companies of a Virginia regiment, to get in their rear, while lie amused them by making apparent dispositions to attack their front. The plan succeeded. A skirmish ensued, in which tlie 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 detachment, was soon brought off the ground, mortally wounded ; and not 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 companies of Hessian riflemen ; and lost about fifty men killed and wounded. The loss of the enemy was more than double that number. 46. Finding his position at Harlem and its vicinity untenable, Washington broke up his camp, and retired with a part of his forces to White Plains. Here, on the 28th of October, he was attacked by the British and Hessians, under Generals Howe, Clinton, Knyphausen, and De Heister. A partial engagement ensued, and several hundreds fell on both sides ; but neither party could claim any decided advantage. Shortly after, a strong British reinforcement arriving, under Lord Percy, Washington, deeming his position unsafe, left it on the night of the 30th, and retired with IG 182 PERIOD v.— 1775 TO 1783. his forces to North Castle, about five miles from While Plains. 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. 48, Finding Newark too near his triumphant foe, Washington retreated to Brunswick, on the Raritan, and Lord Cornwallis on the same day entered Newark. The retreat was still continued from Brunswick to Princeton ; 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 New Jersey was made under circumstances of the deepest depression. The Americans had just lost the two forts Washington and Lee, and with the former more than 2000 men. 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. 183 poorly fed, and were exposed in an open country, without instru- ments 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 sides, 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 colonies 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 spirit of these 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 v/ere 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, togetlier with his previous forces, gave him an 184 PERIOD V. — 1775 TO 1783. army of about 7000 effective men. But this number being soon to be reduced by the retirement of a large body of militia, whose period of enlistment would close with the year, Washington formed the bold 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. The American troops detached for this service arrived, in the dusk of the evening, at the bank of the river. The passage of the river by the troops and the artillery, it was expected, would be effected before midnight. But this 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 vv^as not accomplished until four in the morning. An immediate and precipitate march wns made towards Trenton, with the hope of reaching it before d;iy. But a thick fog setting in, and a mist, mingled with sleet, so retarded their march, that they did not reach Trenton until WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 185 eight o'clock ; yet, at this late hoUr, the Hessians had no suspi- cion of the approach of the enemy. 51. Justly elated with the success at Trenton, Wash- ington soon after proceeded to Princeton, where, on 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 that of the British ; but in that number were several valuable officers, and among them the brave General Mercer. 52. Soon after the above victories, Washington retired (January 6th, 1777) to winter quarters, at Morristown, where his army w^ere nearly all inoculated with the small-pox, that disease having appeared among tlie troops, and rendering such a measure necessary. The disease proved mortal but in i^ew instances ; nor was there a day in which the soldiers could not, if called upon, have fought the enemy. 53. On the opening of the campaign of 1777, the 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 end 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, but 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 command of Gen. Tryon, Gen. Agnew, and Sir William Erskine, to destroy some stores and pro visions deposited at Danbury, in Connecticut. Meeting v/ith no resistance, they reached Danbury on the 26th of April, and de- stroyed one thousand eight hundred barrels of beef and pork, and eight hundred of flour, two thousand bushels of grain, clothing for a regiment, one hundred hogsheads of rum, and one thousand seven hundred and ninety tents. Besides the destruction of these articles, the enemy wantonly burned eighteen houses with their furniture, murdered three unoffending inhabitants, and threw them into the flames. 10* 186 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 27th of April, tlie troops were divided, Gen. Wooster, with about three hundred men, falling in the rear of the enemy, while Arnold took post in front, at Ridgefield. 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 Ridgefield, 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 by the resolute and courageous yeomanry of the country through which they passed, they hastened to embark 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 the}'- 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 thousand 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 of Philadelphia, Washington immediately put the American army in motion towards that place, to pre- vent, if possible, its failing into the hands of the enemy. The two armies met at Brandywine, Delaw^are, on the 11th 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 loss of the British was stated at less than one hundred killed, and four 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 le0, to the United States, by Mary- land and Virginia, and it is under the immediate government of congress. 8. On tJie 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 v/ere most success- fully employed to destroy the popularity of Mr. Adams's administration, and to place the government in other ■hands, were several laws passed during his presidency, amouCT which were the ''Alien'' and "Sedition" laws. o By the " alien law/' 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 such time " as he should judge proper, upon penalty of being^ " imprisoned for a term not exceeding three years," &;c. Tiie design of the " sedition laze,'' so called, was to punish the abuse of speech, and of the press. It imposed a heavy ])ecuniary 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 of 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, 1801, 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 tlie doors of the hoiKO 23* 270 i»ERioD vm.— 1797 to 1801. should be closed, during the balloting, except against the officers of the house ; that, in balloting, the representatives of the respec live states should be so seated, that the delegation of each state should be together. The representatives of eacii 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 fronveach 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, except Gen. Sumpter, 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 the 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 levivals 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 sixtj'^-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. 16. 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 1798, 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 ISth 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, DISTINGUISHED FOR JEFFERSON S ADMINISTRATION. Extending from tlie Inauguration of President Jeff er son ^ ISOl, ^0 the Inauguration of James Madison, as Presi- dent of the 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 1802, 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 1787, it was 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 Jier, 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 eifected, 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 Hamihon, 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- JEFI-ERSON S ADMlNISTRATlONv -4/t> ittg 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- quence, or have been more justly respected for their talents oi attainments. 6. 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 Clintoft, of New York, was elected! vice-president. 7. During the year which commenced the second of Mr. Jefferson's presidency, a war, which had been con tinned for several years between the United States and Tripoli, was concluded, and a treaty of peace negotiated by Col. Lear, between the two countries, by which the Tripolitan and American prisoners were exchanged, and the sum of sixty thousand dollars given to the pacha. The history of this war deserves a place in these pages. The commerce of the United States had been long annoyed by the Tripolitan cruisers — many merchantmen had been taken, and their crevv^s imprisoned and cruelly treated. As early as 1803, a squadron under Com. Preble had been sent to the Mediterranean, to protect the American commerce, and to bring 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 he and his crew were taken prisoners. Shortly after the surrender of the Philadelphia, the Tripolitans got her afloat, 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. He 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 of 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 ansAvered, that he liad 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 to thg 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 of 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 exfer 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 late bashaw, had mur- dered his fatlier 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 advised with Hamet, who readily listened to the project, and gave his co-operation. A convention was accordingly entered into between Gen. Eaton, oh 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, Jefferson's administt^ation. 277 Gen. Eaton and Hamet, with incredible toil and suffering, passed the desert of Barca, and took possession of Derne, 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 llamet had become so popular, that the prospect was flattering of 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 Jussuf 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 Hiirons, a tribe of Indians, many of whom were converted to Christianity 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- sion 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 1800, when the present state of Ohio was detached, and made a distinct government. This was followed, in 1801, by a further separation 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 ^78 PERIOD IX.— 1801 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 was 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. He found at once tiiat the attachment of the western couatr> lo 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 mider its secret patronage ; and others by offers of 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 JEFFERSOrf S ADMINISTRATION. 279 each other, and in their controversies had involved most of the continental powers. Towards the belligerents, 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 lueutral ships and impressing seamen. Great Britain claimed it as among her prerogatives to take her native born subjects, wherever found, for her navy, 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 unfrequently 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 16th, 1806, 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, 1806, 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 ail 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, oi' her colonies. 280 PERIOD IX.— 1801 TO 1809. or having- been tliere 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 orckr of council, issued January 7th, 1807, 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 thereat," &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, oif 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 fj-om 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 lo&t no time in endeavoring to pro- cure 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 i« proof that Ware, Martin, and Strachan, were natives of America. The two former liad ■protections, or notarial certificates of their heing American citizens. Strachan had no frntcction, but asserted that Le lost it previously to his escape. Such being the circumstances of the men, the government refused to surreBder them. On the 22d of June, the Chesapeake weiglied 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 Britisli officer immediately came on board, and dejnanded 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 crev/ 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 v.'ere 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 hqr 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. L5. 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 ^«r^zctt/«r 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 appoinited, 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. 16. 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 the subject of impressments — stated the affair of the attack on the Chesapeake — his proclamation to British armed vessels to quit the 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 th« 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 administratig^n. 283? trade ami navigation, a^ if the same were in a state of 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 pa^edj appropriating one million of dollars to be emplbyed by the president in equipping one hundred thousand of the national militia ; eight hundred and fifty-two thousand five hui»dred dollars for buiiding one hundred and eighty-eight gun-boats ; one million of dollars for building, repairing, and completing fortifications, and for raising six thousand six hundred men, infantry, riflemen, artillery, and dragoons, as an addition to the standing army. On the 22d of December, an act passed, laying an enil)argo 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 countries, occupied by British troops. 20. Mr. Rose arrived in America on the 25th of De- cember. The American minister was soon after informed that he, Mr. Rose, was expressly forbidden by his gov- ernment to make any proposal, touching the great sub- 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.— 1801 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 tliose 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- jEi ^l::Kfc>u^ s ai>ministuation. TiOO itess of all kinds, and blunted that love of honor, and manliness of conduct, which existed before. Cunning 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 produce of other countries. This is usually called the carrying trade, and was very profitable to the country. In 1805,0, and 7, our average annual exports amounted to one hundred and two millions five hundred and sixty-seven thousand four hundred and fifty-fbur 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 fbrming this amount, M^ere re-exported to the West Indies, South America, and elsewhere. After the year 1807, 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- ed it still more essentially. 26. Agriculture. Agriculture, during a part of this 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 States furnished them with a great amount, and were thence deriving great profits, when the commercial re- strictions interrupted the trade. The first merino sheep were introduced into the country, in 1802, by Robert R. Livingston, and, the same year, a greater 286 PERIOD IX.— 1801 TO 1809. number, one hundred, by General Humphreys, then late minis- ter to Spain. Great attention was paid to tlie 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 United 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 st\idents, one hun- dred and thirty-two. The library contains about five thousand volumes. A majority of the students are supported, in whole oj 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 Madi' son, 1809, to the Inauguration of James Monroe, as President of the United States, 1817. Sec, 1. On the 4th of March, 1809, Mr. Madison was indiicted into the office of president of the United States, according to the form 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 ^nd critical. The two great powers of Europe, France and England, being still at war, were continuing to array against each other violent commercial e<2icts, both in contraventiooa 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 suifering under th'e 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 faiied, 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 existing embargo, and interdicting commercial intercourse with France and 283 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 ministci at Wash- ington, engaged, on the part of his government, that the orders in council, so far as they affected the United States, sliould be withdrav/n 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 Mr. 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. Jpxkson 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 Aveeks, 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, ail 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 M-irch, 1811, so that they should cease to violate neutral commerce, of which fact the president v/as 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. 6. In consequence of this act of the American gov- ernm-ent, 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," &c. 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 tlie Little Belt first — that his hail was not satisfactoril}'- answered — that the Little Belt fired the first gun — and that it was Vvdthout previous provocation, or iustifiable cause, &c. &c. 8. Congress was assembled by proclamation on the 5th of November. In his message, at the opening of he session, the president indicated the expectation of 290 PERIOD X.— 1809 TO 1817. 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 the Indiana Territory, and a large body of Indians, in which the latter were defeated. The attack was commenced by the Indians, about 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. 10. 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 1803. At that time, however, the Territory of Orleans, which was then a distinct territorial government, assumed the name of 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. In 1683, Monsieur de la Salle, an enterprising Frenchman, sail- ed up the Mississippi a considerable distance, and named the country Louisiana, in honor of Louis XIV. A French settle- ment was begun in 1699, by M. d'Ibberville, in LoAver Louisiana, near the mouth of the river Perdido. The progress of the colony was slow. In 1713, although twenty-five hundred emigrants had arrived, only four hundred whites and twenty negroes were alive About this time, the F^^-ench government made a grant of the country to M. de Crozat foi a term of ten years ; but after five years, he relinquished his patent to the Mississippi company. In the same year, 1717, ihe Cny of Orleans was founded. By the treaty of 1763, aM 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 ihe Mississippi were secretly ceded to Spain. After the cession to Great Britain, that part of the territory which 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- siderable 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 of 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 French commissioners. In violation of the treaty«of Spain with the United States, the intendant, by his proclamation of October, 1802, forbade American citizens any longer to deposit merchan- dize in the port of New Orleans. Upon receiving intelligence 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 of dollars. Early in December, 1803, the commissioners of Spain 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. B}'' 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. IL On the 3d of April, 1S12, congress passed an act 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 was 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 following 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 ICth, British blockade from the Elbe to Brest. " Nov. 21st, Berlin decree. 1807, Jan. 6th, British order in council, prohibiting the coasting trade. '= Nov. 11th, The celebrated British orders in c6uncil. " Dec. 17th, Milan decree. " Dec. 22d, American embargo. 1809, March 1st, Non-intercourse with Great Britain and France, establish- ed by congress. " » April fOth, Mr. Erskine's negotiation, which opened the trade with England. " June 19th, Non-interconrse with Great Britain. 1810, March 18th, Rambouillet 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. 3812, April 4th, American embargo. " June 18th, Declaration of war by the United States against Great Britain. Madison's administration. 293 But not in congress onlj did this difference of views exist re- specting the war ; but it extended throughout the country, the friends of the administration universally commending, and its opposer& 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 v/ant 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 v/ith 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 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 daughter of the Americans. Whether the views which induced this surrender of Hull were m 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. jng an opinion ; on the two last, he was sentenced to death ; but was recommende;d 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 tlie 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. Dacres. 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 was set on fire and burnt. 16. On the 13th of August, another naval victory was achieved — the United States' frigate Essex, Capt. Porter, falling in with and capturing the British sloop-of-war Alert, after an action of only eight minutes. This engagement took place off the Grand Bank of Newfound- Ian d. A single broadside from 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, wai turned towards the invasion of Canada, for which eight or ten thousand men, and considerable military stores, were collected, at different 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 Nortli- loestern 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. Fenwick'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 more than twelve hundred men, who a little before were panting for the battle, refuse to embark ! He 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. 29(> PERIOD X.— 1809 lo 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 beliind, while the others made sail. At half past eleven, the action be- gan by the enemy's cannon and musketry. In live minutes, the main-top-mast was shot away, and, falling down witli 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 gafl'and mizzen top-gallant-mast were shot away. The sea being exceedingly rough, the muzzles of the Wasp's guns were sometimes under ^yater. 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, dx- cept three ofircers and the seaman at the wheel. The deck was slippery with blood, and presented a scene of havoc and ruin. The oificers 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 tbrty-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 v/ere killed and five slightly wound- ed. The Wasp and Frolic were both captured the same day, by a British seventy-four, the Poictiers, Capt. Bercsford. 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 frio;ate 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 liour 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 our brave tars of this victorious frigate, deserves to be honorably recorded. MADIS0]:C'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 Januar}'^, 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 weie 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, v;^as placed near the head of Lake Erie ; the arm.y 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. Vroctor and Vincent had in charge the defence of the Upper Provinces ; while the care of the Lower Provinces was committed to Gen. Sheaffe. 24. Thejliead-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 uptil the twentieth, when they were joined by Gen. Winches- ter. The American force now exceeded -750 men. Here, on the morning of January 2*2d, 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 butcnered 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 most respectable families of the state ; many of them yoaing 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 ensuing 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 600 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, she 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 crev/, at the * Brackenridge. 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 dov.-n 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 injury. The killed and wounded, on board the Peacock, were supposed to exceed fifty. 26. 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 Americ^an 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 Adaiiis, 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. Pike, 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 25th, the fleet, 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 General Sheaffe, attempted to oppose the landing, but were thrown into disorder, and fled to their garrison. General Pike, having formed his men, proceeded towards the enemy's fortifications. On their near approach to the barracks, about 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, anlong whom was the gal- lant Pike. Pike lived to direct his troops, for a moment thrown into dis- jrder, " 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 offers 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, in jkilled and wounded, about three hundred. 29. The news of the unfortunate occurrence at French- town (Sec. 24.) reached Gen. 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, Avhich, in honor of the governor of Ohio, he named Fort Meigs. Here, on the first of May, he v/as 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 9th, 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 character- istically 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 both, that, for the three following days, hostilities were suspended, and prisoners exchanged. On the ninth, preparations were made to renew the siege ; but, sud 26 302 PERIOD X.— 1809 TO 1817. denly, the British general ordered it to be raised, and with hia 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 prop- erty plundered and destroyed. To the north of the Chesapeake, the coast was not exempt from the effects of the w^ar. 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 for 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 wag killed, and Lieut. Ballard mortally wounded. Lieut. Brown and Capt. Lawrence were severely wounded ' the same time. A second and third broadside, besides addiriir 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 body, and brought him down. As he was carried below, he issued a last heroic order — " Don't give up the ship ;" but it was too late to retrieve what was lost; the British boarders 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 killed, and fifty wounded : on board the Chesapeake, about sev- 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, as 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 necessary to 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, vic- tory again returned to the side of America. On the e5th of September following, the British brig Boxer surren- dered to the Enterprise, after an engagement of little more than half an hour. The Enterprise sailed from Portsmouth on the 1st, and was on the 5th descried by the Boxer, which immediately gave chase. After the action had continued for fifteen minutes, the Enter- prise ranged ahead, and raked her enemy so powerfully, that in 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. Blythe. These two commanders, both in 304 PERIOD X.— 1809 TO 1817. the rnorning 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, mkaing 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, Avith two ships of equal fofce. 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 left 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 other, 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 st3'le : — "■ 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, being 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 their 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, which 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, which 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 with 36* 30C PERIOD X.— IS09 TO 1817. a powerful mind, with the soul of a hero. There was an uncom- mon 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 Avore 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 tlie 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 fall of Detroit put an end to -the 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 his instruc- tions, with the remainder of his forces, to Buffalo, to join the afmy 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 having some time before this retired from the service, Gen. Wilkinson was appointed to suc- ceed him as commander-in-chief, and arrived at Sacket'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 under Gen. Lewis, at Sacket's Harbor ; four thousand at Plattsburg, under the command of Gen. * Brackeiiridge. Madison's 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 at Sacket's Harbor, to aid in the above project. The plan of attackinsf Kinsfston 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 days after the troops were on board ; but finally set sail on the 30th. Unexpected obstacles impeded the progress of the expedition, especially parties of the enemy, which had been stationed at ev^ry convenient position on the Canada shore. To disperse these, a body of troops, under command of Gen. Brown, was 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 bod}'^ of 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 Iroops 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 339, of whom 102 were killed. Gen. Covington was mortally woundea, and died two days after. The British loss was 180. 808 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 in 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- ties 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, {Sec. 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 oifer 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 ly 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 the forces at New Orleans. The commencement of hostilities by the Creeks was an attack upon Fort Mimms, 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 a:t 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 26th, 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 oi 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 PERIOD X.— 1809 TO 1S17. fire upon the breast-work, Avhile Gen. Coffee, with 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 jrards 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 fiflj^-seven were found, and a large number were drowned in attempting to escape by the river. Tliree 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 v/ar. 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 Dones are at Tallushatches, Talladega, Emucfau, and Tohopeka. While there was a chance of success, I never supplicated ]>eace ; but my people are gone, and I 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 act.s — the^ofFer of the unprecedented bounty of one Imndred 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 4ollars 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. Tlie 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 sugars, retailers' li- censes, carriages. &c. 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 for the loss of the American frigate Essex, Commodore David Por ter, which was captured on the 28th of March, in tho 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- 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 continuanoe, the 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' ijorth, and long. 30° 9'. 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 ihe 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 approach 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 Colle 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. The 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 v/as tried before a cour^ mar- tial at Troy, by which hg was acquitted, but not without hesi- tation. MADISON S ADMINISTRATION. 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 alr-eady 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 of 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. '!rhe 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 contlicts 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 Brown 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 tliis time reduced to IGOO 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 PlatAs burg to proceed to their relief. On the 17th of September, Gen. Brown, who had recovered ffom 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 artillery and ammunition, and of 1000 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 the Americans so far gained the advantage as to cause the ene- m}' to retire. 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- dle 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 the 23d of August, six thousand British troops, com- manded by Gen. Ross, forced their way to that place, and burnt the capitol, president's house, and executive o!hces. Having thus accomplished an object highly dis- graceful to the British arms, and wantonly burned pub- lic buildings, the ornament and pride of the nation, the destruction of which could not hasten the termination of the war — on the 25th they retired, and, by rapid marches, regained their shipping, having lost, during the expedi- 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 Marlborough. A British flotilla, commanded bj,"^ Cockburn, con- sisting of launches and barges, ascended the river at the same time, keeping on the righf flank of the army. The day follow- ing, on approaching the American flotilla of Commodore Barney, v/hich liad 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 Bladensburg, six miles from Washington, Gen. Winder, commander of the American forces, chiefly militia collected for the occasion, ordered them to engage the enemy. The principal part of the militia, however, fled, at the opening of the contest. Commodore Barney, with a few 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. Ross urged his march to Washington, nm 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 hun- e\ legislature, and by individuals. UNITED STATES PERIOD XL DISTINGUISHED FOR MONROe's ADMINISTRATION. Extending from the Inauguration of President Monroe, 1817, to March, 1825. Sec. I. 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, to re- 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, in former years, it had enjoyed. 2. The senate having been convened at the same time, a cabinet was formed under the new administra- 328 PERIOD XI.— 1817 TO 1825. 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, with 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 landed on the coast of Florida on the 25th of May, 1539. 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. In 1683, M. de Salle descended the Mississippi, and gave the name of Louisiana to the country. In consequence of this, the French claimed to have jurisdiction over it. In 171(3, they formed a settlement at the Natchez, and built a fort, which they named Rosa)ie. 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 1763, when they ceded their possessions east of that river to the English. By the treaty of 1783, 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 tlie year 1800, the territory between the Mississippi and the Monroe's 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 v/hich had been set on foot by a number of adventurers from diiferent 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 sent 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. Jvistly 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 suppression of Galvezton followed soon after. G. 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 330 PERIOD XL— 1817 TO 1825, their attendance ; a second, in compliance with the re- -com inundation 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 derives its name from its principal river, ■which, in the language of the Indians, signifies the river of men. The first eettlenicnts, 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 villag-es of Kaskaskia and Cahokia. In the beginning of the eighteenth century, the settlements of Illinois were repre- sented to have been in a flourishing condition. But subsequent- ly they in a great measure declined. From the beginning to the middle of the eighteenth century, little was Iieard 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 1762, all the country to the east of the Mississippi was ceded to the latter power, and consequently Illinois passed under the British do- sninion. At the peace of 1783, Great Britain renounced its claims of sovereignty over this country, as well as over the United States. Virginia, 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 general government. Illinois remained a part of Indiana until 1809, when a distinct territorial government was established for it. In 1818, the people formed a constitution, and it is now one of the United States. 8. Early after the conclusion of this session of con- gress, the president, in pursuance of his determination to visit such parts of the United States as were most exposed to the naval and military forces of an eiiemy, 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 his suite minutely examined the waters contiguous, in reference to their fitness for a naval depot. Embarking at this Monroe's administration. 331 place on board a vessel, he further examined the coast, and thence proceeded to Norfolk. Having at length accomplished the principal object of his tour, in the examination of the Chesa- peake bay, he returned to Washington, June 17th, through the interior of v^irginia. The respectful and affectionate demonstra- tions of attacliment 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^ 1816, 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/riendship be- tween the two countries — reciprocal liberty of commerce — equali- zation 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 Sembiolc Indians, inhabited a tract of- country partly within the limits of the United States, but a greater part of which lied vv^ithin the boundaries of the Floridas. riot a few Creeks, dissatisfied with the treaty of 1814, (see Period X. Sex. no.) had fled to the Seminoles, carrying with them feel- ings of hostility against the United States. These feelings were much strengthened by foreign white emissaries, who had taken up their residence among themfoi 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 remoA'-e, 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 roused the Indians, who, in great numbers, invested Fort Scott, where Gen. Gaines was confined^ v/ith GOO men. Information of this state of things being communicated to the department of war, Gen. Jacksin was ordered. December 26th. to take 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 f:)rce as he might deem requisite." 332 PERIOD XI.— 1817 TO 1825. On the receipt of this order, Gen. Jackson prepared to comply; bvit, 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, Avhich was consumed, after which the army re- turned to St. Marks, bringing with them Robert C. Ambrister, v/ho had been taken prisoner on their march to Suwaney. Dur- ing the halt of the army for a few days at St. jVIarks, a general court martial was called, before which charges w^ere 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 ih.e first sentence of the court. At St. Marks, Gen. Jackson, being informed that the Spanish governor of Pensacola 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 partl}^ 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 Arbutli- not and Ambrister — and his occupation of St. Marks and Pensa- coia — excited strong sensations in the bosoms of a considerable Monroe's administration. 3153 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 ihe 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 2Sth of January, 1819, a convention be- tween Great Britain and the United States, concluded at London, October 20th, 1818, 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, &c. 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, «fcc. &c. 12. On the 22d 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 this 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 be 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 1685, at the 334 PERIOD XI. — 1817 TO 1325. Indian villa.ge 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 tlie Uni- ted States, the ceded territory was divided into two parts — the Territory of Orleans, ^yi^^g soulli 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 and 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 icestrrii territory were sold to companies for five hundred thousand dollars, and the pur- chase money vras 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 were ordered to be bzimt, 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 suits in the federal courts. In 1802, however, Georgia ceded to the United States all her western territor}'^, for one million two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. On this event, the purchasers of the Yazoo land \^e- titioned congress for redress and compensation. After consider- able opposition, an act passed for reimbursing them with funded stock, called the Mississippi stork. In 1800, the territory which now forms the states of Mississippi and Alabama, was erected into a territorial government. In 1817, Mississippi territory was divided, and th{'S ADMINISTRATION. 851 emment and the constitution of the country, hitherto untried, and of fearful and appalling aspect." Another subject of importance introduced in the message respected internal improvements. During the administration of Washington and the elder Adams, no application Avas made of the public revenue to in- ternal improvements, the government having as many demands upon the treasury, growing out of debts incurred in the revolu- tion, as could be met. But during the presidency of Mr. Jef- ferson, the internal improvement policy was begun, by an act passed May 1st, r8l)2, making appropriations for opening roads in the north- west territory. This was followed by other similar appropriations. During Mr. Madison's administration, the appropriations were in- creased, and still further augmented whiJe Mr. Monroe was in office. On the accession of Mr. Adams, the policy was still pursued ; and as he was understood to give a still more liberal construction of tbe constitu- tion on this subject, tnore appropriations were made for the above object, during his administration, than during those of all his predecessors. Gen. Jackson, while holding a seat in the senate of the United States, had voted with the friends of internal improvement. It was therefore anticipated by a numerous class in the United States, and among them were some of his friends, that he would follow out the policy of his predecessors. In his message to congress, however, he nrsi manifested an unwillingness to the exercise of this power by con- gress. As the session advanced it became more and more apparent that he was hostile to all appropriations to the above object. And, finally, all doubt was ended, by his return of several bills appropriating money for internal improvements, with objections. A decided majority in congress being in favor of such appropriations, notwithstanding the views of the executive, several bills were intro- duced into the house, similar to those which the president had rejected, and were passed by both houses by decided majorities. The president and his cabinet thus found themselves compelled to yield to public opinion expressed in congress, and although their deter- mination checked the action of the federal government in relation to internal improvements, still they hatl surrendered every principle upon which their opposition to the system could be founded. By these decisive votes in congress, this policy was considered as firmly established, and nothing was required to carry it into effect with moderation and discretion, but the harmonious co-operation between the different branches of the government. 7. Early in the spring of 1831, an event occurred, which produced no inconsiderable surprise and curiosity throug-hout the country : this was the announcement in the official journal at the seat of government, (April 20, 1831,) that the cabinet ministers of the president had resigned. A new cabinet was organized during the summer, constituted as follows : Edward Livingston, 352 PERIOD XIII.— 1829 to 1837. of Louisiana, Secretary of State ; Louis McLane, of Del- aware, Secretary of the Treasury ; Lewis Cass, of Ohio, Secretary of War; Levi Woodbury, of New Hampshire, Secretary of the Navy ; Roger B. Taney, of Maryland, Attorney General. The cause of this dissolution in the cabinet was want of harmony in the administration ; and this want of harmonj^, according to a communi- cation of the attorney general to the public, was a determination to compel the families of the dismissed members to associate with the wife of the secretary of war. 8. On the 4th of July, a treaty, adjusting the claims of American citizens on France for spoliations during the reign of Napoleon, was signed by Mr. Rives and Sebastiani, at Paris, and the ratifications in due time were exchanged between the two governments. By this treaty, the French government agreed to pay to the United States, in complete satisfaction of all claims of the citizens of the Uni- ted States, for seizures, captures, sequestrations, or destruction of their vessels, cargoes, or other property, 25,000,000 francs, in six equal annual instalments. The government of the United States, on their part, agreed to pay 1,500,000 francs to the government of France, in satisfaction of all claims in behalf of France, its citizens, or the royal treasury, either for ancient supplies or accounts, or for unlawful seiz- ures, captures, detentions, arrests, or destruction of French vessels, car- goes, or oth,er property, in six annual instalments, to be reserved out of the instalments payable to the United States : interest, at the rate of 4 percent., is to be allowed on the above sums, from the exchange of the ratifications. The sum thus stipulated to be paid by France did not amount to more than one third of the just claims of the citizens of the United States, but their liquidation, even upon terms comparatively unfavor- able, was so desirable, that the conclusion of this treaty was hailed by all parties. See Sec. 14, 16. 9. During the spring of 1832, hostilities were com- menced by the Sac and Fox Indians on the w^estern bor- ders of the United States, under the celebrated chief, Black Hawk. This aggression created a necessity for the interposition of the executive, w^ho ordered a portion of the troops, under Generals Scott and Atkinson, to- gether with a detachment of militia from the state of Illinois, into the field. After a harassing warfare, pro- JACKSON^S ADMINISTRATION, 253 longed by the nature of the country, and the difficulty of procuring subsistence, the Indians were defeated, and Black Hawk and the Prophet were taken prisoners. 10. The second session of the twenty-second congress commenced on the third of December, 1832. In his message, the president, having alluded in brief but appropriate terms to the cholera, which had been spread- ing its desolations over portions of the United States, represented the relations of the country with foreign powers in a state of amity. The finances of she country were in a prosperous state ; the national debt, on the first of January, 1833, v/ould be reduced to about seven millions ; doubts were expressed as to the safety of the deposits in the United States Bank, and a decision of the question as to the disposal of public lands was urged. 11. The message of the president on the 4th of De- cember, was followed, (December 10,) by a proclamation, addressed to the citizens of the Un'ited Slates, in rela- tion to the hostile attitude of South Carolina to the Union, in consequence of the acts of congress of 29th May, 1828, and of 14th of July, 1833, altering and amending the several acts imposing duties on imports — which acts had, in a convention of the above state, held at Columbia, November 24, been pronounced to be un- constitutional, and therefore void, and of no binding force within the limits of that state. This proclamation was an able document, furnishing a sound exposition of the principles and powers of the government, and breath- ing a spirit of patriotic devotion to the constitution, and union of the states. It evinced a fixed determina- tion to maintain the laws, and to resist all treasonable and disorganizing measures. Happily, this firmness of the executive, with subsequent conciliatory measures of congress, saved the Union. For a considerable period, the southern states, with the exception of South Carolina, have been considered opposed to the exercise of power by the federal government. This state, although voting with the adja- 80* 854 PEKioD XIII.— 1S29 TO 1837. cent states on all local, and on most national questions, had on some occasions, as in 1816, been I'oreniost in asserliiig the right ol" congress to legislate on certain disputed points. .Aaioiig these were the Nulijecls of Internal Improvement, the United States Bank, and the Tariff. A change of opinion had now taken place there, and it began to go beyond any of the advocates ol state rights, in its assertion of state sovereign- ly. A vehement opposition to the tariff, both in 1S24 and on the sub- sequent modification in 1623, had been led by the talented delegation from South Carolina in congress ; and when ihey were defeated in the hails of legislation, with characteristic energy they renewed their efiorts to overturn the system, and to render it unpopular with the people. In the latter part of Novemlxir, 1S32, a state convention assembled at Columbia, which, at length, passed an ordioanoe, by which they declared: '-That the several acts and parts of acts of the congress of the United States, purporting to be laws for the imposing of duties and imposts on the imporlation of foreign commodities, and now hav- ing actual operation and effect within the United States, and more especially" two acts for the same purposes passed on the 29th of May, 1828, and on the 14ih of .July, 1832, "are unauthorized by the consti- tution of the United States, and violate the true meaning and intent thereof, and are null and void, and no law," nor binding on the citi- zens of that state or its officecs ; and by the said ordinance it is further declared to be "unlawful for any of the constituted authorities of the state, or the United States, to enforce the payment of the duties im- posed by the said acts within the same state', and that it is the duty of the legislature to pass such laws as may be necessary to give full effect to the said ordinance." This tone of menace naturally aroused the executive to correspond- ing energy and decision. He immediately issued a proclamation, which will long be admired for its sound and able exposition of the principles of tiie constitution — for its breathings of a spirit of exalted patriotism— and its eloquent appeal to Carolina herself, and to the other states which were perhaps ready to join her standard, to remem- ber the toil and blood which American liberty cqst — the sacredness of the constitution — and the importance of the preservation of the Union. While the proclamation of the president was commended by most of the states of the Union as an able and judicious document, it served to in- crease rather than allay the excited citizens of South Carolina. The leg- islature of that state being in session, authorized and instructed her gov- ernor to issue a counter proclamation, which he did on the 20th of De- cember, in which, in consonance with the legislative resolutions, he " solemnly warned the citizens of South Carolina against all attempts to seduce them from their primary allegiance to the state." "I charge you," said he, " to be faithful to your duty, as citizens of South Caro- lina, and earnestly exhort you to disregard those ' vain measures' of military force, which, if tiie president, in violation of all his constitu- tional obligations, and your most sacred rights, should be tempted to employ, it would become your solemn duty, at all hazards, to resist." On the same day general orders were issued by authoiity of the leg- Jackson's administration. 355 islature, to raise volunteers, either in companies, troops, battalions, squadrons, &c., for the purpose of repelling invasion and in support of the rights of the state; Under a deep sense of the importance of energy befitting the emer- gency, the president, January 16th, 1833, addressed a message to con- gress, in which, after giving a history of proceedings both on the part of Carolina and the general government, he recommended the adoption of such measures as .would clothe the executive with competent power to suppress the risen spirit of insubordination — sustain the public offi- cers in the discharge of their duties — and give power to the courts to carry out their constitutional decisions. While the storm was apparently thus gathering strength, and was ready to burst in still greater violence upon the nation, two events oc- curred which served to allay it, and indeed were the harbingers of comparative peace and amity. The first oi" these was an afiectionate appeal of the general assembly of Virginia to the patriotism and magnanimity of South Carolina, ex- pressed in a preamble and resolutions, as honorable to the " Ancient Dominion" as any act of her life, and worthy of her in the days of Patrick Henry and his contemporaries. The otiier e'vent was the passage of a bill, introduced by Mr. Clay, termed the "compromise bill" — which was designed as an act of pa- cification between the north and south — a middle course between ex- tremes ; and although not entirely satisfactory perhaps to either parly, it was accepted by both, and was the means, under Providence, of stay- ing the risen storm, A convention was soon after held in South Carolina, which, in vievr of the appeal of Virginia, and the modification of the tariff, proceeded to recommend the following ordinance : — "Whereas, the congress of the United States, by an act recently passed, has made such a reduction and modification of the duties upon foreign imports, as amounts suiisiantially to an ultimate reduction of the duties to the revenue standard, and that no higher duties shall be made than may be necessary to del'ray the expenditures of the govern- ment ; " It is therefore ordained and declared, That the ordinance entitled • An ordinance to nullify certain acts of the congress of the United States, purporting to be laws laying duties on the importation of for- eign commodities,' and all acts passed in pursuance thereof, be hence- forth deemed and held to have no force or efiect; provided that the act en- titled ' An act further to amend the militia laws of this state,' passed on the 20th day of December, 1S32,. shall remain in force until it shall be repealed or modified by the legislature." It is unnecessary to pursue this topic further. It was a season of peril through which we passed. But the God of our fathers imparted energy and wisdom to our rulers, and the violence of civil discord was allayed, and harmony and }>eace were restored. 12. On the 4th day of March, 1833, General Jackson, who had been re-elected president of the United States ^m PERIOD XIII.— 1829 TO 1837. for four years ensuing, entered upon his second term. At the same time, Martin Van Buren took the oath pre- scribed, as vice-president. Gen. Jackson was re-elected to the presidency by a large majority of the electorol votes. For Andrew Jackson, 219; for Henry Clay, 49; for John Floyd, 11; for William Wirt, 7.- The vote for vice- president was as follows: for Martin Van Buren, 189; for John Sar- geant, 49 ; for Amos EUmaker, 7 ; for Henry Lee, II. 13. During the summer of 1833, the president, accom- panied by the vice-president, and several of the secreta- ries, visited New England by the way of Philadelphia and New York, and having proceeded as far as Concord New Hampshire, returned again to the seat of govern- ment. In this tour, the president was received, in every place through which he passed, with those demonstrations of respect and attention, which are ever due to the chief magistrate of a free and enlightened people. Whatever opinions were entertained of his adniinistraiion by his political opponents, they united in every suital)le expression of honor to the man whom the suffrages of a majority had elevated to the highest office in the nation. The president's tour commenced on the 6th of June, and was suddenly terminated in the beginning of July — his return to Washington being hastened, as was said, by the state of his health, which had become too feeble to endure the fatigue inci- ^ntal to such an expedition. 14. The first session of the twenty-third congress commenced on the 2d of December. Andrew Steven- son was elected speaker. The two prominent topics of the president's message related to the failure of France to fulfil the stipulations of the convention on the 4th of July, 1831 — and the removal from the Bank of the United States, of the government funds deposited in that institution. By the above convention, it was stipulated that the sum, as indem- nity for French spoliations, payable to tha United States, should be paid at Paris in six annual instalments into the hands of an author- ized agent of the government of the United States — the first instal- ment to be paid February 2, 1S33. A bill had been drawn at Wash- ington and presented March 23, but was refused to be paid by the Jackson's administration. 357 Fretich rainister, on the ground that no appropriation had been made by the French chambers. . In view of this delay the president informed congress tliat he had despatched a minister plenipotentiary to Prance to press upon the government tlie fulfilment, of its stipulations. The removal of the government funds or "deposits" from the United States Bank, which had now been effected, was largely des- canted upon in the message, as an act of ike treasurer, not only justi- tied by the executive, but recommended and urged by that officer. " Since the last adjournment of congress, the secretary of the treasury," observed the president, " has directed the money of the United States to be deposited iu certain state banks designated by him, and he will inimediately lay before you his reasons for this direction. I concur with him entirely in the view he has taken of the subject. I urged ■upon the department the propriety of taking that step." In his message to congress, the president had spoken of the removal ■of the deposits, as an act of the secretary of the treasury, which he had indeed recommended and urged — but as his (the secretary's) act. By a portion of the people the executive was charged with an unfair •statement on the subject ; that in fact this removal was a measure which had ariginated with the executive, and had grown out of his jealousy of and hostility to the bank. It was a measure which the president had brought before his cabinet, and to its members in coun- cil had said ; " The president begs his cabinet to consider the proposed measure as his, in the support of'which he shall require no one of them to make a sacrifice of opinion or principle. Its responsibility has beea assumed after the most mature deliberation." It was therefore, said the opponents of the measure, the presidents act — the secretary being t)Ut an instrument of the executive, subject to his will, inasmuch as he was liable to be removed in case of refusal. And in confirmation of this view, the sudden dismission of Mr. Duane was appealed to, as ,l)y that gentleman the public were informed, under his own signature, that on his refusal to direct a removal of the deposits, he was in- formed by the president that his services as treasurer were no longer desired ; and his place v^ras supplied by one (Mr. Taney) who acted ia subserviency to the wishes of the executive. Hence the president was ioudiy censured for his unwarrantable and even dangerous assumption of power. The subject early attracted the attention of congress ; and through- out the country great excitement prevailed. Confidence in the pecu- niary institutions of the country immediately began to be shaken, and predictions of still greater derangement and distress were rife in all the land. At a subsequent period of the session, Mr. Clay Submitted the fol- lowing resolutions : — Resolved by the senate and house of representatives of the United States of America, in congress assembled, That the reasons communi- cated by the secretary of the treasury in his report to congress on the 4th December, 1833, for the removal of the deposits of the money of the United States, from the bank of the United States and its branches, are insuflScient and unsatisfactory ; Resolved, therefore, That all deposits of the money of the United States which may accrue or be received on and after the. 1st day of ai58 PERIOD xiiL— 1829 TO 1837. July, 1834, shall be made»with the bank of the United States and its branches, in conformity with the provisions of the act, entitled "An act to incorporate the subscri^ters lOvthe bank of the United States," approved the 10th of April, IS 16. On the 9th of June these resoltjtinns were adopted liy the senate — the first by a vote of 29 to IG; the second by a vote of 2S to 16. Shorlly'before the close of the session a hill was urged through the house of representatives for regulating the de})osit of the public money in certain local banks. Tliis I. ill having been sent to the senate, was submitted to the committee on finance, v/ho, instead of advising its passage, recommended that the deposits be introsted to the hank of' the United States as formerly. 15. On the 21st of Jtme the death of the illustrious La Fayette was announced to congress in a message from the president. La Fayette died at his residence. La Grange, in France, on the 20th of May. The president, in his message, annoancing the melancholy event, spoke of him in terms of appropriate honor— of his character— his love of liberty — his sacrifices in the cause of the Americans — his efforts for the good of mankind. A joint select committee of boih hoases reported a series of appro- priate resolutions, among v/hich one went to request the president to address a letter of condolence to liis surviving family — and another to appoint John Q,uincy Adams to deliver, at the next se^;sion of congress, an oration on the life and character of this illastrious man. 16. The second session of the twenty-third congress commenced on the 1st of December, 1834. In his mes- sage the president represented the foreign relations of the country to be pacific, except in respect to France, who still continued to persevere in her. omission to satisfy the conceded claiiTis of our citizens. The other prominent subjects regarded the United States Bank — the regulation of the deposits — and the impolicy and unconstitutionality of appropriations for internal im- provements. The conduct of France towards the United Stales, in neglecting tha payment of a just and already cillowed deht, was generally censured in the United States. The president informed comzress " that in his opinion, the United States ought to insist on a prompt execution of the treaty, and should an appropriation not he made by the French cham- bers at their next session, prompt mensures would not only be most honorable and ju5t, but have the hest eJ!i?ct on our national character."' This recommendation of the president was considered by some, in its JACKSON S ADMINISTRATION. 359 practical effects, as a declaration of war, and especially as he recommend- ed, in case of longer neglect, a law authorizing reprisals upon French property. But the expediency of reprisals upon French property, recommended by the president, or indeed of any immediate action on the part of the national government, was considered by many extremely doubtful ; and the senate, on tlie 14th Jan . , by an unanimous vote, stated this to be its opinion in a resolution to that effect. A similar resolu- tion was adopted liy the house. The prospect of a serious collision between these two nations, for a time so dark, at le^igth passed away. In 1835, the president an- nounced that Frarice had aclvnowleriged the validity of our claims as liquidated by the treaty of 1831, although payment was still with- held. In 1836, the president announced that the appropriations havingbeen made, our diplomatic relations with France had been resumed, and promised to be mutually beneficial to the two countries. The long cherished hostility of the president to the bank of the United States caused him to give it a long notice in his message. " It has," says he, " become the scourge of the people. Its interference to postpone the payment of a portion of the national debt, that it might retain the public money appropriated for that purpose, to strengthen it in a political contest — the extraordinary extefore congress." The public pecuniary and mercantile distress was charged by the pres- ident to the management of the bank, and the importance of separation between this institution and the government was strongly urged. The at- tention of congress was earnestly invited to the regulation of the deposits in the stat€ banks by law. The suhject of internal improvements was again discussed, and the inexpediency and unconstitutionality of ap- propriations therefor, without an amendment of the constitution, again mamtained. 17. The first session of the twenty-fourth congress commenced on the 7th of December, 1835. James K. Polk was elected speaker of the house of represei^tatives. The most important act of this session was the " deposit and distri- bution act" — or a law requiring and regulating the deposit of the money of the United States with the banks of the several states, and. the distribution of the surplus revenue among the several states. In the senate, the vote on the engrossment of this bill was, yeas, 40 j nays, 6. In the house, yeas, 163 ; nays, 44. 360 PERIOD XIII.— 1829 TO 1837. IS. On the second of April, 1836, an act passed con- gress establishing the Territory of Wisconsin. This territory is bounded i>onh by lake Superior and the territorial line of the United States; west Ly the Mississippi river; south by Illinois ; east by lake Michigan. 19. On the 15th of June, 1836, a resolution passed' congress admitting Arkansas into the Union on an equal' footing with the original states. On the same day, a resolution passed congress admitting Michigan into the Union under certain conditions. [See period xi., sec. 13.], The condition upon Avhicb Michigan wa;s to be received into the Union was an assent of a convention of delegates, to be elected by the people of said state, to the boundaries of saiid stale, as described in the act of admission. A controversy had arisen between Ohio and Michi- fan as to the boundary line between those states, whkh was settled y the above act, and 'to this the assent of Michigan was required. This assent was sut'sequently given, and her admission followed oa that assent, 20. On the 1 Ith of July was issued from the treasury department^ an important circular in relation to the funds which should be reeeived in payment for public lands. By this circular the receivers of public money were instructed, after the loth day of August next ensuing, to receive in payment of the pub- lic lands nothing except what is directed by the existing laws, viz.,, gold and silver, and in the proper places, Virginia land scrip. Iq order to secure the faithful execution of these instructions, all receiv- ers were strictly prohibited from accepting for land sold, any draft, certificate, or other evidence of money or deposit, though for specie, unless sis^ned by the treasurer of the United States, in conformity to the act of April 24, 1820. 21. The second session of the twenty-fourth congTess commenced on the 5th of December, 1836. On the following day, the president transmitted his last annual mes- sage — before another session, he would have retired once more to pri- Tate life. The foreign relations of the country continued in an amicable state. The* deposit, or distribution act, passed by the preceding congress, had received, he said, his " reluctant approval," and " the consequences apprehended from it had been measurably realised.-" It was an aeS Jackson's administration. 361 merely for the deposit of the surplus moneys of the United States in the state treasuries, for safe keeping, until wanted for the service of the general goTernment — but it had been spoken of as a gift — would be so considered — and might be so used. Contrary to the views of a large portion of the citizens of the United States, the president represented the "specie circular" of the 11th of July, as producing " many salutary consequences." " It is confidently believed," said he, " that the country will find in the motives which, induced that order, and the happy consequences which will have en- sued, much to commend and nothing to condemn." In opposition to this opinion of the president, there were those who attrit)Uted to the operation of that circular, a great part of the pecuniary embarrassment and disturbance of the currency, which afiiicted the country. The management of the government funds by the state banks was represented to be safe and judicious. "Experience continues to realize," said he, "the expectations entertained as to the capacity of the state banks to perform the duties of fiscal agents for the govern- ment, at the time of the removal of the deposits. It was alleged by the advocates of the Bank of the United States that the state banks, whatever might be the regulations of the treasury department, could not make the transfers required by the government, or negotiate the domes- tic exchanges of the government. It is now well ascertained that the real domestic exchanges performed, through discounts, by the United States Bank and its twenty-five branches, were at least one third less than those of the deposit banks, for an equal period of time ; and if a comparison be instituted betv/een the amount of service rendered by these institutions, on the broader basis which has been used by the advocates of the United States Bank, in estimating what they con- sider the domestic exchanges transacted by it, the result will be still more favorable to the deposit banks." 22. On the 14th of Jan., 1S37. the " Expunging Resolution," so called, originally introduced into the senate, March IS, 1S36, by Mr. Benton, of Missouri, was adopted by the senate. The resolution, which, from the time of its adoption, March 28th, 1S34, censuring the president for removing Mr. Duane, and assuming power over the public revenue not conferred by the constitution, had. given Gen. Jackson and his friends such serious annoyance, and against which he had entered his protest, Mr. Benton had 'until now vainly endeavored to blot out from the senate's journal. But, at length, he succeeded by a small majority; and late at night, on the 16lh of Jan., 1837, the secretary of the senate, by order, brought the journal of 1833-4 into the senate chamber, and spread open the condemned page upon the table. He then proceeded to draw black lines on the four sides of the recorded resolution, and on the face of it w^rote — " Ex' punned by order of the senate^ Jan. 1 6, 1837." Against this proceeding, Daniel Webster, in behalf of himself and colleague, read a solemn protest. 31 362 PERIOD XIII.— 1829 to 1837. 23. Feb. 8th, 1837, the votes for president and vice- president were counted, and Martin Van Biiren, of New York, was declared to be elected to the former office for four years from the 4th of March, 1837, and Richard M. Johnson, of Virginia, to the latter, for the same period, and from the same date. The whole number of votes given for Mr. Van Buren, including Michigan, were 170; for William Henry Harrison, 73; Hugh Lawson White, 26; Daniel Webster, 14; William P. Mangum, 11. Majority for Mr. Van Buren, if the votes of Michigan be counted, 148 ; if not counted, 146. The votes given for Richard M. Johnson as vice-president, including Michigan, 147 ; for Francis Granger, 77 ; John Tyler, 47; William Smith, 23. According to this vote, no candidate was elected by the electors to the office of vice-president. Hence, it devolved upon the senate to elect from the two highest on the list of electoral votes, viz., Richard M. Johnson and Francis Granger. On the following day, the former was elected by that body. 24. In drawing this sketch of the administration of Gen. Jackson to a close — and a sketch only was design- ed — it may be remarked, that the events of his adminis- tration are not yet ripe for the regular historian. The day when a fair exhibition of his government can be given is still distant. '• His measures," as a writer re- marks, " have not produced their full results. His pol- icy has not yet compassed their full development." The author has, therefore, confined himself chiefly to a nar- ration of facts and events, leaving it for the future histo- rian to chronicle the decision of the nation, in respect to the merits or demerits of a ruler, whose administration, in its progress, has been the subject of loud praise and deep-toned censure — the former by friends, the latter by opposers. UNITED STATES. PERIOD XIY. DISTINGUISHED FOR VAN BUREN's ADMINISTRATION. Extending from the Inauguration of President Van Buren, 1837, to the Inauguration of William Henry Harrison^ as President of the United States, 1841. Sec. 1. The inauguration of Mr. Van Buren, as president of the United States, took place on the 4th of March, 1837, in accordance with the forms prescribed by the constitution, and in the presence of an immense multitude, gathered from all quarters of the country to witness the imposing ceremony. The inaui^ural address of Mr. Van Buren disappointed both friends and foes. The temper of it was conceded, even by his opposers, to be good, and its entire exemption from invidious comparisons and allu- sions, was worthy of all commendation. It was even less partisan, perhaps, than the political friends of the new president expected or de- sired ; but to his opponents it induced the hope, that the vindictive strife which had long harassed the country, would be followed by a more tolerant policy. By way of conciliating; the south, Mr. Van Buren distinctly stated, that no bill, which had for its object the abolition of slavery in the Dis- trict of Columbia, against the wishes of the slaveholding states, would receive his sanction, during his presidential career. On yie day of inauguration, a long and elaborate _/aretoeZZ address by Gen. Jackson to the people of the United Stales, was circulated in Washington, and thence was extensively spread tiirough the country. 364 PERIOD XIV.— 1837 to 184L "My public life," said he, "has been a long one, and I cannot hope that it has, at all times, been free from errors. But I have the conso- lation of knowing, that if mistakes have been committed, they have not seriously injured the country; and at the moment when I surrender my last public trust, / lemie this great people prosperous and happy; and in the full enjoyment of liberty arid peace, and honored and re- spected by every nation of the world." In opposition to these declarations, the opposers of his administration averred, that the course which he had pursued in relation to the cur- rency ; his uncompromising hostility to the Bank of the United States; his removal of the national deposits from that institution — the influence of the executive, which had in every possible way been brought to bear upon it, in consequence of which a renewal of its charter had been de- feated, and public confidence as to the management of it had become weakened — and the paper system of the country, and even a mixed cur- rency, had been decried — these measures, in their view, had caused a derangement of the currency, had destroyed confidence, and paralyzed trade and commerce ; and hence they were not prepared to admit that the country was either prosperous or happy. 2. The new senate, according to usage, assembled in their chamber, at Washington, on the day succeeding the inauguration, and confirmed in their executive sittings the nominations made by Mr. Van Buren of the follow- ing gentlemen to compose his cabinet; viz., John For- syth, Secretary of State ; Levi Woodburj'-, Secretary of the Treasury ; Joel R. Poinsett, Secretary of War ; Mahlon Dickerson, Secretary of the Navy ; Benjamin F. Butler, Attorney General. 8. In less than a month after the adjournment of congress, the monetary state of the country, deranged as it had been, became visibly worse. The pressure in New York, the commercial metropolis of the country, became so severe, that immediate measures were deem- ed essential to prevent a general failure of the mercan- tile interest. In this crisis, it was proposed to apply to the United States Bank for aid ; and, with this object in view, a deputation of merchants proceeded to Philadel- phia, and upon their representations of the existing and growing pressure, the United States Bank, greatly to its credit, furnished important, but, as it resulted, only tem- porary aid. VAN euren's administration. 365 By the 8th of April, so rapidly had the work of mercantile ruin pro- gressed, that, according to a respectable journal, the failures in the city of New York were as follows, omitting the notice of hundreds of a more unimportant character. 5 Foreign and Exchange Brokers, .... $15,000,000 30 Dry Goods jobbers, 15,000,000 16 Commission Shoe and Clothing Houses, . . 7,000,000 28 Real Estate speculators, 20,000,000 8 Stock Brokers, 1,000,000 6 Miscellaneous, 2,500,000 $60,500,000 At this time the sale of merchants' notes, even of the most consider- able and responsible, was at an end. No one dared trust his neighbor. Men who had been living in affluence, and who supposed themselves worth an independent fortune, were distressed, and not a few of them, who retired in comparative ease and comfort at night, awoke banlirupt, and without a home, in the morning. 4. At length, on the 25th of April, a very numerously attended meeting of citizens of New York was held, at which a committee of fifty was appointed to proceed to Washington, to lay their grievances, and those of the country, before the executive, and to solicit his inter- vention for such relief as might be within his power ; particularly that he would rescind the "specie circular;" that collectors of the revenue, in all the ports of the United States, might be instructed not to commence suit upon any bond, -which may lie over for non-payment, until after the first day of January next ; and, finally, that the president would call an extra session of con- gress at an early day, in order that the representatives of the nation might have an opportunity to devise suita- ble remedies for the unprecedented and alarming embar- rassments of the country. Pursuant to their appointment, this committee proceeded to Wash- ington, and on the .3d of May made known by letter to the president their presence in the city, and their object. On the following day, the president replied, that in a few days a de- finite reply would be given to the first request of the committee, viz., that the government would instruct collectors not to put bonds in suit, &c. In respect to a repeal of the " specie circular," he had not been able to satisfy himself that it was his duty to rescind it ; and, lastly, he could not see sufficient reasons to justify him in convening congress at an earlier day than that appointed by the constitution. 31 ^ 366 PERIOD XIV.— 1837 to 1841. With this answer of the president, the committee returned to New York, where, on Monday evening, the 8th, to an assembled multitude of anxious and interested citizens, they were obliged to make known the failure of their commission, in respect to the two most important objects of it. Subsequently, the request of the citizens, through the committee, in relation to the postponement of the collection of merchants' bonds, was acceded to. This afforded sensible relief in numerous cases where reai embarrassment existed. 5. Two days after the report of the above committee", the banks of the city of New York, without exception, ceased to redeem their 7iotes in specie. This exciting and depressing intelligence travelled with unwonted speed, producing in its progress, in all parts of the country, a similar suspension on the part of the banks. To the country, generally, this suspension was unexpected ; but to those who, for some months, had been watching the progress of events, it was by no means marvellous. It was the unavoidable result of the diversion of specie to the west, .and the drain upon the banks in the Atlantic cities for exportation to Europe. By the friends of the admin- istration, with some exceptions, the measure was severely censured; by its opposers, it was deemed necessary and unavoidable, due to the country, and due to the stockholders. Yet every class lamented its necessity: and none could fail to perceive that it must reach, in its ul- timate effects, almost every individual, and have a bearing upon every order of business. Yet of the two ^vils, suspension was deemed the least. 6. On the 15th of May, the president issued his proclamation requiring congress to convene in the city of Washington, on the first Monday of September, to attend to " great and weighty matters claiming consid- eration." To the committee of merchants, who had waited on the president on the 3d of May, and which had pressed the subject of an extra session of congress, he had replied, that he perceived no adequate reason for assembling the national legislature. The sudden and unexpected sus- pension of the banks essentially changed the views of the executive, and forced upon him a measure, which, but a few days before, he had declined. Not only were the mercantile interests of the country suffer- ing, but vow the g-overnment itself was likely to be embarrassed, and indeed it felt the pressure immediately. The deposit banks themselves had bowed to the general prostration, whereby the government was rendered incapable of discharging its obligations to the country, and to individuals. In this state of embarrassment, it was deemed severe VAN buren's administration. 367 that the government should require specie only for all its dues, espe- cially wlien that specie was to be obtained only at extravagant premi- ums. But the treasury and post-office departments issued circulars, requiring collectors and postmasters to receive only specie, or the notes of specie-paying banks ; while, at the same lime, c-liecks and drafts were drawn by the government upon deposit banks which had suspend- ed ; and even instances occurred in which merchants' bonds were re- quired to be paid in specie, while checks upon the deposit banks, drawn by the government, were refused, when offered as payment in part of such bonds. Pressed as the government was known to be, these requi- sitions and measures bore severely on the people of the country, and excited loud and bitter complaints. 7. On Monday, the 4th day of September, congress convened, agreeably to the summons of the executive, being the first session of the twenty-fifth congress. The house was organized by choosing James K. Polk, of Tennessee, speaker. 8. The following day a message from the president was presented, in which, after alluding to the suspension of the banks, and the necessity that adequate provision should be made for the unexpected. exigencies affecting the government, which had arisen, and which were likely to exist, the president proceeded to assign the causes, which, in his view, had led to the pecuniary dis- tress of the country. These were over-action in busi- ness, arising from the excessive issues of bank paper, and other facilities for the acquirement and enlargement of credit ; the contraction of a large foreign debt ; invest- ments in unproductive lands ; vast internal improve- ments ; and the great loss sustained by the commercial emporium of the nation in the fire of Dec, 1835. 9. The president next adverted to the best mode of keeping the public funds. A national bank, as a fiscal agent, he repudiated, and also local banks, they having failed to answer the expectations of the government in this particular. He would propose " a separation of the fiscal operations of the governinent from those of indi- viduals or corporations ;" a divorcement of the govern- ment from banks and banking, and a thorough change in the keeping and management of the public revenue. 368 PERIOD XIV.— 1837 to 1841. As a means of immediate relief, he advised to the post- ponement of the fourth instahiient of the deposits with the states, and the issue of treasury notes, receivable for all public dues, but without interest. Both by the president and the secretary of the treasury a new mode was proposed of keeping the public revenue ; viz., to place it in the custody of commissioners, or receivers-general, at certain central points, subject to the call and control of the treasurer. Most of the money, it was supposed, could be paid out near the places where it was col- lected, and thus save the expense and hazard of transmission to the seat of government. " This organization," said the secretary, " would he advantageous as a separate establishment for this business alone, and as an independent check on most of those collecting the revenues." 10. The extra session of cong-ress closed on the 16th of October. The two principal measures adopted, de- signed for the relief of the government, were the post- ponement to the 1st day of January, 1839, of the pay- ment of the fourth instalment of the deposits with the stales ; and the issue of treasury notes to an amount not exceeding ten millions of dollars, reimbursable in one year, and of denominations of not less than fifty dollars. In accordance with the recommendation of the president and secre- tary of the treasury, a bill was early introduced into the senate for the safe keeping of the public funds, commonly denomiinated the sub- treasury bill. This was intended to be the prominent measure of the session, and was urged with great power, and bj' numerous considera- tions, upon the senate and house of representatives. By the senate it was adopted, by a vote of 26 to 20. In the house, after undergoing an animated and protracted discussion, it was laid upon the table, by a Tote of 120 to 107. Subsequently, an effort was made to reconsider the Tote by which the bill was laid upon the table, but was lost, the motion for reconsideration being itself disposed of in the same manner, by a vote of 119 to 104. In his message, the president had ascribed to certain causes the dis- 'tress and embarrassments of the country, which have already been noticed. The friends of his administration, in the course of the ses- sion, reiterated the same statements, and made the same explanations. To the opposition, these causes, and the arguments by which they were attempted to be supported, were insvfficient. Other and more adequate causes, they believed, existed, and could be pointed out. They claimed that, prior to that series of unfortunate measures, which had for its object the overthrow of the Bank of the United States, and the discontinuance of its fiscal agency for the government, no people upon earth ever enjoyed a better currency, or had exchanges VAN buren's administration. 369 better reflated, than the people of the United States. Our monetary system appeared to have attained as great perfection as anything human can possibly reach. What a reverse, said they, and why has it come upon us ? Who can doubt that if the Bank of the United States had been re-chartered — that if the public deposits had remained undisturbed— and the specie circular, or treasury order, had never been issued, the currency would at this time be sound, and ttie suspension of specie payments been avoided? The president asserts that the suspension has proceeded from over-action — over-trading — the indulgence of a spirit of specula- tion, produced by the banks and other facilities. But whence the mul- tiplication of banks'? — whence these facilities? Are not these to be traced to the overthrow of the United States Bank, and the stimulation of the local banks to discount freely upon the deposits which were trans- /erred to them ? 11. The second session of the 25th congress com- menced on the first Monday of Dec, 1837, and ended on the 9th day of Jul}'', 1838. In his message, the pre- sident represented the foreign relations of the country as amicable and favorable, excepting with Mexico and Portugal. The issue of four millions and a half of treasury notes would be necessary for the year. The attention of congress Avas again " invited to the neces- sity of additional legislative provision in respect to the collection, safe keeping, and transfer of the public money ;" and not understanding the action of the extra session on this subject as final, he again recommended the sub-treasury scheme, as, in his view, designed to subserve the interests of the country better than any other plan proposed. A bill to authorize the re-issue of treasury notes passed the house of representatives by a vote of 106 to 99. In^ the senate, for the bill 27, against it 13. During this session of congress, an event occurred, which excited the sensibilities of the whole nation, and called forth expressions of deci- ded disapprobation from the candid of all parties." This was a. duel fought with rifles near the city of Washington, between Jonathan Cil- ley and William J. Graves, "both members of the house, the former from Maine, the latter from Kentucky. On the third fire, Mr. Cilley fell, mortally wounded. The remains of the murdered man were attended to the grave by the president, the heads of department, the members of both houses of congress, and a large concourse of citizens. The judges of the supreme court, then in session, were invited to attend the funeral. Most honor- 370 PERIOD XIV.— 1837 to 1841. able to themselves, and honorable to the exalted stations they held^ they entered upon their records the following resolves : Resolved., That the justices of the supreme court entertain a high re- spect for the character of the deceased, sincerely deplore his untimely death, and sympathize with his bereaved family in the heavy affliction which has fallen upon them. Resolved, That with every desire to manifest their respect for the house of representatives, and the comiiiiltees of the house by whom they have been invited, and for the memory of the deceased, the jus- tices of the supreme court cannot, consistenilij with the duties they owe to the public, attend in their official characters the funeral of one who has fallen in a duel. Resolved, That these proceedings be entered on the minutes of the court, and that the chief justice enclose a copy to the chairman of the committee of the house of representatives. The above tragical event justly excited the indignation of the nation. From every quarter a demand was made for some law to prevent such " wickedness in high places." At length, a bill for an act was reported by a committee appointed for that purpose, which passed by a vote of 110 to 21. The first section provided, that if any person shall, in the District of Columbia, challenge another to fight a duel; or accept a challenge ; or shall knowingly carry a challenge to fight a duel in or out of the District of Columbia ; and such duel shall be fought in or out of said district, and either of the parties shall be slain or mortally wounded, the surviving party, and others connected, shall, on conviction, be punished by imprisonment and hard labor in the penitentiary for a term not exceeding ten years. A second section provided, that the mere challenge, or aiding and abetting a challenge, which resulted in no duel, should be punished as above, for a term o( five years. A third section provided, that if any person guilty of assaulting, striking, or wounding another, for refusing to accept a challenge ; or who shall post or publish any person, or use towards them opprobrious language, for refusing to accept a challenge, shall, on conviction, be punished as above for a term not exceeding three years. 12. An event, important to the business of the country, occurred on the 13th of August, 1S38. This was the resumption of the payment of specie generally through- out the United States, by previous concert. On the 23d day of July previous, a convention was held in the city of Philadelphia, in which the banks of the states of Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Vir- ginia, Kentucky, and Missouri, were represented, and which unani- mously resolved to recommend the 13th of August as a suitable and convenient time, on which to resume. Accordingly, on the arrival of that day, the resumption was generally effected without commotion, without injury to themselves, and without inconvenience to the mercan- tile part of the community. VAN buren's administration. 371 This was an event which had been lon^ devoutly looked for, and was welcomed by the whole country. Some anxiety was lelt as to the effect resumption would have upon the specie-paying banks; but, generally, it was accomplished with ease. In Philadelphia, where tins anxiety was perhaps the greatest, the demands for specie were confined to the wants of the community for change. 13. On the 9th of October, however, of the following year, 1839, the banks of Philadelphia again suspended the payment of specie. This suspension was soon after followed by a suspension on the part of the banks in the interior of Pennsylvania, and of all the states south and west. The suspension of specie payments in May, 1836, was begun by the banks of New York, and the rest of the Union followed. In 1837, the banks of New York were required by law to resume. They naturally endeavored to induce other banks to do voluntarily, what they were compelled to do by law. The public also were anxious for resumption. An effort was made to accomplish this object, and was effected, con- trary, however, to the opinion of some of the ablest financiers of the country, who predicted a relapse. Unfortunately, the grain crops in England failed; in consequence of which large importations of grain were required. These were made, not from the United States, but from her neighbors, who could furnish it cheaper. But as they were small consumers of English products, specie chiefly was obliged to be advanced. This demand so drained the Bank of England, as to threaten that institution with suspension. By a natural consequence, money rose to a great value ; the staples of this country were unsalable, except at ruinous prices ; the stocks held by stales, banks, or by individuals, were wholly incontrovertible; leaving as the safest and the most favorite mode of payment, the ex- portation of specie. Large shipments of coin were made, leaving a deficiency in the vaults of the banks, and which was to be supplied by demands upon creditors to pay in gold and silver, which they could not do but at ruinous sacrifices, or to suspend specie payments for a season. This latter course was considered most conducive to the true interests of the public; and accordingly the banks in Philadelphia announced their suspension, which of course compelled the banks south and west, to adopt a similar measure. The banks of New York and New Eng- land, with some few temporary exceptions, resolved to continue the pay- ment of specie, which with great effort they were able to accomplish, 14. The first session of the 26th congress convened at Washington, conformably to the constitution, on the second day of December, 1839. Unexpectedly, how- ever, the house of representatives was not organized for some weeks, in consequence of an exciting question S72 PERIOD XIV.— 1837 TO 1841. which arose as to the admission of the representatives from New Jersey, on the ground, that, while they had received certificates of election from the governor of that state, those certificates should have been given to others, who, it was claimed, had been duly elected. It is usual for the last clerk of the house of representatives to make out a list of members elect, which, at the precise hour of twelve o'clock of the day on which congress assembles, he proceeds to read. On the day and at the hour above mentioned, the clerk, Hugh A. Garland, rose at his desk, and said that, in conformity with the practice hereto- fore observed, he was now ready, if it was the pleasure of the house, to call a list, Avhich he had formed of members elect of the house of representatives for the twenty-sixth congress, at this its first session. No objections being made, the roll was commenced, and the members of the several New England states, and also those from the state of New York, answered to their names. He next proceeded to the state of New Jersey, and called the name of Joseph F. Randolph. Here he paused, and stated that there were five of the seats belonging to representatives of this state which were contested, and not feeling it to be his duty to decide the question of a right to them, he would, if such a course should be approved by the house, pass over the remaining names, until the other stales should have been gone through with ; after which he would submit such evidence as was in his possession, touching the several claimants to seats from that state. To this course, which would have been acceptable to some, there were strong objections. Besides, the whig members from New Jersey, on their part, demanded, that the evidences of their titles to seats should be read, and that, if their certificates were authentic, they should be admitted to equal rights with other members. Upon this representation and demand, the clerk stated that he had five certificates from the governor of New Jersey, declaring William Halsted (whose name stood next upon the roll) and John B. Aycrigg, J. P. B. Maxwell, Thomas Jones York, and Charles C. Shulton, to have been duly elected representatives from the state of New Jersey. Having these certificates duly attested, it was contended that, ac- cording to all former precedents, and agreeably to the laws of New Jer- sey, the above gentlemen should be admitted[ to their oath, that after the organization of the house, if their seats were claimed by others, the question could be taken up, examined, and fairly disposed of. On the other hand, it was claimed, that the seats of right belonged to other gentlemen, who had received a majority of votes in their respective districts, and who should have received certificates from the governor of New Jersey. The two political parties in congress were thus suddenly arrayed against each other, and the state of feeling which followed can scarcely be described. At length, the following resolution was offered to the house by Mr. Graves ; VAN buren's administeation. 873 Resohed, That the acting cleric of the house shall proceed with the call of the members from the diflerent states of the Union in the usual way. calling the names of such members from TS^ew Jer^y as hold the regular and legal commissions from the executive of that'slale. The discussion of the above resolution was continued until it was apparent to the whole house— the clerk refusing to put it— that unless some other and extraordinary measure was adopted, commensurate with the difficulties in which they were involved, no organization could be effected. In this juncture, a resolution was offered, appointing Mr. Adams chairman of the house, which being adopted by a large major- ity, he was conducted to the chair. Under the guidance of Mr. Adams, the house proceeded on the 12th to ballot for a speaker. Six ballolings were taken, wlien, no choice having been made, an adjournment to the 16th was moved and carried. On this latter day, the balloting was resumed, and resulted, on the eleventh balloting, in the choice of Robert M. T. Hunter, the New Jer- sey members not voting. On the 20th, the question v:as taken on a resolution to administer the oath to the five gentlemen from the state of New Jersey, who had pre- sented credentials to the speaker and demanded to be sworn, and de- cided in the negative, 116 to 112. This decision created a great sensation throughout the Union. It was a wide departure from precedent, and deeply wounding to the pride of New Jersey, as well as injurious to her interests. The subsequent history of this case is interesting, but, in the opinion of the whig party, reflected great discredit on the majority in the house of representatives. An investigation of the subject was ordered, and the committee on elections entered upon the duty assigned them. They were proceeding in their investigation, when, on the 28th of February, the house directed the committee '' to report forthwith which five of the ten individuals claiming seats from the state of New Jersey, re- ceived the greatest number of lawful votes from the whole state for representatives in the congress of the United States, at the election of 1838 in said state.'* This committee reported in favor of the five administration candidates. A minority report was at the same time presented, which was ordered to lie on the table. On the 10th of March, a resolution Avas introduced by Mr. Petriken, declaring the five persons who had brought no legal certificates, enti- tled to their seats, and directing the speaker to qualify them. The previous question being'moved by the author of the resolution, debate Avas suppressed, and the vote taken, and the resolution adopted by a vote of 111 to 81 ; several whig members refusing to vote. To a portion of the American people, no act could have appeared more arbitrary and unjust, however right and proper it might have seemed to the party in power ; nor could many divest themselves of the impres- sion, that this course was adopted to secure certain objects which the administration had in view. 15. On Wednesday, December 4th, two days after the opening of congress, and while scenes of great interest 32 374 PERIOD XIV, — 1837 to 1841. and excitement were in progress in the capitol, a fully attended whig national convention assembled at Harris- burg, Pennsylvania, for the purpose of nominating can- didates for the office of president and vice-president of the United States. The deliberations of this convention at length resulted in the nomination of Gen. William Hemy Harrison, of Ohio, for the former, and John Tyler, of Virginia, for the latter. The whole number of votes cast for president was 254. Of these, General Scott received 16; Henry Clay 90; and General Harrison 148. The nomination thus made was unexpected to a considerable portion of the whig party. For a long time, their attention had been turned towards Henry Clay, and an anxious wish prevailed, on the part of his special friends, that he should be put in nomination. They confi- dently expected it. But antecedently to the meeting of the convention, it had been the general, and even the universal opinion, that when that body should assemble, and an interchange of views had been made, the jnan should be selected wlio, it was thought, could concentrate the greatest strength against the existing administration. Preferences were, therefore, to be surrendered at the shrine of the country's good. While, therefore, it was at first with painful emotions that the friends of Mr. Clay yielded, it was done with great unanimity, and even cheer- fulness, when it Avas perceived that by the nomination of Gen. Harri- son other influences and interests would be secured, which were likely to result in his election. 16. Seldom has a congress of the United States held a session of such length, as was that of the first session of the twenty-sixth congress, without arriving at more important results. Two acts only of a public character are worthy of notice : the one providing " for the taking of the sixth census of the United States," and the other " for the collection, safe keeping, transfer and dis- bursement of the public revenue." The act, viz., that for the collection, &c., of the public revenue, usually denominated the sub-treasury system, may be regarded as the great financial measure of Mr. Van Buren's administration. It was early proposed by him, and in every subsequent message Avas urged upon the consideration of congress, as the best scheme which could be devised, by which the public revenue could be collected, safely kept, transferred, and disbursed. The debates on this system, l)y the sup- porters and opposers of the administration, during the several sessions m which it was agitatedj would fill volumes. By the president and his VAN buren's administration. 875 friends, it was eulogized and warmly recommended ; by the opposition party, it was as pointedly resisted and condemned. On this measure, and others of a financial character connected with it, perhaps more than on any others, Mr. Van Buren staked his political fortune. With this, he entered into the election as a candidate for the presidency a second term. 17. The second session of the twenty-sixth congress was begun and held on Monday, the 7th day of Decem- ber, 1840. On Wednesday following, Mr. Van Buren presented his last annual message. On the subject of the national finances, the president felicitated him- self, that, notwithstanding the various embarrassments which the gov- ernment had to encounter; the great increase of public expenditures by reason of the Florida war; the difficulty of collecting moneys still due from certain banks, and the diminution of the revenue, &c.. the busi- ness of the government had been carried on without the creation of a national debt. Nominally, it had indeed no such debt; but a few months following the accession of a new administration, the disclosure was officially made, that the country was deeply involved in debt, and congress was called upon to provide means to sustain the credit — the waning credit of the government. 18. On the 10th of February, 1841, the ceremony of counting and announcing officially the votes for presi- dent and vice-president took place. At twelve o'clock of that day, the members of the senate, preceded by their sergeant-at-arms, the vice-president, (Col. Johnson,) the secretary and his assistants, bearing a box containing the different packages in which the votes were enclosed, went in procession to the hall of representatives, where seals had been provided for them on the right of the chair. The members of the house received the sena- tors standing. The vice-president was conducted to the speaker's chair, as presiding officer of the meeting. The assemblage being seated, the vice-president rose, and said, that, in conformity to the duty imposed by the constitution, he would now proceed to open the packages which had been addressed to him, con- taining the votes of the diflferent states. The votes having been counted, the vice-president announced the result as follows : — For president— William Henry Harrison, of Ohio, 234 ; Martin Van Buren, of New York, CO. For vice-president — John Tyler, of Vir- ginia, 234 ; Richard M. Johnson, of Kentucky, 48 ; Littleton W. Taze- well, of Virginia, 1 1 ; James K. Polk, of Tennessee, 1. Thus, for months, had a warm and exciting, and, in some cases, even angry contest been going on, moving the country from Georgia to Maine, 376 PERIOD XV.— 1841. and affecting the most obscure and distant neighborhood and village of the west. The day of decision, however, had come. The freemen had been gathered to the polls; the mighty mass of interested human beings had cast in their votes , these votes had been collected and forwarded to the national metropolis ; and here, in the presence of the assembled coun- sellors of the nation, they were counted; and the final result was now officially announced, that William Henry Harrison was elected presi- dent of the United States, for four years from the ensuing fourth day of March. UNITED STATES. PERIOD XV. ADMINISTRATION OF HARRISON. Sec. 1. On the 4th of March, 1841, William Henry Harrison took the oath prescribed by the constitution, and entered upon the office of president of the United States. The ceremony of inauguration was, as usual, grand and imposing ; — the more so, perhaps, from an unwonted joy and enthusiasm ©n the occurrence of a change of administration, and a desire on the part of the friends of the new administration to give an appropriate welcome to the hero, whom they had elevated to office. The inaugural address of General Harrison was a clear, plam, and comprehensive document ; less stately than that of Washington ; less philosophic than .Tefferson's ; and less terse than Mr. Madison's ; but to the great body of the president's constituents, it was very acceptable. It contained a recognition and a decided approbation of the great prin- ciples and doctrines of the whig politicians and statesmen, and a pledge to administer the government according to the constitution, as under- stood by the fraviers of that important instrument, and the early admin' istrators of the government. In conclusion, the new president beautifully and forcibly alluded to the Christian religion, as intimately connected with, and essential to, the interests of the country. " I deem the present occasion," said hC; ' -Harrison's administration. 377 " sufficiently important and solemn, to justify me in expressing to my fellow-citizens a profound reverence for the Christian religion, and a thorough conviction that sound morals, religious liberty, and a just sense of religious responsibility, are essentially connected with all true and lasting happiness ; and to that good Being who has blessed us by the gifts of civil and religious freedom, who watched over and prosper- ed the labors of our fathers, and who has hitherto preserved to us in- stitutions fa? exceeding in excellence those of any other people, let us unite in fervently commending every interest ofour beloved country in. all future time." 2. The new senate, having- been convened, proceeded^ shortly after the induction of General HaiTison into office, to confirm the nominations made by him, of gen- tlemen whom he wished to constitute his cabinet. Daniel Webster, of Massachusetts, was appointed Secretary of State ; Thomas Ewing, of Ohio, Secretary of the Treasury ; .Tohn Bell, of Tennessee, Secretary of War ; George E. Badger, of North Carolina, Secretary of the Navy ; John J. Crittenden, of Kentucky, Attorney General: and Francis Granger, of New York, Postmaster General. 3. The new administration had now been organized ; the party which had coime into power were grateful for the change, connected, as they believed it to be, with a change of policy, by which., the government would be administered; they were satisfied with the president; with his inaugural address ; with the principles and pledges which that address contained ; they were more than satisfied with the distinguished names composing the cabinet counsellors of the president. Thus, all things were combining to fulfil the nation's joy, and were full of promise in respect to the future — when, un- expectedly, rumors of a sad sickness, lohich had suddenly fallen upon General Harrisoii, were spread through the nation, and before those rumors could have reached the limits of the country, they were followed by the intelli- gence of his death ! In one short month from the time he stood on the steps of the eastern portico of the capitol, lifting his hand to heaven, and swearing to be faithful to God and his country, he was a pallid corpse in the National mansion. On the morning of the 4th of April, the members of the cabinet is- sued the following circular to the nation; 32=^ 378 PERIOD XV.— 1841. " An all-wise Providence having suddenly removed from this life William Henry Harrison, late president of the United States ; we have thought it our duty, in the recess of congress, and in the absence of the vice-president from the seat of government, to make this afflict- ing bereavement known to the country, by this declaration, under our hands. '* He died at the president's house, in this city, this fourth day of April, Anno Domini 1841, at thirty minutes before one o'clock in the morning. " The people of the United States, overwhelmed, like ourselves, by an event so unexpected and so melancholy, will derive consolation from knowing that his death was calm and resigned, as his life has been f>atriotic, useful, and distinguished ; and that the last utterance of his ips expressed a fervent desire for the perpetuity of the constitution, and the preservation of its true principles. In death, as in life, the happiness of his country was uppermost in his thoughts." Thus ends all human greatness ! " The boast of heraldry, the pomp of power, And all that beanty, all that wealth e'er gave, Await, alike, the inevitable hour — The paths of glory lead — but to the grave." For such a bereavement, the nation was in no wise prepared. It came upon them with the suddenness of lightning, and as a thunder- bolt from the hand of Almighty power. The mourning was sincere, as it was deep and universal. Even political opponents united to do the deceased president honor. Funeral processions were had in every principal city ; and funeral orations were pronounced in his favor ; or funeral discourses delivered by the ministers of religion, in which suit- able admonitions were imparted to the people. 4. The legitimate successor, by the constitution, to the presidential chair, on the demise of General Harrison, was John Tyler, of Virginia, who had been elected to the office of vice-president, at the time the former had suc- ceeded to that of president, and who now entered upon the administration of the government. Harrison's administration. 379 NOTES, EMBRACING A BRIEF SKETCH OF THE PRESENT CONDITION • OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 5. 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. Al- though 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 inhabitants of the commercial and maritime towns and the villages of the country. The former, in a more considerable degree, as to luxury and vice, re- semble 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 iiappiness which pro- ceeds from the exercise of the social virtues in their primitive purity. Their affections are constant; felicity crowns the conjugal imion; pa- rental 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, 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 ingenuity and intelligence of the people have been displayed to advantage, if not in the higher walks of litera- ture, yet in tlie useful branches of knowledge, and in the arts which multiply the comforts of life. 6. Religion. The principal religious denominations in the United States, at present, are Baptists, Metho- dists, Presbyterians, Congregationalists, and Episco- palians. 380 ^ PERIOD XV,— 1841. The Baptists have about 6000 churches or congregations'; the number of churclies belonging to the Methodists is unknown; their ministers are over 3000; and their communicants nearly 700,000. The Presbyterian churches (regular) are nearly 3000. The Congregationalists have 1300 churches; Episcopalians 950; Friends 500; German Reformed 600; Lutherans 750. Besides these, the Unitarians, Universalists, Catho- lics, Christians, and Dutch Reformed have numerous congregations. It is not to be disguised that mucli irreligion and vice prevail, and that a spirit of infidelity exists, though in a form ujore concealed than formerly, and under more decent names. Nor does it become us to deny, that in a time of so much religious action and religious news, by which attention is occupied, there is danger of a sujjerficial acquain* tance with the doctrines of the Bible, among the mass of professors. Yet, whate\-er may be the danger from this source, we are persuaded that such exertions are altogether congenial with the precepts of the gospel, and will in the end produce a vastly counterbalancing good. The exigencies of the church, and of the times, require precisely such a spirit of benevolent enterprise, to be increased, we trust, witli the growth of tiie nation. 7. Trade and Commerce. The commerce of the United States consists, principally, in the exchange of agricultural produce for 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, r3'^e, pork, &c. Of these exports. New England and New York are the great carri- ers. 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 southern to the middle states, Avhence they are sent to foreign countries, almost entirely, in ships owned by northern merchants, and navigated by northern seamen. The exports from the United States are sent to various countries, but the British dominions always receive the largest portion of our do- mestic 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 manufac- tures 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 W est Indies ; hareison's administration. 381 TQin iroia ilie British and Danish West Indies. Wines are, princi- pally, fi'oni France, Spain, Portugal, 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 u:5. 8. A8en seated at the helm." It is a delightful thought that over 2,000,000 of the children and youth of our country are daily applying themselves to the more than 50,000 fountains of instructioa scattered over the land — and me imbibing that knowledge which shall enable them to act well their part on the future theatre of life. REFLECTIONS. Upon concluding this history of our countiy, we can scarcely refraia from asking. Who of our ancestors anticipated resuUs 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 little more than two centuries, would extend thousands of miles, and embrace, within its bosom, seven- teen millions of tlie human race 1 Who then thought of cities, with their busy population, a thousand miles from the waters of the Atlantic 1 or of fleets, on inland seas, proceeding to and retm-ning from, distant voyages 1 or of navies pouring forth their thunder and their flame 1 Such results entered not into sober calculation, and were beyond even the dreams of fancy. Yet two centuries have brought them to pass. The branch which our fathers planted, under the fostering cave of Heaven, rose, extended, invigorated. It acquired stability by oppres- sion, and gathered importance from the efibrts which were made to crush it. In the progress of our history, Ave have seen the American people, while sustaining only the character of colonists, and struggling with the discouragements and difficulties of new settiements, main- taining at their own expense, and bringing to prosperous conclusion, wars which a selfish and jealous mother country, by her pride arid im- prudence, had occasioned. 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 main- taining their loyalty — still indulging the feelings, and adopting the lan- guage of affection, until justice, and patriotism, and religion, bid them rise to assert their rights which the God of nature designed for all his rational ofi'spring. 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 tlte astonishment of the world, accomplishing their emancipation. And, when emancipa- ted and transformed into an independent nation, we see them calmly 384 PERIOD XV. — 1841. betaking themselves to the organization of a government, unJer a consti- tution as wise as it was singnlar, and whose excellency and competency the experience of more than fifty years has confirmed. Simultaneously •with these events, what extensive conquests have been made on the wil- derness ! Deserts have put on beauty and frnkfulness, and a -way been constantly extending towards the waters of tlie Pacific, for the advance of civilization and religion. Had we the spirit of prophecy, in respect to the future condition of America, this would not be the place to indulge it. No nation, how- ever, ever possessed,- in a higher degree, the means of national pros- perity. Our territory is ample — our soil fertile — oar climate pro- pitious — om- citizens enterprising, brave,^ and persevering. A sea- coast of three thousand miles, inland seas, numerous canals, facilitate for- eign and domestic trade. Being free and independent of other nations, we can frame our laws, and Gishion our institutions, as experience and an en- lightened policy shall dictate. Our universities and colleges are yearly qualifying numbers for the higher professions of life,, while our acade- mies and schaols are diffusing intelligence to an unparalleled 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 cir- cumstanced,, what should prevent our country from advancing to that eminence of national happiness, beyond which national happiness can- not extend 1 — " Manufactures may here rise — busy commerce,, inland and foreign, distribute our surplus produce, augment our capital^ give energy to industry, improvement to roails, patronage to arts and sciences, vigor to schools, and universality to the institutions of reli- gion; reconciling' civil liberty with eflicient government; extended pop- ulation with concentrated action; and unparalleled wealth with sobriety and morality." Let but the spirit,, the practical wisdom, the religious integrity, of the first jilanters of our soil, prevail among rulers and subjects — let God be acknowledged, by giving that place to hi^ word and institutions which they claim — and all these blessings are ours. We shall enjoy peace with nations abroad, and tranquillity at home. As years revolve, the tide of our national prosperity will flow broader and deeper. In the beautiful language of inspiration — " Our sons will be as plants grown up in their youth, and our daugiiters as corner-stones, polished after the- similitude of a palace. Our garners will be full, including all riianner of stores ; our sheep will bring forth by thousands and ten thousands j our oxen will be strong to l;djor: and tliere will be no breaking in, or going out, or complaining in our streets. — Happy is that people that 19 in such a case ; yea, happy is that people whose God is the Lord.'' .^ ^H V3 f""^ 2^'- -ov^ ^. \^ ... ■*■ ^ -^ll