and Colonel Arnold was sent from Connecticut into Vermont, to engage Colonel Allen with his Green Mountain Boys, (then so called,) to embark in the enterprise. Allen readily engaged, raised the troops, and at their head, marched with Colonel Arnold, and with great adroitness, surprised and took those posts, which had cost so much blood and treasure in former wars, and so much labour and expence to render them impregnable, at the peace of 1763. Allen joined General Montgomery in his expedition into Canada, and was taken prisoner at Montreal, and carried to England.

The proscribed Warner discovered the same zeal, and spirit for his common country, which he had manifested in behalf of the settlers, and was soon raised to the command of a regiment of Green Mountain Boys, by appointment from Congress, and was distinguished as a brave, active, judicious officer.

Vermont had as yet, no corporate powers; the settlers conducted all their affairs by towns, either separately, or jointly, in small sections, on both sides of the mountain, and devoted themselves to the defence of their claims, the settlement of their lands, and to such general arrangements in their affairs, as should enable them to unite with some neighbouring government, or establish one of their own, that should render them independent. In January 1776, the settlers met in convention at Dorset, and drew up the following petition, which they forwarded to Congress.

"The humble petition, address, and remonstrance, of that part of America lying south of Canada line, west of Connecticut River, and commonly called, and known by the name of the New-Hampshire Grants, &c."

In this petition they tender their services to the Congress; but disclaim all jurisdiction of New-York, and request that all requisitions for their services in defence of their common country, may be made upon the inhabitants

of the New-Hampshire Grants. This petition was well received, and referred to a select committee, who recommended to the petitioners, to acknowledge the jurisdiction of New-York, for the present, considering the critical and alarming state of the nation, and defer all further controversy until peace should be restored. The advice was received, and the petition was withdrawn. In July following, Congress made their declaration of Independence, and the influence of the Crown of Great Britain, was dissolved in America.

1

Vermont now began seriously to feel the embarrassments arising out of her disjointed situation, and began seriously to think of uniting under a regular and independent government. To effect this, they proceeded to call a general Convention of the inhabitants of the Hampshire Grants, by circular letters issued to every town. This Convention, consisting of one member from each town, met at Dorset, July 24th, 1776, and entered into a joint association for the defence of the liberties of their common country, and resolved that if any of the inhabitants of the Hampshire Grants should associate with either of the counties, or the Provincial Congress of New-York, they should be deemed enemies to the common cause. This Convention adjourned to the 25th of September, when they met again, and resolved unanimously, "to take suitable measures, as soon as may be, to declare the Hampshire Grants a free and separate District." And the Convention dissolved.

In 1777, a general representation from all the towns on both sides of the mountain, met in convention at Westminster, and after serious and mature discussion and deliberation, they resolved and published the following declaration.

"This Convention, whose members are duly chosen. by the free voice of their constituents, in the several towns

in the New Hampshire Grants, in public meeting assem bled, in our own names, and in behalf of our constituents, do hereby proclaim, and publicly declare, that the district of territory, comprehending, and usually known by the name of the New Hampshire Grants, of right ought to be, and is hereby declared, and forever hereafter, to be considered as a free and independent jurisdiction or state; to be forever hereafter called, known, or distinguished by the name of New-Connecticut, alias Vermont; and that the inhabitants that are at present, or that may hereafter become resident within said territory, shall be entitled to the same privileges, immunities, and enfranchisements, which are, or that may at any time hereafter be allowed, to the inhabitants of any of the free and independent states of America ; and that such privileges and immunities shall be regulated in a bill of rights and by a form of government, to be established at the next session of this Convention.”

A copy of this declaration was inserted in a petition to Congress, in which they declare their readiness to bear their full proportion of the expences of the war, in defence of their country, and country's rights; and praying that they may be owned and received, as a free and independent state, and that their delegates might be admitted to a seat in that honourable body. The petition was signed by Jonas Fay, Thomas Chittenden, and two others, who were the leading men at that time.

This bold and manly act, raised Vermont from that state of nature into which she had fallen, by the oppression of New-York, and the neglect of New-Hampshire, and laid the foundation for her future dignity and consideration in the United States. New-Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, not only favoured, but applauded this dignified measure of Vermont, and were ready to support her as far as might be consistent with the public peace, and public

The

safety. New-York retained the same bitterness she had continued to express, and determined to oppose the petition of Vermont, and continue to urge her claims. New-York Convention, by direction of the Committee of Safety, gave the following notice to Congress, January

1777.

"I am directed by the Committee of Safety of NewYork, to inform Congress, that by the arts and influence of certain designing men, a part of this state hath been prevailed on to revolt, and disavow the authority of its legislature. The various evidences and informations we have received, would lead us to believe, that persons in some of our sister states, have fostered and fomented these divisions; but as these informations tend to accuse some of the members of your honourable body of being concerned in this scheme, decency obliges us to suspend our belief. The Convention are sorry to observe, that by confering a a commission upon Col. Warner, with authority to name the officers of a regiment, to be raised independently of the legislature of this state, and in that part of it which hath lately declared an independence upon it, Congress hath given but too much weight to the insinuations of those who pretend that your honourable body, are determined to support these insurgents: especially as this Col. Warner hath been constantly and invariably, opposed to the legislature of this state, and hath been on that very account, proclaimed an outlaw by the government thereof. It is absolutely necessary to recall the commissions given to Col. Warner, and the officers under him, as nothing else will do justice` to us, and convince those deluded people, that Congress have not been prevailed on to assist in dismembering that state, which of all others, has suffered the most in the common cause.'

This notice, memorial, or whatever it might be called, was backed by another, bearing date March the first, in which the Convention of New-York, appeal to the justice of Congress, and call upon that honourable body to suppress, as far as possible, the evils that were about to arise from the arts and intrigues, of a few designing and ambitious men, and assured them that many of the counties within the limits of Vermont, were firm in their allegiance to the State of New-York, and that Col. Warner could not possibly raise the number of men required.

Congress paid no attention to either of these papers; but a new scene opened to the view of Vermont. In the mouth of April, 1777, an address to the inhabitants of Vermont, signed Thomas Young, was printed at Philadelphia, and circulated throughout Vermont, with a resolution of Congress prefixed, bearing date May 1776, in which Congress recommend to the assemblies, and conventions of the United Colonies, whose governments are not sufficient for the exigencies of their affairs, to adopt such governments as should best conduce to the happiness, and safety of the people. The author of the address goes on to observe, "I have taken the minds of several of the leading members of the honourable, the Continental Congress, and can assure you that you have nothing to do, but to send attested copies of the recommendation, to take up government, to every township in your district, and to invite all your freeholders and inhabitants, to meet in their respective townships, and choose members for a General Convention, to meet at an early day, to choose delegates for the General Congress, a committee of safety, and to form a Constitution for your state. Your friends here tell me, that some are in doubt, whether delegates from your state would be admitted into Congress. I tell you to organize fairly, and make the experiment, and I will insure you success, at the risk of my reputation, as a man of honor, or