tions, the troops had all the comforts of good tents, bedding, and fresh provisions.

An intense frost usually begins throughout New-England about the latter end of December, when the harbour of Boston, and all the rivers in the environs of that town, are generally frozen to a depth of ice sufficient to bear a great weight. Washington proposed. to take possession not only of the town, but also to take or destroy all the shipping in the harbour, and, by this decisive enterprize, put a conclusion to all the hopes of Great Britain in this quarter. His troops were eager to distinguish themselves by this atchievement, and, if requisite, a greater force could soon be collected to second their efforts. This winter, however, was unusually mild, and, by preventing the operations of the provincials, both they and the garrison were obliged to remain inactive.

In the mean time, Mr. Penn, who had brought over the last petition from Congress, was examined at the bar of the House of Lords. This gentleman had been governor of Pennsylvania; he was personally acquainted with most of the members of Congress, and was qualified to give the most authentic information respecting the temper and inclinations of the Americans; it appear

ed from his testimonies, that the charge of aiming at independence, which had been imputed to Congress, was unfounded. They had been fairly elected, were men of character and abilities; the colonies had the highest confidence in their integrity, and were governed by their decisions.

From his account it appeared that Pennsylvania alone, was able to raise sixty thousand men, twenty thousand of whom had actually enrolled themselves to serve without pay, and were armed and embodied before his departure from the continent. Besides, they had, in imitation of the colony of Massachusetts, instituted a corps of minute-men, amounting to five thousand.

After a tedious debate in both Houses of Parliament, the petition of Congress was rejected, all attempts to reconciliate were suspended, the standard of defiance seemed now to be raised, and both parties seemed to be determined to make the last appeal to

arms.

When the news of this rejection of the American petition reached the camp before Boston, the troops expressed the greatest indignation. As Georgia had joined the confederacy, the Americans now changed their colours from a plain red ground, to thirteen.

stripes, alternately red and white, to denote the number of the United Colonies.

Washington exerted his skill and activity in order to compel the British army, either to surrender or evacuate Boston before any succours could arrive from England. On the 2d of March, 1776, he opened a battery op the west side of the town, and bombarded it. This attack was supported by a tremendous cannonade, and on the 5th, another battery was opened on the eastern shore.. The garrison sustained this dreadful bombardment with the greatest fortitude; it lasted fourteen days without intermission, when Gen. Howe, finding the place no longer tenable, resolved to embark for Halifax.

The evacuation of Boston was not interrupted by the provincials, lest the British troops should set it on fire.

When the Americans took possession of Boston, they found a multitude of valuable articles, which were unavoidably left behind. by the British army. The principle of these were artillery and ammunition; but the most valuable booty was a large quantity of woollens and linens, of which the provincials stood in the most pressing need.

Washington now directed his attention to the fortifications of Boston. He employed a

number of foreign engineers to superintend the construction of new works; and so eager were the people in the prosecution of this business, that every effective man in the town, without distinction, devoted two days of the week to its completion.

As Washington was uncertain of the destination of the British fleet and army which had left Boston, and as New-York lay exposed to any sudden attack, he detached several of his best regiments, under General Lee, for the defence of that city.

Meanwhile, a small fleet, under the command of Sir Peter Parker, and a body of troops under Generals Cornwallis, Clinton, and Vaughan, sailed for Charleston, the capital of South Carolina.

The fleet had some difficulty in passing Charleston bar, being obliged to take out the guns from two of the largest ships, which were, notwithstanding, several times in danger of sticking fast. The next obstacle was a strong fort on Sullivan's Island, six miles east from Charleston; which, though not completely finished, was very strong. However, the British generals resolved without hesitation to attack it; but though an attack was easy from the sea, it was very cult to obtain a co-operatiou of the land forces.

This was attempted by landing them on Long Island, adjacent to Sullivan's Island on the east, from which it is separated by a very narrow creek, said not to be above two feet deep at low water. Opposite to this ford the provincials had posted a strong body of troops, with cannon and entrenchments; whilst general Lee was posted on the main land, with a bridge of boats betwixt that and Sullivan's Island, so that he could at pleasure send reinforcements to the troops in the fort on Sullivan's Island.

On the part of the British, so many delays occurred, that it was the 28th of June before matters were in readiness for an attack; and by this time the provincials had abundantly provided for their reception. On the morning of that day, the bomb-ketch began to throw shells into Fort Sullivan, and about mid-day the two 50 gun ships and the three 28 gun frigates came up and began a severe fire. The three frigates were ordered to take their station between Charleston and the fort, in order to enfilade the batteries, and cut off the communication with the main land; but through the ignorance of the pilots they all stuck fast; and though two of them was disentangled, they were found to be totally unfit for service: the third was