ican coast swarmed with privateers, which were very successful, and greatly annoyed the enemy. The effects of this naval war were soon felt by the supplies of ordnance, arms, and military stores which were taken from the enemy, and conveyed to the army before Boston, particularly, in the capture of a store-ship laden with those supplies for the service of the enemy in Boston. This store-ship was taken by Captain Manly, of the privateer Lee, who was uncommonly active and fortunate in this naval war.

These captures, not only gave support, and energy to the American army, in carrying on the siege of Boston; but at the same time greatly distressed the enemy, by cutting off his supplies of the comforts, and even the necessaries of life, as they arrived upon the American coast, from Britain.

Sanguine as we have seen the ministry of England, that America would never dare to resist an armed British force, and confident as had been some of her generals, that five regiments would march through the country. We are now called to witness, before the close of the first campaign, that a well appointed British army have met with desperate valour, at Lexington, Concord, and Bunker's-Hill; are closely besieged in Boston, where they are indebted to their fleet for protection, and safety, and are constrained to transport even their provisions from England, (3000 miles,) and even this is wrested from them by the American cruizers, and converted to the use of the American army.

Had even the great Pitt himself dared to predict such disgrace to his country's arms, in the midst of the first campaign, he would have been denounced as an enemy to his country; yet all this awaited the British army in Boston, and the same distresses awaited her West-India colonies, and brought several of them to court the friend

ship of America, by acknowledging the justice of her cause, and courting her trade, for which they (particularly Bermuda) offered in exchange, arms, ammunition, saltpetre, sulphur, and salt, all wich were greatly wanted in America.

This overture was promptly met by the colonies, and the commerce was accordingly carried on, under the inspection of the committees of safety, in the several colo

nies.

4

The colony of New-York had thus far been carried along in the current of the common cause; but at this time her defection again became alarming. Governor Tryon was recalled from the government of North-Carolina, and restored to the government of New-York, for the express purpose of weakening the exertions, and if possible, detaching this colony from the united confederacy. To effect this he was supported by the Asia man of war, and Rivingston's printing press; the first intimidated the citizens, and the last corrupted their political sentiments. When this political poison had begun so far to operate, as to shew itself openly in their conversation, by an open avowal to join the standard of the king; that Captain Sears who had once before put down the tories by the force club-law, again rallied his patriots, and at the head of a party of horse from Connecticut, well armed, entered the city, broke up the press of Rivingston, and carried off or destroyed his types. This overawed the tories at this time, and gave a check to a plan regularly concerted, of inviting the enemy from Boston to New-York, that he might become master of the navigation of the Hudson, and carry on the war by dividing the co-operations of the colonies. Although this defection in New-York, was at this time checked, it was not suppressed, until the General Congress, alarmed for the safety of the colony, passed a resolve "to arrest and secure every person in the re

spective colonies, whose going at large, may in their opinion, endanger the safety of the colony, or the liberties of America."

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Governor Tryon, alarmed for his safety, retired on board the Halifax packet, and continued his intrigues.

Congress took the alarm at these measures, and ordered two regiments to be raised in New-Jersey, upon the continental establishment, and marched into New-York; the one division of which to be stationed at the Highlands, to carry on the works, agreeable to the plan sketched to Con.gress by the convention of the colony, and the other division to be stationed at New-York. This post in the Highlands, upon the Hudson, was then considered, and. ultimately proved, one of the most important military posts in the colony.

The next subject of importance that claimed the attention of Congress, was the recruting, or re-enlisting the American army at Cambridge, and its vicinity. To meet the pressing solicitations of General Washington, upon this important subject, Congress appointed a committee on the 29th of September, to repair to head quarters, and there consult with the commander in chief, together with the governors of New-England, “upon the most effectual method of continuing, supporting, and regulating a continental army."

On the 30th of September, the Rose man of war, and two tenders, commenced an attack upon Stonington, Connecticut, which continued through the day; very little damage was done, only two men were killed; but a schooner laden with molasses and two small sloops were taken, and carried off by the enemy. This gave an alarm at Rhode Island, and the inhabitants, on the 2d of October, cleared the Island of all the stock that could become useful to the enemy. Captain Wallace resented this removal, and made a descent upon the Island of Canonuicut, burat

the houses and barns, and killed in a wanton manner, one unarmed inhabitant.

These depredations and alarms, caused General Washington to detach General Lee, to Rhode-Island, with a small corps to protect the settlements.

On the 11th of August, a correspondence commenced between General Washington, and General Gage, upon the abuse of the American prisoners, who had been barbarously immured in the Boston prisons, since the affair of the 17th, without any regard to rank, or station, wounded or unwounded, and who were denied that support, and attendance which were due to humanity; for which General Washington threatened General Gage with a retaliation, unless the laws of humanity were better observed. To which General Gage replied, that the prisoners had hitherto been treated with indiscriminate kindness, as he knew of no rank that was not derived from the king. The general added, " I understand there are of the king's subjects, taken by the rebels, labouring like negro slaves, to gain a daily subsistence, or reduced to the wretched alternative of perishing with famine, or taking up arms against their king and country." He also added, "Unfortunately for both countries, those who long since projected the present crisis, and influence the councils of America, have views very different from accommodation."

To all which General Washington thus replied, on the 19th-"I have taken time, Sir, to make a strict inquiry, and find the intelligence you have received has not the least foundation in truth. Not only your officers, and soldiers have been treated with a tenderness due to fellow

citizens, but even those execrable parricides, whose counsels and aid have drenched their country in blood, have been protected from the fury of a justly enraged people. You affect to despise all rank, Sir, not derived from the same source with your own. I cannot conceive of one more honour

able than that which flows from the uncorrupted choice of a brave and a free people, the purest source, and original fountain of power. May that God to whom you appeal, judge between America and you. Under his providence, those who influence the councils of America, and all the other inhabitants of the United Colonies, at the hazard of their lives, are determined to hand down to posterity, those just and invaluable privileges which they received from their ancestors."

On the night of the 26th, the general ordered a detachment of 2000 men to throw up an intrenchment upon Ploud-Hill, distant about half a mile from Bunker's-Hill. This service was performed under a severe cannonade from the enemy's works, through the day, with the loss only of two men killed, and two wounded. More than 300 shells were thrown at this intrenchment, in the course of the day, without injury to one man; but the Americans silenced, or sunk the floating batteries of the enemy, lying in Mystic River, which attempted to annoy their works, and held possession of the ground.

About the first of September General Washington received, by the way of Rhode-Island, about 7000 pounds of powder, which had been purchased, and brought from the English forts on the coast of Africa.

At the same time news arrived at head quarters, that the addresses which had been sent to Canada were favourably received, and that neither Canadians,or Indians would act against America. The general detached a body of troops from Cambridge, under the command of Colonel Arnold, aided by Colonels Green and Enos, and Majors Meigs and Bigelow, consisting of ten companies of infan. try, and three of riflemen, in the whole about eleven hundred men, accompanied by several volunteers, whose breasts glowed with patriotic zeal.* This detachment

* Amongst these was Colonel Burr, since vice-president of the United States.