2.

It was refolved, "That no provifions of any kind be June furnished or fupplied to or for the use of the British army or navy, in the Maffachufetts-bay, or of any tranfport."

Congress, for the first time, ftiled the colonies THE 7. TWELVE UNITED COLONIES, in a refolve, "That Thursday the 20th of July, be observed throughout the twelve united colonies, as a day of humiliation, fasting and prayer. From henceforward the united colonies will come into use.

Major Skeen (the father) of Skeensborough, with 8. other officers, upon their arriving the evening before at Philadelphia, in a veffel from London, were taken into cuftody. Congrefs being informed of it, and that the faid Skeen had been lately appointed governor of the forts of Tyconderoga and Crown Point, and had declared that he was authorized to raise a regiment in America; they appointed a committee to examine his papers, as alfo thofe of a lieutenant in the regulars.

They, having been applied to, by a letter of May 16th, 9. from the Massachusetts convention, for their explicit advice, refolved, "That no obedience being due to the act of parliament for altering the charter of the colony of Maffachusetts-bay, nor to a governor or lieutenant governor who will not obferve the directions of, but endeavour to fubvert that charter, the governor and lieutenant governor of that colony are to be confidered as abfent, and their offices vacant; and as there is no council there, and the inconveniencies arifing from the fufpenfion of the powers of government are intolerable; that, in order to conform as near as may be to the spirit and fubftance of the charter, it be recommended to the provincial convention to write letters to the inhabitants

of the feveral places, entitled to representation in affembly, requesting them to choose such representatives; and that the affembly, when chofen, do elect counsellors; and that fuch affembly or council exercife the powers of government, until a governor of his majefty's appointment will confent to govern the colony according to its charter."

It was recommended to the united colonies to collect falt-petre and fulphur, and to manufacture the fame into gun-powder for the ufe of the continent.

Congrefs agreed to the refolutions of the committee of the whole house, "That fix companies of expert riflemen be immediately raised in Pennsylvania, two in Maryland, and two in Virginia; and that each company, confifting of fixty-eight privates, befide officers, march as foon as completed, and join the army near Boston, to be there employed as light infantry.”

They proceeded to choose by ballot a general to command all the continental forces, and George Washington efq; was unanimously elected.

The prefident informed him of the choice which the congrefs had made, and of their requesting his acceptance of that employment. Colonel Wafhington, standing in his place, answered,

“Mr. Prefident,

"Though I am truly fenfible of the high honor done me in this appointment, yet I feel great distress from a consciousness, that my abilities and military experience may not be equal to the extenfive and important trust. However, as the congrefs defire it, I will enter upon the momentous duty, and exert every power I poffefs in their fervice, and for the fupport of the glorious cause.

"I beg they will accept my most cordial thanks for this diftinguished teftimony of their approbation.

"But, left fome unlucky event fhould happen unfavorable to my reputation, I beg it may be remem→ bered by every gentleman in the room, that I this day declare, with the utmoft fincerity, I do not think myfelf equal to the command I am honored with.

"As to pay, Sir, I beg leave to affure the congrefs, that as no pecuniary confideration could have tempted me to accept this arduous employment, at the expence of my domestic ease and happiness, I do not wish to make any profit from it. I will keep an exact account of my expences. Thofe, I doubt not, they will dif charge, and that is all I defire."

The colonel did not afpire to the honor of commanding the army; he was even folicitous to avoid it, upon an apprehenfion of his inadequacy to the import ance of the service. The partiality of congrefs how+ ever, affifted by a political motive, rendered his reafons unavailing; and led him to " launch into a wide and extenfive field, too boundless for his abilities, and far, very far beyond his experience," as his prevailing modesty induced him to exprefs himself. He is dauntless, active, attentive to business, temperate, humane, formed for gaining and fecuring the affections of officers and foldiers, far from haughty and fupercilious, though naturally referved; which is a quality that may fecure him from anfwering, without offending, many improper questions, that the New Englanders will be likely to ask, for they are amazingly addicted to inquifitiveness: this is greatly owing to the equality that prevails among them, and leads them into thofe mutual freedoms, which

are cenfured in places where diftinction in fortune and rank are far more prevalent and difproportioned. The perfonal appearance of the colonel is noble and engaging. He certainly poffeffes ftrong powers of mind, which will tend much to fupply, in a fhort feafon, any prefent deficiencies, that the want of more extenfive reading, and of more practical knowledge in military matters, may inevitably occafion. His days have been fpent in America, and he has had little opportunity of seeing service. As you have already been informed, in 1755 he prevented the total ruin of the British troops after general Braddock's defeat, by covering their retreat with his rangers: but he has never been accustomed to the command of a regular regiment, to which is to be imputed his faying to the volunteers he lately commanded in Virginia, that a gun and a good fword or hanger was all the foldier wanted, without mentioning a word of the bayonet-it was all that the ranger wanted. When the laft French war was clofed, the ceffions made to Britain in thefe American regions, cut off all expectation of future hoftile armies in the country; and made the profeffed study of the arts of war fuperfluous to a person inclined to the pleafures of a plantation.

Though the late Rev. Mr. Davis, whom you well remember when at London, inferted the following note in a fermon of his on fome fpecial occafion, " I may point out to the public that heroic youth colonel Washington, whom I cannot but hope Providence has hitherto preferved in fo fignal a manner for fome important fervice to his country:" yet as no human knowledge could, at that period, fathom the events of the prefent day, and as there was no evidence of its being in any degree

i

prophetic, it can be afcribed only to the admiration the author felt while contemplating the character of the colonel. But his being a perfon of strict honor and probity, was undoubtedly a main reafon with congrefs for electing him to the chief command of the American army. They are fully perfuaded of his patriotifm, that it is not pretended; that he will not betray the caufe of the united colonies; that he will not lavish away thofe fcanty fupplies, which call for the greatest ceconomy; that he will never prey upon the vitals of his country to enrich himself, nor countenance others in doing it; that while he is intrufted with the power of the fword, he will pay a facred regard to the civil rights of his fellow fubjects; and that he will not add needlefs barbarity to the unavoidable horrors and calamities of war.

He does not understand French; the knowledge of which many will view as an important accomplishment, especially should the continuance of the prefent rupture make the aid of France hereafter a defirable acquifition. But fhould the times ever induce French adventurers to repair in fhoals to head quarters, he may blefs his ignorance for fecuring him from many impertinent, long, and tiresome applications of military men, of no eminence and little worth, mere foldiers of fortune, who are after rank and riches, both of which the united colonies fhould deal out with a parfimonious hand, in accommodation to their own circumftances. He entered on the forty-fourth year of his age the 11th of laft February. You will wish to know the political motive, which may have fwayed colonel Washington. You must not look for it in any fuppofed neglect on the part of the British government, after he had done them