king and nation of Great Britain has fubfided, and in- 1776. dependence has become the word moft in ufe among them. They afk, "Is it poffible that any colony, after what has paffed, can wifh for reconciliation ?" The conftant publications, which have appeared and been read with attention, have greatly promoted the spirit of independency: but no one fo much as the pamphlet under the fignature of Common Senfe, written by My Thomas Paine, an Englishman. The ftile, manner, and language of the author is fingular and captivating. He undertakes to prove the neceffity, the advantages, and practicability of independence. That no lurking affection for the fovereign may impede it, kings are placed in a light, that tends not only to deftroy all attachment to them, but to make them diftafteful: their very office is attempted to be rendered odious; from whence the tranfition to the royal perfon is eafy. Nothing could have been better timed than this performance. In unifon with the fentiments and feelings of the people, it has produced most astonishing effects; and been received with vaft applaufe; read by almoft every American; and recommended as a work replete with truth, and againft which none but the partial and prejudiced can form any objections. It has fatisfied multitudes, that it is their true intereft immediately to cut the Gordian knot by which the American colonies have been bound to Great Britain, and to open their commerce, as an independent people, to all the nations of the world. It has been greatly inftrumental in producing a fimilarity of fentiment through the continent, upon the fubject under the confideration of congrefs. On the 10th, the business was poftponed to the 1ft of July; but that no time might

10.

1776. be loft, the next day Meffrs. Jefferfon, John Adams, Franklin, Sherman, and R. R. Livingston, were appointed a committee to prepare a declaration of independence. Directly upon which, congrefs refolved, "That a committee be appointed to prepare and digest the form of a confederation to be entered into between thefe colonies: and that a committee be appointed to prepare a plan of treaties to be proposed to foreign powers."

June

17.

Let us pafs for awhile to other matters.

Congrefs refolved to fend major general Gates into Canada, to take the command of the forces in that province: but before the latter could reach them, they were at Crown Point; this however could not be known by congrefs. They concluded upon authorizing gen. Washington to offer the Indians a reward of a hundred dollars for every commiffioned officer, and thirty dollars for every private foldier of the king's troops, that they should take prifoners in the Indian country, or on the frontiers of the united colonies. The general's army is furrounded by a great number of fecret foes, who, he is perfuaded, will stick at nothing to effect their purposes of deftroying it. They had laid a deep scheme for doing it, which was profecuted with the utmost vigilance, but has been happily discovered. The general has full proof as to their intentions against the army; but is not fo clear, whether there was any thing perfonal defigned against himfelf. That reliance however, which he has on the protection of an all-wife and beneficent Being, has fecured him at least against the fear of it; and will prevent any change in his conduct from taking

place

23.

place through apprehenfion. Two of the general's 1776. guard were concerned; a third, it is faid, whom they tempted to join them, made the difcovery. Several were taken into cuftody; and among them the mayor of New York, who confeffed the bringing of money from gov. Tryon to pay for rifles made by a gunfmith, now in irons. The mayor, after being twice examined, was remanded to prifon under a proper guard.

This affair produced a change in the politics of New Jersey. That colony, it was thought, would be among the laft to alter its government, whereas it will now be among the first that gets a fettled conftitution. Nothing more than a bare majority in favor of the alteration, was expected in the provincial congrefs: but the plot against the general wrought wonders: there were but four dif fenting voices. On the 21ft, however, before they could know the plot as a body, they proceeded to elect delegates for the continental congrefs, whom they empowered to join in declaring the united colonies independent of Great Britain. In this election they left out William Livingston efq; under a ftrong perfuafion that he was not favorable to independency; and chofe the Rev. Dr. Witherspoon, the prefident of the college at Princeton, from a conviction that he would fupport it with all his abilities.

Gen. Howe arrived at Sandy Hook in the Greyhound 24 frigate. He foon received from gov. Tryon a full account of the ftate and difpofition of the province, as well as of the ftrength of the Americans., Gen. WashingLon's army was fmall, rather below 9000 fit for duty. Of this little army, he wrote, "at leaft 2000 are wholly 28. The general's letter to me.

2.

1776. deftitute of arms, and near as many with arms in fuch condition as to be rather calculated to difcourage than animate the ufer." The fame day, the British fleet arrived with gen. Howe's troops from Halifax. They July took poffeffion of Staten Ifland, July the 2d. On the 4th, the American adjutant general, col. Jofeph Reed, wrote to a member of congrefs, "With an army of force before, and a fecret one behind, we ftand on a point of land with 6000 old troops, (if a year's fervice of about half, can entitle them to the name) and about 1500 new levies of this province, many difaffected and more doubtful. In this fituation we are: every man in the army, from the general to the private (acquainted with our true fituation) is exceedingly discouraged. Had I known the true pofture of affairs, no confideration would have tempted me to have taken an active part of this fcene; and this fentiment is univerfal." Gen. Howe is fufficiently strong, confidering the goodness of his troops, to make a fuccessful attempt upon the Americans; but being in daily expectation of the reinforcement from Europe, he will undoubtedly remain inactive till their arrival.

This then is a proper opportunity for relating the operations in South Carolina.

The defigns of miniftry against the fouthern colonies were providentially difcovered, before the arrival of Sir Peter Parker. In the beginning of April capt. James Barron arrived at Williamsburgh, with difpatches from the fecretary of state for gov. Eden of Maryland, which he took from on board a fmall veffel fent by lord Dunmore to carry them to Annapolis. The fecretary's letter is dated Whitehall, Dec. 23, 1775, and fays,

<< SIR,

"SIR,

"An armament of feven regiments, with a fleet of frigates and small ships, is now in readiness to proceed to the fouthern colonies, in order to attempt the reftóration of legal government in that part of America. It will proceed in the first place to North Carolina, and from thence either to South Carolina or Virginia, as circumstances fhall point out." This discovery is ranked, by the American commander in chief, among many other signal interpofitions of Providence, and as serving to inspire every reflecting mind with confidence. No one profeffes "a more perfect reliance on the all-wife and powerful difpenfations of the fupreme Being, or thinks his aid more necessary."

1776.

The Ann and Isabella arrived at Cape Fear with part April of the 17th regiment; fhe was the firft veffel of Sir 18. Peter Parker's fleet. From her arrival to the fecond of May, thirteen transports got in. On the third, Sir Peter May and twenty fail arrived with lord Cornwallis, gen. Vaughan 3. and others: when they met with gen. Clinton, who, after leaving New York, proceeded to Virginia, where he faw lord Dunmore; but finding that no fervice could be effected in that colony, he repaired to Cape Fear river, and waited the arrival of the armament from Europe. Gen. Clinton iffued out a proclamation from on board the Pallas tranfport, offering free pardon to all fuch as fhould lay down their arms, &c. excepting Cornelius Harnett and Robert Howe. The defeat of the highlanders and regulators in February, and the measures afterward taken for the fafety of the colony, diverted the commanders from attempting any thing against it; and led them to conclude upon attacking Charlestown,

5.