were loft, as were alfo the greater part of the horses which they carried with them, intended for cavalry and other public uses; and an ordnance fhip likewife foundered at fea.

Having arrived at Savannah, where they endeavoured to repair the damages fuftained on their voyage, they proceeded from thence on the 10th of February 1780, to north Edifto, the place of debarkation which had been previously appointed. They had a favourable and speedy paffage thither and though it required time to have the bar explored and the channel marked, the tranfports all entered the harbour the next day; and the army took poffeffion of John's island without oppofition. Preparations were then made for pafling the fquadron over Charlestown bar, where the high-water fpring-tides were only 19 feet deep: but no opportunity offered of going into the harbour till the 20th of March, when it was effected withut any accident, though the American galleys continually attempted to prevent the English boats from founding the channel. The British troops had previously removed from John's to Jame's ifland; and on the 29th of the fame month they effected their landing on Charlestown neck. On the ift of April they broke ground within 800 yards of the American works; and by the 8th the befiegers guns were mounted in battery.

As foon as the army began to erect their batteries against the town, Admiral Arbuthnot embraced the firft favourable opportunity of palling Sullivan's ifland, upon which there was a strong fort of batteries, the chief defence of the harbour. He weighed on the 9th, with the Roebuck, Richmond, and Romulous, Blonde, Virginia, Raleigh, and Sandwich armed hip, the Renown bringing up the rear; and, palling through a fevere fire anchored in about two hours under Jame's ifland, with the lots of 27 feamen killed and wounded. The Richmond's fore-top-maft was fhot away, and the ships in general fuftained damage in their mafts and rigging, though not materially in their hulls. But the Acetus tranfport, having on board,, fome naval fores, grounded within gun-fhot of Sullivan's ifland, and received fo much damage that the was obliged to be abandoned and burnt.

On the 10th, Sir Henery Clinton and Admiral Arbuthnot fummoned the town to furrender to his majefty's arms: but major-generat Lincoln, who commanded in Charlestown, returned them an answer, declaring it to be his intention to defend the place. The batteries were now opened against the town; and from the effect the fire of the American advanced works confiderably abated. It appears that the number of troops under the command of Lincoln were by for too few for defending works of fuch extent as those of Charlestown; and that many of these were men little accustomed to military fervice, and very ill provided with clothes and other neceffaries. Lincoln had been fer fome time expecting reinforcements and fupplies froma Virginia and other places: but they came in very flowly. Earl Cornwallis and Lieutenant-colonel Tarleton under him, were alfo extremely active in intercepting fuch reinforcements and fupplies as were fent to the American general. They totally defeated a confiderable body of cavalry and militia which was proceeding to the relief of the town; and alfo made themselves mallers of fome pofts which gave them in a great degree the command of the country, by which means great fupplies of provifions fell into their bands,

Such was the flate of things, and fort Sullivan had also been taken by the king's trooks, when on the 18th of May General Clinton again fummoned the town to furrender; an offer being made, as had been done before, that if

they furrendered, the lives and property of the inhabitants fhould be preferved to them. Articles of capitulation were then propofed by General Lincoln; but the terms were not agreed to by General Clinton. Át length, however, the town being clofely invefted on all fides, and the preparations to ftorm it in every part being in great forwardness, and the ships ready to move to the affault, General Lincoln, who had been applied to for that purpofe by the inhabitants, furrendered it on fuch articles of capitulation as General Clinton had before agreed to. This was on the 4th of May, which was one month and two days after the town had been first fummoned to furrender.

A large quantity of ordnance, arms, and ammunition, was found in Charlestown; and, according to Sir Henry Clinton's account, the number of prifoners taken in Charlestown amounted to five thousand fix hundred and eighteen men, exclufively of near a thousand failors in arms; but according to General Lincoln's account tranfmitteft to the congrefs, the whole number of continental troops taken prisoners amounted to no more than two thousand four hundred and eighty feven. The remainder, therefore, included in General Clinton's account, must have confifted of militia the inhabitants of Several American frigates were alfo taken or destroyed in the

harbour of Charlestown.

The lofs of Charlestown evidently excited a confiderable alarm in America, and their popular writers, particularly the author of the celebrated performance intitled Common Senfe, in fome other pieces made ufe of it as powerful argument to lead them to tnore vigorous exertions against Great Britain, that they might more effectually and certainly fecure their independence.

While Sir Henry Clinton was employed in his voyage to Charlestown, and in the fiege of that place, the garrifon at New York feemed to have been wholly free from apprehenfions for their own fafety. An intense froßt, accompanied with great falls of fnow, began about the middle of December 1779, and fhut up the navigation of the port of New York from the fea, within a few days after the departure of Admiral Arbuthnot and General Clinton. The feverity of the weather increafed to fo great a degree, that towards the middle of January all communications with New York by water were entirely cut off, and as many new ones opened by the ice. The inhabitants could fcarcely be faid to be in an infuler flate. Horfes with heavy carriages could go over the ice into the Jerseys from one ifland to another. The paffage to the North River, was even in the wideft part from New York to Paules Hook, which was two thousand yards, about the nineteenth of January practicable for the heaviest cannon: an event which had been unknown in the memory of man. Provifions were foon after transported upon fledges, and a detachment of cavalry marched upon the ice from New York to Staten Island, which was a distance of eleven miles.

The city of New York being thus circumstanced, was confidered as much expofed to the attacks from the continental troops: and it was frongly reported that General Wafaington was meditating a great froke upon New York with his whole force, by different attacks. Some time before this, Major general Pattifon, commandant at New York, having received an addrefs from many of the inhabitants, offering to put themfelves in military array, he thought the prefent an opportunity of trying the fincerity of their profellions. Accordingly he iffued a proclamation, calling upon all the male inhabitants from. fixteen to fixty to take up arms. The requifition was No. 23.

fo readily complied with, that in a few days forty companies from the fix wards inrolled, offered, and under arms, to the number of two thousand fix hundred, many fubftantial citizens ferving in the rank of each company. Other volunteer companies were formed; and the city was put in a very ftrong pofture of defence.

No attack, however, was made upon New York, whatever defign might originally have been meditated; but an attempt was made upon Staten Island, where there were about eighteen hundred men, under the command of Brigadier-general Sterling, who were well intrenched. General Washington, whofe army was hutted at Morris-Town, fent a detachment of two thousand feven hundred men, with fix pieces of cannon, two mortars, and fome horses, commanded by lord Sterling, who arrived at Staten Island early in the morning of the fifteenth of January. The advanced pofts of the British troops retired upon the approach of the Americans, who formed the line, and made fome movements in the courfe of the day; but they withdrew in the night, after having burnt one houfe, pillaged fome others, and carried off with them about two hundred head of cattle. Immediately on the arrival of the Americans on Staten Island, Lieutenant-general Knyphaufen had embarked fix hundred men to attempt a paffage, and to fupport General Sterling but the floating ice compelled them to return. It is, however, imagined, that the appearance of these transports, with the British troops on board, which the Americans could fee toward the close of the day, induced the latter to make fo precepitate retreat.

After Charlestown had furrendered to the king's troops, General Clinton iffued two proclamations, and alfo circulated a hand-bill amongst the inhabitants of South Carolina, in order to induce them to return to their allegiance, and to be ready to join the king's troops. It is faid, that the helping hand of every man was wanted to re-establish peace and good government: and that as the commander in chief wifhed to draw the king's friends into danger, while any doubt could remain of their fuccefs; so now that this was certain, he trufted that one and all would heartily join, and by a general concurrence give effect to fuch neceffary measures for that purpofe as from time to time might be pointed out. Those who had families were to form a militia to remain at home, and occafionally to affemble in their own diftricts, when required, under officers of their own choofing, for the maintenance of peace and good order. Those who had no families and who could conveniently be fpared for a time, it was prefumed, would cheerfully allift his majefly's troops in driving their oppreffors, acting under the authority of congrefs, and all the miferies of war, far from that colony. For this purpose it was faid to be neceffary that the young men fhould be ready to affemble when required, and to ferve with the king's troops for any fix months of the enluing twelve that might be found requifite, under proper regulations. They might choose officers to each company to command them; and were to be allowed, when on service, pay, ammunition, and provifions, in the fame manner as the king's troops. When they joined the army, each man was to be furnished with a certificate, declaring that he was only engaged to ferve as a militiaman for the time specified; and that he was not to be marched beyond North Carolina and Georgia; and that, when the time was out, he was freed from all claims whatever, of military fervice, excepting the commɔa ufual militia-duty where he lived. He would then, it is faid have paid his debt to his country, and be intitled to enjoy undisturbed that peace, liberty, and property, at home, which he had contributed to fecure. The proclama

VOL. IV.

tions and publications of General Clinton appear to have produced fome effect in South Carolina; though they probably operated chiefly upon those who were before not much inclined to the caufe of American independence. Two hundred and ten of the inhabitants of Charlestown figned an address to General Clinton and Admiral Arbuthnot, foliciting to be admitted to the i character and condition of British fubjects, the inhabitants of that city having heen hitherto confidered as prifoners on parole; declaring their difap probation of the doctrine of American independence; and expreffing their regret, that after the repeal of thofe ftatutes which gave rise to the troubles in America, the overtures made by his majefty's commithoners had not been regarded by the congrefs. Sir Henry Clinton in one of the proclamations iffued at this time, declared, that if any perfons fhould thenceforward appear in arms in order to prevent the eflablishment of his majefty's government in that country, or should under any pretence or authority whatfoever attempt to compel any other perfon or perfons to do fe, or who fhould hinder or intimidate the king's faithful and loyal fubjects from joining his forces or otherwife performing thofe duties their allegiance required, fuch perfons fhould be treated with the utmoft feverity, and their eftates be immediately feized in order to be confiscated.

Mean time the ravages of war did not prevent the Americans from paying fome attention to the arts of peace. On the fourth of May an act paffed by the council and houfe of reprefentatives of Maffachufett's Bay for incorporating and establishing a fociety for the cultivation and promotion of the arts and sciences.

Some doubts having arifen in congrefs, towards the clefe of the preceding year, about the propriety of their affembling in the city of Philadelphia, it was now refolved that they should continue to meet there: and a committee of three members be appointed, to report a proper place where buildings might be provided for the reception of the congrefs, together with an ellimate of the expence of providing fuch buildings and the neceffary offices for the feveral boards. It was alfo refolved by the congrefs, that a monument fhould be erected to the memory of their late General Richard Montgomery, who fell at Quebec, in teftimony of his fignal and important fervices to the United States of America, with an infeription expreffive of his amiable character and heroic atchievements; and that the continental treasurers fhould be directed to advance a fum not exceeding three hundred pounds to Dr. Franklin to defray the expence; that gentleman being defired to caufe the monument to be executed at Paris, or in fome other part of France. was likewife refolved by the congrefs, that a court fhould be eftablished for the the trial of all appeals from the court of admiralty of the United States of America, in cafes of capture; to confift of three judges, appointed and commiflioned by congress, and who were to take an oath of office; and that the trials in this court fhould be determined by the ufage of nations.

It

The difficulties of the congrefs and of the people of America had been greatly increated by the depreciation of their paper currency. At the time when the colonies engaged in a war with Great Britain, they had no regular civil governments established among them of fufficient energy to enforce the collection of taxes, or to provide funds for the redemption of fuch bills of credit as their neceflities oblied them to iffue. In confequence of this fate of things, their bills encreafed in quantity far beyond the fum neceffy for the purpofe of a circulating medium: and as they wanted at the fame time specific funds to reft on for their redemdtion, they faw their

paper currency daily fink in value. The depreciation continued, by a kind of gradual progreffion, from the year 1777 to 1780: fo that, at the Inter period, the continental dollars were paffed, by common confent, in moft parts of America, at the rate of at leafl 4gths below their nominal value. The impoffibility of keeping up the credit of the currency to any fixed Aandard, occafioned great and almoft infurmountable embarraffments in af certaining the value of property, or carrying on trade with any fufhcient certoty. Those who fold, and those who bought, were left without a rule whercon to form a judgment of their profit or their lofs; and every fpecies of commerce or exchange, whether foreign or domeftic, was expofed to numberless and increafing difficulties. The confequences of the depreciation of the paper-currency were alto felt with peculiar feverity by fuch of the Americans as were engaged in their military fervices, and greatly augmented their other hardfhips. The requifitions made by the congrefs to the feveral colonies for fupplies, were alfo far from being always regularly complied with: and their troops were not unfrequently in want of the molt common necessaries; which naturally occafioned complaint and difcontent among them. Some of thefe difficulties, refulting from their circumflances and fituation, perhaps no wisdom could have prevented: but they feem to have ariden in part from the congrefs not being fufficiently acquinted with the principles of finance, and from a defect of fyllem in the departments of their government. The caufe of the Americans appears alfo to have fuffered fomewhat by their depending too much on temporary enliftments. But the congress endeavoured, towards the clofe of the year 1780, to put their army upon a more permanent footing, and to give all the fatisfaction to their officers and foldiers which their circumflances would permit. They appointed a committee for arranging their finances, and made fome new regulations refpecting their war-office and treafury-board, and other public de

partments.

Notwithstanding the difadvantages under which they laboured, the Americans feemed to entertain no doubts but that they should be able to maintain their independency. The 4th of July was celebrated this year at Philadel phia with fome pomp, as the anniversary of American independence. A commencement for conferring degrees in the arts was held the fame day, in the hall of the univerfity there; at which the prefident and members of the congrefs attended, and other perfons in public offices. The Chevalier de la Lucerne, minifter plenipotentiary from the French king to the United States, was alfo prefent on the occafion. A charge was publicly addrelfed by the provaft of the univerfity to the ftudents; in which he faid, that he could not but congratulate them "on that aufpicious day, which, amidst the confufions and defolations of war, beheld learning beginning to revive; and animated them with the pleasing profpect of feeing the facred lamp of fcience burning with a ftill brighter flame, and feattering its invigorating rays over the unexplored deferts of that extenfive continent; until the whole world thould be involved in the united blaze of knowledge, liberty and religion. When he fretched his views forward (he faid,) and furveyed the riling glories of America, the enriching confequences of their determined firuggle for liberty, the extenfive fields of intellectual improvement and ufeful invention, in fcience and arts, in agriculture and commerce, in religion and government, through which the unfettered mind would range, with increafing delight, in quel of the undiscovered treasure which yet lay conceal ed in the animal, vegetable, and mineral kingdoms of that new world; or