This remark may be fully illustrated by the following extract' from General Washington's letter to Congress, soon after he joined the army.

should be extremely deficient in gratitude, as well as justice, if I did not take the first opportunity to acknowledge the readiness, and attention which the Con'gress, and different committees have shown to make every thing as convenient, and agreeable as possible; but there is a vital delay, incompatible with military service, in transacting business through such various, and different channels. I esteem it my duty therefore, to represent the inconvenience that must unavoidably ensue, from a dependence on a number of persons for supplies, and submit it to the consideration of Congress, whether the public service will not be best promoted by appointing a commissary general for that purpose."

The embarrassments arising from the want of engineers, clothes, camp untensils, and tools necessary to the operations of an army, were all severely felt, together with that disaffection amongst the officers that was occasioned by the congressional appointments; yet all these were obviated in the mind of the general in chief, by the reflection that "he possessed a great number of men, able bodied, active, zealous in the cause, and of unquestionable courage, which constituted the materials of a good army."

The force of the enemy at Boston, &c. was now augmented by a reinforcement from England, and amounted to about 8,000 men. General Washington now called a council of war to settle a general plan of operations, in which it was unanimously agreed to maintain their present position, and in case of their being forced from their present lines, by the enemy, it was resolved that the

Welsh Mountains, near Cambridge, and the rear of the lines at Roxbury, be the place of rendezvous; at the same time a line of express horses, and videt boats were established, to watch and communicate intelligence of the motions of the enemy, to all parts of the army.

In this state of things, General Washington saw the necessity of commencing more serious, and vigorous operations against the enemy, before the services of any part of the army began to expire, and he therefore having fully reconnoitered the positions of the enemy in person, proposed to commence an attack upon their lines, by an attempt to carry the town of Boston by storm, and thus destroying the British army before another reinforcement should arrive. The general communicated his views to the several officers by letter, for mature and deliberate consideration, and then assembled them in council to decide on the measure. They met accordingly, and decided unanimously," that for the present at least, the attempt ought not to be made," and the blockade was continued.

This blockade proved very distressing to the British, by cutting off the forage, and supplies of fresh meat, and other comforts and conveniences, necessary to such an army..

On the first of August, it was ascertained, that the enemy had lost in various ways, about 2500 of his original force, since the 19th of April, and from this it was most probably concluded by the general council of war, that the enemy might so diminish before spring, as to become more vulnerable, and fall an easy prey to the American arms, before the spring recruits should arrive.

Pressed by this siege, the enemy scoured the adjacent coast, together with that of the neighbouring colonies, to obtain supplies; this led the several governors to press the commander in chief, so often and so urgently for de

tachments from the army before Boston, to assist in the defence of their coast, as to render it necessary for Congress to pass a resolve, “that the army before Boston was destined only to oppose the enemy at that place, and ought not to be weakened by detachments for the security of other parts of the country."

Strange as it may appear, that these patriotic sons of liberty should have given occasion for such a resolve in Congress, at so early a day in the war; yet the town of Newport went one step further, and actually stipulated with Captain Wallace, commander of the British ships of war on that station, to supply him with provisions, &c. Jupon conditions that he should spare the town, and adjacent (country. This agreement was carried into effect, and formed an article of exception in the resolves of the assembly of Rhode Island, in which they, in conjunction -with the other colonies, denounce as traitors, and felons, all such as shall be convicted of holding correspondence -with the enemy; or of supplying the ministerial army, or navy, with provisions, or other necessaries. General Washington saw the tendency, as well as the immediate ill effects arising from such a policy, and addressed a letter to the governor of Rhode-Island accordingly.

3

In July Georgia joined the confederacy, and America then took the title of the "Thirteen United Colonics." '. I have omitted the proceedings of Carolina, particularly upon the news of the Lexington battle, that the proceedings of Congress and the operations of the war might not be interrupted; a general sketch of their proceedings may not be uninteresting in this place.

South Carolina, immediately upon the tidings that blood › had been shed by the British at Lexington, convened her provincial congress, consisting of 172 members, June 1st, by a summons from her general committee, and chose Henry Laurens, Esq. President.

On the 2d of June they passed the following resolve unanimously. "Thoroughly convinced, that under our present distressed circumstances, we shall be justified before God and man, in resisting force by force, we do unite ourselves under every tie of religion, and honor, and associate as a band in the defence of our injured country, against every foe; hereby solemnly egaging that whenever our continental or provincial councils shall decree it necessary, we will go forth, and be ready to sacrifice our lives, and fortunes to secure her defence, and safety. This obligation to continue in full force until a reconciliation shall take place between Great-Britain and America, upon constitutional principles; an event which we most heartily desire. And we will hold all those persons inimical to the liberty of the colonies, who shall refuse to subscribe this association."

This resolve was cordially supported by the people. On the 5th this congress proceeded to raise two regiments of foot, and one regiment of rangers for the defence of the colony; and the language of the day was, "We will freely give up one half, or even the whole of our property, to secure our liberties."

This congress assumed the reins of government for the colony; issued an emission of bills of credit; received the resignation of the officers of the militia under the governors; issued new ones, or made new appointments, as circumstances might require; and thus took the sword and the purse of the colony into their own hands.

During the session, the governor, Lord William Campbell, arrived, and was cordially received.

On the 21st congress waited upon the governor to explain the causes that had led to the measures they had adopted, and at the same time assured his excellency, "that no love of innovation, no desire to alter the constitution of government, no lust of independence had the least influence on their counsels; but that they had been impelled

to associate and take up arms, solely for the preservation, and in defence of their lives, liberties, and properties. They intreated his excellency to make such representation of the state of the colony and of their true motives, as to assure his majesty that he had no subjects who more sincerely desired to testify their loyalty and affection, or would more willingly devote their lives and fortunes to his real service." His lordship received their assurances, and replied like a courtier, prudently declining to censure what he could not controul.

They next delegated their authority to the council of safety and general committee, and having recommended to them to give the covenant a very general circulation through the colony, and to notice particularly all who should refuse to subscribe*-they adjourned.

These spirited resolutions were entered into by SouthCarolina, when the whole colony could not muster 3000 pounds of powder. This did not abate, but rather increased their energies. The council of safety authorised an expedition to East-Florida in quest of powder, consisting of twelve adventurers, who sailed from Charlestown, and proceeded to St. Augustine, where they boarded a vessel defended by her crew, and twelve British grenadiers of the 14th regiment, took out 15,000 lbs. of powder, and returned in safety. This was an act worthy of the sons of liberty in South Carolina.

The spirits of the patriotic sons of liberty in North Carolina, took fire also at the tidings of the conflict at Lexington; rallied round the standard of their bleeding country, and proceeded to organize their militia after the manner of the southern colony, to make a stand against the opposition of the adherents of Britain. Alarmed for the safety of his person and government, Governor Martin be

* All non-subscribers were publicly interdicted from all social intercourse with the subscribers. Several were confined to their own houses or planfations, as dangerous to society.