1776.inconceivable, the importance of it being heightened by gen. Clinton and lord William Campbell's being then at Cape Fear in fanguine expectation of being joined by the vanquished. The Americans under colonels Cafwell and Lillington were about 1000 ftrong. Parties and another officer took a folemn oath before the com- In South Carolina, when the recommendation of the continental congrefs for the eftablishment of a form of government came to be confidered, a great part of the provincial congrefs oppofed the measure; it had fo much the appearance of an eternal feparation from a country, by a reconciliation with which many yet hoped for a return of ancient happiness. While they were fufpended on this important debate, an exprefs arrived from Savannah, with the act of parliament, paffed December 21, 1775, confifcating all the American property found floating upon the water; and compelling all the crews belonging to American veffels, without diftinction of perfons, to ferve as common failors in the Britifh fhips of war. By this act they confidered all the colonists from New Hampshire to Georgia inclufively, as thrown out of the king's protection. The timely arrival of it turned the feale, filenced all who were advocates for a reconciliation, and produced a majority for an independent conflitution. In lefs than an hour after the act was read in the convention, an order was iffued to feize for 1776. the public, a Jamaica veffel laden with fugar, which had put into Charlestown in her way for London; though fhe had the day before obtained leave to pafs the forts, and meant to fail in the afternoon. Still the attachment of numbers to Great Britain was fo ftrong, that though they affented to the establishment of an independent conftitution; yet it was carried after a long debate, that it is only to exift "till a reconciliation with Great Britain and the colonies fhall take place *." The tranfactions in Georgia remain to be related. Gen. Howe while at Bofton, in order to obtain rice, fent major Grant and capt. Maitland with four tranfports and 200 marines to Savannah. The South Carolina congrefs having timely information, commiffioned col. Stephen Bull to act in aid of the Georgians: he accordingly marched a body to their affiftance. A battery was erected, which fired fmartly upon the tranfports on their arrival in the harbour. Upon this they went round an ifland in the night to get at fome veffels going to Great Britain. About four o'clock in the morning of Mar. March the third, the enemy, by collufion with the mas- £ 3• ters and others, got on board these fhips, where they attempted to conceal themselves. But knowledge of it being obtained, 300 men were immediately marched oppofite the fhipping, with three four-pounders, and threw up a breaft work. Firing between both parties after a while enfued. At length it was determined to burn the veffels, and orders were iffued to fire the Invernefs and cut her loofe; which being executed, the * Dr. Ramfay's Hiftory of the Revolution of South Carolina, vol. i. p. 82, and onward. 25; 1776. marines in the utmoft confufion, got on fhore in the marfh, while the riflemen and field pieces were inceffantly galling them. The fhipping also were in the utmoft diforder. Some got up the river under cover of an armed floop, while others caught the flame, and, as they paffed and repaffed with the tide, were the fubject of gratulation and applause. Seven loaded veffels were burnt, and the intention of gen. Howe entirely frustrated. Philadelphia will detain us for a while. Congrefs Jan. refolved, "That to express the veneration of the United Colonies for their late general, Richard Montgomery, and the deep fenfe they entertain of the many fignal and important fervices of that gallant officer; and to tranfmit to future ages, as examples truly worthy of imițation, his patriotism, conduct, boldness of enterprise, infuperable perseverance, and contempt of danger and death, a monument be procured from Paris, or any other part of France, with an infcription facred to his memory, and expreffive of his amiable character and heroic atchievements; and that Dr. Smith be defired to prepare and deliver a funeral oration in honor of the general, and those officers and foldiers, who fo magnanimoufly fought and fell with him in maintaining the principles of American liberty." They ordered gen. Thomas to take the command of the troops in Canada; endeavoured to collect gold and filver, in exchange for continental bills of credit, Mar. for the fervice in that quarter; and appointed Dr. Franklin, Samuel Chase, and Charles Carroll efqrs. commiffioners to form a union between the people of the United Colonies and thofe of that province. They left New York in the beginning of April on their way thither. 20. As the priests have been prevailed upon to refuse the fa- 1776 craments to thofe of the Canadians, who are deemed rebels, and as it operates powerfully against the American intereft, a prieft is gone from Maryland to perform all the needful fervices of the Romish religion. Congrefs came to the refolution, "That the inhabitants of 23. these colonies be permitted to fit out armed veffels to cruise on the enemies of the United Colonies;" and many others which related to it. They took notice, in the declaration which preceded them, of the act of parliament paffed the 21ft of December. This act has made many converts to independency in all the colonies. After reading gen. Washington's letter of the 19th, in- 25% forming congrefs of the evacuation of Boston, they ordered thanks to be presented to him, in their own and in the name of the Thirteen United Colonies; and to the officers and foldiers under his command; and that a medal of gold be ftruck in commemoration of the event, and presented to his excellency. They refolved April to admit of the importation of any goods and merchan- 6 dife, (if not of the growth, production or manufacture of, or brought from any country under the dominion of the king of Great Britain) except Eaft India tea. They on the fame day determined, "That no flaves be imported into any of the colonies." They ordered a fpeech to be delivered to capt. White Eyes, whom they, no less than lord Dunmore, in compliance with the expectation of the Indian, addreffed with a" brother capt. White Eyes." The difufe of tea is again fashionable through the United Colonies. It became fo in the Maffachusetts, foon after the Eaft India company's teas were deftroyed 10. 1776. on December the 16th, 1773. Coffee, which is about Apr. nine-pence fterling the pound, is fubftituted by vast numbers for the once favorite herb of China; now the more readily exploded for having been the accidental occafion of the troubles with which the colonists are exercifed. Dr. Warren's merit obliges me to mention, that the lodge of Free Mafons, whereof he was late grand mafter, agreed to take up his remains, and in the ufual funeral folemnities of that fociety decently to inter the fame. The fpot where he was buried, was pointed out with thofe attending circumftances that affured them, that they had gained the poffeffion thereof though confifting of bones only; which were honorably interred in Bofton, being attended by a grand proceffion of the fociety, accompanied by a crowd of spectators. Commodore Ezekiel Hopkins's naval expedition is the laft article of intelligence to be related. The fleet confifted of two fhips, two brigs, and a floop, all armed and well manned, including better than 200 marines, Feb. On the 17th of February they left Cape Henlopen, and 17. after a pleasant paffage of fifteen days, came to an anchor off the inland Abacco, about feventeen leagues from New Providence, which gave the commodore an opportunity of inquiring into the ftate of the laft ifland, and of learning that it was well fupplied with warlike stores: on which it was deemed a proper object. The marines were embarked on board fome fmall veffels belonging to New Providence, which had been taken; and the whole failed Saturday evening, March the 2d; the next morning all the men were landed at the eaft end of the inland. They were marched toward the fort built about half |