than had been charged before duties were imposed. The colonists, however, continued in their determination to firmly adhere to their principles, and not be taxed in any manner whatsoever without their own consent. It was the prevailing sentiment throughout the country, that this new plan of the government was a direct attack on the liberties of the people, which was the duty of all to oppose. The East India Company, confident of finding a market for their tea, reduced as it now was in price, freighted several ships to America with that commodity, and appointed agents for the disposal of it. Cargoes were sent to New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and Charleston, S. C. The inhabitants of New York and Philadelphia sent them back to London. The tea at Charleston was stored in cellars, where it could not be used, and where it finally perished. In Boston, a number of armed men disguised as Indians boarded the ships and threw their whole cargoes into the sea.

The settlement of the territory afterward comprised within the State of Kentucky, was commenced, by the emigration there of Daniel Boone accompanied with several families.

The English settlements on the east side of the Mississippi River, in the Natchez country, were increased by emigrations in June and July of about four hundred families.

About three hundred families of Germans removed from Maine, and settled in the south-western part of South Carolina. Within one year six thousand negro slaves were imported into South Carolina.

The first newspaper published in Baltimore was issued on the 20th of August, under the title of The Maryland Journal and Baltimore Advertiser.

The first steam engine constructed in America was built at Philadelphia. 1774 Intelligence of the destruction of the tea at Boston was officially declared to parliament by the king, and he represented in his communication that the conduct of the colonists was, not merely an obstruction to the commerce of Great Britain, but as subversive of the British constitution. In accordance with that sentiment, parliament passed an act by which the port of Boston was declared to be legally closed, and another act by which the charter of Massachusetts was altered so as to essentially abridge the liberties of the people. In the apprehension that in the execution of these acts riots would take place, and that trials for murders committed in suppressing them would be partially decided by the colonial courts, another act was passed declaring that if any person were indicted for any capital offence committed in aiding magistracy in Massachusetts, the governor might send the person sc indicted to Nova Scotia or to Great Britain for trial. General Gage was appointed governor of Massachusetts as the most proper person to see to the execution of the laws respecting that colony and its capital, and he arrived at Boston on the 13th of May. On the 1st of June, the day designated when the Port Bill should go into operation, busi

ness was closed in that city, and the harbor shut up against all vessels. In sympathy with the inhabitants of that city, the day was observed in many of the colonies as a day of fasting and mourning, and subscriptions were set on foot for such poor inhabitants as should be deprived of the means of subsistence by the operation of the act.

The necessity of a General Congress was now perceived throughout the colonies, and that measure was adopted by every colony from New Hampshire to South Carolina. On the 4th of September delegates from eleven colonies appeared at Philadelphia, and the next day, having formed themselves into a congress, chose Peyton Randolph president, and Charles Thompson secretary. A declaration of rights was soon agreed on, the several acts infringing and violating those rights recited, and the repeal of them resolved to be essentially necessary to the restoration of harmony between Great Britain and the colonies. A non-importation, non-consumption, and non-exportation agreement was adopted. On the 14th of September deputies from North Carolina arrived and joined the congress. In October an address was prepared to the king and the people of Great Britain, and forwarded to the colonial agents established there.

In the mean time the people of Boston were further incensed by the arrival there of numerous British troops and proceedings instituted by General Gage.

Toward the close of the year news arrived of a proclamation of the king prohibiting the exportation of military stores to America. The people of Rhode Island immediately secured to themselves from the public battery about forty cannon, and the legislature passed resolutions for obtaining arms and military stores and for arming the inhabitants. In New Hampshire the colonists took forcible possession of the fort at the entrance of Portsmouth harbor, and carried away upwards of one hundred barrels of powder.

Parliament voted to dismiss Benjamin Franklin from his office of deputy postmaster-general in America, because of his sympathy with the measures of the colonists.

The Creek and Cherokee Indians ceded to the King of Great Britain several millions of acres of land in Georgia.

The Indians on the Ohio having become hostile, the Governor of Virginia sent about fourteen hundred troops into that country. In a battle which took place on the 10th of October、 the troops were defeated, with a loss of four hundred killed and one hundred wounded.

At this time there were 6464 negroes in Connecticut and 3761 in Rhode Island.

The streets of Boston for the first time were lighted with lamps.

The first dwelling-house in Kentucky was erected this year, on or near the site of the town of Harrodsburg.

1775 The British Government continued its coercive measures against the American colonies, notwithstanding the oppositic

of some of the most eminent members of parliament. The petition from congress to the king had been referred by him to the House of Commons, which body refused to hear and discuss it by a large majority. Bills were passed restraining the trade of New England, and to prohibit the colonists from engaging in fishery on the banks of Newfoundland. Acts were passed soon after restraining trade and commerce in some of the Middle and Southern colonies.

In the colonies preparations for defence in case of hostilities were made in all parts. In Massachusetts a rupture was imminent at any time, and the people of Boston were so exasperated that they were ready for open war. The occasion soon arrived. A quantity of military stores were stored at Concord, a place about eighteen miles inland from Boston. General Gage on the 19th of April sent about eight hundred British troops to destroy them. On the arrival of the soldiers at Lexington, they met about seventy armed colonists, who were ordered to disperse by the British officer. Upon their not obeying this order instantly, he directed his troops to fire upon them. This order was obeyed, and eight of the colonists were killed and several wounded; the rest dispersed. The firing continued after the dispersion, and the fugitives stopped and returned the fire. The British detachment proceeded to Concord. The inhabitants of that town having received the alarm, drew up in order for defence, but observing the number of the British troops, they retired and waited for reinforcements. A party of light infantry followed them, while the main body proceeded to execute their commission. They disabled cannon, threw five hundred pounds of ball into the river and wells, and broke in pieces about sixty barrels of flour. In the mean time a skirmish ensued between the colonists and the light infantry, and the British troops were forced to retreat with some loss. They were soon joined by the main body, and the detachment retreated with precipitancy. All the people of the adjacent country were by this time in arms, and they attacked the retreating troops in every direction until they drew near to Boston. The battle at Lexington was a signal of war. The forts, magazines, and arsenals throughout the colonies were instantly secured by the people. Regular forces were raised, and money issued for their support. An army of twenty thousand men appeared in the environs of Boston, and formed an emcampment from Roxbury to the Mystic River. This army was soon increased by a large body of troops from Connecticut; and by these collective forces the king's troops were closely blocked up in the peninsula of Boston.

It was soon perceived by the colonists that the possession of Ticonderoga and Crown Point would be of great importance. An expedition consisting of about two hundred and thirty men from New Hampshire Grants under Colonel Ethan Allen, joined with a small body of Connecticut militia under Colonel Benedict Arnold, proceeded on that enterprise. On the 10th of May they surprised the fort at Ticonderoga garrisoned by

British soldiers, and compelled its surrender, with many valuable stores. Crown Point was taken soon afterward, and the command of Lakes George and Champlain secured by the colonists.

Toward the end of May a considerable force of British troops arrived at Boston from England, and about the same time Generals Howe, Burgoyne, and Clinton, who had gained considerable reputation in preceding wars. The movements of the British army excited an apprehension that General Gage intended to penetrate into the country. It was therefore ordered by congress that measures should be taken for the defence of Dorchester Neck, and to occupy Bunker Hill. This hill, which is high and commanding, stands at the entrance of the peninsula of Charlestown. Orders were accordingly issued on the 16th of June for a detachment of one thousand men to take possession of that eminence, but by some mistake Breed's Hill was marked out instead of Bunker Hill for the projected intrenchments. About nine in the evening the detachment moved from Cambridge, and passing silently over Charlestown Neck, ascended Breed's Hill and reached the top without being observed. The Americans immediately commenced their work, and labored with such diligence that by dawn of day they had thrown up a redoubt about eight rods square. At break of day the work was discovered in Boston, and General Gage despatched thirty companies of troops with artillery to dislodge the Americans, but they perceiving that the hill was well fortified concluded to await reinforcements from Boston. Meanwhile the Americans were reinforced, and they awaited the assault. The battle soon commenced. The British were twice repulsed with great loss, and driven back in confusion. Upon a third attack the ammunition of the Americans gave out and a retreat was ordered, after an obstinate resistance with their bayonets. Meanwhile the British set fire to the village of Charlestown and destroyed about four hundred houses. In the engagement the British employed about three thousand men, and lost in killed and wounded 1054; the number of Americans engaged was about fifteen hundred, and their loss was 453.

On the 10th of May a second Continental Congress met at Philadelphia, and voted that 20,000 men should be immediately raised and equipped, and unanimously chose George Washington, who was then a delegate from Virginia, to be commanderin-chief of all the continental forces. It was also voted to issue bills of credit to the amount of three millions of Spanish dollars to help defray the expenses of the war. On the 2d of July General Washington arrived at Cambridge and took command of the American army.

Two expeditions against the British in Canada were organized: one under General Montgomery captured Montreal, took a large number as prisoners, and secured considerable valuable property, and thence proceeded to Quebec. The other expedition under the command of Benedict Arnold marched through the wilderness of Maine and Canada, and joined the forces of

Montgomery before Quebec. On the last day of the year an assault was made on that place, in which General Montgomery was killed.

Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut each armed and equipped two vessels to operate against the enemy. Congress also resolved to equip an armament of thirteen vessels. On the 29th of November an American privateer captured three ships from London, Glasgow, and Liverpool, containing military stores for the British army.

Congress voted that a line of posts should be established from Maine to Georgia, and appointed Benjamin Franklin Postmaster-General.

Colonel Moultrie, of the South Carolina militia, took possession of Fort Johnson, on St. James' Island, in September.

A British ship, with other armed cruisers, sailed into the harbor of Bristol, R. I., on the 7th of October, and fired upon the town, doing great damage to the place. On the 10th of December they destroyed the buildings on Conanicut Island.

In July a great number of the chiefs and warriors of the Six Confederate Nations assembled in Montreal, and agreed to support the cause of the king.

In the autumn General Gage sailed for England, and the command of the British army devolved upon Sir William Howe.

The first anti-slavery society in America was formed in Philadelphia on the 14th of April, and was composed mostly of Quakers. 1776 The measures of the British Government accelerated an event which, if anticipated and wished for by a few of the colonists, had not hitherto been generally desired. Independence was not the object of the controversy on the part of the colonies, but constitutional liberty. During the last session of parliament the ultimate plan for reducing the colonies was fixed. The Americans were declared out of the royal protection, and seventeen thousand foreign mercenaries were to be employed to aid in their subjugation. On the 7th of June a motion was made in congress for declaring the colonies free and independent. After a full discussion, on the 4th of July the measure was approved by nearly an unanimous vote. The Declaration of Independence concluded with these words: "We, therefore, the representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name and by authority of the good people of these colonies, solemnly declare that these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, FREE AND INDEPENDENT STATES; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as free and independent States they have full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and to do all other acts and things which independent States ought to