177 A. D. 1776. gress. Discussion respecting Troops from Ireland. - Motion of Mr. Fox.German Troops engaged. - Duke of Grafton's Motion for Concili ation.- Motion for Militia in Scotland. Boston.- Quebec relieved and Arnold obliged to retreat. - Defeat British Army leaves of Loyalists in South Carolina.-American Squadron plunders the Bahamas.- Fate of Lord Dunmore's Flotilla. - Unsuccessful Attempt upon Charleston. Declaration of Independence by ConAdmiral and General Howe at Staten Island. circular Letters.- Victory at Long Island.- Possession of New Their York.-Action at White Plains. Capture of Forts Washington and Lee.- Rhode Island occupied by the British.-Defeat of Americans on Lake Champlain.-General Lee made Prisoner.. Transactions of Congress.- Confederacy between the Colonies.Defections in New York and Philadelphia. — Affair at Trenton.Cherokees defeated.- Partiality of European Nations to the Americans.- British Navy augmented. - Autumnal Session of Parliament.- King's Speech.-Debates.- Dispute between Spain and Portugal.-Emperor Joseph's Reforms.- War between Persia and Turkey.- Affairs of the East Indies.- Capture of Tanjore and Restoration of the Rajah. Quarrel between Lord Pigot and the Council of Madras. Lord Pigot put under Confinement. - THE first important discussion in parliament after the Christmas recess arose from the following circumstance. The Earl of Harcourt, lord lieutenant of Ireland, had sent to the House of Commons in that country a message containing a requisition in the king's name of 4000 troops of its establishment for the American service, with a promise, that they should not, during their absence, be a charge upon that establishment, and also an offer to replace them, if desired, by an equal number of foreign protestants, the charge of which should be defrayed without expence to Ireland. The troops were granted according to this requisition; but notwithstand VOL. I. N ing the efforts of government, the offer of the foreign troops was rejected by a considerable majority. This transaction, in which the disposal of the public money was engaged for without consulting the British House of Commons, was introduced on February 15th into parliament by way of complaint of a breach of privilege, by Mr. Thomas Townshend, who moved for a committee to enquire into the matter. A considerable debate ensued, in which the ministers and their friends were somewhat embarrassed for a consistent defence of the measure: the motion was however quashed by a majority of 224 to 106. Another motion relative to the subject was got rid of by the previous question. A motion by Mr. Fox for a committee to enquire into the causes of the ill success of his Majesty's arms in North America, and of the defection of the people of the province of Quebec, gave scope to much severe censure of the measures of ministry, in which some of the friends of government joined, but was rejected by a large majority. The treaties entered into with the Landgrave of Hesse Cassel, the Duke of Brunswick, and the Hereditary Prince of Hesse Cassel, for the hire of troops for the American service to the amount of about 17,000 men, were laid before the House of Commons on February 19th, and a motion was made by the minister for referring them to a committee of supply. In the debate which followed, the measure of engaging foreign troops was defended from the experienced impossibility of raising a sufficient number of recruits in these kingdoms for the reduction of America, and the advantage of employing well disciplined instead of raw troops. These reasons were warmly combated by the opposition, but the motion was carried by 241 to 88. In the House of Lords a similar debate took place on the subject, with the like event. One more effort towards conciliation was made in a motion by the Duke of Grafton for an address to his Majesty, requesting that a proclamation might be issued to declare that if, within a reasonable time before or after the arrival of troops in America, the colonies shall present a petition to the commander in chief, or the commissioners under the late act, setting forth what they consider to be their just rights and real grievances; his Majesty will consent to a suspension of arms, and will assure them that their petition shall be received and answered. This motion was productive of a long and vigorous debate, in which the ministers and their friends held, in firmer language than before, the doctrine of unconditional submission on the part of the Americans. The motion was rejected by a majority of nearly three to one. A bill for the establishment of a militia in Scotland had been brought in by Lord Mount Stewart in the preceding December, but for want of attendance had not obtained due discussion. The second reading of it having been ordered for March 20th, the measure was fully argued; the advocates for it, among which were included all the Scotch members, reasoning upon the utility of a militia, as a national defence, and the injustice of refusing to Scotland its share in this institution; and the opposers objecting the expence and the addition it would make to the already excessive power of the crown. On a division it was thrown out by 112 votes to 95, the minister being in the minority. The other business of the session was of no material importance; and a vote of credit for a million having been obtained, it was concluded on May 23. At Boston, the troops and the remaining inhabitants were reduced to much distress during the winterseason, for want of provision and fuel, many vessels with articles for their relief being taken in the very entrance of the harbour, and the attempts for procuring them elsewhere being attended with small success. The armies had been inactive on both sides till the beginning of March, when the Americans opened a battery near the water-side, from which they carried on a cannonade and bombardment against the town. Shortly after, some works were raised on the heights on the opposite side of the town, whence other bat teries were opened. It now became evident, that the British troops must either quit Boston, or dislodge the enemy; and General Howe, conceiving that a regard for the reputation of the army required an attempt for the latter, however hazardous, made preparations for the purpose. A strong detachment was destined for embarkation in the evening, but the design was rendered impracticable by a violent storm; and when, on the next day it was resumed, a new and stronger work was found to have been thrown up by the Americans, which took away all hope of success. Nothing then remained but to abandon the town, and convey on ship-board the troops, artillery, stores, and portable effects, not only of the soldiers, but of all the inhabitants who had attached themselves to the royal party, and were to accompany the army in its removal. This business occupied ten days, during which no molestation was given by the Americans. On the 17th of March, as the rear embarked, General Washington marched triumphantly into Boston on the other side. The king's troops were obliged to leave behind them a considerable quantity of stores and some cannon. They blew up the fortification of Castle William before their departure. Thus terminated the attempts for reducing that colony, which was the first and principal object of resentment to the British cabinet. The blockade of Quebec had in the mean time been continued by Arnold, notwithstanding all the hardships and difficulties attending it. On the approach of the season in which supplies from England might be expected, the siege was renewed, and attempts were made to set the town on fire, but with no other success than that of burning the suburbs. At length, a man of war and two frigates having made their way up the St. Laurence through the ice, and landed their marines and a small detachment of soldiers, General Carleton, on March 6th, made an attack upon the American camp, where every thing was in great confusion, a retreat being already begun. The besiegers immediately betook themselves to a precipitate flight, leaving behind them their artillery and military stores, and some sick, who were made prisoners; and Quebec was thus liberated, after an investment of five months. In the latter part of May, several British regiments, and the Brunswick succours, arrived in Canada, making a total of about 13,000 men in that province, the general rendezvous of which was appointed at Three Rivers (Trois Rivières). The provincials continued their retreat to the banks of the Sorel, where they were joined by some reinforcements; but they suffered much from the small-pox, which spread through their quarters. They failed in an attempt to surprise a division of the royal forces; and having abandoned Montreal, and burnt St. John's, and the vessels which they were unable to drag across the rapids, they embarked on Lake Champlain, and reached Crown Point without further loss. Governor Martin of South Carolina, who had taken refuge on board a man of war, kept up a correspondence with the Regulators in the back settlements, and the Highland emigrants, and engaged a number of them in the king's service, under the command of a Mr. M'Donald, to whom he gave the commission of General. This leader erected the royal standard in February, and advanced against General Moore, the commander of a provincial regiment, who had taken a strong post at Rockfish-bridge. Whilst they were parleying, other bodies of provincials collected, so that M'Donald, in fear of being surrounded, commenced a retreat. He was pursued, and brought to action on February 27th, by Colonel Caswell, at the head of an inferior body of militia and minute-men, the result of which was, that M'Donald's corps was entirely dispersed, and himself, with most of his officers, taken prisoners. A squadron of five frigates was sent out by the Congress early in the year under Commodore Hopkins, who sailed to the Bahamas, and plundered the island of Providence of a quantity of artillery and stores, carrying off the governor and other public officers. They |