of the three Williams of Nassau, and of all those whose memory has been, and will be, for ever dear to virtuous men, and good citizens."

The members of congress from Pennsylvania and Maryland, were not present, and the deliberations on the subject were postponed to the first of July. On that day the discussion was renewed, and, on the fourth of July, 1776, the report of the special committee was adopted, dissolving the allegiance of the colonies to the British crown, and declaring them free and independent, under the style of the Thirteen United States of America. The committee who drafted this instrument, consisted of Messrs. Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Philip Livingston.

This declaration was signed by all the members of congress, whose names, and the states to which they respectively belonged, were as follows:

John Hancock, President, from Massachusetts.

NEW-HAMPSHIRE.

Josiah Bartlett,

William Whipple,

Matthew Thornton.

MASSACHUSETTS.

Samuel Adams,
John Adams,
Robert Treat Paine,
Elbridge Gerry.

RHODE ISLAND.

Stephen Hopkins,
William Ellery.

CONNECTICUT.

Roger Sherman,
Samuel Huntington,
William Williams,
Oliver Wolcott.

DELAWARE.

Cæsar Rodney,
George Read.

MARYLAND.

Samuel Chase,

William Paca,

Thomas Stone,

Charles Carroll of Carrollton.

VIRGINIA.

George Wythe,

Richard Henry Lee,
Thomas Jefferson,
Benjamin Harrison,
Thomas Nelson, Jr.
Francis Lightfoot Lee,
Carter Braxton.

NEW-YORK.

William Floyd,
Philip Livingston,
Francis Lewis,
Lewis Morris.

NEW-JERSEY.

Richard Stockton,
John Witherspoon,
Francis Hopkinson,
John Hart,
Abraham Clark,

This declaration was received by the people with transports of joy. Public rejoicings took place in various parts of the Union. In New-York, the statue of George III. was taken down, and the lead, of which it was composed, was converted into musket-balls. In Boston, the garrison was drawn up in King's-street, which, from that moment, took the name of State-street, and thirteen salutes, by thirteen detachments, into which the troops were formed, were fired; the bells of the town were rung, in token of felicitation, and the evening concluded with the tearing in pieces and burning the ensigns of royalty-lions, sceptres, and crowns.

CHAPTER VIII.

Revolution continued.-Capture of New-York.

On the evacuation of Boston by General Howe, Washington suspected that the possession of New-York would be a favourite object. To prevent this, if possible, he determined to make that city his head-quarters, and thus to prevent its occupation by the British general. He ac cordingly soon removed to that city, with the principal part of his army.

On the 28th of June, General Howe arrived at SandyHook, near New-York, with his armament from Halifax, where he was joined by his brother, Lord Howe, on the

12th of July, with another armament. By the latter arrival, the two brothers were clothed with powers to treat with the United States, collectively or separately. A flag was despatched to Amboy, to announce his commission. This circular was communicated to Congress by General Washington.

The American army at New-York amounted to little more than seventeen thousand men, a part of which force was encamped at Brooklyn, on Long Island. The combined forces of the British amounted to twenty-four thousand, which were landed near the Narrows, nine miles from the city, on the 2d of August. On the 27th, the British forces, under Sir Henry Clinton, Percy, and Cornwallis, attacked the American camp at Long-Island, which was defended by Brigadier-General Sullivan, who was defeated, with the loss of more than a thousand men, while the loss of the British was less than four hundred. Brigadier-Generals Lord Stirling and Woodhull fell into the hands of the English. General Washington perceived with anguish, what would be the result. of the battle, but he dare not draw off more troops from the city, as he would not even by that measure, be able to cope with the British. On both sides, this battle was expected. On the 22d, the British effected a landing at Utrecht, near the Narrows, under cover of the ships, and every preparation was made to meet them manfully. Colonel Hand was ordered to the high ground, in order to protect the pass leading to Flatbush. Lord Cornwallis was ordered to secure this pass, if it could be done without an engagement. He halted at the village, finding that the pass was secured by the Americans. On this occasion, Washington issued the following orders:

"The enemy have now landed upon Long Island, the hour is fast approaching in which the honour and success of this army, and the safety of our bleeding country, depend. Remember, officers and soldiers, that you are freemen, fighting for the blessing of liberty; that slavery will be your portion, and that of your posterity, if you do not acquit yourselves like men. Remember how your courage has been despised and traduced by your cruel invaders, though they have found by dear experience at Boston,

Charlestown, and other places, what a few brave men car do in their own land, and in the best of causes, against hirelings and mercenaries. Be cool, be determined. Do not fire at a distance, but wait for orders from your officers." Preparations were now made for a pitched battle. The American camp was strengthened by six additional regiments, and all things put in readiness for an immediate attack. The result of the battle has already been related. It left the American camp in the power of the British, who might easily have taken it by an assault, which was threatened.

On the night of the 28th, the British invested the camp in due form. General Washington spent the next day in camp, and on the night of the 29th, effected a most masterly retreat to New-York, under cover of a dense fog. The rear guard only was discovered by the British, and too much advanced to be affected by the shot.

On the 2d of September, two regiments of Americans evacuated Governor's Island, near New-York, with their arms and stores, within a quarter of a mile of the British fleet, with the loss of only an arm by one man.

This was indeed an eventful crisis. The fate of America appeared suspended on the issue of a single battle. The reverses experienced wrought upon the feelings of the soldiers. The militia deserted their colours, and abandoned their general. Sickness and desertion reduced the army, and dispirited the officers. Those whose term of service had expired, left the duties of the camp, and returned to their homes, and a gloom was gathering over the just risen hopes of America. Washington passed two days and nights without sleep or rest, principally on horseback, superintending every movement, and watching every

event.

On the contrary, the late success elated the British in proportion to the despondency of the Americans. The movements of the British threatened to cut off the retreat of the continentals. General Washington was led to abandon his unsafe position in the city, and after some successful skirmishes retired to White Plains, in West Chester County, about thirty miles from New-York. The enemy landed, and took possession of the city, as

the Americans retreated. A garrison was left at Fort Washington, about ten miles from the city, on the Island. General Howe, being reinforced by a division or two of Germans, marched towards the American army, encamped at White Plains. On the 28th of October, a general skirmish commenced between the advanced parties. On the 29th, the general moved in columns to the support of his van, and to bring on a general engagement. General Washington kept him at bay until the 31st, when he retired to higher ground, and left a strong rear guard to cover White Plains. The British now abandoned the enterprise, and on the 8th of November drew off his army towards Kingsbridge. On the 15th, he sent a summons to Colonel Magraw, commanding Fort Washington, and the next day stormed the fort, and put the garrison to the sword.

General Washington beheld the awful scene, and wept with the feelings of a compassionate father. The shock was felt with the keenest sensibility throughout the American army, and even General Lee wept with indignation at the news of the merciless butchery, and cursed the unrelenting foe.

On the 18th, Lord Cornwallis moved to the attack of Fort Lee; but General Greene drew off the garrison, abandoned the fort, and joined General Washington. On the 22d, General Washington crossed North River, and retired to Newark, where he found himself almost abandoned by the army, and left to the mercy of a victorious, pursuing enemy, with only about three thousand five hundred men to accompany him in his flight. On the 28th, General Washington retired to Brunswick, and Lord Cornwallis entered Newark with his victorious army. His lordship pursued to Brunswick, and General Washington retired to Princeton, December 1st. Lord Cornwallis halted one whole week at Brunswick, agreeable to orders; and, in the mean time, General Washington saw himself abandoned by the Jersey and Maryland brigades of militia, whose terms of service then expired.

On the 7th, his lordship pursued to Princeton, and General Washington retired to Trenton. The next day his lordship entered Trenton, just at the critical moment