troops, the tea act, the act suspending the New York Legislature, the two acts for the trial in Great Britain of offenses committed in America; the Boston port bill, the act for regulating the government of Massachusetts and the Quebec act.

"AMERICANS WILL NOT SUBMIT TO SLAVERY."

"To these grievous acts and measures," the committee added, “the Americans cannot submit; but in hopes their fellow subjects in Great Britain will, on a revision of them, restore us to that state in which both countries found happiness and prosperity, we have, for the present, only resolved to pursue the following peaceable measures:

"I. To enter into non-importation, non-consumption and non-exportation agreement or association.

"2. To prepare an address to the people of Great Britain and a memorial to the inhabitants of British America.

"3. To prepare a loyal address to His Majesty.'"

This Congress remained in session fifty-one days. Every subject was discussed with a moderation, an acuteness and a minuteness equal to that of Queen Elizabeth's privy council.

The papers issued by it have deservedly been pronounced masterpieces of practical talent and political wisdom.

Chatham, when speaking on the subject in the House of Lords, could not restrain his enthusiasm.

"When your lordships," said he, "look at the papers transmitted to us from America; when you consider their decency, firmness and wisdom, you cannot but respect their cause and wish to make it your own.

"For myself, I must declare and avow that, in the master states of the world, I know not the people, or Senate, who, in such a complication of difficult circumstances, can stand in preference to the delegates of America assembled in General Congress at Philadelphia."

Owing to the secrecy that enveloped its discussions, the part taken by Washington in the debates is not known; the similarity of the resolutions, however, in spirit and substance, to those of the Fairfax County meeting, and the coincidence of the measures adopted with those therein recommended, show that he had a powerful agency in the proceedings of this eventful Assmbly.

Patrick Henry, when asked whom he considered the greatest man in Congress, replied:

"If you speak of eloquence, Mr. Rutledge, of South Carolina, is by far the greater orator; but if you speak of solid information and sound judgment, Colonel Washington is unquestionably the greatest man on that floor."

Boston was the only place in Massachusetts that contained British forces, and had become the refuge of all the "Tories," or those devoted to the British government.

There was much animosity between them and the principal inhabitants, among whom revolutionary principles prevailed.

The town itself, almost insulated by nature and surrounded by a hostile country, was like a place besieged.

This semi-belligerent state of affairs in Massachusetts produced a general restlessness throughout the land. The weak-hearted apprehended coming troubles; the resolute prepared to brave them.

COLONISTS RESPOND TO CALL TO ARMS.

Military measures, hitherto confined to New England, extended to the middle and southern provinces, and the roll of the drum resounded through the villages.

Virginia was among the first to buckle on its armor. It had long been a custom among its inhabitants to form themselves into independent companies, equipped at their own expense, having their own peculiar uniform and electing their own officers, though holding themselves subject to militia law.

They were self-disciplined, but continually resorted to Washington for instruction and advice, considering him the highest authority on military affairs.

He was frequently called from home, therefore, in the course of the winter and spring, to different parts of the country to review independent companies, all of which were anxious to put themselves under his command as field officer.

Mount Vernon, therefore, again assumed the military appearance of former days, when he took his first lessons there in the art of war. He had his old campaigning associates with him occasionally-Dr. Craik and Captain High Mercer-to talk of past scenes and discuss the possibility of future service.

Mercer was already bestirring himself in disciplining the militia about Fredericksburg, where he resided.

In the month of March, 1775, the second Virginia convention was held at Richmond, and Washington attended as delegate from Fairfax County. Patrick Henry, with his usual ardor and eloquence, advocated measures for embodying, arming and disciplining a militia force and providing for the defense of the colony.

"It is useless," said he, "to address further petitions to the government or to await the effect of those already addressed to the throne.

"The time for supplication is past; the time for action is at hand. We must fight, Mr. Speaker," exclaimed he, emphatically; "I repeat it, sir, we must fight!"

"An appeal to arms and to the God of Hosts is all that is left us!"

Washington joined him in the conviction, and was one of a committee which reported a plan for carrying those measures into effect.

He was not an impulsive man, to raise the battle cry, but the executive man to marshal troops into the field and carry on the war.

THE BRITISH ADVANCE UPON LEXINGTON.

The British force at Boston had been augmented to about four thousand men, and General Gage resolved to surprise and destroy the magazine of military stores at Concord, about twenty miles from Boston.

On the 18th of April, 1775, officers were stationed on the roads leading from Boston to prevent intelligence of the expedition getting into the country.

All night orders were issued by Gage that no person should leave the town, but as the Americans knew everything Gage was doing his precautions were useless.

About eight o'clock nearly one thousand grenadiers, light infantry and marines, commanded by Colonel Smith, embarked in boats at the foot of Boston Common and crossed to Lechmere Point, Cambridge, whence they marched silently, without beat of drum, to the place of destination.

Dr. Joseph Warren, one of the Committee of Safety, sent notice of this movement to John Hancock and Samuel Adams, who were at that time at Lexington. The Committee of Safety also ordered that the cannon at Concord be secreted and a good part of the stores removed.

That night Dr. Warren also sent off two messengers by different routes to give the alarm. A lantern was hung out of an upper window of the church, in the direction of Charlestown, which was a preconcerted signal to the patriots of that place.

These instantly dispatched swift messengers in all directions to.rouse the country. Paul Revere was one of these gallant messengers.

Meantime, Colonel Smith had proceeded a few miles on his nocturnal march, taking an unfrequented path across the marshes, where, at times, the troops had to wade to their waists through water.

Suddenly, alarm guns, booming through the night air, and the clang of village bells, showed that the news of his approach was traveling before him and that the people were rising.

He then sent back word to General Gage for reinforcements, while Major Pitcairn was detached, with six companies, and advanced rapidly, capturing everyone he met.

Within a mile and a half of Lexington a horseman, too quick on the spur for him, galloped into the village and gave the alarm that the "redcoats" were coming.

Drums were beaten, guns fired, and by the time that Pitcairn entered the village, some seventy minute-men were seen on the green near the church.

Major Pitcairn halted within a short distance of the church and ordered his men to prime and load. They then advanced at double-quick time.

The major, riding forward, waved his sword and ordered the "rebels," as he termed them, to disperse.

Others of the officers echoed his words as they advanced: "Disperse, ye villains! Lay down your arms, ye rebels, and disperse!"

"THE SHOT HEARD ROUND THE WORLD."

The order was disregarded, a scene of confusion ensued and there was firing on both sides, the British sending in the first volley. Pitcairn always maintained that as he turned to order his men to surround the militia, he saw a flash in the pan from the gun of a countryman posted behind a wall, and almost instantly the report of two or three muskets, which he supposed to be from Americans, as his horse was wounded; also, a soldier close by him.

His troops then fired, though he declared he made repeated signals with his sword for his men to forbear.

The firing of the Americans was irregular and without much effect; that of the British was more fatal. Eight of the patriots were killed, ten wounded and the little command put to flight.

Then the English troops formed on the common, fired a volley and gave

three cheers for the most inglorious and disastrous triumph ever achieved

by British arms.

Colonel Smith soon arrived with the main body, and all marched toward Concord, about six miles distant.

The alarm had reached that place the preceding night, the church bell roused the inhabitants and all gathered in anxious consultation.

The militia and minute-men seized their arms and formed in line on the parade ground, near the church. They were subsequently joined by several armed patriots from Lincoln and elsewhere.

Exertions were made to remove and conceal the military stores, a scout, who had been sent out for intelligence, having brought word that the British had fired upon the people at Lexington and were advancing upon Concord. Scouts of militia hurried down the Lexington road, and when they returned reported the British force three times that of the Americans.

The militia men then retired to an eminence about a mile from the center of the town and formed into two battalions.

It was about seven o'clock when the British came in sight, advancing with quick step, their arms glittering in the morning sun, entering the town in two divisions by different roads.

Concord is traversed by the river of the same name, which has two bridges the north and the south.

The grenadiers and light infantry of the English force took post in the center of the town, while strong parties of light troops were detached to secure the bridges and destroy the military stores.

Two hours were expended in this work without much success, much of the stores having been removed or concealed.

During this time the yeomanry from neighboring towns were hurrying in with such weapons as were at hand, joining the militia on the heights, until the little force there numbered about four hundred and fifty.

FARMERS FACE BRITISH TROOPS AT CONCORD.

At ten o'clock a body of three hundred minute-men undertook to dislodge the British from the north bridge. As they approached, the latter fired upon them, killing two and wounding a third.

The patriots returned the fire with spirit and accuracy, causing the British to retreat to the main body, the Americans pursuing them across the bridge. All the military stores which could be found having been destroyed, Colonel Smith made preparations for retreat.