Accounts of admiral Keppel, p. 343. He engages the French fleet under count d'Orvilliers, p. 347-returns to Ply- The British commissioners for restoring peace arrive at Phi- ladelphia, p. 351. The British army under Sir Henry Clinton evacuate that city, p. 352. The American army pursue them, p. 354. Sir H. Clinton changes the disposition of his troops, p. 355. General Lee, with the advanced American corps, or- dered to fall upon the rear of the British. p. 356. Some firing between them, p. 359. Lee's corps retreat, p. 360. Wash- ington meets the troops, and orders them to make a stand, p. 361. The British are checked, p. 363-and at length com- pelled to give way, ibid. They arrive at Sandy-Hook, p. 364. General Lee has charges exhibited against him, and is tried, p. 365. Lord Howe arrives at Sandy-Hook with the fleet from Philadelphia, p. 367. Count d'Estaing's fleet anchors without the Hook, p. 368. The count sails for Newport, p. 369. Ge- neral Sullivan, with a body of Americans, crosses over to Rhode-Island, p. 371. A violent storm prevents an engage- ment between lord Howe and count d'Estaing, ibid. The French decline prosecuting the expedition against Newport, p. 372. Sullivan's troops engage the British, p. 373-and then retreat from off the island, p. 375. The British expedition against Bedford, p. 376. Governor Johnstone's attempts to corrupt certain members of congress, p. 377. Congress re- solve to hold no intercourse with him, ibid. The British com- missioners appeal to the people, p. 378-publish a valedictory manifesto and proclamation, p. 379. Acts of congress, p. 381. Mr. Gerard, the French plenipotentiary, has a public audience, p. 381. The choice of Dr. Franklin, by congress, for their minister plenipotentiary at the court of France, and their in- structions to him, p. 382. The Indian expeditions against the Connecticut settlers at Wyoming, p. 385. Colonel Clarke's expedition into the Indian country, p. 390. The British expe- dition to Egg-harbour, p. 391. Quarrels between the Ameri- cans and French at Charleston, in South-Carolina, and at Bos- ton, p. 393. Count d'Estaing and his officers entertained at Bos- The American colonel Butler's expedition, p. 396. The British colonel Butler's expedition to Cherry-Valley, p. 398.- Two Quakers executed for high treason against the common- wealth of Pennsylvania, ibid. The plan for reducing Canada considered and laid aside, p. 399. The British operations against Georgia, p. 400. Mr. Silas Deane and congress, p. 403. Mr. Payne addresses him under the signature of Common Sense, p. 405. Mr. Gerard alarmed by the publications; and the resolves of congress concerning them, p. 406. The affairs of the United States in a deplorable condition, p. 408. The committee of con- gress report the communication of Mr. Gerard, p. 409. The count de Vergennes' policy, p. 410. Gen. Lincoln sent to South-Caro- lina, ibid.-proceeds to Georgia, p. 411. The South-Carolina tories routed, p. 412. General Ashe surprised and defeated. p. 414. Admiral Keppel tried and honorably acquitted, p. 418. Sir Hugh Palliser tried and acquitted, p. 419. Admiral Barrington with a body of British troops engaged in an expedition against St. Lucie, and takes it, notwithstanding count d'Estaing's efforts to save it, p. 240. Riots at Glasgow and Edinburgh, p. 423. The British cruisers seize Dutch vessels, p. 424. Gen. Munro Upon gen. Lincoln's marching far up the Savannah, general Prevost enters South-Carolina, and pushes for Charlestown, p. 427-he retreats from before the place, p. 429. Lincoln attacks a part of the British army at Stono-Ferry, p. 430. General Marthew makes a descent on Virginia, p. 431. Sir Henry Clin- ton takes Stoney-Point, p. 432. Colonel Clarke's expedition against lieut. gov. Hamilton of Detroit, p. 433. Gov. Tryon's expedition against New-Haven, Fairfield and Norwalk, p. 434. General Waynere-takes Stoney-Point, p. 436. Acts of congress, p. 438. The minister of France has a conference with congress, p. 439. Major Lee's expedition against the British post at Powle's The French fleet sails from Brest and joins the Spanish, p. 448. The Spanish ambassador presents a manifesto to the Bri- tish secretary, p. 449. The combined fleet steer for Plymouth, p. 450-abandon the British coasts, p. 451. Grenada taken by the French, p. 452. Admiral Byron engages count d'Estaing, 453. Captain Paul Jones engages Captain Pearson, p. 454. Sir Joseph Yorke presents a memorial to their High Mightinesses, p. 456. The state of Ireland, p. 457. Gibralter invested, p. 459. THE RISE, PROGRESS, AND CONCLUSION OF THE NORTH AMERICAN REVOLUTION. BETTER Roxbury, April 26, 1776. YOU have been informed of the measures which the promo ters of independency adopted for the ripening of that event; in the advice which congress were prevailed upon to give to the New-Hampshire, the South-Carolina, and Virginia conventions. [ Jan. 5, 1776.] The New-Hampshire provincial convention proceeded in their design, and voted," that this congress take up civil government in form following-We being authorised in particular to establish some form of government, provided that measure be recommended by the continental congress, and a recommendation being transmitted-the sudden departure of his excellency John Wentworth and several of the council leaving us destitute of legislation, and no executive courts being open to punish criminal offenders-therefore protesting that we never meant to throw off our dependence upon Great-Britain, and that we shall rejoice if such a reconciliation, between us and our parent state, can be effected, as shall be approved by the continental congress-do resolve, that the congress do assume the name and power of a house of representatives: that they proceed to choose twelve persons, to be a distinct branch of the legislature, by the name of a council for this colony; and that no act shall be valid unless passed by both branches." But this procedure was not universally approved. A memorial and re monstrance 1 monstrance of the freeholders and inhabitants of Portsmouth was presented to the convention sitting at Exeter. [Jan. 10.] It sets forth, that "the memorialists are greatly alarmed, by the information, that they are about to dissolve their existence as a convention and assume that of a house of representatives, and to proceed to the election of twelve counsellors, who are to act as another branch of legislation for the future government of this colony." They remonstrate against the procedure from an opinion that the inhabitants will not generally approve it; and wish therefore that the minds of the people may be fully taken on such a momentuous concernment, for that it is their inherent right to know the plan, before adopted and carried into execution. They say also, " it amounts to an open declaration of independency, which we can by no means countenance." A dissent and protest was brought into convention, [Jan. 12.] by several of the representatives; the purport of it was, "We dis sent and protest against the present plan of taking up government for the following reasons-the vote of the continental congress countenancing the same, was obtained by the unwearied importunity of our delegates there, as appears by their letter; the said vote does not appear to have been unanimous, but we have reason to think otherwise ;-New-York and Virginia (which are in similar circumstances with us, and are much larger and more opulent, and we presume much wiser, and to which we would pay all due deference), have not attempted any thing of the kind, nor as we can learn have desired it;-it appears assum. ing for so small a colony to take the lead in a matter of so great importance;-our constituents never expected us to make a new form of government, but only to set the judicial and executive wheels in motion; -it appears to us, too much like setting up an independency on the mother country." The convention however proceeded in their plan; but when it was executed, and the body had assumed the form of two houses, they had the consistency to receive petitions [Jan. 18.] from the towns of Portsmouth, Dover, Newington, Rochester, Stratham, North-Hampton, Rye, New-Market, Kensington, Greenland, and part of Brentwood, against taking up government in the new established form. Both houses met in the town-house, the petitions were read, considered, and fully argued by the council for the petitioners. It was voted, [Jan. 27.] that the committee write to the continental congress, and lay the plan of government taken upby the colony before them, and let them know that a number of members of this house dissented from and protested against the same, because of its being supposed to breathe too much of the spirit of independency; and request to know the judgment of the congress |