an address to the throne, reprefenting, that they were deeply penetrated with the view of impending ruin to the kingdom, from the continuation of an unnatural war against the British colonies in America; and advifing, that the molt speedy and effectual measures fhould be taken for putting a stop to fuch fatal hoftilities, upon the only just and folid foundation, namely, the removal of accumulated grievances: with an affurance, that the Houfe would enter upon that great and neceffary work with chearfulness and dispatch, in order to open to his Majefty the only means of regaining the affections of the British colonies, and of fecuring to Great Britain the commercial advantages of thofe valuable poffeffions; fully perfuaded, that to heal and to redrefs would be more congenial to the goodness and magnanimity of his Majesty, and more prevalent over the hearts of generous and free-born fubjects, than the rigours of chastisement and the horrors of civil war, which hitherto had ferved only to fharpen refentments and confolidate union, and, if continued, muft finally end in diffolving all ties between Great Britain and her colonies. We fhould pofe, this nobleman, moved for the herald of peace; that it would open the way for treaty; that though much muft ftill be left to be fettled by treaty, this, by affording a proof of the fincerity and amicable difpofition of parliament, would remove the prefent infurmountable impediments to an accommodation, when every thing elfe would follow of courie. He particularly infiited upon the immediate neceffity of adopting the propofed meature, from the imminent danger to which in our prefent fituation we were expofed to the houfe of Bourbon. A fear weeks, he faid, might decide our fate as a nation. A treaty between France and the Americans would be that final decifion. not only lofe the immenfe advantages which we had derived from the vast and increafing commerce of our colonies, but that commerce, and all thofe advantages, would be thrown into the hands of our natural and hereditary enemies. He faid that our acts of naviga tion were already virtually repealed in confequence of this unhappy conteft; and that however grievous it was to repeat, and fatal in the fact, the trade of England was now carried on in French and other foreign bottoms. He stated the impracticability of conquering America, and the ruinous confequences of the conqueft if it had been practicable. And he declared, in that strong and emphatic language, by which this great fatelman and orator was fo peculiarly diftinguished, that America was contending with Britain under a mafked battery of France, which would open upon this country, as foon as the perceived that we were fufficiently weakened for In further explanation of the defign and purpofe of his motion, the noble Earl faid, that under the words accumulated grievances, he meant to convey every thing which had paffed in parliament relative to America fince the year 1763. That the propofal was fpecific. He meant by it the redrefs of all the American griev. ances, particularly including the right of difpofing of their own money. He faid this would be her her purpose, and found herself fufficiently prepared for war. We have fo repeatedly gone over all the ground of debate relative to the American conteft, that it would be. needlefs, if not fuperfluous, to enter particularly into the prefent. The motion was fupported with great eloquence and ability, moft of the powerful fpeakers on the fide of oppofition in the House of Lords having entered warmly and deeply into the debate. On the other fide, the Lords in adminiftration oppofed it principally upon the fuppofition or affertion, that independency was the primary object with the Americans, and that their prefent oppofition was merely the effect of a premeditated design of feveral years standing; that in fuch a difpofition and determination on their fide, all conceffion on ours would be not only fruitless, but ridiculous, degrading, and highly encouraging to their rebellious defigns. That fuch an inftance of meannefs, and acknowledgement of weakness, would equally draw upon us the contempt of our friends, and excite into action the defign or malice of our enemies. They denied any danger from France, and that the affif tance given to the Americans proceeded from the court or minifters; the fupplies of arms and military ftores which the Americans received, and the numbers of French officers that ferved in their armies, were attributed to the fpirit of enterprize in foldiers, and of avarice in merchants. They faid, that the propofed addrefs arraigned the conduct of the nation, and condemn ed, in the moft improper terms, measures which had repeatedly received, in the fulleft manner, the fanction both of parliament and people. That the motion held out nothing new, and was more than a repetition of what had been proposed by the noble Earl himself, as well as by two noble Dukes, at different times, in that house. It will be easily feen, that fome of thefe arguments or pofitions afforded fufficient room to be replied to or controverted. The queftion being at length put about ten at night, Lord Chatham's motion was rejected upon a divifion, by a majority of 99, including 23 proxies, to 28, including two proxies, who fupported the quellion. June 6th. The money bills, and a vote of credit, being now paffed, the feafon far advanced, and fuch public bufinefs as it was thought. fitting to bring forward in the prefent feffion dispatched, a prorogation of parliament became a matter of courfe. In the fpeech from the throne, an entire approbation of the conduct of parliament was expreffed, and thanks returned for the unquestionable proofs they had given, of the continuance of their attachment to his Majesty's perfon and government, of a clear difcernment of the true interests of their country, and of their fteady perfeverance in maintaining the rights of the legislature. The Commons could not be fufficiently thanked for the zeal and public fpirit with which they had granted the large and extraordinary fupplies, which there had been a neceflity of requiring for the the fervice of the current year; and an acknowledgment was made of the particular marks of their affection to his Majesty, as well in enabling him to discharge the debts of his civil government, as in making fo confiderable an augmentation to the civil lift revenue for his life. The fpeech concluded with a declared truft in the divine providence, that by a well concerted and vigorous exertion of the great force which had been put into the royal hands, the operations of the prefent campaign by fea and land, would be bleffed with fuch fuccefs as might most effectually tend to the fuppreffion of the rebellion in America, and to the re-establishment of that conftitutional obedience which all the fubjects of a free ftate owe to the authority of law. CHA P. VII. State of affairs at New-York previous to the opening of the campaign. Loyal provincials embodied, and placed under the command of Governor Tryon. Expedition to Peek's Kill. To Danbury, under General Tryon. Magaxines deftroyed. General Woofter killed. Veffels and provifions deftroyed at Sagg Harbour, by a detachment from Connecticut under Colonel Meigs. Advantages derived by General Washington, from the detention of the army at New-York through the want of tents. Different Schemes fuggefted for conducting the operations of the campaign, all tending to one object. General Sir William Howe takes the field; fails in his attempts to bring Washington to an action; retires to Amboy. Turns fuddenly and advances upon the enemy. Skirmishes. Americans under Lord Sterling defeated. Washington regains his ftrong camp. Royal army pass over to StatenIfland. Alarm excited by the preparations for the grand expedition. General Prefcot carried off from Rhode Island. Rate of interest upon the public loan, advanced by the Congrefs. Monuments decreed for the Generak Warren and Mercer. Fleet and army depart from Sandy Hook. Force embarked on the expedition. Congress and Washington alarmed by the lofs of Ticonderoga. Fleet arrives at the River Elk, after a tedious voyage, and difficult paffage up Chesapeak Bay. Army lands at Elk Ferry Declaration iffued by the General. Washington returns to the defence of Philadelphia. Advances to the Brandywine, and to Red Clay Creek. Various movements on both fides. Action at the Brandywine. General Knyphausen makes an attack at Chad's Ford. Lord Cornwallis marches round to the forks of the Brandywine, where he paffes, in order to attack the enemy's right. Defeats General Sullivan. Pursues his advantages until topped by night. General Knyphaufen paffes at Chad's Ford. Enemy every where defeated. Lofs on both fides. Reflections on the action. Victory not decifive. Foreign officers in the American fervice. Motions of the armies. Engagement prevented by a great fall of rain. Major-General Grey furprizes and defeats a party of Americans under General Wayne. Royal army paffes the Schuylkill, and advances to German-Toron. Lord Cornwallis takes poffeffion of Philadelphia. Some of VOL. XX. the the principal inhabitants fent prisoners to Virginia, upon the approxi of the army. Attack on the new batteries at Philadelphia. Delaware frigate taken. Works conftrutted by the Americans to render the paffage of the Delaware impracticable. Successful expedition to Billing's Fort, and a paffage made through the lower barrier. Royal army furprized and attacked by the Americans at German-Town. Americans repulfed with lofs and pursued. Brigadier-General Agnew, and Colonel Bird killed. Army removes to Philadelphia. Unfuccessful attack upon the enemy's works on the Delaware. Heffians repulfed with great loss at Reď Bank. Colonel Donop killed. Augufta man of war and Merlin floop deAtroyed. New and effectual measures taken for forcing the enemy's works. Mud Island, and Red Bank, abandoned, and taken with their artillery and ftores. Americans burn their gallies and other shipping. Paffage of the Delaware opened to Philadelphia. General Sir William Howe, finding all his efforts to bring Washington to a general action fruitless, returns with the army to Philadelphia, Americans but their camp at Valley Forge for the winter. WE have already fhewn the been obliged to abandon their re ftate and fituation of the armies in America during the winter and greater part of the spring. As the feafon opened, and enlarged the field of enterprize, our commanders did not neglect feizing thofe advantages which nature and their naval fuperiority prefented, in a country deeply interfected by navigable rivers, and continually laid open in other parts by the numberlefs inlets and channels, which the peculiar conftruction of the islands and coafts, admit in their junction with the ocean and those rivers. In the mean time a confiderable body of provincial troops was formed under the aufpices of General Sir William Howe, which by degrees amounted to feveral thousand men, and which under that denomination included, not only “American, but British and -Irish refugees from the different parts of the continent. This corps was entirely officered, either by thofe gentlemen, who for their attachment to the royal caufe had fpective provinces, or by those who lived under that protection in the New-York Mands. The new troops were placed for the temporary time of their fervice, upon the fame footing as to pay, fubfiftence, and clothing, with the established national bodies of the royal army, with the further advantage to the private men and non-commiffioned officers, that they were entitled to confiderable allotments of vacant lands at the end of the troubles. This meafure, befides its utility in point of strength, afforded fome prefent provifion to thofe, whe having loft every thing in this unhappy conteft, were now thrown upon the crown, as their only refuge, for fupport; whilft on the other fide, inftead of their being an heavy and unprofitable burden to the crown, they were placed in a condition which enabled them to become active and useful inftruments in effecting its purposes. At the fame time, this acquifition of ftrength, derived from, and growing in the country, carried a mof L * most flattering appearance, and feemed to indicate refources for the profecution of the war in the very theatre of action. As all new forces muit of course be much fitter for defence, than for active service in the field, fo it added much to the apparent utility of this measure, that the royal provincials could immediately be difpofed of to the greatest advantage, in the protection and defence of -New-York and the adjacent islands, fapplying thereby the place of veteran troops, and affording a free fcope to the diftant operations of -the grand army. To render this sdefenfive fyftem for the islands more complete, Governor Tryon, - who already in his civil capacity commanded the militia, and who, had taken the utmost pains in its establishment, was now placed by the commander in chief at the head of the new corps, under the title and rank of Major-General of the provincials, whereby he was enabled effectually to combine and bring into action the joint force of thefe feparate bodies. 4 The great natural ftrength of the country, the vicinity of the North River, with its convenience in refpect to the feat of war, had induced the Americans, during the, winter, to erect mills and establish their principal magazines, in that rough and mountainous tract called the Manor of Courtland. Thus it became their grand repofitory, and trufting in the security of this natural citadel, neither industry was lacking, nor expence fpared, in abundantly providing it with immenfe fupplies of provifions, forage, and ftores, of all forts. A place, otherwife of no importance, called Peek's Kill, which lies : about fifty miles up the North River from New-York, ferved as a kind of port to Courtland Manor, by which it both received provifions, and difpenfed fupplies. Sir William Howe was well aware of these circumstances in general, and was as well convinced of the decifive confequences which muft enfue from the cutting off thofe refources, which the enemy had with such infinite labour and expence accumulated for the fupport and profecution of the war. A general attempt upon Courtland Manor, would not only be dangerous, from the strength of the country, and impracticability of the ground; but muft from its own nature be rendered abortive; as the length, the parade, and the manner of the preparation, would afford the Americans time and warning to affemble their whole force in that quarter; where, if we ftill perfifted in our defign, we muft fight under every poffible difadvantage, and a moral certainty of great lofs; and if they did not chufe, even upon these terms, to hazard an engagement with us, they would have fufficient time to remove their magazines, before we could bring the point to any decifion. Peek's Kill was, however, within reach, and the General deter mined to profit of that circumflance. Colonel Bird, with a detachment of about 500 men, under the conduct of a frigate of war, and other armed veffels, was fent on board fome transports up the North River for that Mär. 23d. fervice. The enemy, upon the approach of the British armament, finding, or thinking themselves, unequal to [H] a 1777. the |