«Книга Соединенных Штатов»

103 –

Pitkin, vol. i. p. 157.

104 –

Tudor’s Life of Otis, p. 61.

105 –

Hutchinson’s History of Massachusetts from 1749 to 1774.

106 –

‘Declaiming, us usual, one evening on American affairs, he addressed himself particularly to the ministers. “You are cowards,” he said; “you are afraid of the Americans; you dare not tax America.” This he repeated in different language. Upon this Townshend took fire, immediately rose and said, “Fear! fear! cowards dare not tax America! I dare tax America.” Grenville stood silent for a moment, and then said, “Dare you tax America? I wish to God I could see it.” Townshend replied, “I will, I will.”’—Manuscript papers of Dr. William S. Johnson, then in England as agent for Connecticut, quoted in Pitkin’s History, vol. i. p. 217.

107 –

Bradford’s History of Massachusetts, p. 205.

108 –

Hutchinson, p. 270.

109 –

Wirt’s Life of Henry, p. 105, 106.

110 –

Lord Chatham had shown this bill to Dr. Franklin before he submitted it to the house of lords, but the latter had not an opportunity of proposing certain alterations which he had sketched. Dr. Franklin, however, at the special request of lord Chatham, was present at the debates upon it. Lord Dartmouth was at first disposed to have the bill lie upon the table; but lord Sandwich opposed its being received, and moved that it be immediately ‘rejected with the contempt it deserved. He could never believe,’ he said, ‘that it was the production of a British peer; it appeared to him rather the work of some American.’ Turning his face towards Dr. Franklin, then standing at the bar, ‘He fancied,’ he said, ‘he had in his eye the person who drew it up, one of the bitterest and most mischievous enemies this country had ever known.’ To this part of the speech of lord Sandwich, the great Chatham replied, by saying ‘that it was entirely his own. This declaration,’ he said, ‘he thought himself the more obliged to make, as many of their lordships appeared to have so mean an opinion of it; for if it was so weak or so bad a thing, it was proper in him to take care that no other person should unjustly share in the censure it deserved. It had been heretofore reckoned his vice not to be apt to take advice; but he made no scruple to declare, that if he were the first minister of this country, and had the care of settling this momentous business, he should not be ashamed of publicly calling to his assistance a person so perfectly acquainted with the whole of American affairs as the gentleman alluded to, and so injuriously reflected on; one whom all Europe held in estimation for his knowledge and wisdom, and ranked with our Boyles and Newtons; who was an honor, not to the English nation only, but to human nature.’—Franklin’s Works, vol. i. p. 322, 323. Pitkin, vol. i. p. 312. Among the papers which had been laid before the house by lord Dartmouth, was the petition of the congress to the king, in behalf of which the American agents, Dr. Franklin, Mr. Bollan, and Mr. Lee, petitioned to be heard at the bar of the house. But this privilege was refused to them by the ministers, on the ground that the congress was an illegal body, and their petition was rejected by an unusually large majority.

111 –

In Montgomery the Americans lost one of the bravest and most accomplished generals that ever led an army to the field. But he was not more illustrious for his skill and courage as an officer, than he was estimable for his private virtues. All enmity to him on the part of the British ceased with his life, and respect to his private character prevailed over all other considerations. His body was taken up the next day, and he was decently interred.—Montgomery was a gentleman of good family in Ireland, who, having married a lady and purchased an estate in New York, considered himself as an American, and had served with reputation in the late French war. Congress directed a monument to be erected to his memory, with an inscription expressive of their veneration for his character, and of their deep sense of his ‘many signal and important services; and to transmit to future ages, as examples truly worthy of imitation, his patriotism, conduct, boldness of enterprise, insuperable perseverance, and contempt of danger and death.’ A monument of white marble, with emblematic devices, has accordingly been erected to his memory, in front of St. Paul’s church in New York.

112 –

Not long after his appointment, Dr. Church was detected in a traitorous correspondence with the British in Boston. He had sustained a high reputation as a patriot, and was at this time a member of the Massachusetts house of representatives. He was tried, convicted, and expelled from the house of representatives; and congress afterwards resolved, that he be closely confined in some secure gaol in Connecticut, without the use of pen, ink, or paper; and that no person be allowed to converse with him, except in the presence and hearing of a magistrate, or the sheriff of the county.

113 –

On the 1st of January, 1776, the town of Norfolk, in Virginia, was set on fire by the British, under the direction of lord Dunmore, and reduced to ashes. On the arrival of the Liverpool man-of-war from England, a flag was sent on shore to put the question, whether the provincials would supply his majesty’s ship with provisions, and a negative answer being returned, it was determined to destroy the town. The whole loss was estimated at three hundred thousand pounds sterling. The provincials themselves destroyed the houses and plantations near the water, to deprive the ships of every resource of supply.

114 –

The chief justice of South Carolina, William Henry Drayton, appointed under the new form of government just adopted, in his charge to the grand jurors, in April, after justifying the proceedings of that colony in forming a new government, on the principles of the revolution in England in 1688, thus concludes: ‘The Almighty created America to be independent of Great Britain: let us beware of the impiety of being backward to act as instruments in the Almighty hand, now extended to accomplish his purpose; and by the completion of which alone, America, in the nature of human affairs, can be secure against the crafty and insidious designs of her enemies, who think her power and prosperity already by far too great. In a word, our piety and political safety are so blended, that to refuse our labors in this divine work, is to refuse to be a great, a free, a pious, and a happy people.’—Pitkin, vol. i. p. 359.

115 –

Pitkin’s Political and Civil History, vol. i. p. 361.

116 –

‘This measure was followed by the most lively demonstrations of joy. The spirit of the times is interestingly manifested by the following paragraph from Purdie’s paper of the 17th of May, which immediately succeeds the annunciation of the resolutions:—“In consequence of the above resolutions, universally regarded as the only door which will lead to safety and prosperity, some gentlemen made a handsome collection for the purpose of treating the soldiery, who next day were paraded in Waller’s grove, before brigadier-general Lewis, attended by the gentlemen of the committee of safety, the members of the general convention, the inhabitants of this city, &c. The resolutions being read aloud to the army, the following toasts were given, each of them accompanied by a discharge of the artillery and small arms, and the acclamations of all present:—1. The American Independent States.—2. The grand congress of the United States, and their respective legislatures.—3. General Washington, and victory to the American arms.—The union flag of the American states waved upon the capitol during the whole of this ceremony; which being ended, the soldiers partook of the refreshments prepared for them by the affection of their countrymen, and the evening concluded with illuminations and other demonstrations of joy; every one seeming pleased that the domination of Great Britain was now at an end, so wickedly and tyrannically exercised for these twelve or thirteen years past, notwithstanding our repeated prayers and remonstrances for redress.”’—Wirt’s Life of Henry, p. 195.

117 –

These melancholy facts were thus narrated by general Washington, in his letter to congress:—‘Our situation is truly distressing. The check our detachment sustained on the 27th ultimo, has dispirited too great a proportion of our troops, and filled their minds with apprehension and despair. The militia, instead of calling forth their utmost efforts to a brave and manly opposition, in order to repair our losses, are dismayed, intractable, and impatient to return. Great numbers of them have gone off; in some instances almost by whole regiments, half ones, and by companies at a time. This circumstance of itself, independent of others, when fronted by a well-appointed enemy, superior in number to our whole collected force, would be sufficiently disagreeable; but when their example has infected another part of the army,—when their want of discipline, and refusal of almost every kind of restraint and government, have produced a like conduct, but too common to the whole, and an entire disregard of that order and subordination necessary to the well doing of an army, and which had been inculcated before as well as the nature of our military establishment would admit of,—our condition is still more alarming; and with the deepest concern I am obliged to confess my want of confidence in the generality of the troops.’

118 –

‘On the 17th of December, our army marched from Brunswick at four o’clock in the morning, and about the same hour in the afternoon arrived at Princeton. This place general Washington, in person, with Stirling’s brigade, left not one hour before the British arrived. At Princeton the British general waited seventeen hours, marched at nine o’clock in the morning of the 8th, and arrived at Trenton at four o’clock in the afternoon, just when the last boat of general Washington’s embarkation crossed the river, as if he had calculated, it was observed, with great accuracy, the exact time necessary for his enemy to make his escape.’—Steadman’s History of the American War, vol. i. p. 220.

119 –

General Lee had been a British officer, and had engaged in the American service before the acceptance of the resignation of his commission. Sir William Howe for this reason pretended to view him as a traitor, and at first refused to admit him to his parole, or to consider him as a subject of exchange. Congress directed the commander-in-chief to propose to Sir William Howe to exchange six field-officers for general Lee. In case the proposal was rejected, that body resolved, that these officers should be closely confined, and in every respect receive the treatment that general Lee did. The proposition not being acceded to, the resolution of congress was carried into effect, by the executives of the states in whose custody the selected field-officers were, with a degree of severity which perhaps even the treatment of general Lee hardly warranted.

120 –

Thacher’s Military Journal, p. 107.

121 –

It has ever been a source of reproach against the British, that they employed the sanguinary Indians as their allies. The atrocities they committed might be somewhat exaggerated by general Gates and others; but that instances did occur, to the disgrace of their civilized associates, cannot be denied. The melancholy case of Miss M’Rea will long be remembered. Captain Jones, her lover, an officer in the British army, anxious on her account, engaged some Indians of two different tribes to convey her away from among the Americans for the purpose of security; fearing for her, probably, on account of her father’s being interested in the royal cause, and of her attachment to himself. Having promised to reward the person who should bring her safe to him with a barrel of rum, the two Indians, who had already conveyed her to some distance, disputed which of them should present to captain Jones the object of his affections. Each was anxious for the reward; and that the other might not receive it, one of them killed her with a blow of his tomahawk. Upon the first intelligence of what had happened, Burgoyne obliged the Indians to deliver up the murderer, and threatened to put him to death. Many thought the threat would have been executed; but he was pardoned upon the Indians agreeing to terms enjoined them by Burgoyne, which the general thought would be more efficacious than an execution to prevent similar mischiefs.—Gordon, vol. ii. p. 544.

122 –

‘The colonel was furnished with the following curious instructions, which fell into the hands of general Stark:—“To proceed to New Hampshire grants, cross the mountains, scour the country, with Peter’s corps (tories) and the Indians, from Rockingham to Otter creek, to get horses, carriages, and cattle, and mount Reidesel’s regiment of dragoons; to go down Connecticut river as far as Brattleborough, and return by the great road to Albany, there to meet general Burgoyne; to endeavor to make the country believe it was the advanced body of the general’s army, who was to cross Connecticut river and proceed to Boston, and that at Springfield they were to be joined by the troops from Rhode island. All officers, civil and military, acting under the congress, were to be made prisoners. To tax the towns where they halted with such articles as they wanted, and take hostages for the performance, &c. You are to bring all horses fit to mount the dragoons or to serve as battalion horses for the troops, with as many saddles and bridles as can be found. The number of horses requisite, besides those for the dragoons, ought to be thirteen hundred; if you can bring more, so much the better. The horses must be tied in strings of ten each, in order that one man may lead ten horses.” This redoubtable commander surely must be one of the happiest men of the age, to imagine that such prodigious achievements were at his command,—that such invaluable resources were within his grasp. But, alas! the wisest of men are liable to disappointment in their sanguine calculations, and to have their favorite projects frustrated by the casualties of war. This is remarkably verified in the present instance.’—Thacher’s Military Journal, p. 109.

123 –

The committee consisted of Mr. Harrison, Dr. Franklin, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Dickinson, and Mr. Jay.

124 –

‘He was to appear in the character of a merchant, and was directed, among other things, immediately after his arrival at Paris, to solicit an interview with the count de Vergennes, the French minister, and to inform him, that congress, being unable to obtain for America the quantity of arms and ammunition necessary for its defence, had despatched him to apply to some of the European powers for a supply. That he was instructed to make his first application to France, from an opinion that, in case of a total separation of America from Great Britain, which every circumstance seemed to indicate, it would be most proper to obtain and cultivate her friendship. That in such case the commercial advantages formerly enjoyed by Great Britain would be transferred to France. That the Americans were in want of clothing and arms for twenty-five thousand men, with a suitable quantity of ammunition, and a hundred field-pieces. Mr. Deane was also directed to sound the French minister with regard to forming an alliance with the colonies, in case they should be forced to declare themselves independent.’—Pitkin, vol. i. p. 387. The instructions will be found at length in the Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, edited by J. Sparkes, vol. i. p. 5–9.

125 –

This important committee consisted of Mr. Dickinson, Dr. Franklin, John Adams, Mr. Harrison, and Robert Morris.

126 –

Mr. Jefferson, on account of the situation of his family, being unable to accept the appointment, Arthur Lee, then in London, was substituted.

127 –

‘To induce Franco to embark in the war, the American envoys were authorized to stipulate, that all the trade between the United States and the West India islands, should be carried on either in French or American vessels; and were specially instructed to assure the French king, that if, by their joint efforts, the British should be excluded from any share in the cod-fishery of America, by the reduction of the islands of Newfoundland and Cape Breton, and ships of war should be furnished, at the expense of the United States, to reduce Nova Scotia, that the fishery should be enjoyed equally between them, to the exclusion of all other nations; and that one-half of Newfoundland should belong to France, and the other half, with Cape Breton and Nova Scotia, to the United States. Should these proposals be insufficient to induce France to join in the war, and the commissioners were convinced that the open co-operation of France could not otherwise be obtained, they were directed to assure his most Christian majesty, that such of the West India islands as might, in the course of the war, be reduced, should be yielded to him in absolute property.’—Pitkin, vol. i. p. 392.

128 –

William Lee was appointed commissioner to the courts of Vienna and Berlin, Ralph Izard to the duke of Tuscany, and Dr. Franklin to Spain. Arthur Lee was afterwards appointed, in the room of Dr. Franklin, to the Spanish court. While Mr. Lee was at Berlin, his papers were stolen from his lodgings in a most extraordinary manner and the British envoy at the Prussian court was implicated in this transaction.

129 –

The letter communicating the refusal was signed by the president; and it illustrates the character of congress, and the history of this year. ‘I have received the letter from your excellencies, dated the 9th instant, with the inclosures, and laid them before congress. Nothing but an earnest desire to spare the further effusion of human blood could have induced them to read a paper containing expressions so disrespectful to his most Christian majesty, the good and great ally of these states, or to consider propositions so derogatory to the honor of an independent nation. The acts of the British parliament, the commission from your sovereign, and your letter, suppose the people of these states to be subjects of the crown of Great Britain, and are founded on the idea of dependence, which is utterly inadmissible. I am further directed to inform your excellencies, that congress are inclined to peace, notwithstanding the unjust claims from which this war originated, and the savage manner in which it hath been conducted. They will therefore be ready to enter upon the consideration of a treaty of peace and commerce, not inconsistent with treaties already subsisting, when the king of Great Britain shall demonstrate a sincere disposition for that purpose. The only solid proof of this disposition will be an explicit acknowledgment of these states, or the withdrawing his fleets and armies.’—Journals of Congress, vol. iv. p. 353.

130 –

Lee, irritable and proud, could not forget the manner in which Washington had addressed him, and in two passionate letters demanded reparation. A court-martial was instituted; he was found guilty of misconduct on the day of battle, and of disrespect to the commander-in-chief, and was suspended from command for one year. He never afterwards joined the army, but died in seclusion just before the close of the war.

131 –

In consequence of heat and fatigue, fifty-nine British soldiers perished without a wound; and several of the American soldiers died through the same cause.

132 –

The loss of the Americans in this battle was eight officers and sixty-one privates killed, and about a hundred and sixty wounded. Among the slain, and much regretted, were lieutenant-colonel Bonner, of Pennsylvania, and major Dickenson, of Virginia. The loss of the British army, in killed, wounded, and missing, is stated to have been three hundred and fifty-eight men, including officers. Among their slain was lieutenant-colonel Monckton, who was greatly and deservedly lamented. About a hundred were taken prisoners; and nearly a thousand soldiers, principally foreigners, many of whom had married in Philadelphia, deserted the British standard during the march.

133 –

We insert the following as an antidote to the feelings with which the ‘glory’ of war is apt to inspire the breasts even of the generous and noble:—‘A short distance below the battle ground there is a large island in the river, called Monockonock island. Several of the settlers, while the battle and pursuit continued, succeeded in swimming to this island, where they concealed themselves among the logs and brushwood upon it. Their arms had been thrown away in their flight, previous to their entering the river, so that they were in a manner defenceless. Two of them in particular were concealed near and in sight of each other. While in this situation, they observed several of the enemy, who had pursued and fired at them while they were swimming the river, preparing to follow them to the island with their guns. On reaching the island they immediately wiped their guns and loaded them. One of them with his loaded gun soon passed close by one of these men, who lay concealed from his view, and was immediately recognized by him to be the brother of his companion who was concealed near him, but who, being a tory, had joined the enemy. He passed slowly along, carefully examining every covert, and directly perceived his brother in his place of concealment. He suddenly stopped and said, “So it is you, is it?” His brother, finding that he was discovered, immediately came forward a few steps, and, falling on his knees, begged him to spare his life, promising to live with him and serve him, and even to be his slave as long as he lived, if he would only spare his life. “All this is mighty good,” replied the savage-hearted brother of the supplicating man; “but you are a d——d rebel;” and, deliberately presenting his rifle, shot him dead upon the spot. The other settler made his escape from the island, and having related this fact, the tory brother thought it prudent to accompany the British troops on their return to Canada.’—History of Wyoming, p. 127.

134 –

Count Pulaski was mortally wounded in this assault; and congress resolved that a monument should be erected to his memory. He was a Polander of high birth, who with a few men had carried off king Stanislaus from the middle of his capital. The king, after being some time a prisoner, made his escape, and soon after declared Pulaski an outlaw. Thus proscribed, he came to America, and offered his service to congress, which honored him with the rank of brigadier-general.

135 –

By the articles of capitulation, the garrison were to march out of the town and to deposit their arms in front of the works; but the drums were not to beat a British march, nor the colors to be uncased. The continental troops and seamen were to keep their baggage, and remain prisoners of war until exchanged. The militia were to be permitted to return home as prisoners on parole; and, while they should adhere to their parole, were not to be molested by the British troops in person or property. The inhabitants of all conditions were to be considered as prisoners on parole, and to hold their property on the same terms with the militia.

136 –

General Arnold early and warmly embraced the American cause. His enterprising spirit, his invincible fortitude, his heroic and persevering ardor in battle, had exalted his military character in his own country and in Europe. Being incapacitated for the duties of the field by the wounds he received before Quebec and at Saratoga, he was appointed commandant in Philadelphia when the British evacuated that city. In this flattering command, he adopted a style of living above his means, and soon found himself loaded with debt. To relieve himself he entered into various schemes of speculation, and was unsuccessful in all. Hollow at heart, he had recourse to fraud and peculation. These practices rendered him odious to the citizens, and gave offence to government. At length formal complaints were lodged against him, and congress ordered his trial by a court-martial. By this court he was found guilty, and sentenced to be reprimanded by the commander-in-chief. The sentence was approved by congress, and carried into execution by general Washington. In the gold that was to reward his treason, Arnold expected relief from his pecuniary embarrassments; and his implacable spirit sought its revenge of his country by betraying into the hand of her enemy the Gibraltar of America. Upon his establishment in the army of Great Britain, he found it necessary to make some exertions to secure the attachment of his new friends. With the hope of alluring many of the discontented to his standard, he published an address to the inhabitants of America, in which he endeavored to justify his conduct. This was followed by a proclamation addressed ‘to the officers and soldiers of the continental army, who have the real interest of their country at heart, and who are determined to be no longer the tools and dupes of congress and of France.’ These proclamations did not produce the effect designed. And in all the hardships, sufferings, and irritations of the war, Arnold remains the solitary instance of an American officer who abandoned the side first embraced in the contest, and turned his sword upon his former companions in arms. He survived the war but to drag on, in perpetual banishment from his native country, a dishonorable life. He transmitted to his children a name of hateful celebrity. He obtained only a part of the debasing stipend of an abortive treason, and his complaints soon caused it to be known, that all the promises by which he had been inveigled were not fulfilled. He enjoyed, however, the rank of brigadier-general, but the officers of the British army manifested a strong repugnance to serve with him. He possessed their esteem while he fought against them; they loaded him with contempt when treason brought him over to their side. He resided principally in England after the conclusion of the war, and died on the 14th of June, 1801.

137 –

The general officers who reported his case lamented the necessity they were under to advise that as a spy he should be hung, and the heart of general Washington was wrung with anguish when he signed his death warrant. But the fatal wound that would have been inflicted on the country had Arnold’s treason succeeded, made the sacrifice necessary for the public safety. The American officers universally discovered a sympathy for the unfortunate sufferer, and the sensibility of the public was greatly excited on the occasion. His character is thus beautifully painted by the late general Hamilton, who without envy might have contemplated his eminent qualities, for they were not equal to his own. ‘There was something singularly interesting in the character of André. To an excellent understanding, well improved by education and travel he united a peculiar elegance of mind and manners, and the advantages of a pleasing person. It is said that he possessed a pretty taste for the fine arts, and had himself attained some proficiency in poetry, music, and painting. His knowledge appeared without ostentation, and embellished by a diffidence that rarely accompanies so many talents and accomplishments, which left you to suppose more than appeared. His sentiments were elevated, and inspired esteem; they had a softness that conciliated affection. His elocution was handsome, his address easy, polite, and insinuating. By his merit he had acquired the unlimited confidence of his general, and was making rapid progress in military rank and reputation. But in the height of his career, flushed with new hopes from the execution of a project the most beneficial to his party that could be devised, he is at once precipitated from the summit of prosperity, sees all the expectations of his ambition blasted, and himself ruined.’ A handsome monument is erected to his memory in Westminster abbey.

138 –

The following instance will illustrate the horrible spirit of these times:—‘In the hour of festivity, one Brown had indulged himself in indiscreet censure of the revolutionary party. He had done worse,—he had committed a fault less easily forgiven,—he had ridiculed them. Being apprized that their resentment was excited, he attempted to escape; but he was closely pursued, brought back to Augusta, tried before a committee of surveillance, and sentenced to be tarred and feathered and carted, unless he recanted and took the oath of allegiance prescribed by the administration of Georgia. Brown was a firm man, and resisted with a pertinacity that should have commanded the respect of his persecutors. But the motions of a mob are too precipitate to admit of the intrusion of generous feeling. After undergoing the painful and mortifying penance prescribed by the committee without yielding, it is too true that he was doomed to have his naked feet exposed to a large fire, to subdue his stubborn spirit; but in vain; and he was at length turned loose by a group of men, who never once dreamed that the simple Indian trader would soon reappear an armed and implacable enemy. He first visited the loyalists of Ninety Six, concerted his measures with them, then made his way to St. Augustine, received a colonel’s commission, placed himself at the head of a band of desperate refugees, and accompanied Provost in his irruption into Georgia. His thirst for revenge appeared afterward insatiable, and besides wantonly hanging many of his prisoners, he subjected the families of the whigs who were out in service to accumulated sufferings and distress. It was not long after he was left in command at Augusta by the British general, that colonel Clarke, with a determined party of the militia, whose families he had persecuted, aimed a well-directed blow at his post. But Brown proved himself a man of bravery and conduct, and he well knew that at all times he was fighting for his life. After a severe and partially successful contest, the approach of a party of Indians obliged Clarke to retreat, and leave his wounded behind him, with a letter addressed to Brown, requesting that he would parole them to their plantations. But Brown’s thirst for revenge knew no bounds. It had been irritated in this instance by a wound which confined him to his bed. The unhappy prisoners, twenty-eight in number, were all hung; thirteen of them were suspended to the railing of the staircase, that he might feast his eyes with their dying agonies.’—Johnson’s Life of General Green.

139 –

Upwards of three hundred of the British were killed or wounded, and above five hundred taken prisoners; eight hundred muskets, two field-pieces, two standards, thirty-five baggage wagons, and one hundred dragoon horses, fell into the hands of the conquerors. Of the Americans, twelve men only were killed, and sixty wounded. Congress, in honor of the good conduct of general Morgan, presented him a gold medal; to lieutenant-colonels Washington and Howard, medals of silver; and to colonel Pickens, a sword.

140 –

Marshall’s Life of Washington, b. iv. chap. 8.

141 –

Among the papers of Dr. Franklin was found the following memorandum: ‘Immediately after the death of lord Rockingham, the king said to lord Shelburne, “I will be plain with you; the point next my heart, and which I am determined, be the consequence what it may, never to relinquish but with my crown and life, is, to prevent a total unequivocal recognition of the independence of America. Promise to support me on this ground, and I will leave you unmolested on every other ground, and with full power as the prime minister of this kingdom.” The bargain was struck.’—Franklin’s Works, vol. v. p. 326.

142 –

The following eulogium from the lips of an eloquent living statesman, when pleading for the relief of the illustrious survivors, conveys a just idea of the honorable conduct of this band of patriots:—‘The army was to be disbanded; but it was unpaid. It was to lay down its own power; but there was no government with adequate power to perform what had been promised to it. In this critical moment what is its conduct? Does it disgrace its high character? Is temptation able to seduce it? Does it speak of righting itself? Does it undertake to redress its own wrongs by its own sword? Does it lose its patriotism in its deep sense of injury and injustice? Does military ambition cause its integrity to swerve? Far, far otherwise. It had faithfully served and saved the country, and to that country it now referred, with unhesitating confidence, its claim and its complaints. It laid down its arms with alacrity; it mingled itself with the mass of the community; and it waited till, in better times, and under a new government, its services might be rewarded, and the promises made to it fulfilled. We can hardly recur to this example too often, or dwell on it too much, for the honor of our country, and of its defenders.’—The Speeches and Forensic Arguments of Daniel Webster, p. 356, 357.

143 –

At the head of the department of state he placed Mr. Jefferson; at the head of the treasury, colonel Hamilton; at the head of the war department, general Knox; in the office of attorney-general, Edmund Randolph; at the head of the judicial department, Mr. Jay. The associate justices were John Rutledge, of South Carolina, James Wilson, of Pennsylvania, William Cushing, of Massachusetts, Robert Harrison, of Maryland and John Blair, of Virginia.

144 –

Goldsborough’s Naval Chronicle.

145 –

Memoirs and Correspondence of Thomas Jefferson, vol. iv. p. 34.

146 –

Захват этого злосчастного корабля английским фрегатом «Шеннон» главным образом объясняется дезертирством горниста со своего поста. Несмотря на гибель капитана Лоуренса и ключевых офицеров «Чесапика» в самом начале боя, если бы горнист, в чьи обязанности входило призывать абордажную команду, протрубил по приказу, экипаж незамедлительно вышел бы на палубу, и исход боестолкновения, по всей вероятности, оказался бы иным. Как бы то ни было, привычный сигнал о том, что неприятель идет на абордаж, подан не был, и когда несколько мичманов бросились вниз передать приказ, матросы не поняли, в чем дело, пришли в замешательство и оставили свои посты.

До того как оба корабля сцепились в схватке, огонь «Чесапика» причинил беспрецедентные разрушения на борту «Шеннона». Весь урон, понесенный неприятелем, пришелся на время до абордажа. В короткий промежуток в восемь минут «Шеннон» был настолько изуродован в корпусе залпами бортовых орудий «Чесапика», что той ночью ее с трудом удавалось удерживать на плаву, а ее экипаж потерял убитыми и ранеными восемьдесят восемь человек, в то время как «Чесапик» остался сравнительно невредим.

«Чесапик» числился 36-пушечным фрегатом, но нес сорок девять орудий; на «Шенноне» было пятьдесят два станочных орудия и отборная команда из четырехсот человек. Матросы «Чесапика» были свежими новобранцами, и у них почти не было возможности для их тренировки и дисциплинарной подготовки.

Утром первого июня «Шеннон» появилась у нашего порта и демонстративно выставила свои цвета. «Чесапик» стоял на якоре ниже форта Индепенденс. Как только показался вражеский флаг, он произвел выстрел и поднял американский флаг. Тотчас началась подготовка к плаванию, и при благоприятном приливе судно снялось с якоря. «Шеннон» немедленно легла в дрейф у залива, за ней последовал «Чесапик» под всеми парусами.

Каждая возвышенность в Бостоне, с которой открывался вид на море, была заполнена встревоженными зрителями. Но судно ушло так далеко на восток, что схватку не удавалось разглядеть. Множество лодок выплыло в море, чтобы стать свидетелями исхода, и привезли мрачные вести: когда дым канонады рассеялся, на борту «Чесапика» развевались английские цвета, а вскоре оба судна направились в сторону Галифакса. Наступившее более чем на две недели томительное ожидание было чрезвычайно мучительным. О судьбе никого не было известно, хотя всеобщее предчувствие, исходившее из бесстрашного характера капитана Лоуренса, гласило, что он пал мучеником за свою страну.

Капитан Лоуренс был сначала ранен в ногу, но отказался спускаться вниз, пока не получил смертельное ранение картечью. Тем не менее он продолжал отдавать приказы из боевой рубки: «Сражайтесь до затопления — продолжайте вести огонь из орудий»; а когда ему сообщили, что неприятель захватил верхнюю палубу, он передал то выразительное и памятное послание: «Не сдавайте корабль». Узнав о прискорбном исходе, он воскликнул: «„Шеннон“ была разбита, когда я уходил».

Капитан Брок с «Шеннона» был опасно ранен в конце боя ударом сабли. Он долгое время бредил, но поправился и уехал в Англию. Он прожил достаточно долго, чтобы получить звание адмирала, но год или два назад скончался. Он был столь же благородным, сколь и храбрым офицером и никогда не допустил бы той бойни, которая учинена на борту «Чесапика» после ее капитуляции, если бы знал о ней. Если верно, как есть веские основания полагать, что он был ранен, когда наклонился, чтобы спасти жизнь одному из матросов «Чесапика», которого добивал один из его подчиненных, его память заслуживает увековечения как американцами, так и его соотечественниками. — «Бостон Атлас».

147 –

Historical Memoir of the War in Louisiana, by Major A. L. Latour, Engineer in the United States Army. Philadelphia, 1816.

148 –

By the first article of this treaty it was agreed that there shall be a firm and universal peace between his Britannic majesty and the United States, and between their respective countries, territories, cities, towns, and people, of every degree, without exception of places or persons; and that all hostilities, both by sea and land, shall cease as soon as this treaty shall have been ratified by both parties. By the third article, all prisoners of war taken on either side, as well by land as by sea, shall be restored as soon as practicable after the ratifications of this treaty. By the fourth article, the decision of the conflicting claims of the United States and of Great Britain to several islands in the bay of Passamaquoddy was referred to two commissioners, one to be appointed by his Britannic majesty, and one by the president of the United States, with the advice and consent of the senate; and it was agreed, in the event of the two commissioners differing upon all or any of the matters referred to them, or of their not acting, they shall make report or reports to their respective governments, which report or reports they agreed to refer to some friendly sovereign or state, to be then named for that purpose, and engaged to consider such decision to be final and conclusive. By the ninth article, the United States engaged to put an end, immediately after the ratification of the present treaty, to hostilities with all the tribes or nations of Indians with whom they may be at war at the time of such ratification, provided they shall agree to desist from all hostilities against the United States; and his Britannic majesty, on his part, entered into a correspondent engagement on the like condition of their desisting from all hostilities against him and his subjects. The tenth article has respect to the abolition of the slave-trade; ‘Whereas the traffic in slaves is irreconcilable with the principles of humanity and justice; and whereas both his majesty and the United States are desirous of continuing their efforts to promote its entire abolition; it is hereby agreed that both the contracting parties shall use their best endeavors to accomplish so desirable an object.’

149 –

Memoirs, vol. iv. p. 347.

150 –

Annual Register.

Примечания переписчика.

The following corrections have been made in the text:

⭘ –

‘Mooshillock’ replaced with ‘Moosehillock’

(Moosehillock Mt., Grafton County, New Hampshire)

⭘ –

text missing from imprint

(appeared to me to owe)

⭘ –

‘In’ replaced with ‘It’

(It abounds in fish,)

⭘ –

‘Masachusetts’ replaced with ‘Massachusetts’

(climate of Massachusetts is)

⭘ –

‘agreable’ replaced with ‘agreeable’

(more agreeable and healthy)

⭘ –

‘peninsular’ replaced with ‘peninsula’

(The peninsula is visited)

⭘ –

‘themometrical’ replaced with ‘thermometrical’

(A series of thermometrical observations)

⭘ –

‘chace’ replaced with ‘chase’

(The chase is commenced)

⭘ –

‘disapppear’ replaced with ‘disappear’

(to disappear for an instant.)

⭘ –

‘siaty’ replaced with ‘slaty’

(a dark slaty ash,)

⭘ –

‘His’ replaced with ‘He’

(He is extremely fond of)

⭘ –

‘mashy’ replaced with ‘marshy’

(found in the marshy grounds)

⭘ –

‘Misissippi’ replaced with ‘Mississippi’

(on the upper Mississippi)

⭘ –

‘Pensylvania’ replaced with ‘Pennsylvania’

(and the Pennsylvania avenue.)

⭘ –

‘tobaccco’ replaced with ‘tobacco’

(two sorts of tobacco raised)

⭘ –

‘iritating’ replaced with ‘irritating’

(not in the irritating measures)

⭘ –

‘it’ replaced with ‘is’

(The number of its locks is twenty-six.)

⭘ –

‘182’ replaced with ‘1822’

(was formed in 1822.)

⭘ –

‘Virgina’ replaced with ‘Virginia’

(proposed by Virginia,)

⭘ –

‘mperfection’ replaced with ‘imperfection’

(the imperfection of the human understanding.)

⭘ –

‘cuning’ replaced with ‘cunning’

(and cunning in war,)

⭘ –

‘probally’ replaced with ‘probably’

(will probably ere long)

⭘ –

‘downfal’ replaced with ‘downfall’

(On the downfall of the)

⭘ –

‘1799’ replaced with ‘1779’

(Between 1777 and 1779,)

⭘ –

duplicated word removed ‘to’

(declared to be perpetual,)

⭘ –

‘neigboring’ replaced with ‘neighboring’

(and the neighboring plantations;)

⭘ –

‘delieving’ replaced with ‘believing’

(and others believing it to contain)

⭘ –

‘be’ replaced with ‘by’

(to be secured by a distribution)

⭘ –

‘Yew’ replaced with ‘New’

(New York was evacuated)

⭘ –

‘goverment’ replaced with ‘government’

(the internal government of)

⭘ –

‘transanctions’ replaced with ‘transactions’

(which these transactions may produce.’)

⭘ –

‘wo’ replaced with ‘woe’

(by shrieks of woe which)

⭘ –

word omitted from text ‘[give]’

(In order to [give] a fair)

⭘ –

‘begining’ replaced with ‘beginning’

(was beginning to be felt)

⭘ –

‘Wetsern’ replaced with ‘Western’

(Western and Atlantic,)

⭘ –

‘Cawhaba’ replaced with ‘Cahawba’

(Selma and Cahawba,)

⭘ –

duplicated word removed ‘of’

(and more of city-like amusements)

⭘ –

Footnote was not marked in the text. Footnote anchor placed by transcriber.

⭘ –

‘dependdence’ replaced with ‘dependence’

(imbecile dependence upon it)

⭘ –

‘Nothwithstanding’ replaced with ‘Notwithstanding’

(Notwithstanding the fall of)