MARYLAND. Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, SOUTH CAROLINA. [ton. Thomas Heyward, jun. Charles Carroll, of Carroll- Thomas Lynch, jun. VIRGINIA." George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Arthur Middleton. GEORGIA. Button Gwinnett, On the 8th of July, at twelve o'clock, the declaration of independence was proclaimed at the state-house in Philadelphia, amidst the greatest acclamations. The next day, in consequence of general orders, it was read at the head of each brigade of the continental army at New York, and every where received with loud buz zas, and the utmost demonstrations of joy. The same evening, the equestrian statue of the king was laid prostrate on the ground, and the lead of which it was made was doomed to be run into bullets. The declaration of independence was made at a tine when no royal governor had even the shadow of authority in any of the colonies; and when no British troops had any footing in the United States. A fol midable force was indeed collected on the coasts ready for invasion, and in face of that armament this decisive step was taken. The Americans now knew the ground on which they stood, and every thing assumed a new appearance. The sophistical distinctions between the limits of authority on the one side, and of liberty on the other, were done away. Every person was now able to form his own judgment; the question being simply whether America should be conquered or inde pendent. The institution of new forms of government began to take place in the different states, as had been recommended by congress, in the month of May this year. Although the kingly office was abolished, yet, in most of the subordinate departments of government, ancieut forms and names were retained. Each state appointed a supreme executive head, with the title of governor or president. They agreed, likewise, in deriving the whole powers of government, either mediately or immediately from the people. As a farther security for the continuance of republican principles, in the American constitutions, they agreed in prohibiting any hereditary honours and distinction of ranks. All religious establishments were abolished. Some retained a constitutional distinction between Christians and others, with respect to eligibility to office, but the idea of supporting one denomination at the expense of others, or of raising any one sect of Protestants to a legal preeminence, was universally reprobated. The alliance between Church and State was completely broken, and each was left to support itself independent of the other. It was sixteen months after this time, before the plan of confederation was so far digested as to be ready for communication to the states. Nor was it ratified by all the states till nearly three years more had elapsed. Many difficulties occurred in settling the ratio of contributions from each state. The value of lands was finally fixed upon as the criterion. The representation of the states was not so easily settled, but the larger states yielded the point, for the present, and consented that each state should have an equal suffrage; being fearful of weakening their exertions against the common enemy. As a radical change of the whole system of the first constitution took place a few years after the termination of the war, it is neither necessary nor consistent with the limits of this w ork to give any account of it. Suffice it to say, that it answered the purpose of the times, "when the citizens of America were young in the science of politics, and when a commanding sense of duty, enforced by the pressure of a common danger, precluded the necessity of a power of compulsion."5 It is amusing to recollect, at this distance of time, that one effect of independence was an aversion to every thing which bore the name and marks of royalty. Sign boards on which were painted the king's arms, or the crown and sceptre, or the portraits of any branches of the royal family, were pulled down or defaced. Pictures and escutcheons of the same kind in private houses were inverted or concealed. The names of streets which had been called after a king or queen were altered; and the half pence, which bore the name of George II. were either refused in payment, or degraded to farthings. These last have not yet recovered their value. It was not long before the constancy both of the rulers and subjects of the new empire were to undergo a severe trial. Hitherto they had been upon the whole successful in their operations: but now they were doomed to experience misfortune, misery, and disappointment; the enemy over-running their country, and their own armies not able to face them in the field. Im. mediately after the repulse the British had sustained at Charlestown, they appeared off New York, with a formidable armament. This was composed of the fleet and army which had left Boston, along with the new raised forces in Britain, and 13,000 Hessians and Waldeckers. The whole number destined to act on this occasion was not less than 35,000 men; though all these never were at any time brought into one engagement. Such a force, however, had never before appeared in any part of America; nor was it perhaps ever exceeded by any European army of equal number, whether we consider the goodness of the troops, the abundant provision of all manner of military stores and materials, or the excellence and number of artillery of all kinds. It was besides supported by a very numerons fleet, well adapted for the service, consisting of six ships of the line, thirty frigates, besides other armed vessels, and a vast number of transports. The fleet was commanded by lord Howe, and the land forces by his brother general Howe, men of approved valour and experience, who had already signalized themselves in the service of their country. General Howe, a consid erable time before his brother arrived, had set sail from Halifax, and lay before New York, but without attempting to commence hostilities until he should be joined by his brother. The Americans had, accord. was ing to custom, fortified New York and June 25. the adjacent Islands in an extraordinary manner. However, general Howe suffered to land his troops on Staten Island, where he was soon joined by a number of the inhabitants. About the middle of July, lord July 14. Howe arrived with the grand armament; and being one of the commissioners appointed to receive the submission of the colonists, he published a circular letter to this purpose to the several governors who had been expelled from their provinces, desiring them to make the extent of his commission, and the powers he was invested with by parliament, as public as possible. Here, however, congress saved him trouble, by ordering his letter and declaration to be published in all the newspapers, "That every one might see the insidiousness of the British ministry, and that they had nothing to trust to besides the exertion of their own valour." Lord Howe next sent a letter to general Washington; but as it was directed" To George Washington, esq." the general refused to accept of it, as not being directed in the style suitable to his station. To obviate this objection, adjutant general Patterson was sent with another letter, directed To George Washing. ton, &c. &c. &c." But though a very polite reception was given to the bearer, general Washington utterly refused the letter; nor could any explanation of the adjutant induce him to accept of it. The only interesting part of the conversation was that relating to the powers of the commissioners, of whom lord Howe was one. The adjutant told him, that these powers were very extensive: that the commissioners were determined to exert themselves to the utmost, in order to bring about a reconciliation; and that he hoped the general would consider this visit as a step towards it. General Washington replied, that it did not appear that these powers consisted in any thing else than granting pardons; and as America had committed no offence, she asked no forgiveness, and was only defending her unquestionable rights. Two days before adjutant gen. eral Patterson had the above-mentioned interview, independence was solemnly proclaimed by the civil authority, as if in defiance of all the then formidable appearances: after which, the king's arms, and an elegant picture of his majesty, were destroyed. Upon these proceedings, the episcopal clergy shut up their churches. The whole continental army in and near New York, at this critical period, amounted only to 17, Aug. 8. 225 men. These were mostly new troops, and were much scattered, some being 15 miles apart. The decision of every thing being now by consent of both parties left to the sword, no time was lost, but hostilities commenced as soon as the British troops could be collected. This, however, was not done before the month of August; when they landed without any opAug. 22. position on Long Island, opposite to the shore of Staten Island, between two small towns, Utrecht and Gravesend. General Putnam, with a large body of troops, lay encamped and strongly fortified on a peninsula on the opposite shore, with a range of hills between the armies, the principal pass of which was near a place called Flatbush. Here the centre of the British army, consisting of Hessians, under general de Heister took post; the left wing, under general Grant, lying near the shore; and the right, consisting of the greater part of the British forces, lay under lord Piercy, Cornwallis, and general Clinton. Putnam had ordered the passes to be secured by large detachments, which was executed as to those at hand; but one of the utmost importance, that lay at a distance, was entirely neglected. It was therefore secured by general Clinton, the night before the battle. This gave an opportunity to a large body of troops under lord Piercy and Clinton to Aug. 27. pass the mountains and attack the Americans in the rear, while they were engaged with the Hessians in front. Through this piece of negligence, their defeat became inevitable. Those who were engaged with the Hessians first perceived their mistake, and began a retreat towards their camp; but the passage was intercepted by the British troops, who drove them back into the woods. Here they were met by the Hessians; and thus were they for many hours slaughtered between the two parties, no way of escape remaining but by breaking through the British troops, and thus regaining their camp. In this attempt many perished; and the right wing, engaged with gen eral Grant, shared the same fate. The victory was complete: six brass ordnance were taken; and the Americans lost on this fatal day, considerably upwards of 1000 men. Among the prisoners were two general officers, Sullivan and lord Sterling; 3 colonels, 4 lieutenant colonels, 3 majors, 18 captains, 43 lieutenants, and 11 ensigns, with a number of privates. Among the slain, a regiment, consisting of young gentlemen of fortune and family in Maryland, was almost entirely cut in pieces, and the survivors not one escaped without a wound. The British accounts stated the killed, wounded, and prisoners, at 3000. On the part of the British, this victory was cheaply gained; their loss in killed and wounded not exceed ing 450 men, of whom the former did not amount to a fifth part. The ardour of the British troops, after the victory, was so great, that they could scarcely be restrained from attacking the lines of the provincials. "In this action, a body of provincials were put to death after they had thrown down their arms, and asked for quarter. The reason assigned for this piece of severity, was, that they had discharged their pieces be. fore they had asked for quarter. They were told that if they had expected quarter, they ought to have asked it before they fired; but now that they had fired, and done all the mischief they could, they had no mercy to expect." During the continuance of this unfortunate engage |