Henry taken. Controversy between Lord Loudoun and the

assembly of Massachusetts
Page 287

CHAPTER XII.

Preparations for the campaign of 1758.-Admiral Boscawen and

general Amherst arrive at Halifax.-Plan of the campaign.-

Expedition against Louisbourg, 'Ticonderoga, and Crown

Point. General Abercrombie repulsed under the walls of

Ticonderoga.-Fort Frontignac taken.--Expedition against

fort Du Quesne.-Preparations for the campaign of 1759.--

General Amherst succeeds general Abercrombie.-Plan of

the campaign.--Ticonderoga and Crown Point taken.--Army

goes into winter quarters.--French repulsed at Oswego.-

Defeated at Niagara. - Niagara taken. Expedition against

Quebec. Check to the English army. -Battle on the Plains

of Abraham.-Death of Wolf and Montcalm.-Quebec capi-

tulates.--Garrisoned by the English under the command of

general Murray.-Attempt to recover Quebec -Battle near

Sillery. Quebec besieged by Monsieur Levi.-Siege raised.

-Montreal capitulates. - War with the southern Indians.--

Battle near the town of Etchoe. --Grant defeats them and

burns their towns.-Treaty with the Cherokees.-War with

Spain. Success of the English.--Peace.

CHAPTER XIII.

311

Opinions on the supremacy of parliament, and its right to tax

the colonies. The stamp act. - Congress at New York.-

Violence in the towns. Change of administration.-Stamp

act repealed. Opposition to the mutiny act.-Act imposing

duties on tea, &c. resisted in America. Letters from the as-

sembly of Massachusetts to members of the administration.-

Petition to the King. -Circular letter to the colonial assem-

blies-Letter from the earl of Hillsborough.-Assembly of

Massachusetts dissolved.-Seizure of the Sloop Liberty.-

Convention at Fanueil Hall-Moderation of its proceedings.

-Two British regiments arrive at Boston.-Resolutions of

the house of Burgesses of Virginia-Assembly dissolved.-

The members form an association.-General measures against

importation. General court convened in Massachusetts.-

Its proceedings.-Is prorogued.-Duties, except that on tea,

repealed. Circular letter of the earl of Hillsborough.-New

York recedes from the non-importation agreement in part.-

Her example followed.-Riot in Boston.--Trial and acquittal

of Captain Preston.
Page 350

CHAPTER XIV.

Insurrection in North Carolina - Dissatisfaction of Massachu-

setts. Corresponding committees.--Governor Hutchinson's

correspondence communicated by Dr. Franklin.-The assem-

bly petition for his removal. He is succeeded by general

Gage. Measures to enforce the act concerning duties.-Fer-

ment in America. The tea thrown into the sea at Boston.-

Measures of Parliament. -General enthusiasm in America.

-A general congress proposed.--General Gage arrives.-

Troops stationed on Boston neck.-New counsellors and

judges.-Obliged to resign.--Boston neck fortified.-Military

stores seized by general Gage.-Preparations for defence.-

King's speech.--Proceedings of Parliament.--Battle of Lex-

ington.-Massachusetts raises men.-Meeting of Congress.

-Proceedings of that body--Transactions in Virginia.-

Provincial congress of South Carolina.-Battle of Breed's

hill.

395

1

A HISTORY

OF THE

AMERICAN COLONIES.

CHAPTER I.

Commission of Cabot.-His voyage to America.Views of discovery relinquished by Henry VII.Resumed by Elizabeth.-Letters patent to Sir Humphry Gilbert.-His voyages and death.-Patent to Sir Walter Raleigh. - Voyage of Sir Richard Grenville. Colonists carried back to England by Drake. Grenville arrives with other colonists.They are left on Roanoke Island.-Are destroyed by the Indians. Arrival of John White.-He returns to England for succour.-Raleigh assigns his patent.-Patent to Sir Thomas Gates and others. -Code of laws for the proposed colony drawn up by the King.

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA extend, on the Atlantic, from the bay of Passamaquoddi in the the 45th, to cape Florida in the 25th, degree of north latitude; and thence, on the gulph of Mexico, in

B

9 cluding the small adjacent islands, to the mouth of the Sabine, in the 17th degree of west longitude from Washington. From the mouth of the Sabine to the Rocky mountains, they are separated from Spanish America by a line which pursues an irregular north western direction to the 42d degree of north latitude, whence it proceeds west, to the Pacific. On the north they are bounded by the British provinces; from which, between the Lake of the Woods and the Rocky, or Stony mountains, they are separated by the 49th parallel of north latitude. Their northern boundary, west of these mountains, has not yet been adjusted.

The extent of this vast Republic, in consequence of its recent acquisition of almost unexplored territory, has not yet been accurately ascertained; but may be stated at two millions of square miles.

Its population, which began on the Atlantic, and is travelling rapidly westward, amounted in 1820, асcording to the census of that year, to nine millions six hundred and fifty four thousand four hundred and fifteen persons. The enumerations which have been made under the authority of government, show an augmentation of numbers at the rate of about thirtyfour per centum* in ten years; and it is probable, that for many years to come, this ratio will not be materially changed.

Public sentiment, to which the policy of the go

• The general estimate in the United States is, that their population doubles in twenty-five years.