HISTORY OF THE WAR IN AMERICA, BETWEEN GREAT BRITAIN AND HER COLONIES, FROM Its Commencement to the end of the Year 1779. Exhibiting a circumftantial, connected, and complete Account A Collection of Interefting and Authentic PAPERS tending Illuftrated with a Variety of beautiful Copper-Plates, repre- PREFACE. N the recording of events, where IN in the paffions and prejudices of mankind, have been fo materially interested, and where opinions have been fo various both in regard to the equity, as well as the whole operative fyftem of the American war, the task of the hiftorian becomes peculiarly arduous and difficult; people can arcely judge with temper of fuch an history in a century after the events, nor will it be found poffible for to escape cenfure, either from the violence of one party, or from the overheated imagnation of another; in this predicament if knowledge, impartiality, and a regard to truth, guide the hiftorian's pen, and that his fole object is to give a clear and distinct narrative of facts, from the best and most authentic documents, without pretending dogmatically to decide, in a controverfy, upon which the greateft men of the age, have differed in their fentiments, his fubject becomes highly interefting. It is upon this principle that the present work lays claim to the patronage of the public, wherein every event is faithfully recorded, the motives and secret fprings which led to this unhappy conteft, are placed in the trucft and most impartial light, the various forms and modes of local legiflation, peculiar to the different provinces, are clearly delineated, a diftinct account of the colonization of America in general, wherein every matter of importance that has happened fince its firft difcovery, is plainly pointed to th view of the reader: in fhort, the editor hopes he may fay, without the imputation of vanity, that this work will prove friendly to conftitutional liberty, lead the mind to form just notions of legiflation and government, and prove worthy of the acceptance of the public. CON 1 PART I. Page CHAP. I. America firft difcovered in 1492 by Columbus. propofal rejected by feveral courts, but adopted by Ifabella of Spain. Difcovers Hifpaniola. Mexico conquered by Cortez. Brief account of that great empire. Peru reduced under the domi- nion of Spain. Extent and bounderies of America. General defeription thereof. Account of the antient Indians. CHAP. II. A concise view of North America and the Weft-In- dia Islands, from their firft difcovery, 'till the feeds of the present conteft were fown, notifying the commercial ftrength and fhipping of each of the colonies, as they stood in the year 1763. 27 CHAP. III. A fhort narrative of the memorable events and re- volutions of the British colonies in North America, from the days of Queen Elizabeth to the prefent time, enumerating their different charters and grants, and fhewing when executed, to CHAP. I. A View of the Question in difpute, relative to the Colonies; with the origin of the prefent, unhappy civil conteft. 45 CHAP. II. The Progrefs of the Difpute between Great Bri- A&t in 1766, to the paffing of the Bofton Port Bill 1774. CHAP. III. A fummary account of all the American acts, 'paffed in the British parliament, from January 13, 1774, to CHAP. IV. View of affairs in the Colonies, in the year 1774; fhewing the general effect and operation of the late laws, &c. CAHP. V. Refolutions of the General Congrefs, held at Phi- delphia, and opened on Monday the 5th of September, 1774 155 CHAP VI. State of Affairs at the opening of the new parlia ment, with fome account of the two Fishery Bills paffed in this CHAP VII. State of affairs in America during the fitting of parliament.-Continued from the breaking up of the general Congrefs, in Oct. 26, 1774, to the re-affembling of that body CHAP. VIII From the meeting of the General Congress at Philadelphia, May 10, 1775, (pursuant to adjournment, from Oct. 26, 1774) to the blockade of Bofton, in July following, by the Generals Washington and Lee; with a particular account of the action of Bunker's-Hill CHAP. IX. Motives which led to the invasion of Canada. The |