president, Dr. Warren, second major-general in their own forces; the first having been chosen the day before.

A discovery has been made which will deliver down to posterity the name of governor Hutchinson, loaded with infamy. An accident has thrown into the hands of the Americans, the books of his copied letters to the ministry and others, in his own hand writing. By means of them, the several charges brought against him, of his enmity to his own colony, of his consummate duplicity of his advising ministry to alter the charter, and to use force for the establishment of their plans, and of his assuring them that they would meet with no effectual resistance from the boasting sons of liberty, whose courage would certainly fail them when put to the trial, have been authenticated beyond the possibility of a denial.

When he quitted the province all his furniture was left behind in his seat at Milton. After the Lexington engagement, the committee of the town removed it in order to save it from being totally ruined. Mr. Samuel Hanshaw, desirous of seeing how the house looked, when striped of all the furniture, repaired thither with the gentleman who had the key. He went at length up into a dark garret, where he discovered an old trunk, which he was told was left behind, as it contained nothing but a parcel of useless papers. Curiosity led him to examine them, when he soon discovered at letter book of Mr. Hutchinson's, which he secured, and then posted away to Dr. Warren, to whom he relat ed what had happened; on which an order was soon sent to general Thomas, at Roxbury, to possess himself of the trunk. It was brought to his quarters; and there through the imprudent exultations of some about the general, the contents were too often exposed to person resorting thither, and some single letters conveyed away; one for the public good, it being thought that if the same was generally known, it might be of disservice in the present moment as it had not a favorable aspect upon the staunch patriotism of Mr. Hancock. The letter books and other papers were afterward taken proper care of; and have been submitted to my inspection. Many of his letters beside what have already appeared, will be printed; those you meet with as his, in the Boston Gazette, or actually taken from it, you may depend upon as genuine and faithfully copied.

Mr. Hutchinson behaved much to the satisfaction of the public as judge of probates. He was ready to assist, in a most obliging manner, the widow and the orphan with his advice,

*Since collector of imposts and excife for the county of Suffolk in Maf fachusetts.

whenever

whenever their business called them before them. As chief justice he was not exceptionable, only when he supported the cause of government against the claims of the people. When in the chair of the first magistrate, his appointments to different offices were generally of men will qualified for discharging the duties of the same, though mostly supporters of government; he was advised by a British naval officer to secure Mess. Hancock and S. Adams by promoting them; but replied that though such a scheme might answer in regard to Mr. H. it would not as to Mr. A. for it would be only giving him more power to aid him in his opposition and that he should not be able afterward to remove him. Under the charter the governor cannot remove from offices without the consent of the council; and Mr. Hutchinson knew that Mr. S. Adams's interest in the council would be greater than his own. He was used to profess the warmest attachments to the good of his native colony, and that he was ever aiming to promote its happiness; and would frequently show the letters he had written about the time of the stamp act, in opposition to that measure. He ingratiated himself by his free, familiar and condescending intercourse with the common people, whom he would join, walk, and converse with in his way, from the meeting to his seat. On these accounts he had a number of friends and advocates, who thought highly of him; but since the discovery of his letters, they begin to own that they were deceived in the man, and wofully mistaken in the good opinion they entertained of him. He will be execrated in America, if not in Great-Britain.

The dispatches forwarded to the general congress from the Massachusetts the beginning of May, led on to their resolving themselves into a committee of the whole to take into consideration the state of America. Before they finished this great business, they resolved, unanimously, "That all exportations to Quebec, Nova-Scotia, the island of St. John's, Newfoundland, Georgia, except the parish of St. John's, and to East and West Florida, immediately cease, and that no provision of any kind, or other necessaries, be furnished to the British fisheries, on the American coasts, until it be otherwise determined by the congress." The parish of St. John's was excepted, as it had sent a delegate to congress. They continued to sit in a committee from day to day till the 24th, when the honorable Peyton Randolph being under a necessity of returning home, and the chair being thereby vacated, they unanimously chose the honorable John Hancock, esq. president.

[May 26.] A report from the committee being read, the congress came unanimously into certain resolutions; and among other matters they resolved, "That the colonies be immediately VOL. I.

Xx

put

put into a state of defence: but that, as they most ardently wish For a restoration of the harmony formerly subsisting between the mother country and these colonies, for the promotion of this most desirable reconciliation, an humble and dutiful petition be presented to his majesty." It was then resolved, but not unanimously, "That measures be entered into for opening a negociation, in order to accommodate the unhappy disputes subsisting between Great-Britain and these colonies, and that this be made a part of the petition to the king."-Afterward, "That the militia of New-York be armed and trained, and in constant readiness to act at a moment's warning."

Mr. Dickinson, the author of the farmer's letter, is now a member of congress for Pennsylvania. His heart was much engaged in bringing about a reconciliation, and he labored hard in procuring a second petition to the king; but it was opposed by several, and occasioned strong debates for several days. Howe ver for the sake of congressional harmony, it was at length unanimously agreed to; as they that opposed it had not the least idea of its proving effectual, from a full persuasion that the British ninistry would be so irritated, by what had happened on April the nineteenth, as to reject all tenders short of full submission.These nevertheless declined voting, that measures for a negociation should make a part of the petition. Since the Lexington engagement, many of the New-Englanders believe that the contest must end in absolute slavery or real independence..

[May 29.] Congress wrote a letter to the Canadians, stiling them the oppressed inhabitants of Canada, and themselves friends and countrymen. It was designed to persuade them, that their present form of government is a form of tyranny, and that they, their wives and children, are made slaves, to prevent their taking a part against the colonies in the present contest, and to procure a union of all in defence of common liberty.

[June 2.] It was resolved, "That no provisions of any kind be furnished or supplied to, or for the use of the British army or navy, in the Massachusutts. Bay,, or of any transport."

[June 7.] Congress, for the first time, stiled the colonies THE TWELVE UNITED COLONIES, in a resolve, "That Thursday, the 20th of July, be observed throughout the twelve united colonies, as a day of humiliation, fasting and prayer." From henceforward the united colonies will come into

use.

[June 8.] Major Skeen (the father) of Skeensborough, with ather officers, upon their arriving the evening before at Philadelphia, in a vessel from London, were taken into custody.Congress being informed of it, and the said Skeen had been late

ly

ly appointed governor of the forts of Tyconderoga and CrownPoint, and had declared that he was authorized to raise a regi ment in America; they appointed a committee to examine his papers, as also those of a lieutenant in the regulars.

June 9.] They having been applied to by a letter of May 16th from the Massachusetts convention, for their explicit advice, resolved, "That no obedience being due to the act of parliament for altering the charter of the colony of Massachusetts: Bay, nor to a governor or lieutenant-governor who will not observe the directions of, but endeavor to subvert that charter, the governor and lieutenant-governor of that colony are to be con sidered as absent, and their offices vacant; and as there is no council there, and the inconveniences arising from the suspensi-on of the power of governments are intolerable; that, in order to conform as near as may be to the spirit and substance of the charter, it be recommended to the provincial convention to write letters to the inhabitants of the several places entitled to representation in assembly, requesting them to choose such representatives; and that the assembly, when chosen, do elect counsellors; and that such assembly or council exercise the powers of government, until a governor of his majesty's appointment will consent to govern the colony according to its charter.

[June 10.] It was recommended to the united colonies to collect salt-petre and sulphur, and to manufacture the same inte gunpowder, for the use of the continent.

[June 14.] Congress agreed to the resolutions of the committee of the whole house, "That six companies of expert riflemen be immediately raised in Pennsylvania, two in Maryland, and two in Virginia; and that each company, consisting of sixtyeight privates, beside officers, march as soon as completed, and join the army near Boston,to be there employed as light infantry.” [June 15.] They proceeded to choose by ballot a general to command all the continental forces, and George Washington, esq. was unanimously elected:

[June 16.] The president informed him of the choice which the congress had made, and of their requesting his acceptance of that employment. Colonel Washington, standing in his place, answered,

"Mr. President,

"Though I am truly sensible of the high honor done me in this appointment, yet I feel great distress from a consciousness, that my abilities and military experience may not be equal to the extensive and important trust. However, as the congress desire it, I will enter upon the momentuous duty, and exert every power I possess in their service, and for the support of the glorious cause

I beg they will accept my most cordial thanks for this distinguished testimony of their approbation.

"But, lest some unlucky event should happen unfavorable to my reputation, I beg it may be remembered by every gentleman in the room, that I this day declare, with the utmost sincerity, I do not think myself equal to the command I am honored with.

"As to day, Sir, I beg leave to assure the congress, that as no pecuniary consideration could have tempted me to accept this arduous employment, at the expense of my domestic ease and happiness, I do not wish to make any profit from it. I will keep an exact account of my expences. Those, I doubt not they will discharge, and that is all I desire."

The colonel did not aspire to the honor of commanding the army; he was rather solicitous to avoid it, upon an apprehension of his inadequacy to the importance of the service. The partiality of congress, however assisted by a political motive, rendering his reasons unavailing; and led him to "launch into a wide and extensive field, too boundless for his abilities, and far, very far beyond his experience," as his prevailing modesty induced him to express himself. He is doubtless active, attentive to business, temperate, humane, formed for gaining and securing the affections of officers and soldiers, far from haughty and supercilious, though naturally reserved, which is a quality that may secure him from answering, without offending many improper questions, that the New-Englanders will be likely to ask, for they are amazingly addicted to inquisitiveness; this is greatly owing to the equality that prevails among them, and leads them into those mutual freedoms, which are censured in places where distinction in fortune and rank are far more prevalent and disproportioned. The personal appearance of the colonel is noble and engaging. He certainly possesses strong powers of mind, which will tend much to supply in a short season, any present deficiencies, that the want of more extensive reading, and of more practical knowledge in military matters, may inevitably occasion. His days have been spent in America, and he has had little opportunity of seeing service. As you have already been informed, in 1755, he prevented the total ruin of the British troops after general Braddock's defeat, by covering their retreat with his rangers; but he has never been accustomed to the command of a regular regiment, to which is to be imputed his saying to the volunteers he lately commanded in Virginia, that a gun and a good sword or hanger was all the soldier wanted, without mentioning a word of the bayonet-it was all that the ranger wanted. When the last French war was closed, the cessions made to Britain in these American regions, cut off all expectation of

future