INDEPENDENCE PROPOSED. 205 defended the fortification with such spirit, that it has p'T. III. ever since been called by his name. сн. х. the flag. 10. Once during the day, after a thundering dis- P'D. 1. charge from the British cannon, the flag of the fort 1776. was no longer seen to wave; and the Americans, who watched the battle from the opposite shore, were, every moment, expecting to see the British troops mount the parapets in triumph. But none appeared; Jasper and, in a few moments, the striped banner of America recovers was once more unfurled to their view. The staff had been carried away by a shot, and the flag had fallen upon the outside of the fort. A serjeant, by the name of Jasper, had jumped over the wall, and, amidst a shower of bullets, had recovered and fastened it in its place. At evening, the British, completely foiled, drew off their ships, with the loss of two hundred men. British sail for N. York Wash 11. Washington had early apprehended that the enemy would endeavour to get possession of New York. He had, therefore, detached General Lee from Cambridge, ington's to put Long Island and New York in a posture of de- headfense. Soon after the evacuation of Boston, the com- at New mander-in-chief followed, and, with the greater part of York. his army, fixed his head-quarters in the city of New York. quarters 12. On the 7th of June, Richard Henry Lee, of Virginia, made a motion in congress, for declaring the June 7. Indepencolonies FREE AND INDEPENDENT. While the propo- dence sition was pending, individuals, public presses, and proposed legislatures, sent from every quarter of the country to gress. Philadelphia, a voice approving such a measure. in con The 13. On the 14th of June, the legislature of Connecticut passed resolutions, instructing their delegates in June 14. congress, to propose to that body to declare the Ame- feeling of rican colonies free and independent states, absolved all exfrom all allegiance to the king of Great Britain. The by Conreasons, they state to be-the taking away their just rights the contemptuous refusal to listen to their 10. Mention serjeant Jasper's exploit. What was the British loss? 11. What did Washington apprehend? What arrangements make? 12. What proposal was made in Congress? S pressed necticut. 206 P'D. I. THE FOURTH OF JULY. PT. III. "humble, decent, and dutiful petitions"-the endea vour to reduce them to abject submission, by war and CH. . bloodshed, subjecting their persons to slavery, and 1776. hiring foreign mercenaries to destroy them;—so that сн. х. July 4. no alternative was left, but either to submit to what must end in the extreme of wretchedness, or, appealing to God, to declare a total separation. 14. The sentiments which Connecticut had thus embodied, pervaded the whole country. Congress, Independence. therefore, on the 4th of July, 1776, declared to the world, that "these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, FREE AND INDEPENDENT STATES." 13. How had the Connecticut legislature expressed the senti ments of the nation?-14. What was done on the 4th of July? Lord Howe attempts pacification.-American disaster at Long Island. 1. CONSIDERED as a step in the great march of P'T. III. human society, no one can be fixed upon of more P'D. II. importance, than the solemn promulgation of the wri- CH. 1. ting, which contained the grievances of America, and July 6. declared her freedom. It embodied also, the universal 1776. wrongs of the oppressed; sent forth a warning voice The Don to the oppressor; and declared the common rights of importall mankind. claration ant to the world. With 2. The signing of this declaration, by the members of the American congress, who were the leading men of the nation, was doing that, which, if Great Britain should prevail, would subject every signer to the decision. CHAPTER I.-1. Why may the Declaration of Independence be properly regarded as an era in the history of mankind? -2. Why did the people of the United States consider the signing of the declaration as their final decision? s 2 9*** 209 America the final |