The History of the Rise, Progress, and Establishment of the Independence of the United States of America

row hard money upon the eftates, or the.parts of eftates 1780. of abfentees, wherewith to make the purchases; and on the fame day refolved, that in cafe the monthly supplies of beef and grain agreed upon, could not be procured by purchase, the fame fhould be impreffed. It was high time for fomething effectual to be done: for the Massachusetts and New Hampshire lines at and about West Point, though but a handful of men, had at times been many days without bread, on others without meat, and a long while on half allowance; and the officers in the fame condition with the privates, having no money to purchase neceffaries. New York, though confuming at both ends, and bleeding at every pore, had her compliment of continental troops in the field; befide having raised in the month of May 800 new levies to guard the frontiers. On the 21ft of that month, Sir John Johnson made his appearance at Johnson-hall. He and his party the next day burnt about 33 houses and out-houses, together with a mill; deftroyed cattle and sheep; and killed about a dozen perfons. After digging up his plate, he marched off. While New York was thus fuffering, and ftill exerting herself, several of her fifter states that were in full and peaceable poffeffion of their territories, feemingly flept in fecurity, and had not a third of their quota of men in the field.

The American cruifers have been fending in occafionally valuable prizes to different ports; and the people of Boston particularly have been lately in high spirits, having heard within this fortnight, that nineteen ships of a very rich outward bound Quebec fleet were captured, and that the privateers were in pursuit of the

1780. will probably pronounce it equal, if not fuperior to any upon the continent.

Notwithstanding all the anxieties and avocations at tending the war wherein they were engaged, the MassaMay chusetts general court paffed an act to incorporate and eftablish a fociety for the cultivation and promotion of the arts and sciences, by the name of THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES. The number of the faid academy, who are inhabitants of the state, are not to be at any time more than two hundred, nor lefs than forty. A bill to the like purpose was brought into the house in a former feffion; but the names of the gentlemen inserted being unintentionally arranged by the perfons draughting it, fo as feemingly to give pre-eminence to another before Mr. Hancock, the last declared in the house against having any concern in it, and it fell to the ground: but an alphabetical arrangement in the new one removing the umbrage, the fame passed into an act.

June

The court agreed upon raising 3934 men for the continental army for fix months; and on the 22d, 4726 more for three months, and the men were to be paid in gold or filver, or bills equivalent thereto. The felectmen of the feveral towns were ordered to collect shirts, fhoes, ftockings, &c. and fubjected to penalties in cafe of non-compliance. They were also directed to draught and procure men. But notwithstanding thefe promifing exertions, the general court will not have furnished gen. Washington by the beginning of Auguft with men fufficient to make good the ftate deficiency; for by his returns of the 23d, 5117 were wanting to complete the Maffachusetts battalions. That they might furnish the 19. provifions required by congrefs, they determined to bor

row hard money upon the eftates, or the.parts of eftates 1780. of abfentees, wherewith to make the purchases; and on the fame day refolved, that in cafe the monthly supplies of beef and grain agreed upon, could not be procured by purchase, the fame fhould be impreffed. It was high time for fomething effectual to be done: for the Maffachusetts and New Hampshire lines at and about Weft Point, though but a handful of men, had at times been many days without bread, on others without meat, and a long while on half allowance; and the officers in the fame condition with the privates, having no money to purchase neceffaries. New York, though confuming at both ends, and bleeding at every pore, had her compliment of continental troops in the field; beside having raised in the month of May 800 new levies to guard the frontiers. On the 21st of that month, Sir John Johnson made his appearance at Johnson-hall. He and his party the next day burnt about 33 houses and out-houses, together with a mill; destroyed cattle and sheep; and killed about a dozen perfons. After digging up his plate, he marched off. While New York was thus fuffering, and ftill exerting herself, several of her fifter ftates that were in full and peaceable poffeffion of their territories, feemingly flept in fecurity, and had not a third of their quota of men in the field.

1780. will probably pronounce it equal, if not fuperior to any upon the continent.

Notwithstanding all the anxieties and avocations attending the war wherein they were engaged, the MassaMay chufetts general court paffed an act to incorporate and eftablish a fociety for the cultivation and promotion of the arts and sciences, by the name of THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES. The number of the said academy, who are inhabitants of the state, are not to be at any time more than two hundred, nor lefs than forty. A bill to the like purpose was brought into the house in a former feffion; but the names of the gentlemen inferted being unintentionally arranged by the perfons draughting it, fo as feemingly to give pre-eminence to another before Mr. Hancock, the last declared in the house against having any concern in it, and it fell to the ground: but an alphabetical arrangement in the new one removing the umbrage, the fame paffed into an act.

June

The court agreed upon raifing 3934 men for the continental army for fix months; and on the 22d, 4726 more for three months, and the men were to be paid in gold or filver, or bills equivalent thereto. The felectmen of the feveral towns were ordered to collect fhirts, fhoes, stockings, &c. and subjected to penalties in cafe of non-compliance. They were alfo directed to draught and procure men. But notwithstanding these promifing exertions, the general court will not have furnished gen. Washington by the beginning of Auguft with men fufficient to make good the ftate deficiency; for by his returns of the 23d, 5117 were wanting to complete the Maffachusetts battalions. That they might furnish the 19. provifions required by congrefs, they determined to bor

row hard money upon the eftates, or the.parts of eftates 1780. of absentees, wherewith to make the purchases; and on the fame day refolved, that in case the monthly supplies of beef and grain agreed upon, could not be procured by purchase, the fame fhould be impreffed. It was high time for fomething effectual to be done : for the Maffachusetts and New Hampshire lines at and about West Point, though but a handful of men, had at times been many days without bread, on others without meat, and a long while on half allowance; and the officers in the fame condition with the privates, having no money to purchase neceffaries. New York, though confuming at both ends, and bleeding at every pore, had her compliment of continental troops in the field; beside having raised in the month of May 800 new levies to guard the frontiers. On the 21st of that month, Sir John Johnfon made his appearance at Johnfon-hall. He and his party the next day burnt about 33 houses and out-houses, together with a mill; deftroyed cattle and sheep; and killed about a dozen perfons. After digging up his plate, he marched off. While New York was thus fuffering, and ftill exerting herself, several of her fifter ftates that were in full and peaceable poffeffion of their territories, feemingly flept in fecurity, and had not a third of their quota of men in the field.

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The History of the Rise, Progress, and Establishment of the ..., Volum 3