ment on their "canvas wings," that he was left to conjecture alone where the first onset would be made, while the Committee of Safety of Virginia, unlike its convention, was full of hesitation and doubt. Page, Lee, Mercer, and

Payne," said he, "are indeed exceptions, but from Pendleton, Blond, the Treasurer and Company libera nos Domine.” From the north came tidings still more disheartening. The irmy was being driven in disgrace from Canada. The miserable remains of the armament that was to conquer it, lay without tents to cover them on the shores of Lake Champlain, one-half sick with small-pox, fever, and dysentery, over whose bodies myriads of loathsome vermin crawled unmolested; the other half disorganized and desponding, and with scarcely sufficient energy to cast their dead comrades into the two huge pits dug for their reception. Such was the news that ever and anon was brought to Washingon, keeping his mind on the stretch from morning till night, and tasking his powers to their utmost limit. In the mean time forty sail [June 30] were reported in sight of the Hook. To add to all these embarassments and trials, treason and disaffection were in his very midst. Governor Tryon, who remained on board ship down the bay, plotted unccasingly to detach the inhabitants and soldiers from the cause of the colonies. By seductive promises, rewards, and deceptions, he corrupted both, and finally penetrated even into Washington's guard, and set on foot a conspiracy to seize Washington himself. He expected in a short time to have the pleasure of seeing the head rebel on the deck of his ship. The plot, however, was revealed, and one of the guard was arrested, tried by court-martial, and hung-a warning to all who meditated treason.

While events were thus passing around. New York, Congress, having assembled in Philadelphia, were engaged in the momentous question of a Declaration of Independence. Many of the separate provinces had already acted on the subject

North Carolina took the first step, and passed a vote instructing her delegate to concur with the other colonies in declaring independence. Massachusetts followed. Virginia next wheeled into the ranks, then Connecticut and New Hampshire. Maryland opposed it; while the delegates from the remaining provinces were instructed to unite with the majority, or left free to act as their judgments might dictate. Thus instructed, the representatives of the people assembled in solemn conclave, and long and anxiously surveyed the perilous ground on which they were treading. To recede was now impossible-to go on seemed fraught with terrible consequences. The struggle had not been for independence, but for the security of rights, in which they had the sympathy and aid of some of the wisest statesmen of England. To declare themselves free would cut them off from all this sympathy, and provoke at once the entire power of England against them. The result of the long and fearful conflict that must follow was more than doubtful. For twenty days Congress was tossed on a sea of perplexity. At length Richard Henry Lee, shaking off the fetters that galled his noble spirit, [June 7th] arose and in a clear, deliberate tone, every accent of which rung to the farthest extremity of the silent hall, read, Resolved, that these United Colonies are and ought to be free and independent States, and that all political connection between us and the State of Great Britain is and ought to be totally dissolved." John Adams, in whose soul glowed the burning future, seconded it in a speech so full of impassioned fervor, thrilling eloquence and prophetic power, that Congress was carried away as by a resistless wave before it.

The die was cast, and every man was now compelled to meet the dreadful issue. Still weighed down with fear, Congress directed the secretary to omit in the journal the names of the bold mover and seconder of this resolution, Test they should be selected as the special objects of ven

geance by Great Britain. The resolution was made the special question for next day, but remained untouched for three days, and was finally deferred to the 1st of July, to allow a committee appointed for that purpose to draft a declaration of independence. When the day arrived, the declaration was taken up and debated article by article. The discussion continued for three days and was characterized by great excitement; at length the various sections having been gone through with, the next day, July 4th, 1776, was appointed for final action. It was soon known throughout the city, and in the morning, before Congress assembled, the streets were filled with excited men, some gathered in groups en gaged in eager discussion, and others moving toward the State House. All business was forgotten in the momentous crisis the country had now reached. No sooner had the members taken their seats, than the multitude gathered in a dense mass around the entrance. The old bell-man mounted to the belfry, to be ready to proclaim the joyful tidings of freedom so soon as the final vote had passed. A bright-eyed boy was stationed below to give the signal. Around that bell, brought from England, had been cast more than twenty years before the prophetic sentence," PROCLAIM LIBERTY THROUGHOUT ALL THE LAND UNTO ALL THE INHABITANTS THEREOF." Although its loud clang had often sounded over the city, the proclamation engraved on its iron lip had never yet been spoken aloud. It was expected that the final vote would be taken without any delay, but hour after hour wore on and no report came from that mysterious hall, where the fate of a continent was being settled. The multitude grew impatient--the old bell-man leaned over the railing, straining his eyes downward, till his heart misgave him and hope yielded to fear. But at length, at two o'clock, the door of the hall opened, and a voice exclaimed, "It has passed!" The word leaped like lightning from lip to lip, followed by huzzas that shook the building. The boy-sentinel turned

to the belfry, clapped his hands, and shouted "Ring—ring!” The desponding bell-man, electrified into life by the joyful news, seized the iron tongue and hurled it backward and forward, with a clang that startled every heart in Philadel phia like a bugle blast. Clang-clang" it resounded on, ever higher and clearer and more joyous, blending in its deep and thrilling vibrations, and proclaiming in long and loud accents over all the land the glorious motto that encircled it. Glad messengers caught the tidings as it floated out on the air and sped off in every direction, to bear it onward. When the news reached New York, the bells were set ringing, and the excited multitude surging hither and thither at length gathered around the Bowling Green, and seizing the leaden equestrian statue of George III. which stood there, tore it into fragments.* When the declaration arrived in Boston, the people gathered to old Faneuil Hall to hear it read, and as the last sentence fell from the lips of the reader a loud shout went up, and soon from every fortified height and every battery the thunder of cannon reëchoed the joy.

Washington drew up his army and had the declaration read to each brigade in turn. The acclamations with which it was received showed how thoroughly the troops were penetrated with the principle of Liberty. In the mean time events were thickening around New York. The British fleet from Halifax had arrived, and while Philadelphia was yet shaking to the shouts of the multitude, on the wooded heights of Staten Island the last of the troops under General Howe were assembling, preparatory to a descent on the city below. On the 12th July, taking advantage of a strong south wind, two English ships of war stretched under a press of canvas up the North river. The moment they came within range of the batteries on shore a rapid fire was opened on them. But the men, protected *This was afterward run into bullets and hurled against his majesty's troops.

by sand-bags, remained unharmed, while the vessels being under rapid headway soon passed out of danger, and taking position in Tappan sea, lay beyond the reach of shot from shore, thus proving what Washington said he "had long most religiously believed, that a vessel with a brisk wind and strong tide cannot, unless by chance shot, be stopped by a battery on shore.”

Washington, knowing that the only way the British could reach the city landward was by Long Island, along the shores of which they could at any time disembark their troops, stretched a cordon of works from Wallabout Bay across Brooklyn Heights, down to Gowan's Cove, the chief fortifications being on the Heights. At each extremity, and where they touched the water, batteries were placed, to prevent ships going up the East river. General Howe in the mean time remained tranquil in his head quarters on Staten Island, waiting for reinforcements from England, before he ventured on an attack. Washington occupied the long interval that elapsed in throwing up works at Kinsbridge, and erecting forts Washington and Lee, between which, across the river, were stretched chevaux de frise and hulks of vessels, sunk to prevent the British fleet from ascending and outflanking him, and in establishing redoubts along the Hudson and the East rivers.

The two ships that had gone up the Hudson with their tenders, kept cruising below the Highlands, taking soundings, and effectually dividing the northern and southern

army.

At length Lord Howe joined his brother, having been sent as royal commissioner, with terms of reconciliation, or, as Washington said, "to dispense pardons to repenting sinners." These, however, were so utterly unsatisfactory that they could not be entertained for a moment. He also sent a letter to Washington with a flag, which the guard-boats detained till the will of the American general could he