Still, it was not until September in the same year that a regular prospectus was offered, for 1 yet fea ed the want of matter, as well as the severe labor that I was sensible would become necessary to obtain it, if to be obtained at all. This prospectus contained these paragraphs:
Believing, as we do, that the simplicity of the truth, as held forth by those who devised and execu ted the severance of this country from the power of a despot, has been widely departed from, no effort on our part shall be wanting to encourage a spirit to seek after and hold on to the principles which appear essential to the preservation of the rights and liberties of the people of the United States; under an assurance that vigilance is the condition on which freedom is granted to us. But we enter upon the undertaking before us with considerable diffidence-fearful of the want of a just discrimination, and also of time for research and reflection to do justice to the weighty concern. It seemed however, to be imposed on us as a duty, and we will execute the task as well as we can.
"The materials, though the stock is pretty large, are not yet sufficient for the extensive work contemplated. The editor of the REGISTER has, for several years, been a collector of scraps and rare things several gentlemen have liberally contributed articles which they would not have parted with except on an occasion like this; and others have promised us liberty to overhaul their neglected stores of old papers: but much useful matter must be in the hands of those with whom we have not yet communicated on the subject; and every patriot is invited to give his aid to this collection, designed to record the feelings of the times that tried men's souls." Letters may be sent to the editor at his cost for postage, and originals will be carefully returned, if requested. When copies from manuscripts are presented, it might be well to permit us to state the source from whence they were deriv d, if necessary."
The terms were also set forth-it was promised that the volume should contain between four and five hundred pages, and cost, in sheets, the sum of three dollars. A view to pecuniary profit was disavowed-it had nothing to do with the origin or progress of the work, and if a reasonable, allowance for money and time expended is afforded by its sale, it will be as much as ever has been expected.
I had no sooner fairly committed myself than I regretted it-the patriots of the revolution did not make speeches to be unattended to by their brethren in congress and fill up the columns of newspapers. They only spoke when they had something to say, and preferred acting to talking very unlike the legislators of the present time. I plainly saw that great difficulties would oppose themselves to the fulfilment of my promise--I feared that more was expected of me than any man could do-for the facts that were manifest to my mind could not be appreciated by all: my pride, (an honest one, I trust), was alarmed-but, in obedience to a fixed rule that I have adopted for my own conduct, I resolved to meet the difficulty presented and conquer it by perseverance-if I could. To give some idea of the quantity of books and papers that have been looked into to effect this compilation, I think that I do not exaggerate when I say that they were sufficient to load a cart, and hours on hours have been spent in the service without the least profit. Perhaps, I was unlucky or unwise that my attention was not directed to the proper sources; it may be so-but of this I am satisfied, that very few of the "soul-stirring" speeches of the revolutionary period remain to warm the hearts of a grateful posterity: they were pronounced to be heard, not published. With this bief narrative, I submit the work to the liberality of my countrymen, American republicans—in the firm belief that, if I have not accomplished all that was hoped for by some, it will appear that others are agreeably disappointed; and I am satisfied that good will result from the publication of this collection: it will rescue from oblivion many things that were hastening to it, and lay the foundation, perhaps, of a more extensive and much more perfect work, which I shall always keep in my view.
In explanation it is necessary further to observe, that the leading object of this volume. was to shew the feelings that prevailed in the revolution, not to give a history of events; hence, all matters of the latter class have been rejected, except as immediately necessary to shew the effects of feeling. The volume, also, might have been more acceptable if a greater degree of order had been observed as to dates, &c.; but it was almost impossible to approach regularity, in this respect, as well from the nature of things as from the occasional attention, only, that I was able to give to the work-but any inconvenience on this account is obviated by the copious index, o table of contents prefixed Two articles have been, unfortunately, inserted twice---but, as they are of an excellent quality, I shall not be sorry for it, if the error causes them to be twice read. Many notices of proceedings, &c. are given only to indicate the general conduct of the people on such occasions as they have reference to.
*The earl of Dartmouth asked an American in London, (whose name we cannot call to mind at present), of how many members the congress consisted? the reply was “fifty-wo,” “Why that is the num ber of cards in a pack," said his lordship-"how many knaves are there?" "Not one," returned the republican-"please to recollect that knaves are court cards!"
move the troops from Boston, 211; his speech on lord Suffolk's proposition to employ the savages, 276; his remarks on the declaration of dependence
Cheeseman, capt his gallantry at Quebec Christie, James, banished from Maryland Church, Benjamin, his oration at Boston, 1773, Churches, destruction of
Adams, John-letters to him from J. Palmer, J. Trumbull, R. Cranch, S. Cooper, &. 322, 323; his letter to the editor, enclosing a copy of major Hawley's broken hints' 324; to gov. Bullock, July 1, 1776, 327; to Mr. Chase, same date, bid; to Mrs. Adams, July 3, 1776 328 329; respecting com. Tucker 413; Me A when an ambassador, found as a pri vate among the marines, Adams, Samuel, Address of the provincial congress of Massachu. setts to the inhabitants of Great Britain, 205; to the independent sons of Massachusetts, 432-see the several states, &c. America, estimate of the military force of, American and French soldiers, their comforts, 345 Connecticut-gov. Trumbull's reply to W Tryon
Andre, major, his affair with Arnold, Arms of the Unite! States, a description of, Army of the revolution-statements of its force, condition, pay, & &: 211, 433; voluntary contributions to support it,
the capture of Cornwallis,
Boston, the town of notice of many interesting things that occurred therein, 464, 468, 470, 471, 479 to 486 and 489; battle between the rope-makers and soldiers, 480; Whig club, 484; massacre of the 5th of March, with re- flections, 481; persons proscribed at, "Boston orations"-in commemoration of the 5th of March, 1770, when a number of citizens were killed by a party of British troops, viz. by James Lovell, Joseph Warren, (two), Benj. Church, Jno. Hancock, Peter Thatcher, Bjamin Hitchborn, Jonathan W. Austin, William Tudor, Jonathan Mason, Thomas Dawes, jun. Geo. Richards Minot, and Thos. Welsh,
Clarke, gen. George Rogers, an instance of bis astonishing firmness 380 Confederation, Drayton's speech on the articles of and his project of a new bond of union, 98, 104 Congress-Virginia delegates to 201; meeting of 297; address to the inhabitants of the United States, 1779, 407; held at New-York, in 1765, 451; ma if sto of, 1778 476
210; his letter to gov. Gage, 437; revolu- tionary pensioners of, highly interesting, 363, 364; election sermon
476 Conscience, Livingston's remarks on liberty of, 306 Contributions, (voluntary), to furnish supplies for the army
486 Cornwallis-address of the abbe Bandole on his capture, 268; a letter from gen. Washington, as to the plans laid to capture him, 272; ex- tract from Wraxall's memoirs respecting his surrender, 277; further particulars 345, 362 Court martial on a spy
369 Cropper, gen. notice of his services and death 416 Cunningham, the infamous capt. his confession 274 D. Dartmouth, the earl of a letter addressed to 144 Davis, col. his journal kept at Yorktown 465 Dawes, Thomas, his oration at Boston, 1781, 47 Declaration of rights, the draught of Geo. Mason, of Va. 123; of independence in Mecklenburg, N. C. 1775, 132, 135 Delaware: petition to establish a militia, 1775, 257; letter from Dr. Tilton to Dr. Elmer on the state of things, 1775, 257; correspondence of the same, respecting toryism in Sussex Co. 258, 259; letter of Z. G. to the committee at Dover, 257; proceedings of the committee respecting certain tea, 258; of the same, with the satisfaction tendered to them, on account of a disaffected article published, 260; arrest of a member of the legislature, by the light infantry company of Dover, and proceedings thereon, 261; correspondence of Cæsar and Thomas Rodney, &c. 338-345 Delaware river, passage of 361 Drayton, Wm. Henry, charges delivered by him in 1776, 72, 81, 92; his speech in the general assembly, 1778, 98; his project, 104; his ad- dress to lord Howe and gen. Howe Drayton's memoirs, an extract from
Lee, 206, his thundering proclamation, 1777, 264; laughing reply thereto, 263; proposals for his exchange, humorous, Burke, Edmund, his great speech in favor of con- ciliation with the colonies, 1775, 223 to 248
Dunmore, lord, his letter to gen. Howe, 1775, 138; his wicked proclamation, 1775
Effingham, lord, resigns his command in the British army, &c. 421
Charleston, proceedings at on arrival of stamps 467 Chatham, lord-a speech delivered by him on the sovereignty of Great Britain, 189; do. to re-
Farmer, John, his letter to the editor Fayette, the marquis de la-an address to him from the citizens of Baltimore and reply 393 Female patriotism, 305; do. pensioner for ser. vices in the revolutionary army, 417; at Bris- tol, Penn. 420 Franklin, Dr. extracts from several of his letters, 313; his letter to lord Howe, 315; his intro- duction to the French academy, 316; Jeffer. son's letter respecting him, 317; his letter to the people of Ireland, 1778-384; his re- marks on holding Canada as a 'check' 487 French-D'Estaing's address to those in North America 406
Ledyard, col. and others-of their fate, &c. at
Lee, gen. his correspondence with gen. Burgoyne, 206; letter to the same, 425; the oath exact- ed by him in Rhode-Island 427 Lee, Richard Henry, his speech in congress 490 Lee, captain Ezra, desperate valor of 469 Letter from a lady to a British officer 305; from Philadelphia, 1774, to a member of parlia- ment, 418; another from Massachusetts to a friend in London, ibid; another from Phila- delphia, 1775, 420; from Charleston, 1775, 423 Lexington, the battle of, mentioned in a letter from a lady, 305; some curious particulars of the affair, 326; receipt of the news 470 Livingston, gov. of New-Jersey, his able and spi- rited reply to gen. Robertson, 268; his speech to the legislature, 1777, 270; his remarks on the liberty of conscience Livingston; Dr. extract from one of his sermons 362 Lovel, James, his oration at Boston, 1771, Loyalists-see 'Tories.' M. 159 MacFingal, an extract from Manufactures, &c. recommended, 181, 182, 184, 198, 202, 369, 445; humorous article about 321 'Marine Turtle' 469 Marion, gen. his hardy escape from the enemy
Gage, gen. his proclamation offering pardon to all but Adams and Hancock, 136; his corres- pondence with gen. Washington, on the usage of prisoners, 266: reply to gov. Trumbull 438 Gardner, col. at the battle of Bunker's hill 370 Gates, gen. pleasing instance of his gratitude 276 Georgia-speech of gov. Bullock to the provin-
Germans, (old) of Penn. form a company Germantown-anecdote of a brave fellow in the battle of
371 Gordon's history, curious particulars respecting 483 Green, gen. to gen. Lacey
377; anecdotes and adventures 488 Martin, gov. of N. Carolina, his proclamation, 134 Maryland a letter from addressed to the earl
of Dartmouth, 144; various proceedings re- specting the importation of British goods, 1769, 167; do. in relation to the Boston port bill, 172, 173; patriotic recommendations for a meeting of deputies respecting manufac- tures and home industry, 181; case of James Christie, 222; address to count Rochambeau, 398; address of the general assembly to the people, 1780 Mason, Jonathan, his oration at Boston, 1780 George, of Va.-many interesting parti- culars of, with a copy of his draught of a de. claration of rights, and extracts from several of his letters 123 Massachusetts-gen. Gage's proclamation, 1775, 136; proclamation of the general court, Jan. 1776, 142; address of the legislature to gen. Washington and his reply, 143; Boston in- structions, 156; Malden do. 156; proceedings at Harvard college, 158; proceedings about the Boston port bill, 172, 173, 174, 179, 180, 191; recommendations respecting manufac tures and home industry, 182; parliamentary proceedings respecting the civil government of the colony, 1774, 194; address of the pro- vincial congress to the inhabitants of Great Britain, 205; gov. Hutchinson's speech to the legislature, 1773, 279; answer of the house of representatives, 287; address to the people by the same, 253; resolutions adopted May 28, 1773, 294; letter to the speakers of the assemblies of other colonies, 295; proceed- ings in respect to certain letters, 295; ex. tract from the governor's message and reply, Jan. 1774, 296; message to gov. Gage, same year, 297; address of the provincial congress, Dec. 1774, 298; refusal of a jury to be im- pannelled, 319; Hutchinson's divide et impera 420; recruiting service, 423; address to the inhabitants of, 432; address of the provincial congress to the people of Great Britain, 1775, 434, gov. Gage deposed, 435; proclama- tion for a public thanksgiving, 436; test act, (1776) 436
New Hampshire-patriotic proceedings, and ad- dress to the people, 1775 New-Jersey-vote of censure on gov. Franklin, and an address to the people, 1776, 154; gov. Livingston's correspondence with gen. Ro- bertson, 268; speech of the same to the le- gislature, 1777, 270; money in the public treasury appropriated, 420; instructions to the delegates in 1777, 461; cols. Mawhood and Hand New-London, the attack upon and savage murders at, by Arnold, &c. New-York-John Jay's charge, (1777) 62; ad- dress from the legislature to their constitu ents, 1781, 128; proceedings on the Boston port bill, 174; association of the sons of li- berty, 1773, 188; letter from the committee to the mayor, &c. of London, 439; names of the committee, 441; address of the provin- cial congress to gen. Washington, (1775), and reply, 441; address of the mechanics to the delegates in the colonial congress, 441; resolve respecting the resignation of commis- sions, 444; about civil suits of law, 444; pro- ceedings for the encouragement of domestic manufactures, 445; on the request of the Baptists for the liberty of preaching to the troops, 446; address to gen. Washington and gov. Clinton, on the evacuation of the city by the British, and replies North-Carolina-declaration of independence in
Pennsylvania-Brackenridge's eulogium 119; proceedings at Philadelphia about certain teas imported 170; address of a convention of county committees, 1774, 175; proceed- ings on the Boston port bill 179; speech de- livered at Carpenter's Hall 202; declaration of the deputies, June 24, 1776, 252; remon- strance of James Pemberton and others, con- fined in the free mason's lodge, Sept. 4, 1777, 255; transactions in the neighborhood of Philadelphia 333 to 335; address of the de- puties of the colony to the people, June, 1776-379; ordinance defining treason 417; Old men's company 420; act respecting per- sons scrupulous of bearing arms, ib. on the monopoly of salt
Prisoners, the treatment of at New York, by Cun- ningham Privateers Prizes
Proclamation of the royal gov. Martin of N. Ca- rolina 134; of gen. Gage at Boston, offering pardon to all but 'Hancock and Adams'— 136; by the general court of Massachusetts Bay, 1776, 142; of gen. Washington at Bos- ton, 1776, 143; of lord Dunmore, 1775, 373; of congress for a day of fasting, humiliation and prayer, 1776, 377; another 392; of gen. Washington on the bombardment of New York
Proscriptions at Boston Putnam, gen. anecdote of
Ramsay, Dr. David, his oration on independence,
Randolph, Peyton, his death
Reed, gen. Joseph, to H. W. esq. 1780 Retaliation-case of Asgill
Retaliatory measures recommended by congress,
tion of the churches during the war, &c. 361; extract from one delivered by presi dent Stiles Slaves, resolves respecting the importation of 198) Smith, rev. Dr. his sermon
Tryon, William, his letter to gov. Trumbu reply him
Tucker, commodore, interesting particulars of
215 Tudor, William, his oration at Boston, 1779 471 Tusten, Dr. a sketch of
Soldier's daughter, narrative of a South Carolina-Dr. Ramsay's oration 64; judge Drayton's charge 72; others by the same 81 92; presentments by a grand jury in 1776, 79; other presentments 91 97; judge Dray- ton's speech in the general assembly, 1778, 98; an act to prevent sedi ion and punish in surgents, &c. 150; governor Rutledge's speech, 1776, and reply of the legislature 152; resolves 154; thanks to Messrs. Mid- dleton and Rutledge 157; escape of Mr. Hunter 371; judge Pe dleton's charge 404; address to the gov. lord William Campbell 449; resolves against the town of Poole and about absentees 450; association of the mem. bers of the provincial congress 450; recep- tion of stamps 467 Speech-of judge Drayton on the articles of con- federation, 1778, 98; of gov. Rutledge to the legislature and reply of the same 152; of gov. Bullock to the provincial congress of Georgia, 1776, 159; of the bishop of S. As ph, in the house of lords, 1774 160; of lord Chatham, 1774, 189; of gov. Johnston, same year, 191; ditto of Mr. Fuller, sir George Sackville, Mr. Ellis, gen. Conway, lord North, sir George Young, gov. John- ston, Mr. Harris, sir Edward Ashley, Mr. Ward, gov. Pownal, Mr. Rigby, Mr. Fox, sir Gilbert Elliott and sir Richard Sutton, in parliament, on the civil government of Mas- sachusetts 194; delivered it Carpenter's Hall, Philadelphia, 1775, 202; of the earl of Chat- ham, on removing the troops from Boston (1775) 211, of John Wilkes, 1775, 345; of, capt. Harvey 347; fragment of one delivered in congress, spirited 423; of a farmer to his neighbors 428; another fragment of a speech 431; of R. H. Lee and John Dickin- son, in congress, from "Botta's revolution"
Tyrannicide, the-the first vessel built for the naval service of the U. S.-her battles, &c. 370
V. Virginia-interesting facts of George Mason-→ his declaration of rights, and sundry letters 123; Dunmore's letter to Howe 138; pro- ceedings in the convention thereon 139; co- py of the oath extorted by Dunmore 141; proceedings at Norfolk on the Boston port bill 180; do. at Williamsburg, Fredericks- burg, Hanover, & on the removal of certain arms and munitions of war, 1775 186; asso- ciation respecting the import of British goods, slaves, teas, &c. and recommending manufactures 198; ins ructions to the dele. gates to congress 201; do. to the delegates of Cumberland county 211; further instruc- tions to the delegates in congress-respect- ing a bill of rights-toasts drank and the Union flag unfurled, May 15. 1776, 251; de- bate on Henry's motion to po the colony in a state of defence, 1775 307; the people called to arms. 1779, 381; the test of 1776, 446; instructions to Messrs. Lewis and Boyer 446
Warren, Dr. Joseph-his oration at Boston 1772, 4; another, in 1775, 17, notice thereo: 468; oration on the re-interment of his remains 59; eulogium upon him Washington-his proclamation on taking posses- sion of Boston, 1776, with the address of the assembly and his reply 143; the honors of Harvard college conferred on him 158, his correspondence with gen. Gage on the usage of prisoners 266; his letter explaining the plans laid respecting Cornwallis 273; Miss Seward's lines upon 303; correspondence with gen. Lacey 333; interesting letters to C. Rodney, respecting exchanges, want of clothing, violations of parole, and want of food 335, 337, 338; to congress shewing his embarrassments, June, 1780, 337; acceptance of the command of the army 350; his letter to congress, 1776, 350; general orders, 1783, 353; circular to the states, 1783. 354, resig- nation of his command 359; first speech to congress under the constitution 359; his or- ders to gen. Sullivan, on passing the Dela- ware 361; in want of a pen knife 369; address to the inhabitants of Canada 423, his procla- mation on the bombardment of New York 434; addressed at New York Wayne, gen. his orders previous to the attack on Stoney Point
23 Weight of several great men in the revolution 376 Welsh, Thomas, his oration at Boston, 1783 470 Woman, sentiments of an American, 1780 Wraxall's memoirs, an extract from respecting the surrender of Cornwallis
Ticonderoga, capture of, returns, &c. Tilton, Dr. see Delaware: his letter from Wil- liamsburg, Dec. 1781
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