ed to treat him with particular affection. He offered him some hard biscuit; but finding that he could not chew them on account of the blow he had received from the Frenchman, this more humane savage soaked some of the biscuit in water, and made him suck the pulp-like part. Determined, however, not to lose his captive, the refreshment being finished, he took the moccasins from his feet, and tied them to one of his wrists; then directing him to lie down on his back on the bare ground, he stretched one arm to its full length, and bound it fast to a young tree; the other arm was extended and bound in the same manner: his legs were stretched apart, and - fastened to two sapplings. Then a number of tall, but slender poles were cut down, which, with some long bushes, were laid across his body from head to foot: on each side lay as many Indians as could conveniently find lodging, in order to prevent the possibility of his escape. In this disagreeable and painful posture he remained till morning. During the night, the longest and most dreary conceivable, our hero used to relate that he felt a ray of cheerfulness come casually across his mind, and could not even refrain from smiling when he reflected on this ludicrous group for a painter, of which he himself was the principal figure.

The next day he was allowed his blanket and moccasins, and permitted to march without carrying any pack, or receiving any insult. To allay his extreme hunger, a little bear's meat was given, which he sucked through his teeth. At night the party arrived at Ticonderoga, and the prisoner was placed under the care of a French guard.

The savages, who had been prevented from glutting their diabolical thirst for blood, took this opportunity of manifesting their malevolence for the disappointment, by horrid grimaces and angry gestures; but they were suffered no more to offer violence or personal indignity to him.

After having been examined by the marquis de Montcalm, major Putnam was conducted to Montreal by a French officer, who treated him with the greatest indulgence and humanity.

At this place were several prisoners. Colonel Peter

- Schuyler, remarkable for his philanthropy, generosity and friendship, was of the number. No sooner had he heard of major Putnam's arrival, than he went to the - interpreter's quarters, and inquired whether he had a provincial major in his custody. He found major Putnam in a comfortless condition, without coat, waistcoat, or hose; the remnant of his clothing miserably dirty and ragged, his beard long and squalid, his legs torn by thorns and briers, his face gashed with wounds, and swollen with bruises. Colonel Schuyler, irritated beyond all sufferance at such a sight, could scarcely restrain his speech within limits, consistent with the prudence of a prisoner, and the meekness of a Christian. Major Putnam was immediately treated according to his rank, clothed in a decent manner, and supplied with money by this liberal and sympathetic patron of the distressed; and by his assistance he was soon after exchanged.

When general Amherst was marching across the country to Canada, the army coming to one of the lakes, which they were obliged to pass, found the French had an armed vessel of twelve guns upon it. He was in great distress, his boats were no match for her, and she alone was capable of sinking his whole army in that situation. While he was pondering what should be done, Putnam comes to him, and says, " General, that ship must be taken." "Ay," says Amherst, "I would give the world she was taken." "I'll take her," says Putnam. Amherst

smiled, and asked how ? “Give me some wedges, a beetle, (a large wooden hammer, or maul, used for driving wedges,) and a few men of my own choice." Amherst could not conceive how an armed vessel was to be taken by four or five men, a beetle and wedges. However, he granted Putnam's request. When night came, Putnam, with his materials and men, went in a boat under the vessel's stern, and in an instant drove in the wedges between the rudder and ship, and left her. In the morning, the sails were seen fluttering about: she was adrift in the middle of the lake; and being presently blown ashore, was easily taken.

At the commencement of hostilities between the colonies and the mother country, colonel Putnam, on hearing of the battle at Lexington, left his plough in the

middle of the field, and without changing his clothes, repaired to Cambridge, riding in a single day one hun dred miles. He was soon appointed a major-general in the provincial army, and returning to Connecticut, he made no delay in bringing on a body of troops.

Among other examples of patriotism that might be related, the following is from a living witness. The day that the report of the battle of Lexington reached Barnstable, a company of militia immediately assembled and marched off to Cambridge. In the front rank there was a young man, the son of a respectable farmer, and his only child. In marching from the village, as they passed his house, he came out to meet them. There was a momentary halt. The drum and fife paused for an instant. The father, suppressing a strong and evident emotion, said, "God be with you all, my friends! and, John, if you, my son, are called into battle, take care that you behave like a man, or else let me never see your face again!" A tear started into every eye, and the march was resumed.

Not long after his appointment, the commander of the British army, unwilling that so valuable an officer should act in opposition, privately conveyed to him a proposal, that if he would quit the rebel party, he might rely on being made a major-general in the British establishment, and receiving a great pecuniary compensation for his services; but he spurned the offer. On the 16th of June, 1775, it was determined, in a council of war, at which general Putnam assisted, that a fortified post should be established at, or near Bunker's Hill. General Putnam marched with the first detachment, and commenced the work; he was the principal agent or engineer who traced the lines of the redoubt, and he continued most, if not all the night, with the workmen; at any rate, he was on the spot before sun-rise in the morning, and had taken his station on the top of Bunker's Hill, and participated in the danger, as well as the glory of that day.

When the army was organized by general Washington at Cambridge, general Putnam was appointed to command the reserve. In August, 1776, he was stationed at Brooklyn, on Long Island. After the defeat of our

army, on the 27th of that month, he went to New York, and was very serviceable in the city and neighbourhood, In October or November, he was sent to Philadelphia to fortify that city. In January, 1777, he was directed to take post at Princeton, where he continued until spring. At this place, a sick prisoner, a captain, requested that a friend in the British army at Brunswick, might be sent for, to assist him in making his will. Putnam was perplexed. He had but fifty men under his command, and did not wish to have his weakness known; but yet he was unwilling to deny the request. He, however, sent a flag of truce, and directed the officer to be brought in the night. In the evening, lights were placed in all the college windows, and in every apartment of the vacant houses throughout the town. The officer, on his return, reported, that general Putnam's army could not consist of less than four or five thousand men. In the spring, he was appointed to the command of a separate army, in the highlands of New York. One Palmer, a lieutenant in the tory new levies, was detected in the camp: governor Tyron reclaimed him as a British officer, threatening vengeance if he was not restored. General Putnam wrote the following pithy reply:

SIR,

"Nathan Palmer, a lieutenant in your king's service, was taken in my camp as a spy; he was tried as a spy; he was condemned as a spy; and he shall be hanged as a spy.

"P. S. Afternoon.

"ISRAEL PUTNAM.”

He is hanged."

The

After the loss of fort Montgomery, the commander in chief determined to build another fortification, and he directed general Putnam to fix on a spot. To him be. longs the praise of having chosen West Point. campaign of 1779, which was principally spent in strengthening the works at this place, finished the military career of Putnam. A paralytic affection impaired the activity of his body, and he passed the remainder of his days in retirement, retaining his relish for enjoy. ment, his love of pleasantry, his strength of memory, and all the faculties of his mind.

"He died at Brookline, Connecticut, May, 29, 1790, aged seventy-two years.

RAMSAY, DAVID, was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and graduated at Princeton college, New Jersey, in the seventeenth year of his age. He studied physic under Dr. Thomas Bond, of Philadelphia, and was the fifth who obtained the degree of M. D. from the Philadelphia Medical School, the only institution of the kind then in America. He commenced the practice of inedicine in Cecil county, Maryland; but in a short time removed to Charleston, South Carolina, where he continued in practice until his death. During the revolutionary war, he espoused, with ardour and ability, the cause of his country; and when Charleston fell into the hands of the enemy, he was, with many other distinguished patriots, transported to St. Augustine, where he suffered a long and rigorous imprisonment, during which he employed himself in historical researches and writ ings. In 1782-83-85 and '86, he represented South Carolina in the congress of the United States; and for the last six months of that period, filled the presidential chair, in the absence of John Hancock. He represented the city of Charleston in the state legislature, for twenty-one successive years, for the last seven of which he was president of the senate of that state. To good natural abilities, and a liberal education, he added close application to public business and private studies; and the opportunities which his legislative stations gave him, were diligently improved in the collection of official and authentic materials for the various historical works which he was engaged in.. The principal of these were his Universal History Americanized; History of America, in three volumes; History of the Revolution, in two ⚫ volumes; and History of South Carolina, in two volumes. Besides these, he published many orations and essays on medical and political subjects; and an Historic and Biographic Chart of the United States. As an historian