dertaking, George Washington, a major of militia, then little more than twenty-one years of age, offered his services. 3. The execution of this task seems to have been accom. plished with all that prudence and courage, which were so eminently displayed by this hero in after life. At imminent peril, being waylaid and fired at by the Indians, he not only faithfully accomplished the errand on which he had been sent, but gained extensive information of the distances and bearmgs of places, and of the number, size, and strength of nearly all the enemy's fortresses.

4. The reply of the French commander brought matter to a crisis; and in 1754, the Virginian assembly organized a regiment, to support the claims of the English over the territory in dispute: of this regiment a Mr. Fry was appointed colonel, and the young Washington lieutenant-colonel. Col. -Fry dying, the command of the whole devolved on Washington. The French having been strongly reinforced, Washington was obliged to fall back-was attacked in works which he had not time to complete, and, after a brave defense, was obliged to capitulate,-the enemy allowing him to march out with the honors of war, and retire unmolested to the inhabited parts of Virginia.

5. The next year, 1755, General Braddock was sent from Europe to Virginia, with two regiments, where he was joined by as many provincials as made his force amount to twenty-two hundred. Braddock was a brave man, but lacked that courtesy which could conciliate the Americans, and that modesty which should profit from the knowledge of those who better knew the ground over which he was to pass, and the mode of French and Indian warfare, than himself. He pushed on incautiously, until within a few miles of fort Du Quesne, he fell into an ambush of French and Indians.

6. In a short time, Washington, who acted as aid to Braddock, and whose duty called him to be on horseback, was the only person mounted who was left alive, or not wounded. The van of the army was forced back, and the whole thrown into confusion. The slaughter was dreadful. Braddock was mortally wounded. What was remarkable, the provincial troops preserved their order, and covered the retreat under Washington; while the regulars broke their ranks, and could not be rallied.

7. Three successive campaigns procured nothing but expense and disappointment to the English. With an inferior force, the French had succeeded in every campaign; and gloomy apprehensions were entertained as to the destiny of the British colonies. But in 1756, a change of ministry in

England took place. William Pitt was placed at the helm To despair, succeeded hope; and to hope, victory. Supplies were granted with liberality, and given without reluctance; soldiers enlisted freely, and fought with enthusiasm.

8. In a short time the French were dispossessed, not only of all the territories in dispute, but of Quebec, and her ancient province of Canada; so that all which remained to her of her numerous settlements in North America, was NewOrleans, with a few plantations on the Mississippi. Full of youth and spirit, the gallant General Wolf, who led the Eu ropean and colonial troops to victory, fell before the walls of Quebec, in the moment of success. In 1762, hostilities having raged nearly eight years, a general peace was concluded: France ceded Canada, and Spain relinquished, as the price of recovering Havana, which had been taken by the British, both the Floridas to Great Britain.

QUESTIONS.

What settlements had the French in America?

In what way did France endeavor to confine the English within narrow lim its, or to drive them from the continent }

When and what method did the Virginia assembly adopt to support the Eng. sh claims over the disputed territory?

When and with what force was General Braddock sent over to support these claims ?

What was the success of Braddock's expedition ?

How many campaigns were attended only with expense and disappointment to the English?

What led to a change in English prospects?

What celebrated English general was killed in the capture of Quebec?

SECTION VI.

Difficulties between Great Britain and the Colonies, and the consequent War of the Revolution.

1. ALTHOUGH the American colonies had principally contributed to the great extension of the power of Great Britain, to-operating with the vigilance of more than four hundred cruisers on the sea, and furnishing more than twenty-four thousand soldiers; yet the latter regarded her plantations as nere instruments in her hands. On the contrary, the high sentiments of liberty and independence nurtured in the co onies from their local situation and habits, were increased by the removal of hostile neighbors. Ideas favorable to independence increased; and whilst combustible materials were collecting in the new world, a brand to enkindle them was preparing in the old.

2. In 1765, under the auspices of the minister, George

Grenville, the obnoxious stamp act passed in the British parliament, by which the instruments of writing in daily use were to be null and void, unless, executed on paper or parch ment stamped with a specific duty: law documents, leases leeds and indentures, newspapers and advertisements, alma nacs and pamphlets, executed and printed in America,—all must contribute to the British treasury.

3. The bill did not pass without the decided opposition of patriots in the British legislature, who foretold the result, and who declared that, the colonies being planted by British oppression, and having assisted the mother country, the mother had no claim on the child to derive from it a revenue. The bill did not take effect until seven months after its passage; thus giving the colonists an opportunity of leisurely examining and viewing the subject on every side.

4. They were struck with silent consternation; but the voice of opposition was first heard in Virginia. Patrick Henry, on the 20th of May, brought into the house of burgesses in that colony, a number of resolutions, which were adopted, and which concluded with declaring, "That every individual, who, by speaking or acting, should assert or maintain that any person or body of men, except the general assembly of the province, had any right to impose taxation there, should be deemed an enemy to his majesty's colony." 5. These resolutions were immediately disseminated through the other provinces,-the tongues and the pens of well-informed men labored in the holy cause,-the fire of liberty blazed forth from the press. The assembly of Massachusetts passed a resolution in favor of a continental congress, and fixed a day for its meeting at New-York, in October. The other colonies, with the exception of four, accepted the invitation, and assembled at the appointed place. Here they agreed on a declaration of their rights. There was, however, a considerable degree of timidity evinced in this congress.The boldest and most impressive arguments were offered by James Otis of Massachusetts.

6. The time arrived for the act to take effect; and the aver sion to it was expressed in still stronger terms throughout the colonies. By a common consent, its provisions were disregarded, and business was conducted, in defiance of the parliament, as if no stamp act was in existence: associations were formed against importing British manufactures until the law should be repealed; and lawyers were prohibited from instituting any action for money due to any inhabitant of England.

7. The spirited conduct of the colonists affecting the in

terests of the British merchants, had the desired effect. Warm discussions took place in the British parliament, and the ablest speakers in both houses denied the justice of taxing the coonies. The opposition could not be withstood; and in March, 1766, the law was repealed. Simultaneously, however, with repealing this act, the British parliament passed another, declaring that the British parliament had a right to make laws binding the colonies in all cases whatever; and soon after another bill was passed, imposing in the colonies duties on glass, paper, painters' colors, and tea.

8. The fire of opposition was now rekindled with additional ardor, by the same principle, exhibited in its new form.The best talents throughout the colonies were engaged, in the public prints and in pamphlets, to work up the public feeling against the arbitrary measures of the British parliament.New associations were formed to suspend the importation of British manufactures. The Massachusetts assembly, having passed resolutions to this effect, drew forth the marked dis pleasure of the crown; and, on their refusal to cancel their resolutions, were dissolved.

9. In 1768, Mr. Hancock's sloop Liberty was seized at Boston, for not entering all the wines she had brought from Madeira. this inflamed the populace to a high degree of resentment. Soon afterwards, two British regiments, and some armed vessels, were sent to Boston, to assist the revenue officers. The parliament, encouraged by the expectation of quelling the refractory by their arms, continued to dissolve the opposing assemblies; but the colonies remained firm in their purposes.

10. Lord North succeeded the Duke of Grafton, as British premier in 1770; and the act was repealed imposing a duty on glass, paper, and painter's colors; but that on tea was retained. Some slight prospect of allaying the difficulties sucteeded. But on the second of March an affray took place in Boston, between a private soldier and an inhabitant. This was succeeded, in a few days afterwards, by a mob meeting a party of British soldiers under arms, who were dared to fire, and who at length did fire, and killed five persons. The captain who commanded, and the troops who fired, were afterwards tried for murder, and acquitted.

11. Things continued in this mode of partial irritation until 1773, when the British East India Company were authorized to export their tea to all places, free of duty. As this would enable them to sell that article cheaper in America, with the government exactions, than they had before sold it without them, it was confidently calculated that teas might

be extensively disposed of in the colonies. Large consign ments of tea were sent to various ports, and agents appointed for its disposal.

12. The consignees, in several places, were compelled to "elinquish their appointments. Popular vengeance prevented the landing at New York or Philadelphia. In Boston it was otherwise. The tea for the supply of that port was consigned to the sons and particular friends of Governor Hutchinson. The tea was landed by the strenuous exertions of the govern or and consignees. But soon a party of men, dressed as Indians, boarded the tea ships, broke open the cargoes, and threw the contents into the sea.

13. Enraged against the people of Boston, the parliament resolved to take legislative vengeance on that devoted town. Disregarding the forms of the British constitution, by which none are to be punished without trial, they passed a bill, closing, in a commercial sense, its port: its custom house and trade were soon after removed to Salem. The charter of the colony was new modelled, so that the whole executive government was taken from the people, and the nomination to all important offices vested in the crown; and it was enacted, that if any person was indicted for any capital offense committed in aiding the magistrates, he might be sent to Great Britain or another colony for trial.

14. Property, liberty, and life, were thus subject to ministerial caprice. The parliament went still farther, and passed an act extending the boundaries of Canada, southward to the Ohio, westward to the Mississippi, and northward to the borders of the Hudson's Bay Company, assimilating its laws with the French, which dispensed with the trial by jury, and rendering the inhabitants passive agents in the hands of power.

QUESTIONS.

How many soldiers did the colonies furnish in the French war

When was the British stamp act passed?

Where in the colonies was it first opposed?

Which of the colonies proposed a continental congress to be held at New fork?

When was the law repealed?

What bill was passed on the repeal of this?

What disturbances took place at Boston in 1763 ?

What change took place on the elevation of Lord North 1

What disturbances took place in Boston in March, 1770?

What took place in 1773?

What resistance was made in Boston in 1773, to the British government in re.ation to tea?

Who was the British commander in chief in Boston at this time?