# American History Told by Contemporaries/Volume 2

American History told by Contemporaries
VOLUME II
BUILDING OF THE REPUBLIC
1689–1783
EDITED BY
ALBERT BUSHNELL HART
Professor of History in Harvard University Member of the Massachusetts Historical Society Author of "Formation of the Union," "epoch maps," "practical essays," etc.
NEW YORK
THE MACMILLAN COMPANY
LONDON : MACMILLAN & CO., LTD.
Copyright, 1896, By THE MACMILLAN COMPANY.
Copyright, 1924, By ALBERT BUSHNELL HART.
reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who wishes to quote brief passages in connection with a review
Set up and electrotyped. Published April, 1898.
Sixth Printing, 1950
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Contents PART I PRACTICAL INTRODUCTION FOR TEACHERS, PUPILS, STUDENTS, AND LIBRARIES :
| CHAPTER I — THE SOURCES AND HOW TO FIND THEM | PAGE |
| 1. What are Sources? | 1 |
| 2. Educative Value of Sources | 3 |
| 3. Classification of Sources on the Colonies and the Revolution | 4 |
| 4. Libraries of Sources in American History | 10 |
| 5. Reprints of Collected Sources on the Colonies and the Revolution | 11 |
| 6. Select Library of Sources on Colonization | 14 |
| CHAPTER II — USE OF SOURCES |
| 7. How to find Sources on the Colonies and the Revolution | 22 |
| 8. Use of Sources by Teachers | 24 |
| 9. Use of Sources by Pupils | 25 |
| 10. Use of Sources by Students and Investigators | 27 |
| 11. Use of Sources by Readers | 28 |
| 12. Use of Sources by Libraries | 29 |
| 13. Caution in using Sources | 30 |
| 14. Use of Secondary Works | 32 |
| 15. Select List of Secondary Works on the Eighteenth Century and the Revolution | 32 |
| PART II THE SEPARATE COLONIES |
| CHAPTER III — NEW ENGLAND |
| 16. Reverend Deodat Lawson: Salem Witches, 1692 | 35 |
| 17. Clerk Ezekiel Cheever: Witches' Testimony, 1692 | 40 |
| 18. Chief Justice Samuel Sewall: Guilt Contracted by the Witch Judges, 1697 | 48 ​ |
| 19. Governor Samuel Cranston: An Explanation by Rhode Island, 1699 | 49 |
| 20. Daniel Neal: An Historical Sketch of New England, 1720 | 52 |
| 21. Lieutenant-Governor John Wentworth: The Condition of New Hampshire, 1731 | 55 |
| 22. Roger Wolcott: Affairs in Connecticut, 1740-1758 | 58 |
| 23. Captain Francis Goelet: "Boston the Metropolis of North America,"1750 | 61 |
| 24. John Adams: "Overweening Prejudice in Favor of New England," 1775 | 63 |
| CHAPTER IV — MIDDLE COLONIES |
| 25. Gabriel Thomas: Pennsylvania, the Poor Man's Paradise, 1698 | 65 |
| 26. Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations: Proposal to Unite the two Jerseys, 1701 | 68 |
| 27. Secretary James Logan: The Separation of Delaware, 1703 | 72 |
| 28. "Richard Castelman, Gent.": Philadelphia, "a Noble, Large, and Populous City," 1710 | 74 |
| 29. John Conrad Wyser and other Palatines: The Settlement of the Palatine Germans in New York, 1709-1720 | 77 |
| 30. His Majesty's Council in New Jersey: "Concerning the Riot & Insurrections in New Jersey," 1744-1748 | 80 |
| 31. Robert Proud: Politics in Pennsylvania, 1740-1754 | 85 |
| 32. Reverend Andrew Burnaby: "New-York City," 1760 | 87 |
| CHAPTER V — SOUTHERN COLONIES |
| 33. Robert Beverly: Andros's and Nicholson's Administrations, 1690-1705 | 90 |
| 34. Edward Randolph: Report of an Investigating Agent in Carolina, 1699 | 94 |
| 35. Eliza Lucas: A South Carolina Settlement, 1742 | 99 |
| 36. Governor Horatio Sharpe: Routine in Maryland, 1754 | 100 |
| 37. Reverend James Maury: The Parson's Opinion of "the Parson's Cause," 1763 | 103 |
| 38. Commissioners of Maryland and Pennsylvania: The Running of Mason and Dixon's Line, 1763-1767 | 107 ​ |
| CHAPTER VI — GEORGIA |
| 39. General James Edward Oglethorpe: "Designs of the Trustees for Establishing the Colony of Georgia," 1733 | 110 |
| 40. Reverend Johann Martin Bolzius: The Coming of the Salzburg Germans, 1734 | 114 |
| 41. Reverend Samuel Quincy: A New England Man in Georgia 1735 | 116 |
| 42. Freeholders and the Georgia Trustees: The Question of Slavery in Georgia, 1738-1739 | 118 |
| 43. Secretary Colonel William Stephens: Mr. Whitefield's Orphan-House, 1740 | 122 |
| 44. Edmund Burke: Need of Relieving Georgia, 1749 | 124 |
| PART III COLONIAL GOVERNMENT CHAPTER VII — PRINCIPLES OF ENGLISH CONTROL |
| 45. Parliament of England: Extracts from a Navigation Act, 1696 | 127 |
| 46. King William Third: Creation of the Board of Trade, 1696 | 129 |
| 47. John Wise: Englishmen Hate an Arbitrary Power, 1710 | 131 |
| 48. "Agent Jeremiah Dummer": Defence of the New-England Charters, 1721 | 133 |
| 49. Governor Sir William Keith: A Short Discourse on the Present State of the Colonies, 1728 | 138 |
| 50. Doctor William Douglass: Various Kinds of Colonial Government, 1747 | 141 |
| 51. Monsieur Charles de Secondat de Montesquieu: A French Publicist's View of the British Constitution, 1748 | 144 |
| 52. Edmund Burke: "The Law in all our Provinces," 1757 | 149 |
| 53. Late Governor Thomas Pownall: The Effect of Royal Instructions, 1764 | 150 |
| CHAPTER VIII — THE COLONIAL GOVERNOR |
| 54. Governor William Cosby: A Governor's Plea for Patronage, 1732 | 153 |
| 55. Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations: The Commission and Instructions of a Governor, 1738 | 154 ​ |
| 56. Secretary George Clarke, Jr.: One Thousand Pounds for a Governorship, 1740 | 161 |
| 57. Governor George Clinton: A Governor's Perquisites, 1743-1746 | 162 |
| 58. Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations: Recommendation for the Removal of a Governor, 1762 | 165 |
| 59. Late Governor Thomas Pownall: The Governor of Dispute over Salaries 1764 | 166 |
| 60. Secretary the Earl of Dartmouth: A Reprimand to a Colonial Governor, 1772 | 169 |
| CHAPTER IX — COLONIAL ASSEMBLIES |
| 61. Charles Pettit: A Colonial Election, 1764 | 171 |
| 62. General Assembly of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations: Proceedings of a Colonial Legislature, 1723 | 173 |
| 63. Governor Gabriel Johnston: The Dissolution of an Assembly, 1737 | 174 |
| 64. Secretary Charles Read: Minutes of a Colonial Council, 1752 | 175 |
| 65. Governor Lewis Morris: A Determined Veto Message, 1742 | 179 |
| 66. Late Governor Thomas Pownall: How to Avoid a Governor's Veto, 1764 | 182 |
| 67. Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations: Disallowance of a Colonial Bill, 1770 | 183 |
| 68. Agent Benjamin Franklin: Disputes over the Agency, 1771 | 184 |
| CHAPTER X — COLONIAL COURTS |
| 69. "A Swiss Gentleman": How Juries were Summoned, 1710 | 188 |
| 70. Lieutenant-Governor Robert Dinwiddie: Charge to a Grand Jury, 1753 | 189 |
| 71. Clerk of the Court of Perquimans: Records of a Precinct Court, 1694 | 191 |
| 72. John Peter Zenger: A Prosecution for Criticising Government, 1734 | 192 |
| 73. Edward Southwell: An Appeal Case in the Privy Council, 1728 | 200 |
| 74. Late Governor Thomas Pownall: Defects of Colonial Judicature, 1764 | 202 ​ |
| CHAPTER XI — COLONIAL LOCAL GOVERNMENT |
| 75. Clerk Ephraim Herman: The Business of a County Court, 1681 | 205 |
| 76. Mayor, Recorder, Aldermen, and Common Council of Albany: Records of a City Government, 1700 | 208 |
| 77. Vestry of St. Paul's Parish, Chowan Precinct: Records of a Vestry Meeting, 1702 | 212 |
| 78. Clerk Captain Richard Waterman: Proceedings of a Town-Meeting, 1721 | 214 |
| 79. John Adams: The Dignity of a Selectman, 1763-1766 | 220 |
| PART IV COLONIAL LIFE |
| CHAPTER XII — THE LIFE OF THE PEOPLE |
| 80. Madam Sarah Kemble Knight: A Lady's Travel in New England, 1704 | 224 |
| 81. Benjamin Franklin "A Man Diligent in his Calling," | 229 |
| 82. Colonel William Byrd: Society in Virginia, 1732 | 235 |
| 83. Eliza Lucas: A Modern Woman, 1741-1742 | 238 |
| 84. Captain Francis Goelet: Roisterers in Boston, 1750 | 240 |
| CHAPTER XIII — COMMERCE AND CURRENCY |
| 85. Governor the Earl of Bellomont: Official Protection of Pirates, 1698 | 244 |
| 86. Anonymous: A Plea for Protective Duties, 1704 | 247 |
| 87. Collector Archibald Kennedy: A Case of Smuggling, 1739 | 249 |
| 88. Governor William Burnet: A Defence of Paper Money, 1724 | 251 |
| 89. Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations: Paper Money Forbidden, 1740 | 254 ​ |
| CHAPTER XIV — INTELLECTUAL LIFE |
| 90. Reverend President Thomas Clap: "The History of Yale-College," 1698-1717 | 255 |
| 91. Reverend Mather Byles: "A poetical Lamentation, occasioned by the Death of His late Majesty' King George the First," 1727 | 258 |
| 92. Reverend Cotton Mather: "Some Account of the Earthquake that shook New-England," 1727 | 261 |
| 93. Reverend Doctor Increase Mather: A Protest against a Wicked Newspaper, 1722 | 262 |
| 94. Benjamin Franklin: The People's Favorite Literature, 1744 | 263 |
| 95. Nathaniel Ames: A Skit on College Examinations, 1784 | 266 |
| 96. Francis Hopkinson: A Skit on College Examinations, 1784 | 272 |
| CHAPTER XV — RELIGIOUS LIFE |
| 97. Lewis Morris: "The State of Religion in the Jerseys," 1700 | 276 |
| 98. Thomas Story: A Quaker's Arguments with Orthodox Ministers, 1704 | 279 |
| 99. Reverend John Wesley: An Evangelist in Georgia, 1736-1737 | 283 |
| 100. Governor Jonathan Belcher: A Good Man's Letter, 1752 | 287 |
| 101. Archbishop Thomas Secker: A Plan for American Bishops, 1758 | 289 |
| CHAPTER XVI — SLAVERY AND SERVITUDE |
| 102. Monthly Meeting of the Germantown Quakers: The First Vote against Slavery, 1688 | 291 |
| 103. "Hon'ble Judge Sewall in New England": The Selling of Joseph, 1700 | 293 |
| 104. Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations: A Slave Act Disallowed, 1709 | 297 |
| 105. Owners and Masters: All Sorts of Runaways, 1741-1750 | 298 |
| 106. John Woolman: Exercise of a Quaker Abolitionist's Mind, 1757 | 302 |
| 107. William Eddis: The Wretchedness of White Servants, 1770 | 308 |
| 108. George Washington: "Desire of Importing Palatines," 1774 | 310 ​ |
| PART V INTERCOLONIAL, 1689-1764 |
| CHAPTER XVII — THE FRENCH COLONIES |
| 109. Bénard de la Harpe: Foundation of Louisiana, 1700-1703 | 312 |
| 110. Lieutenant-Governor Alexander Spotswood: Danger from the French Mississippi Settlements, 1718 | 316 |
| 111. Surveyor-General Cadwallader Colden: The French and the Fur Trade, 1724 | 320 |
| 112. Professor Peter Kalm: The Government of Canada, 1749 | 324 |
| CHAPTER XVIII — THE INDIANS |
| 113. James Adair: The Life of an Indian Trader, 1735-1775 | 327 |
| 114. Professor Peter Kalm: Small Pox and Brandy among the Indians, 1749 | 330 |
| 115. Sir William Johnson: A Flowery Speech to the Six Nations, 1753 | 331 |
| 116. Captain Jonathan Carver: "A Concise Character of the Indians," 1767 | 334 |
| CHAPTER XIX — INTERCOLONIAL WARS |
| 117. Comptroller-General de Monseignat: The Taking of Schenectady, 1690 | 337 |
| 118. Colonel Miles Brewton and others: The Evil Deeds of the Spaniards, 1702-1740 | 340 |
| 119. Anonymous: A Ballad of Pigwacket | 344 |
| 120. Captain Samuel Curwen: The Louisburg Expedition, 1745 | 346 |
| 121. Newspaper: A Spanish Privateer in the Delaware, 1748 | 349 |
| CHAPTER XX — THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR |
| 122. Professor Peter Kalm: The Question of Colonial Independence, 1748 | 352 |
| 123. Royal Ministerial Minutes: The French Title to the Beautiful River, 1752 | 354 ​ |
| 124. Secretary the Earl of Holdernesse: Royal Orders to Resist the French, 1753 | 356 |
| 125. Chief Justice Stephen Hopkins: The Albany Plan of Union, 1754 | 357 |
| 126. Colonel John Winslow: Deportation of the Acadians, 1755 | 360 |
| 127. Anonymous: A French Account of Braddock's Defeat, 1755 | 365 |
| 128. Secretary William Pitt: "The Empire is no more," 1757 | 367 |
| 129. Captain John Knox: The Fall of Quebec, 1759 | 369 |
| PART VI CAUSES OF THE REVOLUTION |
| CHAPTER XXI — NEW CONDITIONS OF ENGLISH CONTROL |
| 130. James Earl of Waldegrave: The Character of George Third, 1758 | 373 |
| 131. James Otis: Arguments on Writs of Assistance, 1761 | 374 |
| 132. John Wilkes: Opposition to Arbitrary Power, 1763 | 378 |
| 133. Commissioner Benjamin Franklin: Grenville's Scheme of Taxation, 1763-1764 | 381 |
| CHAPTER XXII — THE WEST |
| 134. John Filson: "The Adventures of Col. Daniel Boon," 1769-1775 | 383 |
| 135. Governor the Earl of Dunmore: Cold Water on an Ohio Colony, 1770 | 386 |
| 136. Reverend Joseph Doddridge: The Settlement of the Western Country, 1772-1774 | 387 |
| 137. François Jean, Marquis de Chastellux: How the Frontiers were Settled, 1780 | 392 |
| CHAPTER XXIII — THE STAMP ACT CONTROVERSY |
| 138. Martin Howard: A Colonist's Defence of Taxation, 1765 | 394 ​ |
| 139. Josiah Quincy, Jr. : The Hutchinson Riot, 1765 | 397 |
| 140. Town-Meeting of Cambridge: A Spirited Remonstrance, 1765 | 401 |
| 141. Stamp Act Congress: "Declarations of the Rights and Grievances of the Colonists," 1765 | 402 |
| 142. William Pitt, Later Earl of Chatham: An Englishman's Protest against Taxation, 1766 | 404 |
| 143. Benjamin Franklin and a Committee of the House of Commons: The State of the Colonies, 1766 | 407 |
| 144. Secretary Henry Seymour Conway: The Repeal of the Stamp Act, 1766 | 411 |
| CHAPTER XXIV — THE REVENUE CONTROVERSY |
| 145. Horace Walpole, Earl of Orford: Townshend's Revenue Scheme, 1767 | 413 |
| 146. Agent Dennis de Berdt: Complaint against the Acts of Trade, 1767 | 415 |
| 147. Reverend Charles Chauncy: Fears of Episcopacy, 1767 | 418 |
| 148. Chief Justice Thomas Hutchinson: Troops and Sons of Liberty in Boston, 1768 | 420 |
| 149. John Dickson: The Pennsylvania Farmer's Remedy, 1768 | 423 |
| 150. Judge Richard Henderson: Riot of the North Carolina Regulators, 1770 | 426 |
| 151. John Tudor: An Eye-Witness of the Boston Massacre, 1770 | 429 |
| 152. John Andrews: The Boston Tea-Party, 1773 | 431 |
| CHAPTER XXV — THE ISSUES OF COERCION |
| 153. Delegate John Adams: The First Continental Congress, 1774 | 434 |
| 154. Governor the Earl of Dunmore: Enforcement of the Association, 1774 | 439 |
| 155. Second Continental Congress: The Necessity of Self-Defence, 1775 | 442 |
| 156. Doctor Samuel Johnson: A Diatribe on the American Arguments, 1775 | 445 |
| 157. Chief Justice William Henry Drayton: The Tyranny of King George Third, 1776 | 449 |
| 158. King George Third: An Obstinate Guelph, 1777-1778 | 451 ​ |
| PART VII CONDITIONS OF THE REVOLUTION |
| CHAPTER XXVI — THE PATRIOTS |
| 159. Thomas Paine: "Liberty Tree," 1775 | 454 |
| 160. Reverend Stephen Williams: A Troublous Year in a Country Village, 1776 | 455 |
| 161. "Plain English": Reign of King Mob, 1775 | 458 |
| 162. Colonel Alexander Scammell: A Soldier's Love-Letter, 1777 | 461 |
| 163. Benjamin Huntington: Regulation of Prices, 1777 | 463 |
| 164. Reverend Timothy Dwight: "Columbia, Columbia to Glory Arise," 1777 | 465 |
| 165. Mrs. Esther Reed and General George Washington: Woman's Work for the Soldiers, 1780 | 467 |
| CHAPTER XXVII — THE LOYALISTS |
| 166. R.H. and a Committee of Correspondence: A Tory's Recantation, 1775 | 470 |
| 167. Reverend Jonathan Odell: The Arrest of a Loyalist Parson, 1776 | 472 |
| 168. "A Whig": Vengeance on the Tories! 1779 | 474 |
| 169. Judge Samuel Curwen: The Lot of the Refugee, 1775-1779 | 477 |
| CHAPTER XXVIII — THE AMERICAN FORCES |
| 170. Captain Alexander Graydon: The Recruiting Service, 1776 | 481 |
| 171. Anonymous: A Brave Man's Death, 1776 | 484 |
| 172. General Marie Paul Joseph, Marquis de Lafayette: Arrival of a French Volunteer, 1777 | 485 |
| 173. Colonel Alexander Hamilton: "Battalions of Negroes," 1779 | 488 |
| 174. General George Washington: The Inconveniences of Militia, 1780 | 490 ​ |
| 175. Surgeon James Thacher: Military Punishments, 1780 | 493 |
| 176. François Jean, Marquis de Chastellux: At Washington's Headquarters, 1780 | 495 |
| 177. Doctor Solomon Drowne: Life on a Privateer, 1780 | 497 |
| CHAPTER XXIX — THE BRITISH FORCES |
| 178. Honoré Gabriel Riquetti, Count de Mirabeau: "Appeal to the Hessians sold by their Princes," 1776 | 500 |
| 179. Captain Georg Pausch: Army Life, 1776-1777 | 504 |
| 180. Commissary-General Elias Boudinot: An Investigation of British Military Prisons, 1778 | 508 |
| 181. Lieutenant-Colonel John Graves Simcoe: A Loyalist Corps, 1777 | 511 |
| 182. Joseph Stansbury: "The Lords of Main," 1780 | 514 |
| 183. Major John André: The Experiences of a British Spy, 1780 | 515 |
| PART VIII PROGRESS OF THE REVOLUTION |
| CHAPTER XXX — UNION AND INDEPENDENCE |
| 184. Clerk Gabriel Du Vall: Proceedings of a Revolutionary Convention, 1775 | 519 |
| 185. Delegate Richard Smith: The Activities of the Continental Congress, 1775 | 525 |
| 186. Thomas Paine: A Call for Independence, 1776 | 530 |
| 187. Chairman Meshech Weare, Secretary E. Thompson, and others: Difficulties in Framing a State Constitution, 1776 | 534 |
| 188. Delegate Thomas Paine: Drafting of the Declaration of Independence, 1776 | 537 |
| 189. Delegate John Adams: Difficulties in Framing Articles of Confederation, 1776 | 539 |
| 190. Colonel Alexander Hamilton: Falling-off of the Character of Congress, 1778 | 543 ​ |
| CHAPTER XXXI — FIRST STAGE OF THE WAR, 1775-1778 |
| 191. Salem Gazette and London Gazette: Conflicting Accounts of Lexington and Concord, 1775 | 546 |
| 192. Mrs. Abigail Adams: A Woman at the Front, 1175-1776 | 550 |
| 193. General George Clinton: Abandonment of New York, 1776 | 554 |
| 194. Robert Morris: The Foundation of the Navy, 1776 | 556 |
| 195. General George Washington: "The Game is pretty near up," 1776 | 559 |
| 196. Francis Hopkinson: "The Battle of the Kegs," 1777 | 562 |
| 197. Frederika Charlotte Louise, Baroness von Riedesel: The Surrender of Burgoyne, 1777 | 565 |
| 198. Doctor Albigence Waldo: Life at Valley Forge, 1777-1778 | 568 |
| CHAPTER XXXII — FRENCH ALLIANCE, 1778-1779 |
| 199. Commissioner Benjamin Franklin: A Treaty with France, 1778 | 574 |
| 200. Colonel John Trumbull: A Dashing Young Officer in the Field, 1778 | 575 |
| 201. Colonel George Rogers Clark: The Conquest of the Illinois Country, 1779 | 579 |
| 202. General Frederick Williams, Baron von Steuben: A Foreign Officer well Received, 1778-1779 | 582 |
| 203. Governor Patrick Henry : A Warning against Conciliation, 1778 | 586 |
| 204. Captain John Paul Jones: A Desperate Sea-Flight, 1779 | 587 |
| CHAPTER XXXIII — CRISIS IN DOMESTIC AFFAIRS, 1779-1782 |
| 205. Assembly of Maryland: The Confederation Incomplete, 1779 | 591 |
| 206. General George Washington: Revolutionary Finance, 1781 | 594 |
| 207. Duane, Sharpe, and Wolcott: The State of the National Debt, 1781 | 598 |
| 208. William Pynchon: Not worth a Continental, 1781 | 601 ​ |
| 209. Pennsylvania Packet: The Federal Arch Completed, 1781 | 604 |
| 210. Superintendent Robert Morris: The Bank of North America, 1782 | 605 |
| CHAPTER XXXIV — THE END OF THE WAR, 1780-1781 |
| 211. James Madison: A Review of the War, 1780-1781 | 606 |
| 212. General Nathanael Greene: Affairs in the South, 1780-1781 | 609 |
| 213. Anonymous: Exploits of De Grasse in the West Indies, 1781 | 612 |
| 214. Lieutenant-General Charles, Marquis Cornwallis: The Capitulation of Yorktown, 1781 | 615 |
| CHAPTER XXXV — PEACE |
| 215. King George Third: "The Sudden Change of Sentiments," 1781-1782 | 619 |
| 216. Charles Gravier, Count de Vergennes: A Protest against the Breach of the Instructions of Congress, 1782 | 621 |
| 217. Adams, Franklin, Jay, and Laurens: Explanation of the Peace of 1782, 1782 | 623 |
| 218. General William Heath: Foundation of the Society of the Cincinnati, 1783 | 626 |
| 219. Doctor William Gordon: The Closing Scene, 1783 | 627 |
| 220. Doctor David Ramsay: "The Advantage and Disadvantage of the Revolution," 1783 | 629 |