ment obliged the Americans to meet in general congress at Philadelphia, to consult on proper measures for the general safety. The congress agreed upon a petition to the king, stating their grievances, avowing their loyalty, and supplicating redress. This petition was transmitted with the following letter to the colonial agents in London.

"To Paul Wentworth, Esq., Dr. Benjamin Franklin, William Bollan, Esq., Dr. Arthur Lee, Thomas Life, Esq., Edmund Burke, Esq. and Charles Garth, Esq.

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 26th, 1774. Gentlemen,-We give you the strongest proof of our reliance on your zeal and attachment to the happiness of America and the cause of liberty, when we commit the enclosed paper to your care. We desire you will deliver it into the hands of his majesty; and after it has been presented, we wish it may be made public through the press, together with the list of grievances. As we hope for great assistance from the spirit and virtue of the nation, it is our earnest desire that the most effectual course be taken as early as possible to furnish the trading cities and manufacturing towns throughout the united kingdom with our memorial to the people of Great Britain. We doubt not but your good sense and discernment will lead you to avail yourselves of every assistance that may be devised from the advice and friendship of all great and good men, who may incline to aid the cause of liberty and mankind. The gratitude of America, expressed in the enclosed vote of thanks, we desire may be conveyed to the deserving objects of it in the manner you think may be most acceptable to them. It is proposed that another congress be held on the 10th of May next, at this place; but in the mean time we beg the favour of you gentlemen, to transmit to the speakers of the several assemblies the earliest information of the most authentic accounts you can collect, of all such conduct and designs of ministry or parliament as it may concern America to know.

We are, &c. &c.
Signed,

HENRY MIDDLETON, Pres't."

The remainder of this commencement of a history of the American revolution, by Mr. Lee, has been lost. The author adds here a letter from Thomas Cushing to him, who presided as speaker of the assembly of Massachusetts during the years 1769, 1770, 1771, and 1772. It was written after Mr. Cushing's return from the first congress at Philadelphia. He had corresponded with Mr. Lee while he acted as agent in London of the colony of Massachusetts.

66

BOSTON, Feb. -}

1775.

Dear Sir, I am obliged to you for your favour of the 6th Dec. last. I heartily rejoice to hear you are safely arrived in London; we are much obliged to you for travelling night and day from Rome, in order to do what service you can at so important a crisis. The people in America are not at all dismayed at the king's speech; they wish for peace, and for an amicable and equitable settlement of this unhappy controversy; but if their hopes should be called off by the intemperate and violent conduct of the mother country, after the conciliatory offers that have been made by the continental congress, by which they have reduced the dispute to mere matter of speculation, and administration should determine to carry into execution the late acts of parliament by a military force, the people of America I am persuaded will make the last appeal. They are determined life and liberty shall go together. You need not be concerned; firmness and unanimity prevail through all the colonies, the association of the continental congress is sacredly adhered to, and I have just been informed that the merchants at New-York have obliged a vessel that arrived there from Scotland since the first of February, to return immediately without breaking bulk. Our people are prompt and forward in their military exercises. There never was since we have been a people such a military spirit prevailing as at present; but God forbid we should settle this dispute by arms. May the great Governor of the universe direct the councils of the nation, and lead them into such measures as may restore peace, harmony, and

happiness to both countries. I had the pleasure of seeing your brother, Col. Lee, at the congress at Philadel phia, and spending many an agreeable hour with him; he is a steady friend to his country, and an able defender of her rights. Pray let me hear from you by every opportunity, and advise me constantly of the designs of administration relative to America.

I am with great truth your sincere friend and humble THOMAS CUSHING.

servant,

Arthur Lee, Esq.

P. S. The terms of accommodation between Great Britain and the colonies, which you and I have joined in judgment in, and have heretofore thought reasonable, happen to be approved by all the leading men in Američa, as you will perceive by the resolutions of the continental congress. T. C."

APPENDIX III.

"PARIS, June 7, 1779.

To his excellency Mon. le Comté d'Aranda.

Mr. Lee has the honour to present his respects to the Ambassador of Spain; and to beg him to transmit to his Court the annexed memorial.

"PARIS, June 6, 1779.

To his excellency Count Florida Blanca, Prime Minis ter of Spain.

I have the honour of enclosing to your Excellency a memorial, which the opportunities I have had of knowing the temper and circumstances of Great Britain, make me presume to submit to your consideration. The earnest desire I have of rendering some service to Spain, and the common interest that must subsist in the success of the war, should it happen, are the motives, and I hope will be the apology, for what I offer.

I have the honour, &c.

ARTHUR LEE.”

"PARIS, June 6, 1779.

Memorial to his excellency Count Florida Blanca. The English having taken possession of Savannah, in Georgia, are extending themselves in that state, so as to form a connexion with and establish an influence over the Indian nations that border on all that country. They design also to possess themselves of Port Royal, in South Carolina, and if possible, of Charleston. These acquisitions, if they are suffered, with their contiguous possessions, will give them such a command upon that coast, and in the Gulf, as well as such means of exciting the savages, and seconding their enterprises against the neighbouring territories of Spain, as may be difficult to resist, if they are not prevented. What renders it impracticable for the Americans to repel the enemy, is their superiority at sea, which at the same time that it sup

ports their posts on the land, enables them to make diversions in various quarters, so as to keep up a general alarm, and prevent our force from being united in any one point. With this view, they have very lately invaded the state of Virginia, in the bay of Chesapeake, to withhold the aid which that state would send to South Carolina and Georgia. In this situation, it is in his majesty's power to give very effectual assistance to the invaded states, and prevent the enemy from making such dangerous establishments and such an augmentation of their power. The naval force of the English in Georgia and South Carolina, will consist of a fifty gun ship, the Experiment lately sailed, and three frigates. In the bay of Chesapeake there are a sixty-four and forty-four gun ship, with some armed tenders. A small squadron therefore of three or four large ships and a few frigates, sent from the Havannah, would destroy the enemy's ships in Georgia, South Carolina and Chesapeake bay; and deliver their troops into the hands of the Americans.

The state of the enemy's fleets in Europe and the West Indies, will not permit them at present to augment their force on the coast of America. The squadron actually sailed, under Admiral Arbuthnot to New-York, consists of four ships of the line and one frigate; namely, the Robust 74, the Russel 74, the Europe 64, the Alliance 64, and the Guadaloupe 28. As this squadron must support the operations of their main army, and protect Halifax, Rhode Island and New-York, it is not probable they will detach any additional force from thence to the southward, so that their armaments there, if not withdrawn, must necessarily fall a sacrifice to a Spanish squadron."

"PARIS, December 16, 1779.

To his excellency Count Florida Blanca..

Sir,-You will have the goodness to permit my recalling to your consideration the facts I already had the honour of stating to you, relative to the plan of the common enemy, to establish themselves in Georgia and South Carolina, in order to carry on more effectually the