We must thank him, too, for having brought within the compass of three volumes every thing we wish to know of that war, and in a style so engaging, that we cannot lay the book down. He had been so kind as to send me a copy of his work, of which I shall manifest my acknowledgment by sending him your volumes, as they come out. My original being lent out, I have no means of collating it with the translation; but see no cause to doubt correctness.' On receipt of the second volume of the translation, Mr. Jefferson renews his eulogies of the history, in the expressions which follow: I'join Mr. Adams, heartily, in good wishes for the success of your labors, and hope they will bring you both profit and fame. You have certainly rendered a good service to your country; and when the superiority of the work over every other on the same subject shall be more known, I think it will be the common manual of our Revolutionary History.' Mr. Madison is no less decisive in his approbation of the undertaking. He writes the translator on receiving his first volume: The literary reputation of this author, with the philosophic spirit and classic taste allowed to this historical work justly recommended the task in which you are engaged, of placing a translation of it before American readers; to whom the subject must always be deeply interesting, and who cannot but feel a curiosity to see the picture of it as presented to Europe by so able a hand. The author seems to have the merit of adding to his other qualifications much industry and care in his researches into the best sources of information, and it may readily be supposed that he did not fail to make the most of his access to those in France, not yet generally laid open.' &c. Thus cotemporary witnesses, and the most prominent actors in some of the principal events recorded in these volumes, have authorized and sanctioned the unexpected indulgence with which they were received by the American people. Grateful for such high approbation, and content with having been the first to present his countrymen, at his own peril, with however imperfect a copy of so inimitable an original, the translator will always be happy to congratulate them on the appearance of a better.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

BOOK FIRST.

SUMMARY.- Opinions, manners, customs, and inclinations of the inhabitants of the
English colonies in America. Mildness of the British government towards its colonists.
Seeds of discontent between the two people. Plan of colonial government proposed
by the colonists. Other motives of discontent in America. Justification of ministers.
Designs and instigations of the French. All the states of Europe desire to reduce the
power of England. New subjects of complaint. Stamp duty projected by the minis
ters and proposed to parliament. The Americans are alarmed at it, and make remon-
strances. Long and violent debates between the advocates of the stamp act and the
opposition. The stamp act passes in parliament.

BOOK SECOND

SUMMARY.-Troubles in America on account of the stamp duty. Violent tumult a
Boston. Movements in other parts of America. League of citizens desirous of a new
order of things. New doctrines relative to political authority. American associations
against English commerce. Admirable constancy of the colonists. General congress
of New York and its operations. Effects produced in England by the news of the tu-
mults in America. Change of ministers. The new ministry favorable to the Amer-
icans. They propose to parliament the repeal of the stamp act. Doctor Franklin is
interrogated by the parliament. Discourse of George Grenville in favor of the tax.
Answer of William Pitt. The stamp act is revoked. Joy manifested in England on
this occasion. The news is transinitted with all dispatch to America.

BOOK THIRD.

SUMMARY.-Extreme joy of the colonists on hearing of the repeal of the stamp act.
Causes of new discontents. Deliberations of the government on the subject of the
opposition of the Americans. Change of ministry. The new ministers propose to
parliament, and carry, a bill imposing a duty upon tea, paper, glass, and painters' col-
ors. This duty is accompanied by other measures, which sow distrust in the colonies.
New disturbances and new associations in America. The royal troops enter Boston.
Tumult, with effusion of blood, in Boston. Admirable judicial decision in the midst
of so great commotion. Condescendence of the English government; it suppresses
the taxes, with the exception of that on tea The Americans manifest no greater sub-
mission in consequence. The government adopts measures of rigor. The Americans
break out on their part; they form leagues of resistance. The Bostonians throw tea
overboard. The ministers adopt rigorous counsels. Violent agitations in America.
Events which result from them. New confederations. All the provinces determine to
hold a general congress at Philadelphia.

BOOK FOURTH

SUMMARY.-Confidence of the Americans in the general congress. Dispositions of
minds in Europe, and particularly in France, towards the Americans. Deliberations
of congress. Approved by the provinces. Indifference of minds in England relative
to the quarrel with America. Parliament convoked. The ministers will have the in-
habitants of Massachusetts declared rebels. Oration of Wilkes against this proposi-
tion. Oration of Harvey in support of it. The ministers carry it. They send troops
to America. They accompany the measures of rigor with a proposition of arrange-
ment, and a promise of amnesty. Edmund Burke proposes to the parliament another
plan of reconciliation; which does not obtain. Principal reason why the ministers will
hearken to no proposition of accommodation. Fury of the Americans on learning that
the inhabitants of Massachusetts have been declared rebels. Every thing, in America,
takes the direction of war. Battle of Lexington. Siege of Boston. Unanimous reso
lution of the Americans to take arms and enter the field.

BOOK FIFTH.

SUMMARY.-Situation of Boston. State of the two armies. The provinces make
preparation for war. Taking of Ticonderoga. Siege of Boston. Battle of Breed's
Hill. New congress in Philadelphia. George Washington elected captain-general.
Repairs to the camp of Boston. The congress make new regulations for the army.

Eulogy of doctor Warren. The congress take up the subject of finances. Endeavor

to secure the Indians. Their manifesto. Religious solemnities to move the people.

Address of the congress to the British nation. Another to the king. Another to the

Irish people. Letter to the Canadians. Events in Canada. Resolutions of congress

relative to the conciliatory proposition of lord North. Articles of union between the

provinces proposed by the congress. The royal governors oppose the designs of the

popular governors. Serious altercations which result from it. Massachusetts begins to

labor for independence. The other provinces discover repugnance to imitate the exam-

ple. Military operations near Boston. Painful embarrassments in which Washington

finds himself. General Gage succeeded by sir William Howe, in the chief command of

the English troops. Boldness of the Americans upon the sea. Difficulties experienced

by Howe. Invasion of Canada. Magnanimity of Montgomery. Montreal taken.

Surprising enterprise executed by Arnold. Assault of Quebec. Death of Mont-

gomery.

BOOK SIXTH.

SUMMARY.-State of parties in England. Discontent of the people. The ministers
take Germans into the pay of England. Parliament convoked. Designs of France.
King's speech at the opening of parliament. Occasions violent debates. The ministers
carry their Address. Commissioners appointed with power of pardon. Siege of Bos-
ton. The English are forced to evacuate it. New disturbances in North Carolina.
Success of the American marine. War of Canada. Praises of Montgomery. De-
signs of the English against South Carolina. They furiously attack fort Moultrie.
Strange situation of the American colonies. Independence every day gains new parti-
sans; and wherefore. The congress propose to declare Independence. Speech of
Richard Henry Lee in favor of the proposition. Speech of John Dickinson on the
other side. The congress proclaim Independence. Exultation of the people.

BOOK SEVENTH.

SUMMARY.-Immense preparations of the British for the reduction of America. Con-

ference for an arrangement. The Americans lose the battle of Brooklyn. New con

ferences. The troops of the king take possession of New York. Forts Washington

and Lee fall into their power. The English victoriously overrun New Jersey. Danger

of Philadelphia. The royal army pause at the Delaware. General Lee is made pris-

oner. War with the Indians. Campaign of Canada. Firmness of Washington and

of congress in adverse fortune; and their delibesations to re-establish it. Dictatorial

power granted to Washington; in what manner he uses it. Overtures of congress to

the court of France. Franklin sent thither. His character. The fortune of America

regains at Trenton. Prudence and intrepidity of Washington. Howe, after various

movements, abandons New Jersey. Embarks at New York to carry the war into

another part.

BOOK EIGHTH.

SUMMARY.-Designs of the British ministry. Expedition of Burgoyne. Assembly
of the savages. Proclamation of Burgoyne. He puts himself in motion. The Ameri
cans prepare to combat him. Description of Ticonderoga. Capture of that fortress;
operations which result from it. Burgoyne arrives upon the banks of the Hudson.
Siege of fort Stanwix. Affair of Bennington. Embarrassed position of Burgoyne.

HISTORY

OF

THE AMERICAN WAR.

BOOK FIRST

AMERICA, and especially some parts of it, having been discovered by the genius and intrepidity of Italians, received, at various times, as into a place of asylum, the men whom political or religious disturbances had driven from their own countries in Europe. The security which these distant and desert regions presented to their minds, appeared to them preferable even to the endearments of country and of their natal air.

Here they exerted themselves with admirable industry and fortitude, according to the custom of those whom the fervor of opinion agitates and stimulates, in subduing the wild beasts, dispersing or destroying pernicious or importunate animals, repressing or subjecting the barbarous and savage nations that inhabited this New World, draining the marshes, controlling the course of rivers, clearing the forests, furrowing a virgin soil, and committing to its bosom new and unaccustomed seeds; and thus prepared themselves a climate less rude and hostile to human nature, more secure and more commo dious habitations, more salubrious food, and a part of the conveniences and enjoyments proper to civilized life.

This multitude of emigrants, departing principally from England, in the time of the last Stuarts, landed in that part of North America which extends from the thirty-second to the forty-fifth degree of north latitude; and there founded the colonies of New-Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island, which took the general name of New England. To these colonies were afterwards joined those of Virginia, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, Maryland, the two Carolinas, and Georgia. Nor must it be understood, that in departing from the land in which they were

born, to seek in foreign regions a better condition of life, they abandoned their country on terms of enmity, dissolving every tie of early attachment.

Far from this, besides the customs, the habits, the usages and manners of their common country, they took with them privileges, granted by the royal authority, whereby their laws were constituted upon the model of those of England, and more or less conformed to a free government, or to a more absolute system, according to the character or authority of the prince from whom they emanated. They were also modified by the influence which the people, by means of their organ, the parliament, were found to possess. For, it then being the epoch of those civil and religious dissensions which caused English blood to flow in torrents, the changes were extreme and rapid. Each province, each colony, had an elective assembly, which, under certain limitations, was invested with the authority of parliament; and a governor, who, representing the king to the eyes of the colonists, exercised also a certain portion of his power. To this was added the trial, which is called by jury, not only in criminal matters, but also in civil causes; an institution highly important, and coresponding entirely with the judicial system of England.

But, in point of religion, the colonists enjoyed even greater latitude than in their parent country itself; they had not preserved that ecclesiastical hierarchy, against which they had combated so strenuously, and which they did not cease to abhor, as the primary cause of the long and perilous expatriation to which they had been constrain to resort.

It ean. therefore, excite no surprise, if this generation of men not ons had the minds imbued with the principles that form the basis of the English constitution, but even if they aspired to a mode of governed ess rigid, and a liberty more entire; in a word, if they were infled with the fervor which is naturally kindled in the hearts of men by obstacles which oppose their religious and political opinbons, and sull increased by the privations and persecutions they have sumiered on their account. And how should this ardor, this exciteTent of exasperated minds, have been appeased in the vast solitudes of cf Amca, where the amusements of Europe were unknown, where assidy in manual toils must have hardened their bodies, and increased the asperity of their characters? If in England they had show themselves averse to the prerogative of the crown, how, as this, should their opinions have been changed in America, where arcely a vestige was seen of the royal authority and splendor? were the same occupation being common to all, that of cultivating 1. earth, must have created in all the opinion and the love of a gene