1776. WATSON and Ledyard, who had a paper-mill at East Hartford, supplied the paper for a weekly issue of eight thousand to the Hartford papers, and the greater part of the writing-paper used in the colony and by the army.

1776, OCTOBER. - Jefferson was appointed chairman of the committee to revise the constitution of Virginia. He had declined a re-election to Congress.

The work occupied two years and a half. The bills cutting off entail, abolishing primogeniture, the bill for religious freedom, and relief from taxation for the support of the established Church, were proposed by Jefferson; and he was so proud of his success in remodelling the constitution, that he directed the epitaph he dictated to mention that he was the author "of the statute of Virginia for religious freedom."

1776, NOVEMBER 6. A motion in the House of Commons to revise the acts of parliament by which the colonies thought themselves aggrieved, was lost by a large majority.

1776, NOVEMBER 8.A convention in Maryland adopted a constitution for the state.

This convention was called by a convention exercising the authority of government, on the 3d of July," for the express purpose of forming a new government by the authority of the people only, and enacting and ordering all things for the preservation, safety, and general weal of the colony." The convention thus called adopted a Bill of Rights on the 3d of November, in which the freedom of the press was recognized. The constitution thus adopted remained in force for seventy-five years.

1776, NOVEMBER 16.- Congress proposed a convention of the New England States, to meet at Providence, to consider the cur

rency.

1776, NOVEMBER 16.- Fort Washington was captured.

The British took possession of the west side of the Hudson River. By this capture the British obtained about two thousand prisoners and a large quantity of artillery.

1776, NOVEMBER 20.- Fort Lee was evacuated by the Americans under General Greene.

The baggage, artillery, and stores were left to the British.

1776, NOVEMBER 23.- Congress empowered the commissioners in each department to appoint persons to take charge of the hides and tallow in each district.

It was stated in Congress, on December 4, that one third of the soldiers at Ticonderoga had no shoes.

1776, NOVEMBER 24.-The British under Cornwallis entered the Jerseys, the American forces retreating.

During the operations at New York, the provincial congress was obliged by the movements of the armies to change its place of meeting to Harlem, King's

Bridge, Philip's Manor, Croton River, and Fishkill, sitting at times armed, in order to be prepared against surprise. There was fear lest the Tories should rise and openly join the British. A committee was appointed, of which Jay was the chairman, "for inquiring into, detecting, and defeating conspiracies." Great numbers of Tories were arrested. Though many of them were sent away, the jails, and sometimes the churches, were crowded with them. Their personal property was confiscated to the state. When released, they were required to give bonds not to go from within certain limits. These prompt measures repressed

them.

1776.-DURING the British occupation of New York, there were four daily papers published, and the proprietors so arranged their issue as to have one paper appear each day.

Rivington's Royal Gazette appeared every Wednesday and Saturday; Hugh Gaine's Gazette or Mercury, on Mondays; Robertson, Mills, and Hicks's Royal American Gazette, on Thursdays; and Lewis's New York Mercury and General Advertiser, on Fridays. It has been said that one of these was also published on Tuesdays.

1776, DECEMBER 2. A British fleet, under Sir Peter Parker, appeared off Block Island, and an army of six thousand men, under General Clinton, took possession of Newport.

Newport was taken on the 8th. There was no defence. Commodore Hopkins, with several ships, escaped up the bay, and were blockaded at Providence.

1776, DECEMBER 2.- Washington and his army entered Trenton, New Jersey, and the stores and baggage were transported over the Delaware.

His army did not exceed four thousand men, exclusive of the division in the Highlands under Heath, and the corps on the east side of the Hudson under Lee. They were very illy provided in all requisite stores. Many of the militia left as their terms were approaching: the continentals had been enlisted for only a year. The legislature of New Jersey had retired first to Burlington, then to Pittstown, and then to Hattonfield, where it dissolved. In Philadelphia the retreat produced great excitement. Putnam had been sent there to take the command. Mifflin raised a militia force of fifteen hundred men, and joined Washington at Trenton, so that, on December 7, he advanced again upon Princeton; but, Cornwallis approaching, he again crossed the Delaware, and, securing all the boats, the British were forced to remain at Trenton.

1776. THE Congress selected Portsmouth, Virginia, which had been a naval station for the king's ships, to be the site for one of its navy-yards; and two frigates, of thirty-six guns each, were ordered to be built there.

1776, DECEMBER. - Thomas Johnson was elected governor of Maryland, under the new constitution.

1776, DECEMBER. -John McKinley was elected president of Delaware, under the new constitution.

1776, DECEMBER 11.- Congress, by resolution, conferred, for six months, the extraordinary power upon Washington to take

whatever he might want for the army, if the owners refused to sell at a reasonable price, and to arrest those who refused to take the Continental currency. He was also given power to displace any officer under the rank of brigadier, and to fill vacancies thus created.

1776, DECEMBER 18. The convention of North Carolina agreed upon a constitution, under which Richard Caswell was chosen governor.

1776, DECEMBER.The term of service approaching its end, another army was enlisted.

This enlistment was paid at the end of their term. A committee of Congress had visited the camp at Harlem, and, in consultation with Washington, matured a plan for another army, to consist of eighty-eight battalions, of seven hundred and fifty men each. Massachusetts and Virginia were to furnish each fifteen battalions; Pennsylvania, twelve; North Carolina, nine; Connecticut eight; South Carolina six; New York and New Jersey, each, four; New Hampshire and Maryland, each, three; Rhode Island, two; Delaware and Georgia, each, one. Battalions were substituted for regiments, to avoid the rank of colonel, which had made difficulties in exchanging prisoners. The men were to be enlisted for the war, and at the end of their service to be entitled to a bounty of one hundred acres. Colonels were to have five hundred acres, and other officers in proportion to their rank. Twenty dollars bounty was to be given each recruit. It was found necessary, however, to take recruits for three years, though to these no land was to be given. The states were to enlist their quotas, and provide their arms and clothing; the expense, together with the pay and support, to be a common charge. The company and battalion officers were to be appointed by the states, and commissioned by Congress. The articles of war were made more strict. National founderies and workshops for military stores were established at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and Springfield, Massachusetts. The recruiting proceeded slowly, and Massachusetts offered an extra bounty of sixty-six dollars, other states doing the same. The states were behindhand in the appointment of their officers, and without them enlisting could not begin. On December 27, Congress authorized Washington to enlist and officer sixteen additional battalions, with three regiments of artillery, a corps of engineers, and three thousand light-horse.

1776, DECEMBER 20.- Congress met at Baltimore.

It continued to hold the session there until March, 1777.

1776. THE provincial congress of New York offered premiums of one hundred, seventy-five, and fifty pounds to the first three powder-mills erected, capable of making one hundred pounds a week.

1776. THE provincial congress of Virginia resolved to build a factory of nitre, in Halifax County, and pay one shilling a pound for it.

It also appropriated five hundred pounds for a powder-mill.

1776. NORTH CAROLINA offered two hundred pounds for the

first five hundred weight of gunpowder, and one hundred pounds for the first thousand pounds of refined sulphur.

The supply of powder was, however, inadequate, and much was imported. A considerable amount was also obtained by capture.

1776, DECEMBER 26. Washington crossed the Delaware with his army, and attacked and routed the advanced post of the Hessians at Trenton.

About a thousand prisoners were taken, and six cannons. The British retired to Princeton, and Washington reoccupied Trenton.

1776, DECEMBER 27.- The proposed convention met at Providence, Rhode Island.

They recommended no more paper money be issued, unless absolutely necessary, and that borrowing at five per cent. interest, to be met with taxation, be substituted. They also proposed a scheme for regulating by law the prices of labor and articles, imported or of home make.

1777, JANUARY 3.- Washington, at Princeton, New Jersey, attacked and defeated a detachment of the British army.

The next day the American army went into winter-quarters at Morristown, New Jersey. For six months no important military movement was made, though skirmishes were frequent, in which the Americans were generally successful. The army was really weak, but made the best show of strength; and the British were ignorant of its real condition, being themselves very short for forage and supplies. The recovery of the Jerseys by Washington, with an army that had been supposed to be almost entirely disorganized, gave Washington a high repu tation both at home and abroad, where the fortunes of the contest were narrowly watched. One of its chief effects was the stimulation of the recruiting. His extraordinary powers Washington also exercised with prudence, and the single view to the public good. The medical department was reorganized, Dr. Shippen of Philadelphia being placed in charge of it. Dr. Craik was made his assistant, and Dr. Rush surgeon-general of the middle department.

1777, JANUARY.-The Cherokees sued for peace, which was made with them.

They ceded a large tract of land, including the early settlements on the Ten

nessee.

1777, JANUARY 16.-Loan-office certificates, in sums from two hundred to ten thousand dollars, were authorized by Congress.

The amount was finally made equal to the outstanding issue of Continental bills. Loan-offices were opened in all the states. The rate of interest was made finally six per cent., and state bills, as well as Continental bills, were taken in payment. Loans came in very slowly; the loan-offices were overdrawn, and the pressing necessity for funds forced further issues of bills of credit, which, to the amount of ten millions of dollars were authorized in February and May.

1777. THE new legislature of North Carolina erected the territory ceded by the Cherokees into the district of Washington, and organized a land-office.