Otis, of Boston, author of political tracts, and a distinguished 1783. patriot, in his 58th year.1

1784.

of errors.

It was enacted by the general assembly of Connecticut, that Conn. suthe lieutenant governor and council should constitute the supreme preme court court of errors, and should be the dernier resort in all matters of law and equity, brought by way of error from the judgment of the superior court.2

slaves.

By an act of the legislature of Connecticut, no negro or mu- Conn. law latto child, born within that state after the first day of March this respecting year, can be held in servitude longer than until the age 25 years. An act of the legislature, to promote the making of raw silk within Silk. that state, was to take effect on the first of March. The towns of Hartford, New Haven, New London, Norwich, and Middletown, Cities. in Connecticut, were incorporated as cities; and in each was established a city court, consisting of the mayor and two senior aldermen.

of Mary

St. John's College at Annapolis, in Maryland, was founded; University this and Washington College constitute the University of Mary- land. land.3 A Roman Catholic college was founded at Georgetown R. Catholic on the Potomack.

The Massachusetts Bank, and the Boston Episcopal Charitable Society, were incorporated.

college.

The First Medical Society in Vermont was established by an Vermont. act of the legislature. An act was passed for establishing post offices within that state; also an act for the purpose of opening a free trade to and through the province of Quebec.

A Chamber of Commerce, instituted in New York under the N. York.

and his letters were read with great satisfaction by the ministry of Versailles, whilst men of the most distinguished characters in Europe became his correspondents." Beside his political writings, he published sermons on the Artillery Election, 1751 ; before the Society for encouraging Industry, 1753; at the General Election, 1756; on the reduction of Quebec, 1759; at the Ordination of Rev. Joseph Jackson, 1760; on the death of George II. 1761; at the Dudleian Lecture, 1775; and a sermon before the Massachusetts General Court, on the commencement of the new constitution of the state, 25 October, 1780. This last discourse, and some of his other productions, have been published in several languages. Clarke's Sermon at his Interment. Thacher's Century Sermon. Eliot and Allen, Biog.

1 For a full and lucid account of the character, writings, and patriotic acts of this eminent man, see Tudor's "Life of James Otis;-containing also, Notices of some contemporary Characters and Events." Boston, 1823.

2 Day, Hist. Judiciary of Connecticut. In 1793, the governor was added to the court, and made the presiding judge. In 1806, the judicial power of the governor and council was transferred to the judges of the superior court, who were, from this time, to constitute the supreme court of errors.

3 Trumbull. See 1782.

1784. colonial government, was continued a corporation, with enlarged privileges, by an act of the legislature.1

S. Carolina act to en

The legislature of South Carolina passed an act for the encourage the Couragement of the arts and sciences. By this act, the copy right of books was secured to the authors, and a like privilege to the inventors of useful machines.2

arts.

Trade of

The foreign trade of New Haven, which had been destroyed N. Haven. by the late war, was revived. The number of vessels belonging to the city, engaged in the West India and foreign trade, already amounted to 33; of which number one was a ship of 300 tons, four were square rigged vessels, or brigs; the others, sloops of 60 to 110 tons.3

Hudson.

First U.S.

voyage to China.

Massachusetts.

Temporary

for West

ern Territory.

The town of Hudson, in New York, was founded. The ground for this purpose was purchased the preceding year, by Seth and Thomas Jenkins from Providence in Rhode Island, with 28 associates.4

The Empress of China, a ship of 360 tons, commanded by John Green of Boston, sailed from New York in February for Canton, and returned the following year. This was the first voyage from the United States to China.5

The third census was taken in Massachusetts, and the number of inhabitants in the state was 357,510.6

A bridge 365 feet long was erected over Connecticut river, at Bellows Falls, connecting Walpole in New Hampshire with Rockingham in Vermont.7

A temporary government was provided for the Western Terrigovernment tory. Congress resolved, That so much of the territory ceded or to be ceded by individual states to the United States, as is already purchased or shall be purchased of the Indian inhabitants, and offered for sale by Congress, shall be divided into distinct states: That the settlers on any territory so purchased and offered for sale, shall, either on their own petition or on the order of Congress, receive authority from them, with appointments of

1 It was designed to promote the success of commerce; and received a patent from the king of Great Britain in 1770. Spafford.

2 Grimké, Public Laws of South Carolina, 343.

3 Stiles, Lit. Diary, In 1775 there were 40 sail of vessels belonging to New Haven; in 1781, they were reduced to a single sloop of 75 tons, and not a coaster was left. Ib.

4 Between the spring of 1784 and that of 1786 there were erected 150 dwelling houses, beside wharves, warehouses, shops, and other buildings and several works connected with manufactures; and the population had increased to 1500 persons. This spot, three years before, had been occupied as a farm, with a single store house on the bank of the river.

5 Pres. Stiles, Election Sermon, (2d edit.) 89.

6 Belknap, in Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc. iv. 198, 199. The whites were 353,133; the blacks, 4377. The second census was taken in 1776, at which time the whites were 343,845, and the blacks, 5249. For the first census see 1763. 7 Farmer's Gazetteer of N. Hampshire. The bridge was supported in the middle" by the great rock."

time and place, for their free males of full age within the limits 1784. of their state to meet together, for the purpose of establishing a temporary government, to adopt the constitution and laws of any one of the original states; so that such laws nevertheless shall be subject to alteration by their ordinary legislature; and to erect, subject to a like alteration, counties, townships, or other divisions, for the election of members for their legislature: That when any such state shall have acquired twenty thousand free inhabitants, on giving due proof thereof to Congress, they shall receive from them authority with appointments of time and place, to call a convention of representatives to establish a permanent constitution and government for themselves: Provided, that both the temporary and permanent governments be established on these principles as their basis.

First. That they shall for ever remain a part of this confederacy of the United States of America. Second. That they shall be subject to the articles of confederation in all those cases in which the original states shall be so subject, and to all the acts and ordinances of the United States in Congress assembled, conformable thereto. Third. That they in no case shall interfere with the primary disposal of the soil by the United States in Congress assembled, nor with the ordinances and regulations which Congress may find necessary for securing the title in such soil to the bona fide purchasers. Fourth. That they shall be subject to pay a part of the federal debts contracted or to be contracted, to be apportioned on them by Congress, according to the same common rule and measure by which apportionments thereof shall be made on the other states. Fifth. That no tax shall be imposed on lands the property of the United States. Sixth. That their respective governments shall be republican. Seventh. That the lands of non resident proprietors shall in no case be taxed higher than those of residents within any new state, before the admission thereof to a vote by its delegates in Congress.

That whensoever any of the said states shall have of free inhabitants, as many as shall then be in any one the least numerous of the thirteen original states, such state shall be admitted by its delegates into the Congress of the United States, on an equal footing with the said original states; provided the consent of so many states in Congress is first obtained as may at the time be competent to such admission. And in order to adapt the said articles of confederation to the state of Congress when its numbers shall be thus increased, it shall be proposed to the legislatures of the states, originally parties thereto, to require the assent of two thirds of the United States in Congress assembled, in all those cases wherein by the said articles, the assent of nine

1784. states is now required, which being agreed to by them shall be binding on the new states. Until such admission by their delegates into Congress, any of the said states after the establishment of their temporary government shall have authority to keep a member in Congress, with a right of debating but not of voting.

N. Scotia.

Deaths.

Treaty with
Prussia.

That measures not consistent with the principles of the confederation, and necessary for the preservation of peace and good order among the settlers in any of the said new states until they shall assume a temporary government as aforesaid, may from time to time be taken by the United States in Congress assembled.

That the preceding articles shall be formed into a charter of compact; shall be duly executed by the president of the United States in Congress assembled, under his hand, and the seal of the United States; shall be promulgated; and shall stand as fundamental constitutions between the thirteen original states, and each of the several states now newly described, unalterable from and after the sale of any part of the territory of such state, pursuant to this resolve, but by the joint consent of the United States in Congress assembled, and of the particular state within which such alteration is proposed to be made.

Nova Scotia was divided into four separate British governments; New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, St. John's, and Sydney. Benjamin Lord, minister of Norwich in Connecticut, died at the age of 90 years; Anthony Benezet, of Philadelphia, aged 71 years.2

1785.

A TREATY of Amity and Commerce was concluded between the king of Prussia and the United States.3

On the 1st of June John Adams was introduced by the marquis of Carmarthen to the king of Great Britain, as ambassador

1 Allen's Biog. Dict. The Rev. Dr. Lord was ordained in 1717; was sole pastor of the church until his 84th year; and died in the 67th year of his ministry; "having been a man of distinction and a faithful, evangelical preacher." He published sermons on various occasions, one of which was a Half Century Discourse, 29 November, 1767, fifty years from his ordination. During his ministry, the town was divided into eight ecclesiastical societies. Trumbull, Hist. Conn. ii. 529.

2 This distinguished philanthropist was born in France. His protestant parents, being obliged to leave their native country on account of their religion, went first to London, and after remaining there 16 years, came to Philadelphia in 1731. Having previously imbibed the religious opinions of the society of Friends, they were received into that body at their arrival. This son became very eminent for his indefatigable zeal and efforts for the abolition of slavery, and for various and extensive offices of philanthropy and charity. Reese, Cyclopæd. Allen, Biog.

3 It was signed by the plenipotentiaries at the places of their respective residence; T. Jefferson, Paris, July 28; B. Franklin, Passy, July 9; J. Ādams, London, Aug. 5, 1785.

extraordinary from the United States of America to the court of 1785. London.

the Chero

A treaty was concluded at Hopewell, on the Keowee, between Nov. 28. Benjamin Hawkins, Andrew Pickens, Joseph Martin, and Lach- Treaty with lan M'Intosh, commissioners of the United States, of the one kees. part, and the head men and warriors of all the Cherokees, of the other. By this treaty, these Indians, for themselves, and their respective tribes and towns, acknowledged all the Cherokees to be under the protection of the United States of America, and of no other sovereign whomsoever. The boundaries of their hunting grounds were settled, and several mutual and pacific conditions agreed on. The treaty concludes with this article: "The hatchet shall be for ever buried, and the peace given by the United States, and friendship re-established between the said States and the Cherokees shall be universal; and the contracting parties shall use their utmost endeavours to maintain the peace given as aforesaid, and friendship re-established."

Dartmouth

The legislature of Vermont passed an act, granting 23,000 Grant to acres of land to the Trustees of Dartmouth College and Moore's College. Charity School. In pursuance of this act, a charter was issued by the governor on the 10th of June, for a tract of land six miles square, by the name of Wheelock.1

The legislature of Georgia passed a charter for an institution, University designed to embrace the literary interests of the state, and de- of Georgia. nominated The University of Georgia.

A college was instituted by the Methodists at Abington, in Cookesbury Maryland, by the name of Cokesbury College, after Thomas College. Coke and Francis Asbury, bishops of the Methodist episcopal

church.

The Conquest of Canaan, by Timothy Dwight, was published Conquest of at Hartford.

Fayetteville, in North Carolina, was founded.

Canaan.

Fayette

ville.

The Agricultural Society of Philadelphia was instituted. The Humane Society in Massachusetts was incorporated. The As- Societies. sociation of Tradesmen and Manufacturers of the town of Boston was formed.

troduced.

An organ was set up in the First Church in Boston. This was Organ inthe first instance of the introduction of instrumental music into a congregational church in New England.

James Oglethorpe, founder of Georgia, died in England, at the Deaths. reputed age of 97 years.2 Samuel Mather, minister of the Old North Church in Boston, died, at the age of 79 years.3

1 Vermont State Papers, 497.

2 See NOTE XII.

3 Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc. iii. 258, 263. Dr. Mather was a man of learning, and the last minister of the venerable family of the Mathers. He was a son of Dr.