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PREFATORY.

It is with unaffected diffidence, that the editor now presents his long-expected volume to the people of the United States, from an apprehension that its contents will not accord with the hopes entertained by those who felt interested in the publication. Self-love, or self-respect, seems to demand that some account of the origin and progress of this work should be submitted, that the real merits or demerits of the case may be understood.

On the 23d of November, 1816, a letter was published in the WEEKLy Register, (of which the editor of this work is also the editor and proprietor), from an anonymous correspondent, from which the following is an extract:

"Among the patriots whose efforts have tended to give stability to our institutions, no one is more entitled to the best wishes of his fellow-citizens, and no one has rendered himself more honorably known, than yourself. The steady zeal with which you have prosecuted your valuable work, has made it as a light to the people, by which they see their true interests, and discover the certain means of preserving and improving their unparalleled freedom and its attendant blessings. I am satisfied that you take pleasure in an American offering you his thoughts on any subject of a public nature, however little merit may be in his suggestions. I am, therefore, led to propose to your consideration an undertaking which no one is so well qualified to accomplish as yourself-it is to collect and print handsomely a volume of speeches and orations of our revolution: you can make the supplement to one of your volumes such a book. The present is a most propitious period; the feelings and sentiments of 376 were never so prevalent as at present. The moment and opportunity may pass and not immediately return; the events of the late war have imparted a glow of national feeling for every thing republican. Let us then avail ourselves of the circumstance to make some deep impression. What better impression can we make than by rendering the opinions and conduct of our fathers familiar? An opportunity for such a work exists now-which, we know, is but transient, as but six Americans who witnessed the great debate remain. Now, can a doubt arise that Mr. Jefferson, or Mr. Adams, or Mr. Thompson, would not take delight in furnishing materials?—the speeches themselves, and a view of the proceedings and different characters of the speakers. We have one selection of American speeches, made by a British emissary-if such men are to select our political lessons, I need not tell you what must be the opinions of the rising generation, nor of their certain degradation."

Then followed a promise to communicate sundry articles, and some hints of the writer to obtain others.

This letter was spread before the readers of the REGISTER to gather public sentiment on the subject, and form some opinion, through communications solicited, of the supply of materials that could be obtained, with very little prospect, at that time, of accomplishing the wishes of my correspondent, though there was not any want of zeal to satisfy them. I apprehended that the supply of matter would be short-for I had, myself, been an eager collector of such things for many years, and seemingly had some right to judge of the quantity that remained for edification and improvement, in a recurrence to first principles. But it soon appeared that many were desirous that the collection should be attempted, and certain distinguished persons held out flattering prospects of success, urging me forward by the presentation of motives which they were pleased to think had an irresistible influence on my conduct: but I still hesitated, because of the deficiency of materials, until January, 1819, when it was announced that the volume would be put to press in an address that contained the annexed remarks:

"It is much to be regretted that very few of the soul-stirring orations and speeches of the revolu tionary period remain to claim the admiration of a blessed posterity: Still, some good things are left to us-and, by a liberal enlargement of the plan originally proposed, we feel pretty confident of presenting an acceptable gift to the American people, by rescuing from oblivion a great variety of fleeting, scattered articles, belonging to the history of our country anterior to the sublime epoch of the revolution, during its continuance, and immediately after its glorious termination, whilst its feelings were fresh upon the heart and understanding of our heroes and sages. As heretofore observed, our collection of materials is somewhat extensive, our resources promise some rich additional supplies,—and no effort shall be left untried to increase our store: so that, on the whole, though the collection will, douotless be defective, and, perhaps, not equal the expectations of some, we are consoled with a belief that it will not be unworthy of the patronage of an enlightened public-zealous to catch a "spark from the altar of '76," and prepared to enter into the spirit of past times.

"The volume will be slowly printed as the matter presents itself, and be concluded as soon as the nature of things will admit of-but shall not be hurried. Order in its arrangement can hardly be hoped for; but it will not, on that account, suffer much depreciation of value."

*Since ascertained to be BENJAMIN ELLIOTT, esq. of Charleston, S. C. whose name I take the liberty to mention as the projector of the undertaking; and the merit of it belongs to him,

Still, it was not until September in the same year that a regular prospectus was offered, for 1 yet feared the want of matter, as well as the severe labor that I was sensible would become necessary to obtain it, if to be obtained at all. This prospectus contained these paragraphs:

"Believing, as we do, that the simplicity of the truth, as held forth by those who devised and execu ted the severance of this country from the power of a despot, has been widely departed from, no effort on our part shall be wanting to encourage a spirit to seek after and hold on to the principles which appear essential to the preservation of the rights and liberties of the people of the United States; under an assurance that vigilance is the condition on which freedom is granted to us. But we enter upon the undertaking before us with considerable diffidence-fearful of the want of a just discrimination, and also of time for research and reflection to do justice to the weighty concern. It seemed however, to be imposed on us as a duty, and we will execute the task as well as we can.

"The materials, though the stock is pretty large, are not yet sufficient for the extensive work contemplated. The editor of the REGISTER has, for several years, been a collector of scraps and rare things-several gentlemen have liberally contributed articles which they would not have parted with except on an occasion like this; and others have promised us liberty to overhaul their neglected stores of old papers: but much useful matter must be in the hands of those with whom we have not yet communicated on the subject; and every patriot is invited to give his aid to this collection, designed to record the feelings of "the times that tried men's souls." Letters may be sent to the editor at his cost for postage, and originals will be carefully returned, if requested. When copies from manuscripts are presented, it might be well to permit us to state the source from whence they were deriv. d, if necessary."

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The terms were also set forth-it was promised that the volume should contain between four and five hundred pages, and cost, in sheets, the sum of three dollars. A view to pecuniary profit was disavowed-it had nothing to do with the origin or progress of the work, and if a reasonable allowance for money and time expended is afforded by its sale, it will be. as much as ever has been expected.

I had no sooner fairly committed myself than I regretted it-the patriots of the revolution did not make speeches to be unattended to by their brethren in congress and fill up the columns of newspapers. They only spoke when they had something to say, and preferred acting to talking very unlike the legislators of the present time. plainly saw that great difficulties would oppose themselves to the fulfilment of my promise-I feared that more was expected of me than any man could do-for the facts that were manifest to my mind could not be appreciated by all: my pride, (an honest one, I trust), was alarmed-but, in obedience to a fixed rule that I have adopted for my own conduct, I resolved to meet the difficulty presented and conquer it by perseverance-if I could. To give some idea of the quantity of books and papers that have been looked into to effect this compilation, I think that I do not exagge: ate when I say that they were sufficient to load a 'cart, and hours on hours have been spent in the service without the least profit. Perhaps, I was unlucky or unwise that my attention was not directed to the proper sources; it may be so-but of this I am satisfied, that very few of the "soul-stirring" speeches of the revolutionary period remain to warm the hearts of a grateful posterity: they were pronounced to be heard, not published. With this b.ief narrative, I submit the work to the liberality of my countrymen, American republicans in the firm belief that, if I have not accomplished all that was hoped for by some, it will appear that others are agreeably disappointed; and I am satisfied that good will result from the publication of this collection: it will rescue from oblivion many things that were hastening to it, and lay the foundation, perhaps, of a more extensive and much more perfect work, which I shall always keep in my view.

In explanation it is necessary further to observe, that the leading object of this volume was to shew the feelings that prevailed in the revolution, not to give a history of events; hence, all matters of the latter class have been rejected, except as immediately necessary to shew the effects of feeling. The volume, also, might have been more acceptable if a greater degree of order had been observed as to dates. &c.; but it was almost impossible to approach regularity, in this respect, as well from the nature of things as from the occasional attention, only, that I was able to give to the work---but any inconvenience on this account is obviated by the copious index, o table of contents. prefixed Two articles have been, unfortunately, inserted twice---but, as they are of an excellent quality, I shall not be sorry for it, if the error causes them to be twice read. Many notices of proceedings, &c. are given only to indicate the general conduct of the people on such occasions as they have reference to.

*The earl of Dartmouth asked an American in London, (whose name we cannot call to mind at present), of how many members the congress consisted? the reply was "fifty-two." "Why that is the number of cards in a pack," said his lordship-"how many knaves are there?" "Not one," returned the republican-"please to recollect that knaves are court cards!"

..........

A.
Adams, John-letters to him from J. Palmer,
J. Trumbull, R. Cranch, S. Cooper, &. 322,
323; his letter to the editor, enclosing a
copy of major Hawley's 'broken hints' 324;
to gov. Bullock, July 1, 1776, 327; to Mr.
Chase, same date, ibid; to Mrs. Adams, July 3,
1776. 328. 329; respecting com. Tucker 413;
Mr A when an ambassador, found as a pri.
vate among the marines,
Adams, Samuel,

414

477

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370

222

Cheeseman, capt his gallantry at Quebec
Christie, James, banished from Maryland
Church, Benjamin, his oration at Boston, 1773, 8
Churches, destruction of
361
Clarke, gen. George Rogers, an instance of his
astonishing firmness
380
Confederation, Drayton's speech on the articles of
and his project of a new bond of union, 98, 104
Congress-Virginia delegates to 201; meeting of
297; address to the inhabitants of the United
States, 1779, 407; held at New-York, in 1765,
451; ma if sto of, 1778

Address of the provincial congress of Massachu-
setts to the inhabitants of Great Britain, 205;
to the independent sons of Massachusetts,
432-see the several states, &c.
America, estimate of the military force of,
American and French soldiers, their comforts, 345 Connecticut-gov. Trumbull's reply to W Tryon

211

Andre, major, his affair with Arnold,
Arms of the United States, a description of,
Army of the revolution-statements of its force,
condition, pay, &c. & 211, 433; voluntary
contributions to support it,

302

486

486

Arnold, at New London, 330; his character, 331;
his letter to gen. Washington after his trea-
son, 391; procession with his effigy,

391

Asaph, St. the bishop of-his speech,
Asgill, the case of 317; letters of his mother,
Austin, Jonathan W. his oration at Boston, 1778,

150

318

31

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415

374

Barry, capt. mentioned,
Boston, the town of-notice of many interesting
things that occurred therein, 464, 468, 470,
471, 479 to 486 and 489; battle between the
rope.makers and soldiers, 480; Whig club,
484; massacre of the 5th of March, with re-
flections, 481; persons proscribed at,
"Boston orations"-in commemoration of the 5th
of March, 1770, when a number of citizens
were killed by a party of British troops, viz.
by James Lovell, Joseph Warren, (two),
Benj. Church, Jno. Hancock, Peter Thatcher,
Benjamin Hitchborn, Jonathan W. Austin,
William Tudor, Jonathan Mason, Thomas
Dawes, jun. Geo. Richards Minot, and Thos.
Welsh,

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Conscience, Livingston's remarks on liberty of, 306
Contributions, (voluntary), to furnish supplies
for the army

486
Cornwallis-address of the abbe Bandole on his
capture, 268; a letter from gen. Washington,
as to the plans laid to capture him, 272; ex-
tract from Wraxall's memoirs respecting his
surrender, 277; further particulars 345, 362
Court martial on a spy
369
Cropper, gen. notice of his services and death 416
Cunningham, the infamous capt. his confession 274
D.
Dartmouth, the earl of a letter addressed to 144
Davis, col. his journal kept at Yorktown 465
Dawes, Thomas, his oration at Boston, 1781, 47
Declaration of rights, the draught of Geo. Mason,
of Va. 123; of independence in Mecklenburg,
N. C. 1775,
132, 135
Delaware: petition to establish a militia, 1775,
257; letter from Dr. Tilton to Dr. Elmer on
the state of things, 1775, 257; correspondence
of the same, respecting toryism in Sussex co.
258, 259: letter of Z. G. to the committee at
Dover, 257; proceedings of the committee
respecting certain tea, 258; of the same, with
the satisfaction tendered to them, on account
of a disaffected article published, 260; arrest
of a member of the legislature, by the light
infantry company of Dover, and proceedings
thereon, 261; correspondence of Cæsar and
Thomas Rodney, &c.
338-345

Delaware river, passage of

361

Drayton, Wm. Henry, charges delivered by him
in 1776, 72, 81, 92; his speech in the general
assembly, 1778, 98; his project, 104; his ad-
dress to lord Howe and gen. Howe

in defence of their country,delivered 1779, 119
Brandt, col. his incursion, 1779,
Bullock, gov. a speech delivered by him
Bunker's hill, incidents of the battle at,
Burgoyne, gen. his correspondence with gen.
Lee, 206; his thundering proclamation, 1777,
262; laughing reply thereto, 263; proposals
for his exchange, humorous,
Burke, Edmund, his great speech in favor of con-
ciliation with the colonies, 1775, 223 to 248

367

159

115

Drayton's memoirs, an extract from

467

Dickinson, John, a letter from him, 1779, 343;
his speech in congress

493

264

Dunmore, lord, his letter to gen. Howe, 1775, 138;
his wicked proclamation, 1775

373

E.

Bushnell's machine,

469

C.

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425

202

300

430

Canada, address to the people of
Carpenters' Hall, a speech delivered at
Champe, John, interesting history of
Champlain-American and British forces on
Charges, judicial-of John Jay, 1777, 62; W. H.
Drayton
72, 81, 92
Charleston, proceedings at on arrival of stamps 467
Chatham, lord-a speech delivered by him on the
Sovereignty of Great Britain, 189; do. to re-

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F.

326

Farmer, John, his letter to the editor
Fayette, the marquis de la-an address to him
from the citizens of Baltimore and reply 393
Female patriotism, 305; do. pensioner for ser-
vices in the revolutionary army, 417; at Bris-

tol, Penn.
420
Franklin, Dr. extracts from several of his letters,
313; his letter to lord Howe, 315; his intro-
duction to the French academy, 316; Jeffer-
son's letter respecting him, 317; his letter
to the people of Ireland, 1778-384; his re-

Ledyard, col. and others--of their fate, &c. at
New London

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427

Lee, gen. his correspondence with gen. Burgoyne,
206; letter to the same, 425; the oath exact-
ed by him in Rhode-Island
Lee, Richard Henry, his speech in congress 490
Lee, captain Ezra, desperate valor of
469
Letter from a lady to a British officer 305; from
Philadelphia, 1774, to a member of parlia-
ment, 418; another from Massachusetts to a
friend in London, ibid; another from Phila-
delphia, 1775, 420; from Charleston, 1775, 423

marks on bolding Canada as a 'check' 487 | Lexington, the battle of, mentioned in a letter
French-D'Estaing's address to those in North

America

G.

406

from a lady, 305; some curious particulars
of the affair, 326; receipt of the news 470
Livingston, gov. of New-Jersey, his able and spi-
rited reply to gen. Robertson, 268; his speech
to the legislature, 1777, 270; bis remarks on
the liberty of conscience
306
Livingston, Dr. extract from one of his sermons 362
370 Lovel, James, his oration at Boston, 1771,
276 Loyalists-see 'Tories.'
M.
159 | MacFingal, an extract from
420 Manufactures, &c. recommended, 181, 182, 184,
198,202,369, 445; humorous article about 321
371 | Marine Turtle'

Gage, gen. his proclamation offering pardon to
all but Adams and Hancock, 136; his corres-
pondence with gen. Washington, on the usage
of prisoners, 266. reply to gov. Trumbull 438
Gardner, col. at the battle of Bunker's hill
Gates, gen. pleasing instance of his gratitude
Georgia-speech of gov. Bullock to the provin-
cial congress, 1776

Germans, (old) of Penn. form a company
Germantown-anecdote of a brave fellow in the
battle of

1

273

469

Gordon's history, curious particulars respecting 483 | Marion, gen. his hardy escape from the enemy
Green, gen. to gen. Lacey

H.

334

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377; anecdotes and adventures
488
Martin, gov. of N. Carolina, his proclamation, 134
Maryland-a
-a letter from addressed to the earl
of Dartmouth, 144; various proceedings re-
specting the importation of British goods,
1769, 167; do. in relation to the Boston port
bill, 172, 173; patriotic recommendations
for a meeting of deputies respecting manufac-
tures and home industry, 181; case of James
Christie, 222; address to count Rochambeau,
398; address of the general assembly to the
411
people, 1780
Mason, Jonathan, his oration at Boston, 1780 41
George, of Va.many interesting parti-
culars of, with a copy of his draught of a de-
claration of rights, and extracts from several
of his letters
123
Massachusetts-gen. Gage's proclamation, 1775,
136; proclamation of the general court, Jan.
1776, 142; address of the legislature to gen.
Washington and his reply, 143; Boston in-
structions, 156; Malden do. 156; proceedings
at Harvard college, 158; proceedings about
the Boston port bill, 172, 173, 174, 179, 180,
191; recommendations respecting manufac
tures and home industry, 182; parliamentary
proceedings respecting the civil government
of the colony, 1774, 194; address of the pro-
vincial congress to the inhabitants of Great
Britain, 205; gov. Hutchinson's speech to the
legislature, 1773, 279; answer of the house of
representatives, 287; address to the people
by the same, 253; resolutions adopted May
28, 1773, 294; letter to the speakers of the
assemblies of other colonies, 295; proceed-
ings in respect to certain letters, 295; ex-
trac: from the governor's message and reply,
Jan. 1774, 296; message to gov. Gage, same
year, 297; address of the provincial congress,
Dec. 1774, 298; refusal of a jury to be im-
pannelled, 319; Hutchinson's divide et impera
420; recruiting service, 423; address to the
inhabitants of, 432; address of the provincial
congress to the people of Great Britain,1775,
434; gov. Gage deposed, 435; proclama.
tion for a public thanksgiving, 436; test act,
(1776)

436

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