port. These transports would and did often fall into our hands. In the fall of this year two large vessels, the "Minerva" and the "Miss North," heavily laden with munitions of war, and provisions, &c., and destined for their army at Newport, fell into our hands, and their cargoes were acceptable at the time.

Guards were kept up on our shores. Tiverton and Little Compton were excused, by an Act of the General Assembly, from sending any of their Militia out of their respective towns, provided they would guard their own shores. The troops of the Rhode Island Brigade were stationed at most of the important places to defend against the incursions of the enemy. Beacon poles were erected in various towns remote from the shores, so as when lighted, to give the alarm. In fact every thing was so well regulated, that there was not much to do in the winter, but to watch.

Another brilliant exploit was achieved by Major Talbot this year, in "boarding and taking the armed schooner Pigot, of eight 12 pounders and forty-five men," in the east passage, between Rhode Island and the main. For this enterprise, he was presented with a Commission of Lieutenant-Colonel in the army of the United States.

The Legislature also passed all necessary laws to carry on the war with success; they authorized General Sullivan, with the consent of the Governor, or in his absence, the Lieutenant Governor, to call out all the Militia and Independent Companies, wherever and whenever their services might be wanted in the State. They also authorized him to take up all suspicious persons, "and proceed against them according to the practices in the army of the United States, under the immediate command of General Washington." This Act was passed in consequence of some persons holding communications with. the enemy on Rhode Island. They also passed an Act to assist the poor in Newport. This was in consequence of the wanton destruction of property, which many persons in that town had suffered from the enemy, as well as cruelty to their persons. In fact on every occasion throughout this eventful

year, did the Legislature, the Council of War, and the people of Rhode Island hold fast to their integrity, and sustain the glorious cause in which their hearts were engaged and their independence involved.

SECTION V.

[1779.]

NOTWITHSTANDING the great opposition in the British Parliament to the war with the Colonies,―nothwithstanding Lord Chatham had repeatedly raised his voice against it, had told them "they could not conquer America,” that they might "swell every expense, accumulate every assistance, and extend their traffic to the shambles of every German despot, their attempts would ever be vain and impotent,”—notwithstanding Charles Fox had moved an address to his Majesty not to send any more troops to this country to maintain the war, and Edmund Burke, the lofty and talented member of the House of Commons, had moved for the production of all the papers "connected with employment of the Indians," with the evidence of their horrid massacres and murders, Lord North, the Prime Minister, still persisted in his fatal course, in sustaining it, and however strange it might seem, still commanded a majority in the British Parliament, and of course, his Majesty's confidence. Such was Lord North's course, so injurious to the nation, that Charles Fox was provoked on one occasion to say in debate, "that all his blunders and absurdities might be summed up in one word-ignorance." Under such circumstances, self-defence called for corresponding exertions and preparations in this country, and Congress were not unmindful of their duty.

The British troops still continuing in possession of Newport

and the greater part of the Island, the General Assembly found it necessary to pass an Act to re-enlist the Rhode Island Brigade of state troops for one year longer. This was done at an early period of this year, and the Act was approved by Congress, and as a further encouragement to all the Commissioned Officers "under the immediate command of Brigadier General Cornell," were allowed one month's pay as a gratuity for their past services," which in the preceding year had been very arduous. With becoming benevolence the Legislature also passed an Act appropriating five hundred dollars to the relief of the oppressed poor in Newport.

In consequence of the very great expenses this state had been put to, during the invasion, His Excellency the Governor, at the January Session of the General Assembly this year, was requested to write to our delegates in Congress, setting forth, that this state "from its loss of trade, from the necessary decrease of husbandry, owing to the enemy's being in the bowels of the state, and also upon account of great numbers leaving the state, and for other causes, was unable to pay so large a proportion of the fifteen millions tax, ordered by Congress to be levied upon the United States in 1779, as had been assigned to them to pay."

This communication was laid before Congress, and after due consideration they passed the following resolution:

"Whereas the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations is invaded, and hath represented to Congress that by reason thereof, it is unable to levy the proportion of the Continental tax, assigned them for the present year:

Resolved, That fifty thousand dollars be taken from the apportionment of the tax for the present year to the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, and that the same, by consent of the delegates of the State of South Carolina, be added to the apportionment of that state."

Here was virtually an acknowledgment by Congress, that Rhode Island had borne more than her share of expenses in the Revolutionary contest. It is possible, however, the delegates of South Carolina would not have consented to have had

the "fifty thousand dollars" added to her proportion of the tax, had she known what was to befall her in the year following, when her capital was taken and her country laid waste. But South Carolina was a patriotic state, and the services of her Marions and Sumpters will always be remembered as long as history wields her pen; and indeed from that hour to the present, has South Carolina maintained her integrity and been faithful to the Union, except a few years of "nullification,” when she was led off the track by injudicious counsels.

The Resolve of Congress releasing Rhode Island from the payment of fifty thousand dollars of her tax, was passed March 1st, 1779, and it was but an act of justice, considering the immense expense the state had been put to, and the losses she sustained during the invasion. But the losses did not dampen her courage or exertions; she carried the same bold front, and prepared for another campaign. The General Assembly passed a vote of thanks to Major Gen. Sullivan, "for the active zeal which he had exhibited for the preservation of this state and its inhabitants," and appointed a committee to wait upon him, and to assure him they cannot entertain a doubt of his perseverance in those measures which will promote the best interests of the state." But Gen. Sullivan grew tired of the service, and requested leave to retire. His request was granted, and he retired from the command of the Eastern Department, and General Gates succeeded him. The only fault the writer ever heard against him by officers and soldiers, was, that he was too tardy in his movements.

General Gates fixed his head-quarters at Providence, and on the 5th of April the Council of War requested him to take the command of all the Rhode Island troops and Militia.Among his first acts was a recommendation to the General Assembly to raise a "corps of Light Infantry,' corps of Light Infantry," to consist of four Companies, of fifty-four rank and file each. The command of this corps was conferred upon Col. Barton, with power to nominate all subordinate officers, which, if approved, were to be commissioned by the Council of War, in the recess of the Legislature. Henry Dayton, John Garzia, Charles

Handy, and Stephen Babcock, were Captains; Charles Handy was also Pay-Master, John P. Miller was a Lieutenant; we are unable to give the names of the other officers or the

men.

Much difficulty had heretofore occurred with regard to the mode of proceeding, respecting "confiscated estates.” There had been large estates confiscated which had belonged to tories and persons inimical to the country, but no regular mode of proceeding had been established. At the September session of the General Assembly this year, a committee was appointed to draft a Bill for this purpose and to report at same session. This committee consisted of Adam Comstock, Rouse J. Helme, Benjamin Bourne, and David Howell. The committee reported a Bill which was passed into a law, in October following, confiscating the estates of all who had joined the enemy. It gives us pleasure to say that there were not so many tories in this state as in some others, still we had enough to do us incalculable mischief.

There were several causes of toryism, not a few were tories on account of their wealth. They thought there could be no security for their property under a Republic. Others were tories upon principle,-they maintained the people had no just cause to withdraw their allegiance from their King, and it was their duty to prevent it, and hence joined the enemy. Others thought that "protection and allegiance" were not reciprocal as set forth by the Legislature, in the Act of May, "76-that allegiance could not be dissolved, that the King's power was a grant from the Almighty, and no human power could dissolve it. We had this from the mouth of one of these tories, many years ago, who then undertook to convince us that all the proceedings of the Revolution were "null and void," and that we still owed allegiance to the King of Great Britain! To the honor of Rhode Island, however, be it spoken, there were but few tories of this description, and not so many of any other as in some other states. A vast majority of the people were in favor of supporting the Declaration of Independence, and using all the means in their power