Its proceedings reach England before the adjournment for the Christmas holidays in 1774, and produce an impression favourable to the Colonies. i. 420.

(Second Continental) meets in Philadelphia, September, 1775; number and character of its members. i. 442.

Its n.o.ble and affectionate pet.i.tion to the King; the King denies an audience to its agent, Mr. Penn, and answers the pet.i.tion by proclamation, declaring it "rebellion," and the pet.i.tioners "rebels." i. 443-445.

Its pet.i.tion to the House of Commons rejected, and its agent, Mr. Penn, not asked a question. i. 444.

A large majority (Oct. 1775) still opposed to independence, but unanimous in defence of British const.i.tutional rights. i. 448.

Divided on the question of _Independence_, which is first moved in Congress in May, 1776--deferred, after long debates, for three weeks, by a vote of seven to five Colonies. i. 483, 484.

Manipulation and agitation to prepare the members of Congress and the Colonies for separation from England. i. 482-485.

Proceeds with closed doors, and its members sworn to secrecy.

Votes by Colonies, and decides that each vote be reported unanimous, though carried by only a bare majority. i. 486.

After three days' debate, the six Colonies for and seven Colonies against independence; how a majority of one was obtained in favour of it. i. 486, 487.

Refuses to confer with British Commissioners with a view to reconciliation. ii. 2.

Feelings of the people of England and America different from those of the leaders of Congress. ii. 14.

Sycophancy of its leaders to France. ii. 13.

Its degeneracy in 1778, as stated by General Washington. ii. 29.

The depression of its credit. ii. 30.

It confiscates and orders the sale of the property of "Tories." ii. 30.

Appeals to France for men and money as their only hope. ii. 40.

Fallacy of the plea or pretext that it had not power to grant compensation to the Loyalists. ii. 61.

Meets at Philadelphia, 10th May, 1776. i. 479.

Contests--Chiefly between the Colonists, the French, and the Indians, from 1648 to 1654. i. 250.

Colonies--their divided councils and isolated resources. i. 257.

Their alarming state of affairs at the close of the year 1757. i. 255.

Cornwallis--His antecedents, ii. 38; his severe policy injurious to the British cause, ii. 40; his defence of Yorktown, ii. 44; his surrender to the French and American armies, ii. 45; conditions of capitulation, ii. 46.

Count De Gra.s.se--Sails from New York to the Chesapeake with a fleet of 28 ships and 7,000 French troops. ii. 43.

Crown Point taken from the French by the English. i. 263.

Debts--Incurred by the New England Colonies in the Indian wars; how Ma.s.sachusetts was relieved by England, and made prosperous. i. 240.

Declaration of American Independence--How the vote of the majority of the Colonies for it was obtained, and how reported. i. 486, 487.

Copy of it. i. 488.

Homage of respect by the authors to the fathers of. i. 492-495.

1. A renunciation of all the principles on which the General Congress, Provincial Legislatures, and Conventions professed to act from the beginning of the contest; proofs and ill.u.s.trations. i. 496-499.

2. A violation of good faith to those statesmen and numerous other parties in Great Britain, who had, in and out of Parliament, defended and supported the rights and character of the Colonists during the whole contest; proofs and ill.u.s.trations. i. 499-501.

3. A violation, not only of good faith, but of justice to the numerous Colonists who adhered to connection with the Mother Country; proofs and ill.u.s.trations. i. 501-504.

4. The commencement of persecutions and proscriptions and confiscation of property against those who refused to renounce the oaths which they had taken, and the principles and traditions which had, until then, been professed by their persecutors and oppressors as well as by themselves; proofs and ill.u.s.trations. i. 504-507.

The plea of tyranny. i. 504.

5. The commencement of weakness in the army of its authors, and of defeat in their battle-fields; proofs and ill.u.s.trations. i. 508-513.

6. The announced expedient and prelude to an alliance with France and Spain against the Mother Country. i. 513-517.

New penal laws pa.s.sed against the Loyalists after adopting it. ii. 5.

Detroit--Taken by the British under General Brock. ii. 354.

De Salaberry (General)--Defeats 10,000 Americans with 300 Canadians at Chateauguay ii. 381.

D'Estaing--His doings and failures in America. ii. 17-27.

Diamond (John). ii. 202.

Doane. ii. 192.

Dudley (Joseph)--Appointed Governor of Ma.s.sachusetts by King James II.

i. 212.

Dunmore (Earl of)--Governor of Virginia, commits the same outrages upon the inhabitants of Virginia, and about the same time, as those committed by General Gage upon the inhabitants of Ma.s.sachusetts. i. 462.

a.s.sembles the House of Burgesses to deliberate and decide upon Lord North's so-called "conciliatory proposition" to the Colonies; the House rejects the proposition on a report prepared by Mr. Jefferson--a doc.u.ment eulogized in the strongest terms by the Earl of Shelburne. i. 464.

East India Company--Disastrous effect of its agreement with the British Government. i. 381.

East India Company's Tea--Causes of it being thrown into Boston Harbour, as stated on both sides. i. 377.

Elections in England hastened in the autumn of 1774; adverse to the Colonies. i. 419.