WASHINGTON'S HEADQUARTERS AT CAMBRIDGE. | pound duty in America. The first cargo of this tea THE house occupied by General Washington as arrived in November; and on the next morning, the his headquarters, during the memorable siege of following notice was distributed through the town:Boston, in 1775 and 1776, is situated about halfway. FRIENDS, BRETHREN, COUNTRYMEN! between the Cambridge colleges and Mount Auburn, on the road leading from Harvard university to Waltham. The house is a large wooden mansion, with spacious outbuildings and grounds; it stands a little back from the road, and the front of it 66 commands a good view of Charles river, which As early as 1765, the passage of the stamp-act had caused a great deal of excitement- -some acts of violence also were committed by the mob, but these were discountenanced by the leading whigs, who thought such acts would infallibly injure a just cause. Their pens, however, were not idle; and in the Boston Gazette of March 17th, 1766, a writer remarks:"Since the stamp-act imposed on us is unconstitutional, shall we not then, all as one man, join in opposing it, and spill the last drop of our blood, if necessity should require, rather than live to see it take place in America!" And again, "any one after a thorough search and consideration, would, rather than lose his liberty, be bored through the centre of life with the fatal lead." On the 19th of May, news was received aí Boston that the stamp-act was repealed. "That worst of plagues, the detested TEA, shipped for this post by the East India company, is now arrived in this harbour. The hour of destruction, or manly opposition to the machinations of tyranny, stares you in the face. Every friend to his country, to himself, to posterity, is now called upon to meet at Fanueil Hall, at nine o'clock this day, (at which time the bells will ring,) to make a united and successful resistance to this last, worst, and most destructive measure of adminis "Boston, Nov. 29, 1773." The meeting thus called was fully attended; resolutions were passed against those who had imported tea, and provision was made for the disposal of the vessels which were expected to arrive. The assembled body voted "to carry their votes and resolutions into execution at the risk of their lives and property." About the first of December, another vessel arrived with tea, and the consignees of the cargoes were ordered to send it back. This, however, was not done, and on the 16th of December, the vessels which contained it were boarded by a party disguised as Indians, the chests of tea were broken open, and in less than two hours, two hundred and forty chests, and one hundred half-chests, were staved and emptied into the dock. A portion of this tea, which was brought away in the shoes of one of the Indians, is still preserved at the Boston Atheneum. The next important event was the passage of the Boston port bill, to which George III. assented on the 31st of March, 1774: by this bill, the landing and discharging, lading or shipping, of goods at Boston, were discontinued. The news of this bill arrived at Boston about the 11th of May; and on the 13th, the following vote was passed at town meeting: other colonies come into a joint resolution to stop all· importations from Great Britain, and exportations to Great Britain, the same will prove the salvation of North America and her liberties. On the other hand, if they continue their exports and imports, there is high reason to fear that fraud, power, and the most odious oppressions, will rise triumphant over right, justice, social happiness, and freedom." On the 5th of March, 1770, the animosity of the Bostonians against the "redcoats" was increased a little by the murder of Crispus Attucks, Samuel" VOTED, That it is the opinion of this town, that if the Gray, Jonnes Caldwell, Samuel Maverick and Patrick Carr; and their funeral solemnities which took place on the 8th, brought together the largest concourse of people that probably had ever assembled in America. The duty on tea, of three pence per pound, imposed on the colonists without their consent, had been met by combinations among the inhabitants not to pay the duty, and not to use the article. The British East India company, however, applied to the British government, and obtained a license to export a quantity of tea to America, not exceeding six hundred thousand pounds; they were discharged from the payment of any custom-house duties whatever in the kingdom, but were subject, however, to the payment of the three pence per About this time, General Gage arrived to govern the province. Hutchinson retired; troops also were constantly coming in, and fortifications were thrown up on Boston Neck. In September, a detachment went into the country and took from a powder magazine, on Quarry Hill, about two hundred half-barrels of powder, which belonged to the province; another detachment brought off two fieldpieces from Cambridge. The people armed themselves and assembled, but finding no enemy to contend with, returned to their homes. On the other hand, a party of provincials in the province of New Hampshire, attacked the fort at Newcastle, captured the garrison, and took from them one hundred barrels of powder, some small-arms, and sixteen pieces of cannon, all of which were secured. These facts, though trivial in themselves, were of the utmost importance when considered in relation to the great events which were soon to follow. enemies, when the troops again proceeded for a short distance unmolested. But the alarm of the preceding night had gathered the people over an immense extent of country; and having waited for information, those nearest to the scene of action were already pressing forward to the assistance of their friends. There was but little order and no concert among the Americans; but each party, as it arrived. pushed into the fray, and hanging on the skirts of their enemies, or making spirited though ineffectual efforts to stop their progress. On either side of the highway, along the skirts of every wood or orchard, in the open fields, and from every house or barn, or cover in sight, the flash of fire-arms was to be seen, while the shots of the British grew, at each instant, feebler and less inspirited." Their ranks now became confused, when, fortunately for them, they were reinforced by Lord Percy with a thousand men; this enabled them to reach Charles river that evening; and the next day all were removed to Boston. The six wounded, and three missing; of the redcoats, seventy-three killed, one hundred and seventy-four wounded, and one hundred and twenty-six missing. The Americans continued to come to the support of their brethren, and in June their army consisted of fifteen thousand men, commanded by General Ward. On the 17th of June was fought the battle of Bunker's Hill, (already detailed in this Magazine ;) after this battle, the main body of the British troops was stationed on Bunker's Hill; the other division of it was deeply entrenched, and strongly fortified on Boston Neck. The American army lay on both sides of Charles river; its right occupying the high ground around Roxbury, whence it extended towards Dorchester, and its left, covered by Mystick river, a space of at least twelve miles. The next important step was that taken by the British on the 15th of April. About eight hundred soldiers left Boston in the night-time, in order to destroy some military stores collected by the provincials at Concord. Their object, however, had been suspected by the committee of safety, and reports of their movements had been sent to the interiour. The route taken by the British, led them through West Cambridge to Lexington, which lies about loss of the Americans was forty-nine killed, thirtytwelve miles to the northwest of Boston. Concord being situated in the same direction, six miles from Lexington. Their route was undisturbed until their arrival at Lexington, when a drum was heard beating to arms, and a company of provincials were discovered. The British commander, Major Pitcairn, rode up to them and cried out, "Disperse you rebels-lay down your arms and disperse." Not being obeyed, he commanded his troops to fire: the provincials received the fire without flinching; and kept their ground till another discharge from the enemy proved fatal to several of them; on this, part of the company, if not all, returned the fire, and then dispersed in different directions. The British now continued their march to Concord and arrived there about nine o'clock: here they again fired upon the militia who had assembled, and having destroyed some provisions and stores, commenced their return to Boston. But now retributive measures awaited them; to use the words of the distinguished novelist Cooper: "In place of the high and insulting confidence with which the troops had wheeled into the streets of Concord, they left them when the order was given to march, with faces bent anxiously on the surrounding heights, and with looks that bespoke a consciousness of the dangers that were likely to beset the long road that lay before them. Their apprehensions were not groundless. The troops had hardly commenced their march before a volley was fired upon them from the protection of a barn; and as they advanced volley succeeded volley, and musket answered musket, from behind every cover that offered to their assailants. At first, these desultory and feeble attacks were but little regarded; a brisk charge, and a smart fire for a few moments never failing to disperse their General Washington took command of the army on the 2d of July, 1775; and General Gage, having resigned, he was replaced by General Howe, who was completely shut up in Boston, and compelled to General Washington, pass the winter in idleness. however, becoming tired of this inactivity, wished to make an attack on them; but a council of war being almost unanimous against this measure, he reluctantly abandoned it. "The effective regular force of the Americans. now amounted to upwards of fourteen thousand men : in addition to which the commander-in-chief called out about six thousand of the militia of Massachusetts; With these troops he determined to take possession of the heights of Dorchester, whence it would be in his power greatly to annoy the ships in the harbour, and the soldiers in the town. By taking this position, from which the enemy would inevitably attempt to drive him he expected to bring on a gene On the THE NEW HOLLANDERS. ral action, during which he intended to cross over "The proper study of mankind is man." from the Cambridge side, with four thousand chosen THE New Hollanders are of the middle height, men, and attack Boston. To conceal his design and few being of lofty stature; the women are small to divert the attention of the garrison, a heavy bom- and well made, as indeed is generally the case with bardment of the town and lines of the enemy was the males; the hands and feet are small, the shoulbegun on the evening of the 2d of March, 1776, and ders finely rounded, but the belly is frequently protuberant and the arms long: the features are not repeated on the two succeeding nights. the smile may be unpleasant in youth: in some women, night of the 4th, immediately after the firing began, considered fascinating, which, added to an easiness a considerable detachment, under the command of of manner and a harmonious voice, (especially proGeneral Thomas, passing from Roxbury, took silent nouncing the English language,) has rendered several of the unfortunate aborigines favourites with the white possession of Dorchester heights. The ground was men. The colour of the skin and hair is in general almost impenetrably hard, but the night was mild, black, but some tribes have been seen of lighter coland by labouring with great diligence, their works our, approaching that of a malay with hair of a redwere so far advanced by morning, as to cover them, dish cast. Some have large beards, but many pluck out As is the case with all savin a great measure, from the shot of the enemy. the hair by the roots. When the British, after daybreak, discovered these ages, the hair is the principal part for decoration: some divide the hair into small parcels, each of works, which were magnified to their view by a which is matted together with gum, and formed into hazy atmosphere, nothing could exceed their aston- lengths like the thrums of a mop: others, by means of ishment. No alternative now remained but to aban-yellow gum, fasten on the head the front teeth of a don the town, or to dislodge the provincials. Gen-kangaroo, the jaw-bones of a fish, human teeth, eral Howe, with his usual spirit, chose the latter feathers, pieces of wood, tails of dogs, &c. Oil of any quality is used with avidity for preserving the part of the alternative, in which design he was foiled skin from moschetoes, &c., and the breasts, arms, by a tremendous storm. A council of war was call-back, &c., are covered at an early age with scars or e next morning, and it was agreed to evacuate the town as soon as possible. A fortnight elapsed before this measure was effected. Meanwhile, the Americans strengthened and extended their works; on the morning of the 17th of March, the British discovered a breastwork that had been thrown up in the night, at Nooks Hill, Dorchester, which perfectly commanded Boston Neck and the south part of the town. Delay was no longer safe: by four o'clock in the morning, the king's troops began to embark, and before ten, all of them were under full sail; leaving behind them stores to the value of thirty thousand pounds. As the rear embarked, General Washington marched triumphantly into Boston where he was joyfully received as a deliverer." It is now many years since we rambled over the grounds which were the seat of the scenes described. Time, and the levelling hand of modern improvement, have done much to erase all marks of the struggle. A few years ago, Governour Hutchinson's house was still standing, and on Boston common, you might perceive the spot where the troops of Earl Percy were encamped. Brattlestreet church presents in its front an iron monument of the bombardment of 1776, and the entrenchments on Dorchester heights are tolerably preserved. In ranging also over the diversified country around Boston, you frequently meet with gentle elevations and slight depressions, which mark the lines of the American encampment. But most of the memorials, like most of the actors in those scenes, have passed away. Exemplary crimes require exemplary justice. wealed cicatrices of every variety of form. The In many |