things which independent states may of right do. And, for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.'

The Declaration of Independence was read publicly in all the states, and received with many demonstrations of joy. A new character was given to the struggle. It was now a war between independent empires; and the flattering future seemed to call the people to fresh and more determined exertions. The army received it with particular satisfaction; for it secured them from suffering as rebels, and promised a full recompense for the toils and dangers of war.

In Great Britain, the act of separation, was the subject of much animadversion. Many of those who had previously supported the cause of the Americans, and by their eloquence stimulated them to continue the struggle, now gave an earnest support to those measures by which the ministers hoped to reduce them to submission. The party which had always been opposed to them, now congratulated themselves upon their sagacity, in predicting that the Americans intended to declare themselves

independent. Their majority in both houses of parliament was sufficient to carry through every measure proposed by the ministry of Lord North.

LL political connection between the states and Great Britain being dissolved, it became necessary to institute new forms of government; and, accordingly, Congress had recommended to the people of the several states to adopt such governments as would best conduce to their happiness. and welfare. All agreed in appointing a supreme executive head to each state with the title either of governor or president. In New York and the eastern states, the governors were elected by the inhabitants in their respective towns or counties, and in the other states by the legislatures; but in no case was the smallest title of power exercised from hereditary right. New York was the only state which invested its governor with executive authority, independent of a council. The prompt and decided character of an executive, free from the trammels of a deliberate and perhaps divided council, was considered to outweigh any disadvantages thereby incurred. All the state governments agreed in prohibiting hereditary honors and distinctions. Some retained a constitutional distinction between Christians and others; but the idea of supporting one denomination at the expense of the others, or of any kind of union of church and state was universally condemned. By the supreme authority of written constitutions, the people vindicated their own power, and left very little to the arbitrary will of those whom they chose to administer the government.

But the Declaration of Independence not only produced the necessity for state governments, but also for some common bond of Union. nature and extent of the authority of the Continental Congress had to be The settled, that it might not conflict with the state legislatures, and proceed more firmly and energetically. A committee was appointed to prepare a plan for a union. But such was the difficulty of coming to an agreement concerning the principle of representation and defining the powers of Congress, that the Articles of Confederation, as they were called, were not ready for presentation to the several state legislatures for sixteen. months after the Declaration of Independence was adopted. By the Articles, each state was to have but one vote in Congress. That body was to have the power to determine on peace or war; to send and receive ambassadors; to enter into treaties and alliances; to determine disputes between the states; to regulate the currency and trade; to establish post-offices; to issue bills of credit; to build and equip a navy, and call upon the states for their quotas of men for the land forces, in proportion to the number of the white inhabitants. No coercive power was given to the general government. Thus was the whole system of government changed and derived from its proper source-the people.

CAMPAIGN OF 1777, IN THE MIDDLE STATES.

HE head-quarters of Washington being at Morristown, the central division of the army was encamped for the winter near that place, in huts temporarily constructed for the purpose. Cantonments were also established at various points from Princeton on the right to the Highlands on the left. Skirmishes often occurred between foraging parties of the adverse armies; but for several months no considerable enterprise

was undertaken by either the British or Americans.

The whole force at Morristown and the several outposts, did not exceed 1500 men. Yet the British did not attempt to attack them, and suffered the interval between the disbanding of one army and the raising of another to pass away while they were posted at Brunswick and Amboy. Hitherto there had been a deficiency of arms and ammunition, as well as of men; but early in the spring, a French vessel arrived at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, with 11,000 stand of arms and 1000 barrels of powder.

Ten thousand stand of arms arrived at the same time in another part of the United States.

Before Howe took the field in prosecution of the more important business of the campaign, two enterprises for the destruction of the stores of the Americans were undertaken. On the 23d of March, Colonel Bird, with about 500 men, landed at Peekskill, 50 miles from New York. The few Americans stationed at that place as a guard, set fire to the store-house as the British approached, and retired to a position two or three miles distant. A considerable quantity of provisions and military stores was thus destroyed.

N the 26th of April, Major-General Tryon, with about 2000 men, landed between Fairfield and Norwalk, Connecticut. Marching to Danbury without interruption, he burned and destroyed a large quantity of valuable stores. Generals Sullivan, Wooster and Arnold, having hastily collected several hundred men, made such dispositions as would enable them to annoy the enemy as they returned to their ships. Arnold, with 500 men, rapidly marched to Ridgefield, in their front, barricaded the road, and for some time bravely withstood the attack of the whole British force. When obliged to retreat, detached parties harassed the rear of the enemy, and kept up a destructive fire upon them until they reached their ships. In this expedition the British had between 200 and 300 men killed, wounded and taken. The American loss was about 20 killed, and 40 wounded. General Wooster was mortally wounded and died very soon after. Congress resolved that a monument should be erected to his memory, and that a horse, properly caparisoned, should be presented to the gallant Arnold, whose horse had been killed under him during one of the encounters.

Meanwhile, Cornwallis commenced his operations by a well-laid plan of surprising Boundbrook, where General Lincoln was stationed with about 500 men. The post was about seven miles from Brunswick, and Lincoln had to guard an extent of five or six miles. Cornwallis chose the morning of the 13th of April for effecting his object. Though the American commander was cautious, he succeeded in crossing the Raritan with 1000 men, and captured the three pieces of American artillery, and Lincoln's baggage and papers. Another detachment of 1000 men advanced upon the American front. But Lincoln skilfully passed between the closing columns of the enemy, and escaped with the loss of not more than 60 killed, wounded and taken.