ENTERED, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1852, by

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Southern District of New-York.

1

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

AMAN A CLAIMS LEGISLATIVE INDEPENDENCE OF ENGLAND. PELHAM'S

ADMINISTRATION. 1748.

The approach of Revolution, 3-The unity of the human race, 5—Its

progress, 8-History records that progress, 9-The American Revolution, 12

-Its character and extent, 12-Relation of the Thirteen Colonies to the

Metropolis, 15-The Duke of Newcastle as Colonial Minister, 18-He retires,

21-Succeeded by the Duke of Bedford, 21.

CHAPTER II.

THE ROYAL GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK APPEALS TO THE PARAMOUNT POWER OF
GREAT BRITAIN. PELHAM'S ADMINISTRATION CONTINUED. 1748-1749.

-

Congress at Albany in 1748, 24-Plans of Clinton and Colden, 25-The
Massachusetts Delegation to the Congress, 26— Shirley, 26— Oliver and
Hutchinson, 27-Treaties with the Six Nations and the Miamis, 28-Oliver
and Hutchinson propose the interposition of the king to provide an American
fund, 29-Boundary claimed by the French, 30—Indian mission and village
at Ogdensburg, 31-Shirley and Clinton advise coercion of the Colonies by
Parliament, 32-Murray the principal adviser, 34-Clinton resolves to com-
pel the interposition of parliament, 34-Spirited resistance of the New-York
Assembly, 35-Halifax becomes head of the Board of Trade, 36—He finds
France encroaching in America, 37-and the colonies tending towards Inde-
pendence, 37-South Carolina, 38-North Carolina, 38-Virginia, 38-Penn.
sylvania, 39-New England, 39-New Jersey, 40-Halifax seeks to confine
France by planting a new Colony in the Ohio Valley, 41-The French take
measures to prevent it, 42-Their claims in Acadia, 43-Halifax plants a
British Colony in Nova Scotia, 45-The Acadians, 46-The Micmac Indians,

Indians, 47-The Lords of Trade go to Parliament for absolute power, 48—

Protest of the Colonies, 49-Massachusetts becomes a Hard Money Colony,

50-Further intrigues of the Crown Officers in America, 51-Firmness of

the Representatives of New York, 53-Charles Townshend enters the Board

of Trade, 54-The Colonies develop a life of their own, 55.

CHAPTER III.

THE EXPLORATION OF OHIO.—PELHAM'S ADMINISTRATION CONTINUED.

-

The Ministry resolve on a new system of Colonial Administration, 56 —

Zeal of Halifax and Bedford, 57-Incessant importunities of Crown Officers

in America, 57-Stamp tax proposed, 58-Spirit of New England, 59-

Jonathan Mayhew, 59-The British Ministry persevere, 61-New Develop-

ments of the Commercial System, 62-The Slave Trade, 62-Restrictions on

American Manufactures, 63-The policy unwise, 64-Prophecy of Turgot's,

65-Divisions in the Cabinet, 66-The French and English in Nova Scotia,

67-Halifax and Bedford disagree, 69-Newcastle against Bedford, 70-The

English take Chiegnecto, 71-British and French Commissioners, 72—A

French Brigantine seized, 73-Vermont, 74-The Ohio Valley, 74-Explored

by Gist, 75-The richness of its lands, 78-Council at Picqua, 79-Message

to the English, 80-To the French, 80-Gist returns, 81-Second journey of

Croghan, 82.

CHAPTER IV.

AMERICA REFUSES TO BE RULED BY ARBITRARY INSTRUCTIONS.—PELHAM'S

ADMINISTRATION CONTINUED. 1751-1753.

Lords of Trade renew their design, 83—Calendar regulated, 84-Plan for

an American Civil List, 84-Postponed by division in the Cabinet, 86-Colo-

nies left to protect themselves, 88-Zeal of the French, 89-Plan of union of

the Americans, 91-New powers of the Board of Trade, 92-Relations with

France in America, 93-The French begin hostilities, 95-Council at Shaw-

nee Town, 95-Dinwiddie's Report, 97-State of England, 97-Measures of

the Board of Trade, 100-Discontent of the Western Indians, 101-Decision

of the king, 101-The Board busy in attempting to reduce New York, 102—

They fail, 104.

CHAPTER V.

FRANKLIN PLANS UNION FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. PELHAM'S ADMINISTRA-

TION CONTINUED. 1753-1754.

Progress of the French at the West, 106-Protest of the Indians, 107—

Washington's mission to Fort Le Bœuf, 108-The first Fort at Pittsburg, 112