History of the Untied States, from their first settlement as English Colonies ... to ... 1808 ... Continued to the Treaty of Ghent by S. S. Smith, D.D. ... and other ... gentlemen ... Second edition, revised, etc

Front matter

HISTORY OF THE tffSHHFIEH) Bff&WlBBa FROM THEIR FIRST SETTLEMENT AS ENGLISH COLONIES, IN 1607, TO THE YEAR 1808; OR, THE THIRTY-THIRD OF THEIR SOVEREIGNTY AND INDEPENDENCE. BY DAVID RAMSAY, M.D. CONTINTTED TO THE TREATY OP GHENT, BY S. S. SMITH, D.D. AND L.L.D. AND OTHER LITERARY GENTLEMEN. IN THREE VOLUMES. VOL. I. SECOND EDITION, REVISED AND CORRECTED. PHIiADElPHIA : PUBLISHED BY M. GAREY AND SON, NO. 126, CHESNUT STREET: FOR TIIE SOLE BENEFIT OF THE HEIRS OF THE AUTHOR. May 1st, 1813. DISTRICT OF SOUTH CAROLINA. BE IT REMEMBERED, that, on the second day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixteen, and in the forty - firstyearof the Independence ofthe United States of America, Eleanor H. L. Ramsay, Martha H. L. Ramsay, Catharine H. L. Ramsay, SabinaE. Ramsay, David Ramsay, James Ramsay, Nathaniel Ramsay, and William Ramsay, deposited in this office the title of a Book, the right whereof they claim as proprietors, in the words following, to wit : " The History of the United States.

By David Ramsay, M. D." In conformity to the act of Congress ofthe United States, entitled "An actforthe encouragement of learning, by securingthe copies of maps, charts, and books to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned," and also an act entitled, " An act supplementary to an act entitled, " An act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts, and books to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned," and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving and etching historical and other prints." JAMES JERVEY, ™$f-k "Jlhe District of South Carolina.

Preface

. AN history of the American revolution was published by the author, in 1789. This has been long out of print, and a second edition repeatedly called for. It occurred to him, that an extension of the plan, so as to comprehend the history of the colonies, anterior to their revolution, and of the United States, subsequent to that event, would be pre ferable to a new edition of the former work. This would give an unbroken view of American history, as far back as the United States are concerned, from their first settlement to the present time. In prosecuting the colonial history of the country, it was soon found, that the subject naturally branched into thirteen separate divisions. In each colony, its history took a colouring from the time and circumstances of its settlement, source of population, form of government, laws, religion, soil, agriculture, and climate.

There were a few things in which they agreed ; but more in which there were material shades of difference, sufficiently import ant to require historic notice. In pursuance of these ideas, the author suspended his general work, until he had finish ed a particular history of his own state of South Carolina. Such local histories he conceived to be necessary, both for the illustration of the revolution, and for the instruction of posterity, who will, doubtless, be anxious for more circum stantial information of their respective states, than has yet been given, or can be given, in a general history of the V-REFACE. whole. These observations are premised, that the reader may expect, in the following sheets, no more of the colonial history of the British provinces, than what is general, and, in some respects, common to the whole, and necessary to a proper view of their late revolution.

All that was valuable, in the author's history of the American revolution, is incorporated in this work : to wit, a general view of the civil and military history of the colonies, anterior to their revolution, is prefixed ; and a history of the United States, from the peace of 1783, to the year 1808, is subjoined. The United States, for one-third of a century, have been in possession of sovereignty ; and of peace, with inconsider able exceptions, for twenty-five years. The present gene ration may test, therefore, by experience, the value of the blessings procured for them by their ancestors. A state ment of these could not, with propriety, be made in mere histories of the revolution ; for, on its termination, the civil institutions of the country were unsettled. The importance of stating the consequences which followed, after effi cient government had been superadded to naked liberty, must be apparent.

The author begs indulgence, while he expresses an earnest wish, that some capable citizen of each state would oblige his country with a complete history of it, from its first settlement. It is matter of reproach, that the youth of the United States know so little of their own country, and much more so, that the means of obtaining a competent knowledge of its history are inaccessible to most of them. DAVID RAMSAY. Charleston, December Slst, 1808. TREFACE. V EDITORIAL NOTICE, Respecting the first edition ofthe present work. The work of Doctor Ramsay ends with the year 1808. It has been presumed by the editor, that a continuance to the close of the late war would be received with pleasure by the public. For this purpose, the talents of the Rev. Doctor Samuel Stanhope Smith, principally, and of some other literary gentlemen, have been engaged.

The result is respectfully submitted to the patrons of the work, and the friends to the family of the venerable historian. Philadelphia, November 1st, 1816. NOTICE, Respecting the second Edition. In less than six months from the day of publication of the first edition of this work, comprizing fifteen hundred copies, nearly the whole were disposed of. A new one was demanded, which is here submitted to the public. The haste with which the first edition was put to press, and various other circumstances, not necessary to be detailed, conspired to render the continuation less perfect than was expected. To remove the imperfection, and to render it more worthy of public patronage, the whole of that portion of it which embraces the history of the late war, has been carefully revised and corrected, and, it is hoped, will be found very considerably improved. The same lenity and indulgence experienced by the former, is respectfully requested for the present edition. VI

PREFACE.

. P. S. Nos. IV and V, ofthe former Appendix, are placed in the body of the work, and form the present Chapters XVIII, and XXVI. Philadelphia, May 1st, 1818. Page 9 29 278 320 CONTENTS. Biographical Sketch ofthe life ofthe Author, CHAP. I. Civil History of the North American English Colonies. State ofthe Aborigines and country, when first discovered. Ofthe English Settlements; their progress ; and the political condition of the people, CHAP. II. A brief view ofthe military history ofthe North American English colonies, anterior to their revolution ; of Indian wars; the massacre at James Town; war with Philip; with the Tuscaroras ; the Yamassees ; of the -wars between the French and English colonies, between 1692 and 1697, 1702 and 1713, 1744 and 1748; of the claims of France and England to the Ohio lands ; of the war between these two nations, for American territory, from 1757 to 1763; the reduction of Louisburg, Ticonderoga, Crown Point, Oswego, Fort Frontinac, Fort Duquesne, Quebec, and Canada.

General reflections on the conquest of Canada ; Indian wars, purely so, and excited by European nations, hostile to each other, CHAP. III. The consequences of the war, which ended in the expirfsion of the French, from the North American continent, by British conquests. The peace of Paris. The origin of the disputes between Great Britain and her colonies, from 1763, till 1773, CONTENTS. 376 388 424 44 448 452 CHAP. IV. Proceedings of the British Parliament, in consequence of the destruction of the tea, by the Bostonians. Boston port act, 8sc. CHAP. V. Proceedings of tlt£ colonies, in 1774, in consequence of the Boston port act, CHAP. VI. Transactions in Great Britain, in consequence of the proceedings of congress, in 1774,

Appendix

No. I. Extract from the Instructions to Thomas Foster, their representative, by the Freeholders and inhabitants of the town of Plymouth, in opposition to the Stamp Act, in October, 1765,

APPENDIX.

No. II The proceedings of Congress, respecting Lord Norths proposition, ofthe 20th of February, 1775, designed, indirectly, to coerce an American revenue,

APPENDIX.

No. III. Some special transactions of Dr. Franklin, in London, on behalf of America, BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIR OF DAVID RAMSAY, M. D. [FROM THE ANALECTIC MAGAZINE.] David Ramsay was born in Lancaster county, Pennsyl vania, on the 2d day of April, 1 749. He was the youngest child of James Ramsay, a respectable farmer, who had emigrated from Ireland at an early age, and by the cultivation of his farm, with his own hands, provided the means of sub sistence and education for a numerous family. He was a man of intelligence and piety, and early sowed the seeds of knowledge and religion in the minds of his children. He lived to reap the fruit of his labours, a id to see his offspring grow up around him, ornaments of society, and props of his declining years. The early impressions which the care of this excellent parent made on the mind of Dr. Ramsay, were never erased, either by the progress of time, the bustle of business, or the cares of the world.

He constantly enter tained and expressed the highest veneration for the sacred volume ; and, in his last will, written by his own hand, five months before his death, when comw.kting his soul to his maker,hetakesoccasiontocallthebible, "the best of books." It was connected with all hie tenderest recollections ; it had been the companion of his childhood, and, through his whole life, his guide, and friend, and comforter. He always cher ished the fondest attachment for the place of his nativity, and dwelt with peculiar pleasure on the little incidents of his childhood. Dr. Ramsay had the misfortune to lose an amiable and excellent mother very early in life ; but that loss was, in some measure, repairedby his father, who took uncommon pains to give him the best education that could be then obtained in this country.

It is somewhat extraordinary, that a man in such circumstances as his father then was, should so far depart from the ordinary practice of persons in his Ramsay, vol. i. condition of life, as to give to each of his three sons a liberal education, instead of employing them in the usual offices of husbandry. But this worthy and pious parent reflected, with lord Bacon, that knowledge is power, and that in giving his children wisdom, he gave them an invaluable patrimony ; he accordingly put each of his sons successively, first to an English school, then to a classical seminary, and from thence removed them to Princeton College, where they all received the honours of that institution. William, his eldest, became a respectable minister of the gospel ; Nathaniel, who still lives, and is settled in Baltimore, was bred a lawyer ; and David directed his attention to the study of physic.

We have, from the very best sources, been able to col lect some singular circumstances relative to the early life of Dr. Ramsay. He was, from his infancy, remarkable for his attachment to books, and for the rapid progress he made in acquiring knowledge. At six years of age, he read the bible with facility, and, it is said, was peculiarly delighted with the historical parts of it. When placed at a grammar school, his progress was very remarkable. It was no uncommon thing, says a gentleman who knew him intimately at that time, to see students who had almost arrived at manhood, taking the child upon their knees, in order to obtain his assistance in the construction and explanation of difficult passages in their lessons. Before Dr. Ramsay was twelve years of age, he had read, more than once, all the classics usually studied at grammar schools, and was, in every respect, qualified for admission into college ; but being thought too young for col legiate studies, he accepted the place of assistant tutor in a reputable academy in Carlisle, and, notwithstanding his ten der years, acquitted himself to the admiration of every one.

He continued upwards of a year in this situation, and then went to Princeton. On his examination, he was found quali fied for admission into the junior class ; but, in consequence of his extreme youth, the faculty advised him to enter as a sophomore, which he did ; and having passed through college. with high reputation, he took the degree of Bachelor of Arts, in the year l765,beingthen only sixteen years of age. What an interesting picture is presented by the youth of Dr. Ram say ! That a child but twelve years of age should have made such progress in learning, and, what is more remarkable, that he should have been a teacher at a public school, appears almost incredible. With what peculiar emotions must every one have beheld this little prodigy seated on the knee, not to be amused with a toy, but to instruct full-grown men • Having completed the usual college course at sixteen, he was enabled to devote some time to the general cultivation of his mind, before he commenced the study of physic : and he spent nearly two years in Maryland, as a private tutor in a respectable family, devoting himself to books, and enrich ing his mind with stores of useful knowledge.

He then commenced the study of physic, under the direction of Dr. Bond, in Philadelphia, where he regularly attend ed the lectures delivered at the College of Pennsylvania, the parent of that celebrated medical school which has since be come so distinguished. Dr. Rush was then professor of chemistry in that college : and this led to a friendship be tween Dr. Rush, the able and accomplished master, and Ramsay, the ready, ingenious, and attentive student, that was fondly cherished by both, and continued to strengthen and increase to the latest moment of their lives. For Dr. Rush young Ramsay felt a filial affection ; he regarded him as a benefactor, while he entertained the highest veneration for his talents. He never had any hesitation in declaring himself an advocate of the principles introduced by Dr. Rush, in the theory and practice of medicine ; and in his eulogium on Dr. Rush, a last public tribute of respect to the memory of his lamented friend, he declares, that " his own experience had been uniformly in their favour, ever since they were first promulgated ;" and adds a declaration, that, in his " opinion, Dr. Rush had done more to improve the theory and practice of medicine than any one physician, either living or dead."

It appears from a letter written by Dr. Rush, on the 15th of September, 1773, on the occasion ©f the removal of Dr. Ramsay to Charleston, that he was graduated Bachelor of Physic — a degree at that time uniformly conferred — early in the year 1 772,* and immediately commenced the practice of physic, at the " Head ofthe Bohemia" in Maryland, where he continued to practise with much reputation for about a year, when he removed to Charleston. The letter to which we have just alluded, affords the only information we have been able to collect of Dr. Ramsay, at this early period of his life. Dr. Rush, after stating that he would recommend Dr. Ramsay to fill the opening which then existed in Charleston, thus proceeds : " Dr. Ramsay studied physic regularly with Dr. Bond; attended the hospital, and public lectures of medicine ; and afterwards graduated Bachelor of Physic, with great eclat ; it is saying but little of him to tell you, that he is far superior to any person we ever graduated at our college ; his abilities are not only good, but great ; his talents and knowledge universal; I never saw so much strength of memory and imagination, united to so fine a judgment.

His manners are polished and agreeable — his conversation lively, and his behaviour to all men, always without offence. Joined to all these, he is sound in his principles; strict, navmore, severe in his morals ; and attached, not by education only, but by principle, to the dissenting interest. He will be an acquisition to your society. He writes — talks-— and, what is more, lives well. I can promise more for him, in every thing, than I could for myself." Such was the character of Dr. Ramsay, at the commencement of his career in life. On settling in Charleston, he rapidly rose to eminence in his profession and general respect. His talents, his habits of business, and uncommon industry, eminently qualified him for an active part in public affairs, and induced his fellow citizens to call upon him, on all occasions, when any thing was to be done for the common welfare, In our revolutionary •In Kingston's American Biographical Dictionary, it is very incorrectly stated "that Dr. Ramsay experienced some opposition in obtaining his medical degree ;" and, being advised to study one year longer, he "[then obtained his diploma with universal consent, entirely eclipsing all his fellow-students."

It is believed that no opposition was ever experienced by him, and that he receiveU his degree at his first application with " great eclat." struggle, he was a decided and active friend of his country, and of freedom; and was one of the earliest and most zealous advocates of American independence. His ardent imagina tion led him to anticipate the most delightful results, from the natural progress of the human mind, when it should be freed from the shackles imposed on it by the oppressions, the forms, and the corruptions of monarchy and aristocracy. On the 4th of July, 1778, he was appointed to deliver an oration before the inhabitants of Charleston. The event of the contest was yet doubtful ; some dark and portentous clouds still hung about our political horizon, threatening, in gloomy terror, to blast the hopes ofthe patriot.

The opinions of many were poised between the settled advantages of a mo narchical government, and the untried blessings of a republic. But the mind of David Ramsay was never known to waver; and in this oration, the first ever delivered in the United States on the anniversary of American independence, he boldly declares, that " our present form of government is every way preferable to the royal one we have lately re nounced." In establishing this position, he takes a glow ing view of the natural tendency of republican forms of go vernment, to promote knowledge ; to call into exercise the active energies of the human soul ; to bring forward mo dest merit ; to destroy luxury, and establish simplicity in the manners and habits of the people ; and, finally to pro mote the cause of virtue and religion.

In every period of the war, Dr. Ramsay wrote and spoke boldly, and constantly ; and by his personal exertions in the legislature, and in the field, was very serviceable to the cause of American liberty. The fugitive pieces written by him, from the commencement of that struggle, were not thought by himself of sufficient importance to be preserved ; yet it is well known to his cotemporarics, that on political topics, no man wrote more or better than Dr. Ramsay, in all the public journals of the day.* • A political piece, written by him at this period, entitled " A Sermon on Tea," has been mentioned with great commendation, and excited much at tention at the time. It abounded with the finest strokes of satire. The text For a short period, he was with the army as a surgeon, and he was present with the Charleston Ancient Battalion of Artillery, at the siege of Savannah.

Dr. Ramsay's career as a politician commenced with the war. His ardent mind could not remain inactive, when the liberties of his country, and the happiness of man, were at stake. From the declaration of independence, to the termination of the war, he was a member of the legislature of the state of South Carolina. For two years, he had the honour of being one of the privy council, and, with two others of that body, was among those citizens of Charleston who were banished by the enemy to St. Augustine. While this transaction is justly regarded as disgraceful to the British government, it was glorious for those who cheerfully submitted to exile, and all the horrors of a prison ship, rather than renounce their principles. Many still live, who remember well the 1 7th of August, 1 780. It was on the morning of the Lord's day, While the Christian patriot, on his knees before his Maker, was invoking the aid of heaven for his bleeding country, seeking consolation for himself, and in his petitions even re membering his enemies, that a band of armed men burst in upon him, dragged him from his habitation like a felon, and conveyed him to the prison ship — the tomb for living mem We shall not attempt to paint the scene which ensued, when is taken from the epistle of Paul to the Colossians, 2d chapter, 21st verse : " Touch not, taste not, handle not."

The whole discourse was a happy ap peal to the feelings of a people who associated with the use of tea the idea of every evil. The writer very ludicrously represents lord North holding forth chains and halters in one hand, and in the other a cup of tea, while the genius of America exclaims, with a warning voice, " touch not, taste not, handle not ; for in the day that thou drinkest thereof, thou shalt surely die." Dr. Ramsay was, in his youth, much distinguished for wit and humour. Ilis cotemporaries at the College of Philadelphia well remember that an oration, which he there delivered in public, on the comparative state of the an cient and modern practice of physic, was replete with humorous observations on the former, much pungent satire on quackery, and several touch es ofthe purest attic wit.

We mention this, because, in the latter periods of his Use, it was only from some occasional remark, in his moments of re laxation, that we could discover this original trait in Kamsay s charactey. these political martyrs were to bid adieu to their relatives and friends, perhaps to meet them no more. A number ofthe most respectable citizens of Charleston, prisoners on parole, and entitled to protection by all the rules held sacred in civilized warfare, were seized at the same time, and consigned to exile. The sole reason alleged by the enemy for this outrage, was, " that lord Cornwallis had been highly incensed at the perfidious revolt of many of the inhabitants, and had been informed that several of the citizens of Charleston had promoted and fomented this spirit." In consequence of an exchange of prisoners, Dr. Ramsay was sent back to the United States, after an absence of eleven months.

He immediately took his seat, as a member ofthe state legislature, then convened at Jacksonborough. It was at this assembly that the various acts, confiscating the estates of the adherents to Great Britain, were passed. Dr. Ramsay being conciliatory in his disposition, tolerant and humane in his principles, and the friend of peace, although he well knew that the conduct of some of those who fell under the operation of these laws, merited all the severity that could be used to ward them ; yet he remembered, also, that many others were acting from the honest dictates of conscience. He could not, therefore, approve of the confiscation acts, and he op posed them in every shape. While in this, we know that he differed from some of the best patriots of the day, yet we cannot but admire that magnanimous spirit, which could thus forget all its recent wrongs, and refuse to be revenged.

Dr. Ramsay continued to possess the undiminished confi dence of his fellow-citizens, and was, in February, 1782, elected a member of the continental congress. In this body he was always conspicuous, and particularly exerted himself, in procuring relief for the southern states, then overrun by the enemy. On the peace, he returned to Charleston, and recommenced the practice of his profession ; but he was not permitted long to remain in private life ; and, in 1785, was again elected a member of congress from Charleston district. The celebrated John Hancock had been chosen president of that body : but being unable to attend from indisposition, Dr. Ramsay was elected president pro tempore, and continued, for a whole year, to discharge the important duties of that station, with much ability, industry, and impartiality.

In 1786, he again returned to Charleston, and re-entered the walks of private life. In the state legislature, and in the continental congress, Dr. Ramsay was useful and influential ; and, indeed, the success of every measure to which he was known to be opposed, was considered doubtful. He was a remarkably fluent, rapid, and ready speaker ; and though his manner was ungraceful, though he neglected all ornament, and never addressed himself to the imagination or the passions of his audience, yet his style was so simple and pure, his reasoning so cogent, his remarks so striking and original, and his conclusions resulted so clearly from his premises, that he seldom failed to convince. He was so ready to impart to others his extensive know ledge on all subjects, that whenever consultation became ne cessary, his opinion and advice were looked for as a matter of course, and it was always given with great brevity and per spicuity.

Thus he became the most active member of every association, public or private, to which he was attached. In general politics, he was thoroughly and truly a republican. Through the course of a long life, his principles suffered no change — he died in those of his youth. With mere party politics he had little to do. He bore enmity to no man, because he differed from him in opinion. Always disposed to believe his opponents to be the friends of their country, he endeavoured, by his language and example, to allay party feeling, and to teach all his fellow-citizens to regard themselves as members of the same great family. . Through the whole course of his life, he was assiduous in the practice of his profession. Of his merits as a physician, the writer of this memoir is unqualified to judge. He knows that he was punctual and attentive at the chambers of the sick, and that his behaviour there was kind and encouraging.

It was not his habit to despair of his patients, nor to permit them to despair of themselves. Whenever his services were required, he never hesitated to render them promptly, at every sacrifice of personal convenience and safety. In his medical principles, he was a rigid disciple of Rush, and his practice was remarkably bold. Instead of endeavouring to overcome diseases by repeated efforts, it was his aim to subdue them at once, by a single vigorous remedy. This mode of practice is probably well adapted to southern lati tudes, where disease is so sudden in its approach, and so rapid in its effects. In the treatment of the yellow fever, Dr. Ramsay is said to have been uncommonly successful : and it is well known that he effected several remarkable cures, in cases of wounds received from poisonous animals.

Those who knew him best, and had the experience of his services in their families for forty-two years, entertained the most exalted opinion of his professional merits. His widely-extended reputation naturally induced many strangers who visited Charleston, in search of health, to place themselves under his care ; and they always found in him the hospitable friend, as well as the attentive physician. We proceed to consider Dr. Ramsay as an author. It is in this character he is best known and most distinguished. His reputation was not only well established in every part of the United States, but had extended to Europe. Few men in America have written more, and perhaps no one has written better. The citizens of the United States have long regarded him as the father of history in the New World : and he has always been ranked among those on whom America must depend for her literary character.

He was admirably calculated by nature, education, and habit, to be come the historian of his country. He possessed a memory so tenacious, that an impression once made on it could never be erased. The minutest circumstances of his early youth, facts and dates relative to every incident of his own life, and all public events, were indelibly engraven on his memory. He was, in truth, a living chronicle.* * We could adduce several instances of Dr. Ramsay's singular strength of memory. One will suffice. The writer of this article had the honor of an intimate acquaintance with him. He well remembers being present, when an intelligent stranger mentioned the name of a clergyman, of whose con- Ramsay. vol. i. His learning and uncommon industry eminently fitted him for the pursuits of an historian. He was above prejudice, and absolute master of passion.

Who else could have dwelt upon the. merits of the revolution, and " told an unvarnished tale ?" We may speak calmly of the times that have long since passed by, and of events in which we have no concern ; but, when we speak of the times in which we live, or of events concerning which we can say with Æneas, " quæque ipse miserrima vidi, Et quorum pars magna fui," it is almost impossible to write or speak without prejudice ; yet such was the noble victory obtained by the American his torian over himself. " I declare," says he, in the introduction to his first work, " that, embracing every opportunity of obtaining gf nuine information, I have sought for truth, and have asse ;tecl nothing but what I believe to be fact. If I should be mistaken, I will, on conviction, willingly re tract it. During the whole course of my writing, I have carefully watched the workings of my mind, lest passion, prejudice, or party feeling, should warp my judgment.