Memoir of the life and times of General John Lamb, an officer of the revolution, who commanded the post at West Point at the time of Arnold's defection, and his correspondence with Washington, Clinton, Patrick Henry, and other distinguished men of his time

Front matter

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MEMOIR

Chapter I

Introduction. Sons of Liberty. Moral Influence of their exertions on the Revolution. Effect on subsequent Revolutions in Europe. Birth and Parentage of John Lamb Early Occupation. Characteristics. Opposed to ministerial Aggressions. A Leader of the Sons ok Liberty. The Stamp Act. Early* Action of the South and East. Opposition of the Continental Colonies. Of Jamaica. St. Christopher. Stamp Distributors. Burnt in Effigy at Boston. Rebuked at New Haven. New York aroused. Lieut. Gov Colden makes preparation for enforcing the Act. Repairs the Forts. Colden burnt in Effigy. Destruction of Private Property not intended. Gen. Gage's forbearance. Colden delivers the Stamps to the Corporation. Page 5 to 16

Chapter II

Consequences of the Outbreak of 1st November. Committee to enforce Recommendations of Congress. Action of Philadelphia. Quickened by the Committee. Arrival of Gov. Moore. His conciliatory Policy. Co'untermands Military Preparations. Satisfaction of the People. Minerva searched for Connecticut Stamps. Threatening Letter to the Assembly. Stamps for Connecticut burnt. Reproof of Lieut. Hallam, of the Garland. Repeal of the Act. Rejoicings. Raising of the First Liberty Pole. Statue of the King. Of Pitt. Mutiny Act. The King requires Compliance. Partial assent of the Legislature. Damages done by the Rioters to be paid. Assembly evade. Liberty Pole destroyed by Soldiers. First Battle with the Citizens. Second Pole destroyed. Military Violence. The King demands perfect Compliance with Mutiny Act. Decision of the Assembly. Third Liberty Pole destroyed. Reerected. Unsuccessful attempt to destroy it with Gunpowder. Violence of the Military. Attack on Bardin's House.

Chapter III

Preparations to enforce the Mutiny Act. Assembly yield a farther Supply. Provide for a part of the Damages of Nov. '65. Deprived of their Privileges by the King Commissioners of Customs appointed.

i

IV. CONTENTS.

Tariff of Duties on Tea, S^c. New Assembly. Address Parliament for Restoration. Dissatisfaction with the Imposts. Non-importation League revived. Massachusetts Circular. The King forbids the Reading The House remonstrates. Massachusetts refuses Compliance with the Mutiny Act. Boston invested. Governor demands farther Supplies Non-importation League rigidly enforced. Rumors of the Repeal of the Duties. Governor Moore dies. Celebration of the first Nov. 1769. Gov. Colden not noticed. 38 to 48

Chapter IV

New Assembly meet. Governor Colden gives Hopes of the Repeal of the Duties. Demands further Supplies. Recommends issue of Bills of Credit. House pass the Bill. Full compliance with the Mutiny Act. Alarm of the People. Great Meeting in the Fields. Assembly denounces as Libels the Papers calling the Meeting. Lamb ordered to the Bar of the House. Examined and dismissed. Insolence of the Military. Interfere to prevent the Enforcement of the Non-importation League. Liberty Pole assailed. Montangnie's House forced. Fourth Liberty Pole destroyed Meeting of the Citizens. Riotous proceedings of the Soldiery. Battle of Golden Hill, and before the New Jail. Corporation reject Petition for Permission to reerect the Pole. A piece of Ground purchased. Fifth Liberty Pole erected. 49 to 59

Chapter V

Parker examined. McDougall arrested. Confinement. Case assimilated to Wilkes's. House purchased by Sons of Liberty. Hampden Hall. I;epeal Celebration. Citizens salute McDougall in Jail. Soldiers atterpt Liberty Pole. Assault Hampden Hall. Repulsed. Dispersed. McDougall gives Bail. Is released. Non-importation League declines. Repeal of the Duties except on Tea. Efforts of Sons of Liberty to sustain the League. General Committee recommend Abrogation. Denounced at Faneuil Hall. Hampden Hall Protest. Importation of^every thing except Tea. Lord Dunmore Governor. Mc- Dougall arrested on Speaker's Warrant. Committed for Contempt. Habeas Corpus. House demur. Outrage of the Soldiers Tryon succeeds Lord Dunmore. Pitt's Statue mutilated. Efforts to induce importation of Tea. Kelly burnt in Effigy. 1770 to 1773. 60 to 77

Chapter VI

Vigilance of the Sons of Liberty. Boston Tea Ships arrive. That for New York expected. Tryon resolves to force the Landing. Determination to exclude it. Meeting of the Citizens. Committee of Fifteen. Tea Destroyed at Boston. New York Tea Ship blown off the Coast. Arrives and taken Possession of by the Committee. Ship London

CONTENTS. .V

arrives. Searched, Tea found and Destroyed. Committee send back the Tea Ship without unloading. Stringent Measures agninst Boston. Committee of Fifty-One against reviving Non-importation League. Overruled General Congress. Boards and Straw for the Barracks at Boston stopped. Sons of Liberty propose to arm and equip themselves. Provincial Congress. Rum seized and sent to Concord, Custom House closed General Armament of the Whigs, 78 to 103

Chapter VII

War begun Governor temporizes. British Troops expected. Congress recommends no Opposition to the Landing. Provision of waHike Stores. Magazine at Turtle Bay seized. Lamb applies for a Commission—is appointed to the Artillery. Cannon ordered for the Forts in the Highlands. Provincial Congress orders Cannon removed from the Battery. Removed. Asiafiresupon the Town. Lamb's Company filled up. Ordered to the North Proceedings of Schuyler's Army Schuyler compelled to resign the Command. Lamb arrives in Montgomery's Camp. Siege of St. Johns. New Batteries opened Efficiency of the Fire. Attempt to relieve Garrison. Carleton repulsed Flag sent into the Fort. Lamb receives the Surrender-takes possession of the Fort. March on Montreal-arrival. Disputes with the General. Lamb proposes to resign. Dissuaded by Montgomery March on Quebec. 1775. 104 to 122

Chapter VIII

March on Quebec. Junction with Arnold. Quebec invested. Breastworks of Ice. Fire on the Town ineffectual. Montgomery's Visit to the Trenches. Aaron Burr. Preparations for storming Delayed. Resolved on. Montgomery killed. McPherson. Cheeseman. Campbell orders a Retreat. Lamb wath Arnold's Detachment, leads the Van of the Stormers. First Battery. Gun abandoned'. Battery carried by the Bayonet. Arnold wounded. Morgan. Lamb wounded. Second Barrier carried. News of the Repulse of Montgomery, Sortie of the Garrison. Retreat of the Advance cut off. o'ccupy J House. Cannon brought against it. Surrender of the Detachment. Scottish Commissary. The Hospital. 123 to 134

Chapter IX

Enterprise fails by Irresolution of Campbell. Lamb promoted. Quebec Horologer. Prisoners in the Seminary. Plan Escape. Discovered and Plan abandoned Some of the Privates enlist. Reproved by Lamb and Steele. Maclean's Letter. Treatment of the Prisoners. Blockade continued. Distresses of Invaders. Confidence of the Canadians

VI. CONTENTS.

declines. Detachment from the Town defeated. Arrival of Wooster, Thomas. River opens. Sortie of Carleton. Retreat of the Americans. Affair of the Cedars — of Three Rivers. 135 to 143

Chapter X

Prisoners apply for Release on Parole. Negotiation. Effected by interposition of Foreign Officers. Arrival in Bay of New York. The Great Fire. Lamb reports himself at Head Quarters. To Congress. Promoted. Ordered to raise a Regiment. Oswald, Lieut. -Colonel. Officers from New Haven. Other Parts of Connecticut. Sons of Liberty. Mott. Wiley. Robert Troup. General Knox. Paul Re- Tere. Sears. Major Ebenezer Stevens. 144 to 153

CHAPTER XL

Tryon's first Invasion of Connecticut. Lands at Cedar Point. Burns Danbury. Retreat. Death of Wooster. Arnold at Ridgefield. At Saugatuck River. Battle at Ridgefield and Compo. Lamb at Compo. Attempt to Storm Field Pieces. Wounded. Hospital. Fortitude of Travis, a young Militia Officer. 1777. 154 to 164

Chapter XII

Recruiting. Mott at Albany. Gen. Gates. Meigs's Expedition. Putnam's Design on Long Island. Preparations for Descent. Orders to Peekskill. Gates's Intrigue. Machinations against Schuyler and St, Clair. Rumors in Camp. Putnam's Manners repulsive. Lamb directed to Fort Montgomery. Applies for Active Command. Burgoyne's Advance. Camp Rumors. Arnold. Movements of Sir H. Clinton. Forts Montgomery and Clinton. Storm. Defence. Garrison cut their way through. Geo. Clinton. James Clinton. Lamb. Major Lush a Prisoner. Scottish Volunteer. Mr. Hamilton's Opinion of Defence. Marshall's. Court of Enquiry. 165 to 181

Chapter XIII

Putnam out-manoEUvered. Oswald begs to reinforce the Forts. Retreat to New Windsor. Heth's Battle of Gerraantown. Fort Constitution. Geo. Clinton meditates recovery of the Forts. Putnam an attack on New York. Oswald's Letter. Col. Malcom's. Burgoyne's Surrender. Sir H. Clinton moves up the River. Artillery on both sides attempt to annoy him. Esopus burnt. Holt. C. Colles. Gen. Knox's Letter. Red Bank. Gates sends Reinforcements to main Army. Putnam detains them. Ordered by Hamilton to join Head Quarters at White Marsh. Gen. Knox's Letter. Fort Mifflin. Fortifications. Philadelphia. 182 to 193

CONTENTS. Vll.

Chapter XIV

Gates's Apology for Capitulation. Lamb at Albany. Letter of Doughty. Lee's Dragoons. Artillery ordered to the River. Orders countermanded by Putnam. Major Meigs's Letter. Court of Enquiry respecting Loss of Highland Forts. Artillery again ordered to the River. Lamb to command — to march to Valley Forge. Oswald's Letter. Philadelphia evacuated. Order to march countermanded. Gates commands in Highlands. Vexatious Interference. General Order. Supersedes the Commander of Artillery, Remonstrance of Lamb. Letter to the President of Congress. Commander in Chief. Colonel Malcom. Battle of Monmouth. Letter of Knox. Design on New- York. Artillery to White Plains. Letter to Gov. Trumbull. Dispute of Rank with Col. Harrison. Settled in favor of Lamb.

Chapter XV

Consequences of the Battle of Monmouth. Gates Faction. Meditated Attack on New York. Confidence of Success. Letter of Malcom. Of Secretary of Congress. Of Gen. Lovel. Gates's General Order unauthorized. Oswald resigns. Camp at White Plains breaks up. Distress of the Men. Mott's Letter. Lamb left in command of the Artillery on the River. Design on Canada. Relinquished. Army concentrated in the Highlands. Letter of Du Simitere. " The Statue." Lieut. -Col. Stevens appointed to Lamb's Regiment. Supineness of Congress. Of the People. Letter of Gov. Clinton. Of Sears. 1778, 1779. 205 to 217

Chapter XVI

Appointed Surveyor of Ordnance. Dispute of Rank with Col. Crane. Correspondence with Gen.~ Parsons. Verplanck's, and Stoney Point taken. Probability of an Attack on West Point. Alacrity of the Militia. Ordered to West Point. Stoney Point Stormed. Design on Verplanck's, fails. Relative Rank with Crane decided against him. Tenders his Resignation to Washington. Not accepted. Washington's Letter. Gov. Clinton's Letter. Appeals to Congress. Continues in Command. Camp Rumors. Letter of Col. Carrington. Gen. Parsons prevents Recruits to Artillery. Ordered by Washington to desist. 218 to 23a

Chapter XVII

Derangement of Quarter-Master's Department. Depot at Litchfield. Congress Neglect. Ordered to Springfield. Letter of the Secretary of the Board of War. Report of Surveyor. Distress of the Army. Depreciation of Currency. Exorbitant Prices of Necessaries. New Organization of Artillery. Recommended by Gen, Knox. Referred to

Viii. CONTENTS.

Lamb from Department of War. Lamb against it. Adopted. Demonstrations against the Highlands. Ordered to West Point. Atfair of Springfield. Concentration near West Point. Defect of Transportation. • 231 to 241

Chapter XVIII

Meditated Attack on New York. Opinions of Officers relative to French Armies. Erroneous. Succeeds to the Command of the Post, and Departn,ent. Scant Rations. Knox's Letter. Quarter-Master General resigns. Embarrassments of the Army. New York. Arnold to command the Highands. Mr. Duer's Letter. Moody a Spy. Derangement of the Department. Correspondence with Arnold. Prisoners ordered to Camp. Moody detained. Lamb's Opinion against. Arnold weakens the Garrison. Lamb remonstrates. Correspondence with Arnold. Malcom. Knox. 17S0. 242 to 253

Chapter XIX

Moody's Case submitted to Washington. Ordered to Camp. Army offer Battle. Letter from Col. Varrick. Joshua Smith. Arnold's Visits. Conversation at Arnold's Table. Mrs. Arnold at Head Quarters. Guns ordered to Dobbs's Ferry. Delayed. Vulture in Haverstraw Bay. Requisition for Powder. Reluctantly granted. Purpose for which it was expended. Vulture driven from her Position. Washington arrives at Fishkill. At the Garrison. Arnold receives Jamison's Letter. Escapes. Washington receives News. Disclosed to Lamb. Orders to Verplancks and Stoney Point. Back to West Point. Varrick's Illness. Uneasiness. His Letters. Oswald's. Smith's Trial. Causes of Arnold's Defection. McDougall in command. Superseded by St. Clair. Lamb commands Artillery. . At Fishkill. 254 to 271

Chapter XX

Attack on Fort George. Fort Ann. Brant's Incursion. Repelled. Distress of the Army. Mutiny, Wayne's Division. British tamper with Mutineers. Overtures rejected. Holland and Spain. Design on New York. Conference at Wetherslield. Attempt fails. Dispatches stolen. Moody the Spy. Smith. Arnold. Preparations fur the South. Rev. Mr. Mason's Letter. Order to march Cross the Hudson. The Delaware. Head of Elk. James River. Yorktown invested. Redoubts stormed. French Battery carried. Retaken. Chamade. Capitulation. 1780,1781. 272 to 280

CONTENTS. IX.

CHAPTER XXL

American Artillery. Complimented in General Order. Ordered to the North. Burlington. Letter from Gov. Clinton. Col. Willett. Government of Vermont. Letter to Washington. Reply. Effects of the Capture of York. Negotiations. Inactivity of Congress. Of the States generally. Vigor of New York. Of Connecticut. Fourth of July at Trenton. March from Burlington. Address of the Citizens. Cessation of hostilities at the North. Conflicts on the Sound.

Chapter XXII

Lamb on Furlough. Confined all Winter with the Gout. Not in Camp when the Newburgh Letters were produced. Denounced the Author. Order of the Cincinnati. Opposed by Many. Attacked by Judge Burke. Lamb a Member. City evacuated. Return of the Exiles. Lamb elected to the Assembly. Chairman of the Committee on Commerce. Adverse to the Restoration of the Royalists. Votes against them. Chairman of Committee on Regulation of Trade, and the Militia. Favors the Establishment of a Bank. The Emission of Bills of Credit. The Bill fOr the Disfranchising of the Tories. Appointed Collector of the Customs of New York, and withdraws from the Legislature. Tories favored by Schuyler, and Hamilton, gain Ground. British. French Parties. Death of Anthony Lamb. His Character. La Fayette embarks from New York. French Officers and Citizens insulted. Complaint of the French Consul. Action of the Legislature on motion of Col. Burr. Weakness of the Confederacy. Qualified Grant of the Imposts of Congress. Deemed insuflicient. Convocation at Annapolis. Call of the Convention. Gov. Clinton refuses a special Call of the Legislature, at the Request of Congress. 293 to 303

Chapter XXIII

Influence of the Sons of Liberty declines. McDougall secedes. Dies. Schuyler, and Hamilton in the Ascendant. Sears on a Voyage to China. Dies at Canton. Of the old agitators. Lamb, Hughes, and Willett, of the State Rights Party. Convention assembles in Philadelphia. Debates. Propositions which transcend the Powers of the New York Delegation submitted. Favored by Hamilton. Opposed by Yates, and Lansing. They secede from the Convention. Constitution adopted. General Dissatisfaction. Appeased by the Efforts of Hamilton, Jay, and Madison. Organization of the Opponents of Ratification, without Preliminary Amendments. Lamb Chairman of the Committee of Correspondence. Anti-Adoptionists assume the Name

X. CONTENTS.

of Federal Republicans. Letters of Patrick Henry. Richard Henry Le?. jE-lanus Burke. Rawlins Lowndes. Samuel Chase. Joshua Atherton.' George Clinton. Reorganization of the Non-Adoptionists as Federal Republicans. Propose George Clinton as the Candidate of the Party for Vice President, with Washington. Amendments adopted, and Acquiescence of the State Rights Party. 304 to 329

Chapter XXIV

Party Excitements. Quarrel between Oswald, and Hamilton. Duel prevented. Heats in Albany. Greene Street Battle. Attack on Greenleaf s Office in New York. On Gen. Lamb's House, meditated. Preparations for Defence. Design Abandoned. Washington nominates Lamb for the Collectorship. Senate confirm. French Revolution. Party Heats. Republicans side with the French. The Federalists lean to the other Pary. Aggressions of the British. Contested Election between Jay, and Clinton. Clinton successful. Second Presidential Election. Some Votes cast for Clinton. Arrival of Genet, the French Minister. Great Honors paid him. Cities address him. A French Frigate arrives. Officers feasted. Fleet arrives. French Privateers fitted out in the Delaware. Lieutenants of the Ambuscade decoyed on board the Boston. The Boston sends a Challenge to the Ambuscade. Accepted. Battle. Captain of the Boston killed. Boston escapes. 330 to 341

Chapter XXV

Bets upon the Issue of the Battle French Party elated. Mortification of the English. Genet arrives in the City. Demonstrations of Respect. Arrogance of the Minister. Government neutral. Genet threatens to appeal to Congress from the President's decision Charged with threatening to appeal to the People. Denies the charge Calls upon the Attorney-General of the U. S. to prosecute Jay and King for circulating the Report. Attorney-General refuses. Ultraism of Party on both Sides. Tri-colored Cockade worn by the Republicans. Term Democrat introduced. Democratic Society formed. Governor orders the Ships of War of both Nations below Governor's Island. French Liberty Cap mounted on the Flag-staff at the Tontine. Contested Election between Jay and Yates. Jay successful. Jay's Treaty denounced. Public Meetings. Democrats burn the Treaty. Quarrel between Gen. Hamilton and Comm.odore Nicholson. Compromised. Popularity of Genet declines. Lamb's ill Health Death of his Assistant and Son-in-law. Death of Col. Oswald. Infidelity of Lamb's Clerk. Consequent Difficulties. Attack of the Gout. Death. His Character.

LIFE OF JOHN LAMB.

PREFATORY CHAPTER.

The American Revolution, which has produced such extraordinary results at home and abroad, and which is destined to cause still greater changes in the European world, will elevate the eighteenth century beyond that of any of its predecessors in the annals of history. The success of the great struggle for liberty, which was by the many supposed hopeless, and which present historians deem almost miraculous, was brought about by the courage and perseverance of a few indomitable spirits, whom no labor could weary or danger appal; and it was by their moral courage and intrepidity, that this great Revolution was begun, continued, and ended.

Many of those who figured largely in the history of the times; and some even, who swayed the councils of the nation after the struggle was successfully begun, were content with encouraging the revolt of others, without committing themselves; and kept within the pale of safety, until they could embark, without fear, upon the perilous sea. But there were some who were not only the principal agitators, but actors in the most daring exploits; and who threw themselves into the breach, in the most dangerous conjunctures. Had it not been for these, who took upon themselves the fearful responsibility of directing and participating in overt acts of rebellion, the studied arguments of others, who wished to bring on a crisis, but shrunk from its dangerous concomitants, would have been unavailing.

These were the men who banded themselves together at the first encroachments of the mother country, under the designation of associated Sons of Liberty; and whose boldness and constancy drove the ^ministerial part}- to abandon their open attempts, and to mask their resolved purposes under measures less palpable to the general perception.

The intent of the first association, was to put down the Stamp Act; and when this was effected, the object of the society appeared to be accomplished. But the acts of Parliament, simultaneous with, and subsequent to, the repeal, gave to the more sagacious a cause for alarm, greater than the obnoxious bill which had been rescinded. The Billeting Act, or Mutiny Bill, by establishing a standing army in the Colonies at their own charge, was intended to strengthen the arm of the royal authority, to overawe the Assembly, and to coerce the people to acquiesce in the impositions of the Pcirliament.

History is full of the resistance to the enormous assumptions of the mother country by New England and at the south; but little is said of the attitude of New York in that dangerous crisis. And yet in that Colony, where the power of the sovereign was almost omnipotent, notwithstanding the exertions of the most wealthy inhabitants, whose large estates were held by grants from the crown; and whose subservience to the royal mandates, influenced the Assembly, together with all those who subsisted by the royal bounty; there was found a chosen few who remained constant to the last; and who, when all seemed lost, kept alive the spirit of resistance, until from a feeble and hopeless minority they were enabled to triumph over the power of the colonial government, and prostrate the royal authority forever.

The association of the Sons of Liberty was organized in 1765, soon after the passage of the Stamp Act, and extended throughout the colonies, from Massachusetts to South Caro-

LIFE OF JOHN LAMB.

lina. It appears that New York was the central post from which communications were despatched, to and from the east, and to the south as far as Maryland; which province was the channel of communication to and from its neighbors of Virginia and the Carolinas.

As the post-offices were under the control of the government, and the riders not at all times reliable, the committee of New York (and probably the other provinces adopted the same course), upon extraordinary occasions, despatched intelligence by special messengers; and if need were, a part of their members visited in person the neighboring associations, to ensure the perfect organization of the patriotic league.

The New York Association had a correspondent in London, to whom an account was given of their proceedings, and from whom intelligence was from time to time transmitted, of the proceedings and the supposed designs of the Ministry, which was disseminated among the people by the association at home. A record of the names of the most active of the leaders, would be a desirable document; but as this would be difficult to be obtained, without great labor, and, perhaps, by a single individual impossible; a list of the committees in the different provinces, so far as they can be ascertained from the remaining papers of the committee of New York, might be the means of initiating inquiry in other quarters towards producing the desired effisct.

Those from Maryland will appear from the following extract from " The Proceedings of the Sons of Liberty, March 1, 1766."

The Sons of Liberty of Baltimore county and Anne Arundel county, met at the Court House of the city of Annapolis, the first day of March, 1766.

On motion of a Son of Liberty, to appoint a moderator and secretary, the Rev. Andrew Lendrum was chosen moderator, and William Paca, secretary.

Joseph Nicholson, from Kent county, presented an address from that county, signed Wm. Ringgold, Wm. Stephenson,

Thomas Ringgold, Jr., Joseph McHard, Gideon McCauley, Daniel Fox, Benj. Binning, Wm. Bordley, Jarvis James, William Stukely, Jos. Nicholson, Jr., James Porter, Thomas Ringgold, Jas. Anderson, Thos. Smyth, Wm. Mmray, Jos. Nicholson, Geo. Garnet, S. Boardley, Junr., Peroy Frisby, Hen. Vandike, and John Bolton.

William Paca, Samuel Chase, and Thos. B. Hands, were the Anne Arundel County Committee.

John Hall, Robert Alexander, Corbin Lee, James Heath, John Moale, and William Lux, were the Baltimore County Committee.

Thomas Chase, D. Chamier, Robt. Adair, Patrick Allison, and W. Smith, were the Baltimore Town Committee.

Pennsylvania. — William Bradford and Isaac Howell, the Correspondents at Philadelphia.

JSTew Jersey. — Daniel Hendrickson, Minister; Peter Imlay, Jr., Joseph Holmes, Jr., Peter Covenhoven, Jr., and Elisha Lawrence, Jr., were the Committee of Upper Freehold.

Richard Smith, of Burlington.

Henry Bickers, of New Brunswick.

Connecticut. — Jo. Burrows.

Jona. Sturgis, Fairfield.

John Durkee, Norwich.

Hugh Ledlie, Windham. •

JYew York. — John Lamb, Isaac Sears, William Wiley, Edward Laight, Thomas Robinson, Flores Bancker, Charles Nicoll, Joseph Allicoke, and Gershom Mott.

Jer. Van Rensselaer, Mynd. Roseboom, Rob. Henry, and Thos. Yomig, Albany.

John S. Hobart, Gilbert Potter, Thomas Brush, Cornelius Conklin, and Nathaniel Williams, Huntington, Long Island.

George Townsend, Barack Sneething, Benj. Townsend, George Weeks, Michael Weeks, and Rowland Chambers, Oyster Bay, Long Island.

Note. — The foregoing was published in the Home Journal, January 7, 1848, from which it was copied into Scars''s Pictorial History of the United States.

LIFE OF JOHN LAMB.

Chapter I

Introduction. — Sons of Liberty. — Moral Influence of their exertions on the Revolution. — Efl!ect on subsequent Revolutions in Europe. — Birth and Parentage of John Lamb. — Early Occupation. — Characteristics. — Opposed to ministerial aggressions. — A Leader of the Sons of Libe rty. — The Stamp Act. — Early Action of the South and East. — Opposition of the Continental Colonies. — Of Jamaica. — St. Christopher. — Stamp Distributors. — Burnt in Effigy at Boston — Rebuked at New Haven. — New York aroused. — Lieut. -Gov. Colden makes preparation for enforcing the Act. — Repairs the Forts. — Colden burnt in Effigy. — Destruction of Private Property not intended. — Gen. Gage's forbearance. — Colden delivers the Stamps to the Corporation.

The three last centuries have produced more important events than any which have occurred in the same period of time which has preceded them. Neither the Jewish nor the Roman empire, ever made such rapid strides to power, as that nation founded by the descendants of persecuted exiles, who sought refuge in another hemisphere, from the tyranny and misrule of the mother country.

From the proscriptions begun by Elizabeth, and continued by her successors, the Puritans were forced to seek in the wilderness, the freedom of conscience which was denied them at home. And although resentment of their many wrongs, at first produced in them the same intolerance towards dissenters from their particular creed, as that under which they had suffered; yet as the Colonies increased in population by the influx of emigration, the fanaticism which had grown up among them, yielded to a more generous sentiment, while the trials to which they were subjected preparatory to the great effort of the Parliament to reduce them to vassalage, had produced a more extended intercourse, which assisted to form a national character, peculiarly adapted to sustain them in the Revolution which followed, and in the subsequent establishment of their Constitutional Government.

Resistance to the arbitrary principles adopted by the Stuarts at an early period, drove some of the best citizens of England into exile. And when at the restoration, the descendants of the first Charles (inheriting of the characteristics of their father, nothing but his dissimulation and his obstinacy), commenced their career of proscription; the Pilgrims of the Colonies derived a. precious accession to their physical and moral strength, by the expatriation of thousands with resolution to dare every thing, to preserve the religious and civil principles for which they first drew their swords, and for the defence of which, they were driven into exile.

The transactions of the preceding reigns, and the discussions which grew out of them, had well expounded those principles; and the men who had been actors, or participators in those momentous events, had so inculcated them into the succeeding generations, that it needed but collision to produce the spark of patriotism, which set the whole of the Colonies in flame. It was the peculiar character and constitution of mind of the Colonists, formed by these persecutions of their ancestors, that enabled them successfully to resist the encroachments of the mother country. The remembrance of the wTongs of their fathers, and the glorious resistance which they had made at home, determined them to defend, at all hazards, the precious inheritance to which they had succeeded; and they watched with jealous eye, the first effort of the British Parliament to invade their privileges, and to fetter them in political bondage.

The designs of the ministry were early detected; and as they gradually developed themselves in successive acts of Parliament restricting the trade of the Colonies, the obnoxious encroachments were every where met with boldness, and resisted with energy. The law imposing stamp duties; the crowning act of an infatuated ministiy, directly affected all classes of society, and met with universal resistance; and the measures resorted to, in order to compel its recision, and to reform other abuses; though ruinous to many, and severely onerous to all, were submitted to, and endured with unexampled patriotism and patience.

The unanimity and perseverance of all ranks, were much promoted by the unceasing efforts of the associated Sons of Liberty. The organization of that patriotic band, which pervaded every part of the Colonies, was the germ of the Revolution. By their intrepidity, the spirit of the masses was aroused; and by their persevering industry and zeal, the people were excited to oppose all efforts to enslave them. These bold spirits, formed the nucleus of the future armies of the Revolution. And it is to the moral courage which they displayed, and the indomitable resolution with which they braved all dangers, that the world is indebted for the illustrious example set by the infant Colonies to Europe, and the foundation of a free and powerful Empire.

The influence of these patriotic men, and the successful issue of the struggle began by their boldness, and sustained by their energies, has scattered abroad the seeds of Freedom. These have borne fruit, in encouraging a spirit of inquiry throughout the civilized world; reforming despotic governments; regenerating the fairest portion of the other continent; and given jto France, the best king that has occupied her throne since the days of Charlemagne: and perhaps the best government which the moral constitution of her people enables them to bear.*

If the successful issue of the Revolution has solved the problem of the possible existence of a free, yet powerful government, the meed of applause is due: first, to the devoted individuals, who, despising the dangers and disgraces to which they were exposed, set at naught the penalties and disqualifications of conspiracy and treason — and entered into the contest with a full knowledge of all its hazards, and with a determination to persist to the death to effect their eman-

* The whirlwind of Revolution has swept over Europe since these lines were written, but as yet, the writer sees no cause to change the opinions expressed in them.

o LIFE OF JOHN i^AMii.

cipation: and secondly, to those brave men who bore arras in the subsequent struggle: and to all these, however obscure their names, or imperfect their efforts, the Nation at large owe a deep and lasting gratitude.

The task of perpetuating the fame of many of the great leaders of the Revolution, has fallen into the hands of able historians, who have well performed that duty. To rescue from oblivion, and to do justice to the founders of our liberties, whose personal or moral courage were instrumental in producing great and universal benefits to mankind, is peculiarly the duty of the present age. Now, when the present race, who enjoy the blessings purchased by the blood of their fathers, are fast verging to the grave; it is incumbent on all who have the means of elucidating past transactions, or the power to do justice to the actors in the scenes which have preceded them, to lend their efforts, before they are themselves called to account, lest the deeds of their ancestors be forever forgotten.

Dunlap, in his useful history, has done much to perpetuate the memory of many of that patriotic association, the Sons of Liberty. To the names of Sears, McDougall, Willett and Hamilton, mentioned by him, may be added those of John Lamb, Hugh Hughes, Gershom Mott, William Wiley, and Thomas Robinson; w^ho composed the most efficient and determined committees, from 1765 to the breaking out of the war; and who were in active correspondence with the patriots of the other Colonies, and aided by their labors to keep up the ardor of opposition to the encroachments of the Ministry.