the same with the towns on the east bank of the Connecticut, which had, on their application, been received by Vermont. The Vermont legislature dissolved the connection with the townships in dispute, and retired to the original limits of the state. 1781, AUGUST 25.- Laurens landed at Boston from his mission to France, bringing with him supplies and money. Before Laurens had arrived in Paris, Franklin had obtained a loan of four millions of livres, to pay the bills drawn against him, and also a subsidy of six millions of livres, for supplies, and to pay outstanding and future bills. A further loan of ten millions the French court agreed to guarantee in Holland. 1781, AUGUST. Congress intrusted the department of foreign affairs to Robert R. Livingston, and the war department to General Lincoln. The next month, the management of naval matters was intrusted to the superintendent of finance. 1781, AUGUST.-John Adams was commissioned as American minister at the Hague, Holland. He was refused a reception there. 1781, AUGUST.- Dana, who had been sent as minister to Russia, could not obtain an audience there. 1781, AUGUST 31.-The French fleet under De Grasse, from the West Indies, arrived at the Chesapeake. The fleet from Newport soon joined them. They avoided an engagement with the British fleet sent from New York, and successfully united with the army operating against Cornwallis. 1781, SEPTEMBER 6. A British force under Benedict Arnold ravaged the coast of Connecticut. They burned New London, captured Fort Griswold, and slaughtered the garrison after surrender. 1781, SEPTEMBER 8. An engagement took place at Eutaw Springs, South Carolina, between the Americans under General Greene and the British under Colonel Stuart. Both parties claimed the victory, but the advantages were with the Americans, and both forces retired. 1781, SEPTEMBER 17.- Washington, De Grasse, and Rochambeau in an interview arranged a plan of operations. The besieging army amounted to sixteen thousand men. 1781, SEPTEMBER. The supreme court of Massachusetts decided slavery not to exist in Massachusetts. The judges upon the bench were N. P. Sargent of Haverhill, David Sewall of York, and James Sullivan. The suit was brought for damages for enticing away a slave. In the court of common pleas damages had been recovered, but on appeal to the supreme court, the decision was that there were none, since, by the Bill of Rights, slavery was not recognized. 1781, OCTOBER. - Thomas Barclay was sent as American consul to Paris, France. He was authorized to settle all outstanding accounts, and was sent to take the place which Palfrey had been sent to fill the year before, but who was probably lost with the ship, which was never heard from. 1781, OCTOBER 19.- Lord Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown, Virginia, to the allied French and American forces under Washington. There were about seven thousand troops. The ships and about fifteen hundred sailors were given up to the French. Cornwallis was allowed to send a ship without examination, under cover of sending despatches to Clinton at New York, and in it some of the most obnoxious Tories escaped. The British were made to march out with their colors cased; and Lincoln, who had surrendered at Charleston, was chosen to receive the capitulation. 1781, OCTOBER 31.- Congress called upon the states for eight millions of dollars, to be paid quarterly, beginning on the 1st of April, 1782. 1781, NOVEMBER 5.- Congress reorganized under the articles of confederation. The sessions were to be yearly, commencing in November. The delegates were elected for a year, but were liable at any time to be recalled. They could also serve not more than three years in six, and could hold no salaried Federal office. The assent of nine states was required on important points, and no state could be considered voting unless represented by two delegates. Upon matters of foreign policy Congress could decide, but it had no power to tax. It could make requisitions, but could not enforce them. The Continental Congress had resolutely assumed powers at the commencement of the war, and during the time that its bills of credit passed current readily, had a great power which it used wisely. While the articles of confederation were under discussion, though without any express authority, it continued to exercise this power, trusting to the consent of the states. After three or four years, the Congress of the confederation seldom contained a complete representation from all the states at the same time. The debates were mostly carried on in a conversational manner, there being no reporters or spectators present. The states paid the expenses of their representatives. While South Carolina and Georgia were in the possession of the British, Congress gave their delegates an allowance from the treasury. The president was provided with a house at the public charge, and his household expenses provided for in the same way. 1781. DURING this year the total expenditures from the treasury were less than two millions of dollars. This included the money raised by the sale of bills on France. 1781, NOVEMBER. - Pennsylvania applied to Congress for a "federal court," to settle the disputed jurisdiction to Wyoming. Connecticut, by her charter, claimed this northern half of Pennsylvania. 1781, NOVEMBER 27.-Sir Guy Carleton was appointed to supersede Clinton in the command of the British forces. 1781, DECEMBER 31.-The Bank of North America was incorporated by a resolution of Congress. The corporators were partly the subscribers who had given their personal bonds to the government in 1780. The title of the corporation was The President, Directors, and Company of the Bank of North America, and it was "for ever." Its capital was four hundred thousand dollars, which was afterwards increased to two millions. Subscriptions to its stock were to be paid in gold or silver. Its notes, payable in cash on demand, were to be received by the United States for all taxes, duties, and debts due the United States. It began business January 7, 1782, having received subscriptions of about seventy thousand dollars, with not over forty thousand paid in. Within six months it had advanced the government four hundred and eighty thousand dollars, chiefly in its own notes and in the bills of credit of the states. The charter was to continue ten years. - 1782, FEBRUARY 22. A motion in the House of Commons for an address to the king to put a stop to the war, was lost by one vote. On the 27th, a similar motion was carried. 1782, FEBRUARY. - Vermont having complied with the conditions, claimed admission into the Union. She passed also an act of indemnity and oblivion, and another confirming all existing grants of land in her territory. Congress delayed acting on her claim, and soon after called upon her to make restitution to the New Yorkers whom she had sent away. New York opposed her admission. 1782, MARCH 28.- Lord North resigned. His successor, the Marquis of Rockingham, was in favor of recognizing the independence of the United States. 1782, APRIL 12. The French fleet under Count De Grasse, and the English fleet under Admiral Rodney, met in the West Indies, and had an engagement in which the English had the advantage. The English fleet comprised thirty-seven ships of the line and ten frigates, and the French fleet thirty-three ships. One third of the French fleet was captured or destroyed. 1782, APRIL 19.-Holland acknowledged the independence of the United States, and received John Adams as minister. 1782, MAY 31.- Sir Guy Carleton communicated to Congress his instructions to treat for peace. He had been authorized, with Admiral Digby. Congress declined to negotiate except at Paris and in connection with France. 1782, MAY 22.- Congress sent a committee to the northern states, and another to the southern, to represent the alarmingly |