ation some exertions for the rich legacy of liberty, which was hoped to be transmitted to them. The debt of the state, at that time, on account of loans, was nearly $1,000,000; the interest of which would make a large item of the annual tax.

When the general court adjourned, after the session of October, (1780,) which was not till the following winter, a committee was appointed "to revise the laws in force in the state, to select, abridge, alter, and digest them, so as to be accommodated to the present government." The committee consisted of the justices of the superior court, the attorney general, James Bowdoin, and John Pickering.

In 1781, congress proposed to the several states to raise money by impost, but Massachusetts did not approve of the plan, as it would be an unequal tax; the commerce of the state being greater than that of any other. The next year, however, the general court passed a law for an impost duty, and provided that it be appropriated as congress might direct, to discharge the public debt; or to be expended within the state, but to meet expenses which congress might incur for the common defence. The law was to take effect on condition the other states adopted a similar act, and appropriated the proceeds for the public benefit. Only a few of the other states adopted the plan; and nothing was collected in this way, till 1783; when an excise act was also passed, and a law laying a duty on sales at public auction.

The militia, amounting to twelve hundred, were ordered to Rhode Island in February, 1781, by request of the French admiral on that station, who was apprehensive of an attack by the British from New York. The men were chiefly from the southern part of the state, and were commanded by General Lincoln. The militia in other parts of the state were required to be prepared to march to the same place, on short notice, if called for.

When the general court was adjourned in March, 1781, it gave power to the executive, as had often been done before, to order out the militia if required by General Washington; the board of war having been discontinued. As the regular enlistments were not fully made, there was a call for more of the militia, soon after; and the towns, which did not furnish their respective quota of men, were made liable to a fine. During the spring, clothing and provisions were also furnished by Massachusetts,* and some other states, by request of the commander-in-chief.

*The state furnished two thousand head of cattle, four thousand blankets, and eight thousand pairs of shoes and hose at this time.

It was a more direct and sure way of obtaining supplies than by applying first to congress.

A detachment of the army near New York was sent to Virginia this season, where the enemy were numerous, and were committing great depredations. General Washington called on Massachusetts for six thousand of the militia; and the greater part of that number were engaged for three months. It was reported that he intended to make an attack on New York; but this probably was only to prevent the British sending reinforcements to their army at the south. He soon marched to Virginia with part of the main army, to oppose Cornwallis, then the British commander in that state. The British were besieged at Yorktown, in Virginia; and after some weeks, surrendered to the combined American and French armies. Generals Lafayette, Lincoln, and Knox, were distinguished on the occasion; Colonel Scammel, of Massachusetts, a brave and intelligent officer, and assistant adjutantgeneral in the army, was killed, during the siege, when with an advanced party. Many of the troops engaged in the siege and capture of Cornwallis were from the New England states. The expenses of the year 1781, were as great as for any year of the war, owing to the calls of congress for pecuniary aid, and to the efforts of the general court to sustain the credit of the state, and collect outstanding taxes.

After the capture of the British army, under Cornwallis, there was great hope of peace. The administration in England made propositions for a settlement of the dispute with the United States; but the offer was to negotiate_without reference to France, then the ally of America. Congress would not listen to such terms. The army of the enemy was therefore reinforced in the winter and spring of 1782; and it became necessary to keep up the military force in the states to oppose them. The militia, who enlisted for the year 1781, both for three months and nine months, had finished their term of service. New recruits were required to fill up the regular regiments, after the manner of the preceding year. Massachusetts furnished one thousand five hundred. The requisitions of congress on the states for money continued to be for a large amount. The sum required to be raised was $8,000.000; and of this Massachusetts' proportion was $1,300000. Before the close of the year, congress called for the further sum of $1,650,000. The people heard these repeated and heavy calls with unreasonable complaints. Un

reasonable, because the expenses were necessary to support the war; and there was no just charge of extravagance or improvidence on the part of the rulers. The taxes had been very great for six years, and the towns had been divided into districts, each of which was required to enlist and pay a man to join the army. Some misguided individuals attempted to stop the courts in the western part of the state. But the intelligence and patriotism of the people prevailed against the few who would have interrupted the regular course of law and justice. The least reflection must show that the burdens laid on the people were great beyond all other times; and required uncommon virtue to endure.

When the prospect of peace increased, and congress was consulting as to the instructions to be given to their envoys on the subject, the general court of Massachusetts requested their delegates to that body to have the right and privilege of the cod-fishery secured. The British could hardly be expected to object to the right of fishing on the banks, far distant from land; but they might wish to prohibit to the Americans the claim of fishing near their territory, either at Newfoundland, or the Labrador coasts. The members of congress

from the middle and southern states felt little interest in the subject. The instructions given to the envoys, respecting the fishery, was therefore of a general character; nor was the right to be insisted on as indispensable. It was fortunate for Massachusetts that one of the negotiators for peace was a citizen of the state, who knew the value of the cod-fishery to the people and was faithful in urging the right to it.*

The taxes were as high in 1782, and for several subsequent years, as for the six years preceding. Besides the immense. debt, the annual instalments and interest of which required a large amount, and arrears of old taxes to be collected, congress called repeatedly for pecuniary aid, to discharge pressing demands on the United States, and to make partial payments to the officers and soldiers, when they should be discharged. This year the tax in Massachusetts was £200,000; and as it could not be collected for some time, the state was obliged to borrow, and to pledge the tax for payment. In most cases, the state was obliged to provide for the pay of the troops, and to place it to account of the United States, to be received at a future day.

In 1783, the tax was the same as the preceding year; new loans were obtained, and the law for an impost went into

*This was John Adams.

operation and produced no inconsiderable revenue. An exhibit by congress stated the sum wanted for the year to be $6,000000; 4,000,000, to be borrowed in Europe and $2,000,000 to be furnished by the states; of which $320,000 would be the proportion of Massachusetts. At the same time, congress recommended to the states to raise 1,500,000 annually for twenty-five years; the proportion of which for Massachusetts would be $224,000.

When peace was announced, in the spring of 1783, it was the occasion of great rejoicing among the people; and yet the prospect before them gave much apprehension and anxiety. The country was exhausted by the war of eight years, the debt was so immense as to lead many to say it was impossible to pay it; and the creditors, as well those who had loaned money, as the officers and soldiers who had large demands and were entirely destitute, were impatient for payment. The moment was full of difficulty, and required all the wisdom of the statesman and all the virtue of the patriot.

Soon after the peace, Governor Hancock urged the general court to make immediate provision for paying the officers and soldiers a part of their dues, and reminded them of "the obligations of the country for their meritorious services, which, (he said) should never be forgotten." An additional tax of

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$470,000 was voted for that purpose. These brave men had then returned to their families, after spending some of them three, and some five and even seven years in the public service and in defence of the liberties of the country. gress had nothing to give them but fair promises and certificates of their service and dues. They had often received the paper of the United States, when it was not worth more than twenty, or thirty or even forty for one in specie. Their certificates for wages still due were sold in the market, at one eighth of the nominal amount. Some of them depended on charity to reach their homes, where they found only poverty and want. It required all the influence of General Washington and other patriotic officers to quiet the minds of a great portion of the army, who demanded substantial proofs of public gratitude, and who were led to believe that congress might afford them some immediate relief. A few of the officers advised their companions in the army to remain together after the peace, till they should receive compensation in part, and satisfactory security for the residue. But congress had not the ability to do it. Washington promised to exert his influence in their favor; and then discharged parts of the army at different times, till the whole were disbanded. General

Knox and Colonel Brooks, of Massachusetts, were particularly active in mediating between the army and congress. But with all the efforts made, though a large body of troops were induced to retire in peace to their homes, their own privations and sufferings were very severe, and they realized but a paltry amount for their invaluable services.

At the close of the war, in 1783, the population of Massachusetts was nearly 360,000. The increase for eight years had been only 10,000. In a time of peace, for the same period, it would not have been less than 100,000. Besides those slain in battle, many of the soldiers died with sickness in camp, and many more in the prisons of the enemy. Most of the Americans who were taken, whether on sea or land, were thrown into prison-ships at New York: and many thousands died, by inhuman treatment or gross neglect.*

* In 1783 Mr. Hancock was governor, Samuel Adams president of the senate; E. Gerry, S. Higginson, G. Partridge, S. Gorham, and S. Holten, were members of congress. In 1784, Francis Dana, who had been minister to Russia, was a member of congress; and in 1785, he was appointed a justice of the supreme judicial court.