ingston, Francis Lewis, and Lewis Morris, signed the famous paper. Robert R. Livingston would also have signed it, but was necessarily absent at the time. These men played an important part in the history of the young Republic. William Floyd was a general, a congressman, state senator and presidential elector. Philip Livingston, the grandson of the founder of the manor, was a state senator and a congressman. Robert R. Livingston was the first chancellor of the state. Francis Lewis sacrificed all his wealth for the Revolution. Lewis Morris, the grandson of Chief Justice Lewis Morris, was active in the contest.

CHAPTER XVIII.-THE COLONY BECOMES A STATE

New York Becomes a State. In May, 1776, the Continental Congress advised the colonies to form state governments. To that end New York sent deputies to the fourth Provincial Congress, which met on July 9 in the court-house at White Plains. This body first unanimously adopted the Declaration of Independence, and then called itself "The Convention of the Representatives of the State of New York" (July 10). For eighteen months this body transacted public business for the state at Fishkill, Harlem, Kingston, and Poughkeepsie. During its adjournment a Committee of Safety had charge of affairs.

Battle of Long Island. Meanwhile General Howe was planning to take New York. Late in August he sent 20,000 men to Long Island and in three divisions at

tacked the 8,000 Americans at Brooklyn. General Greene had prepared the defense, but sickness compelled him to yield the command to General Sullivan, who, in turn, gave it up to General Putnam, his superior in rank. The battle was a series of terrible skirmishes in which the Americans were defeated with a loss of nearly 2,000 men in killed and captured (Aug. 27, 1776). Among the prisoners were Generals Sullivan and Stirling.

While General Howe was debating what move to make next, Washington crossed to Brooklyn, held a council of war, and b their advice withdrew his troops to New York City under the cover of a foggy night. Seeing his mistake, Howe decided to capture Washington's army on Manhattan Island. War-ships surrounded the metropolis and an army was landed on the west shore. But Washington wisely withdrew his army northward, leaving the city to the British.

Nathan Hale. After withdrawing his forces from Long Island Washington desired information about the enemy. Captain Nathan Hale volunteered his services. In disguise he went to the British camp, got the desired information, and was returning when he was arrested. Howe ordered him hanged as a spy. He met his death bravely, saying, "I only regret I have but one life to lose for my country" (Sept. 22, 1776). In the City Hall Park of New York, 117 years later, a monument was erected to his memory. On "Evacuation Day," November 25, 1893, it was unveiled in the presence of thousands, and the Rev. Dr. Edward Everett Hale, of Boston, a descendant of the martyr-spy, delivered an address. Truly it may be said that

"Whether on the scaffold high or in the battle's van,

The noblest place for man to die is where he dies for man."

Battles above New York.-Howe's troops followed Washington. At Harlem Heights a spirited but indecisive contest took place (Sept. 16). A more general

engagement occurred at White Plains forty-two days later (Oct. 28), in which the British loss was twice as great as that of the Americans. Washington then crossed to New Jersey, leaving Colonel Magaw in command at Fort Washington. Attacked by superior numbers, Magaw surrendered the fort and over 2,600 men to the enemy. The British were now in complete possession of all southern New York, which they held until the close of the war. New York City became, from this time on, the English headquarters in America and the Mecca of Loyalists.

Contest on Lake Champlain.-To the north General Gates was in command in July, 1776, with headquarters at Ticonderoga. Sir Guy Carleton, governor of Canada, was ready with thirty or forty armed vessels and 700 seamen to take the lake. To meet him a flotilla of three schooners, two sloops, three galleys, and eight gondolas was given to General Arnold. The fleets met October 11, but the contest was unequal. One American vessel was sunk and another was burned. The others escaped in the darkness, but were pursued the next morning and overtaken near Crown Point, where a third ship was captured and the rest were run ashore and burned. Arnold had lost about ninety men in his gallant defense. Carleton returned to Canada, and Ticonderoga was safe.

Treatment of American Prisoners.-The soldiers, sailors, and dangerous "rebels" who were British prisoners were cruelly treated. They were crowded into churches, sugar-houses, Columbia College and other buildings, and confined in the hulks of eight old ships, without beds or blankets and with scanty food.

The patriots called the old dungeon-ships "floating hells." Not less than 12,000 Americans died from these hardships, and their remains were collected in later years and now lie entombed in Brooklyn's Fort Greene Park. The Society of Old Brooklynites sacredly preserves about 8,000 of their names. Americans also used a "fleet prison" up the Hudson for the Tories. Washington wished to exchange prisoners, but Howe preferred to retain his captured "rebels."

The

Proclamation of the Howes.-To reclaim the "rebels " General Howe and his brother, the admiral, issued a proclamation offering pardon to all who would submit to the king's authority. Many who believed that resistance to the well-disciplined British army, the hired Hessians, the battalions of Tories and the bands of savages was useless, accepted the pardon. But the great body of the people could not be swerved from their duty to their country.