History has been stiled, “The evidence of time—The light of truth—The
school of virtue—The depository of events.” It is culculated for the
purposes of showing the principles on which states and empires have
risen to power, and errors by which they have fallen into decay, or been
totally dissolved: and of pointing out the fatal effects of intestine
divisions and civil wars, whether arising from the ambition, weakness,
or inattention of princes; or from the mercenary disposition pride, and
false policy of ministers and statesmen; or from mistaken ideas, and the
abuse of government and liberty. It should oblige all, who have
performed any distinguished part on the theatre of the world, to appear
before us in their proper character; and to render an account of their
actions at the tribunal of posterity, as models which ought to be
followed, or as examples to be censured and avoided.
The instructions that events afford, are the soul of history, which
doubtless ought to be a true relation of real facts during the period it
respects. An essential requisite in an historian is the knowledge of the
truth; and, as in order to perfection, he ought to be superior to every
temptation to disguise it: Some have said, that “he should have neither
country, nor particular religion.” The compiler of the present history
can assure the public, that he has paid a sacred regard to truth,
conscious of his being answerable to a more awful tribunal than that of
the public; and has labored to divest himself of all undue attachment to
every person, country, religious name or profession: whenever the reader
is inclined to pronounce him partial, let him recollect that he also is
subject to the like human frailty. A regard to truth has often
restrained him from the use of strong and florid expressions, that he
might not impose upon the reader a pleasing delusion, and lead him into
false conceptions of the events undertaken to be related.
The following work is not confined to the contest between Great-Britain
and the United States of America, but includes all the other parts of
the war which originated from that contest.
In the beginning of the first letter, the reader is acquainted with the
reasons that produced an historacal account of the first settlers in the
Thirteen Colonies, and of their successors, down to the close of 1771.
The insertion of what followed to the commencement of hostilities, was
necessary for the connecting of the two periods.
The form of letters, instead of chapters, is not altogether imaginary,
as the author, from his arrival in America in 1770, maintained a
correspondence with gentlemen in London, Rotterdam and Paris, answering
in general to the prefixed dates.
He apprehended, that by keeping to such form, and making the narrative
agree with the moment to which it related, and by introducing the
various insertions necessary for the authenticating of facts, a present
ideal existence of past events might be produced in the mind, similar to
what is felt when a well executed historical painting is examined. The
better to secure this point, several parts are written in the present
tense. If the author has failed in the execution, it is hoped that the
candid reader will admit of the good intention as an apology.
He has kept, as far as he could, to a chronological order. This has
necessarily interrupted the narrative of particular parts; which, though
a disappointment to some, may prevent the tediousness that might
otherwise have been felt by persons of a different taste. It may at
least serve to prevent or correct the too frequent mistakes of ascribing
prior events, partly or wholly to subsequent facts. The author regrets
his not having given every European letter the immediate resemblance of
being written to him by a correspondent. He flatters himself, that he
has in some measure compensated for that and other defects, by the
general contents of every letter in each volume, prefixed to the same;
by a copious index to the whole at the end of the last; and by a set of
maps, about which neither care nor expence has been spared to render
them valuable.
Struck with the importance of the scenes that were opening upon the
world, in the beginning of 1776, he formed an early design of compiling
their history, which he made known to the late commander in chief of the
American army; and meeting with the desired encouragement from him, he
applied himself to the procuring of the best materials, whether oral,
written, or printed. Oral communications were minuted down while fresh
in the memory; the written were directed immediately to himself in many
instances, in others only imparted: the productions of the European
press could not be received with any regularity or certainty during the
war, but were improved as they could be obtained.
The United States, in congress assembled, favored him with an inspection
of such of their records as could with propriety be submitted to the
perusal of a private person; and he was indulged by the late generals
Washington, Gates, Greene, Lincoln, and Otho Williams, with a liberal
examination of their papers, both of a public and more private nature.
He had the opportunity of acquainting himself with the records of the
first settlers in New-England; and examined those of the Massachusetts
Bay, from their formation as a company to the close of the war,
contained in near thirty folio manuscript volumes.
Dr. Ramsay’s History of the War in Carolina, was communicated to him
while in manuscript; and liberty was granted to make full use of it; the
present opportunity is embraced for acknowledging the benefit received
from it, and for returning grateful thanks to the Doctor. The Americans
remarked, that Dodsley’s Annual Register contained the best foreign
printed summary account of affairs: But it was not possible for writers
on this side the Atlantic to avoid mistakes. That Register and other
publications, have been of service to the compiler of the present work,
who has frequently quoted from them, without varying the language,
except for method and conciseness. He gathered from every source of
intelligence in his power, while at the place of his residence near
Boston; and since his return to his native country, in 1786, has
improved the advantage arising from it.
The accounts here given of American affairs, are so different in several
respects from what have been the conceptions of many on each side the
Atlantic, that it was necessary to insert a variety of letters, papers,
and anecdotes, to authenticate the narrative. The publication of these,
it is presumed, will obtain credit for such parts as could not with
propriety be supported by the introduction of similar proofs.
To write a history worthy the approbation of his friends, and (as far as
his power extended) of the present age, and of posterity; and to
convince mankind, that TRUTH _was his care, his search, and what his
soul was engaged in_, have been the great objects of