finding persons who observed his talents with admiration, and who thought fit to employ him.

MENSURATION.

Painting, plastering, &c. :

(1) What will a piece of wainscoting_cost which is 9 ft. 6 in. long and 3 ft. 10 in. high, at 6s. 74d. per square yard?

(2) What would be the cost of painting the walls of a room which is 11 ft. 6 in. long, 10 ft. 9 in. wide, and 10 ft. 6 in. high, ceiling included, at 2s. 8d. per yard?

(3) What would be the cost of polishing the outside and inside of a box 7 ft. 4 in. long, 4 ft. 9 in. wide, and 3 ft. 8 in. deep, at 84d. per yard, lid included?

(4) What is the cost of papering 6 rooms, each 10 ft. 6 in. by 13 ft. 8 in, and 10 ft. high, allowing for a door in each 3 ft. by 6 ft. 6 in., and a fireplace 3 ft. 6 in. by 3 ft. 9 in., at 23d. per yard, and colouring the ceilings at 5d. per yard?

THE SEPARATION OF THE AMERICAN
COLONIES FROM ENGLAND.

GENERAL WASHINGTON-THE BATTLE OF BUNKER'S HILL, 1775.

(From the History of England, from the Peace of Utrecht to the Peace of Versailles, 1713-1783,' by Lord Mahon.)

sa'-li-ent, leaping, standing out with | pro-mul'-gate, to publish, to make known · special significance by public declaration chequ'-er-ed, diversified, variegated stren'-u-ous-ly, vigorously, zealously con-tem-po'-ra-ry (n.), one who lives at pro-trac-tion, the act of drawing out or the same time

re-pu-di-a'-tion, rejection

lengthening
fla-gi'-tious, wicked, atrocious

[In 1764 it was resolved by the House of Commons to add to the revenue in England by imposing certain duties on foreign goods imported into America. It was also resolved to obtain a direct revenue from the colonists by means of a stamp-tax. The Stamp Act was passed in 1765. The Act created great discontent in America, especially at Boston. In consequence of this, and of the opposition of the elder Pitt and others in the House, the Bill was very soon repealed. In 1767, however, a Bill was passed imposing duties on glass, paper, pasteboard, white and red lead, painters' colours, and tea. This Act created such dissatisfaction that in Boston the people determined on rejecting British importations. This resolution soon became general throughout the colonies; and the war began, which resulted in the Declaration of Independence being promulgated by the Americans, July 4th, 1776. The war continued some time longer, but the independence of America was finally recognised, and a treaty of peace signed with that country, Sept. 3, 1783.]

Ir has been justly remarked that of General Washington there are fewer anecdotes to tell than perhaps of any other great man on record. So equally framed were the features of his mind, so harmonious all its proportions, that no one quality rose salient above the rest. There were none of those chequered hues, none

of those warring emotions, in which biography delights. There was no contrast of lights and shades, no flickering of the flame; it was a mild light that seldom dazzled, but that ever cheered and warmed. His contemporaries or his close observers, as Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Gallatin, assert that he had naturally strong passions, but had attained complete mastery over them. In self-control indeed he has never been surpassed. If sometimes, on rare occasions and on strong provocation, there was wrung from him a burst of anger, it was almost instantly quelled by the dominion of his will. He decided surely, though he deliberated slowly; nor could any urgency or peril move him from his composure, his calm clear-headed good sense. Integrity and truth were also ever present in his mind. Not a single instance, as I believe, can be found in his whole career, when he was impelled by any but an upright motive, or endeavoured to attain an object by any but worthy means. Such are some of the high qualities which have justly earned for General Washington the admiration even of the country he opposed, and not merely the admiration but the gratitude and affection of his own. Such was the pure and upright spirit to which, when its toils were over and its earthly course had been run, was offered the unanimous homage of the assembled congress, all clad in deep mourning for their common loss, as to the man first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his fellowcitizens.' At this day, in the United States, the reverence for his character is, as it should be, deep and universal, and not confined, as with nearly all our English statesmen, to one party, one province, or one creed. Such reverence for Washington is felt even by those who wander farthest from the paths in which he trod. A president when recommending measures of aggression and invasion, can still refer to him whose rule was ever to arm only in self-defence, as to 'the greatest and best of men!' States which exult in their bankruptcy as a proof of their superior shrewdness, and have devised Repudiation' as a newer and more graceful term for it yet look up to their great general -the very soul of good faith and honour-with their reverence unimpaired! Politicians who rejoice in seeing the black man the property and chattel of the white, and desire to rank that state of things amongst their noblest Institutions,' are yet willing to forgive or to forget how Washington prayed to God that a spirit to set free the slave might speedily diffuse itself amidst his countrymen! Thus may it be said of this most virtuous man what in days of old was said of Virtue herself, that even those who depart most wildly from her precepts still keep holy and bow down to her name.

It is worthy of note that the officers appointed by the congress to act under Washington with the rank of brigadier or

major-general were not all Americans by birth. Horatio Gates was an Englishman, and the godson of Horace Walpole, having reached the rank of major in the British service. Charles Lee was another Englishman, a correspondent of Burke and Claremont, and holding a royal commission as colonel, which he now resigned. Montgomery, who had likewise served in our ranks, was a native of the north of Ireland.

Throughout the twelve colonies, with only slight exceptions, the decisions of the congress, both as to measures and appointment, were readily adopted and obeyed. In nearly all it may be said that the established royal government fell without a blow. The governors took to flight or sought refuge on board a king's ship, while their partisans found themselves far outnumbered and overmatched, and their place was supplied by committees of safety or by the popular chiefs of each assembly.

The appointment of Washington as general-in-chief took place on June 15. Six days afterwards his Excellency (for thus was he addressed on service) set out to assume the command of the army engaged in the blockade of Boston. But during that interval events of no common importance had there occurred. At the close of May and beginning of June the expected reinforcements from England had arrived. They were headed by General Burgoyne, General William Howe, the brother of Lord Howe, and General Henry Clinton, officers who, as will be seen hereafter, bore a principal part in the subsequent transactions of the war. By this accession the whole force under General Gage as commander-in-chief was raised to nearly ten thousand men. With these troops-which were courageous and well-disciplined, and which should have been well commanded-an attack might have been made with every prospect of complete success against the bodies of American militia, superior in mere numbers, but extended along a line of ten miles, not being as yet inured to arms, and not having among them any general in whom they felt entire confidence. Either conciliation or else conquest should have been strenuously pursued. But it was the bane of England, not merely on this occasion, but throughout the whole early part of this war, to have for chiefs men brave indeed and honourable, skilled in the details of the service, and zealous for Old England and King George, but in genius fitted only for a second place, not gifted by Nature with that energy and firmness essential for a chief command. Take, for instance, the career of Burgoyne. He was an illegitimate son of Lord Bingley, and had raised his fortune by a runaway match with a daughter of the Earl of Derby. In Portugal he had served with much distinction; at Preston he had been a candidate, at the expense, it was said, of no less than ten thousand pounds. In war his bravery was never ques

tioned, and in civil life he was gifted with many high accomplishments; a fluent speaker in Parliament, and an agreeable writer of plays. His comedy, 'The Heiress,' is still acted with applause But judging by the event at least, we might be tempted to apply to him those humorous words, which another playwright-no less a one than Lope de Vega-describes himself during his own days of soldiery, as a man who in his youth had done nothing, and who since his youth had done less. Of the other chiefs some might be superior to Burgoyne, but all were far from equal to Clive; and in an evil hour for the military fame of England, though happily perhaps as sparing the protraction of an inevitable issue, Lord Clive had fallen by his own hand only six months before. There was wanting in the Cabinet that energy which enables a Prime Minister to discard the rules of seniority in the selection of a general. There was wanting, in short, a master-mind, like Chatham's, to discover and call forth a master-mind like Wolfe's.

On the arrival of his reinforcements General Gage issued a proclamation declaring martial law to be in force, but offering a free pardon to all who would lay down their arms, excepting John Hancock and Samuel Adams, whose offences were described as too flagitious to be thus forgiven. No result of any kind attended the publication of this manifesto, except perhaps an increase of enterprise on the part of the Americans. Opposite to Boston stands the small town, or rather, perhaps, the suburb, of Charlestown, severed from the capital by one arm of the sea, which for breadth has been compared to the Thames at London Bridge. Charlestown, like Boston itself, is built at the extremity of a peninsula, which is joined to the continent by a neck or narrow strip of land. Within this peninsula of Charlestown, the ground rises in two uneven ridges; the one nearest to Boston called Breed's Hill; the other, more remote, Bunker's Hill. Important as this position appeared to the security of Boston, it had hitherto been neglected by General Gage. The Americans, more alert, now resolved to occupy it. On the evening of June 16, they sent a body of their militia along Charlestown Neck, with directions to intrench themselves on Bunker's Hill. The troops marched accordingly, but by some mistake as to their orders they, instead of Bunker's, took possession of Breed's Hill. Working all night, they threw up a square redoubt on the summit of the ground; working so secretly, however, as not to give the least alarm to several ships of war that were anchored at no great distance from them. When on the morning of the 17th, the break of day discovered their position, a heavy cannonade was opened upon them from the 'Lively 'sloop, and from Copp's Hill in Boston; but this

the Americans sustained very calmly, and in spite of it completed their intrenchments.

As the position of Breed's Hill overlooked the town of Boston, General Gage thought it necessary to drive the Americans from it. With this view he sent over in boats a division of his army, commanded by General Howe. The troops landed towards noon, but perceiving the Americans wait for them with firmness, General Howe applied for a reinforcement, which was dispatched accordingly, and which raised his whole numbers to above two thousand men. During this interval the Americans also received from their main army a large accession of force, led on by Dr. Joseph Warren, the physician of Boston, who had lately become the president of the Massachusetts Congress, and been raised (by his own authority in fact) to the rank of major-general. Then all preparations being completed, the British troops slowly advanced up the hill, formed in two lines, and under cover of a heavy fire of cannon and howitzers. Their right was headed by General Howe; their left by Brigadier-General Pigot. As the left marched forward it was greatly galled in flank by musketry from Charlestown, a body of American riflemen having been posted in the houses; upon which, by Howe's order, the town was set on fire and destroyed; an act afterwards urged against the English, though surely without good reason, as a wanton and barbarous outrage. Over these painful scenes of civil strife and desolation was poured the unclouded effulgence of a mid-day and midsummer sun. General Burgoyne, who was gazing upon them from one of the batteries at Boston, has described them in a private letter with no slight dramatic force. 'And now,' says

he, ensued one of the greatest scenes of war that can be conceived. If we look to the height, Howe's corps ascending the hill in the face of intrenchments and in a very disadvantageous ground, was much engaged; to the left the enemy pouring in fresh troops by thousands over the land, and in the arm of the sea our ships and floating batteries cannonading them; straight before us a large and noble town in one great blaze; and the church-steeples, being timber, were great pyramids of fire above the rest-behind us the church-steeples and heights of our own camp, covered with spectators of the rest of our army which was engaged; the hills round the country also covered with spectators, the enemy all in anxious suspense, the roar of cannon, mortars, and musketry; the crash of churches, ships upon the stocks, and whole streets falling together to fill the the storm of the redoubts with the objects above described to fill the eye; and the reflection that perhaps a defeat was a final loss to the British empire in America to fill the mind; made the whole a picture and a complication of horror and im

ear;