of calling until I came against his door, and then I says let us call on General Heath; to which he agreed. I had no other motive but to pay my respects to the general. While there, I cast my eye on a book which lay on the table, lettered on the back, Muller's Field Engineer.' I immediately requested the general to lend it to me-he denied me. I repeated my request-he again refused, and told me he never lent his books. I then told him that he must recollect that he was one who at Roxbury in a measure compelled me to undertake a business which, at the time, I con fessed I had never read a word about, and that he must let me have the book. After some more excuses on his part, and close pressing on my part, I obtained the loan of it. I arrived at my quarters about dark. It was the custom for the overseers of the workmen to report every evening what progress had been made during the day. When I arrived there were some of them already there. I put my book in the chest, and if I had time did not think of looking in it that night. "The next morning, as soon as an opportunity offered, I took my book from the chest, and looking over the contents found the word chandeliers.' What is that? thought Iit is something I never heard of before; but no sooner did I turn to the page where it was described, with its use, but I was ready to report a plan for making a lodgment on Dorchester Neck, (infidels may laugh if they please.) In a few minutes after I had for myself determined, Col. Gridley (the engineer who had conducted the work at Cambridge) with Col. Knox of the artillery, who had been directed to consult with me on the subject, arrived. They fell in with my plan―our report was approved of by the general, and preparations immediately set on foot to carry it into effect; and, every thing being ready for the enterprise, the plan was put in execution, and a lodgment made on Dorchester Heights in the night of the fourth of March. Such were the circumstances which led to the discovery of a plan which obliged the enemy to leave Boston, viz. a lodgment made of chandelier* fascines, etc." The better to conceal his purpose, and make it appear that an attack on the line was about to be made, Washington, on Saturday night, the 2d of March, opened a tremendous cannonade, the heavy metal reaching even into the city, and shattering the houses. The British replied, and the two armies thundered on each other all night. The next (Sunday) right Washington again opened his heavy batteries. On Monday night, while the deafening explosions were filling the inhabitants of Boston with terror, he ordered General Thomas with two thousand men to march swiftly across the neck and occupy the heights. Bundles of hay had been laid along on the town side to prevent the rumbling of the three hundred carts that followed from reaching the enemy's qutposts. This immense train of carts, driven rapidly over the neck, carried the pressed hay and fascines, etc., for the chandeliers. It was a bright moonlight night as the soldiers wheeled up the heights, unseen by the sentinels below, and commenced their work. The bundles of hay were tumbled out and picketed together in the frames constructed for them, and when the bright sun gleamed down on the frozen waters it revealed to the astonished enemy two dark structures standing on Dorchester Heights. Howe was amazed at the apparition, and after surveying the works long and anxiously through his glass, exclaimed, “I know not what I shall do." The play of "Boston Blockaded" was evidently drawing to a close. These heights commanded the bay, and also Nook's "A chandelier is constructed of one sill ten feet long and six inches square, with two posts five feet long, of the same size, framed into the sill five feet apart, cach supported by a brace on the outside. They are placed on the ground at a proper distance from each other-the open space between the posts is then filled with bundles of fascines, strongly picketed together." Hill, which overlooked Boston. Something must be done at once. Dorchester Heights had become a second Bunker Hill, and the rebels must be driven from there, or the city abandoned. Washington, not doubting that the enemy would storm his works, had, therefore, planned an assault on the city from the opposite side, when it took place. Two columns of two thousand men each, commanded by Greene and Sullivan, the whole under Putnam, were, at a given signal, to embark in boats near the mouth of Charles river, and pushing rapidly forward effect a landing under the fire of three floating batteries, and fall furiously on the enemy. Howe prepared at once to storm the American works, and commanded Earl Percy with three thousand men to attack them without delay. Washington anticipating this, galloped to the heights and gazed with kindling eye on the preparations for battle going on in the enemy's camp. He did not doubt for a moment of winning a glorious victorythe soldiers were in high spirits, and their courage was roused to a sterner pitch when he rode along their lines and bade them remember that it was the anniversary of the "Boston Massacre." The firm resolve to revenge that bloody act, mingled with the more exalted purpose to strike for liberty. The three thousand men, with Percy at their head, were marched to the shore with orders to rendezvous at Castle William, and when night came on mount to the assault. The hills around were covered with spectators, and thousands of hearts beat anxiously in view of the approaching conflict. But toward night a heavy wind arose, rendering it impossible for the boats to land, and while the troops stood waiting the orders to advance, the night came on dark and stormy. The rain fell in torrents, and they returned drenched and chilled to camp. All next day the storm continued to rage, and a council of war being called, it was resolved to abandon the assault and evacuate the town Washington disappointed in not bringing on an engagement returned to camp, and Howe began to make preparations for his departure. The inhabitants were now filled with alarm lest the latter should destroy the town, and a committee was appointed to wait on him to intercede for the place. Howe very gladly promised to spare Boston if Washington would spare him and the fleet, and though no agreement was entered into, it was understood on both sides that the evacuation was to be effected quietly and without molestation. Washington, however, was determined not to trust to promises, and commenced planting (March 9th) his batteries on Dorchester Neck, so as to command more completely the enemy's shipping. The British discerned the movement, and immediately turned their heavy guns upon the Americans. The latter replied from all their batteries, and all night long it thundered and flamed around Boston, sending terror to the inhabitants, who, thinking it to be the signal for a final battle, expected every moment to see the city in a blaze. But in the morning Howe ordered the katteries to cease playing, and went on with the preparations for embarking the troops. At length, on Sunday the 17th, the army numbering, all told, about 11,000 men, together with 1,000 loyalists who fled, leaving all their property behind them, were taken aboard the transports, whose sails were soon moving down the bay. The American army no sooner saw the enemy in motion, than it paraded at Cambridge, and led by Putnam entered the deserted works of the British. Their loud hurrahs were heard by the retreating enemy, and all was exultation. The next day Washington accompanied by his staff rode into town, and was received with acclamations by the inhabitants. The English fleet did not at first withdraw entirely, but lay for some time in the Nantucket Road, causing Washington much anxiety respecting its intentions. "What |