GORDON, REV. WILLIAM, was born at Hitchin, Hertfordshire in 1729. At an early age he became an Independent minister a Ipswich, and subsequently in London; but he had adopted republicai views, and, from personal and political discontent, ho emigrated ii 770 to America ; and in 1772 was appointed minister of a church in toxbury, Massachusetts. lie attached himself warmly to the revo utionary cause, and became chaplain to the provincial congress of the colony. After the conclusion of peace he returned to England, where 1788 he published his ' History of the Rise, Progress, and Establish ment of the Independence of the United States of America.' It is oat into the form of a correspondence, in letters from America to !Itirope, aud rice vend. The first letter contains a compendium of the iistory of the thirteen original States, from their establishment to he beginning of the war. The author professes to have applied him
elf from 1776 to the collection of materials; to have had access to the :tate records; and to have been favoured by Generals Washington, Pates, Greene, and others, with a liberal examination of their public aid private papers. It will bo obvious that a history written on the :Ian described is not likely to possess much value, except as a oollec ion of contemporaneous evidence. It is written with a strong Unerican bias. The author however did not return to cud his days imong the people he so much admired. He accepted an invitation to mcome minister of a congregation at St. Neots, Iluntiugdonshire ; but lifferences of opinion soon sprung up, and he resigned his charge. Ho •emoved to Ipswich, where he died October 19, 1807 ; his last years laviogbeen passed in a state of hopeless imbecility.