^p** 1 ~.:\i Km4 v - h ■ jS fc . - ^^3 W/v DUKE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY The Glenn Negley Collection of Utopian Literature PRESENTED BY W. W. FLOWERS NATIONAL | LIBRARY BINDERY IWESTSPRINGMUD CAST CLEVELAND IN01MAP0LIS Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2010 with funding from Duke University Libraries http://www.archive.org/details/memoirsoflifeofl01leec M E M O I K' S OF THE LIFE ^OF THE LATE CHARLES LEE, E SQi LISUTENANT-C0L0NEL OF TBS EOS I Y-I"OCRTII REGIMENT; COLONEL IN THE PORTUGUESE SERVICE; M.\ JOR GENER W AND AIDDL C \ME TO THE KING OF POLAND, AND SECOND IN COMMAKD IN THE SERVICE Or THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA DURING THE REVOLUTION. TO WHICH ARE ADDED, HIS POLITICAL AND MILITARY ESSAYS: ALSO, LETTERS TO AND FROM MANY DISTINGUISHED CHARACTER \ EOTH IN EUROPE AND AMERIC \. THE SECOND AMERICAN EDITION. N E W - r R K: Printed by T. ALLEN, Bookseller and Stationer, N°. iz, Queen-Street. 1 7 9 3- V L4T7) PREFACE. TH E following Memoirs and Letters of the late Major General Lee, have been in the pofTcflion of the Editor ilnce the year 1786. They were tranfmitted from America to Eng- land by the gentleman whofe name is mbferibed to the memoirs, and who was a member of Congrefs for the State of Georgia, for the pur- pofe of publication. In their manufcript Hate they have been feen by feveral perfons- in Enr-» land, who expreffed a ftrong defire of putting them to the preis, which the avocations of the perfon to whom they were entrufted, and his not being acquainted with iuch undertakings, had caufed him to neglect. As the fubjecf of Revolutions is again renew- ed by what has occurred in France, it is pre- fumed, that whatever relates to the Mother- Revolution, that of America will, at leaft, auonl entertainment to the curious, and contribute to encreafe the general flock of hiftorical know- ledge. The reader may expect to find, in almoft eve- ry thing that relates to General Lee, a great deal of the Itrong republican character. His attach- ment to principles of liberty, without regard place, made him the citizen of the world rather than of any country ; and from his carlielr. • youth to. the end of his career, this general trait in his character may be traced. 245024 ( iv- ) So little of the courtier had he about him, that he never descended to intimate any thing. Whatever he fpoke or wrote was in the fullcft ityle of expreffion, or ftrong figure. He ufed to fay of Mr. Paine, the author of Common Senfe, in America, and fince of Rights of Man, in Eng- land, (of whofe writings he was a great admir- er) that " he burji forth upon the world like Jove in thunder ;" and this ftrength of conception, io natural to General Lee, had it not been mix- ed with a turn equally as ftrong for fatire, and too much eccentricity of temper, would have rendered his converiation perpetually entertain- ing. Though the Memoirs and every Letter in this publication are moft faithfully printed from the copy tranfmitted from America, the Editor has omitted many whole letters, and alfo his trial before the Court Martial, as not fufEciently in- terefting to balance the expence to which they would have extended the work. But if any of the particular friends or relations of General Lee fhnuM be delirous of feeing them, thev may be indulged with the opportunity, by leaving a line at the publifhYrs. directed to the EDITOR. LpKJctDV) F'^- 1792. CONTENTS. N T E N T S. Page MEMOIRS of Major .General Lee, - i — 47 Miscellaneous Pieces, - - 48 — 125 Sketch of a Plan for the Formation of a Mili- tary Colony, - . - - 48 An Eflayon the Coup d'Oeily - - 5 $ A Picture of the Countefs of , - v 63 An Account of a Converfation, chiefly relative to tlit 1 Army, - - - 6$ An Epiltlo to David Hume, Efq. - - 73 A Political Eflay, - - - 70 A Breakfaft for R , - - - 84 To the People of America, - - Stf To the Gentlemen of the Provincial Congrefs of Virginia, - IOI. On a famous trial in the Court of Common Pleas, between General Moftyn, Governor of Minorca, and an Inhabitant cf that Iflund, - - 107 A fhort Hiilrry of the Treatment of Major Gene- ral Conway, late in the Service of America, 11 1 Propofals for the Formation of a Body of Light Troops ready to be detached on an emergent Occafion, - - - *- 11 6 Some Queries, Political and Military, humbly offer- ed to the Coniideration of the Public, - 118 Copy of General Lee's Will, - - 1 33 L: 1 1 ers to General Lee from feveral eminent Characters both in Europe and America, j 26 — 1 86 m the Earl of Pembroke, - - 126 William Bunbury, - - j 2 8 f, Thomas Wroughton, - - 120 W. Pater fon, - - . x ^ 2 ——Edmund Burke. . - ». . X j- 245024 From C vi. J Page From Thomas Gamble, - - - 137 1 Horatio Gates, - ibid. * - - - 140 • George Lux, - - . 143 ' An Old Friend, - ibid. ■ Alex. White, - - - .144 — ' — Trevor Newland, - - - 1 ; o B. Franklin, - - - - 154 1 John Adarns, * - - 156 John Hancock, - - - 197 the Same, - - - - 158 ; Horatio Gates, - - - 159 ■ B. Franklin, - - - 160 — — John Hancock, - - - i6i G. Wafhington, - - - 162 Thomas Burk, - - - 164 Geo. Johnfcn, -■ - - 166 1 H. Clinton, - - - - 167 John Page, - - - - 168 An Old Friend, - - - 172 1 G. Wafhington, - - - 173 ■ the Same, «- - - - 1 7 j Refolves of Congrefs, mentioned in the preceeding letter, - - - - 177 From Jofeph Reed, - - - 178 ****, - - ■ - 18© 1 W. Livingfton, - - - 181 An Old Friend, - - 1 84 E. Edwards, - - - 185 Letters from General Lee, - - 186 To the King of Poland - ibid. — the Prince of Poland, - - 190 — Mr. Coleman, - - - 193 — Mrs. M'Cauley, - - - 196 — Louifa C. 200 — Lord Thanet, - - - 2ci ^ ■ — the King of Poland, - - - 203 — Sir C. -Da-vers, 9 204 To ( vii, ) Paoi To his Grace the Duke of , ■ it 6 . — Gen. Burgoyue, '- 208 From J. Burgoyne to Gen. Lee, - - 213 Gen. Lee's Anfwer, - - - 217 To Gen. Burgoyne, - - - 218 — Gen. Gage, - - - 222 — the Same, * - - - 2:4 , - - - - 226 —-John Hancock, - - - 227 U- the Same, - - - 229 J — Edward Rutledge, Efq. - - 231 — the Hon. the Prefident of the Council of Safety, North-Carolina, - 232 — Samuel Purviance, Efq. • - 233. — the Hon. the Pref. of the Committee of Safety, — His Excellency John Hancock, Preiident of the Continental Congrefs, - - 2^£ — John Page, Efq. V. P. of the Committee, 238 1 — Colonel Muhlenburg, - - ibid, — Edmund Pendleton, Pref. of the Committee of Safety, - - - - 239 — His Excellency John Hancock, Efq. - 241 t- Edmund Pendleton, Efq. Prefident of the Con- vention, - - - 247 246 Orders, - 247 — 249 To the Hon. John Hancock, Pref. of the Conti- nental Congrefs, - - 250 I — The Hon. Edmund Pendleton, Pref. of the Convention of Virginia, - - 253 -o — Tlis Excellency Patrick Henry, Jun. Governor of Virginia, - - - 257 " — Richard Peters, Efq. Secretary to the Board of War and Ordnance, - - 260 — His Excellency John Hancock, *■ 4 16$ — the Board of Ordnance, - - 266 — the Governor of Cape Francois, ,~- - 2 70 To ( viii. ) Page To Doctor Rufh, with a character of General Hov — Ti l< v.cy Henry Laurens, — Mis F b, >• — the Same, .... • — Mifjj Sidney Lee, - *~- the Same, ■ P . ■ »■ MEMOIRSI M EM O I R S F K^rteuor ^toicral ..\> >: THE family of the Lees is both ancient and refpec- table, many of them having had connections and intermarriages with the principal families in the Englifh nation ; and, from a pedigree done for Mr. Thomas Lee,* diflributor and collector of the {lamp-duties for the county and city of Chelter, North Wales, we that the General's father was John Lee of Dernhal! in the faid county, who was fome time a Captain of Dragoons, afterwards Lieutenant Colonel of General Barrel's regiment from 17:7 to 1742, at which t'u was promoted to a Regiment of Foot. He married Ifa- btila, ft cond daughter of Sir Henry Bunbury, of Stan- Key, in the county of Chefter, Baronet : by this lady he had three fons, Thomas, Harry and Charles, the youngefl, is the iubjeel of thefe memoirs. Prom his early youth he was ardent in the purfuit of knowledge ; and being an officer at eleven years o£ age, may be confidered as born in the army ; which, though it deprived him of fome regularity with refpedt to the mode of his education, yet his genius led him afliduou ft v to cultivate the fields of fcien.ee, and he ac- quired a competent ikill in the Greek and Latin ; while his fondnefs for travelling gave him alfo an opportunity of attaining the Italian, Spanilh, German, and French languages. B * In 1723. L2 > % Having laid a (rood foundation, taclics became his fa- vourite ftudy, in which he fpent much time and pain^, defiriiig nothing more than to diftinguifh himfelf in the profeilion of arms. We- find him very early in Ame- rica, commanding a Company of Grenadiers of the 44th regiment ; and lie was at the battle of Ticonderoga, were General Abercrombie was defeated. Here, it is laid, he was lhot through the body ; but fortunately his wound did not prove mortal. When he returned to England from America, after the reduction of Montreal, he found a general peace was in contemplation. The ceiTion of Canada was talked of, which gave great uneafinefs to every American, as it ap- peared prejudicial to their intereft and fafety. On this occafion he exerted nimfelf, and publilhed a pamphlet Ihewing the importance of this country, which was much approved of by all the friends to America. The cele- t luted Dr. Franklin, in particular, was pleafed to com- pliment him, and laid " that it could not fail of making a falutary imprefficn." In the year 1762, he bore a Co- lonel's commiffion, and fei-ved under General Burgoyne in Portugal •, and in this fervice he handfomely diitin- guifhed himfelf. The Spaniards had formed a defigu of invading that kingdom, and had ailembled an army on the frontiers of Lftremadura, with an intention of penetrating into the province of Alentejo. Count La Lippe was the coir, manding officer of the Portuguefe army, who formed a defign of attacking an advanced body of the Spaniards, winch lay on their frontiers, in a town called Valentia de Alcantara. This enterprife was committed to Brigadier General Burgoyne, who effected a complete furprize on the town, took the general who was to have commanded in the in- tended inyifion, with a number of other officers, and one of the beft regiments in the Spanifh fervice was en- tirely deflroyed. But notwithstanding this, and fcveral jftibfequent flcirftnfhes, the Spanifh army continued m»i- ot the country, and nothing remained but the paf- faee I ( 3 ) fnge of the Tagus, to enable them to take up their quar- ters in Aler.tejo. General Burgoyne, who was potted with an attention to obltrucit them in their paflage, lay in the neighbour- hood, and within view of a detached camp, compofed of a con fider able body of the enemy's cavalry, which lay near a village called Villa Velha, As he obferved that, the enemy kept no very foldierly guard in this poll, and were uncovered both in their rear and their flanks, he conceived a defign of falling on them by furprize. The execution of his defign was entruftcd to his friend Colo- nel Lee, who, in the night of Oclober 8th, fell upon their rear, turned their camp, made a confiderable Daughter, difperfed the whole party, deftroyed their magazines, and returned with fcarce any l< When a general conclusion was at length put to war, he returned to ten -land from Portugal, after ha received the thanks of his Pojrtusuefe Majefty for Iris fcrvices ; and Count La Lippe eecommendcd him in tl e ftrongeft terms to the Engiilh Court. He had, at tins period, a friend and patron in high office, one of the principal Secretaries of State ; fo that there was every reafon for him to have cxpcQed promotion in the En- glifli army. Put here his attachment, his enthufiafm for America, interfered, and prevented. 'Ihe great Indian, or what we called Pondiacks War, broke out, which the minifterial agents thought their intereft to rep as a matter of no confequence. The friends of America thought the reverfe,and aliened it would be attended with dreadful wafte, ravage, and defolation. This brought him once more to publifh for the defence and pro'.ccVion of this country,by which lie loll the favour of the minif- try, and (hut the door to all hopes of pediment in the Englifh army. But he could not live in idlenefs inactivity : he left his native country, and entered into the Poliih fervice, and was of courfe abfent when the Jftamp act pafled ; but although abfent, he did not ceafe labouring in the caufe of America, as may be learned from many of his letters. He ufed every argument, and exerted ( 4 ) exerted all the abilities he was matter of, with every cor- reipondent he had, in either Houfe of Parliament, of any weight or influence : and at the fame time, he had not an intonfiderable number in both. It mull be obferved that this famous a£t had divided almoft every court in Europe into two different parties : fhe one, affertors of the prerogative of the Britifh Parli- ament ; the other, of the rights and privileges of Ame- rica. General Lee, on this occafion, pleaded the cauie of the Colonies with fuch earneftnefs as almoft to break off all intercourfe with the King's ministers at the Court of Vienna, men that he perfonally loved and efteemed ; but, at the fame time, it was thought that he pleaded • :th fo much fuccefs as to add not a few friends and T.ruzans to America. Thefe circumftances are men- tioned, as they ierve to demonitrate that a zeal for the welfare of the Colonics, from the General's earlicft ac- quaintance with them, had been a ruling principle of his life. The prefent volumes will teftify what he fa- cvificcd, what he did and what he hazarded, in the laft and mod important conteft which feperated the Colo- nies from their parent Mate : — but there is one circum- stance that feems to .claim a particular attention ; which is, that of all the officers who embarked in the Ameri- can fervice, he was the only man who could acquire no additional rank, and perhaps the only one whofe fortune could not have been impared, or at leaft the tenure by which it was held, changed from its former condition into a precarious and arbitrary one, by the fuccefs of the Britifh miniftry's fchemes ; for, had they been complet- ed to the full extent of their wiihes, the condition of his fortune had not been altered for the worfe : his fortune, though not great, was eafy, and, it may be faid, affluent, for a private gentleman a detail of which the editor is enabled to collect from his papers. ill. The General had four hundred and eighty pounds per annum t on a mortgage in Jamaica, paid punctually. idly. An eltate of two hundred pounds per annum in Miudlefex, for another gentleman's life \ but whofe life he had eniured again!* his own. 3dly. ( 5 ) qdly. A thoufand pounds on a turnpike in England, at four per cent, intereft. 4thl)% One thoufand five hundred pounds, at five/>«* cent. cthly. His half-pay, one hundred and thirty-fix pounds per annum ; in all, nine hundred and thirty-O] ■ pound* pet annum, clear income : befides this, about twelve hun- ch d | unds in his agent's hands, and different debts. — I He had, Iikewife, ten thoufand acres of land in the iiland of St. John, which had been located and fettled at the expence of feven hundred pounds •, and a mandamus for (wenty thoufand acres in Eaft Florida. This is the Hate of the General's fortune when h gaged in the late American conteft ; and this fori would have been totally unaffected though the prerogative of taxing America without her confent had been cilab- lifhed and confirmed : the full pofleffion of it wasfecure, and independent of her fate. But thefe confideratioi s did not influence his mind : he gave up fecurity for in- fecurity, certainty for uncertainty ; he threw into the lap of America, without any chance of winning ; he flaked all on the die of her fortune : if flic fucceeded, he could not be better ; if fhe mifcarricd, Ids whol loll. His rank, as before obferved, acquired no addition ; but the contrary for a flop was put to its progrefs in the two other Cervices, the Foiifh and the Englifh. The General who could never flay long in one place, during the years 1 7 7 1, 1772, to the fall of 1773, had rambled all over Europe ; but we can collect np thing material relative to the adventures of his travels, as his memorandum-books only mention the names of the towns and cities through which he paiTed. That he was a mod rapid and very active traveller, is evident : it appears alfo, that he was engaged with an officer in Italy in an affair of honour, by which he loft the ufe of two of his fingers ; but having recourfe to piftols, the Italian was flam, and lie immediately obliged to fly for his life. His warmth of temper drew him into many rencounters of this kind ; in all which he acquitted bimfelf, with lingular courage, B 2 fprightli { 6 ) fp'rightlinefs of imagination, and great prcfence of mind. Much diflatisfied with the appearance of the political horizon at London, on tlie 16th of Auguft 1773, he embarked on board the packet for New-York, where he arrived on the icth of November following, and had a very i'evere fit of the gout. At this period, the contro- verfy between Great Britain and her Colonies began to be ferious -, and the General concerted a defign of taking a part in favour of America, in cafe it came to an open rupture. The dcftru&ion of the Britifh Eaft-India company's tea at Bofton, the 16th of December, was a prelude to the calamities that afterwards enfued. At this cviiis, General Lee's mind was not inobfervant or inactive j his converfation, his pen, animated the colonifts to a great degree, and perfuaded them to make a perfevering- refiftance. During this winter, he vitited Philadelphia, "Wiiliamf- burgh, and feveral other places in Virginia ami I lary- land ; and returned to Philadelphia, a few months before the firit Congrefs met in that city, on the 5th of Sep- tember. Encouraging and obferving what was gomg forward here, he then paid a viiit to New-York, Rhode- Ifiand, and Bofton, where he arrived on the ift of Auguft 1774. The mod a£tive political characters on the Ame- rican theatre, now hailed him, and were happy in his acquaintance, not a little pleated with his fanguine, lively temper ; coniidenng his prcfence among them at this crifis, as a moil; fortunate and propitious omen. General Gage had now iflued Ins proclamation •, and though Lee was on half-pay in the Britifh ferviee, it did not prevent him from expreflmg his fentimgnts in terms of the moffc pointed feverity againft the miniitry. In fhort, he blazed forth a Whig of the firft magnitude, and communicated a portion of his fpirit to all with whom he converted. — As he continued travelling, or rather flying from place to place, he became known to all who diitinguifhed them* Selves in this important opposition : his company and correfpondence were courted, and many occafional poli- tical ( 7 ) tical pieces, the production of his pen, were eagerly read, and much admired •, ana from this popularity, there is no reafon to doubt but hi- expected he Oiould foon ne the firft in military rank on this Continent. General Gates was fettled on a plantation in Berkley county, Virginia ; and having a great friendflup For Lee, perfuaded him to purchafe from a Mr. Hite, a very fme valuable trail of land in his neighbourhood, of about two thoufand feven hundred acres, on which were fe- veral good improvements. On this bufinefs, he left h.is friends, in the Northern S and returned to Virginia, where he remained till the montl of May 1 775, wften he again prefented himfelf at Philadelphia. The American Coqgrefs were aflem- bled ; and he became daily a greater enthufiaft in the taufe of liberty. The battle of Lexington, and fome other matters, had now ripened the eon tell ; and Lee's active and interprifing difpofition was ready for the molt arduous purpofes. He therefore accepted a comm from the Congrefs, which was offered tc*him by fome of its principal members j but he found it neceflary previ- oufly to refign that which he held in the Britiih fervice. This he did without delay, in a letter tranfmitted to the R ight Honourable Lord Vifcount Barrington, his Ma- jefty's Secretary at war ; afluring his Lord (hip, that al- though he had renounced his half-pay, yet, whenever it I pleafe his Majefty to call him forth to any honour- able fervice againft the natural hereditary enemies of his country, or in defence of Ins mod juft rights and digni- ty, no man would obey the righteous fummons with more zeal and alacrity than himfelf : at the fame time, the General exprefled his difapprobation of the preTent meafures, in the molt direct terms •, declaring them to be " fo abfolutely fubverfive of the rights and liberties of every individual fubjeft, fo deitructive to the whole empire at large, and ultimately fo ruinous to his Ma jet- ty's own perfon, dignity, and family, that he thought himfelf obliged in confeience, as a citizen, Englishman, and a foldier of a free State, to exert his utmod to de- le feat them." Profefang ( 8 ) ProfefTing thefe fentiments, he received a Continc commiflion of the rank of Major General. Ashe '.ad made war his ftudy from his youth, feen a variety of ft r- vice,anddiftinguifhedhimfelfforhisc one might have imagined he would have immediately been appointed feeond in command in the American ar- my : this was not the cafe ; in all countries, kidi-'g goea by favour •, and men will be tenacious of any rank be- llowed upon them. General Ward, of Maflachufetts Bay, by fome means or other had received a commiflion of prior date ; and on this account, perhaps to the inju- ry of the fervice, he took rank of General Lee, who was atprefent content to act under him. Whatever his feelings were on this head, he took care to difguife them j and General Ward, on the evacuation of Bofton, grew weary of military honour and fervice, retired to private life, and fenthis refignatiofi to Congrefs. On the 21ft of June, General Wafhington and Ge- neral Lee, having received their orders from Congrefs, left Philadelphia, in order to join the troops allembled near Bofton. They were accompanied out of the city, for fome miles, by a troop of light horfc, and hv all the officers of the city militia, on horfeback ; and at this time General Lee was accounted, and really was a great ac- cjuifition to the American caufe. On the road they re- ceived the news of the affair at Bunker's-hill, and, arrived at the camp at Cambridge the 2d of July 1775. The people of Malfachufetts received them with every telti- mony of efteem j and the Congrefs of that Colony not only prefented an addrefs to his Excellency General Wafhington, as commander in chief, but, from a fenfe of the military abilities of General Lee, prefented one ta him alfo couched in terms of the higheft refpect. The General remained with this army till the year 1776, when General Wafhington, having obtained intelligence of the fitting out of a fleet at Bofton, and of the embark- ation of troops from thence, which, from the feafon of the year, and other circumftances, he judged muft be deftincd for a Southern expedition, gave orders to Ge- nera! ( 9 ) feral Lee, to repair, with fuch volunteers as we re willing to join him, and could be expeditioufly railed, to the city of New-York, with a defign to prevent the Euglifl) from taking poffeflion of New-York and the North-River, as they would thereby command the country, and the com- munication with Canada. The General, on his arrival, began with putting the city in the beftpofture of defence the feafon of the year and circumfUnces would admit of; disarming all fuch perfons upon Long-Ifland, and elfe- wherc, whofe conduct and declarations had rendered them f'ufpecled of defigns unfriendly to the views of Congrefs. Colonel Ward was ordered to fecure^ the whole body of profeffed Tories in Long-Ifland. Thtt gave an univerfal alarm, that even the Congrefs cf New- York endeavoured to check the General in this bufinefs, by informing him, in a letter, that the trial and punifh- ment of citizens belonged to the Provincial Congrefs, and not to any military character, however exalted'. To this the General anfwwed, that when the enemy was at the doors, forms mull be difpenfed with— that his duty to them, to the Continental Congrefs, and to his own confeience, had dictated the necefhty of the meafure — that if he had done wrong, he would fubmit himfell to the fhame of being reputed rafh and precipitate, and undergo the cenlure of the public ; but he ibould have the confeioufnefs of his own breaft, that the pure motives of Serving the community, uncontaminated by pique or refentment to individuals, urged him to the flcp. The General alfo remonftrated againft fupplying the men of \v\r and Governor Tryon with provifions, as the beats coming to the city muft open the means of their receiving every fort of intelligence. " I mould," fays the General in one of his letters, « be in the higheft degree culpable to God, my confeience, and the Continental Congrefs, in whofe fervice I am engaged, mould I fuffer, at fo dan- gerous a crifis, a banditti of profeffed foes of liberty and their country to remain at liberty to co-operate with, and ftrengthen the minifterial troops openly in arms, or Covertly, and coDfequently more dangeroufly furnifh thenj with ( xo ) with intelligence." He alfo drew up a Teft, which he ordered his officers to oiler to thofe who were reputed inimical to the American caufe : a refufal to take this, was to be conftrued as no more or lefs than an avowal of their hcftile intentions : upon winch, their perfons were to be fecured, and fent to Connecticut, were it was judged they could not be lb dangerous. Thus the Gene- ral excited the people to every fpirited meafure, and inti- midated by every means the friends to the Engiifh go- vernment. At this time, Captain Vandeput, of the Afia, feized a Lieutenant Tiley, and kept him on board his fhip in irons. On the principles of retaliation, Lee took into cuftody Mr. Stephens, an officer of Government, and informed the Captain what he had done, and that this gentleman mould not be releafed until Lieutenant Tiley was returned. This had the defired effect. His determi- ned and deciGve difpofition had an amazing influence both on the army and people ; and the Heps he propofed for the management of thofe who difapproved of the Ame- rican refiiiance, fcruck a terror wherever he appeared. Congrefs had now received the account of General Montgomery's unfuccefsful expedition againft Quebec. As flattering expectations were entertained of the fuc- cefs of this officer, the event threw a gloom on American affairs. To remedy this difafter, they turned their eyes to General Lee, and Congrefs refolved that he mould forthwith repair to Canada, and take upon him the com- mand of the army of the United Colonies in that pro- vince. This, though he was juft recovered from a fit of the gout, he accepted ; but while preparations were making for the important undertaking, Congrefs changed their determination, and appointed him to the command of the Southern department ; in which he became very confpicuous, as a vigilant, brave and active officer. His extenfive correfpondence, his addrefs under every diffi- culty, and his unwearied attention to the duties of his ftation, all evinced his great military capacity, and ex- treme ufefulncfs to the caufe he had efpoufed, and was warmly engaged in — Every tcftimony of refpect was paid him ( II ) him by the people of the Northern Colonics, and he ex-i berienced a limilar treatment in his journey to the South- ward. On his arrival at WUliamfburgh, every one ex- prefied their high fatisfaction at his prefence among them ; and the troops of that city embraced the opportu- nity of prefenting him with an addrefs, expreffive of their fanguine hopes and firm resolutions of uniting with him in the common caufe. This example was followed at Newbcm, North-Carolina ; and a committee was ap- pointed by the inhabitants of that town, to wait upon him in their name, and, in an addrefs, to thank him for his generous and manly exertions in defence of Ameri- can rights and liberties •, and to offer him their cordial congratulations for his appearance among them, at a time wlun their province was actually invaded by a powerful fleet and army ; and to exprefs their happinefs to find the command of the troops deftined for their protection, placed in the hands of a gentleman of his dlftinguime^ character. Great too was the joy in South-Carolina, where his prefence was fcafonable and abfolutely riecefiary, as Sir Henry Clinton was actually preparing for an invafionof that province. The minds of all ranks of people were coniiderably elevated at the fight of him •, it dillufed an ardour among the military, attended with the mod Salutary confequences ; and his diligence and activity at Charlellon, previous to the attack upon Sullivan's Bland, will be long remembred. From a perufal of his letters and directions to the officers commanding at that poft, we may juftly infer, that America was under no fmall obligations to him for the fignal fuccefs there obtained. — And here it may be mentioned, as fomewhat remarkable, that when General Lee received Orders at Cambridge, to repair to New-York, to watch the motions of the BritiJh, he met General Clinton the I day he arrived there-, — when he came to Virginia, he found h'.m in Hampton Road — and juft after his ar- rival in North Carolina, General Clinton left Cape Fear i — Their next meeting was at Fort Sullivan which mult have ( 12 ) have made Lee appear to Clinton as his evil genius, haunting him for more than eleven hundred miles, along a coafl of vaft extent, and meeting him a Philippi. The affair of Sullivan's ifland was a mofl extraordina- ry deliverance j for if the Englifh had fucceeded, it is more than probable the Southern Colonies would at that time have been compelled to have fubmitted to the Engliih government. Dreadful was the cannonade, but without 'effect. Porto Bello, Boccochico, and the other caftle at Carthagena, were obliged to ftrike to Ver- non ; Fort Lewis in Saint Domingo yielded to the me. til of Admiral Knowles •, but in this initance, an unfi- nifhed battery, conilruclcd with Palmeto logs, refilled, for a whole dav, the twelve and eighteen-pounders of the Britifh fleet, to the aftonifhment and admiration of every fpecfator. The fleet and army under Sir Henry Clinton and Sir Peter Parker being rcpulfed. General Lee than flew to the afliftance of Georgia, where he continued for ibmc weeks, planning fchemes to put that province in a ftate of defence, and to make an excurfion into Eatt Florida, as their Southern frontiers were fuffcring confiderably by the incurftons of Indians and others from that quarter. About rhis time, the Congrefs were informed by Ge- neral Wafhington, that Clinton, with the noops under his command, had returned and joined General Howe at Staten-ifland. In confequence of this intelligence, the Congrefs were convinced that the Engliih, by collec- ting their whole force into a point, were determined to make a molt vigorous exertion at New- York •, and in order to cenfure fuccefs there, were difpofed for the pre r fent to overlook every other object. The getting podef- fionofthat city, and the junction of the two armies uiv der General Iiowe and Burgoyne, it was the Congrefs's opinion, were the grand objects they had in view, and for the attainment of which they would give up ever* inferior confideration. Lee's fuccefs in the Southern department had increafed the good opinion they had con- ceived of him : his reputation was in its zenith ; and* they ( *3 ) They now applied to him for afliftanoe, in the preiertt important fixation of their affairs. An exprefs was dif- patched to Georgia, directing him to repair as fooi poflible to Philadelphia, there to receive fuch orders as they might judge expedient. He returned wich great expedition, the beginning of Odober, and waited on Congrefs immediately on his arrival, who, after consult- ing him, refolved that he (hould without delay repair to the camp at Haerlem, with leave, it" he fhould judge proper, to viiit the pofts in New-Jerfey. He arrived at General "Wafhhgton's army juit time enough to prevent it from being blockaded in Ycrk- ifland, the eircumftance of which had been thus related. General Wafhington wag at that time under a neceffity of confulting his council of before he could take any ftep of confequence ; and they, contrary to his opi- nio;:, Were for waiting an attack intheir own lines on York-ifland — Extenfive barracks had been erected, and large preparations made for inch a ftep. Sir Williarrt ;-, finding the Americans too fir- tig to be with fafety from the fide of X . leaving Lord Piercy with a body of troops oppofitc the river, embark- ed the reft in his flat boats, palled fafely the dangerous paflage of Hell-Gate, and landed on Frog'; Neck, an •rated by a fundi creek from Weft Chefter. Here he remained a week, under a pretence 01 waiting for (tores and provifion's •, while the Americans, ill confequence of their refolutions, continued on the If- pand. The very evening before General Howe made r. movement, General Lee aprivecl at General Wafhing- ton's camp ; bit opinion of their damg< ation con- vinced the council of war \ and, that night, a p movement extricated them fr >m the danger. The next morning, General Howe -landed on Pelf. Manor, a Separated from Frog's Neck bv a channel of fcarce yards : he then extended his army acrofs to Hudibn's- river ; but there was then no enemy to intercept. lie, inffcead of trifling away his timej crammed up on Frog's Neck, landed only on Pell's Poifcr, ret a foul of C the ( M ) the American army would havecfcaped. Hitherto Ge- neral Lee had been luccefsful,and was univcrfally efteem- ed ; but fortune now began to revcrfe the (bene. On the 13th of December 1776, at the head of all the men he could collect, lie was marching to join General W"aihir.gton,\vho had aflernbled the Pennfylvania militia, to feture the banks of the Delaware. — From the diftance of the Britifh cantonment, he was betrayed into a fatal fecurity, by which, in crofTmg the upper part of New- Jerfeyfrom the North river, he fixed his quarters, and lav carelefsly guarded at fome diftance from the main bo- dy. This circurnltance being communicated to Colonel Harcourt,who commanded the Rritiih light horfe,and had then made a defultory cxcnrlion at the head of a frnall detachment, he conducted his meaiures with fuch addrefs and activity, that Lee was carried off, though feveraj guarded polls and armed patroles lay in the way. Great was the joy of the Britiih, and equal the conftcrnation of the Amine ins, at this unexpected event. The mak- ing of a fugle officer priibner, in other circumftances, would have been a matter of little moment •, but in the prefent ftate of the continental forces, where a general deficiency of the military jkill prevailed, and the inex- perience of the officers was even a greater grievance, the lofs of a commander whole fpirit of enterprise was di- rected by great knowledge in his profeiuon, acquired by actual fervice, was indeed of the utmoft importance. The Congrefs, on hearing this news, ordered their Pre- sident to write to General Washington, definng him to tend a Bag to General Howe/or the purpofe of enquiring in what manner General Lee was treated •, and it he found that it was not agreeable to his rank and character, to fend a remonftrance to General Howe on fi .bjec*. - This produced much inconvenience to both fid.es, ;md much 'calamity to individuals. A Cartel had fometime before been ellabliihed for the exchange ot prifoners between the Generals Howe and Wafhrngton, winch had hitherto been carried into execution as tar as ml circumftances would admit. As Lee was particularly ( i$ ) particular obnoxious to Government, it was faid that General Howe was tied doMfn by his inflrudion?, from parting with him upon any terms, if the fortune of war fhould throw him into his power. General Wafhin -not having at this time any prifohers of equal rank with Lee, propofed to exchange fix field officers fur him, the number being intended to balance that defparity ; or ii this was not acepted, he required that he mould be treated fuitably to his flatten, according to the practice eftablifhed among peliihed nations, till an opportunity offered direct: and equal exchange. To thib it was anfwered, that as Mr. Lee was a uelerter from his Majefty'a fer- vice, he was not to be eonfidered as a prifoner ot war - y that he did not at all come within the conditions of the cartel, nor cculd he receive any of its benefits. brought on a fruitlefs difcuiion, whether General Left who had resigned his half-pay at the beginning of the troubles, could be eonfidered as a deferter 5 or whether he could with jufiice be excluded from the genera! '. fits of a cartel, in which no particular exception ofper- fon had been made. In die mean time, General Lee was guarded with all the flricdnefs which a State crimi- nal of the full magnitude could have experienced in the mod dangerous political conjuncture. This condm only fufpended the operation of the cartel, but induce. I retaliation on the American fide •, and Colonel Campbell, who had hitherto been treated with great humanity by the people of Bolton, was now thrown intc i du Thofe Britifh officers who were prifoners in the South- ern Colonies, though not treated with equal rigour, were, however, abridged of their parole liberty. It was at the fame time declared, that their future treatment fhould in every degree be regulated by that which General Lee ex- perienced, and that their perfons fhould be anfwerable, in the utmofl extent for any violence that was offered to him. Thus matters continued till the capture of the Britifh army under General Burgoyne at Saratoga, Oc- tober 17th, 1777. A change of con duel: towards him then took place j he was allowed his parole in New- York, ( i this was dwing, two pieces of cannon, fupportcd by Co- lonel Litingfton and Colonel Stewart, with a picked corps of 300 men, kept off the main body of the En - gliih, and made a great daughter. Very fevere Ikirmifh- ing enfued ; and the American army advancing, the Britifh made their laft efforts upon a fmall body of Penn- fylvania troops at and about Mr. 'Pennant's houfg ; they 'tr.en gave way, leaving the held covered with dead .>r>d wounded. General Wafhington'« troops purfued for about a mile, when, night coming on, and the men ex- ceedingly fatigued with marching, and the hot weather, they halted about half a mile beyond the ground of the principal action. — The Britifh took a ftrong poft in their iron*, fecured on both flanks bv morafles and thick woods, where they remained until about twelve at night, and then retreated. In confequencc of this action, General Lee was put under arreft, and tried by a Court Martial at Brunfwick, the 4th July following. The charges exhibit- ed againft him were. 1 ft. For difobedience of orders in not attacking the enemy on the 2Sth of June, agreeable to repeated in- ftrudtions. C 2 2diy, ( i8 ) Itlly. For mhhchaviour before the enemy on the fame day, by making an unneceflary, disorderly, and ihame- ful retreat. 3illy. For difrefnecr. to the commander in chief in two letters, dated the ill July, and the 28th June. The letters, on which the third charge is founded, are- as follows : Campy Englijk Toiu/i, July )Jl, 177!:!. Sir, FROM the knowledge I have of your Excellency's character, 1 muft conclude, that nothing but the lnifin- ■forrhation of fome very fhipid, or mifreprefentatiou of fome very wicked perfort, could have occafioned vour making ufe of fueh very lingular expreflions as you did, on my coming up to the ground where you had taken poll : they implied, that I was guilty cither of difobedi- ence oi orders, want of conduct, or want <>i courage. Your Excellency will therefore infinitely oblige me, by letting me know, on which of thefe tlnce articles you ground your charge, that I may prepare for my juilifica- Hpn •, which I have the happinefs to be confident I cm do, to the Army, to the Congrefs, to America, and to the World in general. Your Excellency rnuft give me leave to obferve, that neither yourielf, nor thofe about vour pcrfon, could, from your fituation, be in the leaft judges of the merits or demerits of our manoeuvres •, and to fpeak with a becoming pride, I can aflert, that to thefe manoeuvres the fuccefs of the day was entirely awing-* I can boldly fay, that had we remained on the firft ground, or had we advanced, or had the retreat been conducted in a manner different from what it was, this whole ar- my, and the interefls of America, would have riiked be- ing facrificed. I ever had, and I hope ever fhall have, the greateft refpeel: and veneration for General Wafh- ington ; I think him endued with many great and good qualities : But in this infbnce, I muft pronounce, that he has been guilty of an acl of cruel injuftice, towards a man who had certainly fome pretentions to the regard o£ ( *9 ) of every fervant of his country ; and I think, fir, I have a right to demand fome reparation for the injury com- mitted ,• and unlefs I can obtain it, I mud, in juftice to mvfelf, when the campaign is doled, which I believe will clofe the war, retire from a fcrvice, at the head of Which is placed a man capable of offering fuch injuries : — but at the fame time, in juftice to you, I mult repeat, that I, from my foul, believe, that it was not a motion of your own bread, but mitigated b\ fome of thole dirty iarivigs, who will for ever infmuate themlclvcs near perfons in high office ; for I am really convinced, that when General Wafliingtpn a&s from himfelf, no man in his army will have reafon to complain ol injullice and indecorum. 1 am, Sir, and I hope ever (hall have region to continue^ Your moil (incei ted Humble Servant, CHARLES LEE. 11.;- Excellency Gen. Wafliincton. Head J^J/ttrh'rs, EnglSJh TotX :, jutie 2i)//', i - - . Sir, I RECEIVED your letter, dated, through miftake, the lit of Julv, ex pre fled, as I conceive, in terms high- ly improper. I am not confeious of having made ule of any very lingular exprelhons at the time of my meet- ing you, as you intimate. What I recollect to have laid, was dictated by duty, and warranted bv the occafion. As foon as circumltances will admit, you (hall have au opportunity either of juftifying yourfelf to the Army, to Congrefs, to America, and to the "World in general, or of convincing them that you are guilty of a breach of orders, and of miibeliaviour before the enemy on the 28th ( -o ) 28th inftant, in not attacking them as you had been di- rected, and in making an unneceilary, diibrderly and fhameful retreat. I am, Sir, Your moft obedient Servant, GEORGE WASHINGTON. Major Gen. Lee. Camp, Jyti( Z§th, 1778. Sir, I BEG your Excellency's pardon for the inaccuracy in mifdating my letter. — You cannot afford me greater pleafurc than in giving me the opportunity of fnevving to America,- the fumciency of her refpettive fervants. I trull thr.t the temporary power of "office, and the tinfel dignity attending it, will not be able, by all the milts they can raife, to olhfcate the bright rays of truth. In the mean time, your Excellency can have no objections to my retiring from the army. I am, Sir, Your moft obedient, Humble Servant, CHARLES LEE. Gen. Wafhington. Camp, June 30th, 1778. Sir, SINCE I had the honour of addrefling my letter by Colonel Fitzgerald to your Excellency, I have reflected on both your fituation and mine ; and beg leave to ob- ferve, that it will be for our mutual convenience, that a Court of Inquiry mould be immediately ordered ; but I could wifh it might be a Court Martial : for, if the affun ( 21 ) is drawn into length, it may be difficult io colled the ne- ceffary evidences, and perhaps might bring on a paper- War betwixt the adherents to both parties, which may pecafion fome difagreeable feuds on the Continent ; for all are not my friends, nor your admirers. I mml entreat, therefore, from your love of juftice, that you will immediately exhibit your charge j and that on the firil halt, I may be brought to a trial. I am, Sir, Your mofl obedient, Humble Servant, CHARLES LEE. His Excellency Gen. Walhington. THE Court met, by fcveral adjournments, till the 1 2th of Augufl, when they found the unfortunate Ge- neral guilty of the feveral charges brought againft him, and fenteneed him to be fufpended from any commifiion in the armies of the United States of North America for the term of twelve months. But it was ufual in Ame- rica, and thought necedary, that the fentence of every Court Martial fhould be ratiiied or confirmed by Con- grefs ; the proceedings, therefore, of the Ccurt, were accordingly tranfmitted to them, and the General re- paired to Philadelphia to await their dcciGon. During his (lay there on this bufmefs, he was involved in feveral diiputes •, and though his aflair might be confidered as yet fub judice, yet the converfation of the city was ra- ther againft him, which induced him to publifh, as it were, a fecond defence •, and as this may not be fo wcl 1 known to the public as the elegant and mailerly defence in his trial, which hath been republished in Europe, I (lull infert it in this place. General ( 21 ) GENERAL Lf.e's Vindication to the Public. The different commentators on the orders I received from General "W.iflnn^ton, on the 28th of June, havej I think, conftritcd them into no more than three differ- ent fenfes. I Avail, therefore, for argument's fake, give the. world leave to Ijmpofe them to have been any one of thefe three :* — ill. To attack the enemy in whatever fituation, and in whatever force I found them, without confidering confequenecs. 2. To contrive the means of bringing on a general engagement. 3. To annoy them as much as poflible, without dik- ing any thing of great importance ; that is, in fact, to act with a great degree of latitude, according to my own difcretion. Now, I fay, granting any one of thefe three to have been the orders I received, it is manifeft, that- I did li- terally and effectually comply, as far as depended on myfelf, and on human means. As to the iirft, not- withftanding the attempt, by a low evaiion, to prove that the orders I gave were only to advance on the ene- my, it is clear from Captain Mercer's evidence, that General "Wayne and Colonel Butler were ordered, not only to advance, but in precife terms to attaek ; — it is clear, that I did, with the three brigadiers on the right, make the only movement poflible to accomplifh this end j it is clear that I did not with, or give any orders for a retrograde manoeuvre from the frrft point of action, and that, even when I was informed of our left being abandoned, the retreat, however neceffary, was, I am afhamed to own it, done contrary to my orders, and contrary to mv intentions. I fay I am afhamed to own it ; for if the 'Britifh cavalry had vigoroufly pufhed on our * It mnft appear fomewhat extraordinary, that when the principal and heavieft charge brought againft me, was the difobedience of or- ders, thefe orders, that it feems I difobeyed, fhould never have been attempted to be afcertained to the Court by the proper authority, but were left to the conjecture and wild conftruclions of thofe who might take the trouble to guefs, aud to the haidinefs of thofe who might chule to invent. ( 2 3 ) eur right, they might have turned our flank, taken us in reverfe, and we had been loll. There is one fuppofiti- on, and indeed only one (and that, for the General's ho- nour, is too monllrous to be admitted) that would ren- der me criminal j it is, that he had pofitively command- ed me, that after the attack commenced, whatex - were 1 rny circumftances, or whatever were my numbers, from thence I fliould not, from any confideration, recede an inch. Now, if fueh I had conceived to have been his intention, fo great is my opinion of the valour, zeal, and obedience of the troops, and lo well I think 1 know my- ftlf, that I do really believe we (hould all have pcrifhed cm the lirfl fpot ; but I never had, and it is almoft im- poihble T ihould have an idea that fueh was hi.; plan ; and it is evident that it was not ; confequently, in feeking a better polition in our rear, I could be guilty of no dis- obedience. Upon the whole", admitting the orders I re- ceded to have been (as it has been* in Miniated) to attack, v. ithout any confideration oi the force or fituation of the enemy, they were as fully and rigidly obeyed, circumllan- ced as I was, as it was poihbic for any human officer to obey orders of fueh a nature. Jn the next place, if the General's inliruclions are conltrued to be, that I fhould lind the means of bringing on a general engagement, it: is difficult to imagine a more efficacious method than that which was purfucd. But I mull here beg leave to obferve, that thole gentlemen who talk fo familiarly of bringing on a general engagement, muft underfcand themfelves as little as they can be underftood by others : - — to bring on a general engagement, is not always in our power. An enemy of any capacity will take fueh meafures as not to be under the neceflity of fighting againft his inclinations ; and, however it may be re- ceived, 1 cannot help being pcrluaded, that fome of the Britiih generals are not deficient in this great ef- fential. Clinton, Grey, and Krikine, were bred up, and conMdered no defpicable officers in one of the belt ichools in Europe Prince Ferdinand and his nephew, the he- viditary pjrince, think, it is fa'al, and do moll certainly i'p l ak ( 24 ) fpeak very honourably of them. Now, although it muic be fuppofed that men of this (lamp will make it a rule to retain the power of refuting a general engagement, there are ftrong grounds for believing, that on this day (whether from our manoeuvres, or from the often un- goverr _ !c impetuofity of the Britifh troops) they would have been put under the neceflity of committing the moil confiderable part of their army to the decifion of arms, if the opportunity on our fide had been availed of. They were tempted to pafs three of the great ravines which traverfe the plain ; and there is room to flatter ourfelves they would have paffed the laft, if they had been wifely fullered. They would then have been actually in our power ; that is, they would have been under the necef- fity of fighting againft unequal force ; for they had fcarce- ly the poflibility of retreating, and it was at our option to engage whatever part of the army we thought proper, whether the whole, one half, or only a third, as they had immediately emerged from the ravine, and before they could have had time to develop and form ; our rear was, on the contrary, quite clear and unembarraiTed, and were, in fact, entire mailers of our manoeuvres ; at the fame time, Colonel Morgan, and the militia on the flanks, by this feparation of the major part of the ene- my's army to fo great a diftanoe from their baggage, and the body covering the baggage, would have had a much fairer' opportunity of making their refpective attacks, than if they had remained more compact : thus, if any thing is meant by finding the means of bringing on a general engagement, it was done, and in the moll falu- tary manner, to the utmofl extent of human poflibility. We come now to the laft fuppofition, viz. That the orders I received (which in fact is the truth, unlefs they had no meaning at all) were to annoy the enemy, ftrike a partial blow, but without diking any thing of great importance ; or in other terms, to act in a great meaftire diicretionally.* And here. I defy the moft acute military. * It muft be remarked, tnatdifobedienre to difereticnary orders is', prima facie, a glaring abfurdity ; it is an impofiibility ; ar.i yet it hai beer, endeavoured toprov^ me guilty of tJiii impofiibility. ( 25 ) military critic of the world, to point oui. a mo:-; effectual method than what was puriucd ; for, had we taken poft on the hither or weilern margin of .• e firft ravine, ;ts General Wayne feems to think we ought to have done, (and admitting that in this pofition our flanks could have been feeure, which they certainty were not) or on the. margin of any of the other ravines In our rear, the laft not excepted, if the lall had been tenable, how could we poilibly have annoyed the enemy, or llruct a partial blow ? The confequence would at molt have been this, that we might have remained gazing on and cannonad- ing each other for Ibme time, and the moment they chofe to retire, they could have dene it at their leifure, and with impunity •, for, by all the rules of war, and what is mere, by all the rules of common fenfe, we could not have ventured to purfuc them, becaufe we ihould have put, if not impracticable, at lead very dan- gerous, defiles in our rear ; and if they had turned back upon us, we Ihould have been effectually in their power, unlcfs we could have Iniured victory to ourielvcs with very unequal numbers ; but by drawing them over all the ravines, they were as much in our power ; hefules, it mult occur to every man who is not dcititu'ic of com- mon reafon, that the further they were from their ihips and the heights of Middletown, the point of their fecu- ritv, the more they were ^to nil the military language, in the air. To thefe considerations may be added, that the ground we found them on, was extremely favourable to the na- ture of their troops ; and that we drew them into, as fa- vourable to ours. The ground we found them on, was calculated for cavalry, in which they comparatively abounded ; and that which we drew them into, as much the reverie. In fine, admitting that the order I received was any one of the three referred to, and fuppofing wo had been as perfectly acquainted with every yard of the country as we were utterly ignorant of it, I am happy to be able confeioufly to pronounce, that were the tranfac- tions of that dav to pafs over again, there is no one (Up D I took ( .26 ) T took which I would not again take. There is no one thing I did which does not demonitrate that I conducted myfelf as an obec'ent, prudent and, let me add, fpitited oflicer ;* and I do from my foul fmcevely wilh that a court of inquiry, compofed of the ableffc fotdiers in the world, were to fit in judgment, anil enjoined to canvas with die utmoft rigour every circumitance of my conduct on this day, and on their decifion my reputation or infa- my to be for ever eftablifhed, There is, however, I con- fefs, the'ftro'ngeft reafon to believe (but for this omillton I am no ways refponfible) that, had a proper knowledge of the theatre of action been obtained, as it might, and ought to have been, its nature and different fituations, with there references ltudied, and, in confequence, a general plan of action wifely concerted and c'igcited, a rnoft important, perhaps a deciiive blow might have been fbruck, but not by adopting any one meafure that any one of my cenfurers has been fortunate enough to think of. I have already faid, that had we remained on the ground where the attack commenced, or on the margin of tire firfJE ravine, which General Wayne fecms to think was a good pofition, we fhould probably have been loft ; and I believe I may fafely affert that had we attached ourfelves to the fecond pofition, in front of Cavr'shoufe, reconnoitred by Monf. l)u Portail, on the hill which Colonel Hamilton was fo ftrongly prepofieffed in favour of, and allowing our flanks to be fecure in any of thefe poiitions, which it is evident they were not, fecurity is the only thing we could have had to boaft of. The fe- curity of the enemy would have been equally great ; but any polfibility of annoying them we certainly had not. I affert, then, that if we had acted wifely, it was our ^bufinefs to let one, two, or three thoufand pais the laft ravine, in the rear of which, and on the eminence pointed out to me by Mr. VVikoir, and to General Wafhington by Colonel * Tl.i-; llvlc, on mrumary occafions, woulJ appear a mod intolerably and difgulliiig gaibonade ; '.nit --hen i man's conrtucl has been fo %rr[ - ly mifreprefsnted and calumniated, a- mine has been, ' owge i': juftifkble in hi- defence. ( 2 7 ) lei Ray,* the main body of our army was pofted, frelh and unfatigued •, whereas thole of the enemy were extremely harrafled, or, indeed, worn down to fo u<\\- a degree of debility, that had they once paned, they had little chance of Tepaffing ; the ground was comma; ' and, to us, in all refpects advantageous. A fcrt of na- tural glacis, extending itfelf in our front, from the crefl -of: the eminence quite down to'the ravine, over which there was only one narrower; p.'.fs, the plain fo nar as to give no play to the manoeuvres of their cavalry •, .and at two or three hundred yards diftaiue in the rear, a fpace of ground moil happily adapted to the arrange- ment of a fetond line.^ This ground, from the nature of its front, is almoft entirely protected from the annoy- ance of the enemy's cannon ; and, of courfe, well calcu- lated for the refpiration of a body of troops, inch as my detachment was, fatigued, but not difpirited t and the excefilvc heat of the weather-, here they D have taken breath ; here they might have been refreflied, and, in a very fhort time, refitted at leaft to act as a line of fupport, which was all that in thefc cfrcumftai could be necefiary. I propofed to the General to form them as fuch, but was precipitately ordered, and, I fefs, in a manner that extremely raffled me, to three miles tliftancc in the rear. Thus, in my opinion, was a mod glorious Op] loft ; for what followed on both fuits was only a ciilant, unmeaning, inefficacious canonnade ; and what has been fo magnificently (tiled a puriuit, was no more than tak- ing up the ground which the Britifh troops could not pofliblv, and were not (their principle being retreat terefted to maintain. P. S. * To thefc two ni their officers in their difivrcnt ranks ; and I folemnly declare, thai was it at j-ny choice to felect from all the nations of fche earth to form an excellent and perfect aimy, I would, wi; lieiitation, give the preference to the Americans. By publishing this opinion, I eannot ineur the fufpieion of paying my court to their vanity, as it isr notorious language I have ever held. I have been told, that one of the crimes imputed to me, is by entertaining a high opinion of the iivitiili troops. If this is a crime, I am ready to acknowledge it. There were times, I confefs, when the promulgation of fuch an opinion wpvdd have been impolitic, and even criminal j but in thefe times, it is notorious to the world that my- conduct was the reyerfe. Everything I wrote, every thing I faid, tended to iufpire that confidence in their own itrength, which it was thought the Americans wanted \ and it is believed, that what I faid, and what I wrote had no inconfiderable effect ; but now, circum- stanced as we arc, I cannot conceive the danger, or even impropriety, in fpeaking of them as they deferve, parti- cularly as their excellence, redounds to the honour of America. I could not help, whilfl I was prifoner, be- ing aflonifhed at the bad policy and ftupidity of fome of the Britifh ofh^P0|pvvho made it their confbant bufinefs to depreciate tho«iaracter of the Americans in point of courage and fenfe. I have often cxpreffed my aftonifh- ment, ( 3« ) men:, making a very natural obfervation to them, tli.it if the pcrfuafion of their opponent's cowardice and folly ■were eflablifhed in the world, the great merits they rhemfelves pretended to muff., at the lame time, be ut- terly deltroyed. That I June a very great opinion of Iripiri troops, I make no fcrupic to oorifefs •, and uniefs I had this opinion of them, I do not foe what ground I could have for my cuiogiums orl American va- This W a-truth, funple and clear as the day ; but be it as it will, it is now moft certain, let the courage and dill'tplinc of the luitilh troops be as great as imagi- nation can paint, there is at prefent no danger from ci- ther the one or the oilier. '1 he dangers that now threat- en, are from other quarters ; from the want of tempcT, moderation, occonomy, wiidom, and deeilion an: ouri'elves •, from a childilh credulity ; am!, in confe- iptence of it, a promptnefs to commit acts o( the higheft tice 0,1 tii too ; and the ftrongeft inftance of it is, that they did not long ago hang up you, and every advocate for the llamp-acl: ; and do not flatter youdelf, that the prefent virtuous airs of patriotifm you may give younllf, and four hard laboured letters to the Commiffioners .\n<\ King, will ever walh away the (lain. If you think term6 I make ufe of harfh or unmerited, my friend Majoc Edwards is commifiioned to point out your remedy. CHARLES' LEE. William Henry Drayton, Efq. THIS correfpondence, which produced nothing but inkfhed, being finifhed, the General retired to his plan- tation in Berkley county, Virginia, where, ±1111 irritated E with ( 3S ) with the ftfuwrllous attacks he had met with from feveral ■writers and others in Philadelphia, he could not forbeajr giving vent to the bittcrnefs of his feelings; and in this mifanthropic difpofition, compofed a fet of queries, whuh he rtyted Political and Military. Thefe he il-nt by one of his aids to the printers of Philadelphia, for publication ; but they thought it imprudent to admit them into their papers, as General Washington poflefled fhe heavi? and admiration of every one : he therefore ap- plied to the editor of the Maryland Journal, at Baltimore who indulged hun with their infertion. The queries no fooner made their appearance, but a confidcrable dit'hirb- an.ee took place among the citizens of Baltimore : the printer was called upon for the author, and obliged to give up his name. General- Reed, then Preiident of the State of Pennfylvaniaj conceiving himfelf to be injured, published the fubfequent piece for his juftifkation. THE afperfiorts which have been thrown on my own -character from the prefs, I have ever defpifed too much to take the leaft notice of them ; but when a molt valua- ble and amiable character is attacked through me, I think k in my dutv to remark it, and guard the public from er- I ror, even in opinion. In a fet of queries, defigned to leffen the character of General Waihington, in a late paper, I am alluded to lb particularly as not to be miftaken, and quoted, as having Uirniihed evidences under my own hand, that General WafhingtoQ was not the diltinguifhed character the ad- drctTes of the Council of this State had represented •, from which an inference is to be drawn prejudicial to the Ge- neral in point of ability, and the Council in coniiitencv, .fofar as I had any fhare in thofe addrefles. This infi- rTuatlon I therefore think it my duty to contradict : and, though the fanctity of private and confidential correspon- dence hag been grofsly violated on thioocca(ion,Ifl)Ould have p. fifed it by, if the fact had not been as grofsly mif- j ila ■ i ' Hie ( 39 ) The only ground on which this Uj{yiuaUon cr.n be made, arofe from the following circurhftauce : In tlic fall, 1770, I was extreme!) anxious that Fort wafhing- ton Should be evacuated ; there was a ditference in opi- ' nion among thofe whom tht General confiilted, and he hefitated more than I ever knew him on any other occaG- on, and more than I thought the public fcrvice admitted. Knowing that General Lee's opinion w( aid be a fupport to mine, I wrote to him from rtackmfack, Hat- ing the cafe, and my reafons, and, 1 think, urging him to join me in fentiment at the clole of my letter - alluding to the particular fubject then before me, to the belt of my recollection, I added th'. : " With a thousand good and great qualities, th< ant of decifion to complete the perfect milita: fcer." Upon this fentence, or one to th'- . wrote in hade, in full confidence, and ii event, is this ungenerous fentiment intr< >to the world. The event but too fully juilified my anxiety j for the fort was fummoned that vs furren- dered the next. I absolutely deny that there is any other ground but this letter : and if tl let it be produ- ced. I have now only to add, that though General "Washington foon after, by an accident, knew of this cir- cum (lance, it never lefTcncd tliefriendihipwliichfu cd between us. lie had too much greati lindto fuppofe himfelf incapable of miitakes, or to did a faithful friend, who fhouid note an error with fueh cir- cumltances of refpecl, and on Inch an occaficn. I have Cnce been with this great and good man, for fuch lie is, nt very critical moments ; and I hope I ihall not b peeled of unbecoming adulation, when I allure my countrymen, (fo far as my opinion is thought of any confequence) that they may repofc themiclves in perfect confidence on his prudence and judgment, which are equal to any circumilances ; — and that repeated experi- ence of the value of his opinions, have infpired him with more dependance on them than his modefty and diffidence would in fomc cafes formerly admit. Time will ( 4° ) will lhcw, whether hia enemies will not find themfejvea disappointed in their attempts to fliake the public confi- dence, and lefien a character of fo much worth, to gra- tify private, violent refentments. JOSEPH REED. Philadelphia, July 14th, 1 7 79. TO judge of the propriety of General Reed's perform- ance, it will be rieceffary to refer the reader to his letter in page 1 78, which is a true copy from the original, in his own hand writing. Lee remained at his retreat, living in a ftyle peculiar to himfelf, in a houfe more lijke a barn than a palace. Glafs windows andplaiftering would have been luxurious extravagance, and his furniture confided of a very few necefiary articles ; indeed he was now fo rullicated that he could have lived in a tub with Diogenes : however he had got a few felecl valuable authors, and thefe ena- bled him -to pafs away his time in this obfeurity. In the fall, 1782, he began to be weary with the fameneft of his fituation •, and experiencing his unfitnefsfor the ma- nagement of country bufinefs, he came to a determinati- on to fell his eftate, and procure a little fettlement near foroe fea-port town, where he might learn what the world was doing, and enjoy the converfation of man-, kind. His farm, though an excellent tract of land, rather brought him in debt at the end of the year, and added to the difficulties he laboured under. It is no wonder, then, he was inclined to relinquifh his prefent fyftem of life. He left Berkley, and came to Baltimore, where he'ftaid near a week with fome old friends, and then took his leave for Philadephia. . It is prefumed he now found a difference between a General in command, and one deltitute of every thing but the name ; for we do not find him entertained at the houfe of any private citizen. lie took lodgings at an inn the ( 4i ) the fign of the Conveftigoe ^aggon, in Market-ilrect. After being three or four days in the city, he was taken with a fliivering, the forerunner o( a fever, which put a period to his exigence, October 2d, 1782. A friend of the Editor's was at the inn when he took his departure from this worl fervants informed hhn that General Lee was dying : up into the room ; he was then ftrogling wi terrors, and feemed to have loft his fenfes ; the I he heard him fpeak were, " Stand by me, n grenadiers I" The citizens- of Philadelphia, calling to remembra his former fervices, appeared to be much ai his death. His funeral was attended with a very lai courie of people, the clergy of different denominatio his excellency the prefident of Cangrefs, the president, andfome members of the council of the commonwealth of Pennfylvania, his excellency, die miniiter plei tiary of Trance, M. Marbois fecrcrary to the embaily, the miniiler of finance, General baron de Vieminil, duke de Laufam, the minuter of war, and feveral other oi diilinction both in the French and American army. From what hath been obferved in thete memoirs, we may with juft ice affirm, that General Lee was .1 great and fiucere friend to the rights and liberties'of mankind, and that it was this grand principle which led him to I part on the fide of America. It appears, that, from youth, lie was bred up with the higheft regard for the noble fentiments of freedom ; his education and reading itrcngthened'them ; the hiftorians and orators of Greece and Rome, with whom he was contiderabiy convenant, added to the lacred flame ; and his travels m many parts of the world did not tend to diminifh it. When a boy he was fent to an academy in Switzer- land, and he has frequently faid to his friends, that he was there (truck with the general happinefs, affluen cafe diifufed throughout that country, notwithstanding its natural difadvantages cf foil and climate. In one of hio letters, he expreffeshimfelfin this manner : " When E 2 I was ( 42 ) I was quite young in Switzerland, I could not help com- paring the robuft well clothed commonalty of this coun- try, with their miferable neighbours of France, a fpot upon whicM ftarure feems to have taken pains to confer her favours. To France, Nature has given the molt fruitful loil, which produceth not only every ncceflary, but every luxury of life. She lias given to its people a lively, active, enterprifing genius, a climate upon the whole the belt of the world — To ihc Swifs, the bequeath- ed rocks, mountains, and, as it is thought, very inferior mental faculties ; and yet the Swifs are rich, happy and vefpectablc ; the French, ltarving and contemptible. In Italy, the contrail betwixt the free ami thole who are not free, is Hill more remarkable ; 1 know very well, that the republics of Genoa and Venice are not in general allowed to be free ftates. Monfieur Montefquteu hasdemonltrat- cd that they are not free ; but there is undoubtedly forrie excellence in them, which has efcapedthis vile man — {hall Ibeg leave to hazard a conjecture ? They have no king : They line no cOurt/' The general had read both men and books •, his rc.ul- iug and travels were extenfive, and of couvfc his man- ners eafy arid nee c\ embarraflrherit ; fo that he was fre- quently accuftomed to deliver his fentiments and feel- ings without dilgnife, from the firft irhpreflions, accord- ing to the nature of the objects which prefented. Tins liberality oi cpnduct, and opennefs of difpolition, in a young country, caufed many to doubt of his belief in revi ligion ; the common people, at hit confj- dered him as an ath'eift ; while thofe of a higher dais were more indulgent to his principles. If we were to form a judgment on this fubjecr, from his private co:- refpondence, we fhould not accufe him as totally defti- tute of religious notions, for it appears that he enter- tained fome grand and mbiime ideas of the Supreme lie-, ing, and was ftrongly purfuaded that vm fociety could exift without religion. He has often afferted that he thought the Chrifti an religion, unincumbered of its fophifti cations, the molt excellent, ( 43 ) excellent, as comprehending the rnoft divine fyftem of ethics, confequently of a divine nature ; but at the fame time he disapproved of the length and tedioufnefs of the liturgies of the various feels. As to the dogmas, he t'onfidered many of them abfurd, if not impious, and de- rogatory to the honour, dignity arid wifdom of the God- head, or omnifcienf ruler ami moderator of the infinity of worlds that fin round us. The General, in his perfon, was of a genteel make, i and rather above the middle fize ; his remarkable aqui- line nofc rendered his face Somewhat difagreeable. He was mailer of a moll genteel addrefs ; but, in the latter part ci his life, became exceffively negligent of the gra- ces, both in garb and behaviour. A talent -4 or repartee, united with a quickneSe of penetration, created him ma- ny enemies. A character fo eccentric and lingular, could not fail of attracting the popular attention. His fnuul friends fr< quently panned feverc criticifms on Jus words and atlions. Narrowly watched, every little Hip or fai- lure was noticed, anil rcprefented to his disadvantage. The objecliwiis to his moral conduct were numerous, and his great fondnefs for dogs brought on him the dif- hkc and frowns of the fair lex : for the General would permit his canine adherents to follow him to the parlour, the bed-room, and Sometimes they might be Seen on a chair next his elbow at table. As the ladies are commonly againft any tranfgrciTions of the laws of decency and clcanlinefs, it is no wonder a fhynefs commenced between them and the General. This hath given fome perfons an idea of his being averfe to women, which in reality was not the cafe ; for his life and pefthumous papers will furnifn Several exam- ples of his early attachment to them •, and a letter to him, from a Britifh officer in Montreal, in 1774, con- \ i'lces the Editor of his having been Sufceptible of the fame feelings with other men, and of his having fre- quently indulged himfelf in gallantry with the ladies. " During the winter," favs this officer, who was the General's intimate friend, « I took a trip to Quebec, where I 44 ) where I palled feveral agreeable days with • ur ,1 delivered your compliments to her, and fhe enquire J particularly about you, defiring me to return them molt iiucereiv whenever I wrote — She is the fame amialslq creature, whofe difpofition neither climate nor couatvy can alter, and as ftrongly attached to you as ever." And his letter from Warfaw to Louifa, demonftrates the fame fad. There is great probability the General was the fa it perion who fuggefted the idea that America ought to declare herlelf independent. When lie was lent by the commander in chief to New-York, he behaved with fuch activity and fpirit, infufing the fame into the minds oi Ids troops and the people, that Mr. John Adams laid, " a happier expedition never was projected j and that the whole Wig world were bleihng him for it." About this time Doctor Franklin gave Mr. Thomas Paine, the celebrated author of Common Senfe, an introductory let- ter to him, in which were thefe words : " The bearer, Mr. Paine, has requefted a line of introduction to you, which I give the more willingly, as I know his fenti merits are not very different from yours." A few days after, the Doctor writes again, " There is a kind of*! fufpenfe in men's minds here at prefent, waiting to fee what terms will be offered from England — I expect aone that we can accept ; and when that is generally - leen, we lhall be mere unanimous and more decilive. Then your propofed folemn league and covenant will go better down, and perhaps mod of your ether Jfraag meqfures adopted." In a leter to Edward Rutlege, Efq. in the fpfing of 1776, then a member of the Continen- tal Congrefs, the General thus ex profits himfelf. " As your affairs profper, the timidity of the fenatorial part of the continent, great and fmall, grows and extends itlelf. By the Eternal G — d, unlets you (he lure your/elves inde- pendent, eftablifh a more'eertain and fixed legiflature than that of a temporary courtefy of the people, you richly deferve to be enilaved, and I "think far from im- poflible that it fliould be your lot ; as, without a more fyfteniati<; ( 45 ) fyfhcmatlc intercourfe with France and Holland, we can- not, \vc have not the means of carrying on the war." There are other epiitles of his, of a firailar lpirit and diction. The more we inveftigate the General's character and conduct, the more confpicuous his ferviccs will appear. I In the infancy of the American difpute, we all find him ! continually fuggefting and forwarding plans for the de-. ' fence of the country ; and though he was a profefied enemy to a ftahding army, he was always recommend- ing a well regulated militia. This he considered as the natural ftrength of a country, and abfolutely neceflary for its fafety and prefervatioh. He has frequently aflerted, that a more pernicious idea could not enter into the heads of the citizens, than that rigid difcipline, and a fl.ridt fubjection to military rules, were incompatible with civil liberty ; and he was of opinion, that when the bulk of a community would not fubmit to the ordinances neceflary for the preferva- tion of military difcipline, their liberty could not be of long continuance. The liberty of every commonwealth muft be protected ultimately by military force. Military force depends up- on order and difcipline : without order and discipline, the greateft number of armed men are only a contemp- tible mob ; a handful of regulars muft difberfe them. --It follows then, that the citizens r.t Lucre muft fubmit to the means of oncoming foldiers, or tli ■.: they mult com- mit the protection of their lives and property to a dif- tinct body oi men, who will naturally, in a {hort time, fet up a profeffional intereft, feparate from the commu- nity at large. To this caufe we may attribute the fub- veriion of every free Stare that to us. The Romans were certainly the J molt glo .it have figured on the face. of tl continued free longeft. Every and a foJdier not in nam.', but in fact -, by meant, tl at they were the molt rigid . i tary iuftitutions. The General therefore thought it ex- pedient ( 40 ) pedrent that every State in America fhould be extreme careful to perfect the laws relative to their militia ; an that, where they were glaringly defective, they ihoul be made more efficient ; and that it flwuld be eilablHhetl as a point of honour, and the criterion of a virtuous citi/en, to pay the greateu deference to the common ne- ceflary laws of a camp. The mcit difficult taflc the Editor met with in collect- ing and. arranging thefe Pofthumous Papers, arofe from Ills defire of not giving offence to fueh characters as had been the objecl of the General's avcrfion and refentment. Unhappily bis difappointments had foured his temper;* the affair of Monmouth, feveral pieces of fcurrility from the prefs, and numerous inftances of private (lander and defamation, fo far got the better of his philofophy, as to provoke him in the highell degree, and he became, as it were, angry with all mankind. To this exafperated difpefition we may impute the origin of his political queries, and a number of fatirical hints thrown out both in his converfation and writing, againfl the Commander in Chief. Humanity will draw a veil over the involuntary errors of fenfibility, and par- don the /allies of a fuffering mind, as its prefages did not meet with an accomplifhment. General Waihing- ten, by his retirement, dcmonflrated to the world, that] power was not his of>je£t j that America had nothing to fear from his ambition ; but that fhe was honoured with a fpecimen of fuch exalted patriotifm as could not fail to attract the attention and admiration of the molt diftant nations. The reader will not wonder that General Lee, disap- pointed in his career of glory, fhould be continually in- culcating an idea of the extreme danger of trufting too much to the wifdom of one, for the fafety of the whole i that he fhould confider it as repugnant to the principles of freedom and republicanism, to continue for years, one man as commander in chief ; that thei-e fliould be a rotation of office, military as well as civil ; and though the commander of an army pofleficd all the virtues of Cato ( 47 ) Cato, and the talents of Julius Cxfar, it could not alter the nature of the thing ; fmcc by habituating the peo- ple to look up to one man, all true republican fpirit be- came enervatedj and a vifible propenfitjr to mon.irehic.il government was created and foftered j that there was a charm in the long poflidnon of high office, and in the pomp and influence that attended it, which might cor- rupt the heft difpofitions. Indeed it was the opinion of Marcus Aurelius, whole virtues not only honoured the throne, but human nature, that to have the power of doing much, and to confine that power to doing good, was a prodigy in nature. Such lentiments of this divine prince, who was not only train- ed up in the fchools of auftcre philofophy, but whole elevated fituation rendered him the riolt able judge of the difficulty there is in not abudng extenfive power, when we have it in our hands, furuiih fubftantial argu- ments for not entrufting it to any mortal whatf'oever. But while we are convinced of the Juftneft of thefe kn~ timents, we are led the more to reipect and reverence our moll dilinterelled Commander in Chief, who itandj ponfpicuous, with unrivalled glory, fttperior to the fal- cinations which have overthrown many a great and no- ble mind, The editor conceives his prefent labours, in the com- pilation of this vfork, will be ufeful, and throw fome light on the hiitory of the late revolution — a monument of the arduous ftruggle, exhibiting a faithful and valua- ble collection of military and political correspondence. EDWARD LANGWORTHY, Baltimore •, March io.'/-, 1787. MISCEL- ( 4S ) MISCELLANEOUS PIECES, FROM THE PATERS OF THE LATE Major General CHARLES LEE. A SKETCH OF A PLAN FOR THE FORMATION OF A MIUTART COLON T. I WILL fuppofe the number to confift of ten thoufand men, with their full proportion of officers of differ- ent ranks, and children. There fhall be no difr.mc.tion made in the distribution of lands, betwixt the general officers and colonels •, but as it appears that there fhould, for the fake of order, be fome difference of property in the different claffes of men, I would propofe the follow- ing plan of distribution, — "When the capital is once fix- ed, immediately round it by lot — Every colonel to have two thoufand five hundred acres*; every lieutenant-colo- nel, two thoufand ; major, fifteen hundred •> captain, one thoufand ; lieutenants and enfigns, feven hundred each ; each ferjeattt three hundred ; every rank and file two hundred. Another circle drawn round it, contain- ing the fame number of acres, fhall be in common, for the ufe of the whole community ; where cattle fhall have the liberty of ranging. Beyond this circle another fhall be drawn, of an equal number of acres, with the fame proportion of acres for every member of the community. So that every colonel will, in fact, be matter of five thoufand acres, every lieutenant-colonel of four, every major of three, every captain of two thoufand, and eve- ry rank and file of four hundred ; one half within the capital precinct, and the other half in what I call the pomeerium ( 49 ) pcmocrium of the flatc •, the intermediate dial! be |ed to the rearing of horfes for the pubhe fei cattle, to form magazines for war. The lots in the pomcerium are intended for the chil- dren of the State, when they are of an age to fettle and jnarry. As the colony is miltiry, (as every colony ought to be, if they intend to he free) a conitant ©xercifed militia fhall be kept up, but by annual rotation: for which purpofc, the fifth part of the men lit to bear arms, from, feventeen to forty-five, lhall be embodied for two months of the year, their manoeuvres as (imple as can be deviled : but no fubltitutes are to be allowed, on any pretence, but abfolute infirmity ; and even thofewho are not em- bodied, dull, in their certain dillricts, be obliged to af- lemble every week, practice fome fimple evolutious, fuch as marching in front, retreating arid rallying by their co- irs, and all firing at marks. A (landing fmall body of horfe, and of artillery, (hall beconftantl*kept up at the public expence, as thefc Ipecies of troops are not to be formed in an inftant. — An Agi .lian law fhall be palled, and rigidly ob! lining abfolutely every member of the community,' g move than five thoufand acres of land, • not only within the precin&s of the community, but any- where elfe. No member of the community, unlcfs he s into the world deformed, or too weak to under- go the manly labours, ihall be fullered to cxercife feden- i.ulesj fuch as taylors, barbers, i'hoemakcrs, we uc. &c. Thefe effeminate and vile occupations fliall be allotted to women, to the weak, deformed, and t;> flaves, Agriculture, hunting, and war, to be the only profeffions of the men ; to which may be added, the trade of fmiths, carpenters, and thofe which do not emafcul.;te. But 33 there is reafon to apprehend, that a n merely of warriors, hunters, , may pe- comeextr* rocious in their manners, fome method lhould be , of foftening, or counteracting this eonlequcntial ferocity : I know of none equally efficaci- ous with a general cultivation and ftudy of nnfhc arid. F poetry » ( So ) poetry ; on which principle, I would propofe, that muiic •• d poetry mould be the gicat regimen of the two molt important articles of government, religion and war ; all other good qualities might follow of eourfe : for without re'igion, no warlike community can exift •, and with re- ligion, if it is pure and unfophifticated, all immoralities are incompatible. Mufic and poetry, therefore, which ought to be infeparably blended, are the grand pivots of a real, brave, active, warlike and virtuous fociety. This doctrine- I am confeious may fhock quakers, puritans, and rigid fectarifts of every kind ; but I do not fpeak to quakers, puritans, and rigid feclarifts. Attjie firtl, and from the bottom of my heart, I deleft and defpife them. I fpeak to men and folcliers, who wifh and are able to afiert and defend the rights of humanity ; and let mo add, to vindicate the character of God Almighty, 'and real chriftianity, which have been fo long difhonered bv feclarifts of every kind and complexion •, catholics, church of England men, prefbyterians, and methodifts. I could wife, therefore, that the community of foldiers (\vh» are to be all chiftians) ihould eitablifh one com- mon form of worfhip, with which every member muft acquiefce, at leaft in attendance on divine worfhip, and^ the obfervation of the prefcribed ceremonies ; but this fo contrived as not to fhock any man who has been bred up in any of the different fecrs. For which reafon, let nil expofitions of the feripture, and all dogmas, be for ever banifhed. Let it be iufficient that he acknowledges jthe exiftence, providence, and goodnefs of God Almigh- ty ; that he reverences Jefus Chriit : but let the queftion never be aflced, whether he considers Jefus Chrift as only a divine perfon, commiffioned by God for divine pur- pofes, as the fon of God, or as God himfelf. Thcfe fophiftical fubtilties only lead to a doubt of the whole :' fet it be fuiheient, therefore, that he believes in God, in his providence and in the mediation of Jefus Chriit, whether a real God, or only a divinely infpired mortal ; for which reafon, to prevent the impertinence and ill- • confequeuces of dogmatifing, no profcffional priefts of any !( P ) anv fort whatever Shall be admitted in the community. But (till I am of opinion, that a (acred order, or hierar- chy, Should be eftablifhed, and in the following manner : that this hierarchy arc not to be expositors, of the divine law, which ought to be understood by every member of common capacity ; but as the Servitors, or adminiftrators of tlit folemn ceremonies to be obferved in the worfhip of the Supreme Being, of his Son, or miihonary. The grand hierophant, pontifex maximus, or fopreme fervitor of the cerimenies of divine worfhip. is to be cho- fen out of the "community, and to be not under the age of fifty •, the principal qualification requifite in him, to be fanctity of manners, a reverend afpect, but above all, a diftinct and melodious voice. A body, orrarher cho- rous of under priefis, is to be felected likewife, for their integrity of manners, and (kill in mufic ; for as all dog- mas, andofcourfe ail expofuions, are baniShed, fuperior learning or what is improperly understood to be learning amongii the theologians of the modern world, will be fo far from a qualification, that it will rather be a disquali- fication, particularly as the ceremonies arc to confifl in poetical hymns of praife and thankfgiving, fet to rnufic 5 fuch for inftance as Pope's UniverfaJ Prayer, part of the Common Prayer, and many pieces Selected from the Pfalms of David ; for thefe long prayers with which all the churches of the different feels are infefted, entering into fuch minute details with God Almighty, as if h your factor in a foreign courtry, have been juftly deemed by many wife men, not only tirefome, but impious ::.i- pertinencies. Ablutions, fuch as arc pracYifed in the religions of the Eaft, feems to me to be really a divine inftitution. T Eafterns wifely fav, that a pure foul cannot inhabit a fil- thy body ; that a purified body is the belt Symbol of a clean Spirit ; that it is indecent and wicked to prefent yourfelf before your Creator in a dirtier condition than you ought to appear in before an earthly Superior. Ad- mitting thefe figures to be hyperbolical, the infltitution certainly is extremely wife, as it contributes So eflcntial- iy ( 52 ) ly to health, and the agreement of foeiety. Baths, or I little fountains, at leaft fuch as are in ufe amongft the I to be eftablilhed near the temples of worfliip 5 and every communicant to wafh his hands, face, feet and teeth, before he enters the facred abode. The temples to be as magnificent as the circu,mflances of the foeiety v. ill admit. A grand religious concert of thankfgivings to be performed every Sunday ; and two other days in the week, we will fnppofe Tuefdays and Fridays, nut fhorter, and with lefs pomp ; for there is nothing i'o impolitic, as to make pomp and ceremony too fre- I quent — they entirely lofe their eiFetft. The thankfgivings or hymns, therefore on thefe commmon days, to be ex- 1 tremely ihort, but fenfible and energetic : long prayers, inch a« the morning fervices of the church of England, with the addition of a long unmeaning fermon, hum- med through the nofe perhaps of a crop- tick parfon, who can fcarcely read his own writing, or the flill more in- fufferable cant of the puritant preachers, muft be the bane of all religion ; and I verily believe there is fcarcely any one perfon, if they had the honcfty to confefs it, man, woman, or child, who would not rather fufFer con- siderable inconvenience than go either to a churcli, or a prefbyterian meeririg-houfe. In fhort the ceremonies of tlivine worfbip muft be made folemn, pompous and ele- vating — but we will quit the fubjecl: of religion, and pais to the law. As an Agrarian law is to be eftablifhcd, and rigidly obferved, retraining every member of the community to the pofieilion of live thoufand acres •, and as the children 1 of both fexes are to inherit an equal portion (for this i.-, to be a fundamental maxim) the moll fimple code nrav b extracted, for civil cafes, r:cr,\ the common laws of England, or from thofe of Denmark, which appears to be excellent. A pvofeffional lawyer therefore will be to- tally unneceffary ; indeed, I Ibould as foon think of ino- culating my community for the plague, as admitting one of thefe gentleman to refide among us : all requisite knowledge of the law will be a common accomplilhment of ( >3 1 of every gentleman. The Romans, in the ages oftheir fimplicity, virtue and glory, had certainly none •, the ifame men where their confuls, pontifices, generals, and juris- Lonfuls. With refpeCi to criminal matters, I \voul3 adopt Beccarie's fcheme j its excellencies have heen de- monflrated in the Tufcan dominions. When the pre- fent Grand Duke acceded to the ducal throne, he found Tufcany the mod abandoned people of allltalv, filled with robbers and aflallirs. Every where, for a feries of ] previous to the government of this excellent prince, \ ieen gallows, wheels and tortures of every kind ; and the robberies and murders were not at all lefs frequent. He had read and admired the Marquis of Becearia, and determined to try the affe&s of his | Ian. He put a Hop to all capital puniihments, even for the greatcit crii and the confeouences have convinced the world of ii^ wholefomnefs. The galleys, ilavcrv foi a certain term of years, or for life, in proportion to the crime, have ac- compiiihed what an army of hangman, with their hi wheels and gibbets j could not. In fliort, Tufca 5 being a theatre of the greateil crimes, and villanii ry ipecies, is become the fafeft and b?ft ordered St; Europe. It is a known fa«fr, that fine option d this •/'. in there have been bur two '•r.'r.cu i . ted : one by a. little boy cf eleven years old in a (trek) the other, not by a native Italian fubjett, but bj trifli Officer. But if we had not iple, and th«i of the Emprefs Eiizabcth, (who adopted the lame plan, which, had the fame good affect) before ©ui eye*, the in- culcating an idea in a military people that death is the moft 'terrible of all puniihments, is certainly the molt ahfurd of folecifms. Nothing gre.it can be expected from a community which is taught to confidei il .. inch. On the contrary, death ought, as far as human nature will admit, to he made a matter of indifference ; or, if pollible, (and I think it very of comfort. I have often laughed at the glaring contradiction in the proceedings in this article, in * : F z others ( 54 ) others in which I have ferved. I have feen two or three wretches, who had the misfortune to be detected in ma- rauding, or attempting to defert, taking out with awful form, encircled by a multitude who had been guilty of, pr had intended to have committed the fame crimes, but happily had not been difcovered ; the chaplain, in. his canonicals, telling them how dreadful a thing it was for their fouls to be divorced from their bodies, and to be urged on to the tribunal of their Maker, with thefe horrid fins on their heads. A few hours afterwards, Come defperate expedition ordered to be executed by the I very men who had been prcfent at the execution, who had committed, or had intended to commit, the very fame horrid crimes ; and the officer appointed to com- mand the expedition, as ufual, harangues the foldiers ; affures them that death is not a ferious affair ; that, a-, all men mull fooner or later die, it is of little moment when it happens. Thus it may be laid, we blow hot and cold with the fame breath. I am therefore abfolutely and totally againft capital punilhments, at leaft in our military community. Let the lofs of liberty, and igno- miny, be inculcated as the extreme of all punifhments : common culprits therefore are, in proportion to the de- gree of their delinquency, to be condemned to ilavery, for a longer or fhorter term of years -, to public works, inch as repairing highways, and public buildings, with fome ignominious diftinction of habit, denoting their condition. As to tb^fe who have been guilty of crimes of a very deep dye, inch as wanton murder, perjury, and the like, let them be mutilated, their ears cut off", their :s itamped with the marks of infamy, and whipped out of the State. I pals now to trade. — The perfuafion that extenfive trade is the (ource of riches, ftrength, happinefs and glory, is perhaps one of the greater! mi'fiakes and mif- foi tunes which modern focieties labour under. Without doubt certain cities, both of antiquity and the prefent world, from their peculiar Situation and circumftances, owed their exiltence entirely to their commerce ; fucli - . as I *5 ) as Tyre, Venice and Holland : but I cannot conceive how a community of toldiers and agricultures, who have lands enough to cultivate, not only for their own fubfift- ence, but in a great meafure for others, fhould have oc- calion for what is called great and extcnfive commerce. I think, on the contrary that it mull emafculate the bo- dv, narrow the mind, and in fact corrupt every true re- publican and manly principle •, nay I think It mutt de- stroy allfenfibility for real plea lure and happinefs. Let any man of talte or fenfibility aflbciatc only for a few months with commercial men, orreluic in a commcu i- al city, he will find their conversation dull, languid, and lhipid ; their pleafures confined to grofs eating and drink- ing : their only idea of mirth, to the roaring oi' foxrte vile hoarfe finger ; and of wit, to the ftovy-tclier v( the club, or feme wretched punltcr, who lives on catcher and crotchets* True mufic, elevating poetry, liberal hii- tory, and ill polite literature ; a competent acquaintance with thele, is neceflary for thofe who have any (hare of the lure: 1 mean thofe who are immediately entruit- cd wirh the executive or judical powers. It is abfolutely requiiite to qualify every man ot a liberal community for fecial converfation. But although I object to profelhonal merchants being permitted to relide in our government, ertain that lome degree of commerce or barter muft be carried on, or agriculture and hunting Hand Hill, and of courfc idlenefs and all its attendant evils enfue. I would therefore propofe that on the frontiers of the State, at lead once in the year, a cvrrt/yiizV fhould be cfta- Milhed, to which merchants and pedlars of all forts and nations ihould be encouraged to rcfort. This fair to con- tinue three weeks or a month. AN ESSAY ON THE COLT D'OEIL. IT is the general opinion, that the coup d" fo noble a performance ; becaufe as he was on the fcens ol action, he had the means of obtaining the molt excel- lent materials, and of converting with odicers who had ferved in thefe wars. A PICTURE OF THE COUNTESS OF THE Countefs has, what we fee feldom united in the fame woman, vivacity and tendernefs, dignity ol perfon and feminine foftnefs. She is tall, and exqui- fitely fhaped. She is of an amiable, and commanding a£- pect. Her eyes are of the languishing Englifli blue, but of ( $4 ) of the Grecian largcnefs and contour. Her forehea3 is of a poliih and formation not to be matched. Her lips are full and ripe, from which ifliies a breath which would create i 1 . age and coldnefs. Her neck is of fuch a colour and (Vmmetry as to make us curfe invidi- ous cuftom for preventing us gazing on the whole of fo amiable a piece of workmanfhip. Her fkin is of a fmooth- neis that the flighted contact of it thrills through every pore, and beats alarm to a thoufand wilhes. Her perfon is rather ample ; but we could not confent to its dimi- nution, left fbme grace or beauty mould be lojt. No man has feen her laugh ; but ihe fmiles frequently. Her fmiles feem rather to be the refult of an inclination" to make thofe about her cheerful and happy, than of any inherent gaiety of difpofition in herfelf. She has, at times, a dam of melancholy in her countenance, which is more becoming than her fmiles. Thefe lhort fymptoms of melancholy I lhould attribute to her vacancy of heart, to her want of fome one object upon which {lie may fix her** affections ; a necellity which Nature has irnpofed upon Woman for a wife purpofe — the perpetuation of the human race. She has faults but her faults feem to be acquired — her virtues a native inheritance. She is fo general, that it almoft amounts to coquetry. She makes too little di- " ftinttion betwixt the man of merit and fenfe, and the foolifh and undeferving. She can cruelly fuffer the fin- cere re'foectful lover to languid without a glimmer of hope, and give encouragement to the allured, indifferent coxcomb, who would boafl of favours which (lie is, perhaps, determined 10 confer on no man. She has the appearance of being fo fanned with thefe reptiles, that you would fufpec!: her underltanuin;:, did not every fentence which Jhe utters correct this mrftake. She may be aceuied in this, of ingratitude towards her benefac- trels, Nature, who bellowed on her fuch uncommon ta- lents, not to be hebetated by the galimatias of fools, but, by a proper application of her time, to be perfected into mental endowments proportionable to her pexfonal charms. ( °S ) charms. She atls wifely in being cautious of a fecond marriage, as the great fortune which llie is pofTefTed of, mud render it difficult for her to diftinguifh who court* her riches,who herielf. But the man who fhall be hap- py enough to obtain her, will clo well to hurry his prize to feme retrer.t from the great world, as the facility which I complain of might create him much uneafinefs; for it is an eternal truth, that great love, and fonic de- gree of jcaloufy, are infepsrable. There thou mighteft, O envied mortal ! enjoy perpetual happinefs ; if candour, franknefs, good nature, onderftanding aud beauty could make thee happy. AN ACCOUNT OF A CONVERSATION, CHIEFLY RELATIVE TO THJJ ARMT. SOME time ago I made one of a company of officers, whole conversion was not confined, as is too much the cultom of gentlemen of our profeflion, to buckles, but- tons, gartersy grenadier-caps^ or what is little better, figure that J'uch or fucb a regiment made in their puerile reviews for the amuj'ement oj royil majlers and tnijjlr, gr. and final!, in Hyde Park, or en Wimbletott Common ,■ our' difcourfe iell upon the hiftory of England, and the rc- fpe£Hve merits of -the different hiftorians. " A young fubaltern, who feetned to have great fire and fentiment, and with more reading than young fubaltern ; are generally mailers of, was extremely bitter' on Mr. Hume : he loaded him with a thoufand opprobriums ; he ftiledhim a fophilt, ajefuit, a theiltical champion o£ defpotifm, who had dethroned the God of Heaven, and deified the fceptered moniters of the earth. The young man was taken up by a grey-headed field-officer, who was io warm a partisan of Mr. Hume's that he leaned riot only towards abfolute (or in his favourite author's fcrms) pure unmixed monarchy, but vifibly towards jacc- bitifm. He fpoke of Charles the Firft with an idola- trous reverence, and of ail his opponents with the greateft O 2 horror ( 65 ) horror and indignation : this led him to a great deal of abufe on Mrs. M'Cawley •, he lamented that a eompofi- tion cf this nature was differed to be pubhihed, which mult inftji the mod damnable republican principles into the minds of our youth ; that it already had diminilhed that refpect to royalty {o neceflary to be kept up : and that the young gentleman who fpoke hit had furnifhed us with an inllance, that the army had not efcaped the contagion — a molt alarming confideration ! as their dii- relpert to crowned heads was not manifelted alone by opinions injurious to thermal martyr, but that feveral of them had frequently in their converfations declared their difapprobation of fo'ine part of the nrefent reign ; that fuch fentiments, and fuch language, were not only repugnant to the fpirit of our military laws, but indecent and ungrateful in thole who eat his Majejiy's bread. — ■ This he uttered with l'o much emphaiis, that the greatelt part of the company was terrified into filence ; and the young fubaltern be g m to think he had been guilty in fome meafure of treafon, and, I believe, would have prevaricated hunk If into other fentiments than thofe he had profefTed, had I not taken up his caufe, juftified all. he had advanced, and encouraged him to folter the noble principles he had imbibed. I demanded of our veteran to explain his meaning in laving that ice eat his Alajejlys [read ; whence had his Majcltv drawn funds to feed fo many mouths ? Were coffers of gold tranfported from his perfonal eftates in Germany ? or, had he difcovered in his gardes at Kew, treafures fulheiem: for fuch prodi- gious munificence ? Were the Officers of the army for- lorn and ftarving in tlie ftreets, without patrimony, re- lations andfrier.ds; cut off, by their country, from all means of funporting themfelves ; in a word, precluded from all poflibilities, prefented to other members of fo- ciety, of procuring a livelihood ? Had his Majefty found the whole body of us in this wretched, defperate fitua- ti iii and ut of the valt benevolence of his foul, and at . i dividual ^expencc, without the leaft incum- brance to the -nation, redeemed us from hunger and nak- - ednefs,, ( ^7 ) ednefs, fed us comfortably, clothed us in fmart red coats, put fwords by our fides, and erected us into the condition of gentlemen ? I fiid,if thefe things could be proved, but on no other terms, I would agree with the gentleman who fpoke lair, that we really did eat the kings bread, and that we were perhaps in duty bound to approve all his mea- fures, and allthofeof his minifters, whether right or wrong, glorious or inglorious, falutary or pernicious. — Buton the ether hand, if we conlider ourfelves, as we really were, only as a clafs of one great free people, fegregatcd from the reft into tin's diilinct clafs, and fubjected to particu- lar laws neeeffary for the maintenance of military order and discipline, without which we could not anfwer the ends of our inftitution, that is, the immediate defence of our mother country againjl foreign invaders, and the pre- fervation of our colonies and external pojjejjicns, the great bafis and fupport of our commerce, wealth, and marine^ confequcnth our national importance and independence : I faid the King might be confidered, partly in the fame predic&mcnt with the officers of the army, or the fleet, viz. a great fervant of the community, or tnafs of the peo- p.'c, ordained and fubfifled for the public fervice ; with this difference, that each individual of the army, or fleet, contributed as a citizen, and one of the people, to his fubhllence, as a foldier, or fervant of the great aggre- gate, of which lie himfelf, in another fenfe, formed a put ; whereas the king was fimply a receiver ; in no refpeel a contributor ; fo that it might in fact, be faid with more propriety, tiiat the king eat the officers of the army's bread, than that the officers of the army eat the king's. I confeffed that his Majefty r as one branch of the legiflature, and executive magiftrate, was entitled to. a very high degree of reverence from foldiers as well as other citizens, as long as he fulfilled the duties of his Ration *, but that ftill a higher degree of reverence and attachment was due to the freedom, laws, profperity and glory of our country, than perfonally to the fir ft magif- trate, let him fill his office ever fo worthily. When it was remembred, I added, that the prefent reigning fa- mily C 63 ) mily had been taken from a German electorate, not the moit considerable, exalted to the head of a mighty em- pire, endowed with adequate revenues, and inverted witn the godlike powers of executing juftice, but foften- ing its rigours, of dealing out mercy, but retrained from evil ; I laid, when thefe things were remembred, lhould his prefent majefty, or any of his fucceflbrs, pervert the power granted bv the gcuerofity and confidence of the people, to the prejudice or difhonour of the people, the officers of the army, no more than any other clafs of citizens, could not be taxed with ingratitude, or inde- cency, in cenfuring their prince, but the prince in fur- nifhing matter of cenfure. — The old field-officer began to foften : he confeffed that his expreffion with refpect to the officer's eating his Majefty's bread was improper ; but ftill infilled, that the army ought to be more referv- ed in their cenfure than any other order of men, as they feemed to be held in higher efteem by the prefent Court than any other order. In this again I totally differed from the old gentleman. 1 afferted it was the reverfe : that the army had been treated through the whole pre- fent reign, both individually and collectively, with more contempt and ingratitude than in any reign of any age or any country •, that the ill ufage of the army had not been confined to the living, it had extended to the dead. To begin with Mr. Wolfe, to whole valour and conduct we owed the acquifition of a mighty empire, how irre- verently had his allies been treated by government ! The nation had indeed gratefully and generoully voted a mo- nument to their hero j the nation had paid the money, but unfortunately his majefty's minifters were the truf- tees : to this day therefore we fee no monument erected ; the money raifed on the people for this purpofe, having probably been converted to the ufe of fome living wor- thies, not very far diftant from Weftminfter Abby. But they were not fatisfied with depriving the hero of thefe trophies ; they had piqued themfelves in adding every infult to his memory. The man who had ferved, or rather diflerved, under him j who had fhewn activity only ( <* ) only in embarraffing his counfcls, impeding his mea- sures, and labouring to defeat his purpofes ; who had drained his hardbound wit to throw a ridicule on his conduct ; who, whenever he could find an audience paf- five and bale enough to his mind, had. poured fort) rents cf abufe, and endeavoured to raifc a fpirit of fac- tion and mutiny in others, equal to that ftirred up in his . own breaft, by the daemon of envy ; who, after his glo- I rious death, had not paid the flighted tribute of refpedfc I to his memory, or of ceremony to his remains ; who had attempted to filch bis laurels off the fie If, and put them in his pocket : This man, I £aid, had been loaded with the higheft preferments, and the greateft honours, • (if any thing which flows from fuch a court can be deemed honours) which our court has to bellow. — Let us next obferve how the brave Band, who conquered under him, and indeed the whole American army, had been recompensed, officers and foldiers. The fir it inllance of gratitude exhibited by our government, was the de- priving them of their provifion, without which it is al- moit impolhble that an American foJdier Ihould fubfift : the vail confumption of nece/Taries occafioned by the nature of that hard fervice, from clearing communica- tion^, building bridges and forts, but above all from traniporting provisions, ammunition and artillery up the rivers, and the enhanced price of thefe necefl'aries, as they all come from England, by the freight and profit of the merchants, put an American foldier, although allowed provifion, in a worfe conditi an without it ; particularly when we confider, that an I European foldier . >r all king'.; or public works, which in America was not the cafe. 1. ruelty of this meafure was not all : it was fla *a br< ach of compact, at Icaft with ufpccl to a j I of the army — the volunteer drafts from England, the •whole body cf royal Americans, and every man i\ cd in America, were engaged on abfolute expreis o tions of being allowed provifion. Travelling from North -America to the Weft Indies, the tendernefs of the pro- le nt ( 7o ) fent reign difplayed towards the foldiery is fliil more ftriking ; the diitribution of the plunder of the Havan- nah is lb notorious that it would be impertinent to men- tion it ; but the motives of this distribution are fo curi- ous, that it is difficult not frequently to recur to them. They were thefe : The Earl of Bute and his great ad- junct lived in perpetual apprehenfions of the late Duke of Cumberland; the firmnefs of the man, his known (courage, his good fenfe, but above all his principles and attachment to the welfare and honour of his country, rendered him an object of terror to thole who were de- termined to facrihee every thing to the maintenance of their own power and authority — after having revolved in their minds what was the moft probable method of foftening this bar to their fchemes into fome complacen- cy, it was concluded, that to win this favourite, was the plan of the moft promifing afpect. The expedition againit the Havannah was at this time refclved upon ; the troops and fleet were in readinefs ; my lord of Albemarle was on this principle appointed to the command, and on this principle fo enormoully en- riched at the expence of the labour, health and blood of the molt noble deferving army that this, or perhaps any other country, has been ever ferved by. His lordfhjp and his family were indeed aggrandized ; but the great views of the diftributers were happily difappointed. The Duke of Cumberland perfifted in his integrity, and con- tinued an honeft zealous citizen until the fatal moment when he was matched away from his country. I think, without rant or exaggeration, it may be termed a fatal moment : — lie was indifputably a valuable true Engliih- m;m : he had, in the early parts of his life, through an over zeal for reforn irmy from the miferable con- dition in winch he found them, projected fchemes not Unexceptionable •, but this mult be afcribed to a defer- ence which he paid to the opinion of men infinitely in- ferior to himfelf, both in virtue and talents: but in his an good qualities demonftrated themklvcs fy fuiiy, that we may fairly conclude, had fate ( P ) fate fpared him, he might at lead have checked the tor- rent of thofe bitter waters broke in upon us from their aecurfed fource of Carleton-Houfe. — But before I take leave of America, I cannot help observing the extraor- dinary attention paid to the officers' and foldiers in the .allotment of lands; it would be enulefs to enter into the detail of the royal or miniftcrial (for thefe terms have been of late fo confounded together that it ia puzzling to diftinguifh them) bounty in this particular -, I {hall inflance one or two which may fufiice for the whole. It had long been fuppofed that the ifland of St. John's in the gulph of St. Lawrence, would have been a pro- fitable poffeffion. A (ei of officers of the land and fea i'ervice, laid out a plan for the fettlcment of it. They prefented it to Govornment, and petitioned a grant of it. The grant was promifed. The olhcers dangled from day to day for the fulfilling of this promife. They were muffled from the Admirality to the Board of Trade, from the Board of Trade to the Admirality, from an Egmont to an Hilliborough, from an Hillfborough to an Egmont, for the fpace, 1 believe, of three years. Egmont accufes rj Hilliborough as the caufe of this delay; HiiHborough ; accufes Egmont ; hia Majefty {lands neuter betwixt thcie two righteous perfonages. The Officers danced attendance until they found them- felves on the threihold of a jail ; but at length it is de- cided : The officers who where the original petitioners, got half a lot. Mr. Touchit, or Touchat (for I have not I the honour of knowing how he fpells his name) fome court furgeons, and every kind of court retainer, who ; thinks it worth his while to hint that he has no objection to an American poffeffion, is gratified with a whole lot. Another fociety of officers had folicitcd a grant of lands on the river St. Lawrence, which they undertook , to fettle ; this was flatly refufed. Another focictv folicited fir lands on the lower parts 01 the Illinois, Ohio, or on die IdilhiTippi : that was like- rejected ; but from what motives it is impotable to define, unlefs they fuppofe that foldiers, uivefted with a little, ( 72 ) a little knded property, would not be fo readily induced to act as the inftruments of the oppreflion of their fel- low fubje&s, as thofe whofe views are folely turned, if not'redueedjto farther promotion ; and if reduced, to full pay. And here I am afraid the uuderftaridirigs of our profeffion mult appear dreadfully low, when they can be dupes to the hopes of promotion. Let them reflect for a moment on the mode of bellow- ing, fince the peace, the only commillions which by mi- litary men can be eiteemed objects ; I mean regiments, and lieutenant colonelcies ; and I will venture to affirm, that not four of each have been be flowed on men who, in the opinion of thofe who have ferved with them, have the femblance of a title. That the army on the Englifh and on the Irilh eflablifhment, and the ileet on the home and foreign ftations, have been confidered by our court as the precious means of corrupting us from our duty as citizens ; that a plea of merit in general, or any par- ticular action, of wounds, lofs of health or limbs by a courfe of hard fervices, has been confidered as a fmyptom of lunacy. And I have heard fay, our incomparable Secre- tary at War values himfelf not a little for his humanity, in not fuing for ftatutes to confine the wretches who can pufh their extravagance to fuch a height as to make thefe pleas. It will perhaps be f.iid, that jobs are not the growth of this reign j that jobs ever were, and ever will be, in a government like ours. But allowing jobs to have been, I cannot think iniquity is to be juftifyed by precedent , and furely iniquitous precedents are very un- gracefufly quoted in a reign which was announced from its commencement to be that of virtue, purity, and righte- oufnefs. As to the army that ferved in Germany, it is true they have not been fo very grofsly treated as the American.. There were moments when Lord Granby would not cede to our gracious Secretary at War. There were moments when, as our ingenious court termed it, he was obitinate and impracticable ; that is, there were moments when he infilled on fome regard being paid to thefc i ( 73 ) thofe who had deferved of their country ; but thefe mo* merits unfortunately occurred but too feldom. His faci- lity and complacence to the wickednefs of the Court, preponderated over his natural love of juftice. In friort, the patronage of the army was left to a Barrington, by whom valour fenfe .and integrity muft naturally be pro- fcribed, as he mufl fuipect that no man can po fiefs them without being an enemy to their contraries, which are the undifputed attributes of his Lordfhip. From this long digreflion on the obligations of the ar- my to the prefent Court, on the extraordinary efteem in which the military has been held through the whole courfe of the prefent reign, we returned to our original topic, the merit of the different hiflorians. I joined the young fubaitern in his encomiums on Mrs. IVFCawley. I challenged the old field-officer to point out a fufpicious authority that fhe had quoted ; to pro- duce a fmgle comment which did not correfpond with the facts. I afferted, that her inferences were fairly drawn from her premifes ; and that there could not be traced the fhadow of partiality in the long feries of her hiftory, unlefs a zeal for true liberty, and the rights of her coun- try and of mankind, may be termed partiality. I affer- ted, that Hume was the reverfe in all refpects ; that he {iroduccd little, and that very fufpicious, authority ; that lis comments did not agree with his facts, the effects not deducible from the caufe. Upon the whole, what I fail on thefubject of James's hiftory, and of the character of his favourite Charles, was fo fatisfactory to the company, that they requefled me to digeft what I offered, and to prefent it to the public. AN EPISTLE TO DAVID KU31E, Est*. Sir, N reading hiftory, nothing has fo frequently mocked me as the difrefpectful and irreverent manner in which divers writers have ipoke of crowned heads. Ma- ny princes, it mufl be owned, have acted, in fomc inftan- H ces, ( 74 ) cos, not altogether as we could wifh j but it is the duty of every honeft man, and friend to royalty, the great fqurce of human happifiefs, to draw a veil over their weaknefs j and if not able entirely to juftify fome parts of their conduct, he maybe at lealt, by the aid of certain managed terms •, and decent foft firings, in a great mcafure prevent the evil effects which a coarie, and I may fay barbarous relation of facts is apt to have on weak and vulgar minds. The paffion, prejudice ami party heat of fe\ c ral who llyled themfelves historians, have, I make no doubt, been the principal caufes of the numberless mur- murs infurrectiens, rebellions, dethronements, expulsi- ons, regicides, which have difgraced the hiftory of man- kind, and more particularly of this infatuated country. On this principle, Sir, you will readily believe, that the Satisfaction I have received from your incomparable Hiltory of the'Houfe of the Stuarts, is of the higheft kind : that I have peruSed it, and re-perufed it a thouland times, and always with freih pleafure ; and that I ar- dently with the youth of our country were never Suffered to read any other ; a rule which I am charmed to hear is ebferved by the moil exalted perfonage In the kingdom, as well in virtue as in rank, whenever he condefcends to unbend his mind from his fevere Studies and occupations by dipping into the annals of his predeceffors ; and it is to this rule, perhaps that we are indebted for the prodigious enlargment of his mind, in fo tender an age that all Eu- rope Stands aftonifhed at it. How complaifant, how gentle, how guarded, how humane, how polite are your phrafes, in laying before us the tranfa&ions of thofe good, though perhaps miS- guidedj princes ! How calculated are your comments to mitigate the Seditious Spirit of the mad multitude ! Had you written an hundred years ago, I am purfuaded you would not only have prevented the growth of thofe horri- ble opinions, (alas ! too prevalent) That kings are not on!-/ refponfible, but punishable for their delinquences i their ptople ; that Charles the Firft met with no harder fate than he deferved, and that his two Ions ought, ( 75 ) ought, in juftice, to have made the fame exit. I fav, Sir, had you written an hundred years ago, you might not only have prevented the growth of fuch monitrous notions, but probably have checked thofe furious princi- ples, which ended in driving from the throne of his ancef- tors, to the indelible difgrace of thefe nations, a prince replete with every royal virtue. In ihort, Sir, I am fo much in love with the fcheme of your hiftory, I am fo convinced that no tafk can be equally laubable in a philofopher, an hiitorian, and a gentleman, as to endeavour to eradicate from the minds of our youth all prejudices and preporTeihons againft the memory of deceafed, and the character of living princes ; and, by obviating the cavils and malice of republican writers, to infpire mankind with more candour in judg- ing of the actions and government of fovcreigns, that I am determined to follow fo bright an example, and ex- ert the utmoil of my zeal, (kill, and abilities, (indeed far fhort of yours) to refcue from the unmerited odium under which they lie, two much injured characters in hiftory ; I mean the Emperor Claudius Caefar, and his immediate fucceflor Nero, whofe foibles and indifcretions have been fwellcd up into vices, by the auflerity and ma- levolence of Tacitus, Suetonius, and others (the Rapins, Ludlows, and M'Cawleys of thofe days) who wrote un- der fucceeding monarchs of a different family ; but as the motives for fuch virulent proceedings are now ceafed, and as men's minds ought to be a little cooler, we may ven- ture to pronounce the dilpofition of thefe princes (though I do not think they were faultlefs, or altogether wcll-ad- vifed) to have been good. Should the ungenerous and bigots in party raife a cla- mour, mould they exclaim that its being a pander to delpotifm, and an enemy to the rights of humanity, the endeavouring to glofs over vices and enormities fo ma- nifeft, as they pretend, by a concurrence of facts, vouched by the mod authentic records, I fliall confole myfelf, Sir, with your approbation, and that of the ge- nerous few who think with you, and fliall natter myfelf that ( It ) that the attempt, whatever may be the merit of the exe- cution, will recommend me, along with the Smollets, Scotts, Murphys, and Johnibns, to the notice of a court, which feems to pique itfelf in rewarding the champions and apologifts, of unpopular men and meafures, in pro- portion as their labours are unfuccefsful with the narrow- minded public. Yours, &c. A POLITICAL ESSAY. ON leaving fchool, I thought it right to get fome acquaintance with the liiitory of England ; for the' fchool where I was brought up was guilty in common with all other fchools, of the fhameful negleci of fuffering the boys to remain in utter ignorance of the laws, con- stitution, and tranfattions of their own country; fome knowledge of which is certainly of more importance, at lead in a government like ours, than the being able to fcan the flattering verfifyers of Auguftus's age. Rapin, accidentally was the firft hiilorian that fell into my hands. Notwithstanding his length, I read him through with great attention, which was more particu- i.aiy engaged when I came to thofe parts which treat of our feveral civil wars ; but the great one of the year 1640, interested me more fenfibly than the antecedent. And 1 cannot exprefs how much I was amazed in find- ing the character of Charles the Firft fo little agree with the notions I had conceived of hinfc from his being ftyled .1 Martyr; from the folemn obfer'vance of the 30th of January, in order to avert the wrath of the Almighty for (hat horrible parricide ; from the epithets of good, vir- tuous, pious, blefled, which were perpetually bellowed on him, not only by the old houfe -keeper, the maid-fer- vants, but by the mailer, ufher, and all the clergy who happened to difcourfe on this fubje£t in my hearing. In the holidays, when we went home, my mother, grand- mother, and all their female acquaintance, rung the fame in my ears. On ( 77 ) On the perufal of Rapine I was, therefore, ftrangely ^puzzled and confounded to find this virtuous, pious, blefled, holy martyr, metamorphofed into an obftinatc, diflembling, perfidious tyrant ; raid that the men whom I had been taught to execrate as rebels, traytors, j cides, fhould, for the greater part, appear the champi- ons of the laws of their country and the rights of man- kind, fraught with truth, valour, in attribute which can render mortal men the objects of veneration. I had no method of accounting for this, but by con- cluding my hiitori in guilty of the mod egregious | alitv, that he mull have imitated, or difguifed the facts to an enormo«s degree,; for as to his comment-.-, they appeared judicious, natural and fair, allowing the facU to be juftly Rated. Idefired all thofe whom 1 th< more knowing and wife than myielf, to folve thefe diili- culties. Some few of them averred that Charles was not at all better than what he was reprefented by Rapin ; but far the greater number allured me, that Rapine a lying French Prefbyterian, partial, unjuft, mali- cious, that no credit was given to him by men of judg- ment and knowledge, and that he was never fpoke oi with common patience.by thofe who have any generous fentiments. They advifed me, by all means, to go to the fountain-head of information on this fubject, the ; Clarendon ,■ that there I fhould fee the facts related clear- ly and honeftly, the comments fenii'ole and candid., the i.mles .ir.A < fretts congruous, the fpring oi every action laid open, the views and characters of the actors pain-, ted in their proper colours, by one who had himfelf played a principal part, or, at leaft, feen every thing that had palled behind the feenes ; one, whole authority was in-^ conteltible from his character for truth and integrity. I accordingly procured a Clarendon, not only read him with attention, but ftudied him with accuracy : and, behold thercfult, ! it was an entire, complete difappoint- ment in every circumftance : inftead of carrying the conviclion which I expected, it appeared to me, one H 2 eternal ( 73 ) eternal periphrafis fubdivided into aflertions without au- thority, childi Hi ifs without probable fuppofitions, and tortured inferences from miftated or defalcated facts, with endlefs begging the queftions. The epithets can- did, fmcere, virtuous, pious, were very liberally beftowed on him, whofe caufe he intends to plead ; and not a iingle iriflance of candor, fmcerity, or virtue is given through the whole courfe of his hiftory, unlefs exceflive bigotry to epifcopacy, and a fpirit of_ perfecuting all other proteftant feels, .is to be conftrued piety. In ihort, my averiicn to Charles was rather confirmed than transfer- red to the other party by the perufal of Lord Clarendon. ' I here difcerned very plainly, why the epifcopal clergy mould have made a Saint and a Martyr of him. His exceflive attachment to their order, and the great facrifi- ces he made to them, are undoubtedly very fubftantial titles to canonization, and the crown of martyrdom •, but the zeal and reverence with which a multitude of others, who are quite indifferent to modes of worfhip, and fome who feem defirous there mould be none at all, frill con- tinue to fpeak of this prince, and the indignation and horror with which they fpeak of his opponents, I con- liefs is with me a matter of wonder. I know very well, that the impreffions we receive in our childhood fink deep, and that thefe impreffions, whether we receive them from our nurfes, grandmother, or the parfon of the pa- , whether they concern ghofts, or hobgoblins, a de- vil, or a faint, a tyrant, or a martyr, are with difficulty effaced ; but that thofe who have got rid of thofe nar- row fupcrfiitious prejudices, mould frill retain, in their utmoft force, their prepoffemons with refpect to their royal mafter, is fomething fupernatural. I have long endeavoured to account for this, and am apt to conclude, that it muft be afcribed to the fingularity of his fate. — A king tried and condemned by his own fubjc&s is cer- tainly a Angular cafe, the fingularity of his fate has cre- ated pity, and pity ever generates love and affection. — The Marquis of Beccaria, in his incomparable treatife on Crimes and Punifhments, is of opinion, that a com- munity ( 70 ) munity ought to punifli with death fuch criminals only whofe exiftence is abfolutely pernicious to the communi- ty ; if his reafoning is juft, a criminal king is almoit the only criminal on whom death ought to be inflicted, as his exiftence (if not always abfolutely deftructive) is un- doubtedly highly dangerous to fociety. Tarquin was only expelled ; Tarquin's exiftence was nearly deftruc- tive to Rome ; an eternal war and confpiracics within the walls, which brought Rome into the cxtrcmeft peril, were the confequenccs of the tyrant's exiftence •, and the death of the tyrwntjirnp/y, unlefs it hath been accompa- nied with that of his fons, would not have injured the tranquillity and fecurity of Rome. On this principle, fome of the Grecian States had laws levelled, not only againft the lives of thofe who fliould erect themfelves into the tyrants of their country, but enjoining the extirpation of their whole race ; and thefe were wife and humane laws, becaufe they were ne- ceflary for the good of the whole, for the facrifice of a fingle family for the prefervation of millions is iudifputa- bly humanity. James the fecond was expelled like Tar- quin, but he and his fons were fufTcred to efcape with their lives ; the confequences of their being fuffefed to efcape were three rebellions, which not only threatened immediate deftrudtion to thefe nations, but endangered the liberties of Europe. It is true, thefe rebellions were defeated in their immediate purpofes, but the exiftence of the Stuart race hath laid, too certainly, I am afraid, the feeds of our deftruction. Their exiftence has furnifhed the minifters of the family, which was called in for our prefervation, with pretexts for arming the family of our prefervers, with the means of deftroying us ; for it is impoflible to fuppofe that the nation could have been brought to acquiefce in mortgaging the national proper- ty, without any vifible national purpofes, unlefs they had imagined that national debts were a fecurity againft the return of the dreaded Sluarts ,- and it is impoffible to fuppofe, that the people could have been fo far impofed upon, as to fufr'cr their reprefentatives to vote themfelves ( So ) themfelves feptennial from triennial, unlefs they had I been perfuaded that a feptennial parliament formed a ftronger barrier againft the return of the Stuarts than a triennial ; and it is ftill a greater abfurdity to fuppofe, that a majority of landed gentleman, of really well mean- ing honeft Englishmen, could be infatuated, to fo great a degree, as to (it down contentedly under the eftablifh- ment of a Handing army, the gradual augmentation of it to an enormous bulk, the interweaving of it (as it may be faid) into our constitution, had not the fpeetre of the Stu- arts return continually danced before their eyes. Hence, I think, without {training, it may be inferred, that die pecuniary influence of the crown, feptennial parliaments and a (landing army, (which unlefs fome great national calamity falls out to draw us back to our firft principles, before the minds of our foldiery are totally debauched) muft inevitably end in the destruction of our liberties ; and perhaps national independence, have been the fruits of our mistaken cruel moderation, in fufFering a fingle individual of the expelled family to remain in exiftence. But to return from this long digreflion to the queftion, whether the Singularity of Charles the Firft's fate, tryed and condemned by his own Subjects, is not one of tl^e principal caufes of his memory's being treated with fuch tendernefs and reverence. We will fuppofe a cafe ; but firft admitting Beccaria's pofition to be juft, that a com- munity ought net to punifh with death am; criminal nvhcfe exiflence is not abf lately pernicious , or highly dangerous to the community ,• and further, admitting that a criminal- king is the only criminal nvhcfe exijlence can be pernicious or highly dangerous. We will fuppofe, then that there fhould hereafter be formed a community, one of whofe fundamental laws mould be, That capital punifhmentc fhould be confined to delinquent kings alone ; that all otherdelinquents, let their crimesbe what they will, fhould be fent into exile ; their eftates, money, and goods con- fifcated to the ufe of the community. I will venture to affirm, that an hundred kings, Jefs- guilty than Charles the Firft, put to death on the fcaffold, would not fjiock the humanity of the tenderelt nature. W ( 8i ) "We will farther fuppofe, that* iter a feries of years' adherence to this law, they iliould at length, from a con- currence of accidents, on fome very great emergency,de- viate from it, and inflict the punifhment levelled againft royal delinquents alone, on delinquents of an inferior order, I will venture to affirm that the fpe£tacle, from its novelty, of a Jonathan Wild, a S h, or a * * *, dagling on a gallows, would afie£t the pailers-by with companion, and prompt their ingenuity to devife apolo- gies for the poor fufferers ; though, previoufly to their . execution, the whole world had agreed on the transcen- dency of their flagitioufnefs, the incorrigibility of their natures, and that no fate could be too fevere for their merits. But although the fingularity of Charles's deftiny, the prejudices foltered by the pious care of our nurfes and the clergy, have greatly contributed to the falfe light in which his conduct, morals, and general character are feen, it could not have operated fo wonderfully alone : the addrefs and fophiftry of a fucceflion of our corrupt citizens have been let at work, to co-operate in miflead- ing our judgment and blinding our understandings ; and, of this tribe the pre-eminence mult indifputably be given to Mr. David Hume •, for the pompous anility (as I think ■ it may be termed) of Clarendon, the more than prieltly fury of Carte, much lefs the pert patch work of Smollet, or tbe drivelling of poor Goldfmith, could not have % wrought any mighty miracles ; but with Hume, the cafe is different ; the philofophical, or rather fceptical charac- ter of the man antecedent to his appearance as an hif- torian, and a ipecioufnefs of ltrle render him lb infinitely more dangerous than his fellow labourers, that it is much to be lamented that fome perfon (for inftance, a Lord Littleton) eminent for parts and learning, has not thought it worth his while p ro felled ly (but I would have it com- peiulioufly, for a reafon I ihall hereafter give) to cxpofe to public view the incongruities, artifices, and pernicious intention of this fophiit. But when I lament that no i man of a Superior Ramp has fet himfelf the talk, I do not . mean that extraordinary learning or talents are absolutely neccflary ; ( fc ) hecefTary : on the contrary, I think an attentive pemfal; mufi qualify every man of common fenfe full as well! for the purpofe, if we could fuppofe that an equal degree of regard would be paid to him ; but it is certain, that the name and fignature of a perfon in high repute gives ? to manifeft eternal truths, greater force than when uttered by a common or unknown writer, although the efTence of truth cannot be altered by the greater or lefTer reputa- tion of him who utters it. It is true, a more effectual antidote to the poifon of Hume's hiftory cannot be dehred than Mrs M'Cawley's, if they are but read and compared together with their refpeciive authorities ; but the misfortune is, the perufal and comparing of two fo bulky writers cannot be ex- pected from the lazinefs of modern readers ; and it is on the notions and principles of the lazy clafs of readers that the prefent welfare of our country and the fate of pofterity, in a great meafure, depend. In fact, of what importance would it be to the community, if thofe very few, who have inclination and perfeverance to work through volumes, fhould enlarge their minds to even theftandard of an ancient Roman, when the young no- bility, gentry, and men of property, who compofe the lazy clafs, ftili remain perverted, uncorrected, an uninform- ed ? For thefe reafons, I think that fome works fo compen- dious as not to terrify by its bulk, confined (imply, and bearing the import of fuch in its title, to a refutation of Humes's tenets, and demonflration of his partiality and pernicious principles, would be more beneficial than a full, complete body of hiftory, digefted methodically, fupported by the beft authority, and animated by the no- bleft fentiments. But until fome eminent perfon will ■ be perfuaded to take up the employment, it is the duty of every common citizen to exert whatever force he has in the common caufe. A jealous fpirit in the people, of thofe who govern, and the principles of refiftance, from the palladium of liberty, particularly in a limited monarchy. An abhor- - ' rence ( 8 3 ) rence of tyrapts, or even of thofe who have a femblance of tyrants, (and it will fcarcely be difputed that Charles had a femblance,) is infeparable from this jealous fpirit and principle of refinance : whoever would extinguish the one, would extinguish the other. When we fee therefore, a junto of notorious court-retainers, clubbing their labours to reconcile us to the defpotic adminiftra- tion of Charles, to his duplicity, to his breach of faith, and violation of the moil folemn compacts, we may fafely conclude, that a defign is lodged to extinguifh the neceffary jealous fpirit of liberty and inculcate the princi- ples of non-refiltancc. It may be faid, that a too great jealoufy of liberty is equally dangerous with a too great confidence •, that as the latter may plunge us into (lave- ry, the former may into anarchy : I mould allow fomc weight to this objection, if in the whole courfe of our hiftory, a refutation, in a fingle inftanee, could be pro- duced of thefe pofitions ; That the fpirit of liberty is fl'jiv to nel, even agaiuft the tvorfe princes, and exerts it ft If in r of the befl with more effect than any other fpirit whatfocver. I muft therefore repeat, that the keeping alive the jealous fpirit of liberty is a common caufe ; 'That a deteftation of tyrants, or even of thofe who lean to tyranny, is infeparable from this fpirit j That Charles the Firft was a tyrant in principle and in actio:-. ; That thofe who labour to reconcile us to his conduct and cha- racter, would deftr6y. the fpirit of liberty, and. ultimate- ly eftablilh the principle of non-refdlance ; That a jun- to of mercenaries and court retainers do labour to thefe purpofes ; That it is, therefore, the duty of everv com- mon citizen, who has the interelt of his country at heart, to exert continually whatever force he has to defeat their purpofes ; or, at lealt, weaken their influence ; for, in mechanics, the f mallei! force continually applied will overcome the mod violent motions communicated to bodies. From thefe confidcrations, I purpofe to offer to the public, hereafter, fomc curfory remarks on Mr. Hume's Hiltory of the two firlt Stuarts : if they are well receiv- ed, ( 84 ) ed, I Hiall continue them through the reigns of the two Iaft. If they have, in any degree, the effect which I could wifh, I foall think myfelf amply recompenced, the only recompence which I can promife myfelf. I cannot hope for any .glory from the compofition ; the little rea- ding which a foldier can fnatch up at intervals will fcarce- ly qualify him to reap laurels in the field of literature j and it will eafily be believed, that the fentiments which I avow, will not procure a place or a penfion. A BREAKFAST FOR R********. Mr. H , AS Mr. R has given the public to under- ftand, that he does not chufe to deal with any writers, but thofe of the mod accurate and elegant kind, and who have paffed through a regular courfe of educa- 3 tion •, and as I cannot flatter myfelf, that I am one of this clafs, I do not prefume to offer this little perform- ance to him, though it is intended for his vindication ; but, as I underftand, from the fame authority, that you admit into your paper even the lowcft trafh, I find myfelf under the neceflity of applying to you. Mr. R has I know, like other gi'eat men, his calumni- ators and enemies , — envy and malice ever were attend- ant on exalted genius and merit. It is inconceivable, what numbers are endeavouring to detract from tim wonderful perfonage ; how they ftrain their little wits to throw a ridicule upon his talents, his ftyle, his inte-* grity, and even his erudition. This lofty one fhould ima- gine, if any thing of human attainment can, is unquef- tionablc, as he has given fuch eminent and manifold proofs of it : however it does not efcape them. I found myfelf the other night (for as a fcudier of men and cha- racters I afibciate with all forts) amongft a fet of the moft ilaming factious enemies to all order and govern- ment ; where the mod refpe£t.able characters of th were treated with fcandalous freedom. Lord Mansfield ( »5 was a Jeffries, Lord Bute a folemn, empty, pedantic Ja- cobite, and Mr. R a ridiculous, pragmatical, flip- flop coxcomb : they faid> that lie had not decency enough for the porter of a bawdy-houfe, learning enough for a barrack wafher-woman, nor imagination fufftcien: for a Chriilmas-bellman : — that at the age of fifteen he was turned out of the blue-fchool, where he had been bred, as too incorrigible a dunce to make a fcavenger of ; that they had, by way of jocular experiment, for fome time tried him in this capacity j but that he always, in windy days, fwept the dull up againft the wind. By perfilling in this practice he was very near lofing his eyes, and that you may obfevve they are ftill extremely weak from its effects. At this, Sir, I own my blood boiled. I faid, they mult be driven to great ftraite indeed, if they could object nothing worfe to a gentleman's character than his having been bred at a charity-fchool j for that it had been the cafe of fome of the molt illuflrious men the nation had produced *, the late Lord Hardwicke, and Mr. Prior, had been educated in the fame maimer. As to the flory of the weaknefs of his eyes, proceeding from ► {Weeping the duft againft the wind, I know it to bz a falfhood ; for that it had been contracted, to my know- ledge, by poring into a Johnfon's dictionary of his own printing, late at nights, to find out decent polyfyllables, I of lufficicnt found and dignity, to dref3 up an advertife- ment of Scotch herrings, lumber, and pickled oyltcrs. I afl'erted, that his compofitio.s were incomprehenfi- hly fine, liis language fonorious and mufical ; although, perhaps, he did not always apply words to their legiti- mate meaning ; as who docs in fuch an immenfity of |>ufinefs ; and that he fhould round a period with any bookfellerin Chriftendom : That he was a Latin jfcholar, I thought muft be allowed by all unprejudiced men, red his numb ulefs and apt quotations ice. Uno.i my mentioning his knowledge of 10k company burft out into a hone -laugh, ;ht was \ery indecent, and, when the up- roar lubfided, demanded the explanation. They infilled I upon ( B6 ) upon it, that he was fo totally ignorant of it, that he did not know the meaning, nor could he conjugate the verbs merit ior y nor vapttlo, though he fo generally practifed the former, and has fo often experienced the latter : — that his patches of Horace were always furnifhed by his friend the Doctor — that when he had finifhed one of his pie- ces, he always applied to the Doctor for a motto to dig- nify his performance ; that, for inftance, the four lines from Horace, prefixed to his late Epiftle to Mr. Sears, (which I really think one of the fmarteft things I ever Head) u-ere pointed out by the Doctor •, and that a blun- der whimfical enough happened on this occafion, though it was fortunately rectified in time for the prefs. They ^elated, that when he went as ufual for his motto to th«? •Docler* the Doctor wrote him down thefe lines ; While you alone fuftajn the weighty cares Of nil the world, and manage peace and wars ; The Roman State by virtue's rules amend, Adorn with manners, and with arms defend ; To write a long difcourte, and watte your time, Againft the public gooj, wou'd be a crime. faying, " R you may tranfcribe the Latin at your leifure, as you have Horace in your mop-, remember, it is the firft epiftle." R went home vaftly hap- py, but unluckily miftook the firft fatire for the firft epif- tle. When the Doctor went to revife it the next morn- ing, he found thefe lines very fairly written — §{ui fit Macenas tit nemo quam t &c. and under, the above tranf- lation. They added, that though the Doctor was that morning in an horrible ill humour (as he had juft been reading the Bifhop of St. Afaph's fpeech) he could not refrain from laughing 5 but, however, after having be- ftov/ed fome anathemas on the fkullof his friend, he, for the honour of the common caufe, took the pains to tranf- cribe the lines with, his own hand, to prevent any further blunders. They then proceeded to. fall foul upon his Euglifh ; they faid that when lie firft fet up his prefs, and before he was under the correction of tl;e Doctor, I s I Dwrke rtnvflceteers, muik-cat-ears — dra- goons, ( ' 5, dragons — battalions, battle lions ; and tli i really thought thefe itrangc things were made ulb of in war ; that all the words ending in tion, as finggelh cafligatiotiy falivation t words he is heft acquaint he fpelt with znJJj. I hate the ftory they told of him, which, although \ was curfedly enraged, I confefs i me fmile ; that writing to his niece, who was goii be married to an eminent pawnbroker in St. Mai Lane, he began his letter thus : " My dear Kitty, as are going to be married, and arc (o very young a vfould advife you by all mean.i, at lead, at mil, to a little cuJJjicn" meaning it for caution. Now i w appeal to all mankind, who are not totally blinded I jf party and faction, whether it is credible, whether it is pcflible, that a gentleman, who has from his cradle been in fome fort a retainer of the Mufes, ihould be guilty of fuch grofs, fuch ridiculous blunders. When 1 fay Mr. R has been a retainer of the Mufes, I do not mean Sir, iu your paltry fphcrc, a mere dealer in indexes and title pages. No, Sir*, his fphere has oeen more en- larged. It is notorious, that when he had fmifhed his ftudies, he was invited into a fociety of eminent intinera- ry comedians ; I know very well, that his enemies give cut, that he only amputated the luminaries betwixt the a&s ; but I could bring authentic proofs of his dinin- guifhing himielf in fome import,. is. A PAM- ( *8 ) February 3,' ifj$> A P A M P H L E 1',* ENTITLED, < l A friendly Addrefs to all rtafonahle Americans, on the '* Subject 1 of cur Political Confufons" gave birth to the following Performance, addreiTed to the people of AMERICA. '' Let's canvafs hi:n in his broad cardinal's hat." Shakespeare* To the PEOPLE of AMERICA APAMP5ILET, entitled, A friendly Addrefs to all renfonable Americans, advertifed and fold by Mr. James Rivington, of New-York, is of fo extraordinary a nature, that it is difficult for any man who is intereftcJ in the welfare of the community (whatever contempt he may have for the performance) to remain filertt. I know not whether the author is a layman or eccletiaftic, but he. bears flronglv the characters of the latter : he has the "T-;vnt d candour and truth, he apparent fpifit of pcifec .-lot., the Uriforgivenefs, the deadly hatred to dif- fenter>, ind the ?e?.l for arbitrary pciver which has dii- tinguifrn I churchmen in ai: age;, and more particularly ]\ e hig i part of the Church of England. I cannot help, theretore, CQnfidering him as one of this order. The defign pfhis K.evcrence's pamphlet, is manneltly to dirTolve tiie fpirit of union, and check the r.oble ar- dour, prevailing through the continent ; but his zeal lo far outrun? his abilities, that there U tiic greateft reaibn* to * !• - 1 |-e Revere: :. Dr. Miles Ciopc; pn .'" • - lefce, l than hio genius ; a man of mon judgment would not fo wantonly hai I the general reigning principle and opinions c whom he intends to intimidate or feduccout rights and privileges. For inilance, J believe there are at leait ninety-nine Americans in an hundred, who think that Charles the Firft was an execrable tyrant -, that he met with no harder fate than he deferved ; ; n : . that his two Tons ought, in juflice, to have mule the L.ir.e To defcantj therefore, on the criminality of 'the refin- ance made to that tyrant ; to aiilcir, on every occasion, giving the title of rebellion to the civil war which brought him to juflice, is a degree of weaknefs which no man who is not blinded by the daemon of Jacobitifm ( polfibly be guilty of. But to preach up in this eali ened age, as he docs in almoit exprefs terms, pSflive obe- dience, is a mark of lunacy, or at leail it proves that the moment a head begins to itch for a mitre, it lofcs the faculty of reafoning ; for it the principle of pa dienee, is admitted, the. gracious prince, for whom lie- ,renee profeflcs fo great a devotion, is a dowm ufurper, and the parliament, of which he fpeaka fo pcctfully, Lord* and Commons, are rebels and traitors. The doctrines he aims to inculcate are as follows : " That the parliament has a right to tax you witl your confent ; that the duty upon tea is no tax ; this duty is your only grievance ; that the caufe of Sof- ten is their own concern -, that it is not yom caufe j I the punifhment of Bollon is a jult punifhment ; tl is lenient; that it is not equal to their crimes •, that the Boftonians are rubles, traitors, and pampered fana that the Congrefs are little better; that no n n, the provin- omcers, were in general more understanding and ie than their own or the fame rank. But - ry of tin: civil war in the year 16*41, fur n vines us with the ftrongcfh inilances, that excellent blEcera n:. foon formed from country gentlemen, citiz 'us, [3x1 and farmers. The parliament's army, 01 as out pi writer would ca)l them, the rebellious chiefly compofed of this dais of men. In the begin of this war, they were tr . I with the fame afft I contempt, and almoft in th^ fame opprobrious terms as you, the p lople of America, trc by youv friendly and decent advifer. Whoever would infer from the tenor of thefe papers, that the writer is defirous of precipitating^ br 1 with indifference upon the calamities >. ' .t civil war, him great iujuftice. He confiders them with all the rcr natural to a feeling man and hone it citizen. He execvates the memory of thofe men, to whom they may be juitly attributed ; but he is perfuaded that they n originated, they cultivate, by convening w;th th" $*t':at hilroriana arul oaten of antiquity, and the more liberal political writers of our own country, a (binding army would r*> foir.ethi ng lefe an object of jealoofy to all vir- tuom citizens. 'Wfc might per' n, tpfiead of being .- the - merit oi the ; refent cantcfi m>- conjure th< i, for o:,^. tr . .-.I mmcftdly ti.e whi '■■ iefs; afterwards to lay their h,..-.».s upon their r.*..rt-, and :. . jtehether the people of America in genera* and of Bofton in part are moil finned againft, or (inning? No-./ I atv. u abject ot" the offi I army, I fake the Opportunity of mentioning, with the refpe& dui to him, one geatl 1 rank arnonj them. H , conduct while in wa? fo liberal, and his letter; Quoted in the Hoafe of Commons, fo fair, candid and friendly to the C 1 entitled to the •than'-. 1 - v :. He is indeed of a c< owes not only its nrofperity, but its exifteuce, 1 tiples, which at America. ( i°° ) originated, at lead in dates of any considerable extent, in the turbulent difpofitions of the people, nor in the arts of demagogues, but in the oppreflion of their rulers, in the wantonnefs, folly, pride, or avarice of kings, minifters, or governors. The Griilers of Switzerland, the Gran vels of Holland, the Lauds and Staffbrds of England, wer the undoubted authors of the tragedies, adled in th xefpe&ive countries ; and if this continent lhould be ftai ed with the blood of a fingle citizen, it can never charged to the unreafonable pretenfions of the peopl but to the Barnards, Hutchinlons, and fome other tr tors of a fimilar ftamp. He is convinced, that being prepared for a civil w; is the furefl means of preventing it j that to keep the fword of your enemies in their fcabbards, you muft whet your own. He is convinced, that remonftrances, peti- tions, prayers, and fupplications, will make no impref- f:on on our callous court, and abandoned parliament. England, Ireland, America, even Guernfey, Jerfey, and Minorca, are witnefles of their ineflicacy. He is con- vinced, that fear alone can operate ; there are fymptoms that it already begins to operate. The monfter, Tyran- ny, begins to pant ; prefs her now with ardour, and fhe is down. Already the miniftry have expreffed in their letter an inclination to make fome conceflions, to meet you half-way, which I fuppofe, may be conftrued thus, " that as they find they have it not in their pov/er to citablifh, by force, the defpotifm which they aimed at, they fhail be very well fatisfied if you will juft cede ib much of your rights and privileges as will enable them, by extending their pecuniary influence, and fapping your virtue, to take away the reft at their leifure." There now remains, people of America, one confidera- tion, which, however it may be taken, I think it my du- ty to offer. Hiftory tells us, .that the free States of Greece, Thebes, Sparta, Athens, and Syracufe, were all, in their turns, fubjugated by the force or art of ty- rants. Thsy almoft all, in their turns, recovered their liberty and deftroyed their tyrants. The firft a£t, upon the ( |0i ) the recovery of their liberty, was to demolifh thofe badges of flavery, citadels, ftrong-holds, and military te- nements ; the Switzers did the fame ; the people of En- gland, loft in corruption and lethargy as they are, could never be prevailed upon to furTcr barracks amongft them ^ even the courtly Blackftone is ftartled at the idea. No feparate camps, no barracks, no inland fortrefTes, fays he, fhould be allowed ; in fa£t, wherever barracks are, freedom cannot be faid to exift, or fhe exifts fo lamely, as fcarcely to deferve the name. It is worthy your confideration, Americans, whether thefe badges mould remain or no. I (hall now conclude, brave citizens, with invoking the Almighty God, from whom all virtues flow, to continue you in that fpirii of unanimity and vigour which mull infure you fuccefs, and immortalize you through all ages, as the champions and patrons of the human race. TO THE GENTLEMEN OF THE PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. OF VIRCi THE addrefles prefented to their lieutenant gover- nor by the Council, and eleven polluted mem- bers of the AfTembiy of New-York, are, to every fenfi- ble thinking American, of infinitely a more alarming nature, than the threats of the miniiler, the hrutum fid- men of the king's fpeech (if that can properiy be term- ed the king's fpeech) which the minifler has publicly avowed to be his own compofition,* or the echoing back this fpeech by a hireling majority of the peers to their pay-mafter ; for as long as a fpii it of union fubfifts through this continent; and as long as the people at home K 2 have * The affected friends to Government often complain, that his Ma- iefty is not treated with the refpect dut to his character and flation ; but it appears to me, that a minifter's declaring, in ar. open fenate.that the fpeech from the throne is not the king's, but his own, is going be- yond difrefpecr : it is a moft outrageous infuk ; it is reprefenting his Majefty as a mere puppet, that fqueaks jull as the prompter breathe*. ( K>2 ) fc have reafon to think that this fpirit does fubfift ; thefc threats of the miniiter, although vibrated from the found- ing-beard of the throne, and the echoing it back by a hired chorus of peers, muft caft more ridicule upon thofe by whom they are uttered, than give terror to thofe at •v.-hom they are levelled. But the fuppofition or report of any defection amongft ourfelves, is a matter of nicft ferious concern ; it behoves you, therefore, gentlemen, it behoves every Provincial Congrefs of the continent, to iconfider immediately of lbme effectual means to prevent .the rhifchievous conferences, intended by thefe aban- doned and fenl'elefs men. Have we then formed a ge- neral afibciation of our provinces ? Have we pledged ourfelves to each other, to our pofterity, to mankind ? Have we made fo great, temporary at leaf!, Sacrifices in the glorious caufe of liberty ? Have we confounded our enemies by a ftrain of virtue, fcarcely credible in thefe modern ages, and with a fpirit of harmony that lias fur- pafl'ed the mod fanguine enpectation ? Have we atted this noble part ? And (hall the council, and eleven con- temptible Afiembly-men of New-York, attempt to ren- cier all we have done abortive ? Contemptible in all ref- pe£ts, in numbers, in understanding, in knowledge, and in principles ! For what other tendency can their addref- fes to their lieutenant-governor poflibly have, but to coun- teract the refolves of the Congrefs, and render every thing you have done, abortive ? Thefe competitions of pufillanimity, abjeel fervility, and difgufting folly, a- mount fimply to this : That the uimojl exertion of this united continent, confuting of half a million of fighting men, can have no effebl ; that all the rtfzflance, civil or military,, ivbkh they can make, muft be in vain ; but thai redrefs alone muft he fought, and can he exprcled from the magna- nimity of the Bri/i/h nation, and the known goodnefs and virtue of the King. Gracious Heaven ! grant us pa- tience to be told, that we are to expect any thing from the magnanimity of a people who, for twelve years fuc- cellivcly, have fufTered thcmfelves to be infulted, difgra- ccd, trampled upon, plundered, and batchered with im- punity ! ( 103 ) punity ! Or to be told, that we are to look up to the goodncfs and virtue of a king, who for the fame number of years has been influenced to make inceiTant war upon the property, rights, privileges, laws, honour, and integri- ty of his people, in every part of the empire, is enough to drive moderation itfclf into violence. But, continue thefe admirable fenators, -what open Jlill a furer prefpeel of redrefs is, that his excellency gover- nor Tryon is now near the Throne , fo it feems, that what the petitions, fupplications,rcmonitranccs of the whole colonies, of the city of London of the great commciical towns of the leading counties of England, what the voice of policy, reafon, juftice, and humanity, could not e(lc6b v Colonel Tryon's being in England will accompliih. I know not whether this Colonel Tryon is a man of fo extraordinary talents, eloquence, and influence, as to work thefe mighty miracles ; I never undertlood that he was : but I am fure, if he has common fenfe, and any manly feelings, he cannot help being fo me what difguft- ed, at this ill-timed impertinent flattery ; and that he muft conceive the greateft contempt tor the parafites who, regardlefs of the mod important concerns oi their country and humanity, and at the very crifis which is to determine whether themfelves and their poflerity are to be freemen or JIaves } could ftep out of their way to offer up incenfe to an unimportant individual. It may be faid, this is all declamation ; it may be fo, but it is a declama- tion which an honeft zeal in the public caufe has forced me into. It is now time, gentlemen, to devife fome means of putting a ftop to this cancer before it fpreads to any dangerous degree. You, gentlemen, of Virginia, and your neighbours of Maryland, have perhaps thefe means in your hands. I would propofe then, that aftc? a fpi- ritedmanifeitoexpreffingyour abhorrence of the council,* , and * I cannot perfr.nnV myfelftnat the eennci! vrere unanimous in this infamous addrefs ; t pre are individuals an-.oncft rl em of known probi- ty, fenfe, and patriotifm. But thefe gentlemen, fo :'ar from cbj^dling to the obligation of purging themrelvcs by oath of having any (hare ©i the guilt, will rejoice in the opportunity of acquitting themfelves. ( 104 ) and proftitute eleven of New-York you mould pre ceed to punifh the individuals of this wicked junto wl are in your power. Some of them have great cor tracts for wheat and corn in thefe provinces, from Nor folk, Alexandria, Chefter, Baltimore, and other part They export prodigious quantities, and enrich themfelvi confiderably by this commerce. I would propofe that all commerce with thefe affaifins fhould be laid immedi- ately under an interdict: ; that not a fingle fhip belong- ing to a counfellor of New-York, unlefs he purges him- felf by oath from having contented to the addrefs, or of one of the proftitute eleven, mould be furnifhed with a freight within the capes Henry or Charles ; and I have that opinion of the virtue of thefe provinces, to think your injunctions would be efficacious. But here I muft beg leave to paufe for an inftant, and afk pardon of the public for my apparent prefumption. An individual who offers his thoughts to fo refpectable a body, as a Congrefs, delegated by the voice of a whole people, has certainly the air of prefumption. It is in fome meafure attributing to himfelf fuperior lights and abilities ; but, on the other hand, it is allowed, that an individual has frequently been fortunate enough to chalk out lines in which the moft fagacious and refpectable bodies have not difdained to walk. If his propofals, or hints, be weak and abfurd, they will naturally be laughed at ; but if his intentions be honeft, the confcioufnels of having acted from motives of rectitude and the love of his coun- try, will fufficiently compenfate for any ridicule which his fchemes can incur. • I would therefore wifh, that what I offer fhould rather be underftood as hints than advice. If thefe hints are attended to, I fhall reap no perfonal glory ; if they are defpifed, I fhall be no per- gonal fufferer, as my name will probably never be known. But to proceed with my propofals, or hints, in which latter light I am moft defirous they fhould be confidered, I could wifh, to the above-mentioned manifefto, was fubjoined the warmeft letter of thanks to the virtuous ten of the Affembly of New-York, for their endeavours to ( «o 5 ) i to Mem the profligacy and wickednefs of the majority, and for the noble part they have acted as true Ameri- cans and excellent citizens ; that another addrcfs, no lefs warm, (hould be prefented to the gentlemen and people of New-York at large, exprefling your opinion of their honefty and public fpirit, and lamenting their peculiar circumftances ; which to thofe who are ftran- gers to thefe circumftances, may inculcate a belief that they alone are exceptions to the character of patriotifm, which the Americans are now indifputably entitled to. But above all, I could wifh that it were recommended to every province of the continent, more particularly to their immediate neighbours of Pennfylvania, the Jerfies, and Connecticut, not to fufferone of this depraved un- decemvirate to fet his foot on their territories, until he invokes the forgivenefs of his country, and folerr.nly en- gages, that his future life fhall be employed in making compenfation for his prefent conduct, of fo obvioully a mifchievous tendency. The epithets proftitute, profli- gate, &c. which I have fo freely made ufe of, may pro- bably appear illiberal ; but when we confider the mif- chievous confequences which the conduct of thefe Coun- cil and Aflembly-men of New-York are fraught with, it muft be allowed, that no language can furniin oppro- brious terms adequate to their dclinqcncy. I am far indeed from apprehending that their weight and influ- ence are fulBcient to fhake tkft virtue of the continent, or occafion any defection. I do not believe that an in- dividual, much lefs a fct of men, will be found who will be Hup id and wicked enough to tread in their fteps ; the infamous *** of Philadelphia, and a fmall perverfe dri- velling knot of Quakers, who form his Senate and Court, excepted. This Worthy fixed his refidence at New-York, with theprofefTed intention of working, with fome congenial fpirits in that city, towards the ruin of the whole fabric which the Congrefs had been raifing. Indeed, it is moft probable that he was the principal compiler, if not the dictator, ofthefc wretched addreffes. The^ftyle and fen- timents f fo6 J tfments arc Certainly his : the fame milt, fog, and dark-; iftefej which overcaft all his productions, envelope address; and the fame narrow, c litics, Iowl , jnancy, and treachery, difcov irougfc tiic miif, .. >bfcurity of all his worka and actions^ betray t^cinfclvcs in theft addreffes. It may now be alked, as I have reprefented the cha- racter, weight and credit of thefe eleven Afjembly-men, of the majority of the Council of New-York, and thcir Philadelphia!! coadjutor, or, more properly, dictator, in (c defpicable a light, wherefore fhould I found.the alarm ? Vv r hat mifchiefs can pofftbly refuk from the utmoft fuch tnen can do ? I anfv/er, that although they can neither cccafion any defection, nor prefent the leaf! prefpeft of (ttccefs to the enemies of America and liberty, they can do very confiderable mifchief ; they can procraltinate the ifiue j they can, and mod probably will, prolong the in- comeniencies which we muft, more or iefs, feel during the conteil. There is nothing more certain than that the mmifiry have proceeded to the enormous lengths they have done upon the prefumption, that the attacks upon Bcftcn wouid not have been taken up by the other pro- vinces as the caufe of the whole.* There is, therefore, nothing more certain, than that the appearance of our firmnefs and unanimity, muft faon have overthrown them, or forced them into a total change of meafures i but the leaft appearance, that ♦lis firmnefs and unanimity no longer fubfifts, wi!l encourage them to peril ft, and will enable them to keep their ground fome time longer. Thefe addrefies" of New-York will give this appearance ; fo that whatever the gentleman, the merchants, the tradef- m :.:, the meehanicks, and the people of America at large, (lifter from the prolongation of the conteft, whatever fhall be added to the diftrcfies and burthen of the people at home, whatever fhall further impair the commerce, flrength, credit, and reputation of the mother country, and * That this is the principle they ?.<5ted upon, is now put out of dif- put-c by the conduct oi Lord North in the Houfe of Commons, ;m.. fy cethes Uncdlcd to him* ( 107 ) and bring her fill! nearer to total bankruptcy and ruin ; whatever fhall farther alienate the affections of the child from the parent, may juftly be imputed to this abjeft Council and eleven proititute Ailcmbly-men of New- ark, on a famous trial in the court of common pleas', between general mosttn, governor of MINORCA, AND AN INHABITANT OF THAT ISLAND. IT is a maxim with the Emperors of China, when the people of any of their provinces offer up complaints of their governors, immediately to recal them, to hear the charges bnaight againft them, and, if they are found guilty topunifh them in proportion to their delinquen- cy ; and tuch is the parental complacency of thofe eaft- ern monarchy for their fubjtets, that even when the grievances complained of,prove ill-founded, the governor who has had the misfortune, though innocently, to incur the ill- opinion of the people, is never more empl< In the fame capacity, over that or any other prov his having been Jufpecled of mal-adminiftration being deemed a total difqualification. Though thejuiliee of this maxim may not be univerfally admitted, it certainly is a wile one, as it is founded on a refpetl and deference of the public wifhes ; to which when it czn be done com- patibly with the public fafety, the prince ought to pay the greateft regard. But, how different has been the rule of conduct obferved through the whole prefent reign ! Does agovernof render himfelf completelyodious to the people over whom he is fet to prefide ?- — he is that initant adopted a favourite at court. The infamous Ber- nard, who was not only arraigned, but Hands convicted, in the opinion of all mankind, of one continual feries of mifreprelentalion, faliehoods, treachery, and every {pz- cies of trealbn to the people of his government, was con- tinued untii the Lit poiiible moment ; and, when recal- led. ( i©8 ) Jed, fo'far from meeting with the cenfures he had merit ed, that he was exalted to the rank of a baronet, and h an ample provifion made for him in Ireland. And this public reward for delinquency has had the effect which mull naturally be expelled ; for his fucceflbr in office, it is reported, pitches many bars beyond him in perfidy and wickednefs, for which he probably expects a*i Iriflv peerage. And, to fay the truth, if our court aft^con- fiftently with itfelf, they are obliged as his merits are flill greater, to confer on him a higher title, and a more am- ple provifion than on the baronet, his predeceflbr. If we turn our eyes towards Ireland, the decency and kindnefs exhibited by the court for that people is flill more ftriking. The late viceroy, by talents peculiar to himfelf, almoft on his firft landing, incurred the con- tempt and deteftation of the whole kingdom, to a man. This was a fufficient, and, apparently, the only motive cf his being continued for a long five years in his ftation ; for, what other motive can be conjectured •, As it is agreed, on all hands, that even the wretched expedients from day to day, little jobs and larcenies, as well as th' more fubftantialplundering,called,in the cant of ourcour tiers, bufinefs of government, were never fo miferabl bungled through as by this ridiculous mock-majefty. A length, however, a fucceflbr is appointed: at length under the protection of the whole military, he is with drawn from the jull refentment of the people whom h had oppreffed, beggared, and infulted •, and at length thus circumflanced, he is prefented to his fovereign, b whom he is careffed, fmiled upon, and preferred in diftinguifhed a manner, that a ftranger who had bee prefcnt, would have been apt to imagine him return loaded with the fpoils of fome ancient inveterate ene of his country, and not with the injuries and execration of a whole nation of loyal and affectionate fubjects. Such has been the mode of treating the grievances of our natural brethren of Ireland and the Maflachufett9- Bay, and a (till more comfortable profpect is opened to our fellow fubjects who are not of a Britifh extraction.' The s ( ™9 ) The Canadians, the inhabitants of the ceded Iflands, and of Minorca •, thefe people are told, that if their property is invaded, or their perfans infulted, they are to leek - redrefs from the King and Council. Are fome late oc- currences calculated to give them Confidence in I from when they are to fcek redrefe ? Let us, wit exaggeration or perverfion, (late the General Mottyn and Mr. Fabrigas. General Ivioilyn is accufed by Fabrigas of violently and illegally throwing him into prifon, and afterwards banifhing him the ifland, for no other crime than petitioning againft a regulation which he conceived to be prejudicial and grievous. Th'e caufc is tried : the allegation not ' ily proves j u ft in its full extent, but aggravated with a variety of wanton* cruel circumftances. — Fabrigas, a fubftantial farmer, ii thrown into the dungeon appropriated to fellqns convict - ed of capital crimes ; the fentinels received drift orders jaot to allow the lead refrefriment to be coveyed to him ; even the air-ho rded, left fome of his children or friends fhould drop a loaf ol~ bread or ?. bunch of grapes. Having lain in tliii niferable dungeon for feme < ngth, hand-cu , drawn i and, by the fimple fiat of tins fmnrt, lively miniature of God's vicegerent on earth, John Moftyne, Efq. hurried on board a Ihip * prepared for the purpofe, and inrerdicl- cd from the fire and water of his native Hand, until it fliould pleafe the faid little, mighty John Moftyne, JLfq. tofufpend tire interdict. And it was thought a wonder- ful act of clemency, not only by his vifier. tire nu curate, judicious, liberal, vei but by. another illuftri >us member of the divan, in thus commu- ting me bow-liring or hatchet into the gentle fentence of L banilh- * He was hanifhed for a year to Carthagena, His wife, as the} carrying him or. b red on the beach with a matrafs, I guard was ordered to drive her away with their bayonets ; this conveni- ence of a matrafs being thou; n e. etary. This was aiked in court, w 1 other i a part of the governor's privilege to behead or hang ? ar.d replied in r ..'iy, he believed it was^ The chief engineer, efteemed &;.,u;iof fome feme and learning, feeiued to be c: tfac fame opinion. ( i*o ) banifhment j for tfcefe worthy minifters gave it as their opinion, openly in an Englifh court, that ftrangling and. beheading was a part of his Highnefs's prerogative. But ihould beg pardon for attempting to be ludicrous upon an occafion lb very ferious, not indeed becaufe a man of Mr. Moftyn's ftamp, a contemner, and, as far as a very little wit will enable him, a ridicular of all pubic fpirit and fentiment, a deferter of his noble friend and patron,"}: on the firfl: appearance that he no longer poffeffed the power of ferving him farther. That a man of this ltamp fhould be intoxicated with authority, and run into violence and abfurdity, when re- moved from immediate checks, is not to be wondered at, nor that fuch a governor fhould be furnifhed with a dull mercenary fecretary, ready to execute the mandates oi his principal, be they ever fo iniquitous and prepofte- rous ; but that there fhould be found a fingle officer of rank, of no defpicable parts, and fome reading, to encou- rage, advife and juitify meafures fo repugnant to the fpi- rit of our conftitution and the rights of mankind, is afto- nifhing, and in the higheft degree alarming : for, if fuch notions become fafhionable amongft the military, our laws are but a parapet of paperjwhichthefword is ready to cut /through on the firft hint from a dictator. The idea, I fay of fuch principles becoming fafhionable in the ar- my, muff, give the moll ferious alarm to every individu- al who does not wilh annihilation to the prefent liber- ties of thefe iflands, and enflavement to their poiterity. But what follows, is more particularly a matter of melan- choly concern to our fellow fubje&s, the colonifls of America, the Canadians and the people of Minorca. They are, it feems, if aggrieved, to feek redrefs from the king and council ; but if they have reafon to think that their redrefTers will become partifans of thofe who op- prefs them, what mult be the fituation of their minds i Will they not naturally defpair, and refign themfelves paliively t Lord Rockingham ; to whom Mr. Moftyn owed all this great pre- fj merits ; he oppofed his patron when miniiier. hecauie lie knew it del pletife the cabinet. ( III ) ftaffively to the hand of power, or bravely attempt to re- tlreis themfelves ? To one of thefe alternatives, a circum- ftance immediately fubfequent to Mr. Meftyn's trial, mull tend to reduce theiti. Reeking with the infamy of being convicted by an hone it jury of his country, he (I ired to prefent himfelf at the levee of her firft magiftrair-, where he, who is the head, and in fa£fc creates and u-r ■ creates this court from which redrefs and equity are to flow, he, who ihould eoniider himfelf as the corrector of abides, and ave wrongs, conid attempt to be face- ouson the occaiion. Well, General, fays the King, fo you have been caft •, and wlio were the council em- ployed by your doughty adve'rfary ? The General, a ve- teran courtier, long accuftomed to royal Waggery, fmartly replied, the learned ferjeant Glynn, andthe profound duke of Richmond. This was prodigioully witty, that the whole circle, lords of the bed-chamber, maids of ho- nour, and privy council, all burft into a loud lav: This may be a very excellent joke at St. James's ; but I can aflure Saint James's, that in other places it favours but of fhallow wit, and that it only ferves as a proof, for which there was nooccafion, of the weakno.fs of the heads, and corruption of the hearts, within thole walls. And I can further aflure them, that did fuch noblemen, and fuch lawyers, as the duke of Richmond, and ferjeant Glynn, form the circle of the drawing room, it would be more for the honour of his Majefly, and the fati tion and fafety of the nation, than one compofed of {he Grafton's, Sandwiches, Nortons, and MVedderburnes. A SHORT HISTORY OF THE TREATMENT OF MAJOR GENERAL C0NIVA2', LATE IN THE SERVICE. OF AMERICA. o Philadelphia) December 3, 1778. N Monday the 23d of November laft, the honoura- ble Major General Conway fet cut from this > on * It is to be ebferved, that the Treafui? p , n"s da- ( M* ) on his return to France. The hiftory of the treatment this gentleman had received, is fo Angular that it muft make a figure in the anecdotes of mankind. He wal born in Ireland, but at the age of fix was carried into France ; wa> bred up ffomhis infancy to the profeihon of arms ; and, it is univerfally allowed, by the gentlemen of the nation, that he has, in their fervicc, the reputation of being w!i3t is (tiled tin tres brave major d'ififafiterie, which is no fmall character. It implies, if I comprehend the term right, a man poiTeiTed of all the requifite quali- ties to fill the duties of a general officer in the fecondary line, but by no means ranks him among thofe favoured mortals to whom it has pleafed Cod to give fo large a portion of the ethereal fpirit, as to render reading, theo- ry and practice unneceflary ; but with the fpe£tacle of this phenomena Heaven entertains the earth but very fcldom ; Greece, as hiflorians report, had, but one fi. Rome none ; England and France, only one each.-— As to this hemifphere, I fhallbe fdent on the fubje£t, left I fliould be fufpedted of not being ferious. But be this as it may, it is pad doubt that General Conway is a man of excellent underftanding, quick and penetrating, that he has (cen. much fervice, has read a great deal, and di- I well what he has read. It is not lefs certain, he embarked, with the warmeft zeal, for the great American Caufe, and it has never been infmuated, un- lefs by thofe who hare the talent of confounding caufes, thai his zeal has diminifhed. His recompence has been, "What ? he has lofc his commiflion ; he has been refilled the common certificate, which every officer receives at the expiration of his fervices, unlets his delinquencies have been very fubftantial indeed. And for what crime B at "I i '■* Alexander ; Henry th? Fifth ; and the Prince of Cende. It may beJitp /hether thefe heroes were indehted to ti. aven alone for their gloiie*. Alexander ferved l'ome campaigns bad Ariftotle for his mafter. Henry, before he imfelfin the civil wars againft the houfe' pi Northumberland, and, if I recollect right; commanded in fome ex- pedition againft the Wclfh ; and the Prince of Conde had leflbns from the gi . inthefchoois of the wars in the Low Country* ( "3 ) To( ncm come under any article of war ? I may venture to affirm, that it does not. God help the community that fhould be ab Curd enough to frame a law which could be con- ftrued into fuch a fenfe ; fuch a community could not long fubfift. It ever has been, and ever ought to be, the cuftom in all armies, not absolutely barbarians, for the officers of high rank minutely to canvafs the mcafures of their commander in chief ; and if his faults or mil- takes appear to them many and great, to communicate their fen timents to each other ; it can be attended with no one bad conicquence ; for if the criticifms are unjuft and impertinent, they only recoil on the authors ; and the great man who is the fubject of them, ihines with redoubled luftre. But if they are all well founded, they tend to open the eyes of the Prince or flate, who, from blind prcjudice,or fome ftrange infatuation, may have repofed their affairs in hands ruinoufly incapable. Docs any man of fenfe, who is the lea ft acquainted with hide* ry, imagine that the greateft generals the world ever pro- duced have efcaped cenfure ? Hanibal, Cxf.ir, Turenc, Marlborough, have all been cenfured ; and the only method they thought judicable of flopping the mouths of their cenfors, was by a frefh exertion of their talents, and a perpetual feries of victories. L.ujpons parler ces hableurs Vt:Jpert\ que nous leur jernwoKS hi boucbe a f.rce des vic- tcircs, was the anfwer of the king of Prtiffia to thofe worthy Gentlemen, who thought to recommend them- felves by informing him, that fome of hi? mcafures were made very free with by certain officers in his army. In- deed, it is obfervable, that in proportion to the capacity Li cr ( **4 ) or incapacity of the commander in chief, he counte- nances or difcountenances the whole tribe of talebear- ers, informers, and pickthanks, who ever have been, and ever will be, the bane of thofe courts and armies where they are encouraged, or even fufFered. Allowing Ge- neral Wafhingtqjn to be poffeiTed of all the virtues and military talents of Epaminondas, and this is certainly al- lowing a great deal, for whether from our modern edu- cation, or perhaps the modern ftate of human affairs, it is difficult to conceive that any mortal in thefe ages fhould arrive at fuch perfection ; but allowing it to be fo, he would ftill remain mortal, and of courfe fubje£r. to the infirmities of human nature : ficknefs or other cafualties might impair his understanding, his memory, or his cou- rage -, and, in confequence of the failure, he might adopt mealures apparently weak, ridiculous, and pernicious. Now, I demand, fuppofing this certainly a poffible cafe, whether a law, the letter or fpirit of which fhould abfo- Jutely feal up the lips and reftrain the pens, of every wit- nefs of the defection, would not in fact be denouncing -ance againft thofe who alone have the means in their power of faving the public from the ruin impen- ding, if they fhould dare to make ufe of thefe means for its falvation. If there were fuch a law, its abfurdity would be fo monftroufly glaring, that we may hardly fay, it would be more honoured in the breach than in the obfervance. In the Englifh and Frencn armies, the freedom with which the conduit and meafures of com- manders in chief are canvaffed is notorious, nor does it appear that this freedom is attended with any bad confe- quences ; it has never been once able to remove a real great oiheer from his command. Every action of the Duke of Marlborough (every body who has read muft know) was not only minutely criticifed, but his whole conduit was dificcted, in order to difcover fonie crime, blunder, fault or even trifling error ■, but all thefe imper- tinent pains and wicked induftry, were employed in vain ; it was a court intrigue alone that fubvertedhim ; the low military cabals pafled as the idle wind. General ( "$ ) General Wolfe, with whom to be compared, it cart be no degradation to any mortal living, was not merely criticiied, but grofsly calumniated by fome officers of high rank under him ; -but that great man never thought of having recourfe to the letter or conftrucliion of any lav, in order to avenge himfelf; he was contented with informing his calumniators, that he was not ignorant of their practices, and that the only method he fliould take for their punilhment, would be an active perfeverance in the performance of his duty, which, with the affiftancc of God he made no doubt would place him beyond the reach of their malice. As to what liberties they had ta- ken with him perfonally, he fliould wait till he was re- duced to the rank of a private gentleman, and then fpeak to them in that capacity. Upon the whole, it appears, that it never was under- flood to be the meaning of the Englifli article of war, which enjoins refpect towards the cammander in chief ; and of courfe it ought not to be underftood, that the mean- . ing of that article of the American code (which is a fer- vile copy from the Englifli) is meant to profcribe the. communication of our fentiments to one another on the capacity or incapacity of the man on whom the fafety or ruin of the ftate depends ; its intention was, without doubt in part, complimentary, and partly to lay fome de- cent reihiclions on the licence of convcrfation and wri- ting, which othevwife might create a diihdence in the minds of the common foldiery, detrimental to the pub- lic fcrvice. But that it was meant to impofe a dead, torpid, idolatrous filence, in all cafes whatever, on men, who, from their rank, muft be fuopofed to have eyes and underft inding, nothing under the degree of an idiot can perfuade himfelf: but admitting, in oppofition to common fenfe and all precedents, the proceeding to be criminal ; admitting Mr. Conway guilt/ of it, to the ex- tent rcprefented, which he can demonftrate to be faife ; in the name of God, why inflict the higheft, at 1-ealt ne- gative punifhment, on a man untried and unheard. The refufalofa certificate, of having honeftly ferved, is con- fidered ( "6 ) fidered as the greateft of negative punifhments ; indeed in the military idea, it is a pofiiive one. And I lincerely hope, and do firmly believe (fuch is my opinion of the juilicc of Congrefs) that when they have coolly reflected on the merits and fortunes of this gentleman, they will do him that juftice, $vhich nothing but the harty mifconftruction of a law haftily copied from another law, never defined nor understood, has hitherto prevented. PROPOSALS FOR THE FORMATION OF A BODY OF LIGHT TROOPS, READY TO BE DETACAED ON AN EMERGENT OCCASION. COUNT Polafki is certainly a good foldier, or he is not ; for my own part, I believe him a very good one. In the firft place lie is a Polander, whole genius is adopted to the light or expedite war. In the feconcl place, he has had much practice in the bell fchools, and is undoubtedly brave and enterprifmg. If he is not a good foldier, as his corps is expenfive, he ought not to be detained ; therefore, it is expedient, either to fend him about his bufinefs entirely, or to make the proper ufe of him j but on the fuppolkiou that he knows his trade, I "would propofe the following fcheme — That his legion mould be immediatly completed to twelve,, hun- dred men, four hundred cavalry, and eight hundred light infantry — for thefe eight hundred infantry, that a draft fhould be made, without lofs of time, from every regiment of the continent, entirely cf natives \ not fo young as to be unable to refift the fatigues of this fort of fcrvice, but of the proper age for violent exercife and forced marches. Major Lee, who feems to have come out of his mother's womb a foldier, mould be incorpora- ted in this legion, with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, and to command fpecifically the whole cavalry. If Ma- jor Lee's corps (for I know not their ftrength) will not, added to the cavalry Polafki already has, complete i ( m ) to four hundred, let there be a draft made from the othef regiment of cavalry, Moilands, Blands, and Sheldon?* all of natives, and the very youngeft men ; becaufe on Polafki's principle of exercife (which I believe to he the befl in the world) none but very young men are capable of being trained to the manoeuvres ; but as it is not cer- tain that either Count Polafki or Major Lee underftand the detail of cavalry, on which fo much depends, let fome Quarter-Maflers, or Serjeants, who have ferved in the Britifh cavalry, (and there are many on the conti- nent) be found out, encouraged with rank and emolu- ment, and employed. A corps thus compofed, with brave and underitanding officers at their head, fuch as are Polafki and Lee, with a few fubcrdinate officers, knowing,in the detail, will render more effectual fervice than any ten regiments on the continent. It would Hkewil'e put a flop, for the future, to that odious, perni- cious practice of picking the befl men from every bat- talion, on what are called extraordinary occafions ; which practice has abfolutely no other effccl than difgufting the greater part of the officers of the army, and render- ing the whole difpirited and unfit for action. I could quote a ftrong inflance of the bad confequences of this cuilom. Some days before the affair of Monmouth, Ge- nt ral Scott was detached with a corps of picked men and officers, to the no fmall difgufl of thofe who were left behind^ who could not help conftderiug it as a fort of ftigma on their character. After this, the Marquis de la Fayette was detached with another corps of -one out in the fame m This body g of twenty five hundred men, inilead of f 11 ig c:r the enemies' Hanks, did, from fome fatality, v nothing at all. I was afterwards ordered to march to fuftain them, with three fcanty brigades, com- pofed entirely of the refute •, and of this refufe I was under the neceffity of forming my van-guard on the day of the action of Monmouth ; for the picked corps, by the blunders committed, were fo fatigued that they could Scarcely move their lees. Phila- ( h.i ) SoMS Q&ERIES, POLITICAL AN T D MILlT.\;u\ HUMBLY OFFERED TO THE CONSIDERATION OF THE PUBLIC. Ift. -^"TTIIETHER George the Firft did not, oil y y his aceeifion to the throne of Great Bri- tain, by making himfelf king of a party, inftcad or* the whole nation, low the feeds not only of the fubverhou of the liberties of the people, but of the ruin of the whole empire ? 2d. "Whether, by proferibing the clafs of men, to which his miniftry were pleafed to give the appellation of Tories, he did not, in the end, make them not only real tories, but even Jacobites ? 3d. Whether the confequence of this difiinction, now become real, was not two rebellions ; and whether the fruit of thofe rebellions, although defeated, were not feptennial parliaments, a large Handing army, an enor- mous additional weight and pecuniary influence thrown into the fcale of the crown, which in a few years have borne down, not only the fubftance, but almoft the form of liberty, all fenfe of patriotifm, the morals of the peo- ple, and, in the end, overturned the mighty fabric of the Britifh empire ? 4th Whether the prefent men in power, in this flate, do not tread exactly in the fteps of this pernicious mi- ni fi ry, by proferibing and disfranchifing fo large a pro- portion of citizens as thofe men whom they find it their intereft to brand with the denomination of Tories ? 5th. Whether liberty to be durable, fhould not be conftrucd on as broad a bafis as poflible ; and whether the fame caufes, in all ages, and in all countries, do not produce the fame effects ? 6th. Whether it is not natural, and even judicable, for that clafs of people (let the pretext be ever fo plaufi- ble) who have been flripped of their rights as men, by the hard hand of power, to wifh for, and endeavour to .bring about, by any means whatever, a revolution in that flate, which they cannot but corffider as an ufurpa- tion and tyranny ? ( "9 ) 7th. Whether a fubje£t, of Morocco is not, when we eonfider human nature, a happier mortal, than a disfran. thifed citizen of Pennfylvania, as the iormer has the comfort of feeing all about him in the fame predicament With hirnlelf j the latter, the mifery of being a flave in the fpacious bofom of liberty ? The former drinks the cup, but the latter alone can tafte the bittcrnefs of it. 8th. Whether an enlightened member of a French parliament is not a thoufand times more wretched than a Ruffian cirf or peafant ? As to the former, the chains, from his fenfibility, mult be extremely galling j and on the latter, they fit as eafy as the lkin of his back. 9th. Whether it is falutary or dangerous, confiftent with, or abhorrent from, the principles and fpirit of li- berty and republicanism, to inculcate and encourage in the people, an idea, that their welfare, fafety, and glo- ry, depend on one man ? Whether they really do de- pend on one man ? 10th. Whether, among the late warm, or rather loyal addreffers, in this city, to his Excellency General Wafhington, there was a lingle mortal, one gentleman excepted, who could poilibly be acquainted with his merits ? nth. Whether this gentleman excepted, does really think his Excellency a great man ; or whether evidences could not be produced of his fentiments being quite the reverfe ? 1 2th. Whether the armies under Gates and Arnold, and the detachment under Starke, to the Northward, or that immediately under his Excellency, ill Pennfylvania, gave the decifive turn to the fortune of war ? 13th. Whether, therefore, when Monfieur Gerard and Don Juan de Miralles, fent over to their rcfpe£tive courts the pictures of his Excellency General Wafhing- ton at full length, by Mr. Peal, there would have been any impropriety in fending over, at the fame time, at leait a couple of little heads of Gates and Arnold, by M. de Simitiere. 14th. ( J 20 ) 14th. On what principle was it that Congrefs, in the year 1776, lent for General Lee quite from Georgia, with injunctions to join the army under General Wafir* jngton, then in York-Illand, \#ithout lofs of time. I ctb. Whetlicr Congrefb had reafon to be fadsfied or dUTatis&ed v. ith this' their recal of General Lee, from what rubfequently happened on York-Ifland, and at the White-Plains ? 1 6th. Whether Fort Wafhington., was or was not te- nable ? Whether there were barracks, cafe-mates, fuel, or water, within the body of the place ? Whether in the out-works, the defences were in any decent order ? And whether there were even platforms for the guns ? 17th. Whether, if it had been tenable, it could, have anfwpred any one fingle purpofc ? Did it cover, did it protect a valuable country ? Did it prevent the enemy's {hips from pafTmg or repaifmg with impunity ? 1 8th. Whether, when General Howe manifeft.lv gave over all thoughts of attacking General Wafhington, in the lad ftrong pofition in the rear of White~P|aini, and fell back towards York-Iilarid, orders fhonld not have been immediately djfpatched for the evacuation of Fort Wafhington, and for the removal of all the (lores of value from Fort Lee to fome fecurc fpot, more re- moved from the river ?* Whether this was not pro] and the propofal flighted ? 19th. Whether the lofs of the garrifon of Fort Wafh- ington, and its confequent lofs of Fort Lee, with the tents, Itores, &c. had not fuch an effect on the foirits of the people, as to make the difference of twenty thou- iand men to America.? 20th,. Whether, in the defeat of Brandewine, Gene- ral Sullivan was really the perfon who ought to have been cenfured ? 2 1 ft. Whether, if Duke Ferdinand * had commanded at German Town, after having gained, by the valour of lis * In one of the numerous publications which have lately infefted Philadelphia, it was brought as a crime acainit Mri Deai had direct!), or indiredily, n-.ade ioine overtures to Prince Ferdinand f HM ) his troops, .and the negligence of his enemy, a par- tial victory, he would have contrived, by a fingle ftrokc ef the Bathes, to have corrupted this partial victory into & defeat. 2 2d. Whether our pofition at Valley Forge was not fuch, that if General Howe, or afterwards General ' con, had been well informed of its chrcumftanccs, de ;Wls, and vices, they might not at the head of ten, • even ot eight thoufand men, have reduced the Ameri- can army to the fame fatal neceffity 33 (he Americans did General Burgoj 23d. Whether the trials o( General St. Clair, of which Court-Martial General Lincoln was prefident, and that on General Lee, were conducted in the fame forms, and on the fame principles ? Whether in the former, all hear fay evidences were not absolutely reject- ed ; and in the latter hearfay evidence did not constitute h very confiderable part ? 24th. Whether if the Generals Schuyler and St. Clair, hail been tried by the fame Court-Martial as General Lee was, and unload of Congrefs, General Wafhingtou had been the profecutor, thofe gentlemen (unexception- able as their conduct was) would not have- Hood a very ugly chance of being condemned ? And whether, it inltcad of General Walhingtpn, Congrefs had been the profecutor, General Lee would not probably have bceu acquitted with thehighrft honour r 25 tin Whether it muft not appear to every man who has read General Wafhington's letter to Congrefs, 0:1. the affair at Monmouth, and, the proceedings' of die Court-Martial, by which General Lee was tried, th the contents ci' the former are facts, not only General tee's defence mud be a tuTue of the roll abom'ii audacious lies, but that the-whole ftring of evidences, M bo:h Ct Brunfwick, to accept the command of the American army, who muft of courfc have fuperfeded General Washington. This crime appeared Co ali the foreign officers who are acquainted with the prince's reputa- tion a> h foldicr, in fo very ridiculous a light, that they never think of ut being throwuinto violent fits of laughter. f 122 ) both on the part of the profecution and profecuted, muft be guilty of rank perjury, as the teftimonies of thole* gentlemen, near forty in number, delivered on oath, fearcely in one article coincide with the detail given in, his Excellency's letter ? COPY OF GENERAL LEE'S WILL. I.MAJOR GENERAL CHARLES LEE, of the my of Berkley, in the commonwealth of Vh> . being in perfect health, and of a found mind, ig the certainty of death, and the uncertainty of the vi:.:c it may happen,, have determined to make this my laft will and teftament, in manner following: that i ' ■ . I give and bequeath to Alexander White, Lh;. one hundred guineas, in comideration of the zeal and integrity lie has difplayed in the administration of my affaire; al-fo the choice of any two of my colts or fil- lies under four years of age. Item, I give and bequeath to Charles Minn Thrufton, Efq, fifty guineas, in confideration of his good qualities and the frifeiidfhip he has manifested fot me •, and to Buekner Thrufton, his fon, I leave all my books, as I know he will make a good uie of them. To my good friend John Mercer, Efq. of Marlbo- h in Virginia, I give and bequeath the choice of two brood mares, of all my fwords and piftols, and ten gui- neas to buy a ring : I would give him more, but as he lias a good eftate and a better genius, he has fulFicient, if he knows how to make a good ufe of them. 1 give and bequeath to my former aid de camp, Ot- wav Bird, Efq. the choice oi another brood mare, and ten guineas for the 'unv.c purpofe of a remembrance-ring, I give and bequeath to my worthy friend Colonel William Grayfon, of Dumfries, the fecond choice of two cults ; and to my excellent friend William Stiptoe, of Virginia, T would leave a great deal, but as he is now To rich, it would be no lets than robbing my other friends who ( »2 3 J who are poor. I therefore entreat, he will only accept of five guineas, which I bequeath to him to purchafe a ring of affection. I bequeath to my old and faithful fervant, or rather humble friend, Guifippi Minghini, three hundred gvlU neas, with all ray horfes, mares, and colts of every kind, thofe above mentioned excepted) likewife all my wear* ing apparel and plate, my waggons and tools of agricul- ture) and his choice of four milch cows. I bequeath to Elizabeth Dunn, my houfc-kecper, one hundred guineas and my whole flock of cattle, the four milch cows abovementioned only excepted. I had almoft forgot my dear friends, (and I ought to be afhamed of it) Mrs. Shippen, her fon Thomas Ship- pen, and Thomas Lee, Efq. of Belle-View. I beg they will except ten guineas each, to buv rings of affection. My landed eftitc in Berkley, I defire may be divided into three equal parts, according to quality and quanti- ty •, one-third part I devifc to my dear friend Jacttb Morris, of Philadelphia ■, one other third part to Evan Edwards, both my former aid de camps, and to their heirs and afhgns ; the other third part 1 deviie to Eiea- zer OfwaJd, at prefent of Philadelphia, and William Goddard, of Baltimore, to whom 1 am under obligati- ons, and to their heirs and afhgns, to be equally divided between thexn ; but thefe devifees are not to enter un- til they have paid off the feveral legacies abovemention- ed, with intereft from the time of my death, and all tax- es which may be due on my eitate. In cafe I mould fell my faid landed eftate, I bequeath the price thereof, after paying the aforefaid legacies, to the faid Jacob Morris, Even Edwards, Eleazer Ofwald, and William Goddard, in the proportions abovementioncd. All my Haves, which I may be poflefTed of at the time of my deceafe, I bequeath to Guifippi Minghim and Elizabeth Dunn, to be equally divided between them. All my other property of every kind, and in every part of the world, after my deceafe, funeral charges, and ncceilary expenccs of adminiftration are paid, I give, devife, f 124 ) devifc, aridvbcquearh to ray fiftcr Sidney Lcc, her heirs ".uid aiiigns for ever. I defire moll earneftly, that I may not be buried in any church or church-yard, or within ■■-. mile of any Prefbyterian or Anabaptift meeting-hcufe ; for fince I have refided in this country, I have kept fo much bad company when living, that I do not chufe to continue it when dead. I recommend my foul to the Creator of all worlds and of all creatures ; who mult, from his vifible attri- butes, be indifferent to their modes of worfhip or creeds, whether Chriflians, Mahometans, or Jews •, whether in- filled by education, or taken up by reflection ; whether more or lefs abfurd ; as a weak mortal can no more be anfwerable for his perfuafions, notions, or even fcepti- cilm in religion, than for the colour of his fkin. And I do appoint the above-mentioned Alexander "White and Charles Minn Thrufton, executors of my kit will and teftament, and do revoke all other wills by me heretofore made. In witnefs whereof I have here- unto fet my hand and feal this day of in the year of our Lord, one thoufand feven hundred end eighty-two. CHARLES LEE. Signed, Sealed, publimcd,^ and declared by the laid Ma- j jor General Charles Lee, as, ^ and for, his laft will and ieit anient. In pretence oi James Smith, Samuel Swkaringfn, William Garrard. At { 1*5 ) At a court held for Berkley county, the 15th day of April, 1783, this laft will and teftament of Charles Lee, deceafed, was prefented in court hy Alexander White, one of the executors therein named, who made oath thereto according to law, and the fame being proved to he executed on the 10th day of September, 1782, by the oaths of James Smith and Samuel Swearingen, two of the witneiles thereto, and ordered to be record- ed ; and on the motion of the faid executor, who enter- ed into bond with Adam Stephens, El'q. hi* fecurity, in the penalty of twenty thoufand pounds, conditioned for his true and faithful administration of the faid eftate, certificate is granted him for obtaining a probate th of in due form of law. A COJPY. WILLIAM DRfW, Mj letters ( 126 ) E T T E R TO AND FROM MAJOR GENERAL LEE. LETTERS to GENERAL LEE, from several EMINENT CHARACTERS BOTH IN EUROPE AND AMERICA. London, Nov. 26th, I 759. My dear Lee, YOUR American polls are exceffive hard upoh me, and ma/ reglee's. You and Montgomery are fo good as to write to me often from thence. I have bem, upon honour, very exact in my anfwers, without having been lucky enough that either of you fhould have heard from me. This time I hope to be more fortunate, hav- ing recommended my letter to the bed hand. I envy you all the fervice you have feen vvhilft I have been in the mofl fluggifh inactivity. I have indeed got a fon, but cela ne conte gueres. Our good fortune, and that of our friends, has been indefatigable this year. To-day, we have the news of the furrender of Munfter, and the French in Germany retiring, probably«into winter quarters. Daun is doing the fame, and is likely to leave the amazing King of PrufTia once more in pofleflion of Saxony. The Ruffians, we flatter oufelves, will move no more. The Brefl fleet is out ; Hawke after them, and a good ac- count of them hoped for, and expelled every moment. Next ( **7 ) Next year I hope to have fomething to do in Germany, were they talk of fending us. I believe you already know my trade — Lieutenant Colonel to George Elliot's Light Dragoons. Being as horfe-mad as ever, and hav- ing the rank of Colonel before, by being the King's aid de camp, I preferred that to a young regiment of foot. So many children have of late been made Generals, that we Children-colonels are already very high in the lift. The riding of this new corps has kept me fully employed this whole fummer, and I am now come up to town for winter quarters, which the feafon makes much more pleafant than the country ones. We are all here in grief for the lofs of poor Wolfe. Nobody of that age can be more publicly and privately admired and regretted. The war in America, we are in hopes, will be over very foon \ if fo, I fhall hope then to have the pleafure of feeing yon. The French's fighting-days feem to be over, or, at lead, iufpended. Every day produces a change amongft them, of generals, admirals, and miniftry ; and every thing fpeaks them to be in the greateft poverty and difunion. It don't often happen here, or anywhere elfe, I believe, but there is certainly at prelent amongft all here the greateft fpirits and unanimity imaginable, and no appear- ances of v ant ; much debauch, and good living ; fo prav come amongft us foon. You have the good fortune not only to have feen fcrvice enough, but molt of it fuc- cefsful. All your friends are well. ^ Adieu, my dear Lee ! let me hear from you when you can, and be af- fured that no one can intereft themfelvcs more fincerely about you than, Your moft affectionate Friend, and Humble Servant, PEMBROKE. To Capt. Charles Lee, in the 44th Reg. Albany. London > ( n8 ) London, Nov. 28//;, 1 759. Dear Charles, YOU have obliged me very much by a fecond letter Come lately to may hands, and dated at Niagara. "We had before received accounts of the reduction of it, and your being in pofTeflion of the glorious country around ; which, by your defcription, muft be a paradife indeed ; nnd it is much to be wifhed, it may never again go out of your hands. Our acquifitions this year have been fo great and important, that it has been thought proper to appoint to-morrow a public thankfgiving-day : and tho* Amherft has not got fo forward as was expected, yet he fends word he is Matter of Lake Champlain ; which, as we are pofTefled of the other fide of Quebec, muft bound the enemy between the two in fuch a manner, as, we conclude here, will diftrefs them extremely, if not oblige them to make iubmiffion, and furrender. In Europe, you will have heard Bofcawen fell in with the Toulon fleet, and Cook four of them ; and we are now in hourly expectation of Hawke's overtaking the Brelt fleet, which dole out of the harbour the other day, in order, as it is fuppofed, to cover a defcent, either upon Ireland or this country, which they have long threatened us with ; but it muft be a very defperate game they are playing, fince, if our fhips have the luck to come up with them, we have little fear here of their giving them fuch a blow as will put an end to the naval force of France for fome time to come. — But I will talk no more of public affairs ; it will probably be of greater fatisfa&ion to you, to hear of the welfare of your friends and relations, which lam happily enabled at prefent to afiure you of; for I know not of any exception amongft them all. My fon is gone to Turin, and I hope we may prefume upon his health, though we have not lately heard from him : he is to ftay here five or fix month*, and afterwards to ramble about Italy another twelve-month. Your filter Sidney com- plains you do not write lb often as fhe wiihes. I gave her the fatisfa&ion of knowing you had favoured me lately with a letter, and that you were well and happy, a$ ( **9 ) as 1 am willing to fuppofe by the ltrain of your {tile, which is very lively and entertaining. The books and choco- late you delired, have been Cent to Mr. Calcroft near a month ago, who h:is t;;ken the charge of them ; and I hope they will get fafe to your hand : But fure you are not to flay on that continent for ever : "We wiih you ta come again amongft your friends, and probably fomc change might be procured, as well as advance, on thi; fide of the water, if you dciire it. Lord Granby com- mands in Germany at prefent, and is likely to be at the head of the army oa this fide of the water too, if Ligonier drops ; and it is fuppofed he cannot Iaft a gre.it while longer. The taking of Munfter, which we h.id advice of the other day, will be of great importance to our alied armv, and fecure them good winter quarters. A great many matches are talked of here in town, fo that if vou do not come foon, all our fine young ladies will be difpof- ed of i but I know of none of your more particular acquaintance that have, or are about, changing their date- Pray go on writing to us j nobody better qualified to en- tertain by their letters : I wifh I had as good a knack on my fide for the fake of your amufement. Your aunt and coufins beg to live conitantly in your memory and good wilhes ; they detire I will afiure you, you have theirs molt heartily ; and { hope I need not add, that you will invariably have thofe of your affectionate and obliged uncle, WILLIAM BUNBURY.- Capt. Charles Lee. War/aw, April 2$th t 176*8. My dear Colonel, I ADMIRE, very much, the fubtility of your reafon- ing, and the arguments you run after, to prove me in fault for the filence you have long obferved, which, I con- fefs, has furnifhed me often with fubjecl: for reflection^.' The receipt of your letter has given me fo much pleafure, that I ought in gratitude to forget every uneafy thouhgji that that I have permitted to torment me whilft I was in ex* pe&arion of it •, and therefore fhall proceed immediately to thank y.ou for the intelligence it brings me, and the affurances it renews of your air'eclion and friendlhip. I iliould have been heartily glad to have heard, my dear Colonel, that his Majefty's recommendation had been more fucceftful in procuring you an eftablifhment equal to your merit and withes j but am not at all furprifed that you find the door fliut againft you by the pcrfon who has fueh unbounded credit j as you have ever too freely indulged a liberty of declaiming, which many infa- mous and invidious people have not failed to inform him of. The principle on which you thus openly lpeak your mind, is honeft and patriotic, but not politic ; and as it will not fucceed in changing men or times, common prudence fliould teach us to hold our tongues, rather than to rifque our own fortunes without any profpect of advantage to ourfelves or neighbours. Excufe this fcrap of advice, my dear Colonel, and place it to the vent of a heart entirely devoted to your intereft. I remember my promife, to inform you of the trans- actions of this place j and had I received a line from you upon the road, mould have endeavoured to find time during the diet to have given you a fketch of the critical and unexpected affairs that agitated us ; it will be need- lefs now, as the public papers and your other correfpon- dents here have, doubtlefs, not failed to inftruct you. The important affair of the diffidents was rudely and in- folently refufed •, and you cannot be ignorant that thole gentlemen have formed two confederations in Poland and in Lithuania, fupported by a Ruffian army of thirty or forty thoufand men, and that we expect a diet extra- ordinary in the months of Auguft or September, for ter- minating their demands, to the. fatisfaction of the pow- ers who intereft themfelves in their behalf : and though it is impoffible to fay how it will end, yet the appearan- ces at prefent are much in their favour, and we have all reafon to think, that it will be conduced without any interruption of the tranquillity of the republic. You ( 13* ) ■ You mud not imagine, that however important this negotiation is, that our great men cannot find time for other amuiements and engagements. The object that engroffes our attention at this moment, is love, and the family cf Clavereau (you remember the French a£tor and his two daughters :) Prince Gafper Lubomiriki mar- ries the youngeft daughter to-day and the eldell ran away, and married a mulician, two days ago, having re- ceived from R — a considerable fum, as a recompence for fo infamous a part, and as ferving only for a cloak to his views of getting her out of her father's houle. The father has aclcd, on this occallon, like a prince, and the ambarVador like a comedian ; the latter laughs, and is content with his dexterity, and his flatterers tell him, he is an habile negotiator : but every prudent and impartial m.'.n mult condemn a perfon of his rank and character —father of many children, and pait the heat ot youth — • for having committed fuch an extravagance. The chart du pais remains pretty much the fame as when you left us : the fame friend mips and the fame Quarrels. You have been the inllrument of mal Lind's fortune -, M has given him the abfolute di- rection and education of Monf. Chambellan's fon, with \ penfion for life \ and he is to travel with him in a couple of years ; and I cannot but congratulate both parties j for Lind has great merit as a fcholar, and a man of prin- ciples and worth. I am much obliged to you my dear Colonel, for your offers ot iervice, and am convinced, that you would llize any opportunity of being ufeful to me ; I don't know in what manner you can do me a greater, than in the con- fervation of your fentiments for me. Take care of your health and hufband well your fortune, which is furfiei- ent to make you happy ; and in your happinefs, I lhall always find a (ulcere fatisfaiJtion. Adieu, my dear Co- lonel ! I am and lhall be, to the end of my life, Your affe&ipnnte Friend and Servant, THOMAS WRQUGHTON. Col. Lee. IJlatid ( '3* ) ljlatul St. John, Nov. loth, 1 77 2. My Dear Lee, OF all men on earth yow are the laft from whom I expected to hear, unlefs it was in a paragraph of a fo- reign Gazette, that fuch a day Monf. General Lee, un Anglois, was cut to pieces, defending his Polifh Majefty, or in fome defperatc uncommon attack ; or, which was fully as likely, that you was hanged for treafen, in fome of the damned arbitrary governments you have been wandering through. But, how furprifed ! when, in the place of this, I received a nattering letter from you, da- ted Dijon. Surely, Lee, the climate of France has produced this wonderful e licet. I am fure in Old En- gland you would never flatter any man, much lei's one whom you honoured with your friendfhip. Do you tiot know how apt we all are to forget ourfelves when iu power, or upon any fudden elevation ; and how very ready we are to believe all the handfome things that even the moil abject fycophanta are pleafed to befpatter us with ? Then, my friend, how much more dangerous muftjj: be from a man, of whole underftanding I have al- ways had the higheft opinion ? and who is 10 remarka- ble for his candour and freedom of fpeech, that they are, to the difgraceof our day, well known to be his greateft enemies. In fpite of what I fay, I will acknowledge I am proud of your good opinion, though delivered in too flattering a ftile ; but I hope it will have no other effect than,to make me endeavour to deferve it. Taking it for granted, that you will like to know how I bear my promotion, I will give you as impartial an ac- count of it, in as few words as it is poilible for a man to give of himfelf. I feel myfelf independent, and a flare to flaves, obliged to court and flatter men whom I dc(~ pile, both for their want of abilities and want of honefty. 1 hate power, and thofe in it, more and more every day. I am plainer in my tabic :ind apparel than you ever knew me \* ithout art attempt or wilh to be rich. I have chil- dren and 1 feel they nlay one day be under another go- Yeroot, on the fpot where their father once prcfided. f Tfail ( »33 ) This helps to make me careful, and as tender ai pofnble of thofe entrufted to my care. My actions are as pub- lic as they can poflibly be made ; and I hope my chil- dren and friends will never have reafon to blufh or be afhumed to hear of them. I find the care of a people a more difficult thing than I imagined it to be, and I found myfelf very defective as a legiflator : the former, perhaps, time may render more eafy, and I am endeavouring to remedy the latter, by as clofc an application, to ftudy the fpirit of the laws of my country, as is in my power ; in the mean time, I am cautious of doing much, left It may do more evil than good. This if I know any thin^ of myfelf, is truth. How you will like the daubed por- trait, I know not, nor whether or not, I may not forfeit 3 part of your good opinion, by the badnefs of the at- tempt. Having faid fo much of myfelf, I now come to your bufmefs •, and in the firfl place, I promife you, if it be in my power to do any for you, I will, and with more pleafure than you can aflc me. In the mean time, I can anfvver you fome of your queries to a greater certainty, by being here, than if I had received your letter in Suffolk Street, where you directed it to me. You defired to know if it is worth your while to lay out any money on your lands in this iflaud; I anfwer,yes. You have half of the very bed lot on this ifland, or at lead as good a<; any, and were I in your circumftances, I ivottld be pro- prietor of the whole of it ; in that manner I would lay out the fir ft money. There are a good many French who live upon it already j but for want of title to the land, they do not improve it as they might : thefe would com- mence a fmall rent immediately, for which reafon you ought to appoint an agent j and if you do not like tr» purchafe the other half, you ought to come to fome agree- ment with Sir Francis M'Leane, either to have a divilion, made of it, or to bear a (hare of the expences ; but I would by all means recommend the former, that is to fay, to purchafe the whole; or to have it divided. N The 'ft ) The kind of man, I would recommend to you as an agent, would be an KngKfli farmer, an active fellow, with a genius a little above the common run of them ; one that would not be fo much guided by old cuftoms, as to attempt ploughing here in February, becaufe he was ufed to do fo at home : in fhort, a man who can think a little and accommodate both himfeif and his labour to the climate, /is you have a plentiful fortune, no mat- ter whether or not he has, perhaps better not. To fuch a man you might give, at an eaiy rent, as much land as he thought would make him a compleat farm. He ought to bring tome fervants with him, who ought to be bound for three or four years, he paying them yearly wages, fomething more than they get in England. He ought to bring like wife all the iron parts of every kind of farming Utenfils, and all the neceffary iron work for building him- felf a houfe ; and, befide that, either money, or a cre- dit to purchafe cattle and a year's provifions. If you had fuch a man well fettled ; and it fhou!d be done in fuch a manner, that he might feel as few incon- veniencies as potfible ; he would loon bring you more ; for you may depend upon it, the foil and climate both would pleafe him. He ought to have a power ot attor- ney to let your lands, and indeed as ex re: ill ve a one as you, from your knowledge of the man, would -think prudent to entruft him with. But after all, dear Lee, what is there to hinder you frpm taking a view of the place yourielf, nay, of being • our own agent. Do not you think the cultivating you* iands, arid improving your cenftitution and fortune, is a much more rational, and, perhaps, I might fay, fenfible employment, than feampering over all the continent of 'i-'.uvore, in fearch of damned Hungarian fevers. Come, Lee, and leave Hume to cram his hiftory down the throats of his countrymen, for few others read it. You will find your gall bladder decreafe in fize very much, without writing ftriclures upon any thing \ or even abu- fing a king or a Harrington, as foon as you fet foot upon this our free and hofpital coaft : and to encourage you, OJ) you, as I know you like good living, I will engage to give you as good beef, mutton, poultry, and fait lifh, as you ever met with, and, as my countrymen fay, a hun- dred thoufand welcomes. And now, taking it tor gran- ted, that you will be as tired with reading as I am with writing, by the time you get thus lar, I will liuifh, by alluring you, that I am your afie&iouate hier.d, and fervant, W. PATTERSON, Colonel Lee. Dear S ; where fo much has been done and undone \ and where ftill there is an ample range for wifdom ami miliake. Either nmft produce confidcrable effects in an affair of fuch ex- tent and importance. It will be no light mifehief, and nc trivial benefit. When one tonhders, what might be done ( "3* ) done there, it is truly miferable to think of its prefent diftracted condition : But as the errors which have brought things into that (late of confufion are not likely to be corrected by any influence of ours, upon either fide of the water, it is not wife to fpeculate too much on the fubjeft ; it can have no effect, but to make ourielves uneafy, without any pofiible advantage to the public 1 . Here, as we have met fo we continue, in the mod per- fect repofe. It has been announced to us, that we arc to have no bufinefs but the gold coin j this has not ap- peared as yet : And if there be nothing further than we near of intended, it will come on time enough. The po- litics ef the continent, which ufed to engage your atten- tion fo much, attract no part of ours. Whether the American affairs will be brought before us is yet un- certain. Saturday, I heard the Maflachufetts petition againft their governor and deputy, difcuffed before council. It ■was fpoken to, very ably, by the council on either fide j by Meflirs. Dunning and Lee, for the province j by Mr. Wedderburn for the governors. The latter uttered a furibus Philippic againft poor Dofior Franklin. It requir- ed all his Phiiofophy, natural and acquired, to fupport him againft it. 1 heard that the petition will be rejected. The council was the fulleftof any in our memory } thir- ty-five attended. I hope, as you fay nothing of it in your lad letter, that your fit of the gout was but gentle, and rather a iharp remedy than any thing that deferves to be called a dif- eafe. With many thanks for your obliging remem- brance, and all good wiih.es for an agreeable journey and fafe return, I am, Dear Sir, Your mod obedient humble Servant, EDMUND BURK. DllAR ( *37 ) Deat Lee, New-York, June loth, 177^- I SHOULD have done myfelf the pleafure to have wrote to you before •, but really did not know where a letter would find you ; fometimes we lieard you were gone to the Weft-Indies ; at another, that you were gone on to Carolina; by Mr. Bird, I am informed you are flill in Virginia. 1 expected before now to have heard from governor Chefter, relative to your lan£-in Welt Florida, but fup- pofe I (hall lhortly. I fet out in a few days to join our worthy friend General Gage at Bolton j he is come out with very extraordinary powers, and has wrote for me : It is a very fortunate circumttance, that the power both civil and military hath fallen into the hands of fo mode- rate a man as General Gag ■ ; I hope he will gain great credit on this critical occafion } his abilities arc good, and with refpe£t to his heart, you who know him iu well, will allow him to be po fie fled of one of the belt kind. Your things are all left with Mrs. Aire, who will tak ; care of them. I inclofe you a letter from Dunbar, and one I picked up in the coffee-houfe for ycu. Dag worthy has got a company in the 48th regiment, through^olu- nei Vaughan's intereft. I am, Dear Lee, with great truth, Youi's mod lincerelv, THOMAS G ALIBLE. To General Lcc. My dear Lee, TravellerVReft, July rft, 1774. I RECEIVED your welcome letter by Mr. Wormly, and live in daily expectation of feeing you at my hut. I now wifh more than ever for that fatufattion, as the alarms of the times make me earneft to confult, and con- verfe with you thereupon. Until actions convince me of the contrary, I am refolved to think Mr. Gage has tome fccret medicine in his pocket, to heal the wounds N 2 thac ( M ) that threaten the life of American liberty. Surely a man lb humane, fo fenfible, fo honourable, fo indepen- dent in his circumftances, and fo great from family ex- pectations, would never undertake a bufinefs, fit only for an abandoned defperado, or a monfter in human fhape, a General Murray, a Macro, or a Ravilliac. I cannot think what detains vou lb far to the South- ward, at this feafon of the year •, without any difparage- ment to Williamfburg, health, and inch as you like for affociatcs, are more certainly to be met with to the Northward , I know not, how vou find it, but the older .1 grow, I become lefs and lefs inclined to new acquain- tance : Selfiflinefs and fycophantry pcflefs (o generally the minds of men, that I think the many ate belt avoid- ed, and the few only who are liberal and fmccre, to be fought for and carened. I therefore flick fteadily to the cultivation of my farm, am intimate with icw, read when I have time, and content myfelf with fucli do- meftic comforts as my circumftances and fortune affofd me. I wifh therefore,. moft anxioufly, you would come to my retreat, and there let us philofophize on the vices and virtues ofthisbufy world, the follies and the vani- ties of the great vulgar and fmall. Laugh where we pleafe, be cp.nilii where we can, And jui'dty the ways of God to mar.. Mrs. Gates is earned in defiring to Tec you under her ro.jf, where a good bed is provided foryoft, two or three flaves to fnpply all your wants and whimfias ; and fpace enough about us for you to exercife away all your fpleen and gloomy moods, whenibever they diftrefs you. In my neighbourhood. there is this moment as fine a farm, mill, and tract of laud to be fold as any in America, and provided it is convenient to you to pay down half the price, I ath convinced you may have it a very great bar- gain. It is altogether two thoufand four hundred acres, nt thirty millings ftcrlmg an acre ; I am fatisfied you :.:i -hi have it (o. Bv paving down about one thoufand pbht hundred pdund« fteriing, you maybe put m pof- feflion ( 129 ) feflion of an eflatc, that ten years hence will be worth (jvcn thoufand pounds fterling ; arid I take it for grant* ed, that you may have the payment of the reft of tire ghtrchafe money, at eafy inftallments, and that too with- out iutcrelt ; io by laying out a thoufand pounds fter- ling more, in (locking and improvements, your produce will yield you a fine living, and whcrewithall to pay your annual inltallment, bargained for in the purchafc. I'fuppofc you have procured from I,ord Dunmore his warrant for your live thoufand acres upon the Ohio, that will be very foon of confiderable value. As to the Indians, the behaviour of certain of the white people ii beyond, all comparifon abominable towards thofe unhap- py natives •, not content with quiet pofieilion of all the laud on this iide the Ohio, they demand as a prelimina- ry to a peace, all the land between that river and the Miffifippi — but this Ilory is too long for a letter, you iLall know the whole of this iniquitous affair when we meet — the gentleman who does me the favour to pre- (cnt you this letter, has the pleafure of your acquaint- ance, and can very fully inform you of the exceeding v. ickednefs and ablurdity of the mcafures purfucd, and purfuing, againft the Indians. I have read with wonder and aftonifhmont Gage's p"och 1 jnations ; furely this is Dot tlic fame man, you and I knew fo well in days of yore ; Inn that men lhould change, neither you nor I will be furprifed at ; it is rather nutter of amazement when they do not. Auguft the Seventeenth : I am this inftant returned from Baltimore, and hoped to have croffed upon yovt, ir route to the Northward, but, like Swift's Mor- .ctaudo, you were vanifhed- 1 was forry for it, as I might have pi evaded upon you to have tempered your zeal with caution, before all fueh perfons as may reasonably be fufpe&cd to w^tch your words and actions, where your zeal in the noble caufe you mention can be exerted to affect., too much cannot be fhewn ; but be careful how you act, for be aflured Gage knows you too well, and knows you know iiim too well not to be glad of agjpk. plaunble? ( RP ) plaufible pretence to prevent your good fervices in the public caufe. Farewel, my friend •, remember I am, what I have always profefTed myfelf to be, and that I am ready to rifque my life to preferve the liberty of the "Weftern world. On this condition would I build my fame, And emulate the Greek or Roman name ; Think Freedom's right bought cheaply with my blood, And die with pleafure for my country's good. While I live, I am Your's unchangeably, HORATIO GATES. My dear Lr.n, London, Sep. 3d, 1774. I RECEIVED your long letter with great pleafure, and will anfwer it as fully as I am able. You muft have mifunderftood me, in what I faid of the bill to al- ter the Maflachufetts government, if you imagined I had either concurred in, or even forborne to exprefs my ful- left difapprobation of it, when it was depending in the houfe> The fa£l: is fo much otherwife, that I fought it through every ftage, almoft alone, when moft of the op- pofition were attending the Ne vv -Market meeting, or other occupations, equally entitled to be preferred to that ence, or give force to their injunctions one hour, afu>r the difapprobation of the mafs of the people i» fignincd. I have been the more-full upon this fubject, becaufe I would not willingly be millaken in my principles upon fo material a point. Now I am upon the iubjeCt. of Maf- fachufettSj I cannot help exprefling my furprize that you fliould liave be-cn I'o far mifinformed, as to have bclieveil that I, amongft the reft, could fpeak with " approbati- on of that fcoundrel Hutchinfon," fo far from it, that I agree with you in the epithet, and was the only p'erfon in the houfe that declared my deteftation of his charac- ter, and my conviction that his whole conduct had been that of a parricide, who had attempted to ruin his coun- try, to ferve his own little narrow felfiih purpofes. This I did in fuch pointed terms that I was informed he had afterwards waited upon a friend of mine, who did not fee his character in fo juft a light, to thank him for what he was pleafed to call, defending him again ft me. Be affined, I fliall never fpeak well of a man who recom- mends an abridgment of Englifh liberties, in any part of the globe, where one fpark remains unfmothered by corruption, and unextinguifhed by violence. As to the Quebec Bill, I can, with pleafure, allure you, that I op- pofed it, with activity throughout j and though I cocrld not overfet it, I was at leaft fortunate enough to fet a defined bound to defpotifm •, and fay, fo far fliall thou go, and no farther, by drawing die line which protected New-York and Pennfylvania ; though I have fmce been told, that Burke takes the merit to himfelf, but upon what grounds I know not, as I propofed the line without any communication with him. As to myfelf, I am out of Parliament, without any profpect of being in ; and though I fliould have thought it infamous to have deferted my poft and not endeavour- ed to get in, yet I hardly can fay, that I much regret my being out there is fo little profpect of doing good. I am, dear Lee, Your's, &c. * # # * * # # #^ Sis ( M3 ) Sir, Balti.-.cre, Jan. i ;th, 177& YOUR civilities to me when at ProfpeiCt-hiil, were fuch as I expected from the foldier and the gentleman, and demand my w'armeft thanks.^ I hope I fhall ever bear a grateful remembrance of them. I fee by the papers, that you are removed to Newport, in Rhode-Ifland, and therefore fufpe£t that the minifte- rialilta, unable to bear the preflure of want, and the in- clemencies of the feafon, intend to remove from Bolton, and make Rhode-Ifland their head quarters, at leaf! for fome time ; but of this you can bed judge, whole expe- rience, in fome degree, enables you to penetrate the de- fii^ns of thoie in power. The King's (peech to both Houfes of Parliament, at the opening of the fefliqn, clearly evinces the neceihty of fpeedy and arre&ual exertions on the part of this con- tinent, for the purpofe of oppofing, with force of arms, the infamous plan adopted by a venal miniitry, for fub- verting our molt incitimable privileges. We fhould im- mediately unite, and call forth every fpark of virtue in fo great and important a contelt, as all hopes of an accom- modation are now loft. America is happy in having for generals, gentlemen experienced in military operati- ons. With ardent wifhesthat America may rife fuperior to all opprefiaons, and become independent, I take the liberty i>f fubferibing myfelf, Str, Your obliged, humble fervant, GEORGE LUX, The Hon. Major Gen. Lee. My nwx General, Ph 'ila lelphia, Feb^tjth, X77Q FOR TUNE feems to be in a good humour with you. It is not enough that you have triumphed over external and internal enemies at New-York, but you are about v> enjoy new triumphs in another part of the continent. I tremble k *44 ) I tremble only at the price of victory on the plains of Abraham. I prefage the furviving your conquefts from one part of your character, and that is, you have a wonderful ta- lent of infufing your fpirit into the minds of your troops. Should your blood mingle with the blood of Wolfe, Montcalm, and Montgomery, pofterity will execrate the plains of Abraham to the end of time. Your appointment to the Canada expedition gave all your friends here great pleafure. I think it is more than probable, the principal force of our enemies will be fent to that quarter. Canada is dearer to the king than all the other colonies put together, as it is the only part of the Britifh empire in which arbitrary power is eftablifhed by law. Should that province become the feat of war, we (hall have no reafon to complain \ for our fea-coafts and fea-port towns are in a poor fituation to receive our enemies, The Gulph and River St. Laurence, it is to be hoped, will concur with the elements in embarrafling them. Mr. Pitt conquered America in Germany ; who knows but General Lee may conquer Britain in America ? I need not tell you, how much pleafure it will give me to receive a few lines from you by all the exprefTes you fend to the Congrefs. I (hall write to you moft faithful- ly by the return of each of them. Colonel Thompfon fpeaks in raptures of you in all companies. The bearer of this letter is Mr. Paine, the celebrated author of Common Senfe. Adieu, Yours, &c. An OLD FRIEND. Gen. Lee. Sir, Winchefter, Jan. 27th, 1776- YOUR favour of the tenth ultimo, did not reach me till the twenty-fecond inftant. I that day wrote you an anfwer by one Mr. Campbell who was on his way, and who promifed to give my letter a conveyance, if he did not ( Ms ) not fee you. I informed you, that I faw no objections to your paying off the incumbrances on your land, and the future payments whenever it is convenient for you to do fo. I mould be happy to fee the important fubject of the independence of North America, difcufTed in the per- fpicuous and able manner you are capable of. I have troubled you with fome of my crude thoughts, to afford vou an opportunity when leifure well permit, and incli- nation lead you, to explain my miltakes and correct my errors. From the commencement of the prefent un- happy dilpute, I confidered the fhedding of blood, if that event mould take place, as the -.era, at which would ter- minate the Britifh empire in America ; or the colonies be fubjugated to the abfolute dominion of parliament ; and when hoftilities commenced, my mind was only agi- tated with the means of defending ourfelves, and form- ing a conilitution which would fecure fubftantial liberty to the people ; when I found the Congrefs entertained different views, that they had again petitioned the king for reconciliation, and declared to their fellow fubjects throughout the empire, that their only end in taking up arms was to procure a redrefs of grievances and fecure their properties and conftitutional rights, folemnly dif- cl aiming every idea of eftablifhing an independent em- pire, it gave a different turn to my thoughts. I reflect- ed that our anceftors have fought many battles, and flied torrents of blood in fupport of their conftitutional rights, and whatever may have been the fate of arbitrary princes, the couftitution was ever held facred, the inftance of Charles's reign only excepted. Th'e Whigs were then obliged to join with the Tories, in reltoring royalty in its luftre to get rid of a phantom which the Independents had railed under the name of liberty. The hope of a vc-vmion with our brethern of Great Britain, and of the increasing grandeur and proipcrity of the whole empire; I •, I confefs, had fomMhihg agreeable in it. I there- fore with eagernefs iuveftigated the propofed plan of ope- rations, to enable mc to judge of the probable event, O and ( jttf ) and I found, or thought I found thefecurity of our li- berties in connection v\ ith Great Britain almoft certainly attainable; at any rate more practicable than the eftabliih- ing an independent ftare ; for the following among other reafons - t that the people of America were deter minately united in fupport of that meafure ; that every infult and injury from admhnftration only tended to animate and cement ; that the gre.ateft trading cities and moil refpec- table characters in England are our friends •, that even our enemies in parliament dare not ftand t.he attack on the proper ground ; but, in order to carry their point, have always infilled we were aiming at independency. That the belief of this is the fole reafon we have any enemies among the people of England, and though I am of opinion, the governing powers of Britain would ra- ther lofe the colonic., totally, than yield one iota of their prcteniions, the people will think very differently when convinced our views extend no further than to the fecu- rity of thofe rights, which they themfelves hold ell'ential to liberty. That it would be impofub.e for government to carry on a war againft the Inclinations, and fo deftruc- tive io the interelts of the people,, as the prefent mult obvioufly appear, when, it ia remembered, the caufe of our conteft is the ajfTumed power of parliament, to tax the colonies, to alter our forms of government, to trans- port us to Britain for the trial of fuppofed offences, and to make laws, regulating our internal police. That the i'word would even drop from the hand of a Britifh fol- dier, if he believed it pointed againft the breait of a man contending for his birth-right. That an attempt to eita- blilh an independency would unite England as one man againft us ; and though {he is burdened with an enor- mous debt, and deprived of a molt valuable branch of commerce, Ihe has it Hi great reiburces ; and it is not eafy to forefee the confequences of the utmoft exertions of her power, ^elides, it appears to be the intereft of Europe, that America fhould remain dependent. The ppwer and importance of England, which by a defection of the colonies, Ihe would lofe, is neccfiary in the Euro- pean- ( m: ) £ean fyftem. Holland and Portugal, I think, owe their political exiltence to her; and even thofe ftates vchich might widi to fee her deprefl'ed, were their fnterefts con- fined to Europe, would dread greater evils from the eftablifhment of an independent empire in North Ame- rica, the certain confequences of which would he, I ap- prehend, the lofs of Mexico, South America, and the Weft India Iflands, to whomsoever belonging. But it is a neceffary inquiry, on what terms can our difference be adjufted which will fecure us from future contefts ? I anfwer, it is impoffiblc. The nature of human affairs is fuch, that no political fyftem can be eftablifhed which the folly of weak, or ambition of wicked me*n will not in time fubvert. Let Great Britain relinquifh her claim of internal legiflation and taxation; let ftated times be limited for the holding and duration of anemblies, and counfellors, dependent on the Crown, be deprived legi dative powers, or hold their places during life; and Jet fupreme judges be appointed in each colony, to hold their places during good behaviour, with certain and ad- equate fabrics. All this would be no real injury to Eng- land, the only advantage flie ever did, or ever can receive from America is her commerce, an equitable fhare of which ought to be fecured to her by a grand eommercal fyftem, to be agreed on by the legillators of the two countries, and to remain unalterable, except by mutual confent. Such a plan of accommodation, I think of- fers as fair for the permanent fecurity of peace, wealth, and liberty, as any 1 have heard or can devife for the government of America in an independent date. I take it for granted, as I have never heard it difputed, that a popular or democratic government mud take place, which in its moft perfect ftate, I think much inferior to the mixed government of Britain ; for I hold it as a maxim, that wherever the fupreme power is vefted in one man, or one body of men, the liberty of the fubject is at belt precarious. It appears from hiftory that popular fury is as formidable and often excrcifed with as much injultice as royal indignation. Frequent elections are no fecurity in ( M ) in this cafe, the (pint of the people always influences the representative body, and if a man becomes unpopular, however innocent, his ruin is inevitable. To you i not give inftances •, neither is it poffible in fuch a conlti- tution to render the judicial powers totally independent. The fame body of men who have the appointment of the judges, having alfo the power of removing them, will car- ry popular prejudice even to the feats of juflice. In this refpedt, England has the advantage of all other nations. In cool difpafhonate hours, the three branches of the ie- gillature concur in enacting laws for the general good of the community. The meaneft fubject cannot be punifhed unlefs he tranfgreffes thofe laws, neither can the judges be difplaced for faithfully executing them, without the like concuiTence. This protects individuals equally from po- pular violence, and the arbitrary mcafures of kings and courtiers. But is America capable of receiving a democra- tic government ? Have we that induftry, frugality, cecono- my, that virtue which is neceffary to conftitute it ? Laws and conftitutions mud be adapted to the manners of the people ; they do not, they cannot form them, Whenever the manners change, the laws change with them,-or lofe their force. Is not North America too extenfivc for a popular government ? But I find the fpirit of the times is againft a union •, we mufi then become a confederacy of republics, each having fupreme powers within itfelt. Does net this afford a profpect of perpetual wars and internal feuds, till feme one colony, or perhaps one man, becomes mailer of the whole continent ? Recur to the hiftoric page, and point out the age and country where this, under fimilar circumftances, has not been the cafe ? the united provinces being furrounded by more power- ful ftates, materially diftinguifhes their fituation from that of thefe colonies. A congrefs or general council for regulating the affairs of the whole confederacy, will hardly be fufficient to maintain peace. There was a general council of the Englifh Heptarchy, yet that iiland was an uninterrupted feenc of blood and flaughter, till uni- ted under one head. There is a general diet of the Ger- man C 149 ) man empire, yet every one knows that the princes of the empire fubmit to its decrees, juft as far as fuits their o\\ n purpofes. Greece had her Amphiclyons, yet was not without inteftine wars. The country being called to arms for the exprefs pur- pofe of defending and fecuring her conftitutional liber- ty, is there not an inconfiftency in employing thole arms to quite different purpofes, at leaft till it is known whe- ther the original end be attainable ? and finely the mod fanguine cQuld not expect that point fo foon determin- ed ? Or that we could force England to a compliance with our terms in the courfe of one campaign. An apology might well be expedited for this trouble ; if I had a good one to offer, you fliould have it. Some flight touches on the fubjecl, with feveral expreflions of regard interfperfed through your letters of bufmefs, em- boldened me to take this liberty, and further, to requeft an anfwer. I am one of thofe who have ever wifhed and gloried in the honour and profperity of the Britifh empire ; but if a feperation takes place, interelt, inclination, every confideration will induce me to tak Gear Generat, Head-quarters, Feb. z6\\\, . Lalt night I had the pleafure to receive yours of the 15th. I am rejoiced you have weathered this tit of the gout ; I don't think you will have another this winter, it you was careful in letting that pafs off: it may pro! be oi much fervice to your conllitution. When I menti- oned Canada, I did not mean you mould winter there ; if you can fecure the entrance into it, by getting Quebec, and polTe fling it this fummer, you may leave the care of that province to your Brigadiers for the winter to come. The General was pleafed you wrote to him, as he began to think you tardy. He writes to you by this exprefs, I like your intention of making the fort an open redoubt ; I think fome heavy guns upon the fouth and weft iUes, with good fod merlons, will make die men of war keep aloof. It is a pretty high fituation, and battering it at a cHftance, over the lower batteries, would have but little effect. Y/e have lately had reafons to fuppofe Mr. Howe had thoughts of leaving Bofton j the General will tell you his reafons for thinking that was intended. Clinton, I am fatisfied, went to fee how affairs were circumitan- ced at New-York, to confuk with Tryon, and to prepare the way for Howe's reception. Unlefs the enemy xz- polTefs Canada, they cannot reinftate the king's aiFairs on this continent', there is no way to recover Canada, but by the Rivers of St. Laurence and Hudfon. The St. Laurence is not practicable until late in May ; there- fore, the firft attempt would mod affuretlly be made at New- York : for the fe reafons, I think your hands mould, be ftrengthened as much, and as expeditioully as poflible. I am afraid you are deficient in gun-carriages ; employ all the hands you can procure to make them. I am glad you exprefs yottrfeli fo well pleafed with the Captains, Smith and Badlam ; the former has good talents, and will, I hope, prove as faithful as he is capable. Ere long; it will be known if I am right in my conjecture, that; the great body of the enemy mean to endeavour to I poll at, or near New-York. Should that happen to bj attempted, be allured we fliall march with the utmoll expedition > ftipport you. I expect foon to fee Palfrey, in confe* qucnce of what I wrote to him, when I hope to heat you arc in perfect health. Little Euitace is well, but nothing is done for him as yet. You know the more than Scotch partiality 6f thefe folks. I have had much • o do to fupport the lad you put into Colonel Whitcomb 3 regiment. They have no complaint in nature againlt him, but that he is too good an officer. What, in the name of reafon, can Hite have trumped up to com- mence a fuit in Chancery upon ? Mrs. Gates and I have puzzled our brains to find it out. The inclofed I defire ybu will order to be immediately delivered to the poft-maller. Mrs. Gates joins me in every good wilh for ; our health and fuccefs. I am ever affectionately, Yours, HORATIO GATES, Major Gen. Lee. Dear Sir, Philadelphia, Feb. ipth, 177& I REJOICE that you are going to Canada. I hope the gout will not have the courage to follow you inta that fevere climate. I believe you will have the num- ber of men you wifhed for. I am told there will be two fhoufand more, but there are always deficiencies. The bearer, Mr. Pain, has requefted a line of intro- duction to you, which I give the more willingly, as I know his fentiments are not very different from yours : lie is the reputed, and, I think, the real author of Com- won Se/ife, a pamphlet that has made great imprelfiou here. I do not enlarge, both becaufe he waits, and be- caufe I hope for the pleafure of conferring with you face to face in Canada. I will only add, that we are aflured here on the part of France, that the troops fent to the Weft-Indies have no inimical views to us or our caufe. It is thought they intend a war without a previous de- claration. God God profper all your undertakings, and return you with health, honour, and happinefs. Your's molt affectionately, B. FRANKLIN. Major Gen. Lee. Sir, Philadelphia, July ::d, 1776. YOUR favour of the fecond inftant, containing the very agreeable intelligence of the fuceefs of the American army under your command, I had the honour of receiv- ing, and immediately laid the fame before Congrels. The fame enlarged mind, and diftinguifhed ardour in the cauie of freedom that taught you to defpife th~ pre- judices which have enllaved the bulk of mankind, when you nobly undertook the defence of American liberty, will entitle you to receive from pofterity the fame due to fuch exalted and difmterefted conduct. That a handful of men, without the advantage of mi- litary experience, animated only with the facred love of liberty, fhould repulfe a powerful fleet and army, are circumltances that mult excite gratitude and wonder in the friends of America, and prove a fource of the molt mortifying difappointment to our enemies. Accept, therefore, Sir, the thanks of the Independent States of America, unammoujly declared by their delegates to be due to you and the brave officers and troops under your command, who repulfed with fo much valour the attack that was made on the Itate of South-Carolina, on the 2Sth of June, by the fleet and army of his Britanic Majefty ; and be pleafed to communicate to them this e£ted, I intended to have put myfelf a volunteer under your command, and to have contributed my little affiflancc towards that fuccefs which I am aflured would have attended your command. Remote as the fcene may be, I fhall not bear abfence /rom it with much pa- tience ; and were it not almoft ruin to my private affairs, no campaign fhould pafs without receiving the little affilt- ance I could perfonally give j for though I am no mili- tary character, nor ambitious of fuch diftintticn, the caufe in which we are now engaged, and in which 1 have un- remittingly fhugglcd fince the ftamp act, makes rnc anxious to be a witnefs and an attor, however inconfider- able, in every fcene of importance, whether military or civil, which may relate to it. I have the honour to be, with fingular refpett, Sir, Your obedient fervant, THOMAS BURKE. Major Gen. Lee. Dear ( 166 ) Drar S:h, Philadelphia, Tune 17th, 177?- I HEARTILY thank you for your letter and regret that I cannot have the pleafure of meeting you j the great wifh of my life is to Tee peace between two coun- tries I almolt equally love, while it is a queflion whether this or an inexterminable war is to take place. I meant in words I had learnt from you, to fet before you the ma- ny and mutual advantages both would derive from an agreement ; and as the terms now offered are more for the intereft of your favourite America than you ever ho» ped to obtain, I fliould have made no fcruple to afk your good offices, and to engage my own, to remove any ob- ftaeles that might ohftru, in our poiTeiTion. and his fleets repulfed and difgraced . along our coafta for two thoufand miles ! I hope he will repent and be contented to put up with the lols of Ame- rica, or, if he does not, that he may meet with repeated difappointment. The Marylanders were routed by the refolve of our Convention, and have lectured their repre- sentatives fo well, that they have unanimoufly voted for independence — they have nooccafton for our riile-meu on that account : However I can allure you on the Eas- tern fhore of Maryland there has been* a confiderablc in- furrecftion of Tories, infomuch that Colonel Fleming baa been obliged to march with a hundred and twenty men to quell them. "We have not ytt heard the event of that affair. I have juft now received another letter from you, and am delighted with your deiciiption of the bra- • very of Colonel Moultrie anil the garrifon of Fort-Sulli- van. It is not flattery, my dear General, when I tell you, that molt of us here attribute the glorious difplay of bravery on that day, to the animating pretence of a commander, who, independent of his great military abi- lities and experience, appeared to be the evil genius of Clinton, who had followed him, and from whofe pre- fence he had feemed to retire and retreat along the coait, from Bofton to Charlefton. All that I could do,' as there were not gentlemen enough in town to make a council, was to defire brigadier Lewis to fend immedi- ately ( «?: ) to North-Carolina, ail the powder that could be fparcd out of the magazine. About lour thoufaiid pounds will be feat. 1 am moll Gncerely yours, JOHN PAGE. Major Gen. Lee. Dear General. Philadelphia, July, 23d, 1776. It would take a volume to tell you how many clever things were faid of you and the brave troops under your command, after hearing of your late victory It has given a wonderful turn to our affairs. The lofs of Ca- nada had (truck the fpirits of many people, who now begin to think our caufe is not abandoned, arid that we fball yet triumph over our enemies. The declaration of independence has produced a new asra in this part of America. The militia of Pennfylva- nia feem to be actuated with a fpirit more than Roman. Near two thoufand citizens of Philadelphia have lately inarched towards New-York, in order to prevent an in- curfion being made by our enemies upon the ftate of New-Jerfey. The cry of them all h for battle* I think Mr. Howe will not be able to get a footing in New- York, and that he will end the prefent, or begin the next cam- paign in Canada, or in fome one of the Southern colo- nies ; — the only places in which America is vulnerable. We depend upon Gates in the North, and you oblige us to hope for great things from the South. The Tories quiet, but very furly. Lord Howe's pro- clamation leaves them not. a fingle filament of their cob- web doctrine of reconciliation. The fpirit of iiberty reigns triumphant in Pennfylva- nia. The proprietary gentry have retired to their coun- try feats, and honeit men have taken the feats they abu-. fed fo much in the government of our Mate. The papers will inform you, that I have been thruft into Congrefs. I find there is a great deal of difference between ( f73 ) between iporting a fentiment in a letter, or over a glafe of wine upon politics, and discharging properly the duty of a fenator. I feel myfelf unequal to every part of my new lituatien, except where plain integrity is required, My former letters to you may pafs hereafter for a leaf of the Sibyls. They are full of predictions } and, what is itiil more uncommon, fome of them have proved true. I mall go on, and add, that I think the declaration of independence will produce union and new exertions in England in the fame ratio that they have done in this country. The prefent campaign, I believe, is only cic- figned to train us for the duties of next fummer. Adieu, Yours fincerelv, An OLD FRIEND. Major Gen. Lee. My dear Lee, New-York -V.;_ : 77 1 -- NOTWITHSTANDING I {ball probably feel the effect, I do moil cordially and Gncerely congratulate you on your victory over Clinton and the Britiih fquadron at Sullivan's-Iftand. A victory undoubtedly it is, when an enemy are drubbed, and driven from a country they were fent to conquer. Such is the cafqj of Clinton and Sir Peter Parker, who are now with the fleet and army at Staten-Ifland, where General Howe aad the troops from Halifax have been ever fmce the laft day of June, and Lord Howe fmce the twelfth of July. Some Hef- fians and a pretty many of the Scottifh laddies have got in, and the refidueof the fleet parted with, off the banks of Newfoundland, hourly expected. When the whole arrive, matters will foon come to a decifion, every thing being prepared on both fides for the appeal, and on ours, 1 hope it will be obftinate, if not fuccefsful. The latter, it is not in the power of mortals to com- mand ; but they may endeavour to deferve it y and this J am purfuaded, our troops will more than ever aim at, Q 2 as ( 174 ) as I have imprefFed upon their minds the gallant b viour of the brave few, who defended SullivanVMland. At prefent, the-enemy can bring more men to a point than we can, and when reinforced by the Helhans with- out number, as iinlefs the militia Mailer than hertoforc) come into our aid, their numbers, when the Heihans ar* rive, cannot, by the belt intelligence we can get, fall ihort ol twenty-five thoufand men. Ours are under twenty, very ficklyi and polled on Governor's-Iiland, Long-Ifland, at Powlcs-Hook, Horn's-Hook, and at the pais near King's Bridge ; more militia are expected, but whether they will be in time, time only can tell, as alio where the point of attack will be. An opinion prevails, countenanced by hints from fome of the principal Tories, and corroborated by intelligence from Staten-Illand, that part of the enemy's fleet and army will go into the Sound, whilft another part of it runs up the North-River, there- by cutting offall communication by water with this place, whilft their troops form a chain acrofs the neck, and Hop an intercourse with Connecticut by land : others think they will not leave an army in their rear, whillt they have the country in their front, getting by that means between two fires, unlets it is intended as a feint to withdraw our troops from the city, that they may flip in and poflefs themfelves of it : all this is but a Held of conjecture. Our affairs in the North have been growing from bad to worfe, Hill I hope they will mend, as one great fource of the evil is in a way of being removed, 1 mean, the fmall pox ; but the army have retreated from place to place, till they are now got to Ticonderoga, oppolite to which, on the Eaft tide of the Lake Champlain, they are about to eftablilh a poft, which they fay will be in- vulnerable-, but whether it may be fomewhat like the man who built a mill on account of a beautiful fall, and then had to confider whether it was practicable to bring water to it, remains in fome meafure to be determined, as it is the opinion of fome, (I know nothing of the country nvyfelf) that the enemy may pafs this poll and get ( ** ) get into Lake George, without receiving the lead annoy-- ance from this work, Whether they would chufe to leave a poll in their roar without eftablilbing one thern- felyeSj iufiicient to keep it. in awe, is the point in quef- tion. It gives rne a very lingular pleafuve to hear of the Jam behaviour of your young aids, ami IMr. Jenc alio of Colonels Moultrie and Thompl'on ; to be the means at any time, oi rewarding merit, will add greatly to mv happinefs ; and whenever yoti can point out a mode that can be adopted confidently, you fliail fmd me very ready : but you know, the temper of the troops in this (punter, as well ' as I do, and how impracticable it bring in a perfon, let his merit be ever fo great, out throwing a whole corps into confufion. This will alio apply to Captain Bullet. What vacancies there may be in your department that he has his eye to, and could be appointed to with propriety, you mult know better than I. That there is none here, 1 can undertake to lay. 1 have no doubt but the Congrcfs would annex the rank of colonel to his oiricc o£ adjutant. I believe they have done it in the inltanee of Griffin, who is appointed deputy-adjutant to the Hying camp. It this would add any thing to his latisfaction, 1 lhould have no objection to the mention of it. With every wifli for your profperity and iuccefs, I remain with lineere regard, Your molt affectionate and obedient, G. WASHINGTON. Gen. Lee. Dear Si«, General Green's Quartets, Nov. i6th. 1776'. YOU will fee by the inclofed refolves, that Congrefs has entered into fome new regulations relpecYmg the enliftment of the new army, and reprobating the mea- fures adopted by the ftate of Mafiachufetto-Bay for rai- ling their quota of men. As every poflible exertion fhouldbc ufed for recruiting the army, as ipeedily as may be, I requeit that you im r mediately ( 17* ) mediately publifb, in orders, that an allowance of a dol- lar and one-third of a dollar will be paid to the officers for every foldier they iliall enlift, whether in or out of camp. Alfo, that it will be optional in the foldier to enlift during the continuance of the war, or for three years, unlefs fooner difcharged by congrefs. In the former cafe they are to receive all fuch bounty and pay as have been hertofore mentioned in orders ; thofe who engage for the latter time, that of three years are not to receive the bounty in land. That no miftakes may be made, you will direct the re- cruiting officers, from your divifion to provide two di- ftin& enlifting rolls •, one for thole to fign who engage during the war, the other for thofe who enlift for three years, if their fervice fliall be fo long required. I am forry to inform you, that this day, about twelve o'clock, the enemy made a general attack upon our lines about Fort-Wafhington, which having carried, the garri- fon retired within the fort. Colonel Magaw, finding there was no profpe£r. of retreating a-crofs the North- River, furrendered the poft. We do not yet know the lofs of killed and wounded on either fide ; but I imagine it muft have been pretty confiderable, as the engagement, at fome parts of the lines was of long continuance, and heavy. Neither do I know the terms of capitulation. The force of the garrifon, before the attack, was about two thoufand men. Before I left Peek's-kill, I urged to General Heath, the neceffity of fecuring the pafs through the Highlands next to the river, as well on that as this fide, and to the forts above ; but as the preferring of thefe and others which lay more eafterly, and which are equally eflenti- al, is a matter of the laft importance, I muft beg you to turn your attention that way, and to have fuch meafures adopted for their defence as your judgment fliall fug- geft to be neceflary. I do not mean to advife abandon- ing your prefent poft contrary to your own opinion, but cnly to mention my ideas of the importance of thofe paf~ fes, ( 1/7 ) fes, and that you cannot give too much attention to\ their fecurity, by hiving works ere&ed in the moft ad- vantageous places for that purpofe. I am, dear Sir, "Vour moll obedient fervant, GLORGE WASHINGTON, Gen. Lee. The RESOLVES of CONGRESS MENTIONED IN THE PRECEDING LETTER. In CONGRESS, November 7th, 1776. RESOLVED, That the refolution palled the 14th of October lad, That the allowance to officers of one and one-third of a dollar for enlifting foldiers, be not extend- ed or given on the rc-enliftment of the foldiers in camp, be repealed. Nov. 1 2th, 1775. RESOLVED, As the opinion of this Congrefs, that if the foldiers to be raifed by the Hate of M.ifTachufetts- Bay, be enlifted on the terms offered to them (which are more advantageous than what are offered to other fol- diers ferving in the fame army) it would much retard, if not totally impede, the enliftment of the latter, and pro- duce difcontent and murmur, unlefs Congrefs fhould equally increafe the pay of thefe ; which it is the opinion of this Congrefs would univerfally be reprobated as an immoderate expence, and complained of, as a grievous burden, by thofe who may bear it j rtnd therefore, that the committee from the ftatc of Maffachufctts-Bay, 'be defired not to enlilt their men on the additional pay ol~ fered by the Affembly of that Itate. Upon reconfidering the Refolution of the 16th of Sep- tember Laftj for raifirig eighty-eight battalions, to ferve during the prefent war with Great Britain, Congrefs be- ing of opinion, that the readmefs cf the inhabitants of the ( ift ) the Hates to enter into the fen ice for limited times, iit defence of their invaluable privileges, on all former oc- casions, gives good ground to hope the fame zeal for the public good will appear in future when neceflitv calls for their aiiiitancc j ami the Uncertain length of time which forttfa railed during the continuance of the war may be compelled to ferve, may prevent many from enliiting who would othcrvvife readily manifeft their attachment to the common caufe, by engaging for a limited time, therefore, RESOLVED, That all non-commiihcned officers and foldiers, who do not incline to engage their fervices du- ring the continuance of the prefent war, and lhall enlift to ferve three years, unlefs fooner difcharged by Congrefs, {hall be entitled to, and receive, all fuch bounty and pay as are allowed to thofe who enlift during the continuance of the prefent war, except the one hundi-ed acres of land, which is to be gr^ated to thofe oh-ly who enlilt without limitation of time. And each recruiting officer Is required to provide two diftinft enlifting rolls j one for fuch to fign who enlift during the continuance of the war, and the other for fuch as enlilt for three years, if their fervice fhall be fo long required. By order of the Congrefs, JOHN HANCOCK, Pref. COPY; JRobert Harrison. Deae Cewerai, Ilackenfjick, Nov. ZX&, 177$. THE letter you will receive with this contains my fen- timents with refpeci to your prefent ftatlon ; but befides this I have fome additional reafons for moft earneftly wifliing to have you where the principal fcene of action is laid, I do not mean to flatter nor praife you at the expence of any other, but I confefs I do think that it is entirely owing to you, that this army and the liberties of ( '79 ) of America, fo far as they are dependant on it, are not totally cut off. You have decifion, a quality often want* ing in minds otherwife valuable ; and I afcribe to this our efcape from York-Ifland, from King's-Bridgc, and the Plains ; and I have no doubt, had you been here, the gav- rifon of Mount-Wafiiington would now have composed a part of this army ; and from all thefe circumftancc;;, t confefc I ardently wi(h to fee you removed from a place where I think there will be little call for your judgment and experience, to the place where they are likely to be fo neceffary. Nor am I lingular in my opinion, every gentleman of the family, the officers, and foldiers, ge- nerally) have a confidence in you : the enemy conftantiy enquire whejre you are, and fcem to me to be iefs confi- de at when you are pre lent, Colonel Cadwallader, through a fpeciaj indulgence, on' account of fome civilities (hewn by his family to General Prcfcot, has been liberated from New-York without any parole, lie informs, that the enemy have a fouthem ex- pedition in view-, that they hold us very cheap in confe- quence of the late affair at Mount- Washington, where both the plan pf defence and execution were conternptb- b!e. If a real defence of the lines was intended, the num- ber was too few ; if the Fort only, the gurilou was too numerous by .half. General Washington's own judg- ment, feconded by representations from us, would, I be- lieve, have laved the men and their arms ; but, unluckily, General Green's judgment was contrary, This kept the General's mind in a State of luipenfe till the Stroke was ftruck, Oh, General ! an indecifive mind is one ot the greateft misfortunes that can befal an arn:y ; how often have I lamented it this campaign ! All circuirrftanccs confidcred, we are in a very awful, alarming Rate, one that requires the utmoft wildom and firmnefs of mind. As foon as the- fenfon will admit, I think yourfelf and fome others Should go t adjourn- ed to the 19th of May. But the law of the Mate is at* ways at every one's fervice * and in the cafe of libels, it we are to credit the British lawyers, lb peculiarly fa vourable to the proiccutor, that the ieandai is m Ids penal for feting true, than if it w ) Crenvllle, Bedford, Newcaftle and tlicir aflbciates. Tent*l pic is one of the molt ridiculous order of coxcombs I ever heard ot, he is eternally appealing to the public, forgetting that the public never conliderd him farther than they would an old pair of boots, which Mr. Pitt might, through a whim, have let a value* upon, which when he chofe to throw afidej it mattered not if they were thrown into a lumber room or the fire. Nothing could make the American colonifts caft off their obedi- ence, or even refpect to their mother country, but fome attempt on the eiTence of their liberty ; fuch undoubt- edly the ftamp a£t was, which, if it had remained un- repealed, and admitted as a precedent, they would have been flaves to all intents and purpofes, as their whole property would lie at the mercy of the Crown's minifter and the minifter's minifter's, the Hdufe of Commons, who would find no end to the neceflity of taxing thefe people, as every additional tax would furnifh the mafter with means of adding to their refpeclive wages *, but it would be impertinent in me to enter into a difcuflion of the propriety or impropriety, the juftice or injuftice, of this meafure, when it is fo fully and clearly treated in fome traits which are bound up together, and which I have ordered to be fent to your Majefty. If the humours which thus accurfed attempt has raifed, are fuftered to fubfide the inherent affe&iort which the colonies have for the mother country and clafhings of her interefts one amongft another, will throw every thing back into the old channel ; which indeed is the cafe already : but if another attack of the fame nature fhould be made upon them, by a wicked blundering minifter, I will venture to prophecy, that this country will be fhaken to its foun- dation in its, wealth, credit* naval force, and interior po- pulation. My dear Prince, London, Dec. 25th, 1766. YOU will do me great injuftice if you attribute my Clence for fo many months to a want of fenfe of your exceHive ( m ) exceftive goodnefs and friendfhip, or even to carelefTnefs, which, conlidering the obligations I lie under to your feighnefs, would be one and the fame thing. The truth is, that I was unwilling to trouble you with a fulfome letter of acknowledgements, as I hope you are no ftran- ger to my fentiments, on the fubjeti: j but I thought a few lines which would give you a fketch of the (late of |his country, of the parties, and of our profpedfc in rela- tion to foreign and interior affairs, would be the only poihblc method of making your Highnefs fome return for the thoufand inftancc& of friendfhip which I have received at your Lands ; but the moft reafonable fchemes are frequently defeated : fo it fares with me •, for al- though I have been in London eight days, which in this political and communicative town is fufheient, one fliould think, to make a man mailer of every thing neceffary to be known ; but my evil liars have difappointed me, and your evil (larshave dictated to me, that, notwithstanding the infignificancy of all I have to fay, it would be a pet- ty treafon to remain any longer filent. You mud there- fore accept the will for the deed ; in a few pofts 1 hope to be able to amufe you better. The King and his mi- nillers are out of town, or more properly, I fhould have faid the minifters and their King, for 1 do not find that the latter is any more a principal than when I left Eng- land. Lord Chatham is fuppoied to be abfolute in all affairs which concern the Hate ; Bute in his corner, re- tains influence to a fufheient degree, for the provifionof his creatures and countrymen, in fubordinate offices; he difclaims all concern with buiinefs ; but this is like the reft of his conduct, a moft impudent and ineffectual hy- pocrify ; for he is as ufual, not credited. A formida- ble oppofition is expected, but the conjectures on its faccefs are too vague to be attended to. Some men of Weight and reputation arc embarked in it ; but the heads are too odious to the nation in general in my opinion, to cany their point. Such as Bedford, Sandwich, G. Gren- villc, and, with fubmifuon, your friend Mansfield. He lately drew upon himfelf the laugh of the Houie of Lords, making ( te* ) making *ufe of the word Liberty of the Subject; and cxprefling great regard to it, it was called Satan preach- ing up fancuty. Conway is frill fecretary of ft ate, and much regarded as a man of ability and integrity. Lord Shelburne, the other fecretary, has furpaffed the opinion of the world j he fpeaks well and is very diitin<£t in of- fice. The Duke of Grafton is an abfolute orator, and has a fair character. An Irifhman, one Mr. Burke, is fprung up in the Houfe of Commons, who has aftonifh- cd every body with the power of his eloquence, his com- prehensive knowledge in all our exterior and internal politics and commercial interefts. He wants nothing but that fort of dignity annexed to rank, and property in England, to make him the moft confulerable man in the Lower Houfe. A difpute with Portugal, on fome commerical points, feems at prefent chiefly to occupy the thoughts of the miniftry. It is thought, that an ambafllulor extraordi- nary, with an efcort of ten (hips ox, war, which is the belt ultima rutioy will be fent to Lifbon. I have had fome converfation with our miniftry on the affairs of Po- land ; but as this letter goes by the common pc-it, I can- r.ot fend you the particulars. The character of his Ma- jefty is high in their efteem. I iritreat your Highnefs to prefent my duty to him, to aiTure him of my zeal, veneration, and love ; in a few days, I fhall take the li- berty of writing to him, or to Mr. Ogroudfki. I wait till I have had a converfation with the King. Could your Highnefs procure m* a copy of his Majefty's pic- ture, either in miniature, or or-herwMe ? I afk for a copy, as I would not prefume to trouble him to fit. You would like wife make me very happy with your own. I was much pleafed with an acquaintance with Lavifa at the Hague. His warm attachment to our incomparable mat- ter has much endeared him to me. We have fome books publiihed here which I fancy you would be glad to have, particularly, the whole letters of Swift. They are the beft hiftory of the times, and read with great avidity. When the Baltic is open, I (lull fend to his Maj<. confulerable ( m ) tonfiderable number, as he has clone me the honour to truft to my judgment, and drawn on Mr. Tipper for the colt. I have not heard from our friend Lind ; I beg you will chide him for this abominable neglect. Wroughton too deferves abufe ; I fhall write to him in a few pofts. The reafon of Lord Thanet's delay in regard to the horle, was delicacy. He could not rind any he thought good enough •, but in the fpring he will fend a couple, which will, in all refpe&s, fuit his Majefty. I entreat you, my dear prince, to pay my humble ref- pe£ls to your father, mother, the prince, chancellor, and all your houfe, to which I have fo great obligations, and for which I have a fincere love and honour, and that you will (leal a few moments to give me under your hand what I am already convinced of, that I poflefs fome fhare of your love and friendihip. I am, with the molt refpectful fentimertts* My dear Prince, Ever yours. CHARLES LEE; My Dear Coleman, Warfaw, May ift, 1767. YOU mull undoubtedly think me a very extraordi- nary perfon, that, on a (tender acquaintance, I mould have (addled you with the euration of my affairs, and af- terwards not think, it worth my while to write you even a civil note, fuch as a common acquaintance, who had Conferred no obligation, might have expected. The truth is, I have every day expected to be a fee mined of my deftiny, and then intended to have given you a circum- ftantial plan of my operations ; but as this day is as re- mote, in all appearance, as ever, I fhould be guilty of a monitrous negle£t, in any farther delaying, to pay the tribute of friendihip which 1 fo fenfibly owe. Believe me, my dear Sir, that I mod firicerely love and honour you ; and this love and honour is founded on fo folifl a S batfe^ ! ( J 94 ) bafis, that I have dared to neglect a form which would not be pardoned by a perfon who is not really an object of cfteem. I have been in this place two months waiting for an opportunity to join the Ruffian army, and I am afraid I /hall be obliged to wait a month longer. The comma nications are fo filled with the offals of the confederates, who are themfelves a banditti, that jt is impoffible to ftir ten yards without an efcort of Ruffians : the Englifh are ]efs fecure than others, as they are efteemed the arch- enemies of the holy faith, A French comedian was the other day near being hanged from the circumftance of his wearing a bob wigj which, by the confederates, is fuppofed to be the uniform of the Englifh nation, I wifh to God the three branches of our legiflature would take It into their heads to travel through the woods of Poland in bob-wigs. The firlt opportunity that will offer will be the prefent nmbafTador, who, it is faid, will now be fucceeded in ten days ; but this has been fo long faid, that I begin to def- pair of any opportunity at all ; if none fhould offer, I "have made a wife journey of it : I believe it would break my heart. I have an unfpeakable curiofity of feeing this campaign, though, in fact, I believe it will be a ridicu- lous one \ if not like that of Harlequin and Scapin, it will j-efemble the battle of Wilks and Talbot. The Ruffians can gain nothing by beating their enemy, and the Turks are confoundedly afraid. I wifh by practice, to make myfelf a foldier for purpofes honeft, but which I fhall not mention. If I am defeated in my intention of join- ing the Ruffians, I think of palling through Hungary, and fpeuding the enfuing winter in the fouth of Italy, Sicily, or fome of the iftands in the iEgean fea. As you are a fcholar I venture to talk this cant. As to England, I am refolved not to fet my foot in it, till the virtue which I believe to exift in tlje body of the people can be put into, motion. I have good reafons for it. My fpirits and temper were much affected by the meafurcs which I was i^knefs of, measures abfolutely moderate, laudable and virtuou3, { m ) virtuous, in comparifon of what has been tranfacted fmce. To return folemn thanks to the Crown for the manifeft- ly corrupt diflipation of its enormous revenues and im- pudent demand on the people ; to repair this diilipation, to compleat their own ruin, is pufhing fervility farther than the rafeally feuate of Tiberias was guilty of. In this light it is confidered by all thofe I convene with, of every nation, even thofe who have the lead idea of liber- ty. The Auftrians and Ruffians hoot at us. In fine, ir is looked upon as the ultimatum of human bafeneft, a coup de grace to our freedom and national honour. You will fay, it is being a plcafant correfpondent, giving you rhy comments on what parties under your own eyes, and being entirely filcnt on the tranfadtions of this country, which you may be fuppoled to have fome eu- riofity of being acquainted with. You will not think me ferious when I afiure you, that I am as totally a ftran- gtr to them as yourfelf or any man in England. Hum- phrey Gates, I am fure, muft know fifty times rhov the matter. I fee that the country is in one general ftate of confufion, filled with devaluation and murder. I hear every day of the Ruffians beating the Confederates j but as to what the Ruffians, what the Confederate:, what the body of the nation propofe, I am utterly ignorant, though no more, I believe, than they are themfclves. The method of carrying on the war is equally gelftrie with what our's was in North-America ; the Confede- rates hang up all the Ruffians who fall into their hands, and the Ruffians put to the fword the Confederates. Ruffian CofTa.cks have an admirable fang f-ohi'm { executions. The other day, at a place called K ava, f< r- ty or fifty Confederates were condemned to the bayonet ; but as they were tolerably drefled, they were obliged to ftrip for the ceremony, the CotTacks chuf.ng not to make any holes in their cloaths. The fituation of the K >• is really to be lamented, notwithstanding he wears a crown. He is an honeft, virtuous man, and a friend to the rights of mankind. I wilh he could perfuade a prince, of my acquaintance, who is taught (as far as he can be taught ( 10 ) taught any tiling) to hate them, to exchange with hiraJ I know a nation that could fpare a whole family, mother, und all to the Poles, and only take in exchange this one man. I could fay many things on this fubje£t, digna Uteris nojlrisyfed ncn committenda cjns-modi periculo y ut ant interire, ant aperiri, ant inter dpi pejjint. 1 hope your kindnefs has not entailed any trouble up- on vou with refpect to my affairs. 1 hope Mr. Ayre has been punctual in his payment. I wrote to him from London, acquainting him with your powers. If you lhall pafsby Mr. Hoares, I beg you will tell him, that I wrote to him from Munich, requefting him to fend me, if poffible, a letter of credit to Warfa-.v, and to give credit to a Captain William Spey, for furveying my land in St. John's. How does the hallowed Juliet ? It is in- conceivable how deeply I am interefted for the fuccefs and welfare of that girl. If (he does not fucceed, let her marry me, and fettle in America. My refpe&s to Mrs. Coleman, and that, I am, moft fincerely, Dear Coleman, With the warmeft affection, &c. C. LEE. P. S. My love to Rice, that when he can find time and matter I wifli he would write. What will give me the greateft pleafure is to hear of his being married to the widow Wales, or to any good party. He is the on- ly fine gentleman I ever loved. Direct to me Chez le Prince General de Podo/ia, Varfovia. Let your letters be as long as poffible, and let them have in them as much of Juliet as poffible. Dear Madam, Warfaw, May 2d, 1767. I SHOULD write to you with more eafe and pleafure, had you not given me to underftand that you looked up- on me as an able letter-writer. The ambhion of coming, up (i97 ) up to your expectations lays me under a constraint which will inevitably make me fall {hort of every correfpondent. To render myfelf tolerable, I mult endeavour to forget your fex, your beauty ; but, above all, the high opinion which you are plealed to conceive of my talents in this article. That I may not run into compliment, that I may diveSt myfelf of awe and vanity : the fir ft you would defpife as fulfome, and the fecond and lalt would be productive of referve and petulance. Your understanding and the care you have taken to cultivate it, cuts me off from fome of the molt fruitful fubjects to female correfpondents ; the drefs, intrigues, and diverfions of the women in the feveral places we pals through : but, on the other hand, it affords me ample; liberty of pouring out my mind upon fubjects which, unfortunately for my own eafe, engrofs it entirely ; the dreadful fituation of all the honeft part of mankind, and particularly of our own country. How miierably fallen flie is in the eyes of every State ! How funk are we (in a few months I may fay) from the fummit of glory, opu- lence, and Strength, to the lowelt degree of poverty, imbe- cility, and contempt. Europe is aitoiiiShed at the rapidity of the change ; high and low, men of every order, from the ministers of State to the political barbers, make it the fubject of their admiration. How cm it happen, fay they, that Great Britain, fo lately the miltrefs of the globe, with America in one hand, Afia and Africa in another, inStead of the glorious tafk or giving laws and peace to nations, protecting the weak and injured, checking the powerful and oppreilive, Should employ her time in tramp- ling on the rights of her dependencies, and violating her own facred laws, on which her fuperiority over her neigh- bours is founded ? It was fome confolation, fay they, for the generous Sew of the Romans who furvived the liberties of their country, that it was a Julius Cjefar, a man with more than mortal talents, who was their fub- verter : and the patriots of England had fome mitigation for their fpleen, that it was a Cromwell who had over- reached them ; but that *•••*•**••••••*••• S 2 ihouM ( 198 ) {hould be able to encompafs the enflaving of a fpirited na- tion, whofe every law feems dictated by Liberty herfelf, is too much to bear. They compare the noble remon- ftrances of the French parliaments againft the oppreffions of their court, with the flavifh addreffes of ours. I mud confefs, that infkead of fending for cooks and hair-dreflers from that country, I have long wifhed that we were to fupply ourfelves with members of Parliament. What it will come to, I know not, but it is time fomething mould be done, and I flatter myfelf it will : there is much fpirit in the body of the people •, but I will endeavour to quit this fubject •, it makes me mad. This country is the reverfe of ours ; they have an ho- neit, patriot k g, but a vicious nation. If God de- lights in feeing a virtuous man (as Seneca fuppofes he does) ftruggling with adverfities, he has a charming fpectacle in the king of Poland r and I hope God will in the end, recompence the inftrument of his pleafure, by extricating him out of his diftreffes ; nothing elfe can, I am fure. You mult excufe me entering into a detail of thefe difficulties, as this letter may pofTibly fall into the hands of the Confederates, and be publifhed to the nation, as feveral others, full as infignificant, have already been, to the no fmall detriment of this good man's affairs. I fhall referve them for fome future letter, or our evenings chat in Queen Anne Street, or Langham. Our ftation here, I mean thofe who are about the king's perfon, is whimfical enough. We have few troops, the bulk of thefe totally difaffected, and the town is full of (though not declared, far from being concealed) Con- federates. We have frequent alarms, and the pleafure of ileeping every night with our piftols on our pillows. X at prel'ent only wait for an opportunity to join the Ruffian army : this does not offer every day, as a ftrong efcort is neceffary, the communications being filled with bandit- ties of robbers, who are the offals of the Confederates. I believe it will be but a us campaign) fomething j:k. .;,..< ,,c v"'l.s and Talbot. The Ruffians can gain . .Us Turks are con- i afraid. I have C 199 ) I have heard of Lady S h's flight. I cannot fay I ever liked the match. It is impoffible to have the lead connection with Fox, either of a political or a private na- ture, without fmarting for it : every thing he touches becomes putrid and proftitute. I hope your brother will have the grace to break this accurfed connection, which has diverted fuch excellent parts from their true ufe, blaft- ed all the hopes which his real friends and his country had a right to entertain of him ; that he will fee, in its proper colours, the odioufnefs of dependency and vena- lit^, particularly in a man of fortune; and that he may, bv his future conduct, make an ample recompence to the opulent country which has chofen him for their hi- therto difappointment. I am convinced you will not think what I am faying as too great a liberty with your brother ; I am convinced your fentiments correfpond with mine ; if I thought they did not, I folemly declare, were vour beauty and underftanding greater than they are, I wouid not write to you. I have no doubt of Mr. Blake's doing his durv. He is not only well difpofed himfelf, but in the hands of one who might tranform a Macca- roni into a Cato. He mull be the devil himfelf, whom a young, beautiful, Englilh woman, with the fentiments of a Spartan matron, cannot lead into the way of political righteoufnefs. If women in general are like you, men could not poffibly be fuch rafcals. I have long lamented the accurfed prevailing notion, that women ought tohavc defective educations. It was the rsoft cunning fiend in hell who firft broached this doctrine ; which had it not prevailed, the better part of the globe would not have groaned in the wretched ftate of flavery we at prefent fee it. For God's fake, Madam, have as many daughters as pofliblc, and make them as much like yourfelf as poflible, and fome descendant of Catharine M'Cauley may attri- bute the falvation of the ftate to your progeny. I am, dear Madam, with the higeir. efteem, Yours, &c. CHARLES LEE. Mrs. M'Cauley. Dear ( 200 ) Dear Lol-isa, Warl'aw, May 4th, 1767. WHEN you firfl; requefted me to give you leflbns in Englifh, I elteemed myfelf happy to demonftrate my gra- titude to Madam Kreithin for her fingular kiucinefs to me. I have been fo ufed to converfe with myfelf and a few favourite books, that I never found it neceffary to attend the toilets of women, merely as the generality do, to fly from themfelves, and kill the time which they have no other means of employing. This was my original motive, but on one or two converfations with my fcho- lar I entertained a fort of ambition of adding fomething to the means of enlightening fo excellent an underftand- ing as I perceived her to be poffefled of. A little know- ledge of the Englifh language I conceived to be one of the means, as it abounds with fo many excellent and in- ftru&ing books. For a few days my views were confi- ned to this ; but, O Louifa ! you ought, you muff, have feen this ambition giving place to another lefs tranquil fentiment. Why did not you check it in its birth, by affecting to find difficulties in the taflc you had under- taken ? Why did you not, on fome fuch humane pre- text, remove me from your fide before -the flame had acquired fuch inextinguifhable fiercenefs ? This you fliould in charity have done, as you was determined to treat me as an enemy the moment T declared I loved. Your refentment at my pretending to more than com- mon friendfhip, is futile and vain, or, what is worfe, hy- pocritical and deceitful. You know your own charms, your own power too well. You have proved them with an unhappy fuccefs on feveral, not to be confcious that it is impoffible to fee you often, and to hear your voice, without being forced beyond the bounds of friendfhip. But, to fpeak proudly, I do not fee why the declaration ofmypaflion fliould fo henioufly offend you. To in- fpire you with an equal pafnon for an object deflitute of any kind of charm, would be rediculous prefumption : and were I furnifhed with every charm that could capti- vate womankind, to entertain any hopes which might affect your happinefs or reputation would be the higheft villany ; ( 201 ) viHany ; but as I am born cf a reputable family, I hop£ my character is rather a fair one ; and as my fortune is fufficiently ample to make an honeft man independent and an honeft woman content, I cannot fee the mighty crime in wiihing to unite your fortune with mine. I .had flattered myfelf, that time and an unwearied attenti- on to pleafe, would have fupplied in me what yeu might find amifs in my perfon or the arts of converfation. I am, dear Louifa, with much efteem, Yours, &c. CHARLES LEE, To Louifa C .■. ■ . My Dear Lord, Wa-faw, May 4th, 1767. I WROTE a fort of fcrap of a note to you by the hands of Fawkner, and nattered myfelf that I fhould have found at this place a fcrap in return. I know your indo- lence too well, to expect a letter of a meet of paper, and do not expect it ; but if you know how much pleafure a fcrap' figned by your hand, certifying your health* wel- fare, and good fpirits, affords me, I am confident you would from time to time muiler up refolution to write me a few lines, threeowill be fulEcient, which I infift on, as a tribute due to friendfhip, which on my fide I can af- firm to be as pure and genuine as the fpawn of fuch a raf- cally planet as this is capable of ; and I have the flrongeft reafon to think it is not lefs fo on yours. I muft therefore repeat it, that I expect a tribute of this fort every fifth or fixth poft. I have been in this happy capital five weeks, waiting for an opportunity to join the Ruffian ar* my, which does not orYer every day, for the communica- tions arc filled by a fet of gentlemen who are called Con- federates, but why or wherefore they are pleafed to ftyle themfelves Confederates, I cannot find out. They give no reafons, they propofe no plan, but they rob, ftrip, and generally murder every body who fall into their hands. You (. 202 ) You u fed to dine formerly with very knowing, wir; politicians, fnch as Hanfa, Stanly and others, who are acquainted with all the fchemes of all the nations, and all the individuals in Europe j I would requeft you to give me fome hints of what theie worthies intend : YoU will fearcely believe me ferious, but I do allure you, that I knew, before I left London, the ftate of this country full as well, if not better than I do here on the fpot* If Gates is in the way, you will much oblige- me, in pro- curing his opinion. I have greater reafon every day to congratulate my prudence in having left England } I am perfuaded, had I ftayed, I fhould have brought myfelf into fome curfed fcrape ; even here,at fo great a diftance, I am thrown into ftrange agitations of pa^Tions on the fight of every newfpaper. Heavenly God ! is it pofliblc "we fhould be fo far funk ? to return folemn thanks for a manifeftly corrupt di-ffipation of fuch enormous revenues, and an impudent demand on the public to repair this diffipation, is puflving fervility to its ultima- tum. Thofe nations who have the leaft idea of liberty, as the Auftrians and Ruffians, laugh and hoot at us ; — compare, fay they, the remonftrances of the French par- liaments with the addrefies of your9, and then dare to pride yourfelves in the fuperiority of Britifh fpirit over their neighbours. It is impoilible fo make the leaft re- ply to thefe charges — I choak with grief and indignation. "When I attempt to aflure them that the body of the na- tion is ftill untainted, that they have flill fentiments of freedom ; they anfwer, that fuch fentiments are of little confequence, when courage is wanting to put them in motion. Is not every of your moil boafted laws trampled upon, or eluded ? Is not perjury, defolation, and murder, encouraged and rewarded with the national money ? -Are not your magiftrates, from the fole merit of being declared enemies of the law, become factious partizans? Is not the choice of your people in their reprefentatives, treated with contempt and annulled ? Are not your citi- zens rnafiacred in the public ftreets, and in the arms of their houfhold gods, by the military, and the military thanked < *°3 > thanked for their friendlikt alertnefs ? If thefe things are borne with by a people, who poflefs fentiments of liberty, we have loft the meaning of words. Such, my dear Lord, is the language of thefe people, and it is fortunate '/or me, that they are ignorant of the ftate of our Ame- rican politics. They can have no idea of our carrying our abominations fo far, as to disfranchife three millions of people of all the rights of men, for the gratification of the revenge of a blundering knavifh Secretary, and a 'fcoundrel Attorney-General, a Hillfborough, and a Bar- nard. Were they informed of thefe fads, their opinion of us would be itill more mortifying. I had the other day a converfation with the gentleman to whom you gave the horfe j he laments with great energy, the weak and wicked conduct of our adminiftration, not only on our own account, but on that of all Europe. He lays, did they barely poflefs common (cniCj and common ho- nefty, Great Britain muft have been the Emprefs of the world ; that (he might have kept on the muzzles of the dogs of war, which muft now inevitably be flipped oif, to the devaluation of the greater part of the globe. He defues his refpecls to you, and thanks you again and again for the horfe, which turns out nobly. I beg my compliments to Lady Thanet, and was in hopes to have heard that fhe had before this, produced you a fon. — Adieu, my dear Lord, and write foon a few lines to one who lincerely loves you, C. LEE. Lord Thanet. Most Gracious Sir, Kaminec, Auguft 16th, 1767. AS an exprefs is this evening difpatched by the gorer- I nor, I take the liberty of addrefling this fcribble to your 1 M ajefty. As it is in Englifh, I am in hopes no bad con- fluences can arife, if it falls into the hands of the Con- federates. Your Majefty will have heard of our retreat — 3 thoufand reafons will undoubtedly be given, 3nd pro- -tmbly ( 20 4 ) ,; bably not one founded in juflice^; I mutt., it is my dut to fpeak freely to your Majefty. The operations have been miferably concluded •, they opened with a capital «lefe& — without a certainty of the ftate of the place, (Chotzim) they were deftined to attack it ; they with infinite fatigue and expence marched to the certain (ill idea,) reduction of it, without the poflible means of re- ducing it. Chotzim is perhaps as fecure from aflault as any fortrefs in the univerfe ; but muft inevitably be taken, when attacked with the necelfary quantity of battering artillery, in forty hours. The hopes of reducing it with our pop-guns foon appeared vain ; it was then feem- ingly determined to blockade it, but the line of block- ade was either broken in part, or totally taken away on every alarm. When the blockade was formed, the grand Vizier was expecled with an hundred and fifty thoufand men. If that number was formidable, they ought not to have formed the blockade, but retired at once over the Neifter, without haraffmg, for no purpofe, their men and their horfes. If it was not formidable, they ought to have perfifted in the blockade. In facl, the Rufiian army, I mean the infantry, brave as it is, was not fuf- ficient in number to form a line compleat of circumval- lation, againft fo numerous an enemy; but neither the marching without battering cannon, the blockading the place without a resolution to perfift in it, nor any blun- der committed, are fo liable to cenfure, as the neglect to attack them in their camp. If fuccefs in war can be aflured, ours was certainly fo. I am with the highelt refpec"t and attachment, Your Majefly's moll obedient and humble fervant, CHARLES LEE. To . My dear Davers, Dijon, Jan< 19th. 1768, THOUGH I have been a long time in anfwering your letter^ 1 beg you will not conclude, that the pleafure I received ( **S ) f received from it, is but fmall. BeKeve me, trial ever/ fxefh aflurance of your friendihip gives me unfpeakable Iatisfa£tion, though I have no peed of frefh aflurances to be convinced of it. The longer 1 live, my love for you acquires greater force, perhaps from a cynical difpofition, in comparing you with other men. I have long been acquainted with your private virtues, and my opinon of your political virtues is now confirmed. I am onfy con-* cerned at your having thoughts of quitting parliament. I know your reafons, but cannot approve of them. You pink, that as you are not a fpeaker, as you have no turn for bufinefs, your attendance will little avail ; that it can- not contribute to ftem the torrent of corruption and vil- lany which, at prefent, bear? down every thing before it. It is this indolent or defpairing method of reafoning, of many honeft men, for I cannot help being pur fuaded, that there are fill! many honclt men, that have reduced us to this terrible fituatipn. You know that the God of the Jews,who (hould have been a judge of Jewiih aft"airs,as he interfered in them (o much, was of opinion that five righteous men were futricient to fave the rotten ftate of Oomorrah \ and I do not find that he meant thev flioiftd be all fpeakers. Befides, the mafs of the people of Go-* morrah was all polluted, but the mafs of the En^lilh peo- ple certainly is not. I believe no people was ever pof- fefled of more public virtue, which is maniftft from all their proceedings. 1 beg, my dear friend, you will nut i;i defpair quit the deck and get under hatches^— work at the pump— hand a rope, doing any thing with good w',11 and hrmnefs— encourage others to do the fame, and with J'<» thtripid a pilot, as Sir George Savilie, the v< nel may per- haps work into harbour, notwithftanding the abomina- ble tre.ifon of the major part of the crew. I am vours, &c. Sir C; Divers* My ( 2C(5 ") * Ml Lord, Philadelphia, October 29th x 1774, THE noble part your Lordfhip has adled in oppofmg all the diabolical meafures of our accurfed mifru/ers, has encouraged me to addrefs thefe few lines to you. Men who are embarked in the glorious caufe of liberty fhould wave all ceremony. I {hall, therefore, neither trouble you nor mylelf with making apologies. Inclofed I fend, your Grace a copy of the different refolves of the con- grefs (though it is probable you may have received them before) their addrefs to the people of England, to the people of Englifh America, to the people of Canada, and to the King. They argue fo irrefiftibly, and they breath fo noble an ardor, that if there is the leaft under- standing remaining in your ifland, and the leaft virtue la- tent, the former muft be convinced, and the latter roufed to a£Hon. What could put it into our blockheads heads., that thefe people could be tricked out of their liberties by their cunning, or bullied by any force which they can fend over ? What devil of nonfenfe could inftigate any man of General Gage's understanding to concur in bringing about this delulion ? I have lately, my lord, run through alnioft the whole colonies, from the South to the North. I have converfed with all orders of men from the in it eftated gentlemen to the pooreft planters, and cannot exprefs my aftonifhment at the good fenfe and general knowledge, which pervades the whole ; but their elevated principles, their enthufiafm in the caufe of freedom and their country, is ftill more admirable. I think I fhould not be guilty of exaggeration in af- ferting, that there are two hundred thoufand ftrong bo- died adive yeomanry, ready to encounter all hazards and dangers, ready to facrilice all considerations rather than furrender a tittle of the rights which they have derived from God and their anceftors : But this is not all, they are not like the yeomanry of other countries, unarmed and uuuffd to arms ; but they are all furnifhed and all expert in the ufe. They want nothing but fomc arrange- rhent, and this they are now bent on eftablifhing. Vir- ginia, Rhodc-Sfland, and Carolina, are forming corps: Maflachufetts- ( i*1 ) Maflachufetts-Bay has long had a fufRcient number in- Knitted to become inftrudtivc to the reft ; even this t^uakcring province is following the example. I was prefcnt at a review of fonie o( their companies at Provi- dence in Rhode-lfiand, and really never law any thing more perfect : in ihort, unlcfs the banditti at "VVeftminfter rp'eedily undo every thing they have done, their royal paymafter, will hear of reviews and manoeuvres, not quite fo entertaining as thofc he is prefented with in Hyde *Park and Wimbleton Common. I muft now, my dear Lord, haften" to the main pur- pofe of this leter : As your LorduYp is juftly confider- ed as one of the mod ftrenuous advocates, and patrons Of this country, and one of the moft active ailertors o£ the rights of mankind, I muft beg leave to propofe to you, what, had you adverted to, I am perfuaded you would have already adopted ; it is to fet on foot a iub- fcription for a relief or an indemnification for the brave fufFerers of Bofton. T hefe people's fufferings and merit are fo tranfeendent, that men lefs animated with fenti- ment and public fpirit than your Lordfhip, would exert themfelves in their caufe. A town confifting of thirty thoufand people, perhaps of more eafe and affluent cir- cuftances than any other town of the world, reduced at one ftroke to beggary and wretchednefs ; every indi- vidual of them deprived of the means of fupplying them- felves with a morfel of bread, but what is furniflied to them by the precarious hand of charity ; to fee a whole people ftruggling with the extreme of diftrefs, not only magnanimoufly, but cheerfully, rather than comply with the wifhes of brutal tyrants, and thereby admit prece- dents injurious to mankind and pofterity, is, I fay, a ftrain of virtue almoft too bright for modern eyes to gaze at j and muft fill every breaft, not totally dead to fenti- ment and feeling, with rage, indignation, horror, and compaftion. But they went further \ they made a for- mal offer to the Congrefs, to abandon their town, with their wives, children, aged, and infirm, throw themfelves on the charity of the inhabitants of the country, or build huts ( 23ff ) huts m the woods and never revifit their native wallsj until re-elhblilhcd in the full pofleflion of their rights and liberties. Your Lordfliip will fee the Congrefs's re- folvc on this head : Thefe inftances, I am furc, render unneceffary any thing I could fay, to incite a man of your Grace's ilamp, to exertions in their favour, or, more pro- perly, in favour and fupport of human virtue. I ihould be very happy in receiving a couple of lines in anfwer ; it mull be directed for me, at Richard Penn, Efq. at Philadelphia. I am, my Lord, your Grace's true friend, admirer, and Humble fervant, _ . C. LEE. To His Grace the Duke of Mr Dear Sir, Philadelphia, June 7th, 1775. WE have had twenty different accounts of your ar- rival at Boflon, which have been regularly contradicted the next morning ; but as I now find it certain that you are arrived, I ihall not delay a fingle inftant addrefling myfelf to you. It is a duty I owe to the friendfhip I have long and fincerely profefled for you ; a friendfhip to which you have the flrongefl clainra from the firfl mo- ment of our acquaintance. There is no man from whom I have received fo many teftimonies of eftetm and affec- tion j there is no man whofe efteem and affection could, in my opinion, have done me greater honour. I intreat and conjure you, therefore, my dear Sir, to impute thefe lines, not to a petulant itch of fcribbling, but to the mofl unfeigned folieitude for the future tranquillity of your mind, and for your reputation. I fincerely lament the infatuation of the times, when men of fuch a ftamp as Mr. Burgoyne and Mr. Howe can be feduced into fo im- pious and nefarious a fervice by the artifice of a wicked and infidious court and cabinet. You cannot but re- collect their manoeuvres in your own felecl committee* and ( 2C 9 ) *nd the treatment yourfeif as prefident received from thefe abandoned men. You cannot but recollect the black bufinefs of St. Vincents, by an oppofition to whjch you acquired the higheft and mod deferved honour. I {hall not trouble you with my opinion of the right of taxing America without her own confent, as I am afraid, from what I have fcen of your fpeeches, that you have already formed your creed an this article ; but I will boldly affirm, had this right been eftablifhed by a thou- fand ftatutes, had America admitted it from time imme- morial, it would be the duty of every good Englifhman to exert his utmoft to diveft parliament of this right, as it mud inevitably work the fubverfion cf the whole em- pire. The malady under which the State labours, is in- difputably derived from the inadequate reprefentation of the lubjeft, and the valt pecuniary influence of the crown. To add to this pecuniary influence and incompetency of reprefentation, is to ififure and precipitate our deitruc- tion. To with any addition, can fcarcely enter the heart of a citizen who has the lead fpark of public virtue, and who is at the fame time capable of feeing confequenccs the molt immediate. I appeal, Sir, to your own con-» fcience, to your experience and knowledge of our court and parliament, and I requeit you to lay your hand upon your heart, and then anfwer with your ufual integrity and franknefs, whether, on thefuppofition America mould be abject, enough to fubmit to the terms impofed, you think a frngle guinea raifed upon her would be applied to the purpofe [as it is oftcntatioufly held out to deceive the people at home] of eafing trie mother country ? Or whether you are not convinced that the whole they could extract, would be applied folely to keep up (till further the enormous fund for corruption which the Crown al- ready poflefles, and of which a mod diabolical ufe is made. On thefc principles, 1 fay, Sir, every good Eng- lifhman, abftraiSled of all regard for America, mull op- pofe her beiag taxed by the Britifh parliament •, for my own part, I arn. convinced that no argument (not totally T 2 abhorrent ( 210 ) abhorrent from the fpirit of liberty, and the Britifh con-» (Htution) can be produced in iupport of this right. But it would be impertinent to trouble you upon a fubject which has been fo amply, and, in my opinion, fo fully difcuffed. I find by a fpeech given as yours in the pub- lic papers, that it was by the King's pofitive command you embarked in this fervice. I am fomewhat pleafed that it is not an office of your own feeking, though, at the fame time, I mult confefs, that it is very alarming to every virtuous citizen, when he fees men of fenfe and integrity (becaufe of a certain profeflion) lay it down as a rule implicitly to obey the mandates of a court, be they ever fo flagitious. It furniihes, in my opinion, the bell argument for the total reduction of the army. But I am running into a tedious effay, whereas I ought to confine myfelf to the main defign and purpofe of this letter, which is to guard you and your colleagues from thofe prejudices which the fame mifcreants, who have infatu- ated General Gage, and dill furround him, will labour to inflil into you againfl a brave, loyal, and moft deferv- ing people. The avenues of truth will be fliut up to you. I aflert, Sir, that even General Gage will deceive you, as he has deceived himfelf ; I do not fay he will do it defignedly : I do not think him capable : But his mind is fo totally poifoned, and his undLiftanding fo totally blinded by the focicty of fools and knaves, that he no longer is capable of difcerning facts as manifefl as noon- day fun. I afTert, Sir, that his letters to the miniitry, (at leaft, fuch as the public have feen) are one continued tiflue of mifreprefentation, injuftice, and tortured infer- ences from miftated fa£ts. I affirm, Sir, that he has ta- ken no pains to inform himfelf of the truth ; that he has never converfed with a man who has had the courage or henefty to tell him the truth. I am apprehenfive that you and your colleagues may fall into the fame trap, and it is the apprehenfion that you may be inconfiderateljr hurried by the vigour and activity you pofiefs into mea- fures which may be fatal to many innocent individuals, may hereafter wound your own feelings, and which can- not ( 211 > not poflibly ferve the came of thofe who fent you, thai has prompted me to addrefs thefe lines to you. I mod devoutly wifh, that your induftry, valour and and military talents, may be referred for a more honourable and vir- tuous fervice, againft the natural enemies of your coun- try (to whom our Court 3re fo bafely complacent) and not be wafted in-ineffe&ual attempts to reduce to the wretchedeft (late of fervitude, the moft meritorious part of your fellow fubjedts. I fay, Sir, that any attempts to accomplifh this purpofe mult be ineffectual. You can- not poflibly fucceed. No man is better acquainted with the ltate of this continent than myfelf. I have ran thro' almoft the whole colonies from the North to the South, and from the South to the North. I have converted with all orders of men, from the firft eftated gentlemen, to the lowed planter and farmers, and can affure you that the tame fpirit animates the whole. Not lefs than one hun- dred and fifty thoufand gentlemen, yeomen, and farmers, are now in arms, determined to preferve their liberties- or periih. As to the idea that the Americans are defi- cient in courage, it is too ridiculous and glaringly falfe ; to deferve a ferious refutation. I never could conceive upon what this notion was founded. I fervcd ieveral campaigns in America the laft war, and cannot recollect a fingle inftance of ill behaviour in the provincials, where the regulars acquitted themfelves well. Indeed wc well remember fome inftances of the reverfe, parti- cularly where the late Colonel Grant (he who lately pledged himfelf for the general cowardice of America) ran away with a large body of his own regiment, and was faved from deftruction, by the valour of a few Vir- ginians. Such prepofterous arguments are only proper lor the Rigbysand Sandwichs, from whofe mouths ne- ver uTued, and to whofe breafts, truth and decency are utter ltrangers. You will much oblige me in communi- cating this letter to General Howe, to whom I could wilh it fhould be confidered in fome meafure addreffed j as well as to yourfelf. Mr. Howe is a man for whom L have ever had the higheft love and reverence. I have, honoured ( *** ) honoured him for his own connexions, but above al!, for his admirable talents and good qualities. I have coin- ed his acquaintance and friendfhip, not only as a plea- fure, but as an ornament ; I flattered myfelf that I had obtained it. Gracious God ! is it poilible that Mr. Howe ihonld be prevailed upon to accept fuch an office ! that the brother of him, to whofe memory the much injured people of Boflon eretted a monument, mould be em- ployed as one of the initruments of their deftruction \ But the fafliion of the times it feems is fuch, as renders it impolfible that he fhould avoid it. The commands of our moft gracious fovereign, are to cancel all moral ob- ligations, to fanclify every aclion, even thofe that the fatrap of an Ealtern defpot would ftart at* I fhall now beg leave to fay a few words with refpeft to myfelf and the part I a£l. I was bred up from my infancy in the higheft veneration for the liberties of mankind in general. What I have ieen of Courts and Princes, convinces me that power cannot be lodged in worfe hands than in theirs j and of all courts I am perfuaded that ours is the moft corrupt and holtile to the rights of humanity. I am convinced, that a regular plan has been laid, indeed every a£t fince the prefent acceffion evinces it, to abolifh even the fhadow of liberty from amongft us. It was not the demolition of the tea, it was not any other particular a& of the Boftonians, or of the other provinces, which conftituted their crimes ; but it is the noble fpirit of liber- ty, manifeftly pervading the whole continent, which has rendered them the objects of minifterial and royal venge- ance. Had they been notoriously of another difpolition, had they been homines adfervitudine7nparatos i they might have made as free with the property of the Eaft-India Company as the felonious North himfelf, with impunity. But the lords of St. James's and their mercenaries of St. Stephen's, well know, that as long as the free fpirit of this great continent remains unfubdued, the progrefs they can make in their fcheme of univerfal defpotifm, will be but trifling. Hence it is, that they wage inexpiable war againft America, in fliort, this is the laft aflylum of perfecuted liberty ( 213 ) liberty. Here mould the machinations and fury of hef enemies prevail, that bright Goddefs mud fly oiY from the face of the earth, and leave not a trace behind. Thefe, Sir, are my principles ; this is my pcrfua(ion,and confequent- ly I am determined to act. I have now Sir, only to en- treat, that whatever meafures you purfue, whether thofe which your real friends (myfelf amongft them) would wifh, or unfortunately thole which our ^cvni'cd tnij'rult-rs ihall dictate, you will {till believe me to be perfonally, with thegreateft fincerity and affection, P Yours &c. C.LEE. Gen. Burgoyne. Dear Sir, "WHEN we were lad together in fervice I mould not have thought it within the viciflitude of human affairs, that we mould meet at any time, or in any fenfe as foes: the letter you have honoured me with, and my own feelings combine to prove we are far from being perfo- nally fuch. I claim no merit from the attentions you fo kindly remember, but as they manifeft how much it was my pride to be known for your friend : Nor have I departed from the duties of that character, when I will not fcruple to fnv, it has been almoft a general offence to maintain it : I mean fincc the violent part you have taken in the commotions of the colonies. It would exceed the limits and propriety of our prefent correfpondence to argue at full, the great caufe in which we are engaged. But, anx- ious to preferve a confident and ingenuous character, and jealous, I confefs, of having the part I fuftain imput- ed to fuch motives as you intimate, I will ftate to you as concilely as I can, the principles upon which, not volun- tarily, but molt confeientiouily, I undertook it. I have, like you, entertained from my infancy, a vene- ration for public liberty. I have like wife regarded the Britifh ( m ) Britifh conftitution, as the bed fafe -guard of that bleffingf to be found in the hiftory of mankind. The vital prhil eiple of the conftitution, in which it moves and has its being, is the fupremacy of the King in Parliament, a I compound, indefinite, indefeafable power, co-eval with the origin of the empire, and co-extenfive over all its parts : l am no ftranger to the doctrines of Mr. Locke and other cf the beft advocates for the rights of mankind upon the compact always implied between the govern- ing and governed, and the right of refiftance in the latter, when the compact fhall be fo violated as to leave xlo other means of redrefs. I look with reverence almoft amounting to idolatry, upon thofe immortal men who adopted and applied fuch doctrine, during part of the reign of Charles the Firft, and that of James the Second. Should corruption pervade the three eftates of the realm 9 io as to prevent the great ends of their inftitution, and "make the power vefted in them for the good of the whole people operate like an abufe upon the prerogative of the Crown to general oppreaion, I am ready to ac- knowledge, that the fame doctrine of refiftance applies as forceably againft the abufes of the collective body of power, as againft thofe of the Crown, or either of the component branches Separately : ftill always underftood that no other means of redrefs can be obtained. A cafe, I contend, much more difficult to fuppofe when it relates to the whole, than when it relates to parts. But in all cafes that have exifted, or can be conceived, I hold, that refiftance, to be juftifiable, muft be directed againft the ufurpation or undue exercife of power, and that it is mod criminal, when directed againft any power itfelf in- herent in die conftitution. And here you will difcern immediately why I drew a line in the allufion I made above to the reign of Charles the Firft. Towards the clofe of it the true principle of refiftance was changed, and a new fyftem of government projected accordingly. The patriots, previous to the long parliament, and during great part of it, as well as Vhe glorious Revolutionifts of 1 68 1, refilled to vindicate and ( *«3 ) and reftore the constitution ; the republicans refifted, to Jwfcvert it. Now, Sir, lay your hand upon your heart, as you have enjoined me to do on mine, and tell me, to which of thefe purpofes do the proceedings of America tend ? Is it the weight of taxes impofed and the poiTibility of re- lief after due reprefentation of her burthens, that has in- duced her to take up arms ? Or is it a denial of the legiflative right of Great Britain, to impofe them, and confequently a druggie for total independency ? For this idea of a power that can tax externally and not internally* and all the fophiitry that attends it, though it may catch the weaknefs and prejudices of the multitude in a fpeech or a pamphlet, is too prepolterous to weigh ferioufly with a man or your understanding, and I am perfuaded you will admit the queftion fairly put. Is it then for a relief from taxes ? or from the controul of parliament " in all cafes whatfoever," that we are in war ? If, for the former, the quarrel is at an end. There is not a man of fenfe and information in America, who does not fee it is in the power of the colonies to obtain a relinquiihment of the exercife of taxation immediately and for ever, I boldly aflert it, becaufe fenfe and infor- mation mult alio fugged to every man, that it can never be the intereft of Britain to make a fecond trial. But if the other ground is taken, and it is intended to wivil from Great Britain a link of that fubftantial, and, I hope, perpetual chain, by which the empire holds, think it not a minifterial mandate ; think it not a mere profelTion- al ardour ; think it not prejudice againft any part of our fellow fubjects, that induces men of integrity, and among fuch ycu have done me the honour to clafs me, to a£t with vigour. But be allured it is conviction, that the whole of our political fyitem depends upon preferring entire its great and efiential parts ; and none is fo great and ef- fential as the fupremacy of legiiiation. It is conviction, tli (t is the kmg of England never appears in fo glorious a cap ic'.ty as when -he employs tire executive power of the sate to maintain the laws, fo, in the prclent-exertions of that ( ai6 ) that power, Ins Majefty is particularly entitled to our zeal and grateful obedience, not only as foldiers, but as citizens. Thcfc principles, depend upon it, actuate the army and fleet throughout : and let me at the fame time add, there are few, if any, gentleman among us who would have drawn his fword in the caufe of flavery. But why do I confine myfelf to the fleet and army ? I affirm, the fentiments I here touch, to be thofe of the great bulk of the nation. I appeal even to thofe trading towns which are fufTcrers by the difpute, and the city of London at the head of them, notwithstanding the petitions' and remon- strances that the arts of parties and factions have extort* cd from fome individuals ; and laft, becaufe, leaft in your* favour, I appeal to the majorities of the laft year upon American queftions in parliament. The moft licentious news-writer wants aflurance to call thefe majorities mi- nifterial j much lefs will you, when you impartially ex- amine the characters of which they were in a great de- gree eompofed •, men of the moft independent principles and fortunes, and many of them profeiTedly in oppofition in their general line of conduct;. Among other fupporters of Dritifh rights againft Ame- rican claims, I will not fpeak pofitively, but, I firmlv be- lieve, I may name the men of whofe integrity and judg- ment you have the higheft opinion, and whole' friendfhin is neareft your heart ; I mean Lord Thanet, from whom my aid tie camp has a letter for you, with another from Sir C. Davers. I do not inclofe them, becaufe the wri- ters [little imagining how difficult your conduct Would render our intcrcourfej defjfed they might be delivered into your hands. For this purpofe, as well as to renew " the rights of our fellowihip," I wifli to fee you ; artd, above all, I ihould think an interview happy if it induced fuch expla- nations as might tend, in their confequeuces, to peace. I feel, in common with all around me, for the unhappy deluded bulk of this country : they , forefee not the dif- trefs that is impending, I know Great Britain is ready to ( 21" [ t© open her arms upon the firit reafonable overtures oi Accommodation : I know flie is equally rcfolute to-main- tain her original right •, and I alio know, that if the war proceeds, your hundred and fifty thoufand men will be no match for her power. I put my honour to thefe affertions as you have done to others •, and I claim the credit I am walling to give. The place I would propofe for our meeting, is the houfe on Bofton Neck, juft within our advanced fentries, called Brown's Houfe ; I will obtain authority to gi\^ you my parole of honour for your fecure return. I flviil expett the fame on your part, that no intuit be offered me. If the propofal is agreeable to you, name your Uc^f and hour : and at all events, accept a lincere return' of the affitrances you honour me with, and believe me, Affectionately Your's, J. BURGOYNE. P. S. I have been prevented, by bufinefs, anfwerincj your letter {boner. I obeyed your commands in regard to General Howe and Clinton ; and I likcwife commu- nicated to Lord Percy the contents of your letter and my nnfwer. They all join with me in compliments, and authoriie me to a flu re you they do the fame in princi- ples. C. mbridge, HeaJ-Qu:;rtefs, July nth, i/)f. GENERAL LEE'S compliments to General Bur- goyne: would be extremely happy in the interview he Xo kindly propofed \ but as he perceives, that General I Burgoyne has already made up his mind on this great fubjecl, and that it is impofflble that he (General JLee) fliould ever alter his opinion, he is apprehenfive that the interview might create thofe jealoufies and ftifpieions fo natural to a people ftruggling in the deareftof all caufes, that of their liberty, property, wives, children, and their future generations. He muff, therefore, defer the hap* pinels of embracing a man whom he molt dncerely loves, U ( 2i8 ) '.mil die fubverfion of the prefent tyrannical miniftry anc fyftem, which he is perfuaded muft be in a few months, as he knows Great Britain cannot fhind the eonteft. He begs General Burgoyne will fend the letters which his aid de camp has for him. If Gardiner is his aid de camp, he defircs his love to him. • Di:ar Sir, Camp, on Profpecl-Hill, Dec. ift, 1775. AS I am juft informed you are ready to embark for England, I cannot refrain from once more trefpa fling on your patience. An opportunity is now prefented of im-' mortalizing yourfelf as the faviour of your country. The whole Britifh empire (lands tottering on the brink of ru- in, and you have it in your power to prevent, the fatal cataftrophe ; but it will admit of no delay. For Heaven's fake avail yourfelf of the precious moment : put and end to the delufion : exert the voice of a brave, virtuous ci- tizen j and tell the people at home, that they muft im- mediately refcind all their impolitic, iniquitous, tyranni- cal, murderous acts ; that they muft overturn the whole frantic fyftem, or that they are undone. You afk me, in your letter, if it is independence at which the Ameri- cans aim ? I anfwer, no j the idea never entered a finglc American's head, until the moft intolerable oppreflion forced it upon them. All they required was, to remain mafters of their own property, and be governed by the fame equitable laws which they had enjoyed from the firft formation of the Colonies. The ties of connection which bound them to their parent country, were fo dear to them, that he who would have ventured to touch them, would have been confidered as the moft impious of mor- tals j but thefe fiered ties, the fame men, who have vi- olated or baffled the moft precious laws and rights of the people at home, diffipated, or refufed to account for their treafures, tarniihed the glory, and annihilated the im- portance of the nation! thefe facred ties, I fay, fo dear to every American, Bute and his Tory admiuiftration are now rending afunder. You- ( ai 9 ) You afk, whether it is the weight of taxes of which they complain ? I anfwer, no : It is the principle they combat, and they would be guilty in the eyes of Goa and men, of the prefent world, and all poflerity, did they not reject it ; for if it were admitted, they would have nothing that they could call their own ; they would be in a worfe condition than the wretched ffaves in the Weft"- India iflands, whole little peculium has ever been efteein- ed inviolate. But, wherefore ihould I dwell on this ? Is wot the cafe with Ireland the fame with theirs ? They are fubordinate to the Britilh empire ; they arc fubordi- nate to the Parliament of Great Biitain, but they tax themfelves. "Why, as the cafe is fimilar, do you not begin with them ? But you know, Mr. Burgoyne, audacious as the n.iniftry are, they dare not attempt it. There is one part of your letter which, I confefs, I do notiraderftand. If I recollect right, [for J, unfortunately, have not the letter by me,] you -fay, that if the privilege of taxing themfelves is what the Americans claim, the conteft is at an end. You furely cannot allude to the propofuions of North. It is impoflible that you fhould not think, with me and all mankind, that theft proportions are no more or lefs than adding to a moft abominable oppreffioni a more abominable infult. But, to recur to the ijueiuon of Americans aiming at independence : Do any inftruc- tions of any one of the provinces to their reprefentatives, or delegates, furnilh the lead ground for this fufpicion ? On the contrary, do they not all breathe the ftrong< ft at- tachment and filial piety to their parent country ? But if {he difcards all -the natural tendcrnefs of a mother, and a£ts the part of a cruel ftep-dame, it muft naturally be expected that their affections will ceafe ; the mimftry leave them no alternative, autferviri, ant nlienart jubent ; it is in human nature ; it is a moral obligation to adopt the latter. But the fatal feparation has not yet taken place, and yourfelf, your frngle felf, my friend, may, perhaps, prevent it. Upon the miniftry, I am afraid, you can make no impreflion ; for, to repeat a hackneyed quotation, They ( 220 ) They arf in blood Stepp'd in lb fur, that, Humid they wade no more, To return would be as tedious as go o'er. But, if you will at once break oft* all connections with thefe pernicious men ; if you will wave all confideratiou, but the falvation of your country, Great Britain may Hand as much indebted to General Burgoyne, as Rome was to her Camillus. Do not, I entreat you, my dear Sir, think this the mad vhapfody of an enthufiait, nor the cant of a fatYious defigning man ; for, in thefe colours, I am told, I am frequently painted. I fwear by all that's facred, as I hope for comfort and honour in this world, and to avoid mifery in the next, that I mod earneftly and devoutly love, my native country ; that I wifh the fame happy relation to fubfift for ages betwixt her and her chil- dren, which has raifed the wide arch of her empire to fo flupendcus and enviable a height ; but at the fame time I avow, that if the parliament and people mould be de- praved enough to fupport any longer the prefent mini- ftry in their infernal icheme, my zeal and reverence for the rights of humanity are fo much, greater than my fondnefs for any particular fpot, even the place of my nativity, that, had I any influence in the councils of Ame- rica, I would advifc not to hefitate a fingle inftant, but decisively to cut the Gordian knot, now befmeared with civil blood. This, I know, is ftrong emphatic language, and might pal?., with men who are ftrangers to the flame which the love of liberty is capable of lighting up in the human breaft, for a proof of my infantry ; but you, Sir, unlefs I have mi (taken vou from the beginning, will conceive, that a man in his fober fenfes, may poillfs fueh feelings. In my fober fenfes, therefore, permit me once more moft earneftly to entreat and conjure you to exert your whole force, energy, and talents to flop the miniftry in this their headlong career. If you labour in vain (as, I muft repeat, I think will be the cafe) addrefs yourfelf to the people at large. By adopting this method, I am fo fanguine, as to allure myfelf of your fuccefs ; and your public ( 221 ) public character will be a r , illuftrious as your perfunal qualities are amiable to all who intimately know you. By your means the colonifts will long continue the farmers, planters, and fhipwrights of Great Britain ; but if the prelent courfe is perfiited in, an internal divorce muft inevitably take place. As to the idea of fubduing them into fervitude, and indemnifying yourfelves for the cx- pence, you mull be convinced long before this of its ab- surdity. I fliould not, perhaps, be extravagant, if I advanced, that all the fhips of the world would be too few to tranf- port force fufheient to conquer three millions of people, unanimously determined to Sacrifice every thing to liberty; but, if it were pofTible, the victory would not be leis ru- inous than the defeat. You would only deftroy your bwii (trength. No revenue can pofTibly be exacted out of this country. The army, of place-men might be en- created, but her circuitous commerce, founded on per- fect freedom, which alone can furniih riches to the me- tropolis, would fall to the ground. ' But the dignity e£ Great Britain, it feems, is at (take. Would you, Sir, it in the heat of paffion you had Itruck a Tingle drummer of your regiment, and afterwards discovered that vou had done it unjuitly, think it any forfeiture of vour dig- nity to acknowledge the wrong ? No : I am well acquaint- ed with your difpofition, you would aflc him pardon at tlie head of your regiment. I fhall now conclude (if you will excufe the pedantry) with a fentence of Latin : jufium efl i llutn q tibus nectfr jariuuiy et pia anna qiiibus nulla, niji in arrnis, relinnuitur /pes. I moft fincerely wifh you a quick and profperoiK voyage, and that your happinefs and glory may be equal to the idea I have of your merits, as, i am, with the greatcft truth and affection, Yours, CHARLES LEE. Major Gen. Burgoyne. U 2 Sin, i «* ) •Sir, Cambridge, i ;;<'. IN my letter, lately fent into Bofton, all political dif- quifition was defigncdly avoided. I did not avail nvyfelf of the advantages which the facred caufe of my country, of liberty, and of human nature, manifeftly gave me over Mr. Gage. I remonftrated with you in decent terms, with refpect to the hard and unworthy treatment (hewn, as I have been informed, to the foldiers and citizens of America, whom the fortune of war, chance, or an er- roneous opinion of your honour, had thrown into your hands. In anfwer to this remonftrance, we are infulted with the moft outrageous language, and abufive epithets. Were we, Sir, the worft of traitors •, had we confpired to fubvert the liberties of our fellow fubje&s ; had we confpired to re-eftablifh on the throne the expelled ty- rants of the Stuart houfe ; or, could we be charged with any notorious breach of faith -, had we, for inflance, fe- duced fomc part of the troops under your command, upon certain conditions, into a furrender of their arms, and afterwards violated our engagement, the ftyle which you alTume would fcarcely be jultifiable. You aflee ( 22 9 ) the danger hanging over their heads, as I have received intelligence from camp, that the fleet is failed, and that it is nece/Tary to urge my march, I mall proceed with, pne divilion of the forces under my command'to that city. A moment's delay may he fatal. The force I Shall carry with me is not ftrong enough to a& offenfive- 4y j but juit fulbcient to fecure the city agair.ft any de- signs of the enemy. If this is to give umbrage, if the governor and captain of the man of war are pleafed to> conftrue this ftep as an act of pofitive hoftility, if they arc to prefcribe what number of your troops, and what number not, are to enter the city, all I can fay is, that New- York muft be confidered as the minifter's place, and not the continent's. I mull now, Sir, beg pardon for the length of this letter, and more fo, for the prefumption in offering (o freely my thoughts to the Congrefs, from whom it is my .duty iimplv to receive my orders, and as a fervant and •ioldier itrictdyfo obey, which none can do with greater ardour and affection, than, Sir, Your moll obedient humble fervant, CHARLES LEE. mht Hon. John Hancock, Efq. Pref. of the Continental Congrefs SfR, New-Yoc;., Mr,rch yJi, .'7761 I RECEIVED your command? on Sundav evening-* kndfhould have anfwered it immediately, but waited for the refult of an application J had made' to "Water bury '3 bid Ward's regiments, requeuing them to remain here until they can be replaced by a certain number of troops from Philadelphia, and the Jerucs. They have unani- 'moully confented to Hay till the twenty-fifth of this mo:r , which is a fortnight longer than the term they wer entitled for. IJefqre the expiration of this time, I am in hopes that fonie meafures v. ill be taken by the X Congress ( 23° ) Congrefs for throwing into the city, its environs, and Long-Ifland, a force fufiicient to tlifpute the ground with any number of troops we have reafon toexrect; not that I would imply that thefe two.Coniiecticut regiments remaining here would be able to prevent the landing and lodging themfelves in the Ifland, even five battalions of the enemy, mould they choofe to attempt it ; but thofe two regiments will enable us at leaf! to iay the foundation of the necefiary works. I have ordered a regiment fr< the Jerfies, who will be here I hope in a few days ihall not, Sir, trouble you with a detail of our intende works, as I fhall have the ppwer of paying my refpe inpei ion to die Congrefs in a very few days, for ' Thmfday it is my intention to fet out. I am in very litt pain about the execution of what we have concerted, a it is committed to the hands of Lord Sterling ,who fhews" much intelligence and activity. As this place will pro- bably be the fcene of a good deal of action, it would be prudent to add fomething to their prefent flock of am- • munition. I find by their returns, that there is in the whole colony, that fent up to Fort-Conftitution included, five tons and an half. The numerous body of profefled Tories on Long and Staten-Iflands, with not a few within the walls of the city, is a moftalarmingconfideration ; themeafures adopt- ed by the Provincial Congrefs, of obliging them to give bonds as a fecurity for their good behaviour, can anlwer no purpoie, but that of l-endering them more bitter and violent. The firlt regiment of our gracious fovereign's- cutthroats which arrive here will indubitably cancel thefe bonds. I am well allured, indeed, that thefe bonds are made a public joke of already, by the worthy gentlemen who gave them. In fhort, the friends to liberty are to a man convinced, that the Tories will take up arms, when encouraged by the appearance of any royal troops. The delicacy of our fituation, the dangerous crifis of affairs, have therefore determined me to take a decifire ftep, which alone, according to my judgment, can fecure us : 1 have propofed to oiler to thefe people a ttft, drawn up I ( 23r > up in fuch terms, that refufal or confent to take it mud be a criterion by which we maybe able to diflinguilh thole, whofe f words are whetted to plunge into the vitals oi" their country, and whofe, if not drawn in defence of the common fights, may be expected to remain quietly in their fcabbards. The lirlt I have directed to be feized without further ceremony, and I fhould think myfelf highly criminal, in omitting fo falutary a Itep before it is too lite ; perhaps I judge wrong •, if I do, I mult myfelf take the fhame of lacing reputed weak, r alb, and precipi- tate. The intelligence I have received, from General "Wafhington will, at all events, jultily, in fume meafure, my difpenfing with forms. I am, Sir, with the greateft refpect, Your moil obedient humble fervant, CHARLES LEE. To his Excellency the Pref. of the Continental Congrefs. My dear sip, WiilittmSbutSP, V r I T,! » 1 77^- I HAVE nothing of fufficient importance to trouble the Congrefs with ; but fhali teaze you with a few words j I am exactly in the fame fituation I expected, puzzled where to go or fix myfelf, from an uncertainly of the enemy's delign : I can therefore only act by iurmife ; the general opinion is, that they will aim at this part of Virginia, viz. York and William finish, or that they will fix their head quarters in North Carolina : it has been Wready aflerted, that Mr. Clinton was landed with one thoufand five hundred men at Wilmington ', aleuer from Brigadier Howe, dated from Edenton, -fiys, that it is be- lieved, but not ascertained. I wait for further tntelligencej in the mean time, I Ihall employ myfelf in rendering this plaee and York, as inaeceiiible as pofhble ; for it is my own perfuafion, that they will endeavour to porlefsthem- felves of the capital, not only as it is really a molt tempt- ing and advantageous poft, from commanding two ri- vers, ~3* ) vers, and a moft abundant country ; but it would give nrf air of fuperioruy and dignity to their arms, which in this- Have country might be attended with important confe- tpiences, by the impreifions it would make in the minds of the negroes. I wilh we had a couple of good regi- ments more in South-Carolina, it would then be per* haps hors infult. The apathy of this province ieems to go pajjibus aquisy with that of lbme other provinces, not- withiLanding the perfuafion and afluranees of all the of-' ficers, that the Tories about Norfolk will moft certainly repair to the King's ftandard, and have propofed means of fecuring them ; they fay, fuch means would be violent and cruel. In lhort, as your affairs profper, the timidity, of the fenatorial part of the continent, great and fmall, grows and extends itfelf. By the eternal God, unlefs you declare yourfelves independent, eftablifh a more certain and fixed legiflature than that of a temporary cour- tefy of the people, you richly deferve to be enilaved, and I think it far fro:n impoilible that it fhould be your lot ; as without a more fyftematical intercourfe with France and Holland, we cannot, we have not the means of carrying on the war. Adieu, Yours, &c. C. LEE. To Edw. Rutledge,Efq Member of the Continental Comrrefs. StR, Williamfburgh, April 5th, 1776, THEfubjecl: of this letter appearing to me of exceed- ing importance, I have refolved to difpatch an exprels to inform you, that the Roebuck, a king's (hip of 44 guris, has for fome time left the Capes of Virginia, and, as we hear, is now lyiug of the Bay of Delaware, with a de- fign to intercept the continental fleet. At Norfolk remain the Liverpool, a 30 gun frigate •, the Otter Hoop of 14 guns, and fome tenders i .together with a Hup, Lord % Dunmore ( 233 ) •Dunmore on board, of little or no force ; and a number of vefieis belonging to the Tories, with valuable cargoes and prizes, amounting, by a reafonable eftimate, to an hundred and forty thoufand pounds fterling. If Mr. Hopkins is at Cape- Fear, would it not be a good meafure tojnform him, how fure a prey thefe fhips at Norfolk, with their immenfe treaiure of goods, arms ammunition and other military ftores would be to him, where he to come into the Capes of Virginia ? It is not probable our fleet can keep the lea much longer, a number of Britifli fhips of war being expected foon on the American coaftj this lafl mentioned ftroke would then be a glorious con- clufion ; and if it fliould be necefiary afterwards to keep in a fafe harbour, by erecting a battery at the mouth of the river leading to Norfolk, the navy of Great Britain might be, from the nature of the navigation, prevented from getting up. I am extremely anxious to know the ftate of your province, and of the (late, number, and quality of your troops ; any alhflance which can be af- forded vou by this province, as far as depends on me, you may command. I fhould have fet out before this, for your province, but the confufion, dil'order, and defi- ciencies of Virginia, oblige me to pals a few more days in my prefent quarters. I am, Sir, with the greateft refpci t, Your mod obedient humble lervant, C. LEE. To the Hon. the Pref. of the Council of Safety, North- Carolina. Pear Sik, W LI : a nlborgh, April 6th, 177c. AS I know not to whom I can addrefs this molt im" portant note, with fo much propriety and allurance of Luccefs as to yourfelf, this crifis will not admit of cere- mony and procraftination j I (hall, therefore, irregularly addrefs you in the language and with the fpirit of one bold determined free citizen to another ; and conjure X 2 you, ( 234 ) you, as you value the liberties and rights of the commu- nity of which vou are a member, not to lofe a moment, and in my name, if my name is of confequence enough, to direct the commanding officer of your troops at An- napolis, immediately to fcize the perlbn of governor Eden ; the fin and blame be on »ny head. I will anlwcr for all to the Cangrefs. TJie jultice and neoeflity oftlie meafure will be belt explained by the packet, tranfmitted to you by the Committee oi Safety from this place. — God Almighty give us wifdom and vigour in this hour of trial- Dear Sir, Yours, mod affectionately, CHARLES LEE. To Samuel Purviance, Efq. Chairman of the Committee. Sir, ty T ili"aralfmrgri ; April 8th, 1770. NOT only propriety and decency, but an earncil de- fne to aft in concert with fo refpectable a body as the Committee of fafety, enjoin me to lay before them my thoughts, on fome meafures neceflai y for the defence and very being of the colonw After having confidered the number and quality of your troops, the itate and condition of your arms, artil- lery, and ordinance apparatus, the weaknefs and difad- vantages you labour under from the numerous inter- fering rivers, the multitude of your flaves, 8cc. I fup- po'e to myfelf that the enemy, will make this province their immediate object ; and fmce the defeat of their fchem'es in North- Carolina, by Colonel Cafwell, it is the molt natural fuppofition. I fay, Sir, after having foun- dered your ftrength and weaknefs, no circumftance ap- pears to mc fo ferioufly alarming as the difpofiti'on and Ctuation of the inhabitants of the lower counties, Nor- folk, ( 235 ) folk, and Princcfs Ann ; but th.it I might not reft en- tirely on my own opinion, I have called together fome of the field officers who are bed acquainted with that didric"t, and they unanimoufly agree, that it will be dif- ficult, if not impoffible, to iccure and prtlcrve the pro- vince, unlets theft inhabitants, thus daugerouily difpo- fed, are removed from the very ipot where they can do iuch infinite mifchief. I am feniible, Sir, that their re- moval mud be attended with very conliderable difficul- ties, and perhaps much didrtis to individuals j but when the preservation and being of the province, if not of the whole continent, are at Hake, were thefe difficulties and diitrcfles a thoufand times greater, they mud be fubmit- ed to. I am in hopes, therefore, that the gentlemen of the Committee will immediately deviie fome means i'ov removing thefe people, as well as their dock : at lead their wives and children fliould be carried to a place of fecurity, as hodages for the good behaviour of the huf- Dands and fathers. I fhould be extremely forry to find ni) ii. If under the neceffity of dedroying -ill their cattle, 'llorcs, and granaries, and forcing the inhabitants, at the point of the bayonet, from their homes ; but unlefs then- removal can be accompliihed by fome other means, I ihall be condrained to thefe harih methods ; as otherwife, I cannot be anfwerable for the execution of the important trud committed to my hands. 1 am, Sir, With the greated refptcr, 1 Your mod obedient humble fervent, CHARLES LEE. To die Hon. the Pref. of the Committee of Safety. SrR. Williaralburgri, April 19th, 1776. THE dilagreeable uncertainty I have been in, of the enemies' deiigns, from the circumdance of their being able C * 3 <5 ) able to fly in their fhips from one fpot to another, hatl kept me at Williamfburgh. It is evident that their ori- nal intention was againft North-Carolina, but the ap- parently total overthrow of their whole fdieme by Colo- nel Cafwell's victory, makes it more probable that they will bend their courfe to fome other quarter ; whether to this province, or South-Carolina, it is impofliibleto divine. I am myfelf more inclined to think that this will be their 1 object, as the numerous interfering navigable waters prefent them fuch fuperior advantages; though, at the fame time, I confefs myfelf in great pain for South -Ca- rolina ; the force in that province teems" alarmingly fmall. I wifh I could afford to detach from hence at leaft three battalions ; but neither our numbers of men, the ftate and condition of our arms, nor the vaft extent of this province open to attack, will admit of the thought. If Pennfylvania could fpare three or four battalions for the defence of Virginia, Virginia or North-Carolina might detach the fame number to South-Carolina ; and as the army which was employed in the blockade of Bofton is now fet at liberty, I fhould imagine this force might be afforded us. We are fo extremely deficient in arms, that I have been under the neceflity of fending an officer into the back parts of the country to purchafe all the rifles he can pro- cure for the continental fervice. The arrangement I have made of arming two companies of each battalion with fpears, will render mufkets and bayonets lefs ne- cefTary ; and the eafe I find in reconciling the men to thefe kind of arms, is a flattering fymptom of their fpirit. The price of thefe sifles, I am told, will be five pounds each j but as the article of cartouches and bayonets will be faved, upon the whole, they will not be more, if fo expenfive. The defence and fecurity of the capital rivers, with their creeks, is an objedt of fo great importance, that I have thought it neeeffary to direct as great a number of half gallies as pofhble, to be conftrudted with the utmoft expidition ; but as the carpenters and other artificers in this ( *37 J this country are fo lazy a race of mortals, that it is in vain to expect any fruits from their labours, unlefs there is n Coercive power over them, I thought'it the fureft anil i.i- fell method to eftablilh two companies of carpenters oii the fame terms with thofe in the Jerfies ; the mea- furc is absolutely rieceflaryj and I flutter myfelf it will prove ccconomy. The nature of the f£rvice here is fuch, the force not being collected into one point, but fcatteved in fragments, that a greater number of fubordiriate ftaff officers are requifite than in the Northern and Eaftern armies. I have therefore taken the liberty, till the pleafure of the Con- grefs is further known, to appoint a few who could not be difpenfed with : inclofed is a lift of them. The Committee of Safety, I find^ Sir, had notapprized you of their having already raifed a company of artille- ry, and appointed omcers. Captain 'lines, who was pla- ced at the head of it, though he prcfefles himfelf utter- ly ignorant of this particular branch, is a man of great zeal, capacity and merit ; and as thete is a vacant majo- rity in the ninth, or captain Flemming's regiment, I have ventured to appoint him to act in that ftation, in hopes that the Cr>ne?efs will cohiirm Ills c^rI'mifT:^n» A body of horfe is zfine qua non in a country clrcUmftanced like this *, I take the liberty of enclofing you an addrefs I pubiiflied to the voung gentlemen of this colony on the fubjeel, and wifh it may meet with your approbation. I (hall make Monfieur Arundel accountable for the fixtv dollars, but at the fame time beg leave to fubr.it to the confideration of the Congvefs, whether the ex\ . nces of his journey fhould not be allowed ; they amount to thirty dollars : Indeed they pay of the artillerv officers ana engineers is to wretched, that I do not fee any chance of procuring men fit for the fervice on the terms ; and if they are procured, they cannot pollibly fubfift, uniefs the expences of their frequent journeys are paid ; for they are obliged, from the nature of their bufinefs, to make more journeys than other officers, and not in corps, but ungly i C *3« ) flngly ; I have been obliged to fubfift Baro, 1 . Maflenbur-g, a.s likwife to furnifh Captain Smith who is now at York,- with money for his expences. I am. Sir, with the greateft: refpe£t, Your mod obedient humble fervant, CHARLES LEE* His Excellency John Hancock, Pref. of the Continental Congrefs. 8m, WilliamAurgh, April 19th, 177^. AS I am ah entire ftranger to the character, integri- ty, and abilities of individuals in this country, I mud requeft the gentlemen of the committee will appoint, or recommend pofitively, a proper perfon as commiflary. He mould be a man of activity without doubt ; but his integrity is ftill more important, as he has it in his power, if inclined, to rob the public rrioft horribly. I am, Sir, with the greatefl refpeel, Y'our moft obedient fervant, CHARLES LEE. John Page, Efq. V. P. ©f the Committee. Sir, Suffolk, April 23d, »77^ YOU are to march this night to Brickels : Leave the entrenching tools under the care of the commanding of- ficer of that poft, with directions to fortify, as well as h< is able, a poll: capable of containing three hundred mei: To-morrow you are to proceed to Portfmouth with the waggons ; you are to poft your party in fuch an a vantageous fituation, that no infult from the enemy ca : be apprehended. You are to fecure Shcdden's, and ISlltc el's eifedls, and fend them up immediately. You an to fecure the perlbns of Jarvia, Muter, and Mitchel, well as their eiYe£ts ; Mrs. Grimes, with her eifects, a like wife immediately to be lent up. You are to procu ( -39 ) the bcft intelligence what men are on board Lord Dun- more's fleet, who have families at Portfmouth ; the wives and children of thefe men are to be fent up to Suffolk immediately. You are to apprize die reft of the inha- bitants that they muft quit Portfmouth in five days ; that waggons mall be allowed Tor their beds, cloaths, and ab- folute ncceffary cooking utenfils ; their tables, chairs, and other cooking utcnuls, cannot be carried off at the public expence. All the negroes capable of bearing arms, to be fecured immediately, and fent up to Suffolk. Mr. Bownas and Company's property is to be collected and brought out of their prclent dangerous fituation. You are to order any detachment you fhall meet with, from Colonel Fipp's corps, immediately to return to their command. CHARLES LEE, Major General, To Col. Mughlenburg. Sir, Williainfburgh, May 4th, 1776^. THE committee will, I hope, excufe my not having yefterday made a report to them (as I think it my duty) of every tranfaclion which is not merely military; but they were fo much employed in the bufmefs of the Prin- cely Ann petition, that I thought it better not to enter on the fubject. As I found that the inhabitants of Portfmouth had univerfally taken the oath to Lord Dun- more, and as that town was, I believe, juftly confidered as the great channel through which his Lord (hip received the moit exacl and minute intelligence of all our motions and defigns, I thought it incumbent on me, and agreea- ble to the fpirit of your in(lru£tious, to remove the peo- ple without exception ; for even the women and chil- dren had learnt the art, and pra&ifcd with addrefs, the office of fpies. A confiderable quantity of very valuable articles were found in the houfes of Mrs. Sprowle, Good- rich, and Nuil Jamkfon, fuch as molaffes, lalt, and other things ( 240 ) things much wanted for the public. A lift of thcfe ar- ticles will be made out by the officer commanding the party, and laid before your board. As the town of Portfmouth will afford fo convenient Shelter and quarters, to refrefh the enemy, on a iuppofi- tion that they make this part of the world their object, it would perhaps be politic to deftroy it totally ; but the houfes of ibme of the mod notorious traitors I thought absolutely neceffary to demoiifh, in hopes of inti- midating the neighbourhood from trifling any longer, Mid flying in the face of your ordinances ; for it is incon- ceivable, unlefs I have been grofsly misinformed, into what barefaced, open intercourfe with the enemy they had been encouraged, by no examples having been made. Sprowle's, Goodrich's, JamieSon'sand Skeddan's houfes were on this principle deftroyed j the laft, Skeddan, now a prifoner at Suffolk, accufed, and, I believe, con- victed, of having been on board Lord Dunmore's fleet, Since his acquittal by the committee of Norfolk. As wo had undoubted intelligence that the fleet and army of Lord Dumrjore were amply and regularly Supplied with provi- sions and refrefhments of every kind, from that tract of country, lying between the Southern and Eaftern branch- es, as well as from Tanner's-Creek, notwithstanding the poiitive ordinances levelled againft this Species of trea- son ; and as from a habit of any fort of action, be it ever fo heinous, he who commits it, infallibly, in the end, perSuadcs himfelf there is no crime in it at a',1 : fo thcfe worthies not only every day openly and conltantly carri- ed on this dangerous commerce, but, it ii laid, juftilied it in their conversation ; it, therefore, Sir, in my opinion, as well as of the other officers, and the committee of gentlemen from Suffolk, became indifpenfably neceffarv to take fome vigorous fleps on the Spot, which might intimidate the whole knot of thcfe mifcreants from their pernicious traffic. A Mr. Hopkins, infamous for his principles and con- duct, and who has a fon, now a foldier in Dunmore's army, was fortunately the firlt man detected ; he was Seized ( 2 4 i ) feized in his return from the fleet. He prevaricated and perjured himfelf very handfomely on the occafion ; but at length the fact was proved, and he confeffed . The . fentiments of the committee and other officers concur- ring with my own, we determined, after having feized his furniture, to fet his houfe on fire in his presence : This ftep was not quite confiftent with the regular mode of proceeding : but there are occafions, when the necef- i fity will excufe deviations, and this I hope will appear to the committee to be one of thofe occafions. I mult here, Gentlemen, beg leave to repeat my aliurances, that if ever in my military capacity, I lhould fall into any mea- fure, which is more properly within the province of the civil, it will entirely proceed from miftake, or inadver- tency, never from aefign j and upon thefe occafions, fa Far from being offended by the admonition, or even re- primand, of your committees, I fhali think myfelf obliged to them. I am, Sir, with the greateft refpect, Your moft obedient humble fervant, CHARLES LEE. To Edmund Pendleton, Prcf. of the Committee of Safer-,-. Sir Willi&afriburgh, May yth, ' J I FIND the part I have acted in the bufinefs of Mr. Eden, has given great umbrage to the council of Miry- land 5 I take the liberty of cnclofing a copy of my letter to that board on the occafion •, as I hope it will appear to the Congrefs, a full explanation and juflification of my conduct, I flull not trouble them any more on the fub- jeet. • Five tranfports with troops ar£ arrived at Cape-Fear •, I fhall therefore fet out on Thurfday for Wilmington, by the way of Hallifax. When We confuler, Sir, the vail extent of the vulnerable parts of this country ; t'ae numerous navigable intafecling waters, the multitude of Y Oaves j ( 242 ) flaves ; that we have not more than five thoufand regiu lars fit for duty in the province ; that of theie five thou- fand not more than three are properly armed ; that to arm them, defective as they are, the province has been drove to the neceifity of difarming the minute men ; I fay, Sir, that when thefe circumftances are confidcred, I ihall appear, I hope, reafonable, in entreating the Con- grefs to fpare us, if poflible, fome battalions, and of thofe battalions which are belt armed. If indeed our minute men were properly furnifhed with mulkets and ammuni- tion ; if our rivers were already fecured in the manner I piopofe ; I fhould think myfelf capable of baffling all their attempts with our prefcnt force ; but fituated as, we are., my anxiety for the common fafety obliges me to folicit a reinforcement. A letter from one of your mem- bers informs me, that five thoufand blankets, and five thoufand pair of (hoes, are on the road for the ufe of this army ; they were much wanted ; the number is, I believe, fufficient. "We are as I obferved before, wretchedly in want of medicines, as well as of a direc- tor to our hofpital. Doctor M'Clurg is a very able "man, and univerfally efteemed, qualified for the office » the pay of the regimental furgeons eftablifhed by Con- grefs is fo low, that it is in this part of the world, where the common country practice of furgery is fingularly lucrative, impoflible to find capable men, who will ac- cept j but I am in hopes that the convention will make fuch additions- out of the provincial puri'e, as to enable us to fill the commiffions with proper and competent per- sons : Now I am on the fubjecl of pay, Sir, I muft beg leave to urge the neceifity of confiderably increafmg that cf the engineers. It is impoflible that men, qualified for this important office, fhould be prevailed upon to ferve on fuch miferable terms. You have no American en- gineers ; they mull of courfe be foreigners ; and fo- reigners expect, in their language, de quoi maiiger> that is fomething which will enable them to eat and drink. Twenty dollars per month will not enable them to eat and drink, and wear linnen, or indeed any kind of cloaths: befides, ^ 2*43 ) befules, it mud be considered, that thefe gentlemen are obliged, by the nature of their duty, to make more jour- neys than any other officers ; that horfes muft be pur- chafed and fed ; that the expencesof travelling in theft; Southern provinces are very high ; from tliefe reafons* and many others, the pay of engineers ought to be, as it is in all other fervices, greater than that of other oiE Upon the whole, Sir, I really do not think that they ought or can do with lefs than forty dollars per month, and rations at leaft for their horfes. On more moderate terms I am perfuaded you cannot procure men equal to the tafk : as the corps is dittinct, and not numerous, thw neceffarv addition of pay will be an expence beneath the confideration of Congrefs. Colonel Richard Henry Lee informs me, that it wa? not the intention of the Congrefs that Captain Innes's company fhould be reduced, to make way for Arundel'.- ; but they fhould both be eftablUheck I think, Sir, ir would be a ufelcfs expence. Captain Innes, who muft, I am fure, be an excellent officer in any other department, pro- feffed himfelf ignorant of this branch; Lis officers equally ignorant : Arundel has eot pofleffion of company, and by his a&ivit) awledge \ perfuaded, make them fit for fervice. Indeed to e blifh an artillery company, captain, Subalterns, and commiffioned officers, being entirely compoled of ri ces, can anfwer no end or purpofe. It is my opinion, therefore, Sir, that inftead ©f th-.i'* two c< pro- pofed, that the addition of thirty or forty men to Cap- tain Arundel's, and two fubaltern officers, will not ( be better, but that it promifes more advantage to the fervice. As I am on the fubjecr. of Captain Arundel, I beg leave to remind the Congrefs of what I mentioned on the fu'ijetl of his cxpenccs on the road : There is one circumftance of which, Sir, I could wifn to be afcertain- ed, it is the cxpence of the defence of thefe rivers, I is, the conftruciion of row gallie,;, floating batteries, Sec. to be brought to the account of the continent or of the province ? ( 244 ) pi evince ? I wifh to be informed on this head : if it is at the expence of the latter, I {hall regularly propofe to the Convention, or Committee of Safety, every fcheme which may be attended with expence before it is entered upon. If the quarter-mafter-general, or his deputies, when they dipatch any teams from Philadelphia with" powder, or ether neceiiarics, were to purchafe the hovfes I throughout, for the continental ufe, inftead of hiring them, the faving would be ccnfiderable ; for in this country the hire is intolerably dear ; fo great indeed,. that I have ventured to order a number of teams to be purchafed. I have juft received a vague return of the forces of North-Carolina ; of their powder and cannon •, it does not appear that they have effective regulars properly armed, more than two thoufand ; of powder than two ions and an half; and as to cannon, they are almoft to- tally deftitute. As the enemy's advanced guard, if I may fo exprefs myfelf, is actually arrived, I muft, I can- 7iot avoid detaching the ftrongeft battalion we have to their affiftance ; but, I own, I tremble at the fame time nt the thoughts of ftripping this province of any part of its inadequate force. I am puzzled how to direct my motions from the uncertainty of the enemies' plan, but not difphrited, as I am confident that the Congrefs will afford me every relief in their power, and am not in ths. leaft diffident of the courage and zeal of the men and officers. I have, as yet, heard nothing of Mr. Stabler the engineer ; I ought, in fact, to have at leaft half a dozen ; for we have a variety of pofts to throw up, and there is not a man or officer in the army that knows the difference between a chevaitx tie frieze and a cabbage- garden. I wifh the Congrefs would indulge me with Mr. Smith, whom I know to be an able and active man. I am, Sir, with the greateft refpe£t, Your moft obedient, Humble Servant, CHARLES LEE. His Excellency John Hancock, Efq. Pref. of the Continental Congrds. Sir, ( 245 ) Sir, Wiiliamftmrgh, May 9th, 1 AS I am obliged, by the arrival of the enemy, to re- pair to North-Carolina, and am not lefs prompted by my zeal and affe&ion for this province, than obliged by my duty, to take every precaution for its fafety before my departure : on this principle I beg leave to lay before the Convention the following meafures, which I conceive to be neceflary : 1 ft. To dcvife fome means for eftablifhing a corps of cavalry ; without which, an army is fo extremely defec- tive in every part of the world, and in none more than in this, for reafons which it might be tedious to enumerate. 2dly. Without delay to order fome able pilots of every river, to examine accurately the narrowed part of the channel of each river ; what is the nature of the fhoals -which form thefe channels •, whether they are folid, firm (and, gravel, or rock ; what is the diftance of the neareft part of the channel from either more •, what is the nature of the fhore ; whether it is high or low ; for I am "fan- guine enough to hope, when thefe circumllanccs are afcertained, the navigation of mod of the rivers may be iluit up to the enemy, by means of batteries, either float- ing or fixed. 3u are, to con- sider the delicate, perhaps, you will fay, falfe notions in which foldiers are bred ; and that you will be careful of putting to fo fevere a trial the fenfibility of one, who is molt iincerely, devotedly, and affectionately, Yours, CHARLES LEE. To * * *. P. S. I am extremely fhocked with the pallid com- plexion of your public councils •, is it pofhble that fuch a defpicable group as the Maryland Convention, fhould lay an embargo on the great vefiel of the commonwealth ! Can you be fo weak as to hunt for the chimsera abfo- lute unanimity ! Why do you not advife the aggregate of the people to enfranchifc themselves ? Your idea of quitting Canada from want of fpecie is to me incon- ceivable, when you can or ought to command plate fuf- ficient to purchaie ten Canadas. Dear Sir, Charleflon, July 29th, 177*?, I USED to regret not Toeing thrown into the world, in the glorious third or fourth century of the Romans, but I am now thoroughly reconciled to my lot. The reveries which have frequently for a while fcrved to tic- kle my imagination (but which, when awakened from my trance, as conftantly I conlidered as mere golden caftles built in the air) at length bid fair for being realiz- ed. We fhall now, moft probablv, fee a mighty empire eflablifhed of freemen, whofe honour, property, and military glories are not to be at the difpofal of a fceptev- ed tyrant j nor their conferences to be fettered by a proud, Z 2 domineering ( *S* ) d-ominceriug hierarchy. Every faculty of the foul will be now put in motion, no merit can lie latent ; the high- eft offices of the (late both civil and military, will now be obtained, without court favour, or therafcally taleiUs of fervility and obfervance, by which court favour, could alone be acquired. Scnfe, valour and induftry will con- duct us to the goal : every fpark of ability which every individual poflefles, will now be brought forth and form the common aggregate for the advantage and honour of the community. The operations of war will be directed by men qualified for war, and carried on with that en- ergy natural to. a young people. True unartized know- ledge, unfophifticated learning, fimple genuine eloquence and poetry will be carried on to the higheft degree of perfection. This, to many, I am fenfible, would appear rant, but to you, who, I think, have congenial feelings with my own, it needs no apology. However, I fh.ill now endeavour to deliver myfelf more like a man of this world. I mod fincerely congratulate you on the noble conduct of your countrymen j and I congratulate your country on having citizens, deferving of the high honour to which you are exalted '; for the being elected to the firft ma- giftracy of a free people is certainty the pinnacle of hu- man glory ; and am perfuaded that they coukl not have made a happier choice. Will you excufe me ? but I am myfelf fo extremely democratical, that I think it a fault in your constitution that the governor thould be eligible for three years iuc- ceffively. It appears to me that a government of three years may furnifh an opportunity of acquiring a very dangerous influence •, but this is not the worit Tacitus fays, plura peccantur t dum demeremur^ quarn dum affeudi- mui. A man who is fond of office, and has his eye upon re-election, will be courting favour and popularity, at the expence of his duty. He will give way to the popular humours of the day, let thefi be ever fo pernicious. In fhort his adminiftration will be relaxed in general, or partial to thofe whom he conceives to have the greateft intercft : ( *59 ) interefc : Whereas, were all hopes of re-election preclud- ed, till after the intervention of a certain number of , he would endeavour to> illuftrate the year of his government by a drift, rigorous, and manly performance of his duty. Thefe notions ma-, perhaps, b-: weak and foolifh ; but inch as they are, I am fure you will excufe my uttering them. There is a bavbarifm crept in among us that extreme- ly fliocks me, I mean thole tinfel epithets, with which (I come in for my fhare) we are fo beplaiftered ; His Ex- vy, and His Honour ; The Honourable Brelident of the Congrefs or the Honourable I . :•/. This ful- fome, nauleating cant may be well enough adopted to barbarous monarchies ; or to gratify the adulterated pride of the magnifici in pompous ari/loc nicies ; but in a great, free, manly, equal commonwealth, it is quite abominable j for my own part, I would as lief they would put rats- in ray mouth, as the Excellency with which I am daily crammed. How muchmore true dignity was there in the Simplicity of addrefs amongft rhe Romans ! Ma»- cus Tullius Cicero, Dceimo Bruto Imperatori, or Caio M ircelio Confuli, than to his Excellency Major General -Noodle, or to the Honourable John Doodle. My ob-. jections are perhaps. trivial and whimfical ; but, for mr/ foul, I cannot help ftarting them. If, therefore, I fhould fometimes addrefs a letter to you without the Excellency tacked, you muft not elkem it a mark of perfonal or offi- cial difrefpect, but the reverfe. The diicontcnt of the troops which you mentioned as arifing from the want of regular payment, mighthavebeen remedied by General Lewis •, his warrant is undoubtedly fufficient for the pay-mafter : however, I have written to tJiat gentleman on this fubject, and am in hopes that affairs for the future will be more fatisfadlorily con- ducted. An old riee-bcat, which we converted the othc r day into a row-battety, has made a confiderablc; prize ; no lefs than a brig \\ Lth a whole company of the roya' high- land emigrants on board, confuting of two office; s and fifty ( 26o ) fifty men : although they faw that they were inevitably our prize, had the impudence to throw their arms over- board, for which they ought to have their ears cut off, as it was contrary to all the rules of war. I fend you inclofed the ftate of the enemy's navy •, I think there is no doubt of their army having fteered their courfe Northward ; on this prefumption I mail direct my courfe towards Virginia, but firft mull affift to regulate the military affairs of this province, in the beft manner I can ; though, in fact, that will be doing little ; the incon- veniencies of this complex play we are acting, of Duke and no Duke, are numberlefs and great. The prefident is thought by fome to be the real commander, I am thought fo by otheis ; infhort, there muft be no troops but con- tinental. The council is at prefent employed in fettling, a more regular poft. We have received none thefe eigh- teen days j for my own part, I conclude the mail has been intercepted and carried on board the man of war. Seven tons and a half of powder were fafely landed four days ago, at George-town. Adieu, dear Sir, and believe me to be Moft entirely and fincerely yours, CHARLES LEE. His Excellency Patrick Henry, Jun. Governor of Virginia. Sir, Charlefton, Aug. 26, 1776. I WISH I had been informed how I am to addrefs myfelf in writing to the Board of War ; whether to the board in general, to the firft members on the lift, or to the fecretary. I have ventured on the laft mode ; if it is wrong, I hope I fhall be excufed and corrected. The irregularity and tardinefs of the poft are now become a matter of my ferious concern j we never receive a letter from Philadelphia in lefs than fix or feven weeks ; that from the members of the Board of War and Ordinance is only juft now arrived, though dated the twelfth of June. ( 26r ) June. I have been prefled, Sir, by feveral members of the Convention of Virginia, to eftablifh a poft for this dis- trict ; but am apprehcnfive, that it might interfere with the continental poft •, however, the confequences arifing from the irregularity of the poll are (o very ferious, that all other confiderations muft be waved : In the mean time, I am conftrained to the neceffity of putting the continent to the expence of an exprefs almoft on every occafion. I am extremely rejoiced at the eftablifliment of a Board of War ; for the bufinefs of Congrefs was fo com* plex and heterogeneous, that it was impoffible they mould give the necefTary attention to the affairs of any one diftinct: department ; their regulations with refpect to returns, &c. mall be punctually obferved. I have or- dered General Armftrong to collect the returns from the different corps, to digeft them into one, and tranfmit them immediately to the Congrefs. I am myfelf bufied in arranging matters for an expedi- tion into Eaft-Florida. It is much to be lamented, that thefe Southern colonies fuffered the whole of laft winter to pafs over their heads without preparing the means either of offence or defence. Not a fingle row-galley or armed boat was furnifhed by Virginia, North, or South- Carolina ; were we provided with a moderate fleet of thefe fort of veflels, I think I could enfure the reduction ' of Eaft-Fiorida, an object, though not equal with Cana- da, is certainly of very great importance. Here the meafures of the Southern Indians are concerted and planned, their treaties negociated and concluded-, here they receive their bribes, for their murderous operations, and from hence they are fupplied with all the means and inftrume?its of war : from hence they have lately made iome alarming incur fions into Georgia, carried off a con- Gderable number of negroes, and not lefs than two thou- iand head of cattle : they have like wife thrown up a poft on the river St. Mary's* which, if fuffered to remain, may prove extremely troublefome to Georgia, by affording a ready afylum to negro defcrters. From ( *fe ) From thefe confederations, although I cannot think o: laying fiege to Augufline, having neither boats, horfes w.iggons, nor any other means of conveying cannon ammunition, or provifion for the 'purpofe. I think i: both a prudent and neceflary meafure to attempt break- ing up the whole province of Eaft-Florida. It will bt a fecurity to Georgia, occafion infinite diftrefs to the gar- rifon of St. Auguftine, hut, above all, make a falutary im- predion on the minds of the Creeks, who now are thought to Hand wavering. They profefs a good: difpofition to- wards the American caufe ; but if, by a ftrong predatory expedition into the province of the enemy, we give an idea of our prowefs and fuperior ftrength, they will be riveted in our intereft. If I was fure Mr. Clinton and his army had fleered their courfe to New-York, as the deferters all agree, and a letter which was left in Long- Ifland confirms, [a copy of which is here enclofed] I mould, as I have nothing immediately elfe to do in my diftricf, march in perfon with this party ; but the bare poffibility of his being gone to Virginia will detain me Every fhip of the enemy has now repafTed the bar. It appears by this fame enclofed letter-that they were more roughly handled than even the deferters reprefented. The Congrefs I make no doubt have been informedj of the incurfions made, and the ravages committed by the upper and lower Cherokees ; an expedition T under ftand 4s furnifhed forth by Virginia, againit the upper nations ; another by this province againft the lower ; the fuccefs or mifcarriage is of the laft confequence ; I am, therefore defirous of forming a fecond line, or corps de rtfirve, and detaching for this purpofe, a regiment of re- gulars, but have not as yet been able to procure waggons fufficient for two companies. It will be neceffary that Congrefs mould make fome regular eftablifbment for waggons, I fhould think one waggon at leaft, if not two, fhould be purchafed and appointed to each company of the whole army, and regiments made refponfible for theirs refpectively. We mould then be able to march when occafion requires expedition ; at prefent it is fome- times ( **3 ) times as much impoffible to march an hundred miles, al- though the fate of a province depended upon it, as if the foldiers wanted legs. I hope the Congrefs and Board of War will excuie my giving an opinion on a fubjecr. on which it has not been afked ; but 1 conceive it to be my duty not to re- main filent on any affairs of fuch moment. I fuad, Sir, that reprefentatidns have been made, that many incon- venieneies would arife from putting the troops of this iproviuce on the continental eftablilhment. I can allure the Congrefs, that it is almoft impoffible to carry on the fen ice, if they remain on the colonial eftablifhment j the difference of the laws, the diftinction of rank, occafion fo much confufion j and the ridiculous farce of Duke and no Duke, we are playing, (the officers not always com- prehending who is their proper- commander, whether the prefident, or continental general) occafions very dan- gerous diftractions ; but there are other matters of more ferious confideration, of which I (hall not trouble you with a detail ; nor do I find that the officers of this pro- vince objecl: to a continental eftablifhment, on the con- trary, all thofe I have converfed with, feem defirous of it. Upon the whole, I think it abfolutely effential to the hlic fervice, that thefe regiments fhould immediately put on the fame footing, and be governed by the fame ws, with the reft ; nor am I fingular in opinion : the o brigadiers, all the officers of every rank, and the greater part of the gentlemen of the country concur with me. Colonel Muhlenburg, of the eighth battalion of Vir- ginians, has been made very uneafy by fome letters he has lately received with refpect to the rank of his regi- ment. Thefe letters intimate, that it was never the in- tention of the Congrefs to coniider the feventh, eighth, and ninth, battalions of the Virginians on the continen- tal eftablifhment until they were entirely complete. That his regiment never was entirely complete ; and that confequently, after having fo long thought himfelf on the continental eftablifhment ; and on this prefumption having ( i«4 ) having marched five hundred miles from his own pro- vince, under the command of a continental general, he now, at leaft, finds himfelf only a provincial officer. I have ventured to aflure him and his officers, who are equally uneafy, that there muft be fome miftake in this affair ; in fa£t, the hardfhip would be fo great, that I cannot believe their apprehenfions are well founded. It was, if I remember right, notified in April, by the Com- mittee of Safety in Virginia, that they were then taken upon the continental eftablifhment ; and, though in this I may be miftaken, without the proviib of their being complete. It happened at this time, though not complete to a man, (for no regiment ever is complete to a man) that Muh- lenburg's regiment was not only the moft complete of the province, but, I believe, of the whole continent ; it was not only the moft complete in numbers, but the bed armed, cloathed and equipped in all refpecls for immedi- ate fervice ; I muft repeat, that I cannot conceive that it was ever the intention of Congrefs that the eftablifh- ment fhould be filled to a man ; but that they fhould be competent to fervice in or out of their province. In moft fervices when new levies are raifed, one half of the pro- pofed compliments entitles them to eftablifhment. Muh- lenburg's regiment wanted only forty at moft. It was , the ftrength and good condition of the regiment, that in- duced me to order it out of its own province, in prefer- ence to any other. I certainly confidered them at that time as continental troops, otherwife I could have no au- thority to order them out of the province. I muft now fubmit it to the consideration of the Congrefs, if it would not really be the greatell cruelty, that their ftrength and good condition fhould be turned againft them. It was their ftrength and good condition which carried them out of their province, where, had they remained and known that it was a neceffary condi- tion of their eftablifhment to be complete to a man, they certainly could have accomplifhed it in three days. I do, therefore, moft fincerely hope, and confidently perfuade myfelf ( «*5 ) irtyfelf, that Muhlenburg's regiment will at lead date their rank from the day I ordered them to march out of their province ; not only juftice, but policy requires it, for you will otherwife lofe a moil excellent regiment. I often represented to Congreis how dilhcuk or impof- fible it would be to engage, or retain after they were en- gaged, any engineers of tolerable qualification on the wretched pay eftablifhed. The two appointed to my diftrit~t have [as I expected] quitted the fervice ; it was indeed impoflible for them to exiit. Stabler, I hear, has entered into the fervice of Virginia. MafTenburgh is re- tained by this province, at lifty-four dollars per month, a fervant, rations, and his travelling cxpences. He for- merly begged his difmiflion from mc, aiTuring me (and, I believe, fincerely) he was zealous in the caufe of Ame- rica ; that he would willingly, if I chofe it, enlift as a common foldier ; but that to ride about the continent from north *.o fouth, find horfes, and appear like a gen- tleman was impoflible. I could not in confidence force him to ftarve, (o confented to his engaging in this fervice. I am now without a lingle engineer, and really know not how to carry on the buiinefs. I hope the Board will con- sider the neceflity of fupplying me. I fliall now, Sir, conclude, with alluring them, that I am, With the greatcd refpecl, their mod obedient humble fervant, CHARLES LEE. To Richard Peters, Efq. Secretary to the Board of War and Ordnance. StR. Savannah, in Georgia, 23d Auguft, 177^. YOUR letter, with the thanks of the Continental Con- grels, reached me at Puriiburg. The approbation of the freely chofe n delegates of a free and uncorrupt people, is certainly the higheft honour that can be conferred on mortal men. I Shall confider it, as a frefh ftimulus to A a excite ( 266 ) excite my zeal and ardour in the glorious caufe in which I am engaged. May the God of Righteoufnefs profper your arms in every part of the empire, in proportion to the juftice with winch they were taken up ! Once more let me exprefs the high fatisfadlion and happinefs I feel in this honourable teftimony ; and once more, let me af«- lure the United States of America, that they cannot meet with a fervant [whatever may be my abilities] animated with a greater degree of ardour and enthufiafm, for their fafety, profperity and glory. The prefent (late of this province, its ftrength and weaknefs, I fhall tranfmit to the Board of War, according to the directions I have received ; and let me entreat you to be perfuaded that I am, Sir, with the greateft refpedl, Your moft obedient and Very humble fervant, CHARLES LEE, His Excellency John Hancock, Gentlemen, Savannah, Auguft 14th, 1776. ANY irregularity of returns of the forces under my command, will not, I hope, be imputed to me ; die ex- ttnlive btifinefs of luperintending the fafety of lb vaft a territory, as that which the Congrefs have committed to my charge, renders it impoffible for me to attend to the detail of the regiments, or, in any reafonable time, to col- Jecfc and digeft the various returns ; but I have given or- ders to the brigadiers to be as accurate as poffible on this fubje£t in their refpective diftricts, and have no rea- ibn, from my knowledge of the men, to think they will be deficient. As a thorough knowledge of the prefent condition of this colony, of its ftrength and weaknefs, is certainly a matter of very ferious confideration, I fhall lay before the Board the belt and molt accurate infor- mation I am able. Georgia is a ftate of much greater importance to the empire of America than generally fuppofed, at leaft, than what I myfelf imagined before I vifited it. The variety of ( *6 7 ) of navigable rivers, commodious harbours, and fine in- lets ; the prodigious quantities of rice, and immenfe flocks of cattle, both on the iflands, and on the main ; but above all the gentlenefs and falubrity of the winter'' feafons, with the conveniency of its fituation for com- merce with the Welt-India iflands, would render it a molt valuable pofieflion to the enemy ; the Altamaha, a very noble river, already furnifhes a confiderable quan- tity, and may, in time, furnifh any quantity of lum- ber ; the garrifon of St. Auguftine, and, indeed, the whole province of Eaft Florida, draw their fubfidence from Georgia ; and, if all intercourfe with her were rut off, that nelt of robbers and pirates would probably fall to the ground, and of courie, the empire of the United States become more round and entire. Thcfe circum- fiances fummed up together, muft evince the importance of keeping Georgia or any part of it out of the hands of the enemy •, the means of doing it, demands the utmolt attention. I have turned my thoughts to the fubjedt, and fhallbeg leave to fubmit the refult to the confident- tion of the Congrefs. The prefent (late of the ftrength of this colony, confifl of Colonel ft'Mntofh's battalion, a return of which, is here enclofed, a company of indepen- dent artillery, confiding of three officers and twenty-three privates, with about twenty-five hundred militia of all forts*-, but in a very great part of thcfe (as I learn from the authority of their own captains) very little confi- ' dence can be placed, their principles being extremely contaminated by a muft pernicious banditti of enemies to the common liberty. M'Intofh's battalion is really a very fine one, (one of the bed, I think on the conti- nent) but as, perhaps, it might appear a harfh talk, to in fid on this battallion's acting with the neceffary rigour againd fome of their neared connections and relations, accufed of being concerned in treafonable practices ; it is my intention to remove them either into South or North-Carolina, where they can be more ferviceable, and have an opportunity of compleating themfelves, which in this date, from the dearth of men, is impoffible, and replace ( 268 ) replace them with an equal or greater number from South-Carolina. Such is the prefcnt condition of the ftrength of Geor- gia, very far from being adequate to its defence. My fcheme for its fecurity is, as row galUes, and armed boats are fo well calculated for what is called the inland navi- gation, give them an infinite advantage over veffels mere- ly failing, which in thefe (trait confined waters have no room for manoeuvring j they will fecure the rivers againft the predatory incurfions of the enemy, prevent the de- fertion of negroes, fweep the coaft clear of tenders ; but, above all, facilitate the means of the different ftates mutually affilting each other with troops, cannon, provi- fion, and other requifites, which is now effected with difficulties, flownefs, and monftrous expence. Three gal- lies are already on the Itocks in this port, and we have armed and equipped feveral boats with fwivels, and one gun on the bow of each. The lead of them capable of containing thirty men, and rowed with fourteen oars ; tailors, of whom we hnd ib great a fcarcity, are not ne- eeffary for this fpecies of veffels, the foldiers are compe- tent to the bufinefs > befidcs the equipment of thefe gal- lies and boats, I propoild eftabltfhing little forts, ov ie- doubts, in certain (ituations, on the river St.. Mary's, S.uilla, Sapello, and Ahamaha, which may enable us to make incurfions from time to time, when eircumllances require it, into Ealt-Florida, and render it dangerous for them to make attempts of a fimilar nature into Georgia. Thefe redoubts, or little ions, will likewife ferve as places of rendezvous, refreshment, and retreat for bodies of hoVfe rangsrs which ought continually to be patroling on the frontier. Such are the belt methods, after having confulted the moft intelligent people, which, in my opi- nion, can "be deviled for the defence and fecurity of this ib.te, unlefs, indeed, we could prevail on the province* to contract their frontier, by breaking up all their fettle-, ments on the other fide of the Altamaha, which, to me, I confefs, appears a wifer and more ceconomical men- lure j but this, I am afraid, is not to be accomplifhed. i mufl ( 26 9 ) . I muft now beg leave to lay before the board, a mat- ter of the higheft concern, and which certainly demands the mod ferious attention of Congrefs, as, unlefs reme- died, it may not only diftrefs the circumftances of the public, but bring a difgrace on the American character ; I mean the unconfcionable advantages which individu- als, merchants, mechanics, farmers, and planters are fuf- fered to take of the public neceffities. If boats, wag- gons, horfes, drugs, clothing, fkins, neceflaries, even lit- tle refrelhments, fuch as fruit or garden fluff', are w. lin- ing for the loldiers, no price being regulated, the extor- tion is monftrous : the expences of the war mult not only be prodigioully fwelled by this want of regulation, but the oiheers and foldiers are difgufted to the fertice by the toleration of fuch impolition ; for inftance, ill? Virginians and North-Carolinians are fo much out of temper with Charlefton, on this head, that mould it bo again attacked, and the ailiftance of thefe troops be again requifite, I am afraid we (hall rind a dangerous r nance in rhem to march, when ordered. I molt de- voutly wiih, therefore, that the Congrefs will make it an object to remedy this evil. Might they not recommend or enjoin to the legiilatures of the different ftates, to ap- point a committee of affeflbrs from their refpeclive bodies, to fix the prices of the different articles in their provin- ces? Whether this method is or is not proper, I cannot pretend to fay •> bat fomething, I muft repeat, ihould be done. The wafte, difficulty,and expence arifmg from a want of method in provifioning the troops, when aifembled in any particular fpot, upon an emergency, are fo great, that magazines ought to be eftablifhed in every province, more particularly in thofe, which have the greater! pro- bability of being attacked : by thefe means, the troops will not only be better fed, but be an irnmenfe fusing to the continent ; for the contractors, not being preflad for time, can, at their leifure, purchafe every fpecies cf neceflaries in thefe parts, where they are belt and cheap- cil ; but,Avhen a great and fudden demand is made, ei- A a g ther ( 2 7 o ) ther for cattle, corn, fpirits, 8c c. they are under a ne-, cefllty of taking that which is next at hand, and giving the fellers their own price. On this confideration, in concurrence with the prefident and council of South- Carolina, I have thought it expedient to eftablifli fome magazines in South-Carolina, of pork, beef, corn, &c. befides ftraw and whilky, which, in thefe low, damp countries, are abfolutely neceflary ; at all events, this eftablifhment can be no lofs to the continent, as the beef and pork, at lead, can always, with advantage, be ex- ported to the Weft-Indies. Were I at a lefs diftance from the Congrefs, I mould not take the liberty of lay- ing out a fingle dollar without having obtained their ap- probation •, but, at this diftance, I muft afiume fuch a power, or let the public affairs go to wreck, and of courfe, prove myfelf totally unworthy of the great truft the Con- grefs have repofed in me. I am, Gentlemen, With the greateft refpedl:, Your mod obedient, and Very humble fervant, CHARLES LEE. The Board of War and Ordnance. Stf, Savannah, Aug. 50th, 1776. IT will be necefTary in addvefling a letter of this na- ture, fo abruptly to your Excellency, that I fhould in- form you who the writer is. I have ferved as lieutenant- colonel in the Engiifh fervice, colonel in the Portuguefe, afterwards as aid de camp to his Polifh majefty, with the rank of major general. Having purchafed a fmall eftate in America, I had determined to retire, for the re- mainder of my days, to a peaceful afylum : when the ty- jrayny of the miniftry, and court of GreatBritain, forced this continent to arms, for the prefervation of their liber* ties, I was called, by the voice of the people, to the rank of fecond in command. I make no doubt of this letter's being ( vn ) being kindly received by your Excellency, both in the character of a good Frenchman, and friend, to humanity. The prefent conjuncture of affairs renders the intereft of France and of this continent one and the fame thing ; every obfervation drawn from hiftory muft evince, that it was the exclufive commerce of thefe colonies, which enabled Great Britain to cope with France, gave to her a decided fuperiority in marine, and, of courfe, enabled her in the frequent wars betwixt the two nations to re- duce her rival to the laft extremity. This was the cafe, fo peculiarly in the laft war, that had the Britifh mini- ftry perfevered, Heaven knows what would have been the fate of France. It follows, that if France can ob- tain the monopoly, or the greater part of this commerce, her opulence, ftrength, and profperity, muft grow to a prodigious height •, and nothing can be more certain, than that, if America is enabled to preferve the indepen- dence flic has now declared, the greater part of this com- merce, if not the monopoly, muff fall to the fhare of France. The imaginary plans of conqueft of Lewis the Four- teenth, had they been realized, would not have efta- blifhed the power of that monarchy, on lb folid and permanent a bafts, as the fimpleafliftancc, or rather friend- ly intereourfe with this continent, will inevitably give. Without injuftice or the colour of injuftice, but, on the contrary, only afluming the patronage of the rights of mankind, France has now in her power to become not only the greatelt, but the moft truly glorious monarchy which has appeared on the ftage of the world. In the ririt place, her poffeifions in the Iflands will be fecured againft all poffibility of attack ; the Royal Revenues immenfely increafed, her people eafed, of their prefent burdens, an eternal incitement be prefented to their in- duftry, and the means of increafe by the facility of pro- viding fuftenance for their families multiplied. In fhort, fliere is no faying what degree of eminence, happinefs, and glory, (lie may derive from the independence of this continent. Some vifionary writers have indeed afierted, that ( *P ) that could this country once fliake off her European trammels, it would foon become more formidable alone, from the virtue andjmergy, natural to a young people, than Great Britain with her colonies united in a ftate of dependency. But the men who have built fuch hypo- thefes muft be utter ftrangers to the manners, genius, difpofition, turn of mind, and circumftances of the con- tinent. Their difpofition is manifeftly to agriculture, andthefimple life of fhepherds. As long as vaft tracts of land remain unoccupied, to which they can fend colo- nies (if I may fo exprefs it) of their offspring, they will never entertain a thought of marine or manufactures. Their ideas are fclely confined to labour and to planting, for thofe nations, who can, on the cheapeft terms, fur- rrifh them with the neceffary untenfils for labouring and planting, and cloaths for their families ; and till the whole vaft extent of continent is f ally flocked with peo- ple,, they will never entertain another idea. This can- not be effected for ages ; and what then may happen, it it out of the line of politicians to lay any ftrefs upon : molt probably, they will be employed in wars amongft themfelves, before they aim at foreign conquefts. In ihort, the apprehenfion is too remote to roufe the jea- loufy.of any reafonabie citizen of a foreign State. On the other hand it is worthy your Excellency's, attention, to con fid er what will be the confequences, mould Great Britain fucceed in the prefent con reft. America, it is true, will be wretched and enflaved ; but a number of flaves may compofe a formidable army and fleet. The proximity of fttuation, with fo great a force, entirely at the difpofal of Great Britain, will put it in her power to take poffeffion of your illands on the firft rupture. "With- out pretending to the fpirit of prophecy, fuch, I can af- fert, will be the event of the next war ; upon the whole, I muft repeat, that it is for the intereft, as well as gl of France, to furnifh us with every means of fupporti our liberties, to effe£t which, we only demand a conft fyftematic fupply of the neceffaries of war. We do not require any aid of men, we have numbers, and, I be- lieve, i& ( 273 ) licve, courage fn fTiclent to carry us triumphantly through the ftruggle, We require fmall arms, powder, iicidpieces, wollcn and linen to cloath our troops ; alio drugs, parti- cularly bark : in return for which, every neceilary pro- vifion for your iflands may be expected, as rice, corn, lumber, &c. If, indeed, you could fpare us a few able engineers, and artillery officers, they may depend upon an honourable reception and comfortable 'eftablifhment. The Sieur de la Plain, one of your countrymen, now engaged in the caufe of the United States of America, will have the honour of delivering this letter to your ex- cellency. I have no doubt of his being received with that politenefs, and kindr.efs, to be expected from a gen- tleman of your r ink and character. I am, with the higheft refpecl, Your Excellency's Mod obedient fervant, CHARLES LEE. His Excellency the Governor at Cape Francois. CHARACTER of GENERAL HOWE. Gtunp, at Valley-Forjrc, JiMe 4th, 1--?, Mv PEAR Rush, THOUGH 1 had no occafion for frefh alTuranccs of your friendfllip, I cannot help being much pleafed with the warmth which your letter, delivered to me by Mr. Hall, breathes ; and, I hope, it is unneceilary to aimre you, that my ientiments, with relpeot to you are corrci- ■J!'lt. You will tJiink it odd, that I fliould feem to be an apologiil for General Howe : I know not how it hap- , but when I have taken prejudices in favour, or againft a man, I find it a difficulty in fhaking them oft". From my lirll acquaintance with Mr. Howe, I liked him : 1 thought him friendly, candid, good natured, bra\ e, ( m ) brave, and rather fenfible than the reverfe. I believe ftill, that hejs naturally fo ; but a corrupt, or more pro- perly, no education, the fafhion of the times, and the reigning idolatry among the Knglifli, (particularly the foldiery) for every fceptered calf, ioolf y hog, or afs, have fo totally preverted his under Handing and heart, that private friendfhip has not force fufficient to keep a door open for the admittance of mercy towards political here- tics. He was befides, perfuaded that I was doubly cri- minal, both as a traitor and deferter. In fhort, fo totally was he inebriated with this idea, that I am covinced he would have thought himfelf both political and morally damned had he adted any other part than what he did. He is, befides, the molt indolent of mortals : never took farther pains to examine the merits or demerits of the caufe in which he was engaged, than merely to recollect, that Great Britain was faid to be the mother country, George the Third King of Great Britain, that the parli- ament was called the reprefentatives of Great Britain, that the King and parliament formed the fupreme pow- er, that a fupreme power is abfolute and uncontrolable, that all refiftance muft,confequently, be rebellion; but, above all, that he was a foldier, and bound to obey in all cafes whatever. Thefe are his notions, and this his logic ; but through thefe abfurdities I could diftinguifh, when he was left to himfelf, rays of friendfhip and good nature breaking out. It is true, he was feldom left to himfelf ; for never poor mortal, thruft into high ftation, was furrounded by fuch fools and fcoundrels. M'Kenfey, Balfour, Galloway, were his counfellors I they urged him to all his ac"t.s of harfhnefs ; they were his fcribes : all the damned fluff which was iffued to the aftonifhed world was theirs. I believe he fcarcely ever read the letters he figned. You willfcarcely believe it, but I can affure you as a fact, that he never read the curious proclamation, iffued at the head of Elk, till three days after it was publifhed. You will fay, that I am drawing my friend Howe in more ridiculous colours than he has yet been reprefented ( 275 ) In ; but this is his real character. He is naturally good humoured, complifant, but illeterate and indolent to the Jail degree, unlefs as an executive foldier, in which capa- city he is all fire and activity, brave and cool as Julius Cctfar. His underftanding is, as I obferved before, ra- ther good than otherwife ; but was totally confounded and ftupified by the immenfity of the talk impofed upon him, He fhut his eyes, fought his battles, drank his bot- tle, had his little whore, advifed with his counfellors, received his orders from North and Germain, (one more abfurd than the other) took Galloway's opinion, fhut his eyes, fought again, and is now, I fuppofe to be called to account for acting according to inftructions ; but, I believe, his eyes are now opened j he fees he has been an instrument of wickednefs and folly : indeed, when I obferved it to him, he not only took patiently the obferv- vation, but indirectly aflented to the truth of it. He made, at the fame time, as far as his mauvais honte would permit, an apology for his treatment of me. Thus far with regard to Mr. Howe. You are ftruck with the great events, changes, and new characters which have appeared on the ftage fince I faw you laft ; but I am more ftruck with the admirable efficacy of blunders. It feemed to be a trial of fkill which party fjiould out do the other ; and it is hard to fay which played the deepeft ftrokes j but it was a capital one of ours, which certainly gave the happy turn which affairs have taken. Upon my foul, it was time for Fortune to interpofe, or we were inevitably loft ; but this we will talk over another time. I fuppofe we fhall (cc one another at Philadelphia, very foon, in attendance. God blefsyou ! Your afteclionatelv, CHARLES LEE. Philadelphia, Qft. 30th, 1778 WHEN it is considered I hold a high rank in the fervice of one of the molt refpectable princes of Europe; that I have been honoured with the truft of the fecoiul command I 276 ) command in your army •, that I have hitherto ferved, with fome reputation, as a foldier ; that I now ftand char- ged, and have been actually tried for fome of the mod heinous military crimes ; and, to the aftonifhment, not only of myfelf, but, I can venture to lay, of every man in the army who was prefent at this court, and of every man out of the army who has read the proceedings, found guilty of thefe crimes ; when, at the fame time, I am myfelf inflexibly perfuaded, that I am not only guiltlefs, but that the fuccefs of the 28th of June ought principally, in juftice, to be afcribed to me •, I fay, Sir, when thefe circumftances are confidered, it mud be al- lowed that my prefent fituation is extremely aukward ; that a man of my military rank, lingering in fufpenfe, whilft his fame and fortune are Jab jtulice, is rather a difgraceful fpectacle ; that it is natural for him to wifh, and reafonable for him to requeft, that Congrefs will no longer delay the final decifion of my fate. An additi- onal motive for my requefting it is, that I find Congrefs is every day growing thinner ; and, I confefs, that I could moft ardently wifh, that the Congrefs was not on- ly as complete as poffible in numbers, but that, if it was agreeable to the rules of the Houfe, that the people at large might be admitted to form an audience when the difcufhon is entered into, of the juftice or iniquity, wif- dom or abfurdity, of the fentence which has been parted upon me. I do now, Sir, therefore, molt humbly, but earneftly, entreat, that a day may be immediately fixed for the final determination of this affair. I am, Sir with the greateft refpeft. Your moftobedient humble fervant, CHARLES LEE. His Excellency Henry Laurens, Pref. Madam, Philadelphia, Dec. 20th. 177S. WHEN an officer of the refpecfcxble rank I bear is grofsly traduced and calumniated, it is incumbent on him to clear up the affair to the world, with as little delay as poflible. C in 1 pofiibje. The fpirit of defamation and calumny (I am ibrry to fay it ) is grown to a prodigious and intolerable height on this continent. If you had accuicd me of a tleiigii $o procraftinate the war, or of holding a treafona- ble correfpondence with the enemy, I could have borne it : this I am ufed to ; and this happened to the great Fabius Maximus. If you had accufed me of getting drunk as often as I could get liquor, as two Alexanders, the Great have been charged with this vice, I fhould, perhaps, have fat patient under the imputation •, or, even if you had given the plaineft hints, that I had ftolen die foldiers fhirts, this I could have put up with, as the great Duke of Marlborough would have been an example ; or if you had contented ycurfelf with nfferting, that 1 was fo abominable a floven as never to part with my fhirt, until my lliirt parted with me, the anecdotes of my illuf- trious namefake of Sweden * would 1 ive adminifi fome comfort to me. But the calumny you have, in the fertility of your malicious wit, chofen to invent, is of fo new, fo unprecedented, and fo helliih a kind, as would make Job himfelf fwear like a Virginia Colonel. Is it pollible that the celebrated Mils F s,t a lady who has had every human and divine advantage, who has read [or, at leaft, might have read] in the original.;, the new and old teftaments ; [thovrh I am afraid ttie too feldom looks even into the tranflations :] I lay, is it pollible that Mifs F s, with every human and di- vine advantage, who might, and ought to have read the** two good books, which [an old WcJfh nunc, whole wide was reckoned the belt preacher in Merioneihfhire. allured lit it ry her malignity fo far in the preferice of three molt re- fpeetable perfonages ; (one of the oldelt religion in the world, one of the newell ; for he is a new-light man ; and Bb * Ct-arles XII. J Thi' joung lady was a jewels, ( 2 7 8 ) and tHe other, moll probably, of no religion at all, as lie isanEnglifh failor ;) but I demand it again and again, is it poflible, that Mifs F s fhould affert it in the prefence of thefe refpeclabic perfcnages, "That I wore green breeches patched with leather f" To convict you, therefore, of the falfehood of this moil diabolical llan- der ; to put you to eternal filence (if you are not pall all grace) and to cover you with a much larger patch of in- famy than you have wantonly endeavoured to fix on my breeches, I have thought proper, by the advice of three very grave friends (lawyers and members of Congrefs, of courfe excellent judges in dtikate points of honour) to fend you the faid breeches, and, with the confeicufnefs of truth on my fide, to fubmit them to the moll fevere in- ipection and icrutiny of you and all thofe who may have ejitered into this wicked cabal againlt my honour and re- putation. I fay, I dare you and your whole junto, to your v.orft : turn them, examine them, infide and outfide, and if vou find them to be green breeches patched with lea- ther,and not actually legitimate Jlerry vallies* fuch as his Majefty of Poland wears, (who, let «*e tell you, is a man that has made more fainions than all your knights of the Mefchianza % put together, notwithstanding their beau- tics :) I repeat it, [though I am almoft out of breath with repetitions and parenthefes] that if thefe are proved to be patched green breeches, and not real legitimate fher- ry vallies, [which a man of the firft bon ton might be proud cf] I will fubmit in filence to all the fcurrility which I have no doubt, you and your abettors are pre- pared to pour out againft me, in the public papers, on this important and interefting occafion. But, Madam ! Madam ! reputation [as « Common Senfc," very fenfi- bly, though not very uncommonly obferves,] is a ferious thing. You have already injured me in the tendered part, * A kind of long breeches reaching to the ancle, with a broad ftripe of leather on the infide of the thigh, for the conveniency of riding. } An entertainment given by General Howe juft before the evacua- tion of Philadelphia, at which were introduced Tilts and Tournaments in favour of the ladies, of whom Mils F s was one. ( 279 ) part, and I demand fatisfatlion ; and as you cannot be ignorant of the laws of duelling, having converted with fo many Irilh officers, whole favourite topic it is, particu- larly in the company of ladies, I infift on the privilege of the injured partv, which is, to name his hour and wea- pons ; and as I intend it to be a very ferious aiTair, will not admit of anv feconds ; and you may depend upon it, Mifs F s, that, whatever may be your fpirit on the becafion, the world ihali never accufe General L - - with having turned his back upon \ou. In the mean time, I am Yours, C. L - - , Mils F ■ s, Phi.adelphia. P. S. I have communicated the affair only to my con- fidential friend -, who has mentioned it to no more than fevcii members of Congrefs and nineteen wo- men, fix oi whom are old maids ; fo that there is no dan- g^ 1 of its taking wind on my fide ; and I hope, you will be equally guarded on your part. Madam, Philadelphia, Jr.n. 29th, 1779, NOTHING has happened to me of late, that has given me more. concern than the ferious light in which I am told you are perfuaded to confider the hurmlefs jo- cular letter I wrote to you ; I fay, perfuaded to confider ; for on the firft receipt of it, when you were directed alone by your own excellent understanding, you conceived it as it was meant, an innocentyVw d'ej I uo not mean to compliment, when I affure vou, up- on my honour, that it was the gcod opinion I had of your underftanding which encouraged me to indulge my- felf in this piece of raillery, which is in effect, not in the lealt directed againft you, but againft myfclf and fome others ; ( 28o ) others; if it contains any fatire, you arc obviouflv the vehicle, not the obje£t. My acquaintance with you is too (lender to take any liberties which border on familiarity ; and I had been taught to believe, that the liberality of your mind and difpofition, would be pleafed with any effort to make you laugh for a moment in thefe melancholly times. Upon the word of an iioneft man, if I had thought a fingle fen- tence of this trafh could have given you uncafinel's, I would fooner have put my hand into the fire than have written it. Thank God, I have not that petulant itch of fcribbling : and vain ambition of palling for a wit, as to Give virtue fcandal, innocence a fear, Or from the foft-ey'd virgin fteal a tear. And tofpeak my real thoughts, I am thoroughly perfwad- cd, that you mull fuffer yourfelf to be biaffed by people infinitelv your inferiors in capacity *, and if you really are offended by what nobody, who is not below medio- crity in underltanding, can miftake for any thing but an harmlefs joke, founded on the good opinion of the per- fon to whom it is addreffed, I confefs I have been much deceived in you. - I mult, therefore, think, that by cort- fulting yourfelf alone, you will confider it in its proper light, and believe me to be, with the greateft refpect, Madam, Your moft obedient, And very humble fervant, C L To Mifs F s, Philadelphia. My dear Sister, FratoRio. Sept. 24111,1779. I HAVE juft received your letter of January the 3d : I know not whether you have received them, but in the courfe of this and the lait year, I wrote you two letters, informing you fully of my health and ipirits : the two points which, from your natural tendcrnefs and affection, I know •( 281 ) I know you muft be molt felicitous about ; they I both, thank Heaven, and the good constitution we receiv- ed from our father and mother, never failed me a (ingle day ; and until I am confeious of having committed fomc •unworthy action, which, I can aflure you, is not at prre- icnt the cafe, the iniquity of men fliall never bear me down. I have, it is true, uneafy feelings, but not on my own peribnal account. I feel for the empire of Great Britain, I feel for the fortunes of my relations and friends, which mult receive a dreadful ihock in this great eonvul- fion. As to my perfonal honour, for I fuppofe you al- lude to the affair of Monmouth, all I fliall fay is, that as I believe the proceedings of the court have been fent ta England, and as you have eyes to read, and capacity to judge and make proper comments, I may be quite eafy on the fubject. What has not our quondam friend Gage to anfwer for? I laboured, at Bofton, by a letter, to open his eyes, and he treated my efforts as the effects of republican infanity. Had he liftened to me, the empire of Great Britain would have itood j the affection and allegiance of this great peo- ple continued for ages. He is, in fact, anfv/erablc, for the fubverfion of the Britiih empire, and for the blood of, at lealt, one hundred thoufand Englifhrnen, or the immediate descendants of Englifhrnen. I fancy too, by this time, Lord Piercy and General Burgoyne lament that they confidered my letters as the ebullition of mad- nefs or faction. But as my letter muft be opened before it reaches you, any thing like politics mull be improper. God blef& you my dear filter. My love to the Town-' (liends, Hunts, Buuburys, Mrs. Hinks, and the Barrets. Your's, molt affectionately, CHARLES LEE. Mrs. Sidney Lee, Chefter. Cc My C 282 ) m**t dear Sister, Virginia, June vd, P7S2. I HE other day, by a kind acl of Providence, a letter of yours fell into my hands, of folate date as the 20th of March, and what is more, it had the appearance of ne- ver having been opened. You will better conceive, than I can exprefs, the pleafure which I received from it ; for I allure you, that my American enthufiafm is at pre- fent fo far worn off, that the greateft fatisfa£Hon I can receive, is to be informed of the health and welfare of my Englifh friends, who, with all their political fins, cor- ruptions and follies, ftill poflefs more virtues, at leait, as individuals, than all the nations of the earth. As to the Americans, though I once thought otherwife, when their (characters are impartially and minutely difcufled, I am fure they will appear not only deftitute of the perfonal virtues and good qualities, which render thofe they de- fended from fo eftimabie in the eyes of other nations, fuch as truth, honefly, fnicerity, and good understanding; but lam muchmiftaken, if the great public qualities which you at a diftance fuppofe them to be endowed with, will it and a fcrutiny •, but a fcrutiny of this kind, in a letter, is not poflible : all that I fhall lay is, that the New Eng- landmen excepted, the reft of the Americans, though they fancy and call themfelves republicans, have not a {ingle republicnn qualification or idea. They have al- ways a god of the day, whole infallibility is not to be dis- puted: to him all the people mult bow down and fing ilofannas. . You are curious, my dear filter, on the Subject of my finances, and are deiirous to know whether thefe peo- ple, to whom 1 have facriiiced every thing, have fhewn the fame black ingratitude with reipect to my circum- Iteuaoes as they have in other matters •, I can aflure you, then, that their actions are all of a peice. Was it not fas the friendship of Mr Robert Morris and a fortunate purchafe I made, more by luck than cunning, I might have begged in the ftreets, but without much chance of being relieved ; not but that, to be juSt, there are many exceptions to the general character of the Americans,. both < 28 3 ) both in and out of the army, and I think the greater number are of the latter clafs, men of fome honour, and who, I believe, have, from the beginning, acled on prin- ciple j and all thefe I may, without vanity, fay, have been my friends and advocates. Among the worthies of America 1 reckon Mr. Robert Morris of Philadelphia ; Richard Henry Lee of Virginia ; Adams and Lovel, and fome others, of New-England ; the Morris's of New- York j and Dr. Rufh of Philadelphia. In the army there are many worthy to be mentioned, Generals Schuyler, Mifflin, Sullivan, Muhlenburgh, Wayne, "Wcedon, Green, Knox, &c. I have been particularly fortunate in my aid de camps — all young gentlemen of the belt families, fortunes, and education of this continent j but above all, I mould mention young Colonel Harry Lee, who has fignalized himfclf extremely in this accurfed conteft, the ruinous confequences of which to the whole empire, I predicted to Lord Piercy and to my friend General Burgoyne. To do the Americans juftice, they certainly were not the aggrefTors, but the retrofpec~t now is of no ufe. In all civil contefts the people, in general, have not been the aggrefTors ; they only wifh to defend, not to encroach. The monarchs or magnates generally commence by their oppvefiions. Witnels the dilputes betwixt the patricians and the plebeiansof Rome, and our wars in the time of Charles t ;