under the command of Major General Clinton, Lord Cornwallis, and a fleet consisting of two line of battle ships, frigates, and other armed vessels, amounting to forty or fifty, have lately made a furious attack on the town of Charleston, South Carolina. Major General Lee, who commands our army in that quarter, has written to Congress a particular statement of the engagement, which, he says, continued for twelve hours without intermission. The enemy was twice repulsed with great loss; and the Carolina troops and militia have gained the highest honor by their brave and intrepid conduct. Colonel Moultrie, in a particular manner, is deserving of the highest praise. But the British fleet has suffered a loss almost beyond example. Their ships shattered almost to total ruin, and one frigate of twenty-eight guns was blown up by her own crew. A number of officers were killed and wounded, and the number of men is said to be one hundred and seventy-nine killed, and two hundred and sixty wounded. Not one man, who was quartered at the beginning of the action on the Bristol's quarter deck, escaped being killed or wounded. Lord Campbell, the late governor of that colony, being a volunteer on board, received a mortal wound; and the Commodore, Sir Peter Parker, had a material part of his breeches torn away, and was otherwise wounded. The whole of the British forces displayed the greatest courage and bravery. In a southern newspaper are inserted the following lines on Sir Peter's disaster.

"If honor in the breech is lodg'd,

As Hudibras hath shown,
It may from hence be fairly judg'd
Sir Peter's honor 's gone."

The English Parliament, doubting the competency of their own powers to subjugate the United Colonies, have resorted to the assistance of foreign troops to prosecute their sanguinary purposes. They have actually entered into treaty with several German Princes to furnish seventeen thousand men, to aid in the great work of reducing the Americans to the same degraded state of vassalage with these hirelings themselves. The terms stipulated in the treaties are, that besides the wages to be paid these foreigners, Parliament engages to pay for every soldier who shall not return, thirty pounds sterling; and for every disabled soldier fifteen pounds sterling! These mercenary troops, it is said in England, are to assist in forcing the rebels to ask mercy." It has

been asserted in the House of Lords, that the expense to
England for these foreign troops cannot be less than one
million five hundred thousand pounds for one year! There
is now the clearest evidence, that the British ministry are
wofully disappointed in their expectations respecting the
spirit and temper of the American people. They had en-
tertained no idea that the colonists would proceed to such
daring enormity as to spurn their mighty power and author-
ity. They appear now determined by their augmented
forces to crush at a blow all opposition to their mandates,
and to coerce the rebels into a sense of duty to their king.
It is estimated that a force exceeding forty thousand men, is
to be employed in America the present year.
His majesty
has appointed the two brothers, Lord Howe and General
Howe, commissioners for restoring peace to the colonies,
and for granting pardon to such of his Majesty's subjects,
now in rebellion, as shall deserve the royal clemency. Be-
sides the two commissioners, they are about to send on the
same service a combination of Hessians, Brunswickers,
Waldeckers, English, Scotch and Irish. The Scots may
perhaps come prepared with the following advice,

"O learn from our example and our fate,
Learn wisdom and repentance ere too late."

The following transaction is now a subject of newspaper discussion and of general conversation. Admiral Lord Howe arrived off the city of New York, not long since, to take the command of the British fleet; on his arrival he proclaimed to the public that he and his brother, General Howe, were appointed his Majesty's commissioners, with full powers to grant pardons to all, or to any town, county, or district, who may have departed from their allegiance and duty to his Majesty, &c. and who are willing by a speedy return to reap the benefit of the royal favor. These royal commissioners despatched Colonel Patterson, Adjutant General of the British Army, to General Washington, at New York, with letters respecting their mission; but as the letters were not directed in a manner expressive of his official station, his Excellency refused to receive them; but treated Colonel Patterson with much politeness, and dismissed him. The conduct of General Washington in this interview received the approbation of Congress, and they resolved, "that he had acted with a dignity becoming his character." They further resolved, "that no letters or messages be received

on any occasion whatever from the enemy, by the Commander in Chief or others, the commanders of the American army, but such as shall be directed to them in the characters they respectively sustain." It was not many days after this that Colonel Patterson again waited on General Washington, and on this occasion he addressed him by the title of Excellency; and in the name of the Commissioners apologized for any deficiency in point of respect or punctilio, and assured him that they had the highest personal respect for General Washington, and did not mean to derogate from his rank; that the letter, of which he was now the bearer from the Commissioners, was directed to George Washington, Esq. &c. &c. &c. which they hoped would remove all difficul ties; as the three et ceteras might be understood to imply every thing that ought to follow. To this the General replied, that though it was true the three et ceteras might mean every thing, it was also true they might mean any thing, and as Congress had approved of his conduct in the first interview, he could not enter into any new treaty without fresh authority, and declined receiving the letter; adding that he should absolutely decline any letter directed to him as a private person, when it related to his public station. Colonel Patterson said, Lord and General Howe were invested with exceedingly great powers, and were very desirous of being the medium of an accommodation of difficulties. The general replied, he had read the act of Parliament, and found they were merely empowered to grant pardons; the Americans had committed no wrong, and therefore wanted no pardons; we were only defending what we deemed our indisputable rights. Colonel Patterson seemed confused, and replied that this would open a wide field for argument. The Adjutant General conducted with the greatest attention and politeness; and manifested great solicitude that the letter might be received, and that the interview might be productive of favorable results. He expressed strong acknowledgments for the favor done him, in omitting the usual ceremony of blinding his eyes, when passing our works. General Washington invited him to partake of a collation provided for him, and he was introduced to our General Officers. After many compliments and polite expressions, he departed with saying, "Has your Excellency no commands to my Lord or General Howe?" "None, Sir," replied the General, "but my particular compliments to both of them."

This event furnishes an irrefragable testimony of the manly firmness of mind and dignity of conduct of our Commander in Chief; and is calculated to impress the English commanders with a just sense of his exalted merit and character.

August 1st.The continental army, under the immediate command of General Washington, is stationed at New York; and it is expected that the British army, under command of General Howe, will endeavor to take possession of that city the present season.

5th.-Colonel Whitcomb's regiment, consisting of five hundred men, has now gone through the smallpox in this town by inoculation, and all, except one negro, have recovered.

7th. This regiment, with Colonel Sargeant's, are preparing to march to Ticonderoga. A number of teams are procured to transport the baggage and stores, and this morning, at seven o'clock, they marched out of town with colors displayed and drums beating. Being myself indisposed, I am permitted to tarry in town till my health is restored, and in the mean time I am directed to take charge of the sick soldiers, that remain here.

20th.-Having recovered my health, and being prepared to follow our regiment, I am this day to bid adieu to the town of Boston, where I have resided very pleasantly for the last five months. I am destined to a distant part of our country, and know not what sufferings and hazards I shall be called to encounter, while in the discharge of my military duty. I shall commence my journey in company with Lieutenant Whiting and fourteen men, who were left here as invalids.

Ticonderoga, September.-We took our route through Worcester, Springfield, Charlestown, in New Hampshire, and over the Green Mountains to Skeensbury, which is the place of rendezvous for the continental troops and militia destined to Ticonderoga. Here boats are provided at the entrance of Lake Champlain, which are continually passing to and from this place. We embarked on the 6th instant, and with good oarsmen and sails we arrived the same day, and joined our regiment here, a distance of thirty miles. While on our march, we received alarming reports respecting some military operations between our army, commanded by General Washington, and the British, under command of General Howe, on Long Island, near New York. The

report states that our army has suffered a complete defeat, with great loss, and that two of our general officers are taken prisoners. The inhabitants through the country are in great alarm; but have not obtained the particulars; as the account at present is vague, and somewhat contradictory, we hope and trust that a particular detail will prove the event to be more favorable to our cause.

Soon after my arrival here, a soldier had the imprudence to seize a rattlesnake by its tail; the reptile threw its head back and struck its fangs into the man's hand. In a few moments a swelling commenced, attended with severe pain. It was not more than half an hour, when his whole arm to his shoulder was swollen to twice its natural size, and the skin became of a deep orange color. His body, on one side, soon became affected in a similar manner, and a nausea at his stomach ensued. The poor man was greatly and justly alarmed; his situation was very critical. Two medical men, beside myself, were in close attendance for several hours. Having procured a quantity of olive oil, we directed the patient to swallow it in large and repeated doses, till he had taken one quart; and at the same time we rubbed into the affected limb a very large quantity of mercurial ointment. In about two hours we had the satisfaction to perceive the favorable effects of the remedies. The alarming symptoms abated, the swelling and pain gradually subsided, and in about forty-eight hours he was happily restored to health.

10th. I have omitted to record the following incidents till I could ascertain the particulars of the reports.

We learn by accounts from New York, that some time since, a plot of a most atrocious nature was detected in that city. A gang of tories had associated for the purpose of joining the British army; and had concerted a plan, it is said, to assassinate his Excellency General Washington, and some other officers; and while our army were engaged with the enemy, to blow up our magazines, &c. The mayor of the city, and an armorer who was employed in making rifles for the tories, and several others, were taken into custody, and committed to close prison. The mayor, on examination, confessed that he received money from Governer Tryon, to pay the armorer for the rifles.* Two of his Excellency's

*"Governor Tryon had suborned the then mayor of New York to assist the royal forces on their arrival in that city, and General Washington was to be assas