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his Moft Chriftian Majefty their ally, or to confider propofitions fo derogatory to the honor of an independent nation. The commiffion, under which they act, fuppofes the people of America to be ftill fubjects of the Crown of Great Britain, which is an idea utterly inadmiffible." The President added, "that he is directed to inform their Excellencies of the inclination of Congrefs to peace, notwithflanding the unjuft claims from which this war originated, and the favage manner in which it had been conducted. They will therefore be ready to enter upon the confideration of a treaty of peace and commerce, not inconfiftent with treaties already fubfifting, when the King of Great Britain fhall demonstrate a fincere difpofition for that purpofe; and the only folid proof of this difpofition will be an explicit acknowledgment of the Independence of the United States, or the withdrawing his fleets and armies."

The Commiffioners, finding the door of negotiation fhut againft them, published very unwarrantable appeals to the people at large, calculated to excite difcord among the feveral Colonies, or feditious tumults against the established Governments. Thefe producing no manner of effect, they promulgated a moft fignal valedictory manifefio, containing a dark and myfterious menace, warning the people of America of the total and material change which was to take place in the fu

ture conduct of the war, fhould they ftill perfevere in their OBSTINACY.

The Congrefs, who had taken little notice of their former addreffes, were now provoked to publish a counter manifefto, in which they fay, "If our enemies prefume to execute their threats, we will take fuch EXEMPLARY VENGEANCE as fhall deter others from a like conduct." The Commiffioners now returned to England, after having executed their conciliatory commiffion, in a mode which left America in a far worfe ftate of irritation and inflammability than they found it *. The Earl of Carlisle had brought with him an order, little calculated to add weight to his miffion, for

* Governor Johnstone had very early fallen into extreme difgrace by an indirect attempt to bribe some of the leading Members of the Congrefs; which Affembly thereupon paffed a formal refolution, that they would have no farther intercourse with him in his public capacity, and his name was accordingly omitted in the papers fubfequently addreffed by the Commiffioners to the Congrefs. This ridiculous and ineffectual overture was made through the medium of a Mrs. Ferguson, who was suspected not to have been endowed with all that SECRECY requifite to the difcharge of fo delicate an office. Governor Johnftone, who, on his first arrival in America, had complimented the Congress in high-flown and extravagant terms, on this mortifying exposure changed his language to the loweft abufe. The fact, however, was clearly afcertained; and the Governor, in his ludicrous diftrefs, might be allowed feelingly enough to exclaim, in the words of SHAKESPEAR,

"Let not the heavens hear thefe tell-tale women!"

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the immediate evacuation of the city of Philadelphia, and the retreat of the army to New York. This was a measure, however mortifying, which was rendered very neceffary by the departure of a ftrong fquadron from the port of Toulon in the month of April, which was fuppofed deftined for the Delawar, and which the naval force under Lord Howe was in no condition to oppose.

On the 18th of June the whole British army paffed the Delawar. Some weeks previous to this event, General Howe had refigned the command to Sir Henry Clinton. Though uniformly in a certain degree fuccefsful in his enterprises, this officer acquired little acceffion of military reputation in America. Brave as a foldier, but, in the capacity of General, flow, cautious, and indecifive, he deviated into an extreme the opposite of General Burgoyne, who was cenfured as rafh, prefumptuous, and romantic. The march of the British army through the Jerseys was not unattended with difficulty. Encumbered with an enormous train of baggage, extending the length of twelve miles, the whole country hoftile, the bridges broken down before, and a vigilant enemy preffing close behind, the utmost prudence and circumfpection of the new General were neceffàry to make a vigorous and effectual defence against thofe attacks to which a retreating army is fo peculiarly expofed. Inftead of proceeding in a direct route to Brunswick, the

General

General determined, by bending his march to the right, and approaching the fea-coaft, at once to difappoint the expectation of the enemy, and to avoid the difficulty attending the paffage of the Rariton.

On the evening of the 27th of June the royal army encamped in the vicinity of Monmouth Court-Houfe, and early the next morning they recommenced their march. Scarcely were they in motion when the enemy were discovered moving in force at fome distance on both flanks. The firft divifion under General Knyphaufen proceeding with the escort of carriages to the heights of Middletown, the English commander immediately formed his troops, with a view to bring on a general engagement. General Lee, who had been fome time fince exchanged, advanced with the van of the American army to the attack, in conformity to the directions of General Washington; but feveral of the brigades under his command being thrown into confufion by an impetuous affault of the British cavalry, he ordered a retreat, with a view to form anew in an advantageous pofition behind a ravine and morafs. In the interim General Washington arrived at the head of the main army, and expreffed in ftrong terms his aftonishment and indignation at the retrograde motion of the van. General Lee replied with equal warmth; but in the refult the troops of the van were ordered to form

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in front of the morafs, where an obftinate engages ment enfued, till the Americans being again worsted and broken, General Lee was again under the neceffity of ordering a retreat, which he conducted with great skill and courage, himself being one of the laft who remained on the field. The British light infantry and rangers, in the mean time, who had filed off to the left, and attempted an affault on the American main body, where General Washington commanded in perfon, met with such a reception as compelled them after repeated efforts to defift from the attack; and the day being intenfely hot, the action, in which the two armies appear to have fuftained nearly equal lofs, ceafed, from mere wearinefs and fatigue. At midnight Sir Henry renewed his march in profound filence, and on the 30th of June arrived in fafety at Sandy Hook, from whence he paffed over to New York without farther moleftation.

The high spirit of General Lee could not, however, brook the language which General Washington had haftily used, and he wrote him in confequence a paffionate letter, which occafioned his being put under immediate arreft; and a courtmartial being held upon him for disobedience of orders, misbehaviour in action, and disrespect to his commander, he was found guilty upon every charge, and suspended from all his military commands for twelve months. It was suspected that

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