our own merchants, who were thus reduced to seek that protection under the colours of other nations, which the British flag used to afford to all the world."

Another ineffectual attempt to negociate a peace was made in June, 1778. The reciprocal communications, on this occasion, will speak for themselves.

sinking. The crew became alarmed, and the gunner, the carpenter, and the master-atarms were deputed to go on deck, and beg quarters of the enemy. They ascended the quarter-deck, and whilst in the act of fulfilling their mission, were discovered by the Commodore, crying for quarters. Hearing the voice of Jones, calling, "what rascals are these-shoot them-kill them," the carpenter and master-at-arms succeeded in getting below. The Commodore threw both his pistols at the gunner, who had descended to the foot of the gang-way ladder, and his skull was thereby fractured. The man lay there until the action was over, after which his skull was trepanned, and he recovered.

While the action continued to rage with relentless fury, both ships took fire, in consequence of which the crews were obliged to cease from firing, and exert themselves in extinguishing the flames, in which their respective vessels were enveloped, and thus prevent the certain destruction of all the combatants. The fire being extinguished, the Captain of the hostile ships asked, if Jones had struck, as he heard a cry for quarters. Jones replied, that his colours would never descend, till he was fairly beaten. The action re-commenced with renewed vigor. Shortly after, the Alliance, Captain Landais, came up within pistol shot, and began a heavy firing, injuring both friend and foe; nor did the firing cease from her. notwithstanding repeated hailing, until the signal of recognition was fully displayed on board the Bonne Homme Richard. Nearly one hundred of the prisoners, previously captured, had been suffered to ascend the deck by Jones' master-at-arms, during the confusion occasioned by the cry for quarters, owing to a belief that the vessel was sinking. To prevent danger from this circumstance, they were stationed at the pumps, where they remained in active employ, during the remainder of the battle.

The sides of the Bonne Homme Richard were nearly stove in, her helm had become unmanageable: a splintered piece of timber alone supported the poop. A brisk firing, however, was kept up from her three guns on the quarter deck. Their shot raked the enemy fore and aft, cutting up his ri ging and spars, so that his mainmast had only the yard-arm of the Bonne Homme Richard for support. The enemy's fire subsided by degrees, and when his guns could no longer be brought to bear, he struck his colours. At this juncture, his mainmast went by the board. Lieut Dale was left below, where being no longer able to rally his men, he, although severely wounded, superintended the working of the pumps. Notwithstanding every effort, the hold of the Bonne Homme Richard was half full of water, when the enemy surrendered. After the action, the wind blew fresh, and the flames on board the Richard spread anew, nor were they extinguished until day-light appeared. In the mean time all the ammunition was brought on deck to be thrown overboard, in case of necessity. The enemy had nailed his flag to the mast, at the beginning of the action, and after the Captain had called for quarters, he could not prevail upon his men to bring down his colours, as they expressed their dread of the American rifles. He was, therefore, obliged to do that service himself. In taking possession of the enemy, three of Jones' men were killed after the surrender, for which an apology was afterwards made. The captured vessel proved to be his Britannic Majesty's ship Serapis, Captain Pearson, rating forty-four, but mounting fifty carriage guns. The Bonne Homme Richard had one hundred and sixty-five killed, and one hundred and thirty-seven wounded and missing. The Serapis one hundred and thirty-seven killed, and seventy-six wounded. All hands were removed on board the prize, together with such articles as could be saved, and at about 10 o'cleck, A. M. the next day, the Bonne Homme Richard sunk.

After the peace, Jones entered into the service of Russia, and afterwards returned to Paris, where he died, in 1792, and was buried with every honorable distinction, at the expense of the French National Convention.

"IN CONGRESS, JUNE 13, 1778.

An express arrived with a letter of the 11th, from General Washington, which was read, and a packet in which it was inclosed, together with other papers; a letter signed Carlisle, William Eden, G. Johnstone,' dated Philadelphia, June 9th, 1778,' and directed to his Excellency Henry Laurens, the president, and other members of the Congress.'

The letters are as follows :

To his Excellency Henry Laurens, the President, and other members of Congress.

'GENTLEMEN-With an earnest desire to stop the further effusion of blood, and the calamities of war, we communicate to you, with the least possible delay after our arrival in this city, a copy of the commission with which his Majesty is pleased to honour us, as also the acts of parliament on which it is founded; and at the same time that we assure you of our most earnest desire to re-establish, on the basis of equal freedom and mutual safety, the tranquillity of this once happy empire, you will observe that we are vested with powers equal to the purpose, and such as are even unprecedented in the annals of our history.

'In the present state of affairs, though fraught with subjects of mutual regret, all parties may draw some degree of consolation, and even an auspicious hope from the recollection that cordial reconciliation and affection have, in our own and other empires, succeeded to the contentions and temporary divisions not less violent than those we now experience.

'We wish not to recal subjects which are now no longer in controversy, and will reserve, to a proper time of discussion, both the hopes of mutual benefit, and the consideration of evils that may naturally contribute to determine your resolutions, as well as our own, on this important occasion.

"The acts of parliament, which we transmit to you, having passed with singular unanimity, will sufficiently evince the disposition of Great Britain, and show that the terms of agreement, in contemplation with his majesty and with his parliament, are such as come up to every wish that North America, either in the hour of temperate deliberation, or of the utmost apprehension of danger to liberty, has expressed.

'More effectually to demonstrate our good intentions, we think proper to declare, even in this, our first communication, that we are disposed to concur in every satisfactory and just arrangement towards the following, among other purposes :

To consent to a cessation of hostilities, both by sea and land. To restore free intercourse, to revive mutual affection, and restore the common benefits of naturalization through the several parts of this empire. To extend every freedom to trade that our respective interests can require. To agree that no military force shall be kept up in the different states of North America, without the consent of the general congress, or particular assemblies. To concur in measures calculated to discharge the debts of America, and raise the value and credit of the paper circulation.

To perpetuate our union, by a reciprocal deputation of an agent or agents from the different states, who shall have the privilege of a seat and voice in the Parliament of Great Britain; or, if sent from Britain, to have in that case a seat and voice in the assemblies of the different states to which they may be deputed respectively, in order to attend to the several interests of those by whom they are deputed.

In short, to establish the power of the respective legislatures in each particular state, to settle its revenue, its civil and military establishment, and to exercise a perfect freedom of legislation and internal government, so that the British states, throughout North America, acting with us in peace and war, under our common sovereign, may have the irrevocable enjoyment of every privilege that is short of a total separation of interest, or consistent with that union of force, on which the safety of our common religion and liberty depends.

་

In our anxiety for preserving these sacred and essential interests, we cannot help taking notice of the insidious interposition of a power, which has, from the first settlement of these colonies, been actuated with enmity to us both. And, notwithstanding the pretended date, or present form, of the French offers to America, yet it is notorious, that these were made in consequence of the plans of accommodation previously concerted in Great Britain, and with a view to prevent our reconciliation, and to prolong this destructive war.

But we trust that the inhabitants of North America, connected with us by the nearest ties of consanguinity, speaking the same language, interested in the preservation of similar institutions, remembering the former happy intercourse of good offices, and forgetting recent animosities, will shrink from the thought of becoming an accession of force to our late mutual enemy, and will prefer a firm, free, and perpetual coalition with the parent state, to an insincere and unnatural foreign alliance.

This despatch will be delivered to you by De Ferguson, the secretary to his majesty's commission; and, for further explanation and discussion of every subject of difference, we desire to meet you, either collectively or by deputation, at New-York, Philadelphia, York-Town, or such other place as you may propose. We think it right, however, to apprize you, that his majesty's instructions, as well as your own desire, to remove from the immediate seat of war, in the active operations of which we cannot take any part, may induce us speedily to remove to New-York; but the commander in chief of his majesty's land forces, who is joined with us in this commission, will, if it should become eligible, either concur with us in a suspension of hostilities, or will furnish all necessary passports and safe conduct, to facilitate our meeting, and we shall, of course, expect the same of you.

If, after the time that may be necessary to consider of this communication, and transmit your answer, the horrors and devastations of war should continue, we call God and the world to witness, that the evils which follow are not to be imputed to Great Britain; and we cannot, without the most real sorrow, anticipate the prospect of calamities which we feel the most ardent desire to prevent.

'We are, with perfect respect, gentlemen, your most obedient and most humble servants,

CARLISLE,
W. EDEN,
G. JOHNSTONE.'

To his Excellency Henry Laurens, President, and other members of Congress. GENTLEMEN-The despatch inclosed with this, was carried this morning to the nearest post of General Washington's army, by Dr. Ferguson, Secretary to his majesty's commission for restoring peace, &c. but he, not finding a passport, has returned to this place. In order to avoid every unnecessary delay, we now again send it by the ordinary conveyance of your military posts. As soon as the passport arrives, Dr. Ferguson shall wait upon you, according to our first arrangement.

'We are, with perfect respect, gentlemen, your most obedient and most bumble servants,

CARLISLE,
W. EDEN,
G. JOHNSTONE.'

Ordered, That they be referred to a committee of five.

"Eodem Die, P. M.-The committee to whom was referred the letters and papers from the Earl of Carlisle, &c. commissioners from the King of Great Britain, reported the draft of a letter which was read.

Resolved, That the consideration thereof be postponed till tomorrow.
June 17th, 1778.-Congress resumed the consideration of the draft of the

letter, in answer to the letter and papers received from the Earl of Carlisle, &c. commissioners from the King of Great Britain, which was unanimously agreed to, and is as follows:

To their Excellencies the Right Honourable the Earl of Carlisle, William Eden, and George Johnstone, Esqrs. Commissioners from his Britannic Majesty, Philadelphia.

I have received the letter from your Excellencies of the 9th instant, with the inclosures, and laid them before Congress. Nothing but an earnest desire to spare the farther effusion of human blood, could have induced them to read a paper containing expressions so disrespectful to his most Christian Majesty, the good and great ally of these states, or to consider propositions so derogatory to the honour of an independent nation.

The acts of the British Parliament, the commission from your sovereign, and your letter, suppose the people of these states to be subjects of the Crown of Great Britain, and are founded on an idea of dependence, which is utterly inadmissible.

'I am further directed to inform your Excellencies, that Congress are inclined to peace, notwithstanding the unjust claims from which this war originated, and the savage manner in which it hath been conducted. They will therefore be contented to enter upon a consideration of a treaty of peace and commerce, not inconsistent with treaties already subsisting, when the King of Great Britain shall demonstrate a sincere disposition for that purpose. The only solid proof of this disposition will be an explicit acknowledgment of the independence of these states; or the withdrawing his fleets and armies. I have the honour to be your Excellencies' most obedient and humble servant, HENRY LAURENS, President.

York-Town, July 17, 1778.'

Resolved, unanimously, That Congress approve the conduct of General Washington, in refusing a passport to Dr. Ferguson. Published by order of Congress.

CHARLES THOMPSON, Secretary."

An important fact, connected with this attempt at negotiation, we give from Dr. Thacher's Journal.

The public mind," says Dr. Thacher, "is now in a state of excitement, occasioned by the improper proceedings of the royal commissioners for restoring peace. They have made a second communication to Congress, but still without any intimation of a recognition of the independence of the United States; but address them on the supposition, that the people of America are still the subjects of the crown of Britain. This last communication is drafted with much art and address, calculated to excite jealousies and division among the people. Not content with their public declarations, and proposals addressed to Congress, they have actually descended to the dishonorable act of insidious offers to corrupt some distinguished individuals. Governor Johnstone, one of the commissioners, with inexcusable effrontery, offered a bribe to Mr. Reed, a member of Congress. In an interview with Mrs. Ferguson at Philadelphia, whose husband is a royalist, he desired she would mention to Mr. Reed, that if he would engage his interest to promote the object of their commission, he might have any office in the colonies, in the gift of his Britannic majesty, and ten thousand pounds in

hand. Having solicited an interview with Mr. Reed, Mrs. Ferguson made her communication. Spurning the idea of being purchased, he replied, "that he was not worth purchasing, but such as he was, the king of Great Britain was not rich enough to do it." Congress declined all further intercourse with the commissioners, and terminated their attempts at negotiation, unless their royal master would first withdraw his fleets and armies, or expressly acknowledge the independence of the United States. In order to demonstrate their most pointed indignation against such daring attempts to corrupt their integrity, they resolved, that it was incompatible with their honour to hold any further intercourse with George Johnstone. Esquire, more especially to negotiate with him on affairs in which the cause of liberty and virtue are interested."*

"About the middle of the winter of 1778, while General Putnam was on a visit to his out-post at Horse-Neck, he found Governor Tryon advancing upon that town with a corps of fifteen hundred men-to oppose these, General Putnam had only a picket of one hundred and fifty men, and two iron field pieces without horses or drag-ropes. He, however, planted his cannon on the high ground by the meetinghouse, and retarded their approach by firing several times, until perceiving the horse (supported by the infantry) about to charge, he ordered the picket to provide for their safety by retiring to a swamp inaccessible to horse; and secured his own by plunging down the steep precipice at the church upon a full trot. This precipice is so steep, where he descended, as to have artificial stairs composed of nearly one hundred stone steps for the accommodation of foot passengers. There the dragoons, who were but a sword's length from him, stopped short. For the declivity was so abrupt that they ventured not to follow: and. before they could gain the valley by going round the brow of the hill in the ordinary road, he was far enough beyond their reach. He continued his route unmolested to Stamford, from whence, having strengthened his picket by the junction of some militia, he came back again, and in turn, pursued Governor Tryon in his retreat. As he rode down the precipice, one ball, of the many fired at him, went through his beaver. But Governor Tryon by way of compensation for spoiling his hat, sent him soon afterwards, as a present, a complete suit of clothes."

"Toward the close of the preceding year, General Lincoln was appointed by Congress to take the command in the southern departThat able officer was second in command in the army, which had captured Burgoyne; his military reputation was high; and the delegates of South Carolina and Georgia had solicited this appointment. On his arrival in South Carolina, he established his first post at Purisburgh, a small village on the northern banks of the Savannah river. The royal army at Savannah having been re-enforced by the junction of the troops from St. Augustine under General Prevost; an attempt had been made to take possession of Port Royal Island, but without effect. Although the failure in this