Second street, opposite to General Howe's neadquarters, in Philadelphia. Two of the British officers selected a chamber in her house, as a secure place in which to hold private conversations; on the second of December they told her they would be there at seven o'clock, and remain late; and they desired that she and all her family would retire early. She thought something important to the Americans was to be discussed, placed herself in a situation to hear what was said, and understood from the conversation that all the British troops were to march in the evening of the fourth, and surprise Washington in his camp. Supposing it to be in her power to save the lives of hundreds of her countrymen, she determined to carry this intelligence to Washington. She told her family she would go to the mill at Frankford, where she obtained her flour; and she had no difficulty in getting permission from General Howe to pass the lines for that purpose. Leaving her bag at the mill, she hastened to the American camp, and met an officer, named Craig, whom she knew. To him she told the secret, and made him promise not to betray her, as her life might in that case be taken by the British. Craig flew to Washington with the information, and the courageous matron returned to the city.

General Howe marched at the appointed time, but found Washington expecting him; and, disappointed, he encamped within three miles of the Americans.

A day passed, in which small detachments from each army attacked each other, and then all remained again at rest. Another day was spent in the same manner, and Washington employed himself in giving directions to every division of the army, and in encouraging all to resist with bravery. General Howe suddenly broke up his camp, and marched his troops back to the city, showing that he feared too much the result of a contest, when the Americans were in a favourable situation for meeting him.

CHAPTER VI.

IN the winter following the events already related, the American army was stationed at Valley Forge, near Philadelphia. The hardships endured by the troops were almost incredible. Poorly fed, and nearly destitute of clothing, it required a confidence in their leader, and a devotion to their country, which have few parallels in history, to keep them together. It is no cause of wonder that some of them were discontented; that in their sufferings they pined for the comfortable homes which they had quitted for the battle-fields of freedom. But the great majority were firm, enduring every privation with patience and hope. Washington continued to urge on the attention of Congress the sufferings of his poor soldiers. With all the energy of true feeling, and with a manly confidence in his own claims to be heard and respected, he exhorted the legislature to remedy the defects of the commissary

department, where these wants principally originated, and, with the boldness of truth, lays the blame where it ought to rest. "I declare," said he, in one of his letters--"I declare, that no man, in my opinion, ever had his measures more impeded than I have, by every department of the army. Since the month of July we have had no assistance from the quartermastergeneral; and to want of assistance from this department the commissary-general charges great part of his deficiency. To this I may add, that notwithstanding it is a standing order, often repeated, that the troops shall always have two days' rations in advance, that they may be ready at any sudden call, yet scarcely any opportunity has ever offered of taking advantage of the enemy that has not been either entirely thwarted, or greatly obstructed, on that account."

During the darkest period of the encampment at Valley Forge, Washington received a letter from the English governor of New York, enclosing a resolution of Parliament to propose a reconciliation to the Americans. Offers of pardon were made, but no acknowledgment of independence. The governor requested Washington to make the resolution known to his army. He, however, sent the letter and paper to Congress, expressing his surprise at the "extraor

dinary request of the governor." Congress immediately resolved to refuse accepting any offers from the English government, until the independence of the country was acknowledged. Washington enclosed this resolution to the English governor, and requested him to make it known to his army.

To show the determination of Congress on this point, and the spirit of devotion in which they had acted, it may be mentioned that Mr. Laurens, the President of that body, stated, in reply to a letter to him on the subject, that it would be unnatural to suppose their minds less firm than "when, destitute of all foreign aid, and even without expectation of an alliance; when, upon a day of general fasting and humiliation, in their houses of worship, and in the presence of God, they resolved to hold no treaty with Great Britain unless they shall acknowledge the independence of these states."

Several letters were addressed to members of Congress, by commissioners of the British government, assuring them of honours and rewards if they would procure a reconciliation. A proposal was made to Joseph Reed, a member from Pennsylvania, that he should have the best office in America, under the king, and ten thousand pounds, if he could bring Congress to consent to the offers of the British. He