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the sanction of a flag or otherwise, was found employed in circulating those manifestoes." At the same time, to shew that these measures were not taken for the purpose of concealing their conduct from their constituents, they themselves directed a publication of the manifesto in the American papers. Care, however, was taken that it should be accompanied by comments made by individuals, calculated to destroy its effect. A vessel containing a cargo of these papers being wrecked on the coast, the officer and crew having them in charge were made prisoners; and the requisition of Admiral Gambier for their release, in consequence of the privilege afforded by his flag, was answered by a declaration that they had forfeited that privilege by being charged with seditious papers.

Not long after the publication of the manifesto of the British commissioners, (October 30,) a counter-manifesto was issued by Congress, in which, after touching on subjects which might influence the public mind, they " solemnly declare and proclaim, that if their enemies presume to execute their threats, or persist in their present course of barbarity, they will take such exemplary vengeance as shall deter others from a like conduct. They appeal to that God who searcheth the hearts of men, for the rectitude of their intentions; and in his holy presence declare, that, as they are not

moved by any light and hasty suggestions of anger or revenge, so through every change of fortune they will adhere to this their determination."

Thus ended the fruitless attempt to restore a connection which had been wantonly broken, the reinstatement of which a variety of causes had rendered impracticable. With the war, and with their independence, a course of opinions had prevailed in America, which not only rendered a reunion between the two countries, under one common sovereign, extremely difficult, but, by substi tuting discordant materials in the place of the cement which had formerly bound them together, rendered such an event undesirable even to the British themselves. The time had now come when the true interest of that nation required the relinquishment of an expensive war, the object of which was unattainable, and which, if attained, must be preserved with great difficulty; and the establishment of those amicable relations which reciprocal interests produce between independent states, capable, by a fair and equal interchange of good offices, of being serviceable to each other.

This opinion, however, was not yet embraced by the cabinet of London, and great exertions were yet to be made for the re-annexation of North America to the British empire. Even the opposition was not united against a continuance of the war on the present ground; and the Earl

of Chatham, who had endeavoured, first to prevent the contest, and afterwards to produce conciliation, closed a life, of which the splendour was unrivaled among characters merely political, in unavailing efforts to prevent that dismemberment which had now become inevitable.

In the midst of these transactions with the commissioners from Great Britain, the Sieur Girard, who had negotiated on the part of his sovereign the treaties between France and the United States, arrived at Philadelphia, July 14th, in the character of minister plenipotentiary of his most Christian Majesty.

The joy produced by this event was unbounded. On the first notice of his being in the Delaware, on his passage to the residence of Congress, a committee was appointed to wait on him, and orders were given to prepare a house for his reception. He was soon afterwards admitted to an audience in the Congress-hall, to which he was conducted from his own house, by a committee appointed for that purpose. He was received with open doors; and, to render the solemnity more impressive, the vice-president and members of the supreme executive council of Pennsylvania, and the members of their legislature, were invited to be present at it. In addition, each member of Congress was furnished with two tickets of admittance, for such other persons as he should chuse to in

troduce.

troduce. A semi-circle was formed by the members within the bar of the house, at one extremity of which sat the president, and at the other the minister of France. After the forms prescribed had been passed through, the committee again attended on him to his house; and, in the afternoon, a very elegant entertainment was given him by Congress, to which the public characters in Philadelphia, and several strangers of distinction, were invited.

The reception of a minister from the most powerful prince in Europe, being among the first and most important insignia of independence, was alike new and gratifying to the United States.

While these diplomatic concerns employed the American cabinet, and while the war seemed to languish on the Atlantic, it raged to the west in its most savage form.

A considerable degree of solicitude had ever been felt by Congress, to engage the numerous tribes of Indians on the frontier, either to take part with them in the war, or to preserve a neutrality. In its first stages, many of them manifested a disposition not unfriendly to the United States; but the inability of the American government to furnish them with such European articles as they are in the habit of using, contrasted with the presents they received from Montreal, and the ports on the lakes, soon decided them in favour of

the

the enemy. Early in 1778, there were many indications of a general disposition to make war on the United States; and the frontiers, from the Mohawk to the Ohio, were threatened with the tomahawk and the scalping-knife. Every representation from that country concurred in establishing the opinion, that a war with the Indians should never be defensive; and that to obtain peace, it must be carried into their own country. It was also believed to be proved, that the hostility already experienced had been very much excited by Colonel Hamilton, the governor of Detroit, which place was understood to be left in a very defenceless condition. Against Detroit, therefore, an expedition was, on the 11th of June, resolved on by Congress. General M'Intosh, who had been appointed by General Washington to succeed General Hand,* commanded at Pittsburg. He was directed to prepare for carrying on the expedition with three thousand men; of whom Virginia was desired to furnish from her militia such number, not exceeding two thousand five hundred, as the board of war, or General M'Intosh, should require. To facilitate the success of this

He had been recalled at his own request, because the disputes between Virginia and Pennsylvania, respecting territory, rendered it necessary that some more impartial person than a citizen of either state should command at that station.

enterprise,

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