this happy spot, we have had a ham, sometimes a shoulder of bacon, to grace the head of the table; a piece of roast beef adorns the foot, and a dish of beans or greens, almost imperceptible, decorates the centre. When the cook has a mind to cut a figure, which I presume will be the case to-morrow, we have two beefsteak pies, or dishes of crabs, in addition, one on each side of the centre dish, dividing the space and reducing the distance between dish and dish to about six feet, which without them would be twelve feet apart. Of late he has had the surprising sagacity to discover that apples will make pies; and it is a question if, in the violence of his efforts, we do not get one of apples instead of having both of beefsteaks. If the ladies can put up with such entertainment, and will partake of it on plates once tin, but now iron (not become so by the labour of scouring), I shall be happy to see them."

Having to receive the French Minister soon afterwards, Washington wrote, "It was not my intention to depart from that plain and simple manner of living which accords with the real interest and policy of men struggling under every difficulty for the attainment of the most inestimable blessing of life-liberty."

When the French fleet went away, Washington felt that it was open to Sir Henry Clinton to carry his army by sea into the Southern States. He therefore despatched troops to Charleston in November and December; and on the 26th of that month Sir Henry Clinton, with Lord Cornwallis, also embarked troops for Charleston, leaving the garrison of New York under the charge of Lieutenant-General Knyphausen.

Washington took up his headquarters for the winter at Morristown; and dreary and hard as the winter at Valley Forge had been, it did not seem so hard as this. It was specially severe weather, and food and clothing were very scarce. "The army was on half-allowance for weeks; some

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times without meat, sometimes without bread, sometimes without both." On January 8th Washington wrote, "For a fortnight past the troops, both officers and men, have been almost perishing with want, Yet," he adds, feelingly, "they have borne their sufferings with a patience that merits the approbation, and ought to excite the sympathies, of their countrymen."

What the people of Jersey could do for the soldiers, they did willingly and kindly. "Provisions came in with hearty good-will from the farmers in Mendham, Watham, Hanover, and other rural places, together with stockings, shoes, coats, and blankets; while the women met together to knit and sew for the soldiery." One farmer's wife is specially mentioned for her patriotism in this respect-"a Mrs. Anne Kitchel, who, from her potato-bin, granary, and meal-bag, had always some comfort for the patriot soldiers. When unable to billet them in her house, a large kettle, filled with meat and vegetables, was hung over the fire, that they might not go away hungry."

CHAPTER XVI.

"THE coldest winter that had ever been known" in that region seemed to paralyse and freeze the energies of the United States army. Some of the rivers were frozen so firmly that the heaviest artillery could pass over the ice. The utmost efforts seemed to be necessary only to keep the soldiers from starving. General Greene, writing at this time, said, "The army has not four days' provisions of meat in the world. The great man is confounded at his

situation, but appears to be silent and reserved."

Hard as defeat and failure had been to Washington, they were not so hard to bear as the sight of his suffering troops; and matters seemed almost to have come to the worst with him at this time. But in April, 1780, he received the following letter from the Marquis de La Fayette, who had just entered Boston harbour :—

66 April 27, 1780.

"Here I am, my dear general, and, in the midst of the joy I feel in finding myself again one of your loving soldiers, I take but the time to tell you that I came from France on board a frigate which the king gave me for my passage. I have affairs of the utmost importance, which I should at first communicate to you alone. In case my letter finds you anywhere this side of Philadelphia, I beg you will wait for me, and do assure you a great public good may be derived from it. To-morrow we go up to the town, and the day after I shall set off, in my usual way, to join my beloved and respected friend and general. "Adieu, my dear general. You will easily know the hand of your young soldier."

Washington answered him with a glad heart: "I most

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sincerely congratulate you on your safe arrival in America, and shall embrace you with all the warmth of an affectionate friend when you come to headquarters, where a bed is prepared for you."

The news that La Fayette brought was, that a French fleet had sailed for America in April, conveying a body of troops, under the Count de Rochambeau, to co-operate with the American army, and to be entirely under the command of Washington. This was cheering news for the general, who, in addition to all the hardships of the winter, was full of anxiety about the state of affairs in the South.

Sir Henry Clinton's troops, which sailed from New York at Christmas, had a stormy passage, were seven weeks at sea, lost nearly all their cavalry horses, but at last in the middle of February-arrived before Charleston, in South Carolina, and commenced its siege. The army which Washington had despatched thither under General Lincoln had made good use of the delay, to prepare derences, but the English were too strong for them. An inland force, which was being gathered for their relief, was cut off by Colonel Tarleton, with a body of English cavalry, at Monk's Corner; and "having thus provided against the chances of relief, Sir Henry Clinton pushed the siege of Charleston with vigour and success. At last, on the 11th of May, the Americans declared themselves willing to accept the terms of capitulation which they had formerly refused. The articles were signed next day, and the English took possession of the town. The Americans who laid down. their arms on this occasion, marching out with certain honours of war, were upwards of 5,000."

Sir Henry Clinton, having gained possession of this important city, was now anxious to secure the entire

province. The Royalist cause was easily revived amongst some of the inhabitants, though others made a stout resistance. But early in June the English general received news of the French reinforcements which were coming to the assistance of America, and he therefore embarked with some of his troops for New York, leaving the rest of them, under Lord Cornwallis, to undertake the subjection of North Carolina, and then carry the war into Virginia.

Washington despatched a force, under Baron de Kalb, to the help of the Southern States; and shortly afterwards General Gates was appointed to take the command in that quarter.

Meanwhile General Knyphausen had been making an attack from New York upon the Jerseys. Washington's attention was needed in that direction, and he moved his troops carefully from place to place, watching the movements of the British troops. All that they succeeded in doing, however, on this occasion, was burning some villages, and destroying the town of Springfield. A strong resistance was made at the latter place, but unsuccessfully, by General Greene. One incident mentioned of the American fighting here is amusing. A Presbyterian chaplain, named Caldwell (whose wife had been killed in one of the villages by an English musket shot), was most vigorous during the fight. Finding that the American soldiers needed wadding for their guns, he went down to the chapel and collected a number of copies of Watts's Hymns, and brought them back, saying eagerly as he distributed them, "Here, my boys, put Watts into them." But the enemy gained the day, and captured and burnt Springfield-though they did nothing else—and retreated over their bridge of boats to Staten Island immediately afterwards.