the Jersey shore, and without trial, and with every mark of cruel indignity, hanged: the loyalists at the moment of his execution, exlaiming with shouts of savage joy, "Up goes Huddly for Philip White." When this affair was made known, the whole American army cried out for retaliation; and General Washington found himse under the painful necessity of informing Sir Henry Clinton, that unless the murderers of Huddy were given up to justice, a British officer of equal rank should suffer death. For this purpose it became necessary to decide by lot among a number of British prisoners in the American camp, and the chance fell upon Captain Asgill, a young gentleman of family, of high accomplishments and interesting manners. He was immediately put into close custody, and sentence of death passed upon him. A court-martial was in the mean time ordered by Sir Henry Clinton, for the trial of Lippincott, but before its investigations were commenced, Sir Guy Carleton arrived to take the command. From the known humanity of this officer, evety thing was expected which could satisfy the claims of justice, and Washington himself hoped that he would be spared the painful task of making the innocent suffer for the guilty. One of Sir Guy's first acts was to break up the associated board of loyalists, and thus put a stop to the insults and cruelties which they were continually prac tising upon their countrymen. This strongly evinced his disposition to do justice, and when after a long sitting the court-martial acquitted Captain Lippincott of the murder laid to his charge, Sir Guy Carleton forwarded the proceedings to Washington, accompanied with a letter, in which he assured him that notwithstanding the ac quittal of Lippincott, a further inquiry should be prosecuted into the measure, which he unequivocally condemned. During all this time, the interest which the fate of Captain Asgill had excited, was gradually extending itself. A pathetic letter was addressed by his mother, Lady Asgill, to the Count de Vergennes, by whom it was communicated to the King and Queen of France, who joined in an appeal to Washington, which the humanity of his feelings could not withstand. If his own heart alone had been consulted, his instant release of the prisoner would have rendered this appeal unnecessary: but the private feelings of Washington were ever subservient to public duty. The two memorials which are subjoined, merit being preserved as historical monuments.

Letter from Lady Asgill, to the Comte de Vergennes. "SIR,-If the politeness of the French court will permit a stranger to address it, it cannot be doubted but that she who unites in herself all the more delicate sensations with which an individual can be penetrated, will be received favourably by a nobleman, who reflects honour not only on his nation, but on human nature. The subject on which I implore your assistance, is too heart-rending to be dwelt on; most probably, the public report of it has already reached you; this relieves me from the burthen of so mournful a duty. My son, my only son, dear to me as he is brave, amiable as he is beloved, only nineteen years of age, a prisoner of war, in consequence of the capitulation of Yorktown, is at present confined in America as an object of reprisal.-Shall

*Allen's Revolution, vol. ii. p. 490-2.

the innocent share the fate of the guilty? Figure to yourself, Sir, the situation of a family in these circumstances. Surrounded as I am with objects of distress, bowed down by fear and grief, words are wanting to express what I feel, and to paint such a scene of misery: my husband given over by his physicians some hours before the arrival of this news, not in a condition to be informed of it; my daughter attacked by a fever, accompanied with delirium ; speaking of her brother in tones of wildness, and without an interval of reason, unless it be to listen to some circumstances which may console her heart. Let your sensibility, Sir, paint to you my profound, my inexpressible misery, and plead in ny favour; a word, a word from you, like a voice from Heaven, would liberate us from desolation, from the last degree of misfortune. I know how far General Washington reveres your character. Tell him only that you wish my son restored to liberty, and he will restore him to his desponding family; he will restore him to happiness. The virtue and courage of my son will justify this act of clemency. His honour, Sir, led him to America; he was born to abundance, to independence, and to the happiest prospects. Permit me, once more to entreat the interference of your high influence in favour of innocence, and in the cause of justice and humanity. Despatch, Sir, a letter from France to General Washington, and favour me with a copy of it, that it may be transmitted from hence. I feel the whole weight of the liberty taken in presenting this request; but I feel confident, whether granted or not, that you will pity the distress by which it was suggested; your humanity will drop a tear on my fault, and blot it out forever

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May that Heaven which I implore, grant that you may never need the consolation which you have it in your power to bestow on

THERESA ASGILL."

Second letter of Lady Asgill to the Comte de Vergennes. "SIR.-Exhausted by long suffering, overpowered by an excess of unexpected happiness, confined to my bed by weakness and langour, bent to the earth by what I have undergone, my sensibility alone could supply me with strength sufficient to address you.

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Condescend Sir, to accept this feeble effort of my gratitude. It has been laid at the feet of the Almighty; and believe me, it has been presented with the same sincerity to you, Sir, and to your illustrious sovereigns; by their august and salutary intervention, as by your own, a son is restored to me, to whom my own life was attached. I have the sweet assurance, that my vows for my protectors are heard by Heaven, to whom they are ardently offered; yes, Sir, they will produce their effect before the dreadful and last tribunal, where I indulge in the hope, that we shall both appear together; you to receive the recompense of your virtues; myself, that of my sufferings. I will raise my voice before that imposing tribunal, I will call for those sacred registers, in which your humanity will be found recorded. I will pray that blessings may be showered on your head, on him, who, availing himself of the noblest privilege received from God, a privilege no other than divine, bas changed misery into happiness, has withdrawn the sword from the innocent head, and restored the worthiest of sons, to the most tender and unfortunate of mothers.

"Condescend, Sir, to accept this last tribute of gratitude due to your vir tuous sentiments. Preserve this tribute, and may it go down to your posterity as a testimony of your sublime and exemplary beneficence to a stranger, whose nation was at war with your own; but these tender affections have not been destroyed by war. May this tribute bear testimony to my gratitude long after the band that expresses it, with the heart which at this moment only vibrates with the vivacity of grateful sentiments, shall be reduced to dust; even to the last day of my existence, it shall beat but to offer all the respect and all the gratitude with which it is penetrated. THERESA ASGILL."

"Congress had now taken up the affair, and it became necessary to refer the communications of the Count de Vergennes to their deci

sion. This he did in a letter from himself, in which he pronounced his opinion on the side of humanity. Congress after some deliberation gave orders for the release of Captain Asgill, and the joyful tidings were communicated to the Captain in a letter from the commander in chief himself, in which he declared that his release was as great a relief to his own feelings, as it could be to those of his prison

er.

"The capture of a second British army in America essentially affected the measures of the ministry. It rendered the American war unpopular in Great Britain, and emboldened the minority in parliament more vigorously to oppose its continuance. After repeated but unsuccessful motions against the measures of administration respecting America, it was resolved by the commons, "That the house would consider as enemies to his majesty and the country, all those who should advise or attempt the farther prosecution of offensive war on the continent of North America."

Sir Guy Carleton, who had lately been appointed to the command of the royal army in North America, was instructed to use his endeavours for carrying into effect the wishes of Great Britain for an accommodation with the Americans. Commissioners r negotiating peace were soon after appointed. On the part of the United States the commissioners were John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, and Henry Laurens; on the part of Great Britain, Mr. Fitzherbert, and Mr. Oswald. On the thirtieth of Noven.ber, these commissioners agreed on provisional articles of peace between Great Britain and the United States, which were to be inserted in a future treaty of peace, to be finally concluded between the parties when peace should take place between Great Britain and France. By these articles, the independence of the United States was acknowledged in its fullest extent; and all, that could reasonably be expected by them, was obtained.t

*Allen's Revolution, vol. ii. p. 492.

+ The Definitive Treaty was signed at Paris, September 3, by John Adams, David Hartley, Benjamin Franklin, and John Jay. By Article I, his Britannic Majesty ac knowledges the United States of America to be free, sovereign, and independent States; treats with them as such; and for himself, his heirs and successors, relinquishes all claim to the government, property, and territorial rights of the same, and every part thereof.-By Article II, the boundaries of the said States are declared and described from St. Croix in Nova Scotia to Canada, by the lakes and the River Mississippi to East Florida.-By Article III, it is agreed that the people of the United States shall continue to enjoy unmolested, the right to take fish of every kind on the Grand Bank, and on all other banks of Newfoundland, also in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and at all other places in the sea, where the inhabitants of both countries used at any time heretofore to fish.-By Article IV, it is agreed, that the creditors on either side shall meet with no lawful impediment to the recovery of the full value, in sterling money, of all bona fide debts heretofore contracted.-By Article V, it is agreed, that congress shall earnestly recommend it to the legislatures of the respective States, to provide for the restitution of all confiscated estates, belonging to real British subjects, &c.-By Article VI, it is agreed, that there shall be no future confiscations, &c.-By Article VII, it is agreed, that there shall be a mutual, firm, and perpetual peace, and that his Britannic Majesty shall, with all convenient speed, withdraw all his armies, garrisons and fleets from the United States.-By article VIII, the navigation of the Mississippi, from its source to the ocean, is forever to remain free and open to the subjects of Great Britam and the citizens of the United States.

The military events of this year were inconsiderable. On the twenty-first of May, Colonel Brown having marched out in force from Savannah, General Wayne, rapidly advancing from Ebenezer, got between him and the British garrison in Savannah; attacked him at twelve o'clock at night; and routed his whole party.*

On the twenty-fourth of June, General Wayne was violently attacked at a plantation about five miles from Savannah, by a large body of Creek Indians, who at first drove his troops, and took two pieces of artillery; but they were soon charged with great spirit, and completely routed. Fourteen Indians and two white men were killed. Emistessigo, a famous Indian chief, was among the slain. The royalists, coming out from Savannah to join the Indians, were driven back by General Wayne, who took one British standard, and one hundred and twenty-seven horses with packs. Of the continentals, five were killed, and eight wounded.

In July, the British evacuated Savannah; and General Wayne soon after took possession of it.

On the twenty-seventh of August, Lieutenant-Colonel John Laurens, in opposing a foraging party of the British, near Combahee River, in South Carolina, was motally wounded.

General Leslie, with the royalists, evacuated South Carolina, on the fourteenth of December; and General Wayne, with five thousand continental troops, took possession of Charlestown on the seventeenth.

The independence of America was acknowledged by the United Provinces of Holland on the nineteenth of April. A treaty of amity and commerce was concluded at the Hague between those provinces and the United States of America on the eighth of October.

The British fleet in the West-Indies, under Admiral Sir George B. Rodney, on the twelfth of April gained a complete victory over the French fleet under the Count de Grasse."

"In December, 1782, the officers of the army being apprehensivė that they should be disbanded before their accounts should be liquidated and the engagements of government complied with, resolved to memorialize Congress on the subject, and Major-General McDougall, Colonel Ogden and Colonel Brooks, were deputed as a committee to wait on that honourable body, requesting their attention to the distresses under which the army laboured, and to solicit payment of the money actually due to the army, and security for the

*After the reduction of Lord Cornwallis, the Pennsylvania line matched to south Carolina, and this increase of force enabled General Greene to detach General Wayne with a part of his army to Georgia. The action, above recited, was fought about four miles to the southwest of Savannah, on the Ogeechee road. The van guard of the Americans, consisting of 60 horse and 40 infantry, was led on by Colonel White of the cavalry, and Captain Parker of the infantry, to a spirited charge, in which 40 of the enemy were killed or wounded, and about 20 taken prisoners. This advantage was gained by the use of the sword and bayonet. The Americans had only 5 privates killed, and 2 wounded.

+ Holmes' American Annals, vol. ii. p. 463-65.

commutation of half pay, stipulated by the resolve of October, 1780, for a sum in gross, which they conceive would be less objectionable than the half pay establishment. Subsequent to this proceeding, a report was circulated in camp, that Congress did not mean to comply with their resolves respecting half pay, &e. This operated very powerfully on the minds of the officers of the army, and occasioned them to forward an address to Congress, in behalf of themselves, and their brethren, the soldiers. They asked for a supply of money, to be forwarded immediately to the army, for a settlement of the accounts of arrearages of pay, and security for what is due; for a commutation of half for full pay for a certain number of years, or for a sum in gross, as should be agreed on; for a settlement of accounts, for deficiencies of rations and compensations, and of the deficiencies of clothing and compensations. They conclude their address in these words: "The pressure of evils and injuries in the course of seven long years have made their condition, in many instances, wretched; they therefore entreat that Congress, to convince the army, and the world, that the independence of America shall not be placed on the ruin of any particular class of citizens, will point out a mode for immediate redress; and that the disabled officers and soldiers, with the widows and orphans of those who have lost or may lose their lives in the service of their country, may be included, and that some mode be pointed out for the eventual payment of those soldiers, who are the subjects of the resolution of Congress of the 15th of May, 1778." In consequence of this address, Congress passed the following resolves, namely,

"That the superintendent of finance be directed, conformably to the measures already taken for that purpose, so soon as the state of the public finances will permit, to make such payment, and in such manner as he shall think proper, till the further order of Congress.

"With respect to the second article of the address, the settlement of accounts of the arrearages of pay, that the several states be called on to complete, without delay, the settlements with their respective lines of the army, up to the first day of August, 1780; and that the superintendent of finance take such measures, as shall appear to him most proper for effecting the settlement from this period. That the troops of the United States, in common with all creditors of the same, have an undoubted right to expect security, for what shall be found due, and Congress will make every effort in her power, to obtain from the respective states substantial funds, adequate to the object of funding the whole debt of the United States, and will enter on an immediate and full consideration of the nature of such funds, and the most likely mode of obtaining them."

The remainder of the report of the committee, on the subject of the address, was referred to a committee of five.

General McDougall and Colonel Ogden, in a letter to General Knox, made known to the army their success; and Colonel Brooks returned to camp, to inform them, verbally, of the prospect of commutation, or of obtaining an equivalent for half pay, which they had proposed in their address. General McDougall continued at Con