A general view of the finances of the United States, the Doctor was instructed to lay before the French court, with a view to open the way for such loans, as the exigencies of affairs might require.

The Marquis La Fayette, at this time, requested leave to return to France, to which Congress readily consented, and directed the president to express to him, by letter, the thanks of Congress for that disinterested zeal that led him to America, and for the services he had rendered to the United States, by the exertion of his courage and abilities, on many signal occasions. They also directed Dr. Franklin to cause an elegant sword, with proper devices, to be made and presented to the marquis in the name of the United States, and at the same time, Congress, through their president, addressed a letter to the French king, expressive of the high sense they entertained of the talents and services of the marquis. The marquis took his leave of Congress by letter; repaired to Boston, and embarked for France.

During these operations, the Indians began their ravages, in concert with the tories, upon the Susquehannah; entered the settlements in a body of about 1600 Indians and tories; took one small fort at Kingston, and butchered the garrison, after defeating Colonel Butler, who appeared for its defence, with about 400 men, and cutting off his army with a terrible slaughter. They next attacked and carried Fort Wilkesborough; butchered the garrison, and burnt the women and children in the barracks. The ene my next proceeded to lay waste the settlements with fire and sword, and destroyed the cattle in the most wanton and barbarous manner; but spared the persons and properties of the tories.

The following extract from Mr. Gordon's Revolutionary War, may serve as a specimen of the cruelties at Wyoming.

"The following are a few of the more singular circumstances, of the barbarity practised in the attack upon Wyoming. Captain Braddock, who had been taken prisoner, being stripped naked, had his body stuck full of splinters and pine knots, and then a heap of pine knots piled round him; the whole was then set on fire, and his two companions, Captain Ransom, and Durgee, thrown into the flames and held down with pitchforks. The returned tories were the most distinguished for their cruelties; in this they resembled the tories that joined the British forces. One of these Wyoming tories whose mother had married a second husband, butchered with his own hands, both her, his father-in-law, his own sisters, and their infant children. Another who during his absence had sent home several threats against the life of his father, now not only realized them in person; but was with his own hands the extermi nator of his family, mother, brothers and sisters, and mingled their blood indiscriminately with that of the ancient husband and father."

But I forbear to pursue the narrative which recounts the distresses of those who fled from the blaze of their dwellings, and took shelter in the woods, where they roamed at hazard, as chance or fear directed, until they either perished with famine, or the murderous hatchet, or reached some friendly settlements, where they found christian hospitality. These scenes are too black and distressing to be pursued, and are to be ranked amongst the many, to evince the total depravity of the human

heart.

Such was the general alarm which these ravages occa sioned, and such the spirit of Virginia, that an expedition was sent into the Indian country under Colonel Clark, against the French settlements upon the upper Mississippi, in the country of Illinois. It had now become well un

derstood that the governor of these settlements was the instigator of these ravages.

Colonel Clark, with his party, traversed the desert about 1200 miles, and reached Kaskaskias, at the hour of midnight, in a desperate situation, and destitute of provisions; but being undiscovered, they resolved to strike the fatal blow. They entered the town immediately, and secured the whole, consisting of about 250 houses, with the fort, the governor, and all its inhabitants, without even an alar:n, and sent the governor to Virginia, with all his written instructions from Quebec, Montreal, Detroit, and Michilimackinack, for exciting the Indians to war, and offering a bounty on scalps. Colonel Clark administered the oath of allegiance to this village, and sent detachments to surprise the other villages, which was done in regular succession, and the oath of allegiance administered, until the whole were subdued to the allegiance of the United States.

This expedition tamed the spirits of these sons of the forest, and rendered them quiet for the future.

A scene of the same stamp of that at Wyoming; but from a very different quarter, is now before us.

Lord Cornwallis detached Gen. Gray with his light infantry, to surprise and cut off the American force on North River, in conjunction with a detachment from Gen. Kniphausen's corps; but the expedition was defeated by some deserters, who gave timely notice of the movement, and Gen. Wayne with his division eluded the attack. Gen. Gray however conducted his movement with such dispatch as to surprise Capt. Baylor's troop of horse, asleep, and naked in their quarters; (September 27th ;) no quarter was the order of the day, and the whole were given up to indiscriminate butchery, and bayonetted in cold blood, begging for mercy. But again I forbear; these scenes are

*

too black to be dwelt upon.

* Gordon's Revolution, page 406

Sir Henry Clinton detached Capt. Ferguson with about 300 men, upon an expedition to Little Egg-harbour, under strong convoy, to destroy the American privateers and shipping; but these being removed, Capt. Ferguson proceed. ed up to Chesnut Neck, where he destroyed such vessels as were there, together with the whole village, and laid waste the adjacent country, and rejoined the squadron, October 5. On the 15th, the convoy with the troops, moved round to another landing place, not far distant, and landed 250 men under the command of Capt. Ferguson, who advanced into the country in the silence of night, and surprised Count Pulaski's light infantry; killed the Baron de Bose, and Lt. de la Broderic, with 50 privates; these were mostly butchered in cool blood, begging for mercy, under the orders of no quarter, as we have noticed before; but Count Pulaski closed this horrid scene by a sudden charge of his cavalry upon the murderous foe, that put him to flight, and thus saved his infantry.

Capt. Ferguson made a hasty retreat, embarked his party, and returned to New-York.

Let it be remembered that such horrid scenes of barbarous war as are here related amongst christians, ought forever to be chanted in the solemn dirge of Blush Britania.

Admiral Graves arrived at New-York on the 16th of October, in a most shattered condition, by a violent storm, which detained him the remainder of the month in NewYork, to repair the damages of his fleet.

About the first of November he put to sea, and appeared off Boston harbour on a visit to the Count de Estaing; but a violent storm here overtook him, scattered his fleet, destroyed the Somerset of 64 guns, on the shores of Cape Cod, and forced the rest of the fleet into Rhode-Island for shelter.

Count de Estaing had now repaired, and victualed his fleet, and returned the numerous civilities he had received

from the citizens of Boston, by giving a public dinner on board his fleet, in the superb stile of his nation; improved the first fair wind, took leave of his friends, and on the 3d of November set sail for the West-Indies.

Lord Howe detached Commodore Hotham on the same day, with a part of the fleet, lying at New-York, and a fleet of transports carrying 5000 British troops, to act against the Count in the West-Indies.

On the 1st of October Col. William Butler, at the head of a Pennsylvania regiment, covered by riflemen, commenced an expédition from Schoharie, and carried the war afresh into the Susquehannah country; destroyed the Indian villages, and castles, with the other settlements, and after enduring incredible fatigues, and perils, returned on the 16th in safety.

Colonel John Butler put himself at the head of a strong party, and revenged this incursion, by entering the state of New-York, and surprising Colonel Alden at CherryValley; an action commenced which lasted 3 hours, Col. Alden was killed; the greatest inhumanities were committed, 50 or 60 men, women, and children, besides soldiers, were killed, or carried into captivity, and even the dead were made the monuments of the most savage barbarities. The party withdrew, and returded to their homes.

Sir Henry Clinton abandoned all further designs of carrying on his operations in the north, and turned his attention to the south. He concerted with Gen. Prescot, who commanded in East-Florida, a plan of operations against Georgia. Pending the preparations for this plan, two parties, consisting of regulars, and refugees, entered Georgia from Florida; the one by water and the other by land; the first advanced to Sunbury, and summoned the place; but finding a spirited officer in Col. Mackintosh, who was strongly posted, they abandoned the attempt. The other moved on towards Savannah; but being strong