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the 19th, gen. Grant marched out of Philadelphia with 1778. full 7000 men, and a number of cannon. By taking the Franckfort road, and croffing the country through the old York road and White-marsh, the next morning 20. he entered the road on which the marquis was, about two miles in his rear, at Plymouth meeting-house. From this place to Matfon's-ford on the Schuylkill is about one mile and a quarter, the only ford by which the marquis could effect a retreat, and about two miles from Barron-hill church. Other troops were advancing to take the marquis in front, and co-operate with gen Grant; who instead of haftening to and fecuring the ford, marched down toward the marquis on the main road, by which mean the latter gained intelligence of the other's being in his rear. The marquis happily by an instant decision retreated by the road leading from Barron-hill church to Matfon's-ford, and had nearly effected his retreat over the Schuylkill before the enemy were fenfible of their error. They then doubled their pace to come up with his rear; but his retreat was fo handsome and timely, that the troops were all croffed and formed before they could come near the ford in force. His whole lofs was no more than nine men. The American army had early information of the marquis's danger, and were in great anxiety about him. They began firing fome of their heaviest artillery, hoping that the wind being fair, the found would be conveyed to the enemy in fuch a manner as to excite mistaken apprehenfions; which they think was the cafe, as the enemy after the marquis had croffed, made a precipi tate march back to Philadelphia, feemingly under an apprehenfion that they fhould be purfued and attacked

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1778. by the whole army. Had gen. Grant marched down at once to Matson's-ford, and fecured it, the marquis with his felect corps, must have surrendered or been cut to pieces. Their lofs would have obliged the rest of the American army to have made an hafty flight, in a most distreffing fituation, the chief of them being without shoes and stockings, and otherwife badly provided. The orderly manner in which the Americans retreated, and which contributed much to their efcaping, is to be afcribed to the improvements made in their discipline, owing greatly to the baron de Steuben, the inspector general.

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$777.

FRIEND GORDON,

You

OU will not be surprised at seeing from whence this is dated; nor be at a lofs to account for my removal. The prefent refidence will be more favorable to general intelligence than Great Britain, as it affords an opportunity of vifiting and hearing from Paris with-" out danger. My last year's letter closed with the account of capt. Cunningham's having taken the packet for Holland, in the beginning of May 1777. The captain and his crew were committed to prifon for fomęTM

irregularities; and to fave appearances were continued 1777there for a short time by the French; but were speedily releafed from their mock confinement, and permitted to purchase and fit out a much stronger veffel, avowedly to infeft the British commerce. Mr. Hodge, whom you know, was committed alfo to the Baftile, at the re-queft of lord Stormont, for having acted publicly as Cunningham's agent, in fitting out the privateer that took the Prince of Orange packet.

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While in the Bafpolitenefs and civi

tile he was treated with the utmost
lity; and entertained in the most elegant manner. But
the American commiffioners being diffatisfied with his
confinement, and expreffing themselves in ftrong terms
upon the subject, he was released, that the harmony be-
tween the French and Americans might not fuffer an
interruption.

4.

Upon fome reports tending to discourage the French commerce with the Americans, Mr. de Sartine, minifter of the marine, affured the feveral chambers of commerce by a public inftrument, figned the 4th of July July 1777, and in direct contravention to all the British navigation laws, that the king was determined to afford the fulleft protection to their commerce, and would reclaim all ships taken under that pretext. Still the policy of Verfailles prevented France's being hurried into a rúpture. She determined to rifk no decifive step, till the iffue of the American campaign was known, her failors were returned from the Newfoundland fishery, and her naval equipments were completed. Therefore when the British miniftry made heavy complaints, attended with menaces, on account of the many prizes carried into the French ports by the American priva

1778. by the whole army. Had gen. Grant marched down at once to Matfon's-ford, and fecured it, the marquis with his felect corps, must have furrendered or been cut to pieces. Their lofs would have obliged the rest of the American army to have made an hafty flight, in a most distreffing situation, the chief of them being without shoes and stockings, and otherwife badly provided. The orderly manner in which the Americans retreated, and which contributed much to their efcaping, is to be afcribed to the improvements made in their difcipline, owing greatly to the baron de Steuben, the inspector general.

LETTER III.

Rotterdam, June 20, 1778.

$777

FRIEND GORDON,

OU will not be surprised at seeing from whence

You

this is dated; nor be at a lofs to account for my removal. The prefent refidence will be more favorable to general intelligence than Great Britain, as it affords an opportunity of vifiting and hearing from Paris with-" out danger. My laft year's letter clofed with the account of capt. Cunningham's having taken the packet for Holland, in the beginning of May 1777. The captain and his crew were committed to prifon for fome

irregularities; and to fave appearances were continued 1777there for a fhort time by the French; but were speedily: released from their mock confinement, and permitted to purchase and fit out a much stronger veffel, avowedly to infest the British commerce. Mr. Hodge, whom you know, was committed alfo to the Baftile, at the re-queft of lord Stormont, for having acted publicly as Cunningham's agent, in fitting out the privateer that took the Prince of Orange packet.

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While in the Bafpolitenefs and civi

tile he was treated with the utmost
lity; and entertained in the most elegant manner. But
the American commiffioners being diffatisfied with his
confinement, and expreffing themselves in ftrong terms
upon the fubject, he was released, that the harmony be-
tween the French and Americans might not fuffer an
interruption.

4.

Upon fome reports tending to discourage the French commerce with the Americans, Mr. de Sartine, minifter of the marine, affured the feveral chambers of commerce by a public inftrument, figned the 4th of July July 1777, and in direct contravention to all the British navigation laws, that the king was determined to afford the fulleft protection to their commerce, and would reclaim all ships taken under that pretext. Still the policy of Verfailles prevented France's being hurried into a rúpture. She determined to risk no decifive ftep, till the iffue of the American campaign was known, her failors were returned from the Newfoundland fifhery, and her naval equipments were completed. Therefore when the British miniftry made heavy complaints, attended with menaces, on account of the many prizes carried into the French ports by the American priva

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