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strangest vicissitudes, that perhaps ever attended any one contest since the creation, both armies are brought back to the very point they set out from, and the offending party in the beginning, is now reduced to the spade, and pick-ax for defence. The hand of Providence has been so conspicuous in all this, that he must be worse than an infidel that lacks faith, and more than wicked, that has not gratitude enough to acknowledge his obligations.""

CHAPTER XV.

GENERAL OPERATIONS OF THE REVOLUTION CONTINued.

PENDING these operations, George Johnston, Esq. one of the British commissioners, attempted to bribe a Mr. Reed, and others, members of Congress, to effect a negociation and reconciliation between Britain and America, to which Mr. Reed replied." I am not worth buying, but such as I AM, the King of England is not rich enough to do it." Mr Reed disclosed the facts to Congress, and they, by their resolve, ordered all letters addressed to the members of Congress, from British commissioners, or agents, or any subjects of the king of Great Britain, of a public nature, to be laid before Congress. They next proceeded by resolve to interdict all further intercourse, or negociation with the said George Johnston, Esq. as incompatible with the honour of Congress. This resolve brought out of New-York a warm and spirited reply from the proscribed Johnston, with a total disavowal of the facts on the part of Sir Henry Clinton, Lord Carlisle, and Mr. Eden; they at the same time tendered to Congress their ratification of the convention of Saratoga, that the troops of Gen. Burgoyne might be embarked for England; but Congress declined all ratification short of that of the British government, and the troops were withheld.

The commissioners next directed their appeal to the American people, and issued their publications accordingly; Congress favoured this procedure, and their appeal had full scope; the country had good sense enough rightly to appreciate this procedure, and virtue enough to frown upon it with contempt, and it ended in disgrace, and mortification to the commissioners.

Stung with chagrin and indignation at the failure of all their bare and insidious measures, the commissioners next proceeded to denounce the American government in a valedictory manifesto, and proclamation, and threatened the American people with vengeance and destruction, if they persevered in their rebellion, and adhered to their alliance with France.

Congress met this procedure with a manifesto, in which they denounced that savage mode of warfare which the British had carried on in America, and particularly their barbarity towards the American prisoners, as well as the meanness of the commissioners in attempting to seduce the members of Congress, and others, by bribery and corruption; they thus concluded-" If our enemies presume to execute their threats, or persist in their present career of barbarity, we will take such exemplary vengeance as shall deter others from a like conduct. We appeal to that God who is the searcher of hearts, for the rectitude of our intentions, and in his holy presence declare, that as we are not moved by any light and hasty suggestions of anger, or revenge, so through every possible change of fortune, we will adhere to this our determination."

The Marquis La Fayette felt the indignity offered to his nation, by some expressions in the manifesto of the commissioners, and challenged the Earl of Carlisle to answer for these reflections at single combat, but his challenge was not accepted.

On the 6th of August the Honourable Sieur Gerard delivered his credentials in due form, and had his first audience of Congress.

Congress next proceeded to appoint Dr. Franklin minister plenipotentiary to the Court of Versailles, with instruc-: tions to negociate for an expedition against Canada, in which France and America were to co-operate, in conformity with the views of the Marquis La Fayette.

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 enemy 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 Wyo ming.

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"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 exterminator 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 occasioned, 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

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