his troops to the ships, pursued close by the column of Wayne. A short time previous to this, the gallant Laurens was killed in resisting a foraging party.

Washington having spent the winter in constant and artuous correspondence, repaired in the middle of April to the amp at Morristown, and a few days after continued his journey, and took up his quarters at Newburgh.*

An event happened at this time which exasperated the inhabitants of the colonies greatly, and filled Washington with the deepest indignation. Captain Huddy, commanding a small detachment in Monmouth county, New Jersey, was seized by a party of refugees and taken to New York. A few days after, he was dragged from prison, and carried by Captain Lippincott, at the head of a band of refugees, to Middletown, and there hung. This gallant officer, unmoved by the brutality and ribaldry of his enemies, met his fate with perfect composure. Washington, acting under the decision of a Council of War, immediately wrote to Sir Henry Clinton, demanding that Lippincott should be given up. The British general refusing to comply with the demand, it was determined to execute an English prisoner of equal rank. Lots being drawn by the officers, a young man, only nineteen years of age, named Captain Asgill, was designated as the victim. The extreme youth of this officer rendered it still more painful for Washington to adhere to his original determination. Previous to his ascertaining who was to be the sufferer he had said, "Keenly wounded as my feelings will be, at the deplorable destiny of the unhappy victim, no gleam of hope can arise to him but from the conduct of the enemy themselves." And again, "I will receive no application, nor answer any letter on the subject, which does not inform me that ample satisfaction is made for the death of Captain Huddy on the perpetrators of that horrid deed."

*The building he occupied has been retained in its original state, and is now owned by the State of New York, and made the depository of relics of the Revolution.

In the meantime Sir Guy Carleton arrived in New York to assume the command in place of Clinton. Previous to his departure great changes had taken place in the aspect of affairs in Parliament. On the 2d of March, General Conway introduced a resolution, declaring that a further prosecution of the war in America for the purpose of subduing the colonies was impracticable. The Ministerial party endeavored to dispose of this by a motion to adjourn. The House divided, when the ministry was found to be in a minority of nineteen. Conway then moved that an address, based on that resolution, be presented to his Majesty. The die was cast. The news spread like the wind, and in a short time the city was in a state of intense excitement. Lord Stormount, anticipating some public demonstration, "wrote to the lord mayor and aldermen to prevent, if pos sible, illuminations in the city." They were accordingly prevented; but in the gallery on the top of the Monument there blazed more than a hundred lamps.* Long and loud acclamations rent the air, announcing to Lord North that the hour of his overthrow had come. The different ambas sadors from the various courts of Europe immediately hurried off expresses to announce the momentous news. king's reply to the address was equivocal, but to every one acquainted with the state of affairs it was evident that the opposition had gained a permanent ascendency. On the 20th, Lord Surrey made a formal motion respecting the removal of ministers. Lord North interrupted him, saying that the ministry was about to resign their duties.† As a last desperate expedient to retain their places, the Cabinet

The

*Vide Journal and Letters of 'Curwen, by George Atkinson Ward, page 336. † It was on “this occasion Lord Surrey happened to espy Arnold in the House, and sent him a message to depart, threatening, in case of refusal, to move for breaking up the gallery; to which the general answered, that he was introduced there by a member; to which Lord Surrey replied, he might, under that condition, remain, if he would promise never to enter it again-with which General Arnold complied."-Vide Curwen's Journal and Letters by Mr. Ward.

proposed a dissolution of Parliament. This was defeated by Thurlowe, the Lord High Chancellor, who, with a virtue that honored him more than his office, refused to affix the seals to such an order.

But as the prospect of peace brightened, the discontent and murmurs of the troops increased. A long season of idleness had given them time to brood over and discuss their grievances, while they saw that the termination of the war would be the signal of their dispersion and the end of their power. Moreover, the independence of the country naturally begat questions and discussions respecting the form of government to be adopted. They had not originally taken up arms against a monarchy, but against its oppressive acts. The English government was considered by many of the wisest men of the day to be a model one, and they wished only to see its like adopted by their country when its liberty was once secured. Besides, the most thorough republicans had seen quite enough of the government of a Congress. It had lost the respect of both civilians and officers. It was clear, therefore, that a head was needed. But this head must be invested with power sufficient to control and overrule Congress to a great extent, or it would not possess the efficiency required to coerce obedience. Circumstances, of course, indicated Washington as that head, and the next question naturally arose-under what title should he govern? The officers around Newburgh called meeting after meeting, and warm and eager discussions evinced the deep interest the army took in the form of government that should be adopted. At length an old and respected officer, Colonel Nicola, was empowered to sound Washington on this delicate point. He, therefore, addressed him a letter, in which, after going over the points referred to above, he, in a circuitous manner, at length succeeded in communicating the plain fact, that the army wished him to be "KING." This letter took Washington by surprise. An unexpected

danger had arisen before him—an abyss suddenly opened at his very feet. The army was actually assuming the control of the government-the military power appointing the civil. And, more than this, disgusted with the working of republican institutions, it was thinking seriously of setting up a king. Washington seemed doomed ever to wrestle with evils. No sooner did one disappear before his wisdom or strength, than from an unexpected quarter another rose to fill him with grief and oppress him with anxiety. But he never seemed to despond, and nothing exhibits the grandeur of his character more than the promptness and courage with which he met and overcame every new form of danger. But not in the darkest hour of his country--not in the midst of his starving, naked, dying troops-not when overborne and scattered by the enemy-under no blow with which fate had yet smitten him, did his heart so sink as under the revelation made in this letter. What! become a king over a free people who had struggled so nobly for their freedom-dash to earth the hopes which had borne them up in the midst of such trials and sufferings, and wrong so deeply human faith, and confidence, and rights, as turn traitor at last? To hint that HE was capable of such turpitude, was striking at the very soul of honor. Pride, grief, resentment, anxiety, commingled and intense, swelled his bosom. "Sir," said he, in reply, "with a mixture of great surprise and astonishment, I have read with attention the sentiments you have submitted to my perusal Be assured, sir, no occurrence in the course of the war has given me more painful sensations than your information of there being such ideas existing in the army as you have expressed, and as I must view with abhorrence and reprehend with severity. For the present the communication of them will rest in my own bosom, unless some further agitation of the matter shall make a disclosure necessary.

"I am much at a loss to conceive what part of my conduct

could have given encouragement to an address, which to me seems big with the greatest mischiefs that can befall my country. If I am not deceived in the knowledge of myself, you could not have found a person to whom your schemes are more disagreeable. At the same time, in justice to my own feelings, I must add, that no man possesses a more sincere wish to see ample justice done to the army than I do. and as far as my powers and influence in a constitu tional way extend, they shall be employed to the utmost of my abilities to effect it, should there be occasion. Let me conjure you, then, if you have any regard for your country, concern for yourself or posterity, or respect for me, to banish those thoughts from your mind, and never communicate as from yourself or any one else a sentiment of the like nature."

Every line of this letter bears indications of a poweriul internal struggle-a struggle to maintain that self-composure and moderation he was wont to exhibit, but which, under this new evil, threatened to forsake him. Incomparable man! intrenched so deeply in virtue that temptations and the arrows of misfortune rebound from his bosom without even leaving the mark of their contact. Yet this act seems so in keeping with Washington's whole character and conduct, that it hardly strikes us as extraordinary. Virtues we never expect to find in others we should be surprised not to see exhibited in him. His actions are all so elevated above the common track of life, that it would disappoint us to find any one of them tainted with the imperfections of our lower sphere. So harmonious is his character in every part, that its colossal proportions can be understood only by comparing him in detail with other men in similar circumstances.

The case of young Asgill continued to trouble Washington exceedingly, and his whole correspondence shows a constant and severe struggle between his feelings and his sense of duty. Sir Guy Carleton finding, however, that he was im