כ

1775.

their ground, until galled on every fide, attack, CHAP.VII.
ed in the rear, and their retreat cut off by a
British party, who found means to fecure a paf-
fage that prevented even the attempt, yet they
kept up an obftinate defence for feveral hours,
but at laft were obliged to furrender themselves
prisoners of war.*

Though the manes of their commander in
chief had not been treated with that generosity
which is ufually the refult of true magnanimity,
yet general Carleton treated the prifoners that
afterwards fell into his hands, with more hu-
manity; their wounds were dreffed, their wants
relieved, and his own phyficians fent to visit
the fick. He also endeavoured to recal thofe,
who, after the defeat, had taken fhelter in the
woods, or fuch as had been left fick or wounded
on the way, after the retreat; and by procla-
mation, he promised liberty to all the unhappy
ftragglers, when they should be cured of their
wounds and diseases.

After the death of Montgomery, the retreat of Arnold, and a furrender of a confiderable

* Most of the American officers diftinguished themselves by their intrepidity and vigilance on this fated day; but none more than colonel Morgan, who seemed to be adapted by nature, by his ftrength of body, vigor of mind, and unconquerable refolution, for the fevere conflicts of war. This was afterwards exemplified in the many rencounters he met in the ravage of the Carolinas.

CHAP. VII.

1775.

part of his troops, the broken forces collected and retired about three miles from the city. There they kept up a kind of blockade through the winter; and by the fpirit of Arnold, on whom the command had devolved, and the vigilance of his party, they prevented in a great measure, additional recruits and fupplies for the relief of the city. This there was every reason to expect would be attempted, not only from the difficulties of their fituation within the city, but from the fickleness of the Canadians without, and their manifest disposition to enlift under the banners of fuccefs. From their local circumftances, this change of temper might from the beginning have been apprehended, from those pretended allies of the United States. Their neighbourhood and connexion with the savages, their long habit of ofcillating between England and France, and their ignorance in general of the grounds of the dif pute, muft naturally render their fidelity to the ftates, under the jurifdiction of Congress, very

uncertain.

But we leave the lakes, the wilderness, the favages, and their employers in that quarter, for the prefent, to obferve for a time, the interefting movements on the borders of the Atlantic, and the difpofition discovered by the ancient parent of the colonies, which foon produced confequences of the highest moment. It may,

1775.

however, be proper to obferve here, that gene- CHAP. VIL
ral Arnold extricated himself in a remarkable
manner from his embarraffments in this quar-
ter; and lived to be confpicuously distinguish.
ed through the American war, for his bravery
and address, his activity, and his villany.

CHAP. VIII.

1775.

CHAPTER VIII.

Diffenfions in the British Parliament.--Petition of Gover nor Penn rejected. Boston evacuated.-Sir Henry Clinton fent to the Southward--Followed by General Lee-His Character.-Sir Peter Parker's Attack on Sullivan's Ifland.-General Howe's Arrival at SandyHook.-General Washington leaves Cambridge.-Observations on the Temper of fome of the Colonies.

WHILE as above related, a bufy and important scene was exhibited at the northward, the fouthern colonies were parrying the embarrassments created by the royal governors, fome of whom had recently left America. The people were gradually laying aside the prejudices which mankind generally imbibe for old established governments, and were preparing themfelves for new modes, if neceffity should impel, whenever the delegates with whom they had entrusted their rights, fhould judge affairs fully ripened for a declaration of independence, and a final feparation from Britain. The American congrefs was yet waiting the result of their late petition to the throne, with a degree of temper and moderation fcarcely paralleled, among men poffeffing the unlimited confidence of their country on the one fide, and on the other irritated by the neglect and contempt of their oppreffors, and the rude infults of minifterial

menace.

Thus fufpended on the wing of expectation, or rather an unfounded and fruitless hope, every thing remained quiet at head-quarters, through the winter of one thousand seven hundred and seventy-fix. No attempt was made against Bofton by the American army, nor did general Howe fhew any difpofition to fally from the town, and interrupt the tranquillity of the camp. In fhort, the British army, engroffed by the pleasures of the town, and the exhibition of farces compofed by one of their general officers, became fo inactive, and appeared fo inoffenfive, that the Americans (little lefs difpofed to indulge in the pleasures of peace) enjoyed at Cambridge the conviviality of the season. The ladies of the principal American officers repaired to the camp. Harmony and hofpitality, united with that fimplicity which had hitherto been characteristic of the domeftic tafte, ftyle, and manners of the most respectable Americans, reigned among them for several months, without the smallest interruption. Civility and mutual forbearance appeared between the officers of the royal and continental armies, and a frequent interchange of flags was indulged, for the gratification of the different partisans.

* General Burgoyne, whofe genius for thefe literary productions was afterwards difplayed more to his honor.

CHAP. VIII.

1775.