Imagination; and on Occupation. In experiment, urges, from motives of pothe treatment of all these subjects, Dr. licy as well as duty, an observance of Reid has manifested much philanthro- the same rules of conduct that had bepical feeling and elegance of mind, as fore been dictated by speculative reawell as an extensive range of observa- son and enjoined by religion, how tion, and a profound acquaintance with much is the cause of virtue strengththe theory of human life and duty. ened? Men then find that the laws of Such books are eminently calculated nature and providence grant no immuto do good. The precepts and exhor- nities to transgression, no pardon, but tations of the moralist are too apt to be to reformation; and that with one acunavailing. In early life, when sense is cord they all cry out, by the immuta young and appetite keen, before truth bility of God, that self-control is wishas been enforced by stern experience, dom; that the infallible consequence there is ever indulged an obscure hope of righteousness is happiness, and that,

that the connexion between moral and physical ill is not absolutely inseparaSure as day follows night, ble; that passion may be indulged and Death treads in pleasure's footsteps round the world, duty neglected with impunity. But when, in aid of the moralist, the physician comes forward, and by the strong evidence of facts, on the stable basis of

When pleasure treads the path which reason shuns.

L.

ART. 5. ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS.

1777) was remarkable for a circumstance of private distress too peculiar and affecting to be omitted. The circumstance to which I allude is Lady Harriet Ackland's passage through the enemy's army to attend her wounded husband, then their pri

soner.

"The progress of this lady with the army could hardly be thought abruptly or superfluously introduced, were it only so for the purpose of authenticating a wonderful story.It would exhibit, if well delineated, an interesting picture of the spirit, the enterprise, and the distress of romance, realized and regulated upon the chaste and sober principles of rational love and connubial duty

MESSRS. EDITORS, MONG the romantic incidents of real A life, few surpass the adventures of lady Harriet Ackland, who accompanied her husband Major Ackland in General Burgoyne's unfortunate campaign, of 1777. An entire generation has nearly passed away since the declaration of American Independence. The events of our revolutionary war, familiar to those who were actors in its scenes, are becoming, like the tales of "the days beyond the flood," to the existing race. The memory of those times that "tried men's souls" is revived by the perusal of General Wilkinson's Memoirs, who corrects a mistatement in the pathetic tale of Lady Harriet's story, so admirably delineated by General Burgoyne in his "Lady Harriet Ackland had accompanied State of the expedition from Canada, as her husband to Canada in the beginning of laid before the House of Commons in the year 1776. In the course of that cam1780." Should the Editors of the American Paign she had traversed a vast space of Monthly Magazine consider the narrative country, in different extremities of season, comprehended within their plan, they will and with difficulties that an European trano doubt amuse and gratify their read- veller will not easily conceive, to attend, ers by its insertion. The account of in a poor hut at Chamblee, upon his sick General Burgoyne is first introduced, and bed. General Wilkinson's relation concludes a scene unrivalled in interest by any section of ancient or modern romance.

General Burgoyne's Narrative of Lady Harriet
Ackland's Adventures.

"Besides the continuation of difficulties and general fatigue, this day, (9th October,

"In the opening of the campaign in 1777 she was restrained from offering herself to a share of the fatigue and hazard expected before Ticonderoga, by the positive injunctions of her husband. The day after the conquest of the place, he was badly wounded, and she crossed the Lake Chani plain to join him,

1

"From the date of that action to the 7th of October, Lady Harriet, with her usual serenity, stood prepared for new trials! and it was her lot that their severity increased with their number. She was again exposed to the hearing of the whole action, and at last received the word of her individual misfortune, mixed with the intelligence of the general calamity: the troops were defeate', and major Ackland, desperately wounded, was a prisoner.

"As soon as he recovered, Lady Harriet two British officers, major Hanage and proceeded to follow his fortunes through Lieutenant Reynell; but in the event their the campaign, and at Fort Edward, or at presence served but little for comfort. the next camp, she acquired a two wheel Major Hanage was soon brought to the tumbril, which had been constructed by surgeon very badly wounded; and a little the artificers of the artillery, something time after came intelligence that Lieutensimilar to the carriage used for the mail ant Reynell was shot dead. Imagination upon the great roads in England. Major will want no help to figure the state of the Ackland commanded the British grena- whole group. diers, which were attached to General Fraser's corps; and consequently were always the most advanced post of the army. Their situations were often so alert, that no person slept out of his clothes. In one of these situations a tent, in which the Major and Lady Harriet were asleep, suddenly took fire. An orderly sergeant of grenadiers, with great hazard of suffocation, dragged out the first person he caught hold of. It proved to be the major. It happened, that in the same instant she had, unknowing what she did, and perhaps not perfectly awaked, providentially made her escape, by creeping under the walls of the back part of the tent. The first object she saw, upon the recovery of her sense, was the major on the other side, and in the same instant again in the fire, in search of her. The sergeant again saved him, but not without the major being very severely burned in his face, and different parts of his body. Every thing they had with them in the tent was consumed.

"This accident happened a little time before the army crossed the Hudson's river, (13th Sept.) It neither altered the reso. lution nor the cheerfulness of Lady Harriet; and she continued her progress, a partaker of the fatigues of the advanced corps. The next call upon her fortitude was of a different nature, and more distressful as of longer suspense. On the march of the 19th Sept. the grenadiers being liable to action at every step, she had been directed by the major to follow the route of the artillery and baggage, which was not exposed. At the time the action begun, she found herself near a small uninhabited hut, where she alighted. When it was found the action was becoming general and bloody, the surgeon of the hospital took possession of the same place, as the most convenient for the first care of the wounded. Thus was this lady in hear. ing of one continued fire of cannon and musketry, for four hours together, with the presumption, from the post of her husband at the head of the grenadiers, that he was in the most exposed part of the action. She had three female companions, the Baroness of Reidesel, and the wives of VOL. I. NO. IV.

"The day of the 8th was passed by Lady Harriet and her companions in uncommon anxiety; not a tent, not a shed being standing, except what belonged to the Hospital, their refuge was among the wounded and the dying.

"When the army was upon the point of moving, I received a message from Lady Harriet, submitting to my decision a proposal (and expressing an earnest solicitude to execute it, if not interfering with my design) of passing to the camp of the enemy, and requesting General Gates's permission to attend her husband.

"Though I was ready to believe, (for I had experienced) that patience and fortitude, in a supreme degree, were to be found, as well as every other virtue, under the most tender forms, I was astonished at this proposal. After so long an agitation, exhausted not only for want of rest, but absolutely want of food, drenched in rain for twelve hours together, that a woman should be capable of such an undertaking as delivering herself to the enemy, probably in the night, and uncertain of what hands she might first fall into, appeared an effort above human nature. The assurance I was enabled to give was small indeed; I had not even a cup of wine to offer; but I was told she had found, from some kind and fortunate hand, a little rum and dirty water. All I could furnish to her was an open boat, and a few lines, written upon dirty and wet paper, to General Gates, recommending her to his protection.

"Mr. Brudenell, the chaplain to the artillery (the same gentleman who had officiated so signally at General Fraser's funeral) readily undertook to accompany her, 2 M

and with one female servant, and the major's valet-de-chambre, (who had a ball which he had received in the late action then in his shoulder) she rowed down the river to meet the enemy. But her distresses were not yet at an end. The night was advanced before the boat reached the enemy's out post, and the sentinel would not let it pass, nor even come on shore. In vain Mr. Brudenell offered the flag of truce, and represented the state of the extraordinary passenger. The guard, apprehensive of treachery, and punctilious to their orders, threatened to fire into the boat if it stirred before day-light. Her anxiety and sufferings were thus protracted through seven or eight dark cold hours; and her reflections upon that first reception could not give her very encouraging ideas of the treatment she was afterwards to expect. But it is due to justice at the close of this adventure to say, that she was received and accommodated by General Gates with all the humanity and respect that her rank, her merits, and her fortune deserved.

"Let such as are affected by these circumstances of alarm, hardship, and danger, recollect, that the subject of them was a woman; of the most tender and delicate frame; of the gentlest manners; habituated to all the soft elegancies, and refined enjoyments, that attend high birth and fortune; and far advanced in a state in which the tender cares, always due to the sex, become indispensably necessary. Her mind alone was formed for such trial."

GENERAL WILKINSON'S RELATION. "The day, (9th Oct.) wasted without a movement to the front, excepting parties of observation, and the night found us on our old ground. About ten o'clock I was advised from the advanced guard on the river, that a batteau under a flag of truce had arrived from the enemy, with a lady on board, who bore a letter to General Gates, from General Burgoyne, of which I shall here record a fac-simile, in honour

* Gen Burgoyne's Letter to Gen. Gates. SIR

of the sensibility which dictated it, and as a testimony of that supreme degree of fortitude, resignation, constancy, and affection, which is most frequently discovered under the most tender forms; and I will add, from my own observation, and I will do it with lively satisfaction, that in the exercise of these duties and these virtues which ornament and sweeten the married life; in every trial of adversity, the fair and feeble sex show themselves superior to the lordly animals of the creation, and furnish examples of tranquil firmness and resolution to their protectors.

"Major Henry Dearborn (since Major General) who commanded the guard, was ordered to detain the flag until the morning; the night being exceedingly dark, and the quality of the lady unknown. As this incident has been grossly misrepresented to the injury of the American character, which in arms is that of courage, clemency, and humanity; to correct the delusions which have flowed from Gen. Burgoyne's pen, who, although the vehicle could not have been the author of the calumny--I am authorized by General Dearborn to make the following statement, in which I place entire confidence. His guard occupied a cabin, in which there was a back apartment appropriated to his own accommodation: the party on board the boat attracted the attention of the sentinel, and he had not hailed ten minutes, before she struck the shore; the lady was immediately conveyed into the apartment of the Major, which had been cleared for her reception; her attendants followed with her baggage and necessaries, and fire was made, and her mind was relieved from the horrors which oppressed it, by the assurance of her husband's safety; she took tea, and was accommodated as comfortably as circumstances would permit, and the next morning when I visited the guard before sunrise, her boat had put off, and was floating down the stream to our camp,

tune,without testifying that your attentions to her
will lay me under obligations.
I am, Sir,

M. G. Gates.

Lady Harriet Ackland, a lady of the first distinction by family, rank, and personal virtues, Oct. 9, 1777. is under such concern on account of Major Ackland, her husband, wounded, a prisoner in your hands, that I cannot refuse her request to commit her to your protection.

Whatever general impropriety there may be in persons acting in your situation and mine to solicit favours, I cannot see the uncommon preeminence in every female grace and exaltation of character of this lady, and her very hard for

Your obedient Servant,
J. BURGOYNE.

The original of this highly interesting letter. together with several other important MSS. documents relating to the campaign of 1777, has been deposited, by Gen. Wilkinson, in the archives of the New-York Histórical Society as well as an elegantly bound presentation copy of his Memolis.

Armadillo was the first animal that he 2. The Literary and Philosophical Soprocured, and from this feeble beginning ciety, of which his Excellency the Goverhis industryand perseverance have brought nor is President. This association has the to public view the splendid collection lease of a spacious room for their sittings, which now graces our city. He has la- which are monthly. A number of excelboured for several years under the disad- lent papers on various subjects have been vantage of having a house badly adapted read before this Society, of which one to the purpose of a Museum, but as this volume of transactions has been published, is now removed, he will for the future and there are other communications on have full scope for the exercise of his in- file sufficient for a second volume, whengenuity, and with the encouragement thus ever the funds of the Society will admit afforded him, much may be expected to their publication. result from his labours.