On the 27th of February, therefore, General Conway brought forward a new motion to the same effect, which was seconded by Lord Althorpe. In order to evade the question, the attorney-general (Wallace) recommended that a truce should be proposed with America; but on a division upon his amendment, a majority of nineteen appeared against ministers. The motion of General Conway was immediately followed by another, for an address to his majesty to put an end to the war; and it was further resolved, that the address should be presented by the whole house. His majesty's answer to the address was in general terms, that he should take such measures as might appear to him most conducive to the restoration of peace. Any reference to the prosecution of offensive war was cautiously avoided. The evasive nature of this answer induced General Conway to move another resolution in the commons, declaring, "that the house would consider as enemies to his majesty, and to the country, all those who should advise the further prosecution of offensive war on the continent of North America." After a feeble opposition, this motion also was permitted to pass without a division.

On the formation of the new ministry Conway was placed at the head of the forces; but he resigned his military command in the following year, and retired from public life to his seat, near Henley-upon-Thames, where he died suddenly on the 9th of July, 1795.

General Conway was an accomplished scholar, and the reputed author of several pamphlets and minor literary pieces. He accompanied his cousin Walpole, and Gray, in their continental tour, in 1739.

Sir Henry Clinton.

BORN A. D. 1738.-DIED A. D. 1795.

THIS officer was grandson of Francis, sixth earl of Lincoln, and son of George, second son of that nobleman. He was born about the year 1738. Having entered the army, he served for some time in Hanover In 1758 he became a captain in the first regiment of guards, and, in 1775, obtained the rank of major-general, having, in the interim, distinguished himself in the early part of the American war. He was present in the battle of Bunker's hill, and commanded the troops who carried the intrenchments at the taking of Boston; and, after having assisted at the unsuccessful attack on Charleston, bore a share in the capture of New York and Long Island, of which latter place he was appointed commandant, but was compelled to capitulate to the American general, Gates.

In 1777 he was made a knight of the bath; and in January, 1778, appointed commander-in-chief of the British forces in America. On the 8th of May he arrived at Philadelphia, whence, on the approach of General Washington, he commenced and successfully accomplished his retreat to New York. In 1779 he was appointed colonel of the 7th,

When the house went up to St James's with the address, the noted General Arnold was found standing at the right hand of his majesty. This circumstance drew forth some pointed observations in parliament from Lord Surrey, who declared, "that it was an insult to the house, and deserved its censure."

or king's own regiment. In the course of the same year he undertook an expedition into the province of New Jersey, where, according to French writers, his troops behaved with great barbarity. He also, in conjunction with Major-general Provost, who commanded in East Florida, concerted and carried into effect an invasion of Georgia, which was completely successful. In January, 1780, he arrived with a body of troops in South Carolina, and shortly afterwards invested Charleston, which surrendered on the 11th of May. For his services on this occasion he was honoured with the thanks of parliament. He subsequently recaptured Stony Point; and meditated an attack on the French forces in Rhode Island, which, however, the approach of Washington compelled him to abandon.

Shortly afterwards he seduced General Arnold to deliver up the strong position of West Point, the defence of which had been intrusted to him, and employed emissaries to go among the American troops and seduce them from their fidelity. The affair of Arnold, involving as it did the fate of a gallant officer, Major André, created a great sensation both in Europe and America. The campaign of 1780 had reduced the cause of the colonists to a low ebb. The country was exhausted, the continental currency expiring. While these disasters were openly menacing the northern states, treachery was silently undermining them. The disposition of the American forces afforded an opportunity of accomplishing so much to the advantage of the British that they could wellafford a liberal reward for treachery. The American army was stationed in the strongholds of the highlands on both sides of the North River. In this arrangement, Arnold solicited for the command of West Point. This fort has been called the Gibraltar of America. It was built after the loss of Fort Montgomery, for the defence of the North River, and was deemed the most proper for commanding its navigation. Rocky ridges rising one behind another, rendered it incapable of being invested by less than twenty thousand men. Though some even then entertained doubts of Arnold's fidelity, yet Washington believing it to be impossible that honour should be wanting in a breast which he knew was the seat of valour, granted his request, and intrusted him with the important post. Arnold, thus invested with command, carried on a negotiation with Sir Henry Clinton, by which it was agreed that the former should make such a disposition of his forces as would enable the latter to surprise West Point. The object of this negotiation was the strongest post of the Americans,-the thoroughfare of communication between the eastern and southern states, and the repository of their most valuable stores. The agent employed in this negotiation, on the part of Sir Henry Clinton, was Major André, adjutant-general of the British army. To favour the necessary communications, the Vulture sloop of war had been previously stationed in the North River, as near to Arnold's posts as was practicable without exciting suspicion. A written correspondence between Arnold and André had been for some time carried on under the fictitious names of Gustavus and Anderson. In the night of the 21st of September, a boat was sent from the shore to fetch Major André. Arnold met him on the beach, without the posts of either army. Their communing was not concluded till it was too near the dawn of day for Andrè to return to the Vulture. Arnold told him he must lie concealed till the next night. For that purpose

he was conducted within one of the American posts, against his previous stipulation, and continued with Arnold the following day. The boatmen refused to carry him back the next night, as the Vulture, from being exposed to the fire of some cannon brought up to annoy her, had changed her position. André's return to New York by land, was now the only practicable mode of escape. To effect this he quitted his uniform, which he had hitherto worn under a surtout, for a common coat, and was furnished with a horse, and, under the name of John Anderson, with a passport "to go to the lines of White Plains, or lower if he thought proper, he being on public business." He advanced alone and undisturbed a great part of the way. When he thought himself almost out of danger, he was stopped by three of the New York militia, between the outposts of the two armies. Major André, instead of prouucing his pass, asked the man who stopped him, "Where he belonged to?" He answered, "To below," meaning New York. André replied, "So do I," declared himself a British officer, and pressed that he might not be detained. He soon discovered his mistake. His captors proceeded to search him: several papers were found in his possession, secreted in his boots. These were in Arnold's hand-writing, and contained exact returns of the state of the forces, ordnance, and defences at West Point. André offered his captors a purse of gold and a valuable watch, if they would let him pass, and permanent provision and future promotion if they would convey and accompany him to New York, but they nobly disdained the proffered bribe, and delivered him a prisoner to Colonel Jameson, who commanded the scouting parties. André, when delivered to Jameson, continued to call himself by the name of Anderson, and asked leave to send a letter to Arnold to acquaint him with his detention. This request was inconsiderately granted. Arnold on the receipt of the letter abandoned every thing, and went on board the Vulture sloop of war. Meanwhile Colonel Jameson forwarded to Washington the papers found on André, together with a letter giving an account of the whole affair; but the express, by taking a different route from the general, who was returning from a conference at Hartford with Count de Rochambeau, missed him. This delay enabled Arnold to effect his escape. The same packet which detailed the particulars of André's capture, brought a letter from him. in which he avowed his name and character, and endeavoured to show that he did not come

under the description of a spy. He stated, that he held a correspondence with a person under the orders of his general; that his intention went no farther than meeting that person on neutral ground, for the purpose of intelligence; and that, against his stipulation, his intention, and without his knowledge beforehand, he was brought within the American posts, and had to concert his escape from them. Washington referred the whole case to the examination and decision of a board consisting of fourteen general officers. Audré on his examination voluntarily confessed every thing that related to himself, and particularly that he did not come ashore under the protection of a flag. The board did not examine a single witness, but founded their report on his own confession. In this they stated the following facts: "That Major André came on shore on the night of the twenty-first of September, in a private and secret manner, and that he changed his dress within the Amer ican lines, and, under a feigned name and disguised habit, passed their

works, and was taken in a disguised habit when on his way to New York, and when taken, several papers were found in his possession which contained intelligence for the enemy." From these facts they farther reported it as their opinion, "That Major André ought to be considered as a spy, and agreeably to the laws and usages of nations, he ought to suffer death."

Sir Henry Clinton, Lieutenant-general Robertson, and Arnold himself, wrote pressing letters to General Washington, to prevent the decision of the board of general officers from being carried into effect. Arnold in particular urged, that every thing done by André had been done by his particular request, and at a time when he was the acknowledged commanding-officer in the department. He contended, "that he had a right to transact all these matters, for which, though wrong, Major André ought not to suffer." An interview also took place between General Robertson, on the part of the British, and General Greene, on the part of the Americans, at which every thing was urged by the former that ingenuity or humanity could suggest for averting the proposed execution,-but without effect. It was the general opinion of the American army that his life was forfeited, and that national dignitv and sound policy required that the forfeiture should be exacted.'

After having made an ineffectual attempt to succour Lord Cornwallis, who, with the whole of his troops, was compelled to capitulate, Sir Henry Clinton commenced preparations, in 1782, for attacking the French settlements in the Antilles, but was superseded in his command before he could carry the project into effect.

On his return to England, a discussion took place between him and Cornwallis, as to the surrender of the latter, the entire blame of which each party attributed to the other. He subsequently obtained the governorship of Limerick, and, in 1793, that of Gibraltar, in possession of which he died on the 23d of December, 1795. He had for some time been a member of parliament; first for Newark, and afterwards for Launceston.

Sir Henry Clinton was undoubtedly an able and enterprising officer. His want of success in America was due to his want of means only to secure and retain his conquests; he had no force sufficient to contend with the energies of a roused people, directed by the genius of a Washington, and fighting for all that men hold dear and sacred. His attempts to tamper with the patriotism of his opponents do not, now at least, reflect any additional lustre on his character.

Sir Hugh Palliser.

BORN A. D. 1722.-DIED A. D. 1796.

THIS naval officer was born at Kirk-Deighton in Yorkshire. His father was an officer of infantry. He served as a lieutenant in the engagement off Toulon, in 1744. In 1746 he made a successful cruise in the Weazel sloop of war. His services, after this period, until the year 1757, embraced the Leeward islands station, the East Indies, and

1 Miller's History.

North America. In the latter year, while cruising off Ushant, he captured a very large French East India ship, after a severe action. In 1758 he served under Admiral Saunders in the Quebec expedition. He continued in active service until 1773, when he was created a baronet, and soon afterwards returned to parliament for Scarborough. In 1775 he became a flag-officer, and was appointed a lord of the admiralty. In 1778 he served as third in command under Admiral Keppel. in the engagement with the French fleet off Ushant. The failure of this action, or rather its non-important results, led to much recrimination betwixt him and the first in command, the nature of which we have already alluded to in our notice of Viscount Keppel.

Sir Hugh spent the latter part of his life in retirement. He died on the 19th of March, 1796.

Jeffery, Lord Amherst.

BORN A. D. 1717.-DIED A. D. 1797.

THIS nobleman was born January 29th, 1717, at Riverhead in Kent, and named Jeffery after his father, who possessed a small estate there. Having an elder brother, Sackville, to whom the family-fortune was to devolve, Jeffery, the second son, dedicated himself to the profession of arms. He received his first commission as an ensign in the guards, in 1731, when he was only fourteen years of age; and before he was twentyfive he became aid-de-camp to General, afterwards Lord Ligonier. In this capacity he accompanied that officer into Germany, and was present at the battles of Dettingen and Fontenoy. He was afterwards placed on the staff of the duke of Cumberland, with whom he is known to have been present at the engagements of Lafeldt and Hastenbeck; and it is supposed that he was with his royal highness during two other periods very different in point of glory, the victory of Culloden, and the convention of Closter Camp. The duke made a point of providing for all his suite; and young Amherst-who by this time had attained a colonel's commission was appointed in 1756 to the command of the 15th regiment of foot; in two years more he obtained the rank of major-general in the

army.

On the commencement of hostilities with France, in 1757, it was determined to make America the seat of war. Pitt, afterwards earl of Chatham, by arousing the sleeping genius of his country, enabled it to achieve prodigies of valour and glory. With consummate penetration, he selected men of genius to direct the arms of his country. Majorgeneral Wolfe, who had distinguished himself at the battle of Lafeldt, by his military talents, when scarcely twenty years of age, was an officer of his nomination. The fate of that gallant youth, who died in the arms of victory, and the conquest of Canada that soon followed, are events which have already been told. It was with this hero that Major general Amherst was destined to co-operate. Having achieved the reduction of Louisburg, General Amherst, on the 30th of September, 1758, was appointed commander-in-chief of all the forces in North America, in the room of General Abercrombie, and at the same time received another regiment-the 60th, or Royal American--which