CHAP. XI.

1778.

gambling parties, and other scenes of licentioufnefs. They became acquainted with the defigns, the resources, and the weaknesses of America; and there were many among them, whofe talents and capacity rendered them capable of making the moft mifchievous ufe of their knowledge. After long altercations between general Phillips and general Heath, who commanded in that quarter, relative to the dif orders that took place among the foldiery of both parties, and mutual charges of breaches of the articles of convention, congress directed that the British troops fhould march to Charlotteville in Virginia. They accordingly left Cambridge November the tenth, one thoufand feven hundred and feventy-eight.

General Burgoyne had early requested leave to repair to England on parole, pleading the broken ftate of his health, the deranged fituation of his private affairs, and the hazard of character, if not prefent to defend himfelf on the tidings of his defeat. He was permitted by congrefs to depart, and arrived in England in May, one thousand seven hundred and feventy-eight. But he met a very ungracious reception both from the people, the miniftry, and his king. Notwithstanding his abilities to serve, and his fidelity to his master, he was refused an audience by majefty, a court of inquiry, or a court-martial, and for fome time a hearing in the houfe of commons.

1778.

He had left England in the fanguine expec- CHAP. XI. tation of carrying conquest before him, wherever he appeared, of fubduing the Americans, and restoring tranquillity to the revolted colonies; he had returned on parole by the favor of that authority he had ever defpifed, and left his army in the hands of his enemies. The debates in parliament on the occafion, were warm and interefting. Some law-officers of the crown infifted, that as a prifoner, he was bound by his firft engagements: they faid, to talk of a trial without the power to punish, was a farce. It was urged, "that as a prifoner, "he was not capable of acting in his perfonal "capacity; and that under his prefent obligations, he was totally incapacitated for the ex"ercife of any civil office, incompetent to any "civil function, and incapable of bearing arms "in his country.'

Thus was the haughty Burgoyne affronted and mortified, after long and faithful fervices to his king and country. He was ordered immediately to repair to America as a prifoner, according to his engagements; but as the ill ftate of his health prevented his compliance, he was perfecuted until he refigned all his employments under the crown.

Parliamentary debates.

CHAP. XI.

1778.

After fome time had elapfed, general Burgoyne was permitted the opportunity of speaking for himself in the house of commons, where he defended his own reputation and cause with ability and spirit. In the courfe of his argument, he caft many fevere cenfures on the miniftry; and did not fcruple to pronounce them totally incapable of fupporting the weight of public affairs, in the prefent dangerous and critical emergency, into which they had brought the nation. Nor was he without many powerful advocates, who both ridiculed and reprobated the feverity with which he was treated. Strong intimations had been fuggefted, both within and without doors, that it might be thought expedient, that the general should be facrificed, to fave the reputation of the minifter. Several expreffions of his previous to his capture, intimated his own apprehenfions. In a letter to the fecretary of state he said, " my "confidence is ftill placed in the justice of the "king and his council, to fupport the general

they had thought proper to appoint, to as "arduous an undertaking, and under as pofi"tive directions, as a cabinet ever figned." In the fame letter, he gave his opinion of the number and difcipline of the American troops, and the many difficulties he had to encounter, without the liberty of acting at difcretion.

General Burgoyne obferved himfelf, with regard to American bravery, when speaking of

the action of the nineteenth of September, "few actions have been characterized by more

36

obftinacy in attack or defence. The British bayonet was repeatedly tried ineffectually. "Eleven hundred British foldiers, foiled in "these trials, bore inceffant fire from a fuccef"fion of fresh troops, in fuperior numbers, for "above four hours; and after a loss of above a "third of their numbers, (and in one of the regiments above two-thirds,) forced the ene

66

my at laft. Of a detachment of a captain "and forty-eight artillery-men, the captain and thirty-fix men were killed or wounded. These facts are marked by a concurrence of "evidence, that no man can difpute. The "tribute of praife due to fuch troops, will not "be wanting in this generous nation; and it "will certainly be accompanied with a juft por"tion of fhame to those who have dared to depreciate or fully valor fo confpicuous; who "have their ears open only to the prejudice of "American cowardice, and having been always "loud upon that courtly topic, ftifle the glory "of their countrymen, to maintain a bafe con

fiftency." He also adds, with regard to the action of the feventh of October, "if there can be any perfons, who, after confidering the circum“stances of this day, continue to doubt, that "the Americans poffefs the quality and faculty "of fighting, (call it by whatever name they

VOL. II.

CHAP. XI.

1777.

CHAP. XI.

1777.

"please,) they are of a prejudice that it would "be very abfurd longer to contend with." But no hazard or fatigue, bravery or misfortune, was thought a fufficient apology for the lofs of his army.

The northern expedition had been a favorite object with the British adminiftration. They were fanguine enough to fuppofe, and the nation was led to believe, that fuccefs in that quarter would reduce the turbulent spirits of Americans fo low, as to prevent further energy of oppofition, and bring the whole country to a due fenfe of fubordination, and unconditional fubmiffion to the authority of parliament. The low ebb of American affairs at the southward, previous to the fuccefs of general Gates, gave some reasonable grounds for fuch an expectation. It is not ftrange that a disappointment in this favorite object, which was calculated, if fuccessful, to redound much to the glory of the British arms, fhould be equally mortifying to the pride of the ministry, and the highfpirited people of England, or that it threw the parliament and the nation into a ferment, that did not easily fubfide. Many gentlemen of dif tinguished talents, did honor to the feelings of the heart, and the fagacity of their understanding, while it was a fubject of parliamentary debate, by their humane, fenfible, and judicious fpeeches, interfperfed with pointed wit, and brilliancy of fentiment.