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Nov.

General Gates arrived at Bofton, having been directed 1778. forthwith to repair thither and take the command of the continental forces in the eastern district.

The prefent narrative of American matters fhall clofe with part of a letter*, written from Philadelphia the 27th of Auguft, by a gentleman of eminence to gov. Houston of Georgia" Were I to unfold to you, Sir, the scenes of venality, peculation and fraud, which I have difcovered, the disclosure would astonish you: nor would you, Sir, be less astonished were I, by a detail which the oc cafion would require, to prove to you, that he must be a pitiful rogue who, when detected or fufpected, meets not with powerful advocates among thofe, who, in the prefent corrupt time, ought to exert all their powers in defence and fupport of these friend-plundered, much injured, and, I was almost going to say, finking states. Don't apprehend, Sir, that I colour too high, or that any part of thefe intimations are the effect of rafh judgment or defpondency: I am warranted to fay they are not: my opinion, my fentiments, are fupported every day by the declaration of individuals: the difficulty lies in bringing men collectively to attack with vigor a proper object."

* This was a private letter; but was afterward published in Riving. ton's Royal Gazette, as written by the prefident of congrefs, Henry Laurens efq. It was known by feveral to contain a strong mark of authenticity-the truth.

5.

LETTER

VI.

Roxbury, April 14, 1779.

1778. THE prefent letter fhall begin with an expedition through the remote and upper parts of Pennfyl

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vania, on the ift of October under col. William Butler. It was directed not only against the Indians, but feveral confiderable settlements belonging to the tories, become particularly obnoxious from the violence of their past hoftilities. The party, which confifted of a Pennfylvania regiment, covered by riflemen and rangers, took its departure from Schoharie, and having gained the head of the Delaware, marched down the river for two days; from whence turning off to the right, they ftruck across the mountains to the Susquehanna, which was the scene of action. They totally burnt and deftroyed, both the Indian caftles and villages in that quarter, and the other fettlements; but the inhabitants, both tories and Indians, escaped. The destruction was extended for feveral miles on both fides the Sufquehanna. The difficulties, distresses and dangers which the party encountered, required no fmall fhare of that fortitude and hardinefs of body and mind, which can fcarcely be acquired by any confiderable number of men without long habitude, under certain marked circumftances of fituation. They were obliged to carry fix days provifion on their backs; and thus loaded, continually to wade through rivers and creeks, fcarcely paffable without any encumbrance to

men unused to fuch fervice. In thefe circumstances, 1778. after the toil of a hard march, they were obliged to endure chilly nights and heavy rains, without any mean for keeping even their arms dry. But thefe were fmall matters compared with the danger awaiting their return, and which they hardly efcaped. This was the fudden rifings of the creeks and the Sufquehanna, occafioned by continual heavy rains, while they were still in the enemy's country, and with their provifions nearly expended. The last circumstance rendered their cafe defperate, fo that though, on any other occafion, the crossing of the Susquehanna, when fo high, would have been deemed impracticable, it was fuccefsfully attempted by mounting the men on horses, which in fome places were obliged to swim; and thus all the troops were fafely tranfported, and by croffing the mountains evaded two other dangerous places. They returned to Schoharie on the 16th, after having, with the greateft fortitude, 16. furmounted every difficulty, and were, by order of the colonel, complimented with the firing of thirteen rounds of cannon, and a feu de joie.

Mr. governeur Morris having acquainted congrefs, that he had received application from a perfon in New York, to know whether he may, with fafety to his perfon and property, continue in that city upon the evacuation thereof; and having further informed them, that the faid perfon is in a capacity to give useful intelligence, and probably will do it, if he receive affurances that it will be recommended to the ftate of New York to afford him protection, they refolved, that the faid G. Morris be empowered to give him fuch affurances, on condition that he shall give intelligence of whatever may come to

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1778. his knowledge relating to the numbers, movements and defigns of the enemy. Henry Laurens efq; having Oa. filled the ftation of prefident for one year on the 31ft 31. of October, made his refignation of the presidency, lest any example taken from his continuance might hereafter become inconvenient. He was replaced by a unanimous vote.

Nov.

3.

5.

Accounts have been received, that commodore Evans, being difpatched by adm. Montague, arrived on the 14th of September in St. Peter's road, and fent to the governor of the fmall islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon, acquainting him that the French had committed hoftilities in America, and that therefore he demanded a furrender of the islands: which was complied with, as there was no force to make an effectual refiftance. The governor and his fuite, and the principal inhabitants, women and children, amounting to 932, were embarked on board the veffels found at St. Pierre's, and fent to France.

The French alliance has proved the occafion of the British miniftry's having ordered away a confiderable part of their force from New York. The fame day that count d'Estaing failed from Bofton, commodore Hotham with two 64 gun fhips, and three of 50, beside frigates and a bomb ketch, having under convoy transports containing 5000 British troops, commanded by gen. Grant, left Sandy Hook and fteered for the West Indies, whither the count went.

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The chevalier de Maduit du Pleffis, lieut. col. of artillery in the continental army, having expreffed an apprehenfion that the war is near a conclufion in this country, and a defire of returning to France to offer

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his service to his prince, congrefs ordered that a written 177 teftimonial of the high fenfe they entertained of his zeal, bravery and good conduct, fhould be given him. The committee upon the bufinefs, had refolved that a brevet commiffion of colonel fhould be granted him, which the congrefs negatived two days before, as it was high time to cease lavishing away promotions on foreigners. The ambition of the natives of France and of foreigners in common was unbounded; and the fingular inftances of rank which had been conferred upon them, in too many instances, occafioned general diffatisfaction and complaint. Fewer promotions in the foreign line would have been productive of more harmony among the continental officers. It is certain, that the army has a full proportion of foreign officers in their councils.

Some hundreds of Indians, a large number of tories, 11. and about 50 regulars, all under col. Butler, entered Cherry-Valley within New York ftate, by an old Indian path, which col. Alden, who commanded the American troops there ftationed had neglected. The colonel was fhot in attempting to reach the fort, called after him Alden: on which the enemy commenced a heavy fire that lafted more than three hours, when they withdrew, having no further hope of carrying it. The next day they left the place after having killed, fcalped, and barbaroufly murdered 32 inhabitants, chiefly women and children, befide col. Alden and ten foldiers. They took prisoners the lieut. colonel, two or three other officers, 13 privates, and a number of inhabitants. The greatest inhumanities were practised on most of the dead.

John Roberts and Abraham Carlisle, of the quaker 22. perfuafion, were executed at Philadelphia, being con

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