with those of its sovereign. On the 29th of Feb. ruary, it was moved in the house of commons by general Conway, "That it is the opinion of this house, that a further prosecution of offensive war against America, would, under present circumstances, be the means of weakening the efforts of this country against her European enemies, and tend to increase the mutual enmity so fatal to the interests of both Great-Britain and America."

A change of ministry and policy soon succeeded. General Sir Guy Carlton was ordered to take the command of the British forces in America, and in conjunction with admiral Digby, was appointed to negociate a peace with the American government. Upon their arrival in New-York, propositions were made for a peace, or truce, with those colonies which had revolted against the British crown; intimating that others which had not revolted, or had been reduced by the British arms, were not to be included. The independence of the United-States was not explicitly acknowledged, nor was any notice taken of the treaty of alli ance with France.

In reply to the propositions of the British commissioners, it was declared by a resolution of con. gress, that the basis of negociation must be an acknowledgment of the independence of the United States, and in conjunction with his most christian majesty the king of France. The former was ultimately acknowledged upon certain conditions, but to the latter there were strong evidences of

reluctance, and several months passed away in fruitless attempts at negociation.

On the 2nd of May, general Leplie who com manded the British forces in the southern department, proposed to general Greene a cessation of hostilities. The latter declined entering into any stipulation of this sort, without authority from congress. It was understood however, that measures were in progress for withdrawing the British forces from America, and that terms of peace had been offered by Great-Britain to the American ministers at Paris.

About the 1st of July, general Wayne was visited by a deputation from the merchants of Savannah, under the protection of a flag, for the purpose of ascertaining the conditions upon which the British subjects might be permitted to remain in the city, after it should be evacuated by the British troops. They informed him that such an event was daily to be expected, in consequence of orders which had recently been received by general Clarke. General Wayne replied, that when the British garrison should be withdrawn from Savannah, he should feel bound, in his military ca-. pacity, to protect the persons and property of such as might remain; but that the ultimate disposal of both, would be turned over to the civil authorities of the state; that his excellency the governor and his executive council were in the vicinity of the American camp, to whom he would submit the subject of their application, and give them an answer the next day.

General Wayne had a personal conference with governor Martin, and was requested to offer assurances of safety, for the persons and property of such inhabitants as chose to remain in Savannah, after it should be evacuated by the British troops; and that a reasonable time would be allowed them to dispose of their property and settle their pecuniary concerns in the state; but it was to be clearly understood, that such men as had been guilty of murder, or other atrocious offences, would be liable to be tried and punished according to the laws of the state. The governor refused to enter into any stipulations for the safety of culprits, who were amenable to the judicial tribunals of the state; alleging that the executive and judiciary were separate and distinct, by the constitution, and that the former had no control over the latter. These subjects were communicated to the deputation, by whom they were reported to the inhabitants of the town,

Another deputation was appointed upon the succeeding day, with instructions to enter into definitive terms and conditions, and that they might be well understood, it was requested that they should be reduced to writing: they were accordingly indulged in their wishes. This negociation was principally confided to major John Habersham, an officer of the Georgia line, and a native of the city, whose personal character gave facility and confidence to the arrangements; having by the correctness of his conduct, and the polish of his

manners, preserved a high standing, even among those who were inimical to the cause in which he was engaged. Satisfied with the assurances of protection which were given, many of the British subjects, who resided with their families in Savannah, discontinued the preparations which they had commenced for removal, and became citizens of the United-States. Such of the loyalists as were unwilling to subscribe to the conditions proposed, removed with their families, and the property they had in possession, to Cockspur and Tybee islands, where they encamped until the transports were ready to sail. Among this number there were many, whose atrocious conduct

during the war, would have placed their lives at great hazard, if they had been tried by the civil authorities of the state: others had in possession large fortunes, in negroes and other property, which had been plundered from their republican countrymen. According to the British accounts of that day, seven thousand persons sailed from Savannah, between the 12th and 25th of July, and consisted of the following descriptions: twelve hundred British regulars and loyalists; five hun. dred women and children; three hundred Indians; and five thousand negroes. Governor Wright and some of the civil and military officers went to Charleston in the Princess Caroline; ge. neral Clarke and part of the British regulars to New-York; Colonel Brown's rangers and the Indians to St. Augustine; and the remainder to

the British West-India islands, under convoy of the Zebra frigate, Vulture sloop of war, and other armed vessels, which had been ordered to the coast of Georgia for the purpose. The same ac count states that from three fourths to seven eighths of the Georgia negroes had been carried off by the British.

The war in Georgia was now hastening to a close. The pleasing moment was fast approaching, when the war-worn veteran would be permitted to retire from the scene of blood, to the enjoyment of peace. The 11th of July was fixed for the embarkation of the British troops, and a formal surrender of the town was made to colonel James Jackson; and the American army entered and took possession of it the same day. Colonel Jackson was selected for this purpose, by general Wayne, as a compliment justly due for his faithful services during the whole war, in which he had often distinguished himself; but more particularly, for the hazardous services which he had recently per. formed with his legion, in advance of the army. Upon this important occasion, the friends and families of the Americans in Savannah, received them with tears of joy and gratitude, but the surrounding country exhibited nothing but ruins and devastation, and threw a gloomy shade over their future prospects.

Colonel Posey, with the main body of general Wayne's army, marched in a few days to join general Greene, in South-Carolina; and general