letter Robinson stated that he had been informed that Allen and most of the inhabitants of Vermont were opposed "to the wild and chimerical scheme of the Americans in attempting to separate the Continent from Great Britain, and to establish an independent State of their own; and that you would willingly assist in uniting America again to Great Britain." He promised to communicate to General Clinton any communication that Allen might wish to make and intimated that cooperation with the British might mean a separate government for Vermont. If the proposals were not accepted the matter might rest in oblivion.

This letter was delivered to Allen in the street at Arlington, in July, by a British soldier disguised as an American farmer. Having read it, the Vermont leader told the bearer that he would consider the communication, and that he might return. The contents of the letter were made known at once to Governor Chittenden and to a few other Vermont men of influence. After consultation it was agreed that the Governor should address a letter to General Haldimand regarding an exchange of prisoners. Various communications were addressed to Gen. Ethan Allen by the Canadian authorities, some of which, apparently, have not been preserved. In the Haldimand correspondence, printed by the Canadian authorities, it is interesting to note the fluctuation of opinion concerning the sincerity of the Vermont leaders, confidence alternating with suspicion and distrust.

As early as August 13, 1780, Haldimand wrote to Clinton: "No dependence can be placed on the word of Allen or of those associated with him in Vermont, who

cannot be bound by laws or ties. If Allen could arm 4,000 men, it would not be safe to trust him in this province, for, under pretence of joining the King's troops he may watch an opportunity to seize the province." Another Clinton (George), then Governor of New York, doubtless would have agreed to this characterization of Allen. Haldimand added that there was a report in circulation to the effect that Allen was raising a force to defend his State against both King and Congress, and closed with the significant assertion that he (Haldimand) never had received any overtures from Allen. A letter from Major Carleton, stationed at Crown Point, dated October 17, 1780, addressed to an officer named Powell, declared that dispatches forwarded for General Allen had to be destroyed, as the messenger was pursued. The accounts of the early stages of these negotiations are rather meagre, but from British documents it appears that on October 31, 1780, Major Clark, Brigade Major to Ethan Allen (probably Nathan Clark), arrived with a flag of truce and a letter. Clark reported, it is said, that the people of Vermont were exasperated against New York and tired of constant alarms. A message was sent to Allen announcing that a cessation of arms would be observed, and his condition that the truce should apply to northern New York was accepted. On November 9 of the same year Haldimand warned Major Carleton of the necessity of caution "in view of the sad fate of Major Andre." Although he could not officially enter into a truce, hostilities would be avoided as much as possible. About this time Governor Chittenden informed General Haldimand that he

had laid the letters relating to a cartel for the exchange of prisoners before the Legislature, and that Ira Allen and Major (Joseph) Fay had been designated to act for Vermont. Justus Sherwood and George Smith were appointed to act as British agents. Ira Allen relates that following this agreement the Vermont militia were disbanded and the British troops retired to winter quarters in Canada, much to the surprise of the New York militia. It was agreed that the commissioners named, representing both parties, should go to Canada together, but the early formation of ice in Lake Champlain made navigation difficult, and after "much political conversation and exhibits of papers," Allen and Fay returned home.

Governor Chittenden notified General Haldimand on January 1, 1781, that he had appointed Jonas Fay and Maj. Isaac Clark commissioners, and that they would proceed on a similar business as soon as the road was safe. Later in the winter Jonas Fay started for Canada but was unable to proceed far on account of the unsafe condition of the ice.

General Haldimand issued instructions on December 20, 1780, to the commissioners appointed to negotiate with Vermont, in which he declared that he had always regretted the unjust measures taken by the government of New York in the land controversy with the New Hampshire Grants, and authorized them to give most positive assurance that Vermont would be erected into a separate province. He proposed the raising of two battalions of ten companies each, of which Messrs. Allen and Chittenden, or any others selected by the Governor

and Council, should be Lieutenant Colonels. He agreed that if Congress should admit Vermont to the Union, the negotiations should cease and any steps that led to them should be forgotten. It is probable that these propositions were not communicated to the representatives of Vermont until early in May.

He

Beverly Robinson sent another letter to Ethan Allen, at Arlington, on February 2, 1781, proposing the cooperation of Vermont in the restoration of peace. made no reply to this communication, but transmitted both of Robinson's letters to Samuel Huntington, President of the Continental Congress, together with a statement in which he declared that these were the only letters he had received from Robinson, that he had returned no answer to them, and that he had never had the slightest personal acquaintance with the author. Allen was very frank in this letter, referring to the claim of Congress to an exclusive right to arbitrate on the existence of Vermont as a separate government, and to its influence exerted to create schisms among its citizens. He alluded to the hostility of neighboring States, which had laid claim to part or all of Vermont's territory and had expected that it would be devastated by a foreign enemy, a condition of affairs which might lead to the furtherance of "their exorbitant claims and avaricious designs."

Very boldly did Allen declare Vermont's position, saying: "I am confident that Congress will not dispute my sincere attachment to the cause of my country, though I do not hesitate to say I am fully grounded in opinion that Vermont has an indubitable right to agree on terms of cessation of hostilities with Great Britain,

provided the United States persist in rejecting her application for a union with them: for Vermont, of all people, would be the most miserable, were she obliged to defend the independence of the United Claiming States, and they at the same time at full liberty to overturn and ruin the independence of Vermont. I am persuaded when Congress considers the circumstances of this State, they will be the more surprised that I have transmitted them the enclosed letters than that I have kept them in custody so long, for I am as resolutely determined to defend the independence of Vermont as Congress is that of the United States, and rather than fail, will retire with (the) hardy Green Mountain Boys into the desolate caverns of the mountains, and wage war with human nature at large."

The voluminous Haldimand Papers contain documents showing how earnestly the English authorities hoped that Vermont might be reconciled to the Crown. Lord George Germaine, on April 12, 1781, wrote General Haldimand that advices from New York indicated that Ethan Allen and the people of Vermont were taking judicious measures for a declaration in favor of Britain "when the time comes to send in troops." He also hoped that "numerous friends at Albany" would join and that the whole district would return to obedience.

Again, on May 4, Germaine wrote a letter to Haldimand, which discloses in part, at least, what the British hoped to accomplish by winning over the Green Mountain State. Haldimand was instructed "to cooperate with Clinton and to use every means to bring in Vermont, cut off communication between Albany and the