the United States from the obligation of gratitude to France for disinterested aid in the accomplishment of their independence. The character of the Marquis de la Fayette, his high sense of honour, his chivalrous spirit, (evinced in his challenging the Earl of Carlisle to single combat, to answer for some of his expressions in his publick capacity of Commissioner,) and his ardent love of glory, forbid any suspicion that he was acquainted with the ultimate views of France; his having entered into the arrangement, therefore, may be attributed solely to his hope of acquiring military fame, and his attachment to the cause of liberty and indedendence.

It has been observed that the Count D'Estaing left Rhode Island and sailed to Boston, in direct opposition to the wishes and remonstrances of General Sullivan and all the American officers. This circumstance, the causes and incidents of which had been considerably exaggerated in the relation, produced rather a cool reception for him at Boston: but his explanation of the affair, and the great urbanity and strict propriety of his subsequent deportment at Boston, completely satisfied the reflecting part of the community of the purity of his intentions. To his good sense and sound discretion it was owing, that an affray which commenced with a party of captive Bri. tish sailors and the French bakers, did not end in a serious and general riot. Two of his officers were wounded in endeavouring to put a stop to the quarrel, one of whom died of his wound a few days afterwards; but the conduct of the Count on this occasion showed that he knew how to distinguish between the lawless outrage of a few individuals, and the disposition of the publick. Every facility in the power of the peo

ple of Boston was afforded to the Count for the repair of his fleet; so that when Admiral Byron arrived off the harbour from New York, with a fleet well appointed aud prepared for attack, the Count was in a situation to defend himself with every prospect of success. His security was still further increased by a battery of near a hundred guns, which he had erected on George's Island. Whether Admiral Byron would have had the boldness to make an attack under such circumstances, was left altogether to conjecture, as another severe storm soon compelled him to change his position, and seek shelter at Rhode Is land. The Count, whose force was considerably inferiour to that of the English, and who was of course desirous of avoiding an engagement, seized the opportunity of a change of weather to depart for the West Indies, whither he sailed on the 3d of November. Previous to his departure from Boston, the Count, as a part of the contemplated plan against Canada, addressed a letter to its French inhabitants, in the name of their former master, in which he endeavoured to prepare them for the intended expedition, and for a probable change in their political situation. Two days after his departure, General Gates arrived at Boston, to take command of that portion of the American army.

We have seen that Sir Henry Clinton arrived at Rhode Island with his reinforcements of 4,000 men, too late to accomplish his purpose of cutting off the masterly retreat of General Sullivan, who notwithstanding his abandonment by the French fleet and the whole corps of New England volunteers, forced his way through the British and Hessian troops to the main land. Frustrated in this design, Sir Hen

ry returned to New-York, whence he soon after despatched an expedition under Major General Grey, against Bedford and New-Haven on the Acushinot river. The Major General took with him a fleet of transports, and having landed his troops, met with little difficulty in effecting his object, which was the destruction of the shipping and privateers of these places, from the vigilance of which the British commerce had suffered considerable loss. He destroyed about seventy sail of vessels, and all the magazines, warehouses, wharves and ropewalks which were to be found on both sides of the river. Bedford, Major General Grey proceeded to Martha's Vineyard, from which he took off a considerable number of sheep and oxen, which enabled Sir Henry to equip another more important expedition against Egg Harbour, immediately on the return of the Major General from this marauding excursion. Lord Howe had, in the mean time, resigned his command of the fleet, to Admiral Gambier, and had returned to England.

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The expedition against Egg Harbour consisted of a strong body of troops, under Lord Cornwallis, who advanced into Jersey, and took a position between Newbridge on the Hackinsack, and the North River:-and Lieutenant General Knyphausen with another division of the army, who advanced on the side of West Chester, and placed himself between the North River and the Brunx, thus forming a parallel line with Lord Cornwallis, and having only the North River between the two divisions. The British army thus having complete command of the river, and as it were blockading the American forces in the Highlands. Captain Ferguson of the 70th Re

giment, was despatched with three frigates and some light vessels to Egg Harbour, but the Americans having received intelligence of their approach, had sent most of their large vessels to sea, and had removed the others to a considerable distance up the river. When Captain Ferguson arrived, therefore, he found little or nothing to destroy. But learning that the vessels had been sent up the river, he proceeded with the light armed vessels to a place called Chesnut Neck, where they found ten vessels, chiefly British prizes, which were destroyed. A small militia force were stationed here for the protection of the vessels, but they made only a show of resistance, and dispersed as soon as the British troops landed. After burning the ships, they proceeded, as at Bedford and New Haven, to destroy the habitations and store houses; and making several excursions into the neighbouring country, they wantonly fired private dwellings, destroyed several considerable salt works, and committed every species of depredation that could disgrace the soldier.

On their return to Egg Harbour, they received intelligence of some deserters from Pulaski's legion, which induced them to attempt a surprise of the light infantry belonging to that corps. For this purpose, Captain Ferguson embarked with two hundred and fifty men in barges in the night, and landed within a short distance of the place where a party of the light infantry were quartered and asleep-in this situation he fell upon them, and slaughtered about fifty men, among whom were several officers of distinction. Some of Pulaski's horse made an attempt to cut off the retreat of this party, but were unsuccessful.

In the meantime a similar scene of savage warfare had been carried on by a part of Lord Cornwallis's division, under the command of Major General Grey. This "no flint General" as he had been called, from his attachment to the use of the bayonet, was despatched by Lord Cornwallis to surprise and cut off Baylor's regiment of light horse, which had been detached to watch the movements of the British foraging parties. The regiment lay at the village of Old Taapan, to which place Major General Grey moved with such secresy and expedition, that the village was completely surrounded by his troops without being discovered, and a sergeant's patrole of twelve men cut off, before a man of the regiment knew that he was in danger. It was night, and the whole regiment were naked and asleep in the barns. Resistance in such a situation was impossible-they did not even attempt to take up their arms, but sued for quarters and for mercy to the defenceless. The mercy which they received was the bayonet; and a scene of slaughter and of havock ensued, which vied in barbarity with the enormities of Wyoming. Here there were no Indians, upon whom to throw the odium of savage cruelty, no tories, whose private resentments and ungovernable passions might be some apology for wanton acts of inhumanity.-They were British troops, under the command of a British Major General, and a part of the army of a British nobleman. The laws of war can never go further than to authorise a retaliation of treatment upon an enemy whatever conduct they pursue in war, may be perhaps justifiably pursued against them. Among civilized nations, the instances of refusing quarter to an unresisting enemy, are rare. Examples of it, indeed,