The annual register, or, a view of the history, politicks, and literature for the year. Volume 20 (The third edition), 1777
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THE THIRD EDITION. L O N D , O N: Printed for J. Dodsley, in Pall-mall, 1785, / 1 " life &A &i & 8 # « # **^'\$~8-^ ''’j **&% 'Vi^eT PREFACE. i HAVING now arrived at the conclufion of our Twentieth Volume, we fhould have been dif- pofed to have celebrated this year as a fort of jubilee, and leafon of felf congratulation, if the awful afpedt of the times had not forbidden every emotion bor¬ dering upon levity, and afforded matter of the moft ferious confideration and reflection to every member of the community. No circumftance of time, nor Rate of affairs, can, however, reprefs our gratitude, or reftrain our acknowledgements to the Publick, for that continued favour, which, as it has during fo many years, conflantly increafed with our la¬ bours, fo it has alone enabled us to encounter the arduous talk of appearing annually before them in lo many fucceffive publications, upon each of which, their former efteem, and future approbation, were, of courfe, in fome degree hazarded. The importance and magnitude of our hiftorical bufinefs have unhappily rifen to nearly the higheft pitch at which they feem capable of arriving. We relate events, in which every member of this wide and divided empire is deeply interefted in which many thoufands are immediately and perfonally con¬ cerned ; and wherein its beft blood is too copioufly fhed. The incidents are numberlefs, and the par¬ ties concerned in every incident numerous. It is not h P R E F A C E* not eafy to fleer a fafe courfe of hiftory, through the rage of civil conteft, and amidft the animofity and malignity of contending factions. Under thefe cir¬ cumstances, we are obliged to as much caution as will not be injurious to truth. And whilft publick affairs continue of fuch extent and importance, and that materials of all kinds both political and mili¬ tary grow upon us in the manner they do at prefen t, we (hall be much more felicitous to fulfil our duty, and preferve our reputation with the Publick, by a due attention to the matter which we lay before them, than at all concerned as to the inconfequential circumftance of a later or earlier publication. Our Fublifher has made an obfervation to us, which he fays efcapes moft readers, who have not fome acquaintance with what is technically termed the bufinefs of the prefs. He fays, that the Hifto- rical Article is at p refen t fwelled to fuch an extent, that if it were printed feparately, and in the com¬ mon mode of publication, it would fill a volume of nearly the fame fize, with that in which it is now included ; whilft from the circumftance of clofe printing, and its being conftdered only as a compa¬ ratively frnall part of a diffufe and large work, the dimenfions which it would acquire in its natural growth, are not perceived in its prefent contracted ftate. Under this confideration, the quantity of matter, independent of any merit in the arrange¬ ment or compofition, may account, if it does not atone, for the latenefs of our publication this year. i T H E THE ANNUAL REGISTER, For the YEAR 1777. HISTORY E U R° O P E. CHAP. I. EeirofpeRive 'view of American affairs in the year 1 776. Preparation in Canada for the armament on Lake Champlain . Stale of the American force . Engagement near the ife Valicour . Arnold retires ; purfuit ; overtaken ; veffels. Crown Point defroyed and abandoned. General Carloion lands there with the army . Motives for not attacking Ticonderoga. General Carleton returns with the army to Canada , Situation of affairs to the fouthward. General Lee taken. Perfeverance of the CongreJ's . Meafures for renewing their armies. Lands allotted for ferving during the war. Money borrowed. Addrefs to the people. Petitions from the inhabitants of New -Tor k, and from thofe of Queen's county in Long If and, to the Commiffi oners. Critical fate of Phila~ delphia. CongreJ's retire to Baltimore. Divifons in Penfylvania. Defertions. Surprise at Trenton. Lord Cornwallis returns to the ferfeys. Prevented from attacking the enemy at Trenton by impediments of fluation. General W ajhington quits his camp , and attacks Colonel Mawhood, near Princetown. Lord Cornwallis returns from the Delaware to Brunjwick. Americans over-run the Jerfeys. Britijh and Auxiliary forces keep poffejfon of Brunjwick and Amboy , during the remainder of the winter. Indian war. Articles of confederation and perpetual union between the thirteen revolted Colonies. THE efforts to remove thofe obftacles that had reftrained the progrefs of the Britifh arms on the fide of Canada, in the V01. XX. fummer of 17 76, were equal to the importance of the objects in view, and the greatnefs of the difficulties which were to be furmounted. [A] The 2] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1777.' The weight and execution of the naval equipment* fell of courfe upon the officers and men of that department, whofe ability, zeal, and perfeverance in the perfor¬ mance, can never be too much applauded. The talk was indeed arduous. A fleet of above thirty fighting veflels, of different kinds and fizes, all furniffied with can¬ non, was to be little lefs than created ; for though a few of the largeft were reconliru&ions, the advantage derived from thence depended more upon the ufc of materials which the country did n t afford, than upon any faving aoto time, or leffening of labour. When to this is added, the tranf- porting over land, and afterwards dragging up the rapids of St. Therefe and St. John’s, 30 long¬ boats, a number of flat boats of confiderable burthen, a gondola, weighing 30 tons, with above 400 battoes, the whole prefented a complexity of labour and diffi¬ culty, which feerned fufficient to appal even the fpirit of Britifh feamen. However it mull be allowed that the labour did not fall folely on them. The foldiers had their part ; and what is to be lamented, the peafants and farmers of Canada were taken from their ploughs, and compelled by power to bear a (hare in toils, from whence they could derive no ho¬ nour or advantage. Though the equipment was compleated in about three months, the nature of the fervice, as well as the eagernefs of the com¬ manders and army, required, if it had been poffible, a Hill greater difpatch. The winter was faff approaching, two inland feas to be paffed, the unknown force of the enemy on each to be fubdued. and the ftrong polls of Crown Point and Ticonderoga, defended and fupported by an army, to be encountered fword in hand. To add to thefe impediments, the communication between the Lakes Champlain and George, did not admit the paffage of thofe veflels of force, which, after being fuccefsful on the one, might be equally wanted on the other. And if all thofe difficulties were furmounted, and Lake George paffed, there Hill remained a long and dangerous march through in¬ tricate forells, extenlive moraffes, and an uncleared country. Hill in a Hate of nature, before they could reach Albany, which was the firft poll to the fouthward that could afford them reft and accommoda¬ tion. The fpirit of the commanders rofe in proportion to the difficulties which were to be encountered. The objects in view were great, the glory to be acquired tempting, and the delire of their attainment feemed to leffen or remove cb~ ftacles, which to a cold or luke¬ warm fpeculation would have ap¬ peared infuperable. If the Lakes could be recovered, and Albany poffeffed, before the feverity of the winter fet in, the northern army would hold a principal lhare in the honour of bringing the war to a fpeedy conclufion. It was conceived that they could then pour deftru&ion at will, into the heart either of the middle or the northern colonies, each of which would be expofed to them in its molt tender and defencelefs part. Whilft the poffeflion of Hudfon’s river would eftablifli and fecure their communication with General Howe, it would equally fever and difconneft the fouthern and nor¬ thern HISTORY OF EUROPE. [3 them provinces, leaving thereby the latter to fink under the joint weight of both armies, or to accept of fuch terms as they could obtain, without the participation of the others. Nor could General Wafh- ington attempt to hold any port in New York or the Jerfeys, with fuch a fuperiority of force as al¬ ready opprefled him in front, and General Carleton’s army at his back. The fuccefles of their fel¬ lows on the fide of New York, increafed the impatience, and ex¬ cited the jealoufy of this army, every one apprehending that the war would be brought to an end, before he could have an opportu¬ nity of iharing in the honour of that happy event. With all this ardour, and the moft unremitting induftry, it was not until the month of October, that the fleet was in a condition to feek the enemy on Lake Cham¬ plain. The force was very confl- derable with refpeCt to the place and fervice, extraordinary in re¬ gard to the little time fpent in its formation, and fuch as, a very few ages ago, would have been deemed formidable even upon the Euro¬ pean feas. The fliip Inflexible, which may be confldered as Ad¬ miral, had been re-conftru&ed at St. John’s, from whence ihe failed in 28 days after laying her keel, and mounted 18 twelve pounders. One fchooner mounted 14, and another 12, fix-pounders. A flat- bottomed radeau carried fix 24, and fix 12 pounders, befldes howitzers ; and a gondola, 7 nine pounders. Twenty fmaller veflels, under the denomination of gun¬ boats, carried brafs field pieces from 9 to 24 pounders, or were armed with howitzers. Some long-boats were furnlflied in the fame manner. About an equal number of large boats a&ed as tenders. Thofe we have taken, notice of, were all intended for, or appertaining to battle ; we omit the vaft number deftined for the tranfportation of the army, with its rtores, artillery, baggage and provifions. The armament was conduced, by Captain Pringle, and the fleet navigated by above 700 prime feamen, of whom 200 were volun¬ teers from the tranfports, who after having rivalled thofe belonging to the ihips of war in all the toil of preparation, now boldly and freely partook with them in the danger of the expedition. The guns were ferved by detachments of men and officers belonging to the corps of artillery. In a word, no equip¬ ment of the fort was ever better appointed, or more amply fur- nilhed with every kind of pro- vifion neceflary for the intended fervice. The enemy’s force was in no degree equal, either with refpeCt to the goodnefs of the veflels, the number of guns, furniture of war, or weight of metal. Senfible, though they were, of the necefiity of preferving the dominion of the Lakes, and aided in that defigrt by the original force in their hands, with a great advantage in point of time for its increafe, their intentions in that refpeCt were counteracted by many eflentiaJ, and fome irremediable deficiencies. They wanted timber, artillery, fhip-builders, and all the materials neceflary for fuch an equipment. Carpenters, and all others con¬ cerned in the bufinefs of fhipping, were fully engaged at the fea-ports [A] 2 in 4] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1777. an the conftru&ion and fitting out of privateers, whilft the remote- nefs, and difficulty of communica¬ tion, rendered the fupply of bulky materials extremely tedious. When we confider the difficulties on their part, we think it not juft to deny the Americans the praife, of having combated, and in part overcome them, with an affiduity, perfever- ance, and fpirit, which did not in the leaft fall fhort of what had been employed againft them. For their fleet amounted to 15 veffels of different kinds, confifting of two fchodners, one ftoop, one cutter, three gallies, and eight gondolas. The principal fchooner rhounted 12 fix and four pounders. They were commanded by Benedict Arnold, who was now to fupport upon a new element, that renown Which he had acquired on land in the Canada expedition. General Carleton was too full of zeal, and too anxious for the event, not to head the Britiffi ar¬ mament, and having proceeded Off 1 UP ^ahe, difcovered * c ’ the enemy’s fleet drawn '' * up with great judgment, being very advantageoufty polled, and forming a ftrong line, to de¬ fend the paffage between the ifland of Valicour and the weftern main, indeed they had at the beginning placed chemfelves with fo much Ikill behind the ifland, that an accident only difcovered their po¬ rtion. The King’s fquadron, without this feafonable difcovery, would have left them behind ; an event, which if it had happened, might have been attended with the moft ferious confequences. It is faid, that the unexpefted fight of a three mailed fhip of fuch force, upon the Lake, threw the enemy into the utmoft, and moft vifible confternation. It does not feem, however, probable, that a matter of fuch public notoriety in Canada, Ihould have been fo long with-held from them. A warm adtion enfued, and was vigoroully fupported on both fides for fome hours ; but the wind being unfavourable, fo that the fhip Inflexible, and fome other veffels of force could not be worked up to the enemy, the weight of the adtion fell upon the fchooner Carleton and the gun-boats, which they fuft^ined with the greateft flrmnefs, fuch extraordinary efforts of refolution being difplayed both by men and officers, as merited and received the higheft applaufe from their commanders. It is to be prefumed, that when fo much praife was due and given to the condudl and valour of a fuperior force on our fide, the enemy mult not have adted their part amifs. The detachment belonging to the corps of artillery, were highly diftingulhed, and did moft effen- tial fervice in the gun-boats. But the fame impediments ftiil conti¬ nuing, which prevented their being feconded by the other veffels. Cap¬ tain Pringle, with the approbation of the General, thought it necef- fary for the prefen t, to withdraw thofe that were engaged from the adtion. At the approach of night, he brought the whole fleet to anchor in a line, and as near as poflible to the enemy, in order to prevent their retreat. In this engagement the bell fchooner belonging to the enemy was burnt, and a gondola carrying three or four guns funk, from whence we may form fome reafon- able conjecture of the execution done HISTORY OF EUROPE. [5 done upon their other vefTels. Being now fully fenlible of their inferiority, they took the oppor¬ tunity which the darknefs of the night afforded, of endeavouring to efcape from their prefent immi¬ nent danger, hoping to obtain fhelter and protection at Crown Point. Arnold concerted and exe¬ cuted this defign with ability, and fortune feemed at firft fo favourable to his purpofe, that they were out of fight by the next morning. The chace being, how¬ ever, continued without inter- miffion both on that and the fuc- ceeding day, the wind, and other circumflances peculiar to the navi¬ gation of the Lake, which had been at firfl in favour of the Ame¬ ricans, became at length otherwife, fo that they were overtaken and brought to aCtion a few leagues fhort of Crown Point, about noon on the 13th. A very warm engagement en- fued, and continued about two hours, during which thofe vefTels that were mod a-head, pufhed on with the utmofl fpeed, and palling Crown Point, efcaped to Ticon- deroga ; but two gallies and five gondolas which remained with Arnold made a defperate refinance. During this aCtion, the Wafh- ington galley, with Waterburg, a Brigadier General, and the fecond in command, on board, flruck, and was taken. Arnold, at length, finding it was impoflible to with- ftand the fuperiority of force, fkill, and weight of metal, with which he was overborne, and finding himfelf but ill feconded by the Captains of fome of his vefTels, determined that his people fhould not become prifoners, nor the vefTels a prey to the enemy. He executed this defign with equal refolution and dexterity, and run the Congrefs galley, in which him¬ felf was, with the five gondolas, on fhore in fuch a manner, as to land his men fafely and blow up the vefTels, in fpite of every effort that: was ufed to prevent both. Lofs and defeat were To far from producing their ufual efFeCt with. refpeCt to Arnold, chat his conduCt in this command raifed his cha¬ racter ftill higher than it was be¬ fore with his countrymen. They faid that he not only aCted the part of a brave foldier, but that he alfo amply filled that of an able naval commander. That the moil experienced feaman could not have found a greater variety of refources, by the dexterity of manoeuvre, evo¬ lution, and the molt advantageous choice of fituation, to compenfate for the want of force, than he did ; that when his vefTels were torn almoft to pieces, he retreated with the Tame refolution that he fought, and by the happieft and moll critical judgment, prevented his people and them from falling into the hands of the enemy. But they chiefly gloried in the dan¬ gerous attention he paid to a nice point of honour, in keeping his flag flying, and not quitting his galley till fhe was in flames, left the enemy fhould have boarded and flruck it. Thus was Lake Champlain re¬ covered, and the enemy’s force nearly deflroyed, a galley, and three fmall vefTels being all that efcaped to Ticonderoga. The enemy, upon the rout of their fleet, having fet fire to the houfes, and deflroyed every thing which they could not carry off, at Crown. Point, evacuated that place, and [A] 3 / retired 6] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1777. retired to their main body at be obfllnate, although the army Ticonderoga. Gen. Carleton took were in the end fdccefsful, it would poffeffion of the ruins, where he probably thereby be fo much weak- was foon joined by the army. As ened, that all profped of advan- he continued there till towards tage in the future campaign would, the eni of the month, and, be- in a great meafure, be annihilated, fides feveral reconnoitring parties. The difficulty, perhaps impoffibi- pufhed on at one time flrong de- lity, of keeping open the com- tachments on both fides of the munication with Canada, and fub- Lake, who approached within a filling the army during the winter, fmall diflance of Ticonderoga, at was obvious. General Carleton the fame time that veffels appear- therefore reimbarked the army «d within cannon (hot of the without making any attempt, and works, to examine the nature of returning to Canada, cantoned the channel, and found its depth, them for the winter in the bell little doubt can be entertained manner the country afforded, that he had it in contemplation to It is fit that we fhould now turn attempt that place. The ftrength our attention to the important of the works, the difficulty of ap- tranfa&ions in the South. We proach, the countenance of the faw towards the conclufion of the enemy, and the ignorance of their lafl campaign, that Lord Corn- number, with other cogent rea- wallis had not only overrun the fons, prevented this defign from Jerfeys, but that the Delaware was taking place. the only apparent obtlacle, which It was evident that this poll feemed capable of retarding the could not be forced in its prefent progrefs of his army, in the Hate, without a very confiderable redu&ion of Philadelphia and lofs of blood, whilft the benefit the adjoining provinces. The arifing from fuccefs would be com- American army was indeed no paratively nothing. The feafon more. It is faid that the greatefl was now too far advanced to think number which remained embodied of paffing Lake George, and of did r.ot exceed 2500 or 3000 men. expofing the army to the perils of This was all that remained of an a winter campaign, in the inhof- army, which at the opening of the pitable, and impracticable wilds campaign amounted, as it is faid, to the fouthward. As Ticonde- to at lead twenty-five thoufand. roga could not be kept during the There are feme who reprefent it winter, the moil that could be ex- as having been at that time much peeled from fuccefs, would be the fironger* The term of their en- reduflion of works, more indebt- gagement being expired, which, ed to nature than art for their along with the obligation of duty, dlrengtli, and perhaps the taking difeharged all apprehenfion of dif- of fame cannon ; vyhilft the for- grace, there was no keeping to- *hner would be reflo ed, and the gether, at the heel of a ruinous latter replaced by the enemy, be- campaign, troops broken and dif- fore the array could interrupt their piritecl, equally unaccuilomed to proceedings in the enfuing ium- fubordi nation, and to a long ab- picr. Bur. if the defence ihould fence from their countries and fa- ... • • * milieso HISTORY OF EUROPE. [7 milies. Thofe fmall bodies, who from perfonal attachment, local circumftances, or a fuperior per- fcverance and bravery, ftill con¬ tinued with the Generals Wafh- ington and Lee, were too incon- fiderable in force, to demand much attention on the one fide, or to infpire confidence on the other ; whilll the fupport to be derived from new levies, not yet formed, was too remote and precarious, to afford much prefent confolation to the Americans- -r, . In this critical fitua- Dec- '3th- tion of their affairs, the capture of Gen. Lee feemed to render them dill more hopelefs. That officer, at the head of all the men which he could colleCt or keep together, being on his march to join General Washington, who had afiembled the Penfylvania mi¬ litia to fecure, the banks of the Delaware, was, from the diftance of the Britifh cantonments, be¬ trayed into a fatal fecurity, by which, in croffing the. upper part of New Jerfey from the North river, he fixed his quarters, and lay carelefsly guarded, at fome di¬ ftance from the main body. The operation of zeal, or defire of reward in an inhabitant, having communicated this fituation to Col. Harcourt, who commanded the light horfe, and had then made a defultory excurfion at the head of a fmall detachment to obferve the motions of that body, he conduct¬ ed his meafures with fuch addrefs and activity, and they were fo well feconded by the boldnefs and ra¬ pidity of motion which diftinguifh that corps, that the guard was evaded, the centries feized without noife, the quarters forced, and Lee carried off, though all that part of the country was in his favour, and that feveral guarded pofts, and armed patrols, lay in the way. The making of a fingle officer prifoner, in other circumftances, would have been a matter of little moment; but in the prefent ftate of the raw American forces, where a general deficiency of military fkill prevailed, and the inexpe¬ rience of the officers was even a greater grievance than the lack of difcipline in the foldiers, the lofs of a commander, whofe fpirit of enterprize was direCled by great knowledge in his profeffion ac¬ quired by aCtual fervice, was of the utmoit importance, and the more diftreffing, as there was little room to hope it could be foon fupplied. The rejoicing in Great Britain on this occafion was equal at leaft to the dejeCtion of the Americans. It was conjectured, that fome per¬ fonal animofities between this Ge¬ neral and feveral officers in the army, as well as perfons of power at court, contributed not a little to the triumph and exultation of that time. The capture of Gen. Lee was alfo attended with a circumftance, which has fince been productive of much inconvenience to both, fides, and of much calamity to in¬ dividuals. A cartel, or fomething of that nature, had fome time be¬ fore been eftablifhed for the ex¬ change of prifoners between the Generals Howe and Waffiington, which had hitherto been carried into execution, fo far as time and other circumftances would admit. As Lee was particularly obnoxious to government, it was faid, and is fuppofed, that Gen. Howe was [/?] 4. tied 8] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1777. tied down b. his inilru&ions from parting wh h him upon any terms, if b Gnune of war ffiould hrcvv iiim into his power. Gen. Walh- ington :nOt ha mg* at this time any prifoner of equa* rank with Lee, propo fed to exchange fix field offic ers for him,- the 'n timber being intended to 'balance tha djfparity; or if this Was not accepted, he required that he ihould be treated and coniidered fuitably to his Na¬ tion, according to the pra&ice eftabUihe.d among pcbihed nations, and the precedent already let by the Americans in regard to the Britifh officers in their hands, un¬ til an opportunity offered for a direct and equal exchange. To this it was arrfwered, that as Mr. Lee was a deierter from his Majefiy’s fervice, he was not to be coniidered as a prifoner of war, that he did not at all come with¬ in the conditions of the cartel,, nor com Id he receive any of its benefits. This brought on a fruir- lefs difeuffibn, whether Gen. Lee, who had refigned his half pay at the beginning of the troubles, could be considered as a deferter, or whether he could with juftice be excluded from the general be¬ nefits of a cartel, in which no particular exception of perfon had been made; the affirmative in both thefe pofitions being treated by Wafhington with the utmofi: in¬ dignation. r In the mean time Lee was con¬ fined in the doled: manner, being watched and guarded with all that ffriftnefs and jealoufy, which a Hate criminal of the firfi: magni¬ tude could have experienced in the moft dangerous political con- jundiure. This concluft not only j/ufpended the operation of the A y ' * - . ' «'• « 1 t ‘ M *>" •' •" ’J ’ " cartel, but induced retaliation- on the othe; fide, and Colonel Camp¬ bell, who had hitherto enjoyed every degree of liberty confident with Ids condition, and had been treated v: h great humanity by the peop of Boflon, was now thrown in co a dungeon, and treated with a • gour equal to the indulgence ne had before experienced. Thofe officers who were prisoners in the fouthe-n colonies, though not treated with equal rigour, were, however, abridged of their parole liberty, and deprived of other comforts and Lrlsfaftions, which had hitherto rendered their condi¬ tion uncommonly eaiy. It was at the fame time declared, that their future treatment Ihould in every degree be regulated by that which Gen. Lee experienced, and that their perfons ffiould be an- fvverable, in the utmoft extent, for any violence that was offered to him. - * 1 This was not the only inftance in which the Congrefs manifefted a firm and undaunted refolution. In rhe midft of the dangers with which they were environed, far from giving way to any thing like unconditional fubrmffioh, they made no overtures towards any kind of accommodation. On the other fide none were made to them. They prepared to renew the war, and to repair their flattered forces with all diligence. They were now convinced of the inefficacy of temporary armies, engaged only for a fliort term, and calculated merely to repel a bidden mvafion, when oppofed to the conftant war of a powerful enemy, and the in- ceffant efforts of regular forces. It could never be hoped, with new men thus changed every year, to make Vjf HISTORY OF EUROPE. [« make any effe&ual ftand againft veteran troops, and their prefent critical fituation afforded too a- larming an experience, of the fa¬ tal confequences which might at¬ tend that period of utter imbeci¬ lity, between the extin&ion of the old army, and the eftablilhment of the new. To guard againft this evil in future, which could not be remedied for theprefent, theyiffued orders about the middle of Septem¬ ber, for the levying of 88 batta¬ lions, the foldiers being bound by the terms of enliftment to ferve during the continuance of the war. The number of battalions which each colony was by this ordinance appointed to raife and fupport, may be confidered as a pretty exadl political fcale of their com¬ parative ftrength, framed by thofe who were intereited in its correft- nefs, and well acquainted with their refpedtive circumftances. Maffachfett’s Bay and Virginia were the higheft on this fcale, be¬ ing to furnifh 15 battalions each ; Penfylvania came next, and was rated at twelve; North Carolina 9, Connecticut and Maryland 8 each. New York, and the Jerfeys, the latter confidered as one go¬ vernment, were, in confequence of their prefent fituation, fet no higher than 4 battalions each. The liberality of the Congrefs in its encouragement to the troops, was proportioned to the neceffity of fpeedily compleating the new army. Befides a bounty of twenty dollars to each foldier at the time of enlifting, lands were to be allotted at the end of the war to the furvivors, and to the reprefen- tatives of all who were flain in aClion, in different ftated propor¬ tions, from 500 acres, the allot¬ ment of a Colonel, to 150, which was that of an Enfign ; the pri¬ vate men, and non-commiffioned officers, were to have 100 acres each. As a bar to the thoughtlefs- nefs and prodigality incident to foldiers, and to prevent the mod worthlefs and undeferving from obtaining for trifles, thofe rewards due to the brave for their blood and fervices, all thefe lands were rendered unalienable during the war, no affignment or transfer be¬ ing to be admitted at its conclufion. The Congrefs had before, as an encouragement to their forces by fea and land, decreed that all offi¬ cers, foldiers, and feamen, who were or might be difabled in a&ion, ffiould receive, during life, one half of the monthly pay to which they were entitled by their rank in the fervice, at the time of meeting with the misfortune. Not- withllanding thefe encouragements, it fsems as if the condition of ferving during the indefinite term of the continuance of the war, was not generally agreeable, to a people fo little accuftomed to any kind of fubordination or reftraint; fo that in the month of November, the Congrefs found it neceflary to admit of another mode of enlift- ment for the term of three years, the foldiers under this compact re¬ ceiving the fame bounty in money with the others, but being cut out from any allotment of lands. With all thefe encouragements given by the Congrefs, the bufi- nefs of recruiting went on, how¬ ever, but heavily; and it mult not be imagined, that the army adlually raifed, did at any time bear any proportion in effective men to that which was voted. The holding out a promife of lands id] ANNUAL RE lands as an inducement to fill up their armies, was probably in¬ tended to counteract the effedt of a fimilar meafure which had feme time before been adopted on the tide of the crown, large grants of "vacant lands* to be diftributed at the ciofe of the troubles, hav¬ ing been promifed in its name to the Highland emigrants, and feme other new troops railed in Ame¬ rica, as a reward for their expell¬ ed zeal and loyalty in the re¬ duction of the rebellious colonies. A meafure which tended more to increafe and excite the animoffty of the people, than any other perhaps which could have been propofed in the prefen t circum- jftances. For they univerfally con¬ sidered the term vacant, ns ffg- nifying forfeited, which being an effedt of the treafon laws yet un¬ known in America, excited the greater horror ; the people being well aware from the experience of other countries, that if the fvveets of forfeiture were once tailed, it would be equally happy and un- ufual, if any other limits, than thofe which nature had affigned to their pefleffions, could rellrain its operation. The annual fuppiies raifed in the d fferent colonies by their re- fpefliye affemblies, being infuffi- cien^ to provide for the extraor¬ dinary expences of fo large an army, together with the other nu¬ merous contingencies, infeparable from fuch a war, the Congrefs found it neccfiary to negociate a loan to anfwer thefe purpofes. They accordingly paffed a refolu- tion to borrow five millions of dollars, at an intereff of four per cent, tire faith of the united Hates 4 GISTER, 1 777; being pledged to the lenders for the payment both of principal and intereff. As the fituation of their affairs became extremely critical, and the prefervation of Philadelphia to all appearance hopelefs, at the time that Lord Cornwallis had overrun the Jerfeys, and that the Britifh forces had taken pofleflion of the towns and polls on the De¬ laware, the Congrefa ^ publilhed an addrefs CC’ IoS:n‘' to the people in genera], but more particularly to thofe of Penfylvania and the adjacent Hates. The ge¬ neral objects 'of this piece, were to awaken the attention of the people, remove their defpondency, renew their hopes and fpirits, and confirm their intentions of fup- porting the war, by (hewing that no other meaqs were left for the prefervation of thofe rights and liberties for which they originally contended. But it was particu¬ larly and immediately intended to forward the completion of the new army, and to call out the in¬ habitants of the neighbouring countries to the defence of Phila¬ delphia. For thefe purpofes they enume¬ rated the caufes of the troubles, the fuppofed grievances they had endured, the late oppreffive laws which had been paffed againff them, dwelt much upon the con¬ tempt with which all their peti¬ tions and applications for redrefs had been treated ; and tofhew that no alternative but war, or a tame refignation of all that could be dear to mankind remained, they afferted, that even the boaffed Commiffioners for giving peace to America had not offered, nor did yet HISTORY O yet offer, any terms but pardon on abfolute fubmifflon. From this detail and thefe premifes, they de¬ duced the neceffity of the adl of independency, afferting, that it would have been impoffible for them to have defended their rights againft fo powerful an aggreffor, aided by large armies of foreign mercenaries, or to have obtained that afliHance from other Hates which was abfolutely neceffary to their prefervation, whilH they ac¬ knowledged the fovereignty, and confeffed themfelves the fubje&s of that power, againfl which they had taken up arms, and were engaged in fo cruel a war. They boafted of the fuccefs that had in general attended their caufe and exertions, contending that the prefent Hate of weaknefs and dan¬ ger, did not proceed from any capital lofs, defeat, or from any defeft of valour in their troops, but merely from the expiration of the term of thofe fhort enliftments, which had in the beginning been adopted from an attention to the eafe of the people. They allured them that foreign Hates had al¬ ready rendered them effential fervices, and had given the moH pofitive a flu ranees of further aid. And they excited the indignation and animoflty of the people, by expatiating upon the unrelenting, cruel, and inhuman manner, in which, they faid, the war was car¬ ried on, not only by the auxilia¬ ries, but even by the Britifh forces themfelves. Complaints of this kind held a diflinguifhed place in all the Ame¬ rican publications of that time. Some of them, indeed, contained nothing elfe but details of rapes, rapine, cruelty and murder. Though thefe accounts were undoubtedly F EUROPE. [n highly exaggerated, it is, however, to be apprehended, that too much, room was afforded for complaints of that nature. The odium be¬ gan with the Heflians, and has fince Huck clofely to them, though the Britifh troops were far from efcaping a ihare of the imputation. The former, naturally fierce and cruel, ignorant of any rights but thofe of depotifm, and of any manners, but thofe eflablifhed within the narrow precindt of their own government, were incapable of forming any diflindlion between, ravaging and deHroying an ene¬ my’s country, where no prefent benefit was intended but plunder, nor no future advantage expected but that of weakening the foe, and the reducing of a malecon- tent people, (who, though in a Hate of rebellion, were Hill to be reclaimed, not deflroyed) to a due fenfe of obedience to their lawful fovereign. It has been faid, that in order to reconcile them to fo new and flrange an adventure, fome idea had been held out to them in Germany, that they fhould obtain large portions of the lands which they were to conquer in America, and that thisnotion, however abfurd, made them at firft confider the an¬ cient pofleflors as their natural ene¬ mies; but that when they found their error, they confldered the moveable plunder of the country, not only as a matter of right, but an inadequate recompence for un¬ dertaking fuch a voyage, and en¬ gaging in fuch a war. Military rapine may be eafily accounted for without any recourfe to fuch a deception. It had been obferved from the beginning, that the moH mortal antipathy fubflfled between i2] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1777; between the Americans and Hef- fians. The former, contending themfelves for freedom, and filled with the higheft notions of the na¬ tural rights of mankind, regarded with equal contempt and abhor¬ rence, a people, whom they con- fidered as the moft fordid of all mercenary Haves, in thus refigning all their faculties to the will of a petty defpoE, and becoming the ready inftruments of a cruel tyran¬ ny. They reproached them with the highefl polfible degree of moral turpitude, in thus engaging in a dorneftic quarrel, in which they had nither intereft or concern, and quitting their homes in, the old world to butcher a people in the new, from whom they never had received the fmalieft injury; but who, on the contrary, had for a century pall afforded an hofpita- ble afylum to their harraifed and opprelfed countrymen, who had fled in multitudes to efcape from a tyranny, fimilar to that under which thefe were now acting, and to enjoy the bleffings of a liberty moft generoully held out to them, of which thefe mercenaries would impioufly bereave the German as well as Englilh Americans. Such fentiments, and fuch re¬ proaches, did not fail to increafe their natural ferocity and rapaciouf- uefs ; and it is laid that they con¬ tinued in a courfe of plunder, un¬ til they at length became fo encum¬ bered and loaded with fpoil, and fo anxious for its prefervation, that it grew to be a great impediment to their military operations. However difagreeable this con- si u& was, and contrary to the na- re of the Britifh commanders, was an evil not eafily to be re*- edied. They could not venture 4-. to hazard the fuccefs of the war* in fo dillant a fituation, and fuch precarious and critical circum- llances, by quarrelling with auxi¬ liaries who were nearly as nu¬ merous and powerful as their own forces. Allowances were necelfa- rily to be made for a difference of manners, opinions, and even ideas of military rules and fervice. Without opening any general ground of diflike or quarrel, it re¬ quired all the conftancy, and all that admirable equanimity of tem¬ per which dillinguilh General Howe’s character, to reftrain the operation of thofe picques, jealou- lies, and aniraofities, the eifedts of national pride, emulation, and a difference of manners, which no wifdom could prevent from fpring- ing up in the two armies. It was fparcely poffible that the devaftation and disorders pradtifed by the Heffians, Ihould not operate in fome degree in their example upon the Britifh troops It would have been difficult to have punilh- ed enormities on the one fide, which were pradtifed without re- ferve or apprehenlion on the other. Every fuccefsful deviation from order and difcipline in war, is certainly and fpeedily followed by others Hill greater. No relaxation can take place in either without the moft ruinous confequences. The foldier, who at firlt Ihrinks at trifling exceffes, will in a little time, if they pafs without queftion, proceed, without helitation, to the greated enormities. From hence fprung the clamour railed in America of the defolation which was fpread through the Jerfeys, and which by taking in friends and moderate men, as well as enemies, did great injury to the HISTORY OF EUROPE. [i the royal caufe, uniting the latter more firmly, and urging to acti¬ vity, or detaching, many of the former. Nor could the effeCt be confined to the immediate fufferers; the exaggerated details which were publifhed of thefe enormities, ferving to imbitter the minds of men exceedingly through all the colonies. Thefe accounts being alfo tranfmitted to Europe, feemed in fome degree to affeCt our nati¬ onal character ; in France particu¬ larly, where the people in general, through the whole courfe of this conteft, have been ftrongly Ameri¬ can, they were readily received and willingly credited. Among other enormities which received the cenfure of our neighbours in that country, the deftruCtion of the public library at Trenton, and of the college and library at Princetown, together with a cele¬ brated orrery made by Rittenhoufe, faid to be the belt and fined in the world, were brought as charges of a Gothic barbarity, which waged war even with literature and the fciences. In about a month after the tak¬ ing of New York, the inhabitants of that city and ifland prefented a petition to Lord and General Howe, the commiffioners for reftoring peace to the colonies, figned by Daniel Horfemanden, Oliver De Lancy, and 946 others, declaring their allegiance, and their acknow¬ ledgement of the Conjiitutional Su¬ premacy of Great Britain over the colonies ; and praying, that in purfuance of the former declara¬ tions iflued by the Commiffioners, that city and county might be re- flored to his Majelty’s peace and prote&ion. 