gestions, artful misrepresentations and insidious promises of protection," made by the enemy, as well as to animate their constituents, at that trying period, published a well timed and spirited address. They called upon the people of the State of New York, by every thing they held dear in life, to support and main tain their rights, and save their country. Alluding to the depressed state of their affairs, their country invaded by a numerous and well disciplined army, flushed with victory, and in possession of their commercial capital, they reminded them of the noble conduct of the citizens of Rome, when placed in a situation somewhat similar. "After the armies of Rome," they say, "had been repeatedly defeated by Hannibal, that imperial city was besieged by this brave and experienced general, at the head of a numerous and victorious army. But so far were her glorious citizens from being discouraged by the loss of so many battles, and of all their country; so confident of their own virtue and the protection of heaven, that the very land on which the Carthagenians were encamped, was sold at public auction, for more than the usual price." "These heroic citizens disdained to receive his protection or to regard his proclamations. They remembered, that their ancestors had left them free; ancestors, who had bled, in rescuing their country from the tyranny of kings. They invoked the protection of the Supreme Being, they bravely defended their city, with undaunted resolution, they repelled the enemy, and recovered their country. This address was not only approved by congress, and earnestly recommended to the serious attention and perusal of all, but ordered by them to be translated into German, and printed at the expense of the United States. Congress had now become sensible of the impolicy of short enlistments, and a dependence on the irregular services of the militia. They, therefore, determined to raise eighty eight battalions, to serve during the war. A bounty of twenty dollars was given to all non-commissioned officers and soldiers; and in addition to this, lands were promis *This Address was drawn by Mr. Jay. ed to those officers and soldiers, who should continue in service to the close of the war. After their retreat to Baltimore, the members of congress, instead of despairing of the commonwealth, took the most effectual mode for its preservation. At a distance from the commander in chief, and the scenes of military operations, they deemed it necessary to invest him with unlimited military powers for a short period. On the 27th of December, therefore, after declaring that “the unjust, but determined purpose of the British court to enslave these free States, obvious through every insinuation to the contrary, having placed things in such a situation, that the very existence of civil liberty now depends on the right exercise of military powers; and the vigorous and decisive conduct of these being impossible to distant, numerous and deliberative bodies;" they passed the following resolve" That general Washington shall be, and he is hereby vested with full, ample and complete powers to raise and collect together in the most speedy and effectual manner, from any or all of these United States, sixteen battalions of infantry, in addition to those already voted by congress; to appoint officers for the said battalions of infantry; to raise, officer and equip three thousand light horse; three regiments of artillery, and a corps of engineers, and to establish their pay; to apply to any of the States for such aid of the militia, as he shall judge necessary; to form such magazines of provisions, and in such places as he shall think proper; to displace and appoint all officers under the rank of brigadier general, and to fill all vacancies in every other department of the American armies; to take wherever he may be, whatever he may want for the use of the army, if the inhabitants will not sell it, allowing a reasonable price for the same; to arrest and confine persons, who refuse to take the continental currency, or are any otherwise disaffected to the American cause; and return to the States, of which they are citizens, their names, and the nature of their offenses, together with the witnesses to prove them." These powers were vested in general Washington, for the term of six months, unless sooner determined by congress. The gen eral assured congress that all his faculties should be employed, to direct properly the powers they had been pleased to vest him with, to advance those objects and those only, which had given rise to so honorable a mark of distinction. - "If my exertions," he said, "should not be attended with the desired success, I trust the failure will be imputed to the true cause, the peculiarly distressed situation of our affairs, and the difficulties I have to combat,-rather than to a want of zeal for my country, and the closest attention to her interests, to promote which has ever been my study."* General Washington was sensible of the necessity of some immediate favorable turn in his military operations, not only to save the city of Philadelphia, but to rouse the spirit of the nation, and to secure an army for the succeeding campaign. He, therefore, boldly resolved, even with his small force, to attempt a surprise on a body of Hessians, encamped at Trenton. This he carried into complete effect, on the morning of the 26th of December, after suffering great hardships in his march, and in crossing the Delaware, in a cold stormy winter night. Many of the Hessians, under the command of Col. Rahl, were killed, and more than nine hundred taken prisoners. With these, in the evening of the same day, he recrossed the Delaware in safety. This bold and successful enterprise elevated the hopes of the Americans, and excited no little astonishment in the British, who considered the American army annihilated. Being soon after joined by a number of militia, the American commander again crossed the Delaware, at Trenton, where he was met by a superior force, under lord Cornwallis; and the fate of the country seemed suspended on the issue of a battle, which appeared unavoidable. In this situation of the American army, it was equally hazardous to fight or retreat. From this dilemma, general Washington extricated himself, by one of those bold measures, which none but great minds, conceive and execute. He came to the resolution of leaving the enemy, in their encampment, marching to Princeton, by a circuitous route, and surprising the British troops, at that place. Washington's Official Letters, vol. 2, p. 1. This he effected in the night, and in so secret a manner, that the noise of the cannon at Princeton, early the next morning, gave lord Cornwallis the first notice of his movement. The battle at Princeton was decidedly in favor of the Americans. The British troops, after suffering no inconsiderable loss, were compelled to retreat to Brunswick. The British general immediately returned from Trenton, but not in time to aid in the engagement, or to molest the American army. He immediately retired to Brunswick, his head quarters; and general Washington, with his army, took a position at Morristown; where, with an inferior force, during the rest of the winter, he kept the enemy in check. By these bold and successful enterprises, with the smiles of heaven, a great part of New Jersey was recovered from the enemy, public confidence restored, and a new impulse given to the recruiting service. In February, congress returned and resumed their deliberations in Philadelphia. CHAPTER X. Committee of Secret correspondence appointed by Congress-Direct a Letter to be sent to a gentleman in Holland-Send Silas Deane to France, in March 1776, as a Commercial and Political Agent-His instructions-Arrives in Paris in July 1776-Has an interview with the French Minister, Count de Vergennes-Is well received and promised protection in his commercial arrangements-French ports open to the Americans—Mr. Deane was to appear in the character of a merchant only—Congress prepare a commercial treaty to be proposed to France-Dr. Franklin, Mr. Deane, and Arthur Lee, appointed commissioners to the French Court-Their instructions-Meet at Paris in Dec. 1776-France not prepared openly to join the Americans-A paper signed by the King himself, is read to the Commissioners in January 1777—He declines entering into a treaty, but promises them protection, and gives two millions of livres―This to be kept a secret-Congress offer to France and Spain more favorable terms-These terms insufficient-Capture of Burgoyne creates consternation in England-Lord North declares his intention to offer the Americans terms of reconciliation-France accepts the offers of the American Commissioners, and enters into treaties-Reasons for this given by the French Monarch in a letter to the King of Spain-Policy of France in relation to America explained— She affords secret aid to the Americans-For this purpose, secretly puts money and arms into the hands of an Agent, by the name of Beaumarchais-The Agent sends arms to America, under the name of Horttales & Co.-American Commissioners send despatches by Capt. Folger-They are secretly taken out by some one, and blank papers substituted-Folger suspected and is imprisoned, but afterwards released-Beaumarchais sends an Agent to America, to demand payment for the articles furnished by him-Divisions in Congress on the subject-Congress agree to pay Beaumarchais-Deane recalled-Thomas Paine publishes some of the secret despatches Displeases the French Minister-He applies to Congress to disavow the publication-Arthur Lee's letters relating to the claim of Beaumarchais-The officers of the Treasury charge him with one million of livres paid to him by France, for the use of the Americans-He disputes this, and applies to Congress for relief. Ar an early stage of the contest with Great Britain, the attention of congress had been drawn, to the subject of securing foreign aid, in case of necessity. This interesting portion of American history, now claims our notice. On the 29th of November 1775, a committee, consisting of Mr. Harrison, Dr. Franklin, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Dickinson, and Mr. Jay, was appointed for the sole purpose of holding a secret correspondence, with the friends of |