goyne, "than ground our arms in our own encampment, we will rush on our enemy, determined to take no quarter." A more accommodating disposition, and a humane desire to avoid the effusion of blood, after a short negotiation, adjusted the terms of capitulation as follows:

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"The troops under General Burgoyne to march out of their camp with the honours of war, and the artillery of the intrenchments to the verge of the river, where the arms and artillery are to be left. The arms to be piled by word of command from their own officers. free passage to be granted to the army under Lieutenant-General Burgoyne, to Great Britain, upon condition of not serving again in North America during the present contest, and the port of Boston to be assigned for the entry of the transports to receive the troops whenever General Howe shall so order. The army under Lieutenant-General Burgoyne to march to Massachusetts Bay, by the easiest route, and to be quartered in, near, or as convenient as possible to Boston. The troops to be provided with provisions by General Gates' orders, at the same rate of rations as his own army. All officers to retain their carriages, bat-horses, and no baggages to be molested or searched. The officers to be permitted on their parole, and to be permitted to wear their side arms."

On the night of the day that the British army paid this homage to American valour, on the banks of the Hudson-thus redeeming the boast that retreat was not for them-Gates received at his table Burgoyne and his staff; and the officers who so often panted to cross each other on the field of death, exchanged the most cordial civilities, and paid each other that mutual honour

and respect, in discharge of which there is, under every circumstance, a generous emulation

between the brave.

The number of men contributing to that pile of arms was 5790, the remnant of the noble army, at least 10,000 strong, independent of the Indian auxiliaries, that crossed the states' boundary in search of sure conquest and glory. The American army now amounted to nearly 14,000 men.

From that day America's history began to date. The nations of the earth, hitherto only spectators of the struggle, now awoke to a true sense of its importance and not improbable results. But darkness and gloom yet gathered on the path of her chief warrior, near the banks of the Delaware, where the flag of England fluttered free in the winter wind. The track of Washington's army, when retiring into winter quarters from before Philadelphia, which he left in possession of his enemy, was marked with blood which oozed out on the frozen roads from their naked feet. The winter quarters were a wood, not twenty-five miles from the capital, where, as best he could, the Commander-in-chief erected huts to shelter his naked troops; and, while in this situation, abundant provisions were supplied to General Burgoyne's army at the expense of the Republic.

CHAPTER XIV.

The English Ministry-France-Alliance with the United States New Measures of Conciliation-Their Rejection-Private Intrigues-Evacuation of Philadelphia Retreat of the British-Battle of Monmouth-French Fleet-Sullivan in Rhode Island-Operations in the South.

GLOOMY tidings arriving in England in midwinter, awoke gloomy presages, and spurred the anger of the opposition to the excess of violence. The minister was asked what had became of Burgoyne's army. He had heard the terrible rumour-but dared not believe it-that it was then on its unarmed march homeward, fed and protected by its captors, and sworn to war no more. Sad reverse! But Chatham's magnanimity did not stoop to rail at the event; while the employment of the tomahawk and the scalpingknife, roused the lightnings of his indignation. And "against whom have you armed the savages ?" said he. "Your Protestant brethren." How melancholy a commentary on the English name, If the victims were not Protestants, ferocity might glut itself unrebuked the voice of England's greatest of great men, had been mute. Even He would not have dared to challenge the prejudices of his country.

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But, though many storms broke on the head of the minister, his Sovereign's obstinacy and the senate's servitude bore him up. His majorities

rather swelled with his reverses. 'The Commons paid, in the midst of eloquent murmurs, the vast sums necessary to subsidize hireling swords abroad and venal retainers at home. The cur

rent of popular feeling clashed with a current equally as strong. The corporations of several towns and volunteer associations, raised troops in every part of the country for the subjugation of America, and active preparations gave assurance that the next campaign would be one of wasting and wide ruin to the colonies or to England.

But the court of Versailles anxiously watched the cabinet of St. James's. France and England have ever been, and, let hollow words of friendliness sound as they may, ever will be, vigilant, uneasy, jealous rivals. No time has been, and their destinies must change, or no time will be, when either, having the power, would refuse to strike at the other. One consideration may withhold the uplifted arm-the apprehension that the blow may not be decisive. At this time, too, England's haughty spirit and overgrown power challenged the hatred of many nations. Her intolerance of any rivalry on the seas, her monopoly of commerce and thirst for extended empire, ge nerated a common desire to see her sceptre broken. But France, above all other nations, panted to circumscribe her power and baulk her vast pretensions, Old memories, present preju dices, and future interests alike suggested to her the adoption of every safe measure to humble the pride of so controlling and dangerous a neighbour

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The resolution of recognising the independence

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of America was but the expression of a sentiment she had long cherished (delayed until then by mo tives of policy), and a rational doubt of the capacity of the colonists. Her proposals of recognition and alliance were made to the American commissioners on the 16th of December. They were generous, but frank. France admitted that her overruling impulse was self-interest, and therefore asked for one condition only, that no peace should ever be agreed on by America the basis of which was not severance from England. These terms-none could be more favorablewere at once acceded to; and while the Parliament, Ministers, and Monarch of England were involved in acrimonious controversy with 1778. each other, a definitive treaty of amity and alliance was signed at Paris by the King of France and the American commissioners.

Feb. 6,

Intelligence of this treaty reaching London in a few days, added to the difficulties that beset the minister, but it thoroughly roused the national antipathies of the people. Lord North's resolu tion was equal to the emergency. He determined to take measures, not alone for resenting the "unprovoked aggression" of France, but of detaching the colonists by concession from their new alliance, and making them the instruments of his future vengeance.

Two bills were hurried through Parliament the one establishing as the basis of peace and of future international relations the perfect exemption of America from taxes, the supreme right of her own assemblies to raise her revenue and control her expenditure; but correlatives with