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the signal successes which had attended the progress. in Georgia and Carolinia. These he trusted would have important consequences in bringing the war to a happy conclusion. When the commons were debating upon the address, Mr. Fox reprehended the ministers in the most pointed terms, for having dared to send orders to officers in all the towns of the kingdom, as well in those where there had not been the smallest proneness to tumult, as in those where it had entirely subsided and quiet was perfectly restored, giving them power to act at discretion, without the authority of the civil magistrate. These orders, he declared, had not been recalled, till almost every election was over. He likewise arraigned the ministers in terms of the utmost severity, for the insult, which he said, been offered to the navy, and the prejudices done to that service, by the late appointment of Sir Hugh Palliser to the government of Greenwich Hospital. The address was carried upon a division, by a majority of 212 to

130.

Major Tyler, who served formerly in one of the American continental regiments, by his irregular pursuit of pleasure, occasioned an information to be lodged against himself and Mr. John Trumbull, who was deputy-adjutant-general with Gates at Ticonderoga in 1776. Tyler escaped ; but Trumbull was taken and committed to prison on the 21st of Novem. being charged with holding a treasonable correspendence with the enemy.When he was re-examined the next day, three letters were produced and read, one to his father, the governor of Connecticut, the second from Dr. Franklin's grandson at Passey, where the Dr. resides, and the third from a Mr. White of Lymne in Dorsetshire. Mr. Trumbull in his answers to the questions asked him, said, that he arrived in England in the beginning of July; and that the profession he had in view was that of painting, of which Mr. B. West, the historical painter, could inform the bench fully, as well as of the manner how he usually spent his time. Nothing appeared particularly criminal: but circumstances were such, that the bench conceived he was not entitled to his liberty they therefore signed his warrant of commitment for New Prison, on account of the unrepaired state of Newgate. Confinement will be his chief suffering; and his relations may dismiss all apprehensions of any further danger to his safety, Some detached pieces of European intelligence will close the present epistle.

Mr. Jay has been labouring at the court of Madrid to effect a treaty between Spain and the United States of America; but to no purpose. For parlicular reasons that court declines making

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the treaty with France the basis of one with them. Congress? was much overseen in drawing bills upon him. The importance of Spain to America should not have been brought forward, at least should not have been placed in such a glaring point of view. The measure of drawing, in expectation that the Spaniards would supply the cash, was considered by them as desperate, and as what congress were prompted to by their imbecility. It was in the power of the Spanish court to have made the loan that was asked whereas, instead of furnishing Mr. Jay with 30 or £.40,000 sterling, the sum requested for immediate service, he was supplied with only about £.4200.

On the 29th of September died Maria Theresa, empress of Germany, queen of Hungary and Bohemia, and archduchess of Austria, and natural sovereign of all the widely extended dominions appertaining to that great house. Her death has occasion. ed no convulsions in the European system of politics.

Lord George Germaine, in his letter to lord Cornwallis of November the 9th, commended Cornwallis's "determination to inflict exemplary punishment on those traitors who had repeated the violation of their oaths of allegiance, or broken their parole, and taken arms against the king, as wise and promotive of the great object of the war." He added, "I have not the least doubt, from your lordship's vigorous and alert movements, the whole country, south of the Delaware, will be restored to the king's obedience in the course of the [next] campaign.”

The French king this year dignified and forever rendered his name-day memorable, by a present to his subjects, worthy the humanity and magnificence of a great and enlightened monarch. It was no less than abolishing for ever that relic of barbarism, so long the opprobrium of the christian name, and a standing disgrace to the most civilized and learned quarter of the world-the inhuman custom of putting the question, as it was called, by torture. It had been so long established and rivetted, that it seem ed to be an original and indivisible part of the constitution of their courts of justice. The French king did also, in order to lessen the burdens of his people, make a prodigious reform in his household. In pursuance of the new plan adopted in his court, no less than 406 officers in that department were abolished.

The torture having been mentioned, let it be remarked, that no one is capitally condemned in Holland, till he acknowledges himself guilty; and that the torture is practised, when needful, to produce such acknowedgment. But then it must be observ. ed, that no one is put to the torture without that evidence, which would hang him in Great-Britain. If the accused has firmness

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of body and mind to support under the rack through the whole process, he is discharged though guilty; but though innocent, if (overcome by excruciating pain) he pronounces himself guilty, to obtain momentary ease, execution follows.

The bounty and kindness extended by the bishop of Lugo to the British prisoners, deserves every degree of praise and gratitude. Although some of their commanders behaved otherwise, the Spanish nobility and merchants in general, showed extraordinary marks of friendship, and even of affection, to those British gentlemen who fell in their way, while national hostilities were carrying on. The Spaniards labored hard in' puishing on their works against Gibraltar, but had often the mortification of seeing them, when nearly completed, destroyed in a few hours by the weight of fire from the batteries. Gen. Elliot would let them proceed to a certain point, and then at once throw all their hopes to the ground. Some judicious and successful sallies were likewise made occasionally, though sparingly, by the garrison. The vexation of being so baffled by a handful of men, has at length whetted the invention of the Spaniards to a project, that may afford much trouble to the garrison when perfected, and infinitely increase the difficulties and dangers of the defence.

The conduct of the duke of Modena, in abolishing the inquisition in his dominions, must be enumerated among the remarkable cirsumstances that have distinguished the year 1780. It affords a fresh instance of the progress which liberal ideas, with respect to toleration and the rights of conscience, are now making throughout Europe. Upon the death of the grand inquisitor at Reggio, the prince immediately ordered that tribunal to be for ever abolished, its revenues to be applied to laudable purposes, and the prisons and other buildings, which could preserve any memorial of its having ever existed, to be demolished.

In the course of this year, a considerable number of wellfought and desperate actions have taken place between British and French frigates; in which, though the former had almost continually the advantage when upon equal terms, and the latter were frequently taken; yet there were such instances of professional skill, courage and dexterity, constantly displayed on the part of the French, as were before unknown in their marine.

The present letter will be kept ready to send off instantly, whenever the opportunity of a safe conveyance offers.

LETTER

L E

ETTER VI

Roxbury, April 21, 1781,

MY GOOD SIR,

THE HE Massachusetts government was greatly alarmed on the 14th of January, by the unexpected arrival of gen. Knox with an account of the Pennsylvania line's having revolted and marched off from Morristown. Gov. Hancock had been pre pared to expect an event of that kind, though in a different quar ter for gen. Glover wrote to him on the 11th of the preceding month" It is now four days since your line of the army has eaten one mouthful of bread. We have no money: nor will any body trust us. The best of wheat is at this moment selling in the state of New-York for three fourths of a dollar [3s. 4d. 1-2 sterling] per bushel, and your army is starving for want. On the 1st of January something will turn up if not speedily prevented, which your officers cannot be answerable for." Several causes contributed to produce the revolt of the Pennsylvania line. The officers, when they inlisted the men, imagined that the war would not continue more than three years; and thought, at their enlistment, of holding them no longer than for that term at furthe est, though they were to be discharged sooner was the war end, ed: the men understood the agreement in the same manner. The officers finding the war did not close as was expeted, and recruit ing difficult; the soldiers also being well trained by the three years service, they were unwilling to part with them, and imposed a new sense upon the original agreement, viz. that the men were held to serve the whole war, though it lasted beyond two or three years. This the men resented as an imposition, and submitted to only from necessity, and till the moment should offer for the redress of such an iniquitous grievance. The officers, to soothe the soldiers, relaxed in their discipline, which made the men feel their own importance. Maj. M'Pherson having quite ted the British service in an honorable way, and attached himself to the Americans, gen. Washington, when occasion requir ed his forming a particular corps, gave the command of it to the major in token of respect, and by way of encouragement, Upon that the Pennsylvania officers formed themselves into par ties; combined in an opposition to the appointment; and of

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fered to resign their commisions upon the occasion. They also countenanced the non-commissioned officers of their line to unite in applying to head-quarters for certain favors. Such conduct contributed to strengthen and ripen that disposition which produced the revolt. The language which the officers of rank talked upon these occasions, within the hearing of the injured soldiers, was not unnoticed; but was applied to direct the conduct of the latter, while it cherished their discontent; so that the revolt would have taken place before, had the opportunity and prospect of success been equally favorable. To the capital grieyance above mentioned, must be added the total want of pay for near twelve months-the want of clothing-and not unfrequently the want of provision beyond description. A further aggravation was produced by the arrival in camp of a deputation from the Pennsylvania state with 600 half joes, to be given, three to each man, as a bounty to each of the six months levies (whose time was then expiring) that would enlist again for the war. This was too much for the veterans. The commencement of the new year was to be celebrated, which occasioned the men's being charged with more than a common allowance of spirit. The operation of this upon the animal frame, and the other circumstances conspiring, the Pennsylvania line mutinied. [Jan. 1.] The whole, except three regiments, upon a signal for the purpose, turned out under arms without their of ficers, and declared for a redress of grievances. Gen. Wayne and the other officers, did every thing in their power to quell the tumult. But the troops said "We neither can nor will be any longer amused. We are determined, at every hazard, to march in a body to congress and obtain redress." On Wayne's cocking his pistols, there were a hundred bayonets at his breast, with "We love you, we respect you, but you are a dead mar if you fire. Do not mistake us, we are not going to the enemy; on the contrary, were they now to come out, you should see us fight under your orders with as much resolution and alaerity as ever." Several officers were wounded, and a captain killed, in vainly attempting to reduce them. The three regiments paraded under their officers; but being called upon by the others to join them, and threatened with death in case of refusal, and actually fired on, they complied. They then seized upon six field-pieces, and forced the artillerymen who had not joined them, to do it instantly, under penalty of being every man bayonetted. The mutiny became general. They were about 1300, and began their march at night; the next day Wayne forwarded provisions after them, to prevent the otherwise inevitable depredation which would be made on private property!

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