E not surprised at reading that there is in the United States, one enemy more formidable than famine, pestilence and the sword-a prevailing corruption in American hearts, a depravity more incompatible with their republican governments than darkness with light. Such languor and supineness reigns every where, that they seem unable to effect any point, though ever so important and interesting. In the military department, it looks as if all public spirit was sunk into the means of making money by the service, or quarrelling upon the most trivial points of rank. Did you know the pullings and haulings, the jealousies and emulations of the military and other gentlemen, which come before congress, you would be greatly cons firmed in your ideas of the sameness of human nature in Britain, here, and every where. [April 8.] Congress concluded upon the erection of a monument to the memory of gen. Warren, in the town of Boston and another to the memory of gen. Mercer, in Fredericksburgh in Virginia; and that the eldest son of gen. Warren, and the youngest son of gen. Mercer, be educated from henceforward at the expence of the United States. They conveyed in a few words the highest eulogium on the characters and merits of the deceased. As Mercer had a good landed estate, the propriety of adopting his youngest as the child of the public was obvious. Through inattention, gen. Warren, who fell on Breed's Hill, had not been properly noted when congress passed their resolve re specting gen. Montgomery the prososal for paying due respect to the memory of Mercer, led to the like in regard to Warren." But to advert to military operations. Gen Lincoln was posted with only 500 men fit for duty at Boundbrook, to guard an extent of five or six miles, which occasioned their flanks being exposed. Lord Cornwallis formed the design of attacking this post, and chose the morning of the 13th for his execution. The plan was exceedingly well laid, and nearly as well executed.← Gen. Lincoln had expected a manoeuvre of this kind, and been particularly cautious against a surprise. The enemy however, through the neglect of the patroles, crossed the Rariton just a bove the general's quarters, undiscovered till they had advanced within 200 yards of him. At the head of this party, consisting of about 1000 men, were generals Cornwallis and Grant. About 1000 were advanced up each side of the Rariton to Boundbrook, to attack the Americans in front, where the action began nearly at the same time the others were surrounding Lincoln's quarters.This happened between day break and sun rise. The general and one of his aids had just time to mount and leave the house before it was surrounded. The other aid, 'with the general's papers and their bagage, fell into the hands of the enemy. The artillery consisting of one six pounder, and two three pounders, were also taken. Gen. Lincoln went immediately to give directions to those engaged in front-white lord Cornwallis flung a party into the rear of the right of the Americans. Another party, from their reserve body of about 2000, was flung over Boundbrook in the rear of the left, with the design of encircling the Americans and preventing their retiring to the neighbouring mountain. Lincoln was hereby reduced to the necessity of being either imprisoned with the whole party in front, or of passing between the two columns of the enemy, which had nearly closed. But he effected his passage with the small lass of not more than 60 killed, wounded and taken.-The enemy soon evacuated the place after destroying twenty barrels of flour, a few casks of rum, and some other articles. Congress are well assured that Sir William Howe had the last year instructions from ministry, to secure the North-River, and thereby to separate the northern from the southern states.-The general's successes carried him into the Jerseys, and led him to believe that the business with the Americans was at a close, si that the North-River was neglected. Under a persuasion that Philadelphia was the object this year, congress resolved upon form ing a camp immediately on the western side of the Delaware. [April 15.] The following prudential act was passed"Whereas the continental battalions are all on footing, liable to the same kind of services, and entitled to equal privileges; Resolved, That the appellations-congress's own regiment gen. Whashington's life guards, &c. given to some of them, are improper and ought not to be kept up; and the officers of the said hattalions are required to take notice hereof, and to conform themselves accordingly." April 17.]Resolved, that the stile of the committee of secret correspondence be altered, and that for the future it be stiled -the committee of foreign affairs; that a secretary be appointed to the said committee. Congress proceeded to the election of the said secretary, and the ballots being taken, Thomas. Paine was elected,"the author of Common Sense. "The committee appointed to inquire into the conduct of the enemy, reported [April 18.] That "That in every place where the enemy has been, there are heavy complaints of oppressions, injury and insults suffered by the inhabitants from officers, soldiers and Americans disaffected to their country's cause. The committee found these complaints so greatly diversified, that it was impossible to enumerate them, so it appeared difficult to give a distinct and comprehensive view of them, or such an account as would not if published, appear extremely defective, when read by the unhappy sufferers or the country in general." "In order however, in some degree, to answer the design of their appointment, they determined to divide the object of their inquiry into four parts-First, the wanton and oppressive devasta tion of the country and destruction of property.-Second, the inhuman treatment of those who were so unhappy as to be come prisoners.-Third, the savage butchery of many who had submitted or were incapable of resistance.Fourth, the lust and brutality of the soldiers in the abusing of wo men." "They will therefore now briefly state what they found to be the truth upon each of these heads separately, and subjoin to the whole, affidavits and other evidence to support their asse tions." 66 "1. The wanton and oppressive devastation of the country and destruction of property. "The whole track of the British army is marked with desola tion and a wanton distruction of property, particularly through West-Chester county in the state of New-York; the towns of Newark, Elizabeth-town, Woodbridge, Brunswick, Kingston, Princeton and Trenton, in New-Jersey. The fences destroyed, the houses deserted, pulled in pieces or consumed by fire, and the general face of waste and devastation spread over a rich and once well cultivated and well inhabited country, would effect the most unfeeling with melancholy or compassion for the unhappy sufferers, and with indignation and resentment against the barbarous rayagers. It deserves notice, that though there are many instances of rage and vengeance against particular persons, yet the destruc tion was very general and often undistinguished: those who sub mitted and took protections, and some were known to favor them, having frequently suffered in the common ruin. Places and things, which from their public nature and general utility, should have been spared by a civilized people, have been destroyed, or plundered, or both. But above all, places of worship, ministers and religious persons of some particular protestant denominations, seem to have been treated with the most ran corous corous hatred, and at the same time with the highest contempt." 66 2. The inhuman treatment of those who were so unhappy as to become prisoners." "The prisoners, instead of that humane treatment which those who were taken by the United States experienced, were' in general treated with the greatest barbarity. Many of them were near four days kept without food altogether. When they' received a supply, it was both insufficient in point of quantity, and often of the worst kind. They suffered the utmost distress from cold, nakedness and close confinement. Freemen and men of substance, suffered all that a generous mind could suffer, from the contempt and mockery of British and foreign mercefaries. Multitudes died in prison; and when others were sent' out, several died in the boats while carrying ashore, or upon the road attempting to go home. The committee, in the course of their enquiry, learned, that sometimes the common soldiers ex-' pressed sympathy with the prisoners, and the foreigners more than the English. But this was seldom or never the case with the officers; nor have they been able to hear of any charitable assitance given them by the inhabitants who remained in, or resorted to the city of New-York; which neglect, if universal, they believe was never known to happen in any similar case, in a christian country." 3. The savage butchery of those who had submitted and were incapable of resistance." "The committee found it to be the general opinion of the people in the neighborhood of Princeton and Trenton, that the enemy, the day before the battle of Princeton, had determined to give no quarter. They did not however, obtain any clear proof that there were any general orders for that purpose; but the treatment of several particular persons at and since that time, has been of the most shocking kind, and gives too much coun tenance to the supposition. Officers wounded and disabled,' some of them of the first rank, were barbarously mangled or put to death. A minister of the gospel in Trenton, who neither was nor had been in arms, was massacred in cold blood,' though humbly supplicating for mercy."-[Mr. Roscburgh, of the Forks of Delaware.] 4. The lust and brutality of the soldiers in the abusing of women." "The committee had authentic information of many instances of the most indecent treatment, and actual ravishment of married and single women; but such is the nature of that most irreparable injury, that the persons suffering it, and their relations, VOL. II. Bb though though perfectly innocent, look upon it as a kind of reproach to have the facts related, and their names known. They have however, procured some affidavits, which will be published in the appendix. The originals are lodged with the secretary of congress." "Some complaints were made to the commanding officers upon the subject, and one affidavit made before a justice of peace; but the committee could not learn that any satisfaction. was ever given or punishment inflicted, except that one soldier, at Pennington, was kept in custody for part of a day." "On the whole, the committee are sorry to say, that the cry of barbarity and cruelty is but too well founded; those who are cool to the American cause, have nothing to oppose to the facts, but their being incredible, and not like what they are pleased to stile the generosity and clemency of the English nation. The committee beg leave to observe, that one of the circumstances most frequently occurring in the enquiry, was the opprobious, disdainful names given to the Americans; these do not need any proof, as they occur so frequently in the news-papers printed under their direction, and in the intercepted letters of those who are officers, and call themselves gentlemen. It is easy therefore to see what must be the conduct of a soldiery greedy of prey, toward a people whom they have been taught to look upon, not as freemen defending their rights on principle, but as desperadoes and profligates, who have risen up against law and order in general, and wish the subversion of the society itself." "This is the most candid and charitable manner in which the committee can account for the melancholy truths which they have been obliged to report. Indeed the same deluding principles seems to govern persons and bodies of the highest rank in Britain; for it is worthy of notice, that not pamphleteers only, but king and parliament, constantly call those acts lenity, which on their first publication filled this whole continent with resentment and horror." "Resolved, That the said report be accepted, and that the committee who brought it in, publish the same, with the affidavits," The royalists, or tories as they are generally called, in the Maryland counties of Somerset and Worcester, became so formidable that an insurrection was dreaded; and it was feared that the insurgents would in such case be joined by a number of disaffected persons in the county of Sussex, in the Delaware state. Congress, to prevent the evil [April 20.] recommended the apprehension and removal of all persons of influence or of desperate characters, within the counties of Sussex, Worcester and Somer set, |