mont, and the British generals in Canada, and New York. This report served to engage the adherents to British government, to espouse the measures of the new state: And such was the increase of numbers, popularity, and power, which Vermont had now acquired, that she had in fact nothing to fear from the power, or. from the policy of her opposers: And notwithstanding the resolves of Congress, the assembly proceeded to make grants of their lands, without paying any regard to the grants which had been made by New York; those only excepted, which had been made in confirmation of the former grants from New Hampshire.

FROM these contests respecting Vermont, the British generals and ministers conceived high expectations, that they should be able to derive great advantages. Unacquainted with the feelings, the views, or the spirit of a people, contending for freedom, they calculated upon the system of corruption; and had no doubt but they should find a people in Vermont, that they could seduce from their attachment to the American cause, and unite to the British government. With this view they entered upon measures, to persuade Vermont to become a British province.

THE wish and aim of the British general in New York, was first announced in a letter from colonel Bev. Robinson, to Ethan Allen, at that time a colonel in the American service. The letter was dated New York, March 30th, 1780; and delivered to Allen in the street at Arlington, in July, by a British soldier in the habit of an American farmer. In this letter, Robinson

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began the business thus: "I am now undertaking a task which I hope you will receive with the same good intention, that inclines me to make it. I have often been informed that you, and most of the inhabitants of Vermont, are opposed to the wild and chimerical scheme of the Americans, in attempting to separate this continent from Great Britain, and to establish an independent state of their own; and that you would willingly assist in uniting America again to Great Britain, and restoring that happy constitution we have so wantonly and unadvisedly destroyed. If I have been rightly informed, and these should be your sentiments and inclination, I beg you will communicate to me, without reserve, whatever proposals you would wish to make to the commander in chief; and I hereby promise that I will faithfully lay them before him, according to your directions, and flatter myself, I can do it to as good effect as any person whatever. I can make no proposals to you, until I know your sentiments, but think upon your taking an active part, and embodying the inhabitants of Vermont in favor of the crown of England, to act as the commander in chief shall direct, that you may obtain a sepa rate government, under the king and constitution of England, and the men, formed into regiments under such officers as you shall recommend, be on the same footing as all the provincial corps are. If you should think proper to send a friend of your own, here, with propo-sals to the general, he shall be protected, and well treated here, and allowed to return whenever he pleases."* On the receipt of this let

* Copy of Robinson's letter, by E. Allen.

ter, Allen immediately communicated it to the governor, and a number of the principal gentlemen in Vermont; who agreed in opinion, that it was most prudent, not to return any an swer, but to let the matter pass into oblivion.

ON February second, 1781, Robinson wrote another letter to Allen, including a copy of the former, which he supposed had been miscarried, as he had not received any answer. In this he writes, "The frequent accounts we have had for three months past, from your part of the country, confirms me in the opinion I had of your inclination to join the king's cause, and to as.. sist in restoring America, to her former peaceable and happy constitution. This induces me to make another trial, in sending this to you; especially as I can now write with more authority, and assure you, that you may obtain the terms mentioned in the above letter, provided you, and the people of Vermont take a decisive and active part with us.?* He requests an answer, and that some method might be pointed out, for carrying on a correspondence for the future; and information, in what manner the people of Vermont could be the most serviceable to the British government, "either by acting with the northern army, or to meet and join an army from New York."

ALLEN returned no answer to either of these letters, but on March 9th, 1781, inclosed them in a letter to Congress, informing them of all the circumstances which had attended the business. In his letter to that body, he made several observations, justifying the conduct of Copy of Robinson's letter of Feb. 2, 1781, by E. Allen,

Vermont, asserting her right to independence, and expressing his determinate resolution, to do every thing in his power to establish it. Conscious of his own integrity, and sensible that his activity and sufferings in the cause of his country, were known to all America, he wrote in this style: "I am confident that Congress will not dispute my sincere attachment to the cause of my country, though I do not hesitate to say, I am fully grounded in opinion, that Vermont has an indubitable right to agree on terms of a cessation of hostilities with Great Britain, provided the United States persist in rejecting her application for an union with them: For Vermont, of all people would be the most miserable, were she obliged to defend the independence of the United claiming States, and they, at the same time, at full liberty to overturn and ruin the independence of Vermont. I am persuaded, when Congress consider the circumstances of this state, they will be more surprized that I have transmitted them the inclosed letters, than that I have kept them in custody so long; for I am as resolutely determined to defend the independence of Vermont, as Congress are, that of the United States; and rather than fail, will retire with the hardy Green Mountain Boys, into the desolate, caverns of the mountains, and wage war with human nature at large."*

An event took place in the spring of the year 1780, which furnished the British with an opportunity, to make a similar attempt from Canada. A number of men had been made prisoners in a descent, which had been made by * E. Allen's letter to the president of Congress, March 9th, 1781.

some of their scouting parties, and carried prisoners to Canada. Their friends applied to gov. ernor Chittenden to send a flag into Canada, to negociate their release, or exchange. The gov ernor complied with their request, and in the month of July, a flag was sent with a letter to the commanding officer in Canada. In the fall, the British came up lake Champlain in great force: The commanding officer brought a very favorable answer from general Haldimand, to governor Chittenden's letter; and sent a flag to Ethan Allen, then a brigadier general, and commanding officer in Vermont, proposing a cessation of hostilities with Vermont, during a negociation for the exchange of prisoners. Allen agreed to the proposal, upon condition that it should extend to the adjacent frontiers of New York. The British officer appeared to be unwilling to treat with any part of America, but Vermont; but finally agreed to every thing, which Allen proposed.

BEFORE the enemy retired into their winter' quarters, colonel Ira Allen, and major Joseph Fay, were appointed by the governor of Vermont, commissioners to negociate the proposed exchange of prisoners. They proceeded to treat with the British agents, captain J. Sherwood and George Smyth, on this subject. The British agents availed themselves of this opportunity, to explain the views, to make their proposals, and to offer as complete an establishment for Vermont, from the royal authority, as should be desired. The commissioners from Vermont treated the proposals with affability, and good humour; and though they avoided