An expedition has been agreed on against the inimical 1779. Indians of the fix nations. The command of it is to be intrusted with gen. Sullivan. The plan is to divide the force into three parts. The principal confifting of about 3000 is to go by the way of Sufquehanna. Another of about 1000 is to enter the Indian country by the Mohawk river; and the other of about 500 is to attack by the Ohio and Allegahany rivers. Gen. Washington is endeavouring, by appearances of an expedition to Canada, to induce the British governor to keep his force at home; and with a view to it, befide jealoufies which have been excited on the fide of lake Champlain, he is trying to create others by the way of Coos. A confiderable number of Americans was employed the last year in cutting a road from thence toward Canada. Col. Hazen is now gone with his regiment to extend the road toward the Sorel, and give the appearance of an intention to invade the province by that paffage. The American army are better clad and more healthy than they have ever been fince the formation of the army.

The procuring of early and good intelligence is of the highest importance to the American commander in chief. He has therefore directed one of his confidential correfpondents to refide at New York, to mix with and put on the airs of a tory, thereby to cover his real character and avoid fufpicion. He has hinted to him an intimacy with fome well informed refugee. Members of congress are not trufted with the names of such correfpondents, concerning whom the strictest honor, and the profoundest secrecy, is observed, and every precaution taken to prevent a discovery by unforeseen acci dents. They are furnished with two chymical liquids,

or

$779.

April 5.

or fympathetic inks, the one for writing, and the other for rendering what is written vifible; the former of that nature as not to become vifible by any mean whatever, but by having the latter rubbed over it.

The king's speech on opening the feffion of parliament, has been circulated through the United States more than a month ago. The popular leaders have been diverting themselves with it. They triumph at observing, that it is replete with complaints of the unexampled and unprovoked hoftility of the court of France -that while the profeflions of neutral powers are reprefented as friendly, their armaments are mentioned as fufpicious-and that there is a total filence with regard to the American war.

A number of loyal refugees had petitioned, and been permitted by Sir Henry Clinton to embody under proper officers, and to retaliate and make reprifals upon the Americans declared to be in actual rebellion against their fovereign. A party of them, who had formerly belonged to the Maffachusetts, made an attempt upon Falmouth in Barnftable county, but were repulfed by the militia. They renewed it, but not fucceeding, went off to Nantucket, and landed 200 men, entered the town, broke open warehouses, and carried off large quantities of oil, whalebone, molaffes, fugar, coffee, and every thing that fell in their way. They alfo carried off two brigs, loaded for the Weft Indies, two or three schooners, and a large number of boats. In a proclamation they left behind, they took notice of their having been imprisoned, compelled to abandon their dwellings, friends and connections, had their eftates fequeftered, and been themselves formally banished, never to return on pain

of

of death. Thus circumftanced, they conceived them- 1778. felves warranted, by the laws of God and man, to wage war against their perfecutors, and to ufe every mean in their power to obtain compenfation for their sufferings." The news of the French king's declaration of war, published at Martinico in the middle of last Auguft, but figned at Verfailles the 28th of June, and the capture of Dominica by the French, reached the continent as early as could be expected. By the accounts that are given, the British government had been at an unusual expence in fortifying that island, and the works had been lately covered with a numerous artillery, fent from Britain for the purpose. But though there were 160 pieces of cannon and 20 mortars, the regular troops who compofed the garrifon amounted only to about a hundred. Neither the importance nor the weaknefs of Dominica, escaped the attention of the marquis de Bouille, governor general of the French windward islands, whose refidence was at Martinico. He therefore landed on the ifland with about 2000 men, under cover of fome frigates and privateers, about day break of laft September the 7th, and proceeded to attack the different batteries and forts by land, as his marine force did by fea. The handful of regulars, with the militia and inhabitants in general, did all that could be expected, but defence was fruitless, so that the lieutenant governor Stuart, to save the inhabitants from plunder and ruin, entered into a capitulation, which was foon concluded. The terms were the most moderate that could be conceived; the marquis, out of his great humanity, having nearly agreed, without difcuffion or reserve, to every condition propofed in favor of the people, whofe only change was that of so

vereignty.

1779. vereignty. The smallest disorder or pillage was not per

April

12.

mitted; and the marquis, in lieu of plunder, rewarded the foldiers and volunteers with a confiderable gratuity in ready money. His ftay was fhort: he left a garrison of 1500 men behind him, who with the ftrength of the works, and the powerful artillery in their hands, will be able to defend Dominica effectually. We are in expectation of hearing foon of count d'Eftaing's operations.

An embargo having been laid in the fouthern ftates on the exportation of grain and flour to thefe eastern ones, occafioned a fcarcity of bread at Bofton. What from drought the last fummer, a blight on the rye, the neglect of tillage by the husbandman's being called off to the army, and divers other causes, the inhabitants of the farming towns could not afford a fufficient fupply to the fea-ports. Thefe have fitted out a number of cruifers, which in fome inftances have procured a temporary relief; but "the trade and harbours upon the Maffachufetts fea coafts have been left in fuch an unguarded and defenceless fituation, that where the Bay-men have taken one veffel from the enemy, their fmall privateers out of New York have taken ten from them*" laft month the Bostonians were in great diftrefs for want of flour: but the other day a cargo of it happily arrived from Baltimore. The Maffachufett's houfe of affembly, judging it abfolutely neceffary that fo the army might be kept together, have engaged to make good the wages of the officers and foldiers raised in this ftate, at the clofe of the contest, provided it is not done by congrefs.

* The Massachusetts council,

The

LET

LETTER VII.

Rotterdam, May 14, 1779.

1

FRIEND G.

THE

HE prefent letter fhall begin with what was a chief 1778% fubject in the former our British admiral Keppel. When he returned to Plymouth, he experienced the benefit arifing from temperate conduct. Unanimity prevailed among the officers, and every exertion was made in refitting the fhips: fo that he failed on his fecond cruise the 24th of Auguft, and kept the fea as long as the approaching winter could admit. The French fleet left Breft a week before; but fteered to the fouthward, and amused themselves about Cape Finisterre; thus their own coafts and the bay were abandoned to the British, who were in vain endeavouring to obtain intelligence of them. The French commerce now became a prey to the British cruisers, in a degree which few former wars had equalled for the time, while the trade of Britain arrived in a state of fecurity, fcarcely exceeded by that of peace.

The reception which adm. Keppel met with on his return from fea, both at court and at the admiralty, equalled his most fanguine expectations. An attempt however was made on his character from an unexpected quarter. Sir Hugh Pallifer, on the 9th of December, preferred to the lords of the admiralty articles of accufation against him, for offences fuppofed to have been committed.

3