1781. at the altar, and implore the God of mercy to suspend his vengeance, to fpare them in his wrath, to inspire them with fentiments of juftice and moderation, to terminate their obftinacy and error, and to ordain that your victories be followed by peace and tranquillity. Let us befeech him to continue to fhed on the councils of the king your ally, that spirit of wisdom, of juftice and of courage, which has rendered his reign fo glorious. Let us entreat him to maintain in each of the states that intelligence by which the United States are infpired. Let us return him thanks, that a faction whofe rebellion he has corrected, now deprived of fupport, is annihilated. Let us offer him pure hearts, unfoiled by private hatred or public diffenfion; and let us with one will and one voice, pour forth to the Lord that hymn of praife, by which chriftians celebrate their gratitude and his glory."

The most important books and papers of congrefs engaged at length the attention of the enemy. A fcheme was concerted for carrying them off. Lieut. Moody, who had been fo fuccessful in taking the American mails, was employed. He remained on the Jerfey fide of the Délaware, while his brother John Moody, and another or two repaired to Philadelphia. Before they could execute the bufinefs intrufted to them, a discovery took place; and fome of them were feized. Parties were sent acrofs the Delaware to fecure the lieutenant; but he eluded all their exertions, and efcaped in an extraordi

nary manner.

His brother and a fellow foldier were brought before a board of officers, at which the marquis, de la Fayette prefided, and were indulged with a candid and full hearing. An opinion of the officers being reported

reported to the board of war, and approved, they were 1781. fentenced to die. John Moody was executed on the 13th of November, the other was refpited. The care of congrefs will be engaged the more by this fruitlefs project, to guard against any future attempts of a similar nature.

On the 23d of November they refolved, "That ma- Nov. jor gen. the marquis de la Fayette, have permiffion to 23. go to France, and that he return at fuch a time as fhall be most convenient to him:-That he be informed, that on a review of his conduct throughout the past campaign, and particularly during the period in which he had the chief command in Virginia, the many new proofs which present themselves of his zealous attach ment to the cause he has efpoufed, and of his judgment, vigilance, gallantry and addrefs in its defence, have greatly added to the high opinion entertained by congrefs of his merits and military talents :-That he make known to the officers and troops whom he commanded during that period,, that the brave and enterprifing services with which they feconded his zeal and efforts, and which enabled him to defeat the attempts of an enemy far fuperior in numbers, have been beheld by congress with particular fatisfaction and approbati on :-That the fecretary for foreign affairs acquaint the ministers plenipotentiary of the United States, that it is the defire of congrefs that they confer with the marquis de la Fayette, and avail themselves of his information relative to the fituation of public affairs in the United States:-That the fecretary for foreign affairs, further acquaint the minifter plenipotentiary at the court of Verfailles, that he will conform to the intention of congress,

by

1781. by confulting with and employing the affiftance of the marquis de la Fayette, in accelerating the fupplies which may be afforded by his moft christian majesty for the ufe of the United States:That the fuperintendant of finance, the fecretary for foreign affairs, and the board of war, make fuch communications to the marquis de la Fayette, touching the affairs of their refpective departments, as will beft enable him to fulfil the purpose of the two refolutions immediately preceding:-That the fuperintendant of finance take order for discharging the engagement entered into by the marquis de la Fayette with the merchants of Baltimore"-when he borrowed money of them on his own credit, for supplying his troops with neceffaries.

General Wafhington attended congrefs according to Nov. 28. order, and being introduced by two members, the prefident addreffed him as follows-"Sir, congrefs at all times happy in feeing your excellency, feel particular pleafure in your prefence at this time, after the glorious fuccefs of the allied arms in Virginia. It is their fixed purpose to draw every advantage from it by exhorting the states in the strongest terms, to the most vigorous and timely exertions. A committee has accordingly been appointed to ftate the requifitions neceffary to be made for the establishment of the army, and they are inftructed to confer with you upon that fubject. It is therefore the expectation of congrefs, that your excelJency would remain for some time in Philadelphia, that they may avail themselves of your aid in this important business, and that you may enjoy a refpite from the fatigues of war, as far as is confiftent with the fervice." To which his excellency made the following reply

"Mr. President, I feel very fenfibly the favorable de- 1781. claration of congress expreffed by your excellency. This fresh proof of their approbation cannot fail of making a deep impreffion upon me, and my study shall be to deferve a continuance of it. It is with peculiar pleasure I hear that it is the fixed purpose of congrefs to exhort the states to the moft vigorous and timely exertions: a compliance on their parts will, I perfuade myself, be productive of the most happy confequences.-I fhall yield a ready obedience to the expectation of congrefs, and give every affistance in my power to their committee. I am obliged by the goodness of congrefs in making my personal ease and convenience a part of their concern. Should the service require my attendance with the army upon the North river or elsewhere, I shall repair to whatever place my duty calls, with the fame pleafure that I remain in this city." On the last day of the year congrefs agreed to An ordinance to incorporate the fubfcribers to the bank of North America.

A few days before, gen. Washington wrote-" The whole business of prifoners of war brought under one regulation, might probably put a stop to thofe mutual complaints of ill treatment which are frequently urged on either part. For it is a fact, that for above two years we have had no reason to complain of the treatment of the continental land prifoners in New York, neither have we been charged with any improper conduct toward thofe in our hands. I confider the fufferings of the seamen for fome time paft as arifing in a great measure from the want-of that general regulation, and without which there will be conftantly a great number remaining in the hands of the enemy.-I know of no method fo VOL. IV.

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likely

1781.likely to put an end to the mutual complaints on both fides, as that of having all prifoners given up to the commiffary general to be by him exchanged.”

In this letter there is an allufion to an improper conduct toward the British prisoners in the hands of the Americans, which leads me to mention the cafe of the convention troops. While in Virginia they were often but badly ferved with meat. The chief of what the American contractor had procured for their fupply was fuch as they could not eat. The British commanding officer at length made his complaint, and obtained leave to have it furveyed, when it was condemned in general. The American quarter masters were, upon that, obliged to go all over Virginia in search of falt provifions, the want of which was such, at one time, that the prisoners had fix weeks meat due to them. On this an addition of one half more was made to the allowance of Indian meal, and the troops lived upon meal and water. When afterward removed to Frederick-town in Maryland, they complained of meeting with much ill ufage, and of being badly supplied with provifions and almoft half ftarved. This treatment made the men defert in great numbers. Inftances of improper conduct toward other prifoners undoubtedly exifted. But the general treatment of them was good; and, wherein it was otherwise, fell fo fhort of what the British practifed toward the Americans, that the former frequently declared of the latter, that notwithstanding all their threats, they were afraid to retaliate.

The British power in Georgia being too weak to prevent it, there has been a complete re-establishment of American government. The general affembly was con