another nature, might have been justly admitted, as a demonftra tion of true patriotifm. That prelate magnanimoufly appropriated to the ufe of the war, the whole of his vaft revenues during the time of its continuance. Thus wifely choofing a road to fame, in which he was fure of not being disturbed by rivals or competitors, and of not having his heels trod upon by imitators. The bounty and kindness, extended by the Bishop of Lugo, to the British prifoners in Spain (acknowledgments of which have been given in the public prints), deferves every degree of praife and gratitude. Although fome of their commanders behaved otherwife, the Spanish nobility and merchants, in general, have fhewn very extraordinary marks of kindness, friendfhip, and even affection, to thofe English gentlemen who have fallen in their way during the present war.

Among thofe remarkable circumflances which distinguish the year 1780, the conduct of the Duke of Modena, in abolifhing the inqui fition in his dominions, fhould by no means be overlooked. It indeed affords a new inftance of the progrefs, which liberal ideas with refpect to toleration, are now making throughout Europe. A farther extenfion of the fame ideas, may be hoped to reach to the civil and religious rights of mankind, as well as to a bare fufferance of their opinions. prince, upon the death of the Grand Inquifitor at Reggio, immediately ordered that tribunal to be for ever abolished; its revenues to be applied to other, and more laudable purposes; and the prifons, and other buildings, which could preferve any memorial of its having ever exifted, to be entirely demolished.

CHA P. II.

That

Retrospective view of affairs in America and the West Indies, in the year 1780. State of the hoftile armies on the fide of New York, previous to, and at the arrival of, Gen. Sir Henry Clinton from the reduction of Charles Town. Short campaign in the Jerfies. Connecticut farms. Springfield. Unexpected effect produced by the reduction of Charles Town, in renewing and exciting the Spirit of union and refiftance in America. Great hopes founded on the expected co-operation of a French fleet and army in the reduction of New York, and the final expulfion of the British forces from that continent. Marquis de la Fayette arrives from France. M. de Ternay, and the Count de Rochambeau, arrive with a French Squadron, and a body of land forces, and are put into poffeffion of the fortifications and harbour of Rhode-Ifland. Admiral Arbuthnot blocks up the French Squadron. Difpofitions made by Sir Henry Clinton for attacking the French auxiliaries. Gen. Washington paffes the North River, with a view of attempting New York. Expedition to Rhode Island laid afide. Great difficulties experienced by Don Bernard de Galvez, in his expedition to West Florida. Befieges and takes the fort at Mobille. Great land and naval force fent out from Spain, in order to join M. de Guichen

in the West Indies. Junction of the hoftile fleets, notwithstanding the efforts of Admiral Sir George Rodney, to intercept the Spanish Squadron and convoy. Sickness and mortality in the Spanish fleet and army, with fome other caufes, preferte the British islands from the imminent danger to which they were apparently expofed by the great fuperiority of the enemy. Thefe caufes operate ftill farther in their confequences; which affect the whole face and nature of the war in the new world, and entirely frustrate the grand views formed by France and America, for the remainder of the campaign. Spanish fleet and army proceed to the Havannah; and M. de Guichen returns from St. Domingo, with a convoy, to Europe. Great preparations made by the Americans for effectually co-operating with the French forces on the arrival of M. de Guichen. Washington's army increafed, for that purpose, to 20,000 men. Invasion of Canada intended, and preparatory proclamations iffued by the Marquis de la Fayette. Caufes which prevented M. de Guichen from proceeding to North America. Sir George Rodney arrives, with a fquadron, at New York.

TH

HE hoftile armies on the fide of New York were fo nearly poifed, both with refpect to offenfive force and defenfive ftrength, that their mutual fituation, and comparative circum. ftances, afforded no great opportunity of exertion or enterprize to Gen. Sir Henry Clinton, upon his return from the taking of Charles Town. The advantages, however, derived from the pof feffion of the islands, their vicinity to the continent, the quick and filent movements of a great number of frigates, and other smaller armed veffels calculated for the purpose, and mafter of all the channels and intercourfes, as well as of the adjoining fea, together with the unexampled length of ill connected posts which were to be guarded by the Americans, afforded, almoft, continual opportunities, of hafty defoent and fuccefsful furprize by which much blood was fpilt, and mifchief done, without producing any effect, or at least any good one, with refpect to the main objects, and great purposes of the war.

This kind of service, except where the object was more confiderable than ordinary, was left entirely to the Refugees; who have ing arms in their hands, nothing elfe to do, little other provifion, and being edged on by the moft implacable animofity against their countrymen, eagerly embraced every adventure, which afforded any hope of profit, or what was perhaps ftill fweeter, of revenge. They were now grown fo numer ous, that they were strangely permitted to fet up a fort of a diftinct government in New York, under the conduct of a jurifdiction of their own creation, which they called, the Honourable Board of Affociated Loyalifts. This board, it is faid, was authorized from home; but this is hardly credible; and having a common stock, and their infant excurfions at fea having proved extremely fuccefsful, they became every day more numerous and powerful, and poffeffed fomething like a fleet, of fmall privateers and cruizers.. Their enterprizes were bold, well conducted, and frequently fuccefsful;

in which their intimate knowledge of the adjoining coafts, creeks, and villages, afforded them great advantages. But their want of any effectual dicipline or government, along with their peculiar, and frequently perfonal animofity, leading them to exceffes; whilft the fummary retribution on the other fide, falling into the hands of thofe, who were either fmarting under their own immediate loffes, or acting under the impulse of grief and revenge, for the deftruction or flaughter of their friends and relations, and who were likewife actuated by no lefs ftrong political prejudices, than their adverfaries, the feelings of humanity were fufpended, and mercy at an end on both fides. Thus the adjoining coafts of the continent, and particularly the maritime, and, nearer part of the Jerfies, became fcenes of wafte and havock; and this predatory war tended neither to fubjugation or reconcilement.

A few days previous to the arrival of Sir Henry Clinton, the Generals Knyphaufen, Robertson, and Tyron, with a view of attacking fome of Washington's advanced pofts, paffed over by night, with five or fix thoufand men, from Staten Island, to Elizabeth Town in New Jerfey. June 6th. On the following morn1780. ing, they advanced a

few miles, to a fettlement called the Connecticut Farms, from its having been planted and fettled a few years ago, by fome inhabitants of that Province. In their march, they were boldly and continually fired at, wherever the ground, or cover of any kind admitted of their approach, by fcattering parties of the neighbouring militia, The

burning of that new and thriving fettlement (although it did not contain many houses), and of the prefbyterian church, together with the unfortunate death of the clergyman's wife, who fitting with her children and family, was fhot dead, through the window, in one of her own rooms, afforded new ground of clamour to the Americans, and ferved not a little, to increafe that averfion to the British government and name, which had already taken too deep a root.

It was faid on our fide, and with fuperior probability, that this unfortunate lady was killed, without defign, by a random fhot; but the contrary was ftrongly urged by the Americans. Her husband's being particularly obnoxious at New York, from the active part which he had taken, in the fupport of the American caufe, was brought as a corroborating circumftance; and a piteous letter written by himself, and published, could leave no occafion for any farther teftimony, with thofe who were but too much difpofed to liften to evidence fo correspondent to their own opinions. It is certain, that no degree of good government and difcipline in armies, can prevent the nature of particular individuals, from breaking forth into acts of enormity, when thofe opportunities offer, in which their crimes may escape detection efpecially under the ill habits ac quired in the outrage and malice of a civil war.

From thence the army marched towards Springfield, being, as before, continually annoyed on their march by the militia; but now with greater effect, as they continually grew more numerous; they

found