Hamilton,) who conducted the enterprise with great address and intrepidity, in his report to the Marquis de la Fayette mentioned to the honour of his detachment, "that incapable of imitating examples of barbarity and forgetting recent provocations, they spared every man that cea ed to resist."

The joy diffused through the United States, by the surrender of the army under Lord Cornwallis was inconceivably great, as they had for years spread havoc and destruction through a vast extent of Virginia and parts adjacent; while their number was so great as to enable them to go where they pleased and their rage for plunder disposed them to take whatever they deemed most valuable. But independent of the removal of this great evil, the Americans considered the brilliant achievement, which put the allies in possession of York Town, as determining the issue of the contest; and, from that moment, they looked forward to the reward of all their toils and a full compensation for all their sufferings. No sooner had congress received official information of this great event, than amongst other modes of evincing their gratitude, they on the 24th October determined to go in full and solemu procession to the Dutch Lutheran church (then the largest in Philadelphia) and to give thanks to Almighty God for the success of their general and the forces under his command; and they issued a proclamation recommending that the 13th of December be observed as a day of thanksgiving and prayer on account of the signal interposition of Divine Providence, which they had experienced.

Nor were the people of America mistaken in the expectations which they had formed respecting the result of this victory. No sooner had the news of the capture of Lord Cornwallis reached the mother country, than the ministers were struck with dismay and those who had heretofore been averse to the war were greatly emboldened in their opposition. We accordingly find, that on the 27th February 1782 it was resolved by the House of Commons "That an address be presented to his majesty, that he will be pleased to give directions to his ministers not to pursue any longer the impracticable object of reducing his majesty's revolted colonies, by force, to their allegiance, by a war on the continent of America and to assure his majesty, that his faithful commons will most cheerfully concur with him in such measures as may be found necessary to accelerate the blessings of returning peace." This motion had

been introduced by General Conway the uniform and sincere friend of the Americans and such was the general joy occasioned by its being carried, that apprehensions were enter

tained by the Secretaries of State that riots and tumults might ensue in the evening, in consequence of which they requested the lord Mayor to adopt such measures as might be necessary for securing the public peace. The address was presented to his majesty by the whole house, who on the 4th March were honoured by a conciliatory answer, for which he received an unanimous vote of thanks, The following resolution was then passed without a division viz. "That this house will consider as enemies to his majesty all those, who shall endeavour to frustrate his majesty's paternal care for the ease and happiness of his people, by advising, or by any means attempting the further prosecution of offensive war on the continent of North America, for the purpose of reducing the colonies to obedience by force." On the same day, Sir Guy Carleton was appointed commander-in-chief in America. These resolutions and the great applause, with which they were received by the public, abundantly shewed, that a complete revolution in the ministry must take place, an event however, which was, by no means agreeable to the court.

On the 2d of August 1782, Sir Guy Carleton and Admiral Digby sent a letter to General Washington, wherein they said "We are acquainted by authority, that negociations for a general peace have already commenced at Paris and that Mr. Greenville is invested with full powers to treat with all the parties at war and is now at Paris in the execution of this commission," &c. They add "We are farther acquainted, that transports have been prepared in England, for conveying all the American prisoners to this country to be exchanged here; and we are directed to urge, by every consideration of humanity the most speedy exchange.' A part of this news was soon confirmed by the arrival of two cartel ships at Marblehead with 583 American prisoners and by the 21st August a third arrived with 116 more.

It may easily be conceived, that this intelligence was highly gratifying to every real friend of his country; but it was no sooner known to the LOYALISTS than a scene of terror and dismay prevailed through this city, which it is impossible to describe. To persons of that description, the arrival of death warrants could scarcely have afforded more serious cause of alarm. Those in the army tore their lappels from their coats, stamped them under their feet and exclaimed, that they were ruined for ever. Others cried out, that after sacrificing every thing to prove their loyalty, they were now left to shift for themselves, having lost the friendship of both their king and country. On the 7th August, it was earnestly recom

mended in Rivington's gazette, that the loyalists not only in this city; but in every other place, should suspend their opinion on the present important occasion and continue firm in their professions of loyalty and zeal for the union of the empire and wait the issue in patience. It was observed, that by such conduct, they would preserve a claim on national gratitude and protection, which it would be madness to forfeit ; since by giving way to impatience, they would only lessen themselves in the opinion of their enemies, without a shadow of advantage.

On the 30th November 1782 a provisional treaty of peace was signed at Paris, between RICHARD OSWALD, Esq. commissioner on the part of his Britannic majesty, and JOHN ADAMS, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, JOHN JAY and HENRY LAWRENCE Esqs. commissioners on that of the United States, by the first article of which, his Britannic majesty acknowledged the former thirteen American colonies to be free, sovereign and independent states. It was agreed, however, that the said treaty should not be finally ratified. by the contracting parties until terms of peace should be agreed upon, between Great Britain and France.

On the 24th March 1783, Congress received a letter of February 5th from the marquis la Fayette, announcing a general peace, and a copy of orders given by Count d'Estaing for the purpose of putting a stop to all hostilities by sea; whereupon they directed the marine agent to recall immediately all armed vessels cruising under commissions from the United States of America.

At 12 o'clock, on the 19th April, the day which completed the eighth year of war, the cessation of hostilities between the United States and Great Britain was proclaimed in the American army by General Washington. On the 26th May, Congress resolved, that General Washington should grant furloughs to the non commissioned officers and soldiers, who had enlisted for the war, together with a proportionable number of commissioned officers of different grades and that the men thus furloughed should be allowed to take their arms with them. This resolution excited astonishment and chagrin in the generals and officers, who commanded regiments and corps in the cantonment on the banks of the Hudson. They addressed their commander on the 5th June; solicited his further aid on their behalf and entreated, that no officer or soldier should be obliged to receive a furlough, until Congress could be apprized of the wretched situation into which the army must be inevitably plunged by accepting furloughs till

they should be certain of receiving a compensation for their services. Washington, by the exercise of that prudence for which he has been so justly celebrated, contrived to mitigate their fears and to allay that spirit of discontent, which if not suppressed might have been productive of the most serious consequences.

About the beginning of August, Sir Guy had received his final orders for the evacuation of this city; and on the 17th informed Congress that he should lose no time in fulfilling his majesty's commands; but that he could assign no precise period. The insolence and abuse which the loyalists, when at the height of their power, had exercised towards their helpless brethren, who had espoused the cause of their country and their excessive cruelty to those, whom the fortune of war had placed amongst them as prisoners, stared them fully in the face and made them tremble at the approach of that day, which they had reason to fear would be to them a day of dreadful retribution. From these circumstances, Sir Guy Carleton seemed to be bound in honour not to give up the city till he had fully' provided the means of carrying off all those, who were desirous of quitting the country.

At last, the 25th November 1783 was the day agreed upon for the evacuation of New-York. To prevent those disorders, which might otherwise have occurred on such an occasion, the American troops under the command of General Knox, marched from Harlaem to Bowery lane, early in the morning. There they remained till about one o'clock, when the British forces left the posts in the Bowery and the Americans marched on and took possession of the city. As soon as this was affected, General Knox, with a number of citizens on horseback rode to the Bowery, to receive their Excellencies General Washington and Governor George Clinton, who with their suites, made their public entry into the city on horseback, followed by the lieutenant governor and senators, four abreast; General Knox and the officers of the army eight abreast, citizens on horseback eight abreast; ; the speaker of the assembly, &c. and citizens on foot four abreast The governor gave a public dinner to the commander-in-chief and other general officers at Frances's tavern then one of the most respectable in the city. It was situate in Wall at the corner of Nassau-street directly opposite the Old City Hall, on the scite of which the custom house now stands. In the evening, magnificent fire-works far exceeding any thing of the kind, which had ever been in the United States, were exhibited in the Boling Green. No accident occurred, during the whole

day and evening, which had the least tendency to mar the general festivity.

In this city the anniversary of this auspicious day has been regularly celebrated ever since by military parades and other demonstrations of joy. Indeed it well deserves to be commemorated not only here but in every other part of the United States; as it was not till that very day that this land of freedom could be said to be completely free from the presence of its hostile invaders.

CHAPTER X.

From the evacuation of the city by the British till the first meeting of Congress, under the New Constitution 4th March 1789.

AT the time, when the Americans took possession of this city, a circumstance, in itself ludicrous, though somewhat perplexing, occurred on the battery. The British, on their departure, had left the royal standard flying as usual at the head of the flagstaff, and as they were desirous to avoid the mortification of seeing the American flag raised in its place, they had cut away the lanyards and greased the flagstaff so ss to render it, as they thought, impossible to take it down. The American troops had arrived on the battery, and the British standard still waved triumphant. There appeared to be no alternative, except to cut it down and erect another; but this would be the work of some time. In this dilemma, an honest tar volunteered his services, which were readily accepted; though no great hopes were entertained with respect to his success. With a small rope in his teeth, however, to which the American flag was affixed, he contrived to reach the top of the pole, cut down the British standard and in a few minutes substituted the star spangled banner of the United States, which waved majestically in its stead. On his descent, he was greeted with the loudest acclamations by the admiring multitude; but it was deemed proper to give him a more substantial reward for his exploit than mere applause. A collection for his benefit, was taken up to which the greater part of the spectators from the commander-in-chief to the plainest citizen cheerfully contributed. The intrepid sailor had done an act, which had been deemed impracticable and which was highly gratifying to the public, and it is very probable that