This event furnishes an irrefragable testimony of the manly firmness of mind and dignity of conduct of our Commander in Chief; and is calculated to impress the English commanders with a just sense of his exalted merit and character.

August 1st.-The continental army, under the immediate command of General Washington, is stationed at New York; and it is expected that the British army, under command of General Howe, will endeavor to take possession of that city the present

season.

5th.-Colonel Whitcomb's regiment, consisting of five hundred men, has now gone through the small pox in this town by inoculation, and all, except one negro, have recovered.

7th. This regiment, with Colonel Sarjeant's, are preparing to march to Ticonderoga. A number of teams are procured to transport the baggage and stores, and this morning, at seven o'clock, they marched out of town with colors displayed and drums beating. Being myself indisposed, I am permitted to tarry in town till my health is restored, and in the mean time I am directed to take charge of the sick soldiers, that remain here.

20th.-Having recovered my health, and being prepared to follow our regiment, I am this day to bid adieu to the town of Boston, where I have resided very pleasantly for the last five months. I am destined to a distant part of our country, and know not what sufferings and hazards I shall be called to encounter, while in the discharge of my military duty. I shall commence my journey in company with Lieutenant Whiting and fourteen men who were left here as invalids.

September. We took our route through Worcester, Springfield, Charlestown, in New Hampshire, and over the Green Mountains to Skeensbury; which is the place of rendezvous for the continental troops and militia destined to Ticonderoga. Here

boats are provided at the entrance of Lake Champlain, which are continually passing to and from this place. We embarked on the 6th instant, and with good oarsmen and sails we arrived the same day, and joined our regiment here, a distance of thirty miles. While on our march, we received alarming reports respecting some military operations between our army, commanded by General Washington, and the British, under command of General Howe, on Long Island, near New York. The report states that our army has suffered a complete defeat with great loss, and that two of our general officers are taken prisoners. The inhabitants through the country are in great alarm; but have not obtained the particulars; as the account at present is vague, and somewhat contradictory, we hope and trust that a particular detail will prove the event to be more favorable to our cause.

Soon after my arrival here, a soldier had the imprudence to seize a rattlesnake by its tail; the reptile threw its head back and struck its fangs into the man's hand. In a few moments a swelling commenced, attended with severe pain. It was not more than half an hour, when his whole arm to his shoulder was swollen to twice its natural size, and the skin became of a deep orange color. His body, on one side, soon became affected in a similar manner, and a nausea at his stomach ensued. The poor man was greatly and justly alarmed; his situation was very critical. Two medical men, beside myself, were in close attendance for several hours. Having procured a quantity of olive oil, we directed the patient to swallow it in large and repeated doses, till he had taken one quart; and at the same time we rubbed into the affected limb a very large quantity of mercurial ointment. In about two hours we had the satisfaction to perceive the favorable effects of the remedies. The alarming symptoms abated, the swelling and pain gradually subsided, and in about forty eight hours he was happily restored to health.

10th. I have omitted to record the following incidents, till I could ascertain the particulars of the reports.

We learn by accounts from New York, that some time since, a plot of a most atrocious nature was detected in that city. A gang of tories had associated for the purpose of joining the British army; and had concerted a plan, it is said, to assassinate his Excellency General Washington, and some other officers; and while our army were engaged with the enemy, to blow up our magazines, &c. The mayor of the city, and an armorer who was employed in making rifles for the tories, and several others, were taken into custody, and committed to close prison. The mayor, on examination, confessed that he received money from Governor Tryon to pay the armorer for the rifles. Two of his Excellency's guards were confederate; and a third, to whom the secret was confided, honestly disclosed the information. Several of these miscreants were tried and convicted, and two or three were executed. Another vile plot has been discovered in the city of Albany. By the confession of two tories, the plan was to set the city on fire, and to blow up the magazine. Some of the incendiaries were apprehended, and the meditated plot frustrated. We have now ample evidence, that the tories are the most virulent and implacable of our enemies; and it is to be considered as a remarkable interposition of Providence, that their vile machinations are so frequently defeated. Internal secret enemies are always more dangerous than avowed foes in the field; and so numerous and active are the tories in the vicinity of our main army, that it has been found necessary to adopt coercive measures, and to compel them to take the oath of allegiance, as prescribed by our Congress, or to depart from our territories.

12th. I must not omit to notice another instance of villany in a German, by the name of Ledwitz.

By his solicitation he was appointed Lieutenant Colonel in our army, and he has been detected in a traitorous correspondence with Governor Tryon of New York. He entrusted his letter to one Steen, an honest German, to be conveyed to New York; but he considered it his duty to expose the perfidy, and delivered it to General Washington. In his letter he first presents his compliments in a formal manner to Lord Howe, and then proceeds to profess a consciousness, that the world will censure him for his treachery, in corresponding with the enemy of those in whose service he is employed, but apologizes by asserting, that he had been forced to accept his commission, for fear of ruin to himself and family; and as he had engaged, through compulsion, by a rebellious mob, he can be under no obligation to be faithful in their service. Besides this, he adds, he had previously taken Governor Tryon's advice, and had promised to do all he could in his new capacity for his majesty's service. He then asserts that a person who is a friend to the king, though an interested one, had offered to furnish him with weekly returns of the strength and detail of the continental army, for the sum of four thousand pounds sterling, to be paid in advance in gold; but that he had agreed with him to render that service for two thousand pounds, which sum, he requested, might be immediately conveyed to him. By this criminal act the perfidious wretch had forfeited his life, according to the articles of war, but on his trial by a court martial, his life was saved by the casting vote of a militia officer, who pretended some scruples of conscience; he was however cashiered, and declared incapable of holding any military office in the service of the United States.

15th. I have now ascertained, by accounts published, that the battle on Long Island took place on the 27th of August. The British and Hessian army, supposed to amount to twenty four thousand, landed on the island under cover of their shipping. The

continental army consisted of ten thousand five hundred and fourteen effectives only; and these were so situated, that but a small part could be brought into action; the conflict therefore was extremely unequal. In point of numbers, of discipline, experience in war, and of artillery, the enemy possessed the most decided advantage; besides the important assistance afforded by a powerful fleet. The very judicious plan of attack by the British generals was carried into execution with irresistible ardor and impetuosity. The Americans defended themselves with great bravery, till a considerable number of them were completely surrounded, and the remainder dispersed. The palm of victory was on the side of the enemy; and our loss is very considerable. Major General Sullivan, and Lord Sterling, were obliged to surrender as prisoners; and our total loss is supposed to be not less than one thousand or twelve hundred in killed, wounded, and missing. The enemy suffered very severely.

After this unfortunate skirmishing, our army retreated within their lines at Brooklyn, and were exposed to the greatest hazard; our troops, fatigued and discouraged by defeat, a superior enemy in their front, and a powerful fleet about to enter the East River with a view of effectually cutting off their retreat; but an interposition of Providence, and the wisdom and vigilance of the Commander in Chief preserved our army from destruction. Having resolved to withdraw his army from its hazardous position, General Washington crossed over to the Island in the night of the 29th of August, and personally conducted the retreat in so successful a manner, under the most embarrassing circumstances, that it is considered as a remarkable example of good generalship. A circumstance which is remarked as manifestly Providential, is, that a thick fog enveloped the whole of Long Island in obscurity about two o'clock in the morning, while on the side of the enemy at New York, the