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HistRevolV1_151-200.indd 48 3/16/12 11:45 AM CHAPTER X Desultory Circumstances • Skirmishes and Events • General Howe withdraws from the Jersies-Arrives at the River Elk-Followed by Washington • The Battle of Brandywine • General Washington defeated, retreats to Philadelphia-Obliged to draw off his Army • Lord Cornwallis takes Possession of the City • Action at Germantown, Red Bank, &c • The British Army take Winter-Quarters in Philadelphia • The Americans encamp at Valley-Forge • General Washington's Situation not eligible • De Lisle's Letters • General Conway resigns • The Baron de Steuben appointed Inspector General of the American Army CHAP. x [364] In the beginning of the year one thousand seven hundred and 1 1 7 7 seventy-seven, the spirits of the Americans were generally re-animated by fresh hopes, in consequence of the measures taken by congress to establish a permanent army, until the conclusion of the war, and still more by their sanguine expectations of success from the negociations, and prospects of an alliance with France. A solemn confederation, consisting of a number of articles by which the United States should in future be governed, had been drafted, discussed, and unanimously signed by all the delegates in congress, in the month of October, one thousand seven hundred and seventysix . This instrument was sent to each legislature [365] in the thirteen states, and approved and afterwards ratified by the individual governments . After this, the congress of the United States thought proper to appoint commissioners to the court of France, when fortunately a loan of money was negociated on the faith of the United States, and permission obtained for the reception of American ships of war, and the sale of prizes that might be captured by them, and carried into any of the ports of France. They were also encouraged to hope for still further assistance from the generosity of that nation. The growth of the infant marine of the United States had been so 198 HistRevolV1_151-200.indd 49 3/16/12 11:45 AM VOLUME ONE 199 rapid, and so successful had been the adventurers in this early stage CHAP. x of the war, that it was rationally concluded, it could not be many 1 7 7 7 years before the navy of America might make a respectable figure among the nations. It was not expected in Great Britain, that the colonies could thus early have acquired a naval force of the least consideration. In consequence of this idea, a great number ofBritish ships and transports, that went out slightly armed, or not armed at all, were this year captured on their way to America. So bold and adventurous were the American privateers, and their public ships, that the domestic trade of Britain was rendered insecure; and a convoy [366] became necessary to protect the linen ships from Dublin to Newry: a circumstance that never before took place.* The successful depredations also on the British West India trade, were felt through Great Britain in an alarming degree; and shocked their commerce so far, as to occasion sudden and frequent bankruptcies in London, Bristol, and almost all the great marts of the nation. Thus the colonies were filled with every thing necessary for carrying on a war, or that furnished them the luxuries of life. But the sudden acquisition of wealth, which in consequence of unexpected success, flowed into the lap of individuals, so much beyond their former fortune or ideas, was not indeed very favorable to the virtue or manners of the possessors. It had a tendency to contract the mind, and led it to shrink into selfish views and indulgencies, totally inconsistent with genuine republicanism. The coffers of the rich were not unlocked for the public benefit, but their contents were liberally squandered in pursuit of frivolous enjoyments, to which most of them had heretofore been strangers. This avaricious spirit, indeed, somewhat retarded the measures contemplated by congress, who had determined, that the army in future [367] should stand on a more stable footing. They had directed that eighty-eight battalions should be raised, and kept in full pay until the close of the war; and as an encouragement to enlist, they promised a certain allotment of lands to both officers and soldiers, at the commencement of peace; yet the recruiting service went on heavily for a time, and at an immense expense to the United States. But among a people whose personal liberty had been their proudest "British Annual Register, 1777. [See Annual Register (1777), "History of...

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