XVIL BOOK had misrepresented the sense of the house, or he had not. He should therefore, in order to 1777. bring this question to a proper and final decision, move, That the speaker of the house, in his speech to his majesty at the bar of the house of peers, did express with just and proper energy the sentiments of this house." The speaker himself declared, "that he would sit no longer in that chair than he was supported in the free exercise of his duty. He had discharged what he conceived to be his duty, intending only to express the sense of the house; and from the vote of approbation with which he had been honored, he had reason to believe he was not chargeable with any misrepresentation." The ministers now found themselves involved in a most unpleasant dilemma, and in pressing terms recommended the withdrawment of the motion. This being positively refused, Mr. Rigby moved for the house to adjourn. But the house appearing evidently sensible of the degradation which its dignity must sustain from any affront offered to the chair, he at length thought fit in some degree to concede; and professed, "that he meant no reflection upon the character of the speaker, but that what he had said was the mere expression of his private opinion, and the result of that freedom of speech which was the right and privilege of every member of that house, without respect of XVIII. in the attack of the works at Red Bank and BOOK the opposite island, which commanded the passage of the Delawar, without the free navigation 1777. of which neither fleet nor army could winter at Philadelphia. On the 22d of October an effort was made, by a numerous body of Hessians, commanded by colonel Donop, to storm the fortress of Red Bank; but, after displaying much bravery, they were repulsed with prodigious slaughter, their gallant leader being himself mortally wounded. An unusually fierce attack was at the same time made by the shipping on the works of Fort Island, on which they made little impression; and the Augusta man of war, and Merlin sloop, in avoiding the chevaux-de-frize, were stranded, and the Augusta by accident blown up. On the 15th of November the attack was renewed with a more formidable force; and the works being now nearly demolished, the garrison retired in the night across the river in boats to Red Bank, which was also soon afterwards evacuated, not being judged tenable. after the loss of the island. The chevaux-de-frize were now weighed with great difficulty, and the free navigation of the river restored; but winter was by this time approaching, the season for action had elapsed, and no farther military or naval enterprises of moment were attempted during the short remainder of the campaign. General XVIII. BOOK Washington was permitted to retain his positions at Whitemarsh and Valley Forge for several 1777. successive months, at no greater distance than about 16 miles from Philadelphia, which appeared in a manner invested by the American army; although that army was often destitute of common necessaries, and exposed to the severest hardships. But the prediction of the sagacious Franklin was now clearly verified, "that sir William Howe had not taken Philadelphia, but that Philadelphia had taken sir William Howe." While such was the disappointment resulting from a succession of victories in the south, it will now be necessary to advert to the terrible consequences of defeat and disaster in the north. After the evacuation of Canada by the Americans, in the summer of 1776, incredible exertions were made on the part of the English to acquire a naval superiority on Lake Champlain, so necessary to the success of their future projects. A fleet of above thirty vessels, all carrying cannon, was in about three months little less than created, though a few of the largest were re-constructions, having been first framed and sent over from Great Britain. The American fleet, though not inconsiderable, was by no means equal to cope with this great force. It is remarkable that the two fleets were commanded by land-officers; XVIII. general Carleton and general Arnold being BOOK equally ambitious to support on a new element the reputation they had acquired by their military skill and conduct. Early on the 11th of October, 1776, the British armament, proceeding up the Lake, discovered the enemy's fleet drawn up with great judg ment, in a line extending from the island of Valicourt to the western main. A warm action ensued, in which the Americans, notwithstanding the extraordinary courage and intrepid efforts of their commander, were entirely defeated. General Arnold was under the necessity of setting fire to his own ship, the Congress galley, to prevent her falling into the hands of the English, not quitting her however till she was actually in flames; and, with nice and dangerous attention to the point of honor, keeping his flag flying to the last moment. Thus was Lake Champlain recovered, the enemy's force being nearly destroyed-a few small vessels only making their escape to Ticonderoga. Crown Point, on this disastrous event, was immediately abandoned, and the American force concentrated at Ticonderoga; which being adjudged too strongly defended to be attacked with success at this advanced season, general Carleton now put his troops into winter cantonments in Canada. ΧΩ 1777. BOOK 1777. In all the complex and hazardous operations of the Canadian war, general Carleton had conducted himself with equal judgment, vigor, and success, and his generous and humane treatment of the prisoners which had fallen into his hands formed a striking contrast to the barbarity which pervaded the military prisons of New York. Of the Indians in his service general Carleton had made a very sparing use, and at the end of the campaign they were dismissed on a general promise of returning when called for. But it was believed that he had, in his dispatches to England, strongly remonstrated against the employment of savages in any shape whatever in the farther prosecution of this war. Whether on this or on other accounts offence was taken at his conduct, cannot certainly be known; but, to the surprise, and no doubt to the chagrin, of the governor, general Burgoyne, who had passed the winter in England, arrived early in the spring of 1777 in America, with a commission appointing him general of the northern army beyond the limits of the province of Canada. The plan of the intended expedition southward of the Lakes had been entirely concerted between the American secretary and general Burgoyne, who, to use his own courtly language, "had thrown himself at his majesty's FEET, ta |