In thefe circumstances, confidering a warnot only as inevitable, but as already begun, they deemed it as confiftent with reafon and policy to wait to be attacked by a formidable force at their backs, in the very inftant that their utmost exertions would be requifite, and probably infufficient, for the protection of their capital cities and coafts, against the refentment of the mighty power whom they had fo grievoufly offended, and with whom they were entering into fo untried and arduous a contelt. They argued, that preventing the known hoftile intentions of an enemy, by foreftalling his defigns ere they could be carried into execution, was as much a matter of felf-defence, and lefs cruel, than waiting to be attacked by him under every difadvantage, and when he had arrived at his utmost force. There was no natural law, nor convention among mankind, by which a perfon was bound to be a fimple and inactive looker-on, while his enemy was loading a gun for his deftruction; was he to wait till the execution took place, for fear he fhould be deemed an aggreffor? Questions in cafuitry, however edifying upon other occafions, have nothing to do in circumstances upon which the fate of nations depends. Were they only to feek a remedy, when the favages had penetrated into their country, and the fury of the flames which confumed their fettlements, were only retarded by the blood of their women and infants?

The Congrefs were alfo fenfible, that they had already gone fuch lengths as could only be justified by arms. The fword was already drawn, and the appeal made. It was too late now to look back, and to waver would be certain deftruction. If a certain degree of fuccefs did not afford a fanction to their refiftance, and difpofe the Court of Great Britain to an accommodation upon lenient terms, they would not only lofe thofe immunities for which they at prefent contended, but all others would lie at the mercy of a jealous and irritated Government. In fuch a state, their moderation in the fingle inftance of Canada, they thought, would be a poor plea for compaflion or indulgence.

The Congress accordingly determined not to lose the prefent favourable opportunity, while the British arms were weak and cooped up in Bofton, for attempting the reduction of that province. The Generals Schuyler and Montgomery, with two regiments of New-York militia, a

body of New-England men, and fome others, amounting in the whole to near 3000 men, were appointed to this fervice. A number of batteaux, or flat boats, were built at Ticonderoga and CrownPoint, to convey the forces along Lake Champlain to the river Sorel, which forms the entrance into Canada, and is composed of the furplus waters of the lakes, which it difcharges into the river St. Lawrence, and would afford a happy communication between both, were it not for fome rapids. that obftruct the navigation.

Not above half the forces were arrived, when Montgomery, who was at CrownPoint, received fome intelligence which rendered him apprehenfive that a schooner of confiderable force, with fome other armed veffels, which lay at the fort of St. John's, on the river Sorel, were preparing to enter the lake, and thereby effectually obftruct their paffage. He thereupon, in, the latter end of Auguft, proceeded with fuch force as he had to the ifle Aux Noix, which lies in the entrance of the river, and took neceffary measures to guard againt the paffage of thofe veffels into the lake. Schuyler, who at that time commanded in Chief, having alfo arrived from Albany, they published a declara tion to encourage the Canadians to join, them, and, with the fame hope or defign, pushed on to the fort of St. John's, which lies only about a dozen miles from the ifland. The fire from the fort, as well as the ftrong appearances of force and refittance which they obferved, occafioned their landing at a confiderable diftance, in a country compofed of thick woods, deep fwamps, and interfected with creeks and waters. In this fituation they were vigorously attacked by a confiderable body of Indians, who did not neglect the advantages which they derived from it; along with which, finding that the fort was well garrifoned and provided, they found it neceffary the next day to return to their former station on the island, and to defer their operations until the arrival of the artillery and re-inforcements which were expected.

Schuyler upon this retreat returned to Albany, to conclude a treaty which he had for fome time been negociating with the Indians in that quarter, and found himself afterward fo occupied by bufinefs, or broken in upon by illness, that the whole weight and danger of the Canada war fell upon Montgomery, a man moft eminently qualified for any military fervice. His firit measure was to detach

G. g

thofe

thofe Indians who had joined General Carleton from his fervice, and, being itrengthened by the arrival of his reinforcements and artilley, he prepared to lay fiege to the fort of St. John's. This fort was garrifoned by the greater part of the 7th and 26th regiments, being nearly all the regular troops then in Canada; and was well provided with ftores, ammunition, and artillery.

The Provincial parties were spread over the adjacent country, and were everywhere received with open arms by the Canadians, who, befides joining them in confiderable numbers, gave them every poffible affiftance, whether in carrying on the fiege, removing their artillery, or fupplying them with provifions and neceffaries. In this ftate of things, the adventurer Ethan Aller, who, without any commiffion from the Congrefs, had a principal fhare in the original expedition to the lakes, and the capture of the forts, and who fince, under the title of Colonel, feems rather to have acted as a partizan, than as obedient to any regular command, thought to raise himself into importance by furprizing the town of Montreal. This rafh enterprize he undertook at the head of a fmall party of English Provincials and Canadians, without the knowledge of the Commander in Chief, or the affistance, which he might have procured, from fome of the other detached parties. The event was fuitable to the temerity of the undertaking. Being met at fome distance from the town, by the militia, under the command of English Officers, and fupported by the few regulars who were in the place, he was defeated and taken prifoner, Sept. 25, with near forty of his party. Allen, with his fellow-prifoners, were by General Carleton's orders loaded with irons, and fent on board a mah of war to England; from whence, how ever, they were in fome time remanded back to America.

The progrefs of Montgomery was for fome time retarded by a want of ammunition. The fort of St. John's, which commands the entrance into Canada, could not be reduced without a tolerable provifion of that kind. A fortunate event difengaged him from this difficulty. A little fort called Chamble lay deeper in the country, and feemed covered by St. John's. It was garrisoned by a small detachment of the 7th regiment, and was in no very defenfible condition. To this he turned his first thoughts, and, by pufhing forward a party joined by fome Canadians,

he eafily made himfelf matter of that fort. Here he found confiderable ftores; but the article of greatest confequence to him was the gunpowder, which they were much diftreffed for, and of which they took above 120 barrels. This acquifition facilitated the fiege of St. John's, which had languifhed for want of ammunition.

The garrison of St. John's, under the command of Major Pretton, amounted to between 6 and 700 men, of which about 500 were regulars, and the reft Canadian volunteers. They endured the difficulties and hardships of a very long fiege, augmented by a scarcity of provifions, with unabating conftancy and refolution. In the mean time, General Carleton was indefatigable in his endeavours to raise a force fufficient for its relief. Attempts had been for fome time made by Colonel M'Lean for railing a Scotch regiment, under the title of Royal Highland Emigrants, to be compofed of natives of that country who had lately arrived in America, and who in confequence of the troubles had not obtained fettlements. With thefe and fome Canadians, to the amount of a few hundred men, the Colonel was pofted near the junction of the Sorel with the river St. Lawrence. The General was at Montreal, where with the greatest difficulty he had got together near a thoufand men, compofed principally of Canadians, with a few regulars, and fome English Officers and volunteers. With thefe he intended a junction with McLean, and then to have marched directly to the relief of St. John's. But, upon his attempting to pafs over from the island of Montreal, he was encountered at Longueil by a party of the Provincials, who eafily repulfed the Canadians, and put a top to the whole defign. Another party had pushed M'Lean towards the mouth of the Sorel, where the Canadians, having received advice of the Governor's defeat, immediately abandoned him to a man, and he was obliged to make the belt of his way to Quebec with the emigrants.

In the mean time, Montgomery pushed on the frege of St. John's with great vigour, had advanced his works very near the body of the fort, and was making preparations for a general affault. Nor was there lefs alacrity fhewn in the defence, the fpirit as well as the fire of the garrifon being equally supported to the laft. In this ftate of things, an account of the fuccefs at Longueil, accompanied by the prifoners who were taken, arrived at the

camp

camp, upon which Montgomery fént a flag and a letter by one of them to Major Pretton, hoping that, as all means of relief were now cut off by the Governor's defeat, he would, by a timely surrender of the fort, prevent that further effusion of blood, which a fruitlefs and obftinate defence must neceffarily occafion.

The Major endeavoured to obtain a few days time in hopes of being relieved; but this was refufed on account of the lateness and severity of the feafon; he alfo endeavoured in fettling the terms of capitulation, to obtain liberty for the garrifon to depart for Great Britain, which proved equally fruitless, and they were obliged, November 3, after being allowed the honours of war on account of their brave defence, to lay down their arms, and furrender themfelves prifoners. They were allowed their baggage and effects, the Officers to wear their fwords, and their other arms to be preferved for them till the troubles were at an end. In all tranfactions with our forces, Montgomery writ, spoke, and behaved with that attention, regard, and politenefs, to both private men and Officers, which might be expected from a man of worth and honour, who found himself involved in an unhappy quarrel with his friends and country men. All the prifoners were fent up the Lakes by the way of Ticonderago, to thofe interior parts of the colonies which were beft adapted to provide for their reception and fecurity. The Provincials found a considerable quantity of artillery and ufeful ftores in the place.

Upon M'Lean's retreat to Quebec, the party who had reduced him to that neceffity immediately erected batteries on a

point of land at the junction of the Sorel with the river St. Lawrence, in order to prevent the efcape down the latter of a number of armed veffels, which General Carleton had at Montreal; they also conftructed armed rafts and floating batteries for the fame purpose. These measures effectually prevented the paffage of General Carleton's armament to Quebec, which were not only foiled in feveral attempts, but purfued, attacked, and driven from their anchors up the river by the Provincials; fo that, as General Montgomery approached Montreal immediately after the furrender of St. John's, the Governor's fituation, whether in the town or aboard the veffels, became equally cri tical.

This danger was foon increased by the arrival of General Montgomery at Montreal, where a capitulation was propofed by the principal French and English inhabitants, including a kind of general treaty, which Montgomery refused, as they were in no ftate of defence to entitle them to a capitulation, and were unable to fulfil the conditions on their part. He, however, gave them a written answer, in which he declared, That the Continental army having a generous difdain of every act of oppreffion and violence, and having come for the exprefs purpofe of giving liberty and fecurity, he, therefore, engaged his honour to maintain, in the peaceable poffeffion of their property of every kind, the individuals and religious communities of the city of Montreal. This fecurity being given to the people, his troops, Nov. 13, took poffeffion of the town.

[End of Chap. XXXVII. ]

TH

HE academy of the Arcadians was eftablished at Rome, toward the latter end of the last century, chiefly by thofe learned perfons who attended Queen Christina of Sweden in that city. This academy admits all fciences, all arts, all nations, all ranks, and both fexes. The number of members is not limited, and they are faid now to be above two thoufand. They fometimes aggregate whole academies; and there are many learned affemblies in different parts of Europe, that are proud of tracing their defcent from this illustrious body.

At Rome, the academicians affemble in pastoral habits in a moft agreeable garden called the Bosco Parrhasia; and, their conftitution being Democratic, they never chufe any Prince for their protector. At the end of each Olympiad, which is the method of computation adopted by the Arcadians, they nominate a Guardian, who is the Speaker, has the fole right of affembling the fociety, and he is their general representative when they are not af fembled. In order to be admitted a member, it is requisite that the person should be twenty four years of age, of a repu G

table

able family, and to have given some specimen of abilities in one or more branches of education. In respect to Ladies, a poem, or a picture, is accepted as a fuf. ficient teltimony of genius. The ftated affemblies of this academy are fixed to

feven different days between the firit of May and the feventh of October. In the fix firft, they read the works of the Roman fhepherds, and the works of ftrangers are referved to the seventh and last.

N the year 1777, Mr. Irwin, a Gentle

IN

man in the East-India Company's fervice, was fent from Madrafs with dif patches for England. He embarked on board the fnow Adventure, Captain Bacon, in company with three other Gentlemen, Major Alexander, Mr. Hammond, and Lieutenant * , a Gentleman whofe name is kindly fuppreffed, for a reafon that will appear in due time; bound for Mocha on the coaft of Arabia Felix: with a refolution, either to reach Suez by a voyage up the Red-Sea, or to proceed by land to the port of Alexandria, and thence to take fhipping for Europe. In eight weeks, owing to the latenets of the feafon, they effected a paffage to Mocha; of which place Mr. Irwin gives the following defcription:

Mocha, the ancient capital of Arabia Felix, is fituated upon a fandy foil, about 12 leagues from the ftraits of Babelmandel. This city is of great antiquity, and difplays a very handsome appearance towards the fea. But its beauty will not bear a clofe infpection. Like the defor mities which are fo frequently difcovered beneath a fair exterior, the infide of its buildings is by no means anfwerable to the expectations which they raife. To furvey the defert on which it ftands, a ftranger must be furprized at the plenty which reigns in the markets. There is not a tree within ken, that produces any fruit, but the date, or herbage of any kind, to fupport the cattle which are daily expofed for fale. But to the fimplicity of the Arabian manners this circumftance is to be attributed. Where the natives are content with the coarteft food that a country produces, it is no wonder that the more delicate viands are readily procured by the few Europeans who vifit their fhores. And indeed, when we are informed that the fheep which are fold here, are all brought from the oppofite coast of Abyffinia, and the fimpleft vegetable, at no lefs a distance than fifteen miles from Mocha, conjecture would lofe itself in accounting

for fuch plenty, were a clue not given to unravel the mystery.

Mocha is under the authority of a Governor, as the Imaun, who unites the offices of High-priest and King of Arabia Felix, always refides at Sennaa, a city about ten days journey from hence, delightfully fituated in a valley, with which this mountainous country abounds. The Turks have loft the influence which they formerly poffeffed in this kingdom. They feem content, at prefent, to receive their proportion of the duties of the other provinces of Arabia, without pretending to exert the arbitrary fway, which marks their Government in the districts that are more immediately within the reach of their

arms.

There is one privilege that the Imaun claims here, which cuftom has rendered familiar to the fubjects of a defpotic State, however oppreffive it may appear to the ideas of an European. He has an indifputable property in all horseflefh. So that, if a ftranger takes a liking to an horfe, it is of no confequence to whom it belongs, provided he be content to pay the price, which the Governor may fix on it in the name of his mafter. But the owner is feldom exposed to the mortification of being obliged to part with his property: the value of the beat, however beautiful it may be, feldom proving in the leaft adequate to the price which is demanded for it.

In their horfes the chief pleasure and pride of the Arabs confift. Pampered to an excefs that renders them fitter for fhew than use, they (and in the stable, or are picketted at the doors of their masters, from one Sabbath-day to another. But on this feftival they are adorned with a load of rich and unwieldy furniture, with which they parade the streets from morning to night: and they now receive the only exercife which they are permitted to take. The Governor's ftud, which confifts of a number of choice horses, are particularly drawn up in the fquare before his houfe. They are oppofed to each other in fquadions,

3

fquadrons, and at the word of command, the riders fet off at full gallop, and as they pass each other, dart the pike or fpear with great dexterity.

We paid a cuftomary vifit to the Governor on our landing, and found him to be a grave and elderly man, meagre in his body, and flovenly in his apparel. But with this unpromising appearance he has the character of being a very good and intelligent man, and much more inquifitive after the manners and difcoveries of European nations, than the generality of his countrymen. This peculiarity in his difpofition plainly evinces itself in the furniture of his Audience-chamber, which is ornamented with a broken figured clock, a French thermometer, and an English quadrant. He received us very politely, and is a professed friend of the English nation, whofe genius and spirit he affects to admire. This piece of intelligence we obtained from our Refident here, who at the fame time communicated to us an anecdote of his life, which is not unworthy of mention. It not only carries with it an evidence of the intriguing temper of the Arabs, but fets off to advantage the character of a man, to whom the English are materially obliged.

In the reign of the father of the prefent King of Sennaa, this man was the Vizier and favourite. So univerally was his administration approved of, and fo neceffary did the old King think him to the welfare of the State, that he recommended him on his death-bed to the protection of his fon, in the most earnest terms. The Prince was deeply impreffed with a charge delivered to him at fo folemn a moment, and promised his father to make the knowledge and advice of the Vizier the fole guides of his future life. And to this promise he very faithfully adhered, for fome years after his acceffion to the Throne.

In the courfe of this time, the young Monarch had formed inconfiderate attachments for Courtiers of his own age and difpofition. Though this did not immediately interfere with the Minifter's influence in matters of Government, it nevertheless fuggefted, to a difcerning mind, the approaches of neglect and difgrace. To prevent the execution, therefore, of what he confidered as inevitable, fhould he continue in his prefent office, he very wifely formed the refolution of retiring from Court. A refolution, infpired by the foundest philofophy, wavered not until

an opportunity offered to put it into practice.

One day when he was alone with the King, he took the liberty to speak of the length of his fervices, and of the decline of his life. He touched modeftly upon his known affection and zeal for the ho nour of his Sovereign; and bespoke his Majelty's indulgence for the petition which he was about to prefer. He concluded with an, humble defire, that he might be permitted to refign his truft to one, whofe faculties and health were more vigorous, and able to tranfact the important affairs, in which he had been so long employed. The better to cover his design, he affected an inclination to vifit Mocha, where he purposed to remain until his name was forgotten, and that time should weaken the malice of a faction, which is the infeparable attendant of the best Adminiftration. It was not without reluctance that the King complied with this unexpected requeft. He had a particular value and refpect for the Minister, and was not prepared to forego his fervices, although the latter had been artful enough to recommend for his fucceffor one of the chief favourites of his matter. The struggle, however, was of no long continuance. The King's pride was touched at the idea of being at a lofs for a fervant, and he hattened to inveft the very favourite who had been pointed out to him with the dignity of the abdicated Minister.

But little did the Minifter dream of the confequences of this refignation. Little did he forefee, that his fucceffor would lay hold of the with that he had expreffed to vifit Mocha to load him again with cares of Government; where his influence would be confiderably lessened, though his dignity would appear greater than before. No fooner had the new Vizier possessed himself of his office, than he was determined to remove for ever fo virtuous an obferver of his Adininiftration. Poison, or the fword, was too dangerous an implement, against fuch a character. He had recourie to a remedy which wholly anfwered his intentions; and, by blinding the eyes of his Sovereign, and advancing the opinion of his principles among the vulgar, must be held as a mafterpiece of courtly artifice.

With the greatest appearance of warmth, therefore, he reprefented to the King the outcry which would be raised against him, thould he fuffer an old fervant of his father's, and the guardian of his own youth,

to