speedy removal of the obstructions. Should this business be pursued with perseverance, most of the vessels, which can reach Albany, will be able to come up to Waterford. In that case large quantities of wheat, and other produce, which are now carried by land to Albany, would be shipped here; and would ensure a considerable, and profitable, trade to the inhabitants. There is a small, decent church in this village, but without a minister. The inhabitants are chiefly colonists from New-England who have planted themselves here since the Revolution.

Halfmoon is an extensive township. The soil is generally what is called slate land; being either clay, or clay with a thin covering of sand. Sometimes, however, the surface is composed of loam. The inhabitants are generally farmers, and amounted in 1790, to 3,602, in 1800, to 3,851, and in 1810, to 5,292.

The first six miles of the road from Albany, passed over a handsome interval. Through the remainder of the distance to Stillwater we found neither the road, nor the country very agreeable. The slate land extends with little intermission throughout the whole distance. The surface is almost entirely clay; and, the season having been wet, the road was encumbered with mud.

Just as we arrived at Stillwater, it began to rain, and rained copiously till Friday morning; when we rode to Saratoga to dinner: eight miles. The lowering appearance of the sky prevented us from setting out until the morning was far advanced. We here found the country very beautiful. The road passes along the borders of intervals, lining the Hudson for a great length. The river, also, is in full view; and few rides are more cheerful. To add to our enjoyments, and the sprightliness of the scenery, a great multitude of robins, and other small birds, regaled us with a variety of songs: a fact not very common at this season of the year.

There is a small, pleasant village in Stillwater. Here I had au opportunity of seeing in one of the mills, erected on the borders of the Hudson, what is called a gang of saws; that is a sufficient number to convert a log into boards by a single operation. The inhabitants along the road in this township exhibit many proofs of comfort and thrift, in both their farms and houses. The whole

number, contained in the township, was in 1790, 3,071; in 1800, 2,872; and in 1810, 2,492. The reason of this diminution is undoubtedly the sub-division of the original township into others.

A Canal has been begun, intended to connect the waters of the Hudson, above and below, along a series of rocky shelves. With this others were to be connected, so as to unite the Hudson with the South end of Lake Champlain. Had the design been practicable, it would have been incalculably advantageous to the commerce of the Hudson. But many years will probably elapse before it will be executed.

Saratoga resembles Stillwater; but along the river is more beautiful. The intervals are larger, richer, and handsomer. The river, also, winds more, and is more replenished with islands.

In 1790, the township of Saratoga contained 3,071 inhabitants: in 1800, 2,411 and in 1810, 3,183. This township also, has been divided.

"To abstract the mind from all local emotions," says Johnson, "would be impossible, if it were endeavoured; would be foolish, if it were possible. Whatever withdraws us from the power of our senses; whatever makes the past, the distant, or the future, predominate over the present; advances the dignity of thinking beings. Far from me and my friends be such frigid philosophy, as may conduct us, indifferent and unmoved, over any ground, which has been dignified by wisdom, bravery, or virtue. That man is little to be envied, whose patriotism would not gain force upon the plain of Marathon, or whose piety would not grow warmer on the ruins of Jona."

Dr. Johnson, under the influence of his strong prejudice against every thing American, would most probably refuse the application of these fine sentiments to a native of this country. Particularly he might be expected to thunder his anathemas, or at least issue an interdict, from his literary Vatican, against the indulgence of such emotions in any case, connected with the American Revolution. But I, who was never under his immediate superintendence, felt them instinctively rising in my own mind at the sight of the field, in which Gen. Burgoyne surrendered him

self, and the army under his command, to Gen. Gates. I could here almost forget, that Arnold became a traitor to his country, and satisfy myself with recollecting, that to his invincible gallantry, and that of the brave officers and soldiers whom he led, my country was, under God, indebted in a prime degree for her independence, and all its consequent blessings. Johnson himself could hardly forbid an American to love his country: and I should think that American, peculiarly an inhabitant of New-England or New-York, little to be envied, whose patriotism did not gain force upon the heights of Stillwater, or the plains of Saratoga. These scenes I have examined, the former with solemnity and awe, the latter with ardour and admiration, and both with enthusiasm and rapture. Here I have remembered; here it is impossible not to remember; that on this very spot a controversy was decided, upon which hung the liberty, and happiness, of a nation, destined one day to fill a continent, and of its descendants, who will probably hereafter outnumber the inhabitants of Europe.

I am, Sir, yours, &c.

LETTER VII.

Progress of Gen. Burgoyne-Desertion of Ticonderoga-Battle of Hubbardton; of Battle-hill-Wise measures of Gen. Schuyler-Defeat of Col. Baume and Breckman-Battles of September 19th, and October 7th.-Surrender of Gen. Burgoyne -Reflections.

Dear Sir,

THE British nation formed the highest hopes from the expedition of Gen. Burgoyne; hopes, naturally founded on the skill of the commander, the bravery of his army, and the point of attack. Nor did these considerations fail of awakening in the minds of the Americans very serious solicitude. Sir Guy Carlton had, the preceding year, conducted the British affairs in Canada with distinguished wisdom, and success: but for some reason, of which I am ignorant, the management of them was, in 1777, transferred unwisely from him to Gen. Burgoyne. This officer arrived at Quebec in the month of May; and moved up Lake Champlain in June with an army, consisting of British, German, and other troops, and amounting to between nine and ten thousand men. On the 20th he landed at Crown Point; and there, to conciliate the good will of the Indians, who had joined his army, made a feast for them. To his peculiar honour it ought to be remembered, that he solemnly forbade their customary cruelties; and encouraged them to humanity by promising a compensation for prisoners; and declaring "that not only such compensation should be withheld, but a strict account demanded, if they should bring in scalps." To old men, women, children and prisoners, and to persons quietly busied in the employments of peace, he also required them in the most pointed terms to exhibit an uniformly humane treatment.

From Crown Point he proceeded to Ticonderoga. Here the French formerly built a regular and expensive fortress, with the proper outworks, sufficiently strong to endure a siege of some length. The ground was, however, so ill chosen, as to be untenable for a single day; for it is perfectly commanded both by

Mount Independence on the East, and Sugar Hill now named Mount Defiance, on the South. Ticonderoga stands upon a small peninsula, washed by the outlet of Lake George on the South, Lake Champlain on the East, and a cove from that Lake on the North. The Americans, not being sufficiently numerous to defend all the posts in this vicinity, unwisely as I think, left Mount Defiance unoccupied.

As a prelude to his operations, Gen. Burgoyne issued a pompous, haughty minded proclamation, in which, after reciting a number of his own titles, eked out with string of et ceteras to indicate the rest, making a magnificent parade of the number and strength of his army, and displaying in formidable view the body of savages by which it was attended, he announced the great things, which he was able to accomplish; and commanded the Americans to lay down their arms, and return to their duty; promising them mercy upon their speedy submission, and threatening them with the most terrible vengeance, if they persisted in their rebellion. The effects of this proclamation entirely contravened the expectations of the writer. Instead of the terror, which it was intended to excite, it produced only indignation, and contempt. Governor Livingston, of New-Jersey, by turning it ingeniously into Hudibrastic verse made it an object of general diversion. John Holt of New-York, an old and respectable printer, published it in his newspaper at Poughkeepsie; and subjoined, "pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." It is remarkable, that the four most haughty proclamations, issued by military commanders in modern times, have prefaced their ruin this of Gen. Burgoyne; that of the Duke of Brunswick, when he was entering France; that of Buonaparte in Egypt; and that of Gen. Le Clerc at his arrival in St. Domingo. The troops, with which Gen. St. Clair garrisoned these posts, ill equipped, and ill armed, amounted, including nine hundred militia, to three thousand effective men. As Gen. Philips with the right wing of the British, approached Ticonderoga, the Americans abandoned their outworks; and the British without any obstruction proceeded to take possession of Mount Defiance. In VOL. III.

29