And to add to the general gloom which now overspread the United States, the small army that was left, was reduced to the greatest distress and misery ; and, nothing, it is believed, but the wisdom and prudence of the immortal Washington, could have kept it together ; for, in the language of a committee appointed by Congress to visit it, the soldiers were unpaid for months together, seldom having more than six days provision in advance ; and on several occasions for several successive days, entirely without meat. The medical department having no supplies whatever, for the sick, and every department of the army being alike without money, and not even the shadow of credit left." Discontent to an alarming extent, at the same time among the

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officers and soldiers, on account of the depreciated currency of llie country. The pay of a private for a year, would not subsist his family for a single week nor would the pay of an officer procure forage, or even oats for his horse.

And in addition to these evils which fell so heavily upon the army, others not less deplorable, had, by reason of the embarrassed slate of the country, fallen upon the community at large. For the aged and infirm, who had retired to enjoy the fruits of their industry, found their subsistence reduced to a scanty pittance, and the widow and the orphan were obliged to accept a dollar where hundreds were their due.

At this moment when all was dark, our hopes for a successful termination of the war well nigh gone, when the east and the south were in gloom and doubt, and fear which "betrays like treason," was setting on many an honest face, Major Andrd was sent from the British army, whose general then wished to finish the war at a blow, to tamper with the low principles of Benedict Arnold, and by the strength of bribery and corruption, to pluck up his shallow rooted patriotism at once.