From the attack they experienced in their retreat, it plainly appears that General Washington had hist troops in readinefs, and was defigned to have attacked them in the city of Philadelphia, or to have given them battle provided they had come to the field.From the apprehenfion of the uncertain confequences of fuch an attack, as now all hope of fupply from England was loft, they thought it most convenient to retreat to New-York, where the fleet could more conveniently affift, or relieve them in cafe of any dif after. It was exceedingly unfavourable to the Commiffioners, that the army was obliged to make fuch a precipitate flight, at the very time they were offering their conciliatory propofals; and it was not probable that even the wavering part of the people would give much attention to the addreffes of Commiffioners with a flying army at their heels. From the very beginning of the war our commanders feem to have had their chicf dependance upon the fleet: for without the aid and affiftance thereof they never performed any action worthy of any particular confideration.

The evacuation of Philadelphia was as unexpected as it was alarming to the friends of government, and their advocates were greatly at a loss to account for a meafure, the reafons of which appeared totally myf terious to them. They were almoft afhamed to confefs the fact itself, and for fome time remained in fufpenfe concerning the authenticity of the accounts which informed them of the event. The distress of the American army during the winter, had been defcribed in fuch ftrong terms, and their inability to make any longer an oppofition to the King's forces, that the retreat from Philadelphia appeared fo ænigmatical, that they could not tell how to account for it. It was given out that Sir Henry Clinton intended

fome

fome home ftroke, by which he would put an end to the war, and bring the colonifts to abfolute fubmiffion; for as the particulars of the retreat, andthe fabfequent loffes, were for a time concealed, it was always hoped that General Clinton had fome great object in view, when he evacuated a city of fo much importance for its fituation to the British forces.-—— What he was about to do, and the marvelous effects of his proceedings, were publifhed with as much confidence as if they had already been accomplished; and those who were no friends to General Howe, were at this time more extravagant in their predictions concerning the fuccefs of Sir Henry Clinton." Whether they really believed what they affirmed is much to be doubted; it rather appeared that their expreffion of their hopes concerning the fuccefs of General Clinton were intended as accufations against General Sir William Howe, for not having fulfilled their expectations in reducing the Americans. It was not long till the character of this officer was feverely attacked from all quarters in minifterial news-papers, and pamphlets, and his fervices depreciated with much rancour and abufe. This was principally intended as a defence of the ministry, especially of that state officer who held the American department; the advocates for the court, could now devife no other method of defending their meafures, than by reproaching General Howe for partiality and inactivity in difcharging the office of general. This reproach came with an ill grace from thofe who had but a little time before extolled Sir William Howe, both for caution, courage, and the management of the war. The truth of the matter was, that all the officers that were fent to America during this war had found in experience,

that

that it was different from what the miniftry had re prefented it, and that all the parts of the plan for carrying it on were founded in error and mistake; that it was a plan totally disjointed and uncemented in all its principles and parts, and could be executed by no officer with any certainty of fuccefs. It was this made all the general officers defire to be recalled one after another as foon as poffible, and to quit a fcene of action where there was nothing to be expected except difgrace and disappointment. Sir William Howe became now the chief object of court refentment, and all the minifterial fcribblers were fet loofe upon him, who did not fpare to give him a liberal fhare of abuse. While the difputants at home were vigorously fupporting their different opinions concerning the fuccefs and iffue of the war, the actors on the principal flage were more warmly engaged, in the hotteft and warmeft feafon of the year, in acting their parts with various fuccefs.

Upon the 18th day of June the British army evacu ated Philadelphia to the furprize of all Europe. It had been given out with the greatest confidence that this city, as being moft centrical, was to be held as a place of arms and refource, for carrying on the war in both the northern and fouthern colonies; and it was generally fuppofed that the Americans were not able to drive the British forces out of it, nor were they able to face our troops in the open field. The news of this fudden retreat and evacuation, greatly puzzled all the minifterial connoiffeurs in politics, and they were greatly embarraffed to affign proper reafons for fuch a hafty and precipitate meafure. Philadelphia had been confidered as a great object only twelve months before, and it was then confidently, affirmed that the reduction of that city would deter