under the command of Captain Morris, having perform'd their Tour of duty are discharged for the present.

"I take this Opportunity of returning my most sincere. thanks to the Captain and to the Gentlemen who compose the Troop, for the many essential Services which they have rendered to their Country, and to me personally during the Course of this severe Campaign. Tho' composed of Gentlemen of Fortune, they have shewn a noble Example of discipline and subordination, and in several Actions have shewn a Spirit of Bravery which will ever do Honor to them and will ever be gratefully remembered by me."- Washington to the Philadelphia Troop of Light Horse.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 24.

At Morristown: "While our dependence is upon militia, we have a full army one day, and scarce any the next; and I am much afraid, that the enemy one day or other, taking advantage of one of these temporary weaknesses, will make themselves masters of our magazines of stores, arms, and artillery."- Washington to Governor Trumbull.

The letter from which the above extract is made was sent as a circular to each of the New England States. After alluding to the want of a regular body of troops, on whom he could depend for a length of time, and urging the prompt equipment of the battalions allotted to each State by the resolutions of Congress of September, 1776, Washington wrote: "Nothing but their [the enemy's] ignorance of our numbers protects us at this very time, when, on the contrary, had we six or eight thousand regular troops, or could the militia, who were with me a few days ago, have been prevailed upon to stay, we could have struck such a stroke, as would have inevitably ruined the army of the enemy, in their divided state."

SATURDAY, JANUARY 25.

At Morristown: Issues a proclamation commanding and requiring every person who had signed a declaration of fidelity, taken the oath of allegiance, and engaged not to take up arms against the King of Great Britain, to repair to head-quarters within thirty days, and there deliver up such protection, certificate, and passport, and take the oath

of allegiance to the United States of America, or withdraw within the British lines.

This proclamation, which was issued to counteract the effects of one by Lord Howe and General Howe, November 30, 1776, promising amnesty to all in rebellion who should, within sixty days, return to their allegiance, was objected to by the Legislature of New Jersey, that body regarding it as a violation of State supremacy. Others again, jealous of the extraordinary powers vested by Congress in Washington (December 27, 1776), questioned whether he had not transcended these powers, and exercised a degree of despotism.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 26.

At Morristown: "Reinforcements come up so extremely slow, that I am afraid I shall be left without any men before they arrive. The enemy must be ignorant of our numbers, or they have not horses to move their artillery, or they would not suffer us to remain undisturbed."- Washington to the President of Congress.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22.

At Morristown: "The cry of want of Provisions comes to me from all Quarters-Genl Maxwell writes word that his men are starving-Genl Johnston, of Maryland yesterday informed me that his people could draw none-this difficulty I understand prevails also at Chatham-What Sir is the meaning of this ?-& why were you so desirous of excluding others from this business when you are unable to accomplish it yourself? Consider, I beseech you, the consequences of this neglect."- Washington to Commissary Irvine.

SATURDAY, MARCH 1.

At Morristown: Orderly Book.-" Alexander Hamilton Esq is appointed Aide de Camp to the Commander in Chief, and is to be respected and obeyed as such."

The appointment of Hamilton as a member of the military family of Washington brought out the following congratulatory letter from his early preceptor Hugh Knox, dated St. Croix, December 10, 1777, which in the light of history may be considered remarkably prophetic: "The honorable post

you hold under the GREAT General Washington, and so near his person, will give you a peculiar advantage for delineating his character, both in his amiable private virtues, and military abilities. And depend upon it, the very minutiae of that incomparable man will be read with avidity by posterity. You know me too well, I hope, to suspect me of superstition; yet I feel myself, at times, under a strong impulse to prophesy, that Washington was born for the deliverance of America-that that Providence who has raised and trained him up for that very purpose, will watch over his sacred life with a paternal and solicitous care; will shield his head in every day of battle-will give him to see America free, flourishing, and happy—and will adorn his fame, among latest posterity, with a Garland of Laurel, more verdant, blooming, and enviable, than ever adorned the brow of a Marlborough."

Hugh Knox, D.D., was born in Ireland about 1733, and emigrated to this country in 1751. He was graduated at Princeton in 1754, and, after studying theology a year longer, was ordained. Dr. Knox settled at St. Croix, and became pastor of the Presbyterians who were living on that island. Alexander Hamilton was placed under his instruction in boyhood. He died October, 1790.

SUNDAY, MARCH 2.

At Morristown: "General Howe cannot, by the best intelligence I have been able to get, have less than ten thousand men in the Jerseys and on board of transports at Amboy. Ours does not exceed four thousand. His are well disciplined, well officered, and well appointed. Ours raw Militia, badly officered, and under no Government."Washington to Robert Morris.

THURSDAY, MARCH 6.

At Morristown: "I tell you in confidence, that, after the 15th of this month, when the time of General Lincoln's militia expires, I shall be left with the remains of five Virginia regiments, not amounting to more than as many hundred men, and parts of two or three other Continental battalions, all very weak. The remainder of the army will be composed of small parties of militia from this State and Pennsylvania, on which little dependence can be put, as they come and go when they please."- Washington to Governor Trumbull.

FRIDAY, MARCH 14.

At Morristown: "From the most accurate estimate that I can form, the whole of our numbers in Jersey, fit for duty at this time, is under three thousand. These, nine hundred and eighty-one excepted, are militia, and stand engaged only till the last of this month. The troops under inoculation, including their attendants, amount to about one thousand."— Washington to the President of Congress.

Such had been the melancholy and deplorable situation of the army the preceding campaign, particularly in Canada, from the ravages of the smallpox, that very efficient measures had been taken this winter to prevent the disease from spreading among the soldiers. An establishment for inoculation was provided near Morristown for the troops in camp; one at Philadelphia for those coming from the south; another under the direction of General Parsons in Connecticut for the soldiers in that State; and another at Providence.

SATURDAY, MARCH 15

At Morristown: "Morristown, March 15, 1777.-His Excellency has been ill for some days, but is now perfectly recovered, and has the satisfaction of his amiable lady's company, who arrived here this day in good health."-Letter in the Continental Journal, March 27.

"Kingston, 26 March 1777.—No circumstance could have more contributed to our happiness than to hear of the General's recovery; which, believe me, gave universal joy. Be pleased to make my most respectful compliments to his lady."-Gouverneur Morris to Alexander Hamilton.

SATURDAY, MARCH 22.

At Morristown: "March 22.-Went to Morristown. Finished my business with the Paymaster, and drank tea at headquarters, General Washington and his lady being of the company, and then took leave of the General."-Journal of Colonel Timothy Pickering.

TUESDAY, APRIL 15.

At Morristown: "The designs of the enemy are not as yet closely unfolded, but Philadelphia I conceive is the ob

ject in view; however, this may or may not be the case; as the North River must also be an object of very great importance to them, whilst they have an army in Canada and are desirous of a junction with it."- Washington to Landon Carter.

MONDAY, APRIL 28.

At Morristown: "At three o'clock this morning I received your favor of the 27th. The intelligence it contains is interesting and truly distressing. By this time I fear the enemy have effected their purpose and destroyed all the stores at Danbury."- Washington to General McDougall.

On the 25th of April, in the afternoon, two thousand British troops landed at Compo, near Fairfield, Connecticut, under the command of Governor Tryon. They reached Danbury the next day at four o'clock in the afternoon, and immediately set fire to the public stores and several private dwellings. On the return to their ships, they were met at Ridgefield by Generals Silliman, Arnold, and Wooster, with six hundred militia hastily collected, and a sharp conflict ensued. General Wooster was wounded and died on the 2d of May. Sixteen hundred tents which had been removed from Peekskill to Danbury for safe keeping were destroyed.

THURSDAY, MAY 8.

At Morristown: Orderly Book.-"As few vices are attended with more pernicious consequences in civil life; so there are none more fatal in a military one, than that of GAMING; which often brings disgrace and ruin upon officers, and injury and punishment upon the soldiery; And reports prevailing, which it is to be feared are too well founded, that this destructive vice has spread its baneful influence in the army, and, in a peculiar manner, to the prejudice of the recruiting service. The Commander in chief, in the most pointed and explicit terms, forbids ALL Officers and Soldiers, playing at cards, dice, or at any games, except those of EXERCISE, for diversion; it being impossible if the practice be allowed, at all, to discriminate between innocent play, for amusement, and criminal gaming for pecuniary and sordid purposes."