this time. That Washington was in many respects a great man cannot be disputed, nor can it be disputed also, that in many instances, he was a very little man indeed. It was the opinion of many of the people of America, and the sentiment has been echoed in this country, that there have appeared in the world only four truly great men, namely, Moses, Gustavus, KING ALFRED, and GEORGE WASHINGTON, ESQUIRE, for so the Americans themselves, though averse to all titles and distinctions, dubbed their General. In the office, in the conduct, and in the achievements of the three first, we do, indeed, perceive a striking resemblance. Moses, though not a king like Alfred and Gustavus, was a ruler appointed by God, and like the two monarchs, he rescued his countrymen from the degrading and painful yoke of a foreign power; but we can scarcely find words to express our indignation at the impudence and ignorance of those, who in defiance of notorious facts, have placed Washington on a footing with those illustrious and wonderful men. Washington was not a king, as Gustavus and Alfred were, neither was he like Moses, a ruler appointed by God, but a ringleader first appointed by a miserable rabble for the paltry consideration of fifty pounds, given by him to a committee of safety in Virginia. Washington, so far from rescuing his countrymen from a foreign yoke, invited foreigners to invade his native country, and actually did, with the assistance of those foreigners, subdue the loyal subjects of his sovereign, and compel them to submit to a yoke, which they hated, and under which they now groan.

We are, however, not going to enter into an analysis of the character of Washington, no further than it is connected with the infamous attempt on the liberty, and perhaps the life of the illustrious subject of these memoirs. The following extract from his letter will shew the interest he took in the conspiracy, and that he had emissaries in New York, who forwarded to him the most correct information on the subject. In one of his letters, he quotes a paragraph from a secret despatch, dated March 23d, which had been transmitted to him by one of the New York spies :-

"Great seems to be their apprehension here. About a fortnight ago a great number of flat boats were discovered by a sentinel from the bank of the river (Hudson's), which are said to have been intended to fire the suburbs, and in the height of the conflagration to make a descent on the lower part of the city, and wrest from our embraces his Excellency Sir H. Clinton, Prince William Henry, and several other illustrious personages, since which great precautions have been taken for the security of those gentlemen, by augmenting the guards, and to render their persons as little exposed as possible."

In another letter, dated Newburgh, April 2d, 1782, General Washington observes-" After I wrote to you from Morris Town, I received information that the sentries at the door of Sir Henry Clinton were doubled at eight o'clock every night, from an apprehension of an attempt to surprise him in them. If this be true, it is more than probable the same precaution extends to other personages in the city of New York, a circumstance I thought it proper for you to be advised upon."

The murder of Major Andre will always remain a blot upon the character of Washington, and the part which he took in the kidnapping of Prince William will always stand in record against him, as one of the most despicable acts of his life. That the capture of Prince William would have been advantageous to the Americans there is no doubt, but on the other hand, the hazard with which the undertaking was attended, was perhaps greater than the advantage which would have been derived from the possession of his person. It is certain that Washington had instructed Colonel Ogden, if he succeeded in his enterprise, to treat his prisoners with all becoming respect; but even this stretch of clemency did not take away the sting from the transaction, it was no more than every person was entitled to, who might be taken in honourable warfare. It was his duty, as belonging to a civilized nation, to treat his prisoners with mercy and respect; and, therefore, his show of clemency towards Prince William, as contained in his orders to Colonel Ogden, was nothing more than pretence and hypocrisy.

It is a singular feature in the character of man, that with the noblest actions is generally allied a certain portion of weakness and inconsistency. No one will deny that Buonaparte was one of the greatest men which this age, or any other, has produced, and yet with all the greatness of his exploits, there was often mingled a littleness of character, which on the casual observer could not fail to make an unfavourable impression. Man is not like the albatross, whose wings never tire, and which preserves its altitude above the earth, as if it scorned to tread upon it; man in the grandeur of his actions, may soar for a time into the heaven of heavens, but the tension of his mind becomes too powerful for him, and he sinks at last to the lowliness and humility of the mere common character. Newton was a great man, and yet few men committed more childish actions. Montaigne, who knew every recess of the human heart, and whose mind was a matchless example of intellectual power, was continually committing some foolish action, which involved him in difficulties and embarrasments. The virtues and vices of an individual generally appear in an equal proportion of strength-where the former are strong, the latter will be strong also; wisdom and folly are frequently allied in the same person, and whether he be a Washington or a Gustavus, a Newton or a Napoleon, we shall still in the midst of the most shining virtues, discover those defects and blemishes, which belong to the mediocre character, and which are always considered as its decided criterion.

The service in which Prince William was now engaged, was rather of a severe nature, for Admiral Digby had not his flag flying upon any particular ship, but moved it as the occasion required, he having a considerable number of small vessels under his command, which were employed as cruisers against the enemy's privateers, which swarmed in those seas, and which carried on a kind of piratical war against the commerce of this country. These cruisers were in general very successful, and some very distinguished actions were fought; but, it was not a kind a warfare which suited the taste of Prince William, and he, therefore, requested leave of Admiral Digby

to go on board the Warwick 50 gun ship commanded by Captain Elphinstone, afterwards Lord Keith, and he sailed in that vessel on a cruise off the coast of Virginia, in company with the Lion of 60 guns, Captain Fowkes, and the Vestal, and Bonette frigates. Whilst this squadron was off the Delaware, it had the good fortune to capture a French frigate, a corvette, and their prize. This, we believe, was the last piece of service in which Prince William was engaged on the American coast, and the account of it shall, therefore, be given in Captain Elphinstone's own words, extracted from his despatch to Admiral Pigot, dated at sea September 22d, 1782.

"I have the honour to inform you, that in the evening of the 11th, some strange vessels were discovered from on board his Majesty's ships Lion and Vestal, which were chased in consequence of my signal, and occasioned our separation. On the morning of the 12th, five sail were seen from off the the deck; two were to windward, whose appearance led me to think they were enemies; the three to leeward, I had every reason to believe, were his Majesty's ships under my orders; these circumstances induced me to chase to windward. About seven in the morning I was joined by the Bonette sloop. Captain Keats informed me, that the ships to windward were men-of-war, and had declined to answer the private signals which he had offered them the night before. Thus joined, we continued the chase, tacking occasionally until nine, when a third ship stood across from the eastward, shewing signals unknown to me, and firing guns. So soon as he found his signals were not answered, he changed his course, as I did my chase; this latter being the nearest and leewardmost. At twelve o'clock the chase hoisted French colours, and soon after struck. It was the Sophie from Bayonne to Philadelphia, with a cargo on board, armed with twenty-two nine-pounders, one hundred and four men, completely fitted for war, and quite new. From the prisoners I learnt that the Sophie had parted from L'Aigle and Gloire, two French frigates, having a brig under their convoy, for America; and that the frigates had many passenof rank on board, with a large sum of money, By this

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time the Lion and Vestal were at no great distance. I sent an officer to desire Captain Fooks to use every effort to gain the Delaware, and there to anchor in such a situation as would most effectively prevent the enemy from entering; and that I would follow in his Majesty's ship the instant the prisoners were shifted. At this time the wind was out of the river, blowing strong.

"On the 13th, at daylight, the enemy were seen at anchor without Cape Henlopen light-house, with his Majesty's brig Racoon in company, their prize. The signal was made to chase; the enemy weighed, and ran into the river. At this instant the wind shifted to the eastward, which enabled the Warwick and Vestal to weather them. Being thus cut off from the proper channel, it remained only for the French commodore to determine whether he would bring-to, and engage a superior force, or attempt finding a passage among the sand banks, called the Shears, where his Majesty's ships, by reason of their drawing more water, might not be able to follow them. He chose the latter, and ran up the false channel, where I did not hesitate to follow; for though the risk was great, the object was considerable. Unfortunately, neither of the King's ships had a pilot; here the enemy had an advantage, as I am well informed the pilot of the Racoon had not honesty enough to resist the offer of five hundred louis d' ors, and that he took charge of their ships. About twelve o'clock I was obliged to anchor, on account of shallow water, and was joined by the Lion, Bonetta, and Sophie prize-ship. The enemy anchored at the same time. The boats of the squadron were ordered out to sound, and the Bonetta, Captain Keats, to go ahead, and lead in the best water. In this manner we kept sailing and anchoring, as circumstances permitted, until the 15th, the enemy all this time retiring with the same precautions.

"At three in the afternoon, the signal was made to weigh; soon after the enemy were under sail, evidently in great confusion, changing their course frequently on account of shallow water. About six in the evening, the Bonetta made the signal for being in shallow water, and very soon after to anchor im