sing our hopes, that this will find you all three safely
fixed at Paris, we proceed with pleasure to acknowledge the receipt of
Mr Deane's letter of the 1st of October. When we reflect on the
character and views of the Court of London, it ceases to be a wonder,
that the British ambassador, and all other British agents, should
employ every means that tended to prevent European powers, and France
more especially, from giving America aid in this war. Prospects of
accommodation, it is well known, would effectually prevent foreign
interference, and, therefore, without one serious design of
accommodating on any principles, but the absolute submission of
America, the delusive idea of conciliation has been industriously
suggested on both sides of the water, that, under cover of this
dividing and aid-withholding prospect, the vast British force sent to
America, might have the fairest chance of succeeding, and this policy
has in fact done considerable injury to the United States, as we shall
presently show by a just detail of this campaign, for it is not yet
ended.

You know, gentlemen, that, at the moment a potent land and marine
force was preparing to be sent hither, an act was passed for
appointing commissioners, who, too many expected, were to give peace
to America. As, therefore, the war might be soon concluded, so were
our military arrangements accommodated, and the troops taken into
service the last spring, consisting of regular corps and bodies of
militia, were all engaged for short periods. With these the campaign
began in various parts of North America. Dr Franklin is so well
acquainted with the progress of the war in Canada, previous to his
departure, that we need only observe, the campaign has ended as
favorably for us in that quarter, as we could reasonably expect. The
enemy, having been able to pierce no further than Crown Point, after a
short stay, and reconnoitering General Gates' army, at Ticonderoga,
thought proper to recross the lake, and leave us in quiet possession
of those passes. General Gates, having left a proper force at
Ticonderoga, and on the communication, retired with the rest of his
troops. New York and its neighborhood not being defensible by an army
singly against a strong land and sea force, acting in conjunction,
was, of necessity, yielded to the enemy, after some contest, General
Washington retiring, until the situation of the country above
Kingsbridge no longer enabled the enemy to receive ai