rfectly attained, although, in name at least, the
deliberations of Congress at this time were secret. Historically, even
the Journal which they kept gives little light as to their true
proceedings. An American gentleman, who has studied that document with
care, laments that it is 'painfully meagre, the object being apparently
to record as little as possible.'" (Lord Mahon's History of England,
Vol. VII., Chap. lviii., pp. 420, 421; quoting as his authority, "Letter
of La Fayette to Washington, June 12, 1779," and "Life of President
Reed," by Mr. Wm. Reed, Vol. II., p. 18.)]

[Footnote 77: Lord Mahon's History of England, etc., Vol. VII., Chap,
lii., pp. 52, 53.]

[Footnote 78: This letter, dated Concord, April 4, 1775, may be seen at
length in the Appendix to Sparks' edition of Washington's Writings, Vol.
III., p. 495. The letter, it will be seen, was written a fortnight
before the affair of Concord and Lexington, which took place the 19th of
April, when the first blood was shed in the revolution.]

[Footnote 79: Allen's History of the American Revolution, Vol. I., Chap,
xiv., pp. 423, 424.

"Lord Suffolk, in his speech (in reply to Lord Chatham), undertook to
defend the employment of the savages. 'The Congress,' he said,
'endeavoured to bring the Indians over to their side, and if we had not
employed them they would most certainly have acted against us.' This
statement, which at the time was doubted or denied, has been, it must be
owned, in no small degree borne out by documents that have subsequently
come to light. Even several months later, we find Congress in treaty to
engage several parties of Indians in their service." (Lord Mahon's
History, etc., Vol. VII., Chap. lvi., p. 305.)

"See Washington's Writings, Vol. V., p. 273, and Appendix to Vol. III.,
p. 494. 'Divesting them,' says Washington, 'of the savage customs
exercised in their wars against each other, I think they may be made of
excellent use as scouts and light troops, mixed with our own parties.'
But what more did the English ever design or desire?" (Lord Mahon's
History, etc., Vol. VII., Chap. lvi., p. 305.)]

[Footnote 80: Even so amiable and generous a man as Burgoyne did not
escape these imputations. "It may well be imagined that while Burgoyne
was advancing, declamations against his and the Indians' cruelty (for no
distinction was admitted) were rife on the American side. By such means,
and still more, perhaps, by the natural spirit of a free-b