ation of affairs in Europe would, it was said, demand all the
exertions which that nation was capable of making; and the forces of
his most Christian Majesty might render as much real service to the
common cause elsewhere as in America.[10]

[Footnote 10: Secret Journals of Congress, vol. 2, pp. 305,
399, 400, 452.]

CHAPTER II.

Preparations for another campaign.... Proceedings in the
Parliament of Great Britain.... Conciliatory conduct of
General Carleton.... Transactions in the south....
Negotiations for peace.... Preliminary and eventual articles
agreed upon between the United States and Great Britain....
Discontents of the American army.... Peace.... Mutiny of a
part of the Pennsylvania line.... Evacuation of New York....
General Washington resigns his commission and retires to
Mount Vernon.

{1782}

[Sidenote: Preparations for another campaign.]

The splendid success of the allied arms in Virginia, and the great
advantages obtained still farther south, produced no disposition in
General Washington to relax those exertions which might be necessary
to secure the great object of the contest. "I shall attempt to
stimulate congress," said he, in a letter to General Greene written at
Mount Vernon, "to the best improvement of our late success, by taking
the most vigorous and effectual measures to be ready for an early and
decisive campaign the next year. My greatest fear is, that viewing
this stroke in a point of light which may too much magnify its
importance, they may think our work too nearly closed, and fall into a
state of languor and relaxation. To prevent this error, I shall employ
every means in my power, and, if unhappily we sink into this fatal
mistake, no part of the blame shall be mine."

On the 27th of November he reached Philadelphia, and congress passed a
resolution granting him an audience on the succeeding day. On his
appearance the President addressed him in a short speech, informing
him that a committee was appointed to state the requisitions to be
made for the proper establishment of the army, and expressing the
expectation that he would remain in Philadelphia, in order to aid the
consultations on that important subject.

The secretary of war, the financier, and the secretary of foreign
affairs, assisted at these deliberations; and the business was
concluded with unusual celerity.

A revenue was scarcely less necessary than an