and spring
season of '78 than John Anderson, would have been hard to find. For
weeks he had applied himself with relentless energy to the work before
him; for months he had deprived himself of the customary rounds of
pleasure in the interests of the seemingly gigantic task allotted to
him; until at length, for the first time, he was enabled to appreciate
to some degree the results of his toil. It was now past Easter-tide and
the moments were hurrying faster and faster in their haste towards the
culmination of the conspiracy that was forming little by little in the
heart of the community like an abscess in the body of a sick man.

Progress had been made at New York although it was acknowledged that the
recruiting there had fallen far short of all expectations. Still it was
a much simpler matter to effect the formation of such a regiment where
the work could be carried on openly and under the protection of General
Clinton; and where no sympathizer of the colonists, however loyal, would
dare to enter a formal protest against the proceedings. It is quite true
that Catholics were divided there as elsewhere; for not every one lent
his spontaneous, complete, and energetic adhesion to the cause of
American independence. And who would dare condemn their restraint; when
the memory of the intolerable and bitter practices of the early
patriots was recalled? They could not forget; and what was more, many
did not want to forget.

It was found impossible to gather in the city, now held by the enemy, a
thousand or more men sufficient to compose a regiment. Hence it was
necessary to draw from the neighboring colonies. Anderson had come to
Philadelphia with this object in view and, as an aid to his work, had
established himself immediately in the graces of the military
authorities. Quietly, privately, secretly, he pursued his quest, seeking
out likely individuals whom he impressed into the service of His Majesty
with not so much as a scruple as to means, fair or foul. Blackmail he
employed freely and the pressure of unpaid debts reaped for him a
harvest of names.

The currency was then worthless and the cost of living enormous. He was
the odd individual who could boast of being free from debt, and the
common jail and the stocks in the market place at Second and High
Streets were tireless in meting out their punishments to the delinquent
debtors. Anderson took royal advantage of this state of affairs, either
by resolving the debt in fa