rom France, was deferred "until circumstances
rendered the co-operation of the United States more certain,
practicable, and effectual." The truth is, the Americans, enlightened by
Washington, saw through the designs of France, and they had no idea of
thus aggrandising their allies. Moreover, they found no encouragement in
Canada; for, notwithstanding the proclamation of the French admiral, the
Canadians were determined to remain quiet under the British government,
being fully satisfied with its mild rule, and confident that it was
able to protect them in their obedience. Soon after this plan failed,
Lafayette returned to France, as he himself reports, to offer his sword
to his own sovereign, who was now engaged as a principal in the war, and
to induce the French court to send more effectual succours to the aid
of congress, without any reference to the conquest of Canada. It is well
known, however, that both the Marquis and his court cast a longing eye
upon Canada; and it cannot be doubted but that its conquest was the
chief end which he had in view when he recommended an increase of
French troops in America. On his arrival in France, Lafayette was
enthusiastically welcomed by the war party; and although the French
monarch pretended, at first, to be offended with him for joining the
cause of America, before he himself had espoused it, he was almost
immediately honoured with the command of the dragoons of the king's
guard.

CAPTURE OF SAVANNAH BY THE BRITISH.

During this year, soon after the return of the commissioners to England,
an important operation took place on the side of Georgia, and the
complete success of which gave a hope that the war, if transferred to
the south, might prove more successful than it had hitherto been. Some
of the southern colonies were in a state of utter confusion--royalists
being arrayed against revolutionists, and province against province.
Thus, between the people of East Florida, who remained under the British
government, and the people of Georgia, who had joined the cause of
congress, there existed an irreconcilable hatred. These provinces had
but recently been at war with each other, when Georgia was successfully
invaded by the British. Sir Henry Clinton despatched Colonel Campbell
thither with 3500 men, by sea, under convoy of Admiral Parker, and on
his arrival his first object was the reduction of the city of Savannah,
the capital of Georgia, which was defended by the American