would conceive the merit of the miffion incomplete if this were to be done.

"It will not, however, be fuppofed, that I mean that these outrages are to pafs without animadverfion. No, Sir. That the authority of Government is to be maintained is not lefs my pofition than that of others. But I prefer the accomplishment of this by every experiment of moderation in the first inftance. The fteps, therefore, which I would recommend are,—

t 1. A ferious proclamation, stating the mischief, declaring the power poffeffed by the Executive, and announcing that it is withheld from motives of humanity, and a wifh for conciliation.

"2. Commiffioners, properly inftructed to the fame objects.

3. If they fail in their miffion, let the offenders be profecuted according to law.

4. If the judiciary authority is, after this, withflood, let the militia be called out.

"These appear to me to be the only means for producing unanimity in the people: and without their unanimity Government may be mortified and defeated.

"If the Prefident fhall determine to operate with the militia, it will be neceffary to submit fome animadverfions upon the interpretation of the law. For it ought closely to be confidered, whether, if the combinations fhould difperfe, the execution of process is not to be left to the Marshal and his poffe. But these will be deferred, until orders fhall be difcuffed for the militia to march.

"I have the honour, Sir, to be,

"With the highest respect

"And fincereft attachment, "Your most obedient fervant,

EDM. RANDOLPH."

Never did the imagination of a traitor conceive à more formidable chain of obftacles than is presented in this letter, which failed not to produce its effect; for the Prefident, had he at once iffued his orders to affemble the forces, might have extinguished the infurrection long before the time that it was finally effected, and might have faved all the expenfe and toil with which the expedition was attended.

Now to trace this advice of RANDOLPH, and the fluggish conduct of MIFFLIN, to their true cause, we have only to recur once more to FAUCHET's difpatch, paragraph 16.—“ As soon," fays he, “as it “was decided, that the French Government purchased no men to do their duty, there were to be seen indi"viduals, about whofe conduct the Government might at least form uncafy conjectures, giving "themfelves up with a fcandalous oftentation to its

views, and even feconding its declarations. Then "were feen coming from thefe men harangues without "end, in order to give a new direction to the public "mind, &c." By looking over the Report to the Legiflature of Pennfylvania, it will be feen, that, till after the end of Auguft (when the money overtures were, for want of cafh, rejected), the Governor of Pennfylvania made no exertions to affemble the militia; but, after the overtures had failed, then he began his "tour through the counties." On this tour he made " harangues without end, in order to give a new direction to the public mind." RANDOLPH'S change of conduct was more remarkable still. He wrote a series of effays against the infurgents, which effays were induftriously circulated through the country, in the public papers. Having failed in their project for obtaining the pecuniary aid of France, these men were anxious to remove all ground of fufpicion, by appearing to entertain an extraordinary degree of anger against the infurgents. Hence the "fcandalous oftentation" of which Fauchet fpeaks, and which

did, indeed, excite, at the time, no small degree of amazement in the people of Pennsylvania.

The army marched, and the infurrection was quelled. The New Annual Regifter takes great pains to propagate the belief that this event produced no evil at all. According to the account which it gives of the expedition, one would imagine, that the troops had a very pleasant excurfion of about two months; that they found their deluded countrymen full of penitence for what they had done; that both fides were inftantly reconciled; and that peace was reftored without violence or injury. I fhall quote its words:

"In the beginning of October the Prefident in "perfon joined the army at Carlifle, of which Go"vernor Lee of Virginia was appointed Commander "in Chief, and Governor Mifflin fecond in com"mand. From Carlisle the army proceeded to Fort "Bedford. In their route they experienced no op"pofition, and several of the leading infurgents were "apprehended. On the approach of the main army, "amounting to 7000 men, who expected hourly to "be joined by a reinforcement of 6000 from Cum

berland, the infurgents fuddenly disbanded, and "their leaders disappeared. On the 25th of October

a refpectable meeting of the principal planters and "inhabitants of the western counties was held at "Pittsburg, where they entered into a folemn refo"lution to fubmit to the laws of the republic, and "to promote order and good government by every "means in their power. Though every appearance

now manifefted the return of peace and good order, "General Washington judged it prudent to ftation a fmall force for a certain period in the difaffected "counties. These measures had the defired effect; "the infurgents who were taken, we have under"flood, were all pardoned; and thus, by a happy "mixture of firmness with moderation, an infurrection, "which, under a rash and intemperate adminiftration, might

VOL. I.

X

66

"might have had the moft fatal effects, was quelled "without bloodshed, and almoft without violence or "loss."

This com li nent the Hiftorian of the New Annual Register would have beftowed on no Government but a republican one. It is my business, however, to ftate truths, and to ftrip off the disguise with which this artful promulgator of falfehoods has conftantly endeavoured to hide the weakneffes and crimes of that fpecies of government, or rather that species of anarchy. The infurrection was put an end to, he tells us," almoft without violence or lofs." Your little qualifying words are very useful to a writer like this. Almoft, hardly, much about, and the like, are words on which the Hiftorian of the New Annual Register places his chief dependance, in cafes of detection. He knows very well, that nineteen twentieths of his readers are totally uninformed as to the matter on which he writes; and he alfo knows, that, amongst thofe who are able to detect him, very few will ever take the pains to do it. If any one should give himfelf the trouble to drag him before the public, then the crafty and malicious liar has recourse to his faving phrafes; he makes out a plausible defence, and the ftupid public not only pardons him, but again places confidence in his ftatements.

"Almoft without violence or lofs." The lofs to the Treasury of the United States, and that of the particular States which supplied troops for the expedition, amounted to one million and a half of dollars, which was one fourth part of the whole revenue of the United States for that year. In men the lofs was four hundred and forty-one of the troops, who died before the return of the army. Some of these would, undoubtedly, have died at home, during the fame time; but I think we may fairly place three hundred deaths to the fatigues, hardships, and diffipation occafioned by the march. I faw the Pennfylvania troops enter Philadelphia

Philadelphia on their return, and never did my eyes behold fo deplorable a fight. They were dirty, ragged, and lean, except the young men of the city, who had clothed and equipped themfelves, and who had expended thirty or forty pounds each to purchase comforts on their march: they looked more like a proceffion of paupers going to a workhoufe, than ́ like an army returning triumphant from the campaign.

But it is neceffary to give fome account of the conduct of the army towards the people. This I fhall take from CALLENDER, who has given a íketch of the hiftory of the campaign, and who has brought together those facts related by FINDLEY and BRACKENRIDGE, the only perfons who published any thing on the fubject. The reader will have no very high opinion of the veracity of CALLENDER (fee vol. ii. p. 5, and feveral other parts of this work); nor will he, when he shall be acquainted with the characters of FINDLEY and BRACKENRIDGE, place implicit confidence in what either of them may fay, or fwear: but these men have related facts, they have published them, and they have hitherto remained uncontradicted by their opponents. I could relate fome curious things refpecting the expedition, which have never yet been noticed in print; but, whenever I can do it, I love to refer to the republicans themselves. I fhall now infert CALLENDER'S fketch, obferving that the author entertains an attachment to France, and to republicanifm, full as warm and as fincere as that of the Hiftorian of the New Annual Regifter. It appears ftrange, at firft fight, that the partifans of France, who are in America, fhould be opposed to the Federal Government, while thofe of her partifans who are in England, are continually loading that government with eulogiums; but, from a clofe view of the fubject, we shall perceive that the conduct of both is perfectly confiftent, and has a direct