under these circumstances, surrounded as I am by objects of distress, distracted with fear and grief, no words can express my feelings or paint the scene. My husband given over by his physicians a few hours before the news arrived, and not in a state to be informed of the misfortune; my daughter seized with fever and delirium, raving about her brother, and without one interval of reason save to hear alleviating circumstances. Let your own feelings, sir, suggest to plead for my inexpressible misery. A word from you, like a voice from heaven, will save me from distraction and wretchedness; I am well informed that General Washington reveres your character, say but to him you wish my son to be released, and he will restore him to his distracted family and render him to happiness. My son's virtue and bravery will justify the deed. His honour, sir, carried him to America. He was born to affluence, independence, and the happiest prospects. Let me again supplicate your goodness, let me respectfully implore your high influence in behalf of innocence, in the cause of justice, of humanity, that you would dispatch a letter to General Washington from France, and favour me with a copy of it to be sent from hence. I am sensible of the liberty I take in making this request, but I am sensible, whether you comply with it or not, you will pity the distress which suggests it; humanity will drop a tear on the fault and efface it. I will pray that

heaven may grant you may never want the comfort it is in your power to bestow on, etc., etc., etc.

(Signed) "T. ASGILL."

Captain Asgill, after his liberation, lost no time in going to New York, where he embarked for England by the first opportunity.

CHAPTER THE NINTH.

Death of Colonel Gordon.

AFTER the release of Asgill, Major Gordon returned to Lancaster quite an altered person, having lost much of that liveliness of disposition which had always seemed so natural to him, The whole of the British prisoners being assembled at Lancaster, we remained there till June 1783, when orders were given for our march to New York, in consequence of peace. We moved off in divisions, passing through Philadelphia, where a British general officer, Sir Alured Clarke, had been permitted to reside during the period. Being senior captain, I moved with the first division, Major Gordon remained till the last, in which the men from Camp Indulgence were included. The soldiers received marching money daily, and the clothing not delivered out was carried in waggons. Numerous applications were made to us on the road to give away part of our stores. On our arrival at Staten Island we found transports in readiness, and all the men whose regiments were in Europe, and who embarked,

were settled with for pay and clothing, and sailed for England. The others were quartered in New York and its dependencies. Major Gordon and the 80th were sent to Kingsbridge, his quarters were in Morris's house. The 76th remained at Staten Island. Shortly after our arrival, Major Gordon got the brevet of lieutenantcolonel, and was named to be president of a court-martial at New York, of which I was also a member. It continued several weeks, and a great number of cases came before it, many of them relating to inhabitants of the Jerseys, who had petitioned the commander-in-chief that their claims or disputes might be submitted to the decision of the court of which Lieutenant-Colonel Gordon was president, so much was he esteemed during his stay in that neighbourhood with Captain Asgill, even by the enemy. The court on that account protracted its sittings for a length of time. On Saturdays, I always accompanied Colonel Gordon to Morris's house, where we remained till Monday morning. Language

fails me to describe the beautiful scenery spread out before us on these occasions. The house itself occupies an elevated situation betwixt the North or Hudson's river, and the East or Sound, commanding an extensive view of that noble stream, with its high and rocky bank on the Jersey shore, clothed with wood from the water's edge to the summit. There may be seen the dark pine rearing its lofty head in the midst of deciduous trees of

every description, not the least conspicuous of which is that splendid tree, the scarlet oak. The whole contributing to form a picture of surpassing beauty at this season of the year, particularly at sunrise and sunset. We continued to spend our time in this manner for several weeks, until, the court-martial being dissolved, I returned to my regiment in Staten Island. When I left Colonel Gordon he was getting rather corpulent, but apparently enjoyed good health; I had not, however, returned to my quarters many days when I received an express from Sir, William Nicholson, Colonel Gordon's adjutant, desiring my immediate attendance at Morris's house, as the colonel wished to see me instantly, and informing me that the colonel was in a most dangerous state. I lost not a moment; and on my arrival was dreadfully. shocked to find him in a dying state. He said, “I rejoice to see you before I die, there is a letter I got from England since we parted; it is from a lady, and you know I have never been deficient in my respect to the fair sex. When you go home apologise to her for my not replying; you see the state I am reduced to. Another thing, while I have got recollection left, let me entreat, should chance at any time ever entitle you to take such a liberty, that you will tell my noble prince, the Prince of Wales, what a consolation at this moment is the thought, that my conduct in Asgill's affair has been approved of by so high-minded, so truly honour