drew a name, while the other drew the slip, until the eleventh, when the slip bearing the word came up, after that of Captain Asgill. The brigadier immediately addressed the dragoon officer, saying "This gentleman, sir, is your prisoner ;" but Major Gordon prevailed upon him to delay the departure till next day, and also obtained leave to despatch an officer to New York without delay.

The meeting then broke up, and there being a vast crowd of persons assembled, their observation was"What odd people these Britishers are! they went in all cheerful and chatting before they knew which of them was to suffer for our good friend Captain Huddy; but now when they know, they all come out in tears, except the young man himself who has been selected." The Hon. Captain Ludlow having procured a swift horse, was furnished with Major Gordon's letter to Sir Guy Carleton at New York; also with proper passports from General Hazan, and lost not a moment in setting off. The brigadier likewise promised to send off the major's letter to General Washington, which was accordingly written out nearly in these words:

"To his Excellency General Washington, Commander-in"Chief, etc., etc., etc.

"Sir-As field officer of the British prisoners of war at this place, I have the honour to inform your excel

lency that Captain Charles Asgill of his Britannic Majesty's Regiment of Foot Guards, a prisoner of war, on his parole of honour, in terms of the capitulation at York Town, whereof your excellency is a principal, with the Counts Rochambeau and De Grasse on one part, and the Earl Cornwallis and Commodore Symonds on the other, has been selected and put in close confinement by your excellency's orders, as an object for retaliation for a murder said to have been committed in New Jersey by a banditti, styling themselves refugees, in direct violation of that solemn treaty, the fourteenth article of which expressly stipulates that no article shall be infringed on pretence of reprisals; and if there are any doubtful expressions in it, they are to be interpreted according to the usual sense and meaning of the words. I do therefore demand, in the name of his most sacred Majesty George the Third, King of Great Britain and Ireland, my royal master, that you cause the said Captain Asgill to be set at liberty, and admitted to his parole, in terms of the capitulation, as you shall be hereafter responsible. JAMES GORDON."

(Signed)

A letter was written to the minister-at-war at Philadelphia, and to the Chevalier la Lucerne, French ambassador; and a friend having informed the major that the Count Rochambeau was in Virginia, another was written to him, calling upon him to interfere; and a messenger

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was found who delivered the letter into his own hands. The major being also informed that the party of dragoons who formed the escort had regular stages on the road, where forage was issued, and finding that the distances between each was considerable, a circumstance which would enable them to reach Philadelphia in a short time, and delay being most desirable on such an occasion, to give time for the letters to reach their destination, prevailed upon the general to allow him to choose his own stages, provided he furnished forage to the dragoons. Accordingly he lengthened out the journey several days; but deeming this to be a service of a public nature, he directed Mr. Ryland, paymastergeneral, to be prepared with £500 in money, to be carried with him next day for that and other purposes.

CHAPTER THE EIGHTH.

Captain Asgill leaves Lancaster-Arrives at Philadelphia— Exertions of Major Gordon-Further Correspondence— Release of Captain Asgill.

ON Tuesday morning the 27th, the hawkers were selling in the streets an account of the action of the 12th April, wherein the Count de Grasse had been made prisoner in the "Ville de Paris." I got a copy and gave it to Major Gordon, who said that the news was too good not to be made use of. About eleven o'clock on Tuesday 27th, Captain Asgill and Major Gordon left, Lancaster, escorted by the officer and party of dragoons. The brigadier also accompanied them for several miles, and at parting, gave strict orders to the party to obey such orders as Major Gordon should give them. They arrived at Philadelphia (70 miles) in a few days, and the major lost not a moment in finding the French ambassador, urging him in strong terms to interfere, now that the Count de Grasse was in our power, but without effect. He also found out some members of Congress, and applied to them; in short, he tried every possible means which he could think of or devise. On

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going out he left Captain Asgill in a hotel, and gave strict orders to the sentinel over him (one of the dragoons) not to allow any person to enter the room in which he was confined. The major had just returned disconsolate and without hope, and entered an adjoining room to compose himself, when he heard the footsteps of some person as if approaching the prisoner's room. Rushing out, he encountered a solemn-looking man in black in the passage, and sharply demanding what he wanted, received for a reply, "I am the chaplain to the Congress of the United States, and have come to give a word of advice to the young man who is about to suffer for one of our good friends." "You have no right to come here, sir," said the major, "be you who you may;" and seeing him to the door, reproached the sentinel on duty, who said in his defence that he durst not deny admission to the chaplain of Congress. It is supposed that several persons in power at Philadelphia did interest themselves in favour of Captain Asgill, whether through the instigation of Major Gordon or not is uncertain, but an order was given for his being sent to Chatham, in New Jersey, and placed in charge of Colonel Elias Dayton, of the 2d New Jersey troops. The following letter to the colonel, dated head-quarters, 4th June 1782, has been published :—

"Sir-I am just informed by the secretary at war