HISTORY OF VERMONT. 9i 



sthe Congress proclaimed that the United States 

 were, and should be, a free and independent na- 

 tion ; with unaltered firmness, resolution, and 

 intrepidity, Washington and the armies movecjl 

 on, fought, suffered and bled, to effect the grand 

 event. Corruption had not courage enough to 

 appear ; and as if the age of miracles was re- 

 turning, the time-serving politicians were forced 

 to act the part of good and virtuous citizens. 



Of all their opposers, the United States had 

 the most to fear from sir Guy Carleton. This 

 able officer had taken a step, which did not seem 

 to have much engaged tlie attention of the rest j 

 he had brought his moral virtues into the con- 

 test. Every part of his conduct denoted the of- 

 ficer of great abilities and honor, and tjhe man 

 of distinguished humanity and magnanimity. 

 His tenderness and friendship to his prisoners, 

 and the generous greatness of mind with which 

 he sent them back to tiieir respective provinces, 

 had made a strong impression, not oiily on the 

 affections of those Americans who had fallen 

 into his hands, but on the public feeling and 

 sentiment. Many observed with pleasure in 

 |iis conduct, those useful and amiable virtues 

 which they had been taught to expect and to 

 value under the names of British honor, integri- 

 ty, dignity, and manliness. Had the other British 

 commanders pursued the same line of conduct, 

 it would have been difficult to have persuaded 

 the Americans that they would find any thing 

 better under their own independence, than what 

 they might have enjoyed under British laws, 

 British government, and British honor. But 

 these impressions were altogether done away 



