204 NATURAL AND GIVILi 



ter, Allen immediately communicated it to th4 

 governor, and a number of the principal gen- 

 tlemen in Vermont ; who agreed in opinion, 

 that it was most prudent not to return any an- 

 swer, but to let dfc matter pass into oblivion. 



On February second, 1781, Robinson wrote 

 another letter to Allen, including a copy of the 

 former, which he supposed had been miscarried, 

 as he had not received any answer. In this he 

 ■writes, " The frequent accounts we have had for 

 three months past, from your part of the coun- 

 try, confirms me in the opinion I had of your 

 inclination to join the king's cause, and to as- 

 sist in restoring America, to her former peace- 

 able and happy constitution. This induces me 

 to ntake another trial, in sending this to you ; 

 especially as I can now write with more au- 

 thority, and assure you, that you may obtain the 

 terms mentioned in the above letter, provided 

 you, and the people of Vermont take a decisive 

 and active part with us."* He requests an an- 

 swer, and Jthat some method might be pointed 

 out, for carrying on a correspondence for the. 

 future ; and information, in what manner the. 

 people of Vermont could be the most service^ 

 able to the British government, " either by act- 

 ing with the northern array, or to meet and joi^n 

 an army from New York." 



Allen returned no answer to either of these 

 letters, but on March 9th, 1781, inclosed them, 

 in a letter to Congress, informing them of all 

 the circumstances which had attended the busi- 

 ness. In his letter to that body, he made sev- 

 eral observations, justifying the conduct of 



i Copy of Robinson's letter of Feb. », 1781, by £. Allen, 



