jS06 NATURAL AND CIVIL 



some of their scouting parties, and carried pris- 

 oners to Canada. Their friends appHed to gov? 

 ernor Chittenden to send a flag into Canada, to 

 negociate their release, or exchange. The gov- 

 ernor comphed with their request, and in the 

 month of July, a flag was sent with a letter to 

 the commanding officer in Canada. In the fall, 

 the British came up lake Champlain in great 

 force : The commanding officer brought a very 

 favorable answer from general Haldimand, to 

 governor Chittenden's letter ; and sent a flag to 

 Ethan Allen, then a brigadier general, and com- 

 manding officer in Vermont, proposing a cessa- 

 tion of hostilities with Vermont, during a ne- 

 gociation for the exchange of prisoners. Allen 

 agreed to the proposal, upon condition that it 

 should extend to the adjacent frontiers of New 

 York. The British officer appeared to be un- 

 willing to treat with any part of America, but 

 Vermont ; but finally agreed to every thing, 

 which Allen proposed. 



Before the enemy retired into their winter 

 quarters, colonel Ira Allen, and major Joseph 

 Fay, were appointed by the governor of Ver- 

 mont, commissioners to negociate the proposed 

 exchange of prisoners. They proceeded to 

 treat with the British agents, captain J. Sher. 

 wood and George Smyth, on this subject. The 

 British agents availed themselves of this oppor- 

 tuiiit}^, to explain their views, to make their 

 proposals, and to ofi'cr as complete an establish- 

 ment for Vermont, from the royal authority, as 

 should be desired. The commissioners from 

 Vermont treated the proposals with affability, 

 and good, humour ; and though they avoided 



