2U NATURAL AND CIVIL 



Vermont, to renounce their allegiance to the 

 states of America, and become a British pro- 

 vince. On the part of the gentlemen of Ver. 

 mont, the correspondence consisted of evasive, 

 ambiguous, general answers and proposals ; 

 calculated, not to destroy the British hopes of 

 seduction, but carefully avoiding any engage- 

 jnents or measures, that could be construed to 

 be an act of the government : And it had for 

 its object, a cessation of hostilities, at a time 

 when the state of Vermont, deserted by the con- 

 tinent, and unable to defend herself, lay at the 

 mercy of the enemy in Canada. 



Eight persons only in Vermont, were in the 

 secret of this correspondence.* Each of them, 

 were known to be among the most confirmed 

 friends, to the Am^erican cause. They had a- 

 vowcd their sentiments, and embraced the cause 

 of their country, from the beginning of the A- 

 merican war : They had suffered severely, often 

 borne arms, and done every thing in their pow- 

 er, to defend the independence of the states : 

 And through the w^iole of this correspondence, 

 they gave the most decisive proofs, that they 

 could not be bought, or bribed, by any offers 

 of wealth or honor. But so odious were the 

 British proceedings and government, at that 

 time, to the people of America, that it was with 

 difficulty, the people of Vermont could be kept 

 quiet, under the idea of a correspondence car- 

 ried on with the British, though known to be 



designed for their protection. Once or twice, 



* 



^*TI)omas Chittenden, Moses Robinson, Samuel Safford, Ethan Al- 

 len, Ira Allen, Timothy Brownson, John Fasset, Joseph Fay. — Gov^r* 

 nor Chittenden's information :o the auihor, March 4, 1793. • 



