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ordinary, that the same writer who dwells so upon the state of "preparation" in which the inhabitants were, should say: "It is not easy to assign any cause, other than the caprice of its projector, for this violent attack on a defenceless and unoffending village. No reasons of a public nature could have induced it. No public property was deposited there, nor were any of its inhabitants engaged in aiding the prosecution of the war."*

Although it would be idle to question the zeal and industry of any one of our three historians, Mr. Thomson alone has declared that the British "cut open the bedding of the citizens to augment the flames; destroyed the public stages; maimed the horses; cut to pieces the private baggage of the passengers; tore the cloathing of some of the inhabitants from their backs; and left to others those only which they wore; in short, robbing private travellers on the highway of their money and apparel." Mr. Thomson next affirms that, "when several ladies of the first distinction" had taken refuge "in a spacious and elegant private mansion," a British officer "was entreated to suffer this house, at least, to escape the general conflagration; but, as he was obeying the orders of admiral Cockburn, the most he could do was to suspend his purpose, until those unprotected

* North American Review, Vol. V. p. 162.

women could prevail upon the admiral to countermand them."* That the latter part of this statement is utterly false, appears by the testimony of one of the sufferers; one who dates his letter from the spot; who complains that the destruction of Havre de Grace has “ruined" him; and who, therefore, must write with highly irritated feelings against the British. He says: "The inhabitants fled at the approach of the sailors, and the women took shelter in the house of Mr. Mark Pringle; which a party was proceeding to destroy, when Mr. Pringle, with a flag, met them, and they very readily desisted."†

One would suppose that the destruction, by an enemy, of 45 pieces of cannon, chiefly long 32 and 24-pounders, would have appeared of sufficient national importance, to engage the attention of such as profess to detail the events of a war. But it was necessary to cast every possible odium upon the British, and therefore highly impolitic to admit that they performed a single act of legitimate warfare. Mr. Thomson is the only editor who deplores the loss "of 50 pieces of elegant cannon;" but he makes amends for his unguarded acknowledgment, by declaring, that the furnace which was battered down, was "private property," and that the * Sketches of the War, p. 210. + Philadelphia Gazette, May 4, 1813.

British, "as the last act of atrocity with which this expedition was destined to be marked, tore up a small bridge, constructed over a deep, though narrow creek, and over which travellers of every description were obliged to pass, or venture through a wider channel, at the imminent hazard of their lives."* So that a small party, on shore in an enemy's country, and expecting to be attacked by an enraged population, collecting from all points, are to leave standing a bridge, by which alone, probably, their position can be assailed; because, forsooth, the destruction of that bridge would compel the inhabitants to "venture through a wider channel, at the imminent hazard of their lives." This is such a refinement in warfare, as we did not expect to hear broached by an American. Doctor Smith and Mr. O'Connor, although they have added to the list of enormities committed by the British, that of burning " Mr. Hughes's foundery," have rejected the story of the bridge, as too ridiculous even for them to publish. - Mr. O'Connor, with a fellow-feeling, perhaps, extols highly the courage and enthusiasm of his friend O'Neill. This contemptible old wretch, when taken on board the rear-admiral's ship, cried bitterly; exclaiming every now and then, "God bless king George-I detest the Americans, -will do all I can to save the British," &c. &c. * Sketches of the War, p. 211.

Next day his daughter, an interesting young woman, came on board, and begged hard for his discharge; urging that he had a large family dependant on him for support. Her tears prevailed, and she carried her father on shore. In a week or ten days afterwards, rear-admiral Cockburn had occasion to go on board the San Domingo, when, to his great surprise, admiral Warren showed him a letter he had just received from the American secretary of state, declaring, if a hair of O'Neil's head was hurt, what his government would do, &c. This ludicrous application was replied to in a proper manner, and the affair ended.

On the night of the 5th of May, the same party of British marines and artillery-men again embarked in the boats, and proceeded up the river Sassafras, separating the counties of Kent and Cecil, towards the villages of George-town and Frederick-town, situate on opposite sides of the river, nearly facing each other. Having intercepted a small boat with two of the inhabitants, rear-admiral Cockburn halted the detachment, about two miles from the town; and then sent forward the two Americans in their boat, to warn their countrymen against acting in the same rash manner as the people of Havre de Grace had done; assuring them that, if they did, their towns would inevitably meet with a similar fate; but that, on the contrary, if they

did not attempt resistance, no injury should be done to them or their towns; that vessels and public property only, would be seized; that the strictest discipline would be maintained ; and that whatever provision or other property of individuals the rear-admiral might require for the use of the squadron, would be instantly paid for in its fullest value.* The two Americans agreed in the propriety of this; said there was no battery at either of the towns; that they would willingly deliver the message, and had no doubt the inhabitants would be peaceably disposed.

After waiting a considerable time, the rearadmiral advanced higher up; and, when within about a mile from the towns, and between two projecting points of land which compelled the boats to proceed in close order, a heavy fire was opened upon them from one field-piece, and, as conjectured, 3 or 400 militia, divided and entrenched on the opposite sides of the river. The fire was promptly returned, and the rearadmiral pushed on shore with the marines; but, the instant the American militia observed them fix their bayonets, they fled to the woods, and were neither seen nor heard of afterwards. All the houses, excepting those whose owners had continued peaceably in them, and taken no part in the attack, were forthwith destroyed; as were * App. No. 10.

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