VOL. III.] THE [NUMB. I. WORCESTER MAGAZINE. T For the first Week in April, 1787. HISTORY of the late WAR in AMERICA. From the BRITISH ANNUAL REGISTER, for 1779. HUS, unhappily. did the second commiffion for the restoration of peace in America, prove as futile in the event as the former. Although it would be too much to affirm, that any proposal made by the commiffioners, or any circumstances attending their miffion, could have been productive of the defired effect, after the conclusion of the French treaties; it would however seem, that nothing could have been more untoward in point of time, and more fubversive of the purposes of their commission, than the sudden retreat from Philadelphia, which took place almost at the instant of its being opened. However neceffary this measure might have been, considered in a military view, the disgrace of a retreat, and the lofs of a province, were. undoubtedly omens very inauspicious to the opening of a negociation. It has been publickly faid, (however strange it must appear) that one of the commissioners, at least, was totally unacquainted, even at the time of their arrival, that this measure was not only intended, but that the orders for its execution actually accompanied their miffion. As if Fortune had designed, that this commission should have been diftinguished in every part of its existence from all others, it was also attended with the fingular circumftance, of a letter from the Marquis De la Fayette (whose military conduct had placed him very high in the epinion of the Americans, as well as in their service) to the Earl of Carlifle, challenging that nobleman, as first commiffioner, to the field, there to answer - in his own person, and in single combat, for some harsiness of reflection upon the conduct of the French court and nation, which had appeared in those publick acts or instruments, that he and his brethren had issued in their political capacity. It is almost needless to obferve, that fuch proposal, which could only be excused by national levity, or the heat and inexperience of youth, was rejected by the noble Lord to whom it was addressed, with the flight that it deserved. Whilft New-York, the Jerfies, Pennsylvania, and the borders of Connecticut, had hitherto endured all the calamities of war, it fortuned, that the northern and fouthern, as well as the more interiour colonies, enjoyed no inconfiderable degree of general tranquillity. The early transactions in the neighbourhood of Boston, the attempt on Charlestown, Lord Dunmore's adventures in Virginia, with the subjugation of the Tories in North and South Carolina, being the principal exceptions to this observation. The continual petty hoftilities carried on between the inhabitants of the two neighbouring weak colonies, of Georgia and East Florida, served, however, to keep the rumour of war alive to the southward; and an expedition undertaken in the spring of this year by a party of Americans, conveyed its effects to the Missisippi, and afforded no small cause of alarm, to the whole new colony of West Florida, which had hitherto been totally clear of the general tumult. The expedition was, however, confined in its present effect to its immediate object, which only extended to the reduction of the British settlements in that country, which had d formerly belonged to a diftinguished Indian nation called Natches; who many years before had fallen victims to European policy, the whole people having been perfidiously exterminated by the French. These settlements were under the government, and confidered as a part of West Florida; but being too remote for protection, if it could even have been afforded, the inhabitants prcferved their property by furrendering without resistance to a Cap |