It is with inexpressible satisfaction that we learn the patriotic ladies of Philadelphia and its vicinity, have distinguished themselves by a generous and liberal regard to the sufferings of our soldiery, and have engaged in the benevolent work of raising contributions among themselves, and stimulating others for the purpose of affording a temporary relief for the soldiers on service in that vicinity. I extract from the newspapers, the sentiments of an "American Woman," addressed to American ladies, relative to the subject, which should be recorded for the honor of the sex.

"On the commencement of actual war, the women of America manifested a firm resolution to contribute as much as could depend on them, to the deliverance of their country. Animated by the purest patriotism, they are full of sorrow at this day, in not offering more than barren wishes for the success of so glorious a revolution. They aspire to render themselves more really useful; and this sentiment is universal, from the north to the south of the Thirteen United States. Our ambition is kindled by the fame of those heroines of antiquity, who have rendered their sex illustrious, and have proved to the world, that, if the weakness of our constitution, if opinion and manners did not forbid us to march to glory by the same path as the men, we should at least equal, and sometimes surpass them in our love for the public good. I glory in all that my sex have done that is great and commendable. I call to mind with enthusiasm and with admiration, all those acts of courage, of constancy, and patriotism, which history has transmitted to us; the people favored by Heaven, preserved from destruction by the virtues, the zeal, and the resolution of Deborah, of Judith, of Esther, the fortitude of the mother of the Maccabees, in giving up her sons to die before her eyes; Rome saved from the fury of a victorious enemy by the efforts of Volumnia, and other Roman ladies; so many famous sieges where the women have been seen forgetting the weakness of their sex, building new walls, digging trenches with their feeble hands, furnishing arms to their defenders, they themselves darting the missile weapons on the enemy, resigning the ornaments of their apparel, and their fortune, to fill the public treasury, and to hasten the deliverance of their country; burying themselves under its ruins; throwing themselves into the flames, rather than submit to the disgrace of humiliation before a proud enemy.

"We are certain that he cannot be a good citizen, who will not applaud our efforts for the relief of the armies which defend our lives, our possessions, our liberty. The situation of our soldiery has been represented to me; the evils inseparable from war, and the firm and generous spirit which has enabled them to support these. But it has been said, that they may apprehend, that, in the course of a long war, the view of their distresses may be lost, and their services be forgotten. Forgotten; never; I can answer in the name of all my sex. Brave Americans, your disinterestedness, your courage, and your constancy will always be dear to America, so long as she shall preserve her virtue.

"We know that at a distance from the theatre of war, if we enjoy any tranquillity, it is the fruit of your watchings, your labors, your dangers. If I live happy in the midst of my family; if my husband cultivates his field, and reaps his harvest in peace; if, surrounded with my children, I myself nourish the youngest, and press it to my bosom, without being afraid of seeing myself separated from it by a ferocious enemy; if the house in which we dwell, if our barns, our orchards are safe at the present time from the hands of the incendiary; it is to you that we owe it. And shall we hesitate to evidence to you our gratitude? shall we hesitate to wear a clothing more simple, hair dressed less elegantly; while at the price of this small privation, we shall deserve your benedictions. Who amongst us will not renounce with the highest pleasure, those vain ornaments, when she shall consider that the valiant defenders of America will be able to draw some advantage from the money which she may have laid out in these,-that they will be better defended from the rigors of the seasons, that after their painful toils they will receive some extraordinary and unexpected relief; that these presents will perhaps be valued by them at a greater price, when they will have it in their power to say, this is the offering of the ladies. The time is arrived to display the same sentiments which animated us at the beginning of the revolution, when we renounced the use of teas, however agreeable to our taste, rather than receive them from our persecutors; when we made it appear to them that we placed former necessaries in the rank of superfluities, when our liberty was interested; when our republican and laborious hands spun the flax, and prepared the linen intended for the use of our soldiers; when exiles and fugitives, we supported with courage all the evils which are the concomitants

of war. Let us not lose a moment, let us be engaged to offer the homage of our gratitude at the altar of military valor, and you, our brave deliverers, while mercenary slaves combat to cause you to share with them the irons with which they are loaded, receive with a free hand our offering, the purest which can be presented to your virtue."

After this publication, the ladies divided the city of Philadelphia into districts, and a select number visited every house, and received the contribution. The method proposed of distributing their bounty to the troops, was through the medium of Mrs. Washington, but in her absence, through that of her husband, the father and friend of the soldiery. From the kind and generous exertions of these ladies, the soldiers received at one time, two thousand one hundred and seven shirts, made by their own hands. Such free will offerings are examples truly worthy of imitation, and are to be considered as expressions of kindness and benevolence, which ought to be recorded to the honor of American ladies.

Camp, High Lands, December 1st.-Our brigade is now ordered into the woods, in the High Lands, in the rear of West Point, where we are to build log huts, for winter cantonments. We are again subjected to numerous privations and difficulties, to support which requires all our patience and fortitude. The soldiers, though very miserably clad, have been for some time obliged to bring all the wood for themselves and officers, on their backs, from a place a mile distant, and almost half the time are kept on half allowance of bread, and entirely without rum. Twelve or fourteen months pay are now due to us, and we are destitute of clothing and the necessaries of life. The weather is remarkably cold, and our tents are comfortless.

10th.-For three days past, I have not been able to procure food enough to appease my appetite; we are threatened with starvation. That a part of our army charged with the defence of a post so highly important to America, should be left in such an unprovided and destitute condition, is truly a matter of astonishment, and unless a remedy can be found, our soldiers will abandon the cause of their country, and we must submit to the yoke of Great Britain, which we so much abhor.

20th. During the last ten days we have experienced almost continued storms of rain, high winds, and disagreeable fogs. Our canvass dwellings afford us but little protection

against such powerful assailants; they are frequently rent asunder, and we are almost overwhelmed with inundation.

A very spirited and honorable enterprise has lately been planned and executed by Major Talmadge, of Colonel Sheldon's regiment of dragoons. The enemy having large magazines of forage and stores in the vicinity of fort St. George, on Long Island, he resolved to hazard the attempt to seize them by surprise. Fort St. George was stockaded, and covered a large spot of ground, having a square redoubt, with a ditch and abattis. With about eighty dismounted dragoons, under Captain Edgar, and eight or ten on horseback, Major Talmadge passed the Sound, where it was about twenty miles from shore to shore, marched across the island in the night with such facility and address, that his enterprise was crowned with complete success. The enemy were not alarmed till too late to make much resistance; seven however were killed and wounded, and the remainder, amounting to fiftyfour, among whom were one lieutenant colonel, one captain, and a subaltern, were made prisoners. The fort was demolished, two armed vessels were burnt, and a large magazine of hay, said to be three hundred tons, with stores to a large amount, shared the same fate. Major Talmadge recrossed the Sound with his brave party without the loss of a man. The Commander in Chief was so well pleased with this exploit, that he recommended Major Talmadge to the notice of Congress, and they voted him their thanks for his brave and spirited conduct.

The extraordinary patience and fortitude, which have. hitherto been so honorably displayed by our officers and soldiers under their complicated distresses, appear now to be exhausted. From repeated disappointments of our hopes and expectations, the confidence of the army in public justice, and public promises, is greatly diminished, and we are reduced almost to despair.

The present crisis is alarming. Regimental officers are continually resigning their commissions, and a large proportion of those who remain, have pledged themselves to follow their example, unless a redress of grievances can soon be obtained. Nothing short of what we conceive to be justly our due, a comfortable and permanent support, will retain our officers, however ardent their desire to serve their country. They exclaim, let others come and take their turn, we have served years longer than we expected, and have acquitted ourselves of duty. All the general offi

cers belonging to New England, have united in a memorial to their state governments, complaining of our grievances, and requesting immediate relief, and security for the future. This memorial, being put into the mail, was taken from the Fishkill post rider, by some emissary from the enemy, and has been published in the New York papers, by which our forlorn situation has been exposed, and much exultation occasioned among those who are watching for our destruction. The resolution of Congress, for a new arrangement of the army, was not conformable to the expectations of the officers, and caused uneasiness among them. The Commander in Chief saw that a storm was gathering, and thought it prudent, on this occasion, to communicate his opinion to Congress, on the best means to avert it. On the 11th of October, he informed Congress, "that the general topic of declamation in the army is, that it is as hard as dishonorable, for men who had made every sacrifice to the service, to be turned out of it, at the pleasure of those in power, without an adequate compensation. Too many of the officers wish to get rid of their commissions, but they are not willing to be forced to it."

The Commander in Chief, in his communication to Congress, suggests the policy of making ample provision, both for the officers who stay, and for those who are reduced. He recommended what he thought would be the most economical, the most politic, and the most effectual provision, half pay for life. "Supported," the General says, "by a prospect of a permanent dependence, the officers would be tied to the service, and would submit to many momentary privations, and to the inconveniences, which the situation of the public service makes unavoidable. If the objection drawn from the principle, that this measure is incompatible with the genius of our government, be thought insurmountable, I would propose a substitute, less eligible in my opinion, but which may answer the purpose; it is to make the pre

sent half pay, for seven years, whole pay, for the same period, to be advanced at two different payments, one half in a year after the conclusion of peace, the other half in two years after."

His Excellency also takes notice of the injuries and inconveniences, which attend a continual change of officers, and consequent promotions in the army.

Soon after Congress were possessed of the sentiments of General Washington, they resolved, "that the commander in