air of the atmosphere were in equilibrium; Mr. Mont- 1783. golfier made experiments, firft with a globe of linen and paper, of 105 feet circumference, and then with one of taffety, done over with elastic gum, 36 feet in circum, ference. The afcent of both answered fo fully the expectation of every one prefent, that Mr. Montgolfier exhibited a new trial of his aeroftatic machine, alias air balloon, at the caftle de la Muette on the 23d of No-Nov, vember in the afternoon. The balloon was 70 feet high 23and 46 in diameter, containing 60,000 cubic feet, and was capable of lifting up about fixteen hundred weight, It had a gallery annexed to it, wherein the marquis d'Alandes and Mr. de Rozier placed themselves. About 54 minutes after one, the several powers by which it was held down being removed, it rofe in a majestic manner, and the aërial navigators were foon out of fight, When it was at least three thousand feet high, it remained hovering in view. Its paffage was fuch that all Paris had an opportunity of beholding it. When the travellers found they had paffed the metropolis, and were over the open fields, they defcended with the ut moft compofure, after a progrefs of 30,000 feet within 23 minutes. The affair was attefted at five o'clock the fame afternoon, by the fignatures of the duke of Po+ lignac, the duke of Guines, Benjamin Franklin and others. Since then Meffrs. Charles and Robert undertook a fimilar expedition on the ift of December. At Dec. three quarters after one, they rofe with their chariot annexed to the balloon in the midst of a profound filence, occafioned by the emotion and aftonishment of all par ties. When they were arrived at the height of about 390 fathom, they moved in an horizontal courfe by regulating

Their whole paf

1783.gulating their ballaft. After 56 minutes progress they heard the gun, which was the fignal of their disappearing from the obfervers at Paris. They then ceased to confine themselves to an horizontal direction; and gave themselves up to the contemplation of the varied 'fcenes in the open country beneath them. They fhouted vive le roy, and heard their fhouts re-echoed. They waved their banners, and perceived that these fignals redoubled the joy and fecurity of those below. They feveral times defcended near enough to be heard. They reached the plains of Nefle about half after three. fage made about 9 Paris leagues, which they ran over in two hours, with fcarcely any fenfible agitation in the air. They had not long defcended to the ground, before the duke de Chartres, the duke Fitz-James, and a number of horfemen, who had followed them from Paris, galloped up to and joined them. How far thefe amufements will extend, and how long they will be followed, depends upon the fafety that attends them and the tafte of the public: but fhould they be difcontinued for ages, till all traditionary traces of them are loft, they will be confidered as lying legends in the faithful pages of modern hiftory. It only remains to be mentioned, that that minifterial phenomenon, which has been exhibited to the British nation ever fince the beginning of laft April, in the coalition between lord North and the Dec, honorable Charles Fox, ended the 19th of December by a royal meffage, importing that it was the king's pleasure, that they fhould deliver to him the feals of their refpective offices as his majesty's principal fecretaries of state.

19.

LET.

TH

LETTER

XIII.

Roxbury, June 30, 1783.

HE laft year a court was conftituted in pursuance 1783. of the 9th article of the confederation, to hear and finally determine the dispute between the states of Pennsylvania and Connecticut, respecting certain lands. They gave it as their opinion, that Connecticut had no right to the lands in controverfy; and that the jurifdic tion and pre-emption of all the territory lying within the charter boundary of Pennsylvania, claimed by Connecticut, did of right belong to Pennsylvania. Their proceedings and fentence were returned to congress, and ordered on the 3d of January to be lodged among the acts of congrefs.

The apprehenfions of a speedy peace, with the fufferings of the American army under gen. Washington, produced the last December an address and petition of the officers to the United States in congrefs affembled. The contents comprehended the following articles prefent pay-a fettlement of the accounts of the arrearages of pay, and fecurity for what is due-a commutation of the half-pay allowed by different refolutions of congrefs, for an equivalent in grofs-a fettlement of the accounts of deficiencies of rations, and compensation-a fettlement of the accounts of deficiencies of clothing and compenfation. The figning officers on the part of the Maffachusetts, the Connecticut, the New York, the New Jersey, and the New Hampshire lines, at their VOL. IV.

A a

canton

Jan.

30

1783.cantonments on Hudfon's river, faid-" We complain that fhadows have been offered to us, while the fubitance has been gleaned by others. Our diftreffes are now brought to a point. We have borne all that men can bear-our property is expended—our private refources are at an end, and our friends are wearied out and diigufted with our inceffant applications. It would be criminal in the officers to conceal the general diffatisfaction which prevails, and is gaining ground in the army, from the preffure of evils and injuries, which, in the courfe of feven long years, have made their condition in many inftances wretched. They therefore entreat that congrefs, to convince the army and the world, that the independence of America fhall not be placed on the ruin of any particular clafs of her citizens, will poin: out a mode for immediate redrefs." Gen. M'Dougall, and colonels Brooks and Ogden, were chofen a committee to wait upon congrefs. While the bufinefs was pending, certain public creditors and others at Philadelphia, were contriving how to employ the army for the establishing of continental funds. The financier, Mr. Robert Morris, or rather Mr. Governeur Morris, is fufpected to have been at the bottom of the fcheme: the latter is allowed to be a man of great abilities, but is thought to be one of the most dangerous upon the continent. Officers and foldiers were to be thrown into fuch a paroxyfm of rage and refentment, as fhould drive them into the attempt of compelling congrefs to comply with their own demands, and thofe of the public creditors, who were to arm and join them. Letters were fent to certain military perfons in whom the greatest confidence was placed, that fo affairs might be in readi

nefs.

ness. Mean while reports were propagated in Philadel. 1783. phia, that dangerous combinations were forming in the army: whereas the troops were apparently extremely quiet, notwithstanding their temper was very irritable on account of their long protracted fufferings. At length, upon the arrival of a particular gentleman from Philadelphia in camp, about the 8th of March, fuch fentiments as the following were immediately and induftrioufly circulated-That it was univerfally expected that the army would not difband, till they had obtained juftice That the public creditors looked up to them for redress of their grievances, would afford them every aid, and even join them in the field if neceffary-That fome members of congrefs wished the measure might take effect, in order to compel the public, particularly the delinquent ftates, to do juftice. When the minds of the army were thought to be prepared by these means, anonymous invitations were circulated on the 10th, re- Mar. quefting a general meeting of the officers on the next day. At the fame inftant many manufcript copies of an address to the officers [though anonymous, known fince to have been drawn up by major Armstrong] were scattered in every state line of the army. It was in a peculiar manner calculated to inflame every breast, and to provoke all to unite in redreffing their own grievances while they had arms in their hands. To fap the influence of the commander in chief, fhould he attempt to counteract the measure, they were directed to "fufpect the man who would advife to more moderation and longer forbearance." As foon as gen. Washington obtained the knowledge of thefe papers, after taking notice, in general orders of the 11th, of the anonymous

10.