This was the period in which the present stain to humanity, the detestation of America, paved his way to the first seat of magistracy, by showing a head replete with dangerous designs to his country, and an inveterate hatred to the rights of civil society. Well educated in the Machiavelian school, he begun his exalted career flushed with the expectation of certain success. His revering disciples were exceedingly docile under his culture. The lessons he taught them may be learned from his letters. The schemes that he laid were as deep as the centre, and as black as they were deep. His accession to the chair filled many an honest heart with anxious concern, and almost every discerning head with a vigilant distrust. While congratulatory addresses were cooked up to his delicate taste by the deceiving and deceived, the Representatives of the people nobly spurned at the fawning servility, and proposed, in its stead, an address of condolence for the misfortunes of their country. This was very humiliating to one who so eagerly catched at the empty trash or unmerited applause. His sublimated system began gradually to creep from under its mask. The supreme inherent right of Parliament was totally denied. How to establish it, and punish its bold (and, to be sure, its traitorous) opposers, was his unwearied study. For the latter, the penalties of a premunire were thought an adequate measure.* The man who had the unparalleled presumption to deny that himself, his wife, his children, his property, his life, his conscience, and his very all, were at the entire disposal, and bound in all cases whatsoever by the subjects of Great Britain, was to be put out of the protection of the law, his lands and tenements, goods and chattels forfeited to the King, and his body to remain in prison at the King's pleasure, or during life. The former was to be effected by disguising, abusing, twisting, extending, and perverting the prerogatives of the Crown and the right of regulating trade, as founded upon the consent of the Colonies. From these premises was deduced his pitiful policy. These materials formed one of his infernal engines. With these instruments he was determined to coerce the nauseous dose. The prostituted hand of Royal prerogatives was sorely pressed on every side. The gripings of this he expected would blunt our senses, and render us unfeeling to the less obvious weight of Parliamentary pressure. We were to be familiarized to acts of Parliament, by constant and abominable expansions of the regulating power. By a pious, fraudulent delusion the principle was to be established. And then its exertions were too wanton in all their rigour. The experiment was tried: it failed of success. The Americans, says the European Cicero, augur misgovernment from principle, and snuff the approach of tyranny in every tainted breath. In the meantime, whole Colonies were to be annihilated, and swallowed up by their reluctant neighbours; Constitutions prostrated, and Charters puffed away. Broils, contentions, discords, and animosities were to be increased between Colony and Colony, and their attendants, rancour and revenge, maintained and cherished in every quarter. For the fomenting of the one, and food for the other, the benevolent, the humane, and the sanctified Mr. Hutchinson pledged his most engaging genius. The following are words taken from his published letters: "I wish every other Government may desert us, and that we may go to quarrelling one Government with another. I think," says he, under the conscious intoxication of his matchless genius, "I could find bones to throw among them, to continue contention, and prevent a renewal of their union."

A stranger to the comforts of unsullied purity, deaf to the voice of honest sincerity, hot in the pursuit of honour and wealth, tormented by the sight of American liberty, he was determined to sap her foundation by his insidious wiles, or perfidious stratagems. Those failing, his next resort was by open storm. Determined as he was, at any rate, that sooner or later she should strike to the displayed banner of despotick sway, he opened his doors to Court adulators, and his ear to his servile minions. Together they formed their plans, and hugged the expectations of riotously wantoning on the spoils of the subjugated. Together they turn their backs on virtue and the tenderest ties of the social connexion. The misfortunes and pains of their bleeding country nourish their suspended souls, and sooth their tedious toils. The menaces of tyrants, arms and bayonets, racks and tortures, gibbets and halters, lords and manors, masters and vassals, are the sweet, animating topicks of their confidential communion. In the rapturous enjoyment of these delicious morsels, I shall leave them for the present, and produce, for their increasing consolation, a line or two from Euripides:

"God hates the violent, commanding all
To live on what their honest pains procure,
And not to feed their wants on mutual spoils.
Oppressors should be banished human race,
Unworthy of the name. One common Heaven
Gives light and air to man; one earth a seat,
A scene of industry, where all may strive
To raise their stock, and spread their fortunes wide;
But not to rob, or force the publick rights."

D. SANTERRE TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Cape St. Domminique, January 27, 1776.

MY GENERAL: I am a French officer, First Captain of my regiment. I have served twenty-four years. I have been in Germany all the last war. When I thought to have reaped the fruits of my long service and my fatigue, I have been most cruelly used by a puissant chief, against whom I have it not in my power to take my revenge. I have demanded justice. Intrigue, money, and the great credit of my adversary, have rendered my complaints of no effect. I have quitted, forever, a country where I have experienced such heart-breaking vexations.

I pray you, my General, to let me know whether you will grant me an asylum, and, in your service, I will devote to your nation my blood, and the little fortune which I can pluck from the greedy hands which persecute me. I will serve your country with all that zeal and fidelity which you have a right to expect from an officer, whom honour has been the only cause of his misfortunes.

Give me, my General, the power, the glory, to die in defence of your laws and your liberty, I will become one of your citizens. I will, with pleasure, seal with my blood this title which I now solicit from you. If the war should spare me, I will finish my days amongst your countrymen, to whom I make account of attaching myself by the most sacred ties.

I burn to open the next campaign with you, nor do I desire that you will put the least confidence in me, until I have, in the field of battle, deserved it.

I am, with profound respect, my General, your most obedient, and most humble servant,

D. SANTERRE,

First Captain of the Regiment of Martinique.

To the General of the Confederated Provinces of New-England.

VIRGINIA COMMITTEE OF SAFETY TO COUNCIL OF SAFETY OF MARYLAND.

In Committee of Safety, Virginia,
January 27, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: As we are so closely connected, by inclination as welt as interest, our situation strongly points out the propriety of attending to the operations which may be necessary for our mutual defence. We are desirous of establishing, and keeping up, a constant intimate correspondence with you.

We think it proper to inform you, that we have resolved to build, for the protection of the Potomack-River, two row-gallies, one of them to carry one twenty-four-pounder, the other a twelve-pounder, and both swivels; also, three vessels, carrying, one of them, four six-pounders and some four-pounders, the other two vessels four-pounders and swivels.

We do not conceive this adequate to the importance of that great river, but we have three other rivers, to which we must extend the like care; and, as your Province is equally interested in the safety of Potomack-River, we could not doubt it would be the wish of your body to participate in its protection.

Our determination on this bead is yet subject to alteration, and we shall cheerfully consult and advise with you

* Vido his Letters.