had put to death. The perpetrators of
this deed were arrested by Sir Henry Clinton; and the leader in the
affair, Captain Lippincot, was tried by a court-martial, who returned a
verdict of not guilty. This affair, however, had the effect of retarding
that peace which was now so much desired on both sides of the Atlantic.
Washington demanded that Lippincot should be given up to him to be tried
and executed by republican law; and when this was refused by Sir Henry
Clinton, he declared that he would hang a young English officer, a
prisoner taken at York Town, in retaliation, if his demand was not
satisfied. The day for this execution was fixed by Washington; and in
the meantime Sir Henry Clinton was superseded by Sir Guy Carleton,
who arrived at New York with instructions from the Rockingham
administration, to open negociations with congress for peace on the
basis of independence. Overtures were made to Washington by Carleton
for a truce; and a passport was solicited of him for a person to carry
a letter to congress with offers of peace. These overtures and the
passport, however, were sternly refused by Washington; and he again
recurred to the subject of Huddy, declaring that he would hang the
British officer if Lippincot was not delivered up to him. His violence
met the approval of congress; and a vote was passed on the 21st of
May, binding themselves to make no separate treaty, and to entertain no
overtures of negociation, except in common with their allies. All that
could be effected was a partial exchange of prisoners, and a suspension
of hostilities, which were rather conceded from the weakness of the
American army, and the formidable position of the British, than from the
friendly advances of the British cabinet. The suspension of hostilities,
however, that was obtained by Carleton was only partial, for a war of
posts was still continued in Carolina and Georgia. In the meantime,
negociations still continued concerning the young officer whom
Washington had selected for the gibbet. There can be no doubt that he
would have shared the fate of Major Andre, had not his parents possessed
influence, for Washington still sternly demanded the person of Captain
Lippincot as the price of his redemption. The devoted victim, however,
was the son of Sir Charles Asgill; and his mother, Lady Asgill, wrote to
the King and Queen of Fiance, soliciting their intercession on her son's
behalf. This letter was sent to Washington, accompanied