he excitement occasioned by
the speech seems chiefly to have consisted in the fact that it abounded
in touching stories and pathetic episodes. Burke especially elaborated
the affecting fate of Miss Mac Crea, who was strongly attached to the
royal cause, and who, being on her way to marry an officer in Burgoyne's
army, was barbarously murdered by two Indian chiefs sent for her
protection. The two chiefs having disputed which of them should be her
principal guard and obtain a larger reward, he, from whose hands she
was snatched, raised his tomahawk, and in a fit of rage cleft her head
asunder. Such stories as these, founded in fact, were well calculated to
produce excitement, especially as the murderer was left unscathed. Burke
argued that these savage allies were too powerful, or their services
too highly valued to run the risk of offending them; but it would rather
appear that pardon was extended to the offender through an agreement
with his tribe and the British general to abstain in future from
indulging in such wanton cruelties, which Burgoyne considered of more
importance than to take revenge on a wretch who scarcely knew that what
he did was a sin either in the sight of God or man. Such stories as
these, however, told upon the feelings of the house, and insured
Burke strong-support. Governor Pownall, in taking the same side of the
question, declared that there was not so unfair, so hellish an engine
of war as savages mingled with civilized troops; and he recommended that
terms should be proposed to congress whereby the two countries should
mutually agree to break off all alliance with the Indians, and treat
them as enemies whenever they should commit any act of hostility against
a white person, American or European. He would answer for it, he said,
that congress would embrace and execute such terms with good faith; and
he suggested that the overture might occasion the happiest effects
in producing mutual kind offices, and leading ultimately to a perfect
reconciliation. He finally offered to go in person, without any pay
or reward, and make the proposal to congress; asserting that he would
answer with his life for the success of the negociation. But this noble
proposal of Governor Pownall and Mr. Burke's motion were alike rejected
by a ministerial majority.

COMMITTEE OF EVIDENCE IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS, ETC.

On the same day that Burke made this motion in the commons, the lords
in committee on the state of the