roved his conduct in a public
despatch, and now refusing to vindicate his character. Keppel, however,
acted the more nobly: anonymous accusations are beneath the notice of a
high-minded and honourable man, and he who replies to such, dignifies a
character which is little superior to a midnight assassin, and should
be treated with mortifying contempt. That accuser who will not face
the accused, places himself out of the pale of the laws and usages of
society.

DISGRACEFUL INFRACTION OF THE CONVENTION OF SARATOGA.

Although the Americans had given Burgoyne leave to return home upon
parole, yet, in bold defiance of the convention signed by Gates, they
still kept his troops as prisoners of war. As there was a difficulty in
reaching the port of Boston early in the winter, Burgoyne had applied to
Washington to change the place of embarkation, and to substitute for it
some place on the Sound. Washington referred the matter to congress, and
he was directed to inform Burgoyne, that no proposition for indulgence
or for altering the terms of the convention would be listened to, unless
directed to their own body. The truth is, congress had scarcely ceased
rejoicings for the success of Gates, when they determined to break the
compact. Measuring the faith and honour of the English officers by
their own, they pretended a concern that the army which had surrendered,
instead of sailing for England, would join the forces of General Howe;
or, that if they did not do this, and if they sailed for England, their
arrival there would enable the government to send out an equal number
of troops employed in the home service to take their places in America.
Hence, they set their wits to work in order to delay the return of the
troops to England. The first thing they did was to pass a resolution
directing General Heath to transmit to the board of war, a descriptive
list of every person comprehended in the convention. Burgoyne and his
officers bitterly resented the insinuations of congress, and
raised objections to such a humiliating measure; but his army was,
nevertheless, described man by man, with all the minuteness of a
French commissary of police. After this was done, a number of British
transports came round to take Burgoyne and his troops on board, but
congress now attempted to find several flaws in the clauses of
the convention of Saratoga. They pretended that the ships were not
sufficient, or sufficiently furnished with provisions fo