Involved in a civil contest, the natural energies of Britain were paralyzed by the floating hopes of reconciliation, and an enfeebling compassion towards her American fellow-subjects. An unhappy faction continued also to oppose our ill-guided councils, at this awful crisis, from which the rebels derived a fatal, but animating spirit. No true Englishman can throw an eye upon the transactions of that momentous era, without the most poignant reflections for his suffering country. Long may the sad precedent, and its baneful results, be stamped on every heart! May the imperious obligations of fidelity to our King, and general union amidst public danger, be coeval with the age at which every Briton is taught his duties to his God! CHAP. XXXI. Eleven thousand Marines constituted the establishment of 1778. Until the close of the last year France stood in awe, and continued to cherish the flames of rebellion by assurances only of support. Remarking the humbled spirit of our nation, at all times too prone to over-rate its calamities, that Power became less cautious, and in a little time avowed her inimical purposes. This was accelerated by a meditated plan of reconciliation, which had undergone the sanction of Parliament, and was about being submitted to the American revolters. To circumvent its effects, our natural enemy closed with these States a treaty of commerce and defensive alliance upon the 6th of February, which inspired them with a well-timed hope of rising superior to all their pressures. Never did Mercy appear in such odious colours, as when she went forth to the Colonists. Her good offices were every where rejected with contempt and disdain, of which the American Congress gave a conspicuous example. The British Army too, could not recognize Her, and doubted much whether She was of true English origin. Winter had suspended every active essay on the part of both armies, excepting in the case of some detachments that were from necessity pushed into the country for supplying our numerous forces in Philadelphia; to afford a protection to the suffering Loyalists, and to annihilate the ships and vessels of the rebels, which still remained higher up the Delaware river. One of these was entrusted to the Hon. Major Maitland, who had long served with distinguished credit in the Corps of Marines, whose high military talents had recently paved the way for his transit into the line, and which placed him, at this time, at the head of a Battalion of Light Infantry. In conjunction with Captain Henry, of the Royal Navy, who commanded a force of three gallies and other armed small craft, the Major embarked in some flat-bottomed boats, with the 2d Battalion of Light troops, upon the 7th of May. Agreeably to his instructions, he proceeded to destroy the rebel Marine between Philadelphia and Trenton.