of circumstances and superiority of generalship, as will ever give it
a place in the first rank in the history of great actions.

When I look back on the gloomy days of last winter, and see America
suspended by a thread, I feel a triumph of joy at the recollection of
her delivery, and a reverence for the characters which snatched her
from destruction. To doubt now would be a species of infidelity, and
to forget the instruments which saved us then would be ingratitude.

The close of that campaign left us with the spirit of conquerors. The
northern districts were relieved by the retreat of General Carleton
over the lakes. The army under your command were hunted back and had
their bounds prescribed. The continent began to feel its military
importance, and the winter passed pleasantly away in preparations for
the next campaign.

However confident you might be on your first arrival, the result of
the year 1776 gave you some idea of the difficulty, if not
impossibility of conquest. To this reason I ascribe your delay in
opening the campaign of 1777. The face of matters, on the close of
the former year, gave you no encouragement to pursue a discretionary
war as soon as the spring admitted the taking the field; for though
conquest, in that case, would have given you a double portion of
fame, yet the experiment was too hazardous. The ministry, had you
failed, would have shifted the whole blame upon you, charged you with
having acted without orders, and condemned at once both your plan and
execution.

To avoid the misfortunes, which might have involved you and your
money accounts in perplexity and suspicion, you prudently waited the