North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1840-07-15
Original.
HISTORY OF CANADA.
(coNTtNuED.)

BEFORE dismissing General Haldimand's
DEMONSTRATION we shall notice an occur.
,,oee which took place under his govern
n,p,. and which TO this day, is nearly an
eerolicable mystery. We allude to The
,.,otiaiion between certain citizens oil
Vermont and the British authorities IN
Canada for the os,ensible purpose OF max
a, Vernon, an English Colony. II ap-
se,rs that 90 far back as 1850, Colonel
Ethan Allen received in the streets oil Ar
lisv,on, a letter dated the S0th March,
il which Colonel Beverly Robinson, who
"a, then in New-York, made certain
,,srtures to the American officer, who
thought proper not TO answer. The BHt-
IN officer seeing that the difficulties be-
tween the inhabitants OF Vermont and the
States of New-Hampshire and New-York,
vtte daily increasing, and that violence
WAS threatened on both sides, while Con-
crrss appeared TO side with the latter against
The infant state, renewed his propositions
10 colonel Eshan Allen in letter dated 81
February 1881. This letter also remain
ed without an answer. On the 9th OF
March Of the same year the American COL
ON, ncosed these two letters TO Con-
gress, and he again urged the claims of
Vermont TO be a free and indepe ndent
State. II appears that the matter ended
here. for the moment. But in April fol-
owing Ira Allen was appointed by the
Governor and Council Of Vermont TO set
ieacartel with the British for the prison.
tn they had then in Canada. He was al
50 empowered to procure an armistice be-
tween the bordering State and the Eng
Lsh. This embassy was rather difficult
and hazardous one, as those who were
concerned in the scheme might be accused
oicarrying on secret and reasonable de-
sgns with the British, and thereby ex-
pose themselves to condign punishment
However Mr.. Allen willingly undertook il,
and on the lst May, with subaltern Off
ser two serjeants and sixteen privates he
oct sail on Lake Champlain and arrived the
sane day at -Noix, where he was
politely received by major Dundas, who
wss the commanding officer of the Island.
The next day was appointed for a meet
ing Of the commissioners on both sides for
The exchange of prisoners, and major
Dundas, captain Sherwood, and George
Saith, ESD, were empowered by the
British TO act as such, and colonel Ira Al
sn acted for the State OF Vermont. It.
would appear that major Dundas had no
power OF knowledge in the affair OF the
,'mislice, and the two Others were the per-
toas with whom colonel Allen was to con-
cert measures on that subject. The affair
vas b'oaehed Of place far remote from
The inhabited settlement OF the Island, and
htqaent interviews took place between col.
In Alien, capt. Sherwood, and Mr.. Smith,
% The subject of bringing back Vermont
70 her former allegiance 10 The King OF
Lassnd. A major Lunno, who was an
s.aiant-general in the British army, came
'aa pinned the party, as the representa-
I've Of the governor of Canada, General
A'idimand. After some formal questions
'ad answers, the business ended in an
nnisIice between the British and the |
STATE OF Vermont. This armistce was to
s'allaae till after the next session of the |
GalatOre Of the State, which was TO take |
pace ia June at Bennington, and the
si'saage Of prisoners was to be made by |
Commissioner named by the Vermoniers,
Z" board Of a ship named The ROyalGeorge,
Ha'h was 10 enter Lake Champlain for
Sn purpose. This negotiation, which !