Page:History of the United States of America, Spencer, v1.djvu/490

458 to be adopted, and the past success of the British arms promised the happiest results; but preparations must be promptly made for another campaign. A hope was expressed of the general continuance of tranquillity in Europe, but that it was thought advisable to increase the defensive resources at home.

The addresses to the speech were in the usual form, but amendments were moved in both houses of Parliament; in the Commons by Lord John Cavendish, and in the Lords by the Marquis of Rockingham. After an animated debate, the amendment was rejected in the House of Commons, by two hundred and forty-two against eighty-seven, and in the Lords by ninety-one against twenty-six. During the session of Parliament, some other attempts were made for adopting conciliatory measures, but the influence of the ministry was so powerful that they were all completely defeated, and the plans of the administration received the approbation and support of Parliament.

In the present alarming position of American affairs, it was of great moment that something should be done to rouse the spirit of the country, greatly depressed by the retreat through the Jerseys. Washington devoted anxious thought to a plan which, at the earliest moment, he determined to carry into effective action. At the time that the Americans crossed the Delaware, winter was fast setting in; and it was no part of the British general's intentions to carry on military operations during that inclement season of the year. Fearless of a feeble enemy, whom he had easily driven "before him, and whom he confidently expected soon to annihilate, he cantoned his troops rather with a view to the convenient resumption of their march, than with any regard to security against a fugitive foe. As he entertained not the slightest apprehension of an attack, he paid little attention to the arrangement of his several posts for the purpose of mutual support. He stationed a detachment of about fifteen hundred Hessians at Trenton, under Colonel Rahl, and about two thousand at Bordentown, farther down the river, under Count Donop; the rest of his army was quartered over the country, between the Hackensack and the Delaware. Certainly, so far as appearances went, Howe had no cause to fear any thing from the Americans; for with an overpowering force, well disciplined, and flushed with victory, he might seem quite justified in treating with contempt the small and broken army of Washington. Probably the idea that the commander-in-chief would venture upon offensive measures never entered Howe's mind. But Washington, with the force under his command, determined to anticipate the movements of Howe, and to strike a blow which should be felt, and which should demonstrate to the enemy, as well as America, that the cause of independence was by no means hopeless. Washington formed his available forces into three divisions, and accompanied by Greene and Sullivan, proposed to pass the Delaware at McKonkey's Ferry, nine miles above Trenton, and fall upon the Hessians in that town. The second division, under