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 DEPARTURE FROM WASHINGTON. 319

prosecution and conviction, by voluntarily placing myself in the position I did, if the statements of Burch and his confederates contain a particle of truth.  I took pains to seek him out, to confront him in a court of law, charging him with the crime of kidnapping; and the only motive that impelled me to this step, was a burning sense of the wrong he had inflicted upon me, and a desire to bring him to justice. He was acquitted, in the manner, and by such means as have been described.  A human tribunal had permitted him to escape; but there is another and a higher tribunal, where false testimony will not prevail, and where I am willing, so far at least as these statements are concerned, to be judged at last.

We left Washington on the 20th of January, and proceeding by way of Philadelphia, New-York, and Albany, reached Sandy Hill in the night of the 21st.  My heart overflowed with happiness as I looked around upon old familiar scenes, and found myself in the midst of friends of other days.  The following morning I started, in company with several acquaintances, for Glens Falls, the residence of Anne and our children.

As I entered their comfortable cottage, Margaret was the first that met me.  She did not recognize me.  When I left her, she was but seven years old, a little prattling girl, playing with her toys.  Now she was grown to womanhood - was married, with a bright-eyed boy standing by her side.  Not forgetful of his