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bestow, but he generously declined all niary emoluments. His reply to the President of Congress, on his nomination to the supreme command of the army, was in the following words :

"Mr. President,

"Though I am truly sensible of the high honour done me in this appointment, yet I feel great distress, from a consciousness that my abilities and military experience may not be equal to the extensive and important trust; however, as the Congress desire it, I will enter upon the momentous duty, exert every power I possess in their service, and for support of the glorious cause. I beg they will accept my most cordial thanks for this distinguished testimony of their approbation.

But, lest some unlucky event should happen unfavorable to my reputation, I beg it may be remembered by every gentleman in the room, that I this day declare with the utmost sincerity, I do not think myself equal to the command I am honoured with.

"As to my pay, sir, I beg leave to assure the Congress, that as no pecuniary consideration could have tempted me to accept this arduous employment, at the expence of my domestic ease and happiness, I do not wish to make any profit from it. I will keep an

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exact account of my expences; those, I doubt not, they will discharge, and this is all I desire."

This speech is a proof of that disinterestedness and modesty, which were the distinguished characteristics of Washington's mind. In private life he was affable, hospitable, and friendly. These social virtues, together with his tried valour, made him truly estimable in the eyes of his countrymen. His election to the supreme command was accompanied by no competition: every member of Congress, especially those of New-England, were convinced of his integrity, and chose him as the man best qualified to raise their expectations. and fix their confidence.

The appointment of Washington was attended with other promotions, namely, four major-generals, one adjutant-general, and eight brigadier-generals.

On the day following, a special commission was presented to Washington, by Congress. At the same time they resolved unanimously, in a full meeting, "That they would maintain and assist him, and adhere to him with their lives and fortunes, in the cause of American liberty." In their instructions, they authorized him " to order and dispose of the army under his command as might be most

advantageous for obtaining the end for which it had been raised, making it his special care in discharge of the great trust committed to him, that the liberties of America receive no detriment."

Washington's diffidence on the acceptance of his commission was extremely natural.His comprehensive mind anticipated the numerous difficulties which must attend his employment; and he would gladly have preferred the pleasures of a rural life to all the pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious

war."

His taking the command of the American army was, therefore, a strong exertion of selfdenial to an unambitious man, who enjoyed all the real blessings of life in the bosom of independence. Let us for a moment turn our attention to his private affairs, and we will behold him blest with the rational pleasures of a philosophic retirement, with his table overspread with plenty, and his pillow smoothed by the hand of conjugal love.Could man desire more? Was not this the summit of human happiness? But now, when the voice of his country demands his aid, he takes the field in her defence with filial attachment.

Yet the most virtuous line of conduct is

liable to misrepresentation; the benign and magnanimous asserter of American freedom is thus aspersed by a tourist,* who must have laboured under the malignant influence of prejudice.

"Mr. Washington has become somewhat distinguished for being at the head of an inactive, timid army, which never performed a gallant exploit, yet they have succeeded in their pursuits beyond even their most sanguine expectations.

"The command of the American army was offered to him for two reasons; first, because he was the only public man then known, either calculated to command, or proper to be entrusted there with; and the next reason was, because thereby they secured the attachment of the whole colony of Virginia, the most extensive, the richest, and the most powerful of all the provinces.

"Mr. Washington has uniformly cherished, and steadfastly pursued, an apparently mild, steady, but aspiring line of conduct, and views of the highest ambition, under the most specious and effectual of all cloaks, that of moderation, which he has invariably appeared to profess. This has been evinced by

* Vide Smyth's Tour in the United States of America, vol. 2, p. 247, 151.

a multitude of instances, but particularly by his accepting the continuance of the chief command of the American army, after the Congress had suddenly declared for independence, of which measure he always before affected to disapprove, and on that account pretended to be inclined to resign the command; an intention, of all others, the most distant from his mind.

"His total want of generous sentiments, and even of common humanity, has appeared notoriously in many instances, and in none more than his sacrifice of the meritorious, but unfortunate Major Andre..

"As a general, he is equally liable to censure, which is well known even to every intelligent Frenchman who has been in America, as well as to every person whatsoever, who has had an opportunity of observing his military operations; nor during his life has he ever performed a single action that could entitle him to the least share of merit or praise, much less of glory.

"But as a politician he has certainly distinguished himself; having by his political manœuvres, and his cautious, plausible management, raised himself to a degree of eminence in his own country unrivalled, and of considerable stability.