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Heaven had resolved to protract their fate; and they entered the capital of Pennsylvania.

WHILE encamped at the Valley forge under every disadvan tage to which a commander could be subject, and suffering the most cruel neglect, not to say injustice of his country, he surprised a division of their army on the heights of Germantown, and in the moment that victory was declaring for his arms, and their routed legions were fleeing in every direction, a voice, a whisper, one of those invisible and unaccountable accidents which so frequently decide the fate of battles, wrested the prize out of his hands. But his unconquerable energy, his infinite resources in misfortune, robbed them of all the fruits of their success. They dared no longer venture out of their entrenchments, and he held them enchained in Philadelphia.

THE generals of Britain, contending in vain against the indefatigable courage, and the inexhaustible resources of the American hero, who, though at the head of a feeble and ill-appointed army, was often victorious, and who reaped even from defeat the fruits of victory, resolved to abandon to him Pennsylvania, as they had before yielded New-Jersey.

THEN you saw him on the burning plains of Monmouth, rallying his broken van, and leading it on to a new charge; exposing himself like a common soldier, present in every place almost at the same moment; and while men were fainting, and dying in their ranks with fatigue, and heat, and thirst, refusing to rest, or to taste refreshment till victory gave him a right to repose.

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have cut off their retreat, and been probably followed by their total ruin. His runners, whether intimidated, or corrupted, persisted to assure him, in the most solemn manner, that the British forces had not crossed in the places where he certainly expected them, and deceived him with regard to their real movements, till it was too late to execute bis design. He was compelled to retreat. And a few days afterwards, when be offered them battle again in the Great-Valley the elements fought against him.

With pleasure I see in this assembly your EXCELLENCY,* and so many other brave officers, who were there witnesses of his glory, and who bore no small share in the dangers, and the honors of that memorable day.

THE twenty-ninth June gave rest to the northern states; and Britain, despairing to be able to contend with Washington, determined to bend all her force against the south. But there she met the wise and gallant Greene, who was worthy to be the brother of Washington. Greene was cutting off her garrisons, and her armies in detail. But her main army, under the conduct of the bravest and most enterprising of her generals, was still reserved to adorn the triumphs of the first hero of America.

HISTORIANS will relate with what admirable combination he formed the plan, and concerted its execution, with an ally separated from him by more than a thousand leagues, for surprising and entangling in his toils his active foe-with what address he diverted the attention of the British commandersand how, after a march of four hundred miles, he had so amused and blinded them, that he still found his enemy in the place where he determined to seize him.. -America will forever record that happy day in which her victorious chief saw Britain laying her last standards at his feet. I seem to participate with him that generous exultation, that noble triumph of soul, which, in this moment, he felt. Not that he was capable, with unmanly insolence, of exulting over a prostrate enemy, but he saw, in their fall, the salvation of his country. On the ruins of York he laid the immortal base of the republic. How delicious! How sublime was the moment! Britain was humbled*-America was delivered and avenged.

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*Governor HoWELL, who followed the bier as chief mourner.

† Such expressions as this cannot reasonbly be supposed to be intended to cherish national prejudices, or to inflame national antipathies. They are used by the writers of every country in celebrating their eminent statesmen, and their heroes. They

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THE war terminated, PEACE restored, and the liberties of a new world established on the firmest foundations, the concluding scene was the most august and interesting that the history of nations has, perhaps, ever presented. Other conquerors have considered victory as the mean of grasping unlawful power. The soul of Washington was more sublime. He regarded in his victories only the peace and happiness of a great nation. A fine morality tempered and reigned in the midst of his heroic qualities. The character of a patriot, he considered as superior to that of a hero; and to be a renowned warrior was less in his esteem, than to be a good man. He hastens, therefore, to the seat of congress, to resign into the hands of the fathers of his country, the powers with which they had invested him, and which he had so nobly employed in its defence.-August spectacle Illustrious chief! He was so far elevated above the rest of mankind, that no way was left for him to become greater but by humbling himself. The hero enters the hall surrounded with all his virtues, his services, and his glories, of which no one but himself seemed to be unconscious. This awful assem. bly received him as the founder, and the guardian, of the republic. Every heart was big with emotion. Silently they retraced the scenes of affliction and danger through which they had passed together-They recalled to mind the peace and freedom purchased by his arm-They regarded with veneration that great man, who appeared more great and worthy of esteem in resigning, than he had done in gloriously using, his power. In an impressive speech he laid down all his public employments, and took of them an affectionate leave. At the contemplation of such rare virtue, and moved at the recollection of so many interesting scenes, tears of admiration and gratitude burst from every eye. The hero, touched with the general emotion, wet his cheek with a manly tear, while he deposited his sword under the laws, which he had covered with his shield.

indicate sensations that were natural and lawful on the occasion, but are afterwards forgotten in the relations of amity, and commercial intercourse.

THE last act of a spectacle so affecting was an act of religion. Great example for legislators, rulers, warriors-for all who either possess elevated stations, or who aim at high and solid fame! In that august presence, he worships the Ruler of the Universe-he commends the interests of his dearest country to the protection of Almighty God—and there, in the temple of the laws, he offers to heaven the incense of a nation, from the altar of his own pure and noble heart.- This done, he retires, amidst the Vows, and prayers, and blessings, of a grateful and admiring country, to the peaceful shade of Vernon. Not like those heroes who build their glory on the misery of the human race, and whose restless souls are forever tossed in the tempests of ambition, he sought only peace by war, and returned from its cruel and bloody fields with delight, to the first innocent employments of human nature.

LET US contemplate him, a moment, in this RETIREMENT, which he always chose with such predilection when the service of his country would permit him to enjoy it.

IN private life he was as amiable, as virtuous, and as great, as he appeared sublime on the public theatre of the world. How many conquerors, renowned in history, have been great only while they acted a conspicuous part under the observation of mankind! The soul, in such a situation, perceives an artificial elevation—it assumes the sentiments of virtue corresponding to the grandeur of the objects that surround it. In private, it subsides into itself; and, in the ordinary details of life and conduct, the men, who seemed to be raised above others by the splendor of some rare occasions, now sink below them-they are degraded by their passions-those who were able to command armies, have lost the power of self-commandand when they are not heroes, they are nothing. Washington, was always equal to himself. There was a dignity in the manner in which he performed the smallest things. A majesty surrounded him that seemed to humble those who approached him, at the same time that there was a benignity in his man

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ners that invited their confidence and esteem, His virtues, always elevated and splendid, shone only with a milder light by being placed in the vale of retirement. He was sincere, modest, upright, humane; a friend of religion; the idol of his neighbors as well as of his country; magnificent in his hospitality, but plain in his manners, and simple in his equipage. And the motives of these virtues we are not to seek in a vain affectation of popularity which has often enabled the cunning and the artful to make great sacrifices to public opinion, but in the native impulse and goodness of his heart.-His emotions, naturally strong, and ardent, as they are, perhaps, in all great men, he had completely subjected to the controul of reason, and placed under the guard of such a vigilant prudence, that he never suffered himself to be surprised by them. Philosophy and religion in his breast had obtained a noble triumph and his first title to command over others, was his perfect command of himself. Such a sublime idea had he formed of man, that in him you never detected any of the littlenesses of the passions. His consummate prudence, which was one of his most characteristic qualities, and which never forsook him for a moment, contributed to fix the affections and the confidence of his fellow-citizens, which he had acquired by his talents.-Eminently distinguished for his conjugal and domestic virtues, the perfect purity of his private morals added not a little to that dignity of character in which he was superior to all men. There is a majesty in virtue, which commands the respect, even of those who do not love it, and which gives to great talents their highest lustre.-Ah! if the ambitious knew, or were willing to estimate its influence on reputation, and its powerful command over the minds of men, they would study to be virtuous from self-interest.

NEED I tell you, who know the terms on which he performed the greatest services that were ever rendered to a nation, how disinterested and noble was his nature? How dear would not a mercenary man have sold bis toils, bis dangers, and above all, bis successes? What schemes of grandeur, and of power, would not an ambitious man have built upon the affections of the people and the army? The only wealth which HE sought to draw from them, was the riches of his country

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