racter of Washington, melted into the hideous features of unhallowed ambition, private envy, and grovelling selfish

ness.

How he felt and acted under the operation of these derogatory machinations, we feel naturally curious to enquire; and, indeed, his conduct and temper on this occasion must go far in deciding our estimate of his extraordinary character. Endowed with a mind not only of colossal magnitude, but of singular firmness, these aspersions caused neither agitation nor excitement; though not to feel in some degree indignant, would have been to possess attributes superior to those of humanity. In his answer to General Gates, calling for the name of the informer, there is but one expression which implied any degree of undue excitement, where he says: "Pardon me then, for adding, that, so far from conceiving the safety of the States can be affected, or in the smallest degree injured, by a discovery of this kind, or that I should be called upon in such solemn terms to point out the author, that I considered the information as coming from yourself, and given with a friendly view to forewarn, and consequently forearm me against a secret enemy, or in other words, a dangerous incendiary, in which character, sooner or later, this country will know General Conway."

At this time his army was barefooted, naked, and without provisions, the fault of which was exclusively in Congress and the depreciated currency of the country: but imagination, in its wildest creations, cannot conceive sufferings more intense than were this winter endured by the American army.

How acutely Washington felt, and sympathised for these sufferings, might be shown by multiplied evidences of his humane heart; but I shall confine myself to part of one letter of his to Governor Livingston: "I sincerely feel for the unhappy condition of our poor fellows in the hospitals, and wish my powers to relieve them were equal to my inclination. It is but too melancholy a truth, that our hos pital stores of every kind, are lamentably scanty and deficient. I fear there is no prospect of their being soon in a better condition. Our difficulties and distresses are certainly great, and such as wound the feelings of humanity: -our sick, naked!-our well, naked!-our unfortunate men in captivity, naked!"

The army was now melting away, owing to the depre

ciation of continental money, which reduced the officers to beggary, and the soldiers to nakedness. Washington recommended increased pay, half pay, and a pension system, and submitted to Congress an elaborate, able, and comprehensive system for the organisation of the army, as well as for the commissary department in particular; to which Congress conformed in their new regulations.

Still the famine of man and horse in the army prevailed, and every hour threatened to dissolve it, notwithstanding the Herculean labours of Washington, to exhort the States to action, and stimulate the Congress to energy. Mutiny was often manifested by the starving troops, and as often suppressed; but nothing could have suppressed it, but the deep affection which most of the men cherished for their great commander, who possessed that indescribable something, which attaches both officers and soldiers to his person, and inspires all with veneration and respect. To this quality alone in the General, is to be ascribed the preservation of the army at this crisis.

Perhaps no man ever received so signal and complete atonement from the party guilty of the wrong, as did General Washington, when the following letter from General Conway, who had been seriously wounded in a duel, met his eye.

66

Philadelphia, July 23, 1778. "SIR,-I find myself just able to hold the pen during a few minutes, and take this opportunity of expressing my sincere grief for having done, written, or said any thing disagreeable to your excellency. My career will soon be over; therefore, justice and truth prompt me to declare my last sentiments. You are, in my eyes, the great and good May you long enjoy the love, veneration and esteem of these States, whose liberties you have asserted by your virtues.

man.

"I am, with the greatest respect, Sir, &c. "PH. CONWAY." In February, 1778, Lord North agreed to submit to Parliament a plan of conciliation with America. About the same time, a treaty of commerce and alliance was concluded with France, by Mr. Deane, the minister of the United States at that court. These bills of pacification were first transmitted to General Washington, and by him submitted to Congress, accompanied by his views of their

His

probable operation and influence on the public mind. letter to Congress was accompanied by a certificate of the very singular manner in which the bills came to his hands; with the extraordinary and impertinent request, that the contents should be, through him, communicated to the army.' These propositions of peace were instantly and indignantly rejected, as insulting, unjust, and derogatory; inasmuch as they did not acknowledge the Independence of the United States.

An event now occurred, in May, 1778, which it is matter of surprise the British ministry had not anticipatedthe recognition of the independence of the United States by France; a consequent war between that country and England; and an efficient co-operation by France, to achieve and consummate our liberties.

Washington now engaged in an arduous negociation with the English General, to obtain a mitigation of the sufferings of the American prisoners, who had been captured by the enemy; and to arrange some permanent system for their speedy exchange and comfortable subsistence. In this humane and laudable effort, he at length succeeded.

The conduct of the revolutionary war, could certainly have devolved on no one who combined in so great a degree the qualities of a humane heart, a firm purpose, a vigilant eye, and a comprehensive scope of intellectual vision, and military foresight.

Sir William Howe having resigned his command of the English army, was succeeded by Sir Henry Clinton, who evacuated Philadelphia on the 18th of June, 1778, directing his march through the Jerseys. On the same day Washington moved his army from Valley Forge, and crossed the Delaware at Corryell's ferry, keeping possession of the high grounds, and being careful to avoid a general engagement with the enemy, yet strongly inclined to hazard an attack. In this uncertainty, caused by conflicting enterprise and prudence, he called a council of war, which decided against risking an engagement. Still, his desire to achieve something against a retreating foe, overcame the advice of his council, and he resolved to attack the rear of the British on his own responsibility; and on the 28th of June, he advanced upon the retiring columns of the enemy in the vicinity of Monmouth Court House, until the battle becoming general, a sharp conflict ensued, when the

approach of night caused a cessation of hostilities; both parties keeping their positions, and laying on their arms. Washington, who had been very active throughout the day, exposed his person at every point, regardless of all danger, and passed the night in the midst of his soldiers in his military cloak.

During the night, the British silently retreated, wholly unperceived by the Americans. In this sharp conflict, the British suffered the greatest loss; and the result was a victory confessed to the American arms, by the retreat of the beaten foe.

On this occasion, General Lee was suspended from command for one year by a court martial; among other charges, for disobedience of orders, and disrespect to Washington, which the whole army strongly resented.

Congress voted their thanks for his conduct on this occasion, as well as to his officers and men.

Washington now moved his army towards the North River, and Sir Henry Clinton effected his retreat to New York.

In July, the arrival of the French fleet under Count D'Estaing, having on board a French army, to co-operate with the Americans against the English, threw a different complexion over the whole contest; and inspired a reasonable hope of a speedy termination of the struggle of the States against the absurd pretensions of the crown of England.

The fleet of Howe had left the Delaware, at the same time that the British army had evacuated Philadelphia.

Without following the operations of the French and English forces, which would be foreign to the object of this work, I shall merely remark, that as far as Washington participated in deciding their movements, he displayed all his wonted wisdom, sagacity, prudence, magnanimity, valour and patriotism. His address and influence were successfully interposed to heal a dissention which had arisen on points of co-operation and etiquette, between the commander of the French fleet and General Sullivan.

Nothing important, in which Washington was immediately concerned, occurred afterwards, during the campaign of 1778; and in December the American army went into winter quarters in the neighbourhood of West Point and Middlebrook; the troops being sheltered in huts, and well

provided with clothing, from the supplies furnished by France.

Let us here pause for a moment, to contemplate the expanding genius, and towering character of this wonderful man, as he rose under the pressure of new exigencies, and improved in wisdom by the admonitions of adversity, and the lessons of experience.

It is a singular fact, that in the writings of Washington, we discover no historical allusions, or traces of having studied the laws of nations, or the science of jurisprudence; and yet no deficiency of sound principles, or useful knowledge, is ever to be detected in him; so much did the richness of his genius supply him with stores of wisdom. And though it is apparent, that he had never made the science of government a peculiar object of study, yet experience, as he advanced through the difficulties of the war, had suggested to him much useful knowledge on important points of civil government. Yet, on this latter subject, his ideas evidently received a tinge of prejudice, from his military education; and that when he thought of government, he conceived of a power too energetic to be perfectly compatible with the broad doctrines of liberty, however it might secure the efficiency of prompt and energetic authority. Accustomed as he was to the rapid movements and absolute commands of an army, this habit would naturally generate in his mind a desire to introduce the same prompt principle of action into government, and to view the deliberate motions, and tedious debates of free assemblies with a feeling of dislike proportioned to their laxity of movement, and tardiness of conclusion. Having insensibly acquired this mode of thinking, he would unconsciously espouse the concentration of power, without feeling any hostility to the principles, or repugnance to the spirit of liberty; and thus gradually engraft upon his principles of military government civil doctrines of congenial and analogous energy.

The dependence of his army upon the movements and proceedings of government, obviously first attracted his attention to the study of our political fabric, at the same time that it caused him to scrutinise it, more in reference to the army, than to the people; and this without making him less a lover of liberty, or less a friend to the rights and happiness of the human race; for his heart was always too benevolent to permit him to embrace the cause of despotism;