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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mAthode. errata J to e pelure, ion A n 1 1 : 't : 32X 1 2 3 4 5 e CANADA PUBLIC ARCHIVES 1^ ^ ARCHIVES PUBLIQUES ', An ORATION IN MEMORY OF General MONTGOMERY, A N D O F T H E OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS, Who Fell with HIM, December 31, 1775, BEFORE a U E B E Ci t>RAWN UP (AND DELIVERED February 19th, 1776J ^ AtTHE DESIRE dp THE floNouRABLE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. By WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. PROVOST OF THE COLLEGE and ACADEMY OF PHILADELPHIA O thou, who bad'll them fall \\\tl\ honour crowu'd, ^ Soon make the bloody pride of war to ccafe ! iMay thel'c tho (»ily lacrifice be fband To public freedom, and their countiv's peace! SECOND EDITION. , PHILADELPHIA, Printed j L O N D N, lleprinted for J. Ai.mon, oppjllte Bu; rmjiton-hculc in Picc.td'll/rf MDCCLXXVI. T A . v. «i ».*. ^^■_ 9y w Mf *¥^ I i Vv,. tv .u ec cc C4 <( IN CONGRESS, January 25ih, 1776. TJ E SOLVED, rhat Dr. Smith he defired to prepare and deliver a Funeral Ora- tion hi honour of General Montgomery, and of thofe Officers and Soldiers who magnanimoufty fought and fell with him in maintaining the pin- cities of American liberty!* Extra£ffrom the minutes, CHARLES Thomson, Sqc^ In purfuance of this appointment the following Oration was drawn up ; and as the author Jtnew fhat he was to addrefs as great and refpeSlable an audience.perhaps, as was ever convened in America, he neither wifhed to trifle with their charaEler or his own, but ufed every effort in his power to ren- der the cmpofition worthy of the occafion, and now cheerfully fubmits it to the public judgment. He forefaw the difficulties incident to the undertaking, and {upon the principles mentioned p. 10, u) was prepared to encounter them. Two or three quotations have been transferred from the text to the margin ^ a few fmall alter a^ fms, chiefly verbal, have bten made upon the re- * commendation fA [ W ] tommcndailcn of fome friends, and a paragraph (P'35) "^f^^ch ix)as forgot in the delivery, is printed in its place. Upon the whck, the author hopes he has done fufiice io the memory of thofe brave meH whoarethefuhje^ls of the Oration-, and 'ujith re^ fpeol to thofe refle£iions upon public affairs which muft rife out of public characters, and are intimately connected with them, he is fo far Jromwifhing them retrenched, that {on a careful review) he is willing to reji upon them whatever claim he may have to the appellation of a good citizen or friend to liberty, f long as it may be remembered that hs either lived or wrote in America I .v.. A N ORATION, &c. f|; Fathers^ Brethren^ and Ccunirymcn! N occafion truly folemn lias aiTemb'ed us tM>? day; and, that your attention may be alike lolemn and ferious, hear, in the firft place, the voice of eternal truth—" It is better to go to the " houie of mourning than to the houle of feafling; i" for—" None of us liveth to himlelf, and no man " dieth to himfelf."— But there are fome men illuminated with a purer ray of divinity— patriots of tlie firft magnitude-— who, in a peculiar felife, may be faid to live and die^ not to themfelves, but to others ; and confe- quently to him who is the Ailthor of all goodncfs. Endowed with that fuperior excellence which does honour to^ our whole fpecies, the 'virtuous of evefy nation claim kindred with them, and the general interefts of humanity are concerned in their cha- rader. In veneration of fuch men, to cxci; (ngc the ac- cuftomed walks of pleafure for the honfc cf mciirr.- ing ; to bedew its facred recefies with tears of gra- titude to their memory -, to ilrive, if polTiblc^ to catch fome portion Q,i their ether id Jpirit, as ic mounts from this earrhly fphere into perfed union with cotigenicil fpirits above— is a laudable cuflom, A ccevui _ [ ^_] coeval with fociety, and ianCiified to lis by thi example of the wilcll nations. It was the manner of the Egyptians, the fathers' of arts and fcience, not only to celebrate the nantes, but to embalm the bodies, of their deceafed heroes, that tliey might be long preferved in public view, as examples of virtue; and, although " dead, yet " ipcakm.o." But this honour was not eafily to be obtained, nor was it beftowed indifcrfminatcly upon the vulgar great -, it was decreed only by the public .. I'oice — a venerable afiembiy of judges, before whom the body of rhe deceafed was brought for trial, and folemnly acquitted or condemned upon the evi- dence cf the people. Even kings themfelves, howevef miich fpared when alive for the fake of public tranquillity, had ftill tins more than fiery ordeal before their eyes ; and by the example of fome of their number, who had btcn refufed fepulture in thofe very tombs- which their pride had prepared to their own me- mory, v/ere taught both to venerate and to dread a law which extended its punifliments beyond the ufual times of oblivion. The moral of this inftitution was truly fublime— conftantly inculcating a moil important leflbn — That whatever diRindions our wants and vices may render necelTary, in this fhort and irnper-^ fe6t period of our being, they are all cancelled by the hand of death -, and tlirough the endlefa untried periods which fuccecc^, virtue and bene- ficence will make the true did in» / , \ A- I [ 3 ] fmd that they liad an exprcfs law, appointing ora- jions and public funerals in honour of thofe who glorioufly lacrificed their lives to their country : and this folemn office was performed before the great aflerriblies of the people ; fometimes for one, and fometimes for bands of heroes together. Thucydides has recorded a celebrated oration of this laft kind delivered by Pericles. The illuflrious fpeaker, after a rnoft animating defcription of the amor pairi^—the love of our country — which he ^xalts above all human virtues, turns to the de- ceafed — " Having beflowed their lives to the public, ^' every one of them, fays he, hath received a " praile that will never decay — a fepulchre that V will always be rnoft illuflrious — not that in whi; h " their bones lie mouldering, but that in which their frame is preferved. I'his whole earth is he fepulchre of illuitrious citizens,'* — and thti'- in- fcriptioh is written upon the hearts of all gocKi men. " As for you the furvivors— from this very mo- ment, emulating their virtues, place your fole happinefs in liberty — and be prepared .o follow its call through every danger." Then, addrefiing himfelf with exquifite tenderner- to ti^.e relict, and children of the deccafed, he fuggeds to them, that the commonwealth was their hufband, their father, and brother. " From this day forward to the age of maturity '''* fliall the orphans be educated at the public ex- " pence of the ftate ; for this benevolent meed have ** the laws appointed to all future relicts of thofe " who may fall in the public contcfts." Nor were the Romans lels careful in this matter. Confidering men in general as brave more by art A 2 than C( ti (( cc [ 4 3 than nature -, and that honour is a more powerful incentive than fear \ they made frugah'ty, tempe- rance, patience of labour, manly exercife, and love of their country, th^ main principles of education. Cowardice and neglcd: of duty in the field were feldom puniflied with death or corporal inflidlions ; but by what was accounted worfe, a life decreed to ignominious expulfion and degradation from Ro- man privileges. On the contrary, deeds of public virtue were re- warded, according to their magnitude, with ftatues, triumphs of various kinds, peculiar badges of drels at public folcmnitics, and * fongs of praife to the living as WL-Jl as the de^'ici. I^ext to the hymns compcfed in honour of the gods, poetry derived its origin from the fongs of triumph to heroes -f-, vvho tamed the rude manners of mankind t, founded cities, repelled the incur- fions of cni'mies, and gave peace to their country : -and- tins cullom began venter> iba:ii, ilia tempcilate forfitanlaudab;;.|e rijuibus ii>g'.'niis, nunc abbcir.ns S: inconditum fi referatur. ■ ' i»a +* [ 5 ] 5ng them, as having become intolerable to the more refined tafte of his age, however fuitable they might have been to the sra of their produftion. What a mulcitude of compofitions of this kind muft have exifted between the barbarous fongs of the military iipon the triumph of ^ Coflius, and the celebrated panegyric of Pliny upon Trajan ! Thty are laid to have been fwellcd into two thou fund volumes, even in the time of Auguftus. In fhorr, the praiie of public virtue was wrought into the whole texture of Roman polity; and Virgil, calling religion to his aid, gave it the higheii finifli. He divides his hades, or place of ghofts, into different regions ; and to the gulph of deepeft per- dition f configns thofe monfters of iniquity who delighted in the deftruflion of mankind, betrayed I their country, or violated its religion and laws. '1 here he excruciates them in company with § " Gorgons and hydras and chimeras dire." Vultures prey upon their vi'als, or they are whirled eternally round with Ixion upon his wheel, or bound * Longc maximum triumphi fpeftaculum fui'i: Coflius — in cum milites caimlna incon'.ita, aquantes eum Romulo, caiiere. Liv. f *' Full twice as deep the dungeor, of the fiends, ** I'lie huge 'i'arta.e:;!! giooray gulph defcends ** Rc'low theJe regions, as thtfc- regi(M)s lie From the bright realms of yo •- a;thereal {ky." This wretch his country to a tyrant fold, And barter'd glorious liberty for gold : Laws for a bribe he j.afs'd — but pafs'd in v.^.in ; '^^'or thefe fame laws a bribe repeal'd again." § Milton here borrows his monfters from Virgil ; " flammifquc armata chimaera j " Gorgones, harpia^que," &c. See Virgil, B. VI. from line 288 to line 627, or Pitt*s ex- celient tranllation. down C( (( << r 6 ] down with Tantalus*, whofe burning lip hangg; quivering over the elufive waters it cannot touchy or the fury Tify phone, her hair entwined with ler- penrs, her garments red with human gore, urges on cheir tortures with uiiiclenting hand ! The poet having thus exhaufted imagination as well as mythology, in the defcription of puniih- ments for the difturbers of mani<:ind and foes to their country, raifes his conclufion to a height of Jiorror beyond the reach of expreffion : • ** Had I a hundred mouths, a hundred tongues, *' A voice of braii5, and adamantine lungs •, '* Not half the mighty fc^ne could 1 dilciofe ; *' Repeat their crimes, or count their dreadful " wocsf. Nor has Virgil ftrayed any farther through the. fields of fancy or fable in this place, than to bor- row llrtnruh of colouring for the g.ub of tiuth; and I fuipci^l that he drai>k from a [>l rer fountain than that ot i lelu'or. wh'.'n he p opled his 7'artarus with the ancient icourgcs of the* liuman race. An authority lacred among Chrifli.ins lias indi ed given i]s a moll awful confirmanon of tiiis do;!:t! ine. A prophet and poet in eed, whofe infpiration was truly from heaven, the incomparably fublime ifaiah, foretelling the iall of Babylon, has an ode * Tantalus a labili, fitiens, fugicntia capiat Fliimina t Milton has takm the fame method of raifing hi', cle- A;nption by leaving fomething to be conceived beyond the power of words to cxprefb : *• Abominable, unutterable, and woife •' 'ri\an fables yet have fuign'd, or i'ear concelv'd/* of on He- Ihc /. [ 7 ] bf tiiumpb, wherein he exults over its haughty monarch in drains of wonderful irony and reproach. He reprobates him as a deftroyer of mankind, who had " made the world a wiidernefs/* He reprefents the whole earth as deHvered from acurfe by his fall : the trees of the foreft rejoice, becaufe he is laid lo.v! the very grave refufes a covering to his execrable corfe! he is configned to the depths of mifery, while the infernal manfions them.elves are moved at his approach, and the e^ho'lfs of de- parted tyrants rife up, in horrid array and mockery of triumph, to bid him welcome to his final abode! The aitonidiing grandeur and fpirit of this palTage, and indeed ot the wh(^ic ode, are unrivalled by any Poet ^ of Greek or ivoman name. " How hath the oppreffor ceafed! The Lord hath broken the ftaffof the wicked! He that fmote the people in wrath — that ruled the natiions in anger — is perfecuted, and none hinderethl The whole earth is at reft — they break forth into Tinging; yea the fir-trees rejoice at thee, aiid the cedars of Lebanon, faying, fincc thou art laid down, no feller is come up againft us. C( <( «( * Alcreus hirr.felf (faith Bifljop Newton) fo highly rc- Anwned for his natied of tyranny, and whole odes are alike aniinaied oy inefpiiit oi iihcrty and//o./AM>, has nothing that can be compaieLi witnthc propiict in this place. The excellent prelate above-quoted hatii a further n'maik On this palfaj^c, wtiich jt would be unpardona:blc to omit. " What a plcafuie inuit it aitord aii readers ofuncx.dicd taft. and geneious itiitinieiu.s, all true lovers of liberty, to hear the prophets tlius cxuhing over tyraulb and op- prcflurs ! "^1 he Icript'ire:, althou<;h nftjn p-Jivertca to the purpoics of tyr.'^imy, art- yet, in their own naiur-*, calcu- *' lated to promote the civil and relifiious liberties of jnan • •• kind. 1 rue rdij.ion, virtue, and liberty are more ii.ti- *' mateU' con:;crtv\l tliau 'ven commcnly CMifider." •* Hell t( <( fc )f «c C( «c cc <( cc cc [ 8 ] " Hell from beneath is moved for thee, to meet thee at thy coming ! It ftirreth up the dead for thee — even the chiefs of the nations / They fay unto thee, art thou alfo become weak as we ? Thy pomp is brought down to the grave — How art thou fallen, O Lucifer^ that didlt weaken the nations? All kings [meaning juft and merciful *' kings] even all oi them lie in glory, every one in his own houfe (or fepulchre); but thou art caft out of thy grave like an abominable branch,*' But although the reward of heroes^ in the Chrif- iian's heaven^ be our proper theme on this folcmn day ; yet the paffing view which we have taken of the perdition decreed to the traitors of their coun- try, in ihe poet* s hell, confirmed alfo by the voice of icripturc, is not foreign to our main purpofc. I know your bofoms glow with fo firong an aver- fion to all the foes of liberty in this life, that you will furc ly avoid every thought and adibni which might doom you to their company in the life to come; and therefore, bidding adieu — and may ic be an eternal adieu— to thofe dreary regions and their miferable inhabitants, let us now exalt our joy- ous view to thofe ceiellial manfions, where the be- nefii6loi s of mankind reap immortal triumphs 1 *' Lo! the bleft: tn in advance along the meads,' * And fnowy wreaths adorn their glorious heads — » Patriots who perilh'd for their country's right, *' Or nobly triumpIiM in the Held of fight— *' Worthies, who life by uleful arts rcfin'd, *) •* With thole who leave a di athlefs name behind, > *' Fiiendsof the woiK.l,and nations uf mankind, j ll'iiiah ."IV. " Some cc i I f i mmmKmti -mmlif-m « e to y ic and s, Is- Ime \ I 4 [ 9 J •"^ Some on the verdant plains are (Iretched along, '* Sweet to the ear, their tuneful Paeans rung — But here, ye Pagan poets, and thou prince of their choir, we leave you far behind ; for your Tu- blimeft flights are now infinitely (hort of the theme ! Your gloomy theology gave you tolerable aid in forming a htll, but the utmoft efforts of natural genius could not make a heaven worthy of a rational and immortal foul! The glory of givirg fome ani- mating defcription of that blifs *' which eye hath *' not feen, nor ear before heard, nor could the unen- *' lightened heart of man otherwife conceive," was left for a more divine teacher. From him we learn, that a heart pure and detached from fordid pleafures, a foul panting after perfeftion, ftriving to imitate the goodnefs of heaven, anticipating its approving fentence, and devoted to the fervice of mankind, (hall at laft rife and mix in eternal fcllowfhip with the beatified iamily of f God. B Having f A poet f?oTv, as may appear from the following lines of ?'f.>:mpjb?i, cun give us deicri prior. s o; Ely/tan IH/s^ far fuperior 1 thole of Virgil ; " whofe iv'.as on this lubjeft (as Mr. Si'F.KCF. obferves) r.ltho' pr.f. raMe to thofcof Homer and •♦ all the other uncicnt poets, are fl.i'1 fo very low, that thcy '• feem little more than borrowed from holiday-fports on the *' banks of Tiber"— •' In thofe brigl:; regions of celellial day, . ' »* Far other fc-.r.cs, far other pleafurcs rtign— .. , •• All beauty her.- below, to them corapai'J, Would, like a rofe before the mid-day fun, ' Shrink up its blolTom — like a bubi^le, break »■ > '■ •' The paiiing poor magnificence of kings — " For there the king of nattre, in lull blaze, •• Calls every fplendor forth ; .ind there his court, •' Aiiiid icthcrcal powvrt and virtues, holdi — *' Angels. to [ 10 ] Having now, my refpecled countrymen— and I hope I do not weary you — laid a wide foundation upon the prad:ice of the wifeft nations, in fiipporc of the prefent folemnity, I fhall add but little more concerning the public utility of the thing itfelf. Circumftanced as we now are, and perhaps Ihall long be, in building up a fabric for future ages, it would be a wife inftitution, if, in imitation of the Genoefe feaft of union, we fhould make at leaft an annual paule, for a review of paft incidents, and of jhe charaders of thole who have borne an iljuftrious ihare in them ; thereby animating our virtue, and uniting curfelves more clofdy in the bonds of mu- tual friend fliip. The world, in general, is more willing to imi- tate than to be taught •, and examples of eminent cha- .rafters have a itronger influence than written pre- cepts. Men*s anions are a more faithful mirror of their lives than their words : the former feldom deceive*, but the latter often. The deeds of old contraft a venerable authority over us, when fanfti- fied by the voice of applauding ages-, and, even in our own day, our hearts take an immediate part with thofe who have nobly triumphed, or greatly fuffered in our behalf. But the more ufcful thedifplay of fuch charadlers may be to the world, the more difficult is the work. And I am not to learn, that of all kinds of writing, panegyric requires the moft delicate hand. Men feldom endure the praife of any aftions, but thofe which their felMove reprefents as polfible to them- ** Angels, archangels, tutelary gods " Of cities, nations, empires, and of worlds— ** But fecred be the veil that kindly clouds *' A light too keen for mortah— - felvcs. St c? Ition Dorc lore lall ., it the t 1 1 3 ^* felves. Whatever is held up as an example, if placed beyond the reach of humanity duly exalted by public fpirit, will excite no emulation ; and whatever is placed within the vulgar walks of life, will attraft no attention. There is a further difficulty, peculiar to certain times, particularly thofe of civil diffention, whea the tempers of men are worked into ferment. Whence it happens, that they who have been tho fubjedls of obloquy in one age, have become the theme of praife in another. Such was Hampden— in the days of paffive obedience, branded as a fe- ditious difturber of his country's peace ; and, at the blefled sera of the Revolution, exalted into the firft rank of patriots. Such was Sidney — condemned to a fcaffold in the former period ; and, in the latter, immortalized by the delegated voice of the nation ! What judgment pofterity will form of the pre- fent mighty conteft in which thefe United Colonies are engaged, I am at no lofs to determine in my own heart. But, while the fame adions are, by one part of a great empire, pronounced the moft crimi- nal refidance, and by another, the molt laudable efforts of felf prefervation, no public charadter can be drawn alike acceptable to ail. Neverthelefs, as the faithful hijiorian is the beft panegyrift of true merit, he will not fafliion himfclf to times and fea- fons, but exalt himfelf above them ; and confci- ous of his dignity, as refponfible to fucceeding ages, will take eternal truth as his fupport, which can alone bear the impartial ted of future examination. He knows that the divine colours of virtue, altho* they may give a temporary glare, will not blend or mellow into a ground-work of vice. B 2 Whatever [ 12 ] Whatever events, difaftroiis or happy, may lie before us *, yet fome degree of applaufe, even from an enemy, is certainly due to thofe illuftrious men, who, led by confcience and a clear perfuafion of duty, facrifice their eafe, their lives and fortunes to the public ; and from their friends and country they are entitled to a deaihlefs renown. Perifli that narrow pride, which will fufFer men to acknowledge no virtue, but among their own party. In this direful conteft, the chief concern of a liberal mind will be* that fo much perfonal virtue as may be found on both fides, inftead of being united in fome great national point for the common good, (hould be dreadfully en^ployed to the purpofe of mutual deftruflion. And a man can as foon di- ved himfeir of his humanity, as refufe the tribute of veneration due to adions truly magnanimous. "When once it becomes criminal to plead the caufe of a fuffering people ; when their virtues can no lonG;er be fafely recorded — then tyranny has put the lad hand to her barbarous work. All the valuable purpofes of focieiy are fruftrated i and whatever other human fate remains will be wholly indifFerent to the wife and good. There are alfo many whofe minds are fo little^ that they can conceive nothing greats which does not court the eye in all the trappings of drefs, titles, and external fplendor. An American-Patriot ! z, Blanket-Hero / a General from the plough ! all thefe are terms of ridicule and reproach among manyj yet fuch was Cincinnatus, in the befl days of Roman virtue j and a Britifli poet, already quot- ed, hath boldly taught his countrymen this noblq Jcflbn — — - •' Some, ■I 4' (C cc [ 13 J *' Some, with whom compar'd, your infccl- tribes " Are but the beings of a fummer*s day, " Have held the fcale of empire, ruPd the ftorm *' Of mighty war; then, with nnweary'd hand, • Difdaining little delicacies, feiz'd ••) ■ The PLOUGH, and gready independent liv'd, Thomson'. The fame noble leflbn is alfo taught by the well known (lory of the two Spaniih grandees, who were fent ambafladors to the Hague, Notwithftanding all the pride of their nation, they did not defpile the Dutch deputies when they met them in a plain habit, and faw them on a journey fic down upoa the grafs to a frugal repaft of bread and cheefe, out of their knapfacks ; on the contrary, they cried out, " We Ihall never be able to conquer thefe people ; we muft even make peace with them," Should ambafladors honor us with a vifit, upon a like occafion, let us be prepared to meet them in the fame majeftic fimpiicity of drefs and manners; let us convince them that public virtue is confined to no clafs of men ; and that although it fometimes baiks in the funfliine of courts, it frequently lies hid in the fliades of obfcurity, like the latent fire in flint, till called forth by the collifive hand of op« preflion. Adverfity is the feafon which fliews the fpirit oF a man in its full vigour } and times of civil calamity never fail to ftrike forth lights, fometimes Angle, and fometimes whole conftellations, mingling their kindred rays to warm and to illuminate the genius of their country. The facred flame thus enkindled is not fed by the fuel of faflion or party, but by pure benevolence ^nd iQve o| the public. It therefore fgon rifes above the ll, r,1 C H J the felfifli principles, refines and brightens as it rifes, and expands itfelf into heavenly dimenfions. Being inextinguiQiable in its own nature, the blood of thoufands on the fcafFold or in tlu- field is but as oil poured into a conflagration, tncreafing its vehe- mence, till it conliimes all bef^^fe it ; burning ftill clearer and ftronger, unto the jull day of peace and civil happinefs. Tliofe who enjoy a true portion of this divine flame, duly called forth into exercife, ftand in no need of further titles or diftindfions, either by birth ox grant. For what can the world prefent greater to the fight of mortals, or even immortals, than a man who knows and courts the bleflings of peace, who wilhes to breathe out his lad in its arms-, and, keeping it ftill as his objeft, is neverthtiefs rouTed by the firft pang of his fuffering country 5 gives his whole illuftrious fpirit to her relief ; rifes above all human allurements ; never remits his zeal 5 fears nothing ; * regards nothing — but the fentiments which virtue and magnanimity infpire ? What higher qualiiies can be required to entitle a man to the veneration and eulogies of his country ? And .thefe too will be his mod durable monument. ,^The magnificent ftruftures raiftd by the grati- tude of mankind to their benefadtors of old had but a local and temporary ufe. They were beheld only by one people, and for a few ages : >•** The heav'n afpiring pyramid, the proud *' Triumphal arch, and all that e'er upheld C( The worfiiip'd name of hoar antiquity. m 4 " Are mouldering into duft. "* Nihil cxtinnfcrrr ; omnia luimana defpiccrc ; iiihil quoil homini accidcic pciiit intolerandum putarc. Lie. In '■1 it rifes. Being ood of but as vehe- ig ftiii ce and divine in no f birth greater than a peace, r and, rouTed ves his 3ve all \ fears iments What nan to And grati- d had )cheld I quoj In [ '5 ] In vain does the way-faring man inveftigate the tottering ruins for the divinity once enfhrined there \ A fcanty receptacle, about fix feet in length and half the breadth, informs him that it once contained fome human dull, long fince mingled with the common mafs. In vain does the prying antiquary dwell npon the .fculpture, or ftrive to collect and fpell thefcattered fragments of letters. The infcrip- tion is gone — long fince gone, effaced, obliterated ! And fruitlefs were the fearch through the whole world for the hero's name, if it were not recorded in the orator's page, and proclaimed by the faithful voice of hiftory. There it fliall live while the fmalleft veftiges of literature remain upon earth— yea, till the final diflfolution of things human j nor fliall it perifii then j but, being the immediate care of heaven, the great archangel, when he fweeps funs and fyrtems from their place, and kindles up their lafl: fires, ftretching forth his mighty arm, (hail pluck the death iefs Icroll from the devouring conflagra' tion, a;.d give it a place among the archives of cternit^rl ■ • r.. ;.) ;. B'?r whither am I borne? to what heights have I afcended ? 1 look down with aftonilliment and tremble at my fituation ! Oh! let your friendly arms be ext-ndt-d to lave me as I fall ; for in the idea 1 have of my fubjed, I have undertaken to guide the chariot of the lun j and how (hall I fteer thrt^ugh the exalted traft that lies before me? Confidering myfclf as honoured with this day's office, by the delegated voice of fome millions of people through a vaft continent, upon an occa- fion wherein their gratitude, their dignity, their love of liberty, nay, even their reputatign in litcra» turc. o ^ i [ *<5 J tUre, are all in fome degree concerned ; what lan- guage (hall I ufe, or how ihall I accommodate my- feJf to every circumftance in the arduous work ? Truth alone muft guide the hand that delineates a charafter. Should 1 afFefl: to foar aloft, and dip my pencil in the colours of the fky, I fhould but endanger my own wings, melt their wax, and be precipitated headlong. Nor is the danger Icfs in the other extreme. Oh ! then for fome better Phoebus, fome pre- fiding genius, to guide me through my remaining way, to point out the middle path, and teach me to unite dignity with eafe, ftrength with perfpi- cuity, and truth with the unafFedted graces of elo- cution. Or rather, you (hall be my Phoebus, my infpiring as well as prefiding genius, ye delegated fathers of your country ! So far will I ftrive to imitate * him, who always animated himfelf with his fubjedl, by thus accofting himfelf before he went forth to fpeak : '' Remember, thou art this day going to ad- ** drefs men born in the arms of liberty, Grecians, " Athenians! Let no thought enter thy heart, let •* no word fall from thy tongue, unworthy of fuch ** an audience !** "* As to that hero,, whofe memory you celebrate as a Froto- martyr f to your rights — for through what- ever fields I have ftrayed he has never efcaped my view — as to him I fay, if any thing human could nov/ reach his ear, nothing but the great concerns of virtue, liberty, truth, and juftice would be tolerable '.^-^ Pericles. ' -j- The author did not intend to appropriate this term fo as .to detracl from the merit ot* Dr. Warren and other brave men who fell before in the fume caufe. . ,. 10 ' m >' rwj ^yi ^»t^^>mtmmi^ftinm to - [ '7 J t9 him ; for to thefe was his life devoted from Iu3 early years. , He had received a liberal education in Ireland, his native country, before he vvenc into the army, and was indeed endued with talents which would have led him to eminence in any profeflion. His own he ftudied with a felicity, v/hich foon diftinguifhed his milicary abilities i but war and conqueft having no other charms to him than as the necelfary means of .peace and happinefs to mankind, he ftill found leifure, in the mid ft of camps, to cultivate an ex- cellent tafte for philofophy and polite literature. To thele he added a careful ftudy of the arts of go- vernment, and the rights of mankind; looking forward to that time when he might defcend into i\\cjlillfcefies of private life, and give a full flow to the native and acquired virtues of a heart rich in moral excellence. Above eighteen years ago he had attained the rank of captain in the 17th regiment, under general Monckton, and ftood full in the way of higher preferment ; having borne a Ihare in all the labour cf our American vvars, and the reduction of Canada. Ill-fated region ! fliort-fighted mortals ! Little did he forefee the fcencs which that land had ftill in re- ferve for him 1 Little did thofe generous Americans, who then ftood by his fide, think they were 2i]ifting to fubdue a country, which would one day be held up over us as a greuer fcourge in the hands of friends, than ever it was in the hands of enemies ! Had fuch a thought then entered our hearts, we fliould have ftarted with indionation from the deed of horror. Our heroifm would have appeared madnefs and parricide 1 The lifted fteel would have dropped from the warrioi*s arm! the axe C and ' I i I I 4 i :r^ [ i8 ] and the hoe from the labourer's grafp ! Am6ricaf would have weeped through all her forefts, and her' well-cultivated fields refufed to yield farther fufte- nance to "her infatuated fons! / But far different were our thoughts at that time. "We confidered ourfelves as co-operating with our brethren for the glory of the empire, to enable them to fecure our common peace and liberty, to humanize, adorn, and dignify, with Britifti privi- leges, a valt continent -, to become flrong in our ibength, happy in our happinefs, and to derive that from our affedion, which no force can extort from a /r^^ people, and which the »;//^r^^/tf and op- prefTcd cannot give ! And thefe too were the fentiments of our la- mented hero ; for he had formed an early attach- ment, amounting even to an enrhufiaftic love, for this country ! The- woodland and the plain, the face of nature, grand, venerable, and yet rejoic- ing in her prime ; our mighty rivers, defcending. in vafi: catarads through wild and fliaggy moun- tains, or gliding in filent majefty through fertile vales •, their numerous branches and tributary fprings ; our romantic fcenes of rural quiet ; our limplicity of manners, yet uncorrupted by luxury or flagrant vice •, our love of knowledge and ardor f(>r liberty — ^all thefe ferved to convey the idea of primaivai felicity to a heart which he had taught ta beat unifon with the harmony of heaven ! He therefore choie America as the field of his future ufefulners ; and as foon as the bleflings of peace were rellored to his country, and duty to his fovcicign uoiild permit, he took his leave of the army, and having foon conntded himfelfby marriagf* with an ancient and hoiiOurable family in the >^ ^ *»,• - / [ '9 ] •the province of New York, he chofe a delightful retirement upon the banks of Hudfon's Kiver, at a diftancc from the noife of the bufy world. Having a heart diftcnded with benevolence, and panting to do good, he foon acquired, without courting it from Jiis neighbours, that authority which an opinion of fuperior taiciits and inflexible integrity never fail to create. In this moli eligible of all fituations, the life of ^ country gentleman, deriving its moft exquifite i-elifh from reflexion upon pad dangers and paft fervices, he gave full fcope to his philofophic fpiric and tafte for rural elegance. Self-fatisfied, and Taifed above vulgar ambition, he devoted his time .to fweet domeftic intercourfe with the amiable partner of his heart, friendly converfe with men of worth, the (ludy of ufeful books, and the improve- jnent of his favoured villa. Nor from that happy fpot did he wifh to ftray, until he Ihould receive his Jail fummons to happinefs more than terreftrial. , But when the hand of pov^er was ftretched forth againft the land of hisreOdence, he had a heart too •pobie not to fympathize in its diftrefs. From that fatal day — and oh ! that it had never found a place in the volumes of time — from that fatal day in which the firft American blood was fpilt by the hoftile hands of Britifh brethren, and the better genius of the empire, veiling her face in anguifli, turned ab- Jiorrent from the strife of death among her CHILDREN — I fay, from that fatal day, he chofe his part. ■ f'.-...:, v. • u ^^q;.;-- Although his liberal fpirit placed him above local prejudices, and he confidered himfelf as a member cf the empire at large ; yet America, flrugglingin the caufe of Liberty, henceforth became his pecu- C 2 ♦ liar Mt ; it- ( \ 1 [ 20 ] iar country, and that country took full pOflcfTion oP his foul, lifting him above this earthlyK^rofs, and every private afftdion. Worth like his could be no longer hid in the (hades of obfcurity, nor per- xnic him to be placed in that interior ftation with whichamind, great inhumility and felf-denial, would have been contented. It was wifely confidered that he, who had fo well learned to, obey, was fitted to command ; and therefore, being well afllired of his own heart, he refigned himfeU to the public voice, nor hefitated a moment longer to accept the important commifilon freely ofiFered to him, and, with the firm- ncfs of another Regulus, to bid fnrevy'ell to his peace- ful retirement and domellic endearments. - •*, » •'♦-• Here followed a fccne of undilTembled tender- nefs and diltiefs, which all who hear me may, in Tome degree, conceive; but all cannot truly feel. You only who are hufbands, whofe hearts have been intimately blended with the partners of youi: yifs, and have known the pangs of feparation, when launching ir.ro danger?, uncertain of your fate - you only v.ou'd I nov/ more directly ac'drefs. Give a moment's paufe tor re fled i on ! Recall youV own former feelings, your inward Ifruggles, your virtuous tears ! Mcrv'! bid them again freely flo\V, while you lifien to our h.ero's parting words — • Ye fcenes, where home-felt plealurts dwell, * • And thou, nv/ dearer ielf, farewell! - ",''' •* Perhaps the cyprefs, Only tree •. - • - • • *' Of all rhel'e groves fhall follow mc '• •," But llill to tr")up.iph, or a tomb, Wh'jie virtue calls, I come ! I come! [7\^Cj'lre^ohrg linet kkxi e/ct an.! p. rfknaed to mujtc, in'hicl j^.ii'C :.i ' f" c^J"'^tvii:ty of a fauf: tn acli'ijcri'ig tbt cmtiiM^* ' • • Hnr. R. 2. Otic 14. \. ;;— «;.j. a *M COMEt M* [ 21 ] and :^i tt IC O M E ! I COME !" Nor were thefe th^ words of difappointed ambition j nor di6tat'» fd by any fudden ftart of party zeal. He had weighed the conteft well, was intimately acquainted with the unalienable rights of freemen, and ready to fupport them at every peril ! He had long fore- . feen and lamented the fatal iffue to which things : were haftening. He knew that the Iword of civil* deftrudlion, once drawn, is not eafily fheathed ; that men having their minds inflamed, and the weapons of defence in their hands, feldom know the jufl: point where to flop, even when they have it in their power ; and often proceed to adions, the bare contemplation of which would at firft have aftonilh- cd thetii. ' It was therefore his defire rather to foften than en- flame violent humours, wifhmg that Ameiica, in all her adtions, might (land juftified in the fight of God and the world. He forelaw the horrid train of evils which would be let loole by the ftroke which fhould, fever the ancient bomi of union between Great Bri- tain and ns. It was th( refore his wi(h that fuch a ftroke fhould never proceed firfl: from the hand of America. Nor did it fo proceed. • '^'' '" *"' '' '" ■' The refinance made at Lexington was not the traiterous adt of men confpiring againfl thefupreme powers ; nor liircfted by the councils of any public body m America; but rofc mmediately out of the cafe, and was diclatcil by feif-prefervatiorty the firft great law of Nature as well as Society. If there was any premeditated fcheme liere, it was premedi- tated by ihofe who created the dreadful neccflfity, either of refinance or ruin. Fur could it be expeft- cd that any people, poflininf^ the leall remains of Virtue and lil^erty, would tamely fubmit to deftruc- * lion [ 22 ] Is i; ! jtion and ravage — to be difarmed as flaves ; ftripped of their property, and left a naked prey even to the infults of fiirrounding lavages ? Was this an experiment worthy of Great Britain? "Where was the wildom of her counfeliors ? Had their juilice, their moderation quite forfaken them ? Could they poilibly expe6l obedience in fuch a cafe as this ? Would they themfelves, in a fimilar cafe, ,even under a competent legiflativc authority, fubmit to laws which would deftroy the great end of all Jaws, Self-Prefervation •, Human nature fays, No. The genius of the Englilli Conlticution fays, No. The nation icfelf hath heretofore faid. No i and a great oracle "f of its laws has given his fanflion to the verdidl — *' In cafes of naiional oppreiTion, fays " he, the nation hath very jufJfiahly lilcn as one *' man, to vindicate the original contract fubfifting ** between the King and ptople.** And — " if the *' fovereign power threaten dt-folation to a ftate, ** mankind will not be rijafoncd out of the feelings •*' of humi^nity, nor facnfice liberty to a fcrupulous '' adherence to political maxims.'* If the cafe of America docs not con"ie v;ithin the above defcription, there 1: ciris to be no equity left upon earth ; and whatever is exacted by force mull: be yielded through fear. But if jufiice be any thing more than a name, it is iurcly a folccifm in politics to fay, that one part of a free country has a fight to command that, which the other " canno.t *' obey without huh^ flaves ^ nor refijl without bein^ *' rebels** Yet to fuch a fad ciiiemma does the parliamentary claim of a " right to bind us in all ** cafes whatfoever," reduce Amcricaj involving i:i it a tctal furrender of our liberties j fupeil'cding f BUvkilonc. the Gripped even to : Britain? rs? Had n them ? cli a cafe ilar cafe, , lubmic d of all ys. No. ys, No. > and a ^ion to on, fays as one ibfifting " if the a flate, feelings ipiilous hin the ity Jeft e rnuft 3e any ifm in y has a ciiiino.r beiiiL; cs the in all Diving (eding tiic [ 23 ] {he ufe of cur own legiflatures : marking us with fuch a badge of fervitude as no freemen can confenc to wear 5 and fubje£ting us to burdens laid by thole who are not only unacquainted with our circum- ftances, and bear no part of the weight, but cafe themfelves in proportion as they load us. If this be law^ if it be equity^ it has no example among any other people, poflfcfiing the Jeait glimmerings of virtue or native freedom. 'But although this claim be fo repugnant to every idea of natural as well as leiral juftice, that the guilc of blood which it may occafion can be chargeable only on thofe who attempt to enforce it ; yet I amf well afluredjthat when compelled at laft by hard ne- ceflity, either to avert the dagger pointed at our breaft, or crouch to unconditional fervitude, our hero's heart bled for the dreadful alternative. His principles of loyalty to his fovereign (whom he had long lerved, and whofe true glory conlifts in healing thofe (tteaming wounds) remained firm and unfhaken. Love to our brethren whom we mult oppofe ; the interchange of good offices, which had fo intimately knit the bonds of friendfliip between chem and us •, the memory of thofe better days in which we fought and triumphed together •, the vail fabric of mutual happinefs raifed by our union, and ready to be diflblved by our dilTentions ; the anni- hilation of thofe numerous plans of improvement wx which we were engaged for the glory of the em- pire — all thefe confiderations confpircd to render this contefl peculiarly abhorrent to him and every virtuous American, and could have been out-weigh- ed by notliing earthly, but rhe unqutnchahle love ot liberty, and that l.icred duty which we owe to our- ftlves and our puftcrity. Hen:?, 'I ■!i!f! II ,'1 it I! 1*1 hi Mr [ H J Hence, as appears from his papers, even ir> the full triumph of fuccefs, he nioft ardently joined his worthy friend f General Schuyler in praying that " Heaven may fpeedily re-unite us in every bond " of affection and intercfl: ; and that the Britifh *' empire may again become the envy and ad- " miration of the univerfe, and floiirifli" till the confummation of earthly things. This part of his chara6ter I dwell upon with particular l'atisfa(5lion j and indeed had he evidenced a contrary ftntiment, or gone forth in the rage of conqueji in (lead of the fpirit of reconciliation, not all his other virtues, nor yet the refpect which 1 owe to the appointment wherewith I am now honoured, could have induced me to appear in this place on thisoccafion. . .^.^ God forbid that any of the profeflion to which I belong, Ihould ever forget their peculiar charader, exercife a turbulent fpirit, or proftitute their voice to enflame men's minds to the purpofcs of wild am- bition, or mutual de{lru<5tion. I am happy in knowing that nothing of this kind is wiflicd froni me ; nay that the del'^gated voice of the continent, as well as of this particular province, fupports me in praying for a rejtoration " of the former har- mony between Great Britain and thefe Colonies upon fo firm a bafis as to perpetuate its blefHngs, uninterrupted by any future diflentions, to fuc- ceeding genciaiions in both countries." * Indeed c( !3i ■ • !^ 1 ii ' !' ipore harfli — ** even the croaking of frogs in the '• uncultivated fen/* or the howling of wild beads on the mountain top, where Liberty dwells, would Be *• preferable to the nightingale's fong" in valei cfjlaveryy or the melting notes of Coivelh in cities clanking their chains ! If this be a digreflion, pardon it as the lafl:, and due to my own pi-inciples and confiftenpy. I now haften to attend our hero through the remainder of" Jiis career — fhort indeed ! but crouded with fcenes "* of virtuous a(^iyity, which would have dignified the longed life. The Canada expedition is one of thofe meafures, •which the enemies of American peace having firfl. rendered neceflary, will now ftrive to miibonftrue ^ into hojlility and offence. But when authentic proofs were obtained, that a people profeffing a religion, an^ lubjefted to laws, different from ours, together with numerous tribes of favages, were inftigated and pre- paring to deluge our frontiers in blood, ler God and $he world judge whether it was an a£f of offence ; or rather, whether it was not mercy to them, ro ourlelves, to the whole Britifh empire, to ufe the means in our power for frudraiin(| the barbarous atten^pt. Indeed there was benevolence -in the wiiole plan of his expedition. It was to be executed not fo much by force as by ferfuafion \ and appearing in the coun- try with fuch refpedtable ftrength, as might protedt the inhabitants from the infults and vengeance of thofe, who were driving to make them lift up their reluftant arm to the (hedding fraternal blood. It was further wiQied to kindle up the expiring lamp of liberty among them i to optn their eyes to its divine effulgence j and enable them to raife their drooping head, and claim its bleffmgs as their own. • '^^ • ' ■ This P m the ild beads Is, would in vales ULn in laft, and I now inder of h fcenes ufied thq ^cafures, ing fira conllrue ic proofs ;ion, anc| her with md pre- jod and 'ffce; or irfelves, Js in our ►le plan much e coon- protedl ince of ip their 5d. It g iamp to its e their own. This \ [ 27 3 . This was a work, in all its parts, fiuted to tn^ genius of a Montgomery. He had a head and heart which equally pointed him out as a fit guide in fuch an undertaking. He underftood and could ^ well explain the bleflings of a free government. Per- fuafion dwelt upon his tongue. He had a foul, great, difinterefted, affedionate, delighting to al- leviate diilrefs, and to diffufe happinefs. He had an ,; induftry not to be wearied out ; a vigilance not to be impofed upon ; and a courage, when neceflary, equal to his other abilities. But ftill, with a few new-raifed men, of different colonies, and perhaps different tempers ; ill fupplied with arms and ammunition; worfe difciplined ; un« accuflomed to louk cannon in the face ; to make or mount a breach — in fuch circumflances, I fay, and in the (hort fpace of an autumnal and Winter cam- " paign, in rigorous northern climes, to atchiev€ a work which cofl Great Britain and the colonies the labour of feveral campaigns, and what was a facri^ fice of infinitely more value — the life of the immor- tal Wolfe — this certainly required a degree of mag- nanimity beyond the ordinary reach, and the exeriion of the higheft abilities of every kind. The command and conduct of an army were but Imall parts of this undertaking. The Indians were to be treated With, reftrained, and kept in tem- per. The Canadians were likewife to be managed^ prote<5ledi and fupported : and even his own army in feme degree to be formed, difciplined, animated, accuftomed to marches, incampments, danger% fa- tigues, and the frequent want of nectffaries. ^ ^^ Camps, of all worldly fcenes, often exhibit the grcateft pictures of diftrefs. The fick and the wound- ed, the dying and the dead, as well as the wants and D 2 iuffcrings I Jt t\ [ 28 ] Offerings of the living — all thefe call forth the mod tender feelings, and require of a general that, to the courage of a foldier, he fhould unite the utmoft be- nevolence of a man. ■ ' Our general poflefled thefe united qualities in the highcft luftre ; of which there are numerous teftimonies not only from his own army, but from the prifoners, Englifh as well as Canadians, now amongft us. When his men laboured under fatigue, wanted bread and other neceflaries, had their beds to make in fnow or deep morafles, they were afhamed to complain, finding that he was willing to (hare in the execution of whatever he commanded i and the example, which he thus fet to others, did more to ^ infpire patience, obedience, love of order and dif- cipline, than the moft rigid exercife of power could have done. The influence of this example was ftill ftronger, as it did not appear to be the effedt of conflraint or political neceflity, but the amiable cxpreflion of a fympathizing foul, leading him to condefcend to all capacities, exadl in his own duties, and great even in common things. His letters, confidential as well as official, are a full proof of this. " Our incampment is fo fwampy, I feel, fays he, " exceedingly for the troops*, and provifions fo '* fcarce, it will require not only difpatch, but good " fortune, to keep us from diftrefs. Should things ** not go well, I tremble for the fate of the poor " Canadians, who have ventured fo much. What •* lliall I do with them, Ihould I be obliged to evacuate this country ? 1 have afiured them, that the United Colonies will as foon give up *• Maflachuffetts to refentment ^5 them.'* ' . ' • ■ Thefe (C cc :ta he moft to the oft be- ities in merous It from J now s wanted omake Tied CO hare in and the lore to nd dif. ' couid I'as ftill Fedtof miable fiim to duties, letters, oof of ys he, ns fo good hings poor iVhat Jd to hem, e up hefc t 29 ] Thefc fentiments were worthy of a heroic foul, and of the faith he had pledged to thofe people. Nor is he lefs to be venerated for his tender regard towards his own army ; inftead of making a meric of his difficulties (which were indeed more than ought to be mentioned in this place) ht ften feeks to conceal them ; afcribing any little faults or tar- dinefs. in hi^ young troops^ to their want of experi- ence in forming, to their hard duty, to conltanc fucceflion of bad weather, and the like — ftill en- couraging them to nobler efforts in future. And if any impatience of difcipline appeared, he nobly at- tributes it to *' that fpirit of freedom which men, " accuftomed to think for themfelves, will even *' bring into camps with them.'* His own fuperior military knowledge he has been known to facrifice to the general voice, rather than interrupt that union on which fuccefs de- pended ; and when a meafure was once refolved upon by the majority, however much contrary to his own advice and judgment, he magnanimoufly fupported it with his utmoft vigour ; difdaining that work of low ambition, which will ftrive to de- feat in the execution what it could not diredt in planning. His perfeverance and conduift in gaining pof- feHion of St. John's and Montreal have already been the theme of every tongue, and need not be mentioned in this place. His abilities in negocia- tion, the precifion with which the various articles of treaties and capitulations are expreffed, the ge- nerous applaufe he gives, not only to every worthy effort of his own officers, but to the commanding oiliccr and garrilon ot St. John's, his noble declaration to the inhabitants of Montreal, *' that the continental (( armies w '' I \ ! I; 4 ( 30 ] *' armies defpife every aft of oppreflion arid <^io- •' lence, being come for the expre/s purpefe of giving •* liberty andfecurity" — all thefe, I fay, did honour to himfelf, and to that delegated body under whofe authority he aded. ^ i.-A^,..^.. , ., ... Leaving him therefore for a while-^alas! too fhort a while — to enjoy tile hobleft of all triumpliSi the applaufe of his country, and the dinfcious t6f- timony of his own heart, let us enquire after an- other band of brave and hardy men, who arcf ftemming rapid rivers, afcending pathlefs moun- tains, traverfing unpeopled deferts, and haftening through deep moraffes and gloomy woods to mttt him in fcenes of another iflue— deferts in vain ,j Oppos'd their courfe, and deep rapcrious floods. And mountains, in whofe jaws deClrudion grinn'd, Hunger and toil — Armenian fnows and ftorms ! ./ Greece in their view and glory yet untouch'd. They held their fearlefs way — Oh ! ftrcngth of mind, Almoft almighty in fevere extremes 1 * This praife was paid to ten thoufand heroes, fuftaining every danger in a retreat to their cwK country, and is certainly due, fo far as heroifm is concerned, ro lefs than a tenth part of the number marching through equal difficulties againft the capital ot a hoflile country. Even the march of Hannibal over the Alps, fo much celebrated in hiftory (allowing for the dif- parity of numbers) has nothing in it of fuperior merit to the march of Arnold •, and, in many cir- cumftances, there is a moft ftriking fimilitude. ■' Thompfon. The and t'io- ofgiving honour er whofe" las! ^00 iumphsj ious t6f- ifter an- i^ho aref moun- iftening to meet 3ds, ' rinn'd, ns! f mind, heroes, eir cwH oifm is lumber ift the Jps, io :he dif. uperior ny cir- e. The m [ 31 ] . The former had to encounter the rap d R^ >nc *, the latter, the pjore rapid JCennebt k, chroi ,h an immenfe length of country. The former, wl. n he came to quit the river, found his further pafl'age / barried by mountains, rearing their fnowy crefts ro the fky, rugged, wild, uncultivated. This was alCp the cafe with the latter, whofe troops, carrying their boat? and baggage, were obliged to crofs and recrofs the fame mountains fundry times. At the ifoot of the mountains, the former was defcrted by three thoufand of his army, defponding at the length of the way, and terrified at the hideousf view of thofe ftupepdous heights, which they con- fidered as impaffable. In like circumftances, about a third part of the army of the latter deferted, Ihall I fay, or ufe the more courteous language " returned ** home *.-'* The march of the former was about twelve hundred miles in five months. The Vir- ginia and Pennfylvania rifle-companies belonging to , * When the Oration was delivered, the author did not know that an enquiry had been made into the reafuns of the return of this party, and that the commanding olHcer has been ac- quitted. But as a very general cenfure had been paiTed upon him through the colonics, it was judged much more honourable f )r him to insert an account of his acquitment than to fupprefii the paragraph j for a 1 thefe traniaftions will be fully fcruti- nized by future hiftorians. It was at the foot of the Pyrenees that the 3000 deferted from Hannibal, a.;d he freely difmiffed 7000 more, whofe courage, he perceived, was nof equal to the undertaking. Indeed Livy tells us that the fight of th;^ Alps, ♦♦ their fnow- ^' clad tops almoft penetrating heaven, the ' ide cottages builc ** on rock», Iheep and oxen pinched with culd, the men favage '* and wearing long beards, every thing both animate and ** inanimate llifF with froft," ftruck even the remainder of his army with a temporary panic. It is not clear what ufe Hannibal made of his boats after croffing tlie Rhone, whether t« carry his baggage, a» he afcended along its banks, or not. * • the ? <1 i ■;> [ 32 ] the latter, including their firft march from their own habitations to Cambridge and thence to Que- bec, marched near the fame diftance in about three months. -^ rmvoi /.;•'.' :;> i .> ? ' -^ Befides thefe rifle-companies, Arnold's corps con filled of about five hundred New England troops, who fuftained all the fatigues of the worft part of the march by land and water with the ut- moft fortitude. And general Montgomery, ever ready to do juftice to merit, having joined them be- fore Quebec, gives their commander and them this charadler (( «c C( «t C( They are an exceeding fine body of men, inured to fatigue, with a ftyle of difcipline among them much fuperior to what I have been ufed to fee this campaign — he himfelf is adtive, intelligent, and enterprizing.'* Having approached thofe plains, which the blood of Wolfe hath confecrated to deaihlefs fame, our hero feemed emulous of his glory, and animated with a kindred fpirir. The fituation of his army prefied diipatch ; fnows and froft only quickened his motions. He hoped by one fucccfsful ftroke, before the arrival of fuccours to the garrifon, to complete his plan, and fave the future effufion of much blood. He further flattered himfelf, that his fuccefs, if fpeedy, might have fome influence upon parliament in haftening a reconciliation. He iinde. flood that maxim of Foiard — " No obftacle ** fhould break our relolution, when there is but a *' moment between a bad fituation and a worfe" — This fentiment he exprefles in his laft letter with a fpirit of modefly and a fenie of duty, as well as the danger attending it, which ought to be for ever recorded to his glory . — " I (hall be forry to be ** reduced (C CI c< [ -63 ] reduced to this mode of attack ; becaufe I know the mtlancholy confeqnences. But the approach- ing feverity of the ffafcn, the weaknefs of the garrifon, together with the nature of the works, point it out too ftrong to be pafTed by. Fortune olten baffles the molt fanguine expedations of poor mortals. I am not intoxicated with the favours I have received at her hands-, but I think there is a fair profpeft of fuccefs." Poor mortals indeed ! if nothing was to remain of them after death ; for while he was courting this fuccefs, and glorioufly leading on his troops in the frontof danger, he rtceived the fata! ftroke, which in an inftant releafed his great fpirit to follow and join the immortal fpirit of Wolfe! O thou fwift winged meflenger of deftrufllon,' how didO: thou triumph in that moment! the ftroke that fevered iVIonrgomery from his army deprived them of more than a member. It reached the vitals, and ftruck the whole body with a temporary death. As when the forked lightning, darting through the foreft, amid the black tempefts of- night, rends fonie towering oak, and lays its ho-, nouis in the c'uft, the inferior trees, which it had long (heltered from the ftorm, (land mournful around — fo ftood the aftoniHied bands over their^ their fallen Chieftain! — nor over him alone, but over others, in their prime of glory, proftrate hf his fidt.*. Here, y,c Pennfylvanian youths, fecond to nona' in virtue, let a portion of your tears be facred to the mants of Macpherfon ! You remember his generous fpirit in his early years, for he drank of the fame fprings of fcience with many of yoi? now before me -, and we, who reached the cup to your lip, rejoice that it contributed to invigorate both him and you into wildom and public fpiricr ^t ■ ' " Having; r 34 1 Having fimdKd bis fcliolaftic * education, Ire ftiidied the laws of his country, under a lawyer and patriot i" of diftinguilhed name •, and animated by his example, as well as precepts, had become eminent! in his profeffion, at an age when fome have fcarce begun to think of bufinefs. The love of liberty being his ruling pafiion, he thought it his duty, in the prefent ftruggle, to offer himfelf to the fervicc of his country, and he hid foon an opportunity of attaining that military pre-eminence, of which he was laudably ambitious. Enjoying an hereditary bravery, joined to a well- cultivated underftanding and an aftive fpirit, he foon became the bofom friend of general. Mont- gomery, was his aid-de-camp, was entrufted with a fhare in the management of his nioft important negociations, (lood by his fide in the- attack upon Quebec -, and being, as it were, animated by one common foul, and dear to each other in hie, in death they were not a moment divided. Here likewife fell captain Cheefman of the New York forces, covered with honour, and lamented by all who knew him, as an a6live and gallant officer. His particular merits, as well as the merits of fome others who (hared his fate, ought to be more fully commemorated on this occafion, if proper accounts of them could be coUeded. * He was educated partly at the collrgc of PhUaJelplil.i, and partly at that of New Jerfey. A iVw uays before iiia death, he vifited the very fpoi on which grncral Wolfe c.\- jrired ; and the rcflcftions in his letter on this occafion, as^ well as in that which he left fealeJ up for hi:; father in cafe of his death in the attack upon Qiiebcc, were fuch as became a (hriftian^x\(\:i/olJur. lie bequeathed what little fuitunehe had accumulated to his only brother, an officer mv thr regular army. As a reward for his ferviccs he was appointed by the Congrefs a major in a battalion to be raifcd in the Delaware 4ounticS| but had received no account of this promotion. 'j- John Diclvinfon, Eftjuire, I miiH: '•v"! I * 'ion, ht |wyer and laced by eminent ive fcarce If liberty 'duty, in le fervicc jtunity of Iwhich he o a well- piric, h; il. Mont- led with nportant ick upon d by one n life, in the New lamented It officer, of fomc: >re fully icccunts laJelphla, before his A'olfe c.'v- caiion, as in call' of became a uitmie lie if^ regular 'A I)/ the Dfl.jwarc ,011. t I mvt(k t i 35 i mufl: not however omit the name of the brave captain fkndricks, who commanded one of the rennfylvania rifle-corn panits, and was known to' me from his infancy. He was indeed prodigal . of his hfe, and courted danger out of his tour of duty. The command of the guard belonged to hijii on the morning of rhe attack, but he folicited and obtained leave to take a more confpicuous poft; and, having led his men through the barrier, where his commanding officer general Arnold wal wounded, he long luflained the fire of the garrilbn With unffiaken tirmnefs, till at laft, receiving a Ihoc in hisbreaft, he imnicdiatcly expired *. Such examples of magnanimity filled even adver- faries with veneration and eiteem. Forgetting the foes in ti;e heroes^ they gathered up thcrir breathlefs remains, and committed them to kindred duft, with pious hands, " and funeral hoiiours meet." So may your own remains, and particularly thine, O Carl- ton, be honoured, fliould it ever be your fate to fall in hoftile fields ! Or if, amid the various chances of war, your lot iliould be among the prilbneis and the wounded, may you be diftinguilhed with an ample return of thar benevolence which you have fliewn to others ! Such offices of humanity, {biten- ing the favage fcenes ol war, will entitle you to an honour which all the pride of conquell cannot bedow — mu(h leis a conquell over lcllow-ibbjc(5ts^ contending for the common rights of Ireemen. By fuch offices as their, you likewile give a gleam of comlort to thofe mourncr-s who mix their tears • 'I Thcf'; particulars were certified by general Thmp/on and colonel Alaii^^'w, hii coiamaiidLTs in ihc Pv-'iinfylvania liflo. rc^inu-nt, and thty give nie this t'lrther chara^er or liir.i in *' acij^uaiuicd with." r ] ♦*. ^ f ^\ with our -f Schuylkill and Sufquehannah ; and to her J efpecially, on Hudfon's river, pre-eminent in woe ! Angels and minifters of grace complete . her confolations ! Tell her in gentled accents, what * • wreaths of glory you have entwined, to adorn tlie brows of thofe who die for their country •, and ho*- .' vering for a while, on the wing of pit)\ lifttn to her mournful drain * Swett ivy, twin'd with myrtle, form a fliade *.', Around the tomb where brave AIcntgomery\ laid ! Beneath yo'ir bouohs, (liuc from the beams of day. My ceafelcfs tears ihall bathe the warrioi-\s chiy ; ' . And inj-L.r'd " Freedom (hall a while repair, *••] *' To dwell, with me, a weeping hermit there.'* • Having now paid the honours due to the memo-\: riesof our departed friends, what need I add more? ' liluftrious, .thhough fliort, v/as their race ! " But ** old age is not that which ilandeth in length of " time, nor is irealurcd by number of years — wif- *' dom is the grey hair to man, and an unfpotted ** life is old age.'* To futh men, Rome in all iier 2,lory would have decrt-ed honors •, and the rtfolve ot Cortgrefs to tranfmit the memory cf ihcir virtues is worthy of that n-.agnanimity which ought to rharaderize pub- lic bodies. Jealous and arbitrary rulers are fparing of honours to thofe who fcrve them, left their own fliould be thus cclipfed. But your luftre. Gentle- men, can lufFtr no diminution thjs way •, and the glory you juftly beftow upon others, will only be rrdided to cncreafe your own! -<, '-, ■ t The ri\rrs on which the parents of major Macpherfoa aiKi captain Hendricks live. _^ X \;r.% Moi tjjrmcry. • The ori^iniil lines, for which thcfc were fui>lututcd.|;i(i pfifornidl lo mufic, are will l.n<-\vn, "iz. ."^ *• Wind, gentle Ever grtei), to lofni a flinilr < ■■- " Arounu the Ton.b whdc Siipin)th s is iaul," ^c. Part of ihc two hifl lines h fi( m an i d ■ of Coi/inj. F I N 1 S. ^. »■*■.»•,»• »nd