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A BRIEF 
 
 HISTORY OF THE REYOLUTION, 
 
 WITH A SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF 
 
 CAPTAIN JOHN FEWSONs 
 
 INCLUDING 
 
 THB CONSTITUTION OP THE UNITED STATES; A STATISTICAL VIEW OF THE 
 
 GRAND FEDERAL PROCESSION; MR. WILSON'S ORATION; 
 
 WASHINGTON'S FAREWELL ADDRESS, &c. && 
 
 |j)l)ila&ci:pl)ifl: 
 
 PUBLISHED BY MRS. SARAH ALCOCK,— 434 NORTH FRONT STREET, 
 FOR SALE ALSO BY WILLIAM S. YOUNG,-173 RACE STREET. 
 
 1843. 
 
IBniiVtlj according to Act of Congress, in the year 1843, by Mrs. Sakah Alcock, 
 in the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. 
 
 e 
 
 «7 "J 
 
 VVm. S. Youwo, Printer. 
 
 . .^ 
 P 
 
 • 
 
ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 This work shall contain many interesting particulars of the 
 Revolutionary War, with a brief view of what the illustrious 
 Washington and our fathers went through during a seven 
 years' war, in order to obtain the independence of the greatest 
 Republican Nation that ever, to this day, presented itself to 
 the view of the world. 
 
 The work will also contain the Declaration of the Inde- 
 pendence of the United States, with the Federal Constitution 
 of the same — with a brief view of the grand Procession of 
 Philadelphia, when ten out of the then thirteen States of 
 North America, signed the most sublime system of a Repub- 
 lican form of Government that the sun ever shone upon since 
 the creation of the world — also Washington's Farewell Ad- 
 dress, and a brief view of the brilliant acts and elevated repub- 
 lican character of the young French nobleman Lafayette, 
 with many other illustrious Patriots and officers of the Revo- 
 lutionary War of seventy-six, which revolved round the Fa- 
 ther of our Country during the darkest hours of their arduous 
 struggle for their lives and liberty, and also how the God of 
 Nations has preserved and blessed the United States of North 
 America, by spreading the shield of His providence over our 
 beloved country, amid all the storms and anarchy that have 
 caused many of the kingdoms and princes of the old world to 
 vibrate and tremble with fear. Yet during all the violent 
 
IV ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 convulsions that have, more or less, agitated the governments 
 of Europe, the United States have risen like a phoenix out of 
 the fire of the French war with many of the belligerent na- 
 tions of the old world, so that from a weak and small nation, 
 in 1776, of not more than three millions of inhabitants, she 
 has in the course of sixty-seven years, multiplied to the num- 
 ber of eighteen millions of free citizens, so that the history of 
 all the nations of the earth cannot present to the mental view 
 of mankind a parallel case of the rise of so great and prospe- 
 rous a nation in so short a period of time. 
 
 The object and design of the writer is to put the rising ge- 
 neration, with all the rest of mankind, in remembrance of what 
 Washington and our fathers suffered in privation, labour, and 
 blood, to obtain the civil and religious liberty which we, as a 
 nation, now enjoy. The work is written by a person who is 
 still living, and who was a witness, more or less, from the 
 commencement of the war, at the battle of Bunker Hill down 
 to the present time. 
 
Dr. Benjamin Franklin, in the montli of Julj', 1773, who was then in the city of London, prefent- 
 ing to Captain John Hewson letters of address to General Roberdeau and several other geiitltineii 
 of the cities of Philadelphia and New York. 
 
 HISTORY OF THE REVOLUTION. 
 
 BIOGRAPHY OF CAPTAIN JOHN HEWSON. 
 
 Our object in this work is to give a brief view of the private and 
 public life of Captain John Hewson, born in the city of London, Old 
 England, in the year 1744; a descendant by the line of his fathers 
 from Colonel Hewson, an officer in Oliver Cromwell's army. As 
 he advanced in life, his mind became seriously exercised with the 
 doctrines and principles of national, civil, and religious liberty; and 
 it came to pass as he frequently met with the different political so- 
 cieties in the city of London, from the year 17G7 to the year 1772, 
 inclusive; and after reading and hearing of the different views 
 which the members of those societies gave of the doctrines of civil, 
 religious, and national liberty, and then taking into serious reflection 
 some of the unjustifiable acts and measures of the British Houses of 
 Parliament, in order to reduce the rising colonies of North America 
 into a state of the most degrading vassalage to the reigning prince on 
 the British throne, and after meeting more or less with those sd- 
 2 
 
6 THE BIOGRAPHV OF MR. JOHN HEWSON. 
 
 cieties for a few years, his mind became so far illumined that he 
 was led to read and strictly examine some of the most authentic 
 histories of the rise and fall of the most prominent kingdoms and re- 
 publics that the histories and annals of the world present to the calm 
 and reflecting minds of rational and intelligent beings. The fore- 
 going reflections finally led him to read and strictly search the Holy 
 Scriptures; from whence it was said that the rulers and princes of the 
 earth derive their doctrine and claims of the divine rights of the 
 kings and princes of the earth. Mr. Hewson became somewhat 
 astonished in reading in the writings of Moses, of the first Lord's 
 anointed, which the Jewish lawgiver condescends to notice in his 
 sublime history of the creation of the world. Moses introduces 
 to our view the first mighty monarch over the human family, under 
 a very repulsive appellation to every true lover of the liberties of man- 
 kind; namely, that of a mighty ruler before the Lord. So that it 
 appears that the Supreme Being has not justified the Jewish legislator 
 in giving to mankind any confirmation that the assumed claims of the 
 kings and princes of the earth derive their crowns directly from Hea- 
 ven; a doctrine which is no where established in holy writ. See 
 the case of Saul, the first king over the children of Israel: "And 
 Samuel called the people together unto the Lord to Mizpeh; and 
 said unto the children of Israel, I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and 
 delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand 
 of all kingdoms, and of thena that oppressed you: and ye have this 
 day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adver- 
 sities and tribulations; and ye have said unto him. Nay, but set a 
 king over us," 1 Sam. x. 17, 18, 19, Thus we see from holy writ 
 that the doctrine of the divine rights of kings is based on a sandy 
 foundation in their lust after princely power, by the entire disappro- 
 bation of the Almighty himself. Mr. Hewson was led to glance 
 his eye askancely over the almost nameless successors of this princely 
 father, or mighty hunter before the God of nations. As he con- 
 tinued the examination of all the subsequent rulers of mankind from 
 the days of Nimrod down to the reign of George the Third, the then 
 reigning prince on the British throne, and found that the annals of 
 the world and the historic page, as it were, almost inundated the 
 earth with flowing rivers and seas of blood, in the days of battle and 
 war; and after he had read of the many unjust wars of these won- 
 derful successors of the Lord's anointed ones, after the foregoing re- 
 flections had in quick succession passed through his mind, he was 
 again led to take a view of some of the republics of ancient times, 
 when he more clearly saw that in consequence of their not basing 
 their governments on the sovereignty of the people, the ancient re- 
 publics all lost the heaven-born blessings of free government, by the 
 swords of such designing and artful characters as Philip and Alexander 
 of ancient Greece, and the Csesars of the once mighty republic of Rome, 
 with many others of less notoriety. This consideration of all the 
 gone-by republics of ancient times led him the more intensely to look 
 into and impartially weigh the just causes of the complaints of the then 
 thirteen colonies of North America, against the Stamp Act, and all 
 
THE BIOGRAPHY OF MR. JOHN HEWSON. 7 
 
 the other obnoxious measures that were daily more or less germi- 
 nating in the houses of the British Parliament. After this he spent 
 some time in more diligently searching the sacred oracles of heaven, 
 and there clearly saw in the Holy Scriptures of truth, wherein the Su- 
 preme Being most solemnly declares that in his kind and infinite 
 love and unlimited philanthropy towards mankind, that he hath made 
 of one blood all the nations and tribes of the children of men, for 
 to dwell on the face of the earth; and hath also in his infinite wis- 
 dom determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their 
 habitations, when the divine Majesty of men and angels again most 
 solemnly confirms his former declaration, and solemnly declares. As 
 I live, saith the God of nations, I am no respecter of pe'rsons, nar na- 
 tions. After this the Most High fully clears and justifies his divine cha- 
 racter from all false imputations of weak and childish partiality in the 
 administration of his government and providence over men and angels: 
 however characterized to the contrary, by short-sighted, ignorant, 
 and sinful beings. And it came to pass, after these reflections had re- 
 volved through Captain Hewson's mind, he became fully convinced 
 that the thirteen colonies of the then British North America were 
 fully justified in the sight of Heaven, in their refusing to be taxed to 
 the support of the king's government, without their being fairly and 
 legally represented in the British Houses of Parliament. And it 
 came to pass, after these views of the apparent justice of the opposi- 
 tion of the colonies, against the unrighteous demands of an arbitrary 
 administration, that was more or less excited by the choler and na- 
 tional pride of that modern Nimrodical hunter over the nations of 
 the earth, (which national pride led the British government to lay 
 aside the eternal laws and principles of national justice,) he was led 
 to take a view also of the local situation of the rising colonies of 
 North America; when he saw that in consequence of their being more 
 than three thousand miles distant from most of the old governments 
 of the European world, if there were left any vacant or unoccupied 
 spots on the outer surface of the earth, where the sacred trees of 
 civil and religious liberty would be most likely to take a firm and 
 solid root in the earth, it certainly must be the arable soil and redolent 
 air of the young colonies of North America: that in consequence of 
 its being in a geographical view the most eminent position on the 
 outer surface of the earth, to look for the bursting forth of the bright 
 and morning star, as portentous of the rising of the bright and glori- 
 ous sun of the civil and religious liberty of the human race, whose 
 refulgent rays will soon reflect its light over all the enslaved nations 
 of the earth, and shall finally disperse all the lowering clouds of 
 kingly and priestly tyranny, which for so many ages have spread 
 themselves over the true felicity and happiness of the human family 
 during all the dark ages that mighty Nimrod and all his arbitrary 
 satellites have for four thousand years been revolving round this 
 primary orb of despotic power, and who have in their turn more or 
 less enslaved the children of men. So that Captain Hevvson, after 
 the foregoing examination of the vassalaged condition of the past 
 ages of mankind, and at the same time viewing the almost countless 
 
8 THE BIOGRAPHY OP MR. JOHN HEWSON. 
 
 millions of his fellow beings that are still in an enslaved condition, . 
 made up his mind to emigrate to North America; in consequence 
 of which resolve, in July, 1772, he waited on Dr. Franklin, being 
 then in the city of London, with a view of ascertaining whether the 
 Doctor thought there was any probability of his meeting with encou- 
 ragement among the people in the British colonies in his line of bu- 
 siness, when the Doctor observed, that he had no doubt but that he 
 would be encouraged by the good people of the British colonies; and 
 desired Captain Ilewson, if he made up his mind to emigrate to 
 North America, to call on him, and he would give him letters of ad- 
 dress to his friends in Philadelphia and New York. After this in- 
 tervitvv with Dr. Franklin, he went to work day and night at his 
 occupation, which was that of a calico printer, being at that lime al- 
 most one of the best trades for journeymen in the city of London. 
 And when he had accumulated about five hundred guineas, he sold 
 off his household goods and other small effects, and in 1773 the 
 lowering clouds that were passing over the seas of the national at- 
 mosphere that lay between the old Prince and his thirteen rising co- 
 lonies of North America, about this time began to wear rather a por- 
 tentous aspect, so that it appeared very likely that a heavy squall 
 might very soon come down on the political seas, that lay between 
 the thirteen colonies and the British empire. So that if Caj)tain 
 Hewson had any intention of going to North America, it was high 
 time to be off, while the door of emigration remained open. As he 
 was already done with his secular concerns, in July, 1773, he waited on 
 Dr. Benjamin Franklin the second time, who kindly gave him letters 
 of address to General Roberdeau and several other gentlemen of Phi- 
 ladelphia and New York, when he took his passage on board a ship 
 under the command of one Captain Sutton, bound to Philadelphia; 
 for himself, a young wife, and four small children, and in about eight 
 weeks landed, in September, 1773, at the city of Philadelphia, and 
 there remained through the winter of 1773 and 1774. In the spring 
 of 1774, after looking for a location to commence the first calico 
 printing in America, he found a place on the Delaware, about 
 two miles from the city, and having all his works and apparatus in 
 readiness to commence his business, he went to the city of New York 
 in September, 1774, where he met with considerable encouragement 
 among some of the merchants of that city. But while there, it pleased 
 the All-wise Ruler of this sublunary world to remove his wife, the mo- 
 ther of his four children, (whom he brought from London,) to that un- 
 discovered shore, from which sable bourne no solitary traveller has yet 
 been privileged to return. Captain Hewson had received no infor- 
 mation of this distressing occurrence until his return home, when 
 he found Mrs. Hewson was deceased, and her motherless children bil- 
 leted on some kind friends in the city of Philadelphia. So that this 
 unexpected dispensation of an All-wise Providence, just as he was 
 about to commence his business in America, spread for the time being 
 a dark shade over his future prospects. But, notwithstanding this af- 
 flicting occurrence tJiat passed over his family and domestic concerns, 
 and the warlike attitude which was daily manifesting itself in the 
 
BIOGRAPIIV OF MR. JOHN HEWSON. 9 
 
 British Houses of Parliament, Captain Hewson still experienced an 
 increasing devotion to tiie cause of liberty, and the final prosperity 
 of the rising colonies of North America, over the unjust assumption 
 of arbitrary power by the British government. In the spring of 
 1775, he enrolled himself in the first republican grenadier company, 
 raised in Philadelphia. But after drilling a few times, they became 
 convinced that the tall flaming caps, such as the British grenadiers 
 wore, were too obvious a mark for British bullets, when the company 
 soon laid them aside for American hats, and soon after this the com- 
 pan}^ dissolved. In the summer of 1775, he was presented with a 
 commission as an officer in the county militia of Philadelphia. 
 Having four small children to take care of, in the fall of 1775 he took 
 a second wife. She was a young person from Burlington county, 
 state of New Jersey, by the name of Zebiah Smallwood, a niece of 
 Richard Cheesman, who was father of Captain Cheesman, who went 
 with Major General Montgomery, and fell a martyr to the cause of 
 freedom and his country at the walls of Quebec, on the 3 1st of De- 
 cember, 1775. In this year, on June 15th, Mr. George Washington 
 was appointed by the continental Congress as commander-in-chief 
 of the American troops during the war with the British empire. 
 Soon after his appointment, he left Philadelphia to take the com- 
 mand of the militia and other troops in the vicinity of Boston, 
 which was then in the possession of the British army and fleet, un- 
 der the command of Sir William Howe. JNlrs. Washington, who 
 had accompanied the General as far as Philadelphia, and tarried in 
 the city with Mrs. Hancock and some persons of distinction, after 
 the departure of the General for Boston, and while in the city, hear- 
 ing of Captain Ilewson's calico printing establishment, it being a 
 new thing in America, it elicited their curiosity to see the same. 
 Captain Hewson showed them as much of the process of the art as 
 their time would admit of, when Mrs. Washington inquired of Cap- 
 tain Hewson whether a representation of the General on horseback 
 could be made so as to occupy the centre of a handkerchief. He 
 informed Mrs. Washington that if he could obtain the General's like- 
 ness, he would have the handkerchief soon executed, when Mrs. 
 Washington observed that she had the General's likeness in minia- 
 ture with her, and if it vyould facilitate the execution of the work, 
 she would leave it with him for ten or twelve days, as she expected 
 to remain in the city about two weeks, and from which miniature 
 likeness, Captain Hewson had his excellency General George Wash- 
 ington represented in his full military dress on horseback, with a 
 truncheon in his left hand. Some of the first of the handkerchiefs 
 were sent to Mrs. Washington in Virginia. The handkerchiefs 
 took a great run until the British army got possession of Philadel- 
 phia and destroyed his works; and finally in the spring of 1778, 
 made Captain Hewson a prisoner in the State of New Jerse}'. But 
 to return to the incidents of the war of the American Revolution: 
 General Washington, soon after he was appointed by the continental 
 Congress to be the commander-in-chief of the armies of the Republic, 
 proceeded to Boston, where he took command of the American 
 
10 
 
 BIOGRAPHr OF MR. JOHN HEWSON. 
 
 army, and raised some additional works on the hills that command 
 both the city and harbour of Boston. As soon as the British ad- 
 miral saw the danger the royal fleet would be exposed to when 
 Washington had his works finished, he instantly communicated the 
 same to Sir William Howe, who immediately summoned a council 
 of war, who all gave tlieir decided voice for the immediate re-embar- 
 kation of the royal troops, when Boston was soon evacuated, and Sir 
 William Howe with his fleet and army sailed for Halifax. 
 
 On the 10th of May, 177G, the continental Congress, assembled at Philadelphia, unanimously ap- 
 pointed George Wasliington commander-in-chief of all the continental troops that were or sliould be 
 raised in the defence of the riglils and liberties of the then tliirteen slates of North America, when 
 he proceeded to Boston and took command of tlie American army. 
 
 Soon after Sir William Howe left Boston, Washington began to 
 revolve in his mind where would be the most probable place that 
 Sir William liovve would make his next descent upon, when it 
 most forcibly struck the American commander that the city of New 
 York would be the place he wished to get the possession of: on 
 which Washington concluded that the great martial object the British 
 general had in view would be the possession of the city of New York, 
 in consequence of a number of warlike considerations that would al- 
 most involuntarily present themselves to Sir William Howe; and 
 the first was from the proximity of the city to the main western 
 ocean ; so that in time of war it would aflbrd a very convenient ingress 
 or egress to the British ships of war of the largest class at all times, 
 the depth of water from the light-house on Sandy Hook up to the 
 cit}^, being sufficient for the largest vessels that sail on the ocean: and 
 
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE REVOLUTION. II 
 
 as the navigation from the light-house up to the city is not more than 
 thirty miles, with any thing of a free breeze of wind, his majesty's 
 largest ships of war might sail from the sea to the city of New York 
 in a few hours, so that the sea coast of all the earth scarcely presents 
 to the keen vision of the mariner a more commodious harbour for 
 shipping. After these reflections had wisely passed through the fore- 
 casting mind of Washington, he left Boston for the neighbourhood 
 of New York, with a small army mostly of raw recruits, enlisted only 
 for one year, and of course but poorly disciplined. This parsimoni- 
 ous policy of the first continental Congress was very near ruining 
 both Washington and the cause of the freedom of his country. But 
 the Lord was on his side; and as he said to Ananias, in the case of 
 Saul of Tarsus, he is a chosen vessel, in order to lay the corner stone 
 of the civil and religious liberty of all mankind. But to return to 
 the American commander-in-chief: he left Boston with about six- 
 teen or seventeen thousand new-enlisted troops, and entered New 
 York, and there learned that Sir William Plowe had arrived from Ha- 
 lifax, and was in New York bay, and had been just joined by his bro- 
 ther. Admiral Lord Howe. Their combined forces amounted to 
 about thirty thousand British troops, when Sir William Howe landed 
 his army under the cover of the heavy artillery from his brother, 
 Admiral Lord Howe's fleet of British men-of-war. On the 2d of 
 August the royal army were landed on Long Island, near the Nar- 
 rows, about nine miles from New York. By this time General 
 Washington had crossed the East River with his army of raw re- 
 cruits, and a poor train of artillery, in order to give battle to this 
 puissant British army, well supported by a powerful train of brass 
 artillery. The royal army was led on to the attack, under the com- 
 mand of Sir William Howe, with several of the British generals to 
 assist him; when the British commander thought to crush, by one 
 decisive blow, the rebellion of the colonies in the bud. About the 
 27th of August, 1776, the two armies met each other on Long Island, 
 about five or six miles from New York. The royal army was led to 
 the charge by Sir William Howe, assisted by his generals, Sir Henry 
 Clinton, Percy, and Lord Cornwallis, with several other British offi- 
 cers. The result of the day's warfare was very inauspicious to the 
 infant cause of the colonies. The conclusion of this first general bat- 
 tle between the two armies was nearly as follows: upwards of a thou- 
 sand Americans, with Generals Sterling, Sullivan and others, were 
 either killed or taken prisoners: and Washington, with the remains 
 of his army, was pursued by the British to within about two miles of 
 New York; but night coming on. Sir William Howe halted, thinking 
 the next morning to surround the rebel general and his flying army. 
 Washington halted in Brooklyn, on the bank of the East River, op- 
 posite New York, and not more than two miles from the main body 
 of the British army. But, as we have already observed, in the case 
 of Saul of Tarsus, Washington was a chosen vessel; and, as the Lord 
 saved Moses and Israel from the rage of Pharaoh and his puissant 
 army of mighty chariots and horsemen by a cloudy pillar, so was 
 Washington and his flying band saved the next morning by a cloudy 
 
12 A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE REVOLUTION. 
 
 pillar, or a heavy fog that came down on the army of Washington. 
 This dense fog, like the pillar and cloud that hid Moses and Israel 
 from the vision of Piiaraoh and his host, saved Washington and his 
 men from the rage of Sir William Howe and his generals: when an 
 overruling Providence changed the wind into such a direction, tliat it 
 drove the fog on the British, and at the same time cleared it from off 
 the American army, and greatly favoured Washington in crossing 
 with his men over the East River into New York: and when the 
 fog was raised from off Brooklyn, the British army. Sir William 
 Howe, and his generals opened their eyes and saw their overpowered 
 and flying enemy in the city of New York. But Wasliington was 
 soon convinced that his location in that city was not tenable, and that 
 if he tarried there any time he would be the cause of the destruction 
 of the whole city; for Sir William Howe with his heavy train of ar- 
 tillery and other ordnance of destruction, was landed on the heights 
 of Brookl}^!. The East River in some parts opposite New York is 
 not more than half a mile wide: and Washington being fully aware 
 of the pride and choler of Sir William Howe and his generals, in 
 consequence of the fog that favoured the escape of Washington and 
 his army, at the time they thought they had got the rebel general 
 and his rebellious band so fast enclosed in their martial net, that it was 
 next to impossible for him to escape: when Washington concluded 
 that the British commander's martial stomach would not be so over 
 squeamish as to save the city on principles of humanity: therefore, 
 in order to save New York from destruction, with the lives of many 
 of its citizens, Washington, bearing in mind the language of the Di- 
 vine teacher, that the God of nations did not I'aise him up to unneces- 
 sarily destroy the lives of men, but as much as possible, while de- 
 fending the liberty of his country, to spare the effusion of human blood, 
 drew the remains of his army from the city of New York. Howe 
 soon crossed the East River, and took possession of the same in Sep- 
 tember, 1776. After Washington left New York he captured some 
 works that had been thrown up about three miles from the city. On 
 the approach of the British troops, the Americans fled with the ut- 
 most precipitation. Washington rode towards the British lines, and 
 made every exertion in his power to prevent the disgraceful flight of 
 his men, but all was in vain: their defeat on Long Island had so ter- 
 rified his raw troops, that it had become impossible either to rally or 
 inspire them with any soldier-like fortitude. Such was the almost 
 distracted state of the American commander at this inauspicious mo- 
 ment, that he turned his horse towards the advancing enemy, appa- 
 rently with the intention of rushing upon death and hiding his name 
 and his country's cause for ever from the jeers and animadversions 
 of the autocrats and princes of an enslaved world. But his God in 
 that dark hour said to the angel of death. Stay thy hand, and sheath 
 thy sword, and do my servant no harm; for he is a chosen vessel 
 unto me in order to lay the foundation of my justice, mercy, truth, 
 and love in the sight of all the nations of the earth. Some kind mi- 
 nistering angel, who, no doubt being one of the multitude of the hea- 
 venly host that caused heaven and earth to resound for joy at the 
 
A BEIEP HISTORY OF THE REVOLUTION. 13 
 
 birth of the Messiah, when they tuned their celestial lyres with this 
 delightful song: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, 
 good-will towards men." One of those ministering spirits who still 
 experiences the same heaven-born philanthropy that he did eighteen 
 hundred years ago, when flying over the plains of Bethlehem, as one 
 of the bearers of the good-will of all the hierarchy of glory, in view- 
 ing the sublime scheme of man's salvation, without its being in the 
 least degree displeasing to the angelic hosts of heaven, we say, that 
 this kind ministering angel imbued the mind of one of Washington's 
 aids, who seized the bridle of his horse, and thus rescued him from 
 the destruction of himself and the greatest system of free govern- 
 ment that the light of heaven ever shone upon. This was one of the 
 dark and cloudy days of the early struggle of the young colonies for 
 their national independence. Suffer the poor cabin boy, (although not 
 a grammatical idea among the ancient Greeks or Romans,) to sa}-, with 
 Paul, that he is less than the least of all saints, and not worthy of the 
 appellation of a child of God. Yet the writer, with all due deference 
 to the knowledge and wisdom of his fellow citizens of this wonderful 
 age of boasted wisdom, is still simple enough to think, while viewing 
 Washington's case in this dark and cloudy hour of the rise of this 
 Republican government, to say that a striking likeness and full por- 
 trait, drawn, and that too, by the Spirit of wisdom, and let one add, 
 by the special providence of the Supreme Being, who is the Father of 
 both men and angels, existed between the cases of Moses and Wash- 
 ington: the former was exposed to death in an ark of bulrushes, on 
 the shores of the Nile, yet notwithstanding the almost hopeless case 
 of the weeping babe, the God of his fathers by his overruling provi- 
 dence raised Moses up to be the deliverer and national saviour of the 
 children of Israel, because he saw with his omniscient vision that 
 Moses was a proper child. So also in the case of our beloved Wash- 
 ington, our God saw that he was a proper person to lead this young 
 nation out of the house of despotic and arbitrary bondage. So that 
 in consequence of this angelic sentinel not all the swords, bayonets, 
 bullets, shells, and cannon balls of the British army and navy could 
 touch a single hair of Washington's head until the salvation of this 
 young republic of North America was made secure. But to proceed 
 with the history of our national father and the British army. After 
 this disgraceful occurrence, Washington left the vicinity of New 
 York, about the 12th of September, 1776, in order to defend forts 
 Lee and Washington, where the American army was again over^ 
 powered by the British, and lost several thousand men in killed and 
 prisoners. So that in all the encounters of the Americans with the 
 British since they left Boston with about sixteen thousand men in 
 July, 1776, the American army under Washington were reduced by 
 death, prisoners, and sickness, about the month of November, 1776, 
 to less than three thousaixl men, and they daily diminishing in num-= 
 ber, in consequence of the time of their short enlistments expiring. 
 As the British were spreading dismay and victory before them, 
 especially through the State of New Jersey, the continental troops 
 whose time was up could not be induced to re-enlist, and many 
 
14 A BRIEF HISTORY OP THE REVOLUTION. 
 
 of those whose times were unexpired at the commencement of 
 the winter were barefooted and almost naked, and at the same time 
 destitute of tents, and even proper utensils to dress their scanty pro- 
 visions; so that almost every circumstance of the war, in the first on- 
 set, was only calculated to fill the minds of the friends of liberty with 
 despondency and despair. But the remnant of the army was ani- 
 mated by the cheerful spirit and unembarrassed countenance of Wash- 
 ington. About the Sth of December, 177G, he was closely pursued 
 b}' a powerful army of the British, under Lord Cornwallis, who com- 
 manded about ten thousand of the British who were in pursuit of 
 him. In order to save himself and his little army, and the almost 
 expiring cause of his country, he was obliged to leave the state of 
 New Jersey, and cross the river Delaware into the state of Pennsyl- 
 vania, with about seventeen hundred of the continental army; being 
 all that remained in this dark hour of his country's cause; but not- 
 withstanding all this, Washington still possessed a serene mind in the 
 midst of a surrounding storm, that at this inauspicious commence- 
 ment of the war appeared to be fast gathering round himself and his 
 beloved country. In that dark day, the lowering clouds, caused by 
 the puissant arms of the British army under Lord Cornwallis, seemed 
 to be gathering in thick darkness, and spreading themselves over the 
 whole of the thirteen colonies of the United States; so that it ap- 
 peared very problematical whether the Americans would ever attain 
 their final independence. During all this dark dispensation of Pro- 
 vidence that seemed to be passing over the liberties of the colonies, 
 Washington never lost his presence of mind; so that when the Bri- 
 tish army under Lord Cornwallis pursued him so close that he had 
 to cros^ the Delaware river into the State of Pennsylvania, he had 
 the wise precaution to secure all the boats, and other means of con- 
 veyance over the Delaware, for many miles above and below his little 
 army; which, for the time being, prevented the British arm}^ horn. 
 crossing the river after him. In a few days after the American com- 
 mander with his little band had passed into Pennsylvania, the conti- 
 nental congress sent General Washington about three or four thou- 
 sand new-enlisted troops. When he had received this small re-en- 
 forcement, he held a council of war with a few of his general officers. 
 In order to fall by surprise on some of Lord Cornwallis' cantonments 
 in the state of New Jersey, and having the plan of his enterprise all 
 in readiness, he had the fires of his encampment kindled up as bright 
 as possible on Christmas eve, in order to impress the mind of the 
 British commander and his officers, that his troops were about pre- 
 paring their Christmas supper, and as the American army were en- 
 camped nearly opposite Princeton, where Cornwallis lay with the 
 main body of his army, his lordship never once dreamed that the poor 
 rebel general was about to play him a yankee trick. On the night 
 of the 25th of December, 177G, Washington crossed the Delaware a 
 few miles above Trenton, in the midst of a storm of snow, mingled 
 with hail and rain, with about two thousand four hundred men; and 
 on the morning of the 26th of December, 1776, came by surprise on 
 the city of Trenton, the capital of the state of New Jersey, made a 
 
A BRIEF HISTORY OP THE REVOLUTION. 15 
 
 thousand of the British army prisoners of war, and then immediately 
 passed over into the state of Pennsylvania, out of his lordship's reach. 
 All this was executed within nine or ten miles from where Corn- 
 wallis lay encamped with the main body of his army; so that it pre- 
 vented his lordship from getting the possession of Philadelphia that 
 winter. Washington, after he had deposited the fruits of his enter- 
 prise in the state of Pennsylvania, in about three days repassed the 
 Delaware into the state of New Jersey; being again re-enforced with 
 a few more new-enlisted troops. After concentrating his forces in 
 New Jersey, he found that they amounted to nearly five thousand men. 
 On the approach of a superior army under the British general, about 
 the 2d of January, 1777, Washington drew up his men in the rear of 
 a small water course, called Assumpink creek; as he expected Lord 
 Cornwallis would attack him with his whole force the next morning, 
 which in all probability would result in a defeat: and at the same 
 time, it was exceedingly, if not entirely impracticable for him to re- 
 turn back into Pennsylvania. He silently made the decampment of 
 his army in the night, by taking a circuitous route by the way of 
 Allentown and Princeton, when Providence suddenly changed the 
 weather to severe cold, which rendered the roads more favourable for 
 the march of his retreating troops. About sun-rise the next morning, 
 the van of Washington's flying army met the van of a small detach- 
 ment of the British army, which caused the van of the continental 
 army to fall back; but Washington coming up with the main body of 
 his retreating troops, while he greatly exposed his person to the most 
 imminent danger, gained a victory over the enemy, by killing about 
 sixty, and making three hundred prisoners. But during this cir- 
 cuitous route from Trenton through Allentown and Princeton, his 
 men being many of them without shoes, left with their feet the 
 marks of blood on the frozen ground; which, together with the suf- 
 ferings and hardships of his troops, and want of repose for himself 
 and army, prudently induced Washington to seek for, and retire into 
 winter quarters at some distance from the main body of the British 
 army. The next morning. Lord Cornwallis perceiving that the 
 American army had given him the slip in the night, broke up his 
 camp in the neighbourhood of Trenton; and his lordship being at the 
 same time somewhat alarmed, lest Washington should, by a hasty and 
 circuitous march, get a few miles in advance of the British army, 
 pass through Brunswick, and either take or destroy his military 
 stores of provisions and clothing for his army through the winter, 
 urged the pursuit of his army to Brunswick, in order to secure his 
 military stores, and take up his winter quarters for himself and army. 
 It is our duty here to remark, that in the opening of the campaign in 
 the spring of 1777, Washington had not more than from five to six 
 thousand effective troops, whilst Howe and Cornwallis had from twenty 
 to thirty thousand; which was a fearful odds in this early struggle 
 for the liberties of the colonies; which has led the writer in his re- 
 flections to believe that a special Providence did most certainly fol- 
 low and preside daily over the person of the father of our country, 
 as well as over the cause of the civil and religious freedom of the 
 
16 A BRIEF HISTORY OP THE REVOLUTION. 
 
 whole world of mankind, which was oftentimes suspended under 
 some of the dark clouds that passed over the head of Washington, 
 and the cause of his country, in some of the gloomy hours of the re- 
 volutionary war. But we are led, in the fear of God, to admire the 
 military skill and superior genius of our beloved Washington, over 
 the martial prowess and discipline of so many brave lords and ge- 
 nerals of the British army. Thus, fellow citizens, we are led to be- 
 hold with gratitude and admiration the prudence, martial skill, and 
 military manoeuvres of Washington, with his small army, who finally 
 obliged Lord Cornwallis, after he had almost overrun the state of 
 New Jersey, to return to the neighbourhood of New York, and take 
 up his winter quarters at New Brunswick, in the state of New Jersey. 
 We still admire the patience and military skill of the American com- 
 mander after being beaten in several battles, and he and his little 
 flock hunted like partridges on a mountain for several months by the 
 British army under the command of Lord Cornwallis. But the cap- 
 ture of a thousand of the royal army at Trenton, and three hundred 
 more on his way to Princeton, in a great measure revived the almost 
 desponding spirits of the colonies. W^hen Washington had accom- 
 plished these two objects, he retired to Morristovvn, in East Jersey, 
 with his army, into winter quarters. But as the small pox was, at 
 that time, more or less spreading through the state of New Jersey, 
 Washington caused those of his troops who had never had the infec- 
 tion, to be inoculated. After the recovery of his little army from 
 inoculation, he remained free for the rest of the winter of 1777, from 
 .any apprehension of being suddenly surprised by Lord Cornwallis; 
 therefore, he remained in this strong-hold, lest it might otherwise 
 impede his military operations in the ensuing campaign. 
 
 About the last of May, 1777, Washington removed his army from 
 Morristown to a place in New Jersey called Middlebrook, about ten 
 miles from where the British army had their winter quarters. At 
 this place the American commander strongly fortified himself About 
 this time, Sir William Howe left New York with some thousands of 
 troops in order to join Lord Cornwallis at New Brunswick, to pro- 
 ceed through the state of New Jersey to Philadelphia, But as the 
 sapient British generals did not wish to leave Washington in their 
 rear, they undertook by several military manoeuvres, wliile they 
 were in the neighbourhood of the American commander's quarters, 
 to draw him out of them. But all their skill in endeavouring to 
 draw him from his strong position proved ineffectual. Washington 
 had the militia from the lower part of the state of New Jersey, and 
 some of the counties of Penns5dvania, near the city of Philadelphia, 
 called out, in order to watch the manoeuvres of the English com- 
 manders, when Captain Hewson, being in the vicinity of Philadelphia, 
 with his company, was ordered out on duty; and after the British 
 generals had failed in several attempts to draw Washington from his 
 position, and did not succeed, they, with their troops, returned back 
 to New York; and after the militia had been upon duty about two 
 months, they were discharged. In the early part of this summer, 
 Sir Henry Clinton, who had at this time the command of Nevv \ork, 
 
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE REVOLUTION. 
 
 17 
 
 was re-enforced with a few thousand fresh troops from England, un- 
 der the command of General Robertson. These Sir Henry Clinton 
 joined with all the disposable troops he had in the city of New York; 
 and he and General Robertson ascended the North River, in order to 
 form a junction with General Burgoyne, who about this time was 
 proceeding from Canada, with an army of about ten thousand British 
 troops, and a few parties of Indians. The grand object of this enter- 
 prise was to separate the northern from the southern states. Sir Henry 
 Clinton, in conjunction with Sir William Howe, fondly hoped, with 
 the possession of Philadelphia the ensuing fall, to put a final end to 
 the revolted colonies. But the Lord, in his overruling providence, 
 is wiser than men; even the wisest of the British generals: therefore, 
 this junction with Clinton and Burgoyne finally miscarried. 
 
 The above plate represenis the darkest era of the revolutionary war, in the fall of 1770; when 
 the minds and hearts of many of the friends of the cause of national freedom began to fail them, 
 and many were fearful that Washington was about betraying the cause of his country, l)y an onerous 
 bribe of British gold. But his capture of a tliousand of the British army at Trenton, New Jersey, 
 was the turning point of the independence of one of the greatest republican nations tlie world has 
 ever ktiown. 
 
 Thus we may see, by askancely glancing the eye of the human 
 mind over the history of the actions and schemes of men, how true 
 it is, the Lord often taketh the wisest of men in their own craftiness. 
 But to return to the warlike operation of Sir William Howe and the 
 British. _ After his return to New York, he planned a second expe- 
 dition with a fleet of transports, and men of war, to the number of 
 about two hundred and fifty sail, and nearly twenty thousand troops, 
 in order to get possession of the city of Philadelphia; and having 
 his expedition in complete readiness, he embarked his armament of 
 land and sea forces at Sandy Hook, about August, 1777. He then 
 sailed for the Chesapeake Bay, and landed his army at the head of 
 Elk River, in the state of Maryland. As soon as Washington re- 
 
IS A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE REVOLUTION. 
 
 ceived information of Howe's route, he was at once convinced that the 
 occupation of Philadelphia was the main object of the British general's 
 destination. Washinj^ton, therefore, put his army immediately in mo- 
 tion; in order, if possible, to save the city from falling into the enemy's 
 hands. About the 11th of September, 1777, the two armies drew 
 near each other, on the banks of the Brandywine, when a severe en- 
 gagement took place, which lasted nearly the whole of the day. In 
 this battle General La Fayette was wounded. The British succeeded 
 in crossing the Brandywine, and the American army had to retreat, 
 with the loss m killed, wounded, and prisoners, of more than a thou- 
 sand men. The next day the van of the two armies drew near each 
 other, near the Warren Tavern, on the Lancaster road, where they 
 began skirmishing with each other: but an overruling Providence, 
 which the clouds of heaven are always in willing readiness to obey, 
 sent down from its portentous atmosphere a heavy rain, which ren- 
 dered the ammunition of the British army wholly unfit for action: 
 so that by a special dispensation of Providence, Washington and his 
 retreating army were saved from an entire overthrow; for if Ho we had 
 pursued the Americans the next day, he might either have taken or 
 dispersed nearly the whole of Washington's army. But instead of Sir 
 William Howe exercising the martial judgment of a consummate 
 British officer, "He, like Joab in the days of David, king of Israel, 
 who fought against Rabbah, and took the royal city, even the city 
 of waters," being over anxious to get Philadelphia in his posses- 
 sion, let the American army entirely escape out of his power. Sir 
 William Howe, after this, had easy ingress to the city of Philadelphia, 
 the capital of the state of Pennsylvania, in North America, with a 
 part of his army, leaving the rest of his troops at a long village about 
 six miles from Philadelphia, called Germantown. Howe having the 
 entire possession of the city, immediately turned his attention to the 
 getting his ships of war and transports up to the city; on board of 
 which were his provisions, clothing, artillery, and other ordnance, 
 and munitions of war, in order to fortify and secure himself and his 
 army during the winter. By this time, about the 4th of October, 
 1777, Washington's army having been somewhat recruited, the Ame- 
 rican commander seized an apparent opportunity of attacking a divi- 
 sion of the royal army which Sir William Howe had left at German- 
 town. But after a severe action, the Americans were repulsed, with 
 the loss in killed, wounded, and prisoners, of more than a thousand 
 men. This was another of the dark hours of poor Washington and 
 his country's cause; and his mind was somewhat excited, in conse- 
 quence of this repulse; as it turned out so contrary to his military 
 calculations. The ultimate failure of this action, was not the want of 
 warlike skill and martial judgment of the American commander-in- 
 chief; but might be principally attributed to the inexperience of his 
 new troops, and the darkness of the night, accompanied with a heavy 
 fog; so that many of the American soldiers mixed with those of the 
 enemy. The British had possession of this long village full of large 
 stone houses, which their troops occupied as small castles; out of the 
 windows of which, they destroyed the American troops by hundreds. 
 
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE REVOLUTION. 13 
 
 But th^ God of nations was not yet done with Washington, nor the 
 final freedom of mankind; although, like the bush which Moses saw 
 enveloped in a flame of fire, but not consumed; even so the Lord pre- 
 served his servant Washington. But notwithstanding this defeat of 
 the Americans at Germantown, the British general could not as yet 
 get his shipping up to the city, on account of two forts on the Dela- 
 ware that still remained in the possession of the Americans, by the 
 names of Red Bank, and Mud Fort. General Howe having a num- 
 ber of his officers dining with him in the city, expressed a wish for 
 the capture of those forts; one count Donop, a Hessian colonel, re- 
 plied to Howe that if he would furnish him a body of six hundred 
 Hessians, he would take the fort at Red Bank the next day. Howe 
 was so well pleased with the colonel, that he observed there were 
 fifteen hundred Hessian troops in the south part of the city; and he 
 might have them all, if he thought he could capture the fort at Red 
 Bank; count Donop was full of glee at the offer, and replied to Howe 
 that it would only be a morning's repast for his Hessian troops; early 
 the next morning, colonel Donop, at the head of his fifteen hundred 
 men, crossed the Delaware from the city with his men,mosily smoking 
 their pipes: and marched down on the Jersey side of the Delaware, 
 about nine miles to the fort. Colonel Green, the American officer 
 who had the command of the fort at Red Bank, let the Hessian 
 colonel and his men get within the outer works of the fort, and re- 
 served the fire of his cannon in an inner redoubt until the outer 
 works were full of the enemy; and then opened his concealed artil- 
 lery upon them, charged with grape shot: and in less than twenty 
 minutes, mowed down about six hundred of the poor Hessians, that 
 cost King George the Third about thirty guineas a head, also their 
 colonel, count Donop, and several Hessian officers; the rest fled back 
 to the city to inform Sir William Howe how unkindly the Jersey 
 troops served them. About this time, a British sixty-four gun ship 
 was blown up by a ball from one of the forts; but there still remained 
 a small fort on Mud Island, called Fort Mifflin, about nine miles be- 
 low the city of Philadelphia; which, if not taken from the Americans, 
 neither Sir William Howe, nor Admiral Lord Howe his brother, 
 could get a single ship up to the city; as this small fort was the most 
 powerful obstruction on the Delaware, against all the British ships of 
 war. In consequence of which the ship channel of the Delaware lay 
 so very near the island, and there were two large piers strongly built 
 in the middle of the ship channel opposite the fort; and a passage be- 
 tween the piers just sufficient to admit a single ship to pass through 
 at a time; and the rest of the channel entirely closed up on both 
 sides with piers, and large chains, booms, and sinking chevaux-de- 
 frise, so that any vessel of war attempting to pass through would be 
 destroyed in a few minutes. Notwithstanding the apparent strength 
 of Fort Mifflin, there was a shallow passage of water between the 
 Island and the Pennsylvania shore, of nearly a quarter of a mile in 
 breadth, and not more than eight or ten feet water in ordinary tides; 
 so that the Americans never thought it expedient to fortify the back 
 side of the island. But in consequence of the many obstructions 
 
20 A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE REVOLUTION. 
 
 placed in the main channel of the river, it caused a greater rush, or 
 stronger current of the water to pass through the shallow channel of 
 the river that lay back of the island, on which Fort Mifflin was 
 erected. Tiie rush of water through this shallow passage had worn 
 it to a depth of from fourteen to sixteen feet. This being discovered 
 by some of the old pilots of the Delaware, who were friendly to the 
 king's cause, they acquainted the English admiral of the same; who 
 immediately sent them to New York with secret orders to have one 
 of the old seventy-four gun ships cut down to her lower gun deck, 
 and made in every other respect to draw as little depth of water as 
 possible: and bring her up the Delaware with all possible expedition; 
 this was all executed with the utmost secrecy: so that the Americans 
 never heard of it, till they saw the floating battery behind the fort 
 early in the morning. About the 15th of November, 1777, after the 
 works had been destroyed by the cut down seventy-four gun ship, 
 Fort Mifflin was entirely abandoned. Soon after, the capture of the 
 fort took place. All that now remained in the possession of the 
 Americans on the banks of the Delaware, was Fort Mercer, or Red 
 Bank, under the command of General Green, who did every thing in 
 his power to defend the fort against a large body of British troops 
 from New York, and landed a few miles below Red Bank, on the 
 Jersey shore. But General Green not receiving the expected re-en- 
 forcements from the continental government, it was abandoned in pur- 
 suance of the advice and counsel of his officers. After the fall of the 
 forts on the Delaware, all the vessels and galleys fell into the enemy's 
 power, in the several conflicts of the Americans with the eneni}^, to 
 prevent the British from obtaining the navigation of the Delaware: 
 they sustained severe loss of men, shipping, and nearly all their 
 galleys. The British, on the other hand, lost upwards of a thousand 
 men, with two ships of the line; and after several weeks' hard fight- 
 ing and labour, they finally succeeded in obtaining the command of 
 the river, and getting their shipping up to the city. A few weeks 
 after this, early in December, 1777, Howe sent several of his generals 
 out of the city to a place called White Marsh, and made some mili- 
 tary manoeuvres to draw Washington into an engagement. But he 
 did not venture to attack him in his position: although the American 
 troops were in a most deplorable condition, being in want of shoes, 
 stockings, blankets, and almost every other article of clothing. After 
 viewing Washington in his position, the British officers returned to 
 vSir William Howe in the city; where he and they found very snug 
 quarters for tlie rest of the winter. After this, Washington moved 
 his little army to a place of greater security, called Valley Forge, a 
 position embracing almost every advantage, in obtaining provisions 
 and forage for his arm}*, in the surrounding country. In this place, 
 Washington took up his winter quarters, about sixteen or seventeen 
 miles from Howe and his army in the city of Philadelphia. Thus 
 terminated the campaign of the winter of 1777 and 1778. 
 
 Here the humble amanuensis will take the liberty of placing a few 
 serious thoughts before his fellow citizens: first, this was one of the 
 most military master-pieces in the character of Sir William and Lord 
 
SURRENDER OP GENERAL BURGOYNE. 21 
 
 Howe: by which they saved themselves with their fleet and army, 
 that winter: for if they had not got the possession of Fort Mifflin by 
 the stratagem of cutting down an old seventy-four gun ship, all their 
 ships of war and large fleet of transports would have had to return to 
 New York for winter quarters; in consequence of the Delaware being 
 more or less in everv ordinary winter so filled with large bodies of 
 floating ice, that their ships would be either cut to pieces or driven on 
 the shoals and sand bars in which the Delaware Bay and river every 
 where abound: so that both the General and Admiral would have 
 been in great trouble for the want of provisions and clothing, artil- 
 lery, and all other articles and munitions of war; in consequence of 
 which, they could not have fortified themselves in the city of Phila- 
 delphia, nor saved their fleet of ships in the Delaware Bay. But 
 whether we are fully justified in ascribing their salvation and safety 
 to either the maritime knowledge of the British Admiral or the mili- 
 tary skill of the English General, diffidence towards their national 
 characters forbids to decide. 
 
 After Lord Howe had subdued the forts on the Delaware, he set 
 his sailors to work to raise some of the chevaux de frise, and remove 
 the large chains and booms out of the channel of the river, when he 
 soon got his shipping up to the city. Sir William and Admiral 
 Howe then -commenced building a chain of redoubts and breast works 
 round the whole city., which occupied several miles in length. After 
 this was done, Sir William Howe took a little repose. But shortly 
 afterwards, the calm serenity of the British commander's mind be- 
 came a little disturbed in consequence af a small voice, from the wil- 
 derness in the north; which was as follows: that one of the rebel 
 generals, by the name of Gates, with a few thousand continental 
 troops, and some northern militia, had been for some weeks prowling 
 like hungry wolves, round General Burgoyne's army, and had taken 
 and killed nearly one-third of the same. So that, through the law of 
 sheer necessity. General Burgoyne had to surrender the remains of 
 his army to General Gates: which were now reduced to a little over 
 five thousand men. We notice in this place that neither of the generals 
 were deficient in the rules of military etiquette. When General 
 Gates met General Burgoyne at the head of his surrendered army, in 
 a splendid suit of royal uniform, in order to deliver his sword to the 
 American General, who was robed in a plain blue frock, General 
 Burgoyne, by raising his hat said, "General Gates, the fortune of war 
 has made me your prisoner." To which General Gates returned 
 General Burgoyne a polite yet humble salute; and promptly replied, 
 "I shall always be ready to bear testimony to the world, it has not 
 been through any fault of your excellency: but, sir, as you have al- 
 ready expressed yourself, I, as a soldier with you, must acknow- 
 ledge it to be in consequence of the overruling providence and justice 
 of the God of nations, in whose all-powerful hand is held the for- 
 tune of war." No sooner had Sir William Howe received the 
 intelligence of the surrender of General Burgoyne and the remams 
 of his army of ten thousand royal troops, than he began to forecast 
 in his mind, that the mere possession of Philadelphia was not a suffi- 
 4 
 
23 A BRIEF HISTORY OP THE REVOLUTION. 
 
 cient bonus to countervail his Royal master for the many ^avy 
 drafts he had made upon his exchequer. 
 
 After the capture of Burgoyne's army, which threw into the pos- 
 session of the American government such a number of prisoners, 
 that the continental Congress instructed the commander-in-chief to 
 communicate to Sir WilHam Howe, who commanded the British 
 forces in Philadelphia, and Sir Henry Clinton of New York, that ex- 
 cept the American prisoners in their possession, both in their prisons, 
 and on board their prison ships, which the fortune of war had thrown 
 into their hands, were hereafter treated with a little more humanity, 
 the laws of war, which justified retaliation in all such cases, should 
 immediately be put in force on the British prisoners in the posses- 
 sion of the American Republic. This resolute stand of the conti- 
 nental Congress of 1778 had its desired effect; so that after this, the 
 American prisoners were treated with more humanity, until the end 
 of the war. 
 
 We shall pass by Howe and the British army in Philadelphia, for 
 a few moments, and return to the adventures of Captain Hewson. 
 When the British landed at the head of Elk River, he had to fly 
 from the vicinity of Philadelphia into tlie state of New Jersey with 
 his goods and family. Some of the tories, as the King's friends were 
 then all called, gave the enemy a description of Hevvson's character, 
 of his being such a zealous advocate of the republican cause; when 
 the British sent a party of the refugees out of Philadelphia, who soon 
 destroyed all his works; and hearing that he was an Englishman, 
 who but recently had emigrated from London in 1773, it so excited 
 the choler of some of the zealous advocates of the arbitrary measures 
 of the British government against the colonies, that an English gen- 
 tleman of Philadelphia, through the medium of the public papers of 
 the city, offered a reward of one hundred guineas for Captain Hevv- 
 son, whether dead or alive; which excited the vigilance of the 
 prowling parties of the refugees, in their nightly excursions through 
 the state of New Jersey, in search of plunder, and at the same time to 
 keep a sharp look-out after Mr. Hewson, in order to obtain the re- 
 ward of a hundred guineas. After this. Captain Hewson removed 
 to a ferry house on Rancocus creek, kept by one William Wallace, 
 about five miles from the city of Burlington. Having removed his 
 family and goods, as he thought, beyond the reach of these nightly 
 prowling refugees, Captain Hewson with three more militia officers 
 of New Jersey, headed a number of Jersey volunteers in a plan of 
 defensive operation, in order, if possible, to prevent Sir William 
 Howe and his officers from being supplied by the tories of the state 
 of New Jersey with fresh provisions, and the other delicacies of the 
 season: and dividing themselves into four companies of fifty men 
 each, they took different routes through the state, for many miles 
 above and below the city; in order to check the Jersey tories in sup- 
 plying the enemy in Philadelphia, and also to watch the manoeuvres of 
 the plundering parties of refugees who nightly went up and down the 
 Delaware, with their gun boats and armed barges, to receive provi- 
 sions from the disaffected farmers of Jersey, who with their loaded 
 
ESCAPE OF CAPTAIN HEWSON AND THREE OPFICEIiS. 23 
 
 wagons met them at their different places of appointment on the 
 shore of the river, the refugees with their boats, in order to convey 
 the same to the 13ritish army in the city. During the months of 
 February and part of March, 1778, Captain Hewson and his three 
 brother officers made many prisoners of the refugees and seized large 
 quantities of the Jersey tories' produce they were trying to convey 
 to the British army in Philadelphia. 
 
 About the 20th of March, 177S, a Jersey look-out officer, by the 
 name of Aaron Smallwood, being informed that some barges filled 
 with refugees were seen on the Delaware, between the mouths of 
 Penshawken and Cooper's creek. Lieutenant Smallwood took with 
 him about a dozen men, in order to watch their manoeuvres. About 
 eight o'clock in the evening of the same day, as he was march- 
 ing in Indian file a few paces ahead of his men with his sword in his 
 hand, through a piece of thick woods, he met a party of those plun- 
 dering refugees advancing from the boats through- the country, whom 
 he hailed, who conies there: when they instantly answered him by 
 the discharge of about a dozen of muskets, and Lieutenant Smallwood 
 being at the head of liis men, received the whole of their destructive 
 fire; when he fell to the ground, and all his men fled unhurt, as they 
 could tell neither the number nor strength of the enemy: and as 
 the life still remained in him, he asked the refugees to be so kind as 
 to lay him out of the road, lest the country wagons might run over 
 him; when one Casady and another refugee who had been brought 
 up in his father's family, after their parents were deceased, took him 
 up and laid him on the edge of the woods by the road-side; and then 
 their whole party retreated to their gun boats; being sensible that 
 their firing would alarm some of the Jersey militia. So they left him 
 weltering in his blood, and fled to their barges. Small wood's men 
 being re-enforced by some of the Jersey militia, soon returned. But 
 by this time the enemy had all regained their barges: his men having 
 obtained a vehicle with straw, they conveyed him to the house of his 
 brother-in-law, Captain John Hewson, whose wife was the eldest 
 sister of Lieutenant Smallwood. 
 
 Upon the examination of his person, it was found that both hia 
 thigh bones were broken by musket balls; one in two places: and his 
 body full of wounds from buck shot. He lay about six hours in great 
 agony from the number of his wounds, and exhorted his brother-in- 
 law not to give up the cause of his country, but to remember he had 
 spilt his blood in the defence of the same, these being his last words; 
 and in a few minutes after, he expired. Lieutenant Smallwood vvas 
 out at Canada in the early part of the revolutionary war, and with 
 Major General Montgomery, when he fell at the walls of Quebec, on 
 the 31st of December, 1775. After the decease of his brother-in- 
 law, Captain Hewson was stirred up afresh to keep the refugees out of 
 the Jerseys. So that, he acted in conjunction with his three brother 
 militia officers; who were daily more or less on the scout after them. 
 Shortly after this they obtained information, about the last of March, 
 1778, that a large body of refugees and sailors had left the city for 
 the Jerseys, by crossing the Delaware at Cooper's ferry, and gone by 
 
24 A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE REVOLUTION. 
 
 the way of a village, called Haddonfield. Captain Hewson and 
 his three brother officers mustered all the militia and volunteers they 
 could persuade to accompany them, which were to the number of 
 about two hundred men, and went in pursuit of the enemy. But 
 some of the Jersey tories, by way of condolence to their refugee 
 brethren, gave the plundering party timely notice that a strong body 
 of militia and volunteers were in pursuit of them, when the enemy 
 retreated with all possible precipitation back to the city, where the 
 militia got sight of them on the road between Haddonfield and 
 Cooper's ferry, but could not come up with them before they reached 
 the ferry, where the British kept a train of artillery, with a regiment 
 of infantry, and some light-horse; and seeing the militia in pursuit 
 of the refugees and sailors, they drew themselves up on a rising 
 ground that lies opposite a causeway that leads to the bridge over 
 Cooper's Creek, and there waited the coming up of the militia; but 
 as soon as they saw them, they halted. To retreat back by the way 
 of Haddonfield, they saw would be very dangerous, as the light-horse 
 would be instantly on their rear. So they had no other way left 
 them for their escape, but by suddenl}" turning to the right, and re- 
 treating over Cooper's Creek bridge, which leads to Burlington by 
 the way of the old road. But providentially their escape lay over a 
 long causeway that was guarded on each side, by thick rows of large 
 willow trees; through which the militia pursued their way with all 
 possible speed towards the bridge, under a heavy fire fram the mus- 
 ketry and artillery of the British; and not more than from four to 
 five hundred yards distance. But in consequence of the rising ground 
 the enemy occupied, and they giving their small arms and artillery a 
 little too much elevation, this, together with the smoke of their ord- 
 nance, and the thick foliage of the willow trees, prevented the enemy 
 from distinctly seeing them, in order to take sure aim at the flying 
 militia; so' that their grape shot, and musket balls, did no other exe- 
 cution than cutting the branches, and destroying the foliage of the 
 willow trees, and whistling through the air, passing over tlie heads 
 of the retreating militia. But when they came to the foot of Cooper's 
 Creek bridge, they discovered that the English had unplanked the 
 same, and only left a few planks, laid lengthwise over the beams of the 
 bridge. However, when Captain Hewson and another of his brother 
 officers, who were at the head of the militia, saw the exposed condi- 
 tion of themselves and their brethren in arms, they hasted to the foot 
 of the bridge with their pistols in their hands, and took a position on 
 each side of the planks, and commanded the troops to walk over the 
 same in Indian file, and the first man that offered to make a rush and 
 throw the rest into disorder, they would shoot him on the spot. So 
 by the resolute and determined stand of the officers were the lives of 
 themselves and about two hundred persons saved in the very jaws of 
 death and destruction, under a special Providence in their case. 
 
 The other two officers, who brought up the rear of the troops, had 
 the precaution, as they passed the bridge, to throw off the plank into 
 the tide water, which soon drifted them out of the enemy's reach. 
 But why it was that the British did not leave the eminence on which 
 
CAPTAIN HEWSON AND THREE OFFICERS MADE PRISONERS. 25 
 
 they were collected, being about a thousand in number, and pursue 
 the militia over the causeway, can be accounted for on no other prin- 
 ciple than their supposing they were nearly all destroyed on the 
 causeway. But when they saw them on the other side of Cooper's 
 Creek, it was too late to pursue them. Taking all the circumstances 
 of the case into view, perhaps there never was a more brilliant escape 
 by the militia and volunteers of Jersey, while the British had posses- 
 sion of Philadelphia. Why this little occurrence has not been made 
 public before, we can only account for in the language of King Solo- 
 mon: "There was a little city, and few men within it; and there 
 came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks 
 against it. Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by 
 his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same 
 poor man." Eccles. ix. 14, 15. We think we cannot find any oc- 
 currence that more appositely applies to the entire silence of all our 
 historical scribes, who have noticed the various little incidents of the 
 revolutionary war, than the foregoing sententious remarks of the king 
 of Israel. 
 
 Shortly after this escape of the Jersey militia at Cooper's Creek 
 bridge, Captain Hevvson made up his mind to remove to a greater 
 distance from the enemy. He hired a vessel, having sent a number 
 of packages of French and German goods into Jersey. After the 
 landing of the British army at the head of Elk River, he had them 
 deposited in some of the barns of his republican friends; when he 
 had them all collected and put on board this vessel, with all his house- 
 hold goods, such as the bedding and clothing of his family. Being 
 all in readiness to start up the Delaware the next morning, his tliree 
 brother militia officers came in the afternoon of the same day to see 
 him off, and keep watch through the fore part of the night, appi'chen- 
 sive the lories in the neighbourhood might, by some means, convey 
 information to the British in the city. They kept watch until past 
 three o'clock in the morning; and concluding all danger for that niglit 
 was past, they lay down in the bar room of the ferry-house to take 
 an hour's rest, before starting next morning. They had not lain 
 more than half an hour, when the}^ were roused from their slumber, 
 by a loud command given to surround the house, and not let one of 
 the rebels escape. Captain Hewson being in the second story of the 
 ferry-house, seized his sword, pistols, and carabine, and stood at the 
 head of the stairs to oppose them, and defend himself to the last ex- 
 tremity. The other three officers opened the door of the ferry-house 
 and quietly gave themselves up, and then came to the foot of tlie 
 stairs, and called with a loud voice to Hewson for God's sake, not to 
 make any resistance; for if he fired, and killed, or wounded any of 
 the refugees, they all would be immediately put to death; therefore, 
 in consequence of the foregoing considerations, he gave himself up, 
 when the refugees rushed up the stairs, and went through every room 
 in the house, looking, as they said, for more rebels; and when they 
 could find no more, they took Hevvson and his three brother officers 
 on board their gun boats, and proceeded to Philadelphia with all pre- 
 cipitation with their four gun boats towing the vessel Capt. Hewson's 
 
S6 
 
 A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE REVOLUTION. 
 
 goods were in, out of Rancocus Creek into the Delaware; which was 
 only two miles from the ferry where they were taken prisoners. 
 Just as they got to the mouth of the creek, and were entering the 
 river, the sun rose, April 9, 1778. 
 
 About half a mile above the mouth of Rancocus creek, one of the 
 American row galleys fired a few thirty-two pound shot at them, but 
 did not venture to advance any nearer the gun boats, seeing them so 
 full of men. 
 
 The ebb tide soon wafted the refugees out of the reach of the balls 
 from the row galley, when the refugees and sailors went singing 
 down the stream of the Delaware with their prize, in full expectation 
 of obtaining the reward of a hundred guineas for Captain Hewson's 
 head; but as the old saying has it, "'tis not all gold that glitters," 
 just so in this case. For as Sir Henry Clinton had succeeded Sir 
 William Howe in the command of the royal army in Philadelphia, 
 and Howe had been taught by six months' martial experience, that 
 his location in the chief city of Pennsylvania was not quite as solid 
 as the rock of Gibraltar, he left the city, and went to England. So 
 that the gentleman who had offered the reward of a hundred guineas 
 for Hewson had followed after Sir William Howe to the land of le- 
 gitimate bondage, in consequence of his violent opposition to the 
 cause of the independence of the United States. So the i)Oor plun- 
 dering refugees and sailors, lost their reward of prize money for 
 Captain Hewson's head. As soon as the prisoners were landed 
 in the city, they were taken to the prison in Walnut Street, And as 
 the small pox was in the same, and many of the prisoners disabled 
 by it, and Captain Hewson not knowing that he ever had the in- 
 fection, Mrs. Hewson having followed her husband to the city, after 
 he was taken prisoner, waited in person on Sir Henry Clinton; and 
 represented his case with so much female grace and etiquette, that 
 she obtained from the British commander an order for his parole, and 
 
THE BRITISH LEAVE PHILADELPHIA. 27 
 
 hired a room in a boarding house in Walnut Street, and procured a 
 physician to inoculate him, and he being so well prepared by his phy- 
 sician and good nursing, had tlie infection very lightly. 
 
 About the first of June, 1778, Sir Henry Clinton ordered all his 
 prisoners oflf to New York, when Captain Hewson and his fellow 
 officers with all the rest of the prisoners, were shipped on board 
 his transports, and sent round to the same under convoy of his ships 
 of war. Sir Henry heard a small voice, which the zephyrs from 
 off old Ocean softly whispered in his martial ear, that a French 
 fleet was soon expected on the American coast, with a number of 
 troops on board. Then the British commander in chief viewed it 
 most prudent to depart from Philadelphia as speedily as possible: 
 and, having sent all his fleet round to their strong hold at New York, 
 Sir Henry Clinton evacuated the capital of Pennsylvania; lest a 
 small share of Burgoyne's misfortune should overtake him also. 
 When Washington became apprized of Clinton's intention of aban- 
 doning Philadelphia, he called a council of war of his officers, to con- 
 sider the expediency of inviting a general engagement, and, although 
 he could not bring into the field more than about twelve thousand 
 efiective men, still Washington thought the honour of his country's 
 armies, and the interesting cause of the national salvation of this 
 young republic, made it advisable to risk a general battle. But 
 seveial of his generals thought otherwise. Sir Henry Clinton, 
 in consequence of special instructions from his royal master, left 
 Philadelphia as suddenly and silently as possible, by marching his 
 army out of the lower end of the city, and crossed the Delaware 
 from a ferry at Greenwich Point. The progress of the British army 
 through the State of New Jersey was necessarily very slow, in con- 
 sequence of an enormous quantity of heavy baggage, and in case 
 of any emergency, or being opposed in his route by Washington, 
 or meeting with any difficulty in obtaining supplies for his army, 
 he took a month's provisions for about sixteen or eighteen thousand 
 men with him, with such an army and train of baggage, as almost 
 resembled a suite of fifty thousand men, and covered almost as great 
 an extent of ground: but as Washington did not altogether yield to his 
 council of war, he was fully determined to try the edge of his sword 
 with that of Sir Henry Clinton, before he reached the city of Nevv 
 York. But the British general, contrary to the expectation of the 
 American general, when he arrived at Mount Holly, shaped his 
 course through Monmouth, instead of keeping to the left, as Wash- 
 ington supposed, tovvard the Raritan river, which still farther led 
 Washington to suppose, that Clinton's chief object was to draw him 
 into an engagement in that champaign country, and there, by a rapid 
 change of motion, to pursue his route to New Brunswick. But Clin- 
 ton most probably had chosen that route, because he thought it very 
 possible that General Gates might form a junction with Washington 
 at the Raritan River, and thus cut off" his retreat to New York; so 
 that the American General was for two or three days somewhat per- 
 plexed in his martial mind, at the dark manoeuvres of the British 
 commander. But the moment that Washington discovered that 
 
28 A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE REVOLUTION. 
 
 Clinton meant to pursue his course to the eeacoast, in order that 
 his shipping might arrive at New York, he crossed over the Jerseys 
 with his army as fast as possible, so as not to let him escape without 
 measuring the length of each other's swords. At day light on the 
 morning of the 2Sth of June, 177S, Clinton. ordered General Knyp- 
 hausen to move off from Monmouth court house, with the provi- 
 sions and heavy baggage of the British army, while Clinton main- 
 tained his position in the vicinity of Monmouth court house, until 
 about eight o'clock A. M., when Washington being at the head of 
 the continental army, moved on, and a general action was soon 
 brought on between the British and American armies, which lasted 
 nearly the whole of that day, and would have proved decisive, had 
 it not been for the defection of General Lee, who had been some 
 time a prisoner with the British at New York, where it was supposed 
 the officers of the British army had disaffected his mind to the cause 
 of a republican government, and made Lee the present of a hand- 
 some gold snuff-box, set with kingly diamonds, filled with gold dust, 
 in order to obscure his American vision. Lee ordered a cowardly 
 retreat of that part of the American army under his command; but 
 Washington coming up at the moment, ordered Lee under arrest, 
 which treacherous conduct of Lee prevented the Americans from a 
 most decided victory over the royal arm3\ This took place, as before 
 observed, on the 2Sth of June, 1778, on one of the hottest days of that 
 summer, and many of the soldiers of both armies fell dead upon 
 the field of battle, in consequence of the excessive heat of the day. 
 Some of the wives of the American troops kept supplying the army 
 with water, to the honour of their character and republican zeal in 
 the cause of the freedom of their country, like the Spartan ladies of 
 old times. Passing over a number of incidents and occurrences of 
 that memorable day, the British army at last gave way, and retired 
 behind a defile, and before any disposition could be made by Wash- 
 ington to renew the attack, night came on, and both armies rested 
 from the contest of that hot day. 
 
 No very great advantage was gained by either of the belligerent 
 armies, by this hard-fought battle; nor was the loss very great on 
 either side: the British left on the field nearly three hundred men, the 
 Americans somewhat less. Washington with his men lay all night 
 upon their arms; expecting-Sir Henry Clinton to renew the attack 
 next morning; but the British general, disappointed him by moving 
 his whole army at midnight. Washington thought he might very 
 justly claim the victory of the day, the weather being extremely 
 hot, and the American army not in a condition to pursue the royal 
 army, over a hot and deep sand, which lay in some part of the way 
 between Monmouth court house, and that part of the seashore of New 
 Jersey, where the British fleet lay in waiting to receive Clinton and 
 his army on board. The British general continued his route with- 
 out farther molestation to the seashoi'e, and the royal shipping kindly 
 conveyed him and his army to New York. Washington, after re- 
 freshing himself and his wearied troops, and providing as far as was 
 in his power, for the relief and comfort of the sick, and wounded, 
 
CAPTAIN HEVVSON MAKES HIS ESCAPE. 89 
 
 and then moved at his leisure towards the Hudson river to the 
 strong hold at West Point. 
 
 Captain Hewson and his brother officers, after they were taken to 
 the Provo prison, in New York, in a few days obtained their paroles 
 to a boarding-house at Flatbush on Long Island, and after they had 
 been boarding for several weeks, some of the envious tories became 
 jealous of their easy condition, and laid information against them 
 to the commanding officer on that station, that they saw them in a 
 boat trying to make their escape, when the officer sent them to the 
 Provo prison at New York. After a hearing before the Provo officer 
 in New York, and their informers could prove nothing against them, 
 only that they saw them a little distance from the shore of the island 
 in a small vessel a fishing, the commanding officer of the Provo 
 sent them back to their boarding-house on the island, without re- 
 newing their paroles; vvhen they all instantly saw that according to 
 the rules and articles of war in use among belligerent nations of mo- 
 dern times^that their former paroles had become null and void, (like 
 the dark mass of wild matter, before the Eternal Spirit said, " Let 
 there be light, and there was light,") by the oversight of the command- 
 ing officer of the day, at the Provo in New York. So that if they 
 could by any means get off the island and make their escape, they 
 could do it now without a breach of military honour. After this 
 they watched every opportunity that the island presented to their 
 view, in order to make their escape from the house of bondage; and 
 as they often walked out on Sundays to different places on the island 
 within the limits of their paroles, they examined some of the inlets 
 and small creeks of the island, that lay opposite the strand on which 
 Sandy Hook Light House is built, and also to find some kind of a 
 water vehicle, to convey them by night to the Jersey shore: when 
 they discovered one of those small craft, used by the islanders, in 
 taking the clams and oysters out of their creeks and bays about the 
 island, called a canoe. Captain Hewson and his four brother officers 
 that boarded at the same house, cast their vision on one of the 
 canoes which lay upon one of those small inlets, when the next thing 
 was to procure some kind of instruments to propel the canoe through 
 the water to the Jersey shore, a distance of about twelve miles, so as 
 to strike the strand about three miles to the south of the light-house, 
 towards the sea, at the point they marked to descend upon, when 
 one of the officers by the military name of Captain Hogdon, a mas- 
 ter shipwright, obtained a few tools from the German host at the 
 house they billeted at, and made about four or five paddles, and after 
 conveying some of their clothes to the vicinity of the canoe, they 
 hid them among the bushes, near their small watery vehicle; and 
 thus having their expedition all ready for starting, they immediately 
 retired to their beds, and lay till about ten o'clock in the evening; 
 and then as secretly as possible left the house. Having put their 
 clothes on board their canoe, they started in this small vessel over a 
 rough sea of about twelve miles wide. 
 
 Captain Hogdon, the master shipwright, being the most acquainted 
 with the management of a small craft in rough water, was appointed 
 5 
 
80 A BRIEF IIISTOUY OF THE REVOLUTION. 
 
 as the steersman of the canoe, while three of the otlier officers were 
 appointed to handle the paddles in order to propel the canoe through 
 the water, and the fifth officer, who was the least acquainted with 
 boats and water travelling, sat in the bottom of the canoe, in order 
 to bale out the water, as they often shipped some from the spray of 
 the sea, while they were crossing from Long Island to the strand of 
 Sandy Hook: and it required no small skill in Captain Hogdon to 
 keep a continual look-out, when a large wave of the sea was coming, 
 to cause the canoe to head the same. Just about day they made the 
 strand, on which the main light house of the harbour of the city of 
 New York is located, and taking it for the fast land of the Jersey 
 shore, they landed; and after walking about a quarter of a mile over 
 the strand, they saw that there was water between them and the fast 
 land of the Jersey shore, and as they had not physical strength suf- 
 ficient to take their heavy canoe over the strand, to the water which 
 lay between them and the Jersey shore, they were all at a stand to 
 know what to do; as a body of British troops were aKva)^s stationed 
 at the light house, to protect the same, which was not three miles 
 from them: when Captain Hogdon called out to Captain Hewson not 
 to "give up the ship of liberty. L know you are a good swimmer: 
 come on then, let us make another effiart for our lives and the cause 
 of freedom.'^ But two of the poor fellows could not swim; these 
 two hid themselves among the bushes on the strand; when the other 
 three that could swim bade them adieu, with a promise that if the 
 Supreme Being should spare their lives to reach the Jersey shore, 
 they would obtain a boat and bring them off to the land of liberty. 
 The three that could swim went over to the other side of the 
 strand next the Jersey shore, where the dividing water did not ap- 
 pear to them to be more than two or three hundred yards over, and 
 commenced swimming for nearly a quarter of an hour, but seemed to 
 gain nothing on the fast land, so that the Jersey shore appeared no 
 nearer then when they started: which inauspicious phenomena was 
 caused by the ebb and tide of a small river that passed into York 
 Bay, on the inner side of the strand, which separates what is called 
 Sandy Hook from the main land on the Jersey shore. When Cap- 
 tain Hogdon discovered that the ebb tide was sweeping into the 
 bay, he cried to Hewson and the other officer, "Come on, my brave 
 men; place your hands on your boards and breathe a minute, and let 
 us make one more struggle for our lives, our liberty, and our families." 
 After swimming about a hundred yards, Captain Hogdon let down 
 his feet and cried out, "Bottom, my good fellows;" and in a few mi- 
 nutes they were all safe on the Jersey shore: Captain Hewson being 
 so much exhausted of his strength, that he wished to lay down on the 
 shore to rest for a few minutes; but Captain Hogdon told him if 
 he went to sleep on the shore, he would wake no more in this world. 
 So after he had roused him from the lethargy that was fast insidi- 
 ously creeping on him, they went up from the shore about half a 
 mile to a farm house, in which dwelt a warm friend to the cause of 
 his country, who kindly received them and sent his boat with two of 
 his hands, to bring off the two brother officers they had left on the 
 
WAR OP 177S. 
 
 31 
 
 strand at Sandy Hook, with the remainder of their clothes. After 
 they had breakfasted, he had his wagon geared up, and sent tlieni 
 several miles on their road, for fear some of the tories in the neigh- 
 bourhood might send word to the enemy at the light house, (which 
 was not above four or five miles distant from his farm house,) when 
 they all arrived safe at Philadelphia. 
 
 Admiral Lord Howe had scarcely left the Delaware Bay with the 
 British fleet, and the transports with the prisoners on board, when 
 Count D'Estaign, the French admiral, with a much superior force, ap- 
 peared off the coast of Virginia, and in a few days after came to the 
 mouth of the Delaware Bay. The French admiral's object was 
 to have surprised the British fleet at Philadelphia. Had not his 
 voyage been greatly prolonged in consequence of head winds, and 
 bad weather, he could hardly have failed in accomplishing his ob- 
 ject; for had the French admiral arrived about ten days earlier, the 
 enemy's fleet would have been taken. So that in consequence of 
 General Washington being re-enforced with some thousands of 
 French troops, from on board Count D'Estaign's fleet, he would 
 very likely have taken or destroyed a great part of Sir Henry Clin- 
 ton's army before it reached New York. But the God of nations 
 saw that the time had not yet come to put a final end to the war; as 
 his servant Peter observes, " One day is with the Lord as a thousand 
 years, and a thousand years as one day." After this the French ad- 
 miral sailed for New York, and on the 11th of July, 1778, com- 
 menced the blockade of the British fleet in that harbonr. But the 
 British being soon re-enforced, the French Admiral raised the 
 blockade. 
 
 Sir Henry Clinton, after his flight from Philadelphia, on the 18th 
 of June, 1778, experienced no very great predilection to return to 
 Pennsylvania, in order to spend his royal master's money, and, 
 
32 A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE REVOLUTION. 
 
 sacrifice the lives of his army in that state. Sir Henry turned his 
 military genius to the South, especially through the states of Vir- 
 ginia, North and South Carolina and Georgia; so that in order to 
 give the greater success to his royal master's cause in that section 
 of the revolted colonies, he gave the command of the South to Lord 
 Cornwallis. Through the years 1779 and 1780, the seat of the war 
 lay mostly in Virginia, North and South Carolina and Georgia. 
 During this period of the war, there were many hard-fought battles, 
 on both sides, by the British and Americans. But we return to the 
 consecutive progress of the war, after the surrender of Burgoyne's 
 army on the plains of Saratoga, on the 17th of October, 1777. Very 
 little had been done in the North, or Middle States, either to increase 
 the fame, or advance the glory of the arduous struggle in laying the 
 corner stone of the civil and religious freedom of the colonies. 
 
 Burgoyne's expedition was commenced under the highest hopes, 
 which were still more inflated by the most flattering circumstances of 
 the final success that would attend its early operations. It terminated 
 on the plains of Saratoga most gloriously in favour of the American 
 arms, and at the same time produced the most inexpressible mortifi- 
 cation and disappointment to the British government, in consequence 
 of the loss of an army of ten thousand veteran and experienced troops, 
 under an able and enterprising commander, well equipped and amply 
 provided, with all necessary munitions of war; while at the same time 
 this renowned officer of the royal army was only opposed by one of 
 the rebel generals with a much inferior force of new continental re- 
 gulars, and some militia of the surrounding country, which, for the 
 time being, inspired the mind of the British sovereign with the highest 
 expectation of the full success of the royal arms, against the infant 
 struggle of the Americans for their just rights: which they were led 
 conscientiously to believe, the Supreme Ruler of mankind was shortly 
 about, in his overruling and all-wise providence, to bless them with 
 as a people; and finally through them as an encouraging example to 
 all nations, in the fear of the Most High, to look for a time when a 
 benign and gracious Providence, should kindly grant both civil and 
 religious liberty, to be the inalienable privilege of the human family 
 from the rising to the setting sun. But to return to our little history 
 of the revolutionary war. The government of this most puissant 
 maritime nation viewed itself as fully justified in indulging the ex- 
 pectation, that such an arm}', commanded by such a leader, would 
 most assuredly march through a country mostly destitute of fortresses, 
 and in every other military point of view very feebly defended: 
 at the same time indulging the pleasing hope that the British arms 
 under the generalship of Burgoyne would finally triumph over 
 Washington and his few sliips of war with their thirteen stars, and 
 striped bunting at their mast-heads, and the end of the rebellion would 
 soon be accomplished, without the least difficulty. This result was 
 most confidently expected by all the decided friends of monarchy 
 in the British empire. They hoped that the revolted colonies of 
 ^orth America would soon be coerced into humble submission at the 
 
A FEW REFLECTIONS ON GEN. BURGOYNE's CHARACTER. 33 
 
 feet of the prince on the British throne. But, alas! this formidable 
 array of military prowess, with all the hopes depending on the same, 
 were annihilated in a few months, by a dark cloud which the over- 
 ruling providence of the God of nations spread over the British army; 
 which also entirely obscured the military sun of Burgoyne's glory, 
 and caused all his fame to set in darkness for ever. How often is it 
 the case that the greatest, and apparently the wisest of men perish, 
 neglecting the caution of holy writ: "Let not the wise man glory 
 in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might; let 
 not the rich man glory in his riches." How appositely may this be 
 applied to Burgoyne's case, as well as thousands of others in this pro- 
 bationary world. 
 
 On the 17th of October, 1777, the remains of General Burgoyne's 
 army, amounting to nearly six thousand men, surrendered to General 
 Gates. This was one of the most important events of the war, and 
 at the same time it gave the first serious shock to the assumption of 
 British power over the colonies in North America. It was not so 
 much the capture or destruction of ten thousand of the royal army, 
 that gave such importance to this victory, as this loss to the British 
 army might very easily be supplied by that powerful empire; but it 
 was the civil and moral influence which this victory gave on the side 
 of justice, in behalf of this ardent struggle for the heaven-born rights 
 of all the nations of the earth; and seems most intimately associated 
 with the promise of the Supreme Being to Father Abraham: "In thy 
 seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed." We most confi- 
 dently believe that the doctrine of civil and religious liberty that rose 
 on a dark and enslaved world, in the days of George Washington, 
 shall, by the promise and providence of the same just and righteous 
 Being, in the latter days, fill the whole earth with his glory; and al- 
 though, when compared to the nations and governments of the rest 
 of the earth, as our great Teacher, in one of his allegories, or parables, 
 justly observes, it was like a grain of mustard seed, which he re- 
 marks is the smallest of all seeds, yet as in the land of ancient Israel, 
 where it grows to such magnitude, that the fowls and birds of diffe- 
 rent colour and plumage can lodge in the branches thereof: just so, 
 in a moral sense, shall this little seed be the germinating cause of the 
 final emancipation of all the nations of the earth that sprung up on 
 the American soil in the days of George Washington, under the spe- 
 cial protection of the Supreme Being; which shall finally extend its 
 branches over our enslaved world, until birds and fowls of every 
 wing and colour shall be able to lodge under its shade, or rest on its 
 branches. Or by dropping the figure, all the families of the earth of 
 every tribe, colour and language, shall finally enjoy those blessings 
 that our beloved father Washington, and the rest of our fathers, fought, 
 and many of them bled for, in the war of the revolution, that com- 
 menced in 1775, and ended in 1783. 
 
 This victory over Burgoyne greatly revived the drooping crest of 
 the young republic, and at the same time inspired them with fresh 
 confidence in the moral justice of their cause in the sight of Heaven; 
 
34 A BRIEF HISTORY OP THE REVOLUTION. 
 
 and also in the sight of some of the nations of the European world. 
 But this single victory had at the same time a special influence abroad, 
 and was scarcely less important in Europe than in America; as it 
 decided the policy of the French court to espouse the cause of the 
 colonies of North America, which the court of France could not be 
 induced to do by all the strong arguments made use of by Dr. Franklin 
 before them. But when, in the language of holy writ, the King of 
 France and his court saw that the Americans were not only talkers 
 about liberty, but doers of the work of freedom, it finally induced his 
 most Christian Majesty, with his court, to openly acknowledge the 
 claims of the colonies to the national right of an independent republic : 
 and that the yankees (as their enemies were pleased to call them,) pos- 
 sessed sufiicient firmness and ability to maintain their character as 
 an infant republic, which they had assumed before the world. The 
 King, and court of France not only openly acknowledged the inde- 
 pendence of the United States of North America, but agreed also to 
 become a party in the war, so that immediately after the conclusion 
 of a treaty with the American commissioners, they were presented 
 to his most Christian Majesty. Doctor Benjamin Franklin was ac- 
 credited as minister plenipotentiary of the United States to the court 
 of France. The news of the treaty with France filled the friends 
 of liberty with joy, and at the same time nerved the arm of the war- 
 rior. As La Fayette was the first who received the news, he also 
 assumed the pleasure of being the bearer of so interesting intelli- 
 gence to the commander in chief, who immediately gave orders for 
 the army to be assembled in brigades, and the treaty with France to 
 be publicly read to the troops, and also, that prayers and thanks- 
 givings be offered up to the Supreme Being before the army, who 
 " turneth the hearts of the kings of the earth as the rivers in the 
 south." This solemn ceremony was followed by a general dis- 
 charge of cannon through the camp, and was accompanied with every 
 other demonstration of joy. At a given signal, the whole army 
 cried out, '' Long live the king of France." Soon after this, in 1778, 
 General La Fayette proceeded, by the advice of the commander in 
 chief, to the city of Albany, on the North River, in the State of 
 New York, where a force was ordered, and confidently expected to 
 have been collected by congress; (so that the defalcation of the en- 
 terprise neither rested on the commander in chief, nor yet on Ge- 
 neral La Fayette,) but when General La Fayette arrived at Albany, 
 he found neither troops, provisions, nor any other of the necessary 
 munitions of war had been collected at that place, to carry into exe- 
 cution the contemplated enterprise against Canada. The plan of 
 operation, as fixed by congress, was to proceed from Albany with a 
 suitable force, pass the lakes on the ice, and seize on Montreal and 
 St. John's. So that through the law of imperious necessity, the war 
 at that time against Canada was abandoned. 
 
 But notwithstanding the failure of the enterprise against Canada, 
 still the alliance with France produced a most favourable impulse: 
 so that the expected co-operation of the French nation ia the behalf 
 
PENNSYLVANIA LADIES. 35 
 
 of the young republic, restored, in a great measure, the patriotism of 
 those who were only lukewarm in the cause of the independence of 
 the colonies, and a general state of activity was excited in the re- 
 cruiting service, which was displayed more or less throughout the 
 thirteen United Slates; while at the same time the zeal of many in- 
 dividuals led to the most honourable exertions to provide both ways 
 and means for the clothing and provisioning the army. A large fund 
 was raised in Philadelphia by subscription, in order to encourage 
 the recruiting service; and also to reward such as might distinguish 
 themselves by their exertions to fill up the ranks of the republican 
 arm)', by enlisting men during the war: and a society was formed, 
 and a subscription set on foot in Philadelphia, which produced near- 
 ly two hundred thousand pounds sterling. The ladies of the city 
 greatly exerted themselves on this national occasion, and were not 
 far behind the gentlemen of Philadelphia, in their zeal and patriotism 
 for the cause of iheir country's deliverance from arbitrary bondage. 
 But not only so, the ladies of Philadelphia formed a number of small 
 contributing societies for raising money, (not to consume it on the 
 corrupt passions of our fallen nature,) but for the defence of their 
 country against an enemy, who, in order to stimulate a foreign and 
 mercenary soldiery to acts of the greatest violence against the chas- 
 tity of human nature, gave to their troops the flowing banners of 
 bounty and beauty. But all their dark and hellish schemes were in 
 vain. The bright Spartan example of the ladies of old times was 
 more or less followed by females throughout the United States. 
 Those of the different towns in the state of Pennsylvania alone, 
 soon forwarded a hundred and fifty thousand dollars, towards sustain- 
 ing and supporting the army, and let it be recorded to the zeal and 
 patriotism, and moral and civic virtues of the American ladies in 
 the days that tried men's souls, not merely to obtain an office under 
 government, but in order to obtain personal liberty for themselves 
 and their country. So that many of the feinales of the revolutionary 
 war contributed their jewels and other valuable superfluities, in order 
 to supply the wants and add to the comfort of the newly raised troops, 
 who were going to fight for their protection and the liberties of their 
 countr}^ 
 
 The reader will be so kind as to indulge us for a moment, in order 
 to notice the zeal which St. Paul says is always, in a good cause,, 
 highly commendable, both in the sight of the Supreme Being, angels, 
 and men, namely, with respect to the Marquis La Fayette. In a re- 
 solution of congress, on his return to the United States from France, 
 on the 16th of May, 1780, it was 
 
 " Resolved, that Congress do consider the return to the United 
 States of the Marquis La Fayette, to resume his command in the 
 army, as a fresh proof of the distinguished zeal and unshaken attach- 
 ment, which have justly recommended him to the public confidence 
 and applause, and that they receive with pleasure a tender of farther 
 services from so gallant and meritorious an officer." 
 
 The military operations of America had been of little moment 
 
36 A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE REVOLUTION. 
 
 during the absence of La Fayette. But the events in Europe at the 
 same time, had the most important influence in behalf of the Ame- 
 rican cause. Not only France, but Spain had acknowledged the in- 
 dependence of the United States, so that both these powers united in 
 a declaration of war against the British empire. 
 
 As there are always a few clouds that more or less overcast the most 
 brilliant prospects in human affairs, both in public as well as private 
 occurrences, in order to give a kind of counterpoise to nations as 
 well as to persons, by placing an equilibrium in the scale of all 
 earthly prosperity, so these bright omens in behalf of the United 
 States, at the first cursory view of the case, might appear highly 
 beneficial to the prosperity of the American cause, which had for 
 some time been diffusing a spirit of joy throughout the Union. Still, 
 as we have said, there was a kind of counterpoise in the too great 
 expectations from the warlike powers of France and Spain, their 
 new allies, with their puissant fleets. So that by placing too great 
 confidence in their operations at sea, it might act unfavourably, not 
 only on the people at large, but also on the activity and spirit of 
 Congress, as in some measure came to pass, when some of them 
 were almost ready to say, like an ancient king in the presence of 
 one of Israel's prophets, " Surely the bitterness of death is past." 
 So, when viewing with much confidence the co-operation of our new 
 allies, we begin to sing, the bitterness or burden of the war is almost 
 past. Both congress and the people were ready to indulge the pleas- 
 ing thought, that the war with France and Spain would so entirely 
 engross and occupy the forces of Britain, both by land and sea, that 
 she would be obliged to abandon her project of coercing her revolted 
 colonies into submission. This mistaken view of the case led Wash- 
 ington to endeavour to convince Congress of the fallacy of this opi- 
 nion, and that the naval superiority of Britain over France and Spain 
 would render the war with them of less consequence to the British 
 government, than was at first supposed: so that this event, instead 
 of causing her to relax, would be more likely to induce her to re- 
 double her exertions, and call forth all her energies to the farther 
 prosecution of the war against America; and that it was the wisdom 
 of our national policy, as well as safety to ourselves, to prepare for 
 carrying on the war on a broader scale than had 3'et been done. 
 About this time General Arnold, in September, 1780, made an ar- 
 rangement with Sir Henry Clinton at New York, through the special 
 agency of Major Andre, to deliver into the hand of the British com- 
 mander in chief at New York, the strong hold and fortress at West 
 Point, for which the arch traitor was to receive a most royal, princely 
 reward, of ten thousand guineas, and a brigadier general's commission 
 for life. Arnold, like a military shark, seized the bait. But Sir 
 Henry Clinton lost the whale, or the fortress of West Point, by the 
 overriding providence of the God of nations, through the pure re- 
 publican fidelity and love of country of three militia men, who re- 
 fused Major Andre's purse of gold. The dark designs of Arnold 
 were discovered by the papers found in Major Andre's boot in Ar- 
 
GENERAL LA FAYETTE. 37 
 
 nold's handwriting; which when the traitor became informed of, he 
 fled with all possible speed on board the Vulture ship of war, which 
 conveyed him safe to the British commander in New York, without 
 the valuable prize of West Point. Arnold had been one of the pri- 
 mary satellites, that for four years had been revolving round the 
 bright morning star of the American independence: so that we are 
 justified in borrowing the language of one of the ancient bards of 
 the children of Israel, and exclaim, "How art thou fallen from hea- 
 ven, Lucifer, son of the morning!" — how art thou fallen from the 
 heaven of thy once republican glory, to rise no more out of the 
 slough of thy traitorship. After this. Sir Henry Clinton sent Ar- 
 nold into Connecticut, where the traitor having for some time dis- 
 tinguished himself by predatory incursions through Connecticut, 
 marked in the wake he left behind him, plunder, robbery, and blood, 
 with every other species of desolation, burning villages, towns, and 
 private houses. 
 
 After the traitor had committed a vast number of depredations 
 in the state of Connecticut, he returned to New York about the last 
 of 17S0, when his new master sent him to the state of Virginia, on 
 a similar predatory excursion, and, after committing a number of 
 devastations, worthy only the character of a traitor, at Richmond, 
 Smithfield, and many other places, he at last established himself at 
 Portsmouth in Virginia, so that by this time, namely, in the spring 
 of 1781, Virginia was almost overrun by being invaded by Lord 
 Cornwallis, with General Phillips, and their newly adopted brother 
 Arnold, whose united forces were greatly superior to that of General 
 La Fayette, whom General Washington had sent into Virginia, in 
 order to defend the state as much as was in his power against the de- 
 predations of the British army, that now amounted to nearly nine thou- 
 sand royal troops. At the same time all the American forces that 
 La Fayette could avail himself of, from all the appearances of things 
 in the state of Virginia, were about three thousand: so that the state 
 would be speedily overrun by these three great generals and their 
 potent armies, and soon be entirely conquered; an event which 
 would have been attended with the most serious consequences, as 
 the conquest of Virginia would have probably terminated all resist- 
 ance in the Southern states. General La Fayette was fully sensible 
 of the difficulty and responsibility of his command and character as 
 a young soldier of the republic, as well as his own critical situation; 
 and at the same time he had under his command only about a thou- 
 sand continentals, and about two thousand Virginia militia, and sixty 
 dragoons. General Phillips died soon after he left Richmond: his 
 detachment of British troops were united with those under Lord 
 Cornwallis, which led his lordship to experience in his mind the 
 fullest assurance of success; so that he did not in the least disguise 
 his utter contempt for his young French adversary, when Cornwallis 
 in a letter to a friend confidently observed, " The boy cannot long 
 escape me." 
 
 General La Fayette was sensible, ihat with only a disposable force 
 of three thousand men, he could do no more than keep in his lord- 
 6 
 
38 A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE REVOLUTION. 
 
 ship's rear and watch his movements. Shortly after this, General 
 La Fayette moved from Richmond to Chickahomminy, where he 
 hoped to form a junction with General Wayne, whom the commander 
 in chief had sent from the North to re-enforce the army in Virginia. 
 No sooner had Cornwallis become apprized of the same, than he 
 strained every nerve in order to prevent this junction of La Fayette 
 with Wayne. Cornwallis pursued him with the greatest rapidity, till 
 at last he found the boy, as he was pleased to name him, or the young 
 French fox had become so wary, that his English steel traps could 
 not catch him. As it respected military tactics, the boy was rather 
 an overmatch for his lordship; so that he found himself foiled in 
 all his attempts to catch the beardless youth. After General La 
 Fayette had succeeded in uniting his forces with those under General 
 Wayne at Raccoon Ford, without any loss of his troops, Cornwallis 
 endeavoured by hasty movements to throw himself between the 
 American army and their magazines, with a view to cut off the com- 
 munication with them and the army. But in order to prevent this 
 La Fayette opened an old disused road, so that by a forced march 
 the beardless French boy passed the British army to the great asto- 
 nishment of the British general; and also secured a strong position 
 between his troops and the magazines at Albemarle court house. 
 After having failed in all his martial plans to catch La Fayette, his 
 lordship returned to Richmond, and from thence to Williamsburg, 
 whither he was followed by the Marquis. 
 
 About this time Cornwallis received orders from Sir Henry Clin- 
 ton to send him all his disposable forces to New York, as he was 
 rather apprehensive that an attack was designed by the combined 
 forces of the Americans and French against that city. But Corn- 
 wallis about this time was so closely watched by General La Fayette, 
 that he did not altogether comply with the requisition of Sir Henry 
 Clinton, for fear the boy's beard might by this time have grown a 
 little longer, as in the ease of Samson in the prison-house of the Phi- 
 listines: so that in process of time he might become his most trouble- 
 some enemy. After this his lordship made several attempts to deceive 
 La Fayette, by one of his martial stratagems in order to draw him 
 into an engagement. As he knew that La Fayette would attack his 
 rear guard, when the main body of his army were passing the Ford 
 to the island of Jamestown Cornwallis, accordingly made such a dis- 
 position of his troops, as was calculated to make the young French 
 iox suppose that the principal part of his army had crossed tlie Ford, 
 where he had placed his British steel trap in perfect order, by sharp- 
 ening the teeth with his warlike experience, in order to give new 
 energies to the springs of his military mind. Cornwallis detained 
 his troops in their present position, and expected by this martial 
 manoeuvre, that General La Fayette, like a young military shark, 
 would take the bait, and then attack him, and so bring on a general 
 action between the two armies; but like the young miss with a pail 
 of new milk on her head, going to market to sell it, in order to buy 
 a handsome silk dress for the wedding day, being so over pleased at 
 the idea of marriage, which she thought was the consummation of 
 
Wayne's gallantry. 39 
 
 human felicity in this world, the young lady gave a small inclination 
 of her head, and spilt her pail of milk; and her fine wedding dress 
 was lost for ever. The moral of the story may be very appositely 
 applied to Lord Cornwallis's case. But martial characters and hono- 
 rary titles, do not always produce the wisest statesmen, nor the most 
 consummate generals. 
 
 General Wayne, who had been detached by General La Fayette, 
 in order to reconnoitre the enemy's position, supposing that the rear- 
 guard of the British army only remained, in consequence of some 
 slight skirmishing with a few small bodies of the enemy's troops, 
 soon found himself engaged with the whole of the British line. But 
 as General La Fayette had himself proceeded in another direction, 
 in order to reconnoitre the enemy, he soon discovered his lordship's 
 stratagem, and immediately ordered General Wayne to retreat, and 
 Cornwallis, fearing at the same time lest La Fayette was in his turn 
 laying a trap, or forming an ambuscade to entrap him, did not pursue 
 the American forces under La Fayette and Wayne. Thus, by the 
 circumspection and caution of La Fayette, nearly all the martial 
 schemes and artful traps of Lord Cornwallis were defeated; and 
 the troops under General Wayne rescued from the most imminent 
 danger. Here follows General La Fayette's commendation of the 
 military talents of General Wayne, in an engagement with a large 
 body of the British under Lord Cornwallis; in the following words. 
 "The gallantry of General Wayne, and the detachment under his 
 command, was fully acknowledged in the general orders issued on 
 the 8th of July, 1781. The General is happy to acknowledge the 
 spirit of the detachment under General Wayne, in their engagement 
 with the whole of the British line, of which he was an eye witness. 
 He requests General Wayne and the officers and men under his com- 
 mand, to accept his best thanks. The bravery and destructive fire of 
 the riflemen rendered him the most essential service, and the fire of 
 the light infantry checked the enemy's progress round our right 
 flank. The general was much pleased with the conduct of Captain 
 Savage, of the artillery, and is satisfied that nothing but the loss of 
 horses occasioned that of the two field pieces. The zeal of Colonel 
 Mercer's corps is fully expressed in the number of horses he had 
 killed." 
 
 Soon after this engagement, the traitor Arnold, hearing that a 
 French fleet was on the American coast, and perceiving that Lord 
 Cornwallis might not be able for any great length of time to retain 
 the possession of the State of Virginia, viewed it as most advisable 
 to take his passage to London, in order to see the court of St. James, 
 and to kiss his royal majesty's hand, and also to keep himself out 
 of the way of his old master; lest, if he were caught, Washington 
 might give him a few minutes' employment either to spin or stretch 
 a small ball of rope yarn under a cross beam. Arnold went to the 
 royal city, to enjoy the sublime pleasure of a traitor's conscience to 
 the end of his days. 
 
 In the spring of 1781, a combined attack had been conceived against 
 the city of New York, so that immediately on the arrival of the 
 
40 A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE REVOLUTION. 
 
 French fleet, the plan was spread before a council of war (at Hartford 
 and Weathersfield in Connecticut,) of both land and navy officers, 
 namely. Generals Washington, La Fayette and Count de Rochambeau, 
 with a number of both French and American navy and land officers. 
 But after spending some time on this contemplated attack on the 
 British fleet and army at New York, the object was wisely given up, 
 and the combined armies agreed to direct their united forces both by 
 sea and land against the British army, under Lord Cornwallis in Vir- 
 ginia, and still hold out the idea of an attack on New York. This 
 was so managed as to blindfold Sir Henry Clinton as long as they 
 possibly could, in order to prevent him from re-enforcing Lord Corn- 
 wallis in Virginia. 
 
 On the 30th of August, 1781, at Chester, on their march to the 
 South, Washington and Rochambeau received the agreeable intelli- 
 gence of the arrival of Admiral De Grasse in the Chesapeake, with 
 a squadron of twenty-four ships of the line, from which was imme- 
 diately disembarked a few thousand French troops, under the com- 
 mand of the Marquis de St. Simon, who soon formed a junction with 
 the American army under General La Fayette. Lord Cornwallis 
 was at this time encamped at Yorktown, in the State of Virginia, 
 North America, where his lordship had collected all his remaining 
 forces. He was followed by the beardless youth, as his lordship was 
 pleased to name him, in one of his letters, to Williamsburg. And 
 although La Fayette was still unable to engage the enemy with three 
 thousand troops, yet he pursued him by hanging in his rear wherever 
 he went; just as Cornwallis did poor Washington, in the dark and 
 .cloudy days of the war, through the State of New Jersey, in the 
 fall and winter of 1776. We still remember the old adage, that 
 "turn about is fair play," which was literally fulfdled in Cornwallis's 
 case. But the arrival of a French squadron with a re-enforcement 
 of a few more thousand troops, filled the heart of La Fayette with 
 joy, and inspired him with new hopes of a glorious campaign. On 
 the arrival of Washington and Count de Rochambeau, they went on 
 board Count de Grasse's flag-ship, in order to determine on future 
 operations, which was soon followed by the movement of the com- 
 bined army on Yorktown and Gloucester. At the same time, the 
 fleet moved up to the mouth of James River, they having just been 
 re-enforced by eight ships of the line, under the command of Count 
 de Barras, from Rhode Island. 
 
 Thus the siege of Yorktown was eommenced, which reflected such 
 brilliant light, under a special providence, of the righteous Arbiter 
 of all the nations of the earth, and also terminated in one of the 
 most glorious revolutions in the history of the human race, since the 
 creation of the world. 
 
 Cornwallis became somewhat alarmed at the activity and despatch 
 of the besiegers. On the 11th of September, 1781, he opened all 
 his batteries on the assailants, in order to stop their progress. Corn- 
 wallis's fire from two redoubts was at the first very annoying both 
 to the French and American troops. But Washington perceiving 
 this, was fully determined to carry those annoying redoubts by storm, 
 
BATTLE OF YORKTOWN. 41 
 
 but, in order to excite emulation in both armies, and avoid all cause 
 of jealousy, the attack of one of the redoubts was committed to the 
 French, under Baron de Viominel, and that of the other redoubt to a 
 detachment of Americans, under the command of General La Fay- 
 ette, who led them in person to the assault. This attack was made 
 with such spirit and vigour, that the assailants, without firing a single 
 gun, forced their way over the abattis and palisades into the redoubt, 
 and made the party, consisting of sixt}-' men under Major Campbell, 
 prisoners, with the loss to the enemy of nine killed and thirty-two 
 wounded. The detachment had been reminded of the massacre by 
 the British, of the American garrison at Fort Griswold, in New 
 London; but h^ Fayette, Hamilton and Laurens possessed too great 
 a share of republican humanity for them to imitate sucli deeds of 
 savage barbarity, as to take away the lives of men who begged for 
 quarters, even by way of retaliation. 
 
 The assault on the other redoubt by the French was equally suc- 
 cessful, but not without much greater loss on the part of the French. 
 The British in this redoubt were more numerous, and their defence 
 consequently more persevering. The French lost about one hun- 
 dred in killed and wounded; about one half of the English escaped, 
 and the rest fell into the hands of the French. 
 
 The coolness and martial gallantry displayed by both parties great- 
 ly excited the applause of the commander in chief, who expressed, 
 both to La Fayette and Viominel, the high sense he entertained of 
 their valorous conduct, and desired them to convey his acknowledg- 
 ments to their respective detachments. "In General Washington's 
 orders, he reflects with the highest degree of pleasure on the confi- 
 dence which the troops of the French and Americans have in each 
 other. Assured of mutual support, he is convinced there is no dan- 
 ger which tliey will not cheerfully encounter, nor any difficulty 
 which they will not bravely overcome," as true friends of the liberty 
 of the human race. We are fully justified in the sight of the Supreme 
 Governor of the world, in expressing our condolence and republican 
 sympathies, with the perplexities and onerous anxiety of his lord- 
 ship's min(I, in his being placed in such a military dilemma; so that 
 the only soldier-like resort left to his lordship, was an attempt to 
 escape with himself and army, by passing in the darkness of the 
 night over to Gloucester Point. But in this he was equall}^ unsuc- 
 cessful, in consequence of a great storm which frustrated his escape. 
 His lordship at last perceiving that even the very elements conspired 
 against him, was very reluctantly obliged to yield to a destiny which 
 neither the prowess of the British army, nor his martial skill were 
 any longer able to control. On the 19th of October, 1781, just four 
 years from the surrender of Burgoyne, on the plains of Saratoga, in 
 the State of New York, the British army, consisting of more than 
 seven thousand men, commanded by Lord Cornwallis, surrendered 
 to the allied forces of France and America. Such was the fate of 
 an army, whose warlike career had long been successful, proud and 
 triumphant, and which had spread terror and devastation over a 
 vast extent of country; and at one period of the war, had nearly con- 
 
42 A BRIEF HISTORY OP THE REVOLUTION. 
 
 quered all the Southern states, and whose military path was only 
 traced by ruin, desolation and blood. 
 
 Willi humble deference to this wonderful enlightened age in 
 which we live, we present a few of our civic and moral reflections, 
 on the influence which the surrender of Cornwallis and his army at 
 Yorktown, in the state of Virginia, in October, 1781, had on the 
 future policy of the king and parliament of the British empire. 
 
 Although the surrender of the British army at Yorktown did not 
 cause the British government immediately to acknowledge the un- 
 conditional independence of the thirteen colonies of North America, 
 yet it immediately spread a lowering cloud over the British arms 
 in the young states, which, in a great measure, blighted all the hopes 
 of that arrogant nation of ever being able by the prowess of her 
 army and navy to cut down the sacred tree of either civil or religious 
 liberty, which the illustrious Washington with his primary satellite, 
 General La Fayette, and all the rest of the brilliant galaxy of bright 
 stars, that shone through the republic, contributed to plant. Thou- 
 sands of them became civic martyrs on the altar of their country's 
 freedom; and at the same time, their blood so very wonderfully satu- 
 rated the American soil, that the land, in consequence of this repub- 
 lican manure, became so arable, and the harvest of this sublime doc- 
 trine of temporal salvation to all mankind, so profusely and abun- 
 dantly spread before the eye of the world, that the trees of both civil 
 and religious liberty would shortly be seen springing up in all the 
 nations of our enslaved world. 
 
 But to return to our brief history of the capture of Lord Corn- 
 wallis, which gave the king and parliament of Great Britain a little 
 time for serious reflection on the subject. After taking a calm view 
 of what it had already cost the nation, namely, some hundreds of 
 millions sterling, with the sacriflce of many thousands of the flower 
 of the royal army, and at the same time had most enormously in- 
 creased her national debt, the entire subjugation of the revolted colo- 
 nies appeared at a greater distance, than when the first blood of her 
 sons was spilt on Bunker Hill, and other places near the town of 
 Boston, in 1775. And, although the British monarch and many of 
 both houses of his parliament, at first experienced a great degree of 
 reluctance, and felt much mortified to have to yield to the dictates 
 of sound policy, and national wisdom; yet after George the Third 
 had been, by a vast number of his most respectable subjects, and 
 several of the members of both houses of the British parliament, 
 humbly petitioned, to be most benignly and graciouslv pleased to 
 grant the colonies their national independence, some kind angel, or 
 national prompter from the Fountain of true wisdom, at last whis- 
 pered in his kingly ear, as Gamaliel did into the ears of the scribes, 
 and Pharisees, and the High Priest of the Jews, " Take heed, ye men 
 of Israel," namely, ye kings and rulers of the earth, wliat ye in- 
 tend to do as touching this young Republic of America; for if the 
 work of the revolution of the colonies be from the King of kings 
 and Lord of lords, not all the powers of earth and hell can over- 
 throw it. But if it be the work of wicked and artful men, it will 
 
TREATY WITH BRITAIN. 43 
 
 soon find its common level among the princes of the earth, and like 
 the waters of fountains, rivers, and lakes, in the course of a few years 
 return to its own sea, from whence it originally came, or this new 
 doctrine of the civil and religious freedom of mankind will, ere long, 
 disembogue into the great sea of tyrannical rule and despotic power. 
 Therefore, let all the great princes, and despotic rulers of the earth, 
 take special heed to themselves, what they intend to do as touching 
 the sacred trees and temple of liberty; which, we truly believe, are 
 of God's right hand planting. 
 
 But notwithstanding the uneasy impression which the capture of 
 Lord Cornwallis had at first made for a few months on the govern- 
 ment of the great empire, this serious conviction of the case seemed 
 in a small degree to wear off; so that the court of St. James did not 
 appear to be over anxious in ratifying the treaty of peace, although 
 the preliminaries thereof had been entered into the preceding year. 
 La Fayette, after his return to France, in 17S1, when he took a short 
 tour through some of the states of Europe, hearing during his ab- 
 sence from France that the treaty had not yet been ratified by the 
 court of St. James, manifested a considerable anxiety to have the 
 treaty of peace between Great Britain, France, and America ratified; 
 as he had become in a small degree apprehensive that the court of 
 St. James wished to back out, as she began to mourn over the loss, 
 (like Rachel) of her children because they are not, or in plain 
 English, she felt mortified at the loss of her thirteen colonies in 
 North America. And as it appeared by omens of her present policy 
 that she did not intend to ratify the treaty, La Fayette, before his re- 
 turn to France, wrote to the French court to have a sufficient force 
 both by sea and land, ready for him to sail to America, early in the 
 spring of 1784. When he arrived at Cadiz, he found that the king 
 had previously sent orders to Count D'Estaign to hold himself in 
 readiness to proceed with his fleet and armament, on the arrival of 
 General La Fayette, to America. But the court of St. James, being 
 apprized of this expedition prepared by France for the United States, 
 viewed it in the light of her national interest, and ratified the treaty 
 of peace with the three nations, which, of course, caused the expe- 
 dition to be abandoned. 
 
 The treaty being ratified, Geneial La Fayette communicated the 
 first intelligence of this desired event to the Congress of the new 
 Republic of the United States, in a letter dated from Cadiz, Feb- 
 ruary 5th, 1783. 
 
 The great object of the war being obtained, and the freedom and 
 independence of the United States of North America fully acknow- 
 ledged by Spain, France, and England, on the 4ih of August, 1784, 
 General La Fayette revisited the United States; when those who had 
 been his compatriots and associates in arms, in the great and glorious 
 cause of laying the corner stone of the temple of true liberty, so as 
 to be seen by all the families of the earth, (like the promise of the 
 Almighty to father Abraham, "In thy seed shall all the families of 
 the earth be blessed,") with the beloved Washington, were very anx- 
 ious of embracing General La Fayette, on that soil now no longer 
 
44 A BRIEF HISTORY OP THE REVOLUTION. 
 
 marked with their blood, toils, sufferings and privations, as the thea- 
 tre of their arduous struggle for the liberty of the human race, and 
 their final triumph over all their enemies. General La Fayette was 
 a person, who, under Providence next to General Washington, Ame- 
 rica owes a debt of national gratitude. To use the language of afflict- 
 ed Job, America ought unfeignedly to exclaim, "0 that our words 
 as a (nation) were now written! oh that they were printed in a book! 
 That they were graven with an iron pen, and laid in the rock" of 
 our national republic for ever! Job xix. 23, 24, 
 
 Having with our little history arrived at the end of the revolu- 
 tionary war, we must say in the words of the great Apostle Paul; 
 Time would fail us to tell of all the valorous acts, deeds, and suffer- 
 ings of all the brilliant characters in the American revolution. 
 
 After the close of the war, from the year 1783 to 17S7 in- 
 clusive, it became obvious to every forecasting and reflecting 
 mind, as well as every well informed citizen of the republic, that 
 in order to sustain its character with national honour and dignity 
 before the kings, princes, and all the rest of the governments of a 
 watchful and jealous world, they should carefully guard the doc- 
 trine of the emancipation of the human race, from the tyranny of 
 all the oppressors of the children of men. The young colonies in 
 America had in a considerable degree elicited the admiration of the 
 States of Europe, in conseq,ucnce of their bravery and firmness 
 during their war with Great Britain. But some of them still enter- 
 tained fears, that thirteen states, under different forms of government, 
 would not be likely to long continue in peace, or act in union with 
 each other, so as to sustain their national republican dignity of cha- 
 racter before the rest of the world, unless some systematic form of 
 government over the whole of the thirteen states would be adopted. 
 Some new mode, form, or system of government, which would both 
 defend and embrace the diversified interests of all the states, was 
 indispensably necessary, or else all the toils and sufferings of the 
 magnanimous Washington, and his illustrious associates in this won- 
 derful revolution, (as Paul most clearly and logically reasons on the 
 glorious doctrine of the resurrection of Christ from the dead, if not 
 true, all his travel, labours, privations, sufferings, and preachings 
 would be in vain,) so we say that all the labour, toils and sufferings 
 of our fathers would have been in vain, and lost for ever, in the plans 
 and schemes of vicious, ambitious, and designing men, and the sacred 
 temple of the apparent liberty of the world, would have soon decayed 
 and fallen into ruins, like those of Greece, and Rome, and all the 
 other republics, that have made their appearance for a few days or 
 years, sparkling like the tail of a comet, which suddenly disappear 
 and leave the civil and moral condition of mankind in almost total 
 darkness, as it respects true freedom and national liberty, had it not 
 been for a united system of government over the whole of the states. 
 The present crisis called for all the skill, and legislative wisdom of 
 the wisest men in the states of the republic, in order that they might 
 devise a plan and frame a form of government suited to the condition 
 of each state. After askancely glancing their eye over all the laws, 
 
BIOGRAPHY OV MR. JOHN HEWSON. 45^ 
 
 constitutions and governments of ancient republics, which the faithful 
 pen of the historian has handed down to the present age, and finding 
 them all so exceedingly defective in giving any durability to a free 
 and popular government, the great difficulty in the case that presented 
 itself to the mind of Washington and all the true friends of the free- 
 dom of the republic, was how to secure the local rights, interests, and 
 independence of each separate state, and at the same time frame a 
 general government over the whole, as an indissoluble band in order 
 to bind the whole together, while at the same time it should not di- 
 minish aught from the local privileges and independence of each 
 separate state. This being a new disposition in laying the founda- 
 tion of a popular government, it demanded a few years' serious, as 
 well as sapient deliberation; and the calling into requisition the 
 highest mental talents from all the States of the republic in order to 
 frame such a new form of government, and give it stability, before 
 all the nations and families of the eartb. 
 
 Somewhere about the year 17SS, our illustrious father, Washington, 
 at the call of his country, left the retirement of his rural hermitage, 
 on the banks of the Potomac, in order to be one of the chief elders 
 to take an official part in the greatest political Sanhedrim that ever 
 convened together since the creation of the world. The grand object 
 of this national convention, was to frame a national palladium, to gird 
 with strength and wisdom a new system of republican government. 
 Washington and the rest of the delegation from the several states of 
 the republic, met, calmly to deliberate on the future destinies of the 
 infant republic; in order to perpetuate to the latest generations, those 
 blessings that Washington with the rest of the delegation from the 
 states, were led to use their best arguments of civil and moral suasion 
 in order to influence this national council to preserve unsullied the 
 purity of the Declaration of Independence; and keep out of this new 
 and free constitution they were about framing, all those vain distinc- 
 tions of patrician, and other foolish and vain orders of society which 
 an abundance of riches tempts the fallen nature of man to crave after, 
 especially in these modern days;- such appellations as earls, dukes, and 
 lords, spiritual and temporal. When Washington, and his coadjutors 
 had framed our happy and glorious constitution, they placed the 
 same on a new altar, that is, on the inalienable rights of the free 
 citizens of this new Republic, well secured from the unholy fire of 
 the pugnacious passions of all the demagogues on the earth: namelj', 
 on an American pedestal, which the sovereignty of the citizens of 
 the United States of North America had erected. 
 
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. 
 
 A Declaration by the Representatives of the United States 
 of North America, in Congress assembled on the 4th 
 of July, 1776, in the hall of the State house of Penn- 
 sylvania, in the city of Philadelphia. 
 
 SPECIFICATION I. 
 
 " When in the course of human events, it becomes ne- 
 cessary for one people to dissolve the political bonds which 
 have connected them with another, and to assume among 
 the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to 
 which the laws of nature, and of nature's God entitle 
 them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind, requires 
 that they should declare the causes which impel them to 
 the separation. 
 
 SPECIFICATION 11. 
 
 " We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men 
 are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator 
 with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, 
 liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these 
 rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving 
 their just powers from the consent of the governed; that 
 whenever any form of government becomes destructive of 
 these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish 
 it, and to institute a new government, laying its foundation 
 on such principles, and organizing its powers in such forms, 
 as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and 
 happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate, that govern- 
 ments long established should not be changed for light and 
 transient causes; and accordingly, all experience hath 
 shown, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while 
 evils are sufferable, than to right themselves, by abolishing 
 the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long 
 
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. 4t 
 
 train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the 
 same object, evinces a design to reduce them under abso- 
 lute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw 
 off such government, and to provide new guards for their 
 future security. Such has been the patient sufferance of 
 these colonies; and such is now the necessity which con- 
 strains them to alter their former systems of government. 
 The history of the present king of Great Britain is a his- 
 tory of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in di- 
 rect object, the establishment of an absolute tyranny over 
 these states. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a can- 
 did world. 
 
 SPECIFICATION III. 
 
 " He has refused his assent to laws the most wholesome 
 and necessary for the public good. 
 
 SPECIFICATION IV. 
 
 " He has forbidden his governors to pass laws of imme- 
 diate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their 
 operation, till his assent should be obtained; and when so 
 suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them. 
 
 SPECIFICATION V. 
 
 " He has refused to pass other laws for the accommoda- 
 tion of large districts of people, unless those people would 
 relinquish the right of representation in the legislature; a 
 right inestimable to them, and formidable to tyrants only. 
 
 SPECIFICATION VI. 
 
 " He has called together legislative bodies at places un- 
 usual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of 
 their public records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them 
 into compliance with his measures. 
 
 SPECIFICATION VII. 
 
 " He has dissolved representative houses repeatedly, for 
 opposing, with manly firmness, his invasions on the rights 
 of the people. 
 
 SPECIFICATION VIII. 
 
 " He has refused, for a long time after such dissolutions, 
 to cause others to be elected; whereby the legislative 
 powers, incapable of annihilation, have returned to the 
 
48 DECLARATION OP INDEPENDENCE. 
 
 people at large, for their exercise; the state remaining, in 
 the mean time, exposed to all the dangers of invasion from 
 without, and convulsions within. 
 
 SPECIFICATION IX. 
 
 "He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these 
 states; for that purpose obstructing the laws for naturali- 
 zatioji of foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage 
 their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new 
 appropriations of lands. 
 
 , SPECIFICATION X. 
 
 " He has obstructed the administration of justice, by re- 
 fusing his assent to laws for establishing judiciary powers. 
 
 SPECIFICATION XL 
 
 " He has made judges dependent on his will alone, for 
 the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of 
 their salaries. 
 
 SPECIFICATION XII. 
 
 " He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent 
 hither swarms of officers, to harass our people, and to eat 
 out their substance. 
 
 SPECIFICATION XIII. 
 " He has kept among ns, in times of peace, standing ar- 
 mies, without the consent of our legislatures. 
 
 SPECIFICATION XIV. 
 
 " He has affected to render the military independent of, 
 and superior to, the civil power. 
 
 SPECIFICATION XV. 
 
 " He has combined with others to subject us to a juris- 
 diction foreign to our constitutions, and unacknowledged 
 by our laws; giving his assent to their acts of pretended 
 legislation. 
 
 " For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us: 
 " For protecting them, by a mock trial, from punishment 
 for any murders which they should commit on the inha- 
 bitants of these states : 
 
 SPECIFICATION XVI. 
 "For cutting off our trade with all parts of the world : 
 
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. 49 
 
 SPECIFICATION XVII. 
 " For imposing taxes on us without our consent : 
 
 SPECIFICATION XVIII. 
 
 " For depriving us, in many cases, of the benefits of trial 
 by jury: 
 
 SPECIFICATION XIX. 
 
 " For transporting us beyond seas to be tried for pre- 
 tended offences : 
 
 SPECIFICATION XX. 
 
 " For abolishing the free system of Enghsh laws in a 
 neighbouring province, establishing therein an arbitrary 
 government, and enlarging its boundaries, so as to render 
 it at once an example and lit instrument for introducing 
 the same absolute rule into these colonies: 
 
 SPECIFICATION XXL 
 
 "For taking away our charters, abolishing our most va- 
 luable laws, and altering, fundamentally, the forms of our 
 governments : 
 
 SPECIFICATION XXII. 
 
 "For suspending our own legislatures, and declaring 
 themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all 
 cases whatsoever. 
 
 SPECIFICATION XXIII. 
 
 " He has abdicated government here, by declaring us out 
 of his protection, and waging war against us. 
 
 SPECIFICATION XXIV. 
 
 " He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt 
 our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people. 
 
 SPECIFICATION XXV. 
 
 '^ He is, at this time, transporting large armies of foreign 
 mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation, and 
 tyranny, already begun with circumstances of cruelty and 
 perfidy, scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and 
 totally unworthy the head of a civilized nation. 
 
50 DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. 
 
 SPECIFICATION XXVI. 
 
 " He has constrained our fellow citizens, taken captive 
 on the high seas, to bear arms against their country, to be- 
 come the executioners of their friends and brethren, or to 
 fail themselves by their hands. 
 
 SPECIFICATION XXVII. 
 
 " He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and 
 has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our fron- 
 tiers the merciless Indian savages, whose known rule of 
 warfare is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes, 
 and conditions. 
 
 SPECIFICATION XXVIII. 
 
 " In every stage of these oppressions, we have petitioned 
 for redress in the most humble terms: our repeated petitions 
 have been answered only by repeated injury. A prince, 
 whose character is thus marked by every act which may 
 define a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people. 
 
 SPECIFICATION XXIX. 
 
 " Nor have we been wanting in attentions to our British 
 brethren. We have warned them, from time to time, of 
 attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable 
 jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the cir- 
 cumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We 
 have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity; and 
 we have conjured them, by the ties of our common kind- 
 red, to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably 
 interrupt our connexions and correspondence. They, too, 
 have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consangui- 
 nity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity which 
 denounces our separation, and hold them, as we hold the 
 rest of mankind, enemies in war; in peace, friends. 
 
 SPECIFICATION XXX. 
 
 We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States 
 of America, in General Congress assembled, appealing to 
 the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our 
 intentions, do, in the name and by the authority of the 
 good people of these colonies, solemnly publish and de- 
 clare, That these United Colonies are, and of right ought 
 to be, Free and Independent States; that they are ab- 
 solved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that 
 
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. 51 
 
 all political connexion between them and the state of Great 
 Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved; and that, as 
 free and independent states, they have full power to levy 
 war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, 
 and to do all other acts and things v^^hich independent states 
 may of right do. And for the support of this declaration, 
 with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Provi- 
 dence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our for- 
 tunes, and our sacred honour. 
 
 Massachusetts. — John Hancock, Samuel Adams, John Adams, 
 Robert Treat Pain, Elbridge Gerry. 
 
 J^ew Hampshire. — Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew 
 Thornton, James Smith. 
 
 Rhode Island. — Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery. 
 
 Connecticut. — Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Wil- 
 liams, Oliver Wolcott. 
 
 JVew) York. — William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, 
 Lewis Morris. 
 
 Jfew Jersey. — Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hop- 
 kinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark. 
 
 Pennsylvania. — Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Frank- 
 lin, John Morton, George Clymer, George Taylor, James Wilson, 
 George Ross. 
 
 Delaware. — Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas M'Kean. 
 
 Maryland. — Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles 
 Carroll of Carrollton. 
 
 Virginia. — George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jeffer- 
 son, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, jr. Francis Lightfoot Lee, 
 Carter Braxton. 
 
 J^orth Carolina. — William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn. 
 
 South Carolina. — Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward jr. Thomas 
 Lynch, jr. Arthur Middleton. 
 
 Georgia. — Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton. 
 
CONSTITUTION 
 
 UNITED STATES 
 
 We, the people of the United States, in order to form a 
 more perfect Union, establish justice, ensure domestic tran- 
 quillity, provide for the common defence, promote the gene- 
 ral welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves 
 and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution 
 of the United States of America. 
 
 ARTICLE I. 
 
 SECf . I. — All legislative powers herein granted, shall be 
 vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall con- 
 sist of a senate and house of representatives. 
 
 Sect. II. — 1. The house of representatives shall be 
 composed of members chosen every second year, by the 
 people of the several states ; and the electors in each state 
 shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the 
 most numerous branch of the state legislature. 
 
 2. No person shall be a representative who shall not 
 have attained the age of twenty-five years, and been seven 
 years a citizen of the United States, and who shall not, 
 when elected, be an inhabitant of the state in which he 
 shall be chosen. 
 
 3. Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned 
 among the several states which may be included within 
 this Union, according to their respective numbers, which 
 shall be determined by adding to the whole number of free 
 persons, includinsr those bound to service for a term of 
 years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three-fifths of all 
 other persons. The actual enumeration shall be made 
 within three years after the first meeting of the congress 
 of the United States, and within every subsequent term of 
 ten years, in such manner as they shall by law direct. 
 
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. 53 
 
 The number of representatives shall not exceed one for 
 every thirty thousand, but each state shall have at least 
 one representative: and until such enumeration shall be 
 made, the state of New Hampshire shall be entitled to 
 choose three; Massachusetts, eight; Rhode Island and 
 Providence Plantations, one; Connecticut, five; New York, 
 six; New Jersey, four; Pennsylvania, eight; Delaware, 
 one; Maryland, six; Virginia, ten; North Carolina, five; 
 South Carolina, five; and Georgia, three. 
 
 4. When vacancies happen in the representation from 
 any state, the executive authority thereof shall issue writs 
 of election to fill such vacancies. 
 
 5. The house of representatives shall choose their speaker 
 and other officers, and shall have the sole power of im- 
 peachment. 
 
 Sect. III. — 1. The senate of the United States shall be 
 composed of two senators from each state, chosen by the 
 legislature thereof, for six years; and each senator shall 
 have one vote. 
 
 2. Immediately after they shall be assembled, in conse- 
 quence of the first election, they shall be divided, as equally 
 as may be, into three classes. The seats of the senators 
 of the first class shall be vacated at the expiration of the 
 second year; of the second class, at the expiration of the 
 fourth year; and of the third class, at the expiration of the 
 sixth year; so that one-third may be chosen every second 
 year; and if vacancies happen by resignation or other- 
 wise, during the recess of the legislature of any state, the 
 executive thereof may make temporary appointments until 
 the next meeting of the legislature, v^^hich shall then fill 
 such vacancies. 
 
 3. No person shall be a senator who shall not have at- 
 tained to the age of thirty years, and been nine years a 
 citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when 
 elected, be an inhabitant of that state for which he shall 
 be chosen. 
 
 4. The vice-president of the United States shall be pre- 
 sident of the senate, but shall have no vote, unless they be 
 equally divided. 
 
 5. The senate shall choose their other officers, and also 
 a president pro tempore, in the absence of the vice-presi- 
 dent, or when he shall exercise the office of president of 
 the United States. 
 
 6. The senate shall have the sole power to try all im- 
 
 8 
 
54 CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITFD STATES. 
 
 peachments. When sitting for that purpose, they shall be 
 on oath or affirmation. When the president of the United 
 States is tried, the chief-justice shall preside; and no per- 
 son shall be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds 
 of the members present. 
 
 7. Judgment, in cases of impeachment, shall not extend 
 farther than to removal from office, and disqualification to 
 hold and enjoy any office of honour, trust, or profit, under 
 the United States; but the party convicted shall, neverthe- 
 less, be liable and subject to indictment, trial, judgment, 
 and punishment according to law. 
 
 Sect. IV. — 1. The times, places, and manner of holding 
 elections for senators and representatives, shall be prescribed 
 in each state by the legislature thereof; but the congress 
 may at any time by law make or alter such regulations, 
 except as to the places of choosing senators. 
 
 2. The congress shall assemble at least once in every 
 year; and such meeting shall be on the first Monday in De- 
 cember, unless they shall by law appoint a different day. 
 
 Sect. V. — 1. Each house shall be judge of the elections, 
 returns, and qualifications of its own members; and a ma- 
 jority of each shall constitute a quorum to do business; but 
 a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and may 
 be authorized to compel the attendance of absent members, 
 in such manner, and under such penalties, as each house 
 may provide. 
 
 2. Each house may determine the rules of its proceed- 
 ings, punish its members for disorderly behaviour, and, 
 with the concurrence of two-thirds, expel a member. 
 
 3. Each house shall keep a journal of its proceedings, 
 and from time to time publish the same, excepting such 
 parts as may, in their judgment, require secrecy; and the 
 yeas and nays of the members of either house, on any 
 question, shall, at the desire of one-fifth of those present, 
 be entered on the journal. 
 
 4. Neither house, during the session of congress, shall, 
 without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than 
 three days, nor to any other place than that in which the 
 two houses shall be sitting-. 
 
 Sect. VI. — 1. The senators and representatives shall 
 receive a compensation for their services, to be ascertained 
 by law, and paid out of the treasury of the United States. 
 They shall, in all cases, except treason, felony, and breach 
 of the peace, be privileged from arrest, during their attend- 
 
CONSTITUTION OP THE UNITED STATES. 5^5 
 
 ance at the session of their respective houses, and in going 
 to and returning from the same ; and for any speech or de- 
 bate in either house, they shall not be questioned in any 
 other place. 
 
 2. No senator or representative shall, during the time 
 for which he was elected, be appointed to any civil office 
 under the authority of the United States, which shall have 
 been created, or the emoluments whereof shall have been 
 increased, daring such time; and no person holding any of- 
 fice under the United States, shall be a member of either 
 house during his continuance in office. 
 
 Sect. VII. — 1. All bills for raising revenue shall origi- 
 nate in the house of representatives; but the senate may 
 propose or concur with amendments, as on other bills. 
 
 2. Every bill, which shall have passed the house of repre- 
 sentatives and the senate, shall, before it becomes a law, be 
 presented to the president of the United States : if he ap- 
 proves, he shall sign it; but if not, he shall return it with his 
 objections to that house in which it shall have originated, 
 who shall enter the objections at large on their journal, and 
 proceed to reconsider it. If, after such reconsideration, two- 
 thirds of that house shall agree to pass the bill, it shall be 
 sent, together with the objections, to the other house, by 
 which it shall likewise be reconsidered; and if approved by 
 two-thirds of that house, it shall become a law. But in all 
 such cases, the votes of both houses shall be determined by 
 yeas and nays; and the names of the persons voting for 
 and against the bill shall be entered on the journal of each 
 house respectively. If any bill shall not be returned by 
 the president within ten days (Sundays excepted) after it 
 shall have been presented to him, the same shall be a law 
 in like manner as if he had signed it, unless the congress, 
 by their adjournment, prevent its return; in which case 
 it shall not be a law. 
 
 3. Every order, resolution, or vote, to which the concur- 
 rence of the senate and house of representatives may be 
 necessary, (except on a question of adjournment,) shall be 
 presented to the president of the United States; and, before 
 the same shall take eff'ect, shall be approved by him, or, 
 being disapproved by him, shall be repassed by two-thirds 
 of the senate and house of representatives, according to 
 the rules and limitations prescribed in the case of a bill. 
 
 Sect. VIII. — The congress shall have power — 
 I. To lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and excises; 
 to pay the debts, and provide for the common defence 
 
56 CONSTITUTION OP THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 and general welfare of the United States; but all duties, 
 imposts, and excises shall be uniform throughout the 
 United States: 
 
 2. To borrow money on the credit of the United States : 
 
 3. To regulate commerce with foreign nations, and 
 among the several states, and with the Indian tribes: 
 
 4. To establish a uniform rule of naturalization, and 
 uniform laws on the subject of bankruptcies, throughout 
 the United States; 
 
 5. To coin money, regulate the value thereof, and of 
 foreign coin, and fix the standard of weights and measures : 
 
 6. To provide for the punishment of counterfeiting the 
 securities and current coin of the United States : 
 
 7. To establish post offices and post roads : 
 
 8. To promote the progress of science and useful arts 
 by securing, for limited times, to authors and inventors, 
 the exclusive right to their respective writings and disco- 
 veries : 
 
 9. To constitute tribunals inferior to the supreme court: 
 To define and punish piracies and felonies committed on 
 the hiorh seas, and offences against the law of nations : 
 
 10. To declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, 
 and make rules concerning captures on land and water : 
 
 11. To raise and support armies; but no appropriation 
 of money to that use shall be for a longer term than two 
 years: 
 
 12. To provide and maintain a navy: 
 
 13. To make rules for the government and regulations 
 of land and naval forces : 
 
 14. To provide for calling forth the militia to execute 
 the laws of the Union, suppress insurrections, and repel 
 invasions : 
 
 15. To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining 
 the militia, and for governing such parts of them as may 
 be employed in the service of the United States; reserving 
 to the states respectively the appointment of the officers, 
 and the authority of training the militia, according to the 
 discipline prescribed by congress: 
 
 16. To exercise exclusive legislation, in all cases what- 
 soever, over such district (not exceeding ten miles square) 
 as may, by cession of particular states, and the acceptance 
 of congress, become the seat of the government of the 
 United States and to exercise like authority over all places 
 
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES 57 
 
 purchased by the consent of the Legislature of the state in 
 which the same shall be, for the erection of forts, magazines, 
 arsenals, dock-yards, and other needful buildings; — And, 
 
 17. To make all laws which shall be necessary and pro- 
 per, for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and 
 all other powers vested by this constitution in the govern- 
 ment of the United States, or in any department or officer 
 thereof 
 
 Sect. IX. — 1. The migration or importation of such 
 persons as any of the states now existing shall think pro- 
 per to admit, shall not be prohibited by the congress prior 
 to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight; but a 
 tax or duty may be imposed on such importation not ex- 
 ceeding ten dollars for each person. 
 
 2. The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not 
 be suspended, unless when, in cases of rebellion or inva- 
 sion, the public safety may require it. 
 
 3. No bill of attainder, or ex post facto law, shall be 
 passed. 
 
 4. No capitation, or other direct tax shall be laid, unless 
 in proportion to the census or enumeration herein before 
 directed to be taken. 
 
 5. No tax or duty shall be laid on articles exported from 
 any state. No preference shall be given, by any regula- 
 tion of commerce or revenue, to the ports of one state over 
 those of another; nor shall vessels bound to or from one 
 state be obliged to enter, clear, or pay duties in another. 
 
 6. No money shall be drawn from the treasury, but in 
 consequence of appropriations made by law; and a regular 
 statement and account of the receipts and expenditures of 
 all public money shall be published from time to time. 
 
 7. No title of nobility shall be granted by the United 
 States; and no person holding any office of profit or trust 
 under them, shall, without the consent of Congress, accept 
 of any present, emolument, office or title, of any kind what- 
 ever, from any king, prince, or foreign state. 
 
 Sect. X. — 1. No state shall enter into any treaty, alliance, 
 or confederation; grant letters of marque and reprisal; coin 
 money, emit bills of credit; make any thing but gold and 
 silver coin a tender in payment of debts; pass any bill of 
 attainder, ex post facto law, or law impairing the obligation 
 of contracts ; or grant any title of nobility. 
 
 2. No state shall, without the consent of congress, lay 
 
5S CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 any impost or duties on imports or exports, except what 
 may be absolutely necessary for executing its inspection 
 laws; and the nett produce of all duties and imposts laid 
 by any state on imports or exports, shall be for the use of 
 the treasury of the United States; and all such laws shall 
 be subject to the revision and control of the congress. No 
 state shall, wdthout the consent of congress, lay any duty 
 on tonnage, keep troops or ships of war in time of peace, 
 enter into any agreement or compact with another state, 
 or with a foreign power, or engage in war, unless actually 
 invaded, or in such imminent danger as will not admit of 
 delay. 
 
 ARTICLE II. 
 
 Sect. I. — 1. The executive power shall be vested in a 
 President of the United States of America. He shall hold 
 his office during the term of four years, and, together with 
 the Vice President, chosen for the same term, be elected as 
 follows : 
 
 2. Each state shall appoint, in such a manner as the 
 legislature thereof may direct, a number of electors, equal 
 to the whole number of senators and representatives to 
 which the state may be entitled in the congress; but no 
 senator or representative, or person holding an office of 
 trust or profit under the United States, shall be appointed 
 an elector. 
 
 3. [Annulled. See Amendments, Art. 12.] 
 
 4. The congress may determine the time of choosing 
 the electors, and the day on which they shall give their 
 votes; which day shall be the same throughout the United 
 States. 
 
 5. No person except a natural born citizen, or a citizen 
 of the United States at the time of the adoption of this 
 constitution, shall be eligible to the office of President; 
 neither shall any person be eligible to that office who shall 
 not have attained to the age of thirty-five years, and been 
 fourteen years a resident within the United States. 
 
 6. In case of the removal of the President from office, 
 or of his death, resignation, or inability to discharge the 
 powers and duties of the said office, the same shall devolve 
 on the Vice President; and the congress may by law pro- 
 vide for the case of removal, death, resignation, or inability, 
 both of the President and Vice President, declaring what 
 officer shall then act as President; and such officer shall 
 
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. 59 
 
 act accordingly, until the disability be removed, or a Pre- 
 sident shall be elected. 
 
 7. The President shall, at stated times, receive for his 
 services a compensation which shall neither be increased 
 nor diminished during the period for vi^hich he shall have 
 been elected; and he shall not receive, within that period, 
 any other emolument from the United States, or any of 
 them. 
 
 8. Before he enter on the execution of his office, he shall 
 take the following oath or affirmation : 
 
 9. " I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully 
 execute the office of President of the United States, and 
 will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend 
 the Constitution of the United States." 
 
 Sect. II. — 1. The President shall be commander in chief 
 of the army and navy of the United States, and of the 
 militia of the several states, when called into the actual 
 service of the United States; he may require the opinion 
 in writing of the principal officer in each of the executive 
 departments, upon any subject relating to the duties of 
 their respective offices; and he shall have power to grant 
 reprieves and pardons for offences against the United 
 States, except in cases of impeachment. 
 
 2. He shall have power, by and with the advice and con- 
 sent of the senate, to make treaties, provided two-thirds of 
 the senators present concur; and he shall nominate, by and 
 with the advice and consent of the senate, shall appoint am- 
 bassadors, other public ministers, and consuls, judges of the 
 supreme court, and all other officers of the United States, 
 whose appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, 
 and which shall be established by law. But the congress 
 may by law vest the appointment of such inferior officers 
 as they think proper, in the president alone, in the courts 
 of law, or in the heads of departments. 
 
 3. The president shall have power to fill up all vacan- 
 cies that may happen during the recess of the senate, by 
 granting commissions which shall expire at the end of their 
 next session. 
 
 Sect. III. — He shall from time to time give to the con- 
 gress information of the state of the Union, and recom- 
 mend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge 
 necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary occa- 
 sions, convene both houses, or either of them ; and in case 
 
60 CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, 
 
 of disagreement between them, with respect to the time of 
 adjournment, he may adjourn them to such time as he shall 
 think proper; he shall receive ambassadors and other pub- 
 lic ministers; he shall take care that the laws be faithful- 
 ly executed ; and shall commission all the officers of the 
 United States. 
 
 Sect. IV. — The president, vice-president, and all civil 
 officers of the United States shall be removed from office 
 on impeachment for, and conviction of, treason, bribery, or 
 other high crimes and misdemeanors. 
 
 ARTICLE III. 
 
 Sect. I. — The Judicial power of the United States shall 
 be vested in one supreme court, and in such inferior courts 
 as the congress may from time to time ordain and establish. 
 The judges, both of the supreme and inferior courts, shall 
 hold their offices during good behaviour, and shall, at stated, 
 times, receive for their services a compensation which shall 
 not be diminished daring their continuance in office. 
 
 Sect. II. — 1. The judicial power shall extend to all 
 cases in law and equity, arising under this constitution, 
 the laws of the United States, and treaties made, or which 
 shall be made, under their authority; to all cases affecting 
 ambassadors, other public ministers, and consuls; to all 
 cases of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction; to contro- 
 versies to which the United States shall be a party; to con- 
 troversies between two or more states, between a state and 
 citizens of another state, between citizens of different states, 
 between citizens of the same state claiming lands under 
 grants of different states, and between a state or the citi- 
 zens thereof, and foreign states, citizens, or subjects. 
 
 2. In all cases affecting ambassadors, other public minis- 
 ters, and consuls, and those in which a state shall be a 
 party, the supreme court shall have original jurisdiction. 
 In all the other cases before mentioned, the supreme court 
 shall have appellate jurisdiction, both as to law and fact, 
 with such exceptions, and under such regulations, as the 
 congress shall make. 
 
 3. The trial of all crimes, except in cases of impeach- 
 ment, shall be by jury; and such trial shall be held in the 
 state where the said crimes shall have been committed; 
 but when not committed within any state, the trial shall be 
 at such place or places as the congress may by law have 
 directed. 
 
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. 61 
 
 Sect. III. — 1. Treason against the United States shall 
 consist only in levying war against them, or in adhering 
 to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort. No person 
 shall be convicted of treason, unless on the testimony of 
 two witnesses to the same overt act, or on confession in 
 open court. 
 
 2. The congress shall have power to declare the punish- 
 ment of treason; but no attainder of treason shall work 
 corruption of blood, or forfeiture, except during the life of 
 the person attainted. 
 
 ARTICLE IV. 
 
 Sect. I. — Full faith and credit shall be given, in each 
 state, to the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings 
 of every other state : and the congress may, by general 
 laws, prescribe the manner in which such acts, records, 
 and proceedings shall be proved, and the effect thereof. 
 
 Sect. II. — 1. The citizens of each state shall be entitled 
 to all the privileges and immunities of citizens in the se- 
 veral states. 
 
 2. A person charged in any state with treason, felony, 
 or other crime, who shall flee from justice, and be found in 
 another state, shall, on demand of the executive authority 
 of the state from which he fled, be delivered up, to be re- 
 moved to the state having jurisdiction of the crime. 
 
 3. No person held to service or labour in one state, under 
 the laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, in conse- 
 quence of any law or regulation therein, be discharged 
 from such service or labour; but shall be delivered up, on 
 claim of the party to whom such service or labour may 
 be due. 
 
 Sect. III. — 1. New states may be admitted by the con- 
 gress into this Union; but no new state shall be formed or 
 erected within the jurisdiction of any other state, nor any 
 state be formed by the junction of two or more states, or 
 parts of states, without the consent of the legislatures of 
 the states concerned, as well as of the congress. 
 
 2. The congress shall have power to dispose of and make 
 all needful rules and regulations respecting the territory 
 or other property belonging to the United States; and no- 
 thing in this constitution shall be so construed as to pre- 
 judice any claims of the United States, or of any particular 
 state. 
 
62 CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 Sect. IV. — The United States shall guaranty to every 
 state in this Union a republican form of government, and 
 shall protect each of them against invasion; and, on appli- 
 cation of the legislature, or of the executive, (when the 
 legislature cannot be convened,) against domestic vio- 
 lence. 
 
 ARTICLE V. 
 
 The congress, whenever two-thirds of both houses shall 
 deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this con- 
 stitution; or, on the application of the legislatures of two- 
 thirds of the several states, shall call a convention for pro- 
 posing amendments; which, in either case, shall be valid, 
 to all intents and purposes, as part of this constitution, 
 when ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the 
 several states, or by conventions in three-fourths thereof, 
 as the one or the other mode of ratification may be pro- 
 posed by the congress : provided, that no amendment which 
 may be made prior to the year one thousand eight hundred 
 and eight, shall, in any manner, affect the first and fourth 
 clauses in the ninth section of the first article ; and that no 
 state, without its consent, shall be deprived of its equal 
 suffrage in the senate. 
 
 ARTICLE VI. 
 
 1. All debts contracted, and engagements entered into, 
 before the adoption of this constitution, shall be as valid 
 against the United States, under this constitution, as under 
 the confederation. 
 
 2. This constitution, and the laws of the LTnited States 
 which shall be made in pursuance thereof, and all treaties 
 made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the 
 United States, shall be the supreme law of the land ; and 
 the judges in every state shall be bound thereby; any thing 
 in the constitution or laws of any state to the contrary 
 notwithstanding. 
 
 3. The senators and representatives before mentioned, 
 and the members of the several state legislatures, and all 
 executive and judicial officers, both of the United States 
 and of the several states, shall be bound by oath or affir- 
 mation to support this constitution : but no religious test 
 shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or 
 public trust under the United States. 
 
CONSTITUTION OP THE UNITED STATES. (53 
 
 ARTICLE VII. 
 
 The ratification of the conventions of nine states shall 
 be sufficient for the establishment of this constitution be- 
 tween the states so ratifying the same. 
 
 GEO. WASHINGTON, President. 
 
 William Jackson, Secretary. 
 
 AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION. 
 
 Art. I. — Congress shall make no law respecting an 
 establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise 
 thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the 
 press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and 
 to petition the government for a redress of grievances. 
 
 Art. II. — A well regulated militia being necessary to 
 the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep 
 and bear arms shall not be infringed. 
 
 Art. III. — No soldier shall, in time of peace, be quar- 
 tered in any house, without the consent of the owner; nor 
 in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law. 
 
 Art. IV. — The right of the people to be secure in their 
 persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable 
 searches and seizures, shall not be violated; and no war- 
 rants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by 
 oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place 
 to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. 
 
 Art. V. — No person shall be held to answer for a capital, 
 or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or 
 indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the 
 land or naval forces, or in the militia when in actual 
 service, in time of war or public danger; nor shall any 
 person be subject, for the same offence, to be twice put in 
 jeopardy of life or limb; nor be deprived of life, liberty, or 
 property, without due process of law; nor shall be com- 
 pelled, in any criminal case, to be a witness against him- 
 self; nor shall private property be taken for public use, 
 without just compensation. 
 
 Art. VI. — In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall 
 enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impar- 
 tial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall 
 
64 CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 have been committed, which district shall have been pre- 
 viously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the na- 
 ture and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with 
 the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for 
 obtaining witnesses in his favour; and to have the assist- 
 ance of counsel for his defence. 
 
 Art. VII. — In suits at common law, where the value in 
 controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial 
 by jury shall be preserved; and no fact tried by a jury shall 
 be otherwise re-examined in any court of the United States, 
 than according to the rules of the common law. 
 
 Art, VIII. — Excessive bail shall not be required, nor 
 excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punish- 
 ments inflicted. 
 
 Art. IX. — The enumeration in the constitution of cer- 
 tain rights shall not be construed to deny or disparage 
 others retained by the people. 
 
 Art. X. — The powers not delegated to the United States 
 by the constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are 
 reserved to the states respectively, or to the people. 
 
 Art. XI. — The judicial power of the United States shall 
 not be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, 
 commenced or prosecuted against one of the United States, 
 by citizens of another state, or by citizens or subjects of 
 any foreign state. 
 
 Art. XII. — 1. The electors shall meet in their respective 
 states, and vote by ballot for president and vice-president, 
 one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the 
 same state with themselves; they shall name, in their bal- 
 lots, the person voted for as president, and in distinct ballots 
 the person voted for as vice-president; and they shall make 
 distinct lists of all persons voted for as president, and of all 
 persons voted for as vice-president, and of the number of 
 votes for each, which list they shall sign and certify, and 
 transmit sealed to the seat of government of the United 
 States, directed to the president of the senate; the presi- 
 dent of the senate shall, in the presence of the senate and 
 house of representatives, open all the certificates, and the 
 votes shall then be counted : the person having the greatest 
 number of votes for president shall be the president, if 
 such number be a majority of the whole number of electors 
 appointed ; and if no person have such majority, then from 
 the persons having the highest numbers, not exceeding 
 
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. 65 
 
 three, on the list of those voted for as president, the house 
 of representatives shall choose immediately, by ballot, the 
 president. But in choosing the president, the vote shall be 
 taken by states, the representation from each state havincr 
 one vote: a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a mem- 
 ber or members from two-thirds of the states, and a ma- 
 jority of all the states shall be necessary to a choice. And 
 if the house of representatives shall not choose a president, 
 whenever the right of choice shall devolve upon them, be- 
 fore the fourth day of March next following, then the vice 
 president shall act as president, as in the case of the death, 
 or other constitutional debility, of the president. 
 
 2. The person having the greatest number of votes as 
 vice-president shall be the vice-president, if such number 
 be a majority of the whole number of electors appointed; 
 and if no person have a majority, then from the two highest 
 numbers on the list the senate shall choose the vice-presi- 
 dent: a quorum for the purpose shall consist of two-thirds 
 of the whole number of senators, and a majority of the 
 whole number shall be necessary to a choice. 
 
 3. But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office 
 of president shall be eligible to that of vice-president of 
 the United States. 
 
 Art. XIII. — If any citizen of the United States shall 
 accept, claim, receive, or retain any title of nobility or ho- 
 nour, or shall, without the consent of congress, accept and 
 retain any present, pension, office, or emolument of any 
 kind whatever, from any emperor, king, prince, or foreign 
 power, such person shall cease to be a citizen of the United 
 States, and shall be incapable of holding any office of trust 
 or profit under them, or either of them. 
 
ACCOUNT 
 
 OF THE 
 
 GRAND FEDERAL PROCESSION, 
 
 PHILADELPHIA, JULY 4, 1788. 
 
 TO WHICH IS ADDED 
 
 MR. WILSON'S ORATION. 
 
 On Friday, the fourth day of July, 1788, the citizens of 
 Philadelphia celebrated the Declaration of Independence 
 made by the thirteen United States of North America, on 
 the fourth of July, 1776, and the establishment of the con- 
 stitution, or frame of government, proposed by the late 
 general convention, and now solemnly adopted and ratified 
 by ten of those States. 
 
 The rising sun was saluted with a full peal from Christ 
 Church steeple, and a discharge of cannon from the ship 
 Rising Sun, commanded by Captain Philip Brown, an- 
 chored off Market Street, and superbly decorated with the 
 flags of various nations. Ten vessels, in honour of the ten 
 States of the Union, were dressed and arranged through 
 the whole length of the harbour, each bearing a broad white 
 flag at the masthead, inscribed with the names of the States 
 respectively in broad gold letters in the following order: — 
 New Hampshire opposite to the Northern Liberties; Mas- 
 sachusetts to Vine St.; Connecticut to Race St.; New 
 Jersey to Arch St.; Pennsylvania to Market St.; Delaware 
 to Chestnut St.; Maryland to Walnut St.; Virginia to 
 Spruce St. ; South Carolina to Pine St. ; and Georgia to 
 South St. The ships at the wharves were also dressed 
 on the occasion, and as a brisk wind prevailed through the 
 
ACCOUNT OP THE FEDERAL PROCESSION'. 67 
 
 whole day, the flags and pendants were kept in full display, 
 and exhibited a most pleasing and animating prospect. 
 
 According to orders issued the day before, the several 
 parts which were to compose the grand procession, began 
 to assemble at eight o'clock in the morning, at the inter- 
 section of South and Third streets. 
 
 Nine gentlemen, distinguished by white plumes in their 
 hats, and furnished with speaking trumpets, were superin- 
 tendents of the procession, namely, General Mifflin, Ge- 
 neral Stewart, Colonel Proctor, Colonel Gurney, Colonel 
 Will, Colonel Marsh, Major Moore, Major Lenox, and 
 Mr. Peter Brown. The different companies of military, 
 trades and professions had previously met at different 
 places in the city of their own appointment, where they 
 were separately formed by their officers and conductors, 
 and marched in order with their respective flags, devices, 
 and machines, to the place of general rendezvous. As these 
 companies arrived in succession, the superintendents dis- 
 posed of them in the neighbouring streets in such manner 
 as that they might easily fall into the stations they were to 
 occupy in forming the general procession, as they should 
 be successively called upon. By this means, the most 
 perfect order and regularity were effectually preserved. 
 
 After a strict review of the streets of the city, it had been 
 determined that the line of march should be as follows: to 
 commence at the intersection of South and Third Streets, 
 thence along Third to Callowhill Street; thence up Cal- 
 lowhill to Fourth Street; thence along Fourth to Marl^t 
 Street, and thence to Union Green, in front of Bush Hill, 
 "William Hamilton, Esq., having kindly offered the spacious 
 lawn before his house at Bush Hill for the purposes of the 
 day. The street commissioners had, the evening before, 
 gone through the line of march, and directed the pave- 
 ments to be swept, the trees to be lopped, and all obstacles 
 to be removed. 
 
 About half after nine o'clock, the grand procession began 
 to move ; of which the following is as correct a detail as 
 could be procured : 
 
 No. 1. 
 
 Twelve axe-men, dressed in white frocks, with black 
 girdles round their waists, and ornamented caps, headed 
 by Major Philip Pancake. 
 
68 ACCOUNT OF THE 
 
 No. 2. 
 
 The first city troop of light dragoons, commanded by- 
 Captain Miles. 
 
 No. 3. 
 
 INDEPENDENCE. 
 
 John Nixon, Esq., on horseback, bearing the staff and 
 cap of liberty; under the cap, a silk flag with the words, 
 "fourth of July, 1776," in large gold letters. 
 
 No. 4. 
 
 Four pieces of artillery, with a detachment from the 
 train commanded by captains Morrel and Fisher. 
 
 No. 5. 
 FRENCH ALLIANCE. 
 
 Thomas Fitzsimmons, Esq., on horseback, carrying a 
 flag of white silk, having three fleurs-de-lys and thirteen 
 stars in union over the words "sixth of February, 1778," 
 in gold letters. The horse he rode belonged formerly to 
 Count Rochambeau. 
 
 No. 6. 
 
 Corps of light infantry, commanded by Captain A. G. 
 Claypoole, with the standard of the first regiment. 
 
 No. 7. 
 
 DEFINITIVE TREATY OF PEACE. 
 
 George Clymer, Esq., on horseback, carrying a staff 
 adorned with olive and laurel. The words "third of Sep- 
 tember, 1783," in gold letters pendent from the staff. 
 
 No. 8. 
 
 Colonel John Shee, on horseback, carrying a flag, blue 
 field, with a laurel and an olive wreath over the words 
 "Washington, the friend of his country," in silver letters; 
 the staff adorned with olive and laurel. 
 
 No, 9. 
 
 The city troop of light dragoons, Captain William Bing- 
 ham, commanded by Major W. Jackson. 
 
GRAND FEDERAL PROCESSION. 69 
 
 No. 10. 
 Richard Bache, Esq., on horseback, as a herald, at- 
 tended bj a trumpet, proclaiming a new era; the words 
 "new era," in gold letters, pendent from the herald's staff, 
 and the following lines: 
 
 "Peace o'er our land her olive wand extends, 
 And white-rob'd innocence from heaven descends; 
 The crimes and frauds of anarchy shall fail, 
 Returning justice lifts again her scale." 
 
 No. 11. 
 CONVENTION OF THE STATES. 
 The Hon. Peter Muhlenberg, Esq., on horseback, with 
 a blue flag; the words "seventeenth of September, 1787/' 
 in silver letters. 
 
 No. 12. 
 
 A band of music, performing a grand march, composed 
 by Mr. Alexander Reinagle for the occasion. 
 
 No. 13. 
 THE CONSTITUTIO]^. 
 The Hon Chief Justice M'Kean, the Hon. Judge Rush, 
 and the Hon. Judge Atlee (in their robes of office,) in a 
 lofty, ornamental car, in the form of a large eagle, drawn 
 by six horses, bearing the constitution, framed, and fixed 
 on a staff, crowned with the cap of liberty. The words, 
 "the people," in gold letters, on the staff, immediately 
 under the constitution. The car was made by George and 
 William Hunter; the carriage painted light blue, twenty 
 feet long, hind wheels eight feet, and the front six feet and 
 a half in diameter; the body, fixed on springs, was thirteen 
 feet high, in the shape of a bald eagle; from head to tail, 
 thirteen feet long; the breast emblazoned with thirteen 
 silver stars, in a sky-blue field, and underneath, thirteen 
 stripes, alternately red and white. The dexter talon em- 
 braced an olive branch, the sinister grasped thirteen ar- 
 rows. 
 
 No. 14. 
 Corps of light infantry, commanded by captain Hey- 
 sham, with the standard of the third regiment. 
 
 No. 15. 
 Ten gentlemen, representing the states that have rati- 
 fied the federal constitution ; each bearing a flag with the 
 
 10 
 
70 ACCOUNT OF THE 
 
 name of the state he represented, in gold letters, and walk- 
 ing arm in arm, emblematical of the Union, namely, No. 1. 
 Duncan Ingraham, Esq., New Hampshire; 2. Jonathan 
 Williams, Esq., Massachusetts; 3. Jared Ingersoll, Esq., 
 Connecticut; 4, Samuel Stockton, Esq., New Jersey; 
 5. James Wilson, Esq., Pennsylvania; 6. Col. Thomas 
 Robinson, Delaware; 7. Hon. J. E. Howard, Esq., Mary- 
 land; 8. Col. Febiger, Virginia; 9. W. Ward Burrows, 
 Esq., South Carolina; 10. George Meade, Esq., Georgia. 
 
 No. 16. 
 
 Colonel William Williams, on horse-back, in armour, 
 bearing on his left arm a shield, emblazoned with the arms 
 of the United States. 
 
 No. 17. 
 
 The Montgomery troop of light-horse, commanded by 
 Captain James Morris. 
 
 No. 18. 
 
 The consuls and representatives of foreign States in al- 
 liance with America, in an ornamented car, drawn by four 
 horses. Captain Thomas Bell, with the flag of the United 
 States of America. Barbe de Marbois, Esquire, vice con- 
 sul of France. J. H. C. Heineken, Esquire, consul of the 
 United Netherlands. Charles Hellstedt, Esquire, consul- 
 general of Sweden. Charles W. Lecke, Esquire, carrying 
 the flag of Prussia. Thomas Barclay, Esquire, carrying 
 the flag of Morocco. 
 
 No. 19. 
 
 The Honourable Francis Hopkinson, Esquire, judge of 
 admiralty, wearing in his hat a gold anchor pendent on a 
 green riband, preceded by the register's clerk, carrying a 
 green bag filled with rolls of parchment, and having the 
 word admiralty in large letters on the front of the bag. 
 James Read, Esquire, register, wearing a silver pen in his 
 hat. Clement Biddle, Esquire, marshal, carrying a silver 
 oar, adorned with green ribands. 
 
 No. 20. 
 The wardens of the port, and tonnage officer. 
 
GRAND FEDERAL PROCESSION. 71 
 
 No. 21. 
 Collector of the customs, and naval officer. 
 
 No. 22. 
 
 Peter Baynton, Esquire, as a citizen, and colonel Isaac 
 Melchor as an Indian chief, in a carriage, smoking the 
 calumet of peace together. The Sachem magnificently 
 dressed, according to the Indian custom; his head adorned 
 with scarlet and white plumes; jewels of silver hanging 
 from his nose and ears ; ten strings of wampum round his 
 neck; the broad belt of peace and brotherly love in his hand; 
 and ornamented vest and other decorations suitable to the 
 character. 
 
 No. 23. 
 
 The Berks county Troop, consisting of thirty dragoons, 
 commanded by Captain Philip Strubing. 
 
 No. 24. 
 
 The new roof, or grand federal edifice, on a carriage 
 drawn by ten white horses, the dome supported by thir- 
 teen Corinthian columns, raised on pedestals proper to that 
 order; the frieze decorated with thirteen stars; ten of the 
 columns complete, and three left unfinished: on the pedes- 
 tals of the columns were inscribed, in ornamented ciphers, 
 the initials of the thirteen American States. On the top of 
 the dome, a handsome cupola, surmounted by a figure of 
 Plenty, bearing her cornucopia, and other emblems of her 
 character. The dimensions of this building were as fol- 
 low: ten feet in diameter, eleven feet to the top of the 
 cornice, the dome four feet high, the cupola five feet high, 
 the figure of Plenty, three feet six inches; the carriage on 
 which it was mounted, three feet high; the whole thirty-six 
 feet in height. Round the pedestal of the edifice were 
 these words: — <'In union the fabric stands firm." This 
 elegant building was begun and finished in the short 
 space of four days, by Mr. William Williams & Co. The 
 grand edifice was followed by architects and house car- 
 penters, in number four hundred and fifty, carrying in- 
 signia of the trade, and preceded by Messrs. Benjamin 
 Loxley, Gunning Bedford, Thomas Nevel, Levi Budd, 
 Joseph Ogilby and William Roberts, displaying designs 
 in architecture, &c. Mr. George Engles bore the house 
 
72 ACCOUNT OF THE 
 
 carpenters' standard — the company's arms properly embla- 
 zoned on a white field — motto, "justice and benevolence." 
 To this corps, the saw-makers and file-cutters attached 
 themselves, headed by Messrs. John Harper and William 
 Cook, and carrying a flag, with a hand and saw-mill saw, 
 gilt on a pink field. On the floor of the grand edifice, 
 were placed ten chairs, for the accommodation of ten gen- 
 tlemen, namely, Messrs. Hillary Baker, George Latimer, 
 John Wharton, John Nesbit, Samuel Morris, John Brown, 
 Tench Francis, Joseph Anthony, John Chaloner, and Ben- 
 jamin Fuller. These gentlemen sat as representatives of 
 the citizens at large, to whom the federal constitution was 
 committed previous to the ratification. When the grand 
 edifice arrived safe at Union Green, these gentlemen gave 
 up their seats to the representatives of the states, enume- 
 rated above in article 15th, who entered the temple, and 
 hung their flags on the Corinthian columns to which they 
 respectively belonged. In the evening, the grand edifice, 
 with the ten states now in union, was brought back in 
 great triumph, and with loud huzzas, to the State House, 
 in Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. 
 
 No. 25. 
 
 The Pennsylvania Society of Gincinnatus, and militia 
 officers. 
 
 No. 26. 
 
 Corps of light infantry, commanded by Captain Rose, 
 with the standard of the fifth regiment. 
 
 No. 27. 
 
 The Agricultural Society, headed by their president, 
 Samuel Powel, Esq. A flag borne by Major Samuel 
 Hodgdon, on a buff-coloured ground in an oval compart- 
 ment. Industry represented by a ploughman, driving a 
 plough drawn by oxen, followed at a small distance by the 
 goddess of Plenty, bearing a cornucopia in her left and a 
 sickle in her right hand; in the back ground, a view of an 
 American farm — motto, "venerate the plough." 
 
 No. 28. 
 
 Farmers, headed by Richard Peters, Richard Willing, 
 Samuel Meredith, Isaac Warner, George Gray, William 
 Pejltz,.— — Burkhart, and Charles Willing. Two ploughs, 
 
GRAND FEDERAL PROCESSION. 73 
 
 the one drawn by four oxen, and directed by Kichard 
 Willing, Esq., in a farmer's dress, Mr. Charles Willing-, 
 in the character of a plough-boy, driving the oxen; the 
 other drawn by two horses, and directed by Mr. Burkhart, 
 followed by a sower, sowing seed, farmers, millers, &c. 
 
 No. 29. 
 
 The Manufacturing Society, with the spinning and 
 carding machines, looms, &c., Mr. Gallaudet bearing a 
 flag, the device of w4iich was a bee-hive, with bees issuing 
 from it, standing in the beams of a rising sun; the field of 
 the flag blue, and the motto "in its rays we shall feel new 
 vigour," written in golden characters. Robert Hare, Esq., 
 managers of the society, subscribers to the society, com- 
 mittee for managing tlie manufacturing fund, subscribers 
 to the manufacturinoj fund. The carriao^e of the manufac- 
 turers is in length thirty feet, in breadth thirteen feet, and 
 the same height, neatly covered with white cotton of their 
 manufacture, and was drawn by ten large bay horses; on 
 this carriage was placed the carding machine, worked by 
 two persons, and carding cotton at the rate of fifty pounds 
 weight per day; next a spinning machine of eighty spin- 
 dles, worked by a woman (a native of and instructed in 
 this city) drawing cotton suitable for fine jeans or federal 
 rib; on the right of the stage was next placed a lace loom, 
 a workman weaving a rich scarlet and white livery lace ; 
 on the left, a man weaving jean on a large loom, with a 
 fly shuttle. Behind the looms, was fixed the apparatus of 
 Captain John Hewson (who first introduced the calico 
 printing into the then British colonies of North America, 
 in the year 1773,) printing muslins of an elegant chintz 
 pattern, and Mr. William Lang (from London) designing 
 and cutting prints for shawls and other chintz figures ; on 
 the right were seated Mrs. Hewson and her four daughters, 
 pencilling a piece of neat sprigged chintz, (three of the then 
 young ladies are still living, and the eldest is the publisher 
 of this work.) Captain Hewson, wife and four daughters; 
 all dressed in cotton of their own manufacture; on the back 
 part of the carriage, on a lofty staff", was displayed the 
 calico printers' flag; in the centre, thirteen stars in a 
 blue field, and thirteen red stripes in a white field; 
 round the edges of the flag were printed thirty-seven 
 different prints of various colours (one of them a very ele- 
 
74 ACCOUNT OF THE 
 
 gant bed, furniture chintz of six colours) as specimens of 
 printing clone at Philadelphia. Motto, " May the union go- 
 vernment protect the manufactures of America." 
 
 Then followed the weavers' flag, a rampant lion in a 
 green field, holding a shuttle in his dexter paw. Motto, 
 "May government protect us.'' Behind the flag walked 
 the weavers of the factory, accompanied by other citizens 
 of the same trade, in number about one hundred; the 
 cotton card makers annexed themselves to this society. 
 
 No. 30. 
 Corps of light infantry, commanded by Captain Ro- 
 binson, with the standard of the sixth regiment. 
 
 No. 31. 
 THE MARINE SOCIETY. 
 Captain William Greenway, carrying a globe, supported 
 by Captains Heysham and Alberson, with spy-glasses in 
 their hands; ten captains, five abreast, with quadrants, re- 
 presenting the ten states that have joined the Union, name- 
 ly, John Woods, John Ashmead, William Miller, Samnel 
 Howel, John Souder, Robert Bethel, William Allen, Wil- 
 liam Tanner, Leeson Simons, and George Atkinson. Mem- 
 bers of the society, six abreast, with trumpets, spy-glasses, 
 charts, and sundry other implements of their profession, 
 wearing badges in their hats, representing a ship: — eighty- 
 nine in number. 
 
 No. 32. 
 THE FEDERAL SHIP UNION, 
 
 Mounting twenty guns, commanded by John Green, 
 Esq., Messrs. S. Smith, AV. Belcher and Mercer, lieute- 
 nants ; four boys in uniform as midshipmen. The crew, in- 
 cluding officers, consisted of tw^enty-five men. The ship 
 Union is thirty-three feet in length, her width and depth 
 in due proportion. Her bottom is the barge of the ship 
 Alliance, and is the same barge which formerly belonged 
 to the Serapis, and was taken in the memorable engage- 
 ment of Captain Paul Jones, of the Bonne Homme Richard 
 with the Serapis. The Union is a master-piece of elegant 
 workmanship, perfectly proportioned and complete through- 
 out; decorated with emblematical carving. And what is 
 truly astonishing, she was begun and completed in less 
 than four days, namely, begun at eleven o'clock on Monday 
 
GRAND FEDERAL PROCESSION. 75 
 
 morning, the thirtieth of June, 1788, and on the field of 
 rendezvous on Thursday evening following, fully prepared 
 to join the grand procession. The workmanship and ap- 
 pearance of this beautiful object commanded universal ad- 
 miration and applause, and did high honour to the artists 
 of Philadelphia, who were concerned in her construction. 
 She was mounted on a carriage made for the purpose, and 
 drawn by ten horses. A sheet of canvass was tacked all 
 round along the water line, and extending over a light 
 frame, hung to the ground, so as entirely to conceal the 
 wheels and machinery. This canvass was painted to re- 
 present the sea, so that nothing incongruous appeared to 
 offend the eye. The ceremonies in setting sail, receiving 
 the pilot on board, trimming her sails to the wind, accord- 
 ing to the several courses of the line of march, throwing 
 the lead, her arrival at Union Green, casting anchor, being 
 hailed and welcomed with three cheers, and the captain 
 forwarding his despatches to the president of the United 
 States, &c., &c., were all performed with the strictest ma- 
 ritime propriety; but neither time nor space allotted for this 
 account, will permit such a detail as would do justice to 
 the conduct of Captain Green and his crew, and to the ar- 
 chitects and the several workmen concerned in this beauti- 
 ful feature in our grand procession. The ship was followed 
 by pilots of the port, with their boat ("named the federal 
 pilot,") under the command of Isaac Roach, who sheared 
 along side the ship Union at the place appointed, and put 
 Mr. Michael Dawson on board, as pilot, then took his sta- 
 tion with his boat in the procession, and on her arrival, 
 attended and took the pilot off again. Ship carpenters, 
 headed by Messrs. Francis Grice and John Norris, with 
 the draft of a ship on the stocks, and cases of instruments 
 in their hands; a flag bearing a ship on the stocks carried 
 by Manuel Eyres, Esq., supported by Messrs. Harrison, 
 Kice, Brewster, and Humphreys; followed by mast makers, 
 caulkers and workmen, to the amount of three hundred 
 and thirty, all wearing a badge in their hats, representing 
 a ship on the stocks, and a green sprig of white oak. 
 
 BOAT BUILDERS. 
 
 A frame representing a boat builder's shop, eighteen feet 
 long, eight feet wide, and thirteen feet high, mounted on a 
 On the top of the frame, the ship Union's barge, 
 
7G ACCOUNT OF THE 
 
 elegantly finished, an ensign staff and flag, blue field, quar- 
 tered with thirteen stripes, and bearing an axe and adze 
 crossing each other. Motto, "By these we live." The 
 barge ten feet long, manned with a coxswain and six little 
 boys as bargemen, in a beautiful uniform of white, deco- 
 rated with blue ribands. On the platform Tinderneath, se- 
 ven hands buildinof a boat thirteen feet long-, which was 
 set up and nearly completed during the procession. (It 
 will be manifest the number above mentioned has refe- 
 rence to the thirteen states of America, the twelve states 
 represented in the late general convention, and the ten 
 states now united under the new constitution.) The whole 
 machine was contrived with great skill, and drawn by 
 four bright bay horses, belonging to and under the conduct 
 of Mr. Jacob Toy, of the Northern Liberties, followed by 
 forty boat builders, headed by Messrs. Bowyer Brooks and 
 Warwick Hale. 
 
 SAIL MAKERS. 
 
 A flag, carried by captain Joseph Rice, representing the 
 inside view of a sail-loft, with masters and men at work : 
 on the top thirteen stars; in the fly, five vessels, — Motto, 
 " May commerce flourish, and industry be rewarded." 
 Followed by a number of masters, journeymen and ap- 
 prentices. 
 
 SHIP JOINERS. 
 
 Nicholas Young, conductor: his son carrying a cedar 
 staff before him; Robert M'Mullen, master workman: 
 William M'Mullen and Samuel Ormes, carrying the com- 
 pany's arms on a flag, namely, a binnacle and hen coop, 
 crooked planes and other tools of that profesvsion, proper; 
 thirteen stripes and thirteen stars, ten in full splendour. 
 Motto, " By these w^e support our families." Followed by 
 twenty-five of the trade, wearing cedar branches in their 
 hats. 
 
 ROPE MAKERS AND SHIP CHANDLERS. 
 
 The flag carried in front by Richard Tittermary; repre- 
 senting a rope-yard, with ten men spinning, and three stand- 
 ing idle, with their hemp around their v/aists; emblematical 
 of the present situation of the thirteen states; with a motto, 
 " May commerce flourish." Next in front, as leaders, were 
 John Tittermary, sen., and George Goodwin, being the 
 
GRAND FEDERAL PROCESSION, 77 
 
 oldest belonging to the calling; followed by the other gentle- 
 men of the profession, with a piece of rope and hemp in 
 their hands ; and the journeymen and apprentices in the 
 rear, with hemp around their waists, and their spinning 
 clouts in their hands — about sixty in number. 
 
 MERCHANTS AND TRADERS. 
 Their standard was the flag of a merchant ship of the 
 United States. In the union were ten illuminated stars, and 
 three traced round in silver, but not yet illuminated. On 
 one side of the flag, a ship, the Pennsylvania, with an in- 
 scription, "July 4th, 1788." On the reverse of the flag a 
 globe, over which was inscribed, in a scroll, "par tout le 
 monde." The staff", on which the flag was displayed, ter- 
 minated in a silver cone, on which was a ring suspending 
 a mariner's compass. The standard was borne by Mr. 
 Jonathan Nesbit, preceding the merchants and traders. 
 Thomas Willing, Esq., Messrs. Charles Petit, John Wil- 
 cocks, John Ross, and Tench Coxe. The body of the 
 merchants and traders. Next followed the clerks and ap- 
 prentices of the merchants and traders, preceded by Mr. 
 Saintonge, bearing a large ledger. Corps of light infantry, 
 commanded by Captain Sproat, with the standard of the 
 fourth regiment. 
 
 TRADES AND PROFESSIONS. 
 
 N. B. The order of the several trades, except house car- 
 penters and those concern(3d in the construction and fitting 
 out a ship, was determined by lot. 
 
 No. 33. 
 CORDWAINERS. 
 
 A carriage drawn by four horses, representing a cordwai- 
 ner's shop, in which six men were actually at work; the 
 shop hung round with shoes, boots, &c. Mr. Alexander 
 Rutherford, conductor. Mr. Elisha Gordon, and Mr. Mar- 
 tin Beish, assistants, followed by a committee of nine, 
 three abreast. 
 
 Mr. James Roney, Jun., standard bearer. The standard, 
 — the cordvvainers' arms, on a crimson field; above, the 
 arms, CRISPIN, holding a laurel branch in his right hand, 
 and a scroll of parchment in his left. Followed by about 
 three hundred cord wainers, six a-breast, each wearing a 
 white leathern apron, embellished with the company's 
 arms richly painted. 
 11 
 
78 ACCOUNT OF THE 
 
 No. 34. 
 COACH PAINTERS. 
 
 With a flag-, ornamented with the insignia of the art, car- 
 ried by Mr. John Young, followed by ten of the profession, 
 carrying pallettes and pencils in their hands. 
 
 No. 35. 
 CABINET AND CHAIR MAKERS. 
 
 Mr. Jonathan Gostelow, carrying the scale and dividers; 
 Mr. Jedediah Snowden, with the rules of architecture; four 
 of the oldest masters; Mr. James Jjee, attended by three 
 masters, bearing the standard, or cabinet makers' arms, 
 elegantly painted and gilt on a blue field, ornamented with 
 thirteen stars, ten of which were gilt, the other three were 
 unfinished; below the arms, two hands united. Motto, " By 
 unity we support society." The masters, six a-breast, 
 wearing linen aprons, and bucks' tails in their hats. 
 
 The work-shop, seventeen feet long, and fourteen feet 
 high, by nine feet eight inches wide, on a carriage drawn 
 by four horses. At each end of the shop ten stars. Two 
 signs, inscribed, " federal cabinet and chair shop," one on 
 each side. Mr. John Brown, with journeymen and appren- 
 tices at work in the shop. The shop followed by journey- 
 men and apprentices six. a-breast, all wearing linen aprons, 
 and bucks' tails in their hats. The aprons were of Ameri- 
 can manufacture. One hundred in the train. 
 
 No. 36. 
 BRICK MAKERS, 
 
 Carrying a large flag of green silk, on which was repre- 
 sented a brick-yard, hands at work, a kiln burning. At a 
 little distance, a federal city building. Motto, " It was 
 found hard in Egypt;" " but this prospect makes it easy." 
 Ten master brick-makers, headed by Mr. David Rose, sen., 
 and followed by one hundred workmen in frocks and trow- 
 sers, with tools, &c. 
 
 No. 37. 
 HOUSE, SHIP, AND SIGN PAINTERS. 
 
 Arms, three shields argent on a field azure ; crest, a hand 
 holding a brush, proper; motto, " Virtue alone is true nobi- 
 lity." The stage was fourteen feet long by ssven wide; on 
 
GRAND FEBERAL PROCESSION, 79 
 
 it a mill for manufacturing colours, a glazing table, with a 
 stone for grinding paint; a stage furnished with pots, sashes, 
 tools, &c. The business on the stage, conducted by Messrs. 
 Stride, Wells, Co wen, Deveter and M'Elwee. Flag borne 
 by Mr. Fausburg, as oldest painter, supported by Messrs. 
 Flin and FuUerton: the rest of the company marching six 
 a-breast, with gilded brushes, diamonds, gold hammers, 
 glazing knives, &c. sixty-eight in procession. 
 
 No. 38. 
 PORTERS. 
 Led by John Lawrence and George Green; on each side 
 ■ a porter, dressed with a silk sash, leading a horse and dray, 
 with five barrels of superfine flour. The horse richly de- 
 corated with blue, white, and red ribands. The words 
 "Federal flour," painted on the heads of the barrels; fol- 
 lowed by John Jacobs and forty porters. A light blue silk 
 standard borne by David Sparks, on which were exhibited 
 ten stripes and thirteen stars, three of them clouded, the 
 rest in full splendour: also a horse and dray with four bar- 
 rels on the dray, and a porter loading a fifth. Motto, " May 
 industry ever be encouraged." The standard followed by 
 a number of men, and the rear closed by Andrew Dryer 
 and Joseph Griswold. The officers all dressed with silk 
 sashes, and officers and men wearing white aprons, tied on 
 with blue silk ribands, and carrying in their hands whips 
 ornamented with blue, and red, and white ribands. The 
 five barrels of federal flour were, after the procession, de- 
 livered to the overseers, for the use of the poor. 
 
 No. 39. 
 CLOCK AND WATCH MAKERS. 
 
 The company's arms neatly painted on a silk flag. Motto, 
 *' time rules all things." Headed by Mr. John Wood, and 
 followed by twenty-three members of the company. 
 
 No. 40. 
 FRINGE AND RIBAND WEAVERS. 
 
 Mr. John Williams, bearing a blue staff, capped with a 
 gilt ball, across the staff ten wires, to which were sus- 
 pended implements, and a great variety of specimens of 
 the art. The fringe, lace and line shuttles were each filled 
 with a quill of shute, to show that they were in employ; 
 
80 ACCOUNT OF THE 
 
 the riband shuttle empty, to show that it is, as yet, unem- 
 ployed. In the gilt ball was fixed a wire eighteen inches 
 long, from which flowed a riband of ten stripes. Imme- 
 diately below the cross wire, a paper inscribed with yerses, 
 composed by Mr. WiHiams on the occasion. 
 
 No. 41. 
 BRICK LAYERS, 
 
 Headed by Messrs. Nicholas Hicks, William Johnson 
 and Jacob Graff, with their aprons on, and trowels in their 
 hands — a flag with the following device : the bricklayers' 
 arms; the federal city rising out of a forest, workmen build- 
 ing it, and the sun illuminating it. Motto, "both build- 
 ings and rulers are the works of our hands." The flag 
 carried by Messrs. Charles Souder, William Mash and 
 Joseph Wilds, with their aprons, and supported by Messrs. 
 John Robbins, Peter Woglom, Thomas Mitchell, John 
 Boyd, Burton Wallace, Michael Groves, John Souder, 
 Edward M'Kaighen, Alexander M'Kinley; ten master 
 bricklayers, with their aprons on, and their trowels and 
 plumb-rules in their hands — followed by fifty -five masters 
 and journeymen, in their aprons, and carrying trowels in 
 their hands. 
 
 No. 42. 
 
 TAILORS, 
 
 Preceded by Messrs. Barker, Stille, Martin and Tatem, 
 carrying a white flag, with the company's arms in gold, 
 supported by two camels. Motto, " by union our strength 
 increases.'' Followed by two hundred and fifty of the 
 trade. 
 
 No. 43. 
 
 INSTRUMENT MAKERS, TURNERS, WINDSOR CHAIR, 
 AND SPINNING WHEEL MAKERS, 
 
 Conducted by Captain John Cornish; Mr. John Stow 
 bearing the standard, the turners' arms, with the addition 
 of a spinning-wheel on one side, and a Windsor chair on 
 the other. Motto, "by faith we obtain." Messrs. George 
 Stow and Michael Fox carrying columns, representing the 
 several branches of turning. Messrs. Anthony and Mason, 
 with a group of musical instruments, followed by sixty 
 persons dressed in green aprons. 
 
GKAND FEDERAL PROCESSION. 81 
 
 No. 44. 
 CARVERS AND GILDERS. 
 
 The carvers and gilders exhibited an ornamental car, 
 on a federal plan, being thirteen feet by ten on the floor, 
 on which were erected thirteen pilasters, richly ornamented 
 with carved work, the heads of ten gilt and labelled with 
 the names of the several states arranged as they came into 
 the federal union; the remaining three left partly finished; 
 about three feet above the floor, a level rail united to the 
 pilasters, denoting the equality of the subjects. In the 
 centre a column, with a twining laurel running in a spiral 
 form to the capping, which was ten feet high, on the top of 
 which, was placed a bust of General Washington, crowned 
 with a wreath of laurel, and dressed in the American uni- 
 form, with the thirteen stars on a collar; the whole sup- 
 ported by ten tight stays, leading from the finished pilas- 
 ters to the cap of the column, from whence hung three 
 slack stays, leading to the unfinished pilasters; over the 
 general's bust the American standard was displayed. 
 
 In the centre of the front, the head of Phidias, the most 
 eminent of the ancient carvers, with emblematic figures 
 supporting it; inside of the front rail a large figure for the 
 head of a ship, richly carved and painted; the whole out- 
 side of the car decorated with the figures of the seasons, 
 the cardinal virtues, and other devices in carved work. 
 Before the car walked the artists of the several branches, 
 preceded by Mr. Cutbush, ship-carver, and Mr. Reynolds 
 and Mr. Jugiez, house, furniture, and coach carvers, with 
 young artists going before, decorated with blue ribands 
 round their necks, to which were suspended medallions, 
 blue ground, with ten burnished gold stars, one bearing a 
 figure of Ceres, representing Agriculture; another. Fame, 
 blowing her trumpet, announcing to the world the federal 
 union; the middle one carrying a Corinthian column com- 
 plete, expressive of the domestic branches of carving. In 
 the car was a number of artists at work, superintended by 
 Mr. Rush, ship-carver, who planned and executed the car 
 with its principal ornaments. 
 
 No. 45. 
 COOPERS, 
 Led on by Mr. Daniel Dolbe — an elegant flag, bearing 
 the coopers' arms, embellished with thirteen stars — Motto, 
 
82 ACCOUNT or the 
 
 — " May commerce flourish — Love as brethren." Sap- 
 ported by Messrs. W. King, K. Babe and John Louch, 
 followed by one hundred and fifty coopers in white leathern 
 aprons, and wearing badges in tlieir hats, representing the 
 tools of the trade. 
 
 No. 46. 
 PLANE-MAKERS. 
 
 Mr. William Martin in front, bearing the standard, white 
 field, a smoothing plane on the top; device, a pair of spring 
 dividers, three planes, a brace, a square, and gauge; fol- 
 lowed by eight plane-makers — Motto — "Truth." 
 
 No. 47. 
 WHIP AND CANE MANUFACTURERS. 
 
 A machine on a carriage, a boy on it at work platting a 
 whip, followed by Mr. John M'Allister, and his journey- 
 men, carrying several articles of the trade. On the top 
 of the machine a flag, with this motto — " Let us encourage 
 our own manufactures." 
 
 No. 48. 
 BLACK-SMITHS, WHITE-SMITHS, AND NAILERS. 
 
 A machine drawn by nine horses, representing the fede- 
 ral blacksmiths', whitesmiths', and nailers' manufactory, 
 being a frame of ten by fifteen feet, and nine feet high, 
 with a real chimney extending three feet above the roof, 
 and furnished for use. In front of the building, three master 
 black-smiths, Messrs. Nathaniel Brown, Nicholas Mess 
 and William Perkins, supporting the standard, elegantly 
 ornamented with the smiths' arms. — Motto, "By hammer 
 in hand, all arts do stand." The manufactory w^as in full 
 employ during the procession. — Mr. John Mingle, and 
 his assistant. Christian Keyser, blacksmiths, completed a 
 set of plough-irons out of old swords, worked a sword into 
 a sickle, turned several horse-shoes, and performed several 
 jobs on demand. Mr. John Goodman, jr., whitesmith, 
 finished a complete pair of i)lyers, a knife and some ma- 
 chinery, with other w^ork, on demand. Messrs. Andrew 
 Fessinger and Benjamin Brummel, forged, finished and 
 sold a considerable number of spikes, nails, and broad tacks. 
 The whole was under the conduct of Messrs. Godfrey 
 
GRAND FEDERAL PROCESSION. 83 
 
 Gebbler, David Henderson, George Goddard, Jacob Ester, 
 Lewis Prahl and Jacob Eckfelt, and followed by two hun- 
 dred brother black-smiths, white-smiths, and nailers. 
 
 No. 49. 
 COACH MAKERS. 
 
 Preceded by Mr. John Bringhurst, in a phaeton drawn 
 by two horses, and bearing a draft of a coach on a white 
 silk flag, A stage nine feet high, sixteen feet long, and 
 eight feet wide, on a carriage drawn by four horses, repre- 
 senting their shop, with Mr. George Way, master-workman, 
 a body and carriage maker, a wheelwright, a trimmer, and 
 a harness-maker, all at work, and a painter ornamenting a 
 body; on each side of the stage, the woru <, **no tax on Ame- 
 rican carriages;" in the centre the standard of yellow silk, 
 emblazoned with the arms of the profession, namely. Three 
 coaches in a blue field, the chariot of the sun appearing 
 through the clouds — motto, "the clouds dispelled, we shine 
 forth;" the staff decorated with the implements of the 
 trade; ten masters, each bearing a yellow silk flag, with 
 the names of the states that have adopted the new federal 
 constitution, in letters of gold, on a blue field, five walking 
 before and five behind the stage; the whole followed by 
 workmen in the different branches of the trade, to the num- 
 ber of one hundred and fifty. 
 
 No. 50. 
 
 POTTERS. 
 
 A flag, on which was neatly painted a kiln burning, and 
 several men at work in the different branches of the business 
 — motto — " the potter hath power over his clay." A four- 
 wheeled carriage drawn by two horses, on which was a pot- 
 ter's wheel, and men at work: a number of cups, bowls, 
 mugs, &c., were made during the procession; the carriage 
 was followed by twenty potters, headed by Messrs. Christian 
 Piercy and Michael Gilbert, wearing linen aprons of Ame- 
 rican manufacture. 
 
 No. 51. 
 HATTERS. 
 
 Led by Mr. Andrew Tybout. The standard borne by 
 Mr. John Gordon, viz. on a white field a hat in hand, on 
 each side a tassel band; the crest, a beaver. — Motto on a 
 
84 ACCOUNT OP THE 
 
 crimson garter, in gold letters — " with the industry of the 
 beaver, we support our rights;" followed by one hundred 
 and twenty-four hatters. 
 
 No. 52. 
 WHEELWRIGHTS. 
 
 A stage drawn by two horses, with five men working 
 upon it; making a plough and a speed for a wagon wheel. 
 The standard a blue flag — motto — " the united wheel- 
 wrights." Followed by twenty-two of the trade, headed 
 by Messrs. Conrad Rohrman and Nicholas Reep. 
 
 No. 53. 
 TIN-PLATE WORKERS, 
 
 Preceded by Joseph Finaur and Martin Riser, carrying 
 by turns, a flag, bearing the arms of the company properly 
 emblazoned — followed by ten workmen in green aprons. 
 
 No. 54. 
 SKINNERS, BREECHES-MAKERS, AND GLOVERS. 
 
 Headed by Messrs. John Lisle and George Cooper; one 
 carrying in his hand a beaming knife, and the other a 
 paring knife: the standard borne by Mr. Shreiner, viz. on 
 one side a deer, and below it a glove; on the other, a gold- 
 en fleece, and below a pair of breeches — motto — " may our 
 manufacture be equal in its consumption to its usefulness." 
 Followed by fifty-eight of the trade in buckskin breeches 
 and o-loves, and wearinor bucks' tails in their hats. To these 
 Mr. Joseph Rogers, parchment and glue manufacturer, at- 
 tached himself 
 
 No. 55. 
 TALLOW-CHANDLERS. 
 
 Mr. Richard Porter, master. Two standards: first, the 
 company's arms, on a blue field, trimmed with white, three 
 doves with olive branches; over the arms, an angel bearing 
 St. John Baptist's head; on each side two blazing lamps. — 
 Motto, " let your light so shine." Second standard a repre- 
 sentation of a chandelier of thirteen branches, alighted candle 
 in each, and thirteen silver stars in a half circle. Liscrip- 
 tion — "the stars of America, a light to the world." Motto, 
 at the bottom of the chandelier — "united in one." The 
 uniform, blue and white cockades, blue aprons bound with 
 white, and a dove painted in the middle of each; a white 
 
GRAND FEDERAL PROCESSION. 85 
 
 rod surmounted by an olive branch, in each person's hand. 
 Twenty in number. 
 
 No. 56. 
 
 VICTUALLERS. 
 
 A flag, with this inscription — " the death of anarchy and 
 confusion. We feed the poor and hungry." Two axe-men 
 preceding two stately oxen, weighing 8000 lbs. Ten boys 
 dressed in white, five on the right, and five on the left of 
 the oxen, carrying small flags, with the names of the states 
 that have ratified the federal constitution; two cleaver 
 men; a band of music. Conductors — Messrs. Philip Hall, 
 George Woelpper, Philip Odenheimer, and Conrad Hoff", fol- 
 lowed by eighty-six master victuallers, all dressed in white. 
 The oxen were killed, and the hides and tallow sold for 
 bread, which was given, with the meat, to the poor. 
 
 No. 67. 
 
 PRINTERS, BOOKBINDERS, AND STATIONERS. 
 
 These united professions had . the federal printing press 
 erected on a stage nine feet square, which was drawn by 
 four gray horses; there were also, a frame, cases, and all 
 other implements necessary for the business. On the stage 
 were two press-men and a compositor at work. Mercury, 
 the god of intelligence, was personated by Mr. Durant, 
 who was dressed in character, having wings affixed to his 
 head and feet, a garland of flowers round his temples, and 
 a caducous in his hand. He distributed among the specta- 
 tors, some thousand copies of the following ode, written for 
 the occasion, by the Hon. F. Hopkinson, Esq., and printed 
 before and during the procession at the Federal Press. 
 
 Oh for a muse of fire! to mount the skies, 
 And to a list'ning world proclaim — 
 
 Behold! behold! an empire rise! 
 
 An era new, Time as he flies, 
 Hath enter'd in the book of Fame. 
 
 On Alleghany's tow'ring head 
 
 Echo shall stand — the tidings spread. 
 And o'er the lakes, and misty floods around, 
 An era new resound. 
 
 See! where Columbia sits alone, 
 
 And from her star-bespangled throne. 
 Beholds the gay procession move along, 
 And hears the trumpet, and the choral song — 
 12 
 
86 ACCOUNT or THE 
 
 She hears her sons rejoice — 
 
 Looks into future times, and sees 
 
 The num'rous blessings Heav'n decrees, 
 And with her plaudit, joins the gen'ral voice. 
 
 " Tis done! 'tis done! my sons," she cries, 
 
 "In war are valiant, and in council wise; [ 
 
 "Wisdom and valour shall my rights defend, 
 "And o'er my vast domain those rights extend; » 
 " Science shall flourisli — Genius stretch her wing, 
 "In native strains Columbian muses sing; 
 " Wealth crown the arts, and Justice clean her scales, 
 "Commerce her pond'rous anchor weigh, 
 
 " Wide spread her sails, 
 And in far distant seas her flag display. 
 
 " My sons for freedom fought, nor fought in vain.; 
 "But found a naked goddess was their gain: 
 "Good government alone can show the maid, 
 "In robes of social happiness array'd." 
 Hail to this festival! all hail the day! 
 Columbia's standard on her roof display; 
 And let the people's motto ever be, 
 « United thus, and thus united, free." 
 
 An ode, in the German language, fitted to the purpose, 
 and printed by Mr. Steiner, was also thrown among the peo- 
 ple as the procession moved along. Ten small packages, 
 containing the EngUsh ode and the list of toasts for the 
 day, were made up and addressed to the ten states in union 
 respectively; these were tied to pigeons, which at inter- 
 vals rose from Mercury's cap, and flew off, with the ac- 
 clamations of an admiring multitude. 
 
 Mr. William Sellers, Sen., bore the standard of the united 
 professions; arms, — azure, a chevron argent, charged with an 
 American bald-eagle volant, and two reams of paper, (corded, 
 over blue covers) between three books closed ; and in chief, 
 perched on the point of the chevron, a dove with an olive 
 branch; all proper. Supporters, two Fames, blowing their 
 trumpets, clothed with sky-blue flowing robes, spangled 
 stars, argent. Crest, a bible displayed, proper, on a wreath 
 azure and argent. .Under the escutcheon, two pens placed 
 saltier ways, proper. Motto — "we protect and are support- 
 ed by liberty." After the standard, masters of the com- 
 bined professions, followed by journeymen and apprentices, 
 each carrying a scroll tied with blue silk binding, exhibit- 
 ing the word "typographer," illuminated by ten stars in 
 union. Fifty in the train. 
 
GRAND FEDERAL PROCESSION. 87 
 
 No. 58. 
 SADDLERS. 
 
 A saddler's shop dressed with saddlery, and a variety of 
 ready-made work, elegant American plated furniture, &c. 
 drawn by two fine horses. In the shop Mr. Stephen Bur- 
 rows and a number of hands at work, one of whom (having 
 the different parts in readiness) completed a neat saddle 
 during the procession. The standard, carried by Messrs. 
 Jehoshaphat Polk and John Young, was of green silk, with 
 the company's arms elegantly painted and gilt. — Motto, 
 "our trust is in God." The company was headed by 
 Messrs. John Stephens and John Marr. Mr. William Hea- 
 ly, silver plater, joined himself to this corps, carrying a fe- 
 deral bit, of his own workmanship. 
 
 No 69. 
 STONE-CUTTERS. 
 
 Three apprentices before with tools, and two with the 
 orders of the operative lodge, one with the standard, in 
 mason's order; the rest followed with pieces of polished 
 marble. Twenty in number. 
 
 No. 60. 
 BREAD AND BISCUIT BAKERS. 
 
 A standard bearing the bread bakers' arms, properly 
 emblazoned — motto — "may our country never want bread." 
 Uniform, white shirts and full plaited aprons, quite round 
 the waist, with a light blue sash. A stage, with a baker's 
 oven six feet in diameter, and three hands at work as the 
 procession went on, directed by a master baker, who distri- 
 buted bread to the people as it came out of the oven. Head- 
 ed by Mr. George Mayer. 
 
 Biscuit bakers' standard — a white flag with the represen- 
 tation of a bake-house and several hands working in the 
 different branches of the business — motto, " may the fede- 
 ral government revive our trade." Messrs. Thomas Hop- 
 kins and Mathias Landenberger in front of twelve masters. 
 Messrs. John Peters, Senior, and William Echart, closed 
 the rear; each master carrying a small peel. The number 
 of bakers in procession one hundred and thirty. 
 
 No. 61. 
 GUNSMITHS. 
 A stage erected upon a four-wheel carriage, drawn by 
 
88 ACCOUNT OP THE 
 
 four horses, being in length fourteen feet, and in breadth 
 eight feet, with a motto in large letters on each side, " fede- 
 ral armory," with a number of hands at work, employed 
 in different branches of the trade, conducted by two senior 
 masters, viz. John Nicholson and Joseph Perkins; Abraham 
 Morrow bearing a standard at the head of the company, 
 in rear of the carriage, the standard decorated with sundry 
 devices representing the arms belonging to the trade. The 
 standard, a large white silk flag, with cross guns in the 
 middle, at the top of the cross guns the cap of liberty, with 
 the letters C P. (city proof;) underneath the guns, the cross 
 pistols, with the letter V (viewed;) at the end nearest the 
 staff, a powder cask; at the opposite end, the representation 
 of three balls. The uniform of the company, green baize 
 aprons with green strings. 
 
 No. 62. 
 COPPER-SMITHS. 
 
 A car fourteen by seven feet, drawn by four horses, with 
 three hands at work at stills and tea kettles, under the di- 
 rection of Mr. Benjamin Harbeson, 
 
 A standard with the arms of the trade, and other things, 
 emblematical, surrounded with thirteen stars, borne by 
 two masters; seventeen masters of the profession following. 
 
 No. 63. 
 
 GOLDSMITHS, SILVER-SMITHS AND JEWELLERS. 
 
 William Ball, Esq., Senior member, with an urn. 
 
 Standard bearers, Messrs. Joseph Gee and John Germon, 
 carrying a silk flag with the silver-smiths' arms on one 
 side of it — motto — "justitia virtutum regina." And on 
 the reverse the genius of America, holding in her hand a 
 silver urn, with the following motto : " the purity, brightness 
 and solidity of this metal are emblematical of that liberty 
 which we expect from the new constitution;'' her head sur- 
 rounded by thirteen stars, ten of them very brilliant, re- 
 presenting the states which have ratified ; two of them less 
 bright, representing New York and North Carolina, whose 
 ratifications are shortly expected; one with three dark 
 points and two light ones, an emblem of Rhode Island, and 
 one of equal lustre with the first ten just emerging from 
 the horizon, nearly one-half seen, for the rising state of Ken- 
 tucky ; after which followed the rest of the masters, with 
 their journeymen and apprentices : in all thirty-five. 
 
GRAND FEDERAL PROCESSION. S9 
 
 No. 64. 
 DISTILLERS. 
 
 On a standard of light blue silk a still, worm, tub, and 
 other implements of the business, neatly painted: the stand- 
 ard borne by Mr. Michael Shubert, and followed by twelve 
 distillers. 
 
 No. 65. 
 
 TOBACCONISTS. 
 
 Headed by Mr. John Kiley: the standard of white silk; 
 a tobacco plant w-ith tliirteen leaves, ten in perfection, three 
 not finished, a hogshead of tobacco on one side of the plant, 
 a roll of plug tobacco, bottle, and bladder of snuff; over the 
 plant on the other side are thirteen stars, ten silvered, and 
 shining bright, the other three not finished — carried by Mr. 
 Thomas Leiper: — motto — "success to the tobacco plant." 
 Each member with a green apron and blue strings, a plume 
 of the different kinds of tobacco leaves in his hat, and dif- 
 ferent tools of his profession in his hands. Conductors — 
 Messrs. Hamilton, Few, Stimble and Murphy. Seventy 
 in number. 
 
 No. 66. 
 
 BRASS FOUNDERS. 
 
 Mr. Daniel King, in a car drawn by four gray horses, 
 with emblematical numbers, colours, and a furnace in blast 
 during the whole procession. He furnished a three inch 
 howitzer, which was mounted and fired with the artillery 
 on Union Green; his journeymen and apprentices also 
 neatly executed several other articles in that ingenious 
 branch. The motto of the colours, " in vain the earth her 
 treasure hides." The whole was executed by Mr. King, 
 at his own expense. 
 
 No. 67. 
 STOCKING MANUFACTURERS. 
 
 Headed by Mr. George Freytag; thirty in number: their 
 colours white, with a pair of blue stockings across, a cap 
 above, finger mitt below encircled with a gilded heart, a 
 gilded crown wdth ten horns or points; on each, a blue 
 star; above all — Motto — "the union of the American stock- 
 ing manufacturers.^' 
 
 No. 68. 
 TANNERS AND CURRIERS. 
 
 Tanners, twenty-five in number, led by Mr. George Leib, 
 
90 ACCOUNT OP THE 
 
 carrying the flag with the company's arms. — Motto, " God 
 bo with us." 
 
 Curriers, led by Mr. George Oakley, carrying the flag 
 with the company's arms. Motto, " Spes nostra Deus." 
 Followed by thirty -four of the trade, each carrying a cur- 
 rying knife, and wearing a blue apron and jean coatee of 
 our new manufactory. 
 
 No. 69. 
 UPHOLSTERERS,, 
 
 Headed by Messrs. John Mason and John Davis. In 
 front, a cushion with its drapery, on which fluttered a dove 
 with an olive branch in its mouth, and on its head a double 
 scroll. Motto, "Be liberty thine." Followed by a cab- 
 riole sofa decorated. 
 
 No. 70. 
 SUGAR-REFINERS, 
 
 Conducted by the Honourable Christopher Kucher, Cap- 
 tain Jacob Lawerswyler, Messrs. Benjamin Pennington, 
 John Morgan, David Miercken, Adam Cornman and Hen- 
 ry Clause, wearing black cockades, blue sashes and white 
 aprons, with a blue standard : Arms — or, on a staff, erect 
 in pale, proper, a cap of liberty, azure, turned up ermine; 
 placed between two sugar loaves in fess, covered with blue 
 paper : on a chief of the third, thirteen stars argent ; crest, 
 a lighted candle, in a candle-stick inscribed on the foot with 
 the word " proof," proper — Motto, in a scroll over the crest, 
 "Double refined." The whole ornamented with sugar 
 canes; two of which are placed, saltier ways, under the 
 escutcheon, and extending up the sides thereof. Under 
 the arms, the words, " American manufacture." The stan- 
 dard was followed by thirty-six persons of the trade, with 
 white aprons, (on which were painted sugar-loaves, marked 
 ten) and bearing the various implements of the business. 
 
 No. 71. 
 
 BREWERS. 
 
 Ten in number, headed by Reuben Haines, with ten ears 
 of barley in their hats, and sashes of hop-vines, carrying 
 malt-shovels and mashing oars; one dray loaded with malt 
 and hops, and one loaded with two hogsheads and a butt, 
 marked, '' beer, ale, porter," with the following inscription. 
 
GRAND FEDERAL PROCESSION. 91 
 
 " proper drink for Americans ;'' a standard carried by Luke 
 Morris, decorated with the brewers' arms. Motto, " Home 
 brewed is best." 
 
 No. 72! 
 
 PERUKE-MAKERS AND BARBER-SURGEONS. 
 
 Preceded by Messrs. Perrie and Tautwine, full dressed. 
 The standard, a white field with the arms of the company, 
 and other devices suited to the occasion, namely, a pillar, 
 the emblem of strength, with a cap of liberty, supported 
 by twelve hands, in gules, representing the twelve con- 
 curring states that called the grand convention; a pelican 
 and her young, in a field, azure, the arms of the barber 
 surgeons; a goat rampant, in full coat, argent, in a field, 
 sable, the arms of the peruke-makers; with two arms ex- 
 tended at top, hand in hand, the emblem" of union and 
 friendship; supporters to the arms, a land and river horse, 
 with ornaments. Motto, " united we stand." 
 
 The treasurer of the company — the trustees — the com- 
 pany by seniority, hand in hand, six abreast, consisting of 
 seventy -two, each wearing a white sash, with a black relief 
 down the middle, and cockades of the same, in honour of 
 the first and great ally of the United States. 
 
 No. 73. 
 ENGRAVERS. 
 
 Their armorial insignia (devised for the occasion) were 
 — Or, on a chevron engrailed, gules (between a parallel 
 ruler, sable, barred and studded of the first, and two gravers 
 saltier ways, azure, handle of the third) three plates: the 
 crest, a copper plate on a sand bag proper, inscribed under- 
 neath, in large capitals, ENGRAVERS. 
 
 No. 74. 
 PLASTERERS. 
 
 (No return.) 
 
 No. 75. 
 BRUSH-MAKERS. 
 
 A white flag, with a wild boar, and a bundle of bristles 
 over him. Motto, "Federal brush manufactory." The 
 flag carried by Mr. Roger Flahavan, jr. 
 
92 ACCOUNT OF THE 
 
 No. 76. 
 STAY-MAKERS, 
 
 Were represented by Mr. Francis Serre, with his first 
 journeyman carrying an elegant pair of lady's stays. 
 
 No. 77. 
 
 Corps of light infantry, commanded by Captain Rees, 
 with the standard of the second regiment. 
 
 No. 78. 
 
 The civil and military officers of congress in the city. 
 
 No. 79. 
 
 The supreme executive council of Pennsylvania. [His 
 excellency the President was too much indisposed to at- 
 tend.] 
 
 No. 80. 
 
 The justices of the common pleas and the magistrates. 
 
 No. 81. 
 Sheriff and coroner on horseback. 
 
 No. 82. 
 
 Board of city wardens — City treasurer, and secretary to 
 the board. — Clerks of the markets, with standard, weights 
 and measures. — Constable of the watch, with his two as- 
 sistants, bearing their staves. — Music. — Twenty watch- 
 men with their flams decorated, and in their proper dress. 
 — Twenty silent watchmen, with their staves. — -Watch- 
 men, calling the hour ten o'clock, and a glorious star light 
 morning. 
 
 The hour and stars alluded to the ten states who have 
 adopted the constitution. 
 
 No. 83. 
 
 The street commissioners. 
 
 No. 84. 
 
 The gentlemen of the bar, headed by the honourable 
 Edward Shippen, Esq., president of the common pleas, 
 and William Bradford, Esq., attorney-general, followed by 
 the students of law. 
 
GRAND FEDERAL PROCESSION. 
 
 93 
 
 No. 85. 
 The clergy of the different Christian denominations, 
 with the rabbi of the Jews, walking arm in arm. 
 
 No. 86. 
 *■ The college of physicians, headed by their president, 
 Dr. John Redman, and followed by the students in physic. 
 
 No. 87. 
 Students of the university, headed by the vice-provost, 
 and of the episcopal academy, and most of the schools in 
 the city, preceded by their respective principals, professors, 
 masters and tutors; a small flag borne before them inscribed 
 with these words, "the rising generation." 
 
 No. 88. 
 
 The county troop of light horse, commanded by Major 
 W. Macpherson, brought up the rear of the whole. 
 
 Major Fullerton attended the right wing, and Col. 
 Mentges the left wing of the line. 
 
 Messrs. Stoneburner, Hiltzheimer and Jonathan Pen- 
 rose, furnished and superintended the horses for the car- 
 riages. 
 
 This grand procession began to move from the place of 
 rendezvous about half past nine (as was before mentioned) 
 and the front arrived at Union Green, in front of Bush 
 Hill, about half past twelve. The length of the line was 
 about one mile and a half; the distance marched through 
 about three miles. As the procession came into Fourth 
 St., Captain David Zeigler and Lieut. John Armstrong 
 had drawn up their company of continental troops, and 
 saluted the procession as it passed, according to military 
 rule. 
 
 A very large circular range of tables, covered with can- 
 vass awnings, and plentifully spread with a cold collation, 
 had been prepared the day before by the committee of pro- 
 visions. In the centre of this spacious circle the grand 
 edifice was placed, and the ship Union moored. The flags 
 of the consuls and other standards were planted round the 
 edifice. 
 
 As soon as the rear of the line had arrived, James Wil- 
 son, Esq., addressed the people from the federal edifice in 
 the following oration. 
 
 13 
 
94 ORATION OF 
 
 MY FRIENDS AND FELLOW-CITIZENS, 
 
 Your candid and generous indulgence I may well be- 
 speak, for many reasons. I shall mention but one. While 
 I express it, I feel it in all its force. My abilities are un- 
 equal — abilities far superior to mine would be unequal — 
 to the occasion, on which I have the honour of being called 
 to address you. 
 
 A people, free and enlightened, establishing and ratify- 
 ing a system of government, which they have previously 
 considered, examined and approved ! This is the spectacle, 
 which we are assembled to celebrate; and it is the most 
 dignified one that has yet appeared on our globe. Nume- 
 rous and splendid have been the triumphs of conquerors. 
 But from what causes have they originated? — Of what 
 consequences have they been productive? They have ge- 
 nerally begun in ambition; they have generally ended in 
 tyranny. But nothing tyrannical can participate of dig- 
 nity; and to Freedom's eye, Sesostris himself appears con- 
 temptible, even when he treads on the necks of kings. 
 
 The senators of Rome, seated on their curule chairs, 
 and surrounded with all their official lustre, were an ob- 
 ject much more respectable; and we view, without dis- 
 pleasure, the admiration of those untutored savages, who 
 considered them as so many gods upon earth. But who 
 were those senators? They were only a part of a society: 
 they were vested only with inferior powers. 
 
 What is the object exhibited to our contemplation? A 
 whole people exercising its first and greatest power — per- 
 forming an act of sovereignty, original, and unlimited! 
 
 The scene before us is unexampled as well as magni- 
 ficent. The greatest part of governments have been the 
 deformed offspring of force and fear. With these we deign 
 not comparison. But there have been others which have 
 formed bold pretensions to higher regard. You have heard 
 of Sparta, of Athens and of Rome; you have heard of 
 their admired constitutions, and of their high-prized free- 
 dom. In fancied right of these, they conceived themselves 
 to be elevated above the rest of the human race, whom 
 they marked with the degrading title of Barbarians. But 
 did they, in all their pomp and pride of liberty, ever fur- 
 nish, to the astonished world, an exhibition similar to that 
 which we now contemplate? Were their constitutions 
 framed by those, who were appointed for that purpose, by 
 
JAMES WILSON. 95 
 
 the people? After they were framed, were they submitted 
 to the consideration of the people? Had the people an op- 
 portunity of expressing their sentiments concerning them? 
 Were they to stand or fall by the people's approving or 
 rejecting vote? To all these questions, attentive and im- 
 partial history obliges us to answer in the negative. The 
 people were either unfit to be trusted, or their lawgivers 
 were too ambitious to trust them. 
 
 The far-famed establishment of Lycurgus was intro- 
 duced by deception and fraud. Under the specious pre- 
 tence of consulting the oracle concerning his laws, he pre- 
 vailed on the Spartans to make a temporary experiment of 
 them during his absence, and to swear that they would suf- 
 fer no alteration of them till his return. Taking a disinge- 
 nuous advantage of their scrupulous regard for their oaths, 
 he prevented his return by a voluntary death, and, in this 
 manner, endeavoured to secure a proud immortality to his 
 system. 
 
 Even Solon — the mild and moderate Solon — far from 
 considering himself as employed only to propose such re- 
 gulations as he should think best calculated for promoting 
 the happiness of the commonwealth, made and promul- 
 gated his laws with all the haughty airs of absolute power. 
 On more occasions than one, we find him boasting, with 
 much self-complacency, of his extreme forbearance and con- 
 descension, because he did not establish a despotism in 
 his own favour, and because he did not reduce his equals 
 to the humiliating condition of his slaves. 
 
 Did Numa submit his institutions to the good sense and 
 free investigation of Rome? They were received in pre- 
 cious communications from the goddess Egeria, with whose 
 presence and regard he was supremely favoured; and they 
 were imposed on the easy faith of the citizens, as the dic- 
 tates of an inspiration that was divine. 
 
 Such, my fellow-citizens, was the origin of the most splen- 
 did establishments that have been hitherto known; and 
 such were the arts, to which they owed their introduction 
 and success. 
 
 What a flattering contrast arises from a retrospect of the 
 scenes which we now commemorate? Delegates were ap- 
 pointed to deliberate and propose. They met and per- 
 formed their delegated trust. The result of their delibe- 
 rations was laid before the people. It was discussed and 
 
96 ORATION OP 
 
 scrutinized in the fullest, freest and severest manner — by 
 speaking, by writing and by printing — by individuals and 
 by public bodies — by its friends and by its enemies. What 
 was the issue? Most favourable and most glorious to the 
 system. — In state after state, at time after time, it was rati- 
 fied — in some states unanimously — on the whole, by a large 
 and very respectable majority. 
 
 It would be improper now to examine its qualities. A 
 decent respect for those who have accepted it, will lead us 
 to presume that it is worthy of their acceptance. The 
 deliberate ratifications, which have taken place, at once 
 recommend the system, and the people, by whom it has 
 been ratified. 
 
 But why, methinks I hear some one say — why is so much 
 exultation displayed in celebrating this event? We are 
 prepared to give the reasons of our joy. We rejoice, because 
 under this constitution, we hope to see just government, 
 and to enjoy the blessings that walk in its train. 
 
 Let us begin with Peace — the mild and modest harbin- 
 ger of felicity ! How seldom does the amiable wanderer 
 choose, for her permanent residence, the habitations of 
 men! In their systems, she sees too many arrangements, 
 civil and ecclesiastical, inconsistent with t^e calmness and 
 benignity of her temper. In the old woi^d, how many mil- 
 lions of men do we behold, unprofitable to society, burden- 
 some to industry, the props of establishments that deserve 
 not to be supported, the causes of distrust in the times of 
 peace, and the instruments of destruction in the times of 
 war? Why are they not employed in cultivating the use- 
 ful arts and in forwarding public improvements? Let 
 us indulge the pleasing expectation that such will be 
 the operation of government in the United States. 
 Why may we not hope, that, disentangled from the in- 
 trigues and jealousies of European politics, and unmolested 
 with the alarm and solicitude to which these intriofues and 
 jealousies give birth, our councils will be directed to the 
 encouragement, and our strength will be exerted in the 
 cultivation of all the arts of peace? 
 
 Of these, the first is agriculture. This is true in all 
 countries: in the United States, its truth is of peculiar 
 importance. The subsistence of man, the materials of 
 manufactures, the articles of commerce — all spring original- 
 ly from the soil. On agriculture, therefore, the wealth of 
 nations is founded. Whether we consult the observations 
 
JAMES WILSON. 97 
 
 that reason will suggest, or attend to the information that 
 history will give, we shall, in each case, be satisfied of the 
 influence of government, good or bad, upon the state of 
 agriculture. In a orovernment, whose maxims are those of 
 oppression, property is insecure, it is given, it is taken 
 away by caprice. Where there is no security for property, 
 there is no encouragement for industry. Without indus- 
 try, the richer the soil, the more it abounds with weeds. 
 The evidence of history warrants the truth of these general 
 remarks. Attend to Greece — and compare her agriculture 
 in ancient and in modern times. Then, smiling harvest 
 bore testimony to the bountiful boons of liberty. Now, the 
 very earth languishes under oppression. View the Cam- 
 pania of Rome. How melancholy the prospect! Which- 
 ever way you turn your afflicted eyes, scenes of desolation 
 crowd before them. Waste and barrenness appear around 
 you in all their hideous forms. What is the reason ? 
 With DOUBLE tyranny the land is cursed. Open the classic 
 page: you trace, in chaste description, the beautiful reverse 
 of every thing you have seen. Whence proceeds the dif- 
 ference? When that description was made, the force of 
 liberty pervaded the soil. 
 
 But is agriculture the only art, which feels the influence 
 of government? Over manufactures and commerce its 
 power is equally prevalent. There the same causes ope- 
 rate — and there they produce the same effects. The in- 
 dustrious village, the busy city, the crowded port — all these 
 are the gifts of liberty; and without a good government, 
 liberty cannot exist. 
 
 These are advantages, but these are not all the advan- 
 tages that result from a system of good government. — Agri- 
 culture, manufactures, and commerce will ensure to us 
 plenty, convenience and elegance. But is there not some- 
 thino: still wantinor to finish the man? Are internal virtues 
 and accomplishments less estimable or less attracting than 
 external arts and ornaments? Is the operation of govern- 
 ment less powerful upon the former than the latter? By no 
 means. Upon this, as upon a preceding topic, reason and his- 
 tory will concur in their information and advice. In a serene 
 mind, the sciences and virtues love to dwell. But can the 
 mind of a man be serene, when the property, liberty, subsist- 
 ence of himself, and of those for whom he feels more than 
 he feels for himself, depend on a tyrant's nod? If the dispirit- 
 ed subject of oppression can with difficulty exert his enfee 
 
98 ORATION OF 
 
 bled faculties, so far as to provide, on the incessant de- 
 mands of nature, food just enough to lengthen out his 
 wretched existence, can it be expected that, in such a state, 
 he will experience those fine and vigorous movements of 
 the soul, without the full and free exercise of which, science 
 and virtue will never flourish? Look around you to the 
 nations that now exist. View, in historic retrospect, the 
 nations that have heretofore existed. The collected result 
 will be, an entire conviction of these all-interesting truths — 
 where tyranny reigns, there is the country of ignorance 
 and vice — where good government prevails, there is the 
 country of science and virtue. Under a good government, 
 therefore, we must look for the accomplished man. 
 
 But shall we confine our views even here? AVhile we 
 wish to be accomplished men and citizens, shall we wish 
 to be nothing more? While we perform our duty, and 
 promote our happiness in this world, shall we bestow no 
 regards upon the next? Does no connexion subsist be- 
 tween the two? From this connexion flows the most im- 
 portant of all the blessings of good government. But here 
 let us pause — unassisted reason can guide us no farther — 
 she directs us to that heaven-descended science, by which 
 life and immortality have been brought to light. 
 
 May we not now say, that we have reason for our joy? But 
 while we cherish the delightful emotion, let us remember 
 those things, which are requisite to give it permanence and 
 stability. Shall we lie supine, and look in listless languor, 
 for those blessings and enjoyments, to which exertion is 
 inseparably attached? If we would be happy, we must be 
 active. The constitution and our manners must mutually 
 support and be supported. Even on this festivity, it will 
 not be disaorreeable or inconcjruous to review the virtues 
 and manners that both justify and adorn it. 
 
 Frugality and Temperance first attract our attention. 
 These simple but powerful virtues are the sole foundation 
 on which a good government can rest with security. They 
 were the virtues which nursed and educated infant Rome, 
 and prepared her for all her greatness. But in the giddy 
 hour of her prosperity, she spurned from her the obscure 
 instruments, by which it was procured; and, in their place, 
 substituted luxury and dissipation. The consequence was 
 such as might have been expected. She preserved, for 
 some time, a gay and flourishing appearance; but the in- 
 
JAMES WILSON. 99 
 
 ternal health and soundness of her constitution were gone. 
 At last, she fell a victim to the poisonous draughts, which 
 were administered by her perfidious favourites. The fate 
 of Rome, both in her rising and in her falling state, will be 
 the fate of every other nation that shall follow both parts of 
 her example. 
 
 Industry appears next among the virtues of a good citi- 
 zen. Idleness is the nurse of villains. The industrious 
 alone constitute a nation's strength. I will not expatiate 
 on this fruitful subject. Let one animating reflection suf- 
 fice. In a well-constituted commonwealth, the industry of 
 every citizen extends beyond himself A common interest 
 pervades the society. Each gains from all, and all gain 
 from each. It has often been observed, that the sciences 
 flourish all together: the remark applies equally to the arts. 
 
 Your patriotic feelings attest the truth of what I say, 
 when, among the virtues necessary to merit and preserve 
 the advantages of a good government, I number a warm 
 and uniform attachment to liberty, and to the Constitution. 
 The enemies of liberty are artful and insidious. A coun- 
 terfeit steals her dress, imitates her manner, forges her sig- 
 nature, assumes her name. But the real name of the de- 
 ceiver is licentiousness. Such is her effrontery, that she 
 will charge liberty to her face with imposture; and she will, 
 with shameless front, insist that herself alone is the genuine 
 character, and that herself alone is entitled to the respect, 
 which the genuine character deserves. With the giddy and 
 undiscerning, on whom a deeper impression is made by 
 dauntless impudence than by modest merit, her pretensions 
 are often successful. She receives the honours of liberty, 
 and liberty herself is treated as a traitor and a usurper. Ge- 
 nerally, however, this bold impostor acts only a secondary 
 part. Though she alone appear upon the stage, her motions 
 are regulated by dark Ambition, who sits concealed behind 
 the curtain, and who knows that Despotism, his other fa- 
 vourite, can always follow the success of Licentiousness. 
 Against these enemies of liberty, who act in concert, though 
 they appear on opposite sides, the patriot citizen will keep 
 a watchful guard. 
 
 A good constitution is the orreatest blessingf which a 
 society can enjoy. Need I infer, that it is the duty of every 
 citizen to use his best and most unremitting endeavours 
 for preserving it pure, healthful and vigorous? For the 
 accomplishment of this great purpose, the exertions of no 
 
100 ORATION OF 
 
 one citizen are "unimportant. Let no one, therefore, har- 
 bour, for a moment, the mean idea, that he is and can be 
 of no value to his country: let the contrary manly impres- 
 sion animate his soul. Every one can, at many times, per- 
 form, to the state, useful services ; and he who steadily pur- 
 sues the road of patriotism, has the most inviting pros- 
 pect of being able, at some times, to perform eminent ones. 
 Allow me to direct your attention, in a very particular 
 manner, to a momentous part, which, by this constitution, 
 every citizen will frequently be called to act. All those 
 in places of power and trust will be elected either imme- 
 diately by the people, or in such a manner that their ap- 
 pointment will depend ultimately on such immediate elec- 
 tion. All the derivative movements of government must 
 spring from the original movement of the people at large. 
 If to this they give a sufficient force and a just direction, 
 all the others will be governed by its controlling power. 
 To speak without a metaphor, if the people, at their elec- 
 tions, take care to choose none but representatives that are 
 wise and good, their representatives will take care, in their 
 turn, to choose or appoint none but such as are wise and 
 good also. The remark applies to every succeeding elec- 
 tion and appointment. Thus the characters proper for 
 public officers will be diffused from the immediate elec- 
 tions of the people over the remotest parts of administra- 
 tion. Of what immense consequence is it, then, that this 
 primary duty should be faithfully and skilfully discharged! 
 On the faithful and skilful discharge of it, the public hap- 
 piness or infelicity, under this and every other constitution, 
 must, in a very great measure, depend. For, believe me, 
 no government, even the best, can be happily administered 
 by ignorant or vicious men. You will forgive me, I am 
 sure, for endeavouring to imprej?s upon your minds, in the 
 strongest manner, the importance of this great duty. It 
 is the first concoction in politics; and if an error is com- 
 mitted here, it can never be corrected in any subsequent 
 process: the certain consequence must be disease. Let no 
 one say, that he is but a single citizen; and that his ticket 
 will be but one in the box. That one ticket may turn the 
 election. In battle, every soldier should consider the pub- 
 lic safety as depending on his single arm : at an election, 
 every citizen should consider the public happiness as de- 
 pending on his single vote. 
 
JAMES VVILSONj ES^. 101 
 
 A progressive state is necessary to the happiness and per- 
 fection of man. Whatever attainments are already reached, 
 attainments still higher should be pursued. Let us, there- 
 fore, strive with noble emulation. Let us suppose we have 
 done nothing, while any thing yet remains to be done. Let 
 us, with fervent zeal, press forward, and make unceasing 
 advances in every thing that can support, improve, refine, 
 or embellish society. To enter into particulars under each 
 of these heads, and to dilate them according to tbeir im- 
 portance, would be improper at this time. A few remarks 
 on the last of them, will be congenial with the entertain- 
 ments of this auspicious day. 
 
 If we give the slightest attention to nature, we shall dis- 
 cover, that with utility, she is curious to blend ornament. 
 Can we imitate a better pattern? Public exhibitions have 
 been the favourite amusements of some of the wisest and 
 most accomplished nations. Greece, in her most shining 
 era, considered her gfames as far from beino^ the least re- 
 spectable among her public establishments. The shows of 
 the circus evince that, on this subject, the sentiments of 
 Greece were fortified by those of Rome. 
 
 Public processions may be so planned and executed as 
 to join both the properties of nature's rule. They may in- 
 struct and improve, while they entertain and please. They 
 may point out the elegance or usefulness of the sciences 
 and the arts. They may preserve the memory, and engrave 
 the importance of great political events. They may repre- 
 sent, with peculiar felicity and force, the operation and ef- 
 fects of great political truths. The picturesque and splendid 
 decorations around me, furnish the most beautiful and most 
 brilliant proofs, that these remarks are far from being ima- 
 ginary. 
 
 The commencement of our government has been emi- 
 nently glorious : let our progress in every excellence be pro- 
 portionably great. It will — it must be so. What an en- 
 rapturing prospect opens on the United States! Placid 
 Husbandry walks in front, attended by the venerable 
 plough. Lowing herds adorn our valleys: bleating flocks 
 spread over our hills: verdant meadows, enamelled pastures, 
 yellow harvests, bending orchards, rise in rapid succession 
 from east to west. Plenty, with her copious horn, sits easy 
 smiling, and in conscious complacency, enjoys and pre- 
 sides over the scene. Commerce next advances in all her 
 
 14 
 
102 ACCOUNT OF THE 
 
 splendid and embellished forms. The rivers, and lakes 
 and seas, are crowded with ships. Their shores are co- 
 vered with cities. The cities are filled with inhabitants. 
 The arts, decked with elegance, yet with simplicity, appear 
 in beautiful variety and well adjusted arrangement. Around 
 them are diffused in rich abundance, the necessaries, the 
 decencies, and the ornaments of life. With heart-felt con- 
 tentment, industry beholds his honest labours flourishing 
 and secure. Peace walks serene and unalarmed over all the 
 unmolested regions — while Liberty, Virtue, and Religion, 
 go hand in hand, harmoniously protecting, enlivening and 
 exalting all! Happy country! may thy happiness be per- 
 petual! 
 
 The several light companies w^ere then drawn off by 
 Captain Hey sham to an eminence nearly opposite, where 
 they fired a feu-de-joie of three rounds, also three volleys, 
 followed by three cheers, to testify their satisfaction on this 
 joyful occasion. 
 
 After the oration, the company went to dinner. 
 
 No spirits or wines of any kind were introduced. Ame- 
 rican porter, beer and cider were the only liquors. With 
 these were drank the following toasts, announced by the 
 trumpet, and answered by a discharge of artillery — a round 
 of ten to each toast; and these were in like manner an- 
 swered by a discharge from the ship Rising Sun, at her 
 moorings. 
 
 1. The people of the United States. 
 
 2. Honour and immortality to the members of the late 
 federal convention. 
 
 3. General Washington. 
 
 4. The king of France. 
 
 5. The United Netherlands. 
 
 6. The foreign powers in alliance with the United States 
 
 7. The agriculture, manufactures, and commerce of the 
 United States. 
 
 8. The heroes who have fallen in defence of our liberties. 
 
 9. May reason and not the sword, hereafter decide all 
 national disputes. 
 
 10. The whole family of mankind. 
 
 It should not be omitted, that the several trades furnished 
 the devices, mottos, machines, and decorations themselves, 
 and at the expense of their respective companies — and that 
 by much the greater part of the work exhibited on that 
 day, was completed between Monday morning and the 
 Thursday evening following. 
 
GRAND FEDERAL PROCESSIOIC. 103 
 
 The military in general, horse, artillery, and infantry, 
 were completely dressed and accoutred, according to the 
 uniforms of their respective corps, and made a most martial 
 appearance; being distributed in various parts of the line, 
 they gave a beautiful variety to the whole, and evinced that 
 both soldiers and citizens united in favour of the new go- 
 vernment. 
 
 The whole of this vast body was formed, and the enter- 
 tainment of the day conducted with a regularity and de- 
 corum far be3'ond all reasonable expectation. The foot- 
 ways, the windows and roofs of the houses were crowded 
 with spectators, exhibiting a spectacle truly magnificent 
 and irresistibly animating. But what was more pleasing 
 to the contemplative mind, universal love and harmony 
 prevailed, and every countenance appeared to be the index 
 of a heart glowing with urbanity and rational joy. This 
 pleasing idea was much supported by a circumstance which 
 probably never before occurred in such extent ; namely, the 
 clergy of almost every denomination united in charity and 
 brotherly love — may they and their flocks so walk through 
 life! 
 
 It is impossible to be precise in numbers on such an oc- 
 casion ; but averaging several opinions, there were about 
 five thousand in the line of procession, and about seventeen 
 thousand on Union Green. The green was entirely cleared 
 by six o'clock in the evening, and the edifice, ship, and 
 several macliines being withdrawn, the citizens soberly re- 
 tired to their respective homes. The weather was remark- 
 ably favourable for the season — cloudy without rain, and 
 a brisk wind from the south during the whole day. At 
 night the ship Rising Sun was handsomely illuminated 
 in honour of this great festival. 
 
 Such 4s the account we have been enabled to give of 
 this memorable exhibition — it is very probable there may be 
 some omissions; if so, the committee can only assure their 
 fellow citizens that no neglect or offence was intended to 
 any individual or company whatever — the shortness of the 
 time, and the complicated nature of the task they have 
 undertaken, must be their apology. 
 
104 
 
 Observations on the Federal Procession on the fourth 
 of July, 1788, in the city of Philadelphia; in a letter 
 from a gentleman in this city to his friend in a neigh- 
 bouring state. 
 
 MY dear friend, 
 
 Herewith you will receive an account of our late pro- 
 cession in honour of the establishment of the Federal Go- 
 vernment. It was drawn up by Judge Hopkinson, a gen- 
 tleman to whose patriotism, ingenuity, and taste, our city 
 is much indebted for the entertainment. 
 
 To this account I cannot help adding a few facts and 
 remarks that occurred during the day, and which were of 
 too minute or speculative a nature to be introduced in the 
 general account published by order of the committee of 
 arrangement. 
 
 The procession gave universal pleasure. Never upon 
 any occasion during the late war did I see such deep-seated 
 joy in every countenance. Foreigners speak of it in the 
 highest terms, and many of them, who have seen the splen- 
 did processions of coronations in Europe, declare, that they 
 all yield, in the effect of pleasure, to our hasty exhibition 
 instituted in honour of our Federal Government. 
 
 The connexion of the great event of independence^ — 
 the French alliance — the Peace — and name of General 
 Washington, with the adoption of the constitution, was 
 happily calculated to unite the most remarkable transports 
 of the mind which were felt during the war, with the 
 great event of the day, and to produce such a tide of joy 
 as has seldom been felt in any age or country. Political 
 joy is one of the strongest emotions of the human mind. 
 Think then, my friend, from the objects of it which have 
 been mentioned, how powerful must have been its action 
 upon the mind on this occasion. 
 
 The first thing that struck me in viewing the procession, 
 was, the occasion of it. 
 
 It was not to celebrate a victory obtnined in blood over 
 any part of our fellow-creatures — no city reduced to ashe^ 
 — no army conquered by capitulation — no news of slaugh- 
 
GRAND FEDERAL PROCESSION. 105 
 
 tered thousands brought the citizens of Philadelphia toge- 
 ther. It was to celebrate a triumph of knowledge over 
 ignorance, of virtue over vice, and of liberty over slavery. 
 It was to celebrate the birth of a free government, the ob- 
 jects of which were to lessen the number of widows and 
 orphans, by preventing the effusion of human blood; to 
 save human nature from the disgraces and desolations of 
 war, and to establish and extend the blessings of peace 
 throughout the continent of America. 
 
 The order of the procession was regular, and begat cor- 
 respondent order in all classes of spectators. A solemn 
 silence reigned both in the streets and at the windows of 
 the houses. This must be ascribed to the sublimity of the 
 sight, and the pleasure it excited in every mind; for sub- 
 lime objects and intense pleasure never fail of producing 
 silence ! 
 
 Perhaps a greater number or a greater combination of pas- 
 sions never seized at the same time, upon every faculty of 
 the soul. The patriot enjoyed a complete triumph, whe- 
 ther the objects of his patriotism were the security of liber- 
 ty, the establishment of law, the protection of manufac- 
 tures or the extension of science in his country. The 
 benevolent man saw a precedent established for forming 
 free governments in every part of the world. The man 
 of humanity contemplated the end of the distresses of his 
 fellow-citizens in the revival of commerce and agriculture. 
 Even the selfish passions were not idle — The ambitious 
 man beheld, with pleasure, the honours that were to be 
 disposed of by the new government, and the man of wealth 
 reaUzed once more the safety of his bonds and rents, against 
 the inroads of paper money and tender laws. Every per- 
 son felt one of these passions; many more than one, and 
 some all of them, during the procession. No wonder then 
 that it gave so much and such delicate pleasure. But this 
 was not all. The emblems afforded food for the understand- 
 ing likewise. The history of the most important events of 
 the war, and the inscriptions and devices upon many of 
 the flags gave occasional employment for that noble power 
 of the mind, and added much to the pleasure of the sight. 
 Even the senses partook of the entertainment, for the va- 
 riety of colours displayed in the various, ornaments of the 
 machines and flags, and in the dresses of the citizens, to- 
 gether with an excellent band of music, at once charmed 
 the eyes and ears of the spectators, and thereby introduced 
 
106 OBSERVATIONS ON THE 
 
 the body to partake, in a certain degree, of the feast of the 
 mind. 
 
 The effects of the procession, upon the minds and bodies 
 of our citizens, deserve to be noticed. — It forced open every 
 heart, insomuch that many people provided cooling liquors, 
 with which they regaled their fellow-citizens as they walked 
 in the procession. It likewise invigorated the muscles of 
 the body. The company assembled at eight o'clock, and 
 were upon foot at the place of parade, and in the procession 
 till one. The distance they marched was three miles, and 
 yet scarcely a person complained of fatigue, although there 
 were many old and weakly people in the procession. But 
 this sudden excitement of the vigour of the body left a ^ or- 
 responding debility behind it; for I scarcely met a person 
 in the afternoon, that did not complain of fatigue, and dis- 
 cover a desire to retire to rest early in the evening. 
 
 It was very remarkable, that every countenance wore an 
 air of dignity as well as pleasure. Every tradesman's boy 
 in the procession seemed to consider himself as a principal 
 in the business. Rank for awhile forgot all its claims, 
 and Agriculture, Commerce and Manufactures, together 
 with the learned and mechanical professions, seemed to ac- 
 knowledge, by their harmony and respect for each other, 
 that they were,^ll necessary to each other, and all useful in 
 cultivated society. These circumstances distinguished this 
 Procession from the processions in Europe, which are com- 
 monly instituted in honour of single persons. The mili- 
 tary alone partake of the splendour of such exhibitions. 
 Farmers and tradesmen are either deemed unworthy of 
 such connexions, or are introduced like horses or buildings, 
 only to add to the strength or length of the procession. 
 Such is the difference between the effects of a republican 
 and monarchical government upon the minds of men! 
 
 I need not suggest to you how much this mixture of the 
 mechanical and learned professions in a public exhibition 
 is calculated to render trades of all kinds respectable in our 
 country. Farmers and tradesmen are the pillars of na- 
 tional happiness and prosperity. It would seem as if Hea- 
 ven stamped a peculiar value upon agriculture and me- 
 chanical arts in America, by selecting Washington and 
 Franklin to be two of the principal agents in the late revo- 
 lution. The titles of farmer and mechanic, therefore, can 
 never fail of being peculiarly agreeable in the United States, 
 while gratitude and patriotism live in American breasts. I 
 
GRAND FEDERAL PROCESSION. 107 
 
 wish the different trades in Philadelphia may avail them- 
 selves of their late sudden and accidental association, and 
 form themselves into distinct incorporated companies. 
 Many advantages would arise to them from such institutions, 
 especially if part of the objects of their union should be to 
 establish a fund for the relief of the infirm or decayed mem- 
 bers of their companies, and of their widows and orphans. — 
 Two and six-pence or half a dollar, thrown into a common 
 stock, by each tradesman every month, would produce a 
 funcM|afficient for all these benevolent purposes, and would 
 not oTmissed out of the ordinary profits of his labour. It 
 is impossible to tell how much distress might, by these 
 means, be prevented or relieved. 
 
 It would give me pleasure to remark upon the effect of 
 every article that composed the procession. But this 
 would lead me far beyond the limits I have prescribed to 
 myself in this letter. 
 
 The triumphal car was truly sublime, — it was raised 
 above every other object. The Constitution was carried 
 by a great"^ law-officer, to denote the elevation of the go- 
 vernment, and of law and justice, above every thing else in 
 the United States. 
 
 The sight of the ship complete in all its parts, moving 
 upon dry land, conveyed emotions to every heart, that can- 
 not be described. She was a ship of war. I wish the 
 procession could have been conducted without blending 
 the emblems of Peace and war together; but this was im- 
 possible, while armies and navies are considered as neces- 
 sary appendages of the sovereignty of independent states. 
 The United States have taught the nations of the world, 
 that it is possible to terminate disputes by appeals to rea- 
 son, instead of the sword. I do not despair of this mode 
 of deciding national disputes becoming general, in the 
 course of the approaching century. It will be a less change 
 in human affairs, than has been produced by reason and re- 
 ligion in the course of the last two hundred years. 
 
 The clean white dresses of the victuallers and bakers 
 were very happily calculated to excite such ideas of their 
 respective arts, as could not fail of being agreeable to 
 every spectator. The two oxen, with their decorations, 
 made a noble figure. They were destined to the slaughter- 
 house the next day, for the benefit of the poor ; but such 
 was the effect of an agreeable association of ideas, that a 
 general outcry was raised, after they had passed by, against 
 
108 OBSERVATIONS ON THE 
 
 the fate that awaited them. The most trifling object de- 
 rived a value from being connected with this delightful and 
 interesting exhibition. 
 
 The large stage on which the carding and spinning ma- 
 chines displayed the manufactory of cotton, was viewed 
 with astonishment and delight by every spectator. On 
 that stage were carried the emblems of the future wealth 
 and independence of our country. Cotton may be cultivated 
 in the southern, and manufactured in the eastern and mid- 
 dle states, in such quantities, in a few years, as to clothe 
 every citizen of the United States. Hence will arise a bond 
 of union to the states, more powerful than any article of 
 the New Constitution. Cotton possesses several advan- 
 tages over wool as an article of dress and commerce. It 
 is not liable to be moth eaten, and is proper both for winter 
 and summer garments. It may moreover be manufactured 
 in America, at a less expense than it can be imported from 
 any nation in Europe. From these circumstances I cannot 
 help hoping, that we shall soon see cotton not only the uni- 
 form of the citizens of America, but an article of exportation 
 to foreign countries. Several respectable gentlemen exhi- 
 bited a prelude of these events, by appearing in complete 
 suits of jeans manufactured by the machines that have been 
 mentioned. 
 
 The clergy formed a very agreeable part of the proces- 
 sion — They manifested, by their attendance, their sense of 
 the connexion between religion and good government. 
 They amounted to seventeen in number. Four and five of 
 them marched arm in arm with each other, to exemplify 
 the Union. Pains were taken to connect ministers of the 
 most dissimilar religious principles together, thereby to 
 show the influence of a free government in promoting Chris- 
 tian charity. The Rabbi of the Jews, locked in the arms 
 of two ministers of the gospel, was a most delightful sight. 
 There could not have been a more happy emblem contrived, 
 of that section of the new constitution, which opens all its 
 power and offices alike, not only to every sect of Christians, 
 but to worthy men of ever}^ religion. 
 
 In the course of the morning, many speeches were made 
 by diff"erent gentlemen, that arose out of the incidents of 
 the procession. Mr. P — , who walked with the farmers, just 
 behind a man who was sowing grain, upon passing by the 
 lawyers, said, " We sow, gentlemen, but you reap the fruits 
 of our labours." Upon the procession being detained for 
 
GRAND FEDERAL PROCESSION. 109 
 
 a few minutes, by an accident having happened to the car- 
 riage of the blacksmiths' shop, it was said, " that this was 
 all in order, for it was an emblem of the obstructions and 
 difficulties the constitution had met with in its establish- 
 ment, from the arts of bad, and the ignorance of weak men. 
 
 The remarks of every man partook more or less of his 
 profession, and the constitution received nearly as many 
 new names, as there were occupations in the procession. 
 
 The instructers of youth, with a numerous collection of 
 boys of every size and age in their train, formed a most 
 agreeable part of the exhibition. A worthy citizen who 
 served in several battles, during the late war, informed me, 
 that this part of the procession affected him so much as to 
 draw tears from his eyes. 
 
 I must not forget to mention that the weather proved un- 
 commonly favourable to the entertainment. The sun was 
 not to be seen till near two o'clock, at which time the pro- 
 cession was over. A pleasant and cooling breeze blew all 
 day from the south, and in the evening the sky was illu- 
 minated by a beautiful Aurora Borealis. Under this head 
 another fact is equally worthy of notice. Notwithstanding 
 the haste in which the machines were made, and the man- 
 ner in which they were drawn through the streets, and not- 
 withstanding the great number of women and children that 
 were assembled on fences, scaffolds and roofs of houses, to 
 see the procession, no accident happened to any body. 
 These circumstances gave occasion for hundreds to re- 
 mark, that " Heaven was on the federal side of the ques- 
 tion." 
 
 It would be ungrateful not to observe, that there have 
 been less equivocal signs in the course of the formation and 
 establishment of this government, of Heaven having fa- 
 voured the federal side of the question. The union of 
 twelve states in the form and ten states in the adoption of 
 the Constitution, in less than ten months, under the influ- 
 ence of local prejudices, opposite interests, popular arts, and 
 even the threats of bold and desperate men, is a solitary 
 event in the history of mankind. I do not believe that the 
 Constitution was the offspring of inspiration, but I am as 
 perfectly satisfied, that the union of the states, in its form 
 and adoption, is as much the work of a divine Providence, 
 as any of the miracles recorded in the Old and New Tes- 
 tament, were the effects of a divine power. 
 
 15 
 
110 OBSERVATIONS ON THE GRAND FEDERAL PROCESSION. 
 
 'Tisdone! We have become a nation. America has 
 ceased to be the only power in the world, that has derived 
 no benefit from her declaration of independence. We are 
 more than repaid for the distresses of the war, and the dis- 
 appointments of the peace. The torpid resources of our 
 country already discover signs of life and motion. We are 
 no longer the scoff of our enemies. The reign of violence 
 is over. Justice has descended from heaven to dwell in 
 our land, and ample restitution has at last been made to 
 human nature, by our new constitution, for all the injuries 
 she has sustained in the old world from arbitrary govern- 
 ments—false religions — and unlawful commerce. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 1st. The first part contains many interesting particulars of the revolutionary 
 war, with a brief view of what the illustrious Washington, and our fathers 
 went through during a seven years' war, in order to obtain the independence 
 of one of the greatest republican nations, that ever to this day presented 
 itself to the view of the world, 5 
 
 2d. A handsome copy of the Declaration of Independence, divided into thirty 
 specifications, with the signers' names of each state, 46 
 
 3d. The Constitution of the United States, with its Amendments, signed by 
 George Washington, president of the convention of ten out of the thirteen 
 states, 52 
 
 4th. A statistical view of the grand Federal Procession, in Philadelphia, July 
 4, 1788, on near one hundred stages, placed on wheels drawn by horses, 
 with shops exhibiting all the arts, sciences, manufactures, and other callings 
 of the city of independence, most of them in full operation as they perambu- 
 lated the streets of the city, 1 . . 67 
 
 5th. Mr. Wilson's Oration, 94 
 
 6th. Observations on the Federal Procession on the 4th of July, 1788, in the 
 city of Philadelphia; in a letter from a gentleman in this city to his friend in 
 a neighbouring state, 104 
 
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