ours, to dissolve all connection between us. The fact is truly stated. They no longer consider themselves embarked with us in the sinking vessel of this state. They avoid us as a tyrannical, unprincipled, rapacious and ruined nation. Their only fear is that the luxury and profligacy of this country should gain their people. It was a long patience and forbearance they practised before the idea of being dissevered from the mother country gained ground among the Americans. They were driven into it by our injustice and violence. Repeated violations of their rights, accumulated injuries, wanton insults, and cruelties shocking to human nature, have brought about this wonderful revolution.

Now it appears to me an impossibility to bring back the Americans to any dependence on this kingdom. Since the declaration of independence, firmness and vigor have governed all the counsels of the Congress. That declaration was made at a moment which proved them strangers to fear, and in their idea superior to all the efforts of which we were capable. From that fatal era, July, 1776, has the Congress, or any one of the thirteen United States, discovered the faintest wish of returning to the obedience of our sovereign? No man will be bold enough to assert it. On the contrary, the Americans have increased in their hatred of us, and aversion to the yoke of bondage which we were preparing for them.

Torrents of noble blood have already flowed in this quarrel; yet the few conquests we made we were obliged to abandon. Towards the close of the last year, we congratulated ourselves on the taking of Philadelphia, the seat of the vacant Congress, in the insulting language of administration. Before the present year is half expired, Sir Henry Clinton evacuated Philadelphia at three o'clock in the morning, and escaped through infinite difficulties to New York, very judiciously avoiding the direct road, where he knew the enemy was in force. The Congress returned in triumph to Philadelphia, and congratulated the inhabitants of North America on the important victory of Monmouth over the British grand army, and the evacuation of Philadelphia, as they had before done on the evacuation of Boston by General Howe. Sir, the Americans have suffered greatly; but their sufferings were borne with temper and courage, for they were in the cause of public virtue. They bore adversity like men of, fixed principle and honor engaged in a righteous cause, and determined never to crouch to oppression.

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113

A series of four years' disgraces and defeats are surely sufficient to convince us of the absolute impossibility of conquering America by force, and I fear the gentler means of persuasion have equally failed. America is, in my opinion, irrecoverably lost. It is indifferent to her whether you think proper to acknowledge her independency, or to call her children your subjects, and her provinces your colonies. The rest of the world will hear those appellations with derision. The very expense of your fleets and armies must exhaust this country. You experienced this for four years, with raw, undisciplined farmers and countrymen. You are now to combat hardy, experienced soldiers. Let pride therefore yield to prudence, withdraw your fleets and armies, give up this unjust, barbarous and destructive war, and inquire who deluded you into this unhappy system of policy.

Ex. LXVIII.-ADDRESS TO THE STATES, BY THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS, MAY 26, 1779.

AMERICA, without arms, ammunition, discipline, revenue, government or ally, almost totally stript of commerce, and in the weakness of youth, as it were with "a staff and a sling" only, dared, in the name of the Lord of Hosts, to engage a gigantic adversary, prepared at all points, boasting of his strength, and of whom even mighty warriors were greatly afraid. ** Infatuated as your enemies have been from the beginning of this contest, do you imagine that they can now flatter themselves with a hope of conquering you, unless you are false to yourselves?

Rouse yourselves, therefore, that this campaign may finish the great work you have so nobly carried on for several years past. What nation ever engaged in such a contest under such a complication of disadvantages, so soon surmounted many of them, and in so short a period of time had a certain prospect of a speedy and happy conclusion? Consider how much you have done, and how little comparatively remains to be done to crown you with success. severe; and you insure peace, freedom, safety, glory, sovereignty and felicity, to yourselves, your children, and your children's children.

Per

Encouraged by favors already received from Infinite

Goodness, gratefully acknowledging them, and earnestly imploring their continuance, vigorously employ the means placed by Providence in your hands, for completing your labors.

Fill up your battalions-be prepared in every part to repel the incursions of your enemies-place your several quotas in the continental treasury-lend money for public usesprovide effectually for expediting the conveyance of supplies to your armies and fleets and for your allies-prevent the produce of the country from being monopolized-diligently promote piety, virtue, brotherly love, learning, frugality and moderation-and may you be approved before Almighty God worthy of those blessings we devoutly wish you to enjoy.

Ex. LXIX.-EULOGIUM ON THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN IN THE CONTEST WITH GREAT BRITAIN, DELIVERED JULY 5, 1779.

HUGH HENRY BRACKENRIDGE.*

Ir is the high reward of those who have risked their lives in a just and necessary war, that their names are sweet in the mouths of men, and every age shall know their actions. I know my abilities rise not on a level with so great a subject, but I love the memory of the men, and it is my hope that the affection I feel will be to me instead of genius, and give me warm words to advance their praises.

For what cause did these brave men sacrifice their lives? For that cause which in all ages has engaged the hopes, the wishes, the endeavors of the hearts of men-the cause of liberty? What was in our power we have done with the bodies of these men; we have paid them military honorswe have placed them in their native earth, and it is with veneration that we yet view their tombs upon the lonely glade, or the distant hill. Their names shall be read with those of Pelopidas, Epaminondas, and the worthies of the world. Posterity shall quote them for parallels and for examples. When they mean to dress the hero with the fairest praises, they

* Judge of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.

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shall say he was gallant and distinguished in his early fall, like Warren; prudent and intrepid as Montgomery; faithful and generous as Washington; he fell in the bold and resolute advance, like Mercer; he saw the honor which his valor had acquired, and fainted in the arms of victory, like Herkimer; having gallantly repulsed the foe, he fell covered with wounds, in his old age, like Wooster.

Having paid our tribute to the memory of these men, it remains for us to soothe the grief of those who have been deprived of a father, bereaved of a son, or who have lost a husband, brother, or lover in the contest. Fathers, whose heroic sons have offered up their lives on the altar of freedom, it is yours to recollect, that these lives were given them for the service of their country. Sons, whose heroic fathers have early left you, and in the conflict of war have mixed with departed heroes; be congratulated on the fair inheritance of fame which you are entitled to possess. If it is ever lawful for us to array ourselves in borrowed honor, surely it is best drawn from those who have acted a distinguished part in the service of their country. If it is at all consistent with the feeling of philosophy and reason to boast of lineal glory, surely it is most allowable in those who boast it as flowing from such a source.

We despise the uninstructed mind of that man who shall obtrude upon our ears the idea of a vain ancestral honor; but we love the youth, and transfer to him the reputation of his father, who, when the rich and haughty citizen shall frown upon him as ignobly descended, shall say, "I had a father. who fell in the service of his country."

And you, my gallant countrymen, your fame shall ascend on the current of the stream of time. It shall play with the breezes of the morning. Men at rest, in the cool age of life, from the fury of a thousand wars finished by their fathers, shall observe the spreading ensign. They shall hail it, as it waves with variegated glories; and feeling all the warm rapture of the heart, shall give it their plaudit from the shores.

Ex. LXX.-HYMN AT THE CONSECRATION OF PULASKIS BANNER, 1779.*

H. W. LONGFELLOW.

WHEN the dying flame of day
Through the chancel shot its ray,
Far the glimmering tapers shed
Faint light on the cowled head;
And the censer burning swung,
Where, before the altar, hung

The blood-red banner, that with prayer
Had been consecrated there.

And the nuns' sweet hymn was heard the while,
Sung low in the dim, mysterious aisle.

"Take thy banner! may it wave
Proudly o'er the good and brave;
When the battle's distant wail
Breaks the silence of our vale,
When the clarion's music thrills
To the hearts of these lone hills,
When the spear in conflict shakes,
And the strong lance quivering breaks.

"Take thy banner! and beneath
The battle cloud's encircling wreath,
Guard it!-till our homes are free-
Guard it !—God will prosper thee!
In the dark and trying hour,
In the breaking forth of power,
In the rush of steeds and men,
His right hand will shield thee then.

"Take thy banner! but when night
Closes round the ghastly fight,
If the vanquished warrior bow,

Spare him by our holy vow,

*Many noble foreigners, inspired by a kindred love of liberty to that which actuated the Americans, came to this country to volunteer their services in our revolutionary struggle. Count Pulaski was a Pole, highly distinguished in his own country for his bravery and patriotism. He received a mortal wound at the second attack on Savannah, Oct., 1779. The banner here celebrated was embroidered for him by the Moravian nuns at Bethlehem, Penn., and was a very elegant one of crimson silk.