men, to hang it round with symbols of regard,and inscribe it with the texts of his policy let them inform a future age, that he shunned no public question, nor omitted any duty; in the cherishing hope, that other men may copy the impressive example: and the insinuation of hope makes our delusion our joy; but, in simplicity, yet force, of language in clearness of understanding and depth of judgment: in his disdain of any commutation with falshood in his contempt of trivial expedients, and his ability to make that spirit governing: in his appropriation of direct remedies for national evils, and in his majesty of character altogether, we have seriously to apprehend that he will be never equalled; he had all the decision of Cato, without his coarseness-he had raised himself, by progressive excellence, above the tooth of envy, and the desperation of malice and was not assailable by any mortal hand:

Nec Jovis ira, nec ignes,

Nec poterit ferrum, nec edax abolere vetustas.

OVID, METAM. lib. 15.

HE is now removed from terrestrial vi cissitudes and the incorrigibility of folly forever; and is sainted in heaven, if it is in

the piety of a people to canonize their benefactor he was a rare luminary, as mild as he was effulgent, and, we trust, that the influence of his bright example will be cœval with our nation: he approached as nearly to the divine essence, as any thing human can. Let those (if such there are) who,from depravity of intellect, or imbecility of mind, may think of General WASHINGTON with irreverence, reflect maturely upon what America might have been, had not such a preserver been among us. When the varied beauties of legislation lay before him, he recommended those articles for congressional adoption, which were most analogous to our habits, and best suited for our prosperity : liberty is less endangered here, than in any other country, as there is more general intelligence in the community: those overheated zealots, who may believe that he did not do enough, are but imperfectly acquainted with the assimilation of principle and practice: we can fondly transfer a theory from our fancy to our expectation, that would be ephemeral in execution : the doctrines which are fulminated by enthusiasm, must be tried by experience and mellowed by wis

dom, before the statute can be properly operative those laws sustain public virtue the longest, which are reconcileable to moderation and the floating usages of civil life: this is not an epoch of romance, and all utopian follies should be exploded : we may demand much for common comfort, but we must yield something to insure its continuation.

IT was originally intended, by the compilers of this work, to have omitted the celebrated anonymous letter, written by an officer of the American army, encamped near New Windsor, in March, 1783;-but they have been induced to insert it as a necessary preface to the inimitable answer of the commander in chief; who, it has been suggested by some friends of high political reputation, had never, on any occasion, discovered a superior promptitude of talent, and dexterity of address, than in suppressing the deep laid mischief of this ingenious incendiary, whose insidious eloquence had almost inflamed to revolt the then untainted purity of American valour.

[IT may be proper before we give this artful letter, to state further, that a memorial was presented to Congress, in Dec. 1782, in behalf of the army, by three commissioners, consisting of Maj. Gen. M'Dougall, and two field officers, in which their wishes were thus expressed: "1. present pay.-2. a settlement of the arrearages of pay, and security for what is due.-3. a commutation of the half pay allowed by different resolutions of Congress for an equivalent in gross.-4. a settlement of the account of deficiences of rations and compensations.-5. a setlement of the accounts of deficiences of cloathing and compensation." In April following, the army was informed, by their Commissioners, that Congress had "decided on nothing of moment for them." Upon this, a meeting of the general and field officers was called, at the public building, for the express purpose of considering" what further measures (if any) should be adopted to obtain redress." This anonymous summons was accompanied with the letter in question.]

TO THE OFFICERS OF THE ARMY.

GENTLEMEN,

A FELLOW soldier, whose interest and affections bind him strongly to you, whose past sufferings has been as great, and

whose future fortunes may be as desperate as yours would beg leave to address you.

AGE has its claims, and rank is not without its pretensions to advise, but though unsupported by both, he flatters himself, that the plain language of sincerity and experience, will neither be unheard nor unregarded.

LIKE many of you, he loved private life, and left it with regret. He left it, determined to retire from the field, with the necessity that called him to it, and not till thennot till the enemies of his country, the slaves of power, and the hirelings of injustice, were compelled to abandon their schemes, and acknowledge America as terrible in arms as she had been humble in remonstrance. With this object in view, he has long shared in your toils, and mingled in your dangers. He has felt the cold hand of poverty with out a murmur, and has seen the growing insolence of wealth without a sigh.-But, too much under the direction of his wishes, and sometimes weak enough to take desire for opinion, he has till lately, very lately, believed in the justice of his country. He hoped that as the clouds of adversity scat

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