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plore. His ancestors migrated from England, and were among the first settlers of this first of the British provinces in America. I cannot speak from positive anecdote, what was his situation and employment for the first twenty years of his life; but I have heard, that in his youth he was remarkably grave, silent and thoughtful, active and methodical in business, highly dignified in his appearance and manners, and strictly honorable in all his deportment.

THE first public notice of him, that I have seen, was in a note to a sermon, printed in London forty-five years ago, which had been preached a short time before, in Hanover county, Virginia, on some public occasion, by the late president Davies. In this, the preacher observed, "I may point out to the public that heroic youth, colonel Washington, whom I cannot but hope, Providence has hitherto preserved for some important sér. vice to his country." As no thought of American indepen dence was entertained at that early day, this observation could only have been founded in a knowledge of his talents and character. Indeed his appearance would have justified such a presentiment; for majesty aud dignity were remarkably conspicuous in his countenance, and the figure of his person.

VERY Soon after young Washington was twenty-one years of age, he was employed by the government of Virginia, on an embassy to negociate the removal of some French settlers from the Ohio, who had fortified themselves in the vicinity of that river, on lands claimed by the king of Great-Britain. In the execution of this trust, he travelled upwards of four hundred miles, and his route, for one half of that distance, led through pathless woods, inhabited only by savage beasts and more savage men. He was attended only by one companion, and proceeded on foot from Winchester: his negociations failing, Virginia raised three hundred men, and put them under his command, and instructed him to proceed to the Ohio. An engagement took place, between the French and Virginians, in which the former were at first defeated; but being afterwards reinforced with nine hundred men, they reduced colonel Wash

ington, after making a brave defence, to the necessity of submitting to honorable terms of capitulation.'

THE contest about these lands, becoming more serious, general Braddock was sent with a regular force from Great-Britain, to support the claims of his Britannic majesty. His impetuous valor pushed him forward into an ambuscade of French and Indians, in which he was killed, and his army routed. The remains of it were rallied, and brought off in safety, under the direction and by the address of colonel Washington.

THE next expedition was more successful, and restored tranquillity to the province of Virginia. When this event took place, the young citizen soldier, being no longer called to the discharge of military duty, resumed his habits of civil life, and continued therein until a new and unexpected scene, about twenty years after, brought him forward on a much more conspicuous

theatre,

In the year 1774, the British ministry completed their system for taxing their colonies. America was roused; and, by a simultaneous impulse, formed a congress of her most enlightened sons, to devise such measures as bid fairest to preserve her endangered liberties. To this illustrious assembly Washington was deputed, and he contributed his full proportion in forming the wise plans which were by them adopted. Great-Britain turned a deaf ear to their petitions, and proceeded to coerce the colonies by a military force. Massachusetts being immediately attacked, had, in the first instance, embodied an army for its defence; but as soon as it was determined to make a common cause with that much-injured province, it became necessary that her local army should be made the army of the united colonies, and be officered by congress,

NEW-ENGLAND had her Pomeroy, her Ward, and her Put nam, and many others who had seen as much, or perhaps more. service than Washington, yet their wise delegates concurred in elevating the Virginian over their own favorite sons. The ap pointment of a commander in chief of all the armies raised, or

to he raised, was effected by an unanimous vote and without competition. Not only congress, but the inhabitants in every part of the united colonies, seemed, by one consent, to point to Washington, as the chosen instrument of heaven, to guide them through the storms of war, to the haven of peace and safety. His native modesty begat distrusts in his own breast, from which others were free.

In his acceptance of the office, he desired," that it might be remembered by every gentleman present, that he declared, with the utmost sincerity, he did not think himself equal to the command with which he was honored.".

On the third of July, 1775, he arrived at Cambridge, and entered upon the duties of his high station. Great were the difficulties which pressed on the new commander in chief. To introduce discipline and subordination among the free husbandmen, who had lately assumed the military character, and who were accustomed to ac from the impulse of their own minds, was an arduous labor. Το procure effective service from men who carry with them the spirit of freedom into the field, requires virtues which are rarely found in military characters. The greater part of the Americans, officers as well as soldiers, had never seen any service, were ignorant of their duty, and but feebly impressed with the ideas of union, subordination and discipline. To form an army of such materials, fit to take the field against British veteran troops, was the tssk assigned to general Washington. In effecting this he conducted with so much prudence, as to make it doubtful whether we ought most to admire the patient, accommodating spirit of the man, or the consummate address of the general..

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THE American troops were only engaged for a few months service, and were in a great measure destitute of ammunition. On the 4th of August, 1775, and for fourteen days after, the whole stock of powder in the American camp, and in the public maga zines of New-England, was not sufficient to make ten rounds Under all these disadvantages, the commander in chief adopted such efficient arrangements, as protected the country,

a man.

confined the British army to Boston, and finally obliged them to evacuate that city on the 17th of March, 1776. His conduct was so pleasing to congress, that they ordered a medal to be struck, with suitable devices, to perpetuate the remembrance of the great event; and so much to the satisfaction of the people of Massachusetts, that he was presented with a most flattering address from their council and house of representatives.

HITHERTO general Washington had embarked in the war with the fond idea of a reconcilement with the parent state. Independence was an after-thought, forced on the colonies by, the refusal of Great-Britain to redress their grievances. Though he was not among the first to embrace the scheme of independence, yet as soon as he perceived the necessity of the measure, he heartily came into it. Far from wishing such a turn of affairs, as must necessarily lead to his personal aggrandizement, as long as one ray of hope remained, he ardently panted for such a return of moderation and wisdom to the rulers of GreatBritain, as would have united the two countries in their antient habits of union and friendship.

Soon after the evacuation of Boston, general Washington, with the army under his command, took their position in NewYork. Great were the difficulties he had to encounter at Boston, but much greater pressed upon him in New-York. In the former situation, he commanded a force far superior in number to the enemy; in the latter, his whole army was short of 18,000 men; and of these a great proportion was militia. To these were opposed upwards of 30,000 British veterans, supported by a powerful navy. In this situation, after much thought, general Washington resolved on a war of posts. He stood his ground, as long as it could be done, without risking too much, and then prevented the last extremity, by evacuating and retreating. He rightly judged that to him delay was victory; and not to be conquered was to conquer. By this policy he wore away the campaign of 1776. Though the British counted on the complete conquest of the colonies in that year, it was the middle of September before they got footing in the city of

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New-York, and beyond the middle of November before they obtained full possession of New-York island.

THE evacuating and retreating system, adopted by general Washington, subjected him to the clamors of short-sighted politicians, who questioned his decision and spirit. He had it always in his power to have vindicated himself, by stating the inferiority of his numbers, and the total unfitness of his raw troops to contend with the veteran force opposed to them; but with true magnanimity he bore those reproaches, and concealed his real situation.

In the latter end of November, the British commanders, instead of retiring into winter quarters, after driving the Ame ricans from the state of New-York, pursued them into NewJersey, with the fair prospect of annihilating their whole force. The moment was critical. Dangers and difficulties pressed on all sides. On the sixteenth of November, 2,700 of the Ame rican army were taken prisoners in Fort Washington. In fourteen days after that event, the flying camp, amounting to 10,000 men, having served out their time, claimed their discharge. Other whole regiments, on similar grounds, did the same. The few that remained with general Washington scarcely exceeded 3,000, and they were in a most forlorn condition, without tents, or blankets, or any utensils to dress their provisions. Under all these disadvantages, they were obliged to consult their safety, by retreating towards Philadelphia, from a victorious army, pressing close on their rear. As they marched through the country, scarcely one of the inhabitants joined them, while numbers were daily flocking to the royal army for protection. Not only the common people changed sides in this gloomy state of affairs; but several of the leading men in New-Jersey and Pennsylvania, adopted the same expedient.-Congress fled from Phi-¡ ladelphia to Baltimore. The hearts of many brave Americans began to fail, and to give up all hope of maintaining their independence.

In this period, when the American army was relinquishing their general-the people giving up the cause-some of their

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