treachery of one republican general was the only triumph gained by corruption over the fidelity of the army; nor did the defection of this officer cost England less than a soldier, for whose fate Europe and America have wept.

J

MAJOR ANDRE, a youthful hero, on whom nature and love had been prodigal of their favors, had the weakness to engage in the criminal projects of a traitor. He was deserted by fortune from the very moment that he dared, for the first time, to violate the sacred principles of military honor. His life was doomed to pay the forfeit! But so many virtues, and such uncommon grace, so powerfully plead for the pardon of his fault, that imperious necessity alone could have determined the order for his death. Here the statesman, here the soldier, inflexible in his obedience to the laws, was bound to stifle the emotions of pity and indulgence. The chief of the republican army was bound to confirm the sentence of death on a guilty foe, undaunted by the apprehension of being charged with inhumanity. But after the accomplishment of the painful duty, the compassionate soul of the hero was at liberty to give a loose to all the emotions of sensibility! O Washington! the tears with which thou bathest the decree that sealed his fate, will, in the eyes of pitying posterity, efface a crime, which the love of beauty andlove of his country extorted from the virtue of the unfortunate Andre.

THE capture of York-town, one of the most decisive actions of the war, put an end to the hopes of the enemies of America.

WASHINGTON gave to the French and American army, a proof of his esteem, which its intrepidity and patience in this expedition, justly merited. The French soldiers, ever alive to glory, found in the praise of a hero, amends for all their sufferings. The joy of this solemn fete was completed by the pardon of all the faults of discipline, committed during the campaign; and this day was one of the most satisfactory to the father and friend of soldiers, since he had it in his power to crown it by an act of clemency.

THE war drawing near to a close, Washington assembled the officers of the army to exhort them to maintain the example of perseverance which they had unceasingly displayed, and to be on their guard against the perfidious insinuations of the enemies of their independence. This great man so completely inspired the companions of his glory with his own sentiments, that they again renewed their oath to die for their country.

THE period when an empire is to be organized, is always a time of trouble and anarchy. All the political ideas being new, and every interest different, each one wishes to reap the benefits of the new establishments. The secret enemies of the new order of things, which it may be intended to establish, taking advantage of this critical moment to introduce a discordancy of opinions, war is the consequence of the division of sentiment, unless a centre is formed which will unite all hearts. Washington, who had wrested America from the fury of oppression, now saved it from its own phrenzy. With his victorious hands, he extinguished the torch of civil war, which was about to envelope his country in flame. No one flattering himself with the expectation of gaining Washington over to his own party, the whole nation became of his; and the calm of confidence succeeded to the tumult of confusion.

THE sacrifices made by the federal republic brought on a peace; but so exhausted were its resources, that it found itself utterly unable to perform the promises made to its brave defenders. The army complained to its general of the refusal of the government, and loudly accused it of ingratitude; the soldiers reminded him of their past sufferings and present necessities. The hero, beholding their misery, and convinced of the impossibility of ameliorating their situation, appeased their murmurs by the concern only which he took in their sufferings. Having refused to receive any compensation for himself, he was the most proper person to demand a reward for his companions in arms, But, however great might have been his desire to preserve the affection of his army, he defended the honor of the government against the insinuations and attacks of the discontented. Every thing assumed the calm of his soul: the fear of displeasing him,

seemed to do away all distrust, to unite all sentiments; and the sublime letter with which he concluded his military career, affixed the seal of immortality to the titles of his glory.

AFFECTING scenes were now preparing for the heart of Washington. He was about to leave that army, which six years of fidelity and attachment, had so much endeared to him. He appeared a Germanicus receiving the adieux of the Roman legions. Every eye was suffused with tears, every heart was oppressed with grief, and a croud of heroes pressed around the great man, each one eager to catch and preserve these affecting words: "With a heart full of love and gratitude, I take leave of you, with an ardent prayer that the evening of your days may be as happy and prosperous as their morning has been glorious and ho-. norable." The silence of grief was the eloquent reply of the army. The friend of the people, perceiving, after he had left the shore, all eyes directed towards him, respectfully saluted this family of brothers and friends, whose every heart was with him; and, with difficulty, he suppressed the painful emotions of his

soul.

10

His journey afterwards was a triumphal procession. Testi monials of gratitude and veneration every where followed him. The hero, apparently unconscious of the immortal honors with which his brows were encircled, in a public manner, ascribed his successes to the influence of heaven, to the courage of his fellow-citizens and the justice of their cause. Then, bowing before the august depositaries of the law, he returned into their hands that victorious sword, which he held by their authority, thanked them for their confidence in him, rendered an account, with his own hand, of the public money which had been expended by him during the war, expressed his wishes for the prosperity of his country, recommended to her her protectors, and solicited only the favor of being permitted to pass the remainder of his life in the peaceful shades of retirement, in the bosom of his family, and near to the tombs of his ancestors.

His arrival at the delightful spot which contained all the ob jects of his affections, was a moment of ecstacy, which his soul

I

could scarcely support. The transports of an adored wife, who, for six whole years, had no other consolation than her tears and the glory of her husband; and, who again beheld him crowned with the blessings of the whole world; his eager neighbors and faithful domestics, bathing with their tears the hands that saved his country! What a scene! How powerful and how exquisite must have been the sensations of his soul, ere. he could find words to express himself! O! Washington! how grateful shouldst thou be to heaven for having preserved the simplicity of thy heart, and enabled thee to say, in every period of thy life, with the Theban general, "I wish not to forget how they live at home." How pure must have been thy joy, since thou thyself felt the happiness with which thou hadst inspired others.

DOMESTIC tranquillity and the delightful harmony of nature, so grateful to strong and feeling minds, had hardly begun to afford him a taste of their charms, than the voice of his country again called him to the theatre of civil life. He alone could give that vigor to the laws, which a confidence in the chief magistrate of a country inspires. He saw the necessity of the sacrifice; and, always devoted, always faithful to his duty, he hastened to assume the reins of a government, which, in part, owed its formation to him; and which was to receive its first lustre from the wisdom of his administration. The joy of the people on again beholding the man of their choice, can only be compared to the modesty of their benefactor. The whole of his. route was lined with an immense concourse of people, assembled from far and near. Their joy was expressed by songs and tears; innocence and beauty strewed flowers in the path of the hero of liberty, and the gratitude of wives and mothers was inscribed by the hand of chastity on triumphal arches.

I HAVE seen the pompous entry of sovereigns. I have seen the noisy acclamations of the people rewarded by throwing to them, with disdain, a contemptable portion of the riches torn from their industry by the prodigality of kings. Under cars, glittering with gold and purple, I have seen misery and wretchedness disputing, at the risk of life, for what could afford them

but the relief of a day, and tears of humiliation and pity have rolled down my cheeks.

I HAVE seen Washington, a second time, accept the most elevated of stations. Grateful, and with respect, before the source of all lawful authority, before this same class of citizens, which, in other places, I have seen cringing like slaves; him, I saw, adorned with laurels and his virtues, assume, with a noble pride, the title of first servant of the people, and my soul rising to the sublimity of his, I have felt that I could never again belong to masters, after having been for a moment the equal of an hero.

UNDER the first presidency of Washington, the happiness of his constituents was complete. Under the second, he could not avert all the dangers with which the peace of his country was threatened; but he averted war, the greatest of evils.

ALL Europe was in arms. France, the object of the jealousy of all nations, was also become the object of their hatred. The success of her invincible armies, and her revolutionary principles appearing dangerous to the safety of crowned heads, almost all of them appealed to the sword for the maintenance of their authority. The government of the United States solicited to become a party, conceived itself not bound in duty, either to espouse the cause of kings, or to declare for an invincible ple, who braved with success a powerful coalition, and whose rulers were, at that time, cutting each others throats, at the altar of their country.

peo

WASHINGTON, therefore, declared the neutrality of United America; and, opening to this nation, by this act of firmness, all the sources of industry, from which a people in a state of war are debarred, he prepared it to profit by the errors of Europe.

Taus America became the asylum of all the unfortunate, whom severe measures of policy, persecution or misery, had driven from their country. All here found the same succor, the same protection; for the laws being founded in justice and li