supplication, Washington piously ordered to be finish ed with thanksgiving. In the siege of Yorktown, the behaviour of the Americans was, as usual, generous and noble. The amiable Col. Scammel, adjutant-general of the American army, and uncommonly beloved by them, was dangerously wounded and taken prisoner by some British dragoons, who barbarously trotted him on before them, three miles, into town, where he pre sently died of fever and loss of blood. Great was the mourning for Scammel. In a few nights after, Washington gave orders to storm two of the enemy's redoubts, which were carried almost in an instant. The British called for quarters: A voice of death was heard, "Remember poor Scammel!"-" Remember, gentlemen, you are Americans!" was rejoined by the commander: and instantly the points of the American bayonets were thrown up towards heaven! The conduct of the French also, was such as to entitle them to equal praise. For when the British marched out to lay down their arms, the French officers were seen to shed tears. They condoled with the British, and tendered. them their purses !-Glorious proof, that God never intended men to be, as some wickedly term it, natural enemies. On hearing in Congress the fall of Cornwallis, the door-keeper swooned with joy-on hearing the same news announced in parliament, lord North fell back in his chair, in the deepest distress. On receipt of the glad tidings, Congress broke forth into songs of praise to God: Parliament into execrations against their Prime Minister--Congress hastened to the temple to pay their vows to the Most High; the Parliament went to St. James's with a petition to the King for a change of men and measures. The King was graciously pleased to hear the voice of their prayer. Men and measures were changed; and a decree was passed that whoever should advise war and a farther widening of the breach between Britain and America, should be denounced an equal enemy to both. Then full leafed and green the olive branch of peace was held out to the nations: and the eyes of millions, on both sides of the water, were lifted in transport to the lovely sign. The stern features of war were relaxed; and gladdening smiles began again to brighten over the "human face divine." But Washington beheld the lovely sight with doubt. Long accustomed unerringly to predict what Britain would do, from what he knew she had power to do, he had nothing to hope, but every thing to fear America, without money or credit!---her officers, without a dollar in their pocket, strolling about camps in long beards and dirty shirts-her soldiers often without a crust in their knapsacks or a dram in their canteens-and her citizens every where sick and tired of war!--Great Britain, on the other hand, every where victorious over the fleets of her enemies-completely mistress of the watery world, and Judas-like, bagDearer of its commerce and cash! with such resources, with all these trumps in her hands, she will play . quits, and make a drawn game of it? Impossible! but if she should, "it must be the work of that Providence who ruleth in the armies of Heaven and earth, and whose hand has been visibly displayed in every step of our progress to independence." "Nothing," continued Washington, " can remove my doubts but an order from the ministry to remove their fleets and armies." That welcome order, at length, was given! and the British troops, sprucely powdered and perfumed, in eager thousands hied on board their ships. "All hands unmoor!" the stamping boatswain cried : Then in a moment they all fly to work. Some seizing the ready handspikes, vault high upon the windlasses; thence coming down all at once with the hearty Yo-heave-O, they shake the sounding decks, and tear from their dark oozy beds the ponderous anchors. Others, with halyards hard strained through the creaking blocks, sway aloft the wide-extended yards, and spread their canvas to the gale, which,. with increasing freshness, bears the broad-winged ships in foam and thunder through the waves. Great was the joy of the multitude; for they were hastening to revisit their native land, and to meet those eyes of love which create a heaven in a virtuous breast. But the souls of some were sad. These were the reflecting few, whose thoughts were on the better hopes of former days! To them, the flowing bowl, the lively joke, the hearty laugh and song, gave no delight; nor yet the blue fields of ocean brightly shining round, with all her young billows wantoning before the playful breeze. Their country ruined, and themselves repulsed, how could they rejoice! Then slowly retiring from the noisy crew, by themselves apart they sat on the lofty stern, high above the burning track which the ships left behind them in their rapid flight. There, deep in thought, they sat with eyes sad fixed on the lessening shores, and ruminated even to melancholy. The dismal war returns upon their thoughts, with the pleasant days of '76, then bright with hope, but, now, alas! all darkened in despair. ""Twas then," said they, "we first approached these coasts, shaded far and wide with our navies, nodding tall and stately over the heaving surge. From their crowded decks looked forth myriads of blooming warriors, eagerly gazing on the lovely shores, the farms, and flocks, and domes, fondly regarded as their own, with all the beauteous maids, the easy purchase of a bloodless strife! But ah, vain hope! Washington met us in his strength. His people poured around him as the brindled sons of the desert around their sire when he lifts his terrible voice, and calls them from their dens, to aid him in war against the mighty rhinoceros. The battle raged |