cipline and high in spirit. Perhaps few troops have contended with a longer series of disasters, than those disciples of liberty, in their struggle to uphold the primary immunities of man.

Two base and treacherous attempts were discovered, about this time; one was directed against the life of General WASHINGTON, and the other against his reputation: Governor Tryon had suborned the then mayor of Newyork, to assist the royal forces on their arrival in that city, and General WASHINGTON was to be assassinated: this detestable design was rendered abortive by apprehending Thomas Hickey, one of General WASHINGTON's life-guard men, who was engaged in the conspiracy, and had engaged others; this false miscreant was tried by a court martial on the 28th of June, found guilty, and was executed at eleven o'clock the same day, amidst the curses of the American army. The other malignant proceeding originated with an officer of high rank, who was so mean as to envy the superiority of another, and so vindictive as to circulate calumny for his overthrow but this endeavour was soon frustrated, and the author became con

temptible it should be noted that this was the only occasion, on which the ability and integrity of General WASHINGTON was ever questioned, but it proved as weak in its consequences, as it was wicked in contemplation.

FROM the first action which he commanded in this dreadful contest, when he compelled the British troops to evacuatė Boston, by a victory unstained with blood, to the august termination of the struggle in 1781, he was always the same philosophic hero; he was an uncommon man, fitted for uncommon difficulties, and, happily for the interests of the new world, it was so ordered by providence, that his mighty trials, were but "squared to his proportionate strength," his intelligence corresponded with his intrepidity, and he was graced with both Minervas: the alacrity of his mind felt no decay from disappointment: the resources of his capacity were commensurate to the perils as they arose: he regarded the caprices of fortune with steadiness, and knowing that his cause was just, he relied, with firmness, on his dauntless followers and the will of heav en.

IN 1783 a general peace was negotiated and concluded in Europe, and then the proud hour arrived, when this great man had finished all the labours of his military life; he entered Newyork in triumph, amidst the acclamations of a liberated people: he was not decorated with the fasces or insignia of a Roman warrior, nor did he drag the representatives of a plundered province at his chariot wheels, in bondage and in chains : his dignity and solacement were derived from a purer source; he brought the assurance of manumission to a suffering world, and bade them prepare a charter for the security of their rescued privileges.

HE resigned his commission, as commander in chief, to Congress, which he had used with such wonderful advantage to his country, but without ostentation or any accompanyment of vanity; and returned, with gladness, to the bosom of his family at Mount Vernon. As he passed through the intermediate towns and villages, all ages and degrees poured forth, to welcome, with the tenderest congratulations, the deliverer of his country: they offered up their artless supplications, to the throne of mercy, to bless

and preserve their common benefactor, and those unadulterated tokens of regard must have made a deep and felicitous impression on a heart such as he possessed.

REPEATED offers of compensation were now made him, by the various states, for his manifold services, but he declined them all, and even those which might only liquidate the additional expences he had incurred in the public cause his enlarged mind felt superior to such considerations, he was satisfied with having run a race of glory, and drew his richest rewards from his own sensations his desires were bounded by honour; he had all the self denial and magnanimity so attributable to Scipio, but the point of his heroism had a more philanthropic direction.

FROM the peace of 1783 to 1787, he passed his time in a rotation of civil and social duties, arranging and methodizing his domestic concerns; maintaining an extensive correspondence with eminent personages at home and abroad; perusing works of science; examining experiments in arts, and the amazing phenomena of nature, and receiv

ing the visits and homage of illustrious foreigners and natives, who were incessantly crouding to Mount Vernon, to salute its benignant owner.

IN 1787 he was called to a seat in that convention, which sat in Philadelphia, to assist in the stupendous and difficult task of making a new constitution for the United States; and of that venerable assemblage, that constellation of sages, he was chosen president when the several articles of this inestimable obligation were digested and matured, it was issued for the observance of his happy countrymen, and the admiration of the universe: its provisions had been duly weighed and ameliorated, by his inquisitive and comprehensive understanding, and it received a prompt currency under the influence of his name.

IT is a simple, beautiful structure, made up with skill from liberal grants and concessions, and as perfect in its component parts as such an instrument of legation can be, which professes to combine social security with individual liberty: we do not insist so unequivocally upon the strength of this