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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/8154-8.txt b/8154-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d74a666 --- /dev/null +++ b/8154-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2473 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Revolutionary Heroes, And Other Historical +Papers, by James Parton + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Revolutionary Heroes, And Other Historical Papers + +Author: James Parton + + +Release Date: May, 2005 [EBook #8154] +This file was first posted on June 21, 2003 +Last Updated: May 12, 2013 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK REVOLUTIONARY HEROES *** + + + + +Produced by Ted Garvin, Tonya Allen, Charles Franks, and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + + + + + + REVOLUTIONARY HEROES, AND OTHER HISTORICAL PAPERS + + HISTORICAL CLASSIC READINGS--No 10. + + BY + + JAMES PARTON, + + AUTHOR OF + + "LIFE OF HORACE GREELEY," "LIFE OF ANDREW JACKSON," "LIFE AND + TIMES OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN," ETC. ETC. + + + + + + + + GEN. JOSEPH WARREN SIGNING THE DECLARATION OF + CAPT. NATHAN HALE INDEPENDENCE. + GEN. WASHINGTON'S SPIES. ROBERT MORRIS. + VALLEY FORGE. JOHN JAY. + JOHN ADAMS. FISHER AMES. + THE PINCKNEYS. + + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + + +James Parton was born in Canterbury, England, February 9, 1822. When +five years old he was brought to America and given an education in the +schools of New York City, and at White Plains, N. Y. Subsequently he +engaged in teaching in Philadelphia and New York City, and for three +years was a contributor to the _Home Journal_. Since that time, he +has devoted his life to literary labors, contributing many articles +to periodicals and publishing books on biographical subjects. While +employed on the _Home Journal_ it occurred to him that an interesting +story could be made out of the life of Horace Greeley, and he mentioned +the idea to a New York publisher. Receiving the needed encouragement, +Mr. Parton set about collecting material from Greeley's former neighbors +in Vermont and New Hampshire, and in 1855 produced the "Life of Horace +Greeley," which he afterwards extended and completed in 1885. This +venture was so profitable that he was encouraged to devote himself to +authorship. In 1856 he brought out a collection of Humorous Poetry of +the English Language from Chaucer to Saxe. Following this appeared +in 1857 the "Life of Aaron Burr," prepared from original sources and +intended to redeem Burr's reputation from the charges that attached to +his memory. In writing the "Life of Andrew Jackson" he also had access +to original and unpublished documents. This work was published in three +volumes in 1859-60. Other works of later publication are: "General +Butler in New Orleans" (1863 and 1882); "Life and Times of Benjamin +Franklin" (1864); "How New York is Governed" (1866); "Famous Americans +of Recent Times," containing Sketches of Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, +John C. Calhoun, John Randolph, and others (1867); "The People's Book +of Biography," containing eighty short lives (1868); "Smoking and +Drinking," an essay on the evils of those practices, reprinted from the +_Atlantic Monthly_ (1869); a pamphlet entitled "The Danish Islands: Are +We Bound to Pay for Them?" (1869); "Topics of the Time," a collection +of magazine articles, most of them treating of administrative abuses +at Washington (1871); "Triumphs of Enterprise, Ingenuity, and Public +Spirit" (1871); "The Words of Washington" (1872); "Fanny Fern," a +memorial volume (1873); "Life of Thomas Jefferson, Third President of +the United States" (1874); "Taxation of Church Property" (1874); "La +Parnasse Français: a Book of French Poetry from A.D. 1850 to the Present +Time" (1877); "Caricature and other Comic Art in All Times and Many +Lands" (1877); "A Life of Voltaire," which was the fruit of several +years' labor (1881); "Noted Women of Europe and America" (1883); and +"Captains of Industry, or Men of Business who did something besides +Making Money: a Book for Young Americans." In addition to his writing +Mr. Parton has proved a very successful lecturer on literary and +political topics. + +In January, 1856, Mr. Parton married Sara Payson Willis, a sister of the +poet N. P. Willis, and herself famous as "Fanny Fern," the name of her +pen. He made New York City his home until 1875, three years after the +death of his wife, when he went to Newburyport, where he now lives. +_The London Athenæum_ well characterizes Mr. Parton as "a painstaking, +honest, and courageous historian, ardent with patriotism, but +unprejudiced; a writer, in short, of whom the people of the United +States have reason to be proud." + + +The contents of this book have been selected from among the great number +contributed from time to time by Mr. Parton, and are considered as +particularly valuable and interesting reading. + + + + + +REVOLUTIONARY HEROES. + + + + +GENERAL JOSEPH WARREN. + + +A fiery, vehement, daring spirit was this Joseph Warren, who was a +doctor thirteen years, a major-general three days, and a soldier three +hours. In that part of Boston which is called Roxbury, there is a modern +house of stone, on the front of which a passer-by may read the following +inscription: + +"On this spot stood the house erected in 1720 by Joseph Warren, of +Boston, remarkable for being the birthplace of General Joseph Warren, +his grandson, who was killed at the battle of Bunker Hill, June 17, +1775." + +There is another inscription on the house which reads thus: + +"John Warren, a distinguished Physician and Anatomist, was also born +here. The original mansion being in ruins, this house was built by John +C. Warren, M.D., in 1846, son of the last-named, as a permanent memorial +of the spot." + +I am afraid the builder of this new house _poetized_ a little when +he styled the original edifice a mansion. It was a plain, roomy, +substantial farm-house, about the centre of the little village of +Roxbury, and the father of Warren who occupied it was an industrious, +enterprising, intelligent farmer, who raised superior fruits and +vegetables for the Boston market. Warren's father was a beginner in that +delightful industry, and one of the apples which he introduced into the +neighborhood retains to this day the name which it bore in his lifetime, +the Warren Russet. + +A tragic event occurred at this farm-house in 1775, when Warren was +a boy of fourteen. It was on an October day, in the midst of the +apple-gathering season, about the time when the Warren Russet had +attained all the maturity it can upon its native tree. Farmer Warren was +out in his orchard. His wife, a woman worthy of being the mother of such +a son as she had, was indoors getting dinner ready for her husband, her +four boys, and the two laborers upon the farm. About noon she sent her +youngest son, John, mentioned in the above inscription, to call his +father to dinner. On the way to the orchard the lad met the two laborers +carrying towards the house his father's dead body. While standing upon +a ladder gathering apples from a high tree, Mr. Warren had fallen to the +ground and broken his neck. He died almost instantly. + +The _Boston Newsletter_ of the following week bestowed a few lines +upon the occurrence; speaking of him as a man of good understanding, +industrious, honest and faithful; "a useful member of society, who was +generally respected among us, and whose death is universally lamented." + +Fortunate is the family which in such circumstances has a mother wise +and strong. She carried on the farm with the assistance of one of her +sons so successfully that she was able to continue the education of her +children, all of whom except the farmer obtained respectable rank in +one of the liberal professions. This excellent mother lived in widowhood +nearly fifty years, saw Thomas Jefferson President of the United States, +and died 1803, aged ninety-three years, in the old house at home. +Until she was past eighty she made with her own hands the pies for +Thanksgiving-day, when all her children and grandchildren used to +assemble at the spacious old Roxbury house. + +It was in the very year of his father's death, 1755, that Joseph Warren +entered Harvard College, a vigorous, handsome lad of fourteen, noted +even then for his spirit, courage and resolution. Several of his class +one day, in the course of a frolic, in order to exclude him from the +fun, barred the door so that he could not force it. Determined to join +them, he went to the roof of the house, slid down by the spout, and +sprang through the open window into the room. At that moment the spout +fell to the ground. + +"It has served my purpose," said the youth coolly. + +The records of the college show that he held respectable rank as a +student; and as soon as he had graduated, he received an appointment +which proves that he was held in high estimation in his native village. +We find him at nineteen master of the Roxbury Grammar School, at a +salary of forty-four pounds and sixteen shillings per annum, payable to +his mother. A receipt for part of this amount, signed by his mother and +in her handwriting, is now among the archives of that ancient and famous +institution. He taught one year, at the end of which he entered the +office of a Boston physician, under whom he pursued the usual medical +studies and was admitted to practice. + +The young doctor, tall, handsome, alert, graceful, full of energy and +fire, was formed to succeed in such a community as that of Boston. His +friends, when he was twenty-three years of age, had the pleasure of +reading in the Boston newspaper the following notice: + +"Last Thursday evening was married Dr. Joseph Warren, one of the +physicians of this town, to Miss Elizabeth Hooton, only daughter of the +late Mr. Richard Hooton, merchant, deceased, an accomplished young lady +with a handsome fortune." + +Thus launched in life and gifted as he was, it is not surprising that +he should soon have attained a considerable practice. But for one +circumstance he would have advanced in his profession even more rapidly +than he did. When he had been but a few months married, the Stamp Act +was passed, which began the long series of agitating events that ended +in severing the colonies from the mother country. The wealthy society +of Boston, from the earliest period down to the present hour, has always +been on what is called the conservative side in politics; and it was +eminently so during the troubles preceding the revolutionary war. The +whole story is told in a remark made by a Boston Tory doctor in those +times: + +"If Warren were not a Whig," said he, "he might soon be independent and +ride in his chariot." + +There were, however, in Boston Whig families enough to give him plenty +of business, and he was for many years their favorite physician. He +attended the family of John Adams, and saved John Quincy, his son, from +losing one of his fore-fingers when it was very badly fractured. Samuel +Adams, who was the prime mover of the Opposition, old enough to be +his father, inspired and consulted him. Gradually, as the quarrel grew +warmer, Dr. Warren was drawn into the councils of the leading Whigs, +and became at last almost wholly a public man. Without being rash or +imprudent, he was one of the first to be ready to meet force with force, +and he was always in favor of the measures which were boldest and most +decisive. At his house Colonel Putnam was a guest on an interesting +occasion, when he was only known for his exploits in the French war. + +"The old hero, Putnam," says a Boston letter of 1774, "arrived in town +on Monday, bringing with him one hundred and thirty sheep from the +little parish of Brooklyn." + +It was at Dr. Warren's house that the "old hero" staid, and thither +flocked crowds of people to see him, and talk over the thrilling events +of the time. The sheep which he brought with him were to feed the people +of Boston, whose business was suspended by the closing of the port. + +The presence of the British troops in Boston roused all Warren's +indignation. Overhearing one day some British officers saying that the +Americans would not fight, he said to a friend: + +"These fellows say we will not fight. By heavens, I hope I shall die up +to my knees in their blood!" + +Soon after, as he was passing the public gallows on the Neck, he +overheard one of a group of officers say in an insulting tone: + +"Go on, Warren; you will soon come to the gallows." + +The young doctor turned, walked up to the officers, and said to them +quietly: + +"Which of you uttered those words." + +They passed on without giving any reply. He had not long to wait for a +proof that his countrymen would fight. April nineteenth, 1775, word was +brought to him by a special messenger of the events which had occurred +on the village green at Lexington. He called to his assistant, told him +to take care of his patients, mounted his horse, and rode toward the +scene of action. + +"Keep up a brave heart!" he cried to a friend in passing. "They have +begun it. _That_ either party can do. And we will end it. _That_ only +one can do." + +Riding fast, he was soon in the thick of the melée, and kept so close to +the point of contact that a British musket ball struck a pin out of his +hair close to one of his ears. Wherever the danger was greatest there +was Warren, now a soldier joining in the fight, now a surgeon binding up +wounds, now a citizen cheering on his fellows. From this day he made up +his mind to perform his part in the coming contest as a soldier, not +as a physician, nor in any civil capacity; and accordingly on the +fourteenth of June, 1775, the Massachusetts legislature elected him +"second Major General of the Massachusetts army." Before he had received +his commission occurred the battle of Bunker Hill, June seventeenth. He +passed the night previous in public service, for he was President of the +Provincial Congress, but, on the seventeenth, when the congress met at +Watertown, the president did not appear. Members knew where he was, +for he had told his friends that he meant to take part in the impending +movement. + +It was a burning hot summer's day. After his night of labor, Warren +threw himself on his bed, sick from a nervous headache. The booming of +the guns summoned him forth, and shortly before the first assault he was +on the field ready to serve. + +"I am here," he said to General Putnam, "only as a volunteer. Tell me +where I can be most useful." + +And to Colonel Prescott he said: + +"I shall take no command here. I come as a volunteer, with my musket to +serve under you." + +And there he fought during the three onsets, cheering the men by his +coolness and confidence. He was one of the the very last to leave the +redoubt. When he had retreated about sixty yards he was recognized by a +British officer, who snatched a musket from a soldier and shot him. +The bullet entered the back of his head. Warren placed his hands, as if +mechanically, to the wound, and fell dead upon the hot and dusty field. + +The enemy buried him where he fell. Nine months after, when the British +finally retreated from New England, his body, recognized by two false +teeth, was disinterred and honorably buried. He left four children, of +whom the eldest was a girl six years of age. Congress adopted the eldest +son. Among those who contributed most liberally toward the education and +support of the other children was Benedict Arnold, who gave five hundred +dollars. A little psalm book found by a British soldier in Warren's +pocket on the field is still in possession of one of his descendants. + + + + +CAPTAIN NATHAN HALE, THE MARTYR-SPY. + + +General Washington wanted a man. It was in September, 1776, at the City +of New York, a few days after the battle of Long Island. The swift +and deep East River flowed between the two hostile armies, and General +Washington had as yet no system established for getting information of +the enemy's movements and intentions. He never needed such information +so much as at that crisis. + +What would General Howe do next? If he crossed at Hell Gate, the +American army, too small in numbers, and defeated the week before, might +be caught on Manhattan Island as in a trap, and the issue of the contest +might be made to depend upon a single battle; for in such circumstances +defeat would involve the capture of the whole army. And yet General +Washington was compelled to confess: + +"We cannot learn, nor have we been able to procure the least information +of late." + +Therefore he wanted a man. He wanted an intelligent man, cool-headed, +skillful, brave, to cross the East River to Long Island, enter the +enemy's camp, and get information as to his strength and intentions. +He went to Colonel Knowlton, commanding a remarkably efficient regiment +from Connecticut, and requested him to ascertain if this man, so sorely +needed, could be found in his command. Colonel Knowlton called his +officers together, stated the wishes of General Washington, and, without +urging the enterprise upon any individual, left the matter to their +reflections. + +Captain Nathan Hale, a brilliant youth of twenty-one, recently graduated +from Yale College, was one of those who reflected upon the subject. He +soon reached a conclusion. He was of the very flower of the young men of +New England, and one of the best of the younger soldiers of the patriot +army. He had been educated for the ministry, and his motive in adopting +for a time the profession of arms was purely patriotic. This we know +from the familiar records of his life at the time when the call to arms +was first heard. + +In addition to his other gifts and graces, he was handsome, vigorous, +and athletic, all in an extraordinary degree. If he had lived in our day +he might have pulled the stroke-oar at New London, or pitched for the +college nine. + +The officers were conversing in a group. No one had as yet spoken the +decisive word. Colonel Knowlton appealed to a French sergeant, an old +soldier of former wars, and asked him to volunteer. + +"No, no," said he. "I am ready to fight the British at any place and +time, but I do not feel willing to go among them to be hung up like a +dog." + +Captain Hale joined the group of officers. He said to Colonel Knowlton: + +"I will undertake it." + +Some of his best friends remonstrated. One of them, afterwards the +famous general William Hull, then a captain in Washington's army, has +recorded Hale's reply to his own attempt to dissuade him. + +"I think," said Hale, "I owe to my country the accomplishment of +an object so important. I am fully sensible of the consequences of +discovery and capture in such a situation. But for a year I have been +attached to the army, and have not rendered any material service, +while receiving a compensation for which I make no return. I wish to be +useful, and every kind of service necessary for the public good becomes +honorable by being necessary." + +He spoke, as General Hull remembered, with earnestness and decision, as +one who had considered the matter well, and had made up his mind. + +Having received his instructions, he traveled fifty miles along the +Sound as far as Norwalk in Connecticut. One who saw him there made a +very wise remark upon him, to the effect that he was "too good-looking" +to go as a spy. He could not deceive. "Some scrubby fellow ought to +have gone." At Norwalk he assumed the disguise of a Dutch schoolmaster, +putting on a suit of plain brown clothes, and a round, broad-brimmed +hat. He had no difficulty in crossing the Sound, since he bore an order +from General Washington which placed at his disposal all the vessels +belonging to Congress. For several days everything appears to have gone +well with him, and there is reason to believe that he passed through the +entire British army without detection or even exciting suspicion. + +Finding the British had crossed to New York, he followed them. He made +his way back to Long Island, and nearly reached the point opposite +Norwalk where he had originally landed. Rendered perhaps too bold by +success, he went into a well-known and popular tavern, entered into +conversation with the guests, and made himself very agreeable. +The tradition is that he made himself too agreeable. A man present +suspecting or knowing that he was not the character he had assumed, +quietly left the room, communicated his suspicions to the captain of a +British ship anchored near, who dispatched a boat's crew to capture +and bring on board the agreeable stranger. His true character was +immediately revealed. Drawings of some of the British works, with +notes in Latin, were found hidden in the soles of his shoes. Nor did he +attempt to deceive his captors, and the English captain, lamenting, as +he said, that "so fine a fellow had fallen into his power," sent him to +New York in one of his boats, and with him the fatal proofs that he was +a spy. + +September twenty-first was the day on which he reached New York--the day +of the great fire which laid one-third of the little city in ashes. From +the time of his departure from General Washington's camp to that of +his return to New York was about fourteen days. He was taken to General +Howe's headquarters at the Beekman mansion, on the East River, near +the corner of the present Fifty-first Street and First Avenue. It is a +strange coincidence that this house to which he was brought to be tried +as a spy was the very one from which Major André departed when he +went to West Point. Tradition says that Captain Hale was examined in a +greenhouse which then stood in the garden of the Beekman mansion. + +Short was his trial, for he avowed at once his true character. The +British general signed an order to his provost-marshal directing him to +receive into his custody the prisoner convicted as a spy, and to see him +hanged by the neck "to-morrow morning at daybreak." + +Terrible things are reported of the manner in which this noble prisoner, +this admirable gentleman and hero, was treated by his jailer and +executioner. There are savages in every large army, and it is possible +that this provost-marshal was one of them. It is said that he refused +him writing-materials, and afterwards, when Captain Hale had been +furnished them by others, destroyed before his face his last letters to +his mother and to the young lady to whom he was engaged to be married. +As those letters were never received this statement may be true. The +other alleged horrors of the execution it is safe to disregard, because +we know that it was conducted in the usual form and in the presence of +many spectators and a considerable body of troops. One fact shines out +from the distracting confusion of that morning, which will be cherished +to the latest posterity as a precious ingot of the moral treasure of +the American people. When asked if he had anything to say, Captain Hale +replied: + +"I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country." + +The scene of his execution was probably an old graveyard in Chambers +Street, which was then called Barrack Street. General Howe formally +notified General Washington of his execution. In recent years, through +the industry of investigators, the pathos and sublimity of these events +have been in part revealed. + +In 1887 a bronze statue of the young hero was unveiled in the State +House at Hartford. Mr. Charles Dudley Warner delivered a beautiful +address suitable to the occasion, and Governor Lounsberry worthily +accepted the statue on behalf of the State. It is greatly to be +regretted that our knowledge of this noble martyr is so slight; but we +know enough to be sure that he merits the veneration of his countrymen. + + + + +GENERAL WASHINGTON'S OTHER SPIES. + + +The reader would scarcely expect at this late day to get new light upon +the military character of General Washington. But, in truth, scarcely a +month passes in which some of our busy historical students do not add +to our knowledge of him. Recently Mr. H.P. Johnston published in the +_Magazine of American History_ some curious documents, hitherto unknown, +exhibiting Washington's methods of procuring intelligence of the +movements of the British army. + +Like a true general, he knew from the first all the importance of +correct and prompt information. How necessary this is, is known to +every one who remembers vividly the late war, particularly the first few +months of it, before there was any good system of employing spies. Some +terrible disasters could have been avoided if our generals had obtained +better information of the opposing army's position, temper, and +resources. + +An attentive study of the dispatches of Napoleon Bonaparte will show the +importance which he attached to intelligence of this kind. He kept near +him at headquarters an officer of rank who had nothing to do but to +procure, record, and arrange all the military news which could be +gleaned from newspapers, correspondents, and spies. The name of every +regiment, detachment, and corps in the enemy's service was written +upon a card. For the reception of these cards he had a case made with +compartments and pigeon-holes. Every time a movement was reported the +cards were shifted to correspond, so that he could know at a glance, +when the cards were spread out upon a table, just how the troops of the +enemy were distributed or massed. Every few days, the officer in charge +had to send the emperor a list of the changes which had taken place. +This important matter was intrusted to a person who knew the languages +of the different nations engaged in the war. + +It was Bonaparte's perfect organization of his spy system which enabled +him to carry out his plan of always having a superior force at the point +of attack. These two were the great secrets of his tactical system, +namely, to have the best information and the most men at the decisive +moment. + +Bonaparte was a trained soldier; but when Washington took command of the +army in July, 1775, he had had very little experience of actual warfare. +That little, however, was precisely of the kind to prove the value of +correct information. For the want of it, he had seen General Braddock +lead an army into the jaws of destruction, and he may have still +possessed in some closet of Mount Vernon the coat with four bullet-holes +in it which he had himself worn on that occasion. There are no warriors +so skillful either at getting or concealing information as Indians, +and all his experience hitherto had been in the Indian country and with +warlike methods of an Indian character. + +Hence it is not surprising to discover that the first important act +which he performed at Cambridge was to engage a person to go into the +city of Boston for the purpose of procuring "intelligence of the enemy's +movements and designs." An entry in his private note-book shows that he +paid this unknown individual $333.33 in advance. + +A person who serves as a spy takes his life in his hand. It is a curious +fact of human nature that nothing so surely reconciles a man to risking +his life as a handsome sum in cash. General Washington, being perfectly +aware of this fact, generally contrived to have a sum of what he called +"hard money" at headquarters all through the war. Spies do not readily +take to paper money. There are no Greenbackers among them. In the +letters of General Washington we find a great many requests to Congress +for a kind of money that would pass current anywhere, and suffer no +deterioration at the bottom of a river in a freshet. He preferred gold +as being the "most portable." He wrote in 1778 from White Plains: + +"I have always found a difficulty in procuring intelligence by the means +of paper money, and I perceive that it increases." + +It continued to increase, until, I suppose, an offer of a million +dollars in paper would not have induced a spy to enter the enemy's +lines. In fact, the general himself says as much. In acknowledging the +receipt of five hundred guineas for the secret service, he says that for +want of a little gold he had been obliged to dispense with the services +of some of his informers; and adds: + +"In some cases no consideration in paper money has been found sufficient +to effect even an engagement to procure intelligence; and where it has +been otherwise, the terms of service on account of the depreciation have +been high, if not exorbitant." + +The time was not distant when paper money ceased to have any value, +and Governor Jefferson of Virginia paid his whole salary for a year (a +thousand pounds) for a second-hand side-saddle. + +During the later years of the war, the city of New York was the chief +source of information concerning the designs and movements of the +enemy. General Washington, as early as 1778, had always two or three +correspondents there upon whose information he could rely if only they +could send it out to him. Sometimes, when his ordinary correspondents +failed him, he would send in a spy disguised as a farmer driving a small +load of provisions, and who would bring out some family supplies, as +tea, sugar, and calico, the better to conceal his real object. Often the +spy _was_ a farmer, and sometimes quite illiterate. As it was unsafe for +him to have any written paper upon his person, he was required to learn +by heart the precise message which he was to deliver in the city, as +also the information which he received from the resident correspondent. + +The messenger frequently entered the city in the disguise of a peddler, +a fact which suggested to Horace Greeley, when he was a printer's +apprentice in Vermont, the idea of a story which he called "The +Peddler-Spy of the Revolution." I once had in my hand a considerable +package of his manuscript of this tale; but even as a boy he wrote so +bad a hand that I could not read much of it. It is possible that this +manuscript still exists. + +These methods of procuring intelligence in New York were all abused by +real peddlers, who, when they were caught selling contraband goods to +the enemy, pretended to be spies, and so escaped the penalty. At length +the general chiefly depended upon two persons, one called "Culper +Senior," and the other "Culper Junior," who may have been father and +son, but whose real names and qualities have never been disclosed. +General Washington's secrecy was perfect. His most confidential +officers, except one or two who had to be in the secret, never knew +enough of these men to be able to designate them afterwards. When +Benedict Arnold fled to New York after his treason, the American spies +there were panic-stricken, as they very naturally concluded that Arnold +must have been acquainted with their names and residences. General +Washington was able to assure them that such was not the fact, and it +is even probable that only one individual besides himself knew who they +were. This was Major Benjamin Tallmadge, a native of Long Island, who +frequently received the dispatches from New York and forwarded them to +headquarters. The letters were commonly taken across the East River +to Brooklyn; thence to a point on the Sound about opposite to Rye or +Portchester; and were thence conveyed to camp. + +The dispatches from the Culpers were generally written in invisible ink, +which was made legible by wetting the paper with another liquid. It was +a matter of no small difficulty to keep the spies in New York supplied +with the two fluids, and also with the guineas which were requisite for +their maintenance. At first the spies wrote their letters on a blank +sheet of paper; but that would never do. General Washington wrote: + +"This circumstance alone is sufficient to raise suspicions. A much +better way is to write a letter in the Tory style, with some mixture of +family matters, and, between the lines and on the remaining part of +the sheet, communicate with the stain (the invisible ink) the intended +intelligence." + +The Culpers served faithfully to the end of the war, and finally had the +happiness of sending to the general the glorious news that the British +army, the fleet, and the Tories were all evidently preparing to depart +from the city, which they had held for seven years. Who were these +adroit and faithful Culpers? The secret seems to have died with +Washington and Tallmadge. + + + + +AN HISTORIC CHRISTMAS NIGHT + + +"Christmas Day, at night, one hour before day, is the time fixed upon +for our attempt upon Trenton." + +In this confused way, December 23, 1776, General Washington wrote +from his camp, near Trenton Falls, to Colonel Reed, who was posted at +Bristol, a few miles further down the Delaware, guarding an important +ford. + +Before crossing over to the safe side of this wide stream, about twelve +hundred feet wide at Trenton, he gave an order so important that, if he +had forgotten or omitted it, nothing could have saved Philadelphia from +being captured by the British. + +He directed that all the boats and barges of the whole region, for +seventy miles, everything that could float and carry a man, should +be taken over to the western bank of the river, and there carefully +concealed, or closely watched. + +All the boats and canoes in the creeks and tributaries were also +secured, and hidden where they could do an enemy no good. There were +many large barges then upon the Delaware, used for transporting hay and +other produce, some of which could have carried over half a regiment of +foot at every trip. + +All of these were hidden or guarded, and as soon as General Washington +had got his own little army over, he posted a guard at every ford, and +kept trustworthy men going up and down the river, to see that the boats +were safe. + +If any one desires to see General Washington when he displayed his +manhood and military genius at their best, let him study the records of +his life for the month of December, 1776. The soldier, the statesman, +the citizen, the brave, indomitable man, each in turn appears, and +shines in the trying hours of that month. + +Only the River Delaware separated the hostile armies, and the enemy +waited but for the ice to form, in order to add Philadelphia to the list +of his summer conquests. + +Congress had adjourned from Philadelphia to Baltimore. New Jersey was +ravaged by ruthless bands of soldiers. Disaffection was on every side. +The winter, prematurely cold, threatened to make an ice-bridge over the +stream in ten days, and within about the same time the terms of most of +General Washington's troops would expire, and he might be left without +even the semblance of an army. "Dire necessity," as he said, compelled a +movement of some kind. + +Christmas had come. It was a cold, freezing day. There was already a +large amount of ice floating by, and heaped up along the shore, in +many places rendering access to the water impossible, and in all places +difficult. + +About four o'clock in the afternoon, the troops were drawn up in parade +before their camp at Trenton Falls. They were about twenty-four hundred +in number. Every man carried three days' cooked rations, and an ample +supply of heavy ammunition. Few of the soldiers were adequately clothed, +and their shoes were in such bad condition that Major Wilkinson, who +rode behind them to the landing-place, reports that "the snow on the +ground was tinged here and there with blood." The cold was increasing. +The ice was forming rapidly. The wind was high, and there were signs of +a snow-storm. + +Boats were in readiness, and about sunset the troops began to cross. The +passage was attended with such difficulties as would have deterred men +less resolute. The current of the river was exceedingly swift, the +cold intense, and, although it was the night of a full moon, the thick +snow-clouds made the night dark. + +Colonel Knox, afterward General Knox of the Artillery and Secretary of +War, rendered efficient service on this occasion. Soldiers from Yankee +Marblehead manned many of the boats, and lent the aid of their practiced +skill and wiry muscle. Every man worked with a will, and yet it was +three o'clock in the morning before the troops were all over. + +It was four o'clock before they were formed in two bodies and began to +march, one division close along the river, and the other on a parallel +road, some little distance in the country. + +It had been snowing nearly all night, and about the time when the troops +were set in motion the storm increased, the wind rose, and hail was +mingled with the snow. The storm blew in the faces of the men and they +had nine miles to go before reaching Trenton, where fourteen hundred of +the Hessian troops were posted under Colonel Rahl. + +Soon after, it was whispered about among the men that the fuses of +the best muskets were wet and could not be discharged. Upon this being +reported to General Sullivan, he glanced around at Captain St. Clair and +asked: "What is to be done?" + +"You have nothing for it," replied St. Clair, "but to push on and +charge." + +The gallant Stark of Vermont was in command of the advance guard, and +perhaps near him marched the father of Daniel Webster. Colonel Stark +told his men to get their muskets in the best order they could as they +marched, and an officer was sent to inform General Washington of this +mishap. + +"Tell your General," said the Commander-in-chief, "to use the bayonet +and penetrate into the town; the town must be taken, and I am resolved +to take it." + +The soldiers overheard this reply, as it was given by the aide to +General Sullivan, and quietly fixed bayonets without waiting for an +order. + +About eight in the morning both parties arrived near the village of +Trenton. General Washington, who rode near the front of his column, +asked a man who was chopping wood by the roadside: + +"Which way is the Hessian Picket?" + +"I don't know," replied the Jerseyman, unwilling to commit himself. + +"You may speak," said one of the American officers, "for that is General +Washington." + +The man raised his hands to heaven and exclaimed: "God bless and prosper +you, sir! The picket is in that house, and the sentry stands near that +tree." + +General Washington instantly ordered an advance. As his men marched +rapidly toward the village with a cheer, Colonel Stark and his band +answered the shout and rushed upon the enemy. + +The Hessians made a brief attempt at resistance; first, by a wild and +useless fire from windows, and then by an attempt to form in the main +street of the village. This was at once frustrated by Captain T. Forest, +who commanded the battery of six guns which had caused much trouble and +delay in crossing the river. + +At the same time Captain William Washington and Lieutenant James Monroe, +afterward President, ran forward with a party to where the Hessians were +attempting to establish a battery, drove the artillerists from +their guns, and captured two of them, just as they were ready to be +discharged. + +Both these young officers were wounded. Colonel Stark during the brief +combat, as Wilkinson reports, "dealt death wherever he found resistance, +and broke down all opposition before him." + +Colonel Rahl, who commanded the post, was roused from a deep sleep by +the noise of Washington's fire. He did all that was possible to form +his panic-stricken and disordered troops, but soon fell from his horse +mortally wounded. From that moment, the day was lost to the Hessians. + +During the combat, General Washington remained near Captain Forest's +battery, directing the fire. He had just ordered the whole battery, +charged with canister, to be turned upon the retreating enemy, when +Captain Forest, pointing to the flagstaff near Rahl's headquarters, +cried, "Sir, they have struck!" + +"Struck!" exclaimed General Washington. + +"Yes," said Forest; "their colors are down." + +"So they are!" said the commander. + +General Washington galloped toward them, followed by all the +artillerymen, who wished to see the ceremony of surrender. He rode up to +where Colonel Rahl had fallen. The wounded man, assisted by soldiers +on each side of him, got upon his feet, and presented his sword to the +victor. + +At this moment Wilkinson, who had been sent away with orders, returned +to his general, and witnessed the surrender. Washington took him by the +hand, and said, his countenance beaming with joy: "Major Wilkinson, this +is a glorious day for our country!" + +In a moment, however, the unfortunate Rahl, who stood near, pale, +covered with blood, and still bleeding, appeared to be asking for the +assistance which his wounds required. + +He was at once conveyed to the house of a good Quaker family near by, +where he was visited by General Washington in the course of the day, who +did all in his power to soothe the feelings of the dying soldier. + +This action, reckoning from the first gun, lasted but thirty-five +minutes. On the American side two officers were wounded, two privates +were killed, four were wounded, and one was frozen to death. Four stands +of colors were captured, besides twelve drums, six brass field-pieces, +and twelve hundred muskets. The prisoners were nine hundred and +forty-six in number, of whom seventy-eight were wounded. Seventeen of +the Hessians were killed, of whom six were officers. + +We can scarcely imagine the joy which this victory gave to the people +everywhere, as the news slowly made its way. They were in the depths of +discouragement. There had been moments when Washington himself almost +gave up Philadelphia for lost, and it was from Philadelphia that he drew +his most essential supplies. + +The capture of the post at Trenton, a thing trifling in itself, changed +the mood and temper of both parties, and proved to be the turning-point +of the war. It saved Philadelphia for that season, freed New Jersey from +the ravages of an insolent and ruthless foe, checked disaffection in +minds base or timid, and gave Congress time to prepare for a renewal of +the strife as soon as the spring should open. + +It was a priceless Christmas present which the general and his steadfast +band of patriots gave their country in 1776, and it was followed, a +week later, by a New Year's gift of similar purport--the capture of the +British post at Princeton. + + + + +JOHN ADAMS AND THE QUESTION OF INDEPENDENCE. + + +It was an act of something more than courage to vote for Independence in +1776. It was an act of far-sighted wisdom as well, and it was done with +the utmost possible deliberation. + +The last great debate upon the subject took place on Monday, the first +of July, 1776. Fifty-one members were present that morning, a number +that must have pretty well filled the square, not very large, room +in Independence Hall, which many of our readers visited during the +Centennial year. + +No spectators were present beyond the officers of the House. John +Hancock was in the chairman's seat. In the room overhead the legislature +of Pennsylvania was in session. Out of doors, in the public squares and +grounds adjacent, troops were drilling, as they had been every day +for months past, and a great force of men was at work fortifying the +Delaware below the city. + +This day had been set apart for the final and decisive consideration of +Independence. The draft of the Declaration, as written by Mr. Jefferson, +had been handed in three days before, and lay upon the table--perhaps +visibly so, as well as in a parliamentary sense. + +The question had been discussed, and discussed again, and again +discussed, until it seemed to the more ardent minds a waste of breath +to argue it further; but it requires time, much time, as well as great +patience, to bring a representative body to the point of deciding +irrevocably a matter so momentous, involving their own and their +country's destiny. + +_Ought_ we to sever the tie which binds us to the mother country? That +was not so very difficult to answer; but there was another question: +_Can_ we? Britain is mighty, and what are we? Thirteen colonies of +farmers, with little money, no allies, no saltpetre even, and all the +Indians open to British gold and British rum. Then there was another +question: Will the people at home sustain us? + +At nine o'clock President Hancock rapped to order. The first business +was the reading of letters addressed to the Congress, which had arrived +since the adjournment on Saturday. One of these, from General Washington +in New York, contained news calculated to alarm all but the most +stalwart spirits: Canada quite lost to the cause; Arnold's army in full, +though orderly, retreat from that province; a powerful British fleet +just arriving in New York harbor, three or four ships drifting in daily, +and now forty-five sail all at once signalled from Sandy Hook. + +"Some say more," added General Washington, "and I suppose the whole +fleet will be in within a day or two." + +The whole fleet! As if these were not enough; and, in truth, the number +soon reached a hundred and twenty, with thousands of red-coats in them +abundantly supplied with every requisite. Washington's own army numbered +on that day seven thousand seven hundred and fifty-four men, of whom, as +he reported, eight hundred had no guns at all, fourteen hundred had bad +guns, and half the infantry no bayonets. Add to this fifty-three British +ships just arrived at Charleston, with General Clinton's expedition on +board. + +We must bear this news in mind in order to appreciate what followed in +Congress that day. When General Washington's letter had been read, the +House went into committee of the whole, "to take into consideration the +question of Independence." + +The boldest man upon that floor could not avoid feeling that the crisis +was serious and the issue doubtful. As if to deepen this impression, +there soon rose to address the House John Dickinson, of Pennsylvania, a +good man and a patriot, an able speaker and better writer, but rich, not +of robust health, and conservative almost to timidity. + +From the first, while opposing the arbitrary measures of the King, he +had been equally opposed to a Declaration of Independence; and to-day, +refreshed by the rest of Sunday, and feeling that it was now or never +with his party, he spoke with all the force and solemnity of which he +was capable. + +"I value," said he, "the love of my country as I ought, but I value +my country more, and I desire this illustrious assembly to witness the +integrity, if not the policy, of my conduct. The first campaign will be +decisive of the controversy. + +"The declaration will not strengthen us by one man, or by the least +supply, while it may expose our soldiers to additional cruelties and +outrages. Without some preliminary trials of our strength we ought +not to commit our country upon an alternative where to recede would be +infamy, and to persist might be destruction." + +In this strain he spoke long, urging all the reasons for delay which an +ingenious mind could devise, and clothing his argument with the charm of +a fine literary style. + +He ceased. There was a pause. No one seemed willing to break the +silence, until it began to be embarrassing, and then painful. + +Many eyes were turned toward John Adams, who for eighteen months had +been the chief spokesman of the party for independence. He had advocated +the measure before Thomas Paine had written "Common Sense," and when it +had not one influential friend in Philadelphia. Early in the previous +year, when it first became known by the accidental publicity of a +letter that he favored the Declaration of Independence, the solid men of +Philadelphia shunned him as if he had had the leprosy. + +"I walked the streets of Philadelphia," he once wrote, "in solitude, +borne down by the weight of care and unpopularity," and Dr. Rush +mentions that he saw him thus walking the streets alone, "an object of +nearly universal scorn and detestation." + +But he was on the gaining side. The cruel burning of Falmouth on the +coast of Maine weaned New England from the mother country, and the +burning of Norfolk completed the same office for Virginia. + +To-day he stood with a majority of the people behind him. To-day he +spoke the sentiments of his country. To-day he uttered the words which +every man on the floor but John Dickinson wished to hear uttered. + +Yet he did not immediately rise; for he wished some one else, some one +less committed to Independence than he was, to take the lead in that +day's debate. At length, however, since every one else hung back, he got +upon his feet to answer Mr. Dickinson. + +The speech which he delivered on this occasion was deemed by those who +heard it the most powerful effort of his life, though he had made no +special preparation for it beforehand. He had thought of the subject +from his college days, and had never ceased to regard the Independence +of his country as only a question of time. During his professional life, +it had been the frequent theme of his reflections, and he was perfectly +familiar with every phase of it. + +"This is the first time in my life," said he, "that I have ever wished +for the talents and eloquence of the ancient orators of Greece and Rome, +for I am very sure that none of them ever had before him a question of +more importance to his country and to the world. They would, probably, +upon less occasions than this, have begun by solemn invocations to their +divinities for assistance. + +"But the question before me appears so simple that I have confidence +enough in the plain understanding and common-sense that have been given +me to believe that I can answer, to the satisfaction of the House, all +the arguments which have been produced, notwithstanding the abilities +which have been displayed and the eloquence with which they have been +enforced." + +Proceeding then to the discussion of the question, he dwelt strongly +upon the point that, as the colonies had gone too far to recede, as +they had already been put outside of British law, the Declaration of +Independence could not possibly make their condition worse, but would +give them some obvious and solid advantages. + +Now, they were rebels against their king, and could not negotiate +on equal terms with a sovereign power. The moment they declared +Independence, they would be themselves a sovereignty. The measure, he +contended, would be as prudent as it was just. It would help them in +many ways and hinder them in no way. + +We have no report of this celebrated oration, and can only gather its +purport from allusions scattered here and there in the letters of those +who heard it. We know, however, that Mr. Adams dwelt forcibly upon this +one position, that the king himself having absolved them from their +allegiance, and having made unprovoked war upon them, the proposed +Declaration would be simply a proclamation to the world of a state of +things already existing. + +Many members followed. When the debate had proceeded for a long time, +three new members from New Jersey came in: Richard Stockton, Dr. +Witherspoon and Francis Hopkinson. These gentlemen, on learning +the business before the House, expressed a strong desire to hear a +recapitulation of the arguments which had been brought forward. + +Again there was an awkward silence. Again all eyes were turned upon John +Adams. Again he shrank from taking the floor. Mr. Edward Rutledge of +South Carolina came to him and said: + +"Nobody will speak but you upon this subject. You have all the topics so +ready that you must satisfy the gentlemen from New Jersey." + +Mr. Adams replied that he was ashamed to repeat what he had said +twenty times before. As the new members still insisted on hearing a +recapitulation, he at length rose once more, and gave a concise summary +of the whole debate. The New Jersey gentlemen said they were fully +satisfied and were ready for the question. It was now six o'clock in the +evening. The debate had continued all day, nine hours, without the least +interval for rest or refreshment, and during that long period, as Mr. +Jefferson wrote at a later day, "all the powers of the soul had been +distended with the magnitude of the object." + +Mr. Edward Rutledge, of South Carolina, then rose, and asked as a +favor that the voting be deferred until the next morning, as he and his +fellow-members wished still further to deliberate. + +The request was granted; the House adjourned; the hungry and exhausted +members went to their homes. + +The next morning members met in a cheerful mood, for it was well +ascertained that every colony was prepared to vote for Independence. +When Mr. Adams reached the State House door, he had the pleasure of +meeting Caesar Rodney, still in his riding-boots, for he had ridden all +night from Delaware to vote on the momentous question. Mr. Adams, it is +said, had sent an express at his own expense eighty miles to summon him, +and there he was to greet him at the State House door. + +The great question was speedily put, when every State but New York voted +for declaring independence, and that State's adherence was delayed a few +days only by a series of accidents. + +What a happy man was John Adams, and what a triumphant letter was that +which he wrote to his noble wife on the 3d of July, telling her the +great news that Congress had passed a resolution, without one dissenting +colony, "that these united colonies are, and of right ought to be, +free and independent States." Then he continued in the passage so often +quoted: + +"The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the +history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by +succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be +commemorated as the day of deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God +Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, +games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations from one end of +this continent to the other, from this time forward forevermore." + +But, no; not on July second. The transaction was not yet complete. As +soon as the vote was recorded, Mr. Jefferson's draft of the Declaration +was taken from the table, and discussed paragraph by paragraph. Many +alterations were made, thirty-four in all, most of them for the better. +This discussion lasted the rest of that day, all the next, and most +of the next, which was the fourth. Late in that afternoon the members +present signed the document, and so the day we celebrate is the FOURTH +OF JULY. + + + + +ANECDOTES OF JOHN ADAMS. + + +The first office ever held by President John Adams was that of +Roadmaster to his native town. The young barrister, as he himself +confesses, was very indignant at being elected to a post, with the +duties of which he was unacquainted, and which he considered beneath +his pretensions. His friend, Dr. Savil, explained to him that he had +nominated him to the office to prevent his being elected constable. + +"They make it a rule," said the Doctor, "to compel every man to serve +either as constable or surveyor of the highways, or to pay a fine." + +"They might as well," said Mr. Adams, "have chosen any boy in school, +for I know nothing of the business; but since they have chosen me at a +venture, I will accept it in the same manner, and find out my duty as I +can." + +Accordingly he went to plowing, ditching, and blowing rocks and built a +new stone bridge over a stream. He took infinite pains with his bridge, +and employed the best workmen; "but," says he, "the next spring brought +down a flood that threw my bridge all into ruins." The blame, however, +fell upon the workmen, and all the town, he tells us, agreed that he had +executed his office with "impartiality, diligence, and spirit." + +Mr. Adams was an extremely passionate man. One evening, just before the +breaking out of the Revolution, while spending an evening in company +with an English gentleman, the conversation turned upon the aggressions +of the mother country. He became furious with anger. He said there was +no justice left in Britain; that he wished for war, and that the whole +Bourbon family was upon the back of Great Britain. He wished that +anything might happen to them, and, as the clergy prayed for enemies in +time of war, that "they might be brought to reason or to ruin." When he +went home he was exceedingly repentant for having lost his temper, and +wrote in his diary the following remarks: + +"I cannot but reflect upon myself with severity for these rash, +inexperienced, boyish, wrong, and awkward expressions. A man who has no +better government of his tongue, no more command of his temper, is unfit +for anything but children's play, and the company of boys. A character +can never be supported, if it can be raised, without a good, a great +share of self-government. Such flights of passion, such starts +of imagination, though they may strike a few of the fiery and +inconsiderate, yet they sink a man with the wise. They expose him to +danger, as well as familiarity, contempt, and ridicule." + +One of the most interesting events in the life of John Adams was his +nomination of George Washington to the command of the Revolutionary +armies. One day, in 1775, when Congress was full of anxiety concerning +the army near Boston, and yet hesitated to adopt it as their own, +fearing to take so decisive a step, John and Samuel Adams were walking +up and down the State House yard in Philadelphia before the opening of +the session, and were conversing upon the situation. + +"What shall we do?" asked Samuel Adams, at length. + +His kinsman said: "You know I have taken great pains to get our +colleagues to agree upon _some_ plan that we might be unanimous upon; +but you know they will pledge themselves to nothing; but I am determined +to take a step which shall compel them, and all the other members +of Congress, to declare themselves for or against _something_. I am +determined this morning to make a direct motion that Congress shall +adopt the army before Boston, and appoint Colonel Washington commander +of it." + +Samuel Adams looked grave at this proposition, but said nothing. +When Congress had assembled, John Adams rose, and, in a short speech, +represented the state of the colonies, the uncertainty in the minds of +the people, the distresses of the army, the danger of its disbanding, +the difficulty of collecting another if it should disband, and the +probability that the British army would take advantage of our delays, +march out of Boston, and spread desolation as far as they could go. +He concluded by moving that Congress adopt the army at Cambridge and +appoint a general. + +"Although," he continued, "this is not the proper time to nominate a +general, yet, as I have reason to believe that this is a point of the +greatest difficulty, I have no hesitation to declare that I have but one +gentleman in my mind for that important command, and that is a gentleman +from Virginia, who is among us, and is very well known to all of us; a +gentleman whose skill and experience as an officer, whose independent +fortune, great talents, and excellent universal character will command +the approbation of all America, and unite the cordial exertions of all +the colonies better than any other person in the Union." + +When Mr. Adams began this speech, Colonel Washington was present; but +as soon as the orator pronounced the words "Gentleman from Virginia," +he darted through the nearest door into the library. Mr. Samuel Adams +seconded the motion which, as we all know, was, on a future day, +unanimously carried. Mr. Adams relates that no one was so displeased +with this appointment as John Hancock, the President of Congress. + +"While I was speaking," says John Adams, "on the state of the colonies, +he heard me with visible pleasure; but when I came to describe +Washington for the commander, I never remarked a more sudden and +striking change of countenance. Mortification and resentment were +expressed as forcibly as his face could exhibit them." + +Hancock, in fact, who was somewhat noted as a militia officer in +Massachusetts, was vain enough to aspire to the command of the colonial +forces. + +They had a fashion, during the Revolutionary war, John Adams tells +us, of turning pictures of George III. upside down in the houses of +patriots. Adams copied into his diary some lines which were written +"under one of these topsey-turvey kings": + + Behold the man who had it in his power + To make a kingdom tremble and adore. + Intoxicate with folly, see his head + Placed where the meanest of his subjects tread. + Like Lucifer the giddy tyrant fell, + He lifts his heel to Heaven, but points his head to Hell. + +It is evident, from more than one passage in the diary of John Adams, +that he, too, in his heart, turned against Gen. Washington during the +gloomy hours of the Revolution. At least he thought him unfit for the +command. Just before the surrender of Burgoyne, Adams wrote in his diary +the following passage: + +"Gates seems to be acting the same timorous, defensive part which has +involved us in so many disasters. Oh, Heaven grant us one great soul! +One leading mind would extricate the best cause from that ruin which +seems to await it for the want of it. We have as good a cause as ever +was fought for: we have great resources; the people are well tempered; +one active, masterly capacity would bring order out of this confusion, +and save this country." + +Thus it is always in war-time. When the prospect is gloomy, and when +disasters threaten to succeed disasters, there is a general distrust of +the general in command, though at that very time he may be exhibiting +greater qualities and greater talents than ever before. + +John Adams tells us the reason why Thomas Jefferson, out of a committee +of five, was chosen to write the Declaration of Independence. + +"Writings of his," says Mr. Adams, "were handed about, remarkable for +the peculiar felicity of expression. Though a silent member in +Congress, he was so frank, explicit and decisive upon committees and +in conversation (not even Samuel Adams was more so) that he soon seized +upon my heart; and upon this occasion I gave him my vote, and did all +in my power to procure the votes of others. I think he had one more vote +than any other, and that placed him at the head of the committee. I had +the next highest number, and that placed me the second. The committee +met, discussed the subject, and then appointed Mr. Jefferson and me to +make the draft, because we were the two first upon the list." + +When this sub-committee of two had their first meeting, Jefferson +urged Mr. Adams to make the draft; whereupon the following conversation +occurred between them: + +"I will not," said Mr. Adams. + +"You should do it," said Jefferson. + +"Oh no," repeated Adams. + +"Why will you not?" asked Jefferson. "You ought to do it." + +"I will not," rejoined Adams. + +"Why?" again asked Jefferson. + +"Reasons enough," said Adams. + +"What can be your reasons?" inquired Jefferson. + +"Reason first--you are a Virginian, and a Virginian ought to appear at +the head of this business. Reason second--I am obnoxious, suspected, and +unpopular. You are very much otherwise. Reason third--you can write ten +times better than I can." + +"Well," said Jefferson, "if you are decided, I will do as well as I +can." + +"Very well," said Mr. Adams; "when you have drawn it up, we will have a +meeting." + +Thus it was that Thomas Jefferson became the author of this celebrated +document. Mr. Adams informs us that the original draft contained "a +vehement philippic against negro slavery," which Congress ordered to be +stricken out. + +Mr. Adams relates an amusing story of his sleeping one night with +Doctor Franklin, when they were on their way to hold their celebrated +conference with Lord Howe on Staten Island. It was at Brunswick, in New +Jersey, where the tavern was so crowded that two of the commissioners +were put into one room, which was little larger than the bed, and which +had no chimney and but one small window. The window was open when the +two members went up to bed, which Mr. Adams seeing, and being afraid of +the night air, shut it close. + +"Oh," said Doctor Franklin, "don't shut the window, we shall be +suffocated." + +Mr. Adams answered that he was afraid of the evening air; to which +Doctor Franklin replied: + +"The air within this chamber will soon be, and indeed is now, worse than +that without doors. Come, open the window and come to bed, and I will +convince you. I believe you are not acquainted with my theory of colds." + +Mr. Adams complied with both these requests. He tells us that when +he was in bed, the Doctor began to harangue upon air, and cold, and +respiration, and perspiration, with which he was so much amused that he +soon fell asleep. It does not appear that any ill consequences followed +from their breathing during the night the pure air of heaven. + + + + +THE WRITING AND SIGNING OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. + + +We happen to know what kind of weather it was in Philadelphia on +Thursday, the Fourth of July, 1776. Mr. Jefferson was in the habit, +all his life, of recording the temperature three times a day, and not +unfrequently four times. He made four entries in his weather record on +this birthday of the nation, as if anticipating that posterity would be +curious to learn every particular of an occasion so interesting. At +six that morning the mercury marked sixty-eight degrees. At nine, just +before going round to the State House to attend the session of Congress, +he recorded seventy-two and a half degrees. At one, while he was at home +during the recess for dinner, he found the mercury at seventy-six. At +nine in the evening, when the great deed had been done, the instrument +indicated seventy-three and a half degrees. + +From another entry of Mr. Jefferson's we learn that he paid for a new +thermometer on that day. The following are the three entries in his +expense-book for July fourth, 1776: + + "Paid Sparhawk for a thermometer...................£3 15s. + Pd. for 7 pr. women's gloves....................... 27s. + Gave in charity.................................... 1s. 6d." + +The price that he paid for his thermometer was equivalent to about +twenty dollars in gold; and as Mr. Jefferson was not likely to spend +his money for an elaborately decorated thermometer, we may infer that +instruments of that nature were at least ten times as costly then as +they are now. An excellent standard thermometer at the present time can +be bought for five dollars, and the sum which Mr. Jefferson paid in 1776 +was fully equal, in purchasing power, to fifty dollars in our present +currency. + +Mr. Jefferson lived then on the south side of Market street, not far +from the corner of Seventh, in Philadelphia. As it was the only house +then standing in that part of the street, he was unable in after years +to designate the exact spot, though he was always under the impression +that it was a corner house, either on the corner of Seventh street or +very near it. The owner of the house, named Graaf, was a young man, +the son of a German, and then newly married. Soon after coming to +Philadelphia, Mr. Jefferson hired the whole of the second floor, ready +furnished; and as the floor consisted of but two rooms--a parlor and a +bed-room--we may conjecture that the house was of no great size. It was +in that parlor that he wrote the Declaration of Independence. + +The writing-desk upon which he wrote it exists in Boston, and is still +possessed by the venerable friend and connection of Mr. Jefferson to +whom he gave it. The note which the author of the Declaration wrote when +he sent this writing-desk to the husband of one of his grand-daughters, +has a particular interest for us at this present time. It was written in +1825, nearly fifty years after the Declaration was signed, about midway +between that glorious period and the Centennial. It is as follows: + +"Thomas Jefferson gives this writing-desk to Joseph Coolidge, Jr., as +a memorial of affection. It was made from a drawing of his own by Benj. +Randolph, cabinet-maker, at Philadelphia, with whom he first lodged +on his arrival in that city, in May, 1776, and is the identical one +on which he wrote the Declaration of Independence. Politics as well as +religion has its superstitions. These, gaining strength with time, may +one day give imaginary value to this relic for its associations with the +birth of the Great charter of our Independence." + +The note given above, although penned when Mr. Jefferson was eighty-two +years of age, is written in a small, firm hand, and is quite as legible +as the type which the reader is now perusing. There is no indication +of old age in the writing; but I observe that he has spelt the most +important word of the note French fashion, thus: "_Independance_." +It certainly is remarkable that the author of the Declaration of +Independence should have made a mistake in spelling the word. Nor can +it be said that the erroneous letter was a slip of the pen, because the +word occurs twice in the note, and both times the last syllable is spelt +with an _a_. Mr. Jefferson was a very exact man, and yet, like most +men of that day, he used capitals and omitted them with an apparent +carelessness. In the above note, for example, the following words occur, +"Great charter." Here he furnishes the adjective with a capital, and +reduces his noun to the insignificance of a small letter. + +The Declaration was written, I suppose, about the middle of June; +and, while he was writing it, Philadelphia was all astir with warlike +preparation. Seldom has a peaceful city, a city of Quakers and brotherly +love, undergone such a transformation as Philadelphia did in a +few months. As Mr. Jefferson sat at his little desk composing the +Declaration, with the windows open at that warm season, he must have +heard the troops drilling in Independence Square. Twice a day they were +out drilling, to the number of two thousand men, and more. Perhaps he +was looking out of the window on the eleventh of June, the very day +after the appointment of the committee to draw up the Declaration, +when the question of independence was voted upon by the whole body of +Philadelphia volunteers, and they all voted for independence except +twenty-nine men, four officers and twenty-five privates. One of these +objectors made a scene upon the parade. He was so much opposed to the +proceeding that he would not put the question to his company. This +refusal, said the newspaper of that week, "Gave great umbrage to the +men, one of whom replied to him in a genteel and spirited manner." + +Besides this morning and afternoon drill in the public squares of the +town, preparations were going forward to close the river against the +ascent of a hostile fleet. Dr. Franklin, as I have related, had +twenty or thirty row galleys in readiness, which were out on the river +practising every day, watched by approving groups on the shore. Men +were at work on the forts five miles below the city, where, also, +Dr. Franklin was arranging his three rows of iron-barbed beams in the +channel, which were called _chevaux de frise_. In a letter of that day, +written to Captain Richard Varick, of New York, I find these French +words spelt thus: "Shiver de freeses." Committees were going about +Philadelphia during this spring buying lead from house to house at +sixpence a pound, taking even the lead clock-weights and giving iron +ones in exchange. So destitute was the army of powder and ball that +Dr. Franklin seriously proposed arming some regiments with javelins and +crossbows. + +Mr. Jefferson was ready with his draft in time to present it to Congress +on the first of July; but it was on the second, as I conjecture, that +the great debate occurred upon it, when the timid men again put forward +the argument that the country was not yet ripe for so decisive a +measure. Mr. Dickinson, of Pennsylvania, a true patriot, but a most +timorous and conservative gentleman, who had opposed Independence from +the beginning, delivered a long and eloquent speech against the measure. + +The author of the Declaration used to relate after dinner to his guests +at Monticello, that the conclusion of the business was hastened by a +ridiculous cause. Near the hall was a livery stable, from which swarms +of flies came in at the open windows, and attacked the trouserless legs +of members, who wore the silk stockings of the period. Lashing the flies +with their handkerchiefs, they became at length unable to bear a longer +delay, and the decisive vote was taken. On the Monday following, in the +presence of a great crowd of people assembled in Independence Square, it +was read by Captain Ezekiel Hopkins, the first commodore of the American +Navy, then just home from a cruise, during which he had captured eighty +cannon, a large quantity of ammunition, and stores, and two British +vessels. He was selected to read the Declaration from the remarkable +power of his voice. Seven weeks later, the Declaration was engrossed +upon parchment, which was signed by the members, and which now hangs in +the Patent Office at Washington. + + + + +ROBERT MORRIS, + +THE FINANCIER OF THE REVOLUTION. + + +Robert Morris, who had charge of the financial affairs of the thirteen +States during the Revolutionary War, and afterwards extended his +business beyond that of any other person in the country, became bankrupt +at last, spent four years of his old age in a debtor's prison, and owed +his subsistance, during his last illness, to a small annuity rescued by +his wife from the wreck of their fortunes. + +Morris was English by birth, a native of Lancashire, where he lived +until he was thirteen years of age. Emigrating to Philadelphia in 1747, +he was placed in the counting-house of one of the leading merchants, +with whose son he entered into partnership before he had completed his +twenty-first year. This young firm, Willing, Morris & Co., embarked +boldly and ably in commerce, until at the beginning of the Revolution it +was the wealthiest commercial firm in the Colonies south of New England, +and only surpassed in New England by two. When the contention arose +between the Mother country and the colonies, his interest was to take +the side of the Mother country. But he sided with the Colonies--to the +great detriment of his private business. He served in Congress during +nearly the whole of the War, and was almost constantly employed in a +struggle with the financial difficulties of the situation. + +I do not see how the revolution could have been maintained unless some +such person could have been found to undertake the finances. When +all other resources gave out he never refused to employ his private +resources, as well as the immense, unquestioned credit of his firm, in +aid of the cause. On several occasions he borrowed money for the use +of the government, pledging all his estate for the repayment. In 1780, +aided by the powerful pen of Thomas Paine, he established a bank through +which three million rations were provided for the army. Fortunately, he +was reputed to be much richer than he was, and thus he was several times +enabled to furnish an amount of assistance far beyond the resources of +any private individual then living in America. + +His greatest achievement was in assisting General Washington in 1781 +to transport his army to Virginia, and to maintain it there during +the operations against Lord Cornwallis. In the spring of that year the +revolution appeared to be all but exhausted. The treasury was not merely +empty, but there was a floating debt upon it of two millions and a half, +and the soldiers were clamorous for their pay. The Superintendent of +Finance rose to the occasion. He issued his own notes to the amount of +fourteen hundred thousand dollars by which the army was supplied with +provisions and the campaign carried on to the middle of August. + +Then General Washington, in confidence, revealed to Robert Morris his +intention to transport his army to Virginia. To effect this operation +the general required all the light vessels of the Delaware and +Chesapeake, six hundred barrels of provisions for the march, a vast +supply in Virginia, five hundred guineas in gold for secret service, and +a month's pay in silver for the army. When this information reached the +superintendent he was already at his wits' end, and really supposed that +he had exhausted every resource. + +"I am sorry to inform you," he wrote to the general, "that I find money +matters in as bad a situation as possible." + +And he mentions in his diary of the same date that, during a recent +visit to camp, he had had with him one hundred and fifty guineas; but +so many officers came to him with claims upon the government, that he +thought it best to satisfy none, and brought the money home again. +After unheard-of exertions, he contrived to get together provisions and +vessels for the transportation. But to raise the hard money to comply +with General Washington's urgent request for a month's pay for the +troops, was beyond his power. At the last moment he laid the case before +the French admiral, and borrowed for a few weeks from the fleet treasury +twenty thousand silver dollars. Just in the nick of time, Colonel +Laurens arrived from France with five hundred thousand dollars in cash, +which enabled Morris to pay this debt, and to give General Washington +far more efficient support than he had hoped. + +To Robert Morris we owe one of the most pleasing accounts of the manner +in which the surrender of Cornwallis was celebrated at Philadelphia. He +records that on the third of November, 1781, on the invitation of the +French Minister, he attended the Catholic Church, where _Te Deum_ +was sung in acknowledgment of the victory. Soon after, all the flags +captured from the enemy were brought to Philadelphia by two of General +Washington's aids, the city troop of Light Horse going out to meet them +several miles. The flags were twenty-four in number, and each of them +was carried into the city by one of the light horsemen. Morris concludes +his account of this great day with affecting simplicity: + +"The American and French flags preceded the captured trophies, which +were conducted to the State House, where they were presented to +Congress, who were sitting; and many of the members tell me, that +instead of viewing the transaction as a mere matter of joyful ceremony, +which they expected to do, they instantly felt themselves impressed +with ideas of the most solemn nature. It brought to their minds the +distresses our country has been exposed to, the calamities we have +repeatedly suffered, the perilous situations which our affairs have +almost always been in; and they could not but recollect the threats +of Lord North that he would bring America to his feet on unconditional +terms of submission." + +When the war was over, the finances of the country did not improve. In +conjunction with General Washington and Robert R. Livingston, Secretary +of Foreign Affairs, he hit upon a plan to recall the State legislatures +to a sense of their duty. He engaged Thomas Paine, at a salary of eight +hundred dollars a year, to employ his pen in reconciling the people to +the necessity of supporting the burden of taxation, in setting forth, in +his eloquent manner, the bravery and good conduct of the soldiers whose +pay was so terribly in arrears, and in convincing the people of the need +of a stronger confederated government. + +"It was also agreed," says Morris in his private diary, "that this +allowance should not be known to any other persons except General +Washington, Mr. Livingston, Gouverneur Morris, and myself, lest the +publications might lose their force if it were known that the author is +paid for them by government." + +The expedient did not suffice. The States were backward in voting +contributions, and, in 1784, Robert Morris resigned his office after +discharging all his personal obligations incurred on account of the +Government. He then resumed his private business. He was the first +American citizen who ever sent to Canton an American vessel. This was in +1784, and he continued for many years to carry on an extensive commerce +with India and China. + +Unhappily, in his old age, for some cause or causes that have never been +recorded, he lost his judgment as a business man. About 1791, he formed +a land company, which bought from the Six Nations in the State of +New York a tract of land equal in extent to several of the German +Principalities of that time, and they owned some millions of acres in +five other States. These lands, bought for a trifling sum, would have +enriched every member of the company if they had not omitted from their +calculations the important element of _time_. But a gentleman sixty +years of age cannot wait twenty years for the development of a +speculation. Confident in the soundness of his calculations and +expecting to be speedily rich beyond the dreams of avarice, he erected +in Philadelphia a palace for his own abode, of the most preposterous +magnificence. The architect assured him that the building would cost +sixty thousand dollars, but the mere cellars exhausted that sum. He +imported from Europe the most costly furniture and fine statuary for +this house. + +But ardent speculators do not take into consideration the obvious and +certain truth that no country enjoys a long period of buoyancy in money +affairs. Hamilton's financial schemes led to such a sudden increase of +values as to bring on a period of the wildest speculation; which was +followed, as it always is, by reaction and collapse. Then came the +threatened renewal of the war with Great Britain, followed by the long +imbroglio with France, which put a stop to emigration for years. The +Western lands did not sell. The bubble burst. Robert Morris was ruined. +He was arrested in 1797 upon the suit of one Blair McClenachan, to whom +he owed sixteen thousand dollars, and he was confined in the debtors' +prison in Philadelphia, as before mentioned, for four years. Nor would +he have ever been released but for the operation of a new bankrupt law. +A paragraph from one of his letters, written when he had been in prison +two weeks, few people can read without emotion. These are the words of a +man who had been a capitalist and lived in luxury more than forty years: + +"I have tried in vain," he wrote, "to get a room exclusively to myself, +and hope to be able to do so in a few days, but at a high rent which I +am unable to bear. Then I may set up a bed in it, and have a chair +or two and a table, and so be made comfortable. Now I am very +uncomfortable, for I have no particular place allotted me. I feel like +an intruder everywhere; sleeping in other people's beds, and sitting in +other people's rooms. I am writing on other people's paper with other +people's ink. The pen is my own. That and the clothes I wear are all +that I can claim as mine here." + +Released in 1802, he lived with his wife in a small house on the +outskirts of the city, where he died in 1806 aged seventy-two. + +It was often proposed in Congress to appropriate some of the money +belonging to the industrious and frugal people of the United States +to pay the debts of this rash speculator; and many writers since have +censured the government for not doing something for his relief. The +simple and sufficient answer is, that Congress has no constitutional +power to apply the people's money to any such purpose. The government +holds the public treasure _in trust_. It is a trustee, not a proprietor. +It can spend public money only for purposes which the constitution +specifies; and, among these specified purposes, we do _not_ find the +relief of land speculators who build gorgeous palaces on credit. + + + + +JOHN JAY, + +THE FIRST CHIEF-JUSTICE. + + +It was the tyranny of Louis XIV., King of France, that drove the +ancestor of John Jay to America. Pierre Jay, two hundred years ago, was +a rich merchant in the French city of Rochelle. He was a Protestant--one +of those worthy Frenchmen whom the revocation of the Edict of Nantes +expelled from the country of which they were the most valuable +inhabitants. In 1685, the Protestant Church which he attended at +Rochelle was demolished, and dragoons were quartered in the houses of +its members. Secretly getting his family and a portion of his property +on board of a ship, he sent them to England, and contrived soon after in +a ship of his own, laden with a valuable cargo, to escape himself. + +It was not, however, from Pierre Jay that our American Jays were +immediately descended, but from Augustus, one of his sons. It so +happened that Augustus Jay, at the time of his father's flight, was +absent from France on a mercantile mission to Africa, and he was +astonished on returning to Rochelle to find himself without home or +family. Nor was he free from the danger of arrest unless he changed his +religion. Assisted by some friends, he took passage in a ship bound to +Charleston in South Carolina which he reached in safety about the year +1686. Finding the climate of South Carolina injurious to his health, he +removed to New York, near which there was a whole village of refugees +from his native city, which they had named New Rochelle, a village which +has since grown to a considerable town, with which all New Yorkers are +acquainted. His first employment here was that of supercargo, which +he continued to exercise for several years, and in which he attained a +moderate prosperity. + +In 1697 Augustus Jay married Ann Maria Bayard, the daughter of a +distinguished Dutch family, who assisted him into business, and greatly +promoted his fortunes. The only son of this marriage was Peter Jay, who, +in his turn, married Mary Van Cortlandt, the child of another of the +leading Dutch families of the city. This Peter Jay had ten children of +whom John, the subject of this article, was the eighth, born in New York +in 1745. In him were therefore united the vivacious blood of France +with the solid qualities of the Dutch; and, accordingly, we find in him +something of the liveliness of the French along with a great deal of +Dutch prudence and caution. + +After graduating from King's College, [Footnote: Now Columbia] John Jay +became a law student in the city of New York, in the office of Benjamin +Kissam--still a well-known New York name. An anecdote related of this +period reveals the French side of his character. He asked his father to +allow him to keep a saddle horse in the city, a request with which the +prudent father hesitated to comply. + +"Horses," said he, "are not very good companions for a young man; and +John, why do you want a horse?" + +"That I may have the means, sir," adroitly replied the son, "of visiting +you frequently." + +The father was vanquished, gave him a horse, and was rewarded by +receiving a visit from his son at his country house in Rye, twenty-five +miles from the city, every other week. + +Another anecdote betrays the Frenchman. Soon after his admission to the +bar, being opposed in a suit to Mr. Kissam, his preceptor, he somewhat +puzzled and embarrassed that gentleman in the course of his argument. +Alluding to this, Mr. Kissam pleasantly said: + +"I see, your honor, that I have brought up a bird to pick out my own +eyes." + +"Oh, no," instantly replied Mr. Jay; "not to pick out, but to open your +eyes." + +Inheriting a large estate, and being allied either by marriage or by +blood with most of the powerful families of the province, and being +himself a man of good talents and most respectable character, he made +rapid advance in his profession, and gained a high place in the esteem +and confidence of his fellow-citizens; so that when the first Congress +met at Philadelphia, in 1774, John Jay was one of those who represented +in it the colony of New York. He was then twenty-nine years of age, and +was, perhaps, the youngest member of the body, every individual of which +he outlived. + +Some of the best written papers of that session were of his composition. +It was he who wrote that memorable address to the people of Great +Britain, in which the wrongs of the colonists were expressed with +so much eloquence, conciseness, and power. He left his lodgings in +Philadelphia, it is said, and shut himself up in a room in a tavern to +secure himself from interruption, and there penned the address which was +the foundation of his political fortunes. + +At an early period of the Revolution he was appointed Minister to Spain, +where he struggled with more persistance than success to induce a timid +and dilatory government to render some substantial aid to his country. +He was afterwards one of the commissioners who negotiated the treaty +with Great Britain, in which the independence of the United States was +acknowledged, and its boundaries settled. Soon after his return home +Congress appointed him Secretary for Foreign Affairs, which was the most +important office in their gift, and in which he displayed great ability +in the dispatch of business. + +Like all the great men of that day--like Washington, Jefferson, +Franklin, Hamilton, Patrick Henry, John Randolph, and all others of +similar grade--John Jay was an ardent abolitionist. He brought home with +him from abroad one negro slave, to whom he gave his freedom when he had +served long enough to repay him the expense incurred in bringing him to +America. + +Mr. Jay, upon the division of the country into Republicans and +Federalists, became a decided Federalist, and took a leading part in +the direction of that great party. President Washington appointed him +Chief-Justice of the Supreme Court, an office which he soon resigned. +The most noted of all his public services was the negotiation of +a treaty with Great Britain in 1794. The terms of this treaty were +revolting in the extreme, both to the pride of Americans and to their +sense of justice; and Mr. Jay was overwhelmed with the bitterest +reproaches from the party opposed to his own. No man, however, has ever +been able to show that better terms were attainable; nor can any candid +person now hold the opinion that the United States should have preferred +war to the acceptance of those terms. If a very skillful negotiator +could have done somewhat better for his country, Mr. Jay did the best he +could, and, probably, as well as any man could have done. + +Never was a public man more outrageously abused. On one occasion, a +mob paraded the streets of Philadelphia, carrying an image of Mr. Jay +holding a pair of scales. One of the scales was labeled, "American +Liberty and Independence," and the other, "British Gold," the latter +weighing down the former as low as it could go, while from the mouth of +the effigy issued the words: + +"Come up to my price and I will sell you my country." + +The effigy was finally burnt in one of the public squares. + +Notwithstanding this storm of abuse, Mr. Jay was elected Governor of +New York, from which office he retired to his pleasant seat at Bedford, +where he spent the remainder of his life. He lived to the year 1829, +when he died, aged eighty-four years, leaving children and grandchildren +who have sustained his high character, illustrated his memory, and +continued his work. + + + + +FISHER AMES, + +THE ORATOR OF THE FOURTH CONGRESS. + + +And who was Fisher Ames, that his "Speeches" should be gathered and +re-published sixty-three years after his death? He was a personage in +his time. Let us look upon him in the day of his greatest glory. + +It was April 28, 1796, at Philadelphia, in the Hall of the House of +Representatives, of which Fisher Ames was a member. The House and +country were highly excited respecting the terms of the treaty which +John Jay had negotiated with the British government. To a large number +of the people this treaty was inexpressibly odious; as, indeed, _any_ +treaty would have been with a power so abhorred by them as England then +was. Some of the conditions of the treaty, we cannot deny, were hard, +unwise, unjust; but, in all probability, it was the best that could then +have been obtained, and Mr. Jay had only the alternative of accepting +the conditions, or plunging his country into war. One great point, at +least, the British government had yielded. After the Revolutionary war, +the English had retained several western posts, to the great annoyance +of settlers, and the indignation of the whole country. These posts +were now to be surrendered, provided the treaty was accepted and its +conditions fulfilled. + +President Washington and the Senate had ratified the treaty--with +reluctance, it is true; but still they had ratified it; and nothing +remained but for the House of Representatives to appropriate the +money requisite for carrying the treaty into effect. But here was the +difficulty. The treaty was so unpopular that members of Congress shrunk +from even seeming to approve it. There had been riotous meetings in all +the large cities to denounce it. In New York, Alexander Hamilton, +while attempting to address a meeting in support of it, was pelted with +stones, and the people then marched to the residence of Mr. Jay, and +burned a copy of the treaty before his door. + +"Blush," said a Democratic editor, "to think that America should degrade +herself so much as to enter into any kind of treaty with a power now +tottering on the brink of ruin, whose principles are directly contrary +to the spirit of Republicanism!" + +A Virginia newspaper advised that, if the treaty negotiated by "that +arch-traitor, John Jay, with the British tyrant, should be ratified," +Virginia should secede from the Union. Indeed, the public mind has +seldom been excited to such a degree upon any public topic. + +It was in these circumstances that Fisher Ames rose to address the House +of Representatives, in favor of the treaty. There was supposed to be +a majority of ten against it in the House, and the debate had been for +some days in progress. Madison and all the leading Democrats had spoken +strongly against it; while Fisher Ames, the greatest orator on the side +of the Administration, was suffering from the pulmonary disease from +which he afterward died, and had been ordered by his physician not to +speak a word in the House. Inaction at such a time became insupportable +to him, and he chafed under it day after day. + +"I am like an old gun," he wrote, in one of his letters, "that is +spiked, or the trunnions knocked off, and yet am carted off, not for the +worth of the old iron, but to balk the enemy of a trophy. My political +life is ended, and I am the survivor of myself; or, rather, a troubled +ghost of a politician that am condemned to haunt the field where he +fell." + +But as the debate went on, he could no longer endure to remain silent. +He determined to speak, if he never spoke again; and the announcement +of his intention filled the Representatives' Chamber with a brilliant +assembly of ladies and gentlemen. Vice-President Adams came to the +chamber to hear him, among other persons of note. The orator rose from +his seat pale, feeble, scarcely able to stand, or to make himself heard; +but as he proceeded he gathered strength, and was able to speak for +nearly two hours in a strain of eloquence, the tradition of which fills +a great place in the memoirs of the time. The report of it which we +possess is imperfect, and the reading of it is somewhat disappointing; +but here and there there is a passage in the report which gives us some +notion of the orator's power. One of his points was, that the faith of +the country had been pledged by the ratification of the treaty, and that +consequently a refusal of the House to appropriate the money would be +a breach of faith. This led him to expatiate upon the necessity of +national honor. + +"In Algiers," said he, "a truce may be bought for money; but when +ratified, even Algiers is too wise or too just to disown and annul its +obligation.... If there could be a resurrection from the foot of the +gallows; if the victims of justice could live again, collect together +and form a society, they would, however loath, soon find themselves +obliged to make justice--that justice under which they fell--the +fundamental law of their State." + +This speech was afterward called Fisher Ames' Tomahawk Speech, because +he endeavored to show that, if the posts were not surrendered and not +garrisoned by American troops, the Indians could not be kept in check, +and would fill the frontier with massacre and fire. + +"On this theme," the orator exclaimed, "my emotions are unutterable. +If I could find words for them, if my powers bore any proportion to my +zeal, I would swell my voice to such a note of remonstrance, it +should reach every log-house beyond the mountains. I would say to the +inhabitants, Wake from your false security! Your cruel dangers, your +more cruel apprehensions, are soon to be renewed; the wounds yet +unhealed are to be torn open again; in the daytime your path through the +woods will be ambushed; the darkness of midnight will glitter with the +blaze of your dwellings. You are a father--the blood of your sons shall +fatten your corn-fields. You are a mother--the war-whoop shall wake the +sleep of the cradle." + +He continued in this strain for some time, occasionally blazing into a +simile that delighted every hearer with its brilliancy, while flashing +a vivid light upon the subject; and I only wish the space at my command +permitted further extracts. The conclusion of the speech recalled +attention to the orator's feeble condition of health, which the vigor of +his speech might have made his hearers forget. + +"I have, perhaps," said he, "as little personal interest in the event +as any one here. There is, I believe, no member who will not think +his chance to be a witness of the consequences greater than mine. If, +however, the vote should pass to reject, and a spirit should arise, as +it will, with the public disorders, to make confusion worse confounded, +even I, slender and almost broken as my hold upon life is, may outlive +the government and constitution of my country." + +With these words the orator resumed his seat. The great assembly seemed +spell-bound, and some seconds elapsed before the buzz of conversation +was heard. John Adams turned to a friend, Judge Iredell, who happened +to sit next to him, as if looking for sympathy in his own intense +admiration. + +"My God!" exclaimed the Judge, "how great he is--how great he has been!" + +"Noble!" said the Vice-President. + +"Bless my stars!" resumed Judge Iredell, "I never heard anything so +great since I was born." + +"Divine!" exclaimed Adams. + +And thus they went on with their interjections, while tears glistened +in their eyes. Mr. Adams records that tears enough were shed on the +occasion. + +"Not a dry eye in the house," he says, "except some of the jackasses who +had occasioned the oratory.... The ladies wished his soul had a better +body." + +After many days' further debate, the House voted the money by a +considerable majority; a large number of Democrats voting with the +administration. Fisher Ames was not so near his death as he supposed, +for he lived twelve years after the delivery of this speech, so slow was +the progress of his disease. He outlived Washington and Hamilton, and +delivered eloquent addresses in commemoration of both. + +The great misfortune of his life was that very ill-health to which he +alluded in his speech. This tinged his mind with gloom, and caused him +to anticipate the future of his country with morbid apprehension. When +Jefferson was elected President in 1800, he thought the ruin of his +country was sure, and spoke of the "chains" which Jefferson had forged +for the people. When Hamilton died, in 1804, he declared that his +"soul stiffened with despair," and he compared the fallen statesman to +"Hercules treacherously slain in the midst of his unfinished labors, +leaving the world over-run with monsters." He was one of the most honest +and patriotic of men; but he had little faith in the truths upon which +the Constitution of his country was founded. + +He died at his birthplace, Dedham, Massachusetts, on the 4th of July, +1808, in the fifty-first year of his age. His father had been the +physician of that place for many years--a man of great skill in his +profession, and gifted with a vigorous mind. Doctor Ames died when his +son was only six years of age, and it cost the boy a severe and long +struggle to work his way through college to the profession of the law, +and to public life. If he had had a body equal to his mind, he would +have been one of the greatest men New England ever produced. + + + + +THE PINCKNEYS OF SOUTH CAROLINA. + + +In the political writings of Washington's day, we frequently meet with +the name of Pinckney; and, as there were several persons of that name +in public life, readers of history are often at a loss to distinguish +between them. This confusion is the more troublesome, because they were +all of the same family and State, and their career also had a strong +family likeness. + +The founder of this family in America was Thomas Pinckney, who emigrated +to South Carolina in the year 1692. He possessed a large fortune, and +built in Charleston a stately mansion, which is still standing, unless +it was demolished during the late war. A curious anecdote is related +of this original Pinckney, which is about all that is now known of him. +Standing at the window of his house one day, with his wife at his side, +he noticed a stream of passengers walking up the street, who had just +landed from a vessel that day arrived from the West Indies. As they +walked along the street, he noticed particularly a handsome man who was +very gayly dressed; and turning to his wife he said: + +"That handsome West Indian will marry some poor fellow's widow, break +her heart, and ruin her children." + +Strange to relate, the widow whom this handsome West Indian married +was no other than Mrs. Pinckney herself; for Thomas Pinckney soon after +died, and his widow married the West Indian. He did not break her heart, +since she lived to marry a third husband, but he was an extravagant +fellow, and wasted part of her children's inheritance. Thomas Pinckney, +then, is to be distinguished from others of the name as the _founder_ of +the family in America. + +The eldest son of Thomas, that grew to man's estate, was Charles +Pinckney, who embraced the legal profession, and rose to be Chief +Justice of the Province of South Carolina, and hence he is usually +spoken of and distinguished from the rest of the family as "Chief +Justice Pinckney." He was educated in England, and was married there. +Returning to Charleston, he acquired a large fortune by the practice of +his profession. A strange anecdote is related of his wife also. After +he had been married many years without having children, there came to +Charleston from England, on a visit of pleasure a young lady named +Eliza Lucas, daughter of an officer in the English army. She was an +exceedingly lovely and brilliant girl, and made a great stir in the +province. She was particularly admired by the wife of the Chief Justice, +who said one day in jest: + +"Rather than have Miss Lucas return home, I will myself step out of the +way, and let her take my place." + +Within a few months after uttering these words she died, and soon after +her death the Chief Justice actually married Miss Lucas. This lady was +one of the greatest benefactors South Carolina ever had; for, besides +being an example of all the virtues and graces which adorn the female +character, it was she who introduced into the province the cultivation +of rice. In addition to the other services which she rendered her +adopted home, she gave birth to the two brothers Pinckney, who are of +most note in the general history of the country. The elder of these was +Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, born in 1746, and the younger was Thomas, +born in 1750. + +When these two boys were old enough to begin their education, their +father, the Chief Justice, like a good father as he was, went with them +to England, accompanied by all his family, and there resided for many +years, while they were at school; for at that day there were no means of +education in South Carolina. The boys were placed at Westminster school +in London, and completed their studies at the University of Oxford. +After leaving the University they began the study of the law in London, +and were pursuing their studies there, or just beginning practice, when +the troubles preceding the Revolutionary War hastened their return to +their native land. They had been absent from their country twenty-one +years, and were much gratified on reaching Charleston to witness its +prosperity and unexpected growth. The elder of these brothers could +remember when the first planter's wagon was driven into Charleston. This +was about the year 1753. Pointing to this wagon one day, his father said +to him: + +"Charles, by the time you are a man, I don't doubt there will be at +least twenty wagons coming to town." + +Often in after life, when he would meet a long string of wagons in the +country loaded with cotton or rice, he would relate this reminiscence of +his childhood, and add: + +"How happy my father would have been in the growth and prosperity of +Carolina!" + +These young men from the beginning of the Stamp Act agitation, when +they were just coming of age, sympathized warmly with their oppressed +countrymen on the other side of the ocean, and soon after their return +home they entered the Continental army and served gallantly throughout +the war. In 1780 we find Charles Cotesworth Pinckney writing to his wife +in the following noble strain: + +"Our friend, Philip Neyle was killed by a cannon-ball coming through one +of the embrasures; but I do not pity him, for he has died nobly in +the defense of his country; but I pity his aged father, now unhappily +bereaved of his beloved and only child." + +To one of his young friends he wrote soon after: + +"If I had a vein that did not beat with love for my country, I myself +would open it. If I had a drop of blood that could flow dishonorably, I +myself would let it out." + +It was the fortune of both these brothers to be held for a long time by +the enemy as prisoners of war. The elder was captured upon the surrender +of Charleston. The younger was desperately wounded at the battle of +Camden, and was about to be transfixed by a bayonet, when a British +officer who had known him at college recognized his features, and cried +out in the nick of time: + +"Save Tom Pinckney!" + +The uplifted bayonet was withheld, and the wounded man was borne from +the field a prisoner. + +After the peace, General C. C. Pinckney was a member of the convention +which framed our Constitution. During the Presidency of General +Washington, he declined, first a seat upon the bench of the Supreme +Court, and twice declined entering the cabinet. During the last year of +Washington's administration, he accepted the appointment of Minister to +France, and it was while residing in Paris, that he uttered a few words +which will probably render his name immortal. He was associated with +Chief Justice Marshall and Elbridge Gerry, and their great object was +to prevent a war between the United States and France. It was during +the reign of the corrupt Directory that they performed this mission; and +Talleyrand, the Minister of War, gave them to understand that nothing +could be accomplished in the way of negotiation unless they were +prepared to present to the government a large sum of money. The honest +Americans objecting to this proposal, Talleyrand intimated to them that +they must either give the money or accept the alternative of war. Then +it was that the honest and gallant Charles Cotesworth Pinckney uttered +the words which Americans will never forget till they have ceased to be +worthy of their ancestors: + +"War be it, then!" exclaimed General Pinckney, "Millions for defense, +sir; but not a cent for tribute!" + +On his return to the United States, war being imminent with France, he +was appointed a Major-general in the army, and in the year 1800 he was a +candidate for the Presidency. He lived to the year 1825, when he died at +Charleston at the age of seventy-nine. + +His brother Thomas was the Governor of South Carolina in 1789, and in +1792 was appointed by General Washington Minister to Great Britain. +After residing some years in England, he was sent to Spain, where he +negotiated the important treaty which secured us the free navigation +of the Mississippi. After his return home, he served several years in +Congress on the Federal side, and then retired to private life. During +the war of 1812, he received the commission of Major-general, and served +under General Jackson at the celebrated battle of Horseshoe Bend, where +the power of the Creek Indians was broken forever. + +He died at Charleston in 1828, aged seventy-eight years. + +Besides these Pinckneys there was a noted Charles Pinckney, a nephew +of Chief Justice Pinckney, who was also captured when Charleston +surrendered, remained a prisoner until near the close of the war, +and afterwards bore a distinguished part in public life. He may be +distinguished from others of his name from his being a democrat, an +active adherent of Thomas Jefferson. He served as Minister to Spain +during Mr. Jefferson's administration, and was four times elected +Governor of South Carolina. + +Finally, there was a Henry Laurens Pinckney, son of the Governor +Pinckney last mentioned, born in 1794. For sixteen years he was a member +of the Legislature of South Carolina, and was afterwards better known as +editor and proprietor of the Charleston _Mercury_, a champion of State +rights, and afterwards of nullification. During the nullification +period, he was Mayor of Charleston, an office to which he was three +times re-elected. + +Thus the Pinckneys may be distinguished as follows: Thomas Pinckney, +the founder; Charles Pinckney, the Chief Justice; Charles Cotesworth +Pinckney, the Ambassador and candidate for the Presidency; Thomas +Pinckney, General in the war of 1812; Charles Pinckney, the democrat; +and Henry Laurens Pinckney, editor and author. + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Revolutionary Heroes, And Other +Historical Papers, by James Parton + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK REVOLUTIONARY HEROES *** + +***** This file should be named 8154-8.txt or 8154-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/8/1/5/8154/ + +Produced by Ted Garvin, Tonya Allen, Charles Franks, and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Revolutionary Heroes, And Other Historical Papers + +Author: James Parton + + +Release Date: May, 2005 [EBook #8154] +This file was first posted on June 21, 2003 +Last Updated: May 12, 2013 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK REVOLUTIONARY HEROES *** + + + + +Text file produced by Ted Garvin, Tonya Allen, Charles Franks, and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + +HTML file produced by David Widger + + + + +</pre> + + <div style="height: 8em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h1> + REVOLUTIONARY HEROES, AND OTHER HISTORICAL PAPERS + </h1> + <h3> + HISTORICAL CLASSIC READINGS—No 10. + </h3> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + By James Parton, + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <div class="middle"> + <p> + Author Of + </p> + <p> + "Life Of Horace Greeley," "Life Of Andrew Jackson," "Life And Times Of + Benjamin Franklin," Etc. Etc. + </p> + </div> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <p> + <b>CONTENTS</b> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_INTR"> INTRODUCTION. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0002"> REVOLUTIONARY HEROES. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0003"> GENERAL JOSEPH WARREN. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0004"> CAPTAIN NATHAN HALE, THE MARTYR-SPY. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0005"> GENERAL WASHINGTON'S OTHER SPIES. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0006"> AN HISTORIC CHRISTMAS NIGHT </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0007"> JOHN ADAMS AND THE QUESTION OF INDEPENDENCE. + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0008"> ANECDOTES OF JOHN ADAMS. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0009"> THE WRITING AND SIGNING OF THE DECLARATION OF + INDEPENDENCE. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0010"> ROBERT MORRIS, </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0011"> JOHN JAY, </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0012"> FISHER AMES, </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0013"> THE PINCKNEYS OF SOUTH CAROLINA. </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_INTR" id="link2H_INTR"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + INTRODUCTION. + </h2> + <p> + James Parton was born in Canterbury, England, February 9, 1822. When five + years old he was brought to America and given an education in the schools + of New York City, and at White Plains, N. Y. Subsequently he engaged in + teaching in Philadelphia and New York City, and for three years was a + contributor to the <i>Home Journal</i>. Since that time, he has devoted + his life to literary labors, contributing many articles to periodicals and + publishing books on biographical subjects. While employed on the <i>Home + Journal</i> it occurred to him that an interesting story could be made out + of the life of Horace Greeley, and he mentioned the idea to a New York + publisher. Receiving the needed encouragement, Mr. Parton set about + collecting material from Greeley's former neighbors in Vermont and New + Hampshire, and in 1855 produced the "Life of Horace Greeley," which he + afterwards extended and completed in 1885. This venture was so profitable + that he was encouraged to devote himself to authorship. In 1856 he brought + out a collection of Humorous Poetry of the English Language from Chaucer + to Saxe. Following this appeared in 1857 the "Life of Aaron Burr," + prepared from original sources and intended to redeem Burr's reputation + from the charges that attached to his memory. In writing the "Life of + Andrew Jackson" he also had access to original and unpublished documents. + This work was published in three volumes in 1859-60. Other works of later + publication are: "General Butler in New Orleans" (1863 and 1882); "Life + and Times of Benjamin Franklin" (1864); "How New York is Governed" (1866); + "Famous Americans of Recent Times," containing Sketches of Henry Clay, + Daniel Webster, John C. Calhoun, John Randolph, and others (1867); "The + People's Book of Biography," containing eighty short lives (1868); + "Smoking and Drinking," an essay on the evils of those practices, + reprinted from the <i>Atlantic Monthly</i> (1869); a pamphlet entitled + "The Danish Islands: Are We Bound to Pay for Them?" (1869); "Topics of the + Time," a collection of magazine articles, most of them treating of + administrative abuses at Washington (1871); "Triumphs of Enterprise, + Ingenuity, and Public Spirit" (1871); "The Words of Washington" (1872); + "Fanny Fern," a memorial volume (1873); "Life of Thomas Jefferson, Third + President of the United States" (1874); "Taxation of Church Property" + (1874); "La Parnasse Français: a Book of French Poetry from A.D. 1850 to + the Present Time" (1877); "Caricature and other Comic Art in All Times and + Many Lands" (1877); "A Life of Voltaire," which was the fruit of several + years' labor (1881); "Noted Women of Europe and America" (1883); and + "Captains of Industry, or Men of Business who did something besides Making + Money: a Book for Young Americans." In addition to his writing Mr. Parton + has proved a very successful lecturer on literary and political topics. + </p> + <p> + In January, 1856, Mr. Parton married Sara Payson Willis, a sister of the + poet N. P. Willis, and herself famous as "Fanny Fern," the name of her + pen. He made New York City his home until 1875, three years after the + death of his wife, when he went to Newburyport, where he now lives. <i>The + London Athenæum</i> well characterizes Mr. Parton as "a painstaking, + honest, and courageous historian, ardent with patriotism, but + unprejudiced; a writer, in short, of whom the people of the United States + have reason to be proud." + </p> + <p> + The contents of this book have been selected from among the great number + contributed from time to time by Mr. Parton, and are considered as + particularly valuable and interesting reading. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0002" id="link2H_4_0002"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + REVOLUTIONARY HEROES. + </h2> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0003" id="link2H_4_0003"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + GENERAL JOSEPH WARREN. + </h2> + <p> + A fiery, vehement, daring spirit was this Joseph Warren, who was a doctor + thirteen years, a major-general three days, and a soldier three hours. In + that part of Boston which is called Roxbury, there is a modern house of + stone, on the front of which a passer-by may read the following + inscription: + </p> + <p> + "On this spot stood the house erected in 1720 by Joseph Warren, of Boston, + remarkable for being the birthplace of General Joseph Warren, his + grandson, who was killed at the battle of Bunker Hill, June 17, 1775." + </p> + <p> + There is another inscription on the house which reads thus: + </p> + <p> + "John Warren, a distinguished Physician and Anatomist, was also born here. + The original mansion being in ruins, this house was built by John C. + Warren, M.D., in 1846, son of the last-named, as a permanent memorial of + the spot." + </p> + <p> + I am afraid the builder of this new house <i>poetized</i> a little when he + styled the original edifice a mansion. It was a plain, roomy, substantial + farm-house, about the centre of the little village of Roxbury, and the + father of Warren who occupied it was an industrious, enterprising, + intelligent farmer, who raised superior fruits and vegetables for the + Boston market. Warren's father was a beginner in that delightful industry, + and one of the apples which he introduced into the neighborhood retains to + this day the name which it bore in his lifetime, the Warren Russet. + </p> + <p> + A tragic event occurred at this farm-house in 1775, when Warren was a boy + of fourteen. It was on an October day, in the midst of the apple-gathering + season, about the time when the Warren Russet had attained all the + maturity it can upon its native tree. Farmer Warren was out in his + orchard. His wife, a woman worthy of being the mother of such a son as she + had, was indoors getting dinner ready for her husband, her four boys, and + the two laborers upon the farm. About noon she sent her youngest son, + John, mentioned in the above inscription, to call his father to dinner. On + the way to the orchard the lad met the two laborers carrying towards the + house his father's dead body. While standing upon a ladder gathering + apples from a high tree, Mr. Warren had fallen to the ground and broken + his neck. He died almost instantly. + </p> + <p> + The <i>Boston Newsletter</i> of the following week bestowed a few lines + upon the occurrence; speaking of him as a man of good understanding, + industrious, honest and faithful; "a useful member of society, who was + generally respected among us, and whose death is universally lamented." + </p> + <p> + Fortunate is the family which in such circumstances has a mother wise and + strong. She carried on the farm with the assistance of one of her sons so + successfully that she was able to continue the education of her children, + all of whom except the farmer obtained respectable rank in one of the + liberal professions. This excellent mother lived in widowhood nearly fifty + years, saw Thomas Jefferson President of the United States, and died 1803, + aged ninety-three years, in the old house at home. Until she was past + eighty she made with her own hands the pies for Thanksgiving-day, when all + her children and grandchildren used to assemble at the spacious old + Roxbury house. + </p> + <p> + It was in the very year of his father's death, 1755, that Joseph Warren + entered Harvard College, a vigorous, handsome lad of fourteen, noted even + then for his spirit, courage and resolution. Several of his class one day, + in the course of a frolic, in order to exclude him from the fun, barred + the door so that he could not force it. Determined to join them, he went + to the roof of the house, slid down by the spout, and sprang through the + open window into the room. At that moment the spout fell to the ground. + </p> + <p> + "It has served my purpose," said the youth coolly. + </p> + <p> + The records of the college show that he held respectable rank as a + student; and as soon as he had graduated, he received an appointment which + proves that he was held in high estimation in his native village. We find + him at nineteen master of the Roxbury Grammar School, at a salary of + forty-four pounds and sixteen shillings per annum, payable to his mother. + A receipt for part of this amount, signed by his mother and in her + handwriting, is now among the archives of that ancient and famous + institution. He taught one year, at the end of which he entered the office + of a Boston physician, under whom he pursued the usual medical studies and + was admitted to practice. + </p> + <p> + The young doctor, tall, handsome, alert, graceful, full of energy and + fire, was formed to succeed in such a community as that of Boston. His + friends, when he was twenty-three years of age, had the pleasure of + reading in the Boston newspaper the following notice: + </p> + <p> + "Last Thursday evening was married Dr. Joseph Warren, one of the + physicians of this town, to Miss Elizabeth Hooton, only daughter of the + late Mr. Richard Hooton, merchant, deceased, an accomplished young lady + with a handsome fortune." + </p> + <p> + Thus launched in life and gifted as he was, it is not surprising that he + should soon have attained a considerable practice. But for one + circumstance he would have advanced in his profession even more rapidly + than he did. When he had been but a few months married, the Stamp Act was + passed, which began the long series of agitating events that ended in + severing the colonies from the mother country. The wealthy society of + Boston, from the earliest period down to the present hour, has always been + on what is called the conservative side in politics; and it was eminently + so during the troubles preceding the revolutionary war. The whole story is + told in a remark made by a Boston Tory doctor in those times: + </p> + <p> + "If Warren were not a Whig," said he, "he might soon be independent and + ride in his chariot." + </p> + <p> + There were, however, in Boston Whig families enough to give him plenty of + business, and he was for many years their favorite physician. He attended + the family of John Adams, and saved John Quincy, his son, from losing one + of his fore-fingers when it was very badly fractured. Samuel Adams, who + was the prime mover of the Opposition, old enough to be his father, + inspired and consulted him. Gradually, as the quarrel grew warmer, Dr. + Warren was drawn into the councils of the leading Whigs, and became at + last almost wholly a public man. Without being rash or imprudent, he was + one of the first to be ready to meet force with force, and he was always + in favor of the measures which were boldest and most decisive. At his + house Colonel Putnam was a guest on an interesting occasion, when he was + only known for his exploits in the French war. + </p> + <p> + "The old hero, Putnam," says a Boston letter of 1774, "arrived in town on + Monday, bringing with him one hundred and thirty sheep from the little + parish of Brooklyn." + </p> + <p> + It was at Dr. Warren's house that the "old hero" staid, and thither + flocked crowds of people to see him, and talk over the thrilling events of + the time. The sheep which he brought with him were to feed the people of + Boston, whose business was suspended by the closing of the port. + </p> + <p> + The presence of the British troops in Boston roused all Warren's + indignation. Overhearing one day some British officers saying that the + Americans would not fight, he said to a friend: + </p> + <p> + "These fellows say we will not fight. By heavens, I hope I shall die up to + my knees in their blood!" + </p> + <p> + Soon after, as he was passing the public gallows on the Neck, he overheard + one of a group of officers say in an insulting tone: + </p> + <p> + "Go on, Warren; you will soon come to the gallows." + </p> + <p> + The young doctor turned, walked up to the officers, and said to them + quietly: + </p> + <p> + "Which of you uttered those words." + </p> + <p> + They passed on without giving any reply. He had not long to wait for a + proof that his countrymen would fight. April nineteenth, 1775, word was + brought to him by a special messenger of the events which had occurred on + the village green at Lexington. He called to his assistant, told him to + take care of his patients, mounted his horse, and rode toward the scene of + action. + </p> + <p> + "Keep up a brave heart!" he cried to a friend in passing. "They have begun + it. <i>That</i> either party can do. And we will end it. <i>That</i> only + one can do." + </p> + <p> + Riding fast, he was soon in the thick of the melée, and kept so close to + the point of contact that a British musket ball struck a pin out of his + hair close to one of his ears. Wherever the danger was greatest there was + Warren, now a soldier joining in the fight, now a surgeon binding up + wounds, now a citizen cheering on his fellows. From this day he made up + his mind to perform his part in the coming contest as a soldier, not as a + physician, nor in any civil capacity; and accordingly on the fourteenth of + June, 1775, the Massachusetts legislature elected him "second Major + General of the Massachusetts army." Before he had received his commission + occurred the battle of Bunker Hill, June seventeenth. He passed the night + previous in public service, for he was President of the Provincial + Congress, but, on the seventeenth, when the congress met at Watertown, the + president did not appear. Members knew where he was, for he had told his + friends that he meant to take part in the impending movement. + </p> + <p> + It was a burning hot summer's day. After his night of labor, Warren threw + himself on his bed, sick from a nervous headache. The booming of the guns + summoned him forth, and shortly before the first assault he was on the + field ready to serve. + </p> + <p> + "I am here," he said to General Putnam, "only as a volunteer. Tell me + where I can be most useful." + </p> + <p> + And to Colonel Prescott he said: + </p> + <p> + "I shall take no command here. I come as a volunteer, with my musket to + serve under you." + </p> + <p> + And there he fought during the three onsets, cheering the men by his + coolness and confidence. He was one of the the very last to leave the + redoubt. When he had retreated about sixty yards he was recognized by a + British officer, who snatched a musket from a soldier and shot him. The + bullet entered the back of his head. Warren placed his hands, as if + mechanically, to the wound, and fell dead upon the hot and dusty field. + </p> + <p> + The enemy buried him where he fell. Nine months after, when the British + finally retreated from New England, his body, recognized by two false + teeth, was disinterred and honorably buried. He left four children, of + whom the eldest was a girl six years of age. Congress adopted the eldest + son. Among those who contributed most liberally toward the education and + support of the other children was Benedict Arnold, who gave five hundred + dollars. A little psalm book found by a British soldier in Warren's pocket + on the field is still in possession of one of his descendants. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0004" id="link2H_4_0004"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CAPTAIN NATHAN HALE, THE MARTYR-SPY. + </h2> + <p> + General Washington wanted a man. It was in September, 1776, at the City of + New York, a few days after the battle of Long Island. The swift and deep + East River flowed between the two hostile armies, and General Washington + had as yet no system established for getting information of the enemy's + movements and intentions. He never needed such information so much as at + that crisis. + </p> + <p> + What would General Howe do next? If he crossed at Hell Gate, the American + army, too small in numbers, and defeated the week before, might be caught + on Manhattan Island as in a trap, and the issue of the contest might be + made to depend upon a single battle; for in such circumstances defeat + would involve the capture of the whole army. And yet General Washington + was compelled to confess: + </p> + <p> + "We cannot learn, nor have we been able to procure the least information + of late." + </p> + <p> + Therefore he wanted a man. He wanted an intelligent man, cool-headed, + skillful, brave, to cross the East River to Long Island, enter the enemy's + camp, and get information as to his strength and intentions. He went to + Colonel Knowlton, commanding a remarkably efficient regiment from + Connecticut, and requested him to ascertain if this man, so sorely needed, + could be found in his command. Colonel Knowlton called his officers + together, stated the wishes of General Washington, and, without urging the + enterprise upon any individual, left the matter to their reflections. + </p> + <p> + Captain Nathan Hale, a brilliant youth of twenty-one, recently graduated + from Yale College, was one of those who reflected upon the subject. He + soon reached a conclusion. He was of the very flower of the young men of + New England, and one of the best of the younger soldiers of the patriot + army. He had been educated for the ministry, and his motive in adopting + for a time the profession of arms was purely patriotic. This we know from + the familiar records of his life at the time when the call to arms was + first heard. + </p> + <p> + In addition to his other gifts and graces, he was handsome, vigorous, and + athletic, all in an extraordinary degree. If he had lived in our day he + might have pulled the stroke-oar at New London, or pitched for the college + nine. + </p> + <p> + The officers were conversing in a group. No one had as yet spoken the + decisive word. Colonel Knowlton appealed to a French sergeant, an old + soldier of former wars, and asked him to volunteer. + </p> + <p> + "No, no," said he. "I am ready to fight the British at any place and time, + but I do not feel willing to go among them to be hung up like a dog." + </p> + <p> + Captain Hale joined the group of officers. He said to Colonel Knowlton: + </p> + <p> + "I will undertake it." + </p> + <p> + Some of his best friends remonstrated. One of them, afterwards the famous + general William Hull, then a captain in Washington's army, has recorded + Hale's reply to his own attempt to dissuade him. + </p> + <p> + "I think," said Hale, "I owe to my country the accomplishment of an object + so important. I am fully sensible of the consequences of discovery and + capture in such a situation. But for a year I have been attached to the + army, and have not rendered any material service, while receiving a + compensation for which I make no return. I wish to be useful, and every + kind of service necessary for the public good becomes honorable by being + necessary." + </p> + <p> + He spoke, as General Hull remembered, with earnestness and decision, as + one who had considered the matter well, and had made up his mind. + </p> + <p> + Having received his instructions, he traveled fifty miles along the Sound + as far as Norwalk in Connecticut. One who saw him there made a very wise + remark upon him, to the effect that he was "too good-looking" to go as a + spy. He could not deceive. "Some scrubby fellow ought to have gone." At + Norwalk he assumed the disguise of a Dutch schoolmaster, putting on a suit + of plain brown clothes, and a round, broad-brimmed hat. He had no + difficulty in crossing the Sound, since he bore an order from General + Washington which placed at his disposal all the vessels belonging to + Congress. For several days everything appears to have gone well with him, + and there is reason to believe that he passed through the entire British + army without detection or even exciting suspicion. + </p> + <p> + Finding the British had crossed to New York, he followed them. He made his + way back to Long Island, and nearly reached the point opposite Norwalk + where he had originally landed. Rendered perhaps too bold by success, he + went into a well-known and popular tavern, entered into conversation with + the guests, and made himself very agreeable. The tradition is that he made + himself too agreeable. A man present suspecting or knowing that he was not + the character he had assumed, quietly left the room, communicated his + suspicions to the captain of a British ship anchored near, who dispatched + a boat's crew to capture and bring on board the agreeable stranger. His + true character was immediately revealed. Drawings of some of the British + works, with notes in Latin, were found hidden in the soles of his shoes. + Nor did he attempt to deceive his captors, and the English captain, + lamenting, as he said, that "so fine a fellow had fallen into his power," + sent him to New York in one of his boats, and with him the fatal proofs + that he was a spy. + </p> + <p> + September twenty-first was the day on which he reached New York—the + day of the great fire which laid one-third of the little city in ashes. + From the time of his departure from General Washington's camp to that of + his return to New York was about fourteen days. He was taken to General + Howe's headquarters at the Beekman mansion, on the East River, near the + corner of the present Fifty-first Street and First Avenue. It is a strange + coincidence that this house to which he was brought to be tried as a spy + was the very one from which Major André departed when he went to West + Point. Tradition says that Captain Hale was examined in a greenhouse which + then stood in the garden of the Beekman mansion. + </p> + <p> + Short was his trial, for he avowed at once his true character. The British + general signed an order to his provost-marshal directing him to receive + into his custody the prisoner convicted as a spy, and to see him hanged by + the neck "to-morrow morning at daybreak." + </p> + <p> + Terrible things are reported of the manner in which this noble prisoner, + this admirable gentleman and hero, was treated by his jailer and + executioner. There are savages in every large army, and it is possible + that this provost-marshal was one of them. It is said that he refused him + writing-materials, and afterwards, when Captain Hale had been furnished + them by others, destroyed before his face his last letters to his mother + and to the young lady to whom he was engaged to be married. As those + letters were never received this statement may be true. The other alleged + horrors of the execution it is safe to disregard, because we know that it + was conducted in the usual form and in the presence of many spectators and + a considerable body of troops. One fact shines out from the distracting + confusion of that morning, which will be cherished to the latest posterity + as a precious ingot of the moral treasure of the American people. When + asked if he had anything to say, Captain Hale replied: + </p> + <p> + "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country." + </p> + <p> + The scene of his execution was probably an old graveyard in Chambers + Street, which was then called Barrack Street. General Howe formally + notified General Washington of his execution. In recent years, through the + industry of investigators, the pathos and sublimity of these events have + been in part revealed. + </p> + <p> + In 1887 a bronze statue of the young hero was unveiled in the State House + at Hartford. Mr. Charles Dudley Warner delivered a beautiful address + suitable to the occasion, and Governor Lounsberry worthily accepted the + statue on behalf of the State. It is greatly to be regretted that our + knowledge of this noble martyr is so slight; but we know enough to be sure + that he merits the veneration of his countrymen. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0005" id="link2H_4_0005"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + GENERAL WASHINGTON'S OTHER SPIES. + </h2> + <p> + The reader would scarcely expect at this late day to get new light upon + the military character of General Washington. But, in truth, scarcely a + month passes in which some of our busy historical students do not add to + our knowledge of him. Recently Mr. H.P. Johnston published in the <i>Magazine + of American History</i> some curious documents, hitherto unknown, + exhibiting Washington's methods of procuring intelligence of the movements + of the British army. + </p> + <p> + Like a true general, he knew from the first all the importance of correct + and prompt information. How necessary this is, is known to every one who + remembers vividly the late war, particularly the first few months of it, + before there was any good system of employing spies. Some terrible + disasters could have been avoided if our generals had obtained better + information of the opposing army's position, temper, and resources. + </p> + <p> + An attentive study of the dispatches of Napoleon Bonaparte will show the + importance which he attached to intelligence of this kind. He kept near + him at headquarters an officer of rank who had nothing to do but to + procure, record, and arrange all the military news which could be gleaned + from newspapers, correspondents, and spies. The name of every regiment, + detachment, and corps in the enemy's service was written upon a card. For + the reception of these cards he had a case made with compartments and + pigeon-holes. Every time a movement was reported the cards were shifted to + correspond, so that he could know at a glance, when the cards were spread + out upon a table, just how the troops of the enemy were distributed or + massed. Every few days, the officer in charge had to send the emperor a + list of the changes which had taken place. This important matter was + intrusted to a person who knew the languages of the different nations + engaged in the war. + </p> + <p> + It was Bonaparte's perfect organization of his spy system which enabled + him to carry out his plan of always having a superior force at the point + of attack. These two were the great secrets of his tactical system, + namely, to have the best information and the most men at the decisive + moment. + </p> + <p> + Bonaparte was a trained soldier; but when Washington took command of the + army in July, 1775, he had had very little experience of actual warfare. + That little, however, was precisely of the kind to prove the value of + correct information. For the want of it, he had seen General Braddock lead + an army into the jaws of destruction, and he may have still possessed in + some closet of Mount Vernon the coat with four bullet-holes in it which he + had himself worn on that occasion. There are no warriors so skillful + either at getting or concealing information as Indians, and all his + experience hitherto had been in the Indian country and with warlike + methods of an Indian character. + </p> + <p> + Hence it is not surprising to discover that the first important act which + he performed at Cambridge was to engage a person to go into the city of + Boston for the purpose of procuring "intelligence of the enemy's movements + and designs." An entry in his private note-book shows that he paid this + unknown individual $333.33 in advance. + </p> + <p> + A person who serves as a spy takes his life in his hand. It is a curious + fact of human nature that nothing so surely reconciles a man to risking + his life as a handsome sum in cash. General Washington, being perfectly + aware of this fact, generally contrived to have a sum of what he called + "hard money" at headquarters all through the war. Spies do not readily + take to paper money. There are no Greenbackers among them. In the letters + of General Washington we find a great many requests to Congress for a kind + of money that would pass current anywhere, and suffer no deterioration at + the bottom of a river in a freshet. He preferred gold as being the "most + portable." He wrote in 1778 from White Plains: + </p> + <p> + "I have always found a difficulty in procuring intelligence by the means + of paper money, and I perceive that it increases." + </p> + <p> + It continued to increase, until, I suppose, an offer of a million dollars + in paper would not have induced a spy to enter the enemy's lines. In fact, + the general himself says as much. In acknowledging the receipt of five + hundred guineas for the secret service, he says that for want of a little + gold he had been obliged to dispense with the services of some of his + informers; and adds: + </p> + <p> + "In some cases no consideration in paper money has been found sufficient + to effect even an engagement to procure intelligence; and where it has + been otherwise, the terms of service on account of the depreciation have + been high, if not exorbitant." + </p> + <p> + The time was not distant when paper money ceased to have any value, and + Governor Jefferson of Virginia paid his whole salary for a year (a + thousand pounds) for a second-hand side-saddle. + </p> + <p> + During the later years of the war, the city of New York was the chief + source of information concerning the designs and movements of the enemy. + General Washington, as early as 1778, had always two or three + correspondents there upon whose information he could rely if only they + could send it out to him. Sometimes, when his ordinary correspondents + failed him, he would send in a spy disguised as a farmer driving a small + load of provisions, and who would bring out some family supplies, as tea, + sugar, and calico, the better to conceal his real object. Often the spy <i>was</i> + a farmer, and sometimes quite illiterate. As it was unsafe for him to have + any written paper upon his person, he was required to learn by heart the + precise message which he was to deliver in the city, as also the + information which he received from the resident correspondent. + </p> + <p> + The messenger frequently entered the city in the disguise of a peddler, a + fact which suggested to Horace Greeley, when he was a printer's apprentice + in Vermont, the idea of a story which he called "The Peddler-Spy of the + Revolution." I once had in my hand a considerable package of his + manuscript of this tale; but even as a boy he wrote so bad a hand that I + could not read much of it. It is possible that this manuscript still + exists. + </p> + <p> + These methods of procuring intelligence in New York were all abused by + real peddlers, who, when they were caught selling contraband goods to the + enemy, pretended to be spies, and so escaped the penalty. At length the + general chiefly depended upon two persons, one called "Culper Senior," and + the other "Culper Junior," who may have been father and son, but whose + real names and qualities have never been disclosed. General Washington's + secrecy was perfect. His most confidential officers, except one or two who + had to be in the secret, never knew enough of these men to be able to + designate them afterwards. When Benedict Arnold fled to New York after his + treason, the American spies there were panic-stricken, as they very + naturally concluded that Arnold must have been acquainted with their names + and residences. General Washington was able to assure them that such was + not the fact, and it is even probable that only one individual besides + himself knew who they were. This was Major Benjamin Tallmadge, a native of + Long Island, who frequently received the dispatches from New York and + forwarded them to headquarters. The letters were commonly taken across the + East River to Brooklyn; thence to a point on the Sound about opposite to + Rye or Portchester; and were thence conveyed to camp. + </p> + <p> + The dispatches from the Culpers were generally written in invisible ink, + which was made legible by wetting the paper with another liquid. It was a + matter of no small difficulty to keep the spies in New York supplied with + the two fluids, and also with the guineas which were requisite for their + maintenance. At first the spies wrote their letters on a blank sheet of + paper; but that would never do. General Washington wrote: + </p> + <p> + "This circumstance alone is sufficient to raise suspicions. A much better + way is to write a letter in the Tory style, with some mixture of family + matters, and, between the lines and on the remaining part of the sheet, + communicate with the stain (the invisible ink) the intended intelligence." + </p> + <p> + The Culpers served faithfully to the end of the war, and finally had the + happiness of sending to the general the glorious news that the British + army, the fleet, and the Tories were all evidently preparing to depart + from the city, which they had held for seven years. Who were these adroit + and faithful Culpers? The secret seems to have died with Washington and + Tallmadge. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0006" id="link2H_4_0006"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + AN HISTORIC CHRISTMAS NIGHT + </h2> + <p> + "Christmas Day, at night, one hour before day, is the time fixed upon for + our attempt upon Trenton." + </p> + <p> + In this confused way, December 23, 1776, General Washington wrote from his + camp, near Trenton Falls, to Colonel Reed, who was posted at Bristol, a + few miles further down the Delaware, guarding an important ford. + </p> + <p> + Before crossing over to the safe side of this wide stream, about twelve + hundred feet wide at Trenton, he gave an order so important that, if he + had forgotten or omitted it, nothing could have saved Philadelphia from + being captured by the British. + </p> + <p> + He directed that all the boats and barges of the whole region, for seventy + miles, everything that could float and carry a man, should be taken over + to the western bank of the river, and there carefully concealed, or + closely watched. + </p> + <p> + All the boats and canoes in the creeks and tributaries were also secured, + and hidden where they could do an enemy no good. There were many large + barges then upon the Delaware, used for transporting hay and other + produce, some of which could have carried over half a regiment of foot at + every trip. + </p> + <p> + All of these were hidden or guarded, and as soon as General Washington had + got his own little army over, he posted a guard at every ford, and kept + trustworthy men going up and down the river, to see that the boats were + safe. + </p> + <p> + If any one desires to see General Washington when he displayed his manhood + and military genius at their best, let him study the records of his life + for the month of December, 1776. The soldier, the statesman, the citizen, + the brave, indomitable man, each in turn appears, and shines in the trying + hours of that month. + </p> + <p> + Only the River Delaware separated the hostile armies, and the enemy waited + but for the ice to form, in order to add Philadelphia to the list of his + summer conquests. + </p> + <p> + Congress had adjourned from Philadelphia to Baltimore. New Jersey was + ravaged by ruthless bands of soldiers. Disaffection was on every side. The + winter, prematurely cold, threatened to make an ice-bridge over the stream + in ten days, and within about the same time the terms of most of General + Washington's troops would expire, and he might be left without even the + semblance of an army. "Dire necessity," as he said, compelled a movement + of some kind. + </p> + <p> + Christmas had come. It was a cold, freezing day. There was already a large + amount of ice floating by, and heaped up along the shore, in many places + rendering access to the water impossible, and in all places difficult. + </p> + <p> + About four o'clock in the afternoon, the troops were drawn up in parade + before their camp at Trenton Falls. They were about twenty-four hundred in + number. Every man carried three days' cooked rations, and an ample supply + of heavy ammunition. Few of the soldiers were adequately clothed, and + their shoes were in such bad condition that Major Wilkinson, who rode + behind them to the landing-place, reports that "the snow on the ground was + tinged here and there with blood." The cold was increasing. The ice was + forming rapidly. The wind was high, and there were signs of a snow-storm. + </p> + <p> + Boats were in readiness, and about sunset the troops began to cross. The + passage was attended with such difficulties as would have deterred men + less resolute. The current of the river was exceedingly swift, the cold + intense, and, although it was the night of a full moon, the thick + snow-clouds made the night dark. + </p> + <p> + Colonel Knox, afterward General Knox of the Artillery and Secretary of + War, rendered efficient service on this occasion. Soldiers from Yankee + Marblehead manned many of the boats, and lent the aid of their practiced + skill and wiry muscle. Every man worked with a will, and yet it was three + o'clock in the morning before the troops were all over. + </p> + <p> + It was four o'clock before they were formed in two bodies and began to + march, one division close along the river, and the other on a parallel + road, some little distance in the country. + </p> + <p> + It had been snowing nearly all night, and about the time when the troops + were set in motion the storm increased, the wind rose, and hail was + mingled with the snow. The storm blew in the faces of the men and they had + nine miles to go before reaching Trenton, where fourteen hundred of the + Hessian troops were posted under Colonel Rahl. + </p> + <p> + Soon after, it was whispered about among the men that the fuses of the + best muskets were wet and could not be discharged. Upon this being + reported to General Sullivan, he glanced around at Captain St. Clair and + asked: "What is to be done?" + </p> + <p> + "You have nothing for it," replied St. Clair, "but to push on and charge." + </p> + <p> + The gallant Stark of Vermont was in command of the advance guard, and + perhaps near him marched the father of Daniel Webster. Colonel Stark told + his men to get their muskets in the best order they could as they marched, + and an officer was sent to inform General Washington of this mishap. + </p> + <p> + "Tell your General," said the Commander-in-chief, "to use the bayonet and + penetrate into the town; the town must be taken, and I am resolved to take + it." + </p> + <p> + The soldiers overheard this reply, as it was given by the aide to General + Sullivan, and quietly fixed bayonets without waiting for an order. + </p> + <p> + About eight in the morning both parties arrived near the village of + Trenton. General Washington, who rode near the front of his column, asked + a man who was chopping wood by the roadside: + </p> + <p> + "Which way is the Hessian Picket?" + </p> + <p> + "I don't know," replied the Jerseyman, unwilling to commit himself. + </p> + <p> + "You may speak," said one of the American officers, "for that is General + Washington." + </p> + <p> + The man raised his hands to heaven and exclaimed: "God bless and prosper + you, sir! The picket is in that house, and the sentry stands near that + tree." + </p> + <p> + General Washington instantly ordered an advance. As his men marched + rapidly toward the village with a cheer, Colonel Stark and his band + answered the shout and rushed upon the enemy. + </p> + <p> + The Hessians made a brief attempt at resistance; first, by a wild and + useless fire from windows, and then by an attempt to form in the main + street of the village. This was at once frustrated by Captain T. Forest, + who commanded the battery of six guns which had caused much trouble and + delay in crossing the river. + </p> + <p> + At the same time Captain William Washington and Lieutenant James Monroe, + afterward President, ran forward with a party to where the Hessians were + attempting to establish a battery, drove the artillerists from their guns, + and captured two of them, just as they were ready to be discharged. + </p> + <p> + Both these young officers were wounded. Colonel Stark during the brief + combat, as Wilkinson reports, "dealt death wherever he found resistance, + and broke down all opposition before him." + </p> + <p> + Colonel Rahl, who commanded the post, was roused from a deep sleep by the + noise of Washington's fire. He did all that was possible to form his + panic-stricken and disordered troops, but soon fell from his horse + mortally wounded. From that moment, the day was lost to the Hessians. + </p> + <p> + During the combat, General Washington remained near Captain Forest's + battery, directing the fire. He had just ordered the whole battery, + charged with canister, to be turned upon the retreating enemy, when + Captain Forest, pointing to the flagstaff near Rahl's headquarters, cried, + "Sir, they have struck!" + </p> + <p> + "Struck!" exclaimed General Washington. + </p> + <p> + "Yes," said Forest; "their colors are down." + </p> + <p> + "So they are!" said the commander. + </p> + <p> + General Washington galloped toward them, followed by all the artillerymen, + who wished to see the ceremony of surrender. He rode up to where Colonel + Rahl had fallen. The wounded man, assisted by soldiers on each side of + him, got upon his feet, and presented his sword to the victor. + </p> + <p> + At this moment Wilkinson, who had been sent away with orders, returned to + his general, and witnessed the surrender. Washington took him by the hand, + and said, his countenance beaming with joy: "Major Wilkinson, this is a + glorious day for our country!" + </p> + <p> + In a moment, however, the unfortunate Rahl, who stood near, pale, covered + with blood, and still bleeding, appeared to be asking for the assistance + which his wounds required. + </p> + <p> + He was at once conveyed to the house of a good Quaker family near by, + where he was visited by General Washington in the course of the day, who + did all in his power to soothe the feelings of the dying soldier. + </p> + <p> + This action, reckoning from the first gun, lasted but thirty-five minutes. + On the American side two officers were wounded, two privates were killed, + four were wounded, and one was frozen to death. Four stands of colors were + captured, besides twelve drums, six brass field-pieces, and twelve hundred + muskets. The prisoners were nine hundred and forty-six in number, of whom + seventy-eight were wounded. Seventeen of the Hessians were killed, of whom + six were officers. + </p> + <p> + We can scarcely imagine the joy which this victory gave to the people + everywhere, as the news slowly made its way. They were in the depths of + discouragement. There had been moments when Washington himself almost gave + up Philadelphia for lost, and it was from Philadelphia that he drew his + most essential supplies. + </p> + <p> + The capture of the post at Trenton, a thing trifling in itself, changed + the mood and temper of both parties, and proved to be the turning-point of + the war. It saved Philadelphia for that season, freed New Jersey from the + ravages of an insolent and ruthless foe, checked disaffection in minds + base or timid, and gave Congress time to prepare for a renewal of the + strife as soon as the spring should open. + </p> + <p> + It was a priceless Christmas present which the general and his steadfast + band of patriots gave their country in 1776, and it was followed, a week + later, by a New Year's gift of similar purport—the capture of the + British post at Princeton. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0007" id="link2H_4_0007"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + JOHN ADAMS AND THE QUESTION OF INDEPENDENCE. + </h2> + <p> + It was an act of something more than courage to vote for Independence in + 1776. It was an act of far-sighted wisdom as well, and it was done with + the utmost possible deliberation. + </p> + <p> + The last great debate upon the subject took place on Monday, the first of + July, 1776. Fifty-one members were present that morning, a number that + must have pretty well filled the square, not very large, room in + Independence Hall, which many of our readers visited during the Centennial + year. + </p> + <p> + No spectators were present beyond the officers of the House. John Hancock + was in the chairman's seat. In the room overhead the legislature of + Pennsylvania was in session. Out of doors, in the public squares and + grounds adjacent, troops were drilling, as they had been every day for + months past, and a great force of men was at work fortifying the Delaware + below the city. + </p> + <p> + This day had been set apart for the final and decisive consideration of + Independence. The draft of the Declaration, as written by Mr. Jefferson, + had been handed in three days before, and lay upon the table—perhaps + visibly so, as well as in a parliamentary sense. + </p> + <p> + The question had been discussed, and discussed again, and again discussed, + until it seemed to the more ardent minds a waste of breath to argue it + further; but it requires time, much time, as well as great patience, to + bring a representative body to the point of deciding irrevocably a matter + so momentous, involving their own and their country's destiny. + </p> + <p> + <i>Ought</i> we to sever the tie which binds us to the mother country? + That was not so very difficult to answer; but there was another question: + <i>Can</i> we? Britain is mighty, and what are we? Thirteen colonies of + farmers, with little money, no allies, no saltpetre even, and all the + Indians open to British gold and British rum. Then there was another + question: Will the people at home sustain us? + </p> + <p> + At nine o'clock President Hancock rapped to order. The first business was + the reading of letters addressed to the Congress, which had arrived since + the adjournment on Saturday. One of these, from General Washington in New + York, contained news calculated to alarm all but the most stalwart + spirits: Canada quite lost to the cause; Arnold's army in full, though + orderly, retreat from that province; a powerful British fleet just + arriving in New York harbor, three or four ships drifting in daily, and + now forty-five sail all at once signalled from Sandy Hook. + </p> + <p> + "Some say more," added General Washington, "and I suppose the whole fleet + will be in within a day or two." + </p> + <p> + The whole fleet! As if these were not enough; and, in truth, the number + soon reached a hundred and twenty, with thousands of red-coats in them + abundantly supplied with every requisite. Washington's own army numbered + on that day seven thousand seven hundred and fifty-four men, of whom, as + he reported, eight hundred had no guns at all, fourteen hundred had bad + guns, and half the infantry no bayonets. Add to this fifty-three British + ships just arrived at Charleston, with General Clinton's expedition on + board. + </p> + <p> + We must bear this news in mind in order to appreciate what followed in + Congress that day. When General Washington's letter had been read, the + House went into committee of the whole, "to take into consideration the + question of Independence." + </p> + <p> + The boldest man upon that floor could not avoid feeling that the crisis + was serious and the issue doubtful. As if to deepen this impression, there + soon rose to address the House John Dickinson, of Pennsylvania, a good man + and a patriot, an able speaker and better writer, but rich, not of robust + health, and conservative almost to timidity. + </p> + <p> + From the first, while opposing the arbitrary measures of the King, he had + been equally opposed to a Declaration of Independence; and to-day, + refreshed by the rest of Sunday, and feeling that it was now or never with + his party, he spoke with all the force and solemnity of which he was + capable. + </p> + <p> + "I value," said he, "the love of my country as I ought, but I value my + country more, and I desire this illustrious assembly to witness the + integrity, if not the policy, of my conduct. The first campaign will be + decisive of the controversy. + </p> + <p> + "The declaration will not strengthen us by one man, or by the least + supply, while it may expose our soldiers to additional cruelties and + outrages. Without some preliminary trials of our strength we ought not to + commit our country upon an alternative where to recede would be infamy, + and to persist might be destruction." + </p> + <p> + In this strain he spoke long, urging all the reasons for delay which an + ingenious mind could devise, and clothing his argument with the charm of a + fine literary style. + </p> + <p> + He ceased. There was a pause. No one seemed willing to break the silence, + until it began to be embarrassing, and then painful. + </p> + <p> + Many eyes were turned toward John Adams, who for eighteen months had been + the chief spokesman of the party for independence. He had advocated the + measure before Thomas Paine had written "Common Sense," and when it had + not one influential friend in Philadelphia. Early in the previous year, + when it first became known by the accidental publicity of a letter that he + favored the Declaration of Independence, the solid men of Philadelphia + shunned him as if he had had the leprosy. + </p> + <p> + "I walked the streets of Philadelphia," he once wrote, "in solitude, borne + down by the weight of care and unpopularity," and Dr. Rush mentions that + he saw him thus walking the streets alone, "an object of nearly universal + scorn and detestation." + </p> + <p> + But he was on the gaining side. The cruel burning of Falmouth on the coast + of Maine weaned New England from the mother country, and the burning of + Norfolk completed the same office for Virginia. + </p> + <p> + To-day he stood with a majority of the people behind him. To-day he spoke + the sentiments of his country. To-day he uttered the words which every man + on the floor but John Dickinson wished to hear uttered. + </p> + <p> + Yet he did not immediately rise; for he wished some one else, some one + less committed to Independence than he was, to take the lead in that day's + debate. At length, however, since every one else hung back, he got upon + his feet to answer Mr. Dickinson. + </p> + <p> + The speech which he delivered on this occasion was deemed by those who + heard it the most powerful effort of his life, though he had made no + special preparation for it beforehand. He had thought of the subject from + his college days, and had never ceased to regard the Independence of his + country as only a question of time. During his professional life, it had + been the frequent theme of his reflections, and he was perfectly familiar + with every phase of it. + </p> + <p> + "This is the first time in my life," said he, "that I have ever wished for + the talents and eloquence of the ancient orators of Greece and Rome, for I + am very sure that none of them ever had before him a question of more + importance to his country and to the world. They would, probably, upon + less occasions than this, have begun by solemn invocations to their + divinities for assistance. + </p> + <p> + "But the question before me appears so simple that I have confidence + enough in the plain understanding and common-sense that have been given me + to believe that I can answer, to the satisfaction of the House, all the + arguments which have been produced, notwithstanding the abilities which + have been displayed and the eloquence with which they have been enforced." + </p> + <p> + Proceeding then to the discussion of the question, he dwelt strongly upon + the point that, as the colonies had gone too far to recede, as they had + already been put outside of British law, the Declaration of Independence + could not possibly make their condition worse, but would give them some + obvious and solid advantages. + </p> + <p> + Now, they were rebels against their king, and could not negotiate on equal + terms with a sovereign power. The moment they declared Independence, they + would be themselves a sovereignty. The measure, he contended, would be as + prudent as it was just. It would help them in many ways and hinder them in + no way. + </p> + <p> + We have no report of this celebrated oration, and can only gather its + purport from allusions scattered here and there in the letters of those + who heard it. We know, however, that Mr. Adams dwelt forcibly upon this + one position, that the king himself having absolved them from their + allegiance, and having made unprovoked war upon them, the proposed + Declaration would be simply a proclamation to the world of a state of + things already existing. + </p> + <p> + Many members followed. When the debate had proceeded for a long time, + three new members from New Jersey came in: Richard Stockton, Dr. + Witherspoon and Francis Hopkinson. These gentlemen, on learning the + business before the House, expressed a strong desire to hear a + recapitulation of the arguments which had been brought forward. + </p> + <p> + Again there was an awkward silence. Again all eyes were turned upon John + Adams. Again he shrank from taking the floor. Mr. Edward Rutledge of South + Carolina came to him and said: + </p> + <p> + "Nobody will speak but you upon this subject. You have all the topics so + ready that you must satisfy the gentlemen from New Jersey." + </p> + <p> + Mr. Adams replied that he was ashamed to repeat what he had said twenty + times before. As the new members still insisted on hearing a + recapitulation, he at length rose once more, and gave a concise summary of + the whole debate. The New Jersey gentlemen said they were fully satisfied + and were ready for the question. It was now six o'clock in the evening. + The debate had continued all day, nine hours, without the least interval + for rest or refreshment, and during that long period, as Mr. Jefferson + wrote at a later day, "all the powers of the soul had been distended with + the magnitude of the object." + </p> + <p> + Mr. Edward Rutledge, of South Carolina, then rose, and asked as a favor + that the voting be deferred until the next morning, as he and his + fellow-members wished still further to deliberate. + </p> + <p> + The request was granted; the House adjourned; the hungry and exhausted + members went to their homes. + </p> + <p> + The next morning members met in a cheerful mood, for it was well + ascertained that every colony was prepared to vote for Independence. When + Mr. Adams reached the State House door, he had the pleasure of meeting + Caesar Rodney, still in his riding-boots, for he had ridden all night from + Delaware to vote on the momentous question. Mr. Adams, it is said, had + sent an express at his own expense eighty miles to summon him, and there + he was to greet him at the State House door. + </p> + <p> + The great question was speedily put, when every State but New York voted + for declaring independence, and that State's adherence was delayed a few + days only by a series of accidents. + </p> + <p> + What a happy man was John Adams, and what a triumphant letter was that + which he wrote to his noble wife on the 3d of July, telling her the great + news that Congress had passed a resolution, without one dissenting colony, + "that these united colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and + independent States." Then he continued in the passage so often quoted: + </p> + <p> + "The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the + history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by + succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be + commemorated as the day of deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God + Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, + games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations from one end of + this continent to the other, from this time forward forevermore." + </p> + <p> + But, no; not on July second. The transaction was not yet complete. As soon + as the vote was recorded, Mr. Jefferson's draft of the Declaration was + taken from the table, and discussed paragraph by paragraph. Many + alterations were made, thirty-four in all, most of them for the better. + This discussion lasted the rest of that day, all the next, and most of the + next, which was the fourth. Late in that afternoon the members present + signed the document, and so the day we celebrate is the FOURTH OF JULY. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0008" id="link2H_4_0008"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + ANECDOTES OF JOHN ADAMS. + </h2> + <p> + The first office ever held by President John Adams was that of Roadmaster + to his native town. The young barrister, as he himself confesses, was very + indignant at being elected to a post, with the duties of which he was + unacquainted, and which he considered beneath his pretensions. His friend, + Dr. Savil, explained to him that he had nominated him to the office to + prevent his being elected constable. + </p> + <p> + "They make it a rule," said the Doctor, "to compel every man to serve + either as constable or surveyor of the highways, or to pay a fine." + </p> + <p> + "They might as well," said Mr. Adams, "have chosen any boy in school, for + I know nothing of the business; but since they have chosen me at a + venture, I will accept it in the same manner, and find out my duty as I + can." + </p> + <p> + Accordingly he went to plowing, ditching, and blowing rocks and built a + new stone bridge over a stream. He took infinite pains with his bridge, + and employed the best workmen; "but," says he, "the next spring brought + down a flood that threw my bridge all into ruins." The blame, however, + fell upon the workmen, and all the town, he tells us, agreed that he had + executed his office with "impartiality, diligence, and spirit." + </p> + <p> + Mr. Adams was an extremely passionate man. One evening, just before the + breaking out of the Revolution, while spending an evening in company with + an English gentleman, the conversation turned upon the aggressions of the + mother country. He became furious with anger. He said there was no justice + left in Britain; that he wished for war, and that the whole Bourbon family + was upon the back of Great Britain. He wished that anything might happen + to them, and, as the clergy prayed for enemies in time of war, that "they + might be brought to reason or to ruin." When he went home he was + exceedingly repentant for having lost his temper, and wrote in his diary + the following remarks: + </p> + <p> + "I cannot but reflect upon myself with severity for these rash, + inexperienced, boyish, wrong, and awkward expressions. A man who has no + better government of his tongue, no more command of his temper, is unfit + for anything but children's play, and the company of boys. A character can + never be supported, if it can be raised, without a good, a great share of + self-government. Such flights of passion, such starts of imagination, + though they may strike a few of the fiery and inconsiderate, yet they sink + a man with the wise. They expose him to danger, as well as familiarity, + contempt, and ridicule." + </p> + <p> + One of the most interesting events in the life of John Adams was his + nomination of George Washington to the command of the Revolutionary + armies. One day, in 1775, when Congress was full of anxiety concerning the + army near Boston, and yet hesitated to adopt it as their own, fearing to + take so decisive a step, John and Samuel Adams were walking up and down + the State House yard in Philadelphia before the opening of the session, + and were conversing upon the situation. + </p> + <p> + "What shall we do?" asked Samuel Adams, at length. + </p> + <p> + His kinsman said: "You know I have taken great pains to get our colleagues + to agree upon <i>some</i> plan that we might be unanimous upon; but you + know they will pledge themselves to nothing; but I am determined to take a + step which shall compel them, and all the other members of Congress, to + declare themselves for or against <i>something</i>. I am determined this + morning to make a direct motion that Congress shall adopt the army before + Boston, and appoint Colonel Washington commander of it." + </p> + <p> + Samuel Adams looked grave at this proposition, but said nothing. When + Congress had assembled, John Adams rose, and, in a short speech, + represented the state of the colonies, the uncertainty in the minds of the + people, the distresses of the army, the danger of its disbanding, the + difficulty of collecting another if it should disband, and the probability + that the British army would take advantage of our delays, march out of + Boston, and spread desolation as far as they could go. He concluded by + moving that Congress adopt the army at Cambridge and appoint a general. + </p> + <p> + "Although," he continued, "this is not the proper time to nominate a + general, yet, as I have reason to believe that this is a point of the + greatest difficulty, I have no hesitation to declare that I have but one + gentleman in my mind for that important command, and that is a gentleman + from Virginia, who is among us, and is very well known to all of us; a + gentleman whose skill and experience as an officer, whose independent + fortune, great talents, and excellent universal character will command the + approbation of all America, and unite the cordial exertions of all the + colonies better than any other person in the Union." + </p> + <p> + When Mr. Adams began this speech, Colonel Washington was present; but as + soon as the orator pronounced the words "Gentleman from Virginia," he + darted through the nearest door into the library. Mr. Samuel Adams + seconded the motion which, as we all know, was, on a future day, + unanimously carried. Mr. Adams relates that no one was so displeased with + this appointment as John Hancock, the President of Congress. + </p> + <p> + "While I was speaking," says John Adams, "on the state of the colonies, he + heard me with visible pleasure; but when I came to describe Washington for + the commander, I never remarked a more sudden and striking change of + countenance. Mortification and resentment were expressed as forcibly as + his face could exhibit them." + </p> + <p> + Hancock, in fact, who was somewhat noted as a militia officer in + Massachusetts, was vain enough to aspire to the command of the colonial + forces. + </p> + <p> + They had a fashion, during the Revolutionary war, John Adams tells us, of + turning pictures of George III. upside down in the houses of patriots. + Adams copied into his diary some lines which were written "under one of + these topsey-turvey kings": + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Behold the man who had it in his power + To make a kingdom tremble and adore. + Intoxicate with folly, see his head + Placed where the meanest of his subjects tread. + Like Lucifer the giddy tyrant fell, + He lifts his heel to Heaven, but points his head to Hell. +</pre> + <p> + It is evident, from more than one passage in the diary of John Adams, that + he, too, in his heart, turned against Gen. Washington during the gloomy + hours of the Revolution. At least he thought him unfit for the command. + Just before the surrender of Burgoyne, Adams wrote in his diary the + following passage: + </p> + <p> + "Gates seems to be acting the same timorous, defensive part which has + involved us in so many disasters. Oh, Heaven grant us one great soul! One + leading mind would extricate the best cause from that ruin which seems to + await it for the want of it. We have as good a cause as ever was fought + for: we have great resources; the people are well tempered; one active, + masterly capacity would bring order out of this confusion, and save this + country." + </p> + <p> + Thus it is always in war-time. When the prospect is gloomy, and when + disasters threaten to succeed disasters, there is a general distrust of + the general in command, though at that very time he may be exhibiting + greater qualities and greater talents than ever before. + </p> + <p> + John Adams tells us the reason why Thomas Jefferson, out of a committee of + five, was chosen to write the Declaration of Independence. + </p> + <p> + "Writings of his," says Mr. Adams, "were handed about, remarkable for the + peculiar felicity of expression. Though a silent member in Congress, he + was so frank, explicit and decisive upon committees and in conversation + (not even Samuel Adams was more so) that he soon seized upon my heart; and + upon this occasion I gave him my vote, and did all in my power to procure + the votes of others. I think he had one more vote than any other, and that + placed him at the head of the committee. I had the next highest number, + and that placed me the second. The committee met, discussed the subject, + and then appointed Mr. Jefferson and me to make the draft, because we were + the two first upon the list." + </p> + <p> + When this sub-committee of two had their first meeting, Jefferson urged + Mr. Adams to make the draft; whereupon the following conversation occurred + between them: + </p> + <p> + "I will not," said Mr. Adams. + </p> + <p> + "You should do it," said Jefferson. + </p> + <p> + "Oh no," repeated Adams. + </p> + <p> + "Why will you not?" asked Jefferson. "You ought to do it." + </p> + <p> + "I will not," rejoined Adams. + </p> + <p> + "Why?" again asked Jefferson. + </p> + <p> + "Reasons enough," said Adams. + </p> + <p> + "What can be your reasons?" inquired Jefferson. + </p> + <p> + "Reason first—you are a Virginian, and a Virginian ought to appear + at the head of this business. Reason second—I am obnoxious, + suspected, and unpopular. You are very much otherwise. Reason third—you + can write ten times better than I can." + </p> + <p> + "Well," said Jefferson, "if you are decided, I will do as well as I can." + </p> + <p> + "Very well," said Mr. Adams; "when you have drawn it up, we will have a + meeting." + </p> + <p> + Thus it was that Thomas Jefferson became the author of this celebrated + document. Mr. Adams informs us that the original draft contained "a + vehement philippic against negro slavery," which Congress ordered to be + stricken out. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Adams relates an amusing story of his sleeping one night with Doctor + Franklin, when they were on their way to hold their celebrated conference + with Lord Howe on Staten Island. It was at Brunswick, in New Jersey, where + the tavern was so crowded that two of the commissioners were put into one + room, which was little larger than the bed, and which had no chimney and + but one small window. The window was open when the two members went up to + bed, which Mr. Adams seeing, and being afraid of the night air, shut it + close. + </p> + <p> + "Oh," said Doctor Franklin, "don't shut the window, we shall be + suffocated." + </p> + <p> + Mr. Adams answered that he was afraid of the evening air; to which Doctor + Franklin replied: + </p> + <p> + "The air within this chamber will soon be, and indeed is now, worse than + that without doors. Come, open the window and come to bed, and I will + convince you. I believe you are not acquainted with my theory of colds." + </p> + <p> + Mr. Adams complied with both these requests. He tells us that when he was + in bed, the Doctor began to harangue upon air, and cold, and respiration, + and perspiration, with which he was so much amused that he soon fell + asleep. It does not appear that any ill consequences followed from their + breathing during the night the pure air of heaven. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0009" id="link2H_4_0009"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE WRITING AND SIGNING OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. + </h2> + <p> + We happen to know what kind of weather it was in Philadelphia on Thursday, + the Fourth of July, 1776. Mr. Jefferson was in the habit, all his life, of + recording the temperature three times a day, and not unfrequently four + times. He made four entries in his weather record on this birthday of the + nation, as if anticipating that posterity would be curious to learn every + particular of an occasion so interesting. At six that morning the mercury + marked sixty-eight degrees. At nine, just before going round to the State + House to attend the session of Congress, he recorded seventy-two and a + half degrees. At one, while he was at home during the recess for dinner, + he found the mercury at seventy-six. At nine in the evening, when the + great deed had been done, the instrument indicated seventy-three and a + half degrees. + </p> + <p> + From another entry of Mr. Jefferson's we learn that he paid for a new + thermometer on that day. The following are the three entries in his + expense-book for July fourth, 1776: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Paid Sparhawk for a thermometer...................£3 15s. + Pd. for 7 pr. women's gloves....................... 27s. + Gave in charity.................................... 1s. 6d." +</pre> + <p> + The price that he paid for his thermometer was equivalent to about twenty + dollars in gold; and as Mr. Jefferson was not likely to spend his money + for an elaborately decorated thermometer, we may infer that instruments of + that nature were at least ten times as costly then as they are now. An + excellent standard thermometer at the present time can be bought for five + dollars, and the sum which Mr. Jefferson paid in 1776 was fully equal, in + purchasing power, to fifty dollars in our present currency. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Jefferson lived then on the south side of Market street, not far from + the corner of Seventh, in Philadelphia. As it was the only house then + standing in that part of the street, he was unable in after years to + designate the exact spot, though he was always under the impression that + it was a corner house, either on the corner of Seventh street or very near + it. The owner of the house, named Graaf, was a young man, the son of a + German, and then newly married. Soon after coming to Philadelphia, Mr. + Jefferson hired the whole of the second floor, ready furnished; and as the + floor consisted of but two rooms—a parlor and a bed-room—we + may conjecture that the house was of no great size. It was in that parlor + that he wrote the Declaration of Independence. + </p> + <p> + The writing-desk upon which he wrote it exists in Boston, and is still + possessed by the venerable friend and connection of Mr. Jefferson to whom + he gave it. The note which the author of the Declaration wrote when he + sent this writing-desk to the husband of one of his grand-daughters, has a + particular interest for us at this present time. It was written in 1825, + nearly fifty years after the Declaration was signed, about midway between + that glorious period and the Centennial. It is as follows: + </p> + <p> + "Thomas Jefferson gives this writing-desk to Joseph Coolidge, Jr., as a + memorial of affection. It was made from a drawing of his own by Benj. + Randolph, cabinet-maker, at Philadelphia, with whom he first lodged on his + arrival in that city, in May, 1776, and is the identical one on which he + wrote the Declaration of Independence. Politics as well as religion has + its superstitions. These, gaining strength with time, may one day give + imaginary value to this relic for its associations with the birth of the + Great charter of our Independence." + </p> + <p> + The note given above, although penned when Mr. Jefferson was eighty-two + years of age, is written in a small, firm hand, and is quite as legible as + the type which the reader is now perusing. There is no indication of old + age in the writing; but I observe that he has spelt the most important + word of the note French fashion, thus: "<i>Independance</i>." It certainly + is remarkable that the author of the Declaration of Independence should + have made a mistake in spelling the word. Nor can it be said that the + erroneous letter was a slip of the pen, because the word occurs twice in + the note, and both times the last syllable is spelt with an <i>a</i>. Mr. + Jefferson was a very exact man, and yet, like most men of that day, he + used capitals and omitted them with an apparent carelessness. In the above + note, for example, the following words occur, "Great charter." Here he + furnishes the adjective with a capital, and reduces his noun to the + insignificance of a small letter. + </p> + <p> + The Declaration was written, I suppose, about the middle of June; and, + while he was writing it, Philadelphia was all astir with warlike + preparation. Seldom has a peaceful city, a city of Quakers and brotherly + love, undergone such a transformation as Philadelphia did in a few months. + As Mr. Jefferson sat at his little desk composing the Declaration, with + the windows open at that warm season, he must have heard the troops + drilling in Independence Square. Twice a day they were out drilling, to + the number of two thousand men, and more. Perhaps he was looking out of + the window on the eleventh of June, the very day after the appointment of + the committee to draw up the Declaration, when the question of + independence was voted upon by the whole body of Philadelphia volunteers, + and they all voted for independence except twenty-nine men, four officers + and twenty-five privates. One of these objectors made a scene upon the + parade. He was so much opposed to the proceeding that he would not put the + question to his company. This refusal, said the newspaper of that week, + "Gave great umbrage to the men, one of whom replied to him in a genteel + and spirited manner." + </p> + <p> + Besides this morning and afternoon drill in the public squares of the + town, preparations were going forward to close the river against the + ascent of a hostile fleet. Dr. Franklin, as I have related, had twenty or + thirty row galleys in readiness, which were out on the river practising + every day, watched by approving groups on the shore. Men were at work on + the forts five miles below the city, where, also, Dr. Franklin was + arranging his three rows of iron-barbed beams in the channel, which were + called <i>chevaux de frise</i>. In a letter of that day, written to + Captain Richard Varick, of New York, I find these French words spelt thus: + "Shiver de freeses." Committees were going about Philadelphia during this + spring buying lead from house to house at sixpence a pound, taking even + the lead clock-weights and giving iron ones in exchange. So destitute was + the army of powder and ball that Dr. Franklin seriously proposed arming + some regiments with javelins and crossbows. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Jefferson was ready with his draft in time to present it to Congress + on the first of July; but it was on the second, as I conjecture, that the + great debate occurred upon it, when the timid men again put forward the + argument that the country was not yet ripe for so decisive a measure. Mr. + Dickinson, of Pennsylvania, a true patriot, but a most timorous and + conservative gentleman, who had opposed Independence from the beginning, + delivered a long and eloquent speech against the measure. + </p> + <p> + The author of the Declaration used to relate after dinner to his guests at + Monticello, that the conclusion of the business was hastened by a + ridiculous cause. Near the hall was a livery stable, from which swarms of + flies came in at the open windows, and attacked the trouserless legs of + members, who wore the silk stockings of the period. Lashing the flies with + their handkerchiefs, they became at length unable to bear a longer delay, + and the decisive vote was taken. On the Monday following, in the presence + of a great crowd of people assembled in Independence Square, it was read + by Captain Ezekiel Hopkins, the first commodore of the American Navy, then + just home from a cruise, during which he had captured eighty cannon, a + large quantity of ammunition, and stores, and two British vessels. He was + selected to read the Declaration from the remarkable power of his voice. + Seven weeks later, the Declaration was engrossed upon parchment, which was + signed by the members, and which now hangs in the Patent Office at + Washington. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0010" id="link2H_4_0010"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + ROBERT MORRIS, + </h2> + <h3> + THE FINANCIER OF THE REVOLUTION. + </h3> + <p> + Robert Morris, who had charge of the financial affairs of the thirteen + States during the Revolutionary War, and afterwards extended his business + beyond that of any other person in the country, became bankrupt at last, + spent four years of his old age in a debtor's prison, and owed his + subsistance, during his last illness, to a small annuity rescued by his + wife from the wreck of their fortunes. + </p> + <p> + Morris was English by birth, a native of Lancashire, where he lived until + he was thirteen years of age. Emigrating to Philadelphia in 1747, he was + placed in the counting-house of one of the leading merchants, with whose + son he entered into partnership before he had completed his twenty-first + year. This young firm, Willing, Morris & Co., embarked boldly and ably + in commerce, until at the beginning of the Revolution it was the + wealthiest commercial firm in the Colonies south of New England, and only + surpassed in New England by two. When the contention arose between the + Mother country and the colonies, his interest was to take the side of the + Mother country. But he sided with the Colonies—to the great + detriment of his private business. He served in Congress during nearly the + whole of the War, and was almost constantly employed in a struggle with + the financial difficulties of the situation. + </p> + <p> + I do not see how the revolution could have been maintained unless some + such person could have been found to undertake the finances. When all + other resources gave out he never refused to employ his private resources, + as well as the immense, unquestioned credit of his firm, in aid of the + cause. On several occasions he borrowed money for the use of the + government, pledging all his estate for the repayment. In 1780, aided by + the powerful pen of Thomas Paine, he established a bank through which + three million rations were provided for the army. Fortunately, he was + reputed to be much richer than he was, and thus he was several times + enabled to furnish an amount of assistance far beyond the resources of any + private individual then living in America. + </p> + <p> + His greatest achievement was in assisting General Washington in 1781 to + transport his army to Virginia, and to maintain it there during the + operations against Lord Cornwallis. In the spring of that year the + revolution appeared to be all but exhausted. The treasury was not merely + empty, but there was a floating debt upon it of two millions and a half, + and the soldiers were clamorous for their pay. The Superintendent of + Finance rose to the occasion. He issued his own notes to the amount of + fourteen hundred thousand dollars by which the army was supplied with + provisions and the campaign carried on to the middle of August. + </p> + <p> + Then General Washington, in confidence, revealed to Robert Morris his + intention to transport his army to Virginia. To effect this operation the + general required all the light vessels of the Delaware and Chesapeake, six + hundred barrels of provisions for the march, a vast supply in Virginia, + five hundred guineas in gold for secret service, and a month's pay in + silver for the army. When this information reached the superintendent he + was already at his wits' end, and really supposed that he had exhausted + every resource. + </p> + <p> + "I am sorry to inform you," he wrote to the general, "that I find money + matters in as bad a situation as possible." + </p> + <p> + And he mentions in his diary of the same date that, during a recent visit + to camp, he had had with him one hundred and fifty guineas; but so many + officers came to him with claims upon the government, that he thought it + best to satisfy none, and brought the money home again. After unheard-of + exertions, he contrived to get together provisions and vessels for the + transportation. But to raise the hard money to comply with General + Washington's urgent request for a month's pay for the troops, was beyond + his power. At the last moment he laid the case before the French admiral, + and borrowed for a few weeks from the fleet treasury twenty thousand + silver dollars. Just in the nick of time, Colonel Laurens arrived from + France with five hundred thousand dollars in cash, which enabled Morris to + pay this debt, and to give General Washington far more efficient support + than he had hoped. + </p> + <p> + To Robert Morris we owe one of the most pleasing accounts of the manner in + which the surrender of Cornwallis was celebrated at Philadelphia. He + records that on the third of November, 1781, on the invitation of the + French Minister, he attended the Catholic Church, where <i>Te Deum</i> was + sung in acknowledgment of the victory. Soon after, all the flags captured + from the enemy were brought to Philadelphia by two of General Washington's + aids, the city troop of Light Horse going out to meet them several miles. + The flags were twenty-four in number, and each of them was carried into + the city by one of the light horsemen. Morris concludes his account of + this great day with affecting simplicity: + </p> + <p> + "The American and French flags preceded the captured trophies, which were + conducted to the State House, where they were presented to Congress, who + were sitting; and many of the members tell me, that instead of viewing the + transaction as a mere matter of joyful ceremony, which they expected to + do, they instantly felt themselves impressed with ideas of the most solemn + nature. It brought to their minds the distresses our country has been + exposed to, the calamities we have repeatedly suffered, the perilous + situations which our affairs have almost always been in; and they could + not but recollect the threats of Lord North that he would bring America to + his feet on unconditional terms of submission." + </p> + <p> + When the war was over, the finances of the country did not improve. In + conjunction with General Washington and Robert R. Livingston, Secretary of + Foreign Affairs, he hit upon a plan to recall the State legislatures to a + sense of their duty. He engaged Thomas Paine, at a salary of eight hundred + dollars a year, to employ his pen in reconciling the people to the + necessity of supporting the burden of taxation, in setting forth, in his + eloquent manner, the bravery and good conduct of the soldiers whose pay + was so terribly in arrears, and in convincing the people of the need of a + stronger confederated government. + </p> + <p> + "It was also agreed," says Morris in his private diary, "that this + allowance should not be known to any other persons except General + Washington, Mr. Livingston, Gouverneur Morris, and myself, lest the + publications might lose their force if it were known that the author is + paid for them by government." + </p> + <p> + The expedient did not suffice. The States were backward in voting + contributions, and, in 1784, Robert Morris resigned his office after + discharging all his personal obligations incurred on account of the + Government. He then resumed his private business. He was the first + American citizen who ever sent to Canton an American vessel. This was in + 1784, and he continued for many years to carry on an extensive commerce + with India and China. + </p> + <p> + Unhappily, in his old age, for some cause or causes that have never been + recorded, he lost his judgment as a business man. About 1791, he formed a + land company, which bought from the Six Nations in the State of New York a + tract of land equal in extent to several of the German Principalities of + that time, and they owned some millions of acres in five other States. + These lands, bought for a trifling sum, would have enriched every member + of the company if they had not omitted from their calculations the + important element of <i>time</i>. But a gentleman sixty years of age + cannot wait twenty years for the development of a speculation. Confident + in the soundness of his calculations and expecting to be speedily rich + beyond the dreams of avarice, he erected in Philadelphia a palace for his + own abode, of the most preposterous magnificence. The architect assured + him that the building would cost sixty thousand dollars, but the mere + cellars exhausted that sum. He imported from Europe the most costly + furniture and fine statuary for this house. + </p> + <p> + But ardent speculators do not take into consideration the obvious and + certain truth that no country enjoys a long period of buoyancy in money + affairs. Hamilton's financial schemes led to such a sudden increase of + values as to bring on a period of the wildest speculation; which was + followed, as it always is, by reaction and collapse. Then came the + threatened renewal of the war with Great Britain, followed by the long + imbroglio with France, which put a stop to emigration for years. The + Western lands did not sell. The bubble burst. Robert Morris was ruined. He + was arrested in 1797 upon the suit of one Blair McClenachan, to whom he + owed sixteen thousand dollars, and he was confined in the debtors' prison + in Philadelphia, as before mentioned, for four years. Nor would he have + ever been released but for the operation of a new bankrupt law. A + paragraph from one of his letters, written when he had been in prison two + weeks, few people can read without emotion. These are the words of a man + who had been a capitalist and lived in luxury more than forty years: + </p> + <p> + "I have tried in vain," he wrote, "to get a room exclusively to myself, + and hope to be able to do so in a few days, but at a high rent which I am + unable to bear. Then I may set up a bed in it, and have a chair or two and + a table, and so be made comfortable. Now I am very uncomfortable, for I + have no particular place allotted me. I feel like an intruder everywhere; + sleeping in other people's beds, and sitting in other people's rooms. I am + writing on other people's paper with other people's ink. The pen is my + own. That and the clothes I wear are all that I can claim as mine here." + </p> + <p> + Released in 1802, he lived with his wife in a small house on the outskirts + of the city, where he died in 1806 aged seventy-two. + </p> + <p> + It was often proposed in Congress to appropriate some of the money + belonging to the industrious and frugal people of the United States to pay + the debts of this rash speculator; and many writers since have censured + the government for not doing something for his relief. The simple and + sufficient answer is, that Congress has no constitutional power to apply + the people's money to any such purpose. The government holds the public + treasure <i>in trust</i>. It is a trustee, not a proprietor. It can spend + public money only for purposes which the constitution specifies; and, + among these specified purposes, we do <i>not</i> find the relief of land + speculators who build gorgeous palaces on credit. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0011" id="link2H_4_0011"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + JOHN JAY, + </h2> + <h3> + THE FIRST CHIEF-JUSTICE. + </h3> + <p> + It was the tyranny of Louis XIV., King of France, that drove the ancestor + of John Jay to America. Pierre Jay, two hundred years ago, was a rich + merchant in the French city of Rochelle. He was a Protestant—one of + those worthy Frenchmen whom the revocation of the Edict of Nantes expelled + from the country of which they were the most valuable inhabitants. In + 1685, the Protestant Church which he attended at Rochelle was demolished, + and dragoons were quartered in the houses of its members. Secretly getting + his family and a portion of his property on board of a ship, he sent them + to England, and contrived soon after in a ship of his own, laden with a + valuable cargo, to escape himself. + </p> + <p> + It was not, however, from Pierre Jay that our American Jays were + immediately descended, but from Augustus, one of his sons. It so happened + that Augustus Jay, at the time of his father's flight, was absent from + France on a mercantile mission to Africa, and he was astonished on + returning to Rochelle to find himself without home or family. Nor was he + free from the danger of arrest unless he changed his religion. Assisted by + some friends, he took passage in a ship bound to Charleston in South + Carolina which he reached in safety about the year 1686. Finding the + climate of South Carolina injurious to his health, he removed to New York, + near which there was a whole village of refugees from his native city, + which they had named New Rochelle, a village which has since grown to a + considerable town, with which all New Yorkers are acquainted. His first + employment here was that of supercargo, which he continued to exercise for + several years, and in which he attained a moderate prosperity. + </p> + <p> + In 1697 Augustus Jay married Ann Maria Bayard, the daughter of a + distinguished Dutch family, who assisted him into business, and greatly + promoted his fortunes. The only son of this marriage was Peter Jay, who, + in his turn, married Mary Van Cortlandt, the child of another of the + leading Dutch families of the city. This Peter Jay had ten children of + whom John, the subject of this article, was the eighth, born in New York + in 1745. In him were therefore united the vivacious blood of France with + the solid qualities of the Dutch; and, accordingly, we find in him + something of the liveliness of the French along with a great deal of Dutch + prudence and caution. + </p> + <p> + After graduating from King's College, [Footnote: Now Columbia] John Jay + became a law student in the city of New York, in the office of Benjamin + Kissam—still a well-known New York name. An anecdote related of this + period reveals the French side of his character. He asked his father to + allow him to keep a saddle horse in the city, a request with which the + prudent father hesitated to comply. + </p> + <p> + "Horses," said he, "are not very good companions for a young man; and + John, why do you want a horse?" + </p> + <p> + "That I may have the means, sir," adroitly replied the son, "of visiting + you frequently." + </p> + <p> + The father was vanquished, gave him a horse, and was rewarded by receiving + a visit from his son at his country house in Rye, twenty-five miles from + the city, every other week. + </p> + <p> + Another anecdote betrays the Frenchman. Soon after his admission to the + bar, being opposed in a suit to Mr. Kissam, his preceptor, he somewhat + puzzled and embarrassed that gentleman in the course of his argument. + Alluding to this, Mr. Kissam pleasantly said: + </p> + <p> + "I see, your honor, that I have brought up a bird to pick out my own + eyes." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, no," instantly replied Mr. Jay; "not to pick out, but to open your + eyes." + </p> + <p> + Inheriting a large estate, and being allied either by marriage or by blood + with most of the powerful families of the province, and being himself a + man of good talents and most respectable character, he made rapid advance + in his profession, and gained a high place in the esteem and confidence of + his fellow-citizens; so that when the first Congress met at Philadelphia, + in 1774, John Jay was one of those who represented in it the colony of New + York. He was then twenty-nine years of age, and was, perhaps, the youngest + member of the body, every individual of which he outlived. + </p> + <p> + Some of the best written papers of that session were of his composition. + It was he who wrote that memorable address to the people of Great Britain, + in which the wrongs of the colonists were expressed with so much + eloquence, conciseness, and power. He left his lodgings in Philadelphia, + it is said, and shut himself up in a room in a tavern to secure himself + from interruption, and there penned the address which was the foundation + of his political fortunes. + </p> + <p> + At an early period of the Revolution he was appointed Minister to Spain, + where he struggled with more persistance than success to induce a timid + and dilatory government to render some substantial aid to his country. He + was afterwards one of the commissioners who negotiated the treaty with + Great Britain, in which the independence of the United States was + acknowledged, and its boundaries settled. Soon after his return home + Congress appointed him Secretary for Foreign Affairs, which was the most + important office in their gift, and in which he displayed great ability in + the dispatch of business. + </p> + <p> + Like all the great men of that day—like Washington, Jefferson, + Franklin, Hamilton, Patrick Henry, John Randolph, and all others of + similar grade—John Jay was an ardent abolitionist. He brought home + with him from abroad one negro slave, to whom he gave his freedom when he + had served long enough to repay him the expense incurred in bringing him + to America. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Jay, upon the division of the country into Republicans and + Federalists, became a decided Federalist, and took a leading part in the + direction of that great party. President Washington appointed him + Chief-Justice of the Supreme Court, an office which he soon resigned. The + most noted of all his public services was the negotiation of a treaty with + Great Britain in 1794. The terms of this treaty were revolting in the + extreme, both to the pride of Americans and to their sense of justice; and + Mr. Jay was overwhelmed with the bitterest reproaches from the party + opposed to his own. No man, however, has ever been able to show that + better terms were attainable; nor can any candid person now hold the + opinion that the United States should have preferred war to the acceptance + of those terms. If a very skillful negotiator could have done somewhat + better for his country, Mr. Jay did the best he could, and, probably, as + well as any man could have done. + </p> + <p> + Never was a public man more outrageously abused. On one occasion, a mob + paraded the streets of Philadelphia, carrying an image of Mr. Jay holding + a pair of scales. One of the scales was labeled, "American Liberty and + Independence," and the other, "British Gold," the latter weighing down the + former as low as it could go, while from the mouth of the effigy issued + the words: + </p> + <p> + "Come up to my price and I will sell you my country." + </p> + <p> + The effigy was finally burnt in one of the public squares. + </p> + <p> + Notwithstanding this storm of abuse, Mr. Jay was elected Governor of New + York, from which office he retired to his pleasant seat at Bedford, where + he spent the remainder of his life. He lived to the year 1829, when he + died, aged eighty-four years, leaving children and grandchildren who have + sustained his high character, illustrated his memory, and continued his + work. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0012" id="link2H_4_0012"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + FISHER AMES, + </h2> + <h3> + THE ORATOR OF THE FOURTH CONGRESS. + </h3> + <p> + And who was Fisher Ames, that his "Speeches" should be gathered and + re-published sixty-three years after his death? He was a personage in his + time. Let us look upon him in the day of his greatest glory. + </p> + <p> + It was April 28, 1796, at Philadelphia, in the Hall of the House of + Representatives, of which Fisher Ames was a member. The House and country + were highly excited respecting the terms of the treaty which John Jay had + negotiated with the British government. To a large number of the people + this treaty was inexpressibly odious; as, indeed, <i>any</i> treaty would + have been with a power so abhorred by them as England then was. Some of + the conditions of the treaty, we cannot deny, were hard, unwise, unjust; + but, in all probability, it was the best that could then have been + obtained, and Mr. Jay had only the alternative of accepting the + conditions, or plunging his country into war. One great point, at least, + the British government had yielded. After the Revolutionary war, the + English had retained several western posts, to the great annoyance of + settlers, and the indignation of the whole country. These posts were now + to be surrendered, provided the treaty was accepted and its conditions + fulfilled. + </p> + <p> + President Washington and the Senate had ratified the treaty—with + reluctance, it is true; but still they had ratified it; and nothing + remained but for the House of Representatives to appropriate the money + requisite for carrying the treaty into effect. But here was the + difficulty. The treaty was so unpopular that members of Congress shrunk + from even seeming to approve it. There had been riotous meetings in all + the large cities to denounce it. In New York, Alexander Hamilton, while + attempting to address a meeting in support of it, was pelted with stones, + and the people then marched to the residence of Mr. Jay, and burned a copy + of the treaty before his door. + </p> + <p> + "Blush," said a Democratic editor, "to think that America should degrade + herself so much as to enter into any kind of treaty with a power now + tottering on the brink of ruin, whose principles are directly contrary to + the spirit of Republicanism!" + </p> + <p> + A Virginia newspaper advised that, if the treaty negotiated by "that + arch-traitor, John Jay, with the British tyrant, should be ratified," + Virginia should secede from the Union. Indeed, the public mind has seldom + been excited to such a degree upon any public topic. + </p> + <p> + It was in these circumstances that Fisher Ames rose to address the House + of Representatives, in favor of the treaty. There was supposed to be a + majority of ten against it in the House, and the debate had been for some + days in progress. Madison and all the leading Democrats had spoken + strongly against it; while Fisher Ames, the greatest orator on the side of + the Administration, was suffering from the pulmonary disease from which he + afterward died, and had been ordered by his physician not to speak a word + in the House. Inaction at such a time became insupportable to him, and he + chafed under it day after day. + </p> + <p> + "I am like an old gun," he wrote, in one of his letters, "that is spiked, + or the trunnions knocked off, and yet am carted off, not for the worth of + the old iron, but to balk the enemy of a trophy. My political life is + ended, and I am the survivor of myself; or, rather, a troubled ghost of a + politician that am condemned to haunt the field where he fell." + </p> + <p> + But as the debate went on, he could no longer endure to remain silent. He + determined to speak, if he never spoke again; and the announcement of his + intention filled the Representatives' Chamber with a brilliant assembly of + ladies and gentlemen. Vice-President Adams came to the chamber to hear + him, among other persons of note. The orator rose from his seat pale, + feeble, scarcely able to stand, or to make himself heard; but as he + proceeded he gathered strength, and was able to speak for nearly two hours + in a strain of eloquence, the tradition of which fills a great place in + the memoirs of the time. The report of it which we possess is imperfect, + and the reading of it is somewhat disappointing; but here and there there + is a passage in the report which gives us some notion of the orator's + power. One of his points was, that the faith of the country had been + pledged by the ratification of the treaty, and that consequently a refusal + of the House to appropriate the money would be a breach of faith. This led + him to expatiate upon the necessity of national honor. + </p> + <p> + "In Algiers," said he, "a truce may be bought for money; but when + ratified, even Algiers is too wise or too just to disown and annul its + obligation.... If there could be a resurrection from the foot of the + gallows; if the victims of justice could live again, collect together and + form a society, they would, however loath, soon find themselves obliged to + make justice—that justice under which they fell—the + fundamental law of their State." + </p> + <p> + This speech was afterward called Fisher Ames' Tomahawk Speech, because he + endeavored to show that, if the posts were not surrendered and not + garrisoned by American troops, the Indians could not be kept in check, and + would fill the frontier with massacre and fire. + </p> + <p> + "On this theme," the orator exclaimed, "my emotions are unutterable. If I + could find words for them, if my powers bore any proportion to my zeal, I + would swell my voice to such a note of remonstrance, it should reach every + log-house beyond the mountains. I would say to the inhabitants, Wake from + your false security! Your cruel dangers, your more cruel apprehensions, + are soon to be renewed; the wounds yet unhealed are to be torn open again; + in the daytime your path through the woods will be ambushed; the darkness + of midnight will glitter with the blaze of your dwellings. You are a + father—the blood of your sons shall fatten your corn-fields. You are + a mother—the war-whoop shall wake the sleep of the cradle." + </p> + <p> + He continued in this strain for some time, occasionally blazing into a + simile that delighted every hearer with its brilliancy, while flashing a + vivid light upon the subject; and I only wish the space at my command + permitted further extracts. The conclusion of the speech recalled + attention to the orator's feeble condition of health, which the vigor of + his speech might have made his hearers forget. + </p> + <p> + "I have, perhaps," said he, "as little personal interest in the event as + any one here. There is, I believe, no member who will not think his chance + to be a witness of the consequences greater than mine. If, however, the + vote should pass to reject, and a spirit should arise, as it will, with + the public disorders, to make confusion worse confounded, even I, slender + and almost broken as my hold upon life is, may outlive the government and + constitution of my country." + </p> + <p> + With these words the orator resumed his seat. The great assembly seemed + spell-bound, and some seconds elapsed before the buzz of conversation was + heard. John Adams turned to a friend, Judge Iredell, who happened to sit + next to him, as if looking for sympathy in his own intense admiration. + </p> + <p> + "My God!" exclaimed the Judge, "how great he is—how great he has + been!" + </p> + <p> + "Noble!" said the Vice-President. + </p> + <p> + "Bless my stars!" resumed Judge Iredell, "I never heard anything so great + since I was born." + </p> + <p> + "Divine!" exclaimed Adams. + </p> + <p> + And thus they went on with their interjections, while tears glistened in + their eyes. Mr. Adams records that tears enough were shed on the occasion. + </p> + <p> + "Not a dry eye in the house," he says, "except some of the jackasses who + had occasioned the oratory.... The ladies wished his soul had a better + body." + </p> + <p> + After many days' further debate, the House voted the money by a + considerable majority; a large number of Democrats voting with the + administration. Fisher Ames was not so near his death as he supposed, for + he lived twelve years after the delivery of this speech, so slow was the + progress of his disease. He outlived Washington and Hamilton, and + delivered eloquent addresses in commemoration of both. + </p> + <p> + The great misfortune of his life was that very ill-health to which he + alluded in his speech. This tinged his mind with gloom, and caused him to + anticipate the future of his country with morbid apprehension. When + Jefferson was elected President in 1800, he thought the ruin of his + country was sure, and spoke of the "chains" which Jefferson had forged for + the people. When Hamilton died, in 1804, he declared that his "soul + stiffened with despair," and he compared the fallen statesman to "Hercules + treacherously slain in the midst of his unfinished labors, leaving the + world over-run with monsters." He was one of the most honest and patriotic + of men; but he had little faith in the truths upon which the Constitution + of his country was founded. + </p> + <p> + He died at his birthplace, Dedham, Massachusetts, on the 4th of July, + 1808, in the fifty-first year of his age. His father had been the + physician of that place for many years—a man of great skill in his + profession, and gifted with a vigorous mind. Doctor Ames died when his son + was only six years of age, and it cost the boy a severe and long struggle + to work his way through college to the profession of the law, and to + public life. If he had had a body equal to his mind, he would have been + one of the greatest men New England ever produced. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0013" id="link2H_4_0013"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE PINCKNEYS OF SOUTH CAROLINA. + </h2> + <p> + In the political writings of Washington's day, we frequently meet with the + name of Pinckney; and, as there were several persons of that name in + public life, readers of history are often at a loss to distinguish between + them. This confusion is the more troublesome, because they were all of the + same family and State, and their career also had a strong family likeness. + </p> + <p> + The founder of this family in America was Thomas Pinckney, who emigrated + to South Carolina in the year 1692. He possessed a large fortune, and + built in Charleston a stately mansion, which is still standing, unless it + was demolished during the late war. A curious anecdote is related of this + original Pinckney, which is about all that is now known of him. Standing + at the window of his house one day, with his wife at his side, he noticed + a stream of passengers walking up the street, who had just landed from a + vessel that day arrived from the West Indies. As they walked along the + street, he noticed particularly a handsome man who was very gayly dressed; + and turning to his wife he said: + </p> + <p> + "That handsome West Indian will marry some poor fellow's widow, break her + heart, and ruin her children." + </p> + <p> + Strange to relate, the widow whom this handsome West Indian married was no + other than Mrs. Pinckney herself; for Thomas Pinckney soon after died, and + his widow married the West Indian. He did not break her heart, since she + lived to marry a third husband, but he was an extravagant fellow, and + wasted part of her children's inheritance. Thomas Pinckney, then, is to be + distinguished from others of the name as the <i>founder</i> of the family + in America. + </p> + <p> + The eldest son of Thomas, that grew to man's estate, was Charles Pinckney, + who embraced the legal profession, and rose to be Chief Justice of the + Province of South Carolina, and hence he is usually spoken of and + distinguished from the rest of the family as "Chief Justice Pinckney." He + was educated in England, and was married there. Returning to Charleston, + he acquired a large fortune by the practice of his profession. A strange + anecdote is related of his wife also. After he had been married many years + without having children, there came to Charleston from England, on a visit + of pleasure a young lady named Eliza Lucas, daughter of an officer in the + English army. She was an exceedingly lovely and brilliant girl, and made a + great stir in the province. She was particularly admired by the wife of + the Chief Justice, who said one day in jest: + </p> + <p> + "Rather than have Miss Lucas return home, I will myself step out of the + way, and let her take my place." + </p> + <p> + Within a few months after uttering these words she died, and soon after + her death the Chief Justice actually married Miss Lucas. This lady was one + of the greatest benefactors South Carolina ever had; for, besides being an + example of all the virtues and graces which adorn the female character, it + was she who introduced into the province the cultivation of rice. In + addition to the other services which she rendered her adopted home, she + gave birth to the two brothers Pinckney, who are of most note in the + general history of the country. The elder of these was Charles Cotesworth + Pinckney, born in 1746, and the younger was Thomas, born in 1750. + </p> + <p> + When these two boys were old enough to begin their education, their + father, the Chief Justice, like a good father as he was, went with them to + England, accompanied by all his family, and there resided for many years, + while they were at school; for at that day there were no means of + education in South Carolina. The boys were placed at Westminster school in + London, and completed their studies at the University of Oxford. After + leaving the University they began the study of the law in London, and were + pursuing their studies there, or just beginning practice, when the + troubles preceding the Revolutionary War hastened their return to their + native land. They had been absent from their country twenty-one years, and + were much gratified on reaching Charleston to witness its prosperity and + unexpected growth. The elder of these brothers could remember when the + first planter's wagon was driven into Charleston. This was about the year + 1753. Pointing to this wagon one day, his father said to him: + </p> + <p> + "Charles, by the time you are a man, I don't doubt there will be at least + twenty wagons coming to town." + </p> + <p> + Often in after life, when he would meet a long string of wagons in the + country loaded with cotton or rice, he would relate this reminiscence of + his childhood, and add: + </p> + <p> + "How happy my father would have been in the growth and prosperity of + Carolina!" + </p> + <p> + These young men from the beginning of the Stamp Act agitation, when they + were just coming of age, sympathized warmly with their oppressed + countrymen on the other side of the ocean, and soon after their return + home they entered the Continental army and served gallantly throughout the + war. In 1780 we find Charles Cotesworth Pinckney writing to his wife in + the following noble strain: + </p> + <p> + "Our friend, Philip Neyle was killed by a cannon-ball coming through one + of the embrasures; but I do not pity him, for he has died nobly in the + defense of his country; but I pity his aged father, now unhappily bereaved + of his beloved and only child." + </p> + <p> + To one of his young friends he wrote soon after: + </p> + <p> + "If I had a vein that did not beat with love for my country, I myself + would open it. If I had a drop of blood that could flow dishonorably, I + myself would let it out." + </p> + <p> + It was the fortune of both these brothers to be held for a long time by + the enemy as prisoners of war. The elder was captured upon the surrender + of Charleston. The younger was desperately wounded at the battle of + Camden, and was about to be transfixed by a bayonet, when a British + officer who had known him at college recognized his features, and cried + out in the nick of time: + </p> + <p> + "Save Tom Pinckney!" + </p> + <p> + The uplifted bayonet was withheld, and the wounded man was borne from the + field a prisoner. + </p> + <p> + After the peace, General C. C. Pinckney was a member of the convention + which framed our Constitution. During the Presidency of General + Washington, he declined, first a seat upon the bench of the Supreme Court, + and twice declined entering the cabinet. During the last year of + Washington's administration, he accepted the appointment of Minister to + France, and it was while residing in Paris, that he uttered a few words + which will probably render his name immortal. He was associated with Chief + Justice Marshall and Elbridge Gerry, and their great object was to prevent + a war between the United States and France. It was during the reign of the + corrupt Directory that they performed this mission; and Talleyrand, the + Minister of War, gave them to understand that nothing could be + accomplished in the way of negotiation unless they were prepared to + present to the government a large sum of money. The honest Americans + objecting to this proposal, Talleyrand intimated to them that they must + either give the money or accept the alternative of war. Then it was that + the honest and gallant Charles Cotesworth Pinckney uttered the words which + Americans will never forget till they have ceased to be worthy of their + ancestors: + </p> + <p> + "War be it, then!" exclaimed General Pinckney, "Millions for defense, sir; + but not a cent for tribute!" + </p> + <p> + On his return to the United States, war being imminent with France, he was + appointed a Major-general in the army, and in the year 1800 he was a + candidate for the Presidency. He lived to the year 1825, when he died at + Charleston at the age of seventy-nine. + </p> + <p> + His brother Thomas was the Governor of South Carolina in 1789, and in 1792 + was appointed by General Washington Minister to Great Britain. After + residing some years in England, he was sent to Spain, where he negotiated + the important treaty which secured us the free navigation of the + Mississippi. After his return home, he served several years in Congress on + the Federal side, and then retired to private life. During the war of + 1812, he received the commission of Major-general, and served under + General Jackson at the celebrated battle of Horseshoe Bend, where the + power of the Creek Indians was broken forever. + </p> + <p> + He died at Charleston in 1828, aged seventy-eight years. + </p> + <p> + Besides these Pinckneys there was a noted Charles Pinckney, a nephew of + Chief Justice Pinckney, who was also captured when Charleston surrendered, + remained a prisoner until near the close of the war, and afterwards bore a + distinguished part in public life. He may be distinguished from others of + his name from his being a democrat, an active adherent of Thomas + Jefferson. He served as Minister to Spain during Mr. Jefferson's + administration, and was four times elected Governor of South Carolina. + </p> + <p> + Finally, there was a Henry Laurens Pinckney, son of the Governor Pinckney + last mentioned, born in 1794. For sixteen years he was a member of the + Legislature of South Carolina, and was afterwards better known as editor + and proprietor of the Charleston <i>Mercury</i>, a champion of State + rights, and afterwards of nullification. During the nullification period, + he was Mayor of Charleston, an office to which he was three times + re-elected. + </p> + <p> + Thus the Pinckneys may be distinguished as follows: Thomas Pinckney, the + founder; Charles Pinckney, the Chief Justice; Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, + the Ambassador and candidate for the Presidency; Thomas Pinckney, General + in the war of 1812; Charles Pinckney, the democrat; and Henry Laurens + Pinckney, editor and author. + </p> + <div style="height: 6em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Revolutionary Heroes, And Other +Historical Papers, by James Parton + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK REVOLUTIONARY HEROES *** + +***** This file should be named 8154-h.htm or 8154-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/8/1/5/8154/ + + +Text file produced by Ted Garvin, Tonya Allen, Charles Franks, and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + +HTML file produced by David Widger + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Revolutionary Heroes, And Other Historical Papers + +Author: James Parton + + +Release Date: May, 2005 [EBook #8154] +This file was first posted on June 21, 2003 +Last Updated: May 12, 2013 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK REVOLUTIONARY HEROES *** + + + + +Produced by Ted Garvin, Tonya Allen, Charles Franks, and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + + + + + + REVOLUTIONARY HEROES, AND OTHER HISTORICAL PAPERS + + HISTORICAL CLASSIC READINGS--No 10. + + BY + + JAMES PARTON, + + AUTHOR OF + + "LIFE OF HORACE GREELEY," "LIFE OF ANDREW JACKSON," "LIFE AND + TIMES OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN," ETC. ETC. + + + + + + + + GEN. JOSEPH WARREN SIGNING THE DECLARATION OF + CAPT. NATHAN HALE INDEPENDENCE. + GEN. WASHINGTON'S SPIES. ROBERT MORRIS. + VALLEY FORGE. JOHN JAY. + JOHN ADAMS. FISHER AMES. + THE PINCKNEYS. + + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + + +James Parton was born in Canterbury, England, February 9, 1822. When +five years old he was brought to America and given an education in the +schools of New York City, and at White Plains, N. Y. Subsequently he +engaged in teaching in Philadelphia and New York City, and for three +years was a contributor to the _Home Journal_. Since that time, he +has devoted his life to literary labors, contributing many articles +to periodicals and publishing books on biographical subjects. While +employed on the _Home Journal_ it occurred to him that an interesting +story could be made out of the life of Horace Greeley, and he mentioned +the idea to a New York publisher. Receiving the needed encouragement, +Mr. Parton set about collecting material from Greeley's former neighbors +in Vermont and New Hampshire, and in 1855 produced the "Life of Horace +Greeley," which he afterwards extended and completed in 1885. This +venture was so profitable that he was encouraged to devote himself to +authorship. In 1856 he brought out a collection of Humorous Poetry of +the English Language from Chaucer to Saxe. Following this appeared +in 1857 the "Life of Aaron Burr," prepared from original sources and +intended to redeem Burr's reputation from the charges that attached to +his memory. In writing the "Life of Andrew Jackson" he also had access +to original and unpublished documents. This work was published in three +volumes in 1859-60. Other works of later publication are: "General +Butler in New Orleans" (1863 and 1882); "Life and Times of Benjamin +Franklin" (1864); "How New York is Governed" (1866); "Famous Americans +of Recent Times," containing Sketches of Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, +John C. Calhoun, John Randolph, and others (1867); "The People's Book +of Biography," containing eighty short lives (1868); "Smoking and +Drinking," an essay on the evils of those practices, reprinted from the +_Atlantic Monthly_ (1869); a pamphlet entitled "The Danish Islands: Are +We Bound to Pay for Them?" (1869); "Topics of the Time," a collection +of magazine articles, most of them treating of administrative abuses +at Washington (1871); "Triumphs of Enterprise, Ingenuity, and Public +Spirit" (1871); "The Words of Washington" (1872); "Fanny Fern," a +memorial volume (1873); "Life of Thomas Jefferson, Third President of +the United States" (1874); "Taxation of Church Property" (1874); "La +Parnasse Francais: a Book of French Poetry from A.D. 1850 to the Present +Time" (1877); "Caricature and other Comic Art in All Times and Many +Lands" (1877); "A Life of Voltaire," which was the fruit of several +years' labor (1881); "Noted Women of Europe and America" (1883); and +"Captains of Industry, or Men of Business who did something besides +Making Money: a Book for Young Americans." In addition to his writing +Mr. Parton has proved a very successful lecturer on literary and +political topics. + +In January, 1856, Mr. Parton married Sara Payson Willis, a sister of the +poet N. P. Willis, and herself famous as "Fanny Fern," the name of her +pen. He made New York City his home until 1875, three years after the +death of his wife, when he went to Newburyport, where he now lives. +_The London Athenaeum_ well characterizes Mr. Parton as "a painstaking, +honest, and courageous historian, ardent with patriotism, but +unprejudiced; a writer, in short, of whom the people of the United +States have reason to be proud." + + +The contents of this book have been selected from among the great number +contributed from time to time by Mr. Parton, and are considered as +particularly valuable and interesting reading. + + + + + +REVOLUTIONARY HEROES. + + + + +GENERAL JOSEPH WARREN. + + +A fiery, vehement, daring spirit was this Joseph Warren, who was a +doctor thirteen years, a major-general three days, and a soldier three +hours. In that part of Boston which is called Roxbury, there is a modern +house of stone, on the front of which a passer-by may read the following +inscription: + +"On this spot stood the house erected in 1720 by Joseph Warren, of +Boston, remarkable for being the birthplace of General Joseph Warren, +his grandson, who was killed at the battle of Bunker Hill, June 17, +1775." + +There is another inscription on the house which reads thus: + +"John Warren, a distinguished Physician and Anatomist, was also born +here. The original mansion being in ruins, this house was built by John +C. Warren, M.D., in 1846, son of the last-named, as a permanent memorial +of the spot." + +I am afraid the builder of this new house _poetized_ a little when +he styled the original edifice a mansion. It was a plain, roomy, +substantial farm-house, about the centre of the little village of +Roxbury, and the father of Warren who occupied it was an industrious, +enterprising, intelligent farmer, who raised superior fruits and +vegetables for the Boston market. Warren's father was a beginner in that +delightful industry, and one of the apples which he introduced into the +neighborhood retains to this day the name which it bore in his lifetime, +the Warren Russet. + +A tragic event occurred at this farm-house in 1775, when Warren was +a boy of fourteen. It was on an October day, in the midst of the +apple-gathering season, about the time when the Warren Russet had +attained all the maturity it can upon its native tree. Farmer Warren was +out in his orchard. His wife, a woman worthy of being the mother of such +a son as she had, was indoors getting dinner ready for her husband, her +four boys, and the two laborers upon the farm. About noon she sent her +youngest son, John, mentioned in the above inscription, to call his +father to dinner. On the way to the orchard the lad met the two laborers +carrying towards the house his father's dead body. While standing upon +a ladder gathering apples from a high tree, Mr. Warren had fallen to the +ground and broken his neck. He died almost instantly. + +The _Boston Newsletter_ of the following week bestowed a few lines +upon the occurrence; speaking of him as a man of good understanding, +industrious, honest and faithful; "a useful member of society, who was +generally respected among us, and whose death is universally lamented." + +Fortunate is the family which in such circumstances has a mother wise +and strong. She carried on the farm with the assistance of one of her +sons so successfully that she was able to continue the education of her +children, all of whom except the farmer obtained respectable rank in +one of the liberal professions. This excellent mother lived in widowhood +nearly fifty years, saw Thomas Jefferson President of the United States, +and died 1803, aged ninety-three years, in the old house at home. +Until she was past eighty she made with her own hands the pies for +Thanksgiving-day, when all her children and grandchildren used to +assemble at the spacious old Roxbury house. + +It was in the very year of his father's death, 1755, that Joseph Warren +entered Harvard College, a vigorous, handsome lad of fourteen, noted +even then for his spirit, courage and resolution. Several of his class +one day, in the course of a frolic, in order to exclude him from the +fun, barred the door so that he could not force it. Determined to join +them, he went to the roof of the house, slid down by the spout, and +sprang through the open window into the room. At that moment the spout +fell to the ground. + +"It has served my purpose," said the youth coolly. + +The records of the college show that he held respectable rank as a +student; and as soon as he had graduated, he received an appointment +which proves that he was held in high estimation in his native village. +We find him at nineteen master of the Roxbury Grammar School, at a +salary of forty-four pounds and sixteen shillings per annum, payable to +his mother. A receipt for part of this amount, signed by his mother and +in her handwriting, is now among the archives of that ancient and famous +institution. He taught one year, at the end of which he entered the +office of a Boston physician, under whom he pursued the usual medical +studies and was admitted to practice. + +The young doctor, tall, handsome, alert, graceful, full of energy and +fire, was formed to succeed in such a community as that of Boston. His +friends, when he was twenty-three years of age, had the pleasure of +reading in the Boston newspaper the following notice: + +"Last Thursday evening was married Dr. Joseph Warren, one of the +physicians of this town, to Miss Elizabeth Hooton, only daughter of the +late Mr. Richard Hooton, merchant, deceased, an accomplished young lady +with a handsome fortune." + +Thus launched in life and gifted as he was, it is not surprising that +he should soon have attained a considerable practice. But for one +circumstance he would have advanced in his profession even more rapidly +than he did. When he had been but a few months married, the Stamp Act +was passed, which began the long series of agitating events that ended +in severing the colonies from the mother country. The wealthy society +of Boston, from the earliest period down to the present hour, has always +been on what is called the conservative side in politics; and it was +eminently so during the troubles preceding the revolutionary war. The +whole story is told in a remark made by a Boston Tory doctor in those +times: + +"If Warren were not a Whig," said he, "he might soon be independent and +ride in his chariot." + +There were, however, in Boston Whig families enough to give him plenty +of business, and he was for many years their favorite physician. He +attended the family of John Adams, and saved John Quincy, his son, from +losing one of his fore-fingers when it was very badly fractured. Samuel +Adams, who was the prime mover of the Opposition, old enough to be +his father, inspired and consulted him. Gradually, as the quarrel grew +warmer, Dr. Warren was drawn into the councils of the leading Whigs, +and became at last almost wholly a public man. Without being rash or +imprudent, he was one of the first to be ready to meet force with force, +and he was always in favor of the measures which were boldest and most +decisive. At his house Colonel Putnam was a guest on an interesting +occasion, when he was only known for his exploits in the French war. + +"The old hero, Putnam," says a Boston letter of 1774, "arrived in town +on Monday, bringing with him one hundred and thirty sheep from the +little parish of Brooklyn." + +It was at Dr. Warren's house that the "old hero" staid, and thither +flocked crowds of people to see him, and talk over the thrilling events +of the time. The sheep which he brought with him were to feed the people +of Boston, whose business was suspended by the closing of the port. + +The presence of the British troops in Boston roused all Warren's +indignation. Overhearing one day some British officers saying that the +Americans would not fight, he said to a friend: + +"These fellows say we will not fight. By heavens, I hope I shall die up +to my knees in their blood!" + +Soon after, as he was passing the public gallows on the Neck, he +overheard one of a group of officers say in an insulting tone: + +"Go on, Warren; you will soon come to the gallows." + +The young doctor turned, walked up to the officers, and said to them +quietly: + +"Which of you uttered those words." + +They passed on without giving any reply. He had not long to wait for a +proof that his countrymen would fight. April nineteenth, 1775, word was +brought to him by a special messenger of the events which had occurred +on the village green at Lexington. He called to his assistant, told him +to take care of his patients, mounted his horse, and rode toward the +scene of action. + +"Keep up a brave heart!" he cried to a friend in passing. "They have +begun it. _That_ either party can do. And we will end it. _That_ only +one can do." + +Riding fast, he was soon in the thick of the melee, and kept so close to +the point of contact that a British musket ball struck a pin out of his +hair close to one of his ears. Wherever the danger was greatest there +was Warren, now a soldier joining in the fight, now a surgeon binding up +wounds, now a citizen cheering on his fellows. From this day he made up +his mind to perform his part in the coming contest as a soldier, not +as a physician, nor in any civil capacity; and accordingly on the +fourteenth of June, 1775, the Massachusetts legislature elected him +"second Major General of the Massachusetts army." Before he had received +his commission occurred the battle of Bunker Hill, June seventeenth. He +passed the night previous in public service, for he was President of the +Provincial Congress, but, on the seventeenth, when the congress met at +Watertown, the president did not appear. Members knew where he was, +for he had told his friends that he meant to take part in the impending +movement. + +It was a burning hot summer's day. After his night of labor, Warren +threw himself on his bed, sick from a nervous headache. The booming of +the guns summoned him forth, and shortly before the first assault he was +on the field ready to serve. + +"I am here," he said to General Putnam, "only as a volunteer. Tell me +where I can be most useful." + +And to Colonel Prescott he said: + +"I shall take no command here. I come as a volunteer, with my musket to +serve under you." + +And there he fought during the three onsets, cheering the men by his +coolness and confidence. He was one of the the very last to leave the +redoubt. When he had retreated about sixty yards he was recognized by a +British officer, who snatched a musket from a soldier and shot him. +The bullet entered the back of his head. Warren placed his hands, as if +mechanically, to the wound, and fell dead upon the hot and dusty field. + +The enemy buried him where he fell. Nine months after, when the British +finally retreated from New England, his body, recognized by two false +teeth, was disinterred and honorably buried. He left four children, of +whom the eldest was a girl six years of age. Congress adopted the eldest +son. Among those who contributed most liberally toward the education and +support of the other children was Benedict Arnold, who gave five hundred +dollars. A little psalm book found by a British soldier in Warren's +pocket on the field is still in possession of one of his descendants. + + + + +CAPTAIN NATHAN HALE, THE MARTYR-SPY. + + +General Washington wanted a man. It was in September, 1776, at the City +of New York, a few days after the battle of Long Island. The swift +and deep East River flowed between the two hostile armies, and General +Washington had as yet no system established for getting information of +the enemy's movements and intentions. He never needed such information +so much as at that crisis. + +What would General Howe do next? If he crossed at Hell Gate, the +American army, too small in numbers, and defeated the week before, might +be caught on Manhattan Island as in a trap, and the issue of the contest +might be made to depend upon a single battle; for in such circumstances +defeat would involve the capture of the whole army. And yet General +Washington was compelled to confess: + +"We cannot learn, nor have we been able to procure the least information +of late." + +Therefore he wanted a man. He wanted an intelligent man, cool-headed, +skillful, brave, to cross the East River to Long Island, enter the +enemy's camp, and get information as to his strength and intentions. +He went to Colonel Knowlton, commanding a remarkably efficient regiment +from Connecticut, and requested him to ascertain if this man, so sorely +needed, could be found in his command. Colonel Knowlton called his +officers together, stated the wishes of General Washington, and, without +urging the enterprise upon any individual, left the matter to their +reflections. + +Captain Nathan Hale, a brilliant youth of twenty-one, recently graduated +from Yale College, was one of those who reflected upon the subject. He +soon reached a conclusion. He was of the very flower of the young men of +New England, and one of the best of the younger soldiers of the patriot +army. He had been educated for the ministry, and his motive in adopting +for a time the profession of arms was purely patriotic. This we know +from the familiar records of his life at the time when the call to arms +was first heard. + +In addition to his other gifts and graces, he was handsome, vigorous, +and athletic, all in an extraordinary degree. If he had lived in our day +he might have pulled the stroke-oar at New London, or pitched for the +college nine. + +The officers were conversing in a group. No one had as yet spoken the +decisive word. Colonel Knowlton appealed to a French sergeant, an old +soldier of former wars, and asked him to volunteer. + +"No, no," said he. "I am ready to fight the British at any place and +time, but I do not feel willing to go among them to be hung up like a +dog." + +Captain Hale joined the group of officers. He said to Colonel Knowlton: + +"I will undertake it." + +Some of his best friends remonstrated. One of them, afterwards the +famous general William Hull, then a captain in Washington's army, has +recorded Hale's reply to his own attempt to dissuade him. + +"I think," said Hale, "I owe to my country the accomplishment of +an object so important. I am fully sensible of the consequences of +discovery and capture in such a situation. But for a year I have been +attached to the army, and have not rendered any material service, +while receiving a compensation for which I make no return. I wish to be +useful, and every kind of service necessary for the public good becomes +honorable by being necessary." + +He spoke, as General Hull remembered, with earnestness and decision, as +one who had considered the matter well, and had made up his mind. + +Having received his instructions, he traveled fifty miles along the +Sound as far as Norwalk in Connecticut. One who saw him there made a +very wise remark upon him, to the effect that he was "too good-looking" +to go as a spy. He could not deceive. "Some scrubby fellow ought to +have gone." At Norwalk he assumed the disguise of a Dutch schoolmaster, +putting on a suit of plain brown clothes, and a round, broad-brimmed +hat. He had no difficulty in crossing the Sound, since he bore an order +from General Washington which placed at his disposal all the vessels +belonging to Congress. For several days everything appears to have gone +well with him, and there is reason to believe that he passed through the +entire British army without detection or even exciting suspicion. + +Finding the British had crossed to New York, he followed them. He made +his way back to Long Island, and nearly reached the point opposite +Norwalk where he had originally landed. Rendered perhaps too bold by +success, he went into a well-known and popular tavern, entered into +conversation with the guests, and made himself very agreeable. +The tradition is that he made himself too agreeable. A man present +suspecting or knowing that he was not the character he had assumed, +quietly left the room, communicated his suspicions to the captain of a +British ship anchored near, who dispatched a boat's crew to capture +and bring on board the agreeable stranger. His true character was +immediately revealed. Drawings of some of the British works, with +notes in Latin, were found hidden in the soles of his shoes. Nor did he +attempt to deceive his captors, and the English captain, lamenting, as +he said, that "so fine a fellow had fallen into his power," sent him to +New York in one of his boats, and with him the fatal proofs that he was +a spy. + +September twenty-first was the day on which he reached New York--the day +of the great fire which laid one-third of the little city in ashes. From +the time of his departure from General Washington's camp to that of +his return to New York was about fourteen days. He was taken to General +Howe's headquarters at the Beekman mansion, on the East River, near +the corner of the present Fifty-first Street and First Avenue. It is a +strange coincidence that this house to which he was brought to be tried +as a spy was the very one from which Major Andre departed when he +went to West Point. Tradition says that Captain Hale was examined in a +greenhouse which then stood in the garden of the Beekman mansion. + +Short was his trial, for he avowed at once his true character. The +British general signed an order to his provost-marshal directing him to +receive into his custody the prisoner convicted as a spy, and to see him +hanged by the neck "to-morrow morning at daybreak." + +Terrible things are reported of the manner in which this noble prisoner, +this admirable gentleman and hero, was treated by his jailer and +executioner. There are savages in every large army, and it is possible +that this provost-marshal was one of them. It is said that he refused +him writing-materials, and afterwards, when Captain Hale had been +furnished them by others, destroyed before his face his last letters to +his mother and to the young lady to whom he was engaged to be married. +As those letters were never received this statement may be true. The +other alleged horrors of the execution it is safe to disregard, because +we know that it was conducted in the usual form and in the presence of +many spectators and a considerable body of troops. One fact shines out +from the distracting confusion of that morning, which will be cherished +to the latest posterity as a precious ingot of the moral treasure of +the American people. When asked if he had anything to say, Captain Hale +replied: + +"I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country." + +The scene of his execution was probably an old graveyard in Chambers +Street, which was then called Barrack Street. General Howe formally +notified General Washington of his execution. In recent years, through +the industry of investigators, the pathos and sublimity of these events +have been in part revealed. + +In 1887 a bronze statue of the young hero was unveiled in the State +House at Hartford. Mr. Charles Dudley Warner delivered a beautiful +address suitable to the occasion, and Governor Lounsberry worthily +accepted the statue on behalf of the State. It is greatly to be +regretted that our knowledge of this noble martyr is so slight; but we +know enough to be sure that he merits the veneration of his countrymen. + + + + +GENERAL WASHINGTON'S OTHER SPIES. + + +The reader would scarcely expect at this late day to get new light upon +the military character of General Washington. But, in truth, scarcely a +month passes in which some of our busy historical students do not add +to our knowledge of him. Recently Mr. H.P. Johnston published in the +_Magazine of American History_ some curious documents, hitherto unknown, +exhibiting Washington's methods of procuring intelligence of the +movements of the British army. + +Like a true general, he knew from the first all the importance of +correct and prompt information. How necessary this is, is known to +every one who remembers vividly the late war, particularly the first few +months of it, before there was any good system of employing spies. Some +terrible disasters could have been avoided if our generals had obtained +better information of the opposing army's position, temper, and +resources. + +An attentive study of the dispatches of Napoleon Bonaparte will show the +importance which he attached to intelligence of this kind. He kept near +him at headquarters an officer of rank who had nothing to do but to +procure, record, and arrange all the military news which could be +gleaned from newspapers, correspondents, and spies. The name of every +regiment, detachment, and corps in the enemy's service was written +upon a card. For the reception of these cards he had a case made with +compartments and pigeon-holes. Every time a movement was reported the +cards were shifted to correspond, so that he could know at a glance, +when the cards were spread out upon a table, just how the troops of the +enemy were distributed or massed. Every few days, the officer in charge +had to send the emperor a list of the changes which had taken place. +This important matter was intrusted to a person who knew the languages +of the different nations engaged in the war. + +It was Bonaparte's perfect organization of his spy system which enabled +him to carry out his plan of always having a superior force at the point +of attack. These two were the great secrets of his tactical system, +namely, to have the best information and the most men at the decisive +moment. + +Bonaparte was a trained soldier; but when Washington took command of the +army in July, 1775, he had had very little experience of actual warfare. +That little, however, was precisely of the kind to prove the value of +correct information. For the want of it, he had seen General Braddock +lead an army into the jaws of destruction, and he may have still +possessed in some closet of Mount Vernon the coat with four bullet-holes +in it which he had himself worn on that occasion. There are no warriors +so skillful either at getting or concealing information as Indians, +and all his experience hitherto had been in the Indian country and with +warlike methods of an Indian character. + +Hence it is not surprising to discover that the first important act +which he performed at Cambridge was to engage a person to go into the +city of Boston for the purpose of procuring "intelligence of the enemy's +movements and designs." An entry in his private note-book shows that he +paid this unknown individual $333.33 in advance. + +A person who serves as a spy takes his life in his hand. It is a curious +fact of human nature that nothing so surely reconciles a man to risking +his life as a handsome sum in cash. General Washington, being perfectly +aware of this fact, generally contrived to have a sum of what he called +"hard money" at headquarters all through the war. Spies do not readily +take to paper money. There are no Greenbackers among them. In the +letters of General Washington we find a great many requests to Congress +for a kind of money that would pass current anywhere, and suffer no +deterioration at the bottom of a river in a freshet. He preferred gold +as being the "most portable." He wrote in 1778 from White Plains: + +"I have always found a difficulty in procuring intelligence by the means +of paper money, and I perceive that it increases." + +It continued to increase, until, I suppose, an offer of a million +dollars in paper would not have induced a spy to enter the enemy's +lines. In fact, the general himself says as much. In acknowledging the +receipt of five hundred guineas for the secret service, he says that for +want of a little gold he had been obliged to dispense with the services +of some of his informers; and adds: + +"In some cases no consideration in paper money has been found sufficient +to effect even an engagement to procure intelligence; and where it has +been otherwise, the terms of service on account of the depreciation have +been high, if not exorbitant." + +The time was not distant when paper money ceased to have any value, +and Governor Jefferson of Virginia paid his whole salary for a year (a +thousand pounds) for a second-hand side-saddle. + +During the later years of the war, the city of New York was the chief +source of information concerning the designs and movements of the +enemy. General Washington, as early as 1778, had always two or three +correspondents there upon whose information he could rely if only they +could send it out to him. Sometimes, when his ordinary correspondents +failed him, he would send in a spy disguised as a farmer driving a small +load of provisions, and who would bring out some family supplies, as +tea, sugar, and calico, the better to conceal his real object. Often the +spy _was_ a farmer, and sometimes quite illiterate. As it was unsafe for +him to have any written paper upon his person, he was required to learn +by heart the precise message which he was to deliver in the city, as +also the information which he received from the resident correspondent. + +The messenger frequently entered the city in the disguise of a peddler, +a fact which suggested to Horace Greeley, when he was a printer's +apprentice in Vermont, the idea of a story which he called "The +Peddler-Spy of the Revolution." I once had in my hand a considerable +package of his manuscript of this tale; but even as a boy he wrote so +bad a hand that I could not read much of it. It is possible that this +manuscript still exists. + +These methods of procuring intelligence in New York were all abused by +real peddlers, who, when they were caught selling contraband goods to +the enemy, pretended to be spies, and so escaped the penalty. At length +the general chiefly depended upon two persons, one called "Culper +Senior," and the other "Culper Junior," who may have been father and +son, but whose real names and qualities have never been disclosed. +General Washington's secrecy was perfect. His most confidential +officers, except one or two who had to be in the secret, never knew +enough of these men to be able to designate them afterwards. When +Benedict Arnold fled to New York after his treason, the American spies +there were panic-stricken, as they very naturally concluded that Arnold +must have been acquainted with their names and residences. General +Washington was able to assure them that such was not the fact, and it +is even probable that only one individual besides himself knew who they +were. This was Major Benjamin Tallmadge, a native of Long Island, who +frequently received the dispatches from New York and forwarded them to +headquarters. The letters were commonly taken across the East River +to Brooklyn; thence to a point on the Sound about opposite to Rye or +Portchester; and were thence conveyed to camp. + +The dispatches from the Culpers were generally written in invisible ink, +which was made legible by wetting the paper with another liquid. It was +a matter of no small difficulty to keep the spies in New York supplied +with the two fluids, and also with the guineas which were requisite for +their maintenance. At first the spies wrote their letters on a blank +sheet of paper; but that would never do. General Washington wrote: + +"This circumstance alone is sufficient to raise suspicions. A much +better way is to write a letter in the Tory style, with some mixture of +family matters, and, between the lines and on the remaining part of +the sheet, communicate with the stain (the invisible ink) the intended +intelligence." + +The Culpers served faithfully to the end of the war, and finally had the +happiness of sending to the general the glorious news that the British +army, the fleet, and the Tories were all evidently preparing to depart +from the city, which they had held for seven years. Who were these +adroit and faithful Culpers? The secret seems to have died with +Washington and Tallmadge. + + + + +AN HISTORIC CHRISTMAS NIGHT + + +"Christmas Day, at night, one hour before day, is the time fixed upon +for our attempt upon Trenton." + +In this confused way, December 23, 1776, General Washington wrote +from his camp, near Trenton Falls, to Colonel Reed, who was posted at +Bristol, a few miles further down the Delaware, guarding an important +ford. + +Before crossing over to the safe side of this wide stream, about twelve +hundred feet wide at Trenton, he gave an order so important that, if he +had forgotten or omitted it, nothing could have saved Philadelphia from +being captured by the British. + +He directed that all the boats and barges of the whole region, for +seventy miles, everything that could float and carry a man, should +be taken over to the western bank of the river, and there carefully +concealed, or closely watched. + +All the boats and canoes in the creeks and tributaries were also +secured, and hidden where they could do an enemy no good. There were +many large barges then upon the Delaware, used for transporting hay and +other produce, some of which could have carried over half a regiment of +foot at every trip. + +All of these were hidden or guarded, and as soon as General Washington +had got his own little army over, he posted a guard at every ford, and +kept trustworthy men going up and down the river, to see that the boats +were safe. + +If any one desires to see General Washington when he displayed his +manhood and military genius at their best, let him study the records of +his life for the month of December, 1776. The soldier, the statesman, +the citizen, the brave, indomitable man, each in turn appears, and +shines in the trying hours of that month. + +Only the River Delaware separated the hostile armies, and the enemy +waited but for the ice to form, in order to add Philadelphia to the list +of his summer conquests. + +Congress had adjourned from Philadelphia to Baltimore. New Jersey was +ravaged by ruthless bands of soldiers. Disaffection was on every side. +The winter, prematurely cold, threatened to make an ice-bridge over the +stream in ten days, and within about the same time the terms of most of +General Washington's troops would expire, and he might be left without +even the semblance of an army. "Dire necessity," as he said, compelled a +movement of some kind. + +Christmas had come. It was a cold, freezing day. There was already a +large amount of ice floating by, and heaped up along the shore, in +many places rendering access to the water impossible, and in all places +difficult. + +About four o'clock in the afternoon, the troops were drawn up in parade +before their camp at Trenton Falls. They were about twenty-four hundred +in number. Every man carried three days' cooked rations, and an ample +supply of heavy ammunition. Few of the soldiers were adequately clothed, +and their shoes were in such bad condition that Major Wilkinson, who +rode behind them to the landing-place, reports that "the snow on the +ground was tinged here and there with blood." The cold was increasing. +The ice was forming rapidly. The wind was high, and there were signs of +a snow-storm. + +Boats were in readiness, and about sunset the troops began to cross. The +passage was attended with such difficulties as would have deterred men +less resolute. The current of the river was exceedingly swift, the +cold intense, and, although it was the night of a full moon, the thick +snow-clouds made the night dark. + +Colonel Knox, afterward General Knox of the Artillery and Secretary of +War, rendered efficient service on this occasion. Soldiers from Yankee +Marblehead manned many of the boats, and lent the aid of their practiced +skill and wiry muscle. Every man worked with a will, and yet it was +three o'clock in the morning before the troops were all over. + +It was four o'clock before they were formed in two bodies and began to +march, one division close along the river, and the other on a parallel +road, some little distance in the country. + +It had been snowing nearly all night, and about the time when the troops +were set in motion the storm increased, the wind rose, and hail was +mingled with the snow. The storm blew in the faces of the men and they +had nine miles to go before reaching Trenton, where fourteen hundred of +the Hessian troops were posted under Colonel Rahl. + +Soon after, it was whispered about among the men that the fuses of +the best muskets were wet and could not be discharged. Upon this being +reported to General Sullivan, he glanced around at Captain St. Clair and +asked: "What is to be done?" + +"You have nothing for it," replied St. Clair, "but to push on and +charge." + +The gallant Stark of Vermont was in command of the advance guard, and +perhaps near him marched the father of Daniel Webster. Colonel Stark +told his men to get their muskets in the best order they could as they +marched, and an officer was sent to inform General Washington of this +mishap. + +"Tell your General," said the Commander-in-chief, "to use the bayonet +and penetrate into the town; the town must be taken, and I am resolved +to take it." + +The soldiers overheard this reply, as it was given by the aide to +General Sullivan, and quietly fixed bayonets without waiting for an +order. + +About eight in the morning both parties arrived near the village of +Trenton. General Washington, who rode near the front of his column, +asked a man who was chopping wood by the roadside: + +"Which way is the Hessian Picket?" + +"I don't know," replied the Jerseyman, unwilling to commit himself. + +"You may speak," said one of the American officers, "for that is General +Washington." + +The man raised his hands to heaven and exclaimed: "God bless and prosper +you, sir! The picket is in that house, and the sentry stands near that +tree." + +General Washington instantly ordered an advance. As his men marched +rapidly toward the village with a cheer, Colonel Stark and his band +answered the shout and rushed upon the enemy. + +The Hessians made a brief attempt at resistance; first, by a wild and +useless fire from windows, and then by an attempt to form in the main +street of the village. This was at once frustrated by Captain T. Forest, +who commanded the battery of six guns which had caused much trouble and +delay in crossing the river. + +At the same time Captain William Washington and Lieutenant James Monroe, +afterward President, ran forward with a party to where the Hessians were +attempting to establish a battery, drove the artillerists from +their guns, and captured two of them, just as they were ready to be +discharged. + +Both these young officers were wounded. Colonel Stark during the brief +combat, as Wilkinson reports, "dealt death wherever he found resistance, +and broke down all opposition before him." + +Colonel Rahl, who commanded the post, was roused from a deep sleep by +the noise of Washington's fire. He did all that was possible to form +his panic-stricken and disordered troops, but soon fell from his horse +mortally wounded. From that moment, the day was lost to the Hessians. + +During the combat, General Washington remained near Captain Forest's +battery, directing the fire. He had just ordered the whole battery, +charged with canister, to be turned upon the retreating enemy, when +Captain Forest, pointing to the flagstaff near Rahl's headquarters, +cried, "Sir, they have struck!" + +"Struck!" exclaimed General Washington. + +"Yes," said Forest; "their colors are down." + +"So they are!" said the commander. + +General Washington galloped toward them, followed by all the +artillerymen, who wished to see the ceremony of surrender. He rode up to +where Colonel Rahl had fallen. The wounded man, assisted by soldiers +on each side of him, got upon his feet, and presented his sword to the +victor. + +At this moment Wilkinson, who had been sent away with orders, returned +to his general, and witnessed the surrender. Washington took him by the +hand, and said, his countenance beaming with joy: "Major Wilkinson, this +is a glorious day for our country!" + +In a moment, however, the unfortunate Rahl, who stood near, pale, +covered with blood, and still bleeding, appeared to be asking for the +assistance which his wounds required. + +He was at once conveyed to the house of a good Quaker family near by, +where he was visited by General Washington in the course of the day, who +did all in his power to soothe the feelings of the dying soldier. + +This action, reckoning from the first gun, lasted but thirty-five +minutes. On the American side two officers were wounded, two privates +were killed, four were wounded, and one was frozen to death. Four stands +of colors were captured, besides twelve drums, six brass field-pieces, +and twelve hundred muskets. The prisoners were nine hundred and +forty-six in number, of whom seventy-eight were wounded. Seventeen of +the Hessians were killed, of whom six were officers. + +We can scarcely imagine the joy which this victory gave to the people +everywhere, as the news slowly made its way. They were in the depths of +discouragement. There had been moments when Washington himself almost +gave up Philadelphia for lost, and it was from Philadelphia that he drew +his most essential supplies. + +The capture of the post at Trenton, a thing trifling in itself, changed +the mood and temper of both parties, and proved to be the turning-point +of the war. It saved Philadelphia for that season, freed New Jersey from +the ravages of an insolent and ruthless foe, checked disaffection in +minds base or timid, and gave Congress time to prepare for a renewal of +the strife as soon as the spring should open. + +It was a priceless Christmas present which the general and his steadfast +band of patriots gave their country in 1776, and it was followed, a +week later, by a New Year's gift of similar purport--the capture of the +British post at Princeton. + + + + +JOHN ADAMS AND THE QUESTION OF INDEPENDENCE. + + +It was an act of something more than courage to vote for Independence in +1776. It was an act of far-sighted wisdom as well, and it was done with +the utmost possible deliberation. + +The last great debate upon the subject took place on Monday, the first +of July, 1776. Fifty-one members were present that morning, a number +that must have pretty well filled the square, not very large, room +in Independence Hall, which many of our readers visited during the +Centennial year. + +No spectators were present beyond the officers of the House. John +Hancock was in the chairman's seat. In the room overhead the legislature +of Pennsylvania was in session. Out of doors, in the public squares and +grounds adjacent, troops were drilling, as they had been every day +for months past, and a great force of men was at work fortifying the +Delaware below the city. + +This day had been set apart for the final and decisive consideration of +Independence. The draft of the Declaration, as written by Mr. Jefferson, +had been handed in three days before, and lay upon the table--perhaps +visibly so, as well as in a parliamentary sense. + +The question had been discussed, and discussed again, and again +discussed, until it seemed to the more ardent minds a waste of breath +to argue it further; but it requires time, much time, as well as great +patience, to bring a representative body to the point of deciding +irrevocably a matter so momentous, involving their own and their +country's destiny. + +_Ought_ we to sever the tie which binds us to the mother country? That +was not so very difficult to answer; but there was another question: +_Can_ we? Britain is mighty, and what are we? Thirteen colonies of +farmers, with little money, no allies, no saltpetre even, and all the +Indians open to British gold and British rum. Then there was another +question: Will the people at home sustain us? + +At nine o'clock President Hancock rapped to order. The first business +was the reading of letters addressed to the Congress, which had arrived +since the adjournment on Saturday. One of these, from General Washington +in New York, contained news calculated to alarm all but the most +stalwart spirits: Canada quite lost to the cause; Arnold's army in full, +though orderly, retreat from that province; a powerful British fleet +just arriving in New York harbor, three or four ships drifting in daily, +and now forty-five sail all at once signalled from Sandy Hook. + +"Some say more," added General Washington, "and I suppose the whole +fleet will be in within a day or two." + +The whole fleet! As if these were not enough; and, in truth, the number +soon reached a hundred and twenty, with thousands of red-coats in them +abundantly supplied with every requisite. Washington's own army numbered +on that day seven thousand seven hundred and fifty-four men, of whom, as +he reported, eight hundred had no guns at all, fourteen hundred had bad +guns, and half the infantry no bayonets. Add to this fifty-three British +ships just arrived at Charleston, with General Clinton's expedition on +board. + +We must bear this news in mind in order to appreciate what followed in +Congress that day. When General Washington's letter had been read, the +House went into committee of the whole, "to take into consideration the +question of Independence." + +The boldest man upon that floor could not avoid feeling that the crisis +was serious and the issue doubtful. As if to deepen this impression, +there soon rose to address the House John Dickinson, of Pennsylvania, a +good man and a patriot, an able speaker and better writer, but rich, not +of robust health, and conservative almost to timidity. + +From the first, while opposing the arbitrary measures of the King, he +had been equally opposed to a Declaration of Independence; and to-day, +refreshed by the rest of Sunday, and feeling that it was now or never +with his party, he spoke with all the force and solemnity of which he +was capable. + +"I value," said he, "the love of my country as I ought, but I value +my country more, and I desire this illustrious assembly to witness the +integrity, if not the policy, of my conduct. The first campaign will be +decisive of the controversy. + +"The declaration will not strengthen us by one man, or by the least +supply, while it may expose our soldiers to additional cruelties and +outrages. Without some preliminary trials of our strength we ought +not to commit our country upon an alternative where to recede would be +infamy, and to persist might be destruction." + +In this strain he spoke long, urging all the reasons for delay which an +ingenious mind could devise, and clothing his argument with the charm of +a fine literary style. + +He ceased. There was a pause. No one seemed willing to break the +silence, until it began to be embarrassing, and then painful. + +Many eyes were turned toward John Adams, who for eighteen months had +been the chief spokesman of the party for independence. He had advocated +the measure before Thomas Paine had written "Common Sense," and when it +had not one influential friend in Philadelphia. Early in the previous +year, when it first became known by the accidental publicity of a +letter that he favored the Declaration of Independence, the solid men of +Philadelphia shunned him as if he had had the leprosy. + +"I walked the streets of Philadelphia," he once wrote, "in solitude, +borne down by the weight of care and unpopularity," and Dr. Rush +mentions that he saw him thus walking the streets alone, "an object of +nearly universal scorn and detestation." + +But he was on the gaining side. The cruel burning of Falmouth on the +coast of Maine weaned New England from the mother country, and the +burning of Norfolk completed the same office for Virginia. + +To-day he stood with a majority of the people behind him. To-day he +spoke the sentiments of his country. To-day he uttered the words which +every man on the floor but John Dickinson wished to hear uttered. + +Yet he did not immediately rise; for he wished some one else, some one +less committed to Independence than he was, to take the lead in that +day's debate. At length, however, since every one else hung back, he got +upon his feet to answer Mr. Dickinson. + +The speech which he delivered on this occasion was deemed by those who +heard it the most powerful effort of his life, though he had made no +special preparation for it beforehand. He had thought of the subject +from his college days, and had never ceased to regard the Independence +of his country as only a question of time. During his professional life, +it had been the frequent theme of his reflections, and he was perfectly +familiar with every phase of it. + +"This is the first time in my life," said he, "that I have ever wished +for the talents and eloquence of the ancient orators of Greece and Rome, +for I am very sure that none of them ever had before him a question of +more importance to his country and to the world. They would, probably, +upon less occasions than this, have begun by solemn invocations to their +divinities for assistance. + +"But the question before me appears so simple that I have confidence +enough in the plain understanding and common-sense that have been given +me to believe that I can answer, to the satisfaction of the House, all +the arguments which have been produced, notwithstanding the abilities +which have been displayed and the eloquence with which they have been +enforced." + +Proceeding then to the discussion of the question, he dwelt strongly +upon the point that, as the colonies had gone too far to recede, as +they had already been put outside of British law, the Declaration of +Independence could not possibly make their condition worse, but would +give them some obvious and solid advantages. + +Now, they were rebels against their king, and could not negotiate +on equal terms with a sovereign power. The moment they declared +Independence, they would be themselves a sovereignty. The measure, he +contended, would be as prudent as it was just. It would help them in +many ways and hinder them in no way. + +We have no report of this celebrated oration, and can only gather its +purport from allusions scattered here and there in the letters of those +who heard it. We know, however, that Mr. Adams dwelt forcibly upon this +one position, that the king himself having absolved them from their +allegiance, and having made unprovoked war upon them, the proposed +Declaration would be simply a proclamation to the world of a state of +things already existing. + +Many members followed. When the debate had proceeded for a long time, +three new members from New Jersey came in: Richard Stockton, Dr. +Witherspoon and Francis Hopkinson. These gentlemen, on learning +the business before the House, expressed a strong desire to hear a +recapitulation of the arguments which had been brought forward. + +Again there was an awkward silence. Again all eyes were turned upon John +Adams. Again he shrank from taking the floor. Mr. Edward Rutledge of +South Carolina came to him and said: + +"Nobody will speak but you upon this subject. You have all the topics so +ready that you must satisfy the gentlemen from New Jersey." + +Mr. Adams replied that he was ashamed to repeat what he had said +twenty times before. As the new members still insisted on hearing a +recapitulation, he at length rose once more, and gave a concise summary +of the whole debate. The New Jersey gentlemen said they were fully +satisfied and were ready for the question. It was now six o'clock in the +evening. The debate had continued all day, nine hours, without the least +interval for rest or refreshment, and during that long period, as Mr. +Jefferson wrote at a later day, "all the powers of the soul had been +distended with the magnitude of the object." + +Mr. Edward Rutledge, of South Carolina, then rose, and asked as a +favor that the voting be deferred until the next morning, as he and his +fellow-members wished still further to deliberate. + +The request was granted; the House adjourned; the hungry and exhausted +members went to their homes. + +The next morning members met in a cheerful mood, for it was well +ascertained that every colony was prepared to vote for Independence. +When Mr. Adams reached the State House door, he had the pleasure of +meeting Caesar Rodney, still in his riding-boots, for he had ridden all +night from Delaware to vote on the momentous question. Mr. Adams, it is +said, had sent an express at his own expense eighty miles to summon him, +and there he was to greet him at the State House door. + +The great question was speedily put, when every State but New York voted +for declaring independence, and that State's adherence was delayed a few +days only by a series of accidents. + +What a happy man was John Adams, and what a triumphant letter was that +which he wrote to his noble wife on the 3d of July, telling her the +great news that Congress had passed a resolution, without one dissenting +colony, "that these united colonies are, and of right ought to be, +free and independent States." Then he continued in the passage so often +quoted: + +"The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the +history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by +succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be +commemorated as the day of deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God +Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, +games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations from one end of +this continent to the other, from this time forward forevermore." + +But, no; not on July second. The transaction was not yet complete. As +soon as the vote was recorded, Mr. Jefferson's draft of the Declaration +was taken from the table, and discussed paragraph by paragraph. Many +alterations were made, thirty-four in all, most of them for the better. +This discussion lasted the rest of that day, all the next, and most +of the next, which was the fourth. Late in that afternoon the members +present signed the document, and so the day we celebrate is the FOURTH +OF JULY. + + + + +ANECDOTES OF JOHN ADAMS. + + +The first office ever held by President John Adams was that of +Roadmaster to his native town. The young barrister, as he himself +confesses, was very indignant at being elected to a post, with the +duties of which he was unacquainted, and which he considered beneath +his pretensions. His friend, Dr. Savil, explained to him that he had +nominated him to the office to prevent his being elected constable. + +"They make it a rule," said the Doctor, "to compel every man to serve +either as constable or surveyor of the highways, or to pay a fine." + +"They might as well," said Mr. Adams, "have chosen any boy in school, +for I know nothing of the business; but since they have chosen me at a +venture, I will accept it in the same manner, and find out my duty as I +can." + +Accordingly he went to plowing, ditching, and blowing rocks and built a +new stone bridge over a stream. He took infinite pains with his bridge, +and employed the best workmen; "but," says he, "the next spring brought +down a flood that threw my bridge all into ruins." The blame, however, +fell upon the workmen, and all the town, he tells us, agreed that he had +executed his office with "impartiality, diligence, and spirit." + +Mr. Adams was an extremely passionate man. One evening, just before the +breaking out of the Revolution, while spending an evening in company +with an English gentleman, the conversation turned upon the aggressions +of the mother country. He became furious with anger. He said there was +no justice left in Britain; that he wished for war, and that the whole +Bourbon family was upon the back of Great Britain. He wished that +anything might happen to them, and, as the clergy prayed for enemies in +time of war, that "they might be brought to reason or to ruin." When he +went home he was exceedingly repentant for having lost his temper, and +wrote in his diary the following remarks: + +"I cannot but reflect upon myself with severity for these rash, +inexperienced, boyish, wrong, and awkward expressions. A man who has no +better government of his tongue, no more command of his temper, is unfit +for anything but children's play, and the company of boys. A character +can never be supported, if it can be raised, without a good, a great +share of self-government. Such flights of passion, such starts +of imagination, though they may strike a few of the fiery and +inconsiderate, yet they sink a man with the wise. They expose him to +danger, as well as familiarity, contempt, and ridicule." + +One of the most interesting events in the life of John Adams was his +nomination of George Washington to the command of the Revolutionary +armies. One day, in 1775, when Congress was full of anxiety concerning +the army near Boston, and yet hesitated to adopt it as their own, +fearing to take so decisive a step, John and Samuel Adams were walking +up and down the State House yard in Philadelphia before the opening of +the session, and were conversing upon the situation. + +"What shall we do?" asked Samuel Adams, at length. + +His kinsman said: "You know I have taken great pains to get our +colleagues to agree upon _some_ plan that we might be unanimous upon; +but you know they will pledge themselves to nothing; but I am determined +to take a step which shall compel them, and all the other members +of Congress, to declare themselves for or against _something_. I am +determined this morning to make a direct motion that Congress shall +adopt the army before Boston, and appoint Colonel Washington commander +of it." + +Samuel Adams looked grave at this proposition, but said nothing. +When Congress had assembled, John Adams rose, and, in a short speech, +represented the state of the colonies, the uncertainty in the minds of +the people, the distresses of the army, the danger of its disbanding, +the difficulty of collecting another if it should disband, and the +probability that the British army would take advantage of our delays, +march out of Boston, and spread desolation as far as they could go. +He concluded by moving that Congress adopt the army at Cambridge and +appoint a general. + +"Although," he continued, "this is not the proper time to nominate a +general, yet, as I have reason to believe that this is a point of the +greatest difficulty, I have no hesitation to declare that I have but one +gentleman in my mind for that important command, and that is a gentleman +from Virginia, who is among us, and is very well known to all of us; a +gentleman whose skill and experience as an officer, whose independent +fortune, great talents, and excellent universal character will command +the approbation of all America, and unite the cordial exertions of all +the colonies better than any other person in the Union." + +When Mr. Adams began this speech, Colonel Washington was present; but +as soon as the orator pronounced the words "Gentleman from Virginia," +he darted through the nearest door into the library. Mr. Samuel Adams +seconded the motion which, as we all know, was, on a future day, +unanimously carried. Mr. Adams relates that no one was so displeased +with this appointment as John Hancock, the President of Congress. + +"While I was speaking," says John Adams, "on the state of the colonies, +he heard me with visible pleasure; but when I came to describe +Washington for the commander, I never remarked a more sudden and +striking change of countenance. Mortification and resentment were +expressed as forcibly as his face could exhibit them." + +Hancock, in fact, who was somewhat noted as a militia officer in +Massachusetts, was vain enough to aspire to the command of the colonial +forces. + +They had a fashion, during the Revolutionary war, John Adams tells +us, of turning pictures of George III. upside down in the houses of +patriots. Adams copied into his diary some lines which were written +"under one of these topsey-turvey kings": + + Behold the man who had it in his power + To make a kingdom tremble and adore. + Intoxicate with folly, see his head + Placed where the meanest of his subjects tread. + Like Lucifer the giddy tyrant fell, + He lifts his heel to Heaven, but points his head to Hell. + +It is evident, from more than one passage in the diary of John Adams, +that he, too, in his heart, turned against Gen. Washington during the +gloomy hours of the Revolution. At least he thought him unfit for the +command. Just before the surrender of Burgoyne, Adams wrote in his diary +the following passage: + +"Gates seems to be acting the same timorous, defensive part which has +involved us in so many disasters. Oh, Heaven grant us one great soul! +One leading mind would extricate the best cause from that ruin which +seems to await it for the want of it. We have as good a cause as ever +was fought for: we have great resources; the people are well tempered; +one active, masterly capacity would bring order out of this confusion, +and save this country." + +Thus it is always in war-time. When the prospect is gloomy, and when +disasters threaten to succeed disasters, there is a general distrust of +the general in command, though at that very time he may be exhibiting +greater qualities and greater talents than ever before. + +John Adams tells us the reason why Thomas Jefferson, out of a committee +of five, was chosen to write the Declaration of Independence. + +"Writings of his," says Mr. Adams, "were handed about, remarkable for +the peculiar felicity of expression. Though a silent member in +Congress, he was so frank, explicit and decisive upon committees and +in conversation (not even Samuel Adams was more so) that he soon seized +upon my heart; and upon this occasion I gave him my vote, and did all +in my power to procure the votes of others. I think he had one more vote +than any other, and that placed him at the head of the committee. I had +the next highest number, and that placed me the second. The committee +met, discussed the subject, and then appointed Mr. Jefferson and me to +make the draft, because we were the two first upon the list." + +When this sub-committee of two had their first meeting, Jefferson +urged Mr. Adams to make the draft; whereupon the following conversation +occurred between them: + +"I will not," said Mr. Adams. + +"You should do it," said Jefferson. + +"Oh no," repeated Adams. + +"Why will you not?" asked Jefferson. "You ought to do it." + +"I will not," rejoined Adams. + +"Why?" again asked Jefferson. + +"Reasons enough," said Adams. + +"What can be your reasons?" inquired Jefferson. + +"Reason first--you are a Virginian, and a Virginian ought to appear at +the head of this business. Reason second--I am obnoxious, suspected, and +unpopular. You are very much otherwise. Reason third--you can write ten +times better than I can." + +"Well," said Jefferson, "if you are decided, I will do as well as I +can." + +"Very well," said Mr. Adams; "when you have drawn it up, we will have a +meeting." + +Thus it was that Thomas Jefferson became the author of this celebrated +document. Mr. Adams informs us that the original draft contained "a +vehement philippic against negro slavery," which Congress ordered to be +stricken out. + +Mr. Adams relates an amusing story of his sleeping one night with +Doctor Franklin, when they were on their way to hold their celebrated +conference with Lord Howe on Staten Island. It was at Brunswick, in New +Jersey, where the tavern was so crowded that two of the commissioners +were put into one room, which was little larger than the bed, and which +had no chimney and but one small window. The window was open when the +two members went up to bed, which Mr. Adams seeing, and being afraid of +the night air, shut it close. + +"Oh," said Doctor Franklin, "don't shut the window, we shall be +suffocated." + +Mr. Adams answered that he was afraid of the evening air; to which +Doctor Franklin replied: + +"The air within this chamber will soon be, and indeed is now, worse than +that without doors. Come, open the window and come to bed, and I will +convince you. I believe you are not acquainted with my theory of colds." + +Mr. Adams complied with both these requests. He tells us that when +he was in bed, the Doctor began to harangue upon air, and cold, and +respiration, and perspiration, with which he was so much amused that he +soon fell asleep. It does not appear that any ill consequences followed +from their breathing during the night the pure air of heaven. + + + + +THE WRITING AND SIGNING OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. + + +We happen to know what kind of weather it was in Philadelphia on +Thursday, the Fourth of July, 1776. Mr. Jefferson was in the habit, +all his life, of recording the temperature three times a day, and not +unfrequently four times. He made four entries in his weather record on +this birthday of the nation, as if anticipating that posterity would be +curious to learn every particular of an occasion so interesting. At +six that morning the mercury marked sixty-eight degrees. At nine, just +before going round to the State House to attend the session of Congress, +he recorded seventy-two and a half degrees. At one, while he was at home +during the recess for dinner, he found the mercury at seventy-six. At +nine in the evening, when the great deed had been done, the instrument +indicated seventy-three and a half degrees. + +From another entry of Mr. Jefferson's we learn that he paid for a new +thermometer on that day. The following are the three entries in his +expense-book for July fourth, 1776: + + "Paid Sparhawk for a thermometer...................L3 15s. + Pd. for 7 pr. women's gloves....................... 27s. + Gave in charity.................................... 1s. 6d." + +The price that he paid for his thermometer was equivalent to about +twenty dollars in gold; and as Mr. Jefferson was not likely to spend +his money for an elaborately decorated thermometer, we may infer that +instruments of that nature were at least ten times as costly then as +they are now. An excellent standard thermometer at the present time can +be bought for five dollars, and the sum which Mr. Jefferson paid in 1776 +was fully equal, in purchasing power, to fifty dollars in our present +currency. + +Mr. Jefferson lived then on the south side of Market street, not far +from the corner of Seventh, in Philadelphia. As it was the only house +then standing in that part of the street, he was unable in after years +to designate the exact spot, though he was always under the impression +that it was a corner house, either on the corner of Seventh street or +very near it. The owner of the house, named Graaf, was a young man, +the son of a German, and then newly married. Soon after coming to +Philadelphia, Mr. Jefferson hired the whole of the second floor, ready +furnished; and as the floor consisted of but two rooms--a parlor and a +bed-room--we may conjecture that the house was of no great size. It was +in that parlor that he wrote the Declaration of Independence. + +The writing-desk upon which he wrote it exists in Boston, and is still +possessed by the venerable friend and connection of Mr. Jefferson to +whom he gave it. The note which the author of the Declaration wrote when +he sent this writing-desk to the husband of one of his grand-daughters, +has a particular interest for us at this present time. It was written in +1825, nearly fifty years after the Declaration was signed, about midway +between that glorious period and the Centennial. It is as follows: + +"Thomas Jefferson gives this writing-desk to Joseph Coolidge, Jr., as +a memorial of affection. It was made from a drawing of his own by Benj. +Randolph, cabinet-maker, at Philadelphia, with whom he first lodged +on his arrival in that city, in May, 1776, and is the identical one +on which he wrote the Declaration of Independence. Politics as well as +religion has its superstitions. These, gaining strength with time, may +one day give imaginary value to this relic for its associations with the +birth of the Great charter of our Independence." + +The note given above, although penned when Mr. Jefferson was eighty-two +years of age, is written in a small, firm hand, and is quite as legible +as the type which the reader is now perusing. There is no indication +of old age in the writing; but I observe that he has spelt the most +important word of the note French fashion, thus: "_Independance_." +It certainly is remarkable that the author of the Declaration of +Independence should have made a mistake in spelling the word. Nor can +it be said that the erroneous letter was a slip of the pen, because the +word occurs twice in the note, and both times the last syllable is spelt +with an _a_. Mr. Jefferson was a very exact man, and yet, like most +men of that day, he used capitals and omitted them with an apparent +carelessness. In the above note, for example, the following words occur, +"Great charter." Here he furnishes the adjective with a capital, and +reduces his noun to the insignificance of a small letter. + +The Declaration was written, I suppose, about the middle of June; +and, while he was writing it, Philadelphia was all astir with warlike +preparation. Seldom has a peaceful city, a city of Quakers and brotherly +love, undergone such a transformation as Philadelphia did in a +few months. As Mr. Jefferson sat at his little desk composing the +Declaration, with the windows open at that warm season, he must have +heard the troops drilling in Independence Square. Twice a day they were +out drilling, to the number of two thousand men, and more. Perhaps he +was looking out of the window on the eleventh of June, the very day +after the appointment of the committee to draw up the Declaration, +when the question of independence was voted upon by the whole body of +Philadelphia volunteers, and they all voted for independence except +twenty-nine men, four officers and twenty-five privates. One of these +objectors made a scene upon the parade. He was so much opposed to the +proceeding that he would not put the question to his company. This +refusal, said the newspaper of that week, "Gave great umbrage to the +men, one of whom replied to him in a genteel and spirited manner." + +Besides this morning and afternoon drill in the public squares of the +town, preparations were going forward to close the river against the +ascent of a hostile fleet. Dr. Franklin, as I have related, had +twenty or thirty row galleys in readiness, which were out on the river +practising every day, watched by approving groups on the shore. Men +were at work on the forts five miles below the city, where, also, +Dr. Franklin was arranging his three rows of iron-barbed beams in the +channel, which were called _chevaux de frise_. In a letter of that day, +written to Captain Richard Varick, of New York, I find these French +words spelt thus: "Shiver de freeses." Committees were going about +Philadelphia during this spring buying lead from house to house at +sixpence a pound, taking even the lead clock-weights and giving iron +ones in exchange. So destitute was the army of powder and ball that +Dr. Franklin seriously proposed arming some regiments with javelins and +crossbows. + +Mr. Jefferson was ready with his draft in time to present it to Congress +on the first of July; but it was on the second, as I conjecture, that +the great debate occurred upon it, when the timid men again put forward +the argument that the country was not yet ripe for so decisive a +measure. Mr. Dickinson, of Pennsylvania, a true patriot, but a most +timorous and conservative gentleman, who had opposed Independence from +the beginning, delivered a long and eloquent speech against the measure. + +The author of the Declaration used to relate after dinner to his guests +at Monticello, that the conclusion of the business was hastened by a +ridiculous cause. Near the hall was a livery stable, from which swarms +of flies came in at the open windows, and attacked the trouserless legs +of members, who wore the silk stockings of the period. Lashing the flies +with their handkerchiefs, they became at length unable to bear a longer +delay, and the decisive vote was taken. On the Monday following, in the +presence of a great crowd of people assembled in Independence Square, it +was read by Captain Ezekiel Hopkins, the first commodore of the American +Navy, then just home from a cruise, during which he had captured eighty +cannon, a large quantity of ammunition, and stores, and two British +vessels. He was selected to read the Declaration from the remarkable +power of his voice. Seven weeks later, the Declaration was engrossed +upon parchment, which was signed by the members, and which now hangs in +the Patent Office at Washington. + + + + +ROBERT MORRIS, + +THE FINANCIER OF THE REVOLUTION. + + +Robert Morris, who had charge of the financial affairs of the thirteen +States during the Revolutionary War, and afterwards extended his +business beyond that of any other person in the country, became bankrupt +at last, spent four years of his old age in a debtor's prison, and owed +his subsistance, during his last illness, to a small annuity rescued by +his wife from the wreck of their fortunes. + +Morris was English by birth, a native of Lancashire, where he lived +until he was thirteen years of age. Emigrating to Philadelphia in 1747, +he was placed in the counting-house of one of the leading merchants, +with whose son he entered into partnership before he had completed his +twenty-first year. This young firm, Willing, Morris & Co., embarked +boldly and ably in commerce, until at the beginning of the Revolution it +was the wealthiest commercial firm in the Colonies south of New England, +and only surpassed in New England by two. When the contention arose +between the Mother country and the colonies, his interest was to take +the side of the Mother country. But he sided with the Colonies--to the +great detriment of his private business. He served in Congress during +nearly the whole of the War, and was almost constantly employed in a +struggle with the financial difficulties of the situation. + +I do not see how the revolution could have been maintained unless some +such person could have been found to undertake the finances. When +all other resources gave out he never refused to employ his private +resources, as well as the immense, unquestioned credit of his firm, in +aid of the cause. On several occasions he borrowed money for the use +of the government, pledging all his estate for the repayment. In 1780, +aided by the powerful pen of Thomas Paine, he established a bank through +which three million rations were provided for the army. Fortunately, he +was reputed to be much richer than he was, and thus he was several times +enabled to furnish an amount of assistance far beyond the resources of +any private individual then living in America. + +His greatest achievement was in assisting General Washington in 1781 +to transport his army to Virginia, and to maintain it there during +the operations against Lord Cornwallis. In the spring of that year the +revolution appeared to be all but exhausted. The treasury was not merely +empty, but there was a floating debt upon it of two millions and a half, +and the soldiers were clamorous for their pay. The Superintendent of +Finance rose to the occasion. He issued his own notes to the amount of +fourteen hundred thousand dollars by which the army was supplied with +provisions and the campaign carried on to the middle of August. + +Then General Washington, in confidence, revealed to Robert Morris his +intention to transport his army to Virginia. To effect this operation +the general required all the light vessels of the Delaware and +Chesapeake, six hundred barrels of provisions for the march, a vast +supply in Virginia, five hundred guineas in gold for secret service, and +a month's pay in silver for the army. When this information reached the +superintendent he was already at his wits' end, and really supposed that +he had exhausted every resource. + +"I am sorry to inform you," he wrote to the general, "that I find money +matters in as bad a situation as possible." + +And he mentions in his diary of the same date that, during a recent +visit to camp, he had had with him one hundred and fifty guineas; but +so many officers came to him with claims upon the government, that he +thought it best to satisfy none, and brought the money home again. +After unheard-of exertions, he contrived to get together provisions and +vessels for the transportation. But to raise the hard money to comply +with General Washington's urgent request for a month's pay for the +troops, was beyond his power. At the last moment he laid the case before +the French admiral, and borrowed for a few weeks from the fleet treasury +twenty thousand silver dollars. Just in the nick of time, Colonel +Laurens arrived from France with five hundred thousand dollars in cash, +which enabled Morris to pay this debt, and to give General Washington +far more efficient support than he had hoped. + +To Robert Morris we owe one of the most pleasing accounts of the manner +in which the surrender of Cornwallis was celebrated at Philadelphia. He +records that on the third of November, 1781, on the invitation of the +French Minister, he attended the Catholic Church, where _Te Deum_ +was sung in acknowledgment of the victory. Soon after, all the flags +captured from the enemy were brought to Philadelphia by two of General +Washington's aids, the city troop of Light Horse going out to meet them +several miles. The flags were twenty-four in number, and each of them +was carried into the city by one of the light horsemen. Morris concludes +his account of this great day with affecting simplicity: + +"The American and French flags preceded the captured trophies, which +were conducted to the State House, where they were presented to +Congress, who were sitting; and many of the members tell me, that +instead of viewing the transaction as a mere matter of joyful ceremony, +which they expected to do, they instantly felt themselves impressed +with ideas of the most solemn nature. It brought to their minds the +distresses our country has been exposed to, the calamities we have +repeatedly suffered, the perilous situations which our affairs have +almost always been in; and they could not but recollect the threats +of Lord North that he would bring America to his feet on unconditional +terms of submission." + +When the war was over, the finances of the country did not improve. In +conjunction with General Washington and Robert R. Livingston, Secretary +of Foreign Affairs, he hit upon a plan to recall the State legislatures +to a sense of their duty. He engaged Thomas Paine, at a salary of eight +hundred dollars a year, to employ his pen in reconciling the people to +the necessity of supporting the burden of taxation, in setting forth, in +his eloquent manner, the bravery and good conduct of the soldiers whose +pay was so terribly in arrears, and in convincing the people of the need +of a stronger confederated government. + +"It was also agreed," says Morris in his private diary, "that this +allowance should not be known to any other persons except General +Washington, Mr. Livingston, Gouverneur Morris, and myself, lest the +publications might lose their force if it were known that the author is +paid for them by government." + +The expedient did not suffice. The States were backward in voting +contributions, and, in 1784, Robert Morris resigned his office after +discharging all his personal obligations incurred on account of the +Government. He then resumed his private business. He was the first +American citizen who ever sent to Canton an American vessel. This was in +1784, and he continued for many years to carry on an extensive commerce +with India and China. + +Unhappily, in his old age, for some cause or causes that have never been +recorded, he lost his judgment as a business man. About 1791, he formed +a land company, which bought from the Six Nations in the State of +New York a tract of land equal in extent to several of the German +Principalities of that time, and they owned some millions of acres in +five other States. These lands, bought for a trifling sum, would have +enriched every member of the company if they had not omitted from their +calculations the important element of _time_. But a gentleman sixty +years of age cannot wait twenty years for the development of a +speculation. Confident in the soundness of his calculations and +expecting to be speedily rich beyond the dreams of avarice, he erected +in Philadelphia a palace for his own abode, of the most preposterous +magnificence. The architect assured him that the building would cost +sixty thousand dollars, but the mere cellars exhausted that sum. He +imported from Europe the most costly furniture and fine statuary for +this house. + +But ardent speculators do not take into consideration the obvious and +certain truth that no country enjoys a long period of buoyancy in money +affairs. Hamilton's financial schemes led to such a sudden increase of +values as to bring on a period of the wildest speculation; which was +followed, as it always is, by reaction and collapse. Then came the +threatened renewal of the war with Great Britain, followed by the long +imbroglio with France, which put a stop to emigration for years. The +Western lands did not sell. The bubble burst. Robert Morris was ruined. +He was arrested in 1797 upon the suit of one Blair McClenachan, to whom +he owed sixteen thousand dollars, and he was confined in the debtors' +prison in Philadelphia, as before mentioned, for four years. Nor would +he have ever been released but for the operation of a new bankrupt law. +A paragraph from one of his letters, written when he had been in prison +two weeks, few people can read without emotion. These are the words of a +man who had been a capitalist and lived in luxury more than forty years: + +"I have tried in vain," he wrote, "to get a room exclusively to myself, +and hope to be able to do so in a few days, but at a high rent which I +am unable to bear. Then I may set up a bed in it, and have a chair +or two and a table, and so be made comfortable. Now I am very +uncomfortable, for I have no particular place allotted me. I feel like +an intruder everywhere; sleeping in other people's beds, and sitting in +other people's rooms. I am writing on other people's paper with other +people's ink. The pen is my own. That and the clothes I wear are all +that I can claim as mine here." + +Released in 1802, he lived with his wife in a small house on the +outskirts of the city, where he died in 1806 aged seventy-two. + +It was often proposed in Congress to appropriate some of the money +belonging to the industrious and frugal people of the United States +to pay the debts of this rash speculator; and many writers since have +censured the government for not doing something for his relief. The +simple and sufficient answer is, that Congress has no constitutional +power to apply the people's money to any such purpose. The government +holds the public treasure _in trust_. It is a trustee, not a proprietor. +It can spend public money only for purposes which the constitution +specifies; and, among these specified purposes, we do _not_ find the +relief of land speculators who build gorgeous palaces on credit. + + + + +JOHN JAY, + +THE FIRST CHIEF-JUSTICE. + + +It was the tyranny of Louis XIV., King of France, that drove the +ancestor of John Jay to America. Pierre Jay, two hundred years ago, was +a rich merchant in the French city of Rochelle. He was a Protestant--one +of those worthy Frenchmen whom the revocation of the Edict of Nantes +expelled from the country of which they were the most valuable +inhabitants. In 1685, the Protestant Church which he attended at +Rochelle was demolished, and dragoons were quartered in the houses of +its members. Secretly getting his family and a portion of his property +on board of a ship, he sent them to England, and contrived soon after in +a ship of his own, laden with a valuable cargo, to escape himself. + +It was not, however, from Pierre Jay that our American Jays were +immediately descended, but from Augustus, one of his sons. It so +happened that Augustus Jay, at the time of his father's flight, was +absent from France on a mercantile mission to Africa, and he was +astonished on returning to Rochelle to find himself without home or +family. Nor was he free from the danger of arrest unless he changed his +religion. Assisted by some friends, he took passage in a ship bound to +Charleston in South Carolina which he reached in safety about the year +1686. Finding the climate of South Carolina injurious to his health, he +removed to New York, near which there was a whole village of refugees +from his native city, which they had named New Rochelle, a village which +has since grown to a considerable town, with which all New Yorkers are +acquainted. His first employment here was that of supercargo, which +he continued to exercise for several years, and in which he attained a +moderate prosperity. + +In 1697 Augustus Jay married Ann Maria Bayard, the daughter of a +distinguished Dutch family, who assisted him into business, and greatly +promoted his fortunes. The only son of this marriage was Peter Jay, who, +in his turn, married Mary Van Cortlandt, the child of another of the +leading Dutch families of the city. This Peter Jay had ten children of +whom John, the subject of this article, was the eighth, born in New York +in 1745. In him were therefore united the vivacious blood of France +with the solid qualities of the Dutch; and, accordingly, we find in him +something of the liveliness of the French along with a great deal of +Dutch prudence and caution. + +After graduating from King's College, [Footnote: Now Columbia] John Jay +became a law student in the city of New York, in the office of Benjamin +Kissam--still a well-known New York name. An anecdote related of this +period reveals the French side of his character. He asked his father to +allow him to keep a saddle horse in the city, a request with which the +prudent father hesitated to comply. + +"Horses," said he, "are not very good companions for a young man; and +John, why do you want a horse?" + +"That I may have the means, sir," adroitly replied the son, "of visiting +you frequently." + +The father was vanquished, gave him a horse, and was rewarded by +receiving a visit from his son at his country house in Rye, twenty-five +miles from the city, every other week. + +Another anecdote betrays the Frenchman. Soon after his admission to the +bar, being opposed in a suit to Mr. Kissam, his preceptor, he somewhat +puzzled and embarrassed that gentleman in the course of his argument. +Alluding to this, Mr. Kissam pleasantly said: + +"I see, your honor, that I have brought up a bird to pick out my own +eyes." + +"Oh, no," instantly replied Mr. Jay; "not to pick out, but to open your +eyes." + +Inheriting a large estate, and being allied either by marriage or by +blood with most of the powerful families of the province, and being +himself a man of good talents and most respectable character, he made +rapid advance in his profession, and gained a high place in the esteem +and confidence of his fellow-citizens; so that when the first Congress +met at Philadelphia, in 1774, John Jay was one of those who represented +in it the colony of New York. He was then twenty-nine years of age, and +was, perhaps, the youngest member of the body, every individual of which +he outlived. + +Some of the best written papers of that session were of his composition. +It was he who wrote that memorable address to the people of Great +Britain, in which the wrongs of the colonists were expressed with +so much eloquence, conciseness, and power. He left his lodgings in +Philadelphia, it is said, and shut himself up in a room in a tavern to +secure himself from interruption, and there penned the address which was +the foundation of his political fortunes. + +At an early period of the Revolution he was appointed Minister to Spain, +where he struggled with more persistance than success to induce a timid +and dilatory government to render some substantial aid to his country. +He was afterwards one of the commissioners who negotiated the treaty +with Great Britain, in which the independence of the United States was +acknowledged, and its boundaries settled. Soon after his return home +Congress appointed him Secretary for Foreign Affairs, which was the most +important office in their gift, and in which he displayed great ability +in the dispatch of business. + +Like all the great men of that day--like Washington, Jefferson, +Franklin, Hamilton, Patrick Henry, John Randolph, and all others of +similar grade--John Jay was an ardent abolitionist. He brought home with +him from abroad one negro slave, to whom he gave his freedom when he had +served long enough to repay him the expense incurred in bringing him to +America. + +Mr. Jay, upon the division of the country into Republicans and +Federalists, became a decided Federalist, and took a leading part in +the direction of that great party. President Washington appointed him +Chief-Justice of the Supreme Court, an office which he soon resigned. +The most noted of all his public services was the negotiation of +a treaty with Great Britain in 1794. The terms of this treaty were +revolting in the extreme, both to the pride of Americans and to their +sense of justice; and Mr. Jay was overwhelmed with the bitterest +reproaches from the party opposed to his own. No man, however, has ever +been able to show that better terms were attainable; nor can any candid +person now hold the opinion that the United States should have preferred +war to the acceptance of those terms. If a very skillful negotiator +could have done somewhat better for his country, Mr. Jay did the best he +could, and, probably, as well as any man could have done. + +Never was a public man more outrageously abused. On one occasion, a +mob paraded the streets of Philadelphia, carrying an image of Mr. Jay +holding a pair of scales. One of the scales was labeled, "American +Liberty and Independence," and the other, "British Gold," the latter +weighing down the former as low as it could go, while from the mouth of +the effigy issued the words: + +"Come up to my price and I will sell you my country." + +The effigy was finally burnt in one of the public squares. + +Notwithstanding this storm of abuse, Mr. Jay was elected Governor of +New York, from which office he retired to his pleasant seat at Bedford, +where he spent the remainder of his life. He lived to the year 1829, +when he died, aged eighty-four years, leaving children and grandchildren +who have sustained his high character, illustrated his memory, and +continued his work. + + + + +FISHER AMES, + +THE ORATOR OF THE FOURTH CONGRESS. + + +And who was Fisher Ames, that his "Speeches" should be gathered and +re-published sixty-three years after his death? He was a personage in +his time. Let us look upon him in the day of his greatest glory. + +It was April 28, 1796, at Philadelphia, in the Hall of the House of +Representatives, of which Fisher Ames was a member. The House and +country were highly excited respecting the terms of the treaty which +John Jay had negotiated with the British government. To a large number +of the people this treaty was inexpressibly odious; as, indeed, _any_ +treaty would have been with a power so abhorred by them as England then +was. Some of the conditions of the treaty, we cannot deny, were hard, +unwise, unjust; but, in all probability, it was the best that could then +have been obtained, and Mr. Jay had only the alternative of accepting +the conditions, or plunging his country into war. One great point, at +least, the British government had yielded. After the Revolutionary war, +the English had retained several western posts, to the great annoyance +of settlers, and the indignation of the whole country. These posts +were now to be surrendered, provided the treaty was accepted and its +conditions fulfilled. + +President Washington and the Senate had ratified the treaty--with +reluctance, it is true; but still they had ratified it; and nothing +remained but for the House of Representatives to appropriate the +money requisite for carrying the treaty into effect. But here was the +difficulty. The treaty was so unpopular that members of Congress shrunk +from even seeming to approve it. There had been riotous meetings in all +the large cities to denounce it. In New York, Alexander Hamilton, +while attempting to address a meeting in support of it, was pelted with +stones, and the people then marched to the residence of Mr. Jay, and +burned a copy of the treaty before his door. + +"Blush," said a Democratic editor, "to think that America should degrade +herself so much as to enter into any kind of treaty with a power now +tottering on the brink of ruin, whose principles are directly contrary +to the spirit of Republicanism!" + +A Virginia newspaper advised that, if the treaty negotiated by "that +arch-traitor, John Jay, with the British tyrant, should be ratified," +Virginia should secede from the Union. Indeed, the public mind has +seldom been excited to such a degree upon any public topic. + +It was in these circumstances that Fisher Ames rose to address the House +of Representatives, in favor of the treaty. There was supposed to be +a majority of ten against it in the House, and the debate had been for +some days in progress. Madison and all the leading Democrats had spoken +strongly against it; while Fisher Ames, the greatest orator on the side +of the Administration, was suffering from the pulmonary disease from +which he afterward died, and had been ordered by his physician not to +speak a word in the House. Inaction at such a time became insupportable +to him, and he chafed under it day after day. + +"I am like an old gun," he wrote, in one of his letters, "that is +spiked, or the trunnions knocked off, and yet am carted off, not for the +worth of the old iron, but to balk the enemy of a trophy. My political +life is ended, and I am the survivor of myself; or, rather, a troubled +ghost of a politician that am condemned to haunt the field where he +fell." + +But as the debate went on, he could no longer endure to remain silent. +He determined to speak, if he never spoke again; and the announcement +of his intention filled the Representatives' Chamber with a brilliant +assembly of ladies and gentlemen. Vice-President Adams came to the +chamber to hear him, among other persons of note. The orator rose from +his seat pale, feeble, scarcely able to stand, or to make himself heard; +but as he proceeded he gathered strength, and was able to speak for +nearly two hours in a strain of eloquence, the tradition of which fills +a great place in the memoirs of the time. The report of it which we +possess is imperfect, and the reading of it is somewhat disappointing; +but here and there there is a passage in the report which gives us some +notion of the orator's power. One of his points was, that the faith of +the country had been pledged by the ratification of the treaty, and that +consequently a refusal of the House to appropriate the money would be +a breach of faith. This led him to expatiate upon the necessity of +national honor. + +"In Algiers," said he, "a truce may be bought for money; but when +ratified, even Algiers is too wise or too just to disown and annul its +obligation.... If there could be a resurrection from the foot of the +gallows; if the victims of justice could live again, collect together +and form a society, they would, however loath, soon find themselves +obliged to make justice--that justice under which they fell--the +fundamental law of their State." + +This speech was afterward called Fisher Ames' Tomahawk Speech, because +he endeavored to show that, if the posts were not surrendered and not +garrisoned by American troops, the Indians could not be kept in check, +and would fill the frontier with massacre and fire. + +"On this theme," the orator exclaimed, "my emotions are unutterable. +If I could find words for them, if my powers bore any proportion to my +zeal, I would swell my voice to such a note of remonstrance, it +should reach every log-house beyond the mountains. I would say to the +inhabitants, Wake from your false security! Your cruel dangers, your +more cruel apprehensions, are soon to be renewed; the wounds yet +unhealed are to be torn open again; in the daytime your path through the +woods will be ambushed; the darkness of midnight will glitter with the +blaze of your dwellings. You are a father--the blood of your sons shall +fatten your corn-fields. You are a mother--the war-whoop shall wake the +sleep of the cradle." + +He continued in this strain for some time, occasionally blazing into a +simile that delighted every hearer with its brilliancy, while flashing +a vivid light upon the subject; and I only wish the space at my command +permitted further extracts. The conclusion of the speech recalled +attention to the orator's feeble condition of health, which the vigor of +his speech might have made his hearers forget. + +"I have, perhaps," said he, "as little personal interest in the event +as any one here. There is, I believe, no member who will not think +his chance to be a witness of the consequences greater than mine. If, +however, the vote should pass to reject, and a spirit should arise, as +it will, with the public disorders, to make confusion worse confounded, +even I, slender and almost broken as my hold upon life is, may outlive +the government and constitution of my country." + +With these words the orator resumed his seat. The great assembly seemed +spell-bound, and some seconds elapsed before the buzz of conversation +was heard. John Adams turned to a friend, Judge Iredell, who happened +to sit next to him, as if looking for sympathy in his own intense +admiration. + +"My God!" exclaimed the Judge, "how great he is--how great he has been!" + +"Noble!" said the Vice-President. + +"Bless my stars!" resumed Judge Iredell, "I never heard anything so +great since I was born." + +"Divine!" exclaimed Adams. + +And thus they went on with their interjections, while tears glistened +in their eyes. Mr. Adams records that tears enough were shed on the +occasion. + +"Not a dry eye in the house," he says, "except some of the jackasses who +had occasioned the oratory.... The ladies wished his soul had a better +body." + +After many days' further debate, the House voted the money by a +considerable majority; a large number of Democrats voting with the +administration. Fisher Ames was not so near his death as he supposed, +for he lived twelve years after the delivery of this speech, so slow was +the progress of his disease. He outlived Washington and Hamilton, and +delivered eloquent addresses in commemoration of both. + +The great misfortune of his life was that very ill-health to which he +alluded in his speech. This tinged his mind with gloom, and caused him +to anticipate the future of his country with morbid apprehension. When +Jefferson was elected President in 1800, he thought the ruin of his +country was sure, and spoke of the "chains" which Jefferson had forged +for the people. When Hamilton died, in 1804, he declared that his +"soul stiffened with despair," and he compared the fallen statesman to +"Hercules treacherously slain in the midst of his unfinished labors, +leaving the world over-run with monsters." He was one of the most honest +and patriotic of men; but he had little faith in the truths upon which +the Constitution of his country was founded. + +He died at his birthplace, Dedham, Massachusetts, on the 4th of July, +1808, in the fifty-first year of his age. His father had been the +physician of that place for many years--a man of great skill in his +profession, and gifted with a vigorous mind. Doctor Ames died when his +son was only six years of age, and it cost the boy a severe and long +struggle to work his way through college to the profession of the law, +and to public life. If he had had a body equal to his mind, he would +have been one of the greatest men New England ever produced. + + + + +THE PINCKNEYS OF SOUTH CAROLINA. + + +In the political writings of Washington's day, we frequently meet with +the name of Pinckney; and, as there were several persons of that name +in public life, readers of history are often at a loss to distinguish +between them. This confusion is the more troublesome, because they were +all of the same family and State, and their career also had a strong +family likeness. + +The founder of this family in America was Thomas Pinckney, who emigrated +to South Carolina in the year 1692. He possessed a large fortune, and +built in Charleston a stately mansion, which is still standing, unless +it was demolished during the late war. A curious anecdote is related +of this original Pinckney, which is about all that is now known of him. +Standing at the window of his house one day, with his wife at his side, +he noticed a stream of passengers walking up the street, who had just +landed from a vessel that day arrived from the West Indies. As they +walked along the street, he noticed particularly a handsome man who was +very gayly dressed; and turning to his wife he said: + +"That handsome West Indian will marry some poor fellow's widow, break +her heart, and ruin her children." + +Strange to relate, the widow whom this handsome West Indian married +was no other than Mrs. Pinckney herself; for Thomas Pinckney soon after +died, and his widow married the West Indian. He did not break her heart, +since she lived to marry a third husband, but he was an extravagant +fellow, and wasted part of her children's inheritance. Thomas Pinckney, +then, is to be distinguished from others of the name as the _founder_ of +the family in America. + +The eldest son of Thomas, that grew to man's estate, was Charles +Pinckney, who embraced the legal profession, and rose to be Chief +Justice of the Province of South Carolina, and hence he is usually +spoken of and distinguished from the rest of the family as "Chief +Justice Pinckney." He was educated in England, and was married there. +Returning to Charleston, he acquired a large fortune by the practice of +his profession. A strange anecdote is related of his wife also. After +he had been married many years without having children, there came to +Charleston from England, on a visit of pleasure a young lady named +Eliza Lucas, daughter of an officer in the English army. She was an +exceedingly lovely and brilliant girl, and made a great stir in the +province. She was particularly admired by the wife of the Chief Justice, +who said one day in jest: + +"Rather than have Miss Lucas return home, I will myself step out of the +way, and let her take my place." + +Within a few months after uttering these words she died, and soon after +her death the Chief Justice actually married Miss Lucas. This lady was +one of the greatest benefactors South Carolina ever had; for, besides +being an example of all the virtues and graces which adorn the female +character, it was she who introduced into the province the cultivation +of rice. In addition to the other services which she rendered her +adopted home, she gave birth to the two brothers Pinckney, who are of +most note in the general history of the country. The elder of these was +Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, born in 1746, and the younger was Thomas, +born in 1750. + +When these two boys were old enough to begin their education, their +father, the Chief Justice, like a good father as he was, went with them +to England, accompanied by all his family, and there resided for many +years, while they were at school; for at that day there were no means of +education in South Carolina. The boys were placed at Westminster school +in London, and completed their studies at the University of Oxford. +After leaving the University they began the study of the law in London, +and were pursuing their studies there, or just beginning practice, when +the troubles preceding the Revolutionary War hastened their return to +their native land. They had been absent from their country twenty-one +years, and were much gratified on reaching Charleston to witness its +prosperity and unexpected growth. The elder of these brothers could +remember when the first planter's wagon was driven into Charleston. This +was about the year 1753. Pointing to this wagon one day, his father said +to him: + +"Charles, by the time you are a man, I don't doubt there will be at +least twenty wagons coming to town." + +Often in after life, when he would meet a long string of wagons in the +country loaded with cotton or rice, he would relate this reminiscence of +his childhood, and add: + +"How happy my father would have been in the growth and prosperity of +Carolina!" + +These young men from the beginning of the Stamp Act agitation, when +they were just coming of age, sympathized warmly with their oppressed +countrymen on the other side of the ocean, and soon after their return +home they entered the Continental army and served gallantly throughout +the war. In 1780 we find Charles Cotesworth Pinckney writing to his wife +in the following noble strain: + +"Our friend, Philip Neyle was killed by a cannon-ball coming through one +of the embrasures; but I do not pity him, for he has died nobly in +the defense of his country; but I pity his aged father, now unhappily +bereaved of his beloved and only child." + +To one of his young friends he wrote soon after: + +"If I had a vein that did not beat with love for my country, I myself +would open it. If I had a drop of blood that could flow dishonorably, I +myself would let it out." + +It was the fortune of both these brothers to be held for a long time by +the enemy as prisoners of war. The elder was captured upon the surrender +of Charleston. The younger was desperately wounded at the battle of +Camden, and was about to be transfixed by a bayonet, when a British +officer who had known him at college recognized his features, and cried +out in the nick of time: + +"Save Tom Pinckney!" + +The uplifted bayonet was withheld, and the wounded man was borne from +the field a prisoner. + +After the peace, General C. C. Pinckney was a member of the convention +which framed our Constitution. During the Presidency of General +Washington, he declined, first a seat upon the bench of the Supreme +Court, and twice declined entering the cabinet. During the last year of +Washington's administration, he accepted the appointment of Minister to +France, and it was while residing in Paris, that he uttered a few words +which will probably render his name immortal. He was associated with +Chief Justice Marshall and Elbridge Gerry, and their great object was +to prevent a war between the United States and France. It was during +the reign of the corrupt Directory that they performed this mission; and +Talleyrand, the Minister of War, gave them to understand that nothing +could be accomplished in the way of negotiation unless they were +prepared to present to the government a large sum of money. The honest +Americans objecting to this proposal, Talleyrand intimated to them that +they must either give the money or accept the alternative of war. Then +it was that the honest and gallant Charles Cotesworth Pinckney uttered +the words which Americans will never forget till they have ceased to be +worthy of their ancestors: + +"War be it, then!" exclaimed General Pinckney, "Millions for defense, +sir; but not a cent for tribute!" + +On his return to the United States, war being imminent with France, he +was appointed a Major-general in the army, and in the year 1800 he was a +candidate for the Presidency. He lived to the year 1825, when he died at +Charleston at the age of seventy-nine. + +His brother Thomas was the Governor of South Carolina in 1789, and in +1792 was appointed by General Washington Minister to Great Britain. +After residing some years in England, he was sent to Spain, where he +negotiated the important treaty which secured us the free navigation +of the Mississippi. After his return home, he served several years in +Congress on the Federal side, and then retired to private life. During +the war of 1812, he received the commission of Major-general, and served +under General Jackson at the celebrated battle of Horseshoe Bend, where +the power of the Creek Indians was broken forever. + +He died at Charleston in 1828, aged seventy-eight years. + +Besides these Pinckneys there was a noted Charles Pinckney, a nephew +of Chief Justice Pinckney, who was also captured when Charleston +surrendered, remained a prisoner until near the close of the war, +and afterwards bore a distinguished part in public life. He may be +distinguished from others of his name from his being a democrat, an +active adherent of Thomas Jefferson. He served as Minister to Spain +during Mr. Jefferson's administration, and was four times elected +Governor of South Carolina. + +Finally, there was a Henry Laurens Pinckney, son of the Governor +Pinckney last mentioned, born in 1794. For sixteen years he was a member +of the Legislature of South Carolina, and was afterwards better known as +editor and proprietor of the Charleston _Mercury_, a champion of State +rights, and afterwards of nullification. During the nullification +period, he was Mayor of Charleston, an office to which he was three +times re-elected. + +Thus the Pinckneys may be distinguished as follows: Thomas Pinckney, +the founder; Charles Pinckney, the Chief Justice; Charles Cotesworth +Pinckney, the Ambassador and candidate for the Presidency; Thomas +Pinckney, General in the war of 1812; Charles Pinckney, the democrat; +and Henry Laurens Pinckney, editor and author. + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Revolutionary Heroes, And Other +Historical Papers, by James Parton + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK REVOLUTIONARY HEROES *** + +***** This file should be named 8154.txt or 8154.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/8/1/5/8154/ + +Produced by Ted Garvin, Tonya Allen, Charles Franks, and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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