But another trial, severer than all, still awaits them; they are now to be disbanded and a separation to take place more distressing than every former scene! Till now the severe conflict was unseen or unattended to. Poverty and the gratitude of their country are their only reward.

True, they are to return to their friends and fellow-citizens with blessings on their heads. The general liberty and independence are now secured, but yet want and dire distress stare many in the face. They are to return to wives and children, long used to dependence on the cold hand of charity, in hopes of a sure support from the success of the common cause, when their husband, father or child returned glorious from the field of conquest. Alas! these flattering hopes now are no more. Their country's exhausted treasury cannot yield them even the hard-earned pittance of a soldier's pay. Being urged on one hand by the subtle poison of inflammatory, violent and artful addresses, under the specious mask of pretended friendship (the last expiring effort of a conquered foe),-warned on the other hand by the experience, wisdom, and rational conduct of their beloved commander, their father and long-tried friend, they solemnly deliberate.

Some guardian angel, perhaps the happy genius of America, ever attendant on the object of her care, raises the drooping head, wipes the indig

nant, falling tear from the hardy soldier's eye, and suggests the happy expedient!

Brotherly affection produces brotherly reliefthe victorious bands unite together they despise the infamous idea-they refuse to listen to the siren's song-they form the social tie-they cast in the remaining fragment of their scanty pay, and instead of seizing their arms and demanding their rights by menace and violence, they refuse "to lessen the dignity or sully the glory they had hitherto maintained. They determined to give one more proof of unexampled patriotism and patient virtue, rising superior to the pressure of their complicated sufferings, and thereby afford an occasion to posterity to say, had that day been wanting, the world had not seen the last stage of political perfection, to which human nature is capable of attaining."

The glorious certainty of peace, purchased by their sufferings and perseverance, now rouses the patriotic fire. They again rejoice in the event; they unite in a firm, indissoluble bond, "gratefully to commemorate the event, which gave independence to America,-to inculcate to latest ages the duty of laying down in peace, arms assumed for public defence in war,—to continue their mutual friendship, which commenced under the pressure of common dangers, and to effectuate every act of beneficence, dictated by a spirit of brotherly kindness to any of their number and their

families, who might unfortunately be under the necessity of receiving them;" and by this unanimous act to establish this sacred truth, "that the glory of soldiers cannot be well completed without acting well the part of citizens."

This, gentlemen, is your origin as a Societythe source from whence you sprang, and this day we are carrying on the work first begun in these social principles.

Stedman and Hutchinson, American Literature (N. Y., 1888), IV. 15-17.

13. The United States Elevated to Glory and Honor (1783)

By PRESIDENT EZRA STILES

President Stiles of Yale College kept an elaborate diary and wrote stirring sermons.

HEAVEN hath provided this country, not indeed derelict, but only partially settled, and consequently open, for the reception of a new enlargement of Japhet. Europe was settled by Japhet; America is settling from Europe: and perhaps this second enlargement bids fair to surpass the first for we are to consider all the european settlements of America collectively as springing from and transfused with the blood of Japhet. Already for ages has Europe arrived to a ple

nary, if not declining population of 100 millions: in two or three hundred years this second enlargement may cover America with three times that number.

We are increasing with great rapidity; and the Indians, as well as the million Africans in America, are decreasing as rapidly. Both left to themselves, in this way diminishing, may gradually vanish: and thus an unrighteous SLAVERY may at length, in God's good providence, be abolished and cease in this land of LIBERTY.

But to return: the population of this land will probably become very great; and Japhet become more numerous millions in America, than in Europe and Asia; and the two or three millions of the United States may equal the population of the oriental empires, which far surpasses that of Europe.

...

Liberty, civil and religious, has sweef and attractive charms. The enjoyment of this, with property, has filled the english settlers in america with a most amazing spirit, which has operated, and still will operate with great energy. Never before has the experiment been so effectually tried, of every man's reaping the fruits of his labor, and feeling his share in the aggregate system of power. The antient republics did not stand on the people at large; and therefore no example or precedent can be taken from them. Even men of arbitrary principles will be obliged, if they

would figure in these states, to assume the patriot so long, that they will at length become charmed with the sweets of liberty.

Our degree of population is such as to give us reason to expect that this will become a great people. It is probable that within a century from our independence the sun will shine on fifty million of inhabitants in the united states. This will be a great, a very great nation, nearly equal to half europe. Already has our colonization extended down the ohio and to koskaseah on the mississippi. And if the present ratio of increase.

should be rather diminished in some of the other settlements, yet an accelerated multiplication will attend our general propagation, and overspread the whole territory westward for ages. So that before the millenium, the english settlements in america, may become more numerous millions, than that greatest dominion on earth the chinese. empire. Should this prove a future fact, how applicable would be the text, when the Lord shall have made his american Israel, high above all nations which he hath made, in numbers, and in praise, and in name, and in honor! . . .

To think of withstanding and encountering britain by land was bold, and much more bold and daring, by sea: yet we immediately began a navy, and built ships of war with an unexampled expedition. It is presumed never was a 35 gun ship before built quicker than that well built, no