from the great theatre of action; and, bidding an affectionate farewel to this august body, under whose orders I have so long acted, I here offer my commission, and take my leave of all the employments of public life. Dec. 23, 1783. G. WASHINGTON. XIII. SINGULAR INSTANCE of PATRIOTISM. to for tified his camp in so impregnable a manner, that all the efforts of France proved ineffectual to raise the siege, or throw succours into the city. The citizens, however, under the conduct of count Vienne, their gallant governor, made an admirable defence. 2. Day after day the English effected many a breach,which they repeatedly expected to storm by morning; but when morning appeared, they wondered to behold new ramparts nightly raised, erected out of the ruins which the day had made. 3. France had now put her sickle into her second harvest, since Edward, with his victorious army, set down before the town. The eyes of all Europe were intent on the issue. The English made their approaches and attacks without remission, but the citizens were as obstinate in repelling all their efforts. 4. At length, famine did more for Edward than arms. After the citizens had devoured the lean carcases of their half starved cattle, they tore up old foundations and rubbish, in search of vermin; they fed on boiled leather and the weeds of exhausted gardens; and a morsel of damaged corn was accounted matter of luxury. 5. In this extremity they resolved to attempt the enemy's camp. They boldly sallied forth; the English joined battle, and after a long and desperate engagement, count Vienne was taken prisoner; and the citizens, who survived the slaughter, retired within their gates. 6. On the captivity of their governor, the command devolved upon Eustace Saint Pierre, the mayor of the town, a man of mean birth, but of exalted virtue. Eustace soon found himself under the necessity of capitulating, and offered to deliver to Edward the city with all the possessions and wealth of the inhabitants, provided he would permit them to depart with life and liberty. 7. As Edward had long since expected to ascend the throne of France, he was exasperated to the last degree against these people, whose sole valour had defeated his warmest hopes; he therefore determined to take an exemplary revenge, though he wished to avoid the imputation of cruelty. 8. He answered by Sir Walter Mauny, that they all deserved capital punishment, as obstinate traitors to him, their true and notable sovereign; that, however, in his wonted clemency, he consented to pardon the bulk of the plebians, provided they would deliver up to him six of their principal citizens, with halters about their necks, as victims of due atonement for that spirit of rebellion with which they had inflamed the common people. 9. All the remains of this desolate city were convened in the great square, and like men arraigned at a tribunal from whence there was no appeal, expected with throbbing hearts the sentence of their conqueror. When Sir Walter had declared his message, consternation and pale dismay were impressed on every face, each looked upon death as his own inevitable lot; for how should they desire to be saved at the price proposed? Whom had they to deliver up, save parents, brothers, kindred, or valiant neighbours, who had so often exposed their lives in their defence? 10. To a long and dead silence, deep sighs and groans succeeded, till Eustace St. Pierre, ascending a little eminence, thus addressed the assembly.: "My friends and fellow citizens, you see the condition to which we are reduced; we must either submit to the terms of our cruel and ensnaring conqueror, or yield up our tender infants, our wives and chaste daughters to the bloody and brutal lusts of the violating soldiery. 11. "We well know what the tyrant intends by his specious offers of mercy. It does not satiate his vengeance to make us merely miserable, he would also make us criminal; he would make us contemptible: he will grant us life on no condition, save that of being unworthy of it. Look about you, my friends, and fix your eyes on the persons whom you wish to deliver up as the victims of your own safety. 12. "Which of these would you appoint to the rack, the axe, or the halter? Is there any here who has not watched for you, who has not fought for you, who has not bled for you? Who, through the length of this inveterate siege, has not suffered fatigues and miseries a thousand times worse than death; that you and yours might survive to days of peace and prosperity? Is it your preservers then, whom you would destine to destruction? 13. "You will not, you cannot do it. Justice, honour, humanity, make such a treason impossible. Where then is our resource. Is there any expedient left, whereby we may avoid guilt and infamy on the one hand, or the desolation and horrors of a sacked city on the other? 14. "There is, my friends, there is one expectent left; a gracious, an excellent, a God-like expedient! Is there any hero to whom virtue is dearer than life! let him offer himself an oblation for the safety of his people. He shall not fail of a blessed approbation from that Power who offered up his only Son for the salvation of mankind." 15. He spoke, but an universal silence ensued. Each man looked around for his example of that virtue and magnanimity in others, which all wished to approve in themselves, though they wanted the resolution. At length St. Pierre resumed : 16. "It had been base in me, my fellow citizens, to promote any matter of damage to others, which I myself had not been willing to undergo in my own person. But I held it ungenerous to deprive any man of that preference and estimation, which might attend a first offer on so signal an occasion, for I doubt not but there are many here as ready, nay more zealous for this martyrdom than I can be, however modesty and the fear of imputed ostentation may withhold them from being foremost in exhibiting their merits. 17. "Indeed the station to which the captivity of count Vienne, has unhappily raised me, imports a right to be the first in giving my life for your sakes; I give it freely, I give it cheerfully who comes next?"-" Your son!" exclaimed a youth, not yet come to maturity."Ah! my child! cried St. Pierre : I am then twice to be sacrificed—But no -I have rather begotten thee a second time.-Thy years are few, but full my son; the victim of virtue has reached the utmost purpose and gaol of mortality. 18. "Who next my friends?-This is the hour of heroes." "Your kinsman!" cried John de Aire-" Your kinsman!" cried James Wissant-"Your kinsman !” cried Peter Wissant!-"Ah!" exclaimed Sir Walter Mauny, bursting into tears, "why was I not a citizen of Calais? 19. The sixth victim was still wanting, but was quickly supplied by lot, from numbers who were now emulous of so ennobling an example. The keys of the city were then delivered to Sir Walter. He took the six prisoners into his custody. He ordered the gates to be opened, and gave charge to his attendants to conduct the remaining citizens with their families, through the camp of the English. 20. Before they departed, however, they desired permission to take their last adieu of their deliverers-What a parting! what a scene! they crowded with their wives and children about St. Pierre and his fellow prisoners. They embraced, they clung around, they fell prostrate before them. They groaned; they wept aloud; and the joint clamour of their mourning passed the gates of the city, and was heard throughout the camp. 21. At length, St. Pierre and his fellow victims appeared. under the conduct of Sir Walter and his guard. All the tents of the English, were instantly emptied. The soldiers poured from all parts, and arranged themselves on each side, to behold, to contemplate, to admire this little band of patriots as they passed. 22. They murmured their applause of that virtue which they could not but revere even in enemies; and they regarded those ropes which they had voluntarily tied about their necks, as ensigns of greater dignity than that of the British Garter. 23. As soon as they had reached the royal presence, "Mauny," says the king, "are these the principal inhabitants of Calais?"-"They are," says Mauny; "They are not only the principal men of Calais; they are the principal men of France, my lord, if virtue has any share in the act of ennobling." 24. "Were they delivered peaceably," says Edward; "was there no resistance, no commotion among the people?" "Not in the least, my lord. They are self delivered, selfdevoted, and come to offer up their inestimable heads, as an ample equivalent for the ransom of thousands." 25. The king, who was highly incensed at the length and difficulty of the siege, ordered them to be carried away to immediate execution; nor could all the remonstrances and intreaties of his courtiers divert him from his cruel purposeBut what neither a regard to his own interest and honour, what neither the dictates of justice, nor the feelings of huma F nity could effect, was happily accomplished by the more powerful influence of conjugal affection. 26. The queen, who was then pregnant, being informed of the particulars, respecting the six victims, flew into her husband's presence, threw herself on her knees before him, and with tears in her eyes, besought him not to stain his character with an indelible mark of infamy, by committing such a horrid and barbarous deed. 27. Edward could refuse nothing to a wife whom he so tenderly loved, and especially in her condition; and the queen not satisfied with having saved the lives of the six Burghers, conducted them to her tent, where she applauded their virtue, regaled them with a plentiful repast, and having made them a present of money and clothes, sent them back to their fellow citizens. XIV. Extract from DR. BELKNAP's Address to the inhabitants of New Hampshire, at the close of his history of that State. CITIZENS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, 1. HAV AVING spent above twenty years of my life with you, and passed through various scenes of peace and war within that time; being personally acquainted with many of you, both in your public and private characters; and having an earnest desire to promote your true interest, I trust you will not think me altogether unqualified to give you a few hints by way of advice. 2. You are certainly a rising state; your numbers are rapidly increasing; and your importance in the political scale will be augmented, in proportion to your improving the natural advantages which your situation affords you, and to your cultivating the intellectual and moral powers of yourselves and your children. 3. The first article on which I would open my mind to you is that of Education. Nature has been as bountiful to you as to any other people, in giving your children genius and capacity: it is then your duty and your interest to cultivate their capacities, and render them serviceable to themselves and the community. 4. It was the saying of a great orator and statesman of antiquity, that "The loss which the commonwealth sustains, |