Though in your eye the big tear stand represt,

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Let sharper sorrow sting your manly breast!

To worlds unknown what friends have gone before!

The place that knew them, knows them now no more;

Your seats at annual feasts* must be more bare,

Ev'n ye must be the wrecks of what ye were;

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Till late, supported on his staff, appears

(Like some lone arch that braves a length of years)

One hoary MAN, all helpless, pale, unnerv'd,

The last alive with Washington who serv'd!
And ye, who oft his public counsels heard,
Admir'd his wisdom and his words rever'd;
Ye senators! let mourning's voice succeed,
And join the cry, "the mighty's fall'n indeed."

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"Fall'n is the mighty," loads each gale with sighs,
"Fall'n is the mighty," shore to shore replies.
Of him the tearful travellert will speak-
The tear will wet the wandering sailor's cheek,
Who, hearing 'mid the storm his country's cry,
Furls the white canvass in a foreign sky.
Of him, at home, will speak each aged sire,
As his young offspring crowd the wintry fire,
Their list'ning ears with tales of wonder strike,
And say, "alas! when shall we see his like?"

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What talents rare, ne'er lent before by heav'n,
To him, the glory of his age, were giv'n? »
What force of body, majesty of mind,
To make one perfect whole in him combin'd?
O'er his fine figure and distinguish'd face,
Life's rosy morn suffus'd cherubic grace;
While toils his sinews brace, his limbs dilate,
And arm his breast to brave the bolts of fate.
What peerless portion of th' Almighty's might
Nerv'd the new chief, magnanimous for fight?

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* The society of the Cincinnati is composed of the officers of the army who served their country during the revolutionary war. Their annual meetings are held on the fourth day of July in every State.

+ The citizens of the United States travelling or residing in foreign countries, universally wore badges of mourning.

Upon the news of the death of General Washington being received in Europe, the colours on board of American vessels were hoisted half mast high, and minute guns were fired. The sailors belonging to American vessels in the Thames assisted at the church in Wapping at a *service adapted to the occasion.

How o'er the rising race, by merit aw'd,
He look'd and mov'd conspicuous as a god?

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Him young a model for our youth behold! No dupe to pleasure and no slave to gold;*

Above low pride, nor smit with love of pow'r,

Nor idly changing with the changing hour:

Each headstrong passion curb'd, each sense refin'd,
Devote to virtue all his mighty mind!—

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That mighty mind, correct, capacious, strong,
Discriminating clearly right from wrong;
By Meditation's lamp soon learn'd to scan
The dark recesses of the heart of man-
Modest, not bashful, ev'n in timid youth,
Nor obstinate, but nobly firm for truth;
Of others' counsels, his own judgment such,
He priz'd them nor too little nor too much;
And chief, that happiest skill to him was known,
When others' to prefer and when his own.

Virginia saw his great career begin,
Ere manhood's earliest honours deck'd his chin;
What time, a legate through the gloomy grove,†
To quench the first-seen spark of war, he strove:
To him so young the task sublime consign'd,
Involv'd the peace or war‡ of half mankind.

But vain his task. The spark that there began,
A fiery deluge through the nations ran.
Who has not heard, when round our borders far
Encroachments wak'd the colonies to war;
He led a band where band ne'er march'd before,
And dyed his maiden steel in savage gore?
Or how, by perils press'd, his growing fame
(When captur'd at the fort that drew its name

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* General Washington constantly declined receiving any thing from the public, but merely for the purpose of defraying his expenses. At the close of the war he rendered an account to government, in his own hand-writing, of all the public money which had been expended by or for him.

+ The reader may have recourse to the journal of this mission, printed by authority, for Information.

The American hero was sent, when very young, by the government of Virginia, to confer with the French commander on the frontiers, and to endeavour, by checking encroachments, to prevent hostilities. These, however, shortly afterwards commenced in that quarter, and extended to all parts of the world.

From dire NECESSITY*) still higher rose?

Or how, when Braddock fell (though hedg'd by foes,
Though weak with sickness, watching, want of food,
And midnight wand'ringf in the howling wood)
He hew'd a glorious passage, bold, discreet,
And sav'd an army by a sage retreat?

So through Misfortune's path the stripling far'd,
For other fields, by early feats, prepar'd.

So rose the youthful hero's glory-soon

To blaze and brighten in perennial noon—

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High o'er each earth-born mist, that frequent shrouds
Meridian glory in a night of clouds.

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Far roll'd the storm of war, and o'er our scene
Then happier days began to shine serene.
'Twas then he honour'd many a civil trust,
A judge and legislator‡ wise and just..
In rural cares he plac'd his chief delight,
By day his pleasure and his dream by night—
How sweetly smil'd his eye to view his farms,
In produce rich, display unnumber'd charms;
While joys domestic sweeten'd every toil,
And his fond partner paid him smile for smile!

Now had the hero gain'd life's fairest prime,
What time the fathers of the western clime
In congress first assembled there his name
Stood midst the foremost on the list of fame.
Nor since this sublunary scene began,

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Have names more glorious grac'd the race of man.

At first they hop'd redress, their wrongs made known

In mild remonstrance with a manly tone:

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In vain they hop'd the parent pow'r would hear;-
On them she scornful turn'd a deafen'd ear.

* Fort Necessity, which was commanded by Colonel Washington, after a gallant defence, was surrendered by capitulation. The garrison was allowed to retire to the settlements.

+ On the day of Braddock's defeat, young Washington, who was so weak from a fever as to be supported by a cushion on his horse, performed the most arduous and meritorious services. After having conducted the shattered remains of the army across the Monongahela, into a place of safety, he proceeded through the dark and howling wilderness all night, in order to reach the camp of Colonel Dunbar, and obtain the necessary succour as soon as possible. On his arrival he fainted, and suffered a relapse, which lasted for a considerable time.

General Washington was, for many years before the revolution, a magistrate of Fairfax county, and a member of the Legislature of the dominion of Virginia.

When reason fail'd, they bade for war prepare,
And in our country's cause all dangers dare.
Then Britain's legions (in whose van he strove
In former fight, and seiz'd amid the grove
That fort* where fair Ohio takes its name)
In hostile terrors, like a torrent came.
To us how strange that hateful strife appear'd,
To meet as foes whom kindred names endear'd!
No more in woods and swamps the war was wag'd,
As when our sires the native race engag'd;
When painted savages from mountains far
Made vallies howl with hollow whoops of war;
Or when, in ambush hid, the bow they drew,
And arrowy deaths on silent pinions filew;
Or when from captive heads the scalps they tore,
And wav'd the trophies reeking warm with gore.
But now on broader plains, with banners gay,
And burnish'd steel that flashes back the day,
In fiercer hosting meet, with mutual fires,
Two armies sprung from the same warlike sires.
What though nor ancient arms or armour shed
A floating splendour round each hero's head;
What though our eyes no single chief behold,
Come tow'ring arm'd in panoply of gold;
What though no beamy mail, no sun-bright shields
Shoot their long lightnings o'er th' astonish'd fields;
Nor flies the twink'ling steel nor thund'ring car,
Its wheels whirl redd'ning o'er the ranks of war;—
New arms more fatal give man's rage new force,
Where modern tactics turn the battle's course;

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A running flame that wastes the crackling grove:
The phalanx firm in uniform attire,

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Indissolubly stands a wall of fire:

* Fort Pitt, formerly called Fort Du Quesne, is situated at the confluence of the rivers Allegany and Monongahela, where the waters assume the name of the Ohio. General Washington commanded the Virginia troops when this fort was taken in a former war.

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While flames and thunders from the cannon hurl'd,
Singe the red air and rock the solid world.

Then our great Chief was call'd to lead the fight,
A mighty angel arm'd with God's own might!
To Washington the wise, prepar'd by heav'n
To lead our host, the high command was giv'n.
He came obsequious to the sacred call,
Survey'd the dangers and despis'd them all.
Though in his mind he found no mean resource,
He felt the task too great for human force;
And plac'd,* reluctant, of our leaders first,
He in the God of battles put his trust.

Long held th' accomplish'd Chief the Fabian† name,

(Nor foes nor friends confest but half his fame)
From beauteous Boston drove the royal ranks,
Their inroads check'd on Hudson's rocky banks,
Resolv'd the state to save by wise delay,

Nor risk our fortunes on one fatal day..

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But, when by duty urg'd, with dread delight

(Like heav'n's red vengeance rous'd at dead of night) He rush'd to battle. Witness, wide domains!

Ye Jersey hills and Pennsylvania plains!

Witness, ye war-graves, rising round our coast,
Where rest the bones of half the British host!

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Thou, Monmouth, witness through thy waste of sand,
The battle bravely fought as wisely plann'd!

The sick'ning harvest fail'd in summer's pride,

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The gaping ground for lack of moisture dried;
The foliage scorch'd, the grass untimely sear'd,
And dry and dun the late green-swerd appear'd;
When now from Schuylkill's shore in strong array,
The royal host through Jersey wind their way;
Full many a league with weary steps retreat,
Through suffocating dust, and drought, and heat:

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* See his speech in Congress on accepting the office of Commander in Chief.

+ As General Washington was, at one period, erroneously considered by many of his countrymen, as being too much disposed to pursue the Fabiau system of war, it was thought the more necessary to attempt to impress the public mind with an idea of his active and enterprizing character whenever the circumstances would justify such conduct. The battle of Monmouth, and the siege of York-Town, are particularly selected for that purpose.