What care, in a great measure, devolved upon him? Who aided him? To what, may his difficulties be compared? Can you mention one of the most dreadful of his long trials? How long was he in retreating through N. J. ? What was probably the influence of his previous prosperity, upon this trial? Mention some particulars of this prosperity. First scene of his great sorrow ? How greatly was the American army reduced within 3 months? What hope had been cherished respecting the royal army, after the evacuation of Fort Lee? With what hope, did the British then become more sanguine than ever? What opprobrious name was given to the retreating soldiers? How long was their retreating march ? Where did consternation reign? What danger was there from the disaffected? captured, by hundreds and by thousands, without being able to afford them the least relief. "And now misfortunes take their turn to reign, And ills on ills succeed, a dreadful train !" tages. Though Congress and liis probably never before nor since, little band of trusty officers afforded excited there, nor ever shall be, by him all the aid in their power, yet mortal man. Long Islan! seems upon him, in a great measure, deto have been the first scene of his volved the care of raising his men, mighty sorrows, though not indeed of forming them into soldiers, of of his amazing cares and toils. feeding, clothing and paying them,With the most pungent anguish, ho of directing their operations, of was there destined to behold some providing military stores, of watch-of his choicest troops cut down or ing the movements of the enemy, and of discovering and defeating their designs. His dificulties may be regarded as a vast chain of lofty mountains, scarcely separated by a plain or vale, with numerous peaks, lifting their black and craggy heads above their fellows. One Very soon he is constrained to of the most dreadful of these, was quit N. Y. city. Within a few that which he passed from the vi-weeks, he deems it prudent to leave cinity of Fort Lee to the Delaware. Its duration was about 20 days. This must have been rendered more distressing by his previous prosperity. He had been suddenly elevated to the highest military office and honor, that the love of freedom could confer. He had been welcomed and hailed at Cambridge with every demonstration of confidence and of joy, that heart could wish. He had been enabled to drive the British from Boston; and had been received by her half famished, half frozen citizens, by such a burst of grateful rapture, as was N. Y. Island. About the 12th of Nov. he crosses the Hudson and joins Gen. Greene near Fort Lee the next day. Within three days, Nov. 16, he is robbed of 27 hundred of his best remaining troops, being the whole garrison of Fort Washington. Within two or three days after, Fort Lee must be evacuated, or its garrison of 1500 must share the same fate. Terrified by these dreadful disasters, and trembling for his own safety, every American soldier becomes impatient of the camp; and in a very short time, the army is al What name did they loudly invoke ? Why did W. find it necessary to detach a part of his army? What had dissipated the terror of the tories? What proclamation did the To whom, was a pardon offered ? Views and feelings of W. that subject? upon With what aspect, did he show himself to his soldiers? Who assisted and comforted him? What religious exercise did Congress recommend to the States ? How many militia soon joined the American standard ? From what state? ty. was urged with so much rapidity, that the rear of the one army, pulling down bridges, was often within sight and shot of the van of the nost annihilated. Many withdraw, shabby appearance, were called and it is actually reduced to oneragamuffins, fleeing for their safecixth part of what it was three They consisted mostly of months before-from 17,000 to less the troops, that had garrisoned than 3,000. Some hope had been Fort Lee, and had been compelled indulged, that the royal troops would to abandon that post so suddenly, go into winter quarters, and leave that they commenced their retreat the little shattered remnant of the without tents or blankets, and withpatriot army, to enjoy repose, out any utensils to dress their prowherever they could find an asylum visions." In this situation, they from the snow and from the blast. performed a march of about 90 But no, they must be pursued. An-miles, through the greater part of imated by success, the British be- the length of N. J. "The pursuit come more sanguine than ever with the hope of speedily terminating the war-of crushing rebellion at a blow. Washington with his destitute and shivering band, must flee-other, building them up." flee for life-flee for the life of liberty and independence, as well as for their own life. And do not multitudes flock to the standard of the retreating hero? Is he not imme-bled, that it scarcely amounted to diately so re-inforced, as to be able 3000, who had lost all courage and to face the pride of Britain, and all energy, and were exposed in an drive back the desolating scourge ? open country, without instruments, Let Dr. Ramsay reply, "As the to entrench themselves, without retreating Americans marched tents to shelter them, and in the through the country, scarcely one midst of a population, little zealof the inhabitants joined them,ous, or rather hostile, to the repub while numbers were daily flocking lic.” to the royal army, to make their peace and obtain protection. They saw on the one side, a numerous, well appointed and full clad army, dazzling their eyes with the ele-ed in all the contiguous provinces gance of uniformity; on the other, a few poor fellows, who, from their "Every thing at this period of the war," says Botta, "threatened America with an inevitable catastrophe. The army was so enfee "In so profound a distress, the American general could not hope to receive prompt or sufficient rein forcements. Consternation reign so that each, trembling for himself refused to succour others. Up CHAPTER LIV.—p. 143. Confederation of the States. Bat- In what, were they engaged in drawing up and discussing? Meaning of confederation? Who had submitted to Congress, articles of confederation in '75 ? Dr. Franklin. Why were they not then acted upon? Most of the members were unprepared for such a measure. When was the subject resumed? A little before independence was declared. the heel of so many disasters, was abrupt changes of party were obthe imminent danger of seditions served to take place. The inhabi on the part of the disaffected, who tants of Pa. flocked, in like manner, in various places loudly invoked the to humble themselves at the feet of name of England. An insurrec- the commissioners, and to promise tion appeared ready to explode inobedience. Every day ushered in the county of Monmouth in the very some new calamity; and the cause heart of N. J.; so that Washing-of America seemed hastening to ton found himself constrained to de- ruin. The most discreet no longer tach a part of his army, already a dissembled, that the end of the war mere skeleton, to overawe the agi- was at hand; and that the hour was tators. The presence of a victo-come, in which the colonists were rious royal army had dissipated the about to resume the yoke. terror, with which the patriots at "But Washington, in the midst first inspired the loyalists. They of so much adversity, did not desbegan to abandon themselves, with- pair. His constancy was an obout reserve, to all the fury, which ject of admiration. Far from beanimated them against their adver- traying any symptoms of hesitasaries. Encouraged by this, the tion or fear, he showed himself to Howes circulated a proclamation his dejected soldiers, with a serene through the country, commanding countenance, and radiant, as it all those who had arms in their were, with a certain hope of a bethands, to disperse and return to ter future. Adverse fortune had their habitations; and all those not been able to vanquish, nay, not who exercised civil magistracies, even to shake, this invincible spirto cease their functions, and divest it." He was indeed supported and themselves of their usurped author-comforted by Congress. "Firmity. At the same time, a full par-ly resolved to pursue their object don was offered to all such, as through every fortune, they maniwithin 60 days should present them-fested a similar constancy. It apselves before the officers of the peared as if the pirit of these great crown, and promise obedience to minds increased with adversity." the laws and authority of Britain. This proclamation had the effect intended. Multitudes came to inplore the Royal forgiveness, and promise submission. Nor was it nerely in N. J. in the midst of the victorious royal troops, that these This may serve as a specimen of the trials of Washington and of the incomparable sublimity of his stupendous mind. Other trials indeed he had, perhaps even greater, which for want of room must be passed over in comparative silence. Why did it then appear peculiarly needful? For mutual security, and for obtaining foreign aid. By whom were these articles prepared? By a committee of twelve delegates, one from each state, except N. J.. When were they submitted to Congress? The next week after the declaration of Independence. How long were they under consideration at that session? Nearly a month. When was the subject again resumed? In the spring of '77. What occasioned so long delay ? The difficulty of agreement, and the gloomy aspect of our affairs. When were the articles adopted by Congress? Nov. 15, 1777. What name did the articles of What states had acceeded to it, more than two years before? All but Md. Why was the assent of Md. so long delayed? The people of that state insisted, that the western and uncultivated lands, which, by the treaty of Paris had been ceded to England, should be the general property of all the states, and not the particular property of those states, that by royal charters claimed these lands. How was the matter finally settled? The point was in a great measure yielded to Md., What state nobly took the lead in making the concession? N. Y. Effect of this long delay? It probably conduced to protract the war. What if the union had been de confederation give to the states?layed several years longer? The THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. For what, did they enter into a firm league of friendship? For their defence and mutual welfare. Against what, did they bind themselves, to assist each other? Against all force or attacks, inade upon any of them. What civil privileges was every state to retain? Its sovereignty, freedom and independence, and every right, not expressly yielded to the United States. Mention some of the most important rights yielded. The right of? making war or peace, or treaties with other nations. When was the union completed. by the acceptance of all the states ? March 1, 1781. + NOTE F. F. Battles of Trenton and ton. war would probably have been protracted still farther. Why did the confederation conduce to bring the war to a close ? Our enemies had presumed, that we never could confederate. When they saw it actually done, they were confounded, and probably in a great measure discouraged from attempting to subdue the new republic. Why did our enemies think, that the colonists could never confederate? On account of their differences. In what? In origin, in religion, in manners and customs, and especially in interest. Why are the battles of Trenton and Princeton treated of in the same note ?† resulted from one amazing effort of Prince-heroism, and to have coalesced in producing vast effects upon friends and foes. Considered as one, they may doubtless be regarded as the most efficacious and beneficial of all our military operations-as more These two articles are considered in the same note, because they so nearly coincided in time and place, because they appear to have How may they be regarded, when considered as one? What did Washington do, to prevent Cornwallis from crossing the What disaster did they counter-Delaware? balance? When did Washington retreat across the Delaware? In what state, was he, when he had crossed the Delaware? Of what state, was Cornwallis then master? What great city was in danger of being soon taken by Cornwallis? Who made it his great object to prevent this? What probably suggested to Washington the thought of attacking the British? What might it have been in other circumstances? What was the whole number of W's army at that time? What was there the greatest reason to fear, respecting that army ?-respecting the cause of liberty? What state had, in a great meas What great river was then between Cornwallis and Philadelphia?ure, submitted to the enemy? quarters in several places in N. J. for the greater convenience of plundering the inhabitants, and terrify than counterbalancing the disaster at Brooklyn, and as furnishing the brightest jewel in the crown of Washington. No battle that hasing them into loyalty. There the been fought within 100 years, therefore, seems to claim more attention from the friends of freedom. royal troops felt very nearly as secure, as though they had been at peace with all the world. Their contempt for the poor, ragged, naked, flying rebels was no less than their abhorrence. One of their officers tauntingly said, that with a Though Washington had just received a reinforcement of 2000 men, mostly Philadelphians, he was constrained to flee with his army from Trenton across the Del-corporal's guard, he would engage aware. This humiliating event took to repel every attack, that the rebplace December 8. Cornwallis was els would dare to make. This now master of N. J. and there was very security of the enemy probathe greatest danger, that he would bly suggested to Washington, a cross that river, and seize upon thought, which no one could have Philadelphia, and perhaps put an cherished but himself, and led him end to the war and to our liberties to form the design of striking a nt once. To prevent this was the blow, that should be as terrible to grand object of the American the enemy, as it would be sudden. chief. He endeavored to secure In other circumstances, it might every boat upon the river, and to have been criminal rashness; but place the most effectual guards a- now it was as prudent, as it was long the western bank. He did daring. Though by several reinnot think it prudent, however, to forcements, his army was augment→ trust to these securities for a single ed to 7000 heterogeneous troops, moment longer, than was absolute- yet there was the greatest reason to ly necessary. At that season of fear, that this army would be soon the year, one or two days of freez-dispersed and annihilated, and that ing weather might give the royal the cause of liberty would sink. troops an easy passage to the capital. Probably in expectance of this, the British had taken up their "The present aspect of their affairs," says Marshall, “was ex tremely unfavorable to the U. S |