cans, who preferred the leading strings of the parent state, though encroaching on their liberties, to a government of their own countrymen and fellow citizens.

As literature had, in the first instance, favoured the revolution, so, in its turn, the revolution promoted literature. The study of eloquence, and of the belles lettres, was more successfully prosecuted in America, after the disputes between Great Britain and her colonies began to be serious, than it had ever been before. The various orations, addresses, letters, dissertations, and other literary performances, which the war made necessary, called forth abilities where they were, and excited the rising generation to study arts, which brought with them their own reward. Many incidents afforded materials for the favourites of the muses, to display their talents. Even burlesquing royal proclamations, by parodies, and doggerel poetry, had great effects on the minds of the people. A celebrated historian has remarked, that the song of Lillibullero forwarded the revolution of 1688, in England. Similar productions produced similar effects in America. Francis Hopkinson rendered essential service to his country, by turning the artillery of wit and ridicule on the enemy. Philip Freneau laboured successfully in the same way. Royal proclamations and other productions, which issued from royal printing presses, were, by the help of a warm imagination, arrayed in such dresses as rendered them truly ridiculous. Trumbull, with a vein of original Hudibrastic humour, diverted his countrymen so much, with the follies of their enemies, that, for a time, they forgot the calamities of war. Humphries twined the literary with the military laurel, by superadding the fame of an elegant poet, to that of an accomplished officer. Barlow increased the fame of his country, and of the distinguished actors in the revolution, by the bold design of an epic poem, ably executed, on the idea, that Columbus foresaw, in vision, the great scenes that were to be transacted on the theatre of that new world, which he had discovered. Dwight struck out in the same line, and, at an early period of life, finished an elegant work, entitled The Conquest of Canaan, on a plan which had been rarely attempt

ed. The principles of their mother tongue were first unfolded, to the Americans, since the revolution, by their countryman Webster. Pursuing an unbeaten track, he has made discoveries, in the genius and construction of the English language, which had escaped the researches of preceding philologists. These, and a group of other literary characters, have been brought into view by the revolution. It is remarkable, that of these, Connecticut has produced an unusual proportion. In that truly republican state, every thing conspires to adorn human nature with its highest honours.

From the later periods of the revolution, till the present time, schools, colleges, societies, and institutions for promoting literature, arts, manufactures, agriculture, and for extending human happiness, have "been increased, far beyond any thing that ever took place before the declaration of independence. Every state in the union has done more or less in this way; but Pennsylvania has done the most, The following institutions have been very lately founded in that state, and most of them in the time of the war, or since the peace, An university in the city of Philadelphia; a college of physicians in the same place; Dickinson college, at Carlisle; Franklin college, at Lancaster; the Protestant Episcopal Academy in Philadelphia; academies at York-town, at Germantown, at Pittsburg, and Washington; and an academy in Philadelphia for young ladies; societies for promoting political inquiries; for the medical relief of the poor, under the title of the Philadelphia Dispensary; for promoting the abolition of slavery, and the relief of free negroes, unlawfully held in bondage; for propagating the gospel among the Indians, under the direction of the United Brethren; for the encouragement of manufactures, and the useful arts; for alleviating the miseries of priSuch have been some of the beneficial effects, resulting from that expansion of the human mind, produced by the revolution; but these have not been without alloy.

sons.

To overset an established government unhinges many of those principles, which bind individuals to each other. The right of the people to resist their rulers, when invading their Tiberties, forms the corner stone of the American republics.

This principle, though just in itself, is not favourable to the tranquillity of established governments. The maxims and measures, which, in the years 1774 and 1775, were adopted and inculcated by American patriots, for oversetting the established government, will answer a similar purpose, when recurrence is had to them by factious demagogues, for disturbing the freest governments that were ever devised.

War never fails to injure the morals of the people engaged in it. The American war, in particular, had an unhappy influence of this kind. Commenced without funds, or regular establishments, it could not be carried on without violating private rights; and, in its progress, it involved a necessity for breaking solemn promises, and plighted public faith. The failure of national justice, in some degree unavoidable, increased the difficulties of performing private engagements, and weakened that sensibility to the obligations of public and private honour, which is a security for the punctual performance of contracts,

In consequence of the war, the institutions of religion were deranged, the public worship of the Deity suspended, and a great number of the inhabitants deprived of the ordinary means of obtaining that religious knowledge, which tames the fierceness, and softens the rudeness of human passions and manners. Many of the temples, dedicated to the service of the Most High, were destroyed. The clergy were left to suffer, without proper support. The depreciation of the paper currency was particularly injurious to them. It reduced their salaries to a pittance so insufficient for their maintenance, that several of them were obliged to lay down their profession, and engage in other pursuits. Public preaching, of which many of the inhabitants were deprived, seldom fails to render essential service to society, by civilizing the multitude, and forming them for union.

On the whole, the literary, political, and military talents of the citizens of the United States were improved by the revolution. Since the organization of the new government, in the year 1789, under the auspices of president Washington, the morals of the country have been in a state of improvement.

18

HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES.

CHAP. 28.

Good and evil are prolific; and produce their own likenesses. The old federal system was unequal to the enforcement of justice, between the public and individuals: this was followed by its natural consequence, the failure of justice between citizens and citizens. All this was reversed by the new order of things. The payment of the public debt, contracted in the years of the revolution, was one of the primary inducements to form the new establishment. The adoption of efficient measures, for that purpose, was followed by correspondent arrangements for securing the discharge of private engagements. A good constitution and good laws, carried into effect by good executive officers, and upright independent judges, soon produced order and industry among the people. Their moral and religious habits were, in a short time, visibly mended. There is, perhaps, no country in the world, where so much has been done in the same time, by public munificence and private contribution, for the diffusion of knowledge, for the support of charitable and religious institutions, for the promotion of order and industry, and for the advancement of human happiness, as in the United States, in the course of the years which have elapsed since the establishment of their present most excellent form of government.

CHAPTER XXIX.

The discharge of the American army-The evacuation of New York-The resignation of General Washington.

WHILE the citizens of the United States were anticipating the blessings of peace, their army, which had successfully stemmed the tide of British victories, was unrewarded for its services. The States, which had been rescued by their exertions from slavery, were in no condition to pay them their stipulated compensation. To dismiss officers and soldiers, who had spent the prime of their days, in serving their country, without an equivalent for their labours, or even a sufficiency to enable them to gain a decent living, was a hard but unavoidable case.

An attempt was made, by anonymous and seditious publications, to inflame the minds of the officers and soldiers, and induce them to unite in redressing their own grievances, while they had arms in their hands. As soon as Washington was informed of the nature of these papers, he requested the general and field officers, with one officer from each company, and a proper representation from the staff of the army, to assemble on an early day. He rightly judged, that it would be much easier to divert from a wrong to a right path, than to recall fatal and hasty steps, after they had once been taken. The period, previous to the meeting of the officers, was improved in preparing them for the adoption of moderate measures. Washington sent for one officer after another, and enlarged, in private, on the fatal consequences, and, particularly, on the loss of character to the whole army, which would result from intemperate resolutions. When the officers were convened, the commander in chief addressed them in a speech well calculated to calm their minds. He also pledged himself,