240 Trumbull Gallery of Paintings in Yale College. 
under various forms, but never fulfilled, they saw themselves on 
the point of being disbanded, and by being scattered among the 
mass of their fellow-citizens, deprived of any chance of obtain- 
ing justice by the influence of a united effort; nor were there 
wanting among them fiery spirits, to place all this distinctly be- 
fore their view, and to urge them not to lay down their arms or 
disperse, until substantial justice should be obtained. What a 
dazzling temptation was here to earthly ambition! Beloved by 
the military, venerated by the people, who was there to oppose 
the victorious chief, if he had chosen to retain that power which 
he had so long held with universal approbation? The Cesars, 
the Cromwells, the Napoleons, yielded to the charm of earthly 
ambition, and betrayed their country ; but Washington aspired to 
loftier, imperishable glory,—to that glory which virtue alone can 
give, and which no power, no effort, no time, can ever take away 
or diminish. 
After taking an affectionate leave of his old comrades at New 
York, accompanied by only two of them, Col. Benjamin Walker 
and Col. Humphreys, aids-du-camp, he proceeded to Annapolis, 
where Congress, the very shadow of a government, were then 
sitting, and there resigned his commission into the hands of 
twenty-three powerless men, divested himself of all authority; 
and retired to private life. 
The following impressive history of the scene is copied from 
the Journal of Congress, and has been the basis of the picture. 
One additional circumstance deserves notice, not so much for its 
importance as for its singularity. Thomas Mifflin, then prest- 
dent of Congress, and into whose hands the general resigned his 
commission, had been, in 1775, his first aid-du-camp, and he whe 
painted the picture had been his second. 
Eiztract from the Journal of Congress, Dec. 23, 1783. 
According to order, his Excellency, the commander-in-chief, 
was admitted to a public audience, and being seated, the Pres 
dent, after a pause, informed him that the United States, in Ones 
ess assembled, were prepared to receive his communications; 
whereupon he arose and addressed Congress as follows :— 
The great events on which my resignation depended, hav- 
. 
ing at length taken place, I have now the honor of offering ™Y 
