52 LIFE AND CORRESPONDEXCE OF THE [1781 



in whicli we are engaged is not grounded on tlie wicked passions of 

 Ambition, Malice, Revenge, Cruelty, and the like; but that, in sight 

 of Men and Angels, and of Him, who is above all the quires of Angels, 

 we contend for the security of those sacred and unalienable Rights, 

 which the good Providence of God called us to inherit. These we are 

 never to desert, but to strive for them, at every peril, with a holy and 

 unquenchable Zeal ; persevering, if need be, even unto Death. Every 

 People and Country have native and essential Rights, which neither in 

 conscience, nor in duty to God and themselves, they can tamely sur- 

 render. When Liberty is invaded, when Property is insecure, when 

 Devastation, and Plunder, and all the Horrors of War, are around a 

 People, it is their sacred Duty, by every brave and heroic Exertion, to 

 repel such Iniquity ; and to seek for the Re-establishment of Peace and 

 Safety, by every means in their power, hostile or otherwise. In such 

 cases, Resistance is the voice of Nature, and of God. We have resisted 

 — and Resisted even unto Blood; and through the blessing of God, 

 have repelled the danger, and opened the Prospect of future Safety — 

 opened it so far indeed, that, as already observed, our i)resent Hopes, 

 compared with our former Fears, in the short period of about nine 

 months, have converted a kind of temporary Despondency into a well- 

 grounded Confidence, in the Strength of the Almighty 



Lost, therefore, to every sentiment of religious Gratitude should we 

 be, if we did not this day, adore that Providence which has accom- 

 plished such a mighty Salvation for our country ! And especiallv, let 

 us remember, as I hinted before, to temper our Joy, with the consider- 

 ation, that even the best Fruits of Victory are beset with thorns ; and 

 that what are days of Rejoicing to some, are but days of Mourning to 

 others, whose dearest Relatives, have given their lives, as a sacrifice, in 

 the Contest. This world is a chequered scene, and we are to expect no 

 pure Bliss in it. But let us act the part of good Citizens, good Men and 

 good Christians ; and then we may safely trust the Issue to the Direction 

 of that Almighty Being, who is supremely, just, wise, and holy! 



Dr. Smith entertained for his family connections in general a 

 warm regard, and in the event of their death, usually made some 

 record of the fact. I find in his " Diary" this entry, May 3d, 1781 : 



'•John Wemyss died at this date, at Glasgow, Scotland. He was a 

 Lieutenant in the 42d Royal Highlanders, 2d Battalion, now 73d." * 



* I infer that this John Wemyss was a relative of Dr. Smith's wife, as she (as will be 

 seen hereafter) was connected with the family of the Earl of Wemyss. Lieutenant 

 John Wemyss had served in America with Bouquet, and had been an ofificcr in Mont- 

 gomery's Highlanders. He had also furnished Dr. Smith with much of the matter out 

 of which he compiled his acccnint of the ex[)edition against the Ohio Indians. James 

 Wemyss, who was an uncle to Dr. .Smith's wife, was also with this expedition. He 

 was stationed in New York', but returned to Scotland and became the Fifth Earl of 

 Wemyss. 



