1800. | 
certainly thefe confequences did not enter 
into the original plan of the American 
leaders. There are thofe who remember 
the horror expreffed by Dr. Franklin, be- 
fore he ieft England, at the bare mention 
of feparation: yet franklin was, perhaps, 
of all the Americans, the man moft likely 
to entertain fuch a projet. Their lea- 
ders were in general men of great fobriety, 
caution, and practical good fenfe; zealous 
indeed for the maintenance of their ancient 
legal rights and privileges; but utterly 
untainted by that daring and fpeculative 
character which leads men to feek untried, 
and perilous paths in politics, for their 
own greatnefs or for fuppofed public 
benefit. 
The diforders in America had reached 
their height, and it became perfeétly ob- 
vious, that the difpute between the two 
countries could only be decided by arms, 
when the reprefentatives of the thirteen 
provinces aflembled at Philadelphia, on 
the 26th day of October, 1774. Of this 
famous affembly Mr. Wafhington was 
one; no American united in fo high a de- 
gree as he did military experience, with 
refpectable charaéter and great natural 
influence. He was therefore appointed to 
the command of the * army which af- 
fembled in the New England Provinces, 
to hold’ in check the Britith army under 
General Gage, then encamped at Bofton. 
If thefe circumftances had not called 
Wathington forth, he would have lived 
happy, and died obfcure, as a refpectable 
country gentleman in Virginia: now the 
{cene opened which made his name im. 
mortal: fo dependent upon accident is 
human fame, and fo great is_ the power of 
circumftances in, calling forth, and per- 
haps even in forming, the § genius of men. 
In the month of July, 1775, General 
Wafthington took the command of the con- 
tinental army before Bofton. To detail 
his conduét in the years which followed, 
would be to relate the hiftory of the ‘Ame 
rican war: a moft memorable and inftruc- 
tive part of Britifh annals, which has not 
yet been treated in a manner fuited to its 
importance and dignity. Within a very 
fhort period after the declaration of inde- 
pendence, the affairs of America were ina 
condition fo defperate, that perhaps no- 
thing but the peculiar charaéter of Wath- 
ington’s genius could have retrieved them. 

* On this occafion as well as throughout 
the whole public life of Wafhington, he re- 
fufed any compenfation for his fervices. He 
never received any falary in any as civil or 
Miuitary.. 
Memoirs of George Wafbington. 
167 
A&tivity was the policy of invaders. In 
the field of battle the fuperiority of a difci-: 
plined army is difplayed. But delay was 
the wifdom of a country, defended by un- 
difciplined foldiers againftan enemy who 
muft be more exhaufted by time than he 
could be weakened by defeat. It requir- 
ed the confummate prudence, the calm 
wifdom, the inflexible firmnefs, the mo- 
derate and well balanced temper of Wath- 
ington to embrace fuch a plan of policy, 
and to perfevere in it; to refift the temp- 
tations of enterprize; to fix the confidence 
of his toldiers without the attraction of 
victory; to fupport the {pirit of the army 
and the people amidft thofe flow and cau- 
tious plans of defenfive warfare which are 
more difpiriting than defeat itfelf; to con- 
tain his own ambition and the impetuofity 
of his troops; to endure temporary ob{cu- 
rity for the falvation of his country, and 
for the attainment of folid and immortal 
glory; and to fuffer even temporary re- 
proach and sbloquy, fupported by the ap- 
probation of his own confcience and the 
applaufe of that fmall number of wife men 
whofe praife is an earneft of the admiration 
and gratitude of pofterity. Victorious ge- 
nerals eafily acquire the confidence of their 
army. ‘[heirs, however,‘is 4 confidence in 
the fortume of their general. That of 
Wafhington’s army was a confidence in 
his wifdom. Victory gives fpirit to cow 
ards, and even the agitations of defeat 
fometimes impart a courage of defpair. 
Courage is inipired by fuccefs, and it may 
be {timulated to defperate exertion even by 
calamity, but it is generally palfied by in- 
aftivity—A fyftem of cautious defence is 
the fevereft trial of human fortitude. By 
this teft the firmnefs of Wafhingten was 
tried, His intrepidity never could have 
maintained itfelf under fuch circurnftances, 
if it had arifen from ambition or vain glory, 
from robult nerves oy diforderly enthubafm. 
It itood the teft, becaufe it grew out of the 
deep root of principle andduty. His mind 
was fo perfectly framed, that he did not 
need the vulgar incentives of fame and glo- 
ry toroufe his genius. In him public vir- 
tue was a principle of fufficient force to ex- 
cite the fame great exertions to which the 
rabble of heroes muft be ftimulated by the 
love of power or of praife. 
Tt is hardly neceffary to fay, that the 
courage which flowed from honefty, was 
tempered in its exercife by humanity. 
The charatter of Wafhington was not de- 
formed by any of thofe furious paffions 
which drive men to ferocity. His mili- 
tary life was unftained by military er uelty; 
and if we lamented the fey arity of Lome of 
Y 2 his 



