"Happy farmers! the long winter of war is past and gone the spring time of PEACE is returned, and the voice of her dove is heard in our land. Restore your wasted farms. Spread abroad the fertilizing manure and prepare again to crown your war worn fields with joyful crops."

"HAPPY children! now pour forth again in safety to your schools. Treasure up the golden knowledge; and make yourselves the future glory and guardians of your country."

HAPPY citizens! hasten to rebuild the ruined temples of your God. And lift your glad songs to HIM, the great ruler of war, who aided your feeble arms, and trampled down the mighty enemy beneath your feet.”

BUT often, amidst these happy thoughts, the swift-wheeled chariot would bring him in view of fields on which his bleeding memory could not dwell without a tear." There the battling armies met in thunder. The stormy strife was short. But yonder mournful hillocks point the place where many of our brave heroes sleep; perhaps some good angel has whispered that their fall was not in vain.”

On his journey homewards, he stopped for a moment at Philadelphia, to do an act, which to a mind proudly honest like his, must have been a sublime treat. He stopped to present to the comptroller-general an account of all the public monies which he had spent. Though this account was in his own hand writing, and accompanied with the proper vouchers, yet it will hardly be credited by European statesmen and generals, that, in the course of an eight years war, he had spent only 12,4971.8s.9d. sterling!!

FROM Philadelphia he hastened on to Annapolis, where congress was then in session, that he might return to that honourable body the commission with which they had entrusted him.

HAVING always disliked parade, he wished to make kis signation in writing. But congress, it seems, willed otherwise. To see a man voluntarily giving

up power, was a spectatcle not to be met with every day. And that they might have the pleasure of seeing him in this last, and perhaps greatest, act of his public life, they expressed a wish to receive his resignation from his own hand at a full audience. The next day, the 23d of December, 1783, was appointed for the purpose. At an early hour the house was crowded. The members of congress, with the grandees of the land, filled the floors. The ladies sparkled in the galleries. At eleven o'clock, Washington was ushered into the house, and conducted to a seat which had been prepared for him, covered with red velvet. After a becoming pause, and information given by the president, that the United States in congress assembled were ready to receive his communication, he arose; and with great brevity and modesty observed, that he had presented himself before them, to resign into their hands with satisfaction the commission which, eight years before, he had accepted with diffidence. He begged to offer them his sincerest congratulations for the glorious result of their united struggles; took no part of the praise to himself; but ascribed all to the blessing of Heaven on the exertions of the nation. Then fervently commending his dearest country to the protection of Almighty God, he bade them an affectionate farewell; and taking leave of all the employments of public life, surrendered up his commission!

SELDOM has there been exhibited so charming a display of the power which pre-eminent virtue possesses over the human heart, as on this occasion. Short and simple as was the speech of Washington, yet it seems to have carried back every trembling imagination to the fearful days of '75, when the British fleets and armies were thundering on our coasts, and when nothing was talked of but slavery, confiscation, and executions. And now they saw before them the man to whom they all looked for safety in that gloomy time-who had completely answered their fond hopes-who had stood by them incorrup

tible and unshaken-had anticipated their mighty enemy in all his plans-had met him at every point—had thwarted, defeated, and blasted all his hopes-and, victory after victory won, had at length laid his strong legions in dust or in chains-and had secured to his country a glorious independence, with the fairest chance of being one of the most respectable and happy nations of the earth-and, in consequence of all this, had so completely won the hearts of his army and his nation,, that he could perhaps have made himself their master. At all events, a Cæsar or a Cromwell would, at the hazard of a million of lives, made the sacrilegious attempt. Yet they now saw this man scorning to abuse his power to the degradation of his country, but on the contrary, treating her with the most sacred respect-dutifully bowing before her delegated presence, the congress-cheerfully returning the commission she had entrusted him withpiously laying down his extensive powers at her feet-and modestly falling back into the humble condition of the rest of her children. The sight of their great countryman, already so beloved, and now acting so generous, so godlike a part, produced an effect beyond the power of words to express. Their feelings of admiration and affection were too delicious, too big for utterance. Every countenance was swollen with sentiment: and delicious tears moistened every eye, which, though a silent, was perhaps the richest offering of veneration and esteem ever paid to a human being.

HAVING discharged this last great debt to his country, the next morning, early, he ascended his chariot; and listened with joy to the rattling wheels, now running off his last day's journey to Mount Vernon. Ah! could gloomy tyrants but feel what Washington felt that day, when, sweeping along the road, with grateful heart, he revolved the mighty work which he had finished his country saved and his conscience clear; they would tear off the accursed purple, and, starting from their blood-stained thrones, like Washington, seek true happiness in making others happy.

O WASHINGTON! thrice glorious name,
What due rewards can man decree?
Empires are far below thy aim,

And sceptres have no charms for thee;
Duty alone has thy regard,

In her thou seek'st thy great reward.

CHAPTER XI.

Washington again on his farm-sketch of his conduc there-suggests the importance of inland navigation-companies forming-urges a reform of the old constitution--appointed President of the United States--great difficulties to encounter -glori ously surmounts them."

TO be happy in every situation is a proof of wisdom seldom afforded by man. It proves that the heart is set on that which alone can ever completely satisfy it, i. e. the imitation of God in benevolent and useful life. This was the happy case with Washington. To establish in his country the golden reign of liberty is his grand wish. In the accomplishment of this he seeks his happiness. He abhors war; but, if war be necessary, to this end he bravely encoun ters it. His ruling passion must be obeyed. He beat his ploughshare into a sword, and exchanged the peace and pleasures of his farm for the din and dangers of the camp. Having won the great prize for which he contended, he returns to his plough. His military habits are laid by with the same ease as he would throw off an old coat. The camp with all its parade and noise, is forgotten. He awakes, in his silent chambers at Mount Vernon, without sighing for the sprightly drums and fifes that used to sa

lute him every morning. Happy among his domestics, he does not regret the shining ranks of patriot soldiers that used to pay him homage. The useful citizen is the high character he wishes to act-his sword turned into a ploughshare is his favourite instrument; and his beloved farm his stage. Agriculture had been always his delight. To breathe the pure healthful air of a farm, perfumed with odorous flowers, and enriched with golden harvests, and with numerous flocks and herds, appeared to him a life nearest connected with individual and national happiness. To this great object he turns all his attention-bends all his exertions. He writes to the most skilful farmers, not only in America, but in England (for Washington was incapable of bearing malice against a people who harl been reconciled to his country ;) he writes, I say, to the ablest farmers in America and England, for instructions how best to cultivate and improve his lands-what grains, what grasses, what manures would best suit his soils; what shrubs are fittest for fences, and what animals for labour.

BUT, to a soul large and benevolent like his, to beautify his own farm, and to enrich his own family, seemed like doing nothing. To see the whole nation engaged in glorious toils, filling themselves with plenty, and inundating the sea ports with food and raiment for the poor and needy of distant nations--this was his godlike ambition. But, knowing that his beloved countrymen could not long enjoy the honour and advantage of such glorious toils, unless they could easily convey their swelling harvests to their own markets, he hastened to rouse them to a proper sense of the infinite importance of forming canals and cuts between all the fine rivers that run through the United States. To give the greater weight to his counsel, he had first ascended the sources of those great rivers--ascertained the distance between them--the obstacles in the way of navigation---and the probable expence of removing them.