the blood of their feet,) and almost as often without provisions as with them, marching through the frost and snow, and at Christmas taking up their winterquarters, within a day's march of the enemy; without a house or hut to cover them, till they could be built; and submitting, without a murmur; is a proof of patience and obedience, which, in my opinion, can scarce be paralleled.

1778.

The more its virtue and forbearance are tried, the more resplendent it appears.

My hope is, that the military exit of this valuable class of the community will exhibit such a proof of amor patriæ, as will do them honor in the page of history.

178:.

THE "PATRIOT ARMY."

The glorious task, for which we first flew to arms, being accomplished; the liberties of our country being fully acknowledged, and firmly secured by the smiles of Heaven, on the purity of our cause, and the honest exertions of a feeble people, determined to be free, against a powerful nation disposed to oppress them; and the character of those who have persevered through every extremity of hardship, suffering, and danger, being immortalized, by the illustrious appellation of the "PATRIOT ARMY;" nothing now remains, but for

the actors of this mighty scene to preserve a perfect, unvarying consistency of character, through the very last act, to close the drama with applause, and to retire from the military theatre, with the same approbation of angels and men, which has crowned all their former virtuous actions.

1783.

They were, at first, a band of undisciplined husbandmen; but it is, under God, to their bravery and attention to their duty, that I am indebted, for that success, which has procured me the only reward I wish to receive, the affection and esteem of my country

men.

1776.

Seconded by such a body of yeomanry, as repaired to the standard of liberty, fighting in their own native land, fighting for all that freemen hold dear, and whose docility soon supplied the place of discipline, it was scarcely in human nature, under its worst character, to abandon them in their misfortunes; nor is it for me to claim any singular merit for having shared in a common danger, and triumphed with them, after a series of the severest toil and most accumulated distress, over a formidable foe.

1790.

THE CINCINNATI SOCIETY.

There is not, I conceive, an unbiassed mind, that would refuse the officers of the late army the right

of associating, for the purpose of establishing a fund for the support of the poor and distressed of their fraternity, when many of them, it is well known, are reduced to their last shifts, by the ungenerous conduct of their country, in not adopting more vigorous measures to render their certificates productive.

The motives, which induced the officers to enter into it, were, I am positive, truly and frankly recited in the institution; one of which, and the principal, was to establish a charitable fund, for the relief of such of their compatriots, and the widows and descendants of them, as were fit objects for such support, and for whom no provision had been made by the public.

But, the trumpet being sounded, the alarm spread far and wide.

When the Society was formed, I am persuaded not a member of it conceived, that it would give birth to those jealousies, or be charged with those dangers, real or imaginary, with which the minds of many, and of some respectable characters in these States, seem to be agitated.

I am perfectly convinced, that, if the first institution of this Society had not been parted with, ere this we should have had the country in an uproar, and a line of separation drawn between this Society and their fellow-citizens.

The alterations, which took place at the last general meeting, have quieted the clamors, which in many of the States were rising to a great height.

1785.

That charity is all that remains of the original institution, none, who will be at the trouble of examining it, can deny.

ARMS AND ACCOUTREMENTS OF THE PATRIOT ARMY.

I must beg the liberty, to suggest to Congress, an idea, which has been hinted to me, and which has affected my mind, very forcibly. That is, that, at the discharge of the men for the war, Congress should suffer those men, non-commissioned Officers and Soldiers, to take with them, as their own property, and as a gratuity, the Arms and Accoutrements they now hold.

This act would raise pleasing sensations in the minds of those worthy and faithful men, who, from their early engaging in the war at moderate bounties, and from their patient continuance under innumerable distresses, have not only deserved nobly of their country, but have obtained an honorable distinction over those, who, with shorter times, have gained large pecuniary rewards.

This, at a comparatively small expense, would be deemed an honorable testimonial from Congress, of

the regard they bear to those distinguished worthies, and the sense they have had of their sufferings, virtucs, and services, which have been so happily instrumental, towards the establishment and security of the rights, liberties, and independence of this rising empire.

These constant companions of their toils, preserved with sacred attention, would be handed down from the present possessors to their children, as HONORARY BADGES OF BRAVERY AND MILITARY MERIT; and would probably be brought forth, on some future occasion, with pride and exultation, to be improved with the same military ardor and emulation, in the hands of posterity, as they have been used by their forefathers, in the present establishment and foundation of our national independence.

1783.

A STANDING ARMY.

I am persuaded, and as fully convinced as I am of any one fact that has happened, that our liberties must of necessity be hazarded, if not entirely lost, if their defence is left to any but a permanent Standing Army I mean, one to exist during the war. 1776.

It becomes evident to me, that, as this contest is not likely to be the work of a day, as the war must be carried on systematically, (and to do it you must have good officers,) there are no other possible means