more deficient in regard to the history of the provinces than of the states. A matured work of genius, on their settlement and progress, which should embrace the most prominent and operative characters and events, from the era of colonization down to the Declaration of Independence, would be of incalculable value as a source of salutary pride and grateful instruction. We must, ourselves, resign that fertile period, to reach at once the galaxy of revolutionary worthies, of whom those, such as Washington and Putnam, and many others, who then did gallant service in the field, are, we think, fitted to excite particular interest on that account. Whoever had worn an epaulet in the colonial wars, was deemed of prime consequence in the revolutionary array; and it is mere justice to add, that the delinquents or recreants bore no proportion to the dauntless spirits whose blood flowed freely throughout the hard struggle, and whose experience, or ability, either great or small, proved specially advantageous.

When we call to mind the multitude of patriots bought by the enemy,-of those who espoused the cause of country only to sell or otherwise betray it-in all the civil wars and contests between freedom and tyranny, self-defence and ambitious invasion, whether in ancient or modern times,-in the English, the French and the Portuguese revolutions, we must be powerfully moved by the fact, that one individual alone, enlisted under the banners of American Independence, was found accessible to a bribe, and that individual the only one, in the list of chiefs, bearing a previous stain from sordid malversation. Lavish offers were made by the British, and none would have been spared, if success could have been hoped; the great majority of the insurgents were men of comparatively obscure birth, of relative or positive indigence; afflicted with every privation; sometimes, or often, sunk almost into despair, anticipating the extremity of wretchedness:-yet, there was but one marked instance of venality. We might venture upon the assertion, that there was hardly a man, worth acquiring, in the public councils, of whatever description, or any where in the revolutionary ranks, who would not, if tempted, have given the pithy answer which General Joseph Reed of Pennsylvania returned to the corrupt offer of governor Johnstone in 1778. "I am not worth purchasing, but such as I am, the king of Great Britain is not rich enough to do it."

The moral sublimity of WASHINGTON's character, which, after some time, was felt over the united colonies, as it is now acknowledged throughout the world, conduced to the widest spread and entire confirmation of that sense of honour and tenacity of

purpose, which the circumstance upon which we have laid so much stress, so forcibly exemplifies. It is not our intention to enter into the details of his public life and merits: they are sufficiently and universally known. His biography, however, has not yet been fully composed. Dugald Stewart observes of Fontenelle's Eloges, that their principal charm arises from the pleasing pictures, which they every where present, of genius and learning in the scenes of domestic life. Neither Ramsay nor Marshall, and much less the mere sketchers, have adequately developed and delineated the man, besides displaying the general and the politician.

His relative, George Washington Custis, esq., has recently, in the newspapers, described his person in a more satisfactory manner, than it had been before done, to our knowledge. The physical, harmonized with the intellectual and moral being. In the prime of life, his height was six feet two inches; his average weight about two hundred and twenty pounds, and his whole person of the noblest mould: his limbs and features were admirably proportioned: the first, sinewy, agile, and well exercised; the latter truly Roman, and irresistible in their majestic expression. No equestrian surpassed him in ease, skill, confidence, and bearing: in athletic sports and trials he could defy the swiftest and the strongest. All who have ever seen him, have felt the grandeur of his presence, and must know that it can scarcely be exaggerated. It was not properly stern nor stately; and yet it inspired, of itself, peculiar awe.

It is related in the Life of Peyton Randolph, on the authority of the venerable Charles Thomson, that, on the meeting of the first general Congress at Philadelphia, on the 5th of September, 1774, upon the house having been summoned to prayers, and after the chaplain had commenced service, it was perceived that, of all the members present, George Washington was the only one who was upon his knees. This was characteristic. He was truly religious, and in every circumstance and relation, strictly moral and blameless. Of what other hero, or great commander, can so much be said? The character of antiquity, to which this description carries back the reader, is Timoleon, as he is immortalized in Plutarch and Cornelius Nepos. In Washington, the sense of duty always prevailed over whatever other feelings or considerations. When Greene, the object of his liveliest esteem and regard, was appointed to the command of the southern army, he wrote to the General-in-chief

"I will prepare myself for the command as soon as I can, but as I have been upwards of five years in service, during all which time I have paid no attention to the settlement of my domestic

concerns, I wish it was possible for me to spend a few hours at home before I set out for the southward-especially as it is wholly uncertain how long my command may continue, or what deaths or accidents may happen during my absence. It will not be possible for me to set out under five days from this place, (West Point) if I put my baggage and business under the least degree of regulation; nor is my health in a condition for me to set off immediately, having had a considerable fever upon me for several days; and if I should set out before Mrs. Greene's arrival, the disappointment, added to the shock of my going southward, I fear will have some very disagreeable effect upon her health."

Washington replied to his favourite, in a letter dated two days after

"I wish circumstances could be made to correspond to your wishes to spend a little time at home, previous to your setting out for the southward; but your presence with your command, as soon as possible, is indispensable. The embarkation at NewYork sailed the 16th; in all probability destined to co-operate with Cornwallis, who, by the last advices, had advanced as far as Charleston. I hope to see you without delay, and that your health will be no obstacle to your commencing your journey."

Greene was fain to go. "Neither the fever that hung upon him" says his biographer, Judge Johnson-"the hourly expected arrival of a beloved and long absent consort; the demands of his private concerns; nor, above all, the endearments of children whom he had never seen but once, detained him a day longer from his duty." He moved under the impulse of a more provident and strenuous spirit.

Colonel Benjamin Walker, one of Washington's aides-decamp, had been long engaged to Miss Ledyard, a Quaker lady, of New-York, whom he afterwards married. Having been also long without seeing her, he asked the General leave of absence for a short time, to pay her a visit; but the public service did not permit this, and the General refused. Walker made pressing instances urged all the arguments he could devise; yet all in vain. At length his pain of disappointment became excessive, and he exclaimed-"But, General, what shall I do?" "Do?" answered the General, "why, write to her." "But, what shall I write ?" "Tell her," rejoined Washington, "to add another leaf to the Book of Sufferings."

Having descanted on the moral excellence of Washington, the transition is natural to another model of rigid integrity, whose name we have merely mentioned above-we mean Charles Thomson, whom we may call "perpetual secretary" of the revolutionary Congress. There is no account of him in

the biographical works in our hands; nor, indeed, any in print, as far as we have heard. The Indians instinctively surnamed him the Man of Truth, as, with no less propriety, they called the late Colonel Meigs, the White Path. Of the Man of Truth, we have recollections of our own; having passed very interesting hours with him a few years ago, after he had turned the age of ninety, though while he retained his memory of revolutionary times. But we prefer to use the following familiar statements, kindly imparted, before his death, (1824,) by one of his most intimate and accomplished friends.

I have believed that it might, perhaps, be acceptable to you to receive such notices of this venerable patriot, as my opportunities from time to time of his interesting conversations have enabled me to communicate; and I am safe in stating, that a reliance may certainly be placed upon what I have to offer, for it is not wholly from recollection that I draw: I had long been in the habit, when I returned from visiting this remarkable man, of writing down the information elicited in conversation, especially respecting himself.

He is by birth an Irishman, but left that country when very young, in company with his father and three brothers, being himself the youngest son. He was born in November, 1729, and was about eleven years of age when he arrived in this country; his father having died on the passage, his brothers thought that the captain, who had behaved in such a manner as to warrant the suspicion, embezzled the money which their father had brought out with him; he turned them on shore at New-Castle, with but very slender means of providing for themselves, in a strange country. Charles has told me, that his greatest anxiety was to procure the advantages of education, and that one of his brothers kindly furnished him with money, from one quarter to another, to pay for his schooling, which he afterwards gratefully repaid, by purchasing a plantation, and presenting it to his brother. It was his good fortune, to place himself at the school of Dr. Allinson, a clergyman of high character for classical learning, who, at that time, resided at Thunder-hill, in Maryland. Here also were educated, at the same period, the late governor M'Kean, and George Read of Delaware, with several other distinguished persons. I have heard him, in describing the state of the country, at that time, say, that the deer often crossed his path, and that he had seen the beaver at work. In these times of simplicity, books were very scarce, so that a single lexicon served the whole school. One of the boys, who had been in Philadelphia, had brought down a volume of the Spectator, which Charles Thomson says, he read with incredible delight, and upon his school-fellow's telling him, that a whole set were on sale at a book-store in town, at a price which his little store of cash could afford, he set off the next day, without asking leave, walked to Philadelphia, and having possess

ed himself of the treasure, returned to school without further delay, where the motive of his absence being made known, it procured his pardon.

At this seminary, he obtained a knowledge of the Greek and Latin languages, and of the mathematics, and such other acquirements, as enabled him, when a very young man, to keep the Friends' Academy in Philadelphia, with considerable credit to himself. He afterwards married, and went into business in that city. I have heard him say, that his acquaintance with Dr. Franklin, began with his introducing himself to that distinguished man, stating his youth, inexperience, and unprotected situation, and entreating him to afford his countenance and advice, and if he found him worthy, his friendship-which was, upon trial, fully accorded, and lasted through the Doctor's life. He belonged, at this period, to a club, modelled upon that of the famous Junta to which Franklin had belonged,-where they used to discuss political questions, and were constantly on the alert to render services to their fellow citizens.

Charles Thomson's principles were early of a most republican cast; I think he began the opposition to the stamp act in Pennsylvania. I will repeat, in his own words, the narrative which he gave us, of his first officiating as secretary of congress:

"I was married to my second wife, on a Thursday; on the next Monday, I came to town to pay my respects to my wife's aunt, and the family; just as I alighted in Chesnut street, the doorkeeper of congress (then first met,) accosted me with a message from them, requesting my presence. Surprised at this, and not able to divine why I was wanted, I however bade my servant put up the horses, and followed the messenger myself, to the Carpenter's Hall, and entered congress,-here was indeed an august assembly! and deep thought and solemn anxiety were observable on their countenances! I walked up the aisle, and standing opposite to the President, I bowed, and told him I awaited his plea. sure. He replied, ، Congress desire the favour of you, sir, to take their Minutes.' I bowed in acquiescence, and took my seat at the desk. After a short silence, Patrick Henry arose to speak. I did not then know him; he was dressed in a suit of parson's gray, and from his appearance, I took him for a presbyterian clergyman, used to haranguing the people; he observed, that we were here met in a time, and on an occasion of great difficulty and distress; that our public circumstances were like those of a man in deep embarrassment and trouble, who had called his friends toge ther to devise what was best to be done for his relief-one would propose one thing, and another a different one, whilst perhaps a third would think of something better suited to his unhappy circumstances, which he would embrace, and think no more of the rejected schemes, with which he would have nothing to do. I thought," continued the venerable narrator, "that this was very