How far from N. Y. 1

On what days? The third and fourth of July.

For what, was the latter day greatly distinguished?

How many square miles does Staten Island contain? About 100. What difficulties did the Howes profess to have power to settle? Why would not Washington receive a letter, which they sent him? Why was Washington so punc-| tilious? It would be very dishonorable to receive a private letter from an enemy.

Whom did the Howes send, to negotiate with Washington? Col. Patterson.

How did W. and P. treat each other? Very politely. What title did P. give W. in conversation? Your Excellency. What power, did it appear, the Howes possessed?

that

What did W. say to that? As the Americans had committed no fault, they needed no pardon.

How numerous was the American army in and near N. Y.?

In what part of Long Island, had a great part of the American army encamped? Brooklyn.

Under whom? Gen. Putnam. Which way is Brooklyn from N. Y.?

When did the British forces cross the Narrows, and land on Long Island? Aug. 22.

What are the Narrows? A strait that separates Long Island from Staten Island.

How long had those forces been on Staten Island?

On what day, was fought the battle of Brooklyn?

† NOTE C. C.

Capt. Nathan Hale.

Gen. Washington, after the retreat from Long Island, applied to Col. Knowlton, to adopt some method of gaining the necessary in

How long after the battle, was this retreat?

What two occurrences in divine providence wonderfully favored the escape of our men?

What would probably have been the consequence, if these occurrences had not taken place? Probably every American there would have been shortly slain or captured; and worst of all, Washington himself would have been lost to the cause of freedom.

How far from the Americans, were the British encamped? One third of a mile. †

For what purpose, was Capt.

formation respecting the enemy. Col. K. communicated the General's request to Capt. Hale, who at once offered himself a volunteer for that hazardous service. Having passed in disguise to Long Island, examined every part of the British

army, and obtained the best possible intelligence, respecting its situation and intended operations, he was apprehended in his attempt to return, and brought before Sir William Howe, who gave immediate order to the provost marshal to execute him the next morning. The order was accordingly executed in a most unfeeling manner, and by as great a savage, as ever disgraced humanity.

The attendance of a clergyman was refused him, and a bible, though requested, was not procured. Letters written to his mother and friends on the morning of his execution, were destroyed; the provost marshal assigning this extraordinary reason for that outrage, "that the rebels should not

North River.

Another name for North Riv

er?

Through a considerable part of what state, did W. then retreat?! Who closely pursued him? Through what considerable places?

Which is most westerly, Newark or Trenton?

What river did Washington cross from Trenton ?

Into what state?

Which way is Trenton from Philadelphia ?- from N. Y. ? To which, is it nearest ?

Under what circumstances of deep depression did Washington conduct this retreat?

What American general has been peculiarly distinguished by trials and perplexities? - When?

What eare, in a great measure, devolved upon him? Who aided him?

To what, may his difficulties be compared ?

Can you mention one of the most dreadful of his long trials?

What was probably the influence of his previous prosperity, upon this trial?

Mention some particulars of this prosperity.

First scene of his great sorrow?

greater aggregate of perplexities and trials in an equal time, than Washington, during the first six years of the war or exhibited a greater amount of maguanimity under them. He had to contend with a most powerful enemy, under vast and numberless disadvantages. Though Congress, and his little band of trusty officers afforded him all the aid in their power, yet upon him, in a great measure, devolved the care of raising his men, of forming them into soldiers, of feeding, clothing and paying them, of directing their operations, of providing military stores, of watching the movements of the enemy, and of discovering and defeating their designs. His difficulties may be regarded as a vast chain of lofty mountains, scarcely separated by a plain or vale, with numerous peaks, lifting their black and craggy heads above their fellows. One of the most dreadful of these, was that which he passed from the vicinity of Fort Lee to the Delaware. Its duration was about 20 days. This must have been rendered more distressing by his previous prosperity. He had been suddenly elevated to the highest military office and honor, that the love of freedom could confer. He had been welcomed and hailed at Cambridge with every demonstration of confidence and of joy, that heart could wish. He had been

How greatly was the American army reduced within 3 months?

What hope had been cherished respecting the royal army, after the evacuation of Fort Lee!

With what hope, did the British then become more sanguine than ever?

What opprobrious name was given to the retreating soldiers? Where did consternation reign? What danger was there from the disaffected?

enabled to drive the British from Boston; and had been received by her half famished, half frozen citizens, by such a burst of grateful rapture, as was probably never before nor since, excited there, nor ever shall be, by mortal man Long Island seems to have been the first scene of his mighty sorrows, though not indeed of his amazing cares and toils. With the most pungent anguish, he was there destined to behold some of his choicest troops cut down or captured, by hundreds and by thousands, without being able to afford them the least relief.

"And now misfortunes take their turn to reign,

And ills on ills succeed, a dreadful train!"

Very soon he is constrained to quit N. Y. city. Within a few weeks, he deems it prudent to leave N. Y. Island. About the 12th of Nov. he crosses the Hudson and joins Gen. Greene near Fort Lee the next day. Within three days, Nov. 16, he is robbed of 26 hundred of his best remaining troops, being the whole garrison of Fort Washington. Within two or three days after, Fort Lee must be evacuated, or its garrison of 1500 must share the same fate.

Terrified by these dreadful disasters, and trembling for his own

safety, every American soldier becomes impatient of the camp; and in a very short time, the army is almost annihilated. Many withdraw, and it is actually reduced to one sixth part of what it was three months before-from 17,000 to less than 3,000. Some hope had been indulged, that the royal troops would go into winter quarters, and leave the little shattered remnant of the patriot army, to enjoy repose, wherever they could find an asylum from the snow and from the blast. But no, they must be pursued. Animated by success, the British become more sanguine than ever with the hope of speedily terminating the war of crushing rebellion at a blow. Washington with his destitute and shivering band, must flee-flee for lifeflee for the life of liberty and independence, as well as for their own life. And do not multitudes flock to the standard of the retreating hero? Is he not immediately so reinforced, as to be able to face the pride of Britain, and drive back the desolating scourge? Let Dr. Ramsay reply, "As the retreating Americans marched through the country, scarcely one of the inhabitants joined them, wine numbers were

Confederation of the states. Battles of Trenton and Princeton. Washington at Morristown. Patriotism of Congress.

When the American cause was at the lowest point, in '76, how did

daily flocking to the royal army, to make their peace and obtain protection. They saw on the one side, a numerous, well appointed and full clad army, dazzling their eyes with the elegance of uniformity; on the other, a few poor fellows, who, from their shabby ap pearance, were called ragamuffins, fleeing for their safety." They consisted mostly of the troops, that had garrisoned Fort Lee, and had been compelled to abandon that post so suddenly, that they commenced their retreat without tents or blankets, and without any utensils to dress their provisions.” In this situation, they performed a march of about 90 miles, through the greater part of the length of N. J. "The pursuit was urged with so much rapidity, that the rear of the one army, pulling down bridges, was often within sight and shot of the van of the other, building them up."

Every thing at this period of the war," says Botta, "threatened America with an inevitable catastrophe. The army was so enfeebled, that it scarcely amounted to 3000, who had lost all courage and all energy, and were exposed in an open country, without instruments

Congress feel with regard to ultimate success?

In what, were they engaged in drawing up and discussing? Meaning of confederation? Who had submitted to Congress,

to entrench themselves, without tents to shelter them, and in the midst of a population, little zealous, or rather hostile, to the republic."

"In so profound a distress, the American general could not hope to receive prompt or sufficient reinforcements. Consternation reigned in all the contiguous provinces; so that each, trembling for himself, refused to succor others. Upon the heel of so many disasters, was the imminent danger of seditions on the part of the disaffected, who in various places loudly invoked the name of England. An insurrection appeared ready to explode in the county of Monmouth in the very heart of N. J.; so that Washington found himself constrained to detach a part of his army, already a mere skeleton, to overawe the agitators. The presence of a victorious royal army had dissipated the terror, with which the patriots at first inspired the loyalists. They began to abandon themselves, without reserve, to all the fury, which animated them against their adversaries. Encouraged by this, the Howes circulated a proclamation through the country, commanding all those who had arms in their hands, to disperse and return to their habitations; and all those who exercised civil magistracies, to cease their functions, and divest themselves of their usurped authority. At the same time, a full pardon was offered to all such, as within 60 days should present themselves before the officers of the crown, and promise obedience to the laws and authority of Britain. This proclamation had the effect

articles of confederation in '75? Dr. Franklin.

Why were they not then acted upon? Most of the members were unprepared for such a measure.

When was the subject resumed?

intended. Multitudes came to implore the Royal forgiveness, and promise submission. Nor was it merely in N. J. in the midst of the victorious royal troops, that these abrupt changes of party were observed to take place. The inhabitants of Pa. flocked, in like manner, to humble themselves at the feet of the commissioners, and to promise obedience. Every day ushered in some new calamity; and the cause of America seemed hastening to ruin. The most discreet no longer dissembled, that the end of the war was at hand; and that the hour was come, in which the colonists were about to resume the yoke.

serene

"But Washington, in the midst of so much adversity, did not despair. His constancy was an object of admiration. Far from betraying any symptoms of hesitation or fear, he showed himself to his dejected soldiers, with a countenance, and radiant, as it were, with a certain hope of a better future. Adverse fortune had not been able to vanquish, nay, not even to shake, this invincible spirit." He was indeed supported and comforted by Congress, "Firmly resolved to pursue their object through every fortune, they manifested a similar constancy. It appeared as if the spirit of these great minds increased with adversity.

This may serve as a specimen of the trials of Washington, and of the incomparable sublimity of his stupendous mind. Other trials indeed he had, perhaps even greater, which for want of room must be passed over in comparative silence.