s 5? ^ AtiEUNIVERS//, // THE DAVID HUMPHREYS, Late Minister Plenipotentiary from the United States of America to the Court of Madrid. NEW-YORK: / PRINTED BY T. AND J. SWORDS, NO. 160 PEARL-STREET, 1804. District of Massachusetts, to wit : BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the twenty-first Day of April, 1804, and in the twenty-eighth Year of the Seal* Independence of the United States of America, GIL BERT and DEAN, of the said District, have deposited in this Office the Title of a Book, the Right whereof they claim as Proprietors, in the Words following, to tvit: " The Miscellaneous Works of DAVID HUMPHREYS, late Minister Ple nipotentiary from the United States of America to the Court of Madrid." In conformity to the Act of the Congress of the United States, entitled, " An Act for the Encouragement of Learning, by secur ing the Copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the Authors and Proprietors of such Copies, during the Times therein men tioned;" and also to an Act, entitled, " An Act, supplementary to an Act, entitled, An Act for the Encouragement of Learning, by securing the Copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the Au r thors and Proprietors of such Copies, during the Times therein mentioned ; and extending the Benefits thereof to the Arts of De signing, Engraving, and Etching Historical and other Prints." N. GOODALE, Clerk of the District of Massachusetts. A true Cojiy of Record. (Attest) N. GOODALE, Clerk. TO THE DUKE DE ROCHEFOUCAULT, With the Address to the Armies of America, and some shorter Productions. MY LORD DUKE, 1. OUR knowledge of the language in which these mis cellanies are written, your protection of the fine arts, and your civilities to the Author, induce him to address this collection to your Lordship. It is consistent with the frankness of a free-born American to say, that your noble blood, and immense possessions, would be of little consi deration with the Republicans, w T hose Constitutions of Government you have made familiar to your own nation, by translating them into French, if unsupported by your personal merit and amiable accomplishments. The frequency of naval intercourse, and the extension of polite literature, seem greatly to approximate the distant parts of the globe the Atlantic is no barrier for limiting fame. Your reputation has been long since extensively and advantageously known throughout the United States of America. That republican people cannot but admire so excellent a private character, so disinterested a patriot, and so able a defender of the rights of human nature. The voice of undebauched reason, which is thus raised at this vast distance from you, to bestow a tribute of ap plause on your virtues, is infinitely different from the venal voice of flatter} 7 . Nor should the conscious satisfaction vi TO THE DUKE DE ROCHEFOUCAULT. which results from the review of a life spent in beneficent pursuits, prevent a virtuous man from being also pleased with the favourable opinion that is entertained of his con duct by such of his fellow-men as can have no possible sinister object to bias their judgments. In presenting for your amusement the trifles which have been occasionally composed at my leisure hours, I assume nothing beyond the negative merit of not having ever written any thing unfavourable to the interests of freedom, humanity, and virtue. With sentiments of the highest consideration and respect, I have the honour to be, Your Grace's most obedient, And most humble servant, D. HUMPHREYS. New-Tor k, July 4, 1790, CONTENTS. Ifige. INTRODUCTORY Pieces. Address to the Armies of the United States 1 A Poem on the Happiness of America 19 A Poem on the Future Glory of the United States 45 Remarks on the war between the United States and Tripoli 67 Thoughts on the Necessity of maintaining a Navy 77 A Poem on the Industry of the United States 89 A Poem on the Love of Country 115 A Poem on the Death of General Washington 149 Elegy on the burning of Fairfiekl 191 Elegiac Stanzas on De Hart Epitaph on Scammel 195 Sleighing Adventures 196 Burlesque Epithalamiurn on the real Marriage of a Coxcomb and Co quette 202 Impromptu an Ode 210 Epistle written at Sea 211 The Answer 215 A Pastoral from the French 222 Mount-Vernon, an Ode 223 Genius of America 225 The Monkey, a Fable 227 Prologue to the Widow of Malabar, a Tragedy 228 Epilogue to the same 229 Sonnets 232238 Farewell from the Abbe O'Moore 238 Life of Putnam 241 Political Situation of the United States in 1789 331 Dissertation on the Merino Breed of Sheep 343 Considerations on the Means of improving the Public Defence 359 Proceedings for obtaining an Act of the Legislature for securing the Funds of the Cincinnati, in the State of Connecticut 373 APPENDIX. Letter I. From General Washington to Colonel Humphreys 383 Letter II. From the same to the same 385 Letter III. From the same to the same 387 Letter IV. From the same to the same 390 Letter V. From the same to the same 391 French Tribute of Respect to the Memory of General Washington 393 American Tribute of Respect to Colonel Humphreys 394 RECOMMENDATORY EXTRACTS. Extract from SNOWDEN'S Poem on the American War. " A ROM rank to rank the hero mov'd along ; Here gallant HUMPHREYS charm'd the list'ning throng; Sweetly he sung, amid the clang of arms, His numbers smooth, replete with winning charms ; In him there shone a great and godlike mind, The Poet's wreath around the laurel twin'd !" Extract from BARLOW'* Vision of Columbus. " WHILE Freedom's cause his patriot bosom warms, In lore of nations skill'd, and brave in arms, See HUMPHREYS glorious from the field retire, Sheathe the glad sword, and string the sounding lyre- That lyre, which erst, in hours of dark despair, Rous'd the sad realms to urge th' unfinished war : O'er fallen friends, with all the strength of woe, His heartfelt sighs in moving numbers flow. His country's wrongs, her duties, dangers, praise, Fire his full soul, and animate his lays. Immortal WASHINGTON with joy shall own So fond a fav'rite, and so great a son." A Extract from the Critical Review for June, 1785. " THE performance (i. e. the Address to the Armies of America) may, with some trifling exceptions, be justly styled a good poem, but not a very pleasing one to good Englishmen." Extract from the Monthly Review for May, 1785. THE Reviewers, after mentioning the indulgence to which the Author of the Poem addressed to the Armies of America is entitled, on account of his having written it amidst the " hurly-burly" of military toils, proceed to observe: " Under every disadvantage, however, we per ceive, in his conceptions, much of the true spirit of poetry ; and there is a considerable degree of melody and harmony in his versification. He is a warm patriot ; full of zeal for the prosperity of the American arms ; and, consequently, to the English reader some of his expressions respecting the British invasion will seem to have fallen from a pen dipped in gall ; but we must remember that he wrote, as well as fought, in America, and for America. He cele brates the principal events of the war, and has many de scriptive glances at the scenery^ which cannot but afford amusement to even his readers on this side of the Atlantic, however they may disapprove the cause which gave birth to the Poem." Strictures on a Poem addressed to the American Armies. From the Journal de Paris, May 7, 1786. " A GREAT many remarkable circumstances render this little performance worthy of the public attention. It was composed in America, in 1782, at the encampment of STRICTURES, fcc. xi General Washington, when the British still occupying New- York and Charleston, the great cause of American liberty was not then decided. The author is an American officer, writing in the midst of the tumult of a camp, and conciliating the occupations and duties of his profession, with that silence and meditation which every poetical com position demands. The translator is a French General Officer (M. le M. de CHASTELLUX) in whom the talents of a great military and literary character are acknowledged to be blended in a very extraordinary degree. " The object of the work is to animate the citizens of America to the defence of their country. The march of the poet is easy and unaffected ; his ideas are noble and just, his sentiments amiable; and his translator, animated with the same spirit, and endowed with the same talents, has not only transfused into our language the beauties of the original, but even added new ones to them. " The translator himself announces, in his letter to Col. HUMPHREYS, that he has not piqued himself upon being literal, and that he has taken some liberties in his transla tion. But he is right in saying that this liberty does not go so far as independence ; for that which he adds is so con nected with the text itself, that it may be considered as a developement of his author's idea ; and what he retrenches (being commonly foreign to our idiom and phraseology) would not have been preserved by the American author himself, if, more familiarised with our language, he had been pleased to translate his work into French. This li berty may be criticised; but we will say, in justification of the translator, that the author is very far from complaining of it. " This little poem is scarcely susceptible of extracts: we will only cite the apostrophe to General WASHINGTON, when he comes to take command of the American army. " O first of heroes, fav'rite of the skies, To what dread toils thy country bade thee rise ! ' Oh rais'd by heav'n to save th' invaded state !' (So spake the sage long since thy future fate) 'Twas thine to change the sweetest scenes of life For public cares to guide th' embattled strife ; Unnumber'd ills of ev'ry kind to dare, The winter's blast, the summer's sultry air, The lurking dagger, and the turbid storms Of wasting war, with death in all his forms. Nor aught could daunt. Unspeakably serene, Thy conscious soul smil'd o'er the dreadful scene." " The recital of the death of BROWN, who perished in an ambuscade of savages; of SCAMMEL, who was assassinated by a pistol-shot in the reins, at the moment after he had surrendered himself to a detachment of English ; and that of Col. LAURENS, son to the famous LAURENS, President of Congress, will ever be read with sympathetic sorrow. The descriptions of the author are full of animation, his regrets of sensibility ; end the translator has not rested be low his model. " The reader will, moreover, remark, with pleasure, the contrast which the author has had the art to introduce, in a skilful manner, between the two very distinct parts of his poem. In the first he paints the dangers which America experienced, and the calamities of war which desolated her for so long a period. In the last he collects only delightful ideas and pictures of happiness; he unfolds to America the auspicious effects of that liberty she had obtained, and the felicity she is about to enjoy. He invites his fellow citizens, for whom the task of glory is hencefordi accom plished, to transport themselves upon the borders of the lakes, and upon the fertile banks of the Belle Riviere,* a river most worthy of its name. He represents to them all the beauties which nature hath lavished upon those happy * The name by which the Ohio is known in French. CHASTELLUX'S INTRODUCTORY LETTER, adii regions, as a recompense to make them forget, on the bo som of rural felicity, the toils which they have endured for their country. " In fine, he predicts the future prosperity of this nascent empire, which rises upon a plan dictated by wisdom, and which will for ever remain the asylum of happiness and liberty." Translation of the Introductory Letter prefixed by the Marquis de CHASTELLUX to the French Edition of this Poem. *' I WAS with you, my dear Colonel, when, after a glo rious campaign, you composed in silence those elegant verses, wherein you have displayed the whole extent of your genius, in only wishing to express your patriotic sen timents. You made a mystery of the matter to me and your modesty has exposed you to commit an unpardonable fault against the alliance that you have so nobly celebrated ; since the European nation which has had the first fruits of your poem is precisely the English: but it is proper to acknowledge, on the present, as well as on many other occasions, this nation has proved that its enmity does not extend to merit and talents. All the public papers which are printed in London have made your praises resound, and those very papers have first disclosed your secret. It is true, I have seen some of them, the authors of which appeared to be vexed that a composition in which the Eng lish are not treated with ceremony should obtain the honours of public readings and public applauses ;* and who wished * The Morning Herald, and other English papers, made mention of the lecture of the poem in question, made in public, apparently in clubs or other places, where people enter by ticket. 3dv CHASTELLUX'S INTRODUCTORY LETTER. to despoil you of your most illustrious title, that of being an American, by making you to be born in, I know not what district of, England. However that may be, it is certain that France had reason to complain. Of no avail will it be for you to say that your work is written in Eng lish: do you not know how much that language is in vogue among us, and how much we are disposed to translate it? I will not disguise any thing. It has happened that your friend, your companion in arms, came to seize possession, at your apartments, of a beautiful copy of your poem, printed at London with all the accuracy and magnificence which they always bestow on every important work. It has, moreover, fallen to his lot to avail himself of your absence* for making it known to his countrymen. For making it known! that is saying too much; but at least to give some idea to those who are not sufficiently acquainted with the English language to read it with facility. I have caused the text to be printed with the translation. This is a very generous proceeding, with which, I contend, you ought to be mightily satisfied. Every reader who may be in a condition to compare one with the other, will often cry out, " He has not known how to render all the energy, all the beauty of the original ;" and that is exactly what I desire. There is not a pretty woman who does not pardon her painter for not making her as handsome as she really is, whenever she is placed by the side of her portrait ; then not a comparison but what proves to her advantage ; and comparison is of all praises the most flattering, because it is the most perceptible, the most precise. My object will, therefore, be entirely completed, since all the criticisms which I shall merit will turn to your glory. Being a trans lator in prose, and a translator who does not pique himself * This letter was addressed to Colonel HUMPHREYS while he was in England. CHASTELLUX'S INTRODUCTORY LETTER. xv upon being literal, I should have much to fear from my author, if that author was not Col. HUMPHREYS, whom I wish in every point to make my model. He loves liberty too much to be offended at what I have taken on this occa sion: this liberty shall not go quite to independence. This is all I promise in assuring him that I will always be more faithful to that friendship he has accorded me, than to the text of which I took possession." Le Marquis de Chastellux. ADDRESS TO THE ARMIES UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. PREFACE. A ERHAPS the following little poem may be considered with the more indulgence by the public after it shall be known, that it was actually written at a period* when the army was in the field, and the author so far engaged in the duties of his profession, as to have but little leisure for sub. jects of literature or amusement. And it will not be necessary to demonstrate to those who have the least knowledge of a military life, how unfavourable such a state is to poetical contemplation. This, it is presumed, may pertinently be urged in excuse for the slighter errors and inaccuracies of the performance : and the design must, in some measure, atone for any of a different complexion. To inspire our countrymen, now in arms, or who may hereafter be called into the field, with perseverance and for titude, through every species of difficulty and danger, to con tinue their exertions for the defence of their country, and the preservation of its liberties, is the object of this address. For this purpose it was imagined no considerations could be more effectual than the recollection of the past, and the * While the American army was encamped at Peek's-Kill, and the enemy occupied t!i heights of New-York and Charleston. 4 PREFACE. anticipation of the future. For where is the man to be found, who, after all that has been done and suffered after such a profusion of blood and treasure has been expended, and such important advantages have been obtained would basely relinquish and leave unfinished the illustrious task of rearing an empire, which, from its situation and circum stances, must surpass all that have ever existed, in magnitude, felicity, and duration ? Although the author entertains the most sanguine expecta tions of the gratitude and liberality with which the continent will reward those who have literally borne the heat and burden of the day of war, he has not insisted on those pecuniary or slighter considerations ; but has attempted to turn the atten tion to the future grandeur, happiness and glory of the coun try for which we are now contending. The lands already granted to the army, first suggested the idea of a military settlement on the Ohio, or some of those western regions, whose beauties can never be sufficiently displayed, much less exaggerated by description. The mild temperature and serenity of the air, the salubrity of the climate, the fertility of the soil, the luxuriance of its products, the extent of ter ritory, and the amazing inland navigation which those bound less lakes and immeasurable rivers will open, cannot fail, one day, to render that garden of the world equal to the repre sentation given of it in the conclusion of the poem. The possession of such a country (rescued from the hand of in vasion), in a perfect state of freedom and security, will be a glorious compensation for all our toils and sufferings, and a monument of the most unparalleled bravery and patriotism PREFACE, 5 to the remotest posterity. Stimulated with the love of glory, allured by these delightful prospects, and animated with the pleasing hope of the speedy fruition of those rapturous scenes, there are thousands who have drawn the sword, with a resolution never to sheathe it until a happy period shall be put to the contest. For himself, the writer declares, that, having already devoted whatsoever talents and abilities nature has conferred upon him to the service of his country, no efforts that can be made with his voice, his pen, or his sword, shall ever be wanting to confirm its LIBERTIES and INDEPENDENCE. ARGUMENT. The armies which are addressed designated, and the subject pro posed Great-Britain commences hostility against her Colonies ^-the Colonies arm contrast of the two armies battle of Bun- ker's-Hill a Commander in Chief appointed to the American armies his character augmentation of the American forces - reinforcements to those of Britain peculiarly affecting circum stances which attended the deaths of Brown, Scammel and Laurens eulogium of the American troops anticipation that their meritorious services and sufferings will be consigned to immortality apostrophe to Britain on the cruelty practised upon prisoners, and its effects in exciting such indignation in the Americans as will tend to the emancipation of their country view of the successes of the American arms at Trenton, Princeton, Saratoga, Stony-Point, in the Southern States, and at York-Town tribute of gratitude to the French King and nation still the Americans are to rely on their own resources for the establishment of independence apostrophe to indepen dence Britain obliged to relinquish her ideas of conquest dawn of peace invocation to peace address to the armies on the happiness to be expected from it invitation for them to settle in the western country its beauties and advantages de scribed enjoyments resulting from the friendship of those who were in arms together character of Americans in different ages improvements of every kind in America prayer to the Supreme Being that its felicity may become complete and per petual. ADDRESS TO THE ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Jam fides, et pax, et honor, pudorque Priscus, et neglecta redire virtus Audet ; apparetque beata pleno Copia cornu. HOR. Incipient magni procedere menses. VlRG. JL E martial bands ! Columbia's fairest pride I To toils inur'd, in dangers often try'd Ye gallant youths ! whose breasts for glory burn, Each selfish aim and meaner passion spurn : Ve who, unmov'd, in the dread hour have stood, 5 And smil'd, undaunted, in the field of blood Who greatly dar'd, at Freedom's rapt'rous call, With her to triumph, or with her to fall- Now brighter days in prospect swift ascend ; Ye sons of fame, the hallow 'd theme attend ; 10 The past review ; the future scene explore, And Heav'n's high King with grateful hearts adore I What time proud Albion, thund'ring o'er the waves, Frown'd on her sons, and bade them turn to slaves > When, lost to honour, virtue, glory, shame, 15 When nought remain 'd of Britain but the name The parent state a parent now no more Let loose the hirelings of despotic power, Urg'd to keen vengeance their relentless ire, And hop'd submission from their sword and firr. 20 ADDRESS TO THE ARMIES OF THE As when dark clouds, from Andes' tow'ring head, Roll down the skies, and round th' horizon spread, With thunders fraught, the black'ning tempest sails, And bursts tremend'ous o'er Peruvian vales: So broke the storm, on Concord's fatal plain ; 25 There fell our brothers, by fierce ruffians slain Inglorious deed I to wild despair then driv'n, We, suppliant, made our great appeal to heav'n. Then the shrill trumpet echo'd from afar, And sudden blaz'd the wasting flame of war ; 30 From State to State, swift flew the dire alarms, And ardent youths, impetuous, rush'd to arms: " To arms" the matrons and the virgins sung, To arms, their sires, their husbands, brothers sprung. No dull delay where'er the sound was heard, 35 Where the red standards in the air appear'd, Where, through vast realms, the cannon swell'd its roar, Between th' Acadian and Floridian shore. Now join'd the crowd, from their far distant farms, In rustic guise, and unadorn'd in arms: 40 Not like their foes, in tinsel trappings gay, And burnish'd arms that glitter'd on the day; Who now advanc'd, where Charlestown rear'd its height, In martial pomp, and claim'dthe awful sight; And proudly deem'd, with one decisive blow, 45 To hurl destruction on the routed foe. Not so just heav'n had fix'd the great decree, And bade the sons of freemen still be free ; Bade all their souls with patriot ardour burn, And taught the coward fear of death to spurn ; 50 The threats of vengeance and of war to brave, To purchase freedom, or a glorious grave. Long rag'd the contest on th' embattled field ; Nor those would fly, nor these would tamely yield Till Warren fell, in all the boast of arms, 55 The pride of genius and unrivall'd charms, His country's hope! full soon the gloom was spread: Oppress'd with numbers, and their leader dead, Slow from the field the sullen troops retir'd ; Behind, the hostile flame to heav'n aspir'd. 60 Th' imperious Britons, on the well-fought ground, No cause for joy or wanton triumph found, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 9 But saw with grief their dreams of conquest vain, Fejt the deep wounds, and mourn'd their vet'rans slain. Nor less our woes. Now darkness gather'd round ; 65 The thunder rumbled, and the tempest frown'd ; When lo ! to guide us through the storm of war, Beam'd the bright splendour of Virginia's star. O first of heroes, fav'rite of the skies, To what dread toils thy country bade thee rise ! 70 " Oh rais'd by heav'n to save th' invaded state 1"* (So spake the sage long since thy future fate) 'Twas tkine to change the sweetest scenes of life For public cares to guide th' embattled strife ; Unnumber'd ills of ev'ry kind to dare, 75 The winter's blast, the summer's sultry air, The lurking dagger, and the turbid storms Of wasting war, with death in all his forms. Nor aught could daunt. Unspeakably serene, Thy conscious soul smil'd o'er the dreadful scene* 80 The foe then trembled at the well known name ; And raptur'd thousands to his standard came. His martial skill our rising armies form'd ; His patriot zeal their gen'rous bosoms warm'd: His voice inspir'd, his godlike presence led. 85 The Britons saw, and from his presence fled. Soon reinfore'd from Albion's crowded shore, New legions came, new plains were drench'd in gore j And scarce Columbia's arm the fight sustains, While her best blood gush'd from a thousand veins. 90 Then thine, O Brown ! that purpled wide the ground, Pursued the knife through many a ghastly wound. Ah hapless friend I permit the tender tear To flow e'en now, for none flow'd on thy bier, Where cold and mangled, under northern skies, 95 To famish *d wolves a prey thy body lies ; Which erst so fair and tall in youthful grace, Strength in thy nerves, and beauty in thy face, Stood like a tow'r, till struck by the swift ball ; Tken what avail'd (to award th' untimely fall) 100 * Tliis ulluiies to expressions made use of by president Davies,in a sermon preached at Ha- ovfr, in Virginia, daring U:e war of 175."). c 10 ADDRESS TO THE ARMIES OF THE The force of limbs, the mind so well inform 'd, The taste refin'd r the breast with friendship warm'd, (That friendship which our earliest years begun) Or what the laurels that thy sword had won, When the dark bands from thee, expiring, tore 105 Thy long hair mingled with the spouting gore ? Nor less, brave Scamme], frown 'd thine angry fate, (May deathless shame that British deed await 1) On York's fam'd field, amid the first alarms, Ere yet fair vict'ry crown'd the allied arms, 110 Fell chance betray'd thee to the hostile band, The hapless victim of th' assassin handl Lo ! while I tell the execrable deed, Fresh in his side the dark wound seems to bleed ; That small red current still for vengeance cries, 115 And asks, " Why sleeps the thunder in the skies ?" On him, ye heav'ns, let all your vengeance fall, On the curst wretch who wing'd th' insidious ball. But thou, blest shade, be sooth'd ! be this thy praise, Ripe were thy virtues, though too few thy days ! 120 Be this thy fame, through life of all appi-ov'd, To die lamented, honour'd, and belov'd. And see, far south, where yonder hearse appears, An army mourning, and a land in tears ! There Laurens, passing to an early tomb, 125 Looks like a flow'r just with'ring in its bloom. Thy father's pride, the glory of our host I Thy country's sorrow, late thy country's boast ! O Laurens ! gen'rous youth ! twice hadst thou bled ; Could not the ball with devious aim have sped ? 130 And must thy friends, now peace appears so near, Weep the third stroke that cuts a life so dear ; That blots the prospect of our rising morn, And leaves thy country, as thy sire, forlorn ? Companions lov'd ! long as the life-blood flows, 135 Or vital warmth in this fond bosom glows, While there I cherish your remembrance dear, Oft will I drop the tributary tear. But what avails to trace the fate of war Through fields of blood, and point each glorious scar ? 140 Why should the strain your former woes recall, The tears that wept a friend or brother's fall, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 11 When by your side first in th' advent'rous strife, He dauntless rush'd, too prodigal of life ? Enough of merit has each honour'd name, 145 To shine, untarnish'd, on the rolls of fame; To stand th' example of each distant age, And add new lustre to th' historic page : For soon their deeds, illustrious, shall be shown In breathing bronze, or animated stone, 150 Or where the canvass, starting into life, Revives the glories of the crimson strife. Ye sons of genius, who the pencil hold, Whose master strokes, beyond description bold, Of other years and climes the hist'ry trace, 155 Can ye for this neglect your kindred race ? Columbia calls her parent voice demands More grateful off 'rings from your filial hands. And soon some bard shall tempt the untiy'd themes, Sing how we dar'd, in Fortune's worst extremes ; 160 What cruel wrongs th' indignant patriot bore, What various ills your feeling bosoms tore, What boding terrors gloom'd the threat'ning hour, When British legions, arm'd with death-like pow'r, Bade desolation mark their crimson'd way, 16a And lur'd the savage to his destin'd prey ; When fierce Germania her battalions pour'd, And Rapine's sons, with wasting fire and sword, Spread death around : where'er your eyes ye turn'd, Fled were the peasants, and the village burn'd. 170 How did your hearts for others' sufferings melt! What tort'ring pangs your bleeding country felt! What ! when you fled before superior force, Each succour lost, and perish'd each resource ! When nature, fainting from the want of food, ITS On the white snow your steps were mark'd in blood! When through your tatter'd garbs you met the wind, Despair before, and ruin frown 'd behind t When nought was seen around, but prospects drear, Th' insulting foe hung dreadful on your rear, 180 And boastful ween'd, that day to close the scene, And quench your name, as though it ne'er had been. Why, Britain, rag'd thine insolence and scorn ? Why burst thy vengeance on the wretch forlorn? if ADDRESS TO THE ARMIES OF THE The cheerless captive, to slow death consign 'd, 183 Chill'd with keen frost, in prison glooms confin'd ; Of hope bereft, by thy vile minions curst, With hunger famish'd, and consum'd with thirst, Without one friend when death's last horror stung, Roll'd the wild eye, and gnaw'd the anguish'd tongue. 190 Why, Britain, in thine arrogance and pride, Didst thou heav'n's violated laws deride, Mock human mis'ry with contemptuous sneers, And fill thy cup of guilt with orphans' tears ? The widow's wailing, and the wretch's groan, 195 Rise in remembrance to th' eternal throne, While the red flame, through the broad concave driv'n, Calls down the vengeance of insulted heav'n. And didst thou think, by cruelty refin'd, To damp the ardour of the heav'n-born mind, 200 With haughty threats to force the daring train To bow, unnerv'd, in slav'ry's galling chain ; Make countless freemen then no longer free, Shrink at thy frown, and bend the servile knee? And couldst thou dream ? then wake, dissolve thy charms, Rous'd by their wrongs, see desp'rate hosts in arms! 206 No fear dismays, nor danger's voice appals, While kindred blood for sacred vengeance calls: Their swords shall triumph o'er thy vaunted force, And curb the conqu'ror in his headlong course. 210 What spoils of war, thy sons, Columbia, claim 'd! What trophies rose, where thy red ensigns flam'd! Where the great chief, o'er Del'ware's icy wave, Led the small band, in danger doubly brave ; On high designs, and ere the dawning hour, 21$ Germania's vet'ran's own'dthe victor's pow'r; Or on the muse's plain, where round thy tomb, O gallant Mercer ! deathless laurels bloom ; Or where, anon, in northern fields renown'd, The tide of slaughter stain'd the sanguine ground;; 220 When the bold freemen, gath'ring from afar, Foil'd the proud foe, and crush'd the savage war : On that brave band their country's plaudit waits, And consecrates to fame the name of Gates. Nor less the valour of the impetuous shock, 235 Which seiz'd the glorious prize on Hudson's rock, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 13 Where Wayne, e'en while he felt the whizzing ball, Pluck'd the proud standard from the vanquish'd wall. Now turn your eyes, where southern realms are seen, From ruin rescu'd, by th' immortal Greene: 230 See toils of death, where many a hei'o bleeds-, Till rapid vict'ry, to defeat, succeeds. On num'rous plains, whose streams, unknown to song, Till this great sera, roll'd obscure along, Their names shall now, to fame familiar grown, 235 Outlast the pile of monumental stone. Or see on fair Virginia's strand arise, The column pointing to the fav'ring skies ; Inscrib'd with deeds the fed'rate arms have done, And grav'd with ti'ophies from Britannia won : 249 Here stand the conqu'ring bands ; the vanquish 'd throng Through the long lines in silence move along: The stars and lilies, here in laurels drest, And there, dark shrouds the banner'd pride invest: These twice twelve banners once in pomp unfurl'd, 245 Spread death and terror round the southern world : In various colours from the staff unroll'd, The lion frown'd, the eagle flam'd in gold ; Hibernia's harp, reluctant, hei'e was hung, And Scotia's thistle there spontaneous sprung: 250 These twice twelve flags no more shall be display'd, Save in the dome where warlike spoils are laid: Since, where the fathers in high council meet, This hand has plac'd them prostrate at their feet. So beam the glories of the victor band ! 255 And such the dawning hope that cheers our land ! Since Gallia's fire, intent on cares of state, Sublimely good, magnanimously great ! Protector of the rights of human kind, Weigh'd the dread contest in his royal mind, 260 And bade his fleets o'er the broad ocean fly, To succour realms beneath another sky ! Since his blest troops, in happiest toils allied, Have fought, have bled, have conquer'd by your side : The mingled stream, in the same trench that flow'd, ' 265 Cements the nations by tlreir heroes' blood. Yet still, Columbians, sec what choice remains, Ignoble bondage and inglorious chains, ADDRESS TO THE ARMIES OF THE Or all the joys which liberty can give, For which you dare to die, or wish to live. 270* On the drawn sword your country's fate depends : Your wives, your children, parents, brothers, friends^ With all the tender charities of life, Hang on the issue of the arduous strife. To bolder deeds, and victory's fierce delights, 275 Your country calls, and heav'n itself invites. Charm 'd by their potent voice, let virtue's flame, The sense of honour, and the fear of shame, The thirst of praise, and freedom's envied cause, The smiles of heroes, and the world's applause, 280 Impel each breast, in glory's dread career, Firm as your rock-rais'd hills, to persevere. Now the sixth year of independence smiles, The glorious meed of all our warlike toils ; Auspicious pow'r, with thy broad flag unfurPd, 285 Shed thy stern influence on our western world 1 With thy congenial flame our hearts inspire, With manly patience and heroic fire, The rudest shock of fortune's storm to bear: Each ill to suffer ; every death to dare ; 290 To rush undaunted in th' advent'rous van, And meet the Britons, man oppos'd to man ; With surer aim repel their barb'rous rage; Shield the poor orphan, and the white-hair'd sage ; Defend the matron, and the virgin's charms, 295 And vindicate our sacred rights with arms. This the great genius of our land requires, This the blest shades of our illustrious sires, This the brave sons of future years demand, Cheers the faint heart, and nerves the feeble hand ; 300 This sacred hope, that points beyond the span Which bounds this transitory life of man, Where glory lures us with her bright renown. The hero's triumph, and the patriot's crown ; The fair reward to suff'ring virtue giv'n, 305 Pure robes of bliss, and starry thrones in heav'n. Chang'd are the scenes ; now fairer prospects rise, And brighter suns begin to gild our skies. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 15 Th' exhausted foe, his last poor effort try'd, Sees nought remain, save impotence and pride: 310 His golden dreams of fancied conquest o'er, (And Gallia thund'ring round his native shore, Iberia aiding with Potosi's mines, While brave Batavia in the conflict joins) Reluctant turns, and, deep involv'd in woes, 315 In other climes prepares for other foes. Anon, the horrid sounds of war shall cease, And all the western world be hush'd in peace : The martial clarion shall be heard no more, Nor the loud cannon's desolating roar : 320 No more our heroes pour the purple flood, No corse be seen with garments roll'd in blood ; No shivering wretch shall roam without a shed; No pining orphans i*aise their cry for bread ; No tender mother shriek at dreams of woe, 325 Start from her sleep, and see the midnight foe ; The lovely virgin, and the hoary sire, No more behold the village flame aspire, While the base spoiler, from a father's arms, Plucks the fair flower, and riots on its charms. 330 E'en now, from half the threaten'd horrors freed, See from our shores the less'ning sails recede : See the red flags, that to the wind unfurl'd, Wav'd in proud triumph round the vanquish'd world, Inglorious fly ; and see their haggard crew, 335 Despair, rage, shame, and infamy pursue. Hail, heav'n-born Peace ! thy grateful blessings pour On this glad land, and round the peopled shore: Thine are the joys that gild the happy scene, Propitious days, and festive nights serene; 340 With thee gay Pleasure frolics o'er the plain, And smiling Plenty leads thy prosp'rous train. Then oh, my friends 1 the task of glory done, Tli' immortal prize by your bold efforts won ; Your country's saviours, by her voice confess'd, 345 While unborn ages rise and call you blest Then let us go when: happier climes invite, To midland seas, and regions of delight; 16 ADDRESS TO THE ARMIES OF THE With all that's ours, together let us rise, Seek brighter plains and more indulgent skies ; 350 Where fair Ohio rolls his amber tide, And nature blossoms in her virgin pride ; Where all that beauty's hand can form to please, Shall crown the toils of war with rural ease. The shady coverts and the sunny hills, 355 The gentle lapse of ever-murm'ring rills, The soft repose amid the noon-tide bow'rs, The evening walk among the blushing flow'rs, The fragrant groves that yield a sweet perfume, And vernal glories in perpetual bloom, 360 Await you there; and heav'n shall bless the toil, Your own the produce, as your own the soil. No tyrant lord shall grasp a thousand farms, Curse the mild clime, and spoil its fairest charms : No blast severe your ripening fields deform, 365 No vollied hail-stones, and no driving storm : No raging murrain on your cattle seize, And nature sicken with the dire disease. But golden years, anew, begin their reigns, And cloudless sunshine gild salubrious plains. 3TQ Herbs, fruits and flow'rs shall clothe th' uncultur'd field, Nectareous juice the vine and orchard yield j Rich dulcet creams the copious goblets fill, Delicious honey from the trees distil ; The garden smile, spontaneous harvests spring, 375 The vallies warble, and the woodlands ring. Along the meads, or near the shady groves, There sport the flocks, there feed the fatt'ning droves ; There strays the steed, through bloomy vales afar, Who erst mov'd lofty in the ranks of war. 380 There, free from envy, cank'ring care and strife, Flow the calm pleasures of domestic life : There mutual friendship soothes each placid breast, Blest in themselves, and in each other blest. From house to house the social glee extends, 385 For friends in war, in piece are doubly friends : Their children taught to emulate their sires, Catch the warm glow, and feel the kindred fires, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. If Till by degrees the mingling joys improve, Grow with their years, and ripen into love: 390 Nor long the blushing pair in secret sigh, And drink sweet poison from the love-sick eye ; Blest be their lot, when in his eager arms Th' enamour'd youth folds the fair virgin's charms ; On her ripe lip imprints the burning kiss, 395 And seals with hallow'd rites the nuptial bliss. Then festal sports the ev'ning hours prolong, The mazy dance, and the sweet wai'bling song : Then each endearment wakes the ravish'd sense To pure delights, and raptures most intense: 400 And the pleas'd parent tells his list'ning son, What wond'rous deeds, by him, in youth, were done. No sights of woe, no tort'ring fears annoy The sweet sensations of the heart-felt joy : Nor shall the savages of murd'rous soul, 405 In painted bands dark to the combat roll, With midnight orgies, by the gloomy shade, On the pale victim point the reeking blade ; Or cause the hamlet, lull'd in deep repose, No more to wake, or wake to ceaseless woes : 410 For your strong arm the guarded land secures, And freedom, glory, happiness, are yours! So shall you nourish in unfading prime, Each age refining through the reign of time j A nobler offspring crown the fond embrace, 415 A band of heroes, and a patriot race : Not by soft Luxury's too dainty food, Their minds contaminated with their blood : But like the heirs our great forefathers bred, By freedom nurtur'd, and by temp'rance fed ; 420 Healthful and strong, they turn'd the virgin soil, The untam'd forest bow'd beneath their toil : At early dawh they sought the mountain chace, Or rous'd the Indian from his lurking place; Curb'd the mad fury of those barb'rous men, 425 Or dragg'd the wild beast struggling from his den : To all the vigour of that pristine race, New charms are added, and superior grace. Then cities rise, and spiry towns increase, With gilded domes, and every art of peace. 430 D ADDRESS TO THE ARMIES, See. Then Cultivation shall extend his pow'r, Rear the green blade, and nurse the tender flow'r ; Make the fair villa in full splendours smile, And robe with verdure all the genial soil. Then shall rich Commerce court the fav'ring gales, 435 And wond'ring wilds admire the passing sails ; Where the bold ships the stormy Huron brave, Where wild Ontario rolls the whit'ning wave, Where fair Ohio his pure current pours, And Mississippi laves th' extended shores. 440 Then oh, blest land ! with genius unconfin'd, With polish'd manners, and th' illumin'd mind, Thy future race on daring wing shall soar, Each science trace, and all the arts explore j Till bright religion, beck'ning to the skies, 445' Shall bid thy sons to endless glories rise. As round thy clime celestial joy extends, Thy beauties ripen, and thy pomp ascends ; Farther and farther still, thy blessings roll, To southern oceans and the northern pole ; 450 Where now the thorn, or tangled thicket grows, The wilderness shall blossom as the rose ; Unbounded deserts unknown charms assume, Like Salem flourish, and like Eden bloom. And oh, may heav'n ! when all our toils are past, 455 Crown with such happiness our days at last: So rise our sons, like our great sires of old, In Freedom's cause, unconquerably bold ; With spotless faith, and morals pure, their name Spread through the world, and gain immortal fame. 460 And thou Supreme ! whose hand sustains this ball, Before whose nod the nations rise and fall, Propitious smile, and shed diviner charms On this blest land, the queen of arts and arms ; Make the great empire rise on Wisdom's plan, The seat of bliss, and last retreat of man, 466 A P O E M ON THE HAPPINESS OF AMERICA. ADDRESSED TO THE CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES. TENTH EDITION. Extract from the COLUMBIAN MAGAziNE/or October, 1786. REMARKS ON THE HAPPINESS OF AMERICA: A POEM. A. LOVE of liberty, a spirit of enterprize, fortitude in diffi culties, and a military turn of mind, are conspicuous traits in the American character. Those dispositions, if properly directed, will tend to the aggrandizement and prosperity of our infant re-, publican empire. America stands high, also, in literary reputation : and so great is the spirit which now prevails in the United States, for the promotion of useful learning, and advancement of science, that, aided by the native genius of our people, we may reasonably ex pect to arrive at the highest degree of eminence in these respects. Nor have we cause to draw less favourable expectations from the specimens that have been already exhibited, of the natural taste and propensity of our countrymen for the liberal and polite arts. Among the patriots, statesmen, heroes, philosophers, and artists of this country, we find names that would do honour to any age or nation. What a glorious constellation is formed by an assemblage of those worthies, whom America has the honour of enrolling among her sons ! Amidst the favourite pursuits of our countrymen, the Muses have had their votaries ; nor have those coy maids been unsuc cessfully courted. Their genius seems much delighted with our sylvan scenes. The face of nature, throughout the United States, exhibits the sublime and beautiful, in the most exalted degree. In almost every part of this country, we are surrounded with objects calculated to inspire the most elevated conceptions of the imagina tion. Our mountains, vallies, plains, and rivers, are formed upon a great scale ; the extent of the country itself is great ; and the whole is rendered magnificently beautiful, by the creating hand of the Almighty Architect 1 And if we contemplate the eminently 522 REMARKS, Sec. dignified part that has been recently acted on the vast national stage, with the scenes of magnanimity, wisdom, and patriotic vir tue, which our gallant countrymen have exhibited thereon, we must allow, that nothing can afford more noble themes for our na tive bards. Among the literary productions of American genius, " A Poem on the Happiness of America, addressed to the Citizens of the United States," by Colonel Humphreys, claims a superior station. The beauties of this piece do great honour to the author, and dis cover that he possesses a truly patriotic soul, as well as a mind animated with genuine poetic fire. As this elegant piece, by some unaccountable circumstance, has not yet made its appearance in the shops of our booksellers, we beg leave to present the public with a few quotations from it ; re minding them, at the same time, of the imperfect idea of its merit that mutilated parts of the piece must be supposed to convey. As it is probable that a new edition of this Poem will speedily be published, the public will then have the gratification of reading it entire. PREFACE TO THE NINTH EDITION OF THE POEM ON THE HAPPINESS OF AMERICA. L HIS Poem having passed through eight editions in little more than four years, without having been accompanied with any intro duction or preface, the writer hopes he shall escape every uncan- did imputation, in offering, with this edition, his acknowledgments for the flattering reception it has met with from the public, toge ther with some of the motives which originally engaged him in this performance. The writer is happy that he has chosen a subject more inter esting than almost any other to the feelings of his countrymen, and that the topics introduced in its discussion have not proved un satisfactory to those for whose entertainment the work was de signed. To these causes, rather than to its intrinsic value as a composition, he attributes the distinguished regard with which it has been honoured. The United States of America, when first assuming their place as a nation among the nations of the earth, presented a momen tous and awful spectacle to mankind ; for the political welfare of the species seemed, in some sort, involved in the event. The theatre was vast } the plot new, the parts important, and the con- $4 PREFACE. duct of the action for a long time so doubtful, as to produce dis tressing apprehensions respecting its termination. The Ameri cans, whose exertions and sufferings had been rewarded by the ac quisition of Independence, were, however, at the end of the war, surrounded with threatening prospects. In these circumstances the writer endeavoured to show his countrymen the superior ad vantages for happiness which they possessed ; to dissipate their gloomy apprehensions, by the exhibition of consolatory anticipa tions ; and to make them think favourably of their own situation when compared with that of other nations. Many circumstances conspired to give facility to the execution of the task he had im posed on himself. The ideas were principally suggested by the peculiarity of our condition. We began our political career, in a great measure, free from the prejudice, and favoured with the knowledge of former ages and other nations. The amiable inno cence and simplicity of manners which resulted from the present state of society in America, offered a curious subject for philoso phical contemplation. Our minds, imperceptibly impressed with the novelty, beauty, or sublimity of surrounding objects, gave en ergy to the language which expressed our sensations. While the shades of changing nature, which diversified the scenery through all the intermediate stages of settlement and population, from the rude grandeur of a wilderness to the pleasant landscapes of culti vation, afforded an extensive field for variegated description. To an assemblage of such magnificent images, so proper for poetry, were added, a multitude of incidents derived from the delights of agricultural life, the blessings of enlightened society, and the pro gress of human improvements. The author, by thus availing himself of circumstances, was enabled to gratify an early and de cided propensity for contemplating the beauties of creation, espe cially under that point of view in which they are most conspicu ously beneficial to his fellow men. PREFACE. 25 Since this Poem was written, by the establishment of a general government, and the concurrence of fortunate events, scenes of happienss have been realized in this country, which were considered by some altogether chimerical. And the prospects which are now expanding before our view, seem peculiarly calculated to excite us to greater exertions, not only for promoting the national prosperity, but even for producing such examples in civil policy, as will tend essentially to the amelioration of the human lot. ARGUMENT. The characters to whom the fioem is addressed, and the subject of it peace dissolution of the army General Washington's, farewell advice and retirement apostrophe to him the hap piness of the Americans considered as a free and agricultural people articles which contribute to their felicity during the different seasons winter's amusements, which produce a di gression concerning the late war and the author the pleasures which succeeded the horrors of war invocation to connubial love description of the female sex and character, marriage and domestic life in America the present state of society there the face of the country at and since the period of its discovery the pleasant prospects exhibited by the progress of agricul ture and population eulogy of agriculture address to Con gress the genius of the western world invoked to accelerate our improvements a treaty of commerce proposed with Great- Britain superior advantages for a marine America called upon to employ her sons on discoveries in the carrying trade t whaling and commerce* A POEM ON THE HAPPINESS OF AMERICA. happy people, ye to whom is giv'n A land enrich 'd with sweetest dews of heav'n I Ye, who possess Columbia's virgin prime, In harvests blest of ev'ry soil and clime ! Ye happy mortals, whom propitious fate 5 Reserv'd for actors on a stage so great ! Sons worthy sires of venerable name, Heirs of their virtue and immortal fame, Heirs of their rights still better understood, Declar'd in thunder, and confirm'd in blood : 10 Ye chosen race, your happiness I sing, With all the joys the cherub peace can bring, When your tall fleets shall lift their starry pride, And sail triumphant o'er the bill'wy tide. The song begins where all our bliss began, 15 What time th' Almighty check'd the wrath of man, Distill'd, in bleeding wounds, the balm of peace, And bade the rage of mortal discord cease. Then foes, grown friends, from toils of slaughter breath'd, Then war-worn ti'oops their blood-stain 'd weapons sheath 'd : 20 Then our great Chief to Vernon's shades withdrew, And thus, to parting hosts, pronounc'd adieu : " Farewell to public care, to public life : 11 Now peace invites me from the deathful strife. " And oh my country, may'st thou ne'er forget 25 " Thy bands victorious, and thy honest debt !