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those who were upon the water was not less to be pitied. Some of the vessels were dashed upon shoals and breakers, others foundered in the open ocean, a few made their way good into port, but grievously battered and damaged. The tempest was not only fatal to ships under sail, it spared not even those that were at anchor in the securest havens." pp. 176-180.

But there is no more striking proof of Mr Botta's fine taste, than the incident, which he selects for the conclusion of his history, and the admirable simplicity with which he relates it, without weakening its effect by any attempt to point out its particular beauties, or by incumbering it with moral reflections. No ornament indeed could add to the impressive dignity of the scene. We know nothing in all history to be compared to it, and pity the man, who, with the events which led to it fresh in his memory, can read or recollect it without emotion.

The army was disbanded; but the supreme command still remained in the hands of Washington: the public mind was intent upon what he was about to do. His prudence reminded him that it was time to put a term to the desire of military glory; his thoughts were now turned exclusively upon leaving to his country a great example of moderation. The Congress was then in session at the city of Annapolis in Maryland. Washington communicated to that body his resolution to resign the command, and requested to know whether it would be their pleasure that he should offer his resignation in writing, or at an audience. The Congress answered that they appointed the twenty-third of December for that ceremony. When this day arrived, the hall of Congress was crowded with spectators; the legislative and executive characters of the state, several general officers, and the consul-general of France were present. The members of Congress remained seated and covered. The spectators were standing and uncovered. The general was introduced by the secretary, and conducted to a seat near the president. After a decent interval, silence was commanded, and a short pause ensued. The president, general Mifflin, then informed him, that the United States in Congress assembled were prepared to receive his communications. Washngton rose, and with an air of inexpressible dignity, delivered the following address:

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Mr President; the great events on which my resignation lepended, having at length taken place, I have now the honor of offering my sincere congratulations to Congress, and of presentng myself before them to surrender into their hands the trust committed to me, and to claim the indulgence of retiring from the ervice of my country. Happy in the confirmation of our inde

pendence and afforded the resign with st dence; a diffic task, which, h rectitude of ot Union, and th of the war has gratitude for t I have receive of the moment army in gener acknowledge merits of the g during the wa officers to com Permit me, sir,

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"I consider of my official country to the the superinten finished the wo action, and bid under whose o sion, and take Having spo and deposited t him, in the nam "Sir, the Un emotions too aff authorities unde

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through a perilo country to defe charge, before it funds or a gover great military regarding the ri changes. You citizens, enabled mit their fame United States, a been enabled, freedom, safety, sincerely join

pendence and sovereignty, and pleased with the opportunity afforded the United States of becoming a respectable nation, I resign with satisfaction the appointment I accepted with diffidence; a diffidence in my abilities to accomplish so arduous a task, which, however, was superseded by a confidence in the rectitude of our cause, the support of the supreme power of the Union, and the patronage of heaven. The successful termination of the war has verified the most sanguine expectations; and my gratitude for the interposition of Providence, and the assistance I have received from my countrymen, increases with every review of the momentous contest. While I repeat my obligations to the army in general, I should do injustice to my own feelings not to acknowledge in this place, the peculiar services and distinguished merits of the gentlemen who have been attached to my person during the war. It was impossible the choice of confidential officers to compose my family should have been more fortunate. Permit me, sir, to recommend in particular, those who have continued in the service to the present moment, as worthy of the favorable notice and patronage of Congress.

"I consider it as an indispensable duty, to close this last act of my official life by commending the interests of our dearest country to the protection of Almighty God, and those who have the superintendence of them to his holy keeping. Having now finished the work assigned me, I retire from the great theatre of action, and bidding an affectionate farewell to this august body, under whose orders I have so long acted, I here offer my commission, and take my leave of all the employments of public life.”

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Having spoken thus, he advanced to the chair of the president and deposited the commission in his hands. The president made him, in the name of Congress, the following answer:

"Sir, the United States in Congress assembled, receive with emotions too affecting for utterance, the solemn resignation of the authorities under which you have led their troops with success through a perilous and a doubtful war. Called upon by your country to defend its invaded rights, you accepted the sacred charge, before it had formed alliances, and whilst it was without funds or a government to support you. You have conducted the great military contest with wisdom and fortitude, invariably regarding the rights of the civil power, through all disasters and changes. You have, by the love and confidence of your fellow citizens, enabled them to display their martial genius, and transmit their fame to posterity. You have persevered, until the United States, aided by a magnanimous king and nation, have been enabled, under a just Providence, to close the war in freedom, safety, and independence; on which happy event, we sincerely join you in congratulations. Having defended the

standard of liberty in this New World, having taught a lesson useful to those who inflict, and to those who feel oppression, you retire from the great theatre of action, with the blessing of your follow-citizens; but the glory of your virtues will not terminate with your military command; it will continue to animate the remotest ages. We feel, with you, our obligations to the army in general, and will particularly charge ourselves with the interests of those confidential officers who have attended your person to this affecting moment. We join you in commending the interests of our dearest country to the protection of Almighty God, beseeching him to dispose the hearts and minds of its citizens to improve the opportunity afforded them of becoming a happy and respectable nation. And for you, we address to him our earnest prayers that a life so beloved, may be fostered with all his care; that your days may be happy as they have been illustrious; and that he will finally give you that reward which this world cannot give."

When the president had terminated his discourse, a long and profound silence pervaded the whole assembly. All minds appeared impressed with the grandeur of the scene, the recollections of the past, the felicity of the present, and the hopes of the future. The captain general and Congress were the object of universal eulogium.

A short time after this ceremony, Washington retired to enjoy the long desired repose of his seat of Mount-Vernon, in Virginia.'

ART. X.-Oeuvres Complètes de Jacques Henri Bernardin de St Pierre, mises en ordre, et précedées de la vie de l'auteur par L. Aimé Martin. 12 vols. 8vo. Paris,

1818-1820.

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pages that c principal achi life of more th is placed a co Aimé Martin, it is from this present article the great vari interesting as a good deal o in the most co narrative with Bernardin d January, 1737. and early youth over this part o able to give his Suffice it to say he had studied at Caen; had obtained a lieu city had served -but with sol cidents interrup the last expedi the line of milit Necessity, it is dation, and the cumstances, was daily bread. W exhausted, he ap fresh supply, but money, some of a lieutenant of school and teach took to give lesso for the army; ed. The offers were treated with ing very fast whe New Series, M

THIS is the first collection that has appeared of the writings of Bernardin de St Pierre. The Studies of Nature, comprehending Paul and Virginia and the Indian Cottage, was the only considerable book published by the author during his life. The present collection contains another work in three volumes octavo, entitled the Harmonies of Nature, which was left unfinished, and might perhaps as well have remained unpublished. It is in substance nothing more than a repetition of the same ideas that are developed in a better form in the Studies. It serves with several other posthumous pieces to swell the number of volumes, and perhaps the booksellers'

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profits, without adding any thing to the author's reputation, which rests ultimately upon Paul and Virginia. The few pages that comprise this charming little pastoral were the principal achievement and are the only lasting memorial of a life of more than seventy years. At the head of the collection is placed a copious biographical notice of the author by Mr Aimé Martin, a professor in one of the colleges at Paris; and it is from this that we propose to draw the materials for the present article. The account is pretty well written, and from the great variety of singular adventures related in it, is as interesting as a romance. As we anticipate that it will require a good deal of room to recapitulate the principal of them even in the most compressed form, we shall proceed at once to the narrative without further preliminary observations.

Bernardin de St Pierre was born at Havre on the 19th of January, 1737. The occupations and events of his childhood and early youth are related in great detail, but we must pass over this part of his life almost without notice, in order to be able to give his subsequent history with sufficient minuteness. Suffice it to say that previously to the age of five and twenty he had studied with a curate and then at a college of Jesuits at Caen; had made a voyage to Martinique with his uncleobtained a lieutenancy in the engineer corps, and in that capacity had served a campaign in Germany and another in Malta --but with so little success and with such a variety of cross accidents interrupting all his plans, that he returned to Paris from the last expedition without resources or credit, thrown out of the line of military advancement-and almost without friends. Necessity, it is well known, is not the best letter of recommendation, and the author of Paul and Virginia, under these circumstances, was rather at a loss how to supply himself with daily bread. When the little cash he brought from Malta was exhausted, he applied to his acquaintance and friends for a fresh supply, but found them all short of money. In defect of money, some of them gave him advice, and recommended to a lieutenant of engineers to take the place of usher in a small school and teach little children their letters. He finally undertook to give lessons in mathematics to young men intended for the army; but no students applying, the plan was abandoned. The offers of service which he made to the government were treated with neglect, and he found the period approaching very fast when the baker and the landlady, his only reNew Series, No. 7.

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maining protectors, would withdraw their countenance. The following passage describes his situation at this crisis, with rather more point than is common to the biographer, whose general manner borders too nearly upon a sickening affectation of sentiment.

'He lodged in an hotel in the Rue des Maçons, and hastened to visit those who, before his departure, had expressed an interest in him. The bailiff de Fronlay spoke to him of his own troubles, deploring the lot of great men, who had lost their influence with ministers. M. de Mirabeau, the friend of man, was composing a great book on the happiness of the human race, which prevented him from paying attention to any single one of the number. M. de Bois, first clerk, received him with the airs of a minister; told him he must wait, that his case should be considered; that he was perpetually visited by suitors; and with speeches like these, waited upon him civilly to the door. The poor suitor consoled himself under the indignity, by the sight of a hundred persons waiting in the antichamber, to enjoy the felicity of seeing a first clerk.

All his visits were attended with the like success. Meantime the little money he had left disappeared, and he came to the resolution of asking aid of his relations. He was equally unsuccessful here. Some told him he deserved all he suffered; and others that he was a poor creature, and that his family could not ruin itself to gratify his whims. The most friendly gave him no answer. In this emergency one of his protectors offered him a place at a boarding school, to teach little children to read. Another proposed to him to give lessons in mathematics to young men destined for the corps of engineers. He accepted this proposal; but pupils were soon wanting, and this last resource failed. On this he addressed to the minister of the marine a memoir, in which he proposed to go alone in a boat, and make a survey of the whole coast of England. This curious memoir did not excite the least curiosity on the part of the government, nor receive any answer. In short there was no species of mortification, which he did not suffer. He had never before felt to such a degree the bitterness of this lot. Misery had already begun to crush him; he had exhausted his credit with the baker, his landlady threatened to turn him out; nor was there, in this complete desertion, a soul to whom he could look for relief.'

This was certainly a case of distress; but distress is a word that loses its meaning when applied to a single man in the prime of life, tall and handsome, with the gaiety of a soldier and a Frenchman, not to mention the more doubtful advanta

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