"Her, by her smile, how soon the stranger knows;
How soon, by his, the glad discovery shows!
As to her lips she lifts the lovely boy,

What answering looks of sympathy and joy!
"He walks, he speaks in many a broken word,
His wants, his wishes, and his griefs are heard,
And ever, ever to her lap he flies.

When rosy sleep comes on with sweet surprise,
Locked in her arms, his arms across her flung,
(That name most dear for ever on his tongue),
As with soft accents round her neck he clings,
And, cheek to cheek her lulling song she sings,
How blest to feel the beatings of his heart,
Breathe his sweet breath, and kiss for kiss impart ;
Watch o'er his slumbers like the brooding dove,
And, if she can, exhaust a mother's love!

"But soon a nobler task demands her care,
Apart, she joins his little hands in prayer,
Telling of Him who sees in secret there!
And now the volume on her knee has caught
His wandering eye-now many a written thought
Never to die, with many a lisping sweet

His moving, murmuring lips endeavour to repeat.
"Released, he chases the bright butterfly;
Oh he would follow-follow through the sky!
Climbs the gaunt mastiff slumbering in his chain
-And ehides and buffets, clinging by the mane;
Then runs, and kneeling by the fountain side,
Sends his brave ship in triumph down the tide,
A dangerous voyage; or, if now he can,
If now he wears the habit of a man,

Flings off the coat so long his pride and pleasure,
And, like a miser digging for his treasure,
His tiny spade in his own garden plies,
And in green letters sees his name arise!
Where'er he goes, for ever in her sight,
She looks, and looks, and still with new delight.
Ah! who, when fading of itself away,
Would cloud the sun-shine of his little day?
Now is the May of life. Careering round,
Joy wings his feet, Joy lifts him from the ground!
Pointing to such, well might Cornelia say,
When the rich casket shone in bright array,
"These are my jewels!" Well of such as he,
When Jesus spake, well might his language be,
"Suffer these little ones to come to me. !"

LETTER OF GENERAL WASHINGTON.

From the American Port Folio.

The following letter appears to be addressed to the governor of one of the colonies, but the envelope is lost. There is something peculiarly interesting in the contemplation of Washington at the age of twenty, writing with the zeal which we find here, about the property, dignity, and lands of the British monarch It shows that the mind of this great and good man was deeply impressed with those principles which ornament the individual and support the state. In his youth we behold him exerting his "heroic spirit" in defence of the sovereign to whom he owed obedience; but when the obstinate ignorance of the ministers of this same "master" dissolved the ties of allegiance by harsh and illegal acts, we see him with the same promptitude girding on his sword to defend his own rights. Although he ardently loved peace, and was bountifully gifted with the "sweetest phrase" of it, yet he hesitated not an instant between the summons of his country, and the "still small" and delightful whispers of rural retirement and domestic quiet. He was not one of those contemptible negatives in political arithmetic, who have "nothing to do with public affairs, and leave them to the care of wiser heads." He thought with Cato, that it is the duty of every man, to take one side or the other in any important questions. As a subject, he knew it was his duty to defend the rights of the government by which he was protected: as a man, he felt that it was his right to scan the principles by which that government was guided, and his privilege to resist every unlawful encroachment. In making his election, at that dreadful conjuncture, which appalled the craven hearts of many, he had every thing to lose, and nothing, as an individual, to gain.-Wealth did not allure him, and the seductive temptations of power had no influence in his deliberations. He had the wisdom to comprehend the extent of the usurpation; and, happily for his country, he had also the ability to conduct, and the fortune to achieve the great work of our deliverance. He mounted the fearful emninence with a firm and deliberate step; and even his foes, with some few disgraceful and conspicuous exceptions, were compelled to say,

However heaven or fortune cast his lot,
There lives in him,

A loyal, just, and upright gentleman.

With a perseverance which no sinister event could divert; an energy which no force could withstand; a sagacity which no stratagem could elude, he accomplished the mighty labour. He gave us freedom,

Richard II.

VOL II.

stability, and happiness, by devising and establishing the best form of government, considered with respect to its theory and practical operation, that ever was conceived. In return for all this, he intrigued for no power, he claimed no reward: for what has man to give in recompence for such services? He retired to Mount Vernon, and, amidst its peaceful shades, he composed an address to his fellow-citizens, in which our best interests are wisely scanned, and our best principles are powerfully inculcated. Of this political legacy, we may use the language of Dr. Young in speaking of Johnson's Rasselas-"it is a mass of sense. He spins no webs of technical sophistry; he bewilders by no mazy labyrinth of precedents; he dazzles with no glittering figures of ambitious eloquence; he does not distort nor disguise: but in the plain language of common sense, aided by the potent auxiliaries of long experience and unquestionable rectitude, he illustrates our political The consecrated altar of relations, and indicates our political march.

Apollo supplied a holy spark to rekindle the fires of the Greeks which had been extinguished by the infatuated followers of the Persian monarch. So when our horizon shall be dimmed by ignorance, if ever the time should arrive, when difficulties perplex, and dangers dismay, let us unfold this scroll of wisdom, and ponder, with mingled emotions of affection and respect, upon the lessons of Washington.

If there exist a man design'd by heaven,
To cheer with wisdom a benighted land,
Tho' FOUL DETRACTION SCowl upon his name,
Tho' the deaf adder scorn the charmer's song,
Yet shall he feel within a still small voice,
Breathe an approving blessing on his toil;
Wise in the manliness of ancient days,
Simple in manners as the guileless child.
His counsels late posterity shall hear,
And weep at their neglect.

May it please your Excellency,

WILLS CREEK, 24th April, 1754.

It is with the greatest concern that I acquaint you, that Mr. Ward, ensign in captain Trent's company, was obliged to surrender his small fortress in the Forts of Monongahela, at the summons of Captain Contrecœur, commander of the French forces, who fell down from Venango with a fleet of 360 canoes and batteaux, conveying upwards of one thousand men, eighteen pieces of artillery, and large stores of provisions and other necessaries Mr. Ward having but an inconsiderable number of men (not exceeding 30,) and no cannon to make a proper defence, was forced to deliver up the fort on the 17th instant. They suffered him to draw out his men, arms, and working tools, and I have gave leave that he might retreat to the inhabitants with them.

heard of your excellency's great zeal for his majesty's service, and for all our interests on the present occasion; therefore I am persuaded you will take proper notice of the Indian's moving speech, and think their unshaken fidelity worthy your consideration

I have arrived thus far with a detachment of 159 men; Col. Fry with the remainder of the regiment and artillery is daily expected. In the mean time we shall advance slowly across the mountains, inaking the roads as we march, fit for the carriage of the great guns, &c. and are designed to proceed as far as the mouth of Red Stone Creek, which enters Monongahela about 37 miles above the fort (the French have taken), from whence we have water carriage down the river: there is a ́store-house built by the Ohio company at the place, which, for the present, may serve as a receptacle for our ammunition and provisions. Besides the French herein mentioned, we have credible information, that another party are coming up Ohio. We also have intelligence that 600 of the Chippoway, and Ottoway Indians are marching down Scido Creek to join them.

I ought first to have begged pardon of your excellency for this liberty of writing, as I am not happy enough to be ranked among those of your acquaintance. It was the glowing zeal I owe my country that influenced me to impart these advices, and my inclination prompted me to do it to you, as I know you are solicitous for the public weal and warm in this interesting cause-that should rouse from the lethargy we have fallen into, the heroic spirit of every freeborn Englishman, to assert the rights and privileges of our king (if we don't consult the benefit of ourselves) and rescue from the invasions of a usurping enemy, our master's property, his dignity, and lands.

I hope, Sir, you will excuse the freeness of my expressions; they are the pure sentiments of the breast of him who is with all imaginable regard and due respect,

Your Excellency's most obedient and very humble servant,

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

N. B. I herewith have inclosed, for your Excellency's perusal, a copy of the summons from the French officer, and also the Indian's speech, which was delivered to, and brought by Mr. Ward.

Narrative of the escape of Mr. King from the British.

On the late visit of the President to the Independence 74, Com. Bainbridge, with that attention to the interests of those under his command which so strongly characterises him, on presenting his officers, de

tained acting midshipman King, while he mentioned his escape alone in an open boat from Bermuda. The following is the statement in the words of midshipman King himself.

66

"I was taken in the U. S. brig Vixen, on the 22d of November, 1812, by his Britannic Majesty's ship Southampton, commanded by Sir James Yeo. The Vixen and Southampton were wrecked on the 27th of November, on Little Island, one of the Bahamas. We were taken off Little Island, by his Majesty's brig Rhodian, and taken to Jamaica, where we were kept prisoners until the 3d of April 1813, when a part of the Vixen's crew were paroled, myself among the number, and sent home in the Rebecca Syms, of Philadelphia. We entered the Delaware on the 2d of May, and were boarded by the Poictiers of 74 guns, commanded by Sir John P. Beresford, who ordered us to come to anchor, and took all the officers and men belonging to the Vixen on board the Poictiers, for the purpose of exchanging them for some of his crew, then prisoners at Philadelphia. The officers and men were released on the 10th of May, with the exception of James Stephens, carpenter of the Vixen, and myself; whom Sir John thought proper to detain, on the supposition of our being British subjects. The Poictiers sailed for Bermuda on the 12th, and arrived on the 25th of of May. Stephens and myself were sent on board the guard-ship Ruby, of 64 guns, then commanded by Com. Evans. The Ruby had a fine boat, which sailed remarkably fast. I mentioned to some of my companions in captivity, that we might venture to cross the gulf in her without much danger, but could get none of them to join me, with the exception of a man by the name of John Black, who gave his assent, and gave his oath that he would join me in any scheme for our liberty. Thinking that I could put confidence in