own settlements. The sword shall destroy your frier.ds and the fire consume your dwellings. Ind. We love peace; we love our friends; we love all men, as much as you. When your fathers came over the big water, we treated them as brothers: they had nothing peace and plenty were among us. AÏl the land was ours, from the east to the west water; from the mountains of snow in the north, to the burning path of the sun in the south. They were made welcome to our land and to all we possessed. To talk like White Men, they were beggars, and we their benefactors they were tenants at will, and we their landlords. But we nourished a viper in our bosoms. You have poisoned us by your luxury; spread contention among us by your subtlety, and death by your treachery. The Indians have but two predominant passions, friendship and revenge. Deal with us as friends, and you may fish in our rivers or hunt in our forests. Treat us not like servants; we shall never own you as mas. ters. If you provoke us, our vengeance shall pursue you. We shall drink your blood; you may spill ours We had rather die in honorable war, than live in dishonorable peace. EXTRACT FROM AN ORATION, PRONOUNCED AT Bos1796.. TON, JULY 4, HAT the best way for a great empire to tax her colonies is to confer benefits upon them, and, that no rulers have a right to levy contributions upon the property, or exact the services of their subjects, without their own, or the consent of their immediate representatives, were principles never recognized by the ministry and parliament of Great-Britain. Fatally enamoured of their selfish systems of policy, and obsti nately determined to effect the execution of their nefarious purposes, they were deaf to the suggestions of reason and the demands of justice. The frantic, though transient transient energy of intoxicated rage was exhibited in their very act, and blackened and distorted the features of their national character. On the contrary, Americans had but one object in view, for in Independence are concentrated and condensed every blessing that makes life desirable, every right and every privilege which can tend to the happiness or secure the native dignity of man. In the attainment of Independence, were all their passions, their desires, and their powers engaged. The intrepidity and magnanimity of their armies; the wisdom and inflexible firmness of their Congress; the ardency of their patriotism; their unrepining patience, when assailed by dangers and perplexed with aggravated misfortunes, have long and deservedly employed the pen of panegyric and the tongue of eulogy. Through the whole revolutionary conflict, a consistency and systematic regularity were preserved, equally honorable as extraordinary. The unity of design and classical correct arrangement of the series of incidents, which completed the Epic story of American Independence, were so wonderful, so well wrought, that political Hypercriticism was abashed at the mighty production, and forced to join her sister Envy, in applauding the glorious composition. It is my pleasing duty, my fellow-citizens, to felicitate you on the establishment of our national sovereignty; and among the various subjects for congratulation and rejoicing, this is not the most unimportant, that Heaven has spared so many veterans in the art of war; so many sages, who are versed in the best politics of peace; men, who were able to instruct and to govern, and whose faithful services, whose unremitted exertions to promote the public prosperity, entitle them to our firmest confidence and warmest gratitude. Uniting in the celebration of this anniversary, I am happy to behold many of the illustrious remnant of that band of patriots, who, despising danger and death, determined to be free, or gloriously perish in the cause. Their countenances beam beam inexpressible delight? our joys are increased by their presence; our raptures are heightened by their participation. The feelings, which inspired them in the "times which tried men's souls," are communicated to our bosoms. We catch the divine spirit which impelled them to bid defiance to the congregated host of despots. We swear to preserve the blessings they toiled to gain, which they obtained by the incessant labours of eight distressful years; to transmit to our posterity, our rights undiminished, our honor untarnished, and our freedom unimpaired. On the last page of Fate's eventful volume, with the raptured ken of prophecy, I behold Columbia's name recorded; her future honors and happiness inscribed. In the same important book the approaching end of Tyranny and the triumph of Right and Justice are written. in indelible characters. The struggle will soon be over; the tottering thrones of despots will quickly fall, and bury their proud incumbents in their massy ruins! Then peace on earth shall hold her easy sway, DIALOGUE DIALOGUE BETWEEN EDWARD AND HARRY. [EDWARD alone, reading.] Enter HARRY, with an important air. OW are you, Ned? Harry. How Edward. What, is it you, brother Harry? Were it not for the small part of your face, that appears between your fore-top and your cravat, I should never know you. Har. My appearance is a little altered, to be sure; but I hope you will allow it is for the better. Edw. I wish I could. I perceive, that, some how or other, you are completely metamorphosed from a plain country lad, to a Boston buck, beau, or fop: which is the current word in your varying town dialect, to express such a thing as yourself? Har. Ah, either of them will do. The young ladies sometimes call me Tippy Harry; that suits my ear the best. Edw. That, I suppose, means a little fop, or, as I should express it, a foppee, who is obliged to stand tiptoe to reach a lady her fan. Har. One of your clownish blunders, Ned. It means an airy young gentleman, dressed out in complete bon ton from head to foot, like myself. Edw. "An airy young gentleman, dressed out in complete bon ton, &c. &c." This definition may be of service to me; I will try to remember it. You always possessed one quality of a gentleman, a large share of good humour: I hope you will not be angry, brother, if I am a little inquisitive. Har. Do, Ned, leave off using that old-fashioned word I had rather you would do any thing to me than brother me at this rate. If you should come to Boston, dressed as you are now, with your clumsy shoes, coarse stockings, great small-clothes, home-spun coat, coat, and your old rusty go-to-mill hat, and shake hands with me, in your awkward way; and then, to complete the whole, should call me brother, I should be thunderstruck! For my credit's sake, I should swear it was some crazy straggler, I had seen in the country, and given a few coppers to keep him from starving. I would hide behind the counter, or lie rolled up in a piece of broadcloth a week, rather than be caught in such a scrape. Edw. An airy young gentleman, indeed! would swear to half a dozen lies, hide behind the counter, and roll yourself up in a piece of broadcloth like a silkworm, to save your credit! You have improved much beyond my expectations, Tippy Harry! This sounds better in your refined ear than brother Harry, I suppose. Har. Yes it does, Ned, I'll assure you: that's your sort! You begin to come on a little. Now I'll tell you how it is, Ned; if you would take your old musty library here, and lay it all on the fire together, and burn all your old-fashioned clothes with it, and then go to Boston Edw. What, without any clothes, Harry? Har. Why, I think I should about as lief be seen with you stark naked, as with your coarse, narrowbacked, short-waisted coat. But as I was saying before, then put yourself under the care of a tailor, barber, shoe-maker, and a dancing master; keep a store of English goods about three months, go to the Theatre a dozen nights, chat with our Boston Tippies, have a few high goes, and freeze and thaw two or three times, for you are monstrously stiff; I say, after all this, I believe, Ned, you would make a very clever fellow. Edw. The freezing and thawing is a kind of discipline I should not so readily comply with. I have heard of several of your clever fellows, and ladies of your sort, who were found frozen in old barns, and behind board fences; but I never knew they were so fortunate as to thaw again. Now, Harry, I will be serious |