On the 25th of November, 1783, the British army evacuated New York, and the American troops, under General Knox, took possession of the city. Soon after, Washington and Governor Clinton, with their suite, made their public entry into the city on horseback, followed by the lieutenant-governor and the members of council for the temporary government of the southern district, four abreast; General Knox, and the officers of the army, eight abreast; citizens on horseback, eight abreast; the speaker of the assembly, and the citizens on foot, eight abreast. The governor gave a public dinner, at which the commanderin-chief and other general officers were present. The arrangements for the whole business were so well made and executed, that the most admirable tranquillity succeeded through the day and night. On Monday the government gave an elegant entertainment to the French ambassador, the Chevalier de la Luzerne. Washington, the principal officers of New York state and of the army, and upwards of a hundred gentlemen, were present. Magnificent fireworks, infinitely exceeding everything of the kind before seen in the United States, were exhibited at the Bowling Green in Broadway, on the evening of Tuesday, in celebration of the definitive treaty of peace. They commenced by a dove descending with the olive branch, and setting fire to a marron battery.

On Tuesday noon, December 4th, the principal officers of the army assembled at Francis' tavern, to take a final leave of their much-loved commander-in-chief. Soon after, Washington entered the room. His emotions were too strong to be concealed. Filling a glass, he turned to them and said: "With a heart full of love and gratitude, I now take leave of you. I most devoutly wish that your latter days may be as prosperous and happy as your former ones have been glorious and honorable." Having drank, he added, "I cannot come to each of you to take my leave, but shall be obliged to you if each of you will come and take me by the hand." General Knox, being nearest, turned to him. Incapable of utterance, Washington, in

same affectionate manner he took leave of each succeeding officer. In every eye was the tear of dignified sensibility, and not a word was articulated to interrupt the eloquent silence and tenderness of the scene. Leaving the room, he passed through the corps of light infantry, and walked to White-Hall, where a barge waited to convey him to Paulus' Hook. The whole company followed in mute and solemn procession, with dejected countenances, testifying feelings of delicious melancholy, which no language can describe. Having entered the barge, he turned to the company, and, waving his hat, bade them a silent adieu. They paid him the same affectionate compliment, and, after the barge had left them, returned in the same solemn manner to the place where they had assembled. The passions of human nature were never more tenderly agitated than in this interesting and distressful scene.

Congress was now in session at Annapolis, to whom, on the 23d of December, the commander-in-chief resigned his commission. The governor, council, and legislature of Maryland, several general officers, the consul general of France, and numerous citizens of Annapolis, were present. The members of congress were seated, and covered, as representatives of the sovereignty of the Union; the spectators were uncovered, and standing. The general was introduced to a chair by the secretary, who, after a decent interval, ordered silence. A short pause ensued, when Thomas Mifflin, the president, informed the general, that "the United States, in congress assembled, were prepared to receive his communications;"-on which he rose, with dignity, and delivered this address:

"Mr. President-The great events on which my resignation depended having at length taken place, I now have the honor of offering my sincere congratulation to congress, and of presenting myself before them, to surrender into their hands the trust committed to me, and to claim the indulgence of retiring from the service of my country.

"Happy in the confirmation of our independence 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 diffi

dence; 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;-my gratitude for the interpositions of Providence, and the assistance I have received from my countrymen, increase with every review of the

momentous contest.

"While I respect 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 persons 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 solemn act of my official life, by commending the interests of our 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 long acted, I here offer my commission, and take my leave of all the employments of public life."

When accepting his commission, congress, through their president, expressed in glowing language to Washington their high sense of his wisdom and energy, in conducting the war to so happy a termination, and invoking the choicest blessings upon his future life.

• President Mifflin concluded as follows: "We join you in commending the interest of our 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 nation; and our prayers for you, sir, that your days may be happy, and He will finally

CHAPTER XXXIX.

THE CONFEDERATION.-Washington retires to private life-State of the country-Defects of the old confederation-Embarrassments after the termination of the war-Foundation of the Order of Cincinnati-Trouble in the Eastern States-Insurrection of Shays-The militia of Massachusetts raised—Affair of Springfield-Defeat of the insurgentsTranquillity restored-Plan for a new federal government—Convention of Philadelphia-Formation of the Federal Constitution—Washington elected president-His tour through the country-Hamilton's financial system-United States Bank established-Vermont admitted into the Union-First census-Indian war-Defeat of St. Clair-Wayne's campaign-Defeat of the Indians-Treaty of Grenville-The Whiskey Insurrection in Pennsylvania—Commencement of the French Revolution-Arrival of Genet in the United States-His extraordinary behavior and recall-Jay's treaty-Adams elected president-Hostility of the French Directory-Capture of the Insurgente-Peace with FranceDeath of Washington.

THE American army being disbanded, the soldiers, covered with honorable scars, returned quietly to their homes. Washington, refusing alike public honors, titles and pay, withdrew to the abode of private retirement, at his farm at Mount Vernon; and the world saw, with astonishment and admiration, an army and its chief voluntarily lay down their arms, after seven years' service, with the only remuneration for their labors which arose from the consciousness of having established the liberties of their country. The United States had now an independent national existence, yet the general government had no consolidation or permanent system. The states during the war had adhered to each other by the pressure of a common danger, and the authority of congress, although resting solely on the spontaneous consent of the several bodies which formed the confederacy, was found sufficient for the

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