4. Just at this time, Washington learned that the French fleet, which was expected to unite with him in the siege of New York, was about to sail for the mouth of Chesapeake Bay. This changed his determination, though he did not. suffer his plan to be known, and he hastened with his forces, Americans and French, at once toward Yorktown to attack Cornwallis.

5. On the 30th of September, the combined armies of the north and south, amounting to twelve thousand men, were fairly encamped round about Yorktown and Gloucester, while the French fleet, under Count de Grasse, blockaded the mouth of the river, to prevent Cornwallis from receiving any assistance from New York or elsewhere, and from making his escape.

6. Washington arrived in person on the 6th of October, and the siege was begun and carried on with so much vigor that, on the 19th of October, 1781, Lord Cornwallis found himself obliged to surrender, with

4. What of Washington just at this time? What changed his determination? 5. De scribe the situation of the French and American forces at Yorktown. 6. When did Lord Cornwallis surrender?

his whole army of more than seven thousand men-an event which two months before was as unexpected by the Americans as it was by the British government.

7. At the capture of Charleston, eighteen months before, by the British, much pains had been taken to render the manner of the surrender as humiliating to the Americans as possible. This was remem bered by the victorious army at Yorktown, and retaliated. So humil iating indeed was it, that Lord Cornwallis would not appear in persok to give up his sword, but sent it by General O'Hara.

8. So rapid, and at the same time so secret, had been the movements of Washington and his army to the south, that the British did not for some time suspect his departure from the neighborhood of New York. When they learned what was going on, they sent the traitor Arnold to Connecticut, as we have elsewhere stated, in order to divert Washington from his object. Sir Henry Clinton also sailed with an armament of seven thousand men for the relief of Cornwallis, but as he did not reach the Chesapeake till five days after his surrender, he returned to New York.

9. This important event, the surrender of Cornwallis, revived the dying hopes of the country, and diffused universal joy, of which the strongest public testimonials were everywhere given. Nothing was to be heard, for some time, but the praises of Washington, La Fayette, Rochambeau, and De Grasse. The war was now thought to be chiefly Qver. The 30th of the December following was appointed by Congress as a day of national thanksgiving.

10. The British still occupied New York, Charleston, Savannah, and a few other posts; but they no longer, as before, overran New Jersey and the Carolinas. Nor was there, in truth, much more severe fighting. The fall of Cornwallis may therefore be justly said to have decided the war; and to have decided it in favor of the Americans.

11. Among the more considerable events of the year 1781, in addi. tion to a few which have already been noticed, was an expedition, late in the autumn, against the Cherokee Indians, who had recently been troublesome. In this expedition, thirteen of their towns and villages were burnt, and many of the Indians were slain.

12. Soon after the capture of Cornwallis, the northern division of the American army returned to their old position on the Hudson, while the French troops and the southern division of the army remained in

S What can

7. What of the surrender at Charleston? What of that of Cornwallis? you say of the movements of Washington's army? 9. What demonstrations of joy were made all over the country? 10. What places were occupied by the British at this time? What decided the war? 11. What expedition was made in 1781 in regard to the Indians? 12. Where did the Americans and French station themselves soon after the capture of Cornwallis?

TREATY OF PEACE.

279 and about Virginia. Count de Grasse sailed with his fleet to the West Indies, where they spent the winter.

13. It should be added here, that the Articles of Confederation, which Congress had prepared and signed, and sent to the several states for adoption, were finally ratified by them all, this year. Till this time, objections of one kind or another had been made, and various amendments proposed; but it was at length seen to be necessary to unite, in order to sustain the contest with Great Britain, and hence the com pact of the Confederation was adopted.

CHAPTER CXXXIV.

CLOSE OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.-Treaty of Peace. 1. AFTER the surrender of Lord Cornwallis, the war with America

began to be quite unpopular in England; but nothing decisive was done to put an end to it till March, 1782, when the House of Commons passed a resolution against prosecuting, or attempting to prosecute, the American war any further. Still the troops were not withdrawn immediately.

2. The first truly pacific public measure adopted by Great Britain, was that of appointing Sir Guy Carleton, one of the best and ablest of the British generals, to the command of the forces in America, and directing him to settle the differences between the two countries. This officer endeavored to open a correspondence with Congress for this purpose; but they refused to do any thing except in concert with their French allies.

SIR GUY CARLETON.

3. It was not till late in the year 1782, that any thing effectual was accomplished toward making peace between the two countries. At

CHAP. CXXXIV.-1. What was done in England in 1782? 2. What did Sir Guy Carle on attempt to do? 3. What commissioners met at Paris?

length, however, by the advice and request of the French court, two commissioners on the part of Great Britain, Messrs. Fitzherbert and Oswald, and four on the part of the United States, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, and Henry Laurens, met at Paris.

4. Here, after consulting long on the subject, they formed what were called Provisional Articles of Peace. These were signed on the 30th of November. On the 20th of January, 1783, it was agreed by the commissioners that all hostilities between the two countries should cease. The news of this was received in the United States on the 24th of the March following.

5. On the 19th of April, precisely eight years after the battle of Lexington, Washington issued a proclamation of peace. There had been no blood shed, however, or almost none, for nearly eight months. A definitive treaty of peace was made and signed at Paris, September 3d, 1783, by which Great Britain acknowledged the independence of the United States.

6. This acknowledgment had been already made by several of the countries of Europe. Sweden had acknowledged it February 5th; Denmark, February 25th; Spain, March 24th; and Russia in July. Treaties of amity and peace were also made between the United States and these several nations.

7. The United States army was kept together till the third day of November. On that day, after suitable preparation had been made, it was disbanded in due form. Washington, in an affectionate address, first bade farewell to his soldiers, and subsequently to his officers. These last, at parting, he took by the hand separately. The formalities of bidding adieu took place at New York.

8. The British do not appear to have left New York till the 25th of the same month, though Charleston and Savannah had been evacuated long before. It may seen a little surprising that the British should remain at New York so long. One reason for the delay was the want of transports for carrying away their military stores and supplies, as well as for conducting to Nova Scotia the refugees who had fled to them from all parts of the country for protection..

9. On the 23d of December, Washington appeared in the hall of Congress at Annapolis, and resigned his commission. The act of resignation was accompanied by a short but affecting speech, in which after recounting briefly the events of the war, he commended his coun

4. What articles were signed in November? What agreement was made? 5. When was peace proclaimed? What of the treaty signed at Paris? 6. What countries had acknowledged the independence of the United States? 7. Describe the disbanding of the army. 8. How long did the British stay in New York? Why was their stay so pro tracted?

EFFECTS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. 281

try, and all concerned in the administration of its affairs, to the special protection of Heaven.

10. Congress, in accepting his commission, replied to him through General Mifflin, their president, in a manner expressive of their confidence in his wisdom, and their gratitude for his services. He then left them at Annapolis, and hastened to his family and farm at Mount Vernon, where he hoped to spend the remainder of his days.

CHAPTER CXXXV.

Effects of the American Revolution.

1. THUS ended a war of eight years' duration, in which a hundred thousand lives were lost, and hundreds of thousands suffered greatly from wounds, sickness, poverty, or from the losses or sufferings of their friends; and in which, also, hundreds of millions of property were expended. Let us recount the losses and gains.

2. Great Britain, of course, gained nothing by the war. Hers was wholly loss. The United States gained their Political Independence— "a name and a place among the nations of the earth." This was, indeed, a great boon, but the war brought with it a long train of evils. Dr. Ramsay, of South Carolina, who wrote a history of the Revolution soon after its occurrence, says as follows:

3. "On the whole, the literary, political, and military talents of the United States have been improved by the Revolution; but their moral character is inferior to what it was. So great is the change for the .worse, that the friends of good order are loudly called upon to exert their utmost abilities in extirpating the vicious principles and habits which have taken deep root during the convulsion."

4. Voltaire had said, long before this time: "Put together all the vices of ages, and they will not come up to the mischiefs and enormities of a single campaign." But if this is true of a single campaign, -and who will doubt it?-how much more is it true of a series of campaigns like that of the American revolutionary war!

5. Before the Revolution, and especially before the long and disastrous Indian wars, the people of the United States were an industrious, sober, honest, and religious people. A large proportion of them were

9, 10. Describe the resignation of Washington's commission.

CHAP. CXXXV.-1. What had been the consequences of the war with England? 2 What was the comparative gain of Great Britain and America? Repeat an extract from Dr. Ramsay. 4. What remark does Voltaire make concerning war? 5. What of the United States before the Revolution?