the luHiso of Wliliun'i P. ?prinp:';,
4, 1827, by ihe Ittv. Samuel U iil-
"Sn aa’sffss
DclherctI :»■
iFsq. July
ail I so 11.
Fellow-Citizcns: The circumstancc
of your meetine; to-day, indicates the
hio;h estimate which you set on your dis-
t/np;uishiiig privileges. Another peace
ful return of our national jubilee Inspires
the voice of patriotism, and rouses tiie
ardor of good feeling throughout our
happy country.
The (lawn of this glorious anniversa
ry, ushered in, as it was, amidst the
grateful acclamations of millions ot free-
nien, and its morning light perl'umed
with the incense of their devout thanks
givings, announced the time fur all ::trilu
to be hushed, and for the singling of
hearts on the altar of national gratitude.
Tlie deep-toned not» of the caur.on, re
verberated from ihe heights ol INIaine
to the plains of Florida, told upon the
bosom of the wave, and proclaimed, as
it flew upon the wind, the heartfelt joy
of a free and happy people. A thuu-
sand streaming banners, as tliey waved
To tiic light of heaven, bcckuiied tiie
:;ons of liberty to commemorate the
/jirth-day of their political existence.
And It is a day worthy to be had in le-
;Tiembrance! A day fraught with event?
lhat should be written on a table of
brass, “with the point of a diamond.’’
A day fruitful of consequences, to be
»;tnbalmed in the hearts of the fair, and
10 be registered in the soiii.i of the brave.
Humanity may sympathize and weep
over crouching vassals, as they throng
the levees of insolent despots ; over ter
ror-struck subjects, when they feign a
ioy on the birth-day of a prince of the
blood ; over an enslaved nation, as they
mock their calamities, by carousing on
the day of their monarch’s coronation :
hut, thanks be to God, these are occur-
rerct's Known to us only by report. It
is for t9mcricans, with a rational good
will, to observe an annual thanksgiving:
it is for you, and your highly favored
countrymen, to consecrate the memory
of the day, on which the throes of con
vulsed nature, under Ihe auspices of a
most merciful Providence, gave liberty
to man, and freedom to half a hemis-
pbpre.
And the remembrance of such an era,
tV'ith its associated circumstances, and
all the political blessings which it has
conferred upon our country, cannot fail
lo inspire with hallowed enthusiasm,
every virtuous mind.
It was a crisis of awful moment; the
dcath-knell of tyranny, and the day-
^ring of liberty, and the rights of man :
On it we cannot reflect with coolness ;
to think of it with apathy, were a blight
ing sin!
From what did that eventful day de
liver ? and to what did it promote, the
land of your fathers ? It would be i
trespass on your understanding to nar
rate the distressing history of these once
British colonies ; but on an occasion like
the present, every American mind in
stinctively reverts to the condition of
the fir.st settlors in these western wilds.
Jamestown and Plymouth are consecra
ted in memory, as the sepulchres of the
first adventurers, who nobly dared to
plant the standards of science and civili-
;;ation on our then savage coasts.
These are the destined spots, where
many an excellent spirit was sacrificed
in the laudable pursuit of happiness,
%vhich is dear, and of natural rights
which are to man. There .you
beiiolil, at a distant day, persecuted rc-
ii{!;ion and tyrannized virtue seeking an
•asylum from despotic rage.
In these early settlements, you find
lome exiled on suspicion or trivial offen
ces, btners, compelled by indigence and
pre^sl,,g want, and many, animated with
the hope, that, the rod of oppresiiion could
not fal! with its deadly cll’ect across the
Atlantic, facing famine and pcbtilence,
with every shape of death, that they
might sec.ire a better inheritance to
their children.
There you find a band of pious Chris
tians, braving the ten ffiousand perils of
a wildernes*'’, and the brutal feiocity of
.^^urrc-unding savages, that they might
be fieed from the trp.nimels of Popish
abominations, and released from the do
minion of lords spiritual upon earth.
£veiy dic'ate of reason would say,
that these enterprising emigrants ought
to have been fostered by Great IJi itain,
and sliielded by her protecting arm.
But as soon as the infant settlements
bcj;'in to assume a colonial form, the un
natural mother appears to have looked
on them as a kind of lawful game, that
might be hunted and fed upon by every
b'*gicared profligate that had a iViend in
roval favor. If there was a worthless
.^on, of some distinguished family, troub
lesome to his friends and to the crown,
by solicitations for office, he must be set
acrtiHs the Atlantic as governor of a col-
0^\, where he might extor^from the
of induilry the moani cl
* tying ui6 % ilo iippctii.cs. Lawless op-
prtssiot» was laid upon the provinces,
and insults heaped upon injuries, re-
gni dli'ss of all petitions and remonstran
ces from the dutiful subjects ; dragging
the accused from their homes to a dis
tant courtof justice—re;!:ulating and con
trolling the military force—levying taxes
without the consent, and against the in
terest of the people—and setting over
tiiem for rulers ignorant and un})rinci-
pled men,—'are among the many acts of
unrighteous oppression v. hich kindled
the spirit of revolution, and led to the
freedom v/hicli we this day enjoy.
It is truly surprising how far the vimi-
al sagacity and Ibrestalling prudence of
the IJritish Court v.-ere lost sight of in
their unnatural conduct towards the col
onies. l?ut it is evidi tit, that for wise
and benevolent purj)oses, a fatal blind
ness was pern'll I ted to fall uj)on them,
and an ini[jenetraljle stupidity to envelop
them, 'i’he illustrious Chatham, with
others of illstingui.shed nierit, warned
the crown oi tl.s danger and inevitable
consequences of such v/rctched policy ;
but in vain.
The n»yal ear, occupied by parasites,
was tleaf to all reason, and incapable of
an imj)re.ssion from any thir.g siiort oi
the cannon’s roar. Noi was it lung, till
he found tl^ere was a spirit of reiontment
in his much injured subjects ; lhat there
was a capable arm amongst the Ameri
can yeomanry ; and that exiles from
British oppression were not tamely to
be divested of their natural rights in an
other land. The judicious and happily
conceived disposal of the tea cargoes in
the port of Boston, spoke the determi
nate purpose of the Provincials ; and it
told thus much, at least, that they claim
ed the jirerogative of judging for them
selves what they would eat, and what
they would drink. This was a sufliclent
challenge to his majps’ty fur the enforce
ment of his dread threatenings, to crush
all remonstrance. Lexington lind the
plains of Charlestown gave a pledge to
the British soldiers of the reception in
tended them by the Provincials. And
in quick succession, the bloody field of
Breed’s Hill, strewed with more than a
thousand of the royal forces, proved that
a virtuous people, desperate in defence
of their rights, and fighting under the
sanction of an approving .conscience,
were not to be despised. “The die was
nowcast, theRubicon was transcended,”
and if justice was to be had, it must be
claimed by the sword.
A general impulse, rapid as the elec
tric spark, pervaded the continent; hope
and fear alternately .seized the minds of
the people ; but Divine Providence had
raised up and qualified agents' to counsel
and to lead in this perilous moment; and
through theirinstrumentality, order and
co-operation were induced amongst the
far scattered inhabitants. As war was
now inevitable, a commander of the A-
merican forces was necessary ; and the
election could not fall wrong, being with
the spotless patriots of the first Con-
e,ress, and under the forefc-nding care of
Heaven.
There was a brilliant orb in the con
stellation of American worthies ; one
distinguished from every other man, b\
the concentration, in himself, of all the
rare and excellent qualities which, sin
gly, ensure pre-eminence. If military
talents only had been sought'for, othcj
pretenders might have been found ; but
it was congenial with the republican
spirit of the times, that the commandc;-
of their citizen sobliers should himself
be a citizen of the first order, and ;•> pa
triot of the purest morals. Accordingly
the fearfully responsible. appointment
was as.signed to Washington. To the
man who was a profound statesman—a
wl.se and prudent politician—an ardent
patriot of unblemished morality—a de
vout Christian, of a brave and generous
heart.
Such was the man, designated of God
to be the Falher of his Country. Great
was the oPiicc assigned him, and pre
eminently was he (jualitied to fill it.—
What might Hdt be expected from an
army under such a leader} It is true,
his ranks were tliin, while the veteran
foe was mighty ; but there was an in
trarrijnlng cn ."^.ordiu motives ai.a iiiipir-
ed with the love of liberty, to accom
plish tlie nof)lo object.
The sacred ties of blood and friend
ship gave place to the paramount law of
nature. The prattling of his babes was
exchanged by the fond father for the
clangor of arms : the aflectionate hus
band relinquished the sweets of domes
tic happiness, for the perils of a tented
field ; the dutiful son, receiving the last
blessing of his bending parents, made
his way to the camp, to rise or to fall
with his country! Thousands, from
every quarter, rushed to the support of
their Leader, and to the defence of a
righteous cau.se. The conflict was san
guine, and victory for a time seemed
doubtful. While the enemy kept the
seas, the provincials felt little inconven
ience ; when he presumed to set his foot
on land, he was met with deadly effect;
and as he marched through the interior,
lie was annoyed at every corner, and
harassed at every step.
After having w'asted the flower of the
British army, meeting many signal de
feats, and being repulsed at every onset,
it v/as found that Ihe American spirit
v.as invincible, and their resources in
exhaustible ; tiie royal forces wisely re-
und li It ■K’tS'e otiierwise, c..r
senses would not comprehend it. But as
we enjoy all the blcssinjjs, pnvilefjes and
advantages which a united people of com
mon rights, and common intfreMs, can
enjoy in a political association, wc have
reason forever to be thankful to the (lod
of our fathers; who has exalted us to such
preferment amongst tlie nations oi the
earth. And we must deprecate the day
when a change in this happy state ol
things may take placc.
The surest defcnce,in a republic,against
the dangers to which it is liable, arc stern
virtue and intelligence among the people :
these are the pillars of the state, and should
be promoted and cherished by every
friend to the welfare of posterity.
While, therefore, we lift up our hearts
in.humble thanks to Almighty God, for
all his goodness to us, let us, as the im
mortal Washington did, commcnd our
beloved country, and all that is dear to
us, into His holy Keeping.
>oived to withdraw, and seek for glory
from some other quarter.
But Divine Providence overruled this
prudent counsel to their confusion. The
capture of Cornwallis and the victory at
Yorktown, were only wanting to render
the tciumph of American arms complete,
and the cause of justice intelligible to an
English understanding.
That memorable event restored the
long frenzied court of Britain to a good
degree of sanity, and disposed them to
give, by amicable negotiation, not only
the natural rights which they had con
temptuously denied to all prayers and en
treaties, but also to acknowledge the in
dependence of the United State as u free
and sovereign people. Such was the
boon for which our fathers fought, and it
was obtained at an inestimable price.—
The precious blood of thousands was shed
in the noble cause : the liberty which we
this day enjoy, was a dear-bought inher
itance. Dangers and losses, toils and suf
ferings innumerable, were sustained by
all classes, without distinction of age or
sex, to procure the high privileges which
we pcaceably enjoy. And blessed is the
memory of all who had part in the great
achievement. 1‘hey are to be esteemed the
benefactors of mankind ; and the remain
ing few who are spared to grace the as
semblies of this joyous anniversary, have | a place called Chelirheis, in which the
BONAPARTE AND THE MAMELUKES.
ust
From W. Her Scott's L^ft of Napokvn.
Upon the 5th of .July, the army march
ed from Alexandria against the Mame
lukes. Their course was up the Nile,
and a small flotilla of gun-boats ascended
the river to protect their ri^ht flank,
while the infantry iraverbed a desert of
burning sands, at a distance from the
stream, and without a drop of water to
relieve tbtir tormenting thirst. The ar
my of Italy, accustomed to the enjoy
ments of that delicious country, were as
tonished at the desolation they saw around
them. ‘ Is this,’they said, the country
in which we are to receive onr farms ot
seven acres each ? 'I he General might
have allowed us to take as much as we
chose—no one would have abused the
privilege.’ Their ofRcers, too, express
ed horror and disgust, and even generals
of such celebrity as Murat and Lannes
tlirew their hati, on the sand, and trod on
their cockades. It required all Bona
parte’s authority to maintain order, so
much were the French disgusted with
the commencement of the expedition.
To add to their embarrassment, the
enemy began to appear around them.
Mamelukes and Arab:i, concealed be
hind the hillocks of sand, interrupted
their march on every opportunity, and
woe to the soldier who straggled from
the ranks, were it but fifty yards. Some
of these horsemen were sure to dash ai
him, slay him on the spot, and make ofl'
belbre a musket could be discharged at
them. At length, however, the audacity
of these incursions was checked by
skirmish of some little importance, near
the best earthly reward of a virtuous mind
—honor and reverence iVom a grateful,
happy people. They have lived to be
praised for the deeds of “other times,” by
ten millions of freemen; to consummate
their characters and iill up the measure of
their bliss, it only remains that they be
true to the Xing of kings, and take pro
tection untler the banner of the Prince of
Peace, who alone can give the victory over
\\\z lastand insure an inheritance in
a “ better country.” Wlien the noise of
war had ceascd, and the soldier returned
to his family rejoicing, a guardian spirit
watched over the natior?al councils, and
the interests of the people were consulted
in all their deliberations.
Envious aristocrats had exultingly boas
ted th.'xt republics wen; but the dreams of
visionary brains, and that no constitution
could be made so wise, nor any people be
found so virtuous, as to be able to maintain
that most desirable form of government,
liut the patriots of the revolution, having
experienced the delivering, protecting
hand of the God of nations, in bringing
them to freedom, were willing to trust in
tlic same for its defence. Accordingly,
they framed and adopted the i’edcral Con
stitution, that pcrfect paragon of political
wisdom, free from all error, free from all
defcct.
And near half a century’s experience
has proven, that it is an all-sufficient chan
for a great and mighty nation. In peace
and in war it has been tested. It has with
stood the bickeringsof faction, and trium
phed over party rage. It answered all the
purposes of a rational compact, in the late
war; with this high bond of union, the
coivcentrated power of the numerous
Stales c^ihibited a fearless front.
On the dck’p, the American seamen sig.
nally triumphed over the high pretensions
of the iJritish navy, and the s;>lc‘ndid vic
tory at Orleans awarded the paha of mil-
Frcnch asserted theirniilitary superiority.
An encounter also took place on the
river between the French flotilla and a
number of armed vessels belonging to the
Mamelukes. Victory first inclined to
the latter, but at length determined in
favor of the French, who took, however,
only a single galliot
iblc
witl, him, an unseei. Iiost a. n.s.
attended liim, which no wisdom could
baffle, no power resist.
A natioii was to be roared on a new*
and perfect model : a government was
to be founded on (he pure principles of
equity and justice ; and the aj)pointed
means were wortliy of the end.
The condition of the colonies at this
Thus far has the nation steered well un
der the great churt. Let not that sacred in
strument be tanijv^red with by unhallowed
hands. Let it not be altered to ‘.he v/hims
of shallow politicians. Let it not be con
formed to the viev/s of aspiring ambition.
Under its auspices the American canvass
lias whitened every sea ; American com
merce has profited in every port; the A-
crisis, bore a fearful aspect—open war meriran name is respectcd in every clime;
with the mother country, whose navy ! has guaranteed to us a succession ol
lined the coast, and midnight vengeance I " vi holesome ^administration at
from Ihe slculkini; savajcu, ivlio sparwl 1 ?"
neither Dcx n..r age. Tlie love of in-! '"‘''‘I''
, . I 7i r r I I heaven arc lavorcd as vve are r lou search
glorious ease r.nt! lue tearful chance oi i • . n > ij r i i.
” . . . - m vain for a parallel. How lirmly oufjht
march with the utmost precaution. The
whole plain was now covered with Mame
lukes, mounted on the finest Arabian hor
ses, and armed with pistols, caral)ines,
and blunderbusses of the best English
workmanship—their plumed turbans
waving in> the air, and their rich dresses
and arms glittering in the sun. Enter
taining a high contempt fur the Frc.xh
force, as consisting almost entirely of in
fantry, this splendid barbaric cavalry
watched every opportunity for charging
them, nor did a single straggler escape
the unrelenting edge of their sabres.
Their charge was almost as swift as the
wind, as their severe bits enabled them
to halt, or wheel their horses at full gallop,
their retreat was as rapid as their ad
vance. Even the practised veterans of
Italy were at first embarrassed by this
new mode of fighting, and lost several
men; especially when fatigue caused any
one to fall out of the ranks, in which case
his fate became certain. But they were
soon reconciled to fighting the Mame
lukes, when they discovered that each of
these horsemen carried about him his for
tune,and that ic not uncommonly amount
ed to considerable sums in gold.
During these alarms, the French love
of tike ridiculous was not abated by the
fatigues or dangers of the journey. The
savants had been supplied with asses,
and beasts of burden easiest attained in
ti’ansport their persons and
philosophical apparatus. The (ieneral
had given orders to attend to their per
sonal safety, which were of course ob»?y-
ed. But as these savants had little im
portance in the eyes of the military, loud
shouts of laughter used to burst from the
ranks, while forming to receive the
Matnelukes, as the general of the division
called out, with a railitary precision,
‘Let the asses and savants enter within
the square.’ The soldiers also amused
themselves, by calling the asses derni-sa-
vants. Ill times of discontent, these un
lucky servants of science had their i’ull
share of
imagined
ol (.->airOj ..!*U c. ;
Celebrated Pyramids, but karnfd at the
same time, that Murad.I’ey, v, iih twen
ty-two of his brethren, at the liead yt' theij.
Mamelukes, had formed an entrcuchetj
camp, at a place called Embabeh, wm.
the purpose of covering Cairo, and liv
ing battle to the rrench. On the
July, as the French continued to advance
they saw their enemy in the field, and v[
full force. A slendid line of cavalry, un .
der Murad and the other Beys, displayed
the whole strength of the Mamtlukej
Their right rested on the imperlectly
trenched camp, in which lay twcntv
thousand infantry, defended by forty pi^.
ces of cannon. But the inf'antry were au
undisciplined rabble ; the g*ans, waniintr
carriages, weremountcd on clumsy wood"!,
cn frames ; and the foriiiications of tli(>
camp were but commenced, and prtsetit-
ed no formidable opposition. Bonapui te
made his disposition.~He extended his
line to the right, in such a manner as to
keep out of gun-shot of the entrenched
camp, and to have only to encounter tha
line of cavalry.
Murad Bey saw the movement, and
fully aware of its consequence, prepart J
to charge with his magnificent body of
horse, declaring he would cut the French
up like gourds. Bonaparte, as he direct
ed the infantry to form squares to receive
them, called out to his men, ‘ From yon.
der Pyramids twenty centuries beholi?
your actions.’ The Mamelukes advanc
ed with the titmost speed, and correspon
ding fury, and charged with horrible
yells. They disordered one of the French
squares of infantry, which would have
been sabred in an instant, but that th^
mass of this fiery militia, was a iitijfi
behind the advanced guard. The Frcncli
had a moment to restore order, and useti
it. The combat then in some degree re
sembled that which, near twenty yeari;
afterwards, took place at Waterloo; thr •
hostile cavalry furiously charging the
squares of infantry, and trying, by ihp.
most undaunted efforts of courage, ti.
break in upon them at every practicable
point, while a tremendous fire of mus-
quetry, grape-shot and shells, crossing
in various directions, repaid their au
dacity. Nothing in war was ever stea
more desperate than the exertions of the
Mamelukes. Failing to force their hor
ses through thel' rench squares,individuals
were seen to wheel them round and rein
them back on the ranks, that they might
disorder them by kicking. As they be
came frantic with despair, they hurled at
iho immovable phalanxes, which thev
could not break, their pistols, their poin-
iards, and their carabines. Those who
fell wounded to the ground,, drat;g(d
themselves on, to cut at the legs yl'ihc
French with their crooked sabres. But
their efforts were all in vain.
The Mamelukes, after the most coir-
ageous efforts to accomplish their pur
pose, were finally beaten oCi wi^h grca:
slaughter ; and as they could not form or
act in squadron, their ret.-eat became a
confused flight. The greater part at
tempted to return to their cam'p, from
that sort of instinct, as Napoleon termed
it, which leads fugitives to retire in the
same direction in which they had ad
vanced. By taking this route they had
placed themselves betwixt the French and
the Nile; and the sustained and insup
portable fire of the former soon obliged
them to plunge into the river; in hoper
to escape by swimming to the opposite
bank—a desperate efl’ort, in which fev;
succeeded. Their infantry at the same
time evacuated their camp without J'
show of resistance, precipitated them
selves into the boats, and endeavoured to
cross the Nile. Very many of these al’
so were destroyed. The French soldiers
long afterwaitls occupied themselvei it'
fishing for the drowtied Mamelukes, and
failed not to find money and valua'ok.-;
upon all whom they could recovcr. Mu
rad Bey, with a part of his best Mame
lukes, escaped the slaughter by a more
regular movetnent to the leff, and retreat
ed by Giaen into Upper Egypt.
Thus were in a great measure destroy*
ed the finest cavalry, considered as in
dividual horsemen, that were ever known
to exist. ‘Could I have united the .Manie-
lukes horse to the French infantry,’ said
Bonaparte, ‘I would have reckoned my
self master of the world.’ The destruc
tion of a body hitherto regarded as invin
cible, struck terror, not through Egypt
only, but far into Africa and Asia, wherc-
ever the Moslem religion prevailed; :uid
the rollinpr fire of inusquetry by whirl.
war, kept back many from tho dreadful
contest. Great s.’urllices av/aitcd all
who took part in the enianripatlon of
thejx country ;_but to the honor of tliaJ
vcn-jiviblc found,
we to adhere to our republican instiiu
tions-? How tenacioii-jly ought v/c to hold
the vioiory was achieved, procured 1‘‘
Bonaparte the oriental appellutiou,
Sultan Kebir, or King of Fire.
After tiiis combat, which to render i>-
more striklii" to the Parisians, Bonaparte
termed tlie ‘-ijattle of the Pyramids
Cairo surreriJered without resi:.taiicc*
Tlie shattered reniains of the ftlamS"
tirat system whidi has been tried, and thtkt! vvfix gii^atly deliglited, wj^n, after seven
( our‘.e of polif. y which has been proven : | la\sot' such mimrhes as wv have descrit)-
lukes who liad svv.im the Nile and utiitt'.
unde»’ Ibrahim Bey, were coinpelk’d
retrcAt into Syii:i. A party of three
hu.'.U.ed lavalry ventured ^
j tack tliern a^ Saliihieh, but were severe./
the soldies’ reproaches, who } hatulltd bv Ihrahiin Bey and his lollii"'"
that this unpopui.ir expedition Ids, v/ho, havini; cut many of them to
their retreat witliou-
ion. Lower Egypt
took very slender interest. ’ | completely in the hands of the Frenclu
'•.as tar tiie expedition ol Bonapai-e
Ui iMj P'jrl’. c.try sijcccssful.
v..«. WHO lers, v/no, navnu;
had been undertaken to gratify their pas- piece?:., pursued
sion for researches in which the fxiiiilary further intcn iipti
Under _such circumstaricr.'^, it may be i an t
d'nubted whether the litcra'.i tliemselvs had hou p-rl. ctiy siicccssful. But i';
was nut I'.ii; will ofll-’aven, that thr moi-
rvu": ihs.^ r.ot;
'v itj pcrf'.;C
•.U'
iUi'2
fortunati; oi men should esrap*^cu‘.'’.'f^f