LIBRARY

OF THE

UNIVERSITY

CALIFORNIA

PEACE.

I.

Ar length the struggle was ended. After eight years of sanguinary and doubtful war, came peace, at last, with independence, acknowledged by the chief masters of the world. On the nineteenth of April, 1775, the first blood of the revolution reddened the field of Lexington: on the nineteenth of April, 1783, proclamation was made of the treaty signed at Paris. On the second of the following November, the veteran and victorious soldiers were disbanded, by order of Congress, their illustrious Chief having the previous day taken his final leave of them, invoking from their grateful country and the God of battles "ample justice here and the choicest of Heaven's favors both here and hereafter."

Eight years of desolating war, though crowned with a triumph which only the most universal and profound patriotism, guided by wisdom almost superhuman, could have accomplished, had brought in their train so much suffering; to so many households mourning for fathers, brothers, husbands, sons; and with their conclusion a poverty so general and hopeless, that there was little of that turbulence of joy which a more sudden and less costly victory would have excited. He who, scarred and poorly clothed, laid aside his