The Life of the Late Gen. William Eaton

THE NEW YORK
PUBLIC LIBRARY:
287176

ASTOR, LENOK AND
TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.

DISTRICT CLERK'S OFFICE.

DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS, TO WIT:

BE it remembered, That on the sixteenth day of April, A. D. 1813, and in the thirty-seventh year of the Independence of the United States of America, Ebenezer Merriam of the said district, has deposited in this office the title of a book, the right whereof he claims as proprietor, in the words following, to wit:

"THE LIFE OF THE LATE GEN. WILLIAM EATON; SEVERAL YEARS AN OFFICER IN THE UNITED STATES' ARMY, CONSUL AT THE REGENCY OF TUNIS ON THE COAST OF BARBARY, AND COMMANDER OF THE CHRISTIAN AND OTHER FORCES THAT MARCHED FROM EGYPT THROUGH THE DESERT OF BARCA, IN 1805, AND CONQUERED THE CITY OF DERNE, WHICH LED TO THE TREATY OF PEACE BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND THE REGENCY OF TRIPOLI: PRINCIPALLY COLLECTED FROM HIS CORRESPONDENCE AND OTHER MANUSCRIPTS."

In conformity to the Act of Congress of the United States, intitled, "An Act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the Authors and Proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned ;" and also, to an act, intitled

An act supplementary to an act, intitled, an act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies during the times therein mentioned; and extending the benefits thereof to the Arts of Designing, Engraving, and Etching Historical, and other Prints."

WILLIAM S. SHAW,

Clerk of the District of Massachusetts.

*Charles T.Harbeck

24, MAR 04

THE COMPILER'S PREFACE.

GEN. EATON expired, June 1st, 1811. Shortly after his decease, several gentlemen, who having a just, entertained a high opinion of his talents and services, expressed a wish to see a history of his life and atchievments, believing that in his numerous manuscripts there were ample materials, by judicious selection, for a biography of his. life and a relation of its principal events, that were worthy preservation: hoping at the same time that a volume might be published of sufficient interest to defray the expense of publication, and perhaps yield a profit that might do much towards educating his orphan children. Major AMOS PAINE Of Woodstock, (Con.) the husband of a sister of GEN. EATON, from regard to the family, and solely with a hope of rendering it a service, offered to risque the expense of publication. Having been intimately acquainted with EATON, and with much of his public life, trusting, perhaps too much, to my judgment and fitness for the undertaking, Mr. Paine requested me to make the desired selections, and superintend the work. Being under obligations to spend the ensuing winter in the City of Washington, and there not being sufficient time for the execution of the work before the winter, it was agreed to defer it till the next spring. A disappointment in procuring paper delayed the commencement of the printing till late in the autumn of the last year. If however the volume contains amusement, instruction or interest, this delay can have no essential effect in its sale.-These particulars are mentioned merely to account for the lateness of a volume so long before announced.

Of the greater part of his life GEN. EATON kept a journal: he preserved copies of all his official, and most of his private letters: a dozen volumes of the size of this would not contain the whole. To examine and collect, from such a mass of papers, what is most interesting; and at the same time so to connect it, so as to afford, from his own pen, a relation of his life and its principal transactions, has been a diffi. cult and laborious undertaking. Some things are perhaps omitted which many would deem of more importance than others which are inserted; and some things are inserted which others may consider of little value. To please all was an impracticable task. Having no one to consult; no guide but my own very fallible judgment; censure of that judgment is to be expected; but censure of its faithful exercise would be most unmerited.

Not having it at all times in my power to examine the proof sheets it is probable that some small errors of the press may be discovered; some perhaps have escaped my own attention: nothing I trust howev er of importance.

I at first intended to divide the work into chapters; but finding that such division must be entirely arbitrary, and that no advantage could arise from it; it was deemed advisable rather to leave the whole to such pauses as the dates or transactions naturally suggest.

An insertion of the list of Subscribers was intended; but it has been found impracticable to obtain in season the different subscription papers issued, a few in the neighborhood excepted: hence, and the insertion being considered of little importance, it has been thought unnecessay to delay the publication for an object of such minor

consequence.

Brookfield, April 20th, 1813.

THE EDITOR.

CONTENTS.

From Page 9 10 Page 57.

Page 9. Preliminary observations-birth of GEN. EATON-character-
istic anecdotes.

11. Joins the army-prepares for the university.

12. Goes to Hanover.