ARGUMENT.

The characters to whom the poem is addressed, and the subject of it-peace-dissolution of the army-General Washington's farewell advice and retirement-apostrophe to him—the happiness of the Americans considered as a free and agricultural people-articles which contribute to their felicity during the different seasons-winter's amusements, which produce a digression concerning the late war and the author—the pleasures which succeeded the horrors of war-invocation to connubial love-description of the female sex and character, marriage and domestic life in America-the present state of society there -the face of the country at and since the period of its discovery -the pleasant prospects exhibited by the progress of agriculture and population-eulogy of agriculture-address to Congress-the genius of the western world invoked to accelerate our improvements-a treaty of commerce proposed with GreatBritain-superior advantages for a marine America called upon to employ her sons on discoveries in the carrying trade, fishing, whaling and commerce.

A POEM

ON THE

HAPPINESS OF AMERICA.

OH happy people, ye to whom is giv'n

A land enrich'd with sweetest dews of heav'n
Ye, who possess Columbia's virgin prime,
In harvests blest of ev'ry soil and clime!
Ye happy mortals, whom propitious fate
Reserv'd for actors on a stage so great!
Sons worthy sires of venerable name,
Heirs of their virtue and immortal fame,
Heirs of their rights still better understood,
Declar'd in thunder, and confirm'd in blood:
Ye chosen race, your happiness I sing,
With all the joys the cherub peace can bring,

When your tall fleets shall lift their starry pride,
And sail triumphant o'er the bill'wy tide.

The song begins where all our bliss began,

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What time th' Almighty check'd the wrath of man,

Distill'd, in bleeding wounds, the balm of peace,
And bade the rage of mortal discord cease.

Then foes, grown friends, from toils of slaughter breath'd,
Then war-worn troops their blood-stain'd weapons sheath'd: 20
Then our great Chief to Vernon's shades withdrew,
And thus, to parting hosts, pronounc'd adieu:

"Farewell to public care, to public life: "Now peace invites me from the deathful strife. "And oh my country, may'st thou ne'er forget "Thy bands victorious, and thy honest debt!

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« If aught which proves to me thy freedom dear,
"Gives me a claim to speak, thy sons shall hear:
"On them I call-Compatriots dear and brave,
* Deep in your breasts these warning truths engrave:

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"To guard your sacred rights-be just! be wise!
"Thence flow your blessings, there your glory lies.
"Beware the feuds whence civil war proceeds;
"Fly mean suspicions; spurn inglorious deeds;
"Shun fell corruption's pestilential breath,
"To states the cause, and harbinger of death.
"Fly dissipation, in whose vortex whirl'd,
"Sink the proud nations of the elder world,
"Avoid the hidden snares that pleasure spreads,
"To seize and chain you, in her silken threads;
"Let not the lust of gold nor pow'r enthral;
"Nor list the wild ambition's frantic call.
"Stop, stop your ears to discord's curst alarms,
"Which, rousing, drive a mad'ning world to arms :
"But learn, from others' woes, sweet peace to prize,
"To know your bliss, and where your treasure lies—
"Within the compass of your little farms,
"Lodg'd in your breasts, or folded in your arms;
"Blest in your clime, beyond all nations blest,
"Whom oceans guard, and boundless wilds invest.

"Nor yet neglect the native force which grows, "Your shield from insult, and your wall from foes; "But early train your youth, by mimic fights, "To stand the guardians of their country's rights.

"By honour rul'd, with honesty your guide, "Be that your bulwark, and be this your pride; "Increase the fed'ral ties; support the laws; "Guard public faith; revere religion's cause. "Thus rise to greatness by experience find, "Who live the best, are greatest of mankind.

"And ye, my faithful friends, (for thus I name

"My fellow lab'rers in the field of fame)

"Ye, who for freedom nobly shed your blood, "Dy'd ev'ry plain, and purpled ev'ry flood,

"Where havock heap'd of arms, and men the wreck, "From Georgia's stream to walls of proud Quebec;

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"To these stern toils the peaceful scene succeeds, "The eyes of nations watch your future deeds: "Go act, as citizens, in life's retreat,

"Your parts as well, and make your fame complete:

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"'Tis our's for ever, from this hour to part,
"Accept th' effusions of a grateful heart!
"Where'er you go, may milder fates pursue,
"Receive my warmest thanks, my last adieu!"

The HERO spoke-an awful pause ensu'd:

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Each eye was red, each face with tears bedew'd;

As if the pulse of life suspended stood,

An unknown horror chill'd the curdling blood:

Their arms were lock'd; their cheeks irriguous met,'

By thy soft trickling dews, affection! wet.

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Words past all utt'rance mock'd the idle tongue,
While petrified in final gaze they clung.

The bands retiring, sought their ancient farms,
With laurels crown'd-receiv'd with open arms.
Now citizens, they form'd no sep'rate class,
But spread, commixing, through the gen❜ral mass:
Congenial metals, thus, by chymic flame,
Dissolve, assimilate, and grow the same.

Swords turn'd to shares, and war to rural toil,
The men who sav'd, now cultivate the soil.
In no heroic age, since time began,

Appear'd so great the majesty of man.

His task complete, before the sires august
The hero stood, and render'd up his trust.
But who shall dare describe that act supreme,
And fire his numbers with the glowing theme?
Who sing, though aided with immortal pow'rs,
The towns in raptures, and the roads in flow'rs,
Where'er he pass'd? What monarch ever knew
Such acclamations, bursts of joy so true?
What scenes I saw! how oft, surpris'd I felt,
Through streaming eyes, my heart, dilated, melt!
Scenes that no words, no colours can display,
No sculptur'd marble, and no living lay:
Yet shall these scenes impress my mem'ry still,
Nor less the festal hours of Vernon's hill;
Nor that sad moment when 'twas mine to part,
As the last heart string severs from the heart.

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"Adieu," I cried, "to Vernon's shades, adieu!
"The vessel waits-I see the beck'ning crew—
"Me now to foreign climes new duties guide,
"O'er the vast desert of th' Atlantic tide.
"'Tis thine, blest sage, while distant thunders roll,
"Unmov'd thy calm serenity of soul,

"'Tis thine, whose triumphs bade the combat cease,
"To prove how glorious are the works of peace;
"To lure rich commerce* up thy native bay;
"Make freighted barks beyond the mountains stray;
"Make inland seas through op'ning channels glide;
"Monongahela wed Potowmac's tide:
"New states, exulting, see the flitting sails
"Waft joy and plenty round the peopled vales."

All former empires rose, the work of guilt,
On conquest, blood, or usurpation built :

But we, taught wisdom by their woes and crimes,
Fraught with their lore, and born to better times;
Our constitutions form'd on freedom's base,
Which all the blessings of all lands embrace;
Embrace humanity's extended cause,

A world our empire, for a world our laws.

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Thrice happy race! how blest were freedom's heirs,

Blest if they knew what happiness is theirs,

Blest if they knew to them alone 'tis given,
To know no sov'reign but the law and heav'n!
That law for them, and Albion's realms alone,
On sacred justice elevates her throne,
Regards the poor, the fatherless protects,

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The widow shields, the proud oppressor checks!

Blest if they knew, beneath umbrageous trees,

To prize the joys of innocence and ease,

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Of peace, of health, of temp'rance, toil, and rest,

And the calm sunshine of the conscious breast.

For them, the spring his annual task resumes,
Invests in verdure, and adorns in blooms
Earth's parent lap, and all her wanton bow'rs,
In foliage fair, with aromatic flow'rs.

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* General Washington is actually occupied in opening the falls of Potowmack and James' Rivers, the noble object of which is to extend the navigation through the interior parts of America. Posterity will judge whether this is not one of the great works of peace, worthy the consistency and dignity of his character.