fects of them were the same, as if a foreign power had made the United States a present of twenty millions of silver dollars. The circulation of so large a sum of money, and the employment given to great numbers, in providing for the American army, increased the numbers, and invigorated the zeal of the friends to the revolution. On the same principles, the American war was patronised in England, by the many contractors and agents for transporting and supplying the British army. In both cases, the inconveniences of interrupted commerce were lessened, by the employment which war and a domestic circulation of money substituted in its room. The convulsions of war afforded excellent shelter for desperate debtors. The spirit of the times revolted against dragging to jails, for debt, men who were active and zealous in defending their country. And on the other hand, those, who owed more than they were worth, by going within the British lines, and giving themselves the merit of suffering on the score of loyalty, not only put their creditors to defiance, but sometimes obtained promotion or other special marks of royal fa

your.

The American revolution, on the one hand, gave birth to great vices; but, on the other, it called forth many virtues, and gave occasion for the display of abilities which, but for that event, would have been lost to the world. When the war began, the Americans were a mass of husbandmen, merchants, mechanics, and fishermen; but the necessities of the country gave a spring to the active powers of the inhabitants, and set them on thinking, speaking, and acting, in a line far beyond that to which they had been accustomed. The difference between nations is not so much owing to nature, as to education and circumstances. While the Americans were guided by the leading strings of the mother country, they had no scope nor encouragement for exertion. All the departments of government were established and executed for them; but not by them. In the years 1775 and 1776, the country was suddenly thrown into a situation, that needed the abilities of all its sons. These generally took their places, each according to the bent of bis VOL. III [4]

inclination. As they severally pursued their objects with ardour, a vast expansion of the human mind speedily followed. This displayed itself in a variety of ways. It was found, that the talents for great stations did not differ in kind, but only in degree, from those which were necessary for the proper discharge of the ordinary business of civil society. In the bustle that was occasioned by the war, few instances could be produced of any persons who made a figure, or who rendered essential services, but from among those, who had given specimens of similar talents in their respective professions. Those, who, from indolence or dissipation, had been of little service to the community in time of peace, were found equally unserviceable in war. A few young men were exceptions to this general rule. Some of these, who had indulged in youthful follies, broke off from their vicious courses, and, on the pressing call of their country, became useful servants of the public: but the great bulk of those, who were the active instruments of carrying on the revolution, were self-made, industrious men. Those, who, by their own exertions, had established, or laid a foundation for establishing personal independence, were most generally trusted, and most successfully employed, in establishing that of their country. In these times of action, classical education was found of less service than good natural parts, guided by common sense, and sound judgment.

Several names of individuals could be mentioned, who, without the knowledge of any other language than their mother tongue, wrote, not only accurately, but elegantly, on public business. It seemed as if the war not only required, but created talents. Men, whose minds were warmed with the love of liberty, and whose abilities were improved by daily exercise, and sharpened with a laudable ambition, to serve their distressed country, spoke, wrote, and acted, with an energy far surpassing all expectations, which could be reasonably founded on their previous acquirements.

The Americans knew but little of one another, previously to the revolution. Trade and business had made the inhabitants of the seaports acquainted with each other; but the bulk of the people, in the interior country, were unacquainted with

their fellow citizens. A continental army, and congress, composed of men from all the states, by freely mixing together, were assimilated into one mass. Individuals of both, mingling with the citizens, disseminated principles of union among them. Local prejudices abated. By frequent collision asperities were worn off; and a foundation was laid for the establishment of a nation, out of discordant materials. Intermarriages between men and women, of different states, were much more common than before the war, and became an additional cement to the union. Unreasonable jealousies had existed between the inhabitants of the eastern and of the southern states; but on becoming better acquainted with each other, these in a great measure, subsided. A wiser policy prevailed. Men of liberal minds led the way, in discouraging local distinctions; and the great body of the people, as soon as reason got the better of prejudice, found that their best interests would be most effectually promoted, by such practices and sentiments as were favourable to union. Religious bigotry had broken in upon the peace of various sects, before the American war. This was kept up by partial establishments, and by a dread that the church of England, through the power of the mother country, would be made to triumph over all other denominations. These apprehensions were done away by the revolution. The different sects, having nothing to fear from each other, dismissed all religious controversy. A proposal for introducing bishops into America, before the war, had kindled a flame among the dissenters; but the revolution was no sooner accomplished, than a scheme for that purpose was perfected, with the consent and approbation of all those sects, who had previously opposed it.

Though schools and colleges were generally shut up during the war, yet many of the arts and sciences were promoted by it. The geography of the United States, before the revolution, was but little known; but the marches of armies, and the operations of war, gave birth to many geographical inquiries and discoveries, which otherwise would not have been made. A passionate fondness for studies of this kind, and the growing importance of the country, excited one of its

sons, the Reverend Dr. Morse, to travel through every state of the Union, and amass a fund of topographical knowledge, far exceeding any thing heretofore communicated to the public. The necessity of the states led to the study of tactics, fortification, gunnery, and a variety of other arts connected with war, and diffused a knowledge of them among a peaceable people, who would otherwise have had no inducement to study them.

Surgery was one of the arts which was promoted by the From the want of hospitals and other aids, the medical men of America had few opportunities of perfecting themselves in this art, the thorough knowledge of which can only be acquired, by practice and observation. The melancholy events of battles gave the American students an opportunity of secing and learning more in one day, than they could have acquired in years of peace. It was in the hospitals of the United States, that Dr. Rush first discovered the method of curing the lock jaw, by bark and wine, added to other invigo rating remedies; which has since been adopted with success in Europe, as well as in the United States.

The science of government has been more generally dif fused among the Americans, by means of the revolution. The policy of Great Britain, in throwing them out of her protec tion, induced a necessity of establishing independent constitutions. This led to reading and reasoning on the subject. The many errors, at first committed by inexperienced statesmen, have been a practical comment on the folly of unbalanced constitutions, and injudicious laws.

When Great Britain first began her encroachments on the colonies, there were a few natives of America, who had distinguished themselves as speakers or writers; but the controversy between the two countries multiplied their number.

The stamp act, which was to have taken place, in 1765, employed the pens and tongues of many of the colonists, and, by repeated exercise, improved their ability to serve their country. The duties imposed, in 1767, called forth the pen of John Dickinson, who, in a series of letters, signed a Pennsylvania Farmer, may be said to have sown the seeds of the

revolution. For, being universally read by the colonists, they universally enlightened them, on the dangerous consequences, likely to result from their being taxed, by the parliament of Great Britain.

In establishing American independence, the pen and the press had merit equal to that of the sword. As the war was the people's war, and was carried on without funds, the exertions of the army would have been insufficient to effect the revolution, unless the great body of the people had been prepared for it, and afterwards kept in a constant disposition to oppose Great Britain. To rouse and unite the inhabitants, and to persuade them to patience for several years, under present sufferings, with the hope of obtaining remote advantages for their posterity, was a work of difficulty. This was effected, in a great measure, by the tongues and pens of the wellinformed citizens; and on it depended the success of military operations.

To enumerate the names of all those who were successful labourers, in this arduous business, is impossible. The following list contains, in nearly alphabetical order, the names of the most distinguished writers, in favour of the rights of America.

John Adams, and Samuel Adams, of Boston; Richard Bland, of Virginia; John Dickinson, of Pennsylvania; Daniel Dulany, of Annapolis; William Henry Drayton, of South Carolina; Dr. Franklin, of Philadelphia; John Jay, and Alexander Hamilton, of New York; Thomas Jefferson, and Arthur Lee, of Virginia; Jonathan Lyman, of Connecticut; Governor Livingston, of New Jersey; Dr. Mayhew, and James Otis, of Boston; Thomas Paine, Dr. Rush, Charles Thompson, and James Wilson, of Philadelphia; William Tennent, of South Carolina; Josiah Quincy, and Dr. Warren, of Boston. These and many others laboured in enlightening their countrymen, on the subject of their political interests, and in animating them to a proper line of conduct, in defence of their liberties. To these individuals may be added, the great body of the clergy, especially in New England. The printers of newspapers had also much merit in the same way.