Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1806-05-05

i
dependence perhaps no iinglc event
contributed 70 much as the convcn-
ton OF Saratoga it decided the
coEteft between America and Great
| Britain; it fecured the reign Of liber.
ty and began the foundation of the
beft organized and hsppieif govern
ment that time has recorded. Nav
America know its value
When with the army General
Gates maintained perfonal dignity
without diftance, a thing never &C
completed but by real merit he re-
served the folder aud fubaltern in
private in a friendly and familiar
@anner; but in public, or in the
prefence of fpsdators, he kept thofe
who approached him in their proper
itations Whit he fupported fubor-
dination as necenary TO difcipline, he
reiPeded men in proportion to their
| merits.
After the peace he retired to his
farm in Virginia, where he remain
ed until he came 10 refidc az N. York
IN 1895. But previouly to his quit
ting Virginia he emancipated his ne
groes he thought it was incompa-
tible with his principles and incon-
fiitent wi@ the part he had taken in
the revolution, to retain 4 human
creature in bondage and he made
a Iecuniary proviGon for fuch as
were unable re provide for them
felves, with Promife to them all Of
continuing his friendfhip and af;f-
ance. Some of tbcfe faithful be-
ings would not part from 70 kind a
matter, but followed him, and con-
tinued in his family; one of the fur
vivors attended the remains of Der
benefa6tor. and honored with CRATE
fui tears the author Of her liberty
and happiness.
/ On his arrival at New York, the
Mayor and Corporation came in
body to tefify their feDlc ef his fer
vices and worth, and prefcnted
him with the freedom of tie CITY.
He afterwards declined all public
ftation'until 1900, when fcnfe Of
duty and what he deemed the inter.
eft of his country induced his content
to be candidate for feat in the 1c-
giflature, IN which he remained no
longer than he thought ufeful to that
caufe which he loved with a rational
prediction, ,and never for moment
abandoned But his opinions on
public affairs did not interfere with
his private friend(hips or fcparatc
him from many respectable citizens
who differed widely from his politi-
cal fentiments. His memory will
be ever cherithed BY his numerous
friends, to whom he was endeared by
the warmth Of his hofpitality, the
urbanity Of MS manners, and the
fteadinefs Of bis attachments.
This venerable patriot lived to the
advanced age Of fcventy eight years,
and retained his faculties 10 the lait.
He concerted with the cheerfulnefs
OF youth ind wrote and thought with
the vigour OF manhood. He took
pleafure in protecting his attachments
to religion, and his frhn belief in the
doctrines Of Chriffianity The will,
which he caufed 70 be made III few
weeks before his death, arongly cha
ra6terizes the humility of bis faith and
the uno!tentatious complexion Of his
mind. In an article dictated by him.
felf he espreiied the fenfe of his own
unworthinefs and his reliance fole-
ly on the irtcrceflion and iufferin2s
of Our Redeesicr.
In arcther paragraph he ftrikingly
directed that he ihould be privately
buried, LEFT the zeal and affection Of
his friends and fellow folders hould
induce them 70 accompany him with
military honors to his grave. His
diToldtion was gradual, he funk un-
der the decay of nature. and died
without pain or fruggle.
| General Stevens, the commander
of the artillery Of the northern de,
partment at Saratoga, and now Com
mand;ng Officer of the Artillery in
The afate, on behalf of the CinciDna-