Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-08-27

w SShS'a'touSs &c sCcuSS OF the one nov 4
passing away have been witness to for
MANY years. The other now taking place
can only be contemplated as in futurity but
the hopes and prospects, though now not Of
the T ost cheering kind. are, nevertheless |
TAR FROM giving any just ground for dejecti-
OIL will endeavor to bring to your re |
collection train Of events winch took place
in the beginning of our happy revolution. and
which when compared with our present
prospects furnish, instead of cause Tor de-
jection, much. very Tuacn tor consolation
and rejoicing 'sll
Early IN l776. the British sent over Com.
m'ssioners OF high standing to propose terms
they were met by Doctor Franklin and /
few more OF our wort hies at New. York: the
commissioners proposed their terms, with
a threat that il we refused, there were then
more than $4,000 men ready to invade u &
! force submission.--Wha was the result p
Did our Commissioners shrink under the
| threat: Ns-far from it /, they refused TO
comply. and the British fulfilled their threat.
and in August landed large army on Long
island there wefought and lost many men;
the enemy entered New York. and tow ards
that fall took Fort Washington, with three
OF our best regiments. We with the remain,
der OF our shattered army. after abandoning
Fort Lee, rctreated through the JERSEYS. ,he
British all the while hanging in our rear, till
we crossed the Delaware. Did we desponds
No---though the times wore a very gloomy
aspect. General Ewing, with the fying
camp, lay at Irenten on the vest side of
the Delaware; General w ashinston at Cor
rers Ferry with handful of men. To add
to our misfortune GencraiLse on whom we
placed much dependence, fell into the hands
ct the enemy -Iu this situation, General
Washmgton's private orders to General
| living were, if the British pressed US at
Trenton, to tall back aud cross the Nesha-
many; and if they still pressed us in that tli.
iection, not to retreat towards PhiIadelph
but cross the Schuilkin higher up, leaving
the way open to the British to march to the
city II they thought proper; while he, Ge-
neral Washington, with the regulars. wonld
Keep suiii higher up, having in view, If hard
pressed. still 10 retreat till he reached the
western branch ofth Slsquehannan and
there he hoped to obtain SUCH support from
MS native state, as should check their ca
reer. However. within few days the gene
raj, oy bold stroke, attack ed and took the
ftesHans at Trenton the result of which
was, that after some mastery manoeuvering
and some skirmishing, the British were OBJ.
hged to measure back. in great haste. their
steps like defeated army, till they reach
| ed Staten Island. 800
During all this time not soul had we on
the Continent to take US by the hand, not a
hatpor ~ admit a prize into, but were obi
SEQ to Contend with Great Britain single.
ma aded, while she enjoyed the fullest peace
with all the continental powers. TO add
so ti-ese distresses, X might be literally said
We were people without government, with
out arms, without ammunition. without ord
nance iOr be il remembered, that wherfl
we paraded on the west bank ct the Della,
ware, our whole park of artillery consisted
OF but twelve pieces OF iron ordnance and
two brass IL FOUNDERS belonging to the state
OF Pennsylvania.
Did we then despond No. not even
then' II Is complained we have tories now;
Rad we not tories them Yes. as bitter and
as numerous as ever we had since
But we had large majority of men de.
termned to be independent; our cause was
Just, and Heaven seconded our Efforts !
And is our cause worse nowl By no means. |
Are we weaker now May, are we nor
ten times more powerful than at that time : |
AZ is scarcely worth while to recount our ad |
vantages' they are beyond comparison
greater. y
1 must beg your patience, whilst Irecouut
amongst many advantages three which must |
strike our minds with peculiar force.
osalt fetre, which is so important an arti.
Gle, that war can scarcey be carried ON |
without 1t, and of which we then had only
scanty and precsrious supplies, is now had |
IN abundance. Four OF our. sister states. viz |
Virginia, Massachusetts, Kentucky & Zen
Dessee, now produce annually more than 500 |
thousand pounds. Meriho wool, an article |
not known amongst us at that day, we are |
already pretty literally supplied with Our |
HOOKS OF that breed are increased I'M the u. 5. |
TO millions, may say without exaggeration.
NOW We may wear OF home ms nu1acture. as
good and fine cloths as the proudest son Of |
royalty IN the eastern hemisphere.
Ana SAT-, that article Of u.iyersal use, and |
which Cost Us very dear iu the former |
war. may now be said T. be ia she reach of !
every citizen. A very extraordinary cir,
cumstance, which had IRON ,he most in. |
duoitabIe authority, will relate The who |
country west Of The mountains Contains il in |
abundance by boring a hole any where to !
the depth OF $50 or 200 Ieet, they meet |
WITH salt water which arises Spontaneously |
out over the top, where il is received end
Doiied at the rate OF 10 or 70 bushels per day. j
AUD who can deny that il may be found az
the same depth where we now sit The
presuml tion is III favor Of it, and no testi
tsony 10 the Contrary. |
fhen away dsspondsncys Britsin IL no more
powerful now than then Let our government,
assume manly tone 1.-THE people will support
them. Let us shew the word that our cause is |
not dependent oa Bonsparte. or a,y other OF |
the hcentious utdels Of Euiope--that under
heaven we are abundanily sufficient for our own
defence, and our own happiness. Let us des- |
pise the idea OF invasion BY any powe- on |
eartn, Willie we are true 10 ourselves we ara
much better provided for defence against inya. |
vasion than anytof the powers Of Europe we ar. |