Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1859-12-22
COUNTY CMEAR

in the American cause 10 that cause he un-
doUbtedly contributed important services. He
was for many years the constant aud violent
opponent Of the oppressive acts of the Eng
liSh ministry. He took first at the Stamp Act,
and wrote to the King Of Poland " If the
humors which this accursed attempt has raised
are suffered to subsde the inherent affection
which the colonies have for their mother coun-
try, and claShing OF interests one amongst
another, will throw everything back into the
old channel, which indeed is the case a ready;
but if another attack Of the same nature
should be made upon them by a wicked, blum
deriug Minister, | will venture to prophecy
that this country will be shaken 10 its founda-
ton, in its wealth, credit. naval force, and in,
ternal population' His thoughts indeed,
seem to have turned constantly to the West
ern continent lie writes to his friea6 Coleman,
in 1867, How does the hal!owed Juliet 1t
is inconceivable how deeply | am interested
for the welfare and success Of that girl. If
she does not succeed, let her marry me and SET
lie IN America" And again in a letter to
Lord Thauet, in the same year, from Warsaw,
he says that the Poles " can have no idea of
our carrying our denominations so far as to dis
franchise three millions Of people Of all the
rights of men, for the qualification Of the re-
venge of a blundeling, knavish Secretary, and
a scouudrel Attorney General, a HIlSborough.
aud Barnard" These and other passages
indicate II strong sympathy with the American
colonies, and IN intention to cast his lot with
them in the contest which his acute mind clear
~ foreSaw was approaching Ten years after.
L., 81
devotion when he wrote Great God is it
come to this ? | am not, it seems, an Ameri-
cam; but am not Gf | may so express my
self AMericlHlor iPslS Americans q
The probable motives of Lee-their mingled
personal aud political charactcr-have been
referred to | shall terminate my sketch by a
few of those private memorials which strongly
exhibit the Individuality Of the man. His will
is au odd document. TO John Mercer Esq,
of Marlborough, in Virginia. he gives he
choice Of two brood mares, Of all my swords
and pistols, and ten guineaS 10 buy ring |
would give him more, but as lie has a good cs-
tate and better genius, lie has sufficient if he
knows ho% to make good use Of them" TO
my excellent friend William SteptOe of Eir
gIna | would leave great deal but as he is
now 50 rich, it would be no less than robbjng
my other friends who are poor q had al
most forgot my dear friends land ought to
be ashamed Of it,, Mrs Shippen," etc. He
leaves them ten guineas each to bay rings
'' desire mast earnestly int mag nal be 6uJicd
/" any IureA or cau,chyard, or lcilAin mIs
of any PresJyleyiaD Or I4aJaptiA mecilRg
house for yia1s / h4re resided IN this couutru
/ hare kept so much bad campany when hrinr,
Ltat do not cboose 10 continue u aske0 dead"
Such was the parting scoH OF Charles Lee
to the world in which he had made SO great IA
figure, and ashed with his litter tongue, o.
Hls yeuomous pcu, at his will. The heated
agitatcd, reckless existence eudcd with lest
ut the mQment when the grave opened its cold
Jaws to feoeIYe him. 1t WAS splendid, bril-
ilaut wotui career which the soldier Of fortune
rail- the last scene vas Ike that OF tragedy
An obscure tavern was TO see the fiery spark
eXtngul>hed as remote cabin, far from
and buried in the wilderness of the
Western " Orlj, had been the place of suileu
retreat to the lonely friend ot the ki@g of
Poland. Thlthcr he had gone ike wound
Ell wild beast 10 his deu-gyow,ing, and show
ing his teeth, but powerieSs longer to oppose
his enemies. So great was the contrast be
lie had been the object Of admirug eyes at
all the courts Of Europe: his sword had been
drawn Oh the frozen steppes Of Russia, and had
flashed beneath the sun OF Spain on two con
t!nentS he had led his men III desperate as
SauIts, or triumphant chargeS-and the rumOr
of these exploits had made his name another
word for great leader Of battle lie shone
no less in affairs of State
His tremchaut pen had made the great lead
erS Of the EugIIsh Government vince and
wrlthe Like Juulus, with whom he was con
founded more than once, his penetrating sar-
casmS pierced the .hlckcSt armor, and drew
blood from the strongest combatautS. His
conversation like his writings, ranged bitterly
over the entire surface OF political affairs, aud
the Jest or the denunciation which his scOrutuI
lips uttered was caught up and repeated, and
had the effect of a blow from "a deadly weapon.
Hobbiug madly over Europe, almost crazy
from the goGt, he made the ohieetS Of bis am
mostly shake with rage as they read his fierce
inyective ; aud thus tfiply armed, with tongue
pen and sword, he set The haughtieSt at def
cnce ane advanced 10 the assault with the
trained GOODNESS of the fighting hack, the dis
daIniHi gallautry of the chevalier Thus, this
mans character and career, were famous when
lie came to America. He played here for
splendid prize-and lost it. He lost all else at
Monmouth. From that fated field he retired
without hope, future He had cut off all
prospects of advancement in England he had
ruined himself in America. Nolhug was left
but depair. He wen, to his hut beyond the
Blue Ridge, aud with dogs for companions,
rallied at fortune, and human Hfe-at earth aud
heaven. Like mastI6i, grown DID, and with
broken teeth, he could only suarl in his corner
and the woful, terrible thing above all was
the fact that the world did not care for his
snarng. The proud bitter soul of the dsap-
pointed man could endured anything but con
tcmptuous Indifference. Nobody would even
take the trouble to hate him, though he hated