THE REGISTER OF PENNSYLVANIA. DEVOTED TO THE PRESERVATION OF EVERY KIND OF USEFUL INFORMATION RESPECTING THE STATE. VOL. III.-NO. 25. EDITED BY SAMUEL HAZARD. ADDRESS ON INFANT SCHOOLS. Substance of an address delivered at the anniversary of the Infant Schools for the Northern Liberties and Kensington, May 4, 1829. By the Rev. M. M. Carl. The age in which we live, is one of unexampled exertion in the cause of humanity. No former period of the history of mankind, has witnessed such disinterested and effective efforts, for the melioration of our species, by disseminating the principles of order and virtue, among the remote and uncivilized nations of the earth, and especially by instructing the rising genera. tion, as the period in which we live. The christian world seems to be achieving a complete and decisive conquest over those narrow and selfish principles and feelings, with which they have been so long enslaved, and are beginning to realize and to act upon this great scripture truth, that real and genuine happiness consists in doing good to others. It is this spirit of love and good will to man, that first started and has since kept in motion, that grand and stupendous machinery, which is destined to change the moral and physical aspect of the world. It is this spirit which has sent forth the bible into all lands, penetrating like a radiant glory, the thick darkness, and beaming light into the dwellings of those who, "sit in the region and shadow of death." It is this spirit that has rescued millions from the evils of idleness and profanation, and poured the healing balm of sacred instruction into their tender minds. NO. 77. of infantile instruction, and the influence it must neces- "Too many," says Dr. Fuller, "are more careful to bestow wit on their children, rather than virtue,-the art of speaking well, rather than doing well." But their morals ought to be their chief concern; to be prudent, honest, good and virtuous, an infinitely higher accom plishment than being learned, rhetorical, or that which the world usually calls great scholars and fine gentlemen. An industrious and virtuous education for children, is to them a better inheritance than a great estate. The formation of character commences at a very early period, and the human mind is susceptible of the seeds of truth or error, of virtue or vice, at the very dawn of existence! It becomes then a matter of infinite importance, as it regards individual welfare and social happiness, to transplant those tender shoots from the hot-bed of vice and corruption, to a more friendly and genial soil; where they may receive that culture, that tender and compassionate care, which will insure an abundant crop of future virtue and usefulness. O how enviable the condition of those, who directing their exertions to the purification of the very origin and source of human society, the very cause of motives and of actions, are preventing the perpetration of crime, and the infliction of horrid and too frequently inefficient punishment! It is on such efforts and such works as these, that angels look down with complacency and de light, and which must receive the smiles and approba tion of God himself! But of all the efforts which have for their object the improvement of man, and the advancement of his moral and intellectual condition, none have higher claims to attention than that of Infant Schools. They are possessed of advantages which are peculiar, and which give them a decided superiority over other plans, which have It would be useless to multiply facts or waste your time the same object in view. In instructing adults and chil- in adducing instances of juvenile depravity, in order to dren by means of the bible, and that excellent institu- substantiate that, which is so well known to every man of tion the Sunday Schools, we are obliged to operate on common observation, viz: that the formation of character minds already under the influence of habit; minds in is coeval with the dawn of existence, or that habits,either which there is much of evil and of error: consequently good or bad, "grow with our growth and strengthen before a proper superstructure can be raised, much with our strength."-Let any one visit those parts of time and labour are consumed in clearing away the rub- a city, where the poor chiefly reside, for the purpose of bish and preparing a suitable foundation; and even after making observations in relation to this subject, and he all our labor, we have the mortification frequently to will want no arguments to convince him of this truth.see those early evil impressions, which had only been He will there see children of various ages; the infant kept quiescent, burst forth in acts of folly and wicked-wallowing in the dirt, or just beginning to walk, mixness, threatening to defeat all our labour and all our hopes. But in the Infant School the mind receives its first impulses, and a habit of truth and order is impressed from the beginning. Here we commence with the early spring, whilst the bud of intellect is forming, and before the flower has had time to expand, and wither under the blight of pernicious example. Hence it will be easy to give such direction and bias to the pliant twig, as shall best secure the health, vigour and fruitfulness of the future Tree. Here we shall labour to great advantage, and with a certainty of success: for there will be no inveterate habits to overcome, but we shall form the mind into what ever shape we please. If we reflect upon the early formation of character, we shall be sensibly impressed with the vast importance VOL. III. 49 ing in the sports of those who are older, their little ears continually assailed with language in all its deformity; the language of vulgarity, of blasphemy and of lies: their attention continually arrested by scenes of disorder, of quarrelling, fighting and pilfering: In short he will see a school in which the first rudiments of vice are taught and eagerly imbibed; where impressions are made which are never afterwards wholly effaced from the mind; where the seeds of mischief and disorder are sown, in a most retentive soil, which no subsequent care or labour will ever be sufficient entirely to eradicate. Can it be matter of surprise, that children passing through such a course of instruction, as this, should, as they advance towards maturity, ripen also in wickedness and in guilt? Is it to be wondered at, that in a society where the children are thus neglected, that there should be an increase of crime; that lying, roguery, theft, murder, and the indulgence of every evil should be so common? Is it matter of surprise that your prisons should be increased in number and in size, that new modes of punishment should be invented? Ah! you may increase the number of your jails, you may alter their construction, you may invent new punishments; but it will all be in vain; the core of society is diseased; you are applying the caustic and the knife to a constitution inherently corrupted. After the crime has been perpetrated and the mischief done, you then, like an unskilful physician, begin to apply the remedy, instead of applying your prescription to the root of the disease, and thus preventing the crime, and of course the necessity of punishment. Now the grand object of Infant Schools, is to prevent crime, by rescuing the rising generation from the infectious poison of wicked example; reducing them to order, instructing them in various matters of science and knowledge adapted to their tender years, and especially instructing them in the moral and social duties; teaching them both by precept and example, to love God, and love each other. This is beginning at the source, this is checking the evil in its very first formation, and this is the only way, in which our efforts can be successful: our exertions have hitherto proved, in a great measure, ineffectual, because they have not been applied to the root of the disease, the wound has been slightly healed; and hence it is perpetually manifesting itself under new forms, symptomatic of increased malignity. Let it not be supposed that I wish to depreciate the efforts, which in our day have been made, and are still making in the cause of benevolence and bumanity. The numerous institutions of the present day, are excellent in their kind, and do honour to the age in which we live; but they do not go to the fountain head, they do not take the disease in its incipient state, they apply more to the correction and punishment, than to the prevention of crime. They begin to operate upon society after the habit is formed, of course their exertions must be directed rather to the extirpation of noxious weeds and poisonous plants, than to the first formation of good habits and virtuous inclinations. Hence much pains and toil are thrown away, and we have the mortification, frequently to see our well intended labours end in disappointment. It is a common saying, the result of experience, that, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." And this is no less morally than physically true. There can hardly be a doubt, that a small portion of the expense and labor, which have been applied to the punishment of crime after it has been committed, expended in its prevention by means of infantile instruction; would have yielded to society an increase of sixty, nay a hundred fold of peace, order and good government. the forms of humanity, and in the persons of a Howard and a Fry, have penetrated the prison and the dungeon, and poured the healing balm of consolation into the bosom of sorrow and distress! But who has been found to stretch out the hand and snatch the infant from the infection of moral depravity, and form its tender mind up| on the model of religion, of order and virtue? Our blessed Lord says, "suffer little children to come unto me:" in what possible way, can we better comply with the divine exhortation, than by watching with tender solicitude over the first impressions made upon their infant minds, shielding them from the poisonous influence of corrupt example, and by placing before them those objects of excellence and beauty, every where to be seen in the works and in the word of God. Objects which are so well calculated to develope the immortal powers and faculties of the mind, and awaken the kindly affections of the heart. Alas! how has this command of the Redeemer, been hitherto neglected!— What myriads of the human family have been suffered to pass heedlessly along the broad way that leads to guilt, to misery and death! permitted to go astray, and wander from the Lord, instead of being suffered to come to Him! Strict obedience to this precept would banish crime from human society; prisons and dungeons would no longer pollute the abodes of men, and the gallows and gibbet would be unknown. Every christian community is bound to obey this injunction: and "suffer little children to come unto me;" ought to be engraven on every temple and sanctuary in the land. But instead of this, what is the fact; the children of the poorer classes are for the most part treated like out-laws, permitted to run at large, and as soon as they are old enough to perpetrate mischief and crime, by a sort of retributive justice, they begin to prey upon that community which has thus suffered them to grow up, under the withering, debasing influence of ignorance and neglect. Every child should be considered as forming a constituent part of the community to which he belongs, and should as early as possible be preserved from all contaminating influence; and means should be provided for the proper development of his mental and physical powers. Instead of being suffered to run wild, instead of being abandoned to his fate and utterly neglected, not a little lamb should by any means, be suffered to stray away from the field. This would be acting in accordance with the spirit and tenor of the divine exhortation; this would indeed be suffering little children to come unto Him, this would be worthy of the high original, the exalted destiny of man, and would prepare him for the end of his exis. tence, a life of usefulness here, and of endless happiness It is but too apparent, that in our extensive and grow-hereafter. ing country, crime not only keeps pace with our increasing population, but that it rapidly accumulates, and that we are verging towards that state of depravity and corruption so manifest in many parts of Europe. It is evident that our existing institutions, and modes of punishment, are inadequate, and wholly insufficient to check the growing evil. The question then that presents itself to our notice is; what is the best mode of preventing this alarming increase of evil, and of promoting the present and future happiness of our fellow men? This of Infant schools appears to me, to have a decided advantage over all the modes hitherto adopted. Many excellent plans have been devised by the charitable and the humane, the object of which has been to increase the quantum of human happiness. Instruction has been freely dispensed, nations immersed in the gloom of ignorance have been enlightened, the bible has been sent into all lands, and efforts made to sheathe forever the exterminating sword; the sick are visited and relieved, the deaf and the dumb are restored to the comforts of social communication, the widow and the orphan supported and protected; Angels have assumed But leaving morality and religion out of the question; as a matter of political economy and actual saving to the state, these establishments have no trifling claims on the attention of economists and legislators. It is not our intention to enter upon any elaborate arguments to prove that most of the evil and disorder which infest society may be fairly traced to the neglect of this critical and interesting period of human life.Reason and experience shew us, that it is in the spring time of life, the seed of knowledge and virtue are to be sown. And a higher authority informs us; "that whatsoever a man sows, that shall he reap." If the ground is not preoccupied with a good seed, the enemy will come by night and sow tares, for the mind cannot remain vacant. The fruit of this pernicious seed is perpetually manifesting itself in disturbing the peace and order of society,and the community are burthened with an enormous expense, to keep in check its all pervading influence. It is a fact capable of demonstration, that the amount which has been expended in the erection of one prison alone in this city, would support a sufficient number of 1829.] REVOLUTIONARY ANECDOTE OF COL. McLANE. schools to educate ten thousand children upon the plan which we propose! But the maxim has heretofore been, millions for punishment, not a dollar for prevention! 387 troopers stationed near the road-side, and directly in sight a-head, a farm house, around which he observed whole troop of the enemy's cavalry drawn up. He dashed by the troopers near him without being molested, they believing he was on his way to the main body to surrender himself. The farm-house was situated at the intersection of two roads, presenting but few avenues by which he could escape. Nothing daunted by the formidable array before him, he galloped up to the cross roads; on reaching which, he spurred his active horse, reach of their pistols, though as he turned, he heard them call loudly to surrender or die! A dozen were instantly in pursuit; but, in short time, they all gave up the chase except two, Colonel McLane's horse, scared by the first wound he had ever received, and being a chosen animal, kept a-head for several miles, while his two pursuers followed with unwearied eager-· ness. The pursuit at length waxed so hot, that, as the Colonel's horse stepped out of a small brook which Colonel Allen McLane.-This venerable and disting-crossed the road, his pursuers entered it at the opposite uished soldier of the Revolution, after having reached the patriarchal age of 83, closed his earthly pilgrimage at Wilmington, Delaware on Friday the 22d ult. Fellow citizens of Pennsylvania, awake! turn your attention to this subject; to you who have been accused of indifference towards the education of your sons, a glorious opportunity presents itself of retrieving your character, and of taking that station among your sister states to which you are so well entitled. No longer spend your time and your money in fruitless attempts at refor-turned suddenly to the right, and was soon fairly out of mation, by lopping off the branches whilst the root remains untouched; every returning year will then call for renewed and increased exertions, and the poisonous upas will continue to grow and expand, until its branches overspread the land; but strike at once at the root, and it will soon fall before you, never to spring forth again. U.S. Gaz. REVOLUTIONARY ANECDOTE. margin. In ascending a little hill, the horses of the three were greatly exhausted, so much so that neither could be urged faster than a walk. Occasionally, as Colonel McLane was distinguished for daring person- one of the troopers pursued on a little in advance of his al courage, and for his unremitted activity as a partizan companion, the Colonel slackened his pace, anxious to officer. He was long attached to Lee's famous Legion be attacked by one of the two-but no sooner was his of horse, which, throughout the war, was the terror of willingness discovered than the other fell back to his the British. An instance of his personal prowess, re-station. They at length approached so near, that a conlated to us by himself, we may be permitted to give. versation took place between them: the troopers calling While the British occupied Philadelphia, Col. Mc-out, "Surrender, you damn'd rebel, or we'll cut you in Lane was constantly scouring the adjacent country, pieces!" Suddenly, one of them rode up on the particularly the upper end of Philadelphia, Bucks, and right side of the Colonel, and without drawing his Montgomery counties-seizing every opportunity to cut sword, laid hold of the Colonel's collar. The latter, to off the scouting parties of the enemy, to intercept their use his own words, "had pistols which he knew he could supplies of provision, and to take advantages of every depend upon." Drawing one from the holster, he placed opening which offered for striking a sudden blow. In it to the heart of his antagonist, fired, and tumbled him this capacity, he rendered many important services to dead on the ground. Instantly, the other came up on the army, and caused great alarm to the British; and his left, with his sword drawn, and also siezed the Colonel though they frequently attempted to surprise and take by the collar of his coat. A fierce and deadly struggle him, yet such was his constant watchfulness, that none of here ensued-in the course of which Colonel McLane their attempts succeeded. Having concerted with Cap- was desparately wounded in the back of his left hand, tain Craig, (now living, we believe, near Belvidere, N. the sword of bis antagonist cutting asunder the veins J.) the plan of an attack upon a small detachment of the and tendons of that member. Seizing a favourable openemy, they agreed to rendezvous at a house near Shoe-portunity, he drew his other pistol, and with a steadiness makertown, eight miles from Philadelphia, on the Wil- of purpose which appeared even in his recital of the low Grove Turnpike. Colonel McLane having order-incident, placed it directly between the eyes of his aded his little band of troopers to follow at some distance, commanded two of them to precede the main body,but also to keep in his rear; and if they discovered an eneemy to ride up to his side and inform him of it, without speaking aloud. While leisurely approaching the place of rendezvous, in this order, in the early grey of the morning, the two men directly in his rear, forgetting their orders, suddenly called out, "Colonel, the British!" faced about, and putting spurs to their horses, were soon out of sight. The Colonel, looking around, discovered that he was in the centre of a powerful ambuscade, into which the enemy had silently allowed him to pass, without his observing them. They lined both sides of the road, and had been stationed there to pick up any straggling party of the Americans that might chance to pass. Immediately on finding they were discovered, a file of soldiers rose from the side of the high-way, and fired at the Colonel, but without effect-and as he put spurs to his horse, and mounted the road-side into the woods, the other part of the detachment also fired.The Colonel miraculously escaped; but a shot striking his horse upon the flank, he dashed through the woods, and in a few minutes reached a parallel road upon the opposite side of the forest. Being familiar with the country he feared to turn to the left, as that course led to the city, and he might be intercepted by another ambuscade. Turning, therefore, to the right, his frighted horse carried him swiftly beyond the reach of those who had fired upon him. All at once, however, on emerging from a piece of woods, he observed several British versary, pulled the trigger, and scattered his brains on BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIR OF MAJOR GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE. [From the Casket.] (Continued from page 376. Some time previously to the opening of the campaign of 1778, Sir William Howe, at his own request, was recalled, in consequence of which the command in chief devolved on Sir Henry Clinton, who immediately began to prepare for the evacuation of Philadelphia. Washington was early apprized of Clinton's intention of movement, and on the 17th June called a council of war, when the opinion of all his general officers was required on the proper course to be pursued, all of whom concurred in sentiment that it would not be advisable to disturb the British army while crossing the Delaware, or to enter the works about Philadelphia until they should be entirely evacuated. On the subject of a general or even a partial action, whilst the enemy should be on their march, a diversity of opinion existed. Out of the number of seventeen general officers, Wayne and Cadwalader were the only two who were decidedly in favour of attacking the enemy; Fayette inclined to this opinion, without absolutely adopting it; Greene was disposed for something more than the council were willing to concur in. On the 18th Philadelphia was evacuated by the British, who on the same day commenced their difficult march through Jersey, their destination, as was presumed, being New York. On the same day, General Washington broke up his camp at Valley Forge, for the purpose of following them, with views which were to be regulated by contingencies. On the 24th the main body of the American army was encamped about five miles from Princeton, in New Jersey, and that of the British at Allentown. Being thus relatively situated as to his enemy, Washington again convened his council of general officers, and stated to them the following facts: "The enemy's force is between nine and ten thousand rank and file. The American army on the ground is 10,684 effective rank and file, beside the advanced brigade under Genral Maxwell of about 1200, and about 1200 militia."After this statement he proposed the question "will it be advisable to hazard a general action;" all the generals composing the council, excepting Wayne, Cadwalader being absent, gave a negative answer, like that of the day preceding the movement of the army from Valley Forge. It was however agreed to strengthen the detachments which were then hovering on the flanks and rear of the British army, with an additional number of 1500 men, in pursuance of which General Scott joined the advanced troops with that body of men. Marshall, in his life of Washington, says, "Though every general officer, except Wayne, had signed the opinion, given on the 24th, respecting the strength of this last detachment, yet the council had, on that point, been nearly equally divided. Those who were decidedly against hazarding a serious action, either general or partial, conceived the number agreed on, competent to every purpose which ought to be contemplated; while others, who privately wished to bring on something more than light skirmishing, but had not sufficient confidence in themselves to hazard the responsibility of openly advising the measure, were desirous of augmenting it to 2,000 or 2,500 men." The fact was, as the same writer has said "The American officers seem to have been influenced by the councils of the Europe ans." General Washington, who although cautious, yet possessing a very enterprising disposition, did, from the commencement, indulge the most anxious desire to close with his antagonist, and finding himself supported by some officers whom he highly valued, he "resolved to take his measures on his own responsibility and with out calling another council." He, therefore, despatched General Wayne, with 1000 selected men, to join the advanced corps, which now amounting to upwards of 4000, became a major general's command, the Marquis de la Fayette was ordered to that duty. These facts clearly evidenced Washington's intention that his antagonist should not escape without a general action; inasmuch as Wayne had openly advocated that measure, and Lafayette was favorable to a partial one, therefore, if an opening occurred it was certain that those officers would attack with their whole force, which it would be necessary to support with the main army. They were also accompanied by Colonel Hamilton, aid to the commander in chief, "who felt the strongest desire to signalize the detachment, and to accomplish all the wishes of his general." ing declined it, was lessening him in the estimation of both officers and soldiers, he now solicited it. Washingington granted his request, provided the marquis had not commenced any enterprise. Lee advanced with two additional brigades, and no enterprise having been commenced by the marquis, although on the very eve of it, the senior General assumed the command of the advanced corps, now amounting to several thousand men.— Lee encamped at English town, and the main army moved forward about three miles in his rear. Sir Henry had taken a strong position near Monmouth Courthouse, about seven miles in advance of Lee, whilst Morgan's corps hung on the enemy's right, and Gen. Dickinson on their left. This being the relative situation of the armies, Washington determined to attack the British rear the moment they moved from their ground. About 5 o'clock in the morning of the 28th June, intelligence was received that the front of the enemy was in motion. The troops were immediately put under arms, and orders dispatched to General Lee, directing him to move on and attack the rear, "unless there should be powerful reasons to the contrary." He at the same time was informed that the main body would be on its march to support him. In pursuance of these orders Lee made his dispositions for attack, from which Sir Henry discovering that his flanks and rear were both threatened, and becoming alarmed for his baggage, sent it forward, and covered the rear with "the strength and flower of his army." General Lee, in the first instance, supposing that their rear was protected by no more than 1800 or 2000 men, gave orders to General Wayne to advance on them with 700 men and two pieces of artillery, while he, by a short route on the left, would gain their front, and by these means cut off the covering party from the main body. Sir Henry, discovering Wayne advancing, immediately wheeled about a body of horse and infantry, and commenced an attack, which was gallantly and speedily repulsed, and intended to be followed up by the artillery and a charge of bayonet, but while the disposition was making for this purpose, a general retreat of the whole advance corps was ordered, which Lee afterwards states was done for the purpose of falling back on more eligible ground, the covering party being in numbers far beyond his first estimate. General Wayne having been unsupported in his movement against the enemy, experienced very great difficulty in reaching the retreating troops. Washington, who had not received any intelligence from Gen. Lee on the subject of the unlooked for retreat, coming up about noon, beheldwith equal mortification and surprise, the whole advan ced corps retiring before the enemy, without having made but one, and that unsupported, effort to maintain their ground." The commander-in-chief riding towards the rear met Lee, and proposed certain questions which implied censure-Lee felt it, and replied with warmth and unbecoming language. Washington passed on to the rear of the retreating troops, whom he found closely pressed by the enemy-when he instantly took an advantageous piece of ground, and there posted a body of troops in order to give the enemy the first check. General Lee being at this time told by one of his aids that Washington had taken the command, he replied, "then I have nothing further to do," turned his horse and rode after his excellency in front; on Lee's coming up, the general gave him orders to take proper measures with the residue of his division to stop the British column on that ground; when Lee replied, "your orders shall be obeyed, and I will not be the first to leave the field." Washington after this immediately rode forward to the main army which was formed with the utmost expedition. The general action shortly after commenced. The day was remarkably sultry, the army much fatigu General Lee in the first instance, although entitled to ed by its previous march, and at first thrown into some this command, declined it, as he was against both a par- confusion by the unexpected retreat of the advanced tial or general action; but, on discovering that his hav-corps, nevertheless the palm of victory was contended 1829.] ANTHONY WAYNE. 389 for by Washington's army until night separated the com- occasion, but Pennsylvania showed the road to victobatants, with a spirit that will never be forgotten by A-ry." mericans and the friends of freedom. ANTHONY WAYNE. This engagement produced an additional sprig of laurel for the wreath of Wayne. The commander in chief, in his official report to Congress of the action, observes -"Were I to close my account of this day's transactions without expressing my obligations to the officers of the army in general, I should do injustice to their merit and violence to my own feelings. They seemed to vie with each other in manifesting their zeal and bravery. The catalogue of those who distinguished themselves is too long to admit of particularizing individuals. I cannot, however, forbear mentioning Brigadier General Wayne, whose good conduct and bravery, throughout the whole action, deserves particular commendation." The following extract of a family letter, of General Wayne, gives a concise account of the battle of Monmouth, so far as he was personally engaged in it: Spottswood, 1st July, 1778. "On Sunday, the 28th of June, our flying army came in view of the enemy about 8 o'clock in the morning, when I was ordered to advance and attack them with a few men; the remainder of the corps under Gen. Lee was to have supported me, we accordingly advanced and received a charge from the British horse and infantry, which was soon repulsed. Our general, however, thought proper to order a retreat, in place of advancing, without firing a single shot, the enemy following in force, which rendered it very difficult for the small force I had, to gain the main body, being hard pushed, and frequently nearly surrounded. After falling back almost a mile we met his excellency, who, surprised at our retreat, knowing that officers as well as men were in high spirits, and wished for nothing more than to be faced about and meet the British fire, he accordingly ordered me to keep post where he met us, having a body of troops with two pieces of artillery then under my command, and to keep the enemy in play until he had an opportunity of forming the main army and restoring order. We had just taken post when the enemy began their attack with horse, foot and artillery, the fire of their united force obliged us, after a severe conflict to give way; after which a most severe cannonade, accompanied by small arms, was opened by our left wing on the enemy, which gave them an effectual check. During the interval, which this occasioned, every possible exertion was made use of by his Excellency and the other generals to spirit up the troops, and prepare them for another trial. The enemy began to advance again in a heavy column with the view of turning our left flank, but in this they failed. They then made a similar effort on our right, and whilst our artillery was handsomely playing on them, I advanced with a strong body of troops-we met the enemy-the contest was exceedingly warm and well maintained on each side for a considerable time, at length victory declared for us; British courage failed, and was forced to give way to American valor. After retreating a considerable distance, the enemy took a strong position. General Washington, although many of our men were falling with thirst, heat and fatigue, resolved to renew the action, and made his dispositions for that purpose, but night prevented their final execution. . We encamped on the field of battle with a view of recommencing the action in the morning, but Sir Henry deemed it prudent to evade this, by retreating in the dead of night; after having interred many of his killed, yet leaving us to bury some of his distinguished officers, and 245 of his soldiers, besides taking charge of a great number of his wounded. Our loss in this affair consists of a few gallant officers killed and wounded, and many brave soldiers in a similar state. Every general and other officer, (one excepted,) did every thing that could be expected on this great Signed, The palm of victory was certainly Washington's on this day; although his triumph was not complete. Had his generals concurred with him as to the advisability of a general action, and not by an almost unanimously adverse opinion trammelled his conduct and circumscribed his views;" had not the advanced corps, by precipitately falling back, surprising and confusing the troops which were rushing to its aid, and in consequence requiring different and instantaneous arrangements to be made in the front of a gallant foe who had every thing at stake-the 28th of June, as the 4th of July, would have been altogether "Worthy of adoration, and ever adored." Sir Henry Clinton, in his official statement, reported his dead and missing at four officers and one hundred and eighty-four privates, his wounded at sixteen officers and fifty-four privates. "The stubborn fact" of burying the dead contradicts the correctness of Sir Henry's statement. He left on the field of battle, independently of those whom his own troops interred, 4 officers and 245 privates, whose bodies were buried on the field by persons appointed for that express business, and whose report was handed to the commander in chief. Some others were afterwards discovered and interred, increasing the amount to upwards of 300. This was not the only deception of the kind used by the British commanders during the revolutionary war, they made use of evry art to prevent a knowledge of their numbers in killed and wounded. The following is an extract of a letter of Gen. Wayne, to a friend, on this subject. Paramus, 12th July, 1778. "We have been in perpetual motion ever since we crossed the Delaware, until yesterday, when we arrived here, where we shall be stationary for a few days, in order to recruit a little after the fatigue which we have experienced in marching through deserts, burning sands, &c. &c. The enemy, sore from the action of the 28th ult. seem inclined to rest also. They are now in three divisions: one on Long Island, another on Staten Island, and a third in New York. The victory on that day turns out to be much more considerable than at first supposed. Col. Butler, who remained on the ground two or three days after the action, says that nearly three hundred British had been buried by us on the field, and numbers discovered every day in the woods, exclusive of those buried by the enemy, not much short of one hundred. So that by the most moderate calculation, their killed and wounded must amount to eleven hundred, the flower of their army, and many of them of the richest blood of England. Tell those Philadelphia ladies, who attended Howe's assemblies and levees, that the heavenly, sweet, pretty red coats-the accomplished gentlemen of the guards and grenadiers have been humbled on the plains of Monmouth. The knights of the Blended Roses and of the Burning Mount, have resigned their laurels to Rebel officers, who will lay them at the feet of those virtuous daughters of America, who cheerfully gave up ease and affluence in a city, for liberty and peace of mind in a cottage." Adieu, and believe me Yours most sincerely, ANTHONY WAYNE. Sir Henry having in the night escaped from his adversary, as has been mentioned, took a strong position on the high grounds at Middletown; where, after remaining a few days, he proceeded to Sandy Hook, whence he passed his army over to New-York. Washington after paying the last honours to the gallant dead, soothing the minds and administering to the relief of the wounded, proceeded by easy marches to the highlands of the Hudson. Signed, Major General Lee was arrested upon sundry char |