AN ORATION, &c. SINCERELY congratulate you, my honored Auditors, on the confirmation of happy tidings, and the certainty of that auspicious event which has already diffused joy thro' the breast of every true American; which gives such an usual flow to our spirits at this time, and has induced such numbers to consecrate this day to festivity and mirth. Could I, my respectable fellow citizens, on this happy occasion, answer my own wishes, I might with the greater probability of success, hope to answer yours: Or could I feel that gratitude and devotion. to the Supreme Dispenser of all good, which the late influence of his unmerited favor demands; or utter the genuine, the exhilarated emotions of my heart in language and eloquence the most expressive of my feelings, I might with the greater reason flatter myself that you would not go away altogether disappointed and unsatisfied. But being unpractised in oratorical exercises, and unfurnished with oratorical talents; the shortness of the notice, and my being unacquainted with many of the entertaining circumstances of the glorious event in which we are now rejoicing, render me unable to do justice to the occasion;-to do justice to our brave countrymen and allies, who have been the happy instruments of procuring for us this glory and joy; and most of all, to do justice to the merciful Superintendency of that Being, "whose is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory.' But as the heart, when overflowing with joy, is the most disposed to benevolence and candor, I take courage to proceed in my appointed task. And in the first place we ought, with the warmest emotions of gratitude, and the sincerest resolutions of answerable returns, to ascribe that praise and glory to the GOD of Heaven which is due to his name. "O sing unto the Lord a new song, for he hath tri umphed gloriously, he hath done marvellous things; his right hand and his holy arm hath gotten him the victory." The joyous event which the hand of Providence hath produced, and which we are this day triumphantly celebrating, is no less than the capture of the whole British Army under the command of Lord CORNWALLIS, together with several vessels of force, a number of transports and seamen, a considerable quantity of military stores, &c. by the combined army of French and Americans, under the command of his Excellency General WASHINGTON, in conjunction with the fleet commanded by Count de GRASSE. As his Lordship was an active and enterprizing General, resolute and intrepid, the Ministry and their friends placed much dependence upon him; and he was soon to have taken the command of all the British troops in America. He is therefore to be esteemed the more valuable prize; and his surrender is a more fortunate acquisition to us, and a greater loss and disappointment to them.—His -His army, consisting of between 7 and 8000, most of them veteran troops, being all made prisoners of war, not only relieves Virginia and the rest of the Southern States (as the capture of BURGOYNE and his army, four years ago, relieved us in the North) but is such a diminution of the force of the enemy, that it seems as if, instead of giving much disturbance to us, they must now tremble for themselves. This event must be considered not only as important and glorious in itself, but as big with the most happy consequences. Not to mention the tendency it will have to cement the union between the three already allied nations of France, Spain and America; and to make Americans set a yet higher value on the friendship and assistance of their Allies, it must, unless the British ministry and nation have drunken the very dregs of the cup of infatuation, change their counsels and measures-accelerate an honorable peace, and establish our Liberties and Independence; as this, in conjunction with other instances of success on our side, must convince them of their utter inability to "bring America to their feet." And when the report of this capture reaches the Congress of the United Powers of Europe, it must exalt their opinion of the importance of America, and of the resolute and independent spirit of Americans, and influence their determinations in our favour. This will heighten the esteem of all other nations, and add warmth to their courtship of our alliance, commerce and protection. And may we not hope, that the ill success of Britain will be universally considered as the frown of Heaven, and a just punishment for her cruel and unrighteous attempts upon America; serve as a check to the exorbitance of ambition and dispotism, and deter other powers from lifting a rebellious hand against the sacred rights of mankind? And on my part, I cannot forbear being gratified, not only at the humiliating subjugation of a person of Lord Cornwallis's insolence and pride, to American Rebels, as he scornfully stigmatized us; but also at the mortification and astonishment of the haughty nation of Britain, of the Ministry, and of their tyrannical Prince, when the fatal news comes like a sudden thunder-clap to their ears. This glorious event, on the 19th of October 1781, pregnant with such happy consequences (which I must leave to your imaginations further to enumerate, and to Providence to realize and bring forward in their season) revives the joyful remembrance of the similar surrender of General Burgoyne and his army, on the 17th of October 1777, when Heaven, in a manner equally propitious and remarkable, smiled upon our northern army, under the command of General GATES. These exploits will shine with a distinguished brilliancy in the Annals of Fame. What a radiance will this struggle for Liberty, which has produced such exertions of genius, and prowess, throw around America! 'Tis enough to make us proud of our country, and to glory in the name of Americans; yea, even to make it criminal to be destitute of this pride.-Many nations have in their turn been celebrated for noble atchievements-for battles won-for cities taken, and for countries gradually subdued. But the glory of cap turing whole armies together, one after another, with experienced commanders at their head, by superior generalship, and with little loss of time or of blood, is reserved for America. Happy Country! the scene of such wonders, the nurse of such heroes the defender of Liberty, and the care of JEHOVAH! How natural is it to look forward to distant posterity, and figure to ourselves their increase, their tranquility, their freedom, their prosperity! Soon, we trust, will 'commence the æra of our quiet enjoyment of those liberties which our fathers purchased with the toil of their whole lives, with their treasure, with their blood. Safe from the enemy of the wilderness; safe from the griping hand of arbitrary sway, here shall be the late founded seat of peace and of freedom. Here shall arts and sciences, the companions of tranquility, flourish. Here shall dwell uncorrupted faith, the pure worship of God in its primitive simplicity, unawed, unrestrained, uninterrupted. Here shall religion and liberty extend their benign influences to savage, enslaved and benighted nations. -How can we forbear rejoicing in such happy prospects, as well as in the events which open such prospects to our view? How can we help testifying the gladness of our hearts in every decent way, in which joy can be expressed, communicated and heightened, and the event which gave rise to this joy be fixed deep in the memories of all, and transmitted to future generations? But out care should be, that 'Religion may preside over the joy of this day, and that gratitude to Heaven may exalt it. There are some civil and military demonstrations of gladness that so great an occasion demands. But the blessing is too divine, the joy is too great, too sacred, to be affronted by profaneness, or polluted and debased by sensuality. May our gracious Benefactor perfect the work of mercy in which we are rejoicing, and grant that neither we, nor those that come after us, may wantonly forfeit these blessings and these hopes! May the cause of Liberty and of pure Religion still advance by the favour of the Almighty, 'till every nation shall be happy under the govern ment of the Prince of Peace; and truth, freedom and righteousness universally prevail! "Till pride shall cease its neighbors to invade, And swords be drunk with christian blood no more: To human-kind propitious, heav'nly dove! And spread o'er nations wide her fostering wing: FINIS |