"To perpetuate, therefore, as well the remembrance of this vast event, as the mutual friendships which have been formed under the pressure of common danger, and in many instances cemented by the blood of the parties, the officers of the American army do hereby, in the most solemn manner, associate, constitute, and combine themselves into one society of friends, to endure so long as they shall endure, or any of their eldest male posterity, and in failure thereof, the collateral branches, who may be judged worthy of becoming its supporters and members."

As the officers of the army were chiefly Americans, and were about to return to their citizenship, they appropriately named the society, in honor of the illustrious Roman, Lucius Quintius Cincinnatus, whose example they were about to imitate. They resolved that the following principles should form the basis of the society:

1. "An incessant attention to preserve inviolate those exalted rights and liberties of human nature for which they have fought and bled, and without which the high rank of a rational being is a curse instead of a blessing.

2. "An unalterable determination to promote and cherish, between the respective states, that unison and national honor so essentially necessary to their happiness and the future dignity of the American empire.

3. "To render permanent the cordial affection subsisting among the officers, this spirit will dictate brotherly kindness in all things, and particularly extend to the most substantial acts of beneficence, according to the ability of the society, toward those officers and their families who unfortunately may be under the necessity of receiving it."

For the sake of frequent communication, the association was divided into state societies, to meet annually on the 4th of July, or oftener if they should find it expedient.

also adopted an Order by which its members should be known and distinguished. It is composed of a medal of gold with proper emblems, "suspended by a deep-blue ribbon two inches wide, edged with white, descriptive of the union of America with France."

A representation of the Order, full size, is seen in the engraving. The leaves of the olive branches are of gold and green enamel; the head and tail of the eagle gold and white enamel; and the sky in the centre device (which is a facsimile of one of the medallions on the certificate of membership), is blue enamel.

The French officers who served in the continental army presented to Washington an elegant Order, studded with precious stones, about two hundred in number.

The

The society

leaves of the olive branches and ORDER OF THE CINCINNATI. wreaths are composed of emeralds, the berries of ruby, and the beak of the eagle amethyst. Above the eagle is a group of military emblems-flags, drums, and cannon-surrounding a

ribbon, upon which are inscribed the words: "PRESENTED, IN THE NAME OF THE FRENCH SOLDIERS, TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE GENERAL WASHINGTON." This also is studded with precious stones. Above it is a bow of moire antique ribbon, of light-blue color, with white edges. This jewel is at present [1859] in the possession of the Honorable Hamilton Fish, of New York,

president of the Society of the Cincinnati.

The Society had a certificate of membership engraved in France, by J. J. Le Veau, from a drawing by Aug. Le Belle. It occupies a space thirteen and a half inches in width and twenty inches in length, and was printed on fine vellum. The engraving upon the next page is a facsimile on a reduced scale. The design represents American liberty as a strong man armed, bearing in one hand the Union flag, and in the other a naked sword. Beneath his feet are British flags, and Hovering by his side is the whose talons the lightning

a broken spear, shield, and chain. eagle, our national emblem, from of destruction is flashing upon the British lion. Britannia, with the crown falling from her head, is hastening toward a boat to escape to a fleet, which denotes the departure of British

power from our shores. Upon a cloud, on the right, is an angel blowing a trumpet, from which flutters a loose scroll. Upon the scroll are the sentences: Palam nuntiata libertas, A. D. 1776. Fadus sociale cum Gallia, A. D. 1778. Pax: libertas parta, A. D. 1783—“Independence declared, A. D. 1776. Treaty of alliance with France declared, A. D. 1778. Peace! independence obtained, A. D. 1783."

Upon the medallion on the right is a device representing Cincinnatus at his plow, a ship on the sea, and a walled town in the distance. Over his head is a flying angel, holding a ribbon inscribed: Virtutis præmium; "Reward of virtue.” Below is a heart, with the words: Esto perpetua; "Be thou perpetual." Upon the rim is the legend: Societas Cincinnatorum Instituta A. D. MDCCLXXXIII.; "Society of the Cincinnati, instituted 1783." The device upon the medallion on the left is Cincinnatus, with his family, near his house. He is receiving a sword and shield from three senators: an army is seen in the distance. Upon the rim are the words: Omnia relinqui tservare rempublicam; "He abandons every thing to serve his country" (referring to Cincinnatus).

Washington was chosen the first president-general of the Society of the Cincinnati, and General Henry Knox the secre tary. The former remained in office until his death, a period of sixteen years, and was succeeded by General Alexander Hamilton. All of the certificates given to the original members, like the one delineated in the engraving, were filled up and signed by Washington, at Mount Vernon.

We have observed that it was Christmas eve when Washington arrived at Mount Vernon from Annapolis, once more a private citizen. What a glad Christmas was that for all in