dier who may view the fubject in the fame ferious point of light, to add his beft endeavours to thofe of his worthy fellow-citizens, towards effecting these great and valuable purposes, on which our very exiftence as a nation fo materially depends. The commander in chief conceives little is now wanting to enable the foldier to change the military character into that of a citizen, but that fteady and decent tenour of behaviour, which has generally diftinguished not only the army under his immediate command, but the different detachments and feparate armies, through the courfe of the war. From their good fenfe and prudence he anticipated the happieft confequences and while he congratulates them on the glorious occafion which renders their fervices in the field no longer neceffary, he wishes to exprefs the ftrong obligations he feels himself under for the affiftance he has received from every clafs, and in every inftance. He prefents his thanks, in the moft ferious and affectionate manner, to the general officers, as well for their counfel on many interefting occafions, as for their ardour in promoting the fuccefs of the plans he had adopted; to the commandants of regiments and corps, and to the officers for their zeal and attention in carrying his orders promptly into execution; to the ftaff, for their alacrity and exactnefs in performing the dutics of their feveral departments; and to the non-commiffioned officers and private foldiers, for their extraordinary patience in fuffering, as well as their invin cible fortitude in action. To various branches of the army the general takes this laft and folemn opportunity of profeffing his inviolable attachment and friendfhip.-He wishes more than bare profeflions were in his power, that he was really able to be ufeful to them all in future life.-He flatters himself, however, they will do him the juftice to believe, that whatever could with propriety be attempted by him, has been done.-And being now to conclude thefe his laft public orders, to take his ultimate leave, in a fhort time, of the military character,-and to bid a final adieu to the armies he has fo long had the honour to command, he can only again offer, in their behalf, his recommendations to their grateful country, and his prayers to the God of armies.-May ample juftice be done them here, and may the choiceft of heaven's favours, both here and hereafter, attend thofe who, under the divine aufpices, have fecured innumerable bleffings for others! With these wishes, and this benediction, the commander in chief is about to retire from service.The curtain of feparation will foon be drawn-and the military fcene to him will be closed for received your excellency's ferious and farewell addrefs, to the armies of the United States. We beg you to accept our unfeigned thanks for the communication, and your affectionate affurances of inviolable attachment and friendhip. If your attempts to enfure to the armies the juft, the promised rewards, of their long, fevere, and dangerous fervices, have failed of fuccefs, we believe it has arifen from caufes not in your excellency's power to controul. With extreme regret do we reflect on the occafion which called for fuch endeavours. But while we thank your excellency for these exertions in favour of the troops you have fo fuccefsfully commanded, we pray it may be believed, that in this fentiment our own particular interefts have but a fecondary place; and that even the ultimate ingratitude of the people (were that poffible) could not thake the patriotifm of those who fuffer by it. Still with pleafing wonder and with grateful joy hall we contemplate the glorious conclufion of our labours. To that merit in the revolution which, under the aufpices of heaven, the armies have difplayed, pofterity will do juftice; and the fons will blush whofe fathers were their foes. Mot gladly would we caft a veil on every act which fullies the reputation of our country-never hould the page of hiftory be fained with its dishonour-even from our memories fhould the idea be erafed. We lament the oppofition to thofe falutary meafares which the wisdom of the union has planted; measures which alone can recover and fix on a permanent bafis the credit of the fates; measures which are effential to the justice, the honour, and intereft of the nation. While the was giving the nobleft proofs of magnanimity, with confcious pride we faw her growing fame; and regardless of prefent fufferings, we looked forward to the end of our toils and dangers, to brighter fcenes in profpect.There we beheld the genius of our country dignified by fovereignty and independence, fupported by juftice, and adorned with every liberal virtue. There we faw patient Husbandry fearless extend her cultured fields, and animated Commerce fpread her fails to every wind. There we beheld fair Science lift her head, with all the Arts attending in her train. There, bleft with freedom, we faw the human mind expand; and throwing afide the reftraints which confined it to the narrow bounds of country, it embraced the world. Such were our fond hopes, and with fuch delightful profpects did they prefent us. Nor are we difappointed. Thofe animating profpects are now changed and changing to realities; and actively to have contributed to their production is our pride, our glory.-But juftice alone can give them ftability. In that juftice we ftill believe. Still we hope that the prejudices of the misinformed will be removed, and the arts of false and selfisn popularity, addreffed to the feelings of avarice, defeated: or in the worst event, the world, wẹ hope, will make the juft diftinction: we truft the difingenuouf nefs of a few will not fully the reputation, the honour, and dignity, of the great and refpectable majority of the fates. We are happy in the opportunity just prefented of congratulating your excellency on the certain conclufion of the definitive treaty of peace. Relieved at length from long fufpence, our warmeft with is to return to the bofom of our country, to refume the character of citizens; and it will be our highest ambition to become useful ones. To your excellency this great event must be peculiarly pleafing: for while at the head of her armies, urged by patriot virtues and magnanimity, you perfevered, under the preffure of every poffible difficulty and difcouragement, in the purfuit of the great objects of the war-the freedom and fafety of your country;-your heart panted for the tranquil enjoyments of peace. We cordially rejoice with you that the period of indulging In con We them has arrived fo foon. templating the bleffings of liberty and independence, the rich prize of eight years hardy adventure, paft fufferings will be forgotten; or if remembered, the recollection will ferve to heighten the relifh of prefent happiness. fincerely pray God this happiness may long be your's; and that when you quit the ftage of human life, you may receive from the unerring Judge, the rewards of valour exerted to fave the oppreffed, of patriotifm and difinterested virtue. West Point, 15th November, 1783. Ceremonial of the Introduction of his Royal Highness George Auguftus Frederick Prince of Wales, into the House of Peers, at the Meeting of Parliament on Tuesday November 11, 1783. IS royal highness having H been, by letters patent, dated the 19th day of Auguft, in the fecond year of his majefty's reign, created Prince of Wales and Earl of Chefter, was in his robes, which with the collar and order of the garter he had put on in the earl marfhal's room, introduced into the Houfe of Peers in the following order. Gentleman ufher of the black rod, remained fanding and uncovered. His excellency being again feated, Ulfter prefented to him the blue ribband and badge of grand master, with which his excellency invefted himself. His excellency then fignified his majefty's pleasure, that the great ball-rom should be ftyled the Hall of St. Patrick, which was done by proclamation made by Ulfter king of arms, at the found of trumpets, and with the ufual formalities; after which His excellency directed Ulfter king of arms and ufher of the black rod to introduce his grace the lord archbishop of Dublin, to whom the secretary of state administered the oath, as chancellor of the order, and his grace, kneeling, was invefted by the grand mafter with the proper badge, and received from his excellency's hands the purfe containing the feals. The dean of St. Patrick's was then introduced, to whom the oath of register of the order was administered by the chancellor, and he was invested in the like manner by his excellency, who delivered to him the ftatutes and the register of the order. Lord Delvin was next introduced, and having taken the oath, was invefted as fecretary; and in like manner Charles Henry Coote, Efq. as genealogift-John Freemantle, Efq. as ufher and William Hawkins, Efq. as king of arms of the faid order, the oaths being firft administered to them by the chancellor, were feverally invested by the grand master. His excellency then fignified his majesty's pleasure, that in of confideration of the tender age Prince Edward, his royal highnefs fhould be invefted in Eng. land, and that his majesty's difpenfation for that purpofe fhould be entered upon the regifter of the order: and in confequence of his majefty's direction, the Lord Baron Muskerry was knighted, and declared proxy to his royal highnefs Prince Edward. His excellency then directed that his grace the Duke of Leinfter should be called in; and as by the ftatutes of the order none but a knight can be elected or in. vefted, his grace, being introduced by the ufher and king of arms, was knighted by his excellency with the fword of state, and immediately delivered to the genealogift the proofs of blood re quired by the ftatutes, whereupon the oaths were administered by the chancellor, and his grace kneeling was invefted by the grand mafter with the ribband and badge, His grace then joined the proceffion to introduce the Earl of Clanricarde, who being fworn was invefted in like manner, and both knights joined the proceffion to bring in the Earl of Weftmeath; after which the two junior knights performed this duty, and the fenior knight took his feat as companion of the order. The Earls of Inchiquin, Drogheda, Tyrone, Shannon, Clanbraffil, Mornington, Courtown, Charlemont, and Bective, being feverally introduced by the two junior knights, were each of them fworn by the chancellor, and invefted by the grand mafter, and took their feats as knights com. panions. The ceremony of inveftiture be |