"Mr. Speaker, Mr. Speaker !" To relieve him from his embarrassment, Mr. Robertson kindly called out, "Major Washington, Major Washington, sit down; your modesty alone is equal to your merit."

CHAPTER VI.

The French and Indian war begins-Washington goes forth to meet the dangers of his country-aims a blow at Fort Du Quesne-fails-gallant defence of Fort Necessity-retires from the service in disgust-pressed into it again by General Braddockdefeat and death of Braddock, and dreadful slaughter of his army.

"WELL, WHAT IS TO COME, WILL COME!" said poor Paddy, when going to the gallows. Even so was come, as would seem, the time that was to come for "kings to go forth to battle." The truth is, numbers of poor tax-ground, and thence uneducated and half-starved wretches in Britain and France, were become diseased with a mortal cachexy or surcharge of bad humours; such as gambling, swindling, horse stealing, highway robbing, &c. which nothing but the saturnine pills and steel points of Mars could effectually carry off. Thus in all corrupted governments WAR is considered as a necessary evil. It was no doubt necessary then.

SUCH was the remote cause. The proximate history, or how the dance begun, we now proceed to relate. WE have just seen that the French, pouring down from the lakes of Canada, thick as autumnal geese, were dashing away on the Ohio, at an alarming rate-multiplying forts-holding TALKS-and strengthening their alliances with the Indians. And

we have seen, that Washington, with letters from governor Dinwiddie, had been out among the PARLEZVOUS, conjuring them by every thing venerable in treaties, or valuable in peace, to desist from such unwarrantable measures. But all to no purpose: for the French commandant, smiling at Washington, as a green horn, and at Dinwiddie as an old fool, continued his operations as vigorously as though he knew not that the country in question made a part of the British empire.

SWIFT as the broad-winged packets could fly across the deep, the news was carried to England.-Its effect there was like that of a stone rudely hurled against a nest of hornets. Instantly, from centre to circumference, all is rage and bustle-the hive resounds with the maddening insects. Dark tumbling from their cells they spread the hasty wing, and shrill whizzing through the air, they rush to find the foe. Just so in the sea-ruling island, from queens house to ale-house, from king to cockney, all were fierce for fight. Even the red-nosed porters where they met, bending under their burdens, would stop in the streets, to talk of ENGLAND'S WRONGS: and, as they talked, their fiery snouts were seen to grow more fiery still, and more deformed. Then throwing their packs to the ground, and leaping into the attitude of boxers, with sturdy arms across, and rough black jaws stretched out, they bend forward to the fancied fight The frog-eating foe, in shirtless ruffles and long lank queue, seems to give ground! then rising in their might, with fire-striking eyes they press hard upon him; and coming in, hand and foot, with kick and cuff and many a hearty curse, they shew the GIGGLING CROWD, how, damn 'em they would thump the French.

THE news was brought to Britain's king just as he had dispatched his pudding; and sat, right royally amusing himself with a slice of Gloucester and a nip of ale. From the lips of the king down fell the luckless cheese, alas! not grac'd to comfort the sto

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mach of the Lord's anointed; while, crowned with snowy foam, his nut-brown ale stood untasted beside his plate. Suddenly as he heard the news, the monarch darkened in his place: and answering darkness shrouded all his court.

In silence he rolled his eyes of fire on the floor, and twirled his terrible thumbs! his pages shrunk from his presence; for who could stand before the king of thundering ships, when wrath, in gleams of lightning, flashed from his " dark red eyes?" Starting at length, as from a trance, he swallowed his ale: then clenching his fist, he gave the table a tremendous knock, and cursed the wooden-shoed nation by his God! Swift as he cursed, the dogs of war bounded from their kennels, keen for the chase: and, snuffing the blood of Frenchmen on every gale, they raised a howl of death which reached these peaceful shores. Orders were immediately issued, by the British government, for the colonies to arm and unite in one confederacy. Virginia took the lead; and raised a regiment, to the second command in which she raised her favourite Washington. Colonel Fry, by right of seniority, commanded: but on his death, which happened soon after his appointment, Washington succeeded to the command.With this little handful, he bravely pushed out into the wilderness, in quest of the enemy; and at a place called the Little Meadows, came up with a party under one Jumonville. This officer was killed, and all his men taken prisoners.

FROM these prisoners, he obtained undoubted intelligence, that the French troops on the Ohio, consisted of upwards of a thousand regulars, and many hundreds of Indians. But notwithstanding this disheartening intelligence, he still pressed on undauntedly against the enemy, and, at a place called the Great Meadows, built a fort, which he called Fort Necessity

SOON as the lines of the entrenchments were marked off, and the men about to fall to work, Washington seizing the hand of the first that was lifting the spade, cried out "Stop, my brave fellow! my hand must heave the first earth that is thrown up in defence of this country!"

LEAVING a small garrison behind him, he dashed on for Fort Duquesne, (Fort Pitt,) hoping by the reduction of that important post, to strike terror into the enemy, and defeat their plans. But though this was a bold stroke of generalship, yet it appeared that he had not a force sufficient to effect it. For in the midst of this day's march, he was met by a party of friendly Indians, who, running up to him, with looks and gestures greatly agitated, cried out: "Fly! Ay! don't look behind you! your enemies are upon you, thick as the pigeons in the woods!"

WASHINGTON called a council of his officers, who advised an immediate return to Fort Necessity, which they hardly recovered, before their centinels fired an alarm; came running in; and stated, that the woods were alive with Frenchmen and Indians!-It should have been observed, that the dreadful news of the day before, had produced so shameful a desertion among his troops, in the course of the night, that, when the enemy attacked, which they did with 1500 men, Washington had but 300 to stand by him. But never did the true Virginia valour shine more gloriously than on this trying occasion-to see 300 young fellows-commanded by a smooth-faced boy

-all unaccustomed to the terrors of war-far from home-and from all hope of help-shut up in a dreary wilderness-and surrounded by five times their num ber of savage foes, yet without sign of tear, preparing for mortal combat! Scarcely since the days of Leonidas and his three hundred deathless Spartans, had the sun beheld its equal. With hideous whoops and yells, the enemy came on like a host of tigers. The woods and rocks, and tall tree-tops, fillea with Indians,

were in one continued blaze and crash of fire-arms. Nor were our youthful warriors idle : but animated by their youthful commander, they plied their rifles with such spirit, that the little fort resembled a volcano in full blast, roaring and discharging thick sheets of liquid fire and of leaden deaths among their foes. For nine glorious hours, salamander-like, enveloped in smoke and flames, they sustained the attack of the enemy's whole force, and laid two hundred of them dead on the spot! Discouraged by such desperate resistance, the French general, the Count de Villiers, sent in a flag to Washington, highly extolling his gallantry, and offering him the most honourable terms. It was stipulated, that Washington and his little band of heroes, should march away with all the honours of war, and carry with them their military stores and baggage.

ON their return to the bosom of their country, they were every where received with the praises which they had so well deserved. The Legislature voted the thanks of the nation to Washington and his officers; with a pistole to each of his men, about 300.

In the course of the following winter, notice was given from the mother country, that American officers, acting with the British, should bear no command!! Hence the poorest shoat, if wearing the proud epaulette of a Briton, might command a Wolfe, if so unlucky as to be an American!!! Incensed at such an outrage on common justice, and the rights of his countrymen, Washington threw up his commission; and retired to his plantation, Mount Vernon, lately left him by his brother Lawrence.Here, Cincinnatus-like, he betook him to his favourite plough. But the season called for the sword;-and he was now risen too high to be overlooked in times ike those when troubles and fears began to darken over all the land.

THE report of his gallant but unsuccessful struggle with the French and Indians, soon reached Eng.