Chinquepin Hill, on the nights of the 11th, 12th, 13th, and 14th of September, 1814. And now should the bold noted trumpet of war be sounded aloud-now would our aged revolutionary worthy step forth and home in the tented fields of his country-and should he fall wounded there in defence of LIBERTY AND RIGHT, his animating language to his brother soldiers would be: HOLD UP YOUR STAR SPANGLED EAGLE BANNER OF GLORY. And should he but survive a conquest over his country's foes, his last words would be: "Content I die-for thou art free, The same spirit possessed by Capt. Dewees we perceive was infused by his example into his son, who had scarcely gotton clear of the appellation of "Apprentice" when he volunteered at Lancaster in Pa. as one of the brave Pennsylvanians that threw themselves between the invaded and invador at Baltimore in Sept. 1814, to protect their country's rights from the powers of a ruthless foe, and to shield their country's eagle, stars and stripes from an ungodly desecration. Here we behold the soldier merging from boyhood to manhood and the aged warrior far on the journey of life towards decrepitude and old age meeting upon the same common threshhold of glory-upon the same common altar of their country's safety-upon the same common rampart of Columbia's unbroken and unyielding strength all potent. Yes! here we find father and son meeting in the same intrenchments, as DEFENDERS of Baltimore, the son receiving counsels and the father by imparted counsels inciting that son to deeds of bravery in the dark hour of trial, exhorting him as he valued life to stand firm at his post and to yield nothing that by the sacrifice of his life he could maintain for his country's safety and preservation against a despoiling foe. Reader could you wish to have witnessed the first meeting and first parting of father and son thus upon the battle-field of their country-upon so high and impregnable an ALTAR and rampart of LIBERTY-upon such high and holy ground as this. Glad, yes, extremely so would I have been to have witnessed such interviews and at such a fearful crisis in the affairs of my country as that which existed at the time of the invasion by the British at Baltimore. After peace was proclaimed that son met as one the emergency which arose in our country, the Indian war in Florida, he joined the standing army and marched to protect the frontier settlements of his country and at a moment when his human bosom swelled with high but reasonable and honorable hopes of preferment in the army of his country, based upon his own good and soldier-like conduct and manly bearings, he fell a victim to the ravages of fell disease, which event threw a sable pall of gloomy sorrow over the camp of his mourning companions in arms, and overwhelmed an aged father with sadness and grief insupportable when he first learned his irreparable loss, by the announcement to him of the death of that son. "What's hallowed ground? where heroes sleep, In dews that heavens far distant weep, Or genii twine beneath the deep Is't death to fall for Freedom's right? What can alone ennoble fight? A nobler cause! What's hallowed ground? 'Tis what gives birth, PEACE, "LOVE," INDEPENDENCE, Truth go forth Earth's compass round; And your high priesthood shall make earth All hallowed ground.” In producing a history of the life and services of this venerable patriot, one of the few remaining revolutionary arks of Republican principles, I have poverty to contend with-poverty which is a barrier in the way of accomplishing properly many laudable undertakings. Poverty, all will admit, is hard to be borne, but he that has the measure of a chosen motto filled to himself, a crust and peaceful feelings therewith is happier than the 'happiest.' I am well aware that the public is constantly pestered with applications for aid to frothy and unprofitable publications of ephemeral existence, and to consent to trouble the public in calls for the purpose of selling, such, I could not be prevailed upon for any amount as a remuneration; and whilst I know that the public is thus chafed in feeling, I have the consolation that I have embarked in a laudable enterprise, one in which I have the good countenance, best wishes and aid of patriotic citizens and just lovers of their country,-one that requires neither the hardening of the cheek, nor searing of the feelings, in order to progress with. Civility is a gem that burnishes itself, and shines brightest when set in contrast with that mushroom superiority and brilliancy so boldly delineated upon the pages of a false etiquette. Civility has its offspring in an established law of the heart. We do not expect to find civility every wheře, but we often find it where some would least expect it. I am a witness to the fact that it has not deserted many of those belonging to the various departments of men and women within my country. The Jack Tar, the Collier, the Butcher, the Wagoner, the laboring and weary limbed Peasant, the bone and sinew-Mechanics of various branches, nor those whose good fortunes have placed them above the reach of want. Gruffness uncalled for, is often found in men and women, who ought to hold every other principle by profession, rather than RELIGION and PATRIOTISM-for be it said boldly, they have neither-and they ought rather to claim kindred with mewing cats and snapping dogs, than dare to insult the dignity of human nature, in presuming to put themselves upon an equality with the URBANE, SENSIBLE, RESPECTFUL and truly RELIGIOUS of their species. I have already met with persons whom I am ashamed of, and for proud and patriotic COLUMBIA's sake, and for the sake of friends whose feelings I would not dare to wound, I shall suffer such to lie down and rise up "the greatest among the great," unmolested by me, and will only exclaim: O pitiful, poor fallen nature, how high and estimable under the guidance of a well cultivated and well regulated mind and heart. Thou man, thou woman, thou mightest have ranked in the estimation of your species. Where is the consciousness of being so far at home within yourselves, in the possession of peace and harmlessness to mankind's peace, as to make you companions for the Prince of Peace at his august and allglorious coming? Where? Eternally lost to you. I am coming, through the instrumentality of this introductory address, to set forth by the aid of truth and reason, the just claims of a PATRIOTIC FATHER of the REVOLUTIONARY and LAST WARS-a revolutionary father who has aided by hardships, privations, sufferings and dangers, in the establishment of the precious liberties I enjoy, in common with my country's SoNs and DAUGHTERS of FREEDOM, and to whose agency, as an assistant in a glorious work, the rearing of a Republican light of eternal brilliancy, as the BEACON LIGHT of LIBERTY, FREEDOM and INDEPENDENCE to and among the benighted nations of the earth, I feel bound with them to exhibit gratitude in the faithfulness of my friend ship. Since the time I commenced writing the life of Captain Dewees I have "not left a stone unturned." I have labored, I have done all I have been able to do in truth, and by its aid in bringing him to the notice of those that I hope do love their country and that cherish the exalted principles of Republicanism. Beyond truth no man shall know me to go in the publication of his life. I have visited the old gentleman often since May last, walking out to his residence (a distance of two miles) in the morning and returning in the evening. I have always found his mind hale and his memory of an extraordinary cast for one of his years, and a virtuous and faithful regard for truth has been exhibited in a remarkable degree by him from the first visit up to the present. When in health he is yet quite vigorous in body. His conduct is unobjectionable. I have sometimes when visiting him found him seated under an apple tree engaged in perusing the Bible (of which he has a large copy) it lying spread open upon a temporary stand erected by himself expressly for its reception. I am not in possession of means within myself to accomplish his designs. If I were, I would not labor, weary and fret myself in writing to individuals (as some of the citizens of my country can testify) and in hoping as I have done upon his account. Who shall dare to say that I am prompted to this by possessing an interest in the work. As yet I possess no more interest in it than my readers. I have made it a labor of love from the beginning, and I am proud to do so. I have a spirit of patriotism, justice and gratitude that can engender loftier motives than those of interest. A spirit of patriotism, justice and gratitude that can bear me leagues aloft-above and beyond regarding pecuniary motives or interest. I have motives of a higher and a holier order. I wish to bless the old man in his latter days with comforts, peace, respect and honors-I wish to cause his past hardships, privations, and sufferings to be the instruments to rock the cradle of his declining years and as regards earthly things, I wish to aid his declining sun of life to set in peace. As a wife's entire support will cease with his life, I wish to fill the measure of the old man's strong and ardent desire that a home and a support may be afforded to her (after his decease) out of the proceeds of the publication of his life. The old gentleman draws two small pensions, yearly, one from the United States' government and one from the government of Pennsylvania. These it will at once be perceived by my readers will cease at his death. I have wished to preserve the re |