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the welfare of his children and dependants, and in attentions to the interests of his friends and fellow citizens.

He expired on the 8th of December, 1792, in the sixty-ninth year of his age.

LAURENS, JOHN, a brave officer in the revolutionary war, was the son of the preceding, and was sent to England for his education. He joined the army in the beginning of 1777, from which time he was foremost in danger. His first essay in arms was at Brandywine. At the battle of Germantown, he exhibited prodigies of valour, in attempting to expel the enemy from Chew's house, and was severely wounded. He was engaged at Monmouth, and greatly increased his reputation at Rhode Island. At Coosawhatchie, defending the pass with a handful of men, against the whole force of Prevost, he was again wounded, and was probably indebted for his life to the gallantry of captain Wigg, who gave him his horse to carry him from the field, when incapable of moving, his own having been shot under him. He headed the light infantry, and was among the first to mount the British lines at Savannah; and displayed the greatest activity, zeal and courage, during the siege of Charleston. He was present, and distinguished himself in every action of the army under general Washington, and was among the first who entered the British lines at York town. Early in 1781, while he held the rank of lieutenant-colonel, he was selected by congress on a special mission to France to solicit a loan of money, and to procure military stores. He arrived in March, and returned in August; having been so successful in the execution of his commission, that congress passed a vote of thanks for his services. Such was his despatch, that in three days after he repaired to Philadelphia, he finished his business with congress, and immediately afterwards rejoined the American army. On the twenty-seventh of August, 1782, in opposing a foraging party of the British, near Combahee river, in South Carolina, he was

mortally wounded, and he died at the age of twentyseven years.

His gallantry in action was highly characteristic of his love of fame. The post of danger was his favourite station. His polite and easy behaviour, insured distinction in every society. The warmth of his heart gained the affection of his friends, his sincerity their confidence and esteem. An insult to his friend, he regarded as a wound to his own honour. Such an occurrence led him to engage in a personal contest with general Charles Lee, who had spoken disrespectfully of general Washington. The veteran, who was wounded on the occasion, being asked "How Laurens had conducted himself?" replied, "I could have hugged the noble boy, he pleased

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The following eulogium on the character of lieutenant colonel Laurens, we copy from Marshall's Life of Wash ington.

This gallant and accomplished young gentleman had entered at an early period of the war into the family of the commander in chief, and had always shared a large portion of his esteem and confidence. Brave to excess, he sought every occasion in addition to those furnished by his station in the army, to render services to his country, and acquire that military fame which he pursued with the ardour of a young soldier, whose courage seems to have partaken of that romantic spirit which youth and enthusiasm produce in a fearless mind. Nor was it in the camp alone he was fitted to shine. His education was liberal; and those who knew him, state his manners to have been engaging, and his temper affectionate. In a highly finished portrait of his character, drawn by Dr. Ramsay, he says, that 'a dauntless bravery was the least of his virtues, and an excess of it his greatest foible.'”

LEE, RICHARD HENRY, president of congress, was a native of Virginia, and from his earliest youth devoted

his talents to the service of his country. His public life was distinguished by some remarkable circumstances. He had the honour of originating the first resistance to British oppression, in the time of the stamp act, in 1765. He proposed in the Virginia house of burgesses, in 1773, the formation of a committee of correspondence, whose object was to disseminate information, and to kindle the flame of liberty throughout the continent. He was a

member of the first congress, and it was he who made and ably supported the motion for the declaration of independence, June 10, 1776. The motion was seconded by Mr. John Adams, of Massachusetts.

He delivered a speech in support of his motion to declare the colonies independent, from which we give the following extract:

"Who doubts then that a declaration of independence will procure us allies? All nations are desirous of procuring, by commerce, the production of our exuberant soil; they will visit our ports, hitherto closed by the monopoly of insatiable England. They are no less eager to contemplate the reduction of her hated power; they all loath her barbarous dominion; their succours will evince to our brave countrymen the gratitude they bear them for having been the first to shake the foundation of this Colossus. Foreign princes wait only for the extinction of all hazard of reconciliation to throw off their present reserve. If this measure is useful, it is no less becoming our dignity. America has arrived at a degree of power which assigns her a place among independent nations. We are not less entitled to it than the English themselves. If they have wealth, so have we; if they are brave, so are we; if they are more numerous, our population, through the incredible fruitfulness of our chaste wives, will soon equal theirs; if they have men of renown, as well in peace as in war, we likewise have such; for political revolutions usually produce great, brave, and generous spirits. From what we have already achieved in these painful beginnings, it is easy to presume what we shall hereafter accomplish; for experience is the source of sage counsels, and liberty is the mother of great men. Have you not seen the enemy driven from Lexington, by thirty thousand citizens armed and assem

bled in one day? Already their most celebrated generals have yielded in Boston to the skill of ours; already their seamen, repulsed from our coasts, wander over the ocean, where they are the sport of the tempest, and the prey of famine. Let us hail the favourable omen, and fight, not for the sake of knowing on what terms we are to be the slaves of England, but to secure to ourselves a free existence, to found a just and independent government. Animated by liberty, the Greeks repulsed the innumerable army of Persians; sustained by the love of independence, the Swiss and the Dutch humbled the power of Austria by memorable defeats, and conquered a rank among nations. But the sun of America also shines upon the heads of the brave; the point of our weapons is no less formidable than theirs; here also the same union prevails, the same contempt of danger and of death in asserting the cause of our country.

"Why then do we longer delay? why still deliberate? Let this most happy day give birth to the American Republic. Let her arise, not to devastate and conquer, but to reestablish the reign of peace and of the laws. The eyes of Europe are fixed upon us! she demands of us a living example of freedom, that may contrast, by the felicity of the citizens, with the ever increasing tyranny which desolates her polluted shores. She invites us to prepare an asylum where the unhappy may find solace, and the persecuted repose. She entreats us to cultivate a propitious soil, where that generous plant which first sprung up and grew in England, but is now withered by the poisonous blasts of Scottish tyranny, may revive and flourish, sheltering under its salubrious and interminable shade, all the unfortunate of the human race. This is the end presaged by so many omens, by our first victories, by the present ardour and union, by the flight of Howe, and the pestilence which broke out amongst Dunmore's people, by the very winds which baffled the enemy's fleets and transports, and that terrible tempest which ingulfed seven hundred vessels upon the coast of Newfoundland. If we are not this day, wanting in our duty to the country, the names of the American legislators will be exalted, in the eyes of posterity, to a level with those of Theseus, Lycurgus, of Romulus, of Numa,

of the three Williams of Nassau, and of all those whose memory has been, and will be, for ever dear to virtuous men and good citizens.

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After the adoption of the articles of the confederation, Mr. Lee was under the necessity of withdrawing from congress, as no representative was allowed to continue in congress more than three years in any term of six years; but he was re-elected in 1784, and continued till 1787. In November, 1784, he was chosen president of congress. When the constitution of the United States was submitted to the consideration of the public, he contended for the necessity of amendments previously to its adoption. After the government was organized, he was chosen one of the first senators from Virginia, in 1789. This station he held till his resignation, in 1792.

Mr. Lee died at his seat at Chantilly, in Westmoreland county, Virginia, June 22, 1794, in the sixty-third year of his age. He supported through life the character of a philosopher, a patriot, and a sage; and he died, as he had lived, blessing his country.

LEE, HENRY, a distinguished officer in the revolu tionary war, entered the army as a captain of cavalry, in the Virginia line, at the age of nineteen, in which situation he soon commanded the respect and attention of his country, by his active and daring enterprise, and the confidence of the illustrious commander in chief of the military forces of the United States; a confidence which continued through life. He was rapidly promoted to the rank of major, and soon after, to that of lieutenantcolonel-commandant of à separate legionary corps.While major, he planned and executed the celebrated attack on the enemy's post at Paulus Hook, opposite to the city of New York, their head quarters; surprised and took the garrison, under the eye of the British army and navy, and safely conducted his prisoners into the American lines, many miles distant from the post taken. There are few enterprises to be found on military record,

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