The life of Ashbel Green, V.D.M

26 December 1776

Battle of Trenton

CHAPTER X. (1785—1789.)

First public service ; praise from Dr. Witherspoon ; Preaches in Philadelphia ; ap- pointment as supply of 2d church and at Laurenceville. Ill health ; call to Philadelphia ; accepted by Dr. Witherspoon's advice ; ordained in 17S7 ; account of ordination. Parties in Presbytery since 1752 ; their history. Dr. Ewing ; Dr. Duffield ; Jaw suit. Philadelphia as it was at his settlement; market-house; bridge; Pottersfield ; churches; custom at funerals; custom of clergy when Washington was President. Jefferson misrepresents an address written by Dr. Green ; constitutional convention ; peace of Paris ; Adams at London ; speech of George III. ; mistake as to parties in England ; private losses by the war; restoration of estate of tories; refusal of the British to give up the forts; exhaustion produced by the war ; national debt ; funds; Rhode Island's refusal to enter into compact; no medium for commerce ; paper money ; Massa- chusetts'rebellion ; Dr. Witherspoon's essay on money; gloomy fears ; Federal convention; " Madison Papers ;" discussion of the constitution ; " The Federa- list;" " The New Roof;" interposition of Providence in behalf of our country; Washington's journey from Mount Vernon to New York; Ramsey's history; Gray's bridge; dinner at Philadelphia ; welcome at Trenton ; entrance at New York ; oath of office ; his first speech to Congress ; reflections upon it. Con- trast between feelings of Washington in 1776 and 17S9 ; anecdote of him at battle of Trenton; federal procession in Philadelphia; Temple of liberty at Bush Hill ; oration of Judge Wilson ; dinner at Dr. Shippen's; Madison ; McKean; Bingham; controversy as to title of President ; location of federal city ; excite- ment; Dr. Witherspoon's essay, advising delay; an incident; displeasure of Washington 151 — 179

CHAPTER VI.

My dear a. — The treatment which the American prisoners received from the British in our revolution- ary war, after making every allowance for their being regarded as captured rebels, was, in a very high degree, cruel and impolitic; cruel, because in numerous in- stances it was worse than immediate military execution; and impolitic, because it had no other effect on their countrymen, than greatly to exasperate them, produce retaliation, and cherish a spirit of vindictiveness. In the early periods of the war, the British made many more prisoners than the Americans. This of itself would prevent any thing like a general exchange ; but the truth was, the British at that period did not desire an exchange. They expected to conquer the country, and were willing to retain their prisoners; probably expecting that by the severity of their treatment, others would be deterred from taking up arms in defence of their country. But when it became evident that this effect was not produced, and especially after the sur- render of Burgoyne's whole army, and the prisoners made by General Washington at Trenton and Prince- ton, augmented in number by the partizan warfare

CHAPTER X.

was, to give me a monthly appointment to preach in their pulpit, with a view to my becoming an assistant to the Rev. Dr. James Sproat, their aged and excellent pastor. This application was successful, and the Pres- bytery cotemporaneously appointed me, for the remain- der of my time, to supply a vacant congregation between Princeton and Trenton, whose place of public worship then was, and still is in the village now known by the name of Lawrencer The discharge of the duties thus assigned me, in addition to those of my professorship, eventually destroyed my health. In the autumn of that year, I was assailed by a train of ner- vous symptoms of the most distressing kind, from the effects of which I have never been entirely free ; that is, my health has never been so firm as it was before.

IQQ LIFE OF THE

When Mr. Washington crossed the Delaware and landed on the Jersey shore, he was saluted with three cheers by the inhabitants of the vicinity. When he came to the brow of the hill, on his way to Trenton, a triumphal arch was erected on the bridge by the ladies of the place. The crown of the arch w^as highly ornamented with imperial laurels and flowers, and on it was displayed in large figures, December 26, 1776. On the sweep of the arch beneath, was this inscription :