or the halter? Is there any here, who has not watched for you, who has not fought for you, who has not bled for you? Who, through the length of this inveterate siege, has not suf fered fatigues and miseries a thousand times worse than death; that you and yours might survive to days of peace and prosperity? Is it your preservers then, whom you would destine to destruction?

13. "You will not, you cannot do it. Justice, honor, humanity, make such a treason impossible. Where then is our resource? Is there any expedient left, whereby we may avoid guilt and infamy on one hand, or the desolation and horrors of a sacked city on the other?

14. There is, my friends, there is one expedient left; a gracious, an excellent, a god-like expedient! Is there any hero, to whom virtue is dearer than life! Let him offer himself an oblation for the safety of his people. He shall not fail of a blessed approbation from that Power who offered up his only Son for the salvation of mankind."

15. He spoke, but an universal silence ensued. Each man looked around for his example of that virtue and magnanimity in others, which all wished to approve in themselves, though they wanted the resolution. At length St. Pierre resumed.

16. "It had been base in me, my fellow-citizens, to propose any matter of damage to others, which I myself had not been willing to undergo in my own person. But I held it ungenerous to deprive any man of that preference and estimation, which might attend a first offer on so signal an occasion; for I doubt not but there are many here as ready, nay more zealous, for this martyrdom, than I can be, however modesty and the fear of imputed ostentation may withhold them from being foremost in exhibiting their merits.

17. "Indeed, the station to which the captivity of Count Vienne has unhappily raised me, imports a right to be the first in giving my life for your sakes. I give it freely, I give it cheerfully: who comes next?" Your son! exclaimed a youth, not yet come to maturity. Ah, my child! cried St. Pierre; I am then twice sacrificed. But no,-I have rather begotten thee a second time. Thy years are few, but full, my son; the victim of virtue has reached the utmost purpose and goal of mortality.

18. Who next, my friends? This is the hour of heroes. Your kinsman, cried John de Aire! your kinsman, cried James Wissant! your kinsman, cried Peter Wissant! "Ah!" exclaimed Sir Walter Mauny, bursting into tears, "why was I not a citizen of Calais ?"

19. The sixth victim was still wanting, but was quickly supplied by lot, from numbers who were now emulous of so en

nobling an example. The keys of the city were then delivered to Sir Walter. He took the six prisoners into his custody. He ordered the gates to be opened, and gave charge to his attendants to conduct the remaining citizens, with their fainilies, through the camp of the English.

20. Before they departed, however, they desired permission to take their last adieu of their deliverers. What a parting! what a scene! they crowded, with their wives and children, about St. Pierre and his fellow-prisoners. They embraced, they clung around, they fell prostrate before them. They groaned; they wept aloud; and the joint clamor of their mourning passed the gates of the city, and was heard throughout the camp.

21. At length, St. Pierre and his fellow-victims appeared, under the conduct of Sir Walter and his guard. All the tents of the English were instantly emptied. The soldiers poured from all parts, and arranged themselves on each side, to behold, to contemplate, to admire, this little band of patriots as they passed.

22. They murmured their applause of that virtue which they could not but revere even in enemies; and they regarded those ropes which they had voluntarily tied about their necks, as ensigns of greater dignity than that of the British garter.

23. As soon us they had reached the royal presence, Mauny," says the king, "are these the principal inhabitants of Calais ?" They are," says Mauny: "they are not only the principal men of Calais; they are the principal men of France, my lord, if virtue has any share in the act of ennobling." 24. "Were they delivered peaceably?" says Edward: " was there no resistance, no commotion among the people?" in the least, my lord. They are self-delivered, self-devoted, and come to offer up their inestimable heads, as an ample. equivalent for the ransom of thousands."

"Not

25. The king, who was highly incensed at the length and difficulty of the siege, ordered them to be carried away to immediate execution; nor could all the remonstrances and intreaties of his courtiers, divert him from his cruel purpose. But what neither a regard to his own interest and honor,-what neither the dictates of justice nor the feelings of humanity could effect, was happily accomplished by the more powerful influence of conjugal affection.

26. The queen, being informed of the particulars respecting the six victims, flew into her husband's presence, threw herself on her knees before him, and with tears in her eyes, besought him not to stain his character with an indelible mark of infamy, by committing such a horrid and barbarous deed.

27. Edward could refuse nothing to a wife whom he so ten

derly loved, and especially in her condition; and the queen, not satisfied with having saved the lives of the six burghers, conducted them to her tent, where she applauded their virtue, regaled them with a plentiful repast, and having made them a present of money and clothes, sent them back to their fellowcitizens.

CHAPTER XXII.

EXTRACT FROM DR. BELKNAP'S ADDRESS TO THE INHABITANTS OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE, AT THE CLOSE OF

HIS HISTORY OF THAT STATE.

Citizens of New-Hampshire :

1. Having spent above twenty years of my life with you, and passed through various scenes of peace and war within that time; being personally acquainted with many of you, both in your public and private characters; and having an earnest desire to promote your true interest, I trust you will not think me altogether unqualified to give you a few hints, by way of advice.

2. You are certainly a rising state; your numbers are rapidly increasing; and your importance in the political scale will be augmented in proportion to your improving the natural advantages which your situation affords you, and to your cultivating the intellectual and moral powers of yourselves and your children.

3. The first article on which I would open my mind to you, is that of education. Nature has been as bountiful to you as to any other people, in giving your children genius and capacity: it is then your duty and your interest to cultivate their capacities, and render them serviceable to themselves and the community.

4. It was the saying of a great orator and statesman of antiquity, that "the loss which the commonwealth sustains, by a want of education, is like the loss which the year would suffer by the destruction of the spring."

5. If the bud be blasted, the tree will yield no fruit. If the springing corn be cut down, there will be no harvest. So if the youth be ruined through a fault in their education, the community sustains a loss which cannot be repaired; "for it is too late to correct them when they are spoiled."

6. Notwithstanding the care of your legislators in enacting laws, and enforcing them by severe penalties; notwithstanding the wise and liberal provision which is made by some towns, and some private gentlemen in the state; yet there is still, in many places, a great and criminal neglect of education."

7. You are indeed a very considerable degree better in this respect, than in the time of the late war; but yet much remains to be done. Great care ought to be taken, not only to provide a support for instructors of children and youth; but to be attentive in the choice of instructors; to see that they be men of good understanding, learning, and morals; that they teach by their example, as well as by their precepts; that they govern themselves, and teach their pupils the art of self-go

8. Another source of improvement, which I beg leave to recommend, is the establishment of social libraries. This is the easiest, the cheapest and most effectual mode of diffusing knowledge among the people. For the sum of six or eight dollars at once, and a small annual payment besides, a man may be supplied with the means of literary improvement during his life, and his children may inherit the blessing.

9. A few neighbors, joined together in setting up a library, and placing it under the care of some suitable person, with a very few regulations, to prevent carelessness and waste, may render the most essential service to themselves and the community.

10. Books may be much better preserved in this way, than if they belonged to individuals; and there is an advantage in the social intercourse of persons who have read the same books, by their conversing on the subjects which have occurred in their reading, and communicating their observations one to another.

11. From this mutual intercourse, another advantage may arise for the persons who are thus associated, may not only acquire, but originate, knowledge. By studying nature and the sciences; by practicing arts, agriculture, and manufactures; at the same time that they improve their minds in reading, they may be led to discoveries and improvements, original and beneficial and being already formed into society, they may diffuse their knowledge, ripen their plans, correct their mistakes, and promote the cause of science and humanity in a very considerable degree.

12. The book of nature is always open to our view, and we may study it at our leisure. ""Tis elder scripture, writ by God's own hand." The earth, the air, the sea, the rivers, the mountains, the rocks, the caverns, the animal and vegetable tribes, are fraught with instruction. Nature is not half explored: and in what is partly known, there are many mysteries, which time, observation and experience must unfold.

13. Every social library, among other books, should be furnished with those of natural philosophy, botany, zoology, chimistry, husbandry, geography, and astronomy; that inquiring

minds may be directed in their inquiries; that they may see what is known, and what still remains to be discovered; and that they may employ their leisure, and their various opportunities, in endeavoring to add to the stock of science, and thus enrich the world with their observations and improvements. 14. Suffer me to add a few words on the use of spiritous liquor, that bane of society, that destroyer of health, morals, and property. Nature indeed has furnished her vegetable productions with spirit; but she has so combined it with other substances, that unless her work be tortured by fire, the spirit is not separated, and cannot prove pernicious. Why should this force be put on nature, to make her yield a noxious draft, when all her original preparations are salutary?

15. The juice of the apple, the fermentation of barley, and the decoction of spruce, are amply sufficient for the refreshment of man, let his labor be ever so severe, and his perspiration ever so extensive. Our forefathers, for many years after the settlement of the country, knew not the use of distilled spirit.

16. Malt was imported from England, and wine from the Western or Canary islands, with which they were refreshed, before their own fields and orchards yielded them a supply. An expedition was once undertaken against a nation of Indians, when there was but one pint of strong water, (as it was then called,) in the whole army, and that was reserved for the sick; yet no complaint was made for want of refreshment.

17. Could we but return to the primitive manners of our ancestors, in this respect, we should be free from many of the disorders, both of body and mind, which are now experienced. The disuse of ardent spirit would also tend to abolish the infamous traffic in slaves, by whose labor this baneful material is procured.

18. Were I to form a picture of happy society, it would be a town, consisting of a due mixture of hills, valleys, and streams of water. The land well fenced and cultivated; the roads and bridges in good repair; a decent inn, for the refreshment of travelers, and for public entertainments. The inhabitants, mostly husbandmen; their wives and daughters, domestic manufacturers; a suitable proportion of handicraft workmen, and two or three traders; a physician and lawyer, each of whom should have a farm for his support.

19. A clergyman of good understanding, of a candid disposition, and exemplary morals; not a metaphysical nor a polemic, but a serious and practical preacher. A school-master, who should understand his business, and teach his pupils to govern themselves. A social library, annually increasing, and under good regulation.

20. A club of sensible men, seeking mutual improvement.