The joy diffused throughout the United States by the surrender of the army under lord Cornwallis, was equal to the anxiety which it had occasioned. The people of America regarded the brilliant achievement of their commander, which put the allies in possession of York town, as determining the issue of the contest ; and from that moment they looked forward to the reward of all their toils, and a full compensation for all their suffer ings. By the congress the intelligence was roeeived with the highest satisfaction. They voted the thanks of the United States to Washington, to the count de Rochambeau, and to the officers and men of the southern army; they resolved, that a marble column should be erected at Yo•k-town, in Virginia, with emblems com memorative of the alliance between the United States and his most Christian majesty ; they determined to go in full and solemn procession to the Dutch Lutheran church, and give thanks to Almighty God for the suc cess of their general and the forces under his command; and they issued a proclamation, appointing the 13th of December as a day of thanksgiving and prayer on ac count of the signal interposition of Divine Providence which they had experienced.
But if the surrender of Cornwallis was the occasion of joy to the Americans, it was tin, occasion of much and serious concern to the British. The war, into which the English nation had at first entered with great ala crity, was now become universally unpopular. The Americans, ha‘ing secured the alliance of the French, were more able than ever to resist the Ibrce of the Bri tish arms; and the spirit which had given rise to the c:efection of the colonies, so far front being subdued, continued to influence them in all their determinations. It was perceived, that the reduction of the provinces could not be accomplished without a great waste of blood and treasure : And perhaps the injustice of forcing the Americans to contribute to the support, of a govern ment, which allowed than no place in its councils, had at length become evident to the British people. But, from whatever cause it arose, it is certain, that a re markable change had taken place in the sentiments of the English nation ; and that a desire for peace was every where prevalent. Accordingly, on the filth of March, 1782, it was resolved by the Ilouse of Com mons, notwithstanding a violent opposition from the ministry, " that the House will consider as enemies to his majesty and the country, all those who advise or at tempt a further prosecution of the offensive war on the continent of North America." A change of adminis tration then took place. On the 5th of May, sir Guy Carleton arrived at New York, and was joined with ad miral Digby in a commission to treat of peace with the people of America: on the 30th of November, the arti cles were signed at Paris; and the colonies of New I lampshire, Massachusetts-bay, Rhode Island and Pro vidence plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jer sey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, were acknow ledged to he " Free, sovereign and independent states."
In this acknowledgment the French had already agreed, and their example was speedily followed by the other nations of Europe.
Thus ended the war between Great Britain and Ame rica : a war which began in an injudicious and tyrannical endeavour to procure a revenue from the colonies, and which terminated in their freedom and sovereignty ; war in which much blood was spilt, and many cruelties exercised ; and the issue of which will remain as a les son to those who, unmindful of the rights of the people, would lift against them the arm of power, and force them to a compliance with their unjust demands.
But though the Americans had succeeded in procur ing an acknowledgment of their independence, the peace of the colonies was not vet established. If they for merly dreaded the encroachments of an external power, the army at home seemed now to be an equal object of fear; and apprehensions were entertained that the colo nies might be forced to exchange the government of 13ritain, which was comparatively mild and equitable, fur the iron rule of military despotism. But Washing ton, while he laboured to free his country from the of a foreign yoke, had no wish to make its liberties the prey of his ambition, or to raise himself by the de pression of the American people. At this time, the vir `ties of that distinguished man shone forth with peculiar and unrivalled lustre. Not elevated to an undue degree iv the success of his arms, but enjoying the conscious :tess of having performed the duty to which the voice of his countrymen had called him, he assembled the ofti •ers of the different battalions and companies, exhorted them to moderation in demanding their arrears, pro misted t exert. his whole influence m their favour ; and conjured them, "as they valued their honour, as they respected the rights of humanity, and as they regarded the military and national character of the American states, to express their utmo'it dete,tation of the Merl who were attempting to open the floodgates of civil dis cord, and to deluge their rising empire with blood." These words, as those of one whom they had been ac customed to reverence, were weighty and decisive. His speech was followed by a solemn pause ; after which it was proposed, and unanimously carried, that no cir cumstances of distress should induce the army of the United States to sully their honour, or to distrust the justice of their country. But Washington did not con fine himself to the exhortation of others; he resolved to give to his countrymen, and to the whole world, an ex ample of virtuous moderation, and, with absolute power within his reach, to resign his commission as general into the hands of those by whom it had been conferred. Accordingly, he proceeded to Annapolis, where the congress was sitting, and on the 23d of December, A. D. 1783, he declared himself no longer invested with any public character. After this declaration he withdrew front the meeting, and, retiring to his estate at Mount Vernon, on the banks of the Potowmac, in Virginia, he addicted himself to the peaceful pursuits of agricul ture.