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University of Virginia Library

The miscellaneous works of David Humphreys

Late Minister Plenipotentiary from the United States of America to the Court of Madrid

Humphreys, David (1752-1818)

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ADDRESS TO THE ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

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A POEM ON THE HAPPINESS OF AMERICA.

PREFACE TO THE NINTH EDITION OF THE POEM ON THE HAPPINESS OF AMERICA.

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A POEM ON THE FUTURE GLORY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

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A POEM ON THE INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

TO HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE REGENT OF PORTUGAL.

ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

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A POEM ON THE LOVE OF COUNTRY. IN CELEBRATION OF THE TWENTY-THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

TO HIS MAJESTY LOUIS, KING OF ETRURIA, HEREDITARY PRINCE OF PARMA, INFANT OF SPAIN, &c. &c. &c.

ORIGINAL PREFACE On the first Publication of the two following Poems, which were written when the Author was Minister in Spain.

ADVERTISEMENT TO THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

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A POEM ON THE DEATH OF GENERAL WASHINGTON.

TO Mrs. WASHINGTON, At Mount-Vernon.

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OCCASIONAL POEMS.

ELEGY ON THE BURNING OF FAIRFIELD, IN CONNECTICUT.

ELEGY ON LIEUTENANT DE HART,

AN EPITAPH. ALEXANDER SCAMMEL,

A LETTER TO A YOUNG LADY IN BOSTON,

AN EPITHALAMIUM.

ALEXANDER's FEAST, OR THE POWER OF MUSIC:

AN EPISTLE TO DR. DWIGHT.

THE GENIUS OF AMERICA.

PROLOGUE TO THE WIDOW OF MALABAR:

EPILOGUE TO THE WIDOW OF MALABAR.

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FAREWELL, FROM THE ABBE O'MOORE, ADDRESSED TO THE HONOURABLE DAVID HUMPHREYS,

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Say, lov'd Columbians! what these glooms bespeak?
Why paleness gathers on each alter'd cheek?
Why round the shore and o'er each inland heath,
Tolls from each village tow'r the bell of death?
Why stops the dance? Why cease the sounds of mirth?
What unknown sorrow saddens half the earth?
What means yon sable train in shadowy ranks,
That dimly moves along Potowmac's banks?
Why on my view ascends yon phantom bier?
I fear'd—ah, woe to me! too true that fear!—

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Fall'n is the mighty—Washington is dead—
Our day to darkness turn'd—our glory fled—
Yes, that lov'd form lies lifeless, dark in dust—
Of patriots purest as of heroes first!

Upon the news of the death of General Washington being communicated to the American people, public deliberations ceased, business was suspended, places of amusement were shut, funeral solemnities were performed in many churches, and every possible demonstration of sincere mourning was manifested throughout the United States.

The reader may be referred to the printed relation of the affecting manner in which the burial was conducted at the family vault, on the bank of the Potowmac.—See the general order for celebrating the funeral obsequies. Also the interesting description of the military proceedings, on this occasion, in the cantonment of the Union Brigade, at the Scotch-Plains, in New-Jersey, commanded by Colonel William S. Smith, formerly Aid-de-Camp of General Washington.