The miscellaneous works of David Humphreys Late Minister Plenipotentiary from the United States of America to the Court of Madrid |
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 | The miscellaneous works of David Humphreys |  |
Though fortitude for him new-strung each nerve,
Nor worlds could make him from his duty swerve;
Yet mercy, loveliest attribute divine,
And mild compassion, Washington! were thine.
Thy voice, humanity! he still rever'd,
Thy small voice 'mid the roar of battle heard.
To him his fellows, ev'n though foes, were dear,
And vict'ry's joy was chasten'd with a tear.
Beneath his tent in war the wretched found
Ease from each woe, and balm for every wound.
The conquer'd savage, prowling through the wild,
A foe no more—he foster'd as a child—
He bade constructed mills abridge the toil
For wond'ring tribes; new harvests deck the soil;
And taught, to wean them from the scalping-knife,
The works of peace and arts of civil life.
Nor worlds could make him from his duty swerve;
Yet mercy, loveliest attribute divine,
And mild compassion, Washington! were thine.
Thy voice, humanity! he still rever'd,
Thy small voice 'mid the roar of battle heard.
To him his fellows, ev'n though foes, were dear,
And vict'ry's joy was chasten'd with a tear.
Beneath his tent in war the wretched found
Ease from each woe, and balm for every wound.
The conquer'd savage, prowling through the wild,
A foe no more—he foster'd as a child—
He bade constructed mills abridge the toil
For wond'ring tribes; new harvests deck the soil;
And taught, to wean them from the scalping-knife,
The works of peace and arts of civil life.
Authentic documents, respecting the case of Captain Asgill, in proof of this, have been long since published—others might be produced. Too much praise cannot be bestowed on the system adopted, during the first Presidency, of furnishing gratuitously to the Indians, instruments of agriculture, and utensils for domestic use, with the design of introducing husbandry, arts, and civilization among them, after they had been reduced, by force of arms, to the necessity of accepting terms of peace from us. This was effected by the forces under the command of General Wayne.
| The miscellaneous works of David Humphreys | |