sent the colony in the continental Congress, and the other to defend her liberties in the field. He joined the army besieging Boston burning with a vehement desire to vindicate the rights of the colonies. In one of his letters to his family, dated Prospect Hill, July 30, 1775, addressing his younger brothers, he says, 'as you grow in stature, pray take pains to be manly remember that you all may have an opportunity of standing forth to fight the battles of your country. This afternoon we expected to have had an engagement. We may have one to night. The regulars are now landing in Charlestown from Boston. I thank God we are ready to meet them.'

With such an ardent spirit, young Ward was not likely to hesitate in embracing an opportunity of advancing the cause he had espoused; nor was it long, before one was presented. In September 1775, Gen. Arnold, then one of the most enterprising of America's sons (but afterwards 'quantum mutatus abillo Hectore') was invested with the command of 1100 volunteers, destined to join Montgomery at Quebec by way of the Kennebec river. The country was then an unexplored wilderness, and they were obliged to transport their provisions and munitions for the whole distance, where they did not follow the river, without the aid of animals. Even when ascending the river, the volunteers were compelled to drag the boats over the waterfalls and portages, and after leaving the river the provis ions and munitions packed in small kegs, were placed on the backs of the soldiers and carried more than 300 miles, through thick and pathless woods, and

over lofty mountains and deep morasses. So great were the difficulties, that a part of the detachment actually abandoned the expedition and returned to Cambridge to avoid starvation. Capt. Ward and his company persevered, and after unheard of privations arrived before Quebec in Nov. 1775. A letter from him on the 26th of that month to his family, dated at Point aux Tumblers, gives a vivid account of the hardships of the expedition.

It would take too much time to tell you what we have undergone; however as a summary of the whole We have gone up one of the most rapid rivers in the world, where the water was so shoal, that, moderately speaking, we have waded 100 miles. We were 30 days in a wilderness, that none but savages ever attempted to pass. We marched 100 miles upon short three days provisions-waded over three rapid rivers-marched through snow, and ice barefoot-passed over the St Lawrence, where it was guarded by the enemy's frigates, and are now about twenty four miles from the city to recruit our worn out natures. Gen. Montgomery intends to join us immediately, so that we have a winter's campaign before us, but I trust we shall have the glory of taking Quebec !'

That hope unhappily was not realized. The attack upon that city failed, and Capt. Ward, with the principal part of his company, having penetrated under the command of Arnold, through the first barrier, was surrounded by a superior force and compelled to surrender. While in captivity he received the fol.lowing letter from his father, which, from the excellence of its

sentiments, and as fully illustrating the principles of the leading patriots of that time, we insert at length.

Philadelphia, Jan. 21st. 1776. MY DEAR SON; - I most devoutly thank God, that you are alive, in good health, and have behaved well. You have now a new scene of action to behave

well as a prisoner. You have been taught from your infancy the love of God, of all mankind, and of your country in a due discharge of these various duties of life, consist true honor, religion and virtue. I hope no situation or trial, however severe, will tempt you to violate these sound, these immutable laws of God and nature. You will now have time for reflection. Improve it well, examine your own heart. Eradicate, as much as human frailty admits, the seeds of vice and folly. Correct your temper. Expand the benevolent feelings of your soul, and impress and establish the noble principles of private and public virtue so deeply in it, that your whole life may be directed by them. Next to these great and essential duties, improve your mind by the best authors you can borrow. Learn the French language, and be continually acquiring, as far as your situation admits, every useful accomplishment. Shun every species of debauchery and vice, as certain and inevitable ruin here and hereafter. There is one vice, which, though often to be met with in polite company, I cannot but consider as unworthy of the gentleman as well as the Christian, I mean swearing. Avoid it at all times.

All ranks of people here have the highest sense of the great bravery and merit of Col. Arnold,

and all his officers and men. Though prisoners they have acquired immortal honor. Proper attention will be paid to them. In the mean time behave, my dear son, with great circumspection, prudence and firmness. Enter into no engagements inconsistent with your duty to your country. Such as you may make, keep inviolate with the strictest honor. Besides endeavoring to make yourself as easy and happy as possible in your present situation, you will pay the greatest attention, as far as your little power may admit, to the comfort and welfare of all your fellow prisoners, and of those lately under your immediate command, especially.

We have a great number of prisoners in our possession, who are treated with the greatest humanity and kindness, and with pleasure I hear that Col. Arnold's detachment is treated in the same humane manner. The mischiefs of war are sufficiently great under the most civilized regulations. What a savage he must be, who would heighten them by unnecessary severity and rigor. I hope that humanity to the unfortunate will be the distinguishing characteristic of the successful on either side of this unhappy contest. Write to me often, and may infinite wisdom and goodness preserve and prosper my dear son.

Your very affectionate father, SAM'L. WARD. The son and his excellent guide and adviser never met again in this life the latter dying of the small pox at Philadelphia, while attending Congress on the 25th of March following, and before the declaration of that independence for which he had so earnestly labored.

Capt. Ward was exchanged in

1776, and on the first of January, 1777, was commissioned as Major in Col. Christopher Green's regiment of the Rhode Island line - a worthy compeer of his brother, Gen. Green. Scrpiados duo fulmina belli.

In that capacity, he was present and co-operated in the gallant defence of the fort at Red Bank, when it was unsuccessfully assailed by the Hessians under Count Donop, October 22, 1777. The next year he was detached for the defence of his native State under the command of Generals Green, Lafayette and Sullivan. In the celebrated retreat from Rhode Island, he commanded a regiment, and on the 12th of April, 1779, he was commissioned Lieut. Col. of the 1st Rhode Island Regt. During that and the following year he was in Washington's army, in New Jersey, and participated in the toil and glory of that service. At the termination of the war, Col. Ward returned to the peaceful pursuits of a citizen, with the same alacrity that he had manifested, when his country's voice had called him to arms. He now commenced business as a merchant, and manifested as much enterprise in his new profession as he had in his previous career. In the spring of 1783, he made a voyage from Providence to Canton, and was

among the first to display the republican flag' in the China seas. Upon his return to the United States, he established himself at New York, as a merchant, and by his probity, frugality and industry, became successful in his busines. In the course of his mercantile career he visited Europe, and was at Paris when Louis XVI was beheaded. After his return from Europe, Col. : Ward established himself on a farm at East Greenwich, R. I. where he lived to see his children educated to usefulness and estab lish themselves in the business of active life. In 1817, with a view of being nearer his children, several of whom had embarked in business at New York, he removed from his native State to Jamaica, on Long Island. Here and in the city of New York, he resided in the midst of his family and friends, by whom he was admired and beloved for his manifold virtues, until the termination of his long and useful career. When death approached, it found him ready. A life nobly spent in the discharge of every public and private duty, had prepared him to relinquish his Maker's gift without murmuring, and he descended to the grave,

Like one who wraps the drapery of his

couch About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams'