Francis Glass, Washingtonii Vita
J.N. Reynolds, Ed.

1 Dimittendus erat, “ was to be disbanded. ” Washington displayed the greatest address in discharging so meritorious and extensive an army, without being able to remunerate them, in any degree, for those gallant services, which effected the independence of a large continent.

2 Conditor, &c., “ a second founder and guardian of the republic. ” If those who originally established the American Colonies, merited applause, most assuredly, Washington was entitled to equal renown, who secured the liberties and rights of those colonies, after their settlement.

3 Recensebant, “ they recounted, ” reviewed.

4 Nemo bonus, “ no good man, ” that is, no man of probity or honor.

5 Pacisque, &c., “ and the peace, acquired, chiefly, by Washington's valor. ”

6 Coloniis fœderatis, &c., (scilicet, erat,) “ the United Colonies had no hope of foreign assistance. ”

7 Armis militaribus, “ military arms; ” the implements of war. The noun arma signifies, the tools or instruments of any art, trade, or avocation: thus, Virgil, Cerealia arma, “ the utensils of husbandry. ”

8 Prœfectisque, &c., “ and (without) officers skilled in the art of war. ”

9 Vatis, the Meonian Bard, that is, Homer, so called from Mæona or Lydia, his country according to some.

10 Extulit, (scilicet, qui jundus,) (which farm at Mount Vernon) produced, or brought forth, &c.

11 Pannos, cloths of various kinds.

12 Singulos in annos, “ each, ” or “ every year. ”

13 Tunc temporis, &c., “ then residing at Alexandria, ” not far from Mount Vernon.

14 Vitam, &c., “ temperance regulated his life. ” The deponent vcrb moderor, governs the accusative or dative case, It is derived from the noun modus, and, in import, is equivalent to modum statuo, “ I set, ” or “ appoint bounds or limits to any thing. ”

15 Horam, &c., “ about nine of the clock ” (in the evening.)

16 Dormitum, the former supine, placed after irit, a vcrb of motion, as grammarians, usually, account for it. The position, however, is not accurate; it is a verbal noun, governed by ad, understood.

17 Paucis, (scilicet, verbis,) “ briefly, ” in a few words.

18 Ripa, &c., “ on the Virginia bank of the river Potomac, where that river is two miles wide. ”

19 Pedibus, &c., “ exceeds the sea by two hundred feet; rdquo; that is, it rises above the level of the sea two hundred feet.

20 Cujus, (scilicet, montis,) “ the summit, ” or “ top of which, ” &c.,

21 Villa, &c., “ the country—seat or mansion appears in the middle. ”

22 Quœ, &c., “ which is opposite the river ” (Potomac.)

23 Secundùm, &c., (or secùs,) “ along the banks of the river Potomac. ”

24 Tam, &c., “ as well wild as tame; ” both wild and tame; especially deer, with which the forests around Mount Vernon were well stocked.

25 Qui, (scilicet, Congressus,) “ which convention assembled at Philadelphia. ” This convention, of which General Washington was appointed president, convened at Philadelphia, on the first Monday in May, 1787. The object of which convention was, to deliberate on the propriety of adopting or rejecting the constitution; happily however, for the liberties of America, and for the rights of man, the good sense of this convention triumphed over local prejudices, and, after a very warm opposition, on the 17th of September, 1787, they closed their labors, and submitted the result to the different states for their ratification or rejection.

26 Ut,&c., “ it was desired, by the people and Congress, that he would bind himself by a solemn oath, (as the law requires,) that the liberties of America should receive no detriment during his presidency. ” This oath, prescribed by the constitution, was administered, at New-York, to General Washington, by R. R. Livingston, chancellor of the state of New-York.

27 Quam, &c., (scilicet, orationem,) “ which (speech) because, ” &c.

28 Grande, &c., “ large debts were due both by Congress and by private (individuals) to many foreigners. ”

29 Quorum, &c., "of whom very many;" that is, of those dissatis fied with the new constitution.

30 Infecta, "undone," not done; that is, those who were opposed to the new form of government, wished that what had been were not done, or, in other words, that it were reversed.

31 Civitates, &c., "two states, namely, North-Carolina, and Rhode Island."

32 Ad hoc, &c., "moreover bitter animosities, were cherished between the United States of America and the English nation."

33 Altera, "one nation called the other a treaty-breaker." N. B. The infinitive mood appellare is governed by cœpit understood, agreeably to some grammarians, whilst others assert that it is put for appellabat, the imperfect tense.