e of country_ is our "ruling
passion;" and it is this that has and will give us the superiority in
battle, by land and by sea, while the want of it will cause _some
folks_ to recoil before the American bayonet and bullets, as the
British did at Chippewa, Erie, Plattsburg and New Orleans.

While the British prisoner retires from our places of confinement in
good health, and with unwilling and reluctant step, we, half famished
Americans, fly from theirs as from a pestilence, or a mine just ready
to explode. If the British cannot alter these feelings in the two
nations, her power will desert her, while that of America will
increase.

After treading the air, instead of touching the ground, we found
ourselves at the Devonshire arms, in Princetown, where the comely
bar-maid appeared more than mortal. The sight of her rosy cheeks,
shining hair, bright eyes, and pouting lips wafted our imaginations,
in the twinkling of an eye, across the Atlantic to our own dear
country of pretty girls. I struck the fist of my right hand into the
palm of my left, and cried out--"_O, for an horse with wings!_" The
girl stared with amazement, and concluded, I guess, that I was mad;
for she looked as if she said to herself--"poor crazy lad! who ever
saw a horse with wings?"

We called for some wine, and filling our glasses, drank to the
_power_, _glory_, and _honor_, and _everlasting happiness of our
beloved country_; and after that to all the _pretty girls_ in America.
During this, we now and then looked around us, to be certain all this
was not a dream, and asked each other if they were sure there was no
_red coat_ watching our movements, or surly turnkey listening to our
conversation? and whether what we saw were really the walls of an
house, where ingress and egress were equally free? It is inconceivable
how we are changed by habit. Situations and circumstances ennoble the
mind, or debase it.

From what I myself experienced, and saw in others, on the day we left
our hateful prison, I do not wonder that sudden transitions from the
depressing effects of imprisonment, sorrow, chagrin, impatience, or
feelings bordering on despair, to that of liberty and joy, should so
affect the vital organs, as to bring on a fatal spasm; or that the
sudden exhilarations of the animal spirits, might produce phrenzy. We
were animated anew with a moderate portion of generous liquor; but
absolutely intoxicated with joy. We asked a thousand questions without
wai