d not had occasion to become personally known should be able to
recognise one another, but which should be worn by their descendants,
to perpetuate among them the friendships which had bound their ancestors
together.

General Washington was, at that moment, oppressed with the operation
of disbanding an army which was not paid, and the difficulty of this
operation was increased, by some two or three States having expressed
sentiments, which did not indicate a sufficient attention to their
payment. He was sometimes present, when his officers were fashioning, in
their conversations, their newly proposed society. He saw the innocence
of its origin, and foresaw no effects less innocent. He was, at that
time, writing his valedictory letter to the States, which has been so
deservedly applauded by the world. Far from thinking it a moment to
multiply the causes of irritation, by thwarting a proposition which had
absolutely no other basis but that of benevolence and friendship, he was
rather satisfied to find himself aided in his difficulties by this new
incident, which occupied, and, at the same time, soothed the minds
of the officers. He thought, too, that this institution would be
one instrument the more, for strengthening the federal bond, and for
promoting federal ideas. The institution was formed. They incorporated
into it the officers of the French army and navy, by whose sides they
had fought, and with whose aid they had finally prevailed, extending it
to such grades, as they were told might be permitted to enter into it.
They sent an officer to France, to make the proposition to them, and to
procure the badges which they had devised for their order. The moment of
disbanding the army having come, before they could have a full meeting
to appoint their President, the General was prayed to act in that office
till their first general meeting, which was to be held at Philadelphia,
in the month of May following.

The laws of the society were published. Men who read them in their
closers, unwarmed by those sentiments of friendship which had produced
them, inattentive to those pains which an approaching separation had
excited in the minds of the instituters, politicians, who see in every
thing only the dangers with which it threatens civil society, in fine,
the laboring people, who, shielded by equal laws, had never seen any
difference between man and man, but had read of terrible oppressions,
which people of their description e