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

1 Lacubus, the lakes on the Canada frontier.

2 Missus est, &c. “ Was sent, (who should conduct the war,) to carry on the war on the lakes, ” &c.

3 Lacuque Georgio, &c. “ Lake George being traversed, ” (that is, by him.)

4 Hic, &c., but, here.

5 Marte vario, “ with various success. ”

6 Nuncium, “ the news of this defeat. ”

7 Nomina ultrò dedere, “ enlisted voluntarily. ”

8 Nobiles domi, “ noblemen at home, ” that is, in France.

9 Undevigesimum, &c., “ in his nineteenth year. ”

10 Partes, espoused the cause of the Americans.

11 Hic, “ here, ” that is, in Morristown, in New-Jersey.

12 Prœ, “ in comparison with; ” in proportion to.

13 Juxta ac, “ as well as. ”

14 Quippe qui, “ since, ” i. e., as one who, as being one who.

15 Speciem, “ the show, ” or appearance.

16 Commeatus, &c., “ communication to and fro. ”

17 Capiti, “ their lives. ”

18 Qui, &c., “ a periphrasis for the Pennsylvania legislature. ”

19 Urbis, &c., “ their chief city, ” viz. Philadelphia, “ taken ” by the enemy.

20 Ut, “ when (as soon as) it was heard. ”

21 Pellibus, “ hides ” or skins; put here for tents; for although the moderns do not construct their tents of hides, yet, to a Roman ear, the word is appropriate and customary; inasmuch as, the Romans made their tents, often, of hides. See Cæsar's Commentaries, &c.

22 Provideri, “ to be foreseen, ” anticipated.

23 Anni posterioris, the former year, viz., 1777.

24 Infectum, “ undone, ” unfinished.

25 Rationem, “ a method, ” plan, or system.

26 Posterum, &c., (nempè, tempus) “ might be prolonged and extended in future. ”

27 Ut, &c., “ as being unreasonably small; ” literally, “ as less than what was just. ”

28 Fide, “ (public) credit being impaired; ” alluding, doubtless, to the depreciation of the paper currency.

29 Sese, &c., “ who had already resigned their office, ” &c.

30 Rerum, &c., “ the writers of the American exploits, will relate that a treaty was made about this time with, ” &c.

31 Quœ (scilicet conditiones) “ which, if they had been made early or seasonably, would have doubtless preserved. ”

32 Eques; by this term is here implied, a knight, who, in modern Latinity, is called miles, or eques. The term is analogous to the English word, Sir, as a mark of nobility. Thus, Gulielmus Howe, eques, means Sir William Howe.

33 Vix &c., “ had scarcely set about the performance of his duty, when he was ordered to evacuate Philadelphia. ”

34 Serò, &c., “ arrived too late to act on the offensive. ”

35 Unum (scilicet locum) “ being united, or combined. ”

36 Cum, &c. “ When the enemies' works were nearly stormed. ”

37 Naves solvit, “ set sail, and stood out to sea. ”

38 Navibus, &c., “ the French ships returning. ”

39 Propugnaculum, &c., “ he resolved to assault, with the utmost vigor, and besiege the enemy's fortress. ”

40 Consilio, &c., “ but the design of D'Estaing, of repairing to Boston, for the purpose of refitting his fleet, being known, ” (to the Americans in Rhode Island and elscwhere.）

41 Socios, “ their allies, ” the French.

42 Providit, “ foresaw the evils, ” &c.

43 Coloniarum, &c. “ It was the design of the Congress of the confederated American colonies. ” The verbal noun Congressus, throughout this work, is, emphatically, and by way of eminence, confined to the Congress of the then Colonies, now the United States of North America.

44 Ut, &c, literally, “ it was directed by Congress toWashington that a letter ” &c.

45 Qui, &c., a periphrasis for an embassador to the French court.

46 Facinus; this substantive, from the verb facio, is a word of rather an ambiguous import, meaning, sometimes, a generous, gallant, or noble action; and, sometimes, a base deed; it is, however, generally taken in a bad sense.