The writings of George Washington; being his correspondence, addresses, messages, and other papers, official and private, selected and published from the original manuscripts; with a life of the author, notes and illustrations. By Jared Sparks.

396 LIFE OF WASHINGTON. [1783.
to Fort Schuyler. He was absent from Newburg nineteen days. Ever regarding the condition and affairs
of his country on a comprehensive scale, and fixing his
thoughts on its importance as a nation, he saw, while
on this tour, the immense advantages that would result
from a water communication between the Hudson and
the great Lakes, and believed in its practicability. His
hopes and his anticipations have since been realized
in the magnificent work, opening a passage for boats
by a canal from the Hudson to Lake Erie, and effected
by the enterprise and wealth of the State of New York.
When he returned to Newburg, he found a letter
from the President of Congress, asking his attendance
on that assembly, then in session at Princeton. The object of this request was, to consult him on the arrangements for peace, and other public concerns. While
he was making preparations to leave camp, Congress
conferred on him new honors. It was voted unanimously, that an equestrian statue of General Washington should be erected at the place where the residence
of Congress should be established, and that it should
be executed by the best artist in Europe, under the
superintendence of the Minister of the United States
at the Court of Versailles.*
* The following is the description of this statue, as contained in the
Journals of Congress. "Resolved, that the statue be of bronze; the
General to be represented in a Roman dress, holding a truncheon in his
right hand, and his head encircled with a laurel wreath; the statue to
be supported by a marble pedestal, on which are to be represented, in
basso-rilievo, the following principal events of the war, in which General
Washington commanded in person; namely, the evacuation of Boston;
the capture of the Hessians at Trenton; the battle of Princeton; the
action of Monmouth; and the surrender of York. On the upper part
of the front of the pedestal to be engraved as follows,'The United
States in Congress assembled, ordered this statue to be erected in the
year of our Lord 1783, in honor of George Washington, the illustrious
Commander-in-chief of the armies of the United States of Jlmerica during