[A] Charlestown, near Boston. See his letter on that occasion.--_Freneau's note._ The poet has satirized Burgoyne's literary pretentions in the "Voyage to Boston," _q. v._
[B] The _Parcæ_, or _Fates_, who, according to the Heathen mythology, were three in number.--_Ib._
[C] See Whiston's Hypothesis.--_Freneau's note._
[66] This title was changed for the edition of 1795 by leaving out the words "the renowned and illustrious General George Washington, Commander-in-chief of," and also the quotation from Shakespeare. The same title was used in 1809, with the added quotation:
"_One brilliant game our arms have won to-day, Another_, PRINCES, _yet remains to play, Another mark our arrows must attain--_ GALLIA _assist!--nor be our efforts vain_." --_Hom. Odyssey, Book XXII._
In the issue of the _Freeman's Journal_ of October 24, 1781, the editor voiced his joy by printing the following in huge letters, that covered more than half of the first page of the paper:
That on the 17th day of October, 1781, Lieut. General Charles Earl Cornwallis with above 5000 British troops surrendered themselves prisoners of war to his excellency Gen. George Washington, commander in chief of the allied forces of France and America.
Two weeks later, in the issue of November 7th, Freneau printed the above poem. It was so mutilated and changed for the edition of 1795 that I have reproduced the test of the 1786 edition, which was printed verbatim from the newspaper, and have indicated in the footnotes the most significant changes.
[70] This does not overdo the contemporary estimate of Cornwallis. Attempting to crush at once the American rebellion by the use of the harshest measures, he inaugurated a veritable reign of terror. "Cruel measures seek and find cruel agents; officers whose delight was in blood patrolled the country, burned houses, ravaged estates, and put to death whom they would.... For two years cold-blooded assassinations, often in the house of the victim and in the presence of his wife and little children, were perpetrated by men holding the king's commission."--_Bancroft._
[72] This line and the nine following lines were omitted from the edition of 1795.
[77] "Manned by brave souls, to see the British shore."--_Ib._