e river-side to find out what it can mean. Nothing, on all
the face of the earth, _ever_ happened like it before, one and all
declare.

Opinion varies concerning it, from bomb to earthquake, from meteor to
water-spout, and settles down on neither.

Poor Ezra Lee feels that he _meant_ well, but did not act wisely.
David Bushnell praises the sergeant, and takes all the want of success
to himself, in not going to do his own work.

Meanwhile, with astonishment, Generals Washington and Putnam and David
Bushnell himself behold, as did the Provincials, _after_ the battle of
_Bunker-Breed's_ Hill, _victory in defeat_, for lo! no British ship
sails up the East River, or appears to bombard New York.

Silently they weigh anchor and drop down the bay. The little American
Turtle gained a bloodless victory that day.

NOTE.--The writer has carefully followed, in the account of the
Turtle's attempt upon the Eagle, the statement of Ezra Lee, made
to Mr. Charles Griswold of Lyme, more than forty years after the
occurrence, and by him communicated to the _American Journal of
Science and Arts_ in 1820. For the description of the wonderful
mechanism of the machine, the account given _at the time_ by Dr.
Gale in his letters to Silas Deane has been chosen, as probably
more accurate than one made from memory after forty years had
passed.

* * * * *

David Bushnell was appointed from civil life Captain-Lieutenant of a
Corps of Sappers and Miners--recommended for the position by Governor
Trumbull, General Parsons and others. June 8, 1781, he was promoted
full Captain. He was present at the siege of Yorktown and commanded
the Corps in 1783.

He was also a member of the Society of the Cincinnati.

THE BIRTHDAY OF OUR NATION.

Bellman Grey and Blue-Eyed Boy were hurrying up Chestnut street; the
man carried a large key, the boy a new broom.

It was a very warm morning in a very warm month of a very warm year;
in fact it may as well be stated at once that it was the Fourth day of
July, 1776, and that Bellman Grey and Blue-Eyed Boy were in haste to
make ready the State House of Pennsylvania for the birth of the United
States of America. No wonder they were in a hurry.

In fact, everybody seemed in a hurry that day; for before Bellman Grey
had whisked that new broom over the floor of Congress Hall, in walked,
arm-in-arm, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams.

"Good morning, gentleme