To George Washington from John Sheridan, 22 August 1783
22 August 1783
Worthy Sir
While the publick testify their Sentiments on your Arrival please to admit a private (but indigent) Character to address You in what he thinks will be agreable to Your Virtues the Wishes that the following Composition may be followed—’tis Extempore [Since] the firing of the first Gun this day, and with more propriety may be sung to the Tune of Smile America—than—Smile Brittania, Please to Imagine the Goddess of Liberty invoking her Subjects—Vizt.
Jno. Sheridan
Begin the Tunefull Song
Now Liberty’s theme
Let Hills and Dales prolong
The ever Joyfull Strain
In Joyfull Strains each Voice should be
To Freedoms Sons and Liberty
2
No people Eer was blesd
with such a Glorious Name
The Events of our Contest
Yields Freemen lasting Fame
In the Rolls of Fame our Names shall be
Fair Freedoms Sons on Liberty
3
Her flag fair Freedom Waves
Speaks distant Nations round
Ye Virtuous be not Slaves
But haste where Freedoms found
From Tyrannick oppression flee
To Freedoms Sons and Liberty
4
Oer my Extensive plains
Plenty and peace presides
Virtue and Friendship Reigns
And happiness Resides
From Freedoms Sons this Land shall be
named the Land of Liberty
5
Science and Arts abound
Here learned Genious Rise
Here every Virtue’s found
That real worth implies
Virtue and Learning improved shall be
practised by the Sons of Liberty
6
Hence Commerce Spreads her sails
And Coasts to Foreign Lands
Whose produce friendly Gales
Waft to our Native Strands
The produce of every clime shall be
Among the Sons of Liberty
DLC: Papers of George Washington.