Note 66 — ERA OF THE FREEMAN'S JOURNAL
Reading edition
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:
BE IT REMEMBERED
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.
LAUS DEO!—
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.