A poetical epistle to His Excellency George Washington, Esq; commander in chief of the armies of the United States of America. From an inhabitant of the state of Maryland. ; To which is annexed, a short sketch of General Washington's life and character. ; [Eight lines of quotations]

Abstract

Attributed to Wharton in the Dictionary of American biography. The "short sketch," attributed to John Bell of Maryland in the DAB article on Wharton, is the first attempt at a life of Washington. First edition (Evans 16677) published at Annapolis in 1779. The London edition was published the following year to raise money for the support of American prisoners of war in England. Cf. the "Advertisement to the London edition," p. [iii]-iv. Frontispiece portrait of Washington engraved by Richard Brunton.