attempts were made to involve Gen. Lafayette into it also, but he openly and promptly avowed his attachment to Washington, and spurned the insidious efforts to supersede him in favor of Gates. The result of this base conspiracy is well known-it did not injure Washington, while it consigned the authors to the contempt of the public. Conway, the principal party in the affair, an Irishman by birth, was called to account, and finally died from the effects of a wound received in a duel with Gen. Cadwallader. Gates never could give a satisfactory explanation of his conduct, and the consequence is a blur on his reputation, which no previous or subsequent act of his has been able to obliterate.

It was during the encampment at Valley Forge, that the brave and kindhearted Baron Steuben joined the American army-a position having been vaIcated by the subsequent resignation of Gen. Conway. Steuben, as is well known, was one of the most thorough military disciplinarians in Europe, and it was through his talents and instructions that our men acquired a facility and precision in military tactics which soon after enabled them to carry the Revolution to a glorious termination. Mr. Headley, in speaking of Steuben, says: "A more sorry introduction to our army, for one who had served in Europe, could not well be conceived. He had found our cities in possession of a powerful enemy, and when he came to look for the force that was to retake them, he saw only a few thousand famished, half-naked men, looking more like beggars than soldiers-cooped up in miserable log huts, dragging out the desolate winter amid the straw. As the doors of these hovels opened, he beheld men destitute of clothing, wrapping themselves up in blankets, and muttering complaints against Congress, which could treat them with such injustice and inhumanity. He was astonished, and declared that no European army could be kept together under such sufferings. All discipline was gone, and the troops were no better than a ragged horde, with scarcely the energy to struggle for self-preservation. There was hardly any cavalry, but slender artillery, while the guns and accoutrements-a large portion of them-were uufit for use. Our army had never before been in such a state, and a more unpropitious time for Steuben to enter on his work could not have been selected. Nothing daunted, however, and with all the sympathies of his noble nature roused in our behalf, he began, as soon as spring opened, to instruct both officers and men. His ignorance of our language crippled him at first very much; while the awkwardness of our militia, who, gathered as they were from every quarter, scarcely knew the manual exercise, irritated him beyond measure. They could not execute the simplest manoeuvre correctly, and Steuben, who was a choleric man, though possessed of a soul full of generosity and the kindliest feelings of human nature, would swear and curse terribly at their mistakes, and when he had exhausted all the epithets of which he was master, would call on his aid-de-camp and ask him to curse in his stead! Still the soldiers loved him, for he was mindful of their sufferings, and often his manly form was seen stooping through the doors of their hovels, to minister to their wants and relieve their distresses.

It was his practice to rise at three o'clock in the morning, and dress his hair, smoke, and take a cup of coffee, and at sunrise be in the saddle. By that time also, if it was a pleasant day, he had the men marching to the field for their morning drill. First, he would place them in line, then pass along in front, carefully examining their guns and accoutrements, and inquiring into the conduct of the subordinate officers. The fruit of his labor soon appeared in the improved condition of his men, and Washington was very much impressed with the value of his services. Owing to his recommendation he was made Inspector General. This branch of the service now received the attention it deserved, and discipline, before irregular, or practised, only under particular leaders, was introduced into every portion. All the arrangements, even to the minutest, were planned and perfected by Steuben, and the vast machinery of our armybegan to move in harmony and order. He had one company which he drilled to the highest point of discipline, as a model by which to instruct the others. The result of all this was seen in the very next campaign, at the battle of Monmouth. Washington there rallied his men when in full retreat, and brought them into action under the very blaze of the enemy's guns. They wheeled like veteran troops into their places, and then moved steadily on the foe.

For some time previous to his encampment at Valley Forge, Gen. Washington had his head-quarters at Whitemarsh, in Montgomery county, (a few miles east,) a view of which is here afforded. The

whole surrounding country is full of incidents connected with the movement of the army in this vicinity, and all have more or less interest to the American reader; but we agree with the poet, that

The camp has had its day of song-
The sword, the bayonet, and the plume,
Have crowded out of rhyme too long

The plough, the anvil, and the loom.
Oh, not upon our tented fields

Are Freedom's heroes bred alone';
The training of the worskhop yields

More heroes true than war has known.
Who drives the bolt, who shapes the steel,
May, with a heart as valiant, smite,
As he who sees a foeman reel

In blood before his blow of might!
The skill that conquers space and time,
That graces life, that lightens toil,
May spring from courage more sublime

Than that which makes a realm its spoil.

Valley Forge contains a cotton factory, with some other minor manufacturing establishments, and has had a considerable accession to the population during the last few years. It is surrounded with a rich and populous agricultural district, in which are located several furnaces and iron works. The copper formation before alluded to outcrops here, and there is, besides, a considerable quantity of iron ore in the adjacent hills. The observatory on the summit of the hill was erected by Charles H. Rogers, Esq., the liberal-minded proprietor of the land and the cotton factory. It commands a magnificent landscape scene. The beautiful valley of the Schuylkill, richly carpeted with greensward and soft foliage, and traversed by several streams whose bridges rise above the swelling harvest-fields, stretches out before the eye. Far off the blue Kittatinny range is seen, into whose hazy atmosphere the picture gradually fades. The Schuylkill river, at the foot of the hill, winds gracefully around a broad projecting alluvial flat, beautifully shaded with tall trees, and fringed with wild bushes, very nearly in the centre of which stands the princely country house of Dr. Wetherill, and nearer the river the country mansion of John Price Wetherill, Esq. The spirit of the scene is greatly enhanced by the noise of the coal trains passing over the railroad, and which is echoed to the surrounding hills-no less than the view afforded of the trains themselves, often embracing one hundred and thirty loaded cars, each containing between four and five tons of coal! If any one desires to be impressed with the idea of stamina--of real

greatness of enterprise-let him stand on a commanding eminence, and behold a coal-train, nearly half a mile in length, rumbling and tearing by with extraordinary speed! But stand in the observatory and drink in the whole glorious scene-rich, and varied, and beautiful beyond description. Could unhappiness dwell amidst such plentysuch luxuriance-such inspiring incidents? It ought not; yet man is weak

Had he been made, at nature's birth,

Of only flame or only earth,

Had he been formed a perfect whole

Of purely that, or grossly this,

Then sense would ne'er have clouded soul,

Nor soul restrain the sense's bliss!

Oh, happy, had his light been strong,

Or had he never shared a light,

Which shines enough to show he's wrong,

But not enough to lead him right.

Four miles above Valley Forge, and twenty-seven from Philadelphia, is the borough of PHENIXVILLE, situated in the valley of French creek, at its junction with the Schuylkill. Phoenixville is a very pleasant borough, containing a population of some thirty-five hundred-of whom probably eight hundred are engaged in its industrial establishments. Probably the first nail-works in this part of the country were erected here, where the creek affords a fine head of water. After having passed through the hands of three or four different parties, the works, upwards of twenty-five years ago, came into those of Messrs. Reeves & Whittaker.

The present style of the firm at this place, is Reeves, Buck & Co.Joseph Whittaker having retired a few years ago. His son, Dr. Joseph Whittaker, retains an interest however, and is one of the managers of the works. Joseph Whittaker lives in the stately mansion directly opposite the rail-road depôt, on the opposite side of the river. We believe he has partially retired from the more active pursuits of the trade-merely "keeping as many irons in the fire" as is consistent with his old-fashioned notions of leisure. He has some works, of small extent, in view of his residence, and a furnace or two near Easton; while two of his sons have an establishment at Havrede-Grace, Md. The Phoenix Company (Reeves, Buck & Co.) own the iron establishments at Bridgeton, and the nail-works at Cumber

land, N. J., besides those at Phoenixville;-while Mr. Reeves is the senior partner of the firm of Reeves, Abbot & Co., proprietors of the splendid railroad mill and iron works at Safe Harbor, in Lancaster county. The mill at that place, in connection with the one located here, produced all the iron used in constructing the Central Railroad; and it is not the least interesting feature of that road, that its rails are the most substantial and reliable of any similar route in the United States.

The works at Phoenixville embrace several extensive anthracite furnaces, machine-shops, rolling-mills, nail and cotton factories, etc., among which is the splendid establishment for the production of railroad iron. A visit to these extensive iron-works cannot fail to prove highly interesting - especially the railroad mill, where some two hundred men are employed. We shall describe the whole process of iron manufacture in connection with the trade of the Juniata, and beg leave to refer the reader to our book on the Central Railroad route for information on this subject.

A railroad from this place to Harrisburg, via Ephrata and Cornwall, and traversing the valley of French creek, is now being surveyed. The road will connect with the Reading railroad, and the Norristown Railroad below. That the enterprise will prove successful, there can be little