Nassau Hall, the oldest and because of its historical associations the most interesting of the Princeton buildings, was erected in 1756 from plans drawn by Robert Smith and Dr. Shippen of Philadelphia. It was for many years the handsomest and most commodious academic structure in the colonies and as such attracted no little attention. During the Revolution it served repeatedly as barracks and hospital for both armies and suffered considerable damage. From the 26th of June until the 4th of November, 1783, it was the national capitol. Within its walls the Congress of the nation found a safe retreat and for more than four months held quiet session in the spacious library-room remote from the mutinous troops at Philadelphia. Here the Minister from the States General of Holland, the first ambassador accredited to America after the declaration of peace was received, and here the grateful acknowledgments of Congress were tendered Washington for his services in establishing the freedom and independence of the United States. STANZAS PUBLISHED AT THE PROCESSION TO THE TOMB OF THE PATRIOTS In the Vicinity of the Former Stations of the Prison Ships, at New-York.[178] Beneath these banks, along this shore, And underneath the waters, more Forgotten corpses rest; More bones by cruelty consigned To death, than shall be told mankind To chill the feeling breast: More bones of those who, dying here In floating dungeons, anchored near, A prey to fierce disease, Than fame in her recording page Will tell some late enquiring age, When telling things like these. Ah me! what ills, what sighs, what groans, What spectre forms, what moving moans, What woes on woes were found; When here oppressed, insulted, crossed, The vigour of the soul was lost In miseries thickening round. The youths of firm undaunted mind, To climate nor to coast confined, All misery taught to bear-- I saw them, as the sail they spread, I saw them by misfortune led To capture, and to care. Though night and storms were round them cast, They climbed the well-supported mast, And reefed the fluttering sail; Though thunders roared and lightnings glared, They toil, nor death, nor danger feared, They braved the loudest gale.-- Great Cause, that brought them all their woe: Thou, Freedom!--bade their spirits glow; But forced, at last, to yield, Died in despair each sickening crew: They vanished from the world--but you, Columbia, kept the field. They sunk, unpitied, in their bloom,-- They scarcely found a shallow tomb To hide the naked bones: For, feeble was the nervous hand That once could toil, or once command The force of Neptune's sons. In aid of that immortal cause Which spurned at England's tyrant laws, These passed the troubled main; They dared the seas she called her own, To meet the ruffians of a throne, And honour's purpose gain.