Family-histories and genealogies : containing a series of ...

with all possible respect. But the British became alarmed by certain movements
which had been discovered, and the project failed.^
" Family-tradition relates that on the occasion of Col. Matthias
Ogden's being taken prisoner by the British, at Elizabethtown, N. J., Nov.
5, 1780, he was removed to New York, and on arriving at Head Quarters
was placed on parole, and invited to join the ofificers' mess. Shortly after-
wards a new detachment arrived from England, and one of its officers, at
dinner, asked the company to charge their glasses, and proposed the following
toast :
' Damnation to the Rebels.' Col. Ogden had risen with the
rest ; and,
on hearing these words, flinging his glass and its contents in the
' Damnation to him who dares
face of the British officer, he exclaimed :
propose such a toast in my presence.' They were both immediately placed
under arrest, and a challenge was sent, which the officer in command
refused to allow Col. Ogden to accept. The mess apologized to Col.
Ogden for the rudeness of their brother-officer, and invited him to resume
his place at their table. He was treated with the utmost courtesy thereafter.
" ' On the occurrence of peace he was honored by Congress with a
commission of Brigadier-General. Being granted leave of absence by
Congress in 1783, General Ogden visited Europe, and while in France was
presented to King Louis XVI. by his friend General Lafayette. The
French monarch, desirous of paying him a compliment, and titles or orders
being out of the question with a republican officer, granted to General
Osfden the distinguished honor of ' le droit du tabouret' He died at the
early age of thirty-six years, and was buried at Elizabethtown, where may
be read this inscription on his tomb :
"' Sacred to the memory -of General Matthias Ogden, who died on the 31°' day
of March 1791, Aged 36 years.
" ' In him were united those various virtues of the Soldier, the Patriot and the
Friend which endear men to society. Distress failed not to find relief in his bounty,
Unfortunate men a refuge in his generosity.
" ' Weed
" ' If manly sense and dignity ot mind,
If social virtues liberal and refined,
Nipped in their bloom, deserve compassion's tear
Then, reader, weep, for Ogden's dust lies here.
his grave clean, all men of genius, for he was your kinsman ;
Tread lightly on his ashes, ye men of feeling, for he was your brother.' "
'^ Life of George Washington. By Washington Irving. New York, 1857, iv. 392-94,
256