the fum will be four millions and fixty-one thousand pounds fterling; of which 1 leave one million and fixty-one thoufand pounds to the difpofition and management of the inhabitants of the town of Bofton, and the three millions to the difpofition of the government of the ftate; not prefuming to carry my views farther.

All the directions herein given refpecting the difpofition and management of the donation to the inhabitants of Bofton, I would have obferved refpecting that to the inhabitants of Philadelphia; only, as Philadelphia is incorporated, I requeft the corporation of that city to undertake the management, agreeable to the faid directions: and I do hereby veft them with full and ample powers for that purpofe. And having confidered that the covering its ground-plat with buildings and pavements, which carry off moft rain, and prevent its foaking into the earth and renewing and purifying the fprings whence the water of the welis muft gradually grow worse, and in time be unfit for ufe, as I find has happened in all old cities; I recommend, that, at the end of the first hundred years, if not done before, the corporation of the city employ a part of the hundred thousand pounds in bringing by pipes the water of Wifflahickoncreek into the town, fo as to fupply the inhabitants, which I apprehend may be done without great difficulty, the level of that creek being much above that of the city, and may be made higher by a dam. I alfo recommend making the Skuylkil completely navigable. At the end of the fecond hundred years, I would have the difpofition of the four millions and fixty-one thousand pounds divided between the inhabitants of the city of Philadelphia and the government of Pennfylvania, in the fame manner as herein directed with refpect to that of the inhabitants

inhabitants of Boston and the government of Maffachufetts. It is my defire that this inftitution should take place, and begin to operate within one year after my decease; for which purpofe due notice fhould be publicly given previous to the expiration of that year, that thofe for whofe benefit this establishment is intended may make their respective applications and I hereby direct my executors, the furvivors and furvivor of them, within fix months after my decease to pay over the faid fum of two thoufand pounds fterling to fuch perfons as fhall be duly appointed by the select men of Bofton and the corporation of Philadelphia, to receive and take charge of their respective fams of one thousand pounds each for the purposes aforefaid. Confidering the accidents to which all human affairs and projects are fubject in fuch a length of time, I have perhaps too much flattered myfelf with a vain fancy, that thefe difpofitions, if carried into execution, will be continued without interruption, and have the effects proposed: I hope however, that, if the inhabitants of the two cities fhould not think fit to undertake the execution, they will at least accept the offer of these donations, as a mark of my good will, token of my gratitude, and teftimony of my defire to be useful to them even after my departure. I wish, indeed, that they may both undertake to endeavour the execution of my project, because I think, that, though unforeseen difficulties may arife, expedients will be found to remove them, and the fcheme be found practicable. If one of them accepts the money with the conditions, and the other refufes, my will then is, that both fums be given to the inhabitants of the city accepting; the whole to be applied to the fame purposes, and under the fame regulations directed for the fepa

rate

rate parts; and if both refufe, the money remain of courfe in the mafs of my eftate, and it is to be difpofed of therewith, according to my will made the feventeenth day of July 1788.

My fine crab-tree walking-stick, with a gold head curiously wrought in the form of the cap of Liberty, I gave to my friend and the friend of mankind, General Washington. If it were a fceptre, he has merited it, and would become it.

ESSAYS

ESSAY S

HUMOROUS, MORAL, AND LITERARY, &c.

ON EARLY MARRIAGES.

TO JOHN ALLEYNE, ESO

DEAR JACK,

YOU defire, you fay, my impartial thoughts on the fubject of an early marriage, by way of anfwer to the numberless objections that have been made by numerous perfons to your own. You may remember, when you confulted me on the occafion, that I thought youth on both fides to be no objection. Indeed, from the marriages that have fallen under my obfervation, I am rather inclined to think, that early ones ftand the beft chance of happiness. The temper and habits of the young are not yet become so stiff and uncomplying, as when more advanced in life; they form more eafily to cachother, and hence many occafions of difguft are removed. And if youth has lefs of that prudence which is necessary to manage a family, yet the parents and elder friends of young married perfons are generally at hand to afford their advice, which amply fupplies that defect; and by early marriage, youth is fooner formed to regu

lar

lar and useful life; and poffibly some of thofe accidents or connections, that might have injured the conftitution, or reputation, or both, are thereby happily prevented. Particular circumftances of particular perfons, may poffibly fometimes make it prudent to delay entering into that ftate; but in general, when nature has rendered our bodies fit for it, the prefumption is in nature's favour, that he has not judged amifs in making us defire it. Late marriages are often attended, too, with this further inconvenience, that there is not the fame chance that the parents. fhall live to fee their offspring educated. "Late children," fays the Spanish proverb, " are early "orphans." A melancholy reflection to thofe whofe cafe it may be! With us in America, marriages are generally in the morning of life; our children are therefore educated and fettled in the world by noon; and thús, our business being done, we have an afternoon and evening of cheerful leisure to ourfelves, fuch as our friend at prefent enjoys. By thefe early marriages we are bleffed with more children; and from the mode among us, founded by nature, of every mother fuckling and nurfing her own child, more of them are raifed. Thence the fwift progrefs of population among us, unparalleled in Europe. In fine, I am glad you are married, and congratulate you moft cordially upon it. You are now in the way of becoming a useful citizen; and you have escaped the unnatural state of celibacy for life-the fate of many here, who never intended it, but who having too long poftponed the change of their condition, find, at length, that it is too late to think of it, and fo live all their lives in a fituation that greatly leffens a man's value. An odd volume of a fet of books, bears not the value of its proportion to the fet:

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