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many and dangerous. The pilot was wife and firm, having always in view, as his pole-ftar, the public good. When we confider the information which is neceffary to judge of public measures, the clashing of the interefts of men, and the fatal influence of prejudice and paffion on their minds, we are astonished at his unfpotted fame.

How modeft and beautiful are his words in that precious legacy which he left us at his refignation! "Though in reviewing the incidents of my administration, I am unconfcious of intentional error; I am nevertheless too fenfible of my defects, not to think it probable that I may have committed many errors. Whatever they may be, I fervently befeech the Almighty to avert or mitigate the evils to which they may tend. I fhall alfo carry with me the hope that my country will never ceafe to view them with indulgence; and that after forty-five years of my life dedicated to its fervice, with an upright zeal, the faults of incompetent abilities will be configned to oblivion, as myself must foon be to the manfions of reft." Who, on hearing these words, is not tempted to exclaim, WASHINGTON, live forever! His fame, indeed, is immortal. Pofterity will fee with rapture, fculptured on his tomb, wifdom, liberty, and justice.

Another time he retires with the benediction of millions. Eight years he wielded the fword, eight years he held the reins of government. The ftormy fea was paffed, and he resigns the helm to other hands. If defire always prompted, increafing age feemed to render it neceffary that he should feek repofe. Or, was it that he might enforce, by his example, the virtues and duties of a private life? That he might teach us industry, temperance, charity, and economy? To be affectionate husbands and tender mafters? That on the faithful performance each one of his feveral relations, depends perfonal and public happiness? Whom do we fee in yonder fields, near the waters of the Potowmac, furrounded by a group of labourers? It is the

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late illuftrious Commander of the armies, and the late Chief Magiftrate of the United States. How auguft the fpectacle! Citizens of America, venerate the fickle and the plough, for they have been dignified not only by the heroes and patriarchs of old, but by the father of your country!

Though naturally referved, yet he was not haughty. Though those who approached him felt his fuperiority, yet he did not affume. He blended dignity and condefcenfion. The greatest and the fmalleft objects received from him a due attention. He never betrayed any symptoms of vain glory. When he was once afked, whether he had ever faid, as was reported, "that he knew no mufic fo pleafing as the whistling of bullets," he answered, "If I faid fo, it was when I was young."* Learning to eftimate juftly all human glory, and matured by experience; accustomed to lofty conceptions, and moving always in the important spheres of life; impreffed with a fenfe that he derived all from GOD, and that all fhould be devoted to his fervice; his deportment was noble, equally removed from the fupercilious and the vain. Some men have been great at one time, and despicable at another; fome men have performed a fingle great action, and never rose to the like again; but to him great actions feemed common. Some men have appeared great at the head of armies, or when furrounded by the trappings of power, and little when ftripped of these, and alone; fome men have withstood the storms of adverfity, and been melted by the sunshine of profperity; fome men have poffeffed fplendid public talents, and difgraced thefe by fordid private vices; but it is difficult to determine when and where WASHINGTON fhone the brighteft. It can only be faid, that he was uniformly great.

One part of his character remains to be mentioned, and which crowns the whole; that is his reverence for the Sabbath, his acknowledgment of a Providence, * Gordon's History. X

and his attendance upon the inftitutions of religion. In all his public documents, GoD is honoured; after deliverances or victories, thanksgivings were by his order offered; and it is well known that he invariably attended divine worfhip. The foolifh and wicked cant of exalting human reafon, and afcribing all to fortune, received from him no countenance. Neither in the parade of military life, nor in the cares of civil administration; neither in a state of depreffion, nor amidst the intoxicating fweets of power and adulation; did he forget to pay homage to "the MOST HIGH, who doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth.' It is not wholly improbable that the fate of the unhappy Braddock, who, it is faid, expreffed himself. in a boafting and profane manner, left on the mind of young WASHINGTON an indelible impreffion. "Thus faith the LORD, Let not the wife man glory in his wifdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches but let him that glorieth, glory in this, that he underftandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercife loving-kindnefs, judgment and righteousness, in the earth."*

Hear the teftimony which WASHINGTON bore for religion on his refignation of the Chief Magistracy : "Of all the difpofitions and habits which lead to political profperity, religion and morality are indifpenfable fupports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotifm, who fhould labour to fubvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmeft props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere politician equally with the pious man ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connexions with private and public felicity." Incomparable man! He devoted his time, his talents, and his labours to our service; and he hath left his advice, and his example to us, and to all generations!

* Jer. ix. 23, 24.

There was in him that affemblage of qualities which constitutes real greatness; and thefe qualities were remarkably adapted to the confpicuous part which he was called to perform. He was not tinfel, but gold; not a pebble, but a diamond; not a meteor, but a fun. Were he compared with the fages and the heroes of antiquity, he would gain by the comparison; or rather, he would be found to be free from the blemishes, and to unite the excellencies of them all. Like Fabius he was prudent; like Hannibal he was unappalled by dif ficulties; like Cyrus he conciliated affection; like Cimon he was frugal; like Scipio he was chafte; like Philopemen he was humble; and like Pompey he was fuccefsful. If we compare him with characters in the facred records, he combined the exploits of Mofes and Joshua, not only by conducting us fafely across the Red Sea and through the wilderness, but by bringing us into the promised land; like David he conquered an infulting Goliath, and rofe to the highest honours from a humble station; like Hezekiah he ruled; and like Jofiah at his death, there is a mourning "as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon." Nor is the mourning confined to us, but extends to all the wife and the good who ever heard of his name. The Generals whom he oppofed will wrap their hilts in black, and ftern Cornwallis drop a tear.

He was honoured even in death. After all his fatigues, and though he had arrived near to the limit fixed for human life,* yet his understanding was not impaired, nor his frame wafted by any lingering disease. We did not hear of his ficknefs, until we heard that he was no more. His acceptance of the office of Lieutenant-General of the armies is a proof that "Save my country, Heaven," was his laft. What would have been to most men the meridian of glory, was the fetting fun of WASHINGTON. With an increased orb, its

He was born Feb. 22, 1732; accepted the command of the American army, June 16, 1775, in the 44th year of his age; and died Dec. 14, 1799, in the 68th year of his age.

parting rays paint the clouds with brighteft colours, and illumine all the mountain tops. In the full poffeffion of his reason, and without fear of death, which he had often faced in the field, he breathed his mighty ty foul into the hands of his almighty and merciful CREATOR.

Hark! A meffage from the tomb !—

"Citizens of America,

"You are affembled to exprefs your gratitude for fervices which you believe to have been rendered by me, and to teftify your forrow for my death. Next to the teftimony of a good confcience, it was ever the fummit of my wifhes to deferve well of my country. But, let your gratitude afcend to Him who fashioned me as I was, who kept me under his holy protection, and who hath, in his fovereign will, recalled me from the earth. My career was much longer than might have been expected. It was anxious; it was laborious; it was wearifome-I now reft.

"Let the love you bore me, the confidence you were pleafed always to repofe in me, and the regard you now profefs for my memory, be fhown in following thofe admonitions which I have given you, and which I endeavoured to enforce by my own example. Banish party intereft and party fpirit. Suffer no foreign influence to affect your councils. Give fupport and fta. bility to your government. Honour and reward your public officers. Pay the ftricteft attention to the injunctions of religion and morality. Then, under the propitious fmiles of Heaven, you will long be a flourishing and happy people."

Thus, methinks, our deceafed father addreffes us this day.

In the eighteenth century have flourished a number of the most eminent philofophers, hiftorians, orators, poets, patriots, and statesmen; the clofe of it has been eventful and astonishing beyond all precedent. In the end of the fifteenth century, Columbus discovered this

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