of Abraham, where fell Wolfe, Montcalm, and fince our much lamented Montgomery-all covered with glory. In this fortunate interval, produced by his mafterly conduct, our fathers, ourfelves, animated by his refiftlefs example, rallied around our country's ftandard, and continued to follow her beloved Chief through the various and trying fcenes to which the deftinies of our union led.

Who is there that has forgotten the vales of Brandywinethe fields of Germantown-or the plains of Monmouth? Everywhere present, wants of every kind obstructing, numerous and valiant armies encountering, him felf a hoft, he affuaged our fufferings, limited our privations, and upheld our tottering Republic.

No;

Shall I difplay to you the fpread of the fire of his foul, by rehearfing the praifes of the Hero of Saratoga, and his muchlov'd compeer of the Carolinas? our WASHINGTON wears not borrowed glory: To Gates-to Greene, he gave withqut referve the applaufe due to their eminent merit; and long may the Chiefs of Saratoga, and of Eutaws, receive the grateful refpect of a grateful people,

Moving in his own orbit, he imparted heat and light to his moft diftant fatellites; and combining the physical and moral force of all within his fphere, with irrefiftible weight he took his course, commiferating folly, difdaining vice, difmaying treafon, and invigorating defpondency; until the aufpicious hour arrived, when, united with the intrepid forces of a potent and

magnanimous ally, he brought to fubmiflion the fince conqueror of India; thus finishing his long career of military glory with a luftre correfponding to his great name, and in this his last act of war affixing the feal of fate to our nation's birth.

To the horrid din of battle. fweet peace fucceeded; and our virtuous Chief, mindful only of the common good, in a moment tempting perfonalaggrandizement, hufhed the difcontents of growing fedition; and, furrendering his power into the hands from which he had received it, converted his fword into a ploughfhare, teaching an admiring world that to be truly great, you must be truly good.

Were I to ftop here, the pic-. ture would be incomplete, and. the task impofed unfinishedGreat as was our WASHINGTON in war, and as much as did that greatnefs contribute to produce the American Republic, it is not in war alone his preeminence ftands confpicuous : His various talents combining all the capacities of a statesman with thofe of a foldier, fitted him alike. to guide the councils and the armies of our nation. Scarcely had he rested from his martial toils, while his invaluable parental advice was ftill founding in" our ears, when he who had been our fhield and our fword, was called forth to act a less splendid but more important part.

Poffeffing a clear and penetrating mind, a strong and found judgment, calmnefs and temper for deliberation, with invincible, firmness and perfeverance in ref. olutions maturely formed, draw

ing information from all, acting from himfelf, with incorruptible integrity and unvarying patriotifm; his own fuperiority and the public confidence alike marked him as the man defigned by Heaven to lead in the great political as well as military events which have distinguished the era of his life.

The finger of an over-ruling Providence, pointing at WASHINGTON, was neither miftaken nor unobserved; when, to realize the vast hopes to which our revolution had given birth, a change of political fyftem became indifpenfable.

How novel, how grand the fpectacle Independent States ftretched over an immenfe territory, and known only by common difficulty, clinging to their union as the rock of their fafety, deciding by frank comparison of their relative condition, to rear on that rock, under the guidance of reafon, a common government, through whofe com manding protection, liberty and order, with their long train of bleffings, fhould be fafe to themfelves, and the fure inheritance of their pofterity.

. This arduous tafk devolved on citizens selected by the people, from knowledge of their wisdom and confidence in their virtue. In this auguft affembly of fages and of patriots, WASHINGTON of courfe was found; and, as if acknowledged to be moft wife, where all were wife, with one voice he was declared their Chief. How well he merited this rare diftinction, how faithful were the labours of himfelf and his compatriots, the

work of their hands and our union, ftrength and profperity, the fruits of that work, beft atteft.

But to have effentially aided in prefenting to his country this confummation of her hopes, neither fatisfied the claims of his fellow-citizens on his talents, nor those duties which the pof feffion of thofe talents impofed. Heaven had not infufed into his mind fuch an uncommon fhare of its etherial fpirit to remain unemployed, nor bestowed on him his genius unaccompanied with the correfponding duty of devoting it to the common good. To have framed a constitution, was fhowing only, without realizing, the general happiness. This great work remained to be done and America, stedfast in her preference, with one voice, fummoned her beloved WASHINGTON, unpractifed as he was in the duties of civil adminiftration, to execute this last act in the completion of the national felicity. Obedient to her call, he affumed the high office with that felf-diftruft peculiar to his innate modefty, the conftant attendant of pre-eminent virtue. What was the burft of joy through our anxious land on this exhilarating event, is known to us all. The aged, the young, the brave, the fair, rivalled each other in demonftrations of their gratitude; and this high-wrought, delightful fcene was heightened in its effect, by the fingular conteft between the zeal of the beftowers, and the avoidance of the receiver of the honours beftowed. Commencing his adminif tration, what heart is not charmed with the recollection of the

pure

pure and wise principles announced by himself, as the bafis of his political life! He beft understood the indiffoluble union between virtue and happiness, between duty and advantage, between the genuine maxims of an honest and magnanimous policy, and the folid rewards of public profperity and individual felicity; watching with an equal and comprehenfive eye over this great affemblage of communities and interefts, he laid the foundations of our national policy in the unerring, immutable principles of morality, based on religion, exemplifying the pre-eminence of a free government, by all the attributes which win the affections of its citizens, or command the the refpect of the world.

the unanimous vote of the nation, was called to refume the Chict Magiftracy. What a wonderful fixture of confidence! Which attracts most our admiration, a people fo correct, or a citizen combining an affemblage of tallents forbidding rivalry, and itifling even envy itself? Such a nation ought to be happy, fuch a chief must be forever revered.

War, long menaced by the Indian tribes, now broke out; and, the terrible conflict, deluging Europe with blood, began to fhed its baneful influence over our happy land. To the first, outftretching his invincible arm, under the orders of the gallant Wayne, the American Eagle foared triumphant through dif tant forefts. Peace followed. victory; and the melioration of

norint !"

Leading through the complicated difficulties produced by previous obligations and conflicting interefts, feconded by fucceeding Houfes of Congrefs, enlightened and patriotic, he furmounted all original obftruction, and brightened the path of our national felicity.

The Presidential term expiring, his folicitude to exchange exaltation for humility returned with a force increafed with increafe of age; and he had prepared his farewel addrefs to his countrymen, proclaiming his intention, when the united interpofition of all around him, enforced by the eventful profpects of the epoch, produced a further facrifice of inclination to duty. The election of Prefident followed, and WASHINGTON, by

lowed peace. Godlike virtue, which uplifts even the fubdued favage.

To the fecond he oppofed himself. New and delicate was the conjuncture, and great was the ftake. Soon did his penetrating mind difcern and seize the only courfe, continuing to us all the felicity enjoyed. He iffued his proclamation of neutrality. This index to his whole fubfequent conduct, was fanctioned by the approbation of both. Houfes of Congrefs, and by the approving voice of the people.

To this fublime policy he inviolably adhered, unmoved by foreign intrufion, unfhaken by

domeftic turbulence.

Non civium ardor prava jubentium, "Juftum et tenacem propositi virum, "Non vultus inftantis tyranni, "Mente quatit folida."

Maintaining

Maintaining his pacific fyftem at the expenfe of no duty, America, faithful to herself, and unstained in her honour, continued to enjoy the delights of peace, while afflicted Europe mourns in every quarter under the accumulated miferies of an unexampled war; miferies in which our happy country must have shared, had not our pre-eminent WASHINGTON been as firm in council as he was brave in the field. Purfuing ftedfaftly his courfe, he held fafe the public happiness, preventing foreign war, and quelling internal difcord, till the revolving period of a third election approached, when he executed his interrupted but inextinguifhable defire of returning to the hamble walks of private life.

The promulgation of his fixed refolution, stopped the anxious wishes of an affectionate people, from adding a third unanimous teftimonial of their unabated confidence in the man fo long enthroned in their hearts. When before was affection like this exhibited on earth ?-Turn over the records of ancient GreeceReview the annals of mighty Rome-Examine the volumes of modern Europe; you fearch in vain. AMERICA, and her WASHINGTON, only afford the dignified exemplification.

The illuftrious perfonage called by the national voice in fucceffion to the arduous office of guiding a free people, had new difficulties to encounter: The amicable effort of fettling our difficulties with France, begun by WASHINGTON, and purfued by his fucceffor in virtue

as in station, proving abortive, America took measures of felfdefence. No fooner was the public mind roused by a prospect of danger, than every eye was turned to the friend of all, though fecluded from public view, and grey in public fervice. The virtuous veteran, following his plough,* received the unexpected fummons with mingled emotions of indignation at the unmerited ill-treatment of his country, and of a determination once more to risk his all in her defence.

The annunciation of thefe feelings, in his affecting letter to the Prefident, accepting the command of the army, concludes his official conduct.

Firft in war, firft in peace, and firft in the hearts of his countrymen, he was fecond to none in the humble and endearing scenes of private life: Pious, juft, humane, temperate, and fincere ; uniform, dignified, and commanding, his example was as ed. ifying to all around him as were the effects of that example lafting.

To his equals he was condefcending; to his inferiors kind; and to the dear object of his. affections exemplarily tender : Correct throughout, vice fhuddered in his presence, and virtue always felt his foltering hand; the purity of his private charac ter gave effulgence to his publicvirtues.

His laft fcene comported with the whole tenor of his life: Although in extreme pain, not a figh, not a groan efcaped him; and with undisturbed ferenity he clofed his well spent life. Such

was