Divested of every diftinction, and without a perfon al attendant, he mingled in the throng of citizens, and was the first to exprefs the homage of his esteem, which was refpectful, affectionate, and fincere, at the inauguration of his fucceffor; to whom, no less than to the memory of the illuftrious dead, it is due to remark that, in their perfonal intercourse, and in all their official relations, the moft cordial friendship and beneficial harmony had uniformly fubfifted. *

To atteft the perfection of public principle, it will be forever remembered that the diftinguished Patriot, who had fo long, and fo ably, prefided in the concerns of the nation, confented to accept a fecondary commiffion, at a period of life, when no confideration but the fafety of his country, and complete confidence in the measures of her government, could have required, or prompted the fervice of the venerable Chief.

The fentiments of his judicious and comprehenfive mind, as expreffed in his own words, on this important occafion, are too honourable to his memory, too juft in their application to his fucceffor, and too interefting to our country, in their relation to future events, not to be here recited.

"No one can more cordially approve of the wife and prudent meafures of your administration; they ought to infpire univerfal confidence, and will, no doubt, combined with the ftate of things, call from Congress fuch laws and means, as will enable you to meet the full force and extent of the crifis.

"Satisfied, therefore, that you have fincerely wished and endeavoured to avert war, and exhaufted, to the laft drop, the cup of reconciliation, we can, with pure hearts, appeal to Heaven, for the juftice of our cause ; and may confidently truft the final refult to that kind Providence, who has, heretofore, and so often, fignally favoured the people of thefe United States.

"Thinking in this manner, and feeling how incumbent it is upon every perfon, of every defcription, to contribute at all times to his country's welfare, and ef

pecially in a moment like the present, when every thing we hold dear and facred is fo feriously threaten. ed; I have finally determined to accept the commiffion of Commander in Chief of the Armies of the United States."*

Such was the triumph of patriotifm, and such the dignified completion of his public character.

With the accomplishments of the hero, and the attributes of the statesman, we are now to connect the interesting theme of domeftic life, and the useful virtues of his private character.

Favoured of Heaven, he was bleft in the most endeared relation of human fociety.

The amiable, and much refpected partner of his happiness, enjoyed his affection and efteem, and was worthy to participate the honours of his exalted sta

tion.

The practice of his filial piety, which had been diftinguished at an early age, was continued until the death of his furviving parent, with unabated tender. nefs and respect.

His fraternal love was exemplary, as it was fincere ; and the munificent provifions of his will, atteft the affection, which he bore to his kindred, and the relatives of his family.

Nor was this munificence bounded by the limits of confanguinity-The interefts of freedom and fcience were anxiously confulted, and moft generously advanced.

Age and infirmity were the objects of his kind regard-----

And the instruction of youth was connected with the emancipation of the bondfman, as a mean of protecting his rights, and rendering him safe, and useful to fociety,

The friend, and the stranger were received with cordial welcome at his hofpitable mansion-and his beneficence to his neighbours was returned with the most affectionate attachment.

* General WASHINGTON's letter, dated Mount Vernon, 13th July, 1798, te John Adams, Prefident of the United States.

Combining with a general patronage of science, and useful institutions, a particular attention to the improvements of agriculture, he diffused his obfervation and experience, in this important purfuit, wherever they could be beneficial-extending his correfpondence, on this interefting fubject, to other nations.

Such were the outlines of his domeftic life---and fuch were his private avocations.

Unable, on a careful review of eminent characters, to discover an oppofite resemblance to the constellation of his virtues and talents, I forbear to enter on partial comparisons, which could not dignify, and would but imperfectly illuftrate the hero of our country.

Enriched by nature with her choiceft gifts, fhe had, with equal liberality, beftowed upon him the greatest advantages of external form, and the highest degree of intellectual endowment. To the noble port of a lofty ftature, were united uncommon grace, ftrength, and fymmetry of perfon; and, to the commanding afpect of manly beauty, was given the benignant fmile, which, infpiring confidence, created affection.

In being thus minute, I do not mean to arraign your delighted remembrance of the hero, which the fhort lapfe of a fleeting year has not effaced.

Yet, were mine the powers of defcription to produce a perfect image, I would prefent him to your enraptured imagination—as he was feen in battle, calm and collected as he appeared in council, dignified and ferene -as he adorned fociety, gracious and condefcending.

But, O mournful reflection! that pleasing, that venerable form now moulders into duft. Sealed in death are thofe eyes, which watched over our fafety. Clofed forever are thofe lips, which fpake peace and happinefs to our country.

Yet the dark night of the tomb fhall not obfcure the luftre of his fame; and, when' brafs and marble fhall have fallen to decay, the fweet remembrance of his virtues, paffing in proud tranfmiffion to remoteft ages, hall endure forever.

Eulogy

ON THE ILLUSTRIOUS GEORGE WASHINGTON.

Pronounced at MILTON, 228 February, 1800.

BY CHARLES PINCKNEY SUMNER.

INDUSTRY paufes from her once cheer

ing labours the folemn dirge takes place of the fong of mirth ;-our country is in tears, her WASHINGTON is no more!

This day fhe would fondly have numbered fixty-eight years, fince propitious Heaven, regardful of her coming trials, had given him to her aid: proud that he had fulfilled his high deftination, and still continued her faithful defender, fhe would not have turned a melancholy thought to the perils through which he had conducted her. The lively cannon would have been but the faint echo to her joy; the feftal board, the fparkling glafs and pleafure-beaming eye would have been but the feeble emblem of national hilarity. Henceforth the night of his death will be consecrated to forrow, and fhrouded in gloom congenial with the majefty of her grief. The annual return of this once joyful day, will long be facred to her most tender, loved sensations, and the fmile her countenance may learn to refume, will receive a melting charm from the tear fhe cannot fupprefs.

When fame, with fwoln eye, first announced our public calamity; we looked, we heard with a responsive figh; and because fhe trembled while fhe fpoke, we permitted ourselves the hope that report might prove illufive. But this uncertainty, this painful uncertainty, was too dear to endure; the folemn knell, the deepening univerfal afpect of wo foon placed beyond the reach of hope, what our boding hearts feared but too

true.

Here is a fubject, my friends, on which you all can be eloquent; it becomes the facred place devoted to its contemplation; it excites the beft, and none but the beft feelings of Americans: as they prize their country, they cherish the memory of her hero, and love at a refpectful, admiring distance, to follow him through the viciffitudes of her fate.

With a mind expanded by the most liberal pursuits, a heart enamoured with the charms of honour, devotion to his country was his first, his ruling paffion. From an early military career, he retired with a blooming reputation to the best well-earned enjoyment of life. With eafy dignity he lofes the foldier in the citizen, and graces the arts of peace as well as war. Born for the univerfe, a province is too fmall a theatre for the display of his talents; and the fituation of our country foon opened the mightier field of his destiny.

With conscious pride he gloried in the prosperity of his king and country; but for colonial degradation and fubferviency he had not drawn his ready, his victorious fword. American patience had been put to the intolerable teft; the plain of Lexington had drank the blood of its peaceful cultivators; when from that illuftrious band of patriots, where first concentred the wounded fenfibilities of our country-is WASHINGTON commiffioned to marshal and direct the rifing energies of freedom.

It is a needlefs, as it would be a painful task, to dwell on facts all know too well; or to refufcitate the feelings that are better at reft. Suffice it to remind you, that yonder hills, almoft in fight, firft received the American hero to the toils of fame. Retaining still the *veftiges of war, they will lecture fucceeding generations, and teach them to guard their native foil from every infidious, selfish friend, or haughty foe: their wounded fronts will frown on degeneracy, if every hill in America does not rife, like the Heights of Dorchester, to expel invasion from our indignant fhores.