" 7. To Mrs. Washington he said: "Go to my escrutoir and in my private drawer you will find two papers; bring them to me.' They were brought. He continued: "These are my wills-preserve this one and burn the oth. er;" which was accordingly done. Calling to Col. Lear, he directed; "Let my corpse be kept for the usual period of three days." 8. Here we would beg leave to remind our readers, that, in a former part of this work, .we have said, that Washington was old fashioned in some of his opinions; nor was he less to be admired on these accounts. The custom of keeping the dead for the scriptural period of three days, is derived from remote antiquity; and arose, not from fear of premature interment, as in more modern times, but from motives of veneration towards the deceased; for the better enabling the relatives and friends to assemble from a distance, to perform the funeral rites; for the pious watchings of the corpse, and for many sad, yet endearing ceremonies, with which we delight to pay our last duties to the remains of those we loved. 9. The patient bore his acute suffering with fortitude and perfect resignation to the Divine will, while, as the night advanced, it became evident that he was sinking, and he seemed fully aware that "his hour was nigh." He inquired the time, and was answered, a few minutes to twelve. He spoke no more-the hand of death was upon him, and he was conscious that "his hour was come." With surprising self-possession, he prepared to die. Composing his form at length, and folding his arms upon his bosom, without a sigh, without a groan, the father of his country died. No pang nor struggle told when the noble spirit took its noiseless flight; while so tranquil appeared the manly features in the repose of death, that some moments had passed ere those around could believe that the patriarch was no more. George Washington was the founder of the North American Republic, the first President of the United States, and an incorruptible patriot. His name needs no panegyric. It will live forever in the hearts of his countrymen. His fame rests on the adamant of good deeds. His best eulogy will be an imitation of his glorious example. It constitutes the most And valuable portion of our national capital. His memory is immortal. To Washington, under God, we chiefly owe the manifold blessings of national independence and religious liberty. If therefore, gratitude be due on earth, it is due to him. Let it fill every heart with thrilling exultation, and ascend to the holy habitation of Divinity. How large were his sacrifices of time, treasure, and care! How gloriously did he withstand the tempting whispers of demagogues! How great was the intrepidity with which he dared the tyrant's rage! With what fearlessness did he, before high heaven, renounce all allegiance to George III. and the British constitution! With what wisdom he administered the United States' government! With what fairness and fidelity he made and maintainsd treaties! with what moral sublimity did he live and die! Let the history of his life answer. That is a bright and cheering picture upon which we should gaze and scan, until our minds take the hue of the splendors we contemplate. The city of Thebes rose to sudden elevation, through the instru mentality of Epaminondas; but the moment of his dissolution was the moment of her fall. Like Epaminondas, the brightest name of all antiquity, Washington, the peculiar pride of modern times, exalted the glory of his country. But here the comparison ends. The monuments of Thebes are crumbled in dust, and republicanism there dumbers in the grave of oblivion; but America still maintains the high and happy ground on which Washington placed her. The banner, which. under his auspicies, waved in triumph over British tyranny, still mingles its folds with the stars and stripes of the Union. Let the spirit of Washington's patriotism pervade the people, and the Republic, through all time, is safe. THE HERMIT. 1. At the close of the day, when the hamlet is still, 2. 'Twas thus by the cave of the mountain afar, While his harp rung symphonious, a hermit began ; No more with himself or with nature at war, He thought as a sage, though he felt as a man. 3. "Ah! why, all abandon'd to darkness and wo Why, lone Philomela, that languishing fall? For spring shall return, and a lover bestow; And sorrow no longer thy bosom enthral. 4. "But, if pity inspire thee, renew the sad lay Mourn, sweetest complainer, man calls thee to mourn; O, soothe him whose pleasures, like thine, pass away: Full quickly they pass-but they never return. 5. "Now gliding remote, on the verge of the sky, The moon, half extinguish'd, her crescent displays: But lately I mark'd, when majestic on high, She shone, and the planets were lost in her blaze. 6. "Roll on thou fair orb, and with gladness pursue 7. "Tis night, and the landscape is lovely no more: 8. "Nor yet for the ravage of winter I mourn; 9. ""Twas thus by the glare of false science betray'd, 10. "O, pity, great Father of Light, then I cried, Thy creature, who fain would not wander from thee! Lo, humbled in dust, I relinquish my pride : From doubt and from darkness thou only canst free. 11. "And darkness and doubt are now flying away ; 12. "See truth, love, and mercy, in triumph descending, And nature all glowing in Eden's first bloom! On the cold cheek of death, smiles and roses are blending, And beauty immortal, awakes from the tomb." Beatie The "Hermit" requires a low key, slow time, and long quantity. The poet appeals most eloquently to every afflicted heart. Who can stand at the grave of a parent, a child, a companion, or a friend, and not exclaim, "When shall spring visit the mouldering urn? O, when shall day dawn on the night of the grave ?" As the ark of the testimany is opeued, a voice is heard to say, "I am the resurrection and the life." Believing this heart-cheering declaration from our Lord and Savior, we behold, "On the cold cheek of death smiles and roses are blending, EXTRACT FROM PRESIDENT JEFFERSON'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS. 1. During the contest of opinion through which we have passed, the animation of discussions and of exertions has sometimes worn an aspect which might impose on strangers, unused to think freely, and to speak and to write what they think; but this being now decided by the voice of the nation, announced according to the rules of the constitution, all will, of course, arrange themselves under the will of the law, and unite in common efforts for the common good. 2. All, too, will bear in mind this sacred principle, that, though the will of the majority is, in all cases, to prevail, that will, to be rightful, must be reasonable; that the minority possess their equal rights, which equal laws must protect, and to violate which would be oppression. Let us then, fellow-citizens, unite with one heart and one mind. 3. Let us restore to social intercourse that harmony and affection, without which liberty, and even life itself, are but dreary things; and let us reflect, that, having banished from our land that religious intolerance under which man kind so long bled and suffered, we have yet gained little, if we countenance a political intolerance, as despotic, as wicked, and capable of as bitter and bloody persecutions. 4. During the throes and convulsions of the ancient world; during the agonizing spasms of infuriated man, seeking, through blood and slaughter, his long lost liberty; it was not wonderful that the agitation of the billows should reach even this distant and peaceful shore; that this should be more felt and feared by some, and less by others; and should divide opinions, as to measures of safety. 5. But every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle. We have called by different names, brethren of the same principle. We are all republicans; we are all federalists. If there be any among us who would wish to dissolve this Union, or to change its republican form, let them stand undisturbed, as monuments of the safety with which error of opinion may be tolerated, where reason is left free to combat it.. 6. I know, indeed, that some honest men fear that a republican government cannot be strong; that this government is not strong enough. But would the honest patriot, in the full tide of successful experiment, abandon a government which has so far kept us free and firm, on the theoretic and visionary fear, that this government, the world's best hope, may, by possibility, want energy to preserve itself? I trust not; I believe this, on the contrary, the strongest government on earth. 7. I believe it the only one where every man, at the call of the law, would fly to the standard of the law, and would meet invasions of the public order as his own per sonal concern. Sometimes it is said, that man cannot be trusted with the government of himself. Can he, then, be trusted with the government of others? or have we found angels in the form of kings, to govern him? Let history answer the question. 8. Let us then, with courage and confidence, pursue our own federal and republican principles; our attachment to union and representative government. Kindly separated, by nature and a wide ocean, from the exterminating havoc |