every moral restraint, and keep a guiltless silence, because religion has nothing to do with politics? I forbear to press the argument farther; observing only that many of our difficulties and sins may be traced to this pernicious notion. Yes, if our religion had had more to do with our politics; if, in the pride of our citizenship, we had not forgotten our Christianity; if we had prayed more and wrangled less about the affairs of our country, it would have been infinitely better for us at this day. CHARACTER OF HAMILTON. He was born to be great. Whoever was second, HAMILTON must be first. To his stupendous and versatile mind no investigation was difficult-no subject presented which he did not illuminate. Superiority, in some particular, belongs to thousands. Pre-eminence, in whatever he chose to undertake, was the prerogative of HAMILTON. No fixed criterion could be applied to his talents. Often has their display been supposed to have reached the limit of human effort; and the judgment stood firm till set aside by himself. When a cause of new magnitude required new exertion, he rose, he towered, he soared; surpassing himself as he surpassed others. Then was nature tributary to his eloquence! Then was felt his despotism over the heart! Touching, at his pleasure, every string of pity or terror, of indignation or grief, he melted, he soothed, he roused, he agitated; alternately gentle as the dews, and awful as the thunder. Yet, great as he was in the eyes of the world, he was greater in the eyes of those with whom he was most conversant. The greatness of most men, like objects seen through a mist, diminishes with the distance; but HAMILTON, like a tower seen afar off under a clear sky, rose in grandeur and sublimity with every step of approach. Familiarity with him was the parent of veneration. Over these matchless talents, probity threw her brightest lustre. Frankness, suavity," tenderness, benevolence, breathed through their exercise. And to his family!-but he is gone-that noble heart beats no more; that eye of fire is dimmed; and sealed are those oracular lips. Americans, the serenest beam of your glory is extinguished in the tomb. Fathers, friends, countrymen! the dying breath of HAMILTON recommended to you the Christian's hope. His single testimony outweighs all the cavils of the sciolist, and all the jeers of the profane. Who will venture to pronounce a fable that doctrine of life and immortality which his profound and irradiating mind embraced as the truth of God? When you are to die, you will find no source of peace but in the faith of Jesus. Cultivate, for your present repose and your future consolation, what our departed friend declared to be the support of his expiring moments: "A tender reliance on the mercies of the Almighty, through the merits of the Lord Jesus Christ." HAMILTON! We will cherish thy memory, we will embalm thy fame! Fare thee well, thou unparalleled man, farewell— forever! GOSPEL FOR THE POOR. The Lord Jesus, who went about doing good, has left us an example that we should follow his steps. Christians, on whom he has bestowed affluence, rank, or talent, should be the last to disdain their fellow-men, or to look with indifference on indigence and grief. Pride, unseemly in all, is detestable in them who confess that by grace they are saved. Their Lord and Redeemer, who humbled himself by assuming their nature, came to deliver the needy when he crieth, the poor also, and him that hath no helper. And surely, an object which was not unworthy of the Son of God cannot be unworthy of any who are called by his name. Their wealth and opportunities, their talents and time, are not their own, nor to be used according to their own pleasure, but to be consecrated by their vocation as fellow-workers with God. How many hands that hang down would be lifted up! how many feeble knees confirmed! how many tears wiped away! how many victims of despondency and infamy rescued by a close imitation of Jesus Christ! Go with your opulence to the house of famine, and the retreats of disease. Go deal thy bread to the hungry; when thou seest the naked, cover him; and hide not thyself from thine own flesh. Go, and furnish means to rear the offspring of the poor, that they may at least have access to the word of your God. Go, and quicken the flight of the Angel who has the everlasting gospel to preach unto the nations. If you possess not wealth, employ your station in promoting good will toward men. Judge the fatherless; plead for the widow. Stimulate the exertions of others, who may supply what is lacking on your part. Let the beauties of holiness pour their lustre upon your distinctions, and recommend to the unhappy that peace which yourselves. have found in the salvation of God. If you have neither riches nor rank, devote your talents. Ravishing are the accents which dwell on the tongue of the learned when it speaks a word in season to him that is weary. Press your genius and your eloquence into the service of the Lord your righteousness, to magnify his word, and display the riches of his grace. Who knoweth whether he may honor you to be the minister of joy to the disconsolate, of liberty to the captive, of life to the dead? If he has denied you wealth, and rank, and talent, consecrate your heart. Let it dissolve in sympathy. There is nothing to hinder your rejoicing with them that do rejoice, and your weeping with them that weep, nor to forbid the interchange of kind and soothing offices. A brother is born for adversity; and not only should Christian be to Christian a friend that sticketh closer than a brother, but he should exemplify the loveliness of his religion to them that are without. An action, a word, marked by the sweetness of the Gospel, has often been owned of God for producing the happiest effects. Let no man, therefore, try to excuse his inaction; for no man is too inconsiderable to augment the triumphs of the Gospel by assisting in the consolation which it yields to the miserable. NATHANIEL H. CARTER, 1788-1830. NATHANIEL HASELTINE CARTER, son of Joseph Carter, was born in Concord, N. H., in the year 1788. In 1811, he graduated at Dartmouth College, and afterwards studied law. In 1817, when the so-called Democratic legislature of New Hampshire created the short-lived "Dartmouth University," in order to destroy Dartmouth College, he was appointed Professor of Languages in the former, and officiated in that capacity two or three years. In 1820, he became proprietor and editor of the " Albany Register," the name of which he soon changed to that of the "New York Statesman." He removed to the city of New York in 1822; and from 1825 to 1827 travelled for his health upon the continent of Europe, enriching his paper with letters which, on his return, were published in two octavo volumes. In 1829, being in very feeble health, he went abroad again, in the hope of being benefited; but died at Marseilles a short time after he landed, January 2d, 1830. Mr. Carter was an able editor, an upright man, and an accomplished scholar, and was a writer of very pleasing poetry as well as prose. His longest poetical piece is entitled the "Pains of Imagination,” and was delivered at Dartmouth College. HYMN FOR CHRISTMAS. In hymns of praise, eternal God! When thy creating hand Stretch'd the blue arch of heaven abroad, The morning stars together sung, And shouts of joy from angels rung. Than Earth's prime hour, more joyous far When the bright beam of Bethlehem's star Then sweeter strains from heaven began- Babe of the manger! can it be? Art thou the Son of God? Shall subject nations bow the knee, And kings obey thy nod? Shall thrones and monarchs prostrate fall "Tis He! the hymning seraphs cry, The rod of peace those hands shall bear, 'Tis He! the eastern sages sing, And spread their golden hoard; 'Tis He! the hills of Sion ring, The Prince of long prophetic years He comes the Conqueror's march begins, He comes to save the world from sins, The poor, the sick and blind shall bless When he, with legions of the skies, Shall come to judge the quick and dead, WILLIAM TUDOR, 1779-1830. THE family of Tudor is of Welsh origin. John, the first of the name in America, came to Boston early the last century. His son William, having graduated at Harvard College in 1769, commenced the practice of law in Boston, and married Delia Jarvis, a lady of refinement and of taste congenial with his own. Their son, William, the subject of this biographical sketch, was born in Boston on the 28th of January, 1779, was educated at Phillip's Academy in Andover, and graduated at Harvard College in 1796. Being destined for commercial life, he entered the counting-room of John Codman, one of the most eminent and successful merchants of Boston, and early established a character of the highest integrity and enterprise, united to a love of letters, which, amid all the turmoil of business, he ever continued to cherish. When he was twenty-one, he was sent by Mr. Codman to Paris, as his confidential agent in a matter of great business interest. After being abroad nearly a year, he returned home, and soon after went to Leghorn, on commercial business. He visited, at this time, France, Germany, and England, and returned to America with his love of letters confirmed. A few of his friends and associates had for some time contemplated the formation of a literary club; he entered warmly into their views, and soon the Anthology Society was formed, of which he was one of the most efficient, as well as earliest, members.1 The Monthly Anthology was begun by Mr. Phineas Adams, a graduate of Harvard, and then a schoolmaster in Boston. The first number, under the title of "The Monthly Anthology and Boston Review, edited by Sylvanus Per-se," was published in Boston by E. Lincoln, in November, 1803. At the end of six months, he gave it up to the Rev. William Emerson,* who induced two or three gentlemen to join with him in the care of the work, and thus laid the foundation of the Anthology Club. The Club was regularly organized and governed by rules; the number of resident members varied from eight to sixteen. It was one of its rules that every member should write for the work, and nothing was published without the consent of the Society. The Club met once a week in the evening, and after deciding on the manuscripts that were offered, partook of a plain supper, and enjoyed the full pleasure of a literary chat. The following were the members of the Club, some for a short time only, others during the greater part of its existence: Rev. Drs. Gardiner, Kirkland, and McKean, Professor Willard, Rev. Messrs. Emerson, Buckminster, S. C. Thatcher, and Tuckerman; Drs. Jackson, Warren, Gor * Mr. Emerson was pastor of the "First Church" in Boston, from 1799 to 1811. It was on his motion, in the Anthology Club, seconded by Wm. Smith Shaw, that the vote to establish a library of periodical publications was adopted; and this constituted the first step towards the establishment of the Boston Athenæum, whose library is now one of the best, and perhaps, next to Harvard College library, the best in the country. While this noble institution endures, it will perpetuate the memory of the "Anthology Club." |