of service limited to a short period? and do they not then return into the mass of citizens, to meet your censure, or receive your applause? Are not these sufficient securities for your liberties, and a wise and faithful administration?

THE murmurs of discontent soon swell into party; party rises into faction, and faction hath hitherto broke out into insurrection. The strong arm of Washington is no more-the steady and decisive Adams, will one day also be added to his fathers. When the sword of the laws shall fall into feebler hands, and the people array themselves into more equal and more violent parties; who can answer that intestine commotion, civil war, and the destruction of our government, will not be the probable consequence?

REFLECT, I beseech you, in time! Let us unite in calming the minds of our countrymen-in healing the wounds party hath already made; and, as the best offering to the manes of our departed friend and benefactor, let us bring all our political contentions, at this solemn moment, and bury them forever in his grave His beneficent spirit will look down with complacence upon the sacrifice, and accept it as the best tribute to his me mory.

THIS great man, at length worn down by the incessant fatigue of public employments, solicits his fellow-citizens to suffer him to retire; and to spare him the pain of refusing to obey their voice, by not calling him again from his retreat. He prays them to select some other character among those, whom his generous diffidence assures them, are equally, if not better qualified than himself, to direct the reins of government.

GRATITUDE for his past labors-love and veneration for his virtues, and a conviction that his years required repose, induce America to comply with his request.

A SECOND time we see this illustrious character, disrobing himself of the insignia of public office; now voluntarily descending from the seat of state, and joyfully mixing with his fellow-citizens as a private man! Yet he could not leave a peo

ple who had so long been the objects of his vigilance, attention and care, without still some further evidence of his esteem Behold the memorial* of his love and affection! It is the farewell address of president Washington! Precious legacy! Read it, my countrymen-treasure up its precepts in your hearts. Its contents are the result of the experience of a life dedicated to your service, with the best means of acquiring a knowledge of human nature, of government, and the intrigues of courts. If properly attended to, and followed, it will be worth more to America than the wealth of the Indies.

WE now see this good man in the bosom of his family, improving his favorite seat; surrounded with domestic bliss, and enjoying that repose which he had so long wished for, and which his feeling heart was so well fitted to relish.

ONE would think nothing could ever draw him from this retirement, so necessary to his peace and declining years—and that it would be almost ungrateful to ask it. But our country had not yet attained to that state of tranquillity which his wishes had fondly hoped. In despite of the wise and honorable policy pursued by our government, we are again alarmed from abroad. The turbulent waves of war roll across the Atlantic towards our coast, and threaten to break upon our shores. Active measures of defence are taking, and an army is raising. All eyes look anxiously around for a commander, and the good genius of America still directs them to Washington. Delicacy almost forbids the approach. The wise Adams hesitates to make the request: But the venerable hero meets the wishes of his country,-I come, he cries, to devote the remainder of my life to your service, if I can do any more good.. -He did thus devote it; for in the character of commander in chief of the armies of the United States, he ended his days.

WHAT a noble example of humility, disregard of personal and enthusiastic love of country! Thrice has he exhibited

ease,

* Here the farewell address was held up to the view of the audience.

to America, the most exalted proofs of disinterestedness and magnanimity and thrice has he astonished the world ! *

To all the distinguished features which characterize the illustrious man, he also added a probity of heart which has never been equalled, and a modest diffidence in his own abilities, which gave the highest finish to his exalted virtues.

HEAR this moving language, in his address to the people of the United States. See appendix, p. 33.

EVEN in his last moments too! as if every act of his life was to become instructive, and every word a precept, he inculcates the most important lesson upon mankind-" I do not fear death; I have made my will, my affairs are in good order, and my public business only two days behind."-With calmness, he resigns himself into the hands of his creator-with composure he falls asleep in death!

WELL may the voice of lamentation be heard throughout our land! never had a country so much cause for mourning! Well may we cry out, "O! that our heads were waters, and our eyes fountains of tears," that we might continually weep over so irreparable a loss! Never can we again witness, so solemn an occasion to call forth universal sorrow. But once in eighteen centuries, hath so perfect a character appeared to adorn the world! Happy the future age, that can boast of such a man! And thrice happy America, which gave birth to so illustrious a citizen!-Compared with him, the renowned sages of antiquity-the mighty princes of the earth-and the great conquerors of the world-all shrink back, and yield him a most just pre-eminence.

To abler orators, I leave a more particular description of the numerous and varied virtues of this great man. By them his

* Alluding to bis resigning the command of the revolutionary army at the end of the war-bis refusing to continue as president of the United States-and bis afterwards acting in the subordinate character of commander of the armies.

praise will be sounded much further than my feeble voice can reach. The faithful page of history will record his fame. There it shall live, while the smallest vestiges of literature remain upon earth-yea, 'till "the cloud-capt towers, the gorgeous palaces, the solemn temples, this great globe itself, and all which it inherit, shall dissolve, and like the baseless fabric of a vision, leave not a wreck behind." Nor shall it perish thenbut being the immediate care of heaven, "the great archangel, when he sweeps suns and systems from their place, and kindles up their last fires, stretching forth his mighty arm, shall snatch the deathless scroll from the devouring conflagration, and place it among the archives of eternity."

ONE further circumstance must not be omitted, in justice to that society who have honored me with this place, and whose boast it is that Washington was their grand master. To the fashionable philosophers of the present day, it may appear of little consequence, but upon this foundation are built all our

works.

To the character of hero and patriot, this good man added that of christian. All his public communications breathe a pure spirit of piety, a resignation to the will of heaven, and a firm reliance upon the, providence of God. In those atchievements which redounded most to his reputation, we hear him exclaiming with king David, "Not unto us, not unto us, O! Lord, but to thy name be the honor and praise." Although the greatest man upon earth, he disdained not to humble himself before his God, and to trust in the mercies of Christ. He regularly attended in the temples of the Most High, and joined with his fellow mortals, in paying adoration to the Supreme Governor of the universe, and in supplicating blessings for his country, and pardon and forgiveness for himself For thyself, christian hero and patriot! thy prayers have been heard. Thy blessed spirit hath ascended from this terrestrial orb, to mingle with congenial spirits above! There thou wilt indeed receive thy best reward! There thou wilt drink of those rivers of joy and gladness, that flow from the right hand of the throne of God! There thou wilt be welcomed by the whole host of heaven !—

Oh that we had angels' wings, that we might follow him, and witness his joyful reception into those blest abodes!-Behold the gates of heaven are thrown wide open! See the band of heroes and martyrs in their country's cause, rushing out to meet their chief, and welcoming him to immortal glory! See the venerable train of patriots, sages and statesmen, advancing to bid him hail, to mansions of eternal peace and rest! Angels and archangels, and ten thousand times ten thousand glorified spirits, tune their harps at his approach, and the great vault of heaven resounds with one universal song of "Hosanna to the Highest!"" Come, come, thou blessed of" our "Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you, from the foundation of the world!"

OH! that we may all "die the death of the righteous, and may our latter end be like his!"

WE, my brothers, lamenting in common with our fellow-citizens, over the grave of this great and good man, yet feel his loss peculiarly afflicting to us, in the relation he stood to our lodges.

ALTHOUGH high and exalted in character and rank, yet he always walked upon the LEVEL with a brother. Although particularly attached to this his native country, which had so loved and honored him, yet his extensive benevolence embraced the great CIRCLE of mankind. In all his actions he was governed by the SQUARE of doing unto others as he would wish they should do unto him; and he ever kept within the COMPASS of good will to all men.

HE was indeed a great light, sent to us by the Grand Master above, to illuminate our darkness here below. But it has pleased Divine Providence to call him back from houses built with clay, to "mansions not built with hands, eternal in the heavens.”

THOSE eyes which have looked with so much pleasure upon a brother, are now closed in death. Those ears which have listened with so much attention to their complaints, are now stop