CEREMONIOUS CIVILITY, AND INCIVILITY.

I cannot charge myself with incivility, or, what in my opinion is tantamount, ceremonious civility.

ON MEMOIRS.

I do not think vanity is a trait of my character. Any memoirs of my life, distinct and unconnected with the general history of the war, would rather hurt my feelings, than tickle my pride, while I live.

I had rather glide gently down the stream of life, leaving it to posterity, to think and say what they please of me, than, by any act of mine, to have vanity or ostentation imputed to me.

1784.

THE CITIZEN'S REWARD.

The confidence and affection of fellow-citizens, are the most valuable and agreeable reward a citizen can receive.

Next to the happiness of my country, this is the most powerful inducement I can have, to exert myself in its service.

1781.

CAVILLERS.

With those who are disposed to cavil, or who have the itch of writing strongly upon them, nothing can be made to suit their palates. The best way, therefore, to disconcert and defeat them, is to take no notice of their publications. All else is but food for declamation.

RECRIMINATION.

Should any thing tending to give me anxiety, present itself, I shall never undertake the painful task of recrimination; nor do I know, that I should even enter upon my justification.

CENSURE, THE SHADOW OF MERIT.

Why should I expect to be exempt from censure, the unfailing lot of an elevated station? Merit and talents, which I cannot pretend to rival, have ever been subject to it.

UNJUST CENSURE, TO BE DESPISED.

While doing what my conscience informed me was right, as it respected my God, my country, and my

self, I could despise all the party clamor, and unjust censure, which might be expected from some, whose personal enmity might be occasioned by their hostility to the Government.

CENSURE AND DUTY.

I am resolved, that no misrepresentations, falsehoods, or calumny, shall make me swerve from what I conceive to be the strict line of duty.

1795.

MEN MUST BE TOUCHED, TO BE MOVED.

Unfortunately, the nature of man is such, that the experience of others is not attended to as it ought to be.

We must feel, ourselves, before we can think, or perceive the danger that threatens us.

UNAVAILING COMPLAINTS, AND PRESENT DUTY.

We ought not to look back, unless it is to derive useful lessons from past errors, and for the purpose of profiting by dear-bought experience.

To inveigh against things that are past and irremediable, is unpleasing; but to steer clear of the shelves and rocks we have struck upon, is the part of

wisdom, equally as incumbent on political as other men, who have their own little bark, or that of others, to navigate through the intricate paths of life, or the trackless ocean, to the haven of security and rest.

1781.

SENSIBILITY TO PUBLIC APPROBATION.

For having performed duties, which I conceive every country has a right to require of its citizens, I claim no merit; but no man can feel, more sensibly, the reward of approbation for such services than I do.

APPEAL TO THE ARCHIVES.

I appeal to the Archives of Congress, and call on those sacred deposits to witness for me.

1783.

III. INTEMPERANCE AND GAMING.

They were offensive to his sense of moral and religious propriety, and therefore discouraged, from principle, through every period of his life.

E. C. M'GUIRE, D. D.

On no occasion is there the least authority for supposing he ever transcended the bounds of moderation in the enjoyments of life, or the indulgence of those passions universally implanted in the nature of man. He consequently escaped all the delusions of excess, which consist in false, misty, and exaggerated views or designs, stimulated into action by artificial excitement, aud misleading the judgment, while they aggravate the passions and madden imagination.

Thus, his intellect was always clear, and the admirable physical powers bestowed upon him by nature were nover debased to bad purposes, or weakened by licentious indulgence. JAMES K. PAULDING.

USE OF WINES AND SPIRITUOUS LIQUORS.

My chief reason for supposing the West India trade detrimental to us, was, that rum, the principal article received from thence, is the bane of morals, and the parent of idleness.

1788.

I could wish to see the direct commerce with France encouraged, to the greatest degree; and that