furveyed his fubject under all its afpects, and enforc ed his arguments with fuch powers of reasoning, that nothing was wanting to produce conviction, and generally to enfure fuccefs. His eloquence combined the nervousness and copious elegance of the Greek and Roman schools, and gave him the choice of his clients and his bufinefs. These wonderful powers were accompanied by a natural politeness and winning condefcenfion, which forestalled the envy of his brethren. Their hearts were gained before their pride was alarmed; and they united in their approbation of a pre-eminence, which reflected honour on their fraternity.

FROM fuch talents, adorned by incorruptible honefty and boundless generofity, an immense personal influence over his political and private friends was infeparable; and by thofe who did not know him, and who faw the ufe to which ambition might ap. ply it, he was fometimes fufpected of views unpropitious to the nature of our government. The charge was inconfiftent with the exertions he had made, to render that government in its present form worthy of the attachment and support of the people, and his voluntary relinquishment of the means of ambition, the purfe-ftrings of the nation. He was indeed ambitious, but not of power; he was ambitious only to convince the world of the spotless integrity of his administration and character. This was the key to the finest fenfibilities of his heart. He fhrunk from the imputation of misconduct in public life; and if his judgment ever misled him, it was only when warped by an excessive eagerness to vindicate himself at the expenfe of his discretion.

To calumny in every other shape he opposed the defence of dignified filence and contempt.

Had fuch a character been exempt from foibles and frailties, it would not have been human. Yet fo fmall was the catalogue of these, that they would have efcaped obfervation, but for the unparalleled frankness of his nature, which prompted him to confefs them to the world. He did not confider greatness as an authority for habitual vice; and he repented with fuch contrition of cafual error, that none remained offended but thofe who never had a right to complain. The virtues of his private and domeftic character comprised whatever conciliates affection and begets respect. To envy he was a stranger, and of merit and talents the unaffected eulogist and admirer. The charms of his conversation, the brilliance of his wit, his regard to decorum, his ineffable good humour, which led him down from the highest range of intellect, to the level of colloquial pleafantry, will never be forgotten, perhaps never equalled.

To obferve that fuch a man was dear to his family would be fuperfluous. To defcribe how dear, impoffible. Of this we might obtain some adequate conception, could we look into the retreat which he had chofen for the folace of his future years; which, enlivened by his prefence, was fo lately the manfion of cheerfulness and content; but now, alas! of lamentation and wo!

"For him no more the blazing hearth fhall burn,"
Nor tender confort wait with anxious care;

"No children run to lifp their fire's return,

"Nor climb his knees, the envy'd kiss to share."

WITH his eye upon the eternal world, this dying Hero had been careful to prepare a teftament almost for the fole purpofe of bequeathing to his orphans the rich legacy of his principles; and having exhib+ ited in his laft hours to this little band the manner in which a Chriftian fhould die, he drops in his flight to heaven a summary of the principles, by which a man of honor should live.

THE univerfal forrow manifested in every part of the Union upon the melancholy exit of this great man, is an unequivocal teftimonial of the public opinion of his worth. The place of his refidence is overspread with a gloom, which bespeaks the prefence of a public calamity, and the prejudices of party are absorbed in the overflowing tide of national grief.

IT is indeed a fubject of confolation, that diverfity of political opinions has not yet extinguished the fentiment of public gratitude. There is yet a hope that events like these which bring home to our bofoms the fenfation of a common lofs, may yet remind us of our common intereft, and of the times when with one accord we joined in the homage of respect to our living as well as to our deceafed worthies.

SHOULD thofe days once more return, when the people of America, united as they once were united, shall make merit the measure of their approbation and confidence, we may hope for a constant fucceffion of patriots and heroes. But fhould our country be rent by factions, and the merit of the man be estimated by the zeal of the partizan, irreparable will be the

lofs of those few men, who, having once been efteemed by all, might again have acquired the confidence of all, and faved their country in an hour of peril, by their talents and virtues.

"So ftream the forrows that embalm the brave;
"The tears which virtue fheds on glory's grave."