O ADMIRABLE MAN! O great preceptor to his country! no wonder every body honoured him who honoured every body; for the poorest beggar that wrote to him on business, was sure to receive a speedy and decisive answer. No wonder every body loved him, who, by his unwearied attention to the public good, manifested the tenderest love for every body. No wonder that his country delighted to honour him, who shewed such a sense of her honours that he would not allow even a leaf of them to wither; but so watered them all with the refreshing streams of industry, that they continued to bloom with ever-increasing glory on his head.

SINCE the day that God created man on the earth, none ever displayed the power of industry more signally than did George Washington. Had he, as prince of Wales, or as dauphin of France, rendered such great services, or attained such immortal honours, it would not have seemed so marvellous in our eyes. But that a poor young man with neither king, lords, nor commons to back him-with no princes, nor strumpets of princes, to curry favour for him→→ with no gold but his virtue, no silver but his industry, should, with this old-fashioned coin, have stolen away the hearts of all the American Israel, and from a sheep-cot have ascended the throne of his country's affections, and acquired a name above the mighty ones of the earth! this is marvellous indeed! It is surely the noblest panegyric ever yet paid to that great virtue, industry, which has "length of days in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honours."

YOUNG READER! go thy way; think of Washington; and HOPE. Though humble thy birth, low thy fortune, and few thy friends, still think of Washington; and HOPE. Like him, honour thy God; and delight in glorious toil. Then, like him, "thou shalt "stand before kings. Thou shalt not stand before

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common men.'

CHAPTER XVI.

WASHINGTON'S CHARACTER CONTINUED.

HIS PATRIOTISM.

“O eternal King of men and angels, elevate our minds! each low and partial passion thence dispel! till this great truth in every heart be known, that none but those who aid the public cause, can shield their country or themselves from chains."

LEONIDAS

IN this grand republican virtue, we can with pleasure compare our Washington with the greatest worthies of ancient or modern times.

THE patriotism of the Roman emperor, Alexander, has been celebrated through all ages, because he was never known to give any place through favour or friendship; but employed those only whom he believed to be best qualified to serve his country. In our Washington we meet this great and honest emperor again. For, in choosing men to serve his country, Washington knew no recommendation but merit had no favourite but worth. No relations, however near-no friends, however dear-stood any chance for places under him, provided he knew men better qualified. Respecting such men, he never troubled himself to enquire, whether they were foreigners or natives, federalists or democrats. Some of the

young officers of his native state, on hearing that colonel Washington was made COMMANDER IN CHIEF, were prodigiously pleased, expecting to be made field officers immediately. But in this they were so utterly mistaken, that some of them have foolishly said, "it was a misfortune to be a Virginian." In deed, his great soul was so truly republican, that, U

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during the whole of his administration, he was nevei known to advance an individual of his own name and family.

THE British, with good reason, admire and extol admiral Blake as one of the bravest and best of patriots; because, though he disliked Oliver Cromwell, yet he fought gallantly under him; and, with his dying breath, exhorted his men," to love their country as a common mother; and, no matter what hands the government might fall into, to fight for her like good children."

Or the same noble spirit was Washington. Often was he called to obey men greatly his inferiors, and to execute orders which he entirely disapproved. But he was never known to falter. Sensible of the infinite importance of union and order to the good of his country, he ever yielded a prompt obedience to her delegated will. And, not content with setting us, through life, so fair an example, he leaves us at his death, this blessed advice: "Your governmen: claims your utmost confidence and support. RESPECT for its AUTHORITY, compliance with its laws, acquiescence in its measures, are duties enjoined by the fundamental maxims of TRUE LIBERTY. The basis of our political system is the right of the people to make and alter their constitutions of government. But the constitution, which at any time exists, until changed by an explicit and authentic act of the whole, people, is SACREDLY OBLIGATORY upon all.'

"

HISTORY has lavished its choicest praises on those magnanimous patriots, who, in their wars for liberty and their country, have cheerfully sacrificed their own wealth to defeat the common enemy.

EQUAL to this was the spirit of Washington. For, during the war, while he was with the army to the north, a British frigate came up the Potomac, to Mount Vernon; and threatened to lay the place in ashes, if provisions were not instantly sent on board. To save that venerable mansion, the manager sent aboard the requisite supplies. On hearing the maṛ

ter, Washington wrote his manager the following letter:

"SIR-It gives me extreme concern to hear that "you furnished the enemy with refreshments. It "would have been a less painful circumstance to me, "to have heard, that, in consequence of your noncompliance with their request, they had laid my plantation in ruins. GEORGE WASHINGTON."

BUT, among all his splendid acts of patriotism, there is none which, with so little noise, may do us more good, than his "Legacy, or Farewell to the People of the United States." In this admirable bequest, like a true teacher sent from God, he dwells chiefly on our union and brotherly love. This, the first birth of true religion, appears to him as the one thing needful, the spring of political life, and bond of perfection.

On this topic he employs all the energies of his mind; and, in words worthy to be written in gold, emphatically beseeches his countrymen to guard with holiest care "the unity of the government," as the "main pillar and palladium of their liberty, their independence, and every thing most dear to them on earth."

LITTLE did that illustrious patriot suspect, that, in so short a time after his death, the awful idea of DISUNION should have become familiar to the public eye!-so familiar as to have worn off half its horrors from the minds of many of our deluded citizens! Disunion! Merciful God! what good man can think of it but as of treason, and as a very Pandora's box, replete with every curse that can give up our dear country to desolation and havoc !

THIS disorganizing scheme has been three times brought forward, by what Washington terms "cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men," making use of a thousand arts to shut the eyes of the citizens on that yawning gulph to which they were so wickedly misleading them. And each time, Lucifer-like, these ministers of darkness have clothed themselves over

as "angels of light" with the captivating plea of public good." The disadvantages of the union! the disadvantages of the union!" is their constant cry. Now admitting it to be true, that this so much hated union has its disadvantages, (and where is there any human institution, even the noblest, that is free from them?) yet is it not the parent of blessings so many and great, that no good man, as Washington says, "can think of them without gratitude and rejoicing?" and is it not equally true, that these disadvantages of the union would not, in fifty years, equal the ruinous consequences of a disunion, in probably half a year.

AT present, the plea for this most horrible measure, is the mischievous effects of the embargo.Well, grant that it is mischievous, highly mischievous and painful, for such we all feel it, yet how inexpressibly absurd it must be, to put the loss of trade, for a year or two, in competition with the peace and happiness, the independence and sovereignty of our country? Would not this be an act a thousand times more mad and wicked than that of the wretched Esau, who, to remove the cravings of a momentary appetite, sold his BIRTH-RIGHT for a mess of pot tage!

AT this day, through the great mercies of God, we have cause to consider ourselves the happiest nation on earth.-List! oh list!

For many years past the greater part of Christen

dom has been involved in all the horrors of the most bloody and destructive wars. Their kings and queens have been rudely hurled from their thrones: and the "honourable men and the princes," verifying the mournful language of ancient prophecy, have been seen embracing the dung-hill, or flying from their distracted countries; while the mass of the people, unable to fly, have been crushed to the earth with tythes and taxes-with impressments and conscriptions with forced loans and arbitrary requisitions with martial law, administered by military judges, *This was written Anno Domini 1809