SCARCELY had ſix revolving months aſſuaged our ſorrows for the loſs of our reſpected SUMNER, when, obedient to the unanimous deſire of thoſe, whom your ſuffrages have invited to offices of truſt and reſponſibility, with public unaffected decorum, we cloſed the memorable year which terminated the labors, anxieties and cares, of our beloved WASHINGTON.

WITH recent deep-felt ſenſibility, and the moſt reſpectful tokens of filial reverence, we relinquiſhed our ſecular concerns, to lament his ſudden, eventful death; ſummoned by the accuſtomed knell, the funereal dirge, and agonizing peals from yonder celebrated eminence,WHERE the battle of June 17, 1775, was fought, and on which is a Monument, in memory of Gen. WARREN and his ASSOCIATES. with deliberate, ſilent footſteps we trod theſe ſacred courts. The ſhrouded walls, the expreſſive harmony, the dejected aſpect of a crouded auditory, and the copious tears of female innocence were well adapted to the ſolemn ſcene.

HERE with mingled emotions of deſpondency, hope and reſignation, we bowed in humble adoration to that ALL WISE, UNSEARCHABLE BEING

here from a plaintive recital of the diſtinguiſhed talents and ſplendid achievements of an ancient Patriarch, we were led to contemplate the meekneſs, prudence, bravery, and zeal, of the VICTORIOUS LEADER in our American Iſrael, whoſe life and death were inſtructive leſſons of pious patriotiſm; whoſe PARENTAL LEGACY,SEE ADDRESS to the People of the United States, Sept. 17, 1796, by GEORGE WASHINGTON. bequeathed with prophetic reference to future generations, is an invaluable inheritance to his bereaved country. May a frequent ſerious recollection of theſe affecting tranſactions, convince us, that a man diligent in buſineſs ſhall ſtand before kings, and will be commended, according to his wiſdom.

BUT why are we now aſſembled? did the roar of cannon diſturb our ſlumbers to welcome the riſing ſun? are freedom's enſigns waving in the air to excite our joy? are our youthful friends arrayed in the ſoldier's garb, or animated by the martial trumpet, to mirth and innocent feſtivity? or are our aged citizens exchanging their mutual congratulations on the birth day of their common friend and benefactor? Theſe once pleaſing realities now paſs before us "like the baſeleſs fabric of a viſion," while conformably to the official call, of that EMINENT PATRIOT and STATESMAN, our VENERABLE ADAMS, on whom we truſt the mantle has deſcended, we have entered this hallowed temple, "with one heart and one voice" to join united America, in our laſt public tribute of reſpect to his pre-eminent merit; and there is no ſituation in which I have ever appeared, ſo deeply impreſſed with the neceſſity of your well known candor, as on this intereſting occaſion.

THE various, wonderful purſuits of GENERAL WASHINGTON, have been ſo often, ſtrikingly delineated, with all the flowers of rhetoric, and charms of eloquence, and you are ſo amply furniſhed with an accurate, judicious hiſtory of his life,SEE Sermon, by Rev. JED. MORSE, D. D. Dec. 31, 1799. that no encomium in my power to beſtow, can add one ray to the luſtre of his mighty deeds; but if for a moment, my honored fathers and beloved brethren, with our firſt emotions of grief, ſubdued by deliberate reflection, we extend our fancy to the "elevated lawn" on Potowmac's bank, and collect around the dreary ſepulchre, to remind us that he was but mortal, we may profit by his experience, and endeavour, at a humble diſtance, to imitate his virtues.

SELDOM is the morning of life devoted to the engagements of our riper years; with pleaſing expectation we enter the alluring threſhold, regardleſs of the numerous intricate windings, which conduct us through the extenſive edifice, unmindful of an inevitable, uncertain exit; but different was the caſe before us; with a firm athletic conſtitution, a capacious, vigorous mind, aided by the advantages of a ſpecial inſtructor, he was taught the uſeful arts and ſciences, for which, he was ever after, a diſtinguiſhed advocate; and acquiring unuſual habits of induſtry, method and perſeverance, had ſcarcely arrived at manhood, when deſignated by the government of his native province, for the execution of hazardous, important enterprizes, where he diſcovered that vigilance, moderation and punctuality, which have ſince rendered him the moſt conſpicuous character of the age, and excited the admiration of the world.

MANKIND in general, poſſeſſing a laudable emulation to diſplay their natural and acquired endowments, are frequently employed, according to their reſpective talents, as well on the high places of the field, as in deliberative aſſemblies, or by the midnight taper, to mitigate the condition of life, and enlarge the boundaries of public happineſs; but when we review the momentous changes of ſtates and empires, which at different times have convulſed ſociety, or recite the boaſted achievements of heroes and conquerors, can we find an inſtance of ſuperior magnanimity? Accuſtomed from early life to the toils of war; deeply intereſted for the welfare of his bleeding country, with modeſt diffidence he accepted the command of her infant armies; amid the moſt incredible difficulties and dangers, he led them triumphant, through the varied fortunes of an eventful revolutionary period, to Peace and Independence; when with republican dignity, unequalled even by the celebrated Roman farmer, he relinquiſhed the ſword for the pruning hook, and with genuine effuſions of a patriotic ſpirit to his military brethren,SEE his Farewell Addreſs to the Armies of the United States, Nov. 2, 1783. ſurrendered, to the VIRTUOUS ASSEMBLY, by which they were ſo worthily beſtowed, his extenſive powers to participate under his own vine and fig tree, the bleſſings of that freedom he had ſo largely contributed to eſtabliſh.

A COMBINATION of thoſe oppoſite qualities which diſtinguiſh the ſtateſman from the warrior, are ſeldom diſcoverable in the ſame perſon. The deliberate mind of the ſage civilian is rarely animated with martial ardor, while the ſucceſsful ſoldier, too often looſes the finer feelings of the citizen; but here the magiſtrate, legiſlator, and counſellor, are no leſs conſpicuous than the veteran leader. In municipal offices, he was active, impartial, deciſive; as a delegate to the firſt continental Congreſs, his ſervices were deſervedly eſtimated; in the Chair of that AUGUST ASSEMBLY, which formed the Federal Conſtitution, his weight of character, accommodating talents, and unexampled influence, ſupported the tottering fabric; as PRESIDENT of the UNITED STATES, a novel, untried ſituation, with every thing at hazard, his integrity, vigilance, inflexibility and perſeverance, were ſo well adapted to our national exigencies, that nothing but his ready acceptance of a ſubordinate truſtSEE his letter to Preſident ADAMS, July 13, 1798. from the hand of his ſucceſſor could increaſe his own celebrity, or the affections of his grateful countrymen.

PUBLIC employments, with elevated rank, are often rendered ſubſervient to perſonal conſiderations; and political tranquillity is frequently interrupted by ambition or avarice; but by him, the humble avocations of the huſbandman, ſweetened by the allurements of domeſtic retirement, were courted with eager ſolicitude; and his conſtant refuſal of pecuniary reward, is the beſt evidence of ſincere, diſintereſted ſervices.

WE need not recur to the records of antiquity to eſtabliſh a belief, that patriotiſm or popular acquirements are not invariably connected with religion and morality; for it is a humiliating fact, that vice, with gigantic ſtrides, often boldly traverſes the ſplendid palace, while thoſe milder virtues, which adorn humanity, are found in the peaſant's cottage. Happy is that nation, where "examples move as precepts teach," great indeed is the character, always influenced by that unerring guide, which looks beyond this chequered life for approbation and reward; ſuch is COLUMBIA'S BOAST, ſuch was our DEPARTED FRIEND. From education, and habit, he was attached to the doctrines and ceremonies of the epiſcopal church, which did not, however, prevent a liberal regard to every other denomination.SEE his Anſwers to the Addreſſes of the Clergy, on various occaſions. He conſidered public worſhip as an indiſpenſable duty, and was a ſtrict obſerver of the chriſtian ſabbath, whilſt his religion, equally free from bigotry or oſtentation, was the immoveable baſis of his morality and beneficence.

HOW he was eſteemed in the endearing character of a huſband, the records of our National Legiſlature can amply teſtify. On the delicate ſubject of removing his body to the city of Waſhington, founded by his exertions for the permanent ſeat of government; which future hiſtorians, will compare with the majeſtic elegance of Roman or Grecian ſplendor, and generations, yet unnumbered, will venerate, as well for the PRECIOUS DEPOSITE as its own magnificence; the late communication from the highly honored, WIDOWED PARTNER, of his youth, to the Chief Magiſtrate of the Union,SEE Preſident ADAMS's Meſſage to Congreſs, Jan. 8, 1800. diſcovering the keeneſt, moſt refined, and affectionate ſenſibility, evincive of prompt ſubmiſſion to the public will, is a ſtriking ſpecimen of the influence of a "great example."

IT was decreed by Unerring Wiſdom, that his paternal regards ſhould not be limited to a ſingle houſehold, but with the tender ſolicitude of a cautious attentive parent, his cares and benedictions were imparted to the great family of man; while the ſolemnities of this day recogniſe him, as the FATHER and PROTECTOR of a riſing empire, whoſe ſuſceptible boſom is the burying ſpot of his virtues; whoſe defenſive hills, and fruitful vallies, are laſting monuments of his extenſive fame.

EQUALLY diſtinguiſhed in the diſcharge of ſubordinate duties, as a relative and friend, he was faithful, candid, ſincere; as a maſter juſt, conſiderate, provident; as a companion courteous, affable, inſtructive; as a neighbour hoſpitable, benevolent, charitable; and as a member of the Maſonic Fraternity, his active and uniform ſupportSEE Hon. TIMOTHY BIGELOW's Eulogy, Feb. 11, 1800. have united philanthropy with patriotiſm, literature, arts, agriculture, commerce, and manufactures, in public demonſtration of unfeigned veneration for his revered memory.

THUS my reſpected friends, with pure intentions, but conſcious inability, I have attempted a conciſe, imperfect ſketch of the career of this ILLUSTRIOUS MAN, who was born in the Pariſh which bears his name, in the county of Weſtmoreland in Virginia, on the eleventh of February, by the calendar of ſeventeen hundred thirty-two, and ſpecially directed, for more than forty years, by the ſinger of SUPREME INTELLIGENCE, as were the Iſraelites of old, by the pillar and the cloud, died at his beloved MOUNT VERNON, famous as ancient Piſgah, on the fourteenth of December, ſeventeen hundred ninety-nine.

NOT like the eminent law giver with whom he has been juſtly compared, were his inanimate remains, ſecreted from his ſurviving kindred, and afflicted countrymen, to prevent exceſſive ſorrow, or idolatrous reverence; but under the cheering influence of that adorable diſpenſation, obſcured in former ages by the veil of types and metaphors, he was intered in the family vault on his own eſtate, with every teſtimonial of eſteem which local circumſtances would allow; and the numerous exhibitions of a funeral ceremony, in token of humble acquieſcence in the immutable decrees of a Righteous Ruler, are without a precedent in the annals of America.

BUT did his wonted greatneſs forſake him at that awful moment, when all his former deeds were brought to the teſt of unerring ſcrutiny? Not with the feeble principles of modern philoſophy, did he ſhrink from the unbounded proſpect opening to his view, and ſolicit a reprieve, but having maturely adjuſted his extenſive temporal concerns, in a manner no leſs honorable to his humanity,SEE the proviſion in his WILL for the emancipation of his ſlaves. than his judgment, with patient ſubmiſſion, he bore the anguiſh of a rapid, torturing diſeaſe, and with the ſame compoſure which had dignified his ordinary purſuits, he welcomed the faithful herald, to conduct him to everlaſting bliſs.