ing from the commencement of his complaint that it would be mortal, a few hours before his departure, after repeated efforts to be understood, he succeeded in expressing a desire that he might be permitted to die, without being disquieted by unavailing attempts to rescue him from his fate. After it became impossible to get any thing down his throat, he undressed himself and went to bed, there to die. To his friend and physician, who sat on his bed, and took his head in his lap, he said with difficulty, Doctor, I am dying, and have been dying for a long time; but I am not afraid to die.' Respiration became more and more contracted and imperfect, until half past eleven on Saturday night, when, retaining the full possession of his intellect, he expired without a struggle. Thus, on the fourteenth of December, 1799, in the sixty-eighth year of his age, died the father of his country, 'The man, first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his fellow-citizens.' This event spread a gloom over the country, and the tears of America proclaimed the services and virtues of the hero and sage, and exhibited a people, not insensible to his worth. The senate of the United States, in an address to the president on this melancholy occasion, indulged their patriotic pride, while they did not transgress the bounds of truth, in speaking of their WASHINGTON. Ancient and modern names,' said they,' are diminished before him. Greatness and guilt

have too often been allied; but his fame is whiter than it is brilliant. The destroyers of nations stood abashed at the majesty of his virtues. It reproved the intemperance of their ambition, and darkened the splendor of victory. The scene is closed, and we are no longer anxious lest misfortune should sully his glory; he has travelled on to the end of his journey, and carried with him an increasing weight of honor; he has deposited it safely where misfortune cannot tarnish it, where malice cannot blast it.'

Gen. Washington was rather above the common stature; his frame was robust, and his constitution vigorous. His exterior created in the beholder the idea of strength united with manly gracefulness. His eyes were of a gray colour, and his complexion light. His manners were rather reserved than free. His person and whole deportment exhibited an unaffected and indescribable dignity, unmingled with haughtiness, of which all, who approached him, were sensible The attachment of those, who possessed his friendship, was ardent, but always respectful. His temper was

humane, benevolent, and conciliatory; but there was a quickness in his sensibility to any thing apparently offensive, which experience had taught him to watch and correct. He made no pretensions to vivacity or wit. Judgment, rather than genius constituted the most prominent feature of his character. As a military man he was brave, enterprising, and cautious. At the head of a multitude, whom it was sometimes impossible to reduce to proper discipline before the expiration of their time of service, and having to struggle almost continually with the want of supplies, he yet was able to contend with an adversary superior in numbers, well disciplined, and completely equipped, and was the means of saving his country. The measure of his caution has by some been represented as too abundant; but he sometimes formed a plan, which his brave officers thought was too adventurous, and sometimes contrary to their advice he engaged in battle. Ifhis name is not rendered illustrious by splendid achievments, it is not to be attributed to the want of military enterprise. He conducted the war with that consummate prudence and wisdom, which the situation of his country and the state of his army demanded. He also possessed a firmness of resolution, which neither dangers nor difficulties could shake. In his civil administration he exhibited repeated proofs of that practical good sense, of that sound judgment, which is the most valuable quality of the human mind. More than once he put his whole popularity to hazard in pursuing measures, which were dictated by a sense of duty, and which he thought would promote the welfare of his country. In speculation he was a real republican, sincerely attached to the constitution of the United States, and to that system of equal, political rights, on which it is founded. Real liberty, he thought, was to be preserved only by preserving the authority of the laws, and maintaining the energy of government. Of incorruptible integrity, his ends were always upright, and the means which he employed, were always pure. He was a politician, to whom wiles were absolutely unknown. When any measure of importance was proposed, he sought information and was ready to hear, without prejudice, whatever could be said in relation to the subject; he suspended his judgment till it was necessary to decide; but after his decision had been thus deliberately made, it was seldom shaken, and he was as active and persevering in executing, as he had been cool in forming it. He possessed an innate and unassum

ing modesty, which adulation would have offended, which the plaudits of millions could not betray into indiscretion, and which was blended with a high sense of personal dignity, and a just consciousness of the respect, which is due to station.

With regard to the religious character of Gen. Washing. ton, there have been different opinions. In the extracts from some of his private letters, which have been published by the historian of his life, the name of the Supreme Being is once or twice introduced in a manner, which in commor conversation is deemed irreverent. It is also understood that in a few instances during the war, particularly when he met Gen. Lee retreating in the battle of Monmouth, his lan guage was unguarded in this respect. It may not be im possible, that a good man in a moment of extreme irritation should utter a profane expression; but perhaps it is les possible, that such a man, when his passion has passed away and his sober recollections have returned, should not re pent bitterly of his irreverence to the name of God. Of the other hand, Gen. Washington, when at the head of the army, issued public orders, calling upon his officers to dis countenance the habit of profanity; he speaks in his wri tings of the "pure and benign light of revelation," and of the necessity of imitating "the charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind, which were the characteristics of the Di vine Author of our blessed religion;" he gratefully ac knowledged the interpositions of Providence in favor of this country; his life was upright and virtuous; he principally supported an episcopal church in the neighborhood of Moun Vernon, where he constantly attended public worship; dur ing the war he not unfrequently rode ten or twelve mile from camp for the benefit of the institutions of religion; an it is believed, that he every day had his hour of retiremen from the world for the purpose of private devotion.

army

Gen. Washington was blessed with abundant wealth, and he was not ignorant of the pleasure of employing it for gen erous purposes. His style of living was dignified, though he maintained the strictest economy. While he was in the he wrote to the superintendant of his estate in the fol lowing terms. "Let the hospitality of the house be kep up with regard to the poor. Let no one go hungry away If any of this sort of people should be in want of corn, sup ply their necessities, provided it does not encourage them i idleness. I have no objection to your giving my money i

charity, when you think it will be well bestowed; I mean, that it is my desire, that it should be done. You are to consider, that neither myself nor my wife are in the way to do these good offices." Thus was he beneficent, while at the same time he required an exact compliance with engagements. A pleasing proof of the generous spirit, which governed him, is exhibited in his conduct towards the son of his friend, the Marquis de La Fayette. The marquis, after fighting in this country for American liberty, had returned to France; but in the convulsions of the French revolution he was exiled and imprisoned in Germany. General Washington gave evidence of sincere attachment to the unhappy nobleman, not only by exerting all his influence to procure his release from confinement, but by extending his patronage to his son, who made his escape from France, and arrived with his tutor at Boston, in 1795. As soon as he was informed of his arrival, he wrote to a friend, requesting him to visit the young gentleman and make him acquainted with the relations between this country and France, which would prevent the president of the United States from publicly espousing his interest, but to assure him of his protection and support. He also directed this friend to draw on him for money to defray all the expenses, which young La Fayette might incur. Towards his slaves Gen. Washington manifested the greatest care and kindness. Their servitude lay with weight upon his mind, and he directed in his will, that they should be emancipated on the decease of his wife. There were insuperable difficulties in the way of their receiving freedom previously to this event. On the death of Mrs Washington, May 22d, 1802, the estate of Gen. Washington, as he had no children, was divided according to his will among his and her relations. It amounted by his own estimate, to more than five hundred thousand dollars."*

JOHN ADAMS, ESQ.

1802 1799

Second President of the United States.

It has often been remarked, that the history of the life f a private man, however distinguished he may have been

* Allen's Biographical Dictionary.

1002 1799

for virtue and intelligence, furnishes less interest to the rea der, than that of one, who, although possessed of inferio endowments, has passed his life in public employment. similar remark may be applied to the two great classes o public men-one, devoted to the almost unobserved exer tions of wisdom in council,-and the other, to all that is attractive and splendid in war.

The subject of this memoir, was not a warrior; he was a statesman; who during the arduous struggle for the inde pendence of the United States, acted a most prominent and responsible part in the councils of his country, and after i was obtained, filled the highest offices in the power of tha country to bestow.

John Adams, was born in the town of Braintree, now cal led Quincy, in the state of Massachusetts, on the 19th o October, 1734, and was a descendant of the first familie: who founded the colony of Massachusetts Bay. After re ceiving the best education which the means of the country at that time could afford, he commenced the profession o Law, and by his abilities and integrity, he soon commanded the respect and confidence of his fellow citizens. He arose to the highest rank at the bar; but not content with sup porting the rights of individuals only, he zealously entered into the defence of the rights and liberties of his country at large, and in his early life wrote a dissertation on the canon and feudal laws; a work well adapted to confound the sup porters of either civil or ecclesiastical tyranny. It evinced not only the talents and patriotism of the writer, but excited a deep sensation in the minds of the whole community, or the subject of their dependence upon England for every thing that was dear and invaluable.

Notwithstanding his zeal and firmness, displayed in the defence of the liberties of his country, against the encroach ments of Great Britain; he was, with that distinguished pat riot, Mr. Quincy, employed to defend Capt. Preston of the British forces, who had been imprisoned for the massacre of some of the citizens of Boston, on the memorable 5th of March, 1770. Called upon by his professional duties, he boldly stood forth, as his advocate; and although his client's cause was most unpopular,-the whole town of Boston be ing exceedingly irritated at the conduct of Governor Hutch inson, and that of the troops under his command, he con ducted the trial with so much address and ability, that Capt Preston was finally acquitted: thus proving to England tha