Catharine, being informed of this, fuccefsful: in all her regulations, immediately gave orders for a body for the internal government of her of troops, which he had in the Ku- mighty empire, there appeared that ban, to go and reinforce the army benevolence, which, for the honour of Valerian Zuboff, not doubting of human nature, is ufually found that her general would very foon in conjunction with fublimity of give a total defeat to Aga Mah- genius. She wifhed, foon after her mcd. She alfo flattered herself with acceffion to the throne, to introthe hopes of obtaining a greater tri- duce civil liberty among the great umph. The new treats, which the mafs of the people, by the emanbad juft concluded with Great Bri- cipation of the peafantry. It was tair, and with Auftria, fecured to her found impracticable to emancipate the affiftance of thofe two powers their bodies without enlightening against Turkey. In a word, the their minds. To this object she now reckoned on the full accom- bent the powers of her inventive, plishment of her darling project, though prudent, genius. Schools of driving the Ottomans out of Eu- were inftituted in all parts of her rope, and of reigning in Conftan- dominions, and a way was opened tinople. But the fuddenly finished, for the loweft of her fubjects to by an eafy death, the career of a liberty, by certain privileges, within fplendid life, in the fixty-feventh the fcope of induftry and merit. year of her age, and thirty-fixth of The code of laws, drawn up by her reign. She died at Petersburgh, her own hand. was never exceeded of an apoplexy, on the tenth of in point either of fagacity or goodNovember; on which her fon, the nefs: for, we are always to bear great duke, Paul Petrowitz, was pro- in mind, that even Solon found it claimed emperor. expedient not to dictate the best laws, but the beft that the people, for whom he dictated, were capable of bearing. Her military plans partook of the firength of fimplicity. She did not feed the flame of war to no purpofe, by throwing in, as it were, faggot after faggot, nor wafte time in tedious detours, but, with a mighty and irrefiftible concentrated force, proceeded directly to her object. She had not the art of appearing affable, generous, and magnanimous, but the merit of really being fo. She was not only a patronefs, but a great proficient, in literature; and, had not her life been spent in great actions, it would, probably, have been employed, though with fomewhat lefs glory, in celebrating the illufirious atchievements of others. Catharine was the moft illuftrious fovereign, after the exit of Frederick the great, king of Pruffia, on the theatre of Europe, for comprehenfion of mind, lofty ambition, courage, and perfeverance in her defigns, and the general influence of her policy and arms, in the affairs of Europe. Her ambition was not directed merely to the fecurity and extenfion of the empire, but to the civilization and welfare of fubject tribes and nations, by the introduction of arts, liberal and mechanical, and the improvement of manufactures and commerce and all this, by means more gentle and gradual than many of thofe employed by Peter the great; and, confequently, more effectual. In all her wars fhe was It is an invidious invidious thing to pry, with too and had ceafed to be a formidable much curiofity, into the frailties of fuch a character. The feverest critic has not been able to charge her with anything unnatural, or, in her predicament, and fituation, not eafily to be forgiven. As to the obfcure event that led her to the throne, if this had not taken place, an event of another kind must have led her firft to imprisonment, and then, moft afluredly, to death. The laft of her grand defigns was, to curb the power and infolence of the French republic. It was the policy of the emprefs, who detefted the French republic, with out loving the Auftrians, to let both parties exhauft themselves: determined, however, whatever might be the fate of their arms, to prevent either from acquiring an uncontrolled fway in Germany. Orders were iffed for a levy of a hundred and fifty thoufand troops, deftined to act, in fome fhape or other, for the relief of the emperor of Germany. It has been queftioned, whether it would not have been wifer policy, in her Imperial majefty, to have moved for the affiftance of the confederates fooner? She, perhaps, entertained a perfuafion, that the allies would fland firm together, and make a more fuccefsful oppofition to the republic. She was, no doubt, well enough pleafed to fee almost all the other powers of Europe weaken themselves by war; whilft, at the fame time, it must have been her intention, as has fince appeared, to interfere, more and more, in the general conflict, in proportion as the party fhe detefted gained ground on a fovereign prince; who, though a neighbour, and ancient enemy, yet poflefled a hereditary throne, 10 rival. It is to be confidered, farther, that had the moved sooner, the Turks, on the other fide, inftigated by French intrigues, might have moved alfo. The Czarina waited, too, until the fhould fecure` peace, on the most formidable frontier, by a marriage between her grand daughter and the young king of Sweden; an object which the had much at heart, though it was found impoffible to accomplish it. Catharine II. has left a name that will ever be memorable, and remembered by future generations, to whom the benefits of her inftitutions will extend, with grateful admiration. Yet, it was the love of glory that was her predominant paffion; and the humane will regret that the purfued this through feas of blood: fo that the will take her ftation in the temple of fame, among the great, not the good princes; and, in this fpeculative age, add to the odium of abfolute monarchy, by difplaying the miferies that flow from unbounded power, united with unbounded ambition. This year alfo, general Washington, the greatest of cotemporary men, as Catharine was of cotemporary fovereigns, refigned the prefidency of the United States. These illuftrious characters were both refpectively at the head of the two lateft, greateft, and moft rifing empires in the world; both nearly of the fame age; both of equal cele brity; though not of true glory: pure and diinterefted patriotifm be ing the ruling principle in the mind of Washington; the patriotifm of Catharine only fecondary to her ambition, and fubfervient to the love of fame. General Washington having refcued his country from the oppreffion oppreffion of the English government, and restored it, by a commercial treaty, in fpite of France, and almoft in fpite of itself, to an amicable connection with the English nation, voluntarily retired from power, after giving the most profound inftruction and advice refpecting union, virtue, liberty, and happinefs; between all of which there was a clofe connection, with the moft ardent pravers for the profperity and peace of America. There is nothing in profane hiftory to which his parting addrefs to the ftates can be compared. In our facred Scriptures alone we find a parallel in that recapitulation of divine inftructions and commands which the legislator of the Jews made in the hearing of Ifrael, when they were about to pass the Jordan.* It ́In his addrefs to congrefs, on the feventh of December, 1796, having given an account of the situation of the United States, in relation to foreign powers, and strongly recommended the creation of a navy, he directs the attention of congrefs to the encou ragement of manufactures, agriculture, a national univerfity, and also a military academy. His fentiments, on these subjects, are thofe of an enlightened and philofophical statesman. "I have heretofore propofed to the confideration of congrefs, the expediency of establishing a national university, and alío a military academy. The desirablenefs of both these inftitutions has fo conftantly increased with every new view I have taken of the fabject, that I cannot omit the opportunity of, once for all, recalling your attention to them. "The affembly to which I addrefs myself, is too enlightened not to be fully fenfible how much a flourishing state of the artsand fciences contributes to national profperity and reputation. True it is, that our country, much to its honour, contains many feminaries of learning, highly refpectable and useful; but, the funds, upon which they reft, are too narrow to command the ableft profeffors in the different departments of liberal knowledge, for the inftitution contemplated, though they would be excellent auxiliaries. "Among the motives to fuch an institution, the affinilation of the principles, opinions, and manners of our countrymen, by the common education of a portion of our youth, from every quarter, well deferves attention. The more homogeneous our citizens can be made, in these particulars, the greater will be our profpect of a permanent union; and a primary object of all fuch a national institution, fhould be the education of our youth in the fcience of government. In a republic, what fpecies of knowledge can be equally important? and what duty more preffing on its legiflature, than to patronize a plan for communicating it to those who are to be the future guardians of the liberties of the country? "The inftitution of a military academy, is alfo recommended by cogent reasons. However pacific measures may contribute to the general policy of a nation may be, it ought never to be without an adequate ftock of military knowledge, on emergencies. That firit would impair the energy of its character, and both would hazard its safety or expofe it to greater evils when war could not be avoided: befides, that war might not often depend upon its own choice. "In proportion as the obfervance of pacific maxims might exempt a nation from the neceffity of practifing the rules of the military art, thefe ought to be its care in preferving, and tranfmitting, by proper eftablishments, the knowledge of that art. Whatever argument may be drawn from particular examples, fuperficially viewed, a thorough examination of the fubject will evince, that the art demands much previous Itudy, and that the poffeffion of it, in its most improved and perfect ftate, is always of great moment to the fecurity of a nation. This, therefore, ought to be a ferious care of every government; and, for this purpofe, an academy, where a regular course of inftruction is given, is an obvious expedient, which different nations have fuccessfully employed." General It has often happened, nay it the moft brilliant talents and vir has most frequently happened, that tues, in politicians and warriors, have General Washington, in September (1796), published a little piece, entitled "A Letter from General Washington, on his Refignation of the Office of President of the United States." This letter, written by the father and faviour of his country to his countrymen, on an occafion when his heart was warm, and open, and the tenor and grand object of his life in his fuil recolle&ion, paints the man in jufter and livelier colours than any thing we can record. He begs the people of the United States to be affured, that his refolution to refign the presidency had not been taken without a strict regard appertaining to the relations which bind a dutiful citizen to his country; and that, in withdrawing the tender of fervice, which filence, in his fituation, might imply, he was influenced by no diminution of zeal for their future interests; no deficiency of gratitude for their paft kindness; but was fupported by a full conviction, that the ftp was compatible with both. Having mentioned the motives that induced him to accept and continue in the high office, to which their fuffrages had twice called him, and those which had urged him to lay it down, he fays, "In looking forward to the moment which is intended to terminate the career of my public life, my feelings do not permit me to fufpend the deep acknowledgement of that debt of gratitude which I owe to my beloved country, for the many honcurs it has conferred upon me; still more, for the ftedfaft confidence with which it has fupported me; and for the opportunities I have then enjoyed, of manifefting my inviolable attachment, by fervices faithful and perfevering, though in utefulness unequal to my zeal. If benefits have refulted to our country from thefe fervices, let it always be remembered to your praife, and as an inftructive example in our annals, that under circumftances in which the paffions, agitated in every direction, liable to milead; amidst appearances, fom-times dubious; viciffitudes of fortune, often difcouraging; in fituations in which not unfrequently, want of fuccefs has countenanced the fpirit of criticism, the conftancy of your fupport was the effential prop of the efforts, and a guarantee of the plans, by which they were effected. Profoundly penetrated with this idea, I fhall carry it with me to the grave, as a strong incitement to unceafing vows, that Heaven may continue to you the choiceft tokens of its beneficence; that your union and brotherly affection may be perpetual; that the free conftitution, which is the work of your hands, may be facredly maintained; that its adminiftration, in every department, may be stamped with wifdom and virtue; that, in fine, the happinefs of the people of thefe States, under the aufpicies of liberty, may be made complete by fo careful a prefervation and fo prudent a use of this bleffing, as will acquire to them the glory of recommending it to the applaufe, the affection, and adoption of every nation which is yet a ftranger to it. "Here, perhaps, I ought to stop; but folicitude for your welfare, which cannot end but with my life, and the apprehenfion of danger, natural to that folicitude, urge me, on an occafion like the present, to offer to your folemn contemplation, and to recommend to your frequent review, fome fentiments, which are the refult of much reflection of no inconfiderable obfervation, and which appear to me all important to the permanency of your felicity, as a people. Thefe will be offered to you with the more freedom, as you can only fee in them the difinterefted warnings of a parting friend, who can poffibly have no perfonal motives to bias his counfel. Nor can I forget, as an encouragement to it, your indulgent reception of my fentiments on a former, and not diffimilar occafion." He recommends the love of liberty; the unity of government to which they were powerfully invited and urged by every inducement of fympathy and intereft; guards them against the caufes by which this union may be disturbed; all obftructions to the excution of the laws, all combinations and affiociations, under whatever plaufible character, with the real defign to direct, controul, and counteract, or awe regular deliberation and action of the conftituted authorities; the fpirit of party, and all encroachments of one department of government on another. Of all the difpofitions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indifpenfible fupports. In vain would Irave been employed in perfonal ambition and aggrandizement; or, what is werle, for the aggrandize ment of abfolute monarchs, whofe precarious fimiles were preferred to the fteady and dignified regards of true glory. A Charles of Sweden facritices his people to animofity, pride, and revenge. A Richelieu lays his countrymen in chains at the feet of their haughty fovereign. The moral philofopher exclaims, on a review on the great qualities of Julius Cæfar, Curfe on his virtues! they've undone his country." The great and good qualities of general Washington were difplayed in a great and good caufe: the The would that man claim the tribute of patriotifm, who should labour to fubvert these great pillars of human happiness, thefe femeft props of the duties of men and citizens. mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to refpect and cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity. Let it fimply be afked, where is the fecurity for property, for reputation, for life, if the fenfe of religious obligation defert the oaths which are the inftruments of investigation in the courts of juftice? And let us with caution indulge the fuppofition, that national morality can fubfist without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education, on minds of a peculiar ftructure, reafon and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail, in exclufion of religious principles." The legiflator and patriot proceeded to warn his countrymen against inveterate antipathies against particular nations. On this fubject he makes thefe remarkable obfervations, of which many will, no doubt, make, at the prefent moment, particular applications. "The nation, prompted by ill-will and refentment, fometimes impels to war the government, contrary to the hift calculations of policy. The government fometimes participates in the national propenfity, and adopts, through paffion, what reason would reject; at other times, it makes the arinofity of the nation fubfervient to projects of hoftility, inftigated by pride, ambition, and other finifter and pernicious motives. The peace often, fometimes, perhaps, the liberty of nations, has been the victims." On this point, of an equal and juft regard for all nations; and, on the other hand, on the infidious wiles of foreign influence, general Wathington defcants at a greater length than on any of the other topics on which he touches; and, if poffibly, with greater earne tness. It is not difficult, from hence, to conjecture, what was, at the time, the principle object of his folicitude-foreign influence, particularly that of the French republic. The world has had many political teftaments; fome real, fome counterfeit : none that breathes fuch pure morality, fuch fublime and found policy, as the address and the example of general Washington. The ftyle of his paternal letters and fpeeches, exhorting his countrymen to preferve union among themfelves, and peace, good faith, and fincere good-will towards all nations, as well as the fentiments, shining forth with mild radiance, not in fiery flame, were contrafted with certain palionate perfuafives to war. How much to be preferred is found fenfe, fimplicity, and fincerity of intention, felf-command and moderation of temper, to the most thining talents and accomplishments without them! Yet, though we cannot rank general Wathington in the first clafs of literary geniuses, he was not deficient, but greatly above par, in the moft ufefel kinds of knowledge, and alfo in the art of writing. His thoughts are clearly arranged; he manages with great fkill, the march of his hearer's or reader's fentinents and tpirits; his language is perfectly gramatical and pure, and altogether free from any provincial flang, and cockney er metropolitan barbarifms, which, iffuing from the boufe of commons and newspapers, has adulterated the English tongue, and threatens, in its progrefs, to render it to future ages unintelligible. A like obfervation may be extended to the writings of Dr. Frankland, Mr. Adams, and other American writers. |