But here, ye Pagan poets, and thou prince of their choir, we leave you far behind; for your sublimest flights are now infinitely short of the theme! Your gloomy theology gave you tolerable aid in forming a bell, but the utmost efforts of natural genius could not make a heaven, worthy of a rational and immortal soul! The glory of giving some animating description of that bliss "which eye hath not seen, nor ear "before heard, nor could the unenlightened heart of "man otherwise conceive," was left for a more divine teacher. From him we learn, that a heart pure and detached from sordid pleasures, a soul panting after perfection, striving to imitate the goodness of heaven, anticipating its approving sentence, and devoted to the service of mankind, shall at last rise and mix in eternal fellowship with the beatified family of God! * A poet now, as may appear from the following lines of Thomson, can give us descriptions of elysian bliss, far superior to those of Virgil; "whose "ideas on this subject (as Mr. SPENCE observes) although preferable to "those of Homer and all the other ancient poets, are still so very low, that "they seem little more than borrowed from holiday-sports on the banks of "Tiber" "In those bright regions of celestial day, "Far other scenes, far other pleasures reign- "Of cities, nations, empires, and of worlds! Having now, my respected countrymen—and I hope I do not weary you-laid a wide foundation upon the practice of the wisest nations-in support of the present solemnity; I shall add but little more concerning the public utility of the thing itself. Circumstanced as we now are, and perhaps shall long be, in building up a fabric for future ages, it would be a wise institution, if, in imitation of the Genoese feast of union, we should make at least an annual pause, for a review of past incidents, and of the characters of those who have borne an illustrious share in them; thereby animating our virtue, and uniting ourselves more closely in the bonds of mutual friendship. The world, in general, is more willing to imitate, than to be taught; and examples of eminent characters have a stronger influence than written precepts. Men's actions are a more faithful mirror of their lives than their words. The former seldom deceive; but the latter often. The Deeds of Old, contract a venerable authority over us, when sanctified by the voice of applauding ages; and, even in our own day, our hearts take an immediate part with those who have nobly triumphed, or greatly suffered, in our behalf. But the more useful the display of such characters may be to the world, the more difficult is the work. And I am not to learn, that of all kinds of writing, panegyric requires the most delicate hand. Men seldom endure the praise of any actions, but those which their self-love represents as possible to themselves. Whatever is held up as an example, if placed beyond the common reach of humanity, duly exalted by public spirit, will excite no emulation; and whatever is placed within the vulgar walks of life, will attract no attention. There is a further difficulty, peculiar to certain times; particularly those of civil dissension, when the tempers of men are worked into ferment. Whence it happens, that they who have been the subjects of obloquy in one age, or in one state of party, have become the theme of praise in another. Such was Hampden-in the days of passive obedience, branded as a seditious disturber of his country's peace; and, at the blessed æra of the revolution, exalted into the first rank of patriots. Such was Sidney-condemned to a scaffold in the former period; and, in the latter, immortalized by the delegated voice of the nation! What judgment posterity will form of the present mighty contest, in which these United Colonies are engaged, I am at no loss to determine in my own mind. But, while the same actions are, by one part of a great empire, pronounced the most criminal resistance, and by another, the most laudable efforts > of self-preservation; no public character can be drawn alike acceptable to all. Nevertheless, as the faithful bistorian is the best panegyrist of true merit, he will not fashion himself to times and seasons, but exalt himself above them; and, conscious of his dignity, as responsible to succeeding ages, will take eternal truth as his support, which can alone bear the impartial test of future examination. He knows that the divine colours of virtue, although they may give a temporary glare, will not blend or mellow into a ground-work of vice. Whatever events, disastrous or happy, may lie before us; yet some degree of applause, even from an enemy, is certainly due to those illustrious men; who, led by conscience and a clear persuasion of < duty, sacrifice their ease, their lives and fortunes to the public; and, from their friends and country, they are entitled to a deathless renown. Perish that narrow pride, which will suffer men to acknowledge no virtue, but among their own party. In this direful contest, the chief concern of a liberal mind, will be, that so much personal virtue as may be found on both sides, instead of being united in some great national object for the common good, should be dreadfully employed to the purpose of mutual destruction. And a man can as soon divest himself of his humanity, as refuse the tribute of veneration due to actions truly magnanimous, When once it becomes criminal to plead the cause of a suffering people; when their virtues can no longer be safely recorded-then tyranny has put the last hand to its barbarous work. All the valuable purposes of society are frustrated; and whatever other human fate remains will be wholly indifferent to the wise and good. There are also many whose minds are so little, that they can conceive nothing great, which does not court the eye in all the trappings of dress, titles, and external splendor. An American-Patriot! a BlanketHero! a General from the plough! all these are terms of ridicule and reproach among many. Yet such was Cincinnatus, in the best days of Roman virtue; and a British poet, already quoted, hath boldly taught his countrymen this noble lesson "Some, with whom compar'd, your insect-tribes "Are but the beings of a summer's day, "Have held the scale of empire, rul'd the storm "Of mighty war; then, with unweary'd hand, "Disdaining little delicacies, seiz'd "The plough, and greatly independent liv'd." THOMSON. The same noble lesson is also taught, by the well known story of the two Spanish grandees, who were sent ambassadors to the Hague. Notwithstanding all the pride of their nation, they did not despise the Dutch deputies when they met them in a plain habit, and saw them on a journey sit down upon the grass, to a frugal repast of bread and cheese, out of their knapsacks. On the contrary, they cried out, "We "shall never be able to conquer these people; we must "even make peace with them." Should ambassadors honour us with a visit, upon a like occasion; let us be prepared to meet them in the same majestic simplicity of garb and manners. Let us convince them that public virtue is confined to no class of men; and that although it sometimes basks in the sunshine of courts, it frequently lies hid in the shades of obscurity, like the latent fire in flint, till called forth by the collisive hand of oppression. Adversity is the season which shews the spirit of a man in its full vigor; and times of civil calamity never fail to strike forth lights, sometimes single, and |