011 783 280 6 
 
 HoUinger 
 
 pH8.5 
 
 Mill Run F3-1955 
 
JE 312 
 !.17 
 .098 
 Copy 2 
 
 DISCOURSE. 
 
 A 
 
 DELIVERED AT 
 
 NEW-HAVEN, 
 
 FEB. 22, l8oo ; 
 
 ON THE CHARACTER 
 
 OF 
 
 GEORGE WASHINGTON, Efq. 
 
 AT THE 
 
 REQUEST OF THE CITIZENS; 
 
 By TIMOTHY DWIGHT, D.D. 
 
 PRESIDENT OF 'S^ALE-COLLEGE. 
 
 PRINTED BY THOMAS GREEN AND SON, 
 
 NEW-HAVEN : 
 
 ]8qOv 
 
182/1 
 
 •'7 
 
mmaaxsBEBiamt 
 
 A PROCLAMATION, 
 
 BY THE PRESIDENT of the United States of America* 
 
 WHEREAS the Congrefs of the United States have 
 this day refolved, '' That it be recowimeiided to the People 
 of the United States to afiemble on the 22d clay of Februa- 
 ry next, in fuch numbers and manners as m^iy be conveni- 
 ent, publicly to teftify their grief for the death of general 
 George Wafilington, by fuitable eulogies, orations iinddif- 
 courfes, or by public prayers:" and << That the Pjtiident 
 of the United States be requefted* to iiTue a Proclamation 
 for the purpofe of carrying the foregoing refolution into 
 effed." Now Therefore, 1 John Adams, Prefident of 
 the United States of America, do hereby proclaim the fame 
 accordingly. 
 
 Given under my hand and the fed of the Untied St ateSy at 
 Philadelphia, the fixth day cf January, in the year of 
 our Lord, one thoufand eii^ht hundred, and of the Inde- 
 pendence of the United States the t-wenty. fourth. 
 
 JOHN ADAMS. 
 
 By the Prefident y 
 
 TIMOTHY PICKERING, Secretary of State, 
 
 IN purfuance of the foregoing proclamation, the citizens 
 of New-Haven convened and appointed a cpmmittee, with 
 full powers, to make fuitable arrangements for a public tef- 
 timony of the refpeft of the citizens for the memory of 
 General George Vv'^alliington. Purfuani? to this appoint- 
 ment the committee agreed on the following exercifes and 
 marks of grief, which were exhibited on the 22d inftant. / 
 
 At fix o'clock in the morning, the folemnities of the 
 4ay were introduced by the tolling of all the bells for \\Ai 
 an hour. The tolling was repeated at nine and twelve 
 ©'clock. The flag of the United States v as dii'played, or, 
 the public fquare, at half ilafF, and the Ihipping in the hai> 
 llrour dil'pl ay ed colours, througli the day, at half, mail?. 
 
At two o'clock P.M. the citizens affembled, in unufual 
 concourfe, at the brick Meeting-houfe, where were per- 
 formed the following exerciies : 
 
 1. A F'jneral Anthem. 
 
 2. An appropriate Prayer, by the Rev. James 
 Dana, D.D. 
 
 3. Mufic. 
 
 4. A Sermon, by the Rev. Prefident D wight. 
 
 5. The reading of Gen. Wafliington's farewell Ad- 
 drefs, to the Citizens of the United States, on 
 declining public Life, by the Rev. Bela Hubbard. 
 
 6. A pertinent Prayer, by the Rev. John Gemmil. 
 
 7. A Funeral Dirge. 
 
 The citizens of both fexes wore, on the left arm, black 
 crape, or ribbons, as badges of mourning ; the pulpit was 
 drelTed in black ; fecular bufinefs was fufpended ; the exer- 
 cifes were folemn and impreffive ; and the attention and 
 conduiSt of the citizens evidenced their gratitude for the 
 eminent fervices, and their veneration for the diftinguifhed 
 virtues, of the illuftrious man, whofe death they deplored. 
 
 AT a Meeting of the Comtnlltee af j^rrangements, Febru- 
 ary 24, 1800, Resolved, That '-he thanks of the citizens 
 of New-Haven be prefented to the Rev. Timothy Dwight, 
 D.D. for his pertinent and eloquent Difcourfe, delivered 
 on the 22d inftant, and that a copy be requefted for publi- 
 cation. 
 
 Resolved, That the proceedings of the town, the dif- 
 courfe, and General Walhington's farewell addrefs, be 
 publiihed for the benefit of the citizens of New-Hnven, and 
 ^o perpetuate the remembrance of the melancholy occafion. 
 
 By order of the Committee, 
 
 HENRY DAGGETT, Chairman.. 
 
swa 
 
 DEUTERONOMYj XXXIV. lO, II, 12. 
 
 And there arofe not a prophet, fince in IJraely like un^ 
 to McJeSy whom the Lord knew face to face j 
 
 In all the figns and wonders^ which the Lord fent 
 him to do in the land, of Egypt^ to Pharaohy a?id 
 to all his Jervants^ and to all his land -, 
 
 And in all that mighty hand, and in all that great 
 terror^ which Mojes, fhewed in the figjot of all ffraeL 
 
 JL O praife liich as have lately died, is the in- 
 ftin6live conduft of forrovy. From thofe -who fur- 
 round the bed of a departed friend, the firft accenrsj 
 ■which fucceed the involuntary burft of anguifh, are 
 enumerations of his real or fuppofed virtues. Even 
 in the mouths of the intelligent, and in the chambers 
 of the refined and delicate, the praife is warm and 
 unqualified, and nature overleaps every bound, rail^ 
 ed by artificial decorum. Among nations lefs en- 
 lightened, open and ftrong commendations of the 
 dead are inwoven in the eflablifhed manners, and 
 demanded by common decency ; while, among la- 
 vages, funeral fongs, replete with paflTionate fenti- 
 ments, glowing imagery, and exceflive panegyric, 
 are prominent features of national chara6ter, and 
 fplendid parts of public celebration. 
 
 To this general voice of nature Revelation has 
 added its lupreme fanftion. The text, which I have 
 jufl now read, is an eulogy of the higheft ki^(;^^ 
 
When we remember the numbers, and the charac- 
 ter, of the prophets who followed Moles -, when 
 we confider that of this number were Samuel, Da- 
 vid, Ifaiah, and Daniel ; we cannot but feel, that 
 it would have been difficult to afcribe to him a more 
 honorable charafter. 
 
 What then has been the caufe, that no efforts 
 of the mind have been lefs approved, than funeral 
 eulogies -, and that an infipid panegyric is become 
 proverbial phrafeology ? Has it not been, on the 
 one hand, that grief, and not reafon, has given birth 
 to the praife, and that grief alone can admit its 
 truth, or feel its propriety ? Has it not been, on 
 the other hand, that the Eulogift has come, in form, 
 to make the moft of his theme j to create a charafter 
 which has not exifted, and to fupply worth which 
 he does not find j todifplay his ingenuity, rather than 
 the features of the deceafed ; and to gain applaufe 
 for his own talents, rather than refpeft for the fub- 
 jefl of his panegyric. For thefe, or fome other rea- 
 fons, few attempts of this nature have fucceeded ; 
 and the effort to gain efteem for the dead has ter- 
 minated in producing contempt for the living. 
 
 Beside the difficulties, always attendant on 
 attempts of this nature, the prefent occafion in- 
 volves fome, which arc peculiar. The fubjed: 
 of eulogy at this time is fo Iplendid,. as to in- 
 duce, and authorize, every man to demand all 
 that canbefaid by the human genius, and toilipu- 
 late for its nobleft efforts only ; fo near to the heart 
 of an American, as to warrant an unqualified re- 
 jeftion of whatfoever falls beneath its expectations, 
 and its wifhes j fo often and fo illuflrioufly panegy- 
 rized, both at home and abroad, as to leave little 
 chance for novelty, or fuccefs. The very nan:ie of 
 Wafhington has become an equivalent to the high- 
 eft human dignity and worth, and ail additions to it 
 
?iave long pafTed rather for the mere unburdening of 
 an American heart, than for the means of honour- 
 ing his charailer. Where fo much is demanded, 
 and fo little will be accepted, temerity only can fur- 
 nifli confidence to the fpeaker, and perfuade him, 
 that he fliall fatisfy the wifhes of his fellow citizens. 
 
 To Ibme perfon, however, the taflc, afllgned to 
 me, muft have fallen j and to none could it have 
 fallen without anxiety. I have ventured upon it, 
 with an intention to perform a duty, not with a 
 hope to fulfil expedation. Funeral panegyric I 
 have always Hiunned ; and would more willingly 
 have avoided it on this occafion, than on any other. 
 
 This apology, which may probably feem long, 
 and ufelefs, will, ic is hoped, neverthelefs prove of 
 fome ufe to the fpeaker. It is hoped, that ic will, 
 in fome degree, juftify the undertaking, and explain 
 and vindicate the manner in which it will be execu- 
 ted ; that it will lead my audience to exped, and 
 ihew the reafons why I ITiall exhibit, a plain and 
 challized account of my fubjeft; and that it will in- 
 duce them to confider what I fhall aflert, however 
 it may differ from their opinions and feelings, as be- 
 lieved and felt by me. 
 
 Human greatnefs is of many kinds, and appears 
 under many forms ; but the diverlities of perfonal 
 greatnefs have their foundation in the intelleft, and 
 in the heart. How far this is, in either cafe, the 
 refult of the original ftrudlure of tlie mind, and how 
 far of effort and acquifition, it is probably impoffible 
 for man to determine. We fee fome aftually great; 
 but the caufe, and the means, have in a degree been, 
 hitherto, in a ftate of uncertainty. 
 
 In all cafes, in which this diftindion has been 
 atchieved, whether inteUcdual, or moral, there muft 
 
to fuperior endowments and attainments, be fuper- 
 added, by Providence, a happy field, in which they 
 may be advantageoufly difplayed. Some object 
 feen, and felt, by the mind, to be of fufncient im- 
 portance to juftify high and ardent efforts, and to 
 repay the labours, and the fnfFerings, which attend 
 them, miift be prefented to the underftanding, and 
 Jay hold on the heart. In this fituation, if ever, 
 the man rifes above himfclf, feels his powers in a 
 new manner, exerts talents of which he was before 
 unconfcious, and virtues which had hitherto been 
 dormant. Himfelf, as well as the world, is aflon- 
 ifhed at what he is, and at what he does ; the fifh- 
 erman is changed into an Apoftle j the* trader of 
 Mecca becomes the founder of a religion, and an 
 empire, embracing a fourth of mankind j and the 
 4;leader of a gang of thieves afcends the throne of 
 Perfia, and places beneath his feet the fcepter of 
 Hindoftan. 
 
 Among thofe occafions, which have lifted man 
 above his ordinary fphere, none have difplayed with 
 more fplendor, either talents, or virtues, than the 
 revolutions of religion and empire. The conqueft 
 of nations, and the fubverfion of governrnjcnts, form- 
 ed, as well as exhibited, Nebuchadnezzar, Cyrus, 
 Alexander, Hannibal, Csfar, Ghengis, Timur-bec, 
 Kouli Khan, Frederic, 2d. Hyder Ali, and various 
 others of a fimilar character. To all thefe the pride 
 of vidorv, the extenfion of conqueft, and die increafe 
 of dominion, rofe in full view j and, with a fafci- 
 liation wholly irrefiftible, prompted them to con- 
 trive, to dare, and to attempt, beyond the limits of 
 ordinary belief. When we contemplate thefe men, 
 however, our admiration is always mingled with 
 difguft ; and the few things in their charafters, which 
 clainn elteem, are loft in the multitude of thofe> 
 
 ? lAahQiamti, % Nadir Kouli Khzn, 
 
9 
 
 which force abhorrence. The luftre ITied around 
 them is gloomy and difmal ; a glare of Avernus ; 
 a " darknefs vifible ;" at which the eye gazes with 
 a mixture of aftonifhment and horror. We ficken, 
 while we read their exploits ; and blufh, that fuch 
 fcourges of the world fhould have claimed a com- 
 mon nature with ourfelves. 
 
 But there have been happier occafions for call- 
 ing into aftion, and into light, the fuperiour facul- 
 ties of man. Empire and religion have, at times, 
 changed for the better. Men have arifen, whom 
 the world has not only admired, but revered, and 
 loved J to whom applaufe was not the mere outcry 
 of aftorHfhment, but the fiient and fteady teflimony 
 of the underftanding, the cheerful and inftinftive 
 tribute of the heart. When opprcflion was to be. 
 refifted, government to be reformed, or the moral 
 ftate of mankind to be renewed, the Ruler of the 
 Univerfe has always fupplied the means, and the a- 
 gents. Where to the human eye the whole face of 
 things has worn an uniform level ; where every fa- 
 mily was loft in infignificance, and every citizen. 
 was a peafant, and a flave ; energy, afleep under 
 the prefTure of weary circumftances, and talents, 
 veiled by humble and hopelefsobfcurity, have been 
 roufed into a<flion, and pufhed forward to diftindi- 
 on and glory. 
 
 Among the men, who, at fuch periods, have 
 rifen to eminence, the Prophet, who is the fub- 
 jed of my text, is unqueftionably the firft. In all 
 the talents which enlarge the human mind and all 
 the virtues which ennoble the human heart, in the 
 amiablenefs of private life and the dignity of a ru- 
 ler, in dangers hazarded and difficulties overcome, 
 in fplendor of deftination and the enjoyment, and 
 proofs, of divine complacency, he is clearly with- 
 out a rival. Companions, perhaps fuperiors, he 
 
10 
 
 may find in fome fingle walk of greatnefs ; but in 
 the whole progrefs he is hitherto alone. 
 
 For this preeminence he was plainly fitted by 
 nature, and education, by the manner of his life, 
 and the field of his employment. Born with a foul 
 luperior to his kind, educated in the firft fchool of 
 wifdom, trained to arms, and to policy, in the moft 
 improved and powerful court in the world, and nur- 
 tured in wifdom Hill more fublime in the quiet re- 
 treats of Midian, he came forth to his great fcenc 
 of public adlion, with ;the moft happy preparation 
 both for fuccefs and glory. ■ God was about to ac- 
 complifli a more impojtant revolution than had ever 
 taken place, and had formed and finiflied the inftru- 
 ment, which fo illuftrious a defign required. 
 
 In whatever courfe of life, in whatever branch 
 of character, we trace this great man, we find al- 
 moft every thing to approve, and love, and fcarcely 
 any thing to lament, or cenfure. When we fee him 
 at the burning bufli, facrificing his diffidence to his 
 duty, and refolving finally to attempt the firft great 
 liberation of mankind; when we accompany him 
 to the preience of Eharaoh, and hear him demand 
 the releafe of the mifcrable vi6lims of his tyranny j 
 when we behold him laying Egypt wafte, and fum- 
 moning all the great engines of terror and deftruc- 
 tion to overcome the obftinacy and wickednefs of 
 he; monarch ; when we follow him to the Red Sea, 
 and behold the waters divide at his command, 'to o- 
 pen a pafiage for the millions of Ifrael ; and at the 
 fame command return, to deluge the Egyptian hoft ; 
 when we tr^e him through the wonders of Sinai, 
 and of the v/ildernefs ; when we mark his fteady 
 faith in God, his undoubting obedience to every 
 divine command, his unexampled patriotifm, im- 
 movable by ingratitude, rebellion, and infult, his 
 cheerful communication of every ofiice of power and 
 
II 
 
 profit to others, and his equally cheerful exclufion 
 of his own defcendants from all places of diftin6lion ; 
 when we confider his glorious integrity in adhering 
 always to the duties of his office, unfeduced by 
 power and fplendour, unmoved by national and fin- 
 gular homage, imawed by fa6bion and oppofition, 
 undaunted by danger and difficulty, and unaltered 
 by provocation, obloquy, and diftrefs ; when we 
 fee him meek beyond example, and patient and per- 
 fevering, through forty years of declining life, in 
 toil, hazard, and trial ; when we read in his writings 
 the frank records of his own failings, and thofe of 
 his family, friends, and nation, and the firft efforts 
 of the hiftorian, the poet, the orator, and the law- 
 giver j when we fte all the duties of felf government, 
 benevolence, and piety, which he taught, exadlly 
 difplayed in a life approximating to angelic virtue i 
 when we behold him the deliverer of his nation, 
 the reftorer of truth, the pillar of righteoufnefs, and 
 the reformer of mankind i his whole character fhines 
 with a radiance, like the fplendour, which his face 
 derived from the Sun of Righteoufnefs, and on 
 which the human eye could not endure to look. 
 He is every where the fame glorious perfon ; tlie 
 Man of God ; felefled from the race of Adam j 
 called up into the mountain, that burned with fire ; 
 afcending to meet his Creator j embofoming him- 
 felf in the clouds of Sinai j walking cdmly onward 
 through the thunders and lightnings ; and ferenely 
 advancing to the immediate prefence, and converfe, 
 of Jehovah. He is the greateft of all prophets ; 
 the firft type of the Saviour ; condufted to Pifgah, 
 nnclothed of mortal flefli, and entombed in the duft, 
 by the immediate hand of the Moft High. ^ 
 
 In a fphere, in fome refpeds lefs fplendid, but 
 inlheeye ofwifdom and virtue fcarcely lefs honour- 
 able, Paul, alfo, rofe to finifhed glory and great- 
 nefs, as the enlightener, and reformer of mankind. 
 
12 
 
 He was not, like Mofes, the emancipator of a na- 
 tion, the head of a new church, or the founder of 
 an empire ; but he was the mofl illuftrious follower 
 of the Son of God, in eftablifhing Chriftianity, and 
 in accompliOiing the falvation of men. No labours 
 of man claim a higher moral diftin6lion, than his; 
 no mind was ever fo expanded, or elevated, with 
 the nobleft knowledge j no heart was probably ever 
 warmed with more various, or more exalted virtue. 
 No man ever ftruggled more firmly with dangers ; 
 or rofe more glorioufly above difficulties; regarded 
 friends with more afFe6lion, or enemies with more 
 compaflion ; felt for himfelf lefs, or his fellow men 
 more ; or attained a more fublime and unmingled 
 piety, than Paul. To his labours mankind are, di- 
 rectly, more indebted, than to thofe of any other 
 man, for the moral wifdom, the virtue, the peace, 
 and the happinefs, which they now enjoy. 
 
 Such excellence we are not to look for among 
 thole, who have received no fupernatural afTiftance ; 
 yet, in fimilar revolutions of empire, fimilar eman- 
 cipations of mankind, and fimilar renovations of the 
 human chara6ter, both talents and virtues have ap- 
 peared with high luftre and dignity. As proofs of 
 this afTertion, many names of no fmall celebrity 
 might be recited here, were it necelTary j but it will 
 be fufficient for the prefent occafion, to mention 
 three only, as diftinguilhed, in my view at leaft, a- 
 bove others. Thefe are the firft, and fecond Guf- 
 tavus, of Sweden, and Alfred the Great, of England. 
 Were not his character clouded by fome ferious de- 
 fers, I Ihouldadd to this lift Henry the fourth, of 
 France. 
 
 The firft Guftavus accomplilhed for Sweden 
 whar the great man, whole character and death we 
 are alTeilnbled to commemorate, accompliftied for 
 us 5 a deliverance from political thraldom, and the 
 
eftablilTiment of political freedom and fafety. Illuf-, 
 trioufly defcended, diftinguiflied in early yo^Jth for 
 a feries of honourable aftions, and already the ob- 
 jcft of governmental confidence and public hope, 
 he was trepanned by the treachery of Chriftiern the 
 third, of Denmark, one of the moft faithlefs, proud, 
 and bloody tyrants, that ever difgraced the name 
 of man ; was thrown into prifbn, and fecretly order- 
 ed to be put to death ; folely becaufe his claims of 
 power in Sweden were great, and his worth gave 
 the faireft promife of feeing them fubltantiated. 
 Relcafed from his dungeon by the good offices of a 
 generous Daniili Nobleman, he efcaped through 
 many dangers to his native country. There friend- 
 lefs, forfaken, feen only to be fhunned, and known 
 only to excite the dread of death for not betraying 
 him to Chriftiern, he at length betook himfelf to the 
 mountains of Dalecarlia j a province yet but half 
 fubdued, and inhabited by a generous band of pea- 
 fants, glowing with the unconquerable love of liber- 
 ty. Here unknown but by diftant rumour, without 
 authority, without a friend, without a fhilling, and 
 hunted by the Ufurper and his creatures through 
 every folitude and cell, he wrought in the mines, 
 to procure his daily bread. But fuch a man cannot 
 be long bbfcured. The peafants of Dalecarlia he 
 found ftill brave and fincere, and boldly invited them 
 to vi6tory and freedom. Charmed by his dignity 
 and gracefulnefs of pcrfon and demeanour, fafcina- 
 ted by his eloquence, and fecure under his condud: 
 and bravery, thefe plain men followed him eagerly 
 into the field of conflift ; to any other a field of def- 
 pairj to him, of hope and triumph. At their head, 
 he met the veterans of Denmark, only to defeat 
 them i and fat down before their caftles, only to 
 uke them. Within a fhort period, he overran, and 
 redeemed the whole of his native country ; every 
 where prefent j the animating, informing, dire ding 
 
principle of the army, and of the nation ; and by 
 the unanimous voice of the Eftates was advanced to 
 the throne. In this high ftation, enjoying every 
 teftimony of public refpefl fhort of adoration, for 
 his diftinguiflied wifdom, gallantry, patriotifm, and 
 piety, he revived the agriculture, renewed the waft- 
 ed cities and villages, reftored the commerce, re- 
 eftablifhed and improved the juftice, fecured the li- 
 berty, reformed the religion, and engrofled the hearts, 
 of his grateful nation. " In all other refpedts," 
 fays the Catholic* writer of his life, " except the in- 
 trodu6tion of Lutheranifm into his kingdom, he de- 
 fcrves the praife and admiration of pofterity." 
 
 The fecond Guftavus, having, from the age of i8, 
 reigned in Sweden, with fingular wifdom, equity, 
 and glory, for twenty years, appeared in Germany, 
 1 63 1, in the illuftrious character of Defender of the 
 Proteftant religion, againft the laft great efforts of 
 the Catholics, in that country, for its dcftru6tion j 
 and glorioufly loft his life in eftablilhing the caufe, 
 for which he died. He is thus defcribcdby a ref- 
 peftable modern hiftorian.§ 
 
 " No piince, ancient or modern, feems to have 
 poflcfled in fo eminent a degree, as Guftavus Adol- 
 phus, the qualities of the hero, the ftatefman, and 
 the commander ; that intuitive genius which con- 
 ceives, that wifdom which plans, and that happy 
 combination of courage and condudt which gives 
 fuccefs to an enterprife. Nor was the military pro- 
 grefs of any leader equally rapid, under circumftan- 
 ces equally difficult j with an inferiour force, a- 
 gainft warlike nations, and difciplined troops, com- 
 manded by able and experienced generals." 
 
 " But Guftavus had other qualities befidc th^^Te 
 
 • Verjot. § Ruflell. 
 
»5 
 
 of a military and political kind. He was a pious 
 Chriftian, a warm friend, a tender hufband, a duti- 
 ful fon, an affeftionate father. The fentiments fuit- 
 ed to all thefe fofter chara6ters are admirably difplay- 
 ed in a letter from him to *Oxenftiern, written a few 
 days before the battle of Lutzen, in which he loft 
 his life." In this letter is the following memorable 
 paflage. 
 
 " Confider me as a man, the guardian of a kingdom, 
 who has ftruggled with difficulties, and pafTed thro* 
 them with reputation, by the prote6tion and mercy 
 of heaven J as a man, who loved and honoured his 
 relations, and who neglefted life, riches, and happy 
 days, for the prefervation and glory of his country, 
 and faithful fubjefts ; cxpedling no other recom- 
 penfe, than to be declared the prince, who ful- 
 filled the duties of that ftation, which Providence 
 had afligned him in the world." 
 
 " The merit of Alfred (fays Hume) both In 
 public and private life, may with advantage be fet 
 in oppofition to that of any monarch or citizen, 
 which the annals of any age or rtaticn can prefent to 
 us. He feems indeed to be the model of that per- 
 feft chara6ter, which, under the denomination of a 
 fage or wife man, philofophers have been fond of 
 delineating, rather as a fiction of their imagination, 
 than in hopes of ever feeing it really exifting ; fo hap- 
 pily were all his virtues tempered together ; fojuft- 
 ly were they blended ; and fo powerfully did each 
 prevent the other from exceeding its proper boun- 
 daries ! He knew how to reconcile the moft enter- 
 prifing fpirit with the cooleft moderation ; the mofl 
 obftinate perfeverance with the eafieft flexibility ; 
 the moft fevere juftice with the gentleft lenity ; the 
 greateft vigour in command with the moft perfect 
 
 * His MInifter. 
 
i6 
 
 affability of deportment ; the highieft capacity and 
 inclination for fcience with the moll fhining talents 
 for action ;" * and, let me add, the warmell devo- 
 tion and piety with the utmoft candour and liberali- 
 ty. " His civil and military virtues are almoft 
 equally the objedls of our admiration ; excepting 
 only; that the former, being more rare among prin- 
 ces, as well as more ufeful, feem chiefly to chal- 
 lenge our applaufe." 
 
 As a fourth in this dignified groupe, may, with 
 the fuUeft confidence, be placed the hero, ftatefman, 
 and father, of our own country. I have introduced 
 a fummary accountofthefe great men into this dif- 
 courfe, that by comparing his charafler with theirs, 
 and feeing them ftand fide by fide, my audience may 
 be enabled to form a more accurate eflimate of his 
 worth. Greatnefs is a term wholly comparative; 
 its true import is, therefore, to be feen by compari- 
 Ibn only. On the one hand, fuperiority to the com- 
 mon mafs, and on the other approximation, equali- 
 ty, or eminence, with rcfpe6h to fuch as have been 
 thus fuperior, is all that is intended by the word. 
 As Mofes and Paul'were the greateft hum.an cha- 
 ra6lers among fuch as have been fupernaturally af- 
 fifted ; and the three princes, whom I have here 
 charafterized, were, if I miftake not, the firft a- 
 mong thofe, who have become great by means mere- 
 ly natural j to fuftain a fair refemblance to thefe men 
 muft be highly honourable ; to be near them, an 
 enviable diftinflion ; to equal them, the crown of 
 the mofl exalted ambition. 
 
 As the fphere of Paul's exertions was peculiar, 
 he muft of courfe be pafTed by in fuch a defign. 
 As Mofes was infpired, and fuftained by a peculiar 
 «gency of the Moft High, the comparifon with him 
 
 • See N»te A. 
 
17 
 
 muft in many relpedls be unfairly inftituted. Yef a 
 ftrong refemblance between him and the hero of our 
 own country is fo evident, that the recital of it is 
 become almoft proverbial. The occafions, the ta- 
 lents> the virtues, the divine interpofitions, and the 
 iflue, were fo fimilar, as to flrike the mod undifcri- 
 minating eye, and to find an eafy acknowledgment 
 from every tongue. Particularly, the preeminence 
 of Mofes to all the great men in Ifrael, marked fo 
 ftrongly in the text, and the like diftindion juftly 
 claimed by the American leader, not only over his 
 countrymen, but over all men of the prefent age, 
 form a mofl honourable ground of comparifon. 
 
 That General Wafhington is, with propriety, 
 introduced as a proper companion to the three il- 
 luflrious princes, whom I have mentioned above, as 
 a companion, whom, on equal terms, they may be 
 fairly fuppofed cheerfully to welcome to their num- 
 ber and rank, will, I truft, appear from a juft ac- 
 count of his charafter. 
 
 There arc two methods, in which fuch an ac- 
 count may be advantageouily given j a recital of 
 what he has done, and an exhibition of the attri- 
 butes which he manifeftcd. 
 
 In very early life, he began to be, in a fenfe pro- 
 phetically, difliinguilhed for wifdom and conduct 
 fuperior to his years ; and executed fo ably feveral 
 important commiflions, which he received from the 
 legiflature of Virginia, as to fecure their confidence, 
 and command the applaufe of the whole country. 
 Such trufts have been rarely committed to fo youno; 
 a man, and have probably been never better lodged 
 in the hands of any man. That in the exifting cir- 
 cumftances fuccefs was, in one of the cafes, comple- 
 fcly atchievedi that, in a fecondjfo little difafter enfu- 
 
 C 
 
i8 
 
 ed i and that, in a third, total ruin was prevented j is 
 plainly and chiefly to be attributed to the fl^ill and 
 firmnelsofa youth between nineteen and twenty- 
 three,a61:ing in the laft cafe only in a voluntary office. 
 
 After acquiring, both in public and private 
 life, the univerfal eileem, through the following fea- 
 Ibn of peace, he was chofen, in the year 1774, one 
 of the Reprcfentatives in the firft Congrefs. Here 
 his former reputation, and the proofs which he dai- 
 ly gave of fuperiour wifdom and worth, induced that 
 body to choofe him, in 1775, commander in chief 
 of the American armies, employed to refift the hof- 
 tilities of Great-Britain. This hazardous office he 
 accepted with a *mode(ly, which always accompa- 
 nies and announces merit, and with a firmnefs of 
 decifion, which no future embarraffment could 
 move. Under a government juft formed, and 
 marked with infantine weaknefs ; in a country com- 
 pofed of feparate and deranged fovereignties ; amidil 
 a people now firft ferioufly connected ; at the head 
 of armies form.ed of mere militia, a band of fcouts 
 and yet to be made foldiers, and of officers ignorant 
 of the dilcipline which they were to teach, and of 
 the movements which they were to guide ; ftrangers, 
 rivals, and fometimes enemies ; without ammunition, 
 arms, clothes, or money ; enlifted for a fummer ; 
 and plunged by inexperience into all the expofures, 
 difcouragements, difeafes, and miferies, ofunpro-. 
 vided military life ; he became the body of union 
 to the people, and to the foidiery, guided the one 
 to wifdom, and led the other to victory. In his own 
 lettersjj not lefs iiluftrious commentaries than thofe 
 of C^far, and on a more glorious war, he is feen, 
 through the veil of his modefty, to have been the 
 pillar, on which the country fufpended itfelf j the 
 
 * or? Note B. X Sec Note C. • 
 
J9 
 
 foul, by which the army was formed, quickened, 
 and actuated. In the midft of the immenfe and mo- 
 mentous concerns, lying alway on his mind, no 
 want, nor its lupply ; no fufFcring, nor its rehef -, 
 no evil, nor its remedy; no improvement in the 
 affairs of the army, or the country, nor ti\e means 
 by which it might be bell accomplilhed ; eluded his 
 attention. Fie is there proved, and without intend- 
 ing it, to have been the fource of almoft every im- 
 portant meafure, the origin of the great mals of me- 
 liorations, in our fyftem. 
 
 In this war, for which we were fo unfurnifhed, 
 as to render it, in the eye of fober judgment, more 
 like Quixotifm than juftifiable enterprile, his cauti- 
 ous wifdom, more necefTary, more varied, and 
 more extraordinary, than that of the celebrated Ro- 
 man, juftly gained him, abroad, as well as at, home, 
 the title of the Am.erican Fabius. To the minds of 
 unfkilful, ardent, and partial judges, however, this 
 wifdom, without which we now clearly fee our 
 country mufl" have beenlofV, appeared to refult from 
 imbecility and fear. So far did this opinion, toge- 
 ther with fome concurring circumftanceSi operate, 
 as to engender a ferious attempt to raife a foreigner, 
 in every refpeft his inferiour, to the fupreirie com- 
 mand. Had not this childifh and wretched at- 
 tempt been ably and fi:renuouny oppofed, had not 
 the great body of officers of diilin6tion folemnly 
 pledged themfelves to each other never to ferve, while 
 he lived, under any other commander, there is rea- 
 fon to fear, that it would have fuccccded. Of this 
 glaring attempt againfl him his mind, fuperior alike 
 to favour and to frowns, took no other notice, 
 than what has been buried in filence. Satisfied with 
 himfclf, and ftrong in the attachm.ent of thofe whom 
 he commanded, he rofe above evtry actack, (Xaix.-- 
 ger, and enemy. 
 
20 
 
 A country, an army, fituated as were ours, car- 
 ried misfortune in their face. The country was un- 
 ikilled and unfurniilied -, and its councils, compofed 
 indeed of great and good men, were yet in no de- 
 gree verfed in the bufinefs, which they were now 
 called to dire6l. The army was formed of brave 
 and hardy foldiers, and of gallant and fenfible offi- 
 cers J but it was gathered, and difperfed, in a day ; 
 and, when moft neceflary, and prefented with the 
 fairell opportunities of fuccefsful enterprife, had dif- 
 appeared. Never did he appear greater, than in 
 thefe feafons of trial and deprelTion. No enterprifes 
 of his fhine with more luftre, than his decampment 
 from *JLong-Ifland, his retreat from General Howe 
 through New-Jerfey, his defcent upon Trenton, f 
 his elufion of Lord Cornwallis at Trenton, his con- 
 fequent march through New-Jerfey, in which he 
 defeated the Britifh corps at Princeton, and the ad- 
 drefs, with which he preierved the appearance of a 
 confiderable force at Morriftown, where, through 
 the winter, he had only eleven or twelve hundred 
 men, and thefe under a fucceflive inosculation, to re- 
 fifl the whole Britifli army. 
 
 But his military life had alfo its feafons of prolpe- 
 rity. His fuccefles were, however, almoft always 
 obtained at the head of a force, inferior to that of 
 his enemy, and of confequence were, in an eminent 
 degree, the refult of his own efforts. Like the il- 
 luftrious men, to whom I have compared him, he 
 had the happinefs of ending the great controverfy, 
 in which he had engaged, and in which his country 
 was the flake, with a final and complete triumph. 
 All that, for which he fought, and that thegreatefl 
 prize, which excites human contention, he gained ; 
 and lived long enough to reap a glorious reward of 
 
 * See Note D. f See Note E. 
 
2! 
 
 his labours in the peace and fafety, the veneration 
 and bleffings, of his countrymen. 
 
 His political, was not lefs honorable than his mi- 
 litary, career. When, under the weaknefs and in- 
 efficiency of the Confederation, thefe States were 
 falling afunder, and tumbling into anarchy and ruin, 
 he contributed, at the head of the General Conven- 
 tion, more, by his wifdom, virtue and influence, 
 than any other man, to the final adoption of the Fe- 
 deral Conftitution j and thus faved his country a 
 fecond time. Twice fummoned by the unanimous 
 voice of the nation to the Prefidency of the General 
 Government, he there, in a feries of wile, firm, and 
 generous meafures, ftepped often between the State 
 and deftruftion. His Proclamation of Neutrality, 
 particularly, was the hinge, on which, at that time, 
 the whole well being of our country turned. No 
 public meafure was ever more neceflary, more happi- 
 ly timed, or more prudently condudted. To that 
 meafure is it probably owing, that we are allowed 
 thus peaceably to aflemble, this day, in honour to 
 his memory. 
 
 The luftre of all his military and political aftions, 
 and the glory of his whole charadler, apparently in- 
 capable of addition, he has neverthelefs enhanced 
 by two fingular traits of diftinftion ; his refufal to 
 accept of a compenfation for his fervices j and his 
 repeated, voluntary refignation of his high offices, 
 whilflin the entire pofleffion of univerfal veneration, 
 and perfeftly afTured of the unanimous public fuf- 
 frage. I do not here intend, that great men ought 
 of courfe to decline pecuniary rewards ; or to retire, 
 in all circumftances, from public to private life. 
 It could not have been the duty of either of the prin- 
 ces, whofe charafter I have given. But no duty 
 forbade him to do both j and in doing both he ha^ 
 
S2 
 
 fecured a glory, which is fingular. Nothing could 
 have fo difcovered his felfpolTefrion, evinced his f«- 
 periority to ambition, or proved his mind to be the 
 refidence of patriotifm and principle. 
 
 In private life he was the fame dignified charafl- 
 er. AH his affairs v/ere fuperintended by himfelf, 
 and were of courfe always in exa6t order and profper- 
 pus thrift. To his neighbours, to the public, to all 
 men, he was juft, generous, and humane ; to the * 
 poor a fteady, and conlpicuous benefaftor j and to 
 his family whatever is found in the fulled and mofl a- 
 miable difcharge of the domeftic duties. 
 
 Through the plantation, on which he refided, 
 ran a ftream, flored with fifh. This filhery two 
 days in the week he made, together with his own 
 boats and nets, the property of the furrounding 
 poor J and frequently dire61:ed his fervants to aid 
 them in taking and curing their booty. 
 
 In the courfe of the war, he wrote, as I have been 
 well informed, to his friends in Virginia, a propofal 
 to free his fervants, Ihould the Legiflature think it 
 confident with the general welfare. This plan he 
 has realized in his will ; and the public are already 
 informed, that it will be fpeedily executed by his 
 moft refpedtable Executrix. 
 
 After the furrender of Yorktown, he returned, 
 at the end ot eight years abfence, to vifit his family. 
 His fervants had voluntarily arranged themfelves in 
 two lines, from his manfion houfe to the creek which 
 runs before the door. When he came in figlit, 
 thefe humble and aiFeftionate domeftics fent up a 
 Ihout of joy, and uttered an extravagance of tranf- 
 port J the women by fhrieking, beating their breafts, 
 and rending their hair ; and the men by cries and 
 tears, and ail tlie gefticulations, with v/hich nature. 
 
 See Note F. 
 
^3 
 
 in iininformed and iinpolifhed fociety, gives vent to 
 exceflive paffion. When he had crolFed the creek, 
 lie delayed his progrefs to his beloved abode, to 
 fhake all the adults by the hand, and to fpeak ten- 
 derly and affetflionately to the children. *' Never,'* 
 faid the gentleman, from whom I received this in- 
 formation, *^ was I fo delightfully affedted, except 
 at the furrender of Yorktown j and then, only be- 
 caufe I confidered" the independence of my country 
 as fecured." 
 
 On the attributes, manifefted by this great min> 
 in his condufl, I beg leave to make the following 
 obfervations. 
 
 General Washington was great, not by means 
 of that brilliancy of mind, often appropriately term- 
 ed genius, and ufually coveted for ourfelves, and 
 our children j and almoft as ufually attended with 
 qualities, which preclude wifdom, and depreciate 
 or forbid worth; but by a conftitutional charafter 
 nore happily formed. His mind was indeed inven- 
 ive, and full of refources ; but its energy appears 
 to have been originally directed to that which is* 
 praflical and ufeful, and not to that which is fhewy 
 and fpecious. His judgment was clear and intui-. 
 tive beyond that of moft who have lived, and feem- 
 ed inftindlively to difcern the proper anfwer to the 
 celebrated Roman queftion ; * Cui bono erit ? To 
 this his inceffant attention, and unwearied obferva- 
 tion, which nothing, whether great or minute, efca- 
 ped, doubtlefs contributed in a high degree. What 
 he obferved he treafured up, and thu3 added daily 
 to his flock of ufeful knowledge. Hence, although 
 his early education was in a degree confined, his 
 mind became pofleiTed of extenfive, various, and ex- 
 a6b information. Perhaps there never was a mind, 
 
 * What good purpofs will it anfwer f 
 
24 
 
 ori which theoretical fpeculations had lefs influence, 
 and the decifions of common fenfe more. 
 
 At the fame time, no man ever more earneftly 
 or iiniformly fought advice, or regarded it, when 
 given, with more critical attention. The opinions 
 of friends and enemies, of thofe who abetted, and 
 of thofe who oppofed, his own fyftem, he explored 
 and fecured alike. His own opinions, alfo, he fub- 
 mitted to his proper counfellours, and often to oth-- 
 ers ; with a demand, that they fhould be fifted, and 
 expofed, without any tendernefs to them becaufe 
 they were his ; infilling, that they fhould be confi- 
 dered as opinions merely, and, as fuch, fhould be 
 fubjefted to thcfreeil and moil fevere invefhigation. 
 
 When any meafure of importance was to be afted 
 on, he delayed the formation of his judgment until 
 the laft moment ; that he might fecure to himfelf, 
 alway, the benefit of every hint, opinion, and cir- 
 cumftance, which might contribute either to con- 
 firm, or change, his decifion. Hence, probably, 
 it in a great meafure arofe, that he was fo rarely 
 committed ; and that his decifions have fo rarely 
 produced regret, and have been fo clearly juftified 
 both by their confequences and the judgment of 
 mankind. 
 
 With this preparation, he formed a judgment 
 finally and wholly his own ; and although no man 
 was ever more anxious before a meafure was adop- 
 ted, probably no man was ever lefs anxious after- 
 ward. He had done his duty, and left the iffue to 
 Providence. 
 
 To all this condufb his high independence of 
 mind greatly contributed. By this I intend a fpi- 
 rit, which dares to do its duty, againll friends and 
 
a5 
 
 enemies, and in profperous and adverfe circumftan-^ 
 ces, alike ; and which, when it has done its duty, 
 isregardlefs of opinions and confequences. 
 
 Nor was he lefs indebted to his peculiar * firm- 
 nefs. He not only dared to ad in this manner, 
 but uniformly fuftained the fame tone of thought 
 and feeling, fuch, as he was at the decifion, he ever 
 after continued to be ; and all men defpaired of ope- 
 rating on him unlefs through the medium of con- 
 vidion. The fame unchanging Ipirit fupported 
 him through every part of his aftonifhing trials, du- 
 ring the war ; and exhibited him as exa<5lly the 
 fame man after a defeat, as after a vidlory j neither 
 elated nor deprefled, but always grave, ferene, and 
 prepared for the event. 
 
 From other great men he was diftingullhed by an 
 exemption from favouritifm. No man ever fo en- 
 grofled his attachment, as to be fafe, for a moment, 
 from defei^ved reproof, or cenfure j nor was any 
 man ever fo difrelifhed by him, as, on that account, 
 to fail of receiving from him whatever applaule, or 
 fervices, his merit could claim. Hence his friends 
 feared, and his enemies rcfpefted him. 
 
 His moderation and felf government were fuch 
 that he was always in his own power, and never jn 
 the power of any other pcrfon. Whatever pafllons 
 he felt, they rarely appeared. His condufb, opini- 
 ons, and life, wore unufually the character of mere 
 intelled. Hence he was never found unguarded, 
 or embarrafled ; but was always at full liberty to do 
 that, and that only, which expediency and duty de- 
 manded. A ftriking inftance of this trait in his 
 eharaiSler is feen in the well known faft -, that he ijc* 
 
 D 
 
 * See Note Q. 
 
26 
 
 yer exculpated hiinfelf from any charge, nof replied 
 "to any calumny. His accufers, for fuch he had, 
 had opportunity to make the mod of their accufa- 
 tions ; his calumniators, if their confciences permit- 
 ted, to, fleep in peace. 
 
 His juftice was exa£l, but tempered with the ut- 
 moft humanity, * which the' occafion would fuffcr. 
 His truth no fober man, who knew him, probably 
 ever doubted. Watchful againft his own expofures 
 to error, he was rarely found erring j jealous of do- 
 ing injuftice, if he has done injuftice, it is yet, 1 be- 
 lieve, unrecorded. 
 
 * ' ''His refervednefs has been at times cenfured. To 
 me it appears to have been an important and necef- 
 fary chara6teriftic of a perfon fituated as he was. 
 In familiar life a communicative difpofition is gene- 
 rally pleafing, and often ufefulj in his high ftations 
 
 ' it would have been dangerous. One unguarded or 
 ambiguous expreffion might have produced evils, the 
 
 ■ remedy of which would have been beyond even his 
 own power. No fuch expreflion is recorded of him. 
 
 His pun6tuality was extreme. He rofe always 
 with the dawn ; he dined at a given minute ; he 
 attended evfery appointment at the moment. Hence 
 his bufmefs public and private was always done at 
 the proper time, and always beforehand. 
 
 \ -";No'pierlbn appears to hiVe had a higher fenle of 
 tdecorum, and univerfal pi-opriety. The eye, fol- 
 lowing his public and private life, traces an unex- 
 ceptionable propriety, an exa6t decorum, in every 
 aftion ; in every word ; in his demeanour to men of 
 every clafs ; in his public communications ; in his 
 convivial entertainments j in his letters j and in his 
 
 * Stc Note H. 
 
familiar converfanon .; from which bluntncfs, fiatte-i 
 ry, witticifm, indelicacy, negligcnpe,, paflipn,, and 
 overadion, were alike excluded, i. >,. ,.,,,., ,„ , /I 
 
 From thefe things happily combmed,"al ways' 
 ftciiy and feen always in their native ..light, without 
 art, or affedtation, it arofe, that,, wherever hp ap? 
 pcared, an inftinftive awe and veneratiori.; attended 
 him on the.partpf all men. Every man,, how£ver 
 great in his own opinion, or in reality, llirunkin his 
 prefence, and became confcious. of an inferiority, 
 which he never felt before. Whilii he encouraged 
 every man, particularly every ftranger, and peculi^ 
 arly, every diffident man, .and raifed him to felf-pof- 
 felTion, no fobcr perfon, however fecure . he . might; 
 think himfclf of his efteem, ever prefum.ed to. df am 
 too near him. ' 
 
 With refped to his religious charadler there have 
 been different opinions, r No one will be furprifed at 
 this, who refleds, that this is a fubjeclj' about which, 
 in all circumftances not involving infpired teftim.ony, 
 doubts may and will exift. The evidence concern- 
 ing it muft of courfe arife from an induction of par- 
 ticulars. Some will induce more of thele particu- 
 lars, and others fewer ; fome will reft on one clafs, 
 or coIle<5tion, others on another ; and fome will give 
 more, and others lefs, weight to thofe which are in- 
 duced ; according to their feveral modes, andftand- 
 ards, of judging. The queftion in this, apd all o- 
 ther cafes, muft be finally determined before another 
 tribunal, than that of human judgment, ; an.^ro that 
 tribunal it muft ultimately be left. r,br,,iiiy own. 
 part, I have confidered his numeix)us ap(3 .uhi/ornV 
 public and moft folemn declarations of his high ve- 
 neration for religipn, his, exemplary. a^nd^edifvilng at- 
 tention to public worfliip, and his Conftancy' in fe-- 
 cj;et devotion, as ' proofs, fufficient to fati^fy -every 
 
a8 
 
 perfon, willing to be fatisfied. I fhall only add, 
 that if he was not a Chriftian, he was more like one, 
 than any man of the fame defcription, whofe life has 
 been hitherto recorded. 
 
 As a warrior, his merit has, I believe, been fully 
 and readily acknowledged ; yet I have doubted 
 whether it has always been juftly eftimated. His 
 military greatnefs lay not principally in defperate 
 fallies of courage ; in the daring and brilliant ex- 
 ploits of a par tifan : Thefc would have ill fuited his 
 ftation, and moft probably have ruined his caufe 
 and country. It confifted in the formation ofexten- 
 five and mafterly * plans ; effectual preparations, 
 the cautious prevention of great evils, and the watch- 
 ful feizurc of every advantage; in combining hete- 
 rogeneous materials into one military body, produ- 
 cing a fyftem of military and political meafures, 
 concentering univerfal confidence, and difFufing an 
 jl influence next to magical ; in comprehending a 
 great fcheme of war, purfuing a regular fyftem of 
 acquiring ftrength for his country, and wearing out 
 the ftrength of his enemies. To his conduft, both 
 military and political, may, with exadt propriety, 
 be applied the obfervation, which has been often 
 made concerning his courage ; that in the moft ha- 
 zardous fituations no man ever faw his countenance 
 change. 
 
 Perhaps, I Ihall be thought to have dwelt too 
 long, and too minutely, on his character. I hope 
 I fhall be juftified, partially at leaft, when it is re- 
 membered, that I have been feizing the beft oppor- 
 tunity, which I fhall ever enjoy, of teaching, in the 
 moft affefting manner in my power, the youths 
 eommitted to my inftrudion, and forming a partof 
 
 • See Npte I. il See Note J. 
 
«9 
 
 this audience, the way to become great, refpedablc, 
 and ufeful. 
 
 Such, my friends and fellow citizens, was the 
 man, whofe death we are aflembled to lament, and. 
 v^hofe worth we commemorate. Like the illuftri- 
 ous fubjedt of my text heftands alone in his nati-^ 
 on. Like him he was great in the Iplendor of de- 
 lignation, in wifdom, in effort, in fucccfs, in the im- 
 portance of his talents, virtues and labours, to the 
 nation over whom he prefided in war and peace ; 
 in the eftimation, the love, and the tears, of his 
 country. On this refemblance I have dwelt lefs, 
 becaufe I fuppofe others have dwelt more ; yet I can- 
 not forbear to add, that in the death of thefe diftin- 
 guiflied men there is a fimilarity not a little ftriking. 
 Both died in advanced years, but without any previ- 
 ous decay of faculties, or glory ; both left their ref- 
 pe6tive nations, not indeed eftablilhed, but fo far 
 advanced, as not abfolutely to demand a continuance 
 of their fuperintendency ; and both were honored 
 by a national and fpontaneous mourning, as the laft 
 tribute of public veneration. Miraculous fupport 
 our nation could not hope for under any leader j but 
 the fignal interpofitions of Heaven in our behalf, 
 while under his guidance, ought never to be. for- 
 gotten. 
 
 To Americans his name will be ever dear ; a fa- 
 vour of fweet incenfe, defcending to every fucceed- 
 ing generation. The things, which he has done, are 
 too great, too interefting, ever to be forgotten. 
 Every obietSt which we fee, every employment in 
 which we are engaged, every comfort which we en- 
 joy, reminds us daily of his character. The general 
 peace, liberty, religion, fafety, and profperioy, ftrong- 
 ly imprefs, in every place, what he has done, fuffer- 
 €d, and atchieved. When a Legiflature aficmbks 
 
3° 
 
 to enaft laws ; when Courts meet to diftribute jiif- 
 tice ; when Congregations gather to worlhip God ; 
 they naturally, and almoft neceffarily, fay "To 
 Wafhington it is owing, under God, that we are 
 here." The farmer purfuing his plough in peace, the 
 mechanic fdlowing the bufinefs of his fhop in fafety, 
 afcribes the privilege to Wafhington. The houfe 
 which, uninvaded, fhelters us from the ftorm, the 
 cheerful firefide furrounded by our little ones, the 
 table fpread in quiet with the bounties of Providence, 
 the bed on which we repofe in undifturbed fecurity, 
 utters, in filent but exprefTive language, the memo- 
 ry, and the praife, of Wafhington. Every fhip 
 bears the fruits of his labours on its wings, and ex- 
 ultingly fpreads its ftreamers to his honour.- The 
 ftudent meets hirti in the ftill and peaceful walk j 
 the traveller fees him in all the profperous and fmil- 
 ing fcenes of his journey ; and our whole country 
 in her thrift, order, fafety, and morals, bears, infcri- 
 bed in funbeams, throughout her hills and her plains, 
 the name and the glory of Wafhington. 
 
 From a fubjeft fo fingular, andfo edifying, it is 
 not eafy to fail of gaining ufeful praftical inftrudli- 
 on. Particularly, the ineilimable benefits which we 
 have derived from the efforts of this great man, 
 cannot but prompt every ingenuous mind to remem- 
 ber, with unceafing gratitude, the goodnefs of God 
 in bellowing upon us fuch a blefling ; God, who 
 formed and furnilhed him for labours fo ufeful, and 
 for a lifefo glorious. In what a manner muft the 
 late war have clofed, had the fupreme command of 
 our armies fallen to a wealc or unprincipled man ? 
 What would have been its ilTue, had the powerful 
 attempt to difplace him, and to fubftirute a foreigner, 
 fucceeded ? Think, I befeech you, of the uniform 
 condition of a conquered nation ; a nation too, con- 
 fidcred as rebels by their conquerors. Think what 
 
. 3 J 
 
 it would have been t6 have had your armies betray- 
 ed, your lands ravaged, your houTes burnt, your 
 beft citizens brought to the halter, your wives and 
 daughters dillionoured, and your children houfelefs, 
 naked, and famifhed. Think of the long and hope- 
 lefs period, through which the broken fpirit, the ru- 
 ined morals, the wide-fprcad ignorance, and the loft 
 energy, of your country would have peroetuatcd 
 your miferics, and prevented your pofterityrrom e- 
 merging again to the charader of men, and the 
 bleffings of freemen. 
 
 To thele wretched fcenes contraft your prefenc 
 freedom, peace, fafety, glory, and felicity. To 
 whom are they owing ? The heart fpontaneoufly an- 
 fwers, " Firft to God, and next to Wafhington." I 
 mean not to detra6t from the wifdom, bravery, or 
 worth, of his generous companions in the council, 
 and in the field. Cheerfully do I render to them 
 the illuftrious honours, which they have merited, 
 and won j and heartily do I rejoice to fee thofe, who 
 ftill live^ fuftaining and increafing, in fo many in- 
 ftances, the high eftimation, which they had fo am- 
 ply deferved of their country. But in all that I have 
 faid of their illuftrious Chief they will be the firft to 
 unite, becaufe they have known him more intimate- 
 ly than others. With them will all their country- 
 men inftinftively accord j for his labours have beenfo 
 great, fo good, fo endearing, that they cannot but be 
 feated in every American heart. May our grati- 
 tude to the Author always accompany, and totally 
 tranfcend, our admiration of the inftrument ; let it, 
 jnlpirit every reflexion, and mingle with every joy. 
 
 By him, alfo, are our rulers, at the prefent and 
 at every future period, taught how to rule. The 
 fame condufl will ever produce fubftantially the 
 fame effV^ls i the fame public well being, the fame 
 
gbry, the fame veneration. To be wife and good j 
 to forget, or reftrain, the dictates of paffion, and o- 
 bey thole of duty ; to leek fingly the public wel- 
 fare, and lofe in it perfonal gratification ; to reflft 
 calmly and firmly the pafllons, and purfue only the 
 interefts, of a nation, is the great fecret of ruling 
 well. When thefe things are exhibited in the ftrong 
 light of example, and crowned with fuccefs and ho- 
 nor, they are taught in a manner beyond meafure 
 more impreflive, than can be found in rules and ar- 
 guments. Here they are already tried, and pro- 
 ved. Here they are feen furrounded by all their 
 delightful attendants, and followed by all their hap- 
 py confequences. The conviction produced is com- 
 plete, the imprclTion fupreme. From this great ex- 
 ample all rulers may learn wifdom, and our rulers 
 more than any other. They are rulers of the very 
 people, who loved and reverenced him, and who 
 will, of courfe, love and reverence them, {o far as 
 they tread in his footfteps. They, alfo, know and 
 feel his character, and fuccefs, more than is poffible 
 for others. Wi(dom, therefore, and duty demand 
 of them, and in a peculiar degree, ftudioufly to co- 
 py fo glorious a pattern. 
 
 The youths, alfo, of our country, who wiih to 
 l^ecome great, ufeful and honourable, will here find 
 tl.ie befb diredlions, and the moft powerful incite- 
 n\ ents. To be great, ufeful, and honourable, they 
 mi ift refemble him. The very adions, which he 
 pcjr. formed, they may indeed not be called to per- 
 form n ; the fufFerings, which he underwent, they 
 may not be obliged to undergo; but the attributes, 
 whic. h he pofTefTed and displayed, mult, in a good 
 degre e> ibe poiTelled and difplaycd by th.cm alio. 
 
 ,\j Le'i r them particularly remember, that greatnefs 
 tff not I he r&fulc of mer§ chance, or genius ; ihi 
 
 r 1!' 
 
IS not the flafli of brilliancy, nor the defperate fally 
 of ambition ; that it is, on the contrary, the connbi- 
 ned refult of ilrong mental endowments, vigorous 
 cultivation, honourable defign, and wife diredtion. 
 It is not the glare of a rneteor ; glittering, dazzling, 
 confuming, and vanifiiing ; but the fteady and exal- 
 ted fplendour of the fun ; afplendour which, while 
 it fhines with preeminent brightnefs, warms alfo, 
 enlivens, adorrre, improves, and perfects, the obje6ts, 
 on which it fliines : glorious indeed by its luftre ; 
 but dill more glorious in the ufeful effects pro- 
 duced by its power. Of this great truth the tran- 
 fcendant example before us is a moft dignified ex- 
 hibition. Let them imitate, therefore, the inceflant 
 attention, the exa6t obfervation, the unwearied in- 
 duftry, the fcrupulous regard to advice, the (lownefs 
 of decifion, the cautious prudence, the nice punctu- 
 ality, the ftrift propriety,the independence of thought 
 and feeling, the unwavering firmnefs, the unbiaf- 
 fed impartiality, the fleady moderation, the exaft 
 juftice, the unveering truth, the univerfal humanity, 
 and the high veneration for religion, and for God, 
 always manifefted by this great man. Thus will 
 future Wafhingtons arife to blefs our happy coijntry. 
 
 As a nation we may derive from him many kinds 
 of inflru6lion and profit. This occafion will, howe- 
 ver, allow me to infift on one only : The fleady 
 purfuit of that policy, which he fo uniformly and 
 luccefsfully purfued, and has fo forcibly recommend- 
 ed. In his farewell to the country which he fo lov- 
 ed and defended, we have his laft, and to us his dy- 
 ing words ; a mofl imprelTive recommendation of the 
 beft means of our national welfare ; the fum of all the 
 political wifdom, which he had imbibed from his 
 vaft experience ; the fubftance of that policy, by 
 which alone our fafety and happinefs can be enfur- 
 cd. In it we are molt affc6ling]y taught topreferve 
 
 E 
 
34 
 
 our. union j to defpife trifling difcriminations ; to 
 reverence our conftitution j to rejeft watchfully all 
 ailbciations and faftions, formed to oppofe it; to 
 preferve a well balanced adminiftration ; to encou- 
 rage literary inftitutions ; to promote, as of primary 
 importance, morality and religion ; to cherifh public 
 credit ; to obferve juftice and good faith towards 
 all nations ; to cultivate 'harmony and peace with 
 all ; to indulge antipathies and favouritifiri towards 
 none ; to refift, as dangerous and deadly, all foreign 
 iniiuence ; to conne6t ourfelvesj politically, as little 
 as poflible j and to hold, as much as maybe, a ftridt 
 and perpetual neutrality towards powers at war. 
 Here all the national interefls of America are con- 
 lulted ; here all its political wifdom is fummed up 
 in a fingle fheet. Nothing can be added, nothing 
 without injury taken away. How greatly are thefe 
 precepts recommended by the charader of their 
 author, and by the fuccefs v/ith which they have 
 been followed in pradice. How ftrongly are they 
 enforced by his labours for our country, by the glo- 
 ry which he attained while fteadily purfuing them, 
 and by the manner, and the time, in which they 
 were delivered. Happy, beyond meafure, is it for 
 thefe States, that he purfued them fo long ; that 
 they have been fo clofely followed by his able and 
 virtuous fuccelTor ; that they are now the only poli- 
 cy of our government, and the efficient policy of our 
 country. Happy, beyond meafure, will it be, if 
 our nation Ihould henceforth make them its great 
 political creed, and the only rule of its political 
 meafures, at home, and abroad. Fadlion, party, 
 difiention, will then ceafe ; murmurs be loft in peace 
 and profperity ; intrigues be rendered infamous and 
 hopelefs ; foreign influence no more lift up its fnaky 
 head ; the danger of invafion vanifh j the govern- 
 ment our country totter no more ; the great politi- 
 cal problem, Whether a free and happy Republic 
 can be durable, be finally and propitioufly folved -, 
 
JL 
 
 and Americans find lefs reafon to lament, that 
 Wafhington is dead ; becaufe they will Hill lee him 
 live in the policy and glory, the fiifety and peace, 
 the vii'tue and felicity, of his beloved country. 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 • 
 A. 
 
 It ig a curitfus faft, that Hume, although he is obliged 
 to recite the extraordinary piety of Alfred, yet totally ouiits 
 the mention of it in his paLegyric on his charadler. 
 
 B. 
 
 For fpeciniens of the pecuhar modefiy of General WaHi- 
 higton fee his written acceptance of the chief command of 
 the army, and his acceptance of the Prcfidency. Obferve, 
 alfo, the faft ; that he never made his great adlions any 
 part of the fubjeft of his converfation. 
 
 C- 
 
 There have been many doubts concerning the charafter 
 of General Walhington, as a writer. Various perfona 
 have denied, that he was at all, or in any refpeftabie de- 
 gree, the author of the feveral compofitions, which are 
 prefented to the public, as his. It may be a fatisfaftion to 
 my readers to be informed, that the addreis to the oiiicers of 
 the army in reply to the letters of iV\ajor Armftrong, was 
 penned by his own hand^ and never feen by any perfon, 
 until after it was publicly delivered. The originals of his 
 anfwers, alfo, to the addrefies prefented to him, in hislall 
 tour through the Eaflern States, are now on file (as I am 
 informed from high authority) in his own hand. 
 
 When he began to read tlie aboveraeutioned addrefs to 
 the officers, he found himfelf in fome degree embarrailed 
 by the imperfedion of his light. Taking out his fpei5t<.cles, 
 he faid, *' theie eyes," my friends, *' have grown dun, 
 and thefe locks white, in the fervice of my country, yet I 
 have never doubted her juilice.'* 
 
 The ftyle of General Wafhisgton, it ia obferved by ti.e 
 authors of the Britilli critic, is Itrongly marked with that 
 dignified limplicity, which is the proof of a great iniud. 
 
ii 
 
 D. 
 
 Upwatds of 9000 men, together with the great body of 
 artillery, ammunition, horfcs, carriages, cattle, provilions, 
 Sec. were conveyed from Long-Ifland to New- York, while 
 the Britifh army was fo near, that their men were diftinclly 
 heard at work with their pick- axes and fhovels. The river 
 is near a mile wide, and the decampment lafted thirteen 
 hours ; yet the enemy were perfectly ignorant of the mea- 
 fure, until it was completed. It ought here to be obferv- 
 ed, that, about 2 o'clock in the morning, a thick fog pro- 
 videntially favoured the retreating army. 
 
 E. 
 The firft knowledge, which Lord Cornwallis had of the 
 retreat of General Wafiiington, was in the morning ; a few 
 minutes before the noife of the cannon at Princeton was 
 heard at Trenton. Sir William Erlkine, it is aflerted, ur- 
 ged Lord Cornwallis to place a ftrong body of troops at the 
 bridge over Sanpink Creek ; apprehending, that General 
 Waihington would retreat into the heart of New-Jerfey 
 rather ihan attempt to crofs the Delaware. This, howev- 
 er, wasrefufed. Very early in the morning, Lord Corn- 
 wallis, while in bed, was informed, that General Wafliing- 
 ton had decamped. Sir William at that moment came in. 
 His Lordfhipaflvedhim, whither he believed the American 
 General to be gone. At that inftant, the artillery was heard 
 from the neighbourhood of Princeton. " My Lord," faid 
 Sir William, ^' General Waihington tells you where 
 he is. Do you not hear him calling to you to come after 
 him?" 
 
 So filently was this retreat conduced, that the American 
 centinels at the bridge knew nothing uf it, until themfelves 
 were ordered to quit their poft. 
 
 F. 
 To the fuperintendant of his eftate he wrote from the 
 army in the followiHg terms. 
 
 *' Let the holpitality of the houfe be kept up with re- 
 fpedt to the poor. Lee no one go hungry away. If any of 
 this fort of people ihould be in want of corn, fupply their 
 neccllities, provided it does not encourage them in idlenefs. 
 I 'have no objeJlion to your giving my money in charity 
 when you think it will be well bellowed ; I mean that it is 
 ^y dcdre^ feliat it Hiould be done. You are to coufider, 
 
37 
 
 that neither myfclf nor my wife are in the way to do thefc 
 good offices." See Dodor Trumbull's Sei-nioa. I\^ote. 
 
 In a letter from a gentleman in Alexandria to his friend 
 in Hartford, puDliJhedin theConne«ilicut Courant, it is de- 
 clared, that General Waihington doted his own eyes. 
 Thus, it appears, his firmnefs forfook him not even in 
 the ai'ticle of death. 
 
 H. 
 
 [The humanity of General Wafhington has been im- 
 peached, and his charafter virulently attacked, with reipeft 
 to the execution of Major Andre ; but he was moft unjuii- 
 ly impeached. I am warranted to declare, that he felt 
 and exhibited the tendered compallion for that unfortunate 
 young man, and that Major Andre oiten expreffed to tin 
 American officer, of high refpe.5lability, the veiy polite 
 and humane treatment, which he received from General 
 Waihington.] 
 
 I. 
 
 Among the plans devifed by General Wafliington fornn- 
 htary operations, and expreflive of his greatnefs of mind, 
 I beg leave to mention the plan for attacking the Britiih on 
 the Delaware, in three points at once, of which only the 
 attack on Col. Rahl at Trenton fucceeded, the others being 
 prevented by the ice ; the plan of attacking the troops at 
 Princeton ; the plan of eroding the Brandy wine te attack 
 Lord Cornwallis ; the plan of attack at Germantown j the 
 planof the bold and luccefsful attack on Stoney Point ; and 
 the great plan of capturing the Britilli force at Yorktown, 
 involving the complete illufion of Sir Henry Clinton. 
 
 To thele ought to be added a bold and maflerly dcfign of 
 attacking the whole Britiih force on New- York Ifland, 
 near the dole of the campaign in 1782. In this defign 
 Col. Talmadge was to have attacked the enemy on Long- 
 Ifland, the preceeding night, with a body of 750 choice 
 troops, and thence 10 ha\ e marched on horfeback to Hell- 
 Gate, wl'cre boats, ready to receive him, were to have 
 traniported the coips to the oppcfite fhore. Another body 
 under tlie conim:;nd of a General Officer was to have 
 marched to Kinglbridge, to attack the enemy in front, aiid 
 to keep them in full expetTlation of being affaulted there ' 
 oiiK ; while the miin body of the army was to h-\e f^oiie 
 
in boats down Hudfon's River^ and, landing below the ene- 
 my in the night, was to have made the principal attack on 
 their rear. The American army was at this time in gieat 
 force, and perfedly dilciplincd and fupplied. Had this de- 
 fign been attempted, there is every realbn to believe, that, 
 attacked at one moment, in front, flank and rear, a t da} - 
 break, and with total furprife, the triumph over them mull: 
 in all probability have been complete. It was prevented 
 by a circumftance wholly providential. Two Britilh frigates 
 moved up the North River the preceeding day, anchored 
 dire>SlIy oppofite to the American army, and thus prevented 
 the intended embarkation. There is not a reafon to ima- 
 gine, tkat the Britifli commander had a fulpicion of the de- 
 lign formed againft him. It is however happy, that itmif- 
 carried ; for theprovifional articles of peace had been alrea- 
 dy figned in Europe. Of the above defign I have the belt 
 information* 
 
 J- . . 
 
 [In no period of General Wafliington's military life did his 
 
 talents and commanding influence appear more confpicuous 
 than at the batt'e of Monmouth. The flower of the army 
 under General Lee were retreating before the enemy, and 
 alnaofl without having made any refiftance. When they 
 were thus thrown back upon General Walhington, at the 
 head of his fatigued and illiupplied army, it is furpriling, 
 that the panic did not become general. General Wafluug- 
 ton brought his own troops forward, checked the Biitilli, 
 and foon convinced Lee's flying troops, not only, that there 
 was no occafion for their retreat, but that they could defeat 
 the enemy. General Wafhington never had full ci edit for 
 this heroic exploit ; and it has been thought, that if full 
 juftice had been done by the Courtmartial, General Lee 
 would have been cafliiored.] 
 
 [His aftonilhing power of commanding the minds of men 
 was often exempUfied in quieting mutinies, of which he bad 
 too many during his military courfe. But no writer has 
 done him juftice for his Fabian conduct when the army was 
 on the borders of difbanding. Some well written inflani- 
 matory pieces were addrefled to the army, after ihe prelimi, 
 nary articles of peace had been figned, inviting thtin not to 
 lay down their arms, until the country Ihould do them juf- 
 tice. Their toils and fufFer ings had ripened them tor any 
 
39 
 
 defpcrate undertaking. In the glorious office of Mediator 
 between his country and the army he appeared with a dig- 
 nity fjpreme. He convened and addrefled the officers ; 
 the hurricane of paffion fubfided •, and reafon, duty, and 
 peace refumed their dominion. The addrefs, and the pub- 
 lic orders which followed it,are perpetual monuments of his 
 greatnefs and patriotifni. 
 
 AT. B» For the Notes Included In brackets J am indebted t$ 
 CoU Ttdmadge* 
 
THE 
 
 PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. 
 
 ro THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 Fn.IENDS AND FELLOW-CITIZENS, 
 
 X HE period for a new ele£iion of a Citizen, to admini- 
 fler the executive government of the United States, being 
 not far diftant, and the time actually ari'ived, when your 
 thoughts muft be employed in defignating the perfon, who 
 is to be cloathed with that important truft, it appears tome 
 pi'oper, efpecially asit may conduce to a more diftinft ex- 
 preifion of the public voice, that I fliould new apprife you 
 of the refolution I have formed, to decline being confidered 
 among the number of thofe, out of whom a choice is to be 
 made. 
 
 I beg yon, at the fame time, to do me the juftice to be 
 r.flured, that this refolution has not been taken, without a 
 ^rift regard to all the confiderations appertaining to the re- 
 iation, which binds a dutiful citizen to his country ; and 
 that, in withdrawing the tender of fervice which filence in 
 ray fituation might imply, I am influenced by no diminution 
 of zeal for your future intereft ; no deficiency of grateful 
 refpeft for your paft kindnefs : But am fupported by a 
 full convidlion that the ftep is compatable with both. 
 
 The acceptance of, and continuance hitherto in the office 
 to which your fufFrages have twice called me, have been 
 a. uniform facrifice of inclination to the opinion of duty, and 
 to a deference for what appeared to be your defire. I con- 
 fbantly hoped, that it would have been much earlier in my 
 power confil'tently with motives, which I was not at liberty 
 to difregard, to return to that retirement, from which I 
 ]iad been relnft:intly drav/n. The ftrength of my inclina- 
 tion to do this, previous to the lall: eleftion, had even led 
 to the preparation of an addrefs to declare it to you ; but 
 mature reflexion on the then perplexed and critical pofture 
 of affiirs with foreign nations, and the unanimous advice of 
 
41 
 
 pcrfons entitled to my confidence, impelled me to abandon 
 the idea. 
 
 I rejoice, that the ftate of your concerns external as well 
 as internal, no longer renders the purfuit of inclination in- 
 compatible with the fentiment of duty, or propriety : And 
 am perfuaded whatever partiality may be retailed for my 
 fervice, that in the prefent circumllances of our country, 
 you will not difapprove my determination to retire. 
 
 The impreffions with wliichi firlt undertooic the arduous 
 truft, were explained on the proper occafion. In the dif- 
 charge of this truft, I will only fay, that I have with good 
 intentions, contributed towards the organization and admi- 
 niftration of the government, the beft exertions of which a 
 very fallible judgment was capable. Not unconfcious, in 
 the out-fet, of the inferiority of my qualifications, experi- 
 ence in my own eyes, perhaps ftill more in the eyes ©f others, 
 has ftrengthened the motives to diffidence of myfelf : And 
 every day the increafing weight of years admonifhes me 
 more and more, that the Ihade of retirement is as neceflary 
 to me as it will be welcome. Satisfied that if any circum- 
 ftances have given peculiar value to my fervices, they were 
 temporary, 1 have the confolation to beheve, that while 
 choice and prudence invite me to quit the political fcene, 
 patriotifra does not forbid it. 
 
 In looking forward to the moment, which is intended to 
 terminate the career of my public life, my feelings do not 
 permit me to fufpendthe deepacknowledgmentof that debt 
 of gratitude which I owe to my beloved country, for the 
 many honors it has conferred upon me ; ftill more for the 
 ftedfall confidence with which it has fupported me ; and for 
 the opportunities I have thence enjoyed of manifefting my 
 inviolable attachment, by fervices faithful and perfeverinc-, 
 though in ufefulnefs unequal to my zeal. — If benefits have 
 refulted to our country from thele fervices, let it always be 
 remembered td.our praiie, and as an inftrudive example in 
 our annals, that under circumftances in which the paflions, 
 agitated in every direction, were liable to miflead, ainidit 
 appearances fometimes dubious — vicillitudes of fortune, of- 
 ten difcouraging in fituations, in which not unfrequently 
 want of fuccefs has countenanced the fpirit of criticifm — the 
 conftancy of your fupport was the eflential prop of the ef~ 
 forts, and a gurantee of the plans by which tbey were -ef'- 
 
 F 
 
42 
 
 fecleJ. Profoundly penetrated with ^his idea, I ihaU car- 
 ry it with me to my grave, as a ftrong incitemeiiL to un- 
 ceafing vows, that Hesveii may continue to you the choi- 
 ceft tokens of its benificence — that your union and brother- 
 ly affcvflion may be perpetual — that the free Conftitution, 
 which is the work of your hands, may be facredly main- 
 tained — that its adminiftration in ever department may be 
 ftamped with wifdoin and virtue— that, in fine, the happi- 
 nefs of the people ofthefe Statei,'unJer the aufpices of liber- 
 ty, may be made complete, by fo careful a preferA'ation and 
 fo prudent a ufe of this bleffing, as will acquire to them the 
 glory of recommendmg it to the applaiife, the affection, and 
 adoption of every nation which is yet a ftranger to it. 
 
 Here perhaps, I ought to (top. But folicitude for your 
 welfare, which cannot end but with my life, and the ap« 
 prehenfjon, of danger natural to that folicitude, urge me on 
 dn occafion hke the prefent, to ofcr to your folemn con- 
 templation, and to recommend to your frequent review, 
 fome fentiments ; which are the refult of much refle<flion 
 of no inconfiderable obfervation, and which appear to me 
 all-impertant to the permanency of your felicity as a, peopk. 
 Thefe will be offered to you with the more freedom, asyou 
 can only feel in them the difinterefted warnings of a parting 
 friend, who can poihbly have no perfonal motive to bias his 
 counfel. Nor can I forget, as an encouragement to it, 
 your indulgent reception of my fentunents oh a former and 
 not diifimilar occafion. 
 
 Interwoven as is the love of liberty with every ligament 
 of your hearts, no recommendation of mine is neceflary to 
 fortify or confirm the attachment. 
 
 The unity of Government which conftitutes you one peo- 
 ple, is alio now dear to you. It is juftly fo ; for it is a 
 main pillar in the edifice of your real Independence, the; 
 lupport of your tranquility at home, your peace abroad ; 
 of your fafety ; of your profperity ; of that very hberty 
 whicii you fo highly prize. Uut, as it is eafy to forefee, 
 that from different caufes and from different quarters, rauc^ 
 pains will be taken, many artifices em-ioyed, to weaken in 
 your wjincis the convidtioa of this truth ; as this is the point 
 m your political foitrefs, againtt which the batteries of in* 
 ternal and external enemies will be moft conftantly and ac- 
 tivp,ly, (thouo,h often covertly and infidftoufly) directed, it is 
 of infinite moment that you fliould properly eftimate the 
 
43 
 
 irtimenfe value of your National- Union; to your collevftive 
 and individual happinefs ; that you Jliould cherilli a cordial, 
 habitual, and immoveable attachment to if ; accuitoming 
 yourfelves to think and ipcak of it as of the palladium of your 
 political fafety and prolperity/ watching for its prefervation 
 With jealous anxiety : difcountenancing whatever may fug- 
 ged even a fufpicioii thar it can in any event be abandoned ; 
 and indignantly frawnhjg upon the firfi dawning of every 
 attern(f)t to alienate any portion of our country from the 
 reft, or to enfeeble the facred ties which now hnk together 
 the various p'nns. 
 
 For this you have every inducement ot fympa thy andiw- 
 rcreft, Citivef>s, by birthorchoiceyof a common country, 
 that country has a right to concentrate your affetSions, 
 The name of American, which belongs to you in your 
 national capacity, muft always exalt the juftpnde of patri- 
 otifm, more than any appellatiori derived from local dilcri- 
 minations. With flight fliades of diiference, you have the 
 fame religion, manners, habits and political principles. 
 You have in a common caufe, fought and triumphed toge- 
 ther ; the Independence and Liberty you poffefs are the 
 work of joint councils, and joint efforts, ot common dan- 
 gers, fufFerings and fucceffes. ,; 
 But thefeconfiderations however powerfully they addrefs 
 themfelves to yOur fenlibility, are greatly outweighed by 
 thofe which apply more immediately to your intereit. Here 
 every portion of our country finds the moft commanding 
 motives for carefully guarding and preferving the union of 
 the whole. 
 
 The North, in an unreftrained intercourfe with the South, 
 •Jifotedtfed by the equal laws of a common government, finds 
 in the productions of the latter, great additional refources 
 of maritime and commercial enterprife, and precious mate- 
 rials of manufadluring induftry. The South in the fame in- 
 tiercourft, benefiting by the agency of the North, fees its a- 
 griculture grow, and its commerce expand. Turning part- 
 ly into itsown channels the teamen of the North, it finds its 
 particular navigation invigorated-^and while it contributes, 
 in different ways, to nourilh and increafe the general mafs 
 of the national navigation, it looks forward to the ,protecT:ioqi 
 of a maritime ftrcHgth, to which itfelfis unequally adopted. 
 T^e Ea/f in alike interconrfe with tiie IfeJ^y already iind.Sj. 
 
44 
 
 and in the progreflive improvement of interior comnounica- 
 tions, by land and water, — will more and more find a 
 valuable vent for tbe commodities which it brings from a- 
 broad, or manufatSlures at home. The Wefi derives from 
 the Eafi fupplies requifite t® its growth and comfort — and 
 ■what is perhaps of ftill greater confequence, it muft of ne- 
 cefTity owe the/ccMrf enjoyment of indifpenfable outlets for 
 its own produtflions to the weight, influence, and the future 
 maritime ftrength of the Atlantic fide of the Union, direct- 
 ed by an indiflbluble community of intereft as one nation. 
 Any other tenure by which the Weft can hold this eflential 
 advantage, whether derived from its own feparate ftrength, 
 or from an apoftate and unnatural connedlion with any fo- 
 reign power, muft be intrinfically precarious. 
 
 While then every part of our country thus feels an im- 
 mediate and particular intereft in Union, all the parts combi- 
 ned cannot fail to find in the united mafs of means and ef- 
 forts, greater ftrength, greater refource, proportion ably 
 greater fecurity, from external danger, a Icfs frequent in* 
 terruption of their peace by foreign nations ; and what is of 
 ineftimable value ! they muft derive from Union an exemp- 
 tion from thofe broils and wars between themfelves, which 
 fo frequently afflift neighbouring countries, not tied toge- 
 ther by the fame government ; which their own rivalfhips 
 alone would be fufficient to produce, but which oppefite fo- 
 reign alliances, attachments and intrigues would ftiniulate 
 and imbitter. Henfe likewife they will avoid the neceffity 
 of thofe overgrown military eftabhfliments, which under 
 any form of government are inaufpicious to liberty, and 
 which are to be regarded as particularly hoftile to Repub- 
 lican Liberty : In this fenfe it is, that your Union ought to 
 be confidered as amain prop of your liberty, ^d that the 
 love of the one ought to endear to you the prefervation ot 
 the other. 
 
 Thefe confiderations fpeak a perfuafive language to eve- 
 ry refleding and virtuous mind, and exhibit the continu- 
 ance of the Union as a primary objeft of a patriotic defu'e. 
 Is there a doubt, whether a commoB government can em- 
 brace, fo large a fphere ? — Let experience fobe it. To 
 Men to mere fpeculation in fuch a cafe were criminal. 
 We are authorifed to hope that a proper organization, of 
 the whole, with the auxiliary agency, oT governments for 
 the refpedive fiibdivifiQns_, will afford a happy iflue to the 
 
45 
 
 experiment. 'Tii well worth a fair and full experiment. 
 Withfuch powerful ;nid obvious motives to Union, affeciiing 
 allpartsof our country, while experiment fliall not have 
 demonltrated it»imprafticability~thcre will always be rea- 
 fon to diltrult thepatriotii'm of thofe, who in any qi)jirter 
 may endeavour to weaken its bands. 
 
 In contemplating the caul'es which may diflurb our Union^ 
 it occurs as matter of ferious concern, that any ground fl^iould 
 be furnilhed for charaQerifing parties, by Geographical dif- 
 criminations — Not hem and Southern — Atlantic and Wejlern ; 
 whence dt'ligning men may endeavour t© excite a belief, 
 that there is a real difterence of local interefts and views. 
 One of the expedients of party to acquire influence, with- 
 in particular diftrids, is to mifreprefent the opinions and 
 aims of other diftrifts. You cannot fliield yourfelves too 
 much againit thejealoufies and heartburnings which fpring 
 from thefe inifreprefentations : they tend to render alien to 
 each other thofe who ought to be bound together by fra- 
 ternal affedion. — The inhabitants of our weftern country 
 have lately had a ufeful lefTon on this head : They have 
 feen,inthe negociation by the Executive, and in the una- 
 nimous ratification by the Senate, of the Treaty with Spain, 
 and in the univerfal fatisfadtion at that event, throughout 
 the United States, a decifive proof how unfounded were 
 the fufpicions propagated among them, of a policy in the 
 general government and in the Atlantic ftates unfriendly 
 to their interelts in regard to the Mifimppi 5 they have 
 been wimefles to the formation ot two treaties, that with 
 Great-Britain and that with Spain, which . fecure to them 
 every thing tiiey could defire, in refpecl: to our foreign re- 
 lations, towards conHrming their profperity. Will it, not 
 be their wifdom to rely for the prefervation of thefe ad.- 
 vantages on the union bv which they were procured? 
 Will they not henceforth be deaf to thofe advifers, if futh 
 they are, who would fever them from their brethren, and 
 connect them with aliens ? 
 
 To the efficacy aad permanency of your Union, a go. 
 veriunent for the whole is indifpenfable. No aUiance?, 
 however ftrift, between the parts can be an adequate fub- 
 Ititute ; they will inevitably experience the infraftions and 
 interruptions which all alliances in all times have experien- 
 ced— Senfible of this momentous truth, you have miprov^ 
 ed upon your firft eflay, by the adoption of a conftitution of 
 
a government better calculated than your former for an 
 intimate Union, and for the efficacious management of your 
 common concerns. This government, the offspring of 
 your own choice, uninfluenced and unawed, adopted upon 
 full in^eftigation and mature deliberation, completely free in 
 its principles, in the diftribution of its powers, uniting fecu- 
 rity with energy, and containing within itlelf a provifion 
 for its own amendment, has a jult claim to your confidence 
 and your fupport. Refpedl for its authority, compliance 
 with its laws, acquiefcence in its meafures, are duties en- 
 joined by the fundamental maxims of true liberty. The 
 balls of our political fyflems is the right of the people to 
 make and to alter their conftitutions of government. But, 
 the conftitution which at any time exifts, till changed by 
 an explicit and authentic aft of the whole people, is facred- 
 ly obligatory upon all. The very idea of the power and 
 the right of the people t6 eftablilh government, pre-fuppo- 
 fes the duty of every individual to obey the eftabhihed go. 
 vernment. 
 
 All obrtruftlons to the execution of the laws, all cembi" 
 nations and alTociations, under whatever plaufible charac- 
 ter, with the real defign to direft, controul, counteraft or 
 awe the regular deliberation and action of the conftituted 
 [authorities, are deftruftive of this fundamental principle, 
 and of fatal tendency. They ferve to organize faftion, to 
 ■^ive it an artificial and extraordinary force — to put in the 
 place of the delegated will of the nation, the will of a party, 
 ofteii a fmall but artful and enterprifmg minority of the 
 community ; and, according to the alternate triumplis of 
 ilifferent parties, to make the public adminiftration the niir- 
 1 or of the ill concerted and incongruous projefts of faftion, 
 rather than the organ of confident and wholefome plans 
 digefted by common councils and modified by mutual in- 
 terefts. 
 
 However combinations or affbciations of the above de- 
 icription, may now and thenanfwer popular ends, they are 
 likely in the courfe of time and things, to become potent 
 engines, by which ci,inning, ambitious and unprincipled 
 men, will be enabled tjo iubvert the power of the people, 
 »Hd to ufurpfor themfelves the reins of government ; de- 
 firoying afterwards the very engines which hav6 lifed them 
 toianjuft dominion. 
 
 1. owards the prefervation of your governmerit, and the 
 
47 
 
 permanency of your prefent happy ftate, it is requifite, not 
 only that you fteatlily difcountenance irregular oppofition 
 to its acknowledged authority, but alfo tliat you refift with 
 care, the fpirit of innovation upon its principles, however 
 fpecious the pretexts. One method of affauit may be tp 
 effedinthe forms of the conftitution, alterations which will 
 impair the energy of the fyftem, and thus to undermine 
 wiiat cannot be directly overthrown. In all the changes 
 to which you may be invited, remember that time and ha- 
 bit are at lealt as neceffary to fix the true chara(Ser of go- 
 vernment, as of other human inftitutions that experience is 
 the fureft ftandard, by which to tell the real tendency of 
 the exifting conflitution of a country — that facility in chan- 
 ges Hpon the credit of mere hypothefis and opinion, expo- 
 les to perpetual change, from the endlefs variety of hypo- 
 thefis and opinion ; and remember, efpecially, that for the 
 efficient management of your common intereit, in a country 
 fo extenfive as ours, a government of as much vigor as is 
 confiftent with the perfeJl fecurity of liberty, is indifpenfi- 
 ble. Liberty itl'elf will find in fuch a government, cvitlj 
 powers properly diftributed and adjuUed, its fureft guardi- 
 an. It is, indeed, little elfe than a name, where the go- 
 vernment is too feeble to withftand the enterprifes of faftion, 
 to confine each member of the fociety within the hmits pre- 
 fcribed by the laws, and to maintain all in the fecure and 
 tranquil enjoyment of tlie rights of perfon and property. 
 
 I have already intimated to you, the danger of parties in 
 the ftate, with particular reference to the founding of them 
 on geographical dil'crnninations. Let me now take a more 
 comprehenfive view and warn you in the rnoft folemn man- 
 ner againft the baneful effeds of the fpirit of party, gene, 
 rally. 
 
 This fpirit, unfortunately, is infeparable from our na- 
 ture, having its root in the ftrongeft paflions of the human 
 mind. It exifts under different fliapes in all governments 
 — more orlefs ftifled, controled, orreprefled ; but in thofe 
 pf the popular form, it is feen in its greateft ranknefs and 
 is truly their worft enemy. 
 
 The alternate dominion of one fadion over another, Ihar- 
 pened by the fpirit of revenge, natural to party diflention, 
 which in different ages and countries has perpetrated tlie 
 moft horrid enormities, isitfelfa frightful defpotifni — Bu'; 
 
48 
 
 this leads at length to a more formal and permanent ciefpo- 
 tifm — Thediforders and miferies, which insUilt, gradually 
 incline the miuds of men tofeek fecurity, and repofeinthe 
 abfolute power of an individual ; and fooner or later the 
 chief of fonie prevailing facliion more able or more fortunate 
 thai-i his competitors, turns this dripofition to the purpofes 
 of his own elevation, on the ruins of Public Liberty. 
 
 Without looking forward to an extremity of this kind 
 (which neverthelefs ought not to be entirely out of fight) 
 the common and continual mifchiefsof the fpirit of party are 
 fufficient to make it the interelt and duty of a wife people to 
 difcourap-e and reltrain it . 
 
 It ferves always to diftraft the Pubhc Councils and enfee- 
 ble the Public Adminiliration. It agitates the community 
 ■with ill founded jealouhes and falfe alarms ; kindles the 
 animofity of one part againft another, foments occaCionally 
 riot and infurrcdlion. It opens the door to foreign influence 
 and corruption, which find a facilitated accefs to the gov- 
 ernment itfelf through the channels of party p.iiiions. Thus 
 the policy and will of one country are fubjedted to the pol- 
 icy and will of another. 
 
 There is an opinion that parties in free countries are ufe- 
 ful checks upon the adminiitration of the g©vcrnment, and 
 ferve to keep alive the fpirit of Liberty. This within cer- 
 tain limits is probably true, and in governments of a monar- 
 chical caft, patriotiim may look with indulgence, if not 
 with favour upon the fpirit of party. But m thofe of the 
 popular charafter, in governments purely elective, it is a 
 fpirit not to be encouraged. From their natnral tendency 
 it is certain there will always be enot^gh of tliat fpirit for 
 every falutary purpofe. And there being conltant danger 
 of excefs, the effort ought to be by force oi Public opinion, 
 to mitigate and affuage it. A fire not to be quenched ; it 
 demands uniform vigilance to prevent its burfting into a 
 flame, leaft inftead of warming, it fhould confume. 
 
 It is important likew ife, that the habits of thinking in a 
 free country, (liould infpire caution, in thofe entrufted with 
 its ad'uiniilration, to contine themfelves within their re- 
 fpedlive conftitutional fpheres, avoiding in the exercife of the 
 powers of one department to encroach upon another. The 
 fpirit of encroachment tends to confohdate the powers of 
 all the departments in one^ and thus to create, whatever 
 
49 
 
 the form of Government, a real defpotifm. A juft eftimate 
 of that love of power, and pronenefs to abufe it, which 
 predominates in the human heart is fufficient to fatisfy us 
 of the truth of this pofition. The necefTity of reciprocal 
 checks in the exercife of the political power ; by dividing 
 and diftributing it into different depofitories, and conftitu- 
 ting each the guardian of the public weal againfl invafions 
 by the others, has been evinced by experiments ancient an4 
 modern ; fome of them in our country and under our own 
 eyes. To preferve them mufl be as necelTary as to inftitute 
 them. If, in the opinion of the people, the difiribution or 
 modification of the conftitutional powers be in any particular 
 ■wrong, let it be correfted by an amendment in the way, 
 which the conftitution defignates — But let there be no 
 change by ufurpation ; for though this, in one inftance, 
 may be the inftruraent of good, it is the cuftomary weapon 
 by which free governments are deftroyed — The precedent 
 muft always greatly overbalance in permanent evil any par- 
 tial or tranfient benefit which the ufe can at any time yield. 
 
 Of all the difpofitions and habits which lead to political 
 profpcrity. Religion and Morality are indifpeniable fup- 
 ports. In vain would that Man claim the tribute of Patri- 
 otifra, who would labor to fubvert thefe great pillars of hu- 
 man happinefs, thefe firmeil props of the duties of men and 
 Citizens. The mere Politician, equally with the pious man 
 ought to refped and to cherilh them. — A volume could not 
 trace all their connexions 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 inllruments of inveftigation 
 in Courts of Juftice ? — And let us with caution indulge the 
 fuppofition, that morality can be maintained without Re- 
 ligion. Whatever may be conceded of the influence of re- 
 fined education on minds of peculiar flrufture ; reafon and 
 experience both forbid us to expeft that national morality- 
 can prevail in exclufion of religious principle. 
 
 Tis fubflantially true, that virtue or morality is a neceC- 
 fary fpring of popular government. The rule indeed ex- 
 tends with more or lefs force to every fpecies of free gov- 
 emmenu Who that is a fincere Friend to it caa lock 
 
5^ 
 
 wiili iiuiitl'erence upon attempts to fiiuke the foundation 
 of the Fabric? 
 
 Promote, then as an ohjeft of primary importance, in- 
 ftitutioiis for the jreneral difFufion of kuo^vledge. In pro- 
 piirtion as the Ibudure of a government gives force to 
 public opinion, it is ell'ential that public opinion fhoul'dbe 
 cnlighteiaeJ. 
 
 As a very important fource pf Riength and lecurity, 
 cherilh public credit. One method of pi-eferving it is to 
 life It as fparingly as poilible ; avoiding occafions of ex- 
 pence by cultivating peace, but remembering alfo that 
 timely diiburfements to prepare for dangers, frequently 
 prevent much greater diiburfements to repel it : Avoiding 
 likewife the accumulation of debt, not only by fhunning 
 occafions of expence, but by vigorous exertions in time 
 of peace to difcharge the debts which unavoidable wars 
 may have occalioned, not ungeneroudy throwing upon 
 pofterity the burthen which we ourfelves ought to bear. 
 The execution of thefe maxims belongs to your repre- 
 fentatives, but it is neceflary that public opinion fhould 
 co-operate. To facilitate to them the performance of 
 their duty, it is efleatial that you Ihould pradically bear in 
 mind that tov,?ards the payment of debts there mult be re- 
 venue ; — that to have revenue there muft be taxes — artd 
 none can be devifed which are not more orlefs inconveni- 
 ent and unpleafant — that the intrinfic embarraffment infe- 
 parable from the feledion of the proper objects (which is 
 always a choice of difficulties) — ought to be a decifive mo- 
 tive for a candid conftruilion of the conduft of the govern- 
 ment in making it, and for a fpirit of acquiefcence in the 
 inealures for obtaining revenue which the public exigencies 
 may at any time diftate. 
 
 Obfcrve good faith and juftice towards all nations ; cul- 
 tivate peace and harmony with ali — Religion and Morali- 
 ty enjoin this conduft ; and can it be, that good policy does 
 not equally enjoin it ? It will be worthy of a free, enlight- 
 ened, and (at no diftant period) a great nation, to give to 
 mankind the magnanimous and too novel example of a peo-. 
 pie alvvays guided by an exalted juftice and benevolence. 
 W ho can doubt that in the courfe of time and things, the 
 fruits of fuch a plan would richly repay any temporary ad- 
 vantages which might be loft by a fteady adherence to it ? 
 Can it be, that Providence has not conneded the penna- 
 
51 
 
 nent felicity of a Nation with Virtue ? The experinienr, 
 at leaft, is recommendecl by every fentiment which enno- 
 bles human nature. — Alas ! is it rendered inipolhble by its 
 vices ? 
 
 In the execution of fuch a plan, nothing is more efTenti- 
 al than that permanent, inveterate antiparliies ngainft par- 
 -ticular Nations, and pafilonate attachments for oUiers Jhould 
 be excluded; and that in the place of them, juft and ami- 
 cable feelings towards all fhould be cultivated. The Na- 
 tion which indulges towards another an habitual hatred, 
 or an habitual fondnefs, is in fome degree a flave. — It is a 
 flave to its animofity or to its afFedlion, either of which is 
 fufficient to lead it aftray from its duty and its intereft. 
 Antipathy in one nation againft another difpofes each more 
 readily to oft'crinfult and mjury, to lay hold of flight cayf- 
 es of umbrage, and to be haughty and intradable, when ac- 
 cidental or trifling occalions of difputc occur. 
 
 Hence frequent coUilions, obftinate, envenomed and 
 bloody conteft:s. The Nation, prompted by ill will and 
 refentment, fometimes impels towar the government, con- 
 trary to the befl: calculations of policy; The government 
 fometimes participates in the national propenlity, and a- 
 dopts through paffion what reafon would reject ; at other 
 times, it makes the animofity of the nation lubfervient to 
 projects of hoftility inftigated by pride, ambition, and other 
 llnifter and pernicious motives. The peace often, fome- 
 times perhaps the liberty of Nations has been the victim. 
 
 So hkewile, a paflionate attachment of one Nation for 
 another produces a variety of evils. Sympathy for the favo- 
 rite Nation, facilitating the illufion of an imaginary com- 
 mon interefl, in cales where no real common interefl- ex- 
 ifts, and infufing into one the enmities of the other, 
 betrays the former into a participation in the quarrels 
 and wars of the latter, without adequate inducement or 
 juftification. It leads alio to concelfions to the favorite na- 
 tion of privileges denied toothers, which is apt doubly ta 
 injure the Nation making the conceiiions : by uniiecexla- 
 rily parting with what ought to have been retained ; and 
 by exciting jealoufy, ill will, and a difpolition to retaliakv 
 in the parties from whom equal privileges are vviihhtld : 
 — And it gives to ambitious, corrupted or deluded ciiizens, 
 (who devote themfelves to the favorite Nation) ficility lo 
 betray, or facrifice the interefls of their own cour.try,. v.ith- 
 
(put odium, fomctimes even with popularity ; gilding with 
 the appearances of a virtuous ienfe of obligation a comtncn- 
 diible deference for public opinion, or a laudable zeal for 
 public good, th? bafe or foolifh compliances of ambition, 
 corruption, ©r infatuation. 
 
 As avenues to foreign influence in innumerable ways, 
 fuch attachments are particularly alarming to the truly en- 
 lightened and independent patriot. How many opportuni- 
 ties do they afford to tamper with domeftic faftions, to prac- 
 tice the arts of fedu£lion to miflead public opinion, to in- 
 fluence or awe the public councils ; fuch an attachment of 
 a Iniall or weak, towards a great and powerful nation, 
 dooms the former to be the fatellite of the latter. 
 
 Againft the infiduous wiles of foreign influence (I con- 
 jure you to believe me, fellow citizens) the jealoufy of afree 
 people ought to be conflantly awake ; fince hiftory and. ex- 
 perience prove that foreign influence is one of the mdfl: 
 baneful foes of Repubhcan Government. But that jealou- 
 fy to be ufefal mull be impartial ; elfe it becomes the in- 
 ftrument of the very influence to be avoided, inftead of a 
 defence agairft it. Excelhve partiality for one foreign na- 
 tion, and excelfive diflike of another, caufe thofe whom 
 tbey aftuate to fee danger only on one fide, and ferve to 
 veil and even fecond the arts of influence on the other. 
 Real patriots, who may refifl: the intrigues of the favorite, 
 are liable to become fufpeded and odious ; while its tools 
 and dupes ufurp the applaufe and confidence of the people 
 to furrender their incereflis. 
 
 The great rule of conduft for us in regard to foreign 
 nations, is in extending our commercial relations, to have 
 with them as Hrtle political connexion as poffibl?. So lar 
 as we have already formed engagenjients, let them be ful- 
 filled with perfed good faith — Her6-4et us flop. 
 
 Europe has a fet of primary interefls, which to us have 
 none, or a very remote relation. Hence fhe mufl be en- 
 gaged in frequent controverfies, the caufes of which are 
 cireiitially foreign to our concerns. Hence Therefore, it 
 inufl be r.nwife in us to implicate ourfelves, hy artificial 
 ties, in the ordinary vicifitudes of her pontics, or the ordi- 
 jiary covnbinatipns and coUiiions of her fricndfliips, or en- 
 :aiitiei. 
 
 Our detached and diflantlituaricn. invites and er.ablts Ui 
 
51 
 
 to purine a different courfe. If we reraain'one people, un- 
 der an efficient government, the period is not far off, when 
 we may defy material injury from external annoyance ; 
 when we may take fuck an attitude as will caufe the neu- 
 trality, we may at any time refolve upon, to be fcrupulouf- 
 ly refpedled ; when belligerent nations, under the impof- 
 fibility of making acquifitions upon us, will not lightly ha- 
 zard the giving us provocation ; when we may choofe 
 peace or war, as our intereft, guided by juftice, (hall 
 counfel. 
 
 Why forego the advantages of fo peculiar a fituation ? 
 Why quit our own, to ftand upon foreign ground ? Why, 
 by interweaving our deftiny with that of any part of Europe, 
 •entangle our peace and profperity in the toils of Europe- 
 an ambition, rivalfliip, intereft, humour or caprice ? 
 
 'Tisour true policy to fleer clear of permanent alliances, 
 with any portion of the foreign world ; fo far, I mean, as 
 we are now at liberty to do it ; for let me not, be under- 
 ftood as capable of patronizing infidelity to exifting engage- 
 ments. I hold the maxim no lefs applicable to public than 
 to private affairs, that honefty is always the beft policy. I 
 repeat it, therefore, let thofe engagements be obferved in 
 their genuine fenfe. But in my opinion, it is ttnneceffary, 
 and would be unwife to extend them. 
 
 Taking care always to keep ourlelves, by fuitable eftab- 
 lifhments, on a refpeftable defenfive pofture, we may fale- 
 ly tiuft to temporary alliances for extraordinary emer- 
 gencies. 
 
 Harmony, liberal intercourfe with all nations, are re- 
 commended by policj'^, humanity and interefl. But even 
 our commercial policy, Ihould hold an equal and impartial 
 hand ; neither fending er granting exclullve favours or 
 preferences — confulting the natural courie of things ; dif- 
 fiifing and diverfifying by gentle means the ftreams of com- 
 merce, but forcing nothing ; eftablilhing, with powers fo 
 difpofed, in order to give trade a ftable courfe to define the 
 rights of our merchants, and to enabie the Government to 
 fupportthem ; conventional rules of intercourle, the befl 
 thatprefent circumflances and mutual opinion will permit, 
 but temporary, and liable to be from time to time abandsn- 
 ed or varied as experience and circumtlances Ihall didate ; 
 ronftantly keeping in view, that 'tis folly in one nation to 
 look for difiatereited favours from another ; that it nmft 
 
54 
 
 pay with a portion of its Independence for whatever it may 
 accept under that chvader ; that by fuch acceptance, it 
 may place itfelf in the condition of having given equivalents 
 for nominal favours, and yet of bemg reproached with in« 
 gratitude for not giving more. — There can be no greater 
 error than to expert, or calculate, upon real favours from 
 nation to nation. 'Tis an illufion which experience mud 
 cure, which ajuftpride ought to difcard. 
 
 In offering to you, my countrymen, thefe counfels of an 
 old affediionate friend, I dare not hope they will make the 
 ftrong and lading imprelfion I could wifli — that they will 
 controul the ufual current of the pafTiofls, or prevent our 
 nation from running the courfe which has hitherto marked 
 the deftiny of nations ': Bat if I may even flatter myfelf, 
 that they may be productive of fome partial benefit, fome 
 cccafional good ; that they may now and then recur to 
 moderate the fury of party fpirit, to warn againft the mif- 
 chiefs of foreign intrigue, to guard againft the mipoftures 
 of pretended patriotifm ; this hope will be a fijl recompence 
 for the folicitude for your welfare, by which they have 
 been diftated. 
 
 How far in the difcharge of my official duties, I have been 
 guided by the principles which have been delineated, the 
 public records and other evidences of my condufl mufl 
 witnefs to you and to the world. To myfelf, the alTurance 
 of my own confcience is, that I have at leaft believed my- 
 felf to be guided by them. 
 
 In relation to the ftill fubfifting war in Europe, my Pro- 
 clamation of the 22d of April, 1 795, is the index to my 
 plan. Sandlioned by your approvmg voice, and by that 
 of your Reprefentatives in both Houfes of Congrels, the 
 fpirit of that meafure has continually governed me ; unin- 
 fluenced by any attempts to deter or divert me from it. 
 
 After deliberate examination, with the aid of the beft 
 lights I could obtain, I was well fatisfied that our country, 
 under all the circumftances of the cafe, had a right to take 
 and was hound in duty and interefl to take a neuti*al poU- 
 tion. Having taken it, I <letermined, as far as iliould de- 
 pend on m^, to maintain it, with woderaiionZp'-^"^^'^'^'^^'^'" 
 
 The confiderations which refpedt the right to hold this 
 ^onduft, it is not neceJTary on this occafion to detail. I 'a ill 
 •nly obiVrve, that according to my underllantHng of liie 
 
55 
 
 matter, that right, fo fir from being clenie(^ by any of the 
 Belligerent Powers, has been virtually admitted by all. 
 
 The duty of holding a neutral conduft may be inferred, 
 without any thing more, from the obligation which juftice 
 and humanity impofe on every nation, in cafes in which it 
 is fi-ee to ad:, to maintain inviolate the relations of peace and 
 amity towards other wations. 
 
 The inducements of interefl for obferving that conduft 
 will beft be referred to your own reflexions and experi- 
 ence. With me, a predominant motive has been to endea- 
 vour to gain time to our country to fettle and mature its yet 
 recent inftitutions, and to progrefs without interruption, 
 to that degree of ftrength and confiflency, which is neceflary 
 to give it, humanly fpeaking, the command of its own for- 
 tunes. 
 
 Though in reviewing the incidents of my adminiftratl- 
 on, I am unconfcious of intentional error : I am neverthe- 
 lefs too fenfible of my defedis not to think it probable that 
 I may have committed many errors. Whatever they may 
 be, I fervently befeech the Almighty to avert or mitigate 
 the evils, to which they may tend. I fliall alfo carry with 
 nje the hope that my country will never ceafe to view them 
 with indulgence ; and that after forty- five years of my life 
 dedicated to its fervice, with an upright zeal, the faults of 
 incompetent abilities will be configned to oblivion, as my- 
 felf mull foon be J^he manfions of reH. 
 
 Relying on its kindnefs in this as in other things, and ac- 
 tuated by that fervent love towards it, which is fo natural 
 to a man who views in it the native foil of himfelf and his 
 progenitors for feveral generations ; I anticipate with plea- 
 ling expedation that retreat, in which I promife myfelf to 
 realize, without alloy, the fweet enjoyment of partaking, in 
 the midftof my fellow-citizens, the benign influence of good 
 laws under a free government — the ever favorite objedl of 
 my heart, and the happy reward as I truft, of our mutual 
 cares, labours and dangers. 
 
 G. WASHINGTON. 
 
 United States, 7 
 I'jth September, 1796. j" 
 
LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 
 
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011 
 
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 Mill Ru 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
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 01 1 783 280 6 
 
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 pH8.5 
 
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