A N 
 
 ORATION 
 
 ON THE 
 
 SUBLIME VIRTUES 
 
 O F 
 
 General George Wafymgton, 
 
 Pronounced at the Ox.d South Meeting-House in Bofton, 
 
 BEFORE 
 
 His Honor the Himtzmnt-CSoKzvnQt, the council, 
 and the Ctoo JSvmibzg of the iLegtOature 
 
 of MASSACHUSETTS, 
 
 AT THEIR REQUEST, 
 
 On SATURDAY, the 8th of FEBRUARY, 1800. 
 
 by FISHER AMES. 
 
 BOSTON : 
 
 YOUNG & MINNS, szziiTEiiS to the stats. 
 
2 OS TON, FEB. 10, 1800. 
 
 SIR, 
 
 IN obedience to an OVcler of the Legiflature of this Com- 
 monwealth, we have the honor to exprcfs to you their thanks for the 
 excellent Oration you delivered on the 8th inftant, commemorating 
 the fublime virtues of General GEORGE WASHINGTON, and to dc- 
 lire a copy for the prefs. 
 
 We derive much fatisfacStion from the execution of an Order, 
 which has for its object, a wide extension and permanent duration of 
 that gratification and improvement which were enjoyed by the liftening 
 audience who attended that performance. 
 
 We have the honor to be 
 
 With high perfonal refpedt and efteem, Sir, 
 Your very humble fervants, 
 
 SAMUEL PHILLIPS, 
 EDWARD H. ROBBINS. 
 
 The Honorable FisherAmes. 
 
 — =^^S^f^W^a- 
 
 GENTLEMEN, 
 
 I RECEIVE the honor conferred on me by the Legiflature 
 of MaJJachufetts with a fenflbility which can be equalled only by my 
 refpeA. In fubmitting the performance to publication, I know that I 
 expofe its imperfections. For thefe, numerous as they are, I have no 
 excufe but my extreme want of leifure, during its preparatipn. Can- 
 dor will, I hope, extend that as far as it will apply. 
 
 I have the honor to be, 
 
 Gentlemen, with perfect refpect, 
 
 Your molt obedient and very humble fervant, 
 
 FISHER AMES. 
 
 Htnwable Samuel Phillips, 
 
 Edward H. Robbins, Efq. 
 
AN ORATION 
 
 ON THE 
 
 SUBLIME VIRTUES 
 
 o r 
 
 It is natural that the gratitude of 
 mankind mould be drawn to their benefactors. 
 A number of thefe have fucceffively arifen, who 
 were no lefs difdnomi{hed for the elevation of 
 their virtues, than the luftre of their talents. Of 
 thofe however who were born, and who acted 
 through life, as if they were born, not for them- 
 felves, but for their country and the whole hu- 
 man race, how few alas ! are recorded in the long 
 annals of ages, and how wide the intervals of 
 time and fpace that divide them. In all this 
 dreary length of way, they appear like five or fix 
 light houfes on as many thoufand miles of coaft : 
 they gleam upon the furrounding darknefs, with 
 an inextinguifhable fplendor, like ftars fcen 
 through a mill ; but they are feen like ftars, to 
 cheer, to guide, and to fave. WASHINGTON 
 is now added to that fmall number. Already he 
 
4* 
 
 attracts curiofity, like a newly dlfcovered ftar, 
 whofe benignant light will travel on to the 
 world's and time's fartheft bounds. Already his 
 name is hung up by hiftory as confpicuoufly, as if 
 it fparkled in one of the conftellations of the fky. 
 
 By commemorating his death, we are called this 
 day to yield the homage that is due to virtue ; to 
 confefs the common debt of mankind as well as 
 our own ; and to pronounce for pofterity, now 
 dumb, that elogium, which they will delight to 
 echo ten ages hence, when we are dumb. 
 
 I consider myfelf not merely in the midft of 
 the citizens of this town, or even of the State. In 
 idea, I gather round me the nation. In the vaft 
 and venerable congregation of the patriots of all 
 countries and of all enlightened men, I would, if I 
 could, raife my voice, and fpeak to mankind in a 
 ilrain worthy of my audience, and as elevated as 
 my fubject. But how mail I exprefs emotions, 
 that are condemned to be mute, becaufe they are 
 unutterable ? I felt, and I was witnefs, on the day 
 when the news of his death reached us, to the 
 throes of that grief, that faddened every counte- 
 nance, and wrung drops of agony from the heart. 
 Sorrow labored for utterance, but found none. 
 Every man looked round for the confolation of 
 other men's tears. Gracious Heaven ! what con- 
 folation ! each face was convulfed with forrow for 
 the pad ; every heart fhivered with defpair for 
 the future. The man, who and who alone, united 
 all hearts, was dead ; dead, at the moment w r hen 
 his power to do good was the greateft, and when 
 
the afpect of the imminent public dangers feemed 
 more than ever to render his aid indifpenfable, 
 and his lofs irreparable : irreparable ; for two 
 WASHINGTONS come not in one age. 
 
 A grief fo thoughtful, fo profound, fo min- 
 gled with tendernefs and admiration, fo inter- 
 woven with our national felf-love, fo often re- 
 vived by being diffufed, is not to be expre{fed. 
 You have afligned me a talk that is impoffible. 
 
 O if I could perform it, if I could illuftrate 
 his principles in my difcourfe as he difplayed them 
 in his life, if I could paint his virtues as he prac- 
 tifed them, if I could convert the fervid enthufi- 
 afm of my heart into the talent to tranfmit his 
 fame, as it ought to pafs to pofterity ; 1 mould 
 be the fuccefsful organ of your will, the minifter 
 of his virtues, and may I dare to fay, the humble 
 partaker of his immortal glory. Thefe are am- 
 bitious, deceiving hopes, and I reject them. For 
 it is perhaps almoft as difficult, at once with judg- 
 ment and feeling, to praife great actions, as to 
 perform them. A lavifh and undiftinguifhing 
 elogium is not praife ; and to difcriminate fuch 
 excellent qualities as were characteriftic and pecu- 
 liar to him, would be to raife a name, as he raifed 
 it, above envy, above parallel, perhaps, for. that 
 very reafon, above emulation. 
 
 Such a portraying of character however, muft 
 be addreffed to the understanding, and therefore, 
 even if it were well executed, would feem to be 
 rather an analyfis of moral principles, than the 
 recital of a hero's exploits. It would rather con- 
 
ciliate confidence and efteem, than kindle enthufi- 
 afm and admiration. It would be a picture of 
 WASHINGTON, and, like a picture, flat as the 
 canvas ; like a ftatue, cold as the marble on which 
 he is reprefented ; cold, alas, as his corpfe in the 
 ground. Ah, how unlike the man late warm 
 with living virtues, animated by the foul once 
 glowing with patriotic fires ! He is gone ! the tomb 
 hides all, that the world could fcarce contain, and 
 that once was WASHINGTON, except his glory ; 
 that is the rich inheritance of his country ; and 
 his example ; that let us endeavor by delineating 
 to impart to mankind. Virtue will place it in her 
 temple, wifdom in her treafury. 
 
 Peace then to your forrows. I have done 
 with them. Deep as your grief is, I aim not to 
 be pathetic. I defire lefs to give utterance to the 
 feelings of this age, than to the judgment of the 
 next. Let us faithfully reprefent the illuftrious 
 dead, as hiftory will paint, as pofterity will behold 
 him. 
 
 With whatever fidelity I might execute this 
 talk, I know that fome would prefer a picture 
 drawn to the imagination. They would have our 
 WASHINGTON reprefented of a giant's fize, 
 and in the character of a hero of romance. They 
 who love to wonder better than to reafon, would 
 not be fatisfied with the contemplation of a great 
 example, unlefs, in the exhibition, it mould be fo 
 diftorted into prodigy, as to be both incredible 
 and ufelefs. Others, I hope but few, who think 
 meanly of human nature, will deem it incredible. 
 
7 
 
 that even WASHINGTON mould think with as 
 much dignity and elevation, as he acted ; and 
 they will grovel in vain in the fearch for mean and 
 felfifli motives, that could incite and fuftain him 
 to devote his life to his country. 
 
 Do not thefe fuggeftions found in your ears 
 like a profanation of virtue ? and, while I pro- 
 nounce them, do you not feel a thrill of indigna- 
 tion at your hearts ? Forbear. Time never fails 
 to bring every exalted reputation to a ftrict fcru- 
 tiny : the world, in palling the judgment that is 
 never to be reverfed, will deny all partiality, even 
 to the name of WASHINGTON. Let it be de- 
 nied : for its juftice will confer glory. 
 
 Such a life as WASHINGTON'S cannot derive 
 honor from the circumftances of birth and 
 education, though it throws back a luftre upon 
 both. With an inquifitive mind, that always 
 profited by the lights of others, and was uncloud- 
 ed by pailions of its own, he acquired a maturity 
 of judgment, rare in age, unparalleled in youth. 
 Perhaps no young man had fo early laid up a life's 
 ftock of materials for folid reflection, or fettled fo 
 foon the principles and habits of his conduct. 
 Grey experience liftened to his counfels with re- 
 fpect, and at a time when youth is almoft privi- 
 leged to be ram, Virginia committed the fafety of 
 her frontier, and ultimately the fafety of Ameri- 
 ca, not merely to his valor, for that would be 
 fcarcely praife ; but to his prudence. 
 
 It is not in Indian wars that heroes are celebra- 
 ted ; but it is there they are formed. No enemy 
 
9 
 
 can be more formidable, by the craft of his am- 
 bufhes, the fuddennefs of his onfet, or the ferocity 
 of his vengeance. The foul of WASHINGTON 
 was thus cxercifed to danger ; and on the firft trial, 
 as on every other, it appeared firm in adverfity, 
 cool in action, undaunted, felf-poffeffed. His fpirit, 
 and ftill more his prudence, on the occafion of 
 Braddock's defeat, difFufed his name throughout 
 America, and acrofs the Atlantic. Even then his 
 country viewed him with complacency, as her 
 moft hopeful fon. 
 
 At the peace of 1763, Great-Britain, in con- 
 fequence of her victories, flood in a pofition to 
 prefcribe her own terms. She chofe, perhaps, bet- 
 ter for us than for herfelf : for by expelling the 
 French from Canada, we no longer feared hoftile 
 neighbors ; and we foon found juft caufe to be 
 afraid of our protectors. We difcerned even then 
 a truth, which the conduct of France has fince fo 
 ftrongly confirmed, that there is nothing which 
 the gratitude of weak ftates can give, that will 
 fatisfy flrong allies for their aid, but authority. 
 Nations that want protectors, will have matters. 
 Our fettlements, no longer checked by enemies 
 on the frontier, rapidly increafed ; and it was dif- 
 covered, that America was growing to a fize that 
 could defend itfelf. 
 
 In this, perhaps unforefeen, but at length obvi- 
 ous Hate of things, the Britifh Government con- 
 ceived a jealoufy of the Colonies, of which, and of 
 their intended meafures of precaution, they made 
 no fecret. 
 
9 
 
 Thus it happened, that their forefight of the 
 evil aggravated its fymptoms, and accelerated its 
 progrefs. The colonifts perceived that they could 
 not be governed, as before, by affection • and re- 
 folved that they would not be governed by force. 
 Nobly refolved ! for had we fubmitted to the Brit- 
 ifh claims of right, we fhould have had, if any, lefs 
 than our ancient liberty ; and held what might 
 have been left by a worfe tenure. 
 
 Our nation, like its great leader, had only to 
 take counfel from its courage. When WASH- 
 INGTON heard the voice of his country in diftrefs, 
 his obedience was prompt ; and though his kcri- 
 fices were great, they coft him no effort. Nei- 
 ther the object nor the limits of my plan, permit 
 me to dilate on the military events of the revolu- 
 tionary war. Our hiftory is but a tranfcript of 
 his claims on our gratitude. Our hearts bear tes- 
 timony, that they are claims not to be fatisfied. 
 When overmatched by numbers ; a fugitive, with 
 a little band of faithful foldiers ; the States as 
 much exhaufled as difmayed ; he explored his own 
 undaunted heart, and found there refources to re- 
 trieve our affairs. We have feen him difplay as 
 much valor as gives fame to heroes, and as con- 
 fummate prudence as enfures fuccefs to valor j 
 fearlefs of dangers that were perfonal to him ; hef- 
 itating and cautious, when they affected his coun- 
 try ; preferring fame before fafety or repofe ; and 
 duty, before fame. 
 
 Rome did not owe more to Fabius, than Amer- 
 ica to WASHINGTON. Our nation fliares with 
 
 B 
 
10 
 
 him the Angular glory of having conduced a civil 
 war with mildnefs, and a revolution, with order. 
 
 The event of that war feemed to crown the fe- 
 licity and glory both of America and its Chief. 
 Until that conteft, a great part of the civilized 
 world had been lurprifingly ignorant of the force 
 and character, and almoft of the exiftence, of the 
 Britilh Colonies. They had not retained what 
 they knew, nor felt curiofity to know the ftate of 
 thirteen wretched fettlements, which vaft woods 
 inclofed, and ftill vafter woods divided from each 
 other. They did not view the colonifts fo much 
 a people, as a race of fugitives, whom want, and 
 folitude, and intermixture with the favages, had 
 made barbarians. Great-Britain, they faw, was 
 elate with her victories : Europe flood in awe of 
 her power : her arms made the thrones of the moll 
 powerful unfteady, and difturbed the tranquillity 
 of their States, with an agitation more ex^enfive 
 than an earthquake. As the giant Enceladus is 
 fabled to lie under Etna, and to ftiake the moun- 
 tain when he turns his limbs, her hoftility was 
 felt to the extremities of the world. It reached 
 to both the Indies ; in the wilds of Africa, it ob- 
 llructed the commerce in flaves ; the whales, find- 
 ing, in time of war, a refpite from their purfuers, 
 could venture to fport between the tropics, and 
 did not flee, as in peace, to hide beneath the ice- 
 fields of the polar circle. 
 
 At this time, while Great-Britain wielded a 
 force not inferior to that of the Roman empire 
 under Trajan 9 fuddenly, aftoniflied Europe beheld 
 
41 
 
 a feeble people, till then unknown, ftand forth, 
 and defy this giant to the combat. It was fo un- 
 equal, all expected it would be fliort. The events 
 of that war were fo many miracles, that attracted, 
 as much perhaps as any war ever did, the wonder 
 of mankind. Our final fuccefs exalted their ad- 
 miration to its higheft point : they allowed to 
 WASHINGTON all that is due to tranfcendent 
 virtue, and to the Americans more than is due 
 to human nature. They confidered us a race of 
 WASHiNGTONS,and admitted that nature in Amer- 
 ica was fruitful only in prodigies. Their books 
 and their travellers, exaggerating and diftorting 
 all their reprefentations, aflifted to eftablifli the 
 opinion, that this is a new world, with a new or- 
 der of men and things adapted to it ; that here 
 we practife induftry, amidft the abundance that 
 requires none ; that we have morals fo refined, 
 that we do not need laws ; and though we have 
 them, yet we ought to confider their execution 
 as an infult and a wrong •, that we have virtue 
 without weaknefies, fentiment without pafiions, 
 and liberty without factions. Thefe illufions, in 
 fpite of their abfurdity, and, perhaps, becaufe they 
 are abfurd enough to have dominion over the 
 imagination only, have been received by many of 
 the malecontents againft the governments of Eu- 
 rope, and induced them to emigrate. Such illu- 
 fions are too foothing to vanity, to be entirely 
 checked in their currency among Americans. 
 
 They have been pernicious, as they cherifli falfe 
 ideas of the rights of men and the duties of rulers* 
 
They have led the citizens to look for liberty, 
 where it is not ; and to confider the government, 
 which is its cattle, as its prifon. 
 
 WASHINGTON retired to Mount Vernon, and 
 the eyes of the world followed him. He left his 
 countrymen to their fimplicity and their paflions, 
 and their glory foon departed. Europe began to 
 be undeceived, and it feemed for a time, as if, by 
 the acquifition of independenci, our citizens were 
 difappointed. The Confederation was then the 
 only compact made " to form a perfect union of 
 the States, to eftablifli juftice, to enfure the tran- 
 quillity, and provide for the fecurity, of the na- 
 tion and accordingly, union was a name that 
 ftill commanded reverence, though not obedience. 
 The fyftem called juftice was, in fome of the 
 States, iniquity reduced to elementary principles ; 
 and the public tranquillity was fuch a portentous 
 calm, as rings in deep caverns before the explofion 
 of an earthquake. Moft of the States then were 
 in fact, though not in form, unbalanced democra- 
 cies. Reafon, it is true, fpoke audibly in their con- 
 ftitutions ; paffion and prejudice louder in their 
 laws. It is to the honor of Maflachufetts, that it 
 is chargeable with little deviation from principles. 
 Its adherence to them was one of the caufes of a dan- 
 gerous rebellion. It was fcarcely poftible that fuch 
 governments mould not be agitated by parties, 
 and that prevailing parties mould not be vindict- 
 ive and unjuft. Accordingly, in fome of the 
 States, creditors were treated as outlaws ; bank- 
 rupts were armed with legal authority to be per* 
 
18 
 
 fecutors ; and, by the mock of all confidence and 
 faith, fociety was fhaken to its foundations. Lib- 
 erty we had ; but we dreaded its abufe almoft as 
 much as its lofs ; and the wife, who deplored the 
 one, clearly forefaw the other. 
 
 The States were alfo becoming formidable to 
 each other. Tribute, under the name of impoft, 
 was for years levied by fome of the commercial 
 States upon their neighbors. Meafures of retalia- 
 tion were reforted to, and mutual recriminations 
 had begun to whet the refentments, whofe never 
 failing progrefs among ftates is more injuftice, 
 vengeance, and war. 
 
 The peace of America hung by a thread, and 
 factions were already fharpening their weapons to 
 cut it. The project of three feparate empires in 
 America was beginning to be broached, and the 
 progrefs of licentioufnefs would have foon ren- 
 dered her citizens unfit for liberty in either of 
 them. An age of blood and rnifery would have 
 punifhed our difunion : But thefe were not the 
 confiderations to deter ambition from its purpofe, 
 while there were fo many circumftances in our 
 political lituation to favor it. 
 
 At this awful crifis, which all the wife fo much 
 dreaded at the time, yet which appears, on a re- 
 trofpect, fo much more dreadful than their fears ; 
 fome man was wanting, who poflefTed a command- 
 ing power over the popular paflions, but over 
 whom thofe paflions had no power. — That man 
 was WASHINGTON. 
 
 His name, at the head of fuch a lift of worthies 
 
1& 
 
 as would reflect honor on any country, had its 
 proper weight with all the enlightened, and with al- 
 moft all the well-difpofed among the lefs informed 
 citizens, and, blefled be God! the Conftitution 
 was adopted. Yes, to the eternal honor of Amer- 
 ica among the nations of the earth, it was adopt- 
 ed, in fpite of the obftacles which, in any other 
 country, and perhaps in any other age of this, 
 would have been infurmountable ; in fpite of the 
 doubts and fears, which well meaning prejudice 
 creates for itfclf, and which party fo artfully in- 
 flames into ftubbornnefs ; in fpite of the vice, which 
 it has fubjected to reftraint, and which is therefore 
 its immortal and implacable foe ; in fpite of the 
 oligarchies in fome of the States, from whom it 
 fnatched dominion ; it was adopted, and our 
 country enjoys one more invaluable chance for its 
 union and happinefs : invaluable I if the retros- 
 pect of the dangers we have efcaped, mail fuf- 
 ficiently inculcate the principles we have fo tardi- 
 ly eftablimed. Perhaps multitudes are not to be 
 taught by their fears only, without fufFering much 
 to deepen the impreflion : for experience bran- 
 difhcs in her fchool a whip of fcorpions, and teach- 
 es nations her fummary leffons of wifdom by the 
 fears and wounds of their adverfity. 
 
 The amendments which have been projected in 
 fome of the States fliew, that in them at leaft, 
 thefe leffons are not well remembered. In a con- 
 federacy of States, fome powerful, others weak, 
 the weaknefs of the federal union will, fooner or 
 later, encourage, and will not reftrain, the ambition 
 
16 
 
 and injuftice of the members. The weak can no 
 otherwife be ftrong or fafe, but in the energy of 
 the national government. It is this defect, — which 
 the blind jealoufy of the weak States not unfre- 
 quently contributes to prolong, — that has proved 
 fatal to all the confederations that ever exifted. 
 
 Although it was impoflible that fuch merit as 
 WASHINGTON'S mould not produce envy, it 
 was fcarcely pofiible that, with fuch a tranfcendent 
 reputation, he mould have rivals. Accordingly, 
 he was unanimoufly chofen Prefident of the Unit- 
 ed States. 
 
 As a general and a patriot, the meafure of his 
 glory was already full : there was no fame left for 
 him to excel but his own ; and even that talk, 
 the mightieft of all his labors, his civil magiftracy 
 has accomplifhed. 
 
 No fooner did the new government be^in its 
 
 o o 
 
 aufpicious courfc, than order feemed to arife out of 
 confufion. The governments of Europe had feen 
 the old Confederation finking, fqualid and pale, 
 into the tomb, when they beheld the new Ameri- 
 can Republic rife fuddenly from the ground, and, 
 throwing off its grave cloaths, exhibiting the ftat- 
 ure and proportions of a young giant, refrefhed with 
 fleep. Commerce and induftry awoke, and were 
 cheerful at their labors ; for credit and confidence 
 awoke with them. Every where was the appear- 
 ance of profperity ; and the only fear was, that its 
 progrefs was too rapid, to confift with the purity 
 and fimplicity of ancient manners.. The cares and 
 labors of the Prefident were inceffant : his exhoi- 
 
16 
 
 tations, example, and authority, were employed to 
 excite zeal and activity for the public fervice : able 
 officers were felefted, only for their merits ; and 
 fome of them remarkably diftinguiftied themfelves 
 by their fuccefsful management of the public bufi- 
 nefs. Government was adminiftered with fuch 
 integrity, without myftery, and in fo profperous a 
 courfe, that it feemed to be wholly employed in 
 acts of beneficence. Though it has made many 
 thouiand malecontents, it has never, by its rigor 
 or injullice, made one man wretched. 
 
 Such was the ftate of public affairs : and did it 
 not feem perfectly to enfure uninterrupted harmony 
 to the citizens ? did they not, in refpecl to their 
 government and its adminiflration, pofTefs their 
 whole heart's defire ? They had feen and fuffered 
 long the want of an efficient conftitution : they 
 had freely ratified it : they faw WASHINGTON, 
 their tried friend, the father of his country, invert- 
 ed with its powers. They knew that he could 
 not exceed or betray them, without forfeiting his 
 own reputation. Confider, for a moment, what a 
 reputation it was : Such as no man ever before 
 pofleffed by fo clear a title, and in fo high a degree. 
 His fame feemed in its purity to exceed even its 
 brightnefs : office took honor from his accept- 
 ance, but conferred none. Ambition flood awed 
 and darkened by his fhadow. For where, through 
 the wide earth, was the man fo vain as to difpute 
 precedence with him ; or what were the honors 
 that could make the poffeffor WASHINGTON'S 
 fuperior ? Refined and complex as the ideas of 
 
n 
 
 virtue arc, even the grofs could difcern in his life 
 the infinite fuperiority of her rewards. Mankind 
 perceived foine change in their idea* of greatnefs : 
 the fplcndor of power, and even of the name of 
 conqueror, had grown dim in their eyes. They 
 did not know that WASHINGTON could aug- 
 ment his fame ; but they knew and felt, that the 
 world's wealth, and its empire too, would be a 
 bribe far beneath his acceptance. 
 
 This is not exaggeration : never was confidence 
 in a man and a chief magiftrate more widely dif- 
 fused, or more folidly eftablifhed. 
 
 If it had been in the nature of man that we 
 mould enjoy liberty, without the agitations of par- 
 ty, the United States had a right, under thefe cir- 
 cumftances, to expect it : but it was impoflible. 
 Where there is no liberty, they may be exempt 
 from party. It will feem ftrange, but it fcarcely 
 admits a doubt, that there are fewer malecontents 
 in Turkey, than in any free ftate in the world. 
 Where the people have no power, they enter into 
 no contefts, and are not anxious to know how 
 they fhall ufe it. The fpirit of difcontent becomes 
 torpid for want of employment, and fighs itfelf to 
 reft. The people fleep foundly in their chains, and 
 do not even dream of their weight. They lofe 
 their turbulence with their energy, and become as 
 traceable as any other animals : a ftate of degrada- 
 tion, in which they extort our fcorn, and engage 
 our pity, for the mifery they do not feel. Yet 
 that heart is a bafe one, and fit only for a Have's 
 bofom, that would not bleed freely, rather than 
 
 C 
 
48 
 
 fubmit to fuch a condition ; for liberty with all its 
 parties and agitations is more defirable than 11a- 
 very, Wh o would not prefer the republics of an- 
 cient Greece, where liberty once fubfifted in its 
 excefs, its delirium, terrible in its charms, and glif- 
 tening to the laft with the blaze of the very fire 
 that confumed it ? 
 
 I do not know that I ought, but I am fure that 
 I do, prefer thofe republics to the dozing flavery 
 of the modern Greece, where the degraded wretch- 
 es have fuffered fcorn till they merit it, where 
 they tread on claflic ground, on the afhes of he- 
 roes and patriots, uncoiifcious of their anceftry, 
 ignorant of the nature, and almoft of the name of 
 liberty, and infenlible even to the paflion for it. 
 Who, on this contrail, can forbear to fay, it is 
 the modern Greece that lies buried, that fleeps 
 forgotten in the caves of Turkifh darknefs ? It is 
 the ancient Greece that lives in remembrance, that 
 is Hill bright with glory, llill frefli in immortal 
 youth. They are unworthy of liberty, who en- 
 tertain a lefs exalted idea of its excellence. The 
 misfortune is, that thofe who profefs to be its moll 
 paflionate admirers have, generally, the leaft com- 
 prehenfion of its hazards and impediments : they 
 expect that an enthufiaftic admiration of its na- 
 ture will reconcile the multitude to the irkfome- 
 nefs of its reftraints. Delulive expectation ! 
 WASHINGTON was not thus deluded. We 
 have his folemn warning againft the often fatal 
 propenfities of liberty. He had reflected, that 
 
men are often falfe to their country and their 
 honor, falfe to duty and even to their intcreft ; 
 but multitudes of men are never long falfe or 
 deaf to their paffions ; thefe will find obftacles in 
 the laws, afTociates in party. The fellowftiips thus 
 formed are more intimate, and impofe commands 
 more imperious, than thofe of fociety. 
 
 Thus party forms a ftate within the ftate, and 
 is animated by a rivalfliip, fear, and hatred, of its 
 fuperior. When this happens, the merits of the 
 government will become frefli provocations and 
 offences ; for they are the merits of an enemy. 
 No wonder then, that as foon as party found the 
 virtue and glory of WASHINGTON were obfta- 
 cles, the attempt was made, by calumny, to fur- 
 mount them both. For this, the greateft of all 
 his trials, we know that he was prepared. He 
 knew that the government muft pofTefs fufheient 
 ftrength from within or without, or fall a victim 
 to faction. This interior ftrength was plainly inade- 
 quate to its defence, unlefs it could be reinforced 
 from without by the zeal and patriotifmof the cit- 
 izens ; and this latter refource was certainly as 
 acceffible to Prefident WASHINGTON, as to any 
 chief magiftrate that ever lived. The life of the 
 federal government, he confidered, was in the 
 breath of the people's noftrils : whenever they 
 mould happen to be fo infatuated or inflamed as 
 to abandon its defence, its end muft be as fpeedy, 
 and might be as tragical, as a conftitution for 
 France. 
 
20 
 
 * While the Prefident was thus admimftering the 
 government, in fo wife and juft a manner, as to en- 
 gage the great majority of the enlightened and virtue 
 ous citizens to co-operate with him for its fupport, 
 and while he indulged the hope that time and habit 
 were confirming their attachment, the French revo- 
 lution had reached that point in its progrefs, when 
 its terrible principles began to agitate all civilized na- 
 tions. I will not, on this occafion, detain you to ex- 
 prefs, though my thoughts teem with it, my deep ab- 
 horrence of that revolution ; its defpotifm, by the 
 mob or the military, from the nrft, and its hypocrify 
 of morals to the laft, Scenes have paffed there 
 which exceed defcription, and which, for other rea- 
 fons, I will not attempt to defcribe ; for it would not 
 be pofiible, even at this diftance of time, and with 
 the fea between us and France, to go through with 
 the recital of them, without perceiving horror gath- 
 er, like a froft, about the heart, and almoft ftop its 
 pulfe. That revolution has been conjtant in noth- 
 ing but its viciflitudes, and its promifes ; always de- 
 lufive but always renewed, to eftablifh philofophy by 
 crimes, and liberty by the fword. The people of 
 France, if they are not like the modern Greeks, find 
 their cap of liberty is a foidier's helmet : and, with all 
 their imitation of dictators and confuls, their exacted 
 
 NOTE. 
 
 * The Government of Maflachufetts has manifefted more than once, 
 and fo lately as the laft year, a wife difcernmeut of the pernicious ten- 
 dency of certain ufurping claims by States, and of changes propoi'cd to. 
 abolifh, under the name of amending, the Conftkution. 
 
 The example has had its proper weight to produce, in other States, 
 a like zealous and prompt fupport of the national Government. 
 
 Long may fuch patriotic zeal continue, and ever may its efforts ob- 
 tain a like fuccefs ! 
 
21 
 
 „ ... — . 
 
 fimilitude to thefe Roman ornaments, is in their 
 chains. The nations of Europe perceive another re- 
 ferhblance, in their all conquering ambition. 
 
 But it is only the influence of that event on Amer- 
 ica, ancj on the meafures of the Prefident, that be- 
 longs to my fubjecl. It would be ingratefully wrong 
 to his character to be filent in refpect to a part of it, 
 which has the moil fignally illuftrated his virtues. 
 
 The genuine character of that revolution is not 
 even yet fo well underftood as the dictates of felf- 
 prefervation require it mould be. The chief duty 
 and care of all governments is to protect the rights 
 of property, and the tranquillity of fociety. The 
 leaders of the French revolution, from the begin- 
 ning, excited the poor againft the rich : this has made 
 the rich poor, but it will never make the poor rich. 
 On the contrary, they were ufed only as blind inftru- 
 ments to make thofe leaders mailers, firfb of the ad- 
 verfe party, and then of the ftate. Thus the powers 
 of the ftate were turned round into a direction ex- 
 actly contrary to the proper one, not to preferve 
 tranquillity and reftrain violence, but to excite vio- 
 lence by the lure of power, and plunder, and ven- 
 geance. Thus all France has been, and ftill is, as 
 much the prize of the ruling party as a captured 
 iliip, and if any right or porTeflion has efcaped confif- 
 cation, there is none that has not been liable to it. 
 
 Thus it clearly appears that, in its origin, its char- 
 acter, and its means, the government of that country 
 is revolutionary ; that is, not only different from, 
 but directly contrary to, every regular and well or- 
 dered fociety. It is a danger, fimilar in its kind, 
 
O 9 
 
 and at leaft equal in degree, to that, with which an- 
 cient Rome menaced her enemies. The allies of 
 Rome were flaves ; and it coll forne hundred 
 years efforts of her policy and arms, to make her en- 
 emies her allies. Nations, at this day, can truft no 
 better to treaties ; they cannot even truft to arms, 
 unlefs they are ufed with a fpirit and psrfeverance 
 becoming the magnitude of their danger. For the 
 French revolution has been, from the fifft, hoftile 
 to all right and juftice, to all peace and order in fo- 
 ciety ; and, therefore, its very exiftence has been a 
 flate of warfare againft the civilized world, and moft 
 of all againft free and orderly republics. For fuch 
 are never without factions, ready to be the allies of 
 France, and to aid her in the work of deftruction. 
 Accordingly, fcarcely any but republics have they 
 fubverted. Such governments, by mewing in prac- 
 tice what republican liberty w, detect French impof- 
 ture, and (hew what their pretexts are not. 
 
 To fubvert them, therefore, they had, befides the 
 facility that faction affords, the double excitement of 
 removing a reproach, and converting their greateft ob- 
 ftacles into their molt efficient auxiliaries. 
 
 Who then, on careful reflection, will befurprifed, 
 that the French and their partizans inftantly conceiv* 
 ed the defire, and made the moft powerful attempts, 
 to revolutionize the American government ? But it. 
 will hereafter feem ftrange that their exceffes mould 
 be excufed, as. the effects of a ftruggle for liberty, and 
 that fo many of our citizens mould be flattered, while 
 they were infulted, with the idea, that our example 
 was copied, and our principles purfued. Nothing 
 
was ever more falfe, or more fafcinating. Our lib- 
 erty depends on our education, our laws, and habits, 
 to which even prejudices yield ; on the difperfion of 
 our people on farms, and on the almoll equal diffu- 
 fion of property ; it is founded on morals and religion, 
 whofe authority reigns in the heart, and on the influ- 
 ence all thefe produce on public opinion before 
 that opinion governs rulers. Here liberty is reftraint, 
 there it is violence ; here it is mild and cheering, like 
 the morning fun of our fummer, brightening the hills, 
 and making the vallies green ; there it is like the fun, 
 when his rays dart peltilence on the fands of Africa. 
 American liberty calms and retrains the licentious 
 paffions, like an angel that fays to the winds and 
 troubled feas ; be (till. But how has French licen- 
 doufnefs appeared to the wretched citizens of Swit- 
 zerland and Venice ? Do not their haunted imagina- 
 tions, even when they wake, reprefent her as a mon- 
 fter, with eyes that flam wild fire, hands that hurl 
 thunderbolts, a voice that makes the foundation of 
 the hills ? She Hands, and her ambition meafures the 
 earth ; Ihe fpeaks, and an epidemic fury feizes the 
 nations. 
 
 Experience is loft upon us, if we deny, that it 
 had feized a large part of the American Nation. It 
 is as fober, and intelligent, as free, and as worthy to 
 be free, as any in the world ; yet, like all other peo- 
 ple, we have paflions and prejudices, and they had re- 
 ceived a violent impulfe, which, for a time, mifled us. 
 
 Jacobinism had become here, as in France, rather 
 a feci: than a party ; infpiring a fanaticifm that was 
 equally intolerant and contagious. The delufion was 
 
24 
 
 general enough to be thought the voice of the people, 
 therefore claiming authority without proof ; and jeal- 
 ous enough to exact acquiefcence without a murmur 
 of contradiction. Some progrefs was made in train- 
 ing multitudes to be vindictive and ferocious. To 
 them nothing feemed amiable, but the revolutionary 
 juftice of Paris \ nothing terrible, but the government 
 and juftice of America. The very name of Patriots 
 was claimed and applied in proportion as the citizens 
 had alienated their hearts from America, and transfer- 
 red their affections to their foreign corrupter. Party 
 difcerned its intimate connexion of intereft with 
 France, and confummated its profligacy by yielding 
 to foreign influence. 
 
 The views of thefe allies required that this country 
 mould engage in war with Great-Britain. Nothing 
 lefs would give to France all the means of annoying 
 this dreaded rival : Nothing lefs would enfure the 
 fubjection of America, as a fatellite to the ambition of 
 France : Nothing elfe could make a revolution here 
 perfectly inevitable. 
 
 For this end, the minds of the citizens were art- 
 fully inflamed, and the moment was watched, and 
 impatiently waited for, when their long heated paf- 
 fions mould be in fufion, to pour them forth, like 
 the lava of a volcano, to blacken and confume the 
 peace and government of our country. 
 
 The fyftematic operations of a faction under for- 
 eign influence had begun to appear, and were fuccef- 
 iivcly purfued, in a manner too deeply alarming to 
 be foon forgotten. Who of us does not remember 
 this worfl of evils in this worft of ways ? Shame 
 
2S 
 
 would forget, if it could, that, in one of the States, 
 amendments were propofed to break dow n the Fed- 
 eral Senate, which, as in the State Governments, is 
 a great bulwark of the public order. To break down 
 another, an extravagant judiciary power was ciaimed 
 for States. In another State a rebellion was fomented 
 by the agent of France : And who, without frefh in- 
 dignation, can remember, that the powers of Gov- 
 ernment were openly ufurped ; troops levied, and 
 mips fitted out to fight for her ? Nor can any true 
 friend to our Government confider without dread, 
 that, foon afterwards, the treaty- making power was 
 boldly challenged for a branch of the government, 
 from which the conftitution has wifely withholden it. 
 
 I am oppretled, and know not how to proceed 
 with my fubieci — WASHINGTON, bieffed be 
 God ! who endued him with wifdoni and clothed 
 him with power— WASHINGTON ilfued his Proc- 
 lamation of Neutrality, and, at an early period, ar- 
 retted the intrigues of France and the paffions of his 
 countrvmen, on the very edge of the precipice of war 
 and revolution. 
 
 This act of firrnnefs, at the hazard of his 
 reputation and peace, entitles him to the name of 
 the firft of patriots. Time was gained for the citi- 
 zens'to recover their virtue and good fenfe, and they 
 foen recovered them. The criiis was palfed, and 
 America was faved. 
 
 You and I, moil refpe&ed fellow citizens, mould 
 be fooner tired than fatisfied in recounting the partic- 
 ulars of this illufrrious man's life. 
 
 D 
 
26 
 
 How great he appeared, while he adminiftered 
 the Government, how much greater when he retir- 
 ed from it, how he accepted the chief military com- 
 mand under his wife and upright fuccefibr, how his 
 life was unfpctted like his fame, and how his death 
 was worthy of his life, are fo many diftinct fubje&s 
 of inftruction, and each of them fingly more than 
 enough for an elogium. I leave the tafk however 
 to hiftory and to pofterity ; they will be faithful to it. 
 
 It is not impoflible, that fome will affect to con- 
 fider the honors paid to this great patriot by the na- 
 tion, as excefTive, idolatrous, and degrading to free- 
 men, who are all equal. I anfwer, that refufing to 
 virtue its legitimate honors would not prevent their 
 being lavimed, in future, on any worthlefs and am- 
 bitious favorite. If this day's example mould have 
 its natural effect, it will be falutary. Let fuch honors 
 be fo conferred only when, in future, they fhall be 
 fo merited : Then the public fentiment will not be 
 milled, nor the principles of a jufl equality corrupted. 
 The beft evidence of reputation is a man's whole 
 life. We have now, alas ! all WASHINGTON'S 
 before us. There has fcarcely appeared a really great 
 man, whofe character has been more admired in his 
 life time, or lefs correctly understood by his admirers, 
 When it is comprehended, it is no eafy tafk to de- 
 lineate its excellencies in fuch a manner, as to give 
 to the portrait both interefl: and refemblance. For 
 it requires thought and ftudy to underftand the true 
 ground of the fuperiority of his character over many 
 others, whom he refembled in the principles of ac- 
 tion, and even in the manner of afting. But per- 
 
2/ 
 
 haps he excels all the great men that ever lived, hi 
 the fteadinefs of his adherence to his maxims of life, 
 and in the uniformity of all his conduct to the fame 
 maxims. Thefe maxims, though wife, were yet not 
 fo remarkable for their wifdom, as for their authority 
 over his life : For if there were any errors in his 
 judgment, (and he difcovered as few as any man) 
 we know of no blemifhes in his virtue. He was the 
 patriot without reproach : He loved his country 
 well enough to hold his fuccefs in ferving it an ample 
 recompenfe. Thus far felf-love and love of country 
 coincided : But when his country needed facrifices, 
 that no ether man could, or perhaps would be willing 
 to make, he did not even hefitatc. This was virtue 
 in its moft exalted character. More than once he 
 put his fame at hazard, when he had reafon to think 
 it would be facrifked, at leafl in this age. Two in- 
 flances cannot be denied : When the army was dif- 
 banded ; and again, when he flood, like Leonidas 
 at the pafs of Thermopylae, to defend our indepen- 
 dence againft France. 
 
 It is indeed almoft as difficult to draw his charac- 
 ter, as the portrait of Virtue. The reafon s are fimi- 
 lar. Our ideas of moral excellence are obfeure, be- 
 caufe they are complex, and we are obliged to refort 
 to illuftrations. WASHINGTON'S example is the 
 happieft to {hew what virtue is ; and to delineate his 
 character, we naturally expatiate on the beauty of 
 virtue : Much muft be felt, and much imagined. 
 His pre-eminence is not fo much to be feen in the dif- 
 play of any one virtue, as in the pofferTion of them 
 all, and in the practice of the moft difficult. Here- 
 
28 
 
 after therefore his character muft be ftudied before, 
 it will be (hiking ; and then it will be admitted as ' a 
 model ; a precious one to a free Republic 1 
 
 It is no lefs difficult to fpeak of his talents. They 
 were adapted to lead, without dazzling mankind ; 
 and to draw forth and employ the talents of others, 
 without being milled by them. In this he was cer- 
 tainly fuperior, that he neither miftook nor mifap- 
 plied his own. His great modefty and referve would 
 have concealed them, if great occafions had not cal- 
 led them forth ; and then, as he never fpoke from 
 the affectation to mine, nor acted from any finiftet 
 motives, it is from their effects only that we are to 
 judge of their greatnefs and extent. In public trulls, 
 where men, acting confpicuoufly, are cautious, and 
 in thofe private concerns, where few conceal or re- 
 fill their weakneffes, WASHINGTON was uniformly 
 great ; puriuing right conduct from right maxims. 
 His talents were fuch, as aflift a found judgment, and 
 ripen with it. His prudence was confummate, and 
 feemed to take the direction of his powers and paf- 
 fions ; for, as a Soldier, he was more folicitious to 
 avoid miftakes that might be fatal, than to perform 
 exploits that are brilliant ; and as a Statefman, to 
 adhere to jufb principles, however old, than to pur- 
 ine novelties ; and therefore, in both characters, his 
 qualities were Angularly adapted to the intereft, and 
 were tried in the greateit perils, of the country. His 
 habits of inquiry were fo far remarkable, that he was 
 never fatisfied with invefligating, nor defified from 
 it, fo long as he had iefs than all the light that he 
 
could obtain upon a fubject ; and then he made his 
 decilion without bias. 
 
 This command over the partialities that fo gene.. 
 ly^ftop men fhort, or turn them afide, in their pur- 
 fuit of truth, is one of the chief caufes of his unvaried 
 courfe of right conduct in fo many difficult fcenesj 
 where every human actor muft be prefumed to err. 
 
 If he had ftrong paffions, he had learned to fub- 
 due them, and to be moderate and mild. If he had 
 weakneffes he concealed them, which is rare, and ex- 
 cluded them from the government of his temper and 
 conducl, which is frill more rare. If he loved fame, 
 he never made improper compliances for what is 
 called popularity. The fame he enjoyed is of the 
 kind that will laft forever ; yet it was rather the ef- 
 fect, than the motive, of his conduct. Some future 
 Plutarch will fcarch for a parallel to his character. 
 Epaminondas is perhaps the brighter! name of all 
 antiquity. Our WASHINGTON refembled him 
 in the purity and ardor of his patriotifm ; and like 
 him, he firit exalted the glory of his country. There, 
 it is to be hoped, the parallel ends : For Thebes fell 
 with Epaminondas. But fuch comparifons cannot 
 be purfued far, without departing from the fimili- 
 tude„ For we (hall find it as difficult to compare 
 great men as great rivers. Some we admire for the 
 length and rapidity of their current, and the gran- 
 deur of their cataracts : ethers, for the majeftic fi- 
 lence and fullnefs of their ftreams : We cannot 
 bring them together to meafure the difference of 
 their waters. The unambitious life of WASHING- 
 TON, declining fame yet courted by it, feemed, like 
 
SO 
 
 the Ohio, to choofe its long way through folitudes, 
 diffufing fertility ; or like his own Potowmac, widen- 
 ing and deepening his channel, as he approaches the 
 fea, and difplaying moft the ufefulnefs and ferenity 
 of his greatnefs towards the end of his courfe. Such 
 a citizen would do honor to any country. The 
 conftant veneration and affection of his country will 
 mew, that it was worthy of fuch a citizen. 
 
 However his military fame may excite the won- 
 der of mankind, it is chiefly by his civil magiftracy, 
 that his example will inftruct them. Great Generals 
 have arifen in all ages of the world, and perhaps moft 
 in thofe of defpotifm and darknefs. In times of vio- 
 lence and convulfion, they rife, by the force of the 
 whirlwind, high enough to ride in it, and direct the 
 ftorm. Like meteors, they glare on the black clouds 
 with a fplendor, that, while it dazzles and terrifies, 
 makes nothing vifible but the darknefs. The fame 
 of heroes is indeed growing vulgar : They multiply 
 in every long war : They (land in hiflory, and thick- 
 en in their ranks, almofl as undiflinguiflied as their 
 own foldiers. 
 
 But fuch aChief-Magiftrate as WASHINGTON, 
 appears like the pole ftar in a clear fky, to direct the 
 fkilful ftatefman. His prefidency will form an epoch, 
 and be diftimmifhed as the ao;e of WASHINGTON. 
 
 o o 
 
 Already it afTumes its high place in the political re- 
 gion. Like the milky way, it whitens along its al- 
 lotted portion of the hemifphere. The lateft gene- 
 rations of men will furvey, through the telefcope of 
 hiftory, the fpace where fo many virtues blend their 
 rays 3 and delight to feparate them into groups and 
 
31 
 
 * . - a . — 
 
 diflincl: virtues. As the bell illuftration of them, the 
 living monument, to which the nrfl of Patriots would 
 have chofen to confign his fame, it is my earneft 
 prayer to heaven, that our country may fubfift, even 
 to that late day, in the plenitude of its liberty and 
 happinefs, and mingle its mild glory with WASH- 
 INGTON'S. 
 
r\U £ ':' ,* I m ft C U 2~