finished, he disdained the intimations of lawless ambition to prolong it. He disbanded the army under circumstances which required no common degree of policy or virtue; and with universal admiration and plaudits, descended, joyfully and serenely, into the shades of retirement. They who ascribe all this to the guidance and protection of Providence do well, but let them recollect that Providence seldom interposes in human affairs, but through the agency of human means.

When at a subsequent and alarming period, the nation found that their affairs had gone into confusion, and that clouds portending danger and distress were rising over them, in every quarter, they instituted under his auspices a more efficient government, and unanimously committed the administration of it to him. Would they have done this without the highest confidence in his political talents and wisdom? Certainly not-no novice in navigation was ever unanimously called upon to take the helm or command of a ship on the point of running aground among the breakers. This universal confidence would have proved universal mistake, had it not been justified by the event. The unanimous opinion entertained and declared by a whole people in favor of any fellow-citizen is rarely erroneous, especially in times of alarm and calamity.

To delineate the course, and enumerate the measures which he took to arrive at success, would be to write a volume. The firmness and policy with which he overcame the obstacles placed in his way by the derangement of national affairs, by the devices of domestic demagogues and of foreign agents, as well as by the deleterious influences of the French revolution, need not be particularized. Our records, and histories, and memories, render it unnecessary. It

is sufficient to say, and it can be said with truth, that his administration raised the nation out of confusion into order, out of degradation and distress into reputation and prosperity; it found us withering—it left us flourishing.

JOHN JAY, first Chief Justice of the United States, of whom it has been said that, "In lofty disinterestedness, in unyielding integrity, in superiority to the illusions of passion, no one of the great men of the Revolution approached so near to Washington," was born in New York City, December 12, 1745, and died at Bedford, Westchester County, N. Y., May 17, 1829. Our extract is from a letter to Richard Peters, Esq., dated Bedford, March 29th, 1811, written in support of his conviction that Washington was the author of the Farewell Address, and furnishing some direct evidence to that effect, which had come to his personal knowledge. The letter is printed in "The Life of John Jay with selections from his correspondence and miscellaneous papers. By his son William Jay." New York, 1833. 2 vols., 8vo. In an address to the New York State legislature as Governor, January 28, 1800, John Jay alluding to the death of Washington, said, “His memory will be cherished by the wise and good of every nation; and truth, triumphing over her adversaries, will transmit his character to posterity in all its genuine lustre. His excellent example and excellent admonitions still remain with us, and happy will that people be whose leaders imitate the one and observe the other."

CHARLES PHILLIPS.

No matter what may be the birth-place of such a man as Washington. No climate can claim, no country can appropriate him—the boon of Providence to the human race-his fame is eternity, and his residence creation! Though it was the defeat of our arms, and the disgrace of our policy, I almost bless the convulsion in which he had his origin; if the heavens thundered and the earth rocked, yet when the storm passed, how pure was the climate that it cleared-how bright in the brow of the firmament was the planet it revealed to us! In the production of Washington it does really appear as if nature was endeavoring to improve upon herself, and that all the virtues of the ancient world were but so many studies preparatory to the patriot of the new. Individual instances, no doubt there were, splendid exemplifications of some single qualification-Cæsar was merciful-Scipio was continent-Hannibal was patient-but it was reserved for Washington to blend them all in one, and like the lovely chef d'œuvre of the Grecian artist, to exhibit in one glow of associated beauty, the pride of every model, and the perfection of every master.

As a general, he marshalled the peasant into a veteran, and supplied by discipline the absence of experience. As a statesman, he enlarged the policy of the cabinet into the most comprehensive system of general advantage; and such was the wisdom of his views, and the philosophy of his councils, that to the soldier and the statesman he

almost added the character of the sage.* A conqueror, he was untainted with the crime of blood-a revolutionist, he was free from any stain of treason; for aggression commenced the contest, and a country called him to the command. Liberty unsheathed his sword-necessity stained-victory returned it. If he had paused here, history might doubt what station to assign him-whether at the head of her citizens, or her soldiers,―her heroes or her patriots. But the last glorious act crowned his career, and banishes hesitation. Who like Washington, after having freed a country, resigned her crown, and retired to a cottage rather than reign in a capital! Immortal man! He took from the battle its crime, and from the conquest its chains-he left the victorious the glory of his self-denial, and turned upon the vanquished only the retribution of his mercy.

CHARLES PHILLIPS, a native of Sligo, Ireland, was born in 1787, and died in 1859. He was admitted to the University of Dublin in 1802, and entered the middle Temple in 1807; was called to the Irish bar in 1811, and to the English bar in 1821. Mr. Phillips was made a Commissioner of the Court of Insolvent Debtors in 1846, the duties of which he discharged with great credit until his death. Our extract is from "A Tribute to the memory of the late General Washington, President of the United States of America, by Charles Phillips." 8vo., pp. 12. London, n. d. The tribute was pronounced about the year 1813 at a dinner near Killarney, Ireland, in prefacing a toast, The Memory of Washington.

* See note, p. 153.—ED.

THOMAS JEFFERSON.

1814.

I THINK I knew General Washington intimately and thoroughly; and were I called on to delineate his character, it should be in terms like these. His mind was great and powerful, without being of the very first order; his penetration strong, though not so acute as that of a Newton, Bacon or Locke; and, as far as he saw, no judgment was ever sounder. It was slow in operation, being little aided by invention or imagination, but sure in conclusion. Hence the common remark of his officers, of the advantage he derived from councils of war, where, hearing all suggestions, he selected whatever was best; and certainly no General ever planned his battles more judiciously. But if deranged during the course of the action, if any member of his plan was dislocated by sudden circumstances, he was slow in re-adjustment. The consequence was, that he often failed in the field, and rarely against an enemy in station, as at Boston and York. He was incapable of fear, meeting personal dangers with the calmest unconcern.

Perhaps the strongest feature in his character was prudence, never acting until every circumstance, every consideration, was maturely weighed; refraining, if he saw a doubt, but, when, once decided, going through with his purpose whatever obstacles opposed. His integrity was most pure, his justice the most inflexible I have ever known, no motives of interest or consanguinity, of friendship or hatred, being able