wisdom and fortitude, invariably regarding the rights of the çivil power through all disasters and changes. You have, by the love and confidence of your fellow-citizens, enabled them to display their martial genius, and transmit their fame to posterity: you have persevered, till these United States, aided by a magnanimous king and nation, have been enabled, under a just Providence, to close the war in safety, freedom and independence; on which happy event we sincerely join you in congratulations.

23. "Having defended the standard of liberty in this new world, having taught a lesson useful to those who inflict, and to those who feel oppression, you retire from the great theatre of action with the blessings of your fellow. citizens; but the glory of your virtues will not terminate with your military command; it will continue to animate remotest ages. We feel with you our obligations to the army in general, and will particularly charge ourselves with the interest of those confidential officers, who have attended your person to this affecting moment.

24. "We join you in commending the interests of our dearest country to the protection of Almighty God, beseeching him to dispose the hearts and minds of its citizens to improve the opportunity afforded them of becoming a hap py and respectable nation; and for you we address to him our earnest prayers, that a life so beloved may be fostered with all his care; that your days may be happy as they have been illustrious, and that he will finally give you that reward, which this world cannot give."

25. The military services of General Washington, which ended with this interesting day, were as great as ever were rendered by any man to any nation. They were at the same time disinterested. How dear would not a mercena ry man have sold such toils, such dangers, and, above all, such successes! What schemes of grandeur and of power would not an ambitious man have built upon the affections of the people and of the army!

26. The gratitude of America was so lively, that any thing asked by her resigning chief would have been readily granted. He asked nothing for himself, his family or relations; but indirectly solicited favors for the confidential officers, who were attached to his person. These were

young gentlemen, without fortune, who had served him in the capacity of aids-decamp.

27. To have omitted the opportunity which then offered of recommending them to their country's notice, would have argued a degree of insensibility in the breast of their friend. The only privilege distinguishing him from other private citizens, which the retiring Washington did or would receive from his grateful country, was a right of sending and receiving letters free of postage.

228. The American chief, having by his own voluntary act become one of the people, hastened, with ineffable delight, to his seat at Mount Vernon, on the banks of the Potomac. There, in a short time, the most successful general in the world became the most diligent farmer in Virginia.

29. To pass suddenly from the toils of the first commission in the United States to the care of a farm, to exchange the instruments of war for the implements of husbandry, and to become at once the patron and example of ingenious agriculture, would, to most men, have been a difficult task. To the elevated mind of Washington it was natural and delightful.

30. His own sensations, after retiring from public busi ness, are thus expressed in his letters: "I am just beginning to experience the ease and freedom from public cares, which, however desirable, it takes some time to realize; for, strange as it may seem, it is nevertheless true, that it was not until lately I could get the better of my usual custom of ruminating, as soon as I awoke in the morning, on the business of the ensuing day; and of my surprise on finding, after revolving many things in my mind, that I was no longer a public man, or had any thing to do with public

transactions.

31. "I feel as I conceive a wearied traveller must do, who, after treading many a painful step with a heavy burden on his shoulders, is eased of the latter, having reached the haven to which all the former were directed, and, from his housetop, is looking back, and tracing with an eager eye the meanders by which he escaped the quicksands and mires, which lay in his way, and into which none but the all-powerful Guide and Dispenser of human events could have prevented his falling.

32. "I have become a private citizen on the banks of the

Potomac, and, under the shadow of my own vine and my own fig-tree, free from the bustle of a camp, and the busy scenes of public life, I am solacing myself with those tranquil enjoyments, of which the soldier, who is ever in pursuit of fame, the statesman, whose watchful days and sleepless nights are spent in devising schemes to promote the welfare of his own, perhaps the ruin of other countries, as if this globe was insufficient for us all,-and the courtier, who is always watching the countenance of his prince in the hope of catching a gracicus smile, can have very little conception.

33. "I have not only retired from all public employments, but am retiring within myself, and shall be able to view the solitary walk, and tread the paths of private life, with heartfelt satisfaction. Envious of none, I am determined to be pleased with all; and this, my dear friend, being the order of my march, I will move gently down the stream of life, until I sleep with my fathers."

LESSON LXXXII.

The Ocean. GEORGE D. PRENTICE.

How beautiful!-from his blue throne on high,
The sun looks downward with a face of love
Upon the silent waters-and a sky,

Lovelier than that which lifts its arch above,
Down the far depths of Ocean, like a sheet

Of flame, is trembling!-the wild tempests cease
To wave their cloudy pinions!—Oh, 'tis sweet
To gaze on Ocean in his hour of peace.

Years have gone by, since first my infant eyes
Rested upon those waters. Once again,
As here I muse, the hours of childhood rise
Faint o'er my memory, like some witching strain

Of half-forgotten music. Yon blue wave
Still, still rolls on in beauty-but the tide
Of years rolls darkling o'er the lonely grave
Óf Hopes, that with 'my life's bright morning died!

Look! look!-the clouds light shadows from above,
Like fairy Islands, o'er the waters sweep!-
Oh, I have dream'd my spirit thus could love
To float for ever on the boundless deep,
Communing with the elements;-to hear,

At midnight hour, the death wing'd tempest rave,
Or, gaze, admiring, on each starry sphere,
Glassing its glories in the mirror wave;―

"Tis sweet, 'tis sweet to gaze upon the deep,
And muse upon its mysteries.-There it roll'd,
Ere yet that glorious sun had learn'd to sweep
The blue profound, and bathe the heavens in gold,-
The morning stars, as up the skies they came,
Heard their first music o'er the ocean rung,
And saw the first flash of their new-born flame
Back from its depths in softer brightness flung!

And there it rolls!—Age after

age

has swept
Down, down the eternal cataract of Time,
Men after men on earth's cold bosom slept,
Still there it rolls, unfading and sublime!
As bright those waves their sunny sparkles fling,
As sweetly now the bending heaven they kiss,
As when the Holy Spirit's boding wing

Moved o'er the waters of the vast abyss!

There, there it rolls.-I've seen the clouds unfurl
Their raven banner from the stormy west-
I've seen the wrathful Tempest Spirit hurl

His blue fork'd lightnings at the Ocean's breast; The storm-cloud pass'd-the sinking wave was hush'dThose budding isles were glittering fresh and fairSerenely bright the peaceful waters blush'd,

And heaven seem'd painting its own beauties there! 15

LESSON LXXXIII.

I have seen an End of all Perfection. MRS. SIGOURNEY.

1. I HAVE seen a man in the glory of his days and the pride of his strength. He was built like the tall cedar that lifts its head above the forest trees; like the strong oak that strikes its root deeply into the earth. He feared no danger; he felt no sickness; he wondered that any should groan or sigh at pain.

2. His mind was vigorous, like his body: he was perplexed at no intricacy; he was daunted at no difficulty; into hidden things he searched, and what was crooked he made plain. He went forth fearlessly upon the face of the mighty deep; he surveyed the nations of the earth; he measured the distances of the stars, and called them by their names he gloried in the extent of his knowledge, in the vigor of his understanding, and strove to search even into what the Almighty had concealed.

3. And when I looked on him I said, "What a piece of work is man! how noble in reason! how infinite in facul ties! in form and moving how express and admirable! in action how like an angel! in apprehension how like a God!"

4. I returned his look was no more lofty, nor his step proud; his broken frame was like some ruined tower; his hairs were white and scattered; and his eye gazed vacantly upon what was passing around him. The vigor of his intellect was wasted, and of all that he had gained by study, nothing remained.;

5. He feared when there was no danger, and when there was no sorrow he wept. His memory was decayed and treacherous, and showed him only broken images of the glory that was departed. His house was to him like a strange land, and his friends were counted as his enemies; and he thought himself strong and healthful while his foot tottered on the verge of the grave.

6. He said of his son-"He is my brother;" of his daugh ter, "I know her not;" and he enquired what was his own name. And one who supported his last steps, and ministered to his many wants, said to me, as I looked on the melancholy scene, "Let thine heart receive instruction, for thou hast seen an end of all earthly perfection."