rejoice with his countrymen in the sunshine of that peace; for before it reached our shores, he had closed his eyes for ever on all mortal things. CHAPTER XII. THE DEATH OF WASHINGTON. And when disease obstructs the labouring breath, IF the prayers of millions could have prevailed, Washington would have been immortal on earth. And if fulness of peace, riches, and honours could have rendered that inımortality happy, Washington had been blessed indeed. But this world is not the place of true happiness. Though numberless are the satisfactions, which a prudence and virtue like Washington's may enjoy in this world, yet they fall short, infinite degrees, of that pure, unembittered felicity, which the Almighty parent has prepared in heaven for the spirits of the just. To prepare for this immensity of bliss, is the real errand on which God sent us into the world. Our preparation consists in acquiring those great virtues, purity and love, which alone can make us worthy companions of angels, and fit partakers of their exalted delights. Washington had wisely spent his life in acquiring the IMMORTAL VIRTUES. "He had fought the good fight" against his own unreasonable affections. He had glorified God, by exemplifying the charms of virtue to men. He had borne the heat and burden of the day-his great day of duty: and the evening of old age being come, the servant of God must now go to receive his wages. Happy Washington! If crowns and kingdoms could have purcha sed such peace as thine, such hopes big with immor tality, with what begging earnestness would crowns and kingdoms have been offered by the mighty con querors of the earth, in their dying moments of terror and despair ! On the 14th of December, 1799, (when he wanted but 9 weeks and 2 days of being 68 years old,) he rode out to his mill, three miles distant. The day was raw and rainy. The following night he was at tacked with a violent pain and inflammation of the throat. The lancet of one of his domestics was employed, but with no advantage. Early in the morning, Dr. Craik, the friend and physician of his youth and age, was sent for. Alarmed at the least appearance of danger threatening a life so dear to him, Dr. Craik advised to call in, immediately, the consulting assistance of his friends, the ingenious and learned Dr. Dick, of Alexandria, and Dr. Brown, of Port Tobacco. They came on the wings of speed. They felt the awfulness of their situation. The greatest of human beings was lying low. A life, of all others the most revered, the most beloved, was at stake. And if human skill could have saved-if the sword of genius, and the buckler of experience could have turned he stroke of death, Washington had still lived. But his hour was come. It appears, that from the commencement of the attack, he was favored with a presentiment, that he was now laid down to rise no more. He took, however, the medicines that were offered him: but it was principally from a sense of duty. It has been said that a man's death is generally a copy of his life. It was Washington's case exactly. In his last illness he behaved with the firmness of a soldier, and the resignation of a christian. The inflammation in his throat was attended with great pain, which he bore with the fortitude that became him He was, once or twice heard to say that, had it pleased God, he should have been glad to die a little easier; but that he doubted not that it was for his good. EVERY hour now spread a sadder gloom over the scene. Despair sat on the faces of the physicians; for they saw that their art had failed! The strength of the mighty was departing from him; and death, with his sad harbingers, chills and paleness, was coming on apace. MOUNT VERNON, which had long shone the queen of elegant joys, was now about to suffer a sad eclipse! an eclipse, which would soon be mournfully visible, not only through the United States, but throughout the whole world. Sons and daughters of Columbia, gather yourselves together around the bed of your expiring father-around the last bed of him to whom under God you and your children owe many of the best blessings of this life. When Joseph the prime minister of Egypt heard that his shepherd father was sick, he hastened up, to see him; and fell on his face, and kissed him, and wept a long while. But Joseph hadnever received such services from Jacob as you have received from Washington. But we call you not to weep for Washington. We ask you not to view those eyes, now sunk hollow, which formerly darted their lightning flashes against your enemies-nor to feel that heart, now faintly laboring, which so often throbbed with more than mortal joys when he saw his young countrymen charging like lions, upon the foes of liberty. No! we call you not to weep, but to rejoice. Washington, who so often conquered himself, is now about to conquer the last enemy. SILENT and sad his physicians sat by his bedside, looking on him as he lay panting for breath. They thought on the past, and the tear swelled in their eyes. He marked it, and, stretching out his hand to them, and shaking his head, said, "O no! don't! don't!" then with a delightful smile added, “I am dying. gentlemen! but, thank God, I am not afraid to die." FEELING that the hour of his departure out of this world was at hand, he desired that every body would quit the room. They all went out; and, aecording to his wish, left him with his God. THERE, by himself, like Moses alone on the top of Pisgah, ke seeks the face of God. There, by himself, standing as on the awful boundary that divides time from eternity, that separates this world from the next, he cannot quit the long frequented haunts of the one, nor launch away into the untried regions of the other, until (in humble imitation of the world's great Redeemer) he has poured forth, into the bosom of his God, those strong sensations which the solemnity of his situation naturally suggested. 1 WITH what angelic fervor did he adore that Almighty Love, which, though inhabiting the heaven of heavens, deigned to wake his sleeping dust-framed him so fearfully in the womb-nursed him on a tender mother's breast-watched his helpless infancyguarded his heedless youth-preserved him from the dominion of his passions-inspired him with the love of virtue-led him safely up to man-and, from such low beginnings, advanced him to such unparalleled usefulness and glory among men! These, and ten thousand other precious gifts heaped on him, unasked-many of them long before he had the knowledge to ask-overwhelmed his soul with gratitude unutterable; exalted to infinite heights his ideas of eternal love; and bade him without fear resign his departing spirit into the arms of his Redeemer God, whose mercies are over all his works. He is now about to leave the great family of man, in which he has so long sojourned! The yearnings of his soul are over his brethren! How fervently does he adore that goodness, which enabled him to be so serviceable to them! that grace, which preserved him from injuring them by violence or fraud! How fervently does he pray, that the unsuffering kingdom Q of God may come, and that the earth may be filled with the richest fruits of righteousness and peace! He is now about to leave his country! that dear spot which gave him birth-that dear spot for which he has so long watched ard prayed, so long toiled and fought; and whose beloved children he has so often sought to gather, " even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings." He sees them now spread abroad like flocks in goodly pastures; like favoured Israel in the land of promise. He remembers how God, by a mighty hand, and by an outstretched arm, brought their fathers into this good land, a land flowing with milk and honey; and blessed them with the olessings of heaven above, and the earth beneath; with the blessings of LIBERTY and of PEACE, of RELIGION and of Laws, above all other people. He sees that, through the rich mercies of God, they have now the precious opportunity to continue their country the GLORY of the earth, and a refuge for the poor, and for the persecuted of all lands! The transporting sight of such a cloud of blessings, impending close over the heads of his countrymen, together with the distressing uncertainty whether they will put forth their hands and enjoy them, shakes the parent soul of Washington with feelings too strong for his dying frame! The last tear that he is ever to shed, now steals into his eye-the last groan that he is ever to neave, is about to issue from his faintly labouring heart! FEELING that the silver cord of life is loosing, and that his spirit is ready to quit her old companion, the body, he extends himself on his bed-closes his eyes for the last time with his own hands-folds his arms decently on his breast, then breathing out " Father of mercies, take me to thyself."-he fell asleep. SWIFT on angels' wings the brightening saint ascended; while voices more than human were warbling through the happy regions, and hymning the great procession towards the gates of heaven. His glorious coming was seen afar off; and myriads of |