was not hurt in the least, he begged them, as they loved him or their duty, to return peaceably to their barracks. As for himself, he went to his room, generously chastising his imprudence, which had thus struck up a spark that had like to have thrown the whole town into a flame. Finding on mature reflection, that he had been the aggressor, he resolved to make Mr. Payne honourable reparation, by asking his pardon on the morrow! No sooner had he made this noble resolution, than, recovering that delicious gaiety which accompanies good purposes in a virtuous mind, he went to a ball that night, and behaved as pleasantly as though nothing had happened! Glorious proof, that great souls, like great ships, are not affected by those little puffs which would overset feeble minds with passion, or sink them with spleen!

THE next day he went to a tavern, and wrote a polite note to Mr. Payne, whom he requested to meet him. Mr. Payne took it for a challenge, and repaired to the tavern, not without expecting to see a pair of pistols produced. But what was his surprise on entering the chamber, to see a decanter of wine and glasses on the table! Washington arose, and in a very friendly manner met him; and gave him his hand. " Mr. Payne," said he, "to err is "nature: to rectify error is glory. I find I was

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wrong yesterday: but I wish to be right to-day. "You have had some satisfaction: and if you think " that sufficient, here's my hand; let us be friends." ADMIRABLE Jouth! Noble speech! No wonder, since it charms us so, that it had such an effect on Mr. Payne, who from that moment became the most ardent admirer and friend of Washington, and ready at any time, for his sake, to charge up to a battery of two and forty pounders.

WHAT a lesson for our young countrymen! Had Washington been one of the race of little men, how sadly different would have been his conduct on this occasion! Instead of going that night to the ball, anc acting the lively agreeable friend, he would, like an angry viper that had been trod on, have retired to his chamber. There he would have found no such entertainment as Washington had at this ball; no sprightly music, no delicious wines, no sweetly smiling friends. On the contrary, all the tortures of a soul brooding over its indignities, until reflection had whipped it up into pangs of rage unutterable, while all the demons of hell, with blood-stained torches pointing at his bleeding honour, cried out " revenge! revenge! revenge!" There in his chamber, he would have passed the gloomy night preparing his pistols, moulding his bullets, or with furious looks driving them through the body of his enemy chalked on the wall. The next morning would have seen him on the field, and in language lately heard in this state, calling out to his hated antagonist, You have injured me, sir, beyond reconciliation: and by I'll kill you if I can. While his antagonist, in a style equally musical and christian, would have rejoined, Kill, and be! Pop go the pistolsdown tumbles one of the combatants; while the murderer, with knocking knees and looks of Cain, flies from the avenger of blood! The murdered man is carried to his house, a ghastly, bloody corpse. Merciful God! what a scene ensues! some are stupified with horror! others sink lifeless to the floor! His tender sisters, wild-shrieking with despair, throw themselves on their dead brother and kiss his ice-cold lips; while his aged parents, crushed under unutterable woe, go down in their snowy locks broken-hearted to the grave.

THUS bloody and miserable might have been the end of Washington or of Payne, had Washington been one of those poor deluded young men, who are determined to be great; and to be brought forward in newspapers, in spite of God or devil. But Washington was not born to exemplify those horrid tragedies, which cowards create in society by pusillanimously giving way to their bdpassions. No-he was born to teach his countrymen what sweet peace and harmony might for ever smile in the habitations of men, if all had but the courage, like himself, to obey the sacred voice of JUSTICE and HUMANITY. By firmly obeying these, he preserved his hands unstained by the blood of a fellow man; and his soul unharrow ed by the cruel tooth of never-dying remorse. By firmly obeying these, he preserved a life, which, crowned with deeds of justice and benevolence, has brought more glory to God, more good to man, and more honor to himself, than any life ever spent since the race of man began.

SONS of Columbia! would you know what is true courage? see it defined, see it exemplified in this act of your young but great countryman. Never man possessed a more undaunted courage, than Washington. But in him this noble quality was the lifeguard of his reason, not the assassin; a ready servant to obey her commands, not a bully to insult them; a champion to defend his neighbour's rights, not a tyrant to invade them. Transported by sudden passion, to which all are liable, he offended Mr. Payne, who resented it rather too roughly, by knocking him down on the spot. Washington had it in his power to have taken ample revenge: and cowards, who have no command over their passions, would have done it. But duty forbade him: and he had the courage to obey. Reason whispered the folly of harbouring black passions in his soul, poisoning his peace. He instantly banished them; and went to a ball, to drink sweet streams of friendship from the eyes of happy friends. Again reason whispered him, that having been the aggressor, he ought to ask Payne's pardon, and compromise the difference with him. In this also he had the courage to obey her sacred voice.

In what history, ancient or modern, sacred or profane, can you find, in so young a man, only twenty two, such an instance of that TRUE HEROIC VALOUR which combats malignant passions-conquers un

reasonable self-rejects the hell of hatred, and invites the heaven of love into our own bosoms, and into those of our brethren with whom we may have quarrelled? Joseph forgiving his brethren in the land of Egypt; David sparing that inveterate seeker of his life, Saul; sir Walter Raleigh pardoning the young man who spit in his face; afford, it is true, charming specimens of the sublime and beautiful in action: certainly, such men are worthies of the world, and brightest ornaments of human nature. But yet, none of them have gone beyond Washington in the affair of Payne.

A FEW years after this, Payne had a cause tried in Fairfax court. Washington happened on that day to be in the house. The lawyer on the other side, finding he was going fast to leeward, thought he would luff up with a whole broadside at Payne's character: and, after raking him fore and aft with abuse, he artfully bore away under the lee of the jury's prejudices, which he endeavoured to inflame against him. "Yes, please your worships," continued he, "as a proof that this Payne is a most " turbulent fellow, and capable of all I tell you, be " pleased to remember, gentlemen of the jury, that "this is the very man, who some time ago treated " our beloved colonel Washington so barbarously. "Yes, this is the wretch, who dared, in this very "court-house yard, to lift up his impious hand a"gainst that greatest and best of men, and knocked " him down as though he had been a bullock of the " stalls."

THIS, roared in a thundering tone, and with a tremendous stamp on the floor, made Payne look very dejected; for he saw the countenance of the court. beginning to blacken on him. But Washington rose mmediately, and thus addressed the bench :

"As to Mr. Payne's character, may it please your " worships," said he, " we all have the satisfaction " to know that it is perfectly unexceptionable: and "with respect to the little difference which former"ןy happened betw that gentleman and myself,

" it was instantly made up: and we have lived on "the best terms ever since: moreover, I wish all my acquaintance to know, that I entirely acquit Mr " Payne of blame in that affair, and take it all on " myself as the aggressor."

"

PAYNE used often to relate another anecdote of Washington, which reflects equal honour on the goodness of his heart.

" IMMEDIATELY after the war," said he, " when "the conquering hero was returning in peace to his "home, with the laurels of victory green and flourish

ing on his head, I felt a great desire to see him, and so set out for Mount Vernon. As I drew near the "house, I began to experience a rising fear, lest he " should call to mind the blow I had given him in "formerdays. However, animating myself, I pushed

on. Washington met me at the door with a smiling "welcome, and presently led me into an adjoining "room, where Mrs. Washington sat. " Here, my " dear," said he, presenting me to his lady, " here is "the little man you have so often heard me talk of; " and who, on a difference between us one day, had "the resolution, to knock me down, big as I am. I " know you will honour him as he deserves; for I " assure you he has the heart of a true Virginian." " He said this," continued Mr. Payne, " with an air " which convinced me that his long familiarity with

war had not robbed him of a single spark of the " goodness and nobleness of his heart. And Mrs. "Washington looked at him, I thought, with a some"thing in her eyes, wnich showed that he appeared " to her greater and lovelier than ever."

A good tree, saith the divine teacher, bringeth forth good fruit. No wonder then that we meet with so many and such delicious fruits of CHARITY in Washington, whose soul was so rich in benevolence.

In consequence of his wealth and large landed possessions, he had visits innumerable from the poor. Knowing the great value of time and of good tempers