that they may now and then recur to moderate the fury of party spirit, to warn against the mischiefs of foreign intrigue, to guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism: this hope will be a full recompence for the solicitude for your welfare, by which they have been dictated.

"How far in the discharge of my official duties I have been guided by the principles which have been delineated, the public records; and other evidences of my conduct, must witness to you and to the world. To myself, the assurance of my own conscience is, that I have at least believed myself to be guided by them.

"In relation to the still subsisting war in Europe, my proclamation of the 22d of April, 1793, is the index to my plan. Sanctioned by your approving voice, and by that of your representatives in both houses of Congress, the spirit of that measure has continually governed me; uninfluenced by any attempts to deter or to divert me from it,

"After deliberate examination, with the aid of the best lights I could obtain, I was well satisfied that our country, under all the circumstances of the case, bad a right to take, and was bound in duty and interest to take a neutral position. Having taken it, I deter

mined, as far as should depend upon me, to maintain it with moderation, perseverance, and firmness.

"The considerations with respect to the right to hold this conduct, it is not necessary, on this occasion, to detail. I will only observe, that according to my understanding of the matter, that right, so far from being denied by any of the belligerent powers, has been virtually admitted by all.

"The duty of holding a neutral conduct may be inferred, without any thing more from the obligation which justice and humanity impose on every nation in cases in which it is free to act, to maintain inviolate the relations of peace and amity towards other nations.

"The inducements of interest for observing that conduct will best be referred to your own reflections and experience. With me a predominate motive has been to endeavour to gain time to our country to settle and mature its yet recent institutions, and to progress without interruption to that degree of strength and consistency which is necessary to give it, humbly speaking, the command of its own fortunes.

"Though in reviewing the incidents of administration, I am unconscious of intentional

error; I am nevertheless too sensible of my defects not to think it probable that I may have committed many errors. Whatever they may be, I fervently beseech the Almighty to avert or mitigate the evils to which they may tend. I shall also carry with me the hope that my country will never cease to view them with indulgence; and that after fortyfive years of my life dedicated to its service, with an upright zeal, the faults of incompetent abilities will be consigned to oblivion, as myself must soon be to the mansions of

rest.

"Relying on its kindness in this as in other things, and actuated by that fervent love towards it, which is so natural to a man who views in it the native soil of himself and his progenitors for several generations; I anticipate, with pleasing expectation, that retreat, in which I promise myself to realise, without alloy, the sweet enjoyment of partaking, in the midst of my fellow-citizens, the benign influence of good laws under a free government, the ever favourite object of my heart. and the happy reward, as I trust, of our mutual cares, labours, and dangers.

"GEO: WASHINGTON."

United States, September 17, 1796. Washington once more retired to his favourite seat, with the hope of devoting the

remainder of his life to the calm duties of religion. From March, 1797, to July, 1798, he enjoyed the pleasures arising from the practice of virtue: The aggressions of France now alarmed the Americans, and that they might be prepared to resist open hostility, they found it expedient to embody their army. Convinced of the abilities and integrity of that venerable man, whose valour had been instrumental to the emancipation of his country, Congress appointed Washington commander-in-chief of the American armies. He accepted the appointment, and his letter to the President on that occasion is marked with the perspicuity which distinguishes all his writings.

But the moment now approached in which this illustrious character was to be removed to another state of existence. On the 12th of December, 1799, he rode out to one of his plantations, and the day being rainy, he caught cold, which brought on an inflammatory sore throat. This disease became alarming on Friday, and when his physician arrived on Saturday morning, medical aid was inefficacious. A few minutes before he expired, he enquired, "Doctor, how long am I to remain in this situation?" The physician replied "not long, sir."

We have now attended Washington to his death-bead, where he lies surrounded by his weeping friends aud domestics. With what calmness and resignation does he bear his pains. Intent on the contemplation of a better world, death has no terrors for the venerable hero. He has long been familiarised to danger, and considers the dissolution of his frame as one of the necessary operations of nature. Piety to his Creator, and love of his country, were the motives of his actions, and he considered a life of beneficence as the best proof he could give of his veneration for the father of man. Now, like a traveller, who had explored various regions, and who, having experienced the alterations of adversity and prosperity, has arrived at his journey's end, he lays down his head to repose, with the hope of rising to a happy immortality.

His last scene corresponded with the whole tenor of his life. In the full possession of his reason he breathed his last, without a groan or a struggle, on Sunday, the 14th of December, 1799, in the 68th year of his age.

On Wednesday, the 18th of December, the remains of Washington were interred in the family vault at Mount Vernon. The funeral was attended by a multitude of persons of both sexes who came to pay the last sad honours to their benefactor.