up the thunder of their loudest guns, pointed to the spot, as if to tell the sleeping hero, that he is not forgotten in his narrow dwelling. The news of his death soon reached Philadelphia, where Congress was then in session. A question of importance being on the carpet that day, the house, as usual, was much interested. But soon as it was announced-" General Washington is dead"-an instant stop was put to all business-the tongue of the orator was struck dumb-and a midnight silence ensued, save when it was interrupted by deepest sighs of the members, as, with drooping foreheads rested on their palms, they sat, each absorbed in mournful cogitation. Presently, as utterly unfit for business, both houses adjourned; and the members retired slow and sad to their lodgings, like men who had suddenly heard of the death of a father. For several days hardly any thing was done in Congress; hardly any thing thought of but to talk of and to praise the departed Washington. In this patriotic work all parties joined with equal alacrity and earnestness. In this all were federalists, all were republicans. Elegant addresses were exchanged between the two houses of Congress and the President, and all of them replete with genius and gratitude. Then, by unanimous consent, Congress came to the following resolutions: Ist. That a grand marble monument should be erected at the city of Washington, under which with permission of his lady, the body of the General should be deposited. 2d. That there should be a funeral procession from congress hall to the German Lutheran church, to hear an oration delivered by one of the members of congress. 3d. That the members of congress should wear full mourning during the session. 4th. That it should be recommended to the people of the United States to wear crape on the left arm, as mourning, for thirty days. But, thank God, the people of the United States needed not the hint contained in the last resolution. Though they could not all very elegantly speak, yet their actions showed that they all very deeply felt what they owed to Washington. For, in every city, village, and hamlet, the people were so struck on hearing of his death, that long before they heard of the resolution of congress, they ran together to ease their troubled minds in talking and hearing talk of Washington, and to devise some public mode of testifying their sorrow for his death. Every where -throughout the continent, churches and court houses were hung in black, mourning was put on, processions were made, and sermons preached, while the crowded houses listened with pleasure to the praises of Washington, or sighed and wept when they heard of his toils and battles for his country. CHAPTER XIII CHARACTER OF WASHINGTON Let the poor witling argue all he can, WHEN the children of years to come, hearing his great name re-echoed from every lip, shall say to their fathers, "What was it that raised Washington to such a height of glory?" let them be told that it was HIS GREAT TALENTS, CONSTANTLY GUIDED AND GUARDED BY RELIGION. For how shall man, frail man, prone to inglorious ease and pleasure, ever ascend the arduous steps of virtue, unless animated by the mighty hopes of religion? Or what shall stop him in his swift descent to infamy and vice, if unawed by that dread power, which proclaims to the guilty that their secret crimes are seen, and shall not go unpunished? Hence, the wise, in all ages, have pronounced, that there never was a truly great man without religion." 66 There have, indeed, been courageous generals, and cunning statesmen, without religion, but mere courage or cunning, however transcendent, never yet made a great man. "Admit that this can conquer, that can cheat; No! to be truly great, a man must have not only great talents, but those talents must be constantly exerted on great, i.e., good actions and perseveringly too-for if he should turn aside to vice-farewell to his heroism. Hence, when Epaminondas was asked which was the greatest man, himself or Pelopidas? he replied, "wait till we are dead:" meaning that the all of heroism depends on perseverance in great and good actions. But sensual and grovelling as man is, what can incline and elevate him to those things like religion, that divine power, to whom alone it belongs to present those vast and eternal goods and ills which best alarm our fears, enrapture our hopes, inflame the worthiest loves, rouse the truest avarice, and in short, touch every spring and passion of our souls in favour of virtue and noble actions. Did SHAME restrain Alcibiades from a base action in the presence of Socrates? "Behold," says Religion, "a greater than Socrates is here!" Did LOVE embolden Jacob to brave fourteen years of slavery for an earthly beauty? Religion springs that eternal love, for whose sake good men can even glory in laborious duties. Did the ambition of a civic crown animate Scipio to heroic deeds? Religion holds a crown, at the sight of which the laurels of a Cæsar droop to weeds. Did avarice urge Cortez through a thousand toils and dangers for wealth? Religion points to those treasures in heaven, compared to which all diamond beds and mines of massy gold are but trash. Did good Aurelius study the happiness of his sub jects for this world's glory? Religion displays that world of glory, where those who have laboured to make others happy, shall " shine like stars for ever and for ever." Does the FEAR of death deter man from horrid crimes? Religion adds infinite horrors to that fearit warns them of death both of soul and body in hell. In short, what motives under heaven can restrain men from vices and crimes, and urge them on, full stretch, after individual and national happiness, like those of religion? For lack of these motives, alas! how many who once dazzled the world with the glare of their exploits, are now eclipsed and set to rise no more! There was Arnold, who, in courage and military talents, glittered in the same firmament with Washington, and, for a while, his face shone like the star of the morning; but alas! for lack of Washington's religion, he soon fell, like Lucifer, from a heaven of glory, into an abyss of never ending infamy. And there was general Charles Lee, too, confessedly a great wit, a great scholar, a great soldier, but, after all, not a great man. For, through lack of that magnanimous benevolence which religion inspires, he fell into the vile state of envy: and, on the plains of Monmouth, rather than fight to immortalize Washington, he chose to retreat and disgrace himself. There was the gallant General Hamilton also a gigantic genius-a statesman fit to rule the mightiest monarchy-a soldier "fit to stand by Washington and give command." But alas! for lack of religion, see |