"private emolument, to objects of a public nature, it shall be my study, in selecting, to prove the sincerity of my gratitude for the honour conferred on "me, by preferring such as may appear most subser"vient to the enlightened and patriotic views of the "legislature."

THEY were cheerfully

and, according to promoted to his disposal:

he them to works of the greatest utility: viz. his shares in James River canal, to a college in Rockbridge county, near the waters of James River; and his Potomac shares to a national university, to be erected in the federal district, on the great Potomac.

How noble and disinterested were his wishes for the good of his country! As if incapable of being sa tisfied with all that he had done for her while living, he endeavoured, by founding those noble institutions for the diffusion of knowledge and virtue, to make himself her benefactor when he should cease to live in this sublunary world.

SINCE the idea is perfectly correct, that the great Governor of the world must look with peculiar benig nity on those of his children who most nearly resemble him in benevolence, may we not indulge the pleasing hope, that these colleges, founded by such a hund, shall prove the nurseries of the brightest gen fus and virtue; and that from their sacred halls will proceed in endless succession, the mighty Washing tons, and Jeffersons, the Franklins and Madisons of future times! O that Columbia may live before God! and that the bright days of ner prosperity may never have an end!

WASHINGTON's behaviour to the generous Fayette ought never to be forgotten."

WHEN that glorious young nobleman heard that ord North had passed against America the decree of slavery; and that the American farmers, with their busty firelocks and pitchforks, in front of their shriek ing wives and children, were inch by inch disputing the soil against a hireling soldiery, he tears gushed from his eyes. He tore himself from the arms ofthe

loveliest, fondest of wives; flew to his sovereign for permission to fight; turned into powder and arms every livre that he could raise; and, in a swift sail ing frigate rushing through the waves to America, presented himself before Washington. Washington received him as his son, and gave him command. Under the eye of that hero he fought and conquered. Having aided to fix the independence of strangers, he hastened back to France, to liberate his own countrymen from the curses of monarchy;, and. to give them, like America, the blessings of a republic. A pupil of the temperate and virtuous Washington, he soon offended the hot headed demagogues of France. Banished from his native country, he was. presently thrown, by royal jealousy, into a foreign. prison. Most of us here in America, on hearing of his misfortunes, felt the kindly touch of sympathy. But alas! like those good people in the parable, we were so taken up with " buying land, trying oxen, or marrying wives," that we forgot our noble friend. But Washington did not forget him. His thoughts were often with him in his gloomy cell. He sent him a present of a thousand guineas and in a letter to the Emperor of Germany, with equal delicacy and feeling, solicited his discharge, and permission to come to America. The letter concluded with these remarkable words:"As it is a maxim with me "never to ask what, under similar circumstances, I "would not grant, your majesty will do me the justice "to believe, that this request appears to me to cor"respond with those great principles of magnanimiand wisdom which form the basis of sound poli"cy and durable glory."

ty

THIS letter produced, in part, the desired effect, For immediately after the receipt of it, the marquis experienced a great increase of attention: and in a short time he was liberated. Such was the respect, paid to our American farmer, by one of the greatest monarchs in Furope.

of

IN 1795, the marquis's son made his escape from France, and arrived at Boston. Soon as Washington heard of it, he sent his parental respects to the youth, and informed him, that, though, from motives of tenderness to his mother, who was in the power the directory, he could not be seen publicly to notice him, yet he begged to be considered by him as his father and protector-advised him to enter as a student in the university near Boston, and to draw on him for whatever monies he should want.

CONGRESS, on hearing that a son of the noble marquis was in America, felt a deep interest in the youth, and ordered an immediate enquiry into his situation, intending generous things for him out of the national treasury. But finding that on this, as on all other Joccasions, Washington had done honour to the American name, they rejoiced exceedingly, and let the matter drop.

CHAPTER XV.

WASHINGTON's CHARACTER CONTINUED.

HIS INDUSTRY.

AWAKE, my boy! and let the rising sun
Blush to see his vigilance outdone;

In cheerful works consume the fleeting day,
Toil thy pleasure, and business all thy play.

BUT of all the virtues that adorned the life of this great man, there is none more worthy of our imitation than his admirable INDUSTRY. It is to this vir que in her Washington, that America stands indebted for services past calculation: and it is from this virtue, that Washington himself snatched a wreath of glory that will never fade away. O that the good T

genius of America may prevail! that the examplecft this, her favourite son, may be but universally adopted! Soon shall our land be free from all those slothbegotten demons which now haunt and torment us. For whence do all our miseries proceed, but from lack of industry! In a land like this, which heaven has blessed above all lands-a land abounding with the fish and flesh pots of Egypt, and flowing with the choicest milk and honey of Canaan-a land where the poorest Lazarus may get his fifty cents a day for the commonest labour and buy the daintiest bread of corn flour for a cent a pound! why is any man hungry, or thirsty, or naked, or in prison? why but through his own unpardonable sloth?

BUT alas! what would it avail, though the blest shade of Washington were to descend from his native skies, and, with an angel's voice, recommend industry as the handmaid of health, wealth, innocence, and happiness to man. A notion, from the land of lies, has taken too deep root among some, that "labour is a low-lived thing, fit for none but poor people and slaves! and that dress and pleasure are the only accomplishments for a gentleman! But does it become a gentleman to saunter about, living on the charity of his relations to suffer himself to be dunned by creditors, and, like a hunted wolf, to fly from the face of sheriffs and constables? Is it like a gentleman to take a generous woman from her parents, and reduce her to beggary to see even her bed sold from under her,. and herself and weeping infants turned out of doors? Is it like a gentleman to reduce one's children to rags, and to drive them like birds of heaven, to hedges and highways, to pick berries, filling their pale bloated bodies with disease? Or is it like a gentleman to bring up one's sons in sloth, pleasure, and dress, as young noblemen, and then leave them without estates, profession, or trades, to turn gamblers, sharpers, or horse thieves?" From such gentlemen, oh save my country, Heaven!" was Washington's per petual praver, the emphatical prayer of his life and

great example! In his ear, Wisdom was heard incessantly calling aloud, "He is the real gentleman, who cheerfully contributes his every exertion to accomplish heaven's favourite designs, the beauty, order and happiness of human life; whose industry appears in a plentiful house and smiling wife; in the decent apparel of his children, and in their good education and virtuous manners; who is not afraid to see any man on earth; but meets his creditors with a smiling countenance, and with the welcome music of gold and silver in his hand; who exerts an honest industry for wealth, that he may become as a water-course in a thirsty land, a source of refreshment to a thousand poor."

THIS was the life, this the example set by Washington. His whole inheritance was but a small tract of poor land in Stafford county, and a few negroes. This appearing utterly insufficient for those purposes of usefulness, with the charms of which his mind seems to have been early smitten, he resolved to make up the deficiency by dint of industry and economy.-For these virtues, how excellent! how rare in youth! Washington was admirably distinguished when but a boy. At a time when many young men have no higher ambition than a fine coat and a frolic," often have I seen him (says the reverend Mr. Lee Massey) riding about the country with his surveying instruments at his saddle," enjoying the double satisfaction of obliging his fellow citizens by surveying their lands, and of making money, not meanly to hoard, but generously to lend to any worthy object that asked it. This early industry was one of the first steps to Washington's preferment. It attracted on him the notice and admiration of his numerous acquaintance, and, which was still more in his favour, it gave such uncommon strength to his constitution, such vigour to his mind, such a spirit for adventure, that he was ready for any glorious enterprize, no matter how difficult or dangerous. Witness the expedition from Williamsburg through the Indian country to the Ohio.