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The subject of our present memoir, who had, at a very early age, been deprived of the kind endearments and caresses of a fond mother, was instructed under the immediate eye of his father, by a private teacher in his family. His education-owing to the distance of his place of residence from a college, or, perhaps, to the circumscribed limits of his father's means, was not what is termed liberal, having been confined to the study of his native language, and to those branches of knowledge which are usually taught in an English school. His talents, however, were of a respectable order, and enabled him to acquire a fund of information, calculated to give him a dignified rank in the general round of conversation. His manners were soft, modest, and unaffected his disposition warm, generous, and 'humane-his attachment to his friends, ardent and sincere. His courage, even from childhood, was of the most determined cast, and claimed kindred to the blood which flowed from his gallant uncle's veins. Averse to quarrels and contentions, he was however, firm in support of his honour and his rights. He knew not how to give, or to take an insult-but, liable to the frailties of human nature, if guilty of error, he was as ready to make reparation, as he was, when due to him, to demand it.

When arrived to the period of life, at which a young man is expected to make choice of a profession, he was placed, by his father, under the care of a merchant, to acquire a knowledge of trade. But this avocation not being congenial to his turn of mind or inclination, he abandoned, after a trial of one or two years, and commenced the laborious employment of a farmer, which he prosecuted with great industry un

til after the death of his father. At the interesting period of the attack on the Chesapeake, when the spirit of the nation arose in all its majesty, young BUSH was appointed a lieutenant in the militia of his state, and when a call for volunteers was made by the president, was of the number of those who tendered their services to the government.

We now behold the aspiring youth enter upon the stage of life. His ambition and his love of country unite, in inviting him to the profession of arms. At that time, it is true, his country was not engaged in war; but, as he held the doctrine of Washington, our immortal brother, that "the best mode of preserving peace, is to be always prepared for war," he was resolved to qualify himself for her defence, and to obey her call, whenever political events should demand his services. As a lieutenant in the corps of marines, an appointment which he obtained in the summer of 1808, he distinguished himself for his mild and courteous manners towards those, whom an All-wise Providence, by placing in the humbler walks of life, had permitted to be subject to his command. It is, brethren, in stations like these, where the relation of superiority must be acknowledged and enforced, that the generous feelings of masonry, are most virtuously displayed. Urbanity of manners to an equal, is indispensable to the comforts of society. Respect. ful deportment to a superior, is an obligation. Condescension to inferiors is a pleasing duty, which reflects more honour upon the noble souls who practise it, than the possession of endless titles-even should they be "more ancient than the golden fleece or Roman eagle, or more honourable than the star or garter." Nor, did our valued brother in the

exercise of his finer feelings of sensibility, forget the duty he owed his country, or the respect which was due to himself. He was aware, that upon a rigid adherence to the established usages of war, the safety of the nation, and the happiness of his soldiers, depended. He knew that insubordination, or irregularity of conduct, were subversive of the military system, and, that to permit them to exist, would be to destroy the interests of the public service. He was also apprised, that discipline, when properly understood and established, so far from being incompatible with the exercise of humanity, is the only means of effecting that harmony and order, which distinguish an organized army from a tumultuous rout.

In the year 1810, Mr. Bush, who had been promoted from the rank of a second to that of a first lieutenant, finding, from the current of political sentiment, that the prospects of a war were not such as were likely soon to afford opportunities for the display of those heroic qualities, the natural bent of which had inclined him to the profession of a soldier-anticipating also, that without an active service to engage the mind, and occupy the time of an officer, he might be in danger of acquiring habits of indolence, and of living beyond the seanty means afforded him by his pay, he very prudently resolved to abandon his favourite pursuit, until a more inviting opportunity for fame and fortune should be presented. After deliberate reflection, and in accordance with the advice of his friends, he tendered his resignation, which was accepted. But, no sooner had the intelligence reached the ears of his brother officers, than a respectable body, composed as well of those of younger as of senior rank,

waited upon the secretary of the navy, and entreated him to recall his acceptance of lieutenant Bush's resignation. Such a generous and noble-minded conduct on the part of the junior officers, whose advancement on the scale of promotion would be prejudiced by the granting of this request, indieated an exalted esteem for the merits of their gallant fellow soldier. He was accordingly invited to return to the service, with such marks of flattering regard as could not be resisted. He resumed his commission, and abandoned for the time an idea of settling in the western country, which he had previously indulged.

During the summer of the past year, our military friend was stationed upon the recruiting service, at several of the principal inland towns of this state. Whilst in the performance of his public duties, he found leisure for the exercise of those social qualities, with which he was so eminently endowed. His uniformly correct and moral deportment, whilst others, seduced by the allurements of fancied pleasures, were revelling in dissipation and excess, attracted the attention of the most respectable of the inhabitants. His acquaintance was courted-respect for his amiable and gentlemanly demeanor was succeeded by esteem-and a sincere regard for the polished soldier, the sedate youth, and intelligent citizen, excited in the breasts of all, a lively interest in his future prospects and fortunes.

In the autumn of the same year, our friend became again discouraged as to the appearance of active employment. *The speck of war," which had more than once displayed. itself upon the political horizon, had nearly vanished. He began a second time to contemplate a retirement from the

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public service, and in anticipation of that design, visited the state of Ohio, where he purchased some lands. This appa rent change of resolution, my brethren, is not to be regarded as an indication of a vacillating, unsteady mind. It unfolded the principles of an exalted genius-it proclaimed a determination to rise to eminence by signal feats of valour, or, by the exercise of the hardy toils of agriculture, to become useful to his country. But our officer desirous of affording himself the chance of prosecuting his darling pursuit, which might be produced by another session of congress, concluded to await the result of their deliberations.

It was during this interval of interesting suspense, that lieutenant Bush, who had been for upwards of a year sta tioned chiefly at Philadelphia, was initiated into the mysteries of our order. The advantages to result from an acquaintance with the science of free-masonry, in the course of the expected war, which might place him at the merey of the enemy, or render him the conqueror of a fallen, prostrate foe, offered to his liberal and benevolent mind, inducements for partaking in the benefits of the institution. At the altar of the temple, in which we are now assembled, was he first taught his masonic duties. By the worshipful master of the lodge which has honoured me with the privilege of addressing you upon this solemn occasion, was he first shown the mystic light.

At length the period arrived, when his country called for the arm of our gallant brother, to assert her rights and avenge her wrongs. The summons was obeyed with all those feelings of virtuous ardour, which so proudly distinguish the patriot soldier. A short time previous to the de