ernor of Virginia. In 1784 he was associated with Adams, Franklin, Jay and Laurens, in a plenipotentiary commission to the several powers of Europe, and in July, 1785, signed the treaty of amity and commerce with Prussia.

In 1781, Mr. Jefferson composed his Notes on Virginia, and in the years 1786 and 1787, Mr. Adams wrote his Defence of the American Constitutions. Both are works of great and deserved celebrity.

Under our present federal constitution, Mr. Adams was twice elected to the Vice-Presidency, and succeeded Gen. Washington in the office of President.

Mr. Jefferson successively filled the stations of Secretary of State, Vice-President, and President of the United States.

The terms, for which they had severally been elected, having expired, both retired from the highest offices and greatest honors which this, or any country could afford, to the retreats of private life: in which they were exemplars of pu rity, hospitality and usefulness. Mr. Jefferson, at Monticello, devoting his time to the University of Virginia; and Mr. Adams, at Quincy, holding up the lamp of his experience for the guidance of others.

Mr. Adams was of an ardent temperament. His intellect was marked with great fervor and great strength. Sometimes rapid almost to precipitancy, yet immoveably fixed in its purposes. Of untiring industry, and unyielding persever ance, he was characterized by active moral courage. Scenes where others were appalled, but nerved him to greater en ergy.

Mr. Jefferson was constitutionally calm, circumspect, and philosophic. His views were clear and comprehensive. He investigated closely and reflected much before he proceeded to action, and having marked out his course with extensive knowledge and deep thought, advanced in it with undeviating step.

The minds of both seized their subjects with a giant's power; but one seemed to embrace the most, and the other to grasp the closest. They were both learned; but yielded to no dogmas, and were trammelled by no systems. Enriched by the spoils of ages, they did not bend beneath the weight of their own wealth; but it increased their inborn independence -they stood more firmly erect, and fearlessly surveyed the Heavens and the earth. Wherever truth would lead, they dared to follow and they cared not if they shook the world with their opinions, if they but scattered the clouds, and let in light upon the mind.

I propose not to dwell upon that period of their lives when they were at the head of contending parties. I would not on this day strike a single chord that may not be attuned to harmony. In the awful silence of the tomb, passion is hushed, and its fires burn not amid the damps of death. Whatever we may think of the correctness of their respective opinions, or the policy of their measures, we may at least accord to each of them honesty and singleness of intention.In this we shall but follow their own example, who in later life have born willing testimony to the merits of each other -Adams proclaiming the services of Jefferson, and Jefferson asserting that Adams was emphatically the great man of the Congress which declared our Independence. While we lament their temporary alienation, we have the consolation to know that personal friendship, and harmony of political views were fully restored long before the close of life.It was grateful, it was ennobling, to see those great and good men, whose hearts, in early time, had been bound and knit together, but who, for a while, had been estranged from each other, again unite in the cordial embrace, and the strong sympathy, which death itself was not to sunder, but in which, they were to pass together to another world. The streams of their lives were united near their sources, and joined in one current, had forced their way through mounds of earth, and swept over appalling barriers-but, at length, divided in their course, by a rough island of rock, they rushed by its

opposing sides with turbulent and emulous rapidity-until, at last, their waters were commingled in peace, and flowed on, tranquil and majestic, into the ocean of eternity.

We contemplate their departure without any thing of the bitterness of despair, and with little even of the poignancy of grief, but with a soothing sadness and a melancholy pleasure. We mourn indeed; but it is with the feelings in which we view the closing of the year, when nature herself is falling to decay, and seems to be putting on the shroud of death. We must be solemn ; for it is a memento, which comes home to our own hearts, and tells us, that however bright the tide or proud the waves on which we ride, they bear us swiftly to silence and night.

They had lived to reap the richest of earthly rewards in the abundant success of all their labors. They had seen the institutions, which they had established, survive the violence of internal excitement, and the shock of foreign war; and our country rich, powerful and populous, beyond what the most glowing visions of their youth had dared to depict. They had seen the expansion of the soul, when the pressure of bigotry and tyranny was removed; and the free spirit go forth in its majesty-penetrating the dark recesses of Spanish oppression in the South; and invading the strong holds of Turkish despotism in the East; and iron thrones melting before that fire whose early flame their breath had fanned. They had lived to become the patriarchs of America, and saw their children in the land of promise ;-and one of them beheld the destinies of this far extended and enlightened people, safely reposing in the hands of his own Patriot Son, pre-eminent for wisdom and virtue. The men of other days-their companions and their friends, had passed away; and new generations had risen up to call them blessed. Their labors were finished—the number of their days was full--they had lived enough for themselves, for their country, and mankind. It only remained to them, that their last prayer should be answered in the wonderful, we may almost be permitted to

say, the miraculous coincidences of their departure, which have given new interest to a day, which was before above all days of political celebration. They passed indeed through the valley of the shadow of death, but it was lighted up by the brightness of their own day of Jubilee-their spirits arose upon the songs of joy, and the prayers of gratitude of millions, whom they had made free-and had the prophet lent his "chariot of fire," and his "horses of fire," their ascent could hardly have been more glorious !

It remains to us to cherish their memory, and emulate their virtues, by perpetuating and extending the blessings which they have bequeathed. So long as we preserve our country, their fame cannot die, for it is reflected from the surface of every thing that is beautiful and valuable in our land. We cannot recur too often, nor dwell too long upon the lives and characters of such men ; for our own will take something of their form and impression from those on which they rest.— If we inhale the moral atmosphere in which they moved, we must feel its purifying and invigorating influence. If we raise our thoughts to their elevation, our minds will be expanded and ennobled, in beholding the immeasurable distance beneath, and around us. "Can we breathe the pure mountain air, and not be refreshed; can we walk abroad amidst the beautiful and the grand of the works of creation, and feel no kindling of devotion?

Our country has been sometimes reproached for not erecting monuments and statues to her departed worthies. But what avails the monument of brass and stone? Sink its foundations deep; raise it as high as human ken; when the rolling years press on-it falls-they sweep over it, and leave not a trace of its gloomy grandeur. Erect the statue of marble; it is cold and lifeless-Time clasps it-and it becomes dust in his hands. But the patriot-statesmen and philanthropists, like those whom we this day commemorate, who have been the instruments of Providence in adding to the numbers and happiness of the human race; who have peopled and

gladdened new regions-their memorials are every where ! Their statues are man; living, feeling, intelligent, adoring man; bearing the image of his maker; having the impress of divinity. These shall endure, by constant succession, through countless ages, and vigorous in the embrace of Time, become more and more abundant. Their monuments, are the

everlasting hills which they have clothed with verdure—their praises, are sounds of health and joy, in vallies which they have made fruitful-to them incense daily rises, in the perfumes of fragrant fields, which they have spread with cultivation-fair cities proclaim their glory-gorgeous mansions speak their munificence-their names are inscribed on the goodly habitations of men; and on those hallowed temples of God, whose spires ever point to the Heaven, which, we trust, has received them.