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"A friend, when dead, is but removed from sight,
Sunk in the lustre of eternal light;

And when the parting storms of life are o'er

May yet rejoin us on a happier shore."

Burlington, January 20, 1813.

Died on board the U. S. frigate Constitution at sea, 28th January, of wounds received in the action with the Java, Lieut. John Cushing Aylwin, of the U. S. navy. He entered the service about the time war was declared, as a sailing master, and was promoted to a lieutenancy for his gallant conduct in the action with the Guerriere. He was an officer of great merit, much esteemed by all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance. In his death, our country has suffered a great loss; his friends a painful deprivation. He had seen much of the world, and improved his opportunities of observation-possessed a strong mind, with great benevolence of disposition.

In the action with the Guerriere he stood on an elevated situation by the side of his brave comrades Morris and Bush, at the time the two vessels came in contact, and was wounded in the left shoulder with a musket ball. In the late action he commanded the forecastle division, and his bravery, and marked coolness throughout the contest, gained him the admiration of his commander, and all who had an opportunity of witnessing him. When boarders were called to repel boarders, he mounted the quarter deck hammock cloths, and, in the act of firing his pistols at the enemy, he received a ball through the same shoulder. Notwithstanding the serious nature of his wound, he continued at his post until the enemy had struck; and even then did not make known to the surgeon his own situation, nor until all the wounded had been dressed. His zeal and courage did not forsake him in his last moments: for a few days after the action, although labouring under considerable debility, and the most excruciating pain, he left his state room, and repaired to quarters, when an engagement was expected with a ship, which afterwards proved to be the Hornet. He bore his pain with great and unusual fortitude, and expired without a groan.

"A dauntless soul erect, who smiled on death."

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A BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICE OF THE LATE REV. JOHN ANDREWS, D. D. PROVOST OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA.

THE extravagance of posthumous panegyric has been for ages proverbial. When the heart is softened and the sensibility excited by the last sad ceremony of closing the grave over the mortal remains of a man long loved and venerated, it would be a violation of the affections implanted by nature, if surviving friends did not indulge in the recollection of the virtues and talents which had attracted their love and excited their admiration; or if, in portraying his character, they did not throw his imperfections into shadow, and give to his excellencies the boldest relief and the brightest colouring. Possibly this natural and apparently instinctive disposition of our species, (which immortalizes virtue, while it fixes the seal of mortality to error and vice even in this world) is wisely intended to withdraw bad example from the view of mankind; and to fortify virtue by the continual accumulation of that which is good. Were the faults and the errors even of good men handed down by tradition, they might, it is to be feared, present a mass of evil, which, with the sanction of their names, would endanger the religion and impair

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the morality of society. By recording and remembering their virtues only, models are presented, even the imperfect imitation of which will evince no inconsiderable degree of excellence. And with respect to the individual who is panegyrized, let it be remembered, that whatever may have been his merits, whether they be real or imaginary, the praise is still given to virtue; so that he who is ambitious of the reward, will endeavour, in some degree, to qualify himself as a candidate for it. Nor indeed shall we find much reason to apprehend that the fame of an individual, whose life has been occupied in the less conspicuous walks of life, will much transcend his real deserts. The splendid achievements of the soldier, and the glittering services of a statesman, may dazzle the multitude; but the character of a virtuous citizen, occupied in the performance of the mere relative and social duties, is surrounded by a milder lustre, which conceals nothing, yet imparts little brilliancy to his most meritorious exertions! The world too is sufficiently incredulous of perfection which rests upon the evidence afforded by the partiality of friendship, or the fondness of natural affection.

The writer of this rapid narrative, imperfect no less from the feebleness of his pen, than the haste in which circumstances require it to be composed, has more reason to fear that he will fall short, than that he will pass beyond the limits of just eulogium, if indeed any thing he may say can deserve that name. Callous and ungrateful would he be, however, were he to withhold his poor efforts to commemorate a man, to whom he is proud to acknowledge a weight of obligation, and to have been united by ties of the most sacred and endearing nature.

Dr. Andrews was born in Cecil county, Maryland, about six miles from the head of Elk, on the 4th of April, 1746. His father was a man of singular piety, and to the influence of his examples and precepts may be attributed the serious impressions which stamped the character and fixed the profession of his son. Although not wealthy, it is believed that his circumstances were sufficiently independent; and, wisely appreciating the value of a good education, he placed his child at the age of seven years, at the Elk school, then under the direction of the Newcastle presbytery, where he was instructed in the rudiments of a classical educa

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