was the third of the resolutions, offered by Chief Justice Marshall, and drawn up by General Henry Lee: "Resolved, that a Committee be appointed to consider, on the most suitable manner, of paying honour to the memory of the man; first, in war, first, in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen."

Can any

And, now, is not my case made out? Plutarch find a parallel, for him? Will any bird, of any kind, take up the challenge of our eagle, "One World, one Washington?" If it be so, and if nations be trustees for the names of their great men, what a trust, my fellow citizens, is ours! How should his name be embalmed, in all our hearts! be a household word, on the lips of all our children! How should his name be inscribed on every poll; to fix the

How should his name

eye, and fill the heart, of every voter! How, should his name pervade our halls of Legislature; pervade our public offices; pervade the Presidential mansion; pervade the august and glorious Capitol! How it should rebuke selfishness! How it should rebuke unfaithfulness! How it should rebuke corruption! How it should vindicate the truth; and elevate the law; and justify the government; and glorify the nation! Beautiful it is, that the Metropolis of the great American confederacy, of which he was founder, bears his immortal name. Tender and touching, it is, that that serene, majestic, face, goes everywhere, from every hand, to every heart; the passport of affection, in every house, through every land.* Let there be one more testimo

* How I felt this, with every letter, that came to me, abroad!

non!

nial, the most affecting, the most impressive, of them all. When Nelson, on the eve of triumph, flung, from the mast-head, that immortal signal, "Westminster Abbey, or Victory!" he appealed to the deep sanctities of every heart. Let our Westminster be Mount VerLet the home of Washington be their homestead, who are his only children. Let the tomb of Washington be the shrine of patriotism, forever; and, let his sacred ashes forever rest, by the sweet gliding of his own Potomac; cherished by the hearts, and guarded by the hands, of increasing millions of free

men.

"Should the tempest of war overshadow our land,

Its bolts could ne'er rend Freedom's temple asunder:
For, unmoved, at its portal, would Washington stand;
And repulse with his breast, the assaults of the thunder.
His sword from the sleep

Of its scabbard, would leap;

And conduct, with its point, every flash, to the deep.

For, ne'er shall the sons of Columbia be slaves,

While the earth bears a plant, or the sea rolls its waves."

MRS. VAN RENSSELAER;

LADY MANAGERS OF THE MOUNT VERNON ASSOCIA-
TION, IN BURLINGTON ;

MR. MAYOR;

MY FELLOW CITIZENS;

You have listened to me, patiently, too long. A few words, more. The ashes of Washington should not be long to any individual. They are the jewelry of the Republic. En mea ornamenta! The tomb of Washington should not be in possession of the government.

He was not the father of the Senate, nor of the House of Representatives. He was Pater Patria. He is our father. The home of Washington should not be held by any special corporation. It is the homestead of the nation. It is the hearthstone of America. It should belong to us, and to our heirs, forever. But, how shall this be brought about? Who will redeem that sacred dust? Who will garnish that beloved sepulchre? Who will keep up that hospitable home? These women and their associates: the mothers of our children; the sisters of our love; the daughters of our hearts. Beautiful thought, that the sex, to which we owe our mothers, should be the guardians of the ashes of our father. That the women of America, should more than reproduce the Roman daughter, in her filial piety and love. And, they will do it. Nay, have done it; by the very will, to do it. When did a women ever fail, in what her love resolved on? Who were behind her, at the Cross? Who were before her, at the grave? Noble and generous women! Into your hands, we commit those venerable shades. Into your hands, we commit that honourable sepulchre. Into your hands, we commit that blessed dust. To you, and to your daughters, and to your daughters' daughters, in a line, forever. Thither, the mothers of America, in all the ages of the world, shall bring their infant sons. They shall tell them, "our mothers left us this dear home; a heritage, for ever!" They shall repeat his story. They shall relate his services. They shall recount his virtues. They shall syllable his glorious and immortal

name. The eye shall kindle, at the sound. The lip shall quiver at the thought. The heart shall leap, at the remembrance. And, from that sepulchre, there shall go out, a line of patriot-heroes; that shall perpetuate the virtues, while they immortalize the name, of Washington. Shades of our fathers, mothers of our children, shall it not be so? By those, at Trenton, Princeton, Monmouth, it shall be! May He, who gave us Washington, make us all worthy of the gift; preserve his sepulchre, a light-house for the oppressed, in every land; and make his name the lode-star of the patriot, till time shall cease to be!

I.

THE WORD OF GOD TO BE STUDIED WITH HIS WORKS.

* THE INTRODUCTORY LECTURE BEFORE THE BURLINGTON LYCEUM.

NEIGHBOURS AND FRIENDS-I feel that I can say to-night, with the Apostle Paul, "I am a citizen of no mean city." The erection of this building, for the purposes to which it is appropriated, does honour to this community; and I feel most sensibly the high distinction, of giving utterance first, to the purposes of your enlarged and wise benevolence. Long may the fountain you have opened here pour forth perennial streams! May you and yours, and they that shall come after you, drink here, and be refreshed! May the pure wave of science, forever sparkling as it springs, tempt to these quiet seats, youth's eager eye, the restless foot of manhood, and the serene repose of meditative age! Never may vice corrupt, never may passion disturb, never may prejudice embitter one drop of its clear waters! And may the noble thirst for knowledge, not quenched, but kindled more by drinking here, urge to new efforts in

*December 18, A. D. 1838.