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host of worthies who joined with us, on that day, in the bold and doubtful election we were to make for our country, between submission and the sword; and to have enjoyed with them the consolatory fact, that our fellow citizens, after half a century of experience and prosperity, continue to approve the choice we made. May it be to the world, what I believe it will be, (to some parts sooner, to-others later, but finally to all,) the signal of arousing men to burst the chains, under which monkish ignorance and superstition had persuaded them to bind themselves, and to assume the blessings and security of self-government. The form which we have substituted, restores the free right to the unbounded exercise of reason and freedom of opinion. All eyes are opened, or opening, to the rights of The general spread of the lights of science, has already laid open to every view the palpable truth, that the mass of mankind has not been born with saddles on their backs, nor a favoured few, booted and spurred, ready to ride them legitimately, by the grace of God. These are grounds of hope for others; for ourselves, let the annual return of this day for ever refresh our recollections of these rights, and an undiminished devotion to them. I will ask permission here, to express the pleasure with which I should have met my ancient neighbours of the city of Washington and its vicinities, with whom I passed so many years of a pleasing social intercourse-an intercourse which so much relieved the anxieties of the publick cares, and left impressions so deeply engraved in my affec tions, as never to be forgotten. With my regret that ill health forbids me the gratification of an acceptance.

be pleased to receive for yourself, and those for whom you write, the assurance of my highest respect and friendly attachments.'

"Soon after this letter was written, the indisposition of Mr. Jefferson assumed a more serious character. He had been for some time ill, though it was not until the twenty-sixth of June that he was obliged to confine himself to his bed. The strength of his constitution, and freedom from bodily pain, for a short time. encouraged the hope that his illness was merely temporary. He himself, however, felt the conviction that his last hour was approaching. He had already lived beyond the limits ordinarily assigned to human existence, and for some months past, the whole tone of his conversation showed that he was looking forward to its termination, with a calmness and equanimity worthy of his past life. I do not wish to die,' he was in the habit of saying to the intimate friends around him, but I do not fear to die. Acquiescence under circumstances is a duty we are permitted to control.' He declared, that could he but leave his family unembarrassed, and see the child of his old age, the uni versity, fairly flourishing, he was ready to departnunc dimittis Domine, the beautiful ejaculation of the Hebrew prophet, was his favourite quotation.-May God and his country grant the fulfilment of his dying wishes. On the second of July, the complaint with which he was afflicted left him; but his physician expressed his fears that his strength might not prove suf ficient to restore him from the debility to which it had reduced him; conscious himself that he could not recover, and free from all bodily and apparently from all

mental pain, he calmly gave directions relative to his coffin and his interment, which he requested might be at Monticello, without parade or pomp; he then called his family around him, and conversed separately with each of them; to his beloved daughter, Mrs. Randolph, he presented a small morocco case, which he requested her not to open until after his death; when the sad limitation had expired, it was found to contain an elegant and affectionate strain of poetry, on the virtues of her from whom he was thus torn away. On Monday, the following day, he inquired of those around him with much solicitude, what was the day of the month; they told him it was the third of July; he then eagerly expressed his desire that he might be permitted to live yet a little while, to breathe the air of the fiftieth anniversary. The wish was granted--the Almighty hand sustained him up to the very moment when his wish was complete; and then bore him to that world, where the pure in heart meet their God." Mr. Jefferson expired at Monticello, at ten minutes before one o'clock on the fourth of July, 1826; within the same hour at which, fifty years before, the declaration of independence had been promulgated. At this time he had reached the age of eighty-three years, two months, and twenty-one days.

Thus ripe in years, and rich in fame and good actions, departed this venerable father of the republick. His services commenced with the freedom and happiness of his country, and terminated only at her unbounded prosperity and greatness. But his influence rests not here, and the name and opinions of Jefferson are yet to be the guides through many generations. His

laurels were hardly earned and will wear well, and as long as "truth is left free to combat errour," must remain untarnished and unsullied.

The reader may form and justly appreciate the publick character of Mr. Jefferson, from the memoirs which he has perused. In that character will, we think, be distinguished, independence of mind, firmness and frankness of conduct, undaunted resolution, and indefatigable perseverance. And all these, aided by an intellect no less powerful than acute, no less comprehensive in its grasp than minute in its discernment. But perhaps the most distinguishing trait in his publick character, was firm and undeviating consistency. He was swayed by the purity of democracy throughout. He has stood before two generations; and the same political doctrines which he first espoused, he advocated with persevering consistency unto the end. Forming his judgements after the best reflections that he could bestow, and after the fullest information he could collect, he ever after adhered to them. This may sometimes have been the cause of errour, but it was also the foundation of that political and moral firmness which may be traced from the very first moment of his entering upon life, until its close.

It has been well observed, that Mr. Jefferson's mind partook of the character which he wished to communicate to society. His speculations all manifest a feeling of independence, which allowed no authority to restrain him in the indulgence of his thoughts. It is remarkable that he never quotes the opinion of any other as the foundation or motive of his own. In whatever respect he held the reputation of the great

or learned, he did not pay them the deference of receiving their belief or their doctrines without investigation; for there are few fancies so extravagant in morals or philosophy, as not to have received, at some period or other, the countenance of great names, and to have been allowed by their sanction to pass current in society.

As we have already seen, the principal attempt in which his philanthropick efforts were unsuccessful, was the gradual emancipation of slaves, and the immediate inhibition of the traffick; and it will also be perceived that, in his draft of the Declaration of Independence, one of the grievances, charged upon the abjured sovereign, was the constant negative which he put upon all laws passed in the colonies for the abolition of the slave trade. His advocacy of the cause of slaves is a proof, if any were wanting, that his motive for reform was not the desire of popularity, and that he was not disposed to flatter publick opinion in order to obtain its support. On the contrary, he dared to attack it in a point where it was the most sensitive and intractable. In espousing the cause of the slaves, he excited for the most part the jealousy of their masters. He could have no motive but the honour of his country and the impulse of humanity.

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Mr. Jefferson resembled Dr. Franklin in the character of his mind, and in his fortunes. Neither of them had a predilection for political concerns. The studies most congenial to their minds were the speculations of philosophy, the discoveries of science, and the pursuits of natural history. They each had a fondness for the mechanick arts

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