I.

V. DEATH.

MORTALITY AND BEREAVEMENT.

May the crown of universal love and gratitude, of universal admiration, and of the universal reverence and honor of thy saved country, rest and flourish upon the head of its Veteran General, and Glorious Defender; until, by the divine Jesus whom thou hast loved and adored, and of whose holy religion thou art not ashamed, thou shalt be translated from a world of war, to a world of peace, liberty, and eternal triumph.

EZRA STILES, D. D., LL. D., Pres. of Yale College, 1783.

Our hero was the same in that moment, as in all the past,-magnanimous, firin, confiding in the mercy, resigned to the will, of Heaven.

SAMUEL STANHOPE SMITH, D. D., Pres. of Coll, of New-Jersey.

BEREAVEMENT.

I am extremely sorry for the the death of Mrs. Putnam, and sympathize with you on the occasion.

Remembering, that all must die, and that she had lived to an honorable age, I hope you will bear the misfortune, with that fortitude and complacency of mind, that become a man and a Christian.

*General Putnam.

MOURNING.

The ties of nature must have their yearnings, before calm resignation will preponderate.

1787.

DEATH OF SEVERAL REVOLUTIONARY WORTHIES.

Thus, some of the pillars of the Revolution fall. Others are mouldering, by insensible degrees.

May our country never want props, to support the glorious fabric.

1786.

CHRISTIAN FORTITUDE.

Time alone can blunt the keen edge of afflictions.

Philosophy and our Religion hold out to us such hopes as will, upon proper reflection, enable us to bear, with fortitude, the most calamitous incidents of life; and this is all that can be expected from the feelings of humanity.

1788.

RESIGNATION.

It is not for man, to scan the wisdom of Provi

dence.

The best we can do is, to submit to the decrees of Providence.

Reason, Religion, and Philosophy teach us to submit; but it is time alone, that can ameliorate the pangs of humanity, and soften its woes.

HIS MOTHER'S DEATH.

Awful and affecting as the death of a parent is, there is consolation in knowing, that Heaven has spared ours, to an aget beyond which few attain, and favored her with the full enjoyment of her mental faculties, and as much bodily strength as usually falls to the lot of fourscore.

Under these circumstances, and the hope that she is translated to a happier place, it is the duty of her relations, to yield due submission to the decrees of the Creator.

1789.

CARES OF LIFE.

Life and the concerns of this world, one would think, are so uncertain, and so full of disappointments, that nothing is to be counted upon from human actions.

* He is addressing himself to his only sister, Mrs. Lewis.

She died, August 25th, 1789, in her 83d year, when he was at New York.

It is in vain, I perceive, to look for ease and happiness in a world of troubles.

CONSOLATION.

In looking forward to that awful moment when I must bid adieu to sublunary things, I anticipate the consolation, of leaving our country in a prosperous condition.

And while the curtain of separation shall be drawing, my last breath will, I trust, expire in a prayer for the temporal and eternal felicity of those, who have not only endeavored to gild the evening of my days with unclouded serenity, but extended their desires to my happiness hereafter, in a brighter world.

1790.

COMPOSURE, IN SICKNESS.

Do not flatter me with vain hopes." I am not afraid to die, and therefore can hear the worst.

Whether to-night, or twenty years hence, makes no difference. I know, that I am in the hands of a good Providence.

1789.

* He was dangerously ill, at New York, and he addressed tl cso words to his attending physician, Doctor Bard.

CALM VIEWS OF DEATH.

The want of regular exercise, and the cares of office, will, I have no doubt, hasten my departure for that country from which no traveller returns.

But a faithful discharge of whatever trust I accept, as it ever has been, so it always will be, the primary consideration, in every transaction of my life, be the consequences what they may.

1789.

THE FAMILY VAULT.

I intend to place it there. [Pointing to the spot where the new vault now stands.]

First of all, I shall make this change; for, after

all, It may require it before the rest.

Dec., 1799.

* "During my last visit to the General," [in December 1799,] says one of his nephews, "we walked together about the grounds, and talked of various improvements he had in contemplation. The lawn was to be extended to the river, in the direction of the old vault, which was to be removed, on account of the inroads made by the roots of the trees with which it was crowned, which caused it to oreak." He then pointed out the spot where the new vault now stands.

These words were uttered, when he appeared to be in perfect health, a few days only before his death. Some of his guests remarked, at the time, "We never saw the General look so well." "A few days afterwards," says his nephew, "being on my way home in company with others, while we were conversing about Washing. ton, I saw a servant rapidly riding towards me. On his near ap