Jenks's Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland [Me.]) 1799-1802, 1800-04-14

merIca and 1t they had been through any re-
markable places, his corverfation was free and
particularly interefling, for he was intimately
acquainted with every part of the country. He
was much more open and free in his behaviour
at levee than in private, and in the company of
ladies Gill more TO than when foley with men.
Few perions ever found themielves for the
FRI time in the piefence of General Wilmington.
without being imPrehed with a certain degree
of veneration and awe nor did thofe emotions
fubGde on cloier acquaintance on the contra
nv, his perfon and Department were fuch as
rather tended to augment them. The hard
feryice he had fesn, the important and laborious
offices he had filled, gave kind of auaerty to
his countenance, and referve to his manners !;
vet he was the kindelt huiband, the mot humane
matter, the iteadieff friend
The whole range of Hifory does not prefent
to our view character upon which we can
dwell with fuch entire and unnixed admiration.
The long life of General Wilmington is not
Gained by Jingle blot. He was indeed man
of fnch rare endowments, and fuch fortunate
temperament, that every action he Performed
was equally exempted from the charge of vice
or weakness. Whatever he faid or did, or wrote,
was aamped will, a llriking and peculiar propri-
ETY.. His qualities were 70 happily blended, and
70 nicely harmonifed, that the relult WIS great
and perfea whole. The powers of lis mind,
and the diipohtions of his heart, we're admirably
iuited to each other. 1t was the unien Of the
moi confummate prudence with the nolt per.
fea moderation. His views, though large and
liberal, were never extravagant his virtues,
though comprehensive and bene6cent, we're dif
eliminating, iudieious and PRACTICAL.
he cbaraf1er fbou a., -.-.
poHened none of the littlenefs which NAV fome.
times belong to thief. descriptions of men. 1t
formed maieaic pile, the effea of which was
not impaired, but improved by order and Flynn.
metry. There was nothing in it TO dazzle by
wildnels, and furprize by exceutrici,y. 1t was
of higher ipecies of mora beauty. 1t con-
tanned every thing great and elevated BUT it
had no falle and tniel ornament. 1t vas not
the model cried up by fafhion and Circumstance !:
its excellence was adapted to the true and iult
moral tate, incapable of change from the vary.
ing accidents of manners, Of opinions and times
General Wilmington is not the idol Of day,
but the hero of ages
Placed in circumstances of the moi irving
difficulty at the commencement of the Ameri-
can CONTEXT, he accepted that 6tuation which was
pre-. eminent in danger and refponfibility. His
perseverance overcame every ob0acle bis mod
Grafton conciliatsd every oppoGtion his genius
fupplied every refource his enlarged view could
plan, rcvife, and improve every branch of civil
and military operation. He had the hyperion
courage uhich can aet or forbear to aa as true
policy dictates, careleis of the reproaches of ig
norance, either in power or out of power. He
knew how to conquer by waiting, in fpite of
obloquy, for the moment of victory and b.
meritsd true praife by deipifng undelerved cen.
iure. In the mott arduous moments of the con-
teit, his prudent frnncls proved the falvaton of
the caule which he fopported.
His conduit was, on a / occafions, guided BY
the mott pure diiintereitednefs. Far hyperion to
low and grovelng motives, he feemed even to
be uninhuenced by that ambition, which has
iuffly been called the inftina of great fouls.
He acted ever as If his country's welfare, and
that alone, was the moving lpring. His ex
celleEt mind needed not even the aimulus of
ambition, or the profpea Of fame. Glory was
but fecondary confederation. He performed
great aetons he perievered in courfe of labori-
Gus utility, with an equanimity that neither
fought diairetion, nor was hattered by it. His
reward was in the confciouinels of his own rec
ttude, and in the fuccefs of his patriotic efforts
AS his elevation to the chief power was the
undated choice OF his countrymen, his exercife
of it was agreeable to the purity of its origin.
As he had neither folicited nor ulurped domin
| ion, he had neither TO contend with the oppofi
] ton of rivals, nor the revenge of enemies. As
his authority was undi(puted, 70 it required no
jealous precautions, no rigorous feverity. His
government was mild and gentle it was be-
| he6cent and liberal it was wife and juR. His
prudent administration confolidated and enlarg-
| ed the dominion of an Infant Republic. In
voluntarily reGgning tho magiaraey which he
had filled with fuch dillinguiihed honor, he
enjoyed the unequalled fatisfaetion Of leaving to
| the State he had contributed to el1ablifh, the
fruits of his wifdom and the example of virtues.
Il is fome conlolation, amid& the violence of
ambition, and the criminal thirf of power, of
which 70 many inaances occur around US, to
| find character whom it is honorable to admire,