Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-06-17
liz 1-2 Gems Singled

who decided, against the public opinion
that the British debts should be recover.
cd, and that on several very ilaportan! &C.
casions he entered DEGREES for large sums
OF money against his native state. Yet,
to the immortal honor of the people of
virginia, it said, thoss decisions OF his
did not diminish his popularity, but made
them admire and respect him still more
than,eveI. A9l 57
Such then, were the public virtues OF
this great man. His rrivatevirtues were
not less exemplary. Among the most.
conspicuous of these were his integrity
and observation-disclosures Undoubtedly. no
man, not even the best OF he worthIes ef
anclcnt Greece and Rome, ever carried
tnose virtues 10 greater height than he
DID. Plain in his manners, strietiy TEN.
psra'e IN his life, and regatdless Of all
proH's except such ss were made with ho-
nor and good conscience, he furnished
an example IN the y;..or OF his yculb fas
have been told by some, whom am hap.
ny To see here presenD of a truly honest
and upright lawyer. a character supposed
ny many Chough hope srroneonsly) 10
be very uncommon. No consideration
could ever induce him 10 swerye from the
s,ra:' line OF integrity, TO violate jas,jce,
or the laws of his county. With the
spirit oil philosopher he yed lawyer.
and was indeed the brightest orna a,e,,i of
ne bar. With these virtues Of stern
and rigid cast, it should moreover be
known, that this laborious student, this
man OF undertaking integrity, This atm
ana lnheSible repabiicae possessed q heart
eyertiowing with the milk If hnuan kind.
ness. A kinder never throa'd in The bo..
som OF a human being. HIS soul was tina
seat oil benevolence and sensibiiily. From
'his most amiabie turn of mind proceed.
ca ms ever active Charity ard libe,ality,
me gentleness and mildpess IF his TEN,
per, which was seldom irrtated but by
zeal Tor his country's good, his modest
ana unasshming department., and unwl.
Iin,,ness to give pain 10 any mortal. His
chauty extended TO every human being,
hoWstT low and humble his station: for
ne, emPhatIcsl!y, was always striving 10 do
good. Let the officers Of his court. he
gentlemen who bad The pleasure of plead
ng, and those.who had causes drpentiipg.
before him. let all who were educated BY
'im, and indee< all who knew him bear
TEbess 10 The sweetness of his temper,
MS peaeynience and kind department.
us uh"iiiin2ness 10 giYe trouble and
'aih was apparent almost IN his las, ago.
'ies--" On gentlemen !" said he, scarce
ud'b'y, "you are very gcod--I am sor.
y you take SO much trouble--but ali will
&c IN vain - Itmay be said indeed iha, in
me qePloraoie instance, (Which il strikes
ne win horror even to IenIion,) his be-
'evolence was placed on an unworthy oh.
ectr and repaid with black ingratitude.
But letnot the selfish man deduce from
ms Dreadful even! an argument agains.
ne indulgence of charuy, nor let the
,ood man be discouraged. As no human
,eing can be perieet, it is true, perhaps,
nat The miidness and goodness If Mr..
'Sythe was sometimes carried too far.
5ui IT he had any fault, il was that OF ex.
,essive goodness, which injured himself
lone. Injured did ] saYi No; wha,e-
'er may have been the cause his death.
nd trembie 70 think Ct MS freba5ic cause.
le IS not really injured. He is only re-
ieyed from the inhrmities of mortality a
title sooner; and although he may be a
- ~ ''NNh VI rt1S SoylERg
iiow OF alas does goodness wound itseIf
And sweet affection prove the source of woe
'et the multitude of friends who sincere.
mourn his death, and the affection OF
p his Other pupils for his memory prove
hat he did not good in vain, but has in
iced his reward.
This then fellow.c,izens, is the true
baracter of The man. whose dea.h We "a.
nsn', OF him who now sleeps in that cot.
in, lifeless lump Of clay. But no--he
5 not there The goad, the kind, ;be ge-
'eroua' the undetermined George Svylhe
S not there. His mortal body, I admit.
5 before us. But the real man, The ai.
Inc aud immortal soul is far away, per.
iaps above the stars themselves, enjoy.
ng everlasting bliss 10 the presence OF
hat God, or whom he called as his hope
md refuge, IN The last agonies of xpiring
'ainrc. Here permit me TO corfecl
mistaken opinion, which las gone s5r0sd
;oncerniDg this txeeiIeus nan. ] think
[ particularly important 10 state that he
vas christian. He communicated TO me
'imis u, year or two before his death,
us Toll conviction ofthc truth of the chris.
ian religion, and, Oh bis cea.h bed, chen
prayed 10 Jesus Christ his Savior far re