Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-09-17
ORAIION


0nfhc deGh ofthe Deneratfe George IYyfbe,
doLfOe'ed on The si.rteeflsh inst. 6y j. r.
Moore, fsg.
FELLuw CITIZENS,
rise on this solsmn occasion, with
peculiar d fsidsnce. WheR | r-flea on
the dignity cf The character Ia be spoken
OF. aud the feeble abilities of the speaker,
shrink fcom the urrqaitssk lament
hat 1t has not devoyed upon one more
nd quate. ] have, however, Que conso
iatun when reflecl that this resp c,able
audience is prepared 10 view the charac
er-about 10 be exhibited with unbiass-
ID mnd>, with hearts possessed OF innate
henevoltnce, unwarped by interest, preiu.
dice or passion. Among the dead no ri
val IS 10 be feared, nor can posthu,nous
celebrity in any d, gee oppose the profess
2ionai advancement of the living. BY pay
ing thus jus, tribu.e of respect to the
memory oithe ii!uslrous dead, we hold up
their corduc, 10 tie imitation of the
living and excite generous wish 20 emu
late their vir ues.
Permit me then ESQ far as my abilities
may enab!e mel TO hold up 10 your view
The character of the late venerable chan
celior Of Virgpia. This il!us,rious man
was born abou the year l746, about fif;
years anterior to the commencement Of
the American revolution. Il il, 90 be Ia
mented That this remote part ofthe state,
furnishes but few documents, from
hence % colleH information, with res.
pea TO he frs, FLY years Of his life. But
IL may be- presumcd that !hc one half, per-
haps more, of that period, was spent in
the iaborIous avocatcn Of lawyer, whose
emiDeDce al the bar, introduced him ear
lY INTO weigh and pressure Of business
under which alene, mind Of ordinary
! capacity might have sunk. But such was
his interchangeable Industry, such the aston.
( ishlng strength OF his inte!ie6ls, that we
find him during this period, without the
help ct a teacher, by assidUous Applicant
on alone, acquiring stock Of apcien, lite.
nature, rarely to be met with. He acquir
ed knowledge of the ancient languages
critically correct. The poelicaI and PHI
losopbIcal productions, Of antiquity in
their original dress, were 10 him intireIy
familiar; whilst modern meritoriCus per-
tormances did not elude his deep resear
ches. AT the verge Of old age he for the
first time turned his attention to the study
of mathematics and natural philosophy;
in which Notwithstanding the period OF
life and increasing weight Of business, I've
progressed with his usual rapidity. And
the science of demonstration became ever
afterwards the faVorite amusement Of the
few leisure hours which the official duties
of the many public stations which he iil
led (and which we shall notice herealter(
afforded him.
b while viewing his litera-v s,tainments
- his philosophical & scieDufic researches
land bef''te we enter on the more impor-
tant occurrences of hrs life; il may not
be amIss TO drop few remarks on his
| private character as man and a citizen.
And here give me leave to observe, that
even IN his juvenile years, he appears to
have had but little taste for what are usu.
ally term'd smusements. These gneral-
! ~ speaking were beneath the exalted
sphere, in which his thoughts were laugh,
o range. lie did what every Young al
orney ough, to do; he made the bcs. au.
IL l.