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

his thoughts and the better to Fl his mind
for those studies which he, with unaba.
ting ardor, still pursued.
With respect to morality he did not
think it enough 10 be negatively good, 10
dr no harm; but he. rightly conceived.
that man was placed in stale of society
for the purpose of being positively virtu-
Gus, OF doing all possible good Hence
as one observes of him "every hour not
beneficially employed, was in his estima-
ZION criminaliy lost" He saw no medi
um between emitting good aston, hen
opportunity offered, and the actually do.
ing what was evil. Hence his time vas
not spent in those pursuits which are sup,
posed 10 be Indifferent. He would not
engage in those things which might mere.
iy noi be condemned: but with an ambi-
lion truly laudabe, he aimed always TO
engage in such as would infaiIi6ly be re.
wardsd.
IN his habits ofIife he was strictly tenn.
perae; yet he was always fond Of the
company of a few well seleted friends
whose minds we're congenial with his
own. In ,he domestic CT Gle his manners
we're gentle and unassuming Tbs pla
cid smile of good nature still ga, on his
countenance and diGlsedio all about him,
the sweets ofdomestic felicity And ,ho'
not witty; yet he had peculiar aptitude
of giving 10 conversation not only plea
sing bu, an useful aud instructive turn:
insomnch that few Of his acquainiances
visited him, without, going away better in
formed than when they came.
L II
a,ors, he cordially abhorred, he never
wished 10 profit by another's loss; and SO
scrupulnus was hi. adherence TO the sirict
rules Of moral justice in his dealings with
othrrs, that ona certain occasion, when
disposed to purcha-e piece of real es-
tate, he enqnired Of friend well acquain-
ted with the property TO know VIA i, was
worth. On being tod; he requested
his hieod to make The purchase tor him.
HIS freed succeeded in obtaining The
pfoeern for considerably less, than he
had said il was worth: but when mr..
Wy,he was informed CT this he refused
taking it unless his fIisnd would re urn
and pay To the render The remainder of
i.s real value. This shews beyond all
dispute that he most conscieDciously OBJ
served The golden rule of doing 20 Others,
oS he qUCuid Sc done oy, that he was str'ct
" speaking what a celebrated author en-
pha,ical.y terms +" the nobiest work oil
Cad"
But must hasten TO another par, Of
the portrait. The character and talents
OF Mr.. Wythe beirg such it is naiural
Cor US to suppose that in time Of threat
y he ~. f-1 !,
his country and his patriotism being
such it is equally natural TO expect hat
he would cheerfuiIy step forth in her de
fence: And such was The fact, When
he pride and ambition of our mother
country, had driven her into kind OF 20
ltical phrenzy when she resolved TO vi
olale every sacred tie wh ch bound her
and her then colonies together when
she ventured not only 10 violate their char
tered rights but blinded by ambition
and the love OF gain size seemed resol
we'd 10 wrest frcm The American colonies,
every national privilege, every ves'ige of
civil and religious liberty, and to view the
inhabitants in no other hight than lhat of
abJc CT slaves & vassals and 10 regard their
interests TO farther than they could be
made subservieu, to those OF Gieal Bii-
tain AT that Interesting crisis it is
known that Virginia was not among The
last to as,eri her injured rights and that
George Wyihe was among the FIRST of her
patriotic sons u no offered her his servic
es in tile field, though then advanced be.
yond the period Of life deemed f for The
fatigucs of military duty. We End him
las one says) in the military garb epng
IN the front of a volunteer company and
on being Intercepted by the officer Of The
day, he rcplied'' have come here To do
Whatever you command me-" He was
however prevailed on TO retire TO the civil
department as il was thought he could
there render his country more essential
services. Let usnow view him as mem
Der, an active, an useful, leading mem
Der Of the memorable Congress of l776.
That Congress who having peliiioned the
throne in vain, and demonstrated without
effect, and who finding the court of llri
tain disposed to treat every pacific effort
with contempt and TO add insult 10 inJu-
rY did al length declare the United STAKES
Of America to BE- free, sovereign ard IN
dependent and soemnly pledge their
lives, their fortunes and their sacred ho-
nor to support that declaration, deed
which the parliament of Britain affected