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


= hi. useful, ,ms labor,ous life was pro
freeted for four score years, and yet our
rising signs, proclaim, that Heaven has
called 90 soon.'' Blu lie, us check each
mourning thought and while We has
ten 10 follow him 10 theg ave, "Ihe house
prepared for all living" let US cheerfully
acquiesce in The wise connsels IF II aven.
We must now turn our attention to
mare solemn scene part of this impor-
tas' portrait In which We are ali immedl-
aely in,eres ed. Howsver inadequate
INST or all OF vs. may BE-, of acting The
par already noticed the part nov 10 be
brOigh; into view, we must all sooner or
la'e' engage in. Though We may never
be lawyers legislators, statesmen or po
liticians; YET we ought all TO be patriots,
republicans and honest men. And whe
Their wc are these ornnt, we shall all inc
v'sb'y be dying mor,als; dying mortals
did Say +? Nay he was and We may be
more ,han this, we NAV be dying christi
ans. View then Tor moment tina, grea,
and good man, in his last hours though
his body underwent a peculiar degree oil
pain, ocoasoned, as il is thought, by the
corrosive nature of tina, deleterious sub
stance. which base ingra,iMde had min
sled with his morning repa,t: yet his
mind was calm and serens, his thoughts
were Perfectly collected and IN hat ,re-
mendCns moment, while sapdlng on the
ctpmb!ing margin of he grave, he had
all the consolation, wjch the retrospect
OF life dedicated 10 virtue could afford !;
all he delightful sensations which the
prospect Of happy and glorious immor-
talty could create.
Tia vas the Struggle long did nature
combat the destructive effect OF that per-
nicious draush, al lepgii she yields.
Thevoiuntary & involuntary notlon. Of The
system wax feeble; the natural & vita, func
lions become impaired; hose eyes which
often rolled with melting sympathy DER
scenes oi human rnisery, ate now forever
fixed; hose hands whose wave coinman-
dcd the collected attention of listening
c'owds, now cold. feeble and emacisted.
tat useless down; hat tongue, whose sub
hlTe and Convincing elu quence was ST.
often employed in his cuuntry's cause,
BOW iauliets III his mou h !; hat heart so
iong he seat of every virtue, now fails 10
phaD,hropic sigh, 10 view his CountIy's
wfongs; alas! shall heave no more
Behold The breaihlcss mains, over which
The Gears Of nation fow
Virginia sioops with melting eyes,
To view the mould'ri,g urn,
Her sister states all So mpalh ize,
And join with her 10 mourn.
Thus have we followed our venerable
Tell w-citizen To the tomb. But it would
be iI1proper If oot criminal, not 10 carry
OR thoughts one step farther. Thai
mind whose features we have entleayored
In some measure 10 define ale, il not dead
j, lives in renewed and immortal yigor.
Now let our astonished imagirayiuDs,
stretch their airy wings and take lofty
fight. Let us for mnrnent pursue the
happy spirit Lei US view it ranging thro'
extended fields Of ever fresh delights and
here if might be permitted TO hazard a
conjecture, would suppose the philpsc-
phic soul of Wyihe, now contemplating
with iDdiscribable rapiures the immensely
oil crealion---the astonishing work of that
divine architect, who left unoccupied 10
par Of space. | would suppose i, flying
with uncomfortable velocity from world
10 world, from system 10 system, where
eternal variety supplies a never failing
source If celestial delights. Bul whihe.
am going? Am attempting to lIok in
10 he areana eeiesia? Vain attempt 10
dtlinea'e scene hich celestial eloquence
would fail TO describe LIZ, us CHI ok our
rowing thoughts. But this much we may
venture 10 say, "if there's a God above,
he mus. dehghtin virtue and Ina, which
he delights IN must be happy"
Let us then endeavor 10 emulate the
virtues of this great man, and We shall ROT
only follow him. Though a life Of useful.
ness, 10 the grave; but share with him
the divine enjoymeBts OF that immortal
world which is the sincere prayer of hin,
who now addresses You.
THE IA1'ESl'