The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-06-17
Qbe Gnqulrer.
RICHMOND, IT'D JUNE.
-
@rattott,
PRONOUNCED AT THE FUNERAL OF
George aGlntbr.
CcoNcLuDRD.1

exemplary. Among the mott contiguous Of
? thefe were his integrity and di6ntereRednefs.
Undoubtedly, no man, not even the belt Of the
worthless of ancient Greece and Rome, ever
carried thofr virtues to a greater height than
he did, Plain in his manners, ftritfly tempe
rate in his life, and Regardless of all profits ex-
cept fuch as we're made with honour aad good
confidence, he furnilied an example in the vi
COR OF his youth Gas have been told by fome
whom am happy to fee here prefent) of tru-
: iy honeR and upright lawyer, character fup-
poied by many (though hope erroneou0y) to
be very uncommon. No confederation could
ever induce him to fwerve from the trait line Of
integrity, to violate juftice, or the laws of his
country. With the fpirt of philosopher
he lived a lawyer, and was indeed the brighteft
ornament of the bar.
With thefe virtues of a fern and rigid
Gait, 1t hould moreover be known, that this
hborous fuden., this man of Underwriting
integrity, this firm and inHexible republican,
Pofefed a. heart overlooking with the milk
OF human kindnefs. A kinder never throb-
cd in the hofom of a human being. His
foul was the feat of benevolence and feniblity.
From this mott amiabie turn of mind proceed
ed his ever active charity and liberality, the gem
tienefs and miidnefs of his temper, which was
feldom irritsted hut by his zeal for his country's
good, his modef and unaifumiug department,
AMI unWilngnefs TO give pain to any mortal
His charity extended ta every human being,
however low & humble his Ration for he, en-
phatically, was always thriving to do good
Let the officers of his cour., the gentlemen who
had the pleafiIre of pleading, and thofe who
had caufes depending. before him, let all who
were educated by him, and indeed all who
knew him, bear witnefs to the fweetnefs of his
temper, his benevolence and kind department.
His unwillinguefs RI give trouble and pain was
apparent almof in his iaf agonies--" Oh gentle.
men J" faid he, fcarce audibly, b" you are very
good am forty you take 70 much trouble
but all will be in vain %
II may be f!id indeed that in one deplorable
inftance, (Which it frikes me with horror even
to mention,) his b-nevolence was placed on
an unworthy object, and repaid with black
ingratitude.
Bnt let not the felffh man deducc from This
dreadful event an argument againit the indu-
gence of charity, norIrt the good man be diff
Outraged. AS M human being can be perfeH,
it's true, perhaps. that the mildnefs and good
neis of Mr.. Wythe was fometimes carried too
far. Bat if he had any fault, il was that of ex-
cethve goodnefs, which injured himfelf alone
Injured did fay? No whatever may have,
been the caufe of his death, and trembc 70
think of is probabie caufe, he is not really in
ilred. He il only relieved from the infirniites
Of mortality little fooner and although he
may be proof Of the truth of the laying,
How off alas does goodness wound i.felf,
And iweet affection prove the fource of woe !
yet the multitude of friends who fincerelv
mourn his death, aud the affection of all his o.
fhcr pupils for his memory, prove that he did
not good in vain, but has indeed his reward.
This then, fellow citizens, is the true charac
ter OF the man, whole death we lament, of him
who now feeps in that coffin, lifelefs lump Of
clay. But no--he is not there The good,
b ind Al IL
George Wythe is not there. His mortal. BODY
j admit, is before US. .Bnt the real man, the
divine and immortal foul is far away, perhaps
aboyethe ttars themteves, enjoying eyerlatine
bli!s nthe prefence of that God, on whom he
called AS his hope and refuge, in the Ian ago
MES of expiring nature. *
Here permit me TO corrcd mifaken
opinion, which has gone abroad concerning
this excellent man. I think it particular
~ important to- fate that he was chriC
tian. He communicated to me himf.If. \
year or two before his death, his full conyfc-
tion Of the truth of the chriftian religion, and,
on his death-bed, often prayed to Jefus Chrif
his Saviour for relief But death he did not
dread, expreiiing only with 70 lay down his
life with cafe, obferving, that, alas il was
pity il thoud be e. bard for man to die
Twill now conclude with exhorting every per.
1os prefent, and particularly the younger part
III my audience 10 initiate the example OF the
virtues Of that man whom I have endeavoured
pourtray True it is, that all who now hear
me, cannot expect to attain the honors and die-
nIfled itations which he enjoyed and adorned
But 1t rs in the power Of all to refeablr him in
his induftry AID application to ftudy, in his IN
tesrity, plinnefs and purity of manners, and
in bis patriotifm and republican principles.
Let me entreat you to coofider that it is not by
Glove of money, by fnppery and p,rade, by
pornp and luxury, that the liberties of the peo.
pie are to be preferred. IF yos win the Ten
pie OF Freedom, that glorious frnfture ere2ed
IN America, to reman inimp tired thouf1nd
years hence, It is incumbent upon you to live as
republicans ought, free from vice and profufon,
ever, firm and inhcxible, and never deviating
from the courfe of rrdit1de. IF you admire
the character of the luxurious George Wythe
frive to make that character your own.
Your reward will he, in the irft pl ace, the ap-
probation OF your own eohlciences, the belf and
mott valuable reward of virtue in this world
tar more precious than the sppldufe of a
croud, which often is beloved on the undefery-
ing. This was the APPRECIATION which the no.
nett republican Wythe valued above every o.
ther, and this we may all obtain, If we fncerely
dehre IT. Your reward in the next place will
be the apPlauie of all good men, that applaure
which the patriot George Wythe obtained.
Such are the charms of true virtue that bad
men admire IT agairst their own incIinations !;
aud good men never fail to love it, even in thofs
who differ from them in opinion. Thus, you fre