Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1807-09-14

pected President who, though dead
is still speaking to you, in the imror
tant instruction, which YOU so often ~.
ceived from his lips, in the interestn,
examples, which lie set you ofpietv ana
virtue-and il q life strongly marked
with cand0r, prudence, 5cnerolerce ana
Sfndneas-and distinguished By bisb
attainments, and great public useFI
ness. Though dead,-his examnl.
still speaks--ioudIy speaks, and ~
vites you to 60 and do likewise.
Having completed the course Of s.r.
dies appointed by the laws, and bein,
about to receive the public honors II
this institution, you may soon be eynqcl
ed to engage in the concerns and en-.
ploymcnts Of active life. And | tals
TIL. opportunity 70 express to you The
deep concern we take in your succea
! your usefulness and prosperity in hi,
life, and above ail,-in your happines,
III the future.
You arc not ihsensible, I trust, thai
for the attainment Of eminence Ill liter.
ATTIRE and in science, it Is only M
foundation which can be laid 1t On.
lege: that the superstructure must be
reared by patient industry and pere.
vering diligence amidst the business
and duties Of active life. Let this dis.
tinction be the object Of your ambition
1t IS a laudable ambition. But
while YOU are DESTROYS Of high attain.
ments in useful knowledge, let the mo.
tive, which shall impel you to action,
and which shall, principally, stimulate
your eXertions, be the consideration
that by increasing your stock Of use
full knowledge, you increase your means
Of usefulness, and multiply your oppor-
tunities Of promoting the happiness
and improvement Of mankind.
1t should be remembered, that We
are not born for ourselves only, but also
for others. Society has equitable claims
on all, especially on those, who possess
the best means and opportunities Of
ministering to the improvement and
happiness Of those who compose it.
And, for our encouragement in welldo-
ing, il is kindly ordered BY providence,
that benevolent and useful actions shall
be amply recOmpensed BY that COM
placency, that self satisfaction, which
it always felt in correct and well
regulated mind, while performing &C.
tons intrinsically good, and which are
calculated to make others better and
happier. Were our accountability for
the talents committed to US, and the
strict account which we must certainly
Irender Of our Improvement of them,
out Of the question still, It might be
safely and confidently asserted, that
life directed BY a strong sense Of duty,
governed by undertaking integrity and
honor, and conducted BY the principles
LOT fhtlcnthrofy, candor and charity
may be safely relied on to produce a
much greater sum Of, even, temporal
happiness, than one governed BY the
seihsh and crooked policy adopted BY
mere men of the world. "A desire to
enjoy the regard and esteem Of others
i found to exist, in a greater or less
degrees IN all minds and under prop
er regulation, il is laudable and USE
| ful principle. But, when we are will.
ing 70 purchase them by mean and
criminal compliances, and BY sacrifice
ing what rirtae and religion require Of
us, it is not only highly pernicious, it
is sinful.
To possess the good opinion Of all
with whom we are connected, and to
whom we are known, if it can be pro-
cured by honest means, is highly De-
sirable as it win enable Us more ei'
fectually to benefit ourselves, and will,
likewise, furnish Us with more frequent
: opportunities Of becoming the instru'
ments Of good to others. But il IS Of
much greater importance that we stand
5 well with ourselves. He who cannot
look into his own heart and view the