Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-11-14

L.
oeiai you. the survivor might enjoy the jnex-
pIessibe consolation Of reIlccting that cvery kind
ounce MAJ heen amply requited; every tender feel
,g iniy reciprocafed every aicctionate sentiment
deeply feit and warmly returned. Thus to
interchange your last farewell, will be TO Sc
perate' with the 'airest possible prospect Of hap
pihess 10 each, so far that incstimabic bocn
depends upon your conduct towards each other in
a' the Vario relations OF life. Should YOU live
20 ENJOY the pleasures of another meeting either
mere, OF eisewbere, your qualifications will DO
greatly enhanced by the reflection, that you have
kept the faith OF Intimate companionshp, o. still
dea'er friendship, during the whole period os
your separaon-thatn neither has cause of repyuach
NgaInst any other; aud that all the ende airing ijos
OF united hearts and affe ctiona NAV 40 ain he onnI
around you IN still closer, more harmonious un-
ion.
But lest it should be ordered o,herwJse-iest
death, or any other calamity prevent YOUR ever
seeing each ether again-then Tor the love Of God
my children, for the love OF your own iIu,noytay
SOULS let not your last hours here, be altogether
unproductve OF some fruit TO sustain aud com[ort
you IN the last hours OF your earthly existence
IL - at all times solemn, melancholy, aud 10
many most distressing act,to part with any thine
"hict mas been Tor long time intimately connect
ed WIN oar intellectual pursuits our moral culture
and our progress in the paths of knowledge and
virtue; nor can this act be performed by any who
nave hearts to feel its full force and bearn gswith
out its reminding them Of far more moinenfous
anI awiui parting mean that OF body and soul.
All our associations while at school, and yyhenwe
are ABOUT 10 leave n,.are Of such q character-is
we nave been well employed, as excite sensi-
mcnts oil deeply alfec citing natrre when we nor
ce1ve that the time has come which must entirely
change our situations, and dissolve these association
forever. ~ no such sentiments are produced by
suen an occasion, II is greatly TO he feared, on
W tbat the time oil your puplage has been miser-
faofy wasted; but that your hearts arc made o7har-
der materials, than TO yield to any sarh impress
SONS. Having seen satisfactory proofs, that such
IS not The tact III regard to most Of YOU win fake
IL for granted, that those with whom / am not So
wen acquainted, are not less free than their com
Pan'ons from such insensiby to the ties which
usually bind scioolmaes together, well as from
mat reckless abuse OF all opportunities for MORAL
improvement, which distinguishes ia. conduct OF
ldlers, ounces and Reprobaies.
as all tile possible situations and eircminsfan-
ces OF our lives may he made profitable for
instruction and amendmcnt,-ii we IS i'll only
draw from them HE mahy sanitary lessons
when they naturally suggest TO a sontcm-
pa ai ~, -, SO may .y9"' my young friends,
TO gather much matter for whoIesone rc.lc cton
For example, viii it not be useful indeed NAV it
MOI De necessary 10 some OF you ask yourseiycs
III regard 10 Your companions, whether there may
not be something 10 forgive, either Your part az,
theirs, before you bid adieu TO each oleYpossibly
Tor the last time and whether any princip,c ot
false pride, or unrhrisiian Resentment Justify
you Ill delaying, even Tor moment TO seek rath.
CIR than wait TO be recouciled3 May itnot be yerv
beneficial 10 your future e if you will now take
at least enc steady earnest look al what YOU have
been doing during the last wear of your existence,
has been utterly wasted; either tnlistess dlencss
or active givoity, il i. o>tforcver lost to all the
valuable purposes OF life; nor can oniripoieuce
Itself recas Il Tor you, because IL would be contrary
TO Gods own irreversibc decree in resar 10 WHAT
we call time. But, should it please him 10 snare
you few years longer future diligence and inJe-,
fa'igan'e eSer'on may in some srDa measure make
amends ior past neglect. They may bring YOU TO
deep repentance for such criminal abuse OF your
precious time and may result in firm resolve
never again 10 inenr similar guilt; but, alas they
can never restore 10 the lost opportunities oE
doing good both TO yourselves and otbe,s-zthey
can never make YOU what y0u unghf hare been
All you car do Is 60 suffer the bitter, but unayail-
ing reorsc for past errors, and rcsoluteiy deter
i'inc on lar different for the remainder Of
! your days bet such purpose be the fruit Of
.snrh re'rospcction and you will have good cause
forever &c bless the hour when conscience prompt
"a you TO review tie past actions OF your life
rms, my young friends, is one Of the many les.
sons--and none can he more vaiuahle which yo,l
may draw from the present aston. But, Should
II DC more copgcnal 10 your feelings, as we'll as
better Justiiicd by your past conduct, 10 your
thoughts towards your gains, rather than To- your
foSscs, let the endeavor to show you how this re-
view also, may be rendered useful to YOU In
reckoning your intellectual stores i'm counting YOUR
mental riches, " will be well worth The trouble 10
} revive IN your memories, not only the names OF
the various Authors whose works You NAV have
read or studied; but the subjects upon which thew
nave written, and The manner i'll which they have
treated them. What writer la. displayed most
tasie, Judgment good cling, purity and strength
o princirIewio has most touched your heart 10
the beauty, the patbos, and sublimty of his Ian
Euage-iroin whose pages have YOU derived the
most useful iUstructoB-who has best taught vo,,
now Oact your part in all the various relations and
c"ihi' ons OF life? These my children are dceply in
'eresunS gucstions,and according as you have il in
your power TO answer tliem,may exercise most i'm
portant influence for good or evil over the who'll,
course OF your future lives If the sole object os
ail your stOdies has been make yourselves wfser
ana betcr--to fulfil the various duties of rational
moral and accountable Beings, born for state OF
eterhai happiness or fnlsery-then will every re-
view oil your literary pursuits, every recurrence 10
your past conduct, in all the various OCCUPATIONS i'm
WHICH you may have been here engaged, prove d
source, nor only OF much precious durable plea
sure, but OF great and lasting moral Improvement
On The other hand, If the time spent at school hes
proved greyous aud oppressive to you--if you havo
hoi'heF read nor studied any thing viii sufficient
dNenuon 10 rccoIcci til you can recall 10 USE
w hcts, opinions, nor rca5otiugs, from Tic vatious
Books which have been put into your hands, will,
urgent and frequent opportunity TO appropriate air
uieIr stores OF know icdgc ~ youT purposes.
IN word, il you can G is y9ur niris On nothing In
thIs whole most gloomy Retrospect, hut neglected
opportunities, despsed councils, ard lost weeks
months and years, then. iHdecd, will you have am
PIE cause deeply 10 dcpi1re your present truiy nit
liable state; Tor, itwOuid have lPt far better prof.
ably, that you never had been born. Heaven for.
bid, my young hearers, that any of YOU should
have thus acted. Heaven forbid, that TO see ana
10 know YOU, rs you arc, should ever Produce
such aroHcciicn m e minds, either of y5ur pFes-
cnt friends, or iuiure acquaintance. Rather D.,
them alvey tllnk OF Won as faithful servants II.
your Lords vineyard, and diligent proGlabfo
lanofefs IN Tie great cause 81 virtue and know
LEDGE. in. ia