The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1838-01-30
,boir credit, while the rotten Government rag mills
have been crushed by the experiment

and Lie OF MS man aIlhe as
a poet, philosopher and salnt,-are doubtless ia
miliar to all. England may well be proud OF such
n SON. and the world lament that so few like him
have existed. His biography is most instructive TO
the lover Of science, encouraging TO the wanderer
in the fields of literary knowledge, consolng and
heart cheering to the friend of piety. A brief, but
comprehensive sketch of it, may be found in the
/" Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge" His
works were numerous, popular and highly worthy
The most celebrated product of his pen is perhaps,
that under the title, -"Sentimens Suitable to the
Present Crisis.
England was engaged in war; and her prospects
were dark and doubtful. The King knew this, and
the people knew it; and they had discovered the
natural causes OF their difficulties; but the great first
cause they had not sufficiently contemplated They
had learned to rely too much upon their own valor,
whilst tho providence by which they were guided
WAS not in view. This idea he endeavors to i'm
press upon their minds.
His propostions are that they should look beyond
the natural and contemplate the original and gov
erning cause of events atthey should not indulge
in too free and wanton censure of the conduct OF
their ruers that :hoy should not entertain the MIS-
taken notion of their superior virtue; that the
oversights and errors of the Legislature should not
be considered the only sins, OF which hauoh
should repent He would have them unite depen-
dence upon God with personal and united chort'-
He would have them beware of the multiplied DAN
gers by which their peculiar situation was surround
ed. He portrayed before them the awful degeno-
racy into which the nation was sinking; It's depart
nro from the stern and heroic virtue of olden time,
- vir,uo founded in conscience and in Cod and
tho substitution OF that cold calculating expediency
which some have called virtue. These points he
disco ered in vivid, and enforced in a convincing
manner. Having methodZed his subject, and es
tabshed his propositions he proceeds TO urge duty
This he does by most commanding eloqncnce. 1t
is not what some call eloqucncc, array of words
and impertinent bombast; his language is neat and
perspicuous, easy and harmonizing, pure and forc
ble He is Jealous and ardent, but reasonable and
resolute; uniform but vehement. His sentiments
are condensed much as an oxtemporanoous man
nor would allow His figures natural and strk
ing. His flights high and rapid, but of short
continuance. He breathes spirit of patriotism and
sincerity which is always convincing. When he
declares against vice, and the wrong notions of vr
tue, it is with the earth moving beneath, and the
audible voice Of God above When he porrays
the awful effects of error it is by opening the doors
Of the bottomess pit and enveoping the world with
its vapour! When he deljenatos real virtue, it is
g'on-- eaah~a"i"s '-'~ o""'"so and n"bloness Of
character. When he speaks of the degenoracy of
his country, tits with penitential coincidence and
a sigh for renovation. When he opens the mystic
| ries of revelation he does it with spirit Of awe
and veneraion, hut not with heart to shrink from
its awuIness, to close his eyes upon its glory -
When he speaks of profanity, it is represented as
tramplng with tyranic pride upon the insued rights
of Heaven When he porlrays the miseres of the
slave-trade, it is with the vengeance of omnipotcnce
ready to espouso the cause of the oppressed Does
he speak of the spirit OF liberty, is represent
ed melting down the dscordant elements of So
ciety, and pouring them forth united and proper
channel! Does he point to his country fallen beau
ty violated, and every thing holy and desirable
! changed, it is with prayer that the shades may
advance which would hide them from his view -
Does he speak of the triumph OF the enemy, it is,
felt in the drear and awful silence of wide spread
ruin When he directs their view to Bonapare, it
is 10 a vulture settling down upon defcnceess E.
gypt and having infixed his taons, driven away by
IA mightier power And when at last, he would per-
suade his countrymen to awake, and put on their
strength, it is with the glorious heroes and logsa-
tors of former time bending from their eternal re-
pose anxious soiciiude for the fate of their coun.
try L.
"THE MoTHERs Book" This is the title of IL,