Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1839-08-07
VOL. XII. NO. az

ance OF the most ordinary prudsn.s i!
every day affairs the mind tha,
above the clouds. and was onaiN
with the Hottest of human conlemnI'.1Sas
disdained not to make proverbs and ' y:
ed parallels for the guidance Of rig
ticed youths and servile maidens 1 pr5l@
hands that ske.ched free constitu,;a
whole continent, or drew down ,bsE
ming from heaven, easily and Chez
lent themselves to simplify the apna,.a
by which truths were to be illustTs,ss
discoveries pursued.
His whole course both In actino ,,.
speculation was simple ami plain !.
preferring the easiest and shortea -, ~
nor ever having recourse 10 any bm \
simplest means TO compass bis ends y
policy rejected all refnements, and AIM
at accomplishing its purposes by the -.
rational and obvious expedien,s n
language was unadorned, and used ss n
medium of communicating his thouob'
not of raising admiration; but i
pure, expressive. racy. His name, !
reasoning was manly and cogent ths j
dress of rational being to others q /.
same order; and so concise, that, prst.,
ring decision to discussion, he neye, :,
ceeded quarter of an hour in any NH
address. His correspondence upon Ms
ness, whether private or on State afsir
is a model of clearness and compendicn
shortness; nor can any State papers N.
pass In dignity and impression these \
which he is believed to have been the y
thor in the earlier part of the Amercn
revolutionary war. His mode of pbilo.
ophismg was the purest application Of d,
inductive principle, so eminently adars
to his nature, and so clearly dictated I,
common sense. that we can have M.
doubt it would have been suggesei \
Franklin, if it had not been unfoldej \
Bacon, though It is as clear that in III
case it would have been expounded in 1
more simple terms. But of all this us
mans scientific excellencies, the mos =
markable is the smallness, the simplicf
the apparent inadequacy, Of the msaI
which he employed in his experimer,
researches. His discoveries were maj
with hardly any apparatus al all and
lat any time, he had been led 10 empls
instruments oil somewhat less ordibsr
description, be never rested satisfied IN,
he had as 1t were, afterwards transl,,s
the process. by resolving the proskr
with such simple machinery 4 s ron
might say he had done il wholly b ava.
ratus. The experiments by whicl b.
identity of lightning and electricity ',
demonstrated, were made with a shoe
brown paper. Bit Of Irvine, silk thre,
and an iron key.
Upon the integrity Of this great m,
whether in public or in private life, The
rests no stain. Strictly honest, and en-
scruPuleusly punctual in all his dealin,
he preserved in the highest fortune h
regularity which he bad practised as VI
as I1culeated in the lowest. The phul
which he once used when interruped
his proceedings upon the most ariDor
and important affairs by a demand
some petty item in long account. Tho
shalt not muzzle the OK that :resds 90, h
corn'-has been cited against him as pror
ing the laxity of his dealings when i
trust of public money; it plainly prors
the reverse; for he well knew that 10
country Astounding in discussion, and d
OF personalities, nothing could be gsins
OF immunity by refusing to produce b
vouchers at the fitting time: and his Tz.
turing TO use such language demonsns
that he knew his condact 10 be resIy
above all suspicion.
In domestic life he was iaultess ariir
the intercourse of society delicbtfnl-
There was constant good hnmof and I
playful wit. easy. and of high relish
without any ambition to shine, the naUrs
fruit OF his lively fancy, his solid, naurs
good sense, and his cheerful temper, Tia,
gave his conversation an unspeakabs
charm, and alike suited every circle, from
the humblest to the most elevated. VII
all ms strong opinions, so often solemIlll
declared, so imPerishabiy recorded in b.
deeds, he retained tolerance for thos
who differed with him which could net y
surpassed in men whose principles h'nE
SO loosely about them as to be taken u
Tor convenient cloak, and laid dow
when found to impede their progress. J.
his family ne was everything that worn
warm affections, and sound pruden1
could contribute to make man both uss
full md amiable, respected and beloTed-
In religion he would by many be reckSD
ed a laiitrdinarai.; vet it is CERTAIN y,
ms mind was imbued VIII a deep sem
oil the Divine projections, a couss,aO ~ =,
preston of our accountable nature, ana
lively hope of future enjoyment. AZ
cordinglv, his death-bed. The test Of BOZ
faith and works, was easy and placid, Fs
signed and devout; and indicated at oDe'
an unfiinching retrospect of the past, al
comfortable assurance of the fulure.