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burned to the ground. It was the boast of the Gre cians, that, according to the testimony of Herodotus, the grand victory of Salamin was achieved, on the same day, on which the tremendous army of the Carthagenians, consisting of 300,000 men, was totally defeated by Gelon. The English regard the circumstances as most impressing, that the Spanish invasion was frustrated in 1588, and that in 1688, the Revolution was effected, and William ascended the throne; and, also, that on November the 5th, the gun-powder plot was detected, and on November the 5th, this hero landed on the British shores. One of their divinest bards, referring to these propitious occurrencies, says―

The happy day and happy year

Both in one new salvation meet;

The day that quench'd the burning snare,

The year that burnt th' invading fleet.

I could multiply citations of this description, but, they are unnecessary, and the more so, because they are not infrequent. But, O, what a scene presses on the vision of every American. Here are two great men, not great, indeed, as was Washington on the embattled field; this was not the element in which the God of nations had destined them to move; but great like him, in the council chamber and in the Senate. Here are two great men, profound in learning, powerful in intellect, self-consecrated to their

country; the one the elegant and forceful writer, the other the judicious and invincible defender, of our Charter of Independence. Here are two great men, both elevated to the successive Presidency of these rising States, and both retiring into every thing that is "lovely and pleasant" in private life, as the waters of the immense lakes and sublime cataract of the Northern bounds of our country sink into the humble stream of the St. Lawrence. But they die-be astonished O earth! they die-on the very day that consummated the jubilee of America's freedom; one at the hour at which the Declaration of Independence was presented to Congress, the other at the hour at which it was announced to the People. Search the histories of the world, from the days of our common progenitor, to the present hour; in vain will you at tempt to find so surprising a coincidence. Thanks be to the God of mercy, he suffered not time to bear against and throw down these venerable pillars of the dome of our Republic, until he had provided other columns to supply their absence. Possibly on some minds the fact may excite less interest than on my own, were I to state that on the 4th of July, the observant astronomer saw two of the most beautiful planets in the solar round descend, nearly at the same period, into the western sky.

In the departure of these illustrious men, who dis

covers not the hand of the Lord? They were removed, for their work was finished. The obstructions to their most affectionate intercourse had long vanished like the mists of the morning, and their decease offers a suggestion to all, who, amid the festivities of our annual celebrations, remember not their responsibilities" Man, in his best estate, is lighter than vanity."

May it never be said of any of our citizens, "The harp and the viol, the tabret and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts; but they regard not the work of the Lord, nor the operation of his hands."

Mr. JEFFERSON expressed his wish to live until the day of our Jubilee; his desire was granted him. Mr. ADAMS, on hearing the voice of cannon, and being informed that it announced the Jubilee of our Independence, said, "O IT IS A GREAT, A GLORIOUS DAY;" and spake no more. "Father of Day," cried a heathen sovereign, "thou resplendent Sun, I give thee thanks, that before I leave the world, I have been so happy as to see Cornelius Scipio in my dominions, and in my palace. I have now lived as long as I could desire." With what greater propriety might our deceased Statesmen have exclaimed, "Father of Lights, thou giver of every good and perfect gift, we have lived to see the Fiftieth year of the Indepen

dence of our Union. We leave her in full glory and prosperity-and, as to our country, we ask no more."

To attempt a detail of the lives, or a delineation of the character, of these distinguished men, would be to intrude on the circles of the Orator and the Historian. And yet, entire silence on these subjects would probably disappoint the anticipations of this assembly. Let me then briefly observe, that Mr. THOMAS JEFFERSON, who was first on the wave of eternity, was born in Chesterfield county, Va., on the 2d of April, 1743. His family were among the first emigrants to that State. He received his education at the College of William and Mary; and, on the completion of his classic course, proceeded to the study of the law, under the celebrated civilian, George Wythe. His practice was very successful; but this is the less surprising, as it is said to have been his invariable rule to engage in no cause, of the entire justice of which, after severe examination, he was not wholly satisfied. The talents of Mr. JEFFERSON were too prominent to be concealed; he rose like the etherial sun. His country solicited their employment in her favour, and his patriotism promptly presented them. So early as the year 1769, he was a respectable member of the Virginia Legislature; in which capacity, his penetrative genius was led to a careful investigation of the principles of Government. In 1774, he

appeared as an author. The elegance of his periods, the boldness of his conceptions, and his zeal for his country, commanded universal admiration. After remonstrating with Lord North, on the mischiefs he was desirous of practising on the Colonies, he says, "What, then, remains to be done? That we commit our injuries to the even-handed justice of that Being who doth no wrong; earnestly beseeching Him to illuminate the counsels, and prosper the endeavours, of those to whom America hath confided her hopes."

If, as has been said, the conducting of the Revolution rested on the counsels of a few, Mr. JEFFerSON was one of those few. In 1779, he was elected Governor of the State, successor to the celebrated Patrick Henry. For the "impartial, upright, and attentive" administration of the duties of his office, he received the thanks of his countrymen. In the midst of the commotions of 1781, his active and powerful mind found leisure to compose his memorable work, the "Notes on Virginia." His reading, observation, and industry, had supplied the elements of such a production, so that it remained for him only to give them shape and beauty. In July, 1784, he sailed for Europe. In every measure which he pursued in the different Courts there, his eye was constantly fixed on the honour and happiness of America. He re

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