76 APPENDIX. 



last abode. But it was the will of God, that he 

 should die, and to that will we submit. The Ame- 

 rican Philosophical Society, have not assembled, for 

 the purpose of indulging rebellious murmurs or vain 

 regrets. No — they better understand their duty. But 

 deeply impressed with the merit of their deceased 

 president, they have resolved, that his talents and his 

 virtues shall be held up to public view. To him, in- 

 deed, this is now of no concern. The breath of 

 praise, so sweet to the living, no longer reaches him. 

 But in a world abounding in temptation, it is neces- 

 sary that men should be stimulated to virtue, not only 

 by the example of the dead, but by the hope of pos- 

 tumous honour. For, such is our nature, that we 

 are powerfully incited by the desire of fame, even 

 after death. It has been thought wise, therefore, by 

 most nations, and particularly by the ancient repub- 

 lics, to pronounce Eulogies on the meritorious dead. 

 If wise in them, it is no less so in us. Indeed, we 

 have more need of this custom, than they; because, 

 from the nature of our government, we have fewer 

 artificial excitements to noble actions. We admit of 

 no permanent honours, either personal or hereditary. 

 But the ancient republics had both. We are not 

 without danger of becoming too exclusively, the vo- 

 taries of wealth, often acquired by sordid and ignoble 



