APPENDIX. 77 



couducl. It behoves us, therefore, to counteract this 

 overwhelming influence, by refusing it any weight in 

 the estimation of character. This can be in no 

 way better done, than by fixing a standard in wliich 

 Avealth shall be no ingredient. And in the formation 

 of this standard, posthumous Eulogium will be a 

 powerful engine. Wealth will no longer be thought 

 praiseworthy, when it has ceased to be an object of 

 praise. 1 am aware of the opinion of a celebrated 

 Roman Historian, that this kind of eulogy, although 

 productive of much good, had an evil tendency, in 

 corrupting the truth of history. But this will depend 

 on the use which is made of it. If employed for the 

 purpose of lavishing indiscriminate, or unjust enco- 

 mium, it will be an evil ; if judiciously used, a good. 

 By our Society, this honour has certainly been dis- 

 pensed, not only with sound judgment, but with a 

 frugal hand. We shall not be accused of corrupting 

 historical integrity, when it is known that but three 

 Eulogies have hitherto been pronounced by our order ; 

 and that the objects of these three were Franklin, 

 Kittenhouse, and Priestley. Indeed, it has been the 

 opinion of many, and particularly of him, whose vir- 

 tues we are about to commemorate, that we have 

 been too sparing of just ajpiilause. At the last meet- 

 ing of the Society which he attended, he expressed 



