APPENDIX. 101 



to listen to works of mere fiction, was little better 

 than loss of time. He had ranged over most of the 

 objects of nature, in all her varieties ; but next to 

 his profession, the subjects in which he seemed most 

 to delight, were the history and productions of Ame- 

 rica. To have been born an American, he esteemed 

 a blessing, and to possess a knowledge of all her re- 

 sources and advantages seemed to him a duty which 

 he owed to himself and his country. 



It remains to consider our deceased associate as a 

 private citizen and a man. Public office he neither 

 held nor sought, although enjoying the affection of 

 him whose favour was fortune. This disinterested 

 friendship does honour to both. To the liberty of his 

 country he was firmly and warmly attached. Con- 

 cerning the defence of liberty against foreign aggres- 

 sion, there can be no difference of opinion. But when 

 the question is, how best to preserve it by our own 

 Institutions, we are agitated by frightful discord. In 

 such circumstances, it is not only the right but the 

 duty of every man to speak his sentiments with can- 

 dour and firmness; never forgetting, that to err is 

 human, and that he himself, or his friend who oppo- 

 ses him may be mistaken, without blame. Such was 

 the conduct of Wistar, who preserved his principles, 

 without sacrificing his friendships. Uis opinions, on 



