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Eulogium on William West. By James Mease M, Z). 

 Read February 13th, 1810. 



Posthumous honors, whether they consisted in mo- 

 numents, or in praise, have generally been confined to 

 persons who have occupied the first ranks in civil so- 

 ciety, or who have distinguished themselves by their 

 military exploits or literary talents. Their examples for 

 these reasons, are necessarily limited in their influence, 

 because only a small number of persons can derive be- 

 nefit from imitating them. Examples of virtue, indus- 

 try, knowledge and usefulness, taken from the humble 

 walks of life, are calculated to be far more beneficial in 

 society, because a great majority of mankind are in a 

 situation to be benefitted by them. Of this class, the 

 cultivators of the earth are by far the most numerous. 

 The retired life of an humble agriculturist, does not in- 

 deed admit of a display of eloquence, nor would such 

 a display suit the speaker ; but it is hoped, that a few 

 traits in the life of one of them, will prove interesting, 

 particularly to a society founded for the purpose of pro- 

 moting knowledge, economy, and the improvement of 

 the profession of which he was so distinguished a 

 member. 



The venerable subject of this tribute of respect 

 was born in the county of Delaware, a few miles from 

 the farm he owned at the time of his death. He was 

 the elder brother of the celebrated Benjamin West, 

 who has done so much honor to himself, and to the 

 state which gave him birth, by his talent, as an histo- 



