O WASHINGTON! thrice glorious name, In her thou seek'st thy great reward. CHAPTER XI. Washington again on his farm-sketch of his conduct there suggests the importance of inland navigation-companies forming-urges a reform of the old constitution-appointed President of the United States--great difficulties to encounter -gloriously surmounts them. TO be happy in every situation is a proof of wisdom seldom afforded by man. It proves that the heart is set on that which alone can ever completely satisfy it, i e. the imitation of God in benevolent and useful life. This was the happy case with Washngton. To establish in his country the golden reign of liberty is his grand wish. In the accomplishment of this he seeks his happiness. He abhors war; but, if war be necessary, to this end he bravely encounters it. His ruling passion must be obeyed. He beat his ploughshare into a sword, and exchanged :he peace and pleasures of his farm for the din and dangers of the camp. Having won the great prize for which he contended, he returns to his plough. His military habits are laid by with the same ease as he would throw off an old coat. The camp with all its parade and noise, is forgotten. He awakes, in is silent chambers at Mount Vernon, without sighfor the sprightly drums and fifes that used to sa ng lute him every morning. Happy among his domestics, he does not regret the shining ranks of patriot soldiers that used to pay him homage. The useful citizen is the high character he wishes to act-his sword turned into a ploughshare is his favourite instrument; and his beloved farm his stage. Agriculture had been always his delight. To breathe the pure healthful air of a farm, perfumed with odorous flowers, and enriched with golden harvests, and with numerous flocks and herds, appeared to him a life nearest connected with individual and national happiness. To this great object he turns all his attention-bends all his exertions. He writes to the most skilful farmers, not only in America, but in England (for Washington was incapable of bearing malice against a people who had been reconciled to his country;) he writes, I say, to the ablest farmers in America and England, for instructions how best to cultivate and improve his lands-what grains, what grasses, what manures would best suit his soils; what shrubs are fittest for fences, and what animals for labour. BUT, to a soul large and benevolent like his, to beautify his own farm, and to enrich his own family, seemed like doing nothing. To see the whole nation engaged in glorious toils, filling themselves with plenty, and inundating the sea ports with food and raiment for the poor and needy of distant nations--this was his godlike ambition. But, knowing that his beloved countrymen could not long enjoy the honour and advantage of such glorious toils, unless they could easily convey their swelling harvests to their own markets, he hastened to rouse them to a proper sense of the infinite importance of forming canals and cuts between all the fine rivers that run through the United States. To give the greater weight to his counsel, he had first ascended the sources of those great rivers――ascertained the distance between them--the obstacles in the way of navigation---and the probable expence of removing them. AGREEABLE to his wishes, two wealthly companies were soon formed to extend the navigation of James River and Potomac, the noblest rivers in Virginia. Struck with the exceeding benefit which both themselves and their country would speedily derive from a plan which he had not only suggested, but had taken such pains and expence to recommend, they pressed him to accept one hundred and fifty shares of the company's stock, amounting to near 40,000 dollars! But he instantly refused it, saying, "what will "the world think if they should hear that I have "taken 40,000 dollars for this affair? Will they not ❝ be apt to suspect, on my next proposition, that money is my motive? Thus, for the sake of money, 66 "which indeed I never coveted from I my country, may lose the power to do her some service, which 66 may be worth more than all money!!" BUT, while engaged in this goodly work, he was suddenly alarmed by the appearance of an evil, which threatened to put an end to all his well-meant labours for ever-this was, the incipient dissolution of the federal government!! The framers of that fair but flimsy fabric, having put it together according to the square and compass of equal rights and mutual interests, thought they had done enough. The good sense and virtue of the nation, it was supposed, would form a foundation of rock whereon it would safely rest, in spite of all commotions, foreign or domestic. "BUT, alas!" said Washington, "experience has shown, that men, unless constrained, will seldom do what is for their own good. With joy I once beheld my country feeling the liveliest sense of her rights, and maintaining them with a spirit apportioned to their worth. With joy I have seen all the wise men of Europe looking on her with admiration, and all the good with hope, that her fair example would regenerate the old world, and restore the blessings of equal government to long oppressed HUMANITY. But alas! in place of maintaining this glorious attitude, America is herself rushing into disorder and dissolution. We have powers sufficient for self-defence and glory; but those powers are not exerted. For fear congress should abuse it, the people will not trust their power with congress. Foreigners insult and injure us with impunity; for congress has no power to chastise them.-Ambitious men stir up factions. Congress possesses no power to coerce them. Public creditors call for their money. Con gress has no power to collect it. In short, we cannot long subsist as a nation, without lodging somewhere a power that may command the full energies of the nation for defence from all its enemies, and for the supply of all its wants. The people will soon be tired of such a government. They will sigh for a change and many of them already begin to talk of monarchy, without horror!" In this, as in all cases of apprehended danger, his pen knew no rest. The leading characters of the nation were roused: and a CONVENTION was formed, of deputies from the several states, to revise and amend the general government. Of this convention Washington was unanimously chosen president.— Their session commenced in Philadelphia, May, 1787, and ended in October. The fruit of their six months labour was the present excellent CONSTITUTION, which was no sooner adopted, than the eyes of the whole nation were fixed on him for president. BEING now in his 57th year, and wedded to his farm and family, he had no wish to enter again into. the cares and dangers of public life. Ease was now become almost as necessary as it was dear to him. His reputation was already at the highest ; and as to money, in the service of his country he had always refused it. These things considered, together with his acknowledged modesty and disinterestedness, we can hardly doubt the correctness of his declaration, that, "the call to the magistracy was the most unwelcome he had ever heard." HOWEVER, as soon as it was officially notified to him, in the spring of 1789, that he was unani nously elected President of the United States, and that Congress, then sitting in New-York, was impatient to see him in the chair, he set out for that city. Then all along the roads where he passed, were seen the most charming proofs of that enthusiasm with which the hearts of all delighted to honour him. If it was only said, "General Washington is coming," it was enough. The inhabitants all hastened from their houses to the highways, to have a sight of their great countryman; while the people of the towns, hearing of his approach, sallied out, horse and foot, to meet him. In eager throngs, men, women, and children pressed upon his steps, as waves in crowding ridges pursue the course of a ship through the ocean. And as a new succession of waves is ever ready to take the place of those which have just ended their chase in playful foam, so it was with the ever-gathering crowds that followed their Washington. "On reaching the western banks of Schuylkill," said a gentleman who was present, "I was astonished "at the concourse of people that overspread the coun"try, apparently from Gray's ferry to the city. In"deed one would have thought that the whole popu“lation of Philadelphia was come out to meet him. “And to see so many thousands of people on foot, "on horseback, and in coaches, all voluntarily wait"ing upon and moving along with one man, struck "me with strangely agreeable sensations. Surely, "thought I, there must be a divinity in goodness, "that mankind should thus delight to honour it." His reception at Trenton was more than flattering. It was planned, they said, by the ladies, and indeed bore marks that it could have been done only by them. The reader must remember, that it was near this place that the fair sex in '76 suffered such cruel indignities from the enemy; and that it was here that Providence in the same year enabled Washing N |