A Funeral Eulogy ON GENERAL WASHINGTON. Delivered February 22, 1800, before the NEW-YORK STATE SO CIETY of the CINCINNATI. BY WILLIAM LINN, D. D. THIS folemn affembly and these fable enfigns proclaim no common grief. Already has every American wept; already have the fad funereal proceffions moved; and already have the virtues and the fervices of WASHINGTON been celebrated from the pulpit, and from the roftrum. Why are we again affembled? And why is the tomb uncovered? It is that we may all take another look. This is the birth-day of the beloved man. Was there no other which could have been chosen than that on which we have fo frequently rejoiced? It is kindly intended to give indulgence to our forrow, to teach us that no character is exempt from the ftroke of death, and especially to induce our fubmiffion to the will, and our adoration of that Almighty BEING who " gave and who hath taken away.' We find from the earliest records of time, that the practice has been usual in all ages and in all nations, of honouring those who were distinguished by their excellence, and were esteemed public bleffings. Trophies have been decreed to them while living, and at their decease, their bodies have been fometimes embalmed ; monuments, elegies, and funeral orations have perpetuated the memory of their honourable deeds. This has a happy tendency to infure a noble and virtuous conduct, and to excite the imitation of others. The love of fame, when fubordinate to the general good of mankind, is infeparable from him who is truly great; and he carries his views beyond the grave to the reward which posterity shall beftow. Were there then no other reafon for praifing the illuftrious dead, this would be fufficient. But there is an obligation of ftill higher moment. Eminent men are qualified for their work by GOD. They are his fervants. In honouring them, we honour him. It is true that the heathen glorified not GOD, but fubftituted creatures in his room; and there is danger that even we, with the cleareft revelation, may be guilty of idolatry in not lifting up our hearts to Him from whom "cometh down every good gift, and every perfect gift." Let us afcribe the glory to GOD, and we may fafely extol the man whofe lofs this day we deplore. America claims as her own, one who was juftly the admiration of the world. And fhall fhe be filent in his praife? Perhaps filence would have beft expreffed the merits of him who is beyond all eulogy. The language of mortals can with difficulty, if ever, reach fo noble a theme. The name is above what Grecian or Roman story presents, and it would require more than Grecian or Roman eloquence to do it jus tice. One advantage indeed it poffeffes, that hardly any thing can be faid which will be thought extravagant; and what would, in other cafes be deemed flattery, will fink far below the conceptions of the public mind. Flattery was ever confounded in the prefence of WASHINGTON, nor will it dare to approach his afhes. That humility, however, which was the constant ornament of his virtues, fhould not now obstru&t the offerings of a feeling and grateful people at his fhrine. Nay, they rufh with greater eagerness to teftify their fense of his tranfcendent and ineftimable worth. To the historian it belongs to relate in full, the birth, the education, the early, and the later achievements of GEORGE WASHINGTON. From the hiftoric page we expect a minute defcription of his civil and military, of his public and private life. Though a fimple recital of these might be the highest encomium, and it might be faid, "Rais'd of themselves, their genuine charms they boast, yet they would lead the speaker into too large a field; he would not know what to felect, and what to refuse, where all powerfully folicited his regard. Let hiftory or biography, at prefent, ferve only to develop and illuftrate the character. When GOD in his adorable providence intends to accomplish fome glorious work upon earth, he provides and prepares his inftruments among the children of men. Who does not fee that Mofes, by the manner in which he was preferved, the inftruction which he received, and the habits of life to which he was inured, was fitted to lead the people of Ifrael? Who, that Cyrus, had we not been exprefsly informed, was “ girded by the Lord ?" The intention is frequently hidden from the perfons themselves, and may not be obvious to others; though they will fometimes difcern prefages of future greatnefs. WASHINGTON was endued from his youth with a military spirit. When a ftripling, like David, he encountered the enemies of his country. His firft deftination was to enter as a midshipman in a British veffel of war. This was happily prevented, that fo, instead of the Admiral, he might become the General. He gave fuch early and uncommon indications of heroifm as occafioned public mention of him by an eminent divine, in a discourse delivered foon after Braddock's defeat. The fubject was religion and patriotifm. "As a remarkable inftance," said he, "I may point out to the public that heroic youth, Colonel WASHINGTON, whom I cannot but hope Providence has hitherto preferved in fo fignal a manner, for fome important service to his country." We will not call these words prophetic, but they have * Addison's Campaign. + The Rev. Samuel Davies, then fettled in Virginia, and afterwards President of the College of New-Jersey. been repeatedly quoted as a teftimony of the budding honours of the American hero. GOD prepared his fervant, and in due time opened to him a vast scene, on which all his talents had their utmost exertion, and expanded in full display. It having become neceffary for America to oppofe by force the unjust pretenfions of Britain, he was elected a member of the great Council, and foon after unanimously appointed Commander in Chief of the armies. This honour his modesty forbade him to feek, and his love of country would not allow him to refufe. The choice was directed by Heaven. "I feel great distress,” said he on his acceptance of the command, "from a consciousness that my abilities and military experience may not be equal to the extensive and important trust: however, as the Congress defire it, I will enter upon the momentous duty, and exert every power I poffefs in their fervice, and for fupport of the glorious caufe." Modesty ever accompanies great merit; and diffidence of abilities, when it cafts not into defpondency, excites vigilance, and roufes energies of foul concealed from the poffeffor himself. He General WASHINGTON had not seen much military service, and what he had feen was on a small scale. His army for a long time was undifciplined, and continually changing by temporary enliftments, or impatient militia; and fometimes he had fcarcely the fhadow of an army. He was deftitute of the neceffaries for their support, and of the inftruments of war. was called to create before he could command. In this fituation he had to oppofe the numerous and formidable legions of Britain, amply supplied with all the apparatus of death, and led on by the most renowned Generals. The hero of Monongahela, and the planter of Potowmac, nobly enters the lift; fnatches the laurels which had been gathered in Europe to adorn his own brow. To estimate properly the merits of a General, we muft attentively confider the circumstances in which W he is placed, and the means in his power. The Amer. ican leader was never at the head of fuch armies as cover the fields of Europe. No; with a naked and diftreffed handful, he kept the enemy in terror; imposed on them by a parade of numbers and ftrength; now fought security in retreat; and now dared the fight; fwifter than an eagle and stronger than a lion." He who thus baffled the acknowledged skill and bravery of Britons, would, furnished with the means of war, march to the remotest ends of the earth. We are willing to liften to the highest ftrains in favour of British valour, because these redound to the honour of our Chief. Every wreath which is woven, is transferred to him. Either our invaders would not, or they could not fubdue us. If they would not, then they were unfaithful to their trust; if they could not, then the barrier was the American arms. Will any rather choose to compromise the matter, by refolving the independence of America into the decree of Heaven? Great GOD, we adore thy juft decree! To thee was the appeal made! Thou didst fight for us! In transport we cry, "The fword of the LORD, and of Gideon." Permit me to fay, that he whofe obfequies we perform, had advantages which few enjoy. The cause in which he engaged was of the most exalted kind, and he was deeply, penetrated with its juftice and importance. He undertook not from motives of ambition or gain, but from the pure love of country, to which he continually facrificed his ease, his fafety, and his life. His attention to the duties of his ftation was inceffant. In the field no opportunity escaped him to harass or attack the enemy; and he was never found unapprehenfive of their defigns, or unprepared to meet them. In winter quarters he revolved and digefted the operations of the next campaign. He was not feen Indulging in the amusements of a theatre, diffipating his time at a gaming table, or reclining on the lap of a |
