the influence of a sensibility, which their calm judgment might condemn

AT the close of the session, in the spring of 1796, Mr. AMES travelled into Virginia for his health. He thought he derived partial benefit from drinking of the warm springs in Berkley county, and more from the journey and unremitting attention to regimen. In this visit he was an object of the most friendly and respectful attention, individual and publick. He found many friends of the Washington system in this state, whose representatives had taken the lead in opposition, observing in a letter, "Virginia has been misrepresented to us, as much as the measures of government have been to them; and good men are no where generally hostile to the federal cause."

At this time the college of New-Jersey expressed their estimation of his publick character by conferring on him the degree of Doctor of Laws.

He gained sufficient health to be able to attend the next session of congress, and to enter into business, though not with all his usual spirit. He was chairman of the committee, which reported the answer to the president's speech. This answer contained a most affectionate and respectful notice of the president's declaration, that he now stood for the last time in their presence. In conclusion it said: "for your country's sake, for the sake of republican liberty it is our earnest wish, that your example may be the guide of your successors, and thus, after being the ornament and safeguard of the present age, become the patrimony of our descendants." In the debate on this answer he vindicated, with his accustomed openness and ability, the claim of Washington to the unqualified love and gratitude of the nation.

THE session being terminated, Mr. AMES, who had previously declined another election, became a private citizen. He retired to his favourite residence at Dedham, to enjoy repose in the bosom of his family, and to unite with his practice as a lawyer, those rural occupations in which he delighted. He applied to the management of his farm and fruitery a portion

of that ingenuity and activity, which he had bestowed on affairs of state. The excitability of his mind made him interested in whatever he undertook. The desire of usefulness and a spirit of improvement directed all his plans and exertions. He resumed his practice, and appeared in important causes. He purposed to revise his law studies, and, for the sake of his family, to make a business of his profession; but he found the labours of the bar too severe a trial of his constitution, and after a few years gradually relinquished this employment.

He also found it impossible to withdraw his mind from politicks. That eventful period in 1798, when the spirit of the nation co-operated with the firmness of the administration in repelling the accumulated aggressions and reiterated indignities of France, revived and animated all his publick sympathies. When the next year he perceived the reaction of the opposing party threatening to overpower the government, he wrote Laocoon and other pieces to restore the tone, to rekindle the zeal, to disturb the security, and shake the presumption of the federalists. "Our wisdom," says he, "framed a government, and committed it to our virtue to keep; but our passions have engrossed it, and have armed our vices to maintain the usurpation."

WHILE governour Sumner was in office, he accepted a seat in the council of the commonwealth. When Washington died, he pronounced his eulogy before the legislature. This performance, though it contains touches of real pathos, is less impassioned than might at first be expected. The numerous funeral honours paid to the memory of this beloved man had already made a great demand on the publick sensibility. Mr. AMES chose rather to dwell on the political events and acts which illustrated his character, than merely to draw tears for his loss. This performance has obtained much praise for its just description, accurate discrimination, sententious wisdom, and calm, dignified eloquence.

Ar length the apprehensions of Mr. AMES were realised in the downfal of the federal cause, and the constitution was transferred to the custody of its opposers.

He had often said, that the government was maintained by efforts which would tire or be overpowered. He had seen, that it was attacked with unremitting fury, whilst the defence was irregular, inconstant, and feeble.

To secure the country against the worst consequences which this change portended, and which he feared, though retarded, must soon begin to take place, he thought the presses should be sedulously employed by federal writers. He said, he did not expect by this means to make all the people politicians, or acute judges of men and measures, but to assist those who have influence over the opinions of the many to think correctly on our affairs, and particularly to disabuse their minds of the false theories of democracy. He did not calculate to restore the sceptre to federalism; but to use his own expression, he hoped, "to have the wise and good and the owners of the country a watchful minority, who, though they may be overcome, will not be deluded, and will save all that can be saved."

He began from this time, and continued for two years to be a diligent writer of political essays. He then suspended his labour, but resumed it afterwards, and never entirely abandoned it, while he could hold his pen. These productions treat of subjects on which he had bestowed much thought and research, and which he had often discussed in conversation with his friends. They were written, however, always with great rapidity; often in the short intervals of a busy day, on a journey, at an inn, or in a court-house. They show his insight into human nature, and his knowledge of the character of democracy. They afford a strong proof of his ability to foresee the effects of political causes.

FOREIGN politicks, both as affecting our own, and as interesting to humanity, passed under his pen. He beheld, he said, in the French revolution a "despotism of the mob or the military from the first, and hypocrisy of morals to the last." The policy, the principles, and the power of France in all its forms before the creation of the new dynasty, and under the present system of universal empire, always appeared to him big with

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danger to the liberty of the world. The partiality to France in the national feelings of Americans he regarded as having a tendency at all times to corrupt and pervert American politicks. Nothing can exceed the interest with which he watched the efforts of Great Britain against the all-conquering and eccentrick ambition of France; not only because he was just to the British nation and character; but because he saw, that all our hopes of independence were staked upon the issue.

ON all these subjects Mr. AMES was awake, while many others slept. What they saw obscurely, he saw clearly. What to them was distant affected him as near. The admission of danger implics duty; and many refuse to be alarmed, because they wish to be at ease. The despondent think nothing can be done; the presumptuous nothing need be done. Considering these facts and opinions, Mr. AMES's writings will be acknowledged to have produced much effect.

In the year 1804, Mr. AMES was chosen president of Harvard College. His health would not have allowed him to accept the place, had other reasons permitted. Though greatly interested in the education of the young, he did not think his habits adapted to the office, and therefore declined the honour.

FROM 1795 his health continued to decline, with partial and flattering intermissions, until his death. He was a striking example of magnanimity and patience under suffering. Retaining always the vigour and serenity of his mind, he appeared to make those reflections which became his situation. When speaking of his first attack, he observes, "I trust I realise the value of those habits of thinking, which I have cherished for some time. Sickness is not wholly useless to me. It has increased the warmth of my affection to my friends. It has taught me to make haste in forming the plan of my life, if it should be spared, more for private duties and social enjoyments, and less for the splendid emptiness of publick station, than yet I have done."

AT length after an extreme debility for two years, the frame which had so long tottered was about to fall. With composure and dignity he saw the approach of his dissolution. He had

many reasons for wishing to live. The summons came to demand of his noon of life the residue of a day which had been bright and fair; of his love of fame the relinquishment of all that respect and honour, which the world solicited him to receive; of his patriotism the termination of all his cares and labours for a country, which he loved with inextinguishable ardour; of his conjugal affection a separation from an object inexpressibly dear; of his parental tenderness the surrender of his children to the chances and vicissitudes of life without his counsel and care.

BUT these views of his condition did not sink his heart, which was sustained by pious confidence and hope. He appeared now what he always was, and rose in virtues in proportion to his trial, expressing the tenderest concern for those whom he should leave, and embracing in his solicitude his country and mankind. He expired on the morning of the fourth of July, 1808. When the intelligence reached Boston, a meeting of citizens was held with a view to testify their respect for his character and services. In compliance with their request his remains were brought to the capital for interment, at which a eulogy was pronounced by his early friend Mr. Dexter, and every mark of respectful notice was paid.

FUNERAL honours to publick characters, being customary offices of decorum and propriety, are necessarily equivocal testimonies of esteem. But Mr. AMES was a private man,

who was honoured because he was lamented. He was followed to the grave by a longer procession than has perhaps appeared on any similar occasion. It was a great assemblage, drawn by gratitude and admiration around the bier of one exalted in their esteem by his pre-eminent gifts, and endeared to their hearts by the surpassing loveliness of his disposition.

HAVING taken notice of the history of Mr. AMES, we are required to present some additional views of his talents, opinions, and character. The reader of his works will, no doubt, concur with those who knew him and who heard him in publick and private, in saying, that he had a mind of high order,