Part 52

THIRD PUPIL.--As a ruler of mankind, he may be proposed as a model. Deeply impressed with the original rights of human nature, he never forgot that the end, and meaning, and aim of all just government was the happiness of the people. William Smyth.

FOURTH PUPIL.--As a general, he marshaled the peasant into a veteran, and supplied by discipline the absence of experience. As a statesman, he enlarged the policy of the cabinet into the most comprehensive system of general advantage; and such was the wisdom of his views and the philosophy of his counsels that to the soldier and the statesman he almost added the character of the sage. Charles Phillips.

FIFTH PUPIL.--Immortal man! He took from the battle its crime, and from the conquest its chains; he left the victorious the glory of his self-denial, and turned upon the vanquished only the retribution of his mercy. Happy, proud America! The lightnings of heaven yielded to your philosophy! The temptations of earth could not seduce your patriotism! Charles Phillips.

SIXTH PUPIL.--It is the happy combination of rare talents and qualities, the harmonious union of the intellectual and moral powers, rather than the dazzling splendor of any one trait which constitutes the grandeur of his character. Jared Sparks.

SEVENTH PUPIL.--Washington did the two greatest things which, in politics, man can have the privilege of attempting. He maintained, by peace, that independence of his country which he had acquired by war. He founded a free government, in the name of the principles of order, and by re-establishing their sway. Guizot.

EIGHTH PUPIL.--Greater soldiers, more intellectual statesmen, and profounder sages have doubtless existed in the history of the English race, perhaps in our own country, but not one who to great excellence in the threefold composition of man--the physical, intellectual, and moral--has added such exalted integrity, such unaffected piety, such unsullied purity of soul, and such wondrous control of his own spirit. He illustrated and adorned the civilization of Christianity, and furnished an example of the wisdom and perfection of its teachings which the subtlest arguments of its enemies cannot impeach. Vance.

NINTH PUPIL.-- He fought, but not with love of strife; he struck but to defend; And, ere he turned a people's foe, he sought to be a friend. He strove to keep his country's right by Reason's gentle word And sighed when fell injustice threw the challenge sword to sword. He stood, the firm, the calm, the wise, the patriot and sage; He showed no deep, avenging hate, no burst of despot rage; He stood for liberty and truth, and dauntlessly led on, Till shouts of victory gave forth the name of Washington. Eliza Cook.

IN CONCERT.-- Washington, the brave, the wise, the good. Supreme in war, in council, and in peace. Valiant without ambition, discreet without fear, confident without presumption. In disaster, calm; in success, moderate; in all, himself. The hero, the patriot, the Christian. The father of nations, the friend of mankind, Who, when he had won all, renounced all, and sought in the bosom of his family and of nature, retirement, and in the hope of religion, immortality. Inscription at Mount Vernon.