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admonitions, are upbraideds with having forgotten that they once were young.

3. And yet, my friends, to what do the restraints of religion, and the counsels of age with respect to pleasure, amount? They may all be comprised9 in a few words: not to hurt yourselves, and not to hurt others, by your pursu of pleasure.

4. Within these bounds, pleasure is lawful; beyond them it becomes criminal, because it is ruinous.2 Are these restraints any other than what a wise man would wish to impose on himself? We call you not to renounce3 pleasure, but to enjoy it in safety. Instead of abridging it, we exhort you to pursue it on an extensive plan. We propose measu for securing its possession, and prolonging its duration.

5. Consult4 your whole nature. Consider yourselves not only as sensitive, 5 but as rational beings; not only as rational but social:6 not only as social but immortal. Whatever violates7 your nature, in any of these respects, cannot afford trae pleasure; any more than that which undermines an essential part of the vitals system can promote health. For the truth of this conclusion,

8 Upbraid, to charge, to chide, to reproach.

9 Comprise, to contain to include.

Criminal. man accused or guilty.

2 Ruinous, a fallen to ruin.

3 Renounce,

to disavow, to disclaim,

4 Consult, to plan, ask ad vice.

5 Sensitive,

having sense

without reason. 6 Social, a familiar in conversation.

7 Violates, U infringes on.

8 Vital, a ne.

cessary to life.

we appeal, not merely 9 to the au- 9 Merely, ad thority of religion, nor to the festi- simply, only. mony of the aged, but to yourselves and your own experience.

6. We ask whether you have pot found, that in a course of criminal excess, your pleasure was not more than compensated by succeeding pain? whether, if not from every particular instance, yet from every habit, at least of unlawful gratification,2 there did not spring some thorn to wound you; there did not arise some consequence to make you repents of it in the issue?

part following + Succeding, making success

ful

2 Gratification s pleasure; reward.

3 Repent, v to think or express with sor

row

4 Simplicity, & want of cunning."

5 Pernicious,

7. "How long then, ye simple ones! will ye love simplicity?"4 How long repeat the same round of pernicious5 folly, & tamely expose yourselves to be caught in the same snare? If you have any considera- a destructive, tion, or any firmness6 left, avoid mischievous. temptations for which you have 6 Firmness, found yourselves unequal, with as much care as you would shun pestilential? infection. Break off all connections with the loose and profligate.8

8. By these unhappy excesses of irregular pleasure in youth, how many amiable dispositions are corrupted or destroyed! How many rising capacities and powers are suppressed! How many flattering

constancy, soli

dity.

7 Pestilential, a destructive.

8 Profligate, an abandoned

wretch.

hopes of parents and friends are totally extinguished!

that vi

9 Overcast,

with clouds. + Vivacity, s liveliness,

9. Who but must drop a tear over human nature, when he beholds that morning which arose so bright, overcast9 with such untimely darkness; that good humour which part darkened once captivated all hearts that vivacity which sparkled in every company; those abilities which sprightliness. were fitted for adorning the highest station, all sacrificed2 at the shrines of low sensuality ;4 and one who was formed for running the fair car. cer of life in the midst of public esteem, cut off by his vices at the be- addiction ginning of his course, or sunk, for brutal and corthe whole of it, into insignificancy poreal pleasand contempt. These, O

pleasure! are thy trophies. 5

sinful

2 Sacrifice, v to offer up 3 sh depository of relics of the

3 Shrine, s a

dead.

4 Sensuality, s

ures.

battle.

to

9 Trophics, It is thus, that, co-operating things taken in with the foe of God and man, thou degradest human nature, and blastest the opening prospects of human felicity.

Description of the first American Congress.

From the Vision of Columbus.”

I.

Columbus look'd; and still around them spread,
From south to north th' immeasurable shade;
At last the central shadow burst away,
And rising regions open'd on the day.

He saw, once more, bright Delaware's silver stream,

And Penn's throng'd city cast a cheerful gleam
The dome of state that met his eager eye,
Now heav'd its arches in a loftier sky,

II.

The bursting gates unfold and lo! within,
A solemn train, in conscious glory shine.
The well known forms his eye had trac'd before,
In different realms along the extended shore ;
Here grac'd with nobler fame, and rob'd in state
They look'd and mov'd magnificently great.

III.

High, on the foremost seat, in living light,
Majestic Randolph caught the hero's sight;
Fair on his head, the civic crown was plac'd,
And the first dignity his sceptre grac❜d.

He opes the cause, and points in prospect far,
Through all the toils that wait th' impending

war,

But hapless sage! thy reign must soon be o'er, To lend thy lustre, and to shine no more.

IV.

So the bright morning star, from shades of ev',
Leads up the dawn, and lights the front of heav'n;
Paints to the waking world the sun's broad way,
Then veils bis own, and shines above the day.
And see great Washington behind thee rise,
Thy following sun, to gild our morning skies ;
O'er shadowy climes to pour the euliv'ning flame,
The charms of freedom, and the fire of fame,

V.

Bage Franklin next arose, in awful mien,
And smil'd unruffled o'er the approaching scene;
High on his locks of age a wreath was brac'd,
Palm of all arts, that e'er a morta! grac'd ;
Beneath him lies the sceptre kings have borne,
And crowns and laurels from their temples toru.
Nash, Rutledge, Jefferson, in council great,
And Jay, and Laurens op'd the rolls of fate.

VI.

The Livingstons, fair Freedom's gen'rous band,
The Lees, the Houstons, fathers of the land.
O'er climes and kingdoms turn'd their ardent eyes,
Bade all the oppress'd to speedy vengeance rise
All powers of state, in their extended plan,
Rise from consent, to shield the rights of man.

VII.

Bold Wolcott urg'd the all-important cause;
With steady hand the solemn scene he draws ;
Undaunted firmness with his wisdom join'd,
Nor Kings, nor worlds, could warp his stedfast
mind.

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