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disposition in the great body of intelligent Americans; for, on the contrary, as far as my own observation goes, the personal reputation of Louis is very dear to the people of this country; but because there have been a few instances, and disgraceful ones as they appear to me, of this sacrifice of gratitude to transitory party purposes. One of the most conspicuous of these is in the Columbiad of the late Mr. Barlow. That work was originally published at the close of the war of the revolution, as the Vision of Columbus, and was afterwards expanded by the author into the Columbiad, and published under that name in 1808. The Vision of Columbus was dedicated, by permission, to Louis XVI.

man.

In the dedication, Mr. Barlow, among other eulogy, said, kind who survey your conduct, and posterity for whom you act,' will see that the debt of gratitude is paid." And in the beginning of the sixth book, there are many spirited lines in honour of "the pride of monarchs," "the rising sun of universal fame," &c. In the Columbiad all this has been suppressed, and in place of it appear some frigid lines, in which Louis is represented as cheated into the support of our Independence, and aping the language of virtue" By honest guile the royal ear they bend," &c.—" He speaks the borrowed language of the brave," &c.

This is indeed forgetting the independence of literary talent, and making history what old Chaucer calls it, "in very dele-a rock of ice and not of steel."

These pages have been consecrated to the praise of virtue, and it is with reluctance that I have admitted this censure of a man whose reputation, either literary or political, I feel no disposition to undervalue. Let me, however, place in contrast to his conduct towards Louis XVI. that of the venerable and eloquent John Dickinson. It is well known that that true patriot, accomplished scholar, and excellent man, was a warm admirer and defender of the principles of the French revolution, in its first stages.

His letters of Fabius, published in 1797, were in the United States what Mackintosh's Vindicia Gallica was in England, not equal indeed in magnificence of language, but little inferior in elegance and in ability, or in exuberance of thought and know ledge. In the course of this work, which is devoted to the panegyric, the defence, or the apology of the French republic, this tolerant and benevolent politician digresses to rebuke the injustice of some of his own party friends towards the " unhappy Louis." The concluding passage of this defence is very eloquent, and the allusion in the closing quotation to the lilies of the Bourbon escutcheon, is singularly felicitous.

"It was his doom to live, not only in an age of revolutions in government, but also of revolutions in morality.

"Scarcely was his head laid low in the dust, probably in consequence of our liberty being established; scarcely were those lips closed in eternal silence, which never spoke to us but in the language of benediction; scarcely was that existence, to which, after virtue and piety,* fair fame was dearest, dissolved, and disa

*See Malesherbes' narrative.

bled to vindicate an aspersed reputation, than- -a severe scrutiny was made into his unsceptred merits, and it was discovered ---by Americans--yes--by Americans--that he himself was not entitled to our gratitude or friendship, but was a selfish, unprincipled villain.

"MUCH injured Louis!

"The charges of thy accusers undesignedly erect a lasting monument to thy glory. They have proved thee guilty of sincerely loving thy people. Thy feet were led into unbeaten, unexplored tracts of policy, and thou hadst not been accustomed to its intricate mazes. Impelled by thy benevolence towards us, a young, innocent, oppressed, and inexperienced people, struggling in blood, and hardly able to struggle, though the prize was no less than PEACE, LIBERTY, and SAFETY, against the then most formidable nation in the world, and by thy tender affection for France, recently weakened by deep wounds received from the same enemy, thou formedst the kind and generous resolution to help us at our utmost need, though the execution of thy noble design would exhibit to mankind the surprising spectacle of a republic fostered by a monarchy

-and in a portion of the globe far remote from thy kingdom --and in the neighbourhood of thy most valuable foreign dominions and thou didst help us " effectually" till every man among us "from one end of our land to the other, and from one side of our land to the other," dwelt confidently, with his family, "under his vine and under his fruit tree," and allied with thee and thy people, "there was none to make us afraid."

66

But, in directing the course of thy exertions through an unknown wilderness, dangers might start up on every side. The accusers have convicted thee, of being more anxious for the welfare of thy people, than for that of strangers- ·yet— -heaven and earth are witnesses that to thee, to thee, under "a gracious Providence which raised thee up to be our friend,' "'* 66 We, the people of the United States," stand indebted for the best of blessingsLiberty.

"Manibus date Lilia plenis :

"Purpureos ut spargam flores, animamque" Amici
"His saltem accumulem donis, et fungar inani
"Munere-

Bring LILIES-LILIES in whole handfuls bring,
With all the purple fragrance of the spring;
These unavailing gifts let me bestow:

'Tis all I can-on thy dear shade below.

To those who are but superficially acquainted with the history of the French revolution, it appears only as a story of blood and crime. But among ten thousand atrocities which make the heart ache with the sense of the depravity of our nature, there may be found many examples of heroic excellence, as well as of the gentler virtues. Though all the crimes which marked the black corruption of the Roman empire, were renewed in modern France,

* Words of Congress.

still the French patriot may proudly add, in the words of Tacitus, and with a nobler application, "Non tamen adeo virtutum sterilis patria ut non et bona exempla prodiderit. Comitatæ profugos liberos matres: secutæ maritos in exsilia conjuges: contumax etiam adversus tormenta servorum fides supreme clarorum virorum necessitates ipsa necessitas fortiter tolerata: et laudatis antiquorum mortibus pares exitus." What example is there in antiquity of heroic self devotion and constant friendship surpassing that of Malesherbes ! He has claims upon our admiration as an upright judge, a philosophical lawyer, a man of letters, and a true friend of civil and religious freedom; but all this is forgotten in the strong interest which he inspires when we see him retaining, in his eightieth year, all the generous affections of youth, and volunteering his services, at the risk of his life, in the defence of his friend. "I was twice admitted," said he, in his letter to the Convention, requesting permission to appear as counsel for Louis XVI. "into the councils of him who was then my master, at a time when that function was coveted by every one, and I owe him the same duties now, when it has become a service which many consider dangerous." How eloquent is the heartfelt expression of Louis's gratitude! "Je n'ai point des termes, mon cher Malesherbes, pour vous exprimer ma sensibilité pour votre sublime devouement. Votre main octogénaire s'est étendue vers moi pour me rapousser de l'échafaud; et si j'avais encore mon trône, je devrais le partager avec vous, pour me rendre digne de la moitie que m'en resterait. Mais Je n'ai que des chaines, que vous rendez plus legeres en les soulevant. Je ne me fais pas illusion sur

mon sort"

A

BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIR

OF

HUGH WILLIAMSON, M. D. LL. D.

MEMBER OF THE NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY; CORRESPONDING SECRETARY

OF THE LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY OF NEW-YORK; MEMEBER

OF THE AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY; OF THE HOLLAND

SOCIETY OF SCIENCES; OF THE SOCIETY OF ARTS AND

SCIENCES OF UTRECHT, &c. &c.

DELIVERED ON THE FIRST OF NOVEMBER, 1819,

AT THE REQUEST OF THE

NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

BY DAVID HOSACK, M. D. LL. D.

Professor of the Institutes and Practice of Medicine in the University of New-York; Fellow of the Royal Societies of London and Edinburgh; Member of the Philosophical and Historical So

cieties of New-York, Philadelphia, Boston, &c.

NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY,

July 13th, 1819.

RESOLVED, That a Biographical Discourse, commemorative of the political character, and literary services, of DOCTOR HUGH WILLIAMSON, late a member of this Society, deceased, be delivered before the Society, and that DOCTOR DAVID HOSACK be requested to perform the duty.

JOHN PINTARD, Recording Secretary.

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