not by the sword, but by arbitration. Let Channing's abhorrence of war and his inculcations of righteousness and peace prevail, and then, through his and other Christian and pacific influences, the world will at last exhibit what he yearned and prayed and labored, to accomplish -- universal

peace.

The impression Dr. Channing produced personally seemed to me not so much that of genius as of rare goodness. The corner-stone of his character was, I think, conscientiousness. He appeared not alone to do, but to think and feel, only what he regarded as right. With all his power and culture, and his mental superiority, he says, as he draws near the close of his life, "I am less and less a worshipper of mere intellect." The moral and spiritual nature, common to the lofty and the lowly alike, and its largest development, he more and more prized as the true end of man's existence.

It was fitting that he should close his life in the way he did. My thoughts had often reverted to the scene where he passed away, and a few years since I had the privilege of a temporary stay in that vicinity. A friend gave me, while at Lenox, the details of his visit at that place. Amid the exquisite scenery of Berkshire, and the refined, genial society he met there, Dr. Channing passed, as he himself said, some of the happiest hours of his life. In a building which we daily passed, he gave his grand address on the anniversary of emancipation

in the British West Indies; but the effort of delivery overtasked his feeble frame, and I was told that after it he was but just able, with two friends for his support, to walk to a carriage. I went to the house at which he stopped, and saw the very window out of which he looked at the sunset hours. Unhappily, beyond question from imperfect drainage, it was on that spot he contracted the typhoidal disease which terminated his life. It seemed sad that such must be his lot, yet, judged by his glorious work, he had lived long; and therefore when, on that eventful October day, the tidings came that "the golden bowl was broken," while we shed some natural tears, we gave thanks to Him who had placed such power within that mortal frame, and permitted it to be exercised up to what is termed "the grand climacteric of man's life." We rejoiced that he had met the last call with an unfaltering trust, and entered those everlasting gates through which he had so long gazed, and for which his high inspirations had trained many a grateful spirit.

In this age of commemorations, when in all civilized countries monuments are erected to the departed great, I think this man, who was cosmopolitan in spirit, should have memorials set up in other lands to honor his name. It especially becomes this nation- the principles of whose government and institutions he lived, labored, and died to support to build at its Capitol a monument that will do something to perpetuate the name and influence of William Ellery Channing.

CHAPTER XII.

SOCIETY OF THE CINCINNATI.

THIS association, formed by officers of the Revolution, for patriotic and social purposes, and to be continued through their posterity, has left records most valuable as materials for biographies of men associated with that eventful period. It brings before us, in its original members, a band of men, taken together, of rare military skill, science, and practical ability, and of high personal character. It includes not only American officers, but those of our generous allies, France, Prussia, Germany, with a few rare men of other nations of Europe, who sent us many commanders, and not a few in the ranks, who rendered noble service in their labors, sacrifices, and sufferings for the rights of the American Colonies, and the final emancipation and independence of these United States.

This society at once took a firın hold of the American people. When Lafayette revisited this country in 1824 he was received with enthusiasm and affection by all classes of the people. A public dinner was given him, at which the second toast, after "The United States," was, "General Washington." This was coupled with "The Cincinnati,"

showing that this body stood among the foremost in the love and honor of the nation. This latter sentiment was appropriately and immediately followed by, "The asserters and supporters of the rights of mankind throughout the world." The Cincinnati, thus early imbedded in the memories and grateful recognitions of the country, should hold its just place, as it did to the last with Washington; and its name, and those of all who have stood on its rolls, should remain through every generation of a people who owe so large a debt to the services of its members.

It adds to our interest in this society to know that the decoration of Cincinnatus, worn by Washington, was presented, in 1824, to Lafayette, with a request that it be afterward given to his second grandson, Edmond Lafayette. This decoration bears the date "A. D. 1783." It is of elegant materials and workmanship, supported by a skyblue, watered silk "riband," edged with a white piping, in token of the alliance between France and America, and held together by a gold clasp. The "riband" used by Washington is half worn

out.

Washington, in a letter to the Count de Rochambeau, dated October 29, 1783, speaks thus of the formation of the Society of the Cincinnati :

SIR,The officers of the American army, in order to perpetuate that mutual friendship which they contracted in the hour of common danger and distress, and for other purposes which are mentioned in the instrument

of the association, have united together in a society of friends under the name of CINCINNATI; and having honored me with the office of president, it becomes a very agreeable part of my duty to inform you that the society have done themselves the honor to consider you, and the generals and officers of the army which you commanded in America, as members of the Society. As soon as the diploma is made out, I will have the honor to transmit it to you.

.

The Society was at once placed on a firm foundation in France. The order met the approbation of the king, and a list of members was prepared comprising thirty-three officers. The whole number of the Society soon put on record was seventy-nine.

Lafayette was received at Boston, on his visit to this country in 1824, by the members of the Cincinnati, his brothers-in-arms, who extolled him, not only as the ally and savior of America, but as one who had "secured liberty to millions of freemen." At Staten Island his military associates in this Society, some of them then eighty years old, embraced him with tears of joy. Everywhere he had similar cordial greetings; and their spirit was transmitted to sons and grandsons of this order, at the recent reception, October 19, 1881, of our French and German guests, numbering in all twenty-seven persons, at the centennial celebration of the American victory at Yorktown. It gave me special pleasure to meet the Marquis de Rochambeau and his associates in the Massachusetts Senate Chamber on their recent visit to Boston, and to