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the general principles of policy and public law; he incorporated with it a found and rational metaphyfics-equally remote from the doctrines of fatality and contingency-from the barrennefs and dogmatifm of the fchools and from the exceffive refinements of thofe contradictory, but equally impious fects of fcepticism, who wholly deny the existence of matter, or maintain that nothing but matter exifts in the universe.

He laid the foundation of a course of hiftory in the college and the principles of tafte, and the rules of good writing, were both happily explained by him, and exemplified in his manner. The ftile of learning, if you will allow me the phrafe, has been changed by him. Literary inquiries and improvements have become more liberal, more extenfive, and more profound. An admirable faculty for governing, and of exciting the emulation of the young gentlemen under his care, contributed to give fuccefs to all his designs for perfecting the courfe of inftruction. The numbers of men of diftinguished talents, in the different liberal profeffions, in this country, who have received the elements of their education under him, teftify his fervices to the college. Under his aufpices have been formed a large proportion of the clergy of our church; and to his inftructions, America owes many of her most diftinguifhed patriots and legiflators.

Thus he proceeded, guiding with uncom non reputation and fuccefs the courfe of education in

this inftitution, until the war of the American revolution fufpended his functions and difperfed the college.

Here he entered upon a new scene, and appeared in a new character; widely differing from any, in which he had been heretofore prefented to the public. Yet, here alfo, he fhone with equal luftre; and his talents as a legiflator and fenator fhewed the extent and the variety of the powers of his mind. There are few foreigners who can, with fuch facility as he did, lay afide their prejudices, and enter into the ideas and habits of a new country, and a new state of fociety. He became almost at once an American, on his landing among us, and in the unjust war which Great Britain waged against us, he immediately adopted the views, and participated in the councils of the Americans. His diftinguished abilities foon pointed him out to the citizens of New-Jersey, as one of the most proper delegates to that convention which formed their republican conftitution. In this refpectable affembly be appeared, to the aftonishment of all the profeffors of the law, as profound a civilian, as he had before been known to be a philofopher and divine.

From the revolutionary committees and conventions of the state, he was fent, early in the year, 1776, as a reprefentative of the people of New-Jersey to the congrefs of United America ; he was seven years a member of that illuftrious body, which, under providence, in the face of innumerable

numerable difficulties and dangers, led us on to the eftablifhment of our independence. Always firm in the most gloomy and formidable afpects of public affairs, he always difcovered the greateft reach and prefence of mind, in the most embarraffing fituations.

It is impoffible here to enter into all his political ideas. It is but juftice however to obferve, that on almoft all fubjects on which he differed from the majority of his brethren in congrefs, his principles have been juftified by the refult. I fhall felect only one or two examples. He conftantly oppofed the expenfive mode of supplying the army by commiffion, which was originally adopted; and combated it, until after a long experience of its ill effects, he, in conjunction with a few firm and judicious affociates, prevailed to have it done by contract.

He oppofed, at every emiffion after the first or fecond, and even hazarded his popularity for a time by the ftrenuoufnefs of his oppofition, that paper currency which gave fuch a wound to public credit, and which would have defeated the revolution, if any thing could.

In the formation of the original confederation, he complained of the jealoufy and ambition of the individual ftates, which were not willing to entrust the general government, with adequate powers for the common interest. He then pronounced inefficacy upon it. But he complained and remonftrated in vain.

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Overruled, however, at that time, in these and in other objects of importance, he had the fatisfaction of living to fee America revert, in almoft every inftance, to his original ideas-ideas founded on a found and penetrating judgment, and matured by deep reflection, and an extensive obfervation of men and things. But I forbear to trace his political career farther; and fhall only add here, that while he was thus engaged in ferving his country in the character of a civilian, he did not lay afide his miniftry. He gladly embraced every opportunity of preaching, and of difcharging the other duties of his office, as a gofpel minifter. This he confidered as his higheft character, and honour in life.

The college having been collected as foon as poffible after its difperfion, inftruction was recommenced under the immediate care of the viceprefident.* Dr Witherspoon's name, however, continued to add celebrity to the institution, and it has fully recovered its former reputation.

The glorious ftruggle for our liberties drawing to an honourable period, and the doctor feeling age advancing upon him, was defirous of refigning his place in congrefs: and would have fain retired, in a meafure, from the burdens of the college.

But notwithstanding his wifh for repofe, he

was

*The reverend Dr Samuel S. Smith, who was unanimoufly chofen Dr Witherfpoon's fucceffor on the 6th day of May, 1795.

was induced, through his attachment to the institution, over which he had fo long prefided, once more to cross the ocean to promote its benefit. The fruit of that voyage was not indeed answerable to our wishes; but we are not the lefs indebted to his enterprize and zeal.

After his return to this country, finding nothing to obftruct his entering on that retirement, which was now become more dear to him; he withdrew, in a great measure, except on fome important occafions, from the exercife of those public functions that were not immediately connected with the duties of his office, as prefident of the college, or his character as a minifter of the gospel.

Accustomed to order and regularity in businefs from his youth, he perfevered in his attention to them through his whole life. And I may add there was nothing in which his punctuality and exactness were more facredly observed, than in the devotional exercises of the chriftian life. Be fides the daily devotions of the clofet, and the family, it was his ftated practice to obferve the last day of every year, with his family, as a day of fafting, humiliation and prayer: and it was alfo his practice, to fet apart days for fecret fasting and prayer, as occafion fuggested.

Bodily infirmities began at length to come upon him. For more than two years before his death, he was afflicted with the loss of fight; which contributed to haften the progress of his

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