What is our duty? To understand, and to appreciate the value of these signal blessings, and with all our might and strength, to endeavour to perpetuate them. To take care that the great sources, from which they flow, be not obstructed by selfish passion, nor polluted by lawless ambition, nor destroyed by intemperate violence.

To rise to the full perception of the great truth; "that governments are instituted among men to secure human rights, deriving their authority from the consent of the governed," and that with a knowledge of our own rights, must be united the same just regard for the rights of others, and pure affection for our country, which dwelt in the hearts of the fathers of the revolution.

In conclusion, allow me to remind you, that with all their doings was mingled a spirit of unaffected piety. In adversity they humbled themselves before Him, whose power is almighty and whose goodness is infinite. In prosperity they gave Him the thanks. In His aid, invoked upon their arms and counsels with sincerity of heart, was their reliance and hope.

Let us all be thankful for the mercies, which, as a nation, we have so largely experienced, and as often as we gratefully remember those illustrious men, to whom we are indebted, let us not forget that their efforts must have been unavailing, and that our hopes are vain, unless approved by Him; and in humble reliance upon His favour, let us implore His continued blessing upon our beloved country.

LESSON CXVI.

Lines on the Death of Professor Fisher.-BRAINARD,

"He shall not float upon his watery bier

Unwept."

THE breath of air, that stirs the harp's soft string,
Floats on to join the whirlwind and the storm;
The drops of dew exhaled from flowers of spring,
Rise and assume the tempest's threatening form;
The first mild beam of morning's glorious sun,
Ere night, is sporting in the lightning's flash ;
And the smooth stream, that flows in quiet on,
Moves but to aid the overwhelming dash

That wave and wind can muster, when the might
Of earth, and air, and sea, and sky unite.

So science whisper'd in thy charmed ear,
And radiant learning beckon'd thee away.
The breeze was musick to thee, and the clear
Beam of thy morning promis'd a bright day.
And they have wreck'd thee !-But there is a shore
Where storms are hush'd, where tempests never rage;
Where angry skies and blackening seas, no more
With gusty strength their roaring warfare wage.
By thee its peaceful margent shall be trod―
Thy home is Heaven, and thy friend is God.

LESSON CXVII.

The Indian Summer.-BRAINARD.

WHAT is there sadd'ning in the Autumn leaves?
Have they that "green and yellow melancholy,"
That the sweet poet spake of ?-Had he seen
Our variegated woods, when first the frost
Turns into beauty all October's charms—
When the dread fever quits us-when the storms
Of the wild Equinox, with all its wet,
Has left the land, as the first deluge left it,
With a bright bow of many colours hung
Upon the forest tops-he had not sigh'd.

The moon stays longest for the Hunter now;
The trees cast down their fruitage, and the blithe
And busy squirrel hoards his winter store :
While man enjoys the breeze, that sweeps along
The bright blue sky above him, and that bends
Magnificently all the forest's pride,

Or whispers through the evergreens, and asks,
"What is there sadd'ning in the Autumn leaves ?"

LESSON CXVIII.

Battle of Lake Erie.-HILL.

OLD Erie! thou hast seen our banners stream Proudly above thy surface-thou hast curl'd Beneath our prows-hast seen the light'ning gleam From War's fierce eye, when his red wing unfurl'd. Broadly the spreading sails their shadows flung, The keels moved slowly-sent no rushing soundThe starry flag like unstirr'd drapery hung, And a deep, awful silence hover'd round, Like that which lingers in the sultry air, When the dread elemental strife sleeps there.

But flashes soon cross'd quickly o'er the lake,
A hot fire o'er its glassy surface play'd,
The thunders burst-the echoes were awake,
And battle then was in his might array'd

There Death strode round-ye waters! in your breast
Dyed with the gushing heart-blood of the brave,

Sunk many a mortal to his dreamless rest,

Till "time shall be no more," until the grave
Shall yield its inmates up, and every eye
Wake to the scenes of an eternity.

That eagle flag, whose stripes with blood were dark,
Rose o'er the cross-up to the mast it sprung,
The tale of conquest spreading wide-and hark!
There is a shout of victory on the tongue

Of all that gallant band, and the green shore,
The rocks, and caves, and forests send a cry,
Shaken at sounds to them unknown before,
And to that shout of victory reply.

The mantling smoke sweeps by,--the light
Of heaven looks down again, and all is bright.

LESSON CXIX.

Conclusion of Mr. Webster's Speech in Congress 1824, on the Greek Question.-WEBSTER.

IT may now be asked, will this resolution do the Greeks any good? Yes, it will do them much good. It will give them courage, and spirit, which is better than money. It will assure them of the publick sympathy, and will inspire them with fresh constancy. It will teach them, that they are not forgotten by the civilized world, and to hope one day to occupy, in that world, an honourable station.

A farther question remains. Is this measure pacifick ? It has no other character. It simply proposes to make a pecuniary provision for a mission, when the President shall deem such mission expedient. It is a mere reciprocation to the sentiments of his message; it imposes upon him no new duty; it gives him no new power; it does not hasten or urge him forward; it simply provides, in an open and avowed manner, the means of doing, what would else be done out of the contingent fund. It leaves him at the most perfect liberty, and it reposes the whole matter in his sole discretion. He might do it, without this resolution, as he did in the case of South America, but it merely answers the query, whether on so great and interesting a question as the condition of the Greeks, this House holds no opinion, which is worth expressing.

But, suppose a commissioner is sent, the measure is pacifick still. Where is the breach of neutrality? Where a just cause of offence? And besides, Mr. Chairman, is all the danger in this matter on one side? may we not inquire, whose fleets cover the Archipelago? may we not ask, what would be the result to our trade, should Smyrna be blockaded? A commissioner could at least procure for us, what we do not now possess-that is, authentick information of the true state of things. The document, on your table, exhibits a meagre appearance on this point-what does it contain? Letters of Mr. Luriottis, and paragraphs from a French paper. My personal opinion is, that an agent ought immediately to be sent; but the resolution I have offered by no means goes so far.

Do gentlemen fear the result of this resolution in embroiling us with the Porte? Why, sir, how much is it ahead of the whole nation, or rather let me ask how much is the

nation ahead of it? Is not this whole people already in a state of open and avowed excitement on this subject? Does not the land ring from side to side with one common sentiment of sympathy for Greece, and indignation towards her oppressors? Nay, more sir--are we not giving money to this cause? More still, sir-is not the Secretary of State in open correspondence with the president of the Greek committee in London? The nation has gone as far as it can go, short of an official act of hostility. This resolution adds nothing beyond what is already done-nor can any of the European governments take offence at such a measure.

But if they would, should we be withheld from an honest expression of liberal feelings in the cause of freedom, for fear of giving umbrage to some member of the Holy Alliance? We are not, surely, yet prepared to purchase their smiles by a sacrifice of every manly principle. Dare any christian prince even ask us not to sympathize with a christian nation struggling against Tartar tyranny? We do not interferewe break no engagements-we violate no treaties; with the Porte we have none.

Mr. Chairman, there are some things which, to be well done, must be promptly done. If we even determine to do the thing that is now proposed, we may do it too late. Sir, I am not of those, who are for withholding aid when it is most urgently needed, and when the stress is past, and the aid no longer necessary, overwhelming the sufferers with caresses. I will not stand by and see my fellow man drowning, without stretching out a hand to help him, till he has by his own efforts and presence of mind, reached the shore in safety, and then encumber him with aid.

With suffering Greece, now is the crisis of her fate,—her great, it may be, her last struggle. Sir, while we sit here deliberating, her destiny may be decided. The Greeks, contending with ruthless oppressors, turn their eyes to us, and invoke us by their ancestors, slaughtered wives and children, by their own blood, poured out like water, by the hecatombs of dead they have heaped up, as it were, to Heaven; they invoke, they implore us for some cheering sound, some look of sympathy, some token of compassionate regard.

They look to us as the great Republick of the earth-and they ask us by our common faith, whether we can forget that they are struggling, as we once struggled, for what we now so happily enjoy ? I cannot say, sir, that they will succeed; that rests with Heaven. But for myself, sir, if I should to