An interesting record, which this venerable man has left behind him, acquaints us with many of his most private thoughts, and presents him in a rela tion which no man can renounce, and which, when duly observed, is the appropriate light wherein to behold an eminent judge,—the relation of man to his Creator.
His birth-day, the 12th of August, was habitually appropriated to the review of the last year, to self examination, and to intercourse with God; and it will not be deemed irreverent in us, the only chit. deco he has left, to cast an affectionate eye upon this record, and to draw encouragement and coun sel, as well as increased veneration for his charac ter, from the touching disclosure it makes of his fortitude, resignation, and piety.
The first of the series which has been found, be gins on the 12th of August 1804, when he completed his forty-eighth year. He says—" my health is good, my constitution unimpaired, but I am deeply impressed with the uncertainty of life. Let me pre pare to follow the numerous friends who have left this world before me."—" The last stage of my re sidence on earth is approaching. Time is precious. I must not suffer it to be wasted in indolence, or thrown away on light amusements. I have endea voured during the course of this day, to strengthen my mind with virtuous resolutions, and I hope my endeavours have not been useless." He then repeats the resolutions he had formed for the government of his life, among which is that of " letting no day pass without prostrating himself before the Su preme Being, in meditation, thanksgiving and prayer;" and he concludes his memorial by offer ing, as he expresses it, " with a grateful heart, his unworthy thanks to the almighty and merciful God, for past favours, far exceeding his merits," and by " imploring with all humility, that he would gra ciously assist his weak endeavours to keep the reso lutions he had made." He continues this review for several years, dur ing which his strain is that of gratitude for constant benefactions: but in the year 1817, the clouds gath ered around him, the countenance of his beneficent Creator seemed to be withdrawn, and the night of his old age was approaching, with the promise of but one feeble and ill-assured ray to relieve it from total darkness. He had been one of ten brothers and sisters, to all of whom he had borne the tender est affection. He had been a husband, enjoying for a short time the happiness of that sacred relation. He had been the father of one child, devotedly loved for her intelligence, filial affection, and piety. Mark with what a celestial temper, if I may so speak, he records the flight of all these blessings. " I have now attained the age of sixty-one, and have survived parents, brothers, sisters, wife, and child. But few of my dearest connexions remain in this world. May this reflection induce me so to use the short remainder of my life, as may recommend me to thy favour, and procure me the happiness of once more meeting my departed friends, according to my con fident hope. Lord thou hast taken away the child
which thou hadst given me. I murmur not. Blessed be thy name." Before the 12th of August 1820, that feeble ray which was promised to his declining days, was ex tinguished. The only child of his only daughter was taken from him. Yet observe how the light of the divine philosophy shone inward, and dispel led the gloom in which unassisted man would have sunk to despair. " Great God, during the last year, thou hast thrown me on the bed of sickness, and raised me up from it. Thou bast taken from me my last earthly hope. I submit to thy providence, and pray that thou will grant me fortitude under all my afflictions. I am sure that whatever is or dained by thee is right. May I never forget that thou art always present, the witness and judge of my actions and thoughts. My life is hastening to an end. May I, by thy gracious assistance, so em ploy the remainder of it, as not to be altogether unworthy of thy favour." On the last anniversary that he ever saw, he be gins his paper with the prophetic declaration, "this day completes my seventieth year, the period which is said to bound the life of man. My constitution is impaired, but I cannot sufficiently thank God that my intellects are sound, that I am afflicted with no painful disease, and that sufficient health remains to make life comfortable. I pray for the grace of the Almighty, to enable me to walk during the short remnant of life in his ways. Without his aid, I am sensible that my efforts are unavailing. May I submit with gratitude to all his dispensations, never forget that he is the witness of my actions and even of my thoughts, and endeavour to honour, love, and obey him, with all my heart, soul, and strength." It is no longer wonderful that this venerated man performed his duties to universal acceptance, when we discern the spirit, better far than the genius of Socrates, from which he asked counsel. The an cients would have said of him, that he lived in the presence of all the deities, since prudence was ne ver absent from him. The holders of a better faith must say, that it was to no poetical deity, nor to the counsels of his own mind, but to that " grace" which his supplications invoked, that he owed his protection from most of the lapses to which fallible man is subject.
That " remnant of life" to which his last memo rial refers, unfortunately for us, was short, as he had predicted; but he walked it as he had done all that went before, according to his devout aspira tion. He continued to preside in the Supreme Court with his accustomed dignity and effect until the suc ceeding winter, when his constitution finally gave way, and after a short confinement, on Monday the 30th of April 1827, he closed his eyes for ever. It will be long, very long, before we shall open ours upon a wiser judge, a sounder lawyer, a riper scho lar, a purer man, or a truer gentleman. [Extracts from an Eulogium delivered by Horace Binncy, L. L. D.