A Biography of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, and of Washington and Patrick Henry: With an appendix, containing the Constitution of the United States, and other documentsJudson, L. Carroll (Levi Carroll)
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A Biography of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, and of Washington and Patrick Henry: With an appendix, containing the Constitution of the United States, and other documents
Judson, L. Carroll (Levi Carroll)
Henry, Patrick, 1736-1799; United States. Declaration of Independence -- Signers; Washington, George, 1732-1799
As the news of his death spread, a universal sorrow pervaded all
classes; funeral sermons were preached, eulogies pronounced, and
processions formed throughout the United States, as a faint tribute to
the memory of the departed sage, patriot, scholar, and philanthropist.
When the sad tidings reached England and France, the same
demonstrations of respect were manifested there; the tears of sympathy
and mourning for departed worth stood trembling in many European eyes.
In the halls of science on both sides of the Atlantic, Dr. Rush was
well known, and held in the highest estimation. By our own country his
loss was most keenly felt; by the civilized world, deeply lamented. The
graves of but few men have been moistened by as many tears from the
high and the low, the rich and the poor, as that of Dr. BENJAMIN RUSH.
His fame is based upon substantial merit; his name is engraven in deep
and indelible traces upon the hearts of his countrymen; his reputation
is written on the tablet of history in letters of gold by the finger of
justice, dipped in the font of gratitude, and will endure, unscathed
and unimpaired, until the last trump shall proclaim to the astonished
world, TIME SHALL BE NO LONGER.
The private character of this great and worthy man, was as unsullied
and pure as his public career was brilliant and useful. His heart
was richly stored with the milk of human kindness; his benevolence
sometimes carried him beyond his professional income in donations to
the poor, to churches, seminaries of learning, and to other objects
calculated to benefit mankind.
He was temperate in his habits, neat in his apparel and person, social
and gentlemanly in his intercourse with society, urbane and courteous
in his manners, interesting and instructive in his conversation, modest
and unassuming in his deportment. He was a warm and affectionate
companion, the widow’s friend, and the orphan’s father.
In size he was above the middle stature, rather slender, but well
proportioned. His mouth and chin were well formed, his nose aqueline,
his eyes blue and animated, with a high and prominent forehead. The
diameter of his head, from back to front, was unusually great. His
combined features were commanding and prepossessing, his countenance
indicated a powerful and gigantic intellect.
When attacked by the disease which terminated in death, he was aware
that a rapid dissolution awaited him. He was fully prepared to enter
upon the untried scenes of another and a brighter world; he could look
back upon a life, well spent; he had run a noble race, and was then
ready to finish his course, resign his tabernacle of clay to its mother
dust, and his immortal soul to Him who gave it.
OLIVER WOLCOTT.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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