the fyftem of education in this inftitution, upon the most extenfive and refpectable bafis, that its fituation and its finances would admit. Formerly, the courfe of inftruction had been too fuperficial: and its metaphyfics and philofophy were too much tinctured with the dry and uninftructive forms of the fchools. This, however, was by no means to be imputed as a defect, to thofe great and excellent men, who had prefided over the inftitution before him; but rather to the recent origin of the countrythe imperfection of its ftate of fociety-and to the flate of literature in it. Since his prefidency, mathematical fcience has received an extenfion, that was not known before in the American feminaries. He introduced into philofophy, all the moft liberal and modern improvements of Europe. He extended the philofophical courfe to embrace the general principles of policy and public law he incorporated with it found and rational metaphyfics-equally remote from the doctrines of fatality and contingency-from the barrennefs and dogmatism of the schools-and from the exceffive refinements of thofe contradictory, but equally impious fects of fcepticism, who wholly deny the exifience of matter, or maintain that nothing but matter exifts in the univerfe.

He laid the foundation of a courfe of hiftory in the college-and the principles of taste, and the rules of good writing, were both happily explained by him, and exemplified in his manner. The stile 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 exciting the emulation of the young gentlemen under his care, contributed to give fuccess 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, testify his services 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 moft diftinguifhed patriots and legifla

tors.a

Thus he proceeded, guiding with uncommon 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 fcene, 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 ftate of fociety. He became almoft 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 diftinguifhed abilities foon pointed him out to the citizens of New-Jerfey, as one of the moft proper delegates to that convention which formed their republican conftitution. In this refpectable affembly he appeared, to the aftonishment of all the profeffors of the law, as profound a civilian, as he had before been known to be a philosopher and divine.

From the revolutionary committees and conventions of the ftate, he was fent, early in the year 1776, as a reprefentative of the people of New-Jerfey to the congrefs of United America; he was feven years a member of that illuftrious body, which, under Providence, in the face of innumerable difficulties and dangers, led us on to the ef tablishment of our independence. Always firm in the moft gloomy and formidable afpects of public affairs, and always difcovering the greatest reach and prefence of mind, in the moft embarraffing fituations.

a More than thirty members of the Congrefs of United America, fince the formation of that illuftrious body, have been fons of the college of New-Jerfey; and among thefe, fome of their first characters for reputation and ufefulness. Her fons have alfo filled, and now fill, feme of the highest offices in different ftates of the union.

It is impoffible here to enter into all his political ideas. It is but justice however to obferve, that on almost all fubjects on which he differed from the majority of his brethren in congress, his principles have been juftified by the refult. I shall select only one or two examples. He constantly opposed the expenfive mode of fupplying the army by commission, which was originally adopted; and combated it, until after along experience of its ill effects, he, in conjunction with a few firm and judicious affociates, prevailed to have it done by contract.a

He opposed, at every emiffion after the firft or fecond, and even hazarded his popularity for a time by the strenuoufnefs 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.b

In the information 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 intereft. He then pronounced inefficacy upon it. But he complained and remonftrated in vain.c

a Congress at firft fupplied the army by allowing a certain commif fion per cent. on the monies that the coinmiffioners expended. This invited expence. At length they were induced to agree to the mode by contract; or allowing to the purchafer, a certain fun per ration.

Inftead of emiffions of an unfunded paper, beyond a certain quantum, Dr. Witherspoon urged the propriety of making loans, and establishing funds for the payment of the intereft; which in the temper of the public mind, he thought could then have been easily effected. America has fince regretted that he had not purfued that policy. The doctor afterwards, at the inftance of fome of the very gentlemen who oppofed him in congrefs, published his ideas on the nature, value and ufes of money, in one of the moft clear and judicious effays that, perhaps, was ever written on the fubje&.

He particularly remonitrated against the tardy, inefficient and faithless manner of providing for the public exigencies and debts by requifition on the feveral ftates. He infifted on the propriety and neceffity, of the government of the union holding in its own hands the entire regulation of commerce, and the revenues that might be derived from that fource. These he contended would be adequate to all the wants of the United States, in a feafon of peace.

Over-ruled however, at that time, in thefe and in other objects of importance, he had the fatisfaction of living to fee America revert, in almost every inftance, to his original ideas-Ideas founded on a found and penetrating judgment, and matured by deep reflection, and an extenfive 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 ministry. He gladly embraced every opportunity of preaching, and of discharging the other duties of his office, as a gofpel minifter. This he confidered as his higheft character, and honor in life.

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

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

But notwithstanding his wifh for repofe, he was induced, through his attachment to the inftitution, over which he had fo long prefided, once more to cross the ocean to promote its benefit. The fruit of that voyage was not in

a The reverend Dr. Samuel S. Sunith, who was unanimously chofen Dr. Witherspoon's fucceffor, on the fixth day of May, 1795. This gentleman's character needs no eulogium in this place. His feveral publications, and particularly his ingenious effay on "The caufes of the variety of complexion and figure of the human fpecies," delivered before the Philofophical Society, in Philadelphia, February 28th 1787, afford fufficient teftimony of his genius and learning. The laft mentioned work has diftinguifhed him in the estimation of the literati, both in Europe and America. As foon as it made its appearance in Europe, it was read with avidity-it fhortly paffed under more editions than one in Great-Britain-it was tranflated into the French language, and published, with great eclat, at Paris-and has been fince tranflated into the German language, and publifhed with annotations, by a profeffor of moral philofophy, in one of the univerûties of that empire.

deed answerable to our wifhes; 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 exercise of thofe 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 gofpel.

Accustomed to order and regularity in bufinefs 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 exactnefs were more facredly obferved, than in the devotional exercifes of the chriftian life. Befides 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 a-part days for fecret fafting and prayer, as occafion suggested.

Bodily infirmities began at length to come upon him. For more than two years before his death, he was afflicted with the lofs of fight; which contributed to haften the progrefs of his other diforders. These he bore with a patience, and even a cheerfulness, rarely to be met with, in the most eminent for wifdom and piety. Nor would his active mind, and his defire of usefulness to the end, permit him, even in this fituation, to defift from the exercise of his miniftry, and his duties in the college, as far as his health and ftrength would admit. He was frequently led into the pulpit, both at home and abroad, during his blindnefs; and always acquitted himself with his ufual accuracy, and frequently, with more than his ufual folemnity and animation. And we all recollect the propriety and dignity with which he prefided at the last commencement. He was bleft with the ufe of his reafoning powers to the very laft.

At length, however, he funk under the accumulated pressure of his infirmities; and on the 15th day of November, 1794, in the feventy third year of his age, he retired to his eternal reft, full of honor and full of days-there to