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VIRGINIA ARGUS. "**" '"""" —-

[ tK ygAE 3 _* _-

A-'FREE PRESS MAINTAINS THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE PEOPLE [No. 12691

__RICHMOND,-Peinte, (on Tuesoays anb Frida,,) ey SAMUEL PLEASANTS, junior, Printer to the Commonwealth. LF°Ur Dol!'arS Per Annn’"--P«i‘lin advance.^ TUESDAY, JUNE 17. 1806. [12 1-2 Cents SinX!c.-\

Charlotte Court, 7th April, 1806. Thomas and Charles Morton, plaintiffs. -v b

fgainit 1 ~

William Walker, John Richardson, B. H. r ana Creed Taylor, defts. J ^ * I M E defendant Walker not having entered hid

appearance according to the art of assembly and the rules cf this court, and it appearing to the satisruaton of the court that he is not an in- iisbttant ot this state: On the motion of the plaintiff* by their counsel, It is ordered, that he appear here on the first day of July court next and answer the plaintiff*, bill 5 that a copy ot this order be inserted in one of the Virginia Ga- ^or ntonths successively, and posted at the front door of the counhoase of the said county.

A Copy—Teste, * Thomas Read, Clk.

"NoriCET- THE Subscriber, returns his

thanks to the cidz?ns of Richmond and ms country customers, for the liberal encourage- rnent he has received since his commcnccmeni of business. He re&ides nearly opposue to Jacob Jutinson’i Book Store, and fiom his strift atten- tion and punfluality, hopes to merit farther Ta- vor:.. lie will have constancy on hand superfine Cloths, Casiraercs. and every other article suica. Die tor the summer and winter season,

John Andrew, Merchant Tailor.

Two or three journeymen warned, to whom liberal wage will be £ivcn.

Richmond, June 2d, 1305 3W JbKEWlbHV l OK SALE.

THE subscriber will SELL ail bis interert in that extensive BltEWEllY, which he now

occupies, situate on the river Potomac, in the town Alexandria, uistitct of Columbia, ot which

11 Jtart, ol an unexpirod lease from September, is to come. xhis Brewery is on a very extensive plan, having two copper boilers of 1200 and 500 gal- lons, with every working trenail complete— With malt house, kiln, mill, Sic. 1 o the. capitalist, tb, 9onc.eM» off-rt many in-

ducements, l j'JObivrdi beer having'been brewed by the subscriber for some seasons hack, and is capable of being considerably extended j a bar. *ci of liter can be sent ic "th« city of Wash- ington and George Town at a few cents ex- $»cnse.

Proposals will be received to the 1st July, aryl •vet* ntesary in formation may be had by letien, post paid, by applying to

THOMAS CRUSE. Alexandria, 5th May, 1806. W»J30

maTtrasbe^: <—

Can be hsd on very short police, mat- PRASSSES bf all sizes & kinds, agreeably • to order, in tbS corner house, eamt rquare, below

Mr. Jos. Darmsuatt’s, r.ear the marker, A"d next door to Mr Jacob Johnsqn’s book store.—Also, BEps furnished, and 'old inattrasscs worked Over.

Jno. S. Pleasants. June 5, 1806.

ITh- following Funeral Oration, in honor of the late venerable Chancellor. George Wythe, de- livered on Monday, the 9.h inst. by William Mtmford, Esq. to a numerous audience assem- bled at the Capi.61, in the hall of the House of ^leirgaus, was furnished by him for pub- lics, ton at the request of th* editor of this pa. per. As it was a compisiiuuu lor which very littic lime was allowed, as previous to its be- ir.g pronounced, nothing more than its outlines ■wtre prepared, ail the rest being conceived and uttered extempore ; it is hoped by the au- thor that the candid reader will make ail rea portable allowances for its inaccuracies.

UKAJLIUJN, Pronounced at the funeral op

GEORGE WYTHE, FfLLLOW CITIZENS,

I ADDRESS you «n (his occasi- on with feelings which agitate and op- press me more forcibly than I am able to express. The truly mournful duty which we M'e assembled to perform, the irrepa. Table loss we have ail sustained, and par- iH.t-'arJy myself, who am now called upon, with an heart lorn with gnef, to apeak of h»n», who was not only the friend of hu- man nature, but my own dearest and best f'ierid; the sorrow which I am certain is fe»t by every individual in this numerous audience- and which I see strongly depic- ted on the feces of many ; all combine to

overpower me with diffidence and regret. Hard indeed is the task to do justice to the many virtues of the great and good man for whom we mourn. 1 dread that my abilities will be found inadequate to this important undertaking; and 1 wish most sincerely that some gentleman of tuperior eloquence had consented to com-

memorate, by a funeral Eulogy, the de- parted Patriot and Sage, who was tr'uly (he boast of Virginia. Particularly, I ahoolci have been happy if some older ci- liam, who knew him in Ins younger <lay9 and joined hrs glorious labors at the com- meuccNira*, of our Revolution, had now endeavored to describe his great and me- ritorious public services in those days of difficulty and danger. Rut it cannot be. Most of the Heroes and Patriots of the Evolution are gone to their graves with ploiy, and (.tiMge Wythe, one of the oldest and b-.-st ct those vener\blc fathers a! their country, has now followed Wash- ington, Frat him, Samuel Adams, and ma- py other-,, who are indeed removed from iltls tropblasopjc world and at y$?t front

/?S 1

| their labors,but vr'.ose fame shall live for* ; c'er 'n hearts of their Fellow-Citizens* h'ntler these circumstances, the task tie*

‘Y°ives on me far inferior to those immor* ■ tal worthies, to pay the last sad tribute oT

J aPpIause to their departed coadjutor and friend. I ^m emboldened, however, to engage in tins difficult enterprise by con.

I sidering that al hough t.,***, of the public virtues of the deceased were not person* oily known to me, yet some of them, and

leas*- important, have came wilh- j in my own observation, and that I li^ve long been most intimately acqainled with

j those which adorned his private life-- His extraordinary goodness to pie, that kindness which,induced him t:> take tne

I when an pnforlunate orphan into his j house, and lo treat me as a second father, j affordtd me peculiar opportunities of feel- j *;,5 and knowing the god-like spirit which j animated the bo.am of him who now lies j cold and .insensible before us. The sa- cred lies of gratitude therefore bind me not to permit the funeral of ray dear, ray no- ble benefa£lor to be unattended with an eulogy expressed with truth and since- rity, however imperfe£l it may be in other respefls. Indeed 1 am most encourngcd oti this occasion by the reflection that ttuth, plain, artless &: unadorned is all time ts needful in an attempt to .celebrate a character noted fur Iris plainness and re- publican simplicity. True it is that no- thing that can be said cun benefit him. I ho “ dull, cold ear of death’' cannot

be loused by the voice of nunor, nor a* 1 wakened by the Jameniaiious of those who l survive. Perhaps he he^rs not our praise. 1

i or is so eneai?r*d hv t!»#-

joy.- as not to regard it. ,lt might appear therefore that funeral solemnities aie use- less aud unavailing. But such is not the case, i hey serve at least as an exam-I

to lbe living, and may be the means ct communicating and keeping alive the

I sacred lire of virtue. J am also enthusi- i astic enough to believe that the souls of j the good and worthy, even aftev dea lt, may be gratified by knowing the manner in which ihtir memories are regarded in t h’.s woi Id ; that they look down Sc observe the sorrows of their friends, and tejoice tn the round of thrir praise. Very pro- bably this is one of the rewards cf a well- apent life; dee wherefore has heaven im- planted in the breast» of men the desire of fame in future ages as an *ncentive to Virtuous adiens? I shall therefore pro- ceed to describe a* faithfully as 1 can, the career of glory through which this exalt- ed patriot, firm nepablican and honest man has passed, Hinting that the affrr'J- on of)ou all for the dead will induce you favorably to accept « well-meant though leeble endeavor to pay the rcsp«a so o minenily due to his memory.

In calling to your recolledion his vir- j t,,e9» n>> own inclination would induce

j r°c to> begin with those of his private life, J in which I confess my own heart is more ! particularly interested ; but as his public Virtues were of the giealest importance, not to a few persona only, but to all Arne-

t tea,the superior dignity of the subject i requires tne to mention them in the first J place, Of the$e, let me turn your attend, j dn to the uncommon pati intism, which was t conspicuous dutintr the whole rnnrtf* nf i Ins long and useful life. The first remark- I nbleexample,evincing the degreein which he possessed that divine virtue, tvas his conduQ .;t the commencement of the A- merican devolution. In those peiih.ua {

; cl-tys, when life-, liberty and property were placed at hazard; when all that it J

I held most derr by the mind .of man de- pended cn the doubtful issue of war ; |

! when death and Confiscation would have | been the ft*ie, it they had proved unsuc-

j ®'js&ful, ol those who opposed the tyrant kin;' ol (jieat-liiilain ; our venerable pa- uioi, Mr. Wythe, was firm Ec undaunted, and zealously attached to the cause of his country. At that important time when

; tiie greatest men America ever produced Were chosen by her voice to save her

| ffr>m desttuflion, to whom did hi# fellow, citizens look up ns one of her deliverer* ?

( l°C*coige Wythe, to him whom we now v h so much cause lament, for r.las ! he can serve no longer those he so tenderly loved. He was one ol that famous Con. gress, who assembled on the 18th of May, 1775, and did not separate until they declared the Independence of Ame- rica. lie was one of those who signed • hat ever memorable declaration by which thvy pledged “their live*, their fortune*, and their sacred h'jnor** t.» maintain and

; defend the violated rights of their country. He was an active, useful, and reipecied member of that body, the most enlighten* ed, patriotic and heroic that perhaps ever existed in the world, in esteeming and admiring which all nations now concur,

j From the arduous and important duties which he there exercised, he was called by his native stn-e to perform others not less interesting and necessary. Our

j countrymen were then attempting a new i«nd hitherto untried experiment, of vast I importance »nd of doubtful success; no

Mess than the politics! re-generation of a

j nation, th$ total destruction of a mo- narchical system, and the establishment of a republic in its stead ; every thing then depended on infusing into our laws

, that republican spirit which animated .'.he j people, and by the preservation of which alone, their liberty could be preserved and perpetuated. It became therefore neces- sary to new-model our laws* and lay the foundations of the temple of freedom firm- ly in the wisdom and justice of our insti- tutions. The persons appointed, to exe- cute this great work, and by whom it was acccm/iha/ifd were Thomas Jefferson, Ed- mund Pendleton and Georg? Wythe; who, tho'mentioned last, might with propriety be considered as the chief; for, gieatand exalted as is the merit of Mr. Jefferson, it must be confessed that he is in a great measure indebted for it to George Wythe,

;iiis preceptor and his friend Between | ’hose two extraordinary men the warmest I friendship has eve' existed, and the pre- | sident ci tire United Sta’es has always l been proud to acknowledge himself the pupil of the wise & modest Wythe. B.- a resolution ofihe Virginia Assembly, dat- 'd the 5th of November l?r6, the three gentlemen, I have mentioned, were ap- pointed revisors of the law*, with power to propose such al'eratiors 05 in their judgment should be deemed necessary : A trust of prodigious itnfuvtauci, on which the itrnre destiny’ of Virginia de- pended ! And in what manner was it dis- chaigcd j Iii a manner more glorious and nunc useful tu the human race than the! works of any other legislators, ancient or j m .1_ r .. ............ w„ 1&;n ol juiie Ut'Jy l:te

committee ot revisors made their report, a memorable mo;;um:nt cl indefatigable industry aad attention, as util as ot wis- dom, virtue and patriotism. I<v reviewing ihe labonyof that commiilte, we find that they were the authors of lb a&direfctiog the course ol descents, by which th? odi* ous and unequal dofitrinc of.the right ol primogeniture was abolished, and an e- qual distribution of the land, .1 properly ol persons dying intestate is made among their children, or other nearest relations \ Mi aid which, by. introducing and support- ing equality of property to a certain de- gree among the citizens o« this common wealth, has produced, ai»'> w ill continue to produce a more import,..r and perma- nent tlfefil in favor offiertlom amf tepub- licanism, than any other cause v/hatsoc ver. The same comittee proposed the afit for regulating conveyances, by which all estates in-tarl were converted into fee., simple, and one of the most detcs'abie conirivances of aristocracy to keep up in equality, and support proud and overbear- ing distinctions of particular families, wa3 completely defeated. They also ptoduc ed the deservedly celebrated afit for the establishment of religious freedom, which I trust has released the people of Virgi- nia from the danger of being ever subjrtl ed to eccle-jristical tyranny, perhaps the worst oT all. As a proof, however, that the proposal ot that a£) did not arise from a desire to subvert religion, but, otj the contrary, to maintain it m purity and peace, they at the same time* proposed a- notlter, emitted an a cl to punish distur- bers of religious worship and sabbath breakers. Such were the most precious fruits of the appointment of that truly re- publican and patriotic committee.

Oil f* P itnrmrtonf •« M .. 1 * >

mentioned, for in faSl, die whole of our militia system as first organized, the ori- ginal arrangement and mode of proceed- ing in opr courts of common law and chancery, were all the work of that com- mitti-j:, were ail illustrious examples of: their industry and legislative skill , in 1

which if St me defe6l6 have in the course ol experience been discovered, they are on,y pmoT-t that no human peiformance can be perfect. Yet the cormrvttee of re visors are not only entitled to praise for Abe laws, of which they were instrumen- tal in obtaining t!»c establishment, but for several which (hey proposed without sue- ce«,H. Among those may be found n bill’, lor the more general diffusion ol know-1 ledge* v,),ich, if the public spirit of the general assembly had been equal to that of i its authors, would hav^ enabled the chil* i dren of the poorest citizen in (hecosnmn-^ nity to stand an equal chance of acquiring science, honor, and promotion, with those : ol the most wealthy. Animated by mo- rives of the same enlightened nature, they proposed a bill for establishing a public library ; another for amending the consti tution of William and Mary College, and providing more adequate revenues for its support ; and furnished a hint, which gave bit ih to our present penitentiary system, by a bill for proportioning crimes and pu- nishments in cases heretofore capital, arid a bill for the employment, government and support, of malefactors condemned to labor for the commonwealth.

Wc next find this excellent citizen in the important office of one of the three judges of the high court of chancery, and afterw ards, sole chancellor of the state oi

Virgin!* Hu yrtvpr^nisry pa'.rigtbro

I ^ disinterestedness tvero here most com*

! plctely displayed. He seived in that j most troublesome and laborious office of i aJj the gift of the commonwealth of

■ V irginia, and perhaps of the U. Stales, i lor many years with the small salary of j "00/. and, at last, with a salary somewhat

■ larger but still very inadequate. With j l*,at scanty supply from his country, he lived in (his exp nsive city, secluded from all other business but that of the public, to which he devoted all his lime, unless when prevented by sickness ; and in that office he continued till the day of his

I death, because lie believed hitiiself better qualified to serve his coi ntry in that sta- iion than in any otjier j when, if l«o had

j ween disposed 10 seek for offices, he m'ght have easily obt .ined others Jar mote e» ! sy and lucrative. Not withstanding, how-

j « ver, the toilsome duties of that < ffice, his j patriotism, ever aflive and ardent, hi ought | 'dm forward whenever he conceived his j [ country’s interest t.o require his assistance, j W c behold him a member of the convert iron which met in this city in the year 1783, to lake under its consideration the proposed constitution of the U. S ates, L*eii.g convinced that the confederation ’•vas defective in the energy necessary to preserve the union, libeity nr.d general welfare ol i^rneiica, he was a zealous sd vocale for the new constitution. In that august convention, this venerable patriot, even then beginning to ^ow under the weight of years, was seen to rise to udyu* cate lliQt constitution, m.d exerted his vo.ee almost too feeb*o to be lituid, in COIllcHriinir a oval..in U.. _

lance <»f which lie conceived the happi- iicbs t f his dear-lov’d country ftj dtqxmd — Hut the most remarkable instance of hia genuine patriotism, to which I confess I am rendered most partial, perhaps by! my own experience of its effects, was his zeal for the education of youth. Ilari aH*i sed as he was with business; enyeluped ! with perplexing pspers, and intricate suits in chancery, he yet found time for' many years, to keep a private school for the insli notion of a few young pien at a time, always with vety little,.and ofcen demanding no compensation—^Vhat a proof was.this of condescension, of pure patriotism mid philanthropy! \Vilh all i this, his industry and attention to business I was uat diminished, but continued as in- 1 cevsant as ever. Of his indefatigable 3a I siduiry I was myself a witness ever, in I his l^st sickness—When on his death bed, racked with ag nizmg pains, I saw * li»m with a large bundle of papas, reia- J live to an injunction in chancery, lying I by his bed side.—-lie told me he had been r

studying them, and hoped to be better by « the next day, that he might be enabled 10 » huild the court again, and ptonounce his l decree in that cause ; lamenting with ex- < treme concern the inconve: ience, ol * wiiicli the delay pi business, occasioned •

by his sickness, would be productive to j persons who had causes depending bt fore him. At that moment when death * was visible in his face and in eveiy limb, 1 he thought not pf himself; he thought \ only of the public. Oh • where shall we l liud such another Chancellor?

The necessary consequence of bis •

great assiduity and attention «o study, was J bis extensive, various and profound learn <

‘"tf * hi* sound and excellent judgment. '* —Others may indeed have excelled him 1 in genius, but he certainly never vvassur- passed in patriotism, learning and judg- 1 mtnt. 0

; —,— u%iiiumj» tur ai^

tdntion, the must illustrious pel haps in | the blight constellation or his virtues: this was liis firm and inflexible republi- canism! cf which 1 have already adverted J to Several striking testimonials! Ever at- I tached io the consti ation of the United y

St tes, and to the principles of freedom, t he was in every change of affairs always steady andqnsin<kco. His mind was not, lobe moved by the gusts of popular influ ence, nor by the stormy threats of lyran ny. As, in 177#, he w« the enemy of the King of (i.eat Britain, so in 1798 and 1799, he was an opponent of the adinmis ‘ration of John Adams, of alien, and se- dition laws, and standing armies, Al- ways the friend-of liberty and his country, twice have 1 seen him, hoary with age and touching oil with veneration, in that very chair (pointing at the Speaker’s chair,) sitting as President of the repub lican college of t!t6)Ars. and voting twice for a republican President. Yet, was it very observable that he never yielded for 1 a moment to the rancour of party.spirit, j nor permitted tiie difference of opinion to interfere with his private friendships, the I ti uih (ff a Inch observation will be ucknow*! I it U^ed by many of his politic*! opponents, j t to whom he nevertheless icmained a I friend in private life, to the last. I

His impartiality as a judge, and <rigid! i attachment to what appeured to iwm to'< be equitable, was not less remarkable than i his other cxtraoidioary qualities, it ought j ever lobe remembered that nolwithaund*! •ng he loved ins country so passionately,j WU vt* s'? a’, tea live to iu interest, hey^t

I loved equity still more. It ought to be I remembered that he was the first judge ! wIk> decided, (against the public opinion,) j that the Uriiish debts should he recover-

j ed, and that on several veiy important oc-

j casions he entered decrees for large sums of money against his native state. Yet, lf’the immortal honor of the people of Virginia, be it said, those decisions of hi* dicl not dimmish his popularity, but made them admire and re?ptfil him still moro than ever. •:

Such then, were the public virtues of this great man. His private virtues werw. not exemplary. Among the most conspicuous of these were his integrity and disinterestedness. Undoubtedly man, not even the best oldie worthies of ancient Greece and Home, ever curried those virtues to a grealei height than he did* Plain in his manners, sui61!y tem- perate in his life, :r:d regardless of ail profits except such as were made with ho- nor and a good conscience, he furnished an example in the v:..or of his voulh (a* I have been told by some, whom I am hap- py u> see here pitspiif) of a truly honest and upright lawyer, a chara&er supposed by many (tjiough I hope erroneously) iq be very uncommon. No consideration1 could ever induce him to swerve from tho Sira.* line 0f iniegrity, to violate justice, or the laws cf his ccuntiy. With the spirit of a philosopher he lived a lawyer, and was indeed the brightest ornament of t..« bar. With these virtues of a stern and rigid cast, it should moreover he •-mn Mwnous siuaent, this man of undeviaiing integrity, this inn* and inflexible ftp ibiican possessed y heart overflowing with the milk < f human kind, ness. A kinder never tlnob’d in the bo. sorn of a human being. If is soul was th* scat of benevolence and sensibility FYon* ilns most amiable turn of mind proceed, rd his ever u6\ivc charity h, d liberality, he gcntlenc>s and mildness c:f his tem. [»er, which was seldom irritated but by teal for his country’s good, Ins modest md unassuming deportment, and ur.wil. >

in;;nes3 to give pain to any mortal, Iii* urjty extended to every human being, iiowi;i*r low and humble his station; for

tie,emphatically, was always striving to dr* jood. Let tl\£ officers of his court, the jenileinm who hud the pleajine of p|< ad<- ng, and those-v. ho had causes tlrpijndinij, >efore him, let all who were educated by iitn, and indeed all who knew him beat' vKr.esa to the sweetness of his temper,: ns penevalence and kind deportment, lis unwillingness to give tiouble and >am was apparent almost m his last ago- ues—“Oh gentlemen J” said he, scare* udibly, “you a>-e very good—L am sor- y you take so much trouble—but all will e in vain !’’ It may be said “deed, that in me tjeplorable instance, (which it strike* nc with horror even to mention,) hi* bc- icvolence was placed on an unworthy ob* jcl, and repaid with black ingratitude.

scifi^h man deduce fmn* uis dreadful even', an argument against he indulgence of charuy, nor let the ;ood man be discouraged. As no human >=ing cati be perfeft, it is true, perhaps, hat the mildness and goodne.s of Mr. -Vyilit W;.s sometimes earned too far. Jut if he had any fault, it was that of ex- tssive good ass, which injuied himself lone. Injured did I say? No; whate. er may have been the cauae of his death, nd 1 tremble to think of nsfirMU c«uu, ic is not really injured. He is only re- it"Ved from the infirmities of mortality a ittle sooner; and although he may be a

r .i— .....I r.i »

‘'mui me apyingt llav. oft alas I docs g >odne.s w und itself, And sweet afle&ion prove the source of woe i

ct the multitude of friends who sincere* mourn his death, and the affeflinn of

'1 Ins other pupils for his memory prove hat he did not good in vain, but has in- eed liis reward.

I his then fe|fow*c;tiz;ns, is the true l.aracler of the man, whose death we I*? netn, of him who now sleeps »n that cof. in, a lifeless lump of clay. Hut no—he * not there J The good, the kind, the ge- ierou% the n<l>lc-inii<lel CJeorgr Wythe s not thetc. Ilis mortal body, I admits » hefire us. Hut the real man, the th- ine and immortal soul is far away, per- taps above the stats themselves, cnjjy. ng everlasting bliss in the presence of hat (iod, on whom he called as h>s hop.* md refuge, in the last agonies of expiring iature- llete permit me to corieCl n ni*taken opinion, which has gone abrosd loncefning this t. xceltenr roar,. 1 thinli t particularly important to state that lie va« a Christian* H# comimin rated to me

a year or two before his ricsth, • is lull convtfhonof the truth of the chris. ian religion, sod, on hjs death bed, < hen ‘frayed to Jc**us Christ his Savior for re- ief. Hut death lie did not dread, expres- sing only u wish to lay down his hie with ?ase, observing, that, alnsi it was a pnjr i uliuMiw be &o huid for n man to (lie I

1 w ill no* conclude with exhorting eve-

y person present, a.d particjlu.lv the pounger pit t of my n thence imitate •!»• t^gmplf of the virtue*‘wf (hut fq^q