On Earth's sepulchral clod, Or shake his trust in God! BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF FISHER AMES. 1. FISHER AMES, a distinguished statesman, and an eloquent orator, was born at Dedham, Massachusetts, in which town his father was a respectable physician. He was graduated at Harvard college, in 1774, and after a few years, commenced the study of law in Boston. He began the practice of his profession in his native village; but his expansive mind could not be confined to the investigation of the law. 2. Rising into life about the period of the American revolution, and taking a most affectionate interest in the concerns of his country, he felt himself strongly attracted to politics. His researches into the science of government were extensive and profound, and he began to be known by political discussions, published in the newspapers. 3. A theatre soon presented for the display of his extraordinary talents. He was elected a member of the convention of his native state, which considered and ratified the federal constitution; and his speeches in this convention were indications of his future eminence. The splendour of his talents burst forth at once upon his country. 4. When the general government of the United States commenced its operation, in 1789, he appeared in the national legislature as the first representative of his district, and for eight successive years he took a distinguished part in the national councils. He was a principal speaker in the debates on every important question. 5. Towards the close of this period his health began to fall, but his indisposition could not prevent him from engaging in the discussion relating to the appropriations necessary for carrying into effect the British treaty. Such was the effect of his speech of April 28, 1796, that one of the members of the legislature, who was opposed to Mr. Ames, rose and objected to taking a vote at that time, as they had been carried away by the impulse of oratory. 6. After his return to his family, frail in health and fond of retirement, he remained a private citizen. For a few years, however, he was persuaded to become a member of the council. But though he continued chiefly in retirement, he operated far around him by his writings in the public papers. A few years before his death, he was chosen president of Harvard College, but the infirm state of his health induced him to decline the appointment. He died July 4, 1808. 7. Mr. Ames possessed a mind of a great and extraordinary character. He reasoned, but he did not reason in the form of logic. By striking allusions, more than by regular deductions, he compelled assent. The richness of his fancy, the fertility of his invention, and the abundance of his thoughts, were as remarkable as the justness and strength of his understanding. 8. His political character may be known from his writings, speeches, and measures. He was not only a man of distinguished talents, whose public career was splendid, but he was amiable in private life, and endeared to his acquaintance. To a few friends, he unveiled himself without reserve. 9. They found him modest and unassuming, untainted with ambition, simple in manners, correct in morals, and a model of every social and personal virtue. The charms of his conversation were unequalled. He entertained a firm belief in Christianity, and his belief was founded upon a thorough investigation of the subject. 10. He read most of the best writings in defence of the Christian religion, but his mind was satisfied by a view rather of its internal than external evidences. He thought it impossible, that any man of a candid mind could read. the Old Testament and meditate on its contents, without a conviction of its truth and inspiration. 11. The sublime and correct ideas, which the Jewish Scriptures convey of God, connected with the fact that all other nations, many of whom were superior to the Jews in civilization and general improvement, remained in darkness and in error on this fundamental subject, formed, in his view, a conclusive argument. 12. After reading the book of Deuteronomy, he expressed his astonishment, that any man, versed in antiquities, could have the hardihood to say, that it was the production of human ingenuity. 13. In his last sickness, when near his end, and when he had just expressed his belief of his approaching dissolution, he exhibited submission to the divine will, and the hope of the Divine favour. "I have peace of mind," said he. "It may arise from stupidity; but I think it is founded on a belief of the gospel." At the same time he disclaimed every idea of meriting salvation. "My hope," said he, "is in the mercy of God, through Jesus Christ." CHARACTER OF THE ITALIANS. 1. "THE Italians," says Semple, referring to the country between Leghorn and Naples, "are a singular mixture of eagerness and cunning, of mildness and violence, of superstition and irreligion. They are hement in their gestures on trivial occasions; but, at the very time that they appear absorbed in the violence of passion, they are full of duplicity, and grow cool in a moment, if they see any ad-, vantage in doing so. 2.They affect to speak with great mildness and appearance of regard, even to an absolute stranger, and yet suddenly break out into violent fits of passion. They will talk lightly of the church, and turn their priests into ridicule; but, after uttering an irreligious jest, a sacred awe seems to drive them to the altar, where they receive the sacrament from the very hand which they have ridiculed. 3. "No people that I have yet seen descend so low in order to excite compassion. If they gain their object by any means they are satisfied; and in order to effect this, they fawn upon strangers, in a manner which quickly becomes tedious, and even disgusting. 4. "They feel with greater accuracy than they reason; and are more apt to mislead themselves when they take time to deliberate than when they act from the impulse of the moment. The mildness of their climate inspires them with cheerfulness, and they give themselves up with ardour to every pleasure, even the most trifling; yet their looks are composed, and even grave, and their walk has nothing in it which indicates levity. 5. "In the observance of the matrimonial engagement, no people can be more lax; nor is there any country where jealousy is so little known, nor indeed where it would be so very useless." A more favourable view is conveyed by the following sketches of Dr. Moore. 6. "In the external deportment, the Italians have a grave solemnity of manner which is sometimes thought to arise from a natural gloominess of disposition. Though, in the pulpit, or theatre, and even in common conversation, the Italians make use of a great deal of action; yet Italian vivacity is different from French; the former proceeds from sensibility, the latter from animal spirits. 7. "The inhabitants of this country have not the brisk look and elastic step which is universal in France; they move rather with a slow, composed pace; their spines, never having been forced into a straight line, retain the natural bend; and the people of the most finished fashion, as well as the neglected vulgar, seem to prefer the unconstrained attitude of the Antinous, and other antique statues, to the artificial graces of a French dancing master or the erect strut of a German soldier. 8 "I imagine I perceive a great resemblance between many of the living countenances I see daily, and the features of the ancient busts and statues; which leads me to believe that there are a greater number of the genuine descendants of the old Romans in Italy than is generally imagined. I am often struck with the fine character of countenance to be seen in the streets of Rome. 9. "I never saw features more expressive of reflection, sense, and genius; in the very lowest ranks there are countenances which announce minds fit for the highest and most important situations; we cannot help regretting that those to whom they belong have not received an education adequate to the natural abilities we are convinced they possess, and placed where these abilities could be brought into action. 10. "The present race of women of high rank are more distinguished by their ornaments than by their beauty. Among the citizens, however, and the lower classes, you frequently meet with the most beautiful countenances. I will give you a sketch of the general style of the most beautiful female heads in this country. 11. "A great profusion of dark hair, which seems to encroach upon the forehead, rendering it short and narrow; the nose generally either aquiline, or continued in a straight line from the lower part of the brow; a full and short upper lip; the eyes are large, and of a sparkling black, and wonderfully expressive. 12. "The complexion, for the most part, is of a clear brown, sometimes fair, but very seldom florid, or of that bright fairness which is common in England and Saxony. The Italians are the greatest loungers in the world; and, while walking in the fields, or stretched in the shade, seem to enjoy the serenity and warmth of their climate with a degree of luxurious indulgence peculiar to themselves. 13. "Without ever running into the daring excesses of the English, displaying the frisky vivacity of the French, or the invincible phlegm of the Germans, the Italian populace discover a species of sedate sensibility to every source of enjoyment, from which, perhaps, they derive a greater degree of happiness than any of the others. 14. "The frequent processions and religious ceremonies, besides amusing and comforting them, serve to fill up their time, and prevent that ennui, and those immoral practices, which are apt to accompany poverty and idleness." 15. "In attendance on public worship," says Mr. Eustace, "the Italians are universally regular; and, though such constant attendance may not be considered as a certain evidence of sincere faith, yet every reader of reflec tion will admit, that it is incompatible with either infidelity or indifference. 16. "These latter vices are indeed very rare in this country, and entirely confined to a few individuals of the higher class, and to some officers in the army.”—Nor is the devotion of the Italians confined to public service. The churches are almost always open; persons of regular life and independent circumstances generally visit some one or other of them every day; and individuals, of all conditions, may be seen at all hours on their knees, humbly offering up their prayers to the throne of mercy. 17. "No country exhibits more splendid examples of public benevolence, or furnishes more affecting instances of private charity, than Italy; and whoever has visited and examined in detail the hospitals of Rome, Naples, Genoa, Venice, and Milan, will readily admit that Italy has the honourable advantage of surpassing all the kingdoms of Europe in the number and magnificence of her charitable foundations. |