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Art. XXVII.

A Funeral Oration upon the Death
of General George Washington.
Prepared at the request of the
Masonic Lodge No. 14, of Wil-
mington, State of Delaware, and
delivered on St. John the Evan-
gelist's Day, being the 27th of De-
cember, anno lucis 5799, and now
published at the particular desire
of the Lodge. By Gunning Bed-
ford, A. M. 4to. pp. 18. Wil-
mington. Wilson. 1800.

ALTHOUGH neither origi-
nality of conception or beau-
ty of style characterize this oration,
yet it is in no respect below the le-
vel of mediocrity. That every
gentleman who is called upon to
pronounce a funeral eulogium
should possess the abilities of a
Grecian or Roman orator, and dis-
play all the captivating powers of
eloquence, would be an unreason-
able expectation. An audience
may surely be satisfied when they
hear just sentiments conveyed in
correct language; and may, with
propriety, bestow applause on the

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speaker, although their minds may
not have been overwhelmed with a
torrent of the sublime and pathetic,
or their imaginations regaled with
he rich flowers of refined oratory.

Criticism, however, is more fas-
tidious in her requisitions; and those
orators who challenge her regard, by
publishing their speeches, must
present her with something more
than plain sentiment and accurate
composition, or they must not ex-
pect to receive those plaudits that
are in store only for the genius of
sublime and nervous eloquence.

So many orations on the death of
Washington have already passed in
review before the public, that we
feel little disposed to analyze the
present one, or to arrest the atten-
tion of our readers on a subject
which, from its frequency of dis-
cussion in this particular mode, has
naturally become less interesting to
the warmest admirers of that great
and excellent character. To show,
however, that Mr. Bedford is by no
means a cold and inanimate speaker,
we cite the following passage, which
breathes the fervour of piety, and
the ardour of enthusiasm.

“To the character of hero and patri-
ot, this good man added that of chris-
tian. All his public communications
breathe a pure spirit of piety, a resigna-
tion to the will of heaven, and a firm re-
liance upon the providence of God. In
those atchievements which redounded
most to his reputation, we hear him ex-
claiming with king David, “Not unto
us, not unto us, O Lord, but to thy
name be the honour and praise.” Al-
though the greatest man upon earth, he
disdained not to humble himself before
his God, and to trust in the mercies of
Christ. He regularly attended in the
temples of the Most High, and joined
with his fellow mortals, in paying ado-
ration to the Supreme Governor of the
Universe, and in supplicating blessings
for his country, and pardon and for-
giveness for himself.—For thyself, chris-
tian, hero, and patriot! thy prayers have
been heard. Thy blessed spirit hath
ascended from this terrestrial orb, to
mingle with congenial spirits above!

there thou wilt drink of those rivers of
joy and gladness, that flow from the
right hand of the throne of God! there
thou wilt be welcomed by the whole
host of heaven!—Oh! that we had
angels' wings, that we might follow
him, and witness his joyful reception in-
to those blest abodes!—Behold the gates
of heaven are thrown wide open! See
the band of heroes, and martyrs in their
country's cause, rushing out to meet their
chief, and welcoming him to immortal
glory! See the venerable train of patri-
ots, sages, and statesmen, advancing to
bid him hail, to mansions of eternal
peace and rest! Angels and archangels,
and ten thousand times ten thousand
glorified spirits, tune their harps at his
approach, and the great vault of heaven
resounds with one universal song of
‘Hosanna to the Highest!’ ‘Come,
come thou blessed of our Father, in-
herit the kingdom prepared for you
from the foundation of the world!’

“Oh! that we may all 'die the death
of the righteous, and may our latter end
be like his!”

Like many other orators on the
same occasion, Mr. B. has drawn a
picture of hyperbolical grief, which
every one to whom it is exhibited
knows to have no resemblance in
the scenes of reality. The style of
exaggeration is agreeable to the wild
extravagance of the poet, but can
scarcely become the chaste and so-
ber eulogist, who, at the tomb of
acknowledged worth and excel-
lence, is presumed to utter the lan-
guage of unfeigned sorrow and un-
bought praise. “Let fiction,” says
Dr. Johnson, “cease with life; and
let us, at least, be serious over the
grave.”