icients in science, and not
the proselytes of a sect.

"In government he commanded more by example than by authority, and the
admiration of his talents ensured a better obedience than the force of
laws. His elevation of mind placed him above personal prejudices and
resentments, and jealousies of wounded dignity. He practiced no
espionage upon his pupils, but reposed for the maintenance of order
on their sense of propriety, and his own powers of command. He
conciliated their attachment while he inspired their reverence; and he
secured their attention to the stated exercises and reconciled them to
the severest studies by the example he exhibited, and the enthusiasm
he inspired. He knew how to adapt his discipline to the various
dispositions and characters, and could discriminate between the
accidental impulse of a youthful emotion and deliberate acts of
intentional vice.

"He was an interesting and powerful speaker. His erect attitude and
dignified action inspired reverence, and commanded attention. But the
wonderful force of his eloquence arose from the strength and sublimity
of his conceptions. Such were his originality of thought, and rich
variety of expression, that he could present the most common subjects
in new and interesting lights. His public discourses evinced the
strength of the reasoning faculty, the powers of the imagination, and
the resources of genius.

"He would sometimes conduct the mind with painful subtility through
the multiplied steps of a long demonstration. At other times he would
glance upon the main topics of his argument, and seize on his
conclusion by a sort of intuitive penetration. He frequently
embellished his subject with the higher ornaments of style, and
diffused around the severer sciences the graces and elegancies of
taste. For force of expression he might be compared to Chatham, and in
splendid imagery he sometimes rivaled Burke. He would, at pleasure,
spread a sudden blaze around his subject or diffuse about it a milder
radiance.

"To the interpretation of the Scriptures he carried all the lights
which geography, history, and criticism could supply, and poured their
full effulgence upon the sacred page. His daily prayers always
presenting new views of the works and perfections of the Deity,
exhibited whatever was vast in conception, glowing in expression and
devout in feeling.

"He was probably formed not less for the higher offices of active life
than for the speculations of