Winchester Republican

ELOQUENCE.

The late address of president Nott, to the candidates for the Baccalaureate, in Union College, N. Y. has been greatly and justly praised. There are few flowers in the fields of literature more fragrant, more beautiful, or more deserving attention, than the following pious conclusion of president Nott's address:

[From a Philadelphia paper.]

I cannot sum up all that I would wish to say to you better than by placing the entire character of JESUS CHRIST before you as a perfect model, in the imitation of which will alike consist your happiness and glory. On every important question, in every trying situation, ask what would have been his opinion; what his conduct; and let the answer regulate your own.

Methinks your parents, some of whom I see in this assembly, add their sanction to the counsel I am now delivering. Parents whom I cannot but commend particularly for your ingeniousness, and from their kindness and solicitude, derive an argument to enforce all that I have said. You will never know, until the bitterness of filial ingratitude shall teach you, the extent of the duty you owe them. On you their affections have been placed: on you their treasures expended. With what tenderness they ministered to your wants in helpless infancy; with what patience they bore with your indiscretions in wayward childhood; and with what solicitude they watched your steps in erring youth! No care has been too severe; no self-denials too painful; no sacrifices too great, which would contribute to your felicity. To you the meridian of life has been constantly devoted, and even its cheerless evening is rendered supportable by the prospect of leaving you the heirs of their name and their fortune. For all this affection and kindness, the only reward they expect, the only requital they ask, is that when you enter upon the world you will act worthy of yourselves and not dishonor them.

And shall this requital be denied them? Will you by your follies disturb even the tranquillity of age; rob declining life of its few remaining pleasures; and, snatching away from the palsied hand of your aged parents the last cup of earthly consolation, bring their gray hairs with sorrow to the grave!

It was a noble spectacle, amidst the flames that were consuming Troy, and while the multitude were intent, only, on rescuing their paltry treasures, to see the dutiful Aeneas bearing on his shoulder the venerable Anchises, his aged father, to a place of safety. But ah! how rare such examples of filial piety! My God! the blood freezes in my veins at the thought of the ingratitude of children. Spirits of my sainted parents! could I recall the hours when it was in my power to honor you, how different would be my conduct. Ah! were I not unmindful of the reverence I pay them, I would disturb the peace of your tombs with nightly orisons, and bedew the urn which contains your ashes with perpetual tears.

It is within your power to prevent the bitterness of such regrets. But I must arrest the current of my feelings. Your future usefulness, your eternal salvation constitute a motive so vast, so solemn, that were I to yield to its overwhelming influence, I should protract the hour of separation, and fill up with counsel and admonition the declining day.

I shall address you no more, until, having passed the solemnities of death, I meet you in eternity. So spend the intervening period, I adjure you, that that meeting be joyous, and the immortality which shall follow it be as splendid as the grace of that God is free, to whom, surrendering my charge, I now commit you. Leaving with you this counsel I bid you an affectionate and final FAREWELL.