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spirit of patriotism, like that or region, cumscribed in its operations; it honours and elevates the object in which it appears, whatever may be his situation in society, and imparts a zeal and dignity to his exertions, which, without that incentive, the most gifted minds would be unable to at

CLYMER,

THE profession of the law is, in this country, the most certain path to political distinction, not only from the influence which fluency of speech confers, but from the intimate connexion existing between law and politics. At the dawn, and during the meridian, of the revolution, this distinction was less manifest, although, in the aggregate, the gentlemen of the bar maintained and merited a powerful preponderance. But, among the illustrious men who flourished in those perilous times, the merchant, the physician, the farmer, the mechanic, and the sailor, frequently acted a conspicuous part. The spirit of patriotism, like that of religion, is not circumscribed in its operations; it honours and elevates the object in which it appears, whatever may be his situation in society, and imparts a zeal and dignity to his exertions, which, without that incentive, the most gifted minds would be unable to at

tain. Hence, in the contemplation of the incipient efforts, and political rise, of many of the founders of our political independence, we have seen the merchant abandon his commercial interests; the physician, his practice; the farmer, his plough; the mechanic, his trade; and the sailor, his ship; for the purpose of devoting their time and talents to the common interests of their country. At the present day, when the unalterable influence of time has softened the sentiments which such sacrifices ought to create, it is impossible to form a proper estimate of the self-devotion of our forefathers, without recurring, mentally and fully, to the times in which they flourished, and to the honourable privations which they endured. It is by translating ourselves as it were, to the memorable epoch of the great revolutionary struggle, and making ourselves hypothetical participators in the dangers and sufferings of those who were engaged in it, that we can alone appreciate the disinterested patriotism, and dauntless devotion, which guided their exertions. The ingratitude of republics is proverbial: happy, as we are, in the enjoyment of all those blessings inseparably connected with freedom, and conscious that they emanated from a band of men whose prototypes are unknown in history, we are too prone to be satisfied with the happiness which we

enjoy, without reverting to the self-denial and fearless perseverance which produced it. To arouse the feelings and gratitude of the American community, by affording a retrospect of the individual exertions which tended to establish their present political elevation, is a duty, in the performance of which, the performer and the public ought to be equally interested.

GEORGE CLYMER, whose name is affixed to the declaration of Independence, was descended from a respectable family of Bristol, in England. His father immigrated to this country, and settled in Philadelphia, where he married. Mr. Clymer was born in that city, in the year 1739, and the decease of his parents left him an orphan at the early age of seven years. The want of parental protection was, however, fully and affectionately supplied by the guardianship of his uncle William Coleman, Esquire, whose character and acquirements had elevated him to a high rank among the citizens of Philadelphia. His precepts and example were, therefore, eminently calculated to establish the principles of Mr. Clymer upon a proper model, and his extensive library afforded him all the advantages of reading, and consequent reflection. He derived great literary benefit from being under the tuition of such a man, who, independent of general