godly in Christ Jesus, than you to whom I am now affectionately speaking. To live without God is not the privilege of youth; it is the prilviege, (if such it can be termed) of those, and of those only, on whom the gifts of reason and conscience were never conferred.

Whether we shall exist accountable beings or not, is a matter which our Creator does not submit to our option. It is not left for us to decide whether we will receive our destiny among the rational, or irrational part of the works of God. We cannot annihilate our accountability, nor get free from it a single hour. We must exist, whether we will or not, and take the eternal consequences of those characters which we now form.

In your pursuit of learning, as well as in your ordinary behavior, consider the relation which every action has to your character and happiness in the present state, and to your honor or dishonor in the world to come. It is undeniably the part of wisdom, not mainly to consult the present hour, but to take all consequences, all future scenes into view, and whatever youthful ardor may dictate, the time advances when there will be, on the subject of human conduct and human feelings, but one opinion. The high and the low, the learned and the ignorant, the illustrious and obscure, the sober and the gay, will be alike convinced, that "the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil, that is understanding."

I cannot persuade myself to close this address, without adverting to an idea already suggested, that the government of this college have no interest different from yours; and that you, of course, cannot possibly have an interest hostile to theirs. They will require nothing of you, which, under the like circumstances, they would not require of those whom they love most tenderly; -even of those, towards whom they feel a parent's fondness. They would not, without necessity, give you a single mortification, nor a moment's pain. They wish to see you virtuous, happy, and honorable. If, at any time, they should be under the distressing necessity of punishing, which necessity, may divine grace prevent, they will not act from a vindictive spirit, but

from a sense of duty to the public, and to that Being, to whom they, as well as you, must give an account.

Finally; may the government and the students of this sem

inary alike feel their dependence on the Almighty.

"Thou art the source and centre of all minds,

Their only point of rest, eternal Word;
From thee departing, they are lost, and rove
At random, without honor, hope, or peace ;
From thee is all, that soothes the life of man :
His high endeavor, and his glad success;
His strength to suffer, and his will to serve.
But O! thou bounteous Giver of all good!
Thou art, of all thy gifts, thyself the crown;
Give what thou canst, without thee we are poor,
And with thee, rich, take what thou wilt away."

ADDRESS,*

DELIVERED AT THE COMMENCEMENT IN 1808.

Young Gentlemen,

On such an occasion as this, I do not ask your attention; for I know you will grant it. Permit me to hope, that your remembrance of what is said, and your practical regard to it, will be equal to the readiness, with which it is now heard.

If your object in resorting to this place were not merely to obtain academical honors, but to acquire that which merits them, it can scarcely be necessary to set before you the importance of continued application. Your short excursion into the fields. of science, has not brought you within the sight of boundaries; but only, as I would hope, to a humble conviction, that the

As much interest was felt by the alumni and friends of the College in the former publication of these addresses, the correspondence in relation to the subject, which, on the part of the graduates, expressed the public sentiment of the time, is here subjoined.

To the Rev. Dr. Appleton, President of Bowdoin College.

Reverend and DEAR SIR,

At a meeting of the graduates of Bowdoin College, assembled at Brunswick on the evening of the last commencement, the undersigned were appointed a committee respectfully to solicit of you for the purpose of publication, copies of the Addresses delivered by you to the successive classes of graduates during the period of your presidency.

In making this application in pursuance of their appointment, they presume not to express any other sentiment in regard to the character of those valuable and instructive performances, than is signified by the strong desire generally prevailing among the friends of the

space already passed over, is extremely small, compared with that which remains to be traversed. That branch of a learned education, which I would particularly advise you to review and cultivate, is the Latin and Greek languages. Against the study of these, there was some years since, a very preposterous but powerful opposition. Impatient of application, and every species of restraint, many flattered themselves, that their superior powers of intellect had suggested to them the possibility of being learned without study. Ancient languages, as well as habits, and modes of thinking, were viewed with a kind of barbarian contempt.

institution for such a disposition of them as may tend to place them more extensively in the possession of the public, and be best adapted to accomplish the interesting and important objects contemplated in them. At the same time in discharging this very grateful duty on their part, the individuals of the committee beg leave to repeat the assurance of the continued respect and affectionate regard, with which they remain,

Rev. and dear Sir,

Your most obedient servants,

CHARLES S. DAVIES.
BENJAMIN RANDALL
JAMES BOWDOIN
CHARLES DUMMER
STEPHEN EMERY
ENOS MERRILL.

January 5, 1819.

ANSWER.

Messrs. Charles S. Davies, Enos Merrill, Benjamin Randall, James Bowdoin, Charles Dummer, Stephen Emery.

When I received your communication, having the usual prospect of human life, I concluded to answer in the negative. My prospects being now entirely changed, I think it my duty to submit the Addresses to your wishes; praying God that he would make them in some measure, useful-instrumental at least, of reminding you of those affectionate feelings, with which they were delivered.

I am, Gentlemen, most faithfully

An auspicious change has been produced on this subject. A knowledge of the dead languages is now cultivated with increasing assiduity. There is scarcely a college in New England, where terms of admission have not been raised, and where greater progress than formerly, is not considered an essential part of a public education. The great regard, which is paid to the dead languages in general at the universities in Europe, is evinced by the effects which it has produced in recovering and collecting ancient copies and manuscripts.

It is a most obvious inconsistency, to be indifferent to the retaining of that, which could be acquired only by the labor of several years. Whatever knowledge you possess on this subject, or any other, will, without constant attention, gradually decay. Be persuaded to continue and augment your acquaintance with the languages of Greece and Rome, by devoting a reasonable portion of your time to their poets, orators, and historians.

Coming forward as you do, at a crisis, the most eventful, you cannot be indifferent to the destinies of your country. It is not my business to excite your passions and prejudices, nor enlist you into either of those political parties, which have so unhappily divided our country. But there is a party, with which I would by all means, desire to have you connected. I mean the party of those under whatever political denomination they are ranked, who sincerely and ardently love their country; the genuine descendants of the first settlers of New England; of men, who had an invincible courage, founded on religious principles; a determined spirit, which nothing could break or subdue; men, of whom it may be said, without figure, that "they loved liberty more than they feared death."

While you boast of being the offspring of those noble spirits, distinguished alike for their love of good order, of religion, and freedom, regard those with peculiar respect and affection, who display the same character.

Whatever object you have in view, whether of a public or private nature, be sure that your measures be fair and honora