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

January 5, 1819.

ENOS MERRILL..

ANSWER.

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

GENTLEMEN,

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 ain, Gentlemen, most faithfully

Your friend,

October 29, 1819.

J. APPLETON.

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

ble. Noble ends are to be pursued by noble means. Among the evils attendant on political divisions, it is not the least, that by inflaming the passions, they diminish a regard to truth and moral obligation.

Perhaps there has never been a day when you were in greater danger than at present, of forming too flattering expectations of future life. New objects now present themselves; new prospects open upon you. Be not deceived. You belong to a species of beings, "whose foundation is in the dust, and who are crushed before the moth."

From the most perishable objects on earth, the divine oracles borrow their figures to delineate human frailty. What is man? A tale that is told-a shadow that flies-grass that withers—a flower that falls-vapor that vanishes. This very occasion brings to your remembrance an illustration of these remarks. In the removal of him,* under whose successful tuition you first became members of this seminary, you perceive that neither suavity of temper, solid and well cultivated talents, nor humble, unaffected piety, can secure life to its possessor.

The evidences of Christianity have constituted part of your classical study. You know the ground which supports that noble edifice. Winds may rush against it-storms may beat upon it-surges may dash around it; it is all in vain: The foundation of God standeth sure. Permit me to use this last opportunity of urging your attention to the discoveries, precepts, and doctrines of the gospel, the internal frame and texture of that faith, which was once delivered to the saints. It is not easy to conceive a greater absurdity, than to bestow much labor and learned investigation on the evidences of Christianity, while there is a perfect indifference to the doctrines, precepts, and discoveries, of which this religion consists. If the gospel be not worth studying, loving, and practising, it is not worth defending.

I entreat you to study Christianity, as that by which God will regulate the retributions of eternity. It is not a religion,

* Rev. Dr. M'Kean, late President of this College.

which flatters human nature in the least; nor can any religion do this, which has God for its author, or truth for its foundation. But while it represents the species to which you belong, as in a state of moral ruin, it not only shows the possibility of recovery through a Redeemer; but presents to your view many instances of its own efficacy to change the heart and the life. Let it be your first and grand object to possess the Christian temper, to feel the power of evangelical principles. Let the lives which you live in the flesh, be influenced and cultivated by your faith in the Son of God. If you embrace genuine Christianity, whatever profession you pursue, it will make you more happy, more useful, more consistent, and uniform. It places before you the noblest objects, it requires you to act from the most elevated motives; it promises to the obedient, thrones and kingdoms which can never be removed.

Next to the great concern of securing peace with God, I would recommend it to you, to have some profession, at least some object, some pursuit distinctly in view. This will give stability, and tend to concentrate your intellectual efforts. While you pursue, with unremitting resolution, some important object, and rigidly adhere to whatever you believe to be the will of your Maker, cultivate suavity of temper, urbanity of manners, and, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. There is not an individual belonging to our species, whose convenience and feelings are to be wholly disregarded.

Finally, let me remind you of the great number of those who will, with lively interest, witness your deportment. The patrons of this institution deplore the irregularity, and rejoice in the virtues, of all who pertain to it. The immediate government unite with yours, their own happiness and honor. Your parents feel an anxiety, which can neither be expressed by them, nor repaid by you. Individual benefactors, and a generous legislature, will examine the fruit of a tree planted by their care, nourished and refreshed by their repeated acts of liberality.

But there is a Witness, whose attention you cannot for a