and in 1801, president of the United States of America. For eight years, he filled this exalted station with great ability and wisdom, and at the expiration of which, he withdrew for the remainder of his days, from the political theatre. The admiration, the gratitude and the regrets of the nation followed him.

Among the most noted acts of his administration was the purchase of the extensive country of Louisiana; and no one displays in a truer light the character of his mind, replete with philanthrophy and the love of science, than his almost immediate directions for the exploration of that vast region.

He was president of the American philosophical society, and member of many of the learned societies in Europe and America.

He possessed the most extensive, rare, and valuable collection of books, in almost every language, and on nearly all subjects; but on the destruction of the national library at Washington, by the British, in 1814, he at once proposed, for a moderate price, to transfer the greater portion of his books to the United States, and they accordingly became the property of the nation.

Mr. Jefferson died on the fourth day of Ju

ly 1826, at ten minutes before one o'clock,on the great Jubilee of American Liberty-the day and hour too,on which the Declaration of Independence received its final reading, and the day and hour on which he prayed to Heaven that he might be permitted to depart. The coincidence of his death with that of Mr Adams was strikingly beautiful & complete.

In person he was tall and of slender make; his eyes were light, and full of intelligence; his complexion fair, and his hair inclining to red. In conversation, he was free and communicative. All topics that fell under discussion, were treated by him with equal unreservedness. He seemed, indeed, to have no thought or opinion to conceal, and his stores of knowledge were unlocked and laid open with the same freedom in which nature unfolds her bounties. They lie before you, and you have only to select and enjoy. In manner, he was frequently pointed, and sometimes energetic, but always mild, and occasionally pleasant and facetious.

The scientific and literary, throughout the Union, always looked upon him as their adviser and patron; and seldom failed to gain considerable advantage by their applications.

JAMES MADISON,

FOURTH president of the United States, was born in Orange county, Virginia, March 5, 1750. At the age of sixteen he entered Princeton college, and received the honours of that seminary in the year 1769. On his return to Virginia, he immediately commenced the study of the law, in the office of the late chancellor Wyeth. Previous to the year 1775, he discharged the duties of several important offices with superior talents and fidelity, and in the autumn of that year, was elected a member of the legislature of Virginia. Although very young, his profound views of the interests of his country were far in advance of his years, and not behind the older members of that enlightened body. He was soon after elected a member, and took his seat in the old congress, where he shone conspicuous for the boldness of his views, and the force and vigour of his eloquence. After the peace of 1783, the United States were left without any efficient government, and connected only by the articles of confederation. Each state

was an independent sovereignty, and pursued its own separate plans of policy. The necessity of an efficient government was apparent, and it was therefore deemed necessary by the friends of freedom to frame a new constitution. To carry this into effect, delegates were appointed from the several states to meet at Philadelphia, in the year 1787. Of this ever memorable convention Mr Madison was a member, and assisted in framing that charter of our liberties-the boast of political science-and to which he afterwards affixed his name, as one of the deputies from Virginia.

Immediately on his return home, he was elected a delegate to the Virginia convention, which met at Richmond in the year following, to decide on the fate of that instrument.

This convention was composed of some of the ablest men that Virginia has ever produ ced, for genius, talents, and eloquence. In this enlightened body, the new constitution had its friends and its enemies. Among the former, none were more conspicuous, and none more ably contributed to its adoption than Mr Madison. Soon after the publication of the constitution, he, conjointly with

General Hamilton and Mr. Jay, commenced the publication of the Federalist, in the city of New-York, which had a powerful influence in procuring the adoption of that instrument in that and other states. Of this celebrated work, he wrote Nos. 10, 14, 37 to 53, inclusive, 62 and 63. His style is chaste, his logic concise, cogent and impressive.

He afterwards represented his state in congress, until the year 1800, when he retired from public life.

In 1801, he was called by president Jefferson to the office of secretary of state; and in the year 1809, he succeeded his predecessor in the presidential chair.

Of the ability and wisdom of his administration, for two successive terms, ages will testify; and its glorious events will form a distinguished epoch in the historical annals of our country.

His life has been no less distinguished for superiority of intellect, and an undeviating zeal in promoting the true interest of his country, than for an integrity which has never been shaken, and a benignity which has never failed to shed its cheering rays in every circle in which he moves,