and was instrumental in effecting an emancipation from the shackles of tyranny and usurpation, ungenerously obtruded, or threatened by the parent empire.

In 1798, he was elected, by the suffrages of his fellow citizens, a senator to congress, where he was vice president pro tempore; but, unambitious of publick honours, and, like his friend, the immortal Washington, fond of retirement from the busy world, he soon resigned his seat in that august body, for the delightful shades of his favourite retreat at Mount Hope.

He held, at different times, a variety of offices of honour and trust, the duties of which he discharged with ability and to general approbation. His industry and economy secured him a handsome fortune, and his deeds of charity are still remembered with gratitude. His heart was ever open to the wants of the poor. For many years, it was his constant practice to deposite in the hands of his clergyman a liberal sum to be distributed among the worthy objects of charity. His conduct, through life, was founded on the rules of strict morality and the warmest philanthophy.

He was an agreeable companion. His greatest solicitude was to make his family and friends happy, from whose society he derived more, than common satisfaction and enjoyment.

When sensible that his dissolution was at hand, ke contemplated the event with the calmness of philosophy and the support of unclouded faith in the blessed Redeemer.

675. Here lies buried the body of mrs. MARY BRADFORD, the agreeable consort of the hon. William Bradford, esq. who departed this life, 3 October, A. D. 1775, in the of her age.

46

year

676.

BRISTOL, R. I.

Note. The hon. BENJAMIN BOURN, LL. D. of Bristol, departed this life, 17 September, 1808, in the 53 year of his age. A great part of his life was spent in publick and honorary employ ments. He had often been a member of the legislative assembly of the state. For a time, he was one of the representatives in congress, and was a judge of the circuit court of the United States for the first circuit.

His venerable friend, the hon. William Bradford, died on the 6 of July preceding his decease. The rev. Henry Wiglit delivered a discourse from Prov. 3. 11, occasioned by the death of judge Bourn, in which he also took notice of that of governour Bradford. From the manuscript copy of that discourse the following paragraphs are here preserved as honorary to the memory of these distinguished characters.

"Let this subject lead us into a right use of God's holy dispensations, in taking two valuable members from this society. The last interview of these tried patriots, friends, and companions in the

trials and labours of publick life, was truly solemn and affecting! Their weeping friends have this consoling evidence, that they have made a happy exchange of worlds; for, just before they left this, they both professed a firm belief that the Bible is the word of God, and that they relied upon Jesus Christ alone for future salvation.

"You well know, my hearers, it has not been my practice, on such occasions, to dwell on the character of the deceased; and as my friend [Tristam Burgess, esq.] delivered a eulogy at the funer al of our late friend, [hon. William Bradford,] I shall be concise; but that this dispensation may be wisely improved by us all, permit me to impress your minds by a few remarks.

"We are now mourning not only the diminution of our number in this society by the loss of our departed friends, whose death admonishes us of the frailty of human life, but one, whose remove al is an irreparable loss to his family and truly a loss to this society, to this town, to the state of Rhode Island, yea, a loss to the United States of America.

"A few months since our friend enjoyed that health, which gave him as fair a prospect of living to old age as any of us present. A slow but fatal consumption seized his frame. It baffled the power of medical aid and by gradual steps brought his mortal part to the silent tomb. His spirit has flown from its frail tenement, to revisit it no more until the

great archangel shall sound the all-reviving trump of God in the resurrection morn. No more will his little family, as heretofore, welcome his return with smiles of love on his countenance, ready to supply their wants from the fruits of his industry. No more shall we behold him in that seat uniting in the pleasing worship of God's house.

"No more will our courts of justice be favoured with his wisdom, integrity, and eloquence, in pleading the cause of injured innocence, defending the rights of the widow and the fatherless, or consigning the criminal to the just penalty of the law. No more will his numerous friends enjoy his judgment and correct advice in matters of difficulty. No more will they enjoy his pleasing conversation in the social circles of life. Alas, he is gone to return no more! While we contemplate him as a husband, a parent, a friend, and a neighbour, we must be sensible our loss is great. His patience under the afflictive hand of God and his humble resignation to the sovereign will of heaven are worthy of imitation.”

BRISTOL, R. I.

677. In hoc cœmeterio conduntur reliquiæ SHEARJASHUB BOURN, A. M. collegii Harvard. Cantab. alumni, viri vitæ integri, qui reipublicæ commodo sibiq. honore justitiarii in hac republica principis, integre, longum, usque ad obitum munere functus, in

Christo placide obdormivit nonis Februariis, A. D. 1781, æt. suæ 61.

BRISTOL, R. I.

678. Sacred to the memory of mrs. RUTH BOURN, relict of the hon. Shearjashub Bourn, esq. who departed this life, 1 Nov. A. D. 1796, in the 74 year of her age. She left an excellent example in all the various relations of wife, mother, neighbour, friend, and christian.

BRISTOL, R. I.

679. This pyramid is erected to perpetnate the memory of three promising youths, sons of mr. Perley Howe and Abigail, his wife; MARK ANTHONY DE WOLFE HOWE, born, 29 April, 1777, WILLIAM HOWE, born, 4 November, 1778, and JAMES HOWE, born, 2 May, 1781. Returning from a voyage around the world, they were, probably, wrecked on this coast, in the winter of 1802. One fate surpris'd them,

And one grave receiv'd them.

680.

BRISTOL, R. I.

Sacred to the memory of the rev.

PEN. I-YOL IIII.