Adversity toughens manhood, and the characteristic of the good or the great man is not that he has been exempt from the evils of life, but that he has surmounted them.

There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us.

This is all the inheritance I give to my dear family. The religion of Christ will give them one which will make them rich indeed.

Amongst other strange things said of me, I hear it is said by the deists that I am one of the number; and indeed, that some good people think I am no Christian. This thought gives me much more pain than the appellation of Tory; because I think religion of infinitely higher importance than politics; and I find much cause to reproach myself that I have lived so long, and have given no decided and public proofs of my being a Christian. But, indeed, my dear child, this is a character which I prize far above all this world has, or can boast.

Are we at last brought to such an humiliating and debasing degradation, that we cannot be trusted with arms for our defense?

We should transmit to posterity our abhorrence of slavery.

Suspicion is a virtue as long as its object is the public good, and as long as it stays within proper bounds. Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect every one who approaches that jewel.