While such sterling men as Alexander Murray were enriching the nation by economy and retrenchment, thousands of officers, little better than sinecures, who would no sooner than the grave exclaim "it is enough," were draining the treasury of its very dregs; and wresting from the "mouth of labour" its merited reward.

The command, "Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn," seemed to be revoked, that drones might wallow in insolent wealth, and luxuriate in effeminate indulgence.

The perpetual succession of these hungry swarms of office-hunters, would remind one of Esop's fable of the fox and the flies, and of Pope's ideas of resuscitation.

"All forms that perish, other forms supply,
By turns they catch the vital breath and die,
Like bubbles on the sea of matter borne,"

They rise, they break-and to that sea return."

Com. Murray, in the full possession of his mental and material faculties-in the active and vigilant discharge of his high trust upon earth, was summoned to his final audit in heaven, upon the 6th day of October 1821.

Like a "shock of corn fully ripe in its season," he appeared before the GREAT COMMANDER and SUPreme ArCHITECT of the Universe to render an account of his services in that world, where man was destined to discharge his duty to man, and to prepare to meet a GOD in heaven.

His life evinced that "man was created little lower than the angels"-his death impressively taught, that "all flesh is as grass."

As his life filled a capacious space, his death occasioned a vacancy, which may be filled, but cannot be filled better.

The deepened marks of sorrow that were depicted upon

the countenances of the great and good men who viewed his sheeted manes, were a speechless eulogy from fixed eyes, and dumb mouths; far more impressive than the sonorous exclamations of funereal eloquence.

It would be useless to insert the order of the funeral procession at his interment. As he lived without ostentation, he would, (could he have wished) have desired to be carried to his cemetery without imposing ceremony.

CHARACTER OF ALEXANDER MURRAY.

ALEXANDER MURRAY possessed the qualities of a vigorous, decided and energetic mind. He seemed to be designed by Heaven as a blessing to his country.

Born at an era pregnant with the most important events of the eighteenth century, his life embraced near one half of it. It also embraced near one quarter of the nineteenth century, a period still more astonishing.

Although he did not move in the highest sphere, he was ever in the midst of the ardent beings who approximated it. If he did not design vast operations, he was amongst the first active agents who insured their execution.

sors.

He was born with an innate detestation of tyranny, and his arm was constantly nerved and raised against oppresHe inherited from his progenitors, a high sense of Independence, and an invincible hostility against the ancient enemy of the land of his ancestors in Europe, and the inveterate foes of that of his own birth in America. Hence when the potent arm of imperious Britain was lifted in wrath against her high-minded children in the New World, Murray, then in ardent youth, manfully espoused the cause of Freemen against tyrants.

He commenced his career of glory in the Army of Washington, and followed the destiny of the Father of the Republic, through the most desponding period of the Revolution.

Without any respite, he repaired to his favourite element, to face in arms the vaunting "Queen of the Ocean." In numerous battles, and with various success, he co-operated with the peerless "Naval Heroes of the American Revolution ;" and desperate wounds received in furious contests furnished demonstrative evidence that he was at the post of duty and of danger.

When Peace, crowned with Independence and glory. blessed the new-born, and first-born Republic, in the Western Hemisphere, the war-worn Murray became the unassuming citizen.

His native energy and decision of character, was exemplified in the mild arts of peace, as signally as was his cour age in the midst of war, carnage, bloodshed and death.

When the house of Bourbon fell, and the French Republic rose upon its ruins, like a Phoenix from embers--when, in her ravishing strides, she laid her rapacious hands upon American Commerce, Murray, with the high approbation of Washington and Adams, repaired again to the floating bulwarks of his country, and with the unrivalled ocean combatants in ocean warfare, afforded protection to Americans, and spread dismay amongst lawless French marauders.

The objects of his government effected, and the naval ardor of his countrymen revived, the Post-Captain Murray again retired to the bosom of his admiring friends and applauding countrymen.

He was retained in the naval service of the Republic, and was one of the thirteen original Captains in the American

Navy designed to keep alive the naval flame, and to avenge the injuries sustained by Americans upon every ocean and in every sea.

When the detested disciples of the arch impostor Mahomet, raised the blood-stained Crescent over the Starspangled Banner of America-robbed her commerce, and enslaved her citizens, the sagacious and profound JEPFERSON selected the cool, experienced, and veteran MURRAY as the Commander in Chief of a little American squadron in the renowned Mediterranean.

His character scarcely began to develope itself, as a Commander in Chief, before he was required to yield his command to a successor. In this capacity, he shewed that he possessed the courage of the champion, but he was permitted only to menace his foe at a distance, and defend himself when assailed.

For the third time, he retired from the warring ocean as a distinguished ocean warrior. In three different wars, with three different powers, he had fought and fought valiantly in thirteen battles, and the crimsoned current that copiously flowed from his mortal body, evinced the heroism of his immortal soul.

When imperious Britain, a second time by her unhalJowed aggressions, caused the second war between the American Republic and that haughty power, Murray's name stood at the head of the American Naval Register, and his fame, without a blot, in the register of American glory.

The cautious and wary Madison, then, and the no less penetrating Monroe, afterwards, detained this experienced veteran in the home department, to digest and mature the system which has given imperishable glory to the Ameri

can navy, and almost absolute perfection to American naval architecture.

In fine: this honoured Naval Hero and American Patriot, went forth, from grade to grade, spending his life and exhausting his bodily vigour, in the cause of our beloved Republic, which he loved better than he loved himself.

He lived well known, highly honoured, and invariably respected by Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison and Monroe, the five renowned Presidents of the only pure Republic on earth; and of how many departed worthies can higher honours be told?

But, with all his justly merited honours, he shewed no ostentation. He was a dignified, genuine, Republican ; who, although honoured by the great, was courteous to the small; and "those who knew him best, loved him most.

[ORIGINAL.]

THE SENIOR COMMODORE AND POST-CAPTAIN IN

THE AMERICAN NAVY.

Tune-"The sea was calm," &c.

I. Young MURRAY, brave, of noble mein
Gave " strong assurance of the man,"
With Neptune's sons, was often seen,
The ocean's vast expanse to scan.
When eighteen years had mann'd his brow,
A master on the deck he stood,

Of merchant's ship, with lofty bow,

A youth esteem'd both great and good.

II. When first Americans arose,

Against the hostile British foe: