Excerpt from Memoirs of Benjamin Van Cleve
In my private duties as well as public I have always found it necessary to form rules for my conduct, resolutions to adhere strictly to the rules. My main object has ever been to be useful in the sphere in which my Creator has been pleased to place me. I cannot be useful unless I am active - I ought there fore never to procrastinate anything until tomorrow that can be done today a small private sacrifice should never be an obstacle, where much public good can be rendred. In my official duties my maxims have been 1. To have a place for everything everything in its place. 2. To make my duty my study determine what it is, what it is not. 3. To fulfill what I conscientiously believe to be my duty without hesita tion; fear, favor or affection The advice of a friend is never to be slighted, but every man ought to be the best judge of his own business and his own interest and duty. No friend or monitor is as near, as indefatigable, as interested in my conduct as my own heart Its lively dictates will ever afford me the most pleasing sensations, and obeying them the most cheeringconsolations. 4. To have system or classification of business, to do everything in its turn to finish one before I begin another itim or class; at the same time to accomodate all persons as far as practicable. To omit nothing necessary to be done, at the same time to study brevity and avoid everything superfluous or un necessary.
My opportunities for improvement by education have been very limited. I have never attended to the study of Grammar and I have not herein attempted to embellish my narrative by rhetorical figures attempting only a plain statement of facts. Tho’ I am sensible that in the construction of my sentences they are not calculated to meet the public eye, or bear criticism, I trust in their connexion they will seldom be misunderstood.
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