Norfolk gazette and publick ledger (Norfolk [Va.]), 1809-07-14 00:00:00

the respect of virtue amid the blandishments of peace. Whilst other nations have been overwhelmed by the tempest which shakes the universe to its centre; armed with the talons of the eagle, yet borne on the pinions of the dove, we have escaped the convulsions of war, and spared the sanctions of tyranny. Having discarded the blunt lance and eased the soldier's arm, we have retired to enjoy the blessings of a constitution which was begun in virtue and perfected in wisdom.
Awakened by this signal event, from that state of inaction which is a constant attendant on dependence and slavery, the American people rose to the enjoyment of a new light, the luxury of corrected feeling. Each bosom which had beat high with the enthusiastic spirit of freedom, soothed by the calm of peace, admitted the generous emotions of grateful acknowledgment. Those hardy struggles which have at length clothed our fields in verdure, which have expelled from our shores the angry demon of contention, and welcomed the gentle spirit of peace, have been met with correspondent emotions of gratitude and love. Each year has the tribute of eulogy been paid, and the memories of those, whose actions are enrolled in the records of Heaven, have been embalmed in the gratitude of the sons of men. The spirit of freedom which erst fled with the expiring breath of Brutus, now hovers with steady wing o'er the urn of Washington, and pays praises to his exalted shade. First of heroes in an age of glory, the majesty of his virtues ennobled on earth the human character; elevated above mankind by every requisite for Heaven, he now sits a chosen angel in the realm of bliss. Yet while the admiration is arrested, and the mind forcibly borne away from the contemplation of his virtues; the muse has not consigned to oblivion the deeds of his generous contemporaries. Each American Nestor has received his due of reverence; each Ajax of applause. Even those whose lustre has been eclipsed by superior brilliancy, have not been forgotten; their memories are still cherished in the bosom of friendship, and tradition will hand them down to the reverence of posterity. It is true they have not been marked by the pageants of greatness; no glittering monument rises to point out the place where the hero lies; the laurel which erst bound his brow, now rises to designate his melancholy tomb; and mournful sighs in the breeze. The passing stranger as he views the undecorated scene, offers a tribute of praise to his generous spirit, and while he drops a tear of pity on his humble urn, gratefully exclaims "here lies a patriot," the highest eulogium of the monumental marble.
It is truly a grateful task to record the merits of such generous patriots, and to dress their virtues in the garb of eulogy. In such an age of honour and of glory, when every soldier was a hero who might aspire to the records of fame, there is ample matter for the song of praise. Yet, those whose exertions have perfected a castle, which like Egyptian pyramids, proudly looks forward to eternal duration, need no other assistant to the crown of immortality. The hand of gratitude shall inscribe their names on every pillar of the castle they have erected, and bid them live when those liberties they guard, shall have passed into oblivion beneath a despotic power.
The human mind is so constituted as to shudder at the measures of the world, and anxiously to court the tribute of praise. The principle of ambition which is so intimately ingrained in our natures, is encouraged by commendation and stimulated by example. Thus every eulogium of departed worth, acts as an incentive to imitation and the same breath which is breathed in honour of the dead, kindles a flame of emulation in the bosoms of the living. And thus, the annual tribute which is paid to the memories of American patriots, inspires a generous ardour in their sons, and those who now sit under the shade of the olive which their exertions have planted, reverence their precepts and profit by their example. It is from this cause that the practice of to-day has been sanctioned by the approbation of the wise. At a time when the bustle of contention was just over, before the angry passions of the heart which had been roused into such active exertion, had had time to subside, the same voice which consecrated to fame the American patriot, was fraught with the violence of invective against those who had opposed him. Yet, when the contest of feeling is over, and the reign of reason begins, it is unwise to rouse a spirit of discord; and by empty censures to inflame national animosities. It is enough that the battle is over, and that the victory has been won; the smile of friendship should deck the countenance when the sword of war is sheathed. The vine finds not a congenial soil by the side of the blood-stained turf, and withers under the influence of its cumulo. It should be moistened by the dew of sympathy, and warmed by the smile of cordiality. Thus while we are mindful of the struggles as our to plant it, let us not forget the blessings we derive from its shade.
As science enlarges the sphere of the human mind, and opens to a correct contemplation of the works of nature; it teaches at the same time, a just view of civil rights, and acts as the firmest barrier against the encroachments of oppression. It is justly entitled, therefore, to the first place among national blessings, and merits the most judicious cultivation of the patriot. Insofar as it furthers this cause, it may not be deemed inappropriate to the present occasion, to point out a while, those illustrious characters who laboured for our independence, to take a succinct view of the arts and sciences in our country. While we look with the eye of anticipation upon the veil of blessings which has been purchased by the labours of our patriotic forefathers, we will invoke the gentle spirit of peace to hover around their tombs.
Among the many excellencies of our constitution, distinguished as it is by wisdom and liberality, its congeniality with the improvement of the human mind, holds a conspicuous place. A constitution which leaves the genius unshackled and prescribes no limits to the freedom of communication, prevents peculiar impediments to a spirit of exertion, and extends a fostering hand to the struggles of ambition. Of these advantages, the American people have eminently availed themselves, and have become no less distinguished for the cultivation of the bay than the reverence of the laurel. It is true, the dawn has just broke upon our infancy, but it offers a flattering prospect of a splendid maturity. The muses have kindly assisted our infant struggles, and have smoothed for us the paths to their temples. The patriot may now with pleasure contemplate the time when American literature, standing like the Rhodian Colossus, on the eternal rocks of independence and freedom, shall survive the destruction of the human mind and challenge a contest with time.
When the struggle was over, which had not bro't us thro' the secrets of a glorious war, to reap the blessings of a peaceful independence, it left us little prepared to forward the progress of the arts. At a time when every infant was taught to lisp the accents of war, and even the feeble hand, paralysed by age, was seen to grasp the glittering spear, the progress of the mind was slowed and slow. The shades of the classical grove were polished by the man of the sword; and the muses, sighing to see the ruinous and exulting, acted in the winds, the air of their temples. But the spirit of improvement, which had been so long confined, soon burst the fetters which had bound it, and raced with elastic force. The muse, in a moment, relieved from her shackles, now not only resumed her flight in the eagle, and soared in glorious regions of delight. The muses, now, in a moment, resumed their more rapid steps and
proud heads, and Ceres revisited the earth. Our country now clothed in the raiments of peace, wore an accompanying smile of contentment and satisfaction, and the standard of independence fluttered in that breeze which was late fraught with pestilence and war. Those bold and daring minds, who had conducted the crazy bark of our country thro' the tempests of civil commotion, were not easily reconciled to a state of inactivity. They now bent their patriotic exertions to beautify a country which their valour had raised into being. Those forests which had just served as a retreat from the persecutions of war, now yielded their honours to the sturdy axe, and the renovated works of genius shone amid desolate ruins. The artist and the husbandman soon resumed the insignia of political prosperity, the sails of commerce were unfurled to brave the fury of the storm and challenge the inconstancy of the waves. The wild and desolate regions of our country, soon smiled in the gay garb of culture, and a few years since like the infant Hercules, we had grasped the hydra of oppression, beheld us growing in opulence and flourishing in arts. The artist no longer sighed to see the mouldering ruins of the works of his genius; they now assisted the labours of industry or decorated the cabinets of fancy.
Such were the wonderful revolutions operated by that superior intelligence which lighted our government through the gloom which enveloped it, and enabled the American republic, like the unbending rock, to repel the angry waves which assailed her. By this directing influence she rose above the nations of the earth, and challenged an equality with the wisdom of Greece and the rigid virtue of Rome. Who since the days of Cincinnatus has rivalled Washington? Who like him could calmly relinquish the trappings of state for the humble guise of labour? Who shone with such lustre in the martial field, who ruled with such influence in the peaceful cabinet? Ever foremost in the retinue of Mars, he has placed our country first in the rank of nations; equally conspicuous in the arts of peace, he has purchased her the crown of glory in the maxims of domestic policy. The school of adversity in which the patriots of Seventy-Six were educated, taught them, like the intrepid Spartans who rushed naked to the fight, to trust for defence not in the weakness of an enemy's blow, but boldly to rest the cause of fortune and of life, on the vigour of individual exertion. Regulated by these maxims we equally present the quiver and the olive, and the nations of the earth, while they dread the terrors of the one, reverence the wisdom which cherishes the other. It is thus that the fame of our political foresight has reached the remotest regions of the earth. The inhabitants of Europe sicken with envy at the view of our felicity, while the Chinese wonder we can live so free.
It were an easy and a grateful task to swell the lists of fame by an enumeration of those illustrious characters whose generous exertions have contributed to realize this flattering picture. To the truth of their existence, the brightness of our political horizon, checkered by few spots of adverse fortune, bears convincing testimony. The mantle of peace has still covered our land, the double-faced Janus has never once opened to give freedom to the furies. The cheerful song of industry has still been heard, the sails of commerce have still waved in the breeze, furl'd only by the puerile whimsies of our visionary projector. Still listening to the whispers of fancy, still deceived by the visions of hope, his exertions clouded for a moment, the face of our country, and clothed her constitution in a mourning garb. But the time has at length arrived which has realized the nation's fondest anticipation, when the steps of theory and experiment are no longer marked by misery and tears, and when the maxims of a sensible and just policy have supplanted the vague phantoms of a vacillating mind.
If the American people have shone with distinguished lustre in the science of government, they have been little less conspicuous for an acquaintance with other branches of knowledge. These, though in themselves of less importance, are yet the pillars on which government stands, the heralds which proclaim to distant regions, its wisdom and its power. Thus, whilst each revolutionary hero, like Hannibal was levelling mountains in the pursuits of glory, and plucking danger by the brow in order that he might crop the nodding honours of the British crown to make a garland for his own head, Clio still tuned her historic lyre, and sounded her distant trump. The deeds of revolutionary patriotism which had been so deeply engraven in the bosom of contemporary gratitude soon found a more legible register from the historians pen. The operations of the field were again brought into view, the foot-steps of valour were retraced, and the trumpet of fame summoned the historians of America to take their seats with Livy and with Robertson .
There is so close and intimate a connexion between the sciences and the arts, that their very natures appear to be inseparably interwoven; nor can we discover in the annals of any nation, a proficiency in the one without a knowledge of the other. Thus, neither the wisdom which rules in the cabinet, nor the industrious learning which records the nations of men, limits the sphere of American literature. We can boast a Franklin, who like Socrates brought down philosophy from Heaven to illumine the dark mazes of our earthly pilgrimage; and whose towering genius has given direction to celestial fires. He has inculcated by precept and taught by example. The voice of his moral censures has checked the proud impulse of ambition and cropped the nodding plumes of vanity, whilst the vigour of his genius has removed the veil which conceals the treasures of nature and pointed out the path which leads to their enjoyment. The ambition of succeeding years has prompted an imitation of his laudable example, and the most rugged heights of philosophical fame, have since been found accessible to American genius. Schools of medicine have arisen to eclipse the celebrity of the eastern world, and to draw the curtain of obscurity over the names of Hippocrates and Galen. The pencil of the painter has left its expressive traces a legacy to posterity, and has challenged a competition with the world of futurity. In this and the proudest nations of Europe can boast no sons who wear brighter crowns than decorate the brows of the painters of America. Even those countries in which the muses delight to dwell, and where even the tempest of war which unceasingly howls around them, obtrudes not on the sanctity of the academic shades, exultingly proclaim the honour of having fostered the geniuses of Trumbull and of West. At their command the caverns of time are opened to the view, and the spirits of the dead resume their forms by the magick influence of their touch. The deluded vision bends in delight on the speaking canvas, and beholds in rapture the martial hero re-win his laurels. The comprehensive glance brings back the fleeting moments which have stolen away, and reconciles in an union of judgment and of art, the events of distant ages. The historic portrait glows with the bright tints which bespeak the ardour of joy and triumph.
To those whose bosoms beat with the laudable emotions of true patriotism, and whose views are not limited by the narrow sphere of existing time, but who, penetrating the gloom that envelops futurity, desert events through a distant perspective, this view of our early success in the first of mimetic arts, presents a subject of pleasing contemplation. Yet in eloquence, although the activities which tend to it are replete with obstructions and difficulty, we have advanced with the most rapid steps and
ascended the greatest heights. This science, removed from the vulgar grasp, and destined to cast its splendour on the exertions of only a chosen few, develops the richest treasures of improvement and delight. The influence by which it regulates and directs the movements of our passions, justly entitles it to a place among the first of human excellencies, and seems to designate the orator as the instrument by which the important principle of sympathy exerts its powers. Every chord of the human heart vibrates at his touch, and its every emotion is subject to his controul. He bears down opposition like the mountain torrent, overwhelms the impulses of fear and stills the suggestions of prudence. He has found a new world, from which he can realize the most of Archimedes, and move our own at his pleasure. Sometimes we behold him shake the monarch on his throne, or turn the torrent of popular indignation against the mounds of superstition and tyranny; and sometimes like the guardian angel of Marlowe, ride on the whirlwind and direct the storm.
If we search into the records of antiquity, we shall find that eloquence has ever flourished in greatest vigour where the laws have been most free. When the mind is at liberty to utter its own suggestions and feels not the necessity of disguising the dictates of truth, it will more readily open to the conception of sublime images, and to dress them in a garb which will bear with it the recommendation of feeling. Thus we have beheld Demosthenes planting the standard of opposition on the ramparts of freedom, dispelling with his breath the mists of delusion from the popular eye, and canker'ing the splendour of the Macedonian crown. It is thus, we have seen Cicero, now soothing the soul by poetick harmony into sympathy and love, now in the bold language of passion, challenging the flight of the eagle and surpassing its energy. Those illustrious characters who shone as such conspicuous gems in the diadem of history, were taught in the school of independence, and breathed the atmosphere of freedom. Instructed by such examples, we naturally expect from the liberality of our own institutions, a correspondent progress in the art of eloquence. And here it is that we behold the brightest feature in the American character. It is in this acquisition that the genius of our infant country assays to bear away the palm of superiority from the modern world, and to pluck the crown of glory from the brow of antiquity. Even Greece and Rome, those boasted seats of elegance and science, have at no time surpassed our institutions in encouraging the genius of oratory, and the brightest page which decorates their annals, bears not the record of talents which equal the lustre of the American orator.
Where find we registered more favoured sons of the muse than Lee, Henry, and Ames? Where find more than in them, the energetic effusions of patriotism, clothed in the garb of harmony; the rough dictates of an honest zeal, insinuated beneath the drapery of the tutored muse? Transcending like the Nile, the boundaries of nature, they despised the idle formalities of fashion, overleaping the opposition of rivalry, they have reached the loftiest temple of fame and led the world captive. The frequent recurrence of those popular assemblies where every passion seeks opportunity of action, and every chord of the heart moves at an easy touch, affords the orator a fair field to exert his influence and display his powers. There the spirit of sympathy is alive, the current of popular inclination, just at the crisis of vacillation, wants to be directed where to flow, and now takes its impetuous course at the waving of the orators wand. Realising the thrasonic boast of the Roman hero, embattled warriors rise at the stamping of his foot, while enthroned in their hearts, he sits like Jupiter among the Gods, and dictates the destinies of kings. At his command the standard of rebellion flies and the furies burst their choir, or tempering the magic of his voice, he stills the troubled spirit of popular phrensy and extinguishes the torch of discord with her own tears. Such are the advantages and such the excellence which our orators can boast. The hearts of men bend in captivity to the charms of their eloquence, and the brilliant coruscations of their genius cast a splendour on the dark regions of popular delusion.
But the most splendid theatres of American eloquence have yet passed without notice. The pulpit has still rolled "its moral thunders o'er the captive soul," and has suspended the threatening rod of divine indignation before the recreant eye of sin. While it has struck terror in the bosom of vice and withdrawn the mantle which covered its deformities, it has mingled the unwelcome repast of moral instruction with more than the sweets of Hybla. Yet would you test the subtlety of the human mind, would you explore the farthest regions through which the wing of human fancy can soar, attend the discussions of the American bar. There is presented a field where the most aspiring spirit of ambition finds ample room for exertion, and where the constant struggles of an emulative pride, rouse into action all the energies of genius. The clouds of obscurity which envelope the treasures of law, are penetrated and scattered by the lawyer's glance, while imagination lays open to his view all her gay and captivating treasures. The delighted audience drink eagerly the streams of eloquence as they flow from his lips, and forget the subtleties of the logician in the graceful charms of the orator. To his protecting influence the widow and the orphan fly for shelter; the spirit of oppression recoils upon itself at the terror of his frown, & injustice hides her blushes in the dust. While he takes innocence by the hand, smoothes the brow of affliction, the glance of his genius brought with the shafts of correction, penetrates the gloom which shrouds the villain's heart, and pierces it with terror at its own deformities. Bearing in one hand the olive of peace, while the other brandishes the sword of chastisement, he sits to guard the castle of American rights, and the genius of his enraptured country, weaves a garland of unfading laurel to decorate his brow.
In proportion as the human mind advances in strength and sublimity, towards its grand characteristic of perfection, it is regulated and tempered by the improvements of taste. The same feelings which would prompt the warm and enthusiastick manner of the orator of nature, would readily suggest, when turned to milder objects, the most harmonious cadence of the measured line. Thence originated a taste for poetry. The vivid and picturesque scenes of our wild and romantic country, seemed particularly favourable to the progress of an art whose principal excellence consists in copying nature, and clothing her dictates in the language of feeling. Poetry, therefore, was early cultivated among us, and our groves soon resounded with the song of the bard. The deeds of heroism which had so recently passed in review before him, animated his bosom with a kindred fire, and those fingers which had been hardened in the grasp of the hostile sword, now swept the trembling strings of the epic lyre.
Eminence in this art, embraces as requisites so many excellencies, that few have obtained places in the records of poetick merit. The descriptive elegies of Thomson, the easy fluency of Pope, the nerve of Shakespeare, and the sublimity of Milton, must all unite to form the character of the complete poet. It should not, therefore, be made a matter of surprise, that our infant country has never been distinguished for perfection in this art. Yet the fire of our poetick genius has broken out in more than glimmering coruscations, and the muse can boast of American sons who were brilliant crowns in the tem-
ple of fame. It is true we have not a Shenstone who sighs his plaintive moans to the listening winds, and calls the spirit of sadness. We have not a Swift to brandish his whip of scorpions over our faults and our follies, nor a Pope to animate us with Grecian fire. Yet we can boast to have such epic song and cultivated the lighter muse. She has designed to visit the shades of an emancipated world, and her spirit is fervently breathed in the anthems of national gratitude.
The easy and unreserved flow of the feelings of the soul which is necessary to the progress of poetry, seems to designate a band of freedom as the proper residence of the muse. Unawed by the terrors of power, and unperurbed by the fear of offence, imagination takes her easy flight and summons the forms of fancy to deck the picture of truth.
The gentle spirit of the muse is frightened by the clangour of the martial trump, and courts the calm seclusion of the sylvan haunt. There, secure from injury, she tunes her harp in peace, and mingles its notes with the melody of the nightingale. Retired from the world, wrapped in the gay visions of flattering imagination, behold the youthful poet reclining beneath the shade of his own civic bay. Fancy lightly hovers o'er him with aerial wings, and now gently stoops to remove the mantle from his eyes. Around him the muses play, Euterpe with the siren song and Terpsichore in the sportive dance. His little Helicon murmurs responsive melody to the music of his songs, while the god of love sits guardian of his harp. Conducted by fancy, he wanders through the cool shades of his little temple, and plucks flowers from the green top of his own Parnassus. Animated by genius and warmed by love, he has commanded the dull Melpomene to exchange her buskin and her dagger for the milder laurel of Erato. He sings of love; "an angel's pinions sweep the trembling strings." The choir of the grove sit silent with delight, and sadden at the melancholy music of his lute. The hills re-echo the mournful strain, the zephyrs sigh with the burden of his song.
But now sublimer themes employ his muse. The spirit of departed patriots pass in review before him; the genius of his country waves the magic wand, and the gay drapery of fancy flits like a shadow away. His lips have been touched with sacred fire by a seraphim from Heaven, and the genius of liberty directs his pen. The heroic Greene demands the tribute of praise. The solemn note, swelled by the majesty of the theme, assails the walls of heaven: Wayne, Mercer and Gates, are in turn the burden of his melancholy song, and the laurels which shadow their brows are watered by the tears of his gratitude. With aspect ferocious as the wolf he braved and steps unappears. His form is rough as the stubble of his field, but his heart is polished as the sickle which reaped it. The trembling hand bends beneath the majesty of his brow, his soul takes its flight to heaven. Montgomerie appears with melancholy step. Ambition sits lowering on his front, and laments the early frost which too soon withered the roses in his cheeks and cropped the budding honours of his crest. The sympathetick bard pours forth the sad strain of pity and of love, and the breeze which bears the mournful tribute along, sighs as it passes by his early tomb. The great illustrious Washington closes the solemn procession. The splendour of a divine light beams in his countenance, and angels of mercy attend around his head. As his human character was complete his celestial essence transcends the sublimity of fancy. The loftiest wing of eulogy is baffled in its exertions to reach the height of his fame; the melancholy bard heaves the deep sigh of despair, and suspends his mourning harp, now unstrung, upon the WEEPING WILLOW!
LONDON, May 10.
Revolution at Buenos Ayres. —We have long suspected that Liniers was exerting himself to the utmost in favour of the family of Buonaparte, and we now learn, by letters from Rio Janeiro, of the late date of February 6, that a revolution took place on the 1st of January, in which Liniers triumphed, and is now completely master as Viceroy of the city. It seems that the marriage of his daughter with a young man of the name of Perichon, which was contrary to law, disgusted the people generally, who were, besides, very desirous to elect a Junta, in imitation of Seville, &c. The Cabildo met, and the usual elections took place on the first of January; after which, previous depositions having been made by arming, &c. on both sides, to decide the matter by force, in case of necessity, a negotiation took place between the Cabildo and Liniers, regarding his laying down the sovereign authority. At length the heads of that body went to the Puente to treat personally with the Viceroy, when, up went the drawbridge, and they were quickly marched through the Puente del Socorro to the water side; put on board a schooner, and have been sent off, nobody knows where; but it is supposed that the voyage was not a long one, since it is known there were very few provisions on board. The names of those who thus put themselves into the trap are—Alzago, Villanueva, Sta. Coloma, Vardela, and another.
As a proof that this revolution is altogether in favour of France, we only need state, that the above-mentioned Perichon is a Frenchman by birth, and is the person who was charged by Liniers with dispatches for Buonaparte, giving an account of his defence of Buenos Ayres against the British under general Whitelocke, and was, on his return from France thro' Spain, on his way back to South America, in May or June of last year, apprehended in Andalusia, by order of the Junta of Seville, and confined in Cadiz, from whence it would appear he effected his escape.
The events which have thus taken place, though unfortunate for the patriotic cause of Spain, has removed every difficulty which obstructed the course of operations that it might believe the government of this country to pursue, in concert with the Prince of the Brazils. Monte Video still holds out against Liniers, and must be prevented from falling under his authority, or the whole of Spanish America may be lost.
It is to be apprehended, that the French squadron which sailed some time since from L'Orient, may have proceeded to the Rio de la Plata.
Bell's Weekly Messenger.
AUCTION.
WILL BE SOLD, To the Highest Bidder, on Saturday the 15th instant, On the premises for ready Money, A HOUSE,
With convenient Out-Houses, at the Canal, about 9 miles from Norfolk; it is calculated for a Dwelling and Store, subject to a ground rent of Twenty Dollars per year.
At the same time will be Sold, Household, Kitchen Furniture, and Stock.
HENRY SMITH.
July 3.
The Schooner
BRIG STATES, James Colbet, master, will sail for New-York the first fair wind. Freight or passage, apply