The Sun.
London, England, 1845-10-01 00:00:00

THOMAS DAVIS.

(From the Nation.)
The blow with which it has pleased an All-Wise God
to strike us is too fresh, and has been too stunning, to
nllow of anything like a free and worthy utterance of
our feeling for him whom we have lost. He is laid in
the earth, and yet we cannot scarcely bring ourselves to
believe that he i:: gone—that all his deep affections, his
mounting hopes, his manly labours, his earnest life, are
ended in this world for evermore ! The change seems
still unreal, like a dark dream which we struggle to put
away. We have no power to speak of him as we
ought. Cura kres loguuntur ingentes stupent. But,
painfully and weakly as we may, we must say a few
broken words of one of the truest and purest and
n,,blest men whom friend ever honoured, or country ever
mourned
Thomas Davis has died in his youth; before his ma-
tured understanding and his ripened knowledge had
ponred their wealth upon the world. But, whilst he
lived, he was a faithful worker, and the few years which
wcre given to him were rich enough in wise and generous
action, to win him lasting honour from the land which
he loved with a love that had no bounds, and served
w:;h a devotion which never knew the taint of sel-
fishne,s.

ft' his powers—as an intellectual man, a thinker, and
r—it were idle, in this plaeo, to speak. 'Widely
and well have the people recognised the vigour of his
eonc,,p!kns and the magic or his style, and they need
no one to tell them of the mental strength of him who so
impr,ssed himself upon their understandings, and so
c,:antnatided the pas3age to their hearts.
Within a short period he wrote much in politics and
liter.tture, as a poet and as a critic, and wherever his
genius was exercised, its mastery was felt. Men differ
as to the political opinions which his held; but they car.
have no difference as to the large resources, the capacity
of rensonin!-,, the effluence of illustration, the untiring
energy, and the heart-sprung eloquence with which he
eLf .ro. d them.

x w 7

His poetry was the spontaneous expression of a soul
instiact with high impulses and kindly feelings, and full
of affection for all goodness and beauty in art, in nature,
and in human life. What he did was a mere promise of
the things to come, bad he been spared to inform the
mind and lift up the spirit of his countrymen ; but even
be has left behind him abounding proofs of the great
qualities of his intellect, which will whilst Ireland
has a life.

Of his acquirements, it were almost as vain to speak
as of his genius. They ranged through all the walks of
human thought and speculation, and they were as pro-
found as they ware various. But of his own people—of
their annals, their statistics, their topography, their lite-
rature— his knowledge was especially remarkable. No
man of his years—we believe, no man of his generation—
had achieved so full an insight into these things. He
toiled to gain it with the most strenuous industry and
the most unflinching resolution.
Our antiquities—the story of our later days—the lives
of our great men—the resources of our island—he
sought to understand at once with the patient devoted-
ness of the scholar, and the fiery passion of the
patr:ot. Of his eminent success he gave proof, as well
in these pages, as in these masterly and most learned
papers which he contributed to the reports of the Re-
peal Association ; but it was only in private intercourse
that the vastness of his accomplishments could be at all
appreciated. And all these faculties, and all these en-
dowments--all the gifts of his nature, and all the trea-
sures of his memory—were valued by him only as they
were available for the advancement of his life's great
purpose--the exaltation of Ireland. The love of her
glowed at the core of his heart. It was with him no
p using phantasy of youth, fading in the " c-mmon day"
01 a selfish and sordid world—it was the principle of
his being—the spring of his efforts—the abiding inspire-
tioa of his hopes.
The extent of his loss, as a public man, it is not easy
to comprehend. Perhaps, his most striking characteristic
was the unceasinfr energy with which he pursued the
codr,,e he had clifnen for himself. Difficulty could not
(lir,hearten, or opposition subdue, or failure depress him.
Ile always struggled on to his object ; and those who
came within the range of his influence were heartened to
do their part bravely by his example. His spirit lent its
fire to the spirit of other men, and it was hard for those
urouni him to indulge sluggishness of thought or apathy
of feeling.

But great as was his value to the society, in which he
lived for the reasons we have noted, the peculiar cir •
curostaeces of Ireland make his loss even more de-
plorable on another ground. In such a community as
ours, miserably broken into sections by political and
religious feuds, it is difficult to draw together the true
men who exist in every party, and combine them for
the good of all. Rare qualities are needed in him who
wculd attempt to harmonise the struggling elements of
such a community, and bring those who have held
themselves apart, in mutual distrust because in mutual
ignorance, to look each other kindly in the face ; to
know that they have common thoughts, and wishes, and
aspirations; to recognise theircommon interests and their
common duties ; and recollect that they are not only mem-
bers orthe brothood of humanity, but men who have a
common country to love, to serve, and to be proud of.
Rare qualities must be his who, without compromise of
his own opinions—nay, whilsthe asserts them with peculiar
strength and boldness—can fulfil a mission such as this
and, whilst he softens bitter asperities and conquers
ancient prejudices, can command the love and confidence
of hie political foes. And such were the qualities of
11 antis Davis. Taking his stand in the front of his
pa:l.y and proclaiming its doctrines fearlessly and de-
fyingly, he went amongst the men whose intellect and
attainments adorn our metropolis, and won from those of
them, to whom his political sentiments were most dis-
tasteful, cordial attachment and generous admiration.
In every effort to exalt Irish art and create an Irish
literature, he was found working side by side with them,
and they are foremost now in speaking his praises, and
lamenting his early loss. He has established, to a large
extent, a fair and friendly understanding between the
best amongst us of all creeds and parties and he was
peculiarly fitted to carry ea the good work of union,
and create sentiments of trust and charity where jealousy
and division had dwelt before. For he was a man of
large sympathies, reaching intellectual persons of various
accomplishments and various pursuits. He had a for-
bearing and entirely tolerant nature. The transparent
sincerity of his soul no one could question ; and his
childlike guileless and simplicity of heart made him
trusted as soon as he was known. Thus it was, that he
had amongst all parties warm and devoted friends, who
looked to his genius with pride, and to his life with hope ;
and thus it was, that he was enabled to promote, more
than any other, the junction for national objects of
those who cherish national feeling and national spirit,
whether they are called Conservatives or Repealers.
Of the most cultivated in Ireland, there are many,
indeed, who bear to her a true attachment—who are
anxious to improve her condition, and raise her cha-
racter—who would give her a history, and a literature,
and make art, with all its glories, native to her
soil, but who stand apart from the great movement
of the people. Between such men and Thomas
Davis political antagonism could not prevent a close
alliance ; they knew and honoured him ; and he was pre
paring the way for a combination, fruitful of the highest
ben; fit to the country.
Of his services to the awakening literature of Ireland,
no estimate can well be exaggerated. It is not too much
to say, that whatever of vitality and progress it has
shown in latter days, is largely to be ascribed to his con-
tinual promptings and endeavours.
His mind never rested, or spent itself idly in mere en-
ioyment. He was always projecting and planning—
acting himself and stirring other men to action ; and
almost all the undertakings which have done so much
within the last few years to rouse the intellect of the
people, and to give them higher tastes and wider know.
ledge, were begun on his suggestion, or carried forward
with his constant and ever ready aid. Hereafter, when
we shall have a literature " racy of the soil," and ex-
pressing truly the spirit of the country, and when men
shall come and tell how it was planted, and how it sprung
to vigorous life, what Thomas Davis thought and did for
it when it needed helpers will be held in grateful and
affectionate remembrance.
Of his public worth and his public services we have
poorly spoken; but of his relation to those who were
bound to him, by nearer ties, we can hardly venture to
speak at all. By his family and friends he was fondly
and proudly loved. No one could know him without
loving him. No one could look into his clear, brave
spirit, and note the wealth of goodness which adorned
it, and fail to bear him deep attachment. His earnest
simpl.city, and almost womanly tenderness of nature,
were beautiful in their union with the severe integrity
of his principles, his masculine understanding, his high
enthusiasm, his marvellous energy, and his unconquer-
able perseverance. It was no wonder that, abounding
in all truth and gentleness, trusty in every extremity,
and faithful in every trial, he was cherished by those
who knew him with thorough knowledge, as a man
worthy to be worn in one's heart of hearts.
It is vain to attempt description of the suffering
which his untimely fate has brought on those who were
his riends. We shall not speak of it; but of the public
demonstraticns of respect in which the people have been
so prodigal, we are bound to say a grateful word.
John O'Connell has acted with a manly and generous
promptitude that does him lasting honour. He led the
way in testifying to the magnitude of the loss which has
befallen the country ; and he was nobly followed by the
worthiest and the best in Dublin. Of the funeral there
is something said in another place ; and here we shall
only add, that the intellect of Ireland—its art—its com-
merce, were fitly represented there. Men of every class
of opinion crowded to offer the tribute of their tears at
the early grave of him in whose goodness they all had faith
—for whose genius they all had reverence. The homage
was worthy of the man and of the nation. It was the
triumph of single-hearted honesty, and proved powers
of mind over all the inveterate prejudices of party, even
in the land which it has most deeply cursed.
The people have done their duty ; nor has the press
been wanting. Sadly, yet proudly, we point to the evi-
dence which journals the moste moral and mental le in their views,
a
have combined to bear to th
great-
ness of one with whom few of themfull communion
of sentiment whilst he lived and l had
oure
d.
When such things can be, there is hope for Ireland ;
and whilst we humbly bow before the e
pensation of Providence, which has startled us to chastening
a g
con-
sciousness of our mortality, and taught us to reflecctoonthe utter instability of all worldly things, it may
sole us to think that, even in death, our dear friend hasn
not ceased to serve the land of his love, and that the un-
wonted combination of hearts and hands which signalised
the memory of his virtues whilst he was borne to his
cold home, is at once the proof that his efforts to unite
his countrymen have not been vain, and the inspiring
promise that Ireland shall yet achieve the wisdom and
the happiness to the promotion of which he had dedi-
cated his life.

Among his earliest verses—for he hod never published,
we believe never written, a line of poetry before the
period of The IVation—wise his touching piece, entitled

"My Grave." It is not figurative, or coloured ; but a
strictly true echo of his sentiments:—
MY GRAVE.
BY THOMAS DAVIS.
Shall they bury me in the deep,
Where wind-forgetting waters sleep?
Shall they dig a grave for me,
Under the green-wood tree?
Or on the wild heath,
Where the wilder breath
Of the storm doth blow
Oh, no! oh, no !
Shall they bury me in the Palace Tombs,
Or under the shade of Cathedral domes?
Sweet %were to lie on Italy's shore ;
Yet not there—nor in Greece, though I love it more.
In the wolf or the vulture my grave shall I find!
Shall my ashes career on the world-seeing wind?
Shall they fling my corpse in the battle mound,
Where collinlzss thousands lie under the ground?
Just as they fall they are buried so—
Oh, no! oh, no!
No ! on an Irish green hill-side,
On an opening lawn—but not too wide :
For I love the dip of the wetted trees—
I love not the gales, but a gentle breeze,
To fre,then the turf—put no tombstone there,
But green sods deck'd with daisies fair,
Nor sods too deep ; but so that the dew,
The matted grass-roots may trickle through.
Be my epitaph writ on my country's mind,
" He serv'd his country, and lov'd his kind."
Oh ! 'tivzsre sweet unto the grave to go,
If one were sure to be buried so.

MEXICO and the UNITED STATES.
(From the Journal des Debats.)
The United States deserve applause for the prosperity
they have gained, and good wishes for its prolongation. They
form a great nation which cultivates most admirably the soil
on which it is planted by Providence, and has opened vast
fields to civilisation, but the domain allotted to them is quite
sufficient to satisfy any ambitious and enterprising people. It
is ten times the extent of our France, which nevertheless is a
very fine empire. All the acquisitions required to consoli-
date them, and make them masters of •their own possessions
they have alreeady won by force or negotiation. They have
the Valley of the Mississippi and Floridas, and all that origi-
nally belonged to the Indians. What morehave they needof ?
Have not their twenty millions of people sufficient room in
their vast territories? If the United States knew their own
interest, they would be contended with what they have. The
civilised world cannot view with indifference their aggran-
disement on the Mexican side, for every inch of ground they
gain in that direction is so much given up to the infamous
institution of slavery. For the political balance of the world
the conqueSt of Mexico by the United States may create
eventual dangers, which, though distant, it will not be super-
fluous to guard against. Europe, therefore, watches with
care a great empire which oceupies in the east and in the
north an immense surface covered with a population of
sixty-two millions, double that of France and that of Austria,
and quadruple that of Prussia, and cannot help being filled
with the conteniplation. of another colossus which may
occupy the whole space_ of the isthmus*of Panama from the
mouths of the SL Lawrence to the Columbia River in the
Oregon, thus acquiring the disposal of the most productive
cultivable lands and the richest mines of the earth, and ex-
tremely redoubtable at sea. Between the autocracy of Russia
on the east, and the democracy of America thus aggrandised
on the west, Europe may find herself more compressed than
she may one day think consistent with her independence and
dignity. It is not for the interest of Europe that the
entirety of America should be in one hand, nor do we think
America herself wishes it. Well, then The conquest of
Mexico would be a wide step towards the enslavement of
the world by the United States, and that a levy of bucklers
by the Mexicans at this moment would lead the way to this
subjection. There is, therefore, good reason. hy the public
mind should be turned with attention towards what is now
passing on the other side of the Atlantic.

THE BOARD OF ORuNANCE AND

THE PARISH OF WOOLWICH.

For the last two or three years a dispute has existed
between the authorities of the Ordnance and the Com-
missioners of the town of Wonlwich acting as guardians
of the town under the Local Act, relative to the right of
way across the Barrack-field, by a footpath leading from
Mulgrave-place to the " White-gate" on Woolwich-
common. The claim of the parish is founded on an Act
of Parliament passed about fifty years since, for autho-
rising the sale of part of Woolwich-common to the
Board of Ordnance, in which Act is an especial reserva-
tion as a footpath of the road in question. Between two
and three years since, after a lengthened correspond-
ence on the subject, Mr. Hignett, the then solicitor to
the Ordnance, addressed a letter to Mr. Nukes, the legal
adviser of the Board of Commissioners, admitting the
full right of the parish to the footpath in question. Not-
withstanding this admission, the authorities of the gar-
rison have from time to time interrupted the public in
passing through the "White-gate," thereby occasioning
great inconvenience to persons crossing the Barrack-
field. About two months since, on the ordinary annual
occasion of perambulating the Ordnance boundaries, the
sentry on duty at the gate refused to allow the public
to pass, and on that occasion, in consequence of a remon-
strance from Mr. Nukes, Major Sandilands, the Deputy-
Assistant Quartermaster-General, addressed a letter to
that gentleman, stating that the sentry, in opposing
the passing of foot-passengers, acted under a mistake,
and that care would be taken that the mistake should
not occur again. On Sunday morning last Mr. Cann,
an undertaker, proceeded with the funeral of the body of
a boy named Leonard, who perished by the explosion in
the Royal Arsenal, and whose parents resided in Bar-
rack-court, to the White-gate, where the mourners were
refused admission by the sentry. After some remon-
strance he was allowed to pass, and the funeral ceremony
haring been concluded, the mourners were returning
through the White-gate, when they were again stopped
by another sentinel, who peremptorily refused to allow
them to pass. Mr. Cann remonstrated with the sentry,
and told him that it was a public way ; but the re-
ply was, that the sentry who had allowed them to
pass before bad been placed inconfinement for allowing
them to do so, and that they could not be allowed to pass.
Mr. Cann then asked whether, if the mourners took off
their cloaks and hoods, they would be allowed to pass as
other passengers ; and no direct denial being given, he
proceeded to remove the scarfs and hoods of the females,
and sent over to their house, only a few yards off, for
coloured bonnets. In the meantime a non-commissioned
officer came running up from the barracks, and said, in
reply to the remonstrances of Mr. Cann, " I don't care
what you say, I want none of your law, you shan't pass
here." The consequence was, that the afflicted mourners
had to return by a road at least half a mile in length,
when they were within a few yards of their own re-
sidence. All these facts were brought under the notice
of the Commiasioners at their usual meeting, on Tues-
day evening, when, after a strong expression of feeling
from all the gentlemen present, it was unanimously re-
solved to appoint a Committee with full powers, to lay
the whole of the circumstances and the correspondence
before the Master-General, and in the event of his
decision being unsatisfactory, to demand from Lord
Bloomfield, the Commandant of the Garrison, the names
of all the parties connected with the outrage, in order
that legal proceedings may be instituted against them.
The affair has caused an extraordinary sensation amongst
the inhabitants of the town.