Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1806-02-25

nish copy thereof for publication.
GEORGE DENEAl-E, Sec'y.
Q r A r I o N,
Delivered BIZ CHARLES FEsToN MERCER,
ESQ. at the. Episcopal church, On Safur.
day, The ga2 instant.
My AUDIENCE,
IT HAS been the immeroTia.
custom OF SONG of The wistst, as we'll as
greatest nations, to commemorate those
hs;lIE,u, epocl1s of their history, connected
with the foundation, or extension Of fteir
empire; with The establishment, or reno.
walton of their laws. Assembling, in the
public celebration OF those Sublime events,
all the powers Of genips, they sought to
give thsn an eternal existence, not in the
memories alone, bet in the hearts Of their
people; to awaken and cherish in them, a
noble sense of independence; aud, under
the canopy Of their own glory, "a unite
them in The sacred bonds Of union and har.
NOISY. And, least the celebration of the
events themselves. distracted from the
gratitude Cue to their Industrious authors,
should not sufficiently arouse the national
pride, or eukindle the ardent spirit of emu
4ation, they distinguished, az occasions Of
public rejoicing, those auspiciors days, Oh
which God, in the plenitude of his power
ndthe extent Of his mercy, vouchsafed to
send on earth, those sublime geniuses, to
whom they asofihe9 their prosperity aud
glory
Ia nIM, indeed, whose birth WE com.
1nemorate, while, rspt in celestial happi,
ness, he enjoys the reward Of his virtues,
our applause may be as vain as were The
tears with which we deplored his death,
That melancholy event, however, closing,
10 manner SO solemn and august, the ca
reer Of his'tenporal greatness, enobies the
purpose which, to-day, assemblies US; re-
fines our loftiess praise from every seu,b.
lance Of adulaion, and confers the charm
OF disipterestedness On the public EXPIRES
sion OF our admiration and gratitude. And
may we not be permitted TO believe, that
the Immortal spirit Of our Washington yet
delights to hover near the beloved retreats
Of his age, and now perhaps bends from
.yon azure heaven, TO receive the grateful,
tho, indeed, humble tribute.of oar praise.
But, while your hearts, my audience
are kindling with enthusiasm :, the very;
name of Washington, tremole at the
task with which this respectable society
have honored me. / beseech. / would
fain claim your Indulgence, at the moment
I confess my utter Incompetence to do
Justice TO his fame. The actions of other
men borrow an additional, tho transient
lustre, from the fancy which lsbors TO
adorn them; but, feeble, indeed, as are
my powers, there is, moreover, 2 subimi-
ty IN my subject. which de6es eulogium
a sabEm,y which swells at my breast, but
to whiehny tongue in vain aspireS 70 give
utterance. Before SO respleudant an ori.
ginal, the sculptor retires il despair; the
pencil drops from rhe hand Of the painter,
and all its colors fade away. The figures
Of rhetoric, the variety of language, the
melody and harmony of sound, serve but
TO obscure and confuse the object Of your
enraptured view Airy vapors 'bey rise
beneath the expansive warmth Of the sun,
and cloud, for while, his orient splen
dor. All !! my audience, pardon The weak
ness which has betrayed me into an effort
so far above myself; and thcu, blest spi
.rit Of Washington, if thou dost, indeed,
hear my feeble accents, as come atone
1nent for the vain attempt of my humble
genius, deign TO accep. the tribute of my
Jealous love. Aperfect hero! AenatioD
emaneipatcd! An empire founded and
maintained by virtue alone Such are the
subjects which this day recalls to Us.