Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-05-06
FRoH TEE YIRcINIA APOLLO,
A new paper published in Petersburg by
MLauchlin and Cook.)
GRAND NATIONAL JUBILEE.
Fortassc Ohm DEeminisse juuebit.


Having lately perused Burk's history of
Virginia, discovered that or the approach
ing thirteenth of May, two Centuries will
have elapsed since the fore-fathers OF Nir-
ginia, aud it may be said the founders of
North America landed on the peninsula of
James Town. 1t is impossible TO contem-
tplate this event without feelings of rever-
ence and sublimity. Nothing in any anc-
ent story furnishes any parallel at once to
the humility and the grandeur of this INCL
dent: we read OF conguerors leading their
thousands and tens of thousands, TO the sack
! OF cities, and the devastation OF continents, s.
lby the pretended rights Of conquest, cx-
urpating or enslaving their inhabitants
we read with horror of the destructive pro-
| gress of Pizarro and Cortez, and the in
human systems OF civil and ecclesiast cal
policy, by which millions Of innocent human
beings persisted iii tortureS, and agonies at
! the shrine Of bisotry and avarIce every
| page is filed with the successful ambition
| of kings and the unavailIng and impotent
struggles OF suffering humanity every
where vice triumphs, virtue is discounte-
nanced; or If some solitary act or event
bearing the features Of honor, or the stamp
OF Independence appears---if by some gene
rous effort or by some sudden convulslon
sors and establishing a form of government
that promises greater happiness and secu-
rity, we find 1t fieetng as the fash, whose
short and sudden light renders the gloom
more awful and portentous.-The mind
| is sick with viewing those scenes of blood,
! this picture ot human calamity, and turns
away with disgust TO repoSe itself on this
| grand and Cnnsplatory event. 4 handful
! of hardy Adventures formed the advanced
guard of the distressed, the prosecuted, the
virtuous, the brave, the independent of all
the nations of the old world commit them
selves in two frail barques to the trackless
and unfathomabic deeps of the Atlantic
| they deliberately forego the comforts, the
reinementS, the Injuries of civilized life
they tear themselves from the endearine
scenes of their childhood, the tender ties
of affection and kindred animated by the
spirit of generous adventurers, they pre-.
pare themselves to encounter the danger
! Of unknown seas, of the bowling wilderness,
! and of saVages, more terrible than tenn
iCests OF " ID beasts. With what transport
Unjust they not have contemplated, after
their long and hazardous voyage, the mag
niticent bay Of Chesapeake, wooded To les
margin, and embosoming them in its vast
lamphitheatrs of forest we follow them TO
the mouth of the majestic Powhatan, a
name since ungratefully changed in oom-
PIGMENT to a PEDANT and TYRANT. The
aborigines distinguished by their black
strait hair, their red cclor, armed with
bow and arrow and tomahawk, and arrayed
in the fantastic costume of nature, follow
them upon its banks, their faces impressed
with mute and savage astonishment be-
Icome a. length more familiar, we see them
iconversing by signs, the original language
[ pf nyya NJ ler,er IxJ..
to curiosity, approaching them in their ca
noes, and bartering their rude productions
I've mark the beginning of confidence
and trace the features OF character AMONGST
this singular people, still more striking than
their dress or complexion. Every moment
the scene becomes more busy, more inter-
Testing and dramatic, and it is every where
highly diversified with characters and in
lcidents.
We contemplate the venerable figure of
the great sachem Powhatan, elevated upon
a throne resembling bedstead, and clad
in the skin OF a racoon; the singular ambi-
ton Of Nemattanow the sagacitv, the dis
!simulation, the courage, the perseverance
iof OpechankaHough, like another Hanui-
bal, devoted to the destruction Of the
lenemies OF his country We mark the
lgentle spirit OF Pocahontas, dropping the
pam Ol nGT LChutrN6SS upon the wounds
and distresses of our forefathers, and like
a guardian spirit interpreting herhelf be-
tween them and every danger. The gal-
liant and romantic Smith is striking f.
lgure in the groupe, and his agency is in
Ultimately connected with the denoument (;
but who shall be able TO follow the course
lof these striking events, yielding at length
90 labor, Go industry, to intelligence, to pa %
tiOtism, the zyifdsrHcs8 bes'i1ls 10 6loss1Dl
las Me rose: the hauntJ of wild beasts be-
ICome the habitations Of men, and instead
of their Lowlings mingled with the wells Of
savages, are now heard the cxDcsitions of
law, the discussions Of science, and the elo-
,qucnce OF scnates; cities rise as it were bv
magic; the arts and sciences encouraged
by an unrestrdincd inquiry, extend widciv
their empire, whilst liberty, the first and
greatest of human blessings, like the kew
stone 20 an arch, gives security and per.
nansncv 20 those great and manifold bles.
sings. What a scene IS here for gratitude
for graduation ard triumph compared
with an occasion like this, how sink the
anniversaries Of Europe. The childish anc
wicked incidents that cave birth to- THEN
Jubilces, and their festivals for which C..
deuns, ana bosaunss are sung by q wicket
mocSery and prostitution ofrelig;on; ever
tho festivals of The Sncicrts having thei,
rise IN more usefll ard honorable Drinci
PIES the Satuuaii, the Olvmuic, the Lat