Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-02-03
E1cxMoNp, Jan. 2a.h. :c!2.

: HAVING been appointed by our B-nthcl
and Sisters in affection, the relatives of thos
iamented victims who suffered bv the lat
- awful event, 10 convey. to you an expi-csSio
of our general gratitude for your kind part
o clpation in our sorrow, and yonr bencyolen
=, ch1rts to sooth our grief, we hasten to dis
charge duty sacred tn our individual
feelings. and so deeply interesting to the sen
sibility of US all.
Under calamities such as the hoi'rid catas-
! trophe in which our present, UNDERSTANDABLE
!; affection has originated. the first appeal OF
man is to the mercy of Heaven, the second
20 the sympathy Of his fellow-crcatures. The
keenest anguish, the most acute misery, the
severest pangs, TO which humanity is heir,
are still accessible 20 divine consolation and
NAV, at least, be alleviated, if they can not
DC entirely removed, b, the tender Offices of
sympattizing coincidence, and the powerful
resistless endearments of social love.
| Yes, Fellow Citizens. and here 1--WE
| speak what we do know" Sunk in the deep
est abyss of sorrow, weeping over the ruins
| OF our fondcst hopes, of all that essentially
constituted cur earthly happiness, we have
not spuined from our lips, we have not dash
ed to the ground, in unmanly and impious
frenzy, the cup of solace. Ii is true, alas
IT is but too tine, that the laws of nature are
| immutab,e; that the DEGREES Of natures God
can not be reversed that no sympathy, no
coincidence, can restore TO us the beloved OBJ
Jects. whose loss we 50 Justly and so bitterly
lament; that our consorts, our parents, our
children, ourbrothers, our sisters, our friends,
have been deplorabiy torn, for ever torn,
from our bosons that their Affection, their
endearing smiles will no longer cheer our
domestic scenes their charms, their virtues.
their worth, no longer grace and benefit so
ciety In short that, in our existence, as men
and as Citizens, a chasm has occurred which
no future suspicious event can fill up Still,
even TO hearts so deeply, cruelty wound
ed, a God of mercy impa:ts, if not fortitude,
at least, resignation. Submitting, in silent
acquiesccnce, to the divine and onnipotent
hand that has severely sm:ttcn us, revc-
rentially and fearfully bowling to that Provi-
dence whose ways are ever unsearchable,"
we fondly listen TO the secret voice that
whispers the soul-energizing hope of immor-
tally. that hope implanted by nature in the
human bf east, and confirmed by thS promis
es Of religion. We humbly trust that the
spirits of our departed relatives have been
waited to the bosom of the Father of love,
of the universal Parent of mankind-trans-
fcrrcd from heeting, chcckered, and fugitive
scenes to the blissful abode of undristurbccl
and eternal rest
At the same time, Fellow-Citizens, we re-
u
sympathy of breasts attuned to our distress
heaving with our anguish, and re-echoing our
signs. As soonas the mournful narrative of our
unparalleled Calamity reached YOUR ears, af-
fiicted and APPALLED, your hearts. you FASTENED
to transmit To us expressions of coincidence,
acknowledgements delicate, and affecting, both
in their substance, and in their form. The
generous impulse was spontaneously, unani-
mously, ard promptly obeyed. The dignif-
ed councils and venerable sages of our coun-
try condcscendcd to bend over US and join in
our gricf-The affectionate glow of youthful
sensibiity penetrated the sacred recess of
our sorrow, and desire to deposit in the tenn
pie of our mourning durable monument of
| tervid sympathy. Every where humanity
wept; every where the sable badge of sor-
row was assumed; every where those noble
| feelings conspicuously manifested themselves,
| which, throughout the world, bind man TO
man, make of each nation a family and of all
| nations, a vast aggregate of kindred, con-
genial beings. Exalted perogative, Glori-
Gus attribute of our moral nature! Where
yer man dwclls, there pity, that gentle daugh-
! ter OF Heaven, dwells also, and the unfa;'tu-
nate are sure to find in the breasts of the
heroic, the virtuous, and the meek, those
soothing repercussions of feeling, mournful,
| indeed, yet pleasant to the soul Z"
| Accept then, Fellow Citizens, our heart
| felt. heart-dictated Acknowledgements for the
numerous and affecting expressions of your
| sympathy. Doubtless, you stand not in need
of feeble thanks. You require not, you ex-
pect not this tribute, just and legitimate as
| it is. But shall sorrow, mitgated by your
kind and generous efforts, withhold the hon.
| age OF sincere and fervent gratitudes No
| As long as life shall last, as long as the i'm
| perishable memory of our misfortune shall
continue-so long shall the endearing recol-
lection of your sensibility, associate with the
sacred images Of our love & grief, and warm
not only our bosoms, but those of succeeding
generations, with the glow of grateful feel
ings towards you.
| With this imperfect expression of our SEN
sioility and gratitude, accept, fellow-citizens,
the assurance of our ardent prayers to the
throne of omnipotence for your exemption
from calam!tIes similar to thot which has so
deplorably, and SO extensively been felt by
| US
L. II. GIRARDIN,
| LEROY ANDERSON,
| PATRICK GIBSON.
In the ndrte ofaH The reLaffUes Of the Ia
'nenfed victims, 7vho fitrished az Richmond,
/ I'm Z J.oI ,f,.I. q n L