Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-01-16

des'y -an unh6rnded philanthropy, which dis
arsied every foe and made a friend of ever
generous bosom. Yet all these have been los
to u, n the untiinely, lanentab,c death of sin
&c citizen Indulge me, sir, whilst on hi
subject IN dropping only ono word upon my owl
| peculiar griefs.--Fr,m. his boyish DAYS In hi.
/ last awful moment, this Incompatible man wa.
! to me friend ard n brother ! = Yes, sir, fol
| more than thirty Years, have lived in the sua.
shine of his goodness and his friendship, un
ciouded even BY a single transient speek of dis
content--lic is now gone forever, and his los;
has caused void in my bosom, Which cannot
be filed by any thing which this world can be-
stow! Many other citizens have been lost :
perhaps not less valuable and mcrtol ious, but
less known TO me- ....-.....-.
Dut, sir, this is not all--Nc, sir, the trseical
scene does not stop here.
In this severe visitation, it has pleased the
great disposer or events, not to spare the farcst
portion OF his crcation.-AIany Of the E,ir sex,
lovely, amiable, accompliscd--thc most lril.
liant ornaments of social intercourse -,l,e most
cndcarinS pledges OF human happiness-.in this
awful scene ~ indiscriminatc destruction, have
been consumed and lost to this world forever Il
Yes, SIR all the dearest and tcndcrest affections
OF the heait--all the most delicate and compH-
Gated sensiblitics of our nature, seem, by a
strange mysterious destiny, 10 have been com
mingled, and collected into one fatal spot and
III one short moment, TO have been DESTROYED
ard swept away into oblivion !--khd IN the
sainc disastrous moment, every tender tie Which
Binds MAJ, Ia n,aa il, all the various endearin,r
relations OF society, have been torn asJindcr !,
IL IS not tor us frail mortals to pry into the
causes of the wonderful works of God to man
We are often called to behold the mysterious
and inscrutabie dispensations of his lmerrinr
providence; and it is our duty to receive them
with sincere alteration ofhis infinite goodness
and Eindness to his creatures and pious re-
siSnation TO his most righteous will 7!
1t is not my intention, Mr.. President, to at
tempt by vain words, TO excite your feelings nor
those OF this honorable Senate upon this most
signai, and melancholy catastrophe -No, sir,
the sad occasion itself, speaks too loudly and
directly 10 the heart to receive any aid from the
empty vanity of words. shall therefore pro-
ceed, with heart duly impressed with the sol
emn considerations the awfal lesson is too well
calculated to inspire; penetrated too, sir, with
| the deepest asHict,on aud regret for the great
snd signal calamity with which it has pleased
God to visit the state of Virginia, and the city
OF Richmond ;-and with sincere coincidence
Tor all those who are the more Immediate OBJ
Jects 81 this severe chaStiscment, to move; that
the Senate come to the following resolution
Resolved, That the Senate of the u. States
mas received with the deepest emotions of sor-
row and regret, Information, that great and
signal calamity has befallcn the state Of Virgi-
ma, and the city of Richmond III the dustruc-
ton OF the Theatre Of that city by fire, on the
night ofthe Goth ofthe present month, whereby
the lives OF. many valuable and distinguished
citIzcas have been lost, ard anlonst them Geo.
/ W. smith, ting Chief Magistrate of Virginia, and
Ahr'hsra Il. Nenable, Prasiaer. of the Bank of
Virginia and in testimony of these affecting
ana scrs1@ful feelings, and of sincere condo
iencc Ter Il those who are the more imme diate
onJeSts OF This severe calamity, the members of
the senate will wear Grape on the left arm for
one month