Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1815-02-28

IN HI 8ziCE ~ sS 49, $3.50. ~
that If they liays not tlle ecs 9 il0 shss
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tionrising like nigh monster oltlle
deep amid the troubled waves wnici,3
gdenofcd his coming. glooomy, srigiilal
and a,aiestic, Napoleon presents l''ss'-
self as candidate for the exclusive
admiration 81 the age, His fsa ming
course is a complete contrast g me e
virtuoas aud truly great career o. =
Washington--Alter having delend end
ed Ibis country with brilliant ssisefss,
he turned his arms against i and
carved sut for himself an iron throne,
on which he seated himself with the
pride and pomp of q cenguersr. a.
bout the time that Napoleon retbrn+
ed from Egypt and seized tl,s su.
premc power in France, as i ma
tnre intended TO place these great
examples of true and false herotsm
IN streng reliefto eaelI other, Wash
ingion died, and men were left 70
gaze alone at Napoleon. Initiating
the desfroyers rather than the bene-
factors Of humanity hs led his ie-
gions to conquest, and frinmphIng IN
great aud terrible battles IN Italy.
Germany. Spain, Poland. and Russia,
commanded the wonder and admira-
tionof the world. But the pyramid
of his greatness is built with the boz.
dies of the slain. and the halo OF
glory which encireled his head, was
reelected from the falling tears OF the
wretched. His lesson is new finish
ed--aud its end is more dissraeetu'
than It's beginning was glorious. lie
has not even turned aside when the
cup Of hnmifiaiioa was presented TO
him. bnt drank it 10 the very dregs.
he has been as blazing meteor
shooting through the air, which hav-
ing dazzleI and astenishea us for a
while with lis hrilliancy. bursts and
is lost amid sulphureeus and disgust
ing odours.
The character Of Alexander Of
Russia appears to bear some resem-
bIanee to that Of Washington in IFS
characteristics Of moderation and
magnanimity. 1t is probable that
the early lessons Of La lIarpe may
have insli!led into his mind some
knowledge Of true greatness. The
dreaded pouerof Napoleon has been
before him too as the school OF adj
versity. and his fSrtifude may be sup.
posed to be OF no common temper.
when he hcl.eld uadismayed, his ans
cicnt Capital in flames. and ruthless
enemy in the heart of his empire.
Europe boasts of Altxanderand With
pride contrasts him with the fierce
Napoleon. But itremaias yet TO be
pro.etl whether this imperial philo-.
sopi.er will re member the maxims OF
wisdom in the fitness oflis prOsperi-
ty. Having liberated Europe and
given peace to the old warld, should
he now labor to aNeliorate the eonai-
ton or bis people--should he WOO
the arts ofpeace and Improvement !;
and wl.en he fnds bis happy peasant
at an abundant hoard exult more than
when surrounded by the beauties OF
his csurt :--then indeed . proud
place is reserved for him in history.
The learning and science and phiio-
ply Of this enlightened age will rem
der their tribute to him. and in the
broad Iustre they shed, his glory will
be the greater. as the SUMS bright.
est 10 pure Italian sky.
There is a fine panegyric on Wash
ington in INTERPRETATIONS whica were
lately heard for his loss. During
the period Of our distress, when war
and calamity oyerspread the land.
hut one general sentiment OF regret
prevailed that he was not yet living
TO shield and to save his county
How far his personal influence could
reeiify any present disorder, is q
problem which il is perhaps useless
to attemptto solve. But tdoes not
pdetract from his merit to say that