Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-08-28
THE Author fee Fire Worshippers.

The Noble Chairman proposed the health of
Mrs. Thomas Moore"
after passing handsome eulog GUM on the yir-
tues of that Lady.
MIR. Moore rose and said :--You are resolv-
ed, gentlemen, that there shall be no end 10
my gratitude. On the claims of Mrs. Moore
TO the high honour You have conferred upon
her, shall say hut little. Domestic happiness
Is OF thatquiet nature, which the heart enjoys,
but the tongue boasts not of. II is like that
still music which the ancieHts supposed is 90.
ing on above-not the less sweet for its max.
Ing no noise in the ears ofthe world. / shall,
therefore, leave il TO those among YOU who
have perfect happiness at home to imagine
mine; and in Mrs. Moore's name drink all
Your hcaiths.
Lord Charlemont said-Gentlemen, / am
about TO propose the health of distinguished
freshman, of a Poet aud an Orator, whose ia
Tents have gained him the admiration of TO.
reign countries of Patriot, whose pure
devotion 10 her interests has won the love and
honour of his own. 1t was my delightful task
In the course of the evening to have mentions
ed names copsecrated in the waTmest affections
OF lreland-men whose works have delighted
tie present age, aud will assuredly 20 doy?. 10
posterlty, gathering fresh honours from time
WIN these L will associate the name of Mr..
Phiillps-aB ornament TO his country pa.
triot without a stain-an Orator almost with.
onta rvai-a Poet, who, if he leave behind
him no other memorial of his genius, than the
elegant poem of the Emerald Isle, is sure to &C.
cupy high place among the DISTINGUISHED
pose the health of
Mr.. Phillips and the Emerad Isle"
This toast was drank with three times three
the entire company standing. After silence
was in some degree restored, Mr.. Phillips rose
and returned thanks az follows:
Allow me, my Lord, most sincerely to thank
you for this kind recollection of my name, and
still more to thank you for The sentiment with
which you have ass0ciatedit. To have advo-
Gated, however feebly that unfortunate isle has
eeensmylsole but flattering distinction, and if
under much encouragement she has been
dear 20 me, how must feel now at seeing the
heir of that Patriot who cheered her bright
hour, dispensing those honours so Justly due to
the poet who has illuminated her darkest In
lreaud's life time, the Noble s. the Bard were
never disnnlted, and the CharIemontS of
" other days enjoyed, my lord, as YOU do,
their most die nifed repose beneath the laurels
of their minstrel. May the omen be fulfilled
may the example be folowed-may the resi-
dent nobility of the country at length promote
the encouragement oft natural genius oh,
IT they do, they may depend OH il the advan-
tage will be reciprocal, the beam which they
shed will cause a reflection, that must make
both Industrious an the eyes of their descen-
dants. The presence of Mr.. Moore, naturally
Testrains the expressions in which l should
otherwise have INDUCED myself This, howe.
yer. cannot refrain from decIarng-it is not
to that genius wbieh bears the stamp of its ce.
lestial origiu-which has restrung the harp and
riyailed the minstrelsy of the" olden time
which has for MS realized the purest visions of
suspected IrduitloI, ana HlmsSif dntICIpat-
ed from ihe living age the certain eulogium of
the latest posterlty.-N9, my lord, those are
gifts derived from nature, and often have we
seen them Iavished on the worthless but it is
for the qualities which are inherentin himself
that give him, as do, the combined tribute
Otmy heart and understanding. 1t is for his
disnified and undertaking independence--for
his lofty principies-for his stainless and un.
compromising spirt---fOr his Fabrician virtue
for his yeslal patriotism, for the dauntless IN.
trepdity of his public conduct, contrasted as
it Is with that peculiar blandness which mas
made has home paradise, and left that aged
parent doubtful, whether this enyiable night
he should be the proudest or the happiest of
iathers-lMr. Phillips here pointed to the Ell.
der MIR. Moore, which excited an universal
sensation)-itis, my lord, for this prize him
but highly and above all, it is because neither
absence, nor gold, nor adversely, nor good for.
tune-nor the perilOus encouragement of ma.
ny renegade example could tempt him to
forget the friends mo left behind him. 1t is
because the pure and brilliant fame which
burns within him has ever been like the fire of
his own Gheber, consecrated to the forlorn
liberties of his country.
The next toast given from the Chair was
" The living poets of Great Britain"
Mr.. Moore again rose and said-Gentle-
men, cannot allow such a mark of respect to
be paid to the itIustrions names that adorn the
literature OF the present day, without calling
your attention awhile to the singular constel.
iatiOn of genius, and asking you to dwell a lit
tie while on the brightness of each &" particular
star" that forms it. Can name to Won a By
ron, without recalling TO your hearts recollec-
tioDs of all that his mighty genius has awaken
ed there his energy, his burning words his
intense passlOn-tliat disposition of his fine
fancy, to wander among the ruins Of the heart
10 dwell in places which the fire of feeling has
desolated, and, like the Chestnut tree that
grows best in volcanic soils, to luxuriate most
where the contlagTatiOn of passion has left its
mark Need mention to you Scott, thatfer-
tile and fascinating writer; the vegetation of
whose mind is as rapid as that of the northern
summer, aud as rich as the golden harvests of
the south, whose beautiful creations succeed
each other, like the fruits in ATmids' enchant-
ed garden
Shall recall to you Rogers ito me endeared
by friendship as well as geuius) who las hung
up bis own name on the sbrine of memory,
among the most imperishabe tableis there -
hSouthey not the Baureat hut the author Of
Don Roderick, one Of the nOblest aud most
eloquent poems in any lang1age-a Campbell,
the polished, the spirited Campbell, whose
song OfInisfai IL the very tear of our own
ITisk music crystaiZed by tie touch Of genius.
and made eteTnal-a Wordsworth q poet, even
In his pneTilllies. whose capacOus mind like the
great Pool Of Norway draws into is vortex
not only the mighty things of the deep, but its
minutest weeds and Tefuse-a Crabbe who has
shown what the more thaa galvanic power of
talent can effect, by giving not only motion.
but lite and soul, to subjects that seemed inca
babie Of w.
/ conld enumerate, Gentlemen. still more
and from them would pass with delight To-
dwell upon the poets Of our own land. The
dramatic powers OF a Naiurin and a Shield
the former coHsccrgted by the appl9uses Of q
Scott anO & itvrou. and the latter ky The tears
Of some Of dIe brightest ewes Of lie ppDire
The rich maglnati0n OF n Phillips, who has
cOnred successfully mere than Que muse lie