Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-01-13

cense. which rises from the affairs ofpubilc
gratitude, is no idle sacrifice, which wastes
and dissipates itself in the air: but It son'
veys consolng balm to afflicted friendship,
am exhiliarating stimulus to ambition, an
encouraging reward 10 patriotism.
If the fame Of com. Perry was not the
property of his country ); If bis name was
not stamped on the history of the times in
which he lived if the incidents of his lite
did not belong to that species OF universal
and putliI biography into which we look Tor
living exampIars of every thing that is good
and great, | might feel the improperly OF
any longer occupying your time. know
not but what some apology may be necessa-
ry for even saying single syllable Oh the "a
chievement which has rendered his name so
distinguished. But il is theme which wili
sustain repetition and | envy not the
feelings OF that man who calls himself an A
merican, and yet can be indifferent to topic
so pre- emnently glorious to our country As
great as the victory of the 10th of September
was, there was any thing but the predomi-
nance ofgood fortune in the circumstances
which led 10 its splendid contamination. 1t
was fought, seemingly, against an accumula-
ton of embarrassing circumstances, and the
most prominent OF them was, that the hero,
youth of but six and twenty, should have
been compelled to assume the responsibility
of determining when the contest for supre-
macy on the lake should be brought to de
cison. 1t is an invdious task to give Of
fence to the living, even in doing justice TO
the dead but am asserting no more than
fact very general notoriety among those
who enjoyed the intimacy OF com. Perry that
the navy department placed him in this cri-
teal situatiun.--Bnt responsibility acted on
his, as on all noble minds, as an additional
incentiye;to the performance Of his duty
The sublime motto Of the dying Lawrence
was unfolded in thoughts that breathe and
words that burn" He me. the enemies OF
our country and made them ours"
Let the classic enthusiast for the glory Of
antiquity, and the adnirer OF the history OF
mo0ern Europe, unite in their inviduous la
bors to find that at other times, and by o.
Their men, our achievements have been E.
clipsed by surprising greatness. How
impotent will be the malevooni industry of
their researches The battle on lake Erie,
is great and noble work, and time, in the !
language of another, which is destroying o.
Their fabrics, shall pass harmlessly by its ada
mant. Where is there an instance on re-
cord, Of commander sustaining almost ex-
clusively, the brunt Of a naval engagement,
in his own ship, fighting her to a ruin and
desolatior that bordered ON absolute annihil-
alton, and then leaving her in an open boat,
exposed TO an incessant fire, to obtain
fresh ship TO commence again the bloody and
doubtful strife Where is there parallel
transaction in the annals of naval warfare. Of
greater part of whole squadron surrcn-
dering to single vessel, thus commanded
and thus goriouslY led Wht Their we re-
gard the slender resources from which this
victory was organized the youth of the he
no who accomplished j: its mighty compile
ton, for il scarcely permitted the escape of
one OF the enemy to tell the tale of their own
defeat j the humanity and magnanimity dis
played by our commander, it will stand
proud and enduring monument Oh the waste
Of ages. Other victories, characterized by
larger aggregation oitorces, may have been
attended with an ample flow Of blood but
where is there an achievement in which dis
parity of numbers is so much and so emf
nently contrasted with result so complete
and overwhelming Where is there con-
test in which the hero stands forth in such
high and prominent reief-where the event
is so much to be referred TO bis own indivi-
dual efforts and combinations? Where is SO
bloody, yet so pure conflict Where is
there one in which the sword cleaned with
more awful spIendor, or where Fits light
nings were succeeded by tenderness so
kind, a humanity SO soothing, magnanimity
so heroic
Sc Far seen shall blaze the unextinguished
ray,
A mighty beacon lighting glorys way;
With living lustre this proud land adorn,
And shine, ]. save through ages yet unborn "
When this sangulnary conflict had ceased,