The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1822-01-09
Mr.. WEBSTER's ADDRESS.

>AAS HieSteSlLuS 1AuoreSS, uellFeFeu year
since, al Plymouth, is now published, and JUS
tiies the very high anticipations of its excel
lence. Its length, as well as the copyright of
the publishers, would prevent its republica-
ton in the columns of our paper. Were it
not, however, for that right, we should be in
Suced to make copious extracts from it.. But
to do this to any considerable extent, would
be a fraud upon the, publishers which they
would not be bound to overlook. While,
therefore, some editors have copied page after
page, we feel at liberty only to make a short
extract and we do it for the purpose, and with
the hope, that our readers will be induced,
from this taste Of its qualify, to become possess
ed Of the work itself. The execution of the
work, as we'll az its intrinsick value, entities
1t to place in every library.
EXTRACT
FROM Mr.. WEB5TER'S DISCOURSE,
Dcliuered at Plymouth, Dec. 90, 1920, in
Comnsmordtion Of tie First Settlement
Of Ncrc-Eag!and
Standing in this relation to our ancestors
and our posterlty, we are assembled on
this memorable spot, to perform the du-
ties which that relation, and the present
occasion, impose upon us. We have
Cume to this Rock, TO record here our
homage for our Pilgrim Fathers our
sympathy in their suiferings-our graft
tude for their labours-our admiration
otthelr Vlreues-our veneration for their
piety-and cur attachment to those prin-
ciples of civil and religious liberty, which
they encountered the dangers of the O.
cean, the storms Of heaven, the violence
of savages, disease, exile, and famine, to
enjoy and to establish.-And we would
leave here, also, for the generations
which are rising up rapidly 10 fill our
places, some proof, that we have en-
deavoured TO transmit the great inherit
ance unimpaired that in our estimate
at publick principles, and private vir-
1ue-<in our veneration of religion and
piety-in our devotion to civil and re-
lgious liberty-in our regard to what
ever advances human knowledge, or
improves human happiness, we are not
altogether unworthy of our origin.
There. is local feeling connected
with this occasion, too strong 10 be re-
sisted sort OF genius of tie place, which
inspires and awes US. We feel that we
arc On the spot, where the first scene
of our history was laid--where the
hearths and affairs Of New-EngIand were
first placed-where christianity, and civ
iization, and letters made their first
lodgment, in vast extent Of country,
covered with a wilderness, and peopled
by rowing barbarians. We are here, at
the season of the year at which the e.
vent took place. The imagination ire
sistibiy aud rapidly draws around US the
principal features, and the leading char
..cters in the original scene. We cast
our eyes abroad on The ocean, and we
see where the little bargue, W.;;h the in
teresting group upon its deck, made its
slow progress to the shore. We look
around us, and behold the hills and
promontories, where the anxious eyes
of our fathers first saw the places of
habitaion and Of rest. We feel the
cold which .benumbed, and listen TO the
winds which pierced them. Beneath us
is the Rock on which New-England re-
ceiyed the feet Of the Pilgrims. We
seem even to behold them, as they
struggle with the elements, and, with
toilsome efforts, gain the shore. We
listen to the chiefs in council; we see
the nexampled exhibition of female
fortitude and res;gnation--we hear the
whisperings ofyouthful impotence, and
we see, what painter of our own has al
so represented by his pencil ,>chiIed and
shiverng childhood, houseless, but for
a mothers arms, couchless, but for a
mothers breast till our own blood all
most freezes. The mild dignity of Car
yer and of Bradford; the decisive and
ssoldier-like air and manner Of Standish !;
the devout Brewster; the enterprisiDg
Alierton the general 6rmness and
thoughtfulness Of the whole band; their
conscious joy for dangers escaped; their
deep solicitnde about dangers 10 come (;
their trust in Heavens their high relig-
ious faith, full Of confidence and antici-
patton :z-all these seem TO belong 10 this
place, and to be present upon this occa-
sion, 10 fill us with reverence and adj
ulssation.