Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1822-10-10

NAV see tn6lr 6CaLC0r6u NUS dHu CoIu
fields, and perhaps meet party of the
Inhabitants themselves without feeling
any thing but disgust at their poverty
and wretchedness Most of them are
indeed mere profigates but close
observer may detect in SONS of them
the tall and graceful forms of Indian
warriors, and the naughty carriage and
dauntless eye of men whom fate has
tranpled in the dust, but whose spirit
she has never subdued. Their manner
is cold and dissatisfied. They have Of
ten cast of deep thought in their faces
and seem to lose themselves in contem-
plating the deeds OF their fathers and
when their minds awake to the melan-
cnoly state Of things which time has
produced, they retire to the last tor
tress of an lndian--an untamed and
untameable spirit.
1t might beexpec&d that those who
entertain such feelings as these wooio
take peculiar interest in the cemetery
of their ancient kings. 1t stands on the
edge of plain which was probably the
principal residence of the tribe during
that part of the year when they founo
it difficult to obtain water among the
hills The soil is good and we'll fitted
for the Indian mode of cultivation; ana
the broken country around 1t, which
now increases its beauty by contrast,
and gives it an air Of seclusion, then
contributed much to it's security, "A
small river, which still preserves It's o.
riGinal name of Yantic, enters the plain
on the southwest. where it forms a
cove abouta mile in length. This beau
tifuI sheet Of water contains several
small islands, and is surrounded by ele.
waited banks, which in some places are
shaded with woods and in othsrs de.
scend to the margin with graceful
slope, and diversified with corn fields,
orchards, pasture grounds, and several
handsome country seats. The edge OF
the water is often lined with rows Of
bushes and weeping willows; and a.
long the bend of the cove, on the north
side, runs good carriage road, from
which an access to the plain above may
be obtained through several dark "a
vines, which seem to have been worn in
the course of ages, by small channels of
clear water, springing from ancient
sources in the hill and flowing into the
cove. Q
This part of the bank has been suffer
ed TO retain as much as possible It's ori-
ginal appearance by the present owner
of the ground, the hon CalvinG oddard,
to whose good taste and antiquarian
spirit every visitor to the spot must feel
himself deeply indebted. The path
through one of those ravines energies
from the shade of the dark forest trees
opposite a cluster of elms and ssssafras
ses, which mark the burying place Of
the Michigan Sachems. There are
still remaining many head and foot
stones, some of them bearing Enghsa
inscriptions in good preservation; but
the greater part are shapelees pieces of
granite sunk in the soil and covered
with moss, and doubtless mark the
graves of Sachems who ruled the couns
try in ages long anterior to the earliest
histories and traditions.
The situation of this place gives 1t
moral az we'll as natural interest; tor
at the same time THAT the eye is taken
with the beauty of the lake and Its
shores, the feelings are engaged for that
savage, but free and noble nation, who
fixed on this striking spot fos their
dwellings and their tombs, Tradition
says that the whole plain was once Gov
cred with wigwams, and that the COM
mon burying place of the tribe extend
ed to considerable distance on all
sides ofthis spot. But the only remains
to confirm this account are the stone
arrow heads ploughed up in the fields,
and the graves already mentioned.
From the Independent Balance.
As Mr.. Matthews is shortly expected in this
city, perhaps the following specimen OF his hui.
mour, recited with great applause in his popu-
lar Entertainment of Air, Earth, and Water.
may not be unacceptable.
DANIEL O'ROURKE'S DREAM.
Near the pier-head at Margate, stands
the holy Tavern; strolling one morn
ing that way, saw four men very bu-
silly employed, beating carpet In the
Connaught fashion, shat is. with man
in it. 'EWhat in the name OF patience
ora ,,ot. nniuU with that unfortunate