The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1823-07-07


enemies--that have thus determined To
disturb the peace of nations,and who take
so much delight in troubled waters. Is
it the brave French nation! No: Its
own government is now as much detest-
e6 as ever Spain or Portugal detested
theirs. 1t only wishes for an opportu.
nifty to get rid of feeble line Of monarchs,
who have been imposed upon them by vio-
lence and force. Is it the French army! No:
Too much liberality prevails in it it will
finally Join itself to the armies of the pc
ninsula in putting down cruelty and op-
preston. This is not war Of nation
against nation. 1t is war of nations
against despols. Can any government
live in happiness with such head as
Ferdinand VII. that poor, weak, and in
fatusted monarch, who voluntarily gave
up his kingdom to Bonaparte, and his
person to captivity; who, while confined
in the prison of YaIency, made AFFECT
concessions to him, and basely solicited an
alliance with his house? No: such an ex-
pecta!ion cannot be formed. Spain herself
is convinced oft Her firm replies to the
notes ofthe allied powers shcw that she is
determined to exert herself 5ravely in
the defence Of her rights. The spirit
J
that baffied France in her proudest days
and when commanded too by the great
est captain OF the world, will now bend
her knee TO the myrmidons of tyranny.
United, as she mus, shortly be, with por-
tugal, the sound of war will re echo from
the Pyrenees to the Iagus.
Gentlemen, recollec,ing the tolls, the
| sufferiDgs, and the injuries, of our ances-
tors, the struggle OF these countries for
| liberty, excites in our bosoms the deepest
interest. The name of oppression, to US,
is name that awakens every indignant
emotion. But beyond that of any other
have the exertions of the Greeks COM
manded our sympathies. Nothing but
the injustice of interfering in the disputes
| OF others, could have restrained us from
covering with our egis this fair and UNI
fortunate country. The spirit of our
forefathers glowed in our bosoms, when
we read of the desolations that defaced,
and the crreli:es that oppressed, these
beautiful isles. These scenes where the
Muse first hedged her wings-where
Philosophy first planted her bowers
where Chivalry first chose her retreats
where every virtue that history has re.
corded, or tradition handed down, was ex-
'ah'--"hen these consecrated spots were
TO be desolated by an unletterd foe. we
could not but sympathize. Accidents
nao 10 lament the violation of his gardens;
Apollo the pollution of his streams
Those waters of Pindus, of Hellicon and
rarnassus, SO loved by the nine, so sa-
cred to Classical lore. The genius of this
country from her hills beheld the ruin
and turned with indignation from the
spectacle. Her humanity shrunk from a
scenes where every savage passion was
exhibited; her love of antiquity caused her
10 weep atthe demolition Of its finest and
most beautiful specimens. She saw the
herce Moslem in savage triumph despI-
sing the arts and sciences, exultiDg over
a land "before whose genius in the prond
and hot hour of conquest, Rome has
bowed" and under whose skies even now
the enlightened scholar is chasteped and
refined. She remembered Leopidas at
the straits of Thermopyle, and Miltiades
on The plains of Marathon. AS she ga.
zed' the dead seemed starting from their
sepuichres, adorned with helmets and
Plumcs to stimulate the ardour Of their
sons In long and melancholy process.
SION they moved over grounds the theme
OF Poesy and song, and beheld with prief
the devasta'ions of tyranny. On car.ele-
waited above the rest, and wreathed with
the garlands of every muse, sat Homer the
nrIDCex of cC