The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-06-17
INTERESTING eoMMEMoR ArIoy.

INTERESTING eoMNEMoR ALTON.
From The .AeW Hampshire Rep. of .iiay "a
Tue frst settlement of New lIamnshire
was eommemorated on the eist, Al Ports.
mouth, IN a style which does credit IN the
public spirit Of lis citizens.
| Heaven seemed 10 smile propitiou,iy ON
The occasion FOR the weather Was delight.
iul, ana bright sun and a clear sky lent
ah thrir animation To the brilliant spectacle
and gave additional sfaeity 10 a scene al
lunnsnal splendor aud f.sti,ily.
At ten o'clock, \. NJ the citizens and
strangers began to assemble AT the South
meeting house, and at half past len the pro-
ctssion, arranged by Col. Pierce, Chief
| MARSHAL OF the day, moved in the order
which has been heretofore published, to-
| wards the North meeting house, wherein
| The exercises We're performed.
The procession was escorted hy two
Llght lniantry companies under command
of ?laj Blunt, of the Gilnan's Blues.
whose detachment deserved and received
much commentator for its fne appear
ance and correct department The pro.
cession was made up of the Mechanic
association, the Masonic fraternity, cler-
Symen, civil and military officers, 1.-The
latter in uniformly citizens and masters of
schools With thcir scholars and from lis
great extent the richness and variety of
the dresses and decorations, aud The admi-
raole order and regularity with which every
thing was conducted, il was one of the
most remarkable ever witnessed IN this
state or any other.
The north meeting house is one of the
largest in New England--it contains about
ninety pews on the lower floor, and has
two galleries. This building was filed
tIloughout when the exercises commrnced:
aud presented a brilliant and imposing spec
tacle. The wall pews We're covered with
beauty and fashion-the broad aisle was
occupied by The military esoort-the wight
centre being flied with strangers and citi-
2ens, and the left by the different societies
with thor various badges and decorations i
the upper gallery was occupied exclusively
by the boys, who made part Of The process
sion.
Alter an appropriate prayer by Pfcsl-
dent Tyler, an Grafton was pronounced by
Nathaniel A. Haven, lr Esq. of Ports
mouth. OF this performance il IS sufficient
10 say, that the Speaker equaIlcd the OK
pectations Of In friends la, discourse was
classical, ingenious, and eloquent
ing much valuable information and iudicat
ing "A liberal and cultivated mind. fine
imagination, and feelings. After "A bcatli-
FIJI eXordium, which was very naturally n
comparison between New Hampshire il
the l7th and 10Th centnries-Mr. Haven
gave a rapid hat distinct sketch Of the cha
racters Of our forcfalhcrs, and enumerated
the circumstances wherein the merchant
adveutnrers of Pascataqua' differed from
the Pilgrims Of Plymouth. He pourtrsy-
ed the character of John Mason, the orgI-
nal proprietor Of New Hampshire, and
rescued him from the obloquy with which
the ejutlicc and injustice Of h,s contem-
porarics had partially covered him the
pHritdn characters of our ancestors were
next adverted 10, and their Industry, sub
lime piety, and stern integrity, were elo-
quently delinehed. The present charac-
ter al the people Of New Hampshire, as
1t Is formed by their occupations, eli
mate aud localities, aud as il has been ex-
hIhitcd by her distinguished sons IN war, in
science, and literature, was next the fruit
ful topic of discussion and the orator
claimed and substautatcd for his native
state, place among the first Tor patriotism
and intelligence and, in proportion To rs
extent, for moral aud physical energy.
The Poem by Nj. Peabody nj Exeter,
was a vigorous and spirited performance
that gentleman proved to the public, what
his friends have long known, that he pos
sessrs fine talents, and a knowledge Of the
history aud antiquities Of the country
scarcely less rare than thc possession OF
such talents his poem WAS by tuens play
full, serious, and impassioned he coca
sionally spprted among the flowers and
scaled the sleeps of Parnassua. Or both
these excellent pcrfol finances we shall on
ly say at present, that we Join il the Eene-
raj wish that they may be given tc TIE put
lie.
Some appropriate odes, written for the
occasion by the Rev. Thomas &. Gpham,
of Rochester, were sung in very fine style
by the members of the Handel Society in
Portsmouth. TIE exercises were about
three hours long, yet probably no person
perceived their length; every one regretted
thelr conclusion.
After the exercises were concluded, a
bout two hundred gentlemen dincd toge-
Their in Jefferson Hall, which had been
painted and put in order by the town III
honor OF the occasion, and was tasteiuiiy
decorated with dags aud paintings.
Hon. JONI +. PARRoTr presided at the
dinner, assisted by Edward Cuts, jr. Ben
jamin PcnhalIow, Enoch g, Parrot, aud
Samuel Larkin, Esqrs. of Portsmouth,,
Col. Chadwick, of Exeter, and Col. Pierce
Of this town. Among the strangers pre-
sent, were Judge Story, of the supreme
Court Of the United States, Rev. Mr.. Pal
frey, Daniel Webster, George Blake, and
Nathan Hale, Esqrs, of Boston, President
Tylerand Professors ADAMS and Hadduck,