The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1824-07-15
FOURTH OF JULY GRAFTON,

By Hooper Cumming, ID. u. ras'or vi vi.
PRESBYTERIAN Church in Nandewater-s.ree'
delivered before the Fire men of New YORK
and published by request OF the Commi''ee
of Arrangements.
The following extract will serve to show
its spirit and taste. Speaking OF washington
he says-
"Congueror Of time, he has trumphea
over mortality /; Legate Of Heapen' ne lil's
returned with the tidings OF his ni'ssioh ,
Father ofthe heohie, he has ascended 10 le-
pose in the bosom Of the Father OF the spir'.s
of all flesh. Solemn, =" as it were pause u,
nature" was his transit to eternity tnrohSeu
BY the shades of Heroes, his approach TO the
confines of bliss ;-pGaned by the song OIL AL
gels, his Journey beyond the stars.
Born to direct the destiny OF empires MS
character was as majestic, as the events TO
which it was attached, were lllustrlous. IN
the dehneation of its features the vivid pen
Gil of genius cannot brighten trait, nor the
blirhtinc breath of caumnv obscure. His
principles were the result of organic philo-
sophv his success of moral justice. His
integrity assumed the port of command his
intelligence, the aspect of inspiration.
Glory, to MANI impregnable, he obtained
without ambition popularity to all incon-
stant, he enjoyed without jealousy. Iheon
was his, from admiration the other, from
pratitude.-The former cmbcllishcd, but
could not reward the latter followed, but
could never lead him The robust vigour OF
his virtue, like the undazzled eye OF the eagle,
was inaccessible to human weakness; and the
unaspiring temperament of his passions, IKE
the rcgeoerated ashes of the PheniN, gave
new life To the greatness it could not cXtin-
gush In the imperial dignity OF his person,
was exhibited the august stature OF MS mlid
"See what grace was seated on his brow,
An eve like Mars, the front OF Jovc himself
A combination, and form indeed,
Where every God did seem to set his seal,
To give the world assurance OF A man =;
When his country became free he was no
longera General, Sublime spectacle more
clevating to the pride OF virtue than the soNc-
rcignty of the globe united to the sceptre oil
age F.nthroncd in the hearts Of his country
men, the gorgeous pageantry OF prcrogative
was unworthy the majesty Of his dominion.
That cilulgence ofmillltary character which,
in ancient states, has blasted the rights of the
people, whose rcnown it had frightened, was
not here permitted, by the hero, from whom
it cmanatcd, to shine with so destructive "A
lustrc. It's beams, though intensely resplcn-
dent, did not wthcr the young blossoms Of
our independence and libci'y like the burn
Mp p6ush, ilourished unconsumed by the glory
which surrounded it.
Fellow Citizens | have dwelt the longer
on his character, because have been taught
from my cradle to revere him, and the ma
tulitv of reflection, and the authenticity of
history, and the sobcrness of realities, have
confirmed and rendered indclble the first i'm
prcsscnS.
Yes and | revere also, the character OF
his distinguished, gallant, and disnterested
coadjutor, whom we hope shortly TO welcome
to our shores. would rather shake hands
with Ia Feycttc, than with any man on earth.
He was my fathers fellow soldier and my
fathers friend they stood and fought side
by side, at Brandywine and Germantown, at
Trenton, Princeton, Monmouth, Yorktown.
The only surviving General officer of our re-
volutionary army, he deserves to be hailed a.
mong us, in the patriotic, emphatic, and Gle
giant language of our worthy Recorder, as
"thc guest of the nation" And he will be
so received. New York will not be out-done
by any city in the union. Every vault and
every arch will echo and re-echo with his
praises. Every sanctuary will send up
petitions for the protraction of his useful life,
and the happiness of his soul. Every domi-
Gle, great or humble, will be ready to wei
come his entrance, and esteem itself most
highly honoured. Every infant will delight
to dohim homagc.-Andit it will be seen to the
confusion of the naughty Bourbons, and the
deep modification of every branch and fibre
Of the Uuhoiy alliance, that Republicans are
grateful.
We hope, that he means to spend among
us, all his remaining days. And when he
shall descend into the sepulchre, the sighs O
contemporary gratitude will attend the sub
lime spirit to its paternal abode and The
!, prayers Of emancipated posterity will ascent
in glowing remembrance Of their illustliou
bcncfactor "I'he laurels, that droop, a.
they shadow his tomb, with monumental glo
yy, will he cultivated by the tears of ages
and embalmed in the heart Of an aduirini
world, the temple erected to his memory
will be more glorious than the hyramids, ant
as eternal as his own imperishablc viz
u tues"
al cannot without injustice to my own feel
ings, as a man, as a christian, as the warn
: friend of my country, pass onward, withou
> some notice, of another distinguished and
: may adds with pcclar emphasis, devote
patriot. His is poor, but without spot.
T. in the councils of the nation, he ever erred
d it was unintentionally.- our countr
{ was bleeding at every porc--its funds cx
hausted-its bravcst spirits desponding, ,hc in
troduced into the Commissarics department
e a system of economy, which saved us.-Wc
e, might he exclaim hundreds and Thousand
e have passed through these hands, but nc