Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1824-10-16
MISCELLANY.


the bottle was passing round among
number Of patriats. This was soon at.
ter the, acknowledgment of american
Irdependence. Each toast was in
commemoration Of their late achieve
ments: and each member expressed
his most ardent wishes far the wel-s
fare ofthe nation. all was 10y and
mrreiment. London particular Ma
deira was freely drawn from a new
Nv imported cask. Accidents will
sometimes happen. and this WAS the
case at the present juncture: q de-
canter full of the nectarious hquor
was broken. and or the table made a
spontaneous libatioR ia .hnnor OF the
Geni,is OF America--hut wonderful |!
q number of flies that intoxicated.
had fallen in the grape juice. at the
time OF the vintage. when exposed to
the air, began to move. expand their
wings. fly, and re-assnme their pris-
tine existence.
Franklin. the immortal Franklin.
was at the endsof the table, looking
with the most earnest attention on
this re-animatioH; in the extacy OF
his mind, he exclaimed. ooh. my
friends, might | bnt be buried in a
cask of such Madeira, sleep one hun
jred years, and become terminated
after this lapse of time, to have a
glance at our dear country, so happi
ly liberated from foreign bondage"
Every one joined in the same wish.
and with unanimous motion, and a
bumper. exclaimed, "May we, a
hundred years hence, have glance
at our dear country"
The entertainment over, every one
retired, and Franklin, snug in his
armchair, fell asleep in profound
siesta. Hardly had he closed his
eyes, when the Genius of America
appeared to him in dream. Frank
Gin, said she, one of my best cham.
pions in my last struggle. you de-
serve well Of your country. and so
far asst lays IN my power. | will in
dulge your wishes, lift up the veil of
futurity, and expose ts Your eyes the
glory of your country. She imme-
diately shook him, and placed him
on the highest summit of the Ale
ghany mountains. Consider those CT
ties reduced to ashes daring our con
test. admire their spiendor, their'mo-
numents, their institutions. Con-
tmplate those vast regions, then
nearly desert, at this present mo.
ment: see how they are interspersed
with new cities, intersected with beau
tifnl canals: mark how abundant
crops succeed to abundant crops; how
nature, in her primitive vigor.
crowns with plenty the labors Of
Che husbandmen! Look at our flag.
orr vessels covering the seas from
pole to pOle-onr extensive commerce
--our seif-created manufactures
Count our increase of population.
nearly treble. Admire the ardor,
the regularity of the government
the Justice of our MISUNDERSTANDING
how. nn,ler the most salutary laws.
every thing thrives and prospers: all
these are the result of liberty and e,
qna.ity, based on salutary institu-
tions.
" But alas! no prosperity is with
out a blight. Cast your eyes about
you, and remark a nation proud Of
her strength, impressiug your sailors,
biockading our ports, capturing our
vessels, numbering our defenceless
citizens in the most profound peace |!
Again, observe her; she burns our
villages, eur cities, and consumes,
by FIRE, cur monuments, our records,
our libraries.
$50 those caiamities heave sigh
then see the national energy recoii
on itself, and spring forward with
abe velocity Of an eagle to revenge
these unjust aggressions. See that
generation Of young heroes following
in the footsteps of their revoIationa.
ny sires. On Erie, contemplate the
heroic Perry! On Champiain, un.
daunted Nc Donough! On the ocean,
the intrepid Lawrence, the yalorous
Decatur, Hull, Bainbridge, Jones,
Steward, Biddle, and all the com