Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-12-28

insertions, will be published untii ordered
out, and charged accordingly.
The following beautiful Ode, written for
the occasion by JoHS AUsusrUs, Stone, esq.
ofthe Albany Theatre, late of the Baltimore
New Theatre, and author of the excellent play
of the DIAMOND CRoss, sc. was sung at the
late celebration ofthe completion of the great
Erie Canal in Albany. We pronounce the
ode beautiful, rs viii our readers on perusing
it; but if any doubt its claim to the title oftrue
poetry let them read the stanza near the close
of the piece, beginning-".as the Western
born pare." Bali. Pat
By John augustus Stone, cfthe Albany Theatre
Oh! dark was the age, overwhelming the
gloom
When bigotry forg'd for our fathers the chain
When oppression exulted on Liberty's tomb
And virtue wept over Britannia's domain!
When dread superstition uphfted the rod,
Oh firm was the heart that beat not slave,
Yet the pilgrim appeapd to humanity's God.
seiz'd hopes shining banner and furrow'd
wave.
One breath was sigh
And fearful his eye,
As he loos'd the broad wings Of his bark to the
wind,
He gard on the west,
Andthe helm firmly press'd
For freedom was onward, dire thraldom be-
hind.
Colby frown'd the dreary rock
Where first his orison he rais'd
Yet warmly glow'd his bosom's fire,
Though ireful rlsh'd the whirlwinds shock,
He calmly on the tumult gard
And struck in prayerful mood the Tyre.
Where natures rude son roam'd lawless and
wild,
And the steelpinion'd Eagle, wing'd upward
his fight,
Christianity's star, rose cloudless and mild,
And Truths radiation, illumin' the night.
Desolation, grim tyrant, bent humbly the knee
As Industry strobe like giant along,
The war-whoop was hush'd, and the strain Of
the free,
Assembled, and angels replied to the song.
The sons of the brave,
On the orient wave
To the old world uphfted the flag Of the new.
The contest they dar'd
And tyrants despair'd
When Columbia's wide empire stood proudly
to view.
Many gallant spirits borne
On vict'ry's wing to bliss on high
Upon their brave descendants smile.
Manya knight from kindred torn
Heav'd on Slaughter's bed the sigh
And lifeless swelr'd the CORY pile!
Ere the bright orb of Science. shone full on
the west,
Like Eurysthens' hero, one spirit appear'd,
spake--andt the food his dominion confessed
he wrought-and throng'd cities their tenn
Piles uprear'd.
Now swiftly rolls onward the mighty uproar,
The loud note ofpeace, not the yell ofthe war,
From Erie's broad wave, to Albania's shore
"Tis achiev'd." is re-echo'd, proclaim it affair."
The great consummation
The loud defamation,
Through lightning speaks to the far distant
main,
joys rapturous song
Is waited along,
1t bursts from the mountain, it swells DER the
plain.
Fair stream to ocean wend thy way
Apeople's wonder, boon and pride,
Richer than Nile thy current rolls,
The muse enraptur'd halls the day
When stranger banks shall WOO thy side,
Ard with thy treasures, greet the poles.
As the western born wave, and the sea-waters
blend,
Lean want flies the triumph he cannot repress,
And green water-nymphs, from old Hudson
ascend.
Toguide the young billow, to Neptune's Ca
ress.
Hark! the shout is unprais'd, 'the waters
combinep
From misty Niagara's boun to the sea,
And Liberty looks from her radient shrine,
On her chosen dominion, and bids it "be free "
On this glorious day
Shall gratitude's lay
Be chasted to him, who in might overcame,
Mid factions alarms Il
Rude Nature in arms,
And Envy sban dying. make deathless his
nome.