Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-03-22

gust and resplendent exhibition of his
talents; and may almost be regarded
as constituting an epoch in modern ell
oquence. An English gentleman OF
distinguished attainments, who was
present on the occasion, frankly &C
knowledged, that it surpassed, in effect,
any thing he had ever heard in the
British parliament. He even preferred
it to Sheridan's celebrated speech in
the case of Warren Hastings. 1t had,
| perhaps, more of the irresistible sway,
the soul-subduing influence of ancient
eloquence, than any thing that has
been heard since the days of Cicero.
The circumstances attending its deliv-
cry were peculiar. A brief recital Of
them will not, we latter ourselves, be
deemed uninteresting, or regarded as a
departure from the duty Of the biogra-
pher.
The debate on the subject Of the trea-
ty had been unusually protracted. In
the course of it great liberties had been
taken in the exercise and expression
Of individual feelings; and the COLI
sion of party politics had been inordi-
nately keen. The public mind, having
felt deep and lively interest in it at
first, had become weary and exhausted
by its unexpected length, and was now
extremely anxious that it should be
broupht 10 a close. The house itself,
particularly the great body OF the men,
beers who had already spoken, gave
strong manifestations Of the same tenn
per. For several days, the question
had been repeatedly called for, by nu-
merous voices at once, with vehe-
mence amounting almost to disc. der.
During all this time, Mr.. Ames, in a
feeble and shattered state of health, and
bowed down by load of languor and
dependency, had remained silent
spectator of the conflict. He had even
determined not to speak at all, because
ne felt himself unequal to the exertion,
and had, therefore, made no preparato-
ry arrangements. AS the moment,
however, approached when he was to
Join in the vote-a vote, on which, in
his estimation, depended the future
prosperity and happiness ofhis country,
his resolution forsook him, and his pat
riotism triumphed over his prudence.
From an expectation, on the part Of
some, that the question would be that
day decided, and of others, that, per-
haps, Mr. Ames would be induced to-
speak, the Hobbies and galleries of the
house were overAowingly crowded.
The flower of Philadelphia was present
on the occasion.
Under these circumstances, with a
pale countenance and languid air,
the orator rose, and, in voice feeble
at the commencement, addressed HIM
self to the chair. When he first took
the floor, murmur of appreciation es-
capped from the audience, who, in their
keen Impotence that the debate should
be closed, would have been tempted to
frown Oh any other speaker. To this
involuntary expression of the public
satisfaction succeeded the most pro-
found silence, that not syllable might
escape unheard. Animated, for the
moment. by the workings Of his mind,
and inspired, as it were, by the occa-
sion, with degree of life and strength,
to which his frame had long been a
stranger, the orators ardour and ener-
CIV increased, ashe proceeded, his voice
acquired wider compass, and he car
ried the house triumphantly along with
him. Never was man gazed at with
more steadfast attention; never was he
| listened to with more thrilling delight.
Pale and sickly, as it was, his counte-
nance seemed at times, under the ire
sistible illusion Of the moment, to be
| irradiated with more than mortal fires,
and the intonations OF his voice tc be
| marked with more than mortal sweet
ness. We speek feelingly, for we heard
him throughout; and never can his inn
age be effaced from cur recollection,
nor his accents seem to fade on ourear.
Even now, after lapse Of nearly Six
teen years, his look, gesture, his atti-
tude-all the orator seems embodied
before us, and we dwell in imagina-
ton on the sound ofhis voice with un-
diminished delight. He addressed
himself to every faculty Of the mind,
and awakened every feeling and emo
ton Of the heart. Argument, remon-
STRANGE, entreaty, persuasion, terror,
and warning, fell now, like the music,
and now like the thunder ofheaven,from
his lips. He seemed like Patriotism
in human form, eloquently pleading
| for the salvation of his country. The
effect produced resembled the tabled
workings of enchantment. He threw
spell over the senses, rendering them
insensible to every thing but himself.
We venture to assert, that wnlie ne
kept the floor, no person present had
the slightest Consciousness Of the lapse
tof time.