The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register. (Wilmington, Del.) 1824-1825, 1825-02-24

Y What has become OF tnosc iaHilAHS hdl-
dens, which, for curious contrlvance and
stupendous workmanship, were never
equalled in any other nation under
Heaven Terraces, that overlooked the
tallest houses. Pastures, exalted the clouds,
and opening their tlowery beauties IN that
strange region Groves. whose very roots
were higher than the tops OF the loftlest trees
They arc now smitten by the dreadful blast.
Their beauty is gone like wlthered Leaf.
Instead of being the favorte retreats OF a
queen. and the admiration Of tile whole world
they are a nest for poisonous reptiles, and
a Kennel for ravcnous beasts. The travel
Ter, instead Of expatiating with delight
where this pensile Paradise fourished, is
struck with horror, keeps at q trembling
distance, and, surveying the ruefnl spot, cries
out: " Righteous art thon, O Lord, and true
are all thy Judgments
Here stands an obelisk, manned by the
stroke of revolving years, like mountain
oak shattered by the flaming bot.--Another
unhinged and quite disiointed seems to trcnl-
bic at every blast that blows. There the
pyramid, firm as the solid rock, aud stable,
one would have thought as the everlasting
hills, wrenched from its mighty base, is tum-
bled headiong iii enormous ruin, and has
crushed many a structure by its fall.--See
yondcr the triumphal arch. which exhibited
through It's extensive and beautiful bend, an
ADVANTAGEOUS view OF the armament. 1t was
once the graceful memorial OF some cclcbra-
ted victory il is now converted into tro-
phy of a very different kind.-lust retaining
two uneven battered ragged stuInps, i serves
to recognize the destructive raNaScs ot tilne.
Spires, that pierced the clouds, and pin-
naCles, to which the strong-MinScd bird
could hardly soar, the groyellng worm
ciaWls and the sordid snail leaves her Shiny
track.--Baths, that contained the translucent
wave, and were 50 often pertumed with odo-
rfcrouS uneuents, IRE chnakcd with filth;
the grand colorado that surrounded them, is
shiycrcd to pieces; and the elevated dome
that covered them. is dashed TO tho ground,
The public aqueducts, that conveyed
cleanliness and health along their chrystal
currents, are dcgcneratcd into a stagnatng
lake, while cr0aking vcrmin swarm among
tic weeds, and noiscson,c e..haltalions steam
from the h,ire. August and stately temples
that seemed 60 affect the neigbourhood OF
Heaven, arc sunk to the very dust Who
can point The spot, where the consecrated
victim biea, or the sacred Ere glowcds
Where the sceptered image lifted its maics-
tic head, or the conseCrated crowd bowed
the suppliant knceS Degraded are those
splendid vanitics, and cast according to the
denunciation of the sacred oracles) ito the
bats and moics." All is low, low as the
spurious dignity Of the idols they comph-
mentcd; logy as the straw that IS trodden
down for the dunghll.
Sepulchrcs, chose once venerable reposito-
ricS Of the dead, awful mansions, destined
to everlasting conceament, are cleft and
rent asunder, They disclose the horrid Sc
crets Of the pit, and frightfully yawn upon
the blasted day. Possible some ravinous
creature turks within, That has already ri
fled the tomb Of its hero. given the putrid
bones new grave, and waits only for the
approach 81 the night 70 repeat his funeral
dirge in yells.--Jnscriptions designed to per
petuatc some illustItous character, or G.
tcriiise some heroic deed are blended in the
promiscuous mass. in vain would the trying
antiquary search for a legiblc, or constitu-
ent; in vain attempt 10 find the memorial
names OF a ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, or Nimrod
These, though engraved on plates Of brass,
OF cut il blocks OF marble, are lost amidst
the stupcndous lumber. as prints ON the IN,
steady sand arc efiaced wheh returning tides
amoothe their furrowcd beach.
Here and there struggling cypress rises
as it were with funeral solemnity, amidst
the waste. Somewhat like the black pluncs
noddng over the mournful hearsc, they aug
ment the same sadness of the scene, and
throw deeper horror on all below--N o hui
man voice IS heard, nor human face seen a.
midst those dcsolate heaps. Too dreary c.
ven for tic room of the hoary hermit, OF the
cell ofthc gloomy monk, Abandoned, they
are totally abandoned to the dominion Of sol
itudc. or else to the unmolested resort Of
shaggy monsters and tcathered llagS, that
stun the midnight hours--thcse with their
importunatc shrieks--thosc, with their cx-
ecrable hoyls.
See to what despicablc, to what an alb
horrcd state the proudest monument Of Garth,
ly grandeur, and the most costly apparatus
for earthly felicity, may be reduced.
A pregnant and alarming proof, that. for
lasting honour or real happiness,
They bnild too low, who build beneath the sky.
Turn then thy desires, Q my soul to that
which is permanent and durable, and be ann
bilious to be good
The stars shall fade away, the sun itself
Grow dim with age, and nature sink in wears;
Vet thou shalt funrish in immortal Truth
Unliurl amidst !. war Of elctncnts,
The wreck Of matter, and the crush of worlds.
ANECDOTE OF JOSEPH LANG ASTER.