Literary cadet, and Saturday evening bulletin. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1826-1827, 1826-07-22

ten, II would be well to suggest 10 the COMMITTEES
| ON Public Buildings the expedency Of increasing
the strength of the floor Of the Capitolfor with
much weight upon it, it might give way, and then
what dreadful crashing aud smashing il would
make. Ifit would not be asking too much Of MIR.
Patten, would respectfully solicit him to inform
US what kind Of a rock the on which the pill.
grims landed is, and whether it be pudding -stont,
marble, or granite-for it certainly must be very
singular one, to bear the impress Of the feet OF those
who first landed on its surface. 1t is true that
weight of the footsteps of the traveller. but not un-
Ill this hour dill we learn the at Plymouth was
Of such consistency.
We have thus pointed out few Of the beauties
which this performance contains, and with one more
extract. we hasten TO conclusion.
Can speak his name and yet not touch tho
chord OF sympathy that vibrates in your bosoms!
Soon will you be called TO perform over him the
last sad rites with which the soldier honours the IL
lustrious departed the gratitude of his country
would not lei him repo.e in the land OF the stran-
ger already is the barque on her way, that Is to
bear his relics to his own dear, native land--you
will perform the melancholy duty of committing his
body to its native dust-you shau fire your voies
over him, but it will not awaken his ashes-you
will drop your teprs upon his grave, but they can
not bring him back to life. You may erect over
him stately n,.ss,iolsVp but nothing will he know
oft. But while u.e'hern Of Erie shall sleep an the
verdant land of his fathers, his spirit shall be with
you and never, never shall that land need you for
its defenders, and call upon you in vain for pro-
lection"
We become more and more enlightened ~ We
proceed on: our journey through this great produc-
tion-this astonishing effort of genius. We should
have made further selections had our limits allow
ed u.s. In this last extract Mr. Patten has cast aside
the film from eyes, and proved to our entire
satisfaction, what never before believed, and il
he will take our word for it, we assure him that we
consider ourselves indebted to him in a sum of eter-
oal gratitude. He has with great magnanimlty in
formed us pon oath, that when the ashes of Com.
Perry shall have landed on their native shore, We
may discharge many pieces Of artillery a. we
please, ring the bell as long and loud we can,
and beat the drums-and all will not return the
Commodore TO life. Nay il we shed an ocean Of
tears on his grave he will not be resuscaed, and il
we call up spirits from the vastly deep, to assist us.
of the iron capped monarch. And he is determined
we shall not remain in a state ofignorance on any
subject, with which he is acquainted, he has gone
on to inform further, that the gratitude OF the
Americans would not suffer Com. Perry TO slumoer
any lon~er In his grave at Trinidad, but woke him
from his repose and transferred him toRhode Is and.
And that if we cree: splendid monument to his
memory the Commodore will not know any moro
about the affair." than he would if he still remained
in his prison house at Port Spain. These facts
shos,ld be received by the good people of Rhode
Island with reverence and with awe, and their de-
monstraton ascrbed to the original proprietor and
inventor, copy right secured. But we must has
ten to a close, and with few more remarks We
shall bid the author and his performance last
adieu. Sincerely then, and it becomes US to be
sincere we shall say that this oration called,
iftaken as whole, ranks many degrees below
mediocrty, though we do not mean to be under.
stood to say, that it is absolutely stupid. There
are passages in it which would have been quite
spectacle, ifthey had been pruned Of their excres-
cences, and divested of their extravaganza. The
meta phors and figures are inelegant, forced, far.
fetched, and display axity of taste and judgment,
which reflects no credit on the talents Of q man.
who has had the hsrdihood to adventure his ltera-
ry fame on the sea of public opinion and who
should have prudently declined giving to the publ
lie a performance, which, however much it may
have been pufed and praised by sycophsnts and
quisica friends, cannot succeed in gaining any hon.
ors for its author.
There is much in this performance with which
less rigid criticism might find fault, but as it Is
not our purpose to censure where can avoid il.
we suffer several Objectionable passages to escape
our animadversop.
We regret that Mr.. Patten should have suffered
his oraton to 60 to the press because we learn that
he is a respectable young gentleman, ofreputed tai
ents and we are certain its publication can do him
no good.
The apology which he offers. Of the want Of suf'
cient time to do justice to himself and TO the occa-
sion, !. lame one; Il is old saw which has been
sung by every orator since the days Of Nebuchad-
nezzar. It may be sjust one, but no body will be-
lieye il and even il he were not allowed suftic-
lent length Of time to prepare his work. it is q mise
rable apology, for no man should undertake THAI