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

dence, PIP. % Providence, CARLILE a. BROWN,
1896
II i. custom, we'll established and il will proba-
bly, last as long this continent shall exist, for
Americans to assemble on the Anniversary of Amer
ican Independence, and with joyful hearts cele-
bra,e IN libations, with song and defamation that
eventful day which gave existence as nation,
and laid the foundation of our greatness.
Oflate, a diversity of opinion has been known to
exist as to the proper way in which our celebrations
should be done:-the pious stickler, Who can see
nothing good that is not done within the pale of
the Church. contends that we should celebrate the
Anniversary OF our country's natal day, by prayer
and Thanksgiving at the throne OF grace, whilst the
less scrupulous and perhaps less yranncal, insists
on its being celebrated by the pealings of bells, the
discharge of artillery, and by mingng together at
some convenient place to be harrangued by some
patriotic aud gifted Orator. The latter way, we
opne. win prevai;-but be this a. ii may, it is
certain that grateful people will never suffer the
Anniversary of American independence to pass
them neglected and forgotten.
We are for orations-and can conceive ofnothing
better calculated to inspire the youthful mind
with love Of country, than cha.te and eloquent
orations, delivered by geuiu, and intelligence. and
by those who are capable of doing justice TO the
part assigned them. But good heavens spare us
from one half of the things called orations which
are daily pouring from the pres,-whch have about
as much claim to the title, they have to our
tice or attention.
A good Fourth of July Grafton, is rare thing
we have had but three, since the memory of man,
that were .ufTerable-that were even passab,e.-
But If We are doomed always to be bored as we
have been by the silly and senseles argon of some
conceted pedant or literary quack, 1t is our fault,
for it is within our power to obtain orators of
learning and genius but by some strange fatality,
it 80 happens that in nine cases out Of ten we select
those who are unequal to the task which is assigned
them But as we ore not disposed TO be out with
the whole world, We shall proceed to examine the
merits of the grafton before U.S. after simply remark
ing that we cannot coincide, with the opinions of
the particularly determined friends, who, with
more zeal than prudence, have attempted to i'm
pose Mr.. Patten's Grafton on the public, as per-
formance of merit-ss performance creditable to
the Literary character Of the State.
We confess, after having listened to sundry
small pufs which whispered in our ear, by
one that knows a thing or two, and who has mo-
desty ranked himself among the wise-ones and cri-
tics of the time, that did expect something like
treat when we began to turn over the folios OF
Mr.. Patten's Grafton. Sadly, however, were we
disappointed; and it has caused US much pain to re-
fleet, how much time lost, which might have
been valuaby spent in the fufment of other en-
gagements, whilst reading it.
This however is an affair in which ourselves are
alone interested, and after salutng MIR. Patten with
the omplments of the season, we proceed to point
out the peculiar beauties of his performance.
A, the onset he rises to tell his audience that the
day on which he delivers himself is an august day
"A monstrous occasion, and breaks forth III the
following exclamation
ut Is impossible for imagination to conceivea
spectacle more august or more imposing"
Here he stops without kindly conde scending TO
inform US ehat the ",pectaee" is, that is so tau
gust" and "imposing," and it might not have
been necessary for him TO explain, and as the
spectacle was only observable to his own vision, we
shall not ask him for an eclaircis,ement
"Our prayers and solemn peans have ascended
70 that throne round which are gathered listening,
the lhrong OF martyrs and Of patriots, who defended
by their valour, and sealed with their blood, the
cause which we this day commemorate while eve-
ry heart in this vast assembly throbs with exuta-
ton and every soul is kindled to enthusiasm, led by
the hand of the Divinity, we have this day attained
an eminence, where, standing like Moses upon the
top of Pisgah, we look back upon the past, and
forward to the future"
There is something dark and mysterious in this
sentence and II has cost six and twenty hours of
hard study, "by Shrewsbury clock" to fathom
what the author aims at. After intense labor we
have discovered what we suppose to be Mr.. Pat
tens meaning: Thus we comprehend it" Our
prayers and solemn paans have ascendcd to that
throne what throne where patriots are as
sembled by the hand Of deity, and are standing with
Moses on Pisgah, looking backward and forward"
This is the only construction that can be put on the
sentence, and though it is perfect nonsense, il is
literal translation of the authors meaning. 1--we
are too dull to comprehend him, we hope for our
sake, and for the sake all the civilized beings be-
tween Cape Hstteras and Bafin's Bay, he will be
pleased to correct us. But we proceed