Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-10-24
OMESTIC

DO
WASHINGTON, Oct. 2I.-On Thursday, it be-
ing the day appointed for the delivery of Mr..
WIRr's Eulosy on the Ex-Presidents, the Capt.
tol was crowed to an overflow by citizens and
strangers, among whom were the President of the
United States, who arrived from Baltimore about
IL O'Clock, the Secretaries of State, the Treasury,
War, and the Navy, the British, French, Swedish e,
Russian, Dutch, and Mexican Ministers, and their
suites, as well as the ladies of such of them as are
married, the Board Of Military Officers, now sit
ting in this city, General Walter Smith, of George
town, and his suite, all the Heads of Departments,
and the great number of strangers at present in this
city. y considerable concouTse of ladies honored
The Capitol with their presence on this OCCASION
1t was near IL O'Clock when the solemn dirge, ac-
companied by the slow and intermi;ted beat of the
mufiled drum, announced the approach OF the Pro-
cession, over which, in addition to the military
standards, foa'ed a banner of white silk, edged
with a deep border of black Grape, in the centre
of which the Stars of the Union were shrouded in
dark clouds About 10 minutes past IL, the large
Hall of Representatives being entirely filled, and
the galleries occupied by The different military COM
panies. Mr.. Witt commenced the Eulogy, which
occupied two hour. and a half in the delivery,
and was listened to throughout with the most marked
silence. The Eulogy OF Mr.. Writ was delivered
under numerous disadvantages. A deep feeling of
interest. indeed, always was, and always must be
felt by the Union, in the lives, characters, and
talents OF the great men to whom it relates,
but the powerful impulse given TO that feeling by
the remarkable circumstance of their deaths at the
same moment, and on the day of their greatest
glory, had in a great measure subsidized. Eulogy
after Eulogy, procession after procession, had ma.
terially and naturally weakened the intensity of
desire which was at first felt, TO hear all which
memory could furnish relative to their illustrious
career, ~ well as the embellishments of eloouence
with which genius could enrich the recital. The
public appetite had been so fed 10 safety, that it
had become fastidious, and nothing but the choicest
offerings which an opulent imagination and a dis
eliminating Judgment could bring, would be receiv-
or relished. Such, however, was the character of
the intellectual feast which Mr.. Writ spread be-
fore US; and the attention and delight which, un-
der all these Disadvantages, were exhibited in the
coIntenances of the assembled multitude, are the
strongest evidence of the excellence of the Grafton
itself. The exordium consisted OF a beautiful con-
trsst between military glory, the pomp of victorious
commanders; and the more solid, satisfactory, and
endesring renown of our departed patriots; be-
tween the ~iriumphs OF an Alexander, whose petty
strides of conquest carried him over a section Of
the savage world; and the gigantic advance of the
great subjects of his Eulogy, towards the moral
and political emancipation of the whole world.
He admitted the extent of the assistance which
their mighty efforts had received from the peculiar
of the times; but contended that,
TO a certain extent, man being the creature of cir
cumsiances, Cromwell, had he been born in a Re
public, instead of receiving the impulse which The
circumstances of his age and country communica-
ted TO the powers ofhis mind, might have remained
"GuiNle's ofhi, eountry's blood,
and Milton might still have been
"Mute, inglorious"
but for the excitement which awakened the energy
of 1to o,,,a a-l N.l1nI 20 int SO A.
with great pa,hos and eloquence on the
peculiar description of virtue and talent which dis
tinguished those mighty men who " gave i'm
pulse TO the Ocean Of mind, and saw its waves
reach the remotes, shore; and then, hand in hand,
The world together, rejoicing in the success OF
their labor4,' and the difficulties which were sur
by their genius and their perseverance,,
the Orator went on 10 give a condensed view OF
the prominent events in the life Of each Of the Ex-
Presidents. 1t was a rapid, but an eloquent and
accurate narrative, rendered piqudnt by the OPP
posire reflections which a fine taste scattered
throughout the succession Of instructive incidents.
The peroration afforded a great scope for the poe
teal fancy Of the Orator; he availed himself Of /
in a very ~felicitous and highly wrought description of
the situation of Monticello, and a most imposing
portal, Of the philosopher, in his retirement.
As the Eulogy will, no doubt, be published in an
entire form, we refrain from going into detail.
~ mlilidIJ pdIdut VI tut uay was equal 10 any
thing we have ever seen in this city. The new
Georgetown troop ofCsvslry, with that Of the city
added much to the general appearance, and with
the volunteer companies Of Georgetown and Of the
City, united under the command of IL. Col Cor
corah, Of The Let Legion, made brilliant displays;
and the sacred music, the firing Of the haIEminute
guns, The slow march, the insignia OF grief, every
lent a solemnity Of the deepest character TO
he procession, and 10 he whole scene.
Thus terminated the last Of our public ~eulogies
to the memories oftbese public benefactors Hence
forth we shall only hear Of hem as we hear Of The
rest ofihe illusirious dead; and we shall hereafter
only zee them presented 10 us in the Institutions,
and he benefits hey have bcqueathed. Let Them
nov repose in the living tomb which is assigned
10 hem in the hearts Of their c%ountfymen.
Nut Journal.
Great National ROad-Msjor Long, Of the
Typographical Engineers, has returned to this city,
from he examination OF the route for a National
Road from Washington 10 Buffalo. We have al
ready noticed his views Of the route by which he
passed from Washington to Buffalo. The Western
route examined By him on his return, is coniem-
TO pass through Rockville, Frederick,own,