Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-10-24
From The National Journal.

the delivery Of MIR WIRT's Eulogy on the Tx
Presidents, the Capitol was crowded 10 an o.
verfow by citizens and strangers, among whom
were the President of the United States, VINO
arrived from Baltimore about II O'Clock, the
Secretaries oil State, the Treasury, War, ana
the Navy, the British, French, Swedish, Russl-
an, Dutch, and Mexican Ministers, and their
suites, as we'll as the ladies OF such OF them as
are married. the Board Of Military Officers,
now sitting in this city, General waiter smith,
of Georgetown, and his suite, all the Heacs oil
Departments, and the great number OF S1rah-
gers at present In this city. considerable
concourse Of ladies honored the Capitol with
their presence on this occasion. 1t was near
IL O'Clock when the solemn dirge, accompanied
by the slow and intermitted beat OF the muftied
drum, announced the approach OF the Process
sion, over which, in addition 10 the military
standards, hoaled banner OF white silk. edged
with deep border of black Grape, IN the centre
of which the Stars Of the Union were shrouded
in dark clouds. About 10 minutes past -,
the large Hall of Representatives being entirely
filed, and the galleries occupied by the diner
ent military companies, Mr.. Writ commenced
the Eulogy, which occupied TWO hours ana
half in the delivery, and was listened to through.
out with the mo ST marked silence. TheEulogy OF
Mr. Writ, was delivered under numerous dis
advantages. A deep feeling OF interest, indeed
always was, and always must be felt by the
Union, in thc lives, characters, and talents oil
the great men to whom IL relates, but the pow
erful impulse given 10 that ieeing oy the re-
markable circumstance Of their deaths at the
same moment, and on the day OF their greatest
glory, had, in a great measure, subsidized. tu-
logy after Eulogy, procession after procession,
had materially and naturally weakened the IN
tensity of desire which was at first felt, 10 hear
all which memory could furnish relative to
their llustrous career, as well as the embeliish-
ments efeloQuence with which genius could
enrich the recital The public appetite had
been so fed to safety, that IL had became las
tidious, and nothing but the choicest offerings
which an opulent imagination and discrlm-
mating Judgment could bring, would be recelv-
ed or relished. Such, however, was the char
acter Of the intellectual feast which Mr.. Writ
spread before us, and the attention and delight
which. under all these disadvantages, were ex-
hibited i'm the, countenances of The assembled
multitude. are the strongest evidence OF the ex-
cellcnce Of the Grafton ITSELF The eXordlum
consisted of beautiful contrast between mill
tary glory; the pomp of victorious command
crs; aud the more solid, satisfactory, and en-
dearng renown Of our departed patriots; be-
tween the t-inmDhs 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 Enlogy, to-
wards 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 circumstances OF
the times; but contended that, TO a certain ex-
tent, man being the creature OF circumstances,
Cromwell, had he been Born in Republic, IN
stead ofreceising the impulse which the cir
cumstances ofhis age and country communicate
ed TO the powers Of his mind, might have re-
manned
ssGuihless of his country's blood,'
and Milton might still have been
"Niute, inglQrous,"
but for the excitement which awakened the en-
ergy of his genius, and called il into action.
After dwelling with great pathos and eloquence
on the peculiar description of virtue ana taieh'
which distinguished those mighty men VINO
"gave impulse 10 the Ocean OF mind, ana saw
its waves reach the remotes; shore; ana .heh,
hand in hand, left The world together, rejoicing
in the success of their labors," and Inc dlfHCu'-
ties which were surmounted by their genius ana
their perseverance, the Orator went on 10 give
condensed view of the prominent events IN
the life of each of The Ex-Presldents. II was
rapid. bu, an eloquent and accurate narrative
rendered Diouant by The opposite reflections
which fine taste scattered throug bout the sue
cession Of instructive incidents The perora-
ton .fforded : great scope for the poetical fan
cv of the Orator; lie availed himseN OF II IN
very felicitous and highly wrought description
of,he situation OF Monticello, and most impo-
sing portrait of the philosopher, in his retire
ment. -
As the Eulogy will, no doubt, be published
in AN entire form, we refrain from going into
detail.
.The military parade of the day was equal to
anv thing we have ever seen in this city. The
new Georgetown troop of Cavalry, with that OF
the civ. added much 10 the general appearance,
and with the volunteer companies OF George
town and Of the City, united under the COM
mand of 1t Col Corcoran, OF the lst Legion,
made brilliant display; and the sacred music,.
the firing of the half,minute guns, the slow
march, the insignia of grief, every where, lent
soiemni,y of the deepest character TO the pro-
J cession, and 10 the whole scene.
Thus terminated the last Of our public eulogies