Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-01-17

corSe. There the doors heve' sN
hinges for friendly visit. No ray OF the sun
is allowed to enter. No foot OF kindred. ana
friends travel the haliowed pain. NO 'eHr
,rickles over the narrow house Of death. IL
they are even visited it is when iresn corse
comes to rest with them. How much more
classical, sentimental, and religious are the
mounds which the children OF the forest once
built for the resting place OF those they io'eo!
Here. at the burial place OF washington, was
no monumental marble holding out IN PROUD
phrase the deeds and virtues OF the misn'y
dead; "no sculptured urn or consec'a9ec oos,'
no slab on which kindred genius hao chise'ieu
his heart, and written the dictates oil honest
truth in letters of immortal light but all was
simnle and natural, but not less affecting than
mausoleums and sarcophagi. The gratitude
of the nation should indeed raise monument
10 Washington lofty as the pillar OF iralan,
and full Of the emblems of his civil and militia
~ trophies as the arch Of Vespasian; but to
the traveller to whom works of art are familiar,
This plain grave then bent over was more
delightful spo, for contemplation than the shade
of a pyramid or the summit OF column
When the full, green leaf shall cover the sur
rounding trees, and the flowers spring from
eyery turf at such time, it would require out
a small portion Of that mag ination which has
often been devoted 10 departed spirits, to peo-
ple this solemn grave with the great coadJu-
tors of Washington in securing our liberties,
and in forming a national character. Knox,
with his generous burst Of friendship aud no
norable feeling would meet the majestic form
of his friend, and De Kalb and the "hery Pole
might there too be seen--and Hamilton, who
lust begins to receive his need Of fame, all
dienihei by public virtues, would then grow
more ELOQUENT than ever on The subject Of his
coun,ry's destinies; and Ames, mingling in the
thronr in language as pure and bright as the
fame which fell from Heaven on the accepted
sacrifice of.Abel, would recount the deeds OF
| the worthless as they arose to his view; and
the two last great patriots TO whom God vouch-
,afed the most wonderful exit from this world,
might Join the sainted group and mingle the
accents OF wisdom with the congratulations
of love. If the poet could raise spell Of
potency in the green tree, surely somethins'
by the talents of Blair or a Young, might
be done in the dry The broken, quivering
leaf, ready to fall at the next breeze, scar,
yellow, and dead, TO the grounc-lhe naked
branc mes extending themselves barren and sap
less to the blast Of Uintry time, is only lesson
of nature ON the decay and dissolution OF the
mortal body. Spring shall come, for seed and
harvest, saith the Lord, shall never fail, and
leaves and flowers and fruit shall return. Shall
the sleep of death then be eternal? Norman
shall 20 down to the chambers Of death in hope
and RELYING on the promises Of God, arise in
plorv. | will not ask pardon for this digres-
sion. FOR he who could stand on the grave Of
Washington, or enter the cemetery where moul-
ders his clay, without emotions or reflections,
has no touch of nature in him. There may be
those above all mortal feeling, wrapt up in
philosophc mail, hut, my soul, ] charge thee,
10 come not into their sanctuary or hold com.
munon with them.
About half past three o'clock we wen. OF
board the boat, but on receiving an invitation
from Col. Armis,ead to spend the night at Fort
Washington, ] accepted ii, and with Col. Jones
and Col. Roberdeau partook Of the elegant hos
pitality Of our host. He introduced me, for the
others ere inmates in the family, to his wife,
a woman Of good sense and distinguished for
her domestic virtues, and also 10 his niece, the
fairest specimen Of Virginia beauty have yet
seen; playful, witty, musical, and well read, she
seemed to throw a charm around her which
marked all, and harmed none, for she was too
GOOD to iniure the feelings OF any one She
had received wrong impressions Of Eastern
GOODNESS Of heart and sterility Of imagination,
which endeavored to remove with all the ar
gumen,s could offer, but how far succeeded
7 am unable 10 say. CO.. Armistead is sensi.
BILE, we'll educated man, and in addition, which
hope is not rare in the army, is also reli-
eious man. The intelligence, politeness, and
popularity Of Adju,anl General Jones is well
known to those who have visited Washington.
Col. Roherdeau is Of the Engineer corps, and
has been many years in the army. He is pre-
cisely what a soldier should be in his manners,
accommodating TO all grades. He seems by
memory and active life to be sort of connect
ing link between the old school and the new.
he was intimate with Washington, Hamilton,
and Knox, and knows every officer who served
in the last war, or who is in commission now.
1t is the fate Of .he traveller to find those who
instruct him, delight him, and then part from
them forever. hope this will not be the case
with those met at this time-I shall be happy
to NEE: them again. We came from the Fort
to Alexandria in the Commandments barge, and
from thence we took carriage for Washington.
Thus passed three interesting days Of my life.
will finish up all that belongs to the "Cy-
press shade" at once. had thought to have
found something OF elegance and taste in the
h, rv;oo hot Nonuress had Se1ected IN