Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-03-20
LETTERS FROM NEW yoRK.-No. >.
For the Phenir Gazette.
&C New York CRY,

NEW YORK ClTY, -.
aDr.n Fa,Ksp: have been greatly over
nowered and impressed with some views u al
ehi,ec,ural magni6cence, rising from the centre
and environs Of this splendid metropolis sur
veying nature, we observe her treasures ran
sacked and pillaged, and surmounted with the
Establishment. Of art, offered as monumental
trophies of human genius. Some look so I'M
mensely strong, and powerfully grand they
seem 10 have been chiselled from the solIdes'
rocks, and to be based on mistaken foundations
Of the unrest granite. That of the National
Capitol was the first superb evidence OF artifl'
cial grandeur had Witnessed; yet those OF
which now speak, though proportiona'Iy d.
minutive in circumference and height, hold the
eye in wondering amazement al their superior
and noble construction.
az left my quiet seat to take an evenings
ramble, about the space Of three weeks since,
near some Of these venerable edihces. The
streets, and all around the Park, were as still,
even as the shades Of domestic retirement
had bu, shortly previous absen,ed myself from;
and the whole world was, apparently, in
dreaming repose, glded by the silver OF the
sweet and pensi.e moonlight. The starry
,hrongs embszoning with their gl'mmering ra-
dance the interior between the moon and those
bounds of ether. beyond which the eye has no
con,roul, and accompanying the meek, meian-
choy mistress Of the silent hours Of night, over
awed and heightened The imagination into vi
sionary picture of all that was happy and con-
genial with unalIoyed mortal bliss. Far stretch.
ing onward along The bright expanse OF the
Heavens, the ideal reflections Of the mind 1ow-
ed eopiossly, as the sight marked the path
which obser, alton followed: I gradually re-
turned from this reverie Of fancy, and glanced
on the balconies whence the night, sentinel told
the passing solemn hour; from thence viewed
the pointed spires, the shining roofs, the hgur.
ed Chapters, and the huted colonnades Of the
neighboring Churches, chose outward appear.
ances are particularly collocated for The atten-
ton Of the eye. The sestibules hold out some>
thing to the view peculiarly romantic in ar
from the circumstances which surveyed them
under. Right confronting tie eye Of every be-
holder, are embodied the coasecrated ashes Of
the heroic Montgomery, which were conveyed
over the waters from the land in which he fell,
and are here deposited beneath monument,
striking in its design, for the recoguizance Of
hi. own endeared countrymen Here felt my.
self having access to the mos, patriotic, digni-
fed, and rational reflections. Besides the tomb
Of that mos, worthy and greatest Of freeborn
heroes, there are dispersed, in the rear and on
both sides, (,he turf and some green cedars ap.
pro2riately and mournfuly commingling) the
the graves Of great numbers, whose memories
are blessed throughout the City and State
The style, Of what confined my observation
to, was highly an,iqua,ed, -inspirine tnournful
awe in contrasting the probable actions and
movements Of those who once occupied the
stage of mortality, but who now were no
more.
81 was now about turning, to give another
direction to my short nocturnal excursion,
when the sudden brush Of slow footsteps
prompted me to halt, and see who passed. An
aged and faltering person directly closed with
me. should have felt proud, il, on my FIRST
outset, had joined in company with some
communicative friend, with whom I NIGH,
have expressed the various Impressions my
mind underwent indeed my feelings are usually
more magn6ed, on any occasion Of the kind, if
have tina, invaluable privilege of conversing,
and suggesting, on any interesting object that
presents ITSELF His shadow Hoa,ed far behind
him, directed by the slantipg rays Of the queen
Of night, who had but quarter coursed the skies;
and his advancing, directly in her front, towards
me, enabled me to read his animated features,
which bore great freedom of air-while ardor
and dignity boldly swa,ed his engaging coun-
tenance, though time had evidently impaired
the prime of his noble frame.
Gle gave me glance Of friendly recogni-
lion, and immediately stopped. l lad before