Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-07-28

CONSTITUTIONAL questions. ms Is the depOra-
BILE alternative-the extripation of the seeding
member. or the never ceasing struggle of two ri.
val confederacies, ultimately bending the neck of
both under the yoke of foreiga domination, or the
despotic sovereignty of conqueror at home.-
May Heaven avert the omen! The destinies, not
only of our posterity, but of the human race, are
at stake.
Let no such melancholy forebodings intrude
upon the festivities of this anniversary. Serene
skies and balmy breezes are not con genial to the
climate of freedom. Progressive Improvement
in the condition of man is apparently the purpose
ola experimenting Providence. purpose
will not be disappointed. In no deusion of ma
tiona vanity, but with feeling Of profound graf
itude to the God of our Fathers, let us indulge
cheering hope and belief, that our country and
her people have been selected as instruments for
preparing and maturing much of the good yet
in reserve for the welfare and happiness of the
human race. Much good has already been ef-
fccted by the solemn proclamation of our princi-
pies, much more by the illustration of our exam
pie. The tempest which threatens desOlatiOn,
may be destined only to purify the atmosphere.
1t is not IN tranquil ease and enjoyment that
the active energies of mankind are displayed
tolls and danger are the trials of the soul. Doom
ed to the first by his sentence at the fall. man, by
submission converts them into pleasures. The
last are since the fall the condition of his exist
ence. To see them in advance, to guard against
them by all the suggestions Of prudence, to
meet them with the composure of unyielding
resistance, and to abide with firm resignation the
final dispensaton of him who rules the whole
These are the precepts of religion-these are the
principles and consultations of patrotsm;-these
remain when all is lost-and of these is composed
the spirit of independence-the spirit embodied
in that beautiful person6cation of the poet, which
may each OF you, my cOuntrymen, to the last
hour Of his life, apply to himself
"Thy spirit, Independence, let me share,
Lord Of the Lion heart, and Eagle eye!
Thy steps follow with my bosom bare,
Nor heed the storm that hows along the sky"
In the course Of nature, the voice which now
addresses you, must soon cease to be heard upon
earth. Life and all which it inherts, lose their
value as it draws towards ITS close. But for most
of you, my friends and neighbors, long and many
years of futurity are yet in store. May they be
years of freedom-years of prosperity-years of
happiness, ripeuing for immortality. but were
the breath which now gives utterance to my feel
ings, the last vital air should draw my expir-
ing words to you and your children should be,
INDEPENDENCE AND UNION FOREVER
Gastronomy. last number of the North
American Review contains a highly amusing ar
ticle on the "Orisin and Progress of the Useful
Arts" The writer commences with the art
of Making Bread,' as one ofthe earliest, connect
ed with the preparation offood--itsef the most i'm.
pcratiye of our wants. He describes, briefly,
the various modes of pounding, grinding, or levi
eating corn. Bread reminds the writer of butter,
| which he mentions as first used only as an ONT.
mcnt and medicine, and not as food! He next
passes to flesh, which does not seem to have been
so essential an article of food in the earliest times,
as at present. 1t was not often served up unless
a stranger was present. In the East, locusts are
eaten. A traveller, Of the last century, express
ing his establishment that they could eat food SO
disgusting, an Arab replied, "That it savoured
custer, to be startled by any thing in the way Of
eating" The passion OF the Athenians for fish
was carried to an extreme; and two young Athe.
mans were knishtsd on account of the escellen,
salt fish sold by their father. He probably left
them sufficient to support the dignity. Fish was
used BY the Greeks as food in their army and ma
W. and epicurcs boiled them in salt water.
Some OF the Roman Injuries are not in much
repute at present, such for instance, as stewed
puppies aud white worm soups. The snail, also,
is less used than formerly, although It holds its
ground in Germany. The supper of Pliny con
sisted of barley cake, lettuce, two eggs, three
snails, with due proportion of wine.
In the time of William the Conqueror, the pea
cock was an important dish, both for ornament
and good cheer. The feathers were removed till
the bird was cooked, when they were carefully
restored-the beak and comb were gilded-the
tail spread. and in this state it was brought to be
admired and eaten at the table.
The reviewer questions the opinion that this arr
of Life eating, was so highly improved at an ear
ly date, in England, as has been supposed. Ac'
cording to him, the roast beef Of Old England ex
listed only in poetical visions. Quantity and not
quality seems tohave been most regarded. 1t ap
pears from book, in possession of the Percy ia
mly, containing the household system OF an Ear
of Northumberland, in the reign of Henry VII,
that from mid summer to Michaelmas Sept. 90,
they had fresh meat, so called. but lived on saled
provisions all the rest of the year. As they had
very few vegetables, and as potatoes were moi
known until century after, this fare must have
been sufficiently hard. although we venture a
guess that it was devoured with good relish by
| fhe I6O nprsonS CONFUSING the Earl's house