Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-10-03
A LAYMAN.

The Life of Lord Edward Fitzgerald, by Tho
mas Moore, has recently been published IN Lon
don. We find the following extract from this
new work, which has interested US. 1t is no.
tice Of one of the most gifted and unfortunate Of
Irishmen-a man whose lame a" the foul disho-
noring name of rebellion" has never yet dimmed,
and whose memory will ever be affeetlonately
cherished, as we'll by his own countrymen, as by
patriots in all nations and cIimes:
Robert En,met.-Of this latter friend, n0twith-
standing his own dying entreaty. that the world
would extend to him s. the CHARITY of its silence"
cannot deny myself the qualification Of addnsa
few words. conscious that at least the spirit of his
wish will not be violated in Them Were to
number, indeed the men among all have ever
known, who appeared to me to combine in the
greatest degree. pure moral worth with the intel
lectual power. should amongst the highest Of
the few, place Robert Emmet. Wholly free
from the folhes and frailties of youth--thoush
how capable he was of the most devoted passions,
events afterwards proved. The pursuit of Sci
ence, in which he eminently distinguished him
self, seemed at that time the only object that at
all divided his thoughts with the enthusiasm for
Irish freedom, which 10 him was an hereditary
as well as a national feeling-hmsclf being the
second martyr his father had given to the cause
Simple in all his habits, and with repose ot
look and manner indicating but little movement
within, it was only when the spring was touched
that set his feelings aud, through them. his intel
lect in motion, that he at all arose above the level of
ordinary men. On no occasion was this more
peculiarly striking than in those displays of ora
tory with which both in the debating and the his
t0rical society, he so often enchanted the atten
ton and sympathy of his young audience. No
two Individuals indeed, could be much more un-
like to each other than was the same youth to HIM
self before rising to speak and after: the brow
that had appeared inanlmate and almost dropping,
at once elevating itself in all the consciousness
Of power, aud the whole countcnance and figure
of the speaker assuming change as Of one sud
denly inspired.
OF his oratory it must be recoliected l speak
from youthful impressions; but have heard lit
tie since that appeared to me of a loltier, Tor
what is far rare quality in Irish eloquence)
purer character, and the effects it produced as
well from its own exciting power as from the sus-
ceptibiity with which his audience caught up ev-
cry allusion to passing events, was such as to at
tract at least seriously the attention of the Eel
lows; and by their desire one of the scholars, a
man of advanced standing and reputation Tor Or
atory, came to attend our debates expressly for
the purpose of answering Emmett, aud endeavor-
ed to neutratke the impressions Of his fervid eu-
quence.
Such in heart and mind was another OF these
devoted men. who with gifts that would have made
them the ornaments aud supports Of well regu-
lated community, were yet driven to live the lives
OF conspirators, and die the death of traitors, bv
a system Of government which it would be diff
cult even to think of with patience did we not ga
ther hope from the present aspect of the whole
civilized world that such system Of bigotry and
miSrule can never exist again.
The following prettily conceived and hand
somely expressed thoughts ornament the editorial
column of the National Journal.
The fresh greenness of spring has long since
passed away; the ardent heat of summer has abat-
ed; and sober autumn today makes its solemn
entree INTO the kingdom of nature The frost is
I'm the air, and the scar is on the Leaf Every
thing around us discourses of decay. The mu-
tations in the microcosm of man, although slower
and more gradual than among the green heritage
aud the lofty forest, are no less certain. Let
US be wise enough to profit by the lessons which
Providence has multiplied about US, and prepare
ourselves for the uniting hours which lie between
US and the grave, that when we are required to
go INTO fellowship with the worm, and minsle
with the clods of the valley. we may feel within
us hope which will sustain us above the reach
OF fear, and with its glorious beam gild the dark
edges OF the clouds of iuturity
The late Mr.. Po,oeH.-A correspondent of the
Baltimore Patriot, in giving an account of tour
though tn state, pays the following tribute to
western Virginia, and one of her departed wor
thieS:
"Western Virginia sympathises and assimi-
ates with US in all our enterprises to annihilate
space by increased facilities Of intercourse. that
shall bind together this widespread republic in |
he ndissouble bonds of identity of interest.
She has no sickly sensibility on the subject of
tate's rights, which has paIsied the energies of
many of her most distinguished politicians; and
he next census will give to her, as also to the
ntire west, preponderating influence in the
councils of the nation, whose beneficial effects
Will be felt to its remotest extremi,ies. The
eath of the talented and accomplished Powell,
as been mourned in heaviness of heart. and de-