Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-12-05
Is chief IF men for ~ that,
The rank Is out the suinea's stamp

Is chief Of men for - that,
The rank Is out the suinea'S stamp
The man IS g"ud tor a that
Like true Scotchman, the poorer nc became
the prosder he grew, and this perhaps was the
only change effected IN his feelings.
There was one thing he could not pass over
unnotced. Objections have been made TO the
tendency of Sir Walters writings in religious
point of view. The complaint Is that he ought
10 have been more ex pcit and direct IN the avOw-
al of his faith as christian. That he ought to
have contributed more efficiently to aid the great
aud blessed cause Of Religion. lie was not
aware that anv had ventured to charge MN WIN
writing any thing adverse to the blessed precepts
or influence Of the Christian cause. lie hoped
no one would be so unjust. But he must say
tina, SO far as his own judgment enabled h'm 10
sneak, he thought no one could d0uot that Or
Walter wrote under the full conviction oil the
truth OF Christianity. He thought the tendency
of his works went to establish this opln'on: Ihe
prayers uttered. the sentiments incuicated, were
proof Of this. No man could have written such
passages without being himself touched by the
fire fro,n the altar. A reverend gentleman, a
member Of this society, and now unhapp'y alb
sent from ipdispostion, one Ut no latitudinarian
views, one of classic taste and ripe scholarship,
had said well and truly, that worse sermons have
been preached in orthodox pulplts than would be
found in the writings Of Sir Walter.
But IL would have indeed been misfortune
had the question been left in doubt as 10 the sen.
timents al this great man on SD momentous
subject It was a consolation to say-and he
was Authorised to say-that in the private con.
versation OF Sir Walter, he was the open and
avowed friend uf the faith Of our Redeemer: the
humble and confiding follower Of Christ Adj
olson, in his death. left u legacy Of greater va
lue than all his literary treasuffs. in his decara-
ton to the attendants on his dying bed" See
how a christian can die''-and yet the works OF
Addison contain no more explicit account OF
| his religious feelings than those Of Scott. A
great moralist. the bingrapher of Addison, in his
Characteristic style, has said of him. what may
With equal justice be said OF Scott. " There IS
nothing in b., re lyon either suprrsttious or en-
thus,asrc. 1t is neither credulOusly weak nor
wantonly sceptical. HIS morality is neither dan.
gerously bad nor impractcably rigid"
Mr. Maxwell said that he was sure he had
dwclt too long nm matters which required no H.
Illustration from him, If he WAS able To do them
Justice: that he would now conclude by hoping
that the people Of Great Britain would not be
insensible to the claims the family Of Scott had
upon the gratitude of the nation. He hoped to
see tne estate vi WHICH Uc uNtu-WhSH bS "oo
purchased bv the ayails Of his talent and indus.
try-preserved to his children. Abeotstord had
brcome classic ground Its hosptabIe halls had
received strangers of both worlds, who have
there offered pruuder homage to genius and
worth than ever assembled before the thrones oil
congresated monarchs. The harp is no longer
heard there--rhe precious jewel is gone forever
the easket alone remains The earth has now
become the resting place Of Scott The earth
has become hallOwed bv his ashes. Dryburgh
Abbey will forever hereafter be the literary Nee.
ca To which the eyes of all will be turned in re-
vcrence and love. Dryburgh Abbey will fore
yer hereafter be within the circuit OF the stu.
dent, the scholar, the man Of genius, when they
shall mark out on the map OF Europe the journey
that NAV conduct them to scenes OF ancient
grandeur-to spots of classic inspiration-to the
honorcd monuments of the illustrious dead The
Roman forum, the acropoIis at Athens the vii
las of Cicero, the tomb of Virgil, the birth place
If Shakespeare, and the grave OF Scott, amid It's
silent and time honored ruins, will be united by
kindred feelings in the affections and memory OF
genius and talent. And when the pilgrim scho'
lar comes with such feelings to the land OF Scot.
land-when he approaches the grave OF departed
excellence-hr will feel the influence OF the time
and place. and if he drop tear to the revered
memory Of him who drew so largely on the sym
PATTY of all. he may find an apology Tor his drvo'
ton and his tears, If such devotion and such tears
require an apology, in the language OF Dr. John
son Far from me and from my friends De
,uch fri.id philosophy as may conduct US 'ndlf,
ferent and unmoved over any ground enn"b'ed
by wisdom. bravery, or virtue" That man is
little TO he envied whose patriotism gains no
force on the plains Of Neutrality-suspicious. pIety
grows no warmer AMID the ruins OF Iona.
Mr. Maxwell concluded by saying that he pro
pnsed-The Memory OF Sir Walter Scott