Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-07-04
icoAllUsIcAfED.l
LA FAY E T T E

at the First Presbyterian Church, last Sunday,
was highly gratified at the very happy manner
in which the esteemed Pastor of that Church
touched upon the lamented death of the beloved
LA FAyErrE. Allow me, Mr. Editor, to give
you the substance Of his remarks, and to re-
quest for them place in your paper. His text
was Isaiah 4lst CHI, II and 18th ". Speaking
of the Providence of God kindly fnterposing in
answer to the suppliant cry of people in dis
tresss, he went on to say" might cite, in this
connexion, variety of instances in our own
revolutionary struggle. Who can look at the
history Of those times which tried mems
souls. land when, ceasing from man as an Ell
ficient agent, uhole people cast themselves up
on Goo, without being affected at the many
signal and strongly marked displays OF su-
perintending and controlling ProVldencef-
And more especially in the instruments which
were raised up, so admirably furnished VAIN
every qualification, suited to the highly mo-
mentous objects which they were destined to
achieve.
OF one of those instruments, with an emotion
of melancholy sadness, We are afectonateiy
and affectingy reminded by the news OF the
mast week. The name if would be superflr-
GUS in me to speak: it is engraven on every
HEARTH is embalmed in every recollecton!-it
is lisped by almost every infant tongue! And
the notes of lamentation swelling on every
breeze, as they sweep along from one extreme
Of this widely spread land to the other, tell
rs that He who bore il, has now gone to has Fa-
Tiers. and is sleeping in the DUST Yes; the
grave has closed upon him, and whole land
is robed in the drapery of sadness and OF sor.
row!
But who sent this youthful chettain, with all
his blushing honors Of titled nobility fresh about
him. 10 the troanlsI shores of this western
world2 TO stSai beside the Father of his Coun-
.rv amid tie ssprus OF war, the din of arms,
and the shock sf 1a-.e1 Who laAaenced him,
apparently rssss,s up HleaifflHlF adapted for
his after wosS II ggnssuT;rfrt che resources OF
his mind, the eaerr,.s lff ms oe,ig. the prime OF
his days, and MS angie cec,llsFary means, in
aid Of a cause 50 Ee-olC+-,lf such doubtful is
sue; and, after all, associated With the promise
Of but a scaDty reCoup~nse OF rewardl Con-
siderations influential on ordinary minds, were
ali against it. Every thing that was calculated
CDaIul, 10 tccu, duN 10 yOutNluI
imagination was found al home.-There were
the sepulchres Of his fathers There was the
land Of his birth. There were the associations
of his infancy and boyhood There were the
thrilling influences and treasured riches of do
nestle endearment There, amid the soft bian-
dishments of fondy cherished home and the
seductive reinements of magnificent and en-
chanting court, day was opening before him,
as cheering in promise, and as bright In per-
spective, as the buoyancy of youthful hope
could possibly make il. While here, on the con-
trary, every thing to ordinary minds, was
gloomy, cherries, and repulsve. The coun-
try, scarcely yet snatched from the dominion oil
the beasts Of prey, was comparative Wilder
ness The people were few, rude, and but par
italy lettered-of a strangelanguage and hos
tile stock: and, to crown the whole, the war in
which they were engaged, being waged against
the mghtiest empire on the surface of the globe,
in accordance with all the principles of carnal
reasoning, was utterly desperate and hopeless.
And yet animated by spirit which rose with
growing difficulties, he did renture;-from the
sepulchres of his fathers, the entertainments oil
a splendid court and the sweets Of domestic en-
dearment, he did tear himself away. He did
CONE to these shores Of danger, of war, of con- !
fiict and of blood; and never did he cease in
his struggles and sacrifices, until those skies
which at first were so lowering and terrific, be-
came respendent with the beams of Liberty and |
Independence And need ask Christian audi
ence, recognizing the existence of a controlling
Providence, pho sent him here? TWAS the same
Power that listened to the suppliant cries Of the
afflicted people in Egypt and in Babylon-the
same that fitted Moses for his work; that COM
missioned Joshua to lead the hos! of Israel to
che land Of promise: that stirred up Cyrus to
set the captives free from their calling servitude
~ Babylon; and, not to multiply citations, the
same that called, and fitted, and stood by, and
succored, our own ilustrious Washington, the
Father Of his Country.
As an instrument, then, in the hands Of that
dread Being who directs the destinies of indi- /
viduals, Of nations and of worlds, we this day |
regard him-this day mourn his departure from |
the abodes of mortality No man now living
L.. Il