Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1835-08-31
COMMUNICATION.
FUNERAL GRAFTON,
ON run LATE
fhseC .IHSfiCc .H.


men, illnmncd with purer ray of dvnity--patrl-
OTIS OF the FIRST masntude--wl,o in peculiar
sense, may he said to live aud die not TO them
selves but 10 others; and consequently to Him
who Is the Anthor oi all goodness. Endowed with
that superior excellence which does honor to our
whole species, the ylriuous OF every nation claim
Kindred with them, and the common interests OF
humanity are concerned in their character
In Ncnerat'on ot such men, to exchange our ac-
cn>tomca walks Tor tho lo nNc OF mourning to be-
due its sacred rcccSscs with tears of gratitude Ia
Their memory To ondcavour, if possible, 10 catch
some portion OF their ETHEREAL split, as il mounts
from this earthly sphere 10 the communion of con.
genial spirits above-n a landabc custom, cocyal
with society, and sanctihed TO usb, the example Of
the wiscst nations.
Ii was the manner of the Ep, plars not only To
celebrate the names, but 10 cmhalm the bodies oi
their deceased worthless, that they might lonp be.
preserved 10 public view as examples OF virtue,
speaking, though dead.
But tins honor was moi easily 10 be obtained
nor was II bestowed mdiscrmnately upon the ynl-
gar great. II was decrccd only b, the public voice
"a venerable assemblv OF Judges, before whom
the body ot the deceased WIS brought for trial and
solcnmly a,quitlcd or condemned by the evidence
of the people
Even then kings, however much spared, while
living, Tor the sake OF public tranquility, had still
this more than fiery ordeal before thci, eyes; and.
by the example OF some Of their number, who had
been refused scputulc in those very mausol,un,>
which Their pride had prepared 10 lhc,r own mem
ory, were taught both To senrrale and dread "A law
whose pnni,hmenls reached beyond the usual
times of oblivion
The moral of the institution was trul, Interest,
nv impressive and wiSc--that, whatever ma, be
The arbitrary distinctions of this cctinp state of
existence, they are all cancelled by the hand of
death and through the endless untricd periods
mat S;'2a3, ',itar ana Dennnconce will make the
hur distinctions OF character, and be the ONLY
foundations OF happiness and renown.
Among the cnlighcd Ahcnians, Il law obtained
appointing orations and public funerals in honour
OF those who glorionsly pcrcd, or sacrificed Their
lives Tor their country. \ sentiment delivered by
ferclcs, IN his funeral Grafton over the remains Of
Tie patriot heroes Of Marathon, is too full of truth
aud OF the inspiration ofcoqucnce, ever 10 be for.
"o'l'h. he Orator, allera most animanp de
scription OF Patriotism, which he cxalt, above all
the virtues that can fire the human breast. saws of
the glorious dead" Having gwen their lives 10
thcir country, every of them has received n
praise that will never decay sepulchro that will
always be most illustrious not the pcrishing mar
Die IN winch we lnurn their ashes but that in
winch Their tame is preserved. The whole earth
Is the sepnlchrc ofiIustrons citizens, and their in
serlp''oh IS written upon the hearts of the good y
The praise of public virtue was wrought into
the whole texture OF the Roman politv; and VII
al, calling To his aid the tcrrors as well as sancti-
ties OF religion, gave it the highest imaginable I'm
ish
lie divides his IIadcs INTO dInorentrceionS and
10 the gull OF tho deepest pcrdtlon consigrs those
'''p"H'''s u ',"1'nV VINO Delighted III human blood,
u In h..tp al al,
WIN eu t''ef country or violated lis religion
u y" ''"S' n'fe hceNefnc'a'es them III compa-
- WIZ"
'ofg0HS md nydraS and GhimcraS dirt"
snI,urcs prey upon their valS or they are wll,l
ed ctcrnally round with Ixion upon his wheel. OF
chained down with Tantans, whose BURNING lin
qniycrs over the elusive waters il canno, reach
or Tlsy phonc, her fury hair entwincd with ser
penis and her draperv reekng with gore. nrgrs tI,r,
tortlrcs it'll an unrclcntine >courrcl BIN. as his
view is fixed on thosc celestial mansions where the
great aud good reap thcir immortal ,r,onnbs b..
cNcaims-
La lne bhttrqia ,,,l,,5occ oyo,,, N, ,n,.l.
indmory uenafhs adorn Heit giorj,Dy b,,dy
Pdfriots who prish,d for Mcir counirvs right,
Or nobiy f'"mphcd IN hc Ged Of fight
Uofn',S' ""o M by asctm ants n,fmd
nm moS 'rho horc Il deoihless name b,hind
= Nv "'''' '"' o'''oS q mo"h"a
'"' "'i'' "'' illhpie receiver OF the Gospel
,e'NcS the most eited ol the pagan poets far be
','"' 'oi ,'c,' Supncsf lights are now Infinitely
s'io'' VI 'i'e '''che. lelf gloomy theology gave
"' sum 'o'c'"p'e ana III forming hell but the
''''oS' c"o''S Oh natural genius have never Imagi-
,r worthy OF rational and immortal
soui' ne glory OF giving a description OF that