The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-10-09

ksee thai master mnd Is on the noor Iic
moves on TO the assault, kindling as he goes
Logical, vehement, merciless, tearing the
premises Of his opponent up by the roots, and
hurting them to the winds, dill he leaves naught
but desolation and wreck TO mark his path
way. AT such times, he would remind you
ofthe dashing, fierce eloquence Of Henry A.
1 Wise. Vigorous, exciting debate, is the ele-
ment Of Mr. Rantoul. He sports in Il. In
Parliamentary warfare, he never fights by
rule. His tactics belong to the Napoleon
school lie is rapid, and frequently reckless
in his onsets and, though he may win at
Marengo, he will lose at Waterloo. speak
merely with reference 10 his intellect, when l
say that, should he attain the seat in Congress
to which he aspires, the ardor of his genius
would soon place him among the prominent
men Of the House. He is favorably known
as scholar and writer. often contributing
to the first Reviews of the country. His re-
ports and speeches on the abolition Of imp,i-
sonment, are an honor TO his intelligence and
humanity need not add, that This hasty
sketch is dictated by no political considera-
tons, or preferences.
We entered Boston just as the last rays Of
departing day were lingering and playing on
the lofty dome Of the State House. The
islands in her bay Of matchless beauty were
rejecting back his glowing farewell, while
occasional flashes of radiance edged with gold
the ripping waves. But a painters pencil,
or poets pen, must sketch its glories--I
shall not attempt il.
What city like Boston-so calm, clean,
staid, substantial--so intellectual, moral so
worthy of imitation-and so full of" LIONS"
too! saw many Of these last ! will not
now stop to decide them. They have lions Of
the Revolution, literary lions, lions in the fine
arts, and scientific lions--lions in poetry, lions
IN prose, and musical lions. But, my business
is with men. | will give you an incident in
the life of one Of Natures noblemen."
Thousands have read and revealed in the
unique, racy, fertile poetry Of John Pierpont.
met him recently at one of the performances
of the celebrated "Oratorio of David, by the
Boston Handel and Haydn Society. He is
passionately fond of music. While the young
gentleman, who gave the part of David with
thrilling effect, was, in solo Of peculiar
power, bidding farewell 10 his flock and friends
previous 10 his departure to the camp of the
| israelites, where he was to do battle for the
rescue of his fathers land, (have you ever
heard it? | watched the countenahce Of my
friend. His soul beamed through his kindng
eye. His frame swayed to and fro with the
measure. And when, with inspiring energy,
the performer gave the unsurpassed message
"'Tis done! No fears, no dangers shall appal,
| feel the impulse and obey the call ="
| thought he would have eapt from his seat
The music had set the poet on fire. Pierpont
sees poetry in every thing. He thinks poetry
he looks poetry. To him may be applied
with truth what johnson said of Thomson
"He thinks in peculiar train, and he thinks
always as man Of genius he looks round
on Nature and on life with the eye which Ma
ture bestows only on poet the eye that
distinguishes, in every thing presented to its
view, whatever there is on which imagination
can delight to be detained, and with a mind
that at once comprehends the vast and attends
| to the minute"
To this may be added, that he has bland
heart, warmed with the fires Of an enlarged
philanthropy.
Happening to pass the literary Governor"
Of the Commonwealth in the street to-day, de-
termines me to enter for moment one field,
where he figures as a distinguished lion"
| allude to the Lyceum. If one trait more
than another distinguishes Boston, yea, and
Massachusetts generally, it is her passionate
thirst for knowledge. 1t is The characteristic
of the Commonwealth. This desire for learn
ing pervades all classes, from his Excellency
the Governor, down to his pedagogueship the
usher. During the winter months, the eager
ness for lectures on science and beles-lettres,
borders on a mania. The whole. State, from
Barnstable to Berkshire, is one vast Lyccum.
Every body bears a part The first minds in
the Commonwealth bend their Hottest energies
to the work. Webster throws aside his law,
Charming his theology, and Rantoul his poll
tics, to mngle in the gladiatorial fray,-or ra-
Their, they here bring their legal, theological,
and political science, to the test of free crti-
cisn, and frank debate. There you will see
Gushing, with his glistening armor; A. H.
Everett, sometime the able editor of the North
American Review; Edward Everett, with his
graceful manner and choice matter, polishing
his sentences till they dazzle your eyes Ru-
fus Choate, the Erskne Of the Massachusetts
bar; Bancroft, the historian Of the age, who
combines in plan and execution. the exceen-
cies of Hume, Goldsmith, and Robertson,
without their faults; the biographical Sparks,
and the erudite Follen !" Peter Parley,' with
his facts, and Emmerson with his fction-the
former precise and pointed-the latter gor-
geous in style and wild in theory; the divine
from his desk, and the blacksmith from his
anvil I; all, all, old and young, gentle and
simple, entering this intellectual amphheatre
to STAY or be slain. Is it any wonder that such
people are race Of reasoners and rhetor-
clans
Yours, &c. RAMBLER.