New-York tribune., 1842-01-12

while Tho merchants Of Newly ork, should erect
raonuman, in their new Exchange. and grave their
,amas in marble, TO go down 10 posterity with
honor This tconld have been done in republican
| Greece or Rome; why. not in America
Still, in the East, ;he fame reaching and
,swerng onward; root after roof fell with crash,
sending up volumes OF smoke and cnders. as from
| the huge crater of Etna. TIE towering walls
| stood glowing with furnace neat, or came tum-
bling TO the earth with noise OF thunder. All
hope is abandoned the multitude stand agfasi in
almost silent astonishment and fear. and only
few are seen TO exert themselve. to save some
sesn,y piitance from the wreck of all their hopes.
Men az hour ago, Of the frs, rank in wealth, are
seen bearing on thar shoulders burden Of value
10 some place of imagined safety. =Ls5orers
seen piling South,sreet and the wharves with ner-
chaadse from The adjacent warehouses, yainly
imagining that the fire vii! no: reach them there
and now, the last line of buildings on Soutt-.tree,
are in flames ct every point, all behind for many
az acre IL one glowing furnace The heat grows
more intense, men cannot withstand it, and retire
to the wharves for safety presently the flames
bursting forth at every point, along the whole
line OF combust Dies that I'LL the streets and the
wharves, and, unable 10 escape the multitude
tire TO the ends OF The piers, tie flames approach
rapidly, and they are alarmed for their safety
there are no vessels, no boats there in which 10
escape all have retired for their own safety; and
nowhe only remedy is TO cast into the sea, inordcr
10 save themselves that which thsv had Just bsen
endeavoring to from the flames: the work Is
DONE they themselves from the otherwise IL
evitabe death by FIRE flood; bur all else is gone.
And here thev wait: the morning ght Is broken
in the East the sun has risen over the brink OF
the ocean; the fire could reach no more, exceptit
should swallow up the tide; and the lion drops
to his lair, satiate of prey, the couchant flame
sinks gradually 70 the ground. The space which
the evening before was occupied by near thou
sand lofty warehouses and proud monuments of
architecture, was now all glowing furnace be-
meath, and above murky cloud OF gloom.
Bydegrees, the exhausted multitude begin wend-
ing their weary way homeward, and among them
our party from MIR. Van Courtland's ). with whom
new theme of discourse has now arisen, for the
discovery OF American character.
Sir James, in hi. work, has limited all thoughts
on society to social meetings, aInusements and
fashion. Whether this is ali oversish t or not, we
will not undertake to say; it may have arisen from
his limited understanding his perverted tastes, or
his excessive vanity, or, more probably, 1t nay De
q wifu omission in order IN crafty his offended
pride and se.conceis by an attack at those points
our country, (and Sir George the point
of committing the same crror,) to deal ONLY with
the extravagances OF our manners and instead OF
making their observations general, to limit them to
few and isolated characters. As we have adOp-
ted different course, and .hink that society
all our social relations which distinguish civ
ilized Chrstianized and educated people, whether
they be such as are held in common with oil other
nations, or such az are peculiar to ourselves-we
must ask the Indulgence of readers for little
prosnesa occasionally, in duting upon them al
tho.g h we intend to notice only such remarks of
our party, as point 10 those differences of charuc
ter, wherein may excel or fall short OF Others.
And we will endeavor, while we do justice TO the
truth not to leave society unsca,hed for its tollies.
That such calamity as that which has just be-
fallen the city, should have passed lightly by would
have argued an iAsensib,y deserving reproach;
blu, such was not the case; it was deeply felt, and
warmly symputhi1ed in throughout the country;
while an ahrctionate and warning voice from the
pulpit sought to console the sufcrngs of those be-
'reft, and lead the minds of men to firmer reliance
on Providence, as the chief source of happiness.
Gucty and dissipation, the too frequent concornl-
tants OF prosperous condition OF things IN Il large
CITY, received II powerful check, and men minds
were absorbed in the thought, of how they might
had been thrown by the late calamity.
The company of Sir James Ehinghums party,
had left the ladies at Mr.. Van Cour,and's, and as
they remained out until the morning they now re-
turned there 10 breakfast and the discourse natu-
rally ran upon the subject OF the fire. and its prob
able effects upon the condition and prospects fthe
city, and the country at large, as intimately con-
nected with it.
As if this misfortune had been part Of the
fault of the people, and consequence OF their err
rors Sir James remarked, with his accustomed
disposition 10 condemn, Have | not told you.
MIR. =Vun Courtland," said he, that the great
schemes in this country must fall to thr ground.
and America must fall back upon her true position
of dependent and provincial country, and society
must yield her preiensions here = for this last
point after all, what lay nearasth his heart and
what he most ardently desired.
Mr. Van CORTLAND replied q, that 50 far as wealth
was q means Of carrying oet schemes, what had
Just happened would undoubtedly operate
check; butlle undeveloped resources OF the coun-
try, and the springs Of enterprise numerous
that It's effect cannot be ioreseen, and in this re-
spect such all even, is likely TO work less injury
than If it had TRANSFERRED any where else. The
latter part OF Sir ,lamess remark, Nr. Van Court
land did not deem worthy of any special reply.
Had this thing happened in London, said
Sir George, the government. would be callrdupon
Immediately, to come forward with its powerful!
aid
In England, Sir George, the government and
people comparatively distinct. Here the peo-
pie consider themselves part OF it; and in the
fullest and pures. sense, bosnd together By tnu-
tual, and without any conflicting interests. They
will very probably call on the government in some
shape, 10 do its part for the general relief. but
which the people will acceptonly so far as Justice
may be due them, ami mutual interest may diciaie
But such i. the habit of selfreliance among Us,
that instead of waiting as would be the case IN
London. for movement the part OF the govern
ment the first effect we shall witness, will De a