The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-06-06

IHE DEsoLATEp Tome OF HKRo-lf man be IN
the right humor he can pick up great deal OF WIS
dom In grave yard Most especially may he De-
come wiser and better if he choose grave yard IN
| the midst OF crowded city, as the scene OF his
| meditations amongst The tombs. We have Just
visited the we-tenaned grounds Of Trinity church,
and il we have learned nothing else, we are, at all
events more perfectly convinced than ever, of the
truth of that aphcrism which lives in the sacred
text-"a prophet is not without honor, save In his
own country" We have just looked upon the
desolated tomb of Lawrencc-of him whose hero
ism death itself failed 10 subdue, and whose last
Don't give up the ship''
1t is sad sight, that tomb. Another winter
will complete the ruin which ingratitude and ne.
glect seem so anxious to consummate. The few
bricks which have with such unavailing fidelity
discharged their duty for the last few years, are
already totteriug to their fall, and the inscription
stone will very soon lay low among the poisonous
weeds. and the long, rank grass, which have so
perseveringly labored to hide it from tn. careless
passer-by. With what still, .rebuking voice did
that solemn ruin proclaim to us the ungratefuness
OF that great, postrophized-posterty! Here
we the richest relisious-aye, religious
corporation in our land suffering the poor memorial
of one of earth's nobest children, to mouder away
under their very nose-bit by bit-wih sort OF lux
urious ingratitude, which would make the very
stcaes the neighborhood cry out, if they hadn't
long since exhausted all their powers of Indignant
vituperation.
Very near the ruined monument Of the gallant
Lawrence, there stands proud memorial OF po-
litical prohigate. With most religious care, has it
been tended Its inscribed panegyric, couched in
terms OF most orthodox monumental falsty, has
been annually recut, and the weeds, which-unlike
those irtruders at the tomb Of Lawrence-find here
congenial soil, have suffered periodical destruc-
ton, from the hands of those who cannot even af-
feet that of which their nature incapable-reven
ence for departed chivalry and worth
We will do something TO rescue from the oblivion
of the weeds, and the Trinity Church Trustees, the
inscription which records the name, and short but
brilliant career of Lawrence. Here 1t Isl
In Memory of
CAPTAIN JAMES LAWRENCE,
othe United States Navy,
who fell
On the lst day of June, 1918,
In the 49, year of his age
In the action between the frgates Chesapeake and
Shannon.
lie mad distinguished himself various occasions,
But particularly when commanding the sloop-of.war
Hornet,
By capturing and sinking
His Britannic Majestys sloop-of.wa ar Peacock,
After desperate action Of IA minutes
His bravery in action
Was only cquallee by his modesty in triumph,
And his magnaAmity to the vanquished
In private life
He was gentleman of the most endearing qualities,
And so acknowledged was his public worth
That the whole Nation mourned his loss,
And the enemy commended with his countrymen,
Who most should honor his remains
On the opposite side of the unpretendlng obelisk
are the following words, which the vsiter can with
difficulty make OUT
The Hero
Whose remains are here deposited,
With his expiring breath
Expressed his devotion to his country.
Neither the day of battle,
The anguish of a mortal wound.
Nor the horrors of approaching death
Could sub3ue his valiant spirit
His diving words were,
"DON'r GIVE UP THE SHIP"
After all, history is the righteous Judge, and she
awards to men their rightful place and their appro
pirate reward. Lawrence will continue to live long
after his tomb has fallen TO the DUST and the Trinity
Church people have quietly rotted into oblivion.