Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-06-30
WEST POINT, June 6, ls43.

w LIS YIN JUNO VI A-tOs
To the Editor of the Vermont Ph@nix:
Dear Sr:-The letters from West Point
that appeared some months since in your
valuable paper, were confined chiefly to a
natural and historical description of the
place to an account of the u. s. Military
Academy; and the importance of a Nation
al University. But | suppose this place is
chiefly interesting to the American patriot
and citizen, for having been "hallowed by
the footsteps Of Washington" aud for hav-
ing been the scene of so many stirring Incl
dents during the Revolutionary struggle.
| shall, however, for the present, content
myself with such reflections upon Nature, as
rise spontaneously in the mind of every
dwelIer among the Highlands of the Hud-
son, who has either an eye to see the beau
ties, or heart to feel the delights, that are
ever before him. For here,
'To hun who in the love of nature holds
Communion with her visible forms, she speaks
A various language for his gayer hours
She has voice of gladness, and a smile,
And cluquence of beauty; and she glides
Into his darker musings with mild
And gentle sympathy, that steals away
Their sharpness, ere he is aware
Who dares not feel the truth of such sem
timents? The vibrations of the chord on
which the Poet has here touched, are felt to
the very exlremites Of every generous and
unperverted mental constitution; and the
SOUL in which deep feeling dwell, returns a
cheerful response. 1t is interesting to OBJ
serve the sweet harmony that exists so uni
versally between the world without, and the
world wlthln--nature, and our own feelings.
The confguraton Of a casting, or the i'm
press left upon wax by the stamp, does not
present a counterpart Of the mould, or stamp,
more perfect than can be found among the
impressions of nature upon the mind and
heart of man. BY a wonderful sympathy,
the soul catches at and appropriates the har-
mony and perfection of the objects she con-
templates Particular Objects presented to
the bodily organs, in certain states, are fol-
lowed by certain corresponding states of the
mind-certain external sensations, by GER
tain corresponding internal affection. I'm
like men, Influenced by the prejudices OF
early education, political principles, and re-
| ligious tenets, that prevent their doctrines
from being received by their lellow-men, M
ture has no particular school to establish
no party to sustain no sectarian view to
support Every avenue. therefore, to mans
heart is open to her access Every sentence
that she utters finds response in his bo
SON.
Nor is the universally of this harmony
deserving less attention, than its truth or re-
atty. For the power of discriminating anc
enjoying the beauties and subimitics in the
works of nature or productions of art, is a!
extensive as our race, and uniform as thu
objects of it are permanent and lnvariable
1t has its seat in the constitution of our ma
lures, and is among the first of our facultle
to show proof of its existence and exercise
Would you have evidence Of this harmon,
and sweetness, the pleasure, pathos and pow
er, with which nature addresses herself Il
the senses and soul of man? Let him go
when the lark wakes the morn and calls OF
all the feathered choir to tune their mellow
throats for carrolling the song Of swee
| praise to Him, whose watchfu care has no
suffered one of their number to fall unnoti
ced to the ground, during the silence of tn
J night; when the dusk of evening begins t
? gather around him, and tired nature"
= hushed to rest by the soothing notes ofswee
Philomela; when the forked lightning
t CLEAN in the sulphurous cloud, and the pea
ing thunder breaking from the vault of hea'
: en-, and echoing along the mountain tops
) dies away in the distance; let him regae tn
e senses with the fragrance of the field, an
! the fruit of the earth, with the gurgling {
4 the rill and the breeze of the zephyr Il
him gaze upon the modest violet, the varie
landscape, the dragged mountain the majel
{ tic river, or mighty ocean turn his eyes
the bright sun, or fleeing cloud, by day, c
the pale moon and twinkling star by night
J. and he shall declare himself devoid of fee
ing aud beneath man, or confess the mi
r gc power of all these things to inspire I'll
soul with deep emotion and ndescribab
I. pleasure. And yet, from the vide world
which we live, and the universe around u
. this is but meager and limited enumer
= ton of those objects that are highly calc'
n ated to awaken the attention and affect Il
;. heart of every observing and intelligent ere
ture. al- --oi1ea