Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1845-07-03

treasured her young, in the sanctiiie
tomb, which the human foot approaehe
IN nolseless respect, and where the humal
voice is hushed into half audible sounds
The tomb Of Washing,on, in its deepes
I recesses, had nothing to Offend the keer
SENSES aud delicate perception OF that pu
riiy.loying bird. which approves by il
mansoning that the breath OF HEAVIER
smells wooingly in that sacred retreat.
Something OF disappointment will come
over the Imaginative, who place them
selves at the tomb of Washington, ans
await high promplings 10 description, OF
inspiration Tor pages of lofty thought. -
You may stand amid the ruins Of Tad
NOR, and think up the long vista, to The
time when the wisdom OF Solomon illus
trated the government Of Israel, and his
lberaiity mee,ed ont the space on which
were raised the gigantic columns that now
/ form part OF the deserts dust; and there
will come sense of some mighty pres.
ence, that shall awaken thought, brighten
fancy, and inspire description. The i'm
lpeFlshable Pyramids send back the mind
10 dlstant times, and awaken inquiries as
to their origin. And poets now derive
new impulses for song, new motive and
Indictment, to build the lofty rhyme, from
the decay ing statues of Greece, and the
half ebliterated inscriptions which they
drag from the sand.drills Of time, in the
perlshng glories Of the farther East. In
the presence oil the efligies Of the warrior,
or the monuments of the poet, there comes
distinct sense Of tho most glorious
achievement Of the former. and the high
| est Efforts Of the latter, which seems TO
invest the contemplative with spirit not
Of imitation, but of conception, clear,
distinct, and defnable; and few thus
stand without wish 10 give utterance to
their feelings, 10 feelings SO tumultuous,
as 10 demand utterance, and to supply
terms.
Bat it is not thus at the grave Of Wash.
ington. There is no single achievement
to be remembered with dislinctness, ard,
consequently, 10 create special ind Sc.
parate sensation. There is no one virtue
that demands admiration, and thus inspires
to description. Washington was not a
man that ever gathered distinction by any
fortuiious result, or acquired fame by any
action consequent upon a sudden exhlbi.
ton Of courage, or unusual impulse Of
patriotism.
Leaning against tho gratings Of the
tomb Of Washington, there is experieg-
cei o sensation OF awe which subdues, not
inspires which creates melancholy
train Of thought, that ascends without
awakening fancy; that seems 10 lift the
spirit into a contemplation Of that which,
as il would be irreyerent in attempting
rs DESCRIPTION, inspires no feeling or de-
sire TO describe. Starring moment from
the profound reyerie into which we had
been thrown, we cast our eyes upon our
companions in the pilgrimage. They
had not essayed to read tile inscription
above the gratlngs, nor that over the in.
most door. Ii could not be seen that they
were satisfying curiosity by any inspec-
ton, butthey appeared TO be all looking
steadily upon TIE blank wall, and closed
iron door il front Of them, as IL gain .
through those impedHmcuts apau the moul.
dedug deposits which they hid. II was
evident, however that thew, 100, were
Welding 10 the Influences OF the time and
place, and allowing their spirits to be
touched by the invisible yet pervading
spirit, that holds communion with hearts
rightly touched in such scene, which
soolhes, elevates, chaSieas, aud then dis.
misses, with burthen of endeared SEN
saiIons that enloias 10 silence, TO deep and
sulemn musings, which allows no impart-
ing Of the ineommuHIeable sense, but
permits the heart, al times, 10 call up TO
us own onjoyments, oil the hidden treas.
uges Of that hour, whenever It can, by
special sancii6cation of lis motives, well
comely invoke to the solemn inspiration,
the spirits that people that consecrated
place.
We turned from the tomb, satisfied with
tho visit, though much renamed unex.
plored There was now no curiosity TO
be gratfed, and each moved downward
towards the shore in that fixed solemnity
Of silence, that expressed fear least some
new object, or some inoppertune remark,
should disturb the quiet, rich flow of feel.
4NER ~ NtliNl an 0NAS SNblAiitAEQs an
opening among the trees, just as we were
making sudden descent, showed to us
again the tomb. Each paused, and look
ed in silence for moment, and then left
the place, some of us for ever, yet all
feeling how many thousands such might
die, and be swept away like the leaves Of
autumn, or the untlmely blossoms of
sprirg, and society neither mourn nor
feel loss; while the word, the whole
civilized, and half the savage world, in.
quires for Washington, as for one who
lived a life Of lofty example, of minute
excellence, whose character, viewed at
distance, presented all the grand proper
tons Of patriotic perfection, or, inspected
closely, exhibits that entire excellence Of
every part, which is necessary 10 the
completion OF perfect whole.
There is Society in Prince Edward
county (Vs.) which calls itself "The Oh
der Of ef-lnclined Bachelors" The girls
are very much opposed TO it, and we see
by the last papers, that one of the girls