Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-10-09
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
rRov or EUROPEAN coRREsP oNDENT.
IoxpoN, SEPTEMBER IT, is47.

1., oos,, ~ imagine more exalted position,
49, o,c;t;nc more intense feeling, than that which
o,,r DISTINGUISHED feow-citizen HENRY CLAY, oc-
80" during his late visit TO Cape May, &c.
rhonnb his birthplace is far remote from this land,
and an ocean rolls between Europe and the scene
of his exertions yet his fame is the " world wide
nroperly" and his patriotism and virtues belong TO
The Great family of man. Truly is he now feeling
the correctness of his choice, when he SAID,
,,o,,Ld rather be RIGHT than be President
Mr.. CLAWS interview with the committees at
Cane Nav must have been SOU. stirring scene
his speech on the occasion is full OF the man, and
worthy of him scarcely any thing can be imagined
more unafecedy affecting should like TO have
been present. The scene would have formed the
third of series which most lndellbly impressed
upon my recollection. The first was the reception
of General Lafayette in the House OF Representa-
lives at Washington, when, In the presence OF the
congregated authority and intelligence OF the coun-
try, that vrtuous and patriotic old man rose to re
ceiye the thanks of the nation for the services which
he had rendered it during its early struggles for ex
isence. twas scene of simple moral grandeur;
it pleased from its peculiar proprety; 1t spoke to
all our best feelings by its justice; It enlisted our
higher sentiments, by its appeal to our imaglnatons
and our recollechons-our maginatioRs as to the u-
ture our recollections of the past. No other conn
try but The United States could exhibit such
scene, and such one occurs but once IN nations
history.
Again at the Inauguration of General Harrison,
when that favorite of the people, after addressing
the congregated thousands his entering upon the
duties of his hgh office, stepped forward and, receiv
ing the Holy Record of our Religion from the hands
OF the Chief Justice, prepared to pledge, before
Heaven and his Country, his fidelity to the Consti-
tuition and the Laws. In moment the voices Of
the immense mass of people, raised in enthusiasm
pitc
breathless silence. Instantly, as if by single i'm
pulse ererg head arQS URc0Uered, and every eye
fixed upon the venerable man, who, raised by his
fellow-ci,izens TO the highest office within their
gift was then about his best exertions,
under an appeal the Ruler of the Universe, to the
service Of his country 1t was as if fash of in
telligence quick as lightning had through that
multitude, and combined in one instant act the ag-
sregated mind that influenced it, without concert,
command, or consultation. twas spontaneously
blended tribute, paid to the majesty both of divine
and human laws. Seldom, if ever, have so many
human beings acted under the common instaRtane-
Gus impulse Of human feelings on so exalted an oc
cason. This, too, was strictly an American event,
and could not have taken place elsewhere, at least
IN our day.
The interview between Mr.. CLAY and the Com
mittees at Cape May also strictly American,
and highly creditable TO both people and nstitu-
but her promptings not always matter Of fact,
although in this instance they could not outrun the
fact. But, no more of this matters Of more every
day import press for notice.
And, first, few words about what does not oc-
every day, the sale of the Shakespeare house al
.Sfrdtford. This took place yesterday at the auc-
lion mart IN this city. Five six hundred per-
sons, many of them literary characters and other
wise men of eminence, filled the room. Mr.. L.
Robbins, nephew to the late celebrated George Rob-
bins, welded the deciding hammer. His opening
address was tedious and in bad taste; it not only
was deficient in wit and those sales of racy obser-
walton which the occasion might have been expect
ed TO elicit, but it wanted that point and fitness
which the name of Robbins had led. me TO expect.
Ii is evident that the mantle has not descended with
the hammer and the name. Mr.. Robbins made,
however, one good and pointed observation, when
ne said, in reply 10 question put by DIR. George
Jones' as TO the certainty that the property in ques-
uon the birthplace of Shakespeare 9" That if il
were generally admitted, difficult task to
prove the birthplace of an Emperor or King, or Of
a man born great, it must be more than doubly
SO TO identify that Of one who, humJly born,
had achieued greatness
After two or three bddings the Shakespeare Joint
committee of eStratford and London offered $4,000
for the house, at which price il was knocked down,
and has therefore become the property of the ma
uon and will henceiorward be in the custody of the
Commissioner of Woods and Forests, who is al
present Lord MoRPETn. The company cheered
most Justify when it was declared that the house
was secured to the nation, for there seems to have
been fear entertained to the last that il would be
purchased by some foreign Spectator. The five
books of autographs were purchased by Mr.. But
Ter, of Clapton, for 973.l0 was surprised to find
that they commenced only in 1921. Mr.. Robbins
read over some Of the names, those Of literary men
and men Of genius among others that Of WASHING
IRVINE was loudly cheered whilst those of
persons Of rank only, even Kings and royal Dukes,
were treated with very different and far from COM
pmentary notice. II is said that upwards of seven
thousand persons have lately visited these premises
annually. Some persons have literally paid hand
somely for permission to sleep in the room in which
Shakespeare is said TO have been born. small
bust Of Shakespeare, about four inches high, made
from the celebrated mulberry tree Of his planting,
was sold for GlS.lS, and spectacle case of the
same material gljl5. See the accompanying adj
vertsement from the 4" Times in relation TO this
celebrated tree
"SaaKsrEARE's MCLBIRRr TRgE.--An auihen,ica ed
piece Of this celebrated tree three inches and three quarters
square, presented in INA Dodd the comedian also
goblet carved from the wood Of the aamed Btford crab the
property Of the late Charles Matthew's comedian may be
purchased, for five gunea EACH Of II. Burn Great New
port street, 81, Martins lane"