The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-07-13
THE REPUBLIC.


The following letter was received by the mayor
of New York from the great Apostle of Tenn
perance, on Saturday last II was transmitted to
the Common Council on Monday evening, and was
ordered to be entered at large upon the minutes.
1t is beautiful for its simplicity and the exquisite
feeling it embodies:
To His Honor the Mayor Of Nsso York:
MY DEAR Sin: Before entering on the discharge
of the important duties Immediately connected with
my temperance mission, permit me TO return TO you,
sir to the municipal authorities, and to the citizens
of New York my most grateful and heartfelt thanks
for the generosity and kind feeling displayed to-
wards me, and which would have oppressed me by
its intensity were not conscious that It was paid
to that great and sacred cause of which am es-
teemed the personfcation. The courtesy and po-
lite attention of Alderman Haws, and the other
honored members Of the committee, and the many
dsinterested proofs of sympathy kindness, and af-
fiction, which | have received from the citizens,
have made an impression which will never be ef-
faced
From the moment caught the first glimpse of
American land every incident has awakened renew
ed pleasure and delight | have gazcd with rap
ture on the bold outline of your coast, and have ad
mired the beautiful scenery OF your noble bay,
unrivaed for its maritime capabilities and designed
by nature as the entrep6t Of trade and Of commerce
for the western world | have seen your majestic
river dotted with richly treighted vessels, bearing
the teeming produce OF your laxurant soil to far
distant nations; and oh, sir, could not look on
these winged messengers Of peace and plenty with
out associating with them the maenanimous bounty
of brave people TO our afflicted nation. have
visited your busy warehouses, your thronged
streets and busting thoroughfares, and have been
| forcibly struck with those exterior evidences Of
mercantile greatness and prosperity which shadow
| forth the high commercial destiny that yet awaits
your already glorious Republic.
| have seen in the comfort and abundance en-
loved by al--in the total absence Of squalid power
| ty, and in the liberal remuneration which awaits
! honest toi-proofs of prosperity which contrast
strikingly with scenes that have often narrowed
my soul in that poor old country, which, trodden
down and oppressed she Isl is still the land of
my birth and Of my affections. have visited your
God-like institutions, upheld with munifcence
worthy of your mighty Republic, by which you
initiate, at an humble distance, the mercy of the
Redeemer, making " the blind to see and the dumb
| to speak," have infinitely inspected their inter.
nal arrangements, and witnessed, with intense salts
faction, the phianthropc system, and the absence
| of all religious exclusion, on which those asyums,
sacred to humanity, are based and conducted.
| have also inspected, with admiration, that stu
pendous structure, the high bridge-the reservoirs
sufficiently capacous to supply an abundance of
4 the pureSt wafer 10 your muitituulnOuS cllZenS
Magnificent works, faR far SURPRISING the boosted
aqueducts of ancient Rome. Nor, in my inter-
course amongst your people, could fail to overlook
that manly independence of character that decorum
and sef-respect worthy of freemen, which char
acterIze American citizens, and which may be OBJ
served as well in the joyous celebration of their
national fetes in their commingling with each
other in the active duties of social life.
Oh! sir, what powerful influence must the ex-
ample Of such people necessarily exercise on the
distresses of mankind After years of toll and
anxiety | am cheered and consoed to find my
humble efforts worthy of such high approval; and
feel inspired with new energy to commence with
divine assistance, my exerons in the States under
such glorious auspices.
Joining in the aspirations Of one Of your mos
distinguished Presidents, ferventy pray that ale
who holds in his hands the destnies ofnations may
make yours worthy of the favors He has bestowed
and with pure hearts, pure hands, and sleepless
vigilance, that you may guard and defend, to the
end of time, the great charge He has committed tc
your keeping"
With the warmest gratitude for the kindness
conferred in impartlng 10 me the Inequalities oil
your city, and treating me as its honored guest,
am, Mr.. Mayor, with sentiments Of profound re
spect, your devoted and grateful friend,
THEOBALD MATHEW.
New York, July :, l849.