The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-06-04

In short, the eagle is most determined brigand
whose portrait has been admirably painted by Will
son. Look ON this picture

In short, the eagle Is most determined brigand,
whose portrait has been admirably painted by Will
son. Look ON this picture:
elevated on the high dead limb OF some gigan-
tic tree, that commands wide view oil the neigh
boring shore and ocean, he seems calmly 70 con-
template the moons of the various ieathered tribes
that pursue their busy ayocatons below; the snow
white gulls slowly winnowing the air the busy
tringe coursing along the sands; trains Of ducks
streaming over the surface; silent and watchful
cranes intent and wading; clamorous crows and all
the winged multitudes that subsst by the bounty
of this vast liquid magazine of nature. High over
all these hoyers one whose action instantly arrests
all his attention. By his wide curvature of wing
and sudden suspension in the air, he knows him to
be the fish hawk settling over some devoted victim
of the deep His eye kindles at the sight, and bal
ancing himself, with half-opened wings on the
branch, he watches the result. Down, rapid as an
arrow from heaven, descends the distant object Of
his attention. the of its wings reaching the
as it disappears in the deep, making the surges
foam around. At this moment the eager looks Of
the eagle all ardor, and dwelling his neck for
flight, he the fish-hawk more emerge
struggling with his prey, and mounting in the air
with screams OF exultation. These are the signals
for our hero who, launching into the air, instantly
gives chase, soon gains on the fish hawk; each ex-
erts his utmost to mount above the other, display
ing in these rencontres the most elegant and
sublime aerial evolutions. The unincumbered ca
gle rapidly advances, and Is just on the point Of
reaching its opponent, when, with sudden scream,
probably Of despair and honest execration the lat
ter drops his fish. The eagle, posing himself for
a moment, as if to take a more certain aim, de-
sends like whirlwnd snatches it in his grasp
it reaches the water, and bears is i'll gotten booty
silently away to the woods"
This is very beautiful and very poetical, and
what is more, very true. But there are two sides
to question, as there were to the shield about
which the two silly knights fought. Turn
TO honest, homely Benjamin Frankn's view OF the
case.
In his letter to Mrs. Bache, dated Passy, Janu-
airy 20, 1854, he observes, that the gentleman who
France
| and medals had executed his commission:
"To me (says that venerable philosopher and
sturdy republican, they seem tolerably done; but
all such things are criticised. Some find fault with
the Latin as wanting classical elegance and cor
rectness, and since our nine universities were not
able to furnish better Latin, it was pity they say,
that the notices had not been in English; Others
object to the title, not properly assumable by any
one but General Washington and few others who
eagle, as looking like dindo'l, or turkey.
'For my own part, wish the bald eagle had not
been chosen as the representative of our country
he is bird of bad moral characters he does not get
his living honestly. You may have seen him
perched on some dead tree, where too lazy TO fish
for himself, he watches the labor OF the fishing
| hawk; and when that diligent bird has at length
Ftaken fish, and is bearing it to its nest for the
support OF his mate and young ones, the bald eagle
pursues him and takes it from him. With all this
injustice he is never in good case, but like those
| among men who live by sharping and robbing, he
is generally poor, and often very lousy. Besides,
he is rank coward: the little king bird, not big
ger than sparrow, attacks him boldly, and drives
him out of the district. He is, therefore, by no
means, proper emblem for the brave and honest
Cincinnati of America, who have driven all the
King birds from our country, though exactly mt for
that order of knights which the French call Cheud-
| hers d'Industyie ! am, on this account, not dis
pleased that the figure is not known as bald
eagle, but looks more like turkey. For, in truth
the turkey is, in comparison, much more respect
able bird and withal true original native of Amer
lica Ea ole hay been foun in but
the turkey was peculiar to ours; the first Of the
species seen in Europe being brought TO France by
the Jesuits from Canada, and served up at the we'd
ding table of Charles TX.
.Hcis is, besides Though little vain and silly, tits
true, but not the worse emblem for that) bird of
courage, and would not hesitate TO attack grena-
dier OF the, British Guards, who would presume to
invade his farm yard with a red coat on"
The editor of this interesting correspondence
marks that learned friend had observed to him,
that the assertion about the first turkey being
brought to France, &c, Is a mistake, as turkeys
were found in great plenty by Cortes when he in
vaded and conquered Mexico, before the time of
Charles TX. and that this, and their being brought
TO old Spain, is mentioned by Peter Martyr, OF An
gelina, who was secretary to the council of the
Indies, established Immediately after the discovery
of America, and personally acquainted with Co
lumbus.
But, after all, the bald headed eagle is bold
fellow, and MIR. Gardiner relates, that, when riding
within five six rods of one, the bird, by raising
his feathers, and his general defying demeanor,
seemed willing to dispute the ground with its
owner.
As for the vultures, the eagle treats them so
much dirt; and, indeed, they little better. He
has been frequently. seen to keep them at dis
tance-especially upon occasion, when whole
colony of hapless squirrels had been hurried over
the Falls of Niagara-till he had completely sati-
ated himself with the harvest of death; but when
pressed by hunger, he plays the same game with
well-fed vulture as he does, ordinarily, with the
sh-hawk, attacking it furously, making the cow
ardly glutton disgorge the carrion with which its
crsw is crammcd, and then snatching up the
dainty contents.