The New York herald., 1850-12-23

LANDING OF TIE PmaRMs-Tm NEw ENeLANp
Dnsxl To-NIeHT-The descendants of the Pill
evims win celebrate the two hundred and thirtieth
anniversary of the landing Of their forefsthsrs at
Plymouth, by dinner at the Astor House this
evening From all that we have heard about the
that have been made for the celebra-
ton, due honor will be paid to the day, and very
pleasant and agreeable evening awaits the members
of the New England Society.
Among the invited guests who will certainly be
present on the OCCASION the most distinguished are
Sir Henry Bulwer, the British M mister to our
republican court at Washington, and the Hon.
Daniel Webster, Secretary of State. 1t is expected
that each of these gentlemen will deliver speech.
We have been struck with the ful6lment of pre-
diction which Mr.. Webster made thirty years ago,
in an oration delivered at Plymouth, on a similar
occasion. We discovered this oration recently
among our papers, and were so charmed by
perusing il, that we are tempted to give extracts
from it to our readers to-day. These extracts
ore given, not as being the most eloquent in
the discourse, but because they both speak of
the time, then considered very remote, when
the sons Of the Pilgrims should dwell on the
shores of the Pacific Ocean. That time has
already come. The sons of the Pilgrims are
now ON the shores of the Pacific. The patriot,
statesman, and orator, now lives to witness the
truth of his prediction. Speaking of the progress
and increase of population Westward, he said on
the 22d December, 1920
1t may be safely asserted that there are now more
than million CT people, descendants of New England
hardly sixty years ago. were tracts Of unpenetrated
forest Nor do rivers noun ains resist the
oUs Of the Pilgrims viii be on tbs shores Of the
The hours OF this day are rapidly flying, and this
casion will soon be passed; neither children
can expect to behold its return. Ut the Centen-
nial celebration They in the distant regions of
futurity they exist only in the all creating of
God, who shall stand here, hundred years hence TO
trace through their desce mt from the pilgrims
to survey as We have now surveyed the progress Of
their country during the lapse of q century We
would anticipate their concurrence with us in our
eentiments OF deep regard for common ancestors
which they will then recount the steps of New Eng.
lands advancement On the morning Of that day, al.
though It will not disturb us in the voice of
acclamation and gratitude, commencing the Rock
of Plymouth shall be transmitted through millions of
the Of Pilgrims till il lose itself in the
OF the Pacific We would leave tor the consdera
tion Of those who shall then occupy places SONS
proof that hold the blessings trapfmitted from
fathers in just estimston; proof OF attach
ment to the of good and of civil
religious liberty; ssme proof OF a sincere and ardent
desire to promote anything which may enlarge the
Understandings and improve the hearts Of men; and
when, from the long distance OF hundred years they
shall leok back upon US, they shall know, at least,
| that we possessed affections which. running back
ward, and warming with gratitude for what
cestors have done for our happiness forward,
also to our posterity and meet the with cordial
| AdvaHee then, ye futufe renerations! We would
hnil you, az you rise in your long succession, fill
the places which hl and 20 tsste the blessings
OF existence where we arepassing, shall
passed, our own human duratisn. We bid you well
come 10 this pleasant land of the Fathers We bid
you welcome to the heslthful skies and the riaut
fields OF New England. We greet your accession to
the great Inheritance which kave enjoyed We
welcome you 10 the blessings of good aud
religious liberty We welcome you to the sures of
ClNnR del 10 lanrn nins INa
you 10 the rausoendent sweets of domestic life the
happiness Of kindred, and parents and children We
welcome you TO the immeasurable blessiuy Of rational
existence, the immortal hope OF Christianity and the
light of everlasting truth
We do not know whether Mr.. Webster then en-
tertaned the idea that we should become possessed
ofthe immense territory the Pacific, which we
acquired by the Mexican war, or whether he re-
fened only to Oregon. 1t is certain, however that
the sons of the Pilgrims have not only reached the
shores of the Pacific, but have built ma ions there
which promise TO rival in wealth, power, inteli-
gence, and PATRIOTISM any of the old States of this
republic. Mr.. Webster was certainly a true pro-
phet on the occasion, but question if one out of
ten of those who heard his oration, thought other
wise than that Mr.. Webster was indulging in
rhapsody. In the ordinary course ef nature, Mr.
Webster will not survive thirty years more; but if
he should, we have no doubt he will see evidences
of as much progress of our republic towards ma
tonal greatness as he has seen within the last
thirty.