Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-04-11

wac the only drawback the pleasures of that entertain
nient?
And if such were American orators and statesmen
such also were American historians and warriors He
had TOR his part never had an adequate idea of the
achievements Of those great Spaniards who first carried
the cross and the sword into the New World until he
had read of Herman Cortes in the pace of Prescott and
yet Just at the time whenit appeared to him that the
heroes drawn by that great artist were matchess if not
fabulous there stepped forth heroes from that artists
own Iano Wno on the very country which he had taken
as the subject OF his immortal work equaed or sur
passed by their exploits those whose marvellous deeds
ne had been describing. A gentleman had spoken of
Agncourt. The name had suggested to him. (Sir IL
Buwer) singular coincidence applicable to the topic
he was then speaking upon. The battle of Agincourt
was fought on the 25h of October the plains of Pr
cardy IN france There were on that occasion the
English forces few in numbers, fatgued BY marching.
enteebed by sickness, and surrounded by great and
gallant army, SO confident in victory that its chief pre-
vous 10 giving the signal Tor the onset, sent herald
lhe English leader to bargain for his ransom. That
leader answer had been thus given
Go tell your master here am
My ransom is this fra and worthless trunk
MY amy but weak and sickly guard;
But God betore:-Tell him we will come on"
and on went King Henry and his gallant band. and
of went, though not without fight, the Wanting enc
my. 1t was great victory, and won on ST. Crispn's
day. Well, in l947 fought another battle in val
icy IN Mexico and this tlmelthe descendants of those
VINO had fought and conquered four centuries previous
WERE az their ancestors had been the occasion al
uded TO- lew In numbers, tatgued by marching enfee-
pied by sickness, encompassed by foes, who like the
confident and ustry French felt so sure of sue
cess in the approaching contest that their commander
sent to the American commander sunmonipp him to
surrender at discretion Did gentlemen remember the
answer that was returned to this summons2 Thew
ought to do SO. 1t would live in their history.
II ne (Slr H. Bulwer remembered rightly it ran thus
headquarters Buena Vista, 1 eb % Sir-In re-
ply to your note OF this date sunmoning suren-
der my forces at discretion, beg leave to say decline
accedlng to your request. am Sir, with the great
est resspec, your obedient servant Zachary Taylor
i ms was not poetry, but it stout and sterling
Anglo-SaXon manner. Again there was great VIC
Tory not this time on the day of ST. Crispn but on the
BIRTH day of Washington. But, did not the old battle
q %: Agme9uIt resemble the modern battle of Buena
VISTA Might not they, who proud of their fathers
having been at one be as proud that they themselves
had been at the oher2 He said, yes and many were
me gentlemen who had slept quietly in their beds at
would at that moment give half their fortunes to have
passed 1t by the side OF the gallant veteran, who was
then at the head OF the American camp, and who now
presided over Americas counses.
lie should resist the temptation to pursue subject
winch, Notwithstanding would give him the opportunity
otspeaking OF many friends of his distinguished in letters
ana arms But this much he would say, that success
IN letters and arms adding to the union of the people of
the United States, could be matter of indifference to
the English people, and he could but hope that as
England would always feel an Interest in all that added
glory to the history of America that SO America would
eel an interest in all that justly added to the historical
glory Of England OF this he was sure, that if it should
prove eternay true, that time first reaped unto destruc
ton those whom ageand honor first ripened into ma
tury it the beautiful idea of the great father OF poetry
should ever become applicable to their common ances-
trail land
Like leaves on trees the race of man is found,
Now green In youth, now whitening in the ground
thus generations, in their turn decay;
80 flourish these-When those are past away''
Ii the arsenals which were then joyous with the busy
hum of mariners should long be silent and shpless if
syybc fbopr A.
less wealth OF merchants, should long be empty and de-
cayed ii the proud march Of England should ever
to De upon the mountain waves, and the meteor flag
the breeze become but the winding sheet of past re-
nown oft then would the historical muse of America
quit the broad rivers OF those grander regions for the
lent banks OF the deserted Thames, there to ponder
over the tombs, and draw inspiration from the memo
res OF the once great in war in politics, in eoquence
and song, whose blood circulated through the veins of
those who heard him. and whose genius attended them
IN the Cabinet the Council Chamber, and the field
But these were gloomy and idle thoughts which he had
only introduced because he knew that men rarely dis
covered how much they loved friend until they con-
| templated the possibility Of losing him.
A brighter and more real picture offered to his eye
The glorious spectacle OF two great States both pow
ertu and fourshng, the in the prime of youth the
other In the ylgor OF manhood Two States, the
in origin in language and above all in character stand
ing side by sde hand in hand, in the of all man
kind the first wherein true glory was to be gained
justice and mercy to be vindcated: commerce, eiviza-
ton and religion to be spread The past halowed their
union the future smiled on it, and Heaven could not but
bless l-tor it was the union of family and had for its
| object the benefit of the world.
! Upon Sir Henry Buwers taking his seat, which he
did amidst prolonged cheering, and with which he had
been frequently interrupted during his address to the
company, MIR. Charles F. Mayer, offered hs following
volunteer sentiment
| ENGLAND ANDTHE UNITED STATEs-Congenial in
moral md intellectual habude in the love Of civil IL
bery and in sense OF national dignity and duty-what
better bond need we have of our enduring harmony.
The festivities OF the evening were prolonged to the
| midnight hour.