The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1850-05-04
slR HENRY LYTToN RuLwER.

lhes DHUsu mlnlsleT was present at tue
late anniversary Of the Maryland Historical
Society, and in answer to complimentary
toast, made a very handsome speech, from
which we make the following extract.
A (ter alluding in tho highest terms TO Mr..
Clay and Mr., Webster, the latter Of whom
was present, and had previously spoken, he
says:
"a nd ifsuch were Ameri"a an Statesman and
Orators, suee also were American historians
and warriors. He had, for his part, never had
an adequate ldea Of the achievements Of those
great Spaninrds who first carried the cross and
sword into the New World, and he had read Of
Herman Cortez in the pages Of PRESCOTT, and
yet Just at the time when it appeared to him
that the heroes, drawn by the great artist
were mhtchless, If not fabulous, there stepped
forth heroes from that artists own hand, who
on the very country which he had TAX en- as
the subject Of his immortal work, equaled or
surpassed by their explcits, those whose mar
velous doedshe had been describing, A gentle.
man had spoken of Agincourt, The name
had suggested to him, (Sir H. Hulwerl sim
guar coincidence applicable to the to-
pic he was tFen speaking upon. The battle
Of Agincourt was fought on the 25th October,
onthe plains Of Picardy,i in France. here were
on that OCCASION the English orces few in
numbers, fatigued by marching, enfeobed BY
sickness, and surrounded by great and gal.
liant army, so confident iivictory, that its chief,
previous to giving the signal for the onset sent
a herald to the English leader; 10 bargain for
his ransom. That leaders, answer had been
thus given;
Go tell your master here am, .,..y.
My ransom is this frail and worthless trunk
Ny army but weak and sickly guard;
But God before Tell him we will come
on"
and on went King Henry and his gallant band
and off went, though not without a fight, the
vauhling enemy 1t was a great victory, and
won on St. Crispln's day. Well, in l847, was
fought another battle in the valley of Mexico
and this time the descendants Of those who
had fought and conquered four centuries pre-
viouS, were as their ancestors had been on the
occasion alluded to few in numbers, fatigued by
marching, enIeebled by sickness, and encom-
passed by foes, who, like the 'confdant and
over.lusty French felt SO sure of success in
the approaching contest, that their cOmman-
l.. IN thn nd
moning him to surrender at discretion. Did
gentlemen remember the answer that was re-
turned to This summons! They ought to do
so. 1t would live in their history. 1t he
(Sir II. BulweD remembered rightly, it ran
thus; Head Quarters, near Buena Vista, Feb.
%. Sir-lnreply to your note of this date, sum
moning me to surrender at discretion, | beg
leave to say decline acceding toyOur request.
| am, sir, with the greatest respect your Ob't
uerv't. Zachary Taylor!
This was not poetry, but it was stout and
sterling old Anglo Saxon prose; and was tolA
lowed up in Anglo Saxon manner, Again
there was a great victory not this time on the
Gay OI Nt, CT.Sptns Uub Oh thu Oith-udJ VI
Washington, But did no; the old battle Of A.
g,ncoart resemble the modern battle Of Buena
Vista! Might not they, who were proud'o!
tn ,r fathers having been at one; be as proud
that they themselves had been nj the other2
He said yes, and many were the gentlemen
swho had slept quietly in their beds at Baltl-
more, on the night Of the 22d Of February,
who wo Id at that moment give half their
fortunes to have passed itby the side of the
gallant veteran, who was then at the head OF
the American camp, and who now Preeides
over Americas counses,.
lie shonld resist the temptation to pursue
subject which, Notwithstanding, would give
him the opportunity Of speaking OF many
friends Of his, distinguished in letters and
arms. But this much he would say, that no
success in letters of arms adding to the union
of the people Of the Unlted States, colld be o
matter Of indifference to the English people,
and he could not but hope that as England