Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1851-10-23

ted himself with excellent wine, in such CO.
pious draghts of which he did indulge. that
he finally disappeared under the table In
the fourth and closing act he was again drag
ged forth to view as one accursed by God
and man; and the Devil, dragging him down
to the Internal regions amidst cloud of sui
phurous smoke, declaring his intention to
punish him for having caused the earth to
turn on its axis, by condenning him to re-
main with his head downwards throughout
eternity.
When Copernicus thus beheld the treasur-
ed discoveries of his whole held up to the
derision of an ignorant multitude, his enlight-
ened faith branded as impiety, and his self
denying beneyolence ridiculed as the quackery
of charlatan, his noble spirit was at frst ut
terly overwhelmed, and the most fearful
doubts of himself, of mankind, and even of
Providence itself, rushed upon his mind. At
first he hoped that the Frauenbergians, the
children of his adoption, to whose comfort and
happiness he had devoted himself for fifty
years, would cut short the disgraceful scene.
But alas he saw detaIners welcomed with
applause by those on whom he had conferred
so many benefits. The trial was too much
for his failing strength: and worn out by E.
motion and fatigue of the preceding night,
and by the labors Cf the morning, he sunk,
exhausted to the ground. Then, for the first
time, did the ungrateful multitude recognise
their benefactor; the name of Copernicus few
from lip to lip-they heard that he had come
that very morning to the town to relieve their
distress in a moment the current of popular
feeling was turned the crowd dispersed the
actors, and crowded anxiously around the as.
tronomer. He had only strength left to call
for litter, and was conveyed back to Wer-
MICA in dying state. He fingered, however
still for five days-days of trial and anxiety
during which the lamp of genious and faith
still shed It's halo around the dying man.
On the day succeeding his visit to Frauen.
berg letter from Rheticus confirmed the sin.
ister predictions of the Bishop of Culm
] Thrice had the students of the University
made an attempt to invade the printing-offict
whence the truth was about to issue forth
/ Even this morning." wrote his friend, ''a
| assembled all our friends within the building
and we never quit our posts either day o.
night guarding the entrance, and keeping
watch over the workmen. The printers per
! form their work with one hand, whilst they
! hold pistol in the other. If we can stand
our guard for two days the book is saved; for
let only ten copies be struck off, and nothing
will any longer be able to destroy it. But /
either to-day or tomorrow our enemies shoulC
succeed IN gaining the upper hand''-Rheti
Gus left the sentence unfinished, but Coperni
Gus supplied the want-he knew how mucE
depended upon this moment On the thrt
day another messenger made his appearance
and he, too was the bearer Of evil tidings
GA compositor, gained over by our enemies
has delivered into their hands the manuscript
of the book, and it has been burnt in the public
square. Happily the impression was com
! plete, and we are now putting it into press
:. But popular tumult might yet ruin all. !"
Such was the state Of suspense in which
the great Copernicus passed the closing day
of his existence! Life was ebbing fast, ant
the torpor of death had already begun to stea
over his faculties, when horseman gallope
up to the door in breathess haste, and sprin
ging from his horse, hastened into the hous
OF the dying astrono. yer. A volume, who's
leaves were still damp, was treasured in hi
bosom; it was the chef:d' GeuUre of Copernl
Gus; this messenger was the bode Of victory
/ -i The spark of life, so nearly exhausted
seemed to be rekindled for moment in tn
breast of the dying man he raised himself i
his dying bed, grasped the book with hi
feeble hand, glanclng at its contents wit
his dim, expiring eye. A smile lighted up hi
his features, the book fell from his grasp, an
clasping his hands together, he exclaimed
f" Lord let thy servant depart in peace y
Hardly had he uttered these words before hi
spirit fled from earth to return to the God VIII
gave it. 1t was the morning of the 23d May
heaven was still lighted with fowers--all ma
ture seemed TO sypathize with the great re
vealer of her laws-and soon the sun, risin!
above the horizon, shed its earliest and pures
ray upon the STILL cold brow of the departed
and seemed in his turn to say, 6 The King c
Creation gives the kiss Of peace for thou has
been the first to replace him on his throne
Persecution followed Copernicus, even i
the grave The court of Rome replied to hi
dedication by condemning his book; but tn
book was the instrument of his own reVeng
+ by enlightening the court of Rome herself
which at last recognised, although too late
the faith and the genius of the astronomer 9
Wernica. Prussia, with the ingratitude OF
conqueror, has converted the observatory q
Copernicus into prison, and is now ALLOWING
his dwelling-house to crumble into ruins Bu
Poland, his native land, has collected some 9
her last OboleS, to raise monument 10 hl
memory at Cracaw, and to erect statute Q
him in Wernica. "
White LeOpaTds.
""1'his ere hanimal," observed the keepe
III O. lnrAn RI - liz