Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1852-03-25

lH,moriaIj anu tnat some OI Tie most
important events and incidents IN the
lives Of those whose names, fame and
writings are heDded down 10 remote
generations, are not unlrequenily nerg-
ed in that oblivious sea OF dousi which
has provokingIy embosomcd so much
that is important and valuable in the
history Of the lives Of eminent, men on
earth.
Seven faDous ciiies cain the honor
Of haviag bsen the birth place Of the
renowned and immortal Grcci n Epic
poet, Homer and although hundreds
Of volumes, thousands of essays and
millions OF shorter articles have been
written upon the subject, t,-notwi.hstand-
ing the most profound scholastic know
ledge and wisdom have heen laborious-
ly employed IN the matter,-nnd not
withstanding the most extraordinary ef-
forts which have been made TO. asccr-
tain where the great poet was born, the
truth Of this matter still remains IA pro-
found secret, and, in all human proba-
billty, this vexed question can never be
satisfactorily settled, and no city or
place can unmolestedly and positively
wear Its proud honor, OF having bee
the birthplace of the immortal Ho-
mer.
After many centuries have quietly
rolled awny, and their events and their
victims are securely en,ombed in the
great sepulchre of the past, still might.
icr and more mysterious and more i'm
portant question will be agita,ed among
those who shall then occupy our places
on the stage of action. 1t will he ihis,--
Where uds the residence and domicile o
his Honor William, Beach Laurence
Lieutenant Gorernor Of the State Of
Rhode Island and Providence Pianto.
tions New Workers will contend that
it was at 49S Broadway; /; Newporters
will claim that il was at O:hrc Point
and the then polished posterity Of the
once rude and uncivilized descendants
OF Roger Williams viii, strensously de-
clare thai II was At l76 South Main
street, in Providence. The lcuers Of
MIR. Smith will be produced, the deci-
sion OF our Town Council will be cited,
with tho oath Of the great departed, in
March 1851, when he swore that for
more than year he had resided in
Newport,-nnd this will apparently set
tie the matter most conclusively, and
place it beyond all cavil and dispute
But just rs public opinion shall then
have decided the matter, and awarded
the honor 10 old Newport musty
antiquarian, whose life has been spent
amid the ponderous tones Of long dc
parted generations, will produce the re-
cords Of the office Of the Surrogate Of
New York, and there will be found
written, in unmistakab.e characters
which shall have been wondrously y pre-.
served, that in July, 1850. jus, eight
months previous TO the time when the
great stdtesmdn swore that he resided
in Newport, he took a solemn oath that
he resided al 498 Broadway, New York.
Then there will be wild rejoicing among
The far removed descendants Of the
honored Knickerbocker, - and public
opinion will again quiyer and tremble.
Again will the wise men gather in coun-
Gil, and again will the press be called
into requisition 10 throw more light, if
possible, upon this perple1ipg yet aI-im-
portant question.
Thus our readers will perceive that in
ages hence, when We have all passed
away, and are forgotten, W 4 the great
er lights Of this age still live. As a last
resort, in order to settle the question
ofresidencc, some accomplished clair
voyant. some astute medium Of the
spirt-rappers, or some profound DR..
Roback, will appeal TO The spirits Of Jer-
cmy Bentham, La Fayc,tce, Madison,
Jefferson, those Of distinguished men Of
both parties who are now candidates
for the Presidency, and whom the great
Lawrence entertained at Ochre Point
and, lastly, to that Of his present excel
lency Gov. Allen, TO know, in mercy,
rherc was the domicile and residence Of
the: great statesman. William Beach
Lawrence. At that remote day, history
will give no evidence that such men as
Webster, Clay and Calhoun ever lived
bu, brigh, and luminously AMID all the
wrecks Of the past and the wild ravages
of umo, the name OF William Beach
Lawrence will glow like the ey,s Of the
bird Of wisdom amid Numidian darkness,
and the still lingering spirits OF Tam
many Hall will proclaim his legal acu-
men, and his political generosity.
Then, and in that enlightened age,
some hundreds Of years hence, shall
seren s,upendous questions sgi'a,c the
world, even as seven mighty cities claim
to have been the birthplace Of Ho-
mer, in this early age Of the world.
They are these -
Where was Homer horn?
Did Camphepe and Burning Fluid
explode, in the 18th century
who was tho original Mrs. Parting
ton