The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1852-05-19
'aper, 1t contains paragraph of considera
interest to our neighbors across the way.
THE FOUR MASTER SPIRITS.

THE FOUR MASTER SPIRITS.
Happening to cast my eyes over the portraits
in gallery of paintings, remarked that they
were SO arranged as to give four personages-
Alexander, Hannibal, Cesar and Bonaparte-
the most conspicuous places. | had seen the
same before but never did similar train of
reflection arise in my bosom, as when my mind
now hastily glanced over their several histories
Alexander, having climbed he dizzy heights
Of ambition, and with his temples bound with
the chaplets dipped in the blood of countless
nations, looked down upon conquered world,
and wept that there was not another to con
quer, sat city on fire, and died in disgraceful
scene of debauch
Hannibal, after having, to the astonishment and
CONSERVATION Of Rome, passed the APPS
having put to flight the armies of this mistress,
and stripped three bushels of gold rings from
the fingers Of her slaughtered knights, and made
her very foundat on quake-retu-ned to his
country, to be defrauded, TO be driven in exile,
and to die at last by poison, administered by his
own hand, unlamented, and unwept, in foreign
cline.
Cesar, after having taken eight hundred
cities, and dyed his garments in the blood ofhis
fellow m en- after having pursued to death the
only rival he had on earth--was assassinated by
those he considered his nearest friends, al
the very point in which he had gained the high
est object of his ambition.
Bonaparte, whose mandate kings and priests
obeyed, after having filled the earth with the
terror ofhis name-after having Geuged Europe
with tears and blood, and clothed the world in
sackcloth--closed his days in lonely bapish
ment, almost exiled from the world; vet where
he could sometimes see his country's banner
waving over the deep; but which would not, OF
could not, bring him aid.
Thus, those four men, who from the pecula
situations Of their portraits seemed 10 and a:
representatives of all those whom the worlt
calls great those four who made the tarti
tremble to lis cent e--sc ca di d-oLe by IN
toxication, the s. cond by suicide, the thItd BY
assassination, and the last in lprely exile
How vain is the greatness Of this world :
How fearful is the gift of genius if it be abused
Who, that IS now living, would not rather di'
the death of the humble, righteous man, thar
that of Alexander, or Hannibal, or Cesar, o
Bonaparte
u Thomas Clay, OF Lexington, KY, ha
been summoned to the bedside of his father a
Washington.
r Gentlemen of the City Council are res
nectfuly requested to make some provision, i
they h,ve not already done So for cleaning ant
cleansing the streets and alleys of this city
ty-The Lakes are now free Of ice, and ev
cry sail and steam vessel appears to be in mo
ton
There was quite large number in attendance
| at the theatrical performance on Tuesday even
iny at Globe Hall
| r. Chevalier Hulseman left Washington OF
the 4th for Vienna. Before leaving, he ad
dressed a note to MIR. Webster, copies OF whcl
were addressed to all the foreign ministers; I'll,
oontens have not transpired.
/ A private letter from Washington dated tn
Goth inst, states that Henry Clay's health wa
j improving
RAILROAD LETTINGs<-We are informed tina
letter has been received by agentleman in thi
city, which states that that portion Of the Cen
trail Railroad between this point and Freepor
has been put under contract, and that it will
pushed TO completion as fast as possible. 1t
expected that in June next, two thousand me
will be sent to that part Of the work in tn
J vicinity. The names Of tie parties to who'
the contract is awarded, We did not hear.-Jet
crsonian.