Daily American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1852, 1852-02-24
Communicated
The csIahr.1ian .t Carusi,s s.1aan.

CORPORATION At SAkuhih SAlOOns
MEssRs. EDIToRs: / received letter Of invi-
tation from literary friend to attend the cele-
bration of the birthday of Gen. Washington, at
the Saloon of M. Carusi, and thought it my duty
to attend, but did SO principally because I was
informed that the exercises would be creditable,
and above medocrty. Judge of my surprise at
finding q most respectable audience Of ladies
and gentlemen assembled, where I expected to
see but few personals it was, without contradic-
tion the most disagreeable evening, SO far as the
weather was concerned, | ever spent at Washing
ton, and have visited here regularly for several
winters The Introductory prayer, by the learned
president of the college, was full Of godly sim
certy, patriotic feeling devout aspiration, chris
tan humility, and benevolent sentiment. The
Farewell Address of the Patre Patrie was read as
it ought to be read-with modesty, propriety,
Judgment and distinctness and the Introductory
address to it was neat and terse production,
replete with patriotic truth and interesting Stats
tics. The author will excuse me for saying it
had the odor of the college; it was, however, the
work Of fullgrown alummus, a resident gradu-
ate it bore the fnger-mark of the artium agister
and was regularly constructed, according to the
provisions of the rule in such case made and
provided but none the worse for that. / admired
the quotation near the close, climax worthy of
the congeries upon which it was constructed-the
fabric of which it was the cope-stone-a suppl
cation which will be read and venerated, and its
fervency and pathos admired, when the gorgeous
ensign of the republic and the constitution itself
shall be covered over with the scars Of various
fortune, and the marks and mantle Of extreme
age.
The grafton of Joseph s. Wilson, esq.,, was q
gem, literary jewel, and its oratorical manage
ment an intellectual banquet That gentleman,
by remaining at the bar, would have ranked
among the most eminent forensic advocates in
our country. The remark made of an illustrious
Roman is applicable to him" Nit teligh quod non
ornaua." The Grafton was profound and philo-
sophie discourse, the product of a mind well ma
tured, illustrating the immense magnitude of the
work of the Revolution. The extraordinary char
acter, intellectual grandeur lion heart, and gi-
gantic mind of each of the noble band Of which
General Washington was the acknowledged leader,
were unfolded and held up to our love and admi-
ration The unbounded resources, the military
and naval prowess, and supremacy IN arts and
arms Of the mother country, and the crowd Of il
lustrious statesmen that dignifed the contempo-
history, were like the scenes of brilliant
panorama passed in review before u.s., The pros
poets of our country and the cause of freedom,
full Of glorious hope were dwelt upon in effective
and brilliant periods. Mr.. Wilson possesses, in
an uncommon degree, the power of producing
that delightful turbulence of feeling in an au-
dience, the invariable effect and attendant of
great oratorical genius-I think the French call
it onction. His periods fash, corruscate, sparkle
upon the auditory and his utterance is SO vivid,
piercing, full of animation-the genuine oiuida vis
of the orator-that it leaves no moment of flag
ging, no time for comparison, no chance for criti
cism; you are carried away, as it WERE in an in
telectual hurricane, and the only thing you are
conscious of is the master-mind who has assumed
the command of your judgment, and triumphed
over your faculties.
This discourse ought not to be locked up by
the society of learned gentlemen interested: it
was eminently instructive American, republican,
catholic-will suit all time, and fill with delight
every heart.