The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-07-21
THE pROrOrYPE BARD.


poet laureate of Richmond. Thomas "
These memorsnda bear the attractive ~.
modest heading of Baltimore taken by s.orm'
l-W,hinpton by surprise !-Sebastopoi sur
rendered to Thomas Watson, the only hv'ne
,uccessor of Milton, Moore, Byron, Burns
Shelley, and the immortal William snAA-
soearev' The visit of this celebrated 'nsn
70 Baltimore was one of great interest. ne
ds,;vered in that city an Grafton on the Con
.t;tut;on of the United States, and on the pa
.r;ots of the Revolution, which transcendeo
the most magnificent efforts of Daniel weo-
ster. and will no doubt have tue elect OF ID
wing the American Union. The GRAFTON was
rsce;ved with the most unbounded applause
and we should not be surprised II baihmore
abould soon add another claim to the title OF
the Monumental City. by erecting colossal
pile to Thomas Watson. Leaving Baltimore
the bard proceeded to Washington, where
he paid q complimentary visit to the Presi
dent of the United States, and exhibited the
gold medal which had been presented TO
him by the patriotic citizens OF Richmond
It is beautiful result of our republican IN
stitutions that such citizen as Watson is
| not obliged to stand, hat in hand, at the gate
of power, but that the chief magistrate OF
| the nation receives him as one of the sover-
eigns of the empire, and is proud to grasp
his royal hand The President moreover re-
cognized in Watson brother warrior OF the
Mexican contest, as we'll as poet OF re-
nown, and rejoiced to extend cordial re-
ception to such distinguished merit. MI
Watson presented for the Presidents peru.
sal one of his poetical illusions, and tnA'
high functionary, upon reading the first verse;
expressed himself 80 we'll satisfied OF lhe
great merit of the performance as to renoef
it unnecessary to read a line farther. Aiter
leaving the President, the poet paid visit
to Commodore Perry and Commodore Au'
lick, with whom he had faithfully served IN
the capacity of musician, for thirty-two
months in the Gulf of Mexico, contributing
also by his rsonal valor to most OF the bril-
liant naval achievement of the Mexican war.
Both were glad to see their old sbipmate
and Commodore Perry, we have little doubt
is by this time sensible of the great oversight
he committed in not adding to the savsns
and literati of the Japan expedition. bis OLD
musician, Thomas Watson, whose capacity
ia blowing his trumpet has been abundantly
tested both in war and peace.
The most interesting re union which &C.
Cured during the visit of the poet laureate
to the Capital, was his interview with the
| famous Beau Hickman. 1t would have been
worth visit to Washington to witness the
| meeting of these two celebrated personages.
| The interview, we believe, took place in q
hotel, upon which occasion the Beau, after
reading the inscription upon the Bard 8 Rich
mond medal, stepped up to the bar, and with
an air of blended dignity and enthusiasm, ex-
claimed Friends and gentlemen, 1 call
for toast from the greatest living bard of
the world, the Poet of Virginia" Mr.. Wat
sons toast, prefaced with deferential bow,
was delivered in rhyme, and we have been
so fortunate as to obtain copy:
"Al hail, my friendi Your prai.e Is due
/ am q kichmond poet, true;
And since we all as friends have met,
Your kindness let me not forget.
Oh. Poetry. a god thou art.
For soothina down Beau Hckmsn's heart;
In every State we've heard of you,
IN give rogue a loafer's due;
30 now, my hienda the Bard must 20,
Farewell my friends and Hickman Beau"
After closing this brilliant effusicn, at
which the assembled loafers are said to have
stood aghast, the bard gracefully retired, and
was soon on the bosom of the broad Potomac,
on his way to Virginia. The following poet
ic appeal to our citizens he has kindly placed
in our hands, and we lose no time in laying
it before the public:
"Richmond. be proud OF such a man.
Good.hearted and iodustrous
Throughout the land your bard Is known,
Watson the great iustrious!
H now has climbed Parn .ssus HILL
Without tbs least mstase here.
With Bobby Burnsto drink gill,
And dine with Billy Shakespeare
Hi. strains are full Of classic lore
Tie great proto pc genius;
With Homer gods he yet may soar,
And dance jig with Venus"
The originality and brilhancy of the con-
ception in this last line must strike every
| reader. The idea of Thomas Watson "dau-
cling Jig with Venus" is one of those ideas
| which are born to live forever. Let the
swarthy and handy legged Vulcan look to
his spouse.
1t seems great pity that the illustrious
| subject of these remarks should permit his
powers to rest inactive in Richmond. Let
him repair at once to the Crimea, walk
around Sebastopol seven times, recting some
of his verses and blowing his melodious
trumpet, and the walls of Jericho will fall.
GOVERNORS ELECTION.
We publish to-day the tabular statement
of the vote for Governor, at the election in
May. 1t is official with the exception of Am.
herst and Frederick counties, and for these
we have reports which we consider reliable.
According to this table, it appears that Mr..
WIsE's majority in the State is 10, 447.
MARTIN VAN buren,.
1t is said that this antediluvian politician,
having returned from Europe, is once more
pullipgthe political wires OF N. York, and that
this time he is working in conjunction with
VIM. II. Seward. There must be danger
brewing when such conjunction occurs -
If Aaron Burr were only living now, New
AL