Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-11-28
Written for the Spirit of the Age.
Reflections, on a passing view Of Blen-
nerhassett's Island.

In ascending the Ohio river early in July
1852, from Cincinnati to Pittsburg, a pass
ing view of this celebrated Island, gave :
more than ordinary zest and pleasure, to my
journey homeward. An ndescribable de-
sire to behold the Island, owing to the pa
thetic story Of its primitive owner, had
thrown a talismanic charm around it, which
wished to dissipate, by o personal obser-
walton of the theatre of a most melancholy
transaction. The beautiful Ohio rolls its
vast volumes of water to the turbid Missis-
sippi, sparkling in the bright rays of the
day-god in its constant fowings onward, and
presenting on either of its banks, the most
lovely and pleasing landscapes to f~ascinate
the eye, and divest the mind from usual bu-
siness concerns all Of which seemed as
q fowery path, leading to some truly
grand object. Gazing in unspeakable admit
ration upon this living panorama of nature,
clothed in tho gorgeous verdure of early
summer, | could not refr9rH from exclaiming
in the language of Addison,
"Thc hand that made it is divine"
and doubt the existence of a fairer country.
Idealists and n~ovelists may picture out in
their imaginations fairy lands, where birds
carol the most delightful songs where a
thousand unseen instruments discourse the
most melting music where flowers of the
rarest hue deck its confines in perennial
beauty where icy winter is lost in mild and
genial spring; where woman possesses the
loneliness of an angel, and enjoys the hap
piness OF a saint but give me the reality,
with It's trees paying their constant homage
to revolving seasons, flowers blooming in
spring, and whitening in the cold blast of
autumn, amid the music Of Natures thun-
dering catsracts, and murmuring rills, and
n self-sighing zephyrs, and piping gales, with
the green sward and grassy lawn, and cloud
bathed mountain, and the glowing idea
= fades away before the reality. To those
: who have not seen the Ohio, the foregoing
it remarks are or unexaggerated description o
its sublime and romantic scenery.
If Asking pardon for the depression, l will
~ now present to the minds eye, Blennerhas
k, sets Island, as it appeared in 1852. 1t i
T. situated only three miles from Parkersburgh
Virginia. As the steamer gracefully ploughe
through the tranquil expanse, and came i
II close proximity to the Island, all gathere
on the hurricane-deck, anxious to behold i
The last rays of the setting sun were lin
gering in fast-fading splendor on the water
and tinging the whole country in golde
beauty, as the home of Inflated BIennerha
sett opened to the view.
"When the last sunshine of expiring day,
" In summer twilight weeps itself away
to Who hath not felt the ~softness of the hour,
rlv Steal Ger his heart, as dew along the flower p
all What emotions swell the bosom, as the r
BILE collection of the past banishes other though
mes mu7U7f-Prv1V 1+~-AA~-e-Eamiliar with tn
rom liam Writ in the Supreme Court Of t
ma United States, in defence of the unfo~tuna
the Blennerhassett All ~recollect his vivid a
nv graphic description of this now neglect
mot Island. Enchanting eloquence has thro7
her, around it, the spell of undying renown.
arth Upon this Island, secluded from the lus
i'm of a noisy world, an Irish gentleman
now wealth and rare Intellectual endearmen
the "reared his palace, and decorated it W
ing, romantic establishment of fancy" ]
A gardens, his library, his philosophical ap
face, ratus, added to a "wife who had bless
ls to him with her love and made him the fat
OF her children ;" made it an earthly Pa
disc. Contentment and happiness reigl
M; around this solitary family. The cold, cal
lating selfshness of the outer world, the
crossing thoughts Of business, and the
ound of the public mart, could not invade
p be- disturb the q%uietude of Blenderhasse
asses home. The mighty west was then wrap
ndor in the swaddling clothes of infancy, and
vest whoop of the Indian resounded throu
cath the primeval forests. while here and tn
4" 10 the smoke of the pioneers cabin told
caves civilization had kindled its fires on the"
e dy- and bloody grounds" of savage barbari
leard Tim etfacing finger" has, since the
Q I'M vent of an ambitious traitor to that isis
IN its to whom | shall allude by and by, demol
ne re- ed the stately and costly palace, and left
asant garden in ruins. Not a Ivestige ofthe Il
ltteel simplicity and beauty of the building
AZ be seen. Instead of gardens seeming
lmost atmosphere with the aroma of flowers,
'part- ious weeds have grown up in rank lux
to ance, without even,
arms, "Arose of the wildernesslef on its stalk,
Then To tell where the garden had BEEN"
,ursts Amid dilapidation and decay, its appear
HESS, is strikingly mournful, its very silence
e but ting the story of its owners fall.
lings, Let us reason to the cause of Blenner
them. setts Indebtedness, and the desolatic
le for. his home. Innocence is ever simple
nbodi- credulous it wears no guards befor,
r who breast; every door, and portal, and avenr
9 hus- the heart is thrown open, and all who Oh
it enter" Aaron Burr came-the bioh
ors of his country, which he had enic
were q support in all circles-his pe
sive eloquence won hearts over to him.
a spell of necromancy, and without
life. sing the base designs that lurked in a
4 were or's heart, Blennerhassett Welded t
he will earnest and passionate appeals. The
3 com. enemy of our Institutions, valuing his
of tho ACKNOWLEDGEMENT above his countrv's
Of filed this unfortunate mans cup of life
ss just bitterness ana sorrow to the brim. He
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