Washington telegraph., 1856-05-07

spectators with the most evident interest,"
The whole line was lined with people oi
every age. sex and condition The win
dows and balconies. and even the roofs OF
the houses. in some sections. were filed
with admirers of the imposing pageant, and
among these was as usual, brilliant array
of the gentler sex Here and there hear
ty cheers greeted the progress of the pro-
cession. and at intervals peals of artillery
mingled with the martial clang Of the
bands
Masters of vessels and steamboats,. the
foreign Consuls. without exception, and the
proprietors of most of the public buildings.
the hotels, the newspaper offices. &c, very
generally, we observed. complied with the
request of the Grand Marshal of the day.
that they would display their flags during
the day
Arrived at the place appropriated for the
erection of The Monumental Statue, at the
junction of St. Charles and Royal, on the
Neutral Ground in Canal street.. the
ceremony of laying the cornerstone COM
menced. By invitation of the Clay Monu-
mental Association, this was performed BY
the Grand Lodge of the State of Louisiana
of Free and Accepted Masons, according
to the time -honored ritual of that venerable
| Order. There was a peculiar fitness in this
arrangement. as Henry Clay was Past
Grand Mister of the Masons in the State
of Kentucky.
| In the cavity of the corner stone was
placed the following articles:
Life Of Henry Clay, by George D. Prem
tice.
Life and Times of Henry Clay. by Cal
vim Cotton.
Private Correspondence of Henry Clay.
The name of the President of the Uni
ted States and his Cabinet; of the Govern
or of Louisiana and State Officers; of the
Mayor of the City of New Orleans and
City Officers aud the Officers of the Gus
toms: and
| The Officers Of the Clay Monumental
Association; also,
Copies of the Daily Papers OF New Or
leans, April u, 1856.
A copy of the Civil Code of Louisiana,
and one of the several coins Of the United
States.
A brass plate bearing the following in-
scrption:
'iThis corner stone Of a monument erect
ed to the memory of Henry Clay, was laid
on the 18th day of April, A ID. 1856,
A. L. 1856. by the VI. W. G. Lodge of
| Free and Accepted Masons, of the State of
Louisiana; w N. Perkins, Grand Master
H. H. Dosson. d. g. NJ; S. o. Scruggs. .
g. W; l.. Texada, S. g. w; s. c. Mich
ell, g. T.; Samuel c. Risk, Grand Secre-
ry."
After this followed the performance of
an Ode, in French, written by Monsieur
Dominique Roquet, set to music by Mons
| Provost and sung by the artistes of the
I French opera troupe, accompanied by the
fall orchestra os the Theatre d'Orleans. un-
der the conduct of Mons Provost. This
was very interesting part of the ceremo-
MES. and elected the applause of the multi
tude IN very fat.ering degree
Hon. Judge McCaleb, who had been de-
signated as the orator of the day. then came
forward upon the platform, and within the
hearing of the assembled thousands. gath
cred in the wide area, before him, and fill
ing the windows, balconies and roofs around
him, pronounced an eloquent and appropri-
ate address. We regret that we have not
the time or space for report of this able
effort this afternoon. We propose to give
it at length in tomorrow mornings issue.
! Capt Charles d. Dreaux then. rose. and
| in his usual effective style, read the follow
ing graceful tribute to the occasion. from
the fertile and ready pen of one of Ala
bama's fairest and most accomplished daugh-
7 ters.
AN ADDRESS.
Upon Laying The Cor',rr Stone Of the Monument 10
HENRY CLAY
WRITTEN By u ME ocTAvIA WALTON LEvERT.
While the patriotic sons of our country
are uniting in testimonial to the memory
of Henry Clay. shall not woman be allowed
to place the flowers of gratitude and affec-
ton upon the altar of his fame?
To none were the genius and services of
| the illusfrious statesman and orator more
dear than to his countrywomen with all
those lofty and commanding qualities which
sway scnates. and guide the course of en-
pires, he had heroism of heart. chivalry
of department, Difference of demeanor,
which, while forming the soul and secret of
bis imprisoned eloquence, we're irresistible
talismans over the minds of the gentler sex.
Great as he was in the forum of nations,
or before multitudes Of men, controlling
them by his cleaning finger as with the
wand OF an eDchanter, it was In the home
circle, by the domestic freside, that his char
acter was seen in Its true grace and lowell
ness; there his voice rang like trumpet
amid his assembled peers. and whose undy,
ing echoes (the richest symphonies of patriot
ism) are still reverberating from the white
bills of New England to the parapets Of
the Pacific, was attuned to all the softesl
cadences of social and intellectual inter
course How delightful it was then to lis
, ten to the playful repartee, the genial anec
dotes, the sparkling BON naots, the vivid re-
miniscences of European and American so
eiety, the always elevated sentiments of one
who had mingled in the most prominen
scenes of his time in both hemispheres
without losing in the least the lofty manli
i ness. sincerity and purity of his nature.
n