Washington sentinel., 1856-03-15
From the Baltimore American.
Grafton by the Hon. Edward Everett on
the Life and Character OF Gen. George
WushinQtOn.

NE announcement tHal the non. EuWdru
3NEverett would deliver an eulogy upon the life
and character of Washington, drew together
last evening the largest audience ever assem-
bled at the Hall of the Maryland Institute.
Long before the hour for the delivery of the
address, and even before dark large number
of persons were to be seen vending their way
to the Hail. and before seven o'clock the floor
and galleries we're filled to repletion, compris-
!, ing probably from seven to eight thousand
persons, most of whom were ladies. The broad
entrance to the building was so crowded that
for time ingress was impossible, and hum
dreds were obliged to retire who could not OBJ
tain even standing place within the spacious
hall.
The members Of the Institute, the Clergy,
and the Mayor and City Council assembled in
the library, where Mr.. Everett was received Al
halfpast seven o'clock, by Hon. Joshua Van
sant President Of the Institute.
His excellency President Pierce, and his pri-
yate secretary Sydney Webster, esq, were pre-
sent, as was also DIR. Elisha X. Kane. At
quarter to eight o'clock, line of procession
was formed, the committees of the City Coun-
ellis and Institute in front, followed by the
orator of the occasion, the President Of the
United States the clergy and invited guests,
aud moved Out the front entrance and through
the rear staircase to the platform.
The scene then presented was one of the
most interesting ever witnessed in the city Of
Baltimore. AS soon as Mr.. Everett reached
the foot Of the platform the applause was
cupied by the daughter of the honorable orator
and her friends, while the left was appropriated
to the invited guests and the officers Of the
city.
Hon. Joshua Vansant arose, and requested
the audience, during the delivery Of the eulogy
to remain perfectly quiet or it would be impos-
sible for all to hear.
He then introduced Mr.. Everett, who was re.
ceived with the most unmistakeable evidences
of satisfaction, the immense audience rising
and joining in hearty greeting.
BY the desire of the orator, we abstain from
attempting foil report of this most splendid
oration; subjoin, however, an abstract pre-
pared under his own eye; an outline which
will show its scope and the originality and
variety Of the treatment Of the subject al
though it must utterly fail land indeed the
most complete report would fail) to give any
idea Of the felicity of language, the richness Of
illustration, and the burning eloquence of the
performance.
Mr.. Everett, after the applause subsided,
said Ladies and Genilemen-I am to speak to
you this evening on the character Of Washing
ton, great and noble theme, and difficult as it
Is important Difficult from the frequency with
which it has been dealt upon By many Of the
greatest men of their age Several Of those
performances have passed into the literature of
the country, and are familiar to all.
After a brief introduction, Mr.. Everett OBJ
served, that he could not but be sensible to the
difficulty of the task be had undertaken On
the deccase of Washington in l799 on the re-
commendation of Congress, euloges were de-
livered on the 22d of February next following,
by great number of the most distinguished
speakers and writers at Boston by one of the
most gifted sons of Massachusetts, Fisher
Ames Several Of these performances had
passed into the literature of the country and
we're familiar to all On other occasions the
life and character Of Washington had been
frequently discussed An address on this sub
ject was delivered by Mr.. Webster at the city Of
Washington, in 1892, mastery performance;
and it was admirably treated by Mr.. Winthrop;
then Speaker of the House of Representatives,
on laying the cornerstone of the National
monument at Washington. The more obvious
and appropriate topics of discourse on this
great themes narrative of his life and dis
cussion of his principles and policy-had been
exhausted in the performances alluded to. Mr..
Everett would not attempt TO say over in other
words what had already been said so we'll by
his distinguished predecessors, but would en-
deavor to take somewhat different view of the
subject, and after alluding to the particular oc-
casion of the evening, would offer some reAec-
tons upon the relation Of Washington, not
merely TO the United States, but TO the aye in
which he lived, and then attempt to indicate
the true nature and moral foundation of bis
greatness.
After some further remarks of a personal
character Mr.. Everett remarked that the occa-
ooE~n .l Il.
was the completion Of a century since General
Washington's first appearance upon the impor-
tant action Of life. The seven years war had
not then been declared in Europe, but hostili-
ties had been carried on for two years upon the
inland frontiers Of the British colonies in Anne
rica. Washington had already greatly distin-
gruished himself. He was preserved by a manifest
Providence at Braddock's defeat, and young as
he was, had become the subject of public in
terest and anticipation. He came with one or
two brother officers to consult Governor Shirley
upon a question of rank and the general ar
rangements Of the war. He was then twenty
four years DID, model of manly vigor, grace
and beauty. His second visit was on the l8th
Of March, l776, the day after the evacuation Of
Boston by the British army, when Washington
entered the city ycommander-in-cbef of the forces
Of the American Union. He came for the third
time on the 25th Of October, 1889, -as first Pre-
X sdent Of the United States, unanimously chosen
in the hearts Of the people, in advance not
merely of the constitutional forms of election,
but ofthe poor machinery Of caucuses and con-
4 ventions, by which, in later times, it has been
4 found convenient to relieve the people from
the trouble Of choosing their rulers The
I relation, of Washington to the country at these
three visits was briefly alluded to.
He would not award all the praise to Wash
I ington for there were those in his day who
contributed to the success Of his wonderful
career, among whom Maryland's own Carroll
was one Of the most honored. There we're two
especially important days in the life of Wash
ington, one OF which was the 23d of December
1888, when at Annapolis he resigned his com
mission, and the other the 30th Of April 1889,
in New York, in presenceo the newly organized
Congress and the Legislature Of that State, he
stepped forth and took from Chancellor Living