The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1857-05-15

rsmaaed on his feet lefs no DOUBT o. 90 the iden-
NY etthe BODY. A verdict in acoordance with the
tsrrsd with the usual Christian services.
Owing to the fact that the present owner of
Jamestown had devoted the land surrounding the
old church to agricultural purposes. it was decided
70 hold the present celebration some two miles
back from the river, adjscent to the church. yard
Wa have alluded to- The river has encroached
somewhat upon the island, though the crescent
snaped shore still possesses great natural beauties,
~nich the observer cannot fall to admire, And the
waving grain of rich, luxuriant green, furnishes
me earth with robe more lovely than the inse.
pious arts of man can devise.
=, ihe Richmond regiment pitched their tents upon
the richly cultivated table land that had been n
signed rs the spot for the celebration; aud the SOL
olers were straightway initiated into the steries
Oh camp ife In which, it Is more thar justice to
say, tbsy exhibited degree of proficiency, worthy
u soidiers more experienced
Sunset found everything in perfect order. and a.
Tug spAoes OF evening curtained the beautiful
i.nascape' solemn quiet pervaded the scene, and
curing tne night no untowsrd incident occurred to
n.I the pleasures OF sweet repose
May 18Th The dawn of day was ushered in bv
discnarges of cannon, by the Richmond Artillery.
and but little time elapsed ere the camp was in
motion; ana the drums beat rsreiRe. inspiring the
soul Win patriotic emotions well suited to an oc-
casion 30 richly fraught with interesting reminis.
cences Steamers were constantly arriving bring
Ing delegations from Richmond Petersburg. Nor.
folk, Portsmouth, Hampton and Washington in
cluding the Jamestown Society from the place last
named, and several beautiful military companies
from the Virginia cities first enumerated. The
Montgomery Guard, under the command of Capt
P. 7. Moore, from Richmond; several splendid
companies from Portsmouth,; the Junior Blues from
Norfolk; the Cadets from Hampton; and the PEI
tersburg Artillery successively marched up to the
encampment. and took their places with the gallant
men whom Richmond had sent down to render
homage to the day. The Petersburg Artillery
fred their the shore of the river at sun.
rise and thus added materially to the interest Of
the occasion. Capt Nichols is the commander of
this efficient corps; and he was aided by Lieuts.
Butler, Brodie. Clark and Stevens Sergeant Ra;ne;
all of whom appeared to be fully impressed with
the Importance of true soldierly department, at
time hen so many accomplished military gentle-
| men were present to participate in the commemo
| ration of the day.
The counties of James City, Gloucester and
York also contributed to swell the numbers on the
grouod; and it was agreeable spectacle to see
80 may lovely women, passing AMI re-passiag in
the vast assemblage. and completing picture that
would be worthy of the efforts of the most skiful
and ingenious artist.
The hours of the morning were pleasantly di-
versified by the drilling of the soldiers; and we
| take especial pleasure in complmentiDg the ap
parent scientific evoutions of the Richmond
Greys aud the Virginia Rifles, who performed
| everything they undertook, in q masterly manner
We think that these were the only companies at
| tached to our regiment that participated iu this
| drill
AT ~ ClOcK the members OF tHe jamestown
Society assembled on the speakers stand, with
other persons of distinction, and the announces
ment was made that the proceedings were about
| to commence. We observed Elk x-President Tyler,
| Governor Wise, G. w P Gusts, Ex-Mayor Fow.
ers of " ashington, James Brooks of the New
York Express, Judge Clopton, James Barron
Hope, Robert Ridgeway, Jno r. Thompson, DR-
vid r Strother (Porte Crayon,) and many other
gentlemen of note, whom we were glad to
present on an occasion interesting, because it
vyk a the had cd a xnirit
| throughout the land, which may be of service in
commemorating the day in years to come.
After parade of the military, the assemblage
was called to order by Philip r Fendal Esq.,
President of the Jamestown Society, who spoke
ref1y of the motives which led to the celebration
of day, and then the Rev. Mr. Winner, rector
of Biuton parish, Williamsburg, poured out =
prayer expressive of gratitude for the mercies 80
freely bestowed upon our people, aud invoking
the blessing of God upon the attempt to pre-
serve e the memories of the day which should be so
dearly cherished in every true Virginia heart
The Armory Band played the Star Spangled
great assemtIsge thrill of patriotic joy Ex.
President JOHN TYLER, who had been selected
as the orator of the day, was then introduced, and
he well performed the task assigned him. The
cary history of the country, ircluding vey lucid
and beautiful descriptions of tho ancient city OF
Jamestown with q vivid sketch Of the trials and
struggles of our noble ancestors, were the themes
to which he chiefly confined bis remarks; aud the
app. au of the multitude, wheisvsr ithe ci hin.
guisned speaker gave utterance to . brilliant
thought was proof sufficient that a responsive
chord had been touched in the public heart out of
which may grow and thrive the splendid idea of
an annual celebration of the landing of the pio
naers at jamestown.
Mr.. Tyler's address evinced an intimate knowl.
edge OF history and great maturity of thought;
and the pleasing rhetorical Garb in which bis sug
gestions were clad, commanded the strong and
ardent admiration of every listener
ks-. NJ. ~. oi,SI> II ID
dent FendaIl introduced JAMES BARRON HOPE.
Esq, of Hampton, the poet of the occasion, who
read the folio wing ode:
Down the deep, misty era.s of antique Time,
Leaps many torrent In surge aublime,
Pouring along its mystic food, till Pale
And dun, it bursts in some ssquestersd vale;
Some valley of tho past, low and remote,
Where nywphs and Legends fancifully float,
In n iss, through which tradition and romance,
Astsrts-twils, above the torrent glance;
Which, rock like, bounds the rushing cataract;
Where purple shadow Ger she scene descends,
And Poesie her soft enchaAtment lends;
Where vanished thiags-the very simplest-gow
With /. strange beauty, which doth float ana flow
Around them in such ich and gorgeous dyes,
As Autumn's sunsets mingle in our skies.
Our history, brothers, such grand torrent makes,
This spot the valley, where in epray it breaks;
Whish wreathed in columns or dispersed in devs,
Takes from the past its varisg gstsd hues;
And here We meet, this sacred day is spent,
To muse in solsmness OF mind and heart;
While over Us like banner, floats the mist,
By fair romance and bright tradition kiss'd;
And, through these mists. what epic forms arise,
What storied pictures cam before our eye,
While, high above, Is seen Gods awful hand,
Writing, my brothers slowly out His grand
Sublime decree. which the great Geness
Transcribed. CT old, npon the mighty seas
Transcribed with those three keels which, long ago
Fretted the billows into wakes OF snow;
White. through SD days and nishts devoid OF sleep,
Fe ploughed thu bosom Of the azure deep
The ksels which sailed upon that sultry morn
When pri sstly chant and deep sonorou, horn
Broke on the summer air; when ell asape,
Tho speculative throns saw them escape
Their me rim 70 In the tranquil sunny bay,
Those carsvslas went upon Gods way.
And though ten thousand storms have swept the
deep,
And Gains have Iullsd II in delusive sleep,
Though for long ages it has tossed and yearned,
A. star isht shone, or crimson sunset burned
Still on the ooean-type though it may be,
or ali that's bound d less unsubdued and free,
Remains the record, to all time unfurled
H,w God gave n the second time, world
One heaven dir ected genius laid his hsnd
Upon the hilt of Prov6enee; the brand
Rsguired the force of all the human race
To draw il from it, scabbsrd's resting place
Ag,s to WELD 1t in the noble van,
which eaye this Western hemisphere to man.
Fsin would finger on that splendid age,
To which he save Its very Brightest psgei
Fsin sing his god like majesty of mind,
Which look cd right onwArd-never gisncsd osn1na
While meath bis brow, Of more than legal scope,
II toiIius east the whole worlds horoscope.
Fain would paint his eriefs Ia those sad hours.