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VIRGINIA HISTORICAL soUIErY

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VIRGINIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY
The ANIMAL meeting of this Society was held on
Tuesday evening last, in the Hall of the House o
Delegates. On taking the Chair, the Hon. VIM. C
Riyss. President of the Society, made the follow.
ing remarks, after which Hugh Blair Grigsby
Esq, proceeded TO deliver his learned Discourse
on the Convention of 1888. and which he propo-
sss to publish hereafter. The President rose and
said
Gentlemen Of Re Historical Society Of Virginia:
/ cannot avoid congratoIating you, as citizens,
on the scene we have witness ed, so honorable to
our State and which has given an unusual and
elevated attraction to our present meeting. We
have lived, gentlemen. to see accomplished, and
yesterday behsld the becoming celebration of a
great work, which calls forth from their inmost
depths, the most cherished, and at the same time
the uoblest sentiments of the Virginia heart. We
witnessed fn the presence of vast aseemblage,
not only of our own citizens, but of the citizens
and high fuBctionaries of sister States, and OF
the authorities civil and military. of the Union all
co ne to join Us in o com,non homage to the chief
Of men, the installation at the capitol of the State
under the wide vault of Heaven, TO which it serene.
ly looks. of grand aud enduring monument to
common 'rate the virtues, and services and the
deeds OF son OF Virginia. reyered by all America,
whom all nations and ages will Continue to honor,
and before whom. such Is the inherent majesty Of
virtne, the Kings and Emperors ofthe earth grow
small.
Around that great esDtral and SURPRISING figure
have been fitiy grouped other illustrious sons OF
Virginia, who 10 the council or the field we're the
companions and associates of Washington; co-ope-
rating with him In their respective spheres to bear
aloft the standard Of liberty and law, and to plant
II fmmovaby, as they foDdly hoped, on height Of
moral as well as political elevation where 1t would
forever flourish. the hope and solace of nations,
nal nj hHir nr1nfr mt nntY.
ment We all feel. gentlemen, to be proud and glO-
riuus incarnation of our annals Our children, and
oar children's children will come up, in endless
generations. 10 behold It, and In beholding, will
draw from IL inspirations of virtue, of patriotism
aud wis ION. Firmly persuaded that there is
means 80 effactua of maintaining the high tone of
moral sentiment and principle, demanded by our
Republican institutions and indispensable to their
preservation, as an habitual recurrence to the cx
amples OF our great and yrtuou5 ancestors, view
with deep aud grateful satisfaction, as / am
youdo, every method of Keeping them in our hearts
and minds, and bringing them indeed before our
very eyes.
May we not, then, indulge feeling OF pleasing
consciousness In the recollection of the part borne
by this Society, in originating the measures which
have led to result gratifying to the PRIDE and
% honorable to the character of our State. II
was at the second annual meeting Of this Society,
In December, ls4s, that resolution, moved by a
worthy gentleman of this city, was adopted, and
accnmittee appointed to prepare and present to
the Legislature, memorial in the name of the
sOciety. praying for the adoption Of suitable
means TO secure the early completion of monu-
ment TO Washington, at the capital of the State
To that appeal. the Legislature was pleased to
respond by its prompt and favorable action, and
on the following I'D of February, q day 30 appro-
pirate for such an act, as was suggested in the
manorai, bill was passed by both Houses, out
OF the judicous provisions of which, the work We
behold with 30 much pride, has arisen through the
patient and skilful gradations OF art and now nn-
folds Its glories to the eye.
In the abundant harvest of honor which such a
work yields TO al who have been in any manner
associated with ir, the Legislature, the Executive
tue Commissioners, and last aud chefest the great
artist. who, though his days have not been spared
70 witness with us the proud installation of tue
work Of his hands. yet lives, and will forever live,
In the fame he has achieved by it. in so abundant
harvest of honor trust it will not be thought IN
becoming In an ass ociation like this which seeks
neither influence nor notoriety, to recur with some
degree Of satisfaction to its humble share, how
ever small that may be deemed, though but grain
of mustard seed sown in the fruitful minis of
others-in the preparatory labors from which the
stately growth has sprung
But let us remember, gentlemen. that great and
noble as these works OF art are admirable as crea
tions Of genius, In the highest degree useful to
nourish and diffuse among tho entire body of
people q generous and well informed sentiment of
national PRIDE without history they are but dumb
Idols they see not, they hear not, they speak not
IT'S history that puts speculation la the eyes, of
the molten Warrington, and lights them up with
their serene wisdom and their far-seeing and reso-
lutte patriotism that gives eloque,t voice and utter
ance to the lips of Henry, ne stands motionless
on the pedestal of that monument and TO the bra.
geu pen In the hands of Jefferson its resissless no.
wsr an fsrvur. IT'S History, In like manner that
will invest the form of Mason with its living ex-
preston of dignity, of Roman irmness aud pro.
fund deiiberation; the countenance of Marshall
with the light and shade of an imperial intellect
the features of Nelson with the benignant vet ar
dent glow Of seifsaerificing devotion to his coun
try; and the figure of Lewis, with the lofty air of
veteran heroism, set of by majestic nature, hen
these WORTHLESS, 10 their turn, come also to take
their allotted stations around the peerless chief
Nor could there be, gentlemen. we may surely
say. With ut presumption. space enough upon that
proud monument TO comprehend all the noble sons
OF Virginia. who acted well their parts In great
aad glorious age, aud whose lives and deeds de-
serve grateful commemoration. 1t is the Office
Of this Society, for its limited means extend
to collect and preserve memorials of them ali. to
erect monuments to them all, III not in brass and
marble, In yet other forms, which the great in
strumeut Of modern civilization, the art of print
ing. may render even more enduring when worthi-
ly executed. How muen reason then have We 20
congratulate ourselves that one of our own sens
Mr.. Grgsby. with abilities equal to the task has
nosly undertaken It's performance and in MARI
has already nobly perflrmed H., To him hstanas
the pions and ranscsndant duty of erecting t6s
monasmenttm ore peressa'i.sp To the great names
OF our virginia History; aud am gratifed IN in
form you that he 10 with today, prepared 10 in
struct aud delight US with another and most inn
portant portion of his learned and patriotic Ia.
bors.
After tae delivery of Mr.. Grigsbys discourse n .
Society adjourned to hold business meeting al
II, Hall IN the Athenaum on the following morn
ing, the proceedings OF which win be published
hereafter.
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