Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1858-04-14
HON. EDWARD EVERETT.

Il was our gsod fortune 10 hear this distinguished
orator In Augusta, Friday last upon the OCCASION Of
delivering his famous Address on the Life and Char
aeter Of GEORGE WARRINGTON. An immense audi
ence Of ladies and gentlemen, hi!ing the spacious
Presbyterian Church Of that City to its utmost ca
pacty .ttested by their presence and rspt attention
their high appreciation of tho noble orator anu Ills
moro noble theme. We do not remember to nave
witnessed, at any tme sccne in which the fascina-
tons Of rhetoric more completely swayed the hour.
Arriving late With frend VIC were only able to OBJ
tain seat in tho remotest corner Of the building
having then between ourselves and tho speaker tne
great bulk of the assembsge. Yet such WAS tho per-
feet stiffness which prevailed, the almost breathless
silence with which each hearer drank in every portion
of the address. that scarcely single word or accent
e.caped us twas high degree of decorum, eviden-
no ,t once tho excellent material of the brilliant az
,ombl.e. and the magic powers of the man who thus
ho,d them snchaued for the space of two full hours.
The receipts of the afternoon considerably e1ceoaed
ono thousand dollars all Of which, in conformity Win
Mr.. EvERErrs liberal purposes in the matter OF tno
Mount Vernon purchase, is to DO placed at the dscre
ton of the Ladies' Mt. Vernon Association Ho has
thus already been tho direct instrument OF raising
oyor twenty thousand dollars in this haowed cause
of tho daughters of Washington; and ho continues
unuearied and unfagging in his generous expendi-
tur. of tme talents and personal trouble for the 3D.
vaucement of thor success That success, according
to late dispatch from Richmond, Va, has boon rem
dered certain, and tho title of the "predal shrine
has been transferred to the incorporated Mt. Vernon
Association. To no single agency s this consumma-
ton more largely attributable, than to EDWARD hT-
sRBrrs superb GRAFTON and tho consecrated uses 10
which he has devoted it. In the record OF the achieve
ment his name will rank brightest in the constellation
so strangely called into existence by the fervor and
perseverance, and love- and somi-inspraton, OF Inc
Southern Matron" and her American sisterhood.
OF tho Grafton ITSELF the press has adopted the poll
cy of avoiding to speak with critical particularly
and this doubtless with the tacit purpose Of leaving it
nm entirely fresh treat for each successive audience
Suffice to soy that it is from beginning to end rare
and enhancing array Of oratorca gems of "thought'
that breathe and words that burn" of lofty sentl-
ments, of chnstened tropcs and figures OF iV'ag'
moving pen paintings all enhanced by framework
whose every component part is drawn from the "Tel
of English unde6led" Criticism of course could lHy
claws upon some of its features upon what could II
not y and carp at some seemingly important errors
of omission. But it would be graceless to do 3d. at
least now in the midst of the oraton run Of applause
and in Wow of tho rich fruits it is bearing in cause
conseerated by the purity Of womans love and the
emotions of grateful patriotism. The address will
soon be published and then the tripods acumen may
be allowed to test its sharpness to tho full But al
present. let the general need Of admiration stand un
reversed, unchecked. Let the distinguished orator
with his brilliant performance, be chccred on 10 hi
virtuous mission. Another day will decide whether
the present public has been carrcdawny by unthink
ing furo or whether its hcartdecison has not rathe
been consonant with tho severest rules of taste Fol
one, wc acknowledge with delight the charmed infiu
enccs of tho orators power and arc indisposed, while
still under them as it were, to take exception to ont
or two supposed defects Of manner or matter. Where
perfection SO nearly attained the critics should taxi
to themselves the caution,-
"Proeul, procu. este, prcfani"