Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-03-20
PUBLISHED "AILY AND TRl-W EEKLY BY
EDGAR sNOWDkN.
ALEXANDRIA,:
SATURDAY MORNING. MARCH 30, ls5
Mr.. Everett. Address.


Liberty Hall was completely filed on
Thursday night, to hear Mr.. Everett's ceie-
brated address oD the Character Of Wash
ington. We do not remember to have seen
q greater crowd in that spacious room on
sny previous occasion. The number of la.
dies present was remsrked as unusual, for q
public meeting.
Mr.. Everett was presented to the audience,
in some happy and appropriate remarks, by
VIM. II. Fowle, ESQ.,, on behalf of tue Ladies'
Mount Vernon Association. The introduc-
ton was graceful, and in good taste.
Mr. Everett then arose. and for--we were
about to say how long, but really, after be
commenced, 1--WE took no note of time"--but
we will substitute, until he concluded, held
that large assemblage spell-boupd by his elo-
quence. 1t was an effort, undoubtedly, of
great power aod beauty, worthy Of the sub
iect and the orator. We do not know that
we can pay higher compliment than this
to the theme and the speaker. Seldom has
this community had an opportunity of enjoy
ing such an intellectual repast. From be-
ginning to end, it was replete with chaste
and beautiful imagery, not overlooking and
obssuring the picture drawn, but only add
ing to its beauty aud interest The Ian
guage was pure, and even idiomstc--the
style after the best models Of English COM
position--the delivery not strained nor bois-
ferrous, but within the bounds Of correct ora
tory--she illustrations appositr--she senti-
ments noble, generous, and patriotic, and the
delineations of character sketched by mas
ter's hand. The Address was an untalterlng
flow of real eloauence:-to which sweet
voice, a winning maoner, and a correct pro-
no notation, added charm. which captlva-
ted the feelings and Satisfied the judgment.
We have often wondered how Mr.. Everett
could repeat this Address as many times as
be has delivered it, with 80 much of untiag-
ging spirit as be manifests. Buff he always
speaks to sucS audiences as be had here,
we wonder no longer. Their interest, and
oven enthusiasm, would lend vigor to any
orator, no matter how familiar his own words
might be to his own ears. The hearty and
spontaneous applause which burst forth re-
pestedly, andy restrained still more fire.
quently, by the desire not to lose sentence,
and yet shown in the eyes and countenances
of the listeners, must have been felt by the
speaker. 1t was heart responsive to heart,
and the pleasure given must have been re-
turned to, and acknowledged by, the mind
capable of eliciting such emotions.
To add that there is no dissenting voice to
the estimate we have formed Of Mr.. EVeretts
address, and to the general opinion of his
merits as on orator, as far as We heard, Is
hardly necessary. His public speeches are
always of the highest order, but, probably
his Grafton on Washington will be consid-
cred bis best effort. Of him, it may be said,
as has been said of an ancient orator, that
his speeches "give that delight which is
analogous to gracefulness in motion, to mel
ody in q series of sounds, and to beauty in
the most beautiful of all visible objects, the
human form. He is fair specimen OF that
Attic roundnesS in oratory, to which nothing
should be added, and from which nothing
can be taken away, without destroying its
business and it's symmetry, and of which
those who assist their mental operations bJ
material helps, will have the best idea by
taking iu their hands sample OF the finest
grain. He brings into each branch OF the
subiects he discusses, a felicity OF perform
anoe. that, az johnson said of Goldsmith, he
ALWAYS seems to do best that which he Is
doipg-possessing that equable flow OF Ian
pua ee where the words do not take of from
the ideas, and where ideas are not consulted
to the absolute exclusion of words, where
gentle metaphors, like knolls upon rich
ohsmpain, relieve all the details and where
tho arrangement is so mastery that every
former part gives strength to that which fol-
lows, and every latter brings some light to
all that preoedes."
Col. Benton, in his Arrangement OF the