Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-12-26
The Old Land Marks The Old Raleigh.

In the broad limits III the old Common
wealth, there was but one vestige of the past
which could dispute with the old Raleigh
Tavern in williamsburg, for the palm Of
historic interest That was the ruin of the
Church atJamestown. Their claims did not
clash, however. They were, each, represeil-
tatiyes Of great epoch, aud magnificent
epic. The jamestown ruin was aud is the
memorial Of Smith and nuoahnntas, and the
old glorious day. ., the first settlement, when
!. band OF EngiiShmen, our fathers. came to
root themselves, in spite of danger, famine,
and every obstacle, in the soil Of the West
ern world. The overthrown stones are the
living monuments OF a grand period and an
heroic racc:--ali honor to them. But the
Raleigh was equally the ma este memorial IF
sublime events. 1t was the representative
of the second struggle of En.lishmen upon
the Western Continont-of the contest for
liberty. In its Apollo Room" rs the main
apartment was called, met the patriotic ''as-
socia;irn," Of I'll" Revolutionary days-and
here were matured those great movements
winch resulted in the emancipation Of Ame-
RIGA from the thradpm Of English rule
Here was devised the famous Committee
of Correspondence" which set the ball Of the
Revolution in motion. Here, when Dun
more dissolved them, met the members Of
the House Of Burgcs,es, to enter INFO the
league against Parliament and the King
In J.ifcrson's memoir ut himself, we find
continually the item, met IN the Raleigh"
and whenever those words occur they are
followed by the fall If some thunderbolt
among the enemies of freedom. This old
Ap,ll, Room WAS tie raIying point Of all
the treuis ii the holy cause. The dissolu-
tons we're regularly succeeded by meetings
III the famous apartment; a matter Of
course, and probably without any concerted
plan. Ii was Il thing understood by all
The formal words Of the Governor, land you
are accordingly dissolved, seem 10 have been
echoed by the words. To the Raleig h"-and
there all the elements Of opposition were
combined, arraynd, and apportloned To their
proper work.
We can allude bat briefly 10 those old times
80 filled with heroic deeds Atanother time
Ne may notice the social glorles Of the old
Raleigh it splendid balls in tho great
apartment. where the beauty and chivulry
Of the Old Dominion Assem- bled u dance the
nIiuhC., and exchange gay conversation aud
warm grceJnsS. " c can almost sec those
festive ,emlages-and at times we feel rs
though SO had been Ut eyewitness Of the
spiendrfs II tue past The I'D Tavern rises
t. our vision ike familiar friend with whom
wc have been associated al. our lives, aud
whose every trait is dear To W.. Alas, we
never saw it with the eye. Of the flesh. -
Il was long u treasured design with us to g
thithcr. in the Lrisht days OF spring, and
study the past. in presence Of the revcred
memorial ofother days. The journey pre-
seated Itself in he light Of 4 pi,us pilgrim
age to some holy shrine but the hope was
vain. Th" building ha, passed away, and
w. ,iia,! fescr zee u,
The hir;hriace Of Washington. William
and Mary C"ilcye. ,ne old k4icgh Tavern,
are all destroyed. Tnns pass the glorious Of
our soil IDWnia hier.