Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-01-24
Leftcr from Lexington. Va.

TCorrcspondencc of the Alexandria Gazette
LEXINGTON. Jan. 19.-ln accordance with
resolution passed by the faculty Of Washington
and Lee University. just after Gen Lee sdcath,
'that his birthday should hereafter be celebrated
with suitable ceremonies, there wasan Grafton
delivered in Lee Chapel this morning by Hon.
Jas. p. Holcombc. l.. l.. d.. and debate, and
Grafton from the Graham Lee Society Tonight.
In the morning. after IN earnest and touching
prayer by the venerable DR.. White, DIR. Kirk
patrick introduced Dr. Holcombe TO the large
audience gathered in the Chapel. In opening
his address DR.. II. said that he felt dihident OF
his power to do his subject justice, here where
Robert Lee is known, and where his spirit still
dwells, but that his impcrtectlons might be
supplied from the fullness Of his hearers mem.
cries, and the tenderness Of their hearts.
After brief but eloquent eulogyon Gen. Lees
character, the speaker gave rapid history OF
his life; the Wcestmoreland boy, the pride Of
that widowed mother, who said when he was
to leave how can I live without him, he has
been son, daughter, all in all to me; the West
Point cadet sober, earnest, improving every
opportunity, graduating second IN general Ac-
adcmc stand, and first in Military; the army
officer noble representative OF the true 'lr-
ginia gentlemen, as he whom he had taken 1or
his model George Washington. had been OF
the gentleman of colonial times; the contidcn-.
tial staff officer of the Commander in Chief OF
the armies of the United States in the Mexican
war, complimented in every dispatch. thrice
breycted for bravery on the field Of battle,
dangerously wounded at the storming OF Cha
pultepcc; the patriot throwing aside every SCI
fish motive, receiving from the aged Janncy
Virginia. untarnished sword, and swearing by
the help of Almighty God, and the aid OF his
countrymen. to devote himself to her service:
thcC ommander-in-C Chief of the Southernarmies,
of whom time would not suffice to tell. but Of
whose glory. the fame of the grand old army Of
Northern Virginia was an undying witness, that
army whose strength was never broken in battle,
but which wasted by disease, born down by
starvation, its great heart broken by calamity,
for which it was not responsible, at last closed
its long line of glory at Appomattox Z: IT,; the
christian hero like gold tried iii the fire, shin
ing brighter and more glorious in adversely; the
man of duty, to whom every position was open,
but who chose that in which he deemed he
might best serve his county, to educate he, her
sons of all the chapters of his. glorious lite,
none was more glorious or grander than the
last. All these were described with an eloquencc
that held the audience spell bound for more
than two hours. Doubtless the faculty will
cause this culogy to be printed, when Il copy
ought to be in every Southern home.
At the celebration of the Graham Lee Society,"
Mr.. j. B. Stubs, of Louisiana, delivered an
Grafton on "thc influence of Il Nations Songs
production much above the usual college ORA
ton, written with great force and clcarness, and
exceedingly we'll delivered.
The question whether the triumph of Ger
many in the present war of races, would
prove beneficial to civilization?' was debated
at some length, by Mr.. T. S. Connella, of Ala
bama and J. W. Taylor, Of Texas, on the at
firmativc, and by Mr.. J. W. Lee, Of KY, and
Mr. S. p Grassy, of Ky, on the negative
and was decided in the affirmative by vote Of
the society Some of the speeches were quite
good, but the celebration, as whole; did not
come up to the usual standard of the society
Mr.. j. p Cowardin, Of Richmond, deliver
ed his celebrated lecture on the Humors of the
Court at Franklin Hall last night, and will re-
peat it at the Military Institute tomorrow ght
We understand that he will also give them some
of his "reminiscences of V. NJ I. life, which will
doubtless prove treat to the cadets, as Mr.
Cowardin is one Of the ''traditlonas' of the
school, WILLIS.
AS already stated the Methodist Book Com
mittee on Saturday resolved to stop the prose
cution of Rev DR.. Lanahan, and reinstate him
as Assistant Agent. At the opening of the
session the Rev J. f. Kennedy, in behalf of
the minority who had not signed the decision