and to the efficacy of religious obligation. Let us trust to the influence of Washington's example. Let us hope that that fear of Heaven, which expels all other fear, and that regard to duty, which transcends all other regard, may influence public men and private citizens, and lead our country still onward in her happy career. |

Full of these gratifying anticipations and hopes, let us look forward to the end of that century which is now commenced. A hundred years hence, other disciples of Washington will celebrate his birth, with no less of sincere admiration than we now commemorate it. When they shall meet, as we now meet, to do themselves and him that honour, so surely as they shall see the blue summits of his native mountains | rise in the horizon; so surely as they shall behold the river on whose banks he lived, and on whose banks he rests, still flowing to the sea; so surely may they see, as we now see, the flag of the union floating on the top of the Capitol; and then, as now, may the I sun in his course | visit no land more free, more happy, I more lovely, than this our own country.

I

RECEPTION OF COLUMBUS ON HIS RETURN TO SPAIN.

(WASHINGTON IRVING.)

The fame of his discovery | had resounded throughout the nation, and as his route | lay through several of the finest and most populous provinces of Spain, | his journey appeared like the progress of a sovereign. | Wherever he passed, the surrounding country poured forth its inhabitants, who lined the road and thronged the villages. In the large towns, the streets, windows, and balconies, were filled with eager spectators, who rent the air with acclamations.

His journey was continually impeded by the multitude pressing to gain a sight of him, and of the Indians, who were regarded with as much admiration |

as if they had been natives of another planet. It was impossible to satisfy the craving curiosity | which assailed himself and his attendants, at every stage, | with innumerable questions: | popular rumour, as usual, | had exaggerated the truth, and had filled the newlyfound country with all kinds of wonders. |

It was about the middle of April, that Columbus arrived at Barcelona, where every preparation had been made to give him a solemn and magnificent reception. The beauty and serenity of the weather, I in that genial season and favoured climate, contributed to give splendour to this memorable ceremony. | As he drew near the place, | many of the more youthful courtiers, and hidalgos of gallant bearing, together with a vast concourse of the populace, came forth to I meet and welcome him. I

His entrance into this noble city has been compared to one of those triumphs, which the Romans were accustomed to decree to conquerors. First were paraded the Indians, painted according to their savage fashion, and decorated with tropical feathers, and with their national ornaments of gold; after these were borne various kinds of live parrots, together with stuffed birds and animals of unknown species, | and rare plants, supposed to be of precious qualities: while great care was taken to make a conspicuous display of Indian coronets, | bracelets, and other decorations of gold, which might give an idea of the wealth of the newly-discovered regions. After these followed Columbus, on horseback, | surrounded by a brilliant cavalcade of Spanish chivalry.

The streets were almost impassable from the countless multitude; the windows and balconies were crowded with the fair; the very roofs were covered with spectators. It seemed, as if the public eye could not be sated with gazing on these trophies of an un

Hidal'go, (Spanish) a noble man or woman.

a

known world, or on the remarkable man by whom it had been discovered. There was a sublimity in this event, that mingled a solemn feeling with the public joy. It was looked upon as a vast and signal dispensation of Providence, in reward for the piety of the monarchs; and the majestic and venerable appearance of the discoverer, so different from the youth and buoyancy that are generally expected from roving enterprise, seemed in harmony with the grandeur and dignity of his achievement.

To receive him with suitable pomp and distinction, | the sovereigns had ordered their throne to be placed in public, under a rich canopy of brocade of gold, | in a vast and splendid saloon. Here the king and queen awaited his arrival, | seated in state with the prince Juan beside them, and attended by the dignitaries of their court, and the principal nobility of Castile, Valentia, | Catalonia, and Arragon, all impatient to behold the man, who had conferred so incalculable a benefit upon the nation.

At length Columbus entered the hall, surrounded by a brilliant crowd of cavaliers, among whom, says Las Casas, he was conspicuous for his stately and commanding person, which, with his countenance rendered venerable by his gray hairs, gave him the august appearance of a senator of Rome. A modest smile lighted up his features, showing that he enjoyed the state and glory in which he came; and certainly nothing could be more deeply moving, to a mind inflamed by noble ambition, and conscious of having greatly deserved, | than were these testimonials | of the admiration and gratitude of a nation, | or rather of a world.

As Columbus approached, the sovereigns rose, | as if receiving a person of the highest rank. Bending his knees, he requested to kiss their hands; | but there

a Bỏè ăn-sé.

b Bro-kåd'.

was some hesitation on the part of their majesties to permit this act of vassalage. Raising him in the most gracious manner, they ordered him to seat himself in their presence; a rare honour in this proud and punctilious court.

At the request of their majesties, | Columbus now gave an account of the most striking events of his voyage, and a description of the islands which he had discovered. He displayed the specimens he had brought of unknown birds and other animals; of rare plants, of medicinal and aromatic virtue; | of native gold, in dust, | in crude masses, or laboured into barbaric ornaments; | and, above all, the natives of these countries, who were objects of intense and inexhaustible interest; since there is nothing to man | so curious as the varieties of his own species. All these he pronounced mere harbingers of greater discoveries | he had yet to make, which would add realms of incalculable wealth to the dominions of their majesties, and whole nations of proselytes to the true faith. I

The words of Columbus were listened to with profound emotion by the sovereigns. When he had finished, they sunk on their knees, and raising their clasped hands to heaven, their eyes filled with tears of joy and gratitude, they poured forth thanks and praises to God for so great a providence ; | all present followed their example; a deep and solemn enthusiasm pervaded that splendid assembly, and prevented all common acclamations of triumph. |

The anthem of Te Deum laudamus,a | chanted by the choir of the royal chapel, with the melodious accompaniments of the instruments, rose up from the midst, in a full body of sacred harmony, bearing up, | as it were, the feelings and thoughts of the auditors to heaven, so that,' says the venerable Las Casas, | 'it seemed as if in that hour they communicated with

We praise thee, God.

celestial delights.' | Such was the solemn and pious manner in which the brilliant court of Spain, celebrated this sublime event: offering up a grateful tribute of melody and praise; and giving glory to God for the discovery of another world. |

When Columbus retired from the royal presence, he was attended to his residence by all the court, and followed by the shouting populace. For many days he was the object of universal curiosity, and wherever he appeared, he was surrounded by an admiring mul| titude.

ADAMS AND JEFFERSON.

(WIRT.)

In the structure of their characters; in the course of their action; in the striking coincidences which marked their high career; in the lives and in the deaths of these illustrious men, and in that voice of admiration and gratitude | which has since burst, with one accord, from the twelve millions of freemen who people these states, there is a moral sublimity which overwhelms the mind, and hushes all its powers into silent amazement.

The European, who should have heard the sound | without apprehending the cause, I would be apt to inquire, What is the meaning of all this? | what have these men done to elicit this unanimous and splendid acclamation? | Why has the whole American nation risen up, as one man, to do them honour, | and offer to them this enthusiastic homage of the heart? Were they mighty warriors, and was the peal that we have heard, the shout of victory? |

Were they great commanders, returning from their distant conquests, surrounded with the spoils of war, | and was this the sound of their triumphal procession? | Were they covered with martial glory in any form, | and was this the noisy wave of the multitude, rolling