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From the windows of this room the James lay in full

flected in its glassy bosom-or swollen and turbid, bearing on its foamy tide hay-stacks, timber trees, heaps of cornstalks and floating brushwood; and again a stormy day would toss the white caps, and curl the green and ridgy waves. Ships lie at anchor, taking in tobacco and cotton; and the cry of the sailors at work, is heard across the water; and occasionally a steamer passes by, the parted waters heaving a rippling surge to the shore.

indigo, he came to be the master of a large fortune and miscellaneous mass accumulated during several generaa great number of slaves. He built Warwick-house, tions-containing a little of every thing, from Plato to and several others on the river and; his tombstone and Peter Porcupine. that of his wife I found half covered with sand in the garden. About the time of the siege of York, Lafay-view; sometimes smooth and clear-purple clouds reette encamped at Warwick with a division of the American army. Lafayette, with his staff and suite, had his head-quarters at the great-house. Dunmore had the honor to brush the general's boots-gold and silver being very plenty, he got a guinea for his share. Lafayette had with him two servants, a negro and a Frenchman. The head of Warwick-house at that time, the great grandfather of cousin Bob and me, was a good whig, but his wife, who happened to be the daughter of a former governor of the colony, unfurled In spring, the fruit trees shower their blossoms, the a tory banner. The merits of the revolution was fre- flowers bloom, and the bee, humming, "quaffs his neequent matter of debate at table and by the fireside, the tar from the cups of gold." The mocking-bird, perchfamily upon such occasions forming a sort of domestic ed on the top of a cherry tree, repeats his mimic recicommittee of the whole house upon the state of the titavo, while the oriel, like a bolt of fire, darts warbling colonies. My great grandmother, dear old lady, was through the foliage, and the butterfly revels in the sunremarkably eloquent upon these occasions, (the oppo- shine, or reposes amid beds of flowers. A broad wheatsition always is,) and seldom failed to have the last field waves, its bearded stalks bending to the breeze; word; but, in spite of her efforts, she was pretty gene- and a corn-field hangs its silver tassels in the sun, and rally thrown into a minority. In one of these political luxuriant clover spreads its rich carpet. Here and conclaves it was moved and carried, my great grand-there a beech tree or an oak has been spared for its mother contradicente, to discontinue the use of tea. beauty or its shade. The negroes are at work in the The old lady entered a formal protest against the field; the overseer seated hard by on the fence, whit whole proceeding, declaring that she would drink her ling a stick. cup of tea in spite of general Washington, congress, and the continental army to boot. She kept her word, drank her dish of tea in her closet, and, after the war, declared that nothing could add such a flavor to the herb as to think it was treason to drink it.

HAREWOOD.

Occasionally the uniformity of a country life is varied by a dinner party—a dinner, a hum-drum affair, a nuisance, a bore. After the first glass of wine goes round, the ladies retire, cigars are now introduced, the decanter circulates, conversation proceeds in an easy, slip-shod mood-politics, horses, crops. The ladies in the meanwhile in the drawing room; some play at battledore, or strum on the old harpsichord, or look over a book of prints—and others discourse of weather, health, children, fashions, sermons, flowers, new novels, &c.

The sun is now descending the western sky-coaches are wheeled up to the door; silks rustle; adieus are exchanged; and Harewood is left to its accustomed solitude.

AN ESSAY.

By this name I shall distinguish one of the old plantations on the James River. The river is three miles wide there, and from the opposite side the front of Harewood appears to be white-the effect of the white pillars of the porticoes-but on a nearer approach, it proves to be a heavy square edifice of brick, with a sharp roof, and rows of dormant windows, as old, perhaps, as the time of Charles the Second. Well built store-houses and offices of brick shew that this was a plantation of consequence in the old colonial times. In the hall may be seen the family coat of arms, and Pythagoras, it is said, imposed absolute silence on several portraits, one of them of the founder of the his disciples for a number of years. We may presume house, a youth in robe and sandals. In the dining to doubt whether this philosopher ever carried his room also are a number of portraits, some of them, per-scheme into effect. However that may be, the singular haps, from the pencil of Sir Godfrey Kneller; and over system of Pythagoras was undoubtedly based on a great the mantel is carved the family escutcheon, under truth. Suppose a man of liberal education should sudwhich hangs a design from Hogarth. In the drawing denly find himself immured in a naked, unfurnished room is a full length portrait of General Washington, room, without books, or society, or any single external standing by a brass cannon, thoughtful; a servant hold-resource left him. Imagine that he could endure a life ing his horse-in the back ground is Princeton College, and a party of British prisoners of war. A print of Bunker Hill battle, and the fall of Montgomery at Quebec; and a series of illustrations of Homer,

"Videt Iliacas ex ordine pugnas Atridas, Priamum-que et sævum ambobus Achillem."

of this desolate sort for a considerable length of time, supplied with food by an unseen hand, and that he should have the fortitude to retain a firm and constant mind in this lonely apartment? Perhaps the case just hypothetically presented, has in all substantial points occurred, (and not unfrequently too,) in real life; as when Raleigh was the second time, (after his unsurcessful expedition to Guiana,) closely confined in the tower of London; or Galileo, when imprisoned in Italy, My favorite part of the house was the blue room, up or Cervantes in Spain. As far as the gloom of confinestairs, to which belonged two closets full of books-ament would permit, an energetic mind would not wait

Portraits, prints, chessmen, books, battledores and an antiquated harpsichord, complete the catalogue.

long before it would begin to inquire what stock of resources it still had left within itself; deprived now of all extraneous helps, it must hang "suis ponderibus librata," on its own centre, poised. Objects of sensation being now narrowed down to a small number, the mind is almost wholly occupied by reflection,

"Et sola in siccâ secum spatiatur arenâ."

The first subject which would engage his thoughts, would, no doubt, be his confinement, its causes, the persons who had brought it about, its probable duration, and the like. When this matter was settled in his mind, so that no farther action of the mind could possibly result in deductions more satisfactory than those already attained, he would naturally turn the current of his reflections into some other channel. He would recollect the various events of his life, from his childhood to the present hour. The scenes of past life would probably come into his mind, disconnectedly, at different times, and without reference to chronological order. Incidents would turn up in the mind, when least looked for, and most remote from the thoughts immediately preceding, by an involuntary process of memory. He will recall the books he has read; familiar passages will recur-he will remember precisely the page or the part of the page where they are found. He will no doubt muster up such pieces of prose or verse as he may know by heart; and reciting them aloud, contrive to vary, by the sound of his own voice, the gloomy silence of his prison. In his mind's eye he would revisit the countries in which he has travelled, the habitations in which he has lived, the school house, the village church, the play ground, the scene of his youthful loves, all associated with his earliest thoughts and tenderest feelings. As the fancy of Milton seems to have soared to a more heavenly pitch, after the world was shut out by loss of sight; so, perhaps, the conception of the person we have supposed will assume a new vigor in his confinement, and images will stand out from the canvass, in a bold and palpable basso relievo, hitherto unknown. After a time, such an one will have surveyed the whole circumference of his mind, and sounded all its depths; and he will then discover with surprise, perhaps, how small a stock of knowledge is really his own, appropriated, inherent, and absolute. He now retains no definite, available idea of subjects, which before he had always supposed to be completely within his grasp. He has now no friend or book to refer to, and what he cannot find in his mind, he is conscious he is ignorant of. He can now form a just estimate of his own intellectual calibre, and strike a balance between his suppositious knowledge and the genuine; the chaff being blown away, he can now leisurely measure the grain that remains. The mists which at once obscure and magnify, being dispelled from the mind, it would appear in its true light; the circle of mental action would be contracted to its just extent-but what might seem lost in bulk, would be found to be more than made up in density. An humble estimate of our powers is not only consistent with, but, perhaps, indicative of mental faculties of a superior order. Sir Isaac Newton said that he was "only a child on the margin of an ocean, gathering here a pebble and there a shell."

TO A BACHELOR OF ARTS, ON HIS MARRIAGE.

BY A BROTHER A. B.

I did not think, when last we met,
My well remembered crony,
Thy heart so soon would pay its debt
To love and matrimony.

But truth was ever prone to vie,

With fiction's strangest hue;
And Byron's words are proved no lie,
John S- -n, by you.

How could you, John, how could you tear
Those laurels from thy head,

The which have cost as much to wear,
As Jacob paid-to wed.

'Tis not a thing to be despised

A Bachelor's degree;

And though by you 'tis lightly prized,
I'll keep it long by me.

Mayhap, howe'er, I put the case
Unfairly-let us see :

Wishing, perhaps, to prove your grace
Entitled to A. B.,

You built the syllogism on

Your skill in sieging hearts; Thinking success would doubly crown You-Bachelor of Arts.

Alas! we read in Holy Writ,

When Samson tried to show
His strength diminished not a bit,
He died to let us know:

And thus, to prove how seemly peered
Your brow the laurel under,
You left its freshness waste and seared,
And tore the wreath asunder.

Go! like a leper-crowned with shame!
No more presume to fix
The honor to thy recreant name,

Of eighteen thirty-six ;
And should again thy comrades tread
Our old familiar hall,

We'll drink to thee, as to the dead,
And blush to own thy fall.

What tho' with minstrelsy imbued,
She sings, as if the tree

Of Cashmere's vale had been her food,
Whose juice is melody?

A different warble waits thine ear-
No zephyr's gentle sigh-
Which will, as year succeeds to year,

"Increase and multiply."

Oh! worst of evils 'neath the sun!

Styled, truly, dear delights; Who tax, for all they give of fun By day, our sleep o' nights. What shape of ill-what mortal strifeSo direful as their squall? A smoky house-a scolding wifeOr both-'tis worse than all !

Thrice happy, happy is the wight,

Who such a doom escapes:
Yet even now, methinks, you cite
The fox and sour grapes.
We often slight what enters not
The circle of our gains,
And deem unworthy to be sought
The bliss beyond our pains.

Well-if, indeed, from Hymen's fane,
We pluck so rich a boon,—
A nameless rapture, that will wane
Not with the honey-moon-
Then be it thine; but ever mind,
Thy state extremes are given;
'Tis wo complete, or joy refined-
A taste of Hell-or Heaven.

And she, whose love's unvaried flow
Is constant as a river;
Thy moon in weal-thy sun in wo-
Thine, only and forever-
Oh! cherish, love, and honor her!
Yet why this charge to thee?
As Isaac and Rebecca were,
My prayer is-ye may be.

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And what is human bliss, my heart?

A rainbow-beauteous, fair:
A shadow which will soon depart;
Its dwelling place nowhere.

THE EVENING PRIMROSE.

'Twas the beautiful thought of a sage of old, That o'er each springing flower and plant A guardian angel reign'd and watch'd, Forever vigilant.

For now I may look on the simplest flower
That opens its eye in sun or in shade,
And think that its angel hovers around,
Until that flower shall fade.

I have been watching, as night came on,
The yellow cups of the evening rose,
Which gently bloom when all other things
Have gone to their repose;

As if with the stars, and the evening breeze,
It's angel had come to that sleeping flower,
And warn'd it, by an unseen touch,

Of the dewy twilight hour.

And as if it had started from its sleep,
And felt its silent energies,
As, one by one, unfolding fast,
Each petal greets our eyes;

And, as if entranc'd in silent prayer,
It look'd up to the stars all night,
While fall their rays into a heart
That asks no fuller light.

The evening dews upon it rest;

The night wind whispers in its ear; And it sends its delicate fragrance out, For all who wander near.

Sweet flower! to the holy star-light dear;

A lovely type to me thou art,

Of many a grace and virtue hid

In the depths of the good man's heart.

Faith-that trustingly comes forth,

And blooms amid the darkest hour, And yields most fragrance when unseenIs like thee, fearless flower!

Hope that through the long sultry day,

For the eve of life waits patiently, And brightens as the night comes down, Sweet flower-is likest thee!

And Love-what a type thou art of Love;
Giving to all thy odor and hue:
And Resignation-looking up

From a tear-like drop of dew ;

And rapt Devotion-kindling as

The stars come out in the smiling heaven, And feeling an answer to its prayer,

In the falling dew of even;

S.

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On the Essay entitled "Washington and the Patriot Army," published in the August No. of the S. L. Messenger.

The author of the above article holds this language "I deny that that army were ready to clothe any man with the imperial purple: I repudiate the idea that such was for a moment their intention."

To this bold assertion, the biographer of Chase replies thus, and relies on Sparks' Washington, vol. I, p. 381 to 383, where it is thus written:

all, and to military men in particular, the weakness of republics, and the exertions the army have been able to make by being under a proper head. Therefore I little doubt, that, when the benefits of a mixed government are pointed out, and duly considered, such will be readily adopted. In this case it will, I believe, be uncontroverted, that the same abilities, which have led us through difficulties, apparently insurmountable by human power, to victory and glory-those qualities, that have merited and obtained the universal esteem and veneration of an army-would be most likely to conduct and direct us in the smoother paths of peace. Some people have so connected the ideas of tyranny and monarchy, as to find it very difficult to separate them. It may therefore be requisite to give the head of such a constitution as I propose, some title apparently more moderate; but, if all other things were once adjusted, I believe strong arguments might be produced for admitting the title of KING, which I conceive would be attended with some material advantages.'

"To this communication, as unexpected as it was extraordinary in its contents, Washington replied as follows:

"Newburg, May 22, 1782. "SIR: With a mixture of great surprise and astonishment, I have read with attention the sentiments you have submitted to my perusal. Be assured, sir, that no occurrence in the course of the war has given me more painful sensations, than your information, of there being such ideas "The discontents of the officers and soldiers, existing in the army, as you have expressed, and I respecting the arrearages of their pay, had for must view with abhorrence and reprehend with some time increased; and, there being now a severity. For the present, the communication of prospect, that the army would ultimately be dis- them will rest in my own bosom, unless some furbanded, without an adequate provision by Congress thér agitation of the matter shall make a disclofor meeting the claims of the troops, these discon- sure necessary. I am much at a loss to conceive tents manifested themselves in audible murmurs what part of my conduct could have given encouand complaints, which foreboded serious conse- ragement to an address, which to me seems big quences. But a spirit still more to be dreaded, with the greatest mischiefs, that can befall my was secretly at work. In reflecting on the limited country. If I am not deceived in the knowledge powers of Congress, and on the backwardness of of myself, you could not have found a person to the states to comply with the most essential requi- whom your schemes are more disagreeable. At sitions, even in support of their own interests, the same time, in justice to my own feelings, I many of the officers were led to look for the cause must add, that no man possesses a more sincere in the form of government, and to distrust the sta- wish to see ample justice done to the army than I bility of republican institutions. So far were they do; and as far as my powers and influence, in a carried by their fears and speculations, that they constitutional way, extend, they shall be employed meditated the establishment of a new and more to the utmost of my abilities to effect it, should energetic system. A colonel in the army, of a there be any occasion. Let me conjure you, then, highly respectable character, and somewhat ad- if you have any regard for your country, concern vanced in life, was made the organ for communi- for yourself or posterity, or respect for me, to cating their sentiments to the commander-in-chief. banish these thoughts from your mind, and never In a letter elaborately and skilfully written, after communicate, as from yourself, or any one else, describing the gloomy state of affairs, the financial sentiment of the like nature. difficulties, and the innumerable embarrassments "I am, sir, &c. in which the country had been involved during the "GEORGE WASHINGTON. war, on account of its defective political organiza- "Such was the language of Washington, when, tion, the writer adds This must have shown to at the head of his army, and at the height of his

a

VOL. IV-83

power and popularity, it was proposed to him to become a king. After this indignant reply and stern rebuke, it is not probable that any further advances were made to him on the subject."

man, it was this very refusal. Why did he reject the proposition with unmitigated scorn? He looked not back on his well spent life, which was "without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing;" Does the writer now repudiate the idea that nor did he repose, for a moment, on the unbidden such for a moment was their intention? Will he admiration of a world, astonished by the splendor believe the father of his country, when he produ-of his deeds; on the eulogiums of orators and ces the very original document itself containing statesmen, or the high toned and chivalric feeling the proposition? With this historical fact before of his troops, who, in the twinkling of an eye, his eyes, it is clear that the essay ist does not would have drawn ten thousand swords to avenge belong to "The Old Maryland Line," but rather even a look that threatened him with insult. All to the militia; rashly plunging in the most heed-these were of no avail with him, when he wrote less manner, into a contest, from which no valor the letter of May 22, 1782. Love of country can extricate him. I leave him to settle this alone animated his heart on this as on all other part of the case as he may, after perusing the occasions: glory had no concern with it. He above extracts. was never before placed in so awful a situation, yet did he poise himself on his own lofty integrity, and declared to the army, that he was "at a loss to conceive what part of his conduct could have prompted the address." It seems then, from his own testimony, that his character had been misunderstood by his soldiers. It was, therefore, necessary to undeceive them in this particular— to develope the truth, that he could not be reached by such an offer, and therefore his fame was increased by the rejection. The measure of his glory was not full prior to this event; or why did the chief preserve the correspondence at all, if it were a matter of so little moment as the Annapolis reviewer supposes? Cincinnatus had acquired boundless fame, before the purple was offered to him at his plough, yet who will say that such an act does not constitute the highest gem in the crown of his glory? Why should not Washington receive equal praise as the amiable Roman, for a similar deed? Had Napoleon been at Newburg, would he have replied to the army, as did the American chief, conceding that he had acted on the same theatre with Washington? No, no! Look at his brilliant career, from the bridge of Lodi to the plains of Waterloo, and no one act of his life, can induce us to believe, that he would have rebuked the soldiery in the terms of the letter before quoted. Why? Because ambition alone ruled all his plans and actions. Did it not then elevate Washington to the loftiest pinnacle of fame, when he thus demonstrated that ambition formed no part of his character? True it is, that during his presidency there were not wanting political foes, who endeavored to detract from his

Second. "Look (says he) at the great charter of our liberties' He has affected to render the military independent of, and superior to the civil power,' therefore it is not correct, (as maintained by the author of the sketch of Judge Chase,) that such an offer was ever made to Washington." A non sequitur, sir. That very Congress who proclaimed the above sentiment, on the 4th July, '76, before an admiring and awe-stricken world, did, in the latter part of December, of the same year, invest Washington with absolute and dictatorial powers. Sparks, 1st vol., p. 223 to 225, after enumerating the unprecedented powers with which he was now clothed by a formal resolve of Congress, says, "These powers constituted him in all respects a military dictator. They were to continue six months, and in his exercise of them, he fully justified the confidence of Congress, as expressed in the preamble to the resolve, in which it is said they were granted, in consequence of a perfect reliance on his wisdom, vigor and uprightness." Here then, the military was made independent of, and superior to the civil power, for a limited time, by the solemn and deliberate act of that august body of patriots, who had, five months before, sworn on the altar of their country, to make war on the king of England, because among other violations of law he had elevated the military above the civil power! Yet no one ever doubted the patriotism of that Congress; nor is the virtue of our army to be doubted, because of the offer to make their chief a King. History tells us that the fact exists; and that Washington did really exercise the powers of dictatorship so granted, notwithstanding the previous declaration of inde-character, by charging him with aristocratic and pendence, on which the essayist relies. His position is thus shown to be untenable.

monarchical views. How proudly could he have pointed to the letter of May 22, 1782, in vindication of his honor! To me, it is evident, that this very document would, per se, have put to flight the foul accusation, and so was necessary to the preservation of his glory, while it evinced its exaltation.

Third. It is said that the halo of glory which surrounded the head of Washington, is not increased in splendor or extent, by his refusal of the offer of imperial power, at Newburg. Why not? "Because the measure of his fame was already full." I answer, if any act was yet wanting, to Lastly. The authority of Lafayette is invoked finish the illustrious character of that unequalled to sustain the essayist. No man admires that disin

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