erable chief had been the soldier of other wars; his spring of youth first budded in the fields of honor; his meridian summer blazed high on the walls of Oczatchoff, and, though age may fade the leaf of his autumn, stern winter can never wither a leaf of the laurel which binds his silvery brow-it must bloom even amid his native snows.

Russia, go on! Thine own chains broken, break thou the the chains of others. Gray warrior of the North! if thine aged frame can bear more honors, go whet thy avenging sword on the tomb of Suwarrow, and again thunder on the plains of Italy – climb the glacier steeps, where the descendants of Tell pine in ignominious bondage and sigh for their native liberty. Burst that confederation, linked only by the tyrant's power, nor furl thy conquering banner till it shall feel the breezes of the Rhine. Then pause; give to each nation the government it may choose, and, retiring to the polar forests, the blessings of millions will cheer thy declining days, and a brilliant halo of glory encircle thy immortal fame. The name of Koutusoff will not be ranked with the destroyers of nations, but will proudly swell the list of virtuous heroes, with Vasa, with Tell, with Wallace, with Washington, deliverers of their country and benefactors of man. Ere we leave the field of fame, let us pay due homage to the memory of the brave. Bagration, the prince of Russian chivalry, the patriot, the hero, now sleeps in the bed of honor! But not unremembered hath he fallen; for, whenever the roving Cossack shall gallop over Borodino's plain, his wild and warlike eye will rest with delight on the tumulus which contains Bagration's ashes.

Russia, farewell! So long as thou shalt wield the sword of justice the deliverance of nations mark the progress of thy march may the eagle of victory perch on thy standard, and the prayers of rescued humanity speed the triumph of thine

arms.

Americans! let the events which have lately distinguished the theatre of Europe, be held up as a mirror, in which you may view the fate of nations, and learn to protect your own from

those evils which have befallen so many others. Think not because a vast ocean intervenes, the frantic ambition which has desolated the fairest portion of the Old World will look unconcerned toward the New. It was customary with chieftains of other days to pause in the high career of ambition. Rome's great Julius, when arrived at the rubicon, debated with himself whether he should pass those limits prescribed by the laws, and infringe on those liberties which his illustrious family had founded, and himself sworn to protect; and " Philip's warlike son," when in the midst of submissive nations, listened to counsel and retraced his conquering steps. But what limits, what barriers, shall ever curb Napoleon's ambition? Think you that he who hath scaled the Alps would not attempt the Andes? And that mighty genius, which scared the chamois from the snowy heights of St. Bernard, would start the lonely condor on the cloudcapped summits of the Chimborazo.

Returning from abroad, the delighted American beholds rich triumphs at home. They seem like an elysian dream, from which we fear to awaken; but the vision hath passed awaythe glorious truth bursts like the morning light upon our ravished senses and we hail with ecstacy the rising of our naval

sun.

Twelve months ago, could a man have been found hardy enough to assert that America should meet in equal combat with the mistress of the main, and that, too, upon her usurped element, and there should deal her a harder measure of battle than she hath dealt even to her meanest foe, that man would have been called a fool. But now, my friends, the experiment has been so oft repeated that we have proved to our country and an admiring world the glorious fact, that we, too, can "march upon the mountain wave" we, too, can share "in the empire of the deep."

Our noble sailors have so well employed their time, that already are they teachers of that very science in which their enemy has always claimed the mastership, and American seamen deserve a patent-right for the destruction of armed vessels on principles and practice wholly their own.

Nay, even were great Nelson living, whose last sigh still dwells in glory on Trafalgar's wave, his generous soul would have given to his enemy the just meed of praise.

On the outermost cliff, which overlooks the main, we should erect a naval trophy, adorned with the busts of our heroes, that, when the future sailor-boy should thither roam, his delighted eye may rest on the monument of our early fame, and his youthful heart be fired with a generous emulation.

And who have achieved these glories? The nurslings who have long fed at the bosom of public bounty, and gambolled in the sunshine of public patronage and protection? Say, rather, it is the neglected children of our Washington - they who, for a long, long time, have endured their country's scorn, and been deemed unworthy of her confidence or esteem. Yet, when dangers assail and misfortunes press hard on their native land, see them, mindful of the example of their chief, forget their wrongs and show their generous nature. And are these the men who but the other day bore the hard names of traitors and of tories?-and has it been left for traitors and tories to strike Britannia's flag upon the ocean? My country, for shame! Will you never know your friends? So when your old soldier died, the brave, the virtuous Lingan, these tender epithets were the cruel comforts of his parting hour; they were the tender mercies offered to soothe a hero at the end of a blameless life; they were the pious blessings with which he closed his eyes for ever! Americans, have you forgot this old man's wrongs? There is a God of justice and humanity who may forget you. Let us go back for a moment to that gloomy, yet interesting, period when, in pious assemblage, we paid our last duties to the memory of the brave. You must all remember that, while I feebly breathed my poor tribute of praise to the manes of the martyred Lingan, I dared to say that the hand which should" nail the flag of my country to the mast" would belong to one of those who then bore their country's odium and persecution. I thought I knew my brethren- knew those fellows to be of no mongrel breed, but the true, legitimate children

of our chief, and such most worthily have their deeds proved them to be.

Encouraged by success in one prophecy, I prophesy again, and now will say that the heart which shall direct the energies of this great nation to the accomplishment of that high destiny the meritorious life of her Washington founded, must feel the principles and be warned by the virtues of that immortal man.

How doth every day more and more bring to our view that wisdom and foresight which distinguished the Father of our Country-he to whose humble grave this ungrateful nation hath not yet rolled even one poor stone! He first laid those keels which now triumphant plough the main; he first hoisted that flag which now flies victorious on our conquering decks.

How acceptable to the shade of our parent must be the glorious deeds of his children! They rise like grateful incense to his departed spirit in the realms of bliss!

Go on, my brethren- the eye of the chief still rests on his beloved country; his affections are coincident with his glory. However she may have forgotten her duties to you, forget not the high duties which you owe to the land of your birth. If she deny you her honors and rewards, there is left you the sweet consolation of having deserved them. It behooves not to say whether our rulers are wicked or unwise. If so, we but share in the common fate of nations, all of whom at some time or other have been unfortunate in these respects. An enemy's anchor now clings to our soil. Be firm, my friends be mindful of the heroic fame of your fathers; hug to your hearts your recent triumphs, and show to posterity and the world that, in the hour of danger, Americans will venerate their laws and give their lives to the liberties of their country.

NOTE IV.-PAGE 67.

LAFAYETTE AT THE TOMB OF WASHINGTON.

THE solemn and imposing scene of the visit of Lafayette to the tomb of Washington took place on Sunday, the 17th of October, 1826. About one o'clock, the general left the steamboat Petersburg at anchor, off Mount Vernon, and was received into a barge manned and steered by captains of vessels from Alexandria, who had handsomely volunteered their services for this interesting occasion. He was accompanied in the barge by his family and suite, and Mr. Secretary John C. Calhoun. On reaching the shores, he was received by Mr. Lawrence Lewis, the nephew of Washington, and by the gentlemen of the family of Judge Bushrod Washington (the judge himself being absent on official duties), and conducted to the ancient mansion, where, forty years before, Lafayette took the last leave of his "hero, his friend, and our country's preserver."

After remaining a few minutes in the house, the general proceeded to the vault,* supported by Mr. Lewis and the gentlemen relatives of the judge, and accompanied by G. W. Lafayette and G. W. P. Custis, the children of Mount Vernon, both having shared the paternal care of the great chief. Mr. Custis wore the ringt suspended from a Cincinnati ribbon. Arrived at the sepulchre, after a pause, Mr. Custis addressed the general as follows:

*The old vault, now in ruins.

† See page 67. The following description of the ring is from the National Intelligencer, October 9, 1824 :

"We have had an opportunity of inspecting the ring made by Mr. Greenbury Gaither, enclosing a lock of the hair of General Washington, which Mr. Custis had prepared to be presented by him to General Lafayette. It will remain at Mr.