Alida Part 42

[_NY Weekly_: An Evening Meditation:

Now all is hushed, and nature seems to make a pause; the sun has withdrawn his radiance, yet the gloom [_sic_] from yonder western sky bespeaks him still at hand, promising to return with his reviving warmth, when nature is refreshed with darkness.]

[_NY Weekly_: Fragment JY:

The waters of a gently murmuring stream, which ran by the foot of a mountain, were silvered o'er by the mild rays of the queen of night.

The soothing sound of a distant cataract gently saluted the car. The fragrant oders of flowers, watered by gentle zephyrs, breath'd a delightful perfume.]

[_NY Weekly_: An Evening Meditation:

The moon borrows her light, and bestows it upon us; she arises in silent majesty, humbly waiting to reign when he resigns his throne.

No chorus ushers in his reign, no rays p.r.o.nounce her approach; gently she steals on the world, and sits in silent majesty to view the good she does. She lights the wandering traveller, she warms the earth with gentle heat, she dazzles not the eye of the philosopher, but invites him to view and to admire--How still is nature! not a breeze! each tree enjoys its shadow undisturbed, the unruffled rivers glide smoothly on reflecting nature's face ...

Oh see, by night, beauties transcendant and glorious; such as draw up the eye to yon vast concave, where the mind's eye follows in silent wonder, quickly pa.s.sing from star to star, till struck with the beauty of the whole, it feels "the hand that made it is divine."]

"Surely," said Alida, "all nature conspires to calm the mind, to restore tranquillity, to soften every care and corroding thought. But what can ease the troubled mind, which, like the angry sea, after agitation by bl.u.s.tering winds, 'tis still tumultuous?" Where now, thought she, is Theodore? What sadness and difficulty may not his n.o.ble and generous spirit have had to encounter! His tender sensibility, his serene and pacific disposition, may have had numerous trials; and how unhappy he may be, who was ever ardent in his endeavours to communicate peace and happiness to others! When she reflected upon all his goodness, his zealous piety, his religious sentiments the same as her own, and recalled to her memory happier days, when she had listened with pleasure to the powerful eloquence of a corresponding spirit. And her esteem for him rose higher, while he commented on religious truths, and bade her place a firm dependence on Divine Providence. Amid these uneasy sensations, which filled the bosom of Alida with anxiety and grief, and left her mind in a state of despondency, the period arrived for the celebration of her father's birth-day, which brought with it, as usual, much company from the city, from the neighbouring village, with the parish minister and his family.

[_NY Weekly_: Fragment JY:

Surely, says Amelia, all nature conspires to calm the mind, to restore tranquility, to soften every care. But what can ease the torture of a love-sick soul; like the angry sea after agitation by bl.u.s.tering winds, 'tis still tumultuous.]

After her several sisters had arrived, and nearly all the company had collected, Alida entered the drawing-room with spirits somewhat re-animated. Bonville was already there. He arose and handed her to a seat. He accompanied the first salutations with many flattering compliments, but with all his endeavours to win her favour, he could not awaken even a temporary regard in the bosom of Alida. In the meantime, she had full leisure to observe his singular behaviour, to listen to his insinuating address, to hear him mention the name of Theodore, and when he observed her feelings were excited, to hear him suddenly change the subject. He sometimes appeared to regard her with an eye of pity, but it arose from a consciousness of his own errors, bordering on baseness. He felt unhappy at his own want of integrity, and his heart reproached him with injustice and treachery.

CHAPTER XVII.

A polished mien, with elegance of mind, A winning grace, with taste and sense refined, A kindly, sympathizing heart, sincere, The gloomy scene, the pensive thought to cheer.

In a series of events, a period at length arrived, which manifested to mankind, in a more melancholy degree, the shocking consequences and devastation of war, the overwhelming sorrow that is brought on families for the loss of friends, with the discouraging embarra.s.sments attending all kinds of business.

A severe engagement had recently taken place within half a mile of the Niagara cataract. General Scott, on his arrival at Niagara Falls, learned that the British were in force directly in his front, separated only by a narrow piece of wood. He soon pressed through the wood, and engaged the British on the Queenstown road. He advanced upon the enemy, and the action commenced at six o'clock in the afternoon, and continued with little intermission until twelve at night. The thunder of the cannon, the roaring of the falls, the incessant discharge of artillery during the six hours in which the parties were in combat, heightened by the circ.u.mstance of its being night, afforded such a scene as is rarely to be met with in the history of the wars of nations. The evening was calm, and the moon shone with l.u.s.tre when not enveloped in clouds of smoke from the firing of the contending armies. Taking into consideration the numbers engaged, few contests have ever been more sanguinary. The battle was one of the most severe that had been fought during the war. The British troops engaged in this action amounted to 5000 men; many of them were selected from the flower of Lord Wellington's army. Colonel Miller's achievement, in storming the battery, was of the most brilliant and hazardous nature, and ent.i.tled him to the highest applause among the Americans.

[_Interesting Events_: Battle of Niagara (citing "Perkins Late War"):

Gen. Scott arrived at the Niagara cataract, and learned that the British were in force directly in his front, separated only by a narrow piece of wood. Having despatched this intelligence to Gen.

Brown, he advanced upon the enemy, and the action commenced at six o'clock in the afternoon.... Gen. Scott had pressed through the wood, and engaged the British on the Queenston road.... The battle continued with little intermission, from six in the afternoon until twelve at night.... Col. Miller's achievement, in storming the battery, was of the most brilliant and hazardous nature; it was decisive of the events of the battle, and ent.i.tled him and his corps to the highest applause.... The battle was fought to the west of, and within half a mile of the Niagara cataract. The thunder of the cannon, the roaring of the falls, the incessant discharge of musketry, the groans of the dying and wounded during the six hours in which the parties were engaged in close combat, heightened by the circ.u.mstance of its being night, afforded such a scene, as is rarely to be met with, in the history of human slaughter. The evening was calm, and the moon shone with l.u.s.tre, when not enveloped in clouds of smoke from the firing of the contending armies. Considering the numbers engaged, few contests have ever been more sanguinary.

This was one of the most severe and b.l.o.o.d.y battles, which was fought during the war. The British force engaged in this battle amounted to 5,000 men: many of their troops were selected from the flower of Lord Wellington's army.]

The measures of the president relative to the war were of such a nature as greatly to draw upon him the approbation and grat.i.tude of the nation.

He early began to turn his mind to a contemplation of the general politics of his country. He, therefore, became advanced in the requisite qualifications to a.s.sume and maintain the important station he held over it. He had imbibed an attachment for civil liberty almost from his infancy, which influenced his every action. He was of a pacific temperament, and pursued those measures as long as they would answer.

But when it became actually necessary for him to recommend to congress to pursue a different course, it was then that the benefactor of his country endeavoured to concert measures still to preserve America as an asylum for civil and religious liberty. He possessed qualities well calculated to fulfil the duties of his high station with honour to himself and justice to the community. He was dignified in his deportment, kind, generous, and condescending; a patron to science; a uniform promoter of honourable enterprise, but an enemy to every thing dishonest, hypocritical, and disingenuous. And, as a Christian, he firmly adhered to the gospel, and regulated his life by its precepts and injunctions, in a consistent and exemplary manner.

[_Lives of Signers_: John Adams of Ma.s.sachusetts

very early began to turn his mind to a contemplation of the general politics of his country.

As, therefore, he increased in years, he advanced in qualifications to a.s.sume and maintain the important station he held in the revolutionary struggle which ensued.]

[_Lives of Signers_: Hanc.o.c.k of Ma.s.sachusetts

Mr. Hanc.o.c.k from his infancy, had imbibed an attachment to civil liberty. This attachment influenced....]

[_Lives of Signers_: John Adams of Ma.s.sachusetts

an asylum for civil and religious liberty....]

[_Lives of Signers_: Stockton of New Jersey

He was dignified in his deportment; affable, kind, and condescending to his inferiors and dependents; a patron of science; an uniform promoter of virtues and honorable enterprise, but an enemy to every thing dishonest, hypocritical, and disingenuous. And, as a Christian, he was a firm believer in the evangelical doctrine of the gospel; regulated his life by its precepts and injunctions, in a consistent and exemplary manner....]

This ill.u.s.trious president had the good fortune to be blessed with a consort whose qualifications in her particular capacity were no less adequate to fill with dignity her elevated station. The parents of Mrs.

Madison were natives of Virginia. Their daughter was educated in Philadelphia among the Friends. She was, therefore, little indebted to acquired graces and accomplishments for the admiration and regard which followed her wherever she was known. To much personal beauty she added a warm heart and a benevolent disposition--charms and attractions which won for her not only admirers but friends, and exalted her to high eminence in the public estimation. Her natural and acquired endowments she carried into society with such pleasing manners and graceful demeanour, as produced almost universally an impression highly favourable to herself among the citizens of Washington. Her society was much esteemed in all the companies she frequented. Her mental powers were of a superior grade, and the effects of genuine piety and Christian benevolence distinguished all her actions. To these she added an amiability of temper, the polished address of a lady, with a conversation both pleasing and instructive. Her deportment to all was prepossessing, by the affectionate manner in which she addressed them separately, and the interest she manifested in their welfare. In these she showed no difference between the rich and the poor, and devoted much of her time to the cause of charity. She was eminently distinguished for her amiable qualities, and a peculiar versatility of talent in her conversation and manners. She entertained the numerous friends and guests of the president with cordial hospitality. She treated her husband's relatives with regard and kindness; and in the president's house, whenever there were female guests, Mrs. Madison always presided.

[_Mrs. Madison_ (any quotations are from National Portrait Gallery: see Sources):

The parents of Mrs. Madison, whose maiden name was Dolly Payne, were natives of Virginia.... Their daughter was educated in Philadelphia in all the strictness of the sect to which the family belonged. She was, therefore, but little indebted to acquired graces and accomplishments for the admiration and regard which followed her wherever she was known. To much personal beauty, she added a warm heart and a benevolent disposition; charms and attractions which won for her not only admirers but friends....]

[_Lives of Signers_: Rush of Pennsylvania (first paragraph refers to Dr. Rush's mother):

must exalt her to high eminence in our estimation.

His natural and acquired endowments he carried into society with such pleasing manners and graceful demeanor, as produced, almost universally, an impression highly favorable to himself among the citizens of Philadelphia. His society was much esteemed by all the companies he frequented. His mental powers were of a superior grade.

To these he added the polished address and manners of a gentleman, and a conversation both pleasing and instructive. His deportment in the sick room was prepossessing, by the affectionate manner with which he addressed his patients, and the strong interest he manifested for their recovery. In these he showed no difference between the rich, who could amply reward him, and the poor, whose only requital was their cordial grat.i.tude and their prayers.]

[_Lives of Signers_: Witherspoon of New Jersey:

possessed a great versatility of talent, which he could successfully apply to any subject he chose to handle.]

[_Mrs. Madison_:

Here she entertained his numerous friends and guests with an abundant and cordial hospitality. Her mother and sisters lived with her, and the regard and kindness with which her husband treated them, was repaid on her part by similar attentions to the happiness and comfort of his aged mother, who continued to live with her son.]

[_Mrs. Madison_:

"The President's house was the seat of hospitality, where Mrs.

Madison always presided in the absence of Mr. Jefferson's daughters, when there were female guests.]

After the president's, the house of the secretary of state was the resort of most company. The frank and cordial manners of its mistress gave a peculiar charm to the frequent parties there a.s.sembled. All foreigners who visited the seat of government, strangers from the different states of the Union, the heads of departments, the diplomatic corps, senators, representatives, and citizens, mingled with an ease and freedom, a sociability and gaiety to be met with in no other society.

Even party spirit, virulent and embittered as it then was, by her gentleness, was disarmed of its asperity.

[_Mrs. Madison_:

After the President's, the house of the Secretary of State was the resort of most company. The frank and cordial manners of its mistress gave a peculiar charm to the frequent parties there a.s.sembled. All foreigners who visited the seat of government-- strangers from the different states of the Union, the heads of departments, the diplomatic corps, senators, representatives, and citizens, mingled with an ease and freedom, a sociability and gaiety, to be met with in no other society.--Even party spirit, virulent and embittered as it then was, by her gentleness was disarmed of its asperity."]