exhibited also considerable quantities of the same metal in dust and in crude masses, numerous vegetable exotics possessed of aromatic or medicinal virtue, and several kinds of quadrupeds unknown in Europe, and birds, whose variety of gaudy plumage gave a brilliant effect to the pageant. 7. The admiral's progress through the country was everywhere impeded by the multitudes thronging forth to gaze at the extraordinary spectacle, and the more extraordinary man, who, in the emphatic language of that time, which has now lost its force from familiarity, first revealed the existence of a "New World." passed through the busy, populous city of Seville, every window, balcony, and house-top, which could afford a glimpse of him, is said to have been crowded with spec tators. As he 8. It was the middle of April before Columbus reached Barcelona. The nobility and cavaliers in attendance on the court, together with the authorities of the city, came to the gates to receive him, and escorted him to the royal presence. Ferdinand and Isabella were seated, with their son, Prince John, under a superb canopy of state, awaiting his arrival. On his approach, they rose from their seats, and, extending their hands to him, in salutation, caused him to be seated before them. These were unprecedented marks of condescension, to a person of Columbus's rank, in the haughty and ceremonious court of Castile. 9. It was, indeed, the proudest moment in the life of Columbus. He had fully established the truth of his long-contested theory, in the face of argument, sophistry, sneer, skepticism, and contempt. He had achieved this, not by chance, but by calculation, supported through the most adverse circumstances by consummate conduct. The honors paid him, which had hitherto been reserved only for rank, or fortune, or military success purchased by the blood and tears of thousands, were, in his case, a homage to intellectual power successfully exerted in behalf of the noblest interests of humanity. 10. After a brief interval, the sovereigns requested of Columbus a recital of his adventures. His manner was sedate and dignified, but warmed by the glow of natural enthusiasm. He enumerated the several islands he had visited, expatiated on the temperate character of the climate, and the capacity of the soil for every variety of production, appealing to the samples imported by him as evidence of their natural productiveness. 11. He dwelt more at large on the precious metals to be found in these islands, which he inferred, less from the specimens actually obtained, than from the uniform testimony of the natives to their abundance in the unexplored regions of the interior. Lastly, he pointed out the wide scope afforded to Christian zeal in the illumination of a race of men whose minds, far from being wedded to any system of idolatry, were prepared, by their extreme simplicity, for the reception of pure and uncorrupted doctrine. 12. This last consideration touched Isabella's heart most sensibly; and the whole audience, kindled with various emotions by the speaker's eloquence, filled up the perspective with the gorgeous coloring of their own fancies, as ambition, or avarice, or devotional feeling, predominated in their bosoms. When Columbus ceased, the king and queen, together with all present, cast themselves on their knees in grateful thanksgivings, while the solemn strains of the Te Deum were poured forth by the choir of the royal chapel, as in commemoration of some glorious victory. Wm. H. Prescott. AS there any old fellow got mixed with the boys? 2. We're twenty! We're twenty! Who says we are more? He's tipsy, young jackanapes! Show him the door! "Gray temples at twenty?" Yes! white if we please; Where the snow-flakes fall thickest there's nothing can freeze! 3. Was it snowing I spoke of? Excuse the mistake! Look close, you will see not a sign of a flake! We want some new garlands for those we have shed, 4. We've a trick, we young fellows, you may have been told, Of talking-in public - as if we were old; That boy, we call "Doctor," and this, we call "Judge;" 5. That fellow's the "Speaker," the one on the right; "Mr. Mayor," my young one, how are you to-night? That's our "Member of Congress," we say, when we chaff; There's the "Reverend " what's his name? don't make me laugh. 6. That boy with the grave mathematical look Made believe he had written a wonderful book, And the Royal Society thought it was true! So they chose him right in, a good joke it was, too! 1 This poem was delivered on the occasion of a meeting of his class of 1829, thirty years after their graduation. He addresses his classmates as "boys." 7. There's a boy, we pretend, with a three-decker brain, 8. And there's a nice youngster of excellent pith; 9. You hear that boy laughing? You think he's all fun; But the angels laugh, too, at the good he has done; The children laugh loud, as they troop to his call, And the poor man that knows him laughs loudest of all! 10. Yes! we're boys, always playing with tongue or with pen; And I sometimes have asked, "Shall we ever be men?" 11. Then here's to our boyhood, its gold and its gray! CXXIX. REASONS FOR PROSECUTING THE WAR OF 1812.1 MR. R. SPEAKER: There are many reasons why this country should never resort to war but for causes the most urgent and necessary. It is sufficient that, under a government like ours, none but such will justify it in the eye of the nation; and, were I not satisfied that 1 Speech in Congress, December 12, 1811. such is our present cause, I certainly would be no advocate of the proposition now before the House. 2. Sir, I consider the war, should it ensue, justifiable and necessary, by facts undoubted and universally admitted. The extent, duration, and character of the injuries received, the failure of those peaceful means hitherto resorted to for the redress of our wrongs, is my proof that it is necessary. 3. Why should I mention the impressment of our seamen; depredation on every branch of our commerce, including the direct export trade, continued for years, and made under laws which professedly undertake to regulate our trade with other nations; negotiation resorted to, time after time, till it has become hopeless; the restrictive system persisted in, to avoid war, and in the vain expectation of returning justice? The evil still grows, and, in each succeeding year, swells in extent and pretension beyond the preceding. 4. The question, even in the opinion and admission of our opponents in this House, is reduced to this single point: Which shall we do -- abandon, or defend our own commercial and maritime rights, and the personal liberties of our citizens employed in exerting them? 5. Sir, which alternative this House ought to embrace, it is not for me to say. I hope the decision is made already by a higher authority than the voice of any man. It is not for the human tongue to instill the sense of independence and honor. This is the work of nature, a generous nature, that disdains tame submission to wrongs. 6. The first argument of the gentleman from Virginia, which I shall notice, is the unprepared state of the country. Whatever weight this argument might have in a question of immediate war, it surely has little in that of preparation for it. If our country is unprepared, let us |