EXTRACT FROM AN ORATION PRONOUNCED at Worcester, (Mass.) JULY 4, 1796; BY FRANЄIS BLAKE, ESQ. IN viewing the caufes which led to the event of this joyous anniverfary; in tracing the effects which have refulted to America; in fearching for the principles which impelled to the conteft; in recalling the feelings which fupported us in the ftruggle, it cannot fail to occur to us that the caufes have not been confined to the limits of our continent; that the effects have extended far beyond the boundaries of our nation; that the glorious example, with electrical rapidity, has Rafhed across the Atlantic; that, guided by the fame principles, conducted by the fame feelings, the people who fo gallantly fought and bled for the fecurity of our lives and our liberties, are now fighting and bleeding in defence of their own. On this day, therefore, religioufly devoted to the confecration of our independence, it becomes us, as the votaries of freedom, as friends to the rights of man, and bound to fupport them whenever invaded, to turn our attention, with a grateful enthufiafm, to the scenes of their fufferings, their revolt, and their victories. While exulting in the full enjoyment of peace and tranquility, fhall not a tear for the unexampled diftreffes of this magnanimous nation, check, for a moment, the emotions of our joy? They have fworn that they will live FREE or DIE ! They have folemnly fworn, that the sword, which has been drawn in defence of their country, fhall never be returned to its scabbard, till it has fecured to them vics tory and freedom. Let us then breathe forth a fervent ejaculation to Heaven, that their vows may be remembered; that the cause of our former allies may not be deferted, till they have fcourged their invaders; till they have driven them back in confufion to the regions of terror, from whence they emerged. While we remember with horror the continued effufion of blood, which darkened the morning of their revolution, let us not forget that their vengeance was roused by the champions of defpotism, whofe lives have fince justly atoned for the crimes they committed. While we lament the fanguinary fcenes, which clouded its progrefs, let it not be forgotten that they arofe from the bloody manifefto of a band of tyrants, combined for the hellifh purpose of again rivetting the chains they had broken. The league of Pilnitz, like the league of Satan and his angels, revolting against the Majefty of heaven, was profeffedly fabricated, to arreft forever the progrefs of freedom; to ufurp the dominion of France, and divide the spoil among this band of royal plunderers. Have we not heard that the noble, the generous, the grateful monarch of the foreft, that fawned at the feet of Androcles, when remembering his former friendhip, will ever turn with fury on his purfuers; and when robbed of his whelps, refts not till his fangs are crimsoned in the blood of the aggreffor? Shall then the fervor of our friendship be abated, by remembering the tranfitory frenzy of a people diftracted with the enthusiasm of freedom, and irritated to madness by the dreadful prospect of lofing what they had enjoyed but for a moment? Let it never be faid of us, as of Rome and of Athens, that ingratitude is the common vice of republics. Was it to the crowned monarch, named Louis the Sixteenth, or to the people of France, that we were indebted, for the blood and treasure that were fo profufely lavished in our cause ? Shall then their fervices be forgotten, in the remembrance of their momentary exceffes? Or fhall we refule our most cordial concurrence in the feelings which impel them to the prefent conteft with the ruffian gotentates of Europe? Can we doubt, for a moment, which is the cause we are bound to fupport with our fanction, when we behold the winds and the feas, thofe dreadful minifters of Heaven's vengeance, commifioned to advance their progrefs, and deluge their enemies? When we behold Ariel, with his attendant spirits, gently hovering over their navies, and wafting them to victory on the bofom of the ocean; while Neptune and Boreas have combined against the league of their oppreffors, to overwhelm in the deep thefe deluded followers of Pharaoh ! Have we not seen them fed, as with manna from heaven; the waters divided, and the walls of Jericho falling before them, while the fair profpect of liberty has led them in triumph through the wilderness, as a cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night! AMERICANS! Let us join in a fervent fupplication, that the facred charters of humanity, which we have once fealed with our blood, may be forever preferved from the deadly grafp of tyrants. FRENCHMEN! Be firm; be undaunted in the ftruggle you have thus miraculously fupported. Evince to the world, now gazing with admiration at your exploits in the field of battle, that you have virtue equal to your courage; that you are friends to the friends of humanity; that your arms are nerved only against the enemies of man. Let not the facred name of LIBERTY be polluted by the frenzy of licentious paffions; but may your prefent glorious conftitution, while it protects your freedom from the unhallowed ravages of tyranny, remain an unfhaken bulwark against the deftructive fury of faction. TYRANTS! Turn from the impious work of blood in which your hands are imbrued, and tremble at the defperation of your revolting subjects! Repent in fackcloth and afhes. For behold, ye, who have been exalted up to heaven, fhall, ere long, be caft down to hell! The final period of your crimes is rapidly approaching. The grand POLITICAL MILLENIUM is at hand when tyranny fhall be buried in rains; when all nations fhall be united in ONE MIGHTY REPUBLIC! when the four angels, that ftand on the four corners of the globe, fhall, with one accord, lift up their voices to heaven; proclaiming PEACE ON EARTH, AND GOOD WILL TO ALL MEN. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF AMERICA. EXTRACT FROM A POEM SPOKEN AT DARTMOUTH COLLEGE, ON COMMENCEMENT DAY, 1795. ROM Patagonia's fnow invested wilds, FR To Darien, where conftant verdure fmiles, The Andes meet the morning's earliest ray, O'erlook the clouds and check the flood of Day. In copious torrents from their eastern fide, Flow the vaft ftreams of Amazonia's tide, Roll on majestic through her boundlefs plain, And fwell the furface of the neighb'ring main. Nor Plata less a broad deep channel fills ; Danube and Walga by his fide were rills. But leave, my mufe, this wide-extended clime, By nature ftamp'd with all fhe owns fublime. Here fhe has wrought upon her largest plan, But mourns in folitude the wrongs of man. Here Guatemozin writh'd in flames of fire, And flaughter'd millions round their prince expire. Rife, fleeping vengeance! vindicate their caufe; And thou, ftern juftice, execute thy laws; Ye Andes, ftrike Hefperian fraud with dread, Burst thy volcanoes on the guilty head! Where Cancer's fun pours down his ardent blaze, Draws the Monfoons, and lengthens out his days, The fpacious gulf of Mexic' rolls his tide, And thronging fleets of various nations ride. The fertile ifles their rich luxuriance pour, And western dainties crown the eastern fhore But weep, humanity, the black difgrace, And all the works of flavery are defac'd. |