not to be suffered to resent or repel it? No: God forbid ! 10. If the spirits of the illustrious dead participate in the concerns and cares of those who are dear to them in this transitory life, O, ever dear and venerated shade of my departed father! look down with scrutiny on the conduct of your suffering son, and see if I have even for a moment deviated from those principles of morality and patriotism which it was your care to instil into my youthful mind, and for an adherence to which I am now to offer up my life! 11. My lords, you are impatient for the sacrifice. The blood which you seek is not congealed by the artificial terrors which surround your victim; it circulates warmly and unruffled through the channels which God created for noble purposes, but which you are bent to destroy for purposes so grievous that they cry to Heaven! Be yet patient! I have but a few words more to say. I am going to my silent grave; my lamp of life is nearly extinguished; my race is run; the grave opens to receive me, and I sink into its bosom. 9 12. I have but one request to ask at my departure from this world; it is the charity of its silence. Let no man write my epitaph; for, as no one who knows my motives dares now vindicate them, let not prejudice or ignorance asperse 10 them. Let them and me repose in obscurity and peace, and my tomb remain uninscribed, until other times and other men can do justice to my character. When my country shall take her place among the nations of the earth, then, and not till then, let my epitaph be written! 1 MIT-1-GA'TION. Abatement of anything painful or severe; a rendering less severe. 2 TRI-BŪNAL. Judgment-seat; court of justice. 3 ŎB'LO-QUY. Censorious speech; blame; disgrace. 4 EX-CUL'PAT-ING. Clearing from guilt; excusing. 5 ĚM'IS-SA-RY. One sent on a mission; a private or secret agent. 6 PĂR'RI-CIDE. The murder or the murderer of a parent. 7 AT-TAINT'. Cloud with infamy; stain; disgrace. 8 MIN'ION. A favorite in an ill sense; a low, base dependant. " PRĚJ'U-DICE. A leaning in favor of one side of a cause, for some reason other than its justice; previous bias or judgment. 10 AS-PËRSE. Slander; defame. LXV.- FULTON'S FIRST STEAMBOAT. STORY. [Joseph Story was born in Marblehead, Massachusetts, September 18, 1779, and died in Cambridge, September 10, 1845. He was a judge of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1811 til his death. He was eminent as a judge, a juridical writer, and a teacher of law. ] 1. It was in reference to the astonishing impulse given to mechanical pursuits, that Dr. Darwin, more than forty years ago, broke out in strains equally remarkable for their poetical enthusiasm and prophetic truth, and predicted the future triumph of the steam engine. "Soon shall thy arm, unconquered steam, afar The flying chariot through the fields of air: Fair crews triumphant, leaning from above, And arm es shrink beneath the shadowy cloud.” 2. What would he have said, if he had but lived to witness the immortal invention of Fulton, which seems almost to move in the air, and to fly on the wings of the wind? And yet how slowly did this enterprise obtain the public favor! I myself have heard the illustrious inventor relate, in an animated and affecting manner, the history of his labors and discouragements. "When," said he, "I was building my first steamboat at New York, the project was viewed by the public either with indifference or with contempt, as a visionary1 scheme. My friends, indeed, were civil, but they were shy. They listened with patience to my explanations, but with a settled cast of incredulity2 on their countenance. I felt the full force of the lamentation of the poet, "Truths would you teach to save a sinking land, All shun, none aid you, and few understand.' 3. "As I had occasion to pass daily to and from the building-yard, while my boat was in progress, I have often loitered, unknown, near the idle groups of strangers, gathering in little circles, and heard various inquiries as to the object of this new vehicle. The language was uniformly that of scorn, or sneer, or ridicule. The loud laugh often rose at my expense; the dry jest; the wise calculation of losses and expenditures; the dull but endless repetition of 'the Fulton Folly.' Never did a single encouraging remark, a bright hope, or a warm wish, cross my path. Silence itself was but politeness veiling its doubts, or hiding its reproaches. 4. "At length the day arrived when the experiment was to be put into operation. To me it was a most trying and interesting occasion. I invited many friends to go on board to witness the first successful trip. Many of them did me the favor to attend, as a matter of personal respect; but it was manifest that they did it with reluctance, fearing to be the partners of my mortification, and not of my triumph. I was well aware that, in my case, there were many reasons to doubt of my own success. The machinery was new and ill made; many parts of it were constructed by mechanics unaccustomed to such work; and unexpected difficulties might reasonably be presumed to present themselves from other causes. The moment arrived in which the word was to be given for the vessel to move. My friends were in groups on the deck. There was anxiety mixed with fear among them. They were silent, and sad, and weary. I read in their looks nothing but disaster, and almost repented of my efforts. 5. "The signal was given, and the boat moved on a short distance, and then stopped, and became immovable. To the silence of the preceding moment now succeeded murmurs of discontent, and agitations, and whispers, and shrugs. I could hear distinctly repeated, 'I told you it would be so. It is a foolish scheme. I wish we were well out of it.' I elevated myself upon a platform, and addressed the assembly. I stated that I knew not what was the matter; but, if they would be quiet, and indulge me for a half hour, I would either go on or abandon the voyage for that time. This short respite was conceded without objection. I went below, examined the machinery, and discovered that the cause was a slight mal-adjustment 3 of some of the work. In a short period it was obviated.4 6. "The boat was again put in motion. She continued to move on. All were still incredulous. None seemed willing to trust the evidence of their own senses. We left the fair city of New York; we passed through the romantic and ever-varying scenery of the Highlands; we descried the clustering houses of Albany; we reached its shores; and then, even then, when all seemed achieved, I was the victim of disappointment. Imagination superseded the influence of fact. It was then doubted if it could be done again; or, if done, it was doubted if it could be made of any great value." 7. Such was the history of the first experiment; as it fell, not in the very language which I have used, but in its substance from the lips of the inventor. He did not live, indeed, to enjoy the full glory of his invention. It is mournful to say that attempts were made to rob him, in the first place, of the merits of his invention, and next of its fruits. He fell a victim to his efforts to sustain his title to both. 1. FRESH from the fountains of the wood Flushed with the morning's ruddy flame. 2. The air was fresh, and soft, and sweet; |