tings only to find that the span of magazine ex-years for an observer. I triumph. I have stolen istence will never suffice to reach our goal and the golden secret of the Egyptians. I will inhis Canaan. EUREKA," that divine work, the dulge my sacred fury." SONNET. If all true virtue were a fever glow, For action, Lady! then might'st thou lament Parthenon of pure reason, we may not enter in this article. We have reviewed the long lines of columns of marble and jasper, arabesque and antic, which form its propylon, and stand upon its terrace, but we can only point the reader to its portal and leave him to explore it alone. Eureka is an attempt to develope the process and demonstrate the law by which the universe assumed its visible phenomena and present organization; and to demonstrate further, how this same law, or principle, and process, must evidently reduce all things to the vague, imperceptible, immaterial chaos of pure matter or spirit from which it arose. The theme is manifestly one which possesses little bearing on the world we live in, and is of little practical importance in the present state of human knowledge. The author leads us to the extreme boundary of reason's horizon. His dramatis personæ are ideas and shapes, which have never yet walked the halls of experimental science. The senses furnish no data on which to erect the edifice; and the senses furnish no test of its finished solidity. The materials are dug from the mines of the exact sciences. But if there be certainty in mathematics, or reliability on mathematical rea- 'The sword of Washington! It was never drawn, soning, or on the logical concatenation of self- except in defence of the public liberty. It was evident ideas, this book and its conclusions are never sheathed, until a glorious and triumphant true. It is a globule of crystalline clearness, success returned it to the scabbard without a stain teres ac rotundus. Few have read it. The plan of cruelty or dishonor upon its blade. It was of the work is one which, in him who would never surrendered, except to that country which thread its labyrinth, requires an extensive know-bestowed it.' ledge of the entire cycle of material and meta The Virginia Washington Monument. honour." me, I will Virginia's gratitude for Washington's serviphysical knowledge, and those who possess such ces!" measure for measure!" Her acts to-day knowledge are too much occupied with the tan- do well proclaim, "them that honour gible results of diurnal experiment, to walk with a companion so strange and wild in these re- Such were our thoughts as we took our place gions, the most solitary and remote of the in- in the grand celebration of the 22nd. That day, tellectual realm. It was thus with Kepler; and as our readers are aware, had been set apart for Copernicus, dying, left the world a book which laying the Corner-stone of the Monument to it regarded with the same indifference and the Washington in the Capital of Virginia. We same idle curiosity. But princes, and popes, propose to notice it as an historical incident, and and sages came forward to take up that book. in order to do so fully, may take the liberty of And when the day comes, as it will come, when borrowing somewhat from our friends of the daily experimental science shall have so far enlarged press. its boundaries, as to catch a view of, and see the The preparations had been all duly made. On need of the grand generalties which this poor the 16th of February, Governor Floyd commudrunkard has strewn to the winds and waters, nicated to the General Assembly that the models, Eureka will tower like a monumental obelisk before the world's great eyes. It was thus with Copernicus; it was so with Kepler. In the presence of those grand recollections, we can sympathize at least with him who wrote these words: "I care not whether my work is read now, or by Thereupon the General Assembly appointed. posterity. I can afford to wait a century for read- a joint committee of their body as one of invitaers, when God himself has waited six thousand tion and arrangement, and by a special resolution plans and estimates had been determined upon, as well as the spot on the Capitol Square for the erection of the Monument, and that he had appointed the 22nd instant as the day for laying the Corner-stone. sions of gratitude for the high honor thus conferred upon him. From the Capitol he was escorted to his rooms at the Exchange Hotel, and was, that night, entertained privately in a brilliant manner by the Governor. invited the President of the United States and that body, and was welcomed by Mr. Hopkins the surviving Officers and Soldiers of the Revo- the Speaker. "In the Hero of Palo Alto, Relution to be present. The citizens of Richmond saca de la Palma, Monterey, and Buena Vista,”held a public meeting, at the call of the Mayor, said the Speaker," we now behold the Citizen and adopted resolutions hailing with pleasure President, receiving the enthusiastic honors of what they deemed to be an appropriate and en- his countrymen, in the Capitol of his native during commemoration of the lofty virtues, spot-State." The President replied, with expresless fame, and exalted services of Virginia's most illustrious son. The City Council appointed a committee to confer with the officers of the military companies in making suitable arrangements to entertain the volunteers and other guests, who might be present, and appropriated one thousand dollars to pay the expenses of the entertainment. The next day, at 10 o'clock, A. M., the proThe Mechanics held a meeting and resolved that cession formed on Main Street, with its head they would appear in their several characteris- resting in front of Henrico County Court House. tics, under one general banner. The Masons, At 11 o'clock, the President, seated with Exthe Firemen, the Sons of Temperance, the "Or- President Tyler and the Governor of Virginia, ders" of every degree, held their preliminary appeared in an open barouch, drawn by four meetings. The Governor, as Commander-in-beautiful bay horses, each horse held by a black Chief, published his order, and the Brigadier hostler, on foot, and was driven slowly down the General Commanding published his. For seve- line of the military as in review. Taking his ral days and nights uninterruptedly the mechan- position then, the procession moved in the preical arrangements on the Square were in pro- scribed order, as follows: gress. Finally, the day approached. ner, 1. 2. 3. The Chief Marshal and his Aids. The President, Ex-President Tyler, and Governor Floyd, in their barouch, having place between the two companies of the corps of Cadets in the line of the Military. 4. 5. The Executive Council of Virginia. Mr. John S. Gallaher, 3rd Auditor, and Messrs. On Thursday, the day preceding the 22nd, the President of the United States was received at Acquia Creek, as the guest of the State, by the Committee of Reception, appointed by the Legislature, who had gone thither in an extra train of cars to meet him. He was addressed, we learn, in a very appropriate and handsome manby Mr. Kinney, the chairman of the com- Col. Eaton and Major R. S. Garnett, U. S. A., mittee on the part of the Senate, to whom the Col. Baker of Illinois and Col. Mitchell, of MisPresident replied, thanking the Legislature for souri,-Commodore Warrington of the Navy, the honor they had done him. He paid a compliment to the patriotism of Virginia, and expressed his wish and earnest desire to see her always one of a happy, prosperous, and united confederacy. The inspiring strains of a fine Then followed in their proper order, the Comband of music, the huzzas of the assembled mul-missioners and Sculptor of the Washington Montitude, the waving of flags, and the enthusiasm ument; the Senate and House of Delegates of of the people, all conspired, it is said, to render Virginia; Judges and Officers of the Courts, the scene interesting and imposing. State and Federal; the Officers of State; OffiA telegraphic despatch having been received cers and Soldiers of the Revolution; Officers of from the Legislative committee of reception at the War of 1812; Foreign Consuls; the reverFredericksburg, by the House of Delegates, the House adjourned at half past 2 o'clock and reassembled at 4 o'clock for the purpose of receiving the President. end Clergy; the City Council, Aldermen and Officers; Officers of the Army and Navy of the United States, among whom we recognized Brevet Colonel Matthew M. Payne and Brevet BrigOn the arrival of the cars, at 4 o'clock pre- adier General James Bankhead-gallant sons of cisely, the President's salute was fired by Capt. Virginia; Officers of the Virginia Militia in uniNimmo's company of Artillery;-he was met form; the Virginia Historical, and other Scienby a very great concourse of people, was recei- tific and Literary Societies; the Richmond Fire ved with military honors by the Volunteers of Association and a Company of Firemen from the city, and the Virginia Cadets, and by them Manchester, the Independent Order of Odd-Felescorted to the Capitol, where he was introduced lows; the United Ancient Order of Druids; the to the House of Delegates by Mr. Syme, the Grand Division and subordinate Divisions of the the chairman of the committee on the part of Sons of Temperance; the Rechabites; the Ger man Benevolent Society; the United American Mechanics; Builders and other societies of Mechanics; a company of Knights Templar; the Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons of Virginia, in Grand Lodge assembled. Many of these Societies bore rich and beautiful insignia, and were preceded by fine bands of music, among which were the Orchestra Band of the Theatre, the Band from Old Point Comfort, and the Marine Band from the Washington Navy Yard. Another officer read the following inscription engraven upon a copper box nearly two feet square, which, hermetically sealed, was by him placed in an excavation made for that purpose in the Corner-stone: "This corner-stone of a Monument to the memory of the illustrious GEORGE WASHINGTON, boru 22d February, 1732, died 15th December, 1799; first President of the Republic of the United States of North America, founded October, in the year of our Lord 1789, by the following States: Citizens on foot, on horseback, and in car- Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, riages, crowded every avenue in the neighbour- Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South hood of the procession; and as it moved, steps, Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, windows, the tops of houses, every point from North Carolina and Rhode Island, was laid by which a view of it could be had was densely filled the State of Virginia on the 22d of February, with an eager and excited population. So great Anno Lucis 5820, Anno Domini 1850-His Excelan assemblage was never before seen in Rich-lency John Breckenridge Floyd being Governor, mond-not even at the reception of Lafayette. John Mercer Patton Lieutenant Governor; RaThe procession, which is estimated to have leigh Travers Daniel and John Fleming Wiley, been a mile and a half long, moved up Main Councillors; William Foushee Ritchie, George street to 2d, along 2d to Broad street, down Broad Wythe Munford, Nathaniel Macon Martin, Thomto 10th street, thence into the Capitol Square as Tabb Giles, James McClurg Wickham and through the Northern gate, leaving the carriages John Minor Botts being the Commissioners: at the gate. "In the presence of His Excellency, Zachary In front of the Swan Tavern, the venerable Taylor, President of the United States; (Millard George Washington Parke Custis, of Arlington, Fillmore, Vice President; John M. Clayton, the nearest living relative of Washington, an Secretary of State; William M. Meredith, Secinvited guest, and one of the President's suite,retary of the Treasury; William Ballard Preston, was received into the barouche with him. There, also, the procession was reversed, according to the Masonic custom, throwing the military in the rear. Secretary of the Navy; George W. Crawford, Secretary of War; Thomas Ewing, Secretary of the Interior; Jacob Collamer, Post Master General; and Reverdy Johnson, Attorney General;) and of the General Assembly of Virginia, William H. Dennis being Speaker of the Senate, and Henry L. Hopkins Speaker of the House of Delegates: "Assisted by the Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons of Virginia, in Grand Lodge assembled: On the Capitol Square, two galleries capable of accommodating perhaps a thousand persons each, had been erected, overlooking the site of the Monument, one for the ladies, the other for invited guests and distinguished strangers. At the extremity of the two galleries, and between them, on the west, was a platform designed for the President and the Orator and Officers of the day. A circular excavation, cut into steps descending to the bottom, where the Corner-stone laid, occupied most of the space between the gal-Grand Senior Warden; Worshipful James A. leries and the platform. When the assigned positions had been taken, the Masons surrounded the excavation, the Knights Templar, with drawn swords, occupied the steps, while the officiating officers descended to the bottom. An Anthem was sung by the Masons, beginning "To heaven's high Architect all praise All gratitude be given." A fervent, eloquent and appropriate prayer was offered by the Reverend Adam Empie, D. D., Chaplain to the Grand Lodge of Virginia. The proper officers then proceeded to lay the Corner-stone according to Masonic usage. "Most Worshipful James Points, Grand Master; Right Worshipful James Evans, Deputy Graud Master; Worshipful Edmund Pendleton Hunter, Leitch, Grand Junior Warden; Worshipful John "This Monument was designed by Thomas Crawford, American Sculptor. Engraved by J. B. Martin." The following articles were enclosed in the copper box: Articles Deposited in the Corner Stone of the Washington Monument. Bible, Prayer Book, Webster's Spelling Book and Dictionary, Warrock's Virginia and North Carolina Almanac, and the Masonic Text Book. An ear of Indian Corn, the product of a grain of one deposited in the corner stone of the ing the Corner-stone presented for the VirWashington Monument at the City of Washing-ginia Washington Monument-also the reports tou in 1848. of said company for several years. The portraits of General and Mrs. Washington, from the originals at Arlington House, daguerreotyped by W. A. Pratt & Co., Richmond, Va. Two medals presented by Mrs. Dolly Madison (wife of Ex-President Madison) to Robert G. Scott, Esq., and by him presented, viz: a likeness of Washington, marked "Geo. Washing A Piece of Gen. George Washington's Mahogany Coffin, taken from the vault at Mount Vernon, when his remains were deposited in a stone sarcophagus; presented to Potomac Lodge of Masons by Lorenzo Lewis, grand nephew of the General, Oct. 1837, and by them to the Grand Lodge of Va. for deposite in this stone. An emblem presented by John Beazley, with ton, Pres. U. S.;" and on the reverse hands this inscription: "This emblem of the durability joined, with the motto "Peace and Friendship”— of the fame of the illustrious Washington, is de- and a medal, with a sketch of the Battle of the posited in this corner stone by John Beazley, of Cowpens, with the following inscriptions: “VicSpottsylvania county, Va. Feb. 22d, 1850.” toria Libertas vindex; Fugatis, captis aut cœsis ad Cowpens hostibus, XVII, Jan. 1781," and "Daniel Morgan, Duci Exercitus," (crowned with laurel,) and "Comitata Americana." Extract in parchment from the records of Fredericksburg Lodge, commencing Sept. 1752, ending Dec., 1764, shewing the initiation of George Washington as Apprentice and his promotion as Master Mason. Medals presented by Abraham Levy, Sr., viz : "General Lafayette," "The defender of French The Constitution of the U. States; The Declara- and American Liberty, 1777-1824-Born in tion of Independence; Madison's Report and the Chavagnac, the 6th Sept. 1757." "George Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions; The pres- Washington, 1796;" "General of the American ent Constitution of Virginia; The Debates in Armies, 1775; resigned the command, 1785; the Va. Convention of 1829-30; The New elected President of the U. States, 1789; resignCode of Virginia, 1849; Washington's Farewell ed the Presidency, 1796”—a silver coin of New Address. England, in 1752, in the 12th year of the Colony." A medal of Henry Clay. "Born April 12, 177, entered Congress, 1806; elected Speaker, 1811; Treaty of Ghent, 1814; Sec. of State, 1825." Memorial of the Committee of the Historical Society, viz: B. B. Minor, Wm. H. Macfarland, James Lyons, Isaac S. Tinsley, and John T. Anderson, to the General Assembly, for a Monument to Washington, and the report of said committee to the Historical Society. The Charter and By-Laws of the Virginia and Tennesse Railroad Company, and the Second Annual Report of the President, (Gen. Odin G. Clay,) and Directors to the Stockholders of the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad Company. The Southern Literary Messenger, for February 1850.* The Virginia Historical Register and Literary Note Book, Vol 1st, for the year 1848, and the January No. 1850; and an Account of discoveries in the West until 1519, and of Voyages to and along the Atlantic Coast of North America, from 1520 to 1563, prepared for the Va. Historical and Philosophical Society, by Conway Robinson, Chairman of its Executive Committee, and published by the Society-all presented by the Va. Historical Society. A Brass Eagle. presented by H. C. Watkins of Ampthill, Chesterfield county, Feb. 21st, 1850. U. S. Coiu from the Mint-viz: an eagle, half eagle, quarter eagle and dollar piece in gold, a dollar, half dollar, quarter dollar, dime and half dime in silver, and a cent and half cent in copper, all of the impression of 1849. The Constitution of the Virginia State Agricultural Society, organized February 22, 1850. Two Coins of the Modern Republic of Rome, presented by Thomas Crawford. Three coins; two of the Reign of George the II, one of the reign of George III, with Virginia on the reverse, presented by Thomas H. Ellis. The several papers issued in the City on the 22d February, 1850. The Daily and Weekly Richmond Whig and Public Advertiser, The Daily Richmond Times, The Daily and Country Richmond Enquirer, Richmond Weekly ExamThe correspondence of the James River and iner, Richmond Daily Republican, Richmond Kanawha Company with the Governor, touch- Telegraph, Religious Herald, Watchman and *Our magazine was not honored with the mention of Observer; Banner of Temperance; Richmond the Daily Press, nor read by the Masonic official, as Christian Advocate, Southern Planter. among the articles deposited in the Corner-stone, but we are assured by our excellent and courteous friend, Col. Geo. Wythe Munford, one of the Commissioners, that the February number was duly committed to the receptacle with his own hands. We are therefore enshrined for immortality and are satisfied.-[Ed. Mess. Proceedings of the Baptist General Association of Virginia, held 5th of June, 1847. The Inscription from Houdon's Statue of Washington erected by the General Assembly of Virginia, and placed in the Capitol. A copy of the By-Laws of the several Volun- | Major Pike Graham, "the sterling soldier of the teer companies of the City. ancient county of Amelia, who gloriously won his brevet at Resaca de la Palma,”—all of whom occupied positions on the platform near him. Plan of Richmond, Manchester and Spring Hill, Virginia, by Charles S. Morgan, 1848. Philadelphia Courier, 1850, by C. S. Morgan. A list of the members of the Senate and House of Delegates of the present Legislature. He concluded by expressing the belief that but one sentiment pervaded the hearts of that vast multitude-but one desire animated all; it was, Washington Monument," with which the honor and gratitude of the State were now indissolubly associated, might be speedily and A list of the various Military Companies in that the this procession. After other Masonic Rites, 66 Passed Grand Master Robert G. Scott ad-successfully completed. dressed the assembly as the Orator of the At the close of this address, an air was played Masons. In the beginning, he spoke of the vast by one of the Military Bands. assemblage before him.—and of the cause which Governor Floyd, the Orator of the Day, then had thus brought together the men of the moun-pronounced a beautiful and impressive Oration, tain and of the sea-board, of the North and the from which we had hoped to be able to make South, from the Potomac to the Roanoke, the some extracts, but at the time of preparing this white locks of age mingling with the ruddy faces article it has not been published. of youth,—and the approving smiles of woman The address was delivered in the finest manresting over all. The daily pursuits of life, he ner. Using the language of one of the city press, said, were suspended, the Courts of Justice were as nearly true, we are inclined to say, "we never closed, the strife of Legislative debate was silent. heard words uttered more as we would have had He referred then to the general estimation in them. Governor Floyd possesses the most powwhich Washington was held,—the common sen-erful and elastic tenor voice in the country, and timent, not of our people only, but of every civi- without apparent effort each syllable of his adlized nation, that in true greatness he was unex- dress was distinctly heard by the entire assemcelled. The plain, modest, unostentatious plan- blage." ter of the Potomac in our Commonwealth, had become the admired of millions of the old world; of the prince and potentate; of the strong, the wise and the good; of the peasant and the lord; of the people of the Seine, the Rhine, the DanBefore leaving the platform, Mr. Joseph Mayo, ube, and the Thames. The denounced "traitor" the Delegate from this city to the General Assemof 1776, stands now the beloved of his country-bly, came forward and presented General Taylor men and the admiration of the world. to his fellow-citizens. The General spoke a few A national salute, of thirty guns, was then immediately fired by the battery of Artillery stationed in front of the Southern portico of the Capitol. Having extended our description so much, we must hasten through the remaining portion of the ceremonies. Chiefly, however, the Orator dwelt upon the unpretending sentences-modestly expressing the character and services of Washington as one of pride with which he looked upon Virginia as his the Masonic fraternity. In this connection, he native State, and declaring that his long absence exhibited to the assembly the record of Wash-from her borders had never caused him to forget ington's initiation as a member of Lodge No. 4, that she was his mother. in the town of Fredericksburg, on the 4th of November, 1752,-and the Bible then and still used in that Lodge. The marble mallet, or Master's gavel, used by Washington at the laying of the After the brief address to which we have reCorner-stone of the Capitol of the nation, was ferred, the President descended from the stand, also exhibited; as well as the Apron and Sash and mingling with the crowd, walked towards worn by him, and which were said to have been the northern front of the Capitol, where, in comworked for him by the wife of General LaFay-pany with Colonel Francis H. Smith, superinette. Mr. Scott exhibited likewise the Silk Man- tendent of the Virginia Military Institute, he tle in which General Washington, when an infant, was baptized. received the corps of Cadets. The President declared himself highly gratified with the appearTowards the conclusion of his address, Mr. ance and beautiful discipline of this noble band Scott paid a handsome compliment to Governor of youthful soldiers. The Cadets seem indeed Floyd, "the respected first officer of the Com- to have won golden opinions from one and all. monwealth,”—to General Taylor, "the hero of The troops and Firemen, after leaving the the Rio Grande, the victor of Buena Vista, the Square, were marched to Stewart's Factory, in elected President of the Nation,"-to Brevet one of the spacious rooms of which a collation Major Joseph Selden, "the amiable, brave and had been prepared, at the instance of the City true, the hero of Chepultepec,"-and to Brevet Council. The President was present at this col |