Alexandria Gazette & Advertiser

MISCELLANY.

From the Democratic Press.

The table was cleared, and freely the bottle was passing round among a number of patriots. This was soon after the acknowledgment of American Independence. Each toast was in commemoration of their late achievements: and each member expressed his most ardent wishes for the welfare of the nation. All was joy and merriment. London particular Madeira was freely drawn from a newly imported cask. Accidents will sometimes happen, and this was the case at the present juncture: a decanter full of the nectarious liquor was broken, and on the table made a spontaneous libation in honor of the Genius of America --but wonderful! a number of flies that intoxicated had fallen in the grape juice, at the time of the vintage, when exposed to the air, began to move, expand their wings, fly, and re-assume their pristine existence.

Franklin, the immortal Franklin, was at the end of the table, looking with the most earnest attention on this re-animation; in the ecstasy of his mind, he exclaimed, "Oh, my friends, might I but be buried in a cask of such Madeira, sleep one hundred years, and become re-animated after this lapse of time, to have a glance at our dear country, so happily liberated from foreign bondage!"

Every one joined in the same wish, and with a unanimous motion, and a bumper, exclaimed, "May we, a hundred years hence, have a glance at our dear country."

The entertainment over, every one retired, and Franklin, snug in his arm-chair, fell asleep in a profound siesta. Hardly had he closed his eyes, when the Genius of America appeared to him in a dream. Franklin, said she, one of my best champions in my last struggle, you deserve well of your country, and so far as it lays in my power, I will indulge your wishes, lift up the veil of futurity, and expose to your eyes the glory of your country. She immediately shook him, and placed him on the highest summit of the Alleghany mountains. Consider those cities reduced to ashes during our contest, admire their splendor, their monuments, their institutions. Contemplate those vast regions, then nearly a desert, at this present moment: see how they are interspersed with new cities, intersected with beautiful canals: mark how abundant crops succeed to abundant crops; how nature, in her primitive vigor, crowns with plenty the labors of the husbandmen! Look at our flag, our vessels covering the seas from pole to pole--our extensive commerce--our self-created manufactures.--Count our increase of population, nearly treble. Admire the ardor, the regularity of the government--the justice of our tribunals--observe how, under the most salutary laws, every thing thrives and prospers: all these are the result of liberty and equality, based on salutary institutions.

But alas! no prosperity is without a blight. Cast your eyes about you, and remark a nation proud of her strength, impressing our sailors, blockading our ports, capturing our vessels, murdering our defenceless citizens in the most profound peace! Again, observe her; she burns our villages, our cities, and consumes, by fire, our monuments, our records, our libraries.

To those calamities heave a sigh--then see the national energy recoil on itself, and spring forward with the velocity of an eagle to revenge these unjust aggressions. See that generation of young heroes following in the footsteps of their revolutionary sires. On Erie, contemplate the heroic Perry! On Champlain, undaunted McDonough! On the ocean, the intrepid Lawrence, the valorous Decatur, Hull, Bainbridge, Jones, Stewart, Riddle, and all the commanders of our infant navy, breaking the magic wand of English supremacy at sea. You, also, too soon cut off, brave Pike, intrepid Brown, and all those who, by land, defended so effectually the rights of your country, your names appear in splendid radiance--and you the son of victory, the defender of New Orleans, how covered with glory you stand! Idol of the nation, thy victorious achievements have justly entitled thee to the gratitude of the American nation."

At that moment Franklin awoke. To him it was nothing--nothing but a dream: like the Hebrew Legislator who, from afar, was permitted to see the promised land, he viewed by anticipation the glory of his country. I, for another, was reserved the happiness, after a long absence, to witness the reality of this glorious vision!

Hark! the cannon. See the military parades, the homage paid by every village, borough, and city!--What mean those immense concourses of people, those exclamations of joy and gratitude? It is the arrival of the Nation's Guest--the companion of all the heroes who cemented with their blood our revolutionary conflict. He comes to witness our happiness, the independence of our country, the scenes of his youthful services. Welcome! thrice welcome on our shores, in our cities, in our bosom--a thousand times welcome, the friend of the great WASHINGTON--LA FAYETTE.