Virginia Argus

To the Editors of the Baltimore Patriot.

GENTLEMEN

It has lately become the custom in England to boast of exploits that dishonor her name; to cover the disgrace of defeat by splendid monuments; and to reward the exploits of freebooters with titles of honor. Gen. Ross has a Tomb; and Admiral Cockburn is knighted: so that like the Knights Errant of old, he can now rob and murder on the highway, by virtue of the old statutes of chivalry.

My object is to call your attention to the Inscription on the Monument of General Ross, which is going the round of Federal papers as usual, without any comment. Its ridiculous and inflated bombast, might pass as the effusion of vulgar vanity, puffed up by imaginary glory, but the low and base-born malignity which it breathes towards this country justifies reprisal. The memory of the dead, and the flattery of Epitaphs, would ever have remained sacred to me, were they not coupled with reflections that give additional aggravation to recent injuries. I send you a correction of the Inscription I have alluded to, which I think brings it much nearer the truth.

CORRECTOR.

INSCRIPTION

"SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF

MAJOR GENERAL ROBERT ROSS

Late Lieut. Col. of the 20th Regiment of Foot.

THIS MONUMENT IS ERECTED

By the Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers,

and privates of the Corps,

To perpetuate his worth in the place that gave

him birth, and remain in testimony of

their esteem and sorrow.

CALLED EARLY TO COMMAND.

He exercised it with devotion for the honor of

the service, and the Glory of his

Country.

Partner in the dangers, and associate in the

triumphs of his illustrious compatriot,

he left his name with that of Wel-

lington.

On the Plains of the Peninsula and Gaul,

At Vittoria, at Pampeluna, at Orthes."

WHEN

The blood of England flowed for the restora-

tion of the Inquisition, the Jesuits, and

an imbecile Tyrant, the last of

a corrupt race that degenerated

from its beginning.

When called from the support of Despotism

in one quarter of the globe,

To the destruction of Freedom in another, he

passed from the ravage shores of the Old

to the plunder of the New

WORLD.

"The choice of His Prince and the confi-

dence of His Country were amply

justified.

By a Victory over Undisciplined Militia:

By the conflagration of the Public and Pri-

vate Buildings:

By the destruction of Libraries

By the mutilation of Public Monuments, erect-

ed to the memory of those,

who died in defence of their Country

and by outrages thus wantonly have disgraced

BRITAIN'S HONOR.

A nation, which makes the sacred ties of the

dead to plant a tablet of iron, set on the ruins

of marble libels our Country, until re-

cords her wanton disgrace:"

Indefatigable in the work of destruction; the

combustion of York; gloriously sur-

rendered to the bombardment of other Liv-

erpools, the plunder of other

CITIES.

Until wounded by a rifle ball in his approach

to Baltimore, on the 12th of Sept. 1814."

He "fell, happily—for Himself, and for Eng-

land, before he could do still more to her

infamy or his own dishonor,

Leaving to his Country to bear the shame of his exploits

, which has forever disgraced: her in the

eyes of the Civilized World.