Alexandria Daily Gazette, Commercial & Political

PHILADELPHIA, March 13.

Friday last, a splendid dinner was given, at the Mansion House Hotel, in this city, in honor of Col. Pickering and the minority in the late Congress of the United States. About 250 of the most respectable American gentlemen of our country were present. They occupied the whole of the first floor of the building. Thomas Fitzsimons, Esquire, presided in the long room, Commodore Truxtun in the second room, and George Latimer, Esquire, in the third. The company were honored with the presence of Mr. Dana, Mr. Livermore, Mr. Gardenier, Mr. Milnor and Mr. Jenkins, the only members of Congress who were in the city, Judge Griffiths, from New Jersey, Bishop White and several of the reverend clergy, with other citizens of distinction. At one end of the long room was placed an elegant portrait of General Washington. Over Com. Truxtun's chair was suspended a painting of a fine American Eagle on an azure ground, grasping in one talon the flag of the United States, and in the other a thunderbolt. A number of stars corresponding to the number of states, was spread over the ground. Motto from the beak of the Eagle, "Millions for defence, not a cent for tribute." the true federal doctrine. In the close of the evening, Commodore Truxtun entered the long room with his painting before him, when the following toast was given by the President, and received with acclamation:

"Commodore Truxtun; far or near, he is ever dear to his country."

After the cloth was removed, the following toasts were given, accompanied by appropriate music, and received with universal applause.

Patriotic songs prepared for the occasion were sung at intervals, and the day was passed with uninterrupted harmony and hilarity.

1. The United States.--While true to themselves, and impartially just to others, Prosperity and Honor will attend them.

2. The Memory of General Washington.

Envy dared not to look or breathe upon him but through the mask of hypocrisy.

3. The Memory of General Hamilton.--

Equally great and amiable; admired and beloved, he indeed, gave "the world assurance of a man."

4. The Heroes of the Revolution--May our gratitude be as immortal as their services.

5. Chief Justice Marshall--Too great not to be envied by the mean, and too honest not to be hated by the wicked.

6. James Ross, of Pittsburgh--Worth and talents may not command, though they deserve, a success.

7. The Judiciary--The power which protects every right we enjoy; and stands sentinel at every man's door.

8. Our Sisters, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Delaware--Who cut the basis of the constitution hold to the and repel those violations of it which would terminate in a Separation.

9. The President of the United States--

May he wisely use the experience of his predecessor and better estimate of sincerity, and the character of the American people,

10. Agriculture, Commerce, and Manufactures--Bound together by inseparable interests--May they reject the delusions that would sow jealousy among them.

11. The Navy of the United States--

Though now depressed by a mistaken policy, it has a spirit to rise to be worthy of its founder WASHINGTON.

12. The Army of the United States--May their swords be ever successful against our enemies, but never turned against ourselves.

13. The true spirit of Federalism which would maintain the honor and union of the states, without destroying their constitutional rights.

14. The minority in Congress--Whose virtue has strengthened under trial and whose spirit has risen under oppression.

15. The Spanish Patriots--May their glorious efforts to shake off a cruel and faithless tyrant, be successful, and Europe learn from them, that a brave people united, is invincible.

16. The Seamen of the United States--

The true sinews of our greatness, whether they defend us in the perils of war, or gather the treasures of commerce.

17. The Embargo and Enforcing Laws--

May they sink to the bottom of the ocean, where those who want them again may look for them.

The American Fair--As their merit stimulates may their love reward, the heroe and patriots of their country.

VOLUNTEERS.

Col. Pickering. Honor for his services and affection for his worth.

Jas. Hillhouse whose sagacity foresees the danger, his fortitude enables him to meet.

Jas. A. Bayard. The luminous expositor of the fatal effects of the embargo and enforcing laws.

Our national Glory--Escaped from the feeble protection of a visionary projector, may those who now are its guardians have the wisdom to value it like statesmen and the courage to defend it like men.

A Philosopher in dignified retirement. may he find full employment in forcing exotics, steering bull frogs and pinning beetles by the side of butterflies.

The Sword of Independence, may American blades never have French handles.

The Constitution and the proprietors of former times--We cannot hope for the blessings of the one, without returning to the wisdom of the other.

Confusion to those weathercock politicians, who are invariably influenced, not by the current of the public good, but by the breath of popularity.

The embargo acts of the terrapin congress the worst mess ever cooked in a legislative caboose.

The city of Philadelphia, the seat of the Congress which declared freedom and independence to the United States; should it again become the seat of government, the union might hope to profit by the urbanity and information of her citizens.

By Mr. Livermore.

The memory of commodore Barry.

By commodore Truxtun.

SONG.

The Pilots whom Washington plac'd

AT THE HELM.

Tune--"Anacreon in Heaven."

Addressed to colonel Pickering and the other members of the minority in the late congress, to whom, in honor of their brilliant and patriotic exertions in support of the rights and interests of their country, a public dinner was given in Philadelphia on the 10th of March, 1809.

I.

Ye patriots hold, a Leonidas band,

The chiefs whom our WASHINGTON chose to command,

Our pilots in freedom's tempestuous ocean

Sheet-anchors of hope, 'mid the world's dread commotion!

With hearts firm and true,

In spite of the storm, and the jacobin crew;

May you guide the bark through,

For the tempest faction cannot overwhelm

The pilots whom WASHINGTON plac'd at the helm.

II.

Though Europe distracted with war's dire alarm,

With more than Cimmerian darkness is shrouded,

Yet, led by our WASHINGTON's comrades in arms,

The sun of our glory can never be clouded.

The powers are denied

Of in old world allied,

By men who in danger's dark hour have been tried

For war's rudest tempest cannot overwhelm

The pilots whom Washington placed at the helm.

III.

Europe should fall by the arms or the arts

Of Bonaparte's demons of dire desolation,

Before he subdues the American nation.

The tyrant must first win his way thro' our Hearts,

Philosopher's dreams.

And irretrenched schemes,

Hail! 'tis the fruition of Washington Gleams.

Napoleon's fallacies cannot overwhelm

The pilots whom Washington placed at the Helm.

IV.

('Generous sons of illustrious sires."

With their blood who cemented fair freedom's foundations,

Your patriot-bosoms inherit their fires,

-And yours is the meed of a world's acclamations,

Your names you shall find

In our bosoms enshrined,

With life's dearest ligaments ever entwist'll:

And you shall mighty lest the storm overwhelm,

With the pilots whom Washington plac'd at the helm.

V.

Your efforts of wisdom your country reveres,

Your counsels alone can ensure her salvation,

Your presence is welcomed with gratitude's Tears,

THE ROCKS ON WHICH CLING THE LAST HOPES OF THE NATION.

Let each honored name

Swell the trump of Fame.

While it peals with its longest and loudest Acclaim;

And we still unite, lest the storm overwhelm,

With the pilots whom Washington placed at the helm.

*Mr. Quincy's speech.