These Fredericksburg resolutions are dated April 29th, 1775, and were therefore more than a year previous to the great Declaration of July 4th, 1776, and 21 days prior to the Mecklenburg Declaration in North Carolina. resolutions, embodying as they do the earliest de- | of America were in danger, they pledged themclaration of American Independence, are alluded selves to reassemble at a moment's warning, and to here because of the important influence they ex- by force of arms to defend the laws and the rights ercised upon the whole country at that crisis in its "of this, or any sister colony" from invasion; and history. They gave courage to the timid, and sta- they conclude by the invocation, GOD SAVE THE bility to the wavering; they asserted principles LIBERTIES OF AMERICA. around which all might rally, and in whose defence all might band together, and were, indeed, the immediate cause of a formation of a confederacy for mutual counsel and protection. This well-advised and harmonious concert of action was the means of checking, for a time, the aggressions of the moth- After his record of the capitulation of Cornwal er country upon the rights of the colony. It was lis, at Yorktown, and the consequent acknowledg not until 1775 that the storm so long gathering, and ment of the Independence of the United States, whose distant mutterings had so often excited alarm, Mr. Howison concludes his chapter by a modest, burst in all its fury upon the colonies of America. but gracefully expressed paragraph, recapitulating In the spring of that year, in the venerable church the services of Virginia in the contest for Indepenwhich so becomingly crowns one of the imperial dence, which we beg leave to quote: hills upon which our metropolis is built, there was another assemblage of patriots which would have done honor to any nation or age of the world. In-State of the Union had more cherished its princi deed, it resembled a selection made from the great and good of all ages. The sparkling wit of the Athenian, the stern integrity of the Spartan, the lofty heroism of the Roman, were all represented, while the peculiar virtues of each, were tempered and hallowed by the influence which emanates only from Christianity. Here it was, that Henry's clarion voice of genius and eloquence was, for the last time raised to arouse his countrymen to an appeal to arms and to the God of battles. Such an appeal was never again necessary, for the red flash of artillery, and the roar of the iron tempest, soon announced that the Revolution had begun. "Thus ended the war of the Revolution. No if she had not witnessed so many of its battles as ples and improved its advantages than Virginia. had others, she had at least not shruuk from the contest. Her sons had ever been active in the council chamber and the field. Patrick Henry had set the "ball in motion," and afterwards had driven it forward by the breath of his eloquence. Thomas Jefferson had written the Charter around which every State was to rally in the hour of danger. Richard Henry Lee had supported Indepen dence at the critical moment. Randolph, Pendleton, Mason, Wythe, Carr, Harrison, all had borne their part in encouraging the soul of freedom. And George Washington had gone from her bosom to in arms Virginia had not been less distinguished. lead the armies of America to triumph. Morgat For several years past, an animated controversy had left his home in the valley to penetrate the forhas been waged on the question, where was the first ests of Maine, to head the forlorn hope at Quebec, Declaration of Independence made, with the avow-to drive the enemy before him at Saratoga, and to ed object of altogether discarding allegiance to the overwhelm Tarleton at the Cowpens; Mercer had mother country? It is admitted that this was more even in defeat at Camden and gathered fresh laufought and bled at Princeton; Stevens had battled than was contemplated in Mr. Henry's celebrated rels at Guilford; George Rogers Clarke had en resolutions in 1765, potent as they were in bring- tered the wilderness and conquered a new empire ing about such a result. Mr. Howison with evi- for his country. The first voice of warning had dent, but justifiable satisfaction, assures us that the first declaration was made in Fredericksburg, his His evidence in support of this assertion deserves consideration. The statement is briefly as follows. When the outrages of the infamous Dunmore kindled such a flame of indigna- The influence of our glorious Revolution, and of tion throughout Virginia, a large number of the citi- the example of our Republic, in its peaceful operazens of the counties surrounding Fredericksburg tion, upon Europe, always an interesting theme, flew to arms. Six hundred well-drilled and hand- has now become doubly so, in consequence of the somely equipped men made Fredericksburg their recent political movements which have agitated the rendezvous. While waiting for intelligence from whole continent. native town. been raised in Virginia, and the last great scene of battle had been viewed on her soil. Her sister States have not denied her claims; when peace returned she was still looked to as the leader in the unknown course that opened before America." Williamsburg, a body of patriots, more than a hun- Ever since the treaty of Versailles, the examdred in number, consisting of citizens, soldiers, and ple of the United States has been a silent, but delegates to the Assembly, held a meeting and adopt powerful appeal to the governments of the Oid ed resolutions of the boldest character. They de- World. And though attempted imitation has, a nounced the tyranny of Dunmore, they avowed that the troops would contend for liberty at the hazard of their lives and fortunes; and believing that the rights times, been followed by terrible disaster, still the appeal has not been in vain. Though disappointed and defeated, the down-trodden patriots of the Oid for support. These memorials were submitted to the House, which resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole on the State of the Commonwealth. The debate between the opposing parties was conducted with masterly ability, from the 11th of October to the 5th of December. The result was the passage of a Bill which yielded the principle for which the friends World have never utterly despaired. With eager much attention from the cogency of its reasoning and admiring eyes fixed upon the prosperous and and the elegance of its composition. It assumed happy Republic of the New World, they have been the then bold and novel position, that all sects ought encouraged to hope on, and hope ever, under dis- to be placed upon a perfect equality as regards their couragements and reverses the most disheartening. privileges and immunities, and Christianity should As citizens of the first and freest Republic on earth,|look alone to the free-will offerings of the people we cannot, without the deepest emotion, behold the progress of liberty in any clime, however remote; and especially do we desire to see those provinces which have been wrested from her beautiful domain restored to her. Our eager eyes are turned towards the ancient abodes of freedom in the Old World-the lands where her altars were first raised and surrounded by devoted worshippers-whose of Religious freedom contended, though it by no soil yet bears the sepulchres of the mighty dead, whose descendants are once more resolving no longer to wear the badge of servitude while treading on the ashes of brave forefathers. Freedom cannot be utterly banished from the ground thus hallowed. Where she cannot prevail, she yet lingers, though it be only "To dwell a weeping hermit there." means guaranteed all the privileges which they claimed as their own by right. It was not until 1784 that the whole subject was placed finally at rest, by the destruction of the last vestige of the Establishment. During that year's session of the Assembly, petitions were presented for a “general assessment" in support of religion. The advocates of religious freedom again marshalled their forces. A memorial, celebrated for its dignity of tone, and strength of argument, was prepared by Mr. Madison. Another was presented by the Hanover Presbytery, and the Rev. John Blair Smith, one of the Once more may she dry her tears and triumph! One of the most interesting chapters in Mr. Howison's second volume, is that in which he ex-members of that body, and President of Hampden hibits the struggles and final establishment of Re- Sidney College, was permitted to appear at the bar ligious freedom. In introducing this topic, he re- of the House and argue his cause for three succesmarks, that for perfect freedom in the exercise of sive days. Again the cause of religious freedom the rights of conscience, the people of Virginia triumphed, and the Bill enjoining a general tax for and of America are not so much indebted to the the support of the gospel was rejected. Then foleminent statesmen whose efforts in behalf of civil lowed the celebrated act for the establishment of liberty all gratefully acknowledge, as to an hum-religious freedom, written by Mr. Jefferson, and bler, but equally patriotic class of citizens, who, to adopted by the Assembly-an Act embodying printhe love of country added a pious zeal, for the pu- ciples which lie at the very foundation of our dearrity, honor, and advancement of the church of God. est rights, and which are equally essential to the The evils of the establishment, depriving men, as true prosperity both of Church and State. it did, of the rights of conscience-inflicting stripes, One of the best written portions of the second fines and imprisonment for non-conformity-com-volume, is that in which Mr. Howison very conpelling the payment of the stipends of the cler- cisely, but forcibly, presents to our notice the part gy-introducing into the ministry men without which Virginia took in the formation and adoption piety and sometimes without respectable morality, of the Federal Constitution. Our author has given at last aroused that spirit of determined resistance, us a graphic sketch of the acts and actors of the which was satisfied only by the utter annihilation of a system fraught with such flagrant injustice, both to natural right and to religion. For a graphic portraiture of the corruptions of the Establishment, we refer the reader to the Address of the venerable Bishop Meade to the Virginia Convention of May, 1845. State Convention, to which the question of receiving or rejecting the amended Constitution was referred. Such a brilliant galaxy of genius and worth was never assembled before from a single State. Perhaps at no time in the history of our country, has there been another debate calling forth such transcendent displays of eloquence. Nor will this During the session of the Legislature in the very appear extravagant when we remember who were year of the Declaration of Independence, the con- the champions engaged in the intellectual strife. test on the subject of religious freedom commenced. On the one side James Monroe, George Mason, The majority of the members were in favor of the William Grayson, and Patrick Henry. On the Establishment, but by degrees yielded to the over- other, John Marshall, James Innes, Francis Corwhelming array of argument presented in the nu- bin, Henry Lee, Governor Randolph, George Nimerous memorials which poured in from various cholas, and James Madison. Never did the genius portions of the State. Among these one appeared of Henry shine with greater lustre, never was the from the Presbytery of Hanover which attracted magic of his eloquence more entrancing, than in These pages will present matter interesting to the curious, and profitable to the reflecting. The History is brought down to the Retrocession of Alexandria, in 1847, and closes with the following brief paragraph. his opposition to the adoption of the proposed Con- the Commonwealth. dissolved." But the resistance of Mr. Henry and his associates was in vain. The final vote on the ratification made Virginia a State in the Federal Union, under the new Constitution. History and present condition of Virginia. The "We have now completed a review of the past future is yet before her, and its revelations to her must depend greatly on her own preparation to meet them. By the exercise of diligence and vir tue, she may obtain a glory more substantial and a happiness more pure than any she has ever enjoy. ed. May such be her conduct and her destiny!" It has been a subject of general regret, that Mr. Howison did not devote at least a chapter of his volumes to a delineation of the social history of The fourth and last division of Mr. Howison's Virginia-that he has given us so little insight History treats of the fortunes of the Commonwealth under the new phase of a unit in the confederacy. One of her first acts, was one which became her ancient renown, in the introduction of Kentucky, (a part of her magnificent dower to the General Government,) to the rank of a State in the Union-and her first honor, was the elevation of her noblest son to the Presidential chair. into the domestic manners, customs and peculiarities of the people—that he never leaves the stately walks of public life, to conduct us to a seat by the fire-side, or to mingle in the pursuits and recreations of plantation life. In this regret we participate, though it would not be so easy to point out the precise manner in which the defect might be remedied. To a writer so accurate-so fond of reference to authorities, for the substantiation of every fact and opinion, neither the traditions of old The remaining chapters in the volume are devoted to the record of events too recent, and too fresh, in the remembrance of all, to require partic-crones, nor his own impressions of what might be ular notice. The chapter of statistics, though un- the social character of the people, would furnish & inviting in its first appearance, is really one of the very tempting reliance. Moreover, it has been most valuable, and one which exhibits advantageous- our author's fortune to spend his life chiefly within ly the industry and patient research of the author. the somewhat finite limits of Fredericksburg and We cannot but mourn over its necessarily mea-Richmond, so that were he to draw upon his own gre enumeration of the Literary Contributions of knowledge of plantation life and social characterVirginia to the elegant department of Belles Let-istics, his resources would be soon exhausted. We tres. Few of her gifted sons have devoted their doubt whether he ever saw a barbacue, gandertime to the cultivation of this inviting field. The pulling, or scrub-race; whether he ever shot a only native productions to which Mr. Howison re- pheasant, or bagged a partridge, or followed the fers, (the Library is not a large one,) are the trans-hounds after Reynard; whether he ever sat down lation of Ovid's Metamorphoses into verse, by to a country Christmas dinner, or before the crackGeorge Sandys, the first to woo the muse upon our ling yule-clog of a fire-place six feet square. If we own soil-the translation of Homer, by Wm. Mun- presume too much upon his ignorance in these matford-the "Land of Powhatan," and the "Nugae," ters-we crave his pardon-and confess that we Howof St. Leger Landon Carter-the poems of Wm. have been rather describing our own case. Maxwell-Edgehill and Yorktown-the British ever, we venture to predict, that were any one to Spy and Old Bachelor,-the Letters of John Ran- address him personally with the question, “Why dolph-the Histories of Smith, Beverley, Stith, have you given us a history rather of the govern Burk, (continued by Skelton Jones, and completed ment, than of the people of Virginia?" he would by Louis Girardin,) J. W. Campbell's Virginia- answer, Where could I find authorities to consult the Rev. Wm. Henry Foote's* Sketches of North about the social character of the State and it Carolina, and the Biographies of Henry, by Wirt; may be that the interrogator could not tell him. of Jefferson, by Tucker; and of Washington, by Marshall. Nor let the reader, however averse to the peru sal of statistics, fail to observe Mr. Howison's exhibition of the numerical strength, and pious contributions, of the several religious denominations in * Who is now preparing a work on Virginia. Still we think such knowledge is attainable, and as an illustration of the mode in which such an ininteresting article on the subject by H. A. W. î vestigation might be conducted, we refer him to 15 the February number of the Messenger. As to the perspicuity of arrangement, the harmony of proportion between the parts, and the accuracy of facts, of Mr. Howison's history, there can be but one opinion. In these particulars he has performed his task in a manner altogether unexceptionable. generation demands its story to be added to the record of the past. Rich as Virginia confessedly is in historic interest, few have been the attempts to gather up the treasures which enrich the pages of the annalist. Even the Historical Society was suffered to decline and become almost extinct, until it was recently revived by the patriotic zeal of its present Corresponding Secretary. Under the fostering care of the gentlemen who now compose the officers and executive committee, (many of them eminent for their devotion to the best interests of the State,) the Society must exert an influence which will give a healthful and vigorous impulse to the fortunes of the Commonwealth. In the words of its distinguished President-"Too long have we followed after strange gods, and turned our backs upon those of our own household. The false glare of national honors has been wont to dazzle the eyes of Virginians, and make them forget the duty and service they owe, primarily, to their own state. At last, a happy change has arisen, and we see them returning with gifts and offerings to their paternal altars.” With regard to the literary merits and style of the work, a question might be raised. There is, in the first volume particularly, a tendency to an orpate and elaborate diction, which does not altogether accord with true taste. We remember to have heard of an old-field schoolmaster, who attempted to teach Latin, a language which he did not happen to understand himself. His class of half-adozen sprightly boys, soon discovered that their master was no Roman, and consequently gave themselves no trouble in the way of preparation for recitation. But when the hour arrived, their custom was, first to read a line of Latin, and then extemporise some English sentence. The teacher suspected the trick, and sometimes interrupted the translator with the exclamation, "Bless me! boys, that is a great deal of English for that little Latin !" So occasionally we have blessed ourselves and author, as we exclaimed, surely here are a great many words for this short idea. But after all, this is a minor blemish, and this very flowing exuberance of epithet, is that which constitutes one charm of the work in the eyes of many readers. Provided it be clear and natural, we are as little disposed to critieise for any peculiarity of style as of physiognomy. There is a miserable cant upon this subject which deserves to be rebuked. Every writer has a method of expressing his thoughts peculiar to himself. Cultivation may indeed do much to modify and improve it. Still, if he be a man of sterling sense, he will write, as well as speak, in his own way. It may not be the best style, but it is his, and it is better than any imitation even of a superior. "Ut bene currere non potest qui pedum ponere studet in alienis tantum vestigiis, ita nec bene scribere qui tanquam de præscripto non audet egredi." Mr. Howison expresses himself in the manner most natural to him. What has, to others, the appearance of being highly elaborate, is, in all probability, more easy of execution to him than a perfectly plain style. Nor can it ever be said that he fails to make his meaning clear. Whatever his phraseology, there is never a moment's doubt as to the idea expressed. This is an excellency which more than cancels the Hast thou travelled the rocks and the dust of the road defect alluded to,—a defect corrected, or scarcely apparent in the second volume. We have now a History of Virginia which has found favor at the bar of the great public,-one brought down to our own times-the chronicle of events which have transpired within the observation of all. But History itself does not terminate with the close of the Historian's volumes. "Labitur et labetur in omne volubilis ævum," a stream which will not cease to flow until "the last syllable of recorded time." Each succeeding The mother of States owes it to herself, and to her daughters and sisters of the Union, to gather and safely treasure up all the monuments of her past renown, together with every thing in her present condition that might prove instructive to future generations. We tender to Mr. Howison our thanks for his contribution to this interesting and important department. THE CASTLE OF DREAMS. BY WILLIAM H. HOLCOMBE. Hast thou lived in the city and looked far away To the bright-mantled mountains that bounded the view, And hast thou not wished on a sweet summer day To roam the old forest 'mid flowers and dew? Nor longed to some meadow to turn thee aside, Where a devious stream with its white bosom flowed And soft to each other birds called and replied? Have the roses of youth to be thornless not proven? The voices of eld whisper sweet in its halls, Madison, Indiana, STARS AND STEAMERS. ing of the Convention. I also heard him speak of a railroad from the Mississippi to the Pacific, (in about the direction of that advocated by Lieut. Maury,) in connection with our trade and interMR. EDITOR :-The perusal of Lieut Maury's course with China; and he stated a fact related to late contributions to the Messenger has afforded me, him by some naval officer,-of a body having been as I doubt not it has numerous others, the pleasure brought by the natural currents of the ocean to the and information which his writings are always coast of California from some of the Pacific is calculated to impart. In one article, we plainly landers, -as indicating that those currents might discover his most comprehensive views in relation be rendered available in navigation to China. But, to Astronomy, and his enthusiastic yearning, grasp as well as I remember, he contemplated the route ing after further revelations from the abysses of by the Sandwich Islands; and I believe Lieut. M. space. In the other, we find him, guided by that is the first who has pointed out the important dif science to which he is devoting his time so honor-ference between measuring the route to China upon ably to himself and to the nation, measuring off the flat projected maps and a "great circle" of our new and shorter channels for the future prosperity globe; and the great advantage of making the Aleuof our country. Star-gazing in his hands thus be- tian, or Fox Islands, the depot for our steamers, comes eminently practical and useful; and more instead of the out-o'-the-way Sandwich. than once has he taken peeps into the prospective interests of his country scarcely less novel and prophetic than those by which Le Verriere reveal-teristic enthusiasm, urged his system of public de ed a new planet, before its appearance to the observer of the heavens. But great as is my admiration of the "Superintendent of the National Observatory," I value his friendship too highly even to appear to flatter him; and it is not my object in now addressing you to commend him, but to ask the attention of your readers to a few topics suggested by the articles to which I have alluded. At the great Memphis Convention over which Mr. Calhoun presided, in November, 1845, no interest was so strongly represented, nor so boldly advocated, as that of Internal Improvement by means of railroads. The Atlantic and the Mississippi were to be speedily united by new lines of railroad from Charleston and from some point in Virginia to Memphis: from this great stem innumerable branches were to shoot off to the Gulf of Mexico and its tributaries, and to the heart of Tennessee and of other States; whilst the great stem itself was to be pushed on westward from some point in Arkansas, or Louisiana, and ultimately to reach California. The veteran General Gaines, with his charac fence by means of railroads and magnetic telegraph, and not only took part in what I have alluded to whilst ascending the Mississippi; but at the Coavention, being called forth, made a speech which was received with great applause. Among other things, he spoke of the projected railroad westward of the Mississippi, and with a bold inuendo, in fu accordance with the subsequent policy of our gov. ernment, said, "and that will be right on the route to California!" Mr. Whitney, author of a scheme for a railroad to the Pacific, through the more northern parts of our territory, was also at the Memphis Convention; and some of the northern delegations were indoetrinated with his views. Part of his views were worthy of universal espousal : he could hardly exaggerate the value and importance of turning the tide of trade, travel and correspondence with the populous east, through the United States; and hav ing visited China and also informed himself fro other authentic sources, he was a credible exhibiter of the commercial advantages to be secured by us. Of all these there was no doubt: great nations Going up the Mississippi, Mr. Calhoun collected had been made by the temporary enjoyment of com the views of various delegates to the Convention, paratively a small portion of the treasures of the in reference to their respective schemes of im- east; and undone by the loss of them. Our ow provement; and as each new scheme was pointed country's resources are independent of these con out, he with his usual system and accuracy traced tributions of the East, and will exalt her prosperi it on the map. At length an engineer from Lou-ty without them; but her prosperity, like that of isiana undertook to mark, in India ink upon a large Venice, would be superbly augmented by their se map of the United States, the principal routes in cession; and though, unlike Venice, she could love contemplation; and when the result was exhibited, them without material injury, what competitor coul most beautiful and complete was the net-work of ever deprive her of them? Admitting all this ramifying improvements. One thing was render- however, Mr. Whitney's earnest efforts can hardly ed quite conspicuous, that nearly all this immense remove the difficulties and objections to his scheme web of rail-roads branched off from Atalanta, a though I believe Congress has several times beca point in Georgia, on her great western highway, very near embracing it. already passed this fact was announced with much emphasis by Mr. Calhoun in his speech at the open The scheme of Captain Wilkes is of more re cent concoction, or at least of more recent promi |