THE FOURTH OF JULY.-Let us use the old hackneyed phrase, and say "the glorious Fourth," the ever glorious Fourth; and may Heaven forbid that it shall ever lose a ray of its past and present lustre in the estimation of the world, while the world stands! On that day, as each revolving year comes round, old men grow young again, the American heart expands, and glows, and warms, and a renewed vigor takes possession of the freeman's blood. He exults, he is proud, he is happy! He hears the peal of joy ring forth from a thousand spires, as the sun looks out from the eastern horizon. He hears the reverberating peals of artillery hailing the newborn anniversary of a free nation. He sees the gorgeous stripes and stars, the emblem of his country's liberty and his own; it floats gracefully and proudly from every mast-head and flag-staff in the Union-the happy Union of thirty independent States. He beholds the marching columns of citizen soldiery, and listens to the music of their well-trained and eloquent bands, as they pour forth their strains of eulogy and joy in the name of Liberty; and he thinks-ay, he thinks of the days that are gone; he thinks of oppression and resistance, of the heavy hand and the brave heart; he thinks of multiplied cruelties and bloody sacrifices; of Bunker's Hill, and Valley Forge, and then of Yorktown; and his soul is swayed with emotion. He thinks of the Continental Congress, and of GEORGE WASHINGTON, the immaculate patriot, and of John Adams, and the long list of noble spirits who struggled on, on, on, through the tedious ordeal to the last the glorious finality of toil, and blood, and sacrifice. And then he thinks of the result; of the confirmation of that great declaration, the Declaration of Independence, and its consequences, the erection of the Republic, a Republic of Freemen; and his glowing mind traces its progress step by step from tottering infancy to vigorous manhood, until his blood glows warm, and his heart beats proudly, filled as it is with the honor and glory of his country-his native land! He is young again, and with a renewed zest he mingles his voice with the joyous shouts of the junior generations that surround him. THE FOURTH OF JULY! It is near at hand, and it is a day to be free-hearted and happy; it is not a day for formal deliberations and ceremonious conventions. Why was the Ame rican Convention called at Trenton, the scene of the Hessian overthrow, on that day? Because it is appropriate. True, but would it not be equally appropriate, and could you not deliberate as calmly and as effectively, on any other day? Well, no matter. Meet then, and, if you can be calm amidst the universal commotion, deliberate, deliberate as your forefathers did, for your country's good, its honor, its glory, and the perpetuity of its blessed confederation of States. Do that, and let there be no admixture of fanaticism and nonsense in your deliberations. Turn out the first man that talks about free soil or free negroes: they are questions for your philanthropy, not your patriotism, and you have no right to name them in a National Convention. You might as well introduce a discussion on spiritual manifestation and electropsychology. It is the day of the nation's jubilee, and the people of the nation will make it a holiday; even the ox shall be free from the yoke, the slave from his labor, and the stranger within our gates shall unite in the universal pæan of praise and joy. He too shall be made happy, and his heart shall fill with thankfulness that there is yet "a balm in Gilead,” a refuge for the oppressed. THOMAS FRANCIS MEAGHER.-This young Irish patriot and orator having escaped the clutches of his jailers in Van Diemen's Land, reached this country during the month of May. His countrymen hereabout immediately determined on giving him a triumphal entry into the city, but, after making extensive preparations and coercing the Common Council into the formula of a civic invitation at the expense of the tax-payers, the good sense and true patriotism of Mr. Meagher were sible to the little spirits who thought to make developed in a manner utterly incomprehena political lion of him. When the Common Council of the city, under the dictation of an Irish conclave, tendered him the contemplated honors, he declined accepting them, and answered the Committee in a speech far more creditable to himself than all the hollowhearted ovations that could have been bestowed. We make a short extract from his address in reply to the Committee: "Whilst my country remains in sorrow and subjection, it would be indelicate of me to participate in the festivities you propose. When she lifts her head and nerves her arm for a bolder struggle, when she goes forth, like Miriam, with song and timbrel to celebrate her victory, I too shall lift up my head, and join in the hymn of freedom. Till then, the retirement I seek will best accord with the love I bear her, and the sadness which her present fate inspires. "Nor do I forget the companions of my exile. My heart is with them at this hour, and shares the solitude in which they dwell. The freedom that has been restored to me is embittered by the recollection of their captivity. While they are in prison, a shadow rests upon my spirit, and the thoughts that might otherwise be free throb heavily within me. It is painful for me to speak. I should feel happy in being permitted to be silent. "For these reasons you will not feel displeased with me for declining the honors you solicit me to accept." These are sentiments of patriotism which cannot fail to operate as a severe comment on the bogus article so generally palined off upon us by our "distinguished exiles." We hope Mr. Meagher will not be spoiled by keeping. GENERAL SCOTT'S NATIVISM.-Considerable effort has been made of late to gain the American sympathy on behalf of General Scott, by publishing a letter written by him in 1844 to George Washington Read, Esq., of Philadelphia, in which he avowed his inclination to a repeal of all aets of Congress on the subject of naturalization, and endorsed the entire creed of the Native American party. It is a great pity that General Scott had not proven his sincerity in what he then wrote by reiterating his principles, or else remaining silent on the subject; but he has seen fit to do neither, and we are under the painful necessity of re-publishing a letter written by him. in 1848, entirely repudiating every thing that he said in 1844. Here is the letter: WASHINGTON, May 29, 1848. DEAR SIR:--In reply to your kind letter of the 8th inst., I take pleasure in stating that, grateful for the too partial estimate you place on my public services, you do me no more than justice in assuming that I entertain "kind and liberal views towards our naturalized citizens." Certainly it would be impossible for me to recommend or support any measure intended to exclude them from a just and full participation in all civil and political rights now secured to them by our Republican laws and institutions. It is true, that in a season of unusual excitement, years ago, when both parties complained of fraudulent practices in the naturalization of foreigners, and when there seemed to be danger that native and adopted citizens would be permanently arrayed against each other in hostile factions, I was inclined to concur in the opinion then avowed by leading statesmen, that some modification of the naturalization laws might be necessary, in order to prevent abuses, allay strife, and restore harmony be tween the different classes of our people. But later experience and reflections have entirely removed this impression, and dissipated my apprehensions. In my recent campaign in Mexico, a very large proportion of the men under my command were your countrymen, Irish, Germans, &c. I witnessed with admiration their zeal, fidelity, and valor in maintaining our flag in the face of every danger, vieing with each other and our native-born soldiers in the same ranks in patriotism, constancy, and heroic daring. I was happy to call them brothers in the field, as I shall always be to salute them as countrymen at home. I remain, dear sir, with great esteem, yours truly, WM. E. ROBINSON, Esq. WINFIELD SCOTT. AMERICAN CONVENTION.-We perceive that an American Republican National Convention is to be holden at Trenton, N. J., on the 5th of July inst. As there is no organization of that party in New-York at present, we have not heard that our State will be represented. We intend to be there, however, all things permitting, not as a delegate, but as a looker-on, and we know that among Americans we shall not be regarded as a stranger. DEMOCRATIC FREE SOILERS BOLTING.-By the following notice, which appeared in the New-York Herald of June 21st, it appears that the Free Soil members of the Democratic party cannot support Mr. Pierce, and intend to place a candidate of their own in the field: NATIONAL CONVENTION. Notice is hereby given that a National Convention of delegates of the free democracy will assemble at the city of Pittsburg on Wednesday, the 11th day of August next, at noon, for the purpose of selecting candidates for the offices of President and Vice-President of the United States. Friends of the principles declared at Buffalo, at the memorable Convention of August, 1848, are requested within their respective States and Congressional districts to meet and elect delegates wherever the same has not already been done, each State being entitled to three times the number of its delegation in the Congress of the United States. By order of the General Free Soil Committee. SAMUEL LEWIS, Chairman. Washington, June 19, 1852. CHIT-CHAT WITH OUR READERS. have almost come to be considered as public property. The Corporation of New-York will have to hurry up some new breathingplace for their sweating constituency. Enlarge and beautify the Battery; buy a new park; do something of this ilk, and it shall compensate for a multitude of official shortcomings. If you reap nothing else, the bless HOBOKEN.-The beauty of this suburban retreat is rapidly giving way to the unsparing Moloch of thrift and the demands of private comfort or caprice. The entrance to the Elysian groves is becoming gradually barricaded with bricks and mortar, and that once mag-ings of an imported posterity will follow nificent walk through the umbrageous vista along the top of the bluff has been curtailed by a most vandal-like cut-off in the shape of an unpoetic-looking board fence. The stream of promenaders is here turned down hill with as little ceremony as you would turn a watercourse; and having arrived at the bottom, you are appropriately reminded that it is time to "wet the whistle" by being brought vis-à-vis with a beer-shop at the Sybil's Cave. This is deemed by some a capital speculation, since by the ruse every man's necessities are brought to one man's door, and he, good Samaritan-like, stands ready to relieve at once the necessities and the pockets, albeit there may be some who would prefer to avoid the publicity and the penalty of passing in review before his thirst-quenching verandah. Having passed the drinking-place, you are again permitted to climb the hill or not, as you please; though an intimation that the proprietor would prefer you should do so is presented in the shape of a huge wooden bar placed across the river road and chained to a couple of posts, which will become smoother after enjoying the friction of ladies' dresses for a few years. There are four ways of passing this barricade: First, by jumping into the North River and swimming past it; second, by climbing over it; third, by bobbing under it, duck fashion; and fourth, by squeezing through a space about wide enough to admit a grown terrier, between the rough post, landside, and the corner of a brick wall: either of which must necessarily call for a series of female posturing not laid down in the science of calisthenics. Every admirer, man, woman, or child, of that long-enjoyed retreat of beauty, must regret these unnecessary and seemingly wanton innovations upon their pleasure; and since the proprietors of the grounds, through long years of profit and a ferry monopoly, have invited the people of New-York to pay them tribute for the privilege of a stroll on the Jersey shore, the very grounds themselves you.—LORD MAYOR OF New-York.-A few days since, a friend of ours, passing through the vestibule of the City Hall, was accosted by an honest but verdant Hibernian of the hod-and-trowel fraternity, with the following unsophisticated inquiry: “Plaise, sir, can ye tell me where I shall find the Lord Mayor ?" The association of ideas, growing spontaneously from this simple query, was irresistible. Imagine, His Lordship, Ambrose C. Kingsland; or Ambrose C. Kingsland, Lord Mayor of Gotham; or Lord Mayor Ambrose C. Kingsland! How sweetly ridiculous! How exquisitely absurd! Our friend was so completely absorbed with the liquid harmony of this new notion, that incontinently he referred the inquisitive Milesian to Tammany Hall. -THE "DEUTSCHES BOLTSBLATT," published at Wheeling, Va., come to us for an exchange. We should be very happy to accommodate our outlandish neighbor, for, without doubt, there is a vast deal of exquisite reading in his German text columns; but as the Boltsblatt is printed in the hardest kind of choice Dutch, a language that we plead guilty to an entire ignorance of, (except low Dutch,) it will readily be seen that we can make no legitimate use of it. Now, if Mynheer Von Weber will just oblige us by printing his paper in the language of our country, we shall take pleasure in sending the Republic in exchange for the Boltsblatt. -THE following little jeu de mot is perhaps old enough to be as good as new. It is at least good enough to be read twice: "A certain priest had hoarded up "At last it came into his mind, "Took out the gold, and blotted out Here God is. -WE see that the diabolical spirit of Antirentism is again playing its pranks in this State. A few days since, Mr. Wait, a highly respectable gentleman of Springfield, Mass., was coolly shot down by a gang of disguised Anti-renters in Nassau, near the village of Alps, Rensselaer county. He was visiting his brother-in-law, Mr. Vining, residing in that town, who is the occupant of a portion of land recently purchased from Mr. Van Rensselaer. When will the remorseless demon of party permit the punishment of these murderers, and restore order in that district of outlaws? TO CORRESPONDENTS. L. A. P.-On behalf of the Republic we thank you for the flattering and encouraging compli ments contained in your note, and should be most happy to comply with your request regarding the poetic production of your friend, did the subject of your solicitude warrant it. The cause of our declining is the secret of your admiration of our magazine: we aim to serve our readers with the best of every thing, and although we might strain a point to encourage and develop the pin-feathers of genius, we claim that our protégé shall be not on the minor side of mediocrity at the first flutter. But this is not all. The making of rhymes is at the best but a seductive calling, calculated to wean an otherwise good mechanic and an industrious pair of hands from the means of getting an honest livelihood; and we have no notion of becoming particeps criminis in so wicked a transaction. AMUSEMENTS. BROADWAY THEATRE.-The management at the Broadway has just given its patrons a taste of the good olden time, by engaging Madame Celeste and the Seguin opera troupe. For some years past, the public of New-York have had but glimpses of these favorites, in occasional and brief engagements, and their late appearance at the Broadway met with decided and general approbation. Celeste played her farewell night to the American stage on Saturday, June 19th, and is now about to return again to Europe, carrying with her as heretofore an unblemished reputation both in her public and private character. The present attraction at the Broadway is the engagement of Mr. and Mrs. Barney Williams, both long and favorably known to the frequentors of the minor theatres. With all his talent as an amongst us. The complaint has been that American actors were deemed least available by the several managements. We are forced to the idea, therefore, that it was Mr. Williams' modesty alone that has kept him off the boards. A new melodramatic spectacle to be shortly produced, is underlined for the Broadway stage. We learn that Mr. A. H. Winslow, a youthful American of great histriome promise, will play a short engagement after the Williams', in the line of Shakspearean characters. The present season will close about the 12th of July. NATIONAL THEATRE-During the past month, the east-side public have been favored with a farewell glimpse of Miss Fanny Wallack, who entered into an engagement with the manager of the National prior to her departure for Europe, performing in consort with Mr. J. R. Scott. This engagement concluded, Mr. Purdy has, after great preparation, brought out a new national drama, entitled "Rebels and Tories, or the Shoemaker of New-York in 1774." This piece has been adapted to the stage from Mr. Lawrence Labree's romance of the same name, and those who have read the one may form some idea of its capabilities for grand scenic effect. The play appears very ap propriately in the vicinity of the Nation's Jubilee. The Irish comedian Mr. Redmond Ryan is also performing at the National. BARNUM'S MUSEUM.-A number of living celebri ties have just been added to the numerous attrac tions of this popular place of amusement and instruction, comprising a bona fide African ostrich, standing about seven feet high, without stockings, a couple of those tropical snakes known as anacondas, and another couple, cousins german to the former, called boa constrictors, the whole measuring an aggregate of about one hundred feet of snake flesh; a regular specimen of the Borneo woodman, or orang-outang, besides sundry imitations of the smaller sort. A tableau of moving figures, life size, representing Lord Byron and the Greek revolutionists, attracts, as it deserves, very general attention. The figure of Byron, judging from the best portraits that have come to our notice, is admirable as a likeness, and the action of the several figures is far more natural and graceful than we usually see in those mechanical combinations. The Lecture Room entertainments are continued as usual, every afternoon and evening. Oratorio of the "WALDENSES."-This oratorio, the work of Mr. A. Abbott of this city, was brought out by the Harmonic Society, on Wednesday evening, June 16th, at the Broadway Tabernacle. The composition is a very excellent one, and testifies emphatically to the high musical ability and attainments of the author. We cannot pronounce the effort one of genius, as that would imply originality. So far as we could judge, there is very little, if any, original matter in it; it is rather scientific than otherwise. It was not presented with any attempt to create a noise among the public; neither solo performers of any great stamp were selected for the solo parts, nor was there, with the exception of a piano, any instrumental accompaniment. We are of opinion, that were this work given with first rate solo and orchestral accessories, it would produce a remarkable sensation among true musical circles. Justice will not permit us to review, much less criticise, it on a début so inauspicious as that of its first public rehearsal. We therefore wait till its repetition with fitting accompaniments. Whether that repetition will ever come we are not assured; but we have an idea that, like every thing American, it will, politely speaking, be deluged with cold water. BUSINESS NOTICES. A COMPLETE PRINTING Establishment is a thing not only essential in a business community, but a thing beautiful to look upon and contemplate. The neatness of every department, where an hundred intelligences are employed in the completion of the work, from the setting of the type to the removal of the clean-printed sheets from the hydraulic press; the noiseless motion of a beautiful steam-engine which silently but faithfully VOL. IV. transmits its gigantic power to the numerous presses employed in working off the impressions; the order and regularity with which every thing is conducted under the direction of careful managers; and the rapidity with which the electric fire of thought is conveyed from the author's mind to the printer's "form," from that to the press, and thence to the world, are all objects that may be witnessed with delight. Such an establishment is that of JOHN A. GRAY, Esq., at the corner of Cliff and Frankfort streets, occupying three large lofts, embracing the composing rooms, press room, drying and pressing department, and office. In this establishment all kinds of printing are executed with a regard to correctness best appreciated by the knights of the quill, and in a style of neatness of which the Republic may serve as an example. Mr. Gray has printed this magazine during the last six months, and we perform but an act of courtesy and duty in thanking him for the neat, correct, and prompt manner in which the work has been performed. COUNTRY JAUNTS occasion exposure to the rays of the source of light, and such exposure calls into being, upon the fairest complexion, those mottled vexations called freckles. Our city belles generally place a just estimate on personal beauty, to which the family of freckles aforesaid are the sworn enemy. It stands them in hand, therefore, to give battle with the foe, and Dr. Felix Gourand gallantly offers to become their ally and champion, promising, with the use of his Italian Medicated Soap, to exterminate the enemy, spot and blemish. The Doctor has also a variety of beautifying cosmetics, etc., all of which may be found, as per advertisement, at No. 67 Walker street. BOOTS AND SHOES.-Cool and comfortable footgear is an essential in this midsummer weather, and a neat fitting gaiter, pump, or light boot, becomes the "thing needful." For such a matter of luxury, combined in its obtainment with economy, we beg to refer every body to the store of Messrs Bigelow & Gedney, No. 142 Chatham street. SALT WATER BATHING.-There is nothing like a salt water bath to invigorate the frame in warm weather; and perhaps no city in the world is better provided with the pure element than NewYork and its vicinity. The ladies and gentlemen of our sunburnt metropolis will learn with great pleasure that their old friends, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas, are again at their post in charge of Washington Bath, north side of Castle Garden bridge. This Bath has become celebrated for its size, convenience for families, and its admirable regula. tions. 4 |