264 Architecture in the United States. ;'; 



On the other sides, ' - 



" Homage 



to more than 120 religeuse, 



to a large number of physicians and surgeons, 



who died victims to their zeal 



to succour and console the dying. 



Homage to Clement XI. 



who nourished Marseilles when afflicted. 



Homage to a Tunisian Rais, 



who respected the gift 



which a Pope made to the distressed." 



What incentives to noble feeling may be gathered from that sim- 

 ple pillar. Let us come home now. Philadelphia was visited about 

 thirty years since, by a plague equal in its horrors and ravages to 

 any on record ; has it any public tribute to the courage and magna- 

 nimity of those men who stood, thinking only of others, amid its ap- 

 palling scenes ? Rush has gone down full of honors to the grave ; the 

 rest will soon follow. What a lesson of gratitude for present health, 

 and of human virtue bold, firm and triumphant in danger, might 

 be taught there on a monument, even of the plainest and simplest kind. 



I have a word more on public monuments. Congress once pass- 

 ed a vote requesting the remains of Washington, that they might 

 erect a cenotaph over them. The family, though in deep affliction 

 at their still recent loss, granted the request : — nothing further has been 

 done. I will make no comment and will pass the disgraceful matter 

 by. They who say, as has been said in Congress, that the whole na- 

 tion, or the whole world is the cenotaph of Washington, utter senti- 

 ments too fine for our earthly senses ; they should oifer it to ethereal 

 beings, for it is like the gauze of ancient Cos, — woven wind. 



I shall speak of the architecture of arches and columns and obe- 

 lisks, at another time : at present their position is the object to be 

 discussed. Such objects always appear best on high ground, and 

 situations should there be reserved for them. We may not desire 

 them now but other generations will : let us shew regard to their wants 

 and interests : we are fond enough of making our boast of the fu- 

 ture : let us shew that we are proud of it, by giving it reason to be 

 proud of us. 



Fountains will do very well on lower ground. They are so rare 

 among us that the reader will be startled at the name. Baltimore I 

 believe has two natural fountains : Philadelphia had formerly a hand- 

 some jet in Market street, and I still recollect what cheerful feelings 

 the report of it mingled with my early ideas of that city: but, I be- 



