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The sculptured column^ and proud mausoleum 

 might (and should) adorn that spot- — but in the 

 scene as nature's hand has left it — in the murmurs 

 of the breeze^ the majestic flow of the Potomac^ and 

 the solemn stillness of the grove, broken only by the 

 wild bird's note — above all, in the yet unfaded and 

 unaltered walks of that garden of Washington there 

 is a memorial, which the ^storied urn or animated 

 bust could never give.' It is the pathos and truth 

 of nature, — This theme is carrying me beyond my 

 purpose — you will pardon the digression— I must 

 pause. 



Before us this evening is spread out a rich ban- 

 quet — the strawberry and cherry, — the more substan- 

 tial offerings for the kitchen are here, also, presenting 

 a rotundity and condition which an alderman might 

 envy ; among them there doubtless is, that talisman of 

 fortune — the golden fleece of the vegetable world — I 

 allude to the morus multicaulis, for the culture of 

 which, it is feared, all things else may be abandoned; 

 so warm is the fever which its prosperous fortunes 

 have excited, that, it is said, ^a loving swain in one 

 of the fertile counties on the Eastern Shore, was 

 breathing to his lady-love the most empassioned vows, 

 and had put the solemn and interesting question, 

 upon a favourable answer to which his happiness 

 depended, when she, with much enthusiasm, replied 

 by asking him another question, do you grow the 



