"Montgomery and Warren still live in our songs; Like them our young heroes shall spurn at our wrongs, The world shall admire, The zeal and the fire, Which blaze in the toast We Columbians boast, The Federal Constitution, and its advocates forever. "When an enemy threats all party shall cease; Friends or foes to suborn, Which as freemen we boast, The Federal Constitution, and Integrity forever. "Fame's trumpet shall swell in Washington's praise, Of delight round his head No nation can boast Such a man-such a toast The Federal Constitution boys, and Washington forever." In those days of pure and undivided patriotism, there "could not be gotten together any large public assembly withont a considerable spice of the Revolution being among it. The soldiers and sailors of the war for liberty abounded in all public places, and no sooner would their old chief appear, than off came each hat, and the shout of welcome resounded, pure, spontaneous-direct from the heart.” A piece of music, set for the harpsichord, entitled the "President's March," was composed in 1789, by a German named Fayles, on the occasion of Washington's first visit to a theatre in New York. "When it was announced that President Washington would attend, the theatres of that day would be crowded from top to bottom, as many to see the hero as the play. Upon the President's entering the stage-box with his family, the orchestra would strike up the 'President's March,' and the audience would applaud. This March was generally called for by the deafening din of an hundred voices at once, and upon its being played, three hearty cheers would rock the building to its base." But from behind the war-cloud of '98, which obscured the happy land of Washington, arose the bright star of "HAIL COLUMBIA," and took its place in the canopy of nations. As the stars have ever been "the points where all that ever lived have met, the great, the small, the evil and the good; the prince, the warrior, the statesman, sage; and as every man that has looked up from the earth to the firmament has met every other man among the stars, for all have seen them alike," even so shall all men-progenitors, cotemporaries, and posterity, in the land consecrated by the footprints of Washington-meet at "Hail Columbia," and bless that bright star which first found its orbit in 1798. In this year, Joseph Hopkinson, son of Francis Hopkinson, Esq a signer of the Declaration of Independence, wrote "Hail Columbia,” in Philadelphia, for a young actor there, named Fox. Mr. Hopkinson was then a rising young lawyer, of twenty-eight years of age. "At that time war with France was expected, and a patriotic feeling pervaded the community. Mr. Fox, a young singer and actor, called upon Mr. Hopkinson one morning, and said, “To-morrow evening is appointed for my benefit at the theatre. Not a single box has been taken, and I fear there will be a thin house. If you will write me some patriotie verses to the tune of the President's March, I feel sure of a full house. Several people about the theatre have attempted it, but they have come to the conclusion it cannot be done, yet I think you may succeed." Mr. Hopkinson retired to his study, wrote the first verse and chorus, and submitted them to Mrs. Hopkinson, who sang them to a harpsichord accompaniment. The tune and the words harmonized. The song was soon finished, and that evening the young actor received it. We copy from an edition which appeared in the spring of '99. Hail Columbia! happy land, Hail ye heroes, heaven-born band, Who fought and bled in Freedom's cause, And when the storm of war was gone, Rallying round our Liberty, Immortal Patriots! rise once more, Rallying round our Liberty, Sound, sound, the trump of fame, Ring through the world with loud applause, Let every clime to Freedom dear, Listen with a joyful ear With equal skill, with God-like power, He governs in the fearful hour Of horrid war, or guides with ease, Behold the chief who now commands, The rock on which the storm will beat, "The next morning the theatre placards announced that Mr. Fox would sing a new patriotic song. The house was crowded, the song was sung, the audience was delighted, eight times it was called for, and repeated, and when sung the ninth time, the whole audience stood up and joined in the chorus. bia' was applauded in the theatres; and in a few days it was the universal song of the boys in the street." Night after night 'Hail Colum We have not seen that writers have fixed the precise time in '98, when Mr. Hopkinson penned "Hail Columbia." Good authority gives "the summer of 1798," but it must have dated back to a time quite early in that year, for Edward Livingston, in a speech in Congress on the "Alien Bill," the 21st of June, appears to quote it as follows-"Do not let us be told, sir, that we excite a fervor against foreign aggression only to establish tyranny at home; that like the archtraitor, we cry 'Hail Columbia' at the moment we are betraying her to destruction; that we sing out 'happy land,' when we are plunging it to ruin and disgrace, and that we are absurd enough to call ourselves free and enlightened, while we advocate principles that would have disgraced the age of Gothic barbarity and established a code, compared with which the ordeal is wise, and the trial by battle is merciful and just." But soon "the attitude assumed by the United States, and the appearance of Washington at the head of the army, humbled the French Directory, and President Adams was encouraged to send representatives to France again. When they arrived, towards the close of 1799, the weak Directory were no more. Napoleon Bonaparte was at the head of the government as First Consul, and soon the cloud of war that hung between the United States and France, was dissipated." It was in November, 1781, soon after the memorable surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown, that a band of gentlemen and ladies, vocal and instrumental musicians of great powers, assembled in the "Temple of Minerva," represented at the hotel of the Minister of France, in Philadelphia. A stage was erected on which was personified the "Genius of America," the "Genius of France," and the "High Priest of Minerva." In scene the first, the doors of the sanctuary being shut, the genius of America first appeared and sang- "My warlike sons-the sons of fame, In deeds of virtue bold; Among the nations humbly claim, An honored place to hold." The genius of France waved her bright wings, and replied- Make her valiant sons thy care; Give! O give! her honored name." The high priest of Minerva, advancing in sacerdotal splendor, sang in reply "From the censer clouds ascending, Hearts and voices sweetly blending; Shall to Minerva grateful prove, And call down blessings from above." Scene the second.-The doors of the sanctuary thrown open, and the high priest advancing a little further, continued— "Behold the great daughter of Jove, Behold, how resplendent in light! |