Page 55 - Hampdens Monument Unveiled

example be wanted, let the brief debate and the paltry division
on the motion for the repeal of the Septennial Act be taken -be
referred to : sixty nine members were present on Tuesday night,
when the motion for the repeal of this grossly unconstitutional
act was brought forward, and twenty three only were found to
express their attachment to the constitution, as settled by the
Revolution, by voting for the repeal of this usurping Act.

Even those amongst us, who are esteemed the foremost men of
the Day,-the Greys, the Althorps, the Russells -have their
type, not in HAMPDEN, but in Essex, the half-hearted
Parliamentary General, who, by indecision and fear of victory,
prolonged and exasperated the struggle, and left bloody work
for his successors. We will not draw out the parallel, nor more
distinctly point out the shortcomings of modern patriots, by
which evils have been prolonged, the safety of the state
endangered, and a powerful and protracted struggle for just
government entailed upon our countrymen.

Turn we for a moment to a pleasanter subject -the speech of
Dr. Hampden; which was indeed the utterance of the Christian
Patriot, and most felicitously appropriate. While Lord Nugent
had described the steady, resolute courage with which HAMPDEN
devoted himself to the cause of his country, Dr. Hampden marked
the spirit which animated the patriot: he who feared no other,
feared God; and addressed himself to his great work,

"As ever in his great Task-master's eye."

This gave elevation, and dignity, and heroic courage, to
HAMPDEN and his great compatriots, and enabled him, when heart
and flesh failed, and while the clay tabernacle of his heroic
spirit was rudely stricken down, and the pains of death were
upon him, to look up to the Great Father of spirits, to commend
his soul to his Redeemer, and his country to the ''LORD GOD OF
HOSTS."