eous palaces,
The solemn temples, yea the great globe itself
Shall dissolve, and like the baseless fabric
Of a vision, leave not a wreck behind!'

May we not in these things read deep lessons applicable to ourselves? The
history of the people whose noble works I have endeavored to describe,
should in the first place teach us how noble a thing it is to construct
works of beauty and utility, not only for our own gratification, but for
the benefit of posterity also. The selfish and unreflecting, even the
modern utilitarian, will perhaps laugh at the thought, and say: 'What
folly to undertake such labors for the benefit of posterity! We will labor
for ourselves.' I would ask such persons, what would have been our state
if the ancients had entertained such grovelling notions? Do they not know
that most of the elegant as well as the useful, is the rich bequest of
these ancients whom they affect to despise? There is not in the whole city
of New-York a house, however lowly, but in some part of it I could point
out a moulding or an ornament that comes from the ancients. But there are
other points of view perhaps of higher consequence. Their temples were
erected to the gods; mistaken as they were in their religious notions, we
Christians may be put to shame by the devotion of the pagan. Not to man
were their temples erected. Man enjoyed their beauty; gazed with
admiration on their exquisite forms, and lingered under their shady
porticoes; but the eye of the god to whom each temple was dedicated was
supposed to be on the work, and the aim of the builders was perfection in
every part; and even that which the eye of the multitude never rested on,
was finished with elaborate care. I would ask, is there such a lofty
feeling among us? Are we willing to expend toil and cost on that which
will never gratify our senses? You will answer no. Is not this then a
lesson to us? Another view of the matter: These works of art were the
objects of veneration and love; city vied with city in their construction;
it was a noble emulation--think you not _nobler_ than the competition for
sordid gold? The citizen gazed with pride upon the marble triumphs of his
native place; he loved it more than ever, and felt his patriotism kindle
as he gazed.

Let us not think that rail-roads and canals are the only works worthy of
modern civilization. If we look to intents, (and what ought we to look
at?) I doubt much but the ancients rose superior to us. We a