The royal gazette — [Charleston] S.C., 1782-02-09 00:00:00, page 3

In the mean time, as the twig inclined too much one way,'
we are obliged to Dr. Johnson for bending Wrongly towards
the other, which may make it strait at fail,
We cannot difmif; rh'is article without congratulating the
publick, on the extraordinary pains and industry which our
excellent biographer has bestowed on th; life of Pope. Much
moieis said of him, (though not more than he deserves) than
of any other writer: every part of his character is delineated
with the greatest accuracy, and every part of his writings cri
ticifed by the nice hand of taste, judgment, and impartiality.
What is said of Pope's Letters is so just rind fcnfible, that we
cannot withhold from oar readers the roilowing quotation.
“ Of his social qualities, (fays Dr. Johnson), if an estimate
be made from his Letters, an opinion too favourable cannot
easily be formed ; they exhibit a perpetual anq unclouded efful
gence of general benevolence, and particular fopdnefs. There
is nothing but liberality, gratitude, constancy,, and tenderness.
It has been so long said as to be commonly believed, that the.
true characters of men may be found in their letters, and that
he who writes to his friend lays his heart open before him.
But the truth is, that fuch.were simple friendships of the gol
den age, and are now the friend rips only of childreh. Very
few can boast of hearts which they dare lay open to themselves,
and of wnich, by whatever accidem expefed, they do not
fliun a diftind and continued view ; and, certainly, what we
hide from ourfeKes we do not (hew to our friends. There is,
indeed, no.t/anfiCtion which offers Wronger temptations to
fallacy and sophistication than epistolary intercourse. In the
eagernef of cenyerfation She firfl emotions of the. .mind often
burst out, before they are considered; in the tumult of buij
nefs, interest and paffiun have their genuine effect ; but a
friendly letter is a calm and deliberate performance, in the cool
of leisure, in the ftilliitfs of solitude, and surely no ;nan fits
down to depreciate by design his own character.
“ Fricndfh'p has no tendency to secure veracity , for by
whom can a man so much wish obe thought better than he is,
as by him whose kindness he desires to gain or keep? Even in
writing to the world there is less constraint; the author is not
confronted with his reader, and takes his chance of approba
tion among the different dispositions of mankind ; but a letter
is addressed to a single mind, of which the prejudices and par
tialities are known; and must therefore please, if not by fa
vouring them, by forbearing to oppose them. .<
" To charge those favourable .representations, which every
tnan g ; ves of himfelf, with the guilt of hypocritical falfhood,
would show more severity than knowledge. The writer com
monly believes himfelf. Almost every man's thoughts, while
they are general, are right ; and most hearts are pure, while
temptation is away. It is easy to^waken generous sentiments
in privacy ; to defy death when there is no danger; to glow
with benevolence when there is nothing to be given. While
such ideas are formed they are felt, and felf-love does not fufped
the gleam of virtue, to be the meteor of fancy.
"If the Letters of Pope; are considered merely as composi
tions, theyfeem to be premeditated and artificial. It is one thing
to write because there is something which the mind wishes to
discharge; and another, to solicit the imagination because ce
remony or vanity requires something to be written. Pope con
feffes his early Letters to be vitiated .with afetation and am
bition? to know whether he disentangled himfelf from these
peryefters of epistolary integrity, his book and his life must be
let in comparison."
These obferyations are the rcfult of good sense, and a know
ledge of mankind, and may be ufeful by cautioning us against
forming any decisive opinion of real characters merely from the
letters of our friends ; for, as Dr. Johnson very properly observes,
" In the Letters both of Swift and Pope there appears such
narrowness of mind, as makes them insensible of any excel
lence that has not tome affinity with their own, and confines
their,efteem and approbation to so small a number, that who
ever should form his opinion of the age from their representa
tion, would suppose them to have lived amidst ignorance and
barbarity, unable to find among their contemporaries either
virtue or intelligence, and persecuted by those that could not
understand them."
In that part of the life of Pope, where mention is made of
his friend Bishop Warburton, we meet with the character of
that learned and ingenious prelate, which is drawn, as our rea
ders will fee, by a masterly hand ; and which, we think, might
stand with propriety at the head of his works, in all future
editions of them.
"About this time (fays our author) Warburton began to
make his appearance in the firft ranks of learning. He was a
man of vigorous faculties, a mind fervid and vehement, Tup
plied by incessant and unlimited enquiry, with wonderful ex
tent and variety of knowledge which yet had not oppressed his
imagination nor clouded his perspicacity. To every work he
brought a memory full fraught with a fancy fertile of original
combinations, and at once exerted the powers of the scholar,
the reasoner, and the wit. Bus his knowledge was too multi
farious to be always exact, and his pursuits were too ea
ger to be always cautious. His abilities gave him an haughty
Qnfiden.ee, which he disdained to conceal or mollify; and his
dibit ; but its revival di&uftsTS with apparent and unconquer
able falsehood. Incredulus odi.
To feleft a singular event, and fwcll it'to a giant's bulk
. fabulous appendages of fpe&res and predictions, has little
difficulty, for fc that forfakes the probable may always find
the marvellous ; and it has little use, we are affected only as
we believe; we are improved only as we find something to be
imitated or declined. I do not fee that the Bard promotes
any truth, moral or political.
" His stanzas are too long, especially his epodes; the ode
finished before the ear has learned its mcafares ? and confe
auently before it can receive pleasure from their consonance
and recurrence." . . . . . ~
Dr. Johnson then enters into a minute examination of the
several stanzas of the Bard, and concludes his criticism on the
Odes by observing that they
"Are marked by glittering accumulations of ungraceful
'ornaments; th§y strike rather than please; the images are
magnified by affectation ; the language is laboured into harlh
nefs. The mind of the writer seems to work with unnatural
violence, Double, double, toil and trouble. He has a kind of
shutting dignity, and is tall by walking on tiptoe. His art and
his struggle are too visible, and there is too little appearance of
case dr nature."
Whether the whole of this free censure is ftridly just and
well founded, we will rot pretend to determine. Certain it
is, however, at least in our opinion, that no man ever acquired
a'high reputation at so easy a rate, or received such great
cua^s for so li^ work, as Mr. Gray. On his Elegy in
a Country Church-Yard, we agree with Dr. Johnson, that too
much praise cannot, well be lavished; at the fame time we
think with him, that Gray's Odes, as well as his other little
performances, have been much over-rated. The reputation of
a poet in this country is, indeed, a matter very fluctuating and
uncertain. Whilst he lives, and perhaps many years after
wards, a proper and unbiaffed judgment of his real merit is
ftldpm found. Tt is along time before whim and caprice, pre
judice and partiality fubfide'; and the true chi after is not often
afoertained, till that of the man is entirely forgotten. Gray
has been placed by his sanguine admirers, by the fide of Dry
den and Pope. Dr. Johnson seems to have levelled him with
the minor bards of a much inferior rank : half a century hence
he may, perhaps, be fixed in his right, and proper Ration,
" Behind the foremaft, and before the last."
DRUGS, M EDI CIN ES,
AND SUNDRY
FAMILY MEDICINES, We. &W
ARE NOW SELLING OFF,
At No. 9, in Orakgi-Streit,
By Retail, much lotuer than they are fold in Charlefto„, fle Sub.
farther intending for England ranth the fr, Conoty.
The ASSORTMENT, consisting of every ufeful article, all
good and recently imported, will be fold at prime cost and charges,
to any person taking the whole, or to the amount of not Wfs than
twenty pounds. " SAMUEL CARNE.
Cbarlrfluoun, February XI, 1,81; ! f
JAMES RIFLE & Co.
No. 19, Broa^-Street,
H AV E O BEN E D
. A Large and General
ASSORTS ENT, of GOODS,
Suitable to the Season,
Which they proper felling by the Piece or elberwife, „ very renfonabie
Ter^.
Government Bill% er produce ofcany kind, will be taken in
payment; and the ftriaell attention will be given so all order#
which they may have the honour ^receiving from their friends .|
ANTHONY ROXBURGH, & Co.
_ At No. 3, Tradd^treet, opposite to Bedon\-Aliey,
- ^AIE FOR SA, E,
ThrtTlowing ARTICLES;|
Which they mill difp@cf on the tofl'ft^CTablcTerta;foe ready Money %
Bills tfEtabrage 6K Produce;
OLD Madeira Minrtf the ffrft quality, by the quartercafk
ordbZen'T* -^1 , --
Old red Poj^ditjo; bottled by Ramsay and MarfhaU
Old Sherry«Mttcjnbotttes -
Shore's bed botfcTPurter ' .' *
Single refined Loaf Sugar in fmallJoaves
Mufeovado and Qved Sugars by the barrel or smaller quantity
High proof Jamaich+nd Windward -Island Rum by the hogf
r head or the gallon ~ . ,
Real Holbndfe Geneva by.the case or gallon,
Old French Brandy by dittos
Black Pepper, Mustard, Saltpetre, Raisins, and several other
articles in the grocefy ^ay
Hvfon, Souchong and Bohea Teas
Cordage, Canvass, Paints and Oil, and several other articles
in the fhipchandlery way "
Gtafs and Earthen Ware
Soap and Candles
Low priced Irish Linens and British Ofnlburghs by the piece.
N. B. A quantity of empty BOTTLES wanted, for which a ge
nerous price will be given. f
To be Sold or Leafed,
A LOT of LAND on the south fide of Elliott-ftfeet,
No. 3, containing in front from raft to weft twenty-nine tad
one half feet, and in depth from north, to Couth eighty seven and
one half feet, on the back or fouthwardmoft part from east to weft,
thirty feet three inches. On the said Lot is a good three story brick
tenement, with a good dry cellar under a shop in said flreet, seven
feet wide and thirty-eight feet deep, with a vault under of the fame
dimensions, perfectly secure from all fire; two other cellars are like
wise already made, brick'd in, and want only coverings to be made
as dry and convenient as any in Charlbftown, a good pump of water,
and the yard well paved; in ffiort it is as convenient a lot as any in
the street without exception. Further particulars may be known by
applying on the said Lot to 16. ANDREW REID.
PUBLICKAUC7IO N.
To-Morrow, THURSDAY, the 14th inst,
WILL BE SOLD,
By J OHNMORRIS,
^ ONE o'clock in the Exchange,
,The Schooner
HO P E,.
Now lying in Geeenwood's dock, upwards of ,0 tons
burthen; her Frame is of cedar and mulberry, draws
when loaded 9 feet, is a remarkable fine sailer, is well calculated
from her great length, for carrying lumber. Inventory to be fcen
at No. 43, Bay.
ALL persons any wife indebted to the estate of William
Holiday, deccaced, or to Mrs. Sarah Holiday, arc re
queued to make immediate payment to
I WILLIAM BLACKLOCK.
.% No. & Broad-Alert.
impatience of opposition disposed him to treat bis adrerfaric#
with such contemptuous superiority as made his readers com
monly his enemies, and excited against him the taffies of some
who favoured his cause. He feeds to have adopted the Ro
man Emperor's determination, oderint dum metuant; he used
no allurements of gentle language, but wished to compel ra
ther than perfoade.
" His style is copious without feledion, and forcible with
out neatness; he took the words that presented thenitelves:
his didion is coarse and impure, and his feirtences are unmea
sured." I
The comparison drawn between Pope arid Dryden, which
our readers will find towards the coucinfioh of his life (too
long to be here inserted) is finely executed, and the merits of the
two writers excellently diferiminated. The beauties of Pope's
Eflay or CriticiTm are jndicioully illustrated ; and the Rape of
the Lock honoured with that praise and admiration which it
so justly deserves.—The translation of Homer has, perhaps,
great as it is, more than a fufficient portion of commendation
bellowed upon it by our sagacious critick, who endeavours
strenuously to defend Pope against those who objeded that his
Version of Homer was not Homcrical; that it exhibits not any
resemblance of his original and charaderiftick manner, and
wants his artless grandeur and unaffected majesty.
" To a thousand cavils (fays Dr. Johnson) one answer is
fufficient; the purpose of a writer is to be read, and the criti
cism which would destroy the power of pleasing must be blown
aside. Pope wrote for his own age, and his own nation: he
knew that it was necessary to colour the images and paint the
sentiments of his author; he therefore made him graceful,
but loft him some of his sublimity."
Here what our author has urged does by no means remove
the objeCtion. Allowing all Pope's merit, it is certainly pos
sible to produce a better and more faithful translation of Ho
mer than he has given us; but it must be in blank,verfe, which
is more suitable to the nature of an epick poem ; though, after
all, we believe with Dr. Johnson, that such a translation would
not have so many readers. ^ : :
The quotations above given, and the remarks already made,
renders it almost needless to fay what jnftice demands of us,
that this performance is one of the molt acute, agreeable,
and entertaining works that has passed under our infpeCtion:
and we lament that the collection is not larger, as we Should
then have " had more lives of the Englifli poets by Dr.
Johnfon.' [Critical" Review, Augu/l rySr.J
Charlestown, February ts
THIS morning Lieutenant-Colonel Mbnereiffe returned}
in his Majesty's sloop Vulture, froth Savannah.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^i
IT is requested that the fubferibers to this Gazette will
discharge their hefpediVe arrears for the fame, to the end
of tfie la^ year.
The rate of fubfeription will be in future Si* Dollars per
annum, one half to be paid in advancte.
AbybkTisEMENta nbl exceeding ten lin e „ are inferred
once for three Killings; for every time after, t<wo Jhillings;
and in the fame proportion for those of greater length.
The Third Garriion Subfeription Ball,
Will be it the State-Homfe to-morrow evening.
For Private Sale,
A COMMODIOUS and convenient Brick DWELLING:
11 HOUSE, No. 90, in Broxd-ftreet, nbw in the possession of
Messrs Arwin & Rugfe; together with the front fibre; back store;
and cellars. Its situation for trade is so well known, that adefcriptim
is unnecessary. Immediate possession will be given, by
, JULIUS SMITH, No. 79, Church-street,
Of whorh further pirtictilars may be known.
If the abov^ houie is not difpefed of before the 26th instant, it
will, on that ,day, be put up at publick auction, by Cooke & Webbs
at their store in Broad-Uteet.
========^^
CbarleJloiun, %ytb January, 1782.
WHEREAS there is great reason to believe, that many
very difaffeded People make a practice of dailycoming
into this Town, from different parts of the Country, particu
larly by water, without the consent; or even the knowledge,
of the Commandant:
The Inhabitants in general, and more especially those, at
whole hotifes People from the Country may lodge, or be en
tertained, arc hereby ftri&ly enjoiried to make instant report,
in writing, of the arrival of all such people, drid from whence
they came, at the Town-Major's: And Publick Warning is
hereby given, That all such as do not, will be deemed enemies
to the British Government, andtreated accordingly.
The Inhabitants are hereby further teqtitfted to give ,the
necessary information; when they know that tnere is any dis
obedience ofthis Order, that so dangeic&apractice may be
immediately dffcovered. ~
By Order of the Commandant;
C. FRASER, Town-Major.
ri-- J. L ll.r.—w—w-1 1. 1-r I■!■.■.1 j»!!»;■, ^>4
Commiffary-Gefieral's Office,-
NOTICE is hereby given to all persons, who have had their
cattle drove in by the army; between the 14th and 21st of
November, 1781, to bring in affidavits to this office, on or before
the ifth inst. of the number and quality drovk freftn th>ir refp&ive
plantations, and that have not since returned:
Cbarleflovn, February 4th, 1781.
The BARRACK-OFFICE in removed to
No. 95, Church-street;
TO BE SOLD, ~=~
On MONDAY, the 18th Day of February iMt*
At the House pf the late John Callaghan, deceased, ~
No. 167, King-street,
ft Sale to begin F^ifely at TEN o'clock in the forenoon,
THE whole of the PERSONAL ESTATE of the said de^
chafed, for the purpose of paying off the debts of the said John,
Callaghan, pursuant to his toft will, which effete conlifts of thirteen
Negroes,- among whom are fadlers, filmmakers, tanners and houfo
wenches; a large stock of Leather and Sadlcry, aft, about eight
years lease of that well known House and valuable Lot in King-firm
whereon he lived, with a compleat tan-yard and every necessary buil
ding, a large well of as good water as any in towrf, a very large gar
den and spare ground enough for another.,..
- .The purchaser is entitled at the expiration ot the lease, to
remove all the buildings which the deceased bhilt.
Afo 'at the fame Time mill be fold,.
Sundry Articles of Houfhold Furnitures
The condition of the sale is calh, to be paid before the pro
perty is altered or removed.
All persons indebted to the estate, are requested to make
payment; and those who have any demands, are desired to make
them known, to | JANE CALLAGHAN, Executrix.
On Thursday, the 2 ^ of February 1,82, quill be fold atfeublid
fete, before the Exchange between twelve and one o'clock,
APART of the LOT fatten by No. 2, in the plan of
Charleftown, on the Weft fide of Kfog-ftreet, containing in
front 42 feet, and in depth 76 feet, adjoining Mr. Leflarjette's
house, with a brick store oh it f inti the HOUSE and LOT No. 150,
in King-fttcet, nearly opposite to Horlbeck's alley, being seized on
execution, and foM by order of the Board of Police. .
Cbarle/ron, 2&6 so. 1,53. f jOHN DAVIES, Sheriff.
Wanted* in a Genteel Family, .
Private Lodgings for a single Gentlemans
Enquire of the Printers.
A YOUNG MAN who can be well recommended for ho
hefty and fobfiety, would be glad of employment in a store
Enquire of the Printers.%
FORSALE,
A HOUSE and LOT on the Bay,
Neat the Exchange,
M. JACOB VA LK.-
fcZcLQt/±^^——=-==——---^^
TO BE LET,.
Three exceeding good DRY CELLARS,
In the Centre of the Tourt..
Apply at No. 3, State-House Square, or to the Printers hereof.
■■. n-*.- ..y. - ra:»..r■
SOUTH-CAROLINA.
WILLIAM REA of the province aforefaid, who is in cus
tody qf the Sheriff of the Board of Police, upon a process of
Capias nd Satisfaciendum, at the suit of Edward Corbett, having peti
tioned the Intendants of the said Board-that he may be admitted to
the benefit of the ad made for the relief of insolvent debtors : It is
ordered. That the said Eduard Corbett, and all others to whom the
said petitioner is any wife indebted, be, and they are hereby sum
moned and have notice to appear at the fitting of the faid.Board,
which ffiill happen three months after the publication hereof, to
shew catift, if any they can, why the said petitioner ihould not have
the prayer of his petition granted.
THOMAS WINSTANLEY,
November ild, 1,11. t Clerk of the Police.
MASTERS of vessels, and inhabitants of the town, may
^ fiipplied with BEER, at a reasonable price, at the
Brewery if Cteeftewa, tyem,;