Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1803-06-08
Fran the BosToN GAZETTE.
THE OBSERVER.

Shipper honos, nomenq tarum, landeeq, mahen
bunt. VIRGIL.
DIGNITY and elevation of character
are objects offreqnent purfuit, but of lefs
frequent attainment !; National depends
upon Individual character. The excel
lence of muGcial intrument fuppofes
iuch contraction and adoption of IT'S ie-
veral parts, as will bea produce the de-
Ggn of the artifeer. DeAroy conifitu-
ent part; The utility and excellence of the
inarun1ent will be infantly defroyed-
Thus in civil fociety, if individuals act
not their parts on the the aage of human
life with propriety and order, they de-
troy that beauty and utility, which are
ON tInents to humanity.
The Importance of obtaining national
character, cannot be too frequently enforc-
ed but deferves the calm considerations
of enlightened reaion. Perhaps shis pur-
pofe will be bef Effected by retrofpett
view of thofe ancient States, whole emf
nence has defended through long ferries
Of ages born on the wings of eveflaaing
fame. Whence did the Athenians and
Lacedamonians derive that luffre which
ilumimates and aaonifhes an admiring
world Was this fplendor original or at.
feeaed : 1t was original. In thofc ttates
exited nice harmony of parts, and each
individual filled the fation, for which
God defigned him. Literature and the
hne arts were promoted with adiduity,
becaus they were patronized by men OF
talents and Of property, and equally adj
mired by thofe in the cabinet and in the
field. The cootemplativc attitude Of the
ltate(inan, and The intrepid afpett of the
warrior, which has been preferred by the
chiAel of the fco.ptor, melted the imita-
tion of adniring poeerity. Hiltorians
were respected and patronized (; not, like
modern hiftorisos, bccaufe they diguifed
truth, but becaufe it was difplayed in its
native beauty. They knew the objects,
of hiftory. BY an accurate delneation OF
luxurious and ignoble characters, they
excited imitation and averfon by the
powerful arguments of hope and fear.
Events, fubfcrving the progrefs of virtue
and freedom, were celebrated by the poet
and the hiaorian. In that period no dm-
pie Bloomfield delciioed the employments
OF plough boy, or the occurrences of a
barn yard. Men were too wife TO ap-
plaud that brainleis wit, and egregious
noofeofe, which in the poems of an Eng
lih cobler, have furnilhed fubjefs of ad-
miration and applauis TO the difciples Of
mederu refined fmpheiy; but of jua and
unlimited cenfore to rhofe, who pofefs
the important aeqaiftion of difcrlminat-
ing between the productions of brilliaucy
and of dulInefs.
If Columbia defire foreign di1inttion,
and domeltic greatness, he mutt acquire
national character. BY the progrefs of
literature and the fine arts, thi, character
will be more readily obtained. Europe
BOATS with propriety of her fcholars, as
we'll as of her fatefmen and warriors.
How has Che attained them By patron
age. Men will not defroy their lives,
nor riik their happiness, merely for tenn
porary emolument. The lauyels they OBJ.
tain, mutt be permanent TO be- valuable.
Ditintfion is the mott powerful ffimuus
10 action. But, unlefs this dihin6tion be
conferred by judgement, learning and
wealth, long will " the flower be DOOM
ed to blulh unfeen," in the vale of obfcu-
rity. Although genius difdain beaten
paths, yet it will NOT frequently venture
on untried icenes without previous conf
deration. Ra(hneis charatterizes bra
vadoe, who rulhes into danger becaufe he
is ignorant of its nature. Genius ioars
with activity and refolution but not
with Dedalus, on waxen wings. The
bird ofday firtt exerciies his frength BY
fmall attempts; when he has tried and
difcoyered his powers, he foars aloft, and