The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-10-10
E NOUIR Err.
RICHMOND ::

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1904.
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E,ISHINCTON's LIFE.
WHEN the Firt Volume of the Life of WAN
incton was given to the world, I'VE conceived it
to be duty which we owed to the public, to
inform them of IFS general plan, and to encou-
rage the laudable curioiitv OF analyiing it's con-
tents. We embraced the eariieit opportunity
or complying with our obligation, and we pub
ihed, from the u. States Gazette, Philadel-
phia paper, fhort and very Imperfect Review
OF the firit volume. When the iecond volume
appeared, the fame motives continued TO ope-
rate; and general Gctch of its contents was
fill required to crafty or to excite the public
curoity. We have complied with this new,
obligation by publihng in our laf paper, a very
conci!e and unsatisfactory Review, from the
Philadelphia Rcgiter. We have believed, that
work of fuch national importance ihould be
quickly and generally read hy the enlightened
part of OUR nation. IL it he dhinguiihed by the
accuracy of ITS information and the charms of
the competition, we have believed that it could
not be too quickly adopted by the people, re-
commended to the itudies of our youth, or in
troduced into the libraries of the old. IT, on the
ether hand, it was deficient in the proper quail
ties of iuch fpecies OF competition If it was
ernbellihed by no literary .aite or SATURATED by
no hiitorlcal retearch; we have believed, that it
could not be too quickly conigned by the en-
lightcued voice of the nation, to its merited
oblivion.
Thefe two reviews were concife. but compli-
mentary. They prefented the reader with We
ry fhort analysts of the work itfelf; but they
were not fparing in their eulogiums upon its
fyle, its accuracy and its arrangement. The re-
view which we this day publiih, from the Lon
don I or
rent itrain. 1t is very elaborate attempt to cyi-
ticj6 competition, in which the critic can
fcarcely fee any thing but imperfection and milf
take To call it a reDiezv or an an0iyfS of the
work itielf, would indeed he papable abufe of
terms. 1t does not tell us what the work con-
tains, but what 1t ought to have contained and
even where reference is made 10 the contents
ofthe volume ittclf it feems 70 have been intro
duced rather for the purpofe of finding fault
or defect, than of explaining the plan OF the
execution of the work.
The Editor OF the Enquirer cannot think Of
diimiliing this London Review, without fubioin-
ing plauiibe fuggeftion, which may have con-
iderable weight upon fome of its readers. 1t is
duty which he owes to the author and the pro-
prietor of the Life of Wilmington, to inform his
little circle of fubicribsrs, that this fevere cri-
tique is faid to have been the effuGon of hire
| ling author. The Editor of the Wilmington
Federalift has even ventured to conjecture the
motives OF this fevere attack. He aliertS that
great part of the edition of Rober.fon's Hiitory
of North America, fill remains unfold on fome
ofthe booksellers ihelves in London that the
circulation of Wahineton's Life, which equally
embraced the colonization and fettlement of
America, would have arrened its fale {; and that
this hlreling critic was employed by fome of the
London booksellers, to deprecate and hunt
down book, the merits of which would foon
have fuperceded the reputation of their own.
On the value of the prefent work, the editor
ofthis paper is by no means prepared to ex-
preis an independent opinion. The whole of
the two hrft volumes has not hitherto come
under his infpeetion and he has furveyed even
thofe pafiages, which have as yet attracted his
attention, rather with the eye ola curfory rea-
der than of ftudious critic. He is unwilling
therefore to join in the eulogiums of the pha-
delphia editors, or the centuries of the London
reviewer. When a work of fuch national i'm
portance is preiented TO our examination, it is
peculiarly important that our cenfure or COM
mendation ihould flow from our own Judgment
and not from the authority of others.
There is one opinion, however, which he is
prepared to exprets.-The Life of Warrington
ihould not have been written at the prefrnt
epoch, no. ihould it have been written by Ge-
neral Marfhal.
The merits of General Warrington cannot be
inlpartially etimated at the prefent day. There
is party in this country, who are difpofed to
rafe him too high, and another who have funk
him too low, in the fcale of moral excellence. 1t
will be the Office of an enlightened pofterity to
fettle him in his proper grade. When time ihal
have given its foftening and moderating touch to
the afperities OF party, the achievements and the
meafures of Warrington will then be taken by
themfelves, and etimated by fome impartial and
abfra6 ftandard.
Gen. Marihall fliould not have been the au.
thor. In native fagacty, or in legal attainments,
there are few men in this country who will be
preiumptuous enough to afpire to the palm of
hyperion excellence. If thefe conttute the COM
Pleat or principal qualifications of an hiforian,
no doubt MIR. MarIhall was eminently qualified
for the Office, which he has undertaken. But
are thefe the only or principal qualifications
of an author /! Shall expatiate Upon the ufes of
that philofoPhical acumen which developes the
connection of the mott diftant events, or upon
that literary tate, which gives its captivating CO.
lours to the mott barren tale Has Gen. Mar
ihaIl found leiure to cultivate thefe attainments3
And even fhe had, is it probable that he would
have exerted his endowUents without prejudice
or prepoheGlion Would he 70 fuddenly have
forgotten or concealed his attachment TO the |
party, whole principles he has 70 zealoudy ef- |
Pouied and 70 ably frpported? / would even
grant him fuficient uagnanimity to accomplish !
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