Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1804-08-04

and, we could point 10 instances where at.
tempts TO combine the opposite ezcellen-
cies OF each have not always been attend.
ed with success. 1t seems to have been
reserved torthe Americans to exhibitaeain
the Athenian character by uniting in the
same men the fame of the senate, the TO-
rum and the field.
The first volume Of the Life of Wash.
lngton has now been some time before the
public. The author of this work, MIR.
Marshall has every claim to stand in the
foremost rank OF our distinguished men.
10 the merit which belongs TO protest..
onal emulation, he has added that OF an a
bic ambassador and All eloquen, legislator.
Passing from these characters, he now
ILLS with acknowledged ability, The Office
OF first judicial magistrate Of our nation.
1t ne succeeds as an author and historian,
1t can only be from that variety of excel
lence which belongs to minds Of the high.
est order. Mr.. Marshall in his preface
has given two reasons why his work NAV
not satisfy the expectations which have
been formed of it. The first is the nature
of his subject. Accustomed" he SAYS
" TO look IN the page of history for Incl
den's IN themselves OF great magnitude,
to find immense exertions attended with
inconsiderable effects and vast means en-
ployed in producing unimporlant ends, we
are liz the habit of bes,owng on the reci-
taFof military actions, degree of consi-
Iteration propol toned to the numbers en-
gagged in them. When the struggle has
terminated, and the aeitaIions felt during
Its suspense have subsidized, it is difficult
10 attach to enterprises, in which small
numbers have been concerned, that admi.
ration which is often merIted by the talents
displayed in their execution. or that inte-
rest which belongs 10 the consequences
That have arisen from them" Mr.. Mar
shall iniers from this that however i'm.
portaut our revolution may have been i'm
Its effects and however exalted the merit
OF the American Chief, recital Of the e
vents OF The one and the a;lions of the O.
Their are not calculated to give much
splendor to the page OF the historian or 10
excite strong emotions in the bosom OF
the reader. All persons might not per.
haps concur in the Justice of this reason.
1t is not necessary 10 tie excitement of
emotion in our bosoms that we should al
ways be reading The encounters of for
midable legions, or the overthrow Of pow
eriul states. The subjects of historic c.
lcquence are not so limited. The foun.
dations ofour political institutions, the rise
oil all empire, the first independent one
IN the New World are surely interesting
subjects for the historian, and who will saw
that in tracing the career of Washington
his pen may perpetualy glow? The other
cause which leads Mr.. Marshal To anlici
paie Disappointment in the readers of his
work, is the haste with which il has been
written This is az excuse which in ge.
neral is not allowed and ought not to be
allowed TO cover the impcrfeclions OF any
work; but, MIR. Ma shall is entitled to il,
IN It's fullest latitude. Seldom, If ever has
any book gone into the world under the
circumstances which mark the appearance
OF MIR. Ma.shal!'s. He cannot be entire.
" regarded as the voluntary author of il.
The Able Barthelemi spent thirty years
IN wiring the travels Of Anacharss, and
the historian of the decline and fall Of the
Roman empire employed the labor Of
lille upon his work. B at the biographer of
the Life of Washington tells us " that the
pnbl.c were already Looking Cor his work
before the writer was fixed on or the do
cuments from which it was To be compos.
ed, placed in my hanls." Since the wri-
ter was fixed on and he materials furnish
ed, not three years have elapsed, and four
octave volumes are prepared for the press.
II must be added, that during this very
short period the labors Of the author have
been mixed with regular attention to the
duties Of an Office OF the highest import
ance and difficulty.
Under this great disadvantage has the
first volume Of the Life of Washington
been placed in opr hands, and yet we hope
there will rot he that disappointment, the
author has anticipated. Whoever expects
to see in work thus rapidly written eve
ny sentence highly polished. who looks,
IN every page, for the splendid ornament
OF Gibbon, or the continued elegance of
Hume, may not have heir expectations
answered, but it has, nevertheless, conspi
cuous merit. The style is chaslc, ener
getic and elevated. A narrative interest
ing. because it is our own history, but de
tcient in striking incident, is conducted
wI'h ease andpcrs picuity, & every proof af-