The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-08-11


funned FLYER of the mine" and even the flowers
that bloom in the garden of literature win "wafe
their i,veetneis in the deiert air." There is
probably no perfon who fpeaks the Eughih Ian
guage, however humble lis capacity, or howe
Yer narrow the range or his ideas, who has not
imbibed fome notion of literary and moral re-
fineulsnt from the elIays of Addition, Iohnfon,
Haw kefworth and Mackenzie. As well might
it be believed, that The folar rays and genial
dews, could penetrate the bofom of the earth
without fertilizing the foil, as that the extenve
circulation of iuch works as the Spectator,
Rambler, Adventurer and Mirror ihould fail to
improve and refine the general mind. Some are
tiifpofed TO uu6efvalue miscellaneous eliays, on
account of the light, curiory and fuper6cial
ideas which they neceiarily convey. They have
tendency, 1t has been urged, to breed fnatter-
ers, pedants and tciolits, and to enable igno-
rant preteuders to ufurp the ftatons, and aliunle
the privileges which are due only TO thofe who
have attained fold and eXtenfive information.
This objection is probably altogether fallacious
What is urged as a disadvantage, is in truth one
of the principal recommendations Of mifceane-
Gus eiiavs. The MATS of the people cannot be
profound: peafants and mechanics cannot be-
come philosophers, critics and fcholars.* But
altho' the unalterable condition of fociety pre-
vents great majority of its members from at
tanning profound and comprehensive knowledge,
is it defrable that they fhould be excluded from
every degree of intellectual improvement? Do
not the fcbriety, induftry, probity and intelli-
gence of the active clafies of fociety effentally
depend upon the ability they, acquire, and the
opportunities they enjoy, to devote fome por-
ton of their leiture to reading, conversation and
reflection Are not nations uniformly refpeGta-
bic, orderly and happy, in proportion to the de-
gree in which they pofIefs this ability and enjoy
thefe opportunities Surely, the general diffu-
iion Of ufeful knowledge is peculiarly deiirable
and even neceifary amongn people, who have
recently organized a republican government |;
who poGef3 individually a larger portion of IL
berty and leiilre than any other upon earth |;
who, from the influence of pre-efablifhed ha-
bits and peculiar temptations TO excetfive feniI-
Atty, are opprobriouly prone to abufe thefe in
eftimable boons and who are called upon col
leevely and at fhort intervals to difcharge poll
teal duties, to the faithful performance ofw which
diicernment and intelligence are indifpenhbe
qualifications. And, are not miscellaneous eff
fays, from their cheapnes, intelligibility & bre-
witty, ingularly adapted to facilitate and fecond
the agency of other caufes, in the accomplish
ment ofthis valuable end? May not the litera-
ry eliayef in Virginia, afpire, without vanity or
presumption, to occupy an higher rank in the
fcale of public efinlation and moral utility, than
any of his European models & precurfors could
indulge hope of attaining:
Whit the nations of Europe are involved in
war, diitra6ted with factions, and overrun by
opprefiion, we enjoy the blefIings of peace, Ii
berty, fecurity and eifure. We reft in the fhade
Whit they are toiling in the tempeft; we enjoy
the fubhance, Whit they are purfling a ina
dow; their fun is verging towards evening,
Whit ours is attending to his noon. All
that ieems wanting to rpen the harveft of natl
onal Happiness, which exhibits 70 luxurianta pro-
mic, and realize every hope which human ma
ture can nationally indulge, lisa more extenfive
dlftuilon of uieful knowledge. May not the re-
gular infertion of miscellaneous ef1ays on ufeful
tubie6ts. be employed with the appiet eiTe6ts,
for this important purpOfe Periodical prints
are more numerous. more extenhvely difperfed-
read by greater number of individuals & with
greater avidity of attention in the United States,
and particularly in Virginia, than in any other
part, probably, ofthe CIVILIZED world. Does not
this circumstance furnifh the enlightened patriot
with great moral 3ozoer for enlightening pub
lie opinion, and correcting anti-repubEcan pro-
penlities and habits BY this means every in
telhgent citizen may communicate Immediately
and diftin6tly, his convictions, his feelings, his
information, and may even propo1e his conjec-
lures, enquiries and doubts on important filb-
je6ts, TO every other! The inviolable freedom
of the American prefs the leepefs vigilance
of its guardians, and the general intelligence
of the people, preerve the atmosphere of
public opinion, pure, clear and pervious
throughout to the light of truth, from what
ever quarter its irradations may proceed,
whatever facts they may reveal, & to whatever
conclufons they may conduct the enlightened
mind.
May not periodical prints, hitherto devo-
ted aImof eXcluiively to the publication of
facts, principles and fentiments relative to TO-
reign and domeftic politics, embrace greater
variety oftopics and wider range of ufefulnefs?
May not intelligent editors with the allitance of
their enlightened friends & conpatriots explore
richer field enquiry & accompanytheir politi-
caldetalls, withinformationmoree elementary, mif-
csllaneous and infruGtive Were the public
prints uniformly conducted by men of genius,
integrity and information were a few columns
OF every paper regularly devoted to the inferti-
on OF uieful or elegant eGays, competed by the
editors themelveS, or furniihed By their literary
friends; were permanent ALLEGATIONS formed by
men OF talents for the purpofe of preparing fuc-
ceiiively, iuch eldyS for publication, how difu-
hive would be the influence of knowledge how
iplendld the Improvement of our national cha
racter To how many noble purpofes might
not the jud:c;ou5 execution or deiign of this
fort be made fubfervient Might not the com
petition Of fuch edays and their exteufive difper-
ton by the public prints, operate as Temporal
ry iubititutc for the agency and an aufpicious
Prepaiative for the introduction, ION purer and
more comprehensive plan) of thofe public eta
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