Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1804-07-11
FROM THE NATIONAL RCls.
RB1fARKS on 7E-E LE4'7ERS OF" 7HE
BRITISH SPH."

but ieeI curiosity 10 ascertain. what cUun-
try had the honor of giving birth 10 he
author ofthese graceful, spirIted and high
IL finished, compositions. If the author
be native of The United States, though
we have something to regret, we have
much to BE- proud Of and though we must
denounce his polrics, we are led irresi.t-
ably, to pay homage to his genius. I he
cold and lliberal sarcae ms, which have
been con.emptuously pointed against tie
! literature oil America, ought, III such case,
never to be reit rated; iii as much as il
has produced one work, em;nen,ly dis
| playing the Chastest decoration Of STYLE.
md the most uhbl.mished puri Oh IAN
guege.
! Gladly would we salute him as our ma.
tiona! brother! In proud. boastful, exult-
lrG voice, would we hail him as the bright
ct, the most precious H. crary ornament
OF our country! Blu, TINS enviable happi-
ness is denied us: The author is enye-
loped IN mystery, VIII chdefies til search
OF The mos, piercing penetration. Like
The i!lustrious J4nisS, he prefers :he mn
II unlt"s OF ilvi,lhlity,' > 10 the less r.s
Wieged glory of peTsoBJt fame RI 1res-
sing, Therefore curiosity, when threat
ens 10 De fruiIless, we hasten 10 nieditate
on these exquisite epis' les, regardless &c
the name or birth place Of then aul,.-.
Whether he be q nohleman or COM
moner, whether he descended from BIZ
tlsh lord, or spra g from the iewh hut OF
some OBSCURE Vrslnlan, We know nu, b,,t
III : " know, that his M d bas been &. r
magniicenty endowed by autuIe, ak cub
tured by science.
However in exploring these hri'';4nt let-
tiers. we are not 80 dlzzlei wi,h ,ne ,...di-
2 c Of The 4 etInn, we are not Sc caD;ivat.
ed BY the FAC. @J"Gs oi The S yle, as 70 be
nsensIbie OF the few defects which TIC
work iudub;t-oiy pos., s,cs, andwhcn. in.
d ed. must De obyrus 10 its most epthu~
slas'ic admirers.
We'now and then. meet with = passage,
IN which the author appears 70 swellwi,h
tie pride oil conscious superiority, end IN
w'ich he uses to q tone Of d,-u7a;lsrl
b rdcri. 6 on insnence. Ms N these pas.
sage. "nerc the w!!lcr perceive, too VIZ
sihiy, Observation-Disclosures Of his own mind.
and III whcn VIZ benaId him. as II we're,
transported by self admiration, that we are
led to reprove ms too hasty ard indiscreet
aIdar.
We presume it WIS this self cornpla-
cent temper which debated the following
r mark. In pursuit Of die ht5ggarf ihal,.
rom If Hehu6icaHism they rash on like
Sir Joseph Banks, giving chase To the En-.
Peror oil Morocco, regardless Of the sweet
and tender blossoms OF sensibilty, which
TAIL and dleed and hind hem" Much
as we really admire the bold spirit ard re-
Sis less energy Of thu sentence, we thi1.k.
We can discern under Il lurking vanity,
a half concealed smile Of fancied inirort-
ance, which, though it doys no, absolute
~ shock the reader. yet cpntriou. Is not a
little to weaken the pleasure, winch e
sentence, cpenaentiy considered, 10 al
culated 10 afford.
" hehoggGTd ihhantom 9CPcEubEcania1a'p
IS phrase, SD supremacy COMBINATIONS.
that, when generally applied to a form Il
government, under which the ereest and
most enlightened people have. for long
Ime, lOurished, and are sill flourish;ur.
we say 1t is a phrase So supreneiv CON
,enptuaus, that tie mind from which II
burstcd IS doubtless in the habit of con-
cnIpidtlpS its opinions wiki : fond and
''.n'''J i't'l~4'ii5 "ttIfbldAlpll--. GHNdDS,
wnh strong persuasion of their inla,lib,li-
~ That author must be deemed un-
fortunate who, in The feryor and enthusi-
asm OF composition, cannot so far cover,
he headst ong impe,uosly Of his mind.
as to prevent It's precipitauug him nc
unguarded hints OF conscious suD-cn.
i may, however wl,h Justice be sa d.
That this j, prcta ling weakness arno.r
m n OF genus, aDd is frequently found IN
the society Of the mos, conspicuous and
formidable talents. Il is, nevertheless. .
weakness, and 81. h az one "a, does not adj
NIT Of complete justification. Some IN
dgoiurthcr, Some bcstowup9n them.
selves direct expressions of applause
Thomas Same often disgue.s %. hy I'M.
abruptncss ard tmpeHincuce oil h,s eao.-
Ism; aud man Df idclecd ahi.ui .,s
cEuluHgly prophecjed &C his immortal
work." that he Bible G,JuEus viii ID, read,
when the commentaries Of TIC Jesups ara
forgotten" Forbc IL from US ,oialpu co
Our au:H vanity 50 baghly color n. s. 1
does our paruality Cor lis lcucrs ...Ji .,
regret, that they are not free even FROM