The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-07-28
PIER cAusric,'' to be an -hoserieoa, Citizen

ny, which have come to the publiber's l;pow-
ledge, ne ihouid deem it an nct oi = ,laice TO
genus to withhold from the public.
The gentleman, to whom the world is indebt-
ed for this performance, Is THOMAS GREEN
FESSENDEN, the ion of Respectable clergyman
OF Wa!pole, New-ltampihre. Ia the year
/ 1896, our a;.thci graduated at Dartmouth Col
/ lege, and foon attel moved TO Hutiand, III Yer
mont, where he commenced the itudy of the
law with gentleman" of cmluence III that pro-
fvihon, and with whom, If we are not miitorLl-
ed, he was afterward connected i'll buiineis.
| During this period, as well as during his ref
denceat college, the Eagle, Newspaper OF Dart
mouth, and the Farmer 5 MsekIy HNieam, q well
known claiiic paper OF Wslpoe, were often en-
livened by his iprightly muie. Ills extreme dif-
hdence produced aimcft a religious fcruple a.
8ainit allowing his name to be attached to any
of his pieces. To this cauie mutt be attributed
the circumaance, OF its not being generally
known to what Bard the public has been indebt-
ed for ieyeral patriotic iongs, and other very hui
morous pieces of his competition, which have
had general circulation and admiration through
our country.
| In the year 1901, Mr.. Feienden was induced
TO embark for London, chiefly with view Of
| introducing an hydraulic machine, which, b. fs-
veral of his beG friends, who became iharerS in
the enterprise, was regarded as very impor-
| tant invention. He found, however, to his
great modification, on his arrival in London,
that his machine was already common there, and
of coniequence, every proipect OF an emolument
from that fource vaniihed. Ambitious not to
return TO his native country with the diiSrace
OF defeat, he gave ear to prcecf fet on foot
by one of our Countrymen, then IN London, of
contributing mill to be carried by the water
of the Thames. Several MEN of rank and nflr-
ence, among whom was the then Lord Mayor
of London, Sir William Staines, being patrons
OF the undertaking, and other circumstances
holding out reafonable profpe6t OF great fuc
Cefs, MIR. FeGenden ventIred on purcfate OF
one fifth of the concern.
The protection of the great, as is not mutual
on fuch occafons, not being continued long e.
nough to give the mill fair experiment, and
our author being the only man in the concern
poileiied of talent as well as character TO take
the management of the etabliihmcnt, the bur-
then of the whole neceGarily devolved on him
and we underItand there is reafon TO apprehend
that his great exertions have hitherto been but
i'll requited. 1t is here that the tranfcendent
energies of his mind become mott apparent.
Amid the veXatiOns, entertainments and d-
Tracing cares with which this engagement con-
family Narrated him, he undertook, and within
the term of four weeks, part of which was un-
der the influence Of fevere Gcknefs, which con-
fined him to his bed, executed the firft edition of
lillS WOrk OeiOIe us
Another Circumstance which we are conpe-
tent afoto fate, fill further enhances his talents,
and will increafe the aloniihment of the reader.
Previous to his entering on the competition of
this Poem, which was in February, 1908, lie
had been during his rehdence in England, through
his laborious and nnwearieu application to the
interets of the mill, almoft itranger to books,
and unknown to men of letters. His fociety
necehaiily coniifting Of perfons ntereited in the
concern, happened unfortunately TO be a clais
of literate men; who difsraced The sf;ie ff mt
chanics and tradefmen, and who, to ufe his own
|eXpretiion, were guilty of every thing but COM
mon fenie and common honely.
This circumstance, it may well be conceived,
was little congeniai to mind of fuch integrity
rs we are aiiured diitinguiihes his own, and to
the feelings of 10 fixed foe to vice of every fpe-
cies as isapparent in every page of this poem.
Indeed this volume, as was faid of much lar
ger one on another occahon, " was written, not
in the foft obfcurities of retirement, or under
the ihades of academic bowers, but amidf incon-
venience and ditracSion, in lickneis and in for
row." Like poor Bloomfield, who often laid
down the anvil to record the deeds of his Farmers
Boy, FeIenden often laid aide the broad axe
and the chifiel 10 indite the featS of his Cant
tic.
Before taking leave of Mr.. Fe(enden's inter
citing hiitory, we would iuf fate, that the fat
terng reception OF this performance, among
men ofletters in England, embodened him to
comply with the advice of friend, (the only
Perfon indeed, in England, who knew him to be
the author of the book,) TO Commit to prefs
volume of original Poems. The merits of
" Terrific TrGforation" having called forth the
high encomiums of MIR. Clifford, the very cele-
brated author of the BaUinA and Mrpiad,' the
'Tranilator of 3uOenai,' Sc. the friend above
adverted to introduced them to each other,
which has produced for Mr.. Felenden very
intimate and ufeful acquaintance.
The volume of Origira! PoenJ' are By this
period probably out of the prefs, and we ihall
venture to eXprsi5 our conviction that we fball
find them, on the arrival of copy in this coun-
try Of efficient merit to induce us TO lay them
ALTO foon before the American public. To that
work his name will be attached as the author of
Terrible T5a7orafion, aud neceGarily makes
him known to the inhabitants Of Great-Britian.
1t was circumftance which the publifher con-
ceived would warrant him in the liberty he has
taken to announce MIR. FeRenden in America,
&C esic author vi the work before us, which he
has hitherto appeared folicitous TO conceal.
The Metallic Tractors, which, from the Title
Page, one might be led to fuppofe, conftituted
the entire fubied of the prefent work, will be
found, in reality, not to be the prime object of
the poet. MIR. Fefenden feems to have con-
ceived that, dwelling on the treatment Perl<in-
tim bad received from few characters ofrather