The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-08-11
FOR THE ENQUIRER.
C<crC
2 II g r II I " B D VINO. ].
or 7nE rriLirr or MIscnLLANEoUs !
THE INTRODUCTORY ESSAY.

light, than periodical and mfcellaneous eiays.
Ofthis fpecies of competition, the clafiical re-
mains of antiquity do not fur'lih Jingle mo-
del, or foltary fpecimen. We ihali not on this
account, be difpofed TO entertain an humber
idea of its utility and dignity, when we retrace
its origin and review its influence. Its deficient,
altho not ancient, is fu:iiciently luxurious. 1t
is the legitimate offspring OF the art, that emo
bles and immortaiiieS every work OF genius /;
p-eterves the lights of fcience from extinction,
and the beauties of literature from decay,-ot
the art, that promiies to make truth triumphant,
liberty universal, and iocicty progresve. 1t
claims it's origin from the 1rt Of printing, and
car only arrive at perfect maturity, produce its
nnot wholeiome fruits, and diplay all the luxu-
rance OF its beauty, under the genial influence
of free prets. Previous to the invention OF
the art of printing, there exited no means of
beftowins on productions 70 fugitive and pc
riihahe, form efficiently permanent or cir
culat;on efficiently ditfuhve. Until the prefS
was unihackled from reitraint, periodical eilays
could not become the vehicles OF intercourie be-
tvvixt the enlightened and the ignorant, convey
the naxims Of moral and political truth, from
the profound philosopher to the plodding
ploughman, and tranfmit "the glowing ienti-
ment and the lofty fpeculation'' TO minds ofcve-
ry grade and dmeniion. Nor have the effects
Of mifcellaneous efiays been lefs beneficial, than
their origin was honorable. Their rapid null
diperion have made the benefits and pleaiures
of reading and reflection, common as light ard
air. They have opened fccure and eafy ac-
cefs to the garden of literature, and invited the
humbleGt of Adams defendants. to pluck the
ripe, wholsiome, unforbidden fruits tsof the
tree acknowledge" They have faihoned and
Undivided the bullion of fcience, before "mo-
nopoiized BY few cpulent minds" into fps
cies ofliterary currency, Of which the demand
is inceliant and the circulation univerfal.
The competition of large and elaborate works
or icientihc fubiets, requires portion of genius
and learning which is rarely attained by the fons
of men. The profitable perufal even, of fuch
works, preiuppofes an improvement of intellect
and an extent OF information, to which thofe
who enjoy the advantages, of what is fyled Ii
beral education, rarely afpire. But, to compofe
with correctness and elegance, and perufe with
advantage and delight, fhort eiiay, on fome
initru6tive or amuiing fubect, demands only a
moderate degree OF ingenuity, curiohty & Gull
ture. Publications Of this nature, are admira-
bly, adapted to improve and amufe every deicIip
ton of readers, every claiS or fociety, every
grade and variety OF intellect. The indolent are
allured by their brevity, the gay by their novel
ty and variety, the frivolous and superficial by
the accefs they afford to fome portion Irrational
entertainment and inftru6tion, without perfe-
verins attention, or elaborate refearch. Even
the forbid drudge of avarice, and the infatuated
debauchee, who regard with indifference and
diiguft the voluminous depoitories of icience &
learning, will be induced to animate the occaE-
ona intervals of bufinefS or difiipation, by the
perufal of lively inGraaise egay. During
thefe intervals, when the cares of felGthneis
are forgotten, when the fenf-s are fated with in
diligence the I" mehtal monitor wakes" and
awal1ens liberal curiohty and ferrous meditation,
In this fate of mind, the man of buhnefs and
the man of pleafure, look for fomething, which,
whit il agreeaby exercifes their mental tacui-
ties, may prove an opiate to the fnggetlons or
sfrancorous remembrance" and I'LL "the ach-
ing void" of apathyand ina6ton. In this iituation
the peruial of fhort literary and moral eflays,
feems to be happily calculated to enliyen and
amufe, liitlets, weary or wounded mind: they
communicate valuable information, iuggeft adj
mirabie reflections, and without requiring much
earnefneis of attention, or, occahoning mutual
vehemence of emotion, imperceptibiy enlghten
the understanding and mend the heart. Could
we trace, with accuracy and mlnutenefs, and IL
lutrate by biographical anecdotes, the influence
of moral and literary cays on all the varieties OF
individual mind, the correctness ofthefe obierva-
tions might probably receive the ampleft confr-
nation. But fats of this fort are rarely obterv-
ed, recolieGed or recorded. Although eiienti-
allg connected with focal happineis and perion-
2, improvement, they are detltute or thoie at
fractions that awaken curio(ity and captivate at
teItlCH. 4 tic nllOIidH uCSliiS every S'Sl' uh-
worthy OF commemoration, which has not &C.
cured in the " gorgeous palace" or the 1" tented
Esld F" The biographer attracted by the viciili-
tudes of fortune, or the adventures Of enterPriie
and genius, rarely poGef!es inclination or ability,
to enrich his narrative by an analysts of the cir
cunfances, that Gcretiy faihion the character of
the hero ofhs tale. Hence probably aries the
difficulty of illuarating by particular intances
and R,.iki1y facts, the practical utility of perio-
dical efays not, becauie Guch faGt8 and inltan-
ces do not exit, but becaufe Ike the fubtle
agency OF eI7}c fluids, they become obferYable
only in their remote and combined effects, and
in their priIsid iimplcity and fecrecy, elude
alike the indoience Of the vulgar and the pride
% The eufioia e4quircr. But although we may
explore in vain the volumes of hiitory and bio
grdphy for details of this fort, yet viii venture
to refer with confidence to more authentic and
accelIiblc, though lcfs dignified lonfce of nfor-
nation, the Peyj9nai experience efMy readery.
Let my Of my readers, how icanty foever his
opportunities for Intellectual improvement may
have been, recolleG the books, which originally
awakened his fenibility 10 the beauties OF litera-
ture and accutomed his mind to rational fpecu-
lation on the affairs OF life, the character Of man,
the hifory, fructure aud profpcds Of fociety.
r. wiz probably find, that be was indebted Cor
t. .fe ineftimabie benefits and refined plcafures,