The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-07-21

| ealouTy of his profeitonal brethren. They
contemplated with pleafure, the homage which
was contantly paid to his riling merit, and re-
ioiced in his profperity. They regarded him
with an affection truly fraternal, and never
| ipeak of him, even to this day, but in terms of
the higheit refpeSt, or the mot enthuiialtc
! frierdihip.
| Ills popularity was not confined to the MEM
bsrS of his protection. In the county Of Din
widdie he was beloved in the whole diitrict,
/ he was refpe6ted and admired. Almoh every
man in it, who polieGed either talents or influ-
ence, was perionally acquainted with him, and
| fincereiy his friend.
Even all this fucceis and all this popularity,
produced no intoxication. He was not inicnii-
bic to the applaulc OF his countrymen: but the
cordial pleafure with which it was received, on
| ly made him itili more anxious to preieive it
through life, by unwearied efforts to itcurs it.
No part Of his time was loft in dlereis. Fond
of focety, and afiiuent in his circumstances, he
occaiionally united with the votaries of diiiipa.
| ton but toon tired of the empty pleafures
which it affords, he returned TO his ftudies with
an artlour which was increafed by his regret for
having Quilted them. Had he lived until he
was thirty years of age, he would have ccnpil-
ed Il hifory, which would probably have afford
ed grea; aid 10 the preteniions of his country TO
fome ihare of literary g.Oiy. He had began to
! to accomplish his undertaking, meant in a few
years to have retired from the practice OF the
law. " Proud hopes, and vain !"
The friend, whom have quoted before, and
to whom the heads OF this fetch were ihewn,
reproachcd me for overlooking part OF his
character, which gave tenfold lutre to his BRILL
ant talents. This reproach is indeed deterved
and can hardly find an execute for myfelf, even
in the precipitation with which this little iketch
EN.. f,rl
this friend, his benevolence, his charity? No!
do not now forget them nor can any who
knew him fail, except for moment, to rsirem-
Der, not only that his heart was filed with be-
nevolence, but that his hand was open as day
to melting charity" No young man, whate-
yer his fortune may be, ever gave 10 much in 70
ihort time.
In the ilmmer or fall of 1898, "The An
fwers" were publiihed, which excited the indig
nation, and called forth the talents of Curtius.
The letters written under this Ggnature, fpeall
for themfelves. They will be read, wherever
patriotifm is reipetted, or genius is admired
But or theie letters it is unneceiiary to fay more:
the public opinion is fixed. Curtius is al
ready claiied with the writers mott renowned
for the animation and beauty of their hyle
with Bolingbroke, Junius, & the younger Lord
Lyttleton. This is high praife but it may jult-
ly be carried fill higher. The writer of Cur
81
have not as wellfuunded preteniions. THERE'S to
ufe his own itrong language,a "holy enthuliafm''
in his manner, which takes poflefEon ofthe rea-
der, ir1eiiltibly carries him along with the wri-
ter, and forbids their feparation until TIE work
is ended.
In the month of January 1899, he returned,
from Richmond, when the ground was covered
with inow. In his journey, he caught a cold,
which terminated in pieuriiy, of which he di
ed. Every thing which the fisill of phyfcians or
the zeal of friends could effect, was done for his
relief. But every effort was vain. The writer
was one ofthoie who watched over him in his
LAT inefs EshoGe affecting tiehiiiy ii was, to
behold with bitter and unavaing forrow, the
laie agonies of friend, fuddenly removed by
death, from the mot brilliant profpetts that
were ever opened to the view Of virtuous ambi-
ton.
a ilort time before his death, he called on
friend to refcue his character from the imputa-
ton of maignity, if ever it ihould be made.
He was not c6',s:ious of being influenced by
iuch motive, liz writing the Letters of Curtius.
lie admired tlH'taentS, and refpccted the pri-
yate character of the gentleman to whom they
were addreAed, and wihed him all poiiible hap
pinefs in private life: but he was fteady & clear
in the belief, that his Public character, merited
the centuries which Curtius had beftowed. Bat
little while before he expired, he again called
on the Lime TREND, 10 Dear WltnSlS Tor him,
that he died as he had lived, true republican.
He f;lfained the pangs of his llft illneis with
the fortitude of man who had experienced
through life, nothing but calamity Or of Il phi
lofopher who has profoundly reflected on the
vicifitudes Of this Hu6tuating world, and the
emptinefs of all human enjoyment. He often,
calmly, rejected the confoIatory hopes held out
Co him by his friends, faying that he knew, that
lie was foon to leave them.
Such was the life, and fuch was the death of
this extraordinary young man, who, if ne had
lived, would have attained the highet honors of
the government, and what, to mind like his,
WAS infinitely more precious, the confidence and
affection of his country.
John Thornton was rather more than FIX feet
high. His body and limbs were iTiall, and not
we'll put together but his department was al
ways eafy, fometimes elegant, and his manners
invariably polite. The expreIon of his coun-
teHance, when he was not engaged in converfa-
ton, was thoughtful and melancholy. But when
excited by diicourfe, it was all animation and
intelligence; while his clear blue eye announced
the eloquence with which you we're about to
be delighted.
Among tiiiuiv ~ whom he iuppofed hinltelt
politically obnoxious, his manners were haugh-
-, if not contemptuous. He walked among
them with an erect and difdainfll air, looked
aernly and tedfatiy in the eyes OF thoie,