The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-07-18

Miscellaneous.
THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON.


The firt volume of The Life of waihington, which
has been long and anxouly expected, is before the
PUBLIC BY the bequet of the generals papers TO his
nephew, Judge Warrington, proviion was made FOR
the execution of this work, from the pure materials
and the commion of the documents 10 able hands en-
iured IN hc confederation, the production of an au-
thentic ard poliihed piece OF biography.
Chief Jufice Marhall has prefented a volume IF
dgeited national htory Introduce DRY to the Life of
Wilmington, his principal work. HIS reafons for
10 doing are, that the hiitory of General Warrington
curing ms military command and civil administration
Is 10 much that OF his country, that the work would be
incomplete and unsatisfactory while unaccomranied by
iuch anarratve of the principal events preceding our
revolutionary war, as would make the reader cqant-
cd with the genius character and reiources of the peo
pie about to engage in that memorable conteR" The
want OF complete materials for this general hiory
Rated as ain apology for the imperft G. execution of the
volume and the difficulties experienced in lorn,;ny
this compilation candidy and clearly exhibited bY
the author in his preface.--The volume commences
with the frt colonial Establishment in the country and
cloies with the peace Ofl763.
The propriety of thus introducing the Life of
Wilmington conceived admit OF little doubt The
htuation OF the biographer novel and peculiar His
undertaking is to write the life of man, mott dtn-
guiined IN his nation, which nation had before found
no complete hii&oran Of its rife and progreis: 1t is
moreover the life of man, whole hhory is for that
ny OF his nation-Sound Judgment will at once decide
that fair expedition and understanding of the imme
date fubje9 matter, much dependent on clear
views OF the character, circumstances, and ituatou of
that people, with whole hiitory Wahington's is 70
cloiely interviewer. With great proprety, then has
the author publihed digeh of national hinory cal
cuiated to give theie views and urnih the means
OF understanding the genius and refources of that
people, whom Warrington led to independence.
The volume is valuable, more particularly withre-
terence to the immediate objec of the publilher the
work which is to follow. {" a competition which
HAL preient in one connected vew the tranfaGfions
OF all thoe colonies which now form the United
States" MIR. Marhal juftly declares to be deG9ro-
Um The materials for the complete execution of
fuch work are conidered as of doubtful exinence
and if they exit, declared to be beyond attain
rent for the preent purpoie. Partial details and
fcanty portions of the hories Of individual ftates are
the fources, from which the hiitoran is compelled TO
draw; and his work. from this circumstance is remoy-
ed from ieverity of crcim, if it be not found entire
IN the narrative and perfect the method and connex-
ION. There is much interet in the hilfory of our
ir1t fettements and primitive manners and copious
initruction may be drawn from a view of the 1prit
and principles which marked and governed our vene-
rated anceftry.
Verbal criticfm is not within the fcope of the pre-
lent notice Mr.. Marihall, with ndifputable iuifice
remarks, that" for any nattenton competition an
Ps| '"Sh' neVer TO De neceilary Further that
work OF any importance ought never TO be fub-
mitted to the public until has been efficiently revif-
ed and corrected" " Yet" he declares the frlt
part OF the Life of General Warrington goes into tbs
world under circumstances, which might befpeak
from candour efs every of crticifm than it will pro
badly experience" Thefe circumstances are ated to
be, the voluminous of documents the late pc
Rod of the authors undertaking his talk, and
the imPreiiing Impotence OF the public Tor the
work
1t affords us pesfure fpeak of the faithful per-
Torrance of his engagements to the public by Mr.,
Wayne. Accuracy and neatnefs of execution diitin-
guiih the workmanship, and render highly creditable
the Publifher. An elegant engraving Of the Gene
raj, by MIR. Edwin, adds ornament to the volume
and is Pleating exhibition of the progress of the arts
among u.s. III. S. Gaz.