The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-04-02
ENQUIRER.
RICHMOND, APRIL 2, 1905.
AMGNITATES GRAPHICE.

IT is with no fmall degree of fatisfattion,
that the Editor announces, in this days paper,
the commencement of periodical work, which
promifes, from the contents of the profpettus
and the reputation of its author, to dffufe con-
fidcrable information among our countrymen,
and what is fill more defrable, TO encourage a
generous tate for literary purfuits.-And what
more does Virginia or any of the United States
require at this moment to raife them to the mot
brilliant definy which has ever befallen any ma
ton, than general cultivation Of the arts and
licences? The form of our government is far
hyperion to any of the defpotic fyfems of mo-
ted democracies of Athens and Rome, in the
independence of foul which it breathes into the
individual, it greatly excels them in that fprit
of general order and differentiation, which it
difufes throughout fociety. Equally faithful
to the principles of liberty, our prefent admi-
nifration is " conducting itfelfin the true fprit
of the contribution with purity and zeal ;" and
it now leaves us nothing TO expect and nothing
TO qviB for from the operation of government.
What more, therefore, does the American glo-
ry demand what more is wanting to raife us
to an unrivalled PROPERTY above the proudeR
nation of Europe, than an equal attainment in
the licences and the arts What more is necef-
fairy, in country whole government levies the
fnalleft demands, and lays the feweft poliibe
rfjfridion5 upon the time, the property, and
the genius of indi7idnaiJ, than that they ihould
bavethe motives & the means of employing thefe
defiderata in honorable and uieful purluits
Already have we become the mott enlightened
politicians under the fun why then fhould we
not become equally expert in the fchoolS of
fculpture, painting and mulic, in the ftudy of
nature, and in the works of philofophy
60, he DE
what more valuable fervice then can individuals
render to our fate, than to devote their atten-
ton to the efablihment of bbiiol5bbieai fchools,
literary in(itutions, or publications Of real me-
rt ? On the other hand, what itrouger induce
ments can fociety offer to individuals, than
patroni6nr, protecting and encouraging all flic
laudabe efforts 1t would be abfurd TO expeGl
thatin aninfant fociety like ourown, literary infti
tutions and fcientfc labours ihould fart I'D al
once in all the maturity of manhood. The i'm
provement of a nation, as well as that of an in.
dividual, is the low and gradual work of time
Civilized foceties, like improved individuals
NUT have their different periods of feeble in.
fancy and vigorous youth although fuch pc.
RODS may be more diaant from each other
from the number and variety, and fucceflion oil
minds, which they embrace and educate. The
true dictate of duty then feems 10 be, that fincC
we cannot at once attain to the literary perfec.
ton of England or France, we fhould not diff
dain to foaer all the preliminary feps, which
may fucceisfully lead to its attainment.
Far DC from me, however, the infinuation
that the AMONTTATES GRAPHICH o
MeGrs. Girardin & Bolster, is defined to be nc
more than feeble and infantioe production
II has already been faid, that the contents o
their profpe6ius and the reputation Of its con
duGor, are very satisfactory pledges for its pro
ducing an uieful and Admirable imprefiion. I. j
the opinion Of Mr.. Jefferfou, that " the plan o