The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-06-28

perhaps he lis. not two dollars III his pocset TIC this
animal he looks for erveab,ihne nt Of has fortune
and ygoss, as he calls him, vR he hopes before a
month eapfcs, regain hin, all the money he has oli in
the Ian two years By horfe-raeing Not that he is deA
ni;ue of other reiources-Eo he has lands in Ken,
tucy. Perhaps you would win to Zee the tiie-
o. they all locked up in the OF i the Council
1 OF War, beeaufe he wants money to redeem them.
But his great boat is the liberty OF his Country to
which he tells you that he has contributed not little
Vanity and poverty his charaeteriilics: repub-
lean to outward appearance, but depot IN bis heart,
He anticipates his revenues, and fpends more than he
can politely get. He is perfectly contenfed to fuer
want OF linen. provided he can indulge himfelf with
his phaeson This, and arrack punch form the delight
OF Vrgnian; and il he can enjoy thofe, he not
whether he wears fhrt goes Without one.'
We repeat the q,iefion, is any of our readers
acquainted with the name of this Thaniod
Can they account for the nvidious caricature
which he has thus given of our manners? Is he
one ofthofe enlightened ages like Volney, who
arc capable of eliminating things properly, but
fhut their eyes aganit the mott obvious obieS.s !;
or is he one of thoft miferable tinerants, who
p!od their way froR, door to door, from novel to
hut, in fome obfcure corner of Virginia, and
who are liberal enough to take their defcripti-
on OF all the clafTes of fotiety, from the few,
which hofpitality has introducedto hsaflif1ance?
liz td'hs i't'HiitdrY eEOuSn Dr tOpndS, ana TIcn
planters bat is there any thing which this man
fays worthy of credbility!
lfthis mans defcription of our manners be
incorrect, we have fine illufratIon indeed OF
the gratitude of European travellers. When
they come among US we receive them with open
arms the inhabitants of the country are pleaf.
ed to fee, TO entertain and make them happy
Hofpitaity is fill the virtue of the Virginia far
mer. When he returns to his native country
how does lie repay thofe fervices? BY abuling
our nation representing them as the naves Of
the mon contemplate vices devoted TO Horfcs,
to game-cocks, anu the tafe of arrack punch,
and poflened Of fcarce Enele virtue. Bad as
this pifureis, furely it is worfe than the origi-
mi from which it is profelIedly drawn.
Yet let us not "lay this fattering junction 20
the FOUL" Much as Monier Thaniod has ex-
aggerated our vices, there is forne.in,es Genee.
vein oftruth in what he fays. Free as our peo-
pie are not by name but in nature, fraught with
the hnef original genius, friendly to one ano
ther and hoipitable 10 the ftranscr, it is not
TO be concea led that forne cf cur anufements
are coartc, repulhve yet ardenty purified. "I
once faw faysa celebrated humourif" as
was riding in a part of Virginia that niall be
nar,elefs, man riding upon good horfe, with
pair OF black fatin Brooches, white fix ftock-
ings and fuitable Accomplishments, and going to
cock-hght, with cock under his ARM" Ma
ny of our lower clafIes are no doubt difincuifh-
ed by their coarfenefs and implicitly but what
is the remedy? Not introducing among them
the luxury of the towns; but the intellectual in.
fiuence of education and reading. Thefe will
counterad the fecret charm of pampered
wealth furniih an inexhauftble amufement to
the people and fupport the neftimabie edifice
Of American FIRE edom.