The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-08-06

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all theie the natives nsale great ulc of together with
berries of various kinds, particularly the Cranberry
OF mott excellent favor, ami the FRI We had seen on
this coan
LAND SPECULATION.
We may coniijer our Newspapers as'the
paiiing chronicles of the times. Sometimes
their conductors may take upon Themselves
the dignihed office OF commentators but their
principal! character is that of an hieorian.
They may reafon; they may arsumentatively
expa.iate upon the incidents which fucceilive-
ly fo'icit their attention: but their firf duty is
to forniIh fuch fats as may add to the amufe-
ment or inch materials may excite or afIiit
the invefgating fpirit of their readers. Such
incidents are not always TO be drawn from die
tant countries or brilliant tranfaetions. The in
triges of the cabinets of Princes, the coronation
of an emperor, the engagement of contending
Aeets, or the patching up of a new fublidary
treaty, are TO doubt entitled to our mott
FERROUS regard but even thefe may fome-
times be put Aide, for the purpote of re-
cording fone domefic event of every infe-
rioI Importance. What the latter may want
in shftratt, it makes up in relative impor-
lance. 1t would produce very little agitation
perhaps in London or in Paris; it is not cacu-
lated to affect the deftiny of Empires or of prr,-
ces bat comes home to every mans buGnefs
and befom:" becaufe it may perchance affect
every mans intereR or the Intereft of his
friends. @
When Inoticcd the extraordinary circumRan-
ces which accompanied the drawing of the
VIM. & Mary Lottery, INDUCED the fportive
fallies of my mind. There was fomething in
that tranfaction, which was calculated TO pro-
d"ce ~ The indifferent obferyer fctfation of
p!eafurable furprhe; but there was nothing in
IT, which could command more ferrous or To-
Tenn emotion. The fcene itfelf and the com
ments which it called forth exhibited to nv
view tomething of the ridiculous; fomething to
pleaie the laughter-lovne tribe: but there was
nothing in them, which the mott rigid morality
could think freprehendns. Far different how
ever is the fceIe, which it Is now my painful
province TO develope. Far different are the
LIMITATIONS with which ] approach to fulfil it.
The drawing Of the William s, Mary Lottery
might fometimes call forth playful fmile, or a
good 'humoured argument; but the crtiiciims
OF the morali't or the confederate indignation
OF the public feems only to have fallen upon
the pre;ent tranfaction. 1t has produced as
much animated conversation as much eager
cuTiohty AS the other; its Actors have attracted
As much brilliant eclat but fortunate will they
be If they PATS off with the fame imies or the
fame charitable Indulgence, which the commit!
oners OF the Lottery were fortunate enough to
deferve.
For 10 days paa has the fpirit of land fps
cuation been talking through the 6reets of
our city. We have feen it 6lentIy ariiing
from the mott contemplate and humble be
slnnIngs; and increaiing, as it advanced, the
number of its PROTOTYPES and the magnitude
of its operations. At firt it fremed contented
with Vacant, waite or unappropriated land :
but it afterwards extended its ambitious crav-
ings to all forjSitea land Firft, it repo,ed ;tfelf
on the margin of Shockoc Greek and the James
river: and then we faw it acting upon a prn-
cipe, which overleapt the narrow boundaries
or the corporation and extended to the far
theft extremitieS OF the fate. 'rhofe who ORR
einally iet up this game of Ejaculation pretend
ed ~ confine their location to lands which
20 man claimed and no man poiIeifed but
the torrent foon fweled on, while ne w mode of
acquihtion was foon difcovered, which threatens
to dipof1efs the actual inhabitants of their land,
and tenant it with new Matters. Nothing
hut the prudential interpoiition of the next
Legislature can put aide the impending evil.
This Drama Therefore which is now acting
on the Theatre of our Cry, is plainly diviiible
into two diftinct acts: dttind not only in their
plot, but in the time of their repreientation.
I'he hrit relating to the Vacant land in the cor
poraticn, has perhaps feen the curtain drop uD-
OIL it for ever. The fecond, that is built upon
the anticipation of .fortsited land, is now in re-
hearta, and will be brought upon the ftage
fometime about the frf of March next Each
of thefe we thall devcspe for the anlufement
of our diitant readers 4: the firft in our preftnt
number. The laft we iha!l keep BY us for fi;-
turc exhibition.
ACT III.
PACANT LIND.