The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-11-15
Ctr Gnqulrer.
RICHMOND, l5tb NoVEMBER.
GENERAL WILLIAM EATON.

This brave and meritorious American has
been among us. He arrived in Hampton Roads
on the 10th init. in the United States FRANKFORT
FRANKLIN, In 40 days from Gibraltar. He
reached this city on Tuefday evening in the
Norfolk tage, on his way to the North. The
public fentiment, which had been awakened hy
the delivery of our countrymen and the appear.
ance OF cambridge among us, would have had
time enough to expire, bad the events them
fe!yes been of light and tran!itory nature but
tner consequences were too important to be
Immediately forgotten, s. there was till enough
OF the public feeling left, to give the principal
hero or the tale, warm and joyous reception.
his arrival was foon and rapidly fpread: his
countenance' the dimeniions of his perfon, the
wound IN his WRIT, the fpir;t of his convsrfation
became the topics of remark: and aI,nolt eve,
ry one was anxious TO fee or to fell Of the an.
pearance Of Eaton. The public curiofitv as on
mott other occaiions, was even fuifome in its
enquiries; but the intereft which he excited.
and the attentions which he rec eived from orr
mott respectable citizens, are at leaf fufiicient
concentrations that his countrymer are neither
ignorant of hia fervices nor Indifferent tn bis
merits. Let no man pretend to chaunt forth
the ingratitudc Of republics Where puhI;c
iervices are rendered from rneritorious motives.
the public boiom will always receive corrcc
bonding impreflon. The very equality which
mat form OF government produces in the ita-
non and manners OF the people, fnrrouuds the
inequality or talents and terviccs with addition
al attratt'on. Though merit fhould a,iorn the
brow OF a monarch or an ariAocrat. there 10 a
form and rcferve impofed upon him bv his FIN
alton, which keeps him at dftance from the
multitude. The fprit of admiration which
they feel for his fervices, is neither animated nor
foftened by triendihip for his pcrfon but the
congratuiation Of republican people, though
eis ihewJ,'s more fincere though it appears
eis IN exterior 1t fprings more from the
heart. The benefactor of his country mixes
with the people, and participates in their man
ners and their amufements. He receives tbe
tribute of refped, but not the homage of adm
lation. He receives all that is belonging to him
and fcarcely any thing more. IF General Eaton
IS indeed contented with pofieling the reflect
OF his countrymen, his Target ambition mutt be
fatished. Though he has not received that en-.
thuiiaitIc reiPeot which is due to the man who
Penned the declaration of American indepen-
dence, o. TO him who gave it its Iaft zeal at the
iege of York, he has at leaf received the graft
tude which is due to the man of epterDriC.
who put to fleep the Turkifi ieaIoufy In T.
gypt, pafed over the Lyb:an Defert, maftered
the Notifications of Derne with an inconfdera-
BILE army, overthrow the troops of the Ba 1aw
of Tripeli, and contributed TO give freedom tn
500 American prifoners. Gen. Eaton has been
thus received among US, and there can be no
doubt that he will meet with the fame reception
throughout the union, without any diainSfion
ofprinciples or parties.
The appearance of Gen. Eaton is confidera-
bly, in his favour. His performs ofthe middling
order, but erect and dignjied. His counte-
Danceis animated, good-humoured, expreiIive
more ofenterpriing project than deep refearch.
His eye is brilliant and full of fire. In CONVEX
fation, bis conceptions are quick, his ftyle eIo-
qnent and laconic. His mind and manners are
evidently llofe ofa man who, having gone thro'
fome extraordinary fcebes, is cnergiled and new
frung by the difficulties, which he has en-
countered. Thofe who knew him in the ar
my Of the u. S. are furprifed at the intellectual
energy which he now diipIays. They feem TO
think that the new countre. which he has Vie
Gted, and the unexpected difficulties which they
have prefented, have had no other efFect than
awakening the genius which had hitherto
Numbered, and aiding new life tothc faculties
Of his mind. In tome refpe6ts be refembles the
energetic but unfortunate General Littlcpape
Of Virginia poneGing much Of his entcrpri-
Gng fpirit, thoug hwitbout theaeatesefs and cru
dition Of his literary genius.
What is hereafter to be the defination and
rsGdeuce Of this much-tallsed-of American,
we have as yet had no opportunities of difco-
veriug. He came in the u. States 1ranfport
in preference to the Congrefs, that he might not
be eclipied by the fpiendsr nor honoured By