The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-04-19
The following anecdote of the BiMop of Mar

The following anecdote of the Biihop of Mar
te'es will place this fubjett in jutt and ftrik.
ing light. His revenue amounted to fifty
thoufand livres. In conformity with the die
tates of juitice and the maxims of the gofpel,
he Circumfcribed his own wants within the
bounds which enlightened reafon pre(cribes &
| expended the furplus of his revenue in acts of
! bene6cenoe. He was beloved and venerated
as the benefactor of the province in which he
reiided. He enjoyed in all its variety and
! extent the godlike luxury &c of going about do
ins good" He retired from the fuper5 palace
which had been erected for his relidence and Ii
we'd IN !mall but commodious houfe which he
built in rural village. His houfe atho' it ex-
hibitea no appearance of pomp or fplendour,
had every thing neceilary for human accommo-
dation and comfort. He was accd, ntally vi
flied by perfon Of very different tafe, who
earnetly urged him 10 add two wings 70 the
houie and expatiated copioully on the advan-
tages and attractions of the plan he recommends
ed. The good old man liftened with urbanity
to the propofal of his viiitor, and after paufng
for moment, obferved with mild but en-
phatic gravity. "The advice you give me is
think.worie than that which Satan gave TO Chriit.
Satan advifed Chriit to convert Roaes into bread,
but you Sdvife me to convert the bread of the
| poor into Zones"
| Is there an understanding 70 clouded with
prejudice as not to perceive, heart 70 bcpumb-
ed with felffhnefs as not TO feel the divine mo-
rality contained in this ihort but energetic FEN
tence! Who does not perceive and feel that
the PATTON at preient 10 fatally prevalent for ufe-
LET'S and expenGve luxuries, by fpcc;es of in
fernal alchemy, tranfmutes the fubfaence, the
labour, the eifurs, the Happiness of mul,itudes
| OF men into ftones, trinkets, phantafic and ex-
| ecrable baubles, which never yet expiated even
for moment, the mifery they produce, by
klndng one glow of fold fatisfatt ion, one
grand or delicious feniation in the bofom of the
opu!ent oppreflor {? The grofs felfifhnefs, the
pofhed littlenefs, the fhamelefs profufion of
the privileged clalles of iociety in modern Eu-
rope, form painful and humiliating contratt
to the implicitly of manners, the dlinterefted-
neis and dignity OF foul, which command the
admiration of the mott degenerate reader,
IN contemplating the character of the FACES and
heroes OF Greece and Rome. Every we-infor-
med and candid enquirer mutt admit that the
condition ofthe nations of modern Europe is in
many reipects hyperion to that of thofe ceebra-
ted republics The Improvements in agricul-
ture, manufactures and commerce, in whatever
deterves the name Of art, literature and fcence
and the aftoni!hing augmentation in the produc
tive powers of labour from the invention oftoos,
machines and engines, mutt be obvious to all
who nave the moft superficial acquaintance with
ancient and modern hiftory. But do we diff
Germ corresponding Improvement in political
!initItutions and in the moral character of man ;
Do not our little fouls fhrink with rfcious a.
oaienent, when we compare our motives,
our manners and our purflits with thofc
of the Timoleons, the Scipios, the Phocions
and the Catos of antiquity? Does not the
oiuih OF generous lhame mount into the
pallid cheek of the modern fnc-yentIeman.
does he not perceive all the littlcnefs and vile
neis OF the insignificant hnery, the frivolous ac-
compliments which conft.tute his only claim
TO definition, when he is informed that the
venerable Cincinnatus, when called to the Of
nee OF dictator by the voice of his country, Oh
1erved as ne took leave of his family, this wear
fear our little farm mutt remain uncuItivated -
VIII not the richeif brocade lofe its eIofs. and
the mott coftly gems their ufre, in the ever of
the fine lady, when fhe recolleets the anfiyer of
Cornelia to female viitor, who reouefed To
lee her ornaments: conducting her to cham
her where her fons the two Gracchi, then very
young, were engaged under her direction i'm
the ftudy of Grecian literature. "Tbee, Eaid
the luxurious matron, pointing to her fons,
fbsfe are my ornamentJ."
-"The baleful dreps of
"Thefe late ages, this inglorious draught
"Of fervitude and folly, have not yet,
Defiled to fuch depth of forbid hane
"The native honours of the human FOUL
1t is a memorable and aufpicious circum-
Rance, that although the patton for expenfive
Injuries is 70 fatally prevalent, our hearts are
feengly-ave to the charms of fimplicity, and
fecrctly confcious of the littlenefs and infigni-
fcance of phantaltic pomp. No work. are
more eagerly read, or more ardently admired,
than fuch as exhibit in ftriking and attractive
light, the charms of fimplicity, and hold up to
ridicule and contempt, the abfurd idols of
fashionable folly. The fine fentiment, 70 eIe-
eantly exprefled by Thompfon in his defcripti-
on of Lavinia, touches fympathetic chord in
every bofom,