Berkeley and Jefferson intelligencer. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va.) 1802-1810, 1807-06-05

IOVC w SAau2Cp hO"CVSE oStCuSS "uI
not account for our eternal desires to ap-
pear that which we are not for it would
| rather impel Us to destroy the seeds Of
vice, which Nature has implanted or
Habit generated in our minds, and not
to gloss over the surface with a Aimsy
eolouring while the core remains un.
sound. Nor can this propensity be as
eribed topride or shame for pride aud
shame have come good end in view ei-
Their the support Of conscious worth, or
contrition and pehitence for guilt. II is
a frailts incident 10 our nature; a irailty
Latent, during the early periods ofinfancy,
but which SroSps Ioith our grouOth and
itrrngtA1 hs ui;h our. ssrehgth: a fraiity
which incteases in proportion to the en-
enlargement it receives, and finding its
sanction in the example Of thousands,
and fortunate perhaps iuits Grst attempts,
destroys at lens ,h the perception even Of
It's possessour Himself. But it is frail.
~ which the b lavess may be proud to
conquer, and tie wisest to subdue.
From the lips of Candour, persuasion
always flows, ard the ray of truth that
illumines the coantenance of Sincerity,
surpasses all the lusTe which a reason
the most refined, and a sophistry the
most imPenetrable, can bestow. It is
the elegance Of the Athenian temple,
compared with IT,. grand yet terri6ck
splendour OF the Gothiek dome It's the
.bewitching smile Of native beauty, con-
trasted with the studied air ofhigh-born
pride the last we may admire, but the
former only can we love.
The rules of conduct prescribed BY
good breeding are not incompatible with
the purest sincerity. The richest jewel
is void ofbeauty pnst the hand Of art
remove the dulness with which, by ma
ture, it is encireled: Politeness as it
not only calls ito action the principles
Of goodness, but even in some degree
contributes to their formation, may be
regarded not merely as dress FOR Vir-
tue, but as among the most valuable OF
ITS constituent parts. Ii is theadelieate
medium Through which Benrvolenee
may be Viewed to advantage. 1t is the
polish which adorns and improves the
substance It is qualification. which
in its purity can be found, only in a be-
nignans, an intelligent, superior mind.
Were called upon to point out an
example Of merit completely unaffected,
Of bertsaiy modest uuassuming worth,
Of canaour undissembled, and sincerity
unfeigned 4 should shrink from the
task the ar Aals of man present no such
character; his very constitution for bids
the possibility OF its existence. But in
the shades ofthe Greeian academy in
the retirement of her philosophers, /
would select as the nearest to perfection
the instructor Of Xenophon and Plato.
Devested ofthe ridiculous misan,hroPy
of the cynick; avoiding the frozen. viz
tue ofthe Stoick, and despising the un-
manly softness of the EPieureao, So
crates lived 50 pure life that Mature,
proud ofbeing the mother of such son
Iaight e.eiaisn, this tvas q man. Such
aeharaeter We should initiate If we can.
not ressnbLe aud measuring our desires
by the line OF piety and wisdom, let Us
say with Plautus,
Proximum >quod sit bono, quodque a
male longRsime, .
Id volo esse.
CAPTIVE. hcTus 2, s. 2.