The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-08-02
PROPOSES 10 complete TIE fourth and last
poiume Of The
HISTORT or VIRGIWIA


fortunate fate of BURKE. SHELTON JONES
undertakes this work with mingled sensati-
ons OF satisfaction and diffidence: with salts
faction, when hope delutes him with the pros
pect of literary fame-for what generous hn-
som does not heave with emotion, at the idea
or having his name transmitted with honor
to distant posterity--What enlightened
mind is not
Fr'd sDiM the thirst 4Ohich virtuous envy breeds,
dad sauit Spith iove Of honorable deeds u?
But, when he reflects upon the importance
of the work, which he has undertaken to
compose, he feels but too strongly the limit
ed faculties with which it has pleased the
God of Nature to endow him. A History of
Virginia, to commence with the American
Revolution, and terminate with the admins
tration o! MIR. Jefferson; embraces 2 period
in the history of mankind, more important
than the historic muse ever recorded. A Sc
ven years war and the emancipation of new
world, will be only part of this difficult UNI
dertaking: biographical sketches of SPLEEN
did galaxy OF illustrious heroes, statesmen &
patriots, must be executed: to do justice to
the subject, then, would require the genius
of an Herodotus or Thucydides, I.ivy or
Tacitus, a Hume or Gibbon: il cannot
then be but with much humility of mind, 9.
with trembling hand, that he approaches
the subject but lie has been rash enough to
bind himself by a contract, and he must be
bold enough to comply with it, as web as he
can. Qnem So non tenUit, magniS tan1en erci-
dit 0ssis. The volume if does not exceed 400
pages, could easily be finished in months ;
out the author must forego this advantage, in
ORDER to bring down the work to the interest
ing period OF Mr.. Jefferson's retirement from
the presidential chair. Shelton Jones nofu-
raHy relics upon the patronage of every true
VirgiDian. The History of Virginia (if well
composed) which shall record events more
important, perhaps, to the welfare of man
Kind, than the annals of the earth afford, writ
ten by native Virginian, who had his birth
in land of freedom and independence, can
not, ~ gooufd seem, but be interesting to the
whole community.
No essential alteration will be made in
the conditions upon which this work was o.
r:gnally commenced.
An appendix will explain every thing re
lative to police, literature, arts, manners,
manufactures, commerce, government, ma
val and military strength, population. pro-
auctions, mode Of living, &c. &c &c.
The fourth volume will contain charters
and other public papers, the study of which
will be equally interesting to the politician
and antiquary. Those important documents
which world otherwise perish, may be thus
pICeelNcu IOr tne dement, OF poSterlty-
This work will notice the growth and set
Element Of the other states but to the states
OF Maryland. North-C arolina, South Care
lima, Kentucky, Georgia and Tennessee, i,
will be peculiarly interesting -inasmucf
as the first settlement, laws, charters, H.
mits and constitutions OF those states, will
be accurately recorded
The fourth volume, like the preceding
three, will be of large octave size, on fine
paper, with new and handsome type il
will be delivered to subscribers for three
dollars neatly bound i'll sheep. and lettered
or two dollars and half in boards the
price will be advanced to non subscribers.
1T may not be unnecessary to repeat, that
Biography, department so useful and inte
resting 70 history so necessa y to a correct
view OF the motives Of the chief personages
and the secret springs Of the most impor
tant measures, will receive the most pointed
attention Of the author.
| 1 : virtue of deed of trust executed To tn