The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-01-02

ractcr, we should almost have Arcadia re-
hected to our view. But, my dear b. that
| same checkering spirit of fortune which is
busy in all our affairs, has here displayed too
much OF her Syren-humour,' for, whilst she
marked this spot as a retreat for descending
deities, she has Cloathed it with rank and
| noxious shrubbev. The eve may rove and
feast in extacy, but the feelings of social ma
ture are as hidden and cemented as the Rolls
Of Papiri.--lf society in its true and genuine
sense consists of free and RATIONAL intercourse,
OF cordial hospitality and unenvied merit, of
respect and esteem for real and not fictitious
worth, then in Richmond, "tis a widowed,
solitary thing" The people of our metropo-
lis may herd and flock together, but you sell
dom perceive the genuine feelings and en-
Joyments, OF society, and never "the feast Of
reason and the fo4v Of soul" The warm
heart, glowing with sentiments of social love
has not so much concern in the impulse of as
sociation as the cold calculating mind, and if
CLEAN of cordality should beam forth, you
are not toimpute it so much to the sensibili-
ty OF fellowship as to the sordidness of expec-
tation. In truth, my dear B, it would seem,
that the Hierd Sisters of Pride and Avarice
had elected this as their favourite habitation.
the last OF which moves about with electric
swittnes as the hand-maid of the first. The
pride OF Richmond (from whence they deriv-
ed 1t, leave to dreamers and theorists) is of
the most cxtravagant, cast; they would al
mostsindnce belief, that they enjoy prince
ly prerogatives, and divine endowments, not
withstanding they declaim with so much
feigned sincerity against the gradations of
rank, and the pretensions of high fa,uilu
Hence society is figured into various little
| circles, each contending for pre- -eminence.
and whenever you see them comprehended in
one great circle, you will be highly amused
with the leering chances of invidio,is disdain
The old Federal Compact still hangs toge-
ther, and its members still fancy themselves
| OF titled order; but the indulgence of their
pride is to be forgiven, it is the "sad priv
| leSe OF despair. / must now be indebted to
Horace for his emphatic expression of .No1,i
Homtnes, in speaking of that class of citizens,
who were on yesterday as plant as the osier,
but to-day as stately as the oak, who look
forward with overweening arrogance, whilst
they fear to cast an eye back upon the history
| OF day, lest it be ridicued with the journal
OF trick and stpatageTn, or lest they start at
the humor OF chance, which so lately trans
terred them from the bor to the coach.
these circumstances prepare the mind for
the consistent deformity of Jewish inhospi-
tality; striking lineament in the picture of
Richmond; the ridicule of our countrvmen
and the jest of foreigners. 1t is but lust
however, to remark, that although her citi-
Zens shrink with so much reserve and indif-
terence at our natives, they have been known
TO recllne their lofty heads with reverence to
the liveried puppet of royalty* remember
not very long since, when accident led me
| to TINS place, to have seen this Babel commu-
NIFTY thrown into commotion by the arrival of
title, when their pride fomented the most
ridiculous .rivalship for the honour of pam
pering that thing with name.''
| fOu NAV iuStIy iDna errea+
adjusting the claims of family precedence ::
tbs true, my dear B. that they nominally
have an Office of Herald, where every pur
pose is answered by the Bank, there YOU will
md the motto of science and dignity blazoned
upon Stock and Ancestry, computed her CEN
tum. This introduces the Kindred spirit of
Avarce, which OF. all the unsocial passions is
most formidable 1T corrodes every benign ia
Guilty and dissipaees every generous thought.
Avarice has here erected her Juno 11o,Set :.
Its influence is paramount to the claim of di-
vinity; the feelings of friendship CONCEAL in
its shade, and benevolence evaporates IN
breath" The God of Gold seems to have
- made this spot his favorite temple TO have
/ =" constituted bag of coin his chosen Altar.
6 and to have recorded his Oracles in Led
/" ger''
How often in musing have wished for
the pectoral Window, or the Glass of Lao
WHICH feHeCtS the - native hue and figure OF
the SOUL" but twas vain and idle there is a
lalisman. which will lay before YOU every
| plat and fold Of the human bosom-Such. q
Gold, is thy Omnipotcnce ?-such is the ma
glc power of this fashioned earth, that Ge-
MUS droops and is mute without it. whilst
Folly and Vice flourish under the sainted
names of Wisdom and of Virtue.-It trans
forms the penny arithmetican, whose intel
lect is limited to its reckoning, into the ref
ned Statesman, and the Auctioneer, who ha.
learned to scrape upon the hogshead, becomes
the finished Courtier.-Wheret this femme,
OF rapacity exists and men are courted anc
esteemed, according to their monied worth, il
is easy TO imagine the state of society, il
sinks into the parade of pageantry and tn,
sIckening dullness of loquacious ignorance
Do not however infer, my dear B: that they
are all of this base alloy !; no, there are sopt
distinguished by the finest feelings of virtue
and philanthropy, men who would grace tn,
brightest circle of Christian fellowship bu
1t was wanton to hint this precaution, for yo,
know that avarice like the element of hea
requires something to consume in order t,
exist / fancy that, instead of this rude
though faithful sketch, the citizens of Rich
mond would thank me more to invoke Hea.
ven for the Gold Of Ophir, or the waters O
Pactolus.
is it not an enigma in philosophy. tn Al
whilst their hearts are cold and hollow. the;