The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-01-14

must expect TO be understood bv a sort of in
verse. rule. For although presume you must
have meant TO beyery sarcastic, you have cl4
.thcr paid Nfr.R. q marked compliment. or
have committed a palpablc self contradiction.
ii mans speeches contain much s5hhistry,
and such too as wonld disgrace HIM, it would
surely be worth the labour of one, who writes
for that special purpose, to detect them
AS the most ready mode of effecting his OBJ
ject. Yet you tell us in one and the same
breath, that Mr.. RS speeches are very So
f,histicai, and that although you should ex-
patiate on them for the purpose of exposing
their sophistry, that the spoil would not
compensate for the labor" This when trans
lated into plain English, would surely be tan
tamount to a declaration, that his speeches
were at the same time very full, and very
destitute Of sophisms. The meaning of this.
Unjust leave it to you, sir, to make out, for
confess to my shame, it has utterly baffled
my efforts. Anonymous essays with authors
names to them, is another phrase as new to
me as it is unintelligible, and yet you say
Mr.. r. has published sertain anonymous es-
says respecting our relations with Great
Britain. If the essays to which you allude
were really anonymous, how you could pro-
nounce that MIR. r. published them, it re-
mains for you to unriddle. IF Mr.. RS name
was to them, how they could be anonymous,
will be still harderto explain.
But to be serious, if practicable, for until
you learn your own language somewhat bet
ter, the pensal of your letters must put
most mems gravity to severe trial Would
it not be well in future, when you undertake
to assert any thing as a fact, in support of
which, you either cannot or will not Offer a
ny thing like proof, to consider how far the
public Credulity may be imposed upon with
safety. Or have you already made that cal
culation, and ascertained that in the present
day, nothing like evidence is required to
damn any public character suspected of GER
tain political heresies-such as adherenceto
old Republican, itrincihies-taking no res
possibility but our own-telling ones consti-
tuen.s at all times, what one believes promo
tive of their interest, without considering
who NAV be hurt or offended at it--& want
ing implicit faith in the iniallibilty of those,
who mavhappen at any time to constitute the
Executive department of the Government
MIR. r. owes you, sir, an obligation which
fear, he will not easily repay, Tor condescen-
ding to advise hun precisely in what proper
ton he should blend "amusement, argument
wit, wisdom, passion and reason" in his ora
tions But as / suspect, he never did, or will
make speeches, either for the instruction or
tie comments of such men as yourself, deS-
pair os his benefitting much by your advice
although given &c doubt, with the very best
intentions. Thou admirable political, apo
thecary and confectioner! how exquisitely
would the public taste be RECALLED, if you had
the seasoning OF the dishes with which to til
tilate Our p, iljE +! how infallibly would all
the public maladies be cured, if you were to
prescribe and administer the remedies?
Your second paragraph is certainly one of
great promise, In it we have this bold de-
claration, that you will attempt to demon
:. strate the style of Mr.. Rs observations
" was calculated TO raise the tone of Great
q Britain, and to dispirit the energies of our
+" own country--that his conduct was calcu-
g lated to produce the same erect, by excl
see ting an idea and expectation of division
g and that she present crisis of our affairs,
.s is not fairly to be attributed to the conduct
's pursued bv Congress, and the admisistra-
" ton" Let us now see how far your per-
forman corresponds with this pledge? You
say, ga disintercsted patriot would never
." consent to deprcciate the resolution and re-
" sources of his own country" For once,
sir, you are certainly correct, but where is
the proof that this remark can possibly apply
to Mr.. r.
That gentleman, / am persuaded, has a
far different idea of some of the duties of a
disinterested patriot, from thu. which you ap-
pear to entertain. He, as every o,her rati-
onal man, would think it an equal violation
OF that duty, to endeavor to inspire false re-
ISOLATION, by an eraggeTated picture OF his
Country 6 resources, as IL WOuiQ DC 20 attempt
todepreciate them. Indeed, it is easy 10 l.
imagine many situations in which the first
would probably be more fatal. Whether it
be the WISH OF true patriot to avert war,
when compatible with national honor, or to
inspire his 'couutrymen with spirit to encoun-
ter itwhen Unavoidable; his duty is always
the same. 70 exhibit the truth, is as indis-
pensabe an obligation in the Ole case, as in
the other. But you charge Mr.. r. with at
6 tempting 10 dispirit the energies of his own
(" country, By drawing concemptuous pic
sc ture of her resources" This, Sir, is a
heavy accusation, aud it behoves you to prove
it, or to meet that public scorn & contempt
which you will most Justly merit if you fail
Search every line Of every speech that Mr.
r, ever made, (unless You choose to get of
by saying "the spoil would not compensate
for the labors Of the chase,") and defy you
topoint out any thing, which by fair construc-
tion can be understood as flowing from de-
sire On his part, to treat his country with con-
tempt. IT'S true, that upon some former oc-
casions, Mr.. X has drawn very contemptu-
Gus picture of some of the legislative agent:
of the nation-but even you, sir, presume
will scarcely class such men as are there des-
criDed, amongst our national resources
Whether the picture was well drawn or not
it is net for me 20 say.
But may be permitted to observe, thai
there is certainly very material distinction
between defrecidting the resources Of one,