The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-09-12
MISCELLANEOUS.
A1,iERICHN LITERATURE.
vALEDICTORY.


81 Rhetoric ar Hdrcsvl UInivers;ty, the Hon.
John .. ddants. The close Of a course oTcok-
Iesidfe Suaies with the Senior Class, the Profes
sorS resignation of his academic trus., and lis
concentrated departure in6cr,t,nt fsyeiyn
embassy at the cali II has country, combined 10
dtyeetd numerous, brilliant and Discriminating
audience, and 70 gice effect to discourse SO hap.
Pity calculated for ths occasion.
OF The copy right otks Series of Lectures is secxy-
edto II. HdLLIdRD, Printer to the University,
Suho u'Gef stand z,iH shortly eshibi. then, TO
The pabGe-6y his poiiteness spe are favored spith
tie following estract. Boston Patriot.
\ "And here, gentlemen, our disquisitions upon
the second great division of the rhetorical SCI
eIrce-that which teaches the disposition of vari-
GUS parts of an Grafton, are brought to close
At this stage of our Inquiries, a portion of our
feilow-laborers have arrived at the term of their
collegiate life-While am treating of the con-
ciusion OF discourse, they are brought to the
conclusion OF their academical career. At the
same time, an event which removes me to a re-
mote region, has suddenly arrested me in the
course OF these studies, and brings them also to
premature conclusion.
Two years have elapsed since you, gentlemen,
who are now about to issue from tue halls of
science into the tumuts ofthe world, first be-
came my hearsrs-and this lecture completes the
course, upon Which you have attended We
have been fellow-students upon subjects in MANY
&SSf~SN', ~ " piySSii Us WSH as 10 you. We
are now to PART, and you, as well as myself are
to be separated from those of your successors,
who, at later period, have become sharers in
these studies The situation in which we res.
Pecuvely stand towards one another, is inter
csung to US all, and in taking leave of YOU.
trust you will indulge me with few additional
moments, tor the utterance OF the sentiments in
spired by the occasion.
The period to which those of you have arriv
ed, VINO are bidding adieu to the residence with
IN tnese venerable walls, is perhaps the most cri-
teal and important of any moment Of your lives
1t is the hinge upon which your future destinies
are balanced. 1t is from this moment, that most
OF you, ccasing to be merely members of n fami.
~, become active partners of the state-ctficient
cuizens OF the commonwealth Henceforth, you
ar to unite the'study of living man with that of
ages expired And so rapid is the succession of
years, that you will soon find the balance of your
feelings and OF your duties, pointing with an ire
sistlble magnet to iuturity, and the growing bur.
tilen OF your hopes and wishes, concentrated in
the welfare o!your successors upon this earthly
stage-ot yourselves upon that which Isl to sue
eeed, Ii at tins moment, in which so many cir
cumstances concur TO give solemuity to our feel.
ings. may be permitted to use with vol, the
freedom, as feel tor you the socitude of a ia.
rent, and to express III the form of advice those
ardent wishes for your future happiness, which
beat with every pulsation of my heart, would
entreat you TO cherish, and to cultivate in every
stage OF your lives, that taste for literature and
Science, which is first sought here, as in their IA
vorite aoodes would urge IL upon you as the
most sfiectual means of extending your respecta
biiity and usefulness Ill the world. | would press
1t with still more earnestness upon YOU, AS
the lnexhaustlbie source of enjoyment and of
consolation.
In HE of action, however prosperous may be
Its career, there VIII be seasons of adversely and
days OF trial The trials of prosperity them
selves, though arr:yed IN garments of ioy, are
not less perilous or severe than those of distress
The heart of man is alas liable to corruption
from both the faces of fortune, and the vices of
Insoent success are as fatal to the moral dignity
ofthc human character, as the reckless pluIpes
OF despair. 1t only by absorbing all the inter.
ests and all the faculties of the heart that passi
on spreads over it ike consuming fire Form
but the habit Of taking delight in other objects
than those which merely affect your personal
condition in the world, and you VIII DC guarded
from that d sspatiop OF mind which is the wretch
edness OF prosperity, & from tll.t perturbation of
soul which is the agony of misfortune The
mastery OF air passions perhaps only be &C
compshed by religion but in acquiring il her
most eiiectual as well as her most elegant instru-
ments, are letters and science. AT no hour of
your life will the love of letters ever Cypress you
as burthen, or fail you q resource. In the
vain and foolish exultaton of the heart, which
the brighter prospects OF life will sometimes ex-
cite, the pensive FORTRESS of science shall call YOU
back to the sober pleasures of her holy cell In the
niortlhcatloIs OF DISAPPOINTMENT, her soothing
voice shall whisper serenity and peace. In so.
cial converse with the mighty dead of ancient
days, you wiilnever smart under the CALLING sem
sation of dependence upon the mighty living of
the present age, and in your struggles with the
world, should crisis ever occur, when even
friendship msy deem it prudent to desert YOU
wheH even your country may seem ready to abai,-
don herself and you when even Priest and Lee
yite shall come and look on you, and pass by on
the other side; seek refuge in unfaIing friends.
and be assured you will find it, in the friendship
of Ls,:us and Scipio--in the patriotism of Cce.
no, Demosthehes and Burke, as well as i'm the
precepts and examples of him, whose whole law
Is love and who taught US to remember injuries
only to forgive them.
The satisfaction of this intercourse with YOU,
had Hattered n.yseifsSith the hopes of enjoying.
for series of years to come * it was my wish
and intention to have added to these Lectures
which you have heard, another, though shorter
course, more particularly devoted to Oratory,
which was essential to the completion of my orr.
ginal plan. was deeply sensible also, that aft er
filling dp the outline skctcAed in my first lecture
a severe and deliberate revision of the whole
would be necessary to remove some of its
imperfect tons, and render it more worthy of that
'nremitting attention, for which must grateful.
~ acknowledge my obligations 10 my hearers
From these dreams of hope, have been ava.
kened by destination OF uncertain continuance
60 distant country. Ii is not without reluctance