Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-11-10

{EDQSQs 10 DEE viz 81 10y 49, =, =
doubt not. as well as myself, have found
themselves embarrassed by the Liberty Of
| choosing without direction, and their spirits
exhausted by indssision before the thoughts
were fixed, as they were a last, BY neca-
sity.
When look round, however, on those
whom am called to address, and find them
TO be mcn with whom learning is at least in
esteem j; men too, whose mutual friendships,
as they commenced on classio ground, will
always preserve, trust, sonethngof the
raciness Of their origin, ] should think my
self uriaithfufto this occasion, aad TO the
character Of the audience, if wvsr to choose
any other subject, than that which is com
mon to US as scholars. For, however DIFF
fetent our professions, opposite our connec-
tons, wide our opinions, or uncertain cur.
.destinies in life, in this weeagree, that let
tiers have been our study, perhaps OR de-
light. BY these We are to live; by these
too, 81 gua fata aspera sinaat We are to,
be remembered. la your company, Their,
have no inclination to stray beyond the
gardens of the academy, or within the noise
of the city and the forum.
Is. there man who now hears me, who
would not rather belong to an enlightened
and virtuous community, than 20 the nigh
test empire in the world, distinguished on
" by its yastness? !: there's let him cast
his eye along the records of states. What
do we now know ofthe vast unlettered en-
pires Of the east? The far extended con-
quest Of the Assyrian hardly detain us a
momen, in the annals Of the world, while
the little state of Athens will forever be the
delight Of the historian and the pride Of
letters; preserving by the genius of her
writer's the only remembrance OF the bar
barian powers which overwhelmed her. To
come down 10 Our own times " no would
not rather have been a citizen oi the free
and polished republic of Geneva, than to
wander prince in the vast domains Of the
Gar, or bask in the beams Of the present
emperor OF desolated continent?
In the usual scope OF national aegrand:ze-
ment, it is almost certain, that those OF yon
who shall attain TO old age, viii find our
selves the citizens OF All en- :re unpara!lel
ed in extent; but is it probable that you
viii! have the honor of belonging to nation
OF nlen of letters The review Of on: past
literary progress does not authorize very
= r-,,--:--:-i----L.- -ieaue us
entirely wi;hou; hope.
Ii is our lot to have been born in on age
OF tremendous revolution and the world is
vet covered with the wrecks of rs ancient
glory, especially Of its literary renown.--
The fury Of the storm which rose in France
is passed and spent, but is effects have been
felt through the whole system Of liberal
education. The foul spirit Of innovation,
and sophistry has been seen wandering in
the very groves Of the Lvcenn, and is not
yet completely exercised, though the spell
is broken. When we look back to th- re
CORDS Of our learning before the American
revolution, we find, or think we fnt! Cat
least in New England more accomplished
scholars than We have since produced; men
who conversed more fsmilarIy than their
children with the nlighty dead men who
felt more than We do the charm Of classical
accomplishments; men, in short, who had
cot LEANED to be ashamed Of being often
found drinking of the wells ct antiqui,y.*
But SO greatly have oar habits of thinking
been disturbed by the revolutions of the last
thirty years, that the progress of our edu-
cation, and OF course, the character Of our
learning have not li,;le suffered. 1t is
true, Ne have shared The detriment with
Europe; but the effect upon us, tho per-
haps temporary, has been peculiarly exeen-
slve and unfortunate, because our govern
ment and our habits were in some degree
unsettled.
In France and in some other countries Of
Europe, what literature has lost seems to
be compensated hv the progress OF science.
In England the trunk Of her national learn