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

found the rsindis Of mon in an unsettled
q tate, and, as you may well imagine, did
not help 70 compose them. OurEiorsas Of
education were becoming more pcssliar and
superficial; the knowledge Of aDtiquit, be-
can to Be despised and the hard labor Of
iearning 10 be .G.sspFastd with. Soon the
ancient strictnessaof discipline disappeared;
the curriculum Of studies was shortened in
favor Of the inpatience OF the necessities of
candidates forfliterary honors; the pains OF
application were derided, and a peruiclous
notion Of equality was introduced, which
has rot only tainted our sentiments but Inn
paired our vigor, and crippled our literary
emlnenee.
This secret influence Of public opinion,
though not easily described, has been felt
and amtntsd by many oias who were cdu-
Gated 10 the prescn. generation. aVs have
many steps to recover; and before we shall
travel IN the suite OF the learned in the
Old world, we have some long strides to
make. Our poets AID historians, our cri-
tics AMI orators,* the men of whom posterl-
ty ar. to stand in awe, and be instructed.
are vet to appear among US. l3he men OF
lttters who are to direct our taste, mould
oar genius, and inspire our emulation the
men in fact, w,lose writings are to be the
repositories of our national greatness, have
not VET shown themselves to the world. But
if we are not mistaken in the signs Of the
times, the genius of our literature begins
to show symptoms Of vigor, and to medi-
tate a bolder eight; and the generation
which is to succeed lis will be formed on
better models, and leave brighter track.
+. The spirit of criticism begins TO plume it
self, and education as 1t assumes a more
learned form, will take a higher aim. If
We are not misled by our hopes, the dream
ofignorancc is at least disturbed; and there
are signs that the period is approaching, IN
which it will be said Of our own country,
tun jan r1gnat Apollo.
You then, my friends ,are destined, 1 hope,
to witness the dawn of our Augustan age
and to contribute to IT'S glory. Whatever
NAV be your Place in society,I am confident
YOU will not willingly discard the love of
virtue and Of knowledge; and it Is with this
confidence sha. shall now venture to speak
70 YOU of some OF THE DANGERS AND DU-
TIES OF MEN or LETTERS. The subject is
copious and vi at viii now be offered is a
mere ESSAY. l. it should be found suitable
to this occasion, and 10 the actual state of our
literature, my purpose will be answered.
Every wher~ th.,r. are dangers and evils
OF ~nICn affect the intellectual improve
nen,, and others are uutavorable to The mo-
raj worth Of literary men. In this country.
especially, it too oien happc..s, that the
young man who is to 1--we by his talents, and
10 make the most of the name of a 'scholar, is
tempted to turn his literary credit to the
quickest account, by carly making himself
of consequence to the people, or rather to
some OF tle;r factions. From the moment
that he is found yieldiag himself upto their
service, or hunting after popular favor, his
time, his studies, and his powers We in heir
bloom, are all LOST ID learning Instead Of
giving his days and ghts to the study Of
the profound masters of political wisdom,
instead of patiently receiving the lessons OF
history, and Impractical philosophy, he pre-
naturclv takes part in all the dss=ntions
Of TIE day. His leisure is wasted on the
prohiga:e productions Of demagegues, and
their curiosity bent ON the ninutie af local
politics. The consequence is, that his mind
is SO much dissipated, or his passions dis
tarbed, that the quiet s7eculasiors of the
scholar can no longer dStaIn him. He hears
at distance the hustle Of the Comitia- He
rushes out Of the groves Of Egetia aud NJ
ma and the muses. call after hin in vain. It
is, perhaps, one of the most incurable evils
of our constitution of society, that this am
bition of immediate nosoriety, and rapid
success is too early excited, and thus the
promises Of literary excellence are SO fire.
quently superseded.