The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-12-29

revenge themselves Oh him by violence,
Tor All imaginary attack at a time when he
did no, oven know of their existence s-Ees,
believe me, my dear uncle, that although it
were possible tor you TO avoid the desigA of
personalities. there will not be wanting Gu
riocs and malicious persons enough, who will
apply your remarks and appropriate your
pictures to individuals and. thus excite a
Sainst you host of enemies. Alas! it is not
your retirement nor your age that can save
you Alas Il imagine that I can already
see the sunshine and haicyon peace that
now surrounds you, and dummies your face
with smiles, exchanged tor darkness, clouds
and tempest. implore you, my beloved
uncle, and were / with YOU / would i'm
Plore you on my Bonded knees to dismiss the
baleiul project from vour mind forever, and
so confirm your own happiness, as we'll as
that OF your dutiiul and affectionate ne
phew.
GALEN *ssssK.ss
AA**'ss"**@E, December 70, 1910.
lam Delighted, my dear, uncle. with the
scheme which your letter dscloses; and
feel anew obi yation to the writer's Of the
Edinburgh Review, for having caused it. I
am persuaded that a course of moral and
literary essays, executed in such STYLE as TO
draw & nix upon them the public attention,
would do g.rat gchd in this country, & great
you suggest, that the world is perhaps, al
ready full enough of such works, and that
the topics are al exhausted, 7 am sure you
urged II, merely TO try my judg snent or to
give me the triumph OF refutine il.
For as to Casa's book of manners, and
Sas'igiionc's Courtier in Italy, Bruyere's
manners OF the age, in France, or the Tat
Ter, Spectator, Guardian, &c. in Eng
iand--what have they to do with America an
manners! What instruction does a lady,
IN TINS country. gain BY being told that a
girl with hoop pet.icoat. whom the Spec
tatpr saw tall, in the streets of London.
looked for all the world like bell without
clapper; or that another who fell down
stairs with head dress, four stories high,
Ieseu'oiea an egyptian pyramid set upon
as aFers Every country and every age
mas It's peculiar manners. and therefore.
no portrait or one, can serve for another !;
on the contrary, picture of manners =. liv
lng as they rise" in any country, will al =
ways be new, original and captivating
Nh matters or literature there is indeed
more unity and durability bu, then the
topics which 1t presents are so various, and
indeed INFINITE, that there is no danger OF
finding subjects enolgh to which a writer
oil genus Can give novelty aud grace.
Aud even Oh the same subject different
men have such different modes of thinking.
tina; lbelleve such mind as Godsmith's
Tor instance, could have walked directly owe,
the track OF the Spectator, touching his very
mot oes ana subjects, without any danger ol
eiring ms reader. You will say that YOU
are no Goldsmith TO which answer tina,
TO concordance this advantage you have a
new country vast field covered with a
neavy harvest, which no sickle has ever vet
r,ucheG.
As to your doubt whether such work
would produce any effect on the inveterate
habits OF this country, why should we think
go humbly of ourselves and so illv of others !.
presume that the people of England in
the reign OF Queen Anne, we're at last as
luxurious, as vicious aud inveterate in their
habits as the people of this country: and
yet we are told 10y Addison, that the Spec
GATOR had perceptib!e influence upon the
conversation Of that time, aud taught the
fTolick ana the gay to unite merrinent
with decsncy. You will say that you are
&c. an Addison c. = Steele: never mind.
my dear uncle, l will help you: so that YOU
see there is no danger of my failing in nv
profession by my modesty.
But you apprehend that you may inllct
PAIN where you mean only to give plea
sure, and make enemies of those whom il
is your wish a..d intention to serve. fl
could believe this, i should certainly Cd.
pose the measure, totiS Utr,bus: but why
is such consequence necessary | take it
for granted, that you do not propose to
write lampoons and satires upon individu
ais: but structures upon the manners of the
age the reader VINO feels that yOur re
marks are just and apply to himself, will
certainly feel pam from that conscious
ness; so also does he patient whose leg a
surgeon amput ateS to save his life and so
also does the slime" who trembles under the
voice, and sh'nks from the probe of pene
tra ng & elJqIent preacher-but, what
then shall the surgeon ihr0waway his instru
mems, & he preacher seal up his lips, Sc
Sc, 10 avoid present pain. let the patient die
and the sinner go 10 nell? No. sr--iuflIct
the salutary PAIN Of a moment.-it is a cheap
price for an eternity of happiness,
AS to your creating enemies without any
intention to do so, let TIE benevoence Of
Srur intention be manifest on the face OF
your works, and there is no danger of your
making enemies ofany but the vicious, the
malicious and the mean, whose ennity is
honor. What do you care for such people ,
You depend upon them for nothing: and
their dIspleasure viii be infinitely oVerbal
anced by the applause and esteem of the
wise and good. Go on, my dear uncle, |
conjure you: and that God, whom you a
Gore, will NOT fail to follow with his blessing.
a work which he must approve.
rendering toyon and our beloved Rosalie
the compliments of the approaching seasos,
I am my dear uncle, your affectiona,e nc
phew.
ALFRED s%*&sF*&s
After had read these letters to Rosalie.
called for her opinion; whereupon, per-
ceived Immediately an arch smile PLAYING
round her lips. and dimpling her sweet