The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-12-12

'Scoo"i as NuCn as we please. They arc
focat and Cannot hear. We may attempt TO
oose them by appealing to the example OF
ieir INDUSTRIOUS forefathcrs--But rhcir fore
.hers were poor and hardy race had,
( axe themselves, little to lose and much L,
{ Inland their example will OF course be
.srcSardec. We have in truth from this
lass little to hope, and as the class itself is
'ecoming every day more numerous and
9owcrfai, greater necessity exists for
"orkng Oh the materials that remain. In
the great body of the people, if they arc hro-
Rerty tnstructed. We shall, l confidently
nn,pe, Ind countcryailing power: But un-
vi then, so tar from aifording a ground for
consolation, they furnish reasons for des-
pair Usurpation can have no aetterinstru-
nents, than the wealthy who are intlisposed
- any change, x the ign rant who are uncon-
sc.ous and OF course indifferent to all. Hence
arises the duty, paramount almost to every
Their, OF stirring and exciting the public
mud, through the means of the press, of
disseminating correct principles and just OPT
nions-and thereby of finally raising up so
many enlightened friends to liberty, that the
pressure of any Interested class in the COM
munity can never thereafter disturb it. From
such duty, no citizen of this country should
lightly depart.
with these sentiments appear again be-
.ore the public, and come assisted by COM
munications from many respectable quar-
tcrs. Indeed they arc So numerous. that
they will furnish matter for many successive
numbers of this publication, without trouble
or iaboar on my part. From an author
shall become an editor, and the public will
2rooabiy have as little reason as myself to
regret the change.
For the present shall insert letter of
my Nephew Alfred, received soon after the
appearance ot my 22nd No. as in some mea-
sure, Connected with my previous remarks.
de seems to have intended it for publicati-
on, and the subject is sufficiently importan,
to merit general attention.
My DEAR UNCLE,
You have lperceive in q late number
"a the Oid Bachelor, instituted compare
son between our forefathers and ourselves,
'ery little to ourh0nor or advantage.-You
naVe indeed drawn picture that must
crimson the checks of many, with shame
and contrrion. You have taken too from
shese prodigals of time and reputation, the
commonplace consolation, that in all ages
'aodern degeneracy has been the fruitful
,ubje t OF invectivc, and therefore unworthy
{oi attenuon-because you have pointed out
symptoms OF decay too evident, to admit
nat consolation. You have appealed to facts
chat speak in thunder for themselves, whist
D. support of the differences from them.
in other parts of the world
That there now exists among us, there
lore, little that deserves The IA ne OF iitera-
1ufe, and that there has been general fall
ing ont intellectual enCerprlzc and vigor III
virginia, may be assumed as truism no
longer TO be questioned.
Many persons arc disposed to ascribe
TINS phenomenon TO Causes, that can have
operated but partially, if 1t ali, in its pre-
ducSon. The want of respectable schools,
OF wel,-furnished libraries, and philoso,hical
apparata has undoubtedly been severely
felt, and IS serious obstacle co our future
progress: but it does not sufficiently account
Tor past deterioration, since the same want
was experienced In greater degree during
the most brilliant epoch If our history. The
/dcihties to literature, except perhaps il.
the article of good schools, have since the.
revolutionary war, greatly multiplied, and
individual requirements kept pace with
If literary capital, we should sooI have
ttie to blame, or To desire.
Others seem to imagine lhat. the fayorit,.
period OF our nationa, existence, 1 have
mentioned, was a forced and unnatural state,
wing to the extraordinary excitement of a
s'ea1 occasion, which Ceasing, left us, as
Ppwerful stimuil frequently do, in fcebler
state than it found Us. rhis may in part he
'ue, and does In great measure explain
&c phenomenon OF so ynung people expe-
rlencing the decrepitude If age before the;
attained maturity !; but am apt to believe
there are other causes of this lamentabc de-
cline, neither few, nor trivial
Every attentive observer may have dis
covered that within the last twenty or thir-
ty years, there has been a great revolution
i'll many other the pinons of men, besides
their political. On the subject of education,
Tor instance, new doctrine has been sue
ccssfully advanced "that genius una SISTED
by learning OF with very Inconsidcrable
porlon OF 1t, is competent to ,orSn and per-
rect the Character, and that maly thinrs
formerly making part Of the students
course arc now, in this enlight ened age
useless or pcrniCiols." IN pursuance of this
idea, classical literature so long the ercLu-
SsOe object OF vcncration, was loft with
scarcely one follower, and history ancient
and nodera, saw every dag numerous dc
sertions from her ranks. 70 many indeed.
all science as well as learning appeared un-
necessary, unless it aided them in tbeir no.
litical views or pointed the road to- ,nmedi-
ate distinction whist the in,uitivc irrad;-
atoms and comprehensive Intelligence of
those minds that drew upon themselves a
lone, were the sub ccts Of wonder and adj.
miration. The effect of these notions has
been such as every wise man must have
foreseen. The young student instead of
having his mind Injured to intellectual diff
tlcultics and prsctiscd to overcome them,
dnds no obstacle to his easy progrcss--no-
tniny to struggle With nothing to su5duc-