The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-03-15
FOR THE ENoUIRER.
THE OLD BACHELOR.
No XVIII.

No XVIII.
Quid rides Mutato nomine. de te
Fabuls nsrratur.
HoR. SAT-. l. LID. I.
Wherefore do you laugh
Change but the nam. of thee the sic S told.
have received several very angry letters
from persons whom / never saw or, even,
heard OF, before, complaining, already, of
having been personally attacked in the num-
bers OF The Old Baeheior-In some of these
letters, l am asked how can i reconcile it
with my profession of benevolence to inflict
SO much pain. so unnecessarily and wanton.
ly. In others l am asked whether il be-
comes the character OF a soldier OF the revo-
luton which have assumed, to seek the
shelter OF ahctitious signature for the pur-
pose OF scattering insults through the world !.
In others l am asked whether it becomes
the Character OF man or gentleman. to
disturb. by his itch for " riting, he peace and
harmony of society, and above ali to offer
an affront to that sex whom he was formed
to defend.
MY first impulse, on reading these letters,
was to throw my writing desk into the fire,
and abandon The project forever: and was
bordering very seriously on this purpose
when Rosalie entered my study to ger book,
Z" beg pardon for the interruption, my dear
uncle" said she; g for presume that you are
casting the subject of another number and
trust, from the solemnity of your look, that
II IS subject which fear has been too long
neglected"-AWha subject is that, Rosalis %
Religion, Sir" ALIAS my dear child, /
have just met with pretty sore test Of
my own--read those let ers."
AS she read hem 1 watched the EXPIRES
SION OF her countenance ; and found a re.
iiet IN turning my thoughts from the unmeri-
ted censures of misjudging world. % the
contemplation of this pure and artless child
OF natuie. At first, her countenance ind;ca-
ted all the Concern and sympathy which
expected ;--but l was presently surprised
to observe her features as she turned from
letter toletter, relaxing into an arch smile
mingled with strong expression of curl
osity, which terminated in laugh that she
seemed to enjoy, not little. g Rosalie !"
said gravely 'you surprize mel expec-
ted sympathy and concern from YOU. nv
dear child but not the levity of laughter. -
Excuse me. Sr--ndeed ed. this is SO ridicu
lous tina | cannot'heip il" Ridicujous.-
1t is very unjust. indeed, R sale Tut do n t
see nat II IS ridiculous. -" Why, Sir, do
you not observe that the same character is
applied 10 dozen different persons with
just he same confidence and the same re-
sentment--See, here are no less than three
several gentlemen who threaten you for
iampoonlnS their respe Give relations under
the name OF Bianca. Six who make the same
threat on account OF Miss Oeles and her
friend the city belle-eight on. account of
Henry Mortony and Give who menace
YOU with the shelela, in behalf O'YIanne-
gan. And to crown the jesi, observe, here
are TWO letters reciprocally applauding YOU
Tor scoursing,he other, under the character
OF an oihce hunter while seven with the
most sanguiae certainty and the harsfest dis
pleasure, apply the same description &c their
several friends in the remotest and mos, on.
posite quarters of the state Can any thing
De more preposteroas or more ridiculous
ana VIII you not agree that ] have go d
CAUSE 10 laugh. mao ,eyn too o.
tected by the substance OF The letters. 20 no,
these lnconsiste ncies but moment sastis-
ned me hat she was correct. 'However, Ro
saile, said /, Callers prediction is fulfilled.
characters drawn from fancy and general
knowledge of human nature, merely to illus
Fate my principles, 20 relieve the dulness
''iia aTy"ess ii diddctic writing anu animate
my essays with little more interest, are
applied by individual Jealousy and consci
ence, and the malice or mischief of others.
IN such AWAY as to defeat my best purpos-
es and awaken dispIeasure where 1 looked
for gratitude May real characters. such as
that OF our friend and neighbor Blanca and
Il Henry Morton are assumed BY others or an
Piled to them by their officious friends or
malignant enemies, so as to produce the same
painful effects Nay even the letters OF INV
corr Spondents, writtea, if / NAV Judge bv
their posi- marks, hundreds Of rifles from
each other and from me, and with the same
am'ca6le view. as willingly believe, towards
the public, are also brought to bear upon
me, IN manner the most distressing t. my
feelings Yer Of all these writer's. who ac-
cuse me OF this i'll nature and hostility TO-
wards them, there is nos one whom I know
or OF whomI ever heard before And vet
1t is plain from the style Of some of them
hat they are people of sense.
." You observe too, that although these let
ters are all directed to me By the name of
Doctor Rober Cecil, the writer's concur in
believing the name of Cecil All assumed one
although they concur in no other conjec-
ture on the subject. One of them treats me as
a minister OF he gospel whom he very well
Know, and threatens that neither my gown
no my age shall protect me. Another treats
me ae member of the bar and reminds me
that there are other modes of Furnishing libel
iers beside those which are furnished by
courts ofjustice Another, Considering me as
physician asks whether my nnisanthropy is
n 81 sufficiently gratified by the havoc which
proceeds from my prescriptions, without SUI
peraddIng to them the poison of my pen. A
ourth addresses me as the master of an A.
cademy and advises me to sick to my birch j..
lest 1t should be seized and turned npon me,
n sixth salutes me as member of the last
legislature, and tells me that he thinks my
aN.s