The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-02-02
{FOR THE ENQUIRER)
THE OLD BACHELOR.
No. XII.

OVID METAM. LIB. VIII. ". 5Y.
IN such a cause. such arms must, sure, prevail.
now give to the reader, as promised,
the sequel of my friend Lovetruth' siDtere.tiug
conversation with his dying friend and neigh
Dor, Melmoth.' Whether the particular plan
of education, whose outline. merely. has
been sketched or rather limited in the re marks
of Melmoth, be the best that can be sugges-
ted, it is impossible for MS to decide without
Knowing something more of it's detail. III
our friend. Lovetruth, shall favor us with
view of Melmoth's papers, we may be ena
bled to form some conclusion on his project
or to suggest others for the consideration Of
che publiS, which may not be without their
use. Atpresent, however, the most impor>
cant function which the Old Bachelor propo
ses 10 himself, is to endeavor to awaken the
taste of the body of the people for literary
auainnients to make them sensible of the
fallen state of intellect in our country, COM
pared with the age, even of the revolutiona-
ny war; to excite the emulation of the ris-
ing race. and see whether a groupe of states
men, scholars, orators, and patriots. as en-
Gghtencd and ilustrious as their fathers,
cauno. be produced without the aid of such
another bloody and fatal stimulant. To put
Mp the spirit ofthe n lion to this poin is the
6rst, great object. indeed it is the only OBJ
.Ject; the project OF a seminary and all the
rest will follow of themselves. And to that
object, know nothing more conducive than
such letters as my friend Lovetru,h is capa-
Bile of furnishing: the pure And simple eff
fnsions Of virtuous feeling adorned by genius.
an such case such arms must sure hre-
soaii. If he shall find his friend MeImoth's
papers calculated to promote this purpose,
Gas the subjects OF some Of them seem TO N
-dicate,) the Old Bachelor will be grateful
for the assistance, and will be happy III
being instrumental IN ushering them into
light
The Old Bachelor begs the attention of
the reader to this conversation between
1ovetru'h and Melmoth There is scarce
ay period ON which he may net pause and
nneditate to advantage. Such reflections
cannot be too often brown iuto circuIation.-
They will lead The people to think to talk,
apd to act say the people because if this
subject shall ever take a spring, / believe
1he impulse must come from them
SEQUEL Of my friend Lovetruth's COM
nunication.
The perusal of this letter, added to the
sympathy which already glowed in my
breast. "Melmoth, said /, whether thy eloo-
my forebodings be, alas too we'll grounded:
whether thou mayest still live TO see thy
Edward in the maturity of manly perfect
~on, in the dignity of active worth. and social
usefulness, 1 lament, profoundly lament.
with him, and with thee, the shameful, the
wretched restitution to which our youth is
surrendered /, destitution which either
Nentralizes and annihiates every principle
OF native mental energy, or tears our sons
I'm our fond bosomS, and from the lap of
eheir country, TO send them where they find
ftis rue. rich and vigorous shoots of science,
But where rank weeds of political error
Sprlcgu up in their path, win equal luxuri
nncy ''--Melmoth was now less agitated
his countenance bespoke, not the absence of
feeling, but masly fortitude, and christian
re ,.suaton Lovetruth, replied he in a
-irepiy impressive tone, as citizen, as a
3ather, have always deemed this pre- en-
inently important subject ; even now its
magnitude presses on my mind with increased
ssorce. My eyes view. perhaps for the last
time, this mapof Virginia; here is state that
was foremost in our glorious revolutionary
contest; state, that has produced men whose
very names are Sufficient to infusc into us a
generous pride, and aignfed views a state,
Swarming with a numerous youth, whose ee-
MUS IS i'll most cases, naturally strong. in
1uisitive, and bent upon Improvement a
state, whose gigantic advances in population.
Industry. commerce, and wealth, have led
she phIlanthropist, and the patriot to ex-
PeGt, at least, some incipient exertion in IA
Vorofliterature and science. Yet, what has
been done for either We call our children
the blossoms, the hope of the republic vet
what fostering care is displayed by us, as
nation, tn mature those blossoms into fruit
and to realize that hopel Our apathy, with
respect to them, is truly deplorable, it is
mean. it ispitiful /; it is treason against COM
mon sense, against humanity, against patrio-
'iism. An English monarch founded our on
~ university the munfcence of the illus
trions Washington has literally endowed
anothtr institution /; but am considerably
mistaken, or we cannot boast of having e.
Tected, on the basis, of national patronage:
even single school, where children NAV
karn TO read, to write, to Worship God IN
hon1r their parents, and to love their conn
try
"ln the pTolongarion of this disgraceful tor
por, OF This mischevous apathy several can
ses obviously concur. Some men have dar
ca to assert. and pretend to believe that
Ehowiedgc is by no means an essential Gle.
ment OF public virtue, public liberty. prbIic
happiness. Others recognize indeed ire
friendly, its salutary Influences but 40
whatever is suggested for its promotion, thew
oppose, as an inusperable obstacle. our want
OF rational resources.--Others, again. desi
Ions to elude the forcible appeal ofthe rising
gene alton, point to the private establish
ments already in existence, and proclaim
them fully adequate to our intellectual
wants nor are those wanting, whom pettv
Je'housles, and local interests, deter from
engaging IN so noble cause. FINALLY. indi-
VIduals are found among us, who when
Pm heir Lat -