The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-03-12


sense and give you the soundest opinion =
The question is not which OF them can hes;
string together a set ofpretty words-which
OF them can declaim with the finest cadence,
and promptest volubility--nor which OF the IN
can the mos, dex,erously launch into the
heart OF an adversary, an Indian arrow with
poisoned head but il is, which of ihepi
displays the most of that frankness and be-
nevolence that draws mt ar to your bosom and
your afections-and raises YOUR own virtues
by the touch OF sympathy; which of them is
most successful in unsealing the sources of
confidence and harmless pleasure in your
orease-which OF them puts you most at
your ease by the plainness and nature ofhis
manners-which OF them mingles the most
happily, innocent amusement with sound
and practical sense-ihe useful, W til the "a
greeable.
Look from the tinkling cymbals of the
present day to such colloquial character
as Doctor Franklin! Never have known
such FIRE side companion as he was.-
Great as he was both as a statesman and
philosopher, he never shone in light more
winning than when he was seen IN domes-
tic circle. 1t was once my good fortune TO
pass two or three weeks with him at the
house OF private gentleman, in the back
part OF. Pennsy lvania +; and we were conin
ed to the house during he whole of that time
bN the underwriting constancy and depth of
the SHOWS. But confinement could never
be felt where Franklin was an inmate
His chearfulness and his colloquial powers
spread around him perpetual spring -
When / speak however OF his colOauial
powers, do not mean to awaken any notion
analogous TO that which Boswell has given
us when he SO frequently mentions the coll
al mr. cf H.
versation OF the later CONTINUALLY reminds
one of - h pride, pomp and Circumstance
OF glorious war;. 1t was indeed perpet,-
al contest for victorys-or an arbitrary and
despotic exaction ofhomsge TO his superior
talents. 1t was strong-acute--p, ompt--
splendid and vocterous las loud, stormy
and sublime as those wnds which he repre-
sents as shaking the Rebrides and rocki p
the old castles tht, frowned upon the dark
rolling sea beneath. But me gets tired of
storms, however sublime they may be and
longs for the more orderly Current of ma ur. :
Of Franklin no one ever became tired
There was no ambition of eloque nee, no eff
fort to shine in any thing which came from
him. There was nothing which made any
demand either upon your allegiance OF your
admiration.
His manner was as unaffected as infancy.
1t was natures self He talked like an old
patriarch; and his plainness and simplicity
put you, at once, at your ease and gave you
the full and tree possession and use of all
your faculties.
How few men of Talents are there who
cultivate this primeval simplicity This hap
pest of manners. There are few, indeed
who dare to adopt it. 1t is only the genu
inc diamond which shews to the highest
advantage, when plainly set. Stones OF IN
terror worth are forced to compensa e for
their intri. sic meanness, by the gtte ing
margin which surrounds them. Lu k
through the county and you viii invariably
find that those who are most distinguished
for strength of mind are ever the men of
plainest style and manners. So rue is this,
that if you hear a man in conversation tam
bouring and bespangling his periods with
uncommon pans, you may. IN general, be-
sure that tkat man is comparatively fimzy
in the essentials of intellect How different
was DR.. Franklin His tn lights were OF
Oh .r ctsr to shine by their own light with.
out any advensitious aid. They required
only medium of vision, like his pure and
simple style, to exhibit, TO the highest adj
vantage heir native radiance and beauty
His oheerlulness was unremitting. | seem
ed to be as much the effect of the systema
tic and saiutary exercise of the mind as of
its superior organization. His wit was of
the first order.
1t did not show itself merely in occasions
al conversations but without any force or
effort on his part, it she'd a constant stream
OF the finest light, over the whole of his dis
course, Whether in the company of com :.
mons or mobiles he was always the same
plain man always most perfectly at his
ease, his faculties in full play, and the
vast orbit of his genius, forever clear and
unciouded. And then tine stores OF his
mind were inexhaustibIe. He had COM
menced life with an attention so vieilant,
that nothing escaped his observation, md a
Judgment so solid, that every ncdent was
turned to advantage. His youth had not
beeen wasted in idleness nor overcast by
intemperance. He had been all his life a
close and deep reader, as we'll as tinker
and by the force of his own powers had
wrought up the raw materials which he had
gathered from bonks with such exquisite
skill and facility, that he had added an
hundred fold TO heir original value, ard
justly made them his own.
Such was the man VIII, IN / would hold ud
to our YOUTH, a model Of colloquial excel
lence. And to all young men, whose TASTE
has not BEEN depraved by the vicious ex.
amples OF the age, the appeal may he sue
cess.ully made. Such will always prefe,
the strong and sterling worth OF tina intel
lect, whose constant propensity and aim j,
was, to turn the mind "from sound to sense
| from fancy to he heart"
Alas where will you find substitute fot
the quiet, cheerful, solid and instructive
conversation of Doctor Franklin among the
| aIkPrS ut the DrpSeut daVf VIII va,