The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-03-08

Da facilen cursun, atque audacibus annue cap
tbs.
Virgil. George.
Smile on my first attempt and aid my bold de-
sign.
My nephew Alfred begs leave to make
his first bow TO the public; and / will not
suppress the anxiety which | feel for his
reception. AS to myself, at my time of life
a nd in my situation. had nothing to hope CT
fear from the good or i'll opinion which
might be en- ertained OF me as writer and
if my first essays have not taken, can re-
tire, without resentment or modification,
sufficiently consoed by the consciousness of
my motives. But for the success of my
boys. | feel all the anxiety of father.
should, however, offend the dignity of their
spirit by soliciting indulgence to their youth !;
nor can believe from this specimen of Al
ireds skill in composition that such solicit
tation is at all necessary. The embarrass-
nent which he feels in making his debut, is
sincere and unequivocal mark of his re
sPect tor the public, and viii, an sure, be
properly estimated by them. But for that
and every thing else. he will speak best for
himself. Here he is -
Z" All authors have felt, and several have
lamented, the difficulty of first address,
The exclamation "ardua trina pia est -
has not been confined to one, or to few wrI
tiers. From him, who piles reluctant
quarto upon solid folio" to the occasional
Newspaper Essayist, the first paragraphs
are those which cost him most labour, and
about which he is most solicitous. These
successfully finished, the work goes
more smoothly on, to a prosperous conclu.
sion.
"The ancients had. in this respect, ma
Dlfest advantage over the moderns The u
sual Invocation to the immortal Gods to fa-
YOUR and assist thsm, "Du cehtts a8hirate
mcis," supplied the place of a more formal
introduction, and relieved them from the
doubts and perplexities which iTpede the
first efforts of a modern.
g 1t this difficulty be common to all, it cam
not be supposed, that youth and inexperi-
ence easily surmount it. No! Ifeel that
my assistance was rashly promised TO these
papers in letter which l thought the pub
lie would never see. & now hat am called
upon toredeem the pledge, shrink, with
trembling solicitude. from the task.
Yet, from my uncle's lessons i thought
l had learnt to fortify my mind against the
approaches of false shame--tO distinguish
between bashfulness and modesty-between
the salutary curb which Restraints the young
man from attempting too much, and the en-
ervating power, which prevents him from
accomplishing any thing. AHe has often.
remember, whilst he condemned the AFRO
gance of some, equally eensured the timidi-
ty and uoaspiring temper of others. "This
bashfulness," he would some times say,
which precludes all idea of improvement.
and closes the avenues to fame, frequently
proceeds from too high an opinion of one s
own Importance. He who believes, that i'm
his first essays, the eyes Of the world will be
directed towards him, can scarcely ever be
induced to make trial of his strength. He is
fearful of Disappointing the expectations
which he imagines he has every where rails
ed, and Of risking an already well establish
ed reputation. But the truly modest man
makes juster estimate of his own conse
quence and the sentiments Of the world
He Knows how 1ttle OF the attentim Of others