The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-01-04

Tho f,nd of society. and siways disposed
10 part:cipatc inconversaton. his ccmposure
anu gravity were seldom laid aside. N'hen
nc spoke, he seemed ALWAYS to conmuni-
cate the result ofprevious reflection. This
circumstance gave him great advantage in
vinced that he was in the right and SO i'm
posing was his manner, that those who were
not informed upon thepoint under discussi-
on' generally took it for granted that he was
so. S,eadfast and pcrscvering in the sup
port OF ms opinions, he encountered with e.
quai compos,ire, the strength CT argument,
aud the dextcrityr Of wit.
Mr.. Bolts was a man of sound Judgment,
and good lawyer. interchangeable i'm his
pursuits, he had acquired great knowledge
In his profession, and was particularly dis
tinSrnshcd for his skill in the management
OF cause preparatory to its final decision.
lie was not an orator. He had not the adj
vantage of figure, OF gesture or Of voice.
Ills stature was low, his action slow and
feeble, his voice shriil, solemn, monotonous.
In addition to this. his style, peculiar TO
himself, was not happily constructed. His
sentences were sometimes lory. involved.
and therefore somewhat embarrassing to ali
Out an attentive auditor. Yet he was al
ways heard with respect by the Court, and
with interest by the bar. The cause is OBJ
| vlous. He seldom if ever failed to inycsti-
gate with diligence, the subject winch he
proposed to discuss and having the bene-
III or tenacious memory, his understand
Ing naturally acute, and rendered still more
S" ~ perpetual exercise, enabled him 10
proceed with ease to himself, and pleasure
10 MS hearers, through all the mazcs OF the
most subtle and intricate discussion.
he above is an outline of the charac tcr.
plivate and professional, CT BENJAMIN Eoits.
1t is roughly, but. faithfuily drawn. ApIeast
1t vas intcn ed tobe SO. In speaking of the
oead, we commonly consult our feelings
morc than our understanding, and say what
we wish to be believed, rather than what
we know to be true. Thus the faults of our
trends are generally buried in the same
grave with themselvcs.N This species OF
moral interment is, perhaps, what charity
reqmre', & 1t is not Clear that justice forLids
IL. hut TIC fault, if thisNbe one, DIES 70.
stop mere. Scduced by tenderness fer the
dead, or sympathy for taein surviving rela-
yves, we ton often ascrioe to them talent
winch they never possessed, and virtues
which they seldom practisel However
common this error may be, this writer
THINKS that he at least mas kept himself be-
yond It's reach. II has been but too often
AIS melancholy duty to pay Def re the pub
| lle the last tribute of his respect. to the
memory of his departed friends. He ha,
mad occasion to Lament the loss of the young
ana OF the old; of virtues and talents which
Per1shed before hey could be useful, and Of
worth and honor, which had passed through
.ne ordinary term, and, ordeal of human
NE, unsullied to the grave. But at this day
distant as II IS from some of the events to
winch he alludes, he Cannot discover a SEN
| 1ence. or even a word, which truth itself
could require him to retract.
Let 1T be believed, then, that the writer,
though he may be partial, is at least, un-
conscious OF being so, and that in the duty
! winch ne has just performed, he has fe /,
and spoken as if giving testimony, before
the world.
| EDWIN JAMES HARVIE.
Nothingis more common, thauto condemn
& to dcplore, the depravity of mankind In the
estimation OF the spienctic moralist, the life O.
man is but tissue OF folly or of vice Selfish
ness is his ruling principle. He who j.
deemed vIrtuous is only successful hypo
crite, While patriotism, benevolence and
friendship are empty sounds. In remark.
Ike these, there is always some trcth
Where is the wisdom which never errs
where is the virtue which never offends p
But let 10 human being deny, that virtue, be-
nevoience, and sentiment of pure affection
e;nst, and are cherished in the heart of MAJ.
II he does, let him go to the grave where
the ashes OF Edwin James Harvie repose
ana ms reSenerateu heart shall abandon for
ever ms harsh and anti-socisl philosophy.
MI. Harvie was one of the gay, * brill
ant q numerous assembly which filed the
heatre on the fatal night Of the Goth of Dec
last Separated in the crowd from his wife
nc cnected ms escape, ignorant that she had
proyidentially been saved. Unable in the
confusion and horror cftfe scene, to find icr
ana others dear To himself and to his family
ne rushed into the theatre to snatch them
from destruction. But he was too late. He
saw nothing but the work of devastation ana
OF death before aim, and in moment was
himSeii surrounded by the flames. He had
suehS'n once more to escape but he esca-
PED. only to linger a few days, in torture, &
&c aie martyr to sympathy and courage
Mr. Haryie was the third son Of the late
Coi. John Har,ie. lie was man Of real
worth. Though young aud animated, he was
rot ambitious. He had never schght for the
distinction which popular favor confers-
He loved private life. and found hi the af
tect'ons OF his wife, the care of his children
and the society OF his relations and friends
mat happiness, which wealth, dissipation
ana AMBITION perpetual'y promise, but are
iirevoca5iv doomed never to bestoW
-" What an affecting Picture is tie follow
toying :
COMNfUNICATION.
1t is melancn1ly task to record the IN
happy tate of the family. who sustained the