The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-06-25
miscellaneous.
FROM THE AURORA.
THE FALLOF GENIUS.

AA6 &hAS SC SGN4SSs
The fate of genius in all times presents a
picture perhaps the most extraordinary
which can be found in the history OF he hu
man spec,es.--Envied, ii not persecuted,
while living. and honored With n,ggardiy
jealous by millions. who possess neither the
capacity to appreciate the measure OF ia.
lent or the dignity Of virtue it. is IN his
own bosom the man oil genius finds that so-
lace which the envy of the world denies
him while living and II is only in congenal
minds the unfortunate man of genius AID
virtue is sure OF being recollected with tender
anguish, and commemorate with sincerity
Every being imbued with spark Of bsuig
nifty or the consciousness Of genius 81 viz
tue, must feel emotions or sympathy in con-
templating the death of Young gcntiemar,
who lately fell at Norfolk, in Virginia, by
the hand of centinel
IL would be unworthy of the reputation Of
the youth whom it is the object of this es
say TO bring before the eye Of sympathy, to
aggravate the misfortune, by heaping accu
sations or presuming upon the motives IN
The centinei, which are not c1gniz able bu.
before Court. What we shall say, there
fore, of the death of adjatcat Bali. is not in
tended TO prejudice the public against die
man who shot him-nor to enquire whether
It was TIE effect of premeditated malice, of
a mistaken sense OF duty, or of rigid exc
eutien or military orders--that question we
leave open to the proper tiabunal-here we
nave TO present to the public striking pic
ture ofthe loss orr country and men who
admire line genius, have met with. The
following is the account givenin the public
papers OF the incident which produced the
death OF the most promising young man that
has perhaps appeared in the U. States for
half Century.
(Here follows the account OF Mr. Balfs death
from the Norfolk paper of May 25.)
lhis young gentleman, who fell in this
uHtimeiy manner, was native of Winche.
ter, Virginia, and it would be superiuous
attempt general account of his character.
when we possess the particulars, which we
sssllnow preseAt to our readers, from his
own hands and head.
We shall annex correspondence begun
by him with Mr.. Geo. Murray, the eminent
engraver OF this city and those who pos
sess curiosity to see the specimens of engra
wing which are referred TO in this CORES
pondence, can iEave the opportunity at the
Academy OF Arts.
Letter from Mr.. Bali, Jun to Mr. Geo Murray.
engraver, philaJelphia.
Winch-ster, Virginia, February 60, 1873.
S'k-fpu viii no doubt be very much surprised
by recei7ins letter from total stranger, and on
a subject SO very nueom on indeed l feel d fl.
dent ct my success IN the application | am ahou,
TO make To YOU, and have ben more than ,pce AL
most tempted TO abandon it from the apprehension
thst YOU would regard II as romantic uotnn, if
not an isipertnept one but for once nv anxirus
wishes have cot the better of MY fears, and |
Will, at all haZards, make known 10 you my
Siea S.
wish 10 become your pulpit for the purpose CT
beils instructed in the art of engraving the wish
10 cold one, aud would merit tn, neglect il might
xe'esve, II II went unaccornpani with the reasons
have Ter Masking the requ Ct in order to do So |
rope YOU viii not thinkit improper for me to say,
That although living in part OF the country where
taste for the fine arts, if at al known is only
Known 10 be despis.d---and where all forts for
The cultivation of them are received with csntempt
or indifference, from fancied conviction of their
Indulty or nHpyofta6lenesS With all these discsu-
raging causes, which indeed almost universally pre-.
vail, have always felt and partial fondness
for the few productions of the fine arts that have
b-en within my reach. mention the arts general.
~, would be more proper for me to speak of en-.
CRAVING alone, tor n&er saw statue, or indeed
painting, II the few Old fashioned portraits that dee.
crate the rooms ct enc two. hosses in this town.
and the rude productions of sign painter, are ex-
cepted, and should have but q wretched idea of
these Two noble arts, had it not been for the des
friptions that have reas, or the few very few
Sravingot have seen Of them, yet these have been
sufficient to awaken desire to cultivate a fondness
tor the least considerable, bat perhaps not the least
useful, Of the fine arts.
accident enabled me TO become n reader ef the
FUrt. Foiio aud when there learned that the ee-
CANT engraylngs in it were the productions OF an art
yet an ITS infancy in this country, MY desire for be
coining acquainted with II was encIessed--and the
name OF Murray was too conspicuous hesitate in
choosing my master But there rs, besides gaining
your consent, two formidable difficulties that have
To encounter Tor although totally igaorabt OF tbs
way that Instruction is given or what are the ress
enable expectations Of Che scholar when lie has made
su'acient progress IN the art to render his works
worthy of public notice, Ms it regards employment
aud the means of living comfortably, l am by no
means unaware that course Of instruction would
require both money and tme-tbe last difficulty
does moi alarm nae so much the first, FOR 1 hsy
fead OF several eminent engrayers that commenced
the ara when they have been much older than am
- have just completed my ninSteenth year, and
with such encouraging examples before me, l am
not Without aores tbat after having obtained the ma
Sr0nsSe Of an eminent master, with unremttrd al
tention and industry might in time become useful
apo respectable fhe FIRST objection more seri-
nus one; my family, though respectable, want the
means OF Gsforcins ME thS necessary assistance Il
my present situation, clerk in u store, with the
scsnty allowance receive, is by ID cans favourable
10 The saving sum Of money sufficient for fne 10
sne sumter The expenses Of living in Philadelphia
with the s;rictest economy j have not been able
10 save but little mere than two hundred dollars,
which, am bat too well convinced is very made
quate.
You discover that I am writing on, rs though
was sure that my wishes could not meet with re.
pu'se, when am far from being certain that have
d. the teas, interested you 10 ray favor fearing that
tbs might be the case, the only advocates have
arc 70 &c found the enclosure Win tg letter
tie three pictures that you will find there, are
Fprtsd from copperpstes, which have engraved
on tnem J place my hopes aud have fondly ina.
bhed tat they va, not prove Intellectual, 40, from