The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-07-27
FOR THE ENQUIRER.

eNeitions in the cultivation al eoGuenec Tho Govern,
nents Which have since the overthrow % Tie
Rona Empire successfully arisen have been military
despotisins, or powerful inoaicics. where. sc c,o
qeace possessed little power to coatrol public affairs,
was little desired, and OF course rarely obtained Ut
ah, never in amy degree OF excellence In Eurh,p,l
ih0ccu the form o. government, though nonaIchica
was more popular than III ANY other country and ne
cordng'y We there find the approaches to that
noble eo1cncc OF which there were such frequent
examples m ancient Greece and Rome. Bu, in a
we'll compactcd governments more. commercial To-,
Inhry, where there are Disputed election no ,o,
teutons III tire field for the suprpm. power nimrcach
en's tor peculaton, no people OF oppressed provinces
crruung the capital to demand ven., ance ON 4 t,,,
ocel rapacous governor, no nvi.pnring eoncncrc,.
who threatcns the liberties of the state and demands
rue energies oil n PercicS, or the eouueuce of a De-
mcsthencs to rouse the people to resistance There.
can be but few occasions for the display OF the hiyerpo
ers OF eo9uencc, and therefore, but few rp: Orators
All these circumstances, the ancient STATES OF
treluent occurrence. There has been in England a
Chatham and Burke, who opposed with consnmmate
ability and with Occasional bursts of eloquence the in
croashnens OF regal prerogatiNc, and the progress of
mi'ls,erEt corruption Sheridan who Illuminated ana
thens which scattered and blasted the Nerrcs of Ind;o
aio we'd m esst'ess energy with the finest specimens
oi ancient O'"toy BIT there has been IL, England
as there was in Greece and Rome, regular Succession
" powerful and accomplished Orators Whether this
De, as sgeneraIlv urged because the pr,ss has cp;,
ed eio9uence that ascendancv over the human mind
which 1t possessed when harba,ians focked 10 Athens
ana tome to bear the dcnuncations of Demosencs
anu the persuasive harmony OF rul!y, that the diff
fereht constitution o governments, or the want OF n
propersySem OF cultivation have prevented our i'm
provement m this glorious art, would be too loeieYc to
enquire 1t is enough for that Il is in tie nature. of
man, to be convinced nv reasoning and TO have his soul
sawed hy pathos and elevated BY srlhlmi,v As long
Us ti's his nature, asst must be- rs long Az he has
an understanding and heart, long will eloQueEce re-
cnn Us charm and ITS influence, whatever NAV be the
Hcuhc'tion OF government and society in which men
may 1--we To prove it, let any read an grafton of
either oil the great masters of ancient eioq.crce His
understanding viii receive the same conviction HE
heart feel the same impulse which were received and
Ieit IN atnets and home, when Dcmostenes th,iuIrr
Ell against Philip, and Cicerodeclimed against Ver,s
Sovernment may, indeed destroy its force bv ahD;n
those popular assembages which il is destined 10 cor
trout But rs longas are to reason and feel aud
deliberate IA public councils Orators will vc, tbc
but even admitting that the province of eloouepee
has been narrowed by the introduction of Other, tneans
OF cohtroilng opinion, still there empire enough left
20 lts DOMINION, to make its cultivation an Object of od
glory, II TORI other than that il slonld rive %
DIZZY ana sPie'dor to the deliberations Of enightened
assemblies, ard shed its usre upon literature Aud
.iIoisn We en- no longer expect those captivating
applauscs which animated the immortal masters of the
ar sun there IS motive enough unnx,, with 1,crsonaI
lhcatio to make US desire The power OF controIlinr
human reason and thcl.unan heat, This it is the
onlecto thcToSfrftI 20 teach us IT. founder hos dvc
tc an active lie tothe attainment OF such qualifications
as VIII constitute an accomplished !sEeto-icao Tho
rproVed ~ sax Years experience before the most on
hgnteneu assemblies of America his ddiGence st:l,
~
IN prospect re is therefore determined In oltoi,
The Sanction of the highest tribunal in which our lam
Euage IS sposcn-he is to reside some wears in Io,on
and return to America 10 difse the benefits of his
ultimate maturity Whatever NAV be the success this
comprehensive and original scheme the exporirnent is
interesting. 1t viii, if it should be followed and I'M
proved by the disciples and successors of AR O. iro
uuce tner controversy between ancient and modem,
genus that was ever witnessed. controversy which hes
long been summed fora superiority Which has never vct
been seriously Disputed Instead of remaining content
with the sbtetes of the bar, the ability of the senate
and The correct morality Of the puln which have IN
til this time, bounded our ambition: orr. s,,c,essors
viii struggle against the hoasted roIeIs of anti
guilty Penns and learning combined, aided bv The
Persa9ve powers OF coIuence ard the g1aces ola fin
shed elocuto1, viii exhibit combination Of all which
can instruct o.: delight that pconie of any ase ever
Wtnes5cd. Inc researches OF al,orious science the
excursions OF poetic fancy have hitherto but colotd
nc truths ana embellishments which will adarn tie ell
oqu'nce Of some future Cicero and charm the heart of
su,HTe srna'es.
What effects he complete success Of tis Great I'M
dertsns may haye upon the diffusion Of knowledge bv
blending with i Az the eraces vi Oratory nr in inDrnv-
ing morals by matirg TO those whose duty and Office
twill be 70 defend aud teach them, somcth,g of flat
smable and attractive air which gave 81 uleos;,r 81
Charm to the ancient Instructors of mankind tic Soc,a
imagined
Learning, Tor ccnturesafter revival. was con-
hned to riorastc1cs connected with religions 5oiy
or the black arts Of magic and asrooo r. ,yas tbsn
lshmeut oi press; that it could only reprint the AL
con, M which se it was superArous; or eor,e Other
boots which would be- prciulicia--It was then, flat
(Sailco was condemned 10 th, irou;sit;c. to-. ~;
tainlng the true thcory oG planetary motion Fr,,
IoonasteIies lcarnng Spread itscf o colleges a, mi
rcrtcs, where il still remains confined To The oglro
AMI curious. u must be soely matter Of conjecture
how long it will be before these mounds which bav,
successively stODt the current and Accumulated Tho NO
ters ~ these mighty reservoirs shall be broken down
anu the stream YET loose, TO refresh and 6rtHze more
extended fields. Such an event will probably take |
place III the natural order of things II was the ca IN
ancient Greece, where the schools of Pithaqoras 60
crates and Plato had refined tie and improved
the understandings tna accomplished people that eve
~ nsh-woFnan WIS 2 critic ~ compositions scuipt,rc
ofatoy, ant! all the hne ats Il belongs however m
the enthusiasm oil The Ecnciarors If mankind fo aece
lerate, possible TIC happy rga, when oarnry 70.
leoscd from the solitude IN vh;, sic Las long dw.t
stall again frcqu, Ut ihe public Pcticoe and r,I r.
self with all thc jGsuc7s and all the a;dtaf,en,s of
jfc; instead Of 7cpc atEg us from society, to rIrc az
Trorc intimately Will i Instead of Offending the cvce
Of mankind by m@nners adsIted 20 scCis;0 ami not
;ac;CotT7s, 20 t m rod via by the eCit and bcnevo
lent greces which il will un,ar to all its yotsr,s
Then wili ;ruth sud not tc FIRE Of recruitment, he ~
cited hy coilis1n OF opinion, md whether We roy
through TIC sencts, the blr fhc sweet paths cft
ystr if'e, we shall NJ he come etcd nv u common love
q TIE seHe cnoaHntg pursais anG walk Ike brnthrr
:n and 9rr TN ongh the 90ty Gcle Instead o.
wU'd'rg with melancholy p.ticrcc Over irapi,1et,
tooEs VheTe re- ou sleeps, tnty rcpOscs apdr heart
3 y'idom chcc9ed D. Tee rays Of love s ri,nd.l,jp
such 9rc a9fne ~ nc considerations whrh animate