Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-01-22
From the National InteiiiSeaeer.
LlTTERARY MISCELLANY.

- THE EDITORS, y
AT q period like the present, when those
who take sound and enlightened view of our
affairs are more seriously alarmed by the inter.
nal divisions and discord that exists among us
than by foreign hostility, however awful an
aspect it may assume, It must be peculiarly
grateful to the community and honorable to the
Individual, when men of talents and celebrity,
diisdaif1ing the odious ,rammcls of party spirit,
point out a. with lthuriel's Spear the true path
of duty that path which followed leads to
glory, to honor, TO happiness eglected,
leads to disgrace, to disaster, TO ruin. Such
men an a most particular degree deserve to rank
high among the heneiactors Of the human race.
IL the wise Roman commonwealth awarded n
Civic Crown to the man Who preserved the life
OF single citizen--how trsnscendent must be
the claims and merits OF those whose efforts and
talents are employed to the preservation of the
community at large.
These observations are excited by the PERU
sal OF the Introductory remarks of most anna.
BILE biographical sketch Of the life of Co,n7no-
dore Perry, contained in the Analcctic Maya
Zine for December. It's but Just praise to
state that this sketch is Chef d. Envye, ard
not exceeded by any production ofthe kind pub
lished in the best English periodical works.
TWAS written We understand by the editor of
that Magazine. Washington Irving, of whose
talents for THE Office in which he is engaged it
NhoruS "a udtErinS specimen. 81 LIE tcuOWlng
are the paragraphs most strongly recommended
to the consideration of an enlightened people:
In taking up the pen to commemorate ARC.
ther OF our naval victories, we solicit the pati.
encelof our readers if we indulge in few pre-
Emnary reflections not strictly arising out of
the subject Of this memoir, though, we trust,
not wholly irrelevant.
Indeed, we do NOT pretend to the rigid preci-
sion and disrassionate GOODNESS of historic
IN - rycitetl nc We rr h,,f ho fop I'll
temper of the times, and the enthusiasm that
prevails around us, We cannot, if we would, re-
press those feelings ofpride and exultation, that
gtIsb warm from the heart, when the triumphs
of our navy are the theme. Public Joy is at all
times contagious; but in the present lowering
days of evil, it is a sight as inspiring as it is
rare, to behold whole nation breaking forth
into gla,iness.
There is point, however, beyond which
exaltation becomes insulting. and honest
pride swells into vanity. When this is ex-
ceeded even success proves injurious, and,
instead OF begetting proper confidence in
ourselves. produces that most disgusting of
all national faults, boastfui arrogance This
is the evil against the encroachmcnts of
which we would earnestly caution our coun,
trymen it comes with such an open and inns
posing trent of worthy patriotism, and ut
such warm and incautious moments. that il
is apt to take possession ofus before we are
aware. We have already noticed some
symptoms OF its prevalence. We have seen
many of our papers filed with fulsome and
extravagant paragraphs, echoing the vulgar
JOY and coarse tauntings Of the tabble these
maybe acceptable to the gro spalates of the
mesn minded; but they wust gr eve the fee
]ings of the generous and liberal and must
lessen our triumphs in the eyes of impar-
80 al Ia THO h>b< Ia A. g.
aiffere ace between those who fight battles
and those who merely talk about them. Our
officers are content modestly to announce
their victories to give a concise statement
of their particulars and then drop the SUBJ
ject: bot then TIE theme is taken up by
Thousand Wanting tongues & Wanting pens :;
each tries to outyie the other in extraya
giant applause, until the very ear of admir-.
ton becomes wear;ed with excessive euloei,
UNI.
We do not know whether, in these re.
mar'ss, we are not passing censure upon our
selves, and whether we do not largely in
dulge in the very weakness we condemn
but of this we are sure, that in our reioic~
ings no feelings enter insulting to the foe.
Wejry indeed in seeing the flag of our coun.
try encirclcd with glory, and our nation ele-
waited 70 dignifed rank among the nations
ofthe earth ; but we make no boastful claims
to intrinsic superiority, nor do we seek to
thro~ sheer or stigma on an enemy whom,
in spite of temporary hostility, we honor
and admire.
But surely if any impartial mind will con-
slider the circumstances OF the case, he will
pardon our countrymen for ovcrsteppine, in
the flush of unexpected and repeated success,
the modest DO .nds of propriety. Is it a mat.
ter IF surprize that, willie our checks are
yer scarce cool from the bushes, the burning
bushes Of wounded pride and insulted pat
riotism, with which we have heard our
country r,dicued x set at naugit by other ma
tions---@hile on ears still ring with the gal
ling teras in winch even British statesmen
have derided us, as weak, pusIapimous and
contemptibIe--while our memories are still
sore with the tales of our flag insulled in
very sea, and our c. untrymen oppressed in
every port--is it matter of surprise that
we should break forth into tran ports at see
ing these foul aspersions all suddenly brush
ed away--at seeing continued series of
brilliant successes flashing around the ma
tional standard, dazzling all eyes with their
excessive brightness Can such thugs be,
and overcome Us, like summer cloud -
without not merely our |" special wonder"
but special exultation. He who will cast
his eye back. and notice how, in little more
than one short year, we have suddenly
sprung from peaceful Insignifcance to proud
competition With a power whose Iaurels
have been the slow growth Of ages, will eas
silly excuse the temporary effervsscence of
on, feelings.
For our parts we truly declare that we
revere the British nation. One of the dear
est wishes Of our hearts is to see firm and
well grounded friendship established be-
tween US. But friendship can never long en-
dure. nness fnrndrd ON mutual r1.ar,ecto A