Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-08-20
FOR THE VIRGINIA. Aaeus.

i.
~ De duty to embalm the memory OF
snose VINO die IN defence of cur Country, and
10 honour those who expose themselves to
every danger fro ayis ef. Jotfs It is not less
privilege to draw from retirement that ge-
mus which is qualified EQUALLY to exait our
literary character. ardt expand tho intel
tects OF our citisen& To aid in the promo
ncn OF that Cause. with which the best In,
eerests Of our republic arc iuseparably con-
nected. IS incumbent upon every man and;
ncth,ng is more easily demonst. ated, than,
that the rermanency of our civil institutions
sePends upon the Increasing diffusion of that:
knowledge which meliora,es the heart. in-l
structs US in our drties. and insuses energetic
motives to perform them. Nevertheless.
1t is lamen,abie that many persons both
Competent and disposed to illuminate by;
che If W rit:ngs the world around them. waste.
their hours IN pursuits of less inheritance.
because 50 nrs,e acknowledgements Is afforded:
then, to persevere In ii,era.y erlgaeemerts.
1t seems now to be an established criteri-
on of CRITICS. y, that a book written ON the
western shores OF .ae Atlantic: m-s< for that
sole reason be t7sitid while the ynosf syoffh-;
Tess fyush, if imported, shall be decorated
with all super auous finery, and edition after
edition be forced into the libraries. Thus
is stifled, and the son of Genius has no re.
source, but to pine in want, or pass his life
m enploy;nents fer which all within him
mark. aaw from The perusal of volume
~nicn mas iatsleiy reached this CITY, and
winch am grained to lind IS increasing IN
pubic esi'mation bur aware that after the
example Q, Niil,ons Paradise Lost. ihom-
sons Seasons, and bio1mtlctds Farmers
BOY, work OF superior grade may lopg lin
ger IN ooschfity, have ventured TO write
short notice, that the Authors tabours
may be more generally known add that his
endeavouts msY be Loeraily reqnited.
reier to I" me Mountain Muse" That
the volume Is characterized with inperfec-
non, canter vii admit but that II contains
striking ceanies, Justice will declare. The
principal pcin6 on which me Author hasex
posed a'mseif to the cav,s ct Criticism, is
ms styfe It most be acknowledged, that
MI Bryan has iRiroduced words which may
De CONSIDERED sometimes as eXpietives that
MS compound erHhe,a too frequently recur
aud that hi, aiiiterations sometimes appear
70 De the iaoour OF arr, not i.,e effect OF ma
ture bat upon Careful perusai OF the
whole poem, L must supscribe to the Ro.
man'S sentiments
c"i ''ura h''ent'n eariu'ne' non ego pauels
ohenasr naeuls. q"as aut incnra sadit,
Aoi lumana Parusl casitnatura.
49,. H.. \
nas fsiNs .if.t.i :. - - rset ., ..s- iist
soniec, Is beneath the establishment with
Nh Gu ut s'attenap.e;lto surround it. Bot,
THIS IS indDbnab'y a., incorrect decision.
VIVA, object Can possibly pass in review be-
for the PEi.anthropist which is adapted TO
excite SO many noble sentiments and such
an expansive affection, as the cnn,emplations
winch the Mountain Poet produces Ore
generation has no, passed away, and the
wsstc n wiols have becn transformed into a
c,mparaise gasdesn The original projec,
troftne tramontare- settle ments still lives
TO know. that where the Indian and the Zero
cious brute roamed several hundred thou>
ss ds;of the huUaa family now sit under
their own vine ard fly tree, enjoying the
boun.ies Of providence and the blessings OF
freedom. I o an American citizen, The set.
tlement and growth of the western states
includes every thing which is exhileratng
beth in the retrospect and in anticipation
and in detiarce of all hyper.criticism, it,
may be declared, that few, if any seconda
ry events in'the history of the new world,
deserved TO be emblasoned by'evcry poetic
charm, equally with an exploration, which
promises todiifu- efhe delights of Ciyilisaiion,
morality and religion, until the stream shall
be- finally impeded in its course, solely by,
the waves Of the Pacific.
iwouid recommend to All persons the pc
rusat OF this volume. Passages may be
found in the I9penures Of Daniel Boone,
which would not disgrace any American
writer who mas attempted to asceud the hill
o. rarnasSus-and some ut IS believed might
easily DC se'ec.ea, wnicn, Tor energy OF dic
t.on, harmony OF SOUND, ori'iiancy ofimagin'