Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-10-23
HISTORY or VIRGINIA,
C9DineIsccd 6Y ion'' NuKk,
and CoHfiintsd By
SECTION JOINS aud l.. fl. CinAnDtS.
4 SERIES Of nntoxa d a,,.l mela- cholv circn

4 SERIES Of Intowa q si',' mels~ chov eircn,'i-
Stances, has tong de,;,ye,. the rl csiion o, ihs
ab"ve Work, and il, delivery t. Sns eriDe's. Sc,n
alter fr 'shinc three volumes rit, Mr. bn'S was
prcmaiuvey and tarav cur IN in prirne ot HE
ard 1t moment when lis .atri.ils p1Yei
mid had derived ad'itionsl vsou- .rrn iutease ami
vast researches. Ar. Shelton Homes vas ,ben IN
dncss 10 undertake the completion, u!;Ae tsk bat
lac iiv' ii. the very threshold oi taat undertaking.
Sixy-iive pages only have issued Lom his brilliant
pen; sad ;,.s printi0y OF The part ws,tten by NJ
Cirai-iin has been retsrslesby ditisnites no less
rum rnus than unexp ct,tl. q
I ne portion al the 90 History uf Vi clia which
tell ia the 1T ui toe last named gentleman, EN-
braeine the chief pol'tica evil aud n,ts'y trans
actors OF great revolutionary period, rs. oni
the very nature oi tl,e sml ct, eottled 10 nito;d
attention. There are in the humsD constitution
principles which do not gerulit US to b. hold, with
out deep and vivid interest, The ar,'irns aad .-r.
Gus struggles which history often presents tn our
view. Ne mtan those struggles in Which truth
contendcd with error, virtue with pToHigacy, free
dom with tyranny. We feel, even this distant
day, for republican Greece armed against the
inva' & nyria,ls OF Persa--for the United Neither
dsrs Ing theiespo and bigoiry oienthraiiea
aud esthraiiing Spain--ior the b ave and viituons
Swiss hnr d. 6a,ce in the fee # proud Austria.
How powerfully, then, must symps,hies ne excl
ted, both as mes and as citizens when we see nor
ancient. aot foreign pat lots. bnt o,r own beloved
and revercd forelathcrs, oppc- <, wiki $ cee,stIt
energy, 3 systematic as Yeeto firing Enest -.
their natural aud their chartered rishts-cre1ting
new body pnli.ic--,n short establishing By their
wisdom, snd cenentns witt, Ia, IL boo', that poll
teal independence AID these civil and reigi
10 rites, when we now so happily enioy, and winch,
II we continue faithful to our high dc stini~s, no
power upon earth, foreign hostility, dom estic
intrigue, shall ever wrrst from possession -
Surely il the pencil OF history has ut any ii Inc de-
Heated scenes calculated TO attract our attention
ami engage olr sens'sitiss. saeh scenes are to be
foalid in the present work Let us d l. that in the
prosecution of this audabe undertaking. tAe CONT
nustOr has been surcd hy strict aGd underwriting
regard for truth. animated b. interchangeable aror
oiresesrch, and by agencr"us sire nfpsrpelr,ti,g
to the utmost of sidiyinsl :rtOns, that glorious
spirit, those admirable ana sacred principles which
dictated the measures, and accomplished the eS-
plois, recorded in his narrative. He has brought
70 light mass OF interesting local facts detected
md rectiied errors of m,sciievoua tendency and
all along adopted his st, Il the Inherent grandeur
and dignity OF his ST. .lect. The extracts from his
part of the History already before tie pnbl-, must,
we trust, Justify our opinion; and, indeed,
produce in favor ct the wo, K, testimonial of much
higher authority than Mr.. il ferson's extern
sire historical collection kindly opened to the
coatinuator's r, chss. That distinguished pa
triot. whose zeal and abilities so carly and so
efficiently display e6 in those very scenes Which
Mr.. Grar,iin undertook tn r.trace, has, with his
usual aeabity. con6esceDded 10 read the msuu-
script, aud bestowed oil il mis- appreciation, iii the
following words:
"Thomas Jefferson returns to Mr.. Girarden his
III. s. which he has read with great satisiactiou.
And must express with sincerely, bis peculiar
qualification on seeing this portion OF American His
tory, that Of his native State ably recorded for
posterity."
Other Gentlemen, eminent in tie literary world,
have spoken in terms equally favorable Of those
parts ofthe continuation which hive been submitted
to their iudgment-but deem it unnecessary To
say more on this head. The Work will soon be
before the public Let it be tested by its intrinsic
merits