Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-02-27

array nm III Tic spUhSUA ..L.
,or nv genius, and, transferring 70 mn
III the Ssplendor and interest OF thescene
n which he performed, survey hlm WIZ
iyely regard, and load him with intem 1
aerate praise. -
full when we remember, that fortsne ne
YER cast man on times better suited 70
the comnlexion of his talents, nsr DE-
stowed on nation a leader more adap'1
ed to it's exigencies !; not an imPetuous
a,ad enterprising hero, for suca had teo|
often staked on throw our contracted
and feeble resources !; not an all grasp
ING and ambitious genius, for such nave
too often engrossed to themselves the
fair kabitations of freedom they have as
Isisted to rear not daring and adveH-
lturous state .man. for the great fixtures
which great Schemes are fated to encoan-
tier. had been fatal to an infant and YET
tottsring community; but leader alike
Iprudent in the cabinet and the camp !;
/ who husbanded the means, 1t had been
madness to lavish whose well govern
ed mind placed its glory in magnan-
nous moderation /; and who was deter
mined as we'll by the bent OF ms own ge-
linus, as the circumstances OF his country,
| to the path of prudent and cautious
lnoIicy. 1t were unfair, in our est mate
Jof his place among worthies.l to assign 1t
according to the comprehension or the
spIendor of his powers; to compare BIN,
lin these points, with an Alfred, a FIRE.
derrick, or Pitt: the true source Of bis
glery is that fortunate prudence, under
Iwrose guidance his abilities found their
proper objects, and were instrumc ntal to
leF cts the most important and ost use
IFol. His mind was an edihce, not SO
Istriking from the richness OF the materi-
lals, or the boldness OF the dimensions, as
ior the purity of the polish, and the care
ltul exactncss of the proportions. Great
WITHOUT, crime illustrious, without the
nornities of ambition, ne was exalt-
led to honor at the sacrifice OF no viz
Itue Of his ewn,--at the exnense of
mo privilege of the people ;-happy
lin this, beyond brighter genius in less
lauspicious circumstances, that fortune.
which made Caesar tyrant, and Alex
lander destroyer, in him transmitted
moderation into renown, and allowed
him to follow virtue for glory. Had any
circumstance been wanting to perfect his
fortune, and exhibit in the fairest light
the value of a mind so regular and viz
|tuous. he has found it in the history of
The modern destroyer ;-tbat spirit so
vast and terrible; that prodigy and pest
lof mankind,--and signal example of the
worse than vanity OF genius, when con-
ItrolIed by principles SO base, and direct
ed to objects so perniclOus.
1t is subject of curious speculation to
whoever contemplates two characters so
Iopposite, and performing in dramas so
different, hoy far either was formed or
modified by circumstance. Fortune,
| VINO shares ti1o glory of heroes, is some
times responsible for their crimes. AS
|never two men were less similar, in
whatever isI.t they be considered, so
the revolutions in which they appeared,
whether we regard the principles which
swayed them, the extent and eombina-
ton of the means, the character of their
agents, their pr ogress, or their terniina
|tion :-the aIlurements to moderation 1T
the One,-the temptations to ambition III
the .other differ so widely and strange
lily, as to appear the events OF two dis
|tinct and distant ages of mankind.
1t was the fortune of America no less
than of her here, to gain glory without
lsuilt; to obtain success the most signal,
by means the least violent and criminal.
The struggle which gave her birth, pro
|duced no formless and unsightly mon
ster, appalling to the view. and permc-
Gus to the happiness Of mankind. If the
strength of her antagonist, the awe
which long dependence had inspired
the smallness and Dispersion of her own
means, were great and formidable OBJ
stacles to her hopes they were happily
aggravated by no frightful conflicts of
Ijnternal interests, no distracting and
|desolating dissensiops, no factions alike
terrible in their exaltation and their fall.
In all that memorable contest, there vas
a manly temper, firm moderation,
methodIcsi and provident zeal. admiTa-
Ible in itself, and, singular. if coetrasted
with most ebulhtione Of popular feeling.
In the same age. within fe" years
of this revolution So temperate and for