Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-11-02
October so.

4. SERIES o. untowa Il and melancholy circum-
"a stances, has long delayed the pus lcation OF the
above Work, and ii delivery To- Sub crbers. Soon
alter finishing ,lree volumes nfi, Mr.. Burk was
premature'y and fatally cut Cil in the prime oiiic,
and at a moment wien lis naturally powerful
mind had derived additional vignur from nease and
vast researches. Mr. Shelton Jones was then in
.'uced Ia undertake the completion ofthe task but
he d'ed in tie very threshold Of that undertaking.
SiNty-h'e pages only have issued from his brilliant
pen and the printing OF tie part written by Mr.
Girardn has been retarded by difficulties no less
numerous than unexpected
The portion of the :. History of Virginia" which
tell TO tie lot OF I've last named gentleman, en-
braens the chiSi, POLITICAL civil and military tans-
actions OF our great revolutionary period, is, from
the very nature OF the subj c. entitled national
attention. There in the human constitution
principles w!cl, do not permit to hold, with
oat deep and vivid interest, the arduous and slor-
Gus struggles which history often presents to our
view. We mean those struggles in which truth
contended with error, virtue with proHigacy, free
dom with tyranny. We feel, at this distant
day, for republican Greece armed against the
invading myrads of Persa--for the United Neither
lands ing thedespotsm and bigo,ry ofeuthraled
anl eEthralIing Span-for the brave and virtuous
Swiss hurting defiance in the ce of proud Austria
How powerfully, then, must sympathes he excl
ted, both as men aud a5 citizens, when see not
ancient. rot foreign patriots. but own beloved
and revered forefathers, oppo:ing with successful
energy, systematic AID wanton Infringement of
then natural aud their chartered righ;s-creaiing
4 new body pnliiic-in short, establishing by their
wisdom, AID cementing with their blooi, that poll
teal independence and those civil and religious
.'b. rites, which happily enjoy aud which,
1t we continue faithful! 20 our high destinics, no
power upon earth, no foreign hostility, no domestic
intrigue, shall ever wrcst from possession -
Surely II the pencil of history has at any time de
li.eated scenes calculated TO attract our attention.
and engage our sensbilites, such scenes are to be
foand in the present work Let us add, that in the
prosecution of Isis auiabe undertaking, tie CONT
Huator has been Su'ed by strict aud undeyiating
regard for truth. animated by interchangeable sialor
otresearch, and 10y agencrous desire of perpe,ptiny
TO the utmost OF his Individual exertions that glorious
spirit, those admirable and sacred principles which
dictated the measures, and accomplished the ex-
PLOTS, recorded IN his narrative. He has brought
TO light mass of interesting local facts detect d
and reclihed errors Of mischisvous tendency and
all along adopted his style the Inherent grandeur
and dignity oihs subject. The extracts from bis
part oil the History already before the public, must
We trust, justify our opinion and, in1ced, We can
proluce in fayor of the work, testimonial of much
higher authority than Mr.. Jefferson's extern
siye historical collection was kindly opened 10 the
eontinuatOr's rCsea clues. That distinguished pa
triot,-whose zeal and abilities early and so
efficiently displayed in those very scenes which
MIR. Girardn undertook To retrsce, has, with his
usual aaabili'y, condescended to read the manu-
script, and bestowed on it his appreciation in the
following words:
Thomas Jefferson returns to Mr.. Girarden his
~ y. which he has read with great satisfaction.
Aud must express with sincerely. his peculiar
qualification on seeing this portion oS American His
tory, that OF his native State 50 ably recorded to,
postcriy."
Other Gentlemen, eminent in the literary world
have spoken in terms equally favorable of those
parts ofthe continuation which have seen submitted
to their jldgmen'-but we deem it upnessary "a
say more on this head The Work will soon be
before the public. Let it be tested by its intrinsic
merits