Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-04-03

and those men scarcely ever Plaintiffs
Our Lovers on {" this side of the waters
are, ain afraid. too like the Lovers Of eve
nv other nation : and. indeed, the annals of
your very last Term but too fatally demon
strate, that our own Minstrel blended the
accuracy ofthe Historian with the inspira.
ton ofthe Poet, when, for once ungallant,
ne described your fair ones as wanting.
-" the wild, sweet, briary fence
Which round the flowers of Erin dwells,
whoa warns the touch while winning the sense,
Nor charms us least when it most repels."
You have, am aware, your answer ready. II
IS all TO be ascribed to our Imperfec, Civ,liza
ton" Oh my loved Country denounced bv The
Bigot-deiamed by the Foreigner-deserted by
thy own apostate Patriots bu, si'lmy loved, nv
nave iceland, lorg may the highest human Virtues
the Chivalry of Spirit, the Hospitality al Heart the
grand, uncacuating Generosity of Charsc err.
the Modesty of thy Mads--the Chastity of thy
Matrons-the innate hereditary Heroism of thy
Sons. denote and dignity thy "imperf; ct villa.
ton y Alas, alas why should the enlightened
page of Scotland, polute The fountain of its fine
philosophy with the poison ofan impure and i'm.
p!ous prejudice! Sir was this fair Was this
candid Was it from consciousness of this ILL.,
berality, that you decried the we'll earned panep
Il
to me language which never uttered For in.
stance never calico his mind legitimate" The
phraseI used was "his legislative mind - & even
your sagacity will not incline to " hint that the
expression is unintelligible" But indeed, it
seems as if you are determined to be intolerant
OF that liberality in others, of which you were
predetermined to divest yourself
Why would you ins,nuate that introduced
that great and noble character in comparison with
| myself Why would you say wanted 10 remind
| the Jury of his similar exertons i--You knew he
had endeayoured 10 render the offence which |
was 6enouncing criminal offence and surely,
| when such man thought so henously of its per-
petraion, it was, at least far as high authority
could SO, an argument for adiudgine the highest
possible cioH compensation. Such was nv expires
sed motive for mentioning Lord Erskine, and it
was not the duty OF a Critic either to conceal o..
misrepresent it Far, far be it from me 10 inst :
tute the VAN and egotstical compassionate after
all that experience and industry can produce If
after the studies of the lamp and the labours of
the morning, in the close of my life can come
within the penumbra OF his immortal name,
it will be triumph beyond the dream of nv hope,
or the vanity OF my ambition. You, Sir. who
have adopted the office of COMMENTATORS Yourself
viii Know how to excuse the freedom of these
not voluntary observations Ackno>y Lodging as
do, IN many respects, he just severity ofyour
criticism, shall endeavour to correct TIE vices
winch have fallen within its censIlre, though per.
maps many may think that in the unfortunate Gaze
J in which you condemn the calourng. was one ..
AL others, the consideration of which it was the
policy ofthe Advocate to lull the Judgment, and
cali the passions into ope alton
have the honor to subscribe myself Sir Re
CHARLES PHILLIPS.