Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-07-31
A CHARACTER.
RICHMOND, JULY 81.

Tic Is Il lcdTneu Ulan--teW nave SKIM
med more surface, read more books, and
seen more cHriosit,es, than he has-iIe
has accumulated materials enough to
make two great mcn-but such is his haste
iii passing over the fields of science, so little
the tarry he makes at every stage of his
Journey, SO Nuch more SOLICITORS is he to be
known for the space he has visited than the
attention with which he has seen things,
that he has scarcely taken deliberate
view OF any. He has travelled over the
Universe, without seeing any thing to much
purpose--fie has no system in the arrange
ment OF his IDEAS few profound views
because he DOES not give himself time to
reflect and to digest. He is distinguished
tor his memory, more than his judgment.
He has all the raw materials to WORK up,
without having given himself the trouble to
work them up-His mind is a great navy
yard, where you see all the parts of ship,
the cable, the rigging, the spars, and the
tiinbers; but there is not ship of the line
IN the whole collection. He is a great
walking Dictis,ary, which furnishes You
all the elements of speech. but no complete
treatise on any one subject.
Nor does this defect arise from any ra-
deal dcstitution of talents. On some oc-
casions. whore he giveH his mind its full
play, he can reason with great spirit and
effect. His Speech in the H. OF r. on the
salaries of public officers, is a wonderful
monument of ability and labor.
Of all men breathing, he is the most
crcdulous. He seems to grasp at every
strange account with so much avidity, that
he do s not take the necessary pans to in
vestigate its bearings, its truth. or its false
hood. He seems forever on the stretch for
some wonder to amuse the public and dis
tinguish himself. Hence, ne is an eternal
subject for the hoaxer, and the Jest of the
public.
The ruling passion of his mind is the love
OF NoToRIETY. SO that he can become an
object OF attention, he is almost Indifferent
about the means. 1t is disease which no
pharmacy can cure. He is eternally labor
ing to bring himself before the public in
some form or other. He pines in the soil
tuic OF the closet, he is happy when he
can see his name in a newspaper or a
pamphlet. A quarto throws him into rap
lures.
Hence the great object of all his wishes
is to become notorious. There are no means
too humble or trif1ng. which he will not
pursue for this purpose.
Is there any singular curiosity which APP
pears before the public HE must con-
Sa''C W nililSCil with It'll
when the world speaks of it, it may also
speak of him. He must publish his opinion
upon 1t IN some form or other-either in the
shape of q dissert alton, a letter to friend.
Or a communicated paragraph
Does any literary or scientific man visit
this country ?--He must devise a method
OF associatiDg his own name with his to
pursue the triumph and partake the gale"
lie gets himeself pulled in the news-pa-
pers. as the friend or companion of the dis
tlngulshed stranger-No man knows so
many ways of gratifying bis itch for distinc-
ton.
Has he the honor of being received in
to any of the learned societies of Europe !?
lie is too sympathetic to keep the secret
to himself-It is an empty honor until the
whole world has seen it.
Is there any public Institution arising a.
round him :! He must write his name upon
the front.
Any literary work to appear ?-He must
BE- the Mac@Has-his approval must aD-
pear in the form of certificate, a recon-
mendation, or some other a,testatioD attach
ed to the book.-As to coDdemning a work.
that is out of the question. The moment
he would condemn, the tribe of scribblers
who seek HIS appreciation, would desert
nm and one source of notor.ety would
thus be cut off His infatuation is kept IN
by the ignorance of those who seek his pat
ronage. They are fools enough to think
that his name Is a passport to success-and
ne has the vanity to receive their solicita-
tons as certain tribute to his inert.
lie is in fact blind to the best means of
gratifying his ruling passion. Instead OF
raising ms reputation OIL the memory OF a
lew iilustrous feats, he is continually hunt
ing Tor means of bringing himself into no.
tce. lie seems to be afraid that the world
will forget him, unless he necessarily re-
minds them OF his.existence. 1t is not by
the strength, but by the number ofimDres-
sIons, that he expects TO enjoy his wished
for Immortality.
One knows not whether to ridicule or re-
greet the alterations of such q man. He
has toe power to be useful, 70 be c,istin
guished, may say. to be great, II he knew
how to Concentrate his energies. and hold
back from public notice, until he was pre-
pared to command it. He is the scorn re
some, the laughing-siock OF all becanse
he knows not how to husband up his opin-
ions.
Why do not his immediate friends adj
wise him why not guard him against his
own eccentricitiesi
IL any one is at loss to know vino the
original is, from whom this picture is drawn.
let hin ask DR.. Nj, OF New.
YORK.
" There is warm struggle. about the
esoyernor OF louisiana Mr. C!nb0rGe's
-.