Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-05-20

100, which Settled mo matter now the
destinies of Europe. His constitution
was declining, his advancement WAS afni-
hilated, and as "a fororn hope, he bom-
barded the widow Wilkins
=" War thoughts had left their places vacant.
In their room came thronying, soft, and aIno-
rOus desires
All telling him how fair Young Hero
WAS" He FIRST, gentlemen, attacked her
fortune with herself, through the artillery
of the church, and having failed III that,
he now attacks her fortune without her
self, through the assistance of the law.
However, ii am instructed rightly, he
has nobody but himself To blame for his
disappointment Observe, do not voucll-
safe for the authenticity of this fact; but
do certainty assure you that Mrs. Will
kins was persuaded To it. You know the
proverbial trai!ty of our nature. The gal
liant lieutenant was not free from II !
Perhaps you imagine that some younger,
or accor ling TO bis taste, some oide, fair
one, weaned him from his widow. Indeed
they did not. He had no heart 10 lose,
and yet (can yon solve the paradox y
his imfirmity was love, as the poet SAYS
- stiN--Love.
No, il was not TO Venus, it was TO Bac-
chus he sacrificed. With an eastern lido
latry, he commenced at daylight and SO
persevering was his pieiy till the shad, of
night, that when he was not on his knees,
he could scarcely be sud to be on has legs!
When came 30 this passage, L could
not avoid invCS .niarily enchanting, Oh
Peter, Peter, whether ii be in liquor or in
love
" None but thyself can be thy paral
lelw
coo Nv ,,o,,r s,, Him., ,,ontl,r>o,, H.,
YOU correct my error. | perceive your
classic memories recurring to, perhaps,
the only prototype to be found in histo-
ry. | beg his pardon. should not have
overlooked
" ---the Immortal Captain Waffle,
" Who was all for love-and Il lille for tie bot
tie"
Ardent as our fair ones are announced
to be, they do not prefer Il flame that is
so exclusively spiritual. Widow Wilkins,
no doubt, did not choose TO be singular.
In the words of the Bard, and, nv Lord,
perceive you excuse my dwelling so
much OF the authority ofthe MUSES., be-
cause really OH this occasion the Minstrel
seems 10 have combined the powers of po-
etry with the spirit of prophecy-in the
very words of the bard
" He asked her would size marry him
Widow wilkins answered-No.
Then said he, Ill TO the ocean rock, Pm
ready for the slaughter,
Oh I'll shootat my sad image, as its signing
in the water.
" Only think OF Widow wilkins, saving.
Go, Peter, Col"
But, Gentlemen, let us try and be seri-
Gus, and seriously give me leave TO ask
you, on what grounds does he solicit vour
verdict! Is II for the loss of his profess
sion! Does he deserve compensation,
if he abandoned it for such purpose: if
he deserted at once his duty and his coun-
ty TO repan the weakness of wealthy do
tard But did he (base as the pretence
ls) did he so! Is there nothing TO cast
any suspicion on the pretexti Nothing
in the aspect of public affairs In the
universal peace? In the uncertainty of
being put into commission! In the down
right impossibility of advancement p
Nothing TO make you suspect that he i'm
putes as connyance, what was the man
ifest result of an accidental contingency :?
Does he claim on the ground of sacrificed
affection Oh gentlemen, o,,iy JaRcy
| raptiueS Of Tie bridal night! Do not sup
pose ! am going 10 describe it shall
leave il To the learned counsel he has Sc
lected TO compose his epitlaIamium.
shall not exhibit the venerable trem5ley,
at once relic and a relict with grace
for every year, and cupid i'm every wrin-
kle; affecting to shrink from the flame of
his impatience, and tanning it with the
an!broSiai sigh of slXty-five!! [ cannot.
pierce the fierce meridian transports of
the honeymoon, gradually melting into
more clIastened and permanent affec-
ton; every nine months adding link to
the chain of their delicate embraces. nm
til too soon, DEATH broadside laws the
lieutenant low, consoling however, his
patrarchal charmer, told enough at the
time to be the last wife of MethuscIah.)
with a fifty pound annuity, being the ba-
lance of his glory against his majesty's
ship the Hydra
Give me leave 10 ask YOU, is this one of
the cases, to meet which this very rare
and delicate action is intended! Is This
case where reciprocity of circumstan-
ces, of affections or of years. throw even
a shade of nationality over the contract
Do not imagine mean TO insinuate, that
under no circumstances ought such a
proceeding TO be adopted. Do not ina
CINE, though | say this action belongs
more naturally to a female, its adoption
can never be by one of the other SEX
"ltHOut any great violence 10 my llnagl-
nation, can suppose man in the verv
spring of life, when his sensibiIities are
most acute and his passion most ardent.
attaching himself TO some object, young,
lovely, talented, and accomplished, con-
centraing, as he thought every charm of
personal perfection, and in whom those
charms were only heightened by the mo-
desty that yelled them perhaps his pre-
ference was encouraged; his affection re-
turned, his very signs echoed until he was
conscious of his existence but by the
sOul-cTeating sympathy, until the world