Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1817-12-11
LIFE OF PSTRICR RE.YRF.
T CONCEIVED |

pious extracts we have presented to
our readers viii enable item TO form,
of this part of the work, an opinion
for themselves. We have always con-
silercd that sentiment and thought
constituted the lasting merit Of any
work. and that where the evidences oil
these were found, we should not en-
deayor with too critical an eye to spy
ont defects of style. Such lucubra-
tions may serve for the instruction OF
young men. just entered upon the stu
div of rhptoric--but they Sfford very
Inadequate idea of The substantial me-
rits OF an author. Dr.. Biair's cIitl-
cism of two of the most accurate and
elegant writer's in the English Ian
guage, will prove the truth Of this Oh
seryation for no one, notsithStand-
ing the many defects in their style be
has pointed out, will be disposed to
question the title of Addison or Swift
to the character of fine writers. So
the hypcrcritic might possibly, nay
probably, discover in our author, by
a minute search. some inaccuracies OF
expression, some peCuliarities OF Ian
guage, or even some unfortunate IL
,nericanisms but after all we should
be left, as to any real knowledge Of
the work. where we were found.
The first enquiry we were induced
to make in examining our authors
style, was whether its general tenor
was suited to the subject in hand--or
in other words, whether lac had struck
upon the proper keynote adapted to
a biography Of such man as Mr..
Henry. And in this we think him
very happy. There are to be found,
perhaps, few familiar expressions in
the volume before Us not exactly suit
cd to the other parts of it, but they
occur very rarely. In general. GER
tain elevation and dignity of style is
preserved. which the narrative of such
a life as Mr. Henry's absolutely re-
CURED. 1t will be rccoilected that his
actions are intimately connected WITH
many of the great events OF the revo-
luton. A relation of them. Of course,
assumes the Importance. and rises to
the dignity of history and the Ian
guagc employed on the occasion must
correspond with the subject. Diiic-
rent subjects. it Is obvious. require to
to be treated Of in different sorts Of
style, and that which seems exactly
suited to embalm the memory OF a
great orator, statesman. or warrior,
would be very, ridiculous when applied
to the biography of inferior men.
We have already noticed that in Our
authors narratives, and condensed
statements of argument. he was cx-
tremclY pcrspicuous. In this we think
consists his peculiar excellence. He
is in them sufficiently concise to avoid
weakness, and yet so copious as to be
free from obscurity. Nothing about
them is redundant, and yet every
thing is complete. His language is
simple, correct and chaste, bat still
sufficiently fgurativc for all the pur-
poses OF ornament. The structure of
his sentences here and there through
oct his work. is in general so harmo-
nious. that one is impressed with the
opinion that he must have paid great
attention to this subject; perhaps a
greeting with Cicero in his idea of the
glana &C RansrOSG cratic.
In the other parts OF the work the style
is more dlfuse aud fier:d. A freer use
of figures of speech is admitted, which
tend, however, Oh most occasions, to u.
Iustrate the idea OF the author. To this
rule there are some exceptions, we think,
in the use of metaphors; which, although
introduced much more sparinsly IN this
work than in any OF our authors former
productions, yet occur rather too ire
quently for cur taste; ard are, in one or
two places, we think, too far pursued
The most striking examples Of this ma
ture we have given in our extracts; and
we. therefore, consider it unnecessary to
point them cut particularly. They will
occur at once to such Of our readers who,
like ourselves, are ioHder Of plain than OF
metaphorical language; and with those
of az opposite description, our criticism
would appear unfounded. These meta
phors are never drawn from trite and IA.
miijar objects; but we think our author
msnilests too great prediction for 4
particular class OF them. to the exclusion