Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-11-28

some inaccuracies of expressions, some
peculiarlties of language, or even sotnc
unfortunate Ame,icanisats hut after all,
we should be left, as 10 ANY real know ledge
OF the work, where we we're found.
The first enquiry we were induced TO
make IN examining our author Vie, MAS
whether lis general tenor was suited 20
the subject in hand-cr ia other words,
whether Inc had struck upon The proper
keynote adapted TO a biography of-sueh
man as MIR. Henry. And in iiiis We
think iim very happy. There are to be
found perhaps a few familiar expressions
IN the volume before us not exactly suited
to the other parts oft, but they occarve-
nv rarely. In general a certain elevation
and dignity of Siylc is preserved, which
the narrative Of such life AZ Mr.. Hcnrys
absolutely required. Ii viii be recoilect-
ed that his actions are intimately con
necied with many OF the great events
of the revolution. A relation of them, of
course, assumes the Importance, and rises
to the dignity of history; and the lam
guage employed on tile occasion must
correspond with the subject Different
subjects, n Is obvious, require TO be treat
ed of in different sorts of style, aud that
which seems exactly suited to cmbalm
the memory OF a great orator, statesman,
orMarrior, wouldbe very ridiculous when
applied 10 the biography of inferior men.
We have already noticed that i'm ouran-
thors narratives, aud condensed state
menis of argument, he Was extremely
perspicuous. ln tins we think consists
his peculiar excellence. He is in them
sufficiently concise 10 avoid Weakness,
and yet SO copious, as To be free from OBJ
security. Nothing about them is rcdun-
III. nj ~ .r.,f. al \
Ills language is simple, correct and cl,aste,
but still sufficiently Ggurative for all The
purposes of ornament. The structure Of
his sentences here and throughout his
work, is in general SD harmonious, that
one Is Impressed with The opinion that he
must have paid great attention 10 tins
subject perhaps agreeing with Cicero
III his idca OF the plana &C numerosa
cratic"
In the otherparts Of the work, the siyle
Is more dilfuse and florid. 4 ircer Use
oil figures OF speech is admitted, which
tend however, on most occasions, 10 illus
trate the idea off the author. To this rule
there are some exceptions, we think, in
the use OF metaphors; which, although
introduced much more sparlngly in this
work, than in any OF our authors former
productions, yet occur rather too fire.
quenti Tor our taste; and are, in one or
two places, we think too far pursued :. 4. d.
The most striking examples OF this nature,
we have given III our extracts and we
therefore consider it unnecessary to point
them ont particularly. They will occur
at once to such of our readers, who like
ourselves, are fender of plain than of me-
taphorical language and with those OF
an opposite description, our criticism
would appear uniouHded. These meta
phors are never drawn from irite and ia
mliar objects; but we think our author
manltests too great prediction for
particular class of ihem, to the exclusion
OF others equally apt for ornament or IL
lustration, and aflording more pleasing
variety.
Thus much we have said, least we
should be suspected of writing a mere un-
qualified euldgium on this work, instead
OF giving a candid account of its merits.
We venture to repeat the opinion, that it
will stand the test of any far criticism on
Tins or The other side the Atlantic. 1t
is the most valuable literary present 10
the public that we have seen for long
time 4; and We arc clearly of opinion that
no American library can be considered
complete without if.