Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-07-24

From the Charleston Times.
There are few modern writers who have
exhibited more liberal and enlightened
comprehension of mind and heart, than the
celebrated and accomplished ScHIEGEL, to
the accuracy of whose observation, and the
classic purity of whose taste, every scholar
has been so much indebted for hours oil the
most delightful feelings-As a DRAMATIC
CRITIC, there are none who surpass him
either in the knowledge Of his subject, or
the beauty of his moral perceptions.-Ihe.
very air we breathe, as we walk with HIM
hand in hand over this brilliant garden OF
the muses., diffuses freshness OF existence
through the soul, and disposes all its taeul.
ties To the most beautiful harmony.-ln an
age of scepticism and prejndice--when it
has become fashionable among men who
would pass FOR wits to applaud 10 the hea-
vens the productions OF those under the aus
pices Of whose names inhdelity has sup
planted the sublimity and truth OF revela-
tion-and the true dignity Of genius has
surrendered its pride Of place to degra-
ded image, formed i'm its outward likeness
il is true, but wanting in all lis inward re-
semblances-he has Invested himself Of
every thing that wears the livery OF such
a reputation, and gathered his donors from
a more exalted sphee.-He seems to have
approached the sanctuary where the ashes
ofgenius rePose, with feeling sufficiently
solemn 10 attest his veneration-yet too
pure-too conscious ofthe power of'truth 10
suffer itself to be deluded by the false gilt
ter which the passion Of the misguided, or
the ignorance oflhe thoughtless had thrown
around its urn. There was no man more
alive 10 the eloquence Of poetry-but he
only worshipped her as deity, when she
walked in the light and loveliness Of morals.
We haze been, led TO these reflections
from perusal Of the very originafand high
ly judicious remarks which Professor Sch
legel, in his great work, entitled DRAMATIC
LITERATURE, has passed upon the genius
and disposition Of Voltaire, as man and as
writer. The judgment Of all mankind
has awarded to Voltaire, the possession Of
the most rare and es,imable talent--a mind
gifted with extraordinary powers-a fancy
rich and luxuriant-and wit brilliant and
spa kling as he ires Of genius could make
1t. Yet, how lamentably were those high
ly gifted powers employed. lnsatiate in
his desire of Neutrality-suspicious. to a
crime--and fatal as the sirocco, he wither-
ed every thing blooming within the COM
pass Of his reach--and chose rather to reign
amidst ruins, than not reign at all
He made himself fearful monument!
The wreck of old.opinions-things which
grew
Breathed from the birth Of time-the veil
he rent,
And what behind il lay all earth di6view,
But good with i'll he overthrow,
Leaving but ruins.-BYRon.
VoItaire, (says Professor SchlegeD wish.
ed 10 shine in every possible department.
A restless vanity would not allow him to be
satisfied with the attempt TO attainPerfec-
ton III amp one walk Of literaiure-and
from the variety Of subjects on which his
mind was employed. j, was impossible for
him to avoid shaiiovness and inmatarity of
ideas. He was by turns philosopher, a
rhetorician, sophist and buifoon. Phe
im,purity by which his views were in part
characterised, were irrecencilable with a
complete impartiality in his theatrical ca
reer. As be saw the public longing for in
formation, which was rather tolerated by
the favor Of the great, than authorised and
formally approved of by the public iinst.tu-
tions, he did not fail TO meet their wishes,
and,to. deliver in beautiful verses on the
stage, uhat no one burst yet preach from
the pulpit or the professors chair, He
made use Of poetry asa means TO accom-
plish ends foreign to it-and this has often
polluted the poetical purity Of bis compost
lions.