Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-09-11

friend and correspondent by giving it an in
sertion.-It was induced by reading late
address to the voters of Charles comfy,
published in hand-bills, and signed Philan-
thropos, containing some very jast aud per-
tiDent remarks
ESSAY on MODERN FRIENDSHIPS.
II is not my purpose here, Mr.. Editor,
to treat on genuine friendship, or that d.
vine union of souls from which man derives
his chef happiness-this has already en-
ployed the pens of many distinguished wri-
tiers, particularly OF Cicero and Johnson,
The latter of whom, in his incompatible
Rambler, has written all that Lively ina
gination, and great knowledge OF the human
heart, can dictate on the occasion.
From these writings, and from daily eX-
perience, we find that true friendship, how
ever valuable in itself, and however appa-
rentiy easy in its attainment. is the real
root Of scGrcity--the Sensitive plant. shrink
ing from the embrace OF common minds,
and destroyed by the jdring interests OF the
more elevated. | shall not here take upon
me TO enumcrIte the various impedmen,s
which the general course of human lite
throws in the way OF this kind of friendship.
This has been already amply md eyqui-
sicly discussed by the before mentioned
writers.-Nor is il my intention in the pro-
gress of Ibis essay, 10 endeavor at the re-
establishment OF the friendly principle "a
mong my countrymen aud numerous ac-
quaintance. The project would be use
less, and the author would be laughed at.
lie might just as well employ himself in
writing pastoral poetry, with an idea of
converting the little county town oil Charles
into an Arcadia, and its sundry beauX and
bellies into innocent shepherds and shep-
herdesSes No. have no desire 10 en-
ploy my speculatiOns in useless projects
| am too much friend to myself and my
readers. The grea est, and indeed the only
service | can perform in the present in-
stance, is not so much to recommend TO in
dividuals the forming OF friendships, as TO
keep those connexions they have already
formed, and, abOUe all, to beware OF false
friends. Such is the abuse OF the term
friend, that do not scruple to say four
fiihs OF the ruins in which we find those
around us perpetuaily involved, may be al
tri"uted 10 the erroneous IDEAS entertained
by many OF the nature and stability of those
connexions which they are pleased to dig
nifty with the appreciation of friendship
What, it may be inquired, is the general
origin Of these friendships! Is It an involun-
tary attachment TO similarity OF manners, of
merit, or of pursuits ! These causes may
sometimes give birth TO strong partiaities
and close ,ntimacics but do they produce
the maturity of friendship? Alas, no -
these are but the blossoms, the mere buds
Of the fruit they prematurely assume, aud
are destroyed by single blast OF opposing
interest. The generality Of friendships, as
they are Improperly called, have their rise
in business. Long and uninterrupted deal
ings establish sort of personal connexion,
which often terminates in what the parties
themselves fancy 10 be friendship; whilst
their mutual obligations On pecuniary emer-
gencies, and the actual ser' ices they derive
fro.l each other, are regard d as the stron-
gest instances they might just as well call
them examples Of patriotism, charity, or
any other virtue, of which the same parties
take care 10 practise rs little as they can
help, for the plainest reason imaginable,
the gud pro quo is remote, the return IS
not immediate. Are there any so stupid
or so blind as not to see that instead OF
friendship this is nothing more than convc
nisnt acquaintance, cultivated by selt-Eore T!
1t owes is existence TO a monied inter-
course, the very baue of affection aad you
will invariably fni, that The moment either
of these friendly creatures are, by what
ever accident, rendered incapable OF work
ing the main spring Of this mechanical
friendship, the union is dissolved. To look
up to them for conduct any thing like that
dictated by the benevolence or liberality OF
mind warmed or ilumined by the ray OF
disiaterested Friendship, were to look Tor
the hour in a clock without motion, or
calculate the weather in barometer with
out quicksilver.
But it were paying too great compli-
ment to this species of union, to allow that
its extension ceases, or that its dissolution
~ Nv usnallv be n,vincr 10 m ,l-accidani IL