Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-10-14
Mn. Enron.

un0n an auGrtS> III |OHT piper, HUH hH
board Of trustees of the alexandra aca-
DENY, to the inhabitants ofthis place, soii-
citing their aid, for the laudabIe purpose of
placing the institution committed 10 their
charge upon respectable footing.
That the interests OF literature had long
been declining among US, through the care
lessness, and inaltention, and want OF en-
enlargement of almost all classes of the
community, is a truth which must be per-
fectly Obvious 10 every individual who IS
capable either OF reflection or observation.
What may have been the causes w lch
have operated TO produce such an unac-
coun:able indifference, and 10 such an i'm
portant object too, is qu siion to which
am moi able 10 give any satisfactory solu-
ton: but certainly, ifthe effects OF litcra-
ture and general science upon religion, and
mora,s, and public liberty, be such as they
are often represented 10 be, END such III
deed as experiment has always proved
Them 10 be, the inhabitants OF this city, Tor
some time past, have been sirapgely negll-
gent OF their own NEST precio's Interests,
So far from havwg a literary nsi,uti n
which is capaE lie OF comma. ding respect
from abroad, We Lave none ,ulllcieDt To m
spire the confidence even OF our own citl-
zeas. And for want of tais, many parents
air actually sending their children to other
places for the purpose of receiving flat
e,ucs;ion which they despair OF ever being
able 20 give them 1t home.
We have, il is true, public "di6cc-5ut
one So curious in lis construction, so aYpal-
ling in lis aspect, and in such complete
state Of dilspidaton. that the pubic, ina
CINE, would he very willing TO disown it:
and will hardly consider me as paying them
compliment by calling it theirs.
We have also instructors and those who,
we have good reason TO believe, are well
qua flied for their office, and therefore, well
deserving the confidence of the public
But what can they do without general cr-
couraSemeut? ere their qualifications
infinitely superior to what they are, it
would he impossible for them, without the
support and countenance of the comuuuity.
either 10 preserve the institution from sink
ing, or ihemselve, iroa absolute want.
Ii ought, therefore, to be a subject OF
cordial generalization TO the citizens OF
thi, town, that the trustees have at length
taken The matter into serious consideration
that they have at last aroused from their
slumbers, and are determined to make one
more powerful effort to retrieve The falling
reputation of their institution, 10y eHliS'ing
the public feeling and public patronage in
lis behalf And ii IS sincerely to-be hoped
that with such an interesting and important
object before them, they will neither be
dishe,rtcned by difficulties, nor obliged 10
re; X in their exerions for want OF adequate
suppurt.
This is not a concern of trifling impor-
lance, as some, from transient glance at
il. might be induced To im1g inc nj ither is
il one which Is to be restricted in lis benefits
to few soti'ay indiyi uals: but is Inti-
mately connected wi the dearest interests
OF the whole community. Ii is one which
is to nave a material influence upon public
sen,iment-which is to heighIen our res
pectabilty in the estimation OF surrounding
eighbors-which is TO regulate, ih some
measure, the moral habits OF our youth, and
what is of equal moment, TO give tone, il
l may 50 express myself, to the literary
feelings and dispositions Of successive ge-
neraiions ---Ihe proper education of chill
dren, while il Is a subject which awakens
the tenderest emotions of parental solicit
tude, has IN unioubted tendency 10 iibe-
ralize the mind, to soften the disposition, to
break iowa unhappy prejudlces, 10 expand
the bosom with beneyolence, to Chasten
unhaIiowed affections, and 10 assImilate
the human character, in some faint degree,
TO divinity Itself. The distance between
an angel and Newton, was, perhaps, not
greater than that between Newton anu a
savage ana how little superior Is The igmo
rant, barbarous man, TO the lion or the IL
ger that contends with him for the domi-
Mon vi the forest!
AFRlEND TO LITERATURE
The sTausements of the drama have, a.
mong all civilized nations, been considered